//------------------------------//
// Chapter 2 
// Story: Feathermarked 
// by SpinningRecord 
//------------------------------//

Rainbow soared over the valley, flying quickly away from Sweet Apple Acres. She surveyed the skies, noting that there weren’t rain clouds anywhere in sight. I could’ve gotten the schedule wrong, I guess. Nah, I never get the schedule wrong, Rainbow huffed. She flew lower than normal, attempting to get a quick glimpse of the other four weatherponies on duty that day. 

As she neared the library, Rainbow saw Flitter and Cloudkicker, unsuccessfully, bucking a large white cumulonimbus. Rainbow sighed. Looks like they’ve been doing this all morning, she sighed. She flew tentatively over to where they were, hovering just a few feet above them. “Have you been at this since I left earlier?” she questioned.

Flitter murmured to herself while Cloudkicker sheepishly scratched her head. 

“Yeah, Dash. I mixed up the weather schedule again. I sorta almost created a huge cumulonimbus cloud over the library,” Cloudkicker mentioned. Rainbow brought a hoof to her face, shaking her head lightly. 

“You really are something else, Cloudkicker. Keep bucking that one, all right? Flitter and I will go find Airheart to start on the storm clouds. Once you’re done with that, come find us,” Rainbow commanded. “This is going to take all day.” Cloudkicker nodded and continued bucking the over-filled cumulonimbus. Dash and Flitter hovered for a moment before flapping away toward the park. 







Rainbow Dash wiped her wet hair off of her face crossly. She pointed a glare in Airheart’s direction. All four weatherponies were soaked to the bone and shivering. Cloudkicker and Flitter slowly descended to the ground, followed by Airheart, then Rainbow Dash. Rainbow looked at the three other ponies. 

“Well, at least we finished before nightfall,” Airheart pointed out sheepishly. Airheart hoofed at the muddy ground, not meeting Rainbow’s glare. Flitter and Cloudkicker nodded in agreement, looking at Dash with hopeful eyes. 

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes with a smirk. “Yeah, I guess that’s good enough for me,” she stated, taking off once more. She flapped twice before turning back to the other ponies, “Oh, you guys can go now. We’re done now that the rain is pouring.” Rainbow flew a few feet before turning back to the receding ponies, “You all did so well. From now on, I’ll make sure you’re scheduled for every downpour!” she shouted to them. 

Rainbow laughed as she heard the collective groans of her weather team. She glided skillfully through the pouring rain back towards Sweet Apple Acres. Stubborn pony. She’s probably still working, Dash thought. Rainbow maneuvered through the rain with ease, making good time on her way to the farm. She did a quick sweep around the backfields to try and catch a glimpse of her orange friend. 

Instead of seeing Applejack, Rainbow Dash caught a glimpse of Fluttershy instead. What the hay is Fluttershy doing in the apple orchards? Dash thought. She hoofed her mane out of her eyes before swooping to the ground near her friend. “Hey, Flutters, what are you doing out here in the downpour?” Rainbow wondered.

Fluttershy let out a quiet “Eep!” before turning slowly to face Rainbow. Her mane stuck to her face, and her entire body shivered. “O-oh, h-hi, Rainbow D-dash. I was j-just out l-looking f-f-for Ang-gel Bunny. He ran o-out b-before the s-storm and hasn’t c-come back!” Fluttershy stuttered. 

“Jeez, Flutters! You’re freezing! Come on, I’m taking you home. Angel will be fine. He’ll just do whatever he did before he had you, okay? He’ll be fine, “ Rainbow persuaded. 

“B-but what i-if he doesn’t come h-home?!” Fluttershy panicked. Her lungs wheezed and she gasped. Fluttershy began coughing roughly. 

Rainbow rolled her eyes and huffed. “I’ll help you look for him tomorrow, okay? You need to get home! He might even be at your house waiting for you!” Rainbow pled. Even she was beginning to shiver from the cold. Fluttershy nodded hastily, taking off from the ground off towards her home. Rainbow puffed her mane from her eyes, following after her friend.