//------------------------------// // Chapter 14: In the Shadows // Story: The Wackiness of Unofficial Life // by edward18 //------------------------------// Chapter 14: In the Shadows OC's head tilted upwards. He'd felt something. Something...dark...a primitive nature. Some swirling vileness deep down in the dark depths of his mind's eye. A...presence. It was distant...but it was there. And it was getting closer. Across time and space he felt it approaching. A malevolent entity. One of despair and chaos. Death and destruction. A compilation of unimaginable power. It sent quivers through his every atom. He'd never felt such a hate, such a force before in his entire existence. Nothing in Equestria rivaled its abilities. Not alone... It could be the end...the end...of everything... "HI!" Pinkie Pie screamed causing the smaller figure to rocket into the ceiling. It took the dragon-based being a lot shorter of a time to regain his composure when compared to the others that Pinkie interacted with due to his more serious and determined nature. Robotically he dropped back to the floor and looked at the pink pony. "Hi," he muttered back. A grin that shouldn't have been able to fit on her face appeared and she started to prance around. "I'm supposing you want me to guess what it is that you're so happy about..." "Nah, I'll just tell ya!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed snapping a bib and diaper on him as she talked. OC contemplated whether he should just rip the items off or see where exactly this deranged path was headed. "...well?..." "It's baby sitting day!" Pinkie Pie cheered, "The Cakes have a big order to fill today so I get to hang out with the kids!" In a rather calm manner, the gas-masked hero took the juvenile clothing off and flung them away. "...so this was just so you could shoehorn the Cake's kids into the story?" he asked partly in disbelief. "Well duh!" Pinkie Pie stated, "I mean they're new characters! You gotta acknowledge that they exist in order to peak the interest of the reader!" The pony could hardly contain the laughter that rippled through her body from the excitement. She knew it was going to be a great day. OC on the other hand had walked over to the window. "Yeah, well...have fun with that," he told her as he opened the window. Without another word he hopped out and started leaping across the rooftops of Ponyville. "YOU TOO!" Pinkie Pie called after him. --- Casually Spike munched through his bowl of gems. After all the hard work he did sweeping up all the mess that Rarity's apparent clothing disaster from yesterday had caused around the library he sure had worked up an appetite. And as far as he was concerned he definitely deserved the reward. He internally moaned at the pleasure that the sweetness of the ruby brought to his taste-buds. In another pocket of his cheek a sapphire pressed up against his teeth allowing him to suck in its own flavor in filtration. The dragon could feel his cheeks heating up from the sensation. "Thank's again for making breakfast," Twilight said from her spot where she was devouring her own meal. "What's a number one assistant for?" Spike asked proudly spitting out a few bits of the gems. Owlowicious let out a hoot causing the two to laugh. As composure regained in Spike he took another bite and looked around the room slowly. With realization his bites loosened. "Hey Twilight...I think we're in the story right now..." After a few blinks the unicorn's eyes widened and she spat out the bite of cereal that she'd taken. "Quick! Spike! Make interesting plot!" she ordered. Hastily the dragon and pony rushed around looking for anything they could find to entertain the viewers. "Um, hey Twilight! I just threw a bunch of books on the floor by accident!" Spike yelled tearing the pieces of literature out of their shelves. Twilight's jaw dropped and she clasped her cheeks in fright. "Oh no! Whatever shall we do!" she cried. In a misshapen manner she started circling her beloved books, "I know we've had such emergencies before, but not like this! We need help!" "An expert!" Spike declared thrusting a finger into the air, "Someone who can not stand messes!" "RARITY!" the exclaimed together. --- "Oh don't worry Applejack, Winona will be just fine if she stays off of the paw for a while," Fluttershy told the earth pony. Gently she put the dog down so that it could crawl over to its master. Truly a better plot had been found. Winona looked up at Applejack and let out a happy woof once she'd adjusted to the cast on her back leg. Giving a smile back to the pet, the pony hopped around provoking Winona to do the same. It was a bit limp in her skip but it managed. "Why shoot, she should be back to her old self in no time!" Applejack agreed rubbing her hoof playfully into the smaller creature's head urging another woof out of her, "Ain't dat right ya little varmint? Thanks a bundle as always Fluttershy! Don't know what we'd do without yer scary knowledge of animals!" "Oh your guys' pets would probably all die," the medic replied nonchalantly. It only took her a millisecond to realize what she'd responded with and put a hoof over her mouth to accompany the odd stare she received. "I uh mean um...they would probably do just fine on their own and heal up naturally!" Fluttershy giggled nervously and gulped. An awkward silence blew through the cottage. "So...ya heard about the little clothing disaster?" Applejack tried to break the tension. "Oh yeah yeah," Fluttershy edged back to normality, "Saw the whole thing happening from her. But don't worry, it'd have never gotten us. I made sure that this place was locked up tight enough to survive a nuke!" The pegasus' usual companion, Angel, nodded its head in confirmation. Applejack just giggled at the concept. "Us? We were gonna go down fightin'!" Applejack proclaimed throwing a hoof in the air, "Why dear ol' Granny Smith had her M9 Shammalon rarin' ter go! I figured that we'd at least buy some time for Apple Bloom and her friends. Thought she was at the club house...that is until we done found out that they were the cause of the whole mess!" Applejack cocked a brow at the last statement she made. "Not those little angels!" Fluttershy gasped. "The very same," Applejack stated, "Now don't you worry none, not too much punishment we're giving her on account oh how disastrous an experience it musta been already on her end. But-oh shoot! I need to get back to make sure she's done bucking all the apples in the east orchard! Thanks a million Fluttershy! We gotta jet! Come on Winona!" Not even bothering to let the dog try out her athletic skills in her new confinements, Applejack simply picked the dog up by the neck and dashed out the door. Once they were out of sight across the hill in the distance Fluttershy stopped waving and walked back to clean up her medical table. Just as she was about to put the last of the supplies away though something caught her. "Oh dear," Fluttershy said quietly upon inspecting the item closer. It was Winona's collar. In the hurry Applejack must have forgotten it. She strapped it around her hoof as carefully as possible so as not to break any of it in case it were fragile. "Angel, I'll be back soon. In the meantime I'm counting on you to hold down the fort!" Fluttershy alerted. The loyal second in command gave its salute and grabbed a carrot as its weapon. After giving a stern nod Fluttershy turned to the door and exited. She knew that in angel's paws everything would be okay. Getting to Applejack's however was much longer than she thought it'd be. Though the earth pony left a clear trail in her determined run, it was by no means as easy a trek when compared to when she'd cut through Ponyville to get to the farm. But she felt a bit adventurous today. A notion she'd soon regret. Without warning the ground trembled beneath her. The yellow pegasus' pupils shrunk and risked a glance downward. Cracks were forming out from where she'd stepped. And the trembling wouldn't stop. Paralyzed with fear, Fluttershy let out little more than a squeak when the fragile floor finally caved in. Only her mind was able to scream as much as she desired. Downwards she fell. Deeper...and deeper...and deeper into the underground of Equestria. Had she not been such a coward she could have simply flown away. But that was not her nature. No, she was doomed to drift helplessly along the whims of whatever preyed on her. And so Fluttershy found herself dumped into a damp dark underground cavern with hardly any light aide her. Her knees shook with fear. --- "So let me get this straight..." Rarity's eyes trailed between her two guests. She was still a bit worn down from the whole fabric-flooding ordeal the other day. "You two want me to help you...clean up a pile of...books..." she said slowly. Rapidly Spike and Twilight nodded their heads, smiles plastered hopefully on their faces. Again her eyes looked them over. Desperation hung behind the masks they wore. "A task that both of you deal with daily..." she continued. Again they nodded. "...didn't realize the story was focusing on you?" "Didn't realize the story was focusing on us," Twilight admitted kicking the ground a bit causing her and Spike to blush in embarrassment. Rarity's eyes glowered. "Some main characters you are," she grumbled, "I mean that's the best conflict you two can think up? I have a whole chapter of insanity buildup to a major town-threatening issue and you two just throw some books on the floor thinking that'll suffice? Fuck you!" With that the more fashionably centered unicorn slammed the door in the duo's faces. After a few seconds Spike and Twilight turned their heads to look at each other. "Beg?" Spike suggested. "Beg," Twilight repeated. Perhaps it was the banging of their hooves and fists on the front door of the Carousel Boutique that brought the attention. But whatever it had been, the eavesdropper was glad that she'd been drawn to the location of the purple unicorn and the baby dragon. Her horn glowing with ideas of how to exact her revenge on them, a grin spread across Trixie's face from the bushes nearby. --- Save for the occasional drop of water that echoed throughout the hollowed catacombs beneath the magical land, all was silent. Fluttershy hadn't uttered even a peep since she'd entered the new environment. Even if she had worked up the courage to fly, she couldn't have exited the way she'd entered. The cave-in had blocked that off. Instead she was doomed to wander the seemingly endless caverns. She didn't know how far she'd gone but she knew it couldn't be much knowing how paralyzed she was whenever something scared her. Even so, she didn't recognize any of the territory she'd trekked once adjusting to the dim lighting. She at least wasn't just going in circles. But then something startled her. All of a sudden she'd heard something. A dark deep scary groan of some sort... "Um..hello?..." Fluttershy's voiced creeped wearily out of her. There was no response. That didn't stop her from turning around a few times just to be sure she was alone. Though she hated the feeling of the absolute isolation, it was welcome to some situations. With the author having a rhyme out of the way that Zecora would be proud of, Fluttershy cautiously continued to tip toe through the tunnels. An echo sounded with each hoof fall. At least she knew that she could only be afraid of herself if her steps were the only thing bothering her. But there was something else in there. She could feel it. And again she heard the groaning. This time her eyes became the size of dinner plates and she dashed to the nearest wall she could. The sound had come from right ahead of her! It couldn't be too far off! Fluttershy's chest lifted up and down faster. Her breathing quickened and her body shook in fright. The pegasus cringed at the swarms of monsters that invaded her mind. It could have been anything that was waiting to devour her or cut her to ribbons! Her...alone...trapped in a cave...a dark cave deep deep beneath where any other pony lived...with a monster just waiting for the time to strike...helpless and defenseless against the dark hand of death. She'd never wished more in her life that she could have been like Rainbow Dash. But waiting around wouldn't solve anything. Mustering all the courage she could, Fluttershy gave the last gulp she ever thought she would and slid out from where she was hiding. Around the corner of an upcoming wall a light could be seen lingering behind it. She had a few more seconds at the least. But she was going to find out what it was. Her legs wouldn't stop moving. Her body was determined to quench the curiosity welling within her. Though she felt that she'd regret it, Fluttershy put a hoof out from behind the corner and then another. Once all four were present she gulped once more and cranked her head to the side to get a view of what lay beyond. Fluttershy was surprised to say the least. What was spread out before her calmed her. A cozy fire had been made to light up the portion of the cave. On the wall were dug various alcoves that had been filled to the brim with all manners of gems and jewels. Rarity would've gone into a coma from the sight of such a find. All notions of fear, if only for that moment, had vanished from her mentality. But what intruiged the pegasus the most was the form the sat in front of the fire with its back to her. "S...Spike?..." Fluttershy practically whispered. Upon giving it some thought it could have just been some other baby dragon, but either way she'd found civilization. With a newfound hope, the pony pranced over to the sitting figure. "Oh Spike, you don't know how relieved I am that I found...Spike?..." The form certainly looked like him. A copy even. But the coloring was quite a bit faded. Despite the look, there was a rather musty odor around it. Ignoring the warnings that clawed at the depths of her mind, Fluttershy reached out a hoof and tapped the dragon on the back. The touch was dry. She finally received a reaction however. Slowly the baby dragon turned to look at her. Fluttershy's scream rang throughout the entire cave system. --- The pegasus' eyes fluttered open unwillingly. The dream she'd had had been one of the worst she'd ever experienced. Getting lost in a cave and finding that...thing...and...Fluttershy clenched her eyes closed. It couldn't be true. What she could see was still the nightmare she'd fallen into! There she lay in the lair of that thing filled with rubies and sapphires and emeralds while the fire cackled away nearby. All she could do was pray that the setting was gone when she opened them again...it wasn't. Her head rattled around as she scanned the area for the torn creature. It wasn't anywhere in sight. At least not until she looked straight up. There it was perched over her. Fluttershy opened her mouth to scream but nothing came out. All she could do was stare into its curious mangled face. The left half of the face wasn't so bad, but the right would make most of the participants in Nightmare Night envious. What should have been a normal replica of the other half was a torn mess. The skin was decaying and ripped exposing the shiny bone beneath. Now that she could make it out the right leg also had most of its skin and muscle gone. It was made all the more uncanny by the fact that the creature didn't seem to even realize that it should be in excruciating pain. It just stared down at her as if studying some newfound bunny rabbit. After what seemed like an eternity it finally spoke. "Flu-tter...shy..." it said slowly. It was a raspier version of Spike's voice. But it had spoken her name. Though she was still frightened, the pegasus wobbled to a standing position and looked down at the malformed baby dragon. Other than the obvious scars it didn't seem threatening at all. It was just curious. "He...hello..." Fluttershy whimpered. "Hel-lo," it responded pausing a bit between the syllables as though it were putting the word together as it went along. Fluttershy and the being just looked each other over for a while. "Who are you?..." she eventually asked. It blinked and peered at her hoof. "Wi...no...na..." the baby dragon read slowly. Realizing what he saw Fluttershy looked down and giggled. She'd forgotten that she was still wearing Winona's collar on the hoof. "No no, this is the name of Applejack's dog," she explained. "Dog!" it laughed. Fluttershy couldn't help but join in the amusement. "Do you have a name?..." she asked. It smiled and clapped. "NAME!" it exclaimed in another fit of laughter, "Fluttershy! Name! Party!" The pegasus' brows bent in sympathetic happiness. No longer sensing any fear from the odd specimen, she knelt down next to it and put the collar around its neck. "Well just for convenience let's call you Winona Junior okay?" she suggested. Winona Jr. grinned and gave the pony a hug causing her cheeks to redden. Glad to have found a non-hostile companion, she returned the embrace. "Now...let's see about getting you patched up," Fluttershy said. --- A snicker rippled out from behind a tree. From there Trixie had the optimum view of what all was going on in the one next door. She could see clearly into the window. Though the white unicorn was still complaining, she seemed to have finally agreed to help the purple one and her friend. From where she was perched Trixie figured that they were just now finishing up. That was her cue. With the glow of her horn the books that the group had finally restacked rattled and shot back out. Twilight and Spike looked at the pile and then at Rarity who glared back at them. "Honestly Twilight, you've milked this enough," she muttered picking the books back up and shoving them into the shelf again. And again they ejected from their placement. Now Rarity's eye twitched. "I said knock it off!" she hissed. "That wasn't me!" Twilight told her picking up the books herself this time. Before they could even be inserted they pulled against Twilight's magic. Gritting her teeth she clung to the knowledge-filled objects and fought back with as much force as possible. The magic that she competed with felt familiar...but stronger. Some residue was left of something that had enhanced it. In the end it was a wasted effort. The books were torn from her grasp and pulled clean out the front door. "After them!" she ordered. The group tore chase across Ponyville trying to get the the books back each chance they could get. Trixie meanwhile was hopping across roofs and treetops just out of sight of her victims. Her grin grew ever wider. She was finally getting at least a little bit of payback for all the humiliation that the ponies had put her through. And with primary target no less! But the books weren't enough. She knew there were much more satisfying ways to exact her judgment. That's why she was leading the group further and further to the outskirts of Ponyville. Unbeknown to her however, a smaller figure was keeping a rather close eye on her being sure to keep a few roofs behind her with each leap she made. --- "There we go!" Fluttershy said happily setting the bandages she'd found lying in some of the treasue that the Spike-look-a-like had horded down next to him, "All wrapped up. And with that ointment we gave you any pains and aches your injuries might have had should be going away also." Though obviously not able to understand what at all Fluttershy was talking about, the dragon smiled and hugged her. "Fluttershy!" it laughed. Said pony's cheeks reddened at the affection and she nuzzled it back. Now that all the problems with the baby dragon that she could tell were taken care of though, it was time to get down to business. "Um, you're welcome," she said politely as she pulled away, "But um...do you know a way out of this cave?...if you don't mind showing me of course. It must be getting late and I doubt my bunny can keep the cottage battened down forever...if it's no problem that is..." The Spike blinked and laughed. "Fluttershy funny!" it clapped its hands. Her brows lifted at the remark. It'd actually said a phrase that made sense! "You can...talk?..." she asked slowly. Happily it nodded its head. "Me Winona Junior!" it laughed, "Me supposed to throw party and protect ponies! Me make happy fun times! You talk lots more than me know though..." Fluttershy gave the smaller being a half hearted smile of her own. The creature obviously hadn't been fully educated...but...if it knew how to talk...how did it know how to talk?... "Winona...there wouldn't happen to be other...creatures down here with you would there?..." Fluttershy asked. The expression that followed was one the pegasus wouldn't have expected. The baby dragon's brows slanted and a frown formed on its mouth. "They not good people," it told her, "You no want to party with them..." Now Fluttershy gave a similar expression. "Are...are they the ones that gave you those um...injuries?" she bit her lip. The baby dragon just looked down at his leg. Though the skeleton beneath had been silvery and much harder than she'd expect bone to be, it was still a glaring error in the biology of the creature that sat before her. "Few come down here alive to begin with..." it told her, "And those that do...they mean...they few but they bad..." Fluttershy knew she was afraid from the newfound information but more than anything she felt sympathy for the mangled creature. It was just trying to get by and survive apparently. All things considered she was lucky to have run into it and not the others. Even so...she did need to get out of the cave. For her sake if nothing else. "Is there a way back up to the um...surface?..." she stuttered. The baby dragon looked up at her and then back down at his feet before getting up. "It take a while, but me know the way," it told her, "Thank you for making me a mummy. Me look better now." Fluttershy tried not to giggle at the creature's limited vocabulary and knowledge. "It's no problem at all," she replied. --- Even though they'd been wandering for what seemed like miles, fear would not stop coursing through Fluttershy's fragile frame. A presence that she would have otherwise not noticed was all too able to be felt now that she'd been informed of the other cave-dwellers...whatever they may be...but they were there...watching...waiting... Deciding it best to just ignore the feeling, Fluttershy followed as quietly behind Winona Jr. as possible. Even in his consistent steps she could feel the fear that enveloped even him. Fluttershy couldn't help but shudder. The fear, the utter terror of the unknown crept along her spine vertebrae by vertebrae. She gulped down the tension that was building in her throat. No. It wasn't the fear of what couldn't be seen. There was something more to it. A pure undiluted vileness that lurked in the shadows. That which nightmares themselves would shun. It was as though everything she'd ever been afraid of was merged within the inescapable darkness. Nightmare Moon's bold terrifying form. Discord's malevolent laugh that debuted his first physical appearance to her. The enormous dragon that she'd eventually overcome for the sake of her friends. It was all there. Every last bit of fright constantly nipping at her. It was unlike anything she had ever felt before in her life. If there was ever moment she worried that she might die of fear it was then. "We keep moving," Winona Jr. tugged at the pegasus' pink hair snapping her back to reality. Fluttershy hadn't realized that she'd frozen to a standstill. "R-right-t..." her teeth chattered. It took all her effort to do so, but she managed to lift a leg and put it back down in front of her. Then another. With the baby dragon's companionship Fluttershy managed her way through the rest of the path. Upon reaching their destination Fluttershy looked down. She could actually see the ground. Squinting she peered upwards. There was a hole in the ceiling where daylight poured down from! "Oh Winona Jr. thank you!" she hugged the smaller being, "But...how do we get out?..." The baby dragon gave her a curious look. "You flap wingies?" he suggested causing Fluttershy to blush and her eyes to shrink. "Oh um...I'm not really the best flier..." she muttered as her cheeks continued to redden. Before either of them could continue the conversation however a light thumping sound echoed from the darkness. Fluttershy cringed. They'd run out of time. From the front, the left, and the right there were pairs of glowing red eyes approaching. "That which does not become one with I," an unspeakably dark voice uttered from the right one's mouth. "Shall become one with-" Winona Jr. and Fluttershy turned their heads to the one now speaking at the left. "The void..." the one in front of them finished. The two untainted inhabitants of the cave hugged each other tightly. --- "Oh come on!" Twilight yelled at the books. They'd been chasing the blocky objects all around Ponyville and now had followed them into the Everfree Forest! It was insane! Rarity had contemplated just giving up and going home a few times, but the story was actually getting pretty interesting to her! Even if it was getting her quite a bit dirty Rarity pursued the dragon and purple unicorn in their quest to recover the books. All the while a third unicorn chuckled to herself. They were playing right into her hoof. Now she could finally put what she'd been working on to good use. Her revenge was at had. Finally, with everypony panting, the books finally slowed to a stopped and dropped on a patch of ground before them. "Alright!" Spike cheered as he hopped down from Twilight's back and scooped them up, "Now we can head b-yah!" Rarity and Twilight let out their own screams as the ground rocketed up from beneath them and strung them up into a net in the air. They'd been captured for some reason. The voice that followed though made them realize just who had been leading them on. "And so, the great and powerful Trixie once again captures her prey!" the blue showoff laughed finally emerging from some nearby shrubbery, "And now to exact the great and powerful Trixie's revenge! If I remember right white one I gave you a head of green last time. What color do you think you're due for today?" "No!" Rarity squealed slamming her hooves into Twilight and Spike in her vain attempts to escape the net, "NO! Stay back you foul fashion devil!" "I think polka dots would be swell too," Trixie smiled provoking even more pain for the other two captives. "And I thought I told you to cut this crap out," a deeper voice muttered. Everypony was surprised by OC's sudden appearance, Trixie herself reacting rather hesitantly towards the intrusion. "And-uh-I don't give a damn!" she bit her lip. She certainly remembered how he'd handled her last time, but she was ready now! He was right in front of her and he wasn't protected by the civilization of Ponyville seeing her antics! "Now stay out of this!" Trixie hissed shooting off a beam of energy from her horn at him. Seemingly instinctively the red doppleganger of Spike rolled out of the way and somersaulted beneath another barrage of beams. "Oh you fucking Mary Sue!" Trixie growled. "Tell that to my PARM injuries!" he yelled back taking a swipe at the pony. Fortunately for Trixie she was ready and leapt back before jabbing her horn forward into a spear of magic striking OC dead center into the chest. "Yeah, I guess you aren't one. Sorry," Trixie apologized with a grin earning a grunt from the gas-mask. Figuring it best to end the assailant as quickly as possible, OC reached his arms back and unfolded them into the cannons he'd used against PARM earning quite the surprised look from Trixie. Steadily he took aim. He knew the showoff wasn't in any state to focus her mind after seeing such an odd sight. Thankfully she did what he thought she would and took off into the forest leaving OC to fall to a knee on the ground. "Damn dragons rock," Spike complimented rubbing his hand on his chest. "Then why don't you be a dear and get us down?" Rarity suggested wrapping her forelegs around his neck and rubbing her cheek against his. Twilight rolled her eyes. Before Spike could do anything though the net gave way beneath them and they collapsed to a heap on the ground. "Ow..." Twilight groaned. "MYR HRT?" a muffled voice sounded from beneath her. The unicorn rolled away revealing the smushed baby dragon beneath. "I'm sorry, what was that?" she inquired. He glared back. "You're hurt?" Spike repeated stalely. Twilight gave an innocent smile until Rarity helped him back up. She may have needed a romantic rival for the general audience's interest, but she didn't have to like it. "You are welcome ponies," Zecora said sheathing the blade she'd used to free them. The three main characters gave her odd looks. "I got her in case I needed backup," OC explained finally getting back to his feet. Just then a scream rang out that none of them had heard that day. "Fluttershy?" Rarity, Spike, and Twilight looked around. She was nowhere to be seen. Again it sounded and they looked down. Beneath them was a crack the shown into the earth below. There was huddled the timid pony. How or why she was down there didn't matter. They needed to help her. "Zecora, do you have a rope?" Twilight asked. Not even speaking a word the Zebra revealed one from a pack she was carrying and lowered it into the hole. Fluttershy jumped a bit probably thinking it was a snake when it entered her sight and looked up. She'd never been more relieved in her entire life to see her friends. "You go, me hold them off," the baby dragon told her, "Me used to life here." Fluttershy thought about protesting for a moment but ultimately disregarded the notion. He was right. She needed to take the opportunity she had. Even as she gripped the rope she heard one of the dark creatures let out an ungodly cry and saw it leap. It looked just like another mangled baby dragon! "GO!" her companion ordered. Faster and faster Fluttershy climbed until she was hoisted onto the safe land of Equestria above. "Fluttershy?...what were you doing down there?..." Rarity asked handing her a washcloth to wipe the dirt off her. The pegasus just let out a few shuttered pants and shook her head. "I-we-baby dragon-monsters-mummy-" Spike clamped a hand over the pony's mouth. "I've had enough of this adventure stuff today. I'm going home," he grumbled, "Come on Twilight." Happy to be over with the storyline they forced on themselves they walked towards where they'd entered the forest with Rarity happily joining the departure. She'd need quite a few baths to get all of the dust out of her mane. Fluttershy meanwhile gave a worried look back down into the hole. There were no longer any signs of fighting. No shrieks of terror. No glowing red eyes. Just the ground far far below. "You must not worry for that which dwells here," Zecora told her, "such beings that scurry are used to fear." Fluttershy gave her a curious look. Did she know about the cave dwellers? OC just stuck around to make sure that nothing attacked the remaining inhabitants of the woods. But what Zecora said...was Winona Jr. really alright?...wait...the collar! She hadn't returned it to Applejack! Frightfully Fluttershy stole another glance down into the crack and jumped back a bit. She was staring down into the pink eye of the baby dragon that had helped her. With a smile on its face, Winona Jr. waved her. And Fluttershy waved back.