Fluttershy jumped as a mare screamed. Toothless spun, growling.

Across the pond, a dark red mare was frozen with fear, eyes fixed on Toothless's sharp teeth. Snapping out of her fear, she reared up, striking the air with silver hooves. Her black mane and tail were streaked with yellow and orange. She started running around the edge of the pond, eyes narrowed. Fluttershy tried to push Toothless away, but he wouldn't budge.

Fluttershy ran around in front of him, bracing herself for the impact. The red mare skidded to a stop, hooves spraying mud.

"Who are you and what are you doing on my property?"

"I'm so sorry, miss. We didn't mean to land here."

"Good. You can stay for a while. If you had reacted agressively, I would have had to kill you." She flicked her tail. "You have until nightfall to get out."

"Fine." Toothless growled. He leaned forward, lifting Fluttershy by her tail. "We're leaving."

"Wait!" Fluttershy yelled, looking back at the mare. "Where are we?"

"Where are you going?"

"Are we in Equestria?"

"That's just an old mare's tail. Don't go looking for things that don't exist, you hear me?"

"Doesn't... exist?" Fluttershy whispered.

"So, what should I have done with the girl?" The mare asked, talking to seemingly nobody.

"You did well." A thought-voice answered. A dragon stepped out of the trees, barbed tail straight behind it. It flicked the spikes lining it's head. "But it's much more common to see a Nadder like me, isn't it?"

"We need to find a place away from civilization."

"How's here?"

Toothless collapsed forward under the shade of a pine tree and shimmied forwards until he was under the branches. He used his tail to clean away a patch of needles for Fluttershy. She struggled through the lower branches, curling up in the space he created. Her belly brished his paws.

"Fluttershy, I have to ask you something..."

"Yeah?"

"Are you... willing..." He had to search for words.He only got tongue-tied around this pony. It had never happened before. "To... go... all the way... with me?"

"I don't know... I... I want to, but... it's my first time..."

"It's okay." Toothless drew her in close with his forepaws, hugging her close to him. She smiled.