It was nice to be back in Equestria. It was good to feel the magic around them again, even if the mares were keeping themselves from using their flight magic.

Echo and Bravo were impressed by what the mares had accomplished… but that had not prevented the wrath that Thorn and Lightning Dust had unleashed upon the two griffons after they were done giving their compliments.

Least… that's what Rainbow had heard. She sadly didn't get to see the event. After she was brought to the Medical Bay she was kept for quite awhile till her wings were fully healed. About a week or so later she was back on roll call.

Ah, finally glad to be back out in the open air and not being stuck in bed. Rainbow thought as she closed her eyes, feeling the breeze. She had gotten up early today to celebrate her full recovery and just take some time to think over the thoughts that were still intriguing her before it was time for roll call.

"I guarantee a part of them is here waiting to meet you."

Rainbow shook her head as she remembered what Stone Flame said.

"What does he mean by that? Is there an Equestrian Dusty? Is there someone like him? Ugh, I can see why Thorn doesn't like cryptic nonsense… it's just… headache inducing."

She sighed as she looked up at the sky. She could just imagine the crop duster just flying over and saying hello to her as he carried on with whatever he was doing. But she knew she would never see him here.

Keep your hopes low… you'll just disappoint yourself.

"ROLL CALL!"

Already?

Rainbow hurried over to her spot in line as her two companions showed up. Both looking exhausted.

Training must've been hard yesterday. Rainbow thought.

She even noticed that Thorn and Lightning Dust had their pillows with them in their mouths.

Okay… really hard.

Echo and Bravo approached them with unimpressed looks on their faces as they saw the pillows.

"... How many times have we told you two?: Pillows in your barracks, not in your mouths!" Echo shouted.

The two mares just rolled their eyes, chucking their pillows at them.

"Not our fault we're so dead tired." Thorn said with a yawn.

The two griffons just shook their heads.

"Aside from that, welcome back to training, Rainbow Dash." Bravo said with a grin. "Glad to have you with us again."

"Good to be back, sir." Rainbow replied, keeping her form.

"Just in time too, there's a trainee that's been wanting to meet you." Echo chuckled. "When we told him you were on the Flysenhower he just couldn't wait to meet you."

Him?

"We're gonna take Lightning and Thorn here up in the skies, you wait here, he'll be here soon with his drill instructor."

Echo and Bravo left with Lightning and Thorn without another word. Rainbow sat where she was, looking up at the sky.

Well… this should be interesting.

After a few moments, a big blue dragon soared through the sky with a stallion right beside it. She could tell the two were talking but she couldn't make out any of the conversation going on between the two, but the stallion's appearance caught her attention. She couldn't see much of him… but she couldn't help but notice that sun was reflecting a lot off the stallion's wings… and not just in a few spots because of Air Glider Feathers… it was the whole thing.

The two came around the island before landing. It was then Rainbow realized why she had seen what she had saw with the stallion's wings. They were artificial wings… the same ones she had seen on the Earth Pony from the Wings Around Equestria… and it was the same pony that was standing right over there.

What's he doing here? Rainbow thought.

The dragon looked over to Rainbow, grinning a bit.

"Looks like Echo and Bravo kept their promise, look who's here."

That voice…

The stallion looked over to Rainbow, a grin creeping across his face as he made his way over to her.

"Rainbow Dash, right?" he asked.

"Yes…"

Rainbow looked the stallion over carefully. He was still the same as he had appeared on the monitor from before, save he was now in a Jolly Wrenches uniform… but now something seemed familiar about him.

The stallion gave a bow. "It is an honor to meet you."

Rainbow gave a sheepish look.

"I'm not that special… and it's nice to meet you too.. um… what's your name?"

The stallion chuckled. "Where are my manners?" He stood up fully, locking eyes with her. "I'm Dusty, Dusty Crophopper."

Rainbow eyes went wide as a gasp escaped her mouth.

D… Dusty…?

She could see the resemblance now… especially in the eyes… they were the exact same color…

It was his turn to give a sheepish look. "I guess you heard about my win with the whole Wings Around Equestria Rally… please, I'm no different than any pony else-"

Dusty didn't get to finish his sentence as Rainbow threw her hooves around his neck, hugging close to him. He wasn't entirely sure how to react, but slowly brought his hooves up around her.

"Hey… you okay?" he asked.

"Y-Yeah just…" Rainbow choked on her words a little. "Sorry…"

Dusty smiled gently. "It's okay…"

After a moment, Rainbow pulled away wiping one of her eyes.

"You… You just remind me of somepony I met… and… and what you did in the Wings Around Equestria… that was truly inspiring… you're a hero Dusty."

He blushed a little, lowering his wings. "That means a lot hearing that from somepony like you."

Rainbow giggled. "Hey, you're awesome, don't need to be so modest."

Dusty grinned.

The dragon he had flown in with came over to join them.

"Everything alright over here?" he asked. "Looked like somepony was upset."

Rainbow recognized the voice. Skipper's here too…

"Everything's fine Skip, apparently I reminded her of somepony she knew." Dusty answered.

If he only knew…

"Good."

Rainbow smiled. "Hey, Dusty?"

He looked over to her. "Yeah?"

"Wanna go for a flight?"

He grinned. "Would love to."

Rainbow made her way over to runway, a smirk crossing her face.

"Last one to the other end of the island owes the other a cup of cider."

"You're on!"

The two ponies shot off like bullets into the sky, both laughing as they raced each other. Rainbow couldn't help but watch Dusty fly. The way he moved and acted… it was just like the one she had met.

The other part of him…

He looked to her giving a warm smile and for a moment… she could've sworn she saw the crop duster in the pony's place.

"Some how… maybe not the same way… but some how we will. Bonds between friends are strong, and you'd be surprised how they can bring friends back together."

Rainbow smiled back.

Yeah… together again… just in a different way.