A pair of magenta eyes shot open. Rainbow Dash bolted up from her bed, awaken by the sudden sound that reverberated off of her ears. Rainbow looked around her room curiously wondering if she had just imagined or dreamed what she heard.

Bolting out of her cloud house, the rainbowed mane mare shot into the sky, surveying the land around her.

All of the lights in Ponyville were more or less out, the moon and shining stars the only ones providing light on the dark, cloudless night. Then there was the Everfree, as dark and foreboding as ever. the distance boom of thunder of it's malestrom the only current noise in the now silent night and smoke rising from deep within the forest. Wait...Smoke?

Rainbow Dash rubbed her eyes making sure she was actuall awake.Actually seeing something and not dreaming. Smoke. Black, thickening plumes of it coming up from the sky. That couldn't be right. As long as Rainbow had lived in Ponyville there was never mysterious smoke rising up from the Everfree forest...well at least as far as she could tell. Or remember.

Yeah, there had been smoke from the dragon, but as far as anypony knew dragons never lived in the Everfree Forest...Right? Right. So that only left one option...

But Rainbow, contemplated crossing into the Everfree, for a few minutes, the smoke still rising. Alone, it was dangerous, Manticores, Hydras, Cockatrices, and other mosters lay wihin it's depths, but going at night where they would already be up and active was practically suicide, but on the other hoof...

Rainbow Dash streaked of to the source of the smoke leaving a rainbow streak in the foreground of the inky, darkend sky.

***

Fluttershy's entire cottage rumbled from the sonic boom that vibrated through the ground. With a yelp the shy yellow pegasus bolted under her blankets. Positive nothing more would come she cautiously ventured out of her bed and down into her living room which frankly was a mess.

Most of the acorns and food, stored by the squirrels, chipmunks, and mice, were strewn everywhere lying about. A broken pitcher and and a toppled table lay nearby, the water being absorbed by all food. Several of her things were toppled over and every creature in the house seemed to be either, confused, angry, scared, or a combination of all three.

Her animals that currently waited at the base of the stairs were all muttering noisly to one another . Upon seeing Fluttershy they all directed their confusion and anger at her.

"Oh, oh my I'm sorry about the noise littles ones," The normally shy mare crooned. "Let me clean this all up so you can all go back to sleep."

Almost immedaitley the animals stopped and smied up towards her, chattering a few words, they started up helping her clean up the mess.

"Oh, thank you very much." Fluttershy said with smile.

Excusing herself to outside, Fluttershy saw that other than being spooked, none of the animals outside were really upset. Flying up to get an aerial view, Fluttershy caught something at the corner of her vision.

Smoke.

Fluttershy immediatly felt a wave of terror crash over her.

'Is it another dragon?! Oh, what do I do? I shold get Twilight, or Rainbow Dash or...Rainbow Dash?' Casting another glance at the sky, the yellow pegasus could faintly see the fading hues of a rainbow streak in the dark sky.

***

Rainbow Dash was right, She shouldn't have gone in her alone.Although she at first faced the forest with assertive finish, in the dark menacing forest, her lack-luster bravado quickly dissapaited. Now every growl and creak of the twig, was met with a startled glance or a yelp.

'C'mon Dash! Get it together! You need to investigate this, for the sake of Ponyville! And you're NOT going to let some forest get to you, will you?'

A particularly loud snap near Dash, promptly let her leap ten feet into the air and start running as soon as her hooves touched the solid, yet slightly damp ground.

"AHHHHHHHHHHH!!" Rainbow screamed as she leaped over large roots and ducked under low hanging branches, not daring to look back, for fear of being brought down. Whatever scared her decided to give chase and was gaining speed.

Although Rainbow was unaware of where she was going she had a vague idea. Yes, the Everfree could be the most confusing, darkest place, in Equestria, but occasionally old memeories opened like fresh wounds. Already she could hear the rushig water of the river, where Rarity had given up her tail to that serpent. With an already running start, Rainbow propelled herself then flew over the river. Whatever was chasing her either didn't have wings or didn't bother using them, as water crashed behind Rainbow Dash, sending another burst of adrenaline coursing through her veins, deeper into the forest.

Rainbow began to take on a new tactic. Unfurling her cyan wings, the Fastest Pegasus in Ponyvlle took flight, hoping she could out run whatever monster was chasing her. She did not go far.

The Everfree forest trees twsited branches and gnarled roots always seemed to be in the way, in just the right way. One minute you're walking down a relatively clear path and the next you're tripping or getting your mane or wing caught in the magical clutches that are the Everfree trees.

Rainbow Dash, while definaitly not on a clear path, was sure that at least her wingspan was clear, looked back and caught a glimpse of...Yellow?

Then of course the Everfree trees caught the cyan mare in their grasp. snatching at her wing and turning her head over hooves and tumbling nearby a rickety, worn out, fog ridden bridge. Skidding to a halt and panting heavily behind her, Rainbow Dash peered over her shoulder eyes washing over a familiar yellow pegasus with cyan eyes.

"Fluttershy?"

Author's Note

I'll try to post regulary, but i'm prone to writers block x_x