“Now just relax, it'll be okay,” the orange mare reassured.

“If you say so,” Applebloom said, the filly tucking herself in for the night, a worried look on her face.

It was evening once again at Sweet Apple Acres. The sun sank below the western hills as the sky turned a dull purple and red. The first stars began to poke their way out of the blackening sky as the thin clouds spread out through the heavens. It was time for everything that lived to go to sleep for the night.

Some, however, were a bit reluctant to.

“I do say so,” Applejack chuckled. “so just take it easy.”

Applejack noticed her sister having nightmares a few days ago, and the thought worried her. Every morning, Applebloom would come down to breakfast looking tired and worried, like she'd barely slept a wink during the night. Her grades in school hadn't been well either since this started, nor had she been out and about with her friends as much. The bad dreams seemed to take the life out of the young pony.

“Just ain't right for a filly to have so many bad dreams...” the older mare thought as she turned out the light.

“Goodnight, sis,” the mare spoke.

“Applejack, wait!” Applebloom called as she sprung back out of bed.

“Now Applebloom, y'all gotta get to sleep,” Applejack said, sounding a bit serious. “I know those nightmares have been tough on you lately, and I really do feel bad that you're going through 'em, but if you don't get to sleep you'll be too tired to do anything.”

The filly knew her sister didn't mean to sound harsh, but the thought of another nightmare made her afraid.

“Besides,” her big sister continued, “the best way to get over a fear is to try to work your way through it, and that's the honest truth.”

“But how can I do it all on my lonesome?”

“You're never alone in it, Applebloom,” Applejack reassured. “You've got your friends and family with you. Even if you can't see us, we're right there in your heart whenever you need us.”

The filly smiled slightly as she eased herself back into her bed.

Applejack nodded to her sister as the bedroom door closed. As the room went dark, Applebloom tried to relax in her bed, the filly slowly but surely falling asleep.

---

Applebloom's eyes opened as the dull mist and a dark forest appeared around her.

“Where am I?” the filly thought, her wide eyes looking around through the trees.

A slow wind began to pick up as trees above groaned slightly. Applebloom felt her heart race as memories of last night came to her. The young filly stood up and ran, bolting into the forest as the wind began to pick up around her.

“Not again, not again!” she thought as she ran, trying to get away from the wind.

Applebloom felt a slight burst of pain go through her forehead. Looking up she found she'd run into a large stone in the middle of her path. As she stared at it, the stone seemed like it was growing, spreading out in all directions. As the stone became a wall the wind began move again, rushing out of the forest towards the cornered filly.

She screamed as the wind approached, her cries muffled by the howl of the air around her. As the rushing wind approached, Applebloom cringed and waited for the worst... but oddly enough, nothing happened. The wind had stopped.

The frightened filly looked back at the path behind her. Standing there was a familiar sight, the orange coat of a grown mare, her flank adorned by three red apples, and a brown stetson hat atop her head.
“Sis?” Applebloom murmured.

“Like I said,” Applejack spoke, “I'm right there in your heart when you need me.”

Applebloom hugged her sister tightly as the stone wall around them fell away.

“I thought I'd was a goner for sure,” Applebloom sobbed.

“Don't worry, that much of it's done and done,” the mare said, “but it ain't all over just yet. That mean ol' wind just doesn't want to give up yet.”

“Can't you just stop it again?” the filly asked.

“Nope, I could only do that once,” the older pony replied. “You're gonna have to stop it yourself this time.”

“But... but how? I-it's just so scary and loud and...”

The air began to stir as the dull leaves of the trees rustled about them.

“You'll be fine, I promise, “Applejack assured, “and you known darn well I never lie about promises.”

Nervously, the filly stood up, never wanting to look away from her sister. The wind around them began to howl again, and soon the blast of wicked air raced through the darkened trees towards them. Applebloom inched forward, her legs slightly stiff with fear as she shuffled away from Applejack's embrace.

“You can do it!” her sister called out to her. “I'm not the only one who thinks that either!”

“Yeah! Show that mean wind who's boss!” two small voices piped up.

Applebloom looked back and saw her a pair of fillies beside her sister.

“Sweetie Belle! Scootaloo!” the farm filly said.

“Go get 'em, dearie!” an old mare yelled.

“Eeyup!” a deep voiced stallion added.

“Granny Smith, Big Macintosh, you too?” Applebloom breathed, small tears beading up in her eyes. “Y'all really think I can win?”

Her loved ones nodded, a confident look on their faces.

Applebloom felt warm inside as she felt their confidence flow into her. Turning around, the filly glared at the wind echoing through the trees, walked forward, and as hard as she could stamped the ground below her.

“Now you listen up, you big, mean, bag of hot air!” Applebloom shouted against the wailing breeze. “This is my dream, and I say what goes 'round these parts! And now I'm telling you, get out!”

As quickly as it came, the wind stopped, the noise vanished, and the trees stopped shaking. Applebloom looked around, and to her surprise the forest had changed. The trees weren't twisted and creepy, but instead were straight and tall, each branch bearing ripe red apples and broad green leaves. Fireflies danced about in the air, and the sky was crystal clear as each star began to shine down like a lantern's glow.

“I did it! I did it!” Applebloom cheered, running over to her friends and family.

The group cheered too, happy that the filly had finally overcome the fear that had chased her night after night. Applejack wrapped her little sister in a hug, the farm pony putting her hat atop Applebloom's head.

“Nice work, sis,” Applejack spoke with pride. “Never doubted you for a second.”

Applebloom felt relieved, and proud. The nightmare was over, and she had beaten it. The filly felt her eyes grow heavy as the dream around her began to fade. With a smile, she felt her eyes close and the real world begin to call her back from her slumber...

---

“I wonder if she's gonna be okay today,” Applejack said to her brother. “Those nightmares have been buggin' her something fierce.”

“Eeyup,” Big Macintosh replied.

“Applejack! Big Macintosh!” a filly's voice echoed down the stairs. “I did it! I did it!”

Applebloom bolted down the stairs as she saw her siblings waiting in the kitchen for her.

“Whoa, simmer down there, partner,” the orange mare said. “Now what's going on?”

“I did it! I beat back that mean ol' dream!” Applebloom beamed. “A-and you were there! And Big Macintosh, and Granny Smith, and my friends too! Y'all were right there like you said you'd be!”

“Glad to hear you beat your fears, sis,” the farm mare grinned as she hugged her sister. “See, what'd I tell you?”

“Everyone was there. I saw all of you in my dream, and you helped me get past that nightmare,” the filly said, returning her sister's hug.

“Just like I told you,” Applejack replied, “we're right there in your heart when you need us.”

“Always will be too,” Big Macintosh added.

The three laughed as they sat down for breakfast. The new day had begun for all of them and the nightmares were over. From that day on, Applebloom remembered that her friends and family were always there and cheering for her, and even though she might not be with them in the same place, all she had to do to find them was look in her heart.