"Well. I am not going back to sleep." I say to nopony but myself. "Ever."

The morning air feels ice cold. I hold myself together and shivers travel all over my body. The window outside is open. I know I closed it last night. I start to panic, but then decide it was probably Owlowiscious back from a late night. I close the window and take a breath. The nightmares felt so real. It was as though for a moment I really had a daughter, and for a moment she really transformed into that. I struggle to push the image from my mind. I decide to go through my morning routine early. Nothing better to do right now. Amidst me brushing my teeth I hear a groggy voice.

"Ung. Twilight. You up already?"

"Mmhhmm."

The dragon rubs his eyes. "Everything OK?"

"Mmhmm." Thank Celestia for the toothbrush. I really don't feel like sharing. Don't want to traumatize the little guy.
He blinks a few times. Looks closer. Why does this dragon have to know me so well?

"You're sure?"

I roll my eyes to keep up the charade. "Mmhmm."

"Okay..."

He drifts back to sleep. I breathe out a sigh through my nose and spit. Then, I hear a knock. Odd. This time of the morning. I take a few slow steps to the door and open it with a creak. Outside is a figure with her head downcast.

"Rainbow?"

She looks up. "Hey, Twilight. Kind of had a rough night. Can we talk?"

I've never seen Rainbow looking so down. "Sure. Come in."

"No offense to Spike, but I kind of want to talk alone. Care for a flight?"

"Sure Rainbow. Of course. Everything okay?" She looks over her shoulder for a moment. She seems distracted. "Rainbow?"

"Wha?"

"I was just asking if you're okay."

"Aw geez. At this rate, I don't even know. Can we just fly?"

"Sure. Anything you want."

Dash takes off quickly but rather absentmindedly, wavering low past a few tree tops, seeming to put the minimum effort needed to watch where she is going. I struggle to keep up with her erratic flying.

"Rainbow, wait up!"

"She looks back at me and slows up. Oh. Sorry Twilight."

I finally catch up. "So what's the deal? What did you want to talk to me about?"

Dash stops midair and hovers. "I uh...let's go a little higher. I don't want anypony to overhear."

"Okay..."

We both ascend higher into the morning sky. I'm surprised by how high Dash takes us. After what seems like an eternity of flying upward, she stops. The air is thin and cold.

"Dash," I say. "Did we need to go this high?"

"Sorry," She says. "I just can't focus." She seems unusually insecure today. I'm not used to seeing this side of her.

"What's wrong, Dash?"

"Okay. Here goes. Twilight. If I tell you this, you have to absolutely promise me not laugh or tell anypony."

I shrug. "Okay."

"I mean it, Twilight!"

"Okay. I understand! It's not like I go around gossiping about other ponies!"

"Yeah. I know. That's why I wanted to talk to you about it."

"Okay. Well?"

"So...it's about Pinkie."

I feel a stone drop in my stomach. Pinkie. The nightmare floods back to me. I hesitate for a moment and hope Rainbow doesn't catch it. "Go on?"

"I thought I was over her...well you know, her passing. But now, I'm not so sure," She looks away from me and lands on a cirrus cloud. "I had a nightmare, Twilight. About her. I haven't had a nightmare for years and even when I have, well this was different. It was almost like I was looking into my future or something, only -- Oh god, Twilight. It can't be true. It can't be."

Tears form. Her eyes stare off, broken.

"What is it, Rainbow? What's wrong?" She sniffs.

"Look at me, Twilight. Bawling like a foal. All because of this stupid dream."

I force myself to fly in front of her despite my own reservations. I want to help her and I have to know. "Rainbow. What did you dream?"

She shudders. "I dreamt it was sometime in the future. I was a Wonderbolt. I was performing at a big event in Cloudsdale. We were soaring past. You were all there, cheering us on. All of you, as in Pinkie too. Scootaloo was there too. It was weird to see her as a teenager. We decided to take a turn and fly past the grandstands. Just as we flew by everyone, everything froze. You, AJ, Rarity, Fluttershy, you were all frozen, just cheering your hearts out, but Pinkie...she was moving. She had this huge, creepy smile all the way across her face. She called out my name. I couldn't move a muscle. I was just frozen in the air."

Dash wipes tears from her eyes, then continues. "Pinkie, she just reaches out her hoof. She reaches out toward Scootaloo. I try to yell not to touch her, but nothing comes out. She touches Scootaloo, and then something awful happens. Scootaloo's head just starts twitching around every which way real quickly. It's terrible to see, Twilight. Her head is moving so quickly I can't even see her face, and then it just...stops. And Scootaloo, she," Rainbow tries to control herself. She takes a breath, closes her eyes. "She had the same freakish smile that Pinkie had. I don't know why I dreamt that, Twilight. Why would I dream that?" Dash just breaks down into further tears. "What is wrong with me to dream of something so awful?"

"It's okay, Dash. Nothing is wrong with you." I hug Dash. "That sounds like a terrible dream."

"Oh you have no idea. If you had been there."

I hesitate. I want to tell her. I want to let her know she's not alone, but something inside of me makes me hold off. I have to protect this dream. I have to make sure nopony thinks there is something wrong with me. It's strange that we both had similar bad dreams, but no. I should tell her.

"Dash?"

"Yeah, Twilight?"

"I...can't begin to imagine how hard that dream was for you. You're not crazy. We all just underestimate how crazy our dreams can be."

"Heh, thanks Twilight." Dash sniffles one last time. "Thanks for listening. I knew I could trust you."

"Sure." I let out a sheepish smile. "Anytime."

I wait until she is out of sight, then lower myself into the trees. I don't know what to think. Dash just had a dream about Pinkie that was incredibly creepy and similar to mine. I don't know why I felt I couldn't tell her. It just felt like the wrong thing to do somehow. I fly back down toward town. Apparently, Dash flew us all the way nearby the Everfree Forest. I fly away from the forest, back toward town...The forest. I pause. I look toward it. I don't know what I'm looking for. All I know is there is a longing there. A longing to know. I fly away until I find Fluttershy's cottage. I lower myself. I wonder if Fluttershy has had any weird dreams? I knock lightly on her cottage door. No answer.

"Fluttershy?"

No answer. I knock again. I hear a faint grumble and a very soft "Coming." I have to strain myself to hear it.
I hear the sounds of multiple locks unlocking and a door opening slightly with just a little creak.

"Hello?" She says softly.

"Hey Fluttershy," I scratch my ear nervously. I didn't really think of how I was going to bring all this up without sounding crazy. "I hope I didn't wake you up?"

"Oh. No, no. Though it is a little early if you don't mind me saying so. What brings you here?"

"Well..." I begin. "This is going to sound strange, but I was just curious if you've had any bad dreams lately?"

Fluttershy shrugs. "You're right, that is a strange question. I can't say I have. Is something wrong Twilight?"

I blush a little. "Oh no no. Nevermind then. Just curious. Sorry to wake you. If you could do me a favor and not mention that I talked to you about this?"

"Sure Twilight. Are you sure everything is okay?"

"Yeah. Of course, just make sure you don't mention this to anypony."

"You have my word, Twilight."

I breathe a sigh of relief. Fluttershy keeps her word. ""Thank you Fluttershy, I'll let you rest now."

"Oh, well that's okay. I'm already up, so I'm probably not going to get back to sleep now anyway. May I come with you?"

"Sure! I could use a little company. Don't know where I'm going though."

Fluttershy smiles back. A soft smile. A normal smile. The two of us go for a walk in the general direction toward Applejacks's barn.

"So..." Fluttershy begins meekly. "Why don't you know where you are going?"

I walk for a little while and pause. "Well, I...guess I don't know. I wasn't planning on being up this early, but I had sleeping troubles."

Fluttershy walks with me calmly for a few moments and then her face scrunches. "Did you have a nightmare Twilight? Is that why you asked me this morning?"

"Well, yes." I nod. "I really don't want to talk about it though."

"Oh, don't worry. I wouldn't ask you to share that. To be honest, I'd kind of be afraid to hear it. You should speak with Luna about it. She would know what to do."

Of course. Luna. Why didn't I think of that? She looks at me, concern on her face.

"Are you sure you're alright, Twilight? You look really frazzled, if you don't mind me saying so. It must have been some dream."

I look down at the path I'm walking. "Luna...Yeah. Luna would be perfect! Thanks, Fluttershy, I'll be sure to do that."

I notice that we haven't moved very far from the Everfree Forest yet, and then I notice something even stranger, just on the outskirts. Fluttershy's animals, they're all gathered together but they are a bit away.

"Fluttershy? Do you see that?"

"See what, Twilight?" She looks at me. "Everything ok?"

"Your animal friends, why are they all gathered over there like that?"

"Hunh?"

We both approach the animals. They're all there, beavers, squirrels, bunnies, Mr. bear, and somehow it looks like Winona got loose and is over there as well. All of the animals just stare at the same spot in the Everfree. Winona won't stop looking. She just keeps whimpering.

"What are they doing, Fluttershy?"

"I...I don't know," she walks up to the animals. "Mr. bear? Um guys? Hello? What's wrong?" Fluttershy uses her caring parent voice to no avail. The animals just keep staring there like they see something. They look scared. "I don't understand," Fluttershy says.

We hear a voice calling in the distance. "Winona! Winona! Where in tarnation did you run off too?"

AJ is running toward our direction in the distance. She looks out of breath. She finally sees us. "Winona! What are you doin' all the way out here? You know better than to go near the forest! What do yall...hunh?"

All at once she senses the oddity of the situation. She sees Winona whimpering, the other animals paralyzed with fear. "What are yall lookin' at?"

"The animals just all gathered here and started acting this way," I shrug. "We have no idea." More and more animals join the group and stare off in the distance.

AJ narrows her eyes and stares outward. "I don't see nothin'. C'mon Winona." AJ reaches out her hoof and grabs Winona's collar. She doesn't budge. "I said c'mon!" AJ tugs harder and harder. I start to feel a pressure around my chest. She pulls with all her might until finally Winona topples on top of her. The other animals scatter and Winona starts barking wildly and gnashing her teeth at AJ.

"Whoa there, Winona! Easy, easy."

She's absolutely feral. She's wild, thrashing about, trying her hardest to bite AJ. I'm shaking. Fluttershy is trying her best to coo softly at her, to reassure her, when Winona flips around and tries to bite Fluttershy. I cast a quick spell to make her sleep. Her eyes shut. She drops to the ground, and resumes her whimpering.

"Fluttershy! Applejack! Are you okay?"

Fluttershy nods, terrified. AJ stands up and brushes herself off.

"Yeah...I'm alright." she mumbles.

"What just happened?"

"More importantly, Twilight, what did ya just do ta Winona?"

"Don't worry, AJ. She's just sleeping. But I mean, Applejack. She just tried to bite you and Fluttershy. What are you going to do with her?"

"Oh, don't worry about her. She was jest scared."

Fluttershy is still shaking. I look over at her and back to AJ. "I don't know, AJ. I've never seen her like that."

A quiet voice speaks up behind me. "Has...has she had all of her shots, Applejack?"

"Of course she has! What kind of question is that? I'm tellin' ya, she jest got scared is all!"

"What happens if she's still scared when she wakes up?"

AJ pauses and thinks it over. "I s'pose yall have a point. We got a kennel for her, but I'd hate to put her into it. I still don't know why she wandered off though. She's never done that before."

"Well, we better get her back. I'll help you out. I'm not really sure what else to do about this."

"I'm coming too." Fluttershy says. "I want to be there for her when she wakes up."

AJ sighs. "Thanks, Fluttershy. I don't like what jest happened. The Everfree forest of all places."

We get Winona back home, set her in the kennel. Fluttershy chooses to sleep next to her. As soon as I drop her off I race back to the palace so I can write a letter to the Princesses. They absolutely need to know what's going on. Something is...very off. I don't know what, but I'm starting to get really uncomfortable with everything, my dream, Rainbow's dream, and now this. I don't like it. I hope they have some ideas. I get home a little weary for the time of day.

"Hey Twilight. How are things?"

"Good Spike. I need you to take a letter."

"You got it."

"Dear Princess Celestia: things are strange here in Ponyville. I've had the strangest dream I ever had and was wondering if Luna was around to investigate. The details of the dream are personal, but I was hoping I could get her assistance in figuring it out. In addition, several animals in the area began collecting in one place and staring at the Everfree Forest for no real reason. Applejack's dog, Winona was among them. AJ went to get her dog and she would not budge. Suddenly, Winona turned on Applejack and tried to bite her and Fluttershy."

"Wait. What?" Spike looks up with a wild face.

"Focus Spike! This is important." He makes a worried grunt-like sound then resumes.

"I used a spell to pacify her and she seems calm now. I know it does not seem exactly pressing, but I'm really not sure what to do. Winona would never try to do that normally. Applejack believes that something just spooked her, but I'm not so sure. I've never seen her like that. It's like she was a different animal. Please respond back at your earliest convenience. I know some of this almost seems silly, but I could really use your advice."
Spike finishes catching up on his writing. "Anything else?"

"Sincerely, Twilight Sparkle."

Spike raises an eyebrow, but writes it.

"Send it."

A puff of green flame and the message is off. Then, Spike turns to me. "So, when were you planning on telling me about this?"

"Spike, it just happened."

"What? Is Winona okay?"

"Yeah, as far as I know. Fluttershy and Applejack are with her."

Spike glares at me. "You left her alone...with the two ponies who she just a few moments ago tried to bite?"

"Well yeah...but Winona's not going to hurt anypony."

"Twilight, I can't believe I'm the one saying this, but think. She just tried to hurt not one, but two ponies. Whatever is going on with Winona, she's not herself. Are you really sure that a sleep spell is enough to prevent her from biting again if she's still acting weird when she wakes up?"

"I'm sure AJ and Fluttershy have it handled."

He lays one eye directly on me. "You mean like they did when you used the sleep spell?"

"She's in a kennel, Spike. They'll be fine."

He shifts in place. "I hope you're right."

I shift in place. My eyes drift up, thinking. "Spike, would it make you feel better if I went back over there and helped watch over everypony?"
He nods his head up and down.

"Okay, then I'll--"

I'm interrupted by a loud green belch and a scroll in my face.

"That was quick," Spike says. I unravel the scroll.

"My dear Princess Twilight. You should never feel that an issue is non-pressing or non-important to me. Thank you for taking the time to write. Unfortunately, in regards to your dreams, I'm afraid Luna is unavailable to help. Last night, I went to wake her for her shift, and she did not wake. She has stayed asleep since then. Up until now, I figured she was just exhausted, but I too am starting to worry.

Please visit me as soon as possible regarding these events, though if you are trying to handle things there at Ponyville, I understand. I fear what has happened to Luna may somehow be related to what is going on there at Ponyville. As always, thank you for keeping me informed.

Sincerely,

Princess Celestia."

I look over to Spike, unsure what to do. I think he senses the pleading in my eyes. "You're going to go visit the Princess, aren't you?"

I nod. "I have to see what this is about."

"Well...If you're going to do that, then somepony needs to check on Winona."

"I think AJ and Fluttershy have that handled, Spike. Besides, if something happens, I need you to stay safe. You're the only one who can keep me informed if more weird stuff starts to happen."

Now he's the one pleading. "Twilight, please. I'm really worried about them."

I think it over. "Hmm. I'm not sure how I feel about this, but I understand, Spike. Be back here before it gets dark though. I've got an uneasy feeling about everything going on here. I'm not sure what's happening."

Spike smiles and salutes. "You can count on me, Twilight."

He runs out the door. "I know I can Spike. I always do."

I begin packing my things. I figure I can meet up with everypony in a few minutes and explain what has happened and then I'll be on my way to the castle. I try to pack light. In the midst of my packing, I'm startled by a distant sound, but it is slowly getting closer. It sounds like screaming. Wild, high-pitched, almost panicked screaming. I open my door to look outside and what I see is honestly the last thing I suspect.

It's...Snails...Snails from the school, but he doesn't seem at all like himself. He's thrashing about wildly, throwing his whole body around and screaming. Three local police ponies are holding and restraining him. He flails his hooves and hits the other police ponies. He looks like he's fighting them, trying to make his way toward me.

"Snails...what's wrong? Snails!" My shouts don't even register to him. He just keeps batting and throwing his elbows at the officers. "Snails!"

He stops and looks at me, stares in my direction. "Hey Twilight..." he says. He smiles, then he begins just bashing his face into the ground over and over and over. I scream at him to stop, but he doesn't listen. Finally, with blood pouring down his face and in his mouth, he spits in my face. I stagger backwards. I feel sick to my stomach. Then he says it. "Don't forget to smile." He grins and lets the police carry him away.

"Sorry, Princess," the police ponies say. "We're not sure what happened. According to his classmates, he started screaming and kicking like this around lunchtime and hasn't stopped until...well until now."

"Don't forget to smile, Twilight!" He shouts it back to me again. I freeze. I don't know what else to do. I know I should clean off the blood, but I can't bring myself to move, after what had just happened...after what he just said. I shudder. I grow cold, and finally after what seems like an eternity, I bring myself to re-enter the palace. I clean myself up and pack, and I do it quickly.

I meet up with the girls at the train station, and tell everypony what's happened. Well, not everything. Not my dream. Not rainbow's dream, but everything else. I don't want to plant ideas into everypony's mind or cause a panic or anything. Rarity is the first to speak her mind.

"Are you quite sure you don't want us to come with you, my dear?" She says. "We can help you sort things out as well?"
I shake my head.

"No thank you Rarity. I need you all to keep an eye on Ponyville. Something's amiss. I can't put my hoof on it, but something's up. I need you all to stay in town and keep your eyes peeled for anything odd."

Rainbow looks back at me. "Do ya...you know, need to go tonight?" Her eyes are watching the sun. It's around 4 p.m. now. I know what's on her mind. I know she's thinking about her nightmare, about what she may dream tonight. I know because the same fears are in the back of my mind.

"I'm sorry, Rainbow, but the sooner I get there, the sooner maybe I can find out what exactly is going on here."

"Oh, I mean, it's no biggie. Come back when you can. We got you covered, Twilight." She gives me a confident nod, but I know better. I worry for Rainbow.

"We'll miss ya," AJ says. "Get back on over here soon, will ya?"

I smile. "Of course."

I of course could fly to Celestia, but the train is quicker and I need to save my energy. When I'm on the train, I try really hard not to think about what has happened so far, but the ride is uneventful...so it doesn't work. My thoughts go to immediately trying to process what happened to Snails. It was completely unexpected, completely unlike him. I've never seen Snails like that. I've heard of some ponies with mental problems acting out violently, but Snails has never done anything like that before, has he?

I push the idea as far to the back of my mind as I can but it just comes back. What if I dream tonight again? I know that the short answer to that question is that I just deal with it. I wish it were that simple though. I've never had a dream quite so realistic. Why did that filly with the scribbles on her cutie mark call me her mommy? And I know that Pinkie Pie would never behave this way normally. Is she trying to tell me something? What if it is something different altogether, some kind of monster something? And why has Luna been asleep this whole time? Something is very very wrong and I need to know what's going on.

I arrive in Canterlot without any further surprises. I offer to visit Princess Luna when I get there but Celestia politely declines. She requests that I let her rest for just one more night just to see if it changes anything. I understand.

By now it is mid evening and Celestia offers me dinner . I had not realized until now but I haven't eaten anything all day. I guess today's events have totally thrown me off. I happily and greedily accept her offer. It is a delicious three course meal with a daffodil salad, roasted eggplant Parmesan, and strawberry shortcake for dessert. I tell her all about today's events during our meal. I even share my dream with her. With each sentence I utter, her eyebrows tighten more and more.

"I see," she finally utters. "It sounds like the work of some dark entity. We have to be on our guard. I will leave you to rest Twilight, and I will see how my sister is faring in the morning."

" I understand Princess, thank you."

"And thank you, Princess Twilight, for alerting me to the situation. Perhaps we'll be able to figure out yet what is going on. Goodnight."

The Princess takes her leave, and that last word hits me like a manticore charging full speed. Goodnight. It is night time. Early night, but night. Which means I have to...try to sleep again.

I retire to my old study. Lots of memories here. It's a place of comfort. I didn't really pack much because I thought I'd be back in Ponyville before nightfall. I'm kicking myself now for it. What I wouldn't do for my toothbrush. I swish some water and plop into bed. I really am exhausted. I guess I didn't exactly have a restful sleep last night. I always enjoyed the night here. The telescope couldn't be in a more perfect place. It's such a joy to watch the stars, but not tonight. My eyelids get heavy. I close my eyes and a few moments pass, but I'm still restless. I wait for a while, then climb back out of bed.

I pace for a bit, then walk over toward the mirror. I look tired. I know I need sleep. I stare into the mirror a bit longer, but then a smile slowly grows on my reflection, wider and wider, unnaturally wide. I jolt back, far enough from the mirror to not see my face. A stare at the mirror on the dresser for moments. Those moments grow to minutes and I finally work up the courage to get closer. Something is written in what looks like black oil on the mirror:

"Eyth dame em milse."

I study it closer. "Eyth dame em milse? What does that mean?"

The mirror cracks right down the middle. I jump back again.

"What the?" I hear the doll-like giggle. I turn around and Pinkie is in front of my bed, smiling her sick smile. I hear her voice in my head again.

"Smile, smile, smile, Twililght! Eyth dame ym reas zuzb."

I'm frozen again. Her stare pierces my soul. She gets closer and closer and the ringing returns to my ears. It gets louder and louder. I cover my ears.

"Please! Make it stop!" The ringing amplifies more and more until I feel like my ears are going to explode. Then it simply stops. In fact, everything becomes silent. The typical sounds of the night are gone. No crickets. No bullfrogs. Nothing. I look up. Pinkie is gone.

"What is going on?" I ask out loud, only I don't hear myself talk. I try to scream, but I again hear nothing. I notice something on the bed. It's a small onesie, the kind used for small foals when they are first born. It looks familiar. Attached is a note written in oil.

"Did you forget, Twilight?"

I stare at the note for a few moments, studying it and the onesie, trying to understand what it means, and then I...no.

It can't mean...no.

No, no, no no no. Not that. Anything but that. I hold myself together and push the thoughts as far from my mind as I can. I try again to scream and nothing, but the buzzing comes back. Louder and louder...

I wake up. Look at the clock. 3 a.m. I refuse to sleep again tonight. Maybe I'll just watch the stars.

*****

"Winona? What are you doing in there?"

It is midnight and Applebloom comes down for a midnight snack. She had tried to resist but she was restless and hungry. She had planned to just sneak an apple up to bed. Spike had gone back home, her sister had gone to her room and Fluttershy had insisted on staying with Winona until she woke up. Fluttershy, however, had awoken a little early the night before and now lay softly snoring next to the kennel.

"I wonder why Fluttershy is sleeping over there?" Applebloom says rhetorically. She looks into the kennel, sees Winona resting softly, and decides that she knows exactly what she needs to comfort her restless mind. She unlocks the kennel.

"Here, sweetie," she coos. The dog numbly gets up and follows her to her room.

Author's Note

FYI you guys I'm loving this story so far. Next Day will be a bit more of a wait with real life in the way, but enjoy this in the meantime.