//------------------------------//
// Landing the Dream Job 
// Story: Flare Shaker and the Rescue Ponies 
// by rey1119 
//------------------------------//

	It's been a month since the princess's castle was erected and the tyrant Tirek was defeated. Life in Ponyville was experiencing a period of peace that would with luck last for a good while. The sun rose once again on this seemingly storybook summer day, birds chirping, ponies rising from their beds, and the early Pegasus squad clearing clouds, ensuring a clear and refreshing sunrise.

Flare Shaker slowly opened his eyes, the bright rays of the sun burning into his retinas. Today was the first tax collection day since a certain monster destroyed his previous employer's cabbage patch. Out of a job once again and with just enough bits to pay the rent, it looks like it's time for another short job. With a spit, shave and a shower, Flare left the home leaving bits for the tax-pony out to the town billboard. 

The repair jobs from the attack have dwindled into recent memories, only a few odd jobs remained, and not very well paying ones at that. Flare read the billboard silently to himself, noting a few easy jobs he hoped weren't taken yet, he could make enough for lunch and dinner by lunch if he skipped breakfast, as he was finishing making his mental schedule a small purple slip caught his eye.

"Help wanted in the new castle, housekeeping and miscellaneous request." said Flair as he read the small note. He spread his wings and took to the skies, rocketing across towns at borderline illegal speeds towards the castle.

With the castle directly in front of him, he pulled to a stop and landed in front of the mighty doors. Other than the unusual lack of a royal guard outfit, the castle looked royal and imposing up close, but not enough to prevent Flare from knocking on the doors the moment he reached them. He waited for a response, 'were the princesses home?' was not an uncommon question seeing as they all were very busy mares. That's why it was almost a shock when Princess Twilight Sparkle answered the knock.

"Oh hello there! You must be responding to the letter on the noticeboard, please come in!" Twilight addressed Flare in a very casual manner, this made him a little less tense as he proceeded into the main room. "We only need a few ponies for this job, you're probably going to be the last one, there are two more there and I'd like you to meet them" She explained as she guided him to a couple ponies sitting at one of the many pristine looking tables that dotted the bottom floor.

The first pony he noticed was a dark blue unicorn, with a short light blue mane and and a stubby tail, and freckles which lightly dotted her face. He looked into her blue eyes as he spoke to him. "Hey there dude, I'm Cerulean Jet, but you can call me CJ if you want," As she finished the sentence he flipped her hair out of her eyes by tossing her head,

Flare nodded and turned his head toward the rather large stallion sitting adjacent to CJ. He had a short dark red coat, and an imposing black Mohawk that ended in a pony-tail, and like CJ he also had a rather short but wildly cut tail. He also had rather thick eyebrows. "My name's Muscle Rider,  nice to meet you." He said with a deep voice, Incredible strength seemed to emanate from him like an aura.

"Good! Now that everyone is all accounted for, I will now go over the job description one more time for our new member..." Twilight said, as she began listing various duties that should be done by certain times. Not unlike a janitorial service, but a few extras like preparing lunch and collecting feather's from the resident owl every so often

Once she was done listing the required duties and payment dates she turned to leave when Flare called after her. After getting her attention, and being informed that 'Princess Twilight Sparkle' was way too formal and that she preferred to be called twilight by those she knows and are planning to get to know, Flare had to ask her a question or two.

"Whenever you guys see us in the castle or in town don't be afraid to say 'hello', or stop us to talk! You three are more than just cleaning ponies or guards, you're gonna be as close to us as we are to each other, so I hope that us being friends comes before us being royalty." Twilight explained to the delight of the three listeners. "But right now, it's really early and I've got a full to-do list, as do you  right now, so maybe we could talk a little later. Spike's around and I'm sure he'd like to meet you guy! Just don't let him boss you around too much, a little power gets to his head." She explained before waving her goodbyes and heading out the front door.