Artist’s comments:  
With the Best Young Fliers Competition over in Equestria Dreamscape it was time to get back to making a living. Yeah, technically our household had just had enough money dropped into its coffers to support us for decades, but that wasn’t the only reason both Carousel and I found ourselves getting ready to head off to work.
 
Carousel, Petina and I all consider ourselves part of Ponyville now, and while none of us perform indispensable tasks we still know that ponies are counting on us to do our jobs. So after a quick breakfast Carousel and I headed off to work while Petina began writing a series of business letters for the morning post. Then she’d head into town to deposit the check and do some grocery shopping for the household.
 
So after giving my two mares a quick kiss I launched myself into the morning sky and headed for the Ponyville office of the Royal Equestrian Weather Service. Not surprising the building was covered with banners and posters celebrating Dash’s victory. However there was an unavoidable feeling of gossip murmuring just below the surface, and I could feel eyes following me as I walked into the building.
 
I had decided before going to bed to be proactive and go about my business like it was a normal day at the office. “Morning Blossomforth!” I called out to her as entered the lobby area. “Did I get a reply concerning that precipitation report from two weeks ago?”
 
The color-challenged mare looked at me. “No, not yet. Dash is already here and she wanted to have a morning meeting with everyone when the late night crew comes in at 8. Soooooo, how was the competition and Cloudsdale? I understand it was exciting for you to?”
 
I smiled and browsed the spread of donuts and pastries set out on one of the tables. On advantage of morning shift is the fact that the baked goods are still fresh and you get first pick. So after picking out a chocolate cruller and a maple bar, I moseyed over to coffee pot where Blossomforth was standing.
 
“Yeah, it was whirlwind of experiences for me!” I paused poured myself coffee and took a sip. Wow! Somepony had cleaned the pot since the last time I’d drank from it. “However it is nice to be just back on the clock!”
 
Blossomforth started to say something. When Rainbow Dash came trotting into the room. She looked like she hadn’t gotten enough sleep last night.
 
“Morning Brick! Flight back to Ponyville didn’t bore you to death? If you survived that then you can handle filling out the quarterly expense report!”
 
The prismatic maned mare then proceeded dropped a terrifyingly thick stack of papers in front of me. My wings drooped at the sight of the paperwork. “Ah, come Dash! I just got back! Besides why me? Can’t I at least get one day of flying in before you anchor me to the ground with this?”
 
Dash poured herself some coffee into her prized Wonderbolt mug. I’d learned the hard way when I started working in the weather service. No one, absolutely no one, used Dash’s prized mug. Unless you wanted to face the most horrible type of punishment!
 
RD shoveled some sugar and then splashed some cream into the mixture. She then swirled it around until the components had kind of mixed together, with that task completed she took a big slug of it then looked at me.
 
“Several reasons Brick. First I hate paperwork. Second, Assistant Coordinators are suppose to handle routine paperwork, like quarterly expense reports. Third it is a great way for you to learn about what it takes to run a weather office. And finally your writing is nicer looking than mine! Half the time they make me fill out again!”
 
I growled and took an angry bite out of my chocolate cruller. “Well first off I am not your Assistant Coordinator yet so I shouldn’t be doing it. In fact Ponyville doesn’t have a full-time Assistant. The closest would be Sparks and he’s in Hoofington for his little sisters birthday. Let’s leave for him to fill out when he gets back. I bet he’ll love doing it!”
 
Dash shook her head. “Nope! First off I want you to get more experience at this! I do plan on promoting you to full-time Assistant Coordinator so you need to learn this stuff. Second I trust you to do a good job, so fill the stuff out okay. And last, you don’t have to fill it out now, it just needs to be in Cloudsdale by the end of month. So don’t worry you’ll get your flying. Trust me I’m going to fly your tail off the next few days!”
 
“I just think you’re being lazy.” I muttered.
 
“I am not lazy.” Replied Dash.
 
“ Yes you are.” I rebuttal.
 
“Am not!” replied the mare.
 
“Wow!” Chimed in Blossomforth. Dash and I had forgotten she was standing there. “You two are going at it like a married couple!”
 
“WHAT!” We roared in unison as our heads turned as one to lock on to our new target. Dash’s face had turned a funny shade of purple, and I suddenly realized that my wings had snapped open at the accusation. Blossomforth slowly started backing up.
 
“Right! Um. Well I’m going to get myself another donut and then I’m going to head over to the meeting room.”
 
And then Blossomforth bolted out of the room. Both Dash and I stared at the hole that was once occupied by a mare, for several seconds neither of us spoke. Finally I coughed and punctured the silence.
 
“Dash. In Cloudsdale you said and did several things that we need to discuss and soon.”
 
“Yes. Yes we do.” Replied the light cerulean blue mare. “We have things to discuss.”
 
“After work then?” I was still staring at where Blossomforth had been. “My place.”
 
“Dash nodded her head in agreement. “Yes your place.”
 
Then RD headed off for the meeting room. After a fraction of a second I followed her. So much for just being back on the clock.
 
To be continued.
 
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