When Nightmares Become Real

Rainbow Dash was in the middle of an early morning training session when she was distracted by something. Something loud, coming from the Everfree Forest. She wasn't sure how to explain it, to herself or her friends. Dash lost track of her flight long enough to crash through the same window of Twilight's library.

Still dazed, she thought, Sweet Celestia, whatever higher power that controls everything, WHY DO YOU MAKE ME HIT THAT SAME WINDOW EVERY BUCKING TIME? She found herself stuttering to explain to Twilight why the window was broken, again. "Twi-Twilight! I-I-I was ju-just practicing a new trick and I-"

"It's fine, Dash. I've gotten used to you crashing in here. C'mon, get up, you're buying the new window this time."

"As long as you aren't mad at me, I'm fine. My wing's a little banged up, but I'll be alright." She lifted her right wing, the same one she'd injured when Twilight got her to start reading, and winced.

"If you say so, Dash. Help me pick up these books and you can go window shopping."

Just then, Spike walked through the door. "Bad pun, Twi', even for you."

"Shut up, Spike. At least she doesn't go and spy on Rarity while she's in the shower!" Rainbow yelled.

Spike became flustered and stuttered defensively, "I-I do not s-spy on R-R-Rarity!"

She retorted, "Oh come on, man, even she'sseen you hiding in the bushes with your hand out of sight!"

"ENOUGH!" Twilight yelled, angry. Rainbow Dash was shocked by her outburst, as was Spike. She wasn't normally like this.

"Rainbow, go buy me a new window and get a couple of weather ponies to help you replace it. Spike, I need you to send a letter to the princesses for me."

Rainbow Dash skulked towards the door. "Alright, I'll see you later Twilight." She turned to Spike. "And if I catch you spying on me, you'll wish you hadn't met me."

Spike held his hands up defensively. "Hey, woah, I would never think of it, Rainbow. Although, I wouldn't mind-" The rest was cut off by his mouth being clamped shut with a faint purple aura. "Spike, be quiet. Rainbow, go."

Rainbow sighed and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind her. "What was that about?" She said quietly to nopony in particular. Dash knew that Twilight had been having nightmares about some weird alien, but she never said anything about how bad they were.

"Twilight, come on. if you're having trouble, why won't you tell any of your friends? Totally not awesome." With that, she left to gather up some bits from her cloud home and get her friend a new window.

An hour later, after getting together some bits and finding a couple of her weather ponies to help her replace the window, she walked through the door of the store that sold windows and walked up to the counter. The same pony was there every time. An aging pony, not quite as old as Granny Smith. Rusty orange coat and a mane and tail of slightly darker shade of the color mixed with red.

"Hey, Rainbow Dash, same as last time?" It happened enough times that Dash had become a regular at the shop.

"Morning, Frank. Yeah, same as last time. But, do you have anything more break-proof?"

"Ms. Dash, you've asked that the last seven times and the answer is still no." Frank said with a bit of annoyance.

"Alright then, here's the bits. Just leave it out back," she said, emptying the sack of bits onto the counter.

Frank scooped up the bits and dropped them into the register. "Nice doing business again. Same time next week?" He asked, jokingly.

"Oh, come on. It doesn't happen that often." She turned to go out the door. Frank, noticing nopony within earshot, said quietly, "Y'know, Ms. Dash, if I didn't know any better, I would think you had a little crush on Ms. Twilight Sparkle."

Rainbow stopped, turned around, and glared at him. "Frank, I DON'T," She said quietly, but forcefully.

"Hmm, then that little dragon friend of hers then?"

She just got angrier, remembering the conversation from earlier. "No, not him."

"Doesn't explain why you come in every week to get a new window, the same exact window mind you, just because you happen to 'accidentally' fly through and break said window every time and land in her home."

Dash sighed, defeated. "Alright, fine," she said much quieter, embarrassed. "You win. You're right. But this time actually was an accident!"

"Hey, don't worry, Ms. Dash. I won't judge you or anypony else. Just so long as you don't shove your personal business down my throat."

She began to get some of her normal self back. Jokingly, she said, "Shut up, Frank. Just get me that window, would ya?"

"Alright, Rainbow. I won't bother you anymore about it. I'll keep this between you and me."

"Thanks, Frank."

Rainbow Dash just walked out of the door, watching her fellow weather ponies carry the new window to the library. She turned around to go in the other direction and came face to face with a very frightened Fluttershy. No surprise there.

"R-Rainbow Dash! There was s-some kind of explosion in the Everfree Forest, but there was no smoke or f-fire. I was too scared to go look by m-myself, so I came to find you!"

"Explosion? About an hour ago?"

"Y-yeah, why?"

"I heard it too. Distracted me and made me crash through Twilight's window. That's why I'm here."

"Oh my goodness, are you ok?"

"Yeah, Flutters, I'm fine. Are you alright?"

"I'm okay, just scared by the explosion."

"Alright, c'mon. Let's see if we can get the girls to come look with us."