I'm Worried

I am not ready to completely resume regular dreamscape postings, but there's one I definitely want to post next week that is totally appropriate for the season. Therefore this one needs to go up first. So here you go.

Dinner was a success for Applejack in my Equestria dreamscape. King Trafalgar Maximilian Augustus Leopold the III truly enjoyed the meal the mare had prepared and asked for seconds on several occasions. Even the salmon which AJ had been so concerned about. Link

After dinner the mare gave the king a tour of the house and the various out buildings. His majesty seemed to familiar with farming and asked several questions that convinced Applejack that he was truly appreciative of efforts her family had put into making Sweet Apple Acres as successful as it was.

After the tour they settled down on the front porch of the farmhouse. The sun still made the sky behind the western mountain range glow with pinks and purples but heavens above were now growing a rich blue black peppered with the first glimmering stars of the evening. With more and more of them appearing in the sky by the minute as night descended upon the land.

Much to AJ's pleasure she succeeded in imagining a lit kerosene lamp on the front along with the bottle calvados brandy. Although she was unable to remember in her mind what kind of glasses you were suppose to serve it in, so before his majesty got suspicious the palomino earth pony just imagined a couple of coffee mugs.

Trafalgar didn't seemed to be bothered by the unorthodox drinking vessels with the calvados and gladly accepted a mug of the apple brandy. For the next hour or so the two just shot breeze and enjoyed each other's company, but AJ felt growing need to ask a question. Although she was almost as nervous about hearing the answer. As his majesty started filling their cups again the mare spoke.

"Traggy. There's sumthin I need ta ask ya about. I'm worried about it, and I reckoned ya r' probably the best ta ask."

The mouse finished refilling AJ's mug and passed it over to her. "Of course AJ! What's weighing on your troubled mind?" He then began filling his own mug.

AJ took a deep breath and looked out at the darkness. "Well recently my little sis Applebloom had herself a doozy of a dream in which had another run-in with her look-alike, and apparently in that dream her spittin' image gave her a swig of that stuff that serpent Ladon brews up. Link Well she drank it and lickety spit she was floatin' in front of him. But then fer sum reason he gave her one of his apples ta eat as a gift or sumthin. Well she ate it, and then she fergot about everythin' after that, but she woke up sick as a dog and–" Link

The clattering of a metal coffee mug on the porch abruptly caused Applejack to suddenly turn her head. The king was sitting their frozen with the bottle calvados clutched in a death grip. His face was a mixture of confusion, dread, and anguish. Slowly he set the bottle down on the porch then he looked down at his hands for a moment. For a brief instant the mare could see they were shaking. Then in it passed. Slowly he reached over and placed a hand on AJ's shoulders. Looking her in the eyes he spoke with an intensity and seriousness he'd never exhibited before in her presence.

"Applejack. Are you, absolutely certain that's what happened to Applebloom? Ladon gave her one of his apples as a gift for her to eat, and she ate it?"

"Well yeah. That's what she said when she finally came around and woke up. She had a nasty ol' fever fer about a day. Doc Strong Heart came over but couldn't find anythin' reason fer her fever. Link I sent a note ta Princess Luna and she showed up in a huff, and she was not happy ta hear about my sis eatin' that apple. Link What does this all mean Traggy?"

The king looked away and stared down at the steps. He was silent for a moment. Still staring at the steps he finally spoke. "And she's recovered and hasn't had any other problems since?"

"Yeah she's fine! Well except fer the fact that all she appears ta have on her mind these days is her stallion. That's the colt Stone Mane. Ya know who I'm a talkin' about right? I swear! If those 2 keep goin the way they r' we're gonna have ta start makin' weddin' plans fer them!"

This actually got a chuckle out of the king. "Ah young love." Once again a worried look took over his face. He resumed speaking. "To what this means for your little sister it's hard to determine. There are... There are so many myths, tales, rumors, speculations, and outright lies about Ladon that it's very difficult to know what's true and what's purely fiction."

He looked over at the mare. "But I will look into it and I will find out what I can. I will admit I am uncertain what this turn of events mean. However beside a brief fever and a tummy ache Applebloom appears to have weathered it well. That filly continues to amaze me."

Applejack chuckled. "Join the club! Both Princess Celestia and Luna have expressed their amazement in that filly, and the way she was able ta endure and then bounce back from that nasty ol' Deception is nothin' short of a miracle!"

The king shifted over and gently wrapped his right arm around AJ. Then he pulled her close to his side. "Yes. She's truly a wondrous thing."

To be continued.