Fillydelphia, Meet Dragon

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Sylvia watched this happen from the cave as she followed Fluttershy, noting that Garble seemed to briefly snap out of the trance. She was intrigued by this hidden power the yellow pegasus showed. She was also surprised at the Unicorns that used magic. Was it the same thing that allowed the normally shy, winged horse to use her ability? Or was it something else completely?

As Fluttershy spoke, Sylvia turned her gaze towards her and gave her a friendly, toothy smile, "Of course I'll head back with you. I'd like to explain to them what exactly happened. I'm unsure if this dragon is really who they were looking for that's been causing damage, but since he's killed innocent ponies, we have to make sure justice is served. I doubt he was doing so for self-preservation." The dragon flicked her tail back and forth. Her main diet was non-sentient beings that wandered the earth. At least she hoped they weren't sentient. She would have a hard time killing a pony after learning so much from them.

Spreading her wings, Sylvia turned to Fluttershy, "You look a bit shaken up, would you like to fly on my back? I wouldn't mind after all the help you've given me. If it weren't for you I feel that we wouldn't have emerged from the cave unscathed. His claws were pretty brutal."

[Stygg Whitefeather]

Fluttershy appeared to be both genuinely pleased Sylvia was keeping true to her word, her soft smile like the fire from within the walls of warm, secluded hearth. Her long, pink tail swished softly back and forth as she nodded with a determination, like one on a noble mission. ”Good to hear; and maybe you're right. Either way, it's clear he was used as a means to an end. Poor misguided soul. Well, I'm sure it'll all be sorted out back in Fillydelphia soon enough.”

Fluttershy turned then to the horizon where the smoke and lights of Fillydephia flickered and rose against the fiery setting sun. She stared off for a moment, as if caught up in thought, only snapping back after Sylvia had spoken once more. ”Oh yes, that would be lovely.” She said with a flap of her own wings as she hovered over onto Sylvia. ”And please, I really didn't do much of anything. Had I went in there alone like the original plan, I don't think I would have come back out...” She said with a whimper, ”You kept us both alive, or least safe. Anybody cornered and scared can be unpredictable, if only I had been more cautious he might not have attacks.” She grasped onto Sylvia as best as her hooves could grip the scales, tucking her wings in tight against her body. She still appeared tense, despite this. ”Ready when you are. I think.”

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Sylvia chuckled, "Don't worry, I'll be careful. And you're right, if we hadn't worked together, I doubt this mission would've been a success." Giving a flap of her massive wings, she leapt into the air and took off after the other Pegasus to follow them to their destination.

She wasn't sure what fate will befall the dragon, but she knew she wouldn't have much of a say in it. She wasn't sure how much damage he had done to the city, nor how forgiving the ponies would be. Sylvia also wondered if the city would return back to normal now that the dragon threat was gone. Would they allow the refugees back in?

Snaking her neck around, Sylvia's eyes fell upon the huddled Pegasus on her back. "So what are you going to do once you get back to the city?" Sylvia asked, "It seems like it's in shambles right now. I'm hoping that everyone can get their lives back in order."

[Stygg Whitefeather]

Fluttershy was quite as they took to the air, still clenching like a frightful fledgling to the edge of the nest. Her eyes were shut tightly, hooves quivering, and tail tucked close, that was until her mane met with the crisp air whipping past Sylvia. It was only when they were within the the terrible industrial smell of the city of Fillydelphia did Fluttershy rouse from her terror induced trance.

”Oh, uh... Not entirely sure. Canterlot and Ponyville really need my help but, the military does too. I hope I can go back and help my friends rebuild, though I'm not sure that will be possible. I'm a bit trapped by the currents of fate, as the Pegasi say.” She said with an air of sadness, ”Either way, I'm proud I can help my people in these troubled times. And even more glad that there's griffons and dragons like you to assist. Not sure we could survive without friends like that to count on.” As she spoke those words, her fore-hooves gripped harder against Sylvia's scales. ”We will fix all this, I know it; and before long it'll be just a long forgotten memory.”

After a few minutes, Fluttershy tapped upon Sylvia's scales and pointed towards an open spot in the city, the same they had departed from. An entourage of military ponies lined the palisades, cold and stoic, watching the dragon land with resolution to attack on the whim of a command. This tension was broken by the commander emerging from the pot-marked tower, adorned in gold and glory as if he had brought in the dragon himself. ”Congrats.” Apple Thorn clapped his hooves against the stone ground, followed by his command responding in kind. ”You survived and brought the culprit of the massacre in alive. In a short few hours, you've done more than my entire detachment had done in a week's work, that's is most admirable. Tell me, how did you do it? How did you make the dragon so agreeable? I never would have thought it possible.”

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Sylvia gently lowered herself to the ground as Fluttershy slid from her back. She stood back up to all fours and glanced around as the commander and his troop seemed to do some sort of clapping upon the ground. She felt a bit happy at this, did they really think they did a good job?

"Well, I really couldn't have done it without Fluttershy's help here." She motioned to the yellow pegasus with a claw before resting it back on the ground, "I managed to pin the dragon down and she subdued him with her amazing abilities. I was quite impressed with how she handled herself." The dragon sat down on her haunches, her tail flicking side by side. She was glad to be able to sit and relax a bit, though she was still wary about the military presence. "It wasn't too bad of a mission, honestly."

[Stygg Whitefeather]

Fluttershy, in her attempt to dismount from Sylvia's back, slipped her grip and tumbled onto the ground beside the dragon, ending up scrunched head over hooves on her back. Her fumble grabbed the attention of the military contingent surrounding them and elicited a few muffled chuckles from the ponies.

"I'm alright." Fluttershy said with a squeak in her voice. "Don't mind me. Carry on." She dismissed with a wave of her hoof.

Apple Thorn gave Fluttershy a passing glance, before continuing addressing Sylvia. "Well then. Right, that's why we brought in Fluttershy there - though I doubted what they said about her, I believe I was wrong in my initial assumption. And as for you." He begun to pace back and forth, "I will consider this true to your word." He stamped a hoof against the ground, immediately summoning an armored pony quickly to his side with a shining scroll in their muzzle. "This scroll is an affidavit proving you are a friend of the Princess's army, should you run afoul of any more ponies. We've also enchanted it to prevent it from burning accidentally."The armored pony approached and offered up the scroll, "You did well. A lot of ponies are going to be able to find some closure and hopefully this will help get this city back on its hooves. You have Equestria's thanks. Now Fluttershy."

The pegasi was suddenly scooped up by several soldiers and ushered to her hooves, "We have another assignment for you, come along."

Fluttershy half-heartily struggled against the other ponies as they help usher her away, "Wait, I want to say goodbye. Stop for a second." She pleaded to deaf ears, "Oh darn it, no pony listens to me. Sylvia, thank you for your help it was a pleasure meeting you! If you're ever in Ponyville, please _{stop by...}

As Fluttershy said said her goodbye and lead inside, Apple Thorn gave Sylvia a salute and turned. A trumpet call blasted then and as it subsided, the soldier's dispersed, leaving Sylvia alone in the square except for a few meandering ponies going about their business.

--End Thread--