//------------------------------//
// Chapter 1-Skyla's Happiness and Bedtime/The Dream Express Begins! 
// Story: Skyla's Amazing Dream Express 
// by Psalty123 
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It was a bright, moonlit, and starry night in the Crystal Empire, and Nathan and his girlfriend Apple Bloom were celebrating the defeat of Tirek and Clarrisa Garrison and Nathan's transformation into a bat-winged alicorn. Apple Bloom smiled at her boyfriend and asked, "Boy, ain't those stars pretty, Nate?"

"It sure is, Apple Bloom." sighed Nathan. Then, up in the night sky, he saw a shooting star streaking across the dark blue starry sky. "Look, Apple Bloom! A shooting star! Make a wish."

"Alrighty," Apple Bloom replied. So she closed her eyes and wished real hard. After a short time, Apple Bloom made her wish and opened her eyes.

The Texas Pony smiled at his Apple Fiance and asked her, "Well, what do you wish for?"

Apple Bloom just laughed and said, "Ah' can't you tell you! My wish won't come true."

After he heard that, Nathan began to laugh with her! "You're right!"

Just then, Princess Cadance came in to see her son. "Nathan, honey," she called out to him. "It's time for bed."

Nathan heard his mother, turned around, and replied with a yawn, "Ok, Mom, but, can Ah' see mah' sisters? Ah' bet they're worried sick about me."

Cadance smiled at her son and said sweetly, "Alright, then it's off to bed with you."

Apple Bloom started to yawn. "Well, Ah' better catch some shuteye mah' self, Nate. Mah' friends will be waiting for me, G'night."

"G'night, mah' love," Nathan said. '"Well, it's time to surprise mah' li'l sisters to show them Ah'm home."

So he went to the hallways to go to his and Skyla's room to surprise Skyla first.

In Nathan and Skyla's Bedroom...

Skyla was crying her eyes out on her big brother's bed while buried on the pillow. She missed her brother very much. When she lifted her head out of the pillow, she could see Nathan's teddy bear, Eddy laying his head on the same pillow. She could really use some comfort right now. So Skyla lifted her little body from the pillow and crawled over to Eddy. When she got to the bear, Skyla grabbed him, hugged him, and said sadly, "Eddy, me miss Napphan." In Skyla's imagination, Eddy felt sorry for the little filly and hugged her back.

From outside the bedroom, Twilight Velvet heard what Skyla has said. She felt very sorry for her. When she turned her head to look at her husband, Night Light, she said, "Poor Skyla, she's really missing her big brother so much, she couldn't sleep."

Night Light who was also sorry for Skyla looked at his wife and replied, "You're right, honey. She looks so desperate. Is there any way we can do to make her feel better?"

Twilight Velvet peeked through the bedroom door and looked at Skyla, who was still hugging Eddy, then back at her husband and answered, "I don't know, Night Light. All we can do is wait for Nathan to come home again so he can play with Skyla again."

As Night Light was about to say something else, the couple heard an all too familiar voice.

"Hi, Grandma and Grandpa! Ah'm home!"

"Did you hear that, sweetie?" asked Night Light.

"Yes, honey," said Twilight Velvet. "I did hear it. That sounded like Nathan!" And so, the happy couple looked at the long hallway, hoping to see Nathan coming. But what they didn't see was a human boy. It was a bat-winged alicorn colt with a cutie mark of the State of Texas and a red bandana around his neck. Twilight Velvet was confused. "Who is that colt, sweetie?" she asked. "We did hear Nathan coming, but that colt with bat wings is heading this way."

Night Light was confused also. "I don't know, honey," he whispered. "But take a look at his head. He's got a unicorn horn too."

As Nathan was getting closer to seeing Skyla, he could see Night Light and Twilight Velvet whispering to each other. "They thought Ah' was a different pony," he thought. "Ah' have to tell them it's really me." So he took a deep breath and said out loud, "Grandma, Grandpa, it's me! Nathan!"

When the two grandparents heard the colt's voice, they realized that he was actually Nathan! Their jaws dropped open! "Nathan? Is that you?" asked a very surprised Velvet.

The colt smiled and replied, "Yes, Grandma. It's me!"

"How on Earth did you become alicorn, Nathan?" Night Light asked.

"Ah' was in Heaven and the angels told me that God chose Equestria to pass mah' test of bravery and determination," said the Texan colt. "And then they turned me into this!"

The Royal Grandparents were amazed by Nathan's story. Night Light then walked over to his transformed grandson and said proudly, "Well done, Cowboy! Welcome home."

Twilight smiled and went over to Nathan to give him a big hug. So did her husband. As she was doing this, they heard the door swang open and turned to see a very happy Skyla! She must have heard her big brother's voice from behind the door! "Napphan, you're home!" the alicorn tot cheered. When she looked around for her brother, she could see the same white bat-winged alicorn that the grandparents saw. She was confused. "Who are you?" 

"Sky, it's me, Nathan!" Nathan chuckled as he spread his hooves wide open to give Skyla a huge hug.

When she heard the same voice that Nathan used, she was surprised to see that the alicorn colt is Nathan! Skyla smiled wide and flew over to her big brother!

"Napphan!" she cried happily as she nuzzled Nathan on the chest. "How did you become a pony like me?"

Nathan smiled at his little sister and replied, "God's angels told me that Ah' passed a test of bravery and friendship, Then Ah' was transformed into this!"

"Wow!" Skyla gasped "That's amazing, Napphan! I'm so happy you're home." Then she hugged him even more. Nathan can see the smile on her little sister's face. She wasn't lonely anymore. She was so happy to see her big brother finally coming home!

Then Nathan remembered Flurry Heart. She missed her big brother too. He turned to Skyla in his arms and said, "Sky, Flurry's in her bedroom, right?"

Skyla looked at Nathan and said with a frown, "Yes, Flurry sad."

"Don't worry, tiger," said Nathan happily. "We're are going to surprise her."

"Ok, let's go!" Skyla said, wanting to cheer her little baby sister up too.

Nathan smiled. "Ah'm right behind you." Then he and Skyla went to Flurry Heart's nursery together.

In Flurry Heart's Nursery...

Flurry was in her crib while crying in her sleep. She missed Nathan so much. She was hugging her Whammy the Snail plush for comfort. Suddenly, there was a knock on her door. Flurry started to wake up when she heard that knock. She rubbed her teary eyes while she holds her stuffed snail onto her. When the nursery door opened, Flurry could see the same white colt with her big sister standing next to him looking at her with a big smile. She didn't know that colt was at first because she thought he was a different pony.

"Hi, cowgirl!" Nathan chirped, spreading his arms open wide to give her youngest sister a big hug.

When the baby alicorn heard that same voice Nathan was using, that white colt is Nathan! Flurry was so surprisingly overjoyed, she can't stop smiling and flew over to her big brother to hug him! She gurgled to Nathan that she missed him.

"Ah missed you too, baby!" Nathan said, booping her nose.

As Flurry continued hugging Nathan, She asked her big brother while babbling why is he a pony. Nathan looked at Flurry. "You're wondering how Ah' became an alicorn, aren't you?" Nate asked. Flurry nodded her head rapidly. "Well, God's angels told me that Ah' passed a courageous test of friendship, and Ah' was transformed into this." Flurry was amazed! She continued to hug Nathan once more. Nathan can see the smile on her baby sister's face. She wasn't alone anymore. She was so happy to see her big brother finally coming home!

"Well, it's time to hit the hay, gals," Nathan yawned.

Flurry Heart was yawning too. She started to close her eyes and went straight to sleep. Velvet went over to her youngest granddaughter and took her from Nathan. "We'll put her to bed, you kids go get ready for bed. Goodnight," she said quietly.

"Goodnight, Grandma," Nathan replied back.

"Goodnight, Grandma," Skyla replied back, yawning.

At Bedtime...

Skyla was feeling very sleepy. She was in her nightie after she got her bubble bath and her teeth brushed. When Skyla got into the bedroom, she saw that Nathan was putting on his shirt and getting ready to say his prayers. "What are you doing, Napphan?" she asked.

"Oh, hey Tiger," Nathan said when he heard Skyla's voice. "Ah'm goin' to say mah' prayers to thank Jesus for helping me."

Skyla was amazed! "Can me say my prayers?" she asked.

Nathan smiled at his baby sister and said, "Of course, why don't you ask Jesus to thank Him for bringing me home?"

"Ok, me will," Skyla said. "Can you teach me how to pray?"

Nathan couldn't help but smile and said, "Of course, Ah' will." And he did! "First, you have to put your hands or hooves together and start saying, 'Dear God' or 'Dear Jesus', and when you're done saying your prayer, you have to say, 'Amen'. Give it a try!" he said.

"Ok," said Skyla and she began to pray this very special prayer. "Dear Jesus, thank you so much for bringing Napphan home to me and Flurry. Please bless Mommy, Daddy, Napphan, and Flurry. Amen!"

"Very good, Sky!" cheered Nathan, clapping his hooves. "Now it's mah' turn." Nathan got down on his knees and he prayed, "Dear Heavenly Father, Ah' would like to thank you for helping me fight off Cozy Glow and Tirek and told me to have faith in mah' heart. Also, Ah' thank you, Jesus, for givin' me the courage to save mah' family, mah' friends, and Equestria. Please bless me and mah' family. In your Name Ah' pray, amen!"

As they were getting ready to get into bed, Cadance came in. "I see that you're all ready for bed." she giggled. The two children looked at their mother and climbed into bed.

Nathan smiled at his mother and said, "We sure are Mom!" Cadance smiled back at her son and tucked him in. "Goodnight, Mom." yawned Nathan as he closed his eyes and fell fast asleep.

Cadance looked at her son and smiled warmly. "Goodnight, Nathan," she whispered as she gave him a sweet kiss on the forehead. Then Cadance went to her daughter's tiny bed to tuck her in. "Skyla," she said as she looked at her little princess. "Are you happy to see your big brother again?"

Skyla looked at her mother, smiled, and replied, "Yes Mommy, me happy to see Napphan." Then the little filly yawned, "Goodnight, Mommy." Then she closed her little eyes and went to sleep.

Cadance smiled at her second child and kissed her little forehead. "Sweet dreams, Skyla," she whispered as she tucked her little filly in. Then Cadance walked out the door, turned out the light, and closed the door gently. 

As she was sleeping peacefully, Skyla was about to go on a special adventure in her dreams.





Skyla was sleeping on something soft and fluffy. And it also smelled good when she sniffed it. That wonderful scent woke her up. When she woke up, she saw that she was sleeping on top of a pink bush. Skyla was confused at first, but when she took a whiff of it, she used her magic to pluck the piece from the pink bush. "Me wonder what this pink stuff is?" Skyla thought to herself. She opened her mouth and took a bite out of the pink fluff. Skyla's blue eyes went wide when she tasted and swallowed it as her smile did the same thing! "Cotton Candy!!" she squealed. Skyla was sleeping on top of a cotton candy bush! She started eating the bush one time until the cotton candy was gone.

"Yummy!" Skyla said as she licked her lips. Then she smelled something sweet just like the cotton candy bush. She followed the scent with her cute nose to find what's that wonderful smell. She passed through some normal trees and bushes when she came upon something that looked like paradise. Skyla was standing in front of a candy valley. "So that's what that smell is coming from!" Skyla cheered! That valley had a blue raspberry river, lemon, and lime lollipop trees with everlasting Gobstoppers, licorice vines, and M&M stones. "Look at all this candy!!" Skyla screamed with delight, as she began to dig in!

First, she picked the everlasting Gobstoppers from the lemon and lime lollipop trees and licked them. After she licked and ate the Gobstoppers, Skyla flew up into the lollipop trees and licked them until they are all gone. Next, she swung on the licorice vines and ate them after she landed. Finally, Skyla dipped the M&M stones into the blue raspberry river and ate them.

Skyla was so glad that she got to eat all the candy in the valley. Then, she heard something. It sounded like music and singing. The music sounded really happy. Skyla looked around, but couldn't find where the music is coming from. Then she heard a voice calling out her name. "Skyla!" Skyla turned and saw someone's voice that belongs to who it was. It was an engineer with a blue steam locomotive. Skyla walked over to the engineer and said, "Hello, how do you know my name?"

The friendly engineer smiled at the pink filly and replied, "I've known you since your big brother told me about you. You're cute, adventurous, and funny too." Skyla was touched by the engineer's kind words and she thanked him. "By the way, do you want to find out where the music is coming from?" The engineer asked.

Skyla nodded rapidly and said, "Yes please." She really wants to find out where that happy music is coming from.

The engineer pointed to a cloud that was shaped like a cross with a smiley face on it. "The music came from that cloud over there." Then he boarded his train and got it ready. "ALL ABOARD!!!" the engineer called out as he pulled the whistle.

"Oh boy! Me can't wait!!" Skyla squealed as she got on board the train and it left the candy valley station. "By the way, what's your name?" she asked the engineer.

"My name is Emerson the Engineer." the engineer said as the steam train chugged and flew into the cross-shaped cloud.