After that night, Dusty and Blade decided to tackle training together. Dusty wanted to get better… and for that, extra practice would be needed. After a fire, Dusty would hurry off to meet Blade in a more private area to practice.

Blade would be harsh like Nick, but Dusty knew it was for his own good and Blade was all for him getting better. That, and Blade wasn't nailing him if his alarm went off. Though it was proving to be a problem.

"That new gearbox just can't come fast enough." Dusty sighed, slumping for a tree stump.

"Hm… We'll just have to make due… though I guess I could try to help a little… I just don't want you relying on me."

Dusty looked up at him. "Help me how?"

"Well… with how I am, I can share energy… healing if you will… but not to say all wounds. That's out of my league…. but I can give strength."

"I see what you mean… if you could remedy the gearbox problem it would be great… though I get the feeling it would only be temporary."

"Yes… hence not wanting you to rely on me."

"Right… Well… least I'm getting better in some areas."

"Aim is a LOT better now." Blade nodded. "And you got your facts down so…. I think that'll please Nick very much. The only problem we have is redline."

"... Well… you think we could try the strength share thing once? I…" Dusty lowered his head. "... I wouldn't mind being able to go fast again…" He shook his head. "Sorry that sounded REALLY selfish."

Blade smiled, a little, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"No… you just miss something you were able to do before… I can understand that to a huge degree." Blade floated up in the air, his firefighter suit coming on. "Come on, let's get flying."

Dusty nodded, grabbing his gear before finding a place to take off.

They made their way to Augerin Canyon.

"Alright… ready?" Blade asked.

Dusty nodded.

"Ready."

Blade flew in closer, being only an inch above Dusty as they flew in sync around the obstacle course. The bridge soon came into view.

"Here goes."

Blade had his gear come out, gold energy coming off it, flowing into Dusty's engine.

"REDLINE IT!"

Dusty felt an adrenaline rush as he flew right on through the bridge. He remembered this feeling… it was that feeling of speed he had always had during races. He laughed as he flew up the waterfall, kicking up some of the water as he flew on over the bridge.

Blade watched in amusement as he pulled away, letting Dusty have his moment of freedom. He went over again, waving to people who were passing by on the bridge before making his way over to Blade.

"Well?" Blade grinned as they flew on back to base. "Feel better?"

"Much." Dusty sighed happily. "That… felt really good… I… I had no idea how much I missed that feeling… it's… like…"

"Feeling alive?"

"Yeah…" Dusty looked to Blade, grinning at him with a grateful look in his eyes. "Thanks for this… Blade… it means a lot."

"Anytime, Champ." Blade elbowed him a little. "How about we see how the others are doing?"

"Let's!"

They soon arrived back at the base, Dusty leaving his equipment for Maru to tune up a bit.

"Someone's been working hard." Maru chuckled, looking at his pontoons.

"Just… want to be a good firefighter." Dusty said as he sat down in a chair, watching Maru work.

"You're well on you way, Dusty." Maru dug through his tool box, finding the wrench he needed. "You already got the heart for it, just need to refine the skills and you'll be golden."

Dusty nodded. "How's Nick doing?"

"Eh… Idiot Spinner still won't get off his back about what happened. And with the grand reopening being today… Ho… He's probably gonna be back for seconds. Probably gonna ban us from flying."

"But that's so stupid!" Dusty crosses his arms. "Nick said it himself, we help keep this park protected. I think Cad should be banned from being able to speak. Just put duct tape over his mouth and call it a day."

Maru threw his head back laughing.

"I APPROVE! I SHALL TRY IT SOME TIME WHEN I CAN CATCH HIM OFF GUARD! IT WILL BE GLORIOUS!"

Dusty chuckled. "I'll bring the camera."

"And I'll shove him." Blade whispered.

"Attention everyone, Superintendent Spinner on base."

They went quiet at the sound of announcement.

"Speak of the devil." Maru growled.

Dusty got up, heading over to the pathway entrance to greet Cad, much to everyone's surprise.

"What's Dusty doing?" Dipper asked Dynamite.

"I dunno… but he's got some guts approaching Cad before Nick does."

The other firefighters watched in silence as Dusty stared Cad down.

"What do you want?" Cad asked, crossing his arms. "I want Nick, I want to speak to him about something."

"Not after what I saw a few days ago." Dusty huffed. "Come back when you're not looking to verbally assault someone."

"Oh? And who died and made YOU the chief?"

"No one." Dusty narrowed his eyes. "I'm just looking out for mine because he's my teammate along with everyone else on this base."

Cad snorted a little, looking Dusty over.

"... I know you… You're that Ripslinger fellow."

… Idiot Spinner sounds REALLY fitting.

"It's DUSTY CROPHOPPER." Dusty growled.

"Whatever, you're both racing legends, you being the more famous, and what not. Besides that, why are you up here? Shouldn't you be off racing?"

"Off season, and I'm helping my home with something." Dusty fixed him a glare. "Now, like I said, if you're here to verbally assault Nick just so you can have your way then leave now."

"Or what?" Cad chuckled. "What in Machina could you possibly do?"

Dusty was quiet for a moment before looking to Maru.

"Maru… My water tank?"

Maru handed it to him.

Dusty smirked a little.

"This."

He opened the tank, dumping water on Cad.

"Sorry, thought you were a spot fire."

The other firefighters burst out laughing, some of them falling to the ground.

"OH MACHINA!" Drip howled.

"BURN!" Dynamite laughed.

Cad was shaking as he glared at Dusty.

"Who do you think you are!? HUH!? HUH!? I HAVE POWER OVER YOU! I CAN EASILY-"

"Actually you don't."

Everyone's head snapped to where Nick was as he approached.

"Dusty is under my command. I'm the one who gets to decide if he's fired or not. Not you."

"Then I order YOU to fire him!"

Nick folded his arms. "For what? He hasn't done anything to earn it. He put out a spotfire… he was just doing his job."

"WHY I OUGHTA-!"

"BASTA!" Nick screamed. He narrowed his eyes at the man. "Look, we'll leave the lodge alone for the day, but if a fire breaks out, don't be surprised if we show up. We have a job to do. Just worry about your itty bitty opening and leave the grunt work to us." Nick grinned a little. "Now I suggest you get a new suit before you have to show up to the reopening looking like a wet dog."

Cad grumbled something under his breath before storming off. Soon as he was gone, the other firefighters came around Dusty, throwing him the air and catching him in their arms.

"WAY TO SHOW HIM DUSTER!" Dipper cheered.

"And cheers for our chief for telling that idiot off." Maru nudged Nick.

Nick rolled his eyes… grinning a little.

There was a gasp heard from the Smokejumpers.

"Nick smiled."

"A-Are… Are we dead?"

They checked their pulses.

"... IT'S A MIRACLE!"

Nick chuckled. "Don't get too comfortable now." He looked to Dusty. "... Thanks."

Dusty smiled a little. "Just didn't want to see him tear at you again… Been through it… hate watching someone got through it."

"Good move… Partner."

Heh… Blade would be proud…

Nick gave a wave, heading back to his hangar.

Dipper threw her arms around Dusty.

"That… That what just happened was HUGE!" She squealed. "YOU REALLY ARE AMAZING DUSTY!"

Dusty blushed a bit, hugging Dipper back.

"Guess I have his approval…"

"No doubts, you do." Maru gave him a slap on the shoulder. "He called ya partner. That's HUGE."

"Well I had some help…" Dusty glanced over to Blade who was giving him a thumbs up.

I think things are looking up around here.