//------------------------------//
// Desperation 
// Story: Intangible 
// by DtdFIMBrony 
//------------------------------//

	The next morning, Dash woke up, looking around, hardly recognizing where she was. She studied the ceiling with great intent, wondering why it looked like a tree trunk, and looked nothing like the ceiling of her own cloud home. She also recalled something about a dream the night before, but she did not remember what it was. After a few minutes of contemplating of what the dream could have been she heard "Good morning, sleepy head." Looking over she saw Twilight and realized she was in the Treebrary, confused, thinking she must have gone home the night before, she looked at Twi with a questioning look. "I don't know what you are asking if you don't just talk." Twi replied to the silent question.

Sighing Dash decided to dismiss it, "Nevermind, it was a stupid question, anyway, I better get up to my house and look at what I have scheduled for my practice." Getting up, she realized that her wings were painted. "What happened, to my wings? Why are they painted this awful shade of gray?" She looked at herself in a mirror, and realized that her whole coat was gray. Jumping nearly out of her skin, she started to freak out, she did not NEED to look her normal color, but she did need to lose the extra weight the paint was putting on her body, it was not good for her to fly at top speeds while heavier than she already was. "I need to bathe, this paint is too heavy!"	

Shortly after bathing, Dash decided she was going to get ready to practice for her next attempted show off moment. She was about to leave the Treebrary, when she saw Twilight packing up some empty bags, curious she asked what they were for. Twilight didn't even reply to her except for pointing her hoof toward a book with natural remedies. Dash looked at it briefly, seeing bookmarks in certain areas, and noticing that a lot of the ingredients were only attainable from the Everfree Forest. "You are going to visit Zecora for these then?" She asked, to which Twilight did respond, but what she said confused Dash.

"Yes, I am, but I was also going to check up on Fluttershy, she seemed kind of distressed, and I got really worried about her." Twilight said, to which Dash got super jealous suddenly, though she was uncertain why she was jealous, it just meant that Twilight was worried for a friend, but Dash still felt the twinge. "Don't worry, I will be back before you know it, I am sure it will be easy enough to get these herbs, and then saying hi to Fluttershy to make sure everything is okay with her, although, I will need to go to town for the final things, but best to see what I can get from Zecora first." Twi said while stepping out of the room.

Dash sighed and flew to her cloud home, she lay there for a few minutes before deciding to just go warm up. She flew down to the ground and started to stretch her muscles when she heard a whisper, almost like it was calling her. She jumped ten feet into the air, looked around, and, realizing that nopony was anywhere near, she dismissed it, assuming it was just the wind. She finished her stretches, and was about to take off. Powering her hind legs for a super high speed takeoff, in her head counting down from five, four, three, two, one... 'I have her'... This time she knew she heard something, having also taken off at the moment it happened, she stopped a little too fast, lost control, and crashed into a nearby tree. She recovered quickly however, and quickly got back into the air. She saw an eerie shadow over Rarity's house. In a slight panic, she flew over as fast as her wings would carry her, especially since they hurt after the crash, but she still arrived fairly quickly, hoping that everypony was okay. 

Dash was about to land when she saw something that almost made her scream. Rarity was fighting the Unicorns sent from Canterlot, but it was not Rarity in control, her eyes were a strange red-black shade. The Prince of Terror had taken control of her mind, and was freeing himself. Dash quickly intervened, swooping down, she grabbed Rarity and carried her hundreds of feet from the area, hoping she would snap to by being sent out of a certain range. She took her to Apple Jack, and had her look after Rarity, who appeared to have passed out on the trip. Dash quickly returned to the Unicorns, and found that only two of them were still conscious and fighting the Prince back. In a panic, Dash went to the nursery and got the injured ponies to them, one of which was not hurt and joined the other two who were fighting the Prince. The other three Unicorns weren't so lucky, one was completely unconscious, the other two had a few bruises maybe a broken bone here and there, but most of their damage was to the mind itself, making it nearly impossible for them to use their magic.  

Knowing how much this would be a disturbing thing to tell anypony else, Dash immediately went to Spike, having him send a letter to the princess covering what had happened and that they needed another Unicorn or three to cover for those that are injured. What Dash had Spike write was not as organized however, as he wrote as he heard, this is what was written.

Dear Princess Celestia,

This is of the most importance, Terror Prince controlled friend, 3 Unicorns hurt, bad, need replacements, magic not working, only 3 remain able to do anything. Please respond fast. Oh yea, this is Rainbow Dash by the way.

P.S. Rarity was the one taken control of, and she was able to stop three of the Unicorn's from using their magic, I hope you can send some help, and I also hope this does not trouble you too much. -Spike

With that Spike sent the letter, hoping that the princess understands the first part. He really wished he had listened to Rainbow Dash before writing anything. Spike was about to ask Dash more about what happened when a reply arrived.

 Dear Spike and Rainbow Dash, 

I understand the situation, and I am sending some help, from none other than Princess Luna, she has been looking into what kind of magic has been used, and realized it was a type of Dream Magic, so she can stop it at the source. I hope the Unicorns that were hurt recover quickly, and I am glad you brought this to my attention.

-Princess Celestia

P.S. Next time, think more clearly before you send me a letter, and Spike, maybe listen before writing?