"He's been doing amazing Princess Celestia." Twilight wrote aloud as she watched the racers take off from the Crystal Empire, Dusty in the lead.
"Dusty Crophopper has been inspiring so many ponies, he's been the talk all around Equestria as a working class hero and an example for Artificial Pegasi." She sighed, smiling. "He really is showing they can be more than what they born to do."
She finished her letter, having Spike send it off as she opened another scroll and started recording the events so far in the race.
I really wish Rainbow Dash could see this.
The leg was short and Dusty had no problem keeping his lead. All the way from the Crystal Empire to Vanhoover he kept ahead of all the racers. He was feeling good about himself and feeling like a true racer.
Once he was in he made it a priority to radio the others back at home to see how they were doing.
"Really showing them how it's done out there Dusty." Skipper said with a grin.
"Thanks Skip… We head out over the ocean on the west coast of Equestria tomorrow, you were stationed there for awhile weren't you?"
"Yeah."
"Got any advice?"
"During the battle against King Sombra, the Wrenches had to fly through some heavy storms on the sea. The waves will be your biggest obstacle, if I were you it'd be time to stallion up and fly higher."
"Got it…"
"Hey, Dusty." Dottie chimed in. "We got a surprise for you."
"Oh?" Dusty asked with a grin.
"Oh! Oh! Let me tell him!" Chug said excitedly.
"Alright got ahead."
"Okay we're… um…"
Dottie shook her head. "We're going…" she started.
"To… um…"
"Las..."
It clicked in Chug's head and Dottie and him said it at the same time.
"Las Pegasus! We're going to meet you in Las Pegasus!"
Dusty gasped. "Really?"
"Yep, we got tickets for an air ferry to fly us over, one that's big enough for Skipper to ride on."
"How did you score that?"
"We sold all your merchandise! Got us enough money to afford them!"
"Go Team Dusterino!" Sparky cheered.
"That's great! You sure you'll be okay Skipper?"
"Yep, somepony else is doing the flying, so I'll be fine, we'll see you there… and one more thing Dusty."
"Hm?"
"I'm proud of you."
Dusty smiled. "Thanks… Wing Dragon."
"Well, we better go get ready, we'll talk to you later."
Dusty nodded, turning of the radio. He decided to go out and stretch his legs. Though his peaceful walk was cut short when he heard some crashing and somepony shrieking.
He galloped over to see El Chupacabra barreling out of his hangar with a bunch of cider barrels falling out and mare with a white coat and purple mane had gotten knocked over.
"Whoa, El Chu, where's the fire?" Dusty asked, walking over to the mare, helping her up.
El Chupacabra looked at Dusty wide eyed. "IT IS IN MY SOUL!"
The mare Dusty was helping shook her head. "He's been drinking one too many barrels of cider."
Oh boy… Dusty thought.
El Chupacabra struck a pose. "Tonight, I shall win the heart of Ms. Rochelle!"
He swished his cape before galloping off.
"He's been going on about it since he got here…" the mare scoffed. "He's not gonna get anywhere with the way he's going about it."
"I think he just needs a little help… Think you could lend a hoof?"
"If it'll get him to stop making a racket, sure."
"Alright, I'm Dusty by the way."
"Rarity. How do you suppose?"
They could already hear El Chupacabra whooping and hollering and singing some fast song that was irritating the other ponies.
"Get his Wing Pony… and a Mariachi band if you can."
Rarity nodded, galloping off to do so.
Dusty hurried over to where El Chupacabra was. He head a radio and singing his heart out to Rochelle… who had closed the doors of her hangar on him. Dusty quickly located the chord of the radio, getting in position. He waited until he saw Rarity coming with the Wing Pony and band behind her.
Huh… she actually did it. Impressive.
Soon as she was close enough he pulled the chord, which caught El Chupacabra off guard.
"Que paso?" He looked over to Dusty confused.
"Dusty, what are you doing?!"
Dusty grinned as the band and Wing pony hurried over to him, the pony setting up a candle, while the band started to play.
"Low and slow." Dusty said quietly winking.
Rarity quickly made a sign that said "Mas Suave" on it, holding it up for El Chupacabra to see.
It clicked in El Chupacabra's head as he began to sing the with band a much slower version of the song he had been singing.
"I'm just a love machine and I won't work for nobody but you… I'll only work for you baby…"
Rochelle started peeking her head out of her hangar as the song continued, finding herself enticed.
"My voltage regulator cools when I'm dancing next to you, electricity starts to flow and my indicator starts to gloooow."
Dusty and Rarity swayed to the music, smiling as they saw the song was working. El Chupacabra got down on one hoof, looking at Rochelle with sincerity in his eyes.
"I'm just love a machine and I won't work for nobody but you."
Rochelle smiled gently gazing at him. He meant it…
"Monsieur El Chu…" she whispered.
He smiled. "Buenos noches, hermosa…"
She giggled. She whispered something quietly, the only word El Chupacabra could make out was "romantic" or least he was sure anyway. After that, she closed her hangar, going in to rest.
"Um… was that good thing or a bad thing?"
"I think it was good." Dusty said with a grin. He looked to Rarity. "Your thoughts?"
"I think it was lovely, I believe you've won her heart."
El Chupacabra smiled. "Thank you both…"
Rarity nodded before trotting off to tend to other things. Dusty stuck with El Chupacabra, walking with him back to his hangar.
"Hey, I was glad to help."
"I'm forever in your debt compadre. If you ever need me, I will be there for you."
"Compadre…" Dusty said, smiling a little. "I like that."
El Chupacabra nodded. "Now, rest amigo, we got a big day tomorrow."
Dusty nodded, heading off to his own hangar.
A big day indeed.
This time I'll be sure he can't fly for good.
Ripslinger glared at Dusty who was standing in the front lines with El Chupacabra right beside him… who was getting showered with kisses by Rochelle.
He shook his head.
None of my business.
He looked to Ned and Zed. "You two know what to do?"
They nodded.
"You got it boss. "Ned answered."
"Good, he's all yours."
The trumpet was blown and the racers took off. Unlike the past few legs, this one required them to use their radio headsets heavily to keep track of where they were on the ocean. Without them… any pony flying over would be a lost pony.
Which was key in Ned and Zed's plans. Once they were out far enough on the ocean, they made their move. They flew ahead of the others, spotting Dusty right below them. Ned looked to Zed giving a nod.
The two flew down, catching Dusty off guard. Ned hit Dusty in the back as Zed took off his radio headset, throwing it into the ocean.
Dusty's eyes went wide as he gasped. "MY RADIO!"
Ned and Zed quickly bailed as Dusty desperately tried to salvage his radio with no luck. Diving into the water to retrieve was out of the question with his wings. He didn't want to possibly damage them. He was going to have to fly blind from here on.
He gulped as he continued the course… unsure if he was going the right way. All he could see was ocean and Equestria off in the distance. He called out a few times for help but it was no use. No one was around… and some of the feathers in his wings were starting to give out.
He started to panic.
"SOMEONE! ANYONE! PLEASE!"
A screech pierced the air, scaring Dusty a little. He looked behind him to see a gray and black griffon with a silver helmet with blue lightning bolts on it behind him.
"Unknown rider, unknown rider, you've entered a restricted air space, identify yourself. Why have you not been responding to radio contact?"
"I-I'm Dusty Crophopper. S-Someone took off my headset, my feathers are starting to give out, I need help."
"Then you best follow us." said another griffon who appeared beside him who looked exactly like the other one but with a red helmet. "There are no bingo fields around here."
"Bingo fields…?"
"Places to land, follow us to Flysenhower, you can make a landing there and we can get you fixed up."
Flysenhower…? As in… the base of the Jolly Wrenches?!
Dusty followed the griffons, his eyes widening when he saw what appeared to be a moving island.
"I-Is that it?"
"Yep, that's where we're gonna land."
Dusty's eyes shrunk a little. "B-But that runway is MOVING! Runways aren't supposed to move!"
"I don't see how you have a choice." The one with the red helmet commented.
"We'll set you up on the glide path and you should be able to make a smooth landing."
"O-Okay."
Dusty followed the griffons around the island.
Okay… moving runway… moving runway…
He looked ahead to see the runway in view. "There it is!"
"Alright, prepare to start your trot."
"O-Okay- I don't think I'm ready yet can we go around one more time-?"
"NO TIME! TROT!"
Dusty did as told, make a rough landing on the runway. He panicked a little and saw himself on a collision course with other griffons and ponies. He closed his eyes bracing for impact… not realizing there was a net that caught him and stopped him from crashing into the others.
He opened one eye and sighed in relief as the griffons and ponies around him cheered.
"We got you Crophopper!"
The griffons who had lead him to Flysenhower introduced themselves as Echo and Bravo before leading Dusty below deck.
"Let's get you fixed up and ready to go, you're way behind." Echo said.
"Thanks guys, you saved my tail out there." Dusty replied, giving a grateful look.
"Victory!" Bravo cheered.
"Victory!" Dusty repeated.
As they made their way inside, there was something that caught Dusty's attention. It was a frame that had pictures of various of what he could assume were other Jolly Wrenches.
"What's that?" Dusty asked.
"The Jolly Wrenches Wall of Fame, every flyer, every mission." Bravo answered.
Dusty immediately began scanning the wall for Skipper.
"Skipper… Skipper…"
Finally he saw a picture of the dragon, flying in the sky.
"Ah! There he is-"
He stopped short when he noticed something… There was only one medal and mission listed under Skipper. Dusty blinked back confusion as he looked at it.
"What…? Why… Why is there only one mission…?"
Echo and Bravo gave a confused look at Dusty.
"Pardon…?" Echo asked.
Dusty shook his head. "Nevermind… let's get me fixed up… lead the way."
The griffons nodded, leading the stallion away from the Wall of Fame… but the thought still bugged him.
Only one mission…? That can't be right… Right?