Celestia's sun was setting on another day in Equestria. Rays of brilliant golden orange and red filled the sky reflecting shades of pink off the gathering clouds in the sky. The tall trees of the Everfree Forest shaded the path to Fluttershy's cottage that both Rarity and Rainbow Dash strolled down together. Both ponies carried saddlebags with the few necessities they felt they would need for the night. The silence between the two as they walked only let the other know how concerned for Fluttershy the other was. Rarity wasn't even trying to think of what she would do if a dragon ghost showed up tonight. Her main focus was to make sure Fluttershy was at ease with a peace of mind by the end of the night.
Rainbow Dash was pretty used to spending the night with Fluttershy. She had done it countless times when they were young, but since they came to Ponyville Fluttershy seemed to do much better on her own. It was a little disheartening to the cyan pegasus. The thought made her realize how close she and Fluttershy once were and how much they drifted as they grew. But tonight was a chance to reconnect. Something had Fluttershy scared to the point she didn't feel safe without somepony around to keep her company.
Fluttershy saw her friends walking up the path to her cottage. A smile bloomed across her face and her heart filled with joy. She felt so lucky to have friends that cared so much for her. The yellow pegasus stood just outside her cottage with the door open happily greeting her friends as they entered the modest home. The house was filled with smell of fresh brewed jasmine tea and the sweet scent of carrot cake.
"Thanks again for coming guys." Fluttershy greeted Rainbow Dash and Rarity with a smile closing the door behind them. "Please feel free to make yourselves at home."
Rainbow Dash jumped on the couch landing on her back in usual relaxed position she was normally found in when resting on a cloud after her and Rarity had set their saddlebags down. She had no troubles making herself feel at home in Fluttershy's cottage. For a while she pretty much lived here with Fluttershy when they'd first come to Ponyville.
"Splendid! You made my favorite tea!" Rarity exclaimed levitating the kettle to poor herself a cup. "Don't mind if I do."
"I also have some delicious carrot cake that Mrs. Cake made for me." Fluttershy offered a slice to Rarity as she joined her at the table. "Would you like some too, Rainbow Dash?"
"Sure!" Rainbow Dash said jumping up from the couch and joining the other two.
The company of her friends did help drive the thoughts of the scary ghost dragon to the back of her mind, but as the hour grew later so did the fear in Fluttershy's chest. She could feel it tighten up and her heart slowly started to beat faster. Fluttershy did her best to hide her growing fear, but little got by the two ponies who knew her best. Rarity's conversation topics often kept Fluttershy's attention and her occasional jokes at Rainbow Dash helped lighten the mood. Even with all her friend's efforts she still had that fear in her stomach especially when she swore she heard the voice.
"Shhhhhh…did you guys just hear that!" Fluttershy quieted her friends. The room fell silent for a moment as they waited and listened for what the terrified pegasus swore she heard. Nothing.
"I don't hear a thing, darling." Rarity broke the silence.
"Yeah, neither do I. Are you sure it's not all in your head?" Rainbow Dash confirmed.
Fluttershy took a deep breath and let it out.
"You're right guys. I'm sorry…I must be imagining things. Silly me." She apologized trying to erase the fear and smile.
"Fluttershy."
All three ponies heard it clear as day as if the voice was in the room with them. Fluttershy instantly shrunk back with a squeak and hid behind Rainbow Dash who was frantically looking around the room for some possible source or explanation.
"Somepony better not be playing a prank!" Rainbow Dash called.
Silence fell over the room. Rarity stood up and tried to be courageous for her frightened friend by walking over to the window to check and see if there was anything outside. The clouds had rolled in and blocked the light from Luna's moon and the stars. All she could see were the dim green lights of fire flies hovering near the edge of the forest.
"I don't see anything out there, dear." Rarity assured her friend.
Fluttershy poked her head out from behind Rainbow Dash to see the calm smile Rarity beamed in hopes it would alleviate her friend's fears. It didn't work as well as she hoped. Her heart beat faster and her fear grew stronger.
"Fluttershy." It was louder this time.
Rarity quickly turned to look outside again. There was still nothing that could be seen in the wood line. Rainbow Dash was getting tired of this fast and even more irritated that someone was picking on Fluttershy. She left her spot at the table and went out the front door.
"Rainbow Dash! Wait!" Fluttershy called with a squeak in her voice. It was too late to stop her though.
"Who are you! Show yourself!" Rainbow Dash demanded hovering a couple feet off the ground and scanning the whole area to try and find somepony nearby to give a piece of her mind to. Nopony was there.
"Fluttershy." This time Rainbow Dash spotted a faint glowing white light in the forest in the direction the voice was coming from. The hot headed pegasus instantly flew toward the edge of the forest to try and get a better look not daring to venture too far from her friends in case they needed her.
"Come out of there right now and face me!" Rainbow demanded. "I won't tolerate anypony picking on my friends!"
The light moved as if complying with Rainbow Dash's command. As it got closer she could tell it wasn't just some prankster, but an actual ball of light with a warm glow just as Fluttershy had described to them earlier that morning. Rainbow Dash moved backward at the same speed the light was approaching her trying to keep same amount of distance between them. Fear slowly began setting in her as the light started to change form. Rainbow stopped moving backwards once she felt her back hit Fluttershy's front door. Rarity took the bump at the door as her cue to open it for the cyan pegasus outside. When she made no move to enter the cottage Rarity looked outside to see what Rainbow Dash was staring at.
"Flu-Flu-Fluttershy….is this the light you were talking about?" Rarity could hardly speak or find words to describe what she was seeing.
Fluttershy joined her two friends outside and immediately ducked behind Rarity when she saw the light take form of the dragon once again. It was just as she had described it to her friends. The light was warm and inviting with a mysterious glow that almost put their hearts at ease. It would have too if Fluttershy hadn't mentioned it transforming into an evil looking black dragon the night before.
"Fluttershy, help me…it hurts…" The dragon's voice sounded pained and so lonely it made Fluttershy's heart ache.
The presence of her friends drew a small amount of courage in the kind pegasus that made her move from her hiding place behind the white unicorn and approach the ghostly dragon.
"How…can I help you?" Fluttershy asked with a shaky voice.
The dragon opened its mouth to respond but it quickly stepped back wincing as if a great amount of pain.
"IT HURTS!" The ghostly dragon roared transforming into a giant black dragon head.
Fluttershy turned to run back to her friends but wasn't quick enough. The dragon head snapped its jaws shut around her trapping the yellow pegasus in its mouth. Fluttershy screamed in fear before freezing up and passing out. The dragon head turned toward the forest and moved with incredible speed into the trees.
"FLUTTERSHY!" Rarity and Rainbow Dash cried in unison.
"Rainbow Dash! Follow that dragon! I'm going for help!" Rarity ordered as she turned to run into town.
"You don't gotta tell me twice!" Rainbow Dash answered as she took off after the dragon trying her best to match its speed. "Just hang on Fluttershy! We're coming for you!"