Rosie lets herself in the back door not long after Twilight comes down the stairs. The princess is sitting at a table, gazing out the front window. A small crowed is staring back in at her, looking excited. She goes Princess Kindergarten: smiles and waves. She hears Rosie chuckle behind her, turns, rises, and rushes over to hug her friend.
"Welcome back to the job," Rosie says, "I'm still surprised you decided to come back so soon."
"Well," Twilight replies, "I apparently spent weeks relaxing, I want to look for that shooter before the trail gets too cold. Besides, I heard I was critical to your business."
"I wouldn't say critical," Rosie says, grinning and rising from the hug, "but even though you were only here a few days, I still have a handful of customers every day wondering if this is really 'the pony bar'. That's why I have this," she points to a picture on the wall. Twilight moves to look, and sees it's a newspaper photo of her, waiting a table.
"I bet you'll do even better now that I'm back," she says.
"About that," Rosie says, "are you planning to keep working here for a while now?"
"Well, my life isn't the most predictable anymore. It's amazing how that happens when you get your nose out of books and into vast magical powers. But I plan to. I know it helps you out, and I need money and a place to stay anyway. Might as well get them this way."
"Great! That means I have a question for you. Come look at this," Rosie moves into the kitchen, and Twilight follows. There's a large wooden panel leaning against the wall.
"I've been thinking about updating the bar's branding a bit anyway," Rosie continues, "but I felt like I should ask you before going in this direction. I don't mind if you don't want me to."
Twilight can now see that the panel's a new sign, like the one currently hanging outside the store. Rather than Legal Spirits and the wig-and-gavel logo the current sign sports, though, this one features a stylized picture of Twilight herself rearing up, wings flared, and the title The Prancing Pony.
"I don't prance much," Twilight giggles, "but that's fine anyway. As soon as I got my wings Rarity commissioned a 'royal endorsement' plaque for her boutique, and half the businesses in Ponyville must have them by now."
"Well, the name's a Lord of the Rings tribute," Rosie says, "I figured once you're naming your bar after its magical unicorn, you might as well double down on nerd appeal."
"I really should read that book," Twilight mutters.
"Or see the movie, that's what I did."
Twilight shoots her a look normally reserved for changelings and those who write in library books.
"My bad," Rosie laughs, "I should have known better than to tell you that. Please don't banish me to the moon."
"I should," Twilight spoils the grumble with a smile. "When are you planning to change over?"
"I'm ready anytime," Rosie shrugs, "it'll take some time to change the name of the company on the books, but that hardly matters. I can hang the sign tomorrow. I probably will, if the work crew is available. It'd be good timing, let people start talking about how you're back, then show up and see the new sign."
"Why do you need a work crew?"
Rosie snorts. "Not like I can carry it up there myself."
"Didn't Rachel tell you," Twilight flares her wings, "that I got my full power back? I can put it up whenever you like."
"She did, but I'm still not really sure what that means."
"Well," Twilight grins, "it means you just need to tell me when you want the sign up."
"...okay. Well, let's still go with tomorrow. I like the idea of that timing. Anyway, you still remember how to do the job? We're opening in an hour."
"Yeah," Twilight says, "but there's something I need to ask you first. Can I share the storeroom with somepony else?"
Rosie blinks twice. "What, did you meet a nice stallion out at the farm?"
"Eeew! No! Rainbow Dash showed up there last night."
"Wait, actual Rainbow Dash? Just showed up?"
"That was my reaction. She doesn't remember any more than I do, unfortunately, but we checked her all over, she seems to be totally herself, no wires or anything."
"Well, I don't mind if she stays, but...do you think all of them will show up?"
"I sure hope so," Twilight sighs.
"I can see why you'd want to see your friends, but it seems like even with just two of you, that storeroom will get pretty cozy."
"I know," Twilight shakes her head, "but it's fine with two, and I guess we'll figure out what to do with others if it comes to that. I'm still glad to have her back."
Rosie pats her head. "I know. We're all glad we met you, but new friends are no substitute for old."
Twilight nods.
"But come on, the rest of the staff will be here soon, let's get ready to open. If you're willing, I'd love to meet Rainbow Dash after that."
The shift goes well. Now that Twilight has her full earth pony strength back, and all her alicorn magic, she barely feels the physical effort of the work. The attention still makes her a bit uncomfortable, but it's similar enough to what she garnered in Equestria to be uncomfortable in a weirdly familiar way. It seems to help that all the customers think she's still a robot; it seems that, like ponies, humans prefer interacting with things they understand, even if they're strange. So since none of them out and out ask if she's really a machine, she doesn't bother to volunteer it.
Finally, long after even the summer sun has vanished, only the desperate, the disappointed, and the near-unconscious remain, and Rosie sends them all packing and turns out the lights. It's been a good day.
"You weren't kidding about being stronger," Rosie says to Twilight as she counts out, "you did the work of two out there. Good thing, since with all the extra business we'd have been in trouble if you didn't. I hope it paid off in tips."
"It did," Twilight blushes, "I still think that's such a weird way to do it, but I can't complain about the result. Apparently part of the authentic pony experience is giving me a lot of money."
Rosie laughs. "Well, I've never heard of anyone getting really rich on tips, but I'm glad they're being generous. You do great work, but I don't want to be unfair to my other employees by giving you raises too quickly. I mean, 'sorry, I know you've been here for two years, but Twilight's a superhero' doesn't really seem like a fair criticism of someone's work. Even if it's true."
"I don't mind," Twilight says, "you're already saving me a lot of money by letting me stay in the storeroom. And the tips do seem to be making up for it. Anyway, ready to go meet Rainbow?"
"Sure."
Twilight pushes the door open, and immediately feels all the blood rush to her face. Next to her, Rosie guffaws. Rainbow Dash is lying on the bedroll, eyes open wide and watery, wearing a seductive pout.
"Rainbow, what the hay!" Twilight's eye twitches.
"I thought you said the Internet made up all that stuff about you two dating," Rosie barely manages to choke it out through tears of laughter.
"Oh, hey Twi'," Rainbow looks up, shameless. "Check it out, I have so many fans now!"
"Rainbow," Twilight says, voice low, "what do you mean? Why were you posing like that?"
"It's called a 'selfie'!" Rainbow crows, "I signed up for this 'Facebook' site, and I've been posting them for the last few hours. Look!"
Rainbow awkwardly turns the tablet around with her hooves, revealing the app on the screen. The feed is full of pictures of Rainbow Dash, in various poses, mostly trying to look badass. They each have tens of thousands of likes. New like, follow, and comment notifications scroll up the side of the screen as they watch.
"It's kind of hypnotic," Twilight says.
"I was thinking sexy," Rainbow said.
"I was talking about all the notifications."
"So was I."
"What in Celestia's name is wrong with you, Rainbow?"
Rosie takes a few moments to recover, during which Rainbow manages to drag Twilight into the frame for a photo.
"You should get one of these accounts so I can tag you," she says. "I bet you'd get almost as many likes as me."
"Remember what I told you last night? I think I might get more."
"That's just because cartoon Rainbow Dash can't live up to the real thing. Now you've got to sign up so I can prove it!"
"Maybe later," Twilight sighs. "Right now, I think Rosie wants to meet you."
"Oh yeah, is she ok?"
"I'll...I'll be fine," the human gasps. "Nice to meet you Rainbow Dash, I'm Rosie Baker."
They talk and laugh for a few hours, before Rosie finally heads out for bed.
"Remember, Twilight," she says, "tomorrow's one of your days off. Maybe you should show Rainbow around?"
"I think I will," Twilight says. "I'm going to check in with Rachel later in the evening, but now that I have some money, I want to do some shopping. And I barely got a chance to look around on my own before. I'm really looking forward to being able to go around town as a legal person!"
"I bet," Rosie smiles. "Did you memorize my cell phone number? I know you don't have one yourself, but if you need me, you can ask a business or the police."
"Yes, I have," Twilight says.
"Good. It was nice to meet you, Rainbow Dash." Dash nods at Rosie and smiles.
"Yeah, you seem pretty cool."
"Goodnight then. Enjoy your day out."