The Misadventures of a Fox

Chapters

The Fight
Rebuilding Burned Bridges
What? Renamon is evolving!
The launching point of a thousand ships
Teaching Dogs New Tricks
How not to be caught
Dustin forgets to turn of his Swag
Enter stage right, persuing fox
Making time
Return of the Suri
The Morning after the Storm
Getting to know you
Field Research
Script, meet flip
Heavy rebuilding work
Clearing the vein
Like looking in a mirror
Twice the fox, Twice the trouble
A Dash of trouble
Running (to) the mine
A totally normal day. Yup.

The Fight

It started with a single question.

“Darling would you mind trying on this scarf for me?”

It did not go well from there.

Dustin inhaled sharply, closed the game system he was holding with a soft click, and exhaled slowly. “Rarity,” he said, “Did it ever occur to you that maybe, just maybe, I want nothing more to do with fashion after Suri’s complete abuse of my trust?”

“Darling.” Rarity sighed and slowly facehooved. “I’m not asking for you to model twenty-four seven. I’m simply asking for you to try on one scarf for me.”

“That’s how it started,” Dustin growled as he got up. “‘Oh, just try this on. Perfect! Let me get some pictures of it.’ Then it was two things. Then three. Then she simply used me as her...her toy, her modelling pet without any care for what I wanted!”

“I’m not this Suri, Dustin!” Rarity snapped back. “You are free to come and go as you please. Though I wish you would stop bringing those female dogs around. That’s setting a terrible example for Sweetie Belle.”

“What about me now?” Sweetie asked, drawn in by the yelling of the fox.

“Like I ask them to do this!” Dustin replied. “I try telling them to go back to the mine, but they just track me down again! I don’t want them to be so...obsessed with me any more than you do!”

“The Bitches just want to get pregnant so they can have puppies. They’re in Season.” Sweetie explained.

“Sweetie Belle! Language! Where did you hear such things?!” Rarity snapped at her younger sister.

“At the mine?” Sweetie raised a brow. “This isn’t a big deal. Female dogs are called Bitches. And their need to mate is simply Biology. I’m learning a lot there actually.”

“Clearly too much!” Rarity snapped. “S-Sweetie Belle! You- You are banned from going to that mine! You hear me?!”

Sweetie Belle blinked, then her face twisted into a frown. “Fuck you.”

“Sweetie!” Rarity’s cry reached a new pitch. “How- How dare you use such- such foul language! You learned that from Dustin and those dogs didn’t you?!”

“She already knew the words, Rarity,” Dustin cut in. “She merely didn’t have a chance to use them. And my stance on profanity is a bit more lax than yours. True, it’s verbal shorthand, and it invites you to be lazy with your words, but there are simply some situations that call for it.”

Sweetie looked over at Dustin. “Also, did you know shouting things like fuck, shit, balls, and other words like that actually draws on a different part of your brain than the normal language center? Twilight knows some pretty fascinating stuff.”

“Sweetie Belle! Will. You. Stop. Saying. Those. Words!?” Rarity all but screamed. “And- And you are banned from going to the Library if Twilight is so lenient with her wording!”

“Oh….. Yeah... Fuck that.” Sweetie snorted, shooting a glare at her sister. “What are you going to do, lock me in my room?”

“If I have to!” Rarity seethed.

“You know what, fuck all of this noise back to hell,” Dustin said, walking over to his bag and stuffing the 3DS inside of it. “If you are going to argue with and around me, I’m going to leave. I would rather deal with the bitches than your bitching.”

Sweetie shot a glance at Dustin. “Nice…” She nodded. Then she looked back to Rarity. “Ya know, I’m think I’m done here for the day too. See you at dinner.” Sweetie Belle stormed out of the boutique, almost tore the front door off its hinges, then slammed it behind her.

“Look what you did?!” Rarity thrust a hoof in Sweetie’s former direction.

“You actually think I’m responsible for your relationship with Sweetie deteriorating?” Dustin snorted as he put his bag on. “Let me give you a little advice. The only one you have to blame, you see in the mirror every day.”

And with that, he too left the boutique, the door slamming shut behind him as well.

Rarity breathed heavily, staring at the door long after Dustin left. The white mare’s legs begin to shake. Then with a whimper, Rarity collapsed to the floor of the boutique, sobbing into her forelegs.

Things had been going so well too.

"Come on Thweetie. You knew thith was coming.” Scootaloo patted the miserable filly’s shoulder as she refused to drink the vanilla milkshake she’d ordered at Sugarcube Corner. The small white filly refused to lift her head from the table.

“Ah’m just surprised it took so long… What a little over a week now?” Apple Bloom mused while taping her chin.

“Thanks for being so concerned over a bet.” Sweetie said flatly.

“Ah’m sorry Sweetie.” Apple Bloom winced and gave her friend a quick hug.

“Did I overhear something about a fight?” Sweetie blinked slowly and looking up at Pinkie Pie.

“Gah!” Scootaloo and Apple Bloom cried in unison. However Sweetie had ran out of fucks to give and she didn’t want to go home to get more.

“You did.” Sweetie nodded slowly. “Rarity wanted Dustin to try on a scarf and Dustin exploded. Then Rarity started blowing up at me when I started swearing.”

“Why’d you thtart thwearing?” Scootaloo asked, her brow furrowed in confusion.

“You try to remain calm, when the two people that are the closest things to active parents you have, start fighting.” Sweetie glanced over at her with a sniffle.

“But you have parents.” Apple Bloom pointed out.

“Ha!” Sweetie barked a mirthless laugh. “Sure I do. They’re more concerned with dumping me off on Rarity so they can go off on a trip somewhere. At this point I’d be less surprised if Rarity ended up being my mom from some kind of Teen Mom situation and she just had to give me to those two because she couldn’t raise me at the time.”

This was met by silence.

“Well shit.” Pinkie blinked. “Guilly! Alex!” She called out behind her. “We need a Double-Fudge Brownie Sundae! Stat!”

“On it!” Came the response from the kitchen.

“What should we do?!” Apple Bloom hissed at Scootaloo behind Sweetie’s back.

“The fuck if I know?!” Scootaloo hissed back, doing the same. “I don't know how to handle a situation like thith!”

The was a sound of wood on tile and the pair looked up to see that Pinkie had pulled up a chair. Pinkie lowered her head so her chin rested on the table. She looked at the filly across from her. “Hey.”

Sweetie looked at her. “Hey.”

“You’ve been having a shitty day.” Pinkie commented.

“Yep. Yep I have.” Sweetie sighed. “I just don’t know what to do.”

“Have you thought about it from their perspective?” Pinkie asked.

Sweetie finally raised her head from the table. “Huh?”

Pinkie gave her a small smile. “Well, why do you think that they’re fighting?”

“I don’t know.” Sweetie lowered her head back to the table with a dull thud.

“Hmmm.” Pinkie tapped her chin. She reached up a hoof into her mane, apparently searching for something. She smiled as she pulled her hoof out, coming with it was a chocolate bar. “Here, eat this. It should help.”

Sweetie blinked at the chocolate, then looked at Pinkie. “You want me to eat chocolate you pulled from your mane?”

“Eat the Mane Chocolate.” Pinkie nodded as she began breaking it into pieces.

Sweetie sighed and opened her mouth with a roll of her eyes, allowing Pinkie to feed her a piece of chocolate. Sweetie chewed slowly, then swallowed “Not bad for Mane Chocolate.”

“I knew that would help.” Pinkie smiled. “Okay, different strategy. Why do you think Rarity is so upset?”

“At me or Dustin?” Sweetie asked with a raised brow.

“I doubt Rarity’s actually upset at you directly. She may just be taking it out on you.” Pinkie said folding her forelegs and leaning back in the chair. “What’s been going on between Dustin and Rarity recently? Let’s see if we can get to the root of this problem.”

“Have you ever seen Pinkie this serious?” Apple Bloom whispered to Scootaloo.

“No. It’th weird!” Scootaloo whispered back. “But at leatht thhe’s not making dumb innuendo joketh.”

“Well, almost every time Rarity wants Dustin to do something, Dustin’s always on his 3DS trying to capture some pokeman.” Sweetie said.

“Pokemon.” Guilmon corrected as he walked up with a small plate containing a dark brownie covered in three scoops of vanilla ice cream and drizzled in chocolate syrup. The lizard was wearing a black apron as well, and as he set the confection down on the table and scooted over to the fillies, he pulled out four spoons and set them around the plate. “Enjoy ladies.”

“You’re getting better with your claws.” Apple Bloom commented as she picked up a spoon in a hoof.

“He’s…. had a lot of practice…” Pinkie giggled and gave an eyebrow waggle to her Guilfriend.

“There it ith.” Scootaloo rolled her eyes.

“Hon, contain yourself. There are fillies right there.” Guilmon rolled his eyes, then leaned in and kissed Pinkie on the forehead. “Hope this goes well, Alex and I have got baking to do.” He then gave a nod to the fillies and plodded off back to the kitchen.

“So…. back to Rarity and Dustin?” Pinkie asked after letting the fillies take a few bites of the desert.

“Right.” Sweetie nodded, sitting back up with a small groan. “So he’s on his Pokemon game all the time. So I think that’s one thing that’s annoying.” Tentatively, Sweetie tried a small bite of brownie and ice cream. She gave a quiet ‘mmmmm’ Then set her spoon down. “Also dogs will sometimes show up will small problems from the mine. Nothing too serious but I still think it gets on Rarity’s nerves. You know, having dogs track dirt into the boutique. Oh, and we can’t forget the bitches.”

“Actual bitches or stupid ponies?” Pinkie asked with a small smile.

Sweetie let out a small giggle. “The female dog kind.” She shook her head. “See since Dustin’s the boss the female dogs can only go to him. That is, unless he changes what the old boss put in place. That’d fix the problem of the bitches coming out every night to sing them the song of their people.”

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo gaped. “How do ya know all that?” Apple Bloom asked.

“I’ve been hanging out with Flint whenever I head into the mine with Dustin.” Sweetie shrugged. “Also, on the note of the mine, the mine does have a name but it isn’t pronounceable in Equish. I should have Flint translate it. That way we don’t just have to call it ‘the mine.’”

“Okay.” Pinkie nodded from her seat looking thoughtful. “So can you see why Rarity would be upset?”

Sweetie nodded. “Yeah.”

“Alright.” Pinkie smiled. “And what about Dustin? Why’d he be upset?”

Sweetie sighed again before replying. “Well, Dustin escaped a life that was basically slavery in all but name. I can see why he’d hate fashion now. To be reminded of that everyday would get on your nerves really fast.” Sweetie hummed in thought. “Then there’s the mine. That’s stressful enough what with the small issues he has to solve, the bitches coming and calling almost nightly, and the stress that being the boss of a mine would cause. Especially with no experience. I also think he feels bad that he has to rely on Flint so much.”

“So,” Pinkie rested her elbows on the table and placed her forehoovs in front of her muzzle. “This might not have actually been them actively mad at each other, but more the straw the broke the camel’s back as it were.”

“Yeah.” Sweetie nodded slowly. The she blinked. “Oh! We can’t forget that they both love doing things for each other and they don’t like receiving that help for free.”

“There’s the two generous personalities repelling each other.” Pinkie said with a small smirk.

“Yeah.” Sweetie blinked as if remembering something. “Oh yeah… Ivy won the bet.”

“I figured.” Pinkie nodded.

“What was the pot at?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Can’t remember it off hoof.” Pinkie shrugged.

“Eight hundred bits.” Came Guilmon’s call from the kitchen.

“Thanks hon.” Pinkie called back then returned her gaze to the fillies. “Eight hundred bits apparently.”

“That’th one rich plant.” Scootaloo giggled.

“That’s funny coming from you.” Apple Bloom poked her with a hoof. Scootaloo simply shrugged.

“So, back to the matter at hoof.” Pinkie got the filly’s attention once again. “Sweetie, how are you feeling?”

“Actually…. Better.” Sweetie said with a smile.

“So what’s the plan?” Pinkie asked, preemptively pulling a pair of headphones out of her mane and slipping them over her ears.

There was some kind of silent consensus made. Then.

“CUTIE MARK CRUSADER RELATIONSHIP FIXERS! YAY!”

Author's Note

So it begins. The Life and Times of a Digi-Fox. Come to think of it, that'd make for another good name for it.

These chapters will come out whenever Thadius0 and I feel like knocking one out.

The Mine should be in the works soon. So this'll have a nice follow up. I can't say how often this'll be updated, but with how much we've been enjoying working together it may be pretty often.

Anyway, I hope you all enjoy.

Rebuilding Burned Bridges

Rarity couldn’t concentrate. Her mind was elsewhere, making her stitchings uneven. With a grumble she magically undid the past few minutes of stitching. “Rarity, you’re getting nowhere.” She muttered to herself. With a sigh, she sat on her haunches, levitated her glasses of her muzzle, set them on her desk and rubbed a temple with a hoof.

“It was just a silly argument.” She muttered to herself. “You weren’t in the wrong Rarity.” She pushed herself away from her desk and got off her stool. She trotted over to a few of the dresses she’d managed to finish. They were gorgeous, sweeping dresses of blues and greens, with sea green gems sewn into the hems. Something felt off however. She shook herself and took a breath.

“Some tea would do wonders!” The mare announced to the air with a smile that wouldn’t convince anypony. She trotted out of her studio, down the stairs and into the kitchen. Trotting over to the stove she removed the kettle, levitated it over to the sink, poured out the old water, and set it in the sink with the faucet on to let it refill. “This is fine. Everything is fine.”

‘But you yelled at your sister.’ Came the thoughts unbidden.

Rarity shook her head. “She used that… foul language.”

‘But you weren’t even mad at her. She wasn’t even using it as an insult.’

“That shouldn’t matter.”

‘Oh please, you just took out your frustrations at Dustin on your sister.’

“I…. I did, didn’t I?”

‘Come to think of it, it’s a wonder that Dustin puts up with you at all. What with you reminding him of his life of slavery to that Suri mare.’

Rarity’s chin wobbled. “S-stop it.”

‘He also gets along with your sister, better than you do on a good day.’

“Now that’s not true! ” Rarity snapped, turning on the spot and noticing the kettle overflowing. “That’s not true.” She repeated as she shut off the water, poured out a bit so the kettle wouldn’t be too full, wiped off some drops off the sides with a towel, and set the kettle on the burner.

‘You really have been a bitch lately. Pestering the poor fox. Asking him to try on something almost daily.’

“Well he’s always on that game system thing.” Rarity snorted as she turned on the burner. “I don’t know what a Shiny Thundurus even is!”

‘Have you tried asking? Maybe you’d both get along better if you actually took the time to understand each other. You know, instead of all but ignoring each other and really only talking if Sweetie Belle’s in the room.’

“But, I’ve got so much work…. And he’s got that mine to run…” Rarity chewed on her lip.

‘And? You can always hire help. You can’t do everything yourself. You’ve also heard about that Flint fellow from Dustin. From what you gather, Flint’s the one who runs the day-to-day operations, right?’

“Right…. Ugh but those….” Rarity’s face screwed up in disgust.

‘Bitches. It’s just a word. It can’t hurt you. It’s also the technical definition.’

“You sound like Twilight.” Rarity sighed with a roll of her eyes.

‘Technically you sound like Twilight. I am just the voice in your head.’

“Out of all my friends, I never expected to be the one who carries on full conversations with herself.” Rarity frowned, wilting a little. An ear twitched as she heard the water boiling. Turning, the mare took the kettle off the burner, levitated a cup and hummed as she looked at her collection of teas. “What tea….”

‘Griffish Breakfast.’

“Oh, thank you me.” Rarity grinned as she levitated out a teabag and dropped it into the cup.

‘You’re welcome.’

As Rarity filled the cup to let the tea steep, she set the kettle on an unused burner. “Now, where were we?” She asked, walking over the the small kitchen table, setting the cup on it, and sitting at one of the chairs.

‘You were contemplating the fact that you regularly talk with the voice in your head, technically yourself, whenever nopony’s looking.’

“Oh…. right…” Rarity wilted. “Am I crazy?”

‘You’re asking yourself that?’

“Yes.” Rarity nodded.

‘Well all geniuses have some kind of mental disorder, or so we’ve read.’

“That’s not helping me feel better.” Rarity sighed and looked down at her steeping tea.

‘I’m not supposed to help you feel better, I’m you. I’m just voicing what you don’t want to admit.’

“We are so far off track from what we was originally bothering me.” Rarity frowned. “You’re doing this on purpose.”

‘I am quite literally your train of thought given voice, so to speak.’

“Can we get back to my issues with Dustin?” Rarity asked.

‘I don’t know, can we?’

“Ugh!” Rarity groaned and dropped her head onto the table with a thunk. “Why must life be so… so complicated?!”

‘I’m as confused by it as you are.’

“Feeling any better Rarity?”

“No.” Rarity moaned from the table.

‘Wait. That wasn’t me… You… Us….’

Rarity slowly lifted her head to see Sweetie Belle calmly sitting in the seat across from her. “Oh…. Hello Sweetie… You’re back.”

“Yep.” Sweetie nodded, she leaned in a bit and took a look at Rarity’s tea. “I think it’s steeped enough.”

“Yes… Thank you.” Rarity levitated the tea bag out and set it on a the plate sitting on the table.

“Having another existential conversation with yourself?” Sweetie asked, leaning back into her seat.

Rarity paled. “Ummm… How…”

“You talk to yourself a lot when you think nopony’s listening.” Sweetie shrugged.

“Oh..” Rarity said, letting out a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding. With a breath, she levitated the cup to her lips and daintily took a sip.

“So….” Sweetie began. “I went to the mine.”

Sweetie found herself covered in tea as Rarity choked across from her. The cup was dangerously close to spilling, so Sweetie reached over, tugged it from Rarity’s magic, and set it on the tea covered table.

“Y-you did what?!” Rarity managed to choke out.

“I didn’t go alone. I had Scootaloo and Apple Bloom with me. It’s not like the mine’s that dangerous now.” Sweetie rolled her eyes.

“B-but.. But!” Rarity stammered as her brain tried to recover from this revelation.

“We wanted to help fix Dustin and your relationship.” Sweetie explained calmly.

“What relationship?!” Rarity snapped with a blush.

“Your entirely platonic, yet sexual tension filled relationship that’s constantly balanced on the knife that is both your tempers.” Sweetie explained with a shrug. “I’m honestly surprised you haven’t hate-fucked each other yet.”

Rarity blinked.

‘Oh dear Faust…’

“WHAT?!” Rarity shrieked. “Why would you say that?! Why would you even think that?! Where did you even learn a phrase like that?!”

Sweetie gave a rather half-hearted blink as she stared at Rarity with half-lidded eyes. “Rarity, I ran out of fucks to give like two hours ago when I had my own meltdown. Good thing we know how to turn on the cute or else Dustin wouldn’t be waiting outside right now.”

“That’s not answering any of my questions!” Rarity yelled through heaving breaths.

“You two are so similar you’ll either end up hate-fucking at one point, or killing each other, it’s just a matter of time. To answer your third question. You from when you think I’m asleep and you read you’re weird Fifty Shades-style novels late at night. You need to learn to shut your door at night.” Sweetie blinked blandly, reached over, stole Rarity’s tea and took a sip. “Mmmm, Griffish Breakfast, nice choice. You let it steep too long though.”

“Dustin and I aren’t that-” Rarity tried to respond.

“You both are generous to a fault, you don’t like saying no to ponies unless it’s about something you despise, you both get so caught up in what you’re doing you ignore those around you, and lastly you both are ludicrously stubborn and don’t give an inch. That last one was the result of your fight this morning.” Sweetie Belle listed off as she drank more of Rarity’s tea. “You two just need to sit down and talk out your problems like adults.”

Rarity blinked at her little sister. “How’d… Where’d….. Where did you learn to be so… manipulative?”

Sweetie looked up at her sister and put on the fakest happy smile. She innocently responded in a too chipper tone. “I learned it from you Rarity! You know, like what you do to Spike on a regular basis.” Then her face dropped back down to that blank stare. “You both need to learn that your actions don’t just affect each other. I’m caught in the middle of this and I know for a fact this may lead to trips to a therapist later in life. That is, unless you start working out your differences now. But if you two are okay with emotionally scarring a filly, then that’s fine”

Rarity’s jaw hung open. “Sweetie… I…”

“I’m going to go get Dustin.” Sweetie said while finishing off Rarity’s tea. “You better think about how you’re going to word things.” She hopped off the chair and began heading towards the door. She stopped and turned to look at Rarity. “Oh, and by the way, I’ve been in the kitchen from the moment you came in talking to yourself. You were just too focused on your own problems to notice me.” With the Sweetie walked out of the kitchen.

Rarity stared at where Sweetie had been standing. She felt a single tear roll down her cheek. She heard the door open. “Rarity’s ready for you.” Came the far too happy tone of her sister. “I’m going to head to Sugarcube Corner with the girls. Have fun.” With that Rarity heard the sound of hooves leaving the boutique.

“Try not to ruin your dinner!” she heard Dustin call after Sweetie, before the fox slowly entered the boutique. He crept through the house until he saw Rarity sitting at the table, at which point he stiffened a little bit, before sighing and relaxing, forcing himself to walk over and sit in front of Rarity. “So…” he opened with.

Rarity blinked, sniffed, and rubbed her eyes with a hoof. She looked over at Dustin. “Oh… hello Dustin…” She took a breath. “Listen… I’m terribly sorry for how I acted earlier, towards both you and Sweetie. I… I have no excuse for my behavior.”

“No, I shoulda,” Dustin started to say, before sighing. “Look...I have a minor form of a mental disorder. I used to have a medication to help me keep it in check before I wound up here. Basically, I do better with things than people. Give me a list of things to do? I’ll knock them out in an hour. Give me a disorganized work room? I’ll have it organized. Put me in a party? Good fuckin’ luck. It’s not that I can’t be sociable...it’s that when I’m faced with a choice, I choose not to be unless there’s someone I know there.”

“I can’t say I understand…” Rarity nodded with a small frown. “Although, not to push any buttons, but perhaps you could find that same medication if you went to see a doctor at Ponyville Hospital?”

“Yeah, that might help,” Dustin admitted. “I mean, I’ll still not actively seek out a crowd to be the center of attention, but what the medication did was...help me not be so, confrontational when something rubbed me the wrong way. Instead of screaming at people, it helped me calm down and realize ‘Hey. There’s no reason to get upset. Calm yourself, be reasonable.’”

Rarity blinked and her eyes widened. “No wonder you hated all those fashion shows!” She gasped. “You were forced into the very thing you actively avoid! Darling, I’m so sorry! If I’d known that it went that far, I would’ve stopped asking you to try on thing after thing immediately!”

“Actually, Sweetie, sort of, kind of, made a good point,” Dustin said, scratching the back of his head. “There might be things I want from you, so perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad to try on a few things. But there would be some conditions.”

“Oh, of course!” Rarity nodded rapidly. “Sweetie… gave me quite a talking to…”

“First,” Dustin held up a finger, “We limit how many things I try on in a week. It’s going to start pretty low, but maybe as I get used to the idea, we can see about raising it. Second, every time I try something on, I get something in exchange. For example, I wouldn’t say no to a good pair of pants.”

“I can agree to those terms.” Rarity nodded with a small smile. “I do want you to note that I’m not asking you to walk in front of a crowd, I’d just like to see certain articles on you to see how they look, and perhaps find some inspiration if the look strikes me enough.”

“So basically, you’re hoping for me to be your live-in muse?” Dustin asked.

“In a sense?” Rarity said with a wince.

“Well, as long as we limit it, that’s fine,” Dustin sighed. “Just...don’t expect me to be ecstatic about the idea to start with. And I have a mine to run, though I might as well avoid it for a few days right now.”

“Oh, did something happen?” Rarity asked with a hint of worry in her voice.

“...Let’s just say that the previous bosses were greedy with the females, and I basically reversed their order while they were all in season,” Dustin replied after thinking about how to word it. “Things are going to be...messy. For a few days.”

“Oh… Oh my.” Rarity blushed a little. “I see.” Her brow furrowed. “Those poor bitches. They must’ve been so… pent up.”

“Half a dozen of them were waiting in my bedroom for me,” Dustin deadpanned. “At least until I reversed the order.”

Rarity giggled. “That must’ve been a shock.”

“Yes, well, hopefully with things sorted out properly now, there’ll be less of that,” Dustin sighed. “I’m trying to make sure none of them do anything incredibly stupid again. I’d rather the mine prosper. The last boss smashed all their crossbows and ordered fast, cheap things made of iron. Steel’s better, and I like the idea of the dogs being able to deal with things from range. It’ll take a few weeks for that to be fixed, I think. And hopefully the females won’t come calling for me again. I think. Who knows?”

“Well that just sounds awful. Their previous boss just sounds like a bully. Hmmmm.” Rarity tapped her chin. “Though they were a shock to see. Some of the bitches struck rather imposing figures. Do you think some of them would mind modeling for me? I could pay them in gems. Not that they exactly need them…”

“I could order them to, but I wouldn’t feel comfortable doing that,” Dustin mused. “I could ask who wants to, but they might all volunteer their services, to try and get in my good books. Which again, I wouldn’t want to pull them away from anything that the mine needs doing right now. I can try, but don’t be surprised if you have a small troop of dogs show up one day.” Dustin thought about it and amended his statement. “A small troop of pregnant dogs.”

“Oh my... “ Rarity blinked. “Well, if that does end up happening the only one I can blame is myself. I just hope that they all know how to be patient and know not to touch things while I’m working.”

“They seem to have a good sense of what not to do,” Dustin commented as he thought back to what they’d uncovered and how nobody had mined it. “I’m sure if you explain it to them, they’ll understand.”

“I am sure they do. Those three that took me…. Didn’t seem to be the smartest….” Rarity said with a wince.

“They were young,” Dustin pointed out. “They hadn’t learned patience. There are plenty of...well, not educated, but smart enough dogs down there. And with me leading them, they’ll only get smarter. I plan to make sure they all know how to write and read at the very least.”

“Well how noble of you.” Rarity smiled. “Making sure your people are all properly educated.”

“Plus the minerals down there are only going to help, when they start trading,” Dustin continued. “I remembered what you said about some things being rare. They’re sitting on an aluminum ore vein.”

“Oh really?!” Rarity’s eyes widened. “Do you have any idea how big it is and would they be willing to trade for some aluminum?

“No, but I did mention that aluminum was valuable to ponies, so they’ll start excavating it and smelting it for trade,” Dustin commented. “Probably for things they can’t easily get down there. Like exotic foods and spices and the like.”

“Ooooooo! I’ll have to take a look at what they have once they have something set up.” Rarity grinned and clapped her hooves. “They are setting up some sort of trading post, yes?”

“They’ll need to close off all the tunnels dogs have dug up in the quarry and construct a proper entrance, but I did suggest a nice trading post to them, yes,” Dustin agreed. “Complete with a few stands where the talented stone carvers and gem cutters can sell things directly to the ponies, as well as a main depot where the mine itself will do trade with whoever comes by.”

“Oh that just sounds marvelous!” Rarity nodded happily. “ I do hope that it gets set up soon.”

“Mhm,” the fox hummed as he sighed and looked away. “I’m...sorry for shouting at you,” he said, not able to look her in the eyes. “I just...didn’t like being reminded of what Suri did.”

Rarity’s smile softened. “And I’m sorry for pushing so much. I didn’t think of how you felt about the whole try on clothes thing. It was very selfish of me. I know I can get caught up in my work, but that’s no excuse to virtually shove the thing you hate in your face on a daily basis.”

“I kinda just wanted the chance to relax and calm down after that, yeah,” Dustin admitted as he rubbed the back of his head. “Which I’m going to get precious few chances to do now that the whole ‘you’re the boss of the mine’ thing has happened. Honestly, I was just hoping for a place I could play my game in peace.”

“Well, I for one will give you more than a few days of peace. Just make sure you keep getting along with Sweetie Belle and things will be fine. No need to try things on. Though I will have to get your measurements and your thoughts on the pants you want. I’ll even make them for free.” Rarity’s full smile returned.

“No no, it wouldn’t be fair to ask you to make things for me and not occasionally try things on,” Dustin shook his head. “Just...don’t expect me to wear them for long. I’m still not a fan of being dressed up like a doll. As long as you give me a choice...I think I’ll manage.”

“Oh darling, I never intended for you to dress you up completely. Why would you hide any of that marvelous coat?” Rarity giggled “I’ve been thinking more accessories. Scarves, shawls, perhaps an open shirt or vest. Though, on the previous note. I’ll make you some pants or other articles and we’ll trade for something from the mine. I know at least one tiny portion of that must be yours, yes? As the leader you must get some benefits.”

“Well I think I might’ve just undone what previous bosses considered to be the biggest benefit this afternoon,” Dustin joked with Rarity.

“The bitches?” Rarity raised an amused brow. “Honestly, even the largest of dogs would be worn out by all of those bitches. Unless it was more a symbolic, greed thing.”

“You know, I didn’t have time to ask the previous boss what he was thinking,” Dustin mused. “I was more busy making sure the dogs wouldn’t have to cower in their own mine anymore. Tell you what, next Warchief that shows up, I’ll engage in polite conversation to figure out if they think they can actually run a mine with all their greedy policies.”

“I have the strangest feeling that that would lead to a momentarily confused warchief, followed by you getting hit in the face.” Rarity blinked.

“Pfft, Geralt’s been training me in how to be as fast as an actual Renamon,” Dustin waved it off. “Apparently they’re the ninjas of the show they show up in.”

“I wouldn’t know.” Rarity shrugged. “But please, if you learn how to disappear and reappear at will, don’t use it in the boutique. I’d rather not damage anything by you suddenly showing up.”

“Noted,” Dustin said before groaning. “Gah. Now I just feel bad about having yelled at you in the first place. Darn mood swings.”

“Oh darling, it’s fine.” Rarity reached out and patted his paw with a hoof. “I wasn’t any better. Worse actually, since I took out my frustration out on Sweetie instead of you.” Rarity frowned. “And she let me have it back in spades.”

“Let’s just admit we were both wrong, it’ll save us a lot of time,” Dustin suggested. “And maybe Sweetie made some valid points.”

“I can agree to both points.” Rarity nodded. “Perhaps we should simply, start over?”

“Sure thing,” Dustin said, extending a paw. “Hi, I’m Dustin, a Pokemon fan in a Digimon body.”

“And I am Rarity, fashionista. A pleasure.” She reached out and shook his paw with a hoof. “There now, fresh start.” She smiled. “We should just sit down and talk more, perhaps then we could avoid any confrontations.”

“What is that phrase,” Dustin muttered, before he smiled and put a paw to his chest. “‘Life is a play, and the world is it’s stage. The actors have their entrances, and their exits, and one man in his life may play many parts,’” he quoted. “From someone who believed the world was based around drama,” he explained. “The best we can do is mitigate it.”

Rarity looked at him for a moment, the smallest of blushes on her cheeks. “Dustin that was beautiful…” She shook herself lightly then smiled. “Have you ever considered going into theater?”

“Eh, I tried once when I was younger,” the fox replied, shrugging. “My school was doing some plays from the works of William Shakespeare. I tried to be one of the actors, but I got relegated to the role of making the pamphlets for the audience. Though that did give me an option at the end of the school year.” At her befuddled expression, he explained. “To test how well we’d memorized the works, the teachers let us use any line our characters had used in the play to see how well we could hold a conversation from many parts. Since I’d technically worked for all three plays, I could use any line. Higher degree of flexibility. Though I didn’t mind when I got to pull out the line a character used before they killed themselves...mainly because I also pulled out a prop sword and ‘stabbed’ myself. Their reactions were priceless to hear, all of them scrambling to deal with it and carry on the conversation.”

Rarity burst into a fit of giggles. “Well they had no idea what they were missing.”

“Mostly I have a talent for making funny voices and acting with big, sweeping motions,” Dustin said. “I have a tic where if I’m explaining things to someone, I’ll use my hands to sketch out how it looks to me, because I’m picturing it in my imagination. Highly useful in acting, because I can do big, sweeping moments more naturally. Also…”

Here his voice changed. Rarity didn’t want to say it sounded like a stereotypical Thestral’s voice, she knew better, but...he clearly had read too many vampony novels. “I also have a good Count Dracula voice on demand, for some reason,” he said. “For some reason my body refuses to forget how to make it.”

“Hmmmmph!” Rarity grunted as her face scrunched up. She tried with all her might but- “BWA HA HA HA HA HA!” The laughter exploded out of her in a very unladylike manner.

Then his voice changed again...it sounded like he’d been sucking helium. “I also have a good little Drifloon voice,” he chirped. “Fear me! I am a spooooky ghost!”

“D-darling! Darling p-please! I-I can’t breathe!” She managed to get out through laughter.

“So, I dunno,” Dustin said in his normal tone of voice. “Maybe that could be used in drama. But frankly I got enough drama already in my life.”

“Well, if there’s ever a talent show, or a theater audition for something, make sure to try out. It might turn out to be fun.” Rarity said, taking slow and steady breaths to try and calm down.

“I’ll consider it,” the fox agreed. “So...think I should go get Sweetie Belle and tell her everything’s calmed down?”

“Why don’t we both do it?” Rarity asked, getting up from her chair. “It’ll be easier on both of us and I think it’ll be better for Sweetie.”

“A fair idea,” Dustin agreed, getting up and pushing his chair in. “Fortunately, I know where the Corner is.”

Once again Sweetie found herself at Sugarcube Corner with her head on the table.

“Think they’ll actually make up?” Apple Bloom asked from Sweetie’s left.

“Don’know.” Sweetie said flatly, her voice muffled by table.

“Well, oddth are about fifty-fifty.” Scootaloo said from her right.

“Fifty-fifty what?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Fifty that they’ll make up and fifty that they’ll fight again.” Scootaloo shrugged.

“Not helping.” Sweetie groaned. “I somehow managed to dredge up a few more fucks and that’s the only reason I’m feeling shitty right now.”

The door to Sugarcube Corner jingled.

“Hey…” Apple Bloom began, the barest hint of a giggle in her voice. “Scoots, what were those odds again?”

“Huh? I jutht thaid fifty….. Fifty….” Scootaloo’s voice died.

A silence descended on Sugarcube Corner.

“Girls? What’s going on? Everything went quiet? Are you fucking pranking me?” Sweetie grumbled.

“Now darling, what kind of language is that?”

Sweetie Belle slowly looked up to see Dustin and Rarity standing next to each other. “So….. You made up? Or are you here to tell me that Dustin’s moving out?”

“Golly, she looks glum,” Dustin mused, before smirking evilly.

The next thing that came out of his mouth was a high-pitched voice that only sounded a little like him. “I wonder what will happen if I talk like this?”

Sweetie snapped back into a sitting position, forcing herself back into the booth with her hooves. Her eyes were wide as she stared at the fox. “What- What the fuck was that?!”

“Just a little voice I learned how to make,” Dustin said, talking normally...before switching back. “I am the mighty Renamon! Fear me!”

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom were having a hard time containing their giggles. Sweetie blinked. “No! Don’ wanna! Do not want!” A small smile cracked at the edges of her lips however.

“Give in to my awesome power! It is inevitable!” Dustin teased her. “All will know me and despair!” Okay, that did not sound right with that voice.

The girls were done. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom lost it, doubling over the table in laughter. A giggle squeaked out and Sweetie leapt off the table. She raced towards the fox and hugged his leg. “This doesn’t mean you win! Take this hug and choke on it… you… You….” She couldn’t get the words out as she broke down into sniffles and buried her face in his fur.

Dustin reached down, picked Sweetie Belle up, and hugged her to his chest. “I’m sorry we made you worry,” he said in his normal tone of voice. “I’m sorry we fought. We sat down and talked it out. Turns out that maybe I can get the pills I used to have to take to get my temper under control if I see the hospital. Then this won’t happen again. I just forgot to do it because...well, Suri,” he finished. “Do you forgive us?”

“Yes.” Came Sweetie’s muffled voice from Dustin’s chest floof. “Yes I forgive you.”

Dustin pulled her back and smiled down at her, before kissing her forehead, just under her horn. “I’m glad,” he said. “Thank you. Now, I believe you have a sister to talk to?”

Sweetie sniffed and nodded, rubbing her eyes with a hoof. She gestured to be set down and Dustin did just that. She turned towards Rarity. “I’m sorry for being so harsh earlier…” She said slowly refusing to meet Rarity’s eyes. “I didn’t mean it.”

Rarity smiled and gently lifted Sweetie’s chin with a hoof until their eyes met. “No, I’m sure you did. While the words hurt, they weren’t any less true. I’m sorry for not listening to you, and I’m sorry for not treating you better like an older sister should. Can you ever forgive me?”

Sweetie rushed forward and through her forelegs around Rarity’s neck. “Of course I forgive you!” Sweetie cried. “You're the only sister I have.”

“Aww, it’s a kodak moment,” Dustin cooed. “Wish I had a camera.”

“Awww shut up!” Sweetie snapped, as she let Rarity go and took a couple steps back. She shot a glare at the fox. “You’re ruining it!”

“Sweetie, be nice to Dustin.” Rarity giggled softly.

“Sure, I’ll be nicer to dad, mom.” She said with the faintest hint of a smirk.

Both Rarity and Dustin froze.

Sweetie’s smirk fully formed. “Truth hurts, doesn't it?”

Dustin seemed to have locked up. He wasn’t even blinking, and they couldn’t tell if he was breathing.

Then a stray breeze came in and knocked him on his side.

Apple Bloom spoke up from the table. “I think ya broke him.”

What? Renamon is evolving!

Dustin hummed a little tune to himself as he walked through town. Rarity and him still had their rough patches, things that they clashed over, but things were going much better. As evidenced by his pair of nice, comfortable pants. Today was a school day, and the fashionista was working on an order when she asked him to go pick up Sweetie. The fox had closed his game and was off to pick up the little filly within minutes.

It had taken him asking for directions as to where the school was, but he was now standing outside the building, waiting for the bell to ring.

The bell’s ring was drowned out by the door bursting open and the happy shrieks of foals free from the shackles of the school day. Dustin noted three familiar fillies swiftly trotting towards him.

“Hi Dustin!” They cried upon reaching him.

“Hey squirt,” Dustin said, playing with Sweetie’s mane. “Your sister sent me to pick you up since she was busy with a dress or some such. I dunno, I don’t pay attention to fashion.”

“Of course you don’t.” Sweetie rolled her eyes. “You wouldn’t pick up on anything. Anyway, we were planning on heading to the clubhouse, wanna come with us?”

“Well, I was told to make sure you got home safe,” the fox mused, before shrugging. “Guess I can follow along. I’ve got my stuff with me, and they’re all charged. I can hang out.”

“Yay!” Came the chorusing cry. The fillies then trotted past Dustin and began trotting down the road. The fox turned to follow them, making sure not to take his eyes off of them for a second. He knew how devious young kids could be. He could only imagine how devious young ponies could be.

Astonishingly the fillies simply quietly chatted to themselves about ways the could get their Cutie Marks while they trotted down the road towards Sweet Apple Acres. Nothing sounded too concerning, as from what Dustin had heard most of their dangerous Cutie Mark attempts had happened before he’d gotten here.

“No, that’th a thtupid idea.” Scootaloo shot down yet another option.

“Wait a sec. Sweetie do you still have Dustin’s Digi-thingy?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Yeah. Why- Ooooohhhhh….” Sweetie’s eyes grew wide as a grin grew on her face.

Dustin hadn’t heard them, though. He’d turned on his iPod and was listening to some tunes with one ear. He was still getting used to fox hearing and didn’t want to destroy it.

“We’ve seen Pinkie make Guilmon Digivolve.” Sweetie grinned. “Think we can do it?”

“Well…. I know it’th not thomething thimple as making it happen.” Scootaloo mused.

“We can just try out different things until it happens.” Sweetie nodded happily.

“And if’n it doesn’t?” Apple Bloom asked with a raised brow.

“Then it doesn’t, but it’s worth a try.” Sweetie shrugged. “We’ll need to make a list of different ideas when we get to the clubhouse.”

“Tho, are we going to do our warcry now? Cauthe we may thpook the very one were trying to Digivolve.” Scootaloo glanced at Dustin.

“For once, we don’t have to.” Sweetie looked back at the distracted fox. “That’d be counter productive.”

Dustin was now actively humming along with the music, his head swaying to a beat the others couldn’t hear.

“Think he’s just off in his own little world?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Probably.” Scootaloo shrugged.

“At least Rarity caved and game him pants.” Sweetie shrugged.

The group hopped the fence into Sweet Apple Acres, after taking a few steps beyond Sweetie stopped and turned around. “Hold up I wanna see what happens.” She grinned as Dustin mindlessly walked down the path.

The fox had closed his eyes for a moment while following the filly...and walked right into the fence. He ended up falling over it with a shout of surprise, before he got his feet under him again and looked up. “Who put that fence there?” he asked as he checked to make sure nothing was damaged.

“Woot!” Sweetie cheered with her hooves in the air. “Ten points!” Apple Bloom and Scootaloo giggled.

“...Sorry, I tend to get distracted when I’m listening to music,” the fox admitted. “So...where are we?”

“Sweet Apple Acres!” Apple Bloom crowed, gesturing at all of the apple trees. “Want an apple?”

“Maybe later,” the fox replied. “I’m supposed to be watching you girls after all.” He picked up his iPod, turned it off, and stuck it back in his bag. “Probably would be easier if I was paying attention,” he admitted.

“Oh, no no. You’re fine.” Sweetie waved away his concerns. “Just follow us and you can hang out outside while we do our planning, it is a nice day after all.”

“Fair enough,” Dustin replied. “So, where are you all going?”

“Clubhouthe, come on.” Scootaloo said, waving him onward with a tendril that briefly popped out of her mouth. She turned and headed off into the trees, swiftly followed by Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. The fox shrugged before following the three fillies, wondering where their clubhouse was in all these trees. He followed them through the rows of trees until he saw a rather large treehouse built around a tree with a ramp leading up to it. A picnic table sat nearby under the shade of the large tree.

“Here it is, inherited it from Applejack.” Apple Bloom grinned.

“Pretty nice,” Dustin admitted. “I’ll just be here at the table until you need me.”

“Sounds good!” Sweetie grinned as the other two raced up the ramp and into the clubhouse. With a wave she quickly trotted up and shut the door behind her. “Okay,” She said as she undid her saddle bags and let them drop to the floor. “Scootaloo, what can you tell us about Digivolution?”

“Honethtly, not much.” Scootaloo winced as she sat down by the small table they used for planning devious Cutie Mark achieving plans that were always doomed to failure. “Here’th what I know. There hath to be a bond with thomepony.”

“Ya’ve got that.” Apple Bloom nodded as she pulled a piece of paper and a pencil out of her saddlebags and started jotting down notes.

“True.” Sweetie nodded. “What else?”

“Well, I know that he hath to be well fed firtht.” Scootaloo furrowed her brow in thought.

“Well. Fed. Got it.” Apple Bloom nodded.

“There altho hath to be sthome kind of combat thituation.” Scootaloo tapped a hoof on the table as she thought.

“Well that’s not something we can force. Unless Deus Ex Timberwolves.” Sweetie shrugged.

“On a friday?” Scootaloo asked with a raised brow.

“Sweet Apple Acres though.” Apple Bloom pointed a hoof at her.

“Anything else?” Sweetie asked.

“Well, I think there wath thomething about training making it eathier.” Scootaloo mused.

“So. Plan.” Sweetie placed her forehooves together and rested her chin on her hooves. “We trick Dustin into carrying us to Sugarcube Corner, wouldn’t hurt to have him strength train a little bit. Once there we have him buy us, and himself, something for a snack. We try to make him eat all of them, whether we act like we can’t finish it or what is up to either of you. I know I’m eating half of whatever it is. Next, we have him carry us back here. After that…. No idea. I find the idea of pointing the Digivice at him and yelling ‘Digivolve!’ to be incredibly stupid.” She hummed in thought and shook her head. “We’ll figure something out from there. If anything it’ll be a fun hour-ish.”

“Sounds good ta me.” Apple Bloom shrugged as she slipped the paper into her saddle bags.

“I’m eathy.” Scootaloo nodded.

“Good.” Sweetie nodded at her friends. “Let’s go pester a fox.”

Dustin was just sitting at the table, looking out at the farm and humming to himself as he waited. Upon hearing their hooves on the wood approaching, he turned to look at them. “Done already?” he asked.

“Yep!” Sweetie Belle chirped. “Hey Dustin? Question. How strong are you?”

“Haven’t tested it thoroughly yet,” the fox replied. “Geralt is still getting stuff for the dojo. He’s looking into dumbells and training weights, which’ll help with my usual exercise routine. But I don’t know how strong I am now.”

“Do you think you could say…. Lift one of us?” Sweetie asked. “I know that’s rather obvious, but it wouldn’t hurt to test right?”

“I can carry a filly easily,” Dustin said, smirking at her.

“Well,” Sweetie reared up on her haunches and outstretched her forelegs. “Get to it.”

Dustin chuckled and picked Sweetie Belle up, cradling her close to his chest with one arm. “See?” he said. “Easy.”

“Ahem.” A voice cleared her throat. Dustin looked down to see Apple Bloom doing the same thing. “Care ta try for two?”

Dustin quirked a brow, but used his other hand to pick Apple Bloom up and carry her with his other arm, cradling her close as well. “Two isn’t bad either,” he replied. “I used to carry more than this during my weekly grocery trip.”

“Oi.” Scootaloo said, trotting up. “One more?”

“Kinda outta hands here,” the fox pointed out.

“On your kneeth, fox.” Scootaloo pointed at the grass. Confused, Dustin knelt down, wondering what she was up to. Scootaloo trotted around him and climbed up onto his back holding onto his shoulders with her forehooves. “Up you go.”

Dustin carefully stood up, holding onto two fillies and feeling the third on his back. “Okay, was there some point to this?” he asked the fillies. “Because all we’ve proven is it’ll take more than fillies to get over my weight limit.”

“How about a little endurance training?” Apple Bloom asked with a raised brow.

“Oh?” Dustin asked, looking at the fillies in his arms. “What did you have in mind?”

“How about a jog to Sugarcube Corner? If you make it there with us in tow then you’ll get to buy yourself a snack.” Sweetie said, looking thoughtful.

“Good thing the mine’s started to get some work done, I might be able to afford it,” the fox joked as he started carrying the fillies. “Oi, captain Scootaloo! Mind leading me to the corner when we get back in town? I don’t quite have the layout memorized yet.”

“About face!” Scootaloo snapped. Dustin turned around. “March!” With a chuckle, Dustin walked forward through the trees until he saw the fence and the path beyond.

“Pick up the pace, jump that fence!” Apple Bloom cheered.

Dustin in turn, made a short dash and kicked of the ground, clearing the fence. He felt Scootaloo bounce against his back. “You good?”

“I’ve been hit by Timberwolves, this is nothing.” Scootaloo snorted. “Take a left.”

He turned and started down the road.

“You call that jogging?” Sweetie narrowed her eyes at him.

“No ma’am!” Dustin stated. “This is jogging.”

He dashed forward, causing the fillies to yelp. It wasn’t as fast as he could go, thanks to the training he’d been getting from Geralt, but as fast as he felt he could go without having Scoots fall off his back.

Hmm. This was actually pretty enjoyable. Maybe he’d see about getting training weights and doing a morning run around the town.

As they left the orchards and the path opened up into the blue sky, barely hinting at evening, Ponyville came in to view. The Town Hall could be clearly seen, and beyond that, hidden behind the massive building, his destination.

“Pick up the pace a little.” Scootaloo called from his back.

“Maybe we should time you on the way back.” Sweetie giggled.

Rolling his eyes, a smile crossed his face as he leaning in a little and lengthened his strides. As they entered Ponyville, the odd sight drew the attention of most of the town. Smiles and waves followed the four as Dustin now had to actively avoid the ponies that were in the streets. A feat that was almost fun in a way.

The road then widened as they reached the wide open space next to the Town Hall. Sugarcube Corner was in sight.

“There’s our destination!” Sweetie pointed. “One final push!”

The wind rumbled in his ears as he picked up his pace, almost to a sprint. In what felt like moments, he was in front of the bakery.

“Aaaaand made it,” Dustin crowed as he knelt down to let Scootaloo down, while also turning the fillies loose from his grasp. “That was actually fun,” he complimented the girls. “We should do that more often.”

All the fillies shook themselves and Sweetie turned towards the fox. “We are most definitely doing that again. Now, to snacks!”

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle all raced into the bakery. As Dustin entered, he laid eyes on someone that he didn’t expect to see. A blue and white dog with a pair of boxing gloves for hands stood behind the counter.

“Hi girls!” The dog said happily.

“Hi Alex!” The girls cried in unison.

“Filling in for Pinkie and Guilmon?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Yep, I’m on loan again. They’re out on a date.... somewhere.” Alex shrugged. "Cakes are taking care of the kids, thought they could use the relief. And Saffron and Coriander seemed to be doing fine without me. Thus, I'm here. What are you four doing here?"

“Well these girls,” Dustin bent down to ruffle their manes, “Got me to carry them here for some exercise on my part, and said I could have a snack if I managed it.”

“Oh, hey Dustin.” Alex waved. “They did, did they? Well what can I get you? Also, are you going to feed the girls too?”

“Eh, I’ve got some bits,” the fox shrugged. “Let’s see if I can do that without ruining their appetites for dinner.”

“Cherry cream filled donut!” Scootaloo called out.

“Apple Fritter.” Apple Bloom was not far behind.

“Blueberry muffin.” Sweetie said after a moment of thinking.

“Okay…” Alex wrote down the order, then looked up at Dustin. “And for the fine furred gentleman?”

“Hmmm….got any chocolate doughnuts lying around?” he asked. “I’ll take one of those.”

“Ohhhhh…..” Alex looked over at the rack of chocolate donuts. “I’m not sure….”

“Y’know, I think the sarcasm is infectious,” the fox deadpanned.

“Maybe a bit.” Alex smiled as she bagged up their orders. “Okay that’ll be…. Six bits. You get a discount for bringing in cute fillies.”

“I should do that more often,” the fox teased the fillies as he rummaged in his bag for the bits. Finding enough coins, he passed them to Alex, with a few extra. “A tip for the prompt service,” he told her. “And for having to put up with the shop on your lonesome.”

Alex shrugged. “Thanks, it’s not too bad.” She handed the bags to the fillies and they rushed off to find a table. “And thanks for the tip.”

“Anytime,” Dustin said, following the fillies. Well, a doughnut wouldn’t ruin his dinner appetite, right? And it had been a while since he’d been able to indulge. Suri was all for letting him eat...just, not a lot, to ‘preserve his figure’. So with ravenous abandon, the fox chowed down on his doughnut.

The fillies blinked in surprise at the fox as they took bites of their own snacks.

“You look a little hungry there.” Apple Bloom stated.

Dustin put what was left of the doughnut down, swallowed, and then answered. “Well, I wasn’t really allowed to have ‘fattening’ food in Manehatten,” he pointed out, not giving Suri the benefit of using her name. “And it’s been a while since I’ve been able to visit my favorite doughnut shop. So I’ll take anything that reminds me of it.” He sighed. “Oh, you shoulda seen it. Doughnuts as big as a plate. Fritters that could feed a family of four. A Death by Chocolate doughnut that you actually felt afraid of eating.”

The fillies chewed slowly. “Ya know if you’re thtill hungry,” Scootaloo spoke up, her face smattered with red filling. “You can have some of mine.”

“Oh, I couldn’t do that to you,” Dustin replied, even as he tossed what was left of his doughnut in his mouth and finished it off quickly. Once his mouth was clear he continued, “I’m pretty sure I bought that for you.”

“You sure? If you not eating enough because if some Suri enforced thing….” Sweetie let thought hand in the air.

“It’s not that, goodness no,” Dustin replied, waving his paw. “I’ve always had an appetite for sweet things. And I was getting overweight before this whole...thing happened. So I cut back and exercised. It’s just...these days I seem to be able to eat a lot more. I’m just a little concerned I might fall back into bad habits if I just cut loose and spent all the money I’m getting from the mine on food.”

“Well, you can splurge every so often. So long as you don’t go overboard.” Sweetie nodded, taking a bite out of her muffin. “Balance is key. Also, you can easily work it off. You are training and you’re going to start jogging. Hint, you’re going to start jogging.” The filly glared at him.

“Someone seems to think highly of my physical prowess,” the fox joked. “Fine, fine. I’ll get some more.” He looked over to Alex. “Yo Alex, what do you got a lot of that’s good for a Digimon about to go into a workout?”

“You’re in a shop full of carbs and your asking about what's good for a workout?” Alex called from the counter.

“Well I don’t have all that many bits to spend, so whatever you’ve got a lot of, I’ll take,” Dustin said, getting up and walking over to the counter.

“Okay… let’s see what’ll be fun to work off…..” Alex hummed as she looked over the display cases contents while chewing in her lower lip. “Fuck it, name something, I’m pretty sure we have it.”

“Well bread on it’s own isn’t very exciting,” Dustin mused. “Got any flavored or spiced bread? I personally love cheese bread, my mom had a recipe for it that just made you want to eat all of it.”

“Well let’s see.” Alex furrowed her brow at the display case. “Were out of Spice Bread and Peanut Butter Bread Buns here…” She glanced up at Dustin. “Want me to check in the back, we probably have more.”

“As long as you’re sure Guilmon didn’t eat them all before he left,” Dustin countered. “Plus, remind me to share the recipe for my mom’s bread with you.”

“I’ll get it from you later.” Alex smiled as she stood up, She turned to head into the kitchen. “I’ll be right back.”

“Kay,” Dustin replied, leaning against the counter and watching the fillies.

“Ship Dustin with all the females!” Sweetie cried with a laugh.

“Ya know that’s takin’ it a bit too far.” Apple Bloom commented. “That was just polite conversation. Yer actin’ like Lyra, or Floor Bored.”

...Suddenly, Dustin did not want to know. And yet, he couldn’t turn away. It was like watching a train derailment. There was something so beautifully awful about it.

“Dustin! I found something!” Alex’s cry from the back grabbed the fox’s attention. The Akita came back to the front carrying a box. She was grinning. “I found a box full of Spice bread. By the note, it was made this morning just in case the display ran out. How much do you want?”

“Sooooooonnnn….” Sweetie cooed.

There was the sound of something hitting flesh and Sweetie yelped.

“Scoots, what was that for?!” Sweetie whined.

“Thomebody’th gotta defend the poor guy from thith madneth.” Scootaloo said, her speech slurred a tiny bit.

“Well, how much can I get for…” Dustin did some mental math. “Twenty-five bits?”

Alex blinked, her jaw hanging open a bit. She shook her head briefly as if to clear it. “Goddamn!” She said. “Don’t let Pinkie hear or see you eat any of this, she may try and pull you into her relationship….” Her brow furrowed in thought. “And I have no idea how Guilmon would react to that....” She shrugged and walked over to the counter. She set the box on the counter then narrowed her eyes at the display case. “Okaaaay….. That’d be twenty-four bits…. Yeah.” She turned to look back at Dustin. “Okay, you can get twelve for twenty-four bits.”

“Take the lot,” Dustin said, pulling out his bit-bag and giving her the twenty-five. “Something tells me I’ll need the energy.”

Alex binked then took the bag of bits, hitting a few buttons on the register, the bit container popped open and Alex dropped the bit into it. “Lemme just get a thing here.” She bent over and pulled out a box normally reserved for donuts. She stood back up and began folding up the box. Once completed she began, shifting the spice bread into the donut box. Once completed she closed the lid and held it out to Dustin. “Here you are, your carbs sir.”

“Thank you,” Dustin replied, taking the box and bowing a little at the waist. “I will endeavor to savor these as they are devoured.”

“Please do.” Alex nodded with a smile as she took her box and moved behind the display case. She kneeled and began refilling the case with more bread. Dustin nodded and went back over to the fillies, sitting down and opening the box.

Goodness, the bread smelled...heavenly. He couldn’t resist. He had to have one. Just one.

The problem with that idea was, in his past life, he was a starchaholic.

“Uhhhhh Dustin? Do we need to give you two space? Wanna find a room somewhere?” Sweetie asked glancing between him and the box.

“It’s...fine,” the Renamon said, taking a breath. “I can do this. I won’t give in to temptation. I’m strong...I’m stronger than my cravings…”

That mantra didn’t last long either. He picked the first loaf out of the box, smelled it, and began eating it slowly.

“Okay… This isn’t as bad as I was expecting.” Apple Bloom mused. “This is going well actually.”

“I wath expecting thomething like me when I eat a cockatrice.” Scootaloo commented.

The first loaf lasted a few minutes.

Then Dustin found himself reaching back in for another one...and devouring it in seconds.

“Okay, that’th clother to what I wath ecthpecting.” Scootaloo nodded.

“Is anybody timing him? I wanna see how fast he’s going to go through that box.” Apple Bloom asked looking around.

“I got you bro.” Alex called, holding up a stopwatch in a glove. “I like to time Pinkie and Guilmon on how fast they get through their food. Sometimes I’m not sure if they actually taste anything. More, inhale the food.”

That seemed to be Dustin’s mode of the hour, as loaf after loaf of bread disappeared from the box into his mouth, never to be seen again. He just couldn’t help himself, it tasted so good!

“Girls… what happens when he reaches the end of the box?” Sweetie asked with a little concern in her voice.

Alex glanced between the display case and Dustin, her brow furrowing as a frown creased her lips.

That moment was fast approaching, and once the last loaf vanished beyond his lips…

The Renamon sighed and sat back, blinking a few times. “Um...what just happened?” he asked. “I remember tasting the bread and now it’s all gone…”

Alex let out a sigh of relief.

“Well, in short, you ate them all.” Apple Bloom commented. “Alex what was the time?”

Alex looked at the stop watch. “Forty-five seconds. Slow compared to Pinkie and Guilmon, but still up there in regards to everyone else.”

“Oh great,” Dustin moaned, his head in his paws. “Now I’m going to get fat again…”

“Not if we have anything to say about it!” Sweetie announced as she stood on her chair. “You, Dustin are going to jog us back to the clubhouse!”

“I just ate a dozen loaves of bread,” Dustin pointed out, lifting his head up a bit. “I think I’ll need to do more than a jog to work them off.”

“Wait…… Wait a thec…” Scootaloo held up a hoof. “Don’t Digimon digest food a little differently?” She mused aloud. “I thought I heard something like that from Pinkie. Also, I think feeding may have something to do with Digivolution too.”

“...You expect me to know this stuff?” the Renamon asked. “I barely know what I can do, much less how my body works.”

“I don’t ethpect you to.” Scootaloo furrowed her brow. “Though you could talk to Guilmon if you want to know anything, barring him Thalamon in Canterlot could tell you more if you’re curiouth.”

“However.” Sweetie spoke up. “You’re taking away from our point. You have another jog to run.” She pointed a hoof at Dustn. “Strength and Endurance training is good for you.”

“You’re a regular taskmistress, aren’t you?” Dustin chuckled. “Well, whenever you feel like going back.”

“I’m good.” Apple Bloom nodded, gathering the trash and placing it all in the empty box, before trotting over the the trash with the box and stuffing it in.

“Thankth A.B.” Scootaloo nodded at her. “I’m thet.”

“We good?” Sweetie asked to a set of nods. “Good.”

“Whelp, Filly Express,” Dustin said, getting up from the booth and crouching down so Scoots could climb on. “All aboard.”

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle piled into his arms as Scootaloo climbed onto his back.

“D’aaawww…” Alex cooed from the counter.

“Yeah, they’re cute,” Dustin agreed as he began to walk to the door.

“To the clubhouse!” Sweetie cried, pointing a hoof as they came out into the evening light.

More ponies were out and about, most quickly noticed the fox and his companions. Dustin began at something closer to a power walk. He couldn’t go too fast, due to the milling groups of ponies heading to wherever they were heading. Still, once he reached the outskirts of town, he should be able to go a little faster.

On reaching the bridge out of town, he broke into a jog, much to the cheers of the fillies.

“There you go!” Scootaloo cried.

“Work off that bread!” Sweetie yelled.

The fox smiled as he kept up his fast pace, making sure to not ease up at all. It helped that he felt like he needed this. Their surroundings practically blurred by as he ran. Minutes passed, and he didn’t even feel close to worn out. As he passed the schoolhouse, a thought came to mind. “Girls, where am I turning off for the clubhouse?”

“Ah’ll let ya know.” Apple Bloom announced from the comfort of his furry arm.

“Alright…” He said, as the trees of the Apple’s apple orchard came into view. “This is actually really pretty.”

“See what you miss with when your face is buried in Pokemon?” Sweetie snarked.

“...I’ll explain it later,” Dustin promised. “Okay, so we have to be coming up on the clubhouse soon, right?”

“Yep…. Riiiight. Here.” Apple Bloom announced. “Take a right.”

Dustin nodded and briefly skidded to a halt, turned, and darted forward, over the fence, and into the trees. As if the trees were enemies themselves, he dodged each tree with short leaps from foot to foot. The clubhouse came into view, and with one final burst Dustin took a leap and landed right at the base of the ramp.

“And made it,” he said, crouching down to let the fillies free. “Not a bad way to run,” the fox admitted. “Certainly gets me more exercise.”

“Thanks Dustin.” Apple Bloom grinned as she trotted up the ramp and into the clubhouse.

“Should we make a schedule of having you jog every morning?” Sweetie asked as she shook herself, making her coat all fluffy.

“I wouldn’t say no to having more exercise like that,” Dustin replied, standing back up and stretching. “It’s certainly more entertaining than my idea of just strapping on training weights. The weights wouldn’t be able to give directions.”

“Maybe training weights plus fillies?” Sweetie asked with a smug grin as Apple Bloom came back out carrying the three filly’s saddle bags.

“Thanks.” Scootaloo nodded, using her tendrils to strap her bags onto her sides behind her wings.

“Ah think the family’s expecting me.” Apple Bloom spoke up. “Ah’ll see ya girls tomorrow.” She began to trot away towards the farm proper. “See ya Dustin.”

“Later A.B.” Scootaloo waved.

“See ya.” Sweetie nodded at her as she started putting on her own bags. As she did however a small device fell out of the bag. “Shoot, get back in there.”

Thankfully, Dustin hadn’t noticed, still watching the filly walk off. A good thing, too, he’d said he never wanted to see it again.

“Tho I should probably be heading home mythelf.” Scootaloo spoke up. Turning to head back towards the trees. “I can go into the woodth, thkirt the Everfree, and be home before dark.”

“If you think that’s safe,” Dustin replied as he turned to look at the filly.

“I’ll be fine. Predator Thpecieth.” Scootaloo replied then split her mandible and flailed her tendrils at Dustin, then retracted her tendrils and reset her mandible with a pop. “Thee? I’ll be fine.”

“Sorry, I see something cute like you and want to protect it,” Dustin chuckled. “I also don’t want Guilmon to be on my ass if something happened to you.”

Scootaloo leaned back with a blush. “I’m not cute!”

“Ponies as a whole are cute,” Dustin replied. “Fillies moreso. Just give in.”

Scootaloo sighed. “I can’t fault you there.” She shrugged. “Meh, I’ll thee ya tomorrow Thweetie.” With that the filly turned and trotted off back the way Dustin had just came.

“Whelp, time to get you back to your sister,” Dustin said, ruffling Sweetie’s mane.

“Planning on carrying me again?” Sweetie asked.

“Only if you plan on making me,” the fox teased.

She reared up and held out her forelegs. “Challenge Accepted.”

“You’re lucky the cute works on me so well,” Dustin replied, picking the filly up and cradling her to his chest.

“Someday I want to get chest floof.” Sweetie mentioned as she buried her face into Dustin’s large tuft of chest floof. “Go on then, off you go.”

The fox smiled down at her as he began a nice, leisurely walk back to the boutique. The evening was turning dark. The sky was a uniform orange color, with a deeper red on the horizon. A light breeze blew in from the Everfree bringing with it a faint scent that made Dustin’s nose crinkle. It was an earthy smell, like dead leaves, yet there was a hint of rot mixed in. Suddenly, from nearby, came a howl. This was echoed by a second howl, then a third.

“That doesn’t sound good,” the fox observed.

“Maybe we should pick up the-” Sweetie’s response was cut off as a high-pitched noise, somewhere between a hiss and a shriek, split the air.

“Scootaloo!” Sweetie snapped, her head whipping towards the noise. Unsurprisingly it came from the same direction as the howls.

“Time to put my speed training to the test,” Dustin muttered, turning and heading towards where the noises had come from. He crouched low, before he began putting on as much speed as he could in running towards the howling and screaming. Guilmon would kill him if something had happened to Scoots.

He swiftly came to a break in the trees, little more than a small clearing. Within was a Timberwolf roughly double the height of a pony. It bore the usual sickly green light within its eyes and chest, yet it was small compared to most Timberwolves Dustin had seen. Not a few feet from it was Scootaloo. Dustin expected the filly to be terrified. Yet the tatzlsus was growling and hissing angrily. She crouched low to the ground, with her hind end in the air. Her small wings were stuck straight out. Her mandible was split open and her tendrils were flailing wildly. She pawed at the ground with a hoove, digging furrows into the grass and dirt.

The Timberwolf howled once again, and as it did Scootaloo appeared to pounce. She leapt forward, yet not far enough to reach the wooden wolf. Instead she hit the ground between them and seemed to disappear. Dustin could see clods of dirt briefly burst from the hole she’d made. A tiny ridge of displaced dirt and grass sped towards the wolf. When the wolf looked back down from its howl, the tatzlsus was nowhere to be found. The look on its face was almost comical. With a shrieking hiss, Scootaloo erupted from the ground beneath the wolf and slammed into its chest. The wooden beast yelped in surprise. The yelp morphed into a pained cry as Scootaloo dug her hooves into its sides so she could cling the to wolf’s undercarriage. Scootaloo’s mandible unhinged and her tendrils shot out, They whipped around and twisted into one thick tendril and shot forward, slamming into the wolf’s chest. The wolf froze as the light in its chest flicked. There was a noise, a crunching of dried wood followed by a sound similar to the popping of a water balloon.

The light in the Timberwolf’s chest winked out, as did the light in its eyes. The Timberwolf shuddered then crumbled into wooden detritus. The pile of rotten timbers and fungi shifted and Scootaloo popped out, now entirely covered in sap. “Mother fucker!” She cried to the sky. “Tree sap?! Again?!”

“...Maybe we didn’t need to worry,” the Renamon noted aloud. “She seems to have this well handled.”

A howl echoed through the air. After no response, it came again, closer this time and followed by a second howl. Scootaloo seemed to smell the air and whipped her head towards the Everfree. A pair of Timberwolves burst into the clearing. Scootaloo crouched low to the ground, backing away as she growled deep in her throat. Suddenly a brownish blur streaked out of the trees to her right, a third, much smaller Timberwolf shoulder-checked her and sent her hurtling into a tree. There was a loud thud as the filly slammed into the tree hard enough to crack the wood behind her. Scootaloo’s face twisted into a silent scream as she hit. Her body locked up as she fell to the ground at the base of the tree. Her wings and hooves twitched spastically as she lay there.

Dustin let out a growl as he felt his temper get the better of him. “So, you think you can hurt fillies on my watch?” he snarled. “I’m not going to let you do this. No more. You’re not hurting any of these fillies anymore! I’ll give you a reason to fear us!”

“Go get ‘em Dustin!” Sweetie cried as she pushed herself out of his grip and leapt to the ground.

Dustin leapt forward, crossing the distance faster than he thought possible. One moment he was holding Sweetie, the next he was lashing a kicking into the small Timberwolf’s head. It shattered in a spray of woodin chips, causing the entire thing to crumble.

Before the others could react, he moved again. He felt the wind of his movement after he skidded to a halt in front of the wolf of the left. A fist lashed out at the wolf, uppercutting its jaw and sending its head snapping back. Mid-reel the wolf broke apart in a spray of wood and fungi bits. He whipped his head towards the last wolf and simply pointed. Blue-white energy wreathed the still falling pieces of the timberwolf, which proceeded to freeze mid-air. Like some unholy spectral shotgun, the energy wrapped shards shot around Dustin and quite literally tore the remaining Timberwolf in half. The Timberwolf disintegrated into little more than splinters as the energy around his weaponised shards faded away.

Dustin blinked. That’d barely took anything out of him. Apparently this body came with more instincts than he thought, awakened thanks to all that training. Maybe he should have read up on what a Renamon could do before he became one.

“Holy Shit!” Came Sweetie’s somewhat stunned blurt. Turning, Dustin saw the filly was helping a shaky Scootaloo to her hooves. Dustin wasn’t noticing the greenish haze wrapping around the wooden shards littering the area.

“No…” Scootaloo tried to wheeze out through half paralyzed lungs. “Not done…”

The fox blinked a few times, wondering what she could mean, before he saw a splinter of wood wrapped in green shoot past him. He turned to see… “Oh give me a fuckin’ break already!”

A Timberwolf easily double his size towered over him. The reeking scent of rot left its jaws. At his exclamation a paw only a little smaller than a pony smashed into the unfortunate fox, sending him sailing into a tree with a resounding thud and a shower of leaves.

Dustin got up, shaking his head to clear the ringing out of it. Okay, that had hurt. But he wasn’t going to be idle while this thing was here. If he could solo a warchief, he could take this giant Timberwolf down. Because if he didn’t, Rarity and Guilmon would kill him.

“I’m not...done yet,” the fox said, getting between the wolf and the fillies, striking a battle pose. “I’m not that easily beaten. And I’m not going to let you hurt them! I don’t care what it takes to beat you, I’m going to make sure you never hurt them again!”

A brief flash of light from within Sweetie Belle’s saddlebags caught his eye. Only for his whole vision to be consumed by the very same light.

Dustin blinked. Something was off here. Both the Timberwolf and the fillies looked stunned.

...Why was he on all fours? Had something happened?

“D-Dustin?!” Sweetie shrieked with an audible voice crack. “You- You Digivolved!”

The fox looked himself over. “When the fuck did I become a Ninetales?” he asked incredulously. “I mean seriously, that amount of tail is excessive.”

The Timberwolf appeared to shake away its shock. With a low growl the wolf looked ready to pounce. Taking the hint, Dustin yelped and leapt of of the way. Thanks to a new set of instincts (or the Magic of Digimon Bullshit) he managed to keep on all fours with little difficulty. His timing appeared to be perfect as the Timberwolf slammed into the tree he’d slammed into moments ago. Shaking itself the wolf turned back towards the fox and let loose another deep growl.

Something twinged in the back of Dustin’s mind. His eyes narrowed and he felt his tails fan out behind him. The sense grew stronger as he widened his stance. Lowering his front end closer to the ground, he tried to make himself a bigger target for the wolf, as well as a shield for the fillies. A phrase popped into his head as a warmth grew on the tip of each tail.

“I don’t want to set the world on fiiiire~” he sang in a melodic voice as the fires on his tails grew. “I just want to set a fire in your heart.” A wicked grin split his face. “Fox Tail Inferno!”

Dozens of bright blue baseball-sized fireballs bearing creepy grinning faces, shot across the clearing. As if the flames themselves had heard his song, every single one impacted the Timberwolf’s chest. The Timberwolf lit up like a kerosene drenched bonfire, and exploded with much the same effect. The shockwave alone made the nine-tailed fox skid back a foot or two.

Dustin blinked as bits of charred wood rained down into the smoky clearing.

“I…. Honestly didn’t expect that….” Sweetie spoke up sounding more than a little stunned.

“To be fair, neither did I,” Dustin replied, shaking his head a bit. “I’m just lucky each body comes with a new set of instructions, so I don’t have to think about it.”

“Lucky you.” Groaned Scootaloo. Dustin heard a few audible pops and a sigh of relief. “That’th better.” Scootaloo said after a slow breath out. “I don’t think I’m up for a cut through the woodth now, could I trouble you for a ride?”

“Sure thing,” Dustin said, crouching so they could get on board. “I’m eager to see what the new body can do anyways.”

“I don’t know how long it’s supposed to last.” Sweetie commented, trotting around the fox with a discerning eye. “I don’t think you used up all your Digivolution energy in the slightest, so you may stay quadrupedal for awhile.”

“As long as I don’t think about it, I should be fine,” Dustin commented as he felt Scootaloo climb on board. “Come on, let’s get the both of you home safely.”

“Hey, Thweetie,” he heard Scootaloo speak up as he made his way back towards the road, “I’d thay that wath mithon accomplithed, you got him to Digivolve.”

“Shhhhhhhttt!” Sweetie hissed.

Dustin’s brow furrowed. “What was that?” he asked. “I could have sworn you said something about a mission and me digivolving.”

“Nope!” Sweetie yelped defensively. “No, we’re fine! You didn’t hear anything!”

Author's Note

Alternative titles to this chapter by Thadius0:
Friendship is Digivolution
Dustin finds his inner Digimon

The launching point of a thousand ships

“Nope,” Dustin said, pushing the buttons again. “C’mon, it’s not that hard,” he muttered. “Just...show up already.”

He was on that game system of his again, once more hunting that shiny thing that Rarity could never remember the name of. But it was apparently important to him, so he kept doing it day after day.

“Dustin!” Came Sweetie’s cry from somewhere within the boutique. “Where’d ya go?”

“Just here,” the fox called back, watching the game go through the motions again. He moved his character up to the spot and—

His breath caught. Was that?

The star flashed on screen.

“Oh fucking finally!” he cried out. “Where’s my charm? I need my charm, I need all the luck I can get!”

Sweetie came trotting into Dustin’s room. “Hey Dustin, Whatcha doin?”

“One moment,” he said, digging in his pack. His paw emerged with a curious little charm. It looked to be a teal, four-pointed star with green beads and a blue tassel. “There we go,” he sighed. “Okay. Good luck charm, check. Let’s catch the last shiny I need.”

“Oooooooooo! Shiny!” Sweetie squeaked as she jumped up on to his bed to try and get a good look at what Dustin was fighting. The game panned around to show the two ‘mon in a fight, and Dustin was taking deep breaths as he stared down the last ‘mon he wanted for his collection.

Shiny Thundurus. This would be a lot easier if he hadn’t brought a water-type to try and put it to sleep. “Okay,” he muttered, opening up the menu. “Turn one, quick ball. 10% chance, but it’ll only work on the first turn, and it might actually catch him, who knows?” With a tap of the stylus, the blue and yellow ball flew to the opposing ‘mon.

One shake...and then he was out.

“Oooo!” Sweetie winced. “Always kinda wish that you could catch it with one ball and no fight.”

“Well I could, but the Master Ball feels cheap,” the fox replied as he watched the fight progress. “Charge...not good. Okay,” he tapped a few buttons. “Yawn to put him to sleep and...Nasty Plot. Also not good. Now we boost my catch rate and...Crunch. Okay, super effective, but it’s not using his boosted Special Attack, so I’ll tank the hit. And boom, now he’s asleep. Time to throw balls at him.”

Sweetie blinked. A smirk creased the filly’s lips. “Don’t let Rarity hear that you like to hit things with your balls.”

“Oh har har,” Dustin said dryly. “Okay, two to five turns of him being asleep, let’s throw all the Ultra balls. And one...nope. Two...nope. Three...and he wakes up afterwards, of course. Charge, eessh. Not happy about that. Put him back to sleep, heal up after those Crunches, and rinse and repeat.”

“That’s aaaaaaa….” Sweetie’s brow furrowed. “What’s that one again?”

“Shiny Thundurus, the last one I needed,” Dustin explained. “Flying/Electric, which is why I’m so concerned about him raising his special attack. He probably has an electric move based on it, and I’m using a water type to put him to sleep. Nope, he woke up again. Time to do it all over again, but now...if I’m not mistaken, we’re past turn ten. Timer balls, the ones that get more potent the longer the battle goes on. Time to use them now.”

“The last Pokemon you need or the last Shiny you need?” Sweetie asked tilting her head to the side curiously.

“I’ve already got all the Pokemon I need,” Dustin expanded. “I’m just trying to get a collection of Shiny, Legendary pokemon. Because I messed up the first time and just caught them all. I didn’t know the ones beyond the postgame could show up Shiny. I just thought it was a chance to catch Legendaries from previous-”

Wiggle

Ka-chink.

“Woo!” Sweetie cried throwing her hooves in the air.

“I...I did it,” Dustin breathed. “I caught the last shiny legendary I needed! Yes!” He breathed deeply a few times. “Okay...send to a box, I’ll check it’s stats later. But first!” He pushed a few buttons. “Save. Save right now. Save right fucking now!” Once that was done, he sighed and smiled. “It’s done, the hunt is over!”

“Once the hunt is over… what’s next?” Sweetie asked.

“Well, typically I take them to the photo club and take a picture with them,” the fox explained. “It’s a nice way to show off your shiny team. But I think…” He looked at the charm dangling from his left paw. “I think I know what to do with my good luck charm.”

“What are you going to do with it?” Sweetie asked. “Present?”

“Yup, give it to someone that’ll appreciate it,” Dustin agreed as he closed the game with that soft clicking noise. “I don’t need it anymore, after all.”

That was how Dustin found himself outside of Vinyl and Octavia’s home, knocking on the door.

“I got it!” Came a familiar gruff voice. There was a thud on the other side of the door. “Mother- nnnngggghhhhh…..” Came the grumble. The door opened, revealing a hunched over Geralt rubbing his head. “Fuckin’ low ceilings hiding in the fucking entryway…” He looked up at Dustin. “Oh, hey buddy. ‘Sup?”

“Not much, though you’re not who I was hoping to see,” the fox quipped. “Is Ivy around? I have a present for her.”

Geralt blinked. A look of understanding briefly crossed his face. Then his eyes widened and he grinned. “Ivy!” He called behind him.

“Yeah,” came a quiet call from within the house.

“Your furry boyfriend’s here and he has a present for you.” Geralt shot Dustin a knowing grin, then winked and stepped back and out a side door.

“Geeeraallt! He’s not my…. Boy….. friend…..” The complaint died as Ivy got to the door and saw Dustin. “Ummm… Hi.”

“Hey, so, I finished my shiny hunt today,” Dustin opened with. “And I figured you’d appreciate my ‘good luck charm,’ now that I don’t need it anymore.” He crouched down and opened up his paw, revealing the real-life Shiny Charm for her to take.

Ivy looked at the charm and gasped. Her face went bright red.

“Is she blushing?” Came a gruff hushed whisper from within the house.

“Yes.” Came another more short clipped one. “Now shhhh!”

“How though, she’s a plant, plants don’t have blood. So what’s making her pink?” Came a thoughtful third.

There was a moment of silence.

“What? I actually remember my biology class from High School, okay?”

“Vinyl, you continue to amaze me.” The gruff whisper chuckled.

Ivy appeared not to hear the conversation going on behind her, as her attention was on the charm. “U-ummm, r-really?” She looked up at Dustin. “Y-you wanna give it to m-me?”

“Well, I don’t need it anymore, I finished my hunt,” Dustin pointed out, going to hang it off of one of her arms. “And you’re the only other Pokemon fan I know. I figured I’d give it to someone who appreciates how hard they are to get in-game.”

As if on some sort of instinct, a small thorn popped out of her left arm where her shoulder would be and Dustin hung it on there. On contact, Ivy froze stiff as a board, staring at where his paw just was.

“I think he broke her.”

“Is she turning pink now?”

“Seriously, how and why?! This breaks all laws of biology I know!?”

“Well...I’ll leave you to take care of it, okay?” Dustin patted her on the head. “I’m off to do a bit of maintenance on the games before I call it quits with them.”

With that, the fox left the pink plantmon in the doorway as he turned to leave.

“W-wait!” Ivy called out. Dustin paused, turning to look at her with a quirked brow.

She walked up to him, fiddling with her fingers. “Th-thank y-you.” She shifted from foot to foot. “U-ummm, could you n-kneel down please?”

Curious, the fox did so, wondering what she was up to.

Quickly Ivy leaned forward and pecked Dustin n the cheek. “Th-thanks!” She squeaked and took a step back. “I-I mean th-thank you Dusin… f-for the charm.” She half-tripped over herself as she fled back to the house. The door slammed behind her and Dustin swore he heard singing from within.

“AND CAN YOU FEEL THE LOVE TOOOONIIIIIIIIIGHT!???!!!”

...He resolved not to question it. Some people were reading way too much into this. He just wanted to give her the charm. He got up and left, though he did catch himself humming the tune as he did.

“I don’t get it.” Vinyl grumbled and she sat on the couch in the living room.

“What’s there to get? He just gave her a present from one fan to another.” Octavia said simply. Sitting next to her.

“I still think it’s cute.” Geralt shrugged as he lounged in a Lay-Z-Stallion, absentmindedly poking away at his keytar.

“No! Not that!” Vinyl snorted shooting a glare at the pair. “How’s she still pink?! It’s been like ten minutes?”

“Just get over the fact that she’s pink?” Octavia asked with a shrug.

“U-ummm, I’m a Shiny Alolan Palmon?” Ivy supplied from her spot in the corner, hidden under a giant blue blanket.

“I don’t think it works that way.” Geralt chuckled. Then his brow furrowed. “At least I hope not… What do we do if she stays pink?”

“I-I don’t mind b-being pink.” Said the blanket.

“You shouldn’t be pink in the first place!” Vinyl snapped.

“Vinyl, let it go!” Octavia facehooved.

Teaching Dogs New Tricks

Dustin had received directions to what he was assured was the smartest, most organized pony in Ponyville. Someone who could certainly help him figure out a lesson plan, or find someone who would be willing to help.

His only gripe? The fucking beehive on the tree. He had an irrational fear of bees, anything that looked like them...or anything that buzzed, really. And knowing it was irrational didn’t help him get over it any faster.

Still, apparently this Twilight knew what she was doing, so...with a careful eye on the beehive, he edged closer to the door of the tree-library and knocked.

“Just a moment!” A call came from inside the literal treehouse. There was a clopping of hooves on wood and the library door opened to reveal a purple unicorn. She a dark purple mane with a streak of pink and lighter purple running through it. Her Cutie Mark was a pink six-pointed star, with a second white star behind it, all this was surrounded by five more stars. The mare looked up at Dustin with bright violet eyes. “Oh, you must be Dustin!” She said happily. “I’m sorry that we haven’t had the chance to meet yet. Come in, come in!” She stepped back to let the fox inside.

“Thanks, this promises to be a pretty lengthy trip,” the fox said, ducking inside the door. “Being the boss of the local Diamond Dog mine means a lot of administrative duties, but I have a few promises to keep that I was told you could help me with.”

“I understand.” Twilight nodded and gestured to the chairs and couch in the middle of the room.. “Please, take a seat anywhere. Can I get you anything, coffee, tea?”

“Tea would be lovely, but I already had a few cups of black tea at Rarity’s,” Dustin replied as he made himself comfortable in a chair. “If you have any good herbal tea, it would be a delight.”

“Oh I have a wonderful green tea that I’m sure you’ll love.” Twilight said happily with a clop of her hooves. She raced off into an area that was sectioned off by a curtain. “Let me just turn on the kettle.”

“Fair enough, it’ll give me time to get my list prepared,” Dustin replied as he pulled out a pad of paper and flipped through it. “Hmm...okay, found it.”

Twilight came back out of what Dustin assumed was the kitchen. “Sorry, I’d have Spike help but he’s spending the day with his mom in Canterlot.” She trotted over to to Dustin. “So, what can I help you with?”

“Most of the dogs are young and illiterate,” Dustin supplied. “They know how to do math, and how to read blueprints, but reading and writing are beyond them. As well, they could use someone to help teach them about rocks, of all things. So, if you know anyone who wouldn’t mind helping the dogs become educated a bit more, I could really use the help.”

“Oh, of course.” Twilight nodded as she looked over Dustin’s paperwork. “I think I know somepony that would be happy to work with you. She’s a little eccentric though.”

“Hey, as long as she’s willing to work with the dogs, I won’t mind,” the fox replied, pulling out a pencil. “So, who is it?”

“Lyra Heartstrings.” Twilight said with a nervous smile. “You may have heard about her.”

“Not really, I don’t get out much except to the mine,” the fox replied, writing the name down. “Okay. She’d be willing to help out the dogs? Not for free, of course. I’d pay her a bit of money for her trouble, coming from what the mine’s making now.”

“Oh, great!” Twilight brightened. “I believe she would. She’s currently out of work, so all you need to do is ask her.”

“Where does she live?” Dustin asked. “I’d like to try and get the dogs educated as soon as possible.”

“Let me get you the address.” Twilight said, trotting over to a desk with paper, a quill, and an inkwell on it.

“Thanks for this,” the fox sighed. “I made so many promises to the dogs, I want to live up to them and give them inspiration, a reason to keep going. They’ve had a string of stupid bosses, I want to show them not everyone’s out to get them.”

“I’ll be sure to make time to come and see this mine of yours. We didn’t get to see much when we were saving Rarity from part of it.” Twilight smiled. “Anything else I can help you with?”

“No, that’s pretty much it, thanks,” Dustin replied. “It’s kind of been weighing on me...althooooough, if you could get word out that the dogs aren’t hostile and actually have things like aluminum to trade, that’d help. Of course, if any pony tried to take it for less than its value, they’d find that the dogs aren’t as dumb as they might look.”

“Ooooooo! Aluminum!” Twilight cooed. “I’ll be sure to let ponies know!”

“Thank you,” Dustin said, before he felt his ears perk up. “Kettle’s ready,” he informed the mare, just before the whistling sound reached her.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” Lyra Heartstrings bounced around Dustin’s legs like a happy puppy. “I won’t let you down!”

“You’ve been saying that.” Geralt chuckled furrowed his brow in thought. “For about half an hour I’d say.”

“I’m just so excited! I, Lyra Heartstrings, get to teach Diamond Dogs!” Lyra giggled happily.

Finding the mare hadn’t been hard. Neither was asking her to come teach at the mine. Dustin really didn’t get what was so weird about her. Sure she was excitable, but beyond that, he didn’t notice anything. On their way out of town, as Lyra wanted to get a feel for things and possible start teaching immediately, the pair had bumped into Geralt. Who in turn, wanted to come along to see what could have been to quote the large wolf himself.

“We’ll probably have to tell them to dig out a schoolroom for you,” Dustin pointed out. “So that you have a space to teach them in. But thankfully, they got a proper entrance done and are working on building a trading station. They’re fast workers when they’re motivated. It’ll probably only take a few days.”

“That’s great!” Lyra grinned. “I can’t wait!”

“Unintentional rhyme.” Geralt chuckled. “So, basically she’s just going for a basic meet and greet until the schoolroom gets done?” He hummed in thought. “Mmmm… A thought occurs, for some reason I’m reminded of the Vault school’s in Fallout.”

“We’re not going to be like a Vault,” Dustin scoffed. “We’re going to teach them anything they want to learn. It takes all sorts to run a mine. I’m not going to pigeonhole them into roles and tell them ‘this is what you’ll do’.”

“Good.” Geralt nodded. “Freedom to be themselves. So long as you still have miners to mine the mine.”

“Exactly,” Dustin nodded. “And the smiths to process the ore, and the farmers to feed the mine. It’s a complex organism, composed of many parts. But making them smarter can only help the whole.”

“I’ll do my best!” Lyra said as she snapped a salute. Somehow the mare still managed to stay upright walking on three legs as she did.

The trio made it to the entrance to the mine. A large structure was being worked on by numerous dogs. It was to left of a large rectangular hole that bore a ramp that led down into a torch lit hallway.

“This looks nice.” Lyra grinned, bouncing giddily.

“Not bad so far.” Geralt nodded approvingly.

“It’s amazing what suggestion will do when you give them a goal to strive towards,” Dustin smiled. “Now, let’s see if we can’t find Flint. He’ll know who to talk to about getting the dogs educated.”

“Ah ‘ere mah name?” Came the gravelly voice of Flint. The Diamond Dog himself limped from behind the construction carrying a rolled up blueprint in his paws. “‘Ey boss.” He froze the moment he saw Geralt. “B-boss…. ‘Oow’s dat?”

“This is Geralt,” Dustin introduced them. “He’s a friend from town. He came along because he fought the Warchief in town and was curious about the mine. Geralt, this is Flint, the foredog of the mine. He keeps things running when I’m not here.”

“Nice to meet you.” Geralt said with a smile, holding out his massive hand to the dog.

“Eh… same….” Flint said weakly, holding out his paw, only for it to be engulfed in the larger wolf’s hand and shaken rather vigorously. He looked at Dustin. “Boss… Why’s ‘e ‘ere?”

“He was curious,” Dustin shrugged. “He’s a friend and wanted to see what kept me away from being trained five hours a day.”

“Gotcha.” Flint nodded. “Well… if you don’t need me….”

“Well,” Dustin said, indicating Lyra, “She’s here to help set up some education for the dogs. Reading, writing, that sort of thing. It’d help if she had an experienced dog to pick out where her classroom will be and what sort of things she should teach.”

“True… “ Flint furrowed his brow. “Le’ me see if I can find somedoggy.”

“No problem.” Geralt shrugged. “I’m just a visitor. You don’t have anything to worry about from me.”

“Oh I can’t wait!!!” Lyra bounced on her hooves.

“Righ’.” Flint nodded at Geralt slowly.

“Oh, just go with the dog, Lyra,” Dustin huffed, motioning for the mare to follow after the foredog. “I’ll show Geralt around the place. That’s fine, right Flint?”

“Actually…” Flint scratched his chin. “I’m needed out here…” He looked over at the construction. “Quartz!”

Quartz’s head popped out from behind the growing building. “Huh?”

“Care ta take a pony on a tour? She needs ta find a spot to set up the new school!” Flint yelled over.

“Oh! Sure!” Quartz called back. There was the sound of heavy thudding, then Quartz jogged out from behind the construction.

“Quartz.” Flint nodded at her. “Boss is ‘ere wit a couple…. Friends…”

“Mhm,” Dustin said, indicating Lyra with one paw. “She’s here to help you all learn to read and write. She needs a good place to set up a classroom, so if you could help her find one, that’d be great. Once she picks a spot that works, we’ll put it on our to-do list.”

“Oh.” Quartz looked down at Lyra as the mare wagged her tail like a happy puppy. “Okay…”

“So we’re splitting up I take it?” Geralt asked.

“Yeah, I’ll start by showing you my place,” Dustin replied. “Pretty sure they won’t pick there for their classroom. Then we can look around the rest of the mine.”

“Sounds good.” Geralt shrugged.

“Sounds good to me.” Lyra nodded.

“Sure.” Quartz edged away from Geralt ever so slightly.

“Lead the way.” Geralt gestured into the mine.

It had taken Dustin all of five minutes to find his room. He was very good at finding his way underground. It helped that he visited when he could to learn the pathways. “You, ah, may want to duck,” Dustin said to Geralt. “They made the door smaller when I took over, they didn’t plan for someone like you using it.”

“I can fit!” Geralt complained as he squeezed himself into the door… only to get stuck halfway in.

“There’s a joke here. I know there is! I just have to find it.” Lyra said from behind the stuck wolf.

“Help?” Geralt whined.

“I gotcha…” Quartz said.

Geralt jerked forward slightly. “Ow! Hey! Gently!”

“Seriously, there’s a joke here!” Lyra cried.

“I told you you were too big for my passage, but you had to force yourself in,” Dustin sighed. “Now we’ll need to push you through.”

“I’ve almost got it!” Lyra whined. “It’s right on the tip of my tongue!”

“Should we try oil to loosen him up?” Quartz asked.

“Do you have any idea how long oil takes to come out of fur?! NO!” Geralt barked.

“Almost there.” Lyra mused loudly.

“Okay, I’ll pull, Quartz, you push. On three. One...three!” Dustin shouted suddenly, jerking hard on the stuck wolf’s arms.

There was, oddly enough, a pop and Geralt tumbled into the room. However he landed on Dustin. “Fuck!”

“And… I lost it…” Lyra whined.

“You’ll find it again.” Quartz replied as she followed the mare into the room.

“Get...off!” Dustin cried, muffled by the wolf on top of him. “You’re too...big!”

“Oh… oh my…..” Quartz said with a blush.

“Wait! It’s back!” Lyra gasped.

“Not my fault you can’t take someone my size!” Geralt snapped as he pushed himself up from the floor.

“What does Vinyl feed you, Manticores?” Dustin huffed as he managed to sneak out from under the wolf. “You’re far too big to be on top of me!”

A torch flickered to life above Lyra. “I just got it…..” A grin split her face. “I need parchment! Now!”

“It’s right here!” Quartz grabbed a stack and a piece of charcoal from Dustin’s desk.

Lyra yanked the charcoal and paper out of Quartz’s grasp and began feverishly writing with a manic grin on her face.

“Wot’s goin on-” A bitch stepped out of Dustin’s bedroom, swiftly followed by three others. Everyone of them grew blushes at the ‘scene’ on the floor.

“Ow! Stop pulling!” Geralt yipped as he got dragged down to the floor. “Dustin! Stop moving and just let this happen!”

Lyra let loose a happy, yet unnerving giggle.

“Just get your fat ass off of me before I figure out how to aim my Diamond Storm at it!” Dustin snapped.

“Mmmmm! Using that!” Lyra giggled.

“Dustin. Let go of me.” Geralt said sounding very irritated. “If you don’t, you’re not going to like the result.”

“What… what is….” Quartz blushed furiously.

“I’m not holding you!” the Renamon snapped.

There was a growl. Geralt stood up and grabbed Dustin. The bitches yelped and ducked out of the way as the fox was unceremoniously thrown into the bedroom.

“Oh… this is soooooo goooood.” Lyra grinned wide-eyed at the massive wolf.

“Dammit Dustin…” Geralt growled. “Your ass is mine!”

“I-I… I… ummm.” Quartz quivered as she slumped against a wall.

“I told you to duck! Hell I would’ve had you wait for a minute for us to get a Stonespeaker to make the entrance bigger! But no, Big Bad Wolf has to have everything his way!” Dustin snapped as he sat up on his bed. “Well look where that got you! What, did you fail basic perception when you transferred?”

“This is so hot….” Lyra said with a heavy sigh.

Geralt froze and slowly looked around at the blushing bitches, a panting Quartz, and a manically writing Lyra. He slowly facepalmed. “... Shit….”

“What?” Dustin asked, quirking an eyebrow.

“We’ve…. Unintentionally…. Done a thing…” Geralt stepped back and sank into one of the chairs by the fire, rubbing his eyes with a hand.

“Whatever,” Dustin shrugged. “Quartz, you good to show Lyra where we can put a schoolroom?”

“Yes!” She almost screamed as she yanked Lyra into her arms. “Yes I am! Lyra lemme show ya all da best spo’s!” She almost sprinted out of the room. The glow on Lyra’s papers and charcoal left an after image as they were yanked through the doorway.

“Sorry boss! We- We were… we gotta go!” One of the bitches managed to get out before they all bolted for the door at once.

“You know, normally I would ask why they were in my bedroom, but right now I just can’t care enough,” Dustin sighed. “Just...stay here. I’ll go get a Stonespeaker to make the doorway bigger for you.”

“Thanks.” Geralt nodded as Dustin left the room. His brow furrowed. “Wait a minute….” A small smile formed on his face. “Why were all those… Hmmm… Idea.”

It took a few minutes for Dustin to return with one of the Stonespeakers, leading him into the room. “So as you can see,” the fox said, pointing at Geralt, “He’s too big for the doors around here. I’d appreciate it if you could make this one large enough to where he doesn’t get stuck trying to leave.”

“O’ course Boss.” The Stonespeaker nodded. He placed a paw on the doorway and began to hum. A green glow grew in his eyes, and a same glow covered the doorway. With a rumbling sound the doorway expanded. The glow died and the Stonespeaker let his paw drop. He took a breath and nodded. “She’s solid. Good. Do ya need me fer anythin’ else?”

“No, but thanks for coming on such short notice,” Dustin said, smiling at the dog. “Oh! Quartz is leading Lyra around to try and find a place for a schoolroom. If someone could tell her if the spot she’s picked is good for it, that’d help as well.”

“I can do dat.” The Stonespeaker nodded. “Shouldn’t be ‘ard ta find ‘er.” With a bow the Stonespeaker left.

Geralt got up and walked out the doorway with little effort. “That was kinda cool.” He looked over at Dustin. “So, there were some bitches in your bedroom. That a regular thing?” He walked back through the door and leaned against the wall.

“Annoyingly so,” Dustin sighed as he sat behind the desk. “Even when I’ve told them they’re not bound to just me, they still seem to show up in my bedroom whenever I’m here.”

“Really?” Geralt raised a brow. “Ya don’t say.”

“Apparently in the past, the Warchiefs used to take all the bitches for themselves,” Dustin snorted. “I stopped that practice, but they all still seem to think that having the ‘boss’s pups’ means they’ll be smarter and stronger.”

“Can a Digimon even mate with a non-Digimon? Like procreate?” Geralt furrowed his brow. “I never thought about that till now… I wonder if Vinyl wants kids someday?”

“Well I’m not going to be the guinea pig, so you’ll have to answer that question on your own,” Dustin replied as he began to relax, just letting his arms hang loose.

Geralt sighed. “Sorry about earlier. Things got a little heated- and I just remembered we just gave Lyra fuel.” He groaned. “Fuck it. Nothing we can do about that now.” He looked around the room. “I like the room you got here. It’s nice.”

“Yeah, once they stopped burning the Warchief’s things and I started making promises, they put together this room for me,” Dustin answered, one of his eyes opening. “I’m hoping that all the dogs can have a room half as nice as this one day, if not better.”

“Give ’em time. They’ll adjust and hopefully soon something like that can happen.” Geralt nodded with a smile.

“Hopefully,” Dustin said as he headed for the fireplace. “If you want to look around the mine a bit, feel free. I need a cup of tea real fast, I’ll catch up in ten minutes.”

“Eh sure.” Geralt shrugged and walked out of the room. He took a breath and sighed. A smile split his face. “Now… If I was a gaggle of girls who have the hots for the boss… where would I be? Whelp, start from the bottom and go up.” He stepped off the edge of the walkway and fell into the dimly lit hole.

The fox put the kettle on and sighed. Getting black tea here wasn’t hard, nor was the kettle or the water. It was timing how long it’d steeped for that was annoying. He’d have to guess it.

He didn’t even notice the wolf dropping off the edge.

Oddly enough, Geralt found that his nose was the most helpful thing in the mine. Being a wolf had its perks, and it wasn’t hard to track down certain scents. However the first time he bumped into Quartz and Lyra, both of which froze mid conversation and refused to say anything until he left. The second time was more successful.

He found the four bitches babbling to each other in some water filled chamber.

“Ladies.” He announced causing them to jump, yelp, and blush all at once. “Pardon the interruption.

“Yer dat…” One of the bitches tried to get out, but her voice failed and she wilted in embarrassment.

“Yes, I’m the wolf that had a wonderfully awkward moment with your Boss.” Geralt chuckled. “Now, I understand that you were in his bed?”

“Yeah,” one of the other bitches spoke up. “We want bigger and stronger pups.”

“He just has to choose one of us!” Another spoke up. “Right?”

“Does he?” Geralt raised a brow. “Why can’t he have all of you?”

All four blinked.

“See ladies, where I came from there’s a little thing called Anime.” Geralt began with a chuckle. “And in certain Anime a male could be with many females at once with no problems and no arguing.”

“That can happen!?” One of the bitches cried.

Geralt chuckled darkly. “Oh yes, would you like to know more?”

Aaaah, that was a good cup of tea. And now, to find Geralt and lead him around the mine. A fresh pair of eyes would be helpful, he might have suggestions that the fox hadn’t thought of.

Dustin got up from his chair and headed for the door… Only to bump into a pale grey bitch with bright green eyes.

She stared up at him with big eyes. “‘Ello… Senpai…..”

Dustin blinked a little. “What?” he asked dumbly.

“He’s distracted! Now!” A cry was heard. Six other bitches popped out from seemingly nowhere and latched on him.

“What?!” Dustin asked in a bit more of a panic. “What are you all doing?”

All seven bitches dragged him through his room and into the bedroom.

“B- Senpai… We’re just showing you… what we’ve learned….” The green eyed bitch cooed into his ear.

A hand closed the door leading to Dustin’s suite. Geralt chuckled.

“You have learned well…. My Apprentices….”

Author's Note

Apologies on the wait for this chapter life got in the way for both Thadius0 and myself. So it took us a bit to get something finished. But here's what we got. With hope we'll have more coming soon.

How not to be caught

“So, how’d you manage to get out of that one?” Geralt asked as he leaned against a tree at the Apple’s orchard. The sound of Big Mac bucking apples echoed in the distance.

“Apparently, Renamon can ninja teleport,” Dustin said dryly as he refused to come down out of the tree he was in. Cats were the ones that climbed trees after all, and he had no problem with them. “Something that would have been nice to know earlier before I did it on autopilot.”

“Huh. No shit.” Geralt blinked and uncrossed his arms as his brows rose. “Think you could do it again?”

“Maybe? I don’t know,” the fox admitted. “It might be like Diamond Storm after I used it enough to where it became a reflex. Then again, it might only be a panic situation thing. You tell me, I have no clue how this body is supposed to work.”

“Mmmm hmmm.” Geralt appeared to be thinking, and that tended to not be a good thing, especially for the fox. He pushed away from the tree, and rolled his neck and shoulders, making a few audible pops. “Right. So here’s what's going to happen. We are going to train.”

“You mean like we do every day?” Dustin noted out loud. “I thought I was finally ‘progressing well enough’, according to you.”

“Nah ah.” He shook his head. “This won’t be normal training. I am going to chase you, until You can do that teleport thing on command. ‘And then’ after that, we are going to train that until you can do that ten times without being touched.”

“Huh. Well, seeing what Tuesday is like around here, I can see the merits in being able to teleport,” the fox admitted, hanging down from a branch...by his knees, making him look ridiculous as he hung there. “Plus figuring out the limits of such an ability might be fun too. Will I be able to take someone else, how much weight can I carry…”

“And now you’re thinking with portals.” Geralt nodded with a grin. “So this might take a bit to prepare….” He hummed scratching his chin. “And tomorrow’s Thursday…. Yeah, I think I can get this ready tomorrow.” His grin widened. “Okay. Okay, okay, okay. Meet me by City Hall tomorrow at noon. Oh, and make sure to get a good night’s sleep.”

A good night’s sleep had not helped matters for the fox.

He’d still gotten it of course, resting as far away from the mine as he possibly could. He just knew, though, in the pit of his stomach, that any ‘new’ training Geralt had come up with was not going to be fun.

Geralt arrived with little fanfare. He was even carrying a mug of something steaming (probably coffee, knowing him). “Morning!” He waved happily. “Or, afternoon rather.”

“You know, catching me without spilling your coffee is a tall order,” Dustin pointed out languidly.

“Who said I’d be the one chasing you?” He asked with a quirked brow and a draw from his mug.
From the alleyways, they came.

“Oh hell no!” Dustin shouted, using his speed to jump straight up in the air, landing on the roof of town hall. Well...he grabbed the edge of it and scrambled up the rest of the way.

Geralt whistled loudly. “Alright ladies, there’s your target.” He pointed at the madly scrambling fox. “‘Ave at ‘im!”

“Are you out of your gourd?!” Dustin shouted once he was safe enough. “They’re the reason I teleported in the first place!”

“Exactly!” Geralt called out as the Diamond Dog bitches raced by him. Where were they going? He was on the roof...wait. That was the sound of climbing. Did they have a ladder?

There was a thud as a few of the bitches steadied said ladder against the roof. Immediately there was a scramble to be the first one up. They were their own worst enemy. Geralt looked… Less than pleased.

“Wow, teamwork in all things except when it comes to me,” Dustin deadpanned. “I don’t know whether I should feel flattered or insulted.” He gracefully hopped down, tucked and rolled, and casually strolled away while the dogs were fighting over who should be the first up there.

Geralt frowned and tapped his foot as he watched the fox walk off. “AHEM!” All the bitches froze and turned towards him. He simply pointed.

“Exit, stage left,” Dustin whispered, before running as fast as his legs could take him. Right through the Market. Lots of confusing smells there for them to lose his scent.

It was still weird how he knew that now.

A virtual Deathball of bitches tore through the market, causing Geralt to wince. “Shit… Imma need to pay for all that….”

Eventually, a panting, sweaty Dustin managed to make his way to somewhere approaching safety. This far into the Acres, it was bordering the Everfree. They would run out of steam by the time they found him. If they found him. Still...no reason to make it easy on them. He jumped up and landed safely in the branches of a sturdy apple tree, trying to recuperate his energy.

“Where’d he go?!”

“He’s around here somewhere!”

“I smell apples.”

“Yes, I know Garnet. We’re in an apple orchard.”

“Apples are good.”

“That they are Garnet. Now, have you seen Dustin?”

“No.”

“What in Sam Hell is goin’ on?!”

“Hey AJ. Training. Though we lost Dustin.”

“And you brought them, why?”

“They’re part of the training.”

“Mmmm Hmmm... Get out.”

“But-”

“Git!”

There was the sound of spooked doggo’s and a mad rush of retreating paws. Dustin smiled and relaxed, ready to take a nap in the tree he was in. Maybe he could rest before he had to sneak back to the boutique for dinner.

“Hey! That meant you too! Out! You can’t hide from me! I catch Rainbow in my trees all the time. Git!”

The fox sighed and lowered himself to the ground, brushing some leaves out his fur as he gave the orange mare the blankest glare he could muster. “Can I at least hide here for ten minutes so they might lose the trail?” he asked.

Applejack frowned then sighed. “Fine. But just ten minutes!” She thrust a hoof at him. “We have to harvest this section and I don’t want to catch you in here when we do.”

“You’re a saint,” the fox said in such a deadpan voice that it could have been mistaken for praise. “Well, I need to figure out where I can hide then, as going into the Everfree is asking to die.”

“Eeyup.” Applejack nodded as she turned and flicked her tail in irritation. “Not my problem though.”

Dustin rolled his eyes as he started to walk. Hmm...wasn’t there another forest around here? No, wait, White Tail was way too close to the mines.

...Would he be penalized if he hitched a ride on a train out of town? Probably.

Waaaaait. Idea.

And that was how the bitches found Dustin in the middle of Ponyville lake, floating in an innertube.

Dogs hated baths. This was sure to be as safe as possible.

Geralt groaned loudly. “That’s cheating!”

“You spring a surprise on me, I will find a way out of it,” Dustin languidly replied. “Maybe teach them how to swim if you want to keep this cat and mouse game going.”

Geralt looked around at the very nervous looking group of bitches, then looked at the floating fox. “Fine! We can finish this later. Though that might mean that it turns into ‘surprise training.’”

“All you’re doing is teaching me the fastest route to my new safe spot,” Dustin pointed out. “I mean, if you taught them trapping and ambush tactics, it might be a chall...enge…”

Geralt’s brow furrowed. “Thank you! You’ve given me ideas. Enjoy your floating, we’ll continue this later.”

“And that’s why I’m hiding with you now,” Dustin said to Ivy as he lay on the couch in Vinyl and Octavia’s house. His reasoning at the time was ‘it was the place Geralt would least expect.’ “I’ve had enough for one day.”

“Wait… He’s sending what after you?” There was a twitch in Ivy’s right eye.

“He, uh...might’ve gathered up all the bitches from the mine that are obsessed with me for some reason or another and told them that catching me was ‘training’ until I learned to teleport on demand,” Dustin summarized. “When they’re the reason I know how to teleport in the first place. When they caught me and were about to...do things to me in the mine.”

“They were going to WHAT?!” Ivy snapped. She actually started steaming. Dustin suddenly had his self preservation instincts kick in...and found himself on the roof of the house.

Oh. Well that was the second time he teleported.

“Hey! Dustin!” Rainbow Dash flew down to him. “Did you just teleport?”

“Yes, and I advise you take cover, because-” the fox managed to get out.

The door of the house below him burst open. At the same time Geralt froze as his eyes locked on the fox.

“GERALT!” Ivy screamed as viney tentacles burst from the doorway.

Geralt shrieked in a very unmanly way.

And suddenly he was next to the fox. He blinked and slowly turned to look at Dustin. He shakilly raised a finger to his lips and shook his head.

Then there was a snerk.

Both slowly turned to look at Rainbow trying not to laugh. Geralt shook his head violently.

Rainbow grinned evilly. She took a deep breath in. “HEY YOU CAN TELEPORT TOO? AWESOME!”

“Rainbow you bi-”

“GERALT!”

Dustin watched the big canine digimon run his ass off from the plant tentacle monster that Ivy had become, smiling widely. “Y’know Dash, you just might be my favorite pony after that stunt,” he commented idly.

“I know, I’m awesome.” She puffed out her chest. “Now, how are you going to pay me back?”

“Dinner and a movie?” Dustin suggested. “I hear there’s a good one playing at the theatre.”

“I’m down.” Rainbow nodded approvingly then grew a shit-eating grin. “But what will all the mares after you think?”

“...Clearly I need to be updated on the local gossip, if you’re telling me about mares after me,” the fox noted out loud. He shimmied over to the edge of the roof, gauged the distance to the ground, then pushed himself off. The moment he impacted the earth, the fox tucked and rolled, ending up standing up and brushing a few blades of grass off. “C’mon, I hear there’s a great place in town that doesn’t have too much hay on it’s menu. I might be able to stomach an appetizer there while I pay you back.”

“Sounds good.” Rainbow flew down to hover at shoulder level. “Now, I’m no Rarity, but here’s what’s been going around town…”

Dustin forgets to turn of his Swag

“Have you heard?”

“Heard what?”

“That fox Digimon.”

“What about him?”

“I hear he’s with that plant Ivy.”

“What?! I heard he’s with Rainbow Dash.”

“Then why were all those Diamond Dogs after him the other day?”

“You don’t suppose….”

The gossiping fell to a muted whisper as the object of said gossip walked into the market. He headed straight for Applejack’s stall, and upon seeing the orange mare, smiled. “Ten of your finest apples, please,” he said to the apple farmer.

“Hey there lover boy.” Applejack smirked as she bagged his apples. “You’re gettin’ all the attention.”

“So I heard from Dash the other night,” the fox replied with a roll of his eyes. “How much do I owe you? What, is it like two bits an apple?” That was the usual price anyways, but it didn’t hurt to check.

“For you, a bit for an apple. If just for the entertainment.” She chuckled softly and hoofed him the bag of apples.

And uh...that was still twenty bits.

“I owe you for what you did the other day,” the fox said succinctly. “Though I don’t think I can pay you near enough for it.” And without elaborating at all, the fox shouldered his apples and walked off.

This only made the gossiping worse as mares started to talk in “hushed whispers” as he walked by.

“Dustin!” A voice called out, only for Rainbow Dash to drop from the sky. “Hey, I had a great time the other night.”

“Ah good, at least I can still be polite in pony-land,” the fox joked. “Glad you enjoyed yourself, I was hoping my social interaction skills weren’t as rusty as an unused blade like I thought they might be. And hey, for what you did, dinner and a show is the least I can offer.”

“And what a show it was... “ Rainbow sighed, uncharacteristically dreamy. “The screaming was great.”

Nearby mare’s eyes widened as they blushed and hurried away.

“Didn’t take you for a screamer, though,” Dustin mused as they walked through the market.

“Well when something surprises me that much, that’s what you’re going to get.” Rainbow giggled and whacked him with a wing.

“Fair point,” Dustin nodded. “Still, thanks for the revenge against Geralt. I needed that after such a long day.”

“Well you probably needed to relax after all those dogs and Geralt were all over you.” She grinned. “Oh, by the way, when’s your birthday? I wanna repay you for such a good time.”

“Ack, I’d need to look at a calendar to remember,” Dustin shook his head. “Besides, I celebrate weird anyways.”

“Define weird.” Rainbow raised an inquisitive brow. “Like… something big or small?”

“Something reversed,” Dustin countered. “I tend to give presents to my friends on my birthday.”

Rainbow dropped to the ground as if frozen. She blinked once. Twice. “Wat.”

“Yeah, age is just a number to me,” Dustin said breezily. “I find more joy in being generous to my friends than asking for things.”

“That’s…. Huh.” She seemed to be digesting the concept slowly. “I can see it I guess.” Suddenly she giggled. “Oh Pinkie is gonna lose her shit.”

“Not my concern,” Dustin pointed out. “Oh, that reminds me. I have a load of stuff to give to my friends now that I don’t need ‘em. Is Twilight in the library today, do you think? I can get the first thing out of the way easily.”

“Sure why not?” Rainbow shrugged. “I’ve got nothing better to do since I’m already off work. Can’t really think of a better time for a guy than spending time with two mares.” She waggled her eyebrows suggestively.

“We’re just there to drop something off and to tell her to be careful with it, you pervert,” Dustin scoffed. “I should also drop by the bakery and tell Pinkie the bread recipe I remembered. Then I want to visit Ivy and give her the last present I have on me.”

“Oh I bet you have things to drop off.” Rainbow grinned. She giggled. “Seriously though, sounds good. Want some company?”

“Sure, I can see you enjoying this too much to leave anyways,” the fox smirked as they headed off to the library.

Dustin cast a wary eye at the beehive, as knocked on the library doordoor.

The door opened. And nobody was there.

“Down here.”

“Oh hey Spike.” Rainbow said as she gestured down at the purple and green dragon.

“Oh hey man, glad to see you, but the present I have is really more for Twilight,” Dustin scratched the back of his head. “Tell you what though, I think I have a sapphire on me that you can have as a snack if you can get her for me.”

“She’s here, but I won’t turn down free food.” He shrugged and turned away, leaving the door open. He ended up walking upstairs to the loft.

Rainbow just flew in. “You coming?”

“Yeah yeah,” Dustin said, digging out the blue gem as he sat at one of the tables in the main library room. He didn’t need to go too far in, he might even need to make a quick exit if Twilight got too...enthusiastic.

There was a trotting of hooves and Twilight came down the stairs, followed by Spike. “Hey Rainbow- Oh! Hi Dustin!” The purple unicorn jumped somewhat as she saw the fox. “Can I help you with something?”

“Actually I’m here to give you a gift,” Dustin replied easily, putting the blue gem on the table. “First, for Spike,” he said, nodding at the drake. Then the fox pulled his bag off and rummaged through it, touching several things before withdrawing a long, silver, rectangular object.

“This,” he said, “Is a 3DS, one of the game systems from my world. No cartridge inside it of any real value, but the materials and components it’s made of will probably interest a highly scientific mind like yours.” He placed it on the table before pushing it to Twilight. “All made without magic,” he tacked on. “My only stipulation is that if you take it apart, you do so carefully, so you know how to put it back together again.”

With each word he spoke, Twilight’s eyes widened. She suddenly snatched the 3DS out of his grip with magic and disappeared in a flash.

Spike looked up past the stairs. “Well she’s going to be busy for the next few days.” Spike shook his head then looked at Dustin. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure she doesn’t do anything too permanent.” He said as he took the gem and took a bite out of it.

“Eh, it’s an older system, but I thought she’d get a kick out of the games it was loaded with and the computer system itself,” the fox shrugged. “If she keeps it intact she might get a chance to beat my Tetris score.” He picked his pack up again. “Well, that’s what I came for anyways. Ready to find the Pink One, Dash?”

“Looking for Pinkie?” Spike asked. “Not hard to find.” He chuckled as he started up the stairs. “Go ahead and shut the door on the way out, I’ve got a letter to write to mom. We need to get her here some time, she spends too much time working.”

“Will do, see ya Spike.” Rainbow waved with a wing and started towards the door. Dustin stood up and headed out as well. He was just about to close the door after himself, mission accomplished…

There was a flash next to him. Suddenly, purple hooves wrapped around him in a tight hug. “THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! THAT WAS THE BEST GIFT EVER!” Then there was the feeling of lips on his cheek. Then there was another flash.

“Holy Damn!” Rainbow cried out, then burst into laughter. “I think she creamed herself.”

“...You know, I’ve heard about nerdgasms, I never thought I would see one,” Dustin said in a shell-shocked sort of way.

“Seen? I think you felt that. Might want to take a bath, Got-Damn.” She stifled to snickers. “Now. Pinkie, right?”

“Pinkie, and I wouldn’t say no if you could get a raincloud to clean me on the way,” Dustin said in an even tone of voice as he pulled the library door closed.

As they walked Rainbow flew up and snatched a small cloud to drizzle on him. He was almost dry by the time they got to Sugarcube Corner. Rainbow opened the door for him. “Mares first.”

“Har har, it is to laugh,” Dustin rolled his eyes.

“Hello hello!” Came a male voice from the counter. A few ponies were snacking in the dining area, and behind the counter the bright red lizard, Guilmon, stood behind the register, with a white apron on. “Oh, hey Dustin, Rainbow, how’s things?”

“Oh you know, just giving out a few things I said I would ages ago,” Dustin commented idly. “Pinkie around? I have something to pass on that I think she’d be able to make real.”

Guilmon blinked at the fox. “Make? Sure.” He shrugged and turned his head towards the doorway behind him. “Hey hon? Dustin has a thing.”

“A thing?” Came a peppy voice. After a second a Pinkie, covered in flour like a powdered doughnut, emerged from the curtain. She trotted up next to the red lizard, her tail brushed up against his.

Guilmon turned and shot her a glare. “Hon! We have customers.” He paused and looked at the pair. “I think they’re customers?” His brow furrowed as his irritation at his marefriend evaporated. “Why are you here again?”

“Iiiiii have a recipe to pass on to Pinkie,” Dustin said, digging out a small piece of folded paper from his pants pocket and passing it to the pink mare. “For a wonderful loaf of italian cheesy bread that will disappear the day you make it because of how delicious it is.”

“Wait wait wait… Do you have the recipe for Fucking Crazy Bread?!” He leaned over the counter and stared wide-eyed at Dustin.

“Ah, no...it’s better than the store bought stuff,” Dustin said with a sigh. “Mom would make it when it was warm out. Perfect blend of spices and parmesan cheese baked into the loaf. Dipped in olive oil with herbs in it...mmm! Molto bene,” he said solemnly. “Just a piece of home that I figured you’d appreciate.”

Guilmon closed his eyes and took a deep breath in. He opened them and looked at the vibrating Pinkie. “Honey?”

“Yes, you may.” Pinkie nodded with a giggle.

Guilmon virtually leapt over the counter and kissed Dustin while giving him a bone crushing hug. “I love you!”

“Should I be jealous?” Pinkie asked with another giggle.

“With how the day’s going, probably.” Rainbow snickered, with her hooves crossed over her chest.

Dustin...had no idea how to respond. It wasn’t like he wasn’t used to getting hugged or kissed, he just didn’t know what to do when it was a guy and was that tongue?

“You good?” Guilmon asked as he backed up and went to return to his post behind the counter.

“I think you broke him.” Pinkie commented as she sat down on her haunches. “The recipe?”

“Oh,” Dustin finally latched onto something normal. He managed to stand up again and held the square of folded paper out to the pink mare. “It wasn’t hard remembering everything that went into the bread, but figuring out the spice blend for traditional italian spices was a bit more tricky,” he admitted. “I don’t recall seeing a canister of that on Rarity’s spice rack, you see, so I had to think on that one.”

“Shouldn’t be hard to recreate.” Guilmon hummed. “Pinks, take the thing.”

The recipe was already gone and only the hint of the poofy tail was seen disappearing into the kitchen.

“Figured.” Guilmon chuckled and shrugged. “Can I get you two anything?”

“I’m good.” Rainbow was still grinning at what would no doubt turn into amazing gossip.

“Nah, but let me know when she nails it, I’ll take a loaf if you want to repay me that badly,” Dustin added.

“I’ll definitely let you know.” Guilmon nodded enthusiastically and waved as Rainbow turned towards the door.

As the door shut behind them Rainbow pretended to be interested in her hoof and tried not to smile as she asked. “So, what was next. Ivy’s present?”

“Ah...yeah. I already have everything I could want off of the games I brought...so I figured I could turn one into a present for her,” Dustin nodded. “Maybe she’ll get some of my luck. I know she’s a Pokemon fan like me, so I’ll give her the game and a system to play on.”

“Oh, how sweet.” Rainbow giggled for the umpteeth time today. “Well, lead the way.”

It wasn’t hard to find Octavia and Vinyl’s home, considering that he’d been there just the other day. Dustin knocked on the door and hoped Ivy was calmed down by now. Hopefully. She’d definitely scared off Geralt for the time being, according to his fox nose.

The door opened and Vinyl popped her head out. “Oh hey, you’re alive. Yay. S’up?”

“Nahmuch, just here to give Ivy a gift,” Dustin told the DJ. “She around?”

“Yep!” Vinyl’s head retreated. “IVY, YOUR COLTFRIEND’S HERE!”

“Vinyl! Shut up!” A flustered and slightly pink Ivy, peeked her head out. “H-hi Dustin. I’m glad you’re alive.”

“For some reason they thought you were dead.” Rainbow commented with a glance at Dustin.

“Ah, well I’m not, and I come bearing gifts for your part in chasing Geralt off,” Dustin said, kneeling down and shrugging his pack off so it was on the ground in front of him. The fox dug around in it for a moment, briefly taking something out and nodding his head, before holding it out to the plant.

It was...a solid black rectangle?

“My spare 3DS XL,” the fox explained. “With Pokemon Ultra Moon loaded on it. I’m keeping my main one and Ultra Sun with me, but I figured this way we could play the game with or against each other.”

She went full pink. Almost hesitant she took the gifts. “Th-thank you….” She managed to squeak out. She retreated for a moment. Then stretched up and kissed his cheek, before snapping back and abruptly slamming the door.

“Well, that’s my good deeds done for the day,” Dustin said with a smirk as he stood back up, shrugging his pack back into place. “And coincidentally, all the things that I thought to give out given. So...thanks for coming with and keeping me company, Dash.”

“Not a problem. Thanks for keeping me entertained.” Rainbow grinned and flew off in a flash.

Well...he knew Rarity would keep Geralt and the bitches out after yesterday. It seemed only logical to head home now that his good deeds were done. Plus the females might still be sniffing around town for him. Somewhere safe to rest his head seemed like a good idea right about now.

As he reached his ‘second home,’ he saw a particular wolf standing outside the door. He looked okay, at least physically. “He- Hey Dustin.” He smiled weakly. “Rarity wouldn't let me in.”

“After the shit you pulled yesterday?” Dustin drawled. “I’m surprised she didn’t take you to the barber to be shaved before tarring and feathering you.”

“I think she was planning on it.” He winced and visibly shivered. “So….. It might not mean much. I did go really overboard. Unleashing thirsty dogs after you might’ve been too far in the name of training.” His ears pinned back. “I guess I’m trying to say, I’m sorry?”

Dustin stared at him.

Hard. It was like he was trying to see into Geralt’s soul and it made him a little uncomfortable.

Finally he smiled. “Apology accepted,” the fox said with a smirk. “It’s fine. I’m already planning my revenge.”

“How scared should I be?” Geralt leaned back, clearly nervous.

“Vinyl’s energy drink for her ‘gig’ tonight is spiked,” Dustin said evenly. “When she gets home she’ll be in the throes of lust, and we all know how she feels about you. Now, you get to dodge a thirsty female.”

That had been fun to arrange with Dash when he explained his plan.

The wolf actually paled. His light blue coat turned white. “You don’t say….”

“Mhm, I figure turnabout is fair play,” the fox’s smile was downright evil. Saying that she ‘knew a zebra,’ Dash had flown off, and when they reached the house where Ivy lived, all she would say was ‘it was under control.’ Until Dustin threatened to tickle her, then she spilled the beans.

“Welp, I’m going to find a new place to sleep tonight.” Geralt walked off somewhat stiffly. To his credit, Dustin kept his laughter internal until he walked into the boutique.

Then he laughed his ass off like a hyena, leaning against a wall as tears threatened to spill down his face. The look on his face! Priceless.

“Did he leave Darling?” Came Rarity’s melodic voice from behind the door. Had she been waiting there?

“Oh yeah, he’s gone, and I approve of your defending my honor Rarity, but I do believe the mayhem Dash and I have unleashed will stop him from doing that again.” Dustin had needed a minute to get his breathing under control and stop laughing, but once he did, he walked into the next room and sat at Rarity’s table, glad to be sitting at last.

“Oh wonderful. And what are your plans for the rest of the evening? Should I expect somepony? You may want to use protection.” She grinned devilishly.

“Nah, nothing like that,” Dustin waved her off. “Though Geralt might need that before the night’s over. Dash spiked Vinyl’s drink, so when she gets off work, she’ll be horny for her wild wolf.” He long knew that one of the best ways to pay Rarity back was juicy gossip material.

“Oh goodness.” She gasped with her hooves to her mouth. “That’s... interesting.”

“Mhm,” Dustin smiled. “Such a shame that the big bad wolf is seeking other places to lay his head than with his mare, don’t you think?”

“Oh I agree, after what he did…. Oh, horrid.” She snorted.

“Ah well, what’s a bit of revenge between training partners,” Dustin snickered as he leaned back in the chair. “After all, escaping from horny females is what he did to me to train me in teleporting, so I figure turnabout is more than fair play. He teleported as well, so clearly he could do with some training.”

“Though isn’t there a limit to how far somepony can go? I mean, this is the second time he sicced females on you, correct?” She asked, somewhat concerned.

“Which is why this revenge is perfect,” Dustin smiled, closing his eyes. “It wasn’t just one drink that was spiked.”

Rarity’s eyes widened, only for a knock to sound on the door.

“Ah, I guess you have a visitor,” Dustin noted, sitting normally again as he picked his pack up. “I’ll be in my room unwinding after my long day.”

Rarity went to open the door, only to see Rainbow Dash. “Dustin? Would you like a Soundproofing spell?”

“I’m not that loud when I game, Rarity,” Dustin scoffed, heading up the stairs. Oh...he hadn’t even looked? That presented an opportunity to Dash.

“Thanks Rarity.” Dash grinned and silently flew up after him.

“Are you sure?” Rarity asked as she shut the door behind the pegasus.

Dustin flopped down on the bed, spread eagle as he stared up at the ceiling. Today had been...weird. And it was only Friday. Still, he’d done everything he needed to.

There was the lightest of depressions at the foot of his bed. “Hey Dustin, I had a great time today. Care to end it on a good note?” Dash was at the foot of his bed with the sultriest pair of bedroom eyes he’d ever seen.

“Dash!” Dustin squeaked, his hands going to his crotch. He’d kicked his pants off when he came to his room because they tended to chafe a little and...now he was regretting that. “What...what are you doing?” He was more than a little confused because he wasn’t aware she liked him at all.

“That excited to see me?” She grinned. “Also, I’m thanking you. Properly.”

“Ah...I should be thanking you for helping me prank Geralt,” Dustin tried turning it on her. Maybe logic would work?

She took a step forward. “That was just for fun… and revenge…. But mostly fun. This. Is different.”

Dustin gulped. Okay, his pants were hanging off the chair across the room. He was fast. He also knew Dash was faster and there was no way he was getting them on before she got him. And he didn’t have a good enough handle on teleporting to not end up anywhere embarrassing, which would be anywhere in public without his pants.

“Going to make a move, or am I going to have to?” Dash winked.

Maybe if he stayed still she’d give up? Worth a shot.

She trotted right up to him.

Their faces were inches apart.

Then she booped his nose with a hoof.

The fox blinked before crossing his eyes at her. “Was...that it?” he asked, untensing and relaxing. All that build up for that? Honestly.

“What? Expecting a kiss? More?” She grinned. “Please. You owe me… at least four dates before anything like that. Though, I’m not opposed to the idea.” She hopped off the bed and flew over to open his window. “Lemme know if you ever wanna go out again some time.” She winked, flicked her tail at him, and shot out the window.

...Mares were more confusing than Earth girls had ever been. He honestly expected...well, whatever. Apparently he was a friend with benefits to Dash now, or could be.

“Oh COME ON!” Came a high-pitched cry from beyond his door.

Author's Note

Thadius0 kicked me out of my writer's block. Two chapters in one day. Maybe we can make it three.

Enter stage right, persuing fox

The rumor mill was vicious the next morning. Not only because Dustin had been seen in the company of the prismatic mare all day, but also because Rarity had taken out a bet on Dustin and Dash getting together by the end of the year.

Not that Dustin played the talk any mind. Not only was he not really in control of everything his fox ears picked up, but he was more interested in hearing what had happened to a certain wolf and unicorn after last night.

Sadly it seemed like anyone who might have seen what happened was still asleep, or too hungover to recall the fine details. Still, he was patient. The fox headed to the gym after passing through the market and prepared to get involved in his normal workout routine.

Hmm...he might actually manage to get through it all without Geralt showing up.

“Yo, Foxy.” Rainbow Dash’s voice called from above. “Need somepony to spot you?”

Dustin looked up and smirked as he saw the mare in the sky. Ha, today he had his pants on. Suck it, fate. “Sure, but these things are not toys,” the fox warned as he started his set of reps.

She landed behind him. “Please, I train for the Running of the Leaves each year. I’m stronger than I look.” She puffed out her chest confidently and flapped her wings.

“So’m I,” Dustin noted out loud. The trick wasn’t to do it fast, that would just wear him out. He needed to do it nice and evenly, without his arms shaking. He could reasonably do about five sets, each one ten reps...with weight about equal to, as the packaging said, ‘make you able to lift up Princess Celestia.’

“You seem to be doing fine, what would happen if I sat on the bar?” She grinned mischievously.

“Save it for the last ten, that’s usually when Geralt makes it harder anyways,” the fox huffed as he put the weights down for a moment. Ten was easy. Fifty, spread out like they were, that was not that bad.

Having to do even ten with Geralt finding ways to throw off his concentration? Hell. On. Earth.

“You’re looking a little mad there, still pissed at Geralt?” Rainbow asked, cocking her head to the side inquisitively.

“Just his idea of training,” Dustin noted out loud. “Exercise is fine and all. Exercise while he presses an ice cube to the back of your neck to surprise you and break your concentration? Not so much.”

She grew an absolutely wicked grin. “Ice cubes?” She leaned in and whispered in his ear. “Kinky.”

...Dustin wasn’t going to ask. He just picked up his nearby water bottle and took a pull from it. It was important to hydrate during exercise. As Geralt had repeatedly drilled into him.

“Yes, hydrate.” Dash nodded. “Good, moving on to something else?” She asked. “Or are you not done yet?”

“Give me a minute,” Dustin panted. “I need like two minutes between reps or I risk overworking myself.” Which was also important to not do. “Though I am nearly done,” he put out there. “Next set is the last.”

“Oh I bet you need a minute.” She winked at him. “Want me to sit on your bar?”

“Pretty sure that would just be a distraction,” Dustin noted out loud. She was talking about the weights, right? And her sitting on it would mean…

Oh, so that’s what a blushing Renamon looked like.

She quietly hovered up and sat her flank on the bar and looked down at him. She occasionally swished her tail back and forth. “Well? Get to it.”

“Um, Dash, I can, uh, see…” Dustin’s blush was far more pronounced as he looked anywhere but at the bar. Didn’t mean it wasn’t in his field of view, and his eyes twitched every time her tail swished out of the way.

“What’s up?” She asked innocently. “Something catch your eye?” She raised a brow. “What would Geralt say if you couldn’t stay focused?”

Right. Right! Just treat it like any other complication. Stare at anything else.

The fox lifted the weights up and began pumping steadily. One, two, three.

...She smelled like rain.

“Huh. So that’s what it looks like.” Was all she said.

What what looked like?! He was wearing pants!

No, focus! Five, six, seven…

...his fox brain wanted him to lick the enticing scent of spice that mingled with the rain and dammit brain no!

“And Ten!” Rainbow announced hovering off the bar and landing on the ground next to him. “Nice focus.” She grinned. “Now. Question.”

Dustin carefully made sure the weights weren’t going anywhere before scooting back and sitting up, looking at the mare like she was a bomb about to go off. “What?” he asked her.

“Wanna get lunch?” She grinned. “I can buy this time.”

Oh. Well that was far more innocent than he’d been expecting. “Sure,” he agreed, picking up his bottle and pack and stowing his stuff on his back. “Where to?” And for the first time, Geralt hadn’t shown for a training session.

“Mmmmm Hayburger? They have non-hay food.” She thought for a moment. “Good? Good. Wanna race? Awesome! One. Two. Three. Go!”

Waitwut? Dustin blinked as she dashed off, leaving a dust cloud in her wake. “But I don’t even know where Hayburger is!” he whined, before dashing off after the mare. This was so unfair as well. She had wings! How was he supposed to compete with that? He was reduced to following her contrail through town and was she deliberately looping back? Did she know he was following her to find the place? After apologizing to the same mare for jumping over her three times, it seemed likely.

After leading him on a bit of a winding chase, Rainbow stopped. Just stopped. Like some cartoon character. Though there was a bit of backblast that followed her. “We’re here.”

And that was a fox tripping over her, rolling head over heels and crashing into the side of the building. Somewhere a cat yowled at the sudden sound as Dustin lay there, upside down against the building. “...I’m starting to dislike your idea of a date,” he noted idly, one of his footpaws twitching.

“You know it’s fun.” She laughed as she flapped over, grabbed a leg, and tugged. He wasn’t stuck to the building, but he did appreciate the extra help in getting himself standing upright again.

“Okay,” he admitted. “If I had known where we were going, maybe I could have gotten here before lap four of the town.” And it was a great way to work up an appetite.

“I had to make you burn enough calories so you’d be properly hungry.” Rainbow nodded sagely. “Now, follow.” She spun in the air with a flourish and flapped towards the Hayburger.

Inside, well…

It was a cross between quite a few fast few joints that Dustin was familiar with, though obviously geared towards ponies.

“Did you know,” he said as they joined the line and he scanned the menu hanging over the colt behind the register, “That red, yellow, and orange are colors that tell you ‘eat fast! Eat more!’ That’s why fast food places deck themselves out in them. To get you to order more food and eat it quickly so that they can serve the next person.”

“They do? Really?” She asked over the dull roar. “You’re not pulling my leg are you?”

“Nah, there was a study and everything,” Dustin said. “Green, blue, purple, those are calming colors. Get you to slow down and consider things, which is why so many fancy places have those as their predominant themes. But if you deck a whole place out in fire engine red with some french-fry yellow hanging around the place, they’ll order twice the food without thinking about how fattening it is.”

Rainbow blinked. “Huh. Well, I can say I learned something new today.”

“Just a regular font of wisdom, me,” Dustin quipped as the line kept moving. Slowly.

“Think we’re going to run out of seats?” Rainbow asked as the line moved.

“I mean, there’s a maximum occupancy limit,” Dustin pointed out. “Surely they wouldn’t let everyone get their orders for here if they knew they couldn’t seat everyone.”

“Eh true.” She shrugged. “Hey! We’re next in line! Score!”

“Perfect,” Dustin beamed. “Hey, um, are you sure you want to pay?” he asked Dash before their turn at the register. Maybe she hadn’t heard of Digimon appetites? “I mean, I’m the alpha of a mine, I can pay my own way…”

“It’s fine.” She waved away his concerns. “I eat a lot too.”

Okaaaay, she asked for it. Their turn came too soon and Dustin let Dash make the first move.

“Hey.” Rainbow greeted. “I’ll have two number nines, a number twelve, and a large soda, oh and an extra large hayfries.” She gestured at Dustin. “And I’m buying for him.” She said as she pulled her bit bag out.

Dustin made sure to look the menu over one last time before nodding. “Two triple-stacked impossible burgers, five orders of fries, and a large chocolate shake,” he said plainly. His stomach growled and he grimaced. “Make that three triples.”

Rainbow’s eyes popped out, then she actually blushed. “Okay. Okay.” She handed out the required bits from such a huge order. “You eat a lot?”

“I actually have to remind myself that yes, it’s okay to eat as much as I want,” Dustin grimaced. “I, uh...used to get fat. Couldn’t fit in my pants. Had to cut back and exercise. Now?” He gestured to his body with a paw. “Now it’s encouraged for me to eat, because apparently being a digimon means you’re a walking trash can for carbs.” He snorted once. “Don’t get me started on the lizard in the bakery. I swear he eats half the stuff he makes, which is why he was put on the registers.”

“I have seen Guilmon eat. He’s like a black hole.” She giggled as they waited for their orders. “No, I won’t ask to race while eating. That’d probably end with somepony choking.”

“Or vomiting, which would be a waste of food,” Dustin pointed out. “Also, good use of the word ‘somepony’ there, because in all my little eating episodes, that hasn’t happened to me yet. It’s like it goes past my throat and vanishes.”

“And I honestly can’t make an innuendo about that.” Rainbow rubbed the back of her head with a hoof. The worker got her attention and she blinked at the pile of food on the tray. Her mouth started to water.

“Hup,” Dustin picked his trays up with both hands, taking them over the cyan mare’s head. “Okay,” he said, trying to scope out the place. “Hmm...we might have to sit outside,” he eventually conceded.

“Wait! There’s a table!” She pointed a hoof at a table with a single chair. “There we go!”

“...You can’t be serious,” Dustin said as they drew near. “I mean there’s only one chair!”

“You sit and I can sit in your lap.” She was smiling “innocently.”

“And how is that going to work?” Dustin raised an eyebrow at the mare, deciding to humor her for a moment. “I mean the first half works, I can sit here,” he pointed out, and indeed he could. The chair was in fact big enough for him to sit on comfortably. “But how are you going to sit on my lap and eat?”

“Sit and I’ll show you.” She replied nodding at the chair. The fox rolled his eyes and made sure not to sit on his tail, getting comfy with the seat. In response, Rainbow hover-flapped down slowly and situated her flank onto his lap, shifting a little to get comfortable. She was sitting in the same way a cat would, only there was more flank.

“See?” She smirked as her wings puffed out and her wingtips started sifting through the food pile. Every so often she’d shift to get comfortable.

“Hey, don’t do that here! There are foals here!” A pegasus mare called out.

Rainbow glared in the direction of the lone, irritated voice. “And I’m trying to eat here!” SHe snorted and went back to eating. “Ignore her.”

It was easier done than said, ignoring the mare they didn’t know. What was harder was ignoring the fact that Dash wasn’t wearing any pants and was sitting on his lap. Especially as she’d given him more than an eyeful not thirty minutes ago.

One head was focusing on putting away as much food as possible before the other head woke up. Which was a losing battle the moment she sat on his lap.

“How is it?” She asked between mouthfuls as she glanced up at him.

Of course, Dustin had to swallow about a quarter of his burger before he could answer. “It’s pretty good,” he admitted. “Might have to come back on my own bit, wouldn’t be fair to bankrupt you trying to feed me.” He lowered his head to his other hand, which was holding up a container of fries, and all but started inhaling them.

Damn. She knew he ate fast but damn.

She actually slowed down to watch, only eating at a quarter of her normal intake. Which was still much faster than any sane pony would.

It was like watching a beautiful battle taking place. A beautiful, terrible battle. Each thing was attacked in rotation. One burger would disappear in the course of five bites, followed by a container of fries that she swore he was snorting directly into his body with how he inhaled them. A gulp of chocolate shake cleaned his mouth of any stragglers, and then he went at it again. In ten minutes, that pile of food he’d been handed was down to one order of fries and whatever was left in his shake, and that wouldn’t take longer than two to kill off.

In the time it’d taken him to devour his meal, Rainbow had gotten through roughly half. She noticed and blinked. “I was just distracted.” She said as if to explain why she stared. The fox merely shrugged in response, before picking up the last container of his fries and all but dumping them directly down his throat.
She frowned and started eating in earnest, finishing off her food in a matter of minutes. She crumpled up her last burger wrapper. “Hmmmm good.” She licked her lips. “What’s the plan.” She leaned back into his chest and looked up at him.

Dustin sucked the last of his shake out through the straw, smacking his lips afterwards. “Idunno,” he admitted. “Normally I’d go to the mine, but I’m avoiding it until I know the bitch brigade’s been disbanded. I don’t spend a lot of time in town, I was lucky to find the theatre yesterday.”

“Well wanna just wander around, I mean, if you don’t have anything to do today.” Rainbow asked, finally hopping out of his lap and hovering next to him.

“Sure thing I guess, let me just clean up and we can try to find something to do,” Dustin said, gathering up their trays and trash.

“I’ll meet you outside.” Rainbow nodded and flapped off outside. Dustin nodded in turn, finding the trash can and put the trays on top after dumping the trash, being the courteous guest he was.

Only...when he got outside?

No Dash.

“...Did she ditch me?” Dustin asked, before seeing a note pinned to one side of the restaurant. Seeing as how it had his name on it, he opened it and read it.

I.O.U. one Rainbow Dash

It was signed with a heart...in lavender crayon.

“...It’s Ponyland, don’t question it,” Dustin said, though he still resolved to drop this off with the local police department.

Rainbow blinked as a light was shined into her eyes. “What the-”

“What are you doing with my fox?” Came a voice beyond the light.

Rainbow squinted as she blinked. “What? Fox? Wait- Sweetie Belle? What are you doing?”

“I’m asking the questions here!” Came the high-pitched snap.

“Oooookay? What do you mean?” Rainbow still asked.

“I am asking the questions!”

“She seems ta need things repeated a few times.” The drawl of Apple Bloom spoke up.

“I didn’t hit her that hard. Theriouthly Thith ithn’t going to end well.” That had to be Scootaloo. “Thorry Dath.”

“It’s cool squirt.” Rainbow shook her head roughly. “Okay. I’m good. So. What’s this about?”

“What makes you think you’re good enough for MY fox?” Sweetie’s voice cracked. “You’re an anomaly in the shipping charts and you will explain yourself.”

“Uhhh… What? I like the guy? He’s nice, he works out, he eats a lot, he’s attractive, he’s fun to tease.” She rambled off a list. “And he can almost keep up with me. What’s not to like about the guy? Also…. His fur is soft….” Her voice quieted to a whisper at the end.

“I don’t see a problem.” Apple bloom said bluntly.

“Okay, I’ll give you that one. But still! What makes you think you’re better than the bitches and Ivy?” Rainbow could almost hear the pout behind the words.

“Ummmm I’m awesome?” She said nervously. This was striking a little too close to home for her liking. “But… seriously though….”

“Hey! Thtop that Thweetie! Dath ith a great mare and Duthtin ith a great thrallion…. Fox.” Scootaloo started to defend the mare.

“O-oh! Th-thanks squirt!” Rainbow managed to get her breathing under control.

“They would make awethome fox-foalth!” Scootaloo continued.

“Thanks Squirt.” She blushed furiously, growled through grit teeth.

“Fine…” Sweetie said somewhat softly. Something landed on the table. “You can have this. But on the condition that you talk to Ivy and let her know what you’re up to.”

Rainbow paled a bit, seeing that what hit the table was the digivice. She reached out a hoof and took it. It kind of felt… heavy. “Okay.” She took a breath. “Okay.” She nodded. “I’ll go talk to Ivy.”

“Good.” Sweetie said, as overhead lights came on.

“Oops! Sorry! How was the interrogation? You girls ready to help with the cupcakes?!” Pinkie cried out happily from the door.

Sugarcube corner. Of course.

Dash got up and trotted out the door, to see a busy Sugarcube Corner. She took a shakey breath and walked outside. She had a plant to find.

---(Ellipsis)---

It was...a nice, calm afternoon for Dustin. Just some practice trying to figure out how to teleport, (he failed miserably,) some basic strikes against some dummies, and then he went home for dinner and to relax. Nothing weird happening at all.

There was a thud. A Dash landed in front of him, entirely bound up in vines. She stared wide-eyed at the surprised fox.

“Hi. Dustin.” The normally shy and sweet voice of Ivy was icy.

The fox turned and...well for once she wasn’t blushing in his presence. That...was probably not an improvement in the circumstances. “Hi Ivy,” Dustin said calmly. “What’s this about?”

“This? THIS?!” A thorny finger-vine pointed at Dash. “Why didn’t you tell me about her?!”

“...Because it literally happened yesterday?” Dustin posed. “Also, she’s the one chasing me and making me feel weird.”

Dash visibly deflated in her bindings.

“S-so… this….” She looked a little unsure, then roughly shook her head. “But what about all the presents?”

“Ivy, I do appreciate and like you,” Dustin said evenly. “But I also know that I have way too much stuff and you would probably like something to remind you of Earth. And the fact that you’re a Pokemon fan is also great, it means I can share with you. When you get right down to it…” He knelt and put a paw on Ivy’s shoulder. “I do care about you, as friends do. And I will never turn you away, I will never not be generous with you. But...we’re friends, right? You’re the one that keeps telling everyone I’m not your boyfriend, so I figured you didn’t want one.”

“I- I…” She sniffled and burst into tears, leaning against him.

Ah. Something he was familiar with. Dustin hugged her close and pat her a few times with a hand, letting Ivy cry herself out. Anything else he would say would only make things worse.

Ivy sniffled. “S-sorry I-I overreacted… I guess I was l-looking into things too much.”

“No, that’s fine,” Dustin replied, patting the plant’s head a few times. “You good? Do you need me to get you something for the walk home?”

“No. No.” She shook her head. “I could use the walk home to think… Thanks though.”

“Anytime,” Dustin said, escorting the plant digimon to the door. Once Ivy was on her way, Dustin turned to the bound mare, picked Dash up, and walked up to his room. “We’re going to have a talk, you and I,” he vowed.

Dash simply looked down at the floor and nodded. Once they were in his room, Dustin sat on the bed and propped Dash in his lap.

“I meant what I said,” he started with. “You pursuing me makes me feel weird. Not bad. Just different. Where I come from it’s usually males going after females. Also, they were never as...direct as you. And the fact that I’m not used to my body for that purpose is another layer on top of it. But...you’re not trying to trick or trap or just use me. You’re refreshingly honest and direct. If crude, as Rarity would say. Still, you’re better for my mental health than constantly worrying about being jumped by ten bitches in a dark alleyway.”

Rainbow managed to spit the gag out of her mouth. “Well that’s good, I guess. I might need to put those bitches in their place. Though… Now I’m not sure if I’m worth it….”

“Hey!” Dustin made Dash look at him. “Look, I’m fine with us having a relationship,” he stated simply. “Just do me one favor?”

Her eyes brightened a bit. “Sure. What is it?”

“Do me the courtesy of at least asking for one?”

Rainbow took a breath. “Okay. Okay, okay, okay. Dustin, I like you. A lot. So…. Wanna be my coltfriend? No- Foxfriend? Wanna be my foxfriend?”

“Sure thing you silly pony,” Dustin chuckled, looking at the vines tying Dash up. “Now...how to get you out of these things…”

“Fuck that, keep me tied up. I bet you’re massively pent up, might as well put my situation to good use.” She winked and gave him a very lewd grin.

“...Please stop tempting me, I only have one set of pants,” Dustin whimpered.

“A) Maybe. And B) You can get more. Heck, I wanna see if you can actually break them with that thing.” She giggled devilishly, then calmed. “Though, if you want to wait. That’s perfectly fine. I reserve the right to tease the fuck out of you.”

“...What is wrong with you?” Dustin muttered. “I’m this close to just chucking you out the window.” No, he wasn’t. He’d at least cut the vines keeping her wings down.

“Honestly I’m just pent up and thirsty for fox.” She pouted with a blush. “Could you at least cut my bind before I leave?”

“I cut you free, you leave, without jumping me?” Dustin clarified as he put one very sharp claw to a vine, waiting for her to reply before cutting it.

“No, I won’t jump you. Pinkie Promise.” She nodded solemnly. Ah, well that settled it.

In a matter of a minute the mare was free and Dustin was lying on his bed, propped up against the headboard.

Dash roughly shook herself and fluffed her fur and flapped her wings. “Thanks.” She smiled weakly and hopped off the bed and onto the floor. “I should probably go.”

“But first,” she heard from the bed. Turning revealed that Dustin had sat up near the edge. And now he was standing up and woah-

And that was how Dash found herself swept off her hooves in a good-night kiss from the fox.

Author's Note

Three chapters in a day! Also saucy chapter is saucy!

Here's hoping for more tomorrow!

Making time

Dustin sighed as he let the warm water wash over his fur. Geralt had not been happy to find out that there had been another energy drink of Vinyl’s that was spiked. Though apparently, neither had Octavia...or Ivy. Nobody thought to put up a soundproofing spell. Whoops.

So, after that, Geralt had thrown out all of Vinyl’s drinks and bought new ones out of his own pocket, to make sure this didn’t happen again.

And then put Dustin through so much hell that he needed to wash the sweat and stink off.

Wasn’t getting laid supposed to remove sticks from asses?

There was a click as the door to the locker opened. “Knock knock.” A sky blue snout nudged at the edge of the shower curtain.

Dustin raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t know we had co-ed showers here,” he noted aloud, keeping one eye on the mare while still enjoying the hot water.

“They’re not but I wanna see hot wet fox….. That came out weirder than I intended.” Rainbow hummed as she pushed her way into the shower.

“Dash!” Dustin squeaked. He naturally wasn’t wearing his pants in here, and all the warmth wasn’t good for modesty.

“Oooooo! What did Guilmon say, Extra Thicc!” She grinned evilly. “No need to cover up between mare and foxfriends.”

“Okay, this is more attention than I’m used to after one date,” the fox pointed out. “What, do ponies just hook up behind bars ten minutes after meeting someone?”

She shrugged and bumped him aside to get some of the hot water. “Depends on the ponies. Pegasi tend to be more open about certain stuff in general. Might come from our background as a more militarized tribe back in the day.” She leaned against the wall and hummed in thought. “Oh, example. So, Geralt was telling me about a movie… Alien? Alien Two? Anyway the scene where you had all the military peoples all training and working together and stuff.” She blinked. “Oh, yeah. You were right the first time. Co-ed.”

“I’m surprised you’re so restrained then,” the fox deadpanned. Well, he was clean enough anyways. Now he just needed to find a dignified way to exit. Which probably wasn’t going to happen when there was a pony about crotch-high with him.

“Bit for your thoughts? You look lost.” Rainbow raised a brow, staring up into his eyes.

“Still just a little confused by the whole mares pursuing stallions thing,” Dustin admitted. Or to be specific, a mare pursuing him.

“Again, probably a tribal thing. Pegasi like to chase.” She smiled as water dripped off her mane. “Want me to close my eyes or turn around while you get out?”

“It’s not like you didn’t get an eyeful on your way in,” Dustin deadpanned as he opened the curtain and walked out of the shower, water slicking off his form. He was grateful for one thing that Geralt had managed to get installed back here. There was no way a towel was going to dry off anything with fur in a reasonable amount of time.

So they had industrial strength hair-dryers installed in the roof and floor at one end of the showers.

Dash trotted out and was instantly hit by the hair dryers. The result was rather unexpected.

Dustin had to restrain himself from laughing at the blue puffball that his marefriend had become. Fortunately, there were also brushes nearby. “C...c’mon,” he managed to get out with only a snicker. “I’ll brush you down.” Hopefully by then he’d also not be puffy either.

“... fine. I’ll allow you to brush me, but only you! And don’t go telling everypony that you did.” Her floosh had thankfully hidden her bright blush. Dustin sat on one of the benches and got a nice, soft brush off of one of the hangers on the wall. Once Dash settled herself on his lap, he started brushing the pony.

She was oddly silent during the entire brushing, maintaining a blush and a pout.

“I don’t like getting groomed… I can do it myself…” She muttered.

“I don’t doubt that, but you probably didn’t mean to step onto the dryer right after me,” Dustin pointed out as he managed to get her mane tamed somewhat. “So it’s partially my fault.”

“What?” Her head snapped up to look at him. “How is it your fault?”

“Weight detector in the floor grate,” the renamon pointed out. “When it determines that something of sufficient weight is standing on it for long enough, the system kicks on.”

“O-oh. Oh! Ha, yeah right.” She grinned somewhat weakly. “Of course. That makes sense.”

“Mhm,” Dustin nodded, still brushing the mare. He’d gotten most of her fur tamed, and now the brush tugged gently at her tail, trying to get it somewhat normal looking.

“So, how do I look?” She asked, shaking her mane out a bit, while doing her best not to flick her tail.

“Almost like you didn’t run into a balloon factory,” the fox said, now only on the last of her tail. Just a few more strokes and...there. “That should do it,” he said at last, putting the brush up.

She jumped off his lap and shook herself roughly in much the same way a dog would. Then she turned around. She snickered. “Your tail….”

Dustin blinked, before looking behind him. Ah. His tail looked like a fuzzy yellow pipe cleaner. “Well...that’s annoying,” he muttered.

“Turnabout’s fair play. Gimme that brush.” Dash held out a hoof.

“I, ah, really think we should just…” He was edging away from both the mare and the brush now. “Y’know, let it de-frizz on it’s own and-”

She pounced on him and wrestled the brush from his grip. Triumphantly she turned to his tail. She barely touched the brush to his tail before he squeaked and went stock still. Actually brushing it?

Got a moan from him.

Immediately her wings shot out straight as she froze. Her eyes widened. Then she slowly turned to look at him. An evil smile spread on her lips.

“Don’t,” the fox gasped. “Don’t you da-”

She pushed the brush into his tail and ran it the entire length slowly. The moan he let out was delicious, and she could see something poking up from between his legs now.

“Hmmm… Redder than I thought it would be.” She then dropped the brush and hopped off the bed. “Want to go to lunch?” She asked like she hadn’t just been pleasuring him via tail stimulation.

“You…” Dustin gasped a few times to get his breathing back to normal and his heart under control. “Are evil. Why am I dating you again?”

“Because I’m awesome!” She puffed out her chest. “And I make your life interesting.”

“If by ‘constant blue balling’ you mean interesting, then yes,” the fox muttered, grateful he had pants lying around. There was no way walking around the way he was now wasn’t public indecency. “Fine, let’s...go somewhere for food. I could use it after the workout I just had.”

“Oh you know all this teasing will make the eventual….” Her smug smile faded and she blushed. She coughed into a hoof. “Right! Lunch! Ummmm Neightalian? I know a place. Has pasta, pizza, good drinks.” She rattled off as she tried to lowered her stiffened wings.

“Oooh!” Dustin perked up at that. “Now you’re talkin’ my language. And this time,” he held up a hand to forestall her complaints, “I’m paying for me.”

“Fine, fine. Let’s just go. And I won’t race you this time.” She winked. “Gotta make sure you aren’t distracting anypony with that bulge.” She suddenly gasped. “Oh I can finally use this!” She fluttered her eyes at him. “Ooo wooo I noticed your bugle.” She burst into a fit of laughter. “Geralt told me that one.”

“Note to self, skin Geralt alive,” Dustin muttered loud enough for Dash to hear. “C’mon, let’s go eat before I’m arrested for murdering him,” the fox said slightly louder.

“Was what I said that bad?” Dash asked as she followed the fox out.

“No, but the fact that he’s ruining my life with anime references is,” Dustin countered as they finally left the gym entirely.

“That was an anime reference?” Her face twisted in disgust. “Ewww.”

“Not all of it is bad,” The fox said quickly. “There are quite a few that I can think of that aren’t wastes of time. There’s one about ninjas, one about super-powered fighters, one about crazy pirates on the high seas...but, anything that you don’t curate yourself is probably going to need to be taken with more than a grain of salt. Heck, the form I’m in is based on an anime for kids.”

“Wait. Wait, wait, wait.” Dash shook her head as if trying to clear it. “There’s anime about ninjas? Super powers? Where are these? All Fluttershy had at flight school was sappy romance manga. Also you’re an anime?”

“Yeah, well, I know the translated names of the things that are worth your time,” Dustin replied easily. “I’ll be able to pick them out easily. And yeah, it’s…” The fox looked for the right words as they walked through town. “In my home, we had a saying. ‘Every realm of fiction here is in truth a reality out there beyond our own, where they think of us as a delightful story in turn.’ Digimon might not be real beyond being a story on Earth, but here apparently I am one, so who am I to say what is and isn’t real?”

“This is making my head hurt. You sound like Twilight.” She frowned, hovering down to trot on the ground. “Not that it’s not interesting, or anything.”

“Mm,” the fox hummed. “I don’t understand the theory behind it at all, but it’s pretty cool to think about. In any case, yeah, I can probably pick a few animes that you’ll enjoy. I mean, you like the idea of gratuitous fight scenes for the fate of the planet, right?”

“Oh heck yeah.” She nodded giddily. “That. Sounds. Awesome!”

“Cool, assuming your planet has a version of DBZ, I know what to pick out for you,” the fox chuckled. “So, where’s the food?” Something she might also pick up on from that anime was the main character’s love of food...in which case he thoroughly expected to be called out on it.

“Oh duh, food.” Dash jumped up and hovered, looking around. “Oh nice, over there.” She pointed to a rather old looking two story building. It seriously looked like it used to be a house.

“Mom and pop store?” Dustin questioned as they neared the place. “Cuz the food those sorts of places serve is outta this world.”

“Yeah.” She nodded as she made a b-line for the door. “Been here awhile.”

With a tug the door came open, only for them to be greeted by a counter. A couple of earth ponies were chatting behind it. The first, a beige-coated and black-maned mare looked up. “Hi there, welcome to Fettuccine’s!” She greeted with a smile. “Just two of you?” As she spoke the second, a gray-coated, brown-maned stallion grabbed a couple menus from behind the counter.

“Yep.” Dash nodded.

“Alrighty.” The stallion spoke up. “Want a booth or a table?”

“Either’s fine,” Dustin added. “Quick question, you ever served a Digimon before?” Hopefully they knew what they were in for with him.

“We figured.” The mare giggled. “Guilmon comes in every Wednesday, nearly clears us out of spaghetti.”

“It’s no problem.” The stallion smiled, nodding in agreement.

Oh good. They wouldn’t be caught off guard. Dustin sighed and sagged a little in relief. “Well then, lead on good sir,” the fox said with a mock bow.

“I will. In a moment.” He chuckled. “Booth or table?”

Dustin turned to Dash and shrugged. He had no preference.

“Booth, I guess.” Dash shrugged as well.

“Okay…” The stallion glanced at a small map on the counter. And said somewhat loudly. “I’ll put them at sixteen.” The mare nodded and marked off a spot as the stallion turned. “Right this way.”

It was only a few steps. The first booth on the left, right next to the bar. Said bar was fully stocked with an assortment of alcohols and other beverages, beverages that Dash had her eyes glued to as she slid into the seat across from Dustin.

The waiter set down the menus. “I’m Bulky Venture and I’ll be your server. Lemme know if you need anything. I will be right back with some waters for you.”

Dash smiled and nodded as he left. She immediately opened the menu and began looking through it, seemingly humming in thought. That’s when Dustin felt something bump his leg.

Okay...this was new. He opened his own menu and gave it a look over. Ooooh, rigatoni with clam sauce, that was a blast from home. And pizza! Supreme pizza? Oh yes. He might have to get one of those. All the while he was attempting to ignore...whatever was touching him.

“Mmmm calzone or pizza?” She hummed and screwed her face up in thought as whatever it was brushed up his thigh. “Though the alfredo sounds good too.” She suddenly turned a little green. “Right, they have meat on the menu.” She shook herself and looked up at him. “The owner, Gibraltar, is a griffon.”

“I’m thinking a pot of rigatoni in clam sauce and a supreme pizza,” Dustin said as he folded up his menu. Okay, clearly Dash had never played footsies. Or would it be hoofsies? Either way, she was missing his feet entirely. Which was...getting harder to ignore.

“Sounds good. I’m getting baked tortellini and a garden pizza.” She nodded happily folding up her menu. The hoof was sliding into dangerous territory.

Just then, Bulky reappeared and set down a couple glasses filled with water. “Have you two had a minute to decide?”

“Yes!” Dustin squeaked, before coughing and getting his voice under control. “Ah, yes,” he said again. “I’ll have a supreme pizza and a pot of your rigatoni in clam sauce. The whole pot.”

“Okay. Rigatoni bowl full and one supreme. And for you?” He asked looking at Dash just as the mare pressed down with a hoof.

“I’ll have the garden pizza and a baked tortellini.” Dash replied as if nothing was happening.

“Baked tort. Got it. We’ll get those right out for you.” Bulky finished with a smiled and trotted away.

“What are you doing?” Dustin hissed, trying not to squirm in his seat.

Dash gave the smallest smirk. “What am I doing?” She asked sticking her tongue out.

“You’re torturing your fox-friend, that’s what you’re doing,” Dustin muttered.

“Would you prefer I stop?” She asked, cocking her head to the side a little as her ears flopped back.

“Unless you intend to follow through, yes,” the fox hissed through clenched teeth.

“Follow through?” She raised a brow as a grin crossed her features. “As in… hooves or….?”

“Oh nooo, I’m not giving you ideas,” Dustin shook his head. Of course, the fact that there were options was all that she needed to know.

“Please, Dustin, give me ideas.” She smiled and rested her chin on her crossed forelegs as she pressed down again. That got him to hiss and curl in on himself a little.

“Not while we’re in public,” he finally said after managing to get a minor bit of control in his voice again. How long would that food take to get her-

...Now Dustin regretted ordering as much as he had, this was entirely his fault.

“Oh if you’re sure.” She made a show of rolling her eyes as she leaned back in her seat. The pressure was immediately gone.

“Hey folks.” Bulky popped up. “The larger items are taking a bit, but here’s your baked,” he set the hot plate in front of Dash, “and here’s your bowl.” He set a rather massive bowl in front of Dustin.

“Thanks!” Rainbow chirped happily.

“Sure thing! The pizzas will be out in a few minutes.” Bulky nodded and retreat to the back.

Dash immediately unrolled her napkin and silverware… only for her fork to drop onto the ground. She looked down, then looked up to Dustin, then back down. “I swear I didn’t do that on purpose. One sec!” She ducked under the table.

...Weird, but okay. Dustin unrolled his own silverware and started to eat his huge bowl of pasta. Mmm...just as good as back home, and the white sauce was somehow even richer. He’d have to compare notes.

Dash came back up with a very bright blush and wordlessly started to poke at her bake. Occasionally she took bits out to cool before eating them.

Huh. Okay then. Well, at least she wasn’t teasing him anymore. Dustin kept up his steady pace, chipping away at the bowl of pasta.

“Dustin?” Dash actually sounded shy for once. “How do you function when you’re hard? Cause…..” Her face went bright pink and her wings popped out. She hastily devoured her bake.

Oh. So that’s what it felt like to choke on pasta.

After a few quick thumps on his chest with his own fist to get the rogue pasta back in his stomach, the fox took a big gulp of water to clear his mouth. He turned his gaze then on Dash, his own cheeks pink under all the fur. The fact that she could see that could only mean it was far worse. “Well, um...normally I’m not,” he explained. “It’s only when a certain polychromatic pegasus pesters my pecker that that happens.”

Now it was Dash’s turn to choke. She pounded her chest and coughed, only to devolve into a fit of laughter. She had to drink water herself to stop from giggling. “Never knew I like word play.” She snickered a little. “So… ahem I get... a rise out of you?” And suddenly she was back to being shy.

“Well you certainly aren’t shy of trying until you get one,” Dustin pointed out evenly. “I mean, I’m not complaining, but I’m pretty sure you started the whole thing by jumping in my bed with me.” He reached a paw out to the salt and pepper shaker on the table. The moment he picked the pepper up to sprinkle a little on his food though?

The fox sneezed and dropped the shaker. “Ack,” he muttered. “I hate my new nose,” he said in a quieter tone of voice...forgetting how good pony ears were.

Dash’s ears perked up. “Something wrong?” She asked, trying to hide her smile.

“Ah, no, just…” Dustin sneezed again as he finally cleared the pepper from his system. “It’s not allergies, it’s just being able to smell a lot more than I’m used to,” he explained. “And I pick up on it whether I like it or not.”

“So, you’re saying you have a sensitive nose?” She asked innocently enough. “Anything I should be concerned about?”

“Nah, I’ll get used to it sooner or later,” Dustin brushed off her concerns as he went back to eating, completely missing the smile she was wearing.

Bulky walked up with a tray on his back. “So sorry for the wait, we had to redo one of the pizzas.” He shifted so he could get them off his back and onto the table. “One garden and one supreme.” Strangely enough, the pizzas were cut into squares (with triangle corners) instead of regular slices.

“Oh sweet thanks!” Dash said happily.

“You two lovebirds enjoy.” He smiled as he walked back to the front counter.

After that, Dustin mostly lapsed into silence as he continued to eat his food, being reminded of the days when he would have something similar back on Earth. This...this place was good. He’d have to remember to come back for another lunch when he could afford to have it again.

Strangely enough, Dash finished her food without incident. She appeared to be lost in thought as she ate. Who knew what was going on beneath that prismatic mane? While they ate Bulky dropped over a little black folder with the bill. Dustin managed to snag it and read it over while Dash was lost in thought.

“Hmm,” he mused around a mouthful of pizza. “Well...about what I’d expect,” he finally admitted. He was just grateful business at the mine was picking up. He used one of his feet to snag one of the loops of his bag, pulling it up towards him with his free hand after getting it off the floor. “Let’s see…”

That was a small bag of bits just being dropped on the folder.

Bulky trotted by and stopped dead as he saw the bag on the folder. “You sure dude?” He raised a brow at Dustin.

“Yeah, keep the change as a tip,” Dustin nodded at the stallion. Oh right...he was basically a fox version of Rarity. Except as athletic as Dash and...okay so he was a different person entirely but she could see aspects of her friends in him.

“Well… wow… Thanks. You two have an excellent day!” Bulky grinned and trotted away with the folder and bag in tow.

“Like a male Rarity… kind of… ish?” She screwed up her face as she thought. She shook her head clear then looked at the fox. “What do you wanna do now?”

“I should probably visit the mine,” the fox sighed. “Things won’t get any better by ignoring them, and that was the last of the bits it pulled in the last time I visited.”

“Want some backup in case the bitches come after you?” Dash asked as she hopped out of the booth to the floor.

“I mean, I won’t make you come with, it’s probably not going to be exciting at all,” Dustin mused.

“Well I can be morale support then.” She grinned at him.

Dustin snorted as he left the booth as well, grateful she’d kept her hooves to herself long enough that there was nothing visible in his pants. Today was going to be interesting, wasn’t it?

It was Monday, and Dustin was walking through the market as per his usual after his normal morning workout. Yesterday had been...interesting when Dash showed up at the mines. Never before had he seen dogs so quick to obey someone that wasn’t him for their usual drilling. According to Flint, the last time a pony had scared them that bad had been Rarity.

There was the flapping of wings and Rainbow landed next to him. “Hey.” She said nonchalantly.

“Oh, hi,” Dustin replied, one hand automatically going to pet Dash behind the ears. She herself had said that claws scratching her there had been awesome, and Dustin had wisely refrained from commenting how dog-like she looked with one leg kicking when he did it.

“Mmmmnnn…” She grunted and her leg twitched. She yanked away and shook herself, shooting him a glare. “Stop that.” She snorted. “So, question.”

“I’m listening, though no promises on the stopping front,” Dustin said as they walked with no destination in mind. As if to punctuate his statement, his hand twitched towards her for a faction of a second.

She jerked away slightly. “I was wondering… ifIcouldmakeyoudinner?!” She spat out quickly, trying not to blush.

“...You are aware of how much I can eat, right?” Dustin pointed out. “The cleanup effort alone would probably make you think twice about ever doing it again.”

She hovered at shoulder height. “Well I could cook and you could clean up.” She pouted a little.

“Sure, we can do that,” Dustin nodded. “Have you already got the stuff back at your place?”

“Yeah, I even got a bottled spell from Twilight and Zecora.” She said proudly.

“...What for?” Dustin questioned the mare. Why would she need magic to cook?

“So you can walk on clouds, duh.” She stuck her tongue out at him.

“...Oh, yeah, that’d be important,” the fox admitted. He did not feel like meeting gravity today.

“Oh! Idea! I know a place! I want to get something nice for tonight.” She grinned, almost hopping in place, in mid-air.

“Ah, well...okay then,” Dustin said, letting the mare lead him to wherever she had planned. Only, it wasn’t Rarity’s…

It was a shop at the end of an alley that Dustin hadn’t even seen before. Probably a good thing because when Dash opened the door, Dustin was almost floored.

Dash looked back. “You coming?”

“Dash I’m fairly certain this is not a family shop,” the fox managed to squeak out, just barely following her into the shop as his cheeks turned bright red.

“Duh, this isn’t for fillies.” Dash snickered.

The Stallion behind the counter looked up from his magazine and pointed. “Family Planning, Aisle Three.”

...okay, Dustin did not need to see that many inter-species ‘helper’ potions. Or regular helper potions, or...what even was heat inducers?

“No need, Fred.” Dash actually giggled. “I- We’re here for something more along the lines of clothes.”

“You know where.” ‘Fred’ replied and went back to his magazine.

“This way.” Rainbow hovered like a little ball of electricity towards the back of the shop. Dustin resolved to just keep his eyes glued to the floor and not look at anything that was on any of the racks. Just keep calm, cool, collected...He wasn’t going to let it get to him.

“You’re so stiff.” Rainbow commented. “Relax. Nothing is going to bite you. Not even me. Now what should I pick first?” There was a moment of silence. “Hey, Dustin. Look at me.”

The fox dared to look up at last. Looking at Dash wasn’t going to hurt him, right? Just keep focused on Dash and-

She was wearing dark blue socks on all four hooves and a white apron that simply read ‘fuck the cook’.

“Meep,” the fox gulped. “Some might say that meant you had...plans for after dinner,” he pointed out as he tried to control himself.

“Maaaybe.” She smirked and whirled around with a flick of her tail. “Now stay there while I find something else fun.”

Dustin snuffed and shuddered as she turned around to the changing room. There was...the smell of something in the air. Something spicy that he couldn’t easily ignore...with either head.

“Am I distracting you already?” She asked as she came back out wearing a full french maid outfit. She did a little twirl in the air. “How do I look?” She dropped her fake duster and bend all the way over to grab it. Conveniently, or possibly not, she didn’t have anything on under the skirt.

“I’m...not sure Rarity would approve of the uniform being used like that,” Dustin squeaked again. A quick glance to his pants would tell Dash that she was certainly having an effect on him.

She turned her head to look at him, with very sultry eyes. “So? What do you want me to use it for?”

“I...I…” the fox was looking at the ceiling. His cheeks were bright red, and there was that familiar, thick-as-her-leg bulge in his pants.

She suddenly straightened. “Well, I have two outfits that I need to buy.” She smiled happily and trotted into the small changing station. The curtain of the door didn’t close as she looked at him. “You know you can come in with me, right? Don’t you want to undress me?”

Dustin could not blush any brighter. If he could, he’d probably have steam boiling out of his ears as he closed his eyes in an attempt to not look at the blue succubus he’d acquired for a girlfriend. Marefriend. Too damn horny-friend.

“There’s a twenty bit fee for fucking in the changing room.” Fred’s voice called out. “Just to let you know ahead of time. Forty if you make a mess.”

“Thanks Fred.” Dash called back.

“I’m...going to wait outside,” Dustin finally said in a small voice. Maybe now he could calm down. And now he was grateful that he had more pairs of pants than the one. He might need to change them.

A couple minutes of cooldown time later and Dash came out holding bags. “I’m back! You good?” She asked, her face seemed to have fallen a bit. “I’m not going too far with you am I?”

Dustin shook his head as he scratched Dash behind the ears. “I’m just not used to anyone showing that much interest in me,” he explained. “Plus I um...might be out of practice with anything past kissing,” he admitted bashfully.

“And here I am worried about pushing you away. I guess you could say that that’s how I show affection?” She smiled weakly only for her flirty confidence to come back with a vengeance. “You know, you can always practice on me.”

“Yes, you made that quite abundantly clear in there,” Dustin blushed again. “Not really afraid to show off, are you?”

“To you, heck no.” She grinned at him. “It’s…. exciting knowing that I can get that kind of reaction from you.”

“I think a male would have to be dead to not get a reaction from that,” Dustin muttered.

“Yes, yes, keep stoking.” Rainbow puffed out her chest proudly.

“You’re incorrigible,” the fox huffed. “Dinner at your place then. What time, and where’s the spell, or are you going to pick me up?”

“Yes, five, I have to get it, and yes.” Dash rattled off. “See you then, or do you want to spend the rest of the day together?”

“I think I’ve seen quite enough for one day,” the fox deadpanned. “I’m going to work on some administration at the mines before you give me a nosebleed.”

“You have enough blood left for that?” The rainbow-maned pegasus teased. That only got the fox to blush and huff as he looked away again.

“Fine, fine, should I pick you up there then?” She asked with a smile.

“Nah, I’ll go to Rarity’s and at least shower beforehand,” the fox replied, calming down a little. “Wanna smell better than sweaty dog for our date.”

“But you smell good already.” Dash pouted with a huff.

“I won’t after two hours in the mine,” the fox warned. “See you at Rare’s then.” He gave the mare one last, good scratch behind the ears before they parted ways.

Rainbow Dash hummed happily as she hovered down to the front of Carousel Boutique. She knocked on the door only to get a singsong response of “Just a min-ute!”

The door swung open to reveal a beaming Rarity. “Dash! Hello! Come in, come in! Dustin should be down soon enough.”

“Kay…” Rainbow blinked as she trotted inside. She stood there awkwardly for a moment before Rarity popped her head out of a side room.

“What are you doing, come wait in here.” Rarity said in a wait that didn’t broker argument.

“Fine, fine.” Dash rolled her eyes and trotted in.

“So I see you’re wearing an apron, don’t tell me you’re going to cook for him.” Rarity tittered.

Dash blushed and puffed up a little. “I am in fact, yeah!”

“Well can I see it? I might be able to find, or make, a better one for you.” Rarity made to raise a hoof to it.

Rainbow skittered backwards with a bright blush on her cheeks. “No, no! This is perfect! This is… special.”

Rarity blinked. “Oh. Oh! I see! I’m terribly sorry dear.”

“It’sfine.” Dash muttered, wondering when Dustin was going to get here.

There was the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs, which were very distinctive as there was only half as many as a set of hoofsteps would make. Dustin, in a nice set of black pants, walked into the room. “I heard voices,” he explained, “And my tail is finally dry, so I assume it’s time for our date.”

“Dustin!” Dash immediately perked up.

“There you are.” Rarity said with a smile. “Dash here was getting nervous.” She tittered.

“No I wasn’t!” Dash snapped as her wings flared.

“Well the only thing I’m nervous about is if she has the bottled potion so I don’t meet the ground after she’s done airlifting me to her house,” the fox said with a chuckle. Puffed up Dash was adorable.

Dash stuffed her hoof into the inside of the apron and pulled out a bottle filled with cloudy blue liquid. “Here ya go. It’s supposed to last twenty-four hours.”

“Oh, cool,” Dustin said, taking the small bottle, uncorking it, and downing it in one gulp. He also tried not to think of the fact that it smelled like a storm, because that was dangerously close to rain, and he already had an association with that smell, thank you very much.

“Should I go get a cloud to test it just in case?” Dash asked, hovering up off the ground.

“Probably a good idea, though not inside,” the Renamon pointed out. “I can’t imagine a cloud is very good for business.”

“Dash, don’t you bring anything in here.” Rarity warned as Dash flew out. “Outside with you.”

“I know, I know!” Dash complained as she flew out the front door. Dustin rolled his eyes and gave Rarity a scratch behind the ears before walking out the door as well.

Rainbow flew down, holding onto a rather puffy cloudy, holding it like it was some massive pillow. “Found one.”

“Okay, bring it a little lower and we’ll see if I can stand on it,” the fox said. After she brought it down to about knee-height, Dustin lifted a foot off the ground and carefully put it towards the cloud.

Huh. It was light and springy and actually holding his weight.

“They make the best beds.” Dash sighed happily.

“Someday I will feel what a cloud bed is like.” Rarity sighed as well, though hers was more wistful.

“Well I guess this means the potion worked,” Dustin smiled. Okay, time for dinner then. Nothing could go wrong with dinner, right?

“Awesome! Now hold on!” Dash started to push the cloud with him on it.

As the pair sped off Rarity trotted back into the boutique. “Sweetie Belle.” She called out softly in a somewhat disapproving tone.

Sweetie Belle popped her head out from behind the doorway. “Y-yeah?”

“Whatever you’re doing, stop.” Rarity said sternly.

“But-” Sweetie tried to begin.

“Sweetie, Dustin is happy. Whatever you do will probably change that, so whatever it is you’re planning, just stop.” She frowned down at the filly. “I won’t have you ruin their date.”

“But- But-” Sweetie went from worried to mad and stormed upstairs. Rarity took a breath and made sure to keep an eye on the filly for the whole night. She knew the mayhem the crusaders could cause, and at the first hint of ‘Cutie Mark Crusaders Matchmakers’ she’d alert the guard.

Dash sulked. Dinner…. Hadn’t gone well, if at all.

Normally it was supposed to be Sweetie Belle who had these sorts of cooking accidents.

Nothing was burned! But...well, after she figured out he liked both spicy food and Neightalian food, she tried to...make spicy pizza. And used far too much spice.

It was inedible. Neither of them could stomach the smell of it.

“There there,” Dustin said, scratching her behind the ears as they sat in the other room, Dash having claimed his lap the moment he sat down. “I’m sure you’ll be able to use your kitchen again...in a week.”

“I’ll never cook again.” She grumbled dourly. “Not after that.”

“Okay, look, you made two key mistakes in that,” Dustin said plainly. “One, you tried to make a dish that normally doesn’t take well to ‘hot’ spices spicy without a recipe. And two, related to one, you used far too much of the spice you did have. Trust me, a little goes a long way.”

“I guess you’re right.” She propped herself up into a sitting position. “Well, we can still salvage the night right?”

“I think it’s a little late to try making something,” Dustin mused. “Makes me miss the pizza stores back home. There was one where they’d make it for you, you took it home and baked it. It was wonderful. They even had a thing where you could put a pizza inside a pizza.”

“A what?!” She gasped. “Really?!”

“Yup,” Dustin nodded. “It was awesome.”

Dash’s ears suddenly perked up. “Wait! I got it!” She hopped off his lap. “I know just the place we can go.”

“Dinner after all?” Dustin posed to her.

“Well, we can eat there.” She bobbed her head back and forth. “It’s a karaoke bar.” She grinned up at him.

“Oh, so we get to watch others try and fail to sing?” Dustin chuckled at the idea. Then again, he hadn’t heard a bad song ever since he got here.

“That’s part of the fun!” She laughed. “So what do you think? Wanna go?”

“Sure, why not,” Dustin agreed, standing up from the couch. Now, how was he going to get there…

“What’s up?” She asked hovering next to him. “You got that thoughtful look again.”

“Just pretty sure I won’t be able to jump down, and I can’t teleport on command yet…” Dustin mused aloud.

Dash blinked. “Ooooooh right. Yeah.” She hummed.”Well, I could get you a cloud or you could ride me.” She winked at the last bit.

“You would suggest that,” the fox grumbled with an eye roll.

“Or I could ride you.” She smirked at him. That got the splutter and blush she was looking for.

“Let’s...just go before your apron rings true,” Dustin muttered.

“Alrighty.” Dash flew off to get a cloud.

The karaoke bar wasn’t exactly loud. It seemed to be small groups, or the occasional individual at the bar itself. Also, not a single pony had gone up to sing. Though the atmosphere itself was on the upbeat side.

“Hey Dustin,” Dash spoke up, “What do you think?”

“I think it’s a sad excuse for a karaoke bar if nobody’s singing,” the fox snorted, huffing a little. “I just hope the food’s good, I’m dying for a good onion ring.”

“Well…. While we wait…. You should get up there and sing.” Dash grinned eagerly pointing a hoof at the small raised stage.

“What.” The fox blinked a few times. “I mean, I did take a year of singing lessons and I know my range pretty well but...that doesn’t mean I-”

“Come on! Please?” She almost pleaded, giving him puppy dog eyes.

“Ack! Fine, fine...I know a song or two,” the fox admitted. “I’ll sing one.”

“Yes!” Dash hoof-pumped. “Awesome!”

Dustin was glad there were no spotlights as he got up on the stage, tapping the microphone a few times to make sure it was on. The thumping noise from the speakers told him it was. “Um...evening, everyone,” he greeted the bar. “So, this song goes out to a pesky pegasus who wants to hear me croon.”

And then, Dustin began to sing.

Dash’s jaw dropped, as did most of the other patrons. The whole bar quieted as he sang. More than one pony came in from outside to hear who was singing. It was-

“Awesome…” Dash breathed, her eyes locked on her foxfriend. He had definitely made her night after she screwed up dinner.

“I, uh, hope I did that song justice,” Dustin chuckled as he stepped away from the mic.

There was an almost stillness to the bar. Until everyone burst into a stomping of hooves.

“Dustin! Oh My Gosh!” Dash flew up to him. “That. Was. Amazing!”

“Ah well, it’s just one of the songs I know well enough to bring out on demand, it’s sorta stuck in my head,” the fox admitted, rubbing the back of his head.

“We need to do this again.” Dash grinned. “Now let’s eat! Food got here when you were singing.”

Dash burped loudly as they walked back towards Carousel Boutique. “Yeah… Good night. Really good night. Thanks Dustin.”

“Hey, all I did was sing, you provided the venue,” the fox replied. “Also I need to get the other guys in on the singing, it’s supposed to be done by a quartet at least.”

“We need to get more ponies here. Maybe make it a weekly thing.” Dash hummed in thought. “Still was a great day though.”

“Yeah, thanks for the date Dash,” Dustin smiled, one hand creeping up through her mane to give her a head-scratching. This time she leaned into his scratches.

Soon they arrived at the Boutique. “I suppose this is good night.” Dash hovered up in front of him.

“Yeah, I had fun tonight,” Dustin admitted, turning to Dash and-

She quickly rushed forward and pecked him on the lips. Blushing madly, she hovered away. “Yeah… Thanks for... everything Dustin. Night.” With that she flew off.

...If one could see into Dustin’s brain, they would be greeted with a looping blue screen of death.

“Dustin.” Rarity called out from inside. “You might be furry but you’re going to freeze to death if you stay out there. Come inside. Oh, and tell me all about your day.”

Return of the Suri

The loud whistle of the train split the silence as steam billowed from the engine. A posh mare sniffed the air and pulled a disgusted face. “Ugh… Why would Dustin come to a hole like this?”

She trotted away from the station, confused as to why there wasn’t anypony out. It was mid-day on a Tuesday, so the place should be bustling. It wasn’t like it was a Thursday after all. A pit started to form in her stomach. Something was telling her that something was off, and she wasn’t sure if it was this podunk little town or not.

She trotted through the market, not finding a single pony. If she were a normal mare she’d be nervous by now. But she was made of sterner stuff.

Then the ground rumbled. She lost her hoofing as the ground beneath her cracked. She scrambled away. “What in Celestia’s name?!”

A deep blue-gray head shaped similar to a cone burst from the earth. There were two distinct plates that made up the upper and lower part of its head, and dorsal plates ran from its head all the way down its back to a stubby, yet sharp looking tail. Short legs, like tree trunks ended in three, plated toes each pulled the creature from the ground. It shook dirt off itself and the two beady eyes on the front of its head locked onto her. It inhaled and roared.

Suri Palomare screamed.

“Head’s up!” A voice cried out as a dark blue something landed in front of her. It was a Diamond Dog. A beautiful Diamond Dog. She just had to ha-

The dog twisted his whole body and whirled into a spinning kick that collided with the beast’s head. There was a sound like a loud clang and the beast’s head whipped back.

“Hell yeah! How do you like-” He didn’t get to finish as the head snapped back like a rubber band and smashed into him. The Diamond Dog was sent flying, sailing into, and through, a nearby house.

It roared again, then returned its gaze to Suri.

The Dressmaker whimpered.

Nothing could make this day any worse.

“Dash!” a familiar voice yelled as a yellow form blurred into being next to the shark. “I don’t think Diamond Storm’s gonna cut it! Get the civvie outta the combat zone while I act as bait!”

Suri yelped as she was unceremoniously yanked off the ground. She got a very brief view of Dustin of all ponies before her savior yelled. “Where am I putting her? She’s struggling a bit.”

She wasn’t struggling. The nerve!

“Take her to the nearest shelter, I’m going to run rings around this thing while Geralt gets his head out of his ass,” Dustin snarled. Some spikes of blue energy were shot at the creature, which only pinged off its armor and got its attention.

Suri yelped as her vision blurred. She was starting to feel very queasy. Before she could fully grasp where she was being taken, she was unceremoniously plopped on the ground.

“Get inside until the All Clear is given.” The gruff mare’s voice spoke up. As she looked up, Suri only saw a rainbow contrail flying away. While pretty-

“Well I never!” Suri snorted.

The damn thing was just too armored! Diamond storm would only work if Dustin could hit a soft spot, and by now it had learned to keep turning every time it saw that familiar blue color pop up. And Geralt had yet to make a reappearance. Being bait would only work as long as they had some heavy hitters on the field too!

There was a loud whistling sound as a blue blur slammed into the beast’s side, making it stagger sideways and collapsing its left legs. The blur ricocheted of and a somewhat dazed Rainbow Dash shook her head clear. “I got the idiot do a shelter. How you doing?” She called out then looked towards the hole in the house. “Geralt not up yet?”

“I think he had something collapse on him,” Dustin muttered, one ear flicking. “And, well it’s interested in me, but I can’t hit it with Diamond Storm. It’s just pinging off and he’s got half a brain.”

“Well it’s not one of the smart ones.” Dash grumbled as the beast righted itself, shaking its own head clear. “Growlmon and Pinkie dealt with theirs so they should be on their way.”

The beast Roared once again, then started to burrow.

“Shit! We can’t lose it again!” Dash cried as she raced forward.

Dustin took a chance and aimed at the back of one of the creature’s knees, seeing soft flesh to work with. Maybe if he annoyed it even more it’d stick around? A quick Diamond Shotgun should do the trick.

Suddenly the creature stopped. Dash didn’t and yelped in shock as it head snapped up, not only blasting her with dirt, but also violently smashing into her.

She hit the ground roughly twenty feet away. Instantly she hugged her left foreleg. “Fuuuuu…..” She grunted out through very grit teeth.

Dustin growled. He saw red, then white. And something in Dash’s bags flashed white at the same time.

Dustin shone like a small Sun. Even the beast had to back up. Rainbow had to shield her eyes with a wing.

When the light faded, Dustin was once again a nine-tailed fox. A Silver nine-tailed fox. The flames at the end of each paw and tail were an angry red. As was his eyes.

Rainbow gaped at her transformed fox-friend. He’d digivolved. The question was, did she make it happen?

Dustin, was pissed. As evidenced by the fact that he chomped onto the creature’s tail and swung him overhead to slam into the dirt. Multiple times. He didn’t even go for any special moves, he just used his new strength and anger to fill in the blanks as to what he wanted to have happen.

The beast thrashed and roared at the the new assault. In some for of self-preservation it backed up and tried to start burrowing. Emphasis on tried.

The fox merely opened it’s maw and shot a plume of fire directly at the creature, cooking it in it’s armor.

“Holy shit.” Dash said bluntly, temporarily forgetting the pain in her leg. “Dustin?”

The sound of Dash’s voice caused the red in his eyes to dim, and the fox turned to look at her. “Oh crap, Dash, are you okay?” Dustin asked, bounding over. It took until he was close to her before he realized he wasn’t bipedal anymore. “Bloody...great. At least I don’t have to think about it.”

“H-hey.” Dash laughed somewhat weakly. “You look good with four legs. Also, nine tails? That’s going to be fun.”

“Jokes later, let’s get that leg looked at, I’m not a fan of the way it’s hanging like that,” Dustin said. “Though how to move you with jostling it too bad-”

His body answered the question for him as a tail pulled away from the others, picked Dash up gently, and deposited the mare on his back.

“Aren’t you the gentlestallion. Also, how’d your tail do that? Aren’t they still sensitive?” She asked then winced. “But.. yeah let’s have this looked at.”

“Generally a good idea,” Dustin agreed as they began walking through the town. “That was the last one, right? Also, I have no clue how this body works, don’t ask me.”

There was a set of thuds as a giant red dinosaur came into view. Pinkie Pie (her mane styled into a ponytail, and with goggles on her forehead) was riding on top of his head.

“Hey Dashie!” Pinkie waved happily then saw her leg and gasped. “Did you get hurt?!”

“That’s a bit obvious hon.” Came the deep growl of Growlmon. “Dustin, congrats on turning into a shiny Silver Kyubimon, but you should probably get your marefriend to the hospital. I have to go burn off all this energy before dinner.”

“Funny, I thought the roasted landshark was dinner,” Dustin quipped.

Growlmon opened his mouth and raised a claw. Paused. Then his face screwed up in thought.

“Guilly, no.” Pinkie patted his head. “Now, to the forest!”

Dustin watched the giant dinosaur of a digimon turn and walk into the forest, though not without giving the smoking forms of the landsharks another look. “Okay, onwards,” the fox said, continuing towards the hospital. Why it was so far away from everything else he would never know.

Actually...it might be because of Tuesdays it was built as far away as it was…

On the way there, they passed by one of the shelters. A very ticked off mare was standing outside berating a stallion who honestly looked like he could care less. “Hey, there’s the mare I had to save.” Rainbow said blandly. “She was definitely worth saving.” She rolled her eyes.

Dustin...wasn’t moving. No, wait...he was shaking. Trembling really.

“Dustin?” Dash asked. “You good?”

“Su...Suri,” he managed to croak out, still shaking like a leaf.

“Suri?” Dash blinked. “Suri….” She hummed. “Wait- YOU!” Dash snapped as she scrambled off Dustin’s back. “How Fucking dare you come here after what you did to him!”

Suri shrieked and backed up.

“Do you have any idea what you did to that poor stallion?!” Dash continued. “Where do you get off locking somepony up and turning them into a fucking slave!?”

Suri scrambled backwards as the limping, yet still advancing ball of prismatic fury bore down on her. With another cry, Suri managed to get her hooves working. She beat a hasty retreat. Dash made to follow her. “Where do you think you’re going?!” She didn’t take off as as a tail wrapped around her and tugged her back onto the large silver fox’s back.

“Dustin! She’s escaping!” She cried, still pissed.

“There’s a reason she’s running,” Dustin said calmly. The thumps from Growlmon going to the nearby forest had returned. Apparently Pinkie had a twitch for ‘psychotic fashion mare’.

“Well…. That was great.” Dash grumbled as she pouted on Dustin’s back. He had to carry her out of the hospital. “How the flying fuck, is this,” She lightly waved her leg in a cast. “A sprain?! I. Should. Have. Broken, that thing hit me so hard. I should have broken legs, cracked ribs, internal bleeding, something!” She continued to rant as Dustin walked. “What kind of backasswards physics made this,” she shook her cast again, “a sprain?!” She took a deep breath. “I wanna drink, you wanna drink? We should go drinking. Celebrate your digivolution and my breaking of the laws of magic and physics.”

“On the latter note, my current working theory is that ponies are made of rubber, and bounce when they hit the ground,” Dustin commented airily. “And didn’t the doctor tell you not to drink while the cast was on?”

“Fuck that, I need a drink.” Dash grumbled, crossing a forehoof over her chest.

“Tell you what, you tell me of a place where they’ll disobey doctor’s orders to give you a drink, and I’ll take you there,” the fox said with a chuckle as one of his tails leaned down to tickle Dash between her wings.

She eep’d then melted against him with a quite pleased moan. “Yes, Dustin, right there....”

...Okaaaay, he just wanted to pet the pony. It wasn’t about to get weird, right? His tail rubbed between her wings again for a test.

She pressed her chest against his back as her wings flared. That got a loud gasp.

...Maybe she just liked being pet there? It wasn’t like it was sexual, right?

“Dustin, please keep rubbing there…” She breathed, panting a little.

“Dash, you would tell me if this was a sex thing, right?” the fox deadpanned, not moving the tail one way or another.

There a pause as she stiffened slightly. “...Maybe?”

“I’ve changed my mind, you clearly need nothing more than a good night’s sleep,” the fox said in a cheery tone.

She sat bolt upright. “Wait What?!”

“Doctor’s orders~” the fox sang. “Unless of course you were going to be honest with me…”

There was a moment. “Yes.” She said quietly. “Yes it was a sex thing.”

“Mhm. And were you going to tell me before you moistened my fur coat or after?” The fox tapped her head with one of his tails.

“After… It was going to be a surprise….” He was quite sure she was blushing at this point.

“Horny little blueberry,” Dustin quipped.

“I wanna be your horny little blueberry.” She muttered.

“Foxes have ears too you know,” her ride deadpanned.

“...Oh…” Was her slow response. “You heard that?”

“There’s very little I don’t hear,” Dustin answered. “Now come on. Let’s get drunk enough to where I forget I heard that.”

“I can get behind that!” Dash instantly brightened. “To Alcohol!”

Dustin didn’t know how he’d found himself drinking ‘one of everything’. Or how he wasn’t blackout drunk yet. He was certainly staggering, that much was for sure. Digimon apparently handled alcohol like everything else: It would take a lot before he’d notice.

“Hey, hey, HEY! Dustin!” Dash said through giggles as she tried to walk next to him. “Hey, guess what?”

“Daaaash, yur s’pposed to be on my back,” the fox pointed out, one tail jerking around a fair bit before it just laid on her back. It took three attempts before it picked her up and deposited her on her ‘designated driver’ for the night.

“I wan’ to be on my back.” She giggled and nuzzled into the fluff around his neck. “And I want- want you to take me. Like whereever.” She reached out to a tail and grabbed it. “C’mere.” She hugged it to her chest.

“Yer drunk, Dash,” the fox slurred out as they kept walking through the streets. Was...was it a left here? No, he was supposed to go right. “Also, whaaaaat are you doin’ with that?”

“Whatever I wan’.” She nuzzled the fluffy tail. “Yer so soft an’ warm. Can I make you hard and warm?”

“You do dat a lot,” the fox pointed out as he meandered his way through the streets of Ponyville. “Like, every day. Do you ge’ off on it or sumthin?”

She gasped. “I do?!” Then she giggled more. “Yes. A lot actually. Yer amazing Dustin. I jus’ want you. And… And I jus’ want you to want me.”

There was a bit of silence then, and Dash was almost afraid she’d said the wrong thing. Then the fox spoke up again. “I...I’m ‘fraid of hurting you,” he admitted. “Yer only a small pone.”

“I can take it.” She said confidently. “I’ll show you I can take all of it. You’ll see!”

“Whatever you say,” the fox chuckled. Oh, there was the boutique. He began wandering towards his bed, still only barely on his paws.

“Hey, there is it. We’re almost home! Yay!” She cheered. “Wait, how we gettin’ inside? You don’ have pawhandthings.”

“...How do I key without hands?” Dustin muttered as he got closer. Then his body answered, one tail going to the door handle and shakily opening it. “Oh. Dat will werk.”

“Yay…” Dash squirmed until she was back up near his floof.

“Oh good, I was beginning to worry. Did you two have fun?” Rarity peeked her head out of the kitchen.

“We drank… Everything. It was great.” Dash said doing small hoofie kicks on her back. One of Dustin’s tails was rubbing Dash’s belly now, and the fox didn’t seem to be aware of what was going on with his tail. A subconscious thing?

“I’m puttin’ us to bed,” the fox declared dramatically, one paw raised high. “Afore we do something stupid.”

“Nooo! Stupid stuff!” Dash whined.

“Oh dear, well you should probably head up then.” Rarity giggled. “Though you might have to work to fit in the door.”

“He’ll do tha same ta me!” Dash announced.

“I can fit through enny door,” the fox huffed, squaring off against the door in front of him. He got one shoulder in before he realized that wasn’t going to work. Then he laid on the ground and put his paws through first, trying to stand up through the doorway. That...also didn’t work. He wasn’t a cat.

“Stupid door,” Dustin huffed. “Why can’t I teleport?”

“Hey hey, you get through that door an’ I’ll suck yer dick.” Dash drawled a little. “I can take more than you’d think too.”

Dustin’s ears perked as he looked at the door one more time. “Okay. Okay okay okay. I can do this. It’s...it’s like getting a running start, but without the running. I just gotta go fast!”

The fox jumped at the door frame and managed to get his shoulders through with a popping noise. He wiggled forward, jostling Dash only a little until his hips got stuck. The silver fox screwed his face up and pulled himself forward, and suddenly he was in the foyer in all his shiny majesty.

“I coulda pushed ya.” Dash giggled. “Maybe… I’d prob’bly be distracted.”

“Bed,” Dustin declared as he wobbled a little, before heading for the stairs.

“Yussss bed.” Dash nuzzled his fluff. “That dick needs some attention an’ so do I.”

“Have a good night you two.” Rarity replied sitting at the kitchen table and lightly blowing on her tea. She could still hear everything.

“Okay...on the bed with the horny blueberry.” That was Dustin’s refined voice.

“Oh, comfy.” Dash’s rather rough voice cooed. “C’mere. On the bed.”

“Alright, alright…” The squeak of bedsprings complaining. That could only be because he was up there. “Now what? Din’t think this through, didya?”

“No…. but I’m not complaining.” She giggled. “You smell nice… Silver Fox.”

“M’not old, and normally I’m golden,” the fox complained. “Also, be careful what you rub with that hoof of yours.”

“Where?” There was a pause. “Here?”

“Mmmmmmrrrr...lower.”

“Oh rlly… Here?”

“Lower.” That was nearly a growl.

“Yes… master….” There was a pause. “There it is…. It’s so mppph-!”

“You talk too much.”

The only noise was a half-mumbled affirmation.

“Mmmmm...you were right, this is good. Now...let’s see how much you can take.”

Rarity, her face a nice shade of bright red, finally decided to soundproof their roof with a quick spell. “Oh goodness.”

She breathed, taking a sip of her tea. “I should probably let Twilight know. She’s been the one keeping track.” She gave a soft titter. “I can’t believe that I won for once!”

Author's Note

Yay two more chapters today! If everything works out, we might have another one tomorrow. Here's hoping!

The Morning after the Storm

Dash woke up and instantly wished she hadn’t. Her head ached like somepony was trying to drive a nail through it, her mouth was dry, and…

Well not everything was bad. For one, not all her aches were of pain. Some were a remnant of what happened last night. Plus she was cuddling something furry and warm. So clearly she’d gotten Dustin to sleep with her.

Now if only she could remember everything that happened. Cracking an eye open made her slam it shut again as the light sent pain directly into her brain.

Everything hurt. Places that really shouldn’t hurt, hurt. She groaned, rolling over. Then she felt something shift against her chest. She cracked an eye open. Something small and yellow was nestled against her chest, and she herself was cradling it with her good foreleg. She blinked.

Hazy memories slowly trickled into her mind. Drinking. Lots of drinking. Then….

Her eyes snapped open fully.

“FUCK!”

“Nah anymore, Dashie…” the fuzzy thing grumbled, nuzzling into her chest. Okay, that was Dustin’s voice. Yes, it was slightly higher pitched, but it was his voice.

“Dustin?” Dash asked the small fuzzball.

“Yeah?” Two small blue eyes opened on the front of the ball, before they blinked a few times. “When did you get bigger than me?” he questioned. Okay, his voice should not be that cute.

She snorted. “You’re so tiny!” She gave him a small squeeze.

“Ack!” the ball of fur gasped. “...Okay, how did this happen?” the proto-fox asked.

“Well Guilmon had the same thing happen to him after he wore out his energy from being Growlmon, at least at first.” Dash hummed then frowned and grumbled. “Right…. Last night…”

“Last...Ow.” Dustin winced. “I...vaguely remember something about drinks?” he offered.

“We drank. Maybe too much. Then….” She paused. “We… slept… together….” She winced, though her voice sounded more sad than irritated.

“...Oh.” Dustin said plainly. “Okay then. Well, um, do you, regret that decision?” the fox decided to ask.

“NO!” She shouted loud enough to hurt both their throbbing heads. She winced again. “No.” She said much more quietly. “I just…. Wanted it to be… special. I’d prefer to remember it clearly.”

“I can understand that,” Dustin said with a small chuckle. “I prefer to put effort into the endeavor as well. As it stands, all I have right now is a vague stickyness and a need to wash.”

Dash flicked her tail a bit and twitched. “Yeah… bath. A bath would be great.” She shifted a little. “Could you scoot over a bit?”

“Oh? Sure.” The ball of fur scooted out from nuzzling her chest and lay down elsewhere on the bed. “I’m smaller than Sweetie,” he complained. “Heck, I’m probably smaller than Opal.”

Dash scooted over and half-flopped to the floor. Somewhat stiffly, she got to her hooves. Taking a look at the small fox she noted that he was basically a yellow ball with four stubby legs, a pair of ears, and a tuft of tail coming out the back. She couldn’t help but smile. “Okay, get on.” She nodded to her back.

Dustin blinked before smirking. “Bonzai!” he cheered, jumping from the bed and landing squarely between the pegasi’s wings.

“Nnngh!” Dash stiffened at the unexpected impact. She shivered. “I should’ve guessed.” She muttered as she walked towards the door. As she opened the door she almost ran into Rarity, who had her hoof raised to knock.

“Gah!” Rarity yelped.

“Bluh! Rarity? What are you doing?!” Rainbow spluttered.

“I was double-checking on you two.” Rarity replied, catching her breath. “Morning. Where’s Dustin?”

“Shrunken, but here,” Dustin said, clambering up Dash’s back until he could stand on top of her head.

Rarity’s eyes widened. “Oh Goodness!” She titered. “You are just adorable!”

“I just hope there’s an easy fix, I liked having hands,” the fox countered.

“Well, food tends to fix that.” Dash mentioned.

“You could use a bath first, unless you’d like ponies smelling like… that.” Rarity crinkled her nose a bit.

“We were on the way to do that until you interrupted.” Dash raised a brow.

“Oh! So sorry.” Rarity stepped aside. “Do you two need anything?”

Dash shook her head then tried to look up at Dustin.

“A way to recover memories after last night would be awesome, but I’m not holding my breath,” the fox deadpanned. “C’mon Dash, at least it’s a short walk of shame to the shower.”

“Nope.” She shook her head and trotted towards the bathroom. “I bet you like having a mount for once.” She chuckled softly as she shut the door.

“The cons to being small enough to ride you are pretty fuckin’ massive,” the fox answered easily. “I want my hands back at least.” He hopped down and walked into the shower, not coming any higher than Dash’s leg.

She stepped over him and tugged the shower curtain closed. She turned, only to see the small fox glaring at the temperature knobs. “Need some help there, or do you plan to turn them with your mind?”

“I’ll figure out psychic powers if I have to,” the fox huffed, sitting back and making reaching motions with his forelegs. Stubby as they were and he was, he still wasn’t giving up.

She bent down and nudged him onto her head then slowly lifted him so he could reach the knobs. “There you go.”

“I hate being small,” the fox huffed as he turned the knobs for a nice, blazing hot shower.

“Gah!” Dash yelped as the water hit her, causing Dustin to slide off her head. The fox impacted the tiles face first and let out his own muffled yelp, before he rolled onto his back, waving his stubby legs in the air.

“Help?” he asked, his tuft of tail twitching slightly.

Giggling, she used her wings to pick him up and deposit him on her back. “Better?”

“Yeah,” Dustin sighed as he let the water wash over him, nuzzling into Dash’s back. “Let’s get clean and then get me some food.” His little tuft of tail tickled between the mare’s wings as he tried not to fall off again.

Dash shook herself a little, as her wings twitched. “Sounds good.” She frowned and glanced at the various bottles around. “Soooo what are we using?”

“Idunno, I usually grab the first bottle of shampoo that doesn’t look like a fruit basket and go from there,” Dustin shrugged, or tried to anyways.

“Riiiight.” Dash hummed and pointed at a bottle. “Eenie.” She pointed at another. “Meenie.” SHe pointed at a third. “You.” She grabbed a white bottle and dumped a copious amount of soap on her hoof and mashed it into her mane. She scraped a bit off and and patted it on the fox. She hummed and nudged her wings until he slid off. She then plopped onto her haunches and held Dustin, scrubbing the soap all over the fuzzy ball.

“Ackpth! Hey! Careful there! Watch the hooves! Just because I’m a ball now doesn’t mean you can be rough with me!” The ball of fur commented all throughout his washing process. It was borderline adorable. Like washing a foal.

“Technically, I already was.” She giggled, setting him down to rinse off as she soaped herself up. “Now if I could only remember the details.”

“Eh, I’m sure one of those fancy hornheads can figure something out,” Dustin said as he got under the spray of the water to get himself cleansed of soap. “While they’re at it, they can get rid of my hangover too. There’s a dull thumping just behind my eyeballs that can stop any second now and I’d be happy.”

“Iduuno.” Rainbow shrugged, rinsing the soap out of her mane. “If they do have something, I’ve never heard of it. Though coffee always works for me.” She paused. “Oooooo coffeeee… Yeah we’re going to Sugarcube Corner to feed you. They also have coffee. Coffee’s good.”

“Sounds goooooo…” the fox trailed off as he looked up. Um. Dash was bigger than him and over him and that was awfully close. His face turned red as he tried to turn around and look away.

She looked down, staring through her soaked mane. “Dude, you’re pink. S’up?”

“...How do foals not end up as perverts?” the fox muttered, doing his best to roll the way he wanted to go: out of the shower.

“Huh?” Dash asked, blinking as she turned the knobs off, and turned to open the shower curtain. “What was that?”

“Nothing!” the fox blurted out, still blushing. “Let’s...let’s go get some food, yeah?” Food sounded good. Being big again sounded like the best idea ever.

“Absolutely.” Dash nodded and tugged a towel down, unceremoniously dropping it on the dripping fluffball.

“My vengeance shall be swift and unexpected,” the ball of wet fur vowed.

“Of course it will.” Dash grinned as she picked the bundle up and rubbed it vigorously. “How’s that vengeance going?”

“Why-y-y-y do you hate me so muuuuuuuch?” the fox asked as he was vibrated back and forth. To be fair, it was getting him dry. He just didn’t expect to be thrown into a drying cycle on ‘tumble’.

She set the bundle down and unwrapped it slowly. She was unsurprised to find a yellow ball of fluff that looked kinda like a daffodil. “C-cute…” She breathed.

“I am going to get you back for this,” Dustin vowed. “You won’t know where or when. All you’ll know is that I was responsible.”

“You’re so cute when you threaten.” Dash said in baby talk as she scooted him off the towel so she could start drying herself, starting with her mane. The ball of fur huffed to himself as he walked over to the bathroom door. Once more glaring at his new nemesis of doorknobs, the fox laid himself on the ground and waited.

Dash tossed the towel onto the counter and trotted over to the door. Using her wing, she picked up the yellow ball of fury and deposited him on her back, then opened the door. “To breakfast.”

---(ellipsis)---

Dash watched the yellow ball inhale yet another spiced bread roll. She hummed in thought, barely touching her coffee. “So… hey. Ummm, Dustin?”

The ball of fur paused halfway through his latest roll. Pinkie had nailed the recipe perfectly. He would be buying all of these later. “Yus?” he asked around a mouthful of bread.

“A-about last night…” She looked unsure. “You… You know I’m not using you right?”

The fox swallowed his mouthful of bread. “I’m pretty sure we were both drunk and just took things to a natural conclusion,” the fox stated idly. “If you were ‘using’ me, then I’m pretty sure I did the same thing back.”

“W-well…” She chewed her lip and looked away. “Look, I know I flirt and tease you a lot. I just...“ She groaned and ran hoof over her face. “I wanted it to be special. Memorable. To me there’s a big difference in getting a rise out of you and actually fucking. No. Wrong term.” Her voice lowered. “Making love.” She actually blushed at that.

The ball of fur coughed and looked away. “Yeah, I kinda picked up on the teasing thing,” he admitted. “Sometime around the sixth time you flashed me. Or tried to catch a peek.” He glanced back with a slight smirk, though his blush didn’t fade. “It’s why I call you my dirty little blueberry,” he admitted. “And uh...I guess I’m kinda sorry that it happened the way it did as well. I was raised to be chivalrous and I just sorta...completely fucked up our first time by getting drunk with you.”

“Chivalrous?” She smiled a little at that, looking back to him. “So, what does that make you my knight, or something?”

“Well I just sort of call it ‘common sense,’” the fox admitted with a slight drawl. “Like respecting your female, holding the door for them when you’re going somewhere, asking their opinion first before making a decision, including them in anything you’re trying to decide that might affect the both of you. Less duels of honor, more having a brain attached to your spinal cord.”

“Uh huh. A brain, I’ve heard of those.” Rainbow chuckled, taking a drink of her coffee. “Something that Twilight and Applejack seem to think that I don’t have just because I go flying off into danger…. Without thinking.” She frowned at the last bit.

“Hey,” Dustin said, putting a stubby leg on one of hers. “Wanting to protect your friends is admirable. Granted,” he admitted, “There’s a difference between charging into danger without knowing the facts and being the first one on the front lines as part of a unit. It always pays to know just what’s going on and where you can help most before you decide for everyone else what you’ll do. That way, you don’t end up as someone needing to be rescued, making the situation worse.”

“Uh huh.” She nodded with a blink. “I’d say that we got off topic a bit, but this whole conversation has been a bit…. Windy.” She said waving her uninjured hoof.

“Yeah, I play mental hopscotch a lot too,” the fox chuckled, heading back to his bread. “So you were saying something about not just using me for sex,” he said bluntly, before digging back into his bread.

“Right! Right…” She sighed. “So… I like you. Honestly. I don’t want to screw this up. If you want to, I don’t know, start over, or something? Or, or let me know what I can do to not screw this up?” Dash scrunched her face up as she tried to put thoughts into words.

Dustin finished his loaf off and took a breath. “Right. Okay. Well,” he started his train of thought with, “I don’t want you to stop being you,” was the first thing to come to mind. “Because honestly, you’re fun to be around. You seem to have picked me, and I can see that you’re a cool mare who sticks by her friends, and I’d be an idiot to turn that down. Honestly, some days I need a friend like you to help me not take myself so seriously, so, I’m happy to have you as my marefriend. And as for starting over…” He walked back to Dash’s side and put his stubby leg on her flank, “I’m partially to blame, remember? I drank as well, and I decided to let you goad me into the idea of ‘one of everything.’ Which is about where my memories stop. I mean, if you would like a nice dinner, I wouldn’t say no…” Actually, that gave Dustin an idea.

“I’d like that.” She smiled, then paled a bit. “Wait, is this going to be something fancy? Do I need to wear something nice? Do I need to go to Rarity?”

“Dash!” Dustin snapped her out of it. “I have a plan, okay? I just need to visit the market for some ingredients, and then we’ll have a nice dinner at home, okay?” He needed more than ingredients. He was already compiling a mental list. “For now, let’s focus on jamming this bread down my gullet until I have hands again.”

“Ugh…” There came a noise of disgust from nearby. Dash’s ear flicked as she looked up to see Spoiled Rich not a few feet from them, holding a to go cup.

Dash frowned. “What? You got a problem?”

“Oh no.” Spoiled waved a hoof and shook her head. “I’m just surprised you can eat with That on the table. You can’t just have your pets on the table.”

“Pet?!” Dash snapped. “That!” She pointed her cast covered hoof at Dustin. “Is my foxfriend.”

Spoiled blinked. “What?” She glanced between the two, then her eyes widened. “That’s disgusting!”

The commotion had gotten some attention. “Whoa, hey. Everybody calm down.” Guilmon plodded up in his apron. “What’s going on?”

“I demand you throw her and her pet out!” Spoiled thrust a hoof in the pair’s direction.

Guilmon raised a brow and looked at Dash and Dustin. “Dash.” He nodded. “Dustin. You know you look cute as a Viximon.”

“It’s only been a morning and I already miss my hands,” the fox grumbled. “I need all the bread, Guile.”

“I know your pain.” Guilmon nodded as Spoiled yelped at the talking puffball. “Don’t worry, we’ve got more coming out soon.”

“I can’t believe you- you serve…” Guilmon cut off Spoiled with a raised claw.

“Ma’am, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.” He frowned. “You’re upsetting our customers.”

“Don’t you know who I am?” Spoiled shrieked.

“Unfortunately.” Guilmon deadpanned. “Misses Rich, you seriously need to leave. If you keep harassing customers I’ll have to get higher powers involved.”

“You wouldn’t dare call that dog!” Spoiled snapped, yet paled slightly.

“Wolf actually.” The aforementioned blue werewolf announced. As the door shut behind him, Pinkie returned to the mare the counter. “Misses Rich I think we need to have a talk with your husband about your behavior lately.”

Spoiled paled even further as the werewolf opened the door and gestured out. Somewhat stiffly Spoiled walked out the door and the pair left.

Guilmon dragged a claw down his face “Oh fuuuu…..”, He paused, looked up, and, not seeing any children, “uuuck.”

Dash slumped in her seat. “This is why we can’t have anything nice in Ponyville. What I wouldn’t give for some proper guards some times.”

“Eh, give the guard-dogs some more time under you and Geralt, I’m sure we’ll end up with a right proper scary force of barking mad lunatics,” Dustin quipped.

“Huh… A Guard made up of fully-trained Diamond Dogs.” Guilmon scratched his chin. “I should bring that up to Mayor Mare.” He shook his head. “Later.” He turned around and waved. “Sorry for the disturbance folks. Everything’s cool. Please return to your breakfasts.” He turned back. “Sorry again. I’ll bring you out more bread when it’s ready.” He gave an apologetic smile and walked back to the register. As he got behind the counter, He turned and said something to Pinkie. Said mare smiled, said something back, and kissed his cheek. Then she bounced back into the kitchen.

“Huh, so that’s what a normal couple is supposed to look like.” Dash mumbled as she slid back up her seat.

“Normal is overrated,” Dustin quipped. “A saying I liked a lot back home was ‘The line between genius and insanity is a tightrope made of barbed wire.’ That sounds more fun to me. Normal means you have a boring job that you work at every day while it sucks the life out of you.” The ball of fur popped himself into Dash’s lap and nuzzled into her chest fluff. “I prefer the idea of a job that you love to do. Then it’s never really work, because you’re having fun while making money.”

“Uh huh…” Dash hummed. “I guess you’re right.” She shrugged. “Sooo… What time tonight?”

“Well first I need to get my hands back,” the little fox noted. “Then I have to work on making it just right for you.” He hummed a little in thought. “Say, six? That should be plenty of time, assuming I get any more bread anytime soon.”

“Sounds good to me.” Dash smiled. “Now finish what you have there and we’ll see if you get your hands back.”

Dustin rolled his eyes and hopped back onto the table, latching onto the last loaf of bread and devouring it quickly.

----(Ellipsis)---

The rest of the day really should have been boring since it was Wednesday. Yet as the day wore on Dash was nervous about the coming evening.

As she flew about, lost in her thoughts, a voice yanked her from them.

“Oh Dashie!” Singsonged Rarity’s voice.

Dash screeched to a halt and whirled around with a blush on her cheeks. It appeared that Rarity had been following her, as they were apparently not far from the library. Dash shot down and landed in front of her. “Don’t call me that.”

“I had to get your attention somehow.” Rarity smiled. “Now, I only wanted you to confirm something for me.”

“Yeah? What?” The still irritated pegasus asked.

“Did you and Dustin,” she coughed into a hoof, “actually consummate your partnership?”

Dash blinked for a moment. Then she blushed furiously. “Rarity!”

“I’m merely curious Dashie.” Rarity teased.

Dash’s eye twitched. “I’m… not... sure.”

“Oh dear.” Rarity frowned. “Well you two had been drinking quite heavily.” SHe suddenly brightened. “I-de-a!”

Dash leaned away from the now far too peppy mare.

“I’m sure Twilight has something that can help you remember.” Rarity grinned putting a foreleg over Dash’s withers and steered her towards the library.

“Why does it matter to you?” Dash tried in vain to tug away.

“Oh…. I just want you to remember your first time, of course!” Rarity said quickly with a nervous smile.

“Oooookay….” Dash leaned away as far as she could.

Rarity not to politely knocked on the door. “Twilight? We could use your help darling.”

The door opened to reveal Spike. “Yo.” He spoke up. “Twi’s upstairs working on a thing. You need something?” He raised a scaley brow at the pair. Dash looked like a sheep trying to get away from a wolf.

“Oh nothing major, just a minor memory spell.” Rarity nodded with a smile. “Could you go get Twilight for us?”

“Uhhh huh…” Spike stated, glancing between the pair again. “Ssssure…. Come on in.” He waddled inside and Rarity virtually dragged the prismatic pegasus in after her. Spike shot them a final, slightly worried look, then waddled upstairs.

Rarity immediately plopped Dash on the couch. “Rares… you’re up to something.” She said bluntly.

“Moi?!” Rarity gasped with her hooves over her heart. “Well I never! How could you accuse me of something devious?”

“Pretty easily.” Dash deadpanned. “There’s a bet isn’t there.”

Rarity started to sweat. “No! No, no, no, no, no……”

Dash leaned in, staring hard.

“Possibly?” Rarity squeaked.

“Oh My Fucking-” Dash flopped back onto the couch.

“Hey girls, everything okay?” Twilight’s voice grabbed both of their attention. Said purple unicorn was descending the stairs, looking somewhat confused.

Dash glared daggers at Rarity. “Sure Twilight. Everything’s greeaaaat…”

Twilight glanced from Dash to Rarity, and back. “Spike… mentioned a memory spell?”

“Yes…” Rarity said slowly, not taking her eyes off Dash as if the pegasus would pounce on her were she to look away. “You see… Dash and Dustin were… intimate last night.”

“Ooookay? Congratulations I guess?” Twilight asked with a raised brow.

“You see, they were quite inebriated.” Rarity continued as she leaned away from the mare across from her.

“Oh, I see the problem.” Twilight smiled and nodded. “You want her to remember her fir-” Twilight’s voice cut off as her eyes widened. She looked over at Rarity.

“T-Twilight? What is it?” The white mare smiled nervously.

Twilight’s eyes narrowed to a deadpan. “This isn’t about Dash remembering her first time with Dustin, is it?”

Rarity blinked at Twilight, then looked over to Dash. The pegasus just waved her uninjured hoof in a go on gesture. “W-well, th-the thing is.”

“Rainbow do you want to remember last night?” Twilight ignored the marshmallow mare.

Dash jumped as her head snapped towards the unicorn. “What? Oh! Yes!”

Twilight sighed, sat on her haunches, and rubbed the side of her head with a hoof. “Right. Since you were drinking, I won’t be able to retrieve accurate memories. Think of it as a cliff notes version.” She explained, trotting over and sitting next to the mare. “Also, are you comfortable with me viewing said memories?”

Dash blushed furiously. “Oh…. W-well…. I mean, if you’re not uncomfortable with seeing me fuck Dustin.”

“Dash! Language!” Rarity gasped.

“Oh shut it Rares, we’re only here because you’re feeling greedy.” Dash snapped.

“So is that a yes?” Twilight asked somewhat blandly, much in the way of this is my life now.

“Huh?” Dash looked back to Twilight. “Oh, yeah… And… Sorry in advance.”

“Meh.” Twilight shrugged. “Wouldn’t be the first time.”

“Wha-”

---(Ellipsis)---

It had taken quite a while to get everything prepared. The ingredients hadn’t been hard to track down, Ponyville was a farming community mostly. And Rarity had the things for a nice, fancy dinner hidden away in various cabinets in her kitchen. But Dustin knew he needed music and fine wine as well, which...were not cheap. But he got them, and now all he needed to do was set the table up properly.

His ears perked as the oven dinged, telling him the meal was ready. The fox pulled it open and removed the pan with a mitt, grateful Rarity had those lying around. He cut off two squares from his homemade lasagna, putting them on small plates which he then transferred to the table. Food, check. Record loaded in the phonograph, check. Wine?

The digimon uncorked the bottle he’d picked up and carefully poured a small measure in two crystal flutes that he’d found. Made of real crystal, they both ended up at one place at the table. Check. Now to light the candles and dinner would be ready, and not a moment too soo-

There came a knock on the front door. Right on- No wait, she’s early.

“Just a moment!” Dustin called. He lit the candles and took a step back. Perfect. Then he answered the door. It was Dash, right?

There was Dash. No dress. Nothing fancy. Just a slightly messy mane, a light blush, a smile, and a collar around her neck. “Hi.” She said, with a slight quaver in her voice.

“Come in, come in,” Dustin said, ushering her inside. “Nice collar. New fashion going around town?” he asked, making light conversation. “Ah, nevermind. Look! I got dinner set up just as you got here. Am I a master of timing or what?”

“You sure are.” She said, trotting in and turning to look at the dining area.

A table covered by a bright red tablecloth, atop which sat a single lit candle. Wine glasses filled with red wine sat on either end of the table next to what looked like lasagna. Freshly cooked, if the steam was any indication.

Dash’s jaw dropped.

“Let me just complete the scene,” Dustin said, and Dash’s head turned to see him next to the phonograph. He put the arm down and let it play the record. “It’s the newest romance song in the stores,” he admitted. And what came out of the horn…

Was very familiar. Was someone recording that night? Dustin blushed through his fur, hard.

“Is that… Is that you?” Dash asked with a slight stutter.

“Apparently,” Dustin muttered, going to take the record off. “I didn’t plan that, for the record. I just wanted some music for the night.”

“W-well it’s fitting. And not that bad for background music.” She smiled.

“...Well if you want it,” the fox sighed, going to pull out Dash’s chair for her.

“You know…” She started as she trotted over to the chair and sat down. “I remembered something.”

“Oh? Well I guess that makes one of us,” Dustin said as he walked around the table and took his own seat. He raised his glass up and angled it towards her. “To us,” he said.

She raised her glass. “To us,” She waited for him to start drinking, “Master.”

Oh, so that’s what a Renamon looked like when wine shot out of its nose.

Dustin coughed a few times, putting the wine glass down and glancing at Dash around the candles. “I’m sorry, what?” he asked.

“Master.” She repeated batting her eyelashes at him. “Turns out you have a thing for taking control.” She leaned on to the table. “And I love it.”

“I, um, I don’t remember that,” he admitted, sweating a little. “I was probably way too drunk.”

“Well, I’m going to make sure you remember.” Dash grinned suggestively. “And this collar,” she lightly tugged at it, “You’re going to snap it.”

Thaaaat was the hardest he’d blushed in a while. “Did...you come here for food or something else?” he asked in a high-pitched voice.

“Yes.” Dash hissed and pounced over the table and tackled him.

It would be an hour later before Rarity would arrive home from her ‘Don’t bet on your friends’ lecture from Twilight.

Rarity sighed as she walked in, only to freeze when she heard what was coming from the dining room. Rarity slowly walked forward, then gasped.

“Ah! No! Not on the tablecloth! What if Sweetie came in?! To your room! Out! OUT!”

Author's Note

Read Griffon Advice next.

Getting to know you

Author's Note

Read Griffon Advice before reading this chapter.

Getting to know you

“So! Dustin, for this date. We are going to pretend that you and Dash have never met.” Rarity explained as she set the dining table for a lunch she herself had prepared. “I will act as a sort of moderator if you will. Thanks to Twilight, I have been given free reign to swat either of you if I even catch a hint of anything untoward.” She hummed happily to herself as she set down three glasses. “This is simply to gage how well you two do in a normal lunch date scenario. No offense to either of you, but I do not expect this to go well and we can end it at any time. Does this make sense Darling?”

“I...guess so,” Dustin admitted with a nod. “It’s nice to know that a whirlwind romance isn’t the norm. I think the only thing missing from ours was an actual whirlwind.” He settled himself in one chair and looked at Rarity. She seemed to be confident that she could control the situation. “Wait,” he mused. “Where’s Dash?” It was kind of important that she be here for the date.

“She’ll be here.” Rarity looked over at a clock on the walk. “She should be here soon in fact.” The was a soft, tentative knock from the front door. “Ah! There she is.” She said brightly, finishing up the table, poking a knife to make sure it was lined up with the other silver.

“Ah, I thought she was hidden upstairs or something,” the fox chuckled, getting up and going to the front door. Opening it revealed…

Okay, Dash should not look adorable when she was nervous. “Afternoon,” the fox greeted the prismatic mare, opening the door wider and standing to one side.

“H-” The mare’s voice cracked and she blushed. “Hi. I’m… Rainbow Dash. Y-you’re- You’re Dustin right?” She asked, taking a step in.

It was clear that she had prettied herself up a bit. Her mane and tail weren’t as messy. He coat was clean, smelled like fresh fallen rain actually. Dustin swore that she’d actually put on a little makeup, or at least a little eyeliner.

Oh, right. He was supposed to pretend they’d not met before. Dustin coughed a few times. “I am indeed,” he agreed. “I’ve heard a lot about you from some of the mares around town, but I wanted to reserve judgement for when we got to know one another properly.” He gestured to the lunch that Rarity had set up. “My landlord recommended we have a nice lunch date to talk and bond over.”

“Yeah. Pinkie Pie and Rarity set this up.” Rainbow smiled nervously as she stood in the doorway to the dining room. “It was really nice of them.”

“Come in, come in,” Dustin continued, sweeping past the mare and pulling out a chair for her. “Here,” he said. “We’ll sit opposite each other. It’ll make it easier to look into your beautiful eyes.”

Dash’s blushed grew in intensity as she trotted over and sat down. “Thank you… Thanks… Yeah...”

The Renamon smiled and walked over to his own seat, nodding at Dash. “So, while Rarity assembles our lunch, tell me a little about yourself,” the fox urged the mare.

Rarity made sure to keep a close eye on the two. Dustin was clearly quite the gentlestallion and Dash was clearly scared out of her mind. She finished up with the salad as Dash took a breath.

“Well, I’m a weather mare for Ponyville. It’s really not that exciting to be honest.” She said with a chuckle, brushing a loose strand of mane out of her eye. “I want to be a Wonderbolt someday.” She seemed to be searching for anything to mention. “Oh, and I guess I kinda helped save the world once?”

“Now that sounds like a nice story to hear during the meal,” the fox complimented her. “As for myself, I’m just the leader of the local Diamond Dog mine. Trying to get them all up to a similar living standard as the ponies is not an easy endeavor, but it’s my dream that other mines look to mine as a standard.” He shrugged a bit after that. “Other than that, I get trained every other day by a sadistic werewolf and I play Pokemon in my spare time.”

“Werewolf…” Dash’s brow furrowed. She was starting to get into the first meeting thing. “Wait. Geralt?”

“That’s the one,” Dustin nodded. “His idea of a fun way to break my concentration during, say, ten pull-ups, is to throw golf balls at me.”

Dash giggled at that. “Yeah… That sounds like him. The first time we met, he challenged me for the title of Head of the Ponyville Dojo. It… didn’t end well.” She visibly winced and rubbed her stomach with a hoof.

“From what I understand,” Dustin mused aloud, “he’s trying to train up someone to properly fight him. Or he just enjoys the idea of pushing me until I act like a Renamon.” The digimon shook his head. “In any case, he’s not here and we don’t have to talk about him.”

Dahs jumped a little. “Right! Right.” She nodded “So…” She chewed her lip, looking away, clearly trying to think of something. “Oh! So what’s the mine like?”

“Well it’s…” the fox hummed. “It works,” he admitted. “But it’s had a string of stupid bosses. The last one wanted cheap, fast gear made of iron. And said anyone using a crossbow was being a coward. And the dogs all sleep in one big pile and-” he cut himself off and waved a hand. “You get the idea,” he finished. “It’s a functioning mess, but still a mess. I want to give every dog their own place to sleep, basic combat training because you never know what will happen, proper steel gear, bows back, and a proper trading relationship with the ponies. Right now we’re operating on word of mouth, which is good advertising, but we could do with things like a road to the mine so others can find us.”

“That makes sense.” Dash nodded.

“Hello!” Rarity called out, making the pegasus jump. “Sorry to interrupt. I’m simply bringing the first course.” Rarity came trotting in levitating a large bowl of salad, a tray of various kinds of bread, and a small plate holding a stick of butter. She set the salad in the middle of the table and set the bread and butter on either side of the salad.

“Wow.” Dash’s eyes widened. “Think you made enough salad, Rarity?”

“I may have over prepared a tiny bit.” Rarity said with a small, embarrassed blush.

“I advise you to take what bread you want now,” the fox advised Dash. “I might eat it all otherwise.” He chuckled a bit afterwards. “Digimon body. It’s carb hungry and I’m a natural starchoholic.”

Dash giggled. “I’m sure you’re just exaggerating.” She reached out with her wings and took a few slices of white bread. She paused when she went to set them down. “Ummm Rarity? Which place does the bread go on?”

Rarity glanced over at the prismatic pegasus. “The smallest one dear.” She pointed a hoof at the small plate. “The medium plate is for salad, the large plate is for your entre, and the saucer is for post-lunch tea.”

Dash blinked owlishly. “Okay. And… What fork do I eat salad with?” She asked gesturing at the four different forks next to the plates as she set her chosen bread on the small plate.

“That one, darling.” Rarity pointed out the specified fork.

“Thank-”

“MMMM’NOM”

Dash and Rarity paused and looked over at the other end of the table. Dustin was virtually stuffing as much bread as he could into his maw.

“Wha?” he asked around a mouthful of starch. “Ish gud bread!”

“Dustin!” Rarity yelped with an affronted blush. “That is very rude!”

Dash on the other hoof, froze and blushed. Then her wings popped out straight. She instantly yelped and struggled to push her wings back down with her hooves. “Sorry! I’m so sorry!” Dash babbled. “Just pretend you didn’t see that!”

Rarity turned on the pegasus, for a moment she levitated a rolled up newspaper. Then she seemed to think a moment and lowered it. “It’s perfectly fine Rainbow, just try to keep yourself under control.”

Dash managed to lower her wings. “I’m trying....” She closed her eyes and took a breath. On opening them, she smiled. “Sorry. Umm where were we?”

Dustin had managed his mouthfuls of starch and was sitting back. “Mmm...good entree,” he complimented Rarity.

“That’s not the entree Dustin.” Rarity said deadpan. “Please tell me you didn’t stuff yourself with bread before you received your actual lunch?”

Dash stifled a giggle.

“Nah...I’m never full,” Dustin admitted with a roguish smirk. “But hey, I warned you not to put bread in front of me.”

“Mmmm you did say.” Rarity nodded. “I will be right back, you two behave yourselves.” With that she trotted back into the kitchen.

Meanwhile Dash had bitten her lip and puffed out her cheeks. Letting out a breath, she nibbled on some bread. “Could you pass the salad?”

“Ah, sure,” Dustin said, standing up to pick up the bowl and carry it over to the mare. “Here you are,” he said, putting it closer to her side of the table.

“Thanks.” She took the bowl with her wings and served herself some salad. She picked out her fork and ate some. “Not bad,” She nodded. “So....” She chewed her lip and seemed to be searching for something to talk about.

“Why don’t you tell me about that whole saving the world business?” Dustin prompted as he sat back in his own chair.

“Oh! Sure!” Dash brightened. “Ummmm… So has anybody told you about the Summer Sun Celebration?”

“I’ve heard of it a few times,” the fox admitted. “Longest day of the year, right? We had something similar, the summer solstice. Nothing fancy anymore, used to be a big deal when those more in tune with nature were a majority religion.”

“Well ours is similar only once a year Princess Celestia chooses a city or town to host it. Something special for said city or town. This year it was Ponyville. It was extra special because it was the thousandth year of the Celebration.” Dash paused. “Oh! I forgot something, we also celebrate it because a thousand years ago a… mmmm… Tyrant…” She said awkwardly. “Called Nightmare Moon caused Eternal Night. When Celestia defeated Nightmare Moon, she started the Summer Sun Celebration.”

“Huh. Well at least yours are based on things that actually happened,” Dustin noted as he leaned back in his chair. “So, summer celebration to mark the longest day of the year that was almost the start of an eternal nightmare. Sounds interesting. How does this lead to the saving the world?”

“Right! So! The evening before the Summer Sun Celebration everypony tends to stay up and party before the raising of the sun the next day.” Dash explained, while starting to eat in earnest as she talked. “Though the day before somepony gets sent out to check to make sure everything’s the way it should be. This Twilight Sparkle was sent to check on preparations. I got put in charge of the weather.” She blushed. “I admit, I kinda slacked off a bit. She called me out on it and I cleared the sky in ten seconds. Not that there were that many clouds to clear in the first place.” She shrugged. “Anyway a party was held in the evening at the Golden Oaks Library, which just so happened to be where Twilight was staying. She seemed really distracted by some book she’d read. Some prophecy of doom, which are kinda a dime a dozen to us ponies at this point.”

“...Remind me to invest in a book of prophecies at some point,” Dustin deadpanned. “How many ancient evils are lying around that you can take a prophecy of one not so seriously?”

“Good question!” She pointed a hoof at him. “I have no idea! That’s Twilight’s thing. Anyway-”

“Here’s Lu-unch!” Rarity sing-singed, interrupting the prismatic mare, as she trotted in levitating a big pot of spaghetti.

“Rarity!” Dash whined. “You interrupted my story!”

Dustin...was drooling. “Spaghetts?” he whimpered. “Oooh, what sort of sauce did you make for it?”

“Alfredo, hope you don’t mind.” Rarity said, setting the pot down on the table next to the salad. “Would you like me to serve you, or would you like to serve yourself?”

“You...had better serve Dash first,” the fox said after taking a moment to breathe. “I...probably won’t let there be leftovers. Again.”

“Of course darling.” Rarity rolled her eyes and heaped a generous portion onto Rainbow’s plate. “And I know you like to eat. How do you keep your figure?”

Dash blinked. “Not sure if that was passive aggressive or not.”

Rarity blinked, setting the pot down. “Oh, did I say that out loud?” She blushed. “Terribly sorry Rainbow.”

“It’s fine.” Rainbow shrugged.

Rarity trotted over to Dustin. “Should I just give you the pot?”

“It’d save you a plate,” the fox pointed out.

Rarity sighed, took away his plate and just set the pot down. “Let me know when you’re finished.” She started to trot away.

“Not going to tell us to behave ourselves?” Dash asked.

“You seem to be doing fine on your own so far.” Rarity said as she left.

Dash blinked. “Huh.” She looked at Dustin. “Where’d I leave off?”

“Party at the library, panicking Twilight,” Dustin supplied before he-

...Okay that might be why Rarity left. He’d just picked up the pot and was eating directly from it. His muzzle was going to be a mess of cheesy sauce when he put the pot down.

“Right.” Dash nodded, starting to chow down, herself. “Sho..” She swallowed, looking at Dustin eating directly out of the pot. “Twilight was apparently certain something bad was going to happen, but she didn’t tell anypony.” She took another mouthful, chewed, then swallowed. “So we stay up partying at what was supposed to be Twilight’s place. Somehow Spike, Twilight’s dragon assistant, ended up with a lampshade on his head. The whole party is kinda fuzzy. So, skipping that, we all headed to the town hall. That’s where Celestia was supposed to show up and raise the Sun right?” She nodded as Dustin wolfed down the pasta. “Everything’s been set up. Everything’s going fine. Then the curtain rolls back and… There’s Celestia.” Rainbow giggled at his slight deflation. “Had you going for a sec huh?” She smiled. “So, we think everything’s fine. Then it’s like somepony dropped ink in water. Celestia just kinda rolled away. Now who’s standing there but Nightmare Moon.”

That got the fox to pause and lift his head from the pot. Rarity would kill him if she saw what he’d done to his fur, there was sauce everywhere. “Nightmare Moon...replaced Celestia?” he said simply. “That sounds almost like a good plan, except for the whole ‘revealing yourself’ part.”

“Yeah… Oh, and you kinda got sauce…. Everywhere.” Dash gestured to all of him with her wings. “Are you going to be Northern Fox by the time you’re done eating?”

Dustin rolled his eyes. “I’m pretty sure the napkins by my plate are here for just this reason,” he explained. Though he did feel bad he’d probably be dirtying...all of them.

“Before I continue, want my napkins?” She asked.

“Not until I’m done eating, there’s still some noodles left in here,” the fox pointed out.

“So yeah, Nightmare Moon. She came in and monologued about Eternal Night or something. I honestly wasn’t paying much attention and wanted to deck her. Turns out she had some kind of shield up that tossed me back into a table. Anyway, Twilight said she knew who she was and that she’d stop her.” Dash explained, returning to her food for a moment. “So Twilight ran off and Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie, Fluttershy, and I, all followed her.” She nodded.

“Lemme guess. Grand quest to save the day and bring back said daytime after the evil ruler got unsealed from their prison,” he quipped. “What magical sword did you have to pull out of a rock to banish her?”

“Oh, a sword would have been awesome!” Dash gasped. “But no, don’t beat me to the end here.” She pointed a hoof at him. “So, Twilight went back to the library of all places. She was searching for some book and I was suspicious. Why’d this mare know about this edgy black Alicorn? Naturally I accused her of being a spy.” Dash blushed at that. “But! Pinkie found the book Twilight was looking for before I did anything stupid. Turns out there was these things called the Elements of Harmony. And where were they located? In a castle. A castle in the middle of the Everfree Forest.”

“Point,” Dustin held up a finger. “The crazy, murder-you-if-you-look-at-me-wrong, forest?”

“Yep. That one. I mean it was treacherous enough without Nightmare Moon warping things to make it worse. Though thankfully Pinkie had been hiding a friend who decided to come out when all Tartarus broke loose.” Dash chuckled.

Dustin hummed as he slurped up one of the last noodles. “Would this friend be big, red, scaly, and as just a big of a trash can for carbs as I am?” he teased.

“Less trash can more dumpster.” Dash chuckled. “But yes, she’d been hiding Guilmon and having him occasionally help at Sugarcube Corner. He helped out a bit in the forest. He was fantastic morale support, especially when tagging with Pinkie. Though most of the obstacles seemed to be geared towards each of the girls.” She paused for a moment to drink some water then continued. “So from the library the five of us decided to go with her. Spike tagged along too, said he wanted to make sure his mom was okay in all of this. When we got nearer to the forest, that’s when Guilmon showed up.” She explained, pausing to eat a little more. “Now I’m not sure if this was intentional on Nightmare Moon’s part to make us give up, or if it was some kind of way of proving ourselves for some reason, but some of these tests seem kinda easy when I look back on it.” She shrugged. “Applejack told Twilight to let go when she was holding the unicorn on the edge of a cliff, just so we could catch her. Fluttershy had to stop Guilmon from fighting a Manticore that attacked us. Turns out it had a thorn in its paw. It was much calmer after Flutteshy pulled it out.” Dash took a breath and continued eating a bit.

“I think I’ve heard him talking about that manticore,” Dustin mused wistfully, putting the pot down on the floor as he started to clean his muzzle off. “Something about him visiting Fluttershy afterwards for massages or something.”

Dash swallowed again. “Yep. Guilmon does too on occasion. Apparently Pinkie been getting trained by her for… reasons… ANYWAY!” Dash coughed into a hoof. “So we continued on and suddenly it got super dark. Like yes it was night time, but it turned black. So our pair of unicorns lit their horns. Only, for us to find out that all the trees around us had warped into the horrifying things. Naturally Guilmon jumped in front while the rest of us kinda just panicked. Then Pinkie just lost it. Lost it as in she just burst out laughing. The rest of us we kinda stunned. She was making faces at the tree things, and giggling at them.” She giggled. “Then she started singing.”

“Yeah, I’ve noticed that singing seems to be a thing in ponyland,” Dustin pointed out. He’d mostly gotten the sauce off his muzzle...save for a tiny bit on the tip of his nose. “Seriously, was my singing so good it had to be recorded,” he griped.

“Oh, was it? Cool.” Dash shrugged, though there was a small blush on her cheeks. A small shiver ran down her spine as she continued. “So she starts singing. Which is just ridiculous to begin with. Then Guilmon started to sing. They turned it into a freaking duet and we just lost it. All of us were laughing and giggling, and suddenly the whole situation wasn’t all that scary anymore.” She giggled at the thought. “So after we got our breath back, and calmed down enough, we continued on. Only to be stopped by a river. A river that by all means should have been calm. Yet it wasn’t. Some massive serpent was having a tantrum. I honestly didn’t see the issue. Apparently some black smoke came by and sliced off half of his moustache, and that’s why he was losing it.”

“...You don’t diss another man’s moustache,” Dustin nodded once, sagely. “Granted, I don’t think facial hair is for me, and yet here I am covered in fuzz. Still, I wouldn’t deface another man’s face. It takes time and effort to grow things like that.”

Dash hummed. “Well I guess I can see your point.” She nodded. “On second thought, yeah, I see why he was devastated. So, yeah, Rarity had to tell me off for not really caring about his obvious issue. After that, she yanked out a scale, sliced off her tail, and attached it to the missing part of his moustache. Super nice of her, though it took forever for her tail to come back.” She chuckled softly. “After her doing that, the serpent thanked her by basically turning himself into a bridge so we could cross. As we did the castle was in full view! It was eerie, it had the massive full moon hanging over it.” She shuddered a bit. “So we follow the path and… the bridge was out.”

“...You came with two pegasi,” the fox pointed out. “Four cloud walking spells from Twilight and you’d have no need of a bridge.”

“Counterpoints.” Dash held up a hoof. “Fluttershy was already scared as it is without flying into fog that obscured the other side. Secondly, Twilight didn’t know that spell yet.” She lowered her hoof. “So, I ended up on flying through said fog, with Spike on my back to help out just in case. I flew down and grabbed the broken end of the bridge and flew over to the other side. Which wasn’t that bad compared to some of the other things we’d dealt with. Spike hopped off to keep an eye out. You know, dragon eyesight or whatever. When I went to attach the bridge, I heard a voice. Well voices plural.”

“Counter-counter point,” Dustin raised a finger. “You flew into a situation where it was likely designed for a flyer of your caliber, to pave the way for the rest, without a single mental reinforcement or illusion banishing charm cast on you, even when it was already clear that had happened with four of your other party members. That’s what we call in the business heroic stupid, and it’s a situation any half-competent villian would capatalize on. Your only saving grace was taking Spike.”

“Huh.” Dash blinked. “I guess you’re right. And don’t think I forgot your calling me stupid.” She pointed a hoof at him, giggling. “S-so anyway, Moonie kinda did. These three pegasi in black uniforms stepped out of the fog. They called themselves the Shadowbolts. They said I was the fastest flyer in Equestria. Which… I… maybe am?” She blushed then shook herself. “They said that I could join them as their new captain. The only thing I had to do was let go of the bridge I was holding. I pretty much said Tartarus No. When I did they got ticked and one of ‘em grabbed Spike. I think they were going to use him as a hostage, but the little guy can hold his own. He breathed out this burst of green fire and the Shadowbolts kinda disappeared. I think they were just illusions in the first place. Maybe just solid enough to grab things.”

“Now see, a competent villain wouldn’t have let you manage that,” Dustin noted out loud. “An illusion to distract and tempt, and a corporeal henchman to take you out so that the others couldn’t cross anyways if you said no. Plus it would’ve taken out Spike from breaking the image.”

“I guess that makes Moonie not very competent.” Dash chuckled. “So I help everypony across and we get in the castle. In the great hall is this big statue with five stone balls around it. Those were the elements. I think. They were at one point. Anyway we look at the stones as Twilight tries to figure out what to do. Then, suddenly, this blue-black smoke flies in, grabs Twilight, and shoots off further into the castle. We immediately chased after it. We managed to follow the noise to what I think was a throne room at some point. We found Twilight and Moonie, and the stones were broken on the ground. For a sec it felt like all was lost. Then Twilight starts looking at us and telling what we did in the forest and how that represents one of the elements. As she did, the pieces of stone glow and whirl around each one of us. Moonie states that we’re still missing the last Element. Then we all rise into the air surrounded by this bright glow and Twilight states the the last Element is Magic. Well Friendship.” She paused, her brow furrowing. “Apparently Friendship is Magic.” She shrugged. “So then these twin beams fly out of the glow and spiral towards Moonie. However Moonie just teleports saying that she’s not stupid to just stand there and take it. Then Guilmon appeared out of nowhere, freaking Minotaur-rushed her and shoulder-checked her back into the beams path. It hit and everything went white.”

“And thus the scary lizard of the Everfree was welcomed into the town when it was revealed that the Element of Surprise and bull-headedness was what you were missing to win,” Dustin added with a smirk.

Dash burst out laughing. “Ah ha! Yes! That’s amazing!” She descended to giggles. “It was pretty close to that though. We came to and dawn was breaking. We all had these fancy new necklaces with a gem in the shape of out Cutie Mark in them. Twilight, however, got a crown-thing. Not long after, Celestia showed up. She pointed out that in the spot where Moonie was, was a small blue alicorn. That was Princess Luna, Celestia’s long lost sister.”

“Aaah, reunions, parties, drinks all around to celebrate the return of the younger princess,” Dustin smiled. “Well at least it ended well, and you got a new friend out of the deal.”

“True, but not yet. So Celestia and Luna had their reunion, then something in Celestia’s bag lit up. She said that there was somewhere we needed to go.” She paused for a moment to scoop up the last of her pasta.”Sho, Celestia lead all of us through the castle. We went way down. I figured we got to where we needed to when I saw this massive tree of crystal that lit up the entire cavern it was in. In front of it were two large eggs. Celestia said that Lilly and Wizardmon had worn themselves out or something. So they turned back in to Digi-Eggs. I really didn’t get it.” She shrugged.

That got Dustin to pause. That could happen? He would have to be careful that he didn’t wear himself out. He had no plans to regress past Viximon, or whatever the fuck Guile called it.

“After all that, Celestia teleported us back to Ponyville and there was a super big party.” Dash chuckled. “And… The End? That’s pretty much the story. Though… Oh! Twilight decided to stay in Ponyville so she could learn more about the Magic of Friendship. Yeah, now that’s it. So, what do you think?”

“Well,” Dustin drawled. “It was a pretty incompetent villain for your first outing as a superhero, but I suppose everyone needs a training mission. I mean seriously, who decides to get rid of the sun? I get jealousy and envy, but I’m fairly sure the sun is crucial to life. So...kudos to you for taking out an omnicidal idiot.”

“I dunno.” Dash shrugged. “I mean, we could ask Princess Luna and Princess Celestia about it, but it’s probably personal.”

“So! Did you two have a nice lunch?” Rarity asked, trotting in, and once again making Rainbow jump. “It sounded li- Dustin! What did you do to yourself!?"

“I thought I did a pretty good job cleaning up,” the fox muttered. His fur might’ve been a little disorganized, but there was no sauce anywhere he could see. Indeed, the only remnant was that little spot on the tip of his nose.

“Dustin…” Dash said, sounding a little strained. “You’ve got a spot on your nose there.”

“Huh?” the Renamon crossed his eyes as he tried to look at it. “Where?”

“On… the tip… of your nose...” Rainbow said, breathing heavily.

“Aw crud, and I already used all my napkins,” Dustin muttered. “I’d wipe it off with my fingers but that would just smear it around...”

“Rarity…. Help me….” Dash looked piteously at the unicorn.

“Oh, honestly fine,” Rarity sighed, levitated a napkin up and wiped off his nose. “There now.” She smiled as Dash started to calm down. “Now, I think that this all went very well! No slip ups on either side as far as I could tell, well perhaps not counting that moment with the spot of sauce at the end.”

“Yeah.” Dash said with a smile, glancing between Dustin and Rarity. “It was actually really fun.” Then her face fell a bit, and she muttered softly. “This is what it should have been.”

Rarity appeared to not hear that. “So, this was a great start. Yet, it’s been agreed upon by a few ponies and digimon that you two shouldn’t be around each other unsupervised.”

“A little harsh… but, I get it.” Dash nodded.

“I mean, sure, if it’ll make you feel better,” Dustin agreed. “So, who’s going to be our escorts?”

“Hi!” Pinkie Pie bounced into the room and hugged Dash. Guilmon plodded in after her.

“Hey.” The lizard waved, plodding over to Dustin. “We were having tea with Rarity while you two had your lunch.”

“Surprise Dashie, we’re gonna be your guyses chaperones!” Pinkie said happily.

“Well I mean, I guess that’ll help,” Dustin chuckled. “So, you’re going to tamper down Dash, then?” It made sense. Guilmon was pretty strict.

“Yeah, pretty much.” Guilmon shrugged.

“Now you two have a bit of an assignment after this.” Rarity spoke up getting Dustin’s and Dash’s attention. “Without talking to each other, find out something about the other pony- er… person.”

“How?” Dash blinked.

“That’s for you two to figure out. Maybe use what you learned here to get you started.” Rarity smiled at her.

Dustin hummed. He had an idea. “Hey Ponk, let’s take a walk,” Dustin suggested. “I think you can help me with my assignment.”

Pinkie’s ear twitched. She looked at Guilmon, who shrugged and nodded. Then Pinkie bounced over to the fox. “Works for me!”

“I guess you’ll be mine then?” Rainbow asked the lizard as he plodded over to her.

“Yup.” Guilmon said with a chuckle.

“Wonderful.” Rarity smiled giddily. “I hope you two have fun learning something about each other.”

Field Research

“Soooo…. Have any ideas?” The bright red lizard asked the prismatic pegasus.

“Not really.” Dash pouted as she flew next to him. The pair had been simply wandering Pontville while the mare tried to come up with an idea. It really wasn’t a good sign in her mind that she couldn’t think of something about Dustin that wasn’t on the shallow side.

“Mmmmrrrrr…. Ah! Think!” Dash snapped aloud.

“I don’t think shouting think helps you think.” Guilmon pointed out.

“You’re not helping!” Dash snapped in a small bit of panic. “So! So. Sooo… What did we talk about?”

Guilmon shrugged. “I was to distracted with tea and my marefriend. Though Pinkie wasn’t helping.” Dash swore his cheeks got redder.

“Why is that okay with you two, and not okay with Dustin and I?” Dash pouted a little.

“Because we took time to get to know each other before anything remotely close to sex happened. Yes, Pinks was pretty thirsty from time to time, but she knew how to keep herself in check. You honestly may want to talk to her about it sometime.” Guilmon said with a smile. “Though, I believe in you. You kinda did things backwards and that spiraled in a bad way, but that’s why you’re starting over!” The lizard grinned toothily. “Now! Think of anything?”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence, but no.” Dash frowned with a sigh. “We… hmmmm… We talked about his mine… and Geralt… and-” She blinked then gasped aloud. “POKEMON!”

“Pokemans?” Guilmon raised a scaly brow.

“YES!” She thrust a hoof at the lizard. “He loves Pokemon doesn’t he?! Awesome!” She grinned happily. Then, just as quickly, deflated. “How’m I going to find out about Pokemon?” She looked over at him. “You wouldn’t happen to know anything, would you?”

Guilmon shrugged. “Only that in my household the only moves you use are attack moves and that Incineroar is an absolute monster.”

“I have no idea what any of that means.”

“Hey!” A voice called out.

The pair looked over to see Scootaloo rolling towards them on her scooter.

“Hey squirt.” Dash smiled, genuinely happy to see the little tatzlsus. “Why aren’t you in school?”

“School/Thchool got damaged.” Both Scootaloo and Guilmon said in unison.

“Again.” Scootaloo rolled her eyes. “I wath bored at home, Apple Bloom hath farm work to help with and Thweetie’s… thomewhere. I think thhe’s doing thomething with her parentth.”

“Wait, that actually happens?” Rainbow blinked. “I swore Dustin and Rarity were like her surrogate parents or something because they leave all the time for vacations and stuff.”

“Think that’th cooled down a bit thince you’ve been taking up tho much of Duthtin’th time.” Scootaloo shrugged.

Dash winced. “Ow… Yeah… I kinda messed a lot of stuff up, haven’t I?”

“Not gonna lie, yeah.” Scootaloo nodded. “But I thtill love you Dath. You jutht have thome ithueth you need to work on.”

“Awww.” Dash flushed a little, then walked over and hugged the tatztlfilly. “Thanks squirt.”

“Who knowth, you might need therapy to figure out where thith thudden thex drive came from.” Scootaloo smiled at her.

“Thanks squirt.” Dash said, her voice slightly more strained.

“Hey, we’re trying to help Dash here.” Guilmon poked the filly.

“I am helping.” The filly replied, having a tendril come out of her maw to poke the lizard’s flub.

“Well, what would really help, is if somebody besides Dustin knew something about Pokemon.” Dash groaned, throwing a foreleg over her eyes.

“You mean like Ivy?” Scootaloo asked.

Dash froze, then slowly dropped her foreleg. “What was that?”

“Ivy knowth about Pokemon.” Scootaloo said nonchalantly.

“Squirt you’re a genius!” Dash squeezed the filly. Then let go to turn to Guilmon. “So! Let’s go… talk… to…” Her face fell with every word. “Ivy…. Ivy fucking hates me.”

“Dash, please try to not swear in front of Scoots.” Guilmon sighed.

“Dad, It’th fine. Ivy doeth fucking hate Rainbow.” Scootaloo admitted with a shrug.

“Scoots! Please try not to swear.” Guilmon groaned.

“I talk about your thex life and thwearing ith too far?” The filly raised a brow.

Guilmon too a breath in and raised a claw, clearly about to berate his daughter. The he paused. His face screwed up in thought and he let his claw drop.

“Thought tho.” Scootaloo nodded smugly.

“Guys. As great an idea as Ivy is, how do I talk to her without her trying to kill me?” Rainbow said, clearly exasperated.

“Well, you could try begging.” Scootaloo shrugged.

Guilmon gestured a claw. “Come on, we can come up with something on the way to Vinyl and Octavia’s.”

Dash stared at the door, chewing on her lip.

“Nothing ith gonna happen if you jutht thtand there.” Scootaloo pointed out. “You could knock.”

“I’m going to.” Dash replied, staring back at the filly.

“Or you could just come in, you know.” Octavia’s melodic voice called from beyond the door.

“Gah!” Rainbow jumped with a heavy blush. “You knew I was here?”

“Please, Dash, like I’m not going to see the giant red lizard, a brightly colored pegasus, and a tatzlfilly outside my own house.” Octavia sighed. “Please, come in.”

Dash tentatively opened the door and trotted inside, followed by Scootaloo and Guilmon. The three walked into the living room to see Octavia having tea.

“There you are.” She smiled then glared at Dash. “Now I’ve heard some recent news. You’re trying to be better after… well… everything.” She raised a brow. “Now, again with everything that’s happened recently, why exactly are you here?”

“I…. need Ivy’s help.” Dash said weakly.

“You need Ivy’s help?” Octavia’s frown deepened. “Haven’t you done enough to the poor girl?”

“Yes.” Dash said looking down at the ground. “But I need her help. I need to find out about Pokemon.”

“Pokemon?” Octavia blinked. “Why?”

“Because Dustin likes it and I want to know why.” Rainbow said weakly. “I want to be interested in something he’s interested in.”

“You do, do you?” The deadpan voice of Ivy made Dash jump.

Dash turned around to see the not too happy plant digimon, glaring at her through half-lidded eyes. The fact that her eyes were solid green made it all the eerier.

“Yes.” Dash nodded slowly. “Yes I do. And… I’m sorry Ivy. I’m sorry for being a shitty mare who butted into everything.”

Ivy didn’t say anything for a moment. She didn’t even blink. Then she took a breath. “It’ll do, I guess.” She shook her head. “So, what do you want to know?”

“Well, what is it? What’s it about?” Dash asked.

“Guilmon, Scootaloo, would you like some tea?” Octavia asked, passing the prismatic mare.

“Sounds nice.” Guilmon followed her towards the kitchen.

“You got cookieth?” Scootaloo asked following her father.

“Scoots.” Guilmon groaned.

“It’s fine.” Octavia giggled. “Yes, we do. Geralt has a thing for sweets it seems. Then again, so does Vinyl.”

Rainbow watched the three leave. Ivy clearing her throat snapped her back to the plant. Ivy gestured to the couch. “Sit. I’ll be right back.”

Ivy turned around and headed down the hallway that she had probably come from in the first place. Dash, taking a moment to watch her go, trotted over to sit on the couch. Awkwardly she looked around the room. It seemed like a mishmash of different tastes. A record player was in the corner with what appeared to be vinyls of classical music. Right next to it was a small DJ set up and mixing station.The coffee table in front of the couch had various magazines and newspaper clippings. Both Vinyl and Octavia seemed to feature prominently on them. Though the Ponyville Gazette did show a picture of Geralt and Guilmon on the front cover. Near the front window there were a few plants that seemed to be doing very well.

“Scoot.” Ivy suddenly being next to Dash made her jump.

Dash immediately scooted over so the plant could clamber onto the couch. She was holding the 3DS that Dustin had given her and she’d put on a necklace that had some kind of charm hanging off it. Ivy flicked open the 3DS and tapped at the lower screen. Dash leaned in to see what she was doing. Ivy turned her head and gave her a look. “Oi.” Dash blinked at the irritated plant. “Personal space. Back up.” Dash blushed a bit and leaned away. “Better.” Ivy returned to the screen. “So… Here.” Ivy handed over the 3DS.

Dash, not expecting that, fumbled for a moment before steadying it. Noting the controls, she stared from her hooves to the 3DS. “Ummmm….”

“Use your wings, genius.” Ivy sighed with a small grumble.

“Right….” Dash opened her wings and shifted the 3DS to her primaries. She stared at the screen. Who are you? Popped up on the screen showing a picture of what clearly were a male and a female human.

“You hit Save and I kill you.” Ivy said icily. “Now… Playing a chick or a guy?”

Dustin led his pink escort to the Ponyville park, a place that was normally peaceful. Except on Tuesdays, but this wasn’t one, so he was fine. He pulled up a nice piece of real estate under a big tree and sighed. “Aaaah...a peaceful day,” he smiled, relaxing for a moment.

“Yepperoonies.” Pinkie said, sitting next to him. “You don’t seem very stressed about this at all.”

“Well I’m pretty sure, as one of Dash’s friends, you’ll be able to answer my question,” Dustin said, idly petting the pink pone. “So...what are the Wonderbolts, and why does Dash want to join them?”

“Welllll……” Pinkie began tapping her chin in thought. “They’re stunt fliers. Really talented ones. Like the best in the business. I think they’re kinda as-needed air support in the military too. But since there hasn’t been all that much combat stuffs, the armed-forces haven’t needed to be fully assembled. And so the Wonderbolts are just semi-military stunt fliers.”

“Huh,” Dustin mused, still petting Pinkie’s mane. How much was there? “Analogous to something I used to live next to. We had stunt fliers back on earth that could go the speed of sound, flying in formations half a dozen strong overhead. They were called the-” he snerked at the idea before telling it to Pinkie anyways. “The Blue Angels.”

“Ooooooo!” Pinkie oo’ed. She paused mid-oo. “Huh. The Wonderbolts wear blue uniforms too.”

“That wasn’t the connection I was making,” Dustin replied. “Whaddya think Dash’s first response to the idea of there being a stunt team named the Blue Angels will be, if I just up and told her right now?”

“Eh…. Honestly?” Pinkie actually looked unsure.

“Yeah, moving on,” Dustin shook his head. “So, Dash has been trying to get into the Wonderbolts,” he put them back on track. “So I take it she’s a pretty talented stunt flier then. How many tricks has she come up with to try and impress them?”

“Forty? I want to say forty but I actually can’t remember off the top of my head.” Pinkie admitted. “I make lists for things like this.” She smiled sheepishly. “Lists help with a lot of my work and-” She blinked. “Lists! We could go see Twilight! She probably could tell you everything about the Wonderbolts! And even if she couldn’t, she’s in a library! She no doubt has books and books on the Wonderbolts!” She bounced around in circles, happy at her spark of genius.

“Okay, so, plan is to go visit Twilight to learn more about the ‘bolts,” Dustin noted out loud. “Do you think you can trust me to get there while you look through your lists for information on Dash’s tricktionary?”

“One sec.” She walked around the tree, leaving Dustin’s eyesight for a moment then came around the other side holding a three-ring binder. “No worries, I got it.”

Dustin opened his mouth and raised a finger to argue. He considered it for a moment, before shaking his head and closing his mouth. “Nope,” he told himself. “Not worth it.” He pushed himself up to his feet and brushed off a leaf that had landed on him. “Let’s visit the nerdicorn,” he proclaimed. “Find out something about the stunt team without asking Dash.”

“I was wrong! Sixty-five stunts! Though quite a few are just variants or fusions of some of her earlier stuff.” Pinkie said aloud, staring at the binder, while somehow weaving around ponies as they neared the library. “If we’re going by actual stunts… I’d say maybe thirty.”

“Interesting,” Dustin admitted. “There are only so many things that you can do at high speeds to make it more interesting. It’s amazing she found so many things to do, though I suppose weather manipulation would add a certain edge to aerial stunts.”

“True. Though I don’t know if she’s actually used much weather manipulation in her stunts already.” Pinkie hurriedly flipped through the binder. “Nope, actually she hasn’t. That’s something you could suggest. Unless it’s dangerous.” She hummed and looked over at Dustin. “Though, if it’s dangerous then she’d probably want to try it anywa-” Pinkie slammed snoot first into the front door of the library.

There was a pause, the door opened to reveal Spike. He stared at Pinkie, then to Dustin. “Hey. You knocked?”

“With my face.” Pinkie rubbed the end of her snoot.

“Why’d you knock with your face?” Spike raised a brow.

“I was distracted.” Pinkie shook herself as she got to her hooves and retrieved the binder.

“Kay… Can I help you?” Spike asked.

“Is Twilight in?” Dustin asked. “I get that this is a public library and all, but we have questions for her.”

“Yeah. She’s finishing lunch, but she wouldn’t mind.” Spike just turned around, leaving the door open.

“Thanks,” Dustin said, heading inside, being careful enough to duck his head. He quickly pulled up a seat in the library while waiting for Twilight to show up.

“Tall fox. Tall fox.” Pinkie sing-singed as she bounced inside, shutting the door with her tail.

Twilight poked her head out of a curtain, she was still chewing something. “Shpike, I was eating lunch.” She whined.

“And this is still a public library.” Spike pointed out, hefting a small box of books. “They can wait. I don’t think they’re on that much of a time crunch.”

Twilight frowned, her cheeks puffed up with food half-chewed. She gave a snort then retreated beyond the curtain.

Dustin rolled his eyes and reached a hand out to pluck the binder from Pinkie. “Might as well read up on what Dash’s done while we wait,” he mused.

“It’s a free country.” Spike said with a shrug, then he paused. “For the most part.” Then he waddled around reshelving books.

Pinkie as situated herself in a little corner cubby, reading a stack of something she found. Though she had a blush on her cheeks.

“Getting ideas?” Spike asked as he passed her.

“Yesss.” Pinkie said slowly.

“Huh,” Dustin was flipping through the tricks after reading their descriptions, barely giving the pictures any glances. “Yeah I can think of a few she might want to add,” he admitted. “She seems to go for pure speed and flashiness. If she’s the best weather mare around, she should incorporate that as well. Maybe set up a mock terrible weather system ahead of time and have her clear it as fast as she can for an opener.”

“That’s not a bad idea.” Twilight spoke up as she came out of what he assumed was the kitchen. There were a few bread crumbs on her chest fluff, but nothing else too distracting. “How can I help you? Oh, and how are you doing? Can I help you find anything?” She seemed to be in a particularly helpful mood.

“Rarity has assigned me and Dash homework, trying to get to know one another better without actually asking it of each other,” Dustin said. “I brought the topic up with Pinkie, who suggested I bring it up with you, seeing as how you live in a library and are likely more educated about the matter than she was.” He closed the binder and set it on the table, looking at Twilight fully. “So...what’s so impressive about the Wonderbolts that Dash wants to join them this badly?” he questioned the librarian, eyes flicking to the binder for emphasis.

Twilight’s eyes lit up. She took a deep breath in.

“You’re gonna be here awhile.” Spike commented as he passed the fox.

“Wait wait, Dark is weak to what again?” Rainbow frowned. “What are the rules again?”

“Bug and Fighting.” Ivy rattled off as the pegasus tapped away at the small system. “Immune to psychic types.”

“Awwww! I don’t have a bug or a fighting types!” Dash whined.

“I told you when you were in the forest but no, you didn’t want the puny looking caterpillar.” Ivy said, clearly over-exaggerating.

“It looked weak.” Dash grumbled.

“Do I look weak?” Ivy raised a brow.

Dash looked over at the plant, paling slightly. “No…”

“There you go.” She gestured a leaf-arm.

“And why are you having me switch out this useless fish again?” Dash pointed a primary at the red fish on screen.

“You’ll see. Now. Can you repeat what I said earlier?” Ivy asked.

Dash groaned. “Don’t be a gen wunner. Every game has it’s good and bad points. Never use the masterball. Quick, dusk, and timer balls are king.” She listed somewhat deadpan.

“And?” Ivy asked.

“Have fun with your favorite types.” Dash replied. “I don’t have a favorite type yet though. I mean Lucario looks cool, but I seem to one shot each one that shows up.” She clearly didn’t want to show that she was having too much fun. “Though…. Braivary looks kinda cool.”

“Well you’re getting into it at least.” Ivy sighed.

“Wait! What’s happening?!” Dash gasped, pointing at the screen with a primary. “Magikarp is evolving?! You didn’t tell me it evolves! What in Celestia’s name is that!?”

“That is a Gyarados.” Ivy actually smiled.

“It wants to learn HYPER BEAM?!” Dash gaped.

“Power can hide in even the weakest looking things.” Ivy nodded sagely.

“Hey Dath, how goeth it?” Scootaloo asked hopping up next to the mare.

“I got a fucking sea serpent!” Dash showed the filly excitedly.

“You did.” Scootaloo nodded. “You did get a fucking thea therpent.”

“Dash, what did you learn?” Guilmon asked as he plodded in himself.

“Pokemon is awesome!” She once again proudly showed off her Gyarados.

“It sure is.” Guilmon nodded. “I never could get into breeding for traits and IV’s though.”

“Wait. What are IV’s? Are those important?” Dash blinked.

“We should probably go.” Guilmon said as Scootaloo hopped off the couch.

“Awwww!” Dash wilted and very hesitantly gave the 3DS back to Ivy. She again noticed Ivy’s charm. “Hey Ivy, I've been meaning to ask, what’s with that necklace?” She pointed a hoof at it.

Ivy seemed to flinch and she grabbed the charm to hold it. “It’s a Shiny Charm. In the game it makes Shiny Pokemon appear more often. It’s really hard to get.” She frowned and blushed a bit. “Dustin gave it to me.”

“Oh….” Dash wilted a bit. “And, what’s a Shiny Pokemon.”

“They’re a Pokemon with a unique color scheme compared to any regular version of the Pokemon.” Ivy explained, still looking a little hurt.

“I see…” Dash nodded as she got up. “Well thanks Ivy. Thanks a lot.” She nodded. “I don’t think I could’ve learned this much without you.”

“Well… You’re welcome, I guess.” Ivy got up herself and picked up the 3DS. “It was… kinda fun sharing it… Now, I’m just gonna go because I don’t want this to be any more awkward. Tell Dustin hi for me.” With that she plodded off back down the hallway.

“Thanks.” Dash said one last time before turning to head towards the door. “Thanks for letting me in Octavia.” She said to the mare in the kitchen doorway.

“Thanks for not provoking her.” Octavia said with a small frown, then she smiled at Scootaloo and Guilmon. “I hope you enjoyed the tea.”

“Yep.” Guilmon nodded and opened the door to let the others out.

Dash didn’t hear any other conversation as she left, she was too focused on her thoughts.

“And to conclude, for the last century, they've been an inspirational force for young fliers everywhere, which is why they host the Young Flier's competition in Cloudsdale.” Twilight finished, setting her pointer down on the bottom of the easel that contained a bullet-pointed history of the Wonderbolts. “Any questions?”

Dustin’s eyes had been open at some point. He was certain of that. He had a brain between his ears. But now there was just a...Twi-load of history in his head instead, taking up everything that had been there beforehand. The poor Renamon had been burned out on the idea of ever asking Twilight anything about history ever again. A faint wisp escaped his mouth; his soul escaping his body, he was certain, in an effort to escape.

“Twi...I think you killed him.” Spike said bluntly.

“Oh, he’s fine!” Twilight gave the small dragon sitting on the couch a glare.

“You could’ve directed him to some books.” Spike pointed out.

“But he asked.” Twilight pouted. “I just had to tell him.”

Pinkie chimed in. “I’m all for some sexytime stuff when the moods right, but he didn't need to hear about Wonder Bolt's conception!”

“I had to be as thorough as possible!” Twilight puffed her chest out. “He was doing research and it was best to start from the beginning!”

Spike walked across the couch and poked Dustin. “Yo. You alive?”

“Kill...me…” Dustin grunted. “End my suffering.”

“He’s alive.” Spike announced.

“Yay!” Pinkie cheered. “Life!”

“Oh, ha ha.” Twilight rolled her eyes.

“Spiiiiike,” Dustin groaned. “Get me. Coffee. I need one.”

“Gotcha.” Spike hopped off the couch. “How strong?”

“Strong,” Dustin intoned. “There should be a ring of accretion around it because it should be blacker than a black hole.”

“Okay, one Spent all night reading coming up.” Spike waddled off to the kitchen.

Twilight sighed. “Want me to just give you a book?”

“I think I have three of them jammed between my ears now,” the Renamon replied dryly.

“In case you forget.” Twilight deadpanned.

“Twilight, you gave such vivid details I think I’ll have the Wonderbolt’s history flash before my eyes when I die,” Dustin pointed out.

“I think he’s good Twilight.” Pinkie called out.

Spike strolled in with a cup that looked like it was filled with bubbling black tar. “Present for ya.” He held it out to the fox.

“Oh good,” Dustin sighed, picking up the cup. “Cheers,” he said, raising the cup to the room at large, before starting to down the whole thing at once.

“Mmph.” Spike nodded and crawled back up onto the couch.

“Are… Are you okay? That looked like it was boiling.” Twilight winced.

Dustin put the empty cup down on the table and sighed. “The trick is to not let it touch your tongue,” he stage whispered. “Then I can trick the rest of my body into keeping it down. I don’t drink it for the taste or temperature, just the caffeine.”

“That…. That… Doesn’t sound good for you?” Twilight looked at him, noticeably concerned.

“I’ve had times like that. He’ll be fine.” Pinkie called from her cubby. “Though we might need to go in a bit here.”

“Yeah, didn’t Rarity say she wanted us to meet up and share what we learned?” Dustin agreed.

“Yeppers.” Pinkie bounced out from her cubby. “That was the plan.”

“I hope this was all informative.” Twilight smiled. “Actually this whole thing sounds like a great letter to the princess!”

“Oh don’t worry. I’ve been keeping tabs on the whole thing Twilight. Lilly knows.” Spike smirked a little. “She was kinda pissed at first but I think she calmed down when Gilda came back. So far she just wants to hear how everything goes. So long as there’s no backsliding, everything's cool.”

“Sounds...good?” Dustin posed. He stretched and got up from the couch, pausing only to make sure Pinkie was following. “Okay Pinkster, lead me to where the meetup is going to happen.”

“Can do!” Pinkie bounced in from to him and pointed to the door with a hoof. “To!-” She paused and looked at Dustin, then looked back to the door. “Where we’re supposed to go!”

“...If you tell me you don’t actually know, I’m going to have Twilight give you a lecture on the history of parties,” the Renamon threatened.

“I have.” Twilight deadpanned. “Twice.”

“Now Dustin…. Don’t be mad but….” Pinkie smiled weakly at him.

“...New plan,” the Renamon said, plopping Pinkie in a chair and smiling at Twilight. “How about something boring, like, I don’t know...pick your favorite spellcaster and just go to town.”

“Oh, the history and spells of Starswirl the Bearded.” Twilight cooed.

“Oof, that one would be awhile.” Spike chuckled.

“Please no, I can remember! Honest!” Pinkie said, her eyes going wide.

“So Twilight, why don’t you tell us all about him~” Dustin smirked wider.

“Well…” Twilight took a breath in. “About a thousand years ago-”

Script, meet flip

It had been the mandated few days since the last date the Renamon and Dash had met. It was important to give them both space and time to digest the information they had learned about each other, according to the foremost dating expert in town. Plus, it was also supposed to give them time to use the information they had learned.

Dustin had scoured the town high and low, looking for something to give to Dash as a gift. After his second pass, he found a shop that sold Wonderbolts memorabilia. Most of it was stuff that he couldn’t see Dash using at all, but there was one poster in the back that he was taking a stab at her not already having.

“How much?” he asked the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper looked at the poster. “Ooooo! Good choice! That’d be ten bits!”

Dustin paid the owner fifteen. “Keep the change,” the fox commented. For something like this, he’d be prepared to pay twenty. It looked like a high quality poster and there were a few signatures on it. Thanks to the Twi-dump yesterday, he also knew that the ponies pictured on it were all the current Wonderbolts. So...yeah. He was set for the next date.

Dash nervously sat in her chair. She honestly hoped nopony else would catch her here.

“Thanks for agreeing to this, Dash.” Rarity said with a smile.

Dash just tried to make herself smaller in her seat. “Sure.”

“Ah, Miss Rainbow Dash?” Aloe, one of the spa pony sisters, called out. “Ve are ready for you.”

“Okay.” Dash muttered to herself. She got up and smiled weakly. “Okay… I guess I’m ready for you to… make me…. Pretty…”

“Darling,” Aloe smiled at the nervous mare, “ve will make you a star.” She gestured beyond the door that lead to the baths. “First a bath I zink, zhen a mane wash and trim, and zhen we vill finish viss a hooficure.”

“Hey…. do you guys do… Mane… dying?” Dash asked, as she was shuttled through the doors.

“Zhat ve do.” Aloe nodded.

“Then I have an idea….” Dash blushed at her thought.

For their second official date, Dustin had agreed to meet Dash at a pizza parlor. It was something they both liked to chow down on, they catered to all types, and it likely wasn’t going to run out of food if he walked in. The fox tapped a foot idly as he checked the poster a few times, making sure there was no damage to it anywhere. He wanted this to go over well. If only for Dash.

“So Dash! Think he’ll be surprised?!” The voice of Pinkie got Dustin’s attention.

“Yes.” Dash’s voice on the other hand sounded rather meek, which was very strange for the normally confident pegasus.

“We’ll just be in the next booth over, just in case.” Guilmon spoke up.

“I don’t think you have to worry about me much. I mean, I’ve tended to cut and run at the hint of anything tempting.” Dash chuckled.

There was the noise of a pair sliding into the booth behind Dustin’s.

Then…

She appeared.

Her normally prismatic mane had been turned into shades of metal, bronze, copper, gold, silver, and platinum. Her coat also had a bit of a sheen to it. It was like the mare had been turned into a living-metal statue. She met Dustin’s eyes. “H-hi.” She scooted in across from him. “S-so, what do you think?”

Dustin’s jaw had dropped for a moment, before he forced it closed and shook his head. “Well you make me feel underdressed,” he pointed out once his mind was clear. “Seriously, whoever did that for you deserves all the praise.” He raised an eyebrow. “May I ask why you felt the need to pretty yourself up to such a degree?”

“Well…. I’m…. Shiny…” She took a breath. “I’m a Shiny Rainbow Dash.” She opened her wings, the feathers of which had a prismatic sheen to them, like light reflecting off oil.

“...Now I feel underprepared,” Dustin smiled. “I mean, all I did was bring a signed Wonderbolts poster to the rarest catch of the century.”

Dash gasped. “You got me what?!”

“Right here,” Dustin handed her the cardboard tube containing the poster he’d bought for her. “Pretty much the only one there. Doesn’t compare to your beauty, of course, but very few things do.”

She popped the top off the contained and pulled out the poster. She unrolled it like it was some ancient artifact. Her eyes lit up. “Ohmygosh ohmygosh ohmygosh ohmygosh ohmygosh!” She actually squee’d. Quick as a flash, she buzzed across to peck Dustin on the lips. Were it not for feeling it he wouldn’t have guessed it happened. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” She made sure to safely roll it back up and slid it back into the cardboard container. When she set the container next to her she froze. Something had finally clicked.

“I’m… beautiful?”

“Gorgeous, radiant,” Dustin complimented her. “Honestly I wish I had my camera, I’d fill it with pictures of how you are now. To go through all that effort for me makes me want to hug you at the very least.”

Her cheeks were a bright crimson. “O-oh… I’m sure I’m not… that…” She descended into mumbles.

“Were it not for our chaperones, I’d ask you to sit on my lap so I could pet the pretty pony,” Dustin said honestly.

“‘Ey!” Came Guilmon’s warning from the next booth. “Slow your roll, fox.”

“Aw shut it,” Dustin called back. “In any case,” he turned back to Dash. “What did you want to eat? I already know what I’m getting.” And thanks to the warning, he didn’t add what he’d like for dessert.

“Something… Food… Pizza...” Dash was doing her best impression of Fluttershy. “Supreme… if that’s okay.”

“Sure thing,” Dustin nodded, managing to catch the attention of a waiter. “Hi, yes, we’re ready to order,” he said to the pony. “She’ll have a supreme pizza, while I’ll have two of the same.”

“I’d say that’s a lot but… word kinda gets around.” The waiter chuckled and used his wings to take their orders down. “Anything else? Drinks? Maybe something special, since… it looks like this is a special date.”

“Hmm…” Dustin considered. “How about a large milkshake?” he questioned. “Oh…” he stared at Dash and smirked. “No need for separate straws.”

“Sure thing.” The waiter smiled with a nod. “What flavor?”

“I’m partial to strawberry,” the fox admitted.

“Strawberry’s good.” Dash nodded, apparently having recovered fully.

“Great.” The waiter grinned. “I’ll get that set up for you. You two have fun.” With that, he trotted off.

Once the waiter was away, Dustin turned back to Dash with that same smirk. “So, how should we have fun while we wait for our food, hmm?” he questioned, one of his feet brushing up against her hooves. Unlike her, he could keep his feet at ground level.

“O-oh!” She jumped a little. “Well… could you tell me a little more about Pokemon? Ivy hasn’t really wanted to tell me any more since I talked to her the first time.”

“Hmmm…” Dustin mused, one of his feet brushing against the underside of her hooves. “Basically there’s always the underlying goal to become the strongest trainer,” he supplied. “And in every game there’s some sort of evil plot to stop that from happening. Usually done by a ‘team’ with skewed, amoral goals.” His foot was tracing small circles on the bottom of her hoof. “It started out just being crime syndicates, but it evolved into teams wanting to steal the powers of Legendaries for their own purposes. They’re kinda like cults, to be honest.”

“Whoa, creepy. Oh! Lemme guess!” Dash grinned. “They try to control the legendary, it breaks free, and it’s up to you to stop it!”

“Basically, that’s the plot,” Dustin nodded his head. “That only really started in the third gen, though. In the first two games Rocket could care less about the legendaries. And lately they’ve been trying to somewhat hide the fact that the teams are evil...right up until you have to fight them for your first time.” Now he was gently stroking her hoof with his foot. From the bottom to the top, then back down, repeated for a little while.

Dash tried to stay focused. What was he doing? She shook herself a little. “You know… It would kinda make sense if they gave you a group that seems like it’s the main baddies up until the upstanding corporation reveals that it’s trying to destroy and/or take over the world.”

“That would be gen 7,” Dustin quipped. Hmm, no reaction, huh? Well...he focused exclusively on the middle of her hoof and tickled away with his fuzzy feet. “EEP!” Dash squeaked and jumped like she’d been zapped.

“What was that?” Pinkie called out.

“Dun know.” Dash called back. “It’s cool. We’re cool.” She blushed and gave a small glare at Dustin.

The Renamon smirked evilly. His foot twitched against her hoof.

Dash’s brow furrowed and she swatted his foot with her other hoof.

Oh no...now he was bringing both feet to bear on both of her hooves. “So I came up with some ideas for you to use during your stunt flying,” he said, a smile on his face as he dared her to say something about the incoming tickling to their escorts.

“Like what?” She asked, biting her lip at the new attention.

“Well, you say you’re good enough to clear a sky in ten seconds flat,” Dustin pointed out, one foot stroking one of her hooves while the other poked her hoof directly in the middle. “Why not show that off? Set up a mock terrible weather pattern and clear it, saving only a few clouds if you need them for later. Like a thundercloud, raincloud, hailcloud. But it’d be a good way to show off how fast you are at your job for an opening act and set you up for later stunts.”

Dash hissed a breath in. “-Yeah! That sounds great.”

“Or even,” Dustin continued his talking and teasing, “You could work with a team to blow all the terrible weather away in one huge gale, all at once. Show off your teamwork skills as well as your ability to get things done.” Back and forth, poking and tickling, his feet didn’t stop. Payback was a bitch...but also, he wanted to see how long it would take before Dash would give in.

Dash finally yanked her hooves up and sat on her haunches. She smirked smugly at him. “That’s a great idea.” Dash nodded. “And stop trying to play with my hooves.”

“Wait, what?” Pinkie asked aloud.

“He what now?” Guilmon asked as well.

“Aw, but look at them,” Dustin pouted, picking up one of her forehooves. “They shine just as much as the rest of you.” He teasingly rubbed the underside for a second, and just as she was about to yank it away, lowered his muzzle down and kissed it. Never letting his eyes leave hers.

Dash blushed so hard, Dustin was surprised that she didn’t start steaming.

“Tone it down a little, Lover Boy.” Guilmon called out.

Dustin let the hoof go and let his head rest on a hand, looking at Dash with a smile. “What else did you want to talk about?” he prompted the mare. “You know, before the second most delicious thing arrives at our table.”

“He’s laying it on thick.” Pinkie said, almost sounding impressed. “What happened?”

“Phrasing…” Guilmon sighed.

Dash did her best to not think about that too much. “U-ummmm.” She cleared her throat. “How’s the mine doing?”

“Ah well, you know,” Dustin waved a hand. “We’re picking up business, but finding new veins is always a risky venture. We’re working with the ones we have for now, but the best ones aren’t something that is easily mined. At least we’re starting to undo the damage that was done, with proper training and bows being produced. Plus the dogs are taking to the idea of a room for everydog like fish to water.”

“That’s great!” Rainbow grinned happily.

“Hey guys!” The waiter trotted up, a tray carrying steaming pizzas and a single large milkshake was on his back. “So sorry about the wait!” He slowly started to shift the food onto the table.

“Oh great timing!” Dash bounced a little in excitement. Dustin waited until the food was on the table, the milkshake between them, before nodding at the stallion.

“Thanks,” he said with a small smile. “Can’t have been easy making so much so quickly. Or carrying it all.”

“Pbbbt.” The waiter buzzed his lips. “We’re fine. We’re professionals.” He chuckled. “You two enjoy, flag me down if you need anything else.” He then trotted away.

Dustin held up a piece of pizza towards Dash. “Cheers,” he said with a smile.

Dash retrieved her own piece. “Cheers!”

And thus the slaughter of the pizzas began in earnest.

Dash made to grab the shake, then saw the lone straw. She blinked. “You want the straw?”

Dustin waved her off and okay that was a smirk, what did he have planned?

Dash took the straw and took a long drink, giving a pleased hum. She set the shake down and scooted it to the middle of the table.

Then Dustin picked up the shake and gave it a pull from the same straw. Once he was done, he set it down and smiled at her. “I wonder how you feel about indirect kisses,” he mused aloud.

Dash stiffened, pretty much freezing completely. “...Wut…”

“Well I mean, you put your mouth on the straw, I put my mouth on the straw…” Dustin pointed out. “All you need to do is put your mouth on it again and it’d be like we almost kissed each other~”

“I didn’t think about that….” Dash blushed and looked away.

“Mm, well, it’s not like you’re actually kissing me,” the Renamon pointed out.

“Well… true…” Dash muttered then quickly chowed down on more pizza.

Soon enough, the pizzas were gone, and the pony and digimon had shared three indirect kisses each. Each time Dash went back to the straw, Dustin thought she would combust. She just kept getting redder.

“Well, that was a good lunch,” the fox admitted, putting a small bag of bits down on the table to pay for it all.

“Do you just set bags of bits down whenever you pay for anything?” Dash asked with a raised brow.

“Considering my appetite? Yes,” Dustin nodded once. He got up from the booth and held a hand out to Dash with a small bow. “M’lady.”

She took his hand tentatively and stepped out of the booth.

And then was swept up into a hug as Dustin kissed her on the lips, bowing towards the ground a little as he held the mare close.

Dash froze up, then melted into the kiss. On its break the mare was unsteady on her hooves. “That… What… Why…” She blinked. “Whoa…”

“Hmm, we may need to practice our kissing if one kiss makes you weak in the knees,” the Renamon mused. “How about we go to the park and find a nice tree to practice under?”

“Aaaand scene!” Guimon got up. “I expected to be dragging Dash away, not you.”

“Can’t help myself around her,” Dustin replied, petting the mare behind the ears. “She’s putting so much effort in, I figured I should respond in kind~” That was...Renamon could purr? Why did it send a shiver down Dash’s spine?

“Thanks! Thanks for the lunch! And the poster! And- Yeah. Everything.” Dash held the poster case close, blushing furiously.

“Oh if you wanted everything, I can provide,” Dustin teased her. “Just come around later tonight, I’ll leave my window open for you~”

“And we’re leaving.” Guilmon wrapped an arm around his waist and dragged him off.

Pinkie trotted over to the semi-stunned mare. “Might wanna cold shower after this one Dashie.”

Dash just nodded mutely.

“Okay.” Guilmon planted the fox into a bench. “What was that?” The lizard gestured a claw back towards where they’d come.

“What?” Dustin raised an eyebrow. “That was lunch. Fairly standard meal of the day, and you were even there for it.”

“Not that.” Guilmon deadpanned. “What you were doing with Dash.”

“What, I’m not allowed to appreciate a beautiful mare?” Dustin held a hand over his heart. “You wound me, Guile. For shame, I thought we were friends.”

“There’s appreciate, then there’s hitting on her.” Guilmon groaned and rubbed his eyes.

“Horseshoe’s on the other foot now,” Dustin smirked evilly. “I can play the game too. I just wasn’t sure about how hard to go at it until I saw how far she was willing to go to impress me.”

“Just…. Try to keep yourself in check. I’d rather not have to have a chat with you like Gilda had with Dash.” Guilmon sighed.

“Oh no, I’m perfectly willing to take my time, get to know her for who she is, spend some time romancing the mare,” Dustin nodded once. “But I also want to get her back for everything she did while she tries so hard not to jump me. And this time, I’m going to avoid the bar.”

Guilmon shook his head, clearly exasperated. “I- Ugh… Fine.”

“Maybe one day I’ll ‘forget’ to wear pants,” the fox mused.

“I’d say something, but that’s coming from a guy that doesn’t wear pants himself.” The lizard rolled his eyes.

“Hey, you’re one step ahead of me!” Dustin mockingly pointed out. “How’s that working out for you?”

“Pretty good actually.” Guilmon admitted.

“And thus my plan is born~” Dustin chuckled. “Well, I think I’ve given Dash enough of a blush for one day. Any more and her head is liable to pop off.” He stretched a bit and looked at Guilmon before standing up slowly. “I’m off to the boutique to plan my next dastardly move.”

Guilmon groaned. “Oh this is gonna be a rough few weeks…”

Pinkie trotted with the still steaming Dash. The pegasus hadn’t said much since they left.

“You okay?” Pinkie asked.

“Yeah… Yeah… Just…. Processing….” Dash muttered out.

“He really let you have it.” Pinkie winced a little.

“Why’d you have to put it like that….” Dash groaned. “I need a bath in ice water.”

“You’d probably turn it into a jacuzzi.” Pinkie giggled softly. “But, seriously, you doing okay?”

“I’m trying really hard to be good Pink. The most I did was peck him on the lips for giving me the poster.” Dash said with a shaky breath.

“I’d’ve allowed that.” Pinkie nodded with a smile.

Dash suddenly frowned. “Where does he get off being all flirty like that?”

“Probably at Rarity’s.” Pinkie replied. Dash just shot her a glare. “Sorry. Couldn’t resist.” She giggled. “Though, maybe in his mind he’s just getting you back.”

“If this is a test…” Dash grumbled.

“If this is a test, then you’re gonna pass it. And the A plus will be… I don’t know, his heart?” Pinkie shrugged. “That analogy died as I was saying it.”

Dash burst into a fit of giggles herself. “Never change Pinkie. And… Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” Pinkie threw a foreleg over the pegasus. “Now, let’s get you a cold shower and some celebratory ice cream!”

Heavy rebuilding work

“So, Fabulous Mister Fox, who are we grabbing first?” Jojo asked with her hands in her coat, as she walked next to the fox.

“Ah…” Dustin rubbed the back of his head. “Well, I need to apologize to Flint, Lyra, Dash, Ivy...Twilight…” His thoughts trailed off as the list went on. “...Damn that bug didn’t leave any bridge unburned, did she?”

“It’s what they do.” JoJo sighed. “So, narrow down the list, who’s closest? Or would you prefer easiest to hardest?”

“I honestly have no clue,” the fox admitted. “I mean if I could wrangle it, I could probably apologize to Flint and Lyra at the same time and get them working together again, but I don’t know where they are.”

“Probably true. Might put them off to the side, especially since they might be a little raw.” She commented, glancing at the fox.

“Yeah,” Dustin admitted. “Dash and Ivy should probably be done at the same time as well, I have no clue how either of them feel about this whole debacle.”

“Well, previous question, them first, or last, cause they may or may not be a hard talk.” Jojo shrugged, her eyes still on the fox.

“The whole thing is going to be hard no matter how you slice it,” the fox pointed out. “I think the only easy one will be Twilight because she only got involved to stop me. Honestly it’ll be less apologizing, more thanking her for stopping me. Same with anyone else who ‘invaded’.”

“Mmmmm, suggestion, Sparkle horse first, Guile and Pinkie next, Find Dashie, Find Ivy, hang out as you kids say, then Flint and Lyra if we can find them.” JoJo listed off. “Did I miss anyone?”

“No, you got them all, I think,” Dustin admitted. “Well at least we can’t miss where either Pinks or Twi live.” He turned and started heading towards the treebary. “This should be...relatively painless.”

JoJo didn’t stop, she just opened the door and walked in. “Knock knock. Housekeeping.”

“Gah!” Came the surprised noise of a purple unicorn.

“...This is why we knock on the door first,” Dustin deadpanned.

“It’s a library.” Both JoJo and Spike deadpanned. JoJo looked at the dragon, walked over to him, pulled a hand out of her coat pocket and raised it. Spike bumped it.

“...whatever,” Dustin sighed. “Twi, you got a minute?”

“Well, we were reshelving, but we can pause.” She said in the middle of her pile of books. (That looked suspiciously like the beginnings of a book fort.)

“Writing claw could use a break.” Spike shook and flexed a claw.

“I just wanna say...thanks for figuring things out and coming to stop me,” Dustin said, kneeling down and smiling at her thankfully. “I wasn’t myself, and I’m glad you managed to stop things without killing any actual dogs.”

“Oh no!” Twilight shook her head. “It was Rainbow and Flint that had things figured out, and Spike gave us the last bit of info we needed.” The mare smiled at the dragon who gave her a thumbs up. Returning her gaze to Dustin, she continued. “I was simply explaining that Rainbow had her mind altered. Flint showed up and was saying the same thing about you, and we kinda put everything together.”

“Step one, figure out the problem.” JoJo commented, picked up a book, looking it over, then setting it back on the pile where she found it.

“Yeah, unfortunately the problem was me,” the fox commented dryly.

“Well, actually, the Changelings were the problem and you were just being used like a puppet.” Twilight explain bobbing her head back and forth.

“Still doesn’t make me feel better,” the fox muttered. “I was a prisoner in my own head.”

“That…. I can’t really help with.” Twilight winced.

“Yeah...still, thanks for coming to stop me,” the fox smiled at her, before turning to Spike. “And thanks for helping put the puzzle pieces together, my man.”

“Of course.” Spike nodded. “Lilly and Celestia were very happy that they didn’t have to intervene.”

“Of course.” Twilight nodded.

“Eeesh,” Dustin shuddered at the idea. “I mean, I wouldn’t say no to them showing up for an issue I am having, but...now is not the time.”

“Well, you could always go visit Canterlot, or I could write you a letter.” Spike offered.

“They do like getting out when they can.” JoJo commented.

“How about we wait for the mine to trust me again before we send a letter?” Dustin posed. “I can’t imagine they’re too happy with me right now.”

“That’s probably for the best.” Twilight winced.

“Yeaaah,” Dustin nodded. “Okay. I’m gonna…” the fox stood up and smiled at Twilight. “Thanks,” he said one more time. “And uh...sorry for the whole attacking you thing.”

“Mind controlled.” Spike and JoJo repeated.

“It’s okay.” Twilight patted his paw with a hoof.

“Doesn’t feel that way, but sure, if you insist,” the fox chuckled with a bit of dry humor in his voice. “Well...I feel marginally better,” he said to JoJo.

“Marginally’s better than not.” JoJo shrugged. “Sparkle horse, living mailbox.” She nodded at Twilight and Spike in turn.

“Okay...next?” the fox posed.

“Right.” JoJo glanced at the piles of books as she stepped over them. “Enjoy your reshelving. We are going to go back and talk to Pinkie and Guile.” The woman nodded at the two as she made her way to the front door.

“Take care,” Dustin waved as he joined her in leaving the tree of learning and books. “That went...better than I thought it would,” he admitted, closing the door behind them.

“The more pessimistic you are, the more you’ll be surprised when something good happens.” JoJo commented, looking toward the fox.

“I’m not a pessimist, I’m a realist,” the fox answered back just as easily. “Reality is just depressing.”

“Very true. I know that very well.” JoJo pointed at him.

“Surely the rest of them aren’t going to be so easy.”

Sugarcube Corner.

The time to actually confront Guile and Pinkie about what he’d done had come.

The fox took a breath, before pushing the doors open.

The bell rang.

“Dustin. You’re back.” Guile smiled from the register as he waved. “Need more bread to keep you going?”

“Probably.” JoJo commented as she passed the fox. “Also a cup of your strongest, blackest coffee.”

Guile nodded at the woman then tapped at the register. A hand came out of JoJo’s pocket and a stack of bits were set on the counter. She took a step back, looked at Dustin, then jerked her head towards Guile.

The fox sighed and braced himself. “I’m...sorry for attacking you,” the fox stated simply, expecting the worst.

“Okay.” Guile blinked with a small smile. “Anything else?” He looked back towards the kitchen. “Pinks, you were right, bring the bread.”

In a moment Pinkie trotted out with a donut box that smelled of spiced bread. “Hi Dustin, still feeling down?”

“Yes, but…” the fox blinked as he looked back at Guile. “Just like that?” he questioned.

“Yeah/Yeppers!” Guile and Pinkie replied.

“Why the apology?” Guile asked.

“Because I remember doing it?” Dustin pointed out with a head tilt of his own. “I mean it might not have been me seeing as how I was locked in my own head, but there’s this nagging feeling that if I had just tried harder it wouldn’t have happ-”

There was a punch on his shoulder. The fox looked over at JoJo, who had her hands back in her coat pockets. “Wasn’t me.”

Dustin’s eyes narrowed as he stared at the space just over JoJo’s shoulder. He faintly made out a hand waving.

“Anyways,” the fox turned back to the lizard and pink pony pair. “Whether or not I was in control, I feel bad, and felt I should apologize for what happened.”

“Apology accepted.” Pinkie grinned. “Here, have bread.” She trotted up with the box on her back.

“Bread!” Dustin cheered, picking the box up and taking a sniff. “Oooh...did you make the cheesy bread?” he questioned.

“Take a bite….” Pinkie leaned in.

Dustin opened the box and picked out a loaf, taking a bite of the bread. His eyes widened and he let out a moan of pleasure. “Shoooo guuuud…”

“Spices outside.” Guile chuckled. “Cheesy inside.”

“Like me when Guile’s done with me.” Pinkie grinned.

Guile’s head snapped to glare at her.

“Ha!” JoJo barked a laugh.

“Mmmph,” the fox mumbled around his bread, before swallowing. “Well...this makes me feel ten times better,” he admitted, closing the box for now.

“Great!” Pinkie bounced in place.

“Pinks.” Guile sniffed. “Oven.”

Pinkie gasped, jumping up and pausing in mid-air. Then there was a poof and there was a Pinkie sized cloud where she’d just been.

“Awww man….” Came Pinkie’s whine from the kitchen.

“...And on that note, let’s leave before we make you burn more bread,” the fox commented.

“Good plan.” Guile grinned. “Have a good one, you two.”

JoJo simply gestured towards the door.

Pinkie appeared with a to-go cup. “Don’t forget your coffee.”

JoJo took it and the mare disappeared again.

“Okay, two down, four to go,” Dustin noted out loud. “No clue who to go for first. Shall we wander and see if we can find them?”

“Works for me.” As JoJo set the coffee down on the counter, popped the top off, retrieved her flask, and poured a little amber substance into the cup. Replacing the flask, she re-covered the cup, and took a swig. “Oh… perfect…”

“Whatever floats your boat,” Dustin rolled his eyes as they made their way out of the bakery.

Dash was depressed. She laid on a cloud, staring down at Ponyville. Since Dustin had woken up, she hadn’t wanted to see him. It was her fault that all this started. It was her neediness that attracted the Changeling that messed with her head and through her Dustin had been hurt. He was probably mad.

“Ivy’s not home…” Echoed from below.

Dash stiffened. That was Dustin. Her eyes widened.

“Or they didn’t want to let you in. And Dash?” That was… JoJo right?

“Could be anywhere…” She could feel Dustin’s sigh. “Think she’s avoiding me?”

“Maybe?”

“Well what-”

“Mmmph! Wait- Hold that thought.”

There was the rumble of thunder beneath her. “Thunderstruck.”

“What are you doing?”

“Flash.”

There was a louder rumble, which quickly faded. There was a moment of silence, then there was this buzz. A tingling like lightning was going to strike.

There was a gust of displaced air, a loud banging rumble of thunder, and a flash like lightning. Her cloud ceased to exist as she felt a pair of arms around her.

“Thought I saw you.”

She yelped as she got the distinct feeling of falling. Her wings were pinned to her sides. Her heart beat into her throat. Her eyes widened. She opened her mouth.

And then it stopped. She was in front of Dustin.

“Here.” She was handed over to the fox. “Might’ve broke her a bit. Sorry, but I needed to make sure she didn’t bolt.”

Dustin held Dash in his arms and sighed internally. He seemed to be doing that a lot today. “Are you okay?” he asked the mare. “The lightning didn’t hurt you, did it?”

“M’good…” The mare was doing her best impression of an owl. “Takes a lot of lightning to hurt a pegasus. Unless it hits specific areas.”

“Sorry again.” JoJo said.

“You’re fine,” Dustin said, still supporting the mare. “I think what we need to do is figure out what was and wasn’t real in our relationship,” he posed. “How much was how we normally are and how much was pushed onto us.”

“Good idea.” Dash finally blinked.

“Yes, but…. Big but, Aren’t you supposed to be relaxing now? Leave the heavy stuff for it’s own time?” JoJo posed, herself.

“Hey, laying the groundwork now and not letting it fester can only help in the long run,” the fox snapped back. “It’d be a weight off of both of us.”

“Mmmm, point.” JoJo nodded with a shrug. “Want me to go hunt for Ivy and leave you two alone, or would you prefer a chaperone to keep you two from falling into an emotional pit?”

“I think we’re a little more mature than that,” the fox answered with an expression drier than a desert.

“True, you’re a pair of adults. You can act like adults.” JoJo nodded taking a step back before turning on her heel. “If you need me… Eh, I’ll find you eventually.” And she walked away, her hands in her coat.

Dustin found a nearby bench and sat on it, plopping Dash in his lap. “Okay,” he said, running a hand-paw-thing over his head. “Let’s start. Dash, I find your interest in me flattering, and the fact that you would go through as much work as you did to impress me is downright impressive. You’re a beautiful, driven mare, and I can tell you’re going to achieve much. The idea of you making me part of your life is humbling. I’m not normally as...aggressive as I was after your display. And I’m sorry that I flipped like that and hurt you and made you stop me, but thankful you cared enough to come yourself.”

“I… don’t really know what to say… Not really prepared?” Dash admitted, fluffing up her wings. “I thought you were mad at me.”

“Nah...that was all the changeling,” Dustin replied, shaking his head. “It wanted the mine for some reason. It wanted the resources, and it wanted me to forget anything that was a distraction.” He smirked at the mare before running a finger down the edge of her mane. “Let’s be honest here, you can be very distracting.”

“Th-thanks…” She blushed. “Listen… I know we started off wrong, and were starting to restart better, before the changeling started to work it’s brain magic. Wait… No, it…” She shook her head. “Dustin, I like you. I want to be your friend and your marefriend. I want to know what you’re interested in, I want to know what you’re scared of, I want to know you. If you’ll let me. I feel like I’ve only been scratching at the surface of you. I promise I won’t be as aggressive, I honestly don’t think I could be at this point. I… don’t want to lose you.”

Dustin smiled at her. It was a warm, soft smile that filled the mare with hope. His next actions only helped that feeling swell.

Very carefully, and gently, so as not to impede her wings, the fox hugged the mare close and rested his head on top of hers. Burying her face in his chest fluff.

“Oh… wow….” Came a muffled reponse. “Dustin… why haven’t I don’t this before. You’re so soft!”

The fox chuckled. “Feeling better?” he asked the mare in his hold.

“Much.” She nodded into the fluff. “I could fall asleep in this. Can Rarity start shaving it bit by bit and start making pillows?”

“I’d rather not be without too much fur, Dash,” the fox deadpanned. “Sorry, but I’ll be keeping it where it is for now.”

“Awww… Fine.” Dash pulled her head away from his fluff with a noticeable pout.

“Here, we can do this,” Dustin said, moving to lay down on the bench while keeping Dash on top of him. “There, one fox pillow,” he joked.

“Ponies… People are going to talk.” Dash chewed her lip. “But I don’t care.” Her head his his fluff with a ~pomph~.

“Hey, you don’t weigh a lot, and apparently I’m not too bony to be used as a rest,” Dustin pointed out, petting the mare’s mane. “So...I say we run with it.”

“Or don’t run, as the case may be.” The mare giggled into his fluff. “You know, a few weeks ago I’d probably make some kind of bony joke, but… just doesn’t seem to fit now.”

“Same,” the fox admitted, still running his paw across her mane. “It feels nice to just cloudwatch with someone, not having to worry about a crisis for the first time in a bit.”

“Dustin… Tell me what clouds you see.” Dash hummed softly. “I don’ wanna move.”

“Sure thing, you silly pony,” the fox chuckled.

“Ivy are you moping again?” Octavia asked the plant sitting on the couch in the dark, as Geralt snoozed on his lazy-pone with his leg propped up.

“No.” Ivy replied, playing Pokemon.

“Mmmm, then why are your petals drooping.” Octavia asked, trotting over to the plant.

“No reason.” Ivy replied flatly.

~knock knock knock knock-knock.~

A pause.

~knock~

“Thunderstruck you had one job.” Came a groan from the front door.

Octavia blinked at the door.

“Mmm’bleech… Door.” Geralt grumbled sleepily in a drugged-induced haze.

“Thank you Geralt.” Octavia rolled her eyes as she headed towards the door.

“M’welcme Tina…” The wolf grumbled as he shifted a bit.

Tina? Octavia’s brow furrowed as she opened the door.

There stood a human woman in a long blue coat.

“Hello, can I help you?” Octavia blinked. “You’re… JoJo right?”

“Indeed.” JoJo nodded. “I’m here to retrieve a certain plant.”

“Ivy?” Octavia asked.

“The same.” JoJo nodded.

“Why?” The mare narrowed her eyes a little.

“Rebuilding bridges, so to speak.” She shrugged. “Or, helping rebuild bridges, as it were.”

“Ah. On whose behalf?” Octavia asked, with a slight head tilt.

“Foxy and Dashie.” JoJo replied with a small smile.

“Ah… You know, that may be for the best.” Octavia smiled and trotted inside.

“Hey! What-”

“You can continue it later, don’t worry, I’ll charge it for you.”

The plant came around the corner, being physically pushed by the mare’s head. “Try to have fun.” Octavia said happily as the Palmon was pushed out the door. Then the door shut behind her.

Ivy blinked at the light as the human chuckled.

“What’s going on?” Ivy asked up at the woman.

“Hopefully proving that friendship can be magic.” JoJo said with a smile. “Come.”

The plant waddled after her. “Why?”

“Because I hate seeing friends stew in their own depressive pits and not do anything about it.” JoJo said with her hands in her pockets.

“What’s that even mean? Why are you being so cryptic.” Ivy frowned.

“Curious little plant, aren’t you?” JoJo glanced at her. “Basically, Dustin wants to clear the air as it were.”

“Oh. Dustin.” Ivy wilted.

“Need to vent?” The woman asked. “I’m quite good at listening.”

“No. I’m fine.” Ivy stated.

“Well if you’re-”

“Why do I feel bad for getting angry?” The plant cut her off.

“For what specifically?” JoJo asked, with a glance at the plant.

“For Dash stealing Dustin.” Ivy frowned.

“Mmmm, did she though?”

“It feels like it.” Ivy put a leafy arm to her chest. “I-I mean. I never said anything, or did anything beyond blushing, or really showed any initiative.... Or said anything when anybody teased me about us dating.”

“Oh, you are a whole room of issues in one small box, aren’t you?” JoJo blinked.

Ivy snorted a giggle. “Yeah, that’s pretty accurate.”

“Mmmm, maybe you’re mad at yourself for not making your move in time, and took it out on the pair of them?” The woman queried.

“That… makes a lot of sense.” Ivy nodded. “And now it turns out that they were being manipulated for who knows how long.”

“Yep.” JoJo nodded. “Wonder if his jaw’s still sore?”

“It just kinda felt like they were flaunting their togetherness, when they were really just under some mind magic.” Ivy muttered. “Maybe I took the whole thing too personally?”

“Well, if you were, what’s the term, crushing on him as much as I assume you were, you probably take him suddenly being in a relationship, pretty hard.” JoJo hummed, appearing to be thinking. “I assume you’re a bit of an introvert.”

“Oh yes. Limited people time if I have to be with people. Working and fighting monsters doesn’t really count though.” Ivy nodded with a small giggle.

“Of course not, different situations.” JoJo nodded. “And being forced to be social is different than deciding to be social.”

“Yes!” Ivy pointed a vinefinger at her.

“I figured.” The woman chuckled. “Feeling better?”

“Well, if anything I’m on the way there.” Ivy admitted.

“Good timing, because… looks like they fell asleep.” JoJo took a hand out of a pocket and pointed at the white and yellow furred fox, with the blue and prismatic furred mare on top as they laid on a bench.

This was nice. Well, it wasn’t exactly the most comfortable thing for him, but Dustin felt good spending time with his friends. And the bench had eventually lulled him into taking a nap.

There was a loud thud of boot on metal and Dustin snapped awake.

“Gah!” Dash shot up into the air.

JoJo had rudely stomped her boot on the arm of the bench. There was a considerable dent. “Morning ladies.”

“Mmmph,” the fox grumbled, sitting up a little more straight. “Wha’s the big...oh.” He’d just caught sight of Ivy. “Oh. Um. We need to talk,” he said simply, now more fully awake.

“Yeah.” Ivy nodded slowly. “Sorry for, well, being a bitch for awhile.”

“Look,” Dustin said, patting the bench next to him. “Come up here and we’ll talk more seriously.”

Ivy sighed and climbed up next to him as Dash floated down and set herself on his other side. JoJo just stayed where she was with her boot on the bench.

Then Dustin gathered both mare and plant to sit on his lap and be rested against his chest fluff with his arms.

“Yay…” Dash sighed.

“A little awkward… but… damn you’re fluffy.” Ivy relaxed into the fluff.

“Ivy,” Dustin said after a minute. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I think of you as a friend. And I’m generous with my friends. I literally can’t play two games at once, I have no need to have multiple systems at the same time, why wouldn’t I give them to another fan? I didn’t know you liked me, you didn’t say anything.” He paused for a moment. “Do you still like me?”

“Eh… Maybe a bit.” Ivy replied through fluff. “I think most of it was a crush. Had a chat with JoJo on the way here. Think I was misplacing my hurt onto you two for not actually acting on anything. I didn’t want to be mad at myself, so it was easier to be mad at you two.”

Dash spoke up. “We could share him.”

Silence.

“Wat?” Ivy asked.

“What?” Dustin said in a slightly more incredulous tone.

“Herds were a thing. Well, a while back.” She chuckled.

“Are you fucking with us?” Ivy pulled away and glared at the mare.

“Maybe.” Dash stuck her tongue out at the plant.

“It does make sense, if there’s a greater population of females compared to males. Why not have a few females to one male?” JoJo commented. Then she hummed. “Then again, that’s reminding me of some stories from India and the Middle East, and it’s sounding less appealing.”

“I…” the fox blinked a few times. “Um. Well I was only interested in a relationship with Dash-” he started, but on seeing Ivy’s face fall, continued quickly. “-But maybe we can have, I dunno...a trial period? See how a relationship between you and me would work, and then one between all of us?”

“If it doesn’t work, then I’ll find someone eventually. And if I don’t.” She shrugged. “I’ll have to make do with a vibe.”

Dash choked back a laugh.

“Rarity was making a comment about that trial date as she tried to get her hooves on my coat.” JoJo mentioned then grumbled. “No, bitch, it doesn’t need diamonds. It’s fine as is.”

“We were doing well, right up until the second date,” Dustin pointed out. Okay, he could do this. “What say we find something to do as a group? Like, I don’t know, seeing a movie together?”

“Sounds good to me.” Dash nodded.

“Sure.” Ivy shrugged.

“”Basic, but basic works.” JoJo approved. “Dinners can get awkward. A movie sounds like a great idea. Good on you Dustin.” The woman smiled at the fox.

“Movie, followed by or full of, cuddles,” the fox posed.

“Oh feeling adventurous.” The woman chuckled.

“I won’t try anything so long as I get to lay in that fluff.” Dash poked his fluff with a hoof.

“I make no such promises.” Ivy replied with a small smirk. “I’ve had so many highs and lows this might as well be a roller coaster, I want to finally start enjoying the ride.”

Dash blinked. “Was that a metaphor?”

“I think it was a euphemism.” JoJo added.

“Whatever it is,” Dustin said, putting an arm under both mare and plant and standing up. “We need to find the next group for me to apologize to.” And now Dash and Ivy were being carried and cuddled up next to both each other and the fluffy chest.

“This is… different.” Ivy squeaked out.

“Have fun you three.” JoJo called out. “Gotta go see how all my kids are settling in.”

“Later JoJo!” Dash managed to break away from the fluff long enough to call out.

“Let’s see if we can’t find Lyra,” Dustin mused aloud. “Ap! You stay right where you are, the pair of you. I think you need this more than I need your help.”

“What? Relaxing?” Ivy asked amid fluff.

Dash just returned to burying her face into the white fluffy mane.

“Exactly,” the fox nodded. “Listen to what the fox says.”

“Eh, I suppo-” A hoof pushed the plant’s face further into the fluff.

Dustin just grinned.

“Dustin.” Came the muffled voice of Dash. “Face full of fluff, can’t see, where we goin’?”

“We’re here already,” Dustin said, shifting so he could support both of them with one arm. With his now free arm, the fox knocked on the door of Bon Bon and Lyra’s home.

“Just a minute.” Came the reply. There was the sound of hooves, and the door opened. Bon Bon was at the door. The cream colored mare looked up at the trio. “I assume this is a good thing. How can I help you?”

“I need to talk to Lyra,” the fox said. “There’s...things we have to say to each other.”

“Sorry, Lyra’s out of town.” Bon Bon shook her head. “She figured something was off so she left to go find somepony. She’s waiting for things to blow over before she’s coming back.”

“Oh.” Dustin blinked a few times. “Um. Well, I can hardly apologize or invite her back into the mine if she’s not here…”

“Oh she knows.” Bon Bon chuckled. “She said, and I quote ‘Pinkie will let you know when I’m on the way back.’”

“...Awfully convenient,” the fox commented.

“Lyra’s always been a weird mare.” Bon Bon shrugged.

“Fair enough,” Dustin shrugged. “Okay then,” he made sure his packages of females were secure before saluting Bon Bon. “Take care, I’m off to go get chewed out by Flint.”

“See ya.” Bon Bon waved.

“Where are you going to find Flint?” Ivy asked from her fluffy pillow.

“If I know him, he’ll find me back at Rarity’s,” Dustin commented. “We have an emergency hatch leading between the mine and the boutique in case I needed to be at either end very quickly. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was having tea with the mare.”

“Makes sense.” Ivy replied.

“And we’re here,” Dustin commented, knocking on the door to the boutique.

There was once again the sound of hooves then the door opened. “Dustin!” Rarity said happily. “And Dash and Ivy too! What a surprise.”

“Hey Rarity,” Dustin smiled at her. “I’m...sorry I was so abrasive. It may not have been me, but I still feel bad about the things that happened.”

“Oh pfft, darling,” she waved a hoof, “that was nothing compared to our earlier fights.”

“...I think I should find it sad that we can say that so easily,” the fox pointed out. “Anyways. Can me and the girls come in? We need to have some quality time to snuggle.”

Rarity blinked. “Dustin. Darling. You live here. And I’m sure Sweetie will be happy to see you after she gets her homework done!” The mare finished by yelling into the boutique.

“I’m already working on it.” Was the slightly muffled reply from upstairs.

“Well, it didn’t feel like I lived here when I was, you know,” Dustin pointed out, stepping inside. “Ooo, can I lay down on the couch and let them nap on me?” he posed to Rarity.

“Of course darling, so long as you let me take pictures.” Rarity grinned.

“Boss, Tha’ you?” Came from the kitchen.

“Oh, how could I forget.” Rarity sighed.

Flint limped into the entryway. “Ye look be’er Boss.”

“Come with me, Flint,” Dustin said, walking over to the couch in the fitting area and slowly laying down in it, careful not to jostle his load of females. “Okay. So, I trust you’ve already undone everything the bug was doing through me?” he questioned the older dog.

“Absolutely.” Flint nodded, limping in to lean against a ponequin. “Bug bodies bein’ used as crawfish food. All da dogs dat were replaced ‘ave been found. Quartz is actually kin’na ticked, but she’s alrigh’. Everydoggy’s ‘as a clean bill o’ health.” He listed. “Sometings are still a li’l raw, more than a few dogs jump at yer name. Bu’ things will cool down, give dem a li’l time is all Boss.”

“That’s...about what I expected, honestly,” Dustin sighed, running his free hand through Dash’s mane. “Lyra is out doing something, she’ll be back when she’s back. When she is, she’s naturally allowed to start teaching again.”

“Obviously, Boss.” The dog chuckled. “Yer actin’ like dis sor’ a thing hasn’ ‘appened before.”

“Well it hasn’t happened to me, and I’d prefer if it doesn’t happen again,” the fox pointed out. “You all deserve better than what happened.”

“Dat’s a sign of a good Boss.” Flint pointed out. “In mah memory, yer one o’ the bes’.”

“Mm. I’m thinking of calling Celestia down to help,” the fox continued. “We’ll ask if she can deal with the demons lurking in the deeps, and if the answer is yes, we’ll open up the vein and let her destroy them all.”

“Dustin…” Dash lifted her head and said sleepily. “Did you say there were demons in your mine?”

“Dat ‘e did.” Flint nodded.

“Awesome.” The mare slumped once more.

“Yeah, but hopefully there won’t be for too much longer,” the fox commented. “How long has it been since the mine’s had a full adamantine vein to mine, not just the branches?”

“Oh….” The dog blew air through his lips as he thought a moment. “A few centuries.”

“This time, no danger, assuming Celestia can deal with them,” the fox pointed out. “But I think I’ll save that for when the mine’s not scared of me anymore. As well as the song that I think would work well to bring up morale.”

“All good poin’s Boss.” Flint agreed.

“Keep reminding them that the bug’s left,” Dustin said. “That I would never choose the path that happened if I were allowed to choose. And that I’m working on making sure it doesn’t happen ever again.” His face was stony as he said those words. “Next time something invades my head, they’d best be prepared for a war.”

“Ah’ll le’ ‘em know Boss.” Flint nodded and turned towards the entryway. “Ya get some res’ now.”

“You two hear that?” Dustin said to Ivy and Dash. “Naptime.”

“Yay…” Was the half-hearted response.

There was a flash.

“Perfect! Oh this is going to look so cute!”

Clearing the vein

It had been some time since Dustin had been taken over by the bug. According to Flint, the dogs were ambivalent about him. He’d have to do something grand to get them back on his side again.

Fortunately, he’d planned for this.

“Yo, Spike,” Dustin said, walking into the library with a rolled-up letter. “Got something you can send to Celestia.”

“Yo.” Spike waved as he saw the fox. “What ya got?”

“Just a request for her to come visit my mine,” the fox replied. “See, there’s a pretty valuable vein of metal down there, but I’m 95% sure that there’s demons lurking in the deeps waiting for us to mine it.” He shrugged. “Way I figure it, is if Celestia can’t clear them out, she’ll know who can.”

“Demons? Really?” Spike asked. “Aren’t those things like… myths?” He hummed. “Then again, myth does have some basis in fact if you go back far enough.”

“Uhuh, and where does a vein of Adamantine fall on your myth-scale?” the fox questioned with a raised brow.

“Rare, but not unheard of.” Spike asked as he took the rolled up letter. “Now is it a vein, a seam, or something more solid?”

“According to Flint, it goes pretty far down, as far as the dogs are willing to excavate anyways,” Dustin replied. “And I’m pretty sure the central column is hollow. Which sets off every last alarm I have. We’ve stuck to the branches, and we can sort of use it if we break it off carefully. But I want to get in the mine’s good graces again with the whole thing. But again, afraid of demons.”

“That sounds like an Adamantine deposit with vein coming off of the main body.” Spike commented as he wrote his own notes and rolled them up. “And yeah, demons might be an issue.”

“Yeah, so…” the fox rolled a paw. “I’m hoping that if I’m the one to bring Celestia in and ask her nicely to clear out the evil before somedog gets a stupid idea, that the mine won’t hate me anymore. Plus, more adamantine for everyone.”

“Sounds like all good things. Baring that Celestia and Lily can come up with a solution.” Spike nodded as he raised the letters, took a breath, and breathed a stream of fire on the letters, which quickly burned into a greenish smoke that then flew out the window.

“Cool,” Dustin relaxed a little. “So, you got anything good to read while I wait for a response?”

Spike blinked and raised a claw to gesture around at the shelves and shelves of books.

“I was fishing for a recommendation,” the fox chuckled, before walking up to a shelf and picking out a book at random.

“And I answer a question with another question,” Spike started, “What are you in the mood for?”

Dustin turned and raised his own eyebrow. “I’m a fox from another dimension,” he pointed out blandly. “Heck, even your children’s books are interesting to me.”

“Quite literally, we have anything from Equestrian myths and legends to stuff from other dimensions that just happens to fall through once and awhile.” Spike shrugged. “Because apparently the interdimensional bureaucracy sucks and we’ve got more holes in ours than swiss cheese. Twilight did a report on it awhile back. You ever read The Never Ending Story?”

“Not really,” the fox admitted as he opened the book he’d pulled off the shelf.

“Guile said there was a movie, or three… ish.” Spike shrugged.

“Again, not the most sociable of creatures,” Dustin answered. Huh. It was taking an awful long time. “I’ll just pull up a chair while I wait.”

“Dude… They’re royalty and it’s the middle of a Wednesday. Day Court is still a thing. Might want to wait for them to have lunch or something.” Spike started.

Only for there to be a flash of bright light. As the light faded there was a small tan-yellow dog-like creature with blue eyes, a gold ring around its neck, and a pair of glasses on its muzzle. “Status report.”

“Hi m- Lily.” Spike replied before coughing into a claw.

“Ah,” Dustin closed the book and put it on a table. “Well, the vein’s been unearthed for...a month or two now,” he said, looking upward in thought. “In that time we’ve uncovered several branches into the surrounding rock, which we were careful enough to cut off so they didn’t damage the main column. Thing is still hollow when we knock on it, and the longer you spend around it, the more ominous whispers you hear. So yeah, 95% chance of demons.”

“So, manifested malevolence, okay.” She started pacing. “Give me a moment. Need to think of a course of action.”

“Need any back up, you know, just in case?” Spike asked. “I could letter anybody.”

“Great idea!” Lily brought up. “Spike, need a book.”

“Pick one.” Spike replied.

“The Wizard’s Companion.” She commented. “Wait, wait nevermind. I know a guy who owes me a favor.” She walked over to the table, retrieved a quill and drew a pentagram on the ground. She looked at it, thickened a line or two, then put her paw on the pentagram.

Instantly the room started smelling of brimstone. Which faded after a moment.

Then there was a knock on the door.

“Can somebody get that?” Lily asked, turning towards the door.

Dustin raised an eyebrow, before walking over to the door and cautiously opening it a little.

A tall man stood at the door. He wore a dark red vest, under a brighter red suit coat, dark red pants, and crimson dress shoes. The skin of his face was pale. A single red monocle sat over his right eye. The sclera of his eyes were a deep red, the irises were a brighter red, and his pupils were black as coal. Atop this man’s head were two small black antlers, as well as two fluffy ears.

In his right hand he held a cane, topped with what looked like an old radio microphone. In his other was… a rabbit? It had the body of a hare, with forelegs ending in the talons of a hawk, as well as the wings on a hawk on its back. A pair of deer antlers protruded from its head. It’s eyes were more pony-like and were a bright gold.

Dustin blinked for a moment.

“Hell-”

Dustin slammed the door in his face.

“Mind telling me why there’s a demon on the doorstep?” the fox turned and asked the other digimon in the room. “I’m pretty sure that is exactly the problem I wrote about!”

Lily shrugged. “Alastor owes me a favor. He wouldn’t kill anybody, there’s rules to things like this.”

“And Artemia wouldn’t be happy if he did.” Spike commented.

The fox sighed and opened the door again to look out at the terrifying man. “My apologies,” he said to the demonic looking being. “It’s just, I currently have a bit of a demon problem myself, and you were not a pleasant reminder of that fact.”

“Not a problem my effeminate fellow.” The demon spoke with a sharp, yellow-toothed grin as he stepped inside. His voice sounded staticy, like it was coming from an old-timey radio. “Having demon problems, eh? Well, you’ve come to the right place!” He held out the arm holding the hare and Spike took it. “So, how can I help you?”

“Spike.” The hare complained. “Put me down. I am not a toy.”

“Sorry, sorry, but when he hands you something, you take it.” Spike grumbled as he set the hare down on the floor. The hare then proceeded to sit on her haunches and observe everyone like she was one of the Princesses.

“Adamantine deposit,” the fox supplied to the large demon. “We’ve been careful breaking off the branches, but I’m afraid that any more of the ominous whispering from the column is going to give my dogs waking nightmares. I’d like to mine it all anyways, I’m just not suicidal.”

“Obviously not. You wouldn’t like what happens afterwards.” The demon raised a brow. “So, whispering and demons.” He chuckled. “Describe them, my good man, what do they look like?”

“Well, again, we’re not stupid, we haven’t opened the vein up,” the fox admitted. “But I’m pretty sure I know how this song and dance goes. Someone gets greedy and mines into the column, thinking ‘there must be more adamantine inside.’” He shook his head. “It’s already confirmed to be hollow. The moment we break into it, all hell is going to break loose. I’m thinking we’d be lucky to have a one percent survival rate if we did, and those whispers are scaring the miners anyways.”

“Sounds like one hell of a party.” The demon chuckled again. “That or cthulhu decided that some of his followers got particularly irksome and stuck them in a box.”

The hare suddenly tapped the ground with a talon. “My name is Artemia and while I am happy to help, you’re going to need to evacuate the mine while I do my job. This will require quick and clean kills, and I can’t risk unwanted casualties.”

The fox frowned. “The dogs don’t exactly go to the surface all that often,” he pointed out. “Only to trade and gather things that don’t grow underground.” He hummed a moment. “I could ask them to move towards the upper layers,” he admitted. “And the vein is at the deepest point of the mine.” He looked between the two demonic entities for a moment. “I’d ask if you want a minerdog to break it open for you, but I’m sure of two things. One, that’d be construed as an insult to your strength, and two, none of the dogs would take that order anyways.”

“Smart fellow.” The demon replied, as the static seemed to increase. There was a faint pressure on Dustin’s everything before it ceased. “Now! Shall we make this official before we give your dogs a night on the town?” He held out a hand.

“Ah...normally I’d shy away from making a deal with a demon, but...desperate times,” the fox sighed, before holding out his own paw and shaking the demon’s hand.

“Great!” The demon straightened. “Now, Darling,” he looked at Artemia. “You can do your job while I go take a look around this delightful, candy colored world.”

Lily sighed. “Congrats, you just gave one of the most powerful demons, and the Queen of the Hunt, free roam to do whatever they want.”

“Not to worry my dear, we know the rules. We wouldn’t want the pretty little angel to throw a fit, now would we.” Alastor chuckled as they walked to the door, reopened it, and walked outside.

There was a moment.

“Hello there my skeletal friend!” Came Alastor’s call.

Silence.

“Oh My God! Alastor!” For the first time, everyone in the tree library heard the sounds of a Prime Evil squealing like a fanboy.

“That wasn’t the reaction I expected, but I’ll take it!” Alastor’s reply was quite enthusiastic.

“You, organize your dogs.” Artemia spoke a little stiffly to Dustin, before half-hopping out the door.

“There you are Darling! Have you met my friend...”

“I’m Lucifer.” The Prime Evil snapped quickly.

“Oh, that is just delightful.”

Artemia blinked at the pair of demons from the doorway as Alastor just chuckled. “It’s so nice to meet a fan.”

“Things are going to somehow get more weird now.” Spike sighed, rolling his eyes.

“More weird? Now?” the fox asked. “At least it’s not Tuesday.”

Artemia sighed and slumped a little. “Blasted tomfoolery.”

“Flint,” Dustin said upon entering the mine. “We need to evacuate everydog to the upper levels at least. Outside if they can manage it. I might’ve...found a solution to the demon problem, but there’s a risk of friendly fire.”

Flint looked up. “Is i’ ‘bout the Adamantine?”

“Yes, look, I promise, I’m not mind controlled, I found a way to make it safe.” Dustin said, stepping to one side to reveal Artemia. “She’ll go in and deal with the squatters, but...there’s some risk that we might be caught in the crossfire. So, we’ll get everydog up, out if we can, and I’ll make sure nodog goes in until she gives the all-clear, okay? This way, no more whispers, no more evil behind the walls of the Adamantine, everyone wins.”

“Is tha’ a bloody rabbi’?” Flint asked pointed at the hare while looking at Dustin.

Artemia moved with cat-like grace and grew until she was eye to eye with the dog. Her wings opened. A blast of cold air and snow erupted from them as she did. “I assure you, whatever is down there will be dead by the ‘morrow.”

“She’s a big rabbi’.” Flint nodded at the demon hare. “Good. Thank ye.”

Artemia nodded back. “My mother did not raise a mewling kitten.”

“And I don’ raise sof’ pups.” Flint chuckled.

“Okay,” Dustin nodded. “Flint, issue the evacuation order. Make sure we have enough food, alcohol, beds, that sort of thing. We may be up here all night, depending on how resilient the demons are.”

“Will do Boss.” Flint looked towards the fox and nodded. “Righ’ away.” He looked back to Artemia. “A pleassure te mee’ ye.”

The demon hare dipped her head in a small bow. “Likewise.”

With a final nod, Flint limped off into the mine proper. They could already hear him barking orders.

“Do you need me to lead you to the vein, or…” Dustin trailed off as he looked at the no-longer-small hare.

Artemia looked at him curiously. “If you want to, but I can find my own way if need be.”

“Alright then,” Dustin nodded. He paused for a moment. “Might want to shrink down again so you don’t scare the dogs,” he noted politely.

With a small nod the demon hare shrank back down to her more manageable size. “Apologies. I am far too used to being the one hunted, rather than being the hunter.”

“Fair, fair,” Dustin nodded. “Okay, so...to the depths then.” He began leading the way into the mine, past the hurrying dogs and nodded politely at them all as they passed.

“How far down is it?” Artemia asked.

“The literal deepest point of the mine,” the fox answered. “That’s where they found it, and while I was mind-controlled, we excavated quite a bit more of it. It looks like a giant blue root growing upwards.”

“If you want the honor of breaking the metal, I may phase through the vein and kill what’s on the other side, if you so wish.” The demon hare replied.

Dustin blinked. “That would cut out a large bit of the trouble involved in breaking the vein open,” he admitted. “I’m mostly concerned for something trying to sneak by you and get at the dogs.”

“More of a reason to not damage the vein.” Artemia added. “I know the value of good resources.”

“Well, that too,” the fox admitted as they arrived at the elevator. “Okay, step on,” he said, barely stopping himself from saying something that might be construed as offensive.

“Please, be honest. If you have anything to say, say it.” She replied.

“Nope,” the fox shook his head as he stepped on after the hare, hitting the lever to descend. No way he was about to say ‘hop on’ to a demon hare that could rend him in half.

“I assure you, there’s nothing worse you could say than what I have heard in the past five-hundred years.” The hare replied.

“There’s a difference between being funny and being intelligent enough to know when not to joke around,” the fox countered.

The hare simply shrugged in response. The ride passed in silence for a minute or so, before they arrived at the level of the adamantine. Dustin pulled the lever to get the elevator to stop, before he led the way towards the vein. “It’s this way,” he supplied. The hare nodded and followed the fox as they continued deeper into the mine. The walls were looking more rough hewn this far down.

They turned a corner, and after following a short hallway, they came across the Adamantine chamber. The massive column of blue stuck out of the earth, and several branches of the blue ore stuck out of it. The dogs had done a good job at breaking off the smaller ones and quarrying them into boulders, but a lot remained there. “Here we are,” the fox said, sweeping a paw out dramatically.

She took one look at it. Her eyes narrowed as her ears twitched back and forth. “Found them.” She looked at the fox. “I recommend running.”

The air suddenly got very cold.

“I’ll just...guard the hallway,” the fox suggested, taking a step back. Then two. Then he turned and booked it so that he couldn’t see what was happening. As he did the air shrieked as a hurricane came into existence. When he looked back all he could see was wind and snow. He could barely make out the silhouette of Artemia phasing into the adamantine.

Alastor paused, the cup halfway to his lips. “Oh, she’s having fun.” He took a sip. “Delightful.”

“Mmmmph?” There was a spray of crumbles from Lucifer’s skull.

“Who’s having fun?” Pinkie Pie asked, coming with more food for the small group.

“Oh, she’s the most adorable little creature. Say did I ever tell you about the time-”

Everything was silent. The storm had faded a minute or two ago. Dustin tentatively made his way back down the hallway.

Something stepped out of the adamantine.

She had the front half of a red-tailed hawk, and the back half of a lioness. White antlers protruded from the back of her head. Her ears also appeared more like a deer rather than a lion or a bird. Her whole body appeared holey and motheaten, with the holes in her feathers being the most notable. Additionally, of note, was a massive gaping hole in her chest, right where her heart would be.

Okay. Either this was another form of the hare, or one had gotten past her. He should brace either way. He’d find out in a second, which was about the average response time for a Diamond Storm.

The “griffon” finally noticed that Dustin was standing there, and immediately widened her eyes and pinned back her ears. She took a step back. “Apologies. I am aware my visage is quite frightening.” She definitely sounded like Artemia.

“Hey, I’ll take this visage over anything that actively wants to hurt me,” the fox chuckled, relaxing and letting the slight glow in his eyes die. “So...you done down there?”

Her wings lightly fluttered as she composed herself. “It is done.”

“Oh, great,” the fox smiled. “Okay, so. Need to get them all back down here and tell them the good news...need to get to work on increasing the production...this is great news, y’know. Did you want something as a reward, or…”

She blinked. “Beg pardon? Reward?”

“Payment, reward, same difference,” the fox waved a paw. “You did me a service, I should pay you for your work.”

“I was not expecting compensation.” The griffoness replied.

“Then frankly your idea of labor laws needs to be updated,” Dustin deadpanned. “Come on, shrink down and let’s go tell the dogs the good news. You should at least be there for the party afterwards.”

There was an explosion of snow, and once the small storm faded, the demon hare was back. “I will contemplate a suitable reward in the meantime.”

“Mhm,” Dustin nodded again, giving the vein a look over. “You can regale the dogs with tales of your slaughter of the demons over a river of alcohol and food.” He turned and led her back towards the elevator. “It’s gonna be a heckuva party. Especially because now I can introduce them to the best mining song ever.”

“Good food and good drink? Sounds good to me.” She shrugged.

Geralt blinked.

His mind was fuzzy.

He was sure he was home a minute or two ago.

He looked at the surrounding people. Pinkie, the eternally poofy, was bringing out yet more bread. Said bread was being devoured by a multi-limbed skeleton in a robe and a very well dressed man with a monocle. There was jazz music playing from somewhere, but Geralt was sure that Sugarcube Corner didn’t have a jukebox.

“Man… How high am I right now?” Geralt replied stupidly.

“Not high enough my wolfish companion.” The well dressed man smiled toothily. “Tell me how did you break your foot?”

“He kicked me.” The skeleton said in an unholy rasp.

“Oh, you are quite the sturdy one.” The man chuckled.

“Haven’t seen anything come close to hurting him yet.” Pinkie chimed in.

“Why thank you, my fluffy pink anomaly.” The man nodded while daintily taking a roll.

“You betcha Ally!” Pink grinned just as wide as the man.

“This has to be a drug induced fever dream.” Geralt responded.

“Oh, it’s real sonny.”

Geralt looked to his left to see a woman with a blond buzzcut pouring a generous amount of strong smelling alcohol into a steaming coffee cup. The woman took a drag out of the cup and gave him a glance. “Sad you won’t remember a thing. I’ll just have to meet you properly later.”

“M’kay.” Geralt responded with a blink.

“So, friends, did I ever tell you of the time I threatened to drop Artemia’s grandmother off the roof of Queen Bounty Headquarters?” The man asked.

“Counter offer, have I ever told you the story of how I spent three nights in a ditch in back in ‘nam?” The woman countered, swaying a little.

“Oh, War Flashbacks. Delightful.” The man grinned. “This story is going to end in tears, I just know it.”

Something told Geralt that it was going to be a long night.

“Everydog!” Dustin announced to the population of the mine. “Thanks to our delightful friend here,” he gestured to Artemia with a paw, “The demons behind the vein of Adamantine are no more!”

There was a loud cheer from the collected dogs. The hare puffed herself up a bit, clearly proud of her work. She was actually smiling for once.

“Now, this is going to mean more work,” Dustin cut in. “But not right away. Let’s get the facilities made to process all that ore built first, eh? We can worry about mining the stuff once we can handle the influx. But for the night? We celebrate!”

There was an even louder cheer from the dogs this time.

“Now,” Dustin pointed out some of the larger, more scarred dogs standing off to one side to Artemia. “Those are the guards of the mine, and the most likely to enjoy the tales of you slaying the demons and ply you with more drinks. Meanwhile, I have to meet with the miners to teach them a new song.”

“There really isn’t much of a story to tell.” Artemia replied with a shrug.

“They’ll embellish it five times before the night’s over and have it being where you tore out their throats with your teeth,” the fox promised. “You’ll go home wondering who was telling the truth by the end of the night, they love to play up tales of battle so much.”

“Ripping out throats is just disrespectful.” The hare replied. “All I did was have lunch.”

“Too much information for me,” Dustin deadpanned. “Go on and have fun.”

“Before you go off, just as a warning, Alastor may show up, any moment.” Artemia warned.

“Well this looks quite festive!” The hiss of static announced the demon’s presence.

Dustin turned.

There was Alastor, accompanied by Pinkie Pie, Guile (both mare and lizard were still wearing aprons), Jojo (who looked quite tipsy), and an outer space high Geralt. Said wolf stared around at everything much in the way an owl would stare at anything.

There was a loud gasp. Pinkie Pie basically appeared next to the hare. “She’s so fluffy!”

Artemia looked at Alastor for help. Alastor, in turn, narrowed his eyes slightly and gave her a shit-eating grin.

The hare looked up at the mare like a deer in the headlights. “Hello.”

“Hi!” Pinkie grinned. Immediately Artemia was picked up and cuddled against the mare’s chest fluff. “You are so cute! I love your antlers, and your feets are so pointy! And you horns-”

“Pinks, be more careful with the soul-shredding demon.” Guile replied weakly as the lizard plodded up to the mare.

“She’ll be fine!” Alastor proclaimed.

“Which one?” Guile asked.

Alastor just grinned in response and then turned his attention to Artemia. “Relax my dear, we’re on vacation.”

Dustin rolled his eyes and headed over to the miner dogs. “Okay boys,” he said, before correcting himself. “And some girls I see. That’s fine. I have a song you all can learn for when you’re digging. You might have to change a few words, but I’m sure you can work out which ones.”

There was a small chorus of okays from the miner dogs. Dustin pulled his pack around, fished around for his music player, and scrolled through the options. He landed on one and then pressed play. Immediately, the dog’s ears all perked up.

“Oh, jaunty.” Alastor commented as Geralt was guided over to a table by a few dogs. Lucifer meanwhile floated between various conversations, unintentionally spooking whatever group was talking.

“Yeah, this is the metal version of the song,” Dustin commented. “The lyrics are the same, but it’s got more of a punch to it.”

“Not my style, but not my party, so carry on.” Alastor walked over, plucked the hare out of Pinkie’s grasp, and walked over to a table to sit down. He crossed one leg over the other, sat the hare down, and started stroking her in the same way one would stroke a cat. The hare, in turn, was trying to get at Alastor’s ears, but they were sadly out of reach.

The hare huffed. “If you desire to embarrass me, then let me return the favor.”

“Ha!” The demon laughed. “No.”

The song finished playing, and Dustin noticed the dog’s heads bobbing along. “So, I take it you liked?” he teased.

There was a loud cry from the dogs. Yes, they indeed enjoyed it.

“Well,” the fox said, turning the player off and stuffing it back in his bag. “You have my permission to alter the word ‘dwarf’ to ‘dog’ and adopt it for use in the mine.”

“Well Boss, Ah think ya jus’ found us a new diggin’ song.” Flint laughed happily. “An’ Ah tink yer back in da dogs good graces. Now all we go’ ta do is crack open dat adamantine deposit.”

“Ap!” Dustin put a finger up. “First, make sure that we have the infrastructure. Stoneworking shops to spin the adamantine into the threads, smelters to make it into the wafers, and smithies to work the wafers into the strongest swords and armor seen by dogs for centuries. It’s been a while since you all last worked with one this big, after all. Make sure the stations are in use and good repair, and make sure you have the best dogs to work on this. We only have so much, we are not going to turn out inferior products for the mine!”

“Yer righ’ Boss.” Flint shrugged.

“If I might butt in.” Alastor raised a hand. Dustin turned and raised an eyebrow. “As a reward to my darling huntress here, how about enough of your local currency to buy a plot of land somewhere?”

“But you don’t normally own land.” The hare narrowed her eyes at the demon.

“And you.” He booped her nose. “Are still homeless.”

“I mean, maybe?” Dustin blinked. “Flint, how much money does the mine have put aside?”

“Did Ah neva take ya ta da vaul’?” Flint blinked. “Shi’ dat shoulda been on da lis’. I’s no’ far from yer quar’ers Boss. Da old Bosses liked ta ‘ave deir bi’s close by.”

“Okay then,” the fox shrugged. “Let’s agree that when you find a plot of land she wants, send the bill to the mine. Sound fair?”

Alastor reached into his coat and pulled out a scroll. With a shake, it unrolled. “Already done, my fuzzy, feminine fellow.”

“Of course you already have one picked out.” Artemia rolled her eyes.

“Merry Christmas, darling.” Alastor chuckled.

Dustin plucked the scroll from the demon and blinked a few times at the price tag. “I’m...not sure. Is that expensive?” He asked Flint as he passed it over to the foredog.

“Look’s like dis is on da ou’skir’s a pony town.” Flint commented. “Like da shy bu’er pegasus’s place.”

“...Okay then, fair enough,” the fox nodded. “We can afford the bill, right? For her clearing out the demons, I hope so.”

“Yes Boss, da’s no’ gonna be a problem.” Flint shook his head.

“Well then, the deal is done,” Dustin smiled. “It was nice doing business with you both.”

“Of course.” Alastor nodded. “It’ll be nice to get out of the house and not be greeted by fire and brimstone. It’ll be refreshingly different!”

“If anyone had a problem with this, they would have shown up by now.” Artemia commented from her place in the demon’s lap.

“That’s the spirit, you’ll finally be able to make your dreams a reality!” Alastor waved his walking stick. The demon hare only rolled her eyes.

“I hope I’m dreaming all this.” Came a groan from a table. “I wanna come down.”

“It’s okay.” The skeletal demon patted the werewolf’s shoulder. “I can ta-”

Pinkie Pie chimed in. “Who wants to move this party to Sugarcube Corner?!”

Guile gasped. “Pinkie No!”

Author's Note

This was a tad more shitposty, but the three of us (Thadius0, Dragonfire2lm, and myself) just had a blast writing this. Dragon want's it note that she's been binging Hazbin Hotel for weeks, so that's where Alastor and Artemia come from.

Like looking in a mirror

Geralt the Weregarurumon was cranky. He had a much lower dosage of pain meds for his foot, and got a new cast, and also had been ordered to actually get out of the house to get some movement back into his body. Thankfully, or regrettably, Dustin had offered to accompany him as they wandered the town.

“Fuck my life.” The werewolf growled as he limped down the road.

“Isn’t that Vinyl’s job?” the fox teased.

“Don’t start, mister I have two girlfriends.” Geralt snapped back with a glare.

“Ivy’s more of a friend than a girlfriend,” Dustin noted out loud. “She’s shy and passive. I mostly have to force her out of the house. Granted, I’m an introvert too, but my extrovert friends rubbed off on me.”

“Hmmph.” The wolf snorted. “Kink-”

Suddenly there was a feeling of hands on their shoulders. “You two.” The clearly unhappy voice of Jojo spoke up. “We need to have a chat.”

It was the type of voice that Geralt hadn’t heard in years. Instantly he felt like a kid that had gotten in trouble and his mom was sitting him down for a talk. The wolf actually paled.

“Can we talk while we walk?” Dustin posed. “Big bad wolf needs to get some activity in him or the doctors fear he’ll become a couch potato.”

“That’s just fine.” The cold voice replied as the hands steered the pair as they walked.

“So… What’s this about?” Geralt asked as he limped along.

“Oh nothing… I just had a nice talk with Twilight and Rarity about some previous happenings around town…” Jojo replied innocently enough.

“O...kay…” Dustin trailed off. “Such as?”

“Like your prank wars.” Jojo replied, steering the two into the part. “Geralt, how’s you leg?”

“Well it’s a bit sore, haven’t walked on it a whole lo-”

“Fair enough.” The woman replied. “Sit.” The pushed the two into a bench and took a deep breath, before letting it out with a sigh.

“Bwuh.” Geralt, had to readjust himself on the bench. Now he really did feel like a kid again.

“I assure you that my role was mostly reactionary,” the fox tried to defend himself.

“So,” Jojo focused her eyes on the fox, “Poisoning a mare to basically rape someone who’s supposed to be your friend is reactionary?” Her jaw was set tight. The woman looked quite pissed.

“Oh sure, I’ll admit I went a tad bit too far,” the fox agreed. “But A), I wasn’t the one who did the poisoning, just the complaining about it to Dash. She took care of the rest. And B), why don’t you ask mister big bad here what his idea of teleport training is? Or his idea of how to educate the bitches of the mine?”

“You’re not off the hook, but you have a point there, son.” The woman gave a tilt of the head to Dustin, then turned her wrath on Geralt. “So, let me see if I get this right. You educate the bitch population about harems, sic them on your friend, he teleports and you decide to use that same dick hungry harem of bitches to chase your friend and student through Ponyville?”

The wolf shrank back a bit. “W-well…”

“Geralt Jameson, this is not some adventure, some anime, or some story where you get to play hero.” Jojo took a step forward and leaned in to the werewolf. “As ludicrous as some of the events in the world can be, and as funny as some things may seem at times, this is real life. In real life, you do not coerce a bunch of females to rape someone who trusts you, nor do you lead those same females on a hunting party for that same friend.”

The wolf was pressing his spine into the back of the bench, his eyes wide as he stared at the woman.

“I don’t know your history, I probably should have had a chat with your daughter first, but you’re actions are more like that of a child, rather than a grown man.” Jojo continued. “You could and should have manned the fuck up and talked through things like the adults you are.”

Suddenly her gaze turned back towards the fox. “And I’m not done with you, sonny Jim.” Her jaw popped. “Did you ever think at any point to actually sit and talk with this man instead of avoiding him? You have quite the mouth on you, and you seem to have a decent head on your shoulders for the most part. Hell, you seem to love talking through your issues with the ladies, what’s different about wolf-man over here?”

“Because whenever I complain about the things he does or puts me through in the name of training,” Dustin said, giving Geralt a stink-eye, “He gets ideas about how to make it worse. Honestly this time of him being mandated to rest has been the best time I’ve had in awhile.”

“Geralt, I think we need a more serious chat when you’re fully healed because-”

Both wolf and fox noticed Pinkie rolling her party cannon up behind the woman. The noise seemed to catch the woman’s attention. She paused, and slowly turned.

There was a moment where it seemed that Jojo was frozen stiff.

“Hi-” Pinkie didn’t get a chance to speak as Jojo was right in front of her in an instant. The woman’s fist was inches from the mare’s face. It was shaking as a distortion gripped the woman’s arm tight. The woman’s eyes were wide, her irises pinpricks, and a single tear rolled off her left eyes.

The woman blinked. “Dont- Don’t ever do that again! You h-hear me?!” There was a shake in her voice.

Pinkie wilted immediately and tears formed in her eyes. “I-I…”

“I- don’t want to hear it Suki!” The woman snapped.

“Jojo, what the fu-” Geralt managed to stammer out.

The woman whirled on the wolf. She was visibly shaking. “Jackson, don’t you argue with me, she could have killed somebody!” She thrust a finger at the mare. The breath came in gasps.

Then she blinked, still shaking she shook her head. She blinked again and looked around at the tree. A shaky hand moved into her jacket and she pulled out her flask. She popped the top and took a drag out of it. “I- I’m…” She stammered out. “Thunderstruck. Flash.” Lightning crackled around her and she disappeared in a blast of wind and a rumble of thunder.

“What d-did I do w-wrong?” Pinkie said, teary-eyed.

“I…. I think you just triggered a war vet.” Geralt said with a sick feeling in his gut from both seeing the reaction and the dressing down not even a minute ago.

“Yeah, it’s not your fault,” the fox supplied. “She’s just...very prone to react to things like cannons and explosions. She’d probably do better at a smaller, quieter party. Not everybody is good with loud noises. I know of people who went off to fight and came back not able to enjoy the sound of popcorn anymore.”

“My dad was that way.” Geralt replied, finally able to relax a bit.

Pinkie nodded herself. “I mean… I heard stories.”

“Yeah.” The wolf nodded, he looked at the fox. “Hey Dustin-”

“Dustin!” The rough voice of Dash called out from above.

The three looked up to see Dash racing at them. She was holding a newspaper of all things. “I have been looking everywhere for you!”

“...Dash, I thought you were trying to behave,” the fox frowned.

“What?” The pegasus stopped to hover just in front of the fox. “No. Here. Look at this!” She shoved the paper in his face.

Dustin raised an eyebrow as he read the newspaper.

“No no!” Dash yanked it away, flipped a page and shoved a picture in his face, while tapping a hoof on said picture. “That! Her!”

Oh.

That. Was a problem.

Dustin’s eyes narrowed and flashed red as he read who was debuting this new line of clothes on their magnificent model.

His throat housed a growl as he looked at the fox’s face in the paper.

“Dash,” the fox said far too calmly. “Go tell Flint I’ll be gone for a day or two. I have a mare to murder.”

Suri was going to pay in blood for this.

“Gotcha.” Dash said, made to fly away, then paused. “Oh, should we get anyone else, before you know, we head to Manehatten?”

Dustin hummed. “Post a flyer or something,” he settled on. “Anypony who shows up at the train station before the train does, I’ll take with.”

“Kay.” Dash nodded then shot off.

“I’m sorry I was the only one available.” Rarity apologised as she sat down in her seat on the train.

“Everyone else wished us well, but also, everyone else was busy.” Dash shrugged. “You’re one of the few that can actually drop things if you need to.”

“True.” Rarity sighed before puffing up. “The nerve of that mare!”

“I know,” Dustin grumbled. “I’m trying to decide how best to string her up. My current plan is either by her tail or by her intestines.”

“Now darling, as mad as we are, there are authorities we can contact.” Rarity tried to calm Dustin down.

“I plan to avoid those, they make murdering a mare tricky, what with the whole ‘you’re not allowed to do that’ spiel they have,” Dustin commented, his eyes still flashing red every now and then.

“Dustin.” Dash put a hoof on his arm. “Slow down. I don’t like seeing you this mad.”

“She kidnapped another Renamon, Dash!” Dustin snapped. “Just because she can’t have me, she took another one! She has to be stopped. And I’m going to show her how much stronger I’ve gotten since I left.”

“Dustin. Please.” Dash said calmly, meeting his eyes. “We’ll get her and show all the shit she’s done. Killing her won’t actually help anything.”

“It’ll make me feel better,” the fox grumbled, but his eyes finally became a solid blue.

“For a moment, darling.” Rarity said slowly. “We will get more info when we get to Manehatten.”

“Dustin.” The fox felt a hoof nudge his face. “We’re here.”

The fox jolted himself a little as he awoke from his small nap. “Once we’re done here I’m not coming back,” he muttered. “Long ass train ride to a town that I have horrible memories of.”

“I do hope she hasn’t moved.” Rarity frowned. “That would make finding her more difficult.”

“And I really doubt I’m fast enough to scout an entire city.” Dash grumbled as she got up and headed for the exit.

Rarity sighed. “This city is far too big for my tastes.”

“I’m used to it, but yeah, I’m more used to Ponyville now,” the fox agreed as he followed the pair of mares. “Makes me want my own place a lot more, though.”

“You may be right.” Rarity nodded as the three stepped into the train terminal proper. “Don’t get me wrong, I do love you staying and Sweetie adores you, but, getting your own place would allow you more room and customization of your personal space.”

“I wouldn’t mind if he got a house.” Dash commented.

“I will put a spell on his room Dash.” Rarity warned.

“I’ve been better!” Dash fluffed up a bit.

“Yeah, the three of us have been behaving,” Dustin commented easily. “Right here.”

“I’m aware, I can’t help but be nervous.” Rarity replied as they exited the starion. The roads and walkways were packed. “Goodness, we should find a side-street. Dustin? I believe you know this place a little better? I have been around but...”

“I was rarely allowed outside, Rares,” Dustin rolled his eyes. “I know the route I took to the train station, which was the most populated one so that she couldn’t grab me in the middle of the night again.”

“Right. S-sorry.” Rarity winced. “Well, just follow me then.”

The three forded through the crowds like a ship through rough seas. The unicorn found an alley that looked fine enough and they swiftly found their way, after a few rows of businesses, to a much less populated street. This one seemed more residential. “Marvelous, now, to find someone who can guide us to-”

Rarity was cut off.

“You can’t just do that out here! There are foals who live on this street!” A clearly angry mares voice caught the group’s attention. As one, they looked to the other side of the street. A cream-colored mare, in a clearly poor-fitting dress, with her red mane done up in a bun, was shouting at a very odd couple, and a very exasperated cop mare was facehoofing.

The first was a mare. Her coat was a burnt orange, and her mane was a much lighter ginger color. Her Cutie Mark was some kind of plant root. One eye was closed, while the other was a slightly foggy green. The mare also wore glasses, Of note, was the collar around her neck, which a leash was attached to and a necklace with a red and white rectangular object that Dustin swore was a Digivice.

The leash was held by… a skeleton? He (assuming it was a he) had dark crimson bones. A black orb filled his rib cage, and the center of the rib cage was open to the orb. Said orb had a symbol of a bat-like creature on the front of it. Black tattered wings protruded from his back. The upper half of his skull was all black and he had four bat-wing like ears coming off of his head. Within his eye sockets, were bright points of red light that appeared to function like irises. He wore black pants, as well as metal boots and gauntlets. In one hand he held the leash. In his other was a gnarled red staff. One side ended in a crescent moon and the other side ended with a three fingered claw grasping a gold orb. Lastly, atop the skeleton’s head was a quite fancy black top hat.

The cop was a mare with a white coat and brown mane. Her eyes were hidden behind a pair of aviator sunglasses and she wore a bright blue button down shirt with a bronze badge and a cop’s hat atop her head.

The skeleton’s face was quite expressing, shifting like a humans would had it skin. He looked rather amused to be honest. The mare connected by the leash looked a little embarrassed but more annoyed at the mare.

The ‘karen’ mare was still shouting. “This is disgusting! I demand you arrest them.”

“Ma’am, I can’t arrest a couple based on their kinks.” The cop groaned. “Plus I don’t have the authority, nor the pay grade to try and arrest him.” She pointed a hoof at the skeleton.

“I am visiting my sister and I don’t want my nieces and nephews to be exposed to this kind of behavior!” The mare continued.

“Ma’am, we’re no’ doin’ anythin’ wrong.” The ginger mare’s voice spoke in a slight cockney accent. “We ‘ave out thing. You can go do yours.”

“Good on you, sweetie.” The skeleton spoke up in a voice that seriously reminded Dustin of Skeletor.

“Come on, let’s give her something better to complain about.” Dash started across the street.

“Dash. Don’t just-” Rairty quickly followed after the pegasus.

“You prismatic headache, what are you planning?” Dustin asked, following after the pegasus mare.

“Excuse me!” Dash called grabbing all four’s attention.

“Look, ma’am you’re clearly disturbing the peace.” The cop seemed just about done with today.

“What do you want, you-”

“Dustin. ‘Mere.” Dash turned towards him. The fox raised an eyebrow, but stepped closer to the mare. What did she have plan-

Dash grabbed his face in her forehooves and kissed him. Passionately. The fox blushed, but didn’t pull away. Okay then...if she wanted to express herself to get on the nerves of other ponies...that was kind of the best time to do it.

Dash broke the kiss with a pop and smirked at the mare. Said mare was doing her best impression of a fish. She shook herself. “That is disgusting! How could you do that to-”

“Okay ma’am, how about we go down to the station.” The cop put a hoof on the mare’s back. “I’m sure we can let your family know.”

“Wait, hey! You can’t just-” The ma’am complained the entire time as she was escorted down the sidewalk until they disappeared around the corner.

“Thank you for that.” The ginger mare said with a sigh.

“It wasn’t a problem.” Dash grinned happily.

“Well she was horrid.” Rarity grimaced.

“Yes, you get people like that from time to time, especially from out of town. You wouldn’t believe what Thursday’s are like.” The skeleton replied with a laugh.

“We’re from Ponyville.” Dash said nonchalantly.

“And I stand corrected.” The skeleton gave a small nod. “Wait,” his “eyes” fell on Dustin. “You look familiar.”

“Yeah, hi, lose the pants and I’m pretty sure I ducked under you on my mad dash to the station some months ago in a desperate bid to escape Suri’s gilded cage method of keeping her models,” Dustin said nonchalantly.

“Suri Palomare?” The skeleton asked, noticeably frowning.

“The same.” Rarity stated.

“Mmmm.” The skeleton hummed. “Well, ahem, introductions. This is Ginger Root, my wife.” He gestured to the mare, who gave a small wave and a “Hello.”

“Say, where’d you get the leash and collar?” Dash asked bluntly.

“Specialty shop.” Ginger replied.

“Nice.” Dash grinned, much to Dustin’s discomfort.

“Continuing on.” The skeleton grabbed the Poyville three’s attention again with a light tap of his staff on the ground. “I am Papy, Squad Leader of the Haunt Squad, and Lieutenant of the M.D.G.”

“Dustin, and we don’t exactly have ranks back in Ponyville,” the Renamon replied. “We have the hunters between us and the Everfree, and if something gets past them it’s less of a command structure and more of a ‘holy fuck kill that thing now’ moment.”

“Perhaps that should be remedied.” Papy nodded. “However, the point I’m getting to. There’s a case the Manehatten PD and the M.D.G. have open involving Suri, we just don’t exactly have a way in. Quite literally. We don’t have a warrant. Yet, we have the authority, that, if we can get into her offices or back rooms, it’s fair game. I take it, Dustin, that you’re here about Suri’s new model?”

“Victim,” Dustin corrected. “Captive. Prisoner. But yes.”

“The same,” Papy nodded. He looked down to Ginger, lightly wrapping the leash around her neck. “Sweetie, can you go and give an update to the Guild and the Police?”

“Of course.” Ginger nodded. “Wan’ me ta ‘ave them send backup?”

“Yes please.” Papy nodded. “Everything goes well, we may finally get her.”

Ginger nodded and trotted off.

Papy turned his attention back to Dustin and the mares. “Shall we?”

“Fair warning,” Dustin said. “It is going to take far more restraint than I possess to not kill her if you keep me in the same room as Suri for any great length of time.”

“You’re free to stay outside, or come with me.” Papy offered as he started down the sidewalk.

“And you think she’ll let any of you inside?” Dustin raised a brow. “I’m willing to bet you’re all well known. She’d be stupid to let any sort of law enforcement in. But me? She’ll welcome me with open hooves.”

“And here I was thinking about the two heroes you have with you.” Papy glanced at the mares. Rarity blushed and Dash puffed out her chest in response.

“Dash already chewed out Suri back in Ponyville,” the fox pointed out. “And I’m willing to bet Rarity could pretend for all of a minute before she started critiquing the fashion choices Suri’s making and then giving the game away.”

“Fair.” He nodded. “She will let you and the mares in, and while she’s distracted, I will follow you in.”

“Good,” Dustin nodded. “I’ll rely on you two to keep me in check,” he said to Dash and Rarity. “Otherwise I’m liable to just Diamond Storm her boutique.”

“We did it earlier today.” Dash replied.

“We can, darling.” Rarity nodded.

The three stood outside Suri’s rather large boutique, the street outside only bore a few traveling ponies.

“Ugh… so gaudy.” Rarity muttered.

“Ready to head inside?” Dash asked.

“No,” Dustin muttered, controlling his shaking only just. The whole place brought back horrible memories. “But if I don’t do this it’ll never get done.” He took a breath. “Rarity, you distract her with compliments, I know, sickening idea, I hate it too. Dash, you take off, find the room she’s keeping the other fox in, and get them out the closest window.”

“Of course, if I can pull her off you.” Rarity nodded.

Dash hovered up. “I’ll see what I can find.” She made a loop around the building and came in for a landing. She shook her head. “Nada. No windows besides the front one with the dresses.”

Dustin nodded, shook once, and then stepped towards the Boutique. His paw rose up, hesitated for a moment, and then knocked on the door a few times.

“Dustin… You could just walk in.” Dash muttered.

“Come in~” A familiar voice sang.

The fox shuddered, before pushing the door open and stepping in, willingly. He held it open long enough for the mares to sneak in behind him before shutting it.

“Hello-” Suri called from the front desk before freezing. “Dustin!~” She sang happily trotting around the desk to the front proper. “You’ve come to you senses, and- Oh, the pegasus is here.” The mare deadpanned at Dash. “I haven’t forgotten how hurtful you were.”

“S-sorry.” Dash said through grit teeth.

“Oh-ho-ho and if it isn’t the famous Rarity!” Suri grinned, trotting over to the white mare.

“It’s quite the pleasure.” Rarity said, putting on a convincing performance, and smiling. “You see, Dustin has been helping me-”

“So you’re the one who stole my model.” Suri immediately frowned. “No worries, I found another.”

Dustin stiffened. Dash put a hoof on his paw.

“Oh… You did?” Rarity trotted around so Suri was facing away from the door.

The door opened without a sound and Papy stepped in just as silently. His eyes flicked between everyone. He saw Dustin’s look and just slowly shook his head.

“Yes! And I have a fabulous photographer for all her shoots!” Suri gloated. “Oh she’s such a good girl.”

Papy’s eyes actually glowed brighter. He looked at Dustin, raised a finger, and made a silent striking motion. Dustin raised an eyebrow and a paw, punching the other one before pointing at Suri. He then tilted his head questioningly.

While the silent conversation was happening, Dash trotted around. Suri was too busy gloating to notice Dash set herself.

There was a loud crack as Dash’s hind hooves collided with Suri’s jaw. Said mare dropped like a sack of potatoes.

“That works.” Papy stated.

Suddenly a door to the back of the shop opened and a cream-coated, light blue-maned mare stepped out. She gaped at the scene. Before- “Finally.” She gave out an exasperated groan. “This way.”

“...Well that was simple,” Dustin said, his eyes only flickering to red once as he looked at Suri’s limp form. “Promise me,” he said, before turning to Papy. “She won’t be in a position of power again.”

“Rarity, Rainbow Dash, watch her.” Papy ordered, before looking at Dustin. “She won’t.”

The pair followed the mare into the back. Which was filled with shelves of cloth, and dresses at various stages on hangers and renaquins. “I’m Coco. I’ve been the one leaking info to the M.D.G.”

“So you’re Silk.” Papy replied. “Are we heading up?”

Coco shook her head. ”Upstairs is storage. Offices, the photoshoot room, and her room are down here.” She replied, opening a rather hefty looking metal door.

“I see she upgraded once I escaped,” Dustin commented dryly. Papy tugged the door off its hinges and let it fall with a thud.

“What are you doing, they’ll know you’re coming!” Coco hissed.

“Good.” Papy said coldly.

“I feel like grievously wounding someone today anyways,” Dustin said, his eyes slightly red around the edges.

“I’ll allow it, so long as you don’t kill anyone.” Papy replied as his left eye turned to a crackling blue.

Beyond the door was a set of stairs that spiraled down. There was chuckling from below.

“She won’t do anything.”

“Yeah she won’t fight back.”

“We were told not to touch her, but Suri’s up stairs.”

“But guys… what about that loud clanging noise?”

“The door always sounds like that.”

Papy’s hand, and entire right forearm, burst into blue flames.

As the reached the bottom of the stairs there were three earth pony stallions (a red one, a grey one, and a green one) and one very nervous looking blue pegasus mare all standing around a large table in the center of a room. The room was also ringed by tables of half-finished designs. The tables had some very nervous and/or disgusted mares at them, drawing designs.

“Gentlemen.” Papy announced, making the ponies jump. The skeleton raised his burning hand and the gray stallion was engulfed in a blue light and he shot up to slam into the ceiling.

“What the-” The red earth pony snapped.

“I surrender!” The pegasus dropped to the ground.

“You should be running,” the fox commented as he raised a paw, his eyes burning light blue as cones of blue light came into existence behind him. “But don’t worry, I know how to aim.” The barrage was snapped off at the stallions rather than the mare, the Diamond Storm screeching through the air. The remaining stallions were blasted off their hooves with burn marks on their chests.

“M.D.G! No one leaves!” Papy snapped, letting the stallion fall and slam through the table. All the mares froze.

“Dustin, find her. I’m searching the offices.” Papy turned and stalked over to a door that stated. “Cloud Strike - Photographer” in bold lettering. He proceeded to police-kick the door off its hinges.

Dustin looked around and noticed that most of the rooms had a label to them. But he didn’t need one of them to tell him where to go. His memory was still functional. He traced the old path back to the room she would put him in and wasn’t surprised to find himself exactly where he needed to be.

The Renamon raised a paw and knocked on the door. “It’s not Suri,” he called. “She’s being taken out of the picture, permanently. I promise, you open up, you can walk away from it all.”

The door slowly opened and a yellow paw gripped the door as a white irised, black eye peeked out. “Shh… S-she’s g-gone?” It was little more than a whisper.

“Her associates are being rounded up as we speak,” Dustin said, offering a paw. “Local law enforcement is cracking down on everyone. Take my hand and we can leave this place behind us.”

Slowly the yellow paw took his own, and the door opened fully.

She was thinner and sleeker than he was. Her ears were notably longer as well. Her forearms were covered in long black gloves. Thankfully, her mane-like fluff covered her chest, however she wasn’t wearing pants.

“Th-thank you…” She appeared to still be processing… everything.

As Dustin led her back through to the main room, he could hear the voices of police officers rounding up ponies. Right as they entered the room a unicorn flew out of the photographer’s room. Every pony in the room froze as the unicorn was engulfed in blue light and he was pressed into the ground like gravity had quadrupled.

A blue light lit the darkness of the photographer’s room as Papy slowly stepped out. “Cloud Strike, you are under arrest for the Exploitation of a Non-Native Equestrian Entity.” He was holding a manilla folding in his free hand, as his other hand gripped his staff tightly. He snapped his head to the very same cop mare from earlier. “You, take this.” He held out the folder. “Do not look inside it.” The mare shakily took the folder and raced up the stairs with it.

The skeleton looked at the pair of foxes. “Good. You found her.” He sighed as the blue light in his eye returned to red. “Unfortunately… This next part won’t be easy for either of you…” He shook his head. “Come, let’s head back up.”

The skeleton, the fox, and the now shaking vixen returned to the boutique’s front room, which was filled with cops, as well as Ginger, Rarity, Dash, and what could only be described as a Grim Reaper.

A silver skull was barely visible from within the black hood. Anything else was beneath the black cloak that floated above the ground.

Suri was in hoofcuffs and was conscious. “You can’t do this to me! Do you know who I am-”

Blue light surrounded her as she hit the floor. Bright blue bones erupted from the floor around her, caging her in. “Suri Palomare, I Papy’ans, Lieutenant of the Manehatten Defense Guild, and Herald of the Fallen Angel, arrest you for the crimes of Unlawful Imprisonment, Exploitation of Non-Equestrian Entities, Theft of Intellectual Property, and Plagiarism of Copyrighted Property.” The bones evaporated, leaving no trace. “Take her away.”

Papy turned to the foxes as Suri was dragged kicking and screaming into a police cart. “I’m sorry, both of you, but we will need your statements for the records.”

“O-okay.” The vixen nodded, her voice almost inaudible over the noise in the boutique.

“If it means she gets locked up for as long as she deserves, count me the fuck in,” Dustin growled.

“Very well.” Papy nodded. “It’s going to be a long night.”

And it was indeed a long night. Virtually sleepless for the foxes, while the pair of mares were given a room and some blankets to sleep in.

When the morning came, the mare’s and the pair of foxes exited the police station. Both foxes looked dead on their feet.

“They said they’d contact us if they need anything else.” Dustin blinked slowly, feeling like he could collapse at any moment.

“Natasha dear, do you want something better than that?” Rarity asked the vixen softly.

‘Natasha’s muzzle just barely poked out of the blanket she had wrapped herself in. “M’fine. W-well n-not fine… b-but I’ll manage… sorry.”

“Don’t apologise for anything darling.” Rarity replied, patting the vixen through her safety blanket. “We’ll get you situated somewhere when we get to Ponyville.”

“M’okay… I dun wanna be here anymore…” The vixen replied with a noticeable shiver of the blanket. “And… called me N-Nat.”

“Sure thing Nat.” Dash said, lightly patting the foxes shoulder, with a hoof while the other held a small bag.

“We can’t get out of here fast enough.” Dustin said slowly. “I’m never coming back here.”

“Good.” Dash replied.

“Dash, why do you have a bag?” Rarity asked the pegasus, as said pegasus did her best to hide the small shopping bag.

“It’s not important right now.” Dash blushed. “L-let’s just get out of here.”

“The only souvenir I want is Suri’s mugshot,” Dustin growled.

“Didn’t Papy say that he’d send you one?” Rarity asked as the small group made their way down the street in the rising light of dawn.

“I also plan to pick up the morning paper before we go home,” the fox smirked. “Bound to have it on the front page.”

Dash flew over to a box on the sidewalk and pulled out a newspaper. “Well, you’re in luck.” She flew back over and handed it to the fox.

“Aaaah,” Dustin smiled, holding the paper up so the front page, displaying Suri’s mugshot, was visible to Nat. “My life is complete,” he said with a happy tone of voice.

“And now we can go home.” Rarity said, patting the blanket covered vixen again.

“Home…” Nat murmured with the smallest of smiles.

With that, the group walked through the morning light towards the train station. Two, at least, would never have to come back again. And they’d prefer it that way.

Twice the fox, Twice the trouble

Author's Note

Warning: The last section of the chapter gets a bit steamy.

Twice the fox, Twice the trouble

Nat was settling in, somewhat well in the day since she’d gotten “home.” She took Dustin’s old room, as he’d moved most of his stuff out to the mine to allow the vixen to take his spot. Even then, this was a temporary arrangement for both as Dustin was planning on going house shopping (In reality he was going to speak with Mayor Mare) and Nat did not want to stay in a place with so much lace.

“You’re going to love it darling,” Rarity spoke up as she, Dustin, and the fully clothed vixen walked to Sugarcube Corner. “Guile, Pinkie and the Cakes are the nicest people. Even though the Cakes may retire since Cup Cake is pregnant.”

“Mmmhmm. Sounds nice...” Nat nodded. She was wearing black sweatpants, a black tee-shirt, and a fluffy black hoodie. When Dustin asked her about it, all he got was, “I like black.”

“Now Rarity, remember,” Dustin said as they walked towards the Corner. “Treat her like a fresh version of me. No pressure. Don’t even bring the topic up, okay? She’s probably still scarred.”

“Mmmm… MmmMmm” Nat shook her head. “I can just use the back door in.”

“See, she can get around the dresses.” Rarity nodded.

“I would like someplace less…. Frilly…” Nat said softly, nervously glancing at Rarity.

“I totally understand darling.” The unicorn replied with a soft smile.

The three entered the corner as a stallion with a back in his mouth held the door for them.

“Thank you darling.” Rarity nodded as the three stepped inside.

“Heyyo!” Guile waved a claw. “Morni-” He froze as he saw the two Renamons. “Ummm, What’s going on?”

“Guile, meet Nat,” Dustin said, gesturing to the Rena wearing black. “Fresh rescue from Manehatten.”

“Hi.” The vixen said with a small, shy wave.

“Oh… I saw the paper but…” Guile blinked. “Pinks, sweetie, come out here please.”

“What’s up? I’m frosting the-” Pinkie came out of the kitchen, looked at Guile, then, on seeing her lizardfriend’s gesture, saw Nat.

Pinkie blinked.

“Pinkie, no sudden movements,” Dustin warned from the side. “Nat, fair warning, the pink one can be...excitable.”

Pinkie sat back on her haunches, brushed her hooves on her apron, then got up and trotted over to the vixen. She sat on her haunches, reared up, and opened her forelegs.

Nat took a moment, then knelt.

Pinkie leaned in, and hugged the vixen. “I get it.” She said softly. “It’s okay. You’re home now.”

Nat buried her muzzle in Pinkie’s mane as the mare closed her eyes and gently rubbed Nat’s back

“Pinkie. I think she’s an adult, we can’t exactly adopt her.” Guile spoke up from the counter.

“M’twenty-six.” Came the muffled voice from Pinkie’s mane.

“See?” Guile said gesturing a claw at her.

“Nope. She’s our kid now.” Pinkie replied, smiling and just holding the vixen.

“But-”

“I don’ mind.” Nat replied softly.

“Whelp. Okay then. I now have another daughter.” Guile shrugged. “Can I get you two anything?” He gestured a claw at the pony and the fox.

“Nope, I was just here as comfort, but Pinkie’s taking that role pretty handily,” Dustin chuckled. “Though if you’ve got any of that combo spice-cheese bread going on, I’ll take a couple of loafs for the road. Got a meeting with the mayor about a place of my own in like half an hour.”

Guile nodded and went to fetch the bread out of the back.

“Are you good here?” Rarity asked. “Need anything.”

“M’good.” Nat replied, still hugging the pink mare, only for the mare to pull away.

The vixen whined, only for Pinkie to boop her muzzle. “You find a place to sit, and I’ll bring you some breakfast. Then we can talk. I trust my lizardfriend to not eat everything in the back.”

“I won’t.” The lizard replied as he returned with a paper bag and handed it over to the fox.

“Cheers Guile,” the fox said, raising the bag up a touch and nodding. “Put it on my tab, I’ll pay you back later. Not carrying my bits today cuz, you know, big meeting. Just gonna have it billed to the mine.”

“I got it.” Guile nodded as he headed into the back, while Nat found a seat at a table, and Pinkie went to rifle through the case for food. Dustin waved them all goodbye as he headed out to his meeting.

“So Mister… What is your last name?” Mayor Mare asked as she looked at the paperwork on her desk. “Everypony just calls you Dustin. Though I know many Digimon do have last names.”

“Ah, it’s not important, though if you need it for paperwork, it’s O’melia,” the fox answered, rubbing the back of his head. “It has some meaning back in Scotland which basically means I’m one of the last descendants of the last prince of that land. Before they drew and quartered him, which, you know, means I’d probably not be welcome if I told them who I was.”

“Well that’s quite fascinating.” Mayor Mare smiled as she wrote on the paperwork. “So, Mister O’melia, What are you looking for?”

“A house,” he answered succinctly. “One close to the diamond dog mines in the gem field north of town so I can be there when they need me for more than just administration work, yet close enough to town I can still be here for things like market day and whatnot.”

The Mayor’s brow furrowed as she flipped through some paperwork. “Mmmm… Well. We don’t have anything on the market in that particular area, as it is a tad out of the city limits proper. However! Ponyville Construction is quite talented and I’m sure that we can find somepony to draft something for you that the construction ponies can make into a reality.” There was a small smirk on her face.

“Oh good,” the fox sighed. “Okay, that settles half the issue. Well, more like a quarter,” he amended. “I still would need to go over a floor plan. I would need at least two guest rooms, possibly more, and the house would need to be furnished.” He frowned a bit. “This is going to rack up a large bill, isn’t it?”

“Yes, however, Flint did come by the other day. Nice old dog.” The Mayor smiled. “You don’t need to worry about the costs one bit.”

“...One step ahead of me again,” the fox sighed. “As long as he didn’t provide the floor plan-”

“You mean this?” She set a blue scroll on the table.

“...I do not need a ‘sex dungeon,’” the fox deadpanned. “I’ll keep the place for an emergency tunnel to the mines, but that? That can be converted to a finished basement for an entertainment center or something.”

“I thought you might want to do that.” The Mayor giggled softly. “I hear you have enough mare problems as it is.”

“One mare, one plant, and two is twice the trouble, thank you,” the fox succinctly stated. “So. Hmm…” He looked the floor plans over. “Maybe a small greenhouse?” he suggested. “Something to make Ivy feel more at home.”

“We can adjust that.” The Mayor nodded. “Now, should we go and pick a location.”

“Let me just…” Dustin rolled the first set out of the way to look at the second floor plans. “Ah, good. A balcony for Dash to fly in through. Though I don’t know why Flint labeled it the ‘aerial booty call zone.’” He silently resolved to never tell Dash that’s what it was called in the plans.

“I can’t tell if Flint is helping, or making fun of you.” The Mayor chuckled as she rested her head on her hoof.

“The rest of these plans seem fairly solid and sane,” the fox nodded, rolling them up and passing them back to the mayor. “So, the location should be someplace between town and the mines to the north.” He tilted his head in thought. “Hmm...don’t want to build it too close to the woods…” Picking a spot would be hard.

“So, shall we go location scouting, I do need to get out of the office myself.” Mayor Mare said stretching a bit.

“Sure thing,” the fox agreed. It was highly unlikely they had the stuff just lying about to build and furnish a home right now. This was probably more a scouting mission than anything else, right?

The Mayor asked as she trotted around the desk. “Say, have you been to Quills and Sofas?”

The door to Sugarcube corner opened as Scootaloo yawned.

“Long day?” Guile asked from the counter.

“Yeah.” The tatzlfilly nodded hopping up into a seat next to Dustin.

“Hey Duthtin. You’re wearing more than normal today.” The filly blinked up at the fox in black.

“Ummm…” That wasn’t Dustin’s voice. “M’ Nat.”

“Oh… Huh.” Scootaloo blinked. “There’s… another Renamon.”

“Yep.” The vixen nodded at the small filly.

Guile plodded up to the table. “So… thanks to Pinks, I have a bit of an announcement.”

“Wuthat?” Scoots blinked.

“Well… Nat here needed a place to live. So Pinkie decided that we’re adopting her… Even though she’s twenty-six… so…” Guile took a breath. “You’re have a sister… yay~”

Scootaloo blinked than looked up at Nat. Nat smiled weakly at her.

Scootaloo stood up in her chair and climbed into the vixen’s lap. She sat down like a cat would. “Mmmm… Ya.” Nat tentatively reached out a paw and stroked the top of Scoot’s head. “She’ll do I guess.”

Guile let out a breath that he didn’t know he’d been holding.

“This family is so weird.”

Dustin squinted. If he looked carefully, just over that hill there, he could see the start of the gem flats. And if he looked back, he could still see the town, not that far away. Just about the distance of a morning run, really. All around was grassland, and off to the west was the trailing edge of the White Tail Woods, which was a much more hospitable neighbor than the Everfree.

“I think this is as good as we’re getting,” he finally admitted, marking out an X in the dirt with his foot-paw.

“Mmmm alright.” Mayor mare nodded as she marked the spot on the map, then stuck a small flag in the ground. “This seems like as good a spot as any.”

“Yeah,” Dustin nodded. “So, what’s the timeframe we’re looking at here? A month, two months?”

Mayor mare blinked at him. “A week, two if we add in all your additions.”

“That’s...is that normal?” Dustin blinked himself, stunned at how fast the mayor said they were. “It feels faster than it should be.”

“We have monster attacks weekly, and you’re surprised that the construction company can’t build houses in a week?” The Mayor asked.

“...You have a point,” the fox admitted. “Okay then. Oh, be sure to, ahem...edit those blueprints before you pass them on to the builders?” He mostly didn’t want them calling things the way Flint had written them. No need to call the master bedroom ‘The place to be makin’ more foxes.’

“Absolutely, your highness.” Mayor Mare bowed with a chuckle.

“Oh stop it,” the fox grumbled. “Okay, so...two weeks then? See you then I guess. Hopefully I can last in the mine that long.”

They could smell him.

Dustin.

The Boss.

“Hey! I see those noses twitching.” The guard protecting the construction site for Dustin’s house (still under construction) snapped at the small group of bitches.

“We’re no’ doin’ anyting.” One of the bitches spoke up.

“You’re lurking, that’s what you’re doing.” The guard narrowed his eyes.

Suddenly, they saw it, a flash of bushy, yellow tail.

As one, the group race towards their prey. The fox would-

Again, as one, the group skidded to a halt.

That- That wasn’t.

A head hidden under a hood turned to look at the group. “Ummm… Hi?”

That was foxdog.

But it wasn’t foxdog.

“I’m… Nat.” The female foxdog offered. “Ummm, can I help you?”

“Hey! Hey! Hey!” The clearly pissed voice of Dustin snapped out, causing the bitches to yelp.

Dustin stormed over. “You leave her be! You hear me?!”

The bitch group slowly looked between the Boss and the female foxdog and back again.

“Dere’s…”

“Dwo o’ em…”

As if unable to process, and once again, as one, the bitches all fainted.

“...Nat, I’m sorry you had to see that,” Dustin sighed. “And now I’m gonna have to drag them all back to the mines. Fuckin’ fantastic waste of an afternoon…”

“See what?” Nat blinked. “What was that about?”

“Those are the bitches of the mine that are obsessed with ‘having the strongest pups,’” Dustin deadpanned. “I’ve told them no. They insist.”

“But… aren’t there other dogs?” Nat tilted her head to the side.

“I’m the one that killed the warchief that took over the mine before me,” Dustin pointed out. “They might have a point, if I weren’t against the idea.”

“I guess?” She shrugged, glancing at the pile, the back to the construction. “It’s coming along nicely.”

“And hopefully I won’t need to rebuild it for a while,” Dustin nodded. “I mean, I’m not holding my breath, but it’d be nice.”

“I hope not.” She shook her head.

“Okay, so…” Dustin began organizing the pile of dogs so he could start pulling them to the mine. “I’ll see you around, Nat, I have a lot of bitches to move.”

Nat waved. “See you later.”

“Oi!” the male fox called to one of the construction workers. “Give me your wagon, I have to offload this load of dogs!”

“Ya got it!” The construction worker called out.

It had been a few weeks. Natasha, or Nat as she preferred to be called, had settled in quite nicely in the town. She was often seen with the Pinkie family of either the pink pone herself, Guile, or Scootaloo. Dustin had been hiding in his office in the mines while the bitches kept prowling around for him, and the construction workers kept up the hard work on his house.

There had been a few Tuesdays between then and now, but the Hunters had managed to contain both sets. Just. Dustin had contributed quite a bit to making sure ‘my fucking house isn’t falling to some bastard monster!’

And the day came! The house was done, the bill had been sent to the mine, and the fox stood in front of the thing with a wide smile on his face. He knew it was two stories tall with a basement in the ground it rested on, but he couldn’t wait to explore it himself and see all the additions that you couldn’t get through a blueprint.

“This looks great.” Dash nodded, sitting next to the fox.

“I know, right?” Dustin sighed. It was a nice little house. Well...okay, it had two stories and a balcony for easy access for pegasi. And a greenhouse out the back for flower growing. But other than that it looked fairly simple. “Seriously, you ponies are great at construction work. And for a reasonable price.”

“Well, you have to be when you never know when a house is going to be destroyed or not.” Dash shrugged.

“I’m hoping I’m far enough away from the town for Tuesdays to mostly leave it alone,” the fox admitted, walking up to the front door and pushing it open. “Wait. Did they furnish it too?”

“Yeah?” Dash looked at him, confused. “Why wouldn’t they?”

“...Now I feel like I underpaid,” the fox whined. Seriously! The living room looked like it had the most comfortable couches ever, the lighting fixtures were impressive, and- “If there’s a fully stocked fridge in the kitchen, I am putting another bag of bits on the mayor’s desk,” he warned.

“Might want to keep a tally there.” Dash chuckled as she trotted in and tested out a couch.

“For fuck’s sake,” the fox threw his hands up at the very thought. “Well at least I know they won’t have touched my stuff in the mine yet,” he admitted. “I get to furnish my room, right?”

“Eh….” The pegasus cocked her head to the right.

“...That’s it,” Dustin said, picking a couch and throwing himself down on it. “I’m just going to go to sleep here, and wake up when the world isn’t being generous for no reason.”

“Want me to join you?” She teased with a smirk, batting her lashes at him.

“Yeah, sure, get some of the chest fluff action, I know how you like it,” the fox teased back, patting his chest with a paw.

Dash blushed as her own fur fluffed up. “D-dammit.”

The fox chuckled as he adjusted himself from being splayed out to being more of a body cushion shaped like a fox.

Dash pouted and glanced at him.

“Offer’s still open, Dashie~” the fox teased, closing his eyes and counting upwards. How long would she hold out…

Like a cat, she pounced on him and made a little nest out of his stomach and chest fluff.

“Mm, you’re warm,” the fox commented, bringing a paw up to stroke her mane.

“You’re warm.” She tried and failed to counter even as her eyes drooped.

“You’re adorable,” Dustin chuckled, bringing his paw around to her muzzle before booping Dash’s nose.

“M’not.” Dash puffed her cheeks out. “H-hey… We could… you know…” She blushed and coughed into a hoof. “Claim the house by… um…” She gulped. She whispered something he couldn’t hear.

“...Pretty sure it’s mine already,” Dustin pointed out. “Besides, I’m happy where I am.”

“M’kay.” Dash stuffed her blushing face in his fluff. Dustin kept petting her mane idly.

“This is nice,” he admitted. “A house of my own and a cute mare on my chest.”

Dash grumbled through the fur. “M’not cute.”

“You are absolutely cute and adorable,” the fox countered. “Doesn’t mean you can’t be other things, but you are a pony and thus are cute.”

Dash’s head popped up. “I will fucking-” She sputtered. “Fuck you.”

“Pretty sure Rares would be upset at that,” the fox noted out loud.

Her cheeks puffed out as her blush grew. “Mmmm…” She hopped off him. She stretched like a cat and flapped her wings out. She winced as she stretched her wings. “Ugh… sore wings…”

“I could give them a massage,” the fox offered, opening an eye before waggling his fingers. “I’m pretty good at that.”

Dash looked at him nervously. “That wouldn’t be too bad…” Her blush actually grew larger.

Dustin got up from the couch and gestured to it. “Lay down and spread ‘em out,” he intoned. “I’ll hopefully give you some relief.”

She hopped up on it, laid on her stomach, and spread her wings. “Your wording…” She muttered, her blush covering her cheeks and muzzle.

Dustin started on the right wing, using his paws to get between the feathers at the muscle beneath and instantly found a few spots that needed work. He gently yet firmly kneaded her wing, trying not to go too hard and damage any feathers.

“Mmmmm…..” She sighed with a small moan of pleasure as she melted into the couch. “Paws are grrrreat….”

“Heh, well, I’m only starting here,” the fox chuckled. Once he was done with her leading edge of the wing, he worked his way back down towards the base and made sure to massage hard enough to be felt bone-deep.

“Uuuuhhhh…. Dussstin…” She said breathily, arching her back a bit.

“Aaaaand that’s the right wing done,” the fox commented, flexing his fingers a bit. “Give me a moment to make sure my fingers still work and I’ll get on the left one.”

“Mmmm… take yer time…” She sighed, her hind legs twitching a bit.

The fox eventually tackled the mare’s left wing, starting on the leading edge and working out some of the kinks he found there.

“Mmm, right theeeere…” She groaned, trying to nuzzle the couch.

“Well I can’t stay on one spot too long,” the fox pointed out, starting to work his way back down her wing. Once again, the further back he got, the harder and deeper his massage went, so that she could feel the hopefully long-lasting effects.

“O-oh… Dust- Ahhh…” She shivered a bit. “Tha’s good…”

“Mmm, I think you’re just...about...done,” the fox commented, finishing the massage and flexing his fingers again. “How you feeling, Dashie?”

“Mmm… goood… ‘lmost there…” She groaned, sounding half-asleep.

“You’re already here, silly,” the fox teased.

“N-no… I was…” She blinked and seemed to come to a bit. “I was…” She blushed furiously. Then gulped. “Oh…”

“...Something wrong?” the fox tilted his head.

Dash looked away. “You’re massage… caused… reactions…”

“...Good reaction?” he ventured.

She took a shaky breath. “Very good reactions…”

“Ah…” the fox blushed a bit. “Um. Well...it...would be rude to, ah...leave you hanging, as it were,” he pointed out.

“N-no! Y-you don’t h-have to…” Dash gulped loudly. “Unless… you… want to?”

“Just...lay back down before I regret this,” he said, blushing through his fur. “I think I know something you’d like.”

Dash nodded and laid back down. Her whole body was shaking like a leaf.

Dustin’s paws touched her lightly. But not on either wing.

He was massaging the portion of muscles on her back that connected the wings.

Dash gasped. “O-oh sh-shit…” Her wings snapped out stiff. “R-right th-there-”

The fox didn’t stop. If anything, his massage grew stronger.

Dash panted heavy breaths as her back legs started to twitch.

“How are you holding up, adorable little blueberry?” the fox asked, kneading deep with the balls of his paws.

“Dust- Almost-” She let out a groan. “There- Mmmm….”

The fox leaned over the mare and used his upper body weight to push down into her muscles with his paw-hands.

Dash’s body locked up as she let out a squeak. Then her body shivered as she let out a slow sigh.

“...You done?” the fox asked incredulously. “All that build up and that’s it?”

The mare looked back with a slightly tired gaze. “W-would you have prefered I scream out your name and soaked your legs? Are you orgasm-shaming me? You just got your marefriend off and you just ask, that’s it?”

“Well I was kinda expecting more out of it, yeah,” the fox admitted. “I mean, you seem to be quite vocal about what you want normally. Was kinda expecting that to translate to this.”

Dash blushed again and frowned at him. “Dustin… this was the first… intimate moment we’ve had since… well… the bug… and you’re kinda ruining it.”

“...Point,” the fox admitted. “Sorry. I’m sorta rusty.”

“Rusty?” Dash blinked. “Dustin, you managed to make a mare finish just through massage, I’d consider that impressive. Then again, I don’t really ever go to the spa.”

“If that’s how you react from being touched, I’m glad I get to be the one to run my paws all over you,” Dustin teased.

Dash’s eyes widened as she leaned away a bit. “D-Dustin! S-stop! Y-you’re gonna… make me…” Her sentence dissolved as she looked away.

The fox’s eyebrows raised as he leaned closer to the mare. “Oh? Do you like it when I tease you, my horny little blueberry?~” One paw tickled up her stomach, to come to rest under her chin.

Her breath hitched. “N-no…”

“Hmm...maybe I can whisper sweet nothings into your ears about how I’ll take you up to the bedroom and touch you all. Night. Long. Just to see what makes. You. Tick. Would that tickle my little blueberry?”

Dash gulped, still refusing to meet his gaze. “Yes…”

“Well then!” Dustin smiled as he stood up, scooping Dash into his arms. “Let’s see about that, shall we? One night of exploring Dash’s body coming right up! And since I’m keeping my pants on, no complaints from Rares!”

“B-but what about r-returning the f-favor?” Dash stammered, huddling into herself and his chest fluff.

“Oh, you won’t be thinking about that,” Dustin promised as he climbed the stairs. “You won’t be thinking about anything.”

Dash shuddered. “O-oh Celestia…”

A Dash of trouble

Dash was sore. Very sore. Her muscles rebelled against her with every step.

Was the night with Dustin worth it? Yes.
Did she regret it one bit? No.
Was she still ludicrously sore? Oh Gods Yes.

She grumbled as she walked down the path into the Everfree. She tried not to glance at the chuckling fox next to her. “Don’t, this is partially your fault.”

“Oh no, it’s entirely my fault,” Dustin agreed. “But I think Rarity would be impressed with my skill with my hands. I didn’t take my pants off and you’re sore all over~”

“Shut it.” Dash growled. There was a moment of silence. “Sorry about your bedspread…”

“Eh, it’s fine. Rares made sure I had like three extra sets,” the fox waved off her concerns. “So you’re sure this alchemist lives close yeah?” His ears twitched with all the things he was hearing in the forest.

“Oh yeah. Trust me. You’ll know it when you see it.” Dash nodded. “And nothing comes around the path since we actually dug it out.”

“Doesn’t mean I can’t hear like three things deeper in the forest,” the fox grumbled. “Seriously, I think it’s taking offense that it’s failing to kill us.”

“We have enough back up nearby.” The prismatic mare commented. “Oh, did you hear, Jojo’s actually trying get an actual guard post established for Ponyville.”

“...We didn’t have one?” Dustin blinked a few times. “...That would explain all the Tuesdays,” he murmured.

“No. Something about budget or how large a town is or something.” Dash shrugged. “Oh, there it is. See that giant tree-hut-thing?” She pointed ahead. “She moved a little closer to the path. Think she said that the deeper parts of the forest made her unsettled.”

“Then she has common sense,” the fox deadpanned. It was an impressive house, to be sure. Reminded him of Twilight’s treebary. Huh, that was a thought.

“Anyone tried taking samples of this place and Twilight’s home to see if they’re related?” Dustin asked on a whim.

“From what Twi said, the library was magically grown.” Dash nodded at the approaching “house” that looked like it could easily house a witch doctor. “This was altered alchemically. Whatever that means.”

“...So neither of the trees are natural,” Dustin deadpanned. At Dash’s look, he threw up his paws. “Okay, so maybe I want to grow a tree big enough to have the world’s coolest treehouse in, can you blame me? Childhood dream, never had a treehouse.”

“I’m sure she can cook something up for that.” Dash nudged him. “You referencing that Mining Craft game again?”

“Nah…” Dustin waved a paw. “I’ll tell you about it later. For now, let’s see about this potion you want, eh?”

Dash rolled her eyes and knocked on the door. “Hey Zecora? Got a minute?”

“A minute for friends is quite alright,” the zeebra shamaness called back through the door. “I just set up a potion to simmer all night.”

“That’s great, uhm, can we come in?” The pegasus asked.

The door opened with a puff of colored smoke. Standing over a cauldron and putting a large lid on top of the glowing purple brew was, well...a zebra that was just about the same size as any of the other ponies. She was wearing quite a bit of golden jewelry as well, though it seemed mostly focused on her neck rings. Dustin tried to place where he’d seen that before and failed miserably. Though he had to admit, the mohawk mane she had was pretty sweet.

“Ah, Rainbow Dash, I see you’ve made a foxy friend. And you’ve brought him all the way here, to what end?” the shamaness posed, stepping down off a small stepladder and kicking it to one side.

“He’s muscle, just in case.” Dash shrugged, then winced, “On the note of muscles got anything for muscle pain and soreness? Especially around the wing bases?”

“Some muscle relaxant, I most certainly stock,” the zebra agreed. “But one of the ingredients I need quite a lot. Just a pinch will make it complete, but without it the potion is barely replete. I never can get any dragon scale, and without it, the potion’s power does pale.”

“There’s, like, two dragons in town.” Dash blinked. “Can I take the rest and just plop the scale in?”

“Do take care how the scale is gained, for if one of your feathers was yanked out, you’d certainly be pained,” the shamaness pointed out.

“Well duh!” Dash huffed. “I’m not just going to yank one out. I’ll ask for one like any sane creature would.”

“Well then, the potion you may certainly buy,” the zebra smiled. “I’ll take my payment from this handsome guy~”

Dustin blinked. That wasn’t normal, was it.

“So… What do you need?” Dash raised a brow. “And should we be nervous?”

“I hear this fox runs the nearby mine,” the zebra pointed out. “I could do with some cavemoss vine. It’s quite a potent ingredient in some potions, and should help stir up some motions. A trade is fair enough, would you not say? An agreement for some vines and you can go on your way.”

“...Oh, well that’s simple enough,” the fox sighed. “I’ll...pass word on to the mine, how’s that? If we come across what you’re looking for, we’ll have it sent to you.”

“A fairer trade I could not ask for, now take from that shelf potion number four,” the zebra nodded, pointing at one of the shelves around the hut.

“Okay.” Dash shrugged and hovered over to the shelf. She paused for a moment, not sure if it was four from the left, or four from the right. Shrugging, she counted four in from the right and grabbed the potion. “Thanks Zecora. Now, any special instructions, do I need to take it with food, before bed, in the morning?”

“Once you add the dragon scale dust, take it right before you sleep you must,” the shamaness instructed. “Allow it to work on your body overnight, and no longer will your muscles be full of pain and fright.”

“Great!” Dash grinned. “Dustin, want to ask about your treehouse idea?”

“Nah, I have plenty of time to figure out house-sized trees later,” the fox shook his head. “For now, you have a dragon to pester.”

“Right,” Dash nodded. “Now, who would be better, Garble or Spike? Wait… Isn’t Spike up in Canterlot today?”

“It’s possible,” Dustin admitted. “Something about setting up proper trade relations with my mine. What with a deposit at our disposal.”

“Oh right.” Dash blinked then flapped down to land next to Dustin with another wince. “Whelp, Garble it is then. Thanks for the potion Zecora!”

“No, thank you for the visit, my winged friend, I do hope your muscle pain comes to a swift end,” the zebra nodded at the pair.

Dash walked out, looking back to Dustin. “Coming?”

“Yeah yeah,” the fox nodded, giving a two-finger salute to the zebra before following his marefriend out of the tree. “Okay, so you go pester Garble about a scale,” he said, closing the door after them. “And then you need someplace to rest while it works.”

“I’ll just go bother him, then take it before bed.” Dash chuckled. “Wanna come with to the Jones’s place?”

“Let’s see,” Dustin deadpanned. “Do I want to visit the home of a woman that could kick my ass before I could blink and has said she will if it pleases her for the things I’ve done in retaliation to Geralt?” He pretended to think about that. “Hmm. You know what, I don’t feel like dislocating my jaw today, thanks.”

“Fine fine. I might see you later.” Dash rose off the ground with a flap. “All else fails, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Mhm, you know where to find me,” Dustin nodded, petting Dash’s mane before she got out of range. “Now...what was I doing again?” he mused. “Oh yeah,” he snapped his fingers. “That’s right.”

Dash landed outside the house. It didn’t look all that different from any other house around. Shrugging, she trotted up to the door. “Hello?” She called out while knocking.

There was a thud from the inside, followed by a second.

“I got the door!”

“Fuck you! I got it!”

Dash blinked as there was the sound of talons. The door opened and a gray griffon hen grinned from the doorway. “Hai! You must be Rainbow Dash! Gilda’s told us so much about you!”

“Uh… Hi… Gabby, right?” Dash leaned away a bit.

“Dammit! This is your fault!”

“The fuck it is!”

“Sorry, Smolder and Gallus are fighting.” The smile never left her face.

“I can tell… Say is Garble in?” She asked the griffon.

“Yeppers! He’s upstairs! Want me to-”

“I’ll tell him!”

“No you won’t”

There was more thudding from inside.

“Everything okay in there?” Dash asked trying to peek around the griffons shoulder.

“Pffft! Oh, everything’s fine.” Gabby waved a talon. “They’re like this all the time. You’d think they grew up together.”

“Riiight…” Dash nodded.

There was a loud thud behind Dash. Said mare shot into the air with a “GAH!!!”

“Sorry!” Dash whipped around and saw an apologetic Garble. “Was faster than the stairs. You need something?”

“Ha! I got to him first!”

“The fuck you did birdbrain!”

“What did you call me?!”

“Hey!” Garble snapped towards the open door, still with Gabby in it. “Don’t make me separate you two! Do you want to get sent to Twilight’s again?”

“Sorry!”

“We’ll be good!”

The dragon actually snorted a burst of fire out his nostrils and growled. Then he sighed, shook his head, and looked at Dash as she landed. “S’up?”

“I have an awkward request.” Dash said with a wince.

“Dash, I’m like an older brother to you, it just wouldn’t be right.” He deadpanned at the mare with a sigh. “I still love you like a sister, though.”

Dash’s brain short circuited for a moment as her thought process crashed and burned. “Wut…” She blinked. “What?” She blinked again as a blush formed on her cheeks. “Gah! Garble, what the fuck?!”

Garble burst out laughing, only for it to be cut short as he winced and grabbed his left side with a hiss. “Dammit…”

“Whoa… you good?” Dash took a step forward and held out a hoof.

“Yeah, yeah…” He nodded letting go after a moment. “Just still paying for rushing in like a dumbass. Not a problem.” He shook his head and straightened. “Seriously though. You needed something?”

“Yeah, see I got this muscle relaxant potion from Zecora.” Dash waggled the potion. “I just need a dragon scale to make it take effect.”

“Oh, is that all?” Garbled blinked. “No problem.” He held up a claw and the tip started to glow like a white hot ember. He dug it right under a scale on his chest and tugged. There was a hiss and a pop and the golden scale came free. A little smoke wafted off of the area where the scale used to be. “It’ll grow back.” He held the scale out to her.

“Just like that?” Dash blinked. “Didn’t that hurt?”

“Yeah, barely.” He shrugged. “I’ve been hit by far worse. Like dad when we’re training.”

“But Jojo’s a girl…” Dash blinked.

“On the outside.” Garble nodded. “Anything else?”

Dash shook herself. “Nah. Thanks.” She hovered up off the ground and made to take off proper. “Tell Gilda I said hi, and tell Jojo that my foxfriend was too much of a bitch to show up in case your dad was here.”

“Ha! Will do!” Garble laughed with a wave.

The rest of the day for Dash was spent trying to relax. She didn’t want to take anything in case it messed with the potion. So the mare settled on just trying to nap in bed. Trying.

When evening came the mare looked at the scale and the bottle on her bathroom counter. “Right… What was it?” She wracked her unfocused tired-brain. She hummed. She picked up the bottle and blinked. Thinking was hard.

Shrugging, she popped the top off and pushed the scale in until it popped into the bottle. There was a fizzing as she restoppered the bottle and shook it. It changed from a green, to a gold and she assumed that that was a good thing. Grinning, the mare popped the top off, chugged most of the bottle, then set it down and restoppered it.

There was a not entirely unpleasant heat in her gut and she immediately felt drowsy.

She shook her head and trotted out to her bed. With a half-stumble she collapsed onto it and was asleep before she could even grab a blanket.

Dash awoke feeling… fan-fucking-tasitc. She blinked, staring at the cloud ceiling. The muscle pain was gone completely. Though… there was something off. Something she couldn’t put her hoof on.

She hummed as she got up. Her claws making little noise on the solid cloud. Her wings flapped gently as she yawned and a forked tongue briefly popped into her vision. That was weird.

Blinking slowly she walked into the bathroom. She turned on her shower. Then something caught her eye. There was something in the mirr-

A roar echoed across Ponyville.

Twilight blinked. That didn’t sound like Garble, or Smolder, and Spike was away still. Her brow furrowed. She went back to her morning book and coffee when.

~crash~

Something blue just came through the window.

“Rainbow can you not practice your morning stunts near my house?” Twilight deadpanned. “It’s too early.”

Something not Rainbow Dash got up from the wreckage of a bookshelf.

She was sleek and thin. Cyan blue scales shimmered in the morning light. A pair of four-clawed hands pushed the serpent to a pair of four-clawed feet. A long whip-like tail ending in a jagged lighting bolt-shaped spade of silver (that shimmered with prismatic colors) lashed back and forth slowly. Darker blue plates of bone ran from spade of the tail all the way up the spine. A pair of large wings flapped and folded, but not before the translucent membranes caught the light and shimmered with a rainbow of colors. A short muzzle, topped in dark blue boney ridges, grumbled a bit. A pair of silvery horns ran from just over the eyes and swept up off the back of her head and warped to look light jagged lightning bolts. A pair of slit-irised magenta eyes blinked any remaining daze.

The dragoness stood up fully. Almost Dustin’s height, Twilight mentally noted. “Can I help you? The dragon migration’s not for another month or so.”

The dragoness shook herself and looked around. Her eyes fell on Twilight and they widened. “Twilight!” There was something familiar about that gravelly voice. The dragoness made to bolt for the mare, but her legs didn’t seem to work right, thus she slammed head first into the table with a thud.

“You okay?” Twilight was now slightly concerned.

“M’good.” A groan came as a claw came up to grab the edge of the table. The dragoness managed to pull herself up and half-staggered over to a chair across from the purple mare.

“Sooo…” Twilight blinked.

“Twilight. It’s me.” The dragoness put a claw to her chest.

“And you are….” Twilight raised a brow.

“Dash! Rainbow. Dash.” The dragoness snapped.

“Rainbow’s not a dragon.” Twilight commented, sipping her coffee.

“Dammit, Twilight! I can’t-” The dragoness face-clawed and dragged the claw down her muzzle. “I am Rainbow Dash. Your friend. Element of Loyalty. I was mind-fucked by a changeling.”

“Mmmkay.” Twilight took another sip.

“I took a potion that I got from Zecora and I think I screwed up one, or two, or all of the steps. And I’m a dragon now, and I’m freaking-the fuck-out!” The dragoness slammed her claws on the table.

“Dash. Take a breath.” Twilight commented as she shifted her plate to be in front of her again.

“Twi I’m-” DragonDash blinked. “Wut.”

“Take a breath Dash, I can’t help you if you hyperventilate and pass out on me.” Twilight levitated a piece of burned toast (slathered in butter) and took a bite out of it.

“You- You knew it was me?” Dash blinked.

“Yep.” Twilight swallowed and took another sip of coffee.

“And… What you wanted to mess with me?” DragonDash’s eye twitched.

“Yep.” Twi nodded and took another sip. “Haven’t finished my coffee yet.”

“Dammit Twi!” Dash snapped and lashed out with a claw, only for it to reflect off a violet bubble that popped into existence a foot away from the mare. Dash yelped and shook her claw out like it’d been zapped. “I- Sorry- Everything’s weird. I feel weird and mad, and-” Her eyes filled with tears. “And I’m all weepy and stuff. Twi that potion fucked me up.”

There was a knock at the library door.

“Twilight? It’s Dustin. I came to check a couple books back in.”

Dash’s eyes went wide as her pupils shrank to thin slits. “Twi- Twi- Twi- You gotta hide me! He can’t see me like this!” The dragoness started to gasp for breath.

“One sec.” Twi called out then she looked at Dash. “Why not?”

“Because-” Dash paused for a sec. “I’m not me! He’ll think I’m a freak! I’m not his pony blueberry! I’m not-”

“Come in Dustin.” Twi called out. “Don’t mind me. I’m in my robe and finished my coffee.”

“Twi-” Dash let out a squeak. Her whole body stiffened as the door opened.

“So these books on the local legends were really useful to know about,” the fox commented as he stepped into the library proper. “I made some notes on what to watch for, because coming across something in the deeps that fits these descriptions will me-” He paused as he looked over to where Twilight was sitting.

Twi half-heartedly waved a hoof.

Dash pretended that if she didn’t move, he wouldn’t see her.

“...Twi, I was unaware you knew of a smoking hot dragoness,” the fox eventually settled on saying.

“Technically I do.” Twi sipped more of her coffee.

Dash slowly turned around to look at the fox.

“Well I’m fairly certain Dash isn’t the type to share me with more than Ivy, so with my compliment paid,” the fox tipped an imaginary hat to the scaled creature. “I’ll just look for some more books.”

“Dust- Dustin… Wait…” Dash called out, holding out a claw.

The fox blinked and looked the dragoness over. “Your color scheme and voice are familiar,” he noted. “Are you and Dash related?”

The draogness’s eyes started to tear up. “Dustin… I-It’s m-me… D-Dashie...”

The fox blinked a few more times and took a step towards the scaled creature, even going so far as to look at the sheen on her wings and tail, the color of her eyes...before sighing.

“Dash, did you follow Zecora’s instructions?” he berated her. “You were supposed to use powdered dragon scale, not the whole bloody thing!”

Dash sniffed, as her eyes started leaking. “I-I’m s-sorry… D-d-don’t b-be m-mad… P-Please...” She hiccuped as she started to shake.

“Hey, hey, it’s okay,” Dustin said, gathering the dragoness into a hug and holding her. “Okay? Okay. I’m here.” He patted her back a few times. “I’m assuming there’s a fix for this, Twi?” he called over the dragoness’ shoulder at the unicorn. “I’m not manly enough to have a dragoness as a girlfriend. Especially if it’s also Dash. I don’t think there’s a male on this earth that can stand her awesomeness without having their face melted off now.”

“No… Don’t say that!” Dash shoved her face in the fox’s chest fluff. “Don’t leave me…”

“Dash, it’s a joke,” Dustin teased, playing with her ears. “You have to admit, there are probably perks to being a dragon. Fingers, for one. You can pick things up without using your mouth for fine manipulation.”

“Dustin. I think she’s a bit overwhelmed and perhaps a bit fragile right now.” Twi commented. “And as nice as having Tuesday's weirdness be this, I’d recommend just taking a couch and holding her until she can think clearly. And this is coming from the anti-social mare who has little to no concept of picking up on flirting.”

“I was just trying to get her to calm down, but sure,” the fox said, steering his suddenly accrued chest leech over to the nearest couch. After managing to get Dash’s butt on one of them, Dustin sat down and was immediately cuddled to near-death by needy dragoness. “Ack!” he coughed. “My ribs, I need them!”

“Gah!” Dash jumped and immediately let go. “S-sorry!”

“It’s fine, it’s fine,” the renamon chuckled. “Just, little more gentle?” he offered. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Dash sniffed, doing her best not to turn into a mess again and just leaned against the fox. “R-right… treat everything… like an egg.”

“I mean I’m a bit durable, but you’re also crazy strong now,” Dustin pointed out. “So let’s cuddle and see how things turn out, okay?”

“Okay…” Dash took a breath. “Everything will be nice and slow… For once I think I’d like that…”

“Let’s just relax, together,” Dustin soothed. “I’m not going anywhere. I just think I’m going to need some sort of manliness upgrade to survive the awesome you’re putting out.”

“What?” Dash blinked as a metallic sheen of red appeared on her cheeks. “No way. Y-you’re super awesome already.”

“Have you looked at yourself in a mirror?” Dustin pointed out. “You already were an awesome pony, and you have to admit, dragons are pretty kickass. And suddenly you’re both?” The stallion shook his head. “Nope. Raiders of the Lost Ark levels of awesome here. I shall be melted by your might if I dare to look at it too long.”

Dash blushed further. “And what if this wasn’t permanent?” Then she blinked. “What’s Raiders of the Lost Ark?”

“I’ll have to share it with you,” Dustin commented. “In any case, you make for a dragon that looks like she should be revered in art across the ages. I’m surprised you made it this far without a fanboy horde developing.”

Dash panted and bit her lip. “Really?”

“Dash, one thing, before I throw a blanket over the two of you, did you drink the whole potion?” Twi asked, suddenly behind the pair, and looking a bit more awake.

“Ummm, I’m pretty sure there was some left.” Dash said after a moment, looking at the unicorn.

“Good. Potions are basically spells in liquid form. Thus, I analyze the spell, see if it’s permanent, and create a counter-spell in the case that it is. In so doing, I can also replicate the spell on a piece of clothing or jewelry.” Twi explained. “But, that can be later, I’m going to go upstairs and take a shower for maybe an hour.” She walked towards the stairs to the loft. Then paused and looked back. “If you two do anything, try to clean up, though I’d prefer you two not perform acts of depravity in my library.” With that she turned back and trotted upstairs.

“So, a bit calmer now?” Dustin asked, cuddling the dragoness closer by looping an arm around her.

“Yeah.” He felt a nod as Dash pulled away. “And any mood has been killed, thanks to Twi.” She chuckled.

“Doesn’t mean we can’t still cuddle,” the fox pointed out. “I think you could do with something comfortable and familiar.”

“So long as Twi doesn’t mind.” She sighed as she leaned against him and rested her head on his shoulder.

“Hey,” Dustin teased, running a paw over her side. “You’re a dragon. I’m pretty sure what you say goes.”

“If you say so.” She grumbled then pulled away and met his eyes. “You really like me being a dragon that much?”

“...Let’s put it this way,” the fox decided to answer diplomatically. “You’re still you, no matter what body your mind’s been put into. Dragons are just about as mythical as pegasi back where I’m from, so you’re awesome either way. Really, the only difference now is that you can spit fire.”

She blinked. “I can spit fire?”

“...Dragon,” Dustin pointed out. “Fire breath comes with the territory, remember?”

“I mean… Right. But like... I mean, should I try?” Her face screwed up in thought.

“You might not get the chance to later, but on the other hand, currently in a library,” the Renamon illuminated the upsides and downsides of the idea.

“Ummm, outside then?” She hummed. “But then we wouldn’t be cuddling.”

“I have an idea for that,” Dustin smiled. “We can go and not lose the cuddle.”

The dragoness’s face scrunched up. “Eh?”

“Let me show you,” Dustin said.

That was how Dash ended up standing in a field near the library to test her fire-breathing...being hugged from behind by her foxfriend.

“So… I guess I just inhale?” Dash asked. “We’ve seen Spike do it tons, he inhales.” She seemed to be thinking out loud.

“He probably also had to learn how not to do it too,” Dustin pointed out. “Twi’s the sort to keep lots of books around, I doubt he’d be living in a library unless he could turn it on and off at will. Otherwise he’d be spitting fire with every word.” She was warm to hug. A little bumpy, but she was like a living hot water bottle.

Dash took a deep breathe in. As she did there was this strange crackling noise. A scent of burning filled the air as Dustin’s fur stood on end.

Uhoh. The fox braced himself by giving the dragoness a light squeeze.

Dash exhaled and there was a flash and a loud electrical snapping sound.

Dustin had to blink the stars out of his eyes.

“Did you just breathe fucking lightning?” he asked over the roar of blood in his sensitive ears? To his hearing, his demand came out like a whisper, but he was practically shouting.

“Gah!” Dash jumped. “Quiet down!” She shook herself. And then blinked at the line of scorched black ground. “Dustin. I just breathed lightning.”

“I noticed,” the fox said, again a little loudly. “I think my brain heard that.”

“Dustin. What else can I do?” She tried to crane her head around to look at him.

“I don’t know?” the fox replied. “I’m shoddy on dragon legends. We could look it up.”

“Or... “ Dash blinked. “We could, you know, go talk to a dragon.”

“We kinda maybe shouldn’t wander away from the library?” Dustin pointed out. “Twi’s going to-”

There was a flash and Twilight Sparkle appeared in front of the couple. She was dripping. “I noticed the flash.” She blinked as water dripped down her wet mane. “And I’m not deaf.”

“Hey, Twi.” Dash smiled weakly.

“Hit anypony?” Twi asked.

“No!” Dash quickly shook her head.

“Good. Planning on doing anything stupid?” The mare asked.

“Just… go see Garble?” Dash had a hard time maintaining her smile.

“Cool. Have at it.” Twi shrugged. “I’m going back to my shower.” With that, and another flash, the mare was gone.

“Huh.” Dash blinked. “You know… She never said don’t leave.”

“...I wouldn’t be surprised if she had a tracking spell on us,” the fox admitted. “Okay. See the local dragons?”

“Sounds good to me.” Dash nodded and made to move. “Umm, gonna let me go?”

“I could do that,” Dustin hummed...while not letting go at all. Instead he shifted his grip so he was hugging Dash around her neck.

“What are you doing?” The dragoness asked, raising a scaly brow.

“Tryin’ to see if you could wear me around like a fur coat,” the Renamon teased. “That way I don’t have to let go.”

She rolled her eyes. “Fine, wrap your legs around my waist. I can give you a ponyback ride.” She huffed a little. “Don’t expect me to try to fly like this, the last time sent me through a window.”

“Fair enough,” Dustin chuckled, hooking his legs together in front of Dash’s waist. He hummed a bit in thought before leaning in and whispering to Dash. “If it were the other way around...pretty sure you’d think twice before saying ‘I’ll wrap my legs around you~’” he teased.

“Gah! Stahp!” Dash’s wings flapped in irritation.

“Heheh...We could always go back to my place for another massage session~” the fox taunted.

“Dustin, I am now a lightning-breathing beast with diamond crushing jaws and claws that can shred metal.” Dash snorted as she started walking. “For once, boning is the furthest thing from my mind.”

“Color me surprised,” the fox mused. “Pretty sure it was that need of yours that got us here.”

“Don’t remind me…” She groaned then suddenly chuckled. “You know, Garble lives with Jojo, right?”

“... This is sounding like a terrible idea all of a sudden… Is there another dragon we can talk to?”

Running (to) the mine

Author's Note

Note: The word bitch was used quite a bit in this chapter. Just a forewarning. Also, some words spoken by dogs will be intentionally misspelled or misused.

Running (to) the mine

Dustin suddenly got an overwhelming sense of dread, causing his whole body to shiver.

“Ya okay boss?” Flint asked, cocking his head to the side in confusion.

“Fine, just...fine,” Dustin muttered as he looked the blueprints over for a fifth time. “What were we on?”

“Ya sure? Ya seem a li’ttle ou’ a it.” Flint furrowed his brow.

“Mostly because of the steep learning curve here,” the digi-fox explained. “I can feel my eyes glossing over when you explain things.” He shook his head. “It’s not so much a learning curve as a learning...cliff…”

Flint noticed that Dustin’s posture seemed to change at that. He sat up a little straighter, smiled more, and actually looked excited.

“Uhhh… Ah don’t know ‘ow ta help ya.” Flint shrugged. “Dough it may ‘elp if’n Ah show ya around prop’rly.”

“Flint,” Dustin whispered. “I think I finally get it. I think I know how to think about the whole thing of being the boss. One of my favorite games back home was about running a fortress of dwarves, from the initial starting seven until when you, ultimately, lost. Because there was no way to say you’d ‘won’. But it was all about micromanaging every aspect of the fortress, from start to finish. You told them what to do, from getting food, to where to dig, to store things...that’s me. I finally get it!”

“Eh… Good.” Flint blinked. “Bu’ why’d ya play a game where ya los'?”

“As summed up by the motto of the game, ‘Losing is Fun,’” Dustin quipped. “It’s not so much the losing as the journey you took to get to it. There were so many ways to lose as well. But making a fortress that stood up to everything the environment could throw at you up until it broke you? That was fun in and of itself.”

“Sooo…. I’s not da losin’ that’s fun, i’s how ya lose?” Flint’s brow furrowed further as her scratched his chin with a claw. “No…. is it fun because ya know why ya lose each time?”

“Exactly! Each fortress was better than the last,” Dustin summed up. “The first fortress, probably not that great. But you learn things about it. Then you make adjustments to how you make your fortress, try again...and still end up losing. But it’s a learning process. Every time you lose, you make a better one. And there were some people that made fortresses deliberately in cursed evil biomes, where dead things walked after you struck them down. Or where everything was frozen, and even finding water was hard. Or where there was an aquifer, and if you dug into it, your fortress would be flooded. Challenges that they learned how to deal with, so that others could learn. Losing is fun, because in a game made by a single man, we were still finding new ways to lose!”

“Ah tink Ah get it?” Flint blinked, looking very lost.

“Think of it like this,” Dustin said. “How many times has the mine fallen on hard times? How many times has a warchief done something...phenomenally stupid?”

“More times den Ah can coun’.” Flint chuckled. “Dere were a lot a stupid decisions made by greedy warchiefs.”

“Now, if we were to write them all down in a book, we could probably title it, ‘How not to run a mine,’ right?” Dustin continued. “And yet, despite all that failure, you’re still here. Losing, failing, it’s just another way of saying, ‘Well, we’ll never do that again.’ It doesn’t matter if you make a mistake, as long as you learn from it and don’t make any efforts to do it again.”

“Ah get it now.” Flint grinned. “Survivin’ teaches ya quick what not ta do.”

“And being able to simulate it in a game that simulates entire worlds, has taught me quite a bit about how to run a fortress,” Dustin said. “I just never put together ‘Dwarf fortress’ with ‘Diamond Dog mine’ until now.” His finger trailed along the blueprints. “I think if I treat it like that...I might actually be able to understand how it all works. So...ready for an overseer’s checklist?”

“Yes boss!” Flint grinned as he picked up an empty scroll from the table and a sharpened piece of charcoal.

“Food,” Dustin started off with. “How are we getting it? Do we have enough for every dog to have a full meal when they need it?”

“Yes boss. In fact, let me show ya around ta dah spots where we get food.” Flint grinned. “Follow me.”

After about roughly ten minutes of walking, seemingly straight down, in mostly silence, due to Dustin having to watch his footing. They came to a large open cavern. The only source of light was a soft neon green glowing coming off some quite enormous mushrooms. Smaller mushrooms dotted the floor and green lichen grew all over the walls. Various dogs were milling about either harvesting the smaller mushrooms and lichen or checking on the progress of the fungi’s growth.

“Dis ‘ere boss, is da mushroom farms. We’ve got three caverns of dese and dese are one of two food sources. Da other is dis way.” Flint gestured a paw at the farms. “I’n ya follow me, Ah can show ya ta our other food source.”

“Well, so far it’s much like one of my old forts,” Dustin quipped. “I have some ideas already for helping improve your food quality, but I’ll let you show me to your other way before I make suggestions. ‘If it works, don’t knock it.’”

“True.” Flint nodded.

The pale dog lead Dustin through more dimly lit tunnels. These were less hewn than the mine proper and were mainly lit by some smaller glowing fungi on the walls. Soon the scent and sound of water met Dustin's ears. Dustin couldn’t help but feel a tad worried when the tunnel began to expand, and it only ratcheted up higher when he passed some barricades seemingly dug out of the rock itself. Behind the barricades were small rooms carved out of the rock with mats on the floor. Probably places for the guards to rest. The barricades were guarded by some massive dogs clad in what Dustin took to be iron. They gripped massive sledge hammers in their paws. Even though they appeared relaxed, the dog’s ears twitched back and forth, listening for any danger.

“Ah never get tired a dis.” Flint grinned as the tunnel expanded and opened into an absolutely colossal cavern. The air was thick with mist and the large cavern was lit by more of those large mushrooms. High above teal lights slowly blinked like tiny stars. The lights bounced of massive columns of crystal that were larger than any formations he’d seen and stretched all the way to the ceiling high above. The cavern was so massive that he couldn’t see the end of it. Only a couple dozen feet away, water lapped at the rock beneath their feet.

“Before ya ask boss. We are a ways down now. Sometimes ya can’t tell due ta da tunnels.” Flint explained, nudging the fox.

“Well, it’s beautiful, but I’m worried about the fact that you need guards here and that you said it was your other source of food,” the fox voiced his concerns, even as he looked around a bit. “Something tells me you don’t practice herding underground livestock.”

“Naw, but yer on da righ’ track.” Flint chuckled.

Suddenly there was a tremendous splash as a massive dog came flying out of the water. It slammed into the bank with a crash. As if it didn’t even feel it, the dog got up and shook itself roughly. Dustin was shocked to find that this dog was female, though she was as built as the larger dogs he’d seen, perhaps mores so. She was a deep earthy brown, with bright amber eyes. She wore a thicker version of the guard’s armor and was actually dual-wielding two of those massive hammers. She also looked abjectly pissed.

A guttural growl left her throat as something else followed her out of the water.

It was a massive lobster. A massive bright blue lobster with two sets of massive pincers. It scuttled out of the water towards the massive bitch, who held her ground. It lashed out with two of it’s pincers. The bitch only took a step back and the pincers slammed into the ground where she’d been moments ago. Taking a step forward she swung both her hammers and smashed the pincers into little more than pulp. The lobster reared back and let out a hiss, which didn’t last long as the bitch stepped forward, swinging both hammers in a horizontal arc. The hammers met at what could be considered the lobsters head, and left it much flatter than it’d been moments before. There wasn’t even a jerk. The massive lobster simply dropped like a puppet with its strings cut.

The bitch snorted and shook her hammers, dislodging any lobster gunk. She easily hefted the hammers to her shoulders and slid them into holsters on her back. She popped her neck then grabbed the lobster’s remains with a single paw and turned around.

She froze when she saw the two males looking at her. “Oh…” Came the surprisingly soft voice. “‘Ello….. Ah didn’t… ummmmm….”

“Hi Quartz.” Flint waved.

“Flint’s showing me how the mine gets food,” Dustin supplied. “I have to say, I was concerned at first, but you put those to rest. Excellent form there.”

“Oh… tanks… you mus' be da new boss dat everydoggy’s talkin’ abou’.” Quartz said standing up a little straighter.

“Quartz ‘ere doesn’t come up from below that much.” Flint explained.

“I’s jus’ nice and quiet down ‘ere mostly…” Dustin noticed her small blush.

“Oh, and if’n ya couldn’t tell, dem Rock Lobsters are our main source a meat. Take a bit ta cook prop’erly but dey worth it.” Flint said pointing at the massive carcass. “Hmmmm, maybe we should ead ta storage or da kitchen’s next….”

“Kitchens are important,” Dustin agreed. “Also, while you’re at it, you should tell me if dogs brew alcohol, if it’s considered important to have a drink, how often if so, and where you brew it if you do. That’s the next thing I’d check on my list.”

Both Flint and Quartz stared at him. It honestly made Dustin feel uncomfortable. Flint spoke up. “Wha’s a dog without ‘is ale?”

“See, these are things I didn’t know,” Dustin said. “In my fortress game, every dwarf had the line, ‘needs alcohol to get through the working day.’ So I’m just making sure here.”

“Dese dwarfs sound like nice people.” Quartz spoke up with a smile.

“From what I ‘ear dey are.” Flint nodded. “But, if’n Ah’m tinkin’ right’, Ah tink dat we’ll be able ta hit Storage, Brewery, and Kitchens in one go.”

“That works for me,” Dustin nodded. “I’d want to check storage anyways. Some overseers used to make just a pile for...everything. A better way to do it would be to store raw goods next to workshops, while you store finished goods in a central location. Food next to dining rooms, seeds next to farms...things like that.”

“Well, Ah tink you like da set up.” Flint chuckled. “Ya comin’ Quartz?”

Quartz blushed. “O-oh. Sure.”

Flint lead Dustin and Quartz, half-carrying, half-dragging her kill behind her, back towards the mine proper. Surprisingly there was room enough for both Quartz and her kill to follow them. They went up a couple levels from the rough hewn farming areas, back towards the more clean cut stonework. The sound of dogs toiling away echoed in the distance. He lead them into what Dustin first assumed to be the massive borehole shaft, but he swiftly noticed that this one wasn’t anywhere near as wide, nor did it go all the way up to the surface. It also had a large central pillar that had bridges that linked different levels. It still bore the spiral-style walkway of the other shaft however, yet this time they were at the top. This one only went down about five levels though. Dogs were milling about on all the levels, sounds of both conversation and various types of work echoed around the large chasm.

“Down we go.” Flint said as he began his limping walk down the path.

“Alright, I’m already impressed, and I haven’t seen anything yet,” Dustin admitted as he followed after Flint.

“Dis is da Causeway. I’s a direct route to basically everywhere.” Flint gestured at the bridges. “Dese are fer paws traffic at evening. Dis path ‘ere can be used fer the transportin’ of larger items, like wha’ Quartz is doin’.”

“Makes sense,” Dustin agreed. “I tended to make forts based around a large, central staircase leading up and down levels as well. One huge traffic highway for everyone to use. Glad to see it’s a sensible decision.”

“‘E thinks like a dog.” Dustin heard Quartz murmur.

Flint led them down a level and into a wide hall that split into multiple rooms. Each room was stuffed with various gems, rocks and other minerals. “While it’s not perfec’, dis is where we store all da resources we pull from da stone.” He pointed down the hall where the sound of minework could be heard much clearer. “Dat leads towards da main borehole. Actually, da borehole is where dis mine star’ed. Ponies thing we star’ed underground.” Flint shook his head with a chuckle. “Dat’s jus’ a story. Dogs jus’ been here a long time.”

“Mmm. Well,” Dustin nodded. “This looks like a good place to store things for a bit. Though we should take and put raw stones near masonry workshops, so that they don’t have to walk as far to find good, high-quality stones to work with. Having trade goods made out of stone, or just bricks and tiles made out of stone, would speed things along. Construction of new things would go faster, and we could trade what we have plenty of - rocks, - for things we need.”

Flint nodded. “Good, but we’re no’ done on dis level.” Flint made a gesture to continue and the group returned to the Causeway.

“Ah’m gonna bring dis ta da kitchens.” Quartz announced awkwardly. “Ummm… Ah’ll be back?”

“No worries…” Flint shook his head with a smile.

“Yeah, I’ll probably be getting acquainted with how things work for a while,” Dustin agreed. “You bring your catch to the kitchens, I’m sure the mine will appreciate it.”

Quartz blushed, gave a small yip, then swiftly ran off dragging her kill behind her.

“Ya done it now.” Flint shook his head.

“I can’t compliment a dog on their skills?” Dustin asked. “Goodness knows the only thing I’ll be good for is fighting off Warchiefs and management. A compliment is a good way to tell the dogs I appreciate them working hard for someone that essentially stormed in and took over.”

“Ha!” Flint barked. “No, i’s not dat.” He should his head. “Quartz gots a crush on ya.” A wolfish grin split his face. “Dat’s both good and bad. Good cause da other bitches’ll pick up on dat. Bad cause now you’ll have an awkward bitch tryin’ ta earn yer favor.”

“Of course,” Dustin groaned. “Let’s...worry about that later. Okay, I’ve seen the storeroom, the farms, the cavern...I’d suggest the kitchens, but we’d just run into Quartz. Um...lemme think.” He scratched his head for a moment. “Uh...metalworking. How is the mine doing? Do we have enough ore? Do we need to find some more?”

Flint walked over to Dustin and patted his head. “Calm yer head boss, yer with dogs. Dogs know da meaning of patience…. Wellll.. most do. Da dogs who captured white pony were young and impatient.” He chuckled. “Dey learned dere lesson. Now, I did say dat we had more on this level.” He turned back around and walked out of the Storeroom.

“Oh...you’re right, you did,” Dustin agreed. “Sorry, I forgot myself. Carry on.”

Flint lead him along the ring surrounding their level of the Causeway. They passed more rooms, but Dustin didn’t get to get a chance to get a good look at them. As they walked along, Dustin looked down and noticed something interesting. The top ring was the largest, each ring got smaller. So, if he so desired, he could jump down to each lower ring.

“Boss.” Flint got his attention. Dustin’s ears perked up and he saw Flint gesture him forward. “Ya mention ‘quality stone.’” Dustin, confused, walked up to join the pale dog. On seeing what lay inside the room his jaw dropped.

It was a masonry workshop. It was quite a tall and open room, carved out in a rough square shape. Torches hung on the walls, illuminating the various tools piled on stone tables, and papers covered in measurements. Along the left side of the room were massive cubes of what he assumed was granite, that were neatly stacked together. Massive boulders lay piled along the right wall. Directly across was a massive doorway with a set of tracks leading out of it. Nearby the doorway Dustin and Flint stood in a pair of small dogs were looking at a paper covered in numbers and pictures of blocks. Along the right wall large dog was piling boulders together.

“Dem tracks lead back ta da Borehole. From dere da stones can go anywhere in da mine.” Flint explained.

“Well, it’s nice to see you have this well in hand, then,” Dustin admitted. “I think with this amount of stone, you could do just about anything you wanted. Building things should be no problem for you all. It’s nice to see that even under incompetent leaders, you had your shit together.”

“A course.” Flint blinked. “What, ya assumed that we all did what da boss said without question? Well, wit’ dat last one we kinda ‘ad to else ‘e’d kill us, but most a tha time da other bosses just let us do wha’ever and occasionally showed up ta beat us inta submission.”

“Well, I will still let you do whatever, but I don’t think I need to beat anyone,” Dustin said casually. “I’m not going to be some tyrant, controlling everything you can and can’t do. I’ll suggest things and it’ll be up to you all to do them if you think you can. And if not, well, just explain why not and I’ll try to be a better boss.”

“Ah tink dat’s a good workin’ relationship.” Flint nodded. “Now, next level.”

Flint lead Dustin out, and the moment they started down the main path, scents wafted into his nose. “We’re comin’ up on da brewery.” They hit the next level and the scents of brewing alcohol were almost overpowering. He lead Dustin into a massive room filled with stills that almost reached the ceiling. Furnaces gurgled and dogs ran around checking pressure and arguing over ingredients. A doorway to the right barely revealed boxes of something. A dog nearby was squinting into a glass filled with a light green, foamy liquid.

“It’s nice to see that some traditions are still in force,” Dustin managed to get out. Darn this fox sense of smell. He’d still not gotten used to being able to sense more things than he could previously. He swore his nose curled at the smell of so much alcohol.

“Ya don’ look so good.” Flint frowned. “Da smells do take a bit ta get used ta. Let’s get ya outta ‘ere.”

“I can agree to that,” the fox nodded as he let the white dog lead him out. “Okay,” he said when they were clear. “So you have a brewing operation that most forts would kill for. Nice. We won’t have to worry about a dog not getting their drink.”

“That never really happens, especially since we’ve los’ some dogs recently.” Flint frowned.

“We’ll have to fix that,” Dustin stated, his voice full of conviction. “We want the mine to have plenty of happy, working dogs.”

“Well, one things that’d help is lettin’ tha bitches not be limited only ta you, boss.” Flint looked over at Dustin as the walked out of the Brewery and started towards the next level. “Ya do know, tha’s a thing right? I’s somethin’ boss’s tend ta keep in place.”

“...This is the first I’ve heard of it,” Dustin admitted. “Just...why would that be a thing? I can think of so many problems with a policy like that.”

“Bosses tended ta be greedy. Dey also convinced da other dogs that bosses bred smarter dogs. But all it did was make bigger, dumber dogs. Oh, dah tings we used ta be capable of. Da tings we could be capable of wit more dogs.” Flint got a far off look in his eye.

“Yeah, well…” Dustin snorted. “I’m not going to start a eugenics program to breed smarter dogs, but I do agree that with more, smarter dogs, you all could be capable of a lot more. The big, dumb dogs have their uses too, in military and keeping us safe, but I’d prefer all the dogs who work here to be intelligent.”

“As would Ah.” Flint nodded, then a smirk grew on his lips. “Ah think ya may want ta leave quick like after da tours done.”

“...If I ask why, I’m just going to be disappointed again, aren’t I?” Dustin deadpanned. “It’s not like I can, though. Rarity and I had a fight, and we both need some time away from each other. This is the only other place I can be away from her.”

Flint looked shocked. “Ya ‘ad a fight wit’ white pone? Well shit. I only said dat cause did mine gon turn inta one giant fuck pile for a day or two, once the bitches relieve all dere pent up stress. So ya might want some ear plugs or somethin, unless ya know a guy ya can crash wit’ for a day or two.”

“Sorry, I think I’m stuck here,” Dustin shook his head. “It’s not like my other options are much better. So...I think the next few things on my list are metals and military. How’s our smithing look?”

“Well, I was gonna show you da kitchens and cold storage, but we can skip dat if ya like. We’d just have ta skip dis next level and go through da Halls a da Stone Speakers ta get ta da Barracks, and da Barracks leads directly ta da Forge, and da Forge leads back ta da Borehole.” Flint tapped his chin in thought. “Dat shouldn' be a problem….. Huh…. Boss how old are ya?”

“Just about twenty,” Dustin replied. “Also, if the kitchens are on the next level, you might as well show them to me. It’d be a shame to not see them. We’ll make this tour comprehensive, with as little backtracking as possible.”

“Wow... “ Flint blinked. “Yer da younges’ boss we’ve ever ‘ad. Younges’ before you was a’ leas’ two-’undred an’ ten.” Flint shrugged. “No ma’a’, Kitchens it is.”

“...You’re going to tell me how long dogs live for later,” Dustin promised as he followed the white dog.

Flint glanced at him. “Well, mos' dogs don’ live pas' four’ey ta fif’ey due ta mine accidents, combat wit’ somethin’, or an un’appy boss.”

“...And yet you still have quite the population of dogs,” Dustin pointed out. “Guessing that’s a combination of high birth rates and stupidly greedy bosses.”

“Litt’le a both.” Flint nodded. “There are very few dogs ‘ere that can remember older times.” Flint stopped, seemingly lost in thought. “... Ah remember da day when day Sun never rose… When da Sun an’ Moon clashed… When da White Lady fought da Blood Drinker….” Flight shivered. “Dose were dark times….”

“...Okay then, moving swiftly on,” Dustin said, now wondering just how old Flint was. “Let’s see these kitchens.”

Flint shook himself and smiled. “Righ’. Right ya are.’” He chuckled and finished leading them down to where the smells of cooked meat wafted out of a wide open doorway. The sounds of crackling flames and the chatter of a few dogs met them as they entered a wide room filled with tables. Said tables were covered in various foodstuffs, though mostly consisting of butchered Rock Lobster or various forms of mushrooms. Large ovens in the walls rumbled as large cooking fires raged within them. Dustin’s eyes followed the smoke and he noticed holes in the ceiling. Returning his gaze back to the kitchen proper he noted a couple doorways. One was open to the air and appeared filled with boxes, the other was closed off by a large iron door. A familiar large bitch was standing by a table, chatting with a smaller bitch who in turn was cleaning the Rock Lobster carcass.

“Okay, so I’m seeing mostly cave food fare, not that there’s anything wrong with that,” Dustin noted to Flint. “But you all could probably stand to have a bit more variety in your diet. Have you ever thought about farming some surface crops?”

Flint nodded. “We would. ‘Owever day ponies don’t take kindly ta us in general. Our Borehole borders da Everfree and it’s only a few miles northwes’ a pony town. We’d use da Everfree but dat’s a bit too dangerous. Dere’s White’ail Wood but dat’s righ’ next ta pony town. We don’ go’ a lot a options.”

“Hmm,” Dustin hummed, thinking it over. “How about...you make a farm for surface crops...in the mine?” At the white dog’s stunned look, he explained. “Hear me out here. What if you put the farm for surface crops at the top of the mine, just at the border between the underground and the surface, then removed the ceiling so it was open to the outside air and light? If you put up a wall to make sure that nobody, especially ponies, just fell in, it could be a good field for growing things like grains, vegetables, and fruits.”

“Dat’s not a bad idea.” Flint mused, then smiled. “Ya, we could use some of the mine’s top most levels, da one’s we don’ really use no more. But open da ceiling, have our Stone Speakers build up a nice wall…. Ya I tink dat could work.” He nodded.

“Nice to see my ‘indoors outdoors’ garden plans also hold up in the real world,” Dustin smiled as he looked at the kitchens. “Hmmm...this brings up another issue related to food. Dining hall?”

“Dinin’ ‘all is righ’ through ‘ere.” Flint gestured to a doorway directly across from them. Dustin gestured for him to take the lead. With a nod Flint, lead him across the room. The doorway lead into a wide hall lit by torches along the walls. Three massive stone tables ran the length of the hall. Each table bore a stone bench on either side. The hall looked big enough to support a hundred dogs at least.

“I’s no much.” Flint shrugged. “But it does i’s job.”

“It’s still a nice dining hall, plenty big enough for a mine this size,” Dustin commented as he looked around. “Hmm...though you could probably stand to smooth out any rough edges from the walls and floors. Maybe put a few statues of important figures to the dogs up. A bit of engraving in the walls of the same sort of thing. Might make the other dogs appreciate it a bit more.”

“Da’s a good poin’.” Flint nodded and scratched his shin with a claw. “Don’ be surprised if’n ya see statues a you poppin’ up. Yer da first boss da dogs actually like in…… Come ta think of it yer da first boss that the dogs like in recent memory.”

“...Not what I wanted, but I suppose it’s too late to complain,” Dustin sighed, before perking back up again. “Oh, on the topic of smoothing things out. Make a note about the entrances to the mine. You should probably secure them or hide them when you’re not using them, and I would appreciate it if the tunnels to get down here were just a bit bigger. So that I didn’t have to crouch to get in.”

“Dat we can do.” Flint scribbled on his paper with the charcoal. “Ah’m also puttin’ down make prop’er entrance. Since most dogs just tunnel up, we don’t really ‘ave a prop’er entrance, well a prop’er entrance fer ponies.”

“And that’s another thing I’ll talk about later,” Dustin promised. “I have a plan to help you get on better terms with the ponies, once we’re further on in the tour. But for now, we should probably see about what’s next. Metals and military are what I’d look into next in a fortress, so how’s the mine doing?”

“Righ’ dis way.” Flint gestured a paw back towards the kitchen. He lead the fox back through the kitchen. Quartz looked up from one of the tables, her friend having left, leaving a cleaned Rock Lobster. The large bitch plodded over.

“‘Ow’s da tour goin’?” She asked, her head cocked curiously.

“Well I tink, gona show day boss da Hall a da Stone Speakers.” Flint looked at his list. “Den da Forge, and Barracks, den da Borehole I tink.”

Dustin seemed to be counting something on his fingers, before speaking up. “There are...two, maybe three other issues after that that I can think of, I’ll bring them up afterwards,” he said aloud. “For now, I’d like to see what you have to show me.”

“Alrigh’.” Flint nodded. He started off towards the Causeway and Dustin fell in behind him. Quartz, seemingly done here, followed the pair out. On entering the Causeway, the three took the final ramp down the the bottom of the shaft. Once there, Dustin found that there was only one way out. A soft blue glow came from a rather wide arching doorway.

On heading into the doorway, the sound of running water made Dustin’s ears perk up. The soft glow he’d seen was coming from blue mushrooms growing along the walls of a short passage. The passage in turn lead into a wide room, of which the walls, floor, and ceiling were smooth, almost unnaturally so. In the wall on the left side of the room there were a few doorways leading off somewhere. Directly across from the three was another arching doorway and the sound of hammers on anvils could be heard echoing into the hall. What caught Dustin’s attention however was the entire right half of the room. The floor sloped down into a pool of water. Small waves lapped up the slope. The source of the running water was a waterfall running down the entire right wall from a wide gap near the ceiling. A stream of water appeared to go through a duct that appeared to go directly to the Forge. The ceiling around the right side of the wall appeared more natural, with more blue glowing fungus lighting the entire room. In the center of the rather large pool was a massive stone covered in moss and various types of fungi.

Sitting at the edge of the pool was a small white dog wearing a mostly well kept robe. Oddly enough as opposed to most of the dogs, this dog looked like a small bipedal Corgi. Dustin couldn’t see his eyes, but due to his posture he assumed that the dog was meditating.

“Ah, looks like Speaker Ignis is meditatin’. Ya’ll have ta meet ‘im la’er.” Flint murmured quietly and swiftly led the Dustin and Quartz across the room with barely a hint of noise. Once firmly into the next passage, the sound of hammers and the heat of the Forge was more evident. “Da Stone Speakers act as our ‘ealers among udder tings.” Flint explained.

“Ah, well that covers one of the issues I wanted to talk about,” Dustin commented. “Healthcare. Nobody can take care of everything, I know that much. But what can they heal?”

“Dey can mend broken or crushed bones, mend damaged bodies, ‘eal most sickness, preven’ disease. Dey can’t do everyting like ya said, but dey can fix mos’ issues.” Flint said with a glance at Dustin. “Maybe, if’n tings wit’ ponies improve, dey could get some porp’er medical trainin’”

“That was going to be my next suggestion,” Dustin nodded. “A tunnel between here and Ponyville hospital, to get them that training much more easily.”

“Dat’d be good. Jus’ no’ direc’ly in ta da ‘ospital.” Flint chuckled.

“No, no indeed not,” Dustin agreed. “So, metals. How’s this forge look?”

Flint glanced ahead with a grin. “‘Ere’s yer answer.”

The heat of the Forge was stifling. A ruddy orange glow lit the the entirety of the low ceilinged room. Dustin couldn’t help but feel a tad uncomfortable by the thought of the ceiling being only a foot or so above his head. On seeing the Forge proper, he noted the various grooves in the walls. On a few of those grooves hung swords or hammers of various qualities, as well as some very basic looking metal armor. The swords seemed to vary from little more that a hunk of metal with an edge to more intricately designed curved blades. The hammers and armor weren’t much better. On fully entering the forge Dustin gaped at the massive cracking furnace that made up the entire left wall. He saw a dozen of so rods of metal sticking out of the bright coals. Only a half dozen feet away or so were a set of six evenly spaced anvils, on which three burly dogs worked. The small river that ran from the Hall of the Stone Speakers ran along the edge of the right side of the room. A multitude of workstations, tables covered in tools, sat nearby the small river. Only a couple smaller and lankier dogs worked at the tables. Even then it appeared the were just maintaining shoddier weapons. There was a sizable gap between the forge side and the crafting side of the Forge itself. The gap lead directly into another passageway.

“Okay,” Dustin noted aloud. “Color me impressed by the quality of the room. The quality of the gear, not so much.” His mind whirled. “What alloys do you know how to make, Flint? Better quality metal would mean better quality gear, even in the hands of unskilled metalsmiths. Armor made of copper would crumple, where armor made of steel wouldn’t so much as ding, if you understand my meaning.”

Flint raised a brow and pointed at the hammer that one of the dogs was working on. “Well recently, tanks to da previous boss, we’ve been mass producin’ iron armor and weapons. Yes we can make ‘em quicker but de’re ’eavier and break down fasta. ‘E was more about quani’ey over quali’ey. Tings like dis.” Flint walked over and pulled a wickedly sharp looking, single-edged silver sword, with a hilt wrapped in leather and what looked like rune-work on the flat of the blade, off the wall. “Now dis... “ He swung the blade with a grace and ease the Dustin honestly wasn’t expecting. “Dis ‘ere is made a Truesilva. Da las’ blade made before da vein ran dry abou’ three ‘undred years ago. We can make quali’ey work, it jus’ takes time.” Flint walked over, flicked his wrist to reverse grip the blade, and held it out to the fox. “Ah’d love if we could find more Truesilva, da problem is i’s found deep underground. Da deeper ya go da more prolems ya find. Las’ vein we ‘ad ta fight zoggin’ ra’kin fer it. Dat was a mess. Took us a couple decades, but we finally cleared em out.” Flint chuckled.

“Right, well the first thing to do is stop production of cheap iron gear,” Dustin said out loud. “Maybe even order some of the shoddy stuff melted down so we can make quality steel stuffs out of it. That’d help a bit. Also, copper and tin should be saved to make bronze, it’s a good backup metal in case we run out of steel. As well, I wouldn’t say no to finding some more quality ore and helping you fight for it.” His eyes flashed as a single shard of stone floated up and was coated in that cone of energy again...before he passed it to Flint. “Have tests done with this,” he ordered. “I want to know just what I can and can’t do with this power. If it’s powerful enough to be helpful to you all when we need to fight to secure some metal.”

“Well dat’s more ‘elpful den mos’ bosses. As ta da suggesions, Meltin down gear for better quali’ey is a good idea so long as we don’t run outta gear for everydoggy.” Flint nodded, taking a look at the energy covered stone. “Hmmmmm day ting is, ‘ow long does dis energy las’ for. I’d be ‘appy ta run some tests wit ya ta ‘elp figure dis ou’.” He tossed the rock back to Dustin. “Fer now, da Barracks?”

“Fair enough, we don’t want to leave the wardogs without armor or swords,” Dustin nodded. “Write down that we need to do tests with my ability later, and let’s move on.”

“Righ’ den.” Flint looked at Quartz. “Ya doin’ okay? Ya’ve been quie’.. Er… more quie’ than normal.”

“Oh, Ah’m okay. Ah jus’ like being nearby.” Quartz said softly.

“Look’s like we won’ ‘ave ta find ya a bodyguard.” Flint chucked.

Dustin rolled his eyes as he followed the dog into the next passage. This passage was a shorter trip than the one from the Hall of the Stone Speakers to the forge. Surprisingly, the Barracks looked rather spartan. There was a central hallway that had six rooms on either side that were all filled with six bunk beds each. A central room at that back of the hallway seemed to be a meeting area and beyond that, lay an unused room that appeared to be for a captain or another higher up. On the opposite side of the dormitories, lay a small passage. The passage lead into what looked like a large colosseum.

“Dis is da Pit.” Flint said as they enter the outer ring of the colosseum. “Dis is where mos’ practice takes place, and if’n were lucky a bout or two betweens some dogs for fun. Dat hasn’ ‘appened in awhile dough.”

“Remind me to tell you about the exercises and equipment humans developed for strength training later,” Dustin said idly. “It’d be good to have those that aren’t on duty working on their bodies, trying to stay in shape or become stronger. Strong is good. Stronger is better when it comes to defending us from other warchiefs and their flunkies.”

Flint shrugged and scribbled on the paper. “‘Uman strength tranin’. Go’ it.” The he looked up and looked around the room. “Righ’. So, dis passage ‘ere.” He pointed at a passageway on the left side of the vast room that appeared to slope up. “Dis passage leads up to da Causeway.” He pointed at a second passage on the opposite side of the room. “Dis one leads ta da Borehole.”

“And seeing as the squads have their own rooms, another thought springs to mind,” Dustin noted. “Do we have target ranges for crossbow users to practice their accuracy? Please tell me we have crossbows, dealing with something from range is far preferable to letting it get in your face. I understand it’s part of the thrill of battle to smash something with your own weapons, but I much prefer to not potentially lose anyone.”

“Bad news boss.” Flint frowned. “Da las’ boss smashed all our crossbows. Said dey made us weak. Which is pure slag, but ya don’ say no ta a boss like dat. We do gots da schematics ta make more. Pit, if we had da right materials we could start producin’ Ironbelchers and Flameslingas. Maybe, jus’ maybe, we could form da Iron Dogs again.” Flint got a dreamy look in his eyes.

“Flint,” Dustin said, clapping the dog’s shoulder with one paw. “We’re going to bring back ranged dogs, I promise you. Find out who used to use a crossbow and get them produced again. I want them training again as soon as possible. Who knows? If we find enough quality ore, we might be able to put their skills to use again. We’re going to make this a mine that not only can stand on its own, but one that other dogs will want to be a part of.”

“Ah like da way ya think boss.” Flint grinned. He looked over Dustin’s shoulder. “An’ so does she.”

Dustin turned around the see a blushing Quartz trying desperately to prevent her tail from wagging. “U-uummmm don’ mind me. C-carry on.”

“Where ta next boss.” Flint asked, grabbing Dustin’s attention once again.

“I don’t think I need to see the Borehole, I got a very good look when I was getting rid of the old boss,” Dustin noted. “The one thing I would suggest about it is to put up a wall around the skylight you seem to have, in order to prevent another Warchief from just walking in. Also, do we have any promising ore veins?”

“Ah’ll have da dogs get on dat.” Flint nodded. “As ta veins, curren’ly we gots a massive iron vein, a decen’ly sized corundum vein, an’ a small vein a mit’ril. Migh’ wanna get da dogs on dat mit’ril dat we can use fer some nice gear.”

“Iron can be used for steel if we have coal or charcoal,” Dustin pointed out. “Mithril...well I won’t say no to that. I’ll leave it up to you how to use it, my knowledge of fantastical metals is a little lacking. But corundum is...aluminum, right? I think I heard something about that from Rarity…” Dustin hummed for a moment before smiling. “Flint...did you know that they really like aluminum, the ponies?”

“Huh, ‘ad no idea. Any reason why?” Flint blinked.

“Apparently it’s rare to them,” Dustin smiled. “Also, something about it being a good magical conductor. My thinking? We could just smelt the aluminum into bars and offer to trade it to them for all sorts of things we might be lacking. Extra food, wood, exotic meats and spices...get what I’m saying?”

Flint scribbled on his paper. “So, we’d need to build a small outpos’ at where ever we make da prop’er entrance. An’ dog it with dogs dat can actually deal wit’ ponies. Ah’d do it, but Ah’m da Foredog.” Flinted tapped his chin with his piece of charcoal. “Know any ponies that are really good wit’ stone? It’d be nice ta get a differen’ perspective. Maybe ask around fer me?”

“I’ll ask,” Dustin promised. “Though now you’ve brought up something new I want to talk about. Flint...how educated are the dogs? How many can read and write?”

“Ah can actually tell ya off da top a me ‘ead. Ah’d say seven’ey five percen’ can’t read or write. Namely da mining dogs. Which is most of us. Ah’d like ta get dat fixed. Dough, note dat all dogs know math and can read tings like blueprints or work orders. But readin’ in general is someting we’re sorely lackin’.” Flint frowned.

“Well, in addition to rocks, I’ll ask about someone that can come down and teach the dogs to read and write,” Dustin promised. “A smart population is one that won’t fall for a tactic like, ‘Oh, your boss actually told me to run things for you for a few days! Yeah, it’s fine.’ I’d rather you all catch onto that if a Warchief comes around and I’m not here.”

“Dat’s smart tinkin’ boss.” Flint nodded. “Dough Ah doubt a tactic as subtle as dat would sway da dogs. Still would be be’er ta have da dogs have some education. Find us a pony who’s okay wit’ dogs, we don’ wanna force some poor pony inta a job dere gon’ ‘ate.”

“Fair enough, and now my questions are winding down,” Dustin said. “So...where do the dogs sleep? You can’t work all the time.”

“Oh, we got dormitories like da Barracks higher up and attached ta da mine. Dere more a shared rooms fer a couple dogs, dough we do have room ta expand if needed. Pit, wit’ how few dogs we got now compared ta a few years ago, most dogs have been just each takin’ dere own rooms. ‘Elps wit’ morale.” Flint nodded.

“Well, one of the things I’m going to want to change will be that,” Dustin nodded, before outlining his housing plan. “Every dog should be able to have their own rooms, with their own furniture in them. A bed, a table and chair in case they don’t feel like eating in the dining hall. A dresser for clothes, a chest to store their personal effects in. Maybe later, once they’re educated and we start trading for books, they can even have bookcases.”

“Now dat sounds jus’ grea’.” Flint grinned at that, his tail wagging happily. “Anyting else on yer list boss?”

“Only one more thing,” the fox replied, thinking of how to word it. “Now, this is a delicate topic so uh...I’ll try to ask. What do dogs...do when another dog dies?”

“Ya mean da Halls a da Dead?” Flint blinked. “We actually passed it. Dat’s attached ta da Hall a da Stone Speakers. See, we burn our dead and place da ashes in a small ceremonial urn. Dat’s one ting da old boss didn’t mind ta keep. Imagine a set a hallways lined wit’ small urns. Goes pre’ey deep actually.”

“Well I won’t try to change your traditions,” Dustin replied. “I just wanted to know what you did with them. Sets my mind at ease. Okay, now we just need to sketch out that outpost where we’ll trade with the ponies.”

“Flint!” The cry of a dog grabbed their attention. All three turned to look at a small black dog with grey eyes, wearing a dusty grey coat, racing towards them. “Flint! Huh- Ya- Ya won’t believe it! Da deeper tunnels-” The dog panted and slumped as he reached them. He saw Dustin and tried to stand up straight. “Boss! Sorry, didn’t see ya dere!”

“I’m all for respect, but don’t stand on ceremony when you have important news to deliver,” Dustin commented. “What about the deeper tunnels?”

“We found a vein!” The dog yipped excitedly.

“Slow down Crag.” Flint smiled at the excited dog. “We find veins all da time.”

“But dis is special. We found a Adaman’ine deposit!” Crag bounced on his paws.

Quartz gasped.

Flint blinked. “Ya wot?”

“We found an Adaman’ine deposit!” Crag repeated.

Dustin...had a different reaction. He turned to Flint. “Is it sky blue in color, able to hold an edge keener than any other metal, and makes armor that needs only be wafer-thick to deflect even dragon fire? You have to spin it into threads to smelt it into wafers to work it?”

“Looks like da fox knows ‘is stuff.” Flint grinned wickedly before returning to look at Crag. “‘Ow deep and how much?”

“We just broke it open at da lowest spot a da mines. Dey were workin’ ta make sure everyting stays stable when dey sent me runnin’” Crag explained. “As ta how much….. Flint, da entire wall looked blue.”

“Shit….” Flint somehow managed to pale even in his already pale coat.

“Flint, we have to get there before someone does something incredibly stupid,” Dustin said. “Like trying to mine it.”

“We’ve dealt wit’ it before but i’s been a couple ‘undred years. Da new dogs might not know exactly what ta do.” Flint nodded. “Ta da elevatas?”

“As fast as you can,” the fox agreed. “I know a way to keep us safe and still get some metal, but we’ll need to be fast enough that they haven’t mined it already.”

Flint nodded, then yelped as he, Dustin, and Crag were picked up by Quartz. “Ah’ll get us there.” They were off in a flash. The large bitch was faster than Dustin originally thought. In what felt like moments they were in the Borehole. Moments more and they were flying down a large winding tunnel lit by torches. They came to a wide, less well lit hole with numerous pulleys and gears on the ceiling. A large square platform had been built into the edge of the hole and was attached to the series of pulleys. Quartz skidded to a halt and set everybody down. Crag immediately went over to a large lever and pulled. With a hum and a grinding of cogs the platform began to lower.

“Quartz.” Flint heaved deep breaths. “Warn me when ya donna do dat. Ah’m not a young dog.”

“Flint, if we’re going to save the mine, we need to make sure this stuff doesn’t get mined before the orders go out,” Dustin said as he watched the elevator descend. “I just wish I could tell them not to do it. And now I wish we’d brought one of those Stone Speakers with us, in case they have.”

“We’re not stupid boss.” Crag said from his spot by the lever, his ears were pinned back and he had a sad look on his face.

“I certainly hope not,” Dustin agreed. “Young and foolish, maybe. But hopefully not foolish enough to dig the Adamantite out.”

The elevator swiftly hit the bottom of the hole and strangely, the group heard-

“Singing?” Dustin asked.

On leaving the elevator, the group followed the sounds of joy. Their path lit by torches, they came across the source of the jubilation. A good twenty or so dogs were singing and dancing. The firelight glinting off an untouched wall of blue that had to be ten foot high at least. A pair of larger dogs smiled, but were keeping the other dogs away from the wall.

“Told ya boss. We’re no’ stupid.” Crag grinned.

“We’ve been minin’ for as long as we can remember. We know our meh’als.” Flint said with a nod.

“Right,” Dustin stepped forward as he looked at the wall himself. He came close enough to touch it a bit, garnering the attention of the mining dogs as their new boss had come all this way to see what they’d found.

“We’re not touchin’ dat boss.” One of the dogs spoke up. “Not sure we gots da gear ta mine it yet.”

“And well you shouldn’t, but there is something you can do,” Dustin said as he turned around. “You can excavate the vein. Dig all the way around it. Because if I’m right, there will be a central, hollow pillar to it. Something that you must never, ever breach, no matter how much the metal tempts you. There should also be several offshoots, branches of the metal into the rock. Those should be safe to mine, when we have the gear to.” He turned to Flint. “See about making some quality pickaxes. Steel, mithril if you can swing it. This stuff will elevate our fortress far faster than trading aluminum with the ponies.”

“We can get on dat.” Flint nodded then looked at the surrounding dogs. “Ya ‘eard ‘im boys! Get to it!”

There was an excited scramble as the dogs went about getting back to work.

“We should leave them to it.” Flint gestured behind him and Dustin, Flint, Quartz and oddly enough Crag all turned to head back up to the mine proper.

“Now that that’s out a tha way,” Flint sighed as they reached the elevator. “Anything else ya got fer us?”

“Here, I’ll sketch it on your scroll,” Dustin said as he gently took the scroll and graphite from Flint. By the time they were at the top of the borehole, he handed it back to the old dog.

It wa a design for a trading outpost. A central platform made of polished stone, with slabs of stone around it. The fox pointed out the details. “Here,” he said, pointing to the platform, “Is where you’ll lead ponies when they come to trade with you. It’s also where you’ll have dogs haul things like finely made stonecraft and aluminum, so that you can make an offer with the things they can see. And around the platform,” his finger trailed to the slabs, “You can have the skilled stone carvers have their own shops, so that they can trade with the ponies directly. Plus it displays that the dogs of the mine are skilled enough to make these things, and intelligent enough to want what the ponies have to offer in exchange for their craft.”

“Ah see.” Flint looked over the page. He walked off the platform of the elevator the moment it reached the top. “Yeah, this should work. Just where ta place it. If’n we make da entrance at dat quarry dat da white pone likes ta gather gems at….” He mused as they came back into the Borehole.

“‘Ey Flint, boss!” A large dog grabbed their attention. He was brown, with almost gold eyes, he wore a blue vest and had a sack over one shoulder. He was coming down the ramp towards them at a decent clip. He finally spoke up when he got within a couple feet. “Ah know this isn’ da best time, an’ Ah know we don’t carry pony’s in sacks cause dat’s jus’ rude, but dey were tryin’ ta break in ta da mine and Ah ‘ad a ‘ard time grabbin’ ‘em.”

The sack over his shoulder shook.

“Think we’re finally inthide?” Came a familiar voice.

“Well, the dog stopped finally.” Came another.

“I think we’re good.” Came a third. “Think he brought us to Dustin?”

“...Sweetie Belle, what are you doing in the mine?” Dustin asked in a stern tone of voice.

“Hi Dustin!” Came the cry from the sack. “We’re here to fix your relationship with Rarity!”

“...Flint, I assume I have a room,” Dustin commented. “Let’s take this there.”

“Oh, a course ya do.” Flint nodded. “I’s no’ too far away actually.”

Flint lead the small group up the Borehole, through the Pit, the Barracks, the Forge, and the Hall of the Stone Speakers, and into the Causeway. Up the Causeway they went, until they reached to top level. There was a passage Dustin had missed seeing on the way down. Probably because it wasn’t too far away from the entrance they’d used earlier that day.

A somewhat nicely carved stone door sat nestled into a small passage. On opening the door, a spacious room fit for a lord came into view. The floors were smooth, the ceiling was high, the walls were carved and etched with swirls and runes. Covered torches crackling in each corner of the room. A large wooden desk sat off to the right side. A fireplace with two large plush chairs with a small table between them sat in front of it. There was a large unused stone bookcase along the far wall. A bright red carpet lead into another room, what Dustin assumed to be a bedroom.

As the group entered the room, Quartz sniffed the air. Her brow furrowed and she stalked off into the other room. There were a few surprised yips. “OUT!” Snapped Quartz. Surprisingly, or unsurprisingly in Flint’s case, six bitches came out of the room in tears, running as if the devil himself were after them. Quartz came out looking a little ticked, but swiftly blushed as she saw all the eyes on her.

“Well it’s nice to know someone is looking out for me,” Dustin quipped before looking at the dog with the sack. “Put them down,” he ordered. “We’ll talk about it like grown-ups.” He walked over to the desk and sat behind it, getting a feel for the chair.

The dog sat the bag down, let it go, and quickly left the room. The Cutie Mark Crusaders tumbled out with a collective yelp.

“Okay,” Dustin said, steepling his paws. “Why are you here? I know the reason you gave me, but it can’t be the real reason.”

All three looked at the floor. “We wanted to thee the mine.” Scootaloo said quietly.

“Sweetie said the dogs were really nice.” Apple Bloom explained.

“I don’t like seeing you and Rarity fight.” Sweetie murmured.

Dustin sighed. “Look, Rarity and I are far too alike to get along for long,” Dustin explained. “Plus, she keeps wanting me to try on clothes. I don’t want anything to do with fashion for a good, long while.”

“She’s not forcing you to, yeah she can be pushy but tell her no firmly enough and she’ll stop.” Sweetie looked up, her ears pinning back as she did.

“I tried that already, she yelled at me,” the fox pointed out.

“Ummmm…. Didn’t you start yelling first?” Apple Bloom asked.

“...Point,” the fox conceded. “Still, I’ve tried telling her I don’t want to do fashion. She doesn’t seem to get the message.”

“Well, if you tried on thomething every once and awhile you might actually get her to thtop athking.” Scootaloo said with a raised brow. “You keep thhutting her down and it’th going to make the problem worthe.”

“Oh sure, ask the fox who was all but enslaved to be a fashion model to try some things on, nothing can go wrong with that plan,” Dustin deadpanned. The sarcasm was so thick, you could cut it with a knife.

“But aren’t there times y’all feel naked?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Ha!” Flint barked.

“For a bit when I was getting used to the body, yes,” Dustin agreed. “But fur helps.” He then turned wistful. “Though I wouldn’t say no to a good pair of pants…”

“Then how about you propose a trade?” Sweetie asked. “You model something for her if and only if you get something out of it. And she has a limit on how many things she can make you wear at any given time per any given week.”

“...Why do the best plans come from the mouths of children?” Dustin asked aloud. “Fine. But I’m not going to enjoy it. And I still have a bloody mine to run as well!”

“Well duh!” Scootaloo rolled her eyes. “You kinda got a job now. Thhe can’t make you do anything.”

“Also, you could have some of the bitches come up and model for her!” Sweetie grinned. “I’m sure she’d like them if she got to know them outside of them coming after you day and night.”

“On dat note.” Flint said and walked out of the room. “OI BOSS SAYS DAT DA BITCHES DON’ ‘AVE TA LIMI’ DEMSELVES TA ONLY DA BOSS NO MORE!”

Flint calmly came back into the room, only to find that everyone was staring at him. “Wot? She reminded me?”

“I-is th-that true?” Quartz asked with a very noticeable blush.

“Okay, while I didn’t give that order, I can agree with it,” Dustin commented. “Also, was that all it took? Just... someone explaining the situation to me and me saying ‘I don’t want this’?”

“Pre’ey much yeah.” Flint nodded. “Though da bitches were also gettin’ really snippy because de’re in season and yer not satisfyin’ dem.”

“Ewwwww.” Scootaloo and Apple Bloom made disgusted faces.

Sweetie Belle shrugged. “It’s just biology.”

“...Seriously, if a problem is that easy to solve, Flint...tell me what to do,” Dustin said. “It’d make me look less stupid, keep morale up. Give them confidence in their boss. You know, the important things.”

“Well, we covered all da other important tings durin’ da tour. Ah jus’ figured Ah’d get dat one out a da way for ya.” Flint shrugged.

“And we couldn’t get it done before half a dozen bitches camped out in my bedroom?” Dustin asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Ah coulda made da announcemen’ right after ya said da ting bout da not startin’ a eugenics program.” Flint chuckled. “Den it woulda jus’ made everyting messy.”

“Messy?” the Renamon asked.

“As in literally. No’ very polite ta say in fron’ a pups.” Flint glanced at the fillies.

“...Ah,” Dustin nodded. “Okay then. Well, with that sorted, I guess I’m...staying in here until it calms down.”

“E-excuse me…” Quartz said as she picked up Crag and walked out of the room.

“See ya boss.” Crag said with a giddy grin.

“Ya wan’ me ta escort da fillies out?” Flint asked.

“Please,” Dustin said as he got up to go to his bedroom.

“Alrigh’." Flint nodded then looked down at the fillies." Okay pups, this place isn’ gonna be pup safe for a few days. So le’s get you ou’a ‘ere.” Flint gestured out the door.

“Okay…” The fillies said dourly.

“...You still want me to come back and talk to Rarity, don’t you?” the fox asked the fillies.

All three fillies rushed over, sat on their haunches, and gave him puppy dogs eyes. “Please!”

“Gah! Too much cute!” the fox gasped, clutching his heart. “Systems...failing…” His head fell to the desk, where his tongue lolled out of his maw.

“Workth every time!” Scootaloo cheered.

“So, Ah suppose that ya’ll be da one takin’ da fillies den?” Flint asked with a raised brow.

“Yeah, yeah,” Dustin muttered as he pushed himself up from behind the chair. “I suppose we can try to make up. I’m not promising anything.” He pointed a finger at Sweetie. “If we end up fighting again, I’m coming right back here, ‘mess’ be damned.”

“That’d be perfectly fine.” Sweetie agreed. “And perfectly understandable. Now, all you need to do is sit down and talk it out like adults.”

Flint shook his head. “From da mouths of pups.”

Dustin sighed. “That’s exactly what I’m afraid of,” he muttered. “I’ve never been very good at talking things out.”

“Jus’ try ta stay calm. Dat always works fer me.” Flint walked over and patted Dustin on the shoulder with a paw.

“Calm. I can do calm,” the fox nodded. “Okay. Let’s do this.”

A totally normal day. Yup.

“So… wait…” Dash shook her head as she tried to process what her purple-coated friend had stated. She was sitting in the library, Spike was in the kitchen working on lunch, and a purple unicorn was sitting across from her. “Tell me again. Just not in egghead speak.”

“Okay.” Twilight nodded. “One last time, and as simply as I can.” The mare took a breath. “When I last checked on you I noticed something off. There was a magic around you I didn’t exactly recognise. I did some digging and ended up putting two and two together. Rainbow, you had your mind altered. Not enough to be noticeable by you, but enough that your friends would start getting worried.”

“Okay…” Dash nodded with a slow breath. “And, what did the altering do?”

“It made you more flirty, more aggressive, more daring.” Twilight listed. “My running theory is, something was going to replace you and altering your mind ahead of time would make it easier for the doppelganger to slide into your role.”

“So… Gilda’s talk kinda broke the brain magic?” Dash asked.

“Exactly.” Twilight nodded at the pegasus. “Once you noticed there was something wrong, your mind worked to start purging the invasive magic. Like your body fighting off a cold.”

“Kay… What am I supposed to do with this now?” Dash blinked, frowning. “I mean, I really don’t like the thought that something had got into my head. But, I’m better now right?”

“Basically.” Twilight nodded once again. “You have been feeling more shy and reserved around Dustin, haven’t you?”

“Yeah…” Dash winced with a little blush.

“That’s just a little backlash from the effect's removal. Like your brain chemistry trying to find an equilibrium when you come off drugs.” The purple mare said with a small frown.

“So…. I’ll be back to somewhat normal?” The prismatic pegasus asked, cocking her head to the side curiously.

“Eventually.” Twilight replied. “Like coming off drugs, your brain will take a bit to balance. A week or two at the most. So you’ll probably shy, reserved, and emotional around Dustin because he was the one you were supposed to be fixated on.”

“But…” Dash blinked. “Why him?”

“That, I don’t know.” Twilight sighed.

There was a knock at the door.

“It’s a library. Ponies can just come in.” Twilight rolled her eyes.

“You also live here, Twi.” Dash pointed out.

“Right.” The purple unicorn groaned. “Come in.”

The door opened. A Diamond Dog with white fur (off white due to dirt) and blue eyes, limped inside.

Twilight blinked. “Can… I help you?”

“Flint?!” Dash gasped. “What are you doing here?”

“We’s go’ a problem.” Flint grunted to the pegasus then looked at Twilight. “Boss said yous was smart. Ah don’ got th’ brains fe’ this.”

“Umm… Flint, was it?” Twilight asked. “What’s going on?”

“Somethin’s wrong wiff boss.” Flint replied.

“Dustin?” Dash paled. “Is he okay.”

“Ah don’ tink so.” The dog shook his head at the mare. “‘E’s… different.”

“Okay.” Twilight took a breath. “Come take a seat. Tell us everything.”

The dog nodded and limped over to sit next to Dash.

“Well….” The dog seemed to be fighting to think straight. “Ever since you two’s been ruttin.’ His comment made Dash blush. “‘E’s spent less time at da mine. Ah figured it was fine, e’s allowed ta do wha’ever he wan’s. E’s da boss. But lay’ly, since yous been takin’ time ta yerselves, e’s…” The dog’s brow furrowed. “E’s off. E’ kicked Lyra out.” He actually gave off a bit of a growl when he said that. “E’ doubled da dog’s diggin’ out da Adamantine. An’ e’ seems distracted. Like, ou’ o’ it. E’ snaps when we ask w’as wrong.”

“Twi…” Dash slowly looked over at the mare. “What if I wasn’t the only one to be affected?”

Twilight’s brow furrowed. “I mean that would make sense… but why…” She trailed off. “The mine…”

“Wha’?” Flint looked confused. “Wha’ ‘bout it?”

“What if, and follow me here. What if something wanted the mine?” Twilight asked.

Flint looked thoughtful. “Wai’...” Flint muttered. “Wai’ minute… Before Boss took over, Boss Blacktoof ‘ad us diggin’ out resources for someting callin’ i’self Da Storm King.”

Twilight’s brow furrowed further. “That’s not ringing a bell. I may have to ask Princess Celestia and Lilly if they’ve heard of him.”

“The Storm King?” Spike’s voice made all three turn towards the kitchen. Spike was coming out carrying a tray of small sandwiches, glass cups, and a pitcher of iced tea.

“You know that name?” Dash asked.

“It’s kinda confidential but I trust you.” Spike mentioned, setting the tray down on the table between the three. “So, Lilly had an agent far to the south. Like, The South Seas, south. The Storm King and his wife/consort Queen Chrysalis were building up for something huge. The agent managed to sabotage pretty much everything, setting their entire operation back years. Reports said that basically the entire island exploded, though that might have been a bit embellished.”

“Okay…” Twilight looked thoughtful, absorbing the information.

“Spike, what was Queen Chrysalis the Queen of?” Dash asked, looking worried.

“A Changeling Hive. Why?” He asked.

“Oh no…” Flint breathed.

Dustin was...irritable. He hadn’t been this way since he gave up coffee a while back. Maybe he should pick up another cup, it might help with his headache.

“You alrigh’ Boss?” Quartz asked, hovering nearby. The fox had made her his personal bodyguard, even though he knew that she was normally a “farmer”, yet he’d ordered it so she had to listen.

“I’m fine!” the fox snapped, before mellowing. “I’m...fine,” he muttered. “Thanks for your concern. I’m just worried. The mine could be better.”

“Better ‘ow?” The large dog asked. “We’ve been diggin’ a lo’ ‘arder lay’ly.”

“I know,” the fox sighed. “I just...there’s something in my head that keeps telling me things could be better. Like a nagging thought I can’t get rid of.” He shook his head and refocused on the blueprints in front of him. “What we need is some sort of prospector,” he mused. “Tell us where we can find more ore veins.”

“Can’ Lady Rarity doing somefing like ‘dat?” Quartz asked. “Ah know she could find gems, but you tink she could find me’als?”

“There’s a thought,” the fox agreed. “I’ll ask her when I go back.” He looked back at the blueprints and frowned. It wasn’t enough. It wasn’t going to be enough.

“Bu’ ye ‘aven’ lef’ da mine.” Quartz pointed out. “Is been days. Maybe… yous should take a break? Maybe spend some time wiff Dash?”

“I-” The fox started to say before freezing. Time with Dash sounded go-No. She’s a distraction. Seeing Rarity was helpfu-No. She’s annoying. Something wasn’t right. Something wasn’t right. Something wasn’t right-

He growled and held his paws up to his head. “Some...thing…” he snarled. “My...head…”

“Boss!” Quartz gasped, reaching out for him. “Boss! Wha’s-”

“Some...thing...in...head,” he snarled, beating his head for a moment before his fist tried to hit Quartz, only to be stopped by his other hand. “C-Can’t...control...don’t...listen!”

“B-boss?” Quartz backed up, looking frightened and whimpering like a kicked puppy.

“Rrrrrgh…” Dustin growled at himself a little harder. “R-Run…” he whispered, before slumping onto his desk. He was out of it for a moment...before sitting back up, his eyes having a faint green sheen to them.

“What?” he asked. “Is something wrong?”

“B-boss. Yous… Yer head.” Quartz tried to point out.

“Never felt better,” the fox said with a smile. “Go on, tell them all to keep at it.”

Twilight, Flint, and Dash stormed through Ponyville. Spike had written a letter but they couldn’t depend on Lilly and Celestia to bring down the Wrath of the Gods, if they could handle it themselves.

“Right. We’re going to run under the assumption that the mine is entirely compromised.” Twilight stated. “Dash, who do we need?”

“Geralt, Ivy, Guile, and their partners of course.” Rainbow listed.

“Flint, can you get us to the mine undetected?” Twilight asked.

“Ah, know a place. Would take a li’le diggin’ but Ah could get us in.” Flint said after a moment of thought.

“Dash!” A voice got the trios attention. They turned.

“Gilda?!” Dash gasped as the blue-coat clad griffon landed and slid her goggles up. “I thought you left!”

“I did, then I came back. Bro, DadMom, and I are taking a little R&R in Ponyville for a bit.” Gilda replied.

“Oh.” Dash blinked then grinned. “That’s great!”

“What’s going on?” Gilda glanced between the three. “You look you’re on a mission.”

“Dustin’s mine is probably compromised.” Dash stated.

“Changelings.” Twilight stated. “South Seas Hive.”

Gilda’s face turned stoney. “Right.”

“Would you be willing to-”

Suddenly an explosion of fire went off behind Gilda, causing the three others to jump. The fire seemed to suck in to a point and disperse. Something stepped out, or more accurately, limped out of the smoke cloud.

A tall red dragon with a golden underbelly, and purple eyes frowned at the griffon. His wings looked tattered and withered and his right leg was bowed slightly. “Dammit Gilda, how did you beat me.”

Gilda glanced over at the dragon. “You gave me a head start and I am a leaf on the wind.”

“Sure you are.” The dragon rolled his eyes with a chuckle. “Oh, DadMom’s taking the long way down with the others. They’ll be a bit, unless there’s an emergency.”

“Garble. There’s an emergency.” Dash stated. Hovering up to the dragon.

“Hey Dash, you’re so much bigger than I-” The words registered as Garble’s face went from happy to serious in and instant. “Report.”

“South Seas Hive.” Gilda and Twilight said in unison.

“... Shit.” Garble took a breath “I don’t suppose I can just cook the problem away?”

“In a mine. There’s friendlies.” Gilda stated. “Probably bugs disguised as diamond dogs.”

Garble took another breath as a slightly shaky left claw came up to rub his eyes. “Okay… Gilda, you and I can’t go one-hundred percent, we’ll need to rely on the others. You, Tia’s Favored Student.” He pointed at Twilight. “Know any spells to remove illusions of disguises in an area-of-effect?”

“I know a few, want me to list them?” Twilight nodded confidently.

“Good and no.” Garble replied. “Dashie, what other forces do we have access to?”

“Don’t call me… Ugh.” Dash groaned. “Me, Vinyl Scratch, Octavia, Pinkie Pie, Guile the Guilmon, Ivy the Palmon, and Geralt the Weregarurumon.”

“Weregarurumon?” Garble blinked. “Wow, nice. Okay. Twin fanged strike.” He stated. “One force distracts, the other sneaks in and chops off the head if there is one. All else fails, one side works down the mine, the other one works up and we meet in the middle and hope that we get all the bugs.”

“When did you become a tactician?” Dash blinked at him in surprise.

“Since I rushed in and got stabbed in the gut by a clown.” The dragon replied, running a shaky claw over his stomach with a wince and an intake of breath.

“Oh... “ Dash nodded.

“Sound’s like we gots a plan.” Flint stated.

“Yes, however, we need to get everypony and digimon, fill them in and plan it out accordingly.” Twilight nodded.

“Split up and gather everyone?” Dash asked.

“Works for me.” Garble nodded.

“Good. Break.” Twilight stated.

Everything was going according to plan.

She had no idea why she thought that using the pegasus was a good idea.

It was so much easier to convert the fox. It was already too late, he was hers now.

It was a bonus that metals and gems were already being shipped out. Mother would be quite pleased.

‘Chalysrae we have a-’

Even as she registered one of the lings posted in Ponyville, his voice was cut off.

‘Comman-’

Her brow furrowed in her diamond dog form.

‘They know!-’

“That’s not good…” She growled out.

‘All forces, activate the dogs! We have incoming! We will not lose this mine!’

“Quartz?” She looked over at the fox. He’d looked up from her blueprints.

“Y-yes Boss?” She replied.

“Nothing, just, you looked troubled for a moment.” Dustin shook his head.

“It’s fine Boss.” The Disguised Changeling smiled. “It’s fine.”

“Ivy!” Dash pounded on the Vinyl and Octavia’s door. “Geralt! Lemme in!”

“They might not be home.” Gilda replied.

“Oh they’re home.” Dash growled.

The door opened to a slightly out of it Geralt, his left foot was still in a cast.

“Hey… Dash.” He smiled.

“Shit. Right.” Dash facehoofed.

“How’d you do that?” Gilda asked gesturing at the cast.

Geralt blinked slowly then looked down at the cast. “Oh… yeah… Hehe got cocky and kicked a demon in the back of the face. Didn’ work.” He giggled.

“Geralt! Get back to bed this-” Octavia cried out as she poked her head out. “Dash? What are you doing here?”

“We need you and Ivy. Geralt’s obviously out and so is Vinyl.” Dash replied.

“I’m what now?” Came a voice as Vinyl trotted up to the two winged females.

“To long, didn’t read. Dustin’s mind controlled, bugs have him and probably have his mine.” Gilda rattled off.

“I’m in. Geralt’s recovering.” Vinyl said, propping up her shades. “Ivy could be useful in crowd control and Octy can take care of Geralt.”

“That’s better than what I expected.” Dash blinked.

“You learn a thing or two from fighting monsters with the big guy.” Vinyl chuckled and shot a glare at the werewolf. “Go to bed.”

“Yes mom.” The wolf groaned and limped back inside.

“Good, lemme check a couple things then we should be good to go.” Viny said as she passed the pair.

“Cool.” Dash nodded.

“Dash… Did Geralt say he kicked a demon?” Gilda asked.

“Ah we can’t count on him, guy’s working and he avoids anything combat related like the plague.” Dash waved a hoof.

“Gilda blinked. “Right….”

Guile hummed happily as he restocked the newest batch of cupcakes. His stomach growled, but he knew that Pinks would just make him something in a bit here.

There was the jingle of the bell at the front. “Just a minute,” he announced.

“Place smells great.” A gruff voice spoke up.

“Dustin needs to take some dogs out to eat.” Twilight’s voice replied.

“Excuse me, Mister Guile, we need you help.” A second unknown voice spoke up.

Guile frowned, then straightened up. There was Twilight, a Diamond Dog that he assumed was Flint by Dustin’s previous description, and a red dragon he didn’t know. “Can I help you?”

“Yes actually. And I’m sorry, but we need you and your partner to come with us.” The dragon stated.

“Sweetie, what’s-” Pinkie Pie popped her head out of the kitchen. “Oh Hi Twilight. Hi Doggo. Hi Mister Dragon.” She grinned.

“We can’t just leave-” Guile started.

“Boss is ‘ad ‘is mind warped. Mine’s probably lost. Bugs are the problem.” Flint spoke up.

“What?” Guile blinked.

“What’s happening?” Pinkie asked, coming out fully, her face turning to one of concern.

“Changelings.” Twilight stated. “They’ve got Dustin and his mine.”

“We’re in.” The lizard and pink mare said in unison.

‘Commander, we have a unicorrn, a lizard, an earth pony, and a pegasus at the gates what do we-’

The voice was cut off.

That was… problematic.

Chalysrae frowned. They were here.

‘All units. They’re here.’

Suddenly the ground shook.

“B-Boss! The mine’s under attack!” A disguised dog ling burst in.

“What!” the fox growled. “Okay, what’s going on?” He got to his feet, the glow in his eyes trying to be blue and failing thanks to her mind control. “No, scratch that. Lure them into a tunnel. I’ll deal with them.”

“At once boss.” The “dog” nodded.

“Wh-what are you going to do?” “Quartz” asked.

“Whatever it takes,” the fox growled, his eyes sickly green. “This. Ends. Now!”

Garble backhanded a dog, tossing him across the tunnel. There was another purple flash and a few dogs forms shifted into that of black equine insects that immediately hissed. The dragon snapped his fingers and both immediately burst into flames.

Gilda screeched as she tore into another freshly revealed Changeling.

Twilight’s horn was shining as she lifted up a few struggling dogs. There was a hum and the dogs fell limp, snoring immediately. She lowered them to the floor.

Twilight panted. “I think that’s everything in this tu-”

A glowing white shard streaked past her vision. Gilda squawked as another shard lodged into her shoulder. Garble half-staggered in front of the griffon as a few more shards pinged off his scales.

“Cover!” Garble snapped to Twilight as the mare scrambled to hide behind a wooden buttress.

“Diamond…” Dustin’s voice growled from the tunnel in front of them. Green eyes glinted in the dark as more shards kept being launched at them. “Storm!”

Garble spun and threw himself over Gilda as the hallway filled with more shining shards.

“Dustin!” Twilight called out. “Stop!”

“You come into my mine, attack my workers, and beg for me to stop defending myself?” the fox snapped. “No. No, I think it’s time I kicked it up a notch! How about a hurricane to blow you all away?!”

“Do your worst!” Garble called out as the griffon curled up underneath him.

“You don’t deserve my worst,” the fox chuckled. “But if you insist...Diamond hurricane!”

The amount of shards being launched only grew more numerous, and the winds out of the tunnel in front of them picked up.

Twilight grit her teeth, as her eyes fell on the pair in the tunnel.

Time had slowed to a crawl. Every shard bore a small trail of light as it slowly made its way down the tunnel.

“Poor kid.”

A pair of black boots walked down the tunnel. A pair of green eyes glanced to the pair on the floor, then to the mare in hiding, then finally to the fox at the end of the tunnel.

Electricity crackled around jean-clad legs and bare pale arms ending in black gloved covered hands.

“Bugs are a pain in my ass.”

A shard approached the figure. A translucent blue fist slapped it aside.

The figure stepped over the pair as more shards were deflected into the walls.

The human woman stopped in front of the fox and crossed her arms over her tank top covered chest.

Time returned to normal. “You’ve got yourself a problem, son.”

Dustin, as furious as he was feeling, jumped in shock as the very human woman appeared in front of his face. Forest green eyes met his vile green ones. The woman ran a hand through her short-cropped blond hair.

Dustin snarled as he swung a paw towards her face. Maybe she’d be less cocky if she lost an ey-

Something caught his paw and held it tight. There was a slight distortion surrounding his paw, before it was roughly pushed backwards. The woman raised a brow with a frown on her face. “Care to try again son?”

The fox growled again. Okay, different plan. Geralt had been training him, and he’d been experimenting with his Diamond Storm when he was off the clock.

The Renamon raised a paw and smirked as little pieces of rock flew into strategic points around it. And then they were coated in energy…

“How about a diamond fist?” he challenged, before punching at her.

The woman deadpanned, popped her jaw, and took a step forward.

Suddenly the Renamon’s arm was knocked aside, as he skidded backwards. Then his stomach erupted in pain. Had she just punched him in the solar plexus? He gave a gasp of displaced air in and glared at the woman, who had returned to crossing her arms over her chest.

The pain pushed through the fog in his head when he looked back at who he was fighting. G-Guile...Twilight? Wh-why…

Fight them.

N-No!

You will OBEY!

One eye had returned to being blue while the other was still green. “H-help...me…” he begged of whoever was in front of him, even as his right arm tried to punch at her again.

“Looks like you need a little percussive maintenance.” The woman walked forward, stepping around the punch. As she did she cocked back and slammed a fist into his jaw.

The fox dropped like a sack of potatoes.

“No!” A voice cried out as green flames lit the corridor.

A tall changeling with glowing green eyes, and an equally glowing horn, snarled at the woman. “All of you have ruined everything.”

“Bitch, I just got here.” The woman replied blandly. “Dealt with the fox, though he’s gonna have one hell of a migraine when he gets up. All that’s left is you. So, you gonna be like your mom and fuck off? Or do you have the puss to actually pick a fight?”

“Raaagh!” The Proto-Queen roared as green flames erupted from her horn.

A gust of wind suddenly roared down the tunnel and dispersed the flames before actually getting anywhere.

Twilight, Garble, Gilda, Guile, Pinkie, Vinyl, Ivy, and Dash all walked up next to the woman. “So, fight or flight?” The woman asked.

The Proto-Queen snarled as she shot them all a glare, then she erupted in green flames. When the flames died she was gone.

“Flight it is.” The woman snorted.

Dustin’s head hurt.

Scratch that. His everything hurt. His head felt like Geralt was trying to split it by juggling chainsaws while inside it. He opened an eye, hissed, and turned away from the light that had invaded his optical lobe. There was a pressure on his legs, something pony-like was on him.

“Should’ve held back a little more.” A woman’s voice spoke up somewhat quietly. There was a gravel to it that he couldn’t place. “Sorry ‘bout that.”

“It’s...fine,” Dustin rasped. When was the last time he had something to drink. “Tried...to fight it. It was...stronger than me. It just...took over….locked me in my head. Being beaten up hurts less…”

“Yeah, bugs aren’t fun. Been there myself years back.” The voice agreed. “You’re free now. Though you might want to get a little mental resistance training.” She chuckled.

“Tried...my one defense. Doesn’t work...when they lock you up...and refuse to engage,” the fox muttered. “Woulda been a nice trap...if I weren’t locked up with it…”

“True. Bugs are good at planning, for the most part. Especially the South Seas Hive.” She muttered. “They’re really desperate to get back to their former power. Mmmph, sorry, I’m rambling.” There was the sound of someone getting up out of a chair, soon followed by the sound of boots on tile. “Try to get some sleep, like your mare there. We can talk another time.”

Mare? Well that would explain the pony-weight on his legs…

Wait, he couldn’t go to sleep! He could remember snippits of the things the bug had made him do under their control. He had to undo it! He had to get up and fix the mine! He had to-

He felt a hand on his shoulder. “Son, you need some time.” The voice softened. “You can’t fix everything immediately, trying will only make things worse.”

“Have to...try,” the fox muttered. “For them. They...deserve better. I have to...fix it. I...promised.”

“Boy, I won’t hesitate to break that glass jaw again.” The woman growled. “You can fix it. When you’re better.”

“It needs to...be fixed...sooner than that,” the fox grumbled. He wasn’t trying to push himself up, his arms weren’t strong enough for that. But he was still making the most unhappy expression at the idea of staying here. “Gotta...tell Flint to...fix it for me…”

The hand squeezed his shoulder. “Dustin. I am going to push this little button, you’re going to sleep, then when you’re awake and functioning, we’re gonna have a little talk.”

“Wha-”

A warmth suddenly spread from his limbs through his chest and into his head.

“Get some sleep, son. May Luna guard your dreams.”

It was a few days later. Dustin was sat at Sugarcube Corner nursing a box of bread and a headache. He’d told Flint to undo anything that had been too cruel, too pointless, too dangerous, or smelled too much like the bug acting through him. The dog had agreed to that, but warned him that the rest of the mine...probably needed a few days before they would be ready to see him again.

Geralt still was recovering, much like himself. So training was out. And if he couldn’t train or go to the mines, that left rebuilding some bridges back in town. Namely, Dash and-

There was the sound of a chair being dragged across the floor as said chair was set by the table. There was a coffee cup set down on the table. A hand pulled a flask out of a blue coat. Something that smelled strongly of alcohol was poured into the cup and the flask was replaced in the coat.

The blond woman took a draw from the cup as the Renamon stared at her. She set the cup down. “Dustin. How are you feeling?”

“Like I was run over by a truck, the driver backed up, and ran me over a few more times for good measure,” the fox grumbled. “My mind’s fine. But I’ve been advised to not do anything strenuous until, and I quote, ‘you stop eating twice your weight in bread.’”

“And how’s that going for you?” She asked while stealing a loaf and taking a bite out of it.

“...Twentieth box,” he admitted. “In the past hour.”

“And here I thought women normally ate their feelings.” She blinked.

“My mind’s safe but that doesn’t mean I don’t hate what I was doing,” the fox bit out. “I went way too fast when flirting with Dash. I turned into a tyrant to the dogs. I even sent Lyra awa-”

Something punched his shoulder. The woman hadn’t moved. “Mmmm, she’s tired of your pity party.”

The fox winced and turned his head to the side carefully.

Nothing. Wait- There was a slight shimmer in the air. Not too dissimilar to the Predator from, well, Predator. Whatever it was shifted and stood behind the woman.

“Um?” Dustin blinked. “I’m pretty sure I can see that,” he pointed out. “Maybe not what’s behind it, but...yeah, I know it’s there.”

“Congrats, you can tell that the punching ghost is there.” She chuckled. “Might need to train you myself.”

“Sorry, not allowed until I’m not five minutes from collapsing,” the fox snarked.

The woman sniffed, raising a brow. “Well, why aren’t you spending time with other people? And if you say something like I don’t deserve them, she’s going to punch you.” She jerked her head towards the shimmer.

“...Okay, point,” the fox admitted. “I just need some space until I can apologize to everyone properly. Like Dash or Lyra.” He picked up a loaf from the box and munched on it. “Plus,” he said around a mouthful of bread, “I really shouldn’t be leaving my supplier until I stop getting hungry every time I take more than ten steps away from them.”

On that note-

“Brought more bread for the mopey fox.” Pinkie trotted up with a happy hum, pushing another tray of spiced bread onto the table. She looked at the woman. “JoJo… are you drinking?”

“Yes.” ‘JoJo’ stated, blinking deadpan at the mare.

“Okay.” Pinkie smiled. “Just making sure.” With that the mare bounced off back towards the kitchen.

“...She is way too good at reading me,” the fox pointed out. “Maybe I should just rent out a spare room, save myself some travel time on getting to the bread,” he mused.

“Then how would you burn off those carbs?” JoJo replied. “Do you really want to end up like chunky the dinosaur over there?” She nodded towards Guile at the counter.

“Eh…” Dustin seemed to be considering it.

“Come on.” JoJo got up. “We’re going for a walk. And you, are going to get your entertainment system thing. When was the last time you played Pokemans?”

“...A few weeks,” the fox admitted. “Once that bug got her hooks into me, she made me stop anything that wasn’t ‘productive.’”

“Let’s fix that.” JoJo looked down at the still sitting fox. “I’m sure Ivy would love to play with you, on that note I’m sure Dash would too. And before you go full depression again, it would be better to just do something light and fun where you don’t have to think about hard things for awhile.”

“...You’re probably right,” the fox admitted, picking up the box of bread. “Well...nothing for it but to bite the bullet, I guess.”

“Good man.” Jojo nodded.

“So, back when I was alive previously, my grandkids always wanted those pokeman things. Word is you know what they are. What was I missing out on?”

“Depends,” the fox rolled the word around in his mouth. “What generation did you want information on?”

“The fuck’s a generation?”

Dustin blinked. “Oh, you poor, poor woman,” he moaned. “You missed out on so much. Let’s fix that.”