IMPORTANT EMAIL: PLEASE READ

Rainbow grunted, staring at the computer screen. She moved her mouse listlessly, dragging the cursor over the email.

“Can’t be that important.”

A ball of paper bounced off her head before she could click twice. Grumbling, she rubbed her hand and grabbed the ball, scrunching it tighter in her grip.

“Who threw—”

“Open it up!” came a delightfully chirpy voice.

Rainbow nearly fell back in her chair as Pinkie came up from under her desk. “Read it! Read it!”

Dash sighed. “Why couldn’t you have just given this to me?”

“Not as quick. C’mon, read it!” Pinkie cried, shaking on the spot.

Rainbow held up a hand. “Alright, alright.” She opened up the paper ball. Her eyes read the message, then they rolled, before shooting a deadpan look at Pinkie.

“Pinkie, this just says ‘Hi’ with a smiley face,” she said.

Pinkie hopped back, placing her rear on the desk. “Yep!”

“Then why would you send me it instead of just coming up and saying hello.” Rainbow blinked, then thrust a hand towards her college. “That’s exactly what you just did now!”

Pinkie put one leg over the other, staring at her fingernails. “I’m just soooo bored, Dashie!”

“Don’t you have some, some…” Rainbow snapped her fingers repeatedly. “Some files to sort or something?”

“I did. A lot of ‘em too.” She leaned back on the desk, balancing herself so she didn’t fall onto it. A long yawn escaped her lips. “But there’s still more to do.”

“Then go do it and stop bothering me,” Rainbow said, flicking Pinkie’s knee. She flinched when Pinkie’s foot nearly slammed into her face.

Raising her posture, Pinkie looked down at Dash. “Well what have you got to do that’s so important?”

Rainbow folded her arms across her chest, shrugging. “Y’know.”

“No, I don’t know,” Pinkie shot back.

“Well there’s…” Rainbow reached across her desk, fumbling with the various papers and folders that littered it, “papers to do,” she pointed a finger at her computer, “files and emails to send,” finally she patted the phone next to the monitor, “calls to answer. Y’know, actual work.”

Pinkie looked at the three objects in turn. She just sniffed. “Uh-huh.” Suddenly she clapped her hands together, gaining a grin on her face. “So when’s lunch break?”

“It’s, er…” Rainbow sat back in her chair, stretching her arms toward the ceiling. “You know when lunch break is.”

“But it always seems so far away…” Pinkie licked her lips, her eyes beginning to fill up with tears.

“Well it can’t be too much longer, so get back to your desk and stop bothering me,” Rainbow said.

“Okey dokey, grumpy pants.” Pinkie hopped over the small wall behind Dash’s desk, landing in her work cubicle.

Dash could hear her humming from the other side, some sort of happy go lucky tune. Thankfully, the phone on her desk started ringing. She casually picked it up and put it to her ear.

“Hello, Rainbow Dash speaking.”

“You’d like to make an enquiry?”

“Sure, I’ll put you forward to our management.”

Punching in a few numbers into the keypad, the call was transferred and Dash put the phone back down.

“Truly inspiring,” Pinkie muttered, the top of her head visible above the cubicle wall, her smirking eyes plain to see.

“Shut up, it’s what management told to me to do whenever someone made an enquiry,” Rainbow said.

Pinkie glanced up. “Ever been up to management?”

“Nah,” Dash replied. “Why would I?”

“Just wondering,” Pinkie said, resting her arms on the cubicle wall. “Do ya know what they do up there?”

“No idea. Managing stuff I guess.”

Pinkie puckered her lips. “Guess you’re right.” She went back down to her cubicle, resuming her humming.

Rainbow stared up at the ceiling for a while, then shook her head. Some work had to be done. Very slowly at that.

---

The watercooler was the hottest meeting spot in the office. It stood at the end of a path that separated blocks of cubicles. At one end was the water cooler, the other a large window looking out to the city.

Rainbow brushed down her suit and tie, heading towards the spot. Rarity and Applejack were already there, the former wearing a smart shirt and skirt and the latter a suit similar to Dash’s.

Rarity was giggling into her hand and she gave Applejack a light slap. “Oh stop it, you.”

“Hey girls,” Dash said to them, waving. “‘Sup?”

“Howdy,” Applejack said, nodding to her.

“What’s Rarity laughing about?” Rainbow asked, stuffing a hand in her trouser pocket.

The giggles died out of Rarity and she blinked, glancing at Dash. “Oh, well, I was…” She trailed off, frowning. “Come to think of it, I’m not sure what Applejack said that was quite so funny.”

The goldfish with the crooked tooth and beard grinned at Dash, floating gently in the watercooler. “It wasn’t interesting, so you didn’t miss out on much.”

“If you say so, Discord,” Rainbow replied nonchalantly.

Discord swam up to the side of the watercooler, pressing his fins against it. “And how has your work day been so far?”

Dash rolled her shoulders, a loose, carefree motion. “Same as any other day.”

“Same old, same old, as the saying goes…” Discord said, swimming away from the edge.

“Darn photocopier broke down again,” Applejack grumbled, putting an end to any silence that may have occurred.

“Again? Didn’t we send someone to fix it just a few days ago?” Rarity asked, turning towards her.

“Something like that. But whenever it gets fixed, it’ll just break again so we have to call ‘em to fix it.” She sighed, rolling her eyes. “Again.”

“Perhaps you should hire a different mechanic,” Discord suggested. “Or, even better, get a better machine. Just a thought.”

“Nah. Always gets fixed anyway, and in a jiffy too. Don’t see much sense in making a fuss about it,” Applejack replied.

“Hey gang!” Pinkie cried, walking to the watercooler with Fluttershy in tow. The latter merely gave everyone a meek wave.

“Hey Pinkie,” Rainbow Dash, returning the gesture to Fluttershy too. “Enjoy your lunch break?”

“Hm, kinda. It was nice to get a break but…” Pinkie hummed thoughtfully to herself, stroking her chin. “I dunno, the food tasted odd today.”

“Really? Wasn’t the cafeteria serving caesar salad today?” Rarity inquired.

“Yes, they were. I couldn’t taste anything odd about it,” Fluttershy said, nodding very slightly.

“Curious indeed.” Discord shot a smirk towards Dash. “Did you have lunch today?”

“Yeah.” She rubbed the back of her head, trying to recall the meal. “I mean, it tasted a little bit different, maybe. You can’t expect all of the food to taste exactly the same time each day, each week though, right?”

“You would think so, yes,” Discord replied.

“Hmmmm.” Pinkie narrowed her eyes, stepping towards the watercooler. “Just why do we have a weird goldfish in the watercooler, anyway?” She tapped it repeatedly with her knuckle. “Whatcha doing in there, li’l buddy?”

From behind her, someone cleared their throat and said, “Pinkie, please stop fiddling with company property.”

Pinkie spun around instantly, smiling sheepishly. “Sorry, Twilight.” She sidestepped awkwardly away.

“Hi Twi,” Dash said. “Doing alright?”

Twilight adjusted her glasses, looking down at the clipboard in her hands. “Well enough, yes. Management asks if you can do some overtime tomorrow.”

“Overtime? Really?” Dash drew out a long sigh. “Do I have to?”

“Yes, you do,” Twilight said.

“Fine, fine…” Dash mumbled, looking away.

Twilight smiled to herself, ticking a box on her clipboard, before glancing to the group. “As for the rest of you, break’s over. We should really get back to work.”

“You got it, Twi,” Applejack said. “C’mon, Rares.”

Rarity nodded, following Applejack’s lead. “Of course. It was lovely speaking to you all!”

Rainbow gave them a relaxed wave of her hand, backing off towards her work cubicle. “See ya next time, I guess.”

---

Rainbow relaxed in her chair, stretching out all of her limbs and letting out a most impressive yawn. The lights in the office were dimming out by now, workers beginning to file out of the building.

“Better check that email I got,” she muttered to herself, reaching over to her mouse.

“Dashie!” Pinkie cried, leaping over to Rainbow. “Time to clock out, time to go home, let’s leave this drone dome!”

“Okay, okay! Calm down, Pinkie!” Rainbow batted her away, closing her email account and shutting off the computer. “Guess I’ll check it later…” she mumbled. Dragging herself off the chair, she followed Pinkie as she skipped past the watercooler. Dash ran to catch up with her.

“So whatcha doing tonight?” Pinkie asked.

“Make dinner, watch TV, sleep,” Dash said, rubbing at an eye.

“Sounds comfy!”

“You?”

“Gonna go bake some cupcakes first, then I’m gonna play some video games all the through the evening before it’s time for bedtime!” Pinkie explained.

“Neat,” Dash replied, as they approached the door.

“Sure is! So I’ll see you tomorrow then?”

Rainbow put her hand on the door handle. “Same time, same place.”


IMPORTANT EMAIL: PLEASE READ

Rainbow grunted, staring at the computer screen. She moved her mouse listlessly, dragging the cursor over the email.

“Can’t be that important.”

She hesitated on clicking it.

“Wait, didn’t I get this email before…?”

“Hi Dashie!” Pinkie said, this time dropping down from the ceiling.

Rainbow almost fell back in chair as Pinkie landed. “Stop doing that!”

“Aw, but it’s just too much fun! I love seeing your shocked li’l face…” Pinkie placed her rear on Dash’s desk. “So, what’s going down?”

“Work, Pinkie,” Dash said, raising a piece of paper and flying it in her face. “The thing we’re told to do every day?”

“Yawn! Talk about boring, with a capital B!” Pinkie said, waggling her legs off the end of the desk.

“Well, we gotta get it done,” Dash said.

Just then, the phone on her desk started ringing.

“Like I’m about to demonstrate…” Rainbow reached for the phone and answered the call.

“Hello, Rainbow Dash speaking.”

“You’d like to make an enquiry?”

“Sure, I’ll put you forward to our management.”

Punching in a few numbers into the keypad, the call was transferred and Dash put the phone back down.

And then she stopped putting the phone back.

“Such stellar work!” Pinkie snarked.

“Pinkie.”

“Yeah?”

“That call… didn’t I have exactly the same one yesterday?”

Pinkie gave her a simple shrug. “I dunno. Probably. It’s just part of the job, right?”

Dash dropped the phone. “Yeah. Sure.”

“So!” Pinkie clapped her hands together, grinning. “When’s lunch break?”



“You’ll never guess what happened,” Applejack droned on, rolling her eyes.

“Don’t tell me…” Rarity lamented.

Rainbow blinked a few times, looking around. Rarity and Applejack were both stood by the watercooler, Discord listening in to their conversation.

“The darn printer’s gone done messed itself up! Again.” Applejack cried, throwing a hand up into the air.

“Again? I thought you had someone get it fixed just recently?”

“Yeah but give it some time, and it’ll start printing everything out in pink again!”

“I thought…” Rainbow rubbed her head. “I thought it was the photocopier that was broken?”

“It’s the both of them, Rainbow Dash.” Discord grinned at her, his big tooth almost shining. “Really, have you been paying any attention at all?”

“Sorry, I—”

“Hey gang!” Pinkie cried, walking to the watercooler with Fluttershy in tow. The latter merely gave everyone a meek wave.

“Pinkie?” Rainbow shook her head, then turned towards her. “Didn’t you just ask when lunch break was, a couple of moments ago?”

“Probably!” Pinkie answered, smiling.

“Did it…” Rainbow bit her lip, thinking. “Did it taste odd?”

“Nope! Funky.” Pinkie retched, sticking her tongue out.

“Really? Wasn’t the cafeteria serving vegetable soup today?” Rarity inquired.

“Yes, they were. I couldn’t taste anything odd about it,” Fluttershy said, nodding very slightly.

“What ever is the matter?” Discord asked, swimming closer to Rainbow. He pouted his lips at her. “Working too hard?”

“What? No, I’m—”

“Working overtime,” Twilight said, walking over with her clipboard.



“I’ll see you tomorrow, Dashie! Remember: same time, same place!” Pinkie left the office floor, slamming the door behind her.

Silence fell. The office lights were dimmed. The heating faded.

Rainbow sat in her chair, staring at nothing in particular. An irritating ache was assaulting her head, like a fly over a picnic.

“I need a damn drink.”

She got off her chair, walking to the watercooler. The pathway down the center of the cubicles was bathed in the light of the moon, shining through the window. Grabbing a cup, she looked at the view from afar, bending down to push on the watercooler’s tap.

“Ohohoho, that tickles!”

“Aah!” Dash sprung back, knocking over the cup of water in the process.

Discord chuckled, swimming a figure of eight. “Why hello there, Rainbow Dash!”

“Oh yeah. I forgot,” she twirled a finger in Discord’s general direction, “forgot you were a thing.”

“Well, don’t you look like you’ve had a looooong day!” Discord exclaimed, stretching his whole body out.

Rainbow ran a hand through her ruffled hair. “Today’s just been a total blur. One moment I’m at my desk, the next I’m at the watercooler on lunch break, then the next I’m going home.”

“We all have our off days,” Discord replied.

“It’s not just that. This place…” She craned her head around, staring at the large office space. There was nothing particularly special about it, save for the talking goldfish. In fact, that feature excluded, this office was spectacularly average.

“Not quite what you expected?”

“What do you mean?” Dash asked, facing him again. “I applied for this job. It was the best I could get for myself.”

Discord adjusted his position, giving him the appearance of sitting on an invisible chair. “Can you remember when you applied for the job?”

Rainbow closed her eyes, casting her mind back. Nothing, except work, work colleagues, water coolers, broken equipment, clocking out…

“N-No. I can’t.” In a sudden burst of speed, she lunged forward, grabbing the watercooler. “The hell is going on?! Who are the hell are you?!”

Discord stuck a fin up. “I’m not important here.”

“You’re a damn talking goldfish in a watercooler! How is that not important?!” Gritting her teeth, Rainbow rolled up her shirt sleeves. “I swear, if you’ve done anything to my life…”

“I’m not quite what I am, truth be told, Rainbow Dash,” Discord admitted, staring at his reflection in the watercooler. “If I had to guess, perhaps I am a figment of your imagination and you’re trapped in some sort of coma. Or maybe somebody placed you here and added me for novelty’s sake.”

Rainbow stumbled back, falling onto her behind. “C-Coma?”

“Possibly,” Discord said, off-handedly.

“But I’m me! Rainbow Dash! Look, I’ll prove I’m not in some stupid sort of coma.” Taking a deep breath, Rainbow pinched herself on the arm. A sharp shock of pain made itself very well known there and the feeling only intensified, Rainbow wincing as she left a painful mark in her way.

“There!” Rainbow cried, rubbing her arm. “That hurt. I’m definitely me.”

“How can you be so sure? Were you truly destined for such a humdrum office job?”

“There’s no such thing as destiny. I chose this job because I needed the work, alright?” Dash said, frowning at the fish.

Discord made a hum, putting his fins together. “Ah, so you propose that the situation you find yourself in is a result of the choices you’ve made in your life up to this point?”

“I… I guess?”

“Tell me them, Rainbow Dash: did you make the right choices?”

“What? How is that a fair question!” Rainbow flung her foot forward, kicking back the watercooler against the wall. “Stop playing games with me, damn it!”

Discord’s eyes rolled around in their sockets from the resulting impact. “So melodramatic…”

“Get on with it,” she growled.

“Right right, yes yes, don’t be so impatient.” Discord cleared his throat before continuing, bubbles escaping from his mouth. “What would you have liked to be?”

“That’s easy,” Dash said, recalling the ambitions as clear as crystal. “A pilot or a soccer player. But none of that explains anything. Like why things keep repeating, over and over, and why I’m only just realizing these things now!”

Discord looked towards the direction of Dash’s cubicle. “Check your email, possibly.”

“My email?” Upon seeing Discord nod, she sighed, heading back to her computer. She moused over the most recent message.

IMPORTANT EMAIL: PLEASE READ

“Here we go then…”

She double clicked it.

IMPORTANT EMAIL: PLEASE READ

You are out of time.

Stuck in an endless treadmill.

Confined to a path you did not wish for.

Did you envision something better?

It feels so far away, a mere dream.

But perhaps there lies salvation.

A new opportunity to try again.

Simply step out of the window.

“What…”

Rainbow cautiously edged away from the screen, returning to Discord. She explained the contents of the email, which he took in his stride.

“Well, you know what you need to do.”

“Jump out of a freaking window?!” Rainbow shouted, staring down the pathway between the cubicles.

“Jump out of a ‘freaking’ window and see what lies in store for you, or finish your overtime, and repeat the workday over and over and over and—” Discord smirked at her. “You get the idea, yes?”

Rainbow gave him a grim nod. She took in a deep shaky breath and closed her eyes. The darkness of the office was replaced by the open air, the sun shining down on her skin. Her hair was thrown about by the light breeze, planes soaring up in the clear blue sky, a soccer ball underneath her foot. In her ears, the repeated chantings of the crowd, cheering her name. This was her dream. The path she’d always wanted.

She approached the window and stepped out into the cold open air.