//------------------------------// // Catching Up // Story: AJ and the Dragon // by MiraculousDragonMaster //------------------------------// AJ and the Dragon Chapter 8 Catching Up A couple of hours later, after Fluttershy decided to leave the bedroom and give her some privacy, Applejack peeked out of the door. When she saw there was no one around, she got out, with Winona following, closed the door behind her, then the two started down the hall. Pinkie was not keeping watch right then because she was discussing how to liven up the place without the Dragon knowing about it with a boy her age. He had poofy hair similar to Pinkie's, except it was brown, with some parts like sleek spines. He had green draconic eyes, mustard yellow skin, and he wore a green jacket over a brown shirt, jeans, and black shoes. On the right side of his jacket was a pin of a cheese sandwich being sliced in half. "Come on, Cheese." Pinkie groaned. "There hasn't been any fun in weeks!" Cheese Sandwich nodded. "Ditto on that. It's been pretty dull here." Pinkie then heard footsteps, and she pushed Cheese and herself into a dark corner. They peered over and saw AJ and Winona heading towards the stairs. "Red alert!" She whispered. "Come on!" She pulled Cheese over and they went the other way down. In the kitchen, Rarity and Fluttershy were sending Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo to bed. "Good night, you two." Fluttershy said. "Sweet dreams." added Rarity. The two younger girls nodded with a yawn, then entered into the bedroom they shared. Suddenly, a seemingly young man teleported into the kitchen. He seemed like the only one who wasn't under the spell. He had wild dark hair, red and yellow eyes, and gray skin. He wore a dark gray shirt with a yellow jacket, dark red pants, and gray shoes. "Unbelievable!" He started ranting. "A culinary masterpiece, down the drain!" A blue blur flew over him and bashed him upside the head. "Oh, quit your whining, Discord." Rainbow Dash said. A lighter blue blur then came up beside her. It was a young man Dash's age, with wild navy blue hair and spines, green draconic eyes, light cyan skin with matching dragon wings, and he wore a white shirt with a lightning bolt piercing through a storm cloud under a navy jacket, jeans, and blue sneakers. "Besides, we got the ingredients. All it took for you to prep it is just a snap of your fingers." Soarin' said. Discord rubbed his head. "Still, it takes a bit of magic to prepare a feast like that." He continued. A young man then came up beside Discord. He had pale skin, blue draconic eyes, and light blue hair and spines. He wore a crisp white dress shirt, black pants and shoes, and a crown pin was fastened on the right side of his shirt. "Let it be reminded that I helped a bit with the food." Fancy Pants said. Discord opened his mouth to retort back, then closed it. "Good point." He grumbled. "But still, the nerve of her! I know she's honest, but sometimes, I can't tell the difference between honest and outspoken." Rarity came beside Fancy and began helping him clean up the kitchen. "I'll admit, she is quite stubborn. Then again, he did take away all that she loves." Twilight groaned. "If he doesn't learn to control that temper, he'll never see what he had been doing wrong." Just then, Applejack came into the kitchen, with Winona at her heels. "Now, I know those voices anywhere. Twilight? Rainbow Dash?" "Applejack!" The three friends enveloped each other in a group hug. "Oh, I missed y'all so much." AJ said. When she broke away, she noticed something. "Wait an apple-pickin' minute! You all look like-" "APPLEJACK!" A voice cried out. Before AJ could blink, she was tackled into a tight hug by a familiar pink blur. "Oh, I missed you so much. I thought we'd never see you again." Pinkie quickly said as she squeezed AJ tighter. "Ah, I missed ya too, Pinkie." Applejack said, trying to gasp for air. "But now, can ya let me go? Can't breathe." "Oops. Sorry." Pinkie then released Applejack. "What are you doing down here, AJ?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Well, I am a bit hungry." AJ admitted. Discord then appeared beside her, dressed like a waiter. "Well, you're in luck, Honest Applejack." He said, surprising her. "So, what might it be?" "Discord?!" said a shocked AJ. "Well, that explains how Big Mac and Apple Bloom left so suddenly." Then, she noticed the others. "What the-? Soarin'? Cheese Sandwich? Fancy Pants? Okay, someone better tell me what the hay is going on here!" "All in good time." Discord said. "But first, let's eat!" With that, he snapped his fingers, and teleported everyone into another dining hall. With another snap, and plates of food appeared in front of everyone. As they ate, everyone began to explain. "As you know, Applejack, I left to figure out why our friends disappeared." Twilight began. AJ nodded. "Well, I found them here." "Sweetie Belle and I were the first ones captured." Rarity said. "When Scootaloo and I heard about their capture, we went to find them." Rainbow continued. "But, we ended up stuck here." "When Dash missed practice, which she never did, I went on my own to find her." Soarin' said. "But, I got trapped here as well." "I cam here to find Rarity when she didn't show up for a fashion show in Canterlot." Fancy replied. "Pinkie and I came to find everyone as well." Fluttershy said. "And, I kind of wandered in here by mistake." Cheese admitted with a nervous rub by his head. "When a curse came upon the castle, it affected the Dragon and us." Twilight continued to explain. "And also, there's a barrier around the castle grounds that keeps us here." "I'm the only one who can move freely in and out of the barrier, so, I come here to visit my dear Fluttershy when I heard she went missing." Discord said, earning glares from everyone while Fluttershy slightly blushed. "And to help with everyone as well." Applejack swallowed a bite of food. "So, that's why y'all never came back." They nodded. "Is there any way to break the spell?" "There is a way, but that is for the Dragon to fulfill." Twilight said. "Hey, you want a tour later, Applejack?" Pinkie asked excitedly. "Cheese and I know every inch of this place." When she heard that, AJ got an idea. There may be a clue somewhere in the castle on how to lift the curse. "Sounds great, Pinkie." "Yipee!" Pinkie jumped with joy, while everyone smiled.