What if.... (Patreon)

 Stone Mane was uncertain what to do in my Equestria dreamscape. Fireworks Part of him knew he should wake Applebloom so they could go and find her family and head back to Sweet Apple Acres, but part of him just wanted to stay with her like this. 

  
  The colt was grappling with this dilemma when a soft, familiar voice addressed him. 

  
  "Evening Stone Mane. It is a pleasure to finally meet you face to face." 

  Slowly stepping into view, Princess Luna came alongside the colt. Stone Mane looked up at the Princess. Even the darkness the Prussian Blue alicorn seemed to glow slightly. As the colt looked on he watched shooting stars dance through her mane.

   
  The colt started rise so he could bow when princess spoke. 

  
  "Stay Stone Mane. Do not rise. Let her rest." Gracefully the Princess sat down right alongside the colt. Then slowly he extended her left wing and gently draped it across the two foals. Stone Mane suddenly realized how cold it had become. Now it was like being out on a warm summer evening. After a couple seconds she spoke. 

  "So Stone Mane how has your day with Applebloom been? Hopefully you two have had fun." 

  The colt nodded his head. "It's been neat and wish I could stay longer. Applebloom and her family have been really helpful, and I'd like to learn more about them and their farm."

   
  "And what of Applebloom herself? You've finally met her face to face. Is she different from what you'd expected?" The princess asked. 

  "Oh! She's great!" exclaimed the colt. "She's ah, she's ah...."

  Stone Mane looked over at the sleeping filly with a quizzical look on his face. "Well, she's ah, um, uh I think of her as a friend now, and she's helped me a lot with my nightmares and I'm grateful for that. But....."

 
  The colt's voice tapered off. For several seconds he struggled for words he was looking for. Finally he resumed. "But I feel and care about her in a way I can't explain." He suddenly looked up at the princess. "Isn't it a bit rude for us to be sitting here talking about her like this? What if she wakes up?"

 
  Luna smiled and shook her head. "Fear not. I placed a minor sleep spell on her that will wear off in a little while. She won't wake up on us while we're speaking. So you care very much about her. That is naturally dear. I believe the word you are looking for to describe your current state is adore."

 
  The colt's eyes went wide. "You mean adore as in to love someone? Uh, um, aren't I a bit too young for that kind of stuff?" 

  The Princess of the Night chuckled softly. "Oh ho! No, no I don't you two will be getting engaged anytime soon!" Her voice became more serious. "However in time you may find that your feelings for her may grow stronger for and she may feel the same way. Do you understand?" 

  To Luna's surprise this didn't seem to sit well with the colt, Slowly he lowered his head. After a moment he spoke softly.  "Princess Luna can I ask you a very important question?"

 
  The alicorn nodded her head. "You may ask. Whether I'll be able to answer it will depend on what the question is." 

  The colt looked over at the sleeping filly. "She's special isn't she your highness. Not just to me, but you consider her special as well don't you?" 

  "Yes Stone Mane. She's the first pony who I've encountered that may be to actually able to directly assist me in the dream realm. She holds great potential." 

  This seemed to bother the colt. "So is she going to be part of your court someday? You're going to be counting on her to help ponies all over Equestria aren't you?" 

  "That is correct. Stone Mane does this disturb you?" 

  The colt sighed. "It's just that, that she's going to be in the palace with you meeting all kinds of interesting, rich and important ponies. I'm just an ordinary earth pony from an ordinary family who will most likely end up in an ordinary career."

 
  He looked up at the alicorn. "What if, what if in time I do come to love her, but she doesn't feel the same way? She's going to be meeting so many special ponies. Why would she want to have a pony like me when she's going to have some many other choices." 

  The colt rested his head on his front hooves an muttered. "I won't have a chance against those odds." 

  "Funny that you should feel that way Stone Mane. Because before you came to Ponyville Applebloom was very worried that you'd be disappointed to find that she was just a little filly who was incapable of doing all the amazing things she done in your dreams." 

  
  The colt looked up at Luna. "Really?" He looked over at the still sleeping filly. "That's silly. I knew that she couldn't do that kind of stuff in the waking world. I think she's amazing not for that, but because she was willing to help me in the first place. She didn't have to." 

  Luna smiled and then nuzzled the colt. "I think you should tell her that before you leave. Now returning to your question; I think you're underestimating yourself Stone Mane. You have more potential then you know. Don't sell yourself short. Remember, just a year ago Applebloom was just a little filly who's biggest concern was when she'd get her cutie mark." 

  "As for what the future holds for you two I cannot say. Nor can I guarantee that over time you both won't end up going your separate ways, but if you don't try I can assure you that your chances of success will be zero."

 
  Then Luna's horn started glowing gently. "Now I think it is time for you to sleep. Don't worry, I'll stand watch until her family find you. Now sleep my little colt. Sleep and have pleasant dreams." 

  As the she spoke these words Stone Mane felt a his eyes grow heavy as sleep quickly overtook him. In a couple of minutes he was asleep alongside Applebloom. 

  
  A short time later Applejack was walking around trying to figure where Stone Mane and Applebloom had gotten off to. They had said they'd stay close by and AJ's frustration was growing as her search went on without success.  She was about to start yelling AB name when she noticed a soft blue glow coming from a nearby tree. Investigating the light source she found the two foals asleep under Luna's wing. The mare strolled up and bowed.

 
  "Evening yer highness! Wasn't expecting ta meet ya tonight. I hope my little sister and our guest  haven't been a problem fer ya?"

 
  Luna shook her head. "Nay fair Applejack. In fact before he dozed off I was able to have a very constructive discussion with young Stone Mane. You know he thinks very highly of your sister?"

 
  AJ sat down on her haunches and pushed the brim of her Stetson-style hat back. "Applebloom seems ta have that effect on other ponies. Shoot! It's a pity ta wake them just ta git them in the cart."

   
  The Co-Ruler of Equestria smiled and folded her left wing against her side. Gracefully she rose from the ground. As she did the two foals gently levitated into the air. "Well, then allow me to carry them to your cart then so we need not wake them. Lead on!" 

  "Mighty kind of ya Princess." Then AJ rose herself and headed off with Luna in tow to find Big Mac and the cart. 

 To be continued.