So she begins her training.

Luna’s proposal to teach Applebloom link was on the mind of all the members of the Apple family over next several days in my Equestria dreamscape.

    Finally one evening after they had finished dinner and Applebloom began clearing the dishes from the table, AJ stopped her.

    “Sugar cube can I have a moment of yer time? There’s something I’d like to talk with ya about.” Asked her big sister.

    “Sure sis!” Said the little butter cream yellow filly. “Whatcha want to talk about?” Actually Applebloom had a pretty good idea but she’d let her sis bring it up.

    AJ worried the brim of her hat with her front hoofs as it rested on the dining room table for several seconds. “Well sugar cube, ya see Granny, Big Mac and I have been giving the princess’s offer a lot of thinking, and, well, um, what I’m getting at is we’re okay with it if ya want to go ahead with it.”

    Applebloom threw her front hoofs around AJ neck and gave a big hug. “Yes I want to! Oh thank ya all for letting me do this!”

    “Well just as long as ya realize that this is one mighty big responsibility yer taking on and ya just can’t walk away from it once ya start doing it.” AJ said. She detached herself from her little sisters hug stared into her eyes. “Yer most likely going to have swear some kind of oath and need ya to understand that this ain’t something to be taken lightly. Ya get that right?”

    “ Ya also understand that Luna is putting her reputation on the line by taking you under her wing to do this. How ya all conduct yerself will not only reflect on ya as a pony, but also on how good the princess is at picking ponies for a job. If ya let her down some ponies might take that as a sign that she ain’t no good at judging ponies for their character. Ya all getting this Sugar Cube? ” 

    Applebloom nodded her head. “Yes sis I do. This is a really important thing for not only ah me but for the princesses to. I won’t let them a down!” So whose a going to write the a letter to her?” 

    AJ smiled at her little sister. “I’ll write one tonight and have Spike send it first thing tomorrow. Now ya all need to get these dishes done!”

    Little Bloom then happily went about finishing her evening chores.

    Luna almost as excited about the prospect of beginning Applebloom’s training as the little filly was she had whole bunch of exciting lessons planned for Applebloom. 

    The lessons took place twice a week; one took place after Applebloom’s astronomy lessons that continued at Sweet Apple Acres. The other happened entirely in the little filly’s dream fabric. Luna began expanding on Applebloom’s knowledge and techniques for manipulating her own dream fabric. Luna stressed the importance of the little filly of not only being able to control environment of the dreamscape around her, but her own body as well. 

    Soon Luna had the little filly performing the most amazing acts or acrobatics and dexterity in Applebloom’s dreams. Luna also began educating the little filly in the various ways that dangers can manifest themself in the dream realm. Some dangers came from within the mind of the pony that had entered the realm. Other pitfalls could occur when a pony entered another ponies dream fabric and became trapped in there. Finally the dream realm by its very nature was a place filled with strange, wondrous, and potential very dangerous beings and locations.  

    “Some these dangers can be overcome by using ones cunning and wits.” Explained the Defender of Dreams. “Other obstacles can be swayed with love, compassion and understanding, but there are barriers and opponents that dwell in the dream realm that could only dealt with by courage, force of will and combat. But she cautioned against its use.”

    “Let yourself not be too quick to rely on violence as your solution to an obstacle or opponent. There is a time and a place for it, but much of what you need to learn is when it is appropriate response to a situation. Often things one will encounter in the dream realm will only be exacerbated by use of force. In many cases it is due to acts of violence in the physical realm that monsters and phantoms are created in the realm of dreams.  They are often things that we’ve brought to this realm.”

    Finally one evening at the end of a lesson Luna presented the filly with a special gift. “Little Bloom as you’ve already discovered in your lucid dream studies iconic images in the dream realm can be a powerful tool. Therefore I wish to give you this one for you keep and use.”

    Luna closed her eyes and her horn flared. A black sphere enveloped the little filly, when it vanished Applebloom was wearing a suit of shimmering bluish-silver plate armor similar to what the Royal Guard wear. 

    “This armor is designed to give you confidence in the face of adversity and its strength comes from your conviction, wisdom, commitment and your compassion to other ponies.  As long as you stay true to these principles it will always be there for you.” Applebloom just looked at the armor and smiled. 

    “Oh I wish Scootaloo could see this! This is so cool!”

To be continued.