Sweetie Belle squirmed anxiously in her seat. Today was the day Miss Cheerilee was going to cast the school play. This year, the class was doing a musical. And even more exciting, they’d be performing it in Canterlot, in front of Princess Celestia! The class fell silent as Miss Cheerilee unfurled the cast list. Sweetie Belle squeezed her eyes shut and held her breath. Please let me get the lead role! Please let me get the lead role. Please let me get the—

“Pip?” Miss Cheerilee asked. Sweetie Belle peeked with one eye. “You’re the narrator. Diamond Tiara?” Surely Miss Cheerilee wouldn’t cast her as the lead role, Sweetie Belle hoped.

“You’ll play the Dragon Princess.”

“Ew.” Diamond Tiara made a face. “A Dragon? At least I get a crown.”

“And, Sweetie Belle…” Miss Cheerilee said, flipping pages of her notes.

Sweetie Belle nearly bit her hooves in worry.

“You’ll be our star!”

With a joyful cry, Sweetie Belle leaped out of her chair! Scootaloo and Apple Bloom jumped up, too, grinning and dancing with her.

But Miss Cheerilee wasn’t done talking.

“If you can sing a solo for the whole class, right now.”

“Of course!” Sweetie Belle smiled. Music started to play from somewhere. Sweetie Belle confidently opened her mouth to begin the opening bars… and nothing came out. She cleared her throat and tried again. This time she managed a small squeak.

Sweetie Belle’s eyes darted nervously around the classroom. Snips and Snails were snickering. Twist looked at her with pity. Diamond Tiara rolled her eyes to Silver Spoon. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo gaped. But still, Sweetie Belle couldn’t force out a single note! She was sure her face was turning as bright red as Apple Bloom’s hair. With a whimper, she rushed out of the Schoolhouse…

To find herself in a shadowy wood. The sound of chimes echoed oddly in the weird landscape. Sweetie Belle looked around for their source, but all she could see was a large, deerlike creature stepping out of the shadows. Its body rippled like smoke, and massive wings lay folded against its back. The huge sweep of its antlers seemed almost graceful against the night sky. And then the creature turned its eyes on Sweetie Belle.

Twin white flames bored into her. She felt as if the creature could see deep into her heart. As if it could read her mind. And then, a feeling of pain, sharp and burning, seemed to engulf Sweetie Belle. She screamed…

And woke up in her bedroom, once more on the floor. Sweetie Belle panted for a moment, shaking off the terror of the nightmare. She winced as she sat up. She’d have to stop having these nightmares, or she’d be covered in bruises! But as Sweetie Belle climbed back into bed, resigning herself to another sleepless night, she wondered—had that pain she’d felt been hers… or the creature’s?