When a Change is Needed*

The clear blue skies brought a smile to Rainbow Dash as she looked down on Ponyville.  The weather teams had done a fine job clearing the skies for this week’s Summer Sun Celebration.  This year, the main celebration was going to be held in Canterlot, Ponyville’s closest neighbor.

Still, thought Rainbow Dash, at least the weather teams got practice.

The blue Pegasus looked around at the other weather ponies flying next to her. On her right, Blossomforth was looking around; trying to make sure nothing was missed. Her green and pink mane streamed behind her, twisting as she turned her head back and forth. Thunderlane, gliding on Rainbow’s left, appeared bored and aloof, barely making any effort to conceal his disinterest in being there.

Rainbow Dash knew she’d have to have a talk with him about his work ethic; for now, she was busy double checking to make sure nothing was out of place.

The other teams gathered together, waiting to hear what their next assignments were.

“Alright team, looks good,” said Rainbow Dash. “Be here on the morning of the celebration and we’ll clear it away one last time.”

Cheers rose from the pegasi at the compliment. Their leader was seldom known for her praise and usually had a harsh criticism for them.

“That doesn’t mean you can celebrate just yet!” barked Rainbow. “Thunderlane and Blossomforth, you need to split the load evenly. Blossomforth can’t be doing all the work, Thunderlane. You got to help her.  Dewdrop, Cloudkicker; less arguing next time. I don’t care how the job gets done, but we have to work together.  Everypony is counting on us. Dismissed.”

The weather teams sulked off to their homes, their high spirits cut short by the critique of their leader.

They’ll do better next time, thought Rainbow.

“Um… I thought it went really well……” muttered a shy yellow pegasus next to her. Fluttershy was hovering just a few feet off the ground. “I mean…..um… if you think so…” Her voice barely rose above a whisper, her blushing face hiding behind her pink mane.

Rainbow gave a reassuring smile to her friend. “Of course it went well, ‘Shy. I was just giving them a hard time so they get better. After all, I gotta have the best team in all of Equestria if the Wonderbolts are going to notice me. And these weather ponies are nowhere near as awesome as I am.”

Fluttershy giggled at her blue-colored friend. She liked that about Rainbow. Her confidence always seemed to make everything just a little less scary.

“So what are you doing here, Fluttershy?” asked Rainbow, her eyebrow raised. “You aren’t even on the weather team. Don’t your animals need looking after or something?”

Fluttershy shook her head. “Um... kinda. I have to head over to Applejack’s to take a look at some piglets. They’re still too small for Applejack to bring them over, and they need me. Plus they are soo cute. The other animals should be fine until I get back.”

Rainbow nodded. Although the other animals practically begged for Fluttershy’s care all the time, it was nice to see her long-time friend start to become a little more independent.

“How did Angel take it? I’m sure he wasn’t too thrilled.”

“Oh….” Fluttershy cowered under her mane. “He doesn’t know. I didn’t want to get him upset so I waited to leave until he took his nap.”

Rainbow put her hoof to her face. I’m gonna have to do something about that bunny, she thought.  He is way too mean to her..

They rambled to Sweet Apple Acres in silence for a bit; Fluttershy walking and Rainbow Dash hovering just above her.

She never walks when she can fly, thought Fluttershy. Although she didn’t mind flying per se, Fluttershy always had a fear of heights. Her fall from Cloudsdale to the ground as a filly, only to be saved by a swarm of butterflies, didn’t help matters at all. Of course, she thought, I didn’t like heights before then. She smiled at the memory of that day. Rainbow Dash had challenged the bullies picking on Fluttershy to a race to stop them.  All Fluttershy had to do was wave the flag. Rainbow had been so fast she’d knocked Fluttershy clean off the cloud. It was only the butterflies that saved her from a very bad ending. They set her down in the forest, where she met all her animal friends, and discovered she loved all the animals. When she got back to Cloudsdale, she had discovered that her cutie mark had shown up, along with that of her new best friend, Rainbow Dash.

Smiling at the memories, she looked up into the concerned face of Rainbow Dash.

“Equestria to ‘Shy, come in ‘Shy!”

Fluttershy blushed profusely, and tried as best she could to disappear into her mane. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you upset, Rainbow Dash.” Her cheeks were becoming flushed with embarrassment. “I was just thinking about the day we got our cutie marks. Remember?”

“Of course I remember! I was the one that caused all our cutie marks to appear!” Rainbow said, a smug smile spreading on her lips. “I am amazing after all.”

Fluttershy couldn’t help but giggle at her friend flying next to her.  Just like Rainbow Dash to make it sound like it was a competition in the first place.

“Howdy y’all!”

Both girls looked up to see their friend Applejack leaning up against the fence on the side of the path heading into the farm. The orange-colored earth pony had her trademark Stetson pulled low, covering her green eyes. Her blonde mane was, as usual, tied back in a ponytail, and she had a blade of hay in her mouth.

“What’cha arguin’ about now?” demanded Applejack.

“Oh…we weren’t arguing…. were we?” asked a timid Fluttershy. She hated to think of having an argument with her friends.

“Nah. I was just telling Fluttershy that if it were any other pony, the whole cutie mark thing would have turned out not as cool!” Rainbow grinned as she looked down at Applejack.

“Uh-huh.  And what are ya doin round here? Don’t ya have work to do?”

“We got done early, so I thought I’d walk with Fluttershy for a bit. C’mon, do you even see one cloud in the sky?” Rainbow asked, crossing her hooves in front of her chest, a smile on her face.

“I reckon not. Didn’t figure you one for helpin with animals, tho’ Ah sure could use the help. Lots a trees need buckin’ this time a year too.”

“Sorry A.J. I, uh, have plans. See ya later. Bye, Fluttershy!” And just like that Rainbow was gone.

Chuckling, Applejack shook her head as she led the way down to the barn, a shy yellow pegasus following in her hoofsteps.

********

“Tank! I’m home”

Rainbow Dash landed on her front porch, the clouds sinking a little under her weight.

I need to go get some more clouds, she thought. Starting to sag a little here.

She looked up at her house. The column archways lifted the second floor of the house, leaving an archway between them where the door stood. Off to her right, she could see the liquid rainbow flow down into a tiny pool, eventually falling off the cloud towards the ground below. She let her eyes follow the river of color up to the top story, where it came cascading down from the top of the house.

All in all not bad  she thought to herself. A little big for just one pony, but that’s why I have Tank.

She went in, closing the door behind her with a bang.

As if her thoughts summoned him, the flying Tortoise came crashing through the house, knocking over the framed pictures on the table as he excitedly came to greet the owner of the house.

She chuckled warmly at his greeting. “Missed you too, bud. Though I wasn’t gone that long.”

She let him go and started making her way to her pictures on the table, righting the ones her careless pet had knocked over in his mad dash to greet her. As she put the pictures in their place, she couldn’t stop the memories come rushing back.

Twilight winning 5th in the Running of the Leaves.

Rarity in the Best Young Fliers competition.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders at the campsite.

The Tale of the Headless Horse. Scared the colors off of Scootaloo. Wonder what she’s up to?

The thoughts came to Rainbow unbidden. How long had it been since she had spent time with the young filly? True, it’s not like they were actual sisters. But she had said she’d take care of Scootaloo when she needed.

Got nothing else planned for today.

“Tank, I’m going out. Back in a bit. If you need anything, just head over to Fluttershy’s.”

*******

“Oh I don’t mind. I do want everypony to be happy.” Fluttershy appraised the last of the piglets. Satisfied all was well, she set him down to run over to his mother, a sweet sow who only gave Fluttershy a little trouble at the start. Once she realized Fluttershy was there to help, everything went smooth from then on.

“Look Sugarcube, Ah don’t want ya feelin like ya gotta, on account of me or anypony. If ya don’t wanna, ain’t not big thang,” said Applejack, looking over the piglets one last time. Nodding, she turned to walk Fluttershy out of the barn to give the animals some rest.

“Oh, well, I know but……I do like having the girls over. Even after that last time. They didn’t make too much of a mess, and we got them out of the Everfree Forest okay….” Fluttershy cringed as the earth pony turned on her.

“Okay? OKAY?!?!?!? Y’all were nearly turned ta stone Fluttershy!  All on account of them girls letting a chicken out! What if they did somethin real ornery- like, and you can’t do nothin?”  Applejack eyed the pegasus carefully, furrowing her brow at her meek, yellow friend. “But Ah suppose you was the one that saved their hides,” admitted Applejack. “So I guess if you’re up fer it, then Ah suppose things’d be fine with you watchin’ ‘em.”

Applejack smiled.  Things did turn out okay in the Everfree Forest. Plus, with the Cutie Mark Crusaders at somepony else’s house, she’d be able to get caught up on all the chores. Especially the apple buckin’.

“Ah’ll send ‘em over soon as they get here.”

Fluttershy nodded. She said goodbye to Applejack and made her way home, lost in thought. It’s not like she didn’t have enough responsibilities with her animal friends. In fact, she loved her animal friends dearly. Sometimes, though,  she wanted the company of other ponies, even if they were just fillies.

Besides, she thought. It could be good practice.

Smiling, she made her way up the path to her cottage, on the edge of the Everfree Forest. The birds in their birdhouses chirped merrily at her as she passed, while the squirrels climbed down the trees to say their hellos. Harry the bear even came lumbering out to say hello to his friend, before sauntering back into the forest.

As she came to the door, she could hear a loud thumping coming from inside. Startled, she opened it  quickly, expecting some animal was trapped and couldn’t get out. Searching the room, she didn’t notice anything out of place. Sighing with relief, she turned to close the door. She felt a sharp pain as a carrot hit her in the head with a dull thump.