The Standoff
#4 of Not so Alone
"This is who attacked you?" the purple pony said to Rainbow. This one wasn't like Fluttershy or Rainbow, though. She had no wings, but instead had a horn on her head.
"Yeah! I was minding my own business, checking on Fluttershy and then challenged her to a race to try and be friendly and she lost and got mad and attacked me." Rainbow chimed in.
"That's not what happened!" Flashwing yelled back, trying to defend herself to this new pony.
"Tell her Fluttershy!" Rainbow said with a grin. Clearly depending on her friend to lie for her Flashwing thought to herself.
"Umm..." Fluttershy hesitated to reply.
In her hesitation, the figure behind Rainbow and the new pony finally caught up and entered the commotion. "Twilight-" the figure gasped "do you always have to run so fast?" The figure walked out from behind the purple pony, apparently named Twilight, and then Flashwing saw that it was a baby dragon. She was young, herself, but not nearly as young as him. "You could have at least-" he started but then stopped mid-sentence when he saw Flashwing.
Ignoring his interruption, Twilight spoke again. "Who are you, dragon?" She asked, clearly angry. "Why did you attack my friends?"
"Rainbow attached me first. And I would never attack Fluttershy!" Flashwing answered.
"I don't believe you" Twilight responded. She moved forward and Flashwing raised her tail and spread her wings, ready to defend herself.
"Wait!" the small dragon yelled and jumped between Twilight and Flashwing. "Let her explain!"
"Spike, move!" Twilight commanded. Clearly she was the leader of this group and was used to them listening to her.
"No, you haven't listened to her. You don't even know her. I believe her." Spike said. Flashwing was amazed. This small dragon who didn't even know her was standing up to his own friends to defend her.
For a moment, none of the three ponies said anything. Flashwing wasn't sure what to say but took this chance anyway to explain herself. "I don't know where I am or why I'm here. I was back in Skylands just flying around after finally defeating Khaos and suddenly I was here in the woods and then I was attacked by timberwolves. Then they saw Fluttershy and I helped fight them off. I hurt my leg and she helped me get better. Rainbow was being mean to her and then forced me to race her and got mad and attacked me when I beat her. I don't want to hurt anyone and I just want to go home but if you attack me or Fluttershy I will fight you!" Flashwing stood her ground. She didn't do anything wrong and she was tired of being treated like she had.
"No one would attack Fluttershy" Twilight responded. "She's our friend. And Rainbow Dash?" Twilight turned to the blue pony who was fidgeting about nervously in the air. "I thought you said she lost in the race and attacked you?"
"Well she should have lost!" the pony quickly rebutted "She cheated!"
Twilight sighed and stepped toward Flashwing. Flashwing flared up her wings a bit; expecting an attack, but the pony took another fearless step toward her and extended her hoof. "I'm sorry about this. Rainbow can be a bit rash sometimes. I'm not sure about this Skylands you talk about. I've never read anything about it in my books, but it is nice to meet you. If Fluttershy trusts you, then you are a friend."
"Yeah," Flashwing started but then decided not to finish the thought. She looked at Spike who was now staring at her with big eyes. She knew the look well; it was the same one Bash often gave her. This is not what I need right now she thought to herself. She then looked over at Fluttershy.
"I'm sorry, everyone." Fluttershy started with a sad look of guilt.
"What for?" Flashwing asked. "You didn't do anything wrong."
Twilight looked at her for a second, but then looked at Fluttershy and added "nothing is your fault Fluttershy. It's just startling to have someone new here; especially a dragon." Twilight then looked over at Rainbow and said "You need to go take care of the weather over at Sweet Apple Acres Farm. Applejack will be very upset if a storm comes in before she can buck all the apples out of the trees."
"Yeah, fine..." Rainbow replied dejectedly. She pouted for a second and gave a mean look to Flashwing before she bolted off through the sky.
"I have to go search the library for a book about Skylands. Maybe I can ask Princess Celestia if she has a book-" Twilight rambled to herself as she started to wander away.
"So, umm..." Spike started to speak "how long will you be here?" he asked shyly.
Before Flashwing could answer, Spike started to float and had a strange light aura around him. "Come on, Spike!" Twilight shouted from the distance.
"Bye, Flashwing" he said with a silly grin as he floated behind Twilight.
"How is he doing that?" Flashwing asked Fluttershy.
"He isn't doing anything. She's using her magic."
"Who, Twilight? She has magic?" Flashwing said with confusion. "If she's a magic element then she is like Spyro."
"Yeah, she's the element of magic. I'm the element of kindness."
"What?" Flashwing said, now looking at Fluttershy again instead of the small floating dragon in the distance. "A kindness element? I've never heard of that element. But you are a very kind pony."
"Oh, thank you." Fluttershy said looking very embarrassed suddenly.
Seeing her looking so bashful Flashwing suddenly remember her kissing Fluttershy earlier. "Oh, Fluttershy!" she exclaimed, startling her friend. "I'm so sorry about earlier!"
"Oh, umm..." Fluttershy started, amazingly looking even more shy than before "no, it's OK. It's just..."
Flashwing didn't want to make her friend any more uncomfortable so she quickly changed to subject "my leg is hurting a little. Can we go inside and you can look at it again?"
Fluttershy perked up at the chance to help someone "Yes, I'm so sorry. I should have known you weren't healed all the way yet!" She rushed over and started helping Flashwing inside.
She's so nice but I really need to get home. Flashwing thought to herself. I miss you, Cynder, and you too, Bash. She sighed and tried to amble slightly to put on a show for Fluttershy.