//------------------------------//
// Safety In Numbers 
// Story: Sunset Is Missing 
// by Smil3yGamer12 
//------------------------------//

There was a little light coming from underneath the doorframe. 
“Sunset?” Twilight called as she peeked into the room. 
“Oh, hey Twi,” Sunset said casually. She was draped across her bed, wearing her pink pjs. 
“So... Sunset, I was wondering what you were doing tonight,” Twilight said. She rubbed the back of her head. 
“Nothing much. Why do you ask?” Sunset said, rolling over onto her back. 
“I was just feeling a little lonely and I was wondering if you would like to go to the Café with me?”
“Right now?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh, okay. Let me throw some clothes on and I’ll be right there.” 

That would be the last time they would interact for a long while. 

.
.
.
.


Twilight lay in the sun -on the roof of Sunburn’s cave- her usual shirt and pants laying next to her. She modestly wore her undergarments, feeling uncomfortable without any scrap of clothing even when no one was there. The water was gone from her skin, even though her hair was darkened and damp. The light of the sun was like the one on a beach; blazing, unforgiving without sunscreen, and obviously, bright. 

“Ugh...”

Twilight rolled over, finding that it hurt to move. She sat up and poked at a slightly pink spot on her skin. She was getting roasted alive out here. Twilight put her clothes back on -rather reluctantly because of her sunburn- then carefully climbed down from the cave top, shimmying down the side and grunting as her skin shrieked at being touched. 

“Hi, Sunburn. Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you,” Twilight said, noticing that her foot had landed on the Dragon’s tail. The reptile has been rolling around in the grass, sniffing daisies and tulips. Twilight bent down to pet her friend, then she stretched and began stiffly walking over to a tree. Sunburn followed her, walking on all fours instead of the usual upright stance.

The dragon grumbled and picked Twilight up. Twilight gasped in surprise as the red beast lifted her into the tree. There were the pink little orbs in the tree, just waiting to be picked. Twilight reached out and grabbed a fruit in each hand, happy for Sunburn’s help. The red dragon smiled at Twilight as she helped her down. 

“Nice teamwork!” Twilight said, tossing one fruit to Sunburn, who caught it. It was strange how oddly human this thing looked. 

“Sunburn, can I ask you something?”

Sunburn looked up from her fruit that was in her talons. 

“Crooo?”

“Are you from this planet?” 

She shook her head. “Crooo.”

“Equestria?” Twilight asked.

Twilight earned a nod. 

“Do you think you could tell me how you got here?” She asked.

Sunburn looked around. She seemed to get a little overwhelmed with this lauguage barrier, so she decided to instead lick Twilight’s face. 

“Okay, that was no help,” Twilight said, getting the sticky spit off with her fingers. The dragon growled an apology. Twilight looked out over the fresh grass, taking in the air. That was, before her stomach growled. Sunburn’s ears shot up as she heard the intriguing noises come from her human’s belly. 

“Yeah, I know. I gotta eat... but fruit gets boring after a while, don’t you think..?” Twilight asked, taking a bite of her pink fruit. She hadn’t had anything besides fruit since she had gotten stuck on that mountain. 

“Croooo.... crooooo...” Sunburn said, giving a soft nuzzle to Twilight’s hungry tummy. 

“Sorry, scaley. That’s not going to work. But I guess I have no choice other than to get off of this mountain. I have friends and family who are probably worried sick... as much as I’d like to stay, I’ve got to get out of here...” Twilight explained. 

Sunburn’s ears drooped. 

“It’s okay, I’ll promise I’ll come visit you. If I don’t get killed, of course,” She responded, trying to make a lame attempt at a joke. 

Suddenly, Sunburn growled. Twilight jumped as her eyes flashed an evil, green color. 

“Sunburn..? Are you okay?” Twilight asked.

Sunburn continued growling. Twilight was gently pushed aside as Sunburn paced past her. 

“What was that all-“

“HOOOWWWWRREEERRRR!!!!”

“-about?!” 

Twilight yelped as she got her answer. Twilight jumped back as a giant monster exploded from the bushes, mouth blazing. Sunburn immediately jumped into action, using her giant front claw to bat at the other dragon’s face. It hissed, snorting fire in frustration. It breathed fire at Sunburn, who howled in pain as she jumped away from the smoldering hot flames when they hit her. This new green dragon was a lot smaller than Sunburn, but Twilight could tell that it was much quicker. Twilight hid in the bushes, trying to be as hidden from the fray as possible. 

“Groowwwwwrrrr!!!” Sunburn snorted as she was hit on the underbelly. The green dragon began striking repeatedly against the soft belly, causing Sunburn to roar in pain and thrash around.

“No!” Twilight yelled as she was about to stand up. The green dragon’s eyes swiftly went to Twilight as it heard her make noise. Twilight felt dread fill her stomach. 

“Ggggrrraaaaagggg!!!” The dragon hissed as it jumped towards Twilight. 

“Croo!” Sunburn howled, breathing fire at the leaping dragon. It was knocked off its course and it hissed as it tumbled to the ground, covered in sparks and ashes. Birds were squawking because of the disturbances. The newcomer shook it off and leapt at the bush Twilight was hiding behind. Twilight jumped out of the way, taking a hard tumble in the grass. 


“Ow!” She cried out, clutching her knee close to her body. It would have a bruise on it. 

The green beast opened its mouth and prepared to fire, before it was struck with a hammer to the head. It fell down unconscious. 

“Huh...?” Twilight said, in a daze. 

“Ah, if it isn’t a child, my dear! Tell me, what are you doing all the way out here?” The wielder of the hammer asked. She was wearing a dark cloak, so that Twilight couldn’t see her face, yet she could still see that her skin had dark black stripes on it with a while outcoat. 

“Who... who are you..?” Twilight asked, shielding her face from the shining sun. 

“My name is Zecora. You’re lucky I found you when I did. Otherwise, you would have ended up worse that a fishing net and a squid!”