Word got out quick about the fire that had occurred last night. Everypony in Propwash Junction looked at the now scorched Fill N Fly nervously as they saw Mayday talking to a rather large lime colored Unicorn with a blue mane that had a blue, black and white uniform on. He had a smaller unicorn beside him that was levitating a clipboard.

Chug squinted his eyes a little, reading the lettering on the big Unicorn's sleeve.

"T… M… S… T?"

Dottie shook her head. "We're in big trouble…"

Dusty lowered his head feeling a pang of guilt. Dash brought a wing around him.

"Is… Is that guy writing down everything that I say?" Mayday asked looking at the unicorn with the clipboard.

"Yes."

Mayday was silent for a moment. "... And that?"

"Yes." The green unicorn said, a slight tone of annoyance in his voice.

"And… THAT?"

"YES!"

Things were silent before Mayday gulped a bit.

"Oh sugarcube…"

"Who is this guy again?" Dusty asked quietly as Mayday and the Unicorn went on.

"If I heard right his name is Ryker, he's one of the top fire investigators in Equestria." Sparky answered.

"Were you on the scene within the 10 minute time period?" Ryker asked, eyes narrowed.

"Well…" Mayday chuckled nervously giving a sheepish smile. "I didn't exactly have time to look at the clock… But I was there as soon as I could!"

Ryker nodded, eyeing the broken hose and water tower. "And this is your way of putting out a fire?"

"W-Well no! Not usually but we don't have many emergencies here in Propwash-"

"The law is still the law. After looking over the facts I can not deem Propwash Junction as safe. Unless Mr. Mayday here gets his equipment repaired and shapes up and acquires a second firefighter I can not allow Propwash Junction to stay open."

"W-Wait!" Dusty stepped up. "This was my fault not his-"

"Dusty it was an accident." Mayday said quietly looking to him for a moment. "It wasn't your fault."

A few hours later, after Ryker and his assistant had left, Skipper had gathered everypony in town, making the announcement.

As soon as the words left his mouth he bit back a growl as the sounds of panic soon stirred.

"Propwash Junction just got shut down!?" Leadbottom exclaimed.

"How're we gonna fly out!? HOW'RE PONIES GOING TO FLY IN!?"

"We can't!"

Another scoffed rolling their eyes. "Well there goes the Corn Festival."

A Pegasus wearing a corncob costume sniffled. "But I already finished my corn cob costume." She whimpered.

More and more complaints grew quickly.

Skipper growled before letting out a mighty roar, as the crowd fell silent, looking at the dragon with surprised looks.

"Now… Dottie? Sparky? Take it from here… And if ANYPONY gets any idea's they will be given the Jolly Wrench Dragon punishment… And as anypony who's ever broken my windows as foals know… This is not one you want." He eyed a few ponies in the crowd before stepping back allowing the two unicorns to step up.

Sparky held up a series of pictures for ponies to see as Dottie started to explain.

"We know things are pretty bad right now, but we got a plan. We're gonna get Mayday's equipment all fixed up as you can see here. A new hose, new siren, and some new spells to help with putting out fires. Sparky is also gonna help him get healed up in his legs so he'll be quicker. In turn we'll have a brand new Maday!"

Sparky looked at one of the drawings. "Oo he's gonna get rocket boosters?"

Chug grinned. "Heck yeah! But um… Don't let them get near any flames since… Fuel and flames don't exactly mix."

"But… He's a firefighter…"

Dottie cleared her throat. "Anyways… Now we just need a second firefighter-"

"Good luck with that!" Leadbottom interrupted. "It's FIRE SEASON. Where're we going to find a second firefighter-"

Skipper roared aiming his head upward so flames flew into the air. Silence fell as several ponies stepped as far away from Leadbottom as possible.

"You! Front and center!"

Leadbottom gulped.

Skipper narrowed his eyes. "Fine… If you won't step up… I'll just aim."

Leadbottom took off as Skipper aimed managing to burn a bit of his tail off before he disappeared around the corner.

"Now… Anypony ELSE wanna complain?"

No one spoke up.

"That's what I thought."

Dusty snuck away while Skipper was dealing with the crowd, going over to Mayday's hangar. He looked in keeping quiet, finding the old Unicorn looking at pictures, a saddened look on his face.

"Knock, knock…" He said quietly frowning.

Mayday jumped a bit looking over to him. "O-Oh Dusty… What can I do for you?"

"Just wanted to see how you're doing…"

"Just collecting my thoughts…" Mayday sighed.

Dusty frowned coming inside. "Care to share?"

Mayday gazed at the ground. "Maybe… it's time I hung up the gear… I'm old…"

Dusty shook his head. "No, come on Mayday… There's plenty of firefighting left in you." Dusty looked over to wall, giving a smile as he looked at the rewards. "I mean, look at this firefighter of the year… your bronze star-"

"Old and tarnished… like me…"

"That's not true…" Dusty glanced at the pictures trying to think of something to say, when his eyes landed on an old photograph. "Hey wait a minute…" He looked closer. "Is… Is this you with an Artificial Pegasus?"

Mayday looked with him. "Hm? Oh yes… It was a very long time ago… Artifical Pegasi were some of the first aerial firefighters since their harnesses could be easily modified to carry and drop water. Now these days both normal and Artificial Pegasi can do it with the help of having the right wings to gather water from the air to form clouds… amazing how far it has come since then…"

"Having… the right wings?"

"It was something only Artificial Pegasi could do for a long time since their wings could be easily changed. Like the crop duster feathers you used to have were for keeping the fertilizer you spread on it's set path. The feathers for those firefighters had did what I just told you."

"Then… how do regular Pegasi get the ability? Is like having air glider feathers?"

Mayday rubbed the back of his neck, thinking.

"No… It was something ponies tried at first but then dropped. There were spells developed so Pegasi could do it but… Ah now I remember."

Mayday got up, levitating one of the pictures down to show Dusty. Dusty looked to see Mayday back when he was little younger standing next to a young Pegasus whose wings had an interesting cloud pattern to the tips.

"This stallion you see here is an old friend of mine, Blade Ranger. He takes normal Pegasi and trains them to become great firefighters… I don't know why but… any Pegasi that has been trained under him, always came out with wings like his. Notice how different they are?"

Dusty nodded. "They're much bigger than the usual wings a Pegasus has, the feathers are longer too… and those cloud patterns…"

Mayday hung the picture back up. "I don't know why it happens but… it only happens under his training… I swear I've also seen Unicorns and Earth Ponies go up to where he is to be trained and come back as Pegasi with those wings… it's completely bizarre… but amazing too..."

Dusty's eyes got a little wide. Earth Ponies… Coming out as Pegasi? He thought, before his thoughts went back to the state of the town as an idea began to form. "Say… Mayday…"

"Hm?"

"What if I became our second firefighter?" He asked grinning a little.

Mayday got a surprised look. "You… You would do that?" he frowned a little. "But what about your racing?"

Dusty shook his head quickly. "That can wait! Right now we gotta get Propwash reopened. Dottie and Sparky will get you up to date, and I'll go and get certified!" He said getting a bit of an excited look. I can at least be of some use… I won't have to go super fast to put out fires…

And the reason we're in this mess in the first place is because of me…. I won't let Ryker take this town down with me…

"Alright…" Mayday smiled. "Thank you Dusty… Really… Thank you…"

Dusty smiled back. "We'll get out of this mess… I promise."

Mayday sent a message out to Blade Ranger after Dusty had left. During that, Dusty had packed his saddlebags and was getting ready to head out… only to be stopped by somepony tugging on his mane.

He looked to see Rainbow Dash behind him.

"Dash?" he asked surprised. "I thought you would've headed home after yesterday."

"Like I'd leave after a big accident and hearing the town is being shut down, sides, little stuck remember?"

Dusty shook his head. "Dash, reason we have an air port is for us Tech Ponies, you're a magic flyer through and through, we have the tower so we can keep track of who flies in and out since we rely on radios here."

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. "Well, I think you guys could just use some help and I don't think it be fair to fly off while everyone is grounded, but enough of that…"

"Okay… What's up?"

Rainbow Dash got a worried look. "Don't think I don't know what you're doing, Dottie told me… Dusty, this isn't something you can take lightly."

"I know… but I gotta be able to help the town and… I want to be useful some how."

"When have you ever been useless? You're just a little busted up right now."

"Hence me doing this… I don't know if I'll be able to go back to racing, but if I can do something else… something that can help the town… then I'll do it. I'm willing to take the risks."

He started heading towards the road, Rainbow Dash following right behind him.

Dottie, Chug, Skipper, Sparky and Mayday were waiting for him there to send him off.

"Road is all clear." Chug said with a smile.

Dusty smiled back. "Thanks Chug."

He shared a hug with each of them before getting into position to fly.

"Wait!" Rainbow Dash said, trotting up to him.

He looked at her confused. "Dash, I'm going no matter what."

"I know… I… I just don't want you getting hurt…" she looked him straight in the eyes. "Maybe… Maybe I could come with you."

Dusty shook his head. "No, then you'd be risking yourself as well… Dash, there would be no point in you coming and training with me, you don't live in Propwash Junction and I think Ponyville is well covered in firefighters… and it's not your dream." he tipped her chin up a little. "You want to be a Wonderbolt… I've known that about you since we met… I don't want you sacrificing your dream over me… and I need to do this on my own… While I'm gone though… Help take care of Propwash for me, okay?"

Rainbow Dash nodded, sniffling a little. "O-Okay…"

Dusty nuzzled her, and she nuzzled back.

"You better come back in one piece…" she whispered.

"I promise… as friends I promise I'll come back."

He pulled away. "I gotta go, I'll see you when I get back."

Dusty got into position before taking to the skies, his friends waving goodbye as he flew off into the distance.

Rainbow Dash sat down sighing. Dottie put a hoof on her shoulder.

"He'll be okay Dash… He's a grown stallion, he can take care of himself."

"That doesn't mean I'm not gonna worry." She said. "That's part of my job as his friend… But I know he'll do it… He trained in the Jolly Wrenches too… They never give up… And he hasn't either."

Just please keep your promise Dusty….

Come back alive…