Chapter 13: What Do You Think The Story's Lesson Is?

"*cough cough* What in the world?! *cough cough* I don't remember falling asleep in smoke!"

I fall off the cloud. Crashing into the water. I swim out, breathing in fresh air. At first, I thought I was dreaming. Dreaming about the day I died. Looks like I'm not. Good.

"Oh my, are you alright?" I hear somepony ask me as I shake off the water. I look, and it's Fluttershy.

"Yes Fluttershy, but do you see that cloud of smoke hanging over Ponyville? What's happening?"

"I'm not sure. But we need to stop it."

"Yeap."

"Listen up!" Twilight yells out for everypony to hear. "Smoke is spreading all over Equestria. But don't worry, I've just received a letter from Princess Celestia informing me that it is not coming from a fire. It's coming from a dragon." Then it's already episode 7…

_

I'm at Twilight's home. She's looking through countless books. The others look confused and concern. AppleJack asks.

"What in the name of all things cinnamon swirl is a full grown dragon doing here in Equestria?"

Twilight closes a book. "Sleeping." Everypony looks on in disbelief. "According to Princess Celestia he's taking a nap. His snoring is what's causing all this smoke."

"He should really see a doctor, that doesn't sound healthy at all." Pinkie says.

"Well, at least he's not snoring fire!" Rarity says. "What are we meant to do about it?"

"I'll tell you what we're meant to do." RainbowDash says. "Give him the boot!" Rainbow kicks Twilight's stuff. Causing Twilight to prevent it from breaking and Rainbow crashing. She walks up to Rainbow.

"We need to encourage him to take a nap somewhere else. Princess Celestia has given us this mission and we must not fail. If we do, Equestria will be covered in smoke for the next 100 years!"

"Talk about getting your beauty sleep." Rarity says to Pinkie.

"Alright everypony, I need you to gather supplies quickly." Twilight picks up her bag. "We have a long journey ahead of us, let's meet back here in less than an hour."

"Right!" I say as I run outside.

I know what I need to get. I'll need a rope, my goggles, a cloud, a scarf, and a stuffed toy rabbit. Can't forget about the food as well! You'll see what I'll do with these later. I pose, for some reason too. Why do I feel that the others are also posing as well?

_

"Alright girls, listen up!" Twilight walks back and forth, talking. We're lined up in a row, sorta like waiting for an inspection. "I'm mapping out the fastest route. But we all have to keep up the pace if we expect to make it up the mountain by nightfall. The dragon is in that cave at the very top."

"Looks pretty cold up there." AppleJack says.

"You bet it is." RainbowDash says. "The higher you go, the chiller it gets!"

"Good thing I brought my scarf." Rarity pulls out a scarf and puts it on.

"Same here." I wrap my orange scarf around my neck.

Rainbow chuckles. "Oh yeah, that'll keep y'all nice and cozy."

"Better than going up with nothing." I rub my scarf.

"Um, excuse me." Fluttershy tries to talk with Twilight. She's too busy reading her map. "Twilight? I know you're busy but…"

"Uhuh." Twilight looks around her map. "Well we could go this way…"

"But, if I could just have a second…"

"Uhuh. No we want to avoid that."

"So um, I was thinking that um, maybe I should just stay here in Ponyville."

"Uhuh."

"Oh! Good. I'll stay here and-"

"Wait! You have to come!" Twilight looks away from her map. "Your way with wild animals will surely come in handy."

"I don't think I-"

"And don't worry about your friends at the meadow. Spike has it covered while you're gone."

"You can count on me!" Spike said, with critters on him. Angel stomps on his head repeatedly. The critters scatter. "Hey! Hey! Wait!"

"I don't really think he's up to the task." Fluttershy says worryingly. "Maybe…" Twilight walks away, unable to hear Fluttershy. "But, but! Oh!"

"Are you sure you want Fluttershy to come along?" RainbowDash asks Twilight. "I mean, that pony is afraid of her own shadow. She's just gonna slow us down."

"She's just a little nervous." Twilight is oblivious. "Once we get going, I'm sure she'll be fine."

"Ah!"

Everypony turns to look. It's Fluttershy. She's scared of her own shadow, and runs into a bush to hide in. Rainbow glares at Twilight, seeing her point proven. Twilight coughs.

"Alright girls! Move out!"

"But, but!" Fluttershy is swept away by us. She's being carried. "NOOOOOOO!!!"

_

"Wow! What was that?!" RainbowDash shouts, surprised by a sound coming from above.

"That is what it sounds like when a dragon snores." Twilight explains. Fluttershy hides behind AppleJack.

"It's so…high…"

"Well it is a mountain." RainbowDash states. "I'm gonna fly up there and check it out!" AppleJack pulls her down by the tail.

"Hold on now, I think we should all go up together. Safety in numbers and all."

"Oh alright…"

The gang starts to walk up the mountain while RainbowDash and I fly up keeping pace. I glance down onto Fluttershy, who is cowering behind a bush. I fly down to her. "Fluttershy, are you alright?"

"Oh, I'm fine. It's just…it looks so steep…"

"Well it is a cliff." RainbowDash states. "You could just, oh, I don't know. Fly up here!"

"Come on Fluttershy, you can do it! Flap those wings!" Pinkiepie encourages.

"Well… ok…" Fluttershy tries to fly. Then, the dragon snores. Causing her to crash back onto the bush. I turn to look at the others, putting on my goggles.

"Guys, you go on ahead. I'ma take another route so that Fluttershy can meet you there." I fly up to Twilight. "Can I see that map?"

"Sure."

Twilight hands me the map, I examine the contents. Good. "Ok then, we'll be there as quickly as possible."

The others go off, I fly back down to Fluttershy. "Ok Fluttershy, let's get a move on." She begins to shake. I sigh. Opening my bag and taking out my stuffed toy rabbit I just bought a while back. Fluttershy stares at it in confusion.

"What's this for?"

"It's my stress toy." Lies. "You can hold onto it while we go up the mountain."

"Why would you need a stress toy?"

"So that I can lessen any fear I may have at the moment. If you like, can you hold onto it for me? It's quite important to me actually." Lies.

Fluttershy hesitates on whether to take the stuffed toy rabbit. That is until the dragon snores again, causing her to hug it abruptly. I smile.

"It's good for calming fears, don't you think? Please, take care of it for me."

"Ok TipStir." Fluttershy stares at the stuffed toy bunny with determination. This is going to be a gamble.

We walk along the road set up by the map. Every time the dragon snores, Fluttershy hugs the bunny. At least I'm not dragging her. It's quiet. But I can feel Fluttershy staring at me. I think she wants to say something. I turn to her, she looks away. I smile.

"Want to hear a story?"

Fluttershy nods. I talk.

"One day, on the plains of Africa, a young buffalo approached his dad and asked him if there was anything that he should be afraid of. The dad responded with a yes. Saying that he should fear only the lions. The young buffalo asked why. His dad responded with lions being big and strong. So the young buffalo asked his dad what he should do if he ever met a lion. The dad looked at the young buffalo with a serious expression in his eye and smiled. He said that he should stand strong and proud, to never turn his back and run.

The young buffalo was confused. He clearly heard his dad tell him to stand firm and tall. So he asked his dad why he should not run instead. The dad responded, saying that if he should choose to turn and run, the lion would most definitely chase him down. He explained to the young buffalo that by running away, he's leaving himself vulnerable to attacks. A buffalo's back is the most unprotected there is. The young buffalo asked how standing his ground will help.

The dad smiles, and says…If he ever meets a lion, to stand his ground and show he's not afraid. If the lion doesn't move away, show it his sharp horns and stomp the ground with his hooves. If that doesn't work, move slowly towards the lion. And if that doesn't work, charge it and hit it with everything he's got.

The young buffalo stared at his dad in disbelief. He asks him what if he's to scared to move and if the lion attacks him. The dad points to the area around him. He asks the young buffalo what he sees. The young buffalo looks around and sees the rest of his herd. There were about 200 massive beasts all armed with sharp horns and huge shoulders.

The dad smiles to the young buffalo. He says, that if he ever felt afraid, know that he's not alone. But if he panics and run from his fears, they can't save him. The young buffalo doesn't understand what he means. The dad continues. He said, if he charges towards the lions, the other buffalos will be right behind him. The young buffalo breathes deeply and nods. He says he understands."

I turn to look at Fluttershy, she stares at me. "What do you think the story's lesson is?"

Fluttershy takes a moment to think. She looks up the mountain. "That we should face our fears. And that we won't be alone."

I nod. We continue up the mountain.