//------------------------------// // A Meeting With Princess Twilight // Story: Rise of the Apple Princess // by Astral Phoenix //------------------------------// Apple Bloom remained sitting in the middle of the bathroom floor. She stared aimlessly at the wall as though she was in some kind of trance. Trying to get her mind back on track, the filly decided to take another look in the mirror, just to be sure she wasn’t just seeing things. As she climbed up onto the stool, steadying herself up onto the sink and slowly lifting her head up to face the mirror, she peered at her reflection once more. She again noticed the long unicorn horn, sticking out of her forehead. “This can’t be real...” she thought. She lifted up her right hoof and slowly brought it towards her forehead. Carefully, she gave the tip of the horn a light tap. It felt hard and pointy against her hoof. Rubbing it lightly, she noticed it felt kind of rough and bumpy; an unusual sensation running through her body as if she was being tickled. “It is real.” She looked down at her side, an overly large wing sticking out. She lifted it up, much to her surprise; she gave it a little shake, stretching it up and down at her will. She gawked in disbelief. She felt another odd sensation run through her as she moved the wing, shivers running from her head down to her hooves. It felt weird, yet somehow natural. It was as if she knew how to work it, despite never having had wings before. She brought the wing around herself to get a closer look. It appeared fairly large, but not as big as the Princesses’ wings; these wings seemed to be just right for her small body. As Apple Bloom studied her wing carefully, she quietly gasped as she found to her amazement that the back of the wing had a cherry red streak through the feather tips, strongly matching the colour of her mane and tail. Apple Bloom placed her hoof over the wing and started gently stroking it. It felt amazingly soft to the touch. “This is unbelievable,” Apple Bloom finally spoke, “I can’t believe this is actually happening.” She lifted both her wings up into the air, glancing back into the mirror. Her reflection gazed back at her, looking just as bewildered as she was. She stood staring for quite awhile until finally she stepped back down from the stool and stood back in the middle of the bathroom floor. She looked at both of her exposed wings as they remained stretched out from her sides. Apple Bloom grunted as she struggled to make them stay folded, eventually managing to force them closed again. Apple Bloom gasped as she noticed the crimson red streak on the feather tips again, this time they appeared a little brighter as they were folded up. Apple Bloom sat back down on the floor to compose herself and collect her thoughts. Somehow, she had become an Alicorn. How had this happened? More importantly, how was she going to explain all this to everypony? “How are they gonna take it?” she asked herself. “Would they even accept it?” She started pacing around the bathroom worryingly, trying to figure out the best possible thing to do in this situation. “Perhaps I should tell Applejack. After all, we are sisters, and I still think she’ll know what ta’ do about this,” Apple Bloom considered. “But then… what if… she doesn’t take it very well…” She started trotting on the spot in panic. “What if, since I’m no longer an earth pony — what if she has me sent away from Ponyville?” She laid on the floor as she held her head. “What if the Crusaders get jealous of me now that I’m a princess!?” Apple Bloom sat back up. “Of course, I’m not entirely sure if I even am a princess,” she babbled, “Right now I’m only an Alicorn. But all Alicorns are considered princesses, so does that mean I’m a princess too?” Apple Bloom stood up on all fours and started marching around. “Of course, if I’m a princess now, does that mean I’ve got royal responsibilities? How would that work with my crusading? Would I even still be a Crusader? What if -” Suddenly there was a loud knock at the door. Apple Bloom stopped her babbling almost immediately. “Apple Bloom!” Applejack yelled through the bathroom door, “Hurry it up in there, will ya’? Y'all gonna be late fer’ school!” A streak of panic and uncertainty ran through Apple Bloom’s entire body. She needed to think of something,  fast! “Maybe I should just get it over with and show Applejack…oooh, but I just don’t know how she’ll take it. If only there was somepony that went through this, then maybe….” An idea had finally sprung in Apple Bloom’s head, “TWILIGHT! If anypony knows how to solve this, it’s her,” Apple Bloom thought. “APPLE BLOOM!” Applejack bellowed from outside. “I’ll.. Uh… be right out sis. Just finishing up in here,” Apple Bloom responded. Now that Apple Bloom knew who to turn to, her next challenge was to get past Applejack without being seen. She scanned around the bathroom hoping to find something she could use to cover herself up. Noticing a pile of laundry, she immediately started rummaging through it. Three dirty bows, a felt lining of Big Mac’s collar, Applejack’s festive hat… No. No! No! She couldn’t find anything suitable that would help her cover herself. She spotted a towel on the floor and hastily draped it over her body, only to find that it didn’t cover her entirely, her horn still completely showing through. “Hmmm, eenope.” She groaned as she tossed the towel back onto the floor. She looked around again feverishly. Spotting a large picnic blanket hanging up on a line, she beamed. “That’ll work,” she said triumphantly. Outside the bathroom, Applejack kept pounding on the door, looking rather aggravated as she waited impatiently for her sister to get out. “Apple Bloom, y’all get outta there this instant!” Applejack ordered. “Ya' have been in there for the last fifteen minutes. Ya' gonna be late fer’ school and we need ta’ get ready ta’ work, there’s a lot ta’ do.” Applejack then stood up on her hind legs, squeezing her legs tightly together. “Like cleanin’ out the outhouse,” she added. “Knew I should have had Big Mac clean it out the other day.” Applejack once again pounded against the door, this time with a hint of urgency. “Apple Bloom, open up!” she demanded fiercely. Suddenly the door burst open, narrowly missing hitting Applejack squarely in her muzzle. Apple Bloom, now donning a picnic blanket over her like a cloak, whooshed right past Applejack. “Sorry sis,” Apple Bloom called out as she hurried on down the stairs, “I’m headin over ta’ see Princess Twilight on urgent business.” “What in the…” Applejack mumbled, “Apple Bloom, ya can’t just rush out like tha… wait, Twilight?” Applejack trotted towards the stairs. “Ya’ can’t go over ta’ Twilight’s when ya’ have school,” she called out, “And what do ya’ need ta’ see her fer’ now anyway?” The loud bang of the door took the words from her tongue. “Apple Bloom,” Applejack cried out. “Y’all get back here or I’ll drag yer back myse— oooh.” Before she could make it halfway down the stairs, she abruptly stood back up with her legs squirming tightly together. She looked back up the stairs, her upper lip pinching over her lower lip, as she just remembered her own urgent business. “Ooohhh, it’s just gonna have ta’ wait. I can’t let Apple Bloom run out like that, especially on a school day,” she said, rushing down the stairs. But as she made it to the bottom of the stairs she suddenly flinched as she felt a slight gurgling sensation run through her belly. She stood back up on her hinds again, crossing her legs over each other and frantically squirming about. “Or maybe not.” She winced, unable to hold it she rushed back up the stairs, shutting the bathroom door behind her with a loud bang. Apple Bloom was now running down a path leading straight towards Twilight’s castle. The picnic blanket fluttered behind her, a piece of string straining on her neck to hold the hood of her makeshift cloak over her horn. As she ran, the wind kept brushing the back of the blanket up, nearly exposing her wings. Apple Bloom was forced to try and pull the blanket back over herself to keep it from getting any higher, over and over again. “At least it’s better than a towel,” Apple Bloom thought out loud. As she continued making her way to the castle, a couple of ponies came trotting up towards her. Seeing them coming, Apple Bloom held her hood over her face and started to trot at a much slower pace to prevent the wind from getting her cloak any higher. “Morning,” said a cheerful green mare as she passed Apple Bloom, giving her a friendly wave. “Good day,” greeted a brown stallion, bobbing his head in response as he walked by. Apple Bloom gave them friendly nod in reply. “Mornin,” she added. Without warning, Apple Bloom’s right wing suddenly sprung out from underneath the blanket, completely exposed. Nopony had noticed yet so Apple Bloom attempted to quickly tuck it back. The ponies stopped, noticing Apple Bloom’s odd frantic behavior. She looked up at the two and let out a slight hefty chuckle. Before she could say anything the hood of her cloak started to slip off, revealing a small part of her horn. She quickly scrambled up with her hoof to pull it back over her head. Just then her right wing once again sprung out from her side. She gave the two ponies a distressed look. “Gotta go,” she said. She rushed down the path, leaving the two ponies rather puzzled at what had just happened. Apple Bloom was nearing the castle, only to once again spot three other ponies making their way towards her. Apple Bloom jumped into a nearby bush and waited until the ponies passed by. As soon as the coast was clear, Apple Bloom peered out of the bush, her hood now completely off her head. Twilight’s castle was shimmering just down the road. “Almost there,” she panted. “If anypony can help figure this out, it's Twilight.” Before Apple Bloom continued on, she looked down at the bush she was sitting in. A strange sensation suddenly overcame her, sort of like déjà vu. “Why does it feel like I’ve been here before?” she asked herself. She shook her head. There was no time to dwell on that right now. She put her hood back over her head and jumped out of the bush as she hurried on towards the castle. Unbeknownst to her, however, the string that was supporting her hood had been caught on a twig of the bush. Apple Bloom scurried up the steps towards the castle doors. A sense of relief rushed over her as she finally arrived at the castle. She pounded heavily on the door, waiting. As she waited she started to get rather antsy,  prancing frantically on the spot. With each passing minute, her movements grew more frenetic, pounding on the door again and again. “Come on, come on, come on,” Apple Bloom whimpered as she started to pace back and forth impatiently. She leaned her ear against the door, hoping to hear someone coming. It was faint, but she could make out the familiar sound of hoof steps on the other side of the door. She then heard a sound of the latch going off and the door slowly opening, bringing a much-relieving smile to the filly’s face. As soon as the door was ajar, out stepped the Princess of Friendship herself, Twilight. She had a rather perplexed look on her face. “Apple Bloom?” she asked, “Is that you?” “Twilight, I’m so glad ta’ see ya’. I need ta talk ta’-” “What in Equestria are you doing here?” Twilight interrupted, “And why are you wearing… wait a minute, aren’t you supposed to be in school right now?” “Yes, but-” “Does Applejack know you’re here?” “Yeah, she does, but ya’ see-” “Did she say you could come here?” “Well, no, but that’s not important-” Twilight placed a hoof over Apple Bloom’s mouth. “This is important, Apple Bloom. You can’t just skip school for any reason.” Twilight removed her hoof from Apple Bloom’s mouth as she continued, “Education is very important for a young filly, such as yourself, and if Applejack didn’t give you any reason to be here-” “But it is important,” Apple Bloom forcefully interrupted. “This is so majorly important that it can’t wait. And yer the only one that can help.” Twilight looked skeptical, but she could tell by Apple Bloom’s expression that there was definitely something stressing the poor filly. “Okay, Apple Bloom. What’s so important that it has you skipping classes?” Twilight asked sternly. Apple Bloom gulped as she struggled to get her words together, “Well, ya’ see… it started this mornin’ when I woke…” Just as Apple Bloom was about to explain, her wings suddenly sprung up, sending her blanket up into the air. Her new appendages were now fully exposed, but only for a brief moment, as she hastily pulled the blanket back over her. She finally noticed that the string that was round her neck was gone, realizing what must have happened. “How could I have not noticed the string was missing the whole time I’ve been standing here?!” Despite the string missing, the hood somehow still remained as it was all the time she was waiting. She looked awkwardly up at Twilight. Twilight stood frozen, mouth hanging wide and pupils shrunk to pinpricks. “Twilight?” Apple Bloom said with a hint of concern in her voice. She waved a hoof in front of Twilight’s face, but Twilight didn’t so much as blink. She remained as unmoving as a rock-solid statue. Apple Bloom gave a heavy sigh as she pushed the princess back inside the castle and closed the door behind her. Having managed to shove the solid shock-frozen Twilight back into the castle library, Apple Bloom collapsed on the floor, panting for breath. “It, is, going to be one of those days,” she huffed. She stood back up on her hooves and glanced at Twilight. She tapped her on the shoulder, but the purple Alicorn still remained frozen in place. “Twilight?” she said. She stood in front of her, waving her hooves frantically before her face, but again Twilight didn’t even twitch. Apple Bloom started to grow agitated. Then she got an idea. She made her way to one of the bookshelves, carefully scanning the row of books. She glared at one and with a slight devilish smirk on her face, she reached out to take a book from the bottom row. She turned to face Twilight, still staying completely still. Placing her hoof on the book, she dragged it slowly out. With a slight nudge it toppled over onto the floor with a quiet thud. “Ah!” Twilight jumped. She turned to see the book on the floor and frantically hurried over, scooping it up and cradling it as if it was a baby.“It's okay, it’s okay. Mama’s got ya,” she cooed. Apple Bloom stood there, looking perplexed as Twilight mothered the book. “Gee, I knew Twilight liked books, but this is just plain creepy.” Twilight soon noticed Apple Bloom’s presence as well as her perplexing glare. Realising what she was doing, she blushed in embarrassment, placing the book neatly back in the row. “Sooo, anyway…” Apple Bloom began, deciding to move on from the subject, “I’m sorry I did that Twilight, but I had ta’ do somethin’ ta’ snap yer out of it.” Twilight took a huge breath before she responded, “It's okay. It had to be done.” Remembering what she saw, Twilight started to look nervous. “Did I really see what I thought I saw?” Apple Bloom begrudgingly nodded. Twilight stared in disbelief, quickly composing herself by performing her breathing technique. For some reason Apple Bloom felt as though she had done it herself at some point, but when? “Okay, Apple Bloom, could you remove your “cloak” for me so I can have a proper look?” Twilight asked. Apple Bloom grazed the floor with her hoof. “Please,” Twilight said, “I won’t be able to help unless I get an appropriate look at you.” Apple Bloom sighed. This was the reason for her being here in the first place, after all. So, with a quick tug on the blanket, Apple Bloom dropped it down on the floor in a heap. Her horn stuck out from her forehead and both her wings rested at her sides, all completely exposed. Twilight stared in absolute awe. A part of her thought she was dreaming but deep down she knew that she wasn’t. “I can’t believe what I’m seeing,” she thought. “No wonder Apple Bloom didn’t go to school. How could she, looking like this?” Twilight then noticed the uncomfortable expression Apple Bloom sported, looking at her anxiously, waiting for her to say something. “This… is… amazing,” Twilight finally said. Apple Bloom finally breathed a sigh of relief. “I’m so sorry about all this, Twi. But when I found myself like this, I didn’t know what ta’ do…” Apple Bloom started to feel a little choked up, all of her worries and concerns finally coming out as tears, welling up in her eyes. “It’s alright, Apple Bloom,” Twilight spoke reassuringly. “I’m glad you came to me with this. If I was in your position, I likely would have done the same thing.” Apple Bloom felt more relieved after hearing Twilight say that. “Now let’s see if we can figure this out. Do you mind if I examine you?” Apple Bloom gave an approving nod. Twilight started walking around the filly, carefully looking her over as she scanned the wings and horn carefully. She sat down in front of her and gently held her head by the chin, looking closely at the horn. “Do you mind if I touch it?” she asked. “Not at all,” Apple Bloom answered. Twilight gently rubbed the horn. To her surprise it was exactly as she thought it was. An actual genuine unicorn horn, completely attached to the little filly’s forehead as though it had been there her whole life. “No doubt about it, it both looks and feels real alright. Have you tried doing any magic with it?” Apple Bloom gave her a disapproving shook. “Hmm, might need to try that later, right now let’s continue the examination. Can you unfurl your wings?” Apple Bloom unfurled both her wings, revealing their unbelievable size and colors. Twilight was at a loss for words, taken completely aback by the unbelievable sight. The sun that was gleaming through the windows made Apple Bloom’s wings look much more majestic than anything Twilight has ever seen before. “My gosh, Apple Bloom,” Twilight gushed, “They're beautiful.” Apple Bloom looked over her right wing. “Really?” she asked. “Absolutely, they look so amazing and majestic…” Twilight gave her head a shake as she realized she was getting off track. “But there’s no time to dwell on that right now. Let’s continue, shall we?” Twilight held back a giggle as a thought crossed her mind, “I almost went full on Rarity mode just then.” Twilight leaned in closely, studying the wing. Cautiously, she held the side of it under her hoof, taking in the cherry red color streaks on the tips. It reminded her of Cadance’s wings.“I wonder why that is,” Twilight thought, “My wings don’t have any other colors, nor do Celestia and Luna’s as far as I know. I should take a note of this for later, this could be interesting to do some research on.”   Continuing with her examination, Twilight lifted up the wing, looking closely at Apple Bloom’s side. She could tell the wing was indeed bound to her side as though it has always been there, just like her horn. Twilight gently started to rub Apple Bloom’s side. “Does it hurt in any way, Apple Bloom?” she asked. Apple Bloom shook her head. “Nope, but it does feel strange. It’s like somethin’ is stuck on me and won’t come off, ya’ know like, in a kinda irritating way.” “Well, that’s understandable, given you were used to being an earth pony your whole life. Did you notice them when you first woke up?” “Not really, well not at first I reckon. I suppose I never noticed it when I first woke up as I still felt kinda sleepy.” Twilight took another look at Apple Bloom’s side, still at a loss on how a filly could suddenly become an Alicorn overnight. Twilight then examined Apple Bloom’s other wing vigilantly. As far as she could tell, it was also fully attached. Having carefully looked her over, it was clear both the horn and wings were no doubt part of Apple Bloom. Thousands of theories and questions were running through Twilight’s mind. She wasn’t sure what to do. Noticing Apple Bloom’s anticipative look on her face, she knew she had to tell her something. “Well, as far I as my conclusion goes now, Apple Bloom, both the horn and wings are beyond any doubt genuine and are now part of you. How this came to be, however, requires much more research,” Twilight explained. Apple Bloom sat down and stared at the floor. “Do ya’ think this might be permanent?” “I can’t really say for sure, Apple Bloom. Unless there was powerful magic involved, it could be. But until I can find something that may have lead to any such magic, then chances are this may very well be temporary.” Not exactly the answer Apple Bloom hoped for, but at least it gave her some reassurance. “Okay,” Twilight continued, “Before we go any further I need to know a few things. Firstly, did you do any potion making last night?” Apple Bloom shook her head. “The last potion making I did was with y'all last week.” Twilight did recall helping Apple Bloom with a horseshoe-cleaning potion during the last Twilight Time. “Are you sure you don’t have any recollection of other magical mishaps that may have caused this?” Twilight asked. Apple Bloom once again shook her head dejectedly. “Nah ah, I just went ta’ bed like normal and woke up like this.” Apple Bloom raised her hooves in the air to emphasize her point, as she did so her wings unwillingly flared up along with her arms. “Hmm, this is so strange. I guess we’re gonna be here for awhile,” said Twilight. “Oh, I forgot to ask. Does Applejack happen to know about this?” Apple Bloom winced as a look of guilt crossed her face. “Uhhh, no. I… didn’t tell her. When I found myself like this, I got scared.” Apple Bloom began to choke on her words as tears started running down her eyes again. “I wasn’t sure what ta’ do. I didn’t know who I should tell. I wasn’t sure how Applejack would have taken it. I just panicked and rushed over here, ‘cause I figured if anypony could help me, it’s you. I know I probably should have told Applejack but I had all these thoughts running in my head and… I… just…didn’t know…” Apple Bloom just held her face in her hooves as she finally let out all of her pent up anxiety. Tears streamed heavily down her cheeks. A small puddle began forming on the castle floor. Twilight walked over to her, wrapping the little filly in a warm consoling hug. She started to gently rub her back to help ease her stress. “Shhh,” Twilight said caringly, “It’s alright, sweetie, I understand. You got scared and weren’t sure what to do. I’m sure that Applejack would understand if you told her right away. She will always love you, even as an Alicorn.” Apple Bloom looked up at Twilight’s face, tears pouring out her eyes. She rubbed her right eye to dry away some of the tears but they kept on going. “I know,” Apple Bloom sniffed, “I guess I just got carried away with my thoughts. But I still don’t want her ta’ know just yet. This is still a delicate matter and if it turns out this is permanent, I want ta’ tell her when I’m ready ta’.” Twilight gave an understanding nod. “Of course and don’t worry, I’ll help you every way I can, I promise.” Apple Bloom leaped up, giving Twilight a tight loving hug around the neck. Twilight happily returned the gesture. “I knew I can count on y'all, Princess,” Apple Bloom said. “Apple Bloom, you know you can just call me Twilight,” Twilight stated. “I know,” Apple Bloom replied, rubbing the back of her head. Apple Bloom now stood on a table, once again being checked over by Twilight, this time noting down anything she could find. As Twilight held Apple Bloom’s right wing in her magic,  the filly carefully moved it up and down. The princess scribbled down more notes as she continued studying the wing more thoroughly. Apple Bloom, however, was now quite agitated, having been standing for what felt like an eternity while Twilight prodded her all over. “Twilight, is there any reason you’re studying my flank?” Apple Bloom sternly asked without budging an eyelid. Twilight, staring quite closely at her flank, immediately shot back up. A bright crimson red suddenly flashed over her face. “Oh.” Twilight coughed. “Sorry, I was actually studying your cutie mark.” “My cutie mark? Why?” Apple Bloom asked, glancing back at her mark. “To see if it may hold any clue to your Alicornification,” Twilight answered matter of factly as she walked past Apple Bloom. “Alicorno—what now?” Apple Bloom babbled as she looked up. “Alicornification,” Twilight corrected, turning herself back to face Apple Bloom. “It basically means a pony becomes an Alicorn.” “... Y’all just made that word up, didn’t yah?” Apple Bloom raised an eyebrow with a slick smirk on her face. “Sure did,” Twilight said with a smart grin. Apple Bloom was left looking dumbfounded. “Huh, not really the answer I was expectin’.” Twilight giggled. “There was never a precise word for it to begin with. But ever since I became an Alicorn, I figured that such a transformation deserves its own unique term for describing such an amazing feat, in just one word. So, after much careful thinking, I managed to come up with… Alicornification!” Apple Bloom just remained looking utterly puzzled. “Uh, huh,” she muttered. “I know, it may sound a little… eccentric, but as soon as I present it to the other princesses, they’ll approve of it too, making the name official.” “I doubt anypony would agree on that,” Apple Bloom mumbled to herself. “What was that?” Twilight asked. “Oh, uh, it sounds great, Twilight. I totally like aliconomaction.” Apple Bloom chuckled sheepishly. “Alicornification,” Twilight corrected. “And I think so too, Apple Bloom. Now getting back to the matter at hoof...” “Phew.” Apple Bloom brushed away a few beads of sweat. “So, uh, do ya’ think my cutie mark could be the cause of this?” Twilight looked dubious. “I don’t believe so, but I don’t want to rule anything out. I need to take down any logical possibilities that may be the cause of it. Your cutie mark is one of those, but I’m pretty much certain that it may very well not be the cause of your transformation. At least not entirely, of course.” Apple Bloom looked down at her cutie mark in thought. “I never would imagine my destiny could lead me to becomin’ a princess.” Twilight put her notebook down on the table and started skimming through the pages in one of her books. Growing more and more flustered as any possible explanation behind this continued to elude her. “I just can’t figure this out,” Twilight murmured. “There must be something I’m missing.” She picked up several more books with her magic, scanning through the pages from each of them. Apple Bloom gazed in awe at how amazing Twilight was at using her magic like that. She looked up at her horn in curiosity. “I wonder if I could do that with my horn,” she thought. “Apple Bloom.” Apple Bloom snapped out of her thoughts, looking over at Twilight, taking notice of the frantic expression on her face. “I know you said that you just woke up like this. But are you sure that you don’t recall anything from last night? You didn’t find yourself being lifted up into the air and being surrounded by magic of any kind?” Apple Bloom dejectedly shook her head. “Sorry, Twilight, but like I told you, I was fast asleep and didn’t notice anything happenin’ ta’ me.” Twilight felt defeated. She hated this feeling so much. She could recall that when she became an Alicorn it was because she completed Starswirl’s unfinished spell and had mastered the magic of friendship. So how was it that a filly could just ascend without accomplishing anything that was princess-worthy? “Flurry Heart being born an Alicorn is starting to seem much more logical now,” Twilight thought. If she could just find at least one trace of something then that could easily help her find an answer or at least a clue in the right direction. But seeing there wasn’t any, she felt ready to give up on the spot. But as she looked over at the sad and depressed Apple Bloom, she slowly started to feel a small sense of renewal in herself. “No, I can’t just give up while Apple Bloom is counting on me. I haven’t even gotten started, so how could I just give up now if there’s still a chance to finding an answer to this?” Twilight thought to herself, feeling re-energised once more. “I’ve faced many challenges before and I’ve always made it with the help of my friends. And with their help, I’m sure we can solve this one as well.” “Twilight?” Apple Bloom called. Twilight turned to Apple Bloom. “What it is it, sweetie, do you need a bathroom break?” Apple Bloom blushed. “No. I was just thinking, why not ask Princess Celestia for help?” Twilight gasped. “That’s it! Celestia is bound to know the reason behind this. She was the one that helped me to ascend to begin with. All I have to do is get Spike…” Twilight suddenly looked vexed as she placed a hoof over her face and let out a heavy frustrated moan. “What’s wrong, Twilight?” Apple Bloom asked, concerned. “I forgot, I let Spike go with Starlight Glimmer to her old village to assist her in helping with some issues that have been going on. Then they'll be heading over to the Crystal Empire to visit Sunburst and Thorax.” “So, what’s the problem?” Apple Bloom asked, only to suddenly realize what Twilight meant. “Oh.” “Without Spike, I can’t send a message to Princess Celestia,” Twilight reiterated. Apple Bloom felt defeated, but she quickly perked herself up. “Don’t worry Twilight, I’m sure we can figure somethin’ out, perhaps we could… Ah!” Apple Bloom placed a hoof over her head as though she was in pain. Twilight rushed over and held Apple Bloom gently by her shoulder. “Apple Bloom, what’s wrong?” Apple Bloom groaned, “My head, it feels all… fuzzy.” “Fuzzy?” Twilight repeated. “Yeah, it felt real fuzzy, like, as if a storm cloud had got into my head,” Apple Bloom explained. Twilight started to stroke Apple Bloom’s mane gently. It seemed to help ease whatever it was making her head hurt. “It’s probably the stress of what’s been happening. I promise, somehow this will all be over soon,” Twilight reassured her. The fuzziness in Apple Bloom’s head finally subsided. The filly still looked worried. “What’s wrong?” Twilight asked, “Is your head still hurting?” “No,” Apple Bloom said, “I just remembered, last night I had this horrible nightmare.” “A nightmare?” Twilight questioned. “What was it about?” “That’s just it, I can’t seem ta’ remember. But I do know Celestia and Luna were in it.” “Celestia!?” Twilight gasped. “Princess Celestia was in your nightmare?” Apple Bloom remained silent, now looking rather frazzled and confused. “Apple Bloom?” asked Twilight. “You said Celestia was in your dream?” Apple Bloom stared up into Twilight’s eyes with a look of confusion on her face. “Was she?” Apple Bloom asked.