Friendship is Weird

by Local Loco

Dragon Quest

Over at Ponyville Town hall, a meeting is taking place. There are five ponies sitting around a table with organized papers on them. At the table are Filthy Rich, Mayor Mare, Amethyst Star, Enchanted Crown, and Ballet Horseshoes.

“Good morning every pony. I’d love to give a warm Ponyville welcome to the council for miss Enchanted Crown. Your thoughts and input are well valued being sent here by Celestia herself.” The mayor welcomed the helmed unicorn to the group. “First up, finances. Filthy Rich, how is Ponyville doing financially.”

“Ever since the events of the Summer Sun Celebration, tourism to Ponyville skyrocketed. Train tickets to Ponyville have been the highest that they have ever been and with impromptu events like that talent show and this place now being home to the mythical Elements of Harmony, I don’t see us having any form of financial problems for a long time.” The earth pony stallion said oozing confidence.

“Good. Ballet, make a note of our financial situation being great for the next couple of months.” The mayor looked at Ballet who signed and started writing with a pencil in her mouth. “The annual Running of the Leaves race will be happening around the corner and with how well he did at the aforementioned Summer Sun Celebration, it would be in Ponyville’s best interest to hire him again as an announcer. All in favor?” All the ponies around the table raised their hoof. “Unanimous vote. Amethyst, could you schedule him appear then and rent a hot air balloon as well.”

The pink unicorn nodded as she began to leave the room but stopped as soon as she noticed something outside the window. “Umm, mayor.” Amethyst motioned to look outside. Every pony gathered around the window. Outside was smoke emanating from one of the mountains in the horizon. Some ponies outside are starting to show some concern.

“Oh, T-that’s dragon smoke.” EC spoke up. “A dragon must be l-living in a cave up there.”

Mayor Mare sighs. “Before leaving for Baltimare, Amethyst, could you reassure our residents that ever thing will be fine. Enchanted Crown, would you please send a message to Canterlot, to Celestia if she is not busy to send some pony to deal with a dragon?”

“I’m on it.” EC said with a salute before making her way out of town hall.

“May Celestia help us.” The mayor prayed.

On the outskirts of Ponyville, EC had gathered three ponies. Those ponies are Hopeful Journey, Lucky Horseshoes, and Mareian. Hope with an eager smile on his face while Lucky and Mareian have looks of confusion and concern.

“In order to protect the innocent ponies of Ponyville, I have elected, with the approval of princess Celestia, to send the elements of kindness, generosity, and magic to take care of the dragon problem looming over this small town.”

“Of friendship. Celestia said I represent the magic of friendship.” Hope exclaimed.

“What in tarnation iz Kindness gonna provide?” Lucky asked

“Hey, EC, can I have a private word with you.” Mareian wrapped her wing around EC and trotted away from the two earth ponies. “HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND!? A DRAGON AND YOU ONLY SEND THREE PONIES UP THERE!?!? HOPE’S NOT MUCH OF A FIGHTER AND I DON’T THINK LUCKY’S LUCK WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE DOWN A DRAGON!?!?” Mareian whispered in an angered tone. “Sending me makes sense. Wouldn’t want to get lost on the way to defeat A DRAGON WHY NOT SEND THAT CHEF FACED COOKIES!?”

“You aren’t going up there to battle the dragon. They aren’t these unreasonable wild creatures. I want you three to befriend the dragon.”

“What!?” Mareian shockingly exclaimed.

“Befriend?” Hope eagerly said.

“Eh, sounds doable.” Lucky stated.

“It sounds like we’re all in agreement. You two follow Mareian to the dragon’s den where you will politely ask the dragon to be a bit less threatening.”

Mareian let out a frustrated sigh. “Fine. You win. Come on you two, let’s go friendship a dragon.” Mareian grabs the two smiling earth ponies using her wings towards the mountain with smoke coming out of it.

“Friendship adventure!” Hope shouted with glee.

“Ya’ll ain’t gonna fly us up there aren’t ya?”

“If I flew I’d have to deal with your flailing. Besides, Hope would be disappointed if we took a shortcut and by some miracle you toss a rock at the dragon scaring it or, best case scenario, putting it in a coma.”

“Aww, you do care.” Hope said lovingly.

“Well, ya ain’t gotta drag us by our scruff all the way there.”

“If I let go of either of you, you’d get lost or discover some sort of mythical cursed object that I’d have to get Cookies or EC’s advice on it and then, oh I don’t know, the dragon swoops on down from its mountain and razes Ponyville to the ground.”

“We ain’t foals anymore.”

Mareian stops dead in her tracks and looks at Lucky with a twitch in her eye. “Out of our little friend group to take on a dragon, EC sends THE THREE YOUNGEST. We’re practically newborn ponies in this situation and I am not taking the risk of one of us getting hurt.”

“I just think that-” before Lucky could finish her thought she gets interrupted by Mareian singing.

“WOAH!” During the musical number, Mareian had let go of Lucky and started taking riskier steps especially as they got higher and higher up the mountain. Mareian had slipped off the edge of the mountain, unable to balance herself since she was still holding on to Hope with her wing, but to her surprise Hope was able to catch her before she could tumble out of control.

“Gotcha!” Hope said, pulling Mareian closer to himself. “Are you ok?” He gave her a reassuring smile.

Mareian blushed a bit. Her heart racing whether by close proximity to Hope or how she almost got the both of them seriously hurt. She shook her head and gave Hope a stern look. “Why are you still holding on to my wing? I let Lucky go so why didn’t you follow her?”

“Because this was fun!” Hope stated in his usually cheerful tone of voice. “I’m not much of a leader myself, or at least I don’t like going out on my own. It’s no fun going on adventures with no friends around to enjoy them with you, so I say you lead, I follow.”

“That doesn’t mean you can just hang on to my wing all the way there, dummy!”

“You were the one that was holding on to me.”

“Ugh, touché Mr. Journey.” Mareian conceded before she started looking around. “Where did Lucky go?”

“Up here!” Lucky’s voice echoed above them. She was at the next level of the mountain. “I think I can see the cave. Can ya’ll hurry up on in here?”

“Oh! Sheer mountain climbing, that sounds fun!” Hope trots up to the mountain side and begins to place his forehooves on it. He slips as he is about to place a hind hoof on the mountain. “Ha… a little help please?”

Mareian rolls her eyes. With her heartbeat steady, she lifted up Hope as the two of them practically flew to make it look like Hope was climbing up a 95-degree angle. His smile ever so vibrant as they were able to catch up to Lucky. The three of them were able to spot the entrance to the dragon’s den.

“There it is.” Mareian said looking at the cave emanating smoke before looking back at her two earth pony companions. “Now which one of you wants to bother it first?”

Hope had dashed to the opening of the den almost immediately upon the question Mareian asked. He stuck his head inside. “Hello! Mr. Dragon! We are here to make friends!” Hope pulls his head out and looks at Mareian and Lucky. “I think he’s asleep!”

“It is already past noon an’ dis dragon gone be sleepin’ in al day? Not on my watch it ain’t.” Lucky went to the den as well. She picked up a rock and chucked it inside. “Wake up consarn it!” A low rumble shook the mountain. While the smoke did stop, out came a red and yellow adult dragon rubbing his head with his claw. Mareian’s eyes widened as she zipped over to Hope and Lucky who were firmly grounded and unmoving with smiles upon their faces.

“Sorry to bother you. We of Ponyville came to ask you to be our friend.” Hope said.

“Apologies fer throwing that there rock at ya. The day’s halfway over and we couldn’t wake ya with our words.” Lucky apologized.

“Yeah, the residents of Ponyville are a bit scared of the smoke coming out of the mountain, so why don’t you come on down to Ponyville and show every pony there that you’re not so mean and scary. Our friend, Cookies makes some of the best baked good. I bet he can make you the best pancake you’ve ever had.”

“WHY ARE YOU TALKING TO THE ANGRY GIANT DRAGON!? RUN!” Mareian screamed at the two unmoving earth ponies.

“It’d be darned rude to run away from a dragon without ‘splainin’ why yer botherin dem in da first place.” Lucky told the Pegasus before looking back at the dragon. “Ya know, how ‘bout we do introductions. I’m Lucky! Lucky Horseshoes at yer convenience.”

“I’m Hopeful Journey, but you can call me Hope for short or Mr. Journey I actually like that one.”

“And I’m afraid.”

The two earth ponies looked back at the Pegasus. “I thought ya’lls name were Facin’ North?”

“I thought your name was Mareian?”

“Razer.” The dragon let out a low growl. This left Mareian frozen in fear.

“Alrighty then, Razer. Les get on down t’ Ponyville and show’em all ya ain’t that big of a bad guy. Here, lemme close yer cave fer ya.” Lucky bucked the side of the mountain which causes a piece of it to slide into a perfect position to act as a door for the cave albeit a door too big for a pony to open. “Let’s walk n’ talk since I ain’t a big fan of flying an all.” Lucky begins her walk down the mountain followed by the dragon.

“Come on Mareian, let’s go!” Hope grabs Mareian by the hoof, causing her to lose balance, but thankfully Hope was there to support her. “We’re gonna befriend a dragon today! Isn’t that amazing!?” The sparkle in Hope’s deep blue eyes and his toothy grin shines in the bright daylight. Instinctively, Mareian’s wings shot up and soon started flying, being dragged in the air by Hope like a kite.

“So anyway, Mr. Razer, whatcha doin’ all da way up in dat mountain of yers anyways?” Lucky asked the dragon as she slid down the mountainside to the next ledge.

“Treasure.” The dragon said after merely leaping to the next ledge. Hope practically surfed on his hind hooves while holding onto Mareian like a paraglide.

“Ain’t ya excited on making new pony friends Mr. Razer?”

“You ponies are… intriguing.” The dragon replied in a tone that would briefly stop Mareian from flapping her wings as she now begins trotting with Hope, the two holding hooves, yet her wings still up stiff.

“I know!” Hope retorted. “My sister goes around all of Equestria making sure all the weather is up to standards and my brother is out making experimental music with his new friends. If that isn’t ‘intriguing’ then I don’t know what is, Razer.”

“The two of you… no fear at the sight of a dragon.”

“Ya’ll ain’t the first dragon we’d done seen. Scales, when standin’ upright, is ‘bout da size of our princess. Yet he is somehow able to hide on that Pegasus right there.”

“Could you not call me out like that.” The green dragon emerged off of an unflinching Mareian. “It’s called, circumference by the way.”

“You ponies are… VERY intriguing.” Razer said again.

“Not sure if this is what EC wanted but I am not going to stick around to find out. If she asks, tell her that I’m that dragon.” Scales says pointing to Razer before flying off. “I don’t care if I’m lost without you, better than being in your chaos!”

“Bye Scales!” Hope waves goodbye to his dragon friend while maintaining his balance on Mareian. He looks over to Razer. “I just want to make as many friends as a pony can. Whether it be pony or not, I cherish every type of relationship I’ve had! That’s why I’m the element of the magic of friendship! Dragon, griffon, pony, or creature, we’ll be friends. It’s nice to meetcha.” The way Hope expresses his enthusiasm for friendship causes Razer to give the first genuine smile he ever had in his lifetime.

“I like you… Mr. Journey, was it?” The dragon asked.

Hope Rapidly nodded his head, turning into a blur of a white smile and red mane on an orange body. “Well, it’s not really a surname. Don’t know much about my real parents except for the fact that they left me a basket with my name on it. Even then the family I got adopted into don’t use surnames they just have two first names it seems. A bit odd but I was never a mathematician, so there could be a pony with infinite names. And what about you? Is Razer a surname or how do dragon families work?”

“Dragons… are complicated… With the way the dragon kingdom rules a majority of dragons without a biological family and instead they are organized by egg groups.”

“Ohh. Those are like family.” Hope said. “A family of friends is like a family.”

“Ah mean, I gots a big family, so seeing and being with those you hatched out with would kinda make ya like family I guess?” Lucky added.

The dragon chuckles. “In a way… you’re right.”

It wasn’t long before the group made their way into Ponyville. The residents looked at the group in terror. One painter pony was working on painting of a bowl of fruit, saw the group and panickily painted before rushing into their home. The painting had become a dark and dreary one with a dragon breathing fire in the background as a hat wearing pony officiates a wedding between a Pegasus and earth pony.

“Over there is the residential.” Hope pointed and somehow maintaining his balance on the still shocked and stunned Mareian. “That over there is the treehouse library place. There’s town hall and over there is the theater. Lucky and I played there last weekend with my brother and the baker I was talking about earlier.”

“Gosh, all ya’ll ponies actin like ya never seen a dragon before even though one lives here. AND he nearly burned down the theater. So don’t ya’ll act like a dragon ain’t been here.”

“Hmmm… Nice place.” Razer said uncaring for the screaming ponies nearby.

“Oh! There’s Sugar Cube Corner! That’s where Cookies is. Come on, Razer!” Hope rushes into the bakery dragging Mareian by her hoof followed by Lucky. Razer only able to slither his head through the door.

“Welcome to Sugar Cube Corner! What can I… bake… for you.” Cookies said starting off energetic before his tone became slightly more annoyed ending with a sigh. “A dragon this time, my dear Hope?”

Mareian shook her head, releasing her hoof from Hope’s hoof, and blinked a few times. “This time? Hope brings dragons to you?”

“Dragon, griffon, pony, or creature, he’ll make friends. It’s nice to meet you.” Cookies said as if he were reciting a poem. “Back at Sire’s Hollow, he brought a giraffe thinking it was a long-necked earth pony. It was a long day.”

“So, Mr. Journey… speaks the truth? How intriguing.”

“Pancakes please, Cookies.” Hope ordered for them all. Cookies went back into the kitchen while the group took a spot at a table nearest to the door so Razer could eat with them. “Of course, I would tell the truth, unless if not telling the truth was part of some elaborate roleplay like in that one table top game. I like using my imagination for fun stuff all get along with. I’d sing a song about pancakes but because I had taken it using the beats and rhymes of Pinkie Pies song, she got mad at me.”

“And I still will be mad at you, silly willy.” Pinkie Pie appeared out of nowhere to say this. “Oooh big dragon. Is it yours?”

“I belong… to nobody.” Razer said with a growl that caused all the pots and pans to shake in the building.

“PINKIE! MR. AND MRS. CAKE ARE OVER AT THE HOSPITAL. WOULDN’T IT BE IN YOUR BEST INTEREST TO BE THERE FOR THEM!?” Cookies yelled from the kitchen.

“Okie Dokey Loki!” With a salute the pink earth pony vanished in a flash. It wasn’t long until Cookies came to the group’s table, using his magic to bring them all what they wanted.

“One cup of espresso extra caffeine, one plate of a fruity deluxe, one Hopeful Journey Special, and a double triple Stacker Hopeful Fruity deluxe special with extra cream.”

Mareian was the first to chug down her drink. Hope dove his face head first into his pancakes while Lucky delicately eats her pancakes with a fork and a smile. Razer wraps his tongue around one of the three stacks of pancakes before him, pulling it into his gullet with hardly a moment to chew.

“Hmmmm… Delectable.” Razer said with a satisfied moan.

“B’old ya!” Hope said with a mouth full of soft, chocolatey pancakes in his mouth, almost choking in the process. Thankfully, Cookies used his magic to pull out some unchewed food so that Hope could breathe.

“I’ve told you countless times to eat more slowly and to enjoy your meal. Speed eating as you do will someday end you up in the hospital were I not there to save you.”

“Aww…” Hope said a bit dejected before carefully chewing and swallowing his food. “By the way Cookies, this is Razer, our new dragon friend who had caused the smoke up in the mountain. Razer this is my childhood through adulthood friend, Cookies N Cream.” Hope introduced the two.

“You are a… rather talented baker.” Razer said with a smile as he goes for another stack of pancakes.

“Glad to know my culinary capabilities reach to more than just ponies. I thank you for finding such kind words to say, Mr. Razer.” Cookies thanked the dragon with a prideful smile before heading back into the kitchen.

“I feel a… poking sensation.”

“WHAT IN CELESTIA’S NAME DID YOU PONIES DO!?” A voice could be heard screaming outside the bakery. Hope poked his head out the window to find the mayor with an angry look on her face. “YOU! Why is there a dragon in my town!?”

“His name is Razer and we are treating him with a Ponyville welcoming: pancakes at Sugar Cube Corner.”

The mayor’s eye twitches as though she heard an impossible tale. She places her hoof on her forehead and chuckles. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize I was speaking to the element of LAUGHTER, because there’s no way you let a DRAGON into PONYVILLE just to have lunch together?”

“Yeah that’s right. Isn’t that right, Razer?” Hope asked the dragon who responded with an affirmative growl.

“Now wait one goldarn second.” Lucky manages to squeeze her body out of the window before approaching the mayor, her hat perfectly landing on her head as she does so. “Ya’lls throwing a hissyfit ‘cause a DRAGON calmly walks into town with their PONY friends? Ain’t this jus’ racism?” Lucky confronted the mayor. “Haven’t ya’ll forgotten dat cha’all LIVE with a dragon. Ain’t no baby dragon neither, got wings an’ errythang.”

“We’ve been living with a dragon?” Ponies were starting to gather around Lucky, leaving their hiding spaces. Razer, Mareian, and Hope all exit Sugar Cube Corner.

“Yeah, but he don’t want to scare ya’ll so he jus’ sneaks around Ponyville every which way he goes. I ain’t even sure how ya’ll could jus’ collectively forget that Scales was in the talent show not too long ago.”

“That was a dragon? I thought that was an animatronic.”

“I thought the fire was a staged incident.”

“That thing lived here?”

The voices of the Ponyville citizens grew louder as their faces of fear were replaced with straight faces and some smiles.

“There ya go, there treating dragons like they’re thangs ‘nstead’ve an equal t’ ponies. Reminds me of the ongonin’ APPLEOOSA buffalo problem in all, actin like ya’ll got somethin’ t’ lose by cooperatin. The town ain’t on fire, ya’ll. The terrifyin’ smoke is gone, ya’ll. Not relocated, nor ended by some fantastical warfare, but ended by simply askin’ and befriendin. Love thy neighbor whether Pegasus, unicorn, or earth pony, so what’s the problem with adding other intelligent creatures like Razer here. They have names too so why can’t we get along with them as we do each other?” Lucky said. There was a moment of silence from all the ponies gathered around them, some giving each other concerned looks. Razer, awkwardly scratches the back of his neck.

“We befriended a DRAGON!” Hope cheered. The mood swiftly changed from concerned looks to optimistic smiles and cheers from the ponies around them. Razer smiled now that the ponies changed their tune about him being in Ponyville.

The mayor sighs. “You win this one. Just as long as Ponyville isn’t razed to the ground, I’ll see to it that dragons are more welcomed here.” She says as she heads back over to town hall.

“You ponies stood up for me… Thank you.” Razer said as he carefully strided his way out of Ponyville, making sure that he wouldn’t cause damage on his way out of town until he’d reach the outskirts where he would fly. “Goodbye… My friends!”

“Bye Razer!” Hope waved goodbye to his new dragon friend with an eager smile on his face.

“Ahem.” A voice coughed besides Hope and Mareian. It was EC who had a scroll with the markings ‘Dear Princess Celestia,’ at the top of the parchment hovered around her with a feather pen and ink. “So, you’ve solved the dragon problem. Might there be a lesson learned from all this to report to Celestia to?”

“I din’t learn nuthin.” Lucky stated.

“Can’t say I learned anything besides friendship being awesome.” Hope added.

“Give me that.” Mareian took the feather and ink and started writing on the scroll for a good minute before giving it back to EC. “Here, now if any of you need me I’m going to have a relaxing stay at the day spa.” With that said, Mareian trotted off.

A gray Pegasus mare in a postal service uniform came over to Luck and gave her an envelope before she quickly went back to her mail route. Lucky quickly tore open the letter and began reading, a wide smile forming on her face as she does so. “YAHOO!!!” She tosses her hat up in the air and begins to dance with the hat perfectly landing back on her head again. “Imma be on da radio. Imma be on da radio.” She sang.

“Hmm the radio?” EC asked.

“Yepperooni. I mailed in to enter a raffle and I won the grand prize of bein’ the special guest for this Weekend Wrapup.” Lucky replied. “Imma be on da radio. Imma be on da radio.” Lucky continued to sing.

“She’s gonna be on the radio. She’s gonna be on the radio.” Hope joined in on the singing and dancing.

“This weekend? That’s Luna’s coronation. Aren’t you going to the coronation as well?” EC asked.

“Oh, I’m sure I’ll figure somethin’ out don’t you worry.” Lucky said as Hope continued to sing. “I’m Lucky!”

Over at Canterlot castle, Professional ponies scramble around to set up for the coronation ceremony. Princess Celestia sits at her throne while a carpenter works on a smaller throne next to it. Luna sits on the ground next to her sister with a rather bored expression on her face. It wasn’t long until a trail of fire came above her and formed an unopened scroll. Celestia uses her magic to open it and begins reading.

Dear Princess Celestia,

EC asked us to write to you on what we learned today and it doesn’t feel like we learned anything that made since. There was a dragon looming over Ponyville and instead of sending the royal guards to send the dragon packing, you have your Loyal Student decide on how to solve the problem and she sends the element of generosity, kindness, and whatever the sixth element Hope is supposed to represent. You want to know what we ended up doing to the dragon?

WE BEFRIENDED IT!

Through blind luck and hopeful determination, courtesy of Lucky and Hope, we managed to have a nice pancake and coffee meal without destroying anything except for the calm that all the residents had before we came in with a dragon. Somehow Lucky and Hope turned it into a race issue and like that the residents became welcoming to dragons.

What did we learn? Just because we’re the youngest of our group does not mean we can’t take on a dragon. Racism against dragons is like racism against buffalos: bad. And I could really go for a spa day after this.

See you at Luna’s coronation,

Facing North.

“Hey Luna, you know who the elements of harmony are, right?” Celestia asked her sister.

“Thou art referring to Hopeful Journey, Alto Tenor, Cookies Neapolitan Cream, Enchanted Crown, Lucky Horseshoes, and Facing North, yes?”

“That last one yeah. The name isn’t familiar to me.”

“That would be because most ponies refer to her as the ‘mare librarian’ to the point the two words combined into Mareian.”

“Oh right, haha. I’m so glad those ponies became such good friends with you.”

“And I as well. It has been millennia since I felt that form of happiness.”

“Yeah.” Celestia said before she laughed a bit more. “Friendship is weird.”