Element of Faith

FAIRY WISHES IS MINE! Mane 6, Trixie, and Spike got to Hasbro. I hate writing this disclaimer. But I have too.

Before the Ursa destroyed my house last week, I was having the strangest dream. All I can remember about it was that my friends were in it alone with the strangest pair of blue/green eyes.

Not really knowing what else to do. I painted them.

The whole canvas was painted black except for the two eyes staring evilly out of the darkness. They had slits in them, like Spike, but I knew it wasn't dragon. Something about the eyes told me to fear them, to run if I ever saw them coming. Run and never stop.

Placing the painting in my Art Room, I walked outside and saw a massive black cloud coming over.

My first instinct was to start telling ponies. I ran to the park and saw Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie.

Dash was bouncing a dark pink ball with tiny white stars on her head.

"We're all going to have to start over." I heard Fluttershy whisper.

"Fluttershy! There's a cloud of weird black smoke coming towards Ponyville!" I yelled.

"I saw it too. But nopony is listening to me." Fluttershy explained. "Everypony it's an emergency. Please…"

"LISTEN UP!"

Twilight.

Almost everypony turned to see the purple unicorn coming over the bridge with a baby dragon on her back.

"Smoke is spreading all over Equestria."

The ponies all gaped when they looked up to see the trail of smoke.

"That's what I've been trying to…" Fluttershy whispered next to me.

"But don't worry. I've just received a letter from Princess Celestia informing me it is not coming from a fire." Twilight explained

"That’s good. For a moment there I was worried about-" I began.

"It's coming from a dragon."

Oh this is so much better than a fire. What purpose would a dragon have for covering us in black smoke?

"A d-d-d-dragon?" Fluttershy stuttered next to me.

"Fluttershy I'm sure the dragon has a good reason for this. Or maybe he doesn't even know he's doing it." I explained to my scared friend.

"I'm sure Twilight has an explanation. Let’s meet her at the library." With that, I dragged Fluttershy towards the big tree Twilight and Spike called home.

The others had the same idea. We found AJ, Rainbow, Pinkie, and Rarity at the tree house waiting on Twilight.

“What in the name of all things cinnamon swirl is a full grown dragon doing here in Equestria?” Applejack asked as Twilight immediately began searching books.

“Sleeping.” Twilight answered.

“Huh?” We all asked.

“According to Princess Celestia, he’s taking a nap. His snoring is what’s causing the smoke.” Twilight explained to us.

So the reason the sky is slowly turning black is because a dragon wanted some shut eye but he snores?

That makes logical sense.

“He should really see a doctor! That doesn’t sound very healthy at all!” Pinkie added.

“Well, at least he’s not snoring fire! What are we to do about it?” Rarity pointed out.

“Smoke is just as bad. If it’s not cleared we’ll run out of sunshine, food, clean air. All of it.” I explained to my oldest friend.

Not age wise. Not that kind of old at all. Rarity would kill me if I meant it that way.

“Fairy is right. Apparently, if we don’t wake him up soon the smoke will stay for a hundred years!” Twilight added.

“Talk about getting your beauty sleep!” Rarity groaned.

Twilight was busy packing her things inside her bag, the one with her cutiemark on the clasp.

“Alright everypony. I need you to gather supplies. We’ve got a long journey ahead of us. Meet me back in here in less than an hour.” Twilight ordered.

We all nodded.

“You heard here girls!” Rainbow Dash cheered, flying between us all. “Equestria’s fate is in our hooves! Do you have what it takes?”

“YES!” Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity and I cheered.

As the others trotted, flew and bounced out of the house I noticed Fluttershy still there.

“‘Shy, you can do this right?” I asked the timid pegasus.

“Umm...well.” She mumbled. I placed a light brown hoof on her shoulder.

“Fluttershy, I’ll be with you the whole way. All of us will. Don’t worry.” I assured her.

The pony nodded, but I could still tell from the look in her sea foam green eyes that she was unsure.

I placed the survival stuff inside my saddlebag, a lime green with two pink hearts on both sides for clasps, carefully making sure I had everything. But as I walked out the door, my eyes locked with the ones on the painting. While painting, I didn’t think I put that much detail into them.

Now, they pulled me in. Making next to impossible to move them away.

Thankfully, the reminder to meet the others came back at me. Forcing me to look away long enough for me to run outside.

That painting was weird.

When I got to the others they had begun to form a single file line, minus Fluttershy and Twilight who was leading. I finally saw Fluttershy, hiding behind the line.

“Alright girls listen up. I’m mapping out the fastest route. We’ve all got to keep a good pace if we want to make it up the mountain by nightfall.” Twilight explained.

“M-m-m-mountain?” Fluttershy mumbled next to me.

“The dragon is in that cave at the very top.” Twilight pointed to the giant mountain covered in smoke.

Never would have guessed.

Looking over at the shaking pegasus, I tried to look her in the eyes.

“Fluttershy, remember I’m right here.”

During one of Rarity, Fluttershy and I’s weekly spa visit, I had asked Fluttershy why she wasn’t living in a cloud home. I knew she worked with animals but I wondered. She could still work with animals from a cloud home.

Fluttershy explained she was scared of heights. This mountain was HUGE.

“Thanks Fairy.” She smiled.

“No problem. Just if you get scared at anytime just tells me okay?” She nodded her butter yellow head at me.

I realized I hadn’t been paying attention, so I looked back at the others.

“Yeah. That’ll keep you nice and cozy.” Rainbow mocked.

“It might Rainbow, at first. I know Rarity and she has a plan for herself in case it gets too cold.” I explained to Rainbow Dash.

“Do you?” Rainbow asked Rarity.

“Of course Rainbow Dash!” She pulled another scarf out from her saddlebag. “See!” Rarity beamed.

“Okay. Good.” I smiled.

“HEY! WAIT!” Immediately looking towards the noise, I saw Spike chasing after woodland creatures. He must be pet-sitting for Fluttershy.

Fluttershy also looked like she was trying to get out of the journey. I walked up to her as the others started getting ready. “‘Shy, you’re not backing out are you?”

She nodded.

“I’m scared too. It’s a dragon, asleep. And I’ve seen Spike when you wake him up early.” I cringed, if I moved some fur the right way I would still see the red skin slowly fading. “But we have to at least try.”

Fluttershy still looked downcast.

“Could you try for all the animals? For the next generation of ponies that might have to go without sunshine? For all the plants that need fresher air than this smoke?” I slowly moved her eyes into my lilac ones, “Try for me?”

After what looked like a small inner battle, she nodded.

“Alright girls. MOVE OUT!” Twilight yelled. The others started running off in the direction of the mountain.

“The sooner we leave the sooner we come home.” I explained to Fluttershy.

Soon, all seven of us began the journey towards the mountain.

*BOOM* *CRACK* *WHOOSH*

*eep*

“WOAH! What was that?!” Rainbow yelled from above us.

“That is what happens when a dragon snores.” Twilight explained so matter-of-factly.

“It ssso high.” Fluttershy said, full of fear.

“Well it is a mountain!” Rainbow Dash pointed out to the terrified mare.

Rolling my eyes at Rainbow, I grabbed Fluttershy’s shoulder and gave her a reassuring smile.

Dang it, I keep missing conversations with my kind caring gestures!

“Safety in numbers ya know.” Applejack decided.

“Oh all right.” Rainbow groaned.

“Don’t get too happy Rainbow, or we’ll start to think you’re switched with Pinkie.” I joked.

“*GASP* SHE IS!” Pinkie gasped.

“No Pinkie, I was kidding. A joke.” She laughed, the others did too but Rainbow seemed to shrug it off.

“Oh I get it! Because she was being a grouchy and stuff, right!” Pinkie realized. I nodded as we started to climb.

The others were getting ahead, when I noticed Fluttershy wasn’t following. Inward laughing at her persistence, I trotted down to her.

“I would tell you to not look down as you climb but that wouldn’t end well. So I’ll just tell you to look ahead, never look in any other direction than forward. Can you do that for me Fluttershy? Can you just look forward?”

“Look forward. I think I can do that.” Fluttershy agreed.

“Promise?” I asked her, looking right in her eyes.

“I promise.” She said before giving me a smile.

“Good, no friend left behind.” I laughed while helping her up the mountain.

By the time we reached the others, they all seemed to be laughing about something.

“Mares this is no laughing manner!” Twilight roared. “Fluttershy, you’re the expert on wild creatures. What do you think the dragon will be like?”

At the word ‘dragon’ Fluttershy squeaked, but she kept looking forward as promised.

“Twilight, I think it would be best to give Fluttershy a little space.” I suggested.

Twilight eyed the two of us strangely, but the walk continued.

Twenty Minutes of Walking Later...

“Fairy...I don’t think I can keep doing this.” Fluttershy squeaked.

A part of me knew it was coming, so I tried to think of a way to get her mind off the height.

“An old friend from my fillyhood once told me the best way to get your mind off fear was to think about something else.” This did little to nothing. “How is Angel Bunny doing?”

Her eyes almost popped out of her head.

“Oh! He’s great. It was him who showed first showed me the smoke this morning.” Fluttershy beamed.

Her mind was slowly coming off this.

“What kind of books do you like to read?” Let’s try a subject that has little to nothing to do with this hike.

“Oh...just some nature and animal care books. A few romances but that’s about it.” Fluttershy was starting to loosen up. She was getting closer.

“Me too. Something about the idea of a mysterious stallion coming and sweeping me off my hooves. But I do find one thing wrong with them.” Fluttershy looked over at me.

“Oh?” She asked.

“Yeah. Almost every single romance I’ve read it’s the same thing. The villain wants something from the mare, the stallion comes along, kills the monster and everypony lives happily ever after.”

“What’s wrong with that?” Fluttershy asked.

“Most of the villains have a good reason for being alone. Harsh childhood, old flame brutally wisped away and the ever so popular, unrequited love from the lead mare. It just doesn’t seem fair. Those stallions had lives too; all they wanted was so somepony to look at them with something other than fear. To at the very least be a friend, somepony to confide in. And right when they feel like they get that pony, their ripped away too.” I explained.

Fluttershy looked at me a little wearily.

“Wow. I never noticed that before.” Fluttershy explained. “How did you notice it? If you don’t mind my asking...”

“An old friend. He was almost like the villains in some other books. Ponies picked on him for his biggest flaw, making nicknames for it. Parents began to fear for their fillies and colts going to school with him. Until, I befriended him and afterwards it was like we were conjoined at the hip.” Fluttershy smiled.

“Whatever happened to him Fairy? I haven’t heard you talk about him before...sorry if it sounds like I’ve being pushy.” Fluttershy squeaked.

Memories of school came back to me, all the jokes, the pranks, and the occasional good grade on an assignment.

“It’s okay. And Life. I guess life happened and we drifted apart. I moved to Ponyville and because ponies were still focusing on the flaw they never let him get letters, jobs or stuff like that.” It almost looked like Fluttershy would cry.

“That sounds awful Fairy! How long ago was this?” Her voice was still soft, but if she wasn’t so kind I bet she would’ve yelled.

“Five years. I haven’t seen him in five years.” Before I could stop it, a tear fell out of my eye. The one away from Fluttershy so she didn’t notice.

“Wow. That seems so long.” Fluttershy said.

“It was much shorter once I met Rarity and all of you.” I explained happily.

The two of us smiled, before we came across something I wasn’t expecting.

A jump.

“You two need to jump!” Twilight yelled from across the short gap.

“‘Shy, you can do it. Remember, just look forward.” I explained.

I know it was short but to Fluttershy it might seem like a hoofball field.

“YEAH! There’s nothing to be afraid of! It’s just a hop, skip and a jump!” Pinkie cheered.

She did the moves and joined Fluttershy and I on the original side of the gap.

“See? It’s not very far just move your little rump! You can make if you try with just a hop, skip and jump! A hop skip and jump just move your little rump! You can make if you try with just a hop, skip and jump!”

After one final jump, I was smiling about it.

Following the moves I jumped across.

“Come on Shy! Just look at me okay!” I told her.

“Okay. Just a hop...” She did the hop.

“That’s right.” Twilight whispered.

“Ya can do it.” Applejack said.

“A skip...” She skipped. “And jump.”

“Just don’t lo-mmph!” Twilight mumbled as I pushed my hoof into her mussel.

“NEVER! Say those words to somepony afraid of heights Twilight. Bad things happen when you say that.” I whispered as Fluttershy joined us.

We walked for another hour. Fluttershy got a little scared about looking over the edge so I stood on the left side of her to keep her from looking that way. I asked her some other conversation starters, small ones that got her mind off the heights. Fluttershy was very quiet so some of the conversation was mostly me trying to help her.

“Let’s keep it down. According to my map we’re entering an Avalanche Zone. The smallest peep could cause a huge rock slide.” Twilight whispered.

Fluttershy’s ears lowered at the mention of avalanche.

“An ava-ava-”

“Shh!” Twilight said.

We kept walking, trying to make as little noise as possible.

Dash was flying sorta low, hitting a small branch. The leaf moved around, slowly leaving in the breeze.

“You okay Fluttershy?” I whispered to her.

“I think so- Avalanch-boomph!” Applejack had stuffed her hoof in Fluttershy’s mouth.

Fearing an avalanche, I began to run across the space. The others soon followed but realized there was no avalanche.

We all breathe sighs a relief.

Then the avalanche.

After a little screaming and help from Applejack, the avalanche rested behind us all.

“Everypony okay?” Applejack asked.

“Thanks to you I am.” Twilight said, slowly standing up.

I looked around, where was Fluttershy

“Woohoo! Let’s do it again!” Pinkie cheered.

“Where’s Fluttershy?” I asked nopony.

“This is why a mare always extra accessories!” She brought out the Spare Scarf. “Oh please tell me I brought the tiara that goes with this!”

“Fluttershy?” I asked nopony again. I saw a pink blur move behind some rocks. “There you are!” Ducking behind the pile I squeezed the pegasus. “Don’t scare me like that! I thought something happened to you during the avalanche! And then I would’ve lost a friend and I didn’t want to lose a friend!”

While gripping Fluttershy, I felt a hoof pat my back.

“It’s okay Fairy. I’m sorry about scaring you like that.” She apologized. Slowly backing off the hug I looked at Fluttershy, happy to know she wasn’t crushed by the rocks.

“Everypony, we need to get moving!” Twilight said from the head of the group.

Walking side by side with Fluttershy, I was happy to want to tell her something.

She looked off the mountain as she apologized and didn’t lock up.

Before we could get another conversation going, Twilight said we had arrived at the cave.

The hole into the cave looked the same size as Twilight’s house. A tunnel of smoke was leaving from the head of the cave filling the giant almost storm like cloud over head. The lighting was terrible so I could barely get a good view of the inside of the cave.

“Rainbow Dash, you’ll use your wings to clear the smoke.” Rainbow nodded and jumped up into the cloud just ten feet above our heads. “Rarity, Fairy Wishes and Pinkie Pie, you’ll create a diversion to distract the dragon if things get a little hairy in there.” Before anypony could ask, Pinkie zoomed off.

Only to be seen holding a rubber chicken in her mouth, Rarity made a ‘does this make sense to you?’ look at Twilight. Whilst I simply shrugged. It was just Pinkie Pie being Pinkie Pie. The purple unicorn only stared in what looked like confusion.

“Applejack, you’re ready with the apples in case he decides to attack.” AJ tossed two apples up into the air and bucked them into a tree. Rainbow came down during this time. Apparently the smoke breaking wasn’t working.

“But it shouldn’t come to that because Fluttershy will do what she needs to do to wake him up and between the two of us, we should be able to get him to understand why he needs to go. Is everypony ready?”

We all stood at attention, except Fluttershy.

“Okay then. Goin’ in.” Twilight walked off, Fluttershy stayed with us and buried her head in the dirt.

A moment later, Twilight walked out.

“Fluttershy, come on!” Twilight pulled on her long pink tail, effectively pulling her out of the hole. “We have to do this! Now!”

I stood on the sidelines, watching as everypony got behind Fluttershy and started pushing her towards the cave.

“I-I-I-I can’t go into the cave.” Fluttershy said flatly. The others collapsed onto the ground.

“Oh come on! She’s scared of caves know too!” Rainbow Dash groaned.

“You’re not scared of the cave.” I suddenly said, catching everypony’s attention. “You’re scared of what’s inside it.”

It all made sense now. The attempts to avoid the mountain, the slowness while coming up and the unwillingness to enter the cave.

“The dragon?” Twilight asked. “You’re scared of the dragon?”

Fluttershy nodded.

“Well why didn’t cha say anything for we came up here Sugarcube?” Applejack asked.

“I was too afraid.” Fluttershy explained. Rainbow Dash groaned loudly.

“But Spike’s a dragon and you aren’t scared of him.” Pinkie cheered.

“Yes. Because he isn’t a huge gigantic terrifying enormous teeth gnashing sharp scale having horn wearing smoke snoring could eat me in only one bite totally all grown up dragon.” Fluttershy explained

*SNORE*

“Come on Sugarcube, go on in there and show us what yer made of!” Applejack cheered Fluttershy.

Fluttershy looked at each of us, and then walked off towards a hiding place.

Twilight went in alone. She came back a few minutes later. Rarity went next, coming back after she tried to take some of the jewels the dragon kept inside. Pinkie went in next, dressed like one of her parties (I am not kidding, almost every decoration from her parties was on this outfit) and came out with deflated balloons and missing flippers. Rainbow tried next and ended up no better than the rest of us. Pushing the others onto a rock.

“HEY!” The big scaly red dragon turned towards me. “LEAVE THEM ALONE!”

His tail swatted at me like a bug towards the stone wall.

Then there was darkness.

Opening my eyes, I found I was back home. My head felt soar. How did I get back here? Wasn’t I with the others? Last thing I remember was a hike, then a...a...dragon and the mares.

THE MARES!

I shot out of bed and Twilight put me back down.

“Twilight? What happened? Where are the others? And Fluttershy? And the dragon?!?” I shouted.

Twilight simply chuckled, getting a small washcloth from my bathroom and started dabbing my head with it.

“The mares are fine, alive. The dragon is long gone by now.” Twilight explained.

“But-how?” I asked.

“Fluttershy. Apparently she hid behind the rock that we were thrown into and when she saw you lying unconscious she went crazy. Yelling at the dragon about how rude he was and what he did to you was wrong. The dragon looked more scared than Fluttershy. He even cried a one point.” Twilight explained.

That made me laugh. I just got an image of Fluttershy making a dragon cry.

“We brought you back home and Fluttershy made sure you were okay, are you feeling okay?” Twilight asked me.

“Just fine, a small headache but other than that I’m good.”

Twilight smiled, she began to walk out but I stopped her.

“Umm...when you see Fluttershy... can you tell her not to tell the others what we talked about on the hike?” Purple eyes stared at me, worriedly, “It was nothing big, just something I’d rather not turn into gossip.”

Twilight nodded, understanding my wish of privacy.

“I’ll tell her that. Thanks Fairy, I think you really helped Fluttershy during all of that.”

I nodded, then fell back to sleep. I was still tired even after all of that.