She lay in bed, admiring the signed group photo of the Wonderbolts in her hoof. Touching the signature, she felt a surge of excitement. One day she would join them, and finally be someone. A soft knocking sound came from the entrance to her room. Violet eyes sparkling, she looked up to see her mother standing in the doorway. "Time for bed, sweetie."
The little filly slipped the photo under her pillow. Laying her head down, she let her mother tuck her in. With a soft kiss on the forehead and a whisper goodnight, she was gone.
After a few moments, she opened one eye to make sure her mother was gone. Seeing nopony in sight, she slid the picture back out from under her pillow, admiring it once more. “Follow your dreams - Spitfire”. Following her dreams is what she had been doing her whole life. She had no doubt in her mind what she would be doing when she grew up. As she fantasized about the wonderful performance that would show the Wonderbolts her amazing skills, she thought she saw a shadow creep by her window.
Now, Dash was not easily scared, even at the tender age of only eight. She had conquered her fear of monsters recently, and was ready to show them what she was made of. She put the picture under her pillow once more and slowly rose to her hooves. She would show that monster who was boss.
Approaching the window, she crept in a crouched stance, ready to pounce at any moment. She looked at the glass as if it were about to leap out and devour her at any moment. Upon reaching the glass, she discovered that this was not the case. Satisfied that she had scared the monster away, she padded over to her bed and was about to slide in when she heard a faint thumping noise and froze.
Listening closely, she heard the sounds of metal objects clanking together. Her Dad must have been going for one his midnight snacks, she thought to herself. Content with her reasoning, she got back in to bed, and was almost asleep when she heard a piercing scream. The filly's eyes snapped open, and she listened for more noises. A commotion was audible from the direction of her parent's room. She could hear her mother screaming, and Dash could not help but spring out of her bed, making a rather loud noise upon hitting the floor. A moment of silence followed as she froze. She realized her mother had stopped screaming.
And then came the sounds of hoofsteps coming towards her door.