Zealous Breeze : Shadow Of The Shy

Zealous bounced on the backseat of her mommy's cart excitedly. She had a birthday cake to her left messily smeared with bright pink frosting. “hApPy BiRtHdAy!” Written childishly across the top off center.

Zealous was a filly and highly rambunctious, according to her mommy. Though mischief followed her around like a shadow, her heart was filled with joy and friendship. In fact, she was on her way towards her bestie's house, ready to surprise her, with a homemade yellow cake.

She had gotten sick on her birthday of all days! So her momma had to cancel the party she had planned, which was a shame, Zealous heard whispers of a bouncy castle being involved. But it didn't matter. If her BFF Glamour Shine couldn't have a party, then Zealous would bring her one.

Cake, board games, and their favorite book about fashionable ponies in the yellow cart. Today was going to be a special day to remember. Zealous squealed aloud in excitement. She couldn't wait to see her friend's face.

“So honey, want me to help you carry the cake inside?” Her mommy giggled, taking the final turn towards their destination.

Zealous snorted, scooping up the massive cake into her tiny pudgy hooves protectively. “Nuh-uh, the cake is the bestest part! You grab the games.” She smiled brightly as the cart slowed to a stop in front of a suburban house.

Zealous exploded out of the back, the cake swaying precariously in her hooves. Her mommy stopped her to fuss over the lopsided style of her pigtails. Zealous pouted, as her mom pulled her tight natural curls into a less frazzled state.

“Mooom, if my hair is dumb let it be dumb!” The little filly fussed, shaking her head, before darting off excitedly across the grass towards the house.

Glamour giggled inside her living room excitedly as a huge blue cake was littered with candles on the table in front of her. The turnout to her party was amazing. Everyone she invited at school showed up, each with tons of cool presents. Best yet, the bouncy castle was on its way within the next hour.

She felt so beloved, the little blonde filly cuddling herself happily hidden inside her favorite oversized pink hoodie. All her favorite ponies crowded closer, and as the lights dimmed around her, she beamed in joy, eyes filled with tears. One by one, cozy orange flames flickered to life atop her cake.

Glamour clapped her hooves together adorably, and she thought deeply about what wish to make. Her mom out front of her flashed multiple pictures of her darling daughter. Glamour being silly as she puckered her lips into a silly pout, the crowd around her laughing along.

Then it happened in one awkward moment. Her front door nearly kicked open, as a little filly with turquoise fur exploded into the room. She barely could hold up the massive pink cake in her hooves as it wobbled side to side, pigtails atop her head frazzled out once more.

“SURPRISE…” Zealous paused mid sentence with an embarrassed look of confusion, the faceless crowd of strangers and familiars gazing towards her blankly.

Zealous felt her whole body tremble uncontrollably as the silence built the tension in the room to a breaking point. Her mommy behind her holding a bag of toys in the doorway, a heartbroken look splashed across her soft features. Warm tears trickled down each cheek as the little filly swallowed the massive lump stuck in her throat.

“I…yo…” Zealous couldn't find the words no matter how hard she tried, but with a few sniffles aloud, the actions came to light.

She flung the cake onto the clean pastel blue wall to her right. Large expressive violet eyes narrowed daggers towards Glamour. With a final sniffle, she plunged both hooves into the wall cake and smeared it all about as quickly as possible.

Darting out of the house, she zoomed past her mommy. Who simply sighed and closed the door with a gentle click. Turning around, she watched her daughter sobbing in the backseat of the cart, hiding her face behind sticky hooves.

Her heart shattered, and friendship destroyed. Like so many crumbs of cake smeared onto a wall. Zealous first acquaintance with how the world could be brought a sense of woe to the reality she once thought was so bright.