//------------------------------//
// The Unbannered Mare 
// Story: Appledashery 
// by Just Essay 
//------------------------------//

	"'Fired?!'"  Rainbow Dash nearly collapsed in the center of the warehouse.  Her muzzle hung wide open.  "What do you mean I'm fired?!"

Stamps squirmed from behind his desk.  "We... prefer to use the term: 'Discontinuation of business relations.'"

"Horse hockey!"  Rainbow snarled, causing several Banner Company employees to glance over from where they were busy packing and moving boxes.  "You've totally fired my butt and I wanna know why!"

"You failed to clock in, Rainbow Dash," Stamps said.  "You were scheduled three days in a row.  I even sent an employee by your house to check on you.  You weren't home... but there was a sign posted in the cloudstone."  He raised an eyebrow.  "I didn't know you were moving."

"Yeah, neither did I."

"Huh?"

"Look... I just... had an emergency situation!"

"Oh?  Where?"

"In Las Pegas—"  Rainbow Dash grimaced midway.

Stamps sighed.  "You do know that you had already used up all your vacation time, Rainbow Dash."

"Uhhhh... wh-who said it was a vacation?!"  Rainbow folded her forelimbs and tilted her nose up with a pout.  "Like I said, it was an emergency!"

"Life-threatening?"

"You bet!  And totally last second, too!"

"Do you have documentation from emergency services?"

"... ... ..."  Rainbow Dash blinked.  "Uhhhhh..."

"Hospital records?  Police notice?"

Rainbow bit her lip, starting to sweat.

Stamps sighed.  "Rainbow Dash... you've always had a history of... infrequent availability, but I always knew we could rely on you."  He gulped.  "Until now."

"Stamps, I would never willfully turn my back on you..."  Rainbow's voice cracked.  "Or this job."

"I believe that."  Stamps took a breath.  "I wish my bosses did."

"Eugh..."  Rainbow rolled her eyes.  "Why is it always somepony else's 'higher-ups?'"

"Maybe if I get promoted, I can find a way to squeeze you back into employment here again.  But, for the time being, we can no longer utilize your services here at Banner Company."  Stamps gulped.  "I wish things were different."

"Oh yeah?  Tch..."  Rainbow flung her hooves.  "Well I'm already over this place."

"Uhhhhhhhh—"

"For realsies!"  Rainbow Dash marched off, attracting the anxious looks of several warehouse workers.  "The work is boring and the yellow apron... Luna on a bike!  I'm happy to be rid of that stupid thing!  So you know what?  You can take this job and find a manure pile to stuff it in!  After all... I'm Ponyville's bestest, flastest weather flier!  I can earn all the bits I want from my main job!"