Wonderful Lies, Fruitful Truths

Chapters

The Start
Leave
Mixed Emotions
Crushing Apples
A Story
A Talk
A Date
Moved On
Regrets
Apologies
Guilt
A New Start

The Start

Zephyr Breeze’s wings flapped, cold air flowing under his wings. The rain beat against his tiresome body. He squinted through the rain, attempting to see the ground below him. Flying in this weather and time of day wasn’t ideal, but he had to go somewhere.

He looked down, seeing a familiar cottage through the haze. Lights shined from within, creating a beacon for him to follow. Zephyr flapped his wings, gliding to the ground. He swung his luggage to the ground, careful it didn’t fly from his hands.

Zephyr landed far from gracefully, nearly slipping on the mud. He cursed under his breath. He shuddered at the feeling of the muck seeping into his sandals. Zephyr pounded on the door.

Shuffling and clanging came from inside the cottage. The door swung open, and Fluttershy stood there wearing a pink robe.

“Zephyr? What are you doing here?” Fluttershy asked. Zephyr wanted to say everything was fine. He desired to put on his best show, puffing out his chest and giving a snarky reply. But instead, Zephyr let out a warbled sob. Pathetic, really.

Fluttershy’s eyes widened, and she quickly ushered Zephyr indoors. The sudden warm air made Zephyr notice how his wet clothes clung to his body. He was sopping wet and had to run to his sister for help. Great Celestia above, he felt like a child.

“Can I stay here for a bit?” Zephyr asked between sobs. Fluttershy gave him a sympathetic look, rubbing his back.

“Of course you can! What happened?” Fluttershy asked. Zephyr hiccuped, wiping his tear-stricken face with his sleeves.

“I…I broke up with Soarin.” It pained him to admit that.

Fluttershy gasped, bringing her hand up to her mouth. Zephyr cringed. He absolutely hated being pitied.

“You go take a bath. I’ll set up the couch for you.” Fluttershy comforted. Zephyr sorrowfully nodded, beginning to drag his muddy suitcase across the floor.

He ascended the stairs, his suitcase thumping against the worn-down stairs. Zephyr’s muscles ached, and his movements were slow. As he struggled up the stairs, he heard Fluttershy mutter. Something about muddy floors.

Zephyr grimaced, looking at the bottom of his muddy suitcase. He quickened his pace, hoping Fluttershy didn’t notice he was the source of the mess.

He got to the top of the stairs and quickly backed into the bathroom. Zephyr dropped his suitcase, letting out a breath of relief. He was lugging that around for hours.

Zephyr slammed the door shut, making sure to lock it. He tugged it, listening to it rattle. It didn’t seem like it was going to budge anytime soon. Good, it was nice and sturdy.

He turned to the mirror, inspecting himself. The pink streaks in his hair were beginning to fade out. Zephyr grumbled, swiping his hair from his face. His gaze lowered to his face.

It was glaringly obvious that he had been crying. His eyes were puffy and dry tears streaked his cheeks. Zephyr pulled at his skin, attempting to make himself look somewhat presentable.

He shook his head, tearing his eyes away from his reflection. Zephyr didn’t feel like looking at himself anymore; it was pitiful. He turned to the wooden tub. It was old-fashioned but expected for a cottage at the edge of the woods.

Zephyr turned on the tub, watching water spill from the faucet. He grabbed some soaps, squeezing them into the rising water. Surely Fluttershy wouldn’t mind him borrowing some of her stuff.

He began to strip, tossing each article of clothing on the floor. They hit the floor with a wet ‘splat.’ Soon, he stood nude, the cold air drifting over his body. Zephyr shivered, looking at the tub.

Promising pink bubbles floated from it. Zephyr turned off the faucet, staring at the fresh bath water. The blonde entered the warm water, feeling the bubbles wash over his body.

Zephyr sighed, sinking deeper into the water. After the day he had, he really needed this. His muscles felt like they were melting into putty.

He brought his hands above the water, staring at his now pruney hands. His eyes wandered to his wrists. Purple bruises littered them. He shook his head, slamming his hands back under. The man sighed, staring at the ceiling.

Zephyr ran his hands through his hair, scrubbing soap in it. He couldn’t stand smelling like rain.

Clammering came from the other side of the door, catching Zephyr's attention. He froze, his grip tightening on his hair. Zephyr’s breath became shallow, and his body began to shake.

Time slowed to a halt as he watched the door. Zephyr listened to the shuffling outside. His heart rattled in his ears.

“Sorry!” Fluttershy apologized from outside the bathroom. Zephyr put his hand to his chest with trembling hands. He gripped at his skin hard enough that he nearly bled. Fluttershy just bumped into the door. He was fine; there was no danger.

Despite these affirmations, Zephyr couldn’t stop his heart from rattling in his chest. It felt like he had run a marathon. The room felt dizzying. As if it was twisting around him

The previously soothing bath water now felt too hot for his skin. Zephyr felt like if he stayed in any longer, his skin would peel off his bones.

Zephyr bolted up, his shin ramming into the edge of the tub. He flopped out of the tub, hitting the floor hard. So hard that he was surprised that the floor didn’t crack under him.

The floor was cool against his hot skin. Zephyr stared at the ceiling, attempting to stabilize his irrational thoughts.

“I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fine,” Zephyr repeated. He swallowed harshly, his heart rate finally slowing. He exhaled, rubbing his hand across his face. This was ridiculous. Zephyr had no reason to be panicked over a door rattling. What was he, a baby?

The man sat up, scooting over to his luggage. He was sick of being nude; he needed some clothes. Zephyr rummaged through the bag, finding his pajamas.

He pulled a tank top over his head, letting his wings pop out the back. He slid on black sweatpants, feeling it cling to his wet skin. Zephyr cringed at the sensation, wishing he had dried off properly.

Zephyr hoasted himself off the floor, his legs barely supporting his weight. He flapped his wings in an attempt to regain his balance. Zephyr took a few shaky steps, picking up his clothes. He dropped them into the hamper, hearing them land with a wet ‘splat.’

“Fluttershy can deal with that later.” He muttered. Zephyr unlocked the door, peeking down the hallway. A few animals lay on the floor, sleeping peacefully.

He slunk into the hallway, carefully stepping over animals. Zephyr crept down the stairs, peaking over the railing. The living room was dark, the only light source being a lone night light.

The couch was made up to look like a bed. A blanket was carefully tucked into the cushions with a large, fuzzy pillow on top of it. To Zephyr’s surprise and relief, Fluttershy wasn’t in sight.

He hopped over the railing, gliding to the couch. Zephyr splayed on the couch, snuggling into the blanket. He had to admit, this was nice. Zephyr sighed in relief, closing his eyes.

“Zephyr.”

He peaked his eyes open, looking around the poorly illuminated room. A grotesque…thing was crouched in the corner. It had gangly limbs that stretched several feet ahead of itself. It was so tall that its head hit the ceiling.

Zephyr squinted, hoping his eyes were playing tricks on him. The closer he looked, the more he saw. The moonlight illuminated the thing's ragged blue coat.

It swiveled its head around, its eyes meeting Zephyrs. It had large, piercing green eyes. His breath hitched. Its face twisted in what Zephyr could only assume was a frown.

“Don’t leave, Zephyr.” The thing croaked out. It sounded as if it was gargling nails. Zephyr held back a horrified shriek, pressing himself against the couch. It was as if he was paralyzed, unable to move an inch.

The thing dragged itself, its nails scraping across the floor. Its wings flopped around, knocking items off of their respective places.

“Don’t leave.” It repeated, shambling itself closer.

Zephyr brought his knees to his chest, squeezing his eyes shut. Just looking at that thing made him nauseous.

The thing continued to beg and plead, its crying echoing around the house.

“Go away go away go away go away,” Zephyr whispered. He tugged at his ears, pulling them down against his head. Despite these measures, he could still hear the things pleading.

A boney hand cupped Zephyr’s face, running its thumb across his cheek. Its fingers felt like sandpaper.

Zephy’rs eyes remained shut, and he held his breath. The thing mumbled something that Zephyr could only hope were terms of endearment.

“Look at me.”

Zephyr Breeze’s eyes popped open. He let out shuddery breaths, his head whipping around the room. Where was it? It was just there a second ago! To his surprise and partial horror, the thing was gone.

Anything that had been knocked over was now back where it was meant to be. He rubbed his hands over his eyes, giving a shaky exhale.

“Oh…I dozed off.” Zephyr realized. He shouldn’t be surprised that he fell asleep. He did have a long day, after all.

Zephyr sat in tense silence, listening to the rain against the windows. He couldn’t bring himself to close his eyes again. What if he had that nightmare again? Zephyr gnawed at the skin on his thumb.

His eyes darted around the living room. He didn’t want to go back to sleep. He couldn’t go back to sleep. After the long day he had, his nerves were shot.

Leave

Zephyr Breeze was a weak, weak man. His body ached, and his eyes were heavy. Zephyr didn’t know why he was so drained; He hadn’t done anything in days.

He lay under what felt like pounds upon pounds of blankets. The man sighed, peeking from under his fort. Just as he expected, the rain was still battering against the windows. The panes of glass shook under the force of the wind. Zephyr sighed once again, sliding back into solitude. No use in going out during this weather.

Zephyr stared at his phone, which was far too bright and close to his face. He swiped through his phone, gazing at old pictures of him and Soarin. His grip tightened. Zephyr wanted to riot. He wants to throw a fit, break stuff, just scream.

Instead, his breath wavered, and his eyes began to burn with tears. The man closed his eyes, running his hands across his unshaven face.

Zephyr felt pathetic. He was a grown man, for Celestia’s sake! He shouldn’t be so upset over a measly breakup. And to get upset over Soarin, of all people. Soarin! People went through breakups every day, and they were fine. Zephyr turned off his phone, rubbing his hands across his eyes. Soarin isn’t worth this.

“Zephyr,” Fluttershy called, barely above a whisper.

Zephyr peered out, seeing his older sister standing over him. She had an expression on her face that he couldn’t read. Sadness? Pity? Zephyr couldn’t tell, and he didn’t have the energy to find out. He tucked himself under the blanket, not wanting to look at his sister any longer.

“I’m going to go to the market. Do you want anything?” Fluttershy asked. Zephyr could only respond with a weak hum. He heard his sister sigh. A sigh of disappointment, he presumed.

“If you decide to eat today, there's some leftover pasta in the fridge.” She offered. A tense silence filled the room.“...And please do something today.” Fluttershy added.

Zephyr pursed his lips and furrowed his brows. Fluttershy didn’t understand how hard it was for him. He didn’t want to be this upset; he just was.

Through the blanket, Zephyr could feel his sister's gaze. There was a long silence as if she were waiting for a response. After a long silence, he heard Fluttershy walk away. The front door creaked open before slowly clicking shut.

Zephyr sighed in relief, un-tensing his body. He loved his sister, don’t get him wrong, but he couldn’t deal with Fluttershy constantly hovering over him.

It made him feel like a helpless child. He knew Fluttershy meant well, but he couldn’t help but feel as if he was being pitied.

He curled up, closing his eyes. He did the one thing he had the energy for. Sleep.

Zephyr felt bubbly. His heart swelled, and his head felt fuzzy. The chill from the freezers pinched his skin, but that didn’t matter. Soarin’s love kept him warm. Zephyr knew that sounded cheesy, but it was true! Soarin was absolutely amazing.

Zephyr admired the way Soarin kept himself. He wore his leather jacket with pride, looking as cool as ever.
He followed Soarin down the frozen food aisle like an overexcited puppy, a goofy smile spread on his face. Zephyr sighed lovingly. Soarin looked wonderful.

He sighed lovingly, leaning onto the shopping cart. Soarin glanced at Zephyr, his brows furrowing.

“Stop staring. There’s someone at the end of the aisle.” He scolded through gritted teeth, tilting his head toward a person. A lady stood a few feet away, glancing at the pair every few seconds.

“I can’t help it! You’re just so handsome.” Zephyr gushed, throwing his arms across his shoulders. Soarin shoved Zephyr back, quickly looking at the lady.

Soarin lowered his sunglasses, giving the woman a flirtatious wink. The woman giggled, quickly proceeding away from the pair.

Soarin sighed, adjusting his glasses.

“You know I don’t like it when you get flirty in public.” Soarin huffed. Zephyr put his hands on his hips.

“Well, you know I don’t like it when you flirt with other people.” Zephyr retorted. Soarin groaned, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
“We’ve been over this. I’m a celebrity; I’m not ‘flirting.’ I’m keeping up my image.” He explained simply. “If anything, you should be flattered that I’m trying so hard.”

Zephyr puffed up his cheeks and balled up his fist. He absolutely hated when Soarin used that dumb excuse. It didn’t even make sense!

“Aw, don’t be like that. You can flirt with me when no one is looking.” Soarin reassured.

Zephyr sighed, rubbing between his eyes. There was no point arguing over this. It would only loop around with no end in sight.

“You’re right.” He admitted with defeat. Soarin smirked.

“I know I am now; let’s get going. I have practice soon.” Soarin ordered, briskly walking away.

Zephyr sighed, trailing behind his boyfriend. Maybe Soarin was right; Maybe he was overreacting. But if he was right, why did Zephyr feel so bad?

“You need to leave.” Someone croaked. Zephyr turned around, gazing at a man. Well, he looked more like a skeleton than a man.

The man looked horrible. He was gangly, and his bones protruded through his skin. His long, blonde hair covered his face. The man wore clothes eerily similar to his own. The only difference was that his clothes were much dirtier. Zephyr eyed the man, noticing his teal skin, nearly the same shade as his own.

The more he looked, the more he noticed how similar they looked. The only differences were his hands, which held a strange black gradient.

A pang of familiarity struck Zephyr. He felt attracted to the stranger like a moth to a flame. Not in a romantic way, of course. More like a long-lost childhood friend.

Zephyr glanced down the aisle, seeing that Soarin was long gone. He could just walk away from the man and follow Soarin. It would be the easy solution.

Instead of listening to common sense, he walked towards the figure. There was no harm; it would only take a second. Soarin wouldn’t even notice he was gone.

“Do I…know you?” Zephyr asked. The man amble towards Zephyr, stumbling over his feet.

He moved haphazardly as if he were drunk. Zephyr took a frightened step back, his foot slipping back on the sleek floor.

The man grabbed Zephyr by the shoulders, leaning inches to his face. So close that he could feel his hot breath on his face.

“Leave. Soarin.” He emphasized in a voice much too similar to his own. He stared at Zephyr with dark, soulless eyes. If Zephyr didn’t know better, he would think he had no eyes. Just two holes drilled into his skull.

Zephyr stared into his eyes. It was like staring into an abyss. Zephyr took another step back, attempting to release himself from the man's grip.

The man's arms stretched, wrapping around Zephyr’s body. Zephyr croaked, feeling his lungs crushing within him. He brought his hands up, clawing at the man’s arms. Zephyr scratched and clawed until the man bled. Despite all of this, the man never retreated.

He opened his mouth, clamping his teeth into his skin. The man's arms tightened around his throat, releasing Zephyr’s grip. His knees buckled, his legs giving out from under him.

“Listen, please.” The man began to plead. “Please, please leave Soarin.” He begged. Zephyr’s vision blurred, and he felt light-headed. As his vision faded, he heard the man plead with him.

Zephyr Breeze awoke with sputtering coughs, bolting up from his resting place. He brought his hand to his chest, feeling his heart hammer. Zephyr took a sharp inhale in an attempt to calm his nerves.

After several minutes of gasping and sputtering, Zephyr finally caught his breath.

“What…was that?” Zephyr gasped. He had had odd dreams before, but this was…it was something. Zephyr looked at his trembling hands, shaking his head. He needed to get over Soarin now.

Mixed Emotions

Fluttershy loved her brother; she really did! But sometimes he was…a little much. She knows he’s been having a hard time, but she couldn’t keep watching over him. Zephyr is a grown man, for Celestia’s sake!

She sighed, running her hand across her face. Fluttershy couldn’t exactly blame him for how he felt. It was Soarins fault, mostly.

Fluttershy pulled her green sweater over her head. She told Zephyr that Soarin was no good for him! He needed to start listening to her!

She pulled up her stockings, letting them snap against her waist. The past week and a half had taxing on both of them. Sometimes at night, she could hear Zephyr’s cries echoing through the cottage. It broke her heart.

She slipped her skirt over her hips, patting out the wrinkles. She glanced at herself in the mirror. Fluttershy certainly looked….frazzled. Her cheeks were dusted red, and her brows were furrowed. If she didn’t know that was her reflection, she would be petrified.

“Take a deep breath in.” Fluttershy coached herself, taking a deep inhale. She closed her eyes, exhaling slowly. She ran her fingers through her hair, straightening out any loose strands.

Fluttershy opened her eyes, looking at her reflection. Just as she hoped, she looked calm. No matter how annoyed she was, she had to keep a cool head for Zephyr.

She slipped on her brown shoes, playfully clicking them against the floor. She looked at herself in the mirror once again. She looked well adjusted, just as hoped.

Fluttershy exited her room, walking down the hallway.

“Good morning, Stephen.” Fluttershy greeted a snake that was perched on her door frame. The snake hissed happily, flicking his tongue.

Fluttershy stopped in her tracks. The bathroom light was on. If the light was on, that meant Zephyr was up and doing stuff. Fluttershy felt relief flow through her body. This was the first time she had seen him move in days.

Though, it was rather odd that he was in the bathroom with the door open. What if he needed help? What if he was hurt? Fluttershy couldn’t bear the thought. Checking in on him for a second wouldn’t hurt. In fact, Fluttershy thinks it would be best to check on him.

Fluttershy crouched down, peeking through the open door.

Zephyr stood at the sink, gripping it so tightly that his knuckles were white. He stared at his reflection with bloodshot eyes, bringing his hand to his face. He cupped his cheek, staring at himself with wide eyes.

His stare was hard, as if he was judging himself. Fluttershy frowned at the sight. She hated seeing her brother this distressed.

Zephyr’s eyes wandered, catching Fluttershy’s eyes in the mirror. Fluttershy gasped in surprise, taking an abrupt step back. She slammed her shoulder into the doorframe.

“Sorry!” Fluttershy apologized, rubbing her shoulder. “I just wanted to tell you to come downstairs. I’m about to make breakfast.” She hastily explained. Fluttershy quickly turned on her heels, rushing down the hallway.

She brought her hand to her chest, letting out a sigh of relief. At least she can be sure that she and Zephyr could talk out his feelings during breakfast.

Zephyr picked around his scrambled eggs, refusing to meet Fluttershy’s gaze. His fork scraped against the plate, emitting squeaks. The squeaks filled the silent room.

Fluttershy tried her hardest not to wince at every squeak. She took a bite of her breakfast, scanning her brother’s face. She noticed how weary he looked. His eyes were sunken in, and large bags resided under them. It looked like he would pass out at any moment.

“How are you feeling?” Fluttershy asked, giving the sweetest smile she could muster. Zephyr’s eyes flickered to his sister before quickly looking down at his food.

Fluttershy frowned at his lack of an answer. If he wanted to feel better, he needed to say something. Anything.

“I’m going into town today. Do you want to come?” She offered. Zephyr shrugged, hiding his face behind his hair.

“Not really.” He muttered. Fluttershy needed to do something to cheer him up. She gently placed her hand on his. She gave it a comforting squeeze. His hands felt dry as if he hadn’t moisturized in years.

“If you want to talk about anything, I’m here to listen,” Fluttershy reassured. Zephyr swiftly stood up, nearly knocking over his seat. He opened his mouth to say something, only to quickly look away. Zephyr’s brows furrowed, quickly averting his gaze.

“I’m going back to sleep.” He responded, stomping off. Fluttershy put her head in her hands. Great, now she scared him off.

At this point, it didn’t look like Zephyr was ever going out. Fluttershy had to do something. She couldn’t stand seeing her brother so upset. But gentle love wasn’t getting him anywhere. If it were up to Zephyr, he would mope around forever.

Fluttershy pressed the palm against her forehead. This was Zephyr Breeze she was thinking about; of course, he would still be moping. If it were up to him, he’d stay on her couch until the sun imploded. The man wouldn’t get anything done unless he’s forced to.

She needed to be assertive. But how? She leaned back into her chair, crossing her arms. Fluttershy didn’t want to kick him out. If anything, that would make him worse. She needed to be gentle yet firm.

An idea flashed into her mind. Fluttershy knew exactly what to do it.

Fluttershy strolled through Sweet Apple Acres, taking a deep breath in. The air was fresh, and the warm sun shined on her face. It was refreshing to be in the sun. For whatever reason, it only had been raining near her cottage. She chalked it up to stray storm clouds.

She approached the barn, knocking on the door. The top half of the door swung open, the sweet scent of apple pastries flowing out. Applejack's eyes lit up, and a smile spread across her face.

“Well, hi, Fluttershy. What brings you here?” Applejack asked, tilting her hat upwards.

“I came here to ask for a favor,” Fluttershy asked. Applejack propped herself against the other half of the door.

“Sure thing sugarcube? What is it?”

“You know how Zephyr broke up with Soarin?” Applejack nodded. “Well, it’s really taking a toll on him. I was wondering if you could host a cookout for him if it’s not too much trouble.” She asked. Applejack cocked her head.

“A cookout? How would that help?” She asked, arching an eyebrow. Fluttershy happily nodded her head.

“When we got upset as kids, we would go out as a family. I think it would be familiar to him. And cookout would have just enough people to get Zephyr to socialize.” Fluttershy happily explained. Applejack beamed.

“You know I’d do anything to help a friend out. Come on in so we can sort this out.” Applejack opened the bottom half of the door. Fluttershy walked into the house was a skip in her step. This plan was perfect.

Crushing Apples

Zephyr hated today. He hated the heat, he hated fresh air, and he absolutely hated the dirt in his sandals. He wandered through Celestia-knows-where. Apple trees towered over him, and the scent of apple fritters flowed through the air.

It was far too early to be awake. It was too early to even think! Zephyr was sure that the sun wasn’t even above the horizon.
“Why did we have to go out today?” Zephyr whined, trudging behind Fluttershy. Fluttershy didn’t spare him a glance, her ear twitching.

“You needed to be outside. It’s good for you.” Fluttershy replied. Zephyr groaned, throwing his head back. He didn’t want to be outside! He wanted to be safe under a warm blanket on Fluttershy’s comfortable couch.

He didn’t know what was lurking around these trees. What if Soarin was out here?! He hated how Fluttershy made him leave his comfy pajamas and dragged him into this dangerous world.

His thoughts broke when a wave of heat washed over him. Zephyr tugged at his collar, wiping the sweat from his brow.

“It’s hooot!” Zephyr cried, dragging his feet across the dirt. He could’ve sworn he heard Fluttershy snicker under her breath.

“It’s your own fault for wearing a turtleneck.” She responded with a light chuckle. Zephyr huffed, crossing his arms. He didn’t appreciate her sass.

Zephyr looked around, gazing at the trees. He didn’t even know where they were. Sure, Fluttershy told him what they were doing, but he was too busy wallowing to remember.

“Where are we, exactly?” He asked.

“We’re at Sweet Apple Acres for a cookout.” She briefly explained. Zephyr sighed in relief. That didn’t sound like too much work. Lazing in the shade and eating food all day. That sounded like the perfect laid-back day he needed.

“But first, we’ll help set it up,” Fluttershy added. Zephyr let out another long-drawn sigh, rubbing his hand against his face. He had to work? Zephyr would rather perish than work.

Zephyr followed Fluttershy into a clearing. In the middle of the clearing was a group of people. Zephyr recognized one of them as Fluttershy’s friend, Applejack. Under one arm, she held a bulky cooler.

An old lady sat in a rocking chair, basking in the sun. Zephyr grumbled. That should’ve been him relaxing. Next to the old lady was a teenage girl. She sat on the arm of the rocking chair, dozing off.

“Howdy!” Applejack greeted the pair with a big wave. Zephyr scrunched his face at the much too-eager greeting. In his humble opinion; it was far too early for all this energy.

Applejack clasped her hand against his, putting him a painstakingly long handshake.

“I’m Applejack! It’s great to finally meet you! Fluttershy told me all about you!” Applejack beamed. Zephyr yanked away his now aching hand. Man, did she have a tight grip!

“You’ll be helping Big Mac with the wood chopping. Think you can handle it?” Applejack asked. Zephyr gave a soft mumble and a shrug, keeping his head low. Applejack let out a loud laugh, slapping him on the back.

“Of course, you can handle it! Mac is gonna be over there, past those trees.” She explained, pointing past a bushel of trees.

Zephyr grumbled to himself, making his way to the trees. Why did he have to work? He was grieving!

As he walked through the trees, he peeked at his phone. No new calls or texts from Soarin. Zephyr frowned. He didn’t know why it bothered him so much. He was the one who broke Soarin, not the other way around.

Zephyr huffed, shaking his head. It wasn’t that big of a deal; this was his choice, after all. Zephyr shoved his phone into his pocket. He continued to walk through the trees, trying to clear his head.

What was wrong with him? Soarin treated him terribly! Zephyr pressed his hand against his forehead. He needed to get over this.

He came from between the trees, now standing in an open field. The air smelled like freshly mowed grass. In the middle of the field stood a man. He wore a white tank top that was much too tight. His mane was a beautiful shade of orange.

Zephyr let out a shaky exhale. By Celestia above, was he attractive. He chopped wood, grunting with every strike.

Zephyr ran his hand through his hair. He regretted not doing his hair this morning. How could he introduce himself looking like this? He looked like a mess! Zephyr quickly adjusted his clothes in a poor attempt to look presentable.

He exhaled, taking an anxious stride through the field.

“Um, hi! I’m here to help you.” Zephyr greeted, giving an awkward wave. Big Mac looked up and tilted his head forward as if to say hello.

Now that he was close to Big Mac, he noticed how truly muscular the man was. If he flexed, his shirt would come flying off. He swallowed harshly.

Zephyr’s eyes flickered to the pile of chopped wood. He had nearly forgotten that he was here to help. He puffed out his chest in an attempt to look bigger.

“I can chop some wood too. As you can see, I’m pretty buff myself.” Zephyr flexed, slapping his scrawny bicep. Big Mac eyed Zephyr, giving him a sweet smile.

“Go on ahead.” Big Mac said, placing the axe in Zephyr’s hands. His breath hitched. Big Mac’s voice was deep. Zephyr twisted the axe in his hand. It was much heavier than he had anticipated.

Zephyr shakily lifted the axe above his head, feeling his legs tremble under the weight. How could Big Mac lift this thing?

He flapped his wings in an attempt to stabilize himself. Unfortunately, Zephyr slipped back, landing flat on his back. The axe flew from his hands, sliding across the grass.

Great, he embarrassed himself in front of a cute guy. To Zephyr’s surprise, Big Mac let out a playful chuckle.

“I’ll handle the chopping. You put the wood in the wagon.” Big Mac instructed, picking up the axe. Zephyr could only respond with a bashful nod.

He quickly stood up, picking up a few chopped logs. He tossed them into the wagon, listening to them hit the bottom. Zephyr turned on his heels, reaching for another pile of logs. He slowed down, staring at Big Mac. He felt his heart speed up.

Big Mac was one of the most attractive men he’s ever laid eyes on. His muscles and aloof personality enamored Zephyr, though he wasn’t sure why.

Zephyr didn’t know why, but he felt the inexplicable urge to get to know Big Mac. But just as friends, of course! Nothing more, nothing less.

“Soooo…do you work here?” Zephyr asked.

“Eeyup.” Big Mac responded, not looking up from his task. Zephyr nodded to himself, tossing wood into the wagon. “You?”

It took Zephyr a moment to realize what Big Mac was asking.

“Oh! I’m between jobs right now. Working through other stuff.” Zephyr briefly explained. Big Mac hummed in response.

“Must be nice to have some time off.” He chimed up. Zephyr shrugged.

“It’s alright, I guess.”
Big Mac let out a soft chuckle.

For the first time in weeks, Zephyr felt at ease. Maybe it was the fresh air or the change of scenery. Zephyr’s gaze wandered to Big Mac.

Maybe it was him. Zephyr felt his face heating up. He let out a dreamy sigh, leaning onto the wagon.

He closed his eyes, feeling a cool breeze brush across his face. Zephyr would never admit this, but Fluttershy was right to bring him out.

“Choppin’s done.” Big Mac broke the silence. Zephyr’s eyes fluttered open. Sure enough, all of the logs had been chopped. They laid in a neat.

“Sorry, I should’ve been picking those up!” Zephyr quickly apologized, rushing over to the logs. Big Mac shrugged.

“It’s alright, You looked like you were enjoying yourself.”

Zephyr’s face heated up. He didn’t know why, but Big Mac noticing him made his heart race. He quickly tossed the remaining logs into the wagon.

Zephyr couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed that his work was done. As much as he was complaining earlier, he wouldn’t mind staying in this field a little longer.

“We should head back to the barn. AJ’s probably ready to start cooking.” Big Mac instructed. Zephyr mindlessly nodded his head. Big Mac's voice was so soothing.

Big Mac grabbed the wagon, hoisting the handles on his shoulders. Zephyr stared in awe. That thing looked like it weighed a ton. He began his trek back to the barn, and Zephyr followed.

He trailed behind Big Mac, sighing dreamily. His heart fluttered and danced in a familiar way that he hadn’t felt in months. A feeling he hadn’t felt since he was with Soarin.

Zephyr froze. Oh Celestia, was he falling for him? Oh no. Oh no, no, no! He couldn’t fall in love with Big Mac; He barely knew the guy!

What if Big Mac was as bad as Soarin? What if he was worse!? Zephyr had barely had a conversation, and now he was in love? A guy is kind to him, and now he was head over heels? How pathetic could he be?

His once loving heartbeat now felt like torture, as if someone were wringing out his heart. He let out a shuddery breath, the world spinning around him. Zephyr couldn’t deal with this right now. He was barely over Soarin!

Zephyr quickly looked over his shoulder. Was he being followed? He felt like he was. He could’ve sworn he saw a blur of something through the trees. Zephyr began to feel eyes prickling at the back of his head.
Was it Soarin? Or was it something much worse? The trees rustled as if something was climbing through them.

Zephyr squeezed his eyes shut and held his breath, quickening his pace. Nothing was there; he was just seeing things. He had to be.

He could hear leaves crunching into the ground. It sounded like he was being chased. The wind blew, almost sounding like someone whispering his name.

He couldn’t hear Big Mac in front of him anymore. Did he go on without him?

Zephyr wearily opened his eyes, his vision assaulted by the bright sun. He stood before the barn. It felt as if it were towering over him.

His eyes veered over to his sister. Fluttershy was here! In his panic, he had nearly forgotten. Zephyr needed her support. He needed to be told that he was being crazy or irrational. Just something to calm down his fears.

“Hey, Shy!” Zephyr shouted a little too loudly for his liking. “Can I talk to you for a second?” He asked, anxiously tugging at his sleeve.

“Oh, uh, sure!” Fluttershy responded, clearly taken aback by his loud demeanor. He wrapped his arm around Fluttershy’s shoulder, leading her to the other side of the barn.

Zephyr peaked around the corner, making sure they weren’t followed. Of course, they weren’t. His paranoia was getting the best of him.

“I think I have a thing for Big Mac.” Zephyr shakily whispered. Fluttershy broke into a wide smile.

“That’s great!”

Zephyr’s eyes practically bulged from his head. How could she be so supportive of this? Zephyr was practically crazy for moving on so quickly!

“No, it’s not great. I can’t fall for him!” Zephyr quickly looked around to see if anyone was listening. He leaned down to meet his sister's eyeline. “What if he’s worse than Soarin?”

Fluttershy let out a small huff, a small smile creeping on her face. She put her hand on Zephyr’s shoulder.

“I know you’re scared, but sometimes you need to work out of your comfort zone. Big Mac is an absolute sweetheart, I promise.” Fluttershy reassured.

“Now, what do you want?” Fluttershy asked. Zephyr exhaled, closing his eyes. What did he want? Such a question seemed simple enough.

“I think…I think I want to get to know Big Mac.”

Fluttershy smiled, patting Zephyr’s arm.

“Then go for it!”

Zephyr peaked around the barn, gazing at Big Mac. He sighed for the thousandth time that day.

“...Okay, I’ll go for it.”

He took an anxious stride towards the tables in front of the barn. He could do this. Fluttershy said he could, so that meant that he could. He just needed to put on the charm.

Zephyr sat next to Big Mac, nervously drumming his fingers against the table. He leaned into his hand, attempting to look suave.

“Hey, can I get your phone number?” Zephyr asked with a wink. Big Mac looked at Zephyr with his gorgeous green eyes. They looked like the most beautiful emeralds.

Zephyr’s felt his ‘cool guy’ demeanor slip past his fingers. How was he meant to be cool when Big Mac looked so handsome? It was distracting!

“I want to talk to you more often. You seem pretty nice.” Zephyr admitted. Big Mac blinked in surprise. Zephyr could’ve sworn his cheeks turned red. He leaned into his hand, giving Zephyr a sweet smile.

“Alright.” Big Mac responded, standing from the table. “Lemme get my phone.”

Zephyr watched Big Mac walk away, sighing dreamily. Maybe Big Mac wouldn’t be all bad.

A Story

Zephyr sighed lovingly, running a comb through his hair. He stared at his reflection, unable to stop himself from smiling. His heart happily swelled in his chest.

Today, Zephyr had a date. Just thinking about it made him giddy. It was his first proper date in months. Big Mac had been a big inspiration for him, a real turning point.
The pair had been texting nonstop for the past week and a half. Every text Zephyr got filled him with an unexplainable feeling. It felt like a mix of things, actually. It felt like love with a hint of fear swirling about. Zephyr liked it, though. It made him feel like he was alive.

He had been eating, going out more, and getting better sleep. He had even had the energy to redye the pink streak in his hair. He even noticed that Fluttershy’s mood had improved. Probably because he was so awesome.

The man spun, admiring his yellow dress. It was littered with little blue flowers. It fit his figure wonderfully. He happily clicked his black heels on the wooden floor. Zephyr looked stunning.

“Woah…” Fluttershy marveled, catching Zephyr’s attention. Fluttershy stared at Zephyr in awe, admiring the flowers on his dress. The look of admiration quickly turned into a look of confusion.

“Is that my dress?” Flutershy asked. Zephyr defensively crossed his arms against his chest.

“It looks way better on me. The yellow clashes with your skin.” Zephyr quickly retorted. Fluttershy rolled her eyes, clearly not wanting to start a petty argument.

The doorbell rang, nearly snatching Zephyr’s heart from his chest. He was here! Zephyr grabbed his sunhat from the counter, placing it on his head.

Zephyr opened his wings, gliding down the stairs. He didn’t want to break a heel sprinting. He swung the front door open, seeing his knight in shining armor. In his hand, he held a rather large picnic basket. There was probably enough food in there to feed a family of six!

Big Mac stood with an awkward smile on his face. He wore a simple white tank top with a yellow neckerchief tied across his neck. He looked absolutely stunning.

Zephyr leaned onto the doorframe, giving a sly wink. “Well, don’t you look handsome?” He complimented. Big Mac’s cheeks turned red, and he bashfully looked away.

He skipped up to Big Mac, grasping onto his bicep. It felt smooth under his hand. If he rubbed enough, he could feel a bit of vein.

“Should we get going?” Zephyr asked.

“Eeyup.”

The men walked down the path mere inches from each other. The gravel crunched under their shoes. Zephyr gazed at Big Mac, his heart speeding in his chest. Big Mac was so handsome.

Despite texting nonstop, Zephyr longed to know more about Big Mac. Maybe a fun little conversation while they walked would fill his desire.

“Have you ever dated anyone weird? Anyone interesting?” Zephyr asked, playfully wiggling his fingers. Big Mac chuckled, shaking his head.

“Nope.” He sighed. “Have you?” Big Mac asked. Zephyr’s grip tightened on Big Mac’s bicep, and his breath hitched. Why did he think that question was a good idea?

“Well…I did date someone fairly recently. He was…” Zephyr trailed off, his sentence turning into a grumble. Big Mac rubbed his thumb against Zephyr’s knuckles.

“You don’t have to talk about it.” Big Mac reassured. Zephyr pursed his lips and furrowed his brows.

“No, it’s fine. I think I need to.” He brushed it off. He exhaled shakily. “Let me tell you how me and Soarin broke up.”

Zephyr walked down the streets of Cloudsdale, skipping with a mild pep in his step. It was an absolutely gorgeous day. The sun was beaming on his skin, warming him to his core. The clouds under his feet were turned grey. An obvious sign that it was going to rain for the people below.

In his hand, he held a bag of food. He could still feel the heat radiating from it. What an awesome boyfriend Zephyr was! Bringing his delightful boyfriend his favorite food was simply outstanding behavior.

The man looked up, staring at his partner's workplace. It towered over him, nearly intimidating him. Zephyr brushed his hair from his eyes, entering the building. The cool AC hit him, causing him to shudder.

Zephyr looked around the pristine building, staring in awe. This building never ceased to amaze him. It was gorgeous. Everything was so clean as if it was hit with a giant bar of soap.

Now, where was Soarin? This place was so damn big that navigating would be like a maze. Despite dating for a few years, Zephyr had never been to Soarin’s place of work. But today was as good as any to show up.

Zephyr began to wander the halls, peaking into empty rooms. Where was Soarin? This place was so big that Zephyr could meander here for days.

His ears perked up as he heard chattering from a set of doors. Hm, the cafeteria.

Zephyr pushed the door open, his face getting blasted with scents of various foods. It made his mouth water. Luckily, he brought his own food.

Soarin sat at a table, loudly chatting to his co-workers. He was making wild gestures as if he was telling a story. Zephyr’s eyes lit up, and he threw his arms across Soarin’s shoulders.

“Soarin!” Zephyr shouted, kissing him on the cheek.

“Zephyr!” He practically shrieked. Soarin looked between his co-workers and Zephyr, a panicked look in his eyes.

“Who’s your friend?” A lady with a fiery hairstyle asked.

“Oh, I’m his boy-” Zephyr started, only for Soarin to clasp his hand over his mouth.

“No one, he’s no one! Just some fan that follows me around.” Soarin shouted over Zephyr. He leaned over the lady. “Real nutjob, if you ask me.” He mumbled.

Zephyr’s breath hitched. He always forgot how uncaring Soarin could be in public. He glanced down at the food, pushing Soarin’s hand from his mouth.

“I brought us lunch.” Zephyr held out the bag of lunch. Soarin snatched it from his hands before shoving Zephyr back.

“I don’t want you to be here. Go home.” Soarin scolded through gritted teeth. Zephyr furrowed his brows. He hated how Soarin acted around other people. He was so full of himself.

Zephyr wanted to argue back but didn’t want to cause a scene. He looked at Soarin’s co-workers. They stared at Zephyr as if he wasn’t meant to be there. They believed Soarin's every lie. Zephyr slowly inhaled, bringing his hands up to his face.

“Ok, bye.” Zephyr turned on his heels. Anger filled his chest. He was done.

Zephyr yanked his clothes from his closet, haphazardly shoving them into his suitcase. His head ached from the anger welling up in his chest. He sniffled angrily.

He couldn’t do this anymore! Soarin treated him like an object! Zephyr grumbled, slamming his suitcase shut. He wiped the tears from his cheeks.

The door behind him creaked open, catching his attention.

“Zephyr, I told you not to come to my job. People are going to think things.” Soarin scolded.

“Well, that doesn’t matter anymore because I’m leaving,” Zephyr stated, picking up his suitcase. Soarin rolled his eyes and crossed his arms.

“You can’t leave. You have nowhere to go. Besides, you love me. I’m a charming guy.” He boasted.

Zephyr’s face scrunched up in disgust. He jammed his finger into Soarin’s chest.

“You are nothing but an empty shell of a cowardly man. I don’t ever want to see you again. I hate how you treat me, and I’m over it!” Zephyr shrieked.

Soarin paused, and his brows furrowed as if he was contemplating something. Zephyr’s gaze remained firm, never faltering. Soarin's gaze softened, and he reached out for a hug.

“N-now, hold on, honey. We can talk this out.” He attempted to compromise.

“Goodbye, Soarin.” He grumbled, attempting to shove past his ex. Soarin grabbed Zephyr’s wrists, stopping him in his tracks. His grip was tight. Tight enough to bruise Zephyr’s frail wrists. Soarin dropped to his knees, mumbling apologies.

“Please don’t leave,” Soarin muttered, tightening his grip. Zephyr yelped in a mix of surprise and pain.

“Soarin, let go!” Zephyr demanded, trying to pull from Soarin’s grasp. But to no avail; Soarin was far stronger than him.

Zephyr’s mind raced, and his breath quickened. Soarin buried his face into Zephyr’s sweater, continuing his apologetic mumbles. Zephyr could feel tears seeping through his clothes.

He flapped his wings, propelling himself back. Zephyr yanked his hands from Soarin’s grasp. He grabbed his suitcase, making a mad dash towards the door.

Zephyr slammed the door open, slinging himself off of a cloud. He heard Soarin rush after him.

“You’re making a mistake!I-if you leave I…I won’t take you back!” Soarin threatened, his voice becoming distant.

Zephyr plunged himself under the clouds, cold rain assaulting his body. It was a terrible day.

“And that’s it.” Zephyr sighed, leaning on Big Mac's arm. Big Mac gave Zephyr a concerned look.

“You alright?” Big Mac hummed, furrowing his brows. Zephyr chuckled, removing his head from his date's bicep.

“Yeah, it was messed up. But I’m over it now.” He shrugged. Zephyr stepped away from Big Mac, gazing at the park.

The park was beautiful at this hour. Many couples surrounded them, enjoying their own picnics. From what Zephyr remembered, today was some type of picnic event. It seemed nice.

He turned around, seeing that Big Mac had set up the picnic. He had set up under a large oak tree, blocking them from the harsh afternoon sun. The blanket looked like it was hand-sewn. It was covered in little apples. All of the food laid out looked delicious.

Zephyr plopped next to Big Mac, once again leaning on his arm. He reached for a fritter, taking a small bite.

“Mm! This is really good!” Zephyr complimented. Big Mac blushed.

“I made it myself. Granny’s recipe.”

Zephyr sighed lovingly, staring at the park. It was such a peaceful day. He had a nice date and a delicious meal. Today couldn’t get any better.

His eyes landed on someone several feet away. The person was looking around curiously. Usually, this wouldn’t bother him, but this person looked…familiar. Zephyr squinted, staring at the stranger. Was that…

“Soarin?” Zephyr asked in disbelief, shooting up from his seat. Soarin spun around, his face lighting up.

“Zephyr, there you are!” Soarin greeted, rushing over to Zephyr. He wrapped his arms around him, pulling him into a tight hug. Zephyr pushed Soarin off, bringing his hands to his chest.

“What are you doing here?” He asked, shuffling away from his ex. Soarin grinned, fiddling with his hands.

“I’ve come to bring you home! But we should hurry up. I don’t want any fans seeing me.” Soarin cheered a little too happily. Zephyr couldn’t believe this. After all he’s been through, Soarin is still trying. A migraine began to form at his temple.

“Soarin, we’re done. I’m on a date.” Zephyr tried to brush it off. Soarin’s face dropped, and his shoulders drooped. He quickly stood up straight, crossing his arms. Soarin scowled, eyeing Big Mac with disgust.

“I heard. Honestly, I think it’s a downgrade.” He insulted. Big Mac stood up, glowering at Soarin.

“You best be getting along now.” Big Mac growled, glaring at Soarin. Soarin scowled at him, puffing his wings defensively.

“This doesn’t concern you, country bumpkin.” Soarin threatened.
Zephyr’s chest felt tight, and his head spun. His hands began to tremble. This couldn’t be happening. This shouldn’t be happening. No one should be fighting. Soarin wasn’t meant to be here, and he and Big Mac were meant to be on a date. That’s what today was supposed to be.

He wrapped his arms around Big Mac’s torso, burying his face into his back. If he let go, he was sure to collapse into a sobbing mess.

“Please make him go,” Zephyr whimpered. Big Mac huffed, jabbing his finger into Soarin’s chest. It was hard enough to knock the wind from his lungs.

Soarin peeked behind Big Mac, looking at Zephyr. If Zephyr didn’t know any better, he could’ve sworn that Soarin’s expression softened. Soarin glared at Big Mac one more time before opening his wings.

“You won’t find anyone better than me, Zephyr!” Soarin shouted, flying off. Big Mac sat Zephyr down, delicately holding him. Zephyr still felt dizzy, and his breath was far too shallow for his liking.

“You alright?” Big Mac asked, running his hand through Zephyr’s hair. Zephyr shook his head, burying his head into Big Mac’s chest. He wanted this feeling to end.

A Talk

Soarin sat slumped over, tapping a pencil against his desk. The lights were much too bright for his eyes. It made his head pound. He groaned, rubbing his fingers across his temple.

His stomach ached, making him keel over farther. Soarin knew he was meant to be working, but if he stood up, his legs would give out under him.

Ugh, he should not have drunk so much. Though it wasn’t responsible for him to drink before work, what was he meant to do? He had nothing better going on.

Soarin could feel the eyes of his coworkers on him. He could feel their judgment. It made his stomach feel worse than it already did.

He knew he looked like a mess with his unkempt hair and uneven pants legs, but they didn’t have to stare so hard.

Spitfire slammed her hands on the table, causing him to flinch back in his seat. She glowered down at him.

“The boss said to get back to work. You’re not paid to sit around.” She scolded. Soarin rolled his eyes, scoffing.

“You get back to work. You're not even my boss.” Soarin mumbled. Spitfire's wings flared up, and a nasty scowl spread across her face.

“Excuse me?” Spitfire asked. Soarin sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

“Sorry.” He bluntly apologized. Spitfire lowered her sunglasses, glaring at him. She lifted her glasses, gliding past him.

“Get back to work.” She ordered. Soarin sighed, rolling his eyes once again.

“You alright?” Someone asked, breaking him from his trance. He looked up, seeing Rainbow Dash standing over him.

“Why wouldn’t I be?” He responded, leaning back in his seat.

“I heard you broke up with Zephyr.” Rainbow Dash commented. Soarin sat up, staring at Rainbow with wide eyes.

“Not so loud!” He hissed through gritted teeth. He looked around, checking if anyone heard. “...How did you know?” Soarin whispered. He was sure that he had kept this whole thing under wraps. Was he that obvious?
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes, crossing her arms.

“I’m dating Big Mac’s sister.” She stated bluntly. Soarin blinked in surprise. It felt odd for Rainbow to just admit something so…personal. He furrowed his brows, shaking his head.

“It doesn’t matter that we broke up. It’s none of your business.” He huffed. Rainbow gave him a sympathetic look. Soarin rolled his eyes. He didn’t need her pity.

“You’ve just been acting so…weird lately.” Rainbow pointed out. Soarin huffed, crossing his arms.

“I’ve been acting normal. You’re the one who’s acting weird with all these questions.” He deflected. Rainbow sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose.

“Look man, if you wanna talk about it, we can meet up at a bar after work.” Rainbow Dash suggested. “First rounds on me.”

Soarin weighed his options. It was free drinks, wasn’t it? Besides, he needed to go out more.

“Yeah, sure.”

Soarin walked into the bar, adjusting his sunglasses against his face. He scanned the room, his eyes landing on his rainbow-haired friend. She was leaned back, her arm draped across the back of the booth.

In her hand was a glass of what Soarin assumed was scotch.

“Hey.” Soarin greeted, plopping across from Rainbow. She slid a bottle of beer.

“I already got you something.”

Soarin hummed a thanks, bringing his drink up to his mouth. He stared at the table, trying to avoid Rainbow’s gaze.

“Do you wanna talk about anything? I can tell somethings eating at you.” Rainbow spoke up. Soarin glanced at her, quickly looking back at the table.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine.” Soarin brushed off. Rainbow eyed him curiously, arching an eyebrow.

“You sure? Didn’t seem so fine at work.” She pointed out. Soarin pursed his lips and furrowed his brows. Who was she to ask about his personal business? At this point, he might as well shout it to the world.

“Fine, fine, I was dating a man, and I got broken up with. You can laugh now.” Soarin huffed. He squeezed his eyes shut, preparing for ridicule.

“…Dude, no one cares that you’re gay.”

Soarin blinked in surprise, staring at Rainbow as if she had sprouted an extra head.

“What do you mean no one cares? It’s weird!” Soarin practically shouted.

“Watch it, asshole. I’m gay, too.” Rainbow scolded, jabbing her finger into Soarin's chest. She took a sip of her drink. “Besides, I already knew. Zephyr used to gush about you all the time.”

Soarin blinked in surprise.

“If you knew, then why didn’t you say anything?”

Rainbow shrugged.

“It wasn’t my business.”

Soarin stared at Rainbow, his mouth agape. She knew this whole time? Rainbow took another long swig of her drink.

“I know breakups are hard, but you can’t lash out at everyone.” She advised.

“Yeah, like you would know. You can get any girl you want.” Soarin leaned into his seat, huffing.

“Ugh, don’t even get me started on my breakup with Twilight.”

“I don’t know what happened. One day she had a break, and she just snapped. She attacked me, and I tried to help, but…” Rainbow trailed off. “I said some things that I shouldn’t have, and she left.”

A tense silence filled the booth. Soarin felt his heart strain. Rainbow went through much more than he had, and she was still thriving.

“But…after some time, I found Applejack. And things got better.” Rainbow smiled. “I think you should put yourself out there. It’ll be good for you.”

“How?”

“Leave town or something. Talk to new people.” Rainbow said with a shrug.

Soarin hummed in acknowledgment. He could at least try.

Soarin walked down the streets of Canterlot, taking a breath of the fresh air. Rainbow Dash was right; a new setting was exactly what he needed. Canterlot was a new opportunity for him. Sure, he had been here before, but only for business. Today was about him.

He entered a cafe, feeling the cool air on his skin. A cup of coffee and a snack would be good for him. He stepped on line, looking at the building.

Soarin scanned the cafe. It seemed fancy, just like most Canterlot things were. His eyes landed on a rather handsome man. He sat at a table, tapping away at his phone. He had gorgeous blonde hair and bulky white sunglasses. Soarin’s breath hitched.

Soarin began to pick at his hands, his mind racing. He couldn’t take his eyes off him.

The more he looked, the more he noticed. In front of the man were various plates of food. With every bite, he said something to the person across from him. He pointed at the food, looking like he was telling the other to take notes.

His flamboyant mannerisms reminded him a lot of Zephyr. Soarin couldn't just let this opportunity pass him by.

Just put himself out there, just like Rainbow said. No one would care that he was flirting with a man. Heck, no one would even notice. Soarin stepped off the line, making his way to the table. He adjusted his shirt and patted down his unruly hair.

Soarin approached the table, leaning against a nearby wall.

“Hey, cutie, you got a name?” Soarin asked, lowering his sunglasses. To his surprise, no one stared. No one laughed or screamed in disgust. The man simply smiled, much to Soarin's relief.

“If you would like to know, I’m Trenderhoof.” He said, shaking Soarin's hand.

“Well, how about I take you out for dinner.” He responded. Trenderhoof rolled his eyes.

“Oh, please. You’re not fooling anyone with that tough guy act.” Trenderhoof scoffed. Soarin’s face burned red. Was it that obvious? Trenderhoof eyed Soarin, a smile creeping across his face.

“But…you’re cute.” Trenderhoof complimented. He turned to the person sitting across from him. “Vestine, clear my 2’oclock.”

Soarin's heart sped up. His luck was turning around.

A Date

Soarin walked down the streets of Canterlot with a mild pep in his step. Despite his outward demeanor, he felt like his insides were burning. He felt his hands nearly breaking into a tremble. Soarin had been on plenty of dates before; he had no reason to be nervous.

Besides, he and Trenderhoof had been texting since they had met the day before. They had a brief conversation yesterday, but it wasn’t nearly enough time to get to know each other.

He should think of this more as an interview than a date. This is just an outing to see if they’re compatible; that’s all this was. Soarin had no reason to worry.

Soarin looked onward, seeing Trenderhoof sitting at a bus bench. He scrolled through his phone, leaning in his hand.

Trenderhoof wore a crop top with a thin green jacket. The jacket had a fuzzy orange collar and sleeves. He looked stunning.

Soarin felt his heart flutter in his chest. He shook his head, slicking his hair back. He needed to stay mellow; he needed to seem chill.

“Hey.” Soarin greeted, shoving his hands in his pocket. Trenderhoof beamed, hopping from his seat.

“There you are! I was starting to think you weren’t going to show.” Trenderhoof joked, bumping his hip against Soarins. He snaked his arm through Soarin’s, attempting to hold his hand.

Soarin jerked his hand back, shoving Trenderhoof back. He blinked in surprise.

“Wow, you won’t hold your date's hand? I see how it is.” Trenderhoof playfully huffed, putting his hands on his hips. Soarin let out a nervous laugh.

“Well, you know how it is!” He excused. Trenderhoof teasingly rolled his eyes.

“Let’s get going; I don’t wanna miss our reservation,” Trenderhoof said, leading Soarin down the street.

Soarin stared at the restaurant that towered above him. It was 3 stories tall and covered in fancy decor. This was most definitely the most expensive building Soarin had stepped foot in.

“Come on!” Trenderhoof prodded, dragging Soarin inside. For such a skinny guy, he was surprisingly strong. He nearly knocked Soarin off his feet!

Soarin stared in awe. The inside was even fancier. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling, lighting the room beautifully. This was definitely one of Canterlot’s higher-class restaurants. Soarin suddenly felt underdressed, his cheeks burning red. His white t-shirt now felt like a sign for everyone to stare at.

“Why did you say this was a casual date? I look dumb.” Soarin whispered into Trenderhoof's ear. He playfully patted Soarin’s arm.

“You look fine. No one is going to notice.” He reassured.

“I have a reservation under the name ‘Trenderhoof.’” He said to the lady. She flipped through a book, her eyes lighting up.

“Yes, of course, right this way.” She said, leading the pair away from the desk. Soarin kept his head low, avoiding the fancier people's eyes. Next to Trenderhoof, he looked like an under-classman

“Here you are!” The lady said, opening the doors to a balcony. It was spacious, big enough for Soarin to splay out on the floor, and still have plenty of space. In the middle of the balcony, there was a beautifully decorated table.

Soarin gazed over the railing. The view here was beautiful. The street lights and buildings below them illuminated their seats.

“Thank you, ma’am.” Trenderhoof thanked, politely shooing the lady off.

“How did you even get a table here?” Soarin asked in bewilderment. Trenderhoof chuckled.

“I’m a journalist. People practically beg for me to write about their establishments.” Trenderhoof explained. “It’s basically a ticket for good food.” He sat in his seat, flipping the menu open. He hummed to himself, curiously eyeing his options.

Soarin sat across from his date, flipping the menu open. He scrunched up his face. Everything here seemed far too fancy for his taste. Trenderhoof leaned forward, tapping some lettering.

“Try the salmon. I think you’ll like it.” Trenderhoof suggested. Soarin jerked the menu from under his hand.

“I know how to make decisions. I don’t need your help.” He spat. Soarin wasn’t a child; he could order for himself. Trenderhoof shrugged, looking back at the menu.

The waiter walked in, wearing a rather fancy suit. He smiled warmly at the duo.

“May I take your order?” He asked, preparing his notepad. Trenderhoof flipped his menu shut.
“I’ll have the black pepper steak. Well-done.” Trenderhoof ordered. “And a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon.”The waiter nodded, scribbling away.

Soarin blinked in surprise. Trenderhoof really knew his stuff. The waiter turned his attention to Soarin. He fumbled with the menu, it nearly tumbling from his hands.

“I’ll have, uh…” Soarin pointed to a random array of words. “This! I’ll take this.”

The waiter leaned closer, eyeing what he was pointing at.

“Bold choice, sir.” He commented, jotting the order down. He took the menus, wistfully walking away.

Trenderhoof placed his elbows on the table, leaning into his hands. He batted his eyelashes.

“What do you do for work?” Trenderhoof asked with an adorable head tilt. Soarin slicked his hair back, leaning into his seat.

“I don’t usually tell people that on the first date.” He responded slyly. Trenderhoof scoffed, rolling his eyes.

“Ugh, this again. Cut the tough guy bullshit. It makes you look dumb.” Trenderhoof stated. Soarin blinked in surprise.

“Tough guy act? I’m not acting!” Soarin defended. Trenderhoof let out a hearty laugh.

“You so are! Look at you; you’re wearing sunglasses. It’s night!” He pointed out. Soarin’s face began to burn. “I’ve been around guys like you. You act all tough to compensate for something.”

Soarin began to sputter over his words. He stood up, nearly knocking the chair from under him. His heart hammered in his chest, and his face burned. How dare he insinuate that he was fake? He was the real deal!

“I don’t have to take this from you!” Soarin shouted much too loud for his liking. Trenderhoof rolled his eyes once again.

“Alright. You can leave if you want.” He shrugged, crossing his arms. “I’m not here to reward bad behavior. You’re cute, but not that cute.”

Soarin glared at Trenderhoof. He stared, his unimpressed look unfaltering. Soarin’s gaze softened. This is exactly what led to Zephyr leaving him. He huffed, sitting back down. A knowing smirk stretched on Trenderhoof's face.

“Guys like you always come back.” Trenderhoof teased. “But if you want to have a chance with me, you need to stop being an ass. Alright?”

Soarin nodded, not meeting Trenderhoof's gaze. God, he felt like a child who’d been caught with their hand in a cookie jar.

“...Alright, sorry.” He apologized. “I’ll…I’ll try to be better.”

“I know being yourself can be hard. Let’s start with something small.” Trenderhoof reached his hand out, letting it rest on the table. He wiggled his fingers, urging Soarin to hold his hand.

Soarin hesitated, his fingers twitching nervously. All he had to do was hold his hand; it wasn’t a big deal. Soarin clasped his hand. This was…nice.

Trenderhoof’s hand was soft as if he had lotioned them regularly. He rubbed his thumb across his well-manicured hands.

The balcony doors gently opened, catching the pair's attention. The waiter carted in their food. Soarin didn’t let go of Trenderhoof's hand. It felt nice. Exhilarating, even.

The waiter picked up the plates, steam arising from them.

“Your food.” He stated, gently placing the food down. He quickly backed away, leaving the pair alone once again.

Soarin stared down at his food. Rich people sure had specific tastes because this looked disgusting. He couldn’t even tell what this was. It looked like some type of soup but with snail shells. What was this, escargot? It was even weirder that it was it was in a plate.

He prodded at the food, sticking out his tongue. Trenderhoof chuckled.

“I told you to try the salmon.” He teased. “Do you wanna split my steak?” He offered. Soarin quickly nodded. Trenderhoof began to get a rather hearty piece.

“What should I do with this? I can’t put the steak in this.” Soarin pointed to his disaster of a dinner. Trenderhoof looked at Soarin’s food and then over the balcony.

“Chuck it.” He said, tilting his head to the ledge.

“Are you sure?”

Trenderhoof shrugged, taking a sip of his overly fancy wine.

“Go for it. Sometimes you gotta do weird things for fun.”

Soarin picked up the plate, flipping it upside down. He heard the food splat on the ground below. It felt weirdly relieving. Trenderhoof placed the steak on his plate. He stared at Soarin lovingly.

“Now, tell me about yourself. The real you.”

Moved On

Zephyr Breeze leaned on a salon chair, picking out loose strands. He stares at his reflection, giving himself a big smile. Zephyr had to admit, this was the best he looked in a while. He tied his hair up, letting it fall into a ponytail.

He slipped into his apron. The door opened, the bell catching his attention. A blue lady entered the salon, her long purple hair falling to her waist. She scanned the room, her eyes lighting up when she saw Zephyr.

“Is that my favorite hair stylist!?” She teased, throwing her arms around Zephyr. He reciprocated the hug, nearly lifting the girl off her feet.

“Pixie Cut, where have you been?” Zephyr asked. She giggled, waving her hand around.

“Oh, you know, life just got to me.” Pixie Cut explained. Zephyr lightly tugged at her hair, staring at this newfound length. It was the longest Zephyr had ever seen it. It was jarring to see.

“I can tell. Girl, what happened to your hair?” He asked in disbelief. Pixie blushed.

“I knooooow, my hair is terrible. I haven’t had the time to get it done.” She bashfully admitted. Zephyr grinned, wrapping his arm around his friend's shoulder.

“Well, you came to the right place.” He reassured. “What do you want? A blowout? Try something new?”

Pixie Cut shook her head.

“Just the usual.”

Pixie plopped onto the salon chair, just like she had done a thousand times before. Zephyr Breeze placed the barber cape over her, clipping the back shut. He took ahold of the scissors, gently running his hand through his client's hair.

He began to snip away at her long purple locks. The hair gracefully fell to the tiled floors.

“So, you got any hot gossip? Anything juicy?” Zephyr asked, playfully wiggling his shoulders. Pixie hummed to herself. Zephyr saw her eyes light up in the mirror. She clapped her hands under the cape.

“Ooo, did you hear the news about Soarin?” She asked. Zephyr raised an eyebrow. News about Soarin? This just had to be good. He gave a quick hum as a response.

“You know Trenderhoof, the famous food reviewer?”

“Yeah?”

“He’s dating Soarin!”

“What?!”Zephyr bellowed, the scissors nearly slipping from his hands. He slapped his hand over his mouth, looking around. Luckily, no one noticed his outburst. Zephyr leaned closer to Pixie Cut’s ear.

“He’s dating someone else? How do you know?” He asked in disbelief.

“There are, like, hundreds of articles about them.” She explained. “Wanna check some out during your break?

Oh, he just had to see this.

“Hell yeah.”

Zephyr sat hunched over Pixie Cut’s phone. A cool breeze blew by, making him shiver. He had no idea why they couldn’t look through these inside, but Pixie had insisted on going outside.

Pixie Cut sat next to him, now sporting her usual short hairdo. She brushed her hair from her eyes, scrolling through her phone.

“Oh, here's one!” She exclaimed, pointing at an article.

“Top Canterlot City Food Reviewer Trenderhoof is dating Famous athlete Soarin!” The title read. Zephyr blinked in surprise. What a straightforward title.

He swiped his finger across the screen, scrolling down. Zephyr was bombarded with a large picture of Soarin and Trenderhoof. He blinked in surprise, his mouth gaping open.

He couldn’t believe it; Soarin was actually dating someone else. Zephyr leaned in, inspecting the photo closer. Soarin looked…different, though he couldn’t seem to place why. There was one noticeable difference, though. Soarin was holding a man’s hand in public.

It made Zephyr feel weird. Seeing Soarin so affectionate felt…unnatural.

“I’m surprised that he didn’t start dating a girl.” Pixie chimed up. Zephyr snapped from his daze, giving Pixie a confused stare.

“Pixie, he’s gay.” He reminded. She sighed, leaning into her hand.

“I know, but, like, look at him! He’s totally the type to date a girl for the image.” She quickly explained. Zephyr slowly nodded. It did sound like something Soarin would do.

The man eyed the picture curiously again. Why did he look so different? Zephyr’s phone chimed, breaking his concentration. His eyes veered over to his phone. Ugh, his break was over.

“As much as I’d love to stay and talk, I gotta go.” He said, standing up. Pixie Cut waved.

“Alright, I’ll send you a few more articles.”

Zephyr waved goodbye, beginning to make his way back to work. He sighed, rubbing his hand across his face. He would be thinking about this for the rest of the day.

Zephyr strolled through Sweet Apple Acres, scrolling through his phone. It was nearly impossible for him to stay off his phone during work. How could he resist the urge to check his phone when Pixie Cut was sending him gossip?

Thankfully, he was able to check now that he was in the clear. He scrolled through another article. “They’re Canterlot City’s cutest couple!” One sentence praised.

Zephyr rolled his eyes. They can’t be that cute. He scrolled down, seeing Soarin give Trenderhoof a rather passionate kiss. Okay, he had to admit, they were a little cute together.

The man huffed. Why couldn’t Soarin treat him like that? What changed? His eyes veered to Soarin’s face.

His gaze softened. Soarin looked happy. He was grinning ear to ear. Soarin looked much more relaxed, too. His shoulders were slacked, and he was waving at the camera. Heck, he wasn’t even wearing his sunglasses anymore!

As pleased as Zephyr was for him, he couldn’t help but feel a ping of jealousy. Why didn’t Soarin treat him like that? If he could act like this now, then there was nothing stopping him from being like this before. Back when they were together.

Zephyr sighed, shoving his phone in his pocket. None of that mattered now; he had moved on. He peaked through the trees. He could really use some comfort right now.

“Mac!?” Zephyr called out, peaking through the fields. Where was that hunk of a man?

“Over here!” Big Mac responded. Zephyr flew from the ground, dashing through the trees. His eyes lit up when he spotted his boyfriend. He wrapped his arms around Big Mac, peppering his cheek in kisses.

“There’s my favorite guy!” Zephyr greeted, pulling Big Mac closer. Big Mac blushed, wrapping his arms around Zephyr’s torso.

“Hey. How was work?” He asked. Zephyr huffed, letting his feet touch the ground.

“It was good but…I found out Soarin is dating someone else.”

“Oh.” Big Mac blinked in surprise. “Are…are you okay with that?”

Zephyr sighed, shrugging his shoulders.

“It is what it is. Besides, I’m happy for him. I’m glad he found himself.” He wrapped his arms around Mac’s shoulders.

“Besides, I have you.” He gushed, giving Big Mac another kiss on the cheek. Big Mac grabbed Zephyr by the waist, dipping him over. He leaned in, giving Zephyr a quick peck on the lips. He smiled, pulling Big Mac closer.

Zephyr’s stomach growled, making the men pause. Ugh, right, he had spent all of his lunch break stalking his ex.

“I skipped lunch. Can you make your favorite boyfriend a sandwich?” Zephyr asked, batting his eyes. Big Mac chuckled, hoisting Zephyr over his shoulder. Zephyr happily squealed, kicking his feet.

“Eeyup.”

Regrets

“Ugh, where is it?” Soarin grumbled, rummaging through his closet. Where was his jacket? He could’ve sworn he put it in his closet. How was he meant to look cool without it? It was his signature look, after all. Maybe he put it on the top shelf.

Soarin stood on his toes, attempting to peak over the shelf. He didn’t know why he ever put anything on this shelf; he could never reach anything. His hand brushed against something hard, causing him to jerk back.

“What’s this?” Soarin muttered, picking the item up. It looked like a hand-carved jewelry box. It was carved beautifully with a heart on the top. It must’ve been Zephyr’s. Soarin wasn’t exactly the type to wear jewelry.

He hummed, arching his eyebrow. Now that he thought about it, had he ever seen Zephyr wear jewelry? Soarin eyed the box curiously. What was in this?

The man gave it a soft shake. Thumping came from the inside. It definitely didn’t sound like the metallic clatter of necklaces and rings.

Soarin plopped on his bed, clicking the box open. He just had to see what was in this. Inside were photos. Dozens of them, in fact. They were bound together with a piece of red ribbon.

Who still kept photos? Everything was on phones nowadays. Soarin couldn’t help but chuckle; Zephyr was always the sentimental type. He picked apart the ribbon, pulling a photo from the pile. Soarin nearly melted where he sat.

Zephyr looked absolutely angelic. His purple eyes shined brightly, and he had the utmost beautiful smile. His eyes veered over to himself. He looked disgusted. His face was scrunched up, staring at Zephyr with the most repulsed look he could muster.

Soarin furrowed his brows. Who could look so disgusted next to such a gorgeous person? He shook his head. Maybe he was just in a bad mood that day. Soarin flipped to the next photo.

He looked just as angry in the next photo. Zephyr’s arm was wrapped around his shoulder. It was clear that Soarin was pushing him off.

Soarin frowned. Why was he so…off in these pictures? Why did he look so pissed? Soarin shook his head. Surely, he couldn’t look like that in every photo.

He flipped through more photos. In every single one, he looked some variation of angry or disgusted.

Soarin’s breath shuddered. Why would Zephyr keep these? These all looked terrible. Did Zephyr really love him that much? Soarin’s lungs felt empty, and his head felt light.

He couldn’t look at these anymore. Soarin sloppily placed the photos back into the box, slamming it shut.

Soarin tossed the box to the side, flopping back onto his bed. His head began to ache, and his stomach churned. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to ground his thoughts.

How long had he been treating Zephyr like that? He closed his eyes, thinking back to everything. Their dates, every interaction. Even down to the day they broke up, Soarin acted like a brat.

In every interaction he recalled, he was a monster. Soarin was just so…controlling! What was wrong with him? How could he be so selfish to his own boyfriend?

Soarin quickly sat up, his breath now rigid. Rage coursed through his body. He was practically trembling under his skin. His eyes darted around his room, looking for something, anything, to take his frustrations out on.

His eyes landed on his bedside table. Perfect.

Soarin kicked over his table, one of the legs flying off. He continued to stomp on the table, the thin wood breaking under his steel-toe boot.

Soon, the table was nothing but a pile of crushed, broken wood. Despite this outburst, Soarin still felt anger swell in his chest.

This wasn’t enough; he needed more.

Soarin stood in his living room, his body trembling. His apartment was a mess. Windows were broken, walls had holes, and furniture was destroyed.

It felt like he had gone on a blind rampage, the past hour blurring by.

The man touched his face, feeling the sweat drip down his skin. His breathing was heavy, and he felt lightheaded. Soarin looked at his hands, watching them vibrate. Dry blood clung to his knuckles. He didn’t remember when he had cut his hands, but here he was.

“What is wrong with me?!” Soarin shouted, kicking over his recliner. His heart continued to race in his chest. He had his little temper tantrum; wasn’t that enough?

Soarin sunk to the floor, pressing his back against the now broken chair. He needed help. Soarin shuddered at the thought. He didn’t want help. Besides, who would he even go to?

His phone buzzed, catching his attention. It was Trenderhoof.

His gaze softened. As much as he didn’t want to admit it, he had to talk to Trenderhoof.

Soarin stood at Trenderhoof’s front door. He stared at the mansion. It never failed to impress him.

Soarin rang the doorbell, his hand still trembling. The door swung open, revealing Trenderhoof. He wore an overly fancy robe, a glass of wine in hand. His eyes lit up at the sight of his boyfriend.

“What brings you here, cutie?” He playfully flirted. Soarin rubbed his arm, avoiding his boyfriend's gaze.

“Can…can we talk?”

Trenderhoof eyed Soarin’s nervous demeanor.

“Of course! Come on in.” Trenderhoof stepped to the side. Soarin entered the mansion, making a beeline to the living room.

“I feel terrible. My apartment is trashed, and I’m a monster, and I…I…” Soarin stammered over his words. It felt like all of his thoughts were stuck in his throat.

“Soarin, sweetheart, you’re spiraling.” Trenderhoof pointed out. He sat down, patting his lap. “Lay down, let me play with your hair.”

Soarin eyed Trenderhoof wearily. He didn’t have much to lose, did he? He laid his head on Trenderhoof’s surprisingly soft lap. The fabric of his robe felt smooth against his skin, like fine silk.

Trenderhoof rubbed his fingers across Soarin's scalp.

This felt…nice. Soarin sighed, practically melting under Trenderhoof's hand. His fingers felt like magic in his hair. He could feel his tension headache fade away. Soarin’s trembling slowed to a halt, and his eyes fluttered shut.

“If your apartment is that bad, you can live with me. I’ll take care of you.” Trenderhoof reassured. Soarin hummed in response. Living in a mansion with his cute boyfriend didn’t sound so bad.

The pair remained silent for what felt like forever. Soarin wished he could stay like this for the rest of eternity.

“Now, tell me what’s bothering you.” Trenderhoof spoke up. Soarin’s grip tightened again. What would Trenderhoof think? This could lead to them breaking up!

“Don’t worry, I won’t judge.” He reassured. “I promise.” Soarin let out a shaky sigh.

“I…I think I still have feelings for my ex,” Soarin admitted. He squeezed his eyes shut. This was it; this was the end of the relationship. Trenderhoof would yell and kick him out, breaking up with him on the spot.

“Who doesn’t?” Trenderhoof shrugged. Soarin blinked in surprise. Not quite the reaction he was expecting,

“If you feel that strongly, you can date Zephyr.” He offered. Soarin furrowed his brows.

“But…I’m dating you. I don’t want to break up.” Soarin pointed out, burrowing his face deeper into his lap. Trenderhoof shrugged.

“It’s not weird to have multiple partners.”

“Really?” Soarin asked in disbelief, sitting up. Trenderhoof chuckled.

“Yeah! Nothing wrong with dating more than one person.” He explained. “You love who you love.”

Soarin had never even considered that. He anxiously nibbled at his nail.

“It’s not just that. Even after we broke up, I terrorized Zephyr and his boyfriend.” Soarin sighed. “I just…feel like shit.”

Trenderhoof placed his hand on Soarin’s.

“I think it’s best if you apologize. Even if they don’t forgive you, it’ll be a nice thing for you to do.” Trenderhoof suggested. Soarin slowly nodded.

“Yeah…yeah! I’ll do that first thing tomorrow!” Soarin decided. It felt like a weight was lifted off his chest.

Apologies

Soarin glided through the sky, feeling the air brush on his face. He loved flying; it made him feel like there were no worries in the world. Soarin gazed down, seeing rows upon rows of apple trees. He was here.

A familiar anxious knot hit his stomach when his feet hit the ground. He sighed uneasily, his hands trembling against the jewelry box. He anxiously fiddled with the box, flicking the top. Soarin shoved the jewelry box into his jacket pocket. All of this fiddling would surely wear down the fine carving.

All he had to do was apologize and give Zephyr the box. And if he was lucky, Zephyr would fall for him all over again. Soarin groaned, shaking his head. There was no need to get his hopes up; this wasn’t about romance. It was about reconciliation.

Soarin strolled through Sweet Apple Acres, his fingernails digging into his knuckles. He just needed to get this over with, then the aching guilt in his chest would fade away.

“What’re you doing here?” Someone asked, disgust lacing their voice. Soarin turned on his heels, his eyes landing on an old lady. She was hunched over, glaring at Soarin.

“Oh, hi! Have you seen Zephyr?” Soarin asked, giving a kind smile. The old lady narrowed her eyes, a nasty scowl creeping on her face.

“You best get going now.” The old lady warned, hobbling on her cane.

“Pardon?”

She lifted her cane, the bottom popping off. Was the inside of it hollow? Soarin crouched down, staring at the cane curiously. Sure enough, the interior was empty. Who hollows out a cane?

The lady lifted it to the sky, gunshots firing a round. Soarin scrambled back, clamping his hands over his ears. It was a gun!?

A bird fell from the sky, blood oozing from its chest. Smoke bellowed from the fresh wound. Its wings still twitched, and its beak hung open. If Soarin wasn’t careful, that would be him.

“Get outta here! I don’t wanna see your face!” She exclaimed, aiming the cane-gun at Soarin. Soarin put his hands to his chest.

“Woah woah, I just wanna talk to Zephyr!” Soarin defended. The old lady stomped her foot, her finger grazing the trigger.

“I’ll give you to the count of three.” She hissed. “One…two…”

“What’s going on, granny?” Big Mac interrupted. The lady, presumably Granny, tilted her head towards Soarin.

“This little thing is trespassing.” She snarled. She closed one eye, readjusting the gun. Her hands had a light tremble, presumably due to old age. “Should I shoot ‘im?”

Soarin’s breath hitched, and he met Big Mac’s gaze. At this point, he wouldn’t be surprised if Big Mac told her to pull the trigger. Soarin was nothing but horrible to him before. If he wanted him dead, it wouldn’t be a shock.

To Soarin’s surprise and relief, Big Mac put his hand on Granny’s shoulder.

“Don’t worry, I’ll handle him.”

Granny frowned, placing her cane back on the ground.

“If he tries anything, go for the throat,” Granny instructed, hobbling off. Soarin peaked behind Big Mac, watching the deranged old lady leave.

Once she was out of sight, Soarin sighed in relief. He looked back at Big Mac, giving him a nervous smile.

“Thanks for calling her off.”

Big Mac crossed his arms, glaring at Soarin. If he stared any harder, Soarin was sure that he’d evaporate on the spot. He lowered his head, trying to avoid Big Mac’s gaze.

“What’re you here for?” He asked gruffly.

“I…I want to talk to you and Zephyr.” Soarin admitted. Big Mac eyed Soarin, his face scrunching with disapproval.

“Nope.”

Soarin’s face dropped.

“Come on, man, I just want to have a civil conversation,” Soarin explained. Big Mac’s gaze remained hard. Soarin inhaled sharply, nearly choking on his saliva. There was really no getting through to this guy, was there?

“Mac? What’s going on? I saw you run off.” Zephyr asked, peaking around a tree. Soarin’s eyes lit up.

“Zephyr.” Soarin sighed. It was so relieving to see his angelic face. Zephyr’s eyes were terror-filled, and he clung to Big Mac’s arm. Soarin took a weary step back.

“What do you want?” Zephyr asked, squeezing Big Mac’s arm. Soarin drew a shaky breath. His head raced with a million thoughts. No need to back out now; he needed to do this.

“I’m here to apologize.”

Zephyr’s gaze softened, and his grip on Big Mac’s bicep loosened.

“...Go on.” Zephyr aided. Soarin turned to Big Mac.

“Firstly, I’m so sorry for how I treated you at the picnic. It was completely uncalled for.” Soarin apologized. While Big Mac’s gaze remained solid and unruly, Soarin could see a glint of recognition in his eyes.

Soarin turned back to Zephyr, giving him another apologetic stare.
“I…I realized that I’ve been treating you wrong. I was a terrible boyfriend.” He admitted. Zephyr froze as if he was contemplating. He opened his mouth before quickly shutting it, shaking his head.

“Why are you telling me this now? You had years to apologize.” Zephyr huffed. Soarin frowned.

“Because…I still love you.” Soarin confessed. Zephyr’s breath hitched.

“Soarin, don’t…don’t do this to me.” He begged, rubbing his hand across his face. “You treated me like shit. You can’t just expect me to forgive you with a pitiful apology. I don’t want to fall for you again. I can’t do that to myself. I gave you my life! You gave me nothing but filth!”

Soarin’s breath wavered, and his chest felt heavy. Had he done all of that? Had he really made Zephyr feel that bad?

“I had no idea you felt that way. I’m…I’m so sorry.” His voice trembled. Zephyr pushed past Big Mac, leaning down to Soarin’s height. He was staring directly into Soarin’s soul, his hatred nearly burning his heart.

“Yeah, I bet you are.” Zephyr spat out. He turned on his heels, stomping off.

“Zephyr, wait.”

Zephyr huffed, turning around. He crossed his arms.

“What else could you possibly want.”

Soarin fished through his jacket.

“I also came to give you this.” Soarin held out the jewelry box. Zephyr stared at the box, his mouth gaping open. Zephyr furrowed his brows, and he gritted his teeth. He tugged at his sweater, letting out a shaky exhale.

“Just…go home, Soarin,” Zephyr instructed. Soarin solemnly nodded, placing the jewelry box in the grass.

“Goodbye, Zephyr.”

Soarin opened his wings, shooting into the afternoon sky. As he flew off, he could see Zephyr pick up the jewelry box.

Guilt

“I’m back,” Soarin muttered, closing the door. Trenderhoof peaked his head from the kitchen, a loving smile spreading across.

“How did it go? Did you win him back, lover boy?” Trenderhoof joked, playfully wiggling his shoulders.

Soarin brought his hand up to his face, inhaling sharply.

“I messed up.” He admitted. Well, it came out more like a weak whimper than a declaration. Trenderhoof pouted.

“Did something happen?”

Soarin huffed, bringing his arms around his torso.

“I didn’t realize how badly I treated Zephyr. I treated him like an object.” He sniffled. He looked at Trenderhoof with terror-stricken eyes. “What if I start treating you like that?”

Trenderhoof shook his head.

“If you’re that nervous about that, you’ve truly changed.” Trenderhoof opened his arms. “Now come here, you need a hug.”

As much as Soarin didn’t want to admit it, he really did need a hug. He sulked over to Trenderhoof, wrapping his arms around his torso. Soarin sighed, nuzzling into the crook of Trenderhoof’s neck. This was nice.

Soarin pulled away from the hug, staring into Trenderhoof’s eyes. They shined brightly, like amethyst in the sun.

“…You have the same eyes,” Soarin sighed wistfully, placing his hand on Trenderhoof’s cheek.

“Hm?” Trenderhoof hummed.

“You and Zephyr. You both have the same beautiful purple eyes.” Soarin reminisced, rubbing his thumb across his cheek. Trenderhoof leaned into the touch.

“I can stay if you want.” Trenderhoof placed his hand atop Soarins. “It seems like you need it.”

Soarin shook his head, moving away from his loving touch.

“No, no, you go. You have work to do.” Soarin encouraged. “I’ll be fine.”
Trenderhoof frowned.

“Are you sure? We can watch some movies and cuddle. I can cancel right now.” He said, pulling his phone from his pocket. Soarin snatched the phone from his hands.

“No! I’ll…I’ll be fine. I think I just need some time.” Soarin bashfully admitted. Trenderhoof sighed, giving Soarin a pitiful smile.

“Just call if you need anything, okay?” He insisted. Soarin nodded. “See you later. I love you.”

Trenderhoof pecked Soarins lips. It felt like electricity up his spine. Soarin sighed, nearly melting on the spot. Trenderhoof slipped away from Soarin’s grasp, walking out the front door.

Soarin now felt empty. He wanted to be back in Trenderhoof’s arms. But he couldn’t hold him back, could he? Trenderhoof had a life outside of him, after all.

His skin suddenly felt much too hot for his liking. An uncomfortable knot was in his stomach. It felt like he was being watched. Is that how he made Zephyr feel? God, he was terrible.

Soarin looked around the eerily quiet mansion. This was the first time he had been alone. Now that he was alone, the nagging feeling of guilt quickly returned.

What if Trenderhoof was wrong? What if he did ruin his relationship with Trenderhoof? He couldn’t risk another relationship. Soarin felt his hands begin to tremble.

Soarin suddenly felt too hot in his own body. He pulled his shirt over his head, tossing it to the ground. He brought his hand to his chest, feeling it hammer. Soarin’s mind brought him to every point where he was absolutely awful to Zephyr. He kicked off his shoes, wandering into the living room.

His eyes veered over to the plush couch. Maybe a quick nap could get his mind off of things.

Soarin flopped onto the couch, curling up. His hand continued to tremble against his chest, and his breathing became rigid. He squeezed his eyes shut in an attempt to go to sleep.

Soon enough, he drifted to sleep.

Soarin stood somewhere familiar, though he didn’t know where. It felt like his old apartment but…different.

“Sooooariiiin.” Someone called in a sing-song voice. Soarin turned around, seeing Zephyr. His heart sped up.

Zephyr was like an angel, drifting towards Soarin. He wrapped his arms around Soarin’s shoulders, staring at him with the utmost beautiful eyes. He nearly melted under his touch.

“Kiss me…” Zephyr commanded in a sultry voice. Soarin’s lips met Zephyr’s. At first, it felt warm and sweet. Like fireworks went off in his stomach.

“Oh, Soarin.” Zephyr moaned, running his hands through Soarin’s hair.

Soarin felt rage fill his chest, though he didn’t know why. It felt hot as if he had swallowed a bucket filled with lava. He didn’t want to feel this way; he wanted to feel loved. Unfortunately, his body didn’t want to listen.

Soarin gripped Zephyr tighter; it was nearly bone-crushing. Zephyr began to choke and gargle into Soarin’s mouth.

“S-soarin…stop…” He began to plead. Soarin wanted to stop; he really did. But something inside him needed to keep going. His grip only got together.

“Shut up.” Soarin spat out coldly. His breath hitched. He didn’t mean to say that.

Zephyr’s once loving touch soon became painful clawing, trying to get from the all-too-tight grasp. He began to do whatever he could to get released. Zephyr bit, scratched, and clawed, but to no avail.

Soarin squeezed and squeezed until…

Snap

Soarin felt Zephyr's bones crumble under his skin. Zephyr went limp, dropping to the floor. His throat let out a guttural screech.

“You’re a monster!” Zephyr shrieked. “Look at what you’ve done to me! You’ve ruined me!” Zephyr flopped across the floor, clawing at Soarin’s ankles. Soarin opened his mouth trying to say anything, but his throat suddenly felt tight.

“Stop being such a baby.” He scoffed, crossing his arms. No, no, no, no!This isn’t what he wanted to do! Every part of his body wanted to run to Zephyr. He needed to scoop him up and tell him everything was ok.

“Look at me, Soarin. Look at me!” Zephyr begged, pulling himself up on Soarin’s pant leg. Soarin couldn’t look at what he did. He just couldn’t. If he looked, he’d know how much of a monster he was.

Soarin turned on his heels, clenching his fist.

“You need to leave, Zephyr.”

Soarin awoke with a cough, sitting up. He felt like he was choking over his own tongue. He sputtered and coughed, feeling lightheaded.

His dreams were right; he was a terrible, abusive monster. Soarin wrapped his arms around his torso, trying to steady his erratic breathing.

“Just calm down. Calm down, calm down, calm down.” Soarin chanted to himself but to no avail. It felt like his brain was racing a thousand thoughts per second.

Soarin’s eyes darted to his phone. No, no, no, he couldn’t call Trenderhoof. He couldn’t be too overly reliant on him; it would be stifling.

But Trenderhoof said it was okay, didn’t he? And if he never listened to Trenderhoof, then he’d been in the same spot he was in with Zephyr.

Soarin hesitantly put his phone to his ear, letting it ring. It clicked after two rings.

“Hey, Soar! What’s up?” Trenderhoof asked. Soarin withdrew a shaky breath.

“Can you come home?”

A New Start

Zephyr paced around Big Mac’s bedroom, anxiously nibbling his thumbnail. His eyes veered to the jewelry box that lay on the bed. His jewelry box.

Why would Soarin give it back? If anything, Zephyr would expect Soarin to burn the thing. Did he really care that much? Zephyr shook his head. No, no, he couldn’t. Soarin was manipulating him; that’s what he was doing! Why would he possibly come all the way to Sweet Apple Acres just for a box? Not only did he bring the box, he apologized!

And the apology just felt so…sincere. Now that Zephyr thought about it, had Soarin ever apologized before this moment? Every apology before this point was much more sarcastic. Soarin had never meant any of those. But this…this felt…

“You coming down for dinner?” A bassy voice spoke. Zephyr nearly jumped from his skin, whipping around on his heels. To his relief, it was just Big Mac. He leaned on the doorway, his arms folded against his chest.

“Not now, I’m thinking.” Zephyr quickly dismissed, getting back to his pacing. Big Mac frowned, furrowing his brows.

“You’ve been in here ‘thinking’ for 2 days now.” He pointed out. Zephyr groaned, throwing his head back.

“Ugh, I know!” He clenched his fist, shaking them at the ceiling. Big Mac stepped into the room, gingerly shutting the door. The man looked at the jewelry box and back at Zephyr.

“This ain’t just about the box, is it?” Big Mac inquired. Zephyr sighed, plopping onto the bed. He rubbed his hands across his face.

“I think I miss Soarin.” He confessed, burying his head in his hands. Big Mac hummed softly, sitting next to Zephyr. It wasn’t really a judgemental hum; it was more of a ‘Go on, tell me more’ type of hum.

“I know he wasn’t perfect, but, like, who is?” Zephyr began. “When we were alone, he treated me with so much love. Soarin was just so…tender.” He gushed. He could practically feel Soarin’s gentle touch on his skin.

Zephyr’s gaze wandered to the jewelry box once again. He traced his fingers over the carvings.

“You know, it’s been a few days, and I still haven’t looked at the pictures,” Zephyr said, rotating the box in his hands. “Wanna see some?” He offered.

“Eeyup.”

Zephyr flicked the top open, pulling out the stack of photos.
Instead of being bound together by a red ribbon, it was purple. Had Soarin retied them? It sure looked like it. It came together more like a knot than a bow. Zephyr had nearly snapped off his fingers in an attempt to undo the knot.

Zephyr flipped a picture over, admiring it. The resolution was terrible, and there were specks of something on the lens. Even then, he couldn’t help but sigh whimsically. It was like looking back at his favorite memory. Just like every photo, Soarin looked upset, but Zephyr didn’t mind.

“This when we went to the beach.” Zephyr began. “Soarin hated being in the sand, but he still went for me.” He stared at the photo longingly. Big Mac looked between Zephyr and the piece of paper.

“You really miss him, don’t ya?” He asked. Zephyr looked at his boyfriend with wide eyes. He began to sputter over his words, trying to find an excuse.

After a few moments of needless noises, Zephyr sighed, flopping onto the bed. There was no point in lying. Big Mac could read him like a book.

“Is it that obvious?” Zephyr squealed embarrassedly. Big Mac gave a playful smile.

“Eeyup.”

“It’s just that…” Zephyr trailed off, putting his hand over his mouth. “Am I crazy for wanting to give him another chance?” Zephyr asked.

“Nope. It’s hard to get rid of old feelings.” Big Mac shrugged, lying next to Zephyr. He anxiously fiddled with his hands. Pictures weren’t enough. He needed to be with Soarin. He needed to be with him.

“Mac, would…you be upset if I wanted to date him too?”

Big Mac spared Zephyr a glance before shrugging.

“As long as it makes you happy, I’ll be fine with it.” Big Mac stated. “You can date the whole world, and I’d still be happy.”

Zephyr snorted, leaning onto Big Mac’s arm.

“When did you get so sappy?” He chuckled. Mac shrugged, leaning his head on Zephyr’s.

“I dunno.”

The pair basked in silence for a long while, enjoying each other's presence. Zephyr had to admit that Big Mac was the best thing to happen to him in a long time. He was just so kind and understanding.

“You gonna talk to Soarin?” Big Mac broke the silence. “It seems like you want to.”

Zephyr sighed. As much as he didn’t want to admit it, he really did want to talk to Soarin.

He pulled out his phone, his finger hovering over Soarin’s contact. Zephyr had no idea why he had never deleted it. Maybe it was because he still held out a little hope. No backing out now. He clicked the contact, his fingers skimming across the keyboard.

“We need to talk.”

Soarin sat on the couch, anxiously bouncing his leg. His fists were pressed against his mouth, attempting to conceal his trembling hands. His breathing was quick and erratic, making it feel as if his lungs were going to explode.

Trenderhoof plopped on the couch, placing his hand on Soarin’s back. He rubbed small circles across his back.

“Deep breaths, Soar. It’s probably not that bad.”

“But what if it is bad? What if he wants a restraining order?”

“Why would he text you about a restraining order? If he hated you that much, couldn’t he just send it in the mail?” Trenderhoof reasoned. Soarin sighed, his bouncing leg slowing to a halt. Trenderhoof was right; he was being unreasonable. Zephyr probably just wanted a simple chat. Nothing more, nothing less.

The doorbell rang, instantly spiking Soarin’s anxiety. Oh geez, they were here.

“I’ll get it, don’t worry,” Trenderhoof reassured, hopping up from the couch. Soarin took a few deep inhales. He needed to look calm and collected.

Zephyr walked in, clinging to Big Mac's arm. He had a look of awe on his face, admiring the mansion. His gaze wandered to Soarin, who stood up nervously. Soarin shoved his hands in his pockets, trying to hide how sweaty they were.

“Zephyr, hi!” Soarin said, much too loud for his liking. Soarin looked at Big Mac. His arm was wrapped around Zephyr protectively. His expression was unreadable, yet his stare was hard. Soarin quickly looked down to his shoes, averting his gaze. Zephyr gave Soarin a pitiful smile.

“Zephyr, it’s so great to finally meet you!” Trenderhoof greeted, pulling Zephyr into a hug. Zephyr responded with an awkward pat on the back. Soarin loved Trenderhoof, but he really wished he didn’t hug people he barely knew. “Soarin over here talks about you all the time.”

A blush spread across Soarin's face. Trenderhoof was right, but he’d never admit it.

“Come in, sit down,” Trenderhoof instructed, pointing to the couch across them. “Vestine will be ready with the tea in a moment.” He said, pulling Soarin onto the couch.

The room was tense, and Soarin's heart pounded in his chest. He prayed that no one could hear it. Despite his nervousness, Soarin couldn’t stop himself from staring. Zephyr was just as beautiful as the last time he saw him.

“What brings you here?” Soarin asked, trying to make his voice sound steady. Zephyr let out an uneasy huff.

“I’m just gonna come out and say it.” Zephyr gripped his pants tightly.“Soarin…I still love you.” He confessed. Soarin’s eyes nearly bulged from his head, and his mouth gaped open.

“Really!?”

Zephyr almost wanted to laugh at the reaction. Instead, he simply nodded.

“We both know how you treated me in the past, but…but I’d like to give you another chance.”

Soarin couldn’t conceal his joy, a giddy smile forming. He couldn’t believe it! Was he dreaming? If he was, he wished to never wake up.

“But, we’re going to take it slow. No kissing and no physical contact. Not until I feel comfortable enough.” Zephyr instructed. Soarin quickly nodded.

“Of course! I promise I’ll treat you like the angel you are.”

Zephyr’s face flushed. He couldn’t help it! Soarin was just as charming as always.

Vestine strolled into the room, carting a tea set. They stopped, twirling the tray of tea. To everyone's surprise, none spilled.

“For you, sirs,” Vestine said, placing the tray onto the table between them. Soarin picked up the cup, enjoying the warmth in his hands. Today was a special day.

Zephyr was a happy man, and Soarin felt free.