//------------------------------// // Chapter 11: Dragonshy, Epilogue // Story: Dawn Before Twilight // by Dawn Darkness //------------------------------// Rarity was behind a rock, complaining, “I was this close to getting that diamond.” I raised a brow. “Don’t you mean, getting rid of that dragon?” Suddenly, a party horn sounded from Pinkie Pie, who…I have no idea why she is dressed that way. She had balloons, a present box, and flippers on her hooves. I just stared at her, dumbfounded at the ridiculous appearance of her.  Rarity voiced my inner opinion about Pinkie. “Darling, you look ridiculous.” “Exactly!” Pinkie agreed, trotting inside while speaking. “Sharing a laugh is a sure-fire way to get somepony on your side! Hi!”And…pounding, crashing was heard inside the cave as Pinkie went back outside. “Apparently he doesn’t like laughing. Or sharing.” Rainbow has had enough, from the looks of her annoyed expression. “All right, that’s it. We tried persuading, charm, whatever it is Pinkie Pie does.” Pinkie busted the horn. “It’s time to stop wasting time! I’m going in!” Rainbow decided. Oh, this isn’t going to end well. I might as well join her. But Crim stopped me by extending her hoof in front of my path as Rainbow flew inside, with Twilight crying out, “Rainbow, no!” “Get! Out!” We heard her angry voice from the cave and a smack. I widened my eyes as I had a bad feeling about this. And we heard a sneezing as well as a growl sound from the dragon in the cave. “Uh, sorry…” A roar cut Rainbow off. Suddenly, Rainbow was rolling in the air backwards, and I caught her before she crashed on the ground and hit our friends. “Thanks…” Rainbow said, dazed from the rolling. A paw came from within the cave entrance, and…the red dragon stepped out of the cave, looking as mad as ever because of Rainbow’s irritation. I gulped nervously, while the girls were huddling together as he breathed smoke out from his mouth, covering the girls in the black smoke. I growled. He looked at me as I prepared myself and spread my wings before charging at him. “Dawn!” Twilight gasped in shock. I kicked the dragon under his head, and he hit me with his paw, sending me flying to the ground, knocking me unconscious from the hard attack. (Crimson’s POV) “Dawn!” I cried out in fear. “Well, that went smoothly,” Rainbow grunted at Dawn's unconscious form after he had attacked the dragon. “Don’t forget you started it!” I scolded her with a glare. “Oh, right.” After the dragon breathed black smoke again, we were sent back towards a rock, moaning in pain as I looked up to see…Fluttershy in shock. “Dawn, girls!” She was then staring right at the dragon. “How dare you…how dare you! Listen here, mister!” she spoke downright angrily to the dragon. “Just because you’re big doesn’t mean you get to be a bully! You may have huge teeth, and sharp scales, and snore smoke, and breathe fire. But you do not—and I repeat—do not! Hurt My! Friends! You got that?” The dragon whimpered from her stare and anger. “Well?” Fluttershy awaited an answer. “But that rainbow and dark one kicked and attacked me,” the dragon spoke finally. “And I am very sorry about that,” Fluttershy said. “But you’re bigger than they are, and you should know better. You should also know better than to take a nap where your snoring can become a health hazard to other creatures.” “But I—” “Don’t you ‘but I’ to me,” Fluttershy cut him off. “Now what do you have to say for yourself? I said, what do you have to say for yourself?” The dragon whimpered, then cried. “There. There,” Fluttershy comforted the dragon. “No need to cry. You’re not a bad dragon, you just made a bad decision. Now go pack your things. You just need to find a new place to sleep. That’s all.” And we came over to her, except for Dawn (who was still unconscious), and cheered for her. “You did it!” Twilight said happily. “I knew you could do it!” (Dawn’s POV) I grunted as I came to the world again after what had happened back on the mountain after…what actually happened? I opened my eyes and saw the girls looking down on me. “Where am I?” “At the Golden Oak Library,” Twilight replied. “What about…the…” I had a weird voice, it was moaning. “Don’t worry about that,” Crimson smiled. “Fluttershy took care of it.” “She…did?” I blinked, shaking my head before it returned to normal. “I said come back here!” Spike’s voice came just then, chasing Angel Bunny around the library. “How does Fluttershy put up with you furry little things?” He was panting as he chased the rabbit. At last he grabbed the rabbit’s tail. “Spike, take a letter,” Twilight said. Spike sighed. “With pleasure.” “Dear Princess Celestia, I am happy to report that the dragon has departed our fair country, and that it was my good friend, Fluttershy, who convinced him to go. This adventure has taught me to never lose faith in your friends. They can be an amazing source of strength, and can help you overcome even your greatest fears. Always your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle.” And Applejack was calling out, “Twilight, Dawn! You gotta come see this! She’s just five away from a new pony record!” We looked from a balcony of the tree to see what was going on outside. “Three hundred forty-seven, three hundred forty-eight…” Rainbow counted as she had her ball bouncing on her head. An imitation roar of a dragon sounded, causing Rainbow to lose focus. “Dragon!” she screamed. We all laughed at the display. “Why are you laughing?” Rainbow demanded. “That dragon is back!” “No silly,” I laughed, wiping a tear from my eye with a hoof. Rainbow looked over to Pinkie. “Pinkie Pie, you scared me! I mean, uh…you broke my concentration.” “It’s okay, Rainbow Dash,” Fluttershy said. “Not everypony can be as brave as me.” And when Rainbow blew at a leaf, it rolled in the air onto Fluttershy’s rump, causing her to freeze up with a scream. And we laughed.