Shooting the Breeze

        Rainbow Dash didn’t have much going on today, then again she didn’t have much to do anydays. As a member of the Ponyville weather patrol, as almost all pegusi in the little burg where, she just needed to make the weather prescribed by the bureaucrats in Couldsdale, but since most days in Ponyville where clear ones, freetime was abundant.

        Usually she would practice flying and tricks, or let the breezes rock her to sleep on a soft bed of clouds. But she decided this day to go  between those two extremes and spend her days in the actual town. She really didn’t need to go shopping, she had groceries delivered to her, and Derpy was rather good this week about not dropping anything on the way. She could visit one of her friends...but wich one.

Twilight? No. She always seemed so busy, and Rainbow had already caught up on all the latest Daring Doo novels.

Apple Jack? Nah. She was liable to put Rainbow to work if she set hoof on her farm.

Fluttershy? Not today. After all, you can be only told how to properly clean a tortoise so many times.

Rarity? Heck no! There was no way in Tartarus she would play living mannequin for that mare. Having to sit still while being being poked with needles was just not her thing

There was Pinkie Pie, Usually swinging by Sugarcube Corner would be great, but Pinkie was trying out new cupcake recipes, best stay away lest she get... inspired.

She huffed angrily and did a summersault in frustration before flying belly up. Doing nothing was one thing, but having nothing to do was another. It was while she was like this, flying upside down, she something she didn’t expect to see. Brawny work pegusi were using structural clouds to build on a base. A sign posted on the clouds said, C.C.C.C. UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

She flipped herself over to the right orientation, and rubbed her eyes just to make sure she was seeing it correctly. The Couldsdale Cloudominum Construction Company, or Quad C as it was popularly known, made vacant homes in Couldsdale, and you would have to order it custom. The Quad C had built her home of course (which she was still paying the loan off on.) She wanted it partly because she wanted a reminder of home. In fact she didn’t know anyone that new of the The Quad C except thouse that had lived at lived in Couldsdale at one point.

She tried to think of any of her Couldsdale friends that told her that they would be moving to Ponyville. She didn’t think she though of any that would notify her, but it was rather likely it could be lost during delivery too. See was about descend when she saw a familiar shape within the river of pastel bodys below. The stallion was a new face to Ponyville, but he was well known to the cyan pegasus that was know hovering above the the streets.

She quickly descended to the road the stallion was now turning down, taking time to lean against a nearby building haughtily. She watched as the stallion approached her. As he walked, his messy could white bangs, that were still growing out from a short military cropping, bobbed a little. His large wings, that extended a good half foot past his flank, were well preened  and folded gently on either of his sides.

“Hey Zephyr,” Rainbow said in a casual tone that hid the pounding of her excited heart, as the midnight blue stallion walked by her.

The voice from his past made the stallion stop and turned back to look at the speaker. As she saw who called his name, his expression changed from surprise, to a kind smile. “Well well well, isn’t it Miss Rainbow Dash, my old underclassmen at the adacady. You remembered me from all that time?”

“Hard not to, you where the star of race team.” She said as she paced towards him a little.

He chuckled a little as a wave of nostalgia washed over him. “All I remember is that the coaches yelled about me that I glided to much...little did they now that my ‘lazy flying’ gave me an advantage near the end while all my other competitors were worn out.” He looked up at the sky as casually as checking a watch. “Can we walk while we talk? I still have to find someplace to stay as the build my home.”

“Sure” Rainbow said as she began to walk alongside the stallion, failing to note how odd it was that such a strong flyer was wanted to walk especially when the streets were so crowed. “Hey, why have you come to Ponyville, weren’t you going to go into Air Guard and become an officer or something.”

“Yeah I actually was in the Air Guard for a little while.” He said as his wings shifted on his body a bit, as though the topic itself was a case for discomfort. “I decided to leave though after...certain things.”

Rainbow obvious to how this line of questioning was affected the Stallion she pressed on, “But I thought that was your dream? I never given up on my dreams, even after some discouragement.”

“Listen Rainbow,” A now upset Zephyr said with exasperated huff. “Sometimes dreams...dreams get too far out of reach...and its best to let them go."

She still pouted a little, but let the subject to when she took into account how upset he was getting. "Sorry Zeph..." She mutter out a little. She wanted to promise not to bring it up again, but she knew she would want more details some time or other.

Zephyr sighed as he worked himself down a little. "It's fine Rainbow...I-I just don't want to talk about it right now."

"I totally get it..." She paused for a moment as she tried to think of a way to make it up to him. She smiled as she thought of something. Leaning over she whispered into his ear, "Hey, Wanna race?"