Applebloom looked out over the orchards of Sweet Apple Acres in my Equestria dreamscape. Actually it was the version she’d constructed in her own dream fabric, but after the last 24 hours it provided her with a comforting anchor against recent events.
 
The foal still didn’t understand why the mare named Last Thing had tried to attack her >>2461140, or what she’d been talking about when she’d accused Applebloom of going to open a gate. Even Princess Luna and Celestia had reacted oddly upon hearing that information.  
They’d asked the filly dozens of questions, and had been rather bothered by Applebloom statement about encountering her doppelganger in her own dreams.  
The filly was confused. It felt like ponies thought she’d done something wrong, but at the moment wouldn’t tell what exactly she’d done. After speaking to Princess Luna, Celestia, and whole bunch of ponies she didn’t know, the filly had been teleported along with Luna back to her home that evening. The Princess of the Night had explained to AB’s family what had happened at the palace and had then seen her off to bed. With that accomplished Luna had spoken further with rest of the family downstairs in the living room. The filly had been tempted to sneak out and try to listen from the top of the stairs, but she’d decided against it.
 
The next morning Applebloom found her family being particularly helpful and understanding about what had happened in the observatory, but at the same time the filly couldn’t shake the feeling they were keeping an eye on her. Nothing overt but she felt like everypony, especially AJ, was watching her. For something.
 
After her chores AB had been able to leave and visit Sweetie and Scootaloo at Scootaloo’s place. Fortunately Scoot’s parents were out of town again so the fillies had the place to themselves. Over bottles of soda Applebloom had told her friends what had happened the night before. As expected her friends were appropriately horrified by the event. The earth pony found it strangely comforting to be talking to her friends about it. The whole thing ended with a trip to Sugar Cube Corner for ice cream sundaes.
 
With evening chores completed, bath taken, dinner consumed, and teeth brushed the filly had crawled into bed and stared up at the ceiling. She snatched up the Stone Mane doll and held it to her chest. Tomorrow she’d write the colt a letter telling him what had happened, but now she could feel exertion of the day and the last 24 hours wearing her down. She rolled over still clutching the doll and extinguished the oil lamp on her nightstand. Plunged into darkness sleep came to her a few minutes later.
 
So it was the filly found her standing on the front porch looking out over dream version of her home. It was early evening. and pleasant breeze tussled her rose red mane. She closed her eyes and around her neck the Locator Pendant came into existence. The filly sat down and lifted the pendant with a front hoof. She stared at the name Stone Mane. Part of her desperately wanted to see him tonight, and she knew she could easily find her way to his dream fabric.
 
However Luna had been adamant about her not venturing out unsupervised again into the Dream Realm. Closing her eyes the pendant vanished. Opening her eyes AB sighed and looked up at stars that were slowly beginning to twinkle in the darkening sky. She felt very alone there on the porch.
 
Suddenly she remembered and reached into her mane with a front hoof. After a few seconds she felt what she was searching for. Carefully she removed a little golden charm that had been attached to her red bow. It was of a tortoise with a little castle perched atop her shell. She looked at it and sighed.
 
“I could use a cheering up from ya right now yer Majesty.” Muttered the filly.
 
As she stared at it the evening sky the breeze slowly picked up and upon the wind there came the sound of music. Pipe organ music. The filly cocked her head from side to side. Where in the hay was this coming from. Getting a bearing on the direction of the music the filly headed off to discover its origin.
 
Applebloom had been only trotting for a minute or so when she found the source of the music. With, slow, plodding steps the giant tortoise Galapagos was coming up the road toward the farmstead. Perched on his head was his deep green shako. The music seemed to be coming from depths of the miniature castle that was perched on his great shell. Seeing this the Applebloom broke into a gallop.
 
“Galapagos! Yer here! Yer here! Here in my dream fabric? How did ya git here? Is the king with ya?” The filly came to halt about 6ft in front of the tortoise.
 
“Good, evening, fair, Applebloom.” The tortoise said in his usual, slow, deliberate voice. “Yes, his, Majesty, is, inside, he, should, be, out, in, a, moment.”
 
With that the pipe organ music ended. A few seconds later there was a burst of fanfare from numerous little brass horns that adorned the tops of the castle. Then drawbridge dropped with a clatter, and then tiny rodent-like figure of King Trafalgar Maximilian Augustus Leopold the III came striding out. Like her first visit the king was dressed like he’d raided a theater costume department.
 
Seeing him Applebloom bowed deeply. “Yer Majesty! This, this, is amazing! How did ya find me, and then how did git here?”
 
The king returned the bow. “Fair maiden Applebloom! Did you not recently look at the charm I presented you on your first visit to my realm. Did you not say you wished for my company this most beautiful evening. How could I call myself a gentleman and royalty if I ignored such a lovely young maiden’s request? It would be scandalous if I was delinquent in this duty!”
 
“As to the matter of getting to your dream fabric that was trifle affair for me. I don’t travel much, but most regions of the Dream Realm are but a short hop away for me. So here I am in your most charming of dream fabrics! So. Where does such a fair, blossoming, young mare live?”
 
The earth pony turned and looked back up the road. Her homestead was visible in the fading light. “Well yer Majesty! It’s uh, just a ways of up the road there. Ya can just see it. It’s not far but…”
 
She glanced down at Galapagos. “However. Uh, no offense yer Majesty, but yer loyal subject ain’t the speediest of individuals. It, ah, might take awhile fer him ta git there.”
 
“My dear Applebloom.” The filly looked at the tiny king. “Do not underestimate Galapagos ability traverse distances. Why look. We’re at your front door of your charming domicile!”
 
Applebloom spun around and found herself but a few feet from the front steps. She nodded her head. and then looked back at the king. “Uh. Well. Would either of ya like some lemonade?”