A Weather Control Pegasi content with her mundane life. doing the same routine trapped in her own bubble, learns what it means to dream big and the consequences that follows in pursuit of happiness...
A Weather Control Pegasi named Heavy Rain, who lives a minimalist life in false content over the way she lives. She has no real ambitions or will to leave her own bubble of security. It is when a life-threatening experience happens to her that she discovers that she hates her life and does everything she can to find her calling. When she starts attending Wonderbolt shows that she realizes that she wants to strive for self-betterment by becoming a Wonderbolt. All in the pursuit of her own happiness.
Where to even begin with my life. Baby steps, I guess I’ll start by telling you who I am and what I do. My name is Heavy Rain, I’m a mare in my early twenties, single, not interested in mingling and I’m known to be ‘No-good Rainy’ for being an eccentric day ruiner. I tend to have a bit of a mood that some ponies would deem as off-putting, I’m shy, don’t have many friends but I do make an effort to include myself. I’m a bit of a...background pony I will admit; it’s a sorta nickname I gave myself for not being too noticeable in a crowd, not that I mind, I try my best to make myself known, through no other way but good old fashioned hard work. Hard work pays off in the end, after all, not to mention puts food on my table. Considering I live by myself, I am a single, independent pony who strives to better myself day by day.
I work off a branch business from the Weather Factory. I’m a Weather Control Pegasi, meaning I don’t make the clouds, my job is to move them, change them, or just get rid of them plain and simple. Each employee is in charge of certain weather and with those weather patterns, certain pegasi will have to work together in order to produce the outcome of the weather needed for that specific day. Though our job is mundane, it plays a big role in Equestria’s ecosystem. Just imagine it, in a desert without one day of rain, or even a season, will cause a drought. Too much rain will cause the soil to become too damaged to bear fruits, at worse, a flood. As a weather control pegasi, I have a duty to make sure that the weather is presented to a location day by day, on the mark, not more or any less so.
As you would know the weather between Ponyville and Canterlot gets fair weather most of the time year-round this means we usually have a limited staff and volunteers to help keep Equestria’s weather in balance and up to snuff. We get the most help from a mare named Rainbow Dash. She’s practically the fastest mare in all of Ponyville and can do all our jobs twice in a heartbeat if she wanted to. She is our most active, most helpful volunteer and we of the WCP are grateful, I personally could do without that inflated ego which is annoyingly justified because she’s a Wonderbolt. She is awesome, begrudgingly I am to admit. We also have Flitter and Cloud Chaser, they’re part-timers and help Clear Skies and Open Skies. Usually, work in pairs and it gets the job done twice as quick.
Shockingly enough, another mare, who is as fast as Rainbow Dash, helps me with cumulonimbus clouds. Her name is Storm Cloud and she’s a Wonderbolt working as a part-time WCP. I don’t really know her, she...intimidates me so I never really held a conversation with her. She has this calm yet assertive demeanor about her and well she’s probably just bored and has nothing better to do but her help is really appreciated, I’m far too weak to handle rain clouds of their size and even if I control heavy rain, the shock-induced by these clouds are very dangerous. If I’m not careful I can get electrocuted and be put into the hospital; I can’t afford a medical bill with no aid. That’s probably why they have a Wonderbolt assisting me when my heavy rain clouds become thunderheads.
My fellow employees of Weather Control include Clear Skies, she is in charge of the clear sky weather. It is her job to make sure that there are no clouds whatsoever as far as the eye can see. This allows the sun to give way and feed the plants across Ponyville to Canterlot to help them grow; as well as letting ponies enjoy the weather making it the ideal day for outdoor activities. Next is Open Skies, not to be confused with Clear Skies, most ponies fail to see the difference in their job description. For you see Open Skies, unlike Clear Skies, is in charge of opening up and separating the clouds from bulk so they don’t end up colliding with each other and forming Asperitas. Considering he specializes in the separation of clouds, not like the demolishing of them, Clear Skies’ duty. It’s not about clearing the skies, it’s about opening the clouds up so everypony can enjoy looking up at both the clouds and their sea of blue. That way everypony can also enjoy the shade on long summer days and makes for good relaxation.
Sunshower is a bit of both Open Skies and I. Sometimes, well often really, the Weather Factory will release clouds that have a bit too much excess water in them causing condensation. This means water droplets collide and coalesce with other droplets, eventually becoming heavier than the uplift of the air around them, at which point it becomes Sunshower’s job to have them fall down through the clouds creating sunshowers. Sunny days with a chance of light rain hence the name sunshowers. These occurrences are not supposed to happen so sometimes it becomes a minor inconvenience to the ponies down under. Sometimes she gets flak for that and I understand it all too well but she doesn’t let it bother her as much as I.
As my name suggests, I am in charge of heavy rain clouds, nimbostratus clouds to be exact, rarely cumulonimbus if you know your clouds. My position is a bit unique, since Equestrea is not a place that gets rained on daily we are short staffed with a selective few ponies with rain attributes. Meaning I am personally in charge of ruining pony’s day wherever they may be, not limited to Ponyville to Canterlot. Vacation, trips, day-offs just places where ponies can relax and have fun enjoying the fruits of their own labor, I ruin those days for them. Why? Because it’s my job, because I get paid to do it, nothing more but it’s not like I enjoy it. Ponies should get the pleasure of enjoying their past time spent but when Equestria needs water somepony has got to do it and so I’m the pony to do the deed over and over. Pony’s know me too because of it, kinda got a bad reputation for my honest work; kinda why they call me a ‘No-good Rainy’ but they know full well that I need to do this for their sake. Doesn’t stop them from name-calling me though...I’m used to it.
Our boss is Fluffy Clouds, just like the rest of us, he is in charge of stratus clouds. The clouds everypony loves and the ones that are most prominent throughout our home. He has his work cut out for him but he is a kind fellow if not a bit too sensitive. I still remember when he cried when some stallion took his seat at some event. I wouldn’t know the details, I was too busy moving rain clouds to ruin the day for Las Pegasus ponies. He really is a good boss and cuts us some slack, unlike our higher ups. That would be the Ponyville Weather Control Pegasi Division boss, an employee at the Weather Factory named Ether Skys. Cold, cynical, calculative, she see a pony’s worth just by looking at them when it comes to their usefulness but she could never truly see how any of us feels. Also known to be a spiteful pegasus. To her, we’re just another cog in the Weather Factory’s cloud pumping machine. We always have to give it our all around her. I make sure I show how useful I am. If there is anything I like to show that I am valuable, something I learned in fillyhood...
If you skipped my introduction to my coworkers, that’s okay. I don’t pay them any mind too much myself. I tend to just focus on my job, I’m not...really the social sort.
I don’t think I mentioned where I live so please allow me to fill you on that info as well. I live in a little town called Ponyville, though I was born in Cloudsdale my job had me relocate there due to the fact that Weather Control’s main HQ is located there rather than Cloudsdale. It is because Ponyville is just below, or rather near, Cloudsdale. It is here I make my home in a small house fit enough for one pegasi mare such as myself. Here I am the queen, that being of a comfy couch, fresh produce, and a warm bed. It is such a benefit to be living near the farmstead so my health is quite fine, thank you very much! My home is rather empty, I’m a minimalist who doesn't take much pleasure in the necessities of everyday living. A brush, a mirror, tv, couch, a house, and food that’s all I need...and all I can actually afford with my income. Besides I’m not a shut-in, life is worth enjoying every moment with each passing minute promotes newer possibilities of fun as well as experience.
My favorite hobby to do on my days off is to sit on a bench and pony watch, it...sounds a little odd I know but it is a healthy hobby and nothing wrong with seeing other ponies go about their own business. As a “background pony” It feels nice to sit down and just think of my life or often question others. What are they doing, what are they up to, is there going to be a Pinkie Pie party today? Is somepony new coming to town, what’s the latest gossip? You tend to wonder about these things by simply observing others but one does not obsess over another’s life more than their own. That is when pony watching gets odd, after all, I live a content life like any other pony that there is no need to fantasize about being in another's hooves when there is nothing wrong with my own.
There you have it, that’s my everyday life. I hope it wasn’t too boring for you, sorry it wasn’t as glamorous as you hoped it’d be. Sometimes ponies just live normal lives.
My alarm clock started to buzz, what I wouldn’t give to wake up to the sound of a rooster’s crow it’s far more subtle than alarms. But the burst of adrenaline and the thought that I may be late for something tends to do the trick well enough. It’s exactly 5:30AM, a time when the moon begins to fall and the sun begins to rise from the horizon. In other words, Princess Celestia is waking up and Princess Luna is going to sleep. Good morning, princess of the night and hello to a brand new day! I’m really tired, but I’m used to waking up at this hour every day for the past four years. Wake up then shower, I pull back the shower curtain to my stand-in shower and twist the hot water knob first then the cold water knob. I’m not too keen on hot showers, I think that cold showers are much more refreshing and wake up the spirit twice as fast. Never understood why ponies like hot showers so much. I mean, If they take a hot shower it feels good and all but if it feels too good then they’re less inclined to leave even risking to be late for work just so they can feel the warmth of water on a cold morning. Well, different strokes for different folks I guess. I rinse off my vanilla-scented shampoo and step out of the shower to dry my mane and coat off with a Twenty-gee Tornado Twist.
I look over to my kitchen...sigh...what I wouldn’t give for somepony to make me some breakfast for a change while I get ready for work. I am not all too social and usually keep to myself. However, this action would also mean I have no chance of dating since most of my life is circled around my work. For a brief moment I wondered what it would be like to have a stallion I love and-- priorities Heavy Rain, priorities. Walking over to the stove, I crack a couple of eggs and set some hay bacon bits on top of them into the frying pan. Mix them up a bit and glaze it with syrup and I got myself a nice breakfast omelet, an apple, and good OJ. Better than porridge or fast food, thank Celestia I learned how to cook! By the time I finish and dress in uniform, it’s 6:30AM and time to head out to work.
A bit brisk this morning, it’s nice and tends to put a smile on my face. I never get tired of seeing Ponyville during the early hours before everypony wakes up. If I fly to work it would take no less than ten or twenty minutes getting to my job, about an hour if I trot. Though I wake up really early just so I can have this luxury of trotting to my job and enjoying the scenic route where the trees are all sorts of colors from red to yellow. There’s just something magical about walking the streets at the end of dawn; see a few ponies walking around, coffee wrapped in their magic, yawning earth ponies with tired eyes, the occasional “Hello, how do you do?” on a fine end of Fall; I love it...it’s refreshing and so peaceful.
Ponyville Weather Control Pegasi HQ aka The PWCP if pressed for time. Here we’re in charge of the weather forecast directed straight from the Weather Factory. A yawn escapes my lips, “My livelihood…” I enter the building and head to my locker to put on my vest. Safety first! When operating clouds via push, pull, lift, dropping, kicking, separating, etc. etc. make sure you wear your safety vest. So says our motto if we had one but in our field of work things can get dangerous so these vests give us some protection. Once I saw a volunteer get landed into a hospital because he got electrocuted while managing thunderclouds...it wasn’t my fault though, we warned him what would happen if he didn’t wear a vest, so it was a lesson learned; He never came back.
“Morning, Heavy Rain! Bright and early as usual, huh?” A teal stallion with a purple mane and blue eyes greeted me with an uplifting smile.
“Oh, hi Open Skies! Good morning to you too. I have only just arrived not too long ago before you. But have you seen Clear Skies yet?” I questioned, wondering where our co-worker was.
“Yeah, it’s been clear skies all morning since I flew here, I tell you that wind is chilly. If I knew flying here today was going to be that cold I would have grabbed my jacket to put on top of my uniform, haha!” Open Skies laughed.
“It’s not that bad to me, but I meant our co-worker, Clear Skies, have you seen her yet? Not the weather, Open Skies,” I grinned at him for confusing Clear Skies with the actual weather. (Sometimes that happens in this line of work when most of us are named after the specific weather that is our responsibility, it’s pretty funny; though I never made that mistake yet and I’m proud of that, I keep a personal record.)
“Oh, Clear Skies whoops sorry!” He smiled meekly, “No, no I haven’t seen her yet but I hope she doesn’t fly in late again or we might have to hear Fluffy Clouds cry again.” He rolled his eyes.
“Fluffy needs to grow a backbone, He’s a boss for crying out loud...no pun intended. I feel a second-hoof embarrassment when I see him cry his eyes out,” I retorted apathetically as I sighed.
"Well don’t let him hear you say that about him or he’ll definitely cry,” Open Skies makes his best impression of a weeping face, which I chuckled a bit. I have to admit it was pretty funny, zipping up my safety vest over my uniform and closing my locker door as Open Skies gets ready for work by his locker. I lean on the locker next to him as I wait for him.
“So, how’s your colt?” I cocked an eyebrow up anticipating a good story. The one thing good about working here-- and everypony knows it-- is that Open Skies has a knack for telling good stories about his life. Making the most mundane things sound comical, he was just that charismatic pegasi of the office. So most ponies, during their free time, would ask him about his affairs. They’re usually family shenanigans but most of us in the office or on the field don’t have the time or luxury to think about starting a family. Open Skies was one of the exceptions considering he already had a family when he started working with us three years ago. Though he’s older than me by ten years, that technically makes me his senior.
“HA! My colt, where do I even start?!” His face lit up, already excited to tell me a story. I couldn’t help but be interested in what he was about to say now.
“This’ll be funny for you I promise, let me tell you! I get off my bed to wake my colt up for school and my colt says he’s too sick to go to school. Now you know how it is, I’m not buying it, so I tell him to get up and get ready. So I head to the kitchen to make myself some breakfast, pepper red hot chili omelets with the chili peppers I bought yesterday but there were none for some reason. I look at my colt and ask himwhere the chili peppers I was saving, assuming he ate them for a snack or something. And the little rascal looks at me with an expression like he’s seen a ghost!” Open Skies babbled on and on.
I kind of zoned out of the amusing story. I could only imagine this is what it must be like to have foals. I snicker, “Then what happened next, did it turn out that he ate them after all?” I hadn’t noticed that I invested myself in his story as he closes his locker and we both headed off to the conference room to be briefed on today’s weather forecast and our assignments for today. He answered unexpectedly, “Then I noticed his bulge-” I was taken aback and couldn’t help but blush in my surprisement. “-What?! I’m sorry what? Um…” my ears folded back and I was left speechless, of course, Open Skies is completely unaware of my discomfort and continues as he always does.
“I tell my colt, ‘pull down your pants!’ Something was definitely off.” He looked at me for a sec before continuing.
“Um, wh-where-what even! Where is this story going?” I whispered, “This is not safe for work…”
“A bunch of red hot chili pepper starts tumbling everywhere and I mean everywhere! Chili peppers, chili peppers all over my floor!” I looked at him blankly, “You have got to be kidding me?” I gasped and while he burst out laughing. “That’s what I’m saying and I tell him, ‘Son wha-why did you do all this?’ and he tells me, ‘I thought if I shove chili peppers in my underwear it would give me fever!’ AHAHAH! Oh boy, my son.” His laughter bellows through the small hallway, though it was so contagious I couldn’t help but join him in his laughter.
“Foals these days am I right?!” I shrug with a wink. Though I wouldn’t really know to be honest; I never took care of a foal before. “My wife wasn’t happy, HA! Had to leave early just to avoid her stink eye, when I told her ‘this colt is all you’...I’m sleeping on the couch tonight for sure,” his head lowered in uncertainty.
I wince a bit, why would you say that to your wife stupid stallion. “Oh yes definitely; better come home with flowers~” I chimed playfully as we walked into the conference room where we find a cream-colored pony with a mane of various shades of blue and sky blue eyes waiting to be briefed on today’s work.
“Hey, you two! Open Skies, Heavy Rain, good morning!” she smiles, so happily yet relaxed carrying a cheerful yet understanding attitude. If I had a sister, she would be it; somepony I can rely on and have my back. Considering she’s also my senior at the PWCP, she holds not only the merit of her status but the experience behind her kind and loving, sunny smile. “Good morning to you too, Sunshower.” I respectfully reply meanwhile-
“Sunshower, got to tell you what happened to me this morning. I tell you it’s a doozy! Wanna hear my story?” Open Skies practically dive-bombed onto the conference table ready to regale the same morning story he just finished telling me on the way here. Sunshower looked at me with worry and immediately crossed my hooves in an X formation while shaking my head frantically to say no. She then smiled at me appreciatively. I mean, his story was good except for the inappropriate parts. I think one mare hearing that is enough; why did it have to be me though?
“U-um no thanks,” a blush creeps on her face, “I heard half of it and I rather not. Something about...undressing?” Not safe...this is a workspace; poor mare started listening to it at the wrong part. “Okay suit yourself,” Open Skies shrugged and took a seat; I took the seat next to him.
Right now the time is 7:50 AM and the briefing starts at eight. With just ten minutes of spare time, our boss walks in to prepare the briefing. A skinny stallion with buck teeth, a blue coat, a mane as white and fluffy as a stratus cloud, green eyes, and a cute bowtie his name is Fluffy Clouds; (some of us call him the Sad Delegate, sort of an inside joke.) Soon enough, the briefing starts.
“Okay everypony and good morning to you all! Ready for another fine day of work?” Sad Delegate smiles from cheek to cheek, he honestly loves his job; I just want to get paid.
“Of course Fluffy Clouds! What’s the assignment for today?” Sunshower assured. “Yeah, what clouds the Weather Factory wants us to push today?” Open Skies added.
“Firstly, the good news, we’re going to have great weather as usual! First off, uh-um where’s Clear Skies?” Sad Delegate took a minute to look around the room, noticing that the team is one pony short.
“Oh Celestia not again...” I face-hoofed, she’s late again. What is with this mare, do I need to start waking up even earlier to go to her house and pick her up or something? Just as the others were rolling their eyes, (yeah I’m not the only one tired of this), Clear Skies bursts open the conference room door. “So so sorry I’m late it won’t happen again I swear it, aaaah!!” She flies in and a bunch of papers she was holding scattered all over the place leaving a trail for office ponies to pick up and hoof over to her. I’m only hoping more that Sad Delegate doesn’t give his nickname justice and starts crying.
“You’re late Clear Skies! You’re late late late again why that makes it the ninth time this month!” He whines, teary-eyed, as he looks at Clear Skies with an annoyed expression.
“Ten bits, he starts crying.” Open Skies whispered in my ear. I roll my eyes and smile at him giving him a nudge on the foreleg. “I’m sorry but y-you see w-what happened was-”
One painfully long and bizarre story later…
“-And then I rushed here as fast as I could…I swear it!” Clear Skies looked at our division boss in distress.
“Just...sit down Clear Skies. I'll talk to you in private later” Sad Delegate said feeling his patience was exhausted. “...Yes sir…” Clear Skies sat, head down in shame for her constant tardiness and underperforming.
“Now back to the forecast!” Sad Delegate’s smile returned and clopped his hooves “We’re going to have a good weather forecast today. Sunny skies all around and partially cloudy. That means Open Skies is taking point today, Clear Skies, you get rid of any access clouds and leave the little ones and do it right this time, please. Open Skies, spread the clouds out. And Sunshower if you happen to see any clouds that may have too much water in them dump the water into a river, a lake, or something but not on ponies like Rainbow Dash tends to do,” that remark got a snicker out of the staff, myself included. “Okay everypony, let's get to work and make a beautiful day happen!”
I couldn’t help but feel like something wasn’t right. Then it dawned on me and I looked at everypony with a puzzled expression. “...what about me?”
“Hmm, o-oh yes, Heavy Rain…” Sad Delegate scratches his neck uncomfortably. “Uh Manehattan is getting a bit dry...due to all that industrialism of the city and the air is getting a bit polluted. They could use some heavy rain clouds, regular nimbostratus clouds will do. The problem is that there’s a festival and it’s a really important one for friends and families. Meaning you’d have to...can just...I’m sorry, Heavy Rain,” he looked at me pitifully.
Putting the pieces together I came to a realization of what he was asking me to do and I felt a pain in my chest. An instant of anxiety filled my mind before I quickly regained my composure, hoping nopony noticed, “No no, I get it, pretty much do what I do best; ruin everypony’s day. Especially on Manehattan pony’s heads. I’ll be sure to grab a pair of earplugs, heh, I mean they aren’t really the nicest folks, no big deal.” I replied, a sullen smile across my face.
“If it makes you feel any better Heavy Rain,” Sunshower approaches, “I get rain on ponies too sometimes...but you’re really good at handling upset ponies, I think I would cry if all those ponies yelled at me. You’re an angel sent from Celestia herself I tell you!” She smiles faintly. Hearing her say those words made me actually feel like I can do this. I can handle today, and she may not know how much it meant to me by how I replied, “Gee, thanks that make me feel a bit better,” I smile back at her, (it’s nice to have friends like her.)
“Okay everypony let's go go go!” Sad Delegate said with so much spirit.
“Yes Sir!” We all said in unison.
I once read in a pony’s tale that there was once a mare who delivers the clouds that harbor her love creating her gift of rain that pours over the land and feeds Equestria’s soil so that flowers may bloom in her path to create a colorful, prettier Equestria. That’s where my mother got my name from. At least the earth thanks me, but the ponies who inhabit it don’t really appreciate my efforts. My rain is gloomy, it’s dark and cold, hard to see through, and spreads sadness to the hearts of fillies. I can’t help how they feel, to me the rain is calm, refreshing, makes one think and clears the mind of worry and sorrow. The pitter-patter of droplets against grass or pavement makes a nice melody and is good for sleep. That’s fine though, it doesn’t really matter what other ponies think because in the end I get paid; it’s my job to do this every now and then.
Approaching Manehattan with heavy rain clouds, I notice the festival going on down below. It slipped my mind that today was the Summer Sun Outing Festival where ponies gather to appreciate the sun and time with the ponies they love. Not to be confused with the Summer Sun Celebration which was the literal celebration of the Princess of the Sun and all her glory. Naturally, it’s more of an excuse for hardworking ponies to have one day off from work. Which means…
A moment of hesitation, I let out a dreadful sigh, ”...sorry everypony, it’s just business,” I whispered melancholy.
The sky starts to turn dark. Heavy clouds start to block out the beautiful sun as the wind starts to pick up. The darkness of the clouds swallows the sun’s radiance and soon enough water droplets trickle out from the sky and hit the snouts of the pedestrians below. Taken aback, some look up to see that heavy rain clouds have formed over their city. Some were wise enough to carry an umbrella at least, (looks like someponies actually read the newspapers today, huh, surprising enough). That makes me just a tiny bit relieved at the very least; not so much at the festival though because a few ponies have already spotted me. You know what they say, the worker in orange is the one who manages, and by this decree, I am obligated to hear what they have to say. A form of customer service, more like banter on why I ruined their day, (no seriously, this is part of our policy).
My ears fold back as I wince at the angry crowd of ponies looking at me. It just dawned on me that I forgot my earplugs, “Okay, let's get this over with.” I started to descend from high up the atmosphere to the festival grounds where everypony was already starting to circle like foals readying to whack a hanged piñata.
“Hello, everypony, may I help you?” I look at them with a bewildered expression, as if I couldn’t possibly know what’s the problem. As soon as I uttered the words a list of complaints came in drones.
“May you help us?” “You have some nerve” “What do you think you’re doing?” “Why is it raining?!” “Bring the sun back, jerk!” “You ruined the celebration!”
I was bombarded with inquiries and tried to keep my brave face but it was wavering at an alarming rate at this point.
“Do you have any idea what you just did?” A mare said ticked off.
“M-my job ma’am…” I look at the mare almost sheepishly, but I realize it’s important to keep eye contact and can't show that I'm the weak one here, that If I can’t hold my ground, they’ll step all over me like everypony used to.
“Well your job just ruined a very important day, and you have the gull to come down here and act like you did nothing wrong? How dare you!” A stallion retorted.
“To be fair sir,” I look at the stallion now, “The festival could have been postponed, almost every day is sunny so why does it matter?” I answered annoyed.
“You ruined our merchandise,” a vendor mare told me off, “you better pay for the damages!”
“S-sorry ma’am but I-I’m ahem I am NOT responsible for any damaged products when delivering the weather system when it is at the designated location. This is mother nature”, I pointed up at the dark rain clouds; my gift, “and mother nature doesn’t pay for what it has done, I’m sorry you feel that I should be accountable but that’s not gonna happen.” I addressed the vendor sharply.
“Why do we even need rain! It’s better when it’s always sunny!” An arrogant stallion said.
“Okay, firstly, you have no idea how bad that would be for Equestria, and secondly, maybe if you cut back on the air pollution in the city I wouldn’t be here giving Manehattan the water it desperately needs.” I rebutted.
“Did she just blame us!?” voices murmured in the background of a dozen irritated ponies.
“My family was so looking forward to this festival all year! ALL YEAR!” A mother wept.
That one hit me a little in my soft spot. (I have a thing for families), and of all ponies, I really dislike ruining their days. I try my best not to confront them when I deliver heavy rain but to see their sad faces...it almost breaks my heart.
“I’m-I’m so sorry for your family, I wish I can make it up to you and yours but I just can’t this is my job and-”
“-Maybe you stink at your job!” A colt yelled at me. Shocked by the comment from a little colt my wings flared up almost hitting the pony next to me before I immediately put them away. That was a breaking point for me, however.
“Don’t you ponies ever read the newspaper?!” I yelled, all my patience and calmness has left me, no, now it’s my turn to be angry. “I mean seriously, it only takes a minute to go to the weather forecast section and just LOOK AT IT! They’re printed every morning at 6:00AM on the dot before any of you wake up for your nine to five jobs!” I grab a nearby newspaper and show them the article of the day where it says that Manehattan would get heavy rain today. (Though it’s just drizzling right now, it’ll be pouring buckets soon enough.) “You cannot be so lazy that you won’t even bother to take five minutes while making breakfast to read the general articles if anypony here should be blamed, it's the manager of this festival who neglected this information and decided to go ahead with the festival instead of postponing it. Now you’re mad, I’m mad, we’re all mad!”
The ponies around me look at each other with puzzled expressions, thinking to themselves, looking left and right wondering if they should still be angry or accept their own fault for not reading the news. I can’t blame them though, if I waited so long for a festival I wouldn’t really read the news either. Soon enough the crowd starts to disperse and as I ready to fly away I hear a mare in the crowd.
“You’ll regret this, hmph!”
I look behind me, but I can’t pinpoint the pony who said it. The crowd continues to disperse a bit faster now. The drizzle has reached an all-time high and the sky looks as if it’s weeping. I tell it that it’s okay to cry...there’s no shame in crying. Water flows down from my eyes and I’m filled with a sense of sadness. I can’t tell if it’s the rain in my eyes or if I’m really crying myself. The day in Manehattan gets quiet save for the honking of carts, signs, and neon lights lighting up the sky, making it feel more...serene. My job here is done, time to go home…
Back at the PWCP, we all shared our reports for the day and how the weather was proceeding. I report my assignment was successful to Sad Delegate and that Manehattan is getting the rain it needs. He looks at me with a pitiful smile; (don’t look at me like that.) I headed over to my locker to put my orange work coat away when my co-worker, Sunshower approached me out of consideration.
“Hey there Heavy Rain,” she spoke softly, noticing I wasn’t feeling well, “long day huh?”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” I said plainly, “ It’s just...draining”
“I understand,” she said. “Do you?” I retorted, however, the way I asked made it seem almost accusatory. I can feel myself wanting to lash out, to ask her if sunshine and rainbows bouncing off water droplets are just the same as my cold showers plaguing the sky. I had to refrain myself. The locker room fell silent leaving the two of us standing alone awkwardly trying to avoid eye contact. Neither of us broke the silence, the last thing that echoed in the room was my locker closing shut as I trotted out the building leaving Sunshower alone.
Unlike Manehattan, which’s getting drenched in my heavy rain, here in Ponyville it’s still a lovely day. The ponies are so happy as usual; too in contrast to my own work. It looks like the other Weather Control Ponies finished way earlier than I considering its open skies all around. Perfect time to just sit on a bench and unwind. Thinking back. today was tough; those clouds weighed a ton and the ponies down under were worse for wear when I rained on their festival. I sighed, relieved that the day is over. For a while, I just sat there indulging in my hobby of pony watching. The Cakes seem to be going somewhere leaving Pinkie Pie in charge. The Carousel Boutique seems to be busy today too, I wonder what’s the fashion trend now? I’ve been so busy I haven’t really paid attention to the latest styles in fashion. Maybe I should buy a dress, (no no no, not right now! Heheh, not with my salary), I thought to myself.
I looked around more when I heard some gossip; something about a Wonderbolts event? The Wonderbolts never really piqued my interest though. A teal-colored mare with the same color mane that has a white streak and golden yellow eyes sat next to me on the bench in a very odd position, (a position you’d have to wonder if their back is okay), with a sandwich in her hooves, and gave me a warm welcoming smile. “Hi Heavy Rain, how are you today?” She asks.
“Hey Lyra, it was the same old same old. The same thing it’s always been since I joined the PWCP. Take my clouds, rain on some poor ponies, they get mad, I get yelled at, I move on.” I give her a faint smile in return.
Lyra ears fold back “I guess…but each experience is different in some way and your face kinda shows it.” I look at Lyra blankly. “What happened this time, Heavy Rainy?” She asked.
“It’s nothing, forget about it.” I averted my gaze but didn’t bother to hide what I felt from her.
“Well if you ever want to speak up, I’m always here to listen. Would it cheer you up if I told you how my day went? I know you’re curious about how other pony’s day goes. That’s what makes you a good listener.” Lyra gives me a gentle smile.
I sigh, “Sure Lyra, that would cheer me up actually. I could use a good story right now.”
“But it’s not a story, it’s about the significance of number two pencils.” Lyra looks at me with a pouty face. “Pencils? Really Lyra?” I look at her quizzically.
“Yeah, my studies give me a reason to believe that number two pencils were not originally created by ponies but humans dating way back before Equestria was formed. Back to a time where man ruled the earth in ancient times, a place called England found graphite deposits. Back then the humans didn’t have magic so they used what we call chemistry to put lead into sticks! Or something like that isn’t that cool?!” Lyra beamed at me with starry eyes.
“I-it’s something. Interesting to say the least, Lyra.” I gave her a feigned smile.
“Aaw, you don’t believe me, do you?” she pouted.
“I believe you've been seeing Casual Conspiracy a bit too often...that mare has a few screws loose if you know what I mean.” I shrugged at her with one eye open, “Humans don’t exist Lyra, they never have.”
Lyra got close to my face, “Then how do you explain why a number two pencil is held by the eraser end and there’s no mouth grip. Clearly, it’s supposed to be held with hands! That’s why it’s manufactured that way!”
“Maybe it’s just a coincidence? But you know, that’s actually interesting...to say the least,” I wondered.
“Whatever, everypony will see one day. I’ll work hard to show Equestria that humans once walked among us! That’s why I study anthropology so hard.” Lyra says with determination and takes a bite of her sandwich, making its contents spill out the other side. “Aaw... my sandwich.” I can’t help but admire her passion to do what she loves. In that aspect, she might be the most courageous pony I ever met. I can’t help but wonder…
“Hey, Lyra…?” I asked.
“Yeah?” She looks back at me from her ruined sandwich. “Why do you do what you do?” I questioned nonchalantly.
“That’s a very vague question, Heavy Rain, why does anypony do what they do?” she raised an eyebrow at me.
“I-I mean, why do you, you know, follow this weird...dream of yours? Studying these human creatures even though nopony believes you. Anthropology? You realize that you get looked at like you’re crazy right, doesn’t it bother you?” Lyra takes time to ponder my question as if I asked her what the meaning of life is, (and she wouldn’t necessarily be wrong to do so), It takes her a few minutes to think which sort of makes the atmosphere awkward for me.
“Y-you know what nevermind f-forget I-” Lyra interjected “-Well, to put it plainly, It’s fun proving the world wrong, so why would I follow the status quo?” Lyra smiled.
Her answer left me befuddled “Wha-I I mean...”
Lyra continued, “The secret of living is giving, if you follow your dreams then you'll have something worth sharing with others, hope, inspiration, and a meaning to live, and that to me, is a great contribution. Don’t you think, Heavy Rain? That’s why I’ll never stop dreaming and believing that humans existed.”
I don’t even know what to say to her. I just stared at her completely dumbfounded. I blush and hang my head low out of embarrassment. How could I even argue with that logic? It just makes me look like the foolish nonbeliever. Here was a mare who was dealing with the same thing I was. It may not be under the same circumstances between us two but I felt even more sorry for myself knowing that I was so weak-willed. That I couldn’t easily shrug off the negativity like her, my inspiration.
“Heavy Rain, I never asked you this out of respect for, you know, your privacy and all but, are you happy?”
I gasped, “WHAT!?” My ears shot backward, before I could even make a rebuttal Lyra started talking faster.
“You go to the same job every day for years, get yelled at by some ponies you don’t even know, you act like you enjoy your work but you’re miserable! Then you sit on this bench and talk to me just so you can hear something new for once, n-not that I mind. But I can only imagine how...Heavy Rain don’t you have a dream?” Lyra looks at me genuinely worried for my well being- (stop looking at me like that. Don’t pity me)!
I snort at her which takes her by surprise. Tears started to well up in my eyes and my vision began to blur and I swear I started to see red. I try my best to calm down, Lyra of all ponies doesn’t deserve being lashed out at. My own mood is brought down to a softer tune but not enough to keep my attitude in check. Once again, my emotion got the better of me and I scoffed at her.
“Happy? I’m satisfied. Does that count for happiness, Lyra!?” I leered.
“Not exactly but-” I stopped her talking as I continued “-It doesn’t matter, I have a job I’m good at and one that needs doing. I don’t have time to dream. Besides dreaming sounds riskier than maintaining the stable life I already have. Who are you to question my happiness!?” Before I could stop myself I let my feelings be known and immediately felt regret for what I’ve said.
Lyra looked at me with pain in her heart and yet she still smiled at me. “I’m your friend, like any other, who cares for my friend’s well being. It’s okay to have a dream, Rainy.”
We both sat in silence till I whispered in my soft sobs, “I don’t have the luxury to dream.” After that, I was tired of talking but Lyra spoke up again.
“We all may not have the luxury to be dreamers but we are allowed to dream anyways. I gotta go, Bon Bon is gonna be home soon so I’d like to catch up with her when she gets home. I’ll cya later Heavy Rain. Please think about what I said okay, like, if you’re not happy I’ll be sad.”
“Y-yeah okay, I’ll cya later…” I say to Lyra before she turns her back and starts to head home. Meanwhile, I’m still reflecting on her words about dreams and happiness. I’ll think about it before bed.
Back at my own humble abode I couldn’t help but stretch my wings. Today was just another day at work but I can’t help but feel emotionally drained which is odd. I don’t normally come home so tired at night. I slipped out of my uniform and prepared dinner. A salad bowl and a protein shake are enough before I hop into the shower to wash off today’s musk. Feeling refreshed I turn on my TV to see what’s on. I admittedly like to watch the sports channel, cooking, and music; sometimes even the Wonderbolts to see what they’re up to but they’re all on commercial break.
“Commercials ruin everything!” I say to myself. (If only commercials didn’t exist I would be able to enjoy my shows). I turn off the TV and head to bed for a good night's sleep...I suddenly thought of Sunshower back at the PWCP HQ standing by my locker sad and hurt. Why was I mean to her? My thoughts then focused on how I lashed out at my friend Lyra...why did I say that to her? Why was I so defensive about my sense of self-pity, I don’t do pity parties remember? I don’t do pity parties, I don’t pity myself, I’m fine, everything is okay...I drift off to sleep...
My alarm clock starts buzzing, it only makes me wish I lived closer to Sweet Apple Acres where I can wake up to the rooster’s crow. I let out a long exasperated yawn as I stood from my bed and looked around my quiet house and next to my bedside. I groan, noticing how vacant it is, just reminds me how alone-…I think back to yesterday’s conversation with Lyra.
“Are you happy? Heavy Rain, I never asked you this out of respect for, you know, your privacy and all but, are you happy?”
I spent a long time sitting on my bed pondering those very same words until I realized I lost track of time and I was now fifteen minutes behind my morning routine! Those aren’t the words I wanted to remember right now. It sent my mind into a haze. I wasn’t thinking straight anymore, my mind suddenly started getting all...all foggy. After my shower, I had little time to prepare breakfast; Toast smothered in melted butter, jam, and a banana will have to do for today. I can grab a cup of coffee at the office before Fluffy Clouds sets up for a daily briefing that just leaves getting to work.
I look in both directions and the sun is just rising. “As usual, it’s a bit brisk today and refreshing but-”, I frown and can’t help but whine, “I won’t be able to enjoy my morning walk, I’m twenty minutes set back...aaaw I’ll have to fly.” I groaned, “punctuality over tardiness, Heavy Rain.’
I take a minute to stretch my wings beforehand, it’s important not to strain my muscles before exertion; I learned that in flight school when I was just a filly. I narrow my eyes and take flight, I bolt into the atmosphere in a flash, arc my wings into position and take off. Normally, I would have loved to take a morning stroll to work as I usually do but right now I’m at risk of being late and I’m never ever late to work. So I accelerate to the point that I became a blur to the naked eye. At the speed I’m going I’ll get there lickety-split; I curve at a corner nearly flying into one of my friends, she braced for impact before I gyrated my hips causing me to corkscrew nearly brushing her mane. To my dismay, that didn’t stop me from faceplanting back onto the ground so fast that I scorpion, my forelegs somehow managing to hit the back of my head. I kicked up some soil and got a mouth full of mud pie, not the kind of pie I’m into.
“Oh my! Heavy Rain are you okay sweetie?” The cream-colored mare with moderate cobalt blue and very light fuchsia striped mane with arctic blue eyes rushed by my side to pick me up.
“I’m fine Bon Bon a bit hurting now and my mouth tastes like earth but nothing to worry about, are you okay? I almost crashed into you. I'm so so sorry.” I say bowing my head, “In my haste, I was being too reckless to watch where I was going. IWasThinkingThenIRushGoingToBeLate-” I babbled.
“Oh don’t you start fretting now, nopony is worse for wear but golly Heavy Rain, I didn’t know you could fly so fast! How long have you been train-”
“OhMyLookAtTheTimeGottaGo! Sorry, Bon Bon, I’ll talk to you later!” In a jiffy, I’m off the ground and make my way towards my job posthaste. If we’re both okay there’s no reason to linger any longer but this time I make sure to keep a keen eye out for pedestrians. Thinking back, I didn’t mean to be rude to Bon Bon by abruptly ending our potential yet fleeting conversation but I need to maintain punctuality and need coffee; coffee is good too. I didn’t really catch what she was going to say, I’ll ask her later if I get the chance.
About a few minutes later I managed to arrive at work with a full hour and a half to spare. Guess there was no point in me worrying all that much about being late, I was totally Twilighting this entire morning that I couldn’t help but feel a little embarrassed, my cheeks turning a shade of pink. I haven’t flown that fast in a very long time, not since flight school so I’m definitely going to feel that tomorrow. At the same time, Clear Skies, Open Skies, and Sunshower came in. Which gave me a comforting feeling, to say the least. I don’t normally show up to work with my friends; I’m usually the first or second to arrive and Clear Skies is usually late so this was one of those rare occasions.
“For once the early bird and the late bird are walking side by side with us to work isn’t that a rare sight to see huh, Open Skies?” Sunshower asked.
“Yeah now that you mention it, it is!” Open Skies agreed.
“So Clear Skies are pigs flying yet? Cause I never imagined I would see you, walking side by side with me for once.” Sunshower taunted.
“Yeah yeah. I got up early for once okay...not all my mornings are crazy adventures...I just had, well, an adventure before bed which made me really really tired is all.” Clear Skies looked sheepishly.
“And you Heavy Rain?” Sunshower asked.
“Huh?”
“What about you? What made you later than useful, I expected to see you in the locker room by the time I arrived at PWCP HQ.” Open Skies said.
“Well you see-” I don’t really want to mention the conversation I had with Lyra or that I was thinking of changing my lifestyle. I don’t want them to worry about me, or really, I don’t want them sticking their muzzles in my business like she did; I can’t deal with those sort of questions right now. “-well you see um...uh...MY ALARM CLOCK!”
“Your...alarm clock?” Clear Skies looked into my eyes with skepticism.
“Y-yeah my alarm clock, it was set at the wrong time hahah. I accidentally set it to five-thirty PM instead of AM. Thank goodness I woke up on my own accord since I’m so accustomed to waking up at a certain time don’tcha think? Hahah...hah!” I laughed, a droplet of sweat rolling down my cheek a sense of unease was written all over my face.
“Come on Heavy Rain we’re all ponies here, no need to keep secrets from us.” Sunshower asserted, nothing escapes her notice. The words that echo in my mind are inescapable. “Are you happy?” Am I happy? The voice of Open Skies snaps me back to reality.
“Honestly I feel you Heavy Rain” Open Skies agreed, “what’s the point of alarm clocks if they don’t wake you up properly; Or when you wake up before the darn thing goes off. What a waste of Bits and those manuals stink!” Open Skies huffed.
“Have you taken the time to read the manual?” Sunshower asked leering at Open Skies.
“W-well It’s just t-that I’m so busy-” “I’ll take that as a no then.” She interrupted Open Skies before he could even give his excuse. Completely defeated by the statement he bows his head in shame. Which I admit, it got a chuckle out of us all. Taking my mind off of the conversation I had with Lyra only temporarily.
That’s right, this is my life, I AM happy being a WCP and talking with the others of the group. What could possibly be better than this?
A few minutes later we all made it to our lockers and put on our orange work jackets over our uniforms.
“So Heavy Rain, how was work yesterday?” Open Skies asked while the others listened to the conversation.
Thinking back further yesterday about all those angry ponies. It doesn’t make me feel good. “I don’t want to talk about it…” Open Skies, Clear Skies, and Sunshower looked at me with worry.
“Oh Heavy-” Sunshower said, approaching me before I stopped her. “I’m fine, I promise, I’m just doing my job is all there is to it,” I smile weakly. They all decided to drop it then made their way to the briefing room. I on the other hoof still needed coffee so I headed towards the employee lounge to get a good taste of euphoria. After all, this morning sucks!
I set up the coffee maker and bring out the ingredients needed to make my favorite Brûlée Caramel Coffee: Coffee. milk, caramel sauce and a touch of brown sugar come together to make a sweet caramel coffee drink. I couldn’t find the whipped cream, bummer, I’ll just have to make do.
The sound of hoofsteps from the main hall starts to approach the employee lounge, more than a few ponies I think. I started to hear a loud and raspy laugh. A deep sigh of annoyance escapes my lips; this, like many, is also something I didn’t want to deal with today. Sweet Celestia give me a break! Suspecting that Rainbow Dash is volunteering today. Confirming my suspicion she enters the lounge laughing hysterically. Accompanied by two other pegasus mares, Cloud Chaser and her friend Flitter or maybe they’re sisters? I never really asked, afraid to; but there goes the silence I enjoy but at this point my ears go full-on eavesdropping mode. A bad habit that developed when pony watching, I can’t help it.
“And then Spitfire did three backflips in the air without losing any momentum and punched through the cloud like an arrow, it was totally awesome!” Rainbow Dash went on.
“I liked how Soarin came back on with a blueberry pie in hoof and was dumbfounded that his group was nowhere to be found and his queue was called!” Flitter chuckled.
“He took the pie with him during his live performance, HA! Improvisation at it’s finest, he’s so awesome!” Rainbow Dash yelled.
Wonderbolts this, Wonderbolts that. Wonderbolts is all she ever talks about. Some flying stunt group of pegasus who fly, wow. This is going to be a long day. I thought to myself while rolling my eyes; taking a sip from my cup of coffee. “Oof, needs more sugar,” I mumbled as I put one cube of sugar in then I tuned in once more to their conversation.
“By the way didn’t you get to spend the day with them one time in the past before you became a Wonderbolt? Must have been amazing.” Cloud Chaser said.
“It totally was! And, at that time, they have seen only some of my moves, heck I was practically one of the Wonderbolts by then, it was only a matter of time before I became a Wonderbolt myself. I just needed to keep showing them how awesome I am. I mean, I’m pretty much the best flyer in Ponyville heck maybe even-”
“-pfft hehe” a snicker escapes my muzzle which makes Rainbow Dash immediately stop talking. Tch! Let that one slip out didn’t I? I sucked my teeth.
“What’s so funny over there Raindrop?” Rainbow Dash glowered.
“Well...I mean...oh come on! Rainbow Dash, they’re just an aerial performance group. You’re acting as if they’re heroes or something. Not to mention you always talk about them every time you volunteer. Do you ever talk about anything else?!” I scowled. Only to receive her mad glare in kind.
“W-wha- just an aerial performance group! How can you even say that in one sentence?!”
“Sorry if I lack your enthusiasm-” I shrugged “-I just don’t see what’s the big deal about the Wonderbolts is, that’s all...more or less.”
“Why you-” Before Rainbow Dash could retort angrily, Sunshower burst into the employee lounge. I was startled that I almost spilled my coffee while the others were just as stunned.
“There you four are, what are you guys doing? The briefing is about to start. Get those flanks to the briefing room before Sad Delegate starts to cry, please!” With that Sunshower was off just as soon as she came followed by Cloud Chaser and Flitter Leaving me and Rainbow Dash.
I drink my coffee nonchalantly till Rainbow Dash speaks up. “We’ll talk a lot more about this after the briefing, Raindrop!”
“Good grief...fine.”
With that being said she also leaves. I finish my coffee to get me through today’s work and head to the briefing room.
“Alrighty, glad everyone’s here and on time no less!” Fluffy Clouds draws his attention towards Clear Skies
“H-hey don’t look at me!” Clear Skies flustered.
“Today is very important everypony because of what will happen tomorrow so we’ll have to work extra hard, weather control pegasus! Which is why we asked for our volunteers to come in, Cloud Chaser, Flitter, and, with the help of Rainbow Dash, we’ll get rid of all the clouds in the sky in no time lickety-split!
“HA! You can count on me, those clouds will be gone before you can even blink!” Rainbow Dash boasted.
“What about Storm Cloud where is she. Won’t she come help us today as well?” I asked.
“Storm Cloud is busy training with the rest of the Wonderbolts at the moment to help out right now. I should be training with them but I was directly ordered from Spitfire to come here to make sure these clouds won’t bother us.” Rainbow Dash answered.
“I see continue please, Fluffy Clouds, sorry for interrupting,” I gestured for him to continue.
“Okay, for today Clear Skies is in charge. Cloud Chaser, Flitter, and Open Skies will take care of any loose ends at the rear. While Heavy Rain, you'll be assisting Rainbow Dash and Clear Skies with the main clouds, the big ones since you three are fast and have an affinity to break through bigger clouds. It should be a piece of cake, any questions?” Fluffy Clouds explained.
“Uh yeah, after we properly cleared the skies, what then, are we done? Can we go home?” Cloud Chaser asked.
“Yes, all employees and volunteers will be dismissed for today but before you leave you have to report back to me for a job well done. Now without further delay, let's start clearing some clouds folks!” Fluffy Clouds shouted with enthusiasm.
“RIGHT!” everypony said in unison.
We all left the office and took off to the skies above Ponyville. We have a lot of sky to cover from Ponyville, Canterlot, and all the land in between our district but, this is just routine for us all so we’re used to it. A few hours later, Rainbow Dash and I took care of the bigger clouds and the others made sure there were no smaller ones in sight, so now it was just clean up duty and we’d be done for today. So we all decided to slow our progress down while we talked for a bit. I’m not even surprised when Rainbow Dash decided to sit on the cloud next to me, she was serious when she said that we’d talk more after briefing because the first thing she uttered was.
“How could you NOT like The Wonderbolts, what’s wrong with Wonderbolts?!”
I sighed while pushing the cloud next to her. “I never said I didn’t like the Wonderbolts, I just don’t think they're anything special.”
“That’s basically the same thing! What could possibly be more special than seeing the most awesome flyers in all of Equestria do stunts and be totally awesome?!”
“I don’t know...doing anything besides this and watching others fly? I’m not interested in watching other pegasus do what I can do, Rainbow Dash.”
“You think you can do what THE Wonderbolts can do? Aahahah!” Rainbow Dash burst into laughter. It was so loud that it got Cloud Chaser and Flitter's attention. I couldn’t help but blush out of embarrassment for the way she was laughing at me...just like back then.
“Stop laughing...I didn’t mean it like that Rainbow Dash, sheesh, flying is just the basics any pegasus knows so why would I watch others do what I do on a daily basis?”
“Well, it’s like you said flying is just the basics,” Rainbow Dash confirmed while wiping the tears of laughter off her eyes “but there’s more to flying than you know. That’s what Twilight thought until I started teaching her.” Rainbow Dash smirked.
“Not sure that counts, she started out as a Unicorn I’ve been told, I’ve been a pegasus my whole life-”
“-Ah-ah” Rainbow Dash interrupted again “Just like unicorns they can all use magic right? But some perfect it like Twilight does. It’s the same for us pegasi too, open your eyes! Serious training goes into perfecting flight and the Wonderbolts, as well as yours truly, train every day to master it. That’s only ONE of the reasons that make them awesome.”
“You know what I think is awesome?” I asked.
“What” she replied.
“Moving clouds and getting paid for my hard work, speaking of which, I’d like to get back to!” I grinned widely.
Rainbow Dash looked at me with a blank expression and rolled her eyes, pouting. I really don’t see what the big deal is. It’s so annoying to have to deal with somepony else’s passionate opinion over something I could care less about. I mean, I’m not trying to be insensitive, I just don’t have a preference for these particular things.
“Nope!” Rainbow Dash said out of the blue.
“What?” I questioned.
“Nope, nope, nope. This ain’t gonna cut it, Raindrop!” She shakes her head disapprovingly at me as she flies slowly towards me to place a hoof gently at my shoulder.
I look at my shoulder and back at her, my ears fold back in confusion. “Rainbow…?”
“I mean a pegasus who doesn’t like the Wonderbolts, heheh, that’s just nuts, unreal, impossible!”
“A-again, I never said I didn’t like-”
“I mean this is 20% NOT cool! I was going to give this Wonderbolt golden ticket to one of my friends, who actually like the Wonderbolts as much as I do, see if they wanted to come with me. But you know what, I'm sure they’re busy anyways. This, however, is an emergency and you’re coming to the Wonderbolt event with me tomorrow after work. That’s final!” Rainbow Dash dictated as she shoved the aluminum engraved ticket into my hooves without hesitation.
I was completely taken aback. What’s even going on, what? “W-wait what, Rainbow huh? What event, why me? I-I don’t want to, I don’t want this!” I stuttered.
“Hehe, can’t refuse. It’s mandatory girl.” Rainbow winked at me sticking her tongue out.
“This is too sudden and I don’t like things being forced upon me so...sporadically, that’s not fair Rainbow Dash. Heck I didn’t even know there was a Wonderbolt event tomorrow!” I said, feeling deflated, my words wouldn’t get through to her at this point. SHe’d just drag me out of my own house if I decided to even attempt skipping. Thinking back, I feel as though I should have tried a little harder to not have eavesdropped into her conversation or maybe have skipped my morning coffee. My ears drooped and I bowed my head, complete and utterly defeated.
At this moment Cloud Chaser seized the opportunity to join in our conversation when she ascended from below, Flitter followed suit. “You didn’t know about the Wonderbolt event tomorrow? It’s going to be a big event that’ll last five days!”
“It’s going to be so exciting,” Flitter smiled.
“That’s why we’re clearing all these clouds in the sky. What else did you think this was for, Raindrop?” Rainbow Dash looked at me quizzically. “Oh my gosh, you really didn’t know!?”
“I-I don’t pay too much attention to current events,” I admitted embarrassingly. “Oh, alright Rainbow Dash you got me I’ll take you up on your offer, I guess. It’ll be a good opportunity to leave my house I suppose and if it gets you off my back about all of this then it’s a win/win.” I smiled.
“Now that’s the spirit!” Rainbow Dash said happily. “By the end of tomorrow, you’ll be saying how amazing the Wonderbolts are and that I was right! You won’t have any regrets, you can bet on it,” she said matter of factly.
Clear Skies swoops in at the end of our conversation to give us some progress report. “Hey everypony, we’re done here, no more work, go home, hip-hip-hooray, that’s all folks!” She then flies down back to PWCP HQ. We all follow suit back to our lockers to hang up our coats. “Good work everypony” we all exchange compliments to each other after a hard day of work as we head out the door to enjoy the rest of our day. Rainbow Dash flies next to me.
“Tomorrow after work, we’re hanging out, don't forget and don’t be late. See you later, and good work today, Raindrop. “Ah, y-yeah you too Rainbow Dash. See you later”. And with that, she’s off into the sky just as fast as ever.
Before I head off home I plop my tookus on a bench and wait for Lyra to arrive to talk. I hope she’s not mad at me, all day I tried to forget what she said but it lingered in my mind but worst of all I treated her poorly. I didn’t mean to behave so rudely so I was hoping to ask for forgiveness. A couple of minutes had passed, I was beginning to think she wasn’t coming today. I wouldn’t blame her for how I acted. Just before I was going to get up she came.
“Lyra,” A sigh of relief escapes my muzzle.
“Hey Rainy, hope you don’t mind but I brought my mare friend Bon Bon along this time,” Lyra spoke sheepishly. “Hello there doll I also bought treats!” Bon Bon said as if on queue to say something.
“Of course I don’t mind at all,” I said to Bon Bon right before I shift my attention back to Lyra. “...Hey, Lyra, listen, I’m sorry for the way I acted yesterday. I didn’t mean to, you know, you were only trying to help me and I took some of my anger out on you. I don’t like talking about those sorts of topics. It gets underneath my skin but that’s no excuse for how I treated you. Can you ever forgive me?”
Upon hearing my apology, Lyra looks at her hooves kicking dust off the ground. “Aw shucks were you worried about that all this time. Well, I actually have been meaning to apologize to youtoday for the way I behaved. When I left yesterday I was talking to Bon Bon about what happened and she got super mad at me.”
“You’re darn tootin I did.” Bon Bon scolded Lyra, “How many times I have to tell you it’s rude to ask other ponies about their personal matters unless they’re ready to talk about it?! Honestly you can be such a hassle sometimes Lyra.”
This only made Lyra feel worse about what she did as she hung her head lower, her ears folded back feeling the weight of guilt. “You’re right Bon Bon, I screwed up it was wrong of me to talk about your personal matters like that, Rainy, and I tried to get the answer out of you, I was being a jerk. I was afraid you would still be mad at me so Bon Bon agreed to come with me for moral support. Heavy Rain, could you...could you ever forgive me for being so insensitive?”
… ….
Neither of us said a word after that, we just stared at the ground waiting feeling saddened and it was a bit awkward. Noticing that neither of us have said I forgive you. It wasn’t about who said it first, the atmosphere was heavy and neither of us could find our voice, the silence was unbearable. I feel as though this was a mistake so maybe I shouldn’t have come to the bench today. I came to ask for forgiveness but instead, both of us were looking for it. How can I possibly accept her forgiveness if I’m the one asking for it? I’m in the wrong here, if I say I forgive you it’ll be as though how I treated her was justified...IT’S NOT. Say something Heavy Rain, SAY SOMETHING!
“Oh come on you two for the love of-, you both say you’re sorry so all is forgiven right, regardless of who says I forgive you first right? Cause that’s what both of you are thinking isn’t it? I see it so painfully clear on both your faces so why the glum?”
I flinched when she said that and I see Lyra fidgeting at the corner of my eye. So what Bon Bon said is true. We were both really overthinking this….
“Here, Lyra comes and sit next to me on the bench.” Bon Bon hops onto the bench sitting beside me and pats the spot next to her, motioning Lyra to take a seat in silence. I looked on but not much so to be noticed by the two mares.
A few minutes of silence pass once more between the three of us.
“I forgive you” Lyra is taken by surprise when I said the three magical words, finally. She looked at me and opened her mouth to say something but before she could I continued. “Though I believe you didn’t do anything wrong, I was terrible. I’m still trying to work on my issues heheh!” I tried to brush it off with laughter but it helped to make Lyra smile which made me feel a bit better also.
“I forgive you too for your outburst I know you didn’t mean to, you’re not that kind of mare and you’re not terrible. You’re a good friend, Rainy.” Lyra gave me a heartwarming smile, it was as though a huge burden had finally been lifted from my back. I bet she feels the same way too because we both couldn’t help but giggle and smile at each other.
“I’m glad you two finally forgave each other” Bob Bon smiled softly, “How about we dig in to the treats I bought for all of us to enjoy, Rainy I got you Key Lime Pie. I know how much you enjoy pie, especially the tart ones.”
“Oh goodness, thank you so much Bon Bon, this is the best! It must have been expensive.” I said excitedly, it’s been a while since I had the chance to cater to my sweet tooth. I could never really buy my favorite pie with my budget, it’s truly on luxurious occasions.
“So Rainy, when did you start training to fly so fast, do you have something big planned? I was going to say this earlier before you zoomed off this morning?” Bon Bon said I couldn’t help but look at her confused.
“Training? What are you talking about? I never trained to fly, I was in such a hurry to get to work is all that was. I’d assume most pegasi can fly quite fast as I did if they were in a hurry.”
“You’re just being modest, you’re a natural Rainy! And I never saw your mane flow backwards like that before, you must have been going super fast!” Bon Bon praised.
“What’s going on?” Lyra stopped eating for a second to ask.
“Lyra you should have seen Rainy this morning, she was as fast as a bolt of lightning she was, I swear it. We almost bumped into each other's muzzle but somehow in mere inches away from each other’s face she twisted her whole body out the way!” Bon Bon babbled to Lyra.
“Stoppit, you’re going to make me blush,” I fretted shielding my face with my hooves so they couldn’t see how beet-red I was. “I mean I did face-plant and scorpioned…” I added, self-deprecating my ability.
“But still, that’s amazing, Rainy you might have what it takes to be a Wonderbolt heheh!” Lyra grinned.
“Speaking of The Wonderbolts, did you know that they have a five day event going on later tomorrow at Canterlot,” Bon Bon informed us both.
“Not you girls too, all day everypony kept talking about The Wonderbolts. I had an ear full of that when I had to deal with Rainbow Dash today. She gave me a ticket, well more like forcing the ticket onto me.” I leered at the ticket.
“HEY YOU GOT A GOLDEN TICKET ALREADY!” Lyra shouted as she snatched the ticket out of my hooves with such speed. “Oh boy, that must be the benefits of having a Wonderbolt as a friend you have to line up tomorrow in order to get one of these, you’re so lucky.” Lyra said as I snatched the ticket back.
“We're not friends! She's a volunteer, we’re co-workers at best. She only gave it to me because I don’t care about the Wonderbolts and she made a big deal out of it. She knows I don’t care and I think she’s only doing this to stroke her ego. She’s messing with me,” I retorted feeling upset.
“Oh Rainy you know she takes that stuff seriously sweetie. The Wonderbolts is her life. I'm sure she wouldn’t do that to you if only to mess with you. I’m sure she just wants to try and show you a side that you don’t really know about them. Maybe she’s just trying to help in her...usual brash ways.” Bon Bon said smiling softly.
The sun was beginning to set; a nice cool breeze passed by flowing through my mane, refreshing my spirits; I sighed feeling exhausted.
“I should start heading home girls, I’ll see you two tomorrow” I got up from the bench and faced them.
“Yeah you will, we’ll make sure our seats are right next to yours and we can all watch the show tomorrow, promise!” Lyra blurted.
“Sure sure, I promise, I’ll see you girls tomorrow, I’ll be sure to wave to you when I find my own seat first.” I smiled.
With that I happily walked off. Content with patching things up with Lyra, happy that they complimented my flying even if it is small, happy that we’ll all be together tomorrow. I’m just so happy that I have friends like them and live every day the way I already do. With moments like this, there is nothing I would ever want more in my life.
Back at home, I made myself something quick to eat, brushed my teeth and mane, pruned my wings, and then I headed off to bed. “What a long day” I chuckled letting out an exasperated sigh of comfort as I drifted off to sleep. Tomorrow is going to be an eventful day, Heavy Rain...
