Three minutes at a good clip and they were gliding in just over Ponyville from the east side, where Rainbow’s house floated in the fields slightly away from the main settlement.

Ponyville was still the very postcard of picturesque, even with the dark scarring. After Tirek, Dumbbell had gone groundside, along with over half of Cloudsdale to seek out loved ones and ascertain the damages. The cloud city hadn’t been over Ponyville at that time, but that was the one place he really wanted to be. And the first thing he knew was that the tree was gone. The really big one that used to be a library. Most of Ponyville south of the river no longer existed for that matter, it had all been reduced to a black smeared crater. What little remained was far too charred and damaged to be considered salvageable.

What stood across the bridge remained mostly untouched. Rainbow Dash had told him that a few bits of fiery debris had launched from the initial explosion like shrapnel, it hurtled over the water and smashed into the homes on the other side, houses made out of wood and straw.

Rainbow Dash had told him that, in the chaos, it was pretty lucky that Ponyville didn’t burn down completely. But hey, being a pegasus with the power of rain at your beck and call had its perks, and in the face of multiple fires, panic, and disaster, the weather team had done their job commendably.

Repairs went underway immediately, though several hundred residences dealt with displacement, it wasn’t too much of an issue to temporarily house them with friends and neighbors.

While the east and south sides sustained the brunt of damage, Ponyville’s west area was virtually untouched, and the game shop, Shields & Satchels, was on that side, but being in no hurry, Dumbbell and Rainbow Dash decided to take their time in getting there. At some point they stopped on a cloud to pony watch the construction. Dumbbell marveled at the progress: the crater was gone, filled in with stone and dirt, the promising frames of new homes dotting the outer rim. There wasn’t much to see though; with evening well underway, activity dwindled and most workers were already putting their tools back in place and going home.

“You ponies work fast,” he commented. A stallion on the ground noticed them and waved, and Rainbow waved back.

Rainbow Dash nodded. “Yeah, this whole town was built by hoof, at least thats what they say in history books. The earth ponies are really good at it, and even more stubborn to boot.”

“So no magic, huh?” Dumbbell had a thought. “What about the pegasi?”

“Well we all do our share, the whole no magic idea is pretty old fashioned though. Heh, just don’t let any of the old ponies catch you at it. Like during the last Winter Wrap Up, I’ve spied a few unicorns who thought they wouldn’t get caught with their horns glowing.”

“And what do you do?” he asked.

“Me? Well,uh, mostly I just help with the raw materials. With enough speed at the right angles, I’m good enough at breaking rocks, so it’s that and hauling logs.” She shrugged slightly. “I mean, there’s not much else I can do. I know squat about carpentry or building, so...”

Her wings sagged as she threw a silent glance behind her, and he realized she was looking at the vast space where their library used to stand.

“That old tree. It meant a lot to you, didn’t it?”

“You don’t even know,” she sighed. “Twilight’s library held so many memories, I still can’t believe it’s gone.”

The twinge of sadness he felt for her drove him to console her in some way but he hesitated, and his mouth hinged shut, no words of particular use came to him. Rainbow Dash didn’t appear to notice and continued speaking.

“But it isn’t just the library. It’s everyone, I mean, heck, Ponyville is pretty much a magnet for catastrophe, it comes with the territory of being right next to the Everfree I guess.”

Dumbbell nodded before following with a quick “Yeah.” Since her head was turned, she couldn’t see him.

“With every day that goes by, the more I think I’ll probably never leave this place. At least not for long. Everypony here means something to me, and I feel like I owe them protection...and when the fire started, I could see it from where I was...but.” Rainbow Dash grit her teeth and pawed at the cloud they sat on. “I could do nothing.”

For Dumbbell, what followed were several painfully awkward seconds of silence.

‘Stop being such a featherweight, Dumbbell, just tell her what you think.’

“You’re good to this town.” he finally managed to say, though he must have said it too quietly, or she had been absorbed in thought to hear him, because she turned to him with a questioning look. He felt the pang of regret for opening his mouth.

“What I mean is, I know a lot of weird things happen in this place, some really weird things actually. The grapevine is faster than the speed of sound up in Cloudsdale.” he said. “But you’re a hard hitter, one of the hardest I know, and you’re, well, you—,” He looked up from his hooves and saw how intently she was looking at him, with ears pinned, and her eyes framed an uncertain mix of curiosity and anxiousness.

“And you...” The words were slippery and difficult to grasp.

“Just listen, you’re a far better pony than this two-story town could ever hope for.” When Rainbow Dash frowned, Dumbbell rolled his eyes.

“Aw, come on, Rainbow, do you really need anypony to spell this out to you?” Dumbbell gave his wings one long flap, signifying his frustration. “You’re a damn hero, okay? Even better than the comics or the books. Every time something crazy happens, like whatever insane threat decides it wants to roll in and cause havoc, I always imagine you blasting out of the sky and kicking it in the face. And you do! So yeah, I’m pretty sure without you, Equestria itself would be in a pretty dank place right now.” He exhaled deeply, averting his eyes. “I suck at this.”

The quick snort of truncated laughter brought him around, Rainbow Dash was trying her best to contain herself but bit by bit the chuckle broke into a healthy guffaw.

“You...yeah..haha...” It took a moment for her to speak properly.
“Yeah, you kind of do,” she giggled. “But I think I get what you’re saying and I appreciate it. Thanks.”

They shared a laugh for a moment, the smile unfurled onto her face was enough to make the world around him fade into the background, then they sat silently in the peace of the waning day, it was some undetermined period of time before Rainbow Dash moved suddenly.

“Oh crud, what time is it?” She looked around frantically, her sudden actions being enough for the world around Dumbbell to jump back into focus. The sun had long since started its descent, and the clouds were taking on the slight colors of tangerine.

“We burned too much daylight, come on! The place’ll be closed in a few minutes!”

They jumped from the cloud and started toward the business district, high enough to see most of Ponyville below them. It was pure chance that he looked back across the river, and saw something that hadn’t been there before.

“Yo, is that Fluttershy?” Dumbbell pointed a hoof down at what at first like a big mobile dust cloud.

“Say what?” Rainbow Dash turned to where he was pointing.

Down below the dust cleared just enough to reveal a small stampede of dogs of all sizes, tethered together by several red leashes pulled taut, all barking and yapping in frenzied happiness, pulling a hopeless yellow pegasus in their wake.

“It is Fluttershy!” Rainbow Dash dived immediately and Dumbbell followed close behind. The barking and stampeding dog paws grew louder as they drew into speaking distance.

“Fluttershy, what’s going on?” Rainbow Dash had to shout over the dogs and hold up a hoof to shield her eyes from the dust. A helmet covered Fluttershy’s head so an answer wasn’t immediate. It took a moment to flip back her visor to talk.

“Just...a little evening walk,ngh!” Fluttershy flinched away from a richoteing pebble. “F-for the dogs!”

Dumbbell saw what was ahead of them and did a double take“You might wanna end that walk a little early!” The dogs were tearing down the path, fortunately away from Ponyville, unfortunately from their current position and due to Fluttershy’s complete lack of control, they were going to be running out of ground very soon.

“The lake!” Rainbow Dash picked up speed and grabbed the leashes. “Pull Fluttershy, c’mon, freakin pull!”

“I am pulling!” Fluttershy hollered. Two pairs of back hooves drove into the ground, their combined effort seeming to have some effect but not enough. They were on a downhill slope and the dogs had momentum. Dumbbell pulled in close and gripped the leashes behind them, his strength combined with their own was enough to tip the scales. Gradually the dogs slowed until, snap!

The forerunner, a massive gray sheepdog broke his collar, and rocketed forward without the extra weight holding him back, changing course and tearing a path around the lake.

“Niblet, stop!” Fluttershy yelled, but there was no way she could catch up to the large dog and keep charge of the seven others that had stopped.

“Where is he- *cough* Where’s the mutt going off to?” Dumbbell managed to shout through a harsh coughing fit. He was still in the air but the dust was high enough to affect him.

“Not again,” Dash groaned. “He’s running for the farm!”

“Farm? Which farm?” he asked in exasperation. “There’s like six of them around here!”

Rainbow Dash coughed several more times as the dust settled. “The apple farm obviously, here, help Fluttershy hold this wild pack of wolves back while I go get Niblet!”

Dumbbell did as he was told as Rainbow Dash streaked forward after the rapidly disappearing sheepdog. By that time though, the other dogs had already settled down, most of them were laying down in the dirt, tired out by their own exertion. This left Dumbbell without anything to specifically concentrate on, if the dogs weren’t going to cause trouble he could just leave, right? Maybe Rainbow Dash could use his help, the “Niblet” was bigger than she was. The silence drew on into awkwardness, and he felt the urge to look over at Fluttershy but managed to suppress it.

“Now,now, Coco, stop nipping at Patch’s ear, you know that gets him riled.”

He heard her, practically whispering to the animals in a low tone, and Dumbbell wondered if she seriously spoke that way all the time, like she was sitting in a dark theater or if that was natural. Maybe Fluttershy didn’t want him to hear her, not that he cared but still it was strange. He had always found her strange.

Still he couldn’t help but feel an intrusive need to say something to breach the ice before Rainbow Dash returned, if she returned. Not only was the sheepdog basically the one pulling all of the other dogs in his wake, Niblet seemed to have been on a mission.

“So uh, what exactly were you doing out here?” he asked airly, trying for conversation. “Trying to start a sled team?” His question was answered by dead silence, he finally did peek over his shoulder to see Fluttershy turned staunchly away. She was still but uptight, not looking down at the ground or fiddling with her hooves the way he had always known her to do and seen her act.

“Right, stupid question, there isn’t any snow.” he said, and then he grimaced.

‘What a dumb thing to say...hah’

“So, uh, what about the weather, eh? It’s been real nice hasn’t it?”

Fluttershy looked at him flatly, her lips pursed into a line.
“Yes, very nice today.”

“Uh...yeah.” Dumbbell quietly cleared his throat and turned away again, distancing himself as far as the few leashes he held would allow.

‘Come on, Rainbow Dash, where are you?’

A short gasp from Fluttershy and a turn of her head signaled Rainbow’s return.

“What do you put in this dog’s dinner bowl, Fluttershy? Powdered lightning?”

Rainbow Dash was already huffing as she pulled Niblet back up the hill. She was aloft with the dog’s red collar clasped in her hooves, forced to drag him since the brute didn’t want to return under his own power. To Dumbbell it looked like Rainbow Dash was struggling to drag a two hundred pound sack of flour.

“A dog this size, you wouldn’t think he could be so fast!” Rainbow Dash continued. “Not that catching him was a problem, but I’m glad we happened to see you struggling down here or else you might have gone for a swim!”

The sheepdog whined and made another effort to twist free, prompting Rainbow Dash to latch on harder. “Oh no you don’t!” But at this rate all forward progress had stopped. Fluttershy was there moments later, to help bring Niblet back under control. Dumbbell couldn’t help but be impressed by Fluttershy’s influence on the animal, in fact she didn’t even speak to it, a hard stare and the dog collapsed into a submissive grovel, his stubby tail wagging pitifully in defeat as Fluttershy hooked another leash onto his collar.

“Now behave.” Was all she said as she and Rainbow Dash lead Niblet back to the top of the hill where he stood with the rest of the dogs who surprisingly, were not taking the opportunity given to them to go running off in every direction.

“It’s only, Niblet.” said Rainbow Dash who seemed to have picked up on his mental quandary. “Every time he gets down wind of the apple farm, he catches Winona’s scent and it’s heaven and earth trying to keep him under control.”

“And Winona is a girl dog, I’d guess.” said Dumbbell, now seeing the sheep dog in a new light. “Well then, that’s not a bad thing is it? Just following the call of the wild!” he chuckled and looked to see if the two mares were going to share in his joke, when they didn’t, his laugh came to a slowly dying end.

“Did your sense of humor just slide into a black hole? You understand, right big guy?” He reached out to pet Niblet, only to pull back when the dog emitted a low growl.

“That’s not cool, Niblet, cut that out!” Rainbow scolded,giving an apologetic glance towards Dumbbell. “Sorry, Dumbbell, I’ve never seen him growl at anypony before.”

“He doesn’t know you.” Fluttershy brought Niblet to her side, speaking without even once looking the stallion in the eyes. “You shouldn’t be so forward with dogs who are not familiar with you.”

Speechless, Dumbbell averted his gaze. The frost in Fluttershy’s voice was even enough to hold Rainbow Dash to an unwilling silence. Fluttershy seemed to tune into this, her eyes softening at Rainbow Dash’s questioning look.

“But anyway, thankyou, for bringing Niblet back and...I’ll have to remember to keep upwind of the farm the next time I take the dogs for a walk.” She quickly gathered the rest of the dogs together. “It’s getting late so I think I’ll be heading back to the office now.”

“Right, well, see you later, Shy.” Dash said. Fluttershy nodded curtly and gradually lead her charges back to the veterinary office. They lost sight of her quickly in the dying light of the setting sun.

“Sorry,” Dumbbell rubbed absently at his foreleg. “I don’t know much about dogs.”

“No don’t worry about it.” Rainbow replied, still trying to appear casual but Dumbbell could tell she was slightly rattled about her friend’s behavior, judging by the way she saw Fluttershy off with a questioning gaze, until her form was lost in the haze of sunset.

“Is there still a chance of making the game store?” he asked. Rainbow Dash sighed, looking up at the sky.

“No, it’s definitely closed by now. I’m sorry I bought you all the way down here for nothing.”

“Yeah, pssh, thanks for the trip.” he muttered. But when Rainbow Dash seemed to wilt, he was quick to correct himself.
“I was kidding, it’s no big deal! Cloudsdale is going to be pulling away from Ponyville in a few weeks anyway, so I was bound to fly down here and take a peek at the place eventually,” he shrugged. “Might as well have been now.”

Rainbow Dash scuffed her hoof lazily back and forth across the dirt. “Yeah well...” her gaze returned to the town, down the main street of residences, many windows flickered with dull yellow candle light, and an idea shone in her eyes..
“Well the game shop is closed, but I know at least one place that’s open.” she grinned. “Why don’t we go get a drink or two at Dizzy’s?”

The Dizzy Weasel was a well established brick tavern near the center of Ponyville with a large sign that glowed alluringly above the door. The interior was fashioned in dim light, red walls and wooden furniture, two large fireplaces sat on the west and east walls, currently unlit but used to draw in plenty of heat on cold winter nights. Near the front of the tavern and adjacent the bar was the stage area where a large grand piano stood as a permanent fixture. A small band would often play music in shifts.

Dumbbell took another shallow sip from his mug before scratching quizzically behind his ear.

“So where was Luna during all this?”

“That isn’t even what I’m talking about right now. Pay attention!” Rainbow Dash flipped the napkin over and started drawing another crude diagram of the castle in rushed squiggles and crooked waves. “So here I was, right in the center of the throne room, surrounded on all sides by changelings.” She denoted this by quickly filling in a large portion of the white space with little black dots jabbed into the paper. “Cut off from everypony else! And need I remind you, some of the bigger ones are covered in poison barbs.”

"Poision, hm." Dumbbell lifted a questioning eyebrow. “Seriously?”

“Six inch fangs, leathery wings, sharp claws and clubs for tails. It was enough to make even me nervous, I’ve gotta say.”

Dumbbell snorted into his mug, almost causing him to cough. “Yeah right.”

Rainbow Dash frowned. “What do you mean ‘yeah right’?”

“It must not have occurred to ya that I might actually know a couple of stallions in the royal guard who were there when all of that went down.” Dumbbell finished off the last of his drink. “And from what they told me, changelings look nothing like that.”

Faced with this information, Rainbow Dash didn’t skip a beat, as if she had it all rehearsed. “Most of the Royal Guard were completely hoisted in the sneak attack by then, there’s no way they saw what I had to deal with.”

Dumbbell rolled his eyes and leaned back exasperatingly in his chair. “And next you’re gonna tell me ya saved the captain of the guard single handed, right?”

Rainbow took a moment to glance at him from her meticulous napkin drawing. “I was getting to that,” Then she noticed a form in her peripheral vision and looked out across the floor. “Hey, bartend! We need a refill!”

Dash slammed her hoof flat against the wooden table probably a little harder than she needed to but, it achieved the desired reaction when the waitress two tables down flinched and turned their way.

“We?” Dumbbell was keeping count. Six mugs total between him and he had only just finished his second.

“Shouldn’t ya, maybe, slow down?” he asked.

“Me? Slow down?” Rainbow Dash huffed. “Who do you think you’re talking to, lightweight.”

He grumbled at the insult. “Who’re ya callin a lightweight? No pony gets drunk off of cider unless they can’t handle anything else.”

“Exactly,” Rainbow Dash smiled. “Which is why I have graduated to mead.”

“You’re already drunk.” he said.

“I’m not drunk!” she stated, that time was loud enough for several other patrons to notice and look back at them in vexed curiosity. Rainbow saw their faces but didn’t appear phased, she smirked, knowing they wouldn’t be bold enough to complain. “Just because I’m loud doesn’t mean anything.” She lowered her voice enough and fiddled with the pen, staring down at the scribbled over sheets of napkin. “It’s only a couple of drinks.”

The waitress was there to replace their empty glasses with fresh frothy ones until Dumbbell put his hoof out to stop her.

“Eh, sorry, we’ll take sodas instead, and.” He paused for a moment to think. “Got any pretzels?”

“Peanuts.”

“That’ll work.”

“Who do you think you are? My dad?” Rainbow bristled and took her mug of cider off the tray.

“I’ll stop when I’m good and ready.” she looked at the waitress. “Go on and give this colt his soda if he wants it.”

Dumbbell exhaled slowly and lifted the second mug off of the tray. “Nevermind about the soda,” He watched Rainbow Dash start in on her mead and sighed. “But we’ll still take those peanuts.”
The waitress nodded and left.

“What is this, a contest?” Dumbbell turned to Rainbow and asked.

“Yes it is, like it was the last five times, and I’m not gonna let you beat me this time.”
The waitress was quick with the peanuts but Rainbow Dash’s mug was already half empty by the time she returned.

“I’ve already got a headstart so you’d better start playing catch up. And don’t think you can trip me up with soda, who do you think you’re kidding?” Dash cracked a peanut and popped one into her mouth, crunching slowly and loudly. “You must think I’m a filly.”

“Nah, I’ve known fillies who could hold liquor better than you.” Dumbbell laughed when Rainbow’s faultily misguided hoof missed his nose by a foot.
“See?”

“Maybe I wasn’t trying to actually hit you.” Dash stated, though Dumbbell noticed she was speaking her words carefully.
”Just trying to fake you out. To see if you’d flinch.” She smiled. “I remember when you used to do that. Throw fake punches at the other kids to see if they’d jump away, and then when they did you’d call em cowards.”

“Why would you remember that?” he asked.

“Why wouldn’t I? You did it all the time to Fluttershy and me. Buuut I was the one filly who hit back.”

Dumbbell rolled his eyes. ”Do I need to be reminded.”

Rainbow lowered her mug to a mere third before answering. “Yes. Just in case you start getting ideas.”

“Well, thanks for your vote of trust.” he answered glumly, staring into a mug he had hardly touched.

Rainbow Dash laughed lightly. “Kidding, kidding! You couldn’t tell that I was only joking?”

He shrugged and looked down at Rainbow Dash, annoyed. “Alcohol loves to get ponies saying what they really think.”

“Aw come on, we’re supposed to be having fun, but now you’re the quietest guy in the bar. When did you become my chaperone?”

His eyes flicked over her quickly, gauging her condition. “Because ya already look like ya can’t make it home under your own power.”

“My house isn’t that far away.” she complained.

“You’re Crash for a reason, add alcohol to the mix and I’m afraid of what I might see.”

Dumbbell revelled under Rainbow’s glower as he took a moment to drink. “Don’t want to give the construction ponies any more work to do, do you?”

Rainbow pushed her mug away and leaned back in her chair. To her credit, after five mugs her eyes weren’t too bleary. “Oh,I get what this is about.” she said.

“What is it about?” He eyed her cautiously.

“It’s about this morning! You still can’t get over the fact that I toootally kicked your flank in that boxing match.”

‘Is she serious?’ “That was just a practice match.” he said. “And I told you I let you win.”

Rainbow Dash eyed the bar and stage as she addressed him. “Yeah, I still don’t believe you.”

“Oh come on, I’m the one who taught you how to box in the first place!” By then their small bouts of shouting remained mostly ignored, as several instrument laden ponies were now standing on stage, accenting the atmosphere of the tavern with a slow yet voluminous tune.

“And the student surpassed her teacher,” Rainbow Dash shrugged and swished her mane in a victorious flourish, “It’s a common occurrence.”

Dumbbell finished his mead in a few aggressive gulps before slamming the wooden table top with his mug. “Then I demand a rematch!”

Rainbow Dash chuckled. “Why? You didn’t get enough the first time?”

Dumbbell felt his nostrils flare as a familiar vein in his head jolted. “So I can finally make you choke back that ridiculous ego!”

“Pfft, it’s been years and you’ve never been able to, ever since we were foals. Just admit that I’m the superior pony and you’ll start feeling a lot better about yourself.”

“You may think you’re the best pony in every sport possible, but trust me, you suck at boxing.” he grumbled.

“Yeah, yeah,” Dash nodded and popped a few more peanuts smartly into her mouth. “Give me the date for our rematch and I’ll gladly make my victory official.”

For what felt like forever, Dumbbell just sat their glowering at her, wanting to say something but the words seemed incapable of holding enough bite. He would just have to explain it to her through action.

“Fine. Next week, same time, same place, and this time don’t bring your ‘protege’.”

Dash grinned sardonically. “That’ll be fine. I’ll just colorfully explain to her how I knock you out harder than a buck to an apple tree. She’s already seen me do it once.”

“Psh, whatever, Crash.” He crossed his arms over his chest, feeling his mood go dark. “For her sake I might go easy on you.”

“Oh, like you did last time?”

“Shut up.”

She did, and for a moment an uncomfortably squirming silence built up between them like pressure on a dam. Dumbbell was feeling those old frustrations rise. Damn Crash, no matter how much he wanted to deny it, she had a point against him in practically everything, she won every race, past ,present, and most probably the future, she could only get better. But there was one thing, at least one thing Dumbbell knew he had in his favor, and he was more than willing to bet Rainbow Dash wouldn’t last a minute in a ring with him if he really wanted to make those blows count.

“Until then, just practice your hoofwork, it needs a lot of improvement.”

“Yes, coach.”

This caught his attention and he turned around. Rainbow Dash’s back was still turned to him but he had heard the undeniable humor in her voice.

‘Coach. Heh, I like the sound of that.’

“Yeah so...” his eyes drifted to her now empty mug. “Why aren’t you drinking cider anyway?” he asked. “I thought that was your favorite drink.”

Rainbow Dash turned back to him, then absently examined her mug. “The cider they serve here isn’t as good as the kind my friend makes.” she said. “She runs like the biggest apple farm in Equestria, and her cider is hooves down the best.”

“She doesn’t supply Dizzy’s?”

Rainbow Dash shook her head. “Nah, not all the time, just seasonal and that supply runs out really quick.” She reached for the bowl and rattled around the remaining peanuts, she seemed to be surprised that they were so few left crumbled at the bottom.

‘I should have gotten her more than a measly bowl of peanuts.’ Dumbbell thought.

“But anyway,” Rainbow Dash continued. “To fill the demand, Dizzy imports her cider from some place else, and well, I just don’t like it as much.”

Dumbbell nodded. “Makes sense.” Then he had a thought. “I bet the reason your friend can’t make enough cider to last is because she’s an earth pony.”

Rainbow Dash chuckled. “Just for the record, that’s what you said, not me. And for your own safety don’t ever let her hear you say that.”

“A little magic wouldn’t kill em.” Dumbbell commented with a grimace.

“Yeah that’s true. But Applejack is a stickler for doing everything the earth pony way. Between herself, her brother, and the farmhands, they actually do get a lot done.”

Dumbbell only knew of Applejack tangentially through Rainbow Dash and her descriptions from the many adventures they shared . He met the farm pony only once during his fledgling friendship with Rainbow Dash, and unfortunately, the first impression he had given happened on the before side of the friendship line. And he couldn’t even say that their second meeting was one of much substance, though she seemed honest, good natured, and open, the mare had been too busy to make the conversation last. Not that it mattered, it had been a brief fly by visit to the apple farm while on their way to catch a ski event in Vanhoover. Yet despite hardly knowing Applejack as anything other than an acquaintance, he knew well enough that she was the hardest working pony in all of Equestria, strong of mind and body, and just as furiously loyal to those she loved.

For a short while, he pondered the prospects of a second, Celestia help him, more positive second impression. He knew the brief farm visit wouldn’t have been enough to impress any of his better personality traits onto one of Rainbow’s best friends, and...

“Being an earth pony wouldn’t be so bad.” he quietly admitted.

“Wha?”

Dumbbell simply nodded. “Yep, if I lost my wings tomorrow, my biggest issue would be finding a new job and a place to sleep.”

Rainbow’s smile grew wide. “You’re full of it. You love flying!”

“My wings are great and all but they aren’t everything.”

“Then back at school, at flight camp. What was all that crap about the weak fliers not belonging?”

“Just some crap I picked up from some older kids after school.”

“Seriously?”

He shrugged. “Yeah, not that I’m making excuses or anything, I mean, I did believe them.”

“You’re so lying!” “In my whole life I’ve never met a single pegasus who would be okay with losing their wings. Not even Fluttershy!”

Dumbbell had to disagree. ‘If there was one pegasi who could wake up with no wings tomorrow and not even notice, it would most definitely be Fluttershy.’

“Speaking of Fluttershy,” said Rainbow Dash.

Dumbbell felt his stomach lurch.

‘Ah no, do we really need to talk about this?’

“Did you notice how weird she was acting earlier?” Rainbow Dash continued. “I really need to talk to her about that.”

Dumbbell already knew what she was referencing, but all the same...

“Talk to her about what?” he asked, feigning ignorance.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about. You!” She pointed at him accusingly. "She became as stiff as a board with you standing so close.”

Dumbbell couldn’t help but wonder. “Isn’t that just how she acts around everypony?”

“No it isn’t.” Rainbow’s words lowered to a dark simmer.

“Let’s just get one thing straight,” she said. “The last thing I ever want to hear from you are jokes about Fluttershy.”

Apparently it was still a raw issue. Dumbbell nodded solemnly as he looked down at the floor. “Right.”

“I-” Rainbow started to speak but her words seemed to hang. So instead she sighed and slumped back in her chair. “Sorry.”

Dumbbell looked up at her, his deep frown shifted only slightly with curiosity. “What are you sorry about?”

“I shouldn’t pick on you about something that happened such a long time ago.” Rainbow Dash responded. “I mean, I know you’re not like that anymore.”

Dumbbell shifted slightly in his chair and laid his chin against his hoof. His gaze rested on the small band on stage changing its song. “But it’s still a problem.”

“Yeah, it is,” Dash responded, one of her ears flicked irritably. “I'm gonna try and fix it.”

Dumbbell shook his head. “Don’t bother.”

“Huh? Why not?” She leered at him. “You know after everything, she deserves an apology at the least.”

“You think I haven’t tried already?” Dumbbell felt the corners of his mouth quirk upwards. “She didn’t wanna hear it.”

“Well you have been a complete jerk to her since the moment you’ve known her.” Rainbow Dash was quick to add. She locked eyes with him and her gaze pierced, but Dumbbell did a good enough job at hiding it.

He slumped back further in his chair, trying to appear low key and nonplussed by Rainbow Dash’s savagely on point accusations. But he couldn’t look her in the face, and that’s what gave it away.

“When did you go see her?” Rainbow Dash asked. Her voice held an air of mystification and even a bit of surprise.

“About two weeks ago,” Dumbbell scratched nervously at his foreleg again for a second time that evening. “Just a couple of days before your birthday. I thought it was time to bury the hatchet, but...it didn’t go well.” He trailed away with a listless shrug. In the dim lighting of the club he looked up at the ceiling, trying to find something to occupy his mind and keep it away from its trailing memories. “I don’t know what to do now.”

“I’ll talk to her.” Rainbow said, more resolutely this time. “I probably won’t be able to change her mind, but she listens to me.”

“If you talk to her then I have to be there with you.” Dumbbell frowned. “The last thing I want is other ponies trying to clean up my messes.”

“That would be an idea but just trust me, if I know anything, it’ll be best if I speak with her alone.”

All he could do look at her hopelessly, his mouth partly opened to protest but something heavy held him back.

“That isn’t right.” Under the sedate melody flowing across the floor of the dim tavern, Dumbbell looked bleakly down into his empty mug and wondered where all their cheer had went.

Author's Note

More like Alcohol Makes Everything Bleaker.
After breaching a sensitive subject for the two of them, the chapter ended on a bit of a downer but things will get better.

A picture of the Dizzy Weasel here: http://mysterymelt.deviantart.com/art/The-Dizzy-Weasel-Ponyville-Bar-347149950