A Dragon's Fate: The Fall

Not long after this, the pair set off. As they entered the Everfree Forest however, Zecora couldn't help the growing feeling of guilt in her stomach. When Fluttershy remarked at the forest's unusual silence, Zecora decided she'd best come clean as they were now very near the crater where the dragon lay. She stopped, and took a deep breath.

"Fluttershy. Wait."

Fluttershy stopped walking and turned to the zebra. "What is it, Zecora?"

"There's something I must tell you," Zecora said. "What I told you before was not the whole truth."

"What didn't you tell me?" Fluttershy asked nervously.

"The creature that I found injured this morn - I'm sorry but it's a dragon."

Fluttershy let out a terrified squeak. "D-D-Dragon!"

Before Zecora could say anything else, Flutershy bolted past her, heading back down the way they'd come. Immediately Zecora took off after her, and as she closed the distance she realized that the pegasus was saying "No no no, not again!" over and over. Putting on a sudden burst of speed, Zecora tackled her.

"Let go of me!" Fluttershy demanded. "Let go!"

"Oh, will you please quit being so dramatic!" Zecora grunted with frustration as she attempted rather unsuccessfully to pin the struggling pegasus down. "This is not the time to panic!"

"This is the perfect time to panic!" Fluttershy insisted. "You can't seriously expect me to get close to a dragon! It's crazy!"

She broke off when Zecora interrupted her with a hiss.

"Need I remind you," said the zebra. "That you already agreed to see this through?"

"I'm sorry," squeaked Fluttershy.

Zecora glared at her for a moment longer. Then her expression softened. She stood up and stepped back, extending a hoof to help Fluttershy up.

"Honestly, you're right," Zecora said as they set off down the path again. "I know that I should not have lied. I hope you'll understand when I say at the time I felt there was no other way."

Fluttershy glanced at her but said nothing. There was silence for a while before she spoke again.

"You're really worried about this dragon, aren't you?"

Zecora nodded. Fluttershy decided not to say anything else for a while after that. Now that she'd begun to understand the reality of the situation, she was beginning to feel guilty. Zecora was taking a risk in helping such a dangerous creature, but then, Fluttershy thought, she was hardly one to call such a decision crazy. After all, how many times had she done the exact same thing?

When the pair reached the clearing and came to the edge of the crater, Fluttershy couldn't help marveling at its size. It had to be at least a hundred feet deep and five hundred in diameter. The dragon had to have fallen quite a distance to make such a hole, and what in Equestria would be strong enough to bring such a creature down?

Having descended to the bottom of the pit, the two mares broke into a run, Fluttershy following closely behind Zecora. Emerging from the dust, Fluttershy felt her jaw drop as they came to a halt at the dragon's side. While the dragon was not quite large as others Fluttershy had seen, what really alarmed her were the terrible wounds covering the dragon's body - the most concerning of all being the broken wing. Instinctively the pegasus moved closer, examining the fracture.

"This is bad," she muttered. "Really bad."

Turning her attention to the deep cuts covering the dragon's hide, she was made aware of two things. The first was that none of these injuries had been inflicted by another creature. Instead, it was clear they had been made by blades of some sort. The second, that the dragon's breath sounded labored and painful - as though something were preventing her from breathing properly.

Taking a step back, Fluttershy considered her options. Given their limited amount of medical supplies, there were limits to what they'd be able to do. The most concerning issues at were the wing and respiratory problems, but to treat them would require somehow moving this dragon back to her cottage - unlikely given the circumstances. Besides, she was wary of moving the dragon. Doing so could lead to further internal damage, and besides, they didn't have the time to organize such an effort. Fluttershy put a hoof to the bridge of her muzzle, closing her eyes in thought. It seemed for now that the best she'd be able to do was treat the dragon's other wounds and at least stabilize the dragon's condition until she could retrieve the necessary equipment needed for the more severe injuries.

Raising her head, she motioned for Zecora to join her. Pulling out two rolls of gauze bandages from her saddle bags, she handed them to Zecora as well as a bottle of antiseptic formula. Pulling out her own set of gauze and disinfectant, she began cleaning the dragon's wounds. Working together, the two mares did the best the could. Neither said a word and neither fussed, even when the bandages quickly turn red with blood. The dragon for her part remained motionless throughout the process. At first she snarled as her wounds were cleaned, but in time she seemed to accept the two ponies were no danger. She laid her head back down, her blue eyes closing.

After a time, both mares stood back at look at their progress. When they were both satisfied with the work they'd done, Fluttershy turned to Zecora.

"We should leave her to rest now," she said. "We've done the best we can for now. But we should come soon to check on her. She shouldn't be left alone for long."

Zecora nodded in agreement. Turning to the dragon, she surprised herself when she reached out and patted the creature's side. The dragon, not expecting this, stared at her with astonishment.

"See you soon," Zecora told her.

"Thank you for helping me," she said to Fluttershy as they walked down the forest path a few minutes later. "I know that coming here has not been easy."

Fluttershy shrugged. "Well, what sort of pony would I be if I refused to help a creature in need? I'm the Element of Kindness, not Coldness."

Zecora laughed. "What you say is true, though I think my speech is rubbing off on you."

"You're right," Fluttershy answered. "I didn't even realize I was speaking in rhyme." Then as Zecora laughed a second time she said, "See, I did it again just now!"

And so the two mare went on their way, laughing. In fact, it wasn't until they reached the edge of the wood that Zecora realized that she still needed to visit the marketplace. When she mentioned it, Fluttershy offered to accompany her there.

"I need to get more gauze now," she said. "I'll soon run out otherwise. And besides, there are a few things I need to get for my animals too. Also," she added, having realized the state both their coats were in. "It'll do us both some good to stop by the cottage and clean up. We wouldn't want to walk into town like this."

"Yes, I quite agree," Zecora replied. Then blushed with embarrassment as her stomach growled. "And perhaps there'd be time for biscuits and tea?"

Fluttershy smiled. "That sounds lovely."

And the two set off together, heading in the direction of Fluttershy's cottage.