Star of Generosity, Part Two: Apple Bloom
It was a week after Sweetie Belle got here cutie mark, and Cobalt and Sweetie Belle snuck out several times in the middle of the night to see each other. This was the first time the cutie mark crusaders meet after the performance.
Sweetie Belle started out by saying. “I hope this doesn’t break up the group.”
“We don’t care if you date Cobalt as long as you don’t go all love poison on us.” Scootaloo said.
“I was actually talking about me getting my cutie mark.” She clarified.
“After all we’ve been through?” Apple Bloom said. “No way, you’re stuck with us for life.”
“I’m glad we all think so.” Cobalt said. “By the way, what was that banging last night?”
“Oh, it’s Granny Smith’s way of scaring off the timber wolves.” Apple Bloom said.
“Well why does she do that?” Cobalt said.
“They always get more active when zap apples are coming.” Apple Bloom replied. Cobalts ears pricked up.
“Did you say ‘zap apples’?” He asked.
“Ya, I did why?” Apple Bloom said back.
“I love zap apples!” Cobalt shouted excitedly. “Especially when you juice ‘em then store them till cider season. Delish’!” The three fillies gave Cobalt an odd look.
“Sometimes your freaky knowledge of random subjects can scare me.” Scootaloo said. “It’s like your an encyclopedia!”
“Well have you tried zap apple jam?” Apple Bloom asked.
“I don’t believe I have.” Cobalt said.
“Well then your missing out. Granny Smith says I’m one of the best zap apple jammers she ever meet.” Apple Bloom boasted.
“One of the best zap apple jammers ,Hun?” Cobalt said thoughtfully.
“Uh, oh.” Sweetie Belle said. “I know that look. That’s your idea look. You don’t think...”
“I do think.” Cobalt said to Sweetie Bell. He then turned his attention back to Apple Bloom. “Have you ever considered that ‘zap apple jamming’ might be your talent.”
“No, not really. Your not sayin’” Apple Bloom started.
“I am saying. Do you think Granny Smith might let you make zap apple jam by yourself?” Cobalt said.
“Perhaps.” Apple Bloom said. “I’ll ask her tomorrow.”
“You do that.” Cobalt said. “I’m going to check something out.” Then he ran of like something possessed him.
“I’m going to follow him.” Sweetie Belle said then she took after Cobalt. Cobalt ran strait into the everfree forest. Sweetie Belle paused for a moment but then bravely pushed on. In the woods she found Cobalt standing and and looking at a rickety bridge and a ruin behind it.
“Cobalt?” Sweetie bell asked snapping him out of his daze “You OK?”
“Ya, I’m fine.” Cobalt said. “Just remembering... something.”
“What?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“I don’t know.” Cobalt said. “Any ways that’s not what I came in her for.”
“Why’d you come in here then?” Sweetie Belle said.
“I remember there’s supposed to be a big flank zap apple tree around here.” Cobalt said. “It might prove a major supplement for the Apple family’s harvest.” Cobalt began looking around for his tree.
“Is that it?” Sweetie Belle said pointing with her horn to a large leafless tree.
“Yes it is!” Cobalt said running up to it. “It’s taller then I remember. This should really add a lot of apples to there stores.” Cobalt said with his front hooves placed up on his trunk.
“It looks... dead.” Sweetie Belle said.
“Thing is about zap apple trees they are like some ponies. They look dead and lifeless until...” Suddenly the tree exploded into white blossoms that seemed to lameness in the fading light of sunset . “they bloom.” Cobalt finished.
“It’s beautiful.” Sweetie Belle said.
“Just like you.” Cobalt sweet talked.
“You’re too sweet.” Sweetie Bell said then gave him a smooch on the check.
…......
“Good news.” Apple Bloom told the others in the morning.
“The wounder bolts are coming to town on a recruiting tour?” Scootaloo asked.
“Why do you always guess that?’ Sweetie Belle asked.
“Because someday the answer might be yes.” Scootaloo said back.
“Well it’s not today,” Apple Bloom said. “Granny Smith said I could do this years zap apple jam all by myself.”
“That’s great.” Cobalt said while sitting wrong way up in the sofa they hauled up to their club house. he then flipped himself right way up “If I’m not mistaken then the leaves have already sprouted.”
“Ya, that’s right. How you know that?” Apple Bloom said.
“He’s an encyclopedia. He knows everything.” Scootaloo whispered to Apple Bloom.
“Heard that.” Cobalt said. “So what else do we need to do?”
“Well going off of Granny Smith’s recipe...”
…......
Cobalt was in a blue bunny suit hopping over water pots.
“This is degrading.” Cobalt indigently hopping over yet another pot.
“I agree with Cobalt.” In her own orange suit.
“I like it!” Sweetie Bell argued. Her bunny suit was white
“Why I am I her again.” Reese said. His suit was gray.
“We’re her to support Apple Bloom remember?” Trixie said. She was wearing a purple bunny suit.
“I don’t see what this hast to do with zap apple jam.” Cobalt said.
“This has everything to do with zap apple jam!” Apple bloom said.
“Can you explain how this affects it?” Cobalt asked inquisitively.
“Well no but Granny Smith says it does.” Apple Bloom said.
“Not really an explanation, but I’ll run... or hop ,with it.” Cobalt said.
…......
“So what are we looking for here.” Cobalt asked Apple Bloom as they roamed though the market place.
“Honey. You have to be extra nice to the bees so that they’ll give you the sweetest they got.” Apple Bloom explained. “Did you bring the flowers Sweetie Belle?”
“Yep, these where the nicest smelling and looking flowers in the whole of Daisy's shop.” Sweetie Belle said. Then she pulled out a bouquet pure white flowers that almost immersed you in their pleasing aroma.
“These should do nicely.” Apple Bloom said. Then she took the flowers from Sweetie Belle. she then walked to where they sold honey. He merchant always kept his hive in front of his stand just so no pony got confused about what he sold. This was perfect for Apple Bloom.
She set down her flowers right next to the hive then sweetly asked the merchant. “I’d like the next five jars of honey your bees produce to be reserved for the Apple family, please.”
“Of course.” the merchant said happily as he jotted down something on a note pad. “And would you like to pay in advance?”
“Yes, sir.” Apple Bloom said.
“That’ll be twenty-five bits.” He said. Apple Bloom pulled out her purse but went she opened it there was nothing but a couple flies. The merchant began to leer at the filly
“I got this.” Cobalt said while undoing the strings on his pouch of coins.
“Oh, no, I can’t let you do that.” Apple Bloom said meekly.
“No, no, I insist.” Cobalt said as he counted out the coins.
“That’s awfully too generous of ya.” Apple Bloom said.
“It’s ok, it’s the least I could do for a friend.” Cobalt said while placing the coins on the merchants table.
…......
“So why did we buy pink paint?” Reese asked when they got back to the Apple’s house.
“Cuz, zap apples like pink polka dots ,or so Granny Smith tells me.” Apple bloom said cracking open a can of paint.
“Do you mind if I pop out for a bit?” Cobalt asked.
“Sure, go ahead.” Apple Bloom said though the paint brush she had in her mouth. Which she then dipped into the paint.
“Thanks.” Cobalt said.
“I’ll go as well.” Sweetie Bell said. Then the two young ponies went of together. Reese look out the window because he was curious what they where doing. He saw them run into the Everfree forest.
Why would they go in there? He though to self.
…......
Cobalt and Sweetie Belle sat under the zap apple tree holding hooves. Ever sense Cobalt first showed it to Sweetie Belle. It had became “there spot.”
“Cobalt?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“Yes.” He replied.
“Do you ever think about us?”
“Now more than ever.”
“Do you ever think about our future to getter?”
“Some times, why?”
“Well the Princess’s seem to have taking a lot of interest in you. And I what like one of them was your mother or something how would that affect us?”
“If I am a prince or a pauper, I would love either why.”
He then when in for a kiss but just before there lips met they where interrupted by Reese rugged voice.
“Uh, all this lovey dovey stuff is making me sick.” Reese was reclined on a thick branch of a near by tree.
“Oh, hi Reese... how long have you been there?” Cobalt stumbled up.
“Long enough,” Reese said. he then flipped of the branch and landed near the other two “And I highly doubt that your royalty.”
“You can never be too sure.” Sweetie Belle said getting up as well.
“Anyways It’s almost dark. We should be getting home.” Reese said. “Tomorrow is zap apple harvest day and we need to be up bright and early.”
…......
Reese woke up almost everyone that volunteered to help harvest apples at 5:00 a.m. Because zap apple where so unpredictable they could appear at any time during the day then they had exactly 24 hours to harvest them all. So to use ever second of the 24 hours of harvest window Reese remained constantly vigilant to start asap. But the fillies and the colt were not so excited about getting up early in this particular instance. But it turned out the zap apples had already ripened during the night. And the Apple Family already got half there crop harvested.
Cobalt walked up to Applejack and asked this question. “Can I borrow a wagon and about...” Cobalt did some mental math. “fifty baskets?”
“What do you need all ‘dem baskets for?” Applejack asked.
“A surprise.” Cobalt said.
“I guess,” Applejack said with a suspicious look on here brow. “The wagon and the extra baskets are in the barn.”
“Thanks Applejack. Oh, and can I borrow your cider press later today?” Cobalt added
“I see why not.”
“Thanks again Applejack.” Cobalt then trotted towards the barn and then emerged with the wagon hitched up to himself and the baskets stacked neatly in the back.
He then called out, “Reese, Sweetie Belle, You guys want to help me with something?”
“Sure thing, Cobalt.” Sweetie Belle said galloping over to Cobalt.
“I’ll be with you guys in a sec,” Reese said while moving full baskets into the barn.
“That’s ok.” Cobalt said. Sweetie Belle was now in the wagon. Cobalt had to skillfully maneuver the cumbersome wagon around the densely packed trees of the ever free forest to get to the zap apple tree. The zap apples looked like ornaments on a Christmas tree. Cobalt and Sweetie Belle than started the task of picking the zap apples. Sweetie Belle started by getting the low hanging fruit while Cobalt flew up high to get the apples up at the top. When Reese came he got the ones in the middle. All in all It took the three ponies about half an hour to relieve the tree of all its apples. This time when they stacked the baskets it looked like the leaning tower of Pisa. Also Reese pulled the wagon and Cobalt helped make sure that the baskets didn’t tip over with Sweetie Belle.
When they rolled back into Sweet Apple Acres Applejack shouted absolutely dumbstruck, “Where’d you find all ‘dem zap apples?”
“There’s a big flank zap apple tree in the Everfree forest.” Cobalt said focusing on the swaying stack of multicolored fruit. “Remind me next season to show it to you.” Apple Bloom then walked out of the kitchen where she was making final perpetration's to make the zap apple jam.
“Holy Celestia, that’s a ton of zap apples!” She said in shock. “I don’t think I can make jam out of all of them.”
“I was planing on juicing some anyways.” Cobalt said nudging a basket back into alignment. “You know, to make the zap apple cider I was telling you about?”
“Ya, I remember.” Apple Bloom said. Then she indicated to an spot near the door. “Put the zap apples here. I’d like to work by myself sense this is secret family recipe.”
“I understand.” Cobalt said nodding his head.The he turned towards the rest of the group. “The rest of you guys can help me juice the rest of these apples.”
Cobalt spent the next couple hours running the apple press. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo where on apple quality control. And Reese unloaded the apples for both Apple Bloom, and Cobalt to use. At the end of the day Cobalt pressed about twenty barrels of juice and Apple Bloom made fifty jars of the finest zap apple jam in equestria.
In fact when Granny Smith taste tested some she said. “Why that’s the best darn tootin’ zap apple jam I ever did taste. Maybe even better then mine.”
“You really think so?!?” Apple Bloom exclaimed. Suddenly her flank started to glow with a mysterious light. When it dissipated there where three small white blossoms on her flank.
“I’d say that answers that question.” Cobalt said referring to her newly earned cutie mark .
“Yes I finally got my cutie mark!” Apple Bloom said excitedly leaping up into the air. When she landed she turned to Cobalt and said. “Of course it’s all thanks to you.”
“No prob, it’s the least I could do for such a good friend.” Cobalt said.