Confetti Surprise gently opened her saddlebags and went over her bag of party supplies, which she brought almost everywhere. Along with these, she had her poncho and hat in case it was chilly. She gulped awkwardly and looked up at her map mission partner. Nopony else seemed to like him too much, but conversations came naturally for her. “I’m so glad that the two of us finally got a chance to hang out!”
 
Lightning Bolt was jolted out of his thoughts. “Hm? Yes.” He cleared his throat awkwardly. He wondered to himself, why was he sent on this mission? Especially with her…she was nothing like him, constantly laughing and smiling, not afraid to be open with others. And she was always hanging around those…kids. Looking towards the rolling clouds in the distance, Lightning struggled to make conversation. “Looks like a storm is coming…I knew it was scheduled. Why are we on this mission anyway?”
 
Confetti was determined to get him out of his shell, even if it was only with her of all ponies. She smiled as widely as she could and scooted over by him, her eyes staring deeply into his as the lights above shone onto her brown curls beautifully. “Well gee…I dont really know, but I’m sure we’ll have a great time!”
 
“Yes…a great time,” Lightning halfheartedly responded. He didn’t intend to be rude, but he really didn’t know why he was here. He had plenty of other things he could be doing right now. Lightning cringed slightly as he and Confetti passed a group young children running across the streets.
 
Confetti found it a little odd that he didnt even seem interested in her presence at the very least. She sighed softly and went back to her own seat. She softly fiddled with her hooves as her ears perked up in excitement at the sight of babies.
 
Lightning watched in silence as the group of foals began to grow; they were all heading in one direction with wrapped gifts in hoof like they were going to a birthday party. Right up her alley, Lightning thought to himself. Suddenly, he turned his head back towards the sky as thunder rumbled in the distance.
 
Eventually the bus dropped them off in front of a mini mansion; it was all decked out with the words “Velvet Caviar’s Birthday” embroidered on a large golden banner. Confetti was sure that this was where the problem lied and began to lead Lightning to the front of the house, a wide smile on her face as some mares and stallions could been seen on the balcony. A tall gaunt unicorn mare was decked out in ermine and pearls, levitating a glass of champagne. “By the Corona of Celestia’s Sun! Velvet’s party is going to be ruined by all that rain!”
 
Lightning leaned over towards Confetti and uttered, “This storm was scheduled weeks ahead of time. They have no reason to be surprised. If anything, that was poor planning on their part.” He huffed softly as the wealthy ponies complained about what was his job, his calling.
 
“You know, not everyone has time to check the weather. This party could be a very important event, not only in their daughter’s life but for the socialite elites as well. They probably have many other things to worry about, so it may have slipped their minds.” Confetti snapped at him, but it didnt sound like it. She had perfected the art of making anything she said sound sweet and matter-of-factly. Soon after this, there was a torrential downpour and squeals of anger could be heard.
 
Velvet Caviar, the birthday filly, began to wail as her perfectly decorated birthday cake was soaked to a multicolored, unrecognizable blob. Lightning could only sigh and rub his temples as the rest of the fillies, too, began to cry loudly about their seemingly minor inconveniences. This is what he was sent for? To have his living insulted right before his eyes?
 
Confetti started feeling irritated at how salty Lightning was being. She walked ahead of him, waltzing towards the mansion’s enterance and knocking softly on the door, all the while fluttering her wings to keep the rain off.
 
A mare came to the entrance, with curled, ginger hair that bore a striking resemblance to the birthday filly. “Good heavens, you’re soaked!” She exclaimed, taking a step back. “We are very busy at the moment! Whatever do you need?”
 
Confetti slammed her wing over Lighting’s mouth before he could speak, a soft, sympathetic smile on her face as she spoke. “Well ma’am, we noticed that it’s your filly’s birthday and the storm seems to be ruining her party. My associate and I have some ideas that might help!”
 
“Hm. Very well then. Do try to fix this…mess.” She glanced at their wings, assuming that as pegasi, they could just make the storm go away. “Just stay out of my house! I want to keep it spic and span!”
 
“O-oh! M-m’am I…okay…” Confetti attmepted to protest. Giving up, she began to make her way over the fence and into the yard.
 
“So what IS our plan?” Lightning asked. “We can’t change what’s been scheduled!” He gestured towards the clouds above.
 
“We cant make the storm stop but we can help them enjoy it! Unless YOU have any better ideas.”
 
Lightning shrugged from a lack of ideas. “Weather is crucial to our survival as a species. These downpours that they all complain about provide the means for our life. They should be grateful, if anything!”
 
“Then heres something you can do,” Confetti smiled widly and cheerfully. “Shut up.” As she landed on the ground she ran over to the birthday filly and her two best friends, “Hey guys…what’s wrong?” The fillies chattered back and forth with complaints, showing total ignorance that Lightning felt needed to be corrected.
 
“M-my party! It’s ruined!” Velvet Caviar whimpered, turning sad, puppy dog eyes up to the sky.
 
“Yeah! All because of this dumb rain!” Piped in another.
 
“I wish rain didn’t exist! Sunny skies are way better!”
 
Lightning couldn’t take it anymore. These fillies were being completely ignorant and taking for granted the important work that he and other weatherponies did. He swooped in and stood assertively before them. “You wish rain didn’t exist? Do you know where your drinking water comes from? Or how our food grows and makes it to our plates? Or what fills the swimming pools you love to play in? None of us would even be here without the rain keeping us and other living things alive!” He gestured towards the sky. “Can’t you see? Rain is JUST as important as sunshine!”
 
As soon as Lightning explained this, almost every foal at the party ran over and sat around him and Confetti. An olive green filly perked up first: “How DOES all that stuff happen mister?” Next a pegasus filly excitedly fluttered up and waved her hooves around. “How come we wouldn’t be alive?” Soon enough, all the little ponies bombarded him with questions.
 
After Confetti finished helping the maids and butlers clean up, she sat in the back of the crowd with the same inquisitive look as the rest of the fillies. Every once in awhile she let out an absoloutely gorgeous giggle because of how excited he got. She even got in a few questions herself, and once he was done she stood up. “That’s absolutely right! Not only is rainy weather important for us and our environment, but look at how much fun you can have!” She began jumping up and down in the puddles.
 
The fillies and colts joined in with Confetti and it was Lightning’s turn to sit back, opting to sit out on bouncing around and making a fool of himself. Still, he was quite impressed by how good Confetti was with the kids. He was even impressed by himself for how surprisingly well he handled them. She must’ve been rubbing off on him. Indeed, Lightning could tell there was a good reason they were sent together. They made a pretty good team.