Artist’s comments:
 
Despite my efforts to make my first day back on the job a normal one in my Equestria dreamscape, it wasn’t really.
 
First there was the matter of Rainbow Dash’s performance at The Best Young Fliers Competition. Some of my coworkers had attended not only the competition they had been amongst the crowd that had gathered before Hurricane’s Column, and they were quite familiar with the phrase RD has used that morning.
 
Then there was a the very nature of Dash’s performance which had caught most them as off guard as it had the Mane Six. There were the usually cheers and congratulations for performance when the morning meeting started, but at the same time I could see several of my coworkers looking at RD as they’d met for the first time, and they liked what they saw.
 
However there were a few who for various reasons sat through the meeting with very serious faces, and more than once did I catch a stallion or a mare giving me a stare. A few gave me sly smirks but a few were rather cold or hostile.
 
For her part Dash pushed on ahead with the morning meeting only pausing occasionally to answer a general question about the competition. Fortunately none of my coworkers were crass enough to come out ask what was obviously on everypony’s mind.
 
After that it was a matter of getting caught up on my paperwork; in spite of still just being a part-time weather pony I sure do end up with a lot of paperwork in my inbox. Even ignoring the Quarterly Expense Report it took me a couple hours to get all of my ducks in a row. For the most part my coworkers left me alone, but I still could feel the occasional stare on the back of my head.
 
Finally after lunch I was able to head out for some flying! The rest of the day was spent on standard weather patrol which was just fine by me. It just felt good to be flying again! However as the day drew to a close a certain thought I had been putting off all day started growing in my mind. That evening I was going to be sitting down with Rainbow Dash and discussing what the future held for us. I was torn between putting it off and just wanting to get it over.
 
Celestia’s great orb made its stately progression across the sky and soon both RD and I punched out and left work. We’d agreed to fly together over to my cottage and once again as we left I could feel the eyes of ponies tracking us as we flew away with me in my usual wingpony position. The flight was made in silence and seemed to be over in the blink of an eye. I could tell that Dash was just as nervous because she made a rather sloppy landing.
 
We strolled in and found Petina already building a fire for the evening meal. She smiled and raised an eyebrow my way.
 
“Didn’t know we were going to have guests tonight. What’s the occasion?” Although she had a look on her face that said she knew exactly what the occasion was.
 
“Well.” I said. “Now that the competition is over, Dash and I need to discuss a few things with you and Carousel. We need to get some things out in the open and get everyone on the same page of the book. Is Carousel here yet?”
 
The white mare shook her head. “No but she should be home any minute. She had a last minute delivery.”
 
As if on cue we heard the sound of Carousel’s little delivery cart go rolling past the cottage and back to the barn where she parked it. A few minutes later she entered the mud room and proceeded to clean the mud of the road off of her hoofs. With that task she came trotting into the cottage proper still wearing the harness she used to hitch herself to her cart.
 
“Evening Sky Brush! Evening Petina! She trotted over to us and gave me a quick kiss, then she turned to RD. “And good evening to you Rainbow Dash! Will you be joining us for dinner?”
 
“Um, yeah.” Me and Brick have some things, we need to discuss with you and Petina. Is that all alright?”
 
The palomino mare just smiled and nodded head. “No problem at all. However I am going to take a quick shower and get this road dust off me. But first.”
 
Carousel then reared up on her hind legs and began removing her carriage harness. It’s a ritual that I have observed hundreds of times but have never grow tired of; however when the earth pony was about half way through the process there was a not too subtle.
 
Fwwapp!
 
Turning my head I noticed that Dash’s wings were suddenly very open and upright and her cheeks were slightly purple. For her part Carousel said nothing but gave RD one of her typical, sweet little smiles and then headed off to the bathroom.
 
Dash watched the golden mare in silence until she was out of sight. I leaned over and whispered in RD’s ear.
 
“One of the little bonuses of this household is little things like that.” Then I strolled off to help get dinner ready.
 
To be continued.
 
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