Michael and Twilight got back to the ponification camp's parking lot late in the afternoon. He eyed the empty parking spaces wearily.

"Uh, Twilight, can I ask a favor of you?"

"Sure, Michael, what is it?"

"Well, I don't know if you know this or not, but not all of the cars in the parking lot here are... whole." There was nervousness all over Michael's voice.

"Oh, Yes, many Conversion Bureaus have that problem."

"Yeah, well, I really like this car, but so would a lot of other people. Is there any place behind the gate over there that I could park?" he asked.

Twilight rolled her eyes, "Of course. Though, the gate isn't automatic, so somepony would have to open it. Can I use your cell phone?"

Michael unlocked the smartphone and held it out for her. The phone glowed slightly as she levitated it out of his hand and dialed the camp.

"Hello, Pinkie Pie? It's me, Twilight. Is Rainbow Dash on patrol right now? Good, can you radio her and have her open the gate? Thank you... No, I didn't bring back any cake. Why would you... That doesn't even make any sense... What do you mean your tail is twitching?"

Suddenly, something crashed into the roof of the car leaving a small dent right above Michael's head. They opened their doors and jumped out. Michael looked to see what it was that hurt his rare, classic car. What he saw was a blue pegasus with a rainbow striped mane and tail slowly getting up, rubbing her head.

"Owww..."

Twilight, unable to see who was on the roof, recognized the voice, "Oh my goodness, Rainbow Dash! Are you alright?!"

"Yeah, I'm fine, but if I ever see that goose again I'm gonna kill it. Dumb thing crashed right into me and fought with me the whole way down."

Michael wanted to be concerned, but all he could see was the previously flawless dented roof and the no longer manufactured, scratched, red paint.

"My car..."

Rainbow looked around, "Oh, sorry about that." She hovered briefly, then landed next to Twilight.

Michael averted his eyes from the carnage that was the roof of his precious Lan Evo. He

slumped down against side of the car and became lost in thoughts about what it would take to get it back to the way it was.

Rainbow Dash looked quizzically at Michael, then at Twilight, "Uh... what's with your friend here?"

"His car is... very special to him."

Rainbow's walkie-talkie squealed, "Pinkie Pie to Rainbow Dash! Can you open the gate for Twilight?"

Twilight sighed as Rainbow radioed back, confirming.

Suddenly, the two of them heard a growl coming from Michael.      

"GRRRRAH!!!!!!" He shot up, got in the car, revved the engine until it howled, and started doing doughnut after doughnut, leaving circles of tire marks on the asphalt.

"What is he doing?" Rainbow asked.

Twilight shrugged, "Probably some form of catharsis."

"Cathar-what now?"

"Blowing off steam."

"Oh."

By the time Michael stopped, the air was thick with smoke and the smell of burning rubber.

The two ponies gingerly approached driver's side of the car. Michael was just staring ahead, white-knuckle gripping the steering wheel.

"Uh... Are you alright in there?" Twilight asked.

Michael shut his eyes, sighed, then looked at her, smiling.

"I'm fine. Is the gate open?"

"Yes."

"Alright, Then I'll go park."

He turned the car around to face the open gate, and looked at Rainbow Dash, sizing her up.

        "'Best flyer in all of Equestria' my ass. Can't even dodge a bright red car."

As Michael drove off past the gate, Twilight had to hold Rainbow Dash by the tail to keep her from going after him.

"OOH Just give me five minutes with that guy! I'll show him!"

"Come on Rainbow, in all fairness, you did crash into his car. From what I understand, it’s very old and hard to find. What he said may have been mean, but I think it's understandable how he feels."

"Whatever. I've got more patrolling to do. I'm outta here."

Rainbow Dash took off, leaving a disappearing rainbow streak in her wake.

When Michael emerged from behind the gate, Twilight looked at him disapprovingly, "You know, that really wasn't necessary."

"Do you know how hard it was to find enough of that paint for the first time I fixed that thing up? I'll be lucky if I find even another ounce of it now."

"Michael, you know she didn't do it on purpose."

         He grunted.

Twilight remembered the dragon that almost smoked out Ponyville, "But the rainbow one kicked me..."

"Come to think of it," she thought, "The growling, the fiery red paint of his car, all the smoke he made..." she giggled internally.

"Fine, whatever." he said, wondering what she was smiling about. The two began walking towards the entrance of the center, "Hey Twilight, you know most of the ponies who work here right?"

They walked through the doors, "Yes, most of them."

"Do you know Irene?"

Twilight thought for a moment, "No, I don't think I know anypony named Irene..."

Michael corrected himself, "I mean, 'Shimmer Stardust'."

"Oh! Shimmer! Yes. Why, did you know her before..."

Michael finished her sentence, "before she was a pony, yes. Where does she usually work?"

"As far as I know, she usually helps out Rarity in the conversion rooms, but that's restricted access. I can get you in. Do you want to go see her?"

Michael hesitated and remembered his reason for not sticking around when she got ponified in the first place.

"Hey! Michael!" Pinkie Pie appeared out of nowhere, startling the two of them.

"Pinkie Pie! You need to stop sneaking up on people!" Twilight admonished her.

"I'm sorry, but I heard you guys talking about Shimmer so I remembered about how the first few months Shimmer was here she kept talking about a guy named Michael and how cool and nice and sweet and awesome he was and then I was like," Pinkie Pie gasped, "‘cause I remembered that YOUR name was Michael so then I was like," she gasped again, "'you two must totally know each other! So then I was like,"

This time, when Pinkie went to gasp, Twilight covered her mouth with her hoof.

Michael smiled, "She talked about me, Even after I didn't stay," he thought.

"Yeah, sure. Lead the way." Next Chapter: Chapter 8 Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 15 Minutes