Punky Print's Log: Day 162

I don't know how to start this. It's been a week, and I can finally think about what happened without crying. I think I just ran out of tears though. I can't help thinking there's something I could have done. If I had been better at helping Rainy with the cloud cover, it never would have found us.

The cloud cover was too thin that day. Sunlight peeked through in shafts of light, like spotlights from the sky. A shadow passed over the clouds, blocking out the sun. The dragon casting it roared as it came to rest at the top of the cliff, but it stayed away, and we all thought nothing of it. I was in Mystic's house when the ground began to shake. The two of us looked up in panic from our tasks and rushed outside. Our eyes widened as we stared at the large yellow creature at the gates.

It stood full height, at least twice the size of the wall. It's talons looked like reaper scythes, and its mouth was drawn back in a smile as everypony panicked. Its wings seemed to cover the whole sky, and when it roared blue flames licked the town. Mystic and I stood in the midst of the blast, but as the flames raced towards us a smokey barrier parted the flames around us. Houses crumpled into ash around us, but no ponies seemed too critically injured. It was as if the dragon only wanted to watch us scramble in fear like ants without a colony.

On the wall the unicorn guards were driving it back with their magic. I ran towards my house, which had been just barely missed by the dragon's fire. It seemed not to want to hurt the wall at all, preferring to watch us panic in confinement. When I went inside I found Inky and cursive hiding underneath her bed.

"Are you two okay?" They nodded.

"Punky, c'mon and hide. The dragon's not hurting our house, we should be safe under here if it doesn't know we're here." I looked down at my shaking knees, then at the dragon, visible through my sister's window. "Come on Punky, this isn't like the bone wolves, this is a real-life, dangerous dragon."

"The bone wolves," I shouted. "If I can get outside the wall, I can get them to help!"

"What?! Are you crazy?!" Ignoring my sister's shouted question, I ran towards the wall. I focused on the wood and brick, on going through it instead of hitting it face-first. No, I thought, not hitting it, never hitting it. Just...passing...through! In a bright green flash I was outside of the wall. My joy at accomplishing this new spell was cut short as the dragon roared again. It backed away from the wall, the magic of the unicorn guards pushing it back. It didn't leave though. Instead, once the dragon was out of range of the guards it roared again, sending smoke and fire far into the penitentiary colony. I flinched as I heard the screams inside, but comforted myself with the grim thought that screaming meant living.

I threw back my head and howled. The response was thunderous, in the distance already I could see the cloud of claws and fangs that made up the pack. I smiled and howled again as I tried to copy the guard ponies' magic. The spell was exhaustive, and clearly meant for a higher level unicorn. I panted as I fired at the dragon. Luckily, even my magic was enough to push it back from the wall.

Unluckily, it gave the dragon a reason to focus on me.

The dragon roared into the sky, bringing its massive taloned feet down on the ground around me. I wove between the dragon and the wall, dancing closer to the dragon to push it back, and farther away when it tried to crush me. The guards on the wall aimed tremendous iron arrows at the dragon's soft underbelly, prepared to slaughter the gold-scaled dragon to keep it away.

"Punky!" I looked up to see Brassheart swooping down to pull me away from the fire-breathing menace and the target area of the arrows, just as the gray pegasus shouted "Fire!" on the wall.

What happened next seemed to go in slow motion, but in reality it happened too fast to react. The dragon's claws swung low, chasing Brassheart to knock him from the sky. He swerved out of the claws' path, leaving his back exposed towards the wall. The first arrow shot towards the dragon's belly, just as Brassheart flew into it's path.

"NO!"

I ran towards the falling pegasus, tears clouding my vision. When I reached him, I tried desperately to pull the arrow out of his back. Up close, it was about the same size as me, with hooks that kept it stuck inside.

"No...don't go, please..."

The dragon raised its claw into the sky and brought it down with a roar. In the last moment, Jawbones ran up and howled up at the dragon. The startled creature's foot drew back from the three of us, and Jawbones howled again. The rest of the pack responded, catching the attention of the dragon. When Jawbones howled back, I joined in brokenly, trying desperately to call the pack to help.

"Look, the wolves are coming. Just stay awake and you'll be alright... just don't go..."

The pack all pounced as one, tearing at the dragon's legs with their teeth and claws, ripping the flesh from the creature in ways thought to be impossible. Jawbones picked me up with his teeth without Brassheart. I screamed and kicked, refusing to leave him behind.

"No, no please! I have to help him, we have to go back!"

I teleported back to Brasshearts' side and clutched at his armored body. Jawbones took me between his teeth and pulled me away once, twice, but every time I went back to his side. Finally, Jawbones pulled Brassheart's body up onto his back. From between Jawbones' teeth, I watched the dragon fly away, driven back by the bone wolves.

"You'll be okay, Brassheart. Just hold on."

Jawbones whimpered in response, but I ignored him. As we reached the gate, I realized that the gate wasn't going to open. I climbed around Jawbones' neck as I began to cast the teleportation spell. As I reached to grab Brassheart and take him with me inside the wall, a pegasus guard swiftly swooped by and pulled him away.

"No!" As I reached up towards Brassheart, the teleportation spell was completed and I found myself staring at the inside of the wall. Before that moment, wood and brick never looked so damnable.

"What happened?" I looked behind me, where Neko, Mystic, Inky and the others were eagerly awaiting the story of what had happened. Inky looked around me.

"Where's Brassheart? I thought I saw him fly down to help you," Inky said, looking worried.

I hadn't yet accepted Brassheart's death. Not until that moment. Tears burned my eyes, and shame pulled my eyes away from those of my friends.

"He...he's dead."

AN: I'm sorry! Especially if you cried! Or if you were drawing an incredible fan art and just finished drawing Brassheart (sorry, Night Assault and friends). If it helps, after I realized I had to write this I cried. And my sister's probably going to punch me. I know it sucks that he died, but it was kind of necessary *hides as a plate is thrown*.