//------------------------------//
// Talkative 
// Story: Appledashery 
// by Just Essay 
//------------------------------//

	"Hrmmmfff!"  With a wind-up kick, Rainbow Dash cleared the last of the clouds over Ponyville.

"Just one more drill, and we'll be ready for the tree-clearing!" Thunderlane explained to Candy Mane.  "I've gotta say, I'm super pumped!"

"Wow..."  Candy Mane tilted her head aside while in mid-flight.  "Just how many trees are you going to rip up?"

"Well, that is going to take all four cyclones," Thunderlane said.  "But the idea is to coordinate them into a counter-clockwise swirl and sweep the northern edge of Everfree."

Candy Mane giggled.  "You still didn't answer my question."

"Oh!  Uhm..."  Thunderlane tapped his chin.  "None of the living trees.  And the Cloudsdalian Commission already worked with the local wildlife ponies to move all fauna from the location—not that there was much living there already."

Rainbow flew over.  "Basically, it's a bunch of dead things with dead roots that have no business being there anymore."  She swiped the sweat from her brow.  "We're just cleaning up shop so that mother nature will have a new, fresher earth to grow in."

"So, in a way, you're helping the Everfree?" Candy Mane remarked.

"Totally!"  Rainbow grinned.  "Ponies helping nature!  It's about as pegasus as 'pegasus' gets."

"Hah!  Nice..."  Candy Mane grinned.  "Almost makes me wish I was on one of the tornado teams."

"You can still help out," Rainbow said.  "Just head on over during one of our drills and provide moral support."

"Or an extra pair of wings in case one of the ponies in Rainbow's team collapses dead."  Thunderlane winked.

"Hah!"  Rainbow planted her hooves on her flank with a hard smirk.  "That's some talk coming from a stallion on the lowest scoring team so far!"

"H-hey..."  Thunderlane brushed the back of his neck, blushing.  "Cut it out!  We had some no-show's, okay?"

"And I'll have you know that my team is comprised of the least squeaky wheels ever!"  Rainbow cleared her throat.  "Figuratively speaking."

"Heheh... I get it, Rainbow."  Candy Mane smirked.  "You must be so proud to be a team captain.  I haven't seen you this enthusiastic in ages!"

"Heheheh... yeah, well..."  Rainbow Dash shrugged.  "Guess I've just got a chip on my shoulder lately."

"I'd say!  You're actually talking to us!  It's like you're a whole 'nother mare!"

"Don't be getting any crazy ideas now..."

"Heaven forbid."  Candy Mane giggled as she and Thunderlane flew off to find another cloud.  "You've got a reputation to protect, I bet."

"With a capital 'P.'"  Rainbow said, smirking.  She flapped her wings to join them when her eyes fell towards the rooftops of Ponyville.  Her eyes blinked... then squinted.

Something was off about the marketplace.  There was a single vendor conspicuously missing among the rest.

"Huh... weird..."  Rainbow muttered aloud.  "She must be taking a day off or something."

"Rainbow!  Hey!  We could use some help with this developing convection!"

"Sure thing!  Coming!"  Rainbow took one glance at the rooftops below, exhaled, then flew northeast with a calm smile.