In need of some help

Applebloom stood on the front porch of Sweet Apple Acres in my Equestria dreamscape. It was the dream version of her home and as usual she was waiting for Princess Luna to arrive for her regularly scheduled lesson.

    The little filly closed her eyes and visualized the seeker pendant that she’d created months ago as part of her dream adventure gear. Opening her eyes she looked down and found it hanging around her neck; with her left front hoof she lifted the pendant and stared intently at. The construct appeared to have been assembled from a small, flat tin can and a hand from a broken clock that now spun on a nail that was driven into the bottom of the can. Painted on the inside bottom of the can in Applebloom’s somewhat scraggly script were the words clubhouse, home, Ponyville, Luna. As the little filly watched the clock hand slowly rotated towards Luna’s name, she smiled and let the pendant once again swing free around her neck.

    It was another beautiful night in the little filly’s dream fabric. A glorious crescent moon hung in a rich indigo blue sky encrusted with shimmering stars. Applebloom’s default dream fabric was springtime so it was neither nor too cold or too warm and the night air was filled with the smell of apple blossoms. I gentle breeze caused the leaves on the trees to gently sway to and fro.

    Applebloom spotted Luna against the nighttime sky, her sleek silhouette framed by the light of her moon. Her long, flowing mane and tail sparkled even in the evening light. Silently she cupped her wings and landed in front her pupil, her student looked up her and smiled.

    “Good evening yer Highness!” Said the little butter cream filly as she bowed to the princess. “I’m a ready fer my evening’s lesson.”

    Applebloom wasn’t certain but she thought she detected apprehension in Luna’s eyes. The Princess of Moon smiled and nodded her head.

    “Good evening Little Bloom as always it is pleasure to see you.”

    The little filly could definitely detect some concern in the princess’s voice. Applebloom cocked her head to one side causing her large red bow to flop.

    “Um, ah Luna. Is everything okay? Are ya feeling well? Is something a bothering ya? I may just be a little filly but is there something you’d like ta talk about?” Failure

    Luna looked somewhat startled by Applebloom’s offer, but then she relaxed and sat down alongside the little filly.

    “Wisdom from the mouths of foals.” Declared the Princess of the Night. The Co-ruler of Equestria stared up at the evening sky for a moment before speaking.

    “Applebloom, I am currently presented with a most bothersome and tricky problem. There is young colt who is being tormented by some truly horrible nightmares, and yet I find myself unable to assist him.”

    “Why’s that?”

    The corners of Luna’s mouth turned down and she got a rather bitter look in her eyes. ”His late grandfather was apparently very good at telling ghost stories, especially stories involving Nightmare Moon, so any time I attempt to intervene and help I only exacerbate the situation. Instead of seeing me as a protective guardian he sees me as Nightmare Moon coming to torment him further. Every attempt I’ve made to soothe him has only served to increase his anguish!”

    Applebloom stared up at moon. “Have ya tried talking with his parents? Tried ta see if they can speak with their son and get him ta understand ya trying ta help?”

    Luna slowly shook her head. “That’s why he’s having the nightmares in first place. The poor colt lost both his parents in the recent conflict with the dragons and now his sleep is filled with horrifying images of them.”

    Applebloom suddenly felt her heart skip a beat. “Um, they both died in the war?”

    Luna nodded her head. “Yes, his father and his mother were both assigned to Fort Shield where the pivotal engagement of the war took place. His father was in field artillery and his mother was a doctor.” Luna closed her eyes. “Usually the Army tries to not assign two family members to the same area during a conflict. However this, this time there was a mistake and they were both deployed to same location.”

    Luna slowly opened her jade eyes and looked at Applebloom. “His father died in Stone Spine’s initial assault when the outer wall magazine detonated, and his mother perished soon after as she attempted to bring wounded ponies into the inner walls.”

    “In less than five minutes they both died for the Kingdom. Celestia and I have arranged for a trust to be set up to assure the colt will be taken care of, but for their sacrifice to the kingdom this is a bitter reward for the poor colt.”

    Applebloom swallowed. “So princess, um is there anything I could do ta help?”

    Luna closed her eyes for several seconds; she then looked at her pupil. “Yes, yes perhaps there is something you could do but I’m loath to ask it of you!”

    “Luna gently nuzzled the little filly. “Little Bloom, your growth in the dream realm has progressed at an amazing pace. You’ve exceeded my expectation in every way, and if it was not due to the unusual circumstances I would never make this request of you.”

    “Applebloom, would you be willing to enter his dream fabric and help him where I cannot? I am asking you. Not ordering you to do this. Would you be willing to assist this poor colt? You have shown amazing adaptability and maturity in the dream realm and perhaps you can succeed where I have failed. What do you say Applebloom?”

    Applebloom stared at the weathered wooden boards on the front porch. The little filly could understand Luna’s dilemma but that did not diminish the fact that she suddenly felt like she had a lump of lead in her stomach. Feelings that she’d forgotten she had were once again bubbling to the surface.

    “Princess. I’ll help ya but I’ve got a question and a favor ta ask from ya.” Applebloom took a moment to organize her thoughts.

    “In all of yer trips through my dream fabric ta remove those spell seeds did ya ever come across any dreams of mine from when my parents were...were still with us? I can barely remember them nowadays, and most of my dreams I can remember about them deal with their funeral. I guess what I’m getting at is I want ta know if ya can help me see them again even if it just for one last time?”

    The little filly raised her head and stared into the princess’s jade green eyes. Luna closed her eyes and nodded her head.

    “It is fair question and request Little Bloom. Yes, I have encountered several dreams from your early years and some do include your parents, although they are somewhat vague and murky in spots.”

    Luna opened her eyes. “But if you so desired I can guide you to them. However I recommend that we forego that until you’ve completed the mission I’ve asked of you.”

    Applebloom nodded her head. “Okay then I’ll do it. Take me ta this colt’s dream fabric and I’ll see what can do fer him.”

To be continued.

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