Fluttershy came over and nestled softly on the ground near Dashie, she gazed up at Rainbow and Flutt with a bemused smile on her face. “uuhhh...” said a small timid voice behind her. She looked to Dashie who was gazing at her in confusion. “H-how did you know they would be ok when they jumped?” She asked. Fluttershy smiled and patted the ground beside her, inviting the quiet cyan pony to sit with her.
“Well you see; I knew Rainbow would make it, and if Rainbow made it she would help your friend if she couldn’t.” Dashie padded over to her side and sat down. “But.” Fluttershy continued, Dashie glanced in her direction quickly to listen. “Your Fluttershy is a much better flier than me, so I guessed she’d have no problem making that dive.” She beamed at Dashie, who smiled back.
“H-hey, don’t worry, your Rainbow Dash is a thousand times a better flyer than me any day!” Dashie reassured the yellow and pink Pegasus. The two then sat in silence, watching the two flying Pegasy battle it out in the sky’s.
After a particularly large loop-de-loop by Rainbow, which received a sharp intake of breath from both the grounded ponies. Dashie let out a small giggle. Fluttershy tilted her head at the ponies behaviour –A laugh, seemed unusual for her,- she smiled at how blissful the small chuckle was. “What is it Dashie?” She asked.
Dashie flicked her fringe out of her eye, she gave another small laugh as she thought deeper on her idea. “You know... It’s funny,” Flutt now imitated Rainbows loop and then sped away leaving the rainbow mare to catch up. “Flutt’s more like Rainbow Dash and...” She bit her lip, stopping before she made a fool of herself. With a warm smile Fluttershy finished her thought for her. “And you’re a lot more like me?”
The two ponies hopped up quickly, shaking their heads and speaking quickly.
“I mean I’m a lot like you!”
“I didn’t mean to insult you!”
The two quickly finished in unison with a perfectly identical “I-I’m sorry.” Both of them nervous and apprehensive, they glanced around awkwardly. But soon enough pink met teal as they caught each other’s eyes. The two began to giggle at their matching attitudes. Then the giggle grew to a chortle, and then to a full out laugh, until eventually they lay there on the floor laughing their hearts out.
The two eventually calmed down and stayed lay on their back looking at the sky. It was calm and tranquil. For a moment, out of the blue that spanned her vision Dashie’s eyes were blocked by a large fury creature! “Eeeek!” She squealed, she bounced to her hooves and bolted behind Fluttershy. Who looked up in tender concern, she looked from where the now cowering Dashie hid in her protective ball, to where she had been lying.
“Aaaaawwww, hello again my friend!” Fluttershy cooed as she got up of the ground and flew over to the creature sat licking it paw. Fluttershy picked him up and slowly made her way back to Dashie, “I’m sorry, but that’s not who you think it is.” She said sternly, placing the kitten on the ground between her and Dashie.
Dashie peaked out from behind her forehooves, catching a glimpse of the little creature. At the sight of her eye peaking around her hoof, the kitten tilted its head to one side and looked at the filly. “Meeeww.”
“I’m sorry Dashie, this kitten’s been quite partial to Rainbow lately and I think she thinks you’re”- She was cut off by the blur of rainbow that sped towards the kitten. She stared as the dust settled, unsure of what to expect. The yellow pony coughed hard as the dust quickly invaded her lungs, causing her to close her eyes.
Through her loud splutter’s, she was sure she could hear something, she opened her eyes and peered through the airborne debris. She spotted a lump on the floor, as she watched, she saw it move, casing the dust to dissipate around it. “Uhhh, Dashie?” She asked cautiously. Suddenly the shape bound into the air, and through the dark cloud causing the last remnants to fade away.
“He’s sooooooo cuuuute!” Dashie squealed, holding the kitten tight to her face. The animal seemed to like this new mare. It gave her and appreciative lick on the cheek and then curled up tightly in Dashie’s forelegs. Fluttershy was slightly astonished.
“W-Well I guess that he likes you too!” She pushed through her surprise and beamed as she cantered up to the new friends with joy in her heart and a spring in her step.
“She really isn’t like Rainbow, she IS a lot like me!” Fluttershy thought as she leant in and tickled the now purring kitten under the chin. The two sat back down and began to play with the little friend, content as could be while Rainbow and Flutt flew over head.
...........................................................
They were now powering through the gorge at full speed, no more showing off, no more proving she was better than this “Rainbow Dash!” Flutt was going to win this! She didn’t know how, there was no target or goal here. She just needed to prove herself, and that would be it.
A large bramble of thorns tried to ensnare her as he glided dangerously close to the ground, it caught ever so slightly at her mane, but besides that she was fine. She looked around for her other racing pony. But she couldn’t find her as she carried on through the vast trench. Suddenly she heard a low whistle from above, she looked up to see Rainbow copying her previous taunt. She had one-upped the yellow mare however.
Rainbow lay on her back, flapping lazily, just as Flutt had done. However, Rainbow’s forehooves were spread behind her head, propping it up like a pillow as she didn’t even look where she was going.
That’s it! Time to prove to this mare that she isn’t so amaz-
What was that? Flutt stopped dead in the air, catapulting the speeding Rainbow far ahead. But Flutt hung there, staring at a small opening in the cliff wall just by the chasm floor. Had she imagined it? Flutt slowly descended, touching down softly on the gravely ground. no pebbles were kicked out of place when she stood there, she looked down to see the small stones had been pushed deep into the ground as countless steps over them had indented them into the dirt below.
Flutt glanced back up at the hole in the cliff face. For a moment the opening was simply blackness, then as she shifted her weight to her left foot, moving her head slightly to one side, the sunlight cascading into the chasm caught something from within. A glint of something. Gold?
This wasn’t what Flutt had seen, but it didn’t bode well. From behind she heard Rainbow fast approaching. And yet Flutt didn’t look away, she glared into the cave waiting for another glimpse of it. That tail, purple, just like the one from her nightmare about Mac!
“Jeez, giving up already?” Rainbow called sarcastically, panting herself. “I could keep on going like this for...” She gulped down a large bubble of air, “ever!” She landed just behind the cautious yellow Pegasus. “C’mon Flutt! I was actually kind of having fun with you back there!” She encouraged, but when the yellow pony gave no answer she grew quiet.
Rainbow came in line with the stationary Flutt, and stared into the dark cavern ahead. “I-It’s just a cave Flutt.” Rainbow tried to explain, but Flutt flung a hoof to Rainbow’s lips, silencing her.
“Then what’s that?” She asked. Rainbow listened, and surely, there was something. A clinking and jingling sound, along with a low rasping breathe every few minutes. Rainbow pushed Flutt’s hoof away from her face.
“What do you think it is?” The cyan Pegasus inquired, never taking her eyes off of the opening.
“A dragon.” Flutt enclosed quietly.
“So close to Ponnyville? You sure?”
“What does being near Ponnyville have to do with it?”
“Well, they don’t tend to nest so close by really, the last time one did, me and the girls got rid of it.” Though she was explaining, Rainbow couldn’t help convey a tone of pride in her story. Flutt ignored the boasting Pegasus and focused on the matter at hand.
“I saw gold in there.” Flutt said, her voice getting lower with each word she spoke.
“GOLD! YOU SERIOUS?!” Shouted Rainbow excitedly. Flutt Swung a hoof out, dragging Rainbow in close. Their noses pushed against each other’s as Flutt let out an angry and frustrated. “Shut...up!” for once Dash listened, simply due to the seriousness that emanated from the pink and yellow pony, all rivalry had vanished from her now, she was simply focused on this one thing here and now.
Flutt released Dash, and the two fell low to the ground. Flutt began to approach the cave; she needed to see the creature. That tail was unmistakable! Even if it was the dragon from this dimension, Flutt would pay anything to see it suffer after what it did to Macintosh, for what it did to her Mac!
Rainbow followed silently, sticking to her role as the element of loyalty, she didn’t leave this pony behind on her own. The two approached the cave entrance from the left side. They pushed up to the wall, and waited a moment. The movement was far more obvious now, the creature was pacing by the sound of it. the steps grew fainter for a moment, and then they would grow louder once again, and then fade once more.
‘
It’s agitated...’ Thought Flutt. ‘Not as much as it will be!” Said a little voice in the back of her head. She turned to rainbow, mouthing her order. “On the count of three!” Rainbow nodded silently. Flutt took a deep breath, looking Dash in the eyes. “One.” She mouthed. She could see Rainbow grit her teeth behind her closed mouth, her jaw becoming wider and firmer.
“Two...” The two of them coiled their muscles ready... “Three!” She broke eye contact and flung herself into the entrance quickly followed by Rainbow. For a glimmering second she saw a small pile of gold and gems piled in the centre of the small cavern, she glimpsed the colour purple, but before she could focus on it. The raging fire in the bracketed torch set in the wall, was snuffed out. Leaving the two in total darkness, with the sounds of a heavily breathing creature growing all around them.