//------------------------------//
// Chapter 47 - Captive 
// Story: Dusk Shine in pursuit of Happiness 
// by bigsnusnu 
//------------------------------//

Captive

"I have a craving for apples!" Dusk had said to himself that morning.  The days had progressively gotten warmer, signaling that the first harvest of spring apples must be almost ready.  And if Dusk had a craving for apples, there was only one place he could go.

The huge span of land that made up Sweet Apple Acres farm spread out before Dusk's eyes, with the trees already full of leaves and blooming.  Most of those apple trees would have their fruits ready for the big summer harvest, but Applejack had already anticipated to Dusk that they had an early harvest on the farm for those who wanted to enjoy that juicy fruit in the spring.

As Dusk walked through the apple trees, he couldn't help but give an embarrassed smile as he remembered the other time he was here.  Specifically, when he met Applejack, he and Spike had carelessly picked apples without their owners' permission.  Something that Dusk could do again if he wanted to, since there was no vigilance and the sweet fruits were within reach of his hoof. However, he had learned a lot since that time, and the last thing that Dusk would do now would be to steal and disrespect his dear friend and her family.

When Dusk finally saw the Applejack's house and headed towards it, he stopped when he saw that Applejack and her siblings were outside the house, lined up with their heads down and solemn gazes, all three in the shadow of a lone apple tree.  As Dusk got closer there, he started to get a little worried seeing that Applejack and her siblings had looks of grief and pain as they looked down at the ground under the tree, and what scared Dusk the most was that Applejack suddenly started to cry.

"Calm down..." Big Mac said holding Applejack and comforting her with his hoof. "I know it's sad, but... you have to let her go."

"Let her go? To who?" Dusk thought confused as he approached the Apple family, who seemed to be at a funeral of sorts.  It was then that Dusk realized that a family member was missing, which made Dusk swallow hard when he understood what was happening and 'who' had left.

"It can't be... Granny Smith has left this world!?" Dusk thought scared.

"I... I'm sorry to interrupt..." Dusk said shyly, feeling very sad, but struggling to be strong to support her friend.

"'Sniff'... This is not a good time." Applejack said sadly, drying his tears.

"We're saying goodbye to a family member." Big Mac added, looking annoyed at Dusk for interrupting the moment.

"I'm sorry for your loss." Dusk said sadly, lowering his head in respect and then giving Applejack a sad smile. "But you have to be strong... Surely Granny Smith is in a better place now."

"Yeah... She is in a better place." Apple Bloom said looking away sadly.

"You shouldn't be sad." Dusk said with a tender smile, approaching his friend.

"I know... but... It hurts so much to let her go!" Applejack said, again on the verge of tears. "I think it's still too soon!"

"W-Well, I don't know if it's too soon... I mean, she was old enough." Dusk said scratching his head nervously.

"Who are you calling old!" A familiar voice suddenly screamed, causing Dusk to turn.

"A GHOST!" Dusk shouted, frightened when he saw that Granny Smith had appeared behind him, leaning against an unknown stallion.

"I'm not a ghost, at least I think so, hehehe." Granny Smith laughed when she saw Dusk's funny face.

"I-I don't understand, what's going on...?" Dusk muttered, still scared and confused.  It seemed that all that sad ceremony was not a funeral as he had been thinking.

"Granny!  I told you to stay at home, you'll be more comfortable there until your back stops hurting you." Big Mac said reprimanding his grandmother.

"I know, but I also wanted to say goodbye to 'Bloomberg'." Granny Smith replied, putting a sad look.

"Who the hay is Bloomberg!?" Dusk said confused, beginning to get irritated by not understanding what was happening.

"My dear apple tree..." Applejack said as she tenderly hugged the tree in front of her. "Tomorrow she leaves for a distant land, to be planted in a new town."

Finally, all the pieces of the puzzle fell into place and Dusk gave a look of complete disbelief.

"You’re crying for a simple tree!?" Dusk asked confused and irritated.

"It's not just a simple tree!  She's a member of the family!" The four members of the Apple family said annoyed.

Dusk stared in disbelief at the faces of everyone present, amazed to see how serious everyone was about their relationship with their apple trees.  And it was only then that Dusk noticed the face of the other pony present, that stallion who had helped Granny Smith to get there and now stared at Dusk, as if he was analyzing Dusk with a magnifying glass.  The unknown stallion had yellow fur, light brown mane and tail, a cutie mark of a red apple on his flank and was wearing a leather vest and hat.

To calm the mood, Dusk had to apologize, even though he still thought it was foolish to become so attached to a tree, and then he explained that it had all been a misunderstanding on his part. Then Applejack also explained that this farewell was made for 'Bloomberg', which was the youngest mature tree on the farm.  She also explained that the unknown stallion, named Braeburn, would take it away from there.

"Almost a year ago, some members of the Apple family founded a town in the southern plains, called Appleloosa." Applejack explained to Dusk. "They have their own apple orchard, but they don't have an apple tree of as good a quality as the ones we have here at Sweet Apple Acres.  So Braeburn came to take this for his new town."

"Oh… now I get it." Dusk said, finally understanding what was happening.

"So, this is the famous Dusk Shine..." Braeburn said suddenly, who had kept watching Dusk carefully. "Well, I'm sorry to say AJ, but considering everything you told me in your letters, I thought he would be a stronger and beefier colt.  But... he's just a scrawny city foal."

Dusk was surprised to be insulted without reason, and even more so by somepony he didn't even know. Then Dusk did the same as that stallion and analyzed him with his eyes.

The stallion was young, probably an adult colt of his own age, but he was noticeably stockier than Dusk.  He also had a long mane that gave him a rebellious look, something that Dusk had always envied, much like how the luscious mane his brother had that could cause any mare to swoon.  In addition, the way Braeburn spoke and moved, it was seen that he had a great trust and confidence in himself, something he had just demonstrated by saying to Dusk's face that he thought Dusk was scrawny.

"How is it that you know me?" Dusk asked, rather annoyed.

"Applejack always writes to me about her friends.  More recently, she’s been writing a lot about you." Braeburn replied, pointing at Applejack with his eyes and then looking intently at Dusk again. "Now, I’m fine with a twig like you being her new friend... But get yourself in line, scrawny!  Because now I'm here, and I'm Applejack's number one best friend!" Braeburn added, putting on a big smile of pride and giving Applejack a big hug.

"S-Stop, Braeburn." Applejack said blushed, trying to break free of the hug and glancing at Dusk, as she was embarrassed that Braeburn had admitted that she wrote about Dusk Shine in her letters.

"I-I'm not a scrawny one." Dusk said embarrassed, getting defensive.

"Mmm, I wouldn’t exactly say that.” Big Mac stated.

"Yep... Those hooves definitely need more hard work, spend less time lifting the pages of books and more time with bales of hay." Granny Smith said, also analyzing at Dusk with her eyes, which made Dusk blush with embarrassment. Then Granny Smith made a face of pain and quickly touched her back. "Oh! This old pain… I think you were right… I'd better go back to the house."

"I'll help you, beautiful young lady." Braeburn said gallantly, approaching to Granny Smith and holding her the same way he had helped her get there. "After all, that’s what a true gentlecolt does." Braeburn added, giving Dusk a fleeting and almost imperceptible glance, a glance that only the unicorn noticed.

"I-I can use my magic to teleport you to the house, it would be faster."  Dusk quickly added, feeling that for some reason he was in competition with that new colt.  Although Dusk thought he was losing in physical appearance, he would make sure not to lose in one of his strengths, which was to be chivalrous.

"No! Don't even think about using magic tricks on me." Granny Smith said scared, who like a good old-fashioned earth pony, didn't like unicorn magic at all. "I prefer to walk and be accompanied by this handsome gentlecolt, hehe." Granny Smith added, smiling flirtatiously at Braeburn.

Along with Granny Smith, Big Mac and Apple Bloom also headed home after saying one last goodbye to the apple tree, leaving Applejack and Dusk Shine alone.

"What's wrong with that colt!?" Dusk said resentfully as he watched Braeburn walk away with Granny Smith, feeling a new feeling grow within him. Then he turned to see Applejack again and narrowed his eyes. "That… Is he your best friend… colt?" Dusk asked with a slight concern in his voice.

"Well... I've known Braeburn since we were foals.  We always did everything together, until his family moved out of Ponyville." Applejack replied with a thoughtful look, not imagining that Dusk could be feeling a conflict at the moment.  "Still, we continued to maintain contact by letters. We're real close like that!"

"But he'll be leaving tomorrow... isn't he?" Dusk asked, pretending to be casual about the question.

"Yeah, well, we'll be leaving together tomorrow." Applejack replied while looking at the apple tree. "Braeburn asked me for help planting Bloomberg in his town.  But I think it's just an excuse for me to go, get to know his town and spend more time together like the good old days." Applejack added smiling.

"I-I want to go too!" Dusk said impulsively, not understanding what he felt.  He didn't know why, but Dusk was uncomfortable with the idea of such a young and handsome colt being all close and personal for such a long time with Applejack.

"You want to go?" Applejack asked in surprise.

"Y-Yes... you know... I-I always wanted to know about more places in Equestria... and this could be a good opportunity, hehe." Dusk replied with a nervous smile, still not understanding why such a hasty idea had occurred to him.

Applejack stared at Dusk for a moment, then looked away so Dusk didn't notice that she had blushed.

"Yeah... I think that would be a good idea." Applejack said, as her imagination began to fly at the thought of a solo trip with Dusk Shine.

"Fantastic!  I’ll be head back for the library.  I have to make a list for my first big trip!" Dusk said excitedly, forgetting for a second of his true reasons to travel, and thinking that he would soon have an adventure in another town, something that excited him as he only knew Canterlot and Ponyville.

As Applejack watched Dusk leave the farm, she lowered her head and gently tapped the apple tree in front of her.

"This may actually be a great opportunity!" Applejack muttered with a smile, talking to herself. "I'll go on a solo trip with Dusk... We’ll be able to get to know each other better and have a genuine romantic kiss!" Applejack added blushing, thinking that she was still unhappy with the kisses she had with Dusk, since one was by accident, and the other was for a game.  And although that last kiss had been with feelings, Applejack still dreamed of having a true romantic moment alone with Dusk.

"All the other girls have had their romantic moment alone with Dusk... I can't waste this opportunity!" Applejack said full of conviction, with a smile full security.

"Wow... It's a shame that Bloomberg is leaving.  It was the most comfortable apple tree to sleep in." Suddenly a voice in the branches said, a voice that made Applejack freeze and her smile fade immediately.

"R-Rainbow Dash! What are you doing there!?" Applejack said in surprise, as she looked up and saw her friend pegasus leaning on one of the highest branches of the apple tree.

"Taking a nap." Rainbow Dash said jumping and landing next to Applejack. "I think I'll leave now."

"Y-You... did you hear what I said?" Applejack asked nervously.

Rainbow Dash turned to see her friend, keeping a poker face that made it impossible for Applejack to guess what her friend was thinking.

"I don't know what you mean." Rainbow Dash finally answered after a while, then she turned and spread her wings. "I think I'll go talk to Dusk."

Then Rainbow Dash took off quickly in the direction of the town, giving Applejack no chance to say anything.

"Well... My big plan was ruined before I even started." Applejack said with a look of resignation, knowing that her friend was going to talk to Dusk so that now all her friends would also accompany them on the long journey.





It was early in the morning and the train to Appleloosa was already at the station.  Since Appleloosa was a new town, the train that went there was not one of the most modern designs. In fact, it was one of the old trains that were pulled by a dozen strong stallions.  But although this train didn't depend on magic or steam to function, its driver wanted to have the same punctuality as the other trains, so the first whistle was given, announcing that in a few minutes they would leave.

At the train station, there were very few ponies at that time in the morning, only those that had to board the express to Appleloosa, and all of them were already inside the train.  With the exception of Applejack, who was still on the station, looking impatiently towards the town, as it was getting late and neither Dusk nor her friends had appeared yet.

"Maybe I was wrong and Rainbow Dash didn’t tell the others about the trip and instead convinced Dusk not to come with me.”  Applejack thought, beginning to hold a grudge against her friend.

"Sorry for the delay!" Dusk said suddenly, finally appearing at the station, with a huge hiking backpack on his back.  Next to him, Spike came walking, with a backpack much smaller than the one Dusk was carrying.

"Phew! It's about time" Applejack said with a sigh and a smile, happy that Dusk had not regretted going. "The train’s about to leave."

"Yeah, I'm sorry.  It's just that I took some time packing, since it's my first trip to another city… Not counting the time the princess sent me in a mail bag to here, hehe." Dusk said laughing, then looking around, as if looking for someone. "And where are the others?"

"Braeburn is accommodating Bloomberg in the back wagon." Applejack replied nervously, knowing deep down that Dusk was asking about someone else's location.

"I mean the other girls." Dusk said making a disgusted face briefly as he remembered that they would be traveling with Braeburn. "Rainbow Dash said she would tell them about the trip."

"Nah, they’re not coming." Rainbow Dash suddenly said, landing at the station with the two ponies.  "I told them yesterday, but it seems that they were all busy.  And I... I won't be able to go either." Rainbow Dash added, averting her gaze when she said she couldn't go, as if she had a hard time saying the latter.

"Wait! Rarity isn't going?" Spike said immediately, putting on a thoughtful face and then a nervous smile. "I-I just remembered that I also have something to do..."

"What are you talking about?" Dusk asked confused, bringing his head closer to Spike.

"This is your chance! Do you remember what happened at the slumber party, the kiss you gave Applejack?  Now you two can spend more time alone!" Spike whispered excitedly into Dusk's ear.

"Sure... And isn't it that you just want to take advantage of being alone with Rarity?" Dusk said narrowing his eyes, seeing the true intentions of his little brother.

"Nah….! Not at all…" Spike said with a nervous smile. Then the baby dragon turned and said goodbye. "Have fun!" It was the last thing Spike said before he ran back to town, specifically to the home of a certain unicorn mare.

While Dusk and Spike had been chatting, Applejack had stared at Rainbow Dash, who just stood there, looking up at the sky to avoid her gaze.

"Well... I guess it'll just be us." Dusk said looking at Applejack and smiling.

Just as Applejack opened her mouth to answer, the last warning whistle sounded at the station, indicating that they were only one minute from leaving.

"I better hurry to put my backpack away." Dusk said quickly, walking towards the door of the train and making a great effort to get through the door the huge backpack he had with him.

As soon as Dusk entered the train, Applejack turned and looked seriously at Rainbow Dash.

"Okay, what are you up to?" Applejack asked, squinting.

"Why are you looking at me like that!?  You should thank me." Rainbow Dash replied with an annoyed look. "If it wasn't for me, Dusk would have gone to tell the other girls about the trip.  I was the one who convinced him that I would go tell the others myself.  Although of course… I think in the end I forgot to tell them."

"Why?" Applejack asked with an incredulous look, still not understanding why her friend helped her with her plan to be alone with Dusk.

Rainbow Dash was a little surprised at her friend's insistence, then she looked away with a bit of embarrassment.

"Well... I owed you.  For the Running of the Leaves..." Rainbow Dash replied slightly blushed. "I really needed to win that race to have a moment alone with Dusk. And although you said you hadn't let me win; I know that… well… now we're even!" Rainbow Dash added, looking sheepishly at Applejack.

The orange mare was surprised to hear her friend's confession and what she had done to return that favor in the race. Then, without warning, she pulled her daredevil friend into quick embrace.

"Thank you..." Applejack said with a tender smile, heartily thanking her friend for that noble gesture. The country mare released her friend, who had a bright blush on her face.

"Yeah, I'm just returning the favor.  It's not like I was giving you Dusk.  He'll still be mine!" Rainbow Dash said drastically changing her attitude and looking defiantly at her friend. "I still have the advantage! I've been the only one Dusk has voluntarily kissed."

Hearing that, Applejack couldn't help but grimace, as a few days ago, at the slumber party, Dusk had also voluntarily kissed Applejack in the spin the bottle game.

"If you think I don't know about that kiss in the slumber party, you're wrong.  Rarity already told us about it." Rainbow Dash said, smiling arrogantly, guessing what her friend thought, which surprised Applejack a lot. "If you think that kiss can compete against the romantic kiss that Dusk and I had on the lake at sunset, you’re dead wrong." Rainbow Dash added, looking defiantly at her friend.

Hearing the latter, Applejack forgot her friend's noble gesture and put on the same challenging look as the pegasus.  Now she understood, it was true that Rainbow Dash was returning the favor, but it was only because she was self-confident that no one could overcome her romantic moment with Dusk that she was even challenging her. And worst of all, Rainbow Dash had hit the spot, because Applejack continued to doubt if any of the moments lived between her and Dusk had become even half as romantic as those of her other friends.

"I'll not lose." Applejack finally said, giving Rainbow Dash a fierce, defiant look, just like the ones they had on every time they competed against each other.

"Heh... good luck. You'll need it." Rainbow Dash said spreading her wings and winking at her with an arrogant smile. Then the pegasus took off and flew back towards the town.

"You gave me a chance to date Dusk, and now you're the one who's losing..." Rainbow Dash thought as she flew, thinking that she wanted to help her friend, but she also didn't want to lose to her. "If you don't take advantage of this opportunity to have 'your moment', then you'll be out of the race. And I want you to keep running until the end! … Although of course, in the end I'll win."

After Rainbow Dash flew off, Applejack finally entered the train, just as it started to leave the station.  As she walked, Applejack kept thinking about the Rainbow Dash challenge and pressed her lips tight as she made up her mind.  This trip was no longer just to have a good time alone with Dusk, now she had a new goal.  Before that trip was over, Applejack would make sure to have the most romantic kiss of all with Dusk Shine.

Upon arriving at her wagon, Applejack knew immediately what their seats were, as Dusk was standing in front of them, trying to press the huge backpack into the upper compartments.  While the lavender colt tried to crush his backpack to its maximum expression so that it fit, Applejack took the opportunity to sit in one of the seats by the window.  Just then, Braeburn entered the wagon, who also approached the seats.

"I'm done seating Bloomberg in her private wagon." Braeburn said as he approached the seats. Then he saw Dusk who was still struggling with his backpack. "It looks like you need help, scrawny."

Hearing Braeburn's voice, the mane on the back of Dusk's neck stood on end, feeling an instant displeasure with the yellow colt.  Without paying any more attention to it, Braeburn pushed Dusk, stood on two legs and with a strong push finally managed to put Dusk's huge backpack into the compartment.

"You just had to apply some strength." Braeburn said, looking with a vain smile at Dusk, who just stared back at him annoyed. "If you didn't carry so many things... I guess all scrawny city colts are just as impractical."

"It's my first trip away, so I wasn't sure what to bring..." Dusk began to reply, but he realized that explaining that was even more embarrassing, so he finally just chose to stop talking.  Then Dusk sighed and started to sit next to Applejack.

"I think I'll sit here." Braeburn said, quickly getting in between and winning Dusk the place next to Applejack. "We have a lot to talk." Braeburn added giving Applejack a big smile.

Seeing him being ridiculed again, Dusk only gritted his teeth in frustration and reluctantly sat down in the front seats, sitting across from a table looking at Applejack and Braeburn, who had already begun to chat animatedly with each other.





The hours passed and Dusk discovered without realizing that time was relative, since that couple of hours became eternal for the lavender colt.  Since everyone had sat, Braeburn had monopolized Applejack, talking about so many things they two had done in their childhood, like the time they had traveled by canoe, when they had played a joke to Granny Smith, all the times they'd camped together... And of course, none of those anecdotes included Dusk Shine, so the unicorn quickly felt left out of any possible conversation. Every time Dusk tried to introduce a new topic, or Applejack tried to include Dusk in the conversation, Braeburn quickly brought up some old and funny anecdote that made Applejack laugh and totally distracted her.

The hours passed and Dusk only stared angrily at Braeburn, something he had done covertly to the principle, but with the passing hours, Dusk could no longer hide it... The more he saw Braeburn making laugh Applejack, the more he disliked him.

"He thinks he's so cool just because he's Applejack's closest friend..." Dusk said in his mind as he looked fiercely at Braeburn, smiling at Applejack and being so close to her. "Applejack would never notice a colt like him... it doesn't matter that they have been friends since childhood... or that his mane is cooler than mine... or that he is stronger than me... nor that... nor that... Well, I was the first kiss Applejack!  You can't beat that!" Dusk thought irritably, as a new and unpleasant feeling unknown to him grew in him.

CRASH! Suddenly everyone jumped from the scare when something small took a strange turn in the air and crashed to the floor, breaking.

"No! My microscope!" Dusk suddenly said worried, discovering that what had gone flying had been his microscope, which he carried in his backpack.

"Are you carrying a microscope on this trip?" Braeburn asked in a mocking tone.

"W-Well, you never know when you might need one." Dusk replied embarrassed. "Why did it fall out of the backpack if it was closed?  And what was that strange turn in the air?  For a second it seemed like it was flying."

"Yeah... that was strange." Applejack said confused, who had also noticed that strange microscope flight before falling.

"Oh... maybe it's the ghost of the train... Booo..." Braeburn said pretending to make a gloomy face. "They say that in this old train, there lives a ghost that scares foals... and scrawny colts..." Braeburn added, taking advantage of the occasion to make fun of Dusk, who only looked at him annoyed.

"Haha! I remember now, you were the best at making up horror stories during camping trips! Haha!" Applejack chuckled, remembering how Braeburn always scared everypony around the campfire.

"Haha! So you remember that, huh?  Then you may also remember our… Tickle Wars!" Braeburn said laughing and taking the opportunity to tickle Applejack a few times in the belly, making Applejack burst out laughing.

Suddenly the table in front of them shook, rose slightly in midair, and fell into exactly the same spot, leaving the three ponies frozen in shock.

"T-That ghost story was a lie... R-Right?" Dusk asked trying to hide that he was scared by what he had just seen, since that seemed to have no explanation.  They were the only ones in the wagon, and the three ponies had genuine faces of fear at what they had just witnessed.

"O-Of course it was a lie..." Braeburn finally replied, also trying to hide his fear.

After that particular supernatural experience, the three ponies were silent for a long time, since their eyes, ears and other senses were on alert, in case any new paranormal phenomenon occurred.

Night finally came, and everyone decided that it was the perfect excuse to change wagons and go to the sleeping wagon.  The trip to Appleloosa was long one and the train would only arrive until morning.  There was no one else in the sleeping wagon, so the three ponies could choose any of the beds in the bunk beds to sleep. Applejack chose one of the lower beds and went to bed. And seeing which bed Applejack chose, Dusk hurried to jump on the bed above his friend's.

"I'll sleep here." Dusk said smiling with pride, because this time Braeburn hadn't won the place and he had chosen to sleep in the same bunk as his friend.

"Oh, you can sleep there." Braeburn said raising an eyebrow, noticing Dusk's fierce gaze and then looking at Applejack. "I think I'll sleep curled up next to Applejack like when we were foals." Braeburn added, jumping onto Applejack's bed and lying down next to her, to the mare's surprise and Dusk's outrage.

"I-I don't think that's a good idea... we're not foals anymore." Applejack said blushing.

"Don't worry, it's just to annoy that dumb city boy." Braeburn whispered with a smile. "I’ll wait until he falls asleep and then I'll go to sleep in my own bed."

The minutes passed, and it was impossible for Dusk to fall asleep.  The only thing he could focus on was the murmurs and giggles he heard under him in the lower bed.  Applejack and Braeburn continued to happily recall their childhood, conversing at a low level so as not to disturb Dusk with their noise. And although the volume of the conversation was not at all something that prevented Dusk from sleeping, what didn't let him sleep was that strange feeling that he still didn't decipher.  An unpleasant feeling that grew when he thought that Applejack was lying in the same bed with another colt, a feeling he had already felt on other occasions, but never as intense as he felt at that moment, so he still didn't discover what it was.

After a while, Dusk Shine closed his eyes tight and covered his ears with his pillow, wishing he could fall asleep so that he no longer felt that unpleasant feeling that was growing in him. But his closed eyes lasted only a few seconds, as a strange noise was heard next to his ear, and when he opened his eyes, Dusk was paralyzed when he saw that three pillows were floating, circling in the air, then collided and shot out.

A sepulchral silence remained in the air after this strange phenomenon.

"D-Dusk... Those pillows... Was that you?" Applejack said slowly from below, in a trembling voice.

"N-No..." Dusk replied just as scared, after seeing that it seemed that the ghost of the train had followed them to this wagon.

After everything was silent again, with the three ponies motionless from fear of the unknown, Braeburn rose slowly from the Applejack bed and lay down on the bed opposite.

"I-I think we better go to sleep..." Braeburn said nervously, as it still seemed crazy to him that his ghost story was coming true.

Once each pony was in their own bed, the three ponies closed their curtains and just poked their heads out into the hallway, all watching intently everywhere, waiting to see if that strange ghost phenomenon would happen again.  But as much as they waited, it seemed that the ghost refused to appear when they were attentive.  Thus, the three ponies finally closed their curtains completely and closed their eyes to hopefully fall asleep quickly, before another strange thing happened.

"Okay, now I don't just have to worry about Braeburn being too close to Applejack, but also about a ghost on the train!" Dusk thought as he closed his eyes tight and forced himself to fall asleep fast. "At least in my dreams I can be calm... Surely I'll see it again... to her..." Dusk said in his mind, and with that last thought, Dusk finally fell asleep.

"I was waiting for you." A sweet voice said in Dusk's dream, and the colt smiled when he saw a beautiful blue alicorn smiling at him in a beautiful dreamy landscape.





The morning finally came, and the three ponies woke up to the first rays of the Sun that pierced the windows of the sleeping wagon.  As soon as they woke up, they opened the curtains and stared at each other, wondering with their eyes the same question: had anyone ever seen the ghost again at night? However, it seemed that everyone had been able to sleep without problems and that the 'ghost' had not reappeared.

"It would be best to get back to the main wagon quickly." Dusk said with a nervous smile, since it was very difficult for him to admit that he was afraid of something as unreal as ghosts were.

Following Dusk's words, the three ponies quickly got up and returned to the wagon where their seats were.  They all remained static, hoping that that ghost wouldn't follow them back to that wagon.  In addition, Braeburn had already told them that they would arrive at Appleloosa early in the morning.  So instead of continuing to talk, the three ponies decided to remain alert the last leg of the road until they reached Appleloosa, to finally discover if this strange phenomenon was a ghost or not.

As everyone continued in silence, looking everywhere, a sudden blow made the whole wagon wobble.

"The ghost of the train!?" Braeburn yelled in fright.

"No... This was different..." Dusk said scared and confused, since other times they had only seen some things float, but now it had been the whole wagon that had suddenly trembled.

A new blow to the wagon caused Dusk and company to hold onto their seats so as not to fall.

"Someone is hitting the train!" Applejack suddenly said when she looked out the window.

Dusk and Braeburn approached Applejack’s window and were surprised to see a herd of buffalo running at full speed next to the train.  They were all wearing feathers on their heads, with unfriendly faces as they took momentum and hit a third time the side of the train, causing the three ponies to almost fall to the floor again on impact.

"If they continue like this they'll overturn the train!" Dusk said fearful of what might happen.

Braeburn glared at the buffalo and quickly opened the wagon window.

"What do you think you're doing!?" Braeburn yelled furiously. "You don't see what- Wow...!" Braeburn stopping his speech and amazed at what he saw.

Out of the crowd of buffaloes, a small young buffalo leapt between the backs of its companions and leaped on top of the moving train, doing a reckless stunt that Braeburn couldn't help but admire and that made the colt forget his anger for a second.

"What happened?" Applejack asked confused to see that Braeburn seemed to be looking at something while still sticking his head out.

"Someone jumped on the train and... It looks like it's running on the roofs of the wagons!" Braeburn said, still undecided whether he was more angry or amazed at what he saw.

"This looks like an assault... Like those stories from the old west!" Dusk said fearfully, remembering that he had read something about bandits in distant lands.

"An assault? But what do they want to steal…?" Applejack asked confused, thinking that there was nothing of much value on the train, other than her little- "Bloomberg!" Applejack yelled scared, quickly getting up and running towards the last wagon, where her beloved apple tree was.

"I don't think they’re coming to steal an apple tree." Dusk said incredulously, who, like Braeburn, ended up running after Applejack.

After crossing the wagon where they were and the sleeping wagon, Applejack opened the next door to continue to the next wagon, but she stopped when just from the roof, a small buffalo, the same one that Braeburn had seen before, jumped nimbly and landed right outside the door of the next wagon, across from where the ponies were.

"That leap was incredible..." Braeburn muttered in amazement.

"Wake up, knucklehead! She's going to steal Bloomberg!" Applejack said annoyed, slapping Braeburn lightly to wake him from his stupor. "After her!!"

Just as the young buffalo was about to open the door of the wagon where Bloomberg was, she was distracted when she looked back and saw three ponies leap on her. After struggling a bit, the ponies finally managed to restrain the buffalo right in the middle of the two wagons, thus preventing her from reaching her target.

"We got you!" Braeburn said victoriously, staring at the buffalo.

"Do you think so?" The buffalo said with a mocking smile.  She then used one of her back legs that wasn’t restrained to kick below her.  The kick directly hit the small connection point that held the two wagons together and caused it to unhinge.  The three ponies could only watch on as the wagon carrying Bloomberg was left behind as the train continued to speed on.

"Bloomberg!" Applejack shouted terrified when she saw that the wagon where her beloved apple tree was traveling was left behind and was kidnapped by a herd of buffalo.

"No more apple trees in our sacred lands!" The buffalo said triumphantly, with a challenging look at the ponies, especially Braeburn.

"We have to rescue Bloomberg!" Applejack said desperately, taking Dusk by the shoulders and shaking him.

'It's just an apple tree...' It's what Dusk would have liked to say, but he knew that for Applejack that tree was like a member of her family.  So, Dusk concentrated lit his horn, and teleported outside the train, which was much less risky than jumping off the moving train.  However, due to inertia, the four rolled down on the ground to the side of the railroad tracks once they reappeared.

"Is everyone okay?" Dusk asked shaking his head, a little dizzy after the fall.

"Don't let her escape!" Applejack yelled suddenly, pointing forward.

After the fall, the little buffalo had seen her chance, and although she was dizzy from the teleportation, she immediately ran as soon as her paws touched the ground.

"She won’t get far." Braeburn said, taking out a lasso that he had under his vest and throwing it with great aim, thus managing to throw his prey, who fell to the ground, staring fiercely at Braeburn. "Sorry honey, you're good. But I'm better." Braeburn said with a challenging smile, at the buffalo's hateful gaze.

With the same rope that Braeburn had used to lasso the buffalo, the yellow colt tied one of the buffalo's legs firmly to stop her from any future escape attempt. The four then began to walk in the direction of where they had seen the rest of the herd of buffalo flee.  The impromptu rescue mission was rather slow, since the buffalo prisoner refused to run, all to prevent the three ponies from catching up with the other members of her tribe.  Likewise, the buffalo refused to answer any questions about where their tribe was located or the reasons why they stole the apple tree from the train.

"I remember you saying something about their sacred lands... Does that have to do with the apple tree being stolen?" Dusk asked, still trying to converse with the buffalo as they walked.  However the buffalo only ignored him and continued to remain silent.

"Stop trying to talk to that thief." A bad-tempered Applejack said. "We don’t need her to tell us where Bloomberg was taken.  We just have to follow the hoofprints left by the other buffalo." Applejack added looking at the ground, where she could see the trail in the desert of the tracks of the buffaloes when they fled.

"But even if we find the buffalo herd, we need a plan." Dusk said slowly, noting that Applejack was more sensitive and irritable since her beloved apple tree had been stolen. "So, I think it's a good idea to talk and listen to what she has to say."

"They’re just a tribe of savages... I don't think she tells us anything interesting." Braeburn said as he gave the buffalo a little tug, which made her angrier than she was. In fact, of all the ponies, it seemed that she had seized a special hatred for Braeburn, who in turn was looking at her with the same displeasure. "She and her tribe are just vulgar thieves."

"We're not thieves!" The buffalo said slowly, clenching her teeth. Finally saying her first words since she had been captured. "You are!" She added, glaring at Braeburn.

"What do you mean?" Dusk said immediately, taking advantage of the small opportunity that opened up so that he could finally strike up a conversation.

The buffalo looked at Dusk for a second, then she looked away again and fell silent.  However, Dusk noted that at least she didn't look at him with as much hatred as she did at Braeburn, so perhaps this was his chance to move on in the dialogue.

"I think we haven't introduced ourselves yet.  My name is Dusk Shine, Princess Celestia's protégé." Dusk said with a kind smile, deciding to emphasize that he had a link with the ruler of their great nation, to see if with that he could better reach the young buffalo. And indeed, that worked, since upon hearing the name of the Princess of the Sun, the young buffalo's eyes widened, and she looked at Dusk differently.

"M-My name... is Little Strongheart." The buffalo finally said slowly, as if she had still been undecided about whether to open her mouth or not.

"It's a pleasure!" Dusk said with the same kind smile, happy to finally be able to talk. "We really regret holding you captive like this-"

"I don't." Braeburn said with a mocking smile, making the buffalo and Dusk look at him annoyed.

"Yes... as I said, it's a shame.  But we need you to accompany us until we can recover our friend's apple tree… It's very important to her.  Perhaps you could tell us where they took it…" Dusk said looking at Little Strongheart intently, and noticing that she was returning to look defensive, he decided to quickly change his question so as not to miss his opportunity to chat. "But let’s change the subject!  A while ago you said that you weren't thieves, that the ponies were... Why did you say something like that?  We haven't stolen anything."

"He and those who live in his town have." Little Strongheart said looking angrily at Braeburn. "Ask him."

Dusk looked confused at Braeburn, who in turn looked with disgust at the buffalo.

"What does she mean?" Dusk asked, staring at Braeburn.

"I guess she means the town's apple orchard..." Braeburn said looking seriously at Little Strongheart. "A year ago, when we founded the town, we planted some apple trees on a plain. The apple trees grew rapidly and everything was fine until a few days ago, when we discovered that some apple trees had been destroyed… I guess that's what she means."

"Those were our sacred lands!" Little Strongheart said angrily. "It's our ancestral route that we must cross every year, and you occupied and blocked it without caring about anything.  All of our ancestors traveled that route for centuries, and now you arrive and usurp our lands and destroy our ancestral traditions."

Dusk and Braeburn widened their eyes and were surprised to hear that.

"W-We didn't know that..." Braeburn said worriedly, remaining silent for a second as he thought. "But still, we-"

"You are just thieves who don't care about anything." Little Strongheart interrupted, glaring at Braeburn.

"We don't care about anything!?" Braeburn replied offended, now looking furiously at the buffalo.  "Do you know how much work it cost us to plant those apple trees in these lands?  You savages just rip apart everything without thinking about what's left behind!  Our families were starving!  Nothing else grew or flourished in these lands, until we managed to grow those apple trees. Those apple trees are our last hope of being able to live in peace in our own town with our families, and you destroy them!"

Hearing that, it was Little Strongheart's turn to be surprised by the fact that she didn't know.

"I-I didn't know that..." The buffalo said slowly, but, as stubborn as Braeburn, her mind also refused to give in. "But still... You should have asked us before..."

Then Braeburn and Little Strongheart looked at each other fiercely and began to argue with each other, each saying that their point of view was more valid than the other's.  Meanwhile, Dusk approached Applejack, who was walking in front of everyone, with her eyes fixed on the horizon to see if she could see Bloomberg or the buffalo herd.

"Did you hear that?" Dusk asked looking at Applejack. "It seems that Little Strongheart and the buffaloes had their reasons for stealing from Bloomberg. I don't justify it, but-"

"But nothing!" Applejack said firmly, who had heard what they had discussed behind her. "I don't care what that stranger says.  My family in Appleloosa needs to eat and those buffalo destroy and steal. They’re just dirty thieves!" Applejack added harshly.

Dusk was surprised to see his friend so angry and rigid, since she was always the most mature and conciliatory in discussions and tried to see everything from different angles.  But it seemed that with this situation, her judgment was not going to change, and the buffaloes were simply not right.  In fact, Dusk looked back and realized that although Braeburn and Little Strongheart argued, they shared their opinions and deep down it was noted that they accepted that the other was somewhat right, but Applejack was closed to any other opinion.

"Family always comes first..." Applejack whispered with fire in her gaze. "If you're going to contradict me, then I don't want to talk to you again." Applejack added full of fury and determination, which left Dusk paralyzed, since he had never seen his friend like this.

For the rest of the search, Applejack and Dusk were silent, the mare because she was totally focused on searching for Bloomberg, and Dusk because he was concerned to see his friend acting so closed-minded.  Meanwhile, the only ones who couldn't stop talking now were Braeburn and Little Strongheart, who had started arguing for the apple trees, and then, they took their discussion to another level, arguing about the correct way to jump, or who was stronger... It seemed that those two were like water and oil, and they kept mocking each other and saying that each one was better than the other.

Suddenly, the three ponies and the buffalo stopped when they heard a rumbling noise, like that of an avalanche that was rapidly approaching.  Then they all saw how a cloud of dust was fast approaching towards them.  It was already too late when they realized that this cloud of dust and noise was caused by a huge herd of buffalo, which quickly surrounded them and blocked their way.

Several dozen buffaloes had surrounded them, all very different from Little Strongheart, since these were adult males, large and corpulent.  They all shared disgusted looks when they saw who invaded their lands.  And those disgusted looks quickly turned to angry looks when seeing that these invaders had one of their own tied with a rope, as if she were a vulgar cow.

"Untie the lasso..." Dusk whispered under his breath to Braeburn, almost without opening his mouth and still staring at the angry buffalo.

Braeburn swallowed as he was surrounded, and slowly did as Dusk said, releasing the lasso that was tied to the leg of the little buffalo.

"Hehe... Now it's my turn to throw you, cowboy." Little Strongheart said with a mocking laugh, this time being the one who tied the lasso around Braeburn's neck, before the furious gaze of the yellow colt. "We'll bring them before the Chief!" Little Strongheart added in a shout, looking at the other buffalo.

Then the herd of buffalo turned, keeping a circle to surround the ponies, and all together they began to go deeper into the desert, walking towards where their tribe was settled.  As they walked, Dusk began to think of alternatives to flee, which he had already prepared a couple of escape plans using his magic.  However, he decided that perhaps it was a good opportunity to learn more about the tribe and their thoughts, so that he could come up with some solution.  While Applejack just followed with her angry gaze, narrowing her eyes at a severe headache she had had for a while, thinking that she should rescue Bloomberg and that she now had an even more important mission, to scare those buffalo away from Appleloosa, from her family's town… She didn't care that the buffalo said that this was their ancestral land, her family needed apple trees to live, that was all that mattered: her family. For his part, Braeburn kept walking with an annoyed look as Little Strongheart occasionally tugged on the lasso to annoy him, as if she enjoyed making him angry.

Finally, when the Sun was about to set, the herd of buffaloes and their captives reached the place where the tribe settled, a plain with several cloth and leather huts where the buffalo lived temporarily.  Immediately the buffaloes pushed them to the center of the place, where there was a bonfire and a huge standing buffalo, much more imposing than the others and wearing a large Indian plume.

"Why are you bringing these pathetic ponies before me?" The great buffalo said in a deep voice, looking with extreme disgust at Dusk and company.

"Oh, Big Chief Thunderhooves.  I have captured these prisoners with me after robbing the train.” Little Strongheart said ceremoniously.

"Captured us?  Last I remembered, I was the one who captured you with my lasso, precious." Braeburn suddenly said annoyed.

"It was all part of my plan, tough guy." Little Strongheart replied, giving her a false compliment just like the pony had done to her.

"Yeah... sure…" Braeburn said with a mocking laugh, and then he and Little Strongheart brought their faces close, looking at each other with hate.

"Enough with these dirty and disrespectful ponies..." The Chiegf said angrily. "Crush them!"

In listening to the Chief, the buffalo herd gave cries of euphoria and started running in circles, ready to attack and crush those intruders, before the terrified eyes of the ponies.

"W-Wait, Big Chief." Little Strongheart said quickly, looking worriedly at the ponies and then at the Chief. "We can't crush them!"

"Why not?" The Big Chief asked annoyed, since he didn't like to be contradicted.

"W-Well... I... have talked to them..." Little Strongheart said, glancing at Braeburn. "They're not bad, they're just ignorant savages... They say they didn't know that their apple trees-"

"I don't care what they told you." The Big Chief interrupted, looking at Little Strongheart as if she had gotten dirty just by talking to the ponies. "There is no goodness, kindness or anything pure in the dirty souls of the ponies.  They are just savages who must go far from our lands... The war council has already decided.  Tomorrow we'll crush the town of those ponies!"

At the announcement of war, the buffaloes again began to run in circles, getting closer to the three ponies to attack them and end their miserable lives. Meanwhile, Little Strongheart looked back at the ponies, this time more scared.

"W-We can't dirty our hooves with blood before the battle!" Little Strongheart said in a cry, to make herself heard. Then she looked at the Chief with a pleading look. "It's bad luck!  Let's lock them up until tomorrow!"

The Chief looked with disgust at the little buffalo, for it was the second time that she had contradicted him in front of his warriors.

"Please... Father." Little Strongheart added in a whisper, ducking her head, since it was not correct to call his father as such in front of the other buffalo.

The great buffalo stared at Little Strongheart for a long time, unsure whether to think of her as his daughter or as another of the tribe, since he should have no preferences.  However, eventually his parental instincts won.

"As you wish..." The Big Chief finally said reluctantly. "Tomorrow at noon, anyway, we'll crush them all."

With that said, the buffaloes stopped running and reluctantly shoved the three ponies into one of their tents and blocked the entrance with wooden bars. And since it was Little Strongheart who challenged the Chief to lock them up instead of crushing them, it was she who was tasked with the task of watching them all night as punishment.

The three ponies fell silent once they were thrown into the tent, either from pent-up rage or from nerves from being nearly crushed.  The night had already fallen, and the only noise in the tent was that of their stomachs as they hadn't eaten all day.  But they weren't the only ones in that situation, so when no one saw her, Little Strongheart brought some plates of food for them.

"Thank you very much." Dusk said thanking her for that gesture, but he couldn't help but look strangely at the plate of food she had given him, which was an ugly dough without much color or flavor, which seemed more like plaster than food.

"It's the only thing we have to eat in these lands." Little Strongheart said with a sad smile. "It's not tasty but it's very nutritious."

"And this is your way of asking for forgiveness?" Braeburn said annoyed. "You lock us up and now give us our last meal before squashing us!?"

"I saved your life!" Little Strongheart said angrily, again arguing with Braeburn, as they had all day.

"Tomorrow they'll crush the whole town! With foals and fillies in it!" Braeburn said angrily. "Do you agree with that!?"

Little Strongheart looked fearfully at the ponies, knowing that this was terrible, but she couldn't help but close her eyes in pain and only turned to turn her back on the ponies.

"Ponies have broken our traditions, they kill our lifestyle... The ponies take away more from us every day, and we're less and less... We're dying out!" Little Strongheart said painfully, a tear falling down her cheek. "If you don't want to listen to us... How else will you listen to us if it's not with violence?"

After those words, it was Braeburn's turn to show a face of pain and regret upon hearing that her race were dying out, and like the little buffalo, he turned and closed his eyes in pain, knowing that what the ponies were doing was not right, but there was no other way out.  And Braeburn wasn't the only one who was affected by those words, because Dusk also lowered his head, thinking that the two positions were irreconcilable.  Then Dusk looked askance at Applejack, who had been strangely silent since they had been caught.  Applejack hadn't even touched her food, she was only lying on the ground, it seemed that she had a debate with herself, because she kept her eyes tightly closed and the only thing she repeated in a whisper was: 'They're wrong... they don't matter... family comes first...' over and over again.

After eating the porridge they had to eat, sleep began to fall quickly to Dusk, since after such a hectic day, his body demanded that he sleep to recover.

"I must... stay awake..." Dusk said in his mind as his eyes closed, fighting against his own body that demanded rest. "Just... just five minutes..." Dusk told himself, finally giving in to exhaustion and falling fast asleep.





When Dusk opened his eyes again, he stood still for a moment and moved his eyes everywhere to recognize well where he was before moving.  And when asking 'where was he', he didn't mean to discover where he was physically, but rather to discover if he had awakened or if he was in the dream world, since he had been living lucid dreams for days, thanks to the presence of the mysterious 'Lady Night'.

"I was waiting for you." Said the same sweet voice every night, who always greeted him in the same way and who already announced to Dusk that this was a dream.

"Hi, Lady Night." Dusk said smiling, seeing the beautiful blue alicorn smiling at him.

Since she had first appeared in his dream, 'Lady Night' had without fail visited the dreams of Dusk Shine.  The first two times, she had appeared because Dusk had had nightmares.  And she, as a guardian of dreams, had appeared in them to help him overcome them.  But after that, Lady Night had continued to appear every night without fail, taking Dusk through different and fantastic unreal landscapes that could only exist in that dream world, telling him that she was there no longer because it was her obligation, but because she simply enjoyed of his company and their conversations.  And Dusk, who for a second thought that maybe that could be uncomfortable, because he had someone invading his dreams, quickly forgot that discomfort when seeing the beautiful figure of Lady Night.

Every time Dusk saw Lady Night, he couldn't help but blush a little at how beautiful she was, and while he knew his love feelings were now focused on other mares, he couldn't help but think that the graceful and curvy figure of Lady Night made her look like one of the most beautiful mares he knew.  This led Dusk to think that perhaps he had a weakness for alicorns, since his first love had also been an alicorn.

"My first love?" Dusk whispered thoughtfully. Only then remembering his beloved babysitter and realizing something very important.

While living in Canterlot, Dusk had childishly sworn that his undying love would be for that beautiful and loving pink alicorn that had been his nanny.  But now, that seemed so far away... Now, every time he thought about the word love, the image of that pink alicorn, which had previously been clear as water, now looked diffuse, and instead, what now he saw clearly, it was the face of his five dear friends.

"Your first love?" Lady Night repeated, looking at Dusk curiously.

It was then that Dusk came out of his thoughts and blushed realizing he had said that out loud while thinking about his past.

This time was not the first time that Dusk said what he thought aloud in a dream.  As Dusk had more experience in lucid dreaming, he had realized that in the dream world it was more difficult to differentiate when one spoke or only thought about something.  It was as if the barrier between words and thoughts was thinner in this world, causing one to unconsciously say more easily what one thought and felt.

"I-It's nothing, I just thought that even feelings of love can change over time." Dusk said a little nervously. "Or maybe... that was never true love..." Dusk added with a more thoughtful look.

It was then that near where Lady Night and Dusk were, two ponies-shaped clouds appeared.  The first was lavender, shaped like a laughing young colt; And next to it, the second one was taller, in the shape of a pink alicorn, who also laughed next to the colt.  And then a third cloud appeared, shaped like a white colt. And as soon as the third cloud appeared, the alicorn cloud head turned and stared at the white colt's cloud instead of the lavender colt's cloud.

"The feelings change over time.  And just as you forget about ponies that you loved; you'll also meet new ponies that you… will fall in love with." Lady Night said calmly, but not being able to avoid blushing and looking at Dusk from the corner of her eye when she said that. "Very well then, where do you want to go tonight?" Lady Night added with a smile, changing the topic.

At Lady Night's question, Dusk lowered his head thoughtfully.  He knew he was in a dream, but he also couldn't help but think that right now, in the real world, there were great and serious concerns that his attention should be on.

Seeing Dusk with that confused look, Luna knew that Dusk was worried, so she decided not to wait for the colt's response and surprise him.  Then the alicorn’s magic began to work and the landscape around it, which until a few moments ago was nothing but hazy and shapeless, changed radically, taking shape and color.

"I have told you that in this dream world you're safe from everything.  You don't have to worry about anything here." Luna said, gently lifting Dusk's head and giving him a loving smile. "Look at the landscape that I have made for you."

Raising his head, Dusk widened his eyes.  Before him was a starry night sky like he had never seen, crowned with a huge moon that illuminated everything with a soft light.  Not far away there were small mountains from which dozens of waterfalls fell, taking the crystal clear water to the middle of a large lake, where both ponies were, right on an island in the middle of the lake, surrounded by huge and colorful flowers that surely they would never see in the real world.  The whole landscape was a delight for the eyes, and also for the other senses, since Dusk could smell the aromatic flowers and feel the soft night breeze.

"All of these are... beautiful." Dusk said in amazement, turning his head to look at everything around him, stopping at Lady Night and realizing that when he said that everything was beautiful, that also included the beautiful alicorn.

"I knew that you would like it." Luna said, sitting down and looking at Dusk to sit next to her.

"I... I don't know if I should relax." Dusk said lowering his head nervously. "I need to wake up soon and-"

"I already told you, you shouldn't worry in this place." Luna said with a kind smile.

Dusk looked undecided at the beautiful blue alicorn offering him peace in a moment of tension, and he felt as if he had deja-vu.  Then Dusk looked around again and decided to do somewhere in between, for an instant he would stop worrying about what was happening in the real world, but he wouldn't completely relax either, so he would take advantage of some answers.

"Why are you doing this for me?" Dusk asked, looking curiously at Lady Night.  A question he had already asked the alicorn on other occasions.

"I have already told you. Because I enjoy your company." Luna answered calmly, since it was not the first time that Dusk asked her that question. "And I want to see you happy."

On other occasions, Dusk stopped asking, since Lady Night always changed the subject, however, this time he was faster and insisted.

"Why me?" Dusk asked with concern. Then he looked back at the beautiful scenery around him. "Why do you give me such a beautiful gift?  I'm no one important."

"That's not true! You... you're important." Luna replied quickly, then getting nervous and blushing slightly. "You're very important… to me."

Looking up, Luna saw that Dusk was still looking confused, and although all she wanted was for Dusk to relax, she didn't want to reveal her identity yet, not without knowing if Dusk could someday feel something for her.

"Without you, I would still be a ghost full of suffering and pain.  Please don't ever say you're not important again." Luna added shyly, knowing that Dusk needed a more extensive response. "I owe you my life, and all I want... is to see you smile."

Hearing those words, the first thing Dusk felt was surprise, and then, seeing that majestic and beautiful alicorn turn shy and blush, Dusk couldn't help but blush too.

"I would remember if I had saved a beautiful mare like you." Dusk said thinking aloud, and then blushing completely realizing that he had made the same mistake again, all because of being in a lucid dream.

Hearing that, Luna blushed and had for a second a conflict of emotions, because she realized that Dusk still didn't remember her or know who she was, but even so, he just told her that her true form was very beautiful.

"You... do you think I'm beautiful?" Luna asked trying to get serious, but unable to hide her blushed cheeks.

"Y-Yes… well… everything here is beautiful! Hehe…" Dusk said embarrassed, feeling for a second that he couldn't call another beautiful mare if he was already in love with someone else, although that someone wasn't yet specified among her five friends.  "I-It's a shame that none of this is real..." Dusk said nervously looking around, trying to change the topic.

"What your real body feels is not what you should call real.  What is real is what your soul is capable of feeling." Luna said with a thoughtful look and then looking at Dusk and blushing slightly. "For example, the memories you have here will be real... just like the feelings you have here."

Dusk gave a thoughtful look and then touched his chest, where his heart was, thinking that he wasn't sure if his heart was there, but there were the feelings that he felt at that moment. Just then Luna stood up and looked at Dusk with a warm gaze.

"I do this for you, because you are important to me, and because... because someday, I also want to be important to you." Luna said staring at Dusk, with her cheeks blushed.

"Was... Was that a declaration of love?" Dusk thought confused and blushed, clenching his lips tightly to avoid again saying out loud what he thought.

Suddenly the bright night began to darken, and storm clouds appeared in the distance, causing both ponies to turn their heads and face the sky.

"Lady Night... what is that?" Dusk asked confused and somewhat fearful, since it was the first time that the alicorn made a storm appear in his dream.

"I don't know... I'm not causing that..." Luna replied with a look of fear, since it wasn't normal for a dream protected by her to change without reason. "It seems to be an interference..."

"An interference? Is someone entering my dreams!?" Dusk asked worriedly, and then realizing that it wasn't something as terrible as it might sound, since Lady Night was precisely there for that.

"Not necessarily... An interference may be because someone close to you in the real world is having a great nightmare." Luna said looking worriedly at the distant storm cloud. "But even if it were, that would mean that..." Luna whispered with a thoughtful look, with an increasingly worried look.

"Help..." A distant voice from a mare was suddenly heard, a voice so distant that it was barely audible.  Hearing her, both ponies raised their heads closely.

"Applejack!" Dusk said scared, realizing that that distant voice was that of his friend. "Applejack had to have fallen asleep next to me in the real world!  Could she be the one having that nightmare!?"

Luna didn't answer Dusk's question, she just stared at the distant storm cloud with concern.  Then she lowered her head and then looked at Dusk.

"If your friend is having a nightmare, maybe you can help me." Luna said looking seriously at Dusk and extending a hoof to hold her. "Dusk, a dream may be more dangerous than you think, but are you willing to join me?"

"Yes!" Dusk said immediately, holding Lady Night's hoof. His quick determination came for two reasons: because it was one of his friends who might be suffering with a nightmare, and also because Lady Night's serious gaze instilled confidence and security in him.

Then Luna spread her wings and guided Dusk, who floated beside her, flying into the distant storm cloud.  As they approached, Dusk noticed that in front of the dark cloud there was a kind of small open window, which apparently connected with another world different from the beautiful landscape where they were.  Seeing it, Luna went directly to that window, they both went through it, and everything turned to darkness around them, until suddenly a light blinded them both.

End of chapter 47