Firefly

Rainbow Dash awoke to a knock on her door. She opened it up to find the delivery pony. She sighed. She knew she was going to spend the entire day  getting everything in her house.

***

With the help and company of Fluttershy, Dash got everything set up. Everything was good, except for the fact that Dash was tired. She said goodbye to Fluttershy and fell asleep.

***

The next morning, Rainbow Dash felt refreshed. Third day in Ponyville. It was time to get a job. Rainbow flew outside to find the weather ponies on duty, with Firefly commanding them. Rainbow Dash knew she should wait until they were done, so she flew down and decided to explore.

Rainbow walked on the streets of Ponyville, seeing ponies buying food at tiny stands. She then saw a colorful building, and decided to go towards it. In front of the building was an earth pony and a unicorn.

"Fer the last time Rarity, I can't climb trees! I have hooves!" the earth pony shouted.

The unicorn, Rainbow assumed was Rarity said, "Well don't expect me to just sit here while my poor Opal is stuck up there!"

The earth pony grumbled, "This is a job for a pegasus. And I ain't got any wings."

"Well you kick trees all the time, Applejack!" Rarity hissed.

The earth pony, who Rainbow also assumed was Applejack replied, "So you want me to buck Opal out of the tree?"

Rarity looked concerned, "If that's what I have to do, then yes." Rarity looked up at the cat, "Don't worry Opal. I'll catch you...I hope."

"Fine Rarity, but if that cat gets hurt because of this it ain't my fault." Applejack grumbled, and she got in the bucking position.

Rarity seemed to work on her aim.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa." Rainbow Dash flew in.

The two ponies jumped back in surprise.

Rainbow Dash flew up and grabbed Opal, and set her next to Rarity.

Rainbow Dash landed and folded her wings.

Rarity stared at her oddly, "Who are you?"

"I'm...Rainbow Dash. Y'know, that new pony."

"Oh yeah. Rarity and I couldn't make it to that party that Pinkie was planning because some pony needed help getting her cat groomed." Applejack grumbled.

"It's not my fault Fluttershy wanted to go to that party. Besides, her coat needed to be groomed immediately!" Rarity defended herself.

"Wait...Fluttershy grooms your cat?" Rainbow asked.

"Yes, she's a very kind pony who's great with animals." Rarity replied.

"She was my best friend when she lived in Cloudsdale." Rainbow remarked.

"Oh..but Rainbow Dash I must ask, how did you get your rainbow mane?" Rarity asked.

"Well, it was actually an accident. So my great grandma is about to give birth to my grandma, and a few days before birth she ate zap apples. For some reason it turned my grandma's mane into a rainbow. And when she had my dad, his mane ended up being rainbow, too. And now mine is." Rainbow said.

"Zap apples? At Sweet Apple Acres we have zap apples yearly!" Applejack said happily.

"Really? Awesome! I've heard of zap apples but I've never got to eat them." Rainbow replied.

Changing the subject, Rarity spoke, "Rainbow Dash- the way you just flew in and grabbed Opal so quickly surprises me! Are you on the weather team?"

"I was actually planning on applying for a job there. They were busy, so I decided to wait." Rainbow Dash said.

"Oh my!" Rarity gasped, "I haven't introduced myself! I'm Rarity, the town's most fabulous pony! I design and sew clothes for a living."

"And I'm Applejack," Applejack said right after, "I farm and sell goods for a livin'."

"What was your old job, Rainbow Dash?" Rarity asked.

"Actually I just finished high school about a month ago. Didn't get a job, but my parents supplied me with the things I need." said Rainbow Dash.

"I actually had to drop out in tenth grade," Applejack said sadly, "That's when my family really needed me so we can survive and not be in debt."

"Oh. I graduated a year ago." Rarity said.

"Alright, team!  Cloud clearing is done for the day!" Rainbow Dash heard Firefly shout.

Applejack smiled and said, "Time to get a job, Rainbow Dash."

Rainbow smiled at the two of them, and then flew up towards Firefly, shouting her name on the way up.

Firefly turned around. "Oh, you."

"I'm interested in joining the weather team. Where can I apply?"

"Right here, right now. C'mon, let's get on solid ground."

The two ponies flew back down to the ground.

Firefly began circling Rainbow Dash and then gently grabbed her wing and tugged on it.

"What are you doing?" Rainbow asked, slightly nervous.

"Inspecting. Gotta make sure you're good enough to be on the team, y'know."

After a thorough inspection on her wings, hooves, vision and hearing, Firefly said, "Now show me how fast you can fly.You see that lone cloud up there. That really high one? Go fly up to it. I'll record your time. Go when I say go."

Firefly approached a barrel and took her saddlebags off it, pulling out a stopwatch.

Rainbow prepared herself for her flight.

"Now remember Rainbow, if you don't make it up there within twelve seconds, you aren't getting on the team."

Rainbow laughed, "Easy."

"GO!" Firefly shouted.

Rainbow burst from the ground, giving her full 100% effort into getting to that cloud. She flapped and flapped her wings as fast as they could.

Rainbow Dash soon reached the cloud and suddenly stopped herself.

Rainbow Dash looked down and saw Firefly's mouth agape. Rainbow laughed, let herself fall from the sky and opened her wings as she came towards Firefly.

"So what's my time?"

"Three point two seconds!" Firefly gasped.

A pony just as good-no a pony even BETTER than you, Rainbow Dash thought.

"Alright, you got the job. We'll talk with the mayor later. For now you're a Cloud Bouncer." Firefly said.

"Cloud Bouncer?" Dash asked.

"The pony who bounces on dark clouds and gets all of the rain out them." Firefly said, not making eye contact, but instead putting her stop watch away.

"Are you kidding me?! I'm good enough to be busting thunderclouds!" Rainbow said defensively.

Firefly gave her a glare.

"Listen, do you want to have the job or not? I've been out of high school for three years now - I worked my way up to being the manager. And I can easily say no to your request. What job do you want? None at all? This is your chance, kid. Don't ruin it." Firefly began to fly away.

Then she stopped in her tracks, "Meet me here tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. We'll go to the mayor's office to confirm your role."

Firefly took off in a flash.

Rainbow Dash growled.

"I hate her. I knew it. She's a terrible pony! I'll prove to her...I'll prove that I'm better than her."