Zephyr breezed into Fluttershy's little corner of the park, looking around with an artist's eye. Sure, it was a nice place. Dappled sunlight shining through branches, little critters hopping around, wildflowers blooming, all very cute in a Whinny princess sort of way. But it hadn't changed much over the last month.
Flutters herself wasn't much better. Once Zeph was used to the whole "her being a tree" thing, the situation had quickly and undeniably grown less interesting from there. It had gotten to the point where watching the bark creep up her body was the most interesting thing about her. Shame it hadn't been Rainbows who'd gotten this treatment...
Zeph shook himself and waved. "Heya, big sister." Seemed like he had to get her attention even when he was standing in front of her these days.
Sure enough, her head might have been pointed at him, but the way the lights came on when he said something made it clear that she hadn't been looking at him. She smiled and said, "Hello, Zephyr. Has it been another week already?"
"Sure has. Time flies when you're havin' fun, huh?"
Fluttershy just giggled and nodded.
"But honestly?" Zeph hissed through his teeth, running a finger along the start of what was sure to be a proper artist's beard one day, even if it was only a few hairs now. "I don't think I'll be coming by next week."
"Why's that?" said Shy. She looked more curious than upset, definitely a good sign.
"Well, at first, this was really cool, you know? Not just you going all dryad, but also the lighting, the color, the scenery!" Zeph threw his arms out wide to take in the glade. "Real inspirational. I knew photography was where my muse was at, and this little slice of nature proved it. But, well, you know..." He shrugged.
"I'm afraid I don't."
"You see, I gotta mix it up a little. Can't let myself get pigeonholed as 'the guy who takes pictures of his sister the tree.' First of all, that's kind of creepy. Secondly, you gotta understand, Flutter Butter, I have almost a hundred followers on AberrantArt." Zeph smirked and polished his knuckles on his chest. "Not to brag, but I'm kind of a big deal. And that means I have a commitment to my audience. I can't let my art grow stale hanging around here when there's a whole world just waiting for Zephyr Breeze to capture it, you dig?"
"Dig?" Oh boy. There went the big sisterly eyebrow.
Zeph knew he was navigating a minefield now, but didn't let her see him sweat. "Part of the whole 'Neo-Bohemian' vibe I'm tryin' to cultivate. Beret's in the mail. Trust me, when it catches on, it'll be huge."
Fluttershy smiled. "I'm sure it will, given how your star is rising. I will miss you, but you should follow your inspiration."
"Yeah," Zeph muttered, "and not just because those Team Honor punks keep taking the gym at my favorite café."
"Hmm?"
He flashed a winning grin. "Nothing to worry about. You'll be fine on your own, right?"
Fluttershy gave a slightly creaky nod. "Of course. Thank you for keeping me company for this long, Zephyr."
"Anything for you, big sis. Be sure to tell me all about what I missed when you're through."
"Hmm." Zeph wasn't sure what to make of the sound. Before he could ask, Fluttershy's gaze took on the same distance it had when he'd first come in.
He shrugged and left. She'd be fine. This was Fluttershy, after all, his incredible older sister, the girl so awesome she got superpowers from playing a tambourine. What could possibly happen to her?
Tempting fate much, anorak?
"What could possibly happen to her?"
Lumberjacks.
Once you leaf, it's hard to come back.
7580601 ...What are you going on about? Since when is Zephyr Breeze a girl?
"Chapter 6 - Park Services and Construction Crew"
...When I suggested Rarity inventing tree-fashion, I meant for the trees.
Buuuut I suppose this makes woefully little sense for Fluttertree here. Not unless Rarity figures out earth-pony style growth magic to apply on complimentary plants, vines and other natural "accessorites", anyhow... or works together with someone who does.
. . .
Okay, so, when will Tree Hugger show up? We all know its coming.
Heck, maybe she'd even like to try being a tree, too.
Doesn't matter that Sunset put up a privacy barrier, Tree Hugger can probably see Fluttertree's shakras all the way from outside the park.
7580440
7580350
Underneath the pretentious outer shell is a little boy who still thinks his older sister is the coolest thing ever and can overcome literally everything.
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It's eerie how well that first verse captures Zephyr.
7580440
Thankfully unlikely to show up in a town park. Unless, of course, Paul Bunyan's Disease has become a thing in this world. I'm 99.9% sure it hasn't... though that would make for an entertaining Group Precipitation story.
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More true than you know...
7580601
This is Zephyr Breeze we're talking about. His ego is big enough that its gravity distorts all light around him, doing very eculiar things to his perception of reality.
You captured Zephyr Breeze's absolute douchebaggery perfectly.
As to the story itself as a whole...honestly it's kinda creeping me out and I'm not 100% sure I'm cool with it.
It's honestly kind of adorable. Sure, he's a twit, but he's a twit who genuinely loves and appreciates his family. You gotta respect that, to a degree. Better people have less faith in their siblings.
And he is just the kind of aberrant that would use such a site! :V
Kay, Sunset? Sunset? You are watching her, right? Right? I feel like you aren't. At least not closely. And that this is going to end badly.
-GM, master of bits.
Hopefully they'll be able to turn her back to normal before their summer break is over.
Something tells me we're about to find out.