“Ugh...”

Sense of touch is back. You're laying down on something comfy. You're covered and warm. So far, so good.

Sense of taste is back. Yep, alcohol. Moving your tongue around you find some stale popcorn kernels between your teeth.

Sense of smell is back. Alcohol again. And some righteous morning breath... good god.

Sense of hearing is back. Snoring. And there's only one creature in this world that snores like THAT when she sleeps...

Okay, last one... sense of sight— AH! Too bright, too bright! Okay, one more time...

You slowly open your eyes and see exactly what you were expecting. You're in your living room, laying on the couch. The TV screen's nothing but static. You're surrounded by a bunch of discarded cans of cheap beer, a couple of overturned bowls of popcorn, and junkfood wrappers everywhere. The morning sun's rays are harshly streaming through the nearby window, giving your improvised blanket an almost angelic quality.

But no angel has breath this bad. No way.

Rainbow Dash is snoozing away on top of you, all four legs, both wings, and wild mane and tail spread out and draped all across your body. A puddle of pony drool is collecting on your shirt. You ponder for a moment how she can smell like a sunny field after a spring rain and the bathroom of the local bar at the same time, but aside from that and the noise, she makes a damn good blanket.

A quick status check reveals: pants are ON. We're good to go here.

You were kind of nervous about this upcoming movie night after Rainbow's confession on the train. Other than her being more touchy-feely, nothing really changed. You both had a great time watching and making fun of terrible old monster movies together, just like always.

In fact, you'd say it was even better than usual. Now that she didn't have to pretend anymore, there wasn't even a hint of spaghetti seepage from her. The speedy little pony was able to genuinely enjoy spending time with you, and you with her. Memories of laughing together while shoveling beer and popcorn into your mouths in front of the TV last night draw a smile out of you, and before you know it you're reaching a hand forward and scratching those laid-back pony ears.

...Hey, there's something written on your forearm in magic marker.

/!\ Don't scratch her ears when she's sleeping on you. /!\

Oh yeah, you wrote that on yourself last night before Rainbow got here because...

Oh no.

You FUCKING IDIOT!

It starts immediately. Her ears flick a few times, her snoring hitches, her tail thrashes twice and four hooves engage like a lock around your body. And then she gets that stupid dopey grin on her face.

Oh, she's not awake. It'd take a miracle to wake her before noon after a movie night. But she IS now attached to you like a headcrab, or torsocrab in this case, and you're not gonna be able to pry her loose now. You've been down this road before.

You stare longingly across the room at the entrance to your downstairs bathroom. You really need to piss but accomplishing that with your new cyan pone tumor is going to require a feat of dexterity that you're not sure your slightly hungover body is capable of.

As you start to formulate a plan of attack, a section of your hardwood floor begins to rattle and then lifts up, revealing Yellowquiet wearing a pair of pony overalls and a miner's hat. So THAT's how she's been getting in lately without breaking your windows!

Minershy does a double take when she sees you. “Eeeeeeep! Y-Y-You're still here?!?!”

“Why wouldn't I be?” you reply while giving a half-hearted annoyed stare. Goddamn it's way too early for this shit...

She looks around. “Um... well... it's Monday morning so you're usually...” Her eyes narrow. “Wait right there, mister, what've you been doing with Rainbow Dash...?”

“IT'S MONDAY?!” you scream.

Instantly, you bolt up off the couch, Rainbow still clinging to you. Shit, shit, shit, you completely forgot you rescheduled movie night to Sunday! If you don't get to work soon you're gonna get a lecture about punctuality and responsibility from Applejack! It's worse than a Twilight lecture since you can't tune it out when your very soul is being crushed by the weight of the half-restrained look of disappointment in her emerald eyes. Goddammit, you were late one time! ONE TIME!

You send those thoughts back to your mental lockbox of repressed memories. Yeah, you'd rather die than go through that again. A nervous glance at the clock on the wall reveals... there's still time!

In a flash, you're out the door, trying not to let Rainbow's dangling tail trip you up as you make your way to Sweet Apple Acres, with Fluttershy right on your heels.

“You get back here and explain yourself this instant! Did... did she guess your fetish?! What was it? Is it lazy, rainbow-maned tomboy pegasi with no manners or tact and a constant need for external validation?! Oh, Fluttershy, you should've known!”

“For fuck's sake, NO!” you yell back at her. “Now leave me alone, I've gotta get to work before AJ guilt trips me into suicide!”

“I...I can look and act just like her if you want, I've done it before! We can have a threesome!”

“Go steal more of my underwear or masturbate into my milk carton or whatever the hell it is you planned to do today!”

Your voices echo through the market square as you speed along. Most ponies only give you a passing glance since this stuff comes with the territory when living near good ol' Anon. Yep, plummeting property values and crazy rapist ponies. That, and Ponyville citizens also have a high tolerance for crazy shit in general considering any day Twilight isn't destroying the town is a good day.

You tear past Ponyville Elementary much sooner than expected and suddenly realize you're going fast. Like, REALLY fast. Continuous contact with Rainbow must be transferring some of her latent pegasi magic to you or something. You feel incredibly light...

You turn to stick your tongue out at Flutters road runner style, but she's already vanished in the distance. She must've given up and turned back since she can't handle your raw goddamn speed. You briefly wonder if the Pone Olympics would consider you attaching Rainbow to your chest as an illegal performance enhancing supplement. You could probably hide her under a baggy shirt or something and just claim you're fat, but would she show up on a urine test...?

Oh wait, you can see the endless orchards of the Acres looming in the distance already! You're... you're gonna make it, Anon!

By your watch you're five minutes early as you cross underneath the vine-covered wooden arch that signifies the entrance to Sweet Apple Acres. You raise your hands to the sky in triumph!

“YEEEESSSSS! Suck it Treekicker, I'm here on time! Thanks for the boost, Rainbow.”

You give the Rainbow-maned pony attached to your body a noogie of appreciation. She responds by snorting in her sleep and drooling on you some more.

Your first order of business is to head to a secluded area behind the barn and empty your bladder. The memory of leaning against a tree with one arm holding Rainbow's tail aside so you don't piss on it is another one that's going to the ol' lockbox. At least she didn't wake up.

After you're emptied and feeling 100% better, you begin to track down Apple Pone to see what your job for today will be. Odd, she's not in the big barn or any of the nearby fields...

Just as you're about to head to the farmhouse you catch the unmistakable red coat of Big Macintosh as he returns to the barn with a stack of freshly bucked baskets of apples on his back. You wave and he trots over to you. The stallion looks you up and down for several seconds and shifts the wheat sprig in his mouth a few times, his expression unreadable.

“Howdy, Anon. Ya've got somethin' on yer shirt.”

You look down at the snoozing pegasus and shrug. “Yeah, not even Mr Sparkle detergent'll wash this stain out. Where's AJ? I need to find out what we're working on today.”

Mac moves his head to glance at the farmhouse in the distance. “She's been feelin' under the weather lately, so ah convinced her to take the day off.”

“You convinced Applejack to take a day off? How?”

He turns and shows you his other side, fresh bruises from what was probably a full powered buck starting to show under his coat. “We had a discussion 'bout it an' she saw mah point'a view. Eeyup.”

Ouch. But siblings will be siblings, you guess. You help unload the baskets for him and he starts to head back to the fields.

“Ah know the two of ya usually work together so ya don't have to work today if ya don't want to, Anon. But if ya still feel up to it, ah could use yer help with collectin' over in the southwest orchard.”

“Sure thing.”

Yeah, having an excuse to skip work is always nice, but Mac deserves a helping hand every once in a while, especially since he has to take care of his two overly stubborn and precocious sisters and aging grandmother. You honestly don't know how he does it.

He's also been a total bro to you since you came here. He and AJ were the first ponies to give you a chance, even before Fluttershy had the nerve to work up the courage to speak to you. They gave you a job and even a place to stay as you got settled in. Without them, you'd probably be locked up in Fluttershy's cottage or mauled to death by some crazy Everfree monster by now.

The two of you reach the orchard and begin your respective tasks. Your shitty human legs aren't suited for bucking apples (learned the hard way), but you quickly found you can help in other ways. In addition to speeding things up by placing the baskets, your hands allow you to quickly retrieve missed apples and sort them prior to moving them back to the barn. Your super monkey powers also let you climb the trees to prune dead limbs without having to lasso them. With you around, AJ and Mac can focus on kickin' dem trees and the efficiency of the farm has improved. They quickly asked you to stay on full time and have been very generous with your pay.

You set up the next set of baskets and Mac kicks a single leg back. A shower of apples rains down, along with something else that smashes into your right shoulder, sending you tumbling to the ground! You shake your head to get your bearings after the fall. Thankfully, you managed to twist around to avoid crushing Rainbow...

“What have ah told ya about messin' around in our trees an' harassin' our employees?! Get on outta here!”

“Sorrysorrysorrysorrysorry!!”

You turn to see a trembling ball of Butter Squeak cowering behind you. Mac's leveling a death glare at her. Exhibit B for why he's a bro: Fluttershit is usually too terrified to try anything while he's around. Going to work is almost always a Flutter-free zone!

“What're you doing here, Fluttershy?” you ask while trying to massage the soreness in your shoulder away.

She lifts her head a bit, avoiding Mac's glare. “Um... I... I like to watch you work sometimes. It sure is a warm day today, huh? M-Maybe you should take off your shirt...”

Mac slams a hoof into the earth and Fluttershy squeaks and takes off like a bullet to hide behind some random tree in the distance.

The red pony sighs and shakes his head. “Ah swear, if she wasn't a friend'a AJ's ah'd have bucked her inta orbit by now. Ah dunno how ya stand it, Anon.”

“A flask of Sweet Apple Acres Reserve usually helps. C'mon, let's get the next one.”

You proceed to set up the next tree. Mac bucks, apples rain down, and something smashes into your shoulder, sending you to the ground AGAIN.

“Fluttershy, what the fuck?!”

You look to Mac to see if he's going to say anything but you find him bowing instead.

“Y-Yer Majesty!”

Oh no. A quick glances confirms it: there's Moonbutt laying on the grass beside you.

“Luna, what the fuck?!”

She blushes a bit and smiles. “Forgive us, fair Anonymous. It appears we have succumbed to the dreaded 'peer pressure'! We observed Kindness taking part in this activity and surmised that it was some sort of new youth culture ritual.”

Are you... what?! You can feel a headache approaching.

“Luna, if you saw everyone jumping off a bridge, would you do it too?!”

She ponders for a moment before answering, “We are an immortal alicorn of unfathomable power. With wings. So yes.”

Yep, headache's coming on full force now. As you massage your temples, Luna takes notice of the sleeping Rainbow Dash clinging to your body.

“Ah, you have Loyalty with you. This is most fortuitous as it saves us the trouble of finding her.” She trots over to Big Mac, who’s still bowing just a little ways away. “Rise, Macintosh Apple. We are here because we were hoping you could tell us the location of Honesty.”

Mac stands to his hooves. “Honesty? Oh, ya mean AJ? She's at the house restin'. W-What's this all about? It ain't one o' them 'fate of the world' things again, is it? Ah really don't think she's in good shape to go fightin' monsters or evil gods or whatnot right now.”

Luna chuckles. “Fear not, 'tis nothing like that. We appreciate your assistance. Though we must make one more request of you...”

Mac sighs and looks in your direction. “Just go ahead and take 'em. Ah wasn't expecting to get much done today anyway.” He winks at you. “Good luck there, partner. Tell AJ ah'm sorry when ya see her.”

“I will. Later, Mac. Don't work yourself too hard.”

Luna nods in approval. “Your farm shall be compensated for the lost labor by the royal treasury. Come, Anonymous.”

The two (well, three) of you make your way toward the farmhouse in the distance. As you walk, Fluttershy emerges from her hiding place to join you, nervously flittering beside Luna.

“Ah, our faithful Knight, Kindness. Very good, it seems we are all assembled.”

You glance at the alicorn by your side. “Not that I don't like seeing you, but care to tell me what exactly you're doing here?”

“We heard that Honesty has been feeling unwell, so we are paying her a visit, Anonymous. Is that not what you do for a sick friend?”

Her stoic expression is a little unreadable. Your danger sense, honed through your many interactions with Fluttershy, is starting to sound a faint warning.

“Well it is a nice thing for you to do, but why do you need me and Rainbow?”

Luna's lips curl into a smile. Then she starts chuckling. Then she starts laughing so hard that she has to stop walking to try and regain her composure.

You're totally lost. “What? What'd I say that was so funny?”

“N-No, 'tis n-not you, Anonymous,” she gasps out between giggles. “We have been trying to ignore it, but by being so close to Loyalty we cannot help but see her current dream. It... It is MOST amusing! Oh... by the Moon, we can't— HAHAHAHA~!”

Yeah, she's collapsed on the ground now. You and Fluttershy look on in concern.

“So? What's she dreaming about?” you ask.

Luna stands and wipes some tears from her eyes. “We... we cannot say. Dreamer-Dream Princess confidentiality prohibits it.”

“That's not a real thing.”

She turns her head up with pride. “No, it is not. However by our sovereign right as a Princess of Equestria, we declare it to now 'be a thing', so we cannot tell you.”

You laugh. This silly Moon Horse... when she gets in these playful moods, she's simultaneously a joy and a terror to be around. You reach a hand into her starry mane to scratch her head, and you feel her tense and then melt into your touch.

“Fine, be that way,” you whisper as you tickle behind her ears. “I'll just coax it out of you later.”

She sighs and leans a little closer as you walk. “We shall hold you to that.”

Before you know it you're on the porch of the Apple Family homestead. It doesn't look like anyone's home, so the four of you let yourselves in and make your way upstairs to Applejack's room. A knock on her door results in a familiar voice calling back.

“So, have ya finally seen reason an' realized ya need me out there after all, ya big lummox?” You hear hooves trotting on the wooden floor and the door opens. “It's about damn— Anon!” She rears up and prepares for a quick hug but stops when she sees Rainbow's already occupying the spot she wanted.

“Scratched her ears when she was sleepin', huh? Ah figured you'da learned yer lesson by now.”

You chuckle. “I guess not. Can we come in?”

“Well, sure!” She steps aside and you enter the room followed by Luna and Fluttershy. You notice that AJ's steps are a bit wobbly as she moves.

Her eyes widen when she sees all of you. “Shy? And the Princess too? What're y'all doin' here?”

“We all came by because we heard you weren't feeling well,” you say.

She huffs and trots over to the window. “Has that brother'a mine been runnin' his mouth again? Ah feel just fine. Just a little...” She lets out a big yawn. “...a little tired, is all.”

When she turns back you get a good look at her and notice the bags under her eyes, turned back ears, and slightly messed up / mis-tied mane. She looks like she's gone at least two days with very little to no sleep.

“Um, well, if you're so tired, and your brother's given you the day off, why not get some rest?” Fluttershy suggests. “You look really out of it, if you don't mind me saying.”

Applejack hops up on her bed. “Ah appreciate the suggestion, Shy, but ah don't wanna.”

“Why do you fear your dreams, Honesty?” Luna steps forward and looks AJ dead in the eyes. Her tone of voice is authoritative and it feels like the temperature in the room has dropped a few degrees.

“Ah ain't scared of nothin'.” True to her claim, the little earth pony unflinchingly glares back at Luna.

“Then you must sleep. We have heard the tale of the disasters which occurred in Ponyville the last time you went without rest. Do you truly wish to repeat such a thing?”

“Ah'm a big pony and can make my own decisions. Ah appreciate that ya came ta see me out of concern, but if yer just gonna stand there and lecture me maybe ya should leave!”

Luna steps back and turns away. “Very well. Though we do not agree, we respect your decision to– SLEEP!” Her horn flashes and a second later Applejack's out like a light, laid back on her pillow and snoozing away.

You turn to the others. “Wow, was it really that bad the last time this happened?”

Fluttershy shudders. “Um, we almost all died. Multiple times.”

Luna nods. “Yes, the report from Sister's student was quite grim. When we noticed that Honesty was not dreaming as normal over the last several nights we became concerned.”

“So your goal from the start was to just make her sleep, huh? I still don't get how this involves us, though.”

Luna's horn flashes again and Rainbow is teleported from your body into a corner of the room where she curls up and continues to snore.

“There is something she fears in her dreams, Anonymous. Otherwise she would not be so adamant about avoiding sleep.”

Aw shit, you can see where this is going. Looks like Fluttershy notices too because she begins to slink away as you start to back out of the room.

“Oh no. No, no, no. I am NOT going on some kind of wacky dream adventure through Applejack's subconscious in order to help her conquer her fear. I'm afraid my schedule's all booked up today, so...”

“Ah, but you are,” Luna says, her horn shining. She’s wearing that mischievous grin she sometimes gets that makes you really nervous. The door suddenly shuts, preventing your escape, and with another flash Fluttershy is snoozing away in the corner with Rainbow. Looks like you’re not getting out of this one, Anon…

You let out an exasperated sigh. “Why can't you do this? You're the expert on this stuff anyway, right?”

Luna giggles. “You do not understand a mare's heart at all, do you Anonymous? We would merely fight with each other all throughout the dream, but she will gladly listen to and cooperate with you. Loyalty and Kindness will accompany you as support should you need it.”

You look over at the sleeping farmpony. Already you can see her body twitching with discomfort, as if she's having a nightmare. Despite how annoying she can be sometimes, she's still a good friend and you'd hate to see her suffer...

“Okay, what do I need to do?”

The Night Princess smiles. “Splendid. Lay on the bed with Honesty.”

You lay next to the sleeping pony, overtop the covers, staring at the ceiling.

“Turn to her.” You do so and notice the pained expression on her face as she dreams.

“Wrap your arms around her.” Ooookay... you pull the sleeping pony into a light hug.

“Touch your foreheads together.”

“...Is this really necessary?” you ask, glancing back at her.

Luna scowls. “Remind us, which one of us here is the progenitor of all Dream Magic with thousands of years of experience in these matters?”

“Fine.” You brush a few locks of golden mane aside and gently touch your forehead to Applejack's. She seems to calm a bit.

“T-Touch her flank...” Okay, now you know she's just fucking with you.

“...Just cast the spell already.”

You hear a hum of magic and the world around you fades away.

“Anon. Hey, Anon. Anon. Hello...?”

You bat your arms at whatever's poking you and open your eyes. Two magenta eyes stare back.

“Rainbow?” You blink a few times, just to make sure it’s really her.

“You're finally awake!” she exclaims. “I never knew humans were so lazy!”

“Yeah, you're in no position to call me, or anyone else lazy, Speedysnooze.”

You pull yourself to your feet. Seems you're in some sort of apple orchard with Rainbow and Fluttershy. This is Applejack's dream, so it's not too unusual a setting. At least it's not some kind of bizarre Wizard of Oz crap...

Rainbow scoffs. “Psh, whatever. You were a lot cuter earlier in this dream anyway. The ballroom dancing was my favorite part.”

“...What?”

“Nevermind,” she says as she takes to the air to get a look around. You feel a tugging on your pant leg from Fluttershy.

“Anon, where are we? Is this a dream?”

“Yeah, Luna sent the three of us into Applejack's dream to help her get over whatever it is she's afraid of. I guess the first thing we need to do is find her.”

“She's right over here!” You hear the cyan pegasus call out from the sky. You and Fluttershy follow her path through the orchard until you come to a large tree.

“What the...?”

Bound to the tree by a bunch of dead and withered vines is Applejack, though she appears to be peacefully sleeping. You reach out and begin tearing the dead vines away and soon enough you're cradling the sleeping pony in your arms.

Her eyes flutter open. “Anon, Shy, Rainbow...? What're ya doin' here?”

You smile at her. “Hey, AJ. Luna sent us to help you with your nightmares.”

Applejack chuckles. “Is that so? That darn Princess, always stickin' her nose where it doesn't belong...” She hops out of your arms and trots around, testing her limbs. “Ah'm thankful that you're concerned about me, but it ain't worth it. We should stay here in the orchard till ah wake up.” She settles on the grass and looks toward the afternoon sun.

Fluttershy sighs with relief. “Th-That sounds like a good, safe idea.”

“Oh come on!” Rainbow yells as she flutters around the group. “AJ, you're telling me you're scared of a little old nightmare? I can't believe it. You're the strongest mare I know and you never give up! I just... I can't believe you're a scaredy cat...”

Applejack looks furious. “DON'T talk like ya understand this, ya overgrown buzzard!” Her outburst causes a huge flock of crows to scatter from all the nearby trees. “There're just some things ya shouldn't mess with!” She trots forward and taps Rainbow on the head. “But ya don't get stuff like that cause ya always fly headfirst inta anythin' without thinkin' it through!”

Rainbow smirks. “So you're saying you're a coward.”

“AH AIN'T YELLOW!”

“PROVE IT!”

Fluttershy looks at her hooves and sniffles. “It's... it's not so bad being yellow...”

You step between the two arguing mares. “Okay, that's enough you two. AJ, can you at least tell us what's going on?”

Orange Pone sighs and sits back on her haunches. “Ah've been having the same nightmare for the past several days. Ah can't rightly describe it, but it begins here and ends in the forest.” She turns her head to a point in the distance and you see what appears to be the entrance to the Everfree just on the horizon.

Rainbow shudders. “Yech. I don't blame you for being afraid... that place makes me nervous too.”

Applejack shakes her head. “It ain't the forest that ah'm afraid of, it's what's in it.”

“Is there a m-m-monster in there?” Fluttershy hides her head in her hooves and starts to tremble.

“Nah, it ain't a monster. Ah don't know what ta make of it... but it's terrifyin'.”

Rainbow flies up and strikes a confident pose. “Well whatever it is, if you want to get over it all we have to do is go in and face it together!”

“I agree with her,” you say with a nod. “The fastest way to overcome your fear is to confront it.”

Applejack stares at you for a good while in silence, a mix of subtle emotions playing on her face. Finally, she sighs and cracks a slight smile. “Okay, Anon. You win. If you're here with me ah'm willin' ta try.”

Rainbow hoof pumps. “Yeah, that's the spirit!”

Fluttershy just squeaks and begins resigning herself to the fact that she'll have to face something scary.

Together, the four of you begin to make your way to the entrance of the deep forest.

Yeah, this place is genuinely creepy. Applejack leads your group, with Rainbow right next to her and you bringing up the rear. Fluttershy is clinging to your lower back in absolute terror. Despite that, she's still aware enough to try to grab your crotch every once in a while.

But to be honest, batting away an exploring hoof every so often has become a welcome distraction from the silence. That's what really gets to you, it's dead fucking silent here. No birdsong, no insects, no animal calls. When the wind isn't rustling through the tree canopy it's like you've gone deaf. If you had a nightmare like this every night you'd be fighting sleep too.

Rainbow crosses her hooves as she lazily floats through the air. “How much longer? This is boring.”

“Ah told ya five minutes ago, we've got a couple'a more miles ta go till we get ta the end.”

“I thought you said this was going to be scary.”

Applejack grinds her teeth. “If ya don't like it, go back ta the orchard.”

“Okay, okay, geez. No need to lose your hat over it.” She drops back a little so that she's flying beside you and can whisper in your ear, “Yeesh, what's gotten under her coat all of a sudden?”

“Go easy on her,” you whisper back. “She's obviously stressed out over all of this. I know I would be.”

You smack away another grope attempt by Flutters as Rainbow flies back to talk to her.

“How're you doing back here, Shy? Having fun riding humanback?”

“Oh, hi Rainbow Dash. I'm fine as long as I concentrate on Anon and don't think about all the horrible things that could happen to us at any moment. Yes, just great.” You feel a wave of tremors move through her body.

Rainbow smiles, completely oblivious to her fear. “Great! I'm heading back up front.”

As she makes her way back to Applejack, a sound other than your footsteps pierces the perfect silence. It's subtle, but it sends a chill through your body.

It happens in an instant. A vine rockets from the earth underneath Rainbow and wraps itself around her back hoof. Before she can react, it pulls, slamming her into the ground hard.

“Rainbow!” you cry out.

“Aaaah! Ouch! Wh-what the...?” She attempts to ignore the pain and struggle to her hooves.

All the commotion alerts Applejack, who immediately comes running to help. More vines erupt from the ground, tightly wrapping around Rainbow's limbs and wings.

“Anon, AJ! Help!”

You pull on the vines, trying to break them until your palms start to burn, then bleed from the exertion, but they're incredibly strong; nothing like the ones that bound Applejack when you found her. The earth pony valiantly tries to chew her way through them, but it doesn’t have any effect at all. Shit, this isn't working! What can you do?!

“Please...” Rainbow gasps. “I... I can't breathe...”

“Don't talk! Save your breath!” you tell her as you continue to struggle. To your horror, you realize that her body is starting to sink into the earth. If you don't do something right now you're going to lose her!

AJ pulls on a vine with all her might, her teeth clamped as tight as she can manage, but it's not enough. She loses her grip and goes somersaulting backwards from the force. You desperately look around for a sharp rock, something, anything you can use to cut the vines! Fluttershy just stands there, paralyzed by fear as Rainbow continues to be dragged underground.

By the time you turn your attention back to her and Applejack recovers for another attempt, she's almost gone. You can see tears flowing from her eyes as she desperately tries to take her next breath.

You rush forward again, wrapping your shredded palms around the vines and pulling despite the immense pain, Applejack doing the same with her mouth.

“A...Anon... I'm...”

“No, Rainbow! I'm not giving up!”

“A-non... I...”

“RAINBOW!”

She's pulled under. You claw at the earth, but the network of vines just below the surface prevents you from digging more than an inch or two.

“NO!”

You slam your fists on the ground, tears spilling forth as an immense sense of loss washes over you. Applejack, her own tears flowing freely, puts a comforting hoof on your shoulder.

“Anon... ah know it's horrible, but... but ya have ta remember it's just a dream. She's just woken up, that's all.”

Yeah, that's right... it's just a dream. Rainbow is okay, and you'll see her again when it's all over...

As you stand, you bring your hands up and examine your mangled palms. It all feels so real... it's been a long time since you've experienced a genuine nightmare, and you'd forgotten how terrible they can truly be…

But it’s all the more reason to help Applejack get through this. You take a few unsteady steps, shaking off the last of your grief with the knowledge that it's not real. The anger you hold on to as strength. You WILL help AJ beat this thing...

“Wait.” Fluttershy's voice stops you in your tracks. You turn to see her still crying a bit. “Y-Your hands are hurt. Let me help you.”

It's odd, but from her tone of voice you can tell she's serious. You bend down and show your hands to Fluttershy. She examines them, then begins to lick the wounds. You almost pull away immediately, but something about the deliberateness of her motions stops you. This is the Fluttershy that takes care of sick or hurt animals; the Fluttershy that you don't often get to see.

Once she's done, she bites on your shirt sleeve and pulls, tearing off several chunks of fabric which she uses to dress the wounds.

“It's all I can do... we don't have any first aid supplies, and there isn't any water nearby...”

You smile at her. “It's fine. Thank you, Fluttershy.”

“It's... not fine. I was useless back there. I couldn't do anything to help...”

“Like AJ said, it's just a dream. Rainbow's safe.”

She whimpers. “I know, I just...”

Applejack gives Fluttershy a comforting hug. “C'mon girl, ah know it's tough, be we oughta keep movin'. The sooner we get there, the sooner this is all over.”

The three of you trudge through the forest, sticking much closer together than you were before. You're straining your ears to hear anything out of the ordinary and it's got you completely on edge.

The causal, laid-back mood from before is completely gone. You're mad and scared out of your wits, and Fluttershy's just plain terrified. AJ soldiers on like a true veteran of this place. You hope some of her strength rubs off on you.

“It's different.” Applejack's voice breaks the silence.

“What is?” you ask.

“The dream. Those vines usually snare me in the orchard and then die, but they've never hurt me, and ah've never seen 'em in the forest. It's different, and ah don't know what's gonna happen...”

You gently place a hand on her back to comfort her. “Well, why don’t you tell us how it normally happens?”

She changes her stride until your leg is brushing her side with each step. “Well... ah wake up in the orchard, and try ta get my work done like usual. Then, the vines appear and they capture me and I go ta sleep. When ah wake up, they're dead and ah can free myself, but ah feel... something, ah dunno what, callin' me from the forest. Ah walk for miles and miles in silence and come to a clearing with a pond, and then... ah dunno what happens, but ah'm cryin' and afraid; a fear like ah've never felt before... and then ah just wake up.”

“So, that means we're heading toward that clearing now?”

She nods. “It ain't far.”

You get a sinking feeling in your stomach. Whatever's going to happen there, you're certain you're not prepared for it, but you've gotta keep going. Applejack's gone through this how many times by herself, now? If the dream can change for the worse, maybe your presence can make it change for the better, too. That's obviously what Luna was intending by all this...

Fluttershy's scream pulls you from your thoughts. You spin around and see her bound on the ground by vines, just like Rainbow was. You rush to her immediately to attempt to free her, but...

“No, Anon! L-Leave me!”

You stagger back. “But… but why?!”

She gives you a small smile as you see her body begin to disappear beneath the earth. “It's... it's okay. Your hands are hurt already and you won't be able to save me, but you can still help Applejack, Anon. She's the one... who really needs you right now, not me...”

You blink back some tears. “Don't... don't try to grope me while I'm sleeping, okay? I'll get Luna to tell me if you do.”

She giggles. “Just this once... I promise.”

The vines pull her under, the last of her pink mane disappearing beneath the earth. You let out a heavy sigh and stand, your body jittery from the adrenaline coursing through it. Even though you know what's happening isn't real, it's still extremely difficult to deal with. Applejack trots next to you, staring at the spot where Fluttershy was pulled under.

“Ah'm sorry, Anon. Fer all of this. Ah should'a never agreed to take y'all here...”

“It's not your fault, it's this damn nightmare, and we're gonna beat it, AJ.”

“If... If you say so, sugarcube.”

The two of you turn and continue on down the path.

And just as Applejack said, the clearing comes into view soon enough. The sun shines down upon the small pond there, and everything remains eerily silent.

“This is it,” she says. “This is my fear.”

There, on a small island in the center of the pond, is a mass of vines. Their shape is odd, almost like... a throne?

The orange pony keeps walking, straight into the pond. Instead of sinking, her hooves cause ripples across the surface and she remains on top of the water. It doesn't look that shallow... you try it yourself with one foot and sink immediately. What the hell...?

You remain at the shore as Applejack reaches the island and takes a seat upon the throne of vines. The ties holding her mane and tail burn away, allowing them to flow freely as they glow in the sunlight shining down upon her.

“AJ, what's going on?”

“Ah know ya probably don't understand it. Ah didn't myself until ah talked ta Twi. It's kinda funny. Fer how smart she is, ah don't think she understood what ah was really askin'...”

The look she gives you next will forever be burned into your memory. Sadness, mixed with a sort of euphoria. You don't even know how to describe it, but you're lost in the emerald eyes locked with yours.

“The spell from Nightmare Moon's book... ah was one of the ones who was touched by it. These nightmares, they're showin' me what ah'm gonna become.”

No way...

“If that's true, then we have to stop it!” you cry.

She shakes her head. “It can't be stopped, Anon. Only the Elements of Harmony can break the spell, and ah'm the Element of Honesty. We were all in Ponyville that day... this is what the Princesses feared the most.”

“So, you're saying if the six of you used the Elements on yourselves, it wouldn't work?”

“It would, but it ain't possible. Anon, my greatest fear is knowin' that a part'a me WANTS this! Usin' the Elements with our hearts not in it is like not usin' 'em at all.”

You're speechless. If what she says is true, she can't be saved...

A gentle breeze flows through the forest clearing, sending AJ's mane and tail cascading about in the wind.

“Ah'm an Earth Pony, Anon. Most ponies, even other earth ponies and especially unicorns, don't understand our magic. Luna told ya how the Nightmare spell brings out a pony's magic and makes it perfect. Well...”

The clearing is cast into shadow. You turn your gaze to the sky to find huge vines converging far above you, blocking out the sun.

“Ah can make a seed grow into a sapling just by holdin' it in my hoof. Ah can make a tree grow tall and strong in the barren desert just by singin' it a lullaby...”

The vines merge, completing a dome above the clearing and casting you into total darkness.

“My magic is the earth itself, beyond the reach of even the sun or the moon.”

Countless phosphorescent flowers bloom everywhere, bathing the clearing in an orange glow that reflects across the pond and gives Applejack a ghostly, almost sinister appearance. The vines of her throne converge around her and pull her into the earth...

“Anon...” Her whisper echoes as she emerges right behind you. You're scared shitless and you're pretty sure your heart stopped a while ago.

“Ah ain't like Luna or Derpy. Ah don't want eternal night, ah don't want ta rule the world... ah just want one thing...”

Summoning every ounce of courage you can muster, you turn to face her. She's surrounded by the mystical glowing flowers and... she's crying?

“With this power, ah know ah could take ya from Luna. Ah don't know how, but ah'd find a way.” She rears up and places her hooves on your chest. “But ah also know that if ah did, and even if yer body was mine, ah wouldn't have yer heart, and ah'd have truly gained nothin' at all.”

“AJ...”

The vines above you separate, allowing the sun back into the clearing and bathing both of you in its warmth. You rest on the ground, holding the crying pony close. She presses her ear to your chest and listens to your heartbeat.

“Anon, do ya remember the first time we met? Ah couldn't believe it. This strange lookin' monkey was sittin' underneath one of our trees, eatin' our apples fer free.” She laughs. “My first thought was ta buck ya straight ta the moon.”

“But then... ah saw the look on yer face, the joy... like you'd been starvin' all yer life and this was yer first real meal. Somethin' about it touched me, and ah realized ah wanted to see that smile again.”

You do remember. You were nearly starving to death after stumbling out of the Everfree and into one of the orchards at Sweet Apple Acres. Meeting these colorful miniature talking horses for the first time was quite a trip.

The Apples took you in, you worked, made friends... and all along, AJ dropped hints that she was interested. Hints that you rebuffed because you couldn't see ponies that way at the time, but she persisted.

You realize now... if you just kept your heart open back then, you probably would've fallen for this pretty little pony. Or maybe you really did, and just kept denying it.

Before you notice, her lips are on yours and you're sharing a gentle kiss. She pulls away and a few tears fall. “For what can never be, sugarcube.”

Shit, you're starting to cry yourself. You pull her close.

“What do we do? How do we fix this?”

“Ah talked ta Twilight already. There ain't a way ta save me. Anon... ah wish things could'a been different. Ah wish you'd let me love you. Ah wish this damn Nightmare would end forever!”

The sun above glows so bright you're blinded, and a gale wind from nowhere tears through the clearing. You clutch Applejack close as leaves and branches whip all around you.

“What's happening?!” you yell, attempting to shield her with your body.

“Ah don't know. Ah don't know, but please don't let me go!”

“I won't! Not now, not ever...”

The very ground beneath you collapses and your consciousness fades.

You open your eyes and those beautiful emerald orbs are staring back at you. You're holding Applejack on her bed in the same position in which you fell asleep.

She smiles. “Ya kept yer promise... ah kinda felt it... you were holdin' me the entire time, weren't ya?”

You smile back. “...Eeyup.”

“Oh my, are you two all right?” A concerned looking Fluttershy trots up to the side of the bed. You turn and ruffle her mane. “We're fine. How about you?”

“Oh, I'm okay, I guess. Getting eaten by the ground was scary, but I woke up just fine.”

“Honesty.” Luna's voice rings out across the room as she approaches, and Applejack bolts upright in the bed.

“Princess! Ah...”

She holds up a hoof. “Words cannot express how proud we are of you. You have accomplished what even we could not... you felt the temptation of the Nightmare and rejected it wholeheartedly. We have confirmed it; not a trace of the magic remains within you.”

Your eyes widen. “Wait, you mean she's cured?!”

Luna smiles. “Indeed. When the Nightmare magic begins to manifest, it first appears in one's dreams before it completely takes hold of the body. In this state, it can be rejected if the will of the afflicted is strong enough. This rarely happens as most of those under the influence of the spell have cast it upon themselves willingly, and those who have not often give into the temptation. Even if we had wished to resist the spell ourself in that age long past, we would not have been able to. What Honesty has accomplished here is quite incredible.”

Applejack blushes and turns to you. “Ah didn't do it alone, Princess.”

The Princess of the Night looks on mischievously. “Yes, when Anonymous is involved the odds of miracles happening appears to increase, wouldn't you say?”

Your body tenses. “Luna... you knew she was fighting this thing all along, didn't you? That's why you brought us here! But why didn't you say anything beforehand?”

“We are the Princess of the Night and Dreams, Anonymous. No dream within the borders of Equestria escapes us. But we could not speak due to Dreamer-Dream Princess confidentiality, which is a thing, if we must remind you.”

You roll your eyes. Fucking Moon Horse and her fucking mastermind plans. At least everything worked out.

Putting that thought aside, you glance around. “Hey, wait a minute, where's Rainbow?”

“She is still sleeping,” Luna answers. “She was already dreaming when we sent her and Kindness along with you, so she returned to her own dream after leaving Honesty's.”

As if on cue, the plucky pegasus yawns from her corner and lifts her head.

“Ugh, what a weird bunch of dreams. First I had a water balloon fight with Anon and kept trying to get him to take off his shirt and we made out, then I got Rarity to make me a dumb dress and went ballroom dancing with him and LIKED it, then I went with him and Applejack and Fluttershy into the woods and got eaten, then I–” She cuts off when she opens her eyes. “–This isn't my house, and you all heard that, didn't you?”

You all give her a series of nods as you try to contain your laughter. Rainbow turns crimson and switches to spaghetti seepage mode.

“I'vegotsomewhereIneedtobegottagobye!” She's out the door in a flash, just as your laughter starts resounding within the room.

Another nightmare has been overcome, but more still await. Yet, as you glance down at Applejack and she meets your gaze for just an instant, you somehow get the feeling that you’ll be ready.

…Maybe.

Everyone says goodbye to Applejack as they shuffle out of the room. She just flops back on her bed, exhausted from her ordeal…

But she catches sight of Luna, the last to leave, and their eyes meet. Something is different, like they're kindred spirits now, and she feels compelled to speak.

“Luna.”

“Applejack.”

“…Ah love him. And if ya don't stop me right now, ah'll win him from ya, fair and square.”

The Princess smiles. “We know this. And it is why we have chosen you.”

Without another word, she steps through the door, closing it behind her.

Applejack lays back down, but before she closes her eyes, a shimmering light from nearby catches her attention. She turns to her dresser, where a shiny sapphire pendant is now resting. She lifts it and examines the stone. It's beautiful, but where did it come from?

She sets it back down. There'll be time to find the owner later. For now, she drifts off into a calm, dreamless sleep.