//------------------------------//
// Humbleness, The Doctor is in 
// Story: The Magic and Mysteries of Friendship 
// by The Stainmore Phoenix 
//------------------------------//

	The journey was getting longer and longer. Every pony was now on the verge of having a straight mental breakdown, with the exceptions of the guards and Aquatis Storm. With a glance at the group, Aquatis Storm made his way alongside Dangersignal and asked if they could rest.

“Right, we can break for an hour, but after that, we need to get moving,” Dangersignal said.

The group, relieved, stopped and sat down. Opening his saddle bag, Aquatis Storm took out a stack of small, well wrapped packages. The others, minus the guards eyed the packages curiously.

“What are they?” Fluttershy asked, afraid they were some kind of new evil.

“Rations.”

“Rations?” Twilight asked, looking towards the guards, assuming one of them said it.

“They’re rations, like the kind issued to me from when I worked as a field medic,” Aquatis Storm said. “Alongside these two, when they were in the Royal Guard.”

“Correct,” Dangersignal said. “I always remember you for riding me too hard about extensive training you Ceffylaun Doctor.”

“Ceffylaun?” the others asked.

“He’s from Ceffylau, just beyond Dodge City,” Dangersignal said. “A tiny town, known for it’s two things-Its doctors and its cheeses.”

“Ah, so all the best Canterlot Doctors have all come from Ceffylau?” Twilight asked.

“Not all, but a good percentage have come from there,” he explained. “Also, they have a wide variety of cheeses, from the simple cheddars to the more expensive brands. I’ve actually eaten a “Ceffylaun Delight” sandwich, which contains-tomato, limburger, lettuce, onion, black pepper, red and green bell peppers, carrots, daffodils, and butter on toasted rye bread. Very delightful, especially when it’s cheap and easy to make.”

“Interesting, but how long have you and Aquatis Storm known each other?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“For about twenty years,” The Pegasus and Alicorns said. “He was our *ahem* “assigned” doctor, when me and Dragonstorm became Plain Clothes Alicorn Guards,” Dangersignal said.

“But Aquatis Storm’s a Pegasus!” Rainbow Dash snapped, her curiosity replaced with anger. “Any pegasi would be forced to go to a weather management school, to learn how to handle the weather! HE got a free ticket to med school! What’s the deal?!”

“The “deal” as you put it,” Aquatis Storm huffed. “Was that I had to leave my parents house at the age of twelve! With my father no less! My mother gambled away our house!”

A heavy, almost suffocating silence fell over the group. Aquatis Storm and Rainbow Dash were still glaring at each other, but Dragonstorm could see that Aquatis Storm was still torn up about what happened in the past. Deciding on a line to save a sinking ship, he saw his chance and attacked.

“So, Aquatis Storm, do you like Daring Do?” he asked, trying to defuse the situation.

“But out!” Aquatis Storm hissed. “I don’t need you horning in (butting in) and trying your pathetic excuse of defusing the situation!”

Dangersignal stood up. He trotted over and parked himself between the two glaring ponies and “accidentally” flared his wings, smacking them and sending them onto their seats.

“Pardon my wing stretch,” Dangersignal snapped, with no emotion.

“You can’t keep your fat wings down!” snapped Aquatis Storm.

“Listen, I’m doing this for your own good,” came the reply. “I know your still torn up about your mother’s gambling addiction and the fact that it cost you your home, but to be fair, she wasn’t the best choice for you and only cared about herself.”

Aquatis Storm just stared at the Alicorn who had smacked him. Something had changed in him. He sounded like he cared for the Pegasus, who was now being deemed a “traitor” of Cloudsdale.

“I’ve never fit in, in Cloudsdale,” Dangersignal said. “I was kicked out, despite the fact that I was a Pegasus before I became an Alicorn.”

“Really?” Rainbow Dash asked, after rubbing her jaw, where she had been smacked by Dangersignal’s wing.

“Correct,” he said. “To change the subject real quick, the wing flare was slowed down to prevent serious injury. Your jaws will be sore for a few more minutes.”

“Thank you,” Aquatis Storm said. “For breaking in and stopping us from arguing. I guess that’s why you and I became a small group of friends when you were trialed for the “Plain Clothes Guard” position.”

“Yes,” Dangersignal said. “Those who have been abused or even put in situations that had no positive outcomes at the moment tend to bond and become friends.”

“Wise words from Celestia?” Twilight asked.

“No, I think you were told that I was the librarian of the Ponyville Library?” Dangersignal asked.

“Correct,” Twilight affirmed. “You were.”

“I spent my free time reading books, including one-”The Psychologies and Philosophies of Friendships, Volume 1” by Dr. Hooverton, PHD. It was interesting and I spent my time taking notes,” Dangersignal said.

“Really?” Twilight asked.

“Yes,” Dangersignal said.

Aquatis Storm had been listening and was considering the Alicorn’s words and how he said them. Normally, Dangersignal was good at one of many abilities-disguising his emotions, not showing emotions, choosing his words, being “careless” or remaining cold and silent. To him, quoting a book was a new surprise.

As the sea blue Pegasus considered the words more, he came over to Rainbow Dash and helped her up. Their eyes locked and Aquatis Storm spoke up first.

“Sorry for getting riled up. Here, are you okay? That was a fairly good smack. Hang on, I’ve got the thing right here, an ice pack. Hold still will you? There, it’ll need to be on your jaw for ten minutes before I remove it. Don’t talk, it’ll make your lower jaw hurt more. Don’t thank me, I’m just doing my duties,” he said.

Rainbow Dash just stared at the Ceffylaun Pegasus. Was he simply going to let her not thank him? It seemed odd, but said nothing. Dangersignal watched and smirked. He had finally gotten the doctor to show his humble side, albeit by a rather “ruffled” method.

“What’s got you smirking?” Twilight asked.

“Didn’t you notice Aquatis Storm’s ability to be *ahem* humble?” he asked sweetly.

Twilight really wanted to buck him in the face. His sweet tone was too sweet, almost as if it was laced with 6,000 gallons of honey. It made her sick, but she couldn’t deny he had a point.

Going back to the scenario unfolding, it seemed that Rainbow Dash and Aquatis Storm had grown rather close as friends and even shared some jokes. 

“The road ahead is lined with victory,” Dangersignal said.