When Nightmares Become Real

Twilight sat for a few hours, until it was almost dark, and made her decision. He deserves a chance, whether or not he might use his weapons on us.

She set out to find the girls. After finding all of them, Twilight told them what she had decided. "C'mon, Twilight. You cain't be serious! If we try to save him, he might use those fancy weapons of his an' kill us!"

"I don't care, AJ. Fluttershy is right; He has feelings, just like us. He deserves a chance."

"B-but... Alright, fine. Let's go save 'im. But if one of us gets hurt, it's on you."

*sigh* "Fair enough. Come on, let's go human hunting. Fluttershy, grab some medical supplies. From what I've seen in the nightmares, we'll probably need them."

"Yes, but like what?"

"You know, bandages, pain killers, that kind of stuff."

"Right. Come back to my house and let me get them together. Then we can leave."

Hours later, it was well into the night, and they had not found a single sign of the human. Rarity spoke up. "Ugh, Twilight, it's no use! We'll never find that barbarian! Besides..." She held up a forehoof. "My hooves are getting dirty."

Twilight was losing her patience. "I don't care, Rarity! We're going to find him!" Her friends recoiled, but she didn't notice. Once again, Rainbow Dash was shocked. Two outbursts in one day... The nightmares must have gotten under her skin.

Another hour of searching turned up nothing. Twilight was ready to give up herself, when she heard a faint yell coming from deeper in the Everfree. That's weird. The only thing that could be yelling could be- Her thought was stopped by a long series of explosions.

"Girls! That's him, it's got to be! COME ON!"

She ran, faster than the others ever had imagined she could. They followed the explosions until they heard the one thing that Twilight hoped wouldn't have happened. Just like the nightmare, an animal yelped in pain. Then one long rage-filled yell, one unending explosion, then silence. No... No. No no no no no no... This can't happen! THIS CAN'T HAPPEN!

She knew what was coming next. Before the worst could happen, burst into the small clearing the soldier was sitting. "NO! STOP!" She was met with a very frightened, strange face, a dying dog in great pain... And the small weapon pointed right in her face.