//------------------------------// // Chapter 9: Dragonshy, Pt. 3 // Story: Dawn Before Twilight // by Dawn Darkness //------------------------------// How long have we been climbing the mountain now? I’ve lost track of time. And I was the one who was always good to keep track of the time back on Earth. I looked up to the sky, seeing both the smoke and the sun, with the sun which was high above in the sky. I guess it’s been near the afternoon since we arrived at the bottom of the mountain, and at least a few hours since we managed a good way up the cliffside. Right now we were still trotting along the cliffside of the mountain, with Twilight leading the way as she was the one who got the map of the mountain. I was silent in my thoughts as I thought about the dragon we were supposed to be up against—or would that be, to encourage it to move someplace else, as Twilight put it. “Let’s keep it down,” Twilight whispered to us. “According to my map, we’re approaching an avalanche zone. The smallest peep could cause a huge rock slide.” Funny, I had once survived a rock slide back in south-eastern Zealand, when me and my parents were sightseeing the beach, and while I raced with my mother, a rock slide was caused by the rain that had poured one day on the cliffside of the White Cliffs, and let’s just say that my parents were both shocked and relieved to see me having survived by going on the other side. Anyway, back to the situation at hoof. “An…an…” I widened my eyes as Fluttershy whispered in fear. “Avala—” “Shh!” Twilight shushed her. We continued, but when Rainbow flew through a leaf branch, one small leaf landed softly on Fluttershy’s rump, causing her to react. “AVALA—” Applejack quickly held her mouth with a hoof. I looked around nervously, not wanting to experience a rock slide. We gave a collective sigh…which was a mistake, as rumbling was heard. I widened in horror as rocks began to come down from the cliffside. “AVALANCHE!” the girls shouted in fear. A rock was falling down above me, and I reacted fast as I dashed away from where I once stood. “Whoa!” I gasped. More rocks fell down from the side, while we all were avoiding them in panic. I looked around as I stood in an assumed safe spot, however that was a mistake. “Dawn, look out!” Twilight cried. I looked up and widened my eyes. A huge rock was falling down above me, and thankfully, Rainbow dashed towards me and pushed me out of harm’s way. We continued avoiding the rocks until it all stopped at last, dust covering the area as we coughed. “Oh my,” Applejack stopped coughing. “Everypony okay?” Twilight affirmed her safety by saying, “Thanks to you I am.” Rainbow looked at me. “And you, Dawn?” “Yeah, thanks for coming in the nick of time, Rainbow,” I said gratefully. “No problem,” she smiled at my gratitude. “Eugh, blech,” Rarity spat as she shook herself clean. “Woo-hoo!” Pinkie cheered excitedly. “Let’s do it again!” “Uh,” Rarity said, “this is why a girl always packs extra accessories. Oh, please tell me I brought the tiara that goes with this.” I sighed. “I think we’ve got bigger problems than that, Rarity.” “Oh, really?” “I agree with Dawn,” Rainbow added. “We’ve got bigger problems than making sure our hair bows match our horseshoes.” The path in front of us was now blocked due to the avalanche. I sighed, while Fluttershy looked down in apologetic. “Sorry,” she sighed. “Aw, no big whoop, sugarcube,” Applejack reassured the pegasus. “Yeah,” Twilight agreed. “We’ll just have to…” she sighed, “climb over.” “Is that really a problem?” I raised a brow. “Maybe not for you, Rainbow, Crimson or Fluttershy, but for the rest of us,” Twilight pointed out. “Looks like we’re sticking to the ground, then,” I said. Crimson looked at the apologetically Fluttershy. “Don’t worry,” she smiled. “We’ll figure it out.” “Eventually,” Rainbow rolled her eyes. (Later) We climbed over the fallen rocks that had been caused by the rock slide. The girls were having a hard time, however I was having no problem since I was hovering with Rainbow and Crimson, though Fluttershy kept to the ground. Suddenly, Fluttershy’s hoofing made a slight step as she fell on her rump, bumping into Rarity and Applejack, who were both in surprise. “My apologies,” Rarity said, taking Rainbow’s hoof as she was gotten out from below Fluttershy, who whimpered after Rainbow said it wasn’t Rarity’s fault. I saw Rainbow hovering over to Twilight, sighing. “Still think it was a good idea to bring Fluttershy along?” she whispered. I could guess from the looks of her annoyance, she was about to have had enough of this. “We’re about to find out,” Twilight replied to Rainbow’s question. “We’re here.” I blinked as the cave we were meant to find was in front of us. It was looking dark from the inside, I noted. The cave wasn’t exactly what I had thought.  I had more in mind of something like a cave that would be much more terrifying. The smoke was clearly coming from the entrance of the cave. I looked at Crimson, who glanced back. And thus, Twilight sprung into action with her orders. She looked at Rainbow, “Rainbow Dash, you’ll use your wings to clear the smoke with Dawn and Crimson.” “Roger, roger!” I saluted, yet Crimson looked curiously at me before we got to work, hearing Twilight below us. “Rarity and Pinkie Pie, you’ll create a diversion to distract the dragon if things get a little hairy in there.” And we heard a squeaking toy from Pinkie Pie. Twilight’s voice continued, “Applejack, you’re ready with the apples in case he decides to attack. But it shouldn’t come to that, because Fluttershy will do what she needs to do to wake him up, and between the two of us, we should be able to get him to understand why he needs to go. Is everypony ready?” We gave affirmatives to her. “Okay then, we’re goin’ in,” said Twilight as she trotted inside.