By the time they’d gotten done introducing themselves, the mood at the table had lightened considerably.  Dale was still nervous, but it helped to know their names—it wasn’t a meal with strangers any more; now it was a meal with acquaintances.  And, upon reflection, he was in more familiar company than he’d been during the stuffy meeting the night before.  Aside from Cheerilee, they were all working ponies, who got their hooves dirty actually doing things.