They terrified her. They haunted her. They chilled her spine. They ruled her nightmares. They froze her with their presence. No matter how you looked at it, one fact stood: Fluttershy was afraid of dragons.

But……. why?

She has developed a lot over the years. She helped defeat Nightmare Moon, defeated and reformed Discord, aided in the defeat of Tirek, and went as far as to spy on Starlight Glimmer. She also helped the pegasi bring water to Cloudsdale, and volunteered to sing in the Ponytones. All of these awesome achievements, and yet…….

It was gruesome. She was trapped. Her wings wouldn’t budge due to her being in complete panic. The beast was closing in. She tried desperately to dig her way out, but proved fruitless. It was over. The fiery reptile opened its mouth to unleash hell onto the prey.

“NOOOOO!” she screamed, as the devilish dream finally came to an end. She then looked at her bed to see it was soaked with sweat. “Oh, my,”
She yawned and headed downstairs to where her animal pals awaited her. She fed her squirrels, ferrets, mice, birds and every other in between. Then came Angel. He was the one who separated himself from the rest, only settling for the finest rabbit gourmet. If one thing was out of place, one thing, it was rejected.

“Oh, you want this?” the butter pony asked, the rabbit pointing to the picture of salad that looked much like a sundae.

She did as she was told and got everything right, also double-checking to make sure. Then she went back to thinking about the nightmare.

Oh, dear. I hope something like that doesn’t happen today.

Just then, the Ponyville Tower rang, making Fluttershy remember……

“Oh, that’s right. I’m supposed to meet Rarity at the spa today,”

Meanwhile, at the local hospital, a nervous Twilight was galloping down the halls asking for assistance with a creature she found in the Everfree Forest, But everypony she greets, they answer with: “Sorry, I’m on my lunch break,” or “Nope, can’t help you,”. She then came to the only ‘doctor’ she knew could handle the job.

Back at the spa, Fluttershy and Rarity were having a chat about the nightmare.

“Oh, my. That sounds simply horrid,” Rarity said.

“I hope I never have a dream like that ever again,” the shy pony said.

“That makes two of us, but you must understand, the only way to stop having nightmares about them is to stop being afraid of them. Surely you understand?” the diva asked.

“I….. do,”

The door swung open, revealing Twilight and the creature.

“Fluttershy, I need your help,” said the purple princess.

“Aaah, is that….” the butter pony started, but can already fell the fear build up inside her.

“Yes, and I know you’re scared of dragons, but you’re the only one left to ask. You’ve got to help,”

Oh, Celestia, I hope this doesn’t last long. Flutters thinks to herself.

“Oh, well. I’ll finish up here,” Rarity says in the distance.

At the cottage, Fluttershy examines the newcomer. The wings looked ripped, and some scales appeared to be shedded.

“How is she?” Twilight asks, knowing the dragon was a female.

“She’ll be fine. She just needs a few casts on her wings and they’ll be good in 3 days. Where was she?”

“In the Everfree Forest. I found her on my way back to the town. When I tried to get help, everypony screamed and ran inside. I tried to tell them it wouldn’t do anything, but they just didn’t listen,” the princess explained.

“Well, I know you have to do things for Princess Celestia, and everypony else is too scared to do it, but me? Do you really want me to take care of her?” the pegasus asked nervously.

“Of course. You’re the best animal caretaker ever, besides, this is an opportunity,”

“How so?” the timid pegasus asked.

“I think if you spend enough time with her, you’ll warm up to her, and to dragonkind,” Twi answered.

“Okay, if you say so,” Flutters whispered, nervous about the burden that had just been put on her back.

“Thanks. I know that this is only for the better,”

The lone pony then proceeded with the healing, wrapping the wings with tape.

“I’m surprised she didn’t get cuts from the fall,”

Just as she was ready to head to her room, the dragon started to wake up.

“Hello? Is anyone there?” she said.

Oh, no. She’s awake.

“Hi. Are you felling alright?”

The dragoness lifted herself up, shaking her head around. “Not really. My wings ache,”

“Don’t worry, I wrapped them up.”

“Thanks,” the dragoness said with a smile.

“How did you get here?” the timid pony asked.

“I found a book at the library, and the next thing I know, I was here……. Where is here, exactly?”

“You’re in my house, in Ponyville,” Flutters answered. “In Equestria,”

The dragoness jumped up in realization, but sat back down from the pain pulsing through her.

“Wait, I’m in another world?”

Oh, I didn’t know that she didn't live here. the pony thought.

“Well, um….. Since we have that out of the way, would you like to tell me your name?”

“Um…… it’s…..” the dragoness started, but was too quiet to hear.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t get that,” Flutters said.

“It’s…….” she tried again, but to no avail.

“Come again. I won’t hurt you,”

The dragoness looked away, unable to will herself to tell the caretaker her name.

“If you won’t tell me your name first, I’ll tell you mine. It’s Fluttershy,”

“That’s a nice name,” she commented.

“Good, now you can tell me yours,”

“It’s Cassie,” she finally said, speaking up.

“That’s nice, too,”

The two had already started off on the right foot. The Pegasus was sure to remember this day.
Stomachs growled. Flutters said, “I guess you’re hungry after your trip. You do need your energy. What would you like?”

Cassie stumbled a bit, saying, “I’m not sure. I just got here, so I don’t know what you have,”

“That’s okay. I’ll just try to make the most of it. What do you like?”

“I’ll maybe go for some cupcakes, if you have that….” Cassie asked.

“Oh, Pinkie’s got the best cupcakes ever. I’ll……..” She paused, wondering how the town might react if they saw another dragon running amok. “Or maybe I’ll get them myself,”

At Sugarcube Corner, the pegasus was having a talk with Twilight.

“So, how are things going so far?” the Princess of Friendship asked.

“Great. She finally woke up and told me her name,” she answered.

Just then, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie joined in.

“Hey, watcha talking about?” Pinkie asked.

“Nothing you should worry about,” Twi answered.

“Twi, I seen you running all over the place this morning. What’s up? Is it another mission leading to another awesome adventure?” the rainbow pony asked.

The princess facehoofed at the statement, saying, “How did I know you would say that? No, I was running around to see if anypony could help me with a….” She paused, noting that others, besides her friends, could be listening. She told then to huddle up. “ a dragon I found,”

Rainbow and Pinkie gasped.

“WHAT?!” Rainbow stopped for a few seconds, looking around to see if anypony heard her outburst, “What? Why?”

Twilight answered, “It was hurt, but nopony was brave or smart enough to take care of her, so I took her over to Fluttershy’s, and now,” looking over at her yellow friend, “she’s getting the help she needs,”

“Super! Maybe now you’ll stop being scared of dragons so much and you’ll stop having nightmares of them and you can finally move on with your life and do awesome things like helping with the weather ponies, or join the Ponytones, or do awesome tricks like Rainbow Dash, or become a fashion model again, Rarity always wanted you to go at it again, or….” The party pony babbled, but was cut off by a lavender hoof to the face.

“I think we get the point, Pink, but she’s already got a great job as Caretaker, and I’m sure she’s just fine with that,” the lavender pony stated.

“So, how is she?” Dash asked Fluttershy. “Is she scary?”

“Not at all. In fact, she’s very nice and gentle, and a bit shy,” she answered.

“SHY?!” the others gasped.

“Yes. When I asked for her name, she hesitated. She’s probably as shy as me,”

“Nopony, or dragon, is as shy as you,” Dash shouted.

Twilight nodded in somewhat agreement. “What matters now is that we help her get back home. Wherever it may be. Do you know?” looking in Fluttershy’s direction.

“No, I never took the time to ask her and I promised her I would get her something to eat. I better get home,” she said, leaving in a hurry.

“Well, see ya,” Dash said in the distance.

Back at the cottage, Cassie was starting to worry if her ‘nurse’ was in any trouble, then the door swung open. Fluttershy made it back with the cupcakes.

“Oh, thanks. I was beginning to worry there,” she said, relieved.

“Sorry I took so long. I hope you aren’t mad at me,” the yellow pony said with her head low.

Cassie forgave her. Once the two had lunch, Flutters asked, “I forgot to ask you earlier, but…… where are you from?”

She smiled. “I’m from a very peaceful place called Dragon Land. My friends and I have lots of fun there,”

Flutters needed to investigate further if she wanted to help her friend. “Don’t mind my asking, but how exactly did you get here again?”

“Well….”

It began when I checked out a new book at my library. I always loved to read a good book, but the owner told me it was a magical book and that he didn’t know how to use it, so I took it with me to see if I could work on it. When I opened it, the pages were blank. I tried flipping a page and that’s when it all happened. I was being pulled into it, much like the pop-up book we have at our school. I tried to fly away, but it was too strong. Everything was white for a few seconds, then the next place I saw was a forest. I didn’t have time to react as I crashed into the trees and injured my wings. That and a few scales.

“…and that’s all I know”

The pony nodded her head. “I’ll have to tell Twilight about this,”

A few knocks was heard from the door. She opened it to reveal none other than the master of chaos himself, Discord.

“Oh, I hope I’m not interrupting anything. I was just dropping by for our daily tea,”

Flutters panicked and looked at the calendar. Sure enough, it was Tuesday. “Oh, dear. Is it that time already? I’m sorry,”

She turned around to see Cassie was hiding.

“Um, Cassie? Where are you?” she asked.

“Who are you talking to?” the draconequus asked curiously.

“My new friend, Cassie. She’s a dragon,” the pony answered with glee.

“I’m sorry, am I talking to the pony I know? You’re horrified of those things,” he shouted.

“I know, which is why Twilight said that I should be the one looking out for her,”

“Well, in that case, you wouldn’t mind if she joined us?” he asked

His friend giggled. “Of course not, besides, I think she could use a few more friends to make her fell more welcome,” She called out again. “Cassie, it’s okay. Discord is my friend, so he won’t hurt you,”

The dragoness slowly raised her head from behind the couch. She looked at the horrible creation before her and instantly went back to hiding.

“That’s okay. She’s a little shy, maybe because she hasn’t seen a creature like you,”

“Hm,” he huffed.

Fluttershy walked to the dragoness and brought her over. “Cassie, this is Discord. I know he doesn’t look like anything from your world, but he’s really nice once you get to know him,”

When Discord saw her, his face lit up. “A pleasure to meet you! Aren’t you the cutest thing I ever saw?” He then got a shot of disapproval from his crush. He then turned to the pegasus. “Of course, not as cute as you, my dear,”

The three of them had a great time discussing the things they’ve been doing the past few days. Cassie had never had such a ball.

“Well, that was nice. I had lots of fun, did you?” the pony asked.

Cassie giggled. “Of course. What will we do tomorrow?”

“I don’t know. Maybe I can show you what my friends do and explore the town together,” Flutters answered.

“That sounds nice,”

The two yawned, getting ready for bed.

Flutters thought, “Would you like to sleep in my bed tonight? It’ll be much more cozy, and it’ll help you feel much better,”

Cassie’s eyes gleamed, “Thanks. You don’t know how much that means to me,”

With that, the two headed off to bed, wondering what tomorrow may bring.

Author's Note

I hope you like my first chapter. It took a few tries to get some building up between Fluttershy and Cassie, but it was worth it. Until the next chapter...