Crashing Angels Chapter 9:Nightmares and Dragons.

The two youngsters collide and a sharp crack is heard as hoof collides against skull.

Hoops stands above Rainbow Dash as she lies on the soft clouds, quickly fading into unconsciousness. He shakes himself off, grinning victoriously.

"Oops... I think bucked her too hard..." The bully grins.

"Rainbow....!!" Fluttershy rushes to her best friend's side, already in tears from worry.

The filly of her attention simply lies there. Completely out cold.

Lips quivering, tears falling from her eyes, Fluttershy trembles with fear and worry before she collapses. Burying her face in her friend's mane, she sobs brokenheartedly and holds her tight. Her heart sinks in her chest, as well as her body pretty much going numb. Just when things were going so well, just when things were going to be okay, this happens. She holds her smaller companion all the more tightly, trembling hard.

At least...until she hears raucous laughter from the bullies.

All she then can see is red.

Raising up, she faces the bully who dared hurt Rainbow Dash, and manages a shaky glare. "You....You....! You monster!!! How dare you hurt my friend!! How dare you laugh at us!!"

"What Fluttercry? Don't like your fillyfriend getting hurt?"

Ignoring the fillyfriend remark, the lanky filly approaches the bullies. "As a matter of fact, I don't! And if you even dare lay another hoof on her, you'll be sorry! Now you stay away from us! You hear me?! Go away! We don't want you here!"

Her teary, teal eyes narrow, her glare hardens, and her mouth is set in a firm line, before her angry eyes widen considerably. It becomes a stare that pierces through the heart of the bullies.

The antagonistic colt freezes under her glare, his friends quickly becoming unsure what to do either. He has no idea where this has come from, his normally timid target was showing a side he never even thought existed.

"Alright you lot, break it up!" A very angry teacher breaks up the stand off, removing the angry filly.

Snapping out of her anger, Fluttershy realizes what's going on, immediately squirming. "No! No! Rainbow!" She breaks free, running over to sit with her filly, worried for her safety.

The older mare picks up the unconscious youngster, propping her onto her back. "Class, stay here. I'm taking this bundle of trouble to the clinic."

Murmurs sounded about in the crowd of students. Fluttershy shook her head and starts to follow, unwilling to leave her best friend alone.

"You to Fluttershy. I thought the two of you were to cause no more troubles..." The older mare doesn't even bother to glance down at her tag-along.

"We were just fine, Ms Breeze! But the bullies were ruining things and wouldn't leave us alone!" Fluttershy pleads. "Please...she needs me! I can't leave her alone!"

"They only do it because they know your friend will bite back. Go stand with the class. I'll be back in a minute." The teachers wings flare slightly in annoyance.

"B-But...." Tears pool in Fluttershy's eyes as she sits down on her haunches. She begins to silently weep, knowing she could possibly lose her friend. They would never let her stay in school now! What was she going to do?

A loud sigh escapes the pegasus mare. She turns to face the tearful filly who is motionless behind her. "Okay, fine. Come on then." Under the baleful gaze of the shy filly, Mrs. Breeze can feel her heart melting.

Sniffling, the crying filly looks up at the teacher with surprised eyes. But then she smiles in gratitude, her little wings fluttering. Standing up, she canters after the teacher, relief flooding through to her heart. At least now she could be there when Rainbow would wake up, if nothing else.

---

Two fillies lie in bed. The cyan one's head is wrapped up in bandages. Fluttershy is snuggling with her best friend, sleeping about as peacefully as she can under the tough circumstances at hoof.

"Aww... my head..." The tough cyan filly is the first to come to, waves of pain immediately pulsing through her system. She wished she could go back to sleep and get away from the pain.

Something warm brushes against her face as she turns in bed. "Huh... Fluttershy...?" Her fuzzy vision comes into focus, revealing her best friend, sleeping peacefully by her side.  

The shy filly murmurs something in her sleep then rolls over, covering Rainbow's muzzle with a yellow wing. It tickles the cyan filly's nose before she gently brushes it aside with her hoof. Fluttershy mumbles again, cuddling closer to her. This time, her wing drapes over Dash's back gently, while her foreleg comes around to curl around her neck.

"Okay..." She blows softly upon the yellow feathers. "Fluttershy... wake up..." This time she directs her breath at her companion's muzzle.

Stirring a bit, Fluttershy's brow knits as she lets out a sleepy mumble.

"Come on sleepy filly. Wake up." Rainbow Dash glances around, groggily coming to.  Seeing nopony else was around, she leans over and gives her friend's muzzle a lick.

Giggling, Fluttershy opens her eyes and lets out a squeaky yawn. "Mmm...oh, hello Rainbow...." She closes her eyes, lying her head down again.

But then they snap open once more as she realizes what's going on.

"Rainbow! Oh, thank Celestia you're awake!" The creamy yellow filly snuggles into her, holding her. "Are you alright?"

"Yes." The bold cyan filly winces as pain shoots through her system but she ignores it. "Hoops! That colt is going to pay for that!"

"No! No...please, no! You promised!" Fluttershy yells in anger and sadness. "This is why they try to pick on us, because they know you're going to fight them! Please Rainbow...don't.... Please, use your words..."

"But actions are cooler than words." The injured filly strikes a pose, showing off to her best friend.

"You promised..." Fluttershy whimpered, teary-eyed again. "How could you break your promise? Why would you do this to yourself? To me? Why? Don't you want to stay here? Don't want you want to be with me? …Do you really not care at all?"

"I do care, Fluttershy." The cyan youngster starts to look defeated.

Tense moments pass as it looks like Rainbow Dash is thinking of leaving in pursuit of vengeance. Just as she is about to turn away, she sighs. "You know what... stuff it. I'll stay here with you. If those stupid colts want to be uncool... that's their choice..."

This makes Fluttershy beam through her tears. "You would look even cooler...if you walked away from them. They would look stupid." She then gently rolls her best friend over, climbing on top of her and acting as a blanket and comfort source to her.

"I guess... but that's not how it's done back home..."

"...What do you mean?" Fluttershy gives a gentle lick to her best friend's muzzle.

"Well..  back home... the toughest pegasi always ruled the place. That's why I always got beaten up... I was too cool for them." The smaller filly grins up at her surrogate blanket.

Shocked, tears fill Fluttershy's eyes as she snuggles her more. How could this happen to her friend? Why did it happen? It wasn't fair! No, she was not going to let that happen to her again. Ever. Not even just to make sure they would stay in school together. But moreover, so that her friend wouldn't get hurt again.

"I won't let that happen to you again, Rainbow....!"

"But you don't fight..."

"No, but I'm not letting you get hurt like that again! No! Never!"

"But we go home in a few weeks time. What will you do then pal?" Rainbow asks, wondering how her gangly companion could possibly protect her.

Fluttershy looks down at her friend, determined, but still worried. She runs a hoof through her mane, then kisses her forehead. "Rainbow...you remember...when I said that you were my family now?"

"Yep. We sure are!" The cyan filly on the bottom confidently replies.

"Well..." Fluttershy gives her a pleading smile. "...You're coming home with me, Rainbow."

"But my mum will be coming to meet me... soon as school is over. I can ask her though. She's nice. It's only my dad you have to worry about... when he's not snoozing." Rainbow giggles rudely, gleefully remember what her father is always like.

"You and your mother can come stay with us..." Fluttershy offers, pleading her. "Please, Rainbow... I need to know you're going to be safe..."

"Believe me. My mum's tough. She likes our neighbourhood. Crazy weather ponies."

"Okay..."

"But..." Cyan meets yellow as Dash places their foreheads together. "I will ask my mum if I can come round to my cool new friend's place. She always wants me out of the house anyway. So she's sure to say yes!"

Relieved, Fluttershy nuzzles their foreheads. "Yay!"

"Right... Now... how about we sneak out of here and go do something cool?"

"But Rainbow! Your wounds!"

"It's nothing. He only hit me in the head!" She seems far too happy about it, continuing to grin like a crazy filly. "Come on. It's not like anypony's going to stop me."

"...As long as we don't do anything that will hurt you more..."

A loud rumble echoes around the room, Rainbow Dash giggles softly, patting her tummy. "Guess we need to start with something to eat first." She glances around, noticing it is still dark. "Say... What time is it?"

Fluttershy looks at the clock. "It's almost five. You wait here, I'll ask the nurse if she can release you, then we'll get something to eat."

"Why ask? Can't we just go?"

The buttery yellow filly shakes her head. "No, we shouldn't risk it. We could get in trouble if we sneak you out of here. I'll ask the nurse." Insistent, Fluttershy places a forehoof on her friend's chest, pushing her back into bed.

"Fine, fine. Go. Be awesome. Get your best friend out of here." Rainbow Dash eagerly waves her companion off, not wanting to push her own agenda too hard.

"O-okay..." The nervous filly trots off.

Rainbow sighs, stretching out in bed, doing her best to relax. After a few peaceful moments she hears a squeal, sitting bolt upright, ready to spring off the bed to provide assistance. When no further noises become audible, a confused look crosses the defenders muzzle.

"Fluttershy, pal?"

No response.

She leaps off the bed, galloping toward the door to find her friend. 'What if something bad has happened to her. I wasn't by her side to help her! Oh no!'

The building panic dissipates in a split second as she slams into a yellow filly. "Fluttershy!"

Her fellow filly, also now sprawled upon the floor gives her a quick hug before shankly getting to her own hooves. "Y-yes... I found the nurse."

"Rainbow Dash. You are free to go, once I have checked you over."

"Awww... Come on! I'm fine!" The injured filly complains.

"Please make this easy on yourself Rainbow Dash. I know your reputation. You've been in here several times already. I have already spoken to the Headmaster and we will see the bullies who decided to do this to you. Please don't go after them yourself, your still close to being expelled."

The cyan plushball scowls at the mare. "But I am fine... It's not my fault..." She slowly turns.

"Please, Rainbow? Just let her look you over and then we can go...." Fluttershy pleads.

Feeling like her friend has once again twisted her wing, Rainbow decides to forego fighting. "I will pal." With a sudden burst of energy, the prankster sprints back to her clinic bed. Leaping onto it then once again taking on her look of boredom. "Hurry up miss. I have to go."

"An attitude like that will only get you into trouble young filly."

The youngster pokes her tongue out at the older pegasus.

The older mare sighs before moving in to check on her cheeky little charge. Fluttershy sits back, waiting patiently for the results.

---

"That's better. Free..." The cyan filly stretches her limbs, elation flooding her system, happy to be out of the school clinic.

"But we both knew you would have no problems getting out." The yellow filly shyly replies.

"Of course. Now I get to plan our awesome holidays! We can go cloud jumping, I'll teach you more about flying and we can even sneak into my dad's Rainbow Factory again!"

"A-Again?" Fluttershy squeaks, a bit nervous about that. "But Rainbow, what if we do get caught again? I don't want you to get in trouble... Can't we just stick to cloud jumping and f-flying practice? A-And then...we'll...see whatever else we want to do? Things that won't get us in trouble?"

"Sure. Then we can do some cool stuff at your place too. I'm sure you have heaps of fun things to do there."

"....Actually...no..." Fluttershy's ears droop sadly at this admission. "Aside from a few toys and board games...my house is very boring... I-I'm sorry..."

"Oh come on..." Laying a hoof on her friend's back Rainbow grins at her in her super confident manner. "I'm sure we can find some fun stuff to do. Where do you live anyway?

"I live in a pretty neighbourhood close to all the busy places in Cloudsdale... It's kind of far from here, which is why I'm staying in the dorms. My house is kind of big...but it's not a castle or anything..."

"Still sounds cool. I think I can make it cooler for you." Rainbow grins, offering a quick, confident nuzzle before turning to the cafeteria.

Fluttershy smiles brightly. "Oh, yes! You really could, Rainbow! You...make everything cooler..." She mumbles with a blush, nuzzling her back.

---

The confident filly struts into her shared room, leading her friend to their beds. "That dinner was really yummy tonight, right Fluttershy?"

"Mm-hmm..." Fluttershy nods in agreement, climbing onto her bed. "Oh yes, it was delicious."

"You'll be alright there tonight, right Fluttershy?"

"Huh?" The creamy yellow filly blinks, and then blushes a bit. "Well...I...I...um..."

"Does my best friend need a sleeping buddy?" Rainbow pushes.

"Oh... N-no... I-I think... I should be okay tonight..."

"You sure? You don't sound like it...?" The cyan speedster looks on with concern.

Fluttershy gulps a bit, laying down on her bed. "Well, I really want to...but I...I don't want to trouble you... I'll try sleeping on my own... Besides...you're going to just be right above me... At least I'm not completely alone..."

"If you want to... I will..."

"...I'll...let you know if I do, okay...?"

"Okay..."

---

The eyes.

The eyes.

All of the eyes are watching her. Fluttershy tries to flee, but there's nowhere to run. She tries to close her eyes, but she cannot block out the sight. Try as she may, she can never run from nor hide what she's done from the eyes.

The very eyes of those bullies.

"Fluttershy! Fluttershy! Fluttershy can hardly fly!" The voices chant, over and over and over again.

"N-No!!" Fluttershy yells, trying all she can to escape. "Stop!"

"Fluttershy! Fluttershy! Fluttershy can hardly fly!"

She is alone. Her friend, abandoned her. Under the continuing assault she curls up in a ball and begins to weep. Small wet tears, running down her pretty little face. This only seeks to aggravate the problem as more cruel voices join in, even her kind hearted teacher.

"Fluttershy! Fluttershy! Fluttershy can hardly fly!"

The disembodied eyes continue to surround her, the voices continue to chant, with nothing in between. She is lost and alone in this strange realm. All can see her. All can hear her. There is no escape.

"Fluttershy! Fluttershy! Fluttershy can hardly fly!"

"Stop! Please!" The tearful filly cries, covering her muzzle in an attempt to dispel the watching eyes.

No response, nothing. Just the voices and the eyes. All is constant. Nothing changes. Her pleas fall on deaf ears.

"Rainbow! Where are you!?!" She can think of nothing and no pony else who can make the terrors disappear.

A laughter rings out. But it is laughter she doesn't recognize. The disembodied laughter seems to belong to someone pure evil...but she cannot see them. Whatever it was, it only served to scare her far more.

The eyes watch, the voices chant, and the laughter rings out.

It all surrounds her.

"Fluttershy! Fluttershy! Fluttershy can hardly fly!"

Fluttershy snaps awake in her bed, screaming. Not loudly, but certainly loud enough that anypony in the room would hear her. She clutches her blankets, trembling, yelling out in fear. The fear overrides her, to the point that she barely realizes that Rainbow Dash is now beside her, holding her to calm her down.

"It's okay! Sssssh!" The bold cyan filly hugs her best friend.

"Rainbow.....?" Fluttershy manages, tears seeping down her cheeks. "Rainbow...! Where did you go? Why did you leave me?"

"I didn't!" The bold pegasus runs her hooves through the shy pegasus's mane, rubbing her shoulder. "I would never leave you... You know that right?" Rainbow pulls away, gazing into the tearful aquamarine eyes with care written across her face. .

Taking a few deep breaths, Fluttershy whimpers, now grabbing her companion again. "It was so...scary...the eyes...oh those horrible eyes! And the voices...Rainbow...I was all alone and scared...these voices...those eyes..."

"Shhhh... It was just a nightmare..." Rainbow chose to continue her work, massaging her companion softly.

Whimpering, the scared filly sniffles and nuzzles her for comfort. "It was so scary... I don't want to sleep anymore..."

"Well... how about I try and fix that then." Dash did her best to sound confident, slowly petting her friends pink mane once more.

"H-How...?"

"Well..." The cyan fily gifts her companion a lick. "How about I sleep with you tonight... it seems you need a sleeping buddy."

Sniffling again, Fluttershy gazes at her best friend tearfully. "Please.... Yes...I need you, Rainbow... You're all I have..."

"Shuffle over then." Dash confidently nuzzles her friend, motioning for space to be made.

Nodding, Fluttershy scoots over a bit to allow some room for her companion.

The bold filly leaps into bed, giving a quick lick to her friend to help comfort her. "Okay Fluttershy... Come here..." She wraps a forehoof around her friend, then a second. Then she wraps her hind legs around the timid pegasus.

Now in a full body hug, Rainbow grins at her friend. "Feeling better?"

Finally smiling for the first time since waking up, Fluttershy nods. "Yes... I feel wonderful, Rainbow..." An amazing feeling washes over her, and while she can't comprehend it, it's okay. All she knows is that she likes it, and it's because of her best friend in the world. Her heart pounds along with it, as a soft blush settles on her cheeks.

"Good. I'm on top this time." Dash confidently whispers, nuzzling her friend.

Giggling, Fluttershy nuzzles her back and sighs in bliss. "Thank you, Rainbow Dash...you're the best..."

"Any time Fluttershy. I knew I would be sleeping with you tonight."

"Oh, yes...you were right..."

"So... next time you feel like you need me to help you sleep... tell me."

Fluttershy nods, snuggling more into her. "I will, Rainbow. I promise. Besides...you know I love sleeping in your hooves... It's the most wonderful feeling for sleeping, it really is..."

"Okay..." The bold pegasus was not expecting that part. "Well... You just close your eyes. I'll keep watch."

"Oh, but you need to sleep, too!"

"Don't you worry about me. You get rest. You had the nightmare. So I'll protect you."

Another sniffle. "Rainbow...thank you... Oh, you're wonderful... I never want to let you go... I want to stay with you, like this...forever..." Fluttershy closes her eyes, a sense of peace filling her, allowing her to sleep.

"Yes yes... I know..." Dash dismisses the soft sappy comment, gently closing her friend's eyes with her forehooves.

"Goodnight, Rainbow..." Murmurs Fluttershy, relaxing all the more. "My hero...my angel..."

"Night, Fluttershy." The filly on top murmurs back.

The two fillies manage to fall back to sleep, with Fluttershy having done so first. Rainbow follows soon after, trying not to think of the "mushy stuff" that her friend had been saying.

---

Two buzzing fillies sit in their room, the shy yellow one, slowly packing her small assortment of things while her companion crams everything in reach into small saddlebags. The room is filled with the soft melodies of Fluttershy who is singing softly under her breath, just loud enough that her friend can hear in.

Rainbow is clearly showing her excitement, "I think I'll leave the Wonderbolts posters up till we are about to go. Those are important." She pauses, glancing around the room for a few moments. "I think that's everything. See anything I missed Fluttershy?"

The filly in question looks at her friend's saddlebags, which are stuffed to the rim, and then around the room. "I think you put in everything...and didn't even leave things for when we'll need them over the week, Rainbow..."

"I'll be fine. I only need these out..." She indicates the posters on the wall. "Everything else..." She grins as she pats her bags, confident that all was in order.

"Well...okay...I just hope you don't realize that you do need something and have to dig through your bags to get it..." Fluttershy says, placing her own saddlebags by the door. She then headed toward the bathroom. "I'm going to take a bath."

"Right behind you!" Without even closing her bags, she takes off after the pink and yellow filly.

"Huh? But...why? You need a bath now, too?"

"Why not?" The young speedster grins at her friend, "can't I have fun in the bath with you?"

Fluttershy giggles, smiling. "Of course you can, Rainbow... If you want to have a fun bath with me, you can if you'd like..."

"I sure do!" The cyan ball of trouble leaps on her companion, playfully pinning her to the ground, grinning down at her.

"Hey!" Fluttershy laughs, now on her stomach on the floor. "Oh, Rainbow...you silly filly..."

"Me!?! No way. I'm cool!" Rainbow gets off her friend for a moment, waving her hooves in the air to demonstrate her point.

This allows the gangly pegasus on the bottom to stand and deliver a hug to her friend. "Okay Rainbow... you're so cool." She nuzzles noses, giggling softly in time with her defender.

"Alright! Enough of this sappy stuff... lets have some fun in the bath!" Rainbow Dash eagerly zips off again.

"Wait for me!" Fluttershy laughs, going after her.

"You can't catch me!" The filly up front laughs, diving into the empty tub and frantically turning taps to get things underway.

Giggling, the creamy yellow filly flies into the tub, and hugs her companion from behind while she works the taps. "I got you, Rainbow!"

The speedster attempts an escape, instead slipping on the wet surface as more water flows into the bath. She slides belly along in the tub, laughing the whole way with her friend on top. "That's cheating. I was getting our bath going!"

"I know," Fluttershy giggles lightly, then releases her.

Colourful mane sticking out all over the place, Dash grins at her friend, lightly splashing her. "Now it's your turn to pay for it." She adds a few heavier waves to the mix as more water arrives, giggling all the way.

"Nooo!" The lanky filly splashes her back, though weakly, laughing.

"I'm going to win this time!" The smaller pegasus cries out playfully.

Fluttershy giggles, shaking her wet mane and splashing gently. "But you always win at this, Rainbow! You win everything..."

"But I'm supposed to win everything. I'm me!" She giggles loudly, adding a short but powerful wing to the mix, sending water everywhere.

"Yes, you do..." She smiles.

The speedy youngster rushes at her companion once more, diving under the shallow water, tackling her friend from below. Bubbles explode around Fluttershy as the filly under the water yells in victory, coming to rest, victorious on top.

A very breathless filly lies atop the yellow throne of plush, panting rather loudly as she breathes warm air across fluttershy's coat. This sends tingles up the timid pegasus causing her to break out into soft giggles. "Stop it Dash! That tickles!" She rolls around, attempting at dislodging the filly lounging on top, before giving up.

"I sure hope you have a nice big bath where you live Fluttershy. I'll be able to do lots more with you if you do..."

"Yes, I do. My parents have this really big tub in their bathroom." Fluttershy nods. "But we'd have to ask if we can use it."

"I'm sure they'll say yes. Especially when we tell them all the fun we've had in here!" The fluffy filly sits up, grinning at her yellow friend.

"Ooh, okay.... We can do that...I'm sure they'll let us..."

"And I thought water was silly..." The still-grinning youngster muses, moving to turn off the taps.

Fluttershy settles against the back of the tub, sitting up and closing her eyes to enjoy the soothing warmth. "Mm-hmm..."

A peaceful moment passes as the pair enjoy the moment, sinking slowly into the warm water.

"So... you have a big bath at your place... anything else that's cool that we can do there in the holidays?"

"Um...well...our basement is kind of big... There's a lot of space for playing games." Not being one to brag, the shy filly trails off, content to simply enjoy the warm moment.

Thoughts of all the fun physical activities that she could partake in with such a space fill the young multi-coloured pegasus's mind. "Your house sounds so much cooler than mine."

"We have a balcony, it has a pretty nice view...It's really nice to sit out there a lot for dinner or breakfast, watch the sunset, or just watch the stars..." Fluttershy murmurs dreamily.  A little daydream pops into her mind, in which she and Rainbow are sitting on the balcony together, wings interlocked, snuggling, and whispering to each other. Not to mention being bigger and older.

"Stars... who would want to look at those boring things..." Rainbow Dash scoffs, not realizing her friend's fantasy.

Fluttershy pouts, her dreams shattering. There's a silent pause, until she feels a body coming up against her. When she opens her eyes, she looks to see Rainbow looking back at her, leaning against her, almost nose-to-nose.

"Hi..." The cyan filly grins, cheekily, licking her friend's nose.

Giggling, Fluttershy beams giggling softly. "Hello, Rainbow..."

The cheeky pegasus falls onto her back, making waves rush around the bathtub. "Ahh... One week... then... all fun time... and nap time..."

"I hope we can have fun together, Rainbow... I'm really looking forward to it... I just hope you'll have enough fun to want to do this again..." Fluttershy murmurs softly, twiddling her hooves. "I just....you're my best friend...and I hope we can still have fun in the future..."

"I'm sure we will. I'm always ready to have fun with my best friend..."

"...We'll always be together, won't we?"

"We sure will..." Rainbow Dash confidently closes her eyes, starting to float a little in the soothing water.

"When I grow up...I don't want to get married like the other fillies want... I want to stay with you..." Fluttershy confesses, relaxing again.

"Thats... nice Fluttershy... I've never thought of any of that mushy stuff before. That's boring grownup stuff..." She sighs in contentment once more, sinking further into the bath, touching hind hooves with her best friend. "Yep... no silly colt's ever going to slow me down..." The speedster smirks, confident in her little speech.

Giggling, Fluttershy touches hind hooves with her right back. "The other fillies can have the colts... All I need is my best friend..."

"I beat up the colts..." Rainbow giggles, almost slipping below the surface as she relaxes too much. Scrambling back up, she quickly finds a more comfy position, leaning on her best friend.

Fluttershy makes no response to that, but brings a foreleg around her smaller friend.

---

"Alright class... How are we all feeling today? Ready for your last week of school?" Ever eager, Mrs Breeze stands at the front of her classroom addressing her wonderful class of young pegasi.

"Yes, Mrs. Breeze!" Calls back the class. Excitement rings out loud and clear from most of the class, ready for their holiday right now despite the week ahead.

Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy sit in their regular positions at the back, carefree filly lounging on her chair, looking as cool as she possibly could.

As cool as a holiday sounds, the bold cyan filly feels the need for more attention from her fan base before things wrap up for two weeks. She knows that she will get to spend the holidays with her best friend. This of course means that this week can be for her supporting crowd. She doesn't like how some of her fellow schoolmates are starting to ignore her. 'I am not a nopony. I am Rainbow Dash and I am super cool!'

Fluttershy sits in her usual seat, occasionally doing some little doodles in her notebook. She feels nervous, especially for the week ahead, but can also feel the excitement of upcoming holidays pulsing though her system. The end of the term is approaching fast and she is especially looking forward to spending the holidays with her best friend.

'The first friend I ever made in school...' A dreamy smile overcomes the shy filly's features. 'And we'll be able to spend some time having fun together! I'm so excited! I never thought I'd make a friend...especially a friend like her...'

She glances over toward Rainbow, and gives her a sweet, shy smile.

The egotistical filly grins happily back at her best friend. "Looking forward to the holidays there Fluttershy?"

"Oh, yes!" Fluttershy nods. "I can't wait!"

"Neither can I-"

"You two down the back. Be quiet please. I'm sure you can wait one more week. Just think, come the end of this Friday's class, you can talk all you like. So please, eyes front to me." The teacher casts her gaze around the assembled class of just over a dozen young pegasi. "All of you can have all the fun you like then. Okay?"

Several murmurs of disgruntled agreement sound from the students, nodding their heads simultaneously.

"How about a fun class then, something to get your last week off to a nice start for everypony?"

This gathers a better response from the class causing the mare in charge to smile happily down at them all. "Thank you class. How about some art to start the week off. Everypony pick either drawing with their pencils or if you like... I can get out the paint."

This makes some of the fillies and colts raise their hooves, shouting that they want to paint.

"Oooh, yay!" Fluttershy giggles, pulling out some paper and colouring pencils.

"You don't want to play with the paint?" Rainbow Dash asks her companion as she slips out of her seat, ready to join in with most of the class.

"Um...no...I don't want to make a mess. But if you want to play with the paint, you go right ahead, Rainbow!"

"Okay!" The bold speedster rushes to the front, insistent on sitting with the rest of the cool youngsters who want to enjoy the wonders of having fun with paint.

Fluttershy watches after her with a smile before she gets to drawing on some paper. She hums a bit, holding a colouring pencil in her mouth to draw out one shape. She takes another pencil, drawing out another shape.

Carefully, carefully, she takes her time. Once done with them, she fills them in with colour. It's a little sloppy, but looks really cute and sweet and precise. At least, for a filly her age. She holds up her work, proud of it.

It's a drawing of her and Rainbow Dash, together, on a ground surrounded by flowers, a few blue clouds in the sky, and also a sun with a smiling face. With a red pencil, she writes in Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy - Best Friends 4 Ever above the drawn-on fillies.

"Yay! Oh, I hope she likes it..."

Meanwhile, the teacher returns with the paints, allowing Rainbow Dash to sit in charge of dishing them out to everypony. With a light smile on her face, she decides to leave the room for a few moments to collect further items that her class might find fun to use creatively.

The cyan filly busies herself with taking charge of the paints, pointing out who is allowed what while taking the best for herself. "No Derpy. This is my paint. Go get your own, over there." Mild annoyance flashes across the young pegasus's face as she points over near the corner of the front of the class.

"I'm sorry, Rainbow Dash." Derpy Hooves says before she obeys, a smile on her face. Although she feels left out of the cool group it's okay, 'at least Rainbow Dash cares about me enough to show me where to go.'

"Come on, Dash! I wanted the red one!" Flitter complains, indicating to one of the jars.

"Okay. You can take that one. Cloudchaser can share with you."

Flitter shrugs in agreement, taking the jar she wants. Cloudchaser follows after her with a jar of pink paint and some brushes, looking happy to share.

"Alright everypony. Let's make something super cool!" Dash rolls out a large sheet for her group of followers to all add to. "Everypony pick a colour and follow me!" Eagerly, the bold filly leads off with her brush, laying bold blue stripes across the top of the canvas. "Let's make this super cool! Let's hear it!"

A supporting cry goes up from the youngsters around the cyan filly. Everypony joins in with gusto, if there was one thing Dash could do, she certainly knew how to inject energy into her fellow pegasi.

As more and more pegasus foals joined in under their leaders command, the sheet rapidly fills with sloppy paint jobs from too many young energetic hooves.

Being the prankster that she is, Rainbow Dash can't help but add a bit of paint here and there to her underlings coats and manes whenever she finds somepony focusing purely upon their job. A few of the super cool young colts catch on and with naughty giggles and lots of immature winking, they form a group led by Dash. Under her silent instruction they do the rounds across everypony at the front of the class.

"Hey Derpy, come over here for a moment." Cloudchaser called out, beckoning for the cross eyed filly to come near the cool group.

"What is it guys?" Derpy ambles up to them, smiling genuinely, hopefully.

"We wanted you to take a quick look at our work... maybe even add to it if you like." The multi-coloured trickster grins as she wraps a paint covered foreleg around the grey pegasus.

"Well gosh! I'd love to!"

A few snickers follows her as she picks up a brush. She leans down and starts to add her own flair to the unique painting in front of her.

A giggling Rainbow Dash adds a few more light traces of paint to her fellow filly's back before stepping away to avoid detection.  

"Looking cool there Derpy." Giggles one of the young group members as they stare at the bold filly's handiwork.

Hoops and Billy quickly trot across from their own work, past their competitor, Rainbow Dash and her group. Poking out their tongues they walk up to Derpy's work and tear it in two, laughing to each other, the two bullies gaze around the class for another subject to take their flair to.

Grinning, they spot the perfect pegasus... Fluttershy.

Over at her seat, Fluttershy continues to draw some little things, all by herself. But she doesn't mind, she feels a lot less nervous about being alone, even with Dash playing around with her fans. She hums, happily drawing a rainbow arching over a small little dream house, on the ground.

"And...oooh! Some animals from the ground level! That would be nice!" She giggles, adding a couple of sloppy but still discernible animal forms. "Ooh, I hope she'll like our dream home! It'll be nice and big, with a lot of room for her to play... It's going to be so pretty! Ooh, we'll surround it with trees..." She draws on some trees.

"Heh heh, what a stupid drawing, Fluttercry!" Teases a bully from behind her, who happened to be Score, a friend of Hoops and Billy. "Only your mommy could ever like that!"

Fluttershy tenses, realizing the situation. "P-Please...leave me alone..."

"What's wrong? Don't have your hero Rainbow Crash here to help you?" He sneers, poking her back with his pencil.

"Stop it, please... I just want to draw." She pleads.

"Where's the fun in that? You wouldn't want me to get bored, would you, Fluttercry?"

"Please, stop..."

"Hey, everypony! Watch Fluttercry the Klutz turn blue!" Score hollers, standing up on his desk and then proceeding to dump an entire jar of blue paint over the yellow filly.

Fluttershy squeals as the paint pours and drips all over her, getting in her mane and on her coat. She squirms and yells, trying to make it stop. Laughter is then heard. Everypony in the class seems to be pointing and laughing at her, just like in her nightmare. She squeaks, covering her face with her hooves and beginning to sob.

"Hahahaha! She is turning blue!"

"Hey, blue and yellow make green! She should be turning green!"

"You look stupid, Fluttershy!"

"Good one, man! You got her good!"

All the laughter. Fluttershy whimpers, trying to block it out, holding her hooves over her ears and squeezing her eyes shut. She cries harder, trying to make herself smaller, having nothing to do.

In blind upset rage, she runs out of the classroom, sobbing.

"Hey! Why did you do that to my friend?!" Abandoning her group of tricksters and Derpy, Rainbow Dash storms up to the pair of colts.

"Oh come on Rainbow Crash. Be cool. We were only messing about." Hoops replies, grinning.

Score gives a smug look to the rainbow-maned filly. "Besides, Fluttercry could use a change in colour!"

"We like what you did to Derpy. You just gave us a few ideas on how to make your fillyfriend look better too."

"She is not my fillyfriend..." Growls the young speedster.

"What did you do to me?" Derpy asks, breaking into the conversation. "I know Rainbow. She's nice, not like you three."

"Go away Derpy. You're uncool." Hoops waves a dismissive hoof at the cross eyed young pegasus. "Or even better. Take a look in the mirror. Then thank Rainbow Dash for helping you." He laughs loudly, enjoying the look of confusion that crosses the grey filly's face.

"But...why am I uncool?" Derpy asks, looking a mixture of sad and confused.

"There's nothing wrong with you Derpy." Rainbow Dash turns to face her confused class member.

"Oh come on Dash! You said it yourself... She's an easy target..." Cloud Kicker points out, grinning.

"...Easy target?" This makes the pale-blonde pegasus look perturbed. "I-I thought you were my friend..."

"I..." Rainbow Dash stops herself. She can feel the eyes of the class upon her. Either way she is about to lose some faithful followers.

"You what?" Prompts a grinning Billy, prodding the cyan filly.

"Come on, Rainbow Crash, tell us!" Hoops goads her on, sneering.

Derpy looks at Rainbow, her crossed eyes filled with tears and her lips quivering.

With a vengeful look at the two bullies next to her, Rainbow Dash turns to face the sad looking grey pony. "Look... I'm... a cool filly... I can't help it if you're not... Okay?"

"Yeah. Look what she let us do to your painting." Laughs Billy, pointing out his and Hoops handiwork. "She distracted you, painted you and let us have a bit of fun..."

The tearful crazy eyed filly feels her coat, it does feel like somepony has just painted her. "....Fine...I'm sorry I bothered you, Rainbow Dash." Tears streaming down her face, Derpy just looks down at the floor and walks away sadly with dejection.

"Derpy!" With a snarl, the cyan filly rounds on the pair of grinning bullies.

"Oops... did Rainbow Crash just lose an uncool friend?" Grins Hoops.

"She's cooler than both of you two put together! Bullies!"

"But you started it. What does that make you?"

The young cyan pegasus turns to her group of followers for support, only to see that none is forthcoming. A silence descends upon the classroom, nopony is willing to help anypony else.

"Fine. I'm outa here!" Without stopping to even fight her usual tormentors, Rainbow Dash storms out, grabbing the stuff on her friend's desk as she goes. 'At least if I can find Fluttershy, I know she won't leave me hanging like this... she's a real friend!' With that thought hanging over her, the speedster stuffs everything in reach from her friend's desk into her own saddlebag then sprints off down the hallway to find her friend.

The door slams, leaving the rest of the class in peace. "Well that was a... interesting start to the week." Cloudchaser comments. A few naughty giggles follow.

"It sure is." Adds somepony else.

"Class. I'm back with more fun activities for you all! Wait what?" Annoyance fills Mrs. Breeze's cheerful face as she realizes something bad has gone down in her absence. "Wait... Where's Rainbow Dash?" She gazes around taking in the odd scene before her.

"She left to go find Fluttershy!" Cloudchaser says, giggling.

---

In the shared dorm, Fluttershy sits in the tub. The rain of the shower washes over her as she stares down at the white porcelain. Tears from her eyes mix with the shower water, as if coexisting. She sniffles, wiping her eyes. Some of the blue paint washes off, colouring the water droplets briefly before trailing to the drain.

"Why am I such a nopony?" Fluttershy mumbles to herself, sniffling again.

Crying once more, the creamy yellow filly can barely even muster the strength to wash herself. She just stares at the white porcelain of the tub, the shower water running over her, her mind jumbled with the terrible memories of earlier.

All she can hear is the laughter. All she can see upon closing her eyes is the sight of her peers pointing at her with gleeful grins and sneers.

The door creaks open, the respondent youngster fails to notice, her mind on her own failings. A few more moments of nothing but the sound of running water pass before a pair of cyan hooves rub the shy filly's back.

The timid pegasus jumps at the touch causing Rainbow Dash to restrain her as best she can. "Hey it's okay Fluttershy... I'm here now..."

"R-Rainbow..." Fluttershy's voice quivers, feeling a pang of relief.

"Yep. The one and only! I grabbed you stuff before I left."

"I-I hope you didn't get into a fight with those two bullies."

"No 'Shy, I didn't. I just talked to them. Like you said."

Fluttershy smiles a bit. "That's good... I'm glad you're okay.... I'm...sorry I ran out like that..."

"It's nothing... They were being meanies. So you were just Fluttershy..." The speedster slips into the tub alongside her friend, searching for the soap to wash the painted youngster up. "At least you only got paint on you..."

"I was so scared... Everypony was laughing at me...looking at me.... I was humiliated!"

"I wasn't laughing..." The defensive tone of the cyan filly cuts though the warming air.

"....Really? You weren't?"

"Of course I wasn't! You're my friend! My best friend... And when you left... I was stuck with a class of losers." Dash says, shaking her head rapidly.

"B-but... I thought that group you were with were also your friends..." Sniffles the creamy yellow filly.

Rainbow Dash snorts loudly as if suppressing a laugh. "When Derpy got done... after you left... no pony stood up for her. Then she ran off and no pony stood up for me. They all can jump off a high cloud for all I care..."

"...Poor Derpy...I hope she'll be okay. She always so nice to us." Fluttershy murmurs, opening her eyes.

"I know... she's a bit crazy though... but I couldn't help her with everypony there. Then they all turned on me. But I'm cool. How could they...?" A cyan hoof slaps the water in anger as the speedster tries to let out some of her pent up frustration.

This shocks Fluttershy a bit. "Why...did they turn on you?"

"Because... They're all not cool..." Avoiding the real reasons, Rainbow Dash does her best to think of an answer that is close to the truth.

"Oh...I'm so sorry, Rainbow..." Fluttershy wipes her eyes, sniffling. "I can't believe they would just turn on you like that! Who does that? A real friend wouldn't... I'd never turn on you...ever..."

"I know... that's why I left them. All I need is you. My real friend..." The cyan filly continues to gaze into the now soapy water as if it holds all her answers.

Turning around, the creamy yellow filly smiles sadly and hugs her best friend. "You're all I need too, Rainbow... We can stick together... As I said...you're my family now. And family never gives up on each other."

"I know. Now lets get you washed up. I still want to get to play with you at lunch!" The young speedster grabs the scrubber and some soap, preparing to set to work on the paint that infests her best friend's coat.

"Hee, I'd love to play with you!" Fluttershy smiles. "Um...you brought my stuff back? Oh, thank you! I...have some drawings I wanted to show you..."

"I did... but only what I could grab off your desk. So I might have your drawing... I hope Hoopes didn't tear it up like Derpy's."

"He did what to Derpy's painting!?!" Shock floods the creamy yellow filly's system. No wonder the cross eyed filly had left.

"Yea. That bully tore Derpy's painting up when I had her distracted with something. I didn't mean it to happen!" Rainbow is still hopping that she can avoid letting her friend know what she herself had done to the poor haphazard pegasus.

"Oh no...that's so sad! Poor Derpy... That's so mean of them to tear her painting like that!" Sniffles Fluttershy, shaking her head.

"Hey... at least I think I saved yours. Now hold still and I'll clean you up, silly filly."

Obeying, Fluttershy remains still as she can. "Sorry, Rainbow...go ahead... Um...and thank you for helping me clean up... I just...I felt weak. I almost couldn't even move."

"It's okay... We just need each other sometimes..." The bold filly grins happy across at the larger pegasus. "You know... I really wish was I was big like you..."

"...I'm not that big, Rainbow... In fact...I don't like it...it draws attention to me..." Fluttershy shakes her head a bit, whimpering.

"I'll swap you! Then I get more attention! Win, win!" Rainbow grins at her companion as she works her way along the delicate yellow back.

"But Rainbow... you're cool just the way you are." Fluttershy near purrs as cyan hooves tickle her lower back.

"I'm sure I can be cooler..." Always up for a challenge, Dash simply can't resist such a reply.

"Come on....you really are awesome and cool just the way you are."

"Well... okay..." A grinning cyan pegasus licks her friend's face. "I guess there's only so much cool to go around.

Fluttershy giggles with delight. "Oh, Rainbow! You always know exactly what to say."

Little hooves tickle the side of the shy pony. "That's because I'm me. And Rainbow Dash will always be the best."

The filly on the receiving end rolls around in the bath laughing happily. "Rainbow...noooo! Don't tickle me!" She squeals.

"But you're so much fun!" Laughs the trickster back, moving her hooves away from the sweet spot to cover the soft yellow tummy instead.

"Hee hee hee hee! Noooooo!"

"More Dash!" With a cheeky look upon her face, The cyan speedster moves in and blows a raspberry on the soft plushy belly of her best friend. "You're mine now Fluttershy!"

Fluttershy laughed loudly, her lanky limbs wiggling. "Yes...I am!"

---

In the small dorm, two fillies sit around the saddlebag belonging to Rainbow Dash. Said filly reaches over to open her bag, grinning at her friend. "Right... let's see what I saved for my best friend."

"Ooh, what did you save?" Fluttershy asks.

Eagerly, the dominant youngster digs into her bag, pulling out a few pencils and other stationary. After a few moments the shy filly by her side lets her smile fade, it appears that nothing of real importance had been saved. After a few more moments of digging, Rainbow proudly pulls out a rather crumpled looking item of paper.

"Ah... Is this your drawing Fluttershy?" She eagerly holds it out for her friend to check.

"Yes...it is! I can smooth it out later...but I...draw that of us..." Fluttershy says softly.

"It is...?" The bold filly gives her friend a blank look, hoping for her to continue.

"Yes...Look. I drew you, me, the ground, some flowers...and that we're best friends forever..."

A broad smile lights Rainbow Dash's face. "Nice. You can always be my snuggly wuggly." She then rolls around on the floor, excessively pleased with herself for coming up with such a silly pet name.

"Ooh, snuggly wuggly? I like it!" Fluttershy claps her hooves in delight, gliggling. "Ooh! And I also drew our dream home!"

"Just don't expect me to use that in public..." The cyan filly pauses for a moment to examine the latest work she is being presented with.

"Isn't it nice?"

"Yea. What is it...?" The questioning filly leans forward a little to get a better look.

Fluttershy goes over beside her, happily pointing out the aspects of the drawing. "Well, this is going to be our home when we're big! See? It's all big and pretty, with all the trees, some animals... And there's some space for you to run, fly and play around!"

"Are these all animals you've read about...?"

Fluttershy nods, giggling. "Yes..."

"Okay... I sure hope they look cooler when we get to go and see them."

"Me too!" The creamy yellow filly hugs her friend. "Oh Rainbow, I'm so excited! I can't wait until we grow up!"

"That's like... forever away. I don't want to grow up. I'm cool as I am. I only need to get tall like you." The sky blue filly grins appealingly at her companion.

"Well, then we'll be tall when we grow up, silly! And then we'll go find our dream home!"

"Okay." With a massive grin upon her face, Rainbow Dash stretches out on the soft cloud floor. "I wonder when the bell for lunch is... I can't wait to go play out there."

"Um....can we...not play where somepony can see us? Please?" Fluttershy pleads.

"Um... okay..." Although it was an odd request, it was one that Rainbow Dash feels happy enough to comply with after a morning of being rejected by her fellow classmates.

---

The final week of term was one of excitement for the young class. Derpy was highly unsocial the whole time, avoiding everypony and totally unwilling to listen to Rainbow Dash, despite Fluttershy's attempts at getting something to work.

Rainbow also was summoned to the headmasters office on the odd occasion so that the head pony could keep a better eye on Dash and her tricks. Each time this happened, Fluttershy found herself thankful that the kind old stallion is able to recognize a nice filly when he sees one.  

The rest of the school was highly excited, most of the fillies and colts who had lived on the school grounds were eager to return home and enjoy a well earned holiday.

Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy had spent the week enjoying each others company away from the regular crowds that would cling to the bold speedster. As much as Dash wanted to continue to enlargen her group of followers, she found that enough was enough for one term. Although she appeared to have lost a large amount of her followers, there was always a few who could be counted upon to cheer the fast filly on when she requires it.

Now that it is finally the last day of school, the class finds themselves outside on the cloudfield, ready for one last practice flying session on this, the last afternoon of school.

"Alright class. Who's ready to have fun in your last class?" The grinning teacher asks.

"Whoooo!" Shouts all the fillies and colts as they flap their wings.

Fluttershy feels a major sense of deja-vu, realizing what this all means. A fun flying lesson. Yes, fun for everypony else, not so fun for her. She crawls away, hiding behind a cloud bank to avoid this, hoping nopony will notice she is gone.

Spotting the absence of her best friend, the cyan speedster knows where to look. Determined, she trots over to where the cowering filly is hiding. Without a word, Dash takes the protruding tail in her teeth, yanking her friend out of her hiding place with a small squeal of fear.

"Come on Fluttershy. It'll be fun."

"No...! Rainbow, I don't want to fly! You know I can't fly in front of everypony! Look, just let them have their fun...and I'll cheer you on! Just don't make me fly..."

"Is everything alright you two?" The caring voice of their teacher cuts into the conversation. "The rest of the class are out there playing and having fun."

"I don't want to fly...I can't..." Fluttershy whimpers.

"Yes you can fly young miss... but if you like... since it is only a fun lesson... You can just sit and watch your friend instead."

This makes Fluttershy brighten. "Yes! Yes! I'll do that, Miss Breeze! Thank you!"

"Okay... but watch out... Everypony else is not necessarily looking where they are flying. Not that everypony here can fly quite yet." She casts a glance across to Derpy who is trying to fly sideways, and as one would expect from such an odd method, is failing.

"Go on, Rainbow! Go fly, and I'll cheer you on!" Fluttershy says excitedly, bouncing on the spot. She gets behind her friend, gently pushing into her rump with her head. "Go on, silly filly! Go on! Go fly and show me what you can do!"

"Um...okay..." The bold cyan pegasus sits frozen in surprise at her companion's boldness.

"Go on, Rainbow...you can do it! You're the best flyer in our class!" Fluttershy cooes, still nudging her friend's rump with her head.

Springing up, the bold filly gives her friend a confident grin before extending her wings. "I'll race you miss."

"Oh no you don't..." Laughs the grown mare. "I don't need you to try and show me up. Just go and have some fun. But stay in this part of the playground."

"Aww... But this one's too small for a cool filly like me."

"No buts. This is the last day." The teacher shooes the cocky filly away with a forehoof. "Just go have fun. Show off to your friend."

"Oh! You could pretend you are in the Wonderbolts, Rainbow! I could be the pony who goes with you to cheer you on!" Fluttershy says, bouncing on the cloud ground.

"Yea! I can!" A massive grin erupts on the confident pony's face, small wings flick in anticipation for a few moments as she prepares for take off. "Give your Wonderbolt a cheer Fluttershy!"

"Yay!" The creamy yellow filly squeals happily, clapping her hooves. "Go Rainbow Dash, my awesome Wonderbolt friend!"

"Louder!" The grinning youngster cries back. "Come on. I'm in a stadium filled with fans and I want my Fluttershy to hear me!" She rears up on her hind legs, preparing to charge.

"Yay!"

Without stopping to tell the shy pony to speak up, Dash charges along a pretend runway near her friend, dodging a speeding ball of filly as another youngster attempts to use a similar pathway. With a mighty leap, Rainbow Dash takes flight, wings working madly, attempting flight. She successfully becomes airborne to the soft cheering of her best friend. A grin coats her face, she has done it again, no other young pegasus in the class can hold flight for more than a few moments, yet here she is, flying like a Wonderbolt. At least in her own mind...

"Yay! Good work, Rainbow! You're wonderful!" Fluttershy cheers, clapping her hooves again.

Tiny cyan wings give out, sending their owner plummeting into the soft clouds underneath. The cocky filly lands on all fours, rocking about as she regains her composure.

"Was that cool or what?" She grins at her spectator, hoping for some well earned praise.

"Yes!" The lankier filly trots over, nuzzling her companion. "That was amazing! You get better and better every time you fly, Rainbow!"

"So can you..." The grinning filly whispers in her companions ear. "Want to see me do that again? I'm sure I can do something extra cool if my audience wants me to."

"Hee! Okay, Rainbow. You can-"

"DRAGON!!!!"

Screams filled the air, along with the warning yells of any adult ponies in the vicinity. A huge, looming shadow fell over the majestic cloud city, passing over it like a dark blanket. Some ways above, just barely skirting between the city lines, is a dragon. It is huge, a burgundy colour, flapping its enormous wings, both of which are as wide as a few pegasus houses. A roar sounds from the beast as it flies, not once glancing downwards, despite the loud screaming of the pegasi below.

"Awesome..." The bold sky blue filly finds herself frozen in place by the passing dragon. She has never seen something with wings that large before and stands in awe of its mighty power as it cruises by. She quickly forgets herself and any danger she might be in as she gazes upwards. 'I can only dream about what kinds of awesome speeds that thing can do...' The speedster finds herself wishing she were bigger, grown up. At least then she could try and race the winged monstrosity and find out if the dragon can truly fly as fast as it appears capable of.

Fluttershy freezes in terror, eyes wide, jaw-dropping. She has never seen such a huge and terrifying creature in her life! The dragon's jaws are filled with sharp teeth that are even bigger than her, and could likely crush her bones. Not only that, but it could easily swallow her whole. Without even chewing. Just one little slip and the dragon would have her for lunch.

She screams in terror, running away and going for safety to their quarters. It's all she can think to do, and hurries along before the mighty dragon spots her and catches her.

The dragon sails over Cloudsdale, not once stopping, and even lifts higher up into the sky once it passes. Its roars grow distant, the screams of the pegasi stop and soon it's gone.

"Did you see that Fluttershy... That was amazing..." The filly in awe glances around to spot... no pony at all. "Where is everypony...? Huh... That dragon was so cool." Still unable to spot any of her classmates or anypony else for that matter, she stalks off to find her best friend. "Scaredy fillies... it wasn't that scary. It was only a dragon."

---

Hiding under the covers of her bed, Fluttershy quivers and sobs with fear. She has never seen a dragon in her entire life, and has completely underestimated how big they actually are. To think a creature could either crush her, chomp her, set her alight, or swallow her was absolutely terrifying. She whimpers, trying to block out the sound of the dragon's roars. Trying to block out the sight of it when she closes her eyes. But nothing.

The bold cyan speedster pokes her head in the door to her room. "Fluttershy...? Are you in here?"

"No...."

"Oh really? Then why did you just talk to me?" The bold pegasus giggles lightly as she canters up to the hiding form of her best friend.

Fluttershy pulls further under the covers. "I-is it gone...?"

"Of course! It was so awesome to watch! I wish I was bigger... Then I could have given it a race!"

"Rainbow! It's a dragon! It could eat you!" Fluttershy squeals in fright, sniffling.

"Exactly! It's a massive, awesome, dragon! Just think about how fast those things can fly! It would be the best race ever!" The egotistical speedster almost squeals with joy as she leaps on the spot, throwing her hooves in the air.

The creamy yellow pegasus filly crawls out from under the covers. "But it's a dragon...they're big and scary... And you're not...you're a pony... Please Rainbow...don't do that..."

"Well... it's gone now... So I can't race it can I?" Dash rationalizes, still feeling a tiny loss at in the dragons exit.

Sniffling, the timid pony tackles her friend to the floor, clinging to her and trembling. "Rainbow, it was so scary! I never want to see a dragon again!!"

"Awww... come on. It's not that bad... He was only flying over. I'm sure that when I'm big I can could beat him if he ever tried anything." The confidence in the cyan fillies voice rings out loud and clear as she caresses her companion's mane, attempting to calm her.

Sniffling, Fluttershy looks at her, reaching up to touch her mane. "...You really think so?"

"I know so. I'm sure I could kick his flak. No pony touches you and gets away with it."

Smile returning, Fluttershy nuzzles her cheek. "You're the bravest filly I know, Rainbow... I...feel so safe with you..."

The multi-coloured protector giggles lightly before she replies. "I'm the bravest filly I know too."

Giggling, the creamy yellow filly snuggles into her best friend happily, savoring her warmth.

---

Two fillies bound down the steps of school, eager to meet each others parents and start a holiday filled with fun and games. It had been a long school term, and after all they had been though, neither filly felt they were going to ever forget it.