"Apple Comet, it's time to wake up."
A'h groaned pulling the blanket over my head, ignoring the sounds of hoofsteps against the hardwood floor.
"Ugh, five more minutes,"
"A'h see you're going to be difficult this morning." Before A'h could protest the covers were pulled away and my pillow yanked out from under me Seeing this was a battle A'h wasn't going to win, A'h tepidly opened my eyes.
"Who turned on the sun?" A'h muttered as A'h rubbed my eyes.
"Good morning to you too." My Ma Pearan said standing next to my bed with a smug grin on her face. "It's past time for you to get up. Hurry up your breakfast is already on the table." She turned and walked out the door. Well, too late to go back to sleep now. A'h thought as A'h sat up and stretched. Why does school have to start so early anyway? On top of that, A'h hadn't gotten much sleep last night on the count of this crazy dream Ah'd had. Something to do with Timberwolves and sand and brains and my twin sister. Maybe that second piece of apple pie A'h ate yesterday wasn't such a good idea.
The sun was shining brightly over the town of Ponyville this morning. Early to bed, early to rise, that was the farmer's way of life. 'What A'h wouldn't give to buck the pony that coined that term.' A'h thought as A'h trudged over to my wardrobe.
A'h never really wore clothes much, except for during winter or on special occasions like family get-togethers. A'h opened the middle drawer inside of my wardrobe like A'h did every morning and pulled out my lucky red bandana. It wasn't anything fancy, just a red bandana with a shooting star pattern no different from any other bandana, but A'h never went anywhere without it tied around my neck.
There that almost looked acceptable, now just needed to do something about my bedhead and my full bladder.
'A'h much better,' A'h thought as A'h stepped out of the bathroom. Mane combed, hooves washed, bodily needs addressed, what was A'h forgetting?"
Oh right, A'h forgot to introduce myself. My name is Apple Comet, Ah'm ten years old and A'h live with my Ma Pearan, my Pa Jav Mac, my big siblings Big Mcintosh and Applejack, my twin sister Apple Bloom, and my Granny Smith. We own Sweet Apple Acres, the largest orchard in Ponyville. Actually, it's the only orchard in Ponyville. Pa says it's been in the family since my great-grandparents first settled here over a hundred years ago.
Well, that's enough introductions, it was time for breakfast. The smell of eggs, hay, and toast wafted through my nostrils as A'h trotted into the dining room. Pa sat at the end of the table sipping his morning cup of coffee. Ma and Granny Smith sat on opposite sides of him. Big Mac and Applejack sat to the left of Ma leaving Apple Bloom sitting at the end of the table next to the only empty seat left.
"Well look who's finally up," Pa said acknowledging my presence as A'h walked in.
"Morning everyone," A'h said.
"Looks like your last to the breakfast table this morning." Apple Bloom said teasingly as A'h trotted over to my chair." A'h paid her no mind choosing instead to turn my attention to the plate of scrambled eggs, hay, and toast set in front of me.
"So what's on the agenda for today Pa?" Applejack asked before taking a bite of toast.
"Well as soon as you girls are done cleaning up the kitchen, You and your Ma can start with the trees on the southeast hill. They looked about ready for harvest when I checked them this morning. While you're doing that your brother and A'h are gonna head into town to pick up some nails and shingles from Hay's hardware to finish fixing up the barn roof, which we should be able to finish by this afternoon. And as for you two?" He said turning his attention to us. "As soon as you get home from school A'h needs one of you to feed the pigs and the other the chickens and when you're done with that you can help your Granny pull carrots in the vegetable garden."
"Y'all can count on us Pa. We'll have those chores done faster than Applejack's breakfast," A'h said pointing over to my big sister who was tearing through her eggs and haycon like a twister through a cornfield. She stopped when she realized everyone at the table was looking at her.
"Uhh...Ah'm done now," She said blushing awkwardly as she stood up. "Ah'm, just gonna wash my plate before heading outside." An uneasy smile stretched across her face as she picked up her now empty plate and walked into the kitchen.
"Yeah, what he said." Apple Bloom added.
Bloom-El's POV.
"Bloom-El it's time to get up. The current time is 7:05 am and you have a full day of school ahead of you."
"Ugh, five more minutes," I grumbled folding my pillow around my head.
"Opening Bloom-El bedroom window." The mechanical voice said as the automatic shutters slid up bathing my room in sunlight. Instantly A'h felt the rays of Celestia's sun flowing into my body.
"Alright, you got me. I'm up now." I said admitting defeat as I threw off my covers. I hadn't gotten much sleep last night on account of a crazy dream I had about memory crystals, brains, and my twin brother. Maybe eating that second slice of rainbow cake topped with a dessert of a hundred flavors wasn't such a good idea. I stretched my forelegs and let out a long yawn. Looking down at my nightstand I saw the clothes my Mom had set out the night before.
A bio-fiber matrix generator. A complete outfit storage small enough to fit in the sole of my hoof. It even had our family's crest on it. I placed it against my chest and clicked it. Instantly a bright blue bodysuit expanded out of it, covering my body like a living cloth. A red cape billowed out from behind my neck followed by a matching red skirt with a golden belt and matching cuffs for the sleeves on my forelegs. A pair of red boots for my hind legs provided the finishing touch. I walked over to my wall mirror and gave myself a once-over.
"Huh, not bad," I said admiring myself. The generator had fused itself into the fibers of the suit becoming the emblem now emblazoned upon my chest. Now I just needed to do something about my mane before heading downstairs. This looked like a job for...my vanity.
Fortunately, my mane wasn't the curly kind like my brother's was. He's always got this one kiss curl in the front that he can't seem to comb away no matter how much he tries. Heh heh. Oh, I almost forgot to introduce myself. My name is Bloom-El. I live here in Ponyville with my Mom Pear-El, my Dad, Bright-El, my big brother Mac-El, my big sister Jack-El, my twin brother Kom-El, my grandmother Gran-El, and our service AI Kerax. We came to Equis a long time ago after our home planet Kolton exploded, of course, that all happened before I was born. There, much better. Now that I looked presentable, it was time to see what Kerax was cooking for breakfast.
"Good Morning Everypony."
The kitchen was abuzz with the usual symphony of whistling, ticking, and whirring of its many appliances working in synchronicity.
"Well look who finally decided to get up." My Mom said. "How long did it take Kerax to wake you this morning?"
"Approximately 25.18 seconds Mistress." One of Kerax's shells answered looking up from the stove. "She's been making a rather impressive improvement these last two weeks."
"Sounds like that new alarm Dad set up is working wonders," Jack-El said with a snort.
"Uh-hmm," Mac-El added.
"What's for breakfast?" I asked Kerax.
"Oh, I think you're going to be very excited with what I have for you today. ." The robot answered reaching for something behind the counter. "Tah Da! Apple Cinnamon pancakes topped with powdered sugar, maple syrup, and freshly sliced cinnamon apples.
"Well, what do you say to Kerax?" Dad asked.
"Wow, thanks Kerax!" I exclaimed happily grinning from ear to ear.
"You're most certainly welcome young Bloom-El," He nodded as he floated over to the breakfast table. "Bon appetite"
I wasted no time digging in. The first bite of warm pancake moistened with sweet maple syrup and cooked cinnamon apple melted inside my mouth. My hindlegs legs felt weak as the mush slid down my throat.
"Mmmmm." I moaned softly in bliss.
"Uh, Sis you're doing that moaning thing again?" Kom-El said looking up from his plate. I said nothing to him, I simply cut off the next piece and took another bite. The shivers ran down my spine as the maple syrup hit my tongue once again. That moaning thing? He could never understand how I felt about pancakes. After staring at me for a few more seconds he shrugged and went back to his breakfast.
Apple Comet's POV.
After breakfast, Apple Bloom and A'h finished our morning routine by washing our hooves, brushing our teeth, and combing our manes and tails. The school cart arrived at its usual time and we took our usual seats on it. All in all, it seemed like it was going to be a perfect day in Ponyville. Princess Celestia's sun was shining, the birds were singing and the mood on board was one of horseplay and mischief.
"What do you think we're gonna learn about in school today?" A'h asked Apple Bloom.
"Whatever Ms. Cheerilee decides A'h guess." She answered as A'h let out another yawn.
"Y'all seem mighty tired this morning?"
"A'h didn't get much sleep last night."
"How come?"
"A'h had this crazy dream in the middle of the night."
"What was it about."
"A'h can't remember the whole thing. Just bits and pieces, but A'h think it was about ...Urgh." My head suddenly felt like its inside was on fire.
"Apple Comet? Apple Comet are you okay?" A'h heard Apple Bloom cry out in concern as I reached instinctively for my forehead. Then as it came the pain was gone. And suddenly Ah'd forgotten what A'h was just thinking about.
"Yeah, i-it's gone now," A'h said looking at her. "What were we talking about again?"
"A'h think you ought to see the nurse when we get to school?"
"Yeah maybe."
"LOOK UP IN THE SKY!" Somepony hollered out. Everypony stopped what they were doing and moved over to the other side of the cart.
"What is it?"
"Is it a bird?"
"Is it a balloon?"
"What's going on?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Only one way to find out," A'h said getting up from my seat. The crowd of foals was thick, with colts and fillies pushing and shoving to get a glimpse of what was in the sky. Apple Bloom and I carefully peered through the rows of heads. What we saw left me awestruck. A'h couldn't believe what A'h was seeing. Ponies, earth ponies flying through the air without wings. A'h had to pinch my neck to make sure A'h wasn't dreaming or seeing things. As quickly as they appeared the moment passed as they disappeared over the rows of rooftops. My mind was swarming with questions. Who were they? Where did they come from, how did they do that? And what did they want?
"Argh!" Without warning the flashing pain returned rushing thru my temples like a fire through a hayloft. My hind legs gave out sending me tumbling back toward the floor.
"Apple Comet!" I heard Apple Bloom cry out as the pain slowly faded away giving way to unconsciousness.
Bloom-El's POV.
I love many things about living on Equis. The green grass, the blue skies, the pancakes. But none of that compares to the feeling when I first step outside and feel the rays of Princess Celestia's sun supercharge my body. On Kolton, I would've been just an ordinary filly with an ordinary family. But on Equus, the light of the royal sun grants us powers and abilities, unlike anypony else. Invulnerability, super strength, super speed, flight, okay Kom-El, and I haven't quite got the hang of that one just yet. But in the meantime, we can still jump really high. We can also see through walls, hear far away, shoot sunlight from our eyes, and even breathe ice.
It's not all fun and games though. We have to be careful around other ponies so that we don't accidentally hurt them. Doing even the simplest things like opening doors or picking things up takes lots of practice and concentration. Fortunately, Dad arranged with Princess Celestia to let us use the Everfree Forest as a practice area since nopony ever goes in there. In exchange, we have to promise to use our powers to help other ponies in need. So if there's anypony out there with a stuck pickle jar I'm your Superfilly.
From up here, Ponyville looked like a bunch of dollhouses put together to make a little toy town. Yet thanks to my telescopic vision and super hearing I could see the looks of astonishment on the ponies' faces as they looked up at us, and heard what they were saying.
"Holy Celestia it's them! The Koltonians!"
" Wow look at them go!"
"How do they fly without wings?"
"It's incredible!"
"Looks like we've got an audience!" Kom-El laughed as we soared over the town hall. Everypony in town had stopped what they had been doing to look up at us. Some smiled, some waved, and a few even cheered at us.
"They really seem to love us," I said.
"Well of course," Kom-El replied waving to the crowd below. "We only save Ponyville from danger like three to four times a week. It sure feels good to be loved, doesn't it?"
I looked down and saw a group of young fillies that couldn't have been more than seven years old, dressed in red capes like my own.
"You're our hero Bloom-El." One of them shouted up at me.
I smiled and waved down at them. "Yeah, it does." My eyes drifted for just a second toward a school cart stopped in the middle of Saddle Street. Like everypony else, it seemed to have stopped in hopes of catching a glimpse of us. But what I saw next made me double-take. My X-ray vision showed me the foals had crowded together on one side of the bus to see us. And among them, tucked away in the back of the throng was us. Or at least some ponies who looked almost exactly like us.
The resemblance was uncanny. They had the same coat, the same mane, and the same eye color as Kom-El and I. Their mane styles were a bit different. The other me wearing a bow in her mane, while the other Kom-El wore a red bandana around his neck.
"Get ready we're starting to come down." I heard Kom-El say.
"Oh right." Suddenly the other Kom-El collapsed clutching his head in pain.
"That colt's in trouble." I gasped. "We have to...AIIIIIIEEEE!" I screamed out in pain as I felt what seemed like thousands of knives stabbing into my frontal lobe.
"Bloom-El!" I heard Kom-El cry out as I felt my body suddenly go limp. The stabbing pain faded away replaced by the feeling of my body hurtling toward the ground.