Original Description:
The screen door creaked open as Applejack stepped on the front porch of Sweet Apple Acres in my Equestria dreamscape. It was after midnight and the farmpony had woken up after dozing off on the sofa in the living room only to find that neither Applebloom or Stone Mane had come in after their astronomy lesson with Princess Luna. >>2839018s
It was a beautiful early summer night, not too cold or too warm. The nighttime sky was crystal clear and the stars sparkled like diamonds embedded in blue-black velvet. AJ hoofsteps were muffled as she stepped across the grass. Ahead of her in the dim light was the recognizable silhouette of Princess Luna. Her dark Prussian Blue blue body clearly visible on the light colored picnic blanket that she was lying on. She was still with her head bowed and eyes closed. At the very tip of her horn there was tiny sphere of dim sapphire light.
Not sure what was going on the mare cautiously came around until she was standing in front of the princess. It was then that AJ spied her little sister and Stone Mane asleep and tucked under the alicorn’s left wing, for several seconds the mare stood there looking at the 3 ponies. Finally she coughed quietly and then addressed the princess.
“Um. Yer Highness. Is everything alright? It’s after midnight and the foals hadn’t come in. So I figgered I’d check in on them all…are ya even awake yerself?”
Slowly the alicorn raised her head and opened her eyes. In place of the usual malachite green there was 2 glowing orbs of pale, cool, white light. Then AJ heard Luna’s voice softly in her own mind.
“Beautiful night fair Applejack. My students fell into slumber during my tutoring. So I’ve decided to take this opportunity to include a lesson in the Dream Realm for them. Fear not. They’re safe under my watchful eye.”
Luna paused for moment. “Applejack, your little sister has told of you her adventures in the Dream Realm, and I have kept you abreast of her progress there. Perhaps would you like to see with own dream eyes what one of these lessons is like?”
AJ’s eyes went wide. “Um, well, uh, Yeah I guess I would. But don’t wanna interrupt thar lesson. If ya know what I mean?”
A smile slowly crept across Luna’s face. “Tis not a problem.” She whispered. “Come lie down alongside me. We were just preparing to embark on a little trip.”
“Well uh sure. Yer Highness! Uh so I just need me ta lie here with ya?”
Luna slowly raised her right wing. “Yes. Just lie down next to me and relax your mind.”
AJ swallowed and gingerly stepped onto the blanket. “Okay. If ya say so.”
As she stepped forward the air suddenly rippled as if she was stepping through some invisible barrier. Suddenly the earth pony yawned as if the days chores and labors were suddenly catching up with her. Wearily she laid down to the princess.
“Ooo whee! I didn’t realize how tired I was. I reckon it’s becuz it’s pass my bedtime.” As she laid down Luna gently lowered her wing and pulled the mare close to her. She leaned over nuzzled the AJ on her freckles. Then she whispered to her.
“Worry not about that fair Applejack. Sleep. Let the labors of the days and the worries of tomorrow fall away and settle into beautiful sleep now.”
The Element of Honesty’s eyes closed and she felt herself gently descending into sleep. Suddenly she found herself once again standing on the front porch of the family farmhouse, but it was morning and Luna was there in front of her. AJ looked around confused.
“Uh. Yer Highness, didn’t ya say ya were gonna take me some dream journey with ya?”
Luna chuckled. “Oh I will. I simply had to wait for you to fall asleep, but now you have.”
“Wut! How? Ya mean?!” AJ looked down at her hooves. “Ya mean this here is a dream?”
Luna giggled some more. “Yes fair Applejack this is a dream. Now my students are already waiting for us, so let us go to them so they have to wait no longer.”
Suddenly the world around AJ seemed to twist and ripple. Next thing she knew she was amongst what looked like the nighttime skies filled with stars and shimmering veils of brilliant colors. Then she heard her little sister.
“Ya did it sis! Ya did it!” Diving from about came Applebloom with Stone Mane in tow. The 2 foals came to a halt and floated in front of her. “This is going ta be blast! Yer gonna love this!”
“Applebloom! How are ya flying around like RD? Same fer ya ta Stone Mane?”
Luna slowly floated over to the mare. “Well technically so are you.”
For the first time AJ looked down at her hooves. Beneath her was what appeared to be an endless sea of stars and shimmering bands of colors. The mare’s eyes went wide and her legs started flailing.
“Ah! Oh Horseapples!” Applebloom started laughing.
“Oh sis! Dontcha worry about falling! Ya can’t! Trust me yer safe with us!”
“I know it feels strange at first.” Stone Mane chimed in. “But you’ll get the hang of it.”
“Well where in Equestria are we!” AJ’s head was swiveling around like crazy.
“This fair Applejack is the Dream Realm.” The Defender of the Night said. “This is part of the realm is where all the individual dream fabrics of ponies reside.” She pointed over at what looked like a brilliant nearby star. “That’s your dream fabric Applejack. That is where you spend your nights in slumber.”
AJ stared at it for several seconds. “That’s part of me?” She said softly. “Ya mean that’s where all the dreams I’ve ever had are?” She looked back at Luna with a sudden look of concern. “Um is it gonna be all alright if I’m gone from it fer awhile. I mean it’s not gonna drift off or disappear on me is it?”
Luna shook her head. “Fear not. It’ll be there when you return. After all it doesn’t go away when you wake up.”
“Ya got a point yer Highness! So um what were ya 3 planning ta do tonight?”
“Yeah what were we gonna ta do tonight?” Asked Applebloom. “This wasn’t a planned lesson.”
Luna smiled at her student. “Well. I thought tonight we would introduce Stone Mane, and now your sister, to a friend you have made here recently.”
“Ya mean were gonna take them to him!” Squealed the filly in delight. “Ya mean–”
Luna waved a front hoof and the filly went silent. “Now, now Little Bloom. Lets not spoil the surprise for them.”
Applebloom started doing loops of excitement over and over. “Yes! Well! What are we a waiting fer! Lets git going!”
It took a minute or so to teach AJ the basics of movement in this realm, but once that was accomplished Luna addressed the mare.
“Now Applejack. Let me showing you what I’m training your sister for. Let me show you why it’s so important for everypony. Let me show you her world.”
Then she lead them slowly off on their journey.
To be continued.