Pattycakes: Needs

“Laid off?! What do ya mean laid off?!”, Rainbow growled out at the knowledge her position was currently withheld from her.

Twilight hated explaining one thing after another, “Rainbow, you were...under-the-weather. What did you expect? They just didn't believe you would be able to come in after being gone so long. Least not for a few more weeks.”

“I am fine now! Those buckers will give me my job back to-day! They aren't going to leave me high and dry just because of a tummy ache! No matter what! I will ponysally march down there right now, and show them I can do my job...and theirs! Have that sky so clean you will need a map just to find the clouds!”

Rainbow immediately flew from her seat at the table, on a mission to secure her weatherpony position.

Twilight, not having that, wrapped her magic into the confident Pegasus's torso, dragging her down to their level.

Once Rainbow stopped threatening Twilight to free her or be in trouble, she released the pony once an apology was heard.

Rainbow asked sarcastically what to do about the problem, “Fine, Miss Know-It-All. What would you have I do?”

Twilight stated with a roll of the eyes, “Don't attack them for a common mistake, maybe?”

“Sure. Sounds less fun, but sure.”

“And, let me hoofle this, alright?”

“Since your my friend, yeah. Maybe you can even get me a raise while you're at it. Seeing as how I selflessly am dedicating myself to work again instead of just lounging around.”

“Don't bet on it, Dash.”

Rainbow waved her off dismissively, then chowed down on the plate of steamed carrots and broccoli set in front of her.

She may be back to her regular state of mind, but she had the exact same table manners as when mentally regressed. Actually, worse.

Rainbow literally licked the dish clean, not leaving a crumb of food visible by her meal's end.

Spike felt a sense of pride when Rainbow automatically congratulated him on a lunch like no other.

Rainbow then yawned, got up from the table, and stretched her wings out pleasurably.

She remarked while walking towards the door, “Thanks for the awesome lunch! Going home now! Maybe you guys can come over soon?! I'll break out the apple cider, and we can party our flanks off! Spike...go to the Cakes. The type of party we'll be having is for adults only. No babies, 'kay?”

Everypony else nearly choked on their food when they noticed Rainbow about to depart.

Twilight instantly teleported to the doorway, blocking passage.

Twilight countered Rainbow's raised eyebrow with a line as sappy as her library, “Don't leave us! Just yet! We want every shred of time with you until the day's over! Then, you can go home! We...want to do everything we can with you, our best friend in the whole wide world!”

Rainbow groaned as the realization hit her hard, “You haven't told a single townspony I'm back yet, have you? They all think I'm still in the hospital, right?”

“...Right. They have no clue you are here.”

Twilight brought her hoof over Rainbow's neck, gripping her warmly.

She discussed the plan to Rainbow, yet would pass glances at the others staring at the scene, “What we'll do is have every-pony else with us two sound the news of your unexpected arrival! That way, nopony bothers you with constant annoying questions on how you got home so quickly! Think you can wait four hours? Just four hours! Not much ti-me! Only-”

Rainbow cut her off, already over Twilight's odd voicing of almost every word, “Yeah, yeah, yeah! Got it! Four hours! I understand what that means! Don't have to keep repeating it!”

Fluttershy had her special pink pacifier in, suckling it deeply. She couldn't believe she had just came up here with Rarity. To the spa?! With her child just out there in the cruel, immense world?!

Rarity asked the spa ponies for some privacy, which they gave.

When they left, Fluttershy spit out the nipple to comment with a defeated expression, “I had them calling me mommy their second visit. Were so cute with their little booties on. Heh, those two loved getting huggies and kissies.”

Then, Rarity sighed with where this was going.

All of a sudden, Fluttershy's tears were ruining the cream on her face, “Just. Like. Dashie!”

Rarity groaned as she shoved the pacifier back in its owner's mouth, explaining, “Fluttershy, you are fine! She is fine! Everypony is fine! You have today and tomorrow, and she'll be back in your hooves again! So, for today, you are the foal and I am the mother. What I say goes, and what you say is...well, nothing at all. Keep that paci in until I say so. Do I make myself clear, young lady?!”

The misery of the mother was replaced by the worry of a child.

Fluttershy, for once in a full moon since her becoming the mother of the town, could only stay silent and nod at the new parental figure.

Out of nowhere, Pinkie Pie energetically gabbed into the room without any care to the occupant's privacy, “Rainbow Dash is an adult again! Everypony, keep quiet about her being Fluttershy's foal! Not! A! Word! She's in the dark about everything, and a secret like this is on the hush-hush! No talking about it! Not even whispering! Okay! Great! Glad we had this talk! Have a nice day!”

Then, blurred away.

Rarity and Fluttershy just gave each other perplexed glances, then got up from their lounge chairs.

Peering into the hallway, they spied their unusual friend zipping from room to room, yelling and screaming her urgent message.

Every last room.

Even...bathrooms.

Which is why she was discharged from the building shortly after.

Rarity and Fluttershy had watched as Pinkie Pie fought Bulk Biceps on her way out the entrance, informing everypony again to remain quiet on anything Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow banged her head on the table, finally unable to refrain from hollering, “Dammit, Twilight! I don't care about the authors to your stupid books!”

Twilight's lessons were cut short at Dash's outburst.

With the face of a displeased teacher, she lightly glared, “These are important figures in our history-”

“Don't. Give. A. Flying. Buck.”

“Rainbow!”

“Well?! Why should I?! What, am I suddenly gonna shoot magic from my imaginary horn?!”

“Well...no. But, they do matter!”

“To you, leader-of-nerds. Not me.”

“Hey!”

Rainbow breathed in deeply, and exhaled slow and hard in distaste.

Then, checked the clock.

She expected Twilight to answer her with a desirable remark, “When can I leave?! Almost fours hours! I need to get fresher air than...this! It blows!”

Twilight hoped for her group of messengers to return soon before Rainbow leaped from the nearest window.

…

After a tense few moments of Rainbow impatiently flapping her wings, everypony rejoined at the library.

Rainbow jumped in front of them, questioning Applejack because she would be the most truthful, “Does everypony know I'm back?!”

A.J. smirked, moving herself and the others away from Rainbow's flight path.

Dash understood, grinning madly before bursting out from her confines into freedom.

The wind never felt better.

Applejack took her hat off to hold it in salute for her soaring friend, saying to her without realizing she was in a crowd, “Everypony knows your back, Dash. And, that's how you'll stay.”

...

Then, eyes converged on her.

With the most interrogating gaze, Twilight gave her the third degree, “Applejack, what do you mean by that?”

Applejack noticed the entryway close, and her circle of friends literally close in on her.

She, the worst liar of the entire bunch, had to mislead them all about her upcoming plans.

No w-worries.

None.

At all.