Fluttershy was feeding her animal friends. To be more exact, she was feeding the ferrets fish. She smiled as they took them, before saying, "I wonder if Nighthawk likes fish... I know he eats some form of meat." She flapped her wings, getting out from under the bridge, and grabbed a few worms off of the ground. She flew to the top of her tree, and threw the worms to her bird friends.
"Gross..." She whispered, trying to get the taste out of her mouth. She blushed as she noticed they were watching her, and flew down to check on Angel. He was happily munching on his carrot.
"Not to fast now Angel Bunny, you don't want to get a tummy ache."
In response, the bunny frowned at her indignantly, and tossed his carrot to the ground.
She smiled, "You really should eat more than that, don't you think?"
Angel hopped away.
She took the carrot into her mouth and spoke around it, "It's not playtime yet." She landed in front of him and set the carrot down, "I know you want to run, but just three more bites." Angel shook his head no. "Two more?" Another no. "One more. Pretty please?" She sighed as Angel kicked away the carrot.
She flew over to him as he started to cough. After a few times of trying to guess what was wrong, Angel pointed a column of smoke flowing from the nearby mountains towards Ponyville.
"Because of the scary cloud of black smoke heading towards Ponyville?" She took the carrot thrown at her head as a yes.
* * * * *
I think I was pissing off Rainbow. I dodged another telegraphed punch, and let one of my own fly, catching her in the shoulder. Because she was using her wings to balance herself in a boxer's stance, this sent her spiraling to the ground.
I used my speed to get close as she hit the ground, intending to check on her. Unfortunately, she thought it was for another attack, and shot out one of her back legs. Now, I imagine that it would of been chest level on a stallion. I, however, am a bit taller. I think I may of cried out as her leg connected in a very, very sensitive place.
"I said no... attacks below... the belt!" I manage to croak out from the fetal position on the ground. She smiled, a blush forming on her cheeks as Applejack's head snapped up to the sky.
"Uh, sugarcube? I think we may have a problem," she said, pointing out the advancing cloud of smoke covering the orchard.
"Well, fuck." I groan out. I get this nasty feeling that today's gonna suck.
* * * * *
Twilight had just told her friends to collect supplies when Nighthawk spoke up.
"Now, let me get this right, the smoke is coming from a full grown dragon, who's trying to take a nap." Nighthawk paused for a moment, and continued after Twilight nodded, "And dragons are almost as powerful as Alicons." Another nod. "And she wants you six to stop it."
"With your help, of course."
"Yeah, let the records show that I think this is a bad idea. Can you see if she'll at least lend us some guards?"
"It'd take at least a day for 'em to get here, sugarcube," Applejack said with a sigh, "We're on our own."
"Alright, why not wait until tomorrow?"
"It'd spread too far," Rainbow said, "It's already messing with wind patterns. Besides, you can bench press an Ursa, you'll be fine."
Nighthawk rubbed his shoulders as phantom pains took hold again, "Yeah, and it's still not healed. This is a bad idea."
"Scaredy cat," Pinkie smiled as she teased, sticking her tongue out.
"It's a little thing called self preservation. Look it up." As the six frowned, Nighthawk sighed. "Look, I know you guys want my help, in case things go bad. And I will be there, but this is going to be very, very bad for our collective health."
Rainbow smiled, and let out a whoop, and Fluttershy looked like she could drop dead from fright at any moment.
"Alright, we'll meet back here in a hour."
As they filed out, Nighthawk stopped Rarity.
"Do you have any fireproof material I can borrow?"
She smiled, "The mask and cape are already fire proof, dear."
* * * * *
I gotta admit, in her makeshift armor, Fluttershy is fucking adorable. Seeing that she was still shaking like a leaf, I spoke up.
"Don't worry, I won't let it hurt you."
She nodded after a moment, and continued, only to freeze up as the door swung shut behind her. Like I said, fucking adorable. I ignored the urge to pose dramatically, and carried 'Shy to Twilight's place.
When I got there, she didn't waste any time.
"Listen up, everypony. I've mapped the fastest route, but we've got to keep up a good pace if we want to make it up the mountain before nightfall."
Fluttershy looked terrified, and whispered, "M-mountain?"
"The dragon's at the top, I presume?" I cut in.
"Looks pretty cold." Applejack added.
Rainbow confirmed, and Rarity showed off her scarf. I couldn't help sighing. This is not going to go well.
* * * * *
We were only at the bottom, and I could already hear it snoring. Fluttershy hid behind Applejack, and I hoped they'd realize her crippling fear soon. Rainbow tried to fly to the top, but Applejack stopped her by biting her tail, pointing out safety in numbers. So we started to climb.
"I hear the only thing that sparkles more than a dragon's scales, are the gems it uses to build it's nest. Oh! If I play my cards right, I may get it to part with a few."
"Welcome to my cave, Rarity. Want a diamond? RAWR!" Pinkie said in what I presume was a dragon impersonation, and everyone but me, Twilight, and Fluttershy giggled. Come to think of it, Fluttershy's been pretty quiet back there.
"Come on Fluttershy." I called back to the bottom. "If I'm going to protect you, you need to be near me."
"It's... it's so steep..."
Rainbow opened her mouth to say something, but I lept down, and grabbed her, before leaping back up, causing Applejack to sigh.
"This isn't working. I'll need the map so I can take her up another way."
"Or I could carry her."
"I'll take her around."
Applejack is not someone you want to argue with, so I sighed, and passed Fluttershy to her. So much for safety in numbers.
* * * * *
It took another hour or two, but they finally made it up. I could almost hear her terror. I briefly wondered what they talked about before I pushed it out of my mind. We walked up to the nearby ravine, and I nearly laughed. They two sides were just a foot apart where we were standing, but Rainbow still put a lot of effort into jumping it, followed by the others. In an effort to get Fluttershy to follow, Pinkie even sang about it. And it would of worked if Twilight hadn't brilliantly told her not to look down.
"Be careful," I said quietly, "This looks unstable."
"The smallest noise might set it off." Another brilliant move, Twilight.
"AVALANCE!!!" Fluttershy shrieked, forcing Applejack to shove her hoof in her mouth. Tasty.
Amazingly, it didn't cause one. However, their sigh of relief did. How does this place work!?
"Instead of waiting for the rocks, why don't you run!" I screamed as we heard rumbling above us.
As they ran, I kept changing speeds to stay close, and knock rocks out of our way. Applejack and Rainbow helped the others when I was preoccupied, and Pinkie had the uncanny ability to not be where rocks were. As we got past the rocks, I saw that a large portion had covered the path ahead.
"I'm... I'm sorry..." Fluttershy panted out.
"It's no problem." Applejack said as me and Twilight tried to find a way over the rocks. Eventually, I just grabbed them one by one, and jumped past the rocks. Much faster. At least we were at the cave now.
As Rainbow cleared out the smoke, I heard Twilight tell Applejack to ready the apples in case it attacked, and I sighed again. As Twilight entered it, she didn't notice that Fluttershy wasn't with her. Serves her right for not noticing 'Shy's fear.
As their attempts to force her in failed, she finally told them she was afraid of dragons.
"But Fluttershy, you have a wonderful talent dealing with all animals," Twilight said softly.
"But not dragons."
"Come'on!" Rainbow called out, "You walked right up to a horrible manticore!"
"Yes, because it wasn't a dragon."
"Spike's a dragon, but you like him." Pinkie added.
"Spike's a dragon?" I leaned in and asked Twilight.
"Yes. I've had him since he was an egg."
"Hey, guys. Leave her alone." I said, stepping towards Fluttershy, "She's terrified."
Twilight agreed with me, and went in by herself, which shocked me. I was even more shocked when she came out a few moments later. I almost wasn't surprised when Rarity wanted to seduce it, and failed miserably. After whatever the hell Pinkie tried failed, I wanted to punch something.
Rainbow beat me to the punch though. I heard her yell "Get out!" and a sneeze. Then all hell broke lose.
The dragon threw her out like a bullet, and I barely caught her. As I looked up, the thing was coming out of it's cave, roaring. It looked at me, and flames flew from it's mouth. I dropped Rainbow, and covered both of us in my cape before I realized convection would kill us. As luck would have it, Rarity must of thought of that. Blue sigils started to glow on the inside, and it felt like I was in an air conditioned office that smelled of lavender.
After at least a full minute, the flames died down, and I threw my self at forward. The dragon reacted quickly, throwing it's wing in front of it's face. I shot past it towards the bottom of the cave, bouncing up, and shot off the top, kicking the back of it's head. Then I used it's own attempt to keep it's head from hitting the ground as a springboard, sending myself into the air. I twisted towards it, and started to levitate when I thought I was in a good position.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Rarity's horn glow, and my cape started billowing in a gentle breeze.
I dropped my voice down a bit, and called out, "I offer you one chance to stop fighting. I sugge-" I was cut off as another jet of flame shot at me, and I cut out the levitation just in time. It was charging before I hit the ground, and I was thrown to the side by it's tail. As it followed up with a stomp, I rolled out of the way, and lept forward, balling my fist.
This must be what it feels like when a normal person punches a brick wall as hard as they can.
As I scream in confused pain, I feel something in my shoulder rip. The dragon swings it's tail again, and I smash my head into the cave's mouth. I try and fail to move my arm as the world fades to black.
* * * * *
Fluttershy screamed as she saw Nighthawk thrown like a doll, and her friends scattered. They tried to put up a fight, but they couldn't do much of anything. She closed her eyes for a moment, and when she opened them, she knew what to do.
"How dare you."
The dragon turned to look at her.
"How dare you!" She screamed as she flew up and landed on it's snout. "Listen up mister! 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! I repeat, you do NOT! HURT! MY! FRIENDS! You got that?" She said the last bit softly, and the dragon shrank down in fear.
"Well?"
"But that rainbow one kicked me..."
"And I am very sorry about that. But you're bigger than she is, 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 'But I' me mister. Now what do you have to say for yourself?"
A few seconds passed.
"I said, 'What do you have to say for yourself?'"
It started to cry. "There, there. 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." The dragon went back into the cave as her friends surrounded her, cheering.
* * * * *
I woke up in Fluttershy's cottage, with my arm in a splint. Before I moved much, a cream hoof was on my good arm.
"It's okay. We're back home, and we got the dragon to leave."
"Good." I croak out, before she passes me a glass of water.
"You need to let your arm heal. And I mean it this time." I take note of the seriousness on her face, and decide not to ignore her.
"Yes mom." The blush it gave her was absolutely adorable.