//------------------------------//
// A Happy Reunion 
// Story: The Chaotic Three: A Zany Story 
// by LunaJack 
//------------------------------//

POOF!  The ticket seller at the Ponyville Train Station jumped as a pair of colts suddenly appeared on the platform in front of her.
“Here we are!  Ponyville Train Station as promised!” one of them, a gray pony with a pink mane shouted.  
“Thanks Zany,” said the other, stepping over the tracks to get to the platform.  He was a light brown pony with a spiky green mane and a dragon's tail.  “Though I wish you hadn't taken the scenic route.”			
Zany rubbed his neck in embarrassment.  “Yeah...well, at least we know there really is a pony-eating Yeti in Yakistan!”
“Hey, Zany!  Applespike!” the ticket seller waved to them.  “What brings you two here this morning?”
“My big sister Cinnamon Roll is coming home today,” said Applespike proudly.  “I told Ma I'd meet her at the station.”
“I gave him a lift,” said Zany with a grin that showed off his fang.  Besides his chaotic magic, it was the only odd thing he had inherited from his father.  He and Applespike were half ponies.  Zany's mother was Fluttershy, a pretty, yellow pegasus, and his father was Discord, a pretty odd-looking draconequess with even odder magic powers.  Both he and his older sister, Screwball, looked like ordinary earth ponies...until you noticed their eyes had swirls instead pupils.  Both had inherited their father's magic and his taste for chocolate milk.
Applespike's mother was Applejack, an honest, hard working earth pony.  His father was Spike the dragon, former assistant to Princess Twilight Sparkle.  He had the body of an earth pony but the long spiky tail of a dragon.  His eyes were green with slit reptilian pupils.  And he could breathe fire.  Because of that, he was rarely picked on at school.
Before he was born, his parents had adopted two foals from the orphanage: Cinnamon Roll and her older brother, Cinnamon Stick.  Cinnamon Stick ran a muffin shop in Ponyville with his wife Dinky Doo.  Cinnamon Roll attended the Canterlot Culinary College, studying to be chef.  The Apple family had some wonderful cooks, but this would be the first time any of them had become a chef!  Applespike couldn't wait to see his sister.  She was always trying out new recipes: especially ones that contained apples.  Apple fritters, apple pies, apple pancakes, apple crepes, apple blintz... GURGLE!  His stomach rumbled loudly.
Zany snickered at the sound.  “You're sure eager to see her.  Or is it all that great food you know she'll be cooking?”
Applespike grinned.  “Can't have one without the other.”
WHOOO!  The train whistle sounded.  Both colts looked up as the train chugged into the station.  Applespike eagerly scanned the windows of the passenger car.  “There she is!  Cinnamon Roll!” he yelled, waving his hoof.  
“We're the only ones here.  I doubt she'll miss you,” said Zany.  At the same time he made a neon sign appear over Applespike's head.  WELCOME HOME CINNAMON ROLL!  WHAT'S FOR SUPPER?
The passengers quickly got off.  A pretty, long-legged filly with dark brown fur and a cream colored mane trotted over to them.
“Hey, little brother,” she said, throwing her hooves around Applespike's neck.  “I'm so happy to see 'ya!”  She looked at Zany's sign and laughed.  “Yes, Zany.  You can eat with us tonight.  How do apple dumplings sound?”
“No idea.  How do they usually sound when you cook 'em?” he asked, grinning mischievously.
Cinnamon Roll looked puzzled for a second, then gave the chaotic colt a playful shove.  “Very funny!” she said, laughing again.
“So, are we going straight back to Sweet Apple Acres” asked Applespike eagerly.  He couldn't wait to taste his sister's apple dumplings.  Cinnamon Roll shook her head.
“No, silly!  Remember, I came home so Aunt Rarity could fit me for my ball gown.  She said she had a new design that would look stunning on me!”  Cinnamon Roll squealed in excitement.  “I can't wait to see it!”
“Yeah,” grumbled Applespike.  “Me too.”
“Oh! And I have a surprise for you!  And you too Zany!”
Both colts looked at her eagerly.  Cinnamon Roll always brought them treats from Canterlot.  Zany honed in on her saddlebag, sniffing like crazy.  “What is it?” he asked.  “Where is it?”
“Right here!” a sweet tinkling voice chuckled.  There on the platform stood a snow white unicorn with a silky purple and pink mane.  She batted her long eye lashes at them then broke into a wide grin.  “Applespike!  Zany!”
“Jewel?” the colts managed to gasp before the unicorn filly threw her hooves around their necks and squeezed.
“Oh! I am so glad to see you!” she gushed.  “Three years!  I cannot believe it's been three years since I've been to Ponyville!  I've missed it so!  And I've missed you two most of all.”  Jewel sniffed and rubbed her cheek against Applespike's, making him blush.
“We...we didn't know you were coming,” he said.  He was shaking.  His heart was hammering in his chest.
“I wasn't sure I would be allowed,” said Jewel a little bitterly.  “My manager, Picture Perfect, thinks Ponyville is too rustic for a supermodel like me.  But, since my mother IS one of the biggest dress designers in Canterlot and my father one of the nicest Canterlot stallions, he decided I could visit this once.”
“This once?” said Zany, wiggling out of her hug.  “How long are you staying?”
“I leave on the train tomorrow morning,” she said sadly.  “And don't get any ideas of trying to block the tracks with fudge ripple ice cream or turning the engine into a giant sewing machine, Zany!  Picture Perfect's assistants always find ways to get around things.”
“No fair!” said Applespike.  “You just got here and you have to leave?”
Jewel smiled.  “You'll see me tonight.  Everyone's going to Aunt Applejack and Uncle Spike's for supper at seven.”  A mischievous look crossed her face.  “It will be like old times.”  She held up her hoof.  “Chaotic Three Forever!”
Applespike and Zany tapped their hooves to her's.  “Chaotic Three Forever!” they shouted.
Laughing, Cinnamon Roll, Jewel and Applespike stepped down and trotted towards the Carousel Boutique.  Zany was about to follow when he spotted a lone figure on the platform.   It was a  pretty purple unicorn filly with a flowing lavender and pink mane.  She wore a long  traveling cloak similar to the one Princess Luna liked to wear on Nightmare Night, only this one was hot pink and covered in star swirls.  She cocked her head and smiled shyly at him.
“Hi.” she said in a sweet voice.
Zany opened his mouth but for once, he had no words.  A a little heart-shaped balloon appeared over his head.  The unicorn giggled.  Zany shook his head and quickly popped the balloon.  
“Uh, hi,” he said blushing furiously.  “You...uh...new to Ponyville?”
The purple unicorn looked at him in surprise.  “It's been awhile since I was last here,” she said, smiling slyly.
“Well, things have changed in the last couple of years” said Zany.  He stepped up close and smiled his brightest.  “Care for me to show you around?”
The unicorn giggled.  “Don't mind if you do.”
She levitated two suitcases, but Zany quickly snatched them from her.  “Oh, no!  I insist!”
“Such a gentlecolt!” she chirped.  Zany walked ahead, eager to show the pretty filly around.
“So...you have family in Ponyville?” he asked.
“Yes,” she nodded with a smile.  “It's been a long time since I've been here.  I'm going to school in Canterlot and Princess Luna sent me to the Crystal Empire for a year to do some research...”
“Princess Luna!” cried Zany in surprise.  “I didn't know Princess Luna taught!”
“Oh, yes.  She teaches in-depth Astronomy, Metaphysics, and Equestrian law.  I'm her star pupil,” she added with a blush of pride.
“Wow!” said Zany, very impressed.  Of all the princesses, Luna was his favorite.  He loved hearing from Aunt Pinkie Pie how Luna had scared everyone in Ponyville on her first Nightmare Night: turning the toy spiders into real ones, posing as Nightmare Moon to scare the foals, and (Zany's favorite) shooting a lightning bolt at Aunt Rainbow Dash!  True, she could be very serious, but she definitely had a chaotic side!  “Wish I could take lessons with her.  I'll bet it would be more interesting than the ones I take under Princess Twilight.”
The unicorn filly, looked at him sharply.  “What's wrong with Princess Twilight?”
“Nothing, really,” Zany shrugged.  “Don't get me wrong, I love her and all, but she just lectures sooooo much!  And don't get me started on her lists!  She is so organized, she has lists for her lists!”
“Something wrong with that?”
Zany grinned slyly.  “Let's just say, I'm not a big fan of organization.  It's a little trait I inherited on my Dad's side.”
“I see,” the filly smirked.  “By the way, you do realize that you're escorting me into town and you haven't once asked where I was going.”
“Oh, right!” Zany blushed with embarrassment.  “So, where are you going?”
“The Carousel Boutique.  I'm getting a gown for the Grand Galloping Gala.  It will be my first time attending.”
“Really?  It's my first time too!  My Dad and I have been coming up with great pranks to play on those hoity-toity ponies!”
The unicorn giggled.  “Can't wait to see them.”
Zany smiled broadly, showing off his fang.  If the unicorn filly saw it, she didn't mention it.  She was really pretty, he thought.  So poised and ,yet, she had a good sense of humor.  He wondered if she had a colt friend.  
Before long, they reached the Boutique.  Zany cringed when he saw his father floating near the entrance, reading an upside down newspaper and eating a bowl of cherry pits.  He glanced nervously at the unicorn filly, wondering what she would think of the draconequess.  To his relief, she did not seem to be scared or intimidated.
“Hey, Dad,” he said quietly.  “What are you doing here?”
Discord glanced at his son over the newspaper.  “I am waiting for your mother to finish getting fitted for the gown she will be wearing to the Grand Galloping Gala.  All the girls are in there chattering and giggling about this and that.  Ergo, the reason I am out here, safely out of earshot.  They talk about us you know,” he added darkly.
The unicorn filly chuckled at Discord's words.  “We do, you know.  We really do!”  Discord lowered his paper and squinted at her.  																					
“Hello, Uncle Discord, “ she said with a grin.
“Hello, Twinkle Sparkle,” Discord nodded to her.
“TWINKLE SPARKLE!”  Zany stared at the unicorn in disbelief as she removed her cape, revealing a pair of purple wings.  Twinkle Sparkle!  Aunt Twilight's daughter.  His old rival!  When they fought as foals, only Discord had been powerful enough to separate them.  
Twinkle giggled as she relieved the dumbfounded colt of her baggage.
“Thanks for the escort, Zany,” she said winking at him.
The chaotic colt continued to stare even after she disappeared into the Boutique.  Discord frowned at his son.
“Zany?” 
“I can't believe it!” Zany whispered.  “That was Twinkle!  Twinkle Sparkle!  I'd have never guessed...”
“Zany,” said Discord.
“It must have been the way she wore her hair.  All flowing down the back instead of that bang cut like her mom has...”
“Zany.”
“It also looks darker.  Maybe she's trying to look like Luna or something cuz...”
“ZANY!”
The colt stopped talking and looked at his father questioningly.  Discord leaned in close and glared into his son's lollipop eyes.  He pointed his lion's paw at the Boutique door.
“No!”