//------------------------------//
// 280. Born on a Mountaintop, Raised in a Cave 
// Story: Azure Edge 
// by Leaf Blade 
//------------------------------//

Fluttershy didn’t much care for the Crystal Empire. That wasn’t a surprise, as Fluttershy cared very little for the towns and villages in Equestria, many of which were built on lies that encouraged the fear and slaughter of her people. But none quite as obvious as the Crystal Empire, a city quite literally built on the backs of enslaved dragons, and that was before even getting into the secret underground prison where dragons were being held captive and tortured.

But with all that said, the Crystal Mountains? They were alright. Fluttershy appreciated the deep chill and relative silence of the Mountains, the only sound which could be heard on the cliffside being the wind galloping past. It was the perfect place for Fluttershy to take a load off, even transformed back into her true form for maximum relaxation.

At least until—

“Yo, Fluttershy!”

—the voice of Trixie came chiming in.

The tiny dragon came flying up to Fluttershy’s cliffside, looking at Fluttershy in what the yellow dragon presumed to be awe? Anxiety perhaps? Fluttershy was certainly familiar with that concept.

“Trixie?” Fluttershy asked, trying to pivot her brain out of ‘relaxation mode’ and into ‘conversation mode’, but it was slow going. “What are you doing here?”

“Uh, just passing through, I guess?” Trixie said awkwardly, rubbing her claw behind her neck. “Didn’t expect to see anyone else up here!”

“Oh, I see, I see,” Fluttershy hummed. Trixie looked nervous and sweaty, once again something that Fluttershy could relate to. It would be very easy to let Trixie simply be on her anxious little way, but that didn’t feel right to her, especially since she had an inkling of what was bothering Trixie. “Still no luck making inroads with the others?”

“Haha!” Trixie said awkwardly, less a laugh and more just saying the laughter sound effect out loud. “What makes you say— I’m doing just fine, thank you… very… mu— okay yeah I’m totally floundering here.”

“That’s okay,” Fluttershy giggled. “Relationships take time, and they can be a lot of hard work. But they’re worth it.”

“Yeah, I guess,” Trixie crossed her arms and pouted, which made Fluttershy roll her eyes playfully and give a soft laugh.

“For what it’s worth,” Fluttershy said, “I forgive you, and I would love to be your friend.”

“Wh—uh—” Trixie stuttered and blushed. “That’s kinda gay.”

“Kinda,” Fluttershy chuckled. She recognized the telltale sign of irony poisoning quite well.

“Uh, well, that’s cool,” Trixie sat down on the cliffside next to Fluttershy, keeping the bigger dragon at arm’s length, which was still pretty close for Trixie because she had small arms. “Thank you, I mean. I appreciate it.”

“My pleasure,” Fluttershy sat up and stretched out a wing over Trixie’s back. “I understand where you’re coming from, having made some situations you’re not super proud of in hindsight. I get it.”

“Do you think the others will forgive me?” Trixie asked solemnly. “Like… ever?”

“I don’t know,” Fluttershy answered bluntly, figuring the truth would be more helpful to Trixie than any comfortable lie would be, no matter how much Trixie wanted to hear the lie. “That’s up to them, and not something either of us can force.

“The only way you’ll know is by asking them,” Fluttershy gently nudged Trixie with a claw, smiling warmly down at her. “Which I think you should try.”

“Ugh, I hate trying things,” Trixie huffed, slouching and limply kicking her claw in the dirt.

“I know,” Fluttershy chuckled softly and gave Trixie a supportive pat on the shoulder.

“But fine,” Trixie sighed dramatically. “Since you insist, and you were cool to me, I’ll go apologize to them for realsies.”

“Good luck, Trixie! I’m rooting for you!” Fluttershy cheered as Trixie took to the sky, the smaller dragon turning around and puffing up her cheeks in embarrassment. “And if you ever wanna talk to someone who gets it… I’m right here.”

“W—okay,” Trixie said with a nod and then quickly turned away from Fluttershy. “Thanks.”

“No problem,” Fluttershy said softly as Trixie took off back to the Empire. Fluttershy pretended to not see her crying.