It was a beautiful day out to practice, and Dash was taking full advantage of it, she was doing flips, spins, and twirls, trying to perfect her moves, after all, she did want the Wonderbolts to recognize her magnificence in person. She only paused a moment to enjoy the beautiful day, how the clouds were changing colors as the sun was going down in the afternoon, casting long shadows across Equestria, making all the light that was seen seem precious, but making the night time that was to come seem a new beauty to that of pony kind, how the stars flickered across the night sky, making all things that saw them stare in wonder of what they could mean to that of the world.
"Twilight to Dash!" Twilight yelled from beneath her, Dash looked down and realized that the moment had turned into minutes, and had drawn concern to Twilight. "Is something wrong?"
"No, I'm fine, I guess I am just a bit more tired than I thought I was." Dash said, not sure of even that herself, she felt fine, but for some reason she was easily distracted. Normally when she flies she is unable to be disturbed by simple sights. Could it be that she had fallen in love with Twilight, she wondered, but she didn't think that could be it. Nopony changes so much to be easily distracted like that because of something so simple. Dash had told herself this many times, but the more she thought about it, the more she was confused. She then gave up while trying to over-think it being cautious not to strain her own brain.
"Are you sure you are alright?" Twi replied to her, still concerned, "You never hover in one place for more than a few seconds, and that is usually when you are glaring at somepony for something they were doing."
Dash sighed, "I don't know, I just seem to be out of it today." She admitted, and flew home, not wanting to think about how lame she must look at the moment, not even listening to anything Twilight said, mostly because she didn't hear a single thing in the first place, as a strong wind filled Dash's ears with a whoosh, in which she rather enjoyed the sound of. She herself was being bothered about how she seems to be so out of it, not even noticing that she was about to fly into a mountain, to which she did, with a smash.
Pinkie Pie happened to be passing by, and heard the crash, looked up, and realized it was Dash. "Again?" She asked, and hopped up the mountain toward her, tail twitching here and there, to which she dodges each falling rock. "Rainbow, I told you last time to look out for this mountain, why weren't you paying attention to me then? or were you paying attention, you just forgot because it was soooooooo long ago and you recalled it seconds before I came up here thus you are rolling your eyes at me, and now you are wanting to claim that I distracted you even though I wasn't doing anything to distract you and so I would simply roll my eyes at you and bounce away saying 'Whatever you say Rainbow!' Giggling all the way." She was speaking so fast by the time she stopped that Dash was feeling loopy, and decided that she wouldn't say anything about it, but only flew away. Pinkie looked confused, and started to follow her for a little then decided against it seeing how she looked off. "Maybe I can go find Twilight and ask her what is up with Rainbow." She said and continued along her way.
Dash finally got home, lied down, and fell fast asleep, but what she saw in her dream was not that of a normal dream, but more like a nightmarish image of what was to come. She saw blood and gore, and a powerful overlord that was long since banished by the Alicorn princesses, but not only was he an overlord, but, the first colt to gain Alicorn magic, but not just any Alicorn magic. He became the Prince of Terror. Dash was startled awake as she heard his voice boom through her mind, 'I WILL RETURN!' but she did not know what to do about it. She had only heard about it from old pony tales, but could it be real. "No Dash, it was only a nightmare." She told herself, "It can't be real." Though she told herself that over and over, she couldn't seem to shake the idea that she was not only imagining it. She lay down, and tried to sleep again, somehow managing it, she then dreams of a new scene brighter, more energetic, with six ponies, they were standing up to this figure, then the image flashed and Dash saw Celestia, of all the ponies, bowing to him, then another flash of him bowing to the six ponies. This was confusing Dash, but she knew it meant something, she just didn't know what.
She woke in the morning, and flew over to Twilight's place, who, naturally was buried in her books, and brought it up to her, how the dream changed and how she knew who it was. This all seemed surprising to Twilight, who was staring in shock, and a bit of curiosity was also in those eyes. Not even saying anything she went to her books, looked through as many as she could at once, paused, and continued to read. She took a Quill and started to write on some parchment, Dash wondered what about, but, seeing the urgency in Twilight's eyes, she didn't make a sound. When Twi finished writing, she called for Spike, and had him send it to Celestia. "Now can I ask what you were so urgently writing?" asked Dash, "It seemed important."
"I was asking about this Colt Alicorn, and whether or not it could be true, because I have read stories about how he is able to whisper through your dreams without Luna knowing about it, and if it is true, how can we prepare for it. If at all." Twilight said, anxiously waiting a reply, to which she was looking for good news. "But I also have to get ready for the Gala, cant miss that." she said as a letter returned from the princess.
My Dearest Student Twilight,
I have taken note of what you have said, and Luna informs me that she has noticed a great unbalance in the sleep of many ponies. I also am going to tell you now, that the colt you speak of, does in fact exist. He was only introduced to all who saw him as the Prince of Terror, and nothing more, little else is known about him, not even if he can possibly come back. I want you to keep an eye out for any other signs of a return, and, whatever you do, don't lose faith in yourself, as if the Prince returns, it will mean great terror for all of Equestria.
"Well, that seems like a happy little letter." Dash said, trying to look strong, but shivering in her hooves. "How about we get to the looking for signs, wait, what are we even looking for?"
"Dash, we don't even know for sure if he CAN come back, we don't even know if it is truly him whispering to everypony in their dreams." Twi said, a little uncertain of herself. "But my guess, would probably be something terrifying."