The next morning, things seemed to be going rather pleasantly for everypony. Especially for one pegasus, who had just perfected a new routine in her quest to impress the Wonderbolts. Rainbow Dash smiled with a warm sense of pride in her heart as she perfectly executed another string of loops, rolls, dives, and altogether flashy maneuvers. She had been training hard and was excelling marvelously, but still couldn't do the one thing that she set in her mind to accomplish, create a Sonic Rainboom at will. The times she did do it were all moments of great effort that caused the event at random.

She felt great and felt even better with the ever gentle cheer of Fluttershy. "Great job. Yahoo."

Rainbow Dash shook her head and smiled as she went in for the landing. "Fluttershy, remind me that we need to work on your presence a little more. Be assertive, it'll make you stronger."

The yellow Pegasus looked away and her mane covered half her face. "Oh...well I suppose...if you really think so."

Rainbow rolled her eyes, but kept smiling. "See, that's what I'm talking about. Be bold, speak your mind and speak it loud. It'll be hard to get noticed if your...Wait a sec. What is that?" She asked as she noticed something in the sky to the right.

Fluttershy looked in the same direction. "A cloud? Uh, don't we see those all the time?"

The blue pony gave her friend a look. "I know what it is. I mean, what's it doing there. I cleared the sky when I came down here, so I would have room to practice."

Fluttershy gave it a closer look. "And that color. It's awfully dark for one lonely little cloud."

Rainbow's eyes widened at the realization. "Hey, yeah. Normally they only get like that if there's a massive storm coming. But one cloud?"

The two were curious to the discovery, so they decided to examine it. They flew up to it, but when they got within a few feet, 'BOOM' a clap of thunder that one wouldn't expect from such a source. The sudden burst of noise petrified poor Fluttershy, causing the involuntary reflex of her wings locking to her sides, which in turn caused her to fall. Now, at the height they were at, the impact of the fall could have injured the timid pegasus. Rainbow Dash noticed this and immediately rushed to catch her friend.

Fluttershy had been caught just in time. "Oh, thank you Rainbow. I thought I would end up in the hospital."

Dash was both relieved that Fluttershy was okay, but also took a bit of pride in her quickness. "Aww, it was nothing. I'm glad I could help."

Once the two were safely on the ground, they were knocked off there feet. Anyone who shared this experience would describe it in the same way. They were ambushed by a strange pink blur. "Girls! I've been looking everywhere for you. First I went to Rainbow's place and I knocked and knocked, but then my head hurt. So I ran to Fluttershy's, but I couldn't find her so I thought I'd ask Angel, but I think Gummy scared him, 'cause he ran away. Did you know bunnies can run really really fast?"

Fluttershy tried to get her attention. "Uh, Pinkie?"

Pinkie Pie just went on. "So we ran around about fourteen times and then we got dizzy and passed out."

Flutter shy tried again. "Pinkie."

The hyperactive earth pony went on. "I had this really crazy dream where baked goods were trying to eat me, then I woke up and Angel and Gummy were fighting over a carrot."

Fluttershy was going to try again, but Rainbow Dash put a hoof on her shoulder and gave her a look that said 'I got this'. She then let out a loud and annoyed. "Pinkie Pie!"

Pinkie snapped back to the present and looked down at her two friends who she had pinned and smiled. "Oh, hi girls. Listen, you've gotta come down to Sugar Cube Corner."

Fluttershy asked the obvious. "Why?"

Their excited friend looked nervous. "There's no time to explain, come on." And she bolted as mysteriously fast as she arrived.

The two pegasai exchanged looks, then Fluttershy spoke up. "Well, I guess we better get going."

Rainbow Dash nodded. "Okay, but first I want to take another look at that...wha?" She was looking in the direction of the strange cloud, but to her surprise, it was gone. "Where did it...I mean it couldn't have just... Ah, forget it, let's go."

And the two flew off toward Sugar Cube Corner. However, something was amiss. In the trees, just behind where they were standing, a dark shape rose from the top branches. Like a ghost, the dark cloud had risen from the line, then two black hooves poked out of the front and pulled open a hole in the thick cloud. Two golden eyes peered through with sinister intent. Behind the haze, Fearwing watched the girls run off to their destination, his ravens with him at both sides.

He couldn't help but laugh a little. "Hehehe, this is gonna be too easy. Pay attention boys, for this is the start of the most important part. Planning, can bring everything to perfection, no matter the effort." Edgar, on the left, gave a series of caws and Fearwing answered with a smile. "Well, of coarse I'm still going to go all out. If we win this bet, then Luna's gonna live with us. You'd like that right?" The two birds cawed with glee and their master joined them in the laugh.

At Sugar Cube Corner, a small crowd gathered around two certain ponies. Lyra and Bon-Bon arrived that morning in a cold sweat. When asked what was wrong, they became frantic in recalling the trauma of the night before. Twilight, Applejack, and Rarity were able to get in the front of the gathering. Everypony had a look of concern for the frightened pair. Mrs. Cake thought the girls looked cold, seeing as they were shivering with fear. "Here, girls, have some nice hot chocolate and fresh from the oven cookies."

Lyra nodded. "Thank you."

Twilight felt sorry for them, but was curious. From what she heard, the two had simply been freaked out in The Everfree Forest. "I'm sorry girls, but exactly what happened that put you two in such a fit?"

Bon-Bon was the first to answer. " We went for a star-lit picnic, but we were ambushed by evil creatures. The horror, the horror!"

Lyra went on. "It was awful! There was this angry beast that blocked our path home, then a wicked fiend that intercepted us when we ran, and when we turned into the trains to get away from that, there was this evil laugh that ripped through the skies and two horrible monster birds shot out of a bush and chased us all the way home."

Unnoticed by the crowd inside, two ravens, hidden in a dark cloud behind a window, watched the recounting in silence. They felt a warm sense of their master's pride as he draped a wing around them both.

Rarity felt concern for the two. "Oh, you poor dears. I can't imagine what it must have been like. You must have been positively terrified."

Applejack added in her own thoughts. "Well, honestly, going into the Everfree Forest at night is just askin' for trouble. Any number of nasty critters could jump out at ya. Right Twilight?"

The purple unicorn shook a bit herself. "Ugh, don't remind me. I still have nightmares about getting turned to stone by that cockatrice."

Rarity gave them a look. "Show some compassion, you two. Lyra and Bon-Bon have had a tragic experience and deserve our support."

Twilight and Applejack looked down with a sorry look about them. Lyra interjected. "Thanks Rarity, but it's alright. We're just happy to be home where it's safe."

Everypony went back to their normal routines. Pinkie Pie came back with Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash, just in time to hear Lyra's explanation. They hooked up with the rest of the gang and they discussed the situation. Mostly they talked about what might have been responsible, or why it happened to Lyra and Bon-Bon. After a while it moved on to standard conversation, such as how 'have you been, or what's new'

All the while the six had no idea they were being watched. Fearwing and his ravens hung on to every word, trying to get a grip on who they were going to terrify. The wicked Pegasus smiled a sinister smile. "Oh this is too perfect. Soon we'll be able to make them scream with true fear. So far, I've got that yellow pegasus with the pink mane and the white unicorn with the purple, Fluttershy and Rarity if I have my names right." Vincent brushed his wing along Fearwing's side to get his attention. Once he had it, he pointed out the pink earth pony. "Oh...her. Don't worry about her, I'll handle it. That just leaves Twilight Sparkle the unicorn, Applejack the earth pony and Rainbow Dash the pegasus."

As he finished his tally, two royal guards barged in the front door. Fearwing glared at them, he couldn't stand the unflinching seriousness on their faces. They approached the six and informed them that their presence was requested at the palace. Fearwing noticed mixed reactions, smiles and shocked looks of astonishment. He was pleased, even clapped his hoofs a little. "Perfect! Okay, boys, they're going for the set up. Once they've been given their orders, they'll each head home to prepare. Edgar you'll follow Twilight, Vincent you take Applejack. I'll keep an eye on miss Rainbow Dash. She might be fast, but she isn't nearly fast enough to get away from me. Oop, they're heading out. Come on, I wanna see how Luna pulls this off."

It didn't take long for the six to load up in the escort carriage to Canterlot. They rolled out and lifted off the ground in a steady yet swift pace. Perfect for a certain dark cloud to follow behind and not be seen. Next Chapter: Chapter 3 Estimated time remaining: 25 Minutes