"Who would have thought a Bogeymare, a household pest, would form one of the first great threats to the fledgeling nation of Equestria..."
— Starswirl the Bearded (first of his line), on Dread.
Tropes
- Badass Boast: Dread provides a villainous example as he engaged a taskforce — among which included Commander Hurricane, Clover the Clever, Private Pansy, and Starswirl the Bearded — sent by the Equestrian Crown to kill him.Dread: I'm every nightmare you've ever had! I'm your worst dream come true! I'm everything you ever were afraid of! Tremble, for I am Fear Incarnate! I. AM. DREAD!
- Bittersweet Ending: Dread's hold over the town of Still Waters finally comes to an end thanks to the bravery of Commander Hurricane and Flash Lightning, allowing Starswirl the Bearded to seal Dread away beneath the ocean floor off Equestria's coast. However, many foals died gruesomely at the hands of Dread, and it's noted it took many years for Still Waters' residents — especially the parents of the dead foals — to overcome the trauma they experienced.
- Meaningful Name: Dread gave himself that name because he was a mutant Dreadmare born with intelligence, strength, and cunning far greater than even fellow Dreadmares, and thus felt he was worthy enough to have his own name. He would prove how appropriate his new name was by terrorizing the town of Still Waters and preying on the local foals out of sadism, traumatizing the people for generations. Starswirl the Bearded would also classify Dread as a "Dreadmare Emperor" after noticing even other Dreadmares were under Dread's thrall.Starswirl the Bearded: My great ancestor did not name the creature Dread. It was not like naming a hurricane, the creature gave itself that name. Dread was no ordinary Dreadmare, he was a freak of nature. Smarter, cleverer, and deadlier than any before or sinse. Worse yet, he wasn't an animal killing to protect territory or to feed. He was a serial-killer who'd chosen his stalking grounds.
