Princess Luna mentally sailed through the ethereal space between little bubbles that were each and every being's personal dream realm. Though there were tragically far fewer in Equestria than once there had been there were still too many for her to get to in a single night. Nearly a third of them had an ugly red outline to them that warned of their unpleasant nature, but many of them were also from familiar ponies that she'd visited many a night in the past. Time and experience had taught her that sometimes mortals needed to face those terrors on their own and at their own pace to get through them. Breaking or twisting a bad dream to not be scary only lasted for the length of that dream, and even if it was smooth sailing for them the rest of the night, there was always the next night that it returned. Besides, this time she was searching for specific minds. She sought the minds of a few friends, friends of friends, and a hoof full of strangers.

Not long after her search began the first of these came into view: a young Unicorn by the name of Sweetie Belle. As Luna came in close to examine the filly's dream before entering it she was relieved to see that it wasn't a bad dream, but instead one of those tedious ones where you walk and walk and walk and the path ahead never ends. If you came to and opened a door and stepped through there was another endless passage ahead of it, and if you turned around there was more of the same. No escape, but also no danger. Luna channeled her magic and descended into the dream world.

Sweetie Belle had been walking for a long time. She didn't know how long but other than being a bit dull she saw nothing wrong with that. The walls and floor were hospital white and the doors were light shades of gray. The temperature was comfortable and it wasn't humid. It was quiet other than her steps but if she ever stopped to think about it her mind kept telling her that was a good thing. Little noise was better than no noise or too much noise. It was dull but also relaxing in a way. If she ever came to a door it opened to another monochrome room that led to yet another monochrome empty room. But there was something different about this most recent door. It was a dark blue color speckled with little white dots of varying sizes, and the knob was shaped like the moon, complete with little craters. That reminds me of the sky at night. Pretty! she thought as she placed a hoof on it and pushed this door open too before entering. This room though was not like every other room she'd been through so far. This room has a soft carpet and a tall table with a round top and two simple stools next to it. On the table sat a pair of vanilla milkshakes almost covered in sprinkles. One of the stools had a big somepony sitting in it and looking her way expectantly.

"Well? Are you truly going to let it melt?" the large blue Alicorn asked before levitating a spoonful of her own treat to her own mouth. Sweetie Belle scampered to the empty stool and hauled herself up before grabbing a spoon herself. Wait, shouldn't milkshakes have straws? Sweetie wondered. In an instant her spoon vanished and was replaced with a large striped straw, though the spoon used by the other pony remained. For a time they sat in silence enjoying the ice cream, but halfway through their glasses the Alicorn that was Princess Luna pushed her milkshake aside. "I am pleased to see that your dreams tonight are not unpleasant young miss Belle, but I'm afraid that mine being here isn't simply because I wanted to share some ice cream with you. In the waking world, are you well?"

Sweetie Belle paused from drinking and removed her mouth from the straw. The waking world? What does she m- oh! This is a dream! So then this pony is Princess Luna! She's a tall blue Alicorn, duh! Sweetie Belle gave a quick bow then thought about the question. How was she? Tired, a little hungry, dirty, and hiding out in the loft of a drafty barn while her group waited for an entire horde's worth of Shamblers to pass by. But other than that, they were okay. She explained as much to the Princess. Luna nodded, then eyed her ice cream for a moment and took another spoonful. It wasn't real, but it still tasted good!

"Do you know where on this map," Princess Luna pulled a large paper map from nowhere and spread it on the table before them (their milkshakes had vanished). "you are?" Sweetie Belle climbed up onto the table and began looking over the map. After a short time she shook her head.

"Nope! I've just been following my sister and Big Macintosh. They know where we're going, though."

"The bearer of Generosity and Apple Bloom's brother are alive? This is wondrous news and she'll be happy to learn that! Have they said where they're heading?" Sweetie Belle gasped.

"Apple Bloom is okay?! Where is she?!" she squeaked with excitement.

"Your friend is currently living within The Everfree Forest with a Zebra potion maker. She's sick right now, but the Zebra mare is caring for her. I am sad to say that it is unknown where Applejack is."

"Apple Bloom is sick?!" Sweetie exclaimed with worry. "What's wrong with her?! She wasn't-" Sweetie paused and swallowed hard. "she wasn't bitten, was she?" Luna shook her head and the young foal sighed with relief.

"She asked me to come looking for her friends and family in the dreamscape. You traveling with miss Rarity and her brother makes this task much easier. Even so I still have much to do. Is there anything you'd like me to relay to her?" Sweetie considered that for a little while, then nodded.

"Just tell her that I miss her and I hope she gets better soon, please! One day we'll meet again but until then she needs to take care of herself."

"Do not forget also to take care of yourself in turn, young one. I shall go now, but I'll look for you again soon."

Princess Luna's body began to glow and then shine....but then it faded and returned to normal. "By the way, can you finish mine for me? I'm afraid I won't be able to." Luna requested with a wink, their two milkshakes once more appearing on the table. Sweetie Belle grinned and brandished Luna's spoon in her magical aura like a weapon. Then Luna left through the door that Sweetie had entered through and was gone from the dream when it clicked shut.

Luna exited Sweetie's dream with a smile. For the first time in what felt like a small eternity she held in her heart some good news. Hopefully the rest of her search this night would continue that trend.

Author's Note

I recall having written at least half a chapter involving Big Mac, Rarity, Button Mash and Sweetie Belle running into a wandering trader in the past, but for the life of me I can't find it. So either I deleted it, or it's on my older computer somewhere.