This had better be a nightmare, or I’m going to be pissed.

@Background Pony #21E5  

 
She’s only one mare, and can’t be everywhere at once.

@jdb1984
 
So how come Luna never saw Cozy Glow’s dreams?

@RAF Flütersloh
 
Luna, in my eyes, acts as a children’s counselor. While sometimes, a nightmare is just a nightmare, there can be more underneath. Something that the foal may not even be aware of themselves, or something they don’t want to tell their parents.
 
Luna tries to get to the bottom of what may be troubling them, and helping them work through it.

I’m with the consensus here, I’m 98% certain it’s a nightmare and an effective one at that. Otherwise I’ll also stay with the consensus here that, if it is reality, then by now having either Fizzy or Thistle just killing the scunner will be doing everypony a favour, Rusty included.
 
Still, I always like to speculate, so perhaps Fizzy horrifically eviscerating Rusty will be part of the nightmare? I remember when I was very young, the actions of individuals in my dreams had powerful, albeit unjustified, impacts on my perception of them in reality.
 
Furthermore, if it is a Nightmare, where’s muh Luna!?!  
It would be an interesting twist if Lulu ends up with her as a third mum, as it were, with the awkwardness between her and Tempest that would ensue.
 
Actually, on a wild and drunken tangent, what a massive responsibility Luna must take upon herself? Not that I want to project too many real-world issues into Equestria, but there’s scope for a lot of foals to have very unhappy lives, which would play out in their dreams as well. Luna, you’d think, could be the only constant good thing in their lives…

Tempest: So, you have chosen death. And after I spared you once. I will not make the same mistake again

@Wiimeiser  
Its like Mokuba all over again

If this real Rusty is like a guy that is in a near death situation been save and do it again just for fun.

I think Tempest is busy in >>2322260. In all seriousness, is Lullaby the Chosen One or something? I thought people didn’t want her…

Pretty sure it’s a nightmare. I seriously doubt that Rusty has already recovered from the treatment he received from Tempest. Not to mention that his eyes are still glowing. He’s still under the believe that the poison is lethal, so getting to the place where Thistle told him would be the antidote should’ve been his top priority. Even if he wants revenge more than anything else, he should be aware of the fact that needs to get rid of the poison or he’ll die before he can get his revenge. Last but not least, according to Thistle nobody else knows this place which includes her brother and Rusty. And I see no reason why Thistle would lie about this.

Fizzy:  
HOW MANY TIMES DO WE HAVE TO TEACH YOU THIS LESSON, OLD MAN?

This just has to be a nightmare. Lullaby doesn’t deserve to be in the hoofs of this psycho this again.

@OliverSparkle  
Note Fizzlepop is not in bed with Thistledown. Either this is a dream or Rust is about to run into a very angry Fizzy.

@OliverSparkle  
For Rust’s sake I hope so…

Please say it’s a nightmare! Please say it’s a nightmare!