//------------------------------//
// #15-What a broken man does 
// Story: Earthling or Equestrian? 
// by Tjtbomb 
//------------------------------//

Rainbow Dash POV

I woke to a guitar strumming downstairs. Toby had woken up at some point before me. I quietly stepped down the stairs as he began to sing, his back turned away.



His voice was shaky and tired, but as the words rang out, i felt tears running down my face. Toby had to do terrible things in his past to survive, and he's never unloaded into anyone. His entire world was destroyed several times before he finally lost it all together. Any friends he had, dead. His parents, lost to the sands of time. Even his home, erased from existence. No wonder he went berserk. When he told me that story, he must have been hit by a freight train of bad memories.

I crept forward as he played the last chord and laid my head on his shoulder. He turned and embraced me. His eyes were red and puffy, his hair a mess, and his shirt stained with tears. He whispered to me.

"I'm sorry..."

I patted his head.

"Don't be. I know you had a horrible life on Earth. Don't forget the past, but it is still the past. It came, and now it's gone. You have a fresh start. So don't beat yourself up, you've got friends here who don't want you hurt."

He pulled away enough to look at me.

"Why are you being so nice to me? I could've killed you."

"Friends forgive. Best friends help you out when you're in trouble."

He hugged me tight, but not too tight. 

"Th-thank you Dashie."

(Timeskip)

We stayed on the floor, hugging, for a long time. Eventually the storm stopped and Toby stood up.

"Guess I better get a shower. I probably reek."

"Yeah, you do."

He snorted.

"You're not supposed to agree with me!"

I rolled my eyes and stretched out. Toby came back after half an hour, clean............. and shirtless. He had a few scars I didn't see before and a tattoo here and there. You'd have to be blind not to notice my blush.

"You okay Dashie? You look like a blueberry."

"I-I'mfine! Can I use your shower?"

He laughed and pointed down the hall.

"Go ahead, Miss Blueberry."

I ran down the hall, too embarrassed to get mad.

Dangit Rainbow Dash! Control yourself!

(Toby POV)

I jumped up the steps and went to get dressed while Dashie showered. I threw on my usual stuff, minus my goggles. My scarf didn't cover my face anymore so it was rather nice to feel the breeze on my face as I ran downstairs. Dashie came out soon with a brush in her mouth. She set it on the floor.

"Could you brush my mane for me? I can't reach it with this brush."

"Sure thing."

I straightened, to a degree, her wild, rainbow mane to her satisfaction. I was thinking the entire time about having friends again, And all the pranks I could play. 

"What do you want to do? Try to find a Rainbow?"

"Um, sure?"

We stepped outside and I immediately put a hand on her head.

"Found one!"

She laughed and pushed my hand off.

"Wanna go visit the girls? They're all probably stir crazy as well." She said.

"Eh, why not."

We began walking toward town. Well, we started walking, then we started running and flying, and then we sped into town square before grinding to a halt. We laughed and looked around the market for the rest of the gang.

"Hey!"

I turned to see the crusaders running towards me. I ran forward and scooped them up, laughing with them. 

"I missed you three!"

Scootaloo squirmed out of my grasp and rushed over to Dashie. 

(Rainbow Dash POV)

"Where have you been!? Fluttershy said you weren't home!"

"I've been at Toby's since the party, Scootaloo. I got rained in."

"At Toby's? With Toby?"

I got what she was getting at.

"No! That's not what I meant!"

I turned a deep blue as I glanced over my shoulder at Toby. Scootaloo noticed.

"Then why are you- oh. OOOOOOOOOHHHHHHH!"

She grinned mischievously at me. 

"Do you-"

"Stop."

"Maybe-"

"Shut up."

"Like-"

"No."

"Like him?"

I turned a deep blue and glanced over my shoulder. Toby hadn't noticed our little conversation.

"Sh-shut up! He's right there!"

Scootaloo cracked up and soon called the other two over to have a 'club meeting'. The others' squeals and laughter had to be shushed in their tiny circle. Toby walked over to me and chuckled nervously.

"Wonder what they're planning? I'm a tad concerned myself."

"True, whenever they plan like that, it usually leads to something bad."

This time, however, I wasn't sure if it was going to be bad, or just embarrassing for me. Either way, I'm nervous.