A layer of darkness enveloped the main hallway of Canterlot Castle near the entrance. The black void condensed into a single orb that levitated near the top of the stairway. Two majestic eyes pierced the confines of sphere as Princess Luna appeared in front of the little ponies. With a warmhearted smile she said, “I welcome you to my ‘Party of the Night’ here in Canterlot Castle. From the bottom of my heart, I hope you enjoy your stay.”
“Thanks for inviting us!” the three fillies said in unison with one another, a hearty grin coming across their faces. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo walked alongside Princess Luna towards her room, ready to participate in the festivities. Princess Luna’s Star Night, Star Light Slumber Party had officially begun.
The laughter of the fillies trickled down the hallways and reached Princess Celestia’s ears while she sat at her desk. The ruler of Equestria turned towards her clock to see it was eight o’clock. “Right on time, you are quite punctual little sister.”
Princess Luna and her attendees played games, ate, and told each other stories. Those cheers and adulations began to fade with the march of time. Scootaloo’s perky ears flattened as she let out a quick yawn. The hopeful filly flier rubbed her eyes and said, “Why am I so tired? It’s only eleven o’clock right now.”
“You stayed up all night--” Sweetie Belle said before she let out a yawn of her own, “O my, excuse me Princess Luna.”
“It is alright, Sweetie Belle. Your bodies and minds are still growing. Apple Bloom, are you tired. As. Well…” The regal mare said, her ears twitching as she heard the sound of a pony snoring. Apple Bloom lay on her red sleeping bag, the cutie mark crusader emblem embroidered on it. After a quiet and polite chuckle, Princess Luna said, “How about you two ‘hit the sac’ with Apple Bloom. We have tomorrow morning to continue the festivities before you need to go back to Ponyville.”
Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle’s efforts to fight their heavy eyes were futile. They could not longer continue the fight. Both fillies into their sleeping bags as Princess Luna blew out the candles near them. The royal blue mare trotted on soft hooves towards the balcony. Her horn illuminated, and the stars began to glow even brighter while the moon continued to rise on the horizon.
“Apple Bloom,” Princess Luna said in a quiet voice as to not wake the little filly’s friends, “will you come to the balcony?”
Apple Bloom winced as the voice reached her ears. She blinked her eyes in rapid succession before opening them. The earth pony saw her friends sleeping in their bags next to her and found her way towards the balcony.
“I’m sorry to wake you, but would you mind joining me for a nightly chat?” The royal blue mare said in a quiet regal tone. “I wanted to wait until your friends were asleep.”
Stars twinkled in the sky as Apple Bloom sat beside Princess Luna and watched the moon rise. The royal blue aura surrounding Princess Luna’s horn ceased while Apple Bloom began to twirl her hoof on the stone floor beneath her. In a strained voice the filly said, “Ah uhh… ah want to apologize, again. Ah didn’ mean what was said on the farm, Princess Luna.”
Cricket chirps broke the silence that greeted both ponies. Shadows receded on the ground below, and the water from the Canterlot Royal Garden’s fountains reflected the full moon’s light.
“We have made amends for what transpired, Apple Bloom. Do you remember what I told you about your dream?” The regal mare said.
“Kinda,” Apple Bloom said. The filly tapped her right front hoof against her chin, and then raised an eyebrow, “ah think you said it was some kind of ‘prophodream’ or somethin’.”
Princess Luna lowered her head. The pony’s slight smile changed to a melancholic expression. “I am sorry. This little ‘Slumber Party’ I spoke to you and your friends about is a farce. I didn’t want my actions to give the wrong idea to your friends I was playing favorites. What you experienced was a ‘Prophetic Dream’ or ‘Future Sight’ as some may wish to call it. ”
Apple Bloom’s elated smile soured when those images entered into her mind. Applejack would go missing. The hardworking cowpony would be lost on a pie delivery, her hat being the only thing found. Before tears formed in the filly’s eyes, the regal mare extended her wing.
“You needn’t worry Apple Bloom. That dream can and will help your sister.” Princess Luna said, bringing the pony close to her. She placed her hoof on Apple Bloom’s chin, “I must warn you that skills such as yours must be honed. I’m sorry to say that this gift is neutral in its use, just like magic. It can be used for good or evil purposes.”
“Are you going to take me away from mah family and friends?” Apple Bloom’s voice quivered. “Please, ah don’t want to go.”
“No.” Princess Luna said. The regal mare gave a warmhearted smile before she looked towards the sky. “I promise. You won’t be taken. You seem confused?”
“It’s just that Pinkie Pie has her ‘Pinkie Sense’ and all. How come you didn’t take her?” Apple Bloom said.
Princess Luna briefly rolled her eyes before she shook her head. The mare looked towards the grandfather clock to see it was 11:27 pm. She turned towards Apple Bloom, continuing to hold her soft wing over the filly. “Dreams can be regular illusions, but others are powerful guides. A few earth ponies have rare talents to foresee events, but others have an innate talent that can go deeper. Some can see the past as well as the future, and those few can predict actual events that may come to pass. Pinkie Pie’s talents, while powerful, are a bit random at best. My sister felt it unwise to rely on her skills.”
“What do ah have--” Apple Bloom stopped short as a twinge came to her back, “Tea would be great.”
The royal blue mare’s eyes widened, but soon relaxed as a soft beat of leathery wings entered into her ears. A mare descended with a carefully balanced tray on her back. Her kind smile overshadowed the power of her fiercely glowing yellow eyes, “I thought you and your guest would enjoy a cup of tea, Princess Luna.”
“Thankyou Camellia, your Darjeeling Tea is always the best. I’m curious, when did you leave the kitchen?” Princess Luna said, taking a graceful sip from her teacup.
“I believe it was eleven twenty if you wish for me to be precise. Is there any particular reason you ask?” Camellia said as she landed behind the two ponies. “If you beg my pardon, may I ask about your guest?”
“I’m Apple Bloom,” the filly said in a cheery voice, quick to cover her mouth with her hooves. She sniffed her tea and took a quick sip, gulping down the rest. “That’s pretty good, if ah say so myself. Wonder what it would taste like with a drop of apple juice.”
The mare’s bat-like wings twitched. Camellia’s eyes began to twitch like her wings, but Princess Luna smiled at the mare and levitated the cups towards her. Princess Luna thanked the attendant for the tea, and Camellia bowed to both ponies before she took the serving tray with her towards the kitchen.
“You might want to watch what you say about Camellia’s tea. Camellia, her mother, her mother’s mother, and so-on have been royal tea brewers for over five centuries,” Princess Luna said with a wink towards the filly. “I am digressing from the purpose of our chat though. What you just witnessed was an example of your talents. To be rather blunt Apple Bloom, I need ponies like you.”
“Wait, how did I know that pony was coming? Did you setup a test for me?” Apple Bloom said to the regal mare.
Princess Luna nodded at the little filly and retracted her wing. She scooted over and turned to face the pony, “I will be brief, and I will admit that I need help. Ponies believe I know in an instant when a dream is in trouble. That couldn’t be further from the truth. It takes great concentration for me to identify a dream, transverse the ethereal fibers of the dream plane, and gain entry into that pony’s dream.” Princess Luna said. She folded her wing back to her side and turned to face Apple Bloom. The regal mare placed her hoof on the filly’s side, “There were dark times with prophets that retained skills that were as powerful as yours. I need powerful talents such as yours to keep the dream world safe.”
The filly turned away and began to shiver, “Ah was distraught in that one dream. It still leaves a bad taste in this apple’s heart when ah remember all those horrible things, and how cold I felt.”
“You fear your own abilities?” Princess Luna said as she raised an eyebrow, and then lowered it. “We all have skills, but we will never know their true potential until they are tested. At least, I believe that’s something my sister would say. I promise you Apple Bloom. I promise that I will not force you. My sister and I sister learned what happens when you push a pony to do something they shouldn’t.”
A shiver crawled down Apple Bloom’s back as the iris of her eyes flashed for a second. In a monotone voice she said, “King Sombra betrayed you?”
“I promised that I wouldn’t force you, however, as you can see, your body and mind can already see the past as well as the future. Though the prophetic visions are a gift to earth ponies, it isn’t an exclusive gift. You have seen such skills manifest in other ponies, much like your sister’s friend Fluttershy communicating with animals.” Princess Luna said. “Sombra was a dear friend that I taught many of my skills to, including many of his magical talents. It was a mistake to push him.”
“Please stop. Ah don’t want to see anymore!” Apple Bloom began to raise her voice. The pony’s tears glinted in the moon’s light while they fell towards the stone floor.
Princess Luna’s horn glowed, and an aura surrounded Apple Bloom. The little filly levitated off the floor as the regal mare’s voice grew quiet, “I promise. I won’t force you. I am sorry to say this isn’t a gift that can be wished away.”
*** *** ***
“Common Apple Bloom, you gotta wake up!” Scootaloo said. The hopeful filly flier shoved her hoof against Apple Bloom’s side. “I wanna eat some pancakes before Sweetie Belle gobbles em up. Princess Celestia’s royal chef makes the best pancakes. Rainbow Dash says they are beyond delicious.”
“Huh, what are ya talkin’ about Scoot?” The filly said while she rubbed her hoof against her right eye. “Where’s Princess Luna?”
The two fillies walked down the royal hall, side by side, towards the royal dining hall. They opened the door, sat next to Sweetie Belle, and waited at their plates. A unicorn came in, and he levitated a stack of pancakes with rich, viscous maple syrup drizzled on top towards the fillies.
Sweetie Belle levitated her fork in front of her. The utensil shook from the pony’s eager anticipation of the first bite and her attempts to concentrate. After a quick delighted sound from the filly unicorn, she said, “Apple Bloom, you need to stop talking in your sleep.”
“Aren’t you the one who says your sister taught you its ‘uncouth’ for a pony to talk with her mouth full?” Scootaloo said with a quick, soft jab towards her friend. The filly pegasus pony’s wings fluttered rapidly after her first bite of the fresh pancake stack in front of her. “O geez, these are better than Rainbow Dash said. I can’t believe this maple syrup. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon are going to be sooo jealous when we tell them what we got. Hey, Bloom, you gonna eat yours?”
“...” Apple Bloom remained silent as she gazed at the fluffy pancakes in front of her. The filly’s back tingled for a second before her irises flashed. “Hit the deck!”
Apple Bloom and Scootaloo dived to the floor, pulling Sweetie Belle down with them. The unicorn’s fork hit the plate just as an arrow passed by and stuck to an apple.
“Sorry girls, guess my aim was a bit off. There’s nothing to worry about. It’s just a harmless suction cup dart. I don’t know why ‘ya’ll’ are so jitter.” Discord said with a smirk. He materialized an unusual green hat on his head, plucked a feather out of Scootaloo’s left wing, stuck it in his hat, and said, “I’m off to split some arrows.”
“Hey, that hurt! Why don’t you use one of your feathers? Or you could at least poof one up out of thin air.” Scootaloo yelled. As Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle climbed into their seat, the pony said, “Apple Bloom, how’d you know that arrow was coming? I didn’t even hear Discord’s bowstring.”
“Yes my dear, I’m quite curious about that myself.” Discord said as he reappeared, in miniature form, near the three fillies. “My arrow passed through the wall, so you couldn’t have heard.”
“Ah umm – look, you want to keep gabbin’ or you gonna eat your hotcakes, Scootaloo? I’ll scarf yours down if you don’t nab’em up.” Apple Bloom said, watching her pegasus friend dart towards the plate of pancakes to savor them. “Besides, there’s a mirror in the corner near those apples Discord fired at.”
“Huh, I don’t remember that mirror being there,” Discord said with a shrug of his shoulders. The misshapen entity hopped off the table and resumed his normal size. “Whatever, it’s none of my business. These decorators are always changing things in this castle. Ok, this time I’m ‘really’ off to split some arrows.”
“I didn’t notice that mirror being there before either,” Sweetie Belle said as she squinted at the mirror. “It doesn’t matter to me. I’m going to eat these pancakes till I can hardly move. They are so delicious. Rarity is going to be so jealous, heh heh.”
Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo resumed their meal, but were greeted by Princess Luna as she entered into the main hall. The little earth pony filly stopped and looked at the mare, “Discord, Princess Luna has 2 wings, not four. Also, she is not ‘that’ tall.”
“O poo, you’re no fun.” Discord said as the form dematerialized and Princess Luna followed behind him.
“Discord, thank you for your ‘assistance’ here but I believe I can take it from here,” Princess Luna said with calm, blank expression on her face. “I trust all of you slept well. I’m sad to say that our time is at an end. The chariot is here to take you home. Rainbow Dash will be flying you back to your house Scootaloo.”
“Really?!” Scootaloo shot up out of her chair. “This is the best day, ever!”
The fillies finished their breakfast, bowed to Princess Luna, and followed the royal blue mare towards the gates of Canterlot Castle. Princess Luna watched as Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash head off towards the horizon, the little filly grinning as she zoomed through the air with her idol. Two pegasus stallion guards, clad in royal armor, assisted the two fillies with their bags. Before Apple Bloom placed her hoof onto the chariot, she walked towards Princess Luna. “Ah’ll think about it, I promise. Also, tell Discord thank you.”
“Why don’t you tell him yourself?” Princess Luna said as she pointed towards the filly’s ribbon. The pink bow gained a pair of eyes, and then metamorphosed into Discord.
Discord put his arms behind his back as the filly grinned at him. He leaned over and whispered “you’re welcome” into Apple Bloom’s left ear before he produced a toothbrush and a bath brush, scrubbing his teeth with the bath brush and his hoof with the tooth brush. “Fluttershy is wearing off on me. If you need me, I’m going to take a dip in my tub to see if I can rid myself of this ‘kindness.’”
The draconequus turned slightly towards the little filly. He gave a sly smile before he vanished into thin air. Princess Luna watched the two fillies depart on the royal chariot towards Ponyville.
“I take it your ‘party’ went well.” Princess Celestia said as she descended towards the ground with a graceful, soft landing. “If you don’t mind me asking Luna, what was her answer?”
“Unpredictable, just like a certain ‘chaotic creature’ you asked to intervene in the dining hall.” Princess Luna said. She gave a devious smile towards Princess Celestia before turning towards Canterlot. “I believe she will be a powerful ally when the time comes. In my heart, I don’t want to force her. We can’t allow the mistakes of the past to transpire again.”
“I know. You need to let that pain go, my dear sister. ‘He’ was tainted by his father’s lust for power. If we, if ‘I’ had realized it sooner…” Princess Celestia said. Her voice trailed as she remembered the twenty one year long war of the seven prophets from the Smokey Mane Mountains and King Sombra’s rise to power in the Crystal Kingdom with the skills he gained from Princess Luna. Princess Luna gave her elder sister a kind yet devilish smile. “That’s quite the devious look. Do you have something in mind?”
“You have a bit of a surprise in your study room. It is from me and the three fillies since it was your idea for the slumber party. I just played along.” Princess Luna said before she disappeared into the shadow of a nearby tree.
“Princess Luna, you best not have touched my things.” Princess Celestia said as she bit down on her lip. The ruler of Equestria relaxed and giggled to herself. “I’m glad you enjoyed yourself, my little sister. This was a test for Apple Bloom and yourself. I know Sombra was your first pupil, and you cherished his company among your dream journeys dearly. Though you swore to never take on another one after he abused your teachings, I hope, with all of my heart and soul, that Apple Bloom helps you to let go of that pain and cherish the thought of passing on knowledge once more.”