//-------------------------------------------------------// Strange Encounters -by Midnight Fox- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 1 //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 1 Fluttershy is feeding chickens, almost out of animal feed She hears a cough and thinks it's a grizzly bear She tries to look for it, convince it she won't hurt it Some sort of sign it's not a bear? Goes back to her chickens, finishes feeding, goes to town Drake has finally arrived at his destination: ponyville. Mention he's larger than male ponies, but still pretty small He came to ponyville hearing about the friendly ponies, uncrowdedness. Also, another dragon. He left those other dragons because they were too... rough. They were very violent creatures, at least the ones his own age, and he was very different. He didn't really fit in, and became an outcast... therefore being bullied. It became very severe, and he decided to move to equestria, where perhaps he could find peace, much like the other dragon he'd heard about. flying overhead, he eventually sees Fluttershy's cottage. She's just leaving the building, a bag of chicken feed in her mouth. For some reason, Drake decided to swoop downwards and hide in the adjacent forest. He watched fluttershy with curiosity, considering coming out to introduce himself. Leaves brushing his nose caused him to sneeze, and upon watching fluttershy investigate, his curiosity turns into slight infatuation. He found her to be very cute, in a way he'd never thought of another dragon back home. He realizes his tail may be visible hanging down from the branches, and pulls it up to his side hastily. He's worried that Fluttershy noticed the movement, but with a sigh of relief, he saw her return to her chickens and finish feeding them. When she started down a path that appeared to lead to the rest of the village, Drake moved to take off as quietly as he could, dreading having to fly any longer. He landed in just about the center of ponyville, immediately greeted by Pinkie pie, rambles, party that evening. He asks if everypony included the pre-yellow pony from in that cottage, to which she says yes. He smiles and agrees to attend. //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 2 //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 2 Drake sighed as he glided over Ponyville, reliving his first social encounter with his pony crush. He had been admiring her all the time he stayed in Ponyville. He hadn't even given himself time to introduce himself to other ponies. He frowned at himself, thinking that he probably should. He landed carefully in the middle of a town center looking area. Maybe he could meet someone here. As he looked around, he turned his head left to see a pink pony staring at him. "Wow, a dragon!" The pony exclaimed. "I've never seen a dragon before. Well, there's Spike. And that one big dragon that Fluttershy sent away. And those teenaged dragons that were after Spike that one time. But other than that, you're the first!" She hopped enthusiastically around him in a circle. "You must be new to Ponyville. Well, of course you're new! I've never seen you before, and that means you must be new, because I know every pony and dragon here. There's only one dragon aside from you though. I bet you'd get along! Spike said he wanted to meet a decent one of his race. You should meet Gummy! He's kind of like you. But he's really small. And he doesn't have wings or horns or ears like you, but I'm sure you'll get along so well!" She took a deep breath and continued. "I should throw a party. A huge welcome to Ponyville party! Everypony in Ponyville will be there. It'll be great-" She was cut off by the dragon's hopeful words. "Everypony..?" He mewed. "Yeah! Everypony!" She smiled broadly and stopped jumping right in front of his face. "Even.. Fluttershy..?" He began to smile. "Yup!" The orange-brown dragon grinned happily. "I'm Drake, then." He said. "Pinkie Pie the Super Duper Party Pony at your service!" She replied, saluting enthusiastically. "Maybe I could get Cheese sandwich to come.." as she said it, her already pink cheeks began to redden and her smile became warm, looking away slightly. "I.. I bet he'd come.." He was surprised by her sudden calmness. "Who's that?" "Nopony! J-just an other party pony like me!" She grinned at him again. "He'd make the party twice as big!" She was clearly hiding something, but Drake dismissed it as her personal business. The dragon smiled to himself. This was a great opportunity to talk to Fluttershy without it seeming forced and creepy. Well, it probably would anyway, but maybe not as much. "So.. when is this party gonna be? And where?" "Tonight and here!" The pink earth pony said, hopping away. "I gotta get the invitations sent!" He tilted his head to one side and then shrugged. "Okay.." It was about six o'clock in the afternoon. Drake was still looking for someplace to stay. As he soared above Ponyville, every home he spied was in use. He decided, since it was getting dark, that his party was probably starting soon. So, he shifted his weight and turned his head slightly, making his way to where he'd met this Pinkie Pie. When he landed, he was met with a cannon blasting party decorations into his face. Streamers were hung all over and tables with beverages and snacks were scattered about. The bulbs of the street lamps were replaced to glow a different color for each one. Black lights, red lights, blue and yellow and green, all lighting up the setting. The techni-color ponies all welcomed him, clearly tolerant and ignoring his difference in species. Ponies yelled and hollered and whistled, and he felt wanted for the first time in his life. As he looked around, he spotted a small purple dragon next to a lavender unicorn. He approached them, met with the mare. "I had a feeling that you would want to meet Spike." She said, smiling. Her purple aura lit up her horn, along with the hand of the small dragon who was standing next to the cupcakes. She pulled him forward, gesturing toward Drake. "This is the new dragon in Ponyville." She said. The little dragon looked up at him with wide eyes. "Really?" He mewed. Drake smiled, introducing himself. "I'm Drake. What's your name, bud?" He said, sitting back on his haunches and reaching out a paw to shake. He had his paws curled up near his face shyly. In reaching out with both paws, he said "Spike." and shook the bigger dragon's hand. The older reptile smiled. "It's nice to know that I won't be the only dragon in this town." "Yeah. I've been the only one for years." He said, putting a hand on the unicorn's foreleg in a very child-like manner. Drake tipped an invisible hat in goodbye, drawing out a small laugh from the baby dragon, and stood up to walk away. He then nodded to the unicorn, who briefly introduced herself as Twilight Sparkle, and walked away. He admired the setting carefully. This was indeed quite the party. It looked like everypony was there. It was definitely crowded and loud, very lively. Music blasted from a bunch of speakers scattered about. The DJ's blue hair bounced with her banging head, and a pair of goggles covered her eyes. As Drake's gaze explored near the DJ's area, then the stage, he spotted Pinkie talking to a very tall and slender brownish yellow pony with a curly mane like hers. He considered approaching, but when he saw the red face of the mare and the dreamy eyes of the stallion, he thought better of it. Watching the tall pony, he saw him lean closer and brush his muzzle against her hair, then say something in her ear. When she smiled softly and nodded, pecking him with a small kiss in the neck under his jawline, Drake looked away cautiously. I'm guessing that's Cheese Sandwich.. He continued walking along, grey-green eyes drifting around. He spotted an orange mare with a blonde mane and a charming cowpony hat. Next to her, he saw a smaller yellow filly with pink hair and a pair of wings. "F..Fluttershy?" He murmured, blushing beneath his scales. In spying her, he immediately turned and began a quick trot-walk in that direction. Fluttershy looked tensely at her friend. "I'm not really sure what to think, though." Her barely audible murmur sounded worried but dreamy. "He didn't seem mean. And I'm sure this party must be for him, but Pinkie barely covered the fact that the guest of honor was a dragon." "Well, sugarcube, Ah'm sure that if he's really as uh.. nice as y'all seem to think, than maybe ya should.. ya know.. give the poor fella a chance. Ah mean, from what y'all described, it seems pretty clear that he fancies you, approachin ya outta the blue." Aj expained, forced to speak loudly in this unfitting situation. Fluttershy's reddened face was somehow getting redder. "How can I ever be a marefriend?" She fretted. "I can barely stand socializing with anypony other than my closest friends.." "I think it'll be a renewing experience for you." Aj comforted her, patting the shy filly on the back. She nodded, still doubtful but trusting her friend. As she looked up, the mare saw, as if on cue, that same dragon approaching. He was looking down, and stepped unsurely and he navigated the crowd of smaller ponies. He would glance up at her occasionally, then look down, as if trying not to let her know he was coming to talk to her. Fluttershy looked frantically at Apple Jack, who smiled warmly and lifted a hoof in shooing her gently in his direction. As Fluttershy looked back up toward Drake, it seemed as if he was hesitating. He'd turned around as if to walk away, but looked back doubtfully as if changing his mind. He was about to continue coming to her, but then turned back and stood there for a moment. "Look at the poor guy!" Aj said. "Why don't y'all go to him first? It'll take a lot of pressure off of his shoulders." Fluttershy nodded. What about mine?? she wimpered inwardly, walking one hoof after the other toward the dragon. She nervously hid behind her mane as she came closer. "H-hello..." She said, standing behind him. Drake was torn. He was nervously tossing himself back and forth in deciding whether or not to approach the pegasus when he heard a small voice behind him. His ears swiveled back and he turned slowly to see it. A little yellow mare was staring sheepishly at the ground and scuffing a hoof over it uncomfortably.