"Full up?!" Rainbow Dash collapsed on a cloud bed. "For a month?!"
"Yup..." Thunderlane kicked another cloud, then glanced over his shoulder. "I'm afraid so."
"But... it... how..." Rainbow grasped for words but came out empty-hoofed. "When were the schedules given out?!"
"Middle of last week," Candy Mane said. She pushed another cloud over and dissolved it with a heavy kick. Wiping the sweat from her brow, she squinted Rainbow's way. "You never miss the assignments. Where were you this time?"
Rainbow gnashed her teeth. "Plotting the murder of a realtor and mailroom overseer."
"Huh?" Thunderlane and Candy Mane blinked.
"Look..." Rainbow rubbed her forehead. "Be honest with me. Who filled in my spot?"
"Uhhhhhhhh..." Thunderlane and Candy Mane exchanged worried glances. "With words like those, I'm not sure we should tell—"
"If I don't find out, I swear, I'm gonna be kicking the flank of every pegasus in town until I find the one who took my place! Now who was it?!" Rainbow frowned. "Was it Stu?"
"What? Stu Leaves? Nooooooo..." Thunderlane shook his head. "It was Feather Free."
"Who in Tartarus is 'Feather Free?'"
"A new pegasus who just moved in to town," Candy Mane explained. "She's fresh out of Baltimare, seeking work."
"Yeah... well... she's got more than she bargained for, that's for sure!" Rainbow Dash frowned, punching her numb forelimbs together. "How could she possibly steal the weather spot from Ponyville's fastest flier?"
"Uhm..." Candy Mane lifted an eyebrow. "...because she's gotta feed her three kids?"
Rainbow Dash blinked. "Huh?"
"She's a single mother, Rainbow," the mare explained. "Her husband died in a carriage accident. She's moved to Ponyville so that the foals can study under Miss Cheerilee in a safe environment." She gulped. "Away from the town that caused them so much grief."
Rainbow's eyes fell to the distant earth below. "Oh."
"And besides... the spot was reserved for you for over a week," Thunderlane said. "Even when you were in town, you just... didn't seem to pay any attention."
"We tried reminding you, but you're getting harder and harder to find, Rainbow."
"Yeah... almost like you don't want to be found."
Rainbow Dash bit her lip. "I guess... I was pretty good at that, huh?"
"Don't worry about the weather flying spot," Candy Mane said. She offered a nervous smile. "You'll get a chance to do paid skywork again."
"Yeah..." Rainbow grumbled. "Over a month from now. What am I expected to do until then? How will I earn bits?"
"You seriously don't have any other job?" Thunderlane blinked. "I thought you did. I mean... Candy here and I don't do weather flying full-time."
"Yeah." Candy Mane nodded. "I help my sister deliver treats for Bon Bon's shop."
"And I'm on the East Everfree Firewatch team," Thunderlane said. "There's plenty of stuff for a pegasus to do, Rainbow."
"But..." Rainbow gulped. "Flying... is my bread and butter."
"Then why are you in Ponyville?"
"Huh?"
"Just saying..." Candy Mane shrugged. "If you wanted to do weather flying full-time, don't you think Cloudsdale—your old flapping grounds—would be more suited to your talents?"
"Yeah..." Thunderlane nodded. "And you'd earn crazy bits doing it." He smirked. "You truly are the best there is, Rainbow."
"Hehe... especially when you wanna be," Candy Mane added.
"Are... you guys trying to get rid of me?"
"What? No! Just... giving advice."
"Because... y'know... Ponyville..." Rainbow Dash shuddered. "This place is my home."
The other two pegasi exchanged glances, then squinted at her.
"Are you sure of that, Rainbow?" Thunderlane remarked.
Rainbow said nothing.