//------------------------------// // Chapter 8: The Tour Begins! // Story: Zaps Apple // by Electuroo //------------------------------// Zaps Apple Chapter 8: The Tour Begins! Racing ahead of the others I had a bit of a lead over them. Galloping towards the clubhouse, Scootaloo was directly behind me, catching up. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle were a little further back, unable to keep up with either of us. I was enjoying myself as I raced with them to the clubhouse, and even though I wasn’t really sure of what it looked like, I was having such a great time that as my hooves pushed off the dirt and dust towards my goal, it reminded me of something I had dreamed of. I watched myself race against a red stallion through the path leading into town; for somepony as young as me I was keeping up well. I watched as we both ran around the centre fountain of the town darting in and out of the crowds. “There they go again” a pink unicorn smiled, wearing brightly coloured robes over her yellow mane and tail. “Any bets?” she called out to two other ponies, also watching them race. The orange pegasus chuckled “I’ll take that, I’ll bet my best set of Zap Apples that the older one wins” “You’re on!” Called out the other spectator, I bet my own fruits he loses to his little brother.” The red stallion seemed to hear them, and he seemed to take notice. As we came up to the gates of the house the stallion slowed down a little, and hit the door with his hoof at the same time as me. “I can't believe it! I tied with you big brother!” “That you did little bro.” The stallion put his hoof on top of my head and rubbed it, seeing me laugh “Now wasn't that a lot of fun?” “It sure was bro!” I said, breathing hard “I really have a lot of fun with you” I tilted my head hearing this. 'Fun? What is fun?' I thought to myself, and curiously listened. The stallion sat down on the step of the house with me sitting beside him “it’s not always about winning or losing,you know. It just matters that you have fun and enjoy yourself, fun is something you do that makes you feel happy. It’s a pleasant, personal, and to some extent an unpredictable experience. Even though we drew you had fun, didn’t you?” “Yep I did!” The two other ponies chuckled “It was fun watching you two race, even if it was a tie and neither of us ended up getting any fruit. You knew didn't you?” The pink pony inquired, looking hard at the red stallion. “Of course, what sort of harvester do you think I am?” the red earth pony chuckled “So up for tomorrow night’s get together?” The unicorn pulled some cards out from her robes “of course, bring the fruit and all bets are in” “Bets?” I asked myself with wonder. “Nothing to worry about little brother, it’s an adult game. Now why don't we go in and tell our mother how much faster you've got?” He offered, looking me in the eyes. “Sure!” Beaming and pushing the door open we both entered the house and the dream ended... I recalled the dream in a flash and turned to Scootaloo who was still running with all her might to catch me. I somehow had the upper hoof in this race and slowed my run a little so she could keep up. “This is so much fun Scootaloo! I know it from my dreams!” I said to her. “Sure is! And I’m going to win it!” Scootaloo picked up the paste and so did I. “No way, this is my first race and I’m gonna win!” We were both running as hard as we could but I was low on energy, looking to her as she looked to me, I failed to notice what was in front until it was too late. Right before me there was a root sticking out of the ground, no chance to jump or slow down... My right front hoof hit it and I tripped over. I collided into Scootaloo and the results led us to tumble around out of control several times, coming through the bushes. I landed on my back and as I came to my senses felt something on top of me, just above my snout. Looking up, I saw Scootaloo's purple eyes looking into mine. We stared at each other’s eyes for what seemed like forever until I felt a warmth in my cheeks and saw a shade of red form in hers. Suddenly Scootaloo looked away. I feared that I might have upset her as she carefully got off me, rolling over to her right, and sat there looking over at me before turning away. “Hehe sorry... I di-didn't mean to collide with ya like that,” she said, staring at a patch of grass near my hooves. I sat up and looked over at her, trying to avoid eye contact. My stomach felt sickly and I was feeling rather strange, but I replied as well as I could. “No it was me. I… I saw the root too late to dodge it... I really enjoyed racing with you Scootaloo, it was a lot of fun. I just wanted to enjoy the feeling of excitement, that’s what fun is right?” I was finally was able to make eye contact with her again as I sat there. Scootaloo smirked losing the red in her face “It was awesome, and guess what?” “Hmm?” Scootaloo turn to her left. “We tied.” As she said that I saw what we were next to. It was a small house like structure supported by beams, built up against a tree or, at least, part of it was in the tree, I was greatly surprised by this and looked up to see a ramp leading from the platform around the building up to a tower on top of the tree. “What do you think of it?” “This is the clubhouse?” I turned to see her smirk then quickly nod. “Wow this place is really... 'awesome'. I’ve never seen anything like it...” I heard the noise of leaves rustling and turned to see the others finally catching up with us. Applebloom sat down, breathing heavily with Sweetie Bell up against her back, also breathing heavily. “Wow you two... are fast...” Sweetie Belle was taking deep breaths trying to recover from her physical effort. Applebloom raised one hoof up “Ya fast... Zaps... where da ya get... that energy... from?” I shrugged “No idea, I still feel great” I said, trotting on the spot. “I just feel great” I repeated then I stopped and saw them just looking at me. “What?” Scootaloo put a hoof on me “Don't worry Zaps ya just more athletic like me” I turn to her with slight confusion “What’s ath-ath... erm what was that word again?” “Athletic, it means you are good a running and such, it’s a kind of sports” Scootaloo had that smile on her. “I think we’re gonna be awesome friends!” Applebloom got up with Sweetie Belle “Ya like to see the clubhouse?” “Sure” I replied looking at it again, I was curious about what it looked like inside and was now wondering if this athletic thing was the reason I was able to run and walk for so long without catching my breath or if it had something to do with the fact I ate Zap Apples... my thoughts were broken when Scootaloo pushed her elbow into me. “Huh?” I turned my head to her. “Day dreaming?” I thought about telling her about my dream but choose not to “Yeah kinda...” I replied “just thinking about what you said about this athl-athletic.” I turned to her and as the others went up the ramp to the clubhouse the clear sound of hoof steps on the wooden ramp could be heard. “I was thinking if it was because I was able to run away from the timberwolves but... I might have been like that before the darkness...” “Don't beat yourself up over it Zaps” Scootaloo put a hoof to my foreleg with a warm smile. “Now let’s go” she walked up the ramp and I followed her to the door. “Welcome to our clubhouse” she said, pushing the door open. On the inside it was one room, but a good size. I slowly placed my hooves on the cracking floorboards. Looking around, I saw Sweetie Belle sitting by the left window while Applebloom was on a wooden stool by a table, I noticed a banner with a rainbow lightning bolt on it, one of the other tables in the room was covered in papers and pencils. On another there was a small vase filled with all sorts of different coloured flowers. “Y'all like?” Applebloom put her hoof out to the clubhouse, to the right side there was a doll that looked like Rainbow Dash and a poster of her flying. I walked up to the poster and turn to each of them “why are there so many things to do with Rainbow Dash in here?” Scootaloo stepped up beside me looking at the poster “Oh that, it’s just part of the clubhouse, it’s not only for our crusading, we also use it as a fan club place for the one and awesome Rainbow Dash.” “Fan club?” “A Fan, it means you really like something and follow and admire them, like by getting autographs which are signed by those ponies. Having a fan club makes a pony famous too.” Sweetie Belle explained. “It’s something Rarity’s been trying to get for herself in Canterlot” “Oh ok... still not completely sure but I think I kind of understand” I turned and looked out the window. “Does Rainbow Dash sleep on clouds?” “Yeah why?” Scootaloo stepped up beside me and saw what I was looking at. “Yeah that’s normal” Scootaloo pulled me away from the window to Applebloom. “Applebloom you got the map?” Applebloom rolled it out in front of me “Right here Scoots, it’s the one Twilight gave me a few months ago.” Applebloom showed it to us. I looked at the map she put out, on it were many different locations; names were written on some places but the town was far bigger than the town I dreamt of... I saw names of places such as Carousel Boutique, Sugarcube Corner, Gold Oak Library, Joke Shop, Schoolhouse, Café, Quills and Sofas, Bowling Alley, Toy Shop, Aloe and Lotus Day Spa, train station, Sweet Apple Acres, Fluttershy's cottage and many more including a town hall with a market square and homes... I put a hoof to the map looking at all these names, some I was curious about but others I wasn't even sure of. “There’s a lot in this town... I never knew there could be so much in one place...” I looked all over the map. “This is a very big town...” “Eeyup” Applebloom giggled “And today we pick four locations by random” I could see what Applebloom meant by it but wondered how we picked by random. “Do we just put our hooves down on one location each?” Sitting by me, Scootaloo shook her head “No, we pick one at a time, eyes closed waving our hoof around and wham! We got a location!” Scootaloo explained, we got up to allow her room, she stood by the table hoof out. “Like this.” She closed her eyes, moving her hoof around and... CLOP! We looked at where she put her hoof down on and it was the train station. “See first location picked, sweet right?” “My turn!” Sweetie Belle took her turn closing her eyes and doing the same. CLOP! Sweetie Belle looked at what she picked and we saw it too. “Cool I picked the toy store!” Applebloom put a hoof to it “Yer turn Zaps, ah'll go last” I took my turn closing my eyes putting my right front hoof over the table I moved it around “Ok... when shall I stop?” I asked. “Anytime you're ready” I heard Scootaloo say to me. I decided to count to three in my head and lower my hoof down on the map. CLOP! I opened my eyes to see my hoof was placed on Carousel Boutique “I picked some place called Carousel Boutique” Sweetie Belle gave a happy squee and said right afterwards with a big smile “That my sister's place! You'll get to meet my older sister Rarity!” “Is she another one of Applejack's friends?” she nodded in reply to what I said. “I guess this cottage is home to another?” “Eeyup, that’s Fluttershy’s also one of mah sister's friends. They’re the element bearers too” Applebloom replied. “We’ll explain about that later, now it’s mah turn” Applebloom stood before the map with a hoof out to it with eyes closed. “And here!” CLOP! We all looked at the last location on the map and where she placed her hoof. “You’re kidding me! The schoolhouse!? Seriously Applebloom!?” Scootaloo glared at Applebloom for her pick. “Ah could pick another” Applebloom put a hoof to her head seeing Scootaloo's reaction, I was looking at both of them with a little confusion. Sweetie Belle shrugged “We can always make it our first stop, it is the closest.” her suggestion got them both looking at her. “Is that where this Miss Cheerilee is? I heard about the schoolhouse from Rainbow Dash, when I asked about teachers after reading it in...” I paused slightly looking a little nervous at each of them, my head lowered pressing against the table finishing what I said with both front hooves over my head. “The crusader book... you girls’ book...” Scootaloo put her hoof on mine “It’s ok Zaps, like I said before, you didn't know.” I lowered my hooves back on the ground and turn to her. “Now let’s get your sorry flank up; we got a tour to give ya, four stops before your big party”. “Eeyup, it time for the cutie mark crusader tour” Applebloom put her hoof up and the other two put their hooves against hers with a 'clop'. “CUTIE MARK TOUR GUARD CRUSADERS! YAY!” I watched them all say it together and the combined voices caused me to slide back a little. “Wow that was amazing! Do you girls do that often?” I asked with wonder. Sweetie Belle put a hoof out to the door “Come on Zaps, we’re wasting time and it’d be great for you to meet my sister and, to answer your question, yup we do”. Sweetie Belle smiled with pride along with the others beside her. I began to think about it and wanted to join them in this crusading for cutie marks, it seem sort of exciting and thrilling the way they acted, I stepped out of the clubhouse with them and we made our way to the schoolhouse for our first stop. Scootaloo put a hoof in my way, stopping me in my tracks “Scootaloo?” “Can you keep that whole accident thing earlier to ourselves?” she asked quietly to me. I wasn't sure why but I guessed there was a reason behind it. “Ok I won't say anything about it” “Thank you” Scootaloo and I continued on, catching up with the others. “What else did Rainbow Dash say?” I thought back to the morning before Scootaloo showed up on her scooter “Rainbow Dash said something about you being an awesome kid and doing really neat tricks with that scooter of yours.” I thought about the scooter and had to ask “Could you show me some tricks with it?” “Really Rainbow Dash said that?” I nodded in reply and Scootaloo was excited over it, flapping her wings rapidly “Oh my gosh! That so awesome!” she bounced around in glee then stopped and turned to me, laughing a little while rubbing her head “Sorry, got a bit carried away, here... so... yeah, sure I can teach you some tricks with my scooter!” “That be... erm... awesome?” “Yep it will be” Scootaloo beamed in delight. “Come on, let’s catch up with the others!” she galloped ahead of me and I followed to catch up with Sweetie Belle and Applebloom. We all soon arrived at the schoolhouse, the first stop on our tour. The building was pinkish in colour with a large tower on its roof, housing a bell On the school fence was a sign with a picture of a book on it. To the left of the building were two small structures. Curiously I walked up to one of them, but before I could get far I walked into somepony's leg. Looking up at who I’d just walked into I saw a purple earth pony with a two toned pink mane and tail and light green eyes looking directly down at me as I looked up at her. “Oh hello there, who might you be?” she asked in a sweet voice with a warm smile. “Zaps miss... erm... hi” I felt a bit nervous when I spoke. “Zaps hmm? Haven't seen you around town before, did you and your parents arrive recently?” As she said that I lowered my head, not sure what to say or how to say to another pony that I have no memory of parents or family. Applebloom saw my reaction then I heard a sigh from her. “Zaps is it ok if we tell her?” I turn my head slowly looking at Applebloom with a sad expression on my face and nod in reply. “Tell me what Applebloom? What have you three been up to this time?” Cheerilee turn to the three fillies. Scootaloo put a front leg over me “It’s really important Miss Cheerilee... you’ve got to hear this one way or another...” “O...k” Cheerilee seemed confused by this “Come inside and tell me then” “We will Miss Cheerilee” Sweetie Belle replied and we all entered the schoolhouse, my first time seeing what a school is, I saw seats attached to desks all in front of a large desk with a green board behind it with white pieces under it. “Now explain” she asked from all of us. The girls explained everything that they knew from what I had told them or was told about me from the others like Applejack, Big Mac and Rainbow Dash, they explained about my lack of memories, from why I am staying at Sweet Apple Acres to my beginnings of the days I knew very well since the darkness, it took a little time but Cheerilee seemed to understand why I didn’t answer that question about me being new into town with parents... “And that’s about it, Miss Cheerilee...” Sweetie Belle finished the last part of the story to Cheerilee. Scootaloo sat by me giving me some comfort, she been doing so much to help me and I’d given her almost nothing in return, apart from helping her to win that contest to do with the Wonderbolts and Crystal Empire... I wondered how important that really was for Scootaloo... One thing came to my mind and that was... 'I don't really know how important it is to Scootaloo... or the others... was what I did with the Zap Apple trees really worth that much to the help they gave me?' my thoughts were slightly confused since I knew very little about Ponyville, this Crystal Empire or whatever else there was around this land... Cheerilee looked directly at me “Zaps how would you like to come attend school tomorrow with the girls, get to know how school is and learn a few things in class with fellow ponies around your age.” I looked really surprised by this. “I-I can come here tomorrow?” “Yes I don't see why not, but it be only for a day though, I will have to talk to Applejack and Big Macintosh to go through the paperwork to sign you up.” What Cheerilee told me sounded really amazing but some of the things were rather confusing, I didn't understand the paperwork or the signing up part, but going to school sounded interesting to me. I smiled at the idea of seeing what this school would be like “Thank you Miss Cheerilee I’d like that” “Then it’s settled” Cheerilee put her hoof to my left foreleg with a smile. “Now girls go take him on your little tour while I go see Applejack and Big Macintosh about arranging his visit tomorrow and try to get Zaps signed up to school” Cheerilee looked at the girls with a warm smile. “Sure thing Miss Cheerilee” Scootaloo saluted with a smirk. Applebloom also saluted so did Sweetie Belle “We’ll give him the best tour possible Miss Cheerilee” “Yeah and you can come to the party too” Sweetie Belle added. “It’s gonna be Zaps' first party” she squeed in delight. Cheerilee lead us out of the schoolhouse “Sure I'll gladly be there, see you all soon. Have fun kids” “We will Miss Cheerilee” they said together as I watched them wave to her as she head off to Sweet Apple Acres. Scootaloo turned to me “Schoolhouse visit completed and a success!” She look to her flank “No cutie mark, you girls?” “Nope” Applebloom sighed “Nothing” Sweetie Belle muttered “We’ll just have to finish it to see, so where next?” Scootaloo asked them. “Train Station, Toy Store then my sisters!” Sweetie Belle suggested Applebloom put a hoof up “Ah'm up for that” “Same here” Scootaloo put her hoof against hers and Sweetie Belle did so too. I put my hoof against theirs “four out of four then, how sweet is that?” “It’s cool!” Sweetie Belle said with glee. “What exactly is a train station?” I asked with wonder. “Oh you’ll see when we get there” Scootaloo took my front right hoof with hers and pulled me along. “Come on, time’s a wastin!” I looked to the others for help but they just shrugged and followed, I finally got my hoof free and we walked into town and what a town it was! I was overwhelmed seeing dozens of ponies walking around, sitting, chatting and some other things I didn’t quite understand but it was full of life... I felt warm and happy seeing so many friendly ponies, playing and enjoying themselves. I heard a whistling sound that startled me, making me jump and spin to the source of the sound. “Whoa what is that thing?” I saw something moving along two metal lines alongside a building coming to a stop. Scootaloo chuckled softly “It’s a train stopping at the train station we’re visiting next. Awesome right?” Scootaloo walked over to the station with me beside her looking at the station in front of us. “The trains take ya anywhere in Equestria. Canterlot, Manehatten, Crystal Empire and sorts of other places, this is what we’ll be taking to get the empire in the next few weeks” We were on the platform and when I saw the train it was something for sure I’d never seen. “This thing will take us to this Crystal Empire?” “Well not this train but a train will” Sweetie Belle replied looking at the time table on a board, I looked at it and saw numbers and the word 'timetable' so I guessed this was how they kept track of day and night... I felt completely out of place, I so had little knowledge on how these things worked. “You see that clock?” I looked at it “Yeah I do, that round thing with the hands right?” “Yes, it tells time, it says 2:40pm, which means afternoon and this train is that one on the time table” Sweetie Belle points to it with a hoof. I took a look at it “2:45pm departure to Canterlot then to Appaloosa non stop” I read out aloud. “Is that another town?” “Eeyup, that where mah cousin Braeburn lives, he also owns the apple farm there.” Applebloom answered my question and told me of another of the Apple family. There must be a lot of them, I thought through it but wasn't sure how many there could be... I curiously looked over to the train and its carriages with wonder. I walked down the platform towards the front with the girls just behind. Peering into the front part of the train I saw all sort of things from levers and a set of wheels to other things I didn’t recognise that had numbers on them and hands like the clock coloured white, green and red on each part of the round object. "Hello there can I help you young colt?" I turned to see a stallion standing there on three of his hooves with his other front leg holding a silver container. I looked up at him tilting my head to the strange looking hat he was wearing. "What do all those levers and wheels do inside this train? And why does your hat look like that?" I asked with wonder. He put the container down and place his hoof on my head rubbing it "you’re a curious young colt aren't ya?" I nodded in reply and he continued to speak. "This hat is what a train driver wears and in there is where I control the train the leavers work the train and the wheels control the flow of steam and power. I wish I could say a little more, but it would take too long to explain it. Let’s just say my talent is to do with trains." "Wow" I was amazed by this and even more curious over it. "Erm... My name is Zaps..." He look right at the girls specially Applebloom then back at me "An Apple, I've met my fair share of those county ponies and they are, I have to say, quite the ponies." He said mostly to me and Applebloom. "My name is Steam Whistle and it’s pleasure to meet you all, but I’ve got to go now. Passengers to take. See you youngsters around." Steam took his flask and entered the train closing the door. Standing on his hind legs he place a foreleg over the door as he closed it with a smile. He pulled the whistle and the train slowly began to move. Steam billowing out it left that station, off towards the large city on the mountain side. "Whoa that was really awesome" I said to them looking to the city. "Is that Canterlot?" I asked, taking a guess to the place I could see in the distance. "That sure is and we’ve been to the gardens at the palace, it was awesome seeing all those statues there." Scootaloo replied. "Maybe you’ll see it one day too." I smiled at that idea. "I would like that, so what next?" Sweetie Belle put a hoof over my back "The Toy Shop and you get to see what stuff we play with" "Play?" "Y'all know, filly and colt stuff, playin' games, toys, scooters, video games. Don't ya know what fun is?" I nodded in reply. "It’s just like that but with toys, ya’ll understand when ya see them" Applebloom put her hoof on my back too. "Ready?" "Yup” I replied and we all made our way to the next stop...