I was a cloudy day in Ponyville. The residents went about their business quickly and without much acknowledgment of each other, and most of the animals had been less active today. Fluttershy specifically, spent her day doing the usual care of the animals at her cottage. She had it all done in short time, as today she was planning on watching the Butterfly Migration this year.
Fluttershy didn't make any of her friends show up this time, she had been together with the lot of them so often now, she actually felt like spending some time alone. Not out of spite or sadness. Fluttershy was glad to get some time away, her friends were always pushing her to try new things. She just needed a good day off from the town, to spend it a distance into the wilderness, watching her favorite things in the world in massive numbers flutter by.
Upon saying goodbye to angel and leaving her cottage, Fluttershy looked up to the gloomy sky, slightly worried it would hinder on the migration. However, she still excitedly flew onward down the river next to the cottage, hoping for a good show this year.
It was a treck away, and she let her friends know prior where she was heading, in case they had to come find her. But this area wasn't like the Everfree, it was much more pleasant and green. She often traveled this path to return critters of all sorts to the wilderness. Even in a day like today, the forest and natural pastures of flowers were a beautiful sight. And now, she quickly began to notice an abundance of the butterflies she came to see.
Fluttershy landed on the ground next to a large field of flowers, surrounded by disorderly patches of woods, and with the river behind her. A near cloud of Butterflies was moving about above the flowers, many competing for spots on one like Americans on Black Friday. The many different sizes and colors of butterflies flew in clouds a few feet above the trees and flowers, each cloud with a specific species. With a better look of the whole area by the river, whole lines of butterflies flew high above the ground, only certain groups chose to land in the fields, while others endured onward.
The only regret Fluttershy had was that none of her friends found as much enjoyment in sitting down to watch the butterflies migrate. However, it was something she did every year, and despite being alone for the time being, she felt safe and surrounded by so many friends. All she had to do now, was lay out a blanket, sit back, and see how many different types she could pick out.
Then, behind all of the fluttering, Fluttershy heard a rather unfitting noise. She couldn't make it out at first, but it came again, the sound of a snapping tree. Being timid, Fluttershy looked into the forest, and waited if she'd hear it again, of which she did. It became obvious something wasn't too far away ripping wood off of the trees.
Unsure of whether or not it was a pony or animal, Fluttershy quickly gathered her things back into her bag, and carefully trotted through the field and into the woods, trying to avoid disturbing the butterflies too much,
Once inside the woods, she heard the distinct cracking and popping noise clearer, and slowly trotted down the path she heard it, sticking close to each specific tree she passed. Shortly into her treck, she heard a low tone mumbling as well, so she slowed her pace, knowing that whatever was making the noise was very close.
Suddenly, Fluttershy nearly tripped onto a pile of branches, all broken off the trees and de-leafed. A look to both sides down the forest showed a specific path of trees missing larger branches on one side, all ripped off, not cut. That was an immediate flag that a pony was likely not responsible for it, but the clear removal of the leaves confused her.
While investigating one of the branches she stumbled upon, Fluttershy gasped as she heard the creature coming back up the path. On instinct, she dropped the branch and dived behind a large nearby tree. Then, as the creature was clearly behind her, Fluttershy took a deep breath and slwoly looked around the tree, only to be frozen in fear.
There stood a large, green dragon. It's hazel eyes looking down at the pile of branches with contempt. It had two brown horns, and large leathery light green wings, each carrying more branches under them. It's underside was white, and it's claws were black, as the Dragon's overall size was about four times larger than Fluttershy.
The dragon then began talking, horrifying Fluttershy as she got a glimpse of it's large teeth. "Now what are you doing?! I leave you in a orderly pile, and your already strewn across the ground like a bunch of miserable nut bags!"
Fluttershy was frozen for a second, but she quickly realized it hadn't noticed her yet, so she ducked behind the tree and balled up.
In meantime, the Dragon groaned, "Stupid nature, making my life hell..." he then hit himself in the head, "Stop talking to it, it's not listening!"
Fluttershy was breathing heavily, so she attempted to cover her mouth to lower the amount of noise she was making. The Dragon however, had already picked up that something was amiss.
"I hear something... If your another stupid squirrel, YOU BETTER SCREW OFF!" It roared angrily.
Fluttershy squeaked with the roar in fright, and immediately covered her mouth again. That in tern, tipped the dragon that there was something else there.
"I heard that." it said bluntly, as it began sniffing in the air, "Hiding behind a tree? Really?"
Fluttershy froze, as the Dragon simply poked it's head around the tree, and saw her. She balled up, shivering and wanting to scream. The Dragon, however, looked at her with more remorse than anything.
"Oh... Lovely." it simply said, before turning around and attending to it's pile of branches again.
Fluttershy stood up slowly, still shivering, but mostly confused. It hardly acknowledged her, and she wasn't sure if it was waiting for her to run, or if it honestly didn't care. However, for some reason, Fluttershy slowly walked around the tree, and faced it in the open. In response to hearing her steps, the dragon turned it's head and looked at her with slight confusion.
"You're still there?" It spoke, "Why?"
Fluttershy stood there in fright, yet managed to stutter out, "I-I... W-Why are you d-doing that?"
The dragon continued putting the superior tree branches under his wings, and replied "I have nothing better to do. You're in the same boat then? Asking big threatening Dragons about their business?"
Fluttershy began to back up, "I-I-I was j-just watching the b-btterfly migration..."
The Dragon turned directly towards her and gave her a look like she was insane, "Butterfly, migration? Since when?!"
Fluttershy backed up a little faster now, and tripped backwards, landing on her rump. She then looked up and tried to talk again, "I-It's true..." and she slowly pointed up the trees, where there were many butterflies above the tree line.
The Dragon in responce, looked up, then back to Fluttershy, "Is that what this is? I thought they were having a oro-, never mind...." He then looked down on her with more judgmental eyes, "So, pony, mind giving me some company?"
Fluttershy's pupils shrank, as she gulped, "I-I-I... Oh! Look at the time!"
"THAT, annoys me!" The Dragon roared, cause Fluttershy to fall on her back, "Why don't you just tell me you don't feel like it?"
Fluttershy shook her head, "I'm sorry!"
The Dragon simply grunted, and turned down the path of trees missing branches. He then spoke up again, "Well.. whatever, come with me."
"B-But I-"
"No but's! You know the drill, I'll burn you if you don't keep up!" Said the dragon sternly, "Now come along, get ahead of me."
Fluttershy was full of fear, and thoughts of why the dragon wanted her. Should she try and bolt away? Or would it be beter to wait for help? However, she wasn't getting much time to think, as the dragon repeated "Go on then!" louder.
Reluctantly, Fluttershy stood up slowly, and began walking down the path, her legs shivering madly, making it hard to keep balance. It was not long until she was ahead of the dragon, and she began to hear it's heavier steps follow her. She did not dare to flinch one way or the other, in fear that she would be roasted on sight, so she did her best to walk in a perfect line.
"Can't you go any faster?" Asked the Dragon.
Fluttershy immediately started a face paced trot, too scared to look back at the Dragon. They spent the next few minutes going down the path, and up what seemed to be a large, forest covered hill. Fluttershy was slowly beginning to loosen up, though she was still very scared of what was going to happen to her. She was now basically just hoping somepony would come and find her before they reached the dragons lair. Maybe if Rainbow Dash just happened to fly by, then save her from the Dragon.
Alas, the Dragon suddenly ordered her stop, "Hold on there, where here."
Fluttershy stopped dead in her tracks, and looked onward to see a large cave in front of her. The Dragon quickly went into the entrance, and turned to look at her, "It's not much, but I guess this does for a lair. Come on then."
Fluttershy slowly obeyed, half wanting to bolt the other direction, but she didn't for some reason. As she entered the eerie cave, the dragon continued down the more narrow path. Then, she came to a very dark open room. The darkness faded quickly though, as the dragons just light was seemed to be an old street lamp to the side of the room. It then quickly leaped to the other side and spat fire into an identical lamp on the other side, lighting the large room well. It then dropped the tree branches from it's wings into a disorderly pile.
The room was actually quite beautiful, To the far left, another tunnel of the cave let in a small stream of water, the pool in a natural tub near the center, before flowing out the other end and down another tunnel to the right. The ceiling was lined with stalactites, all glimmering with shiny minerals in them. In the center, was a ring of the largest stalactites, of which circled a chimney the lead a distance to the gloomy sky. The ground was mostly smooth, with plenty of room for a dragon to move around. to the right behind Fluttershy, she noticed the whole side of the room around the entrance covered with stacked and organized tree branches, all de-leafed, yet not cut in any fashion to make them seem to have a use. Right o forward from the entrance, was one large bed of straw on an elevated section of floor, which seemed to be the Dragon's bed.
Suddenly, the dragon began moving a boulder just big enough to block the entrance, caused Fluttershy to jump and yelp. The Dragon only continued, blocking the way they just came, before turning back to look at her judgmentally.
"I didn't know your type was that easily frightened, I'm simply trying to feel safe in my home." it said, before walking across the room, and taking a bunch of straw from it's own bed, shaking it vigorously. It then placed made a crude nest shape out of the straw, and place the cheep creation on the ground next to the small pool of water.
Fluttershy simply sat in her spot, still scared and unsure of what to do, hoping someone might come in and save her. She began to shiver slightly, but now from the temperature of the cave. The Dragon now only sat downand stretched it's wings for a few moments, before looking at her with a bit of confusion.
"Why don't you take off your bag? Make yourself at home until they arrive." It suggested.
Fluttershy nodded, and quickly took off her bag, setting it next to herself. Then she reached inside to pull out a blanket she brought along, intended for a small picnic with herself. This was not at all the butterfly migration she intended it to be. She then wrapped the blanket around herself, and sat silent for a little while, still cold.
The Dragon, in the meantime, seemed to be attempting to get confortable in it's nest of hay. However, it kept glancing at her, then quickly away. Then suddenly, he groaned, and stood back up, walking quickly to the stacked wood all around the blocked entrance.
"I figure you'd like a fire to keep warm." It said, as it began carefully pulling branches off the top, analyzing them, and deciding whether or not to put them back.
Fluttershy nodded and replied, "That would be nice."
The Dragon looked at her, and Fluttershy thought she saw a small smile, before he turned back to his work. He continued like this for a couple minutes, as if he was deciding on which old cards of a collection to sacrifice. In time though, it decided it had enough, and quickly assembled fireplace directly under the cave chimney, a few feet from Fluttershy.
With a quick fire breath, the pile was well light, quickly warming up the cave room. Fluttershy scooted closer too it, and looked up to see the Dragon sitting on the other side of the fire.
"Well, What's your name?" Asked the Dragon, "Only now thought of that, I haven't been around others for a long time."
Fluttershy looked up and hesitated, but decided to answer "I-I'm, Fluttershy."
The Dragon raised an eyebrow, "No royal introduction then?"
Fluttershy cocked her head, "R-Royal, introduction?"
"You not a princess of any kind I take it then?" asked the Dragon, "I should've figured as much, i just wanted something to do."
Fluttershy looked down, then back up, to see the dragon appearing to be a little more down now. Despite her fear of it, she decided to make some conversation.
"So..." started Fluttershy, "W-Why did you, kidnap me? If y-you want to answer that..."
The Dragon the dragon looked up and shrugged, "I have been brooding for too long, I figured it'd be best to try and do something else. Though, I usually wouldn't stand to stereotypes, my entire race has made itself out to be less than I ever thought of it."
Fluttershy cocked her head, curious as to what he meant, while worrying it might get agitated by any more questions. However, the next few moments just began to feel awkward with the silence, so Fluttershy decided to speak up again.
"U-Uhm, may I ask something?"
The Dragon nodded, "Please do."
Fluttershy took a deep breath, then asked, "What do you mean by, your race...?"
The Dragon sighed, "I used to have a lot of pride in being a dragon... My mother was actually very caring, but good at toughing me up for life and all. Then, I spent a lot of my life with a clan of dragons I found young in life. We prided ourselves on honor mostly, being helpful to anyone who would help us, and not stealing or committing to any sorts of violence unless it was provoked." He then stared up into the chimney leading to the cloudy sky, "Then, one of our leaders stabbed us all in the back... I had met unpleasant dragons before, but he destroyed our lair, and single handedly got us all in a conflict that lead to nothing but chaos."
Fluttershy looked up at the dragon curiously, "Wow... I've never heard much of Dragon clans before..."
The Dragon smiled, "Well, they are, or at least were, pretty tight. We all could have our own lands and such, but we worked together and were in communication, in order to basically, build up a mini empire. It was fun, I learned a lot. But like I said, that is gone."
Fluttershy noticed his mood lowering, so she spoke up again, "Well, Ponyville isn't anything too special, but every pony knows each others name... And I feel at home there." Fluttershy paused for a moment, as she looked up at the dragon, "However, my friends are more like my... clan. Sure Equestria and civilization is nice, but when were together, it's like were in our own little world sometimes."
The Dragon smiled a bit, "Huh... I actually thought all of you ponies just lived in the towns like hives of bees, more or less. All doing their one job, just to make a living, until you have kids who do the same, all to build cities and such."
Fluttershy shook her head, "I guess it depends on what one pony wants to make up it... I used to just do my job of taking care of all the animals, I never really talked to other ponies much, but... I still enjoyed my life. But when I met Twilight and the others, I was opened to a bigger experience... They push me sometimes, I'm not always confortable with that, but I feel more, complete."
The Dragon gazed at Fluttershy thoughtfully, "That's a good perspective..." he sat quiet for a few moments, before asking Fluttershy, "I noticed how scared you were of me... But why didn't you just leave?"
Fluttershy thought for a litte bit, remembering she was being kidnapped, "I-I'm not sure... I have had a fear of Dragons for a long time... But, you just seemed to be, depressed, I guess."
"I kind of am..." replied the dragon, looked up to the wall covered in stacked branches, "Been a little nuts I guess too, I was hiding out for such a long time, I began collecting branches for some reason... Not just any branch though, the good ones."
Fluttershy looked behind herself, then to the fire pit, "Sorry about making you use them for a fire..."
"Oh it's fine." replied the dragon with shaking his head, "I've been wanting to clean out the lower quality ones for awhile."
Fluttershy giggled a bit, beginning to feel somewhat confortable. In tern, the Dragon giggled back, and lied down next to the fire.
After a few seemingly more relaxing moments, the Dragon asked Fluttershy another question, "I know at least, that your nation has a Princess. What is she like? Does she monger the power together?"
With a moment of thinking, Fluttershy responded, "Well, a lot more of the governing is done by the towns, and I don't know much about that. All I have known though, from being around her, is Princess Celestia cares very much about us. Her sister Luna is alright too, if you get past the nightmare moon part."
"Celestia and Luna huh?" Said the dragon while stroking his chin, "I read somewhere they convinced you pony folk they control the sun and moon."
Fluttershy cocked her head, sensing doubt from the Dragon, "They do."
The Dragon gave a muffled giggle, "And what proof do you have?"
Fluttershy thought for a second, "Well, when nightmare moon returned, it was still nighttime for a couple hours longer than it should have been... then recently, when both went missing, it was night AND day for awhile..."
That more or less shut the dragon up, as he wasn't sure what else would explain that, "I thought I completely lost it when the sky was night and day... The more you know."
The Dragon and Fluttershy sat for a minute or two by the fire, both in a lighter mood now. He then sighed, before speaking up again, "I suppose... I should let you go... this is all nuts. I just, kind of wanted someone to show up to test me, give me something to do... But disrupting your life is by no means right."
Fluttershy looked up with a little bit of surprise, "Well, actually, you have been a lot more pleasant than I thought any dragon would be, aside from Spike..."
The dragon looked up with interest, "Spike?"
"He's a baby dragon that lives with my friend in Ponyville." explained Fluttershy, "He's a little hard working sweetheart."
The Dragon smiled widely, "I'd like to meet him one day..." before he looked up and around the room, "But now... I'm feeling more initiative to fix this place up to be more."
Fluttershy looked around the cave room, "You wouldn't need to, it is quite nice."
The Dragon stood up, "Not compared to what I have done in the past, I could make use of this whole cave system, make it something amazing!" The dragon then quickly walked to the boulder, and moved it from the entrance, "Well, you have a butterfly migration to enjoy."
Fluttershy put on her back, and trotted toward the cave exit, "Well, I'd like to come visit some time, if that's alright with you."
The Dragon smiled, "I'm counting on it, perhaps bring your friends too. And for the sake of farewells, call me Artifex."
Fluttershy smiled, "Thank you, Artifex. This was pleasant, if anything... I'll be sure to talk to Twilight about you."
Artifex smiled back, "Thank you too, I apologize, but am grateful I met you. In fact, if your close to the princess, do ask her what she thinks of Dragons in general, I would really like to have some criticism to start with."
Fluttershy nodded, "I'll be sure to do it, friend."
Artifex smiled back at Fluttershy and said, "See you in the future, Fluttershy.", But just before she left, Fluttershy gave him a hug, mostly around his two forelegs, but it was a friendly hug nonetheless.
Once she had left, Artifex was left in his lair, with the day now sunnier, metaphorically and physically. However, he wasn't sure if ending up caring about another being again would backfire, but at least he was happier for now.
Author's Note
A little Slice of life thing based on a concept that has floated in my head for awhile.
May consider a sequel, or just continuing this story, but we'll see.
