Windy and Shy: Onward and Upward

Bow was still out when Windy woke up the next morning, she decided to leave him be and went downstairs to check on Evershy. The main rooms of the house were devoid of activity so she cracked open the guest bedroom door and peeked inside; she noticed Evershy awake and watching T.V.

"Shy?" She called, pushing the door open.

"Oh, good morning." Evershy smiled with a brightness that had been absent in recent days.

"You seem... good." Windy noted as she went to join her in the bed.

"Did you talk to Bow this morning?" She asked.

"No, he's asleep." Windy put her arm around her and cuddled up. "Why?"

"Well, he and I were both having a little trouble sleeping and we wound up talking early this morning."

"About what?" Windy eagerly inquired. Evershy recounted what the two of them had spoken about, as well as her and Bow's feelings about everything. As Windy listened, her smile slowly widened as she was given the positive news about things moving forward. "Shy, that's so wonderful to hear." Windy pulled Evershy tight against her. "I was really starting to get scared that this was going to fall apart. I couldn't bear to let either of you go."

"Well, we both feel the same way about you." Evershy reached over and rubbed her thigh. "That's pretty good common ground."

"Aw." Windy chuckled. "Remind me to rock my husband's world later."

Evershy's eyes drifted to the television. "Oh, look at this." She picked up the remote and increased the volume. "News about the cruise is finally spreading."

"Oh yeah?" Windy looked and saw a picture of the ship above a news anchor's head. The mare was delivering a brief and no doubt censored account of what happened. "I hope the boys are OK."

"Me too." Evershy nodded.

"So, what do you want to do today?" Windy took her wrist and jostled her arm. "Feeling up to getting out of the house?"

"I don't know." Evershy considered the idea.

"I suppose we could stay in bed all day." Windy tap-danced her fingers up Evershy's chest.

"Windy." Evershy took her hand and held it over her heart.

"Ok, how about breakfast then?" She buried her nose in Evershy's neck, making dramatic chewing noises.

"Ah!" Evershy laughed and crumpled up at the ticking sensation. "Stop it!" Their wrestling was halted by the sound of Evershy's phone ringing; her face quickly grew serious as she leaned over to see who was calling. A tornado of emotion swept through her as she saw Cirrus' name. Slowly picking up the phone, she swiped the call button and held it to her ear. "Hello, Cirrus." Windy immediately froze, trying to hide her presence in the room. "She did? Oh dear." Evershy continued after a long pause. "What did you tell her?" Again she paused as Cirrus spoke. "I see, thank you for that. I will." Another minute passed. "Alright, I'll be there soon... bye." She ended the call with a heavy sigh.

"What happened?" Windy asked.

"Fluttershy called the house to check on me."

"Oh shit."

"He told her the truth, but not the details. He said I should be the one to talk to her about it, and I agree. Apparently they're on their way out here to see us." She laid the phone back on the night stand. "He also wants me to come by to talk."

Windy sat up on the side of the bed. "Do you... want me to come with?"

"I need to handle this myself, Windy." Evershy swung her legs off the opposite side and stood. "I've been waiting for this, but..." She failed to finish her thought.

"Shy." Windy rounded the bed and took her by the arms. "Whatever happens, it'll be okay; I'll always be right here."

"I know." Evershy nodded with a small smile. "Thank you." She slipped her arms around Windy's waist and hugged her.

Windy left her to get ready, finding Bow finally awake. She let him know what was happening and that the girls were headed out to visit them as well. Bow offered to let Evershy use his truck to make the trip, giving her what comfort he could before she went to see Cirrus. Evershy steeled herself before the trip, preparing for whatever response Cirrus would have to her recent decisions. For the first time in her life she felt like a stranger going to her own home; while the house had been a part of her life for so long, it also represented an Evershy that she knew no longer existed. It was a quiet trip, but the severe anxiousness that hung over her the last time had lessened; mostly due to the knowledge that she not only had Windy at her side but Bow as well. Pulling up to the house, she took several deep breaths before heading to the door. It opened not long after she rang the bell and when their eyes met a flood of varying emotions passed through the both of them.

"Hello, Cirrus." She wanted to hug him at the least, but felt unsure if she should do even that.

"Hello." He held the door, stepping aside so she could enter.

"How... have you been?" She asked as she made her way to the living room couch.

"As well as can be expected, I suppose." Cirrus closed the door. "It is nice to see you though." He headed over to join her.

"It's good to see you too, Cirrus." She smiled. "So, I guess you've made up your mind about all this."

He sat with an exhausted sigh. "The last days have been nothing but difficult thought; there's no making up my mind in this situation as I can't say there's a true answer. All I've been able to do is look at things as clearly as possible, which has been hard since all I see around me is memories that we've shared." He clasped his hands between his knees. "But as sweet as memories are... they are only the past, and this is about the future." He looked into her eyes with deep remorse. "I had to ask myself the most basic question, that being the one of 'can I forgive you'; after a deal of consideration I brought myself to the conclusion that I could. Even so, I realized that even if I brought myself to forgive your infidelity and this desire to have a relationship with Windy, it wouldn't change the fact that your actions would only be repeated in the future." He slowly shook his head. "To put it simply, you've changed and this change is a permanent one. When I look at you, I honestly don't recognize the mare I see; you simply aren't the Evershy I married." He saw the hurt on her face at his words.

"You're right, I'm not." She conceded. "But I don't consider that to be a bad thing."

Cirrus smiled lightly. "Neither do I."

"What?" She grew confused.

"As angry and hurt as I am, I can't look at this from just my point of view." He began. "You said you felt you had to hide parts of yourself, even from me; and now those parts have broken free. I can't just tell you to lock them away again for my sake, I would never do that to you." He reached up to the cross around his neck and held it between his fingers. "I thought a lot about life and what it means to share one; sharing a life is about equal give and take and we've shared so much over the years, but knowing that you weren't being true to all of yourself means that the balance of that give and take was skewed. I'm sorry for that."

"It wasn't your fault, Cirrus." She assured.

"It's okay." He raised his hand to still her worry. "You and I have shared an amazing life; we've had so many ups and downs, brought up two wonderful children and have made countless good memories. But, I guess that sometimes two creatures can only go so far together and it seems we've reached that point. Your path has changed and we're no longer heading in the same direction, and that isn't any creature's fault... it's simply what is." He sighed. "I asked myself if I could walk this path with you and... I just can't... which means that I have to... let you go." He struggled to get to the words out.

"Cirrus." Evershy's fists balled as she struggled to stay strong. "It's... over then?"

"I'm going to go onto the city court's website and begin the process of filing for separation." He voiced was filled with pained reluctance. "This isn't what I want, Evershy… this is just what needs to happen."

"I... I understand." She managed through her breaking voice. Even Cirrus could barely hold back his tears; he quietly stood and opened his arms to her. Evershy looked up at him, at the stallion she had shared so much with for over twenty years and started to cry. She quickly stood and hugged onto him, his hands running up and down her back as she wept into his shoulder. "I'm so sorry, Cirrus." She sobbed.

"Me too, dear." He choked as they rocked in place. "Listen, I don't want this to be ugly or painful." He continued. "If you want to stay with Windy then I understand, take whatever of yours you need."

"Okay." Evershy nodded. "Thank you." She pulled herself back and wiped her eyes. "Cirrus, even if you never fully forgive me for this; please just know that I do love you and I always will."

He held her shoulders and nodded. "I know I feel a lot of things now, but there will always be a part of me that loves you too; and whatever you're looking for in life now, I hope you find it."

Evershy hugged him again. "Thank you."

Windy got an emotional phone call from Evershy telling her what she and Cirrus had discussed; asking that she come over to help her collect her things. She had Bow aid her in fitting as much luggage in her car as possible and had them on the road in minutes to go help her. The process was somber and heartbreaking for all of them; both Cirrus and Evershy realizing that their time together was really over and Windy and Bow watching their friends' pain in real time. Cirrus resolved himself to the bedroom while they worked; Evershy sorrowfully directing them as to what to pack. It took some time but they got everything loaded up into Bow's truck; and while Windy and Evershy made a final round, Bow went to the master bedroom and knocked on the door. Cirrus pulled the door open, a sad smile on his face as he looked up at his friend.

"We've... uh, got everything she needs." He informed.

"Okay." Cirrus nodded.

"Look, I know this is complicated and I'm sure your view of Windy has certainly changed, but you and I have been friends a long time and that hasn't changed for me; I hope it hasn't for you either."

"Of course not, Bow." He promised.

"You know if you need anything, I'll be here." Bow vowed.

"Thank you." Cirrus patted his arm. "I'll be alright though, eventually. I have some planning of my own to do now as to where I go from here. But, if you would, just take care of Evershy. Help her get to where she wants to go and make sure she's safe."

"I will." Bow nodded soundly, his heavy hand falling to Cirrus' shoulder. "You keep strong too." He left Cirrus to his thoughts and went out to the driveway; Windy was sitting on the hood of her car with Evershy hugging her side. "Okay, I guess we're ready to go."

"Cirrus is letting Evershy take her car, so you can take your truck and she'll follow us back." Windy relayed.

"Okay." He went to them, rubbing Evershy's arm. "You ready?"

Evershy sat upright with a hard breath. "Yes." She nodded, running her wrist under her nose.

The trio made a silent procession home, exhausted by the short but emotional day. Once back, Evershy left her car in the driveway and began taking her things into the guest bedroom to sort. The room didn't quite afford enough closet space to hold all her clothes, so she held onto some of the suitcases for extra storage. After about an hour, Windy went to check on her; finding her sitting on the bed with a small box of her jewelry.

"How's it going, Shy?" She asked, sitting beside her and looking into the box.

"This is such a difficult feeling, Windy." She rolled a ring that Cirrus had given her in her hand. "I don't have much excuse to be sad because this is the choice I made. I never expected Cirrus to be okay with this, but still... to hear the words actually come from him... it hurt so badly." She tightened her hand around the ring. "But at the same time, there is a part of me that feels free; free in knowing that from here forward I can explore being me." She looked at Windy with a tired smile. "You'd think feeling sad and happy at the same time would cancel itself out, but it's just overwhelming."

"We just have to keep moving forward, Shy." Windy scooted closer and opened her hand, laying her own on top of the ring. "I know there's going to be happy times ahead for us and I can't wait to share them with you. All this pain right now is temporary."

"I'm looking forward to them too." Evershy raised Windy's hand and kissed it. "You know, as long as it isn't another cruise." She managed to laugh.

Windy shook her head with an amused breath. "Hell will freeze before I get on another cruise ship. I have... like...vacation PTSD now." As they laughed, a knock sounded on the door. "Come on in, hon." Windy called.

Bow peeked in, phone cupped in his palm. "It's Rainbow, she wants to talk to you."

"Sure." Windy held out her hand and was promptly given the phone. "Hey, sweetie. What's..." She immediately pulled the phone away from her ear, her daughter's excited speech loud enough for even Evershy to hear. "Rainbow... calm down a second." She brought the phone closer again. "I know, it's... complicated." A long pause followed. "I'm sure she is, but it's best to talk about it in person." Another pause came. "Okay, your father is staying home for a while so I'll have him head up and meet you two. Okay, sweetie; see you tomorrow." Windy ended the call with a sigh. "They're already catching a flight, they'll be here around 2pm tomorrow."

"Fluttershy must be so upset." Evershy noted with lament.

"Yeah." Windy nodded. "But Rainbow is with her; still, we'd both better prepare for an earful."

"You want me to try and soften them up before they get here?" Bow asked. "You know they're going to bomb me with questions."

"Just tell them that we'll explain everything when we see them." Evershy instructed. "I wouldn't lie to Cirrus and I'm not going to lie to my daughter."

"Well, I need a drink." Windy rose from the bed, already dreading having to explain everything to her ornery offspring.

"Better make it two." Bow laughed as he stepped out of her way.

"Make it three." Evershy added with a giggle.

"Now we're talking!" Windy called back from the hallway as they followed after her.