Sunday

"Rune?" Dusk asked knocking on the door. "It's past noon and you haven't left your room."

"There's no hope!" Rune cried from within the room.

"Oh come on." Dusk tried to reassure. "There's a chance, the treasure must of helped."

"I fell short a million bits." Rune answered.

"Ohh...hhmmm." Dusk shut up. "Don't worry Rune. I'll do what I can to help."

There were a few minutes of silence after Dusk left to help. Rune said in his room alone in the dark.

"I'm gonna go to jail again." Rune sat in his room, rocking back and forth in the fetal position on his bed. Tears were running down his eyes and forming a small pool on the bed.

This week has been very tough on Rune, and despite all the hard work he's done. All the effort, blood, sweat and tears into raising the money he need, only to fall short by one million bits.

"Life it too unfair!!!" Rune kept crying, the majority of his room was filled with bits he made from hard work along with the horde of gold and treasure he gained from beating up that dragon.

For the entire day, Rune counted, counted.....and counted again and again....only to come to the same bitter conclusion....he was still a million bits short. So Sunday started on a miserable noted and sadly ended on a miserable note.

Monday - Judgement Day

"Rune?" Dusk called to Rune's room, knocking on the door. "Are you awake?"

Not hearing any noise, Dusk decided to open the door. But to his surprise, Rune was gone. The most bizarre thing about the room was that the room was perfectly clean. The treasure and bits were gone and the room looked like what it did before Rune moved in.

"Where could he have gone?!" Dusk was now close to panic.

Rune was waiting on the outskirts of Ponyville, Rune waited with his horde of treasure and bits. Rune never showed anypony that there were two letters from the ERS. One explained the situation, the other explained how to pay, which seemed sketchy but Rune didn't want to take the risk. Soon enough, a small envoy, with a large cart, rolled into view.

"I guess this is them." Rune said to himself.

________________________________________________________________________________________

Back at Canterlot Castle, Princess Celestia had finished a brief meeting with the head of the ERS.

"Thank you so much for the clarification." Princess Celestia thanked.

"Not at all Princess." Big Tops, CEO of the ERS said. "We are always on the look out for anypony foolish enough to pose as us. We shall contact this Dawn Rune immediately."

"That will not be necessary." Luna interrupted, walking into the room.

"What do you mean Princess?" Big Top asked.

'We have already sent a letter to both Rune and Dusk Shine." Luna answered. "We only hope it is not too late."

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Back on the hill, Rune was finishing the negotiation with the group of ERS ponies. They each wore weird crystal necklaces, that made a faint humming noise, it was giving Rune a headache.

"So agree yes?" The shorter Earth pony asked, having Rune read over the payment agreement.

"Looks about right." Rune said with a smile. "Thank you for overlooking the missing million."

"Fine yes." The pony nodded. "We know hard work. You pay well. Just stamp here."

Rune dipped his hoof in the ink  press and was about to sign when he heard a:

"SSSSSSSTTTTTTTTTTOOOOOOOOPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!" Shouting from behind him.

Rune turned around and saw Dusk, and the girls following behind him. And the five of them were not too happy.

"What are you doing here?" Rune asked.

"Saving you." Dusk said. "They're not the ERS."

"What are you talking about?" Rune asked.

"We ERS yes!" The pony objected.

"It's true." Trixie said. "Dusk received a letter a moment ago from Princess Luna."

"These meanies are pretending to be the ERS to get easy money." Pinkie added.

"Wait if that's true." Rune said. "Then why didn't I get a letter?" Rune asked.

"It's those crystals." Dusk explained.

"Cat out bag yes." The shorter pony said with a smile towards the others.

The ponies took the crystals in their hooves and gave them a squeeze. There was a quick flash of green light and the annoying vibration intensified. When the light faded, there were no ponies but a group of possibly half a dozen large dog-like creatures.

"Diamond Dogs?!" the ponies said.

"Yes." The largest dog, who was once the shorter pony. "We treasure yes, hard find, but you give. Fear of ERS."

Rune was not angry, no....he was beyond angry, there were no words to describe his anger. He tried igniting his horn but nothing happened.

"No use." The dog chuckled, showing the crystal around his neck. "These stop magic, Pegasi fall and Earth become weak."

Rune did notice that both Applejack and Pinkie looked wobbly and Trixie, Rarity, and Dusk looked tired.

"Now hand treasure yes?" The dog demanded.

"Don't do it Rune." Dusk said, struggling to stand up.

Rune didn't respond, he simply walked towards the bag of bits and treasure. Before the eyes of all the ponies and diamond dogs, Rune somehow managed to pickup the massive bag, holding it over his head as he stood on his hind legs.

"You want it?!" Rune said, you could almost taste the murder in his words.

"YOU CAN BUCKING HAVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Rune threw down the bag, knocking down half of the dogs, to everyone's shock.

"I learned to get a quick burst of strength while helping Applejack." Rune said, then arched himself back and charged at the dogs.

The dogs swung their large paws but Rune somehow flexed his body to avoid the blows.

"I improved my flexibility and balance when I helped Trixie and Rarity." Rune said. "Even when Pinkamena tried to kill me."

Rune was able to kick the crystal off one of the dog's necks, shattering it. Like a bouncing ball, Rune was able to jump from one dog to the other, breaking each crystal. Soon the crystals were broken and Rune could use his magic....with vengeance.

"And this is what I learned from Saturday!" Rune's horn erupted with a darker orange, and his eyes bleed a blue fire.

To the ponies, Rune looked like he was powering up for something. But to the dogs, they were staring upon the face of the same dragon Dusk and Rune gazed upon days before. Sure it was an illusion, but with the build up Rune gave, he most terrifyingly convincing dragon roar. The dogs screamed in terror as they ran as fast of their paws could take them, with a few trails of urine following them.

"Rune?" Dusk said, his strength returning to him. "How did you do that?"

"Oh yeah I never told you." Rune said with a chuckle. "I really hate when anypony wastes my time. And making me slave over others, and steal from a dragon just to say it was for nothing definitely qualifies. That reminds me." Rune looked at the other ponies who were getting up. "Why are you ponies here?"

"Well Dusk told us what was happening." Applejack answered.

"And since you helped us so much." Trixie said.

"It's the least we could do to warn you." Rarity finished.

"So what are you gonna do with all this treasure?" Pinkie asked.

"I have no idea." Rune said. "Some of that was well earned, the rest was stolen from a dragon."

"Then the answer is simple." A certain zebra walked up the hill.

"Zecora?" The ponies said.

"If you don't return that treasure." Zecora finished her rhyme speak. "Or that dragon will feel swindled."

"Okay you have a point." Rune admitted. "But what are you doing here?"

"I noticed a group of diamond dogs disguising as ponies." Zecora answered. "So I was worried and came in a hurry. But then I see you glowing like a great flame." She then nuzzled against Rune and whispered. :Maybe tonight we can shout each others names."

There was so much red on Rune's face that his head became a strawberry.

"Why's your face red?" Dusk asked, totally blind to the obvious.

"Awww somepony's in love." Pinkie giggled.

"Wait...you...and Zecora?!" Rarity said in surprise.

"Well.....yes...most definitely yes." Rune answered, causing Zecora to give him a close hug. "We kinda started dating. I was gonna tell you ponies eventually. But then this crap happened."

"That's swell to hear you found a special somepony." Applejack complimented. "So what are you gonna do now?"

"Well." Rune thought it over. "I'm gonna have to count the treasure." Then Rune saw the look in Zecora's eyes, and felt her hoof jamming in his side. "Oh and...and...return the Dragon's share..."

"So what are you gonna do with the rest?" Trixie asked.

"Well I also wanted to wait." Rune started to say then looked at Zecora. "I'm also moving out."

"WHAT?!" Everypony shouted.

"I'm not moving far." Rune reassured them. "I'm moving in with Zecora."

"With all those bits." Applejack said. "You could buy a house in Ponyville."

"Well Zecora likes the Everfree Forest." Rune said. "Despite some dangers, it's relatively quiet."

"Is there enough room in that hut?" Dusk asked. "No offense Zecora."

"No offense meant." Zecora said. "Before Rune and I dated, I considered letting my other room out for rent."

"You have another room in that hut?" Pinkie asked.

"It is downstairs." Zecora said. "It is usually where I keep my wares."

"So when are you moving out?" Dusk asked.

"Today." Rune said. "I had Spike and Big Mac bring my stuff to Zecora's and I need to sort through them."

"So that's why your room was so clean..." Dusk said. "And why I haven't seen Spike all day. Well do you need help?"

"Probably lugging this treasure sack to Zecora's to count it." Rune said.

So it took the strength of Pinkie, Applejack, and Zecora's backs, along with the magic of Trixie, Rarity, Dusk and Rune to bring the large sack of treasure and bits to Zecora's house.

"Thanks for all the help." Rune said. "Now I have to count the treasure."

"There's no time for that!!" Pinkie said. "We have to celebrate!"

"Celebrate what exactly?" Dusk asked.

"Well duh, I mean we have to have the 'Rune found some special somepony who can tolerate him' party." Pinkie said in one breath.

"I'm not even gonna correct that." Dusk said.

"So come on!!" Pinkie grabbed Dusk by the hoof and darted out of the Everfree forest in a pink blur. "We'll be back!"

The group only had to wait an hour before Pinkie returned with an exhausted Dusk. That night, the Everfree forest was lit up with colorful lights and blasting music. Everypony in Ponyville was invited and they even found a safe clearing in the forest to have their party. All was well until Pinkie decided to spice things up and have Berry Punch spike the punch bowl. Rune and Dusk didn't last too long before they were staggering drunk and soon learned a fun fact. Both of them couldn't dance worth crap sober or drunk.