Hello again, everyone! Torch here~ Hope you like this one~

Disclaimer: Neither of us owns My Little Pony.

Chapter 3: The Dragon's Shield

Dragonshield stared awkwardly. "Oh... Freedom, this is Flare Dawn." He said, gesturing to Flare. Flare Dawn smiled and waved. Oh dear... I didn't expect them all to come... He thought, glancing over to Crimson Arrow, Dragon Tamer, and Rapid Rescue. He nodded at Crimson. " 'Ello, Crimson. Didn't expect you do bring everyone in Canterlot with you." Draco said with a smirk.

"I didn't expect you to do the same." Crimson countered. Dragonshield chuckled.

"I guess we both did. Anyway, I'm Dragonshield, the red pegasus is Freedom Fire, and the orange pegasus is Flare Dawn." Freedom waved and said "Hello." Flare Dawn simply nodded. Dragonshield sat and waited a moment for dramatic effect. "I suppose you're all wondering why I called you all here." He said calmly.

"Yeah, that would be nice to know." Flare Dawn said, walking forward and sitting next to Dragonshield. Dragon Tamer and Rapid Rescue nodded in agreement. Crimson Arrow and Freedom Fire already knew, of course. Dragonshield waited for everyone to sit down before pulling an old, very worn scroll out of his travel pack. He grinned, giddy at the thought of what adventure this map could bring. He saw a fleeting smirk on Freedom's face; the adventure seeker was trying to keep it some-what serious for the newcomers. "Any ideas of what this is?" He asked. He already knew, but this was an easy way to figure out their personalities.

"Some old scroll detailing the path to an old empire?" Flare offered.

"Maybe it's some research notes on reviving extinct species?" Dragon Tamer asked.

Dragonsheild shook his head.

"A treasure map?" Rapid asked.

Freedom Fire nodded. "Yup... Isn't that cliche?"

Within a few hours, the newly formed team had packed up and were ready to leave that Celestia-forsaken desert.

"Uuurrrgh... Can we leave yet?" Freedom Fire complained in an extra whiny voice. "I spent several months in this desert... I'm getting sick of it..." He adjusted the strap on his bag of supplies which contained his sword, some matches, a canteen, and some bandages; all leftovers from his stay. "Can it, Free. We'll leave when we leave." Dragonshield growled at his friend who wouldn't stop complaining.

"But Draco..."

"I said, can it! I don't think anyone wants to hear another moment of your whining."

"Okay..." Freedom Fire said with a dejected look.

"Pleeease don't give me that look..." Dragonshield frowned, looking away. Flare Dawn was sick of the red pegasus's incessant complaining; walking up to Freedom Fire, she slapped in the face with her prosthetic hoof. "Shut up!" She yelled. Freedom looked quite taken aback. "That's not nice..." He muttered, rubbing his sore jaw. Flare shot him the death glare. "What was that? I didn't hear you." She asked with a harsh tone.

"Nothing, nothing..." Free replied hastily. Dragonshield laughed. This is going to turn out to be a very interesting trip. He thought. That is, if the team survives those two...