Anonymous’ perspective
 
>Such drudgery, this housework.
>With the young girls playing quietly outside you didn’t have much else to do.
>So you took to…sweeping.
>How did women do this day in and day out?
>And that rabbit “Angel” staring at you all the while.
>What did Fluttershy see in that…creature?
>No matter. Keep to the task at hand. Perhaps you’d…wash dishes after this.
>Though maybe you should call for the girls? It was starting to get rather late. The sun was beginning to set.
>And it was odd they were so quiet in their play when they were so noisy beforehand…
“Anonymous!”
>That sounded like…Sweetie Belle.
>It sounded like she was in distress.
>Before you had the chance to wonder if some first-aid might be needed for a simple skinned knee, Applebloom bursts into the room and nearly slams into an armoire in her haste.
>You were about to reprimand her when you noticed the tears her running down her face.
“Applebloom? What…has happened?
“Anon! It’s Scootaloo! Ya gotta help Scootaloo! Please!”
>Scootaloo? Wait, where was the little orange filly? She was missing from the group.
“Well, where is she? And why are the two of you crying and so out of breath?”
“It’s a dragon, Anonymous!”
>You felt a stone drop in your stomach.
>A…dragon? Here? No…
“Dragon?!”
>You were at a loss. Dragons in Equestria. This was problematic.
>Wait. Scootaloo was missing and this information about a dragon, paired with the two young girls’ reactions…
“Where! Where is this dragon!”
>You didn’t mean to shout but now time was essential.
“Th-the Everfree Forest! That-a way!”
>Applebloom shakily pointed to the east.
>With surprising speed you fetched Sanctus from your room and came back into the foyer.
>You kneeled to meet Sweetie Belle and Applebloom face to face.
“Stay here and wait for Lady Fluttershy or Lady Applejack to return. I -will- save Scootaloo.”
“Ya gotta, Anon! Scootaloo, she-she saved us! She distracted that mean dragon so we could get away!”
“Please Anonymous, bring her back…”
>With a stern nod and a pat on each fillies head you ran from Fluttershy’s cottage to the Everfree Forest. You would not fail in this.
 
>As you galloped to Everfree your thoughts drifted.
>You would save Scootaloo that was a certainty. But…
>Why do you feel so strongly about it? You’ve known Scootaloo all of a few hours.
>What was it about her that drove you so?
>Sudden realization comes to the forefront of your mind.
>She…reminds you of someone.
>She reminds you -of- you.
>Hearing Applebloom’s words that she willingly chose to distract a dragon…
>That was the trigger.
>With an angry sigh you push those distracting thoughts from your mind.
>Thinking of this now would do no good.
>Focus.
>You had a dragon to kill.
>Hopefully not a dragon that would require Gywn’s thunderbolts to injure…
>You break into a more hurried sprint and see the treeline of Everfree just meters away.
>Scootaloo would be fine…
>You rush past the first few trees of the forest and get struck with nostalgia, coming to a slow jog.
>This was the forest where you arrived in this world.
>Everfree… Such an unfitting name.
>A faint smell brings you back to reality.
>Smoke and brimstone.
>Dragon’s fire.
>You return to running at full speed and honing in on the stench.
>You didn’t know how large this forest was, but that wouldn’t stop you.
>You had an unearthly sense of direction.
>Almost like you had some sort of…mini-map in your head.
>With that stink filling your nose you move deeper into the Everfree.
>Minutes pass and you still haven’t found Scootaloo or the offending dragon.
>Did the dragon already…
>No!
>None of that!
>You’ll succeed.
>You.
>Will.
>Succeed.
>Pushing harder you amble over a tree root and feel the temperature rise sharply.
>You’re close.
 
>And a high-pitched scream confirms it.
>You dash towards the source of the scream and break into slight clearing…
>Filled with white-hot fire, upturned earth, and choking smoke.
>And hunched over in front of you was the beast; the dragon. Though it didn’t look like the dragons you were familiar with. Good.
>It was clawing and snapping wildly at something at the base of a cliff face.
>Another scream.
>Scootaloo!
>You draw Astora’s straight sword and bang it against Sanctus wildly.
>Need to get its attention…
“Here! Here, lizard! Me! Face me!”
>A low snarl came from the dragon and it craned its neck to the side to get a look at whomever was stupid enough to interrupt.
>A quick burst of smoke came from its nostrils when it saw you.
>Good. You had its attention. Now comes the hard part.
“You’ll face me, damn you.”
>The dragon turned its immense size to face you. It glared down at you with malice and contempt. Thick, acrid wisps of smoke rose from its mouth and its monstrous claws dug deep into the ground.
>It was sizing you up.
>This idiotic lizard had no idea the things you’ve battled against. Things far bigger than it. Things you’ve killed in the end.
>Its intimidation tactic was lost on you.
>You dropped into a combat stance and raised Sanctus.
“You are nothing to me. Come.”
>A thunderous roar echoed throughout the Everfree Forest as the dragon attempted to smash you into paste with its mammoth claws.
>You roll to the side and stab your sword into the beast.
>The dragon pulls back its now bleeding claw and growls.
>Its gigantic maw suddenly screams towards and you slash at the opening of teeth and flesh.
>You feel the sword make contact and the dragon yelps in pain. You see a large fang drop to the ground and you smile.
“Anonymous?”
>The smile drops from your face when you hear Scootaloo’s tired voice coming from behind the steadily-increasing in rage dragon.
>No time to think, you can already see the glow of fire building in the beasts mouth.
>You race to the young filly while screaming at her to come to you as well.
>She does so as fast as she can.
>You two meet and you scooe up the pegasus in your arms.
>And not a moment to soon.
>The gout of dragon’s fire engulfs the both of you.
 
Scootaloo’s perspective
 
>Your eyes were slammed shut.
>You were sad to die by burning but you were glad you weren’t alone…
>But wait, the fire isn’t catching?
>Your eyes cautiously opened and saw Anonymous with his shield deflecting the raging inferno.
>The roaring fire rang in your ears but you clearly heard Anonymous when he spoke.
“Scootaloo, listen carefully. The moment this fire is gone I want you to jump from my arms and flee. Flee all the way to Lady Fluttershy’s home. Do you understand?”
>You nod and sniffle.
>Anonymous…
>He came.
>He really came.
>You were sorry you ever doubted him.
>Even for a moment.
 
 
Anonymous’ perspective
 
>You told Scootaloo your orders.
>You would just have to trust that she would follow them.
>The cone of flames was beginning to dissipate, thankfully.
>Sanctus wasn’t design for prolonged exposure to fire of this magnitude.
>As soon as the fire died down Scootaloo did as she was told and leapt away from you and scrambled to the trees and away from the remainder of this battle.
>The dragon tried to follow after her but you made sure his attention was focused on you.
>You did this by slicing wildly at monsters chest.
>That certainly did it.
>The assault was back on.
>You and the dragon exchanging blows.
>You cleaved  one of the dragon’s toes off.
>The dragon in turn whips at you with its tail and sends you into a tree. Two of them, actually.
>You’re unsure how long this fight had gone on thus far.
>But you were getting tired.
>And the dragon didn’t seem to be matching that aspect.
>This need to come to an end.
>You pushed up the faceplate on your helm and drank from the Estus Flask.
>Its rejuvenating power flooded your body and you pushed yourself to your feet.
>Were was the weak point on a dragon?
>These kinds of dragons anyway.
>When it tried to reduce you and Scootaloo to ash you noticed its throat glowed just slightly.
>But how to get to such a vulnerable area?
>…Heh. Obviously.
>Start climbing.
 
 
>With renewed vigor you rushed at the dragon, nimbly avoiding its deadly claws and flailing tail.
>You move into place behind the dragon as best as you’re able.
>And to the dragons surprise you start to clamber atop it.
>Its claws cannot reach this far back. And when it tries to snap at you, you bash its face in with Sanctus.
>In anger and, perhaps panic, the dragon begins rampaging.
>It bucks and heaves, tries to slam itself into the nearby cliff face.
>Nothing works.
>You cling to it like a tick.
>Roaring, the dragon in a final desperate ploy does the some you stupidly hadn’t taken into account.
>It takes off into the sky.
>You didn’t care for heights.
>Especially when on the back of an infuriated dragon that wanted you dead.
>But to bail now was -not- an option.
>So, follow through with the plan.
>Slice this lizard’s throat.
>Whipping winds and clouds pass over you as you slowly make your way to the dragons head.
>Naturally said dragon doesn’t make it easy.
>It pitches and yaws trying to shake you loose and to your death.
>You can feel the bile rising in the back of your gullet as you and the dragon cascade through the air.
>Seeing the ground beneath you was making your head pound.
>You shake it off.
>Be sick at a more opportune time.
>Swallowing your breakfast back down you tighten your grip on the dragon and delight at the thought of being on the ground again when this was said and done.
>The dragon pulled a new stunt that caused your stomach to practically back flip;  it began climbing obscenely high into the sky.
>Oh no…
>At the height of its ascent the dragon sharply turned and shot back down to the earth like an archer’s arrow.
 
>You can feel your grip starting to weaken, no surprise with this degree of speed.
>This might be a bad idea but what choice do you have?
>You drive your blade as deep as you can into the dragon’s scaly lower back and hope it holds as a makeshift handhold.
>The dragon is…less than pleased. Its howl of pain is deafening even with the roar of the air swirling in your helmet.
>It pulls out of its dive-bomb, buzzing the treetops of the Everfree.
>But now that you’re relatively righted you see a new, far more terrible problem. And if you see it, so does the dragon…
>There running on the open field under you was Scootaloo.
>And she was heading right towards Fluttershy’s house.
>You could already smell the smoke.
 
 
>With a loud curse you  pry Astora’s sword free and get into a low squat up on the dragon’s back.
>The dragon didn’t notice, too focused on the grim plan it had in mind.
>As quickly as you could you jerkily ran up the dragon’s back and through its beating wings.
>Though you were lower now then before a fall from this height might still prove fatal.
>The Crystal Caves all over again…
>Time put this dragon down just as you did Seath.
>You made your to the dragons neck and wrapped a hold of it tightly.
>The heat building within was intense.
>Move faster.
>MOVE FASTER.
>You glance back to the ground and see Scootaloo meeting up with her friends.
>And they notice you and the problem you’ve brought with you.
“It’s Anon!”
>Scootaloo points and yells at you, her expression one mixed with happiness and fear.
“Get inside! Now!”
>You don’t know if your voice will reach with your helmet muffling you and the rushing wind surrounding you.
>But the girls seemingly get the idea and hurriedly run inside the tiny cottage.
>Not that it would do much good against dragon’s fire.
>But you weren’t going to let that happen.
>You scaled the dragon’s blistering hot neck, got to the sweet spot, drew your sword and…
>Felt a claw grab you around the waist.
>You ribs popped and cracked in your chest and you could feel the blood already dribbling out of the corner of your mouth.
>And you could see the terrible lizard opening its huge mouth to deliver a fiery death to those young fillies.
>Without thinking you cast off the Sanctus, its weight and girth weakening your grasp.
>The shield slammed into the ground below and you, now free of the burden, dug you armored fingers as deep as you could into the dragon’s flesh.
>You twisted you sword downwards and sliced at the claw restraining you.
>Wild, unclean, but ultimately useful slices that caused the beast to let go.
>But the fire was…
>NOW.
>You thrust upwards and pierce the dragons throat.
>You put both hands on your sword now and pull with all your bulk downwards.
>A torrent of crimson is the first thing that hits you and then…
>Liquid flame spills out of the dying monsters maw and wound, the ghastly orange goo sets small fires to the grassland below the moment it makes contact.
>Gurgling and bubbling the dragon veered off-course from Fluttershy’s home and smashed into the earth just behind it, skidding for what seemed like miles.
>Finally it came to rest, steam and fire springing up in its wake.
 
“Anonymous!”
>It was…Scootaloo.
“Where is he?!”
>You couldn’t see them.
>You were pinned under the huge carcass
>One of you legs was definitely broken.
>You managed to free yourself easily enough.
“Anonymous! Answer me! Please! Don’t… Don’t be dead!”
>It was Applebloom this time. She was to the point of hysterics.
“Girls…”
>Your voice was weak and exhausted.
>But you were alive.
>You shambled out from the dead dragon’s shadow and over its twisted neck.
“Anon!”
>All three of the young girls squealed in delight and rushed to you, they started hugging you and crying.
“Girls, please, I am fine. Let me just rest a moment.”
>They didn’t hear you or chose to ignore you because they all just kept to nuzzling you.
>With a tired chuckle you raised you faceplate again and sipped from the Estus once more.
>You instantly could feel your bones mending. It still hurt like you just fought a blasted dragon though.
>But this soreness was worth it.
>It was worth it.
 
 
>Around an hour later Applejack returned as did Fluttershy.
>You didn’t think small equines were capable of such anger.
>Well, Applejack anyway.
>Fluttershy was deathly quiet during the telling.
>The three fillies were keeping quiet behind you and staring at the floor.
“Please, Lady Applejack, do not be so harsh on these children. It was my tale that inspired them. Though I did not think that it would do so such a job of it.”
>Applejacks’ glare wasn’t as soul-searing as Fluttershy’s but it got the point across all the same.
“Harsh? Harsh?! Ya ain’t seen harsh yet, part! Ah mean, honestly! Applebloom, what were ya thinkin' ? I know ya want yer cutie mark, but dragon huntin'? Consarnit, bloom, what if Anon hadn't put down that monster! What then, huh?! Ya want me to bury my only lil' sister? Not that there would BE much ta bury after that dragon was done with ya! I'll throw yer ashes inta the pond on the farm, howa 'bout that?!"
>Fluttershy tried to put her arm around the hysterical, but ultimately justified, Applejack.
>But the hat wearing pony slapped her friends arm away.
>It was then that you could see the tears running down Applejacks' cheeks and hear the hiccups build in her throat.
>Applebloom was loudly sobbing at this point and went to her older sibling, embracing her in a hug.
>Applejack didn't return it at first but within a heartbeat she had her arms tightly wrapped around the young filly.
"Applejack... I'm so, so, so, sorry..."
>Scootaloo came out from behind you and was sniffling and crying as well.
"It was all my idea.  I shouldn't have dragged Applebloom or Sweetie Belle into such a stupid idea. I'm..."
>She couldn't continue her apology, her voice was too broken by sobs.
>In a move that surprised you more than you let on, Applejack waved Scootaloo over and brought the pegasus into the emotional hug.
 
 
>After the crying and emotions died down a bit everyone seemed to be in a more agreeable mood.
>With a heavy sigh Applejack wiped her nose with her hoof and readjusted her strange hat.
"Shoot, that's better now. Weight offa my shoulder and all."
>Applebloom smiled slightly from her spot next to her sister.
"I just dunno how I'm gonna tell Rarity about this... She's likely ta lock Sweetie Belle away in a vault or somethin'."
>Sweetie Belle paled a little, but quickly went back to smiling.
"I can handle my sister. Don't worry, Applejack. I'll make sure you aren't in any trouble. That goes for you too, Scootaloo. Though... You Anonymous, I don't know... Uh, just don't come around Carousel Boutique for a day or so."
>You pat the unicorn on the head and nod in affirmation. You didn't even know what Carousel Boutique was anyway.
"Whelp, that's settled. Ah'll get ya'll gals home now."
>You raise a hand to get Applejacks attention. Time to go through with the idea...
"Uh, excuse me, Lady Applejack but... May I have a moment or two to speak with young Scootaloo? Privately?"
>Every pair of pony eyes are on you after your request. And Scootaloo's are about the size of dinner plates.
>Applejack didn't look keen to the idea.
>Couldn't blame her you suppose.
"Yer not gonna tell 'er another crazy story are ya?"
>Story? No. Though his could be just as 'inspiring'.
"No. This is a more...personal talk."
>The orange pony purses her lips and gives you one final glare.
"Just make it quick, ya hear?"
>You bow in thanks.
>And then ask the filly to follow you outside.
>She giddily accepts and trails after you.
>You return to the small hill from last night. It had a nice, calming view. Serene. Tranquil. A fitting place for the discussion that was to take place.
>Scootaloo takes a seat while you remain standing with hands clasped behind your back.
 
"So... what did you want to talk about, Anon? You're not gonna cry and yell too, are you?"
>You remain silent for a moment. You hadn't really heard her question.
"Scootaloo. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle told me of what you did when the dragon was upon you."
>She looked confused, like she couldn't quite remember. Considering the incident, that wasn't shocking.
"Of how you distracted it while they fled to safety."
>She wordlessly ooh's and nods, her fuchsia mane lightly bobbing.
"Now, I am not pleased that you foolishly went looking for danger."
>Scootaloo was crestfallen and averted her gaze to the ground.
"However."
>She gets a spark back in her youthful eyes and glances upwards to face you.
"What you did in that moment was brave. Exceedingly brave. I did not think creatures such as you ponies were capable of such courage. But one as young as you proved me wrong."
>There was a light blush playing on Scootaloo's cheeks.
"I-I just... Did what I thought was right. Thought it was what you or Rainbow Dash would do."
>Did what she thought was right. Hmm, that sounded familiar...
"Mmm, indeed. Scootaloo, did you know why exactly I asked you out here? Besides to praise you?"
>She shrugged her tiny shoulders.
"It is because you... remind me of someone."
"Who?"
"Myself."
>The shock on her face was almost comical.
>You stifle a light chortle.
"I now offer you a proposition, young Scootaloo. Will you listen?"
>Another wordless but energetic nod.
"Would you like to become my apprentice? My squire?"
>The filly thinks for a moment, a moment that lasted all of one second.
>She excitedly bounds up from her spot and prances around you, whooping and cheering. Her little wings were beating as fast as a hummingbirds.
"A squire?! Me a squire?! Yes, yes yes! Of course! Uh...what's a squire?"
>Another stifled laugh.
"A squire is a lowly rank, but a steppingstone to knighthood itself."
>Scootaloo's jaw dropped at the mention of knighthood.
"A knight?! Like-like you! Me?! Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh!
"Yes. Like...me."
>Hopefully not -exactly- like you.
"But why me?"
"Did you not listen before? You remind me of myself when I was but a child. And that needs to be watched carefully. You are reckless, ambitious, and foolhardy. But along with that I see courage, bravery, and a will of solid iron. You could go on to very great things with the proper guidance, Scootaloo. I merely want to see that your potential isn't wasted."
>Scootaloo was uncharacteristically quiet now, most likely contemplating this offer.
"Do...I have to answer right now?"
"No. I am simply giving you the choice."
>The choice you never had.