Plight of the Pegasi

‘Joy’

Clouds whip past me. Faster and faster, my wings flap effortlessly as I take the lead. Other’s around me flail and flounder but not I. I reach such speeds a vapour trail imitating a rainbow coils out behind me. I feel as if I still have more to give when a frightening blur cascades past. She is another Pegasus, my rival, my nemesis in this field of battle. She turns back to insult me, hoping her words might tear me up.

I have no time for this pettiness; I reach deep inside and catch up to Lightning by using the slipstream she has ploughed through the sky. Her confident face falls to more of an enraged one as she comes to grips with my triumph. I see her desperately try to keep up, but there was no catching me. This was my element, my Raison d’etre. Nopony could best me in anything that involved my wings. Not even Twilight and her wings are pretty impressive. The finish line draws nearer, I can nearly taste it, my friends are all watching from the hot air balloon. Even Fluttershy, sometimes I swear she forgets she is a Pegasus. I took one last smug glance over my shoulder and feel the pressure as Lightning gains a little closer.

“Too little too late” I gloat, my wings furling into my sides. I look to see my cheerleading squad of friends descend lower in the clouds to where I stand. Twilight wasn’t there however, she had been so busy. Lightning doesn’t hang around for the crowd’s boos and hisses. She doesn’t get the best kind of attention around here.

“Cloudsdale’s finest” Applejack courteously remarks

“Well I don’t know about that” I modestly reply

“Best in Equestria I would say”

“Why thank you Fluttershy” I gleam.

Pinkie is so overtaken by the sudden joy that she bounds straight out of the balloon and slips cleanly through the cloud floor. I look around to see I have an audience and comforted by that knowledge I leap into action. Gravity is no match for my pure awesomeness; I dive thought the amalgamations of condensed water droplets towards the blissfully unaware Pinkie Pie.  My nose burns from the barrier of wind which fights me back; I continue regardless. Terraferma quickly approaches, time is growing precious. I finally catch up just enough and scoop up the completely oblivious pink earth mare before she got too friendly with some rocks below. The others return safely to the ground in the hot air balloon. Pinkie shakily puts weight back on her hooves before returning to form and skipping back towards the basket. Fluttershy climbs out of the basket first, I give her an evil glare.

“Fluttershy! You’re a Pegasus remember” I accuse, raising an eyebrow

“I don’t always have to fly do I?”

“I know but you never do”

“Oh now don’t be barking up that tree RD” says Applejack

“I find you do pick on fluttershy a bit too much” Rarity buts in

“And why shouldn’t I? I never bully her anyway. She just needs a push in the right direction. We were both in the Clousdale flight academy together” I say whilst admiring my wings

“Now see here. Plenty of pegasi are the same as Flutters here. It’s more a mode of transport than… well ummm…” Applejack begins

“It’s a way of life AJ; personally I don’t know how all you ground ponies don’t go stir crazy”

“Pfft there’s not anything bad about being an earth pony, or a unicorn or a Pegasus. We’re all just different” Pinkie surmises all the while bouncing happily around the basket.

“Well you don’t miss what you’ve never had” Applejack says

“I guess so. Sorry pal. I just, I don’t think I’d be the same pony without flying” I finish

We separate after this, all needing to return to our jobs. And me especially, I was already behind on the cloud clearance that morning.

‘Living’

Finally I get back on task, clouds need clearing and I need bits. It looks reasonably overcast; my quadrant of the sky however is inundated with the white fluffy intruders. Celestia sent orders for a clear, bright and sunny day. She provided the sun so it’s up to us pegasi to take care of the rest. I ascend through the cloud layer until I reach the outer limit of my section of sky. It’s ever so rare to have a job you truly enjoy to do, and I did love doing it so. But for some reason I was still late most days. I fly backwards in order to achieve a good speed. I then launch into the dense blanketing of clouds. Each little marshmallow pillow gives way to my effort as I kick, punch and fly through anything that stands in my way. Not long after starting and my work is done. Another day is complete. I have purpose. I land safely back in the market square to sort a hankering for hay fries I’d been getting.

I trot into a nearby café and ordered some food before returning to the table I had chosen on the veranda. I shuffle around on my straw seat to make it more comfortable. Not long did I spend alone before Applejack joined me at the table.

“Do you ever show up for work on time RD?” she asks me, her front hooves rest on my table.

“You don’t have to when you are as awesome as…”

“Now hold your horses Missy. Celestia has really clamped down on the cloud clearance gig. Do you never read the Pony Ville Gazette?”

“I only read things I wanna read… And how do you mean?”

“Rumblin’ is they’re laying off huge numbers of Pegasi workers, poor results apparently”

“Huh? Well my work performance is flawless! Not a cloud left in my sector” I say, pointing a hoof to the sky.

“Yeah well she also checks punctuality, attitude and professionalism”

“That’s a pretty long word country mare”

“No jokes, no distraction! RD you need to focus, this is your livelihood we’re talking about”

“Don’t worry about it AJ I got this, I’ll just be on time for now on”

“Well you do that… I best be off, the west field needs ploughing”

“Don’t be late Apple slacker” I jape.

She shrugs off my playful banter and canters off towards sweet apple acres. I sit alone a while before a whimsical chirp chimes in my ear. I turn to the noise and see my good friend fluttershy. She has a few birds perched on her back. Not really an odd sight when your friend is somepony like fluttershy. She sits opposite me and whispers something undetectably quiet to her feathered friends; they understand and disperse into a few branches overlooking us. My shy friend leans across the table and confides in me.

“Dashie. What are we meant to do?” a calming voice asks, it’s weighted with worry.

“How d’ya mean Flutters?” I ask; my tone of concern.

“They took everything!” she says. She lets a tear drop on the ground

“Who took everything? What’s the matter pal?”

“My cottage, my animals, everything” she raises her voice

“Who did this!?”

“They said they were doing it on behalf of a Celestial decree”

“What from the princess? On what grounds?” I hasten with hoof smashing against the boards of the table.

“They said I was unlicensed, they said I wasn’t fit to look after wild animals”

“How could they? You are so good with…”

“They demanded documentation! Medical history, vaccination history…”

“They never needed this before”

“Well the Celestial empire has integrated international trade. Animals all have to be tracked and counted…”

“What are you gonna do?” I ask again, my head now resting on my hoof.

“I can’t do anything. The powers that be decree that I cannot look after animals. So that’s it. I guess all that is left is being a weather operative. Do you know if there are any openings this side of Appleoosa” she complains, her normally neat and flowing mane looking greasy

“I don’t know for sure Flutters. It’s… it’s up in the air at the moment. Celestial orders again I’m afraid, checks for all new cloud clearers are to become much more stringent”

“But… but what will I do to get by?” Fluutershy confides with her tail gripped between her hooves.

“I can take you in, at least until you pass the exam. It can’t be that hard right?”

“Oh thank you thank you thank you! I can’t explain how much this means to…” she exhales, the birds tweeting in unison overhead.

“Only till you pass the exam… I can’t keep a roof over your head forever”

“You serious” I protest, the tip pushed towards the edge of the table

The serving stallion returns to my table and fiddles with the tea towel draped over his arm.

“Is something the matter Miss?”

“A twenty per-cent tip on top of the bits I paid for these undercooked fries? No, no way! You delivered my meal late, you made me wait, and I wasn’t even served a water picture! It’s 40 degrees out!”

“I am very sorry, we’ve been very busy”

“Yeah well excuses, excuses. I only pay tips when they are deserved. Now leave me to pay my bill in peace” I say before throwing the request down to the floor.

“If you say so”

“I do say so yes! I don’t need to have my buc…”

“Oh do mind my friend, she must have gotten a tad flustered” A voice coos from behind me. I turn to see Rarity sporting a lightly frilled parasol. She strides to the table and places a hoof full of bits down. “I do hope this will cover it” she continues as the serving stallion returns and takes his tip.

“Much obliged m’lady” he says, doffing his hat on his way back to the café. I look up to Rarity and she looks back disapprovingly.

“How dare you!”

“How dare I? You must learn some manners Rainbow Dash” she patronises, the parasol she hold twirling gently in her hoof.

“It was poor service! If I get graded and inspected at work then so should everypony else!” I say

“I am ever so sorry. But whatever are you talking about?” She replies

“Celestia. She’s changing things around; a little too much if you ask me. Radical regime changes, poor job security, not to mention what they did to Flutters”

“What have they done to our dear friend?” Rarity questions, laying her parasol on the table beside me

“It’s not enough to just tell you!” I sneer as I leave the table and usher for her to follow. I coax her to follow me towards Fluttershy’s cottage. Only there was no building there anymore. We notice the bulldozed home, the numerous suit wearing ponies inspecting the land, measuring it for something.

“Yah see Rarity? This is all down to the royal pain Celestia!”

“Now Rainbow that is not how you refer to your better” she replies, fixing her slightly out-of-place mane.

“Power’s gone to her head. She’s breaking this system one pony at a time. But you’ll only care when it happens to you. And you represent generosity”

“I am being generous Rainbow, I’m doing so well at pretending to care”

“Just think about it Rare. How long till the gemstones are regulated? How long until the carousel boutique goes under huh?” I say, my hoof poking at her chest.

“It won’t. I am a business pony” she shrugs, whipping my hoof away.

“There’s no talking to you sometimes. Just get out of here. I have some questions I want answering”

“Well suit yourself Rainbow Dash. I have better things to do than squabble”

She prances away and leaves me facing the officials alone. I break into a gallop towards them. I don’t know what to say but I know I am meant to at least do something. I run on pure rage until finally I reach a line of tape which protects the site. I duck underneath the barrier and once on the other side I am confronted by a mare.

“What do you think you are doing here?” The mare asks

“I’m just checking what you parasprites are planning on building here”

“Excuse me young mare? It is none of your business. Now kindly leave the premises” the official looking mare argues.

“Leave what?! You destroyed my friend’s home. You wrecked my friend’s life. What in Equestria are you building here?!” I demand

“The future, Pegasus, we are building the future”

I am about to do something stupid when a procession of trumpets sound in the town centre. I leave without a word. I vacate the building site hastily and make tracks for the town. The town hall is surrounded by PonyVillians. The mare takes her spot at the podium and taps on the mic”

“Good afternoon PonyVille. I have only this morning received a message, the news I am afraid is not good. This once peaceful town is to be developed upon; tourism has increased in this part of Equestria ever since Twilight and her friends became celebrities. To accommodate this influx of residents more houses will be built, more buildings shall be established. This all raises the value of this land. And as a sad result a tax is to be introduced for all Ponies living here. A statutory rate of 2 bits a week is to be paid to the Celesial Central Reserve. This tax will in turn help preserve our town as it grows. I know this will not be received well, but know this was not my decision”

The mare leaves her stand and ambles back to her home. I wait for the other ponies to leave before flying up to the top of the town hall and resting on the tower. I have time to think now. But my thoughts grow darker. I imagine what it would be like to share my house with Fluttershy, now that I would be paying Tax for living here, it almost makes me want to leave and plant roots elsewhere. I’m a victim of my own success. The more amazing things I do, the more tax increases. And the less I can afford to live here. To put it plainly, we weather pegasi are paid 6 bits a week, and taking 2 away. We can’t last on anything less. We were already on the breadline. The mail pony zips by but not before stopping momentarily.

“You have a letter waiting at your cloud house Miss Dash” Derpy informs me

“Oh thanks for the heads up. I’ll check on it soon” I reply. I look towards my home, and then sigh deeply. Flutters thinks she can rely on me. However, sooner or later… Letting her down is just a matter of time.

‘Home’

I touch down at my cloud-bound home. My hooves press gently into the plush cotton floor. I pry open my mail box and discover the letter. I peek at the title.

“First Class Priority Phoenix mail” it read. I am thrown into more disarray, are they to boycott the Pegasus mail service too? The stamp of approval from the offices of Celestia is also burnt to the letter seal in a sticky red wax. I slip my hoof tip under, breaking the seal; I then clutch the information within.

“Attention Cloud Control Operative 115088. You have been selected to take part in a mandatory four week course in weather management. You will not be paid for these weeks of education however. Your work quality has been called into question. This is the first warning and you will not receive a second. If the quality of your work does not improve after this process you will be unable to apply for a position in the Equestrian Civil Service for a period of 9 months. I hope you prepare for the class and have a good day. Yours sincerely Avant Guard, Pony Resource Executive, Equestria Civil Service”

I am dumbfounded; things happening recently have become hard to believe. How dare they question me? Why the hay should I conform to this bureaucratic nonsense? I look to the sight of PonyVille below, how many others would receive this news?  I fall on my haunches and then my side. I quiver lightly as I hear her sombre tones behind me.

“Umm what did the letter say?” my yellow coated house guest whispers.

“Oh it’s you. Nothing important” I lie.

“If you say so, I just… I’m a little hungry”

“Oh why didn’t you just ask? I’ll go get you something”

“I don’t want to be a bother”

“It’s fine. What are friends for after all? Just stay put and I’ll be back before you know it”

I can’t believe I have lied to my most doting friend. I leave my cloud-bound home and head for the market. But then something crosses my mind, those officials, they were planning something. I switch my flight path and take my journey south to where her cottage used to be. I look down, horror, what horror awaits me. They have made the animals flee; the ground is destroyed by their great iron monsters. I look away for but a second but once I turn back I am grounded. I struggle to free myself from the netting that encases me. An official approaches and pulls the trap off.

“Authorized personnel only, can you not read?” A burly stallion says.

“I can read fine thank you. Who do you think you are? What gives?” sprawl my endless questions.

“I am under no obligation to answer your questions, this zone is strictly no flying and I strongly suggest you leave”

“Not till I know what’s happening here!” I rebuke. Not giving an inch.

“The first step… That is all you need to know” he plays back his riddles to me.

“What are you fools planning? Don’t walk away from me!” I shout after him more but my words lose all meaning and become mere noises. I look upon my person and see I have only 3 bits to my name. And remembering the letter I know I cannot keep my guest. I can scarcely feed myself. I will not let her down; she’s been bucked over by these changing times too. The orange glow of the evening bathes my coat before I turn back to the market and return to the sky. The dimming light scares me, would the market be open? I swat these worries and unfounded nothings from my head as I land in the centre of town.

. I can see Rarity collecting some items from a confectioner, I totter over to her.

“Hey there Rare, umm they look good” I comment.

“Oh these little cupcakes you mean? Oh yes they are quite exquisite” she returns, her gaze planting on me.

“They sure are… I don’t suppose any are going spare?”

“You know I often over prepare for these things, I think one or two just might be” she says while waving a hoof over the purchased cakes.

“If it’s not too much trouble of course”

“No trouble at all, I know how tough it is for you flying ponies right now”

“Oh okay, I guess you heard the mare. And thank you. I’ll repay this kindness as soon…”

“Perish the thought Rainbow Dash. I will have no such speak, now trot along.”

“Thanks” I exchange, lifting back off into the air and scorching back towards my home amongst the clouds. I land back at my doorstep with a cupcake held firmly in each hoof. I bow as I enter my own home, I feel a stranger, how is this normal? Fluttershy is sleeping on my bed; she has some spittle dribbling from her muzzle. I place my hoof under her long pink mane and lift her head up. She stirs and looks up at me like a filly would her mother. Those big puppy-dog eyes, I couldn’t be selfish now, she would eat both. I place the treats down at the bed stand at her feet before backing away and heading back to my sitting room. I sit by candle light, dwelling on my frantic day. How do these things happen so quickly? I roll onto my side and hold onto my grumbling stomach, if it could speak, it wouldn’t have a kind word to say. My eyelids however are heavy and I let myself drift. I fall gently back to sleep.