Rainbow Dash stirred in her sleep. Oh well, she couldn’t call it sleep now as she was awake. Rolling over to the other side, she nuzzled her pillow and found comfort again as she relaxed and was caught up in the thunderous applause of the crowd before her. She soared higher and higher, ready to shock the ponies with a tac, tac, tac of her wings-

Wait…

Rainbow’s left eye shot open, her right still pressed into her pillow as she growled. The noise continued, like a hammer against her head, so she took her second pillow and slammed it over her head in an attempt to block out the noise.

It didn’t help; the next sound was a loud screeching, reverberating around the entire building.

That noise got Rainbow up. Throwing her pillow aside, she rubbed her eyes with a tired yawn. Glancing around the room, she noticed that her two roommates were already up and gone, their beds were even made. With a huff, she threw off her covers and jumped onto the floor. The usual pops of her joints echoed in the room as she stretched each leg and flexed her wings. After completing her routine she took a deep breath, then made for the door.

Rainbow hesitated, looking back at the two made beds, then her own mess. Eh, birds never made their nests tidy, so why should she care? Stepping out of the room, she could have sworn she’d walked right into the Weather Factory. The loud clanging and whirring brought her back to Cloudsdale. Stopping after the wall cleared, she peered over the balcony at the commotion.

All of her friends were below, chatting and talking over breakfast. Trixie was behind the bar, serving said breakfast with her usual scowl. She spied Thomas, the human, in the middle of replacing the window that she’d broken. She hoped nopony told him it was her that had done it.

Rainbow studied the stairs, hesitant to go down. Apparently, it was Applejack and her’s turn to spend a day with the human. To try and figure out… what? If he could fix part of a town? She watched as he lightly tapped in a wedge, shifting the window so it was straight. Yeah, he could do that stuff. Was he nice?

Rainbow scoffed. If Rarity’s story from last night told her anything, this guy was far from being a Mister Nice Guy, and there was no way he was getting some medal, so why were they still here?

“Hey, Rainbow! We’re down here!”

Rainbow’s focus left the human and went to her friends, all of whom were staring at her. Pinkie Pie, whose voice had caught her, was waving her hooves excitedly in the air. The radio on the counter was playing another one of those country songs that was like claws on a chalkboard. Rainbow sighed, then spread her wings and glided down to the first floor. Already waiting for her was a bowl of soup.

“Soup again?”

Pinkie took a breath, lifting her face out of her bowl. “It’s a different one, Dashie! Try it! Trixie made it.”

Rainbow took a seat on the stool. “Wait, Trixie made it?” She turned to the mare. “You can cook?”

“Of course Trixie can cook. What do you take her for?”

“I dunno. I just never figured you could cook edible food.”

“Ha!”

Rainbow turned to Thomas, who hadn’t turned away from his work, but she could tell he was grinning.

Trixie huffed. “Trixie will pretend she didn’t hear that.”

“That’s okay,” Thomas began, then proceeded to slam a hammer onto his thumb. “OW, GOD BLESSED—”

“Ha! Serves you right!” Trixie let out a laugh, then looked to the group of friends. “It’s always a pleasure to watch him work when he’s hungover. He’s so accident-prone.”

Thomas pulled his thumb out of his mouth. “I heard that.”

“Trixie knows.”

“That’s not very nice, Trixie,” Twilight said. “You should start being more nice to each other.”

Both Trixie and Thomas stopped what they were doing to stare at the princess.

“Nice?” The two said in unison.

“To him?”

“To her?”

“You make it sound as though you two can’t get along.” Twilight got down from her stool, striding towards Thomas. “You’re both around each other here, so you should make the best of it. Let bygones be bygones. Whatever you did to one another was in the past, let it be forgotten and move on.”

By this point Trixie had come out from behind the counter, serving a pony his breakfast, and now stood beside Thomas, who was silent and still. The two looked to one another, and then burst into laughter.

“You seriously think that’s how it works?” Thomas said, between fits of laughter.

“Trixie knew you were the Princess of Friendship, not the Princess of Naivety!” She dabbed her eyes with her apron.

Thomas made a gesture with his thumb, pointing at the mare. “I mean, how could I be friends with an arrogant bitch who can’t even talk in the first person?”

Trixie continued laughing. “Or how could Trixie bother to befriend an ape who constantly scratches his crotch?”

“A pony who’s tried to poison my meal five times now.”

“A bipedal whose attitude is only rivaled by an Ursa Minor.”

As the two went back and forth at one another, still laughing throughout, Twilight’s mood was like a ship in rough seas, her expression continuing to sink.

“Or how she always walks around like she’s better than everyone else.”

“They call Trixie Great and Powerful for a reason, unlike you who they call the town freak!”

“A’right ya two, we get it. Y’all can stop now before you give Twilight there a hernia.”

Rarity dabbed a napkin on her lips. “Applejack, dear, I think the word you’re looking for is aneurysm.”

“We don’t get aneurysms on the farm, Rares. We get hernias.”

“You’re all giving me a headache with this bickering.” Sunny Side walked out of the kitchen. “Thomas, how much longer you gonna be? We’re gonna be serving lunch soon and I don’t want ponies eating sawdust alongside their meals.”

Thomas didn’t skip a beat. “I thought your meals consisted of sawdust?” He turned back to his work.

“Ha ha, cute,” Sunny turned to her employee, “Trixie, darlin’, Bob could use a hoof in the back gettin’ dessert ready for lunch.”

“If Trixie must.” Trixie stomped away from Thomas, who had turned back to watch her trot away with a silly grin.

“What’s got you smilin’?” Applejack asked.

When Trixie disappeared behind the door, Thomas whispered, “She’s the one thing I can always count on. Trixie’s bad mood to put me into a good one.”

“That’s not a good thing, Thomas.” Twilight returned to her stool to finish her soup.

“Hey, what can I say? I thrive on other’s agony.”

“Isn’t that obvious?” Rainbow said under her breath.

Thomas’ reaction was instant. “Yup. For good reason. The less people like me, the less they bother me.”

“And yet ya got the entire town tryin’ ta protect ya?” Applejack interjected, a knowing smile on her muzzle.

“I didn’t say it was a perfect plan.” Thomas looked to the bar, where Rarity did her best to not look at him, while Fluttershy gave him a smile.

“Well, you’re off to a good start with us.” Rainbow pushed her empty soup bowl forward, Sunny was quick to drop it into a bin of dirty dishes.

“Darlin’, don’t push him,” Sunny whispered.

Rainbow Dash pretended to ignore her.

Thomas’ expression had transitioned to a neutral look. Applejack looked between the two, ready to silence her friend before she said anything to further upset him. Thomas was the first to back down, returning to his work, grabbing an electric saw.

Dash’s ears went flat from the loud sound, recognizing it from earlier. She could feel the vibrations in her stool. The oddity of the device couldn’t deter her from staring, however. Appearing electric, the long cord went down to one of the few outlets that were in the wall, the end of the cord that plugged in appeared to be spliced together haphazardly. Then there was the blade itself. She’d seen saws before, Applejack’s farm had plenty of wood saws of all sizes and shapes, but none that were self-powered.

Thomas traced along the frame, trimming any imperfections as the blade went back and forth. If memories of Twilight’s many lectures were to be believed, the motion was called reciprocation. So was that an electric reciprocating saw? So transfixed on the tool she hadn’t realized she was being spoken to.

“R.D.? You still with us?”

Dash shook her head, lost in thought. She also hadn’t realized Thomas had stopped sawing, now studying the tool with curiosity. Loud thwacking caught her attention next, and she turned to see Sunny smacking the now silent radio.

“Tom! What did you do?” Sunny exclaimed.

“Me? I didn’t do jack!”

“Well you’re the one cutting into the wall!”

“Do you see me fizzling like a fly in a light trap? Wasn’t me.” Thomas set down his saw and unplugged it.

He marched past the bar, the ponies at the bar giving him glances as he passed, all but Rarity who continued to stare at her near empty soup bowl. When Fluttershy turned to look at Thomas, he gave a small smile and nodded his head, continuing towards the stairs.

“Where’s he going?” Rainbow asked.

“The breakers are down in the basement. The stairs for those are under those stairs.” Sunny returned to waiting on another pony.

While Thomas disappeared downstairs, Twilight couldn’t help but notice the calmness of the restaurant.

When Sunny returned, Twilight voiced her concerns.

“Everypony’s so… calm.”

Sunny rose a brow. “Yeah, so?”

“Well, the power just randomly shut off and no pony’s murmuring or wondering what’s happening. I just find it odd.”

“Darlin, we’ve only had electricity for a few years now. Even then, it only goes to a few places. Most of this town don’t need it to function. Most see it as more of a burden than anything, but well, some of its luxuries are nice. Like the instant lights, or the fancy radio here.”

“I can’t say I’m complaining about the radio silence, sadly. How anypony can listen to that music all day…”

Applejack glared at Rarity. “Ya got somethin’ against country music, Rares?”

“In itself? No, I find a,” Rarity tapped her chin, “a rustic charm in country music. Just not all day, every day.”

“Well, considerin’ we only get two stations, there ain’t much choice.” Sunny pushed a ladened cart of dirty dishes into the back, quickly returning to the bar.

“What is the other station?” Rarity asked.

“You don’t wanna know, trust me darlin’.”

Rarity scoffed. “It cannot be any worse—”

Applejack harrumphed.

“—I mean, any more redundant than twenty four hours of country.”

“Polka.”

Everypony turned to Thomas, who walked past them to his tool bags at the window base.

“I’m sorry?” Rarity asked.

“The other station we get is Polka mixed with anti-Equestrian propaganda.”

The six friends were dead silent, although Pinkie Pie had a maddening grin on her face.

Twilight was the first to speak. “Anti-Equestrian propaganda?”

Thomas was putting away his tools haphazardly into the bags. “Yeah, that’s what I said.”

“There’s no such thing!”

Thomas paused a moment to look at the princess. “What, there being a pirate radio in Equestria, or anyone not liking Equestria?”

“Both!”

“Ah, I see.” Thomas picked up the two bags. “Sunny, I’ll be back in a while to finish up.” Then he exited.

Twilight was right on his heels, soon followed by her friends.

“Why would there be a station like that in Equestria?”

Thomas approached an odd looking carriage, all white, and enclosed. The windows had actual glass in them, and more doors than Twilight deemed necessary for a carriage. He opened the back doors, strangely opening opposite of each other, throwing his bags into the back. Twilight ignored her friend’s tentative glances at the vehicle, instead focusing on Thomas himself.

“Beats me. I mean, with a country as vastly populated as yours, it shouldn’t surprise you that there are those out there that don’t like it.”

“Like who?”

Thomas shrugged. “You tell me. I’ve always guessed it was the gryphons, but the last one that passed through town said she’d never heard the station before either.”

“I need to hear it, then.”

“Well, you’re gonna have to wait until I get to the dam.”

“The dam?”

“Yeah, the damn dam!” Thomas slammed the two doors, timing it so the left shut before the right.

“That’s how the town gets its electricity?”

“Yeah, a small remote place about fifty miles South of us. Closest moving water source we could use.” Thomas walked away from her, around the left side of the vehicle.

“Fifty miles!? That’s insane!” Twilight gave chase, circling around and cutting him off.

Thomas let out a sigh, then pointed behind Twilight. She turned her head, seeing a single pole standing at the edge of town. A large wire went from one end of it to Sunny’s, the other went several dozen yards to a pole, then down into the ground, where she saw a small post with a hazard sign. Scanning the horizon, she saw another post some distance from the first.

“It isn’t that insane,” Thomas finally said.

“Okay, but it’s still fifty miles. That’s a long way away. How are you going to get there?” Twilight asked.

Thomas rolled his eyes, then with his right hand knocked on the metal carriage beside him.

Twilight finally took notice of the large vehicle. “So what, you have that puller pony from the day before, uh…”

“Road Rage? Yeah, no thanks. He’s crazier than I was at that age, and I had an eighty seven Camaro.”

“A what?”

Thomas slapped his forehead. “Nothing, forget it. I’ve wasted enough time. Who are my wardens for today?”

Twilight blinked. “Wardens?”

“You know, yesterday was Fluttershy and Rarity. Who’s turn is it today?”

“I-I’m not sure what you—”

“Oh cut the crap already. I know what game you’re playing. Let's just cut to the chase so we can get this over with. The sooner you’re done with me, the sooner you all can leave and we return to our normal lives.”

Twilight’s ears went flat, then said with a sigh. “Applejack and Rainbow Dash.”

“Thanks.” Thomas marched around the front of the carriage where the rest of Twilight’s friends were gathered, talking amongst themselves.

Thomas opened the front passenger door, revealing a worn grey bench seat. The mares appeared to be more focused on the vehicle than Thomas himself. He formed a gesture with his right hand, then stuck it in his mouth and let out a loud whistle, instantly grabbing their attention.

“Applejack, Rainbow Tart, come on! I ain’t got all day!”

Rainbow and Applejack shared a glance, the latter shrugged, and walked over. Rainbow was more hesitant, looking at Rarity and Fluttershy. Rarity seemed indifferent, while Fluttershy gave a smile and a nod. With a huff, Rainbow trotted towards the odd carriage and approached Thomas.

“It’s Dash, not Tart, get it right next time…”

Thomas let out a small huff, the entire laugh caught before it could escape. She was at a perfect vantage height to cause damage to a very sensitive area, after all.

“So, uh, how do we get in?” Applejack asked. “Just like, jump in, or- Woah Nelly!”

Thomas grabbed Applejack under her foreleg pits, picking her up and depositing her on the seat in one solid motion. He turned around to four shocked faces.

“So, you gonna ask how or you gonna jump in?”

Rainbow didn’t need to be told twice, choosing to rush in with a quick jump onto the floor, then onto the seat beside a blushing Applejack. Thomas shut the door, then trod around to the left side and got in himself, noticing Twilight still standing there looking at the decal on the side of the vehicle.

BAKER AND SON’S
CONTRACTING

The “and son’s” was painted over, but could still be seen through the thin white paint.

A door slam brought Twilight out of her musing, then there was a loud roar. The window on the door went down, and Thomas stuck his head through.

“See ya in a few hours.”

Then the carriage lurched forward, and… moved? On its own? No puller pony, nopony pushing it. It just… drove itself away. Once the dust settled from its hasty departure, Twilight stared at her remaining friends, all of whom with equally shocked expressions at what they just saw.

“I need to finish that book!” Twilight shouted before bolting back into Sunny’s.

----------

Rainbow Dash had jumped inside, the easiest spot to land being the floor. Once in, she hopped onto the seat to join Applejack, who had a blush on her face like a filly with a crush.

“Geeze, AJ, what’s got you all riled up?”

Applejack had only one word: “Fingers.”

“What?”

The other door opened, Thomas easily stepping in and sitting down on the seat with them. His side had some sort of wheel, which the human had his hands on. He then reached behind it, grabbed onto something, turned it, and the entire carriage shook and roared.

It knocked AJ out of her stupor, looking around. “What the—”

Rainbow noticed Thomas grabbing a handle on the door, then crank it as his window went down. He stuck his head out, presumably to Twilight, and said, “See ya in a few hours.” Then he grabbed onto a lever behind the wheel, pulled it down, and they lurched forward.

“Woah!” Rainbow noticed the scenery around them going by. They were moving! She scooted around Applejack, noticing a similar lever on her door she gripped it with both hooves and cranked it, her window also going down. She stuck her head out, mane whipping around her face as she looked behind them, speeding away from the town. She could see their friends all staring at them in shock. She stuck her leg out and waved. Okay, she had to admit, this was pretty awesome.

“I don’t get it, how’re we moving?” Applejack asked.

“Self-propelled, thank Detroit Diesel and Ford Motor Company.”

“Who’re they?”

Thomas mumbled something under his breath, then said “Not who’re, what’re. They’re companies that make these. You ponies call them carriages, us humans call them automobiles.”

Rainbow joined the discussion. “Automobiles? Huh, sounds like a word Twilight would make up.”

“Well, make yourselves comfy. It’s gonna be a bit of a trip,” Thomas said, reaching over to the center of the dash.

He pressed a button, which was followed by a series of flashy lights and lightening nobs in a rectangular device. Then, from either side of the mares, music began to play from hidden speakers inside the doors.

Rainbow noticed with amusement how Applejack tapped her hoof on the vinyl seat. Thomas had his left arm on the open window sill, his right hand tapping the wheel in front of him with the beat.

“What’s with this town and country music?” Rainbow asked.

“This isn’t country. It’s soft rock.”

“Sure sounds like country to me.”

“Just shut up and enjoy it.”

With a harumph, Rainbow crossed her forelegs over her chest and looked back out her window. All she saw was endless desert, save for the random metal posts every so often that they were following. The breeze hitting her face almost made her forget she was supposed to be pouting… almost.

Applejack decided to break the silence. “So Tom, I hear ya got some kin?”

“Kin?” Thomas asked.

“Yeah, family. Brothers, if Rarity’s to be believed.”

“Oh, yeah.”

“I got two siblings too. A younger sister, Apple Bloom ‘nd my older brother, Big Macintosh.”

“Middle child, eh?” Thomas said with a knowing grin.

Applejack let out a chuckle. “Yeah, used ta hate that.”

“I know the feeling. Older brother causing trouble for the parents and needing constant attention, then the younger one needing the attention and taken care of.”

Applejack nodded. “Leaves the middle kid kinda in the dark. Almost makes ya feel…”

“Left out.”

Applejack and Thomas were silent, the radio continuing with the soundtrack. Rainbow’s right eye twitched.

“So, uh, what’re their names?” Applejack ventured.

Thomas remained silent, focusing ahead of them. Applejack remained patient, watching them pass through the near endless desert. Rainbow Dash continued to be annoyed. But why? She figured it was being stuck in a small space with the human.

“That’s fine, you ain’t gotta tell me.” Applejack looked out ahead of them.

Thomas glanced over to the mare, noticing neither a smile or a frown. She was remaining neutral about it, which didn’t sit well with him.

For the next ten minutes they drove in silence, save for the radio. Applejack was beginning to pick up on the lyrics, while Rainbow Dash had begun to bang her head against the pillar to her right.

“I take it you’re not enjoying Jim Croce?” Thomas finally spoke.

Both mares looked to him, confused.

“The guy singing, he’s Jim Croce.”

Applejack tilted her head in throught. “Never heard of ‘em.”

“Yeah, you wouldn’t. He was a big hit where I’m from, back before I was born.”

“Was? He didn’t stay popular?”

“Well, it’s kinda hard when you die in a plane crash.”

Applejack’s ears went flat.

Rainbow didn’t know what a plane was, but she’d seen a carriage accident before. They could be real gruesome.

“He was my father’s favorite. Said he’d seen him once before at a concert. His last one, supposedly.”

“Well, you and yer father share a good taste in music then.” Applejack smiled.

Thomas didn’t reply, instead his fingers began to tap on the wheel in agitation. Rainbow was back to banging her head on the pillar.

“What’s her problem?” Thomas ventured to ask.

“Either you or the music. Probably both,” Applejack said.

“Wow, honest much?” Thomas snickered.

“Eeyup. That’s what I am, Element of Honesty.”

“Element of what?” Thomas gave the mare a look.

“Honesty. Me ‘nd my friends all represent different Elements of Harmony, or Friendship, or somethin’ like that. As I said, I’m Honesty, Rainbow here’s Loyalty—”

At the mention of her name, Rainbow groaned.

“—Fluttershy’s Kindness, Rarity’s Generosity, Pinkie Pie’s Laughter, ‘nd Twilight’s Magic.”

“Wow, you’re for real?” Thomas couldn’t help but smile at the ridiculousness.

“Yeah, she is. We’ve saved Equestria, like, a bunch of times.”

“I wouldn’t say a bunch, Dash. Maybe three or four.”

“Yeah, and we’ve saved Ponyville easily twice that much!”

Thomas let out a hum. “So, you’re like superheroes?”

“Naw—” Applejack began.

“Pfft, yeah, of course we are. We’re Equestria’s greatest heroes! Well, other than the princesses, but they’re like, god tier so they don’t count.”

“You know what happens to heroes who get full of themselves, right?” Thomas turned to the mares.

Applejack looked to Rainbow, who shrugged. “They bank on their awesomeness?”

“They get cocky and defeated.”

Both mares’ ears went flat, looking away from Thomas.

“Yeesh, I didn’t mean anything personal. Just stating a fact, or if I was allowed to believe my old comic books.”

“Well, it’s just that sorta opens up barely healed wounds is all. I’m sure you didn’t know anythin’ about how Tirek was defeated.”

Thomas shook his head. “Nope. Just that one day I was taking care of everyone at Sunny’s, then the next morning I woke up to everyone being better. They wouldn’t leave me alone for a week.” He stared straight ahead.

The vehicle bounce from a couple bumps, the seat squeaking the only sound between the three.

“So, I guess you’re not gonna talk about it, huh?” Thomas asked, unable to hide his curiosity.

“You gonna talk about it? We’re here to find the truth of your claims.”

“They’re not my claims, blame the town’s ponies.”

Applejack smiled. “Well, they sure believe in ya.”

“I just did what I had to do, that’s all,” Thomas said, then went silent.

As they continued on, the road’s worsening condition finally rattled Rainbow out of her misery.

“The hay is up with this road?” Rainbow asked, jumping around on the seat.

“It’s washboarded, thanks to being so close to the dam,” Thomas said, looking over again. He pointed ahead, the mares following until they saw a large building alongside a river. “There we are, the dam.”

“What’s it called?” Applejack asked.

“I just told you, a dam.”

“I know that! I meant usually dam’s are named after somepony.”

Thomas pulled up to the only door for the building, stopping and placing his vehicle into park.

“Well, they never told us when they built it. Just that we were getting a third of the power for ourselves if they could use The Little Meanie.”

Rainbow Dash let out a snort of laughter. “Did you just say, The Little Meanie?”

Nonchalant, Thomas looked at her. “Yeah, this river is The Little Meanie. This is a river that forks off of another, larger river a hundred or so miles away.”

Rainbow couldn’t help herself but ask. “So, what’s the other river called?”

Thomas blinked. “The Big Happy.”

Applejack also joined in on the laughter, both mares in a fit of giggles on the seat beside him. Thomas, for his part, stared at the ponies, lost.

“I’ll never understand you ponies.” Thomas stepped out of his van, closing the door and walking around the front.

Rainbow shouted through her open window. “Hey! How do we get out of this thing!”

“There’s a handle, next to the window crank that you used.”

“Where?” Rainbow asked.

Thomas sighed, walking to the door and pointed his finger inside. “There, that one.”

“This one?” Rainbow tried the lever.

“No, not like that, the other way.” Thomas waited. “No, no, the other other way!”

“Well I’m trying every way I can! It doesn’t do anything!”

“Is the door locked?”

“I dunno, is it?”

By this point, Applejack let out a cough from behind Rainbow.

Dash didn’t pay her any attention.

“There should be a little knob thingie with a red mark on it. Red means it’s unlocked.”

“Okay?”

“Do you see something like that?”

“No? Maybe? Look, just open it from the outside, will ya?”

Thomas went for the handle.

“It’s locked.”

“So? Unlock it!”

Before Thomas could explain that the keys were inside with Rainbow, Applejack tapped her friend on the shoulder. Catching the hint, Rainbow stepped aside, expecting her country friend to take a crack at it. What neither her or Thomas expect however was for her to jump past Rainbow and out the window, landing on her hooves with a proud smile. Not even her hat had shifted from her head as she took a bow.

“I’m done,” Thomas said, throwing his hands in the air and walking towards the dam.

Rainbow quickly followed her friends steps and took a leap out of the window, her wings opening as she glided towards Thomas and Applejack as they approached the door.

Thomas stopped, turning to the two mares as one looked up to him, the other directly at him as she hovered.

“Now, there’s a few ground rules we need to go over before you step hoof in there.”

“Ground rules? Seriously?” Rainbow asked.

Thomas placed his hand on Rainbow’s head, and ever so gently pushed her down to the ground.

“What the—?” Rainbow questioned, unsure of just how he did that.

“Yes, ground rules. First off, no flying in there. He’s got papers and documents scattered everywhere. One wing flap and he’ll have your wings mounted on his wall.”

At that, Rainbow quickly tucked her wings to her sides, snugging them up close to her.

“Good, next thing, if he asks if you want to try any of his experiments, say no.”

“No?” Applejack asked.

“Exactly. Half of this stuff is dangerous, and he’s so brain damaged as it is he doesn’t consider other’s safety.”

“This guy sounds like a total whack job. What’s he even doing here?”

Thomas pinched the bridge of his nose. “Short Circuit is the only pony qualified to run the dam. He lives, works, and sleeps here. Also on that last one, don’t go wandering around, because if you find his bedroom you may not leave alive.”

Both mares gulped.

“And lastly, while you may ask him about his… problems, don’t, and I mean don’t laugh at any of his stuff in here. He’s literally died a couple times over it, so he’s very… attached.”

The ponies looked to each other, then Rainbow spoke up, “What’s that suppose to mean?”

Thomas squatted down to eye level with them.

“When he was five, he married his mom’s toaster.”

“...”

“...”

“...”

“He’s serious,” Applejack said to Rainbow.

“I know, that’s what scares me the most,” Rainbow answered, then quickly added, “N-not that I’m scared or anything, it’s just ridiculous.”

Applejack paid her friend no mind, instead curious. “Somethin’ you said before Tom, about this Circuit feller. He’s died?”

“Yeah. I’ve found him dead a couple times. Usually gotta give him CPR or turn off whatever he’s hooked up to.”

“You’re joking,” Rainbow stated.

Applejack gave Thomas a stern glare, himself staring back, then her eyes shot wide. “Dash… he ain’t.”

“What!?” Dash backed away a step. “How can somepony just die several times like that, and just keep coming back okay?”

“I never said he was okay. Hence the brain damage.”

“And ya’ll thought it was wise to entrust him with running the dam, because…?” Applejack rose a brow.

“Because as nutty as the bastard is, he’s good at what he does. No one else wanted to live out here in bum-fucks-ville, so they sent him.” Thomas stood back up. “Now, let’s get on with it. I wanna get that damn window done.”

Thomas turned around and opened the door. Rainbow and Applejack took a tentative glance at one another and followed in behind him.

“Oh, make sure to ground yourself,” Thomas said, then touched his finger on a rod sticking out of the ground.

Both mares looked confused, but followed suit with their hooves. Rainbow felt a jolt of static bounce from hers.

The human wasn’t joking when he said there were papers scattered everywhere. It reminded the two of Twilight’s old treehouse library, papers and documents open and spread around. Theories and formulas and blueprints lined walls, shelves, tables. There wasn’t a clear surface anywhere.

Where there wasn’t papers there were strange devices, and dissected electronics.

“Oh, hi— howdy there sheriff, howdy!”

“Sheriff?” Rainbow Dash questioned.

“We were just talkin’ about you!” the voice said again.

“What about me?” Rainbow asked.

The voice seemed to ignore her. “This here’s Britt, uh, Britt Ponsett.”

Applejack’s ear twitched. “Britt Ponsett? I know that name!”

Thomas and the two ponies continued to wander, all the while the voice appeared to be having a talk with itself.

“How’s it?” “It’s ‘right.” “You heard o’ him, aincha? He’s Six Shooter.”

“I knew it! It’s Six Shooter!” Applejack beamed.

“Who?” Thomas asked.

“It’s a radio program, my favorite. We listen to it every week! Well, up ‘til Tirek came stompin’ in, they had to put a wait on the show. This must be the new one!” Applejack was ecstatic, looking frantically around for the radio.

“Well that’s funny, because it sure sounds like Circuit's voice speaking it.” Thomas looked around some more.

A bright flash of light caught their attention, and the three rushed towards it. Standing against a table was a peach colored pony with mane and tail a bright yellow, currently in the middle of reconnecting wires to some sort of box.

“Oh sure, sure, pleased to meet ya Mister Ponsett.” “Howdy.”

“It don’t sound like Jimneigh Stewart, though.” Applejack pouted.

“That’s because it isn’t. That’s Short Circuit, doing only God knows what,” Thomas said, approaching the pony.

There was a sudden bright flash, and the pony twitched around, his right hind leg stomping with a nervous clatter.

It was silent for a few seconds, then the pony began working again, only now he was nearly shouting.

“And now Fleetfoot’s taken the lead, with Soarin’ racing to catch up while Spitfire continues to hang back, biding her time. They’re approaching the last bend now, any moment we should see- yes, Yes! There she goes, whipping around Soarin’ and now coming right behind Fleetfoot!”

Rainbow’s ears perked. “Hey, this is this week's Wonderbolt’s Derby! Oh man, I forgot all about it! Turn it up, turn it up!” Rainbow was now also looking for the mystery radio.

“No no, go back to Six Shooter! I don’t wanna miss it! Big Mac will be wantin’ to talk about it when I get home, and I’ll have to wait for a re-run to air!” Applejack also searched around.

“There is no radio,” Thomas said, unamused.

“Then how—” Rainbow began, then looked to Short Circuit.

“Spitfire’s trying so hard, will she make it? Can she pull it off again? Yes! Yes! Yes! There she goes!” The pony was now shouting, all the while still fiddling with wires as he continued to work, not even noticing he was talking aloud.

“He’s the radio,” Thomas said.

“What,” both mares said in unison.

“How in the hell he’s managed this, I’ve no idea, but we need it to stop.” Thomas walked around the pony, studying the wires he held in his hooves.

All the while, the pony continued on about the end of the race, much to Dash’s glee.

“Could we at least put Jimneigh Stewart back on?” Applejack asked.

Thomas looked to the mare, then down to Short Circuit. He quickly smacked the pony on the head, the race cutting out.

“Oh sure, sure, see ya next Saturday Sheriff!” “Ha ha ha.”

“Thanks!” Applejack said, listening intently.

Rainbow let out a huff, while Thomas waved his hand in front of the pony’s face. Circuit shoved the human’s hand away, focusing on his work. Thomas sighed, then reached down and unplugged the device from a wall outlet.

Instantly there was a loud pop and Short Circuit was sent flying backwards, the device he was working on going up in smoke. Applejack and Rainbow rushed over to check on the pony, while Thomas just looked on in confusion.

“Woah, that was unpleasant,” said Short Circuit, smoke coming out of his mouth as he spoke.

“Sorry Circuit but we need your help.”

“We? Who’s we?” The pony then looked to the mares. “Ponies? You brought other ponies in here!? Did they de-static themselves? Did you? Static discharge in a sensitive environment can be dangerous.” Circuit scrutinized the mares, then began to swat at Rainbow’s mane.

“Hey, hooves off the hair!” Rainbow said.

“Heh, what Rarity would pay to hear you say that.” Applejack snickered.

“Yes, Circuit, they grounded before we came in. We need-”

“Did you check them for bugs? Are they wired? Is there a camera under that hat?” Circuit grabbed Applejack’s hat and looked inside.

Applejack swiped her hat back, then placed it on her head. “I ain’t high strung, if that’s what you’re insinuatin’!”

“Yeah, and we’re not changelings!” Rainbow protested.

Circuit rolled his eyes. “Of course you’re not changelings. Even a simpleton can see how obvious that is, with how you just barge in uninvited and smell of dirt and clouds. Changelings cannot imitate to that extreme, and would be much more discreet at trying to get in here, although I would not put it past this Changeling sympathiser to let a couple of higher rank operatives into here for Luna only knows what.”

The mares gave Thomas a raised brow expression, the human answering with a twirl of his right hand on the side of his head and crossing his eyes.

“So wait, then what’re you worried about?” Applejack asked.

“Spies!”

Applejack rolled her eyes, while Rainbow took tentative glances around.

“Why would spies be interested in this stuff?” Rainbow asked.

Circuit scowled. “You’d be surprised. I’ve had too many inventions stolen from me, hence why I volunteered to come out to this dust bowl.”

“Also the fact that you had a pending criminal investigation as to the disappearance of a sales pony,” Thomas added.

“HEY! They couldn’t prove a thing! Besides, a sales pony is the perfect cover for somepony to come into your home and steal your ideas.”

Short Circuit stepped towards his still smoking contraption.

“Besides, as of late, I’ve been having other ponies coming by, asking me all these questions like ‘How is dam security holding up’, and ‘How are the power levels doing?’ and coming up with some sketchy reasons why they think they need to get in. Bah! They’ll never get in here! I know what they’re after.”

Thomas sighed. “Circuit, they’re probably just the dam or electric company inspectors, making sure this place is safe and operational.”

Circuit waved a hoof. “Bah, that’s nonsense. They know they don’t have anything to worry about with me here.”

All but Circuit then noticed a burning smell, and soon the box the pony was working on previously went up in flames. Thomas, already prepared, grabbed the fire extinguisher beside him and went about putting out the flames, while Circuit just stood there and ignored it.

“Clearly, it must be spies.”

Short Circuit stomped away, every third step making a louder clop than the other three. The two mares’ attention was drawn away from the commotion to the odd sound, and what they saw surprised them. The pony’s left rear leg was clubbed, and short, so he had a custom shoe made so he could walk evenly.

“Do they always stare like that?” Circuit asked Thomas.

Thomas set down the red can, brushing some of the white dust off of his shirt. “Yeah, actually they do. Probably looking at your freak leg.”

“Hm, like they haven’t seen anything like it before.”

“Circuit, no one’s seen a pony like you before. The one’s that do try to forget you, God knows I’ve tried.”

“Try harder.”

“Anyway, enough about that, you still got power?”

“Of course I do.”

“So why doesn’t the town?”

Circuit tapped his hoof on the box, smiling. “Oh, that? I needed to divert some power for a project, and since I got in trouble last time for cutting the power from Nowhere, I just took Oasis’.”

“That makes sense,” Thomas said.

“It does?” Rainbow asked.

“No, not at all. What in the hell were you doing this time, Circuit?”

The pony about beamed with pride, rubbing the metal box gently.

“With this! I was baking a potato,” he said, opening the door to reveal a spud inside.

Everyone looked on in silence.

“In five seconds,” Circuit added, then pulled it out and took a bite.

“Okay, that’s kinda cool,” Rainbow said. “You got anything that could make me go faster?”

Circuit grinned.

“No, Circuit, you’re not gonna experiment on her. I can’t go back one less pony, otherwise the Princess will have my head.”

“Oh, well what if I—”

“No. End of story. Turn power back on, please.”

“Fine, fine.”

Short Circuit ran his hoof over his face, spreading his mane away. Both mares let out a collective gasp, noticing the small nub at the top of his forehead.

“What’s their problem?”

“They’re just realizing you’re a unicorn.”

“Was.”

“You don’t stop being a species just because you lose a body part.”

“You don’t stop being an alcoholic because you’re sober.”

Thomas frowned. “Just give Oasis back it’s fucking power already.”

----------

Thomas was sitting in a chair in a corner, reading over a book while Short Circuit continued to work on restoring the town’s power.

“Turns out, when I took the tube out to swap it for another, I kinda killed the entire bank. So now I gotta rebuild it, so it’s gonna take a while.”

Applejack let out a sigh. “How long?”

“Oh, I dunno, could be five minutes, could be five days.”

“Days?” Dash groaned.

Short Circuit shrugged, continuing to dig through a pile of electronic parts.

“So, Short Circuit—”

“Just call me Circuit.”

“Why not Short?” Rainbow asked.

Circuit raised a eyebrow.

“Oh… right…” Rainbow went back to being quiet.

Applejack couldn’t help smile a little. “Circuit, how well do you know Tom?”

“Enough to hate him.”

Rainbow blinked. “Wait, you don’t like him either?”

Applejack glared at her friend, but stayed silent.

“He’s an ass, always has been,” Circuit said, “not to mention an work-a-holic by day, and an alcoholic by night.”

“So he does have a drinking problem?” Applejack asked.

“I say so. The fools in Oasis think otherwise and try to ignore it.”

Applejack’s brow furrowed, “It seemed Sunny knew about it, and that other pony, uh, Matchstick Junior?”

“Matchbox Junior? Oh, I remember him. His father tried to murder me once.”

“What?” Applejack asked.

Circuit looked over a metal piece with bulbs in it, when he touched one it broke into pieces. He tossed the piece back into the pile and continued looking.

“Yeah, those were the times.” Circuit sighed in remembrance.

“Anyway, back to the topic,” Rainbow said, “what’s your beef with him?”

“Like I said, he’s a work-a-holic by day—”

“And an alcoholic by night, we got that.” Rainbow cut him off. “So why?”

“Because he’s hurt, and when work doesn’t fill the void liquor does.”

Both mares looked over to Thomas, then back to Circuit.

In a hushed tone, Applejack asked, “Hurt how?”

“Beats me. He doesn’t talk to me none about it, and I don’t ask.”

“Have ya ever tried to be friends?”

“Oh sure, sure. But he never lets me poke him with any prods or hook him to any machines.”

Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Gee, I wonder why.”

“So, tell me then, do ya believe what he did in town?” Applejack asked.

Circuit stopped to look at the mare.

“Depends on what we’re talking about.”

“Well, helped everypony when Tirek came through.”

“Oh, of course he did that.”

“Wait, really?” Rainbow asked.

“Really really. He saved me too.”

“And ya still hate him?”

Circuit nodded. “The only reason he helps out is because it makes him believe he’s not all the things he really is,” Circuit pulled up on his mane. “Besides, I can’t forgive him for doing this to me.”

Applejack stared at the nub, what was left of the unicorn’s horn.

“Wait, Thomas did that?” Rainbow asked, glaring at the human.

Thomas continued to read the book, flipping to another page.

“Well, not intentionally, but still, yes.”

“How?”

Circuit went back into the pile, and with a “aha!” he pulled out another hunk of metal with a bulb on it, appearing not ready to crumble into pieces just yet.

Both mares followed the pony as he walked over to a wall where a massive control station was.

“Where he comes from, things of his possession tend to hold emotions and feelings.”

“What?”

Circuit looked to Rainbow. “Just as I said. Objects of his possession hold emotions and feelings. It’s quite rare in Equestria, but with him? If you’re a unicorn, you better watch out what you go touching of his.”

“What did you touch?”

“A gold band.”

“A what?”

“He called it a ring. Apparently it goes on a human’s finger. Some sort of fashion statement I figured. Anyway, I needed some gold for a project and he gave me a ring, said he had no use for it anymore. When I went to grab it with my horn…” Circuit paused a moment, looking at the human in the distance.

“He’d done something bad. It hurt him, hurt others too. All that pain and regret was built up into that ring, and when I touched it, I was flooded with the emotions. So much, my horn cracked, and he had to rush me to the doctor. Oasis isn’t a booming town, no real hospital. Just a doctor. He saved my life, but I lost my horn.”

Rainbow and Applejack looked to one another, ears flat.

“Do you still have it?” Applejack asked.

“No, Thomas took it back. Said he’d caused enough pain with it as was, so he was gonna toss it into the river.”

At those words, Circuit crawled under the control station and began to work.

The two mares took a few steps back from Circuit, whispering to themselves, “So, what do you think R.D.?”

“I think we need to tell Twilight, like, ASAP about this. Who knows what else he’s hiding that could hurt somepony?”

Applejack nodded. “Also what’s eatin’ him up inside. I can’t believe living here for ten years and he ain’t had nopony to open up with.”

“Well, there’s Bob.”

“True. Maybe we can talk to him?”

“Except he can’t talk back, remember what Twilight said? He’s got no tongue.”

Applejack shuddered. “Don’t remind me. I can’t even fathom what that musta been like.”

“Like losing your horn?” Rainbow looked to Circuit, only his hind legs sticking out.

“This town just gets more ‘nd more depressin’ the more we find out.”

“Like what the Mayor said, this town’s full of a bunch of misfits.”

Applejack rolled her eyes. “He didn’t say it like that.”

Short Circuit crawled out from under the machine, then put on a pair of goggles.

“Alright, let’s kick this pig!”

“What?” Applejack asked, noticing no farm animals.

Thomas chose now to join the three as Circuit slammed his hoof on a button. Everything then came to life. Lights came on, dials indicated current flow. The mares were so engrossed in watching it all come to life, they failed to see all the hair on Circuit to begin to levitate around him. The stallion began cackling madly, his goggles cracking. Meanwhile, Thomas did notice and quickly grabbed the mares by the nap of their necks and ran for it.

“Hey! What gives!” Applejack shouted, flailing her hooves while Rainbow went limp.

“Gotta go before we all blow up and die!” Thomas shouted, exiting through the door.

He ran around the opposite side of his van, dropping the mares into the dirt before hunkering down for cover himself. The ground was now shaking, the vehicle rocking in place. Suddenly, it all stopped. Thomas chanced a peek around the front, and right then there was a loud explosion and something being shot through the roof, flying off into the distance.

Both mares exchanged glances.

“What the fuck was that?” Rainbow swore.

“That was us living to breathe another day.” Thomas stood, dusting off his pants.

“Is he alright?” Applejack questioned.

“Probably. Let’s head back to town. I’ve had enough excitement for one day.”

Thomas opened the driver's door, allowing the two to jump in, quickly followed by himself. With a roar, the vehicle came to life and they were off, heading back to town.

They sat in silence for several minutes, Thomas focusing on the road.

“So, that seemed pretty pointless,” Rainbow blurted out.

“Yeah, that happens a lot around here.”

“Goin’ on random quests, just to return a couple hours later none the wiser?” Applejack ventured.

“Pretty much, yeah.”

Silence.

“This town sucks,” Rainbow stated.

Thomas let out a laugh. “I couldn’t agree more.”

----------

The van rolled up in front of Sunny’s, Thomas placing it in park and turning off the ignition.

Rainbow let out a yawn, stretching her wings as she did so. “We back yet?”

“Yeah, have a good nap?” Applejack asked mockingly.

Rainbow didn’t notice her friends tone. “Oh yeah, I always have good naps.”

Thomas got out, stretching his arms around his shoulders as he looked at Sunny’s. He could clearly hear the radio playing, which was a good sign. However, the trip to the dam and back, plus just waiting for Short Circuit to restore the power ate up about four hours. It was well past noon, and he was beyond ready for lunch.

“Welp, I’m going in to eat. You two do… whatever it is you’re supposed to be doing,” Thomas said, walking up the steps to Sunny’s.

Both mares hopped out of the still open door, Applejack having the courtesy of closing it before she trotted to catch up with the human. Rainbow began to follow, but then looked back at the strange carriage, or automobile Thomas had called it.

Time had not been too friendly to it. While most carriages were made of wood, this was of some kind of thin steel, and the tell tale marks of rust were all along the bottom lip between the wheels. She noticed one spot even had a little hole in it, no bigger than a bit coin.

Peeling and badly sun faded, the letters “BAKER CONTRACTING was still fairly visible in the black paint, while white paint had at one time tried to cover up “AND SON’S”, but was thinning and chipping away from time.

Both Rarity and Applejack mentioned he had brothers. So was it a family business? If so, where are they?

Rainbow’s thoughts then drifted to the front of the vehicle. A chrome bumper, crinkled and rusting, stood out. The plastic just above it was also cracked, little plastic cables held it mostly together, although small bits were just missing. In the center, a little blue plaque that spelled FORD in fancy writing popped out, although the lense covering it was cracked.

It had lights on the front, two large clear lenses, although one of them was crooked, that sat on either side of the plastic. Finally, the large section of white metal above everything was dented and had many spots of surface rust where the metal had kinked.

She’d been through enough crashes of her own to tell…

He’s hit something with it… but what?

“Hey, Rainbow, we’re gonna have some lunch! You commin’?” Applejack hollered from the top of the porch.

Rainbow shook her head, clearing her thoughts, then turned back around. “Yeah, I’m coming. I just… was thinking about something.”

Applejack raised a brow, then shrugged. “Well, don’t think too hard, or you might hurt somethin’.”

“Har de har,” Rainbow sarcastically replied, trotting past her friend inside.

Applejack was quick to follow, but not without a tentative glance to the vehicle as well. The damage to the front end gave her spine something to tingle about. What it meant, she didn’t know, only that she didn’t like it.

Inside was mostly void of any ponies. Bob was now standing at the bar, cleaning a mug with his hooves and a rag. The three poker playing ponies were still at it (was this the same game still?), and a couple other random ponies were sitting at tables eating and conversing.

Thomas sat alone at the bar, deep in thought. Rainbow took a seat on a stool as well, although two seats away. Applejack rolled her eyes, then took the empty stool between them.

“You two need menus?” Thomas grabbed a couple from the rack beside him.

Applejack nodded yes, then with a thank you took them, passing one to her friend.

“Hey, Bob, while they decide, I’m just gonna go with a club sandwich, side of fries.” Bob nodded. “Also I’ll take a hard cider and shot of Jack.”

“Already? It’s only three o’clock!” Rainbow said.

Thomas looked at the pegasus. “What? Where I come from it’s perfectly normal to have a drink or two with lunch.”

Applejack gave him a glare, unsure of the truth behind it, but not saying anything.

Bob returned with his drinks, also glasses of water for the mares. Applejack’s even had a lemon slice on the side.

“Wow, you remembered? Thank ya kindly, Bob.” Applejack took a sip.

The changeling nodded, then went into the kitchen to begin making food. The mares opting for just a salad each, and Applejack with apple slices.

The two friends began idle conversation, while Thomas nursed his cider, the shot already drained.

Before Bob could bring out any food, the door burst open, rattling the still loosely held together window and surprising everypony, Thomas included.

In stepped five bulls, all with handkerchiefs around their muzzles. The lead bull, grey in color with a black cowpony hat, marched into the center of the establishment.

“Alright everypony, just stay calm. This here’s a robbery.”

Applejack let out a long, tired sigh. Rainbow recognized them, and from Applejack’s expression she did too. “Longhorn, are you ever gonna learn?”

The grey bull turned to look at the pony, then with a growl he tore away his mask.

“YOU!” He stormed over to the mare.

Applejack jumped out of her seat, marching towards the bull.

They headbutted, locking gazes, noses blowing smoke.

“She usually get like this?” Thomas asked, sipping his cider.

“Eh, we’ve got some bad history with these guys.” Rainbow shrugged.

“You don’t seem to be worried.”

“Pfft, of course not. We’ve stomped them once already, we’ll do it again.”

“No matter!” the bull shouted, pushing Applejack away, “we’ll still be robbing this place. Beating up this one will just be a bonus.”

“You sure about that?” Thomas said, turning in his stool to face the bulls. “I mean, you can just turn around and we’ll forget about this.”

Lockhorn looked to his cohorts, then back to the human with a laugh, his fellows quickly following suit. “Look here, monkey, we’re in charge now. There ain’t a thing you can do about it. Just give up and hand over the bits.”

Thomas let out a sigh, shaking his head. “Well, if that’s the way it’s gonna be,” he turned back around to Bob, who was now standing behind the counter after hearing the commotion. “Bob? I’ll take two shots of Black Velvet, please.”

Even after the bulls entrance, the ponies inside Sunny’s had gone back to their own business, not at all bothered by the fact that they were about to be robbed. Hearing Thomas’ call of drinks, however, made everypony, even the poker players, all go silent. As Bob poured the drinks, the pegasus poker player got up from his seat and began waddling towards a lone piano on the back wall.

Thomas grabbed the two drinks in each hand then stepped towards the bull.

“Well, why not have a shot then, on me?” Thomas asked with a smile, offering the glass in his right hand.

Longhorn looked to the offered shot, then smiled. “Well, at least this one’s got some manners!” Longhorn took the drink in a hoof.

Rainbow noticed the pony at the piano take a seat, crack his hooves, then hover them over the ivory keys. Other patrons began to slowly crawl under their tables The hay is going on?

Applejack, meanwhile, looked on in near horror at the sight of Thomas being so friendly to Longhorn. She was ready to voice her objection when she noticed the human’s now empty right hand clench into a fist. From behind her Bob made a sound, pulling something out from under the bar.

Thomas lifted his shot, and the bull met him with a clink of glass. The bull took his shot, but Thomas kept his in the air.

“You’re gonna need that.”

Rainbow watched in slow motion as the two fingers holding the glass opened up, gravity coming into gear as it fell. Everypony watched, the bulls included as it smashed into the floor in pieces. It gave Longhorn the perfect view of a five fingered fist to come up in a upper cut, smacking him in the jaw, throwing him onto his back. The pegasus chose that moment to begin playing, setting the mood.

The remaining four bulls all looked to the form of their downed leader, then back up to Thomas. Their eyes held within them flames of fury, each started rolling their necks, ditching their own masks as the sound of loosening joints echoed throughout the bar.

Thomas cracked his knuckles.

Applejack set her hat on the counter so it wouldn’t be hurt.

Rainbow rolled her eyes, took Thomas’ hard cider and downed the last of the liquid, then hit the ground with all four hooves at once.

From behind the counter, Bob brought out a baseball bat, slinging it over his right shoulder.

Noticing his support, Thomas’ smile was no longer forced as the bulls began to approach, ready for a brawl.

Just when Rainbow had thought today was going to be a dull, boring day babysitting this annoying human, he had to go and actually make things fun and interesting.

In case you were wondering what Tom's van was (since he doesn't explain much), this is what I invisioned/planned it to be.

One of those late 90's to early 00's Ford Econoline vans, diesel, and 4X4. While I'm not much of a Ford guy, our contractor that helps work on our house owns one of these, and that van has taken one hell of a beating and is still kicking.