Knock knock knock.

"Mgh… huh?"

Dusty sat up in his bed, looking around, not realizing he was on the edge before he fell over, crashing into a box. He was still tired from the party last night. They had stayed up as late as they could and now he was feeling the after effects.

He got up, the box on his head.

Knock knock knock

"Coming,coming." he said, yawning a little as made his way over to the door, shrugging the box off his head. He opened it and on the other side was….

His eyes widened at the sight of the pony before him.

"Rainbow Dash?"

She smiled, nodding. "Hey, Dusty."

He beamed and hugged her. "Dash!" He laughed. "What are you doing here!? Come in, come in!"

Rainbow Dash hugged him back before walking into his hangar. "Just came to check on you. How's the training?"

Dusty grinned sheepishly. "Hard. The guy training me makes Skipper's training regimens look like a walk in the park. Heck, makes at times the Dragon Punishment look tempting… They even cut my tail off!"

Rainbow Dash giggled. "Was wondering why it was shorter."

Dusty chuckled. "Yeeeaah resident Doc Chop Shop AKA Maru decided to give it the snip treatment."

"Got ya. Well hope that certification of yours is coming soon. Mayday might beat ya to the finish line of being ready to fight fires."

Dusty deflated a little. "If Blade has it his way I'll be stuck here doing the same stuff FOREVER. He REALLY doesn't like me…"

"Why the hay doesn't he? You're a good stallion."

He lowered his head a little, mumbling something.

"I know I have good ears… but please speak up Dusty." Rainbow Dash said, raising an eyebrow. "Did you give a bad first impression?"

Dusty sighed before mimicking Blade's "I'm unimpressed." look. "Was all of Equestria on fire?" He quoted, mimicking Blade's voice. He then dropped it and gave a confused look. "Uh… Was all of Equestria on fire? … No?" He then did Blade's look again. "MARU! Strip his wings and cut his tail off!"

Rainbow Dash cringed. "Wow, tough crowd."

"He… HATES me." He repeated, groaning a bit. "I try and try but he just doesn't cut me a break! Heck, I even actually put a fire out and then he snapped at me when I actually saved his teammates! He's worse than Echo and Bravo!"

"And that's saying something… I hope the gearbox thing hasn't been a huge issue for you."

Dusty sighed. "Cause I can't redline it… I get yelled at for that too…"

Rainbow Dash's expression sunk as she paled a little. "Goodness…"

Dusty sighed, pacing a little. "As soon as I get that new gearbox, I am coming back here and showing him a thing or two about flying fast and putting out stuff… He even asked me if my crops die a lot! Hmph!"

"I-I see…" Rainbow Dash lowered her head a little, sitting down, feeling a little sick in her stomach.

Dusty looked to her and frowned. "I-I'm sorry it's just been really stressful… My back keeps getting me at the worst times too so I've just been really out of it…" He sat beside her. "You okay? You look… Green." He blinked.

She sighed. "Dusty… I…" She looked at the ground. "I was sent here to bring you a message since the radio was still out… and this one I had to come in person… it's… it's not good news…"

"What?" Dusty asked, growing concerned. "Is something wrong back home? Fill N' Fly caught fire again? Or… Did… Did something happen to Skipper?"

Rainbow Dash shook her head. "No… none of those… Dusty… it's… it's about the pony who said they could fix your gearbox…"

He felt a pang of fear go through him. "Y-Yeah… What about them? I-I mean… I thought the plan was as soon as I got home I'd get the surgery and be fine…"

Rainbow Dash sighed. "They lied… unintentionally… They misread our message and… I'm sorry… but…" She bit her lip. "No pony knows how to fix your gearbox… I'm so sorry Dusty…

I'm so sorry…"

Dusty felt all the hope he had built up over the past day or so dash away in an instant. "No…. Dash… I…" He lowered his head tears stinging his eyes. "I was… No… No… NO!"

Rainbow Dash brought a wing around him, hugging him close, nuzzling. "Dusty… I'm so sorry…"

Dusty tried holding back a sob, burying his face in her side, shaking. "It's not fair… I'm not a bad stallion... Why did this happen to me!? Of all ponies, it had to be the one who was finally happy! I WAS HAPPY! I didn't even WANT to come here in the first place!"

"Shhhh…" Rainbow Dash held back her own tears, stroking Dusty's back with her wing.

Dusty sniffled, trying to calm down. "They were right… I'm not more than what I was born to do… They were all right…"

"Oh Dusty…" Rainbow Dash nuzzled him. "I… I wish there was something could-"

The alarm sounded, making Rainbow Dash jumped, looking around. There was a knock at the door.

"Hey Dusty! You're not gonna believe this, Cad's stupid VIPs were flying too low and spread some of the embers! They ruined all the work we did two days ago!" Maru shouted, as he hurried over to the loading area.

"Get loaded up Champ, we need all able firefighters!" Blade barked as he flew by.

Dusty groaned in frustration, getting up. "I gotta go…" He muttered getting his suit back on slipping his harness on as well before trotting out the door. "Ready!" I swear this day just keeps piling it on…. Celestia, Luna, why ME!?

Rainbow Dash followed Dusty out to the loading area, unsure what to do as she watched everyone get loaded up and ready to go.

"Eh? Who's this mare?" Maru asked, looking over to Rainbow Dash, before he realized who it was. "Rainbow Dash…? What in Equestria brings you to our base?"

"She's a friend, she dropped by to visit." Dusty explained. "And she was going back to the hangar… Right?"

"... No… I wanna help." She said, giving Dusty an apologetic look. "I can't let you go trotting off into danger all by yourself… Can't let you have all the fun."

"Yeah smoke, flames… Fun."

Maru looked to Rainbow Dash unsure. "Eh… I wouldn't recommend it… plus there's-"

"I don't take uncertified firefighters."

Maru froze as he looked over to Blade. "The boss…" he said, finishing his sentence.

Dusty swallowed hard, deciding not to make eye contact with Blade. Glare could turn me into stone…

Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes. "Then what about taking veterans? By all intents and purposes I am part of the Jolly Wrenches, just like my friend here… and no offense, but the glare doesn't scare me."

I am SO gonna hear about her later!

Blade kept staring her down. "Hm… Not one who is shaken easily… Do you have any experience with using clouds?"

Rainbow Dash matched the stare with one of her own. "I'm part of Princess Twilight's council, I use 'em all the time and then some. I have been up against some of the baddest creatures in Equestria and live to tell the tale… The names Nightmare Moon, Discord, King Sombre and Tirek ring a bell?"

Maru gulped. She's pushing it… She's REALLY pushing it.

Blade's look didn't falter. "I have heard of the tales, and I'm grateful for what Twilight and her council has done, but you didn't need to tell me all that since that isn't the same as what we do here. We fight fires… not monsters… but since you don't seem to want to give it up…" He looked over to Maru. "See if we have a spare suit and get her wings enchanted. This fire isn't going to go down with a team this size."

"Alright." Maru gave an unsure look surprised.

Dusty gave Rainbow Dash a shocked look. "I can't believe you did that!" He half whispered half yelled.

She smirked a bit. "Getting enough glares from Echo and Bravo plus Spitfire desensitizes you… And quite frankly… I'm NOT letting you go into this fire alone."

Dusty sighed, stepping out of Maru's way. "I'll get the camera…"

… Why would he need a camera?

Maru quickly measured her before digging up a spare fire suit and goggles, getting her fitted. He eyed her tail.

Rainbow Dash kept it out of his reach. "Don't even think about it."

Maru sighed. "Mares… Got a second option for you then."

He cast a spell on her tail, braiding it so it was shorter. "There."

She nodded her approval. "Perfect."

Dusty gave the mechanic the evil eye. "And WHY didn't you do that when it was MY tail!?"

"I only give the option to mares since… it don't work too well for stallions… plus… you don't mess with a mare's tail… not unless you wanna die."

"Got it… Well one last thing then." Dusty shoved his camera over to him.

Rainbow Dash blinked. "Why the HAY do you need THAT!?"

Maru held up the camera, taking a picture of her after she was done talking. "Tradition here at Piston Peak. Every newbie temp or permanent gets their picture taken for the Wall… just in case."

… Something tells me it's not a Wall of Fame…

Dusty shook his head as he lead the way over to the runway. "I'll explain the Wall thing later. Let's just get moving before Blade loses his temper-"

"What was that?"

… I'm DEAD.

Maru put the camera and photo away before heading over to the two, quickly giving them their fire retardant clouds and enchanting Rainbow Dash's wings.

"Alright, they're all set to go Blade!"

Blade nodded. "Let's go!"

Blade took off, everyone following after him.

They made their way for the fire… shocked when they saw it wasn't just one.

"Oh sweet Celestia…" Dipper murmurred.

Blade growled. "The first split in two. Team, split up and take care of different parts of the fire, Dippper and Windlifter you take care of the one of the left while Rainbow Dash, the Champ and I take care of the one on the right."

"Copy that!"

The team split, getting straight to work. Blade scanned the fire before he realized something. He could see the lodge not too far off. "This is bad…" He turned on his radio. "Maru, contact the lodge, the fire is just a few hours away from their front door!"

"You got it boss!" Maru responded before radioing the lodge. "This is the Air Attack Base to the Fusal Lodge, do you copy?"

"Yeah, yeah what is it? The opening ceremony is almost about to begin." Cad said, sounding annoyed.

Maru gritted his teeth. Just focus… on… the warning… Kill… Cad… LATER. "You need to evacuate that lodge, there's a fire heading your way."

"What?" Cad sounded surprise. "No! I've come too far for this. Where's Blade?"

Maru rolled his eyes. "Oh he's out back sipping an Appletini… WHAT THE HAY DO YOU THINK HE'S DOING!? HE'S OUT FIGHTING THE FIRE!" He yelled, nearly knocking over the radio.

"Well then I'll leave it to him to put it out! I've gone through too much work to just cancel this now! Signing off!"

Cad signed off before Maru could get another word in.

"That… Fake… Whiny…" Maru growled. "Oh when he least expects it he is SO waking up missing something important!"

Maru radioed Blade. "Hey Blade, Cad Idiot Spinner isn't listening! He refuses to evacuate the lodge!"

Blade growled. "Ugh… He really doesn't get what he's doing… There's ponies there that could get hurt if they don't get out of there."

"Permission to swipe one of his kidneys? Pleeease!?"

"Later, for now… I need somepony to go down to the lodge and make it clear it is not safe whatsoever to stay there!"

"Um… Sir?"

"Hm?"

Rainbow Dash swallowed hard. "I could fly back to the lodge and give 'em the heads up… I'm one of the fastest flyers in Equestria, I could get there before anyone else… and if I have to, I will keep that place safe."

Blade nodded. "Good idea… Good thing you came along. Speed on over there and make it clear… Don't care how Cad reacts, show no mercy."

She smirked. "If I have to I'll threaten to report him to the Princesses. Twilight would have his horn for the refusing to evacuate alone." She gave a salute before speeding off, leaving her streak in her place.

"Please be safe…" Dusty whispered.

"Alright Champ, it's you and me, let's take care of this fire."

Dusty nodded. "Sir yes sir." He replied flying along side him… But his thoughts were somewhere else.

You'll crash…

I can't race anymore…

Nopony can fix your gearbox…

"Hey! Did you catch all that?!" Blade yelled.

Dusty jumped. "Uh, c-copy that!" He lied. He hadn't.

Blade watched as Dusty flew to the right side of the fire, dropping his whole load on it.

"You gotta be kidding me…" Blade growled as he flew over to him. "Champ, I said SPLIT load! Not the whole load!"

"Yes you did!" He argued, narrowing his eyes. "I was just following WHAT YOU TOLD ME!"

Blade snorted. "Sure you were, now head back to base since you don't have any retardant left."

Dusty shook his head and dove towards the river. "I'll just scoop up water down here!"

Blade flew after him. "No you can't!"

"Blade can we NOT do this right now!? Let's just get this fire out!"

"I didn't train you to scoop water under these conditions! The wind is too strong!"

Dusty rolled his eyes. "You know what? There's a thing called improvising under pressure!" He shot back before trying.

"Champ stop-!"

A downdraft caught Dusty's wings as it spun him around. He cried out before hitting the water. "GACK!" The current started carrying him down river as he tried to flap his wings but found them still. "H-Help!"

"Hang in there Champ!"

Blade flew in, trying to grab on to Dusty with his claw devices. "I'll get you out of there!"

Dusty kept floating down the river, getting caught in a fallen tree, being pulled under. Blade reached his hoof in, grabbing hold of one of Dusty's wings, pulling hard.

"Come on!" Blade growled, giving all his strength to get Dusty's head back up.

Finally it did as Dusty coughed and sputtered trying to get his wings active again. "Blade… Please, get me out of here! I'm sorry!"

"Trying Champ. Can you flap your wings at all?"

Dusty focused managing to get them started. "Yeah, I can. They're waterlogged but they'll work."

"I'm gonna help you down the river. You should be able to get yourself back in the air, use the current as a way to build up speed."

Dusty nodded. "Copy that…" He swallowed hard. This isn't the sea, I'm not alone… I'll be fine…

Blade followed him down the river, having his claws ready just in case. Dusty flapped his wings hard, starting to gain some air… just as they were approaching a waterfall.

"Alright Champ, give it all! REDLINE IT!" Blade shouted.

Dusty shuddered as he tried to get up in the air. His bracelet started to go off as he pulled power… Just as he went over the falls. "AAHHH!"

Blade dove down, catching Dusty by his wings and carrying him over to shore. It was a rough landing for both of them, both taking a tumble through the dirt.

Dusty panted, trying to catch his breath, rolling onto his side. "W-We made it…?"

Blade nodded, getting back up. "Yeah… We need to get back to base." He got up, shaking off the water before flying into the air.

Dusty shook the water off about to start his wings when he noticed Blade getting a horrified look as he flew back down. "What's going on? What's wrong?" He asked, backing up a little.

"The feathers on your wings…"

Dusty looked to see they were bent.

No… Not now… He thought trying to get them going anyway. "N-Not letting that stop me! If I have to, I'll just run back!"

Blade look at him like he was mad. "With a fire burning?! You'll get cooked!"

Dusty glared back. "You know what? I'm sick of you acting like you know how I'll end up! I'm not stupid Blade!"

Blade stomped his front hooves, snorting. "You haven't listened to a single thing I've said today! I said split load and you drop it all. I told you not to gather water and you did anyway. I told you redline and you pull back! You don't have what it takes to be a firefighter with all this half effort I keep seeing from you!"

Dusty snarled. "Fine!" He stomped his hooves. "I NEVER WANTED TO BE A STUPID FIREFIGHTER IN THE FIRST PLACE!" He screamed back, turning to try to find his own way out.

"Then you should just go back to your racing." Blade growled. "Go win yourself another trophy."

Dusty gritted his teeth before whirling around. "I CAN'T! I CAN'T!" He stormed up to Blade getting in his face. "My implants are malfunctioning! My gearbox is RUINED! I can't be fixed, they can't even find somepony to operate on me! I'LL NEVER RACE AGAIN!"

Blade held his stance… but then… there was a small softening in his eyes… almost… like there was sympathy in them. "Then that's…"

There was the sound of fire crackling as branches dropped down beside them. Dusty jumped back a look of fear in his eyes. "Oh no…" He murmured.

Blade looked to see the fire was right next to them. He had to act quick. He looked around till he saw the solution.

"Follow me!"

He lead the way over to an old mine shaft.

"We'll hide out in here and let the fire burn over, it's the only way out of this alive."

"Alive?" Dusty echoed shaking his head. "You're kidding me… We'll suffocate!"

Blade gave a serious look. It wasn't his stern one from before, it was one of worry.

"Just trust me for once!"

Dusty looked behind him to see the fire, shuddering before heading into the mine.

If I don't get out of this alive… Dash, Dottie, Skipper… Everyone… Even my parents… I'm so sorry….

Blade followed after him. "Dusty."

"Y-Yeah?" He looked up worried.

Blade sighed, the sympathetic look returning.

"Life… doesn't always go the way you want it… but you came here to become a firefighter… to help ponies… if you gave up today… think of all the lives you wouldn't be able to save."

Dusty was quiet as he thought it over before sighing. "You're right… And I wouldn't forgive myself if that happened…"

Blade nodded. "And that's a quality of one…"

The cracking of fire was heard again. They both looked at the opening of the mine to see the flames coming their way. Blade reacted quickly, pushing Dusty to the wall and standing in front of him, spreading his wings out as wide as he could, closing his eyes.

"Stay behind me." he ordered, as a faint blue glow came from his wings as the flames came at them.

Dusty did as told looking down for a moment.

The fire roared on as it came closer to them, the blaze hitting Blade dead on.

Blade gritted his teeth, taking on the heat, being sure Dusty was completely behind him. Come on old magic… don't fail me now…. The glow in his wings got brighter, easing the burden of his task.

Dusty looked up, horrified at what Blade was doing. Blade no…. He's… He's sacrificing himself for my sake… He thought before yelping as a beam came down, tearing his uniform down the side. "Ack!"

Blade looked down, shifting his position, bringing his wings completely around Dusty, creating a shield with both his feathers and the glow that was coming from them.

"Not on my watch." he growled.

"Blade…" Dusty murmured in shock. He hadn't seen this type of magic before, he didn't know it could exist. It's not hot like it is outside there… And the air isn't filled with smoke…

"The spirits called them Storm Pegasi, for their wings have the power to control water just like they did. They say there are other powers as well like protection from extreme heat and advanced healing…"

The words of Windlifter echoed in Dusty's mind… that's when it clicked.

Blade looked at him, giving a weak smile. "I'm okay… I'm built for this..."

Dusty swallowed hard. "You don't have to do this… I'm not worth it…"

Blade shook his head. "Don't ever say that… that's an order."

Dusty nodded, his voice shaking. "Sir yes sir…"

Blade nodded, cringing as he took on more heat, bringing his wings in closer.

"Everything is going to be okay Champ… I promise… on my life… We're gonna get out of here."

"You better not be makin' a death speech… I'm gonna be real mad if you get your picture on the Wall… Mustache to your picture if it happens."

Blade chuckled. "Deal… Ngh!"

"Blade!"

Blade panted a little, digging his hooves into the ground, his eyes shut tightly. "Not today…"

Dusty was horrified shaking his head. "Blade…. Stop… You're letting it burn you! Just stop!"

"NO!" Blade opened one eye. "I'm not breaking my promise…" he closed his eye, focusing on his magic. "Not now… not ever…"

Dusty closed his eyes gritting his teeth. He couldn't watch, it was too painful. Celestia give him strength…. Give him mercy… Please… Please…

Smoke came following in as rocks fell… but none touched Blade or Dusty…

"I'll be okay…" Blade whispered. "We're not alone… we never were…"

Dusty relaxed, he was just hoping what Blade said wouldn't fail him in the end. "Volo Pro Veritas…" He murmured.

Blade nodded. "Yes…" He looked above to see rocks being deflected by blue magic. He smiled as he recognized it.

Always there for all of us… Thank you… Cloud Burst… Gale Wind… Thank you…