The Misadventures of a Fox

“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!”