I am shivering... I am shivering so darn much that each time I lift my hooves to continue walking, they are shaking like I haven't eaten in decades... Ugh... I knew that we are heading to the tallest mountain, where there were ice around that area, but, Spike and I were still four mountains away, yet the area we're on is already covered in a white blanket of snow... And speaking of Spike, my little companion is also shivering very badly from the cold. Also, every time we exhale, there's a white puff coming out from our nostrils. And oh, it's snowing lightly here...
Sheesh... I was soaked from the light drizzle, and here I am, freezing myself to death... I could even feel the frozen water on my coat. Shaking them off wouldn't make a difference though...
I stopped on the edge of the path I was on. I took a look down below, and I gulped. Yep, it's a one-way ticket to doom. I turned my attention ahead and saw a cave on the wall of another mountain four or five meters from me. It's pretty reachable, I thought. I just need to run and jump to get there.
"Spike," I called as I started walking back. "You may need to hold on tight."
As an answer, I felt him tighten his grip around my neck. After I was satisfied with the distance I made, I started running towards the edge of the path with the speed I could muster out of this cold pony body of mine. I jumped, and landed inside the cave, and skidded to a stop.
Wow, that actually felt pretty good. But that feeling was instantly shook away as I shivered from the cold. Ugh...
---
I jumped on the path on the last mountain. Finally, we're already on the tallest mountain. Well, no, not literally. Anyway, I started walking the path that is spiraling all the way to the cave near the summit...
---
I was now standing in front of a huge mouth of the cave. The wind here is pretty darn strong and the cold of the snow made everything for me much worse than ever. Disregarding the black smoke crawling out from the ceiling of the cave, I went inside and instantly felt glad of how warm it was. Well, not really that warm but at least—
"Fluttershy?" I exclaimed, my voice slightly echoing all around the fairly-lit cavern. Meters in front of me was no other than Fluttershy herself, wearing a black scarf that wrapped around her neck. I smiled, but I instantly wiped it off after noticing her angry frown. "W-what's going on? Why are y—" I cut myself off after just noticing the giant dark-green dragon lying asleep on the large piles of gems a few meters behind the pegasus. And yes, there really is smoke coming out from the dragon's large nostrils each time it exhales. I blinked twice before shaking my head slightly and turning my attention back at the frowning pegasus. "...uh... Why are you here?" I asked with a low voice this time.
"I should ask you to leave, Gold Blitz," Fluttershy said with a calm tone, yet it strangely sounded very fierce.
It was warm here, and I am really thankful for that but I was still shivering. Probably, the cold inside me is coming out. I frowned at the pegasus. "Sorry, but that ain't happening." I shook my head. "Also, you didn't answer my question."
She blinked, but held her angry expression. She opened her mouth, let it hang open for a few short seconds before closing it again. She inhaled as she closed her eyes. She shook her head slightly, and then exhaled. She then opened her eyes, and gave me a glare. "I'm telling you to leave. Now would be a good time."
I don't like how she's asking me to leave. I came here for a reason, even though I still have no idea how to deal with that reason of mine. I countered her glare with my own as I took a step forward. "Look, I just got here, and no, I am not leaving." I shook my head. "Not after I'm done dealing with that sleeping dragon behind you..."
We glared at each other for a minute before she sighed, her ears drooping as she turned her head and stared at the dragon. "She's not sleeping..." Oh, the dragon's a she, huh? No idea how that'd be useful. "...she's dying..." That took me by surprise. I blinked as Fluttershy turned back to me with an angry stare. "...and so is your dragon..."
What? My drago— "Spike!" I cried, immediately realizing that he didn't even loosen his grip on me right before I was to run and jump earlier! I turned my head, but I couldn't see him other than his tail. I just now realized how cold his hands are around my neck, and I felt that he buried his face behind my neck. "Spike!"
"H-huh?" came Spike's very low voice as he lifted himself up slightly, removing his arms around my neck. "O-oh, you jumped already, huh—?" He fell off of my back, and he stayed lying on the ground, no matter how much I nudged him with my hoof. His eyes were barely open, and his breathing was too darn shallow and slow.
"Hey! Darn it Spike! Why didn't you say anything!?" I shook him until something glittered on the edge of my eye. Turning to its source, I found a green gem lying a foot away from me. I reached out and grabbed it, and flashed it right in front of Spike's bluish face as I tried to force myself to smile. "L-l-look Spike," I said through trembling lips. "It's a deliciously-looking gem!" Nothing... Nothing... Darn it! I tossed the gem away angrily.
"Baby dragons aren't supposed to be out here in the cold..." Fluttershy calmly said, but it felt like a powerful slap right to my face.
Darn it! Is that why Spike didn't come with them to stop the dragon in the cartoon series!? Spike's eyes closed. "Darn it Spike!"
"Hhhnnnggg... I wanna...wanna...sleep..." he breathed out while I was shaking him in my grasp.
Darn it... I put him back on the ground gently and quickly glared at Fluttershy.
Fluttershy only shook her head. "Gold, you can turn back so you can save him, or..." I already know what she'll say next, and I glared at her some more. "...you can stay here and leave him to die..." She smiled, "You're not that selfish, aren't you? Just look a—"
"Shut up!" I cut her off. "You knew there's a dragon here from the start! You knew all along what caused the sky to darken! But you kept quiet! Just because of a stupid dying beast!"
"How dare you!" Fluttershy shouted back, but her voice made it feel like she wasn't shouting at all, but I didn't care. She flared her wings and took a brave step forward. "She is not a beast! She is a poor little dragon who just needs to rest!"
I suddenly felt guilty for calling that dragon a beast... It also sounded like I called Spike one... Gah! "Rest!? REST!? For how long!?"
"I don—"
"Can't you see what's her resting is doing to Equestria!?"
"Equestria? What are y—"
"And you didn't even said anything about baby dragons not suitable in this kind of weather!" I took two steps forward. "You tricked me! You tricked us!"
"I had to! I'm protecting her from ponies like...like you!" She dared taking a step forward.
"You are too kind, Fluttershy!" I snarled as I took another step forward. "Too kind that it made you go blind to see what is happening to the world outside!"
"That's not true!" She shook her head. "I took care of the ponies inside the castle! I too—"
"No you did not!" I shouted. I was about to add more, but I realized that if this goes on, Spike's condition will probably go worse! "Step aside!"
But she stomped the ground. "No! Stay away from her!"
I lowered my body, preparing to kick the ground with my hind hooves. I glared at the pegasus who is blocking my way. "Make me..." I kicked the ground, instantly sending me towards the startled pegasus and tackling her off the ground.