The Dreamers
She could get used to this.
She really could. Now, this was what it was all about. This was what it was meant to be. Flying freely, making what she wanted, expressions of thoughts and minds and emotions – she was finally back in her own head, and the unrestricted boundaries of life were at her whim and fancy.
She should have done this before, really.
Applejack picked up a stone, chucking it toward the lake that spanned across a thousand miles ahead of her.
The stone skipped. All one thousand miles, until it disappeared into the horizon and vanished from view.
Applejack sat herself down on the cool, refreshing grass, each blade like a mellow breeze that ruffled against her skin like icy silk.
She lay back, closing her eyes, letting the odd sensations take her.
But there was a movement to her left, something that she felt, something that caused her to pry her eye open.
There was a dark hoof that stood beside her, one that led upward to a soft, white dress, something meager and humble.
“Hello, Applejack,” Princess Luna said.
Applejack rolled up, planting herself on her haunches as she gave the princess a full look.
She had left her crown at home, along with her other adornments. No necklace, no spats. Just Princess Luna, in a soft white dress and a braid.
Applejack quirked an eyebrow.
“I am trying something different,” Luna explained. “Does... does it look alright?”
“Looks fine t’ me,” Applejack said, lying down again.
“May... may we talk?” Luna asked, still shuffling nervously.
“‘Course we can!” Applejack responded, smacking the grass next to her. “Have a seat!”
The princess lowered herself, slowly, daintily, onto the grass, sitting up and staring out across the lake.
For a while, neither party said a word.
“Thank you for the gift,” Luna blurted out, suddenly.
“Hey, ain’t a thing,” Applejack replied, patient as ever. “I’m sorry I ain’t a better artist. Could’a done you a better job, I reckon.”
“Oh no, it’s fine. It’s... the most meaningful thing I have received in a long time.”
“Oh, come on, you’re just bein’ nice now.” Applejack grinned. “Remember that painting of the hill I did? Proof enough that I can’t even think of something nice.”
“Yes... I remember the painting,” Luna said, carefully. “It was... rather...”
“Go on, Princess, you can say it.”
“It was... It could have been...”
“It was plumb awful, Princess.” Applejack laughed.
Luna smiled guiltily. A small weakness, of the good sort.
The edge of Applejack’s mouth curled up as well as she noticed Luna’s reaction out of the corner of her eye.
The surface of the lake shimmered like glass.
And the two ponies watched it for a while.
“You know,” Luna said, hesitantly. “You... you have done very well for one who has never... traversed dreams before.”
“Yeah? Princess Celestia said it was something about honesty and all that.”
“Indeed so. But... there are many things that you have yet to be able to do. Even in the dreams of others. To have come this far already, with no previous training, however, is nothing short of... astounding.”
“Well. Thank ye kindly, Princess.”
“If... if you would like...”
“Yeah, Princess?”
“I could teach you... more. If you would be interested.”
Applejack sat up, looking at Luna, who shied away almost instinctively. “Well... that’s an interesting proposal.”
“I... I could show you how to do what I can. And teach you how to help others in their dreams as well. Of course, you wouldn’t have to do it as a d-duty, but... you would be one of the rare few able to help others in their dreams if they so require. Just as you have... helped... helped me.”
The Princess found herself busy looking at a blade of grass as she said this, but a hoof gently fell upon her shoulder, and she looked back to see the glowing face of Applejack looking toward her.
Applejack remembered. There was a portrait in one of the dreams, a portrait of Luna’s sister and one of Applejack’s friends. Perhaps this was a desire of the princess of the night as well, and perhaps, this would be a good place to start.
“I mean, you wouldn’t have to, if you did not want to!” Luna denied herself furiously. “It was just a silly idea, I mean...”
“I’d love ta.” Applejack nodded. “I wouldn’t at all mind being your student. Although Pinkie ain’t ever gonna let me hear the end of this.”
“Oh, would that be...”
“It’s a joke, Princess. We’ll find a way to shut her up. So... yeah, sign me up! I guess I’m now officially the student of Princess Luna!”
“Oh, that’s wonderful! Wonderful!” Luna exclaimed with a happiness that was due for a long time coming. “But we must do it properly, as my sister always asks of her own pupil, we must no longer hang ourselves up on formality! Please. Call me ‘Luna’ from now on.”
“I think I can do that, Luna.” Applejack smiled.
As they spoke, a thin red line – a shining ribbon – coursed out from behind Applejack, swirling through the air and curling, like a snake playing on the wind, around Luna’s hoof. It orbited her leg for a few more revolutions before fading away and disappearing into the noise of the dream.
“Luna? I’ve been meanin’ t’ ask.” Applejack asked, watching as the last few specks of the ribbon sparkled away.
“Of course, my pupil. Anything!” Luna fought to keep the childlike grin off her face, trying to be professional.
“What’s with the red ribbon? I saw a lot of red things in the other dreams. I was wonderin’...”
“Oh, so you can see them too? That is quite remarkable, indeed. Those lines are the threads of fate, in whatever form they choose to take. They exist as phantoms in the dreams of another, and indicate the desire of a connection between two souls. When a link is made, it signifies the moment when... well.”
Applejack looked up, eyes connecting with the princess’, as both of them bloomed with an understanding smile.
Both stood, and looked out over the lake, taking the time to enjoy the rare gift of friendship.
But this was a start. This was a beginning.
It was the first step in a new adventure, and there wasn’t anything wrong with that.
And as Luna explained and rattled on about dreams and rules and the introduction to what was a brand new chapter in their lives, two ponies slept calmly.
Two ponies slept sound.
For the first time in uncountable days, two ponies, cities apart, joined by their hearts, slept joyously with smiles on their faces.
For what awaited them in the morning were no tears of sadness nor cries of pain.
And what they would awake to was nothing less than the warmth of a bright new Summer’s day.
The End