Thunderlane and Candy Mane kicked several clouds into submission. As the misty vapor dissipated around the two in the morning air, they brushed their hooves off, then exchanged glances. After a mutual gulping, they turned and looked across a nearby cloud bank.
Rainbow Dash lethargically went about forming a large cloud out of several smaller ones. When she finally kicked at the vaporous mass, it was with half-a-breath. She flew limply after the ensuing breakup, batting the bits into translucent nothingness, sighing the entire time. There was no ruler in existence that could measure her long face. A pair of ruby eyes gazed tiredly at the rooftops of Ponyville below.
Thunderlane bit his lip. He looked at Candy Mane.
"Uhhh..." Candy Mane smiled in Rainbow's direction. "Thunder and I were gonna go hit Sugarcube Corner after this, Rainbow. Would you be interested in joining us... m-maybe?"
"Mmmmm..." Rainbow floated listlessly after another cloud.
"I bet they're serving cider!" Thunderlane said.
"Shhhh!" Candy Mane swatted his shoulder.
He winced, rubbing his forelimb and smiling nervously. "The... uh... the light stuff!"
Rainbow's body deflated with yet another sigh. "Mmmm... gonna be busy."
"Oh yeah?" Candy Mane smiled. "Whatcha up to this afternoon?"
"Working." Rainbow Dash collected more clouds, her ears twitching. "Always. Working."
"Oh." Candy Mane blinked.
Nostrils flaring, Rainbow bucked the large cloud and went slowly chasing after its various misty bits, dashing them with errant kicks.
"It's a bunch of tiny parcels. But it's all the same job," Stamps said, writing onto a sheet of paper. He flipped over to another sheet on his desk and resumed his busy scribbles. "Twilight Sparkle's experiment with the scientists coming in from Trottingham could have some residual magical effects on local unicorns, so she's sending out these packages full of magical reagents to assist the Ponyvilleans with any potential anomalies. Those are her words, not mine. I'm sure it's gonna be nothing more than a bit of static electricity in the afternoon time. That librarian's smart, but a little paranoid. But I suppose you would know that."
"Mmmm. I guess."
Stamps' eyes darted up.
Rainbow Dash stood, head bowed, in the center of the company warehouse.
Stamps arched an eyebrow. "Need to call in sick today?"
"I'm not sick."
"You sure of that?"
"When you're done with the paperwork, I'd very much like to get to work, please," Rainbow said.
Stamps blinked. He finished signing a few more sheets, shuffled them, then slid them into a large envelope. "You know... a very colorful, snarky pegasus once worked for Banner Company."
"If you say so."
"Close enough." Stamps hoofed the envelope over. "That's for the last destination."
"Uh huh." Rainbow tucked it under her wing and spun about to leave.
"Remember..." Stamps tilted his chin up. "A smiling employee makes a smiling client."
"Hmmm..." And the mare was gone.
Stamps exhaled, his brow furrowed. "What'd she do on vacation anyway?" He shuffled through his papers some more. "Kick puppies?"
"Well, splendid." Amethyst Star smiled, nodding. "I'll keep a watch on my magic this week. And if you see Miss Sparkle, be sure to thank her for the heads up on my behalf."
"Uh huh," Rainbow said.
The front door to the unicorn's cottage shut.
Rainbow adjusted her yellow apron, spun about, and marched towards her chariot parked on the side of the road. She was starting to tie herself up to the riggings when she paused, then craned her neck to look past the nearest row of apartments.
The Everfree Forest loomed at a cold distance. Nothing but black space lingered between the trees.
Rainbow Dash clammed up even more. With molasses motion, she finished attaching herself to the wagon, flapped her wings, and flew off to the next destination.