Dragonshy

Dear Princess Luna...

We start off with Fluttershy putting up with her moronic bunny, Angel, being a douchebag like usual.

Do the world a favor and just let it starve, Fluttershy. You'll thank me later.

The dbag starts coughing, and somehow Fluttershy is supposed to know that is due to a big cloud of black smoke, way up in the sky.

Fluttershy runs into a park-like area and tries to tell them all that they're going to die from this smoke. No one listens to her. Rainbow Dash is there, bouncing a ball, and Pinkie Pie starts Pinkie'ing out. Fluttershy continues in vain to get some ponies to listen to her. Twilight arrives, gets all their attention, and says Celestia herself said the smoke is coming from a dragon.

At Twilight's library, all the 'mane 6 ' have gathered to discuss the situation. Turns out the dragon is just sleeping, and his snoring is causing the smoke.

"It appears that dragons are bad, very bad. " "You don't say! The dragons are bad, huh?  Hey Applejack, Twilight is reading a book that says that dragons are bad."

Rainbow Dash says they should go beat the hell out of the dragon, and starts trying to destroy one of Twilight's artworks. Twilight has to keep using magic to keep the thing safe, she lifts it out of the way and Rainbow smashes into a bookshelf, like usual.

"Why does this always happen?"

Twilight explains that they need to get rid of this dragon or Equestria will be covered in smoke for 100 years. Rainbow Dash pumps up her friends and they head off, eager to mess up a dragon. Except Fluttershy.We get a montage of all but Twilight preparing to go on their quest.

 

Rainbow flies home and puts on some liquid rainbow warpaint.

Applejack's family helps pack her saddlebags.

Pinkie's bags are full of party supplies.

Rarity puts on a camouflaged helmet, then has second thoughts.

Rarity chooses a camo printed hat instead.

Fluttershy puts on sports padding, an inner tube, and water wings.

"Non nobis, Domine, non nobis sed nomini tuo da gloriam!"

We then see Twilight explaining the mission, and none of them have on what they just did, except saddle bags. Fluttershy tries to get out of going, but Twilight insists because her animal communication skill may be useful. Spike is going to take care of Fluttershy's animals, the asshole Angel repeatedly stomps on Spike's head. Seriously, someone kill that thing already. Rainbow tries to get Twilight to nix Fluttershy, saying she's afraid of her own shadow, which she is. Twilight brings her along anyway.

They approach the mountain that the dragon is on, Fluttershy says its so high, Rainbow gives her a 'No duh, Sherforelock' look. Rainbow wants to fly up on her own.

"Why don't I just fly up with a bunch of strong, deadly items, make a tornado inside the lair and slice up the dragon, and get back down here before you ponies can make it up 100 feet?"

 Apparently yanking Rainbow by the tail is the preferred means of keeping her in line.

"Why does this always happen to me as well?"

The ponies proceed up the mountain together, Rainbow is upset she has to pace herself with them, and they start having some fun. Twilight scolds them, then goes to ask Fluttershy a question. Fluttershy is at the bottom, too scared to come up. Rainbow tells her to fly, she does, then gets scared by the dragon's snore and her wings lock up. Applejack takes Twilight's map and goes down, saying she is going to bring Fluttershy up some other side of the mountain.

Twilight's party has reached a rally point on the mountain, and has had enough time for Rarity and Pinkie to play over 30 games of tic-tac-toe.

"I never knew you were a 'rain man,' Pinkie."

Applejack and Fluttershy finally arrive, Applejack had to drag Fluttershy by her tail the whole way, possibly.

"I can make Fluttershy have a little accident, no questions asked, you just give me an alibi."

They continue on, jumping across a gap. Fluttershy is too scared. Twilight starts complaining that they are getting behind and wasting time. Pinkie Pie sings a song about it just being a 'hop, skip, and a jump' and Fluttershy gains confidence. She leaps, Twilight stupidly tells her not to look down, she does and freezes in air.

We then see the gap is like 3 feet across.

They enter an avalanche zone and Twilight tells them all to keep quiet. Rainbow bumps into a tree which causes leaves to fall on Fluttershy, she screams and starts an avalanche. Twilight almost dies, being saved by Applejack.

I'm curious as to what Fluttershy fans think about this episode, do they like it because of the end bit, or hate it because it makes Fluttershy out to be a bumbling moron for most of it. (Yes, I'm writing some captions after the fact =] )

They continue on, having to climb over the debris caused by the avalance. Rainbow is getting pissed at Fluttershy. Fluttershy slips and slides down, running into Rarity and Applejack. Rarity apologizes, Rainbow says it's not her fault, while glaring at Fluttershy.

Rainbow goes to Twilight and asks her if she still thinks bringing Fluttershy was a good idea, but it is too late, they are at the dragon cave.

"Twilight! Don't act like Mulessolini!"

Twilight starts planning their assault. Rainbow will use her wings to clear the smoke. Rarity and Pinkie will make a diversion if things go south. Applejack will attack it with apples if it is hostile. Fluttershy and Twilight will wake it up and convince it to leave.

Apples: You can eat 'em, and apparently slay dragons with them.

Twilight walks in and asks Fluttershy a question, only to see she's still outside. They try to get her in, she says she's scared of dragons. They are surprised, saying they've seen her deal with manticores, and Spike is a dragon, Fluttershy explains that those aren't a full grown super mean dragon. Twilight asks why she didn't just say she was scared in the first place, and Fluttershy says she was too scared to say she was too scared.

And Rainbow gets a mouthful of Twilight.

Applejack tries to comfort her, saying they're all scared of this dragon, but Rainbow proudly says she is not. Fluttershy walks off in tears.

"I ain't scared of nothin', especially no dragons! Just ignore when I was a little scared I mean, curious, about that dragon's snore earlier."

 Twilight goes in alone and finds the dragon sleeping on a huge pile of treasure.

Twilight explains who they are and how they would like him to find a new place to nap. The dragon just blows smoke in her face and tries to get back to sleep. Rarity goes in, planning to use her charms on the dragon. Rarity flatters him into wanting to leave, then stupidly says she'll watch his treasure for him, which sets him off.

You have to wonder where the dragon got all these pony-size jewelry and crowns etc. from. Destroyed some poor pony kingdom?

Pinkie tries next, going in with some ridiculous get up to try and make him laugh. The dragon just smashes her. Rainbow has had enough and flies in. She kicks the dragon in the nose, he sneezes then roars and sends her tumbling back outside and into her friends.

The dragon has had enough and comes out to finish the job. He sends them flying against a rock, which shatters and exposes Fluttershy on the other side. Fluttershy sees her friends in a battered heap and enters Twilight level rage mode.

"Die, dragon!" (Rainbow Dash rocks)

Fluttershy goes HAM on the dragon, telling him he should know better and that he does not hurt her friends. She seems to be using her Stare power. The dragon says, "But that rainbow one kicked me!"

"A pony's got to know his limitations."

Fluttershy apologizes for that and continues lecturing him, she asks what he has to say for himself and he starts crying. The other mane 6 ponies seem really happy about that.

"You get the hell out of here or I'll tie the long hair on your head to the short hair on your ass and kick you down the mountain!"

Fluttershy convinces the dragon to find someplace else to sleep and he flies off. The pegasi clear away the smoke. Twilight writes to Princess Celestia, saying they got rid of the dragon thanks to Fluttershy. She also learned never to lose faith in your friends, because they can be an amazing source of strength and can help overcome your greatest fears.

Outside, Rainbow is about to break her ball-bouncing record, and gets frightened by a 'dragon roar,' which was Pinkie Pie. They all laugh at her. Rainbow complains, and tries to hide that she was scared. Fluttershy tells her not ever pony can be as brave as herself, Rainbow blows a falling leaf and it lands on Fluttershy's rear. She freaks and crashes to the ground, and the episode ends with them all laughing at her.

• This episode was loaded with 'good' screenshots, I was really trying to restrain myself and chose not to take a bunch, yet still ended at 27.
• My 'watching in reverse order' seemed to be beneficial here, as we already know about The Stare which Fluttershy used on the dragon.
• The dragon was apparently going to sleep for 100 years, which is why Celestia was concerned, since that would have been 100 years of built up smoke. We see there are tons of dragons in Dragon Quest though, so it seems like there should be a dragon homeland just covered in smoke somewhere.
• Fluttershy is supposed to be the hero here, but Rainbow Dash was the star, kid's got moxie, kicking a dragon in the face. They all performed some redeeming role I suppose. Applejack went back to help Fluttershy climb the mountain and saved Twilight's life. Pinkie tried to help Fluttershy overcome her fear to jump the gap. Rarity boldly went into a dragon lair and was trying to steal things right in front of him. Twilight embraced the role of leader and achieved her objective, overcoming the various SNAFUs. And Fluttershy, of course, went ape at the end and saved all of her friends' lives.