Now the last few weeks of my Equestria dreamscape postings have been rather grim and dark. However that’s because the focus has been on some rather nasty situations, but for many ponies life has just gone on as it has everyday. Such is the case of Stone Mane.  
The colt dropped his valise and panniers on the floor of his bedroom and went and opened the window to let the afternoon breeze drift in through the window. The trip had been fun and a pleasant change of pace, but it was nice to be back to familiar sounds and sights of Baltimare.
 
However as he stood there and leaned on the windowsill and looked down on the street below there was one thing that his thoughts once again returned to as they had regularly done since leaving Ponyville. Applebloom.
 
Unfortunately he hadn’t seen the filly since he’d left her. Princess Luna had contacted him via his dreams a couple of day later and had informed that she and Applebloom would to have postpone their regular meet ups with him until some pressing business in the waking world had been addressed.
 
The next day he had read in the local newspaper about events in Manehattan. The colt didn’t really understand what exactly had happened but a lot of adults seemed to be very upset. Apparently some important ponies had done some very bad things.
 
The colt’s thoughts were interrupted by sound of his aunt Marigold trotting into his room. She had her cleaning apron on which was festooned with pockets for various cleaning brushes and a sundry tools. However in on of the large front pockets she had an envelope.
 
“Stone Mane dear. This arrived yesterday afternoon for you.” She gingerly pulled the envelope out with her teeth and set it on the colt’s bed. “It didn’t arrive in the regular mail. Instead a courier assigned to the court delivered it. I figured you’d want to read as soon as it arrived.”
 
“Really! Thanks Aunt Marigold!” The colt left the window and hopped onto the bed. The envelope was larger than a regular postal envelope and was made of a particularly thick, stiff, and well made paper of deep royal blue. It bore the official silver wax seal of Luna’s office. Written on it in glorious, flowing silver script was his name.
 
Grabbing his multi-blade pocket knife off his nightstand he snapped open the sheepsfoot blade and then carefully popped the seal on the envelope. Inside was single sheet of folded paper. Like the envelope the paper inside was of exceptional quality. It had a slight, almost opalescent quality to it. In deep Prussian blue ink was the same flowing script.
 
 
Greetings Stone Mane.
 
 
I hope this letter finds well at the end of your travels. I wanted to thank you in writing for taking the time during your recent journey to spend time with my pupil Applebloom. I am not certain if you understand how much your visit meant for her. It was gracious thing you did. Your visit did much to help put at ease some growing concerns and apprehensions she had.
 
I am sorry that recent events have made it necessary to cancel scheduled meetings. Undoubtedly by this time you are aware of events that have occurred in Manehattan. It is still an evolving situation and at this time I am unable to say more than that concerning it. Due to the fluid nature of this operation I will not commit to a future date for the resumption of meetings. However I strive to keep you informed as things progress. I hope you can understand that.
 
Peace be with you.
 
 
Her Highness. Princess Luna, Co-ruler of Equestria.
 

 
“It’s a letter from Princess Luna!” Exclaimed the colt. “She’s thanking me for taking the time to visit her student Applebloom while I was out of town, and she’s apologizing for having to cancel our recent dream therapy sessions!”
 
“Well that’s awfully nice of her Highness!” Said the middle aged mare. “You know I think your uncle has a picture frame up in attic that might fit that letter. Would you like me to take a look and see if I kind find it for you?”
 
“Yes please!” Said the colt.
 
From downstairs the doorbell chimed several times. Aunt Marigold left and went downstairs while Stone Mane started unpacking his luggage. A few seconds later he heard the familiar voices of his two best friends Kicker and Blue Spark downstairs asking if they could come in. Then the sounds of hooves thundering up the stairs and into his room.
 
“Stone Mane! Welcome back!” Said the Kicker. The large earth pony colt galloped and grabbed his friend in a headlock and started giving the colt a noogie.
 
“Heya Stone! So was the trip?” Blue Spark sauntered into the room behind Kicker, but then again the pegasus colt always seemed to be taking his time whenever he was walking or flying. Except when he was playing hoofball. Then both him and Kicker were a terror to behold.
 
In fact Stone Made along with Kicker and Blue Spark them made up the core of their school’s junior hoofball team. Last season they’d placed second in their district’s ratings, and just missed going to the regional finals.
 
Stone Mane extracted himself from his friends headlock and spontaneous mane styling and smiled. “It went great!”
 
“How’s your kin in Hoofington? Anything exciting happen along the way?” Kicker flopped down on the Stone Mane’s bed. After a couple of seconds yellow-orange colt noticed the letter laying on the bed.
 
“Hey what’s this?!” The colt snatched the letter up and started reading it.
 
“What it is is mine, and don’t go getting it all crumpled you jerk! That’s a letter from none other than Princess Luna! So be careful with it or I’ll give you whooping!”
 
“Uh huh.” Kicker was already reading the contents. “So the princess seems to be happy you’re helping this filly she knows? Really? You Stone Mane?”
 
“Um, yeah. Although really Applebloom has helped me way more than I’ve helped her. She’s the one who has helped me stop having so many nightmares about my parents dying.”
 
“That’s rather nice of her to do that.” Said Blue Spark as he came up and casually snatched the letter out of Kicker’s hooves before the earth pony realized it had happened. That seemed to be one of his special talent. It was why he held the school record for interceptions and fumble recoveries.
 
“Hey! I wasn’t done read that!” Kicker reached out to grab it only to find empty space as his friend smoothly pirouetted and avoided his friend’s grasp. That was another of his other talents.
 
The electric blue colt grinned “Well you are now.” The pegasus read the letter and grinned. “Wow Stone! Her Highness does seems to be mighty pleased for your help. Sooooo what’s this Applebloom like face to face?”
 
“Yeah Stone! What did ya think of her?” Kicker was grinning wickedly.
 
Stone Mane stared off at the far wall and smiled. “She’s really something. It’s a too bad I could only stay one day.”
 
“Whoa! Wait a minute. You wished you could’ve spent more time with her? A filly? You, the colt who a few of months ago gotten in trouble for throwing snails at Lily Dancer? What’s up?” Kicker looked stunned.
 
Blue Spark grinned at his friend. “I will agree with Kicker about this Stone Mane. I’ve never heard you describe fillies as being anything but icky.
 
Stone Mane pondered his friend’s last statement. Finally he responded.
 
“I may have thought that about other fillies. But not her Blue. Not her.”
 
To be continued.