ZEZTZ: Sentinel of Dreams 01 (Early Preview)

Kamen Rider Zeztz and Equestria Girls Crossover

Summary: When Nightmares start invading dreams in the Human World, Flash Sentry comes face-to-face with his own Nightmare. He is Canterlot High's "Sleeper" Agent - Kamen Rider Zeztz

Into the Rider-Verse Series

Chapter 01: Mission Start 

The white moon hung over Canterlot City.

Three helicopters cut through the night air, using their searchlights to sweep across rooftops and alleyways. The sound of their rotors echoed between the towers of downtown.

Inside the lead helicopter, a news reporter spoke into a headset at the camera mounted on the cabin wall. Her voice carried over the emergency broadcast channel, transmitted to every screen in the city.

"The nightmare scenario is just one hour away. Rarity, the national celebrity and fashion designer who's the face of countless advertisements, was kidnapped by a heartless crime syndicate, which demanded that people throughout the country crowdfund the ransom. Her current location has not yet been determined."

On the streets below, crowds had gathered beneath the massive digital billboards that lined Central Plaza. Each screen displayed the same feed: a livestream showing a young woman with purple hair tied to a chair in a dark room full of masked men. Text scrolled across the bottom of the feed in harsh red letters:

$10,000,000 CROWDFUNDING DEMANDED IN RANSOMRARITY (17)ONE HOUR REMAINS - RARITY'S LOCATION STILL UNKNOWN

Smaller text beneath reads: "The Life of National Beauty Rarity"

The crowdfunding meter at the top of the screen had already reached its goal. Ten million dollars. Paid in full. But the timer continued to count down, and the feed had not cut off.

People stood shoulder to shoulder in the plaza, staring upward. Some held their phones out, streaming the same broadcast. Others had their hands pressed to their mouths. A few were crying.

Meanwhile, a lone figure walked through the crowd, not once glancing up at the billboards.

The people around him pressed closer to the screens.

A voice crackled faintly in his ear. "Your mission is to save the target."

The reporter's voice from the speakers above continued. "Will our national nightmare come true?"

The figure kept walking.

Near the edge of the plaza, a young girl sat alone on a wooden bench. She looked no older than twelve or thirteen. Her hair was purple with a single pink streak running through it, and her green eyes were fixed on the phone in her lap. The livestream played on the cracked screen. Her shoulders shook, and tears dripped onto the glass. "Oh, Rarity…" she whispered.

The man stopped, turned, and walked toward her. When he reached the bench, he crouched down in front of her, lowering himself to her eye level.

The girl's breath hitched, startled.

Without a word, the man reached out and took her free hand. He turned her palm upward and, in one smooth motion, produced a folded white handkerchief like magic.

Her tears paused. She blinked, confused.

He placed the handkerchief into her open palm and carefully closed her fingers around it.

Then he spoke. "Trust those tears to me."

He released her hand and stood. The girl stared down at the handkerchief. When she looked up again, the man was already walking away and disappearing back into the crowd.

The timer on the ransom ticked down.

Fifty-eight minutes remained.

#

Across town, in a warehouse on the industrial waterfront, Rarity in her crimson dress was bound to a concrete pillar.

Despite everything, she was defiant.

Around her, a dozen men in dark clothing laughed and jeered at their phones. They watched the donation counter of the digital wallet climb higher and higher.

At the center of it all stood their leader.

He was a broad-shouldered man with a scarred face. "Time's up!" he bellowed, slamming a fist onto a metal folding table. "We reached ten million in just one week! The people really do love you!"

His lackeys erupted into laughter. They slapped each other on the back, shouting congratulations and counting their shares.

The leader leaned forward, studying Rarity. His grin widened. "But if you think you're getting out of this alive, you'd be wrong." He spread his arms theatrically. "We'll get our hands on ten million, and you get to die. Can you imagine a better finale?!"

More laughter. One man whistled. Another raised a beer bottle in mock toast.

Rarity leaned forward as far as the ropes allowed. "Give everyone their money back!"

The laughter stopped, and the leader's grin vanished. He waved a dismissive hand. "Whatever. Kill her."

One of the lackeys stepped forward immediately. He drew a pistol from his belt, raised it, and cocked the hammer.

Before the barrel could swing toward Rarity's head, another masked lackey moved. This one carried a combat knife. He held up his free hand, blocking the shot.

The gunman hesitated, then lowered his weapon.

The knife-wielding lackey stepped toward Rarity slowly.

Rarity squirmed against the ropes. Her breathing quickened, but her eyes stayed locked on the approaching figure.

The masked man raised the knife. Then, in one smooth motion, he slashed downward.

The ropes binding Rarity to the pillar fell away in severed pieces. She started to collapse forward, but the masked man caught her with careful hands.

All of this played out live on the stream.

The leader's eyes went wide. "What-"

Rarity turned toward her supposed savior with shock and confusion. "Huh?!"

"Who the hell are you?" the leader demanded.

The lackey reached up with one hand and tore off his mask and balaclava in a single pull. Underneath was a young man with neatly styled blue hair. He wore black combat boots, dark slacks, a crisp white dress shirt, and tactical leather belts up and down his torso.

He flashed a confident grin. "An agent for the Secret Defense Organization: CODE." A single strand of his carefully styled hair broke free and spiked upward, ruining the formal look.

The leader stared at him. His mouth opened slightly. "Uh, what...?"

The agent's expression immediately shifted. His free hand shot up to smooth down the rebellious strand. "Stupid strand! Stay in place already!"

Lackeys scrambled in every direction. Weapons were drawn. Safeties clicked off in rapid succession.

The agent raised one hand in a casual, almost lazy gesture. Rarity, still held in his other arm, lifted her own hand in mirror confusion.

The agent's raised hand moved smoothly to the headset clipped to his ear. He pressed the transmit button. "Code Number: 7. Executing mission."

A small device on his belt lit up. White text scrolling across a tiny screen. "OK. GOOD LUCK."

The warehouse exploded into violence.

Code Number: 7 drew his Walther P38 in one fluid motion, the weapon appearing in his hand as naturally as breathing. He fired. Once. Twice. Three times.

Three men dropped, clutching their chests and shoulders, crying out as they hit the concrete floor.

A fourth man charged from the left, swinging a metal baseball bat in a wide arc. He sidestepped, letting the bat whistle past his ear. He brought the pistol up and fired. The man crumpled.

Another gunman opened fire from behind a stack of crates. He spun and returned fire without looking, his shot going wide and sparking off a metal beam.

"Down!" he barked.

Rarity dropped to her knees as bullets tore through the air above them. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her behind a heavy wooden table, flipping it onto its side just as a spray of gunfire chewed into the wood.

He popped up, aimed, and fired. A gunman approaching from the right went down clutching his shoulder.

Rising to his feet, he hauled Rarity up with him. He kept his body between her and the shooters, moving her toward the far wall. A man appeared in their path, raising a pistol. He fired first. The purple rubber bullet struck the gunman square in the forehead, snapping his head back. He collapsed.

Another attacker leapt onto a table, brandishing a length of metal pipe. He fired. The bullet struck the pipe and sent it spinning out of the man's hands. A second shot hit the table near his feet. The man stumbled, arms pinwheeling, and crashed to the floor.

An assault rifle roared from across the room.

He shoved Rarity down and dove behind the overturned table. Bullets hammered into the wood, splinters exploding outward.

He leaned around the edge and fired three quick shots. The rifleman rolled behind a metal shelf. He waited, pistol raised. The moment the man stepped out to fire again, he squeezed the trigger. The man dropped.

The slide on his pistol locked back. Empty.

Without hesitation, he reached behind Rarity into the back of her collar. He pulled out a fresh magazine and slapped it into the pistol, racking the slide in one smooth motion.

Rarity blinked at him.

He grinned. "Don't ask."

A lackey rushed them from the side. He fired, the shot grazing the man's arm. The attacker kept coming. He pivoted and drove his heel into the man's chest, sending him sprawling backward.

He guided Rarity forward. Behind them, footsteps. He fired over his shoulder without looking. A grunt, then the heavy thud of a body hitting the ground.

Bullets raked across the wall to their right. He pulled Rarity down, both of them dropping into a crouch. He twisted, aimed, and fired twice. The shooter fell.

Rarity sprinted for the exit. The agent vaulted onto the table, landing in a crouch. He fired, taking down a gunman rushing from the left. Another appeared on the right. He threw himself backward, rolling onto his back as bullets whizzed over him. He fired twice from the ground. Both shots connected. Both men dropped.

A lackey lunged at him from the edge of the table, grabbing for his legs. He kicked upward, knocking the man's pistol skyward. A second kick slammed into the man's torso. He staggered back, gasping.

Before the man could recover, he grabbed the barrel of his assault rifle and twisted hard. The man's arm bent at an awkward angle, and he yelped in pain.

Behind him, footsteps. Close.

He didn't turn. He ejected the rifle's magazine with a flick of his thumb and kicked it backward. It flew through the air and struck an approaching gunman square in the face.

The gunman stumbled. His rifle barked, bullets tearing into the ceiling. Dust and debris rained down.

A woman with a shotgun appeared from behind a stack of barrels. She pumped the weapon and fired.

He shoved the rifleman aside and dove. The shotgun blast tore through the space where he'd been standing. He rolled to his feet, moving laterally as she pumped and fired again. The pellets shredded a cardboard box. He kept moving, weaving between cover. She fired a third time. He fired back. She dropped.

An office chair sat abandoned near a desk. He slid into it, spinning to face an enemy stepping out from behind a column. The man raised his rifle. He fired first. The man collapsed.

The chair swiveled. A gunshot cracked. He tilted his head, the bullet passing inches from his temple. He tracked the source and fired. A rifleman by the window crumpled.

Another shot. He rolled out of the chair, hitting the floor. He came up firing, but the gunman was already closing the distance.

He grabbed the man's wrist and twisted, redirecting the rifle away from him. He slammed the man into a nearby door, the impact rattling the frame. The gunman struggled. He stepped back, then kicked the door hard. It swung inward, carrying the man with it. He slammed it shut and twisted the lock.

Pounding fists and muffled curses came from the other side.

The crime leader's hand shot out and seized Rarity by the throat.

She gasped, clawing at his grip as he dragged her backward toward the shattered window. Glass crunched beneath his boots. The wind howled through the opening.

"You think you've won?" he snarled. "If I go down, she's coming with me!"

He reached the ledge and, without hesitation, hurled her into the open air.

Rarity's scream pierced the night.

The agent burst through the door just in time to see her disappear over the edge. His eyes went wide.

Without thinking, he ran.

Three strides and he launched himself off the ledge, arms outstretched, diving headfirst.

The wind roared in his ears. Rarity tumbled through the air below.

He angled his body, streamlining his descent. Closer. Closer.

His fingers closed around her wrist.

She gasped and clutched at his arm. He pulled her in tight against his chest, twisting in midair as they crashed through a window and onto another floor of the building.

He rolled, absorbing the impact with his shoulder and back, cradling Rarity as they tumbled across the surface.

They came to a stop by a table, both of them breathing hard.

Rarity blinked up at him, eyes wide. She could feel her heart hammering in her chest. She was still in his arms.

"You're safe now."

For a moment, neither of them moved. Then, a shaky laugh escaped her lips. "Oh, thank you so much!" She reached up and rested her hand lightly on his chest. "Oh, Flash…"

"It's okay to call me that while we're alone, but…"

"Then what should I call you on the job?"

He smiled. "Code Number: 7." He reached into his coat. When his hand emerged, he held a single pink rose.

Before she could respond, he raised his Walther P38. Without looking, he aimed at the stairway door on the far side of the roof and fired.

A moment later, the door burst open. The crime leader stumbled through, clutching his shoulder. He collapsed onto the rooftop, groaning.

The agent turned back to Rarity, offering her the rose with a smile.

Rarity took the rose and brushed her fingers against his. Her eyes sparkled. "Wow..."

The city lights reflected in her gaze. Everything seemed to slow down.

He leaned in. Rarity tilted her head, and her lips parted slightly.

A figure rose behind them.

A lackey, battered and bruised, pulled off her hood and raised a soup ladle high above her head.

"Hey, wake up already!" she shouted.

The Waking World

Flash Sentry's lips puckered as he leaned forward, arms wrapped around his pillow.

A ladle tapped him firmly on the head.

His eyes snapped open. He jerked upright, the pillow tumbling onto the floor. For a moment, he stared blankly at the ceiling.

"You slept long enough, Flash." Misty Vail was standing beside his bed with the ladle still in hand. "I have breakfast prepared."

She held up several pieces of clothing with her free hand, dangling them in front of his face. "And look! You're supposed to hang dry this!"

Flash blinked at the clothes, then at his mother, then back at the clothes. His brain was still half-lodged in the dream. His room came into focus around him. Posters lined the walls. Some featured musicians and album covers. There were a few posters and action figures of masked heroes in dramatic poses. A shelf near the window held a mix of books regarding spy thrillers, how-to guides, and music theory. His personal guitar leaned against the wall beside his desk.

Flash groaned and rubbed his face. "Man! I just saved the girl, and it was getting good..."

"Yes, you were getting really romantic with your pillow there." Misty rolled her eyes and set the ladle down on his nightstand, and folded her arms, though her expression softened. "I mean, I wish I could do what you do..."

Flash glanced up at her.

She continued. "Every night you dream about being a secret agent or a superhero... And you said they're lucid dreams, right? It would be great to enjoy dreams, knowing that's what they were."

Flash reached over to his nightstand and picked up a dog-eared book. The cover read Mastering Lucid Dreams: A Practical Guide. He'd bought it months ago, devouring it in a weekend. He flipped through a few pages absently. At the time, he hoped it would help him cope with his… feelings.

"If only I could control real life so easily..." he muttered.

Misty shook her head. "They're still just dreams, though."

Flash set the book down and looked at her. "I think I'd be so great at helping people, though. If music doesn't work out, I wish I could get a job where I..."

"Please don't."

Flash blinked, surprised. "Mom?"

Misty exhaled and forced a small smile. "Uh, sorry. Just... please, let those dreams stay dreams, okay?"

Flash studied her face, clearly pained. He wanted to press, but he decided against it.

He nodded slowly. "Okay..."

Misty picked up the ladle again and gestured toward the door. "Now get up. Breakfast is getting cold, and you've got school in an hour."

Flash swung his legs out of bed and stretched. As his mother left the room, he glanced back at the book on his nightstand, then at heroic memerobelia.

Let the dreams stay dreams.

He sighed and reached for his clothes.

Canterlot High School

Students streamed through the halls between classes.

For Flash Sentry, the morning passed in a haze. History blurred into algebra, algebra into English. He was on autopilot while his mind wandered back to his dreams. During the break between the third and fourth period, he caught up with a few friends by the lockers. They talked about weekend plans, but he was still distracted.

He grabbed his tray from the serving line, balancing a slice of pizza and a carton of milk. The cafeteria was loud, packed with students talking over each other. He scanned the room and spotted the usual table near the windows. The girls were already there.

He walked over, weaving between chairs and backpacks.

As he sat down, his eyes landed on Rarity. Flash fought a blush as he recalled the dream from last night. Even in the chaos of a nightmare, she had looked immaculate. That made sense. She had won the recent Spring Fling crown, after all. She carried herself with confidence that he admired.

Since the Everfree incident, his friendship with Sunset Shimmer had been in a weird place. Yes, she had blown him off when he was trying to have a sincere conversation. But it had been a magical emergency. He couldn't fault her for that. When all was said and done, she had been more than happy to have a fresh start. That meant something.

Twilight sat across from him, scribbling notes in a binder while eating a sandwich with her free hand. She was complicated. Despite being the alternate of the Pony Princess he was familiar with, he could tell now how different they were. Princess Twilight had been regal, measured, careful. This Twilight was intense, curious, driven by something deeper than duty. After apologizing for the initial mix-up, he had come to appreciate this Twilight for who she was. She wasn't just a replacement. She was her own person.

Fluttershy sat at the end of the table, quietly feeding a small bird from her lunch bag. It was unfortunate that he hadn't hung out with her more. She was a gentle soul who preferred the company of animals and her closest friends. In time, he hoped to learn more about her. She seemed like the kind of person who had depths you wouldn't expect.

Applejack was next to her, leaning back in her chair. He always kept things straight and earnest with Applejack. She cared deeply about family values and work ethic. There was no pretense with her. You knew where you stood.

Pinkie Pie was bouncing in her seat, gesturing wildly as she told a story to Sunset Shimmer. Pinkie was the life of any party and always strived to put a smile on someone's face. She had a way of making even the worst days seem manageable.

Rainbow Dash was sitting with her arms crossed. He mostly interacted with Rainbow during sports events. While he wasn't a star player, he wasn't slouching when he played against her in the class soccer games. She respected effort, even if you lost. That was enough for her.

Flash slid into the seat beside Twilight. "Hey, everyone."

A chorus of greetings came back. Rarity smiled at him. Pinkie waved with both hands.

They fell into easy conversation. Sunset talked about a new program she was organizing for incoming first-year students. Twilight mentioned a science fair project she was refining. Applejack complained about an upcoming farm inspection. Rainbow Dash bragged about her latest track record. Pinkie described, in excruciating detail, the twelve-layer cake she was planning for someone's birthday.

Rarity turned to Flash. "And what about you, darling? You've been awfully quiet. Working on anything new?"

Flash expression brightened. "Actually, yeah. For the past week, I've been messing around with this new chorus for my band. I think I finally figured out how to..."

A scream cut through the cafeteria.

Then another.

Flash's head snapped toward the serving line. Granny Smith stood frozen behind the counter, raising her ladle like a weapon. The other lunch ladies backed away with the same pale face.

Something moved in the industrial refrigerator, which was now leaking food-stuff.

The door hung open. Inside, on the metal shelves, blobs of yesterday's leftover food twitched and writhed. Mashed potatoes. Gravy. Something that might have been meatloaf. They quivered, then oozed forward, dripping onto the floor.

The blobs began to grow.

Students shouted and scrambled away from the serving line. Trays clattered to the ground.

The blobs surged forward, expanding as they moved. One rolled across a table, absorbing uneaten food and swelling larger. Another oozed toward a group of freshmen huddled near the exit.

Flash stood as the girls sprang into action and moved as one.

Hands went to the crystal pendant hanging around their necks. All of them glowed faintly, reacting to the surge of magic in the air. They activated their geodes.

Light flared, bright and multicolored. For each of the girls, their hair extended and changed into longer ponytails and grew pony ears on the top of their heads. Both Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash sprouted wings and floated upward.

Ponied up, they charged toward the blobs without hesitation.

Rainbow Dash streaked across the cafeteria in a blur, grabbed a sophomore by the collar, and yanked him out of the path of an advancing blob, depositing him near the exit before anyone could blink. She spun back immediately, already scanning for the next student in danger.

Twilight raised both hands. Tables and chairs lifted into the air, outlined in purple light. She swept her arms forward, and the furniture flew toward the blobs to slow their advance. One table crashed into a blob and stuck there, half-absorbed into its gelatinous mass.

One of the larger blobs lunged toward a cluster of students near the vending machines. Rarity stepped forward, diamonds materializing in the air around her hands. She thrust her palms out, and a crystalline shield shimmered into existence, blocking the blob's path. It slammed into the barrier and recoiled, splattering against the diamond surface. Rarity's hands trembled slightly from the force of the impact.

Applejack grabbed a fallen table with both hands and heaved it upright before planting it firmly in front of another blob, creating a makeshift wall. When the creature tried to ooze around it, she slammed her boot into the table's edge, sending it skidding forward and pinning the blob against the far wall. The blob writhed, pressing against the table, but Applejack held her ground.

Pinkie Pie bounced onto a table, pulling out a fistful of rainbow sprinkles. She tossed them into the air with a flourish. The sprinkles sparkled as they fell, and when they struck one of the blobs, they detonated in small bursts of colorful light. The blob shuddered and split apart, smaller pieces scattering across the floor. Pinkie grinned and threw another handful, hitting two more blobs in quick succession.

Fluttershy stood near the center of the room with Sunset Shimmer's. Her hands were raised, palms out, and a soft yellow beam of light shot from her fingertips. The beam struck a blob advancing from the left, and the creature recoiled.

Sunset faced the opposite direction. A brilliant orange-red beam shot from her palms, striking another blob as it tried to flank them from the right. The beam burned through the creature's outer layer, causing it to shrink back.

"Left!" Sunset called out.

Fluttershy nervously fired at another blob creeping along the wall. The yellow beam hit it dead center, and the blob collapsed into a puddle.

Sunset's beam swept across two blobs that had merged together. The combined creature split apart under the assault, retreating toward the far corner of the cafeteria.

Flash watched them go. Around him, students fled toward the exits, shouting and stumbling over each other. A sophomore tripped over a dropped backpack, hitting the floor hard.

Flash grabbed the kid's arm and hauled him upright. "Come on!" Flash shouted. "Everyone out! Move!"

He ushered students toward the double doors. A girl clutched her phone, frozen in terror.

Flash grabbed her shoulder and steered her toward the exit. "Go! Now!"

Another student stood paralyzed near an overturned chair, staring at the advancing blobs.

Flash shoved him forward. "Don't just stand there!"

All the while, his eyes kept darting back over his shoulder.

Twilight lifted another blob into the air with her telekinesis, holding it suspended while Pinkie lobbed a handful of explosive sprinkles at it. The blob burst apart in a shower of sparks and leftover food.

Rainbow Dash zipped past, creating a gust of wind that blew smaller pieces toward Rarity's waiting diamond barriers. The shards struck the barriers and shattered harmlessly.

Applejack kicked over another table, using it to herd two blobs toward a corner where Sunset stood ready to blast them.

When Fluttershy noticed that one of the blobs was made up entirely of fruits and vegetables, she summoned birds and squirrels from outside the window. Suffice it to say, they were eager for a large meal.

They worked together seamlessly.

Flash herded another group of students through the doors.

Flash looked back again.

Twilight was shout to the other girls.

Rainbow Dash laughed as she dodged a blob's lunge, spinning midair and slamming it into the ground with a gust of wind.

Pinkie tossed another handful of sprinkles, this time hitting three blobs at once.

Rarity raised a wall of diamonds to shield a straggling student.

Applejack stomped on a blob that tried to slip past her, grinding it into the floor with her boot.

Sunset and Fluttershy blasted more.

The girls were winning as he expected. They were the heroes of this story after all.

And he was here on the sideline looking in.

Flash stood at the doorway now, one hand braced against the frame. The last few students rushed past him.

It was about aminute later that all the food blobs were defeated.

Those girls, they were untouchable.

He wished he could be a part of their magical adventures.

But he wasn't.

#

With the last of the lunch blobs dissolved into harmless puddles, the previously fleeing students attempted to salvage the remainder of their lunch period.

Applejack wiped her hands on her jeans and surveyed the mess. "Well, that could've been worse."

Pinkie Pie bounced over, twirling a handful of leftover sprinkles. "That was fun! Can we do it again?"

"Let's not," Sunset said dryly.

The girls helped the lunch ladies clean up, righting tables and mopping floors while the cafeteria slowly returned to normal. Students trickled back in, recording video or snapping pictures. A few clapped. Then more joined in. Soon the entire cafeteria erupted in applause.

Rarity waved graciously. Rainbow Dash grinned and threw up a peace sign. Twilight looked uncomfortable but managed a small smile.

The girls returned to their table, finding Flash in the same seat before the fight. At the moment, he seemed really out of it.

Sunset slid into the seat across from him. "Hey."

Flash blinked and looked up. "Hey."

Twilight sat down beside Sunset. "Everything okay? We stopped the wild magic, no?"

Flash nodded quickly. "Yeah. You guys did a great job out there."

"You don't look good, darling." Rarity settled into the seat beside him. She tilted her head, studying his face. "Something's bothering you."

Flash opened his mouth, then closed it. He shook his head. "It's nothing. Really."

Rainbow Dash leaned back in her chair. "Dude, you're a terrible liar."

Applejack nodded. "She ain't wrong. What's goin' on?"

Pinkie Pie appeared at his shoulder, leaning over with wide, concerned eyes. "You can tell us! We're your friends!"

Flash hesitated. His jaw worked for a moment, like he was trying to find the right words. Finally, he exhaled and ran a hand through his hair. "I just... I want to do more. For you guys, I mean."

Sunset frowned. "You already do plenty. You got everyone out of here safe."

"I know." Flash's voice was strained. "And I'll always have your backs. All of you. What you do is incredible, and I'm proud just knowing you. But..." He trailed off. "I don't want to always be on the sidelines. I want to stand up there with you. To actually make a difference. When something like this happens, it's you seven who can do something about it. You're all so capable. The rest of us get in the way."

The table fell silent.

Sunset leaned forward with a soft expression. "Flash… The last thing we want is for you to get hurt because of the magic we unleashed on Earth."

Twilight adjusted her glasses. "It's thanks to our magic that we can take a hit more than others. I'd rather us take them than other people like yourself."

Fluttershy placed her hand on Flash's. "For what it's worth. You're always thinking about others. That's your strength. Not everyone can stay calm when things get scary, but you do. That matters more than you know."

Applejack tapped the table for emphasis. "Flash, what you did today mattered. We can't be everywhere at once. If you hadn't gotten those kids clear, somebody could've been seriously hurt. That ain't small."

Rainbow Dash uncrossed her arms. "Yeah, man. The little stuff adds up. You think we could concentrate on fighting if we were worried about someone getting crushed?"

Rarity placed a hand on Flash's arm. "Being a hero isn't only about fighting, darling. It's about doing what needs to be done, even when no one's watching."

Pinkie Pie threw her arms around Flash's shoulders from behind. "You're already super amazing! You need to see it!"

Flash stared at them. For a moment, he didn't trust himself to speak.

Pinkie leaned over and tilted his chin up with one finger. "Chin up!"

Flash managed a small smile. "Right."

Rarity sat back. "Besides, being a hero now and then is nice, but my dream is still for my designs to make it into the fashion industry. Don't be satisfied with dreaming, Flash. Make those dreams come true!"

Flash looked at her, then at the others. The tightness in his chest eased, just a little. "Thanks, guy. I needed that."

The bell rang again, signaling the end of lunch. The girls stood, grabbing their bags. Flash picked up his tray and finally took a bite of his sandwich.

Later

After school, the hallways emptied in waves. Some students headed to the gym for practice. Others disappeared into club rooms or made their way to part-time jobs across town. The rhythm of Canterlot High shifted from structured chaos to quiet routine.

Flash Sentry walked to his car alone. The conversation from lunch still echoed in his head. Make those dreams come true. Easier said than done.

He climbed into the driver's seat and sat there for a moment, hands resting on the steering wheel. The car had been his dad's. He still remembered the look on his mom's face when she'd handed him the keys, that mix of pride and sadness she tried to hide.

It had been just the two of them for years now. Ever since his dad passed. Flash had been young when it happened. She'd worked hard for their life today.

She'd given him everything. The least he could do was pull his own weight.

"Even so..." he muttered to himself, "I've gotta find a way to pull my weight for Mom."

With that, he drove to the mall.

Canterlot Mall

The Canterlot Mall sprawled across two levels, a maze of storefronts and kiosks connected by wide walkways and escalators. Flash parked near the south entrance and made his way inside, scanning the windows for help wanted signs.

As he passed the center fountain, he spotted a familiar figure sitting on the edge, swinging her legs idly. "Sweetie Belle?"

The girl looked up and brightened. "Oh, hi Flash!"

Flash walked over, hands in his pockets. "Hey. What are you doing here by yourself? I thought you'd be with Apple Bloom and Scootaloo."

Sweetie Belle shrugged. "They were busy today. I'm just waiting for Rarity to pick me up."

Flash glanced at his watch. If he remembered right, Rarity would have finished her after-school meetings by now. "She should be done soon, right?"

"Yeah, probably."

Before Flash could say more, a man approached from the direction of Foot Locker. He was in his late twenties, clean-cut, with neatly styled hair and an easy smile. He stopped a few feet away. "Hey, you're Rarity's sister, right? Sweetie Belle?"

Sweetie Belle blinked. "Yeah, why?"

Flash frowned. "I'm sorry. Who are you?"

The man pulled out his phone and held it up, showing the screen. "Name's Silk Stitch. I'm a friend of hers from work. She was called in for work due to a fashion emergency and asked me to pick you up and bring you to the shop."

Flash stepped closer, squinting at the text message displayed on the screen. It looked legitimate. Rarity's name and number at the top with a message asking Silk to grab Sweetie Belle from the fountain. "Huh. That's nice of you."

Sweetie Belle stood, brushing off her skirt. "Oh, okay. But she promised to buy me a snack before we leave."

Silk Stitch smiled. "Sure. We can stop by the food court before we go."

Sweetie Belle grinned. "Alright! Bye, Flash."

Flash waved. "Okay. I'll see you around."

He watched them walk toward the escalators, then turned and continued down the main corridor.

#

A few minutes later, Flash passed the Music Center. A bright yellow sign hung in the window: HELP WANTED - INQUIRE WITHIN.

Flash pushed open the door. The familiar hum of bass-heavy music greeted him, along with the scent of new vinyl and guitar polish. Behind the counter, a girl with wild blue and electric blue hair bobbed her head to the beat, adjusting a display of headphones.

"Hey, Vinyl," Flash called. "How's work?"

Vinyl Scratch turned and grinned, giving him a thumbs-up.

Flash nodded toward the window. "I noticed the sign out front. Is the manager here today?"

Vinyl pointed toward the back of the store.

"Thanks."

As Flash made his way down the aisle, he caught sight of a familiar head of purple hair near the accessory racks. He paused.

"Rarity?"

The girl turned to him. "Oh, hello Flash."

Flash walked over. "What are you doing here?"

Rarity held up a replacement strap for a keytar. "I'm here to pick up my sister, but I decided to stop by for new accessories for our band."

Flash blinked. "Wait. I thought you were busy at work?"

Rarity tilted her head. "Who told you that?"

"Your coworker. Silk Stitch."

Rarity's brow furrowed. "What are you talking about? I have no idea who that is."

Flash felt something cold settle in his stomach. "You sent him a text..."

"What text?"

Flash's mind raced. He remembered Sunset's stories about her time as a villain, how she'd spoofed emails and messages to manipulate people. If someone had faked a text from "Rarity" … 'Oh no…''

"Flash?" Rarity's voice grew concerned. "What's going on?"

Flash grabbed her wrist. "I think Sweetie Belle is in trouble."

They ran.

Flash pulled Rarity along as he explained what had happened at the fountain. She went from confused to alarmed.

They reached the food court. Empty tables. No sign of Sweetie Belle or the man.

"Sweetie Belle...?" Rarity called, her voice rising. "Sweetie Belle?!"

She spun in a circle, scanning the crowd. "Sweetie Belle! Where did you go, Sweetie Belle?!"

Flash's mind worked frantically. The fountain. The man had come from the direction of Foot Locker. If he was planning to take someone, he'd need a quick exit. South entrance. South parking lot.

"Rares, call the police! I'm heading to the south parking lot!"

"Wait! Flash?!"

He didn't wait.

Flash burst through the south exit and scanned the rows of parked cars. There. Near the far end of the lot. A man led a young girl toward a sedan.

Flash's chest tightened. His dreams flashed through his mind. Code Number: 7. The rooftop. The rose. The girl in his arms.

He steeled himself.

"Don't worry," he muttered. "I can do this."

He ran.

The man opened the car door for Sweetie Belle. She hesitated, looking uncertain.

"Get away from her!" Flash shouted.

#

Somewhere beyond the physical plane, an entity watched the scene unfold. "Now," it whispered, "let's make our nightmare come true."

#

A large yellow Hummer veered sharply in the parking lot. It swerved across the road, narrowly missing a patrol car driven by Shining Armor.

"Hey, hey, hey now!" Shining Armor shouted, slamming on his brakes.

Flash ran across the crosswalk, his eyes locked on Sweetie Belle. "Stop right there!" he yelled.

The Hummer veered toward the unsuspecting teen.

The impact was immediate. Flash's body was thrown backward, hitting the pavement hard. Pain exploded through his chest and skull. His vision blurred.

Rarity's scream cut through the air as she burst out of the mall and saw the whole accident. "Flash!"

Sweetie Belle turned away from the man and his car, eyes wide at the familiar scream. "Rarity?!"

Rarity looked across the road. Her sister stood next to a stranger, a kidnapper! "Sweetie Belle!"

Rarity ran as fast as her heels let her.

Seeing Rarity approach him and the cop coming to the nearby accident, he had to scram. Without a word, he abandoned the car and bolted.

Rarity didn't care about him. She reached her sister and pulled her close, holding her tight. "You scared the life out of me!"

Flash's vision swam. Through the haze of pain, he saw them. Rarity clutching Sweetie Belle. The girl was safe. She was okay.

Was he a hero now? A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Then everything went black.

Shining Armor rushed to Flash's side, dropping to his knees. "Hang in there! Hey!"

He pressed two fingers to Flash's neck. Pulse. Weak, but there. Blood pooled beneath Flash's head. His eyes were closed and unresponsive.

"Someone! Call an ambulance!" Shining Armor shouted. "Call a-"

He stood and moved to the Hummer, yanking open the driver's side door.

The seat was empty. There were no signs of a driver.

Shining Armor's face went pale. "A black case...?" he whispered.

Canterlot General Hospital

Misty Vail pushed through the hospital doors in short, ragged gasps. The fluorescent lights overhead buzzed faintly as she rushed past the reception desk, barely registering the nurse who tried to direct her. She already knew where to go. Third floor. Room 312.

Her shoes squeaked against the polished tile as she hurried down the corridor. The smell of antiseptic stung her nose. Voices drifted from the open doorway ahead.

She slowed as she reached the room=.

The first thing she saw was Flash. He was sitting upright in the hospital bed, his head wrapped in bandages. An IV line ran from his arm to a bag hanging beside the bed. His face was pale, bruised along the jaw and temple.

Around him stood a crowd of teenagers. Sunset Shimmer leaned against the wall near the window. Twilight Sparkle stood beside Flash's bed, holding his medical chart, her eyes scanning the pages. Fluttershy hovered near the pillows, adjusting them carefully to make sure Flash was as comfortable as possible. Rainbow Dash stood with her arms folded. Pinkie Pie sat on the edge of a chair, unusually still. Applejack leaned against the wall opposite Sunset, her hat pulled low.

Rarity sat in the chair closest to the bed, holding Flash's hand to her cheek. Tears streaked her face and smeared makeup. Her other arm was wrapped around a younger girl with curly red-and-pink hair. Sweetie Belle's eyes were red and puffy, heavy with guilt.

Near the window, three boys stood awkwardly. Brawly Beats had his hands in his pockets, somber. Ringo stood beside him, staring at the floor. Sandalwood tried and failed to hold back his sadness..

Misty blinked. Now that she thought about it, it was mostly girls in the room. Huh.

Flash was talking when she entered. "Guys, I'm fine. Really. The doctor said I'll be out of here in a couple days."

Twilight looked up from the chart. "Your chart says you have a moderate concussion, three bruised ribs, and severe contusions across your back and shoulders. That's not 'fine,' Flash."

"Twilight..." Sunset said softly.

Twilight adjusted her glasses. "I just... I need to make sure the doctors didn't miss something."

Fluttershy reached over and gently adjusted the pillow behind Flash's head. "Is that better? Does your neck hurt? I can get another pillow if you need one."

Flash gave her a small smile. "I'm okay, Fluttershy. Thanks."

Pinkie Pie tied a blue balloon to his bed. "I brought more balloons, but the nurse said I couldn't bring all of them in." She looked down at her hands. "I left the rest at the front desk."

Flash's smile widened a little. "That's really thoughtful, Pinkie. I appreciate it."

"You got hit by a car, dude," Rainbow Dash said flatly. "Your head was bleeding and everything."

"I'm alive."

"She's right, though," Brawly shook his head. "This is no joke. You need to take it easy. No picking up a guitar until you're a hundred percent."

Ringo nodded seriously. "We're not letting you mess up your recovery just to jam with us. The band can wait."

Sandalwood grunted in agreement.

Flash opened his mouth to protest, but Applejack cut him off. "And I'll bring by a get-well basket tomorrow. Granny Smith's apple fritters, some of Big Mac's jerky. The good stuff. You focus on healin' up."

Flash managed a weak smile. "Thanks, AJ."

Sunset pushed off the wall and stepped closer. "As reckless as it was to find the kidnapper on your own, what you did was incredibly brave, Flash. You saved Sweetie Belle."

The other girls nodded in agreement.

Rarity squeezed his hand tighter, trembling. "Flash, I can't thank you enough for putting yourself at risk to save my sister. I don't know what I would have done if I lost her."

Sweetie Belle's face crumpled, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks. "I'm sorry you got hurt because of me, Flash... I... I didn't know."

Flash shook his head, wincing slightly at the movement. "It's alright. I can't blame you. I was fooled too. I'm just glad you're safe."

Rarity pulled Sweetie Belle closer, burying her face in her sister's hair for a moment before looking back at Flash. "You didn't hesitate to help her."

Flash's smile faded slightly. "I couldn't just stand there."

Rainbow Dash's jaw tightened. "Yeah, well, next time maybe don't throw yourself in front of a moving car."

"Rainbow..." Fluttershy chastized.

"I'm serious!" Rainbow snapped with a crack. "You scared the crap out of us, Flash."

Pinkie Pie nodded with subdued energy. "When Rarity called, we all thought... I thought you were..."

Flash looked at each of them, seeing the worry etched into their faces.

Sunset had dry tears down her face. "I know you helped Sweetie Belle this time, but please, never put yourself in harm's way again."

"Sunset… I"

"Please… For all of us." she begged. "If you got hurt like this again or worse…"

Flash looked around the room, and they each gave a nod of agreement. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you guys. I… I won't go looking for trouble."

They all seemed to ease up. "That's all we can ask for."

"What happened to the driver, anyway?" asked Rainbow. "They had to get arrested after something like that, right?"

Rarity frowned. "I don't think it'll be that easy."

The others raised a brow at that. "Why not?"

Flash frowned. "I never did get a glimpse of the one who almost killed me."

Rarity frowned. "After I made sure Sweetie Belle was safe, I ran with her to check up on you. Shining Armor was applying first aid til the ambulances showed up. When I saw the truck, it was empty. I asked him if the driver ran away, but he told me that it was empty when he opened it right after the crash."

Everyone stared in confusion.

"So... either the car ran me over on its own, or the driver mysteriously disappeared?" asked Flash. "Is this another case of magic acting up?"

"I'm not exactly sure."

The group talked quietly among themselves, discussing how they would look into the matter.

Sunset crossed her arms again. "So both of them got away. With everything happening so fast, he had time to run before anyone could stop him."

Twilight frowned. "The only ones who got a good look at him were Flash and Sweetie Belle."

Flash shifted in the bed. "Yeah. I saw his face. I'd recognize him if I saw him again."

Sunset stepped forward, her hand reaching out slightly. "Flash, if you're up for it... I could help."

Flash looked at her, then nodded. "Do it."

Sunset placed her hand gently on his forearm. Her eyes glowed faintly for a few seconds. Sunset pulled her hand back, her eyes returning to normal. "Got it. I saw the text message too. Definitely a fake."

She turned to Sweetie Belle. "Can I...?"

Sweetie Belle nodded quickly. Sunset knelt beside her and placed a hand on her shoulder. The glow returned. Sweetie Belle blinked as Sunset pulled away.

"I got a clear picture of him," Sunset stood. "I'll work with the police to get a sketch done."

Twilight was prepared to text her brother the news. "I'll make sure it gets to Shining Armor. He's still at the scene."

Applejack nodded. "Good. That creep ain't gettin' away with this."

Rainbow Dash's fists clenched. "If the same thing had happened to Scootaloo or Apple Bloom, I'd hunt him down myself."

Applejack's expression hardened. "You and me both."

The room fell quiet for a moment. Flash looked at Rarity and Sweetie Belle. Rarity's parents had been here earlier, holding their daughters, thanking Flash over and over. Seeing them together, safe, made the ache in his ribs and the pounding in his skull feel worth it.

It wasn't a secret that Rarity's family was well off, and he assumed that the stranger was trying to use Sweetie Belle as some ransom. Just like his dream...

But another thought crept in. If he'd been faster. If he'd been stronger. Could he have stopped the man before he got away? Could he have avoided getting hit at all?

Misty's voice broke through his thoughts. "Flash..."

He looked up. Everyone turned to see her standing in the doorway.

"Mom..." Flash sounded guilty.

Misty's composure broke. She crossed the room in three quick steps and wrapped her arms around him, careful not to disturb the IV or press too hard against his injuries. Flash stiffened for a moment, then relaxed, leaning into her.

She didn't say anything. She just held him.

After a long moment, she pulled back, her hands resting on his shoulders. "You're alive."

Flash managed a small smile. "Yeah. I'm okay, Mom."

#

About an hour later, Flash's friends began to say their goodbyes.

Sunset pushed off the wall first. "We'll be back tomorrow when we're free."

Twilight adjusted her glasses and set the medical chart back on the nightstand. "I'll make copies of your class notes. You shouldn't fall behind."

"Thanks, Twilight," Flash knew he would be out for a bit.

Rainbow Dash stepped forward and punched his shoulder lightly. "Don't do anything stupid while we're gone, got it?"

Flash winced but smiled. "I'll try."

Pinkie Pie waved with both hands, bouncing on her heels. "I'll bring you something yummy tomorrow! Something with extra sprinkles!"

Fluttershy leaned over and adjusted his blanket one more time. "Please rest. And if you need anything, call."

Applejack tipped her hat. "Take care of yourself, Flash. We'll see ya tomorrow."

Rarity stood last, still holding his hand. She gave a hug and squeezed him gently. "Thank you again, Flash. For everything."

Sweetie Belle peeked out from behind her sister. "Feel better soon..."

Flash nodded. "I will. Promise."

Rarity finally let go and ushered her sister toward the door.

Brawly Beats stepped forward, hands still in his pockets. "Man, you really went all out, huh?"

Flash shrugged weakly. "Seemed like the right thing to do."

Ringo crossed his arms. "Yeah, well, next time leave the heroics to the people with superpowers. You had us worried, dude."

Sandalwood nodded and gave Flash a fist bump. "Rest up. The band needs its guitarist."

Brawly grinned. "We'll hold down the fort until you're back on your feet."

"Thanks, guys," Flash appreciated them all for coming. It was assuring in a way.

They filed out one by one, the door clicking shut behind them.

The room fell silent except for the steady beep of the heart monitor and the faint hum of the fluorescent lights overhead.

Flash stared at the ceiling, his body aching in a dozen places.

Misty sat in the chair beside his bed. "I can't believe you were hit by a car while trying to save your friend's sister."

Flash glanced at her, then back at the ceiling. "I thought I could pull it off in real life, since I can in my dreams..."

Misty sighed. "They're right, you know, Flash, you shouldn't try to play hero like your friends from school."

Flash frowned. "Mom..."

"There's a reason why I keep telling you to let your dreams stay dreams!" She rubbed her temples. "You're not like your friends. Trying to save someone in real life means putting yourself in danger and getting hurt like you are now."

Flash's jaw tightened. "But Dad would have done the same."

Misty looked at him in grief. "I know. And he's had so many close calls. Every day, I worried that it might be the last time I would see your father walk out that door. I guess one day, his luck ran out..."

Flash's chest tightened. "Mom, that's..."

"You were there," Misty continued, strained. "You saw what happened."

Flash looked away.

"We already lost him." Her voice started cracking. "If I ever lost you, I... I don't know what I would do..."

Flash stared at the IV line in his arm. "What's the point of having dreams if they can never come true...?"

"It's all a fantasy. You know that." Misty leaned forward and rested her hand on his. "You're still alive with friends and family who love you. Isn't that enough to be happy about?"

Flash didn't reply. It should be obvious that dreams and reality were two separate things, but a part of him hoped that the former would be just as fulfilling.

Misty sighed and stood. "I'll leave you to sleep things over. In the meantime, you'll need fresh clothes for tomorrow."

Flash nodded faintly.

She hesitated at the door, looking back at him one more time. Then she left, the door closing softly behind her.

Flash closed his eyes, hoping that the answers would come to him soon.

Elsewhere, a door creaked open, etched with a woman's image. From the darkness beyond, something entered.

Canterlot Mall

The accident scene sprawled across the south entrance of the Canterlot Mall parking lot. Yellow tape cordoned off the area. Officers directed traffic around the scene while others photographed notable evidence.

Shining Armor stood beside the yellow Hummer on the radio. "Copy that. I'll be taking point on this one." He clipped the radio back to his belt and circled the vehicle slowly. As he expected, there was no sign of anyone behind the wheel. CCTV footage corroborated it, but it was still unbelievable. "Completely unmanned." He straightened and pulled out a tablet from his patrol bag. His thumb scrolled through a growing list of reports, each one tagged with a red label: Black Case. Another in a line of many.

Shining's jaw tightened as he read through the entries. Disappearances. Objects moving on their own. Witnesses reporting things that shouldn't exist. The cases had been piling up for months now, all centered around Canterlot High School and the surrounding area.

"Coming through."

Shining looked up. A woman approached the police barrier. She wore a dark blue jacket over a collared shirt, her badge clipped to her belt. Her hair was short and practical, light, brilliant amber, and very light yellow.

The officer maintaining the barrier stepped aside. "Ma'am."

The woman ducked under the tape and walked toward Shining. "Officer Shining Armor?"

Shining straightened. "That's me."

She extended her hand. "I've just been assigned as your partner for this case. I'm Cloud Kicker."

Shining shook her hand. "Heck of a way to start your first day, huh?"

Cloud Kicker shrugged. "It's fine. Just part of the job."

Shining gestured toward the Hummer. "I was in the area when it happened. Apparently, one of my sister's friends was trying to stop their other friend's sister from getting kidnapped, only to get into a hit-and-run."

Concern flickered across her face. "Is he okay?"

"Thankfully, he's stable. And the child was returned to her family. Unfortunately, due to my focus on the hit-and-run victim, the suspect got away. I'm hoping to interview both of them when the hospital allows it."

Cloud nodded slowly. "Was it an accident?"

"Yeah." Shining's tone darkened. "But there was no driver."

Cloud blinked. "No driver? Is that possible?"

Shining pointed toward the mall entrance. "Don't believe me? Check the mall's cameras. You just got here, so I realize you wouldn't get it, but Canterlot has recently been experiencing these 'Black Cases.' Strange incidents with no known explanation. Disappearances. All manifested in a variety of ways." He handed her the tablet.

Cloud took it, her eyes scanning the screen. The first report was a summary, dated three months prior.

#

Black Case Investigation Report

To: Superintendent General of the Metropolitan Police

Canterlot Metropolitan Police Department, Public Security Bureau

From: Assistant Inspector, Judicial Police Bright Star

Mysterious "Black Cases" have been confirmed in multiple locations but remain unsolved. 30 cases have been reported in the past year. The rate has rapidly increased since then.

#

Cloud scrolled down. Another report appeared.

#

Canterlot Ward Child Disappearance Status Update

Canterlot Metropolitan Police Department, Public Security Bureau

From: Assistant Inspector, Judicial Police Bright Star

Total disappearances in Canterlot Ward: 17 children. Age range: 7-14. Last known locations: schools, parks, residential neighborhoods. No witnesses. No physical evidence. No bodies recovered.

#

Cloud grew grim. "If the Public Security Bureau is looking into this, then they must represent a serious threat to national security."

Shining nodded. "That's what I'm thinking. We already have a clue to what's causing the Black Cases. Before their disappearances, some victims had complained about poor sleep and bad dreams."

"So it might be psychologically related?"

"Possibly. We don't know for sure. But officially? We're not supposed to talk about them publicly."

Cloud handed the tablet back. "So what do we know?"

"Not much." Shining glanced at the Hummer again. "But this is the first time one of these cases resulted in an attempted kidnapping and a direct injury to a civilian. That changes things."

Cloud crossed her arms. "Where do we start?"

Shining pocketed the tablet. "We start with the victim. Flash Sentry. Once the hospital clears him, we get his statement. Then we talk to the girl who was almost taken. Sweetie Belle. Between the two of them, we should have a description of the kidnapping suspect."

"And the Hummer?"

"Forensics is already on it." Shining gestured to a pair of officers inspecting the vehicle's interior. "But I'm not expecting much. If this is another Black Case, physical evidence won't explain what happened."

Cloud nodded slowly. "You think this is connected to the other incidents?"

"I don't think. I know."

He turned and walked toward his patrol car, Cloud following a step behind.

"Welcome to Canterlot," Shining said dryly. "Hope you're ready for a long night."

#

Soon, night came as Flash slept soundly in his hospital bed. However, something was heading toward his room. The doctors and nurses didn't seem to notice it. It moved through the hallways unseen, its form barely registering in the corners of their vision. It entered the hospital wing and approached Flash's door. The thing paused, then slipped inside.

It stood over the bed, looking down at him.

Flash's face twitched. His brow furrowed. Something was wrong. He could feel it, even in sleep.

His eyes opened.

Six glowing yellow eyes stared back at him.

Flash rolled out of bed, his body hitting the floor hard. Pain shot through his bruised ribs. "Wha-What the hell?!" He scrambled backward until his shoulders hit the wall and gasped for air.

The thing stood beside his bed, unmoving. Its head resembled the chambers of a revolver, six glowing eyes arranged in a circle where a face should have been. The rest of its body was a mass of shifting shadows, barely holding a humanoid shape. It raised one arm.

The arm shifted, elongating into something that resembled a barrel, and aimed at him.

Flash threw himself to the side as the sound of a gunshot cracked through the room. The wall behind where he'd been sitting splintered, plaster exploding outward.

"Someone!" Flash shouted, scrambling to his feet. "Someone help!"

The creature fired again. Flash dove through the doorway, stumbling into the hallway. His bare feet slapped against the cold tile as he ran.

"Someone!" he yelled again. "Anyone!"

The nurses' station was empty. No doctors. No patients. The hallways stretched out in both directions, fluorescent lights buzzing overhead, but no one was there.

Another gunshot. The bullet struck the wall beside him, tearing through a bulletin board. Papers fluttered to the ground.

Flash ran faster. His ribs screamed in protest, but he didn't stop. He turned a corner, then another.

The hallway seemed to stretch forever.

He glanced back. The creature was still there, moving with slow steps. It didn't run. It didn't need to.

Flash's foot caught on something. He stumbled on the ground. The tile was cold beneath his palms.

When he looked up, he wasn't in the hospital anymore.

He was outside.

The city streets stretched out around him, empty and silent. Streetlights cast pale circles of light onto the pavement. Storefronts were dark. No cars. No people.

"Why isn't anyone here?!" Flash gasped, pushing himself upright.

He spun around.

The creature stood directly behind him.

Flash tried to run, but it grabbed him by the arm. Its grip was cold, impossibly strong. It lifted him off the ground and threw him.

The world spun.

Flash hit something hard. Pain exploded across his back and shoulders. He opened his eyes.

He was back in the hospital. He'd hit a pamphlet rack, scattering brochures across the floor.

The creature stepped forward, its revolver head rotating slowly. The glowing eyes fixed on him. "Powerless, worthless even. All you can do is run in the face of danger like everyone else."

Flash scrambled backward. "What's going on?!"

He got to his feet and ran toward the nearest door. His hand closed around the handle. He yanked it open.

The world shifted.

He was in his bedroom.

Flash froze, staring at the familiar posters on the walls and the guitar leaning against the desk. "My room?" He rushed for the door. "Mom!" He threw it open and ran down the stairs.

As he reached the bottom, the hallway looped. He was running out of the same door again, the same staircase stretching below him. This time, gunshots cracked from above. He ducked, feeling the air split as bullets passed over his head.

Flash kept running. The hallway stretched endlessly in both directions, the walls narrowing and widening at random. He looked back. The creature was still there, walking, always walking.

He ran up a flight of stairs. When he reached the top, he was coming down another set.

The lights began to flicker. The hallway grew darker with each step. Shadows pooled in the corners, thick and heavy.

Ahead, a single light illuminated a door.

It was different from the others. Larger. Made of stone. A statue was carved into its surface: a woman with her eyes closed, her hands outstretched.

Flash didn't think. He ran for it.

His hand hit the door, and it swung open.

He stumbled through as the door slammed shut behind him.

#

"What the..." Flash found himself face-to-face with Rarity in the same dress as last time, tied to a familiar pillar.

She seemed different than before. In a daze of sorts, and scared. "H-Help me!"

Flash dodged another bullet just in time. The creature was back, its rifle arm pointed at him. Now he got a better look at it. Its chest had a vest made out of bullet chains, and its body was black and purple. It had two guns integrated into its form: one as its left forearm, while the second was double-barreled and positioned backwards on its forearm, extending to the elbow. "Why not keep running?"

"It's all too impossible," Flash replied without looking up. "I was going to catch on eventually." He looked at a shattered mirror next to him. "I'm dreaming." Now he looked like the dream version of himself. "I dozed off at some point." Now Flash could tell he was in the same warehouse as his previous dream. "Which means there's nothing to be scared of." He stood tall. "Because I'm Code Number: 7, the invincible agent."

He took out his gun and fired several shots, but the bullets didn't faze the monster. When he tried a roundhouse kick, it suddenly disappeared. Then it appeared behind him, grabbed Flash, and threw him across the room.

Flash grunted in pain before glaring at the monster. "Why? This is a lucid dream. It's supposed to go the way I want it to go!" He picked up his gun and fired, but the monster grabbed his arm.

"That's always been your delusion," it told him as Flash's arm suddenly became liquid. He cried out in pain.

Flash looked down at his hand. His arm was back to normal. The monster grabbed him by the throat and lifted him off the ground. "I'll turn your dreams into a nightmare."

#

In the real world, Flash was sleeping soundly in bed. Then he suddenly started floating up from the mattress.

He slammed back down, still asleep.

#

Back within his dream, Flash grunted when he hit the floor. He held his throat and coughed. "This can't be..." Flash ran through the nearest door.

"The thought's always been there, in the depths of your subconscious..." The creature's voice came through a radio on a nearby desk. "You'll never make your dreams come true."

Flash grabbed the radio and smashed it on the ground. "You're wrong!"

Another radio suddenly appeared in the room. "You don't have the power to save people."

"No..."

"You couldn't even save him."

Flash started to breathe heavily. He slipped on a pipe and fell into a puddle. The puddle became an entire pool.

#

In the real world, the monitor tracking Flash's vital signs flatlined.

"Mr. Sentry? Can you hear me?" a nurse called, rushing to his bedside.

"What's his status?" the doctor asked, entering the room.

"He's in cardiac arrest."

"Chest compressions. Get him on oxygen."

"Yes, sir."

#

Back in the dream, Flash came out of the water, gasping for air. Sweetie Belle suddenly appeared to his right. "You're helpless..." Her voice overlapped with the creature's.

Flash backed away from her.

"Completely helpless," said the radio

For a moment, he was back in his room. He saw an article on his laptop about an accident from years ago. It suddenly shattered like glass, and the rest of the room fell apart.

"You can't save anyone."

He was back in the captive room.

Rarity was in the same daze, now speaking with the creature's voice. "The ultimate nightmare..."

They were all in the previous room now. Flash came face-to-face with the creature.

"It's time to face it." It backed away from Flash.

"He had so many close calls." Now his mom was there. "You're still alive with friends and family that love you. Isn't that enough to be happy about?"

"He's the reason I'm alive at all," Flash recalled painfully.

"Alive, but hollow," the creature replied.

"I can't deny that… But still, at least in my own mind, it's okay to make my dreams come true the way I want them, right?"

"That's nothing but escapism. You're afraid of living in reality."

Suddenly, Rarity's expression became more lucid. Where was she? She vaguely remembered seeing Flash in a hospital gown do a complete outfit change into a rather dashing noir ensemble. Then… a strange figure started attacking him… Now, she kept hearing these strange voices, all directed at her friend Flash.

She had never seen him like this before. The usually cheery music player was cracking to the rabble. The sight broke her heart as well. These doubts were familiar to her, but they were all wrong. He saved her sister. Even if the entire world changed its tune about Flash, she knew where his heart always was, and that's all that mattered. She… She had to say something. "N-No…"

"Rarity?"

"D-Don't listen to them..." she continued.

The nightmare turned to her in confusion. "Hm?"

She tried her best to focus on him. "There's nothing wrong with dreaming. They inspire us to be more."

"They're all I want."

"Don't be satisfied with just dreams, Flash. Grab life by the reins and make those dreams come true!" Had… Had she said those words before?

Flash stood up. "She's right. None of this is up to you." The light bulb above him flickered before dimming.

"I know my own mind..." Before it burned out, he grabbed hold of the light.

The light suddenly glowed brighter, and he was completely dry. "...better than anyone." The moment he declared that, something emerged from the floor. The nightmare backed up as a solid wall with bright red lines appeared between the creature and Flash, a door forming in its center.

"What's happening?"

He could hear Rarity from the other side. "I don't…" Suddenly, someone or something pulled him through.

#

Flash suddenly found himself inside a different room. The walls were marble. Lamp posts illuminated the area. Clocks hung on the walls, each one on a different time zone. A second floor overlooked the room, a desk visible at the top of a short staircase.

"What?" Flash asked.

"You have come a long way."

Flash looked up. A robot stood on the second floor, painted white and red. It looked awfully familiar. Its design was sleek, angular, with a visor where its face should have been. It looked down at him.

"That voice..." Flash realized. "Commander Zero?! Wait. You're a robot?" Judging from the wheels and handlebars, was he also a transformer?

The figure chuckled. "Something like that."

"Where am I?"

"This place is your subconscious mind, a brief reprieve from your fight." Commander Zero reached down and turned a strange glass teacup on the table. The moment it rotated, an open briefcase appeared on the table next to Flash. "To defeat your Nightmare, you must reach inward."

"Nightmare?" Flash whispered. Was that what the creature was called?

Flash looked inside the briefcase. There was a black buckle and silver straps with a slot in the center. Next to it was a red capsule. Inside the capsule, an image of a small green monster was visible.

"This is..." His mind went back to his childhood with his dad. Every Saturday, he would pull out his old VHS tapes, and they would watch one of his favorite heroes fight evil on TV.

Seeing Flash's expression, Zero seemingly smirked with no mouth. "I take it you know what to do with it?"

Flash recalled a time when he was a kid, drawing his own superhero in crayon. The ones his dad showed him all had belts, but Flash wanted his to stand out a bit more if he was going to use the same color scheme. 'If the heroes run and hide, who will stay and fight?' He picked up the sash and capsule with care. "Yes. I do."

"Then make your dream come true." Commander Zero was suddenly standing near the wall. "Good luck."

The clocks in the room began to chime in unison, their bells ringing out. Three chimes. 3 AM. Witching hour had begun.

Flash looked at the items he was holding. He turned and walked toward the door.

#

Soon Flash was back in the warehouse. The Gun Nightmare stood in the center of the room, and Rarity was tied to the pillar again.

Rarity didn't know where Flash had gone, and this monster had been nothing but rude to her, waving his gun arm around and threatening to shoot her if Flash didn't return. She had a feeling it would still try herm her if he did come.

Now, the Nightmare saw Flash's return. "You can't stop this nightmare." It raised its gun arm toward Rarity.

Flash moved and pulled the trigger on his pistol. The bullet shot out, striking the Nightmare's arm. The shot was redirected, missing Rarity by inches. The bullet sparked against the pillar.

Rarity's stomach dropped at the last second. "Dear heavens!"

"Save the Target. That's my mission."

Rarity turned to Flash, confused as to what was going on now.

The Nightmare turned and fired at him. Flash raised the Zeztz Driver, holding it over his chest. The bullets struck the device and ricocheted off harmlessly.

Flash placed the Driver against his chest.

#

In the real world, the heart monitor showed a flatline. Then a single beep. Then another. Flash's heart restarted.

#

The silver belt extended out from the Driver, wrapping around Flash's chest. It locked in place behind him with a metallic click. "I'm the invincible agent."

He inserted the red Capsem into the center of the Driver.

The Driver lit up. The trigger on the side popped up. The sound of a heartbeat echoed from the device, slow and rhythmic.

Flash pressed his thumb against the trigger. It lit up red.

"Impact! Arize! [Mezamero!] Arize! [Mezamero!] Arize! [Mezamero!]" the Driver announced.

Flash raised his thumb to his cut lip. "I'm on it." He dragged his thumb across his lips and to the side, then snapped his fingers. "Henshin!"

He traced his thumb along the top of the Driver, moving it slowly toward the Capsem. Once his thumb was on it, there was a pause. Then he spun it quickly. The image within the Capsem projected outward, moving in pixel animation. The Driver flashed in a rainbow of colors.

Flash moved forward. Gun Nightmare fired rapidly. The Driver covered Flash in black smoke. The bullets seemed to pass through him, as if he was made of shadows. His form began to solidify, tanking the bullets. The smoke formed black full-body armor on his body as he walked closer to the Nightmare.

"Good morning! Rider!" the Driver announced.

The Gun Nightmare charged at Flash.

Green armor formed on his chest, arms, legs, and head. A full helmet encased his skull. Flash, now in his green and black suit, dodged to one knee and punched the Nightmare back.

The red outlines on his suit filled in.

"Ze-Ze-Zeztz! Impact!" the Driver announced.

The red lines on his suit lit up and splashed like water. Flash had transformed into Kamen Rider Zeztz.

Rarity stared at Flash's new form. "Amazing…"

The Gun Nightmare tried shooting again. Flash blocked it easily with his forearm. The bullets sparked off the armor, leaving no marks.

The Nightmare swung with its left. Zeztz ducked under it and drove his fist into the Nightmare's torso. The sound rang out like a hammer on an anvil. The impact traveled through the creature's frame.

The Nightmare staggered back three steps. Its gun-arm rose. Three shots were fired in rapid succession. Muzzle flash lit up the street.

Zeztz sidestepped. The first bullet sparked off his shoulder pauldron. The second and third hit nothing as Zeztz closed the distance. His boots cracked the pavement with each step.

He grabbed the Nightmare's gun arm mid-fire and twisted it upward. Two more rounds were fired into the clouds. Then he delivered an uppercut that lifted the Nightmare off its feet. Its head snapped back.

Zeztz pressed his advantage. The muscles in his arm bulged. The Zeztz Gameline pulsed red. He channeled power through his limb and threw an enhanced strike.

The Nightmare flew backward and crashed through the wall and into the dirt below.

Zeztz jumped toward it with his fist raised.

The Nightmare quickly rolled away.

Zeztz's fist cratered the ground where it had been. The ground exploded in a ten-foot radius. Chunks of concrete launched into the air. A ring of dust kicked up from the shockwave.

The Nightmare fired as it scrambled backward. Five shots in quick succession.

Zeztz raised his arm. The bullets sparked off his armor. Each impact left a glowing mark that faded after a moment. He walked through the gunfire with ease.

The Nightmare stopped retreating and charged.

Zeztz met it head-on.

They collided in the center of the street.

The Nightmare struck first, driving a punch straight through Zeztz’s guard, fast and heavy.

A pivot came just before impact, the blow grazing past as Zeztz’s counter snapped in at once, two fingers and a knuckle driving into the ribs with short, precise force.

The Nightmare twisted, took it, and swung a wide but fast backhand, while Zeztz ducked and let his feet slide into position.

Zeztz blocked a straight punch with his forearm. He countered immediately with a knee to the ribs. Before the Nightmare could react, Zeztz grabbed it by the shoulders and headbutted it.

The Nightmare's head rocked back.

Zeztz jump-kicked it. Both feet impacted its chest. The Nightmare stumbled backward, arms flailing.

The Nightmare steadied itself and aimed both gun arms.

Thinking fast, Zeztz grabbed the ground. 'Just like the cartoons.'

The pavement rippled under his hands. It all responded to his will. This was his domain. His dream. He created a wave. The ground rushed toward the Nightmare. It crashed into the creature and knocked it down. The wave dragged it closer.

The muscles in Zeztz's leg bulged. His armor plates shifted. Power concentrated. The Zeztz Gameline glowed brighter.

When the Nightmare was pulled within range, he delivered an enhanced roundhouse kick to its head.

The impact boomed.

The Nightmare spun through the air. Its body rotated three full times. Zeztz chased after it. He jumped and matched its trajectory. He delivered another enhanced kick to the back of its head. More force this time.

The Nightmare slammed into the ground. It cratered the earth in a twenty-foot impact zone. Cracks spread outward.

The Nightmare fired from its back. Four shots. Wild and panicked.

Zeztz blocked. His arms crossed. Bullets ricocheted.

They fought again when the Nightmare regained its feet. The Nightmare would punch, shoot, punch, shoot. Zeztz dodged the bullets and countered with precise strikes.

An enhanced punch sent the Nightmare flying back again. It tumbled end over end.

The Nightmare tried something different.

Chains shot out from its body. Dozens of them. Thick and barbed. Purple energy wreathed them. They wrapped around Zeztz's arms and torso and constricted. The Nightmare pulled. It tried to drag Zeztz toward it, into point-blank range.

The muscles in Zeztz's legs bulged. His boots dug into the ground. Pavement cracked under the pressure. He stayed in place.

"I wish you'd fall in line already..."

The chain stretched taut between them. It vibrated with tension. The Nightmare pulled. Zeztz didn't move.

"My dream belongs to me!"

Zeztz yanked hard.

The chains reversed. They unwrapped from Zeztz and wrapped around the Nightmare instead. They constricted its arms and legs. Bound it tight.

Zeztz hurled the Nightmare.

The bound creature flew through the air. The dreamscape shifted around it. Reality became unstable.

The Nightmare crashed through a waterfall that appeared from nowhere. Torrents of white water thundered down. It emerged soaked. Still flying. Unable to stop.

It punched through an erupting volcano. Molten rock sprayed. The heat distorted the air. Lava splattered across its frame and hissed. Still, it flew.

It careened over rivers where lightning struck the water every second. Electric blue lit up the chaos. The thunder was deafening.

Through forests of crystalline trees that shattered as it passed.

Across deserts where the sand was made of broken glass.

The Nightmare crashed through each one. Unable to stop itself.

Finally, it fell.

It plummeted back toward the original location. Reality reconsolidated around that point. It slammed into the ground outside the warehouse. One final crater.

The chains dissolved into purple mist.

The Nightmare tried to rise. Its movements were sluggish. Damaged.

Zeztz stood thirty feet away. He pressed the Triggem three times.

Click. Click. Click.

He spun the Capsem.

The device whirred. The sound built in pitch.

Red energy surged down the Zeztz Gameline. It raced from the Driver to his body. It accumulated around Zeztz's right foot. Crimson light wreathed it. "Fade away."

He dashed toward the Nightmare.

The gap closed in an instant. Zeztz performed two back-to-back roundhouse kicks. His body spun. Red energy trailed behind his foot. His eyes and the Zeztz Gameline glowed red. Bright enough to cast shadows.

7

The first kick produced a red energy construct of the number 7. Solid and three-dimensional. It hung in the air where his foot had passed.

7

The second created another. Identical to the first. "Impact! Banish! Ze-Ze-Zeztz!" the Driver announced.

Zeztz performed a flying drop kick. The kick pierced completely through the Nightmare's chest. Red energy exploded from the impact point.

777

Three energy 7's appeared in the air, arranged in a row.

Zeztz landed in a three-point stance behind the Nightmare. A line of red energy connected the 7's. They rotated and repositioned to form "ZZZ."

The Gun Nightmare stood motionless for one heartbeat.

Two.

Then it disintegrated into a purple butterfly. Delicate wings caught the light from the fading red energy.

"Mission complete." With the Gun Nightmare's demise, Zeztz released his armor.

Above, the night was over, and daylight emerged. At the same time, he heard someone call his name.

"Flash!"

He turned to see Rarity jogging to him from the warehouse doors. It seemed that Rarity was freed from her ropes. There was a surprising amount of life behind those eyes.

Within arm's reach, she started fanning herself. "My dashing hero! You were simply magnificent."

Flash smiled sofly at her. "I'm glad you're safe." He reached into his jacket and pulled out a single red rose. "For you."

Rarity blushed and accepted the flower. "Aren't you a chivalrous one. Thank you."

"Chivalry's easy when the lady in question is worth saving," Flash chuckled. "That dress, by the way, is stunning. Though I'm betting you designed it yourself, didn't you?"

"Well, I-" This dress wasn't something she had personally made yet. It was still in her design notebook. In this dream of hers, she looked absolutely fabulous! Rarity's blush deepened. "You noticed?"

"Hard not to notice perfection when it's standing right in front of me. The dress is beautiful, but it's got nothing on the woman wearing it."

Rarity touched her free hand to her collarbone. 'You know what? This is my dress, so…" She suddenly became more determined. "Well, I can't let my hero go without a proper reward."

"Oh?" Flash raised an eyebrow. "What does a lady such as yourself suggest?"

"I can think of one thing."

She gripped him by the shirt collar and pulled him to her eye level. Rarity's eyes fluttered closed, her lips parting slightly. Flash leaned in, following her lead. Their faces drew closer, less than an inch apart.

But before their lips could meet, Rarity began to fade. Her form shimmered, growing translucent. Then she vanished entirely.

Flash's hand hung in the air where she had been. "Oh, come on… Again?" His shoulders sagged as the warmth drained from his expression.

"Right, this is all just a dream."

#

Back in reality, Flash awakened groggily. The hospital room came into focus. The beeping of the heart monitor. The IV line in his arm. The fluorescent lights overhead.

Misty Vail sat beside his bed, her eyes red. "Flash..."

He blinked at her. "Mom?"

"You're awake." Her voice cracked. She reached out and took his hand.

"I had a bad dream," Flash muttered. "But I helped someone."

Misty stared at him for a moment, then let out a long breath. "You scared me half to death."

Flash's brow furrowed. "What happened?"

"Your heart stopped. The doctors had trouble trying to resuscitate you."

"Oh…" Flash didn't like the thought of dying in his sleep. "Well, I'm good now, much better, in fact.

#

Outside the ward, Shining Armor and Cloud Kicker stood in the hallway. Shining held his tablet, scrolling through the list of Black Cases.

"I know these aren't random. They're all connected somehow."

Cloud glanced at the tablet. "How then?"

"I don't know yet," Shining admitted. "But there's a pattern. I can feel it." A gut feeling made him turn around.

The hallway was empty.

Cloud raised an eyebrow. "What?"

Shining stared down the corridor for a moment longer, then shook his head. "Nothing."

#

In the dream realm, the mysterious figure stood in a vast chamber. It dropped a vase. The ceramic shattered on the stone floor, the sound echoing endlessly.

"When the dream goes to sleep..." the figure whispered. "The world shall awaken to the true Nightmare."

#

Inside the room, Flash sat up slowly. His ribs ached, but the pain was duller than before. He opened his hospital gown and looked down at his chest.

The Zeztz Driver was still strapped there.

Flash stared at it. His breath caught.

Shining Armor was about to knock on the door when he heard Flash's surprised gasp. He pushed the door open slightly and peeked inside.

Flash was holding the device, turning it over in his hands.

Shining stepped inside. "What is that?"

Flash looked up, startled.

Then, the Zeztz Phone beside the bed chimed. A voice came through. "Good morning, Code Number: 7."

Flash's eyes widened. "It wasn't a dream?!"

Rarity's Household

Rarity lay in her bed, staring at the ceiling. Her face was flushed, and it didn't help that her heart was pounding.

The dream from last night was mostly a blur, but she could still remember a few key moments.

"I was dreaming about Flash!" she whispered.

She remembered his suave personality. He was so romantic after he saved her from that disgusting monster. And then... that last moment.

Her face burned hotter. She'd taken the leap of faith and grabbed Flash by the collar before pulling him close. She'd been about to kiss him. "Oh my goodness." Rarity covered her face with both hands. "I dreamt of kissing Flash Sentry!"

"What was that, Rarity?" someone, presumably her mother, seemed to ask from outside her bedroom door.

"Nothing, Mother!"

"Alright, then."

She peeked through her fingers and replayed the scene in her head. He leaned in without hesitation. They were that close.

A part of her didn't seem to mind the idea.

Rarity quickly grabbed a pillow and squealed into it, kicking her legs beneath the covers.

When she finally pulled the pillow away, she was breathing hard. "It was just a dream. Just a silly, meaningless dream."

Her heart was still racing, and she couldn't stop smiling.