Five at Five
By Slate Sadpony
“C'mon, I just want a payment advance of one day,” said Rainbow Dash. “One day!”
“You know I can’t do that,” said Cumulus Drift. As Rainbow Dash’s manager she had gotten used to her negligent work ethic and lack of focus and planning. He didn’t get angry with her, but he didn’t trust her with any of the major jobs either. “Nopony gets a payment advance in this operation. Especially not a pony who can’t show up on time for work regularly.”
“Well how about just a few bits to tide me over?” said Rainbow Dash. She was above begging, but being insistent had gotten her a lot of leeway with Cumulus over the years. She had always liked him, especially the way he put up with her need for naps and time off to practice her stunts. She knew just how far to push him, and how far she could go without pissing him off. “Seriously, all I have is five bits to tide me over. That’s like, next to nothing!”
“If you wanted more money today, you shouldn’t have spent so freely yesterday,” said Cumulus. “No payment advances, not even a partial one.”
“Well, it doesn’t hurt to ask, does it?” asked Rainbow Dash, shrugging her shoulders. She was disappointed, but no reason to show it. “I can clock out now, right?”
“You can,” said Cumulus, bemused by his employee’s behavior. “It’s been five P.M. for a whole thirty seconds now.”
“All right!” said Rainbow Dash, tossing her Cloud Rearrangement Engineer uniform and badge in the wash bin and punching her time card. She waved goodbye to Cumulus and flew out the back door at high speed, flapping her wings hard and curving this way and that as she headed out down below cloud level and into the open air beneath. It felt good to be out of work, but how good could things get when she only had five bits to play with? Still, that was no reason to get discouraged. She was the one and only Rainbow Dash, after all.
As she flew, the rumble in her tummy told her that the first problem she needed to solve was the fact that she was hungry. This was easy enough - her favorite sandwich shop had the best hayburgers in town. The delicious, lightly toasted and caramelized hay was paired with big fresh tomatoes, red onions, lettuce, and smothered in a special fruity ketchup that tasted like nothing else in town! Just thinking about it made Rainbow Dash’s mouth water. Sure, that would mean she’d be down four of her five bits right away, but she did get paid tomorrow. So long as she could bum a few day-old muffins off of Pinkie Pie for breakfast tomorrow, it wasn’t like she’d go hungry or anything.
As Rainbow Dash touched down, she frowned to see the enormous line leading up to the sandwich shop. Usually her fast flying and urge to get dinner in early meant that she arrived before anypony else did, thus eliminating her need to wait. Today, though, it looked like she’d have to wait in line a whole ten minutes. Ten minutes! When she had a whole afternoon and evening to go out and do things! She sighed, kicking the dirt in frustration. If those hayburgers weren’t so darn good, she’d have to take her business elsewhere.
Rainbow Dash looked around as she waited in line, hoping to see somepony she knew so she could complain to them about the wait. However, she didn’t recognize anypony in particular, other than the casual acquaintances she’d picked up over the years of patronizing the same restaurant. However, there was a crowd out in the alley that seemed rather large, especially since she knew that alley didn’t lead to anywhere except the grease traps behind the restaurant. Curious, she stepped out of line to see what was up.
“Can you find the princess?” said a voice from the center of the crowd. “Find the princess and double your money! But beware - find Discord and you lose! Who wants to play with Monty?”
Rainbow Dash pushed herself to the front of the crowd to where a pony in a top hat and cape, complete with costume store moustache, was busy shuffling three cards back and forth. He had a cutie mark of three playing cards, two black and one red, and his accent and tone reminded Rainbow Dash of the carnival barkers present at every festival. He must be one of the traveling stall owners, looking to make a few bits between major performances. Rainbow Dash was always one for a good show, so she sat down on her haunches, taking in the scene.
“I’ll give it a try,” said a voice from the crowd. Rainbow Dash recognized it as Roseluck, that pony who’d complained to her manager about flower damage caused by Rainbow’s accidental placement of a hail cloud where a drizzle cloud should have been. Sure enough, Roseluck came forward and looked at the three cards being shuffled on the table. “How much is it?”
“Just a measly two bits!” said Monty as he continued to shuffle the cards. The speed at which he did so using his hooves was incredible. Rainbow Dash doubted that any pony other than her could really see where the princess card actually was. Finally he stopped shuffling and Roseluck pointed at a card. “Are you sure?” asked Monty, looking at Roseluck quizzically.
“Yes?” she asked, somewhat unsure.
“Well then maybe you should…” Monty flipped over the card, revealing a simple but charming portrait of Celestia. “...Pat yourself on the back, because you just won four bits!” Monty smiled and began shuffling the cards again, using quick movements of his hoof to pop two more bits on top of the four Roseluck had placed on the table. “Wanna play some more! Everyone’s a winner with Monty!”
As Rainbow Dash watched, however, it became clear that the only winner here was Monty himself. Roseluck won four bits as she played, but she lost ten. The next pony to come to the table, Snowball, won six but lost twenty. While Monty kept the line moving and the crowd under control, anypony who paid any real attention would realize this wasn’t a game to win. She frowned, disappointed. She had been hoping she could turn her five bits into eight, so that she could get some fries and a soft drink to go with her hayburger.
She continued to watch, however, certain there was something to be had here. Just as Snowball placed his tenth losing bet, she realized what was going on: Monty was slipping the princess card in and out as he needed, revealing it whenever he wanted a pony to win and hiding it whenever he wanted that pony to lose. From the side it was obvious that he was using his long sleeves to hide the princess up his fetlock whenever he didn’t want somepony to win, and then swapping her out with one of the three Discord cards whenever he wanted to make sure they lost. By only letting the ponies place a few bets, they never caught on, and by letting them win occasionally, he made them think the game might be fair.
“I want a turn!” said Rainbow Dash, shoving Snowflake aside. She’d let him know what was up and ask for his thanks later. “I bet five bits!”
“The bet is two bits,” said Monty, suspicious. Still, he accepted the bet and put on his best showman’s smile. “But who am I to tell anypony not to live dangerously! Let’s play!” Monty began to shuffle the cards quickly, smiling at Rainbow Dash but staring at her intently with his eyes. He knew she was on to something, but what, exactly, he wasn’t sure.
When Monty finally stopped, Rainbow Dash smiled and pretended to think it over, moving her hoof from one card to the next. Once she figured she’d dawdled enough, she slipped her hooves under the two side cards, flipping them both over simultaneously. “It’s the middle one, isn’t it?” she said, grinning.
Monty was shocked, clearly having not expected her to flip over his cards and put him in such a bind. If he flipped over the middle card to reveal Discord’s face, it would be clear to everypony that he had been cheating. Likewise, if he leaned in to try and swap the card for the one in his fetlock, everyone would see now that they weren’t distracted by the motion of the cards on the table. Smiling even as he began to sweat, he leaned in closely, whispering in Rainbow Dash’s ear. “Don’t ruin this for me,” he said. “I’ll give you twenty bits.”
Rainbow Dash grinned and leaned in as well. “Pack up your stuff, buy me a hayburger, fries and a wheatgrass soda, then get the buck out of town,” said Rainbow Dash. “Or else I’ll tell all these ponies about the princess hidden up your sleeve.”
Monty scowled a bit, but then turned to the crowd and put on a good face. “I’ve just been reminded of the time by my old friend Rainbow Dash,” said Monty. “And that I’m quite famished! Sorry folks, but I do need to pack up and eat!”
The crowd dispersed, mildly displeased that they hadn’t gotten to play as well, but otherwise content to have enjoyed the show.
“You better keep your word, you filly of a sway-backed donkey,” said Monty, his pleasant pretense swept aside by his anger. He was furious at Rainbow Dash for ratting him out, but he knew better than to pick a fight. Rainbow Dash’s speed and strength were obvious, and his body was built for deception, not fighting.
“I always keep my word,” said Rainbow Dash, grinning big as Monty waited in line, purchased the meal, and set it down on the table.
“I hope it tastes like plot,” said Monty, putting on a big fake smile.
Rainbow Dash grinned and took a big bite, smiling back at him with ketchup and bits of lettuce all over her teeth. “Mmmmnfff, mmm, this is so bucking good,” she said. “Too bad you can’t afford one,” she said.
Monty just put on a fake smile, his eyes letting Rainbow Dash know how much he hated her. He walked out the door and then took off down the street, putting on more and more speed as he went. Clearly, he knew that discretion was the better part of valor.
Rainbow Dash was content to munch on her hayburger, the caramelized hay tasting all the sweeter since it had not only been free, but because she’d done something good in the process. Still, even as she finished the last of her soda and nibbled up her potato fries, she realized this meal was missing something: alcohol. What was a good, relaxing meal without a beer or hard cider to finish it off? Fortunately, she still had the same five bits she’d come in with, and the package store was just across the street. If she was willing to compromise a bit on quality, a forty ounce bottled cider would be well within her budget, and she might even have a bit or two left over to get a candy bar.
Wandering across the street, Rainbow Dash let herself in and began browsing around. She was on good terms with Brown Bag, and he waved a hoof at her from behind his newspaper as she came in. Ignoring the high-end beverages prominently displayed by the register and on the higher shelves, she moved towards the back browsing the lower shelves for something that was within her budget without being too truly nasty.
Exploring the lower shelves and trying to find something that looked at least moderately familiar, she noticed another pony shuffling along in the back of the store. Wearing a heavy coat and worn cap, he did not look out of place in the fortified wine aisle. The bulges in his coat, however were out of place. They didn’t move properly when he walked, and he kept thumping them back into place even as he continued looking at the various bottles on the shelf. When she saw him slowly sneak a bottle from the shelf into his coat, her suspicions were confirmed: he was shoplifting!
Doing her best to act like she didn’t notice, she carefully selected a forty ounce bottle of Sweet Apple Reserve, shadowing the shoplifter as he approached the front counter. Rainbow was surprised at how calm he was, and how he selected and paid for a single bottle of Night Mane brand fortified wine. Brown Bag, was too distracted by his newspaper to notice the unnatural bulge in his customer’s jacket. As the shady character left, Rainbow Dash put her own purchase on the counter. “Wait a sec,” she said, suddenly dashing out the door and grabbing the unknown pony by his jacket collar.
“What do you want?” he grumbled, turning around to face Rainbow Dash. He backed up nervously, but was managing to keep his cool.
“For you to go back in and pay for those four bottles you’ve got hidden in your jacket,” said Rainbow Dash. She kept close to him, letting him know there was no chance to escape.
“Look, just let me go, and I’ll give you two,” said the pony. “That’s a good deal, right? You and I each get half of the caper?”
“Sorry, but I’m a cider-drinking pony,” said Rainbow Dash. In an instant she was behind him, pushing him back towards the package store door. “Now go tell Brown Bag what, exactly, you did.”
Brown Bag raised an eyebrow as he saw Rainbow Dash pushing another customer back into the store. “Rainbow Dash, what are you bothering Soapy for?” he asked, curious. “Soapy here is one of my best customers.”
“You mean best shoplifters,” said Rainbow Dash, using one of her wings to open up the side of Soapy’s jacket, revealing both two bottles of Night Mane as well as his cutie mark, which was a gold coin embedded in a bar of soap. Rainbow Dash recognized that as a con she’d fallen prey to herself when she was a filly. Clearly, Soapy was not on the up-and-up.
“What’s the meaning of this, Soapy?” said Brown Bag. He frowned in disappointment. “I thought we were friends.”
“Well, ever since they shut down my soap stall at the market, time has been tough,” said Soapy. “I just...I wanted to stash some away for the rest of the week, you know? I’m sorry, Brown Bag, I really am.”
“Darn right you are,” said Brown Bag, peering over his glasses at Soapy. “It’s one thing to dupe people at your market stall with your coin-in-a-bar-of-soap gambling. It’s another thing entirely to steal from your friends.”
“Baggie, I’m sorry,” said Soapy. “I just wasn’t thinking.”
“You certainly weren’t,” said Brown Bag. “I’m sorry but I’m going to have to report this one to the guards. This has gone too far, Soapy. You really need to get your act together.
Soapy frowned and stared at the floor, clearly upset. No pony liked getting caught stealing, and while Celestia’s jail system was kinder than those used elsewhere, it still wasn’t any fun. “Yeah,” he said, his hoof pawing at the floor as Brown Bag retrieved and re-shelved the stolen merchandise.
Though Rainbow Dash was familiar with the Equestrian penal system due to some mistakes made back in her rowdy days, she had no sympathy for Soapy. Stealing was never a good idea, even when it was something cool like a Daring Do book. And sometimes, it took a little crime and punishment to make sure a pony understood that.
“How can I repay you, Rainbow Dash?” said Brown Bag. He pushed Soapy back into his office until the guards could arrive, propping a stool against the door handle to keep Soapy from making a break for it.
“Well, you could give me that Sweet Apple Reserve for free,” said Rainbow Dash.
Brown Bag frowned a little. “Aww, c’mon, that’s five bits right there,” he said. “Can’t we agree to a half-price deal or something?”
“Are you happy to find out about Soapy or not?” she huffed.
“Oh all right,” said Brown Bag, bagging the cider and handing it to Rainbow Dash. “I suppose it’s not that big a deal. Especially if Soapy turns out to be the one who helped himself to those cans of Colt Forty-Five that went missing last week.”
“Wouldn’t surprise me,” said Rainbow Dash, cracking the cap on the cider and taking a long drink. It was fizzy and cool, and went down sweet and smooth. “And don’t worry, you know I’ll pay for the next one.”
“I don’t doubt it,” said Brown Bag, waving to Rainbow as she left and picking up his newspaper again.
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. Had he learned nothing? Clearly he needed to pay better attention to the ponies in his store, since not all of them were as honest as Rainbow Dash. Still, his inattentiveness had gotten Rainbow Dash a free bottle of her favorite cider. Now all she had to do was find a good place to drink it.
Soaring high up into the clouds, she sipped at her bottle a few times but focused mostly on ascending. There was a spot well over town where she could see everything, especially the sunset and moon rise over Canterlot. All she needed to do was get up there and haul over a cloud for convenient sitting. The only problem was that, being high up in the air, there was no permanent marker she could use to position herself exactly.
Zooming around a bit to get a good look at the air and the ground, she finally settled on what she was sure was the spot and began sipping her cider, taking long drafts of the cool liquid as she watched the sun go down. Still, something seemed like it was missing. Normally, this would be the perfect end to a perfect day. She’d gotten off work on time, she’d enjoyed her favorite meal, and now she was getting to down her favorite beverage while enjoying a beautiful sunset. So what was missing?
As she finished her cider and began to watch the moon rise, it hit her. Deep down, she wanted to party a bit. Not a big party, of course, since she needed to go to work in the morning. But she did need to shuffle her hooves a bit, have a few beers, and maybe even sing the Wonderbolts theme song a few times. Fortunately for her, she lived in Ponyville, and in Ponyville there was one place that always had a party.
Coming in high under the steady moonlight, she scanned the town below for the telltale light and noise that let her know she was near Fresh Vinyl, the club owned and operated by DJ Pon-3. If she was lucky, Pinkie Pie would be there, livening things up while DJ Pon-3 dropped the bass. Coming in hard, she went into a steep dive over the back of the club, aiming herself at the recycle bin out in the back. She hurled her empty cider bottle towards it as she peeled back, missing the roof of the club by narrow inches. Though she could hear the wub-wub sound of the subwoofers through the roof, it wasn’t loud enough to hide the shattering crash of glass on glass as her bottle smashed through dozens of others.
“I love doing that!” said Rainbow Dash, grinning as she made a perfect four-point landing in front of the club. Various ponies were lined up at the velvet rope, waiting to get in, but Rainbow Dash walked straight towards the bouncer, a big dopey grin on her face. “So, Iron Hooves, how’s about letting me in without a wait?”
“No,” said Iron Hooves, not even looking up from his clipboard. “You know I’m not supposed to let you in here. Not after that incident with the skylight.”
“Aww, c’mon, nopony even got hurt!” said Rainbow Dash, putting on a faux pout. She then grinned a little, sidling up to Iron Hooves and shaking her plot at him. “Can’t you just forgive me this one time?”
“You know that won’t work on this stallion,” said Iron Hooves, continuing to ignore Rainbow. “The only plot I’m interested in is my husband’s.”
“You’re no fun,” said Rainbow Dash, her pout now becoming more genuine.
“Look,” said Iron Hooves. “The only way I’m letting you in here is if Vinyl Scratch-”
“Hey hey, it’s the one and only Rainbow Dash!” said a familiar voice. Vinyl Scratch emerged from behind Iron Hooves, smiling broadly and waving a hoof.
Iron Hooves was not amused. “You were standing there and waiting for me to say your name, weren’t you?”
“Maybe,” said Vinyl Scratch, smirking. She put a hoof around Rainbow Dash’s shoulder and escorted her into the club. “C’mon Rainbow. The insurance company ruled it was an accident, so I can let you in again without having to worry about my premiums. Just promise me you’ll stick to cider tonight. You know how you are when somebody busts out the tequila.”
“You know I only drink tequila on weekends,” said Rainbow Dash, grinning big as she walked out on to the dance floor. Illuminated from above and below, there were lasers and colored lights all over the place. The floor was filled with ponies dancing wildly, and while Rainbow Dash was tempted to sidle over to the bar, she knew that the forty ounces of cider she’d just downed would be more than enough to keep her buzzed for now. Besides, she needed to get back in Vinyl’s good graces, and drunken antics were not the way to go there.
Heading out onto the floor she began looking for an audience, smiling and winking to a few ponies at the tables or standing at the railings which ringed the dance floor. Whipping her tail and stretching her wings a few times to get their attention, she began to shift into a powerful strut, making the most of her powerful legs.
After striking a few poses to work up the crowd, she began to dance hard, flipping her legs and twisting this way and that. She might not have the formal poise of Rarity or the supreme enthusiasm of Pinkie Pie, but she knew how to make herself look good: attitude. After all, the point of showing off was to show other ponies how confident she was, and no pony was as confident as Rainbow Dash.
Sliding herself across the floor with a push from her wings, she then shifted to levitating, kicking up the manes and tails of those around her as she put herself a few inches off the floor. She knew from experience that she needed to stay low, lest she have to explain to Vinyl why there was a Rainbow Dash shaped dent in one of the ceiling lights, but she still had plenty of room to maneuver. Now free to move in three dimensions instead of just two, she flipped and flew and twisted herself expertly, soaking up the applause and cheers. She even waved her plot in front of a few of the more interested ponies, making sure that they knew she knew how sexy she was.
The key to maintaining that kind of interest was not to milk it too hard, however, and so after a particularly salacious bit of booty waving, she carefully flew down off to the side, making sure she was well away from the most intently staring eyes. It wasn’t that she minded the occasional flirt, but she wasn’t in the mood to go home with some other pony tonight. Leastwise not some pony she met in a bar. She’d woken up to some rather ugly horse faces in the past, and such experiences had taught her the supreme importance of discretion.
As looked over towards the bar, however, she did see some ponies she did recognize. Twilight was there, taking a break from her awkward dancing to share a drink with Pinkie Pie. She walked over to the two of them, throwing her mane back and striking a pose as she caught their eye. “Well well well!” said Rainbow Dash. “Who let you two haysuckers in?” She ruffled their manes as she sat down with them, prompting Pinkie Pie to chuckle while Twilight used her magic to fix her hair.
“Guess who just got her paper on hyperbolic mana manipulation published?” said Pinkie Pie, grinning. “Twilight did! So we’re here to celebrate!”
“I told Pinkie that it was no big deal,” said Twilight, gently sipping on a drink that was more shaved ice than alcoholic beverage. “I mean, any pony with an advanced degree in ethereal forms could have figured out what I did. I was just doing what Celestia asked.”
“You should be more proud of yourself, egghead,” said Rainbow Dash, sidling up to the bar. “One appletini with an extra splash of vodka!” she shouted to the bartender.
“I’ve got this, Dashie,” said Twilight, sliding a few bits onto the counter. “The grant I got was considerable. I know most of it will be going to remodeling the library, but I don’t mind sharing a few bits with my friends.”
“Aww, thanks Twilight!” said Rainbow Dash, whipping her tail as she sipped at the appletini.
“Now if you two need to excuse me, this chocolate choo-choo is going right through me,” said Twilight, setting down the remaining two thirds of her drink. “I need to go to the little filly’s room. I’ll be right back.”
Rainbow Dash sipped her drink, looking at Pinkie. The mischievous grin on her face was unmistakable, and Rainbow Dash knew she was up to something.
“Hey,” Pinkie Whispered. “Let’s play a prank on Twilight when she gets back. She needs to loosen up a bit.”
“Good idea,” said Rainbow Dash, smiling. “What did you have in mind?”
“Oh, just a little poison joke extract in her drink,” said Pinkie Pie.
“Pinkie, I don’t think spiking Twilight’s drink is a very good idea,” said Rainbow Dash. “Not unless you want a floppy-horned princess finking to the guards tomorrow morning.”
“Oh, right,” said Pinkie. “I forgot that Twilight’s sense of humor doesn’t extend to her horn. Do you have a better idea?”
Rainbow Dash thought for a moment, finishing her appletini and tapping her hoof against her chin. She then grinned, setting the empty glass down on the counter. “I’ve got a perfect prank in mind,” she said. “Just wait until she comes back.”
After what seemed like an interminable wait, Twilight finally returned from the toilet, her freshly brushed hair framing her innocent, smiling face. She sat down at the bar and resumed sipping her watery drink.
“Oh hey Twilight, while you were here, one of the off duty guards wanted me to give you something,” said Rainbow Dash.
“Really?” said Twilight, lighting up. She had been flirting with one of the guards recently, and while Rainbow didn’t know his name, she knew how much the princess had been thinking about him and hoping to get to know him better. “What was it?”
Without saying a word, Rainbow Dash grabbed Twilight by the face, knocking the drink out of her magic. She put her muzzle to Twilight’s, surprising the mare with a deep, intimate kiss. Emphasizing the show over the feel, she pushed her face hard against Twilight, building up the spittle with lots of lip and tongue action. Though it only lasted a few seconds, the shocked look on Twilight’s face let Rainbow Dash know she’d nailed it.
“Aaaargh!” screamed Twilight, sticking out her tongue and swatting at it with her hooves. “You put your tongue down my throat!”
Pinkie fell off her stool with laughter while Rainbow Dash mugged the crowd, even bowing to a few of the more enthusiastic stallions who encouraged her to continue. Rainbow, however, knew better than to push where she wasn’t wanted. Twilight was a straight as an arrow, and uninterested in Rainbow Dash’s policy towards openness and experimentation.
“Get back here!” said Twilight, moving to capture Rainbow Dash. “How dare you kiss me without my permission like that!”
Rainbow Dash, however, took to the air, pointing herself towards one of the open skylights and making a break for it. She knew that Twilight would forgive her, but the forgiveness would be easier if she waited until morning. Barely managing to avoid smashing the glass, she flew up fast, but the wobble in her wings let her know that the double-strength appletini was a bit too much for her to fly safely.
Rather than risk waking up in traction or stuck in someone’s roof, she swooped into a nearby apple orchard and laid herself down on a nearby branch. She had spent many an evening sleeping in branches, and while they were nowhere near as comfortable as clouds, they were closer to the ground should she roll out of them in her sleep. As such, they were her favorite places to sleep off a few drinks. No one would bother her, and if somepony was hoping to find her, they would have a hard time doing so until she got all the sleep she wanted.
Almost as soon as she closed her eyes, however, she opened them again, awoken by the sound of sobbing at the base of the tree. The appearance of the sun let her know that she had been out for five or six hours, but she had no idea what time it was. With her mane filled with sap and tree branches, she needed to get a shower before she headed out to work, but first she needed to find out who was crying at the base of the tree, and why.
As she set down, she saw a familiar helmeted head, along with an instantly recognizable set of wheels. “Hey there Scootaloo,” said Rainbow Dash, walking over with a big smile. “What’s got you so glum, chum?”
“It’s Scoots,” said Scootaloo, pointing at her scooter. “I was on my way to school when the front wheel hit a rock and smashed to pieces. I tried to keep going by popping a wheelie, but I could only keep it up for a few feet at a time. How am I supposed to get around now? I don’t have any bits to fix it.”
“Don’t worry about it,” said Rainbow Dash, retrieving her five bits and bouncing them expertly off her front hoof. “I’ll pay for it, squirt.” She tossed them to Scootaloo, acting as if it was nothing.
“But,” said Scootaloo, wiping away the tears. “Aren’t you saving up for the new Daring Do book? And isn’t there a Wonderbolts air show next week? I couldn’t ask you to give those things up.”
“Eh. I’m buying you a new wheel,” said Rainbow Dash, setting Scootaloo back on her hooves and picking up the damaged scooter. “And I’m carrying you to the skate shop so we’ll get there super fast!”
Scootaloo smiled and gave Rainbow Dash a big hug. “Thanks, Rainbow Dash,” said Scootaloo. “You’re the best!”
“I know,” said Rainbow Dash, effortlessly picking up the small pegasus and flying her through the air along with her scooter. Deep down she could really feel the loss of the bits, and the books and shows Scootaloo had mentioned were definitely things she’d now have a hard time paying for. But it wasn’t in her nature to leave Scootaloo hanging.
Within minutes they were at the skate shop. Rainbow Dash set down Scootaloo and, after checking to make sure no pony was looking, gave her a quick goodbye hug. “Meet me after school and we’ll put that new wheel through its paces,” said Rainbow Dash. “A little racing is good for a new scooter wheel, right?”
“I’ll see you at the skate park,” said Scootaloo, hugging Scoots to her chest and beaming.
Rainbow Dash smirked and took to the air, putting a few twists and turns into her ascent to ensure that Scootaloo got a good show. She turned towards her cloudominium, intending to get a quick rainbow wash in her mane before heading into work. As she broke through the cloud cover, however, the position of the sun let her know she was already late. Growling in frustration, she began flapping her wings as hard as she could, streaking through the sky at top speed as she headed towards her boss’s office.
Sometimes, when she was late, her boss would already be out in the field, rearranging clouds and delegating various weather duties to his employees, leaving Rainbow Dash free to punch in and pretend to work until he came over to give her something productive to do. This time, however, he was in his office, and there was no way for her to punch her time card or retrieve her uniform without him seeing exactly how late she was.
“You’ve got apple leaves in your hair,” said Cumulus, mildly bemused. “Did you fall asleep in a tree again?”
“Hey, I’m here aren’t I?” said Rainbow Dash, putting a hard hat on over her tussled mane.
“And only an hour late,” said Cumulus. “Don’t think I’m paying you for that hour, Rainbow. It’s coming out of your vacation time. I can’t cut you any more slack than I already do.”
“Yeah but I get paid today, right?” said Rainbow, fastening her uniform. “Any chance I could get it by noon?”
“You didn’t bring money for the food cart again, did you?” said Cumulus. He took a small bag of bits out of a safe behind his desk and set it on the counter. It was comedically small, especially compared to the other ones Rainbow Dash could see in the safe. He tossed it to Rainbow, who expertly caught it with one of her wings and then flipped it into her uniform’s coat pocket. “Now promise me you won’t blow this all on fast food and cheap alcohol.”
“I won’t,” said Rainbow Dash, grinning. Only seven more hours and she’d be free. She could almost taste that greasy food, fizzy cider, and possibly the muzzle of some lucky pony. All she had to do was stick stick it out until five so she could do it all over again...
Author's Note
I wanted to write a short story that was continuous, since most of my stories are dependent on breaks. And I wanted to write 5770 words about Rainbow Dash being awesome. I succeeded on both counts.
There is no conflict or plot or resolution in this story, since it's just an experiment and just a bit of Rainbow being Rainbow, but still. I like it. And I hope you do too.
Any similarity between this story and Brad Neely's short "Queeblo" is entirely intentional.
