Fluttershy awoke to a beautiful Saturday morning sunrise. The birds chirped happily as they flew passed her bedroom window. Angel, her pet bunny, laid comfortably in his little bed on the floor next to hers. Then Fluttershy slowly sat up and rubbed her eyes.
"That's probably the best sleep, I've ever had." She yawned, stretching her hooves over her head, "How was yours, Angel?"
Angel just twitched an ear and yawned, in response. Fluttershy smiled and got out of bed, making her way towards the kitchen. She reached into a cupboard and got out a bowl for her and food dishes for the animals around her home. As Fluttershy prepared breakfast for everyone, several small animals entered the room and went towards their designated dishes. There were mice, otters, squirrels, and other bunnies.
"Good morning, everyone." Fluttershy greeted, getting vegetables, nuts, and fruits out of another cupboard.
Some birds that were perched on one of her shelves, chirped in reply. Fluttershy cut up the food and divided it equally into the dishes. It was a very nice morning, indeed. Which was a good thing, because Fluttershy had to take care of some important things and they'd go by even quicker if it was a sunny day.
"Mornin', sugarcube." A voice said, from outside Fluttershy's window.
Fluttershy looked over at the window and saw Applejack smiling at her.
"Oh. Hello, Applejack. How are you?" She greeted.
"Not good, I'm afraid." Applejack replied, changing her expression.
Fluttershy's face changed expressions as well. She went to the window and saw Applejack covered in scratches.
"What happened to you?" Fluttershy gasped.
"Some critters got into the south field and ruined a dozen of my trees. I tried to fight 'em off, but there's too many and I need yer help."
"Alright, I'll be there as soon as I can. Maybe, I can convince them to find something else to eat."
Applejack nodded and ran back to her farm. Fluttershy finished her breakfast and flew to Sweet Apple Acres, as fast as her wings could carry her. Shortly after arriving, Fluttershy found what had caused the damage. Several raccoons had managed to scatter yard tools and claw some of the apple tree branches. It was a mess and Fluttershy knew just how to handle it.
"Okay." Fluttershy said, approaching the first group of raccoons she saw, "I know that you're probably hungry, but you shouldn't be ruining somepony's home because of it."
The raccoons heard her and got the message. They started to leave and Fluttershy approached the next group. After a while, Fluttershy finally cleared Sweet Apple Acres of the raccoons. Then Applejack approached Fluttershy with a very big smile.
"Much appreciated, Fluttershy. I don't know how I can repay ya."
"Don't worry about it. Your gratitude is reward enough."
The two friends smiled, then Fluttershy noticed that some of the scratches on Applejack had started to bleed. It wasn't serious, but it did have Fluttershy's attention.
"Are you alright?" She asked, feeling a little worried, "Those look like they hurt."
She pointed at the injuries and Applejack looked at them.
"Nah. I've had worse scrapes." Applejack replied, pulling back her mane and revealing a big scar on the back of her neck, "Got that when I was just a filly and lemme tell ya, it hurt pretty bad."
After talking for an hour and helping clean up the mess, Fluttershy left Applejack and her family to do their chores. She made her way towards Twilight's castle, to help Twilight and Spike reorganize the library.
"This is the third time this month." Fluttershy said to herself, "Why doesn't she just keep things in one place?"
Fluttershy landed in front of the castle and knocked on the door. After a moment, the door opened and Spike peeked out from behind it.
"Hey, Fluttershy." Spike smiled, "Come on in."
Fluttershy entered and they walked down the long hallway.
"I guess, Twilight is already in the library." Fluttershy said, "Has she started without us?"
"No." Spike replied, "She was going to start, but then she got a book from Princess Celestia."
"What's it about?"
"I think it was titled: Creatures From Equestria's Past."
They entered the large library and found Twilight buried in a big book. Fluttershy saw the title on the book and realized that it was the book Spike had mentioned. On the cover, it showed two creatures circling and showing their teeth at each other. While above the image, gold letters spelled out the title.
"Hi, Twilight." Fluttershy greeted.
Twilight looked up from the book and smiled at her friend.
"Hi, Fluttershy." She smiled, "What's going on?"
"Had to help Applejack get some raccoons out of her fields. Thankfully, I could get them out, before anypony else got hurt."
"Anypony else?"
"Applejack tried to do it herself, but they scratched her everywhere."
"Is she alright?"
"She's fine. Nothing a few band aids can't fix."
Then Fluttershy looked at the book, wondering what kind of creatures used to live in Equestria. Twilight noticed this and invited her to join. The three of them went over to a couch and sat down, with Twilight in the middle. She reopened the book to the page that she had left off and continued reading. Fluttershy read along, but kept stopping to look at the illustration above the text. The illustration showed a dragon without wings, razor sharp teeth, a big crest on it's head, a thick whip-like tail, and large claws.
"That's a Burrowing Dragon." Twilight said, bringing Fluttershy back to reality.
"A Burrowing Dragon?" Spike asked.
Twilight nodded and read the description, under the picture.
"Burrowing Dragons were believed to have burrowed underground and ambush it's prey from below. But they went extinct nearly six thousand years ago. The only evidence that has been found that they ever existed, are skeletons found in caverns and mountain ranges. However, the cause of their extinction is unknown."
Fluttershy looked up from the picture, her eyes wide with fear. Even though Fluttershy stood up to a dragon before, they still scared the life out of her. But, she calmed down after Twilight put a hoof on her shoulder.
"Don't worry, Fluttershy. The only wingless dragon we have here, is Spike."
They smiled at Spike and he smiled back. After reading for a while, they started reorganising the library. Fiction and nonfiction were put next to each other, while the atlases and star gazing books were put on higher shelves. It took longer than Fluttershy thought, but all the while, the dragon from the book stayed in her mind.
"I think we're done." Spike said looking around at all the books.
"Yeah. Thanks for helping, Fluttershy." Twilight said, smiling.
"Always happy to help a friend." Fluttershy replied.
The work had taken all day and the sun had almost set. Fluttershy said her farewells and made her way home.
"At least I don't have to worry about dragons like that around here." Fluttershy thought as she landed and entered her cottage.
AAARRROOOO!
A cry made Fluttershy freeze in her living room and caused her face to turn white.
"W-What was that?"
AAAAARRRRROOOOO!
Fluttershy looked in the direction the cry came from. The only thing she saw, was the dark brown trees of the Everfree Forest. Sometimes, she regretted moving into a house that was so close to the forest. But, she found out later, that the creatures that lived there, never came out to bother her. However, Fluttershy got scared whenever it sounded like something was close. In this case, the cry sounded close. Fluttershy listened carefully, trying to determine what kind of cry it was.
AAAARRRROOOO!
"It sounds like a cry for help." She said, holding a hoof to her ear, "Oh, but I don't want to go in there."
Fluttershy shuddered at the thought of going into the forest and being something's dinner.
AAAARRRROOOO!
Hearing the cry again, Fluttershy made up her mind and grabbed a flashlight, before setting out into the Everfree