//------------------------------// // Nightly Duties // Story: Goddess of the Moon // by Duke of Canterlot //------------------------------// Apple Bloom flew with Luna for what seemed like at least 100 kilometers – wherever this was, it was far from Canterlot Castle. “Patience, my protégé, we are almost at our destination.” “Ah trust you’re taking us to the best spot possible.” “Certainly. The best spot possible. Especially since the sun is beginning to set!” Luna and Apple Bloom finally landed on a peak of a mountain. The air was chilly. From the look on Luna’s face, Apple Bloom could tell that Luna was comfortable with and possibly preferred the cold weather. “Now we shall commence raising of the moon.” Apple Bloom looked down. She wasn’t sure why. It wasn’t exactly like the moon would be at the foot of the mountain. “Remember your stance”, said Luna. Apple Bloom put all four hooves to the ground and kept her back straight and her horn in focus. At this point, she had mastered the stance. “Take your focus away from the environment and put it on all the moon”, said Luna with a commanding voice, “it is hiding in plain sight.” Apple Bloom focused on the moon, its shape and bringing the enormous rocky sphere up to the sky. She let her horn emit a small beam of light blue magic as it made its way into the sky – partially revealing the moon’s shape. “It appears that we are going to have a crescent moon tonight. Certainly easier than a full moon in my opinion.” Apple Bloom began to generate more magic. The moon didn’t seem to want to budge. Apple Bloom tried again for a few more moments – but nothing was happening. What was wrong? “Luna, ah don’t know why the moon isn’t moving.” “The moon has a mind of its own. You must be one with the moon – then it will listen to you.” Apple Bloom focused on the moon again with determination. She then whispered, “Princess Luna has entrusted me with this responsibility. As Luna did, ah will make sure ah work in your best interests” She let another beam of magic hit the moon and it seemed to start to move. The moon was rising into the air. Apple Bloom no longer could feel the resistance. The moon seemed to be working in tandem with her magic. This was amazing. She did it all on her own! Apple Bloom pushed the crescent moon all the way up the sky bringing light to Equestria. “Bravo!! Bravo!!”, cheered Luna, “you handled your first moon raising quite admirably. I believe you and the moon will become close friends.” “Thank you, Princess Luna. Ah am so happy that worked.” Apple Bloom was never more happy to see the moon in the sky. This was her accomplishment and it would continue to be for many years. “Moony”, said Luna, “Princess Apple Bloom will keep you happy.” Apple Bloom noticed that the moon began to flicker quickly. “The moon said thank you“, said Luna, “and that it looks forward to working with Princess Apple Bloom. In no time, you will learn the moon’s language. In fact, I think it will teach you.” “Glad to have a new friend. Thank you Moony!” The moon flickered again. Apple Bloom grinned at the moon. “Now are you ready for another lesson of a lifetime. I shall teach you how to enter another creature’s subconscious. You will learn their deepest desires and darkest secrets. And you will be able to help ponies reconcile their problems with their dreams.” “That’s so cool”, said Apple Bloom, “so how do we enter another creature’s subconscious?” “To put it bluntly, with magic!” “You make it sound so easy.” “I imagine that you have noticed the color of your magic?” “Ah did”, responded Apple Bloom, “just like yours.” “I have given you not just any unicorn magic – I have given you some of my magic. We will walk through a dream of a pony together and you will see how easy it is.” “So, who are we gonna visit?” “It is up to you, Princess Apple Bloom.” “Ah do worry about Sweetie Belle – she always seems so mad at me these days. Ah made a bad mistake with Button Mash last year and ah fear that Sweetie never really forgave me for that.” “That certainly is a difficult first dream. But I am sure that it will answer some questions you have about Sweetie Belle.” “Have you been in her dreams recently?” “I haven’t. Last time I visited Sweetie Belle’s dream, she was still a pre-teen.” “Let’s do it!” “Very well.” Luna built a dome of magic surrounding herself and Apple Bloom. In a second, Apple Bloom saw that she was floating in the air along with Luna. There was an uncountable crowd of sleeping ponies. “To Sweetie Belle, we go”, said Luna. They found themselves on a mountain made of candy. There was a rainbow in the sky. “This seems pleasant”, said Apple Bloom, “ah am guessing this is a good one!” “Most important lesson”, responded Luna, “never judge a dream by its scenery.” Apple Bloom and Luna could see two figures at the bottom of the mountain. “Let’s go talk to those folks”, said Luna. The two alicorns flew down. Apple Bloom could see that it was Sweetie Belle and Button Mash staring at each other all lovey-dovey. “Sweetie Belle! Button Mash!”, shouted Apple Bloom, “me and Luna wanna hang out.” Sweetie Belle and Button Mash turned around. Sweetie Belle looked nervous. Button Mash looked excited like he was.. oh man, Apple Bloom knew what was going to happen in this dream. “I am blessed to have such a beautiful alicorn in front of me.” “Yeah ah agree that Luna is beautiful”, said Apple Bloom with a smile. She gave Sweetie Belle a wink trying to show her whose side she was on. But Sweetie didn’t seem convinced. “Don’t play dumb, Princess Apple Bloom! Not that Luna isn’t beautiful too, but you, Apple Bloom, are the apple of my eye! Sweetie Belle – I must leave you now for this goddess of the moon!” Apple Bloom could see the tears forming in Sweetie Belle’s eyes. “Button Mash”, said Apple Bloom, “we have been through us a million times! We cannot be together. You belong with Sweetie Belle, not me.” “But my heart says otherwise. I shan’t ever give up you, my princess.” “What? Do you wanna be Prince Button Mash or something? ” “A royal title is nothing I desire. If being with you means I can’t be royalty. I will say yes.” “Button”, said Sweetie with a whimper, “why are you doing this to me?” “I am sorry. It is nothing against you. Apple Bloom is perfect at everything she does”, said Button Mash, “she has always been a superior pony to you. You are so ordinary in comparison. C’mon AB, give me a kiss!” Apple Bloom slapped Button Mash. She was surprised to see that Button Mash began to glitch. Sweetie Belle looked confused. He then disappeared into nothing. “What did you just do”, asked Sweetie Belle with a surprising calmness. “Ah will never take Button away from you”, said Apple Bloom, “that thing – you realize you’re in a dream?” “What?” “Yeah, it’s all a dream. Luna and ah are just visiting!” “So..er..wow I have to be careful what I dream these days, haha. But you’re actually in my dream?” “Yes”, said Luna, “Apple Bloom and I are in your dream. I have seen your fears and you can see they are unwarranted.” “I guess”, said Sweetie Belle, “maybe my only fear is that you’re going to cause Button Mash to turn into nothingness with your alicorn powers.” “Ah am not going to take Button away from you – ah promise. Maybe in some stupid dream you make up but not in the real world.” “I understand”, said Sweetie Belle, “well sort of..” “What’s there not to understand?” “You’re amazing. Compared to you, I am a nobody. You’re smarter and stronger than me. Why wouldn’t Button want to leave me for you? You’re perfect.” “Ah am not perfect. Ah make mistakes – like what ah did with Button last year. It aches me so much what happened. It was selfish of me and ah am tired of this tension between us. Tell Button that ah am going to hook up with a bunch of assholes in Canterlot and get an STD. That should get him to think twice if he wants to pursue me again.” “Again? Did something happen recently?” Apple Bloom was nervous – Sweetie Belle had no idea. “Ah can’t lie to you. Button Mash did stop by my house to pay his respects after Granny died.” “I had no idea of this! I wonder why he didn’t tell me.” “Nothing happened. Ah don’t like him that way!” “That’s irrelevant because he loves you more than he loves me!” Sweetie Belle snarled and suddenly their landscape disappeared. Luna and Apple Bloom were floating in the air. “Sweetie woke up”, said Luna.