//------------------------------//
// The Dream Ends for Some 
// Story: Endless Dreamer 
// by Tineid 
//------------------------------//

	~ Alright Discord, we're all here! And we better look like ourselves when we're out of here! ~
Cocking his head to one side as if listening to some far-off voice, Discord declared "Ah, there's my cue!" He confidently snapped his fingers, materializing four very tired-looking ponies before him. He continued talking as most everypony in the room piled forward to embrace their friends, "Just as you were. No need to thank me, just being a good friend."
Fluttershy pulled herself free of eager hooves to hug Discord tightly. "Thank you so much. You are a good friend."
Discord rolled his eyes dramatically. "Well isn't that what I said?" But of course his heart swelled at this show of affection.

Though Celestia had kept her distance, she smiled and nodded. "Thank you Discord, for helping us despite some suspicions directed your way. And thank you Twilight and Fluttershy for putting yourselves at risk to help."

There was much embracing and affectionate nuzzling of friends and family and even a certain draconequus. Though they had been in Discord's dream for only a day, the thought of losing them had struck deeply into everypony's heart. A friend almost lost is a friend doubly appreciated.

Finally the group began to separate, giving everypony some breathing room. Applebloom, once again her little filly self, looked up at the three ponies who had been in the dream with her. "I've gotta thank everypony for savin' me. I woulda been a goner!"
Luna laughed, causing confusion to form on Applebloom's face. "No young one, it is you who saved me, time and again. This was my moment of weakness, my failure as Princess of the Night. I was bested by my enemies, placed you in danger, and made terrible mistakes the whole way through. But as I fell, you rose to the occasion. You proved you have skills nopony had even guessed at. You showed strength, courage, conviction."
Applebloom's cheeks coloured at this praise.
Luna raised her head up to its full height, spoke with the voice of authority. "Applebloom of the Apple family. I wish for you to become my apprentice. I wish to show you all I know of dreams, so that in time, two protectors shall watch over sleeping ponies everywhere!"
Applebloom's jaw hung open for several seconds as she tried to process this. "But- But I- Really? Me?"
Luna's voice softened. "Yes, little one. You have so much potential, I see that now."
Applebloom thought on it, but in the end nodded. "Alright, if this is how I can help ponies, I'll do it. You an' me are gonna keep dreamin' ponies safe!"

Everypony else in the room, who had been holding their breath waiting to see how this played out, exploded into cheers.
Pinkie Pie whipped out her party cannon and fired confetti across the room. "Hooray for Applebloom! We're gonna have a somepony-got-her-cutie-mark partyyyy!"
Everypony stopped, looked at Pinkie, looked at Applebloom's flank.

There it was, a bronze sheriff's star with a crescent moon just like Luna's embossed on it.

"I've got my cutie mark. I've got my cutie mark!!" The filly bounded around her friends. "I got my cutie mark in dream guardin'!"
There was more hugging as everyone congratulated her on this important milestone in her life.
"I'm so jealous!" Sweetie Belle squeaked, though it was obvious she was happy for her.
"It's a pretty awesome cutie mark, kid" admitted Rainbow Dash, "Maybe not as awesome as mine, but pretty awesome."
"All four of them are super-fantastic!" burst out Pinkie

"Wait, what?" a bewildered Applebloom wondered.
"The two you have there are great, and the ones that are on your other body are great too! Hooray!!" Pinke bounded over to the four-poster bed where the four dreaming ponies had been lain down to sleep. "See??" Where the bodies of four ponies still slept.

From behind everypony, Discord just quipped, "Oops. I suppose you didn't need new bodies when I brought you out..."