//------------------------------// // Chapter 18: Party Crash in Canterlot // Story: Zaps Apple // by Electuroo //------------------------------// Zaps Apple Chapter 18: Party Crash at Canterlot The baths at the Canterlot palace were the biggest I had ever seen. After washing the dirt out of my fur, I followed Big Mac and Night Spark back to the foyer where we had left the others. I felt much better now that I was clean, and, from the smile on Rarity’s face as she trotted up to greet us again, I think she did too. “Now you two look much better.” Rarity said with delight. We returned to the others who had gone down the corridor to the hall where Pinkie Pie had dashed off to earlier. “Zaps darling,” she said to me, “I have been doing some investigation while you two were having your much needed baths.” Rarity sighed. “I regret that to inform you that I have sadly failed. I feel so horrible, but all of my leads left me empty hoofed.” Rarity looked like she was about to cry and I remembered the promise she had made to me before I left. I ran up alongside her. “It’s ok.” I smiled. “Yeah, he’s got us! He’s an Apple now!” Applebloom jumping up and down. “Ah have another brother!” “Yes, darling that’s all fair and well, but I did rather want to help him find his real family, wouldn't you like as well, if you were in his position?” Rarity sternly replied. Applebloom stopped bouncing up and down and gazed sadly over at me. I guess she felt a little uneasy about what Rarity had said, about what would happen to us if we found my real family. “Ah suppose... ah was just gettin' used to havin' him as a brother now. Ah wake up and kinda expect him to be there, wakin' up in his bed in Big Mac's room.” “Eeyup.” Big Mac replied. Rainbow Dash chuckled. “Don't forget the plushie that Big Mac gave him.” “Wait, Plushie? What plushie? You mean that Smart Pants toy?” Rarity turned to Big Mac. “You still have that thing? After all the trouble it caused?” Big Mac glared at Rainbow Dash. “YUP!” He voice was fuming when he said it. Rainbow Dash laughed nervously. “Hehe oops... I... Erm... I’d better go see if I can help Pinkie Pie!” Rainbow Dash flew off down the corridor and was soon gone. “What wrong with Smart Pants, Big Mac?” I felt a little unsure about Big Mac’s gift now. I had been sleeping with it for the nights I had been with them. I had even brought brought it with me to Canterlot in my bag. Big Mac must have put in the room we’d be staying in. Big Mac looked at me with a calm smile. “Nnope, it’s fine, Princess Celestia removed the spell Twilight had placed on the plushie. Ah just kept it because ah really liked it.” He explained to me and - probably more - to everypony else in the group. The girls were giggling at it. “Yer three put mah picture of it in that paper of yer’s! Ain’t ya learned ya lesson from that?” They stopped instantly. “Remember what ya did and what harm it brought?” “Yes Big Mac...” They said together as we walked. They hung their heads down a little feeling sorry for something although I wasn’t sure what. Listening to Big Mac tell the girls off, I wasn't watching where I was going and walked right into a long, blue foreleg. “Ow...” I hit the ground on my rump and sat on the ground, rubbing my head. “Sorry, I wasn't watching where I was...” I looked up and gasped, seeing who it was. “LUNA!!!!” I jumped up onto my four hooves, overjoyed to finally meet her in pony! I leapt right up to her and she caught me in her foreleg, hugging me in return. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you too Zaps,” she laughed. She put me down and looked over to the others. “By any chance, was that Rainbow Dash zipping by me a moment ago?” Rarity stepped forwards. “Yes, princess, she may have annoyed Big Macintosh somewhat and, as one might say, 'high tailed it' before she put herself on the spot.” Big Mac smirked. “Eeyup.” “Hey, Princess Luna! Good to see you again!” Scootaloo walked up to Luna. “I can't thank you enough for helping me to face my fears!” “Your fears?” Sweetie Belle asked. “Hehe erm... Nothing!” Scootaloo took my hoof. “Come one, let’s get to the hall! There a party to go to!” Luna stepped to the side as we ran past her with the others giving chase. “Scoots, get back here!” Applebloom called out. “You have to catch us first!” Scootaloo called back and we galloped as fast as we could down the hall, away from the other two. I looked back and saw that we had gained distance on them. I turned back forward again and mere meters away from me, a door swung open and a tall, groomed white stallion stepped into view. “Watch out!” I cried, trying to stop myself but only managed to trip into Scootaloo, sending both of us rolling into the stallion. CRASH! BANG! I was in a bit of a daze from the impact, I saw Scootaloo lying on top of me and I was on the stomach of the stallion we had crashed into. “Gah! Get off me you common folk!” He struggled and waved his grey hooves around madly in front of him, hitting me off him in his frantic panic attack. I landed on the ground with a thud, holding my snout, my eyes were watering the pain from the hit was excruciating. Scootaloo was thrown off him and landed on her back, she got up and glared at him. “Hey what was that for!?” She yelled at him. She didn’t noticing me holding my snout in my hooves with tears falling down my face. “You common ponies are so dirty and are not to touch me!” The white stallion said at us, arrogantly. I heard hooves behind me and saw Big Mac and Rarity, Luna was just behind them. Sweetie Belle and Applebloom looked stunned at what had happened to me. I just continued to cry with my hooves over my snout. “YOU!” Rarity’s voice yelled out. “What have you done to Zaps, you big brute!” Big Mac ran up to me. “Yer ok?,” he asked. I shook my head, my hooves still covering my face. “Let me see.” I slowly moved my hooves away and saw that they were coloured red, the same red that was now coming out of my snout. I could taste something weird about it, something metallic... I put my hooves over my snout to try to stop it but the pain when I touched my nose was so intense. Luna glared at him. “Blueblood, what have you done!?” “What have I done!? Look at what he did to me!” Blueblood said, pointing a hoof right at me, Big Mac was holding me close, trying to comfort me. “He and that orange pest ran into me and ruined my mane! It took hours to get this just right!” He snorted with disgust at us. “Such common folk shouldn't be allowed in the palace!” “Don't push your luck Blueblood!” Luna sneered. Applebloom came up to me. “Here, Zaps, take this.” She held up a cloth and I took it with my red stained hooves and put it over my snout, nodding thank you. “Ya say sorry to mah brother, ya big meanie!” “Humpth! Not a chance! In fact, he should be saying sorry to me!” Big Mac got up and turned to Applebloom. “Applebloom keep a eye on Zaps...” “Sure big brother, what yer goin' to do?” Night Spark could see the anger in his eyes. “This isn't going to end well...” Big Mac stood before Blueblood with a narrow look in his eyes. “Yer will say sorry to mah little brother.” “Not likely, you farm pony, your type are never welcome here. Take your good for nothing common folk and leave at once! I, Prince Blueblood command it!” He pointed at Big Mac with his hoof. I saw Big Mac smirk, before rearing up onto his hide legs, twisting his body back a little with a right front hoof pulled back. “Big Mac! Do...” Rarity tried to stop him. Celestia POV The hall arrangements were completed as Pinkie Pie finished off the last few things. Tables were laid out with food and drinks and a big cake in the middle. There were even games, everything from apple dunking to pin the tail on the pony. I was getting a feeling that pin the tail on the pony was Pinkie's favourite game. Outside in the garden, a stage was set up, standing on which were four ponies whom I recognised from the Grand Galloping Gala last year. A bright red canon sat next to the stage. Clearly Pinkie was more than prepared for this party. CRACK CRASH! I turned to see no other that my nephew bursting through the doors, flying across the hall into two guards, landing with a mighty thud. “What is...” I didn't get to finish when I saw a rather angry red earth pony storm in, one heavy hoof fall after another, showing off his formidable strength. “Whoa, big guy! What the hay is going on?” Rainbow Dash darted in front of him, putting her hooves against his chest to try and slow him down. “Big Mac! He’s not worth it!” “Get out of mah way, Rainbow Dash, ah’m goin' to teach this good for nothin' buckin' royal snob, not only to never mess with the Apples but to never lay a hoof on mah brother!” Big Mac roared. I was surprised to see him use such words... He really was angery with Blueblood, although I couldn’t tell why. Luna was practically dragged in after him. She was using her magic to try and hold him back but he kept moving, he was simply pulling her along. “Celestia, help me!” Luna cried out. “He’s too strong to restrain!” Blueblood was pushing himself off the guards, trying to get away from Big Macintosh. I watched as Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash, Night Spark and several other guards tried to hold him back, I couldn't help by smile at this. All of them with their magic, strength and willpower couldn't hold back this massive work pony. “Wow, look at him go! Big Mac sure is super strong, even for an earth pony!” Spike cried out. Somehow he seemed to have found some popcorn, which he was now eating as a scene of chaos, worthy of Discord himself, unfolded before us. “STOP!” I commanded and the hall froze. Every face in the room turned to look at me. Even Big Macintosh stopped in mid motion and stared at me. “As amusing as it is to see you all try and stop Big Macintosh, you are all to stop this madness at once! This is supposed to be a casual evening among friends, is it not?” They look to each other, Rarity nodded. “Big Macintosh I can see you’re rather angry with Blueblood but what would your brother and sister think of you acting like this?” Big Mac slowly turned to the young ones. He sighed and everypony that had been trying to hold him back let go, giving him space. “Yer right princess, it would bring a wrong message to mah family...” He glares at Blueblood. “If he apologises right now! Ah will drop the matter.” I nodded once, turning to Bluebood. “I believe those are reasonable terms, don't you?” “What!? Me, apologise to him! And those others! N...” “Or I could allow Big Macintosh to continue 'knocking sense' into you.” I said, cutting him off. Of course I would never actually let Big Mac hit him, but he didn’t need to know that. Blueblood look at me with a gulp and, visibly shrinking, got up. “I... I am sorry for what I did...” “And?” “I promise, under my royal oath never to lay a hoof on Zaps again...” Blueblood groaned as the last part was said. “Happy!?” “Eeyup” Big Macintosh smiled and went back to Zaps to tend to his injuries. I turned my attention to Blueblood. “As for you, nephew, you’re going to write me a report on this, detailing how you learned to never harm a young colt again.” “Yes auntie...” Blueblood hung his head low, walking out of the hall in shame. Luna snorted. “Should have blasted him to the moon...” “Much as I would like to, that is not an option, Luna.” I walked up to her. “Now, shall we tend to Zap's injured snout?” “Yes.” Luna and I walked over to the young colt holding the cloth to his snout. “Sister, he would need to be seen by a doctor for that, although we could use our magic to heal him.” I smiled with a shake of the head. “I don't think we need to, if I recall correctly, all he needs is to eat some zap apples.” “Of course, Zaps is quite the special pony.” Luna vanished in a flash and reappeared seconds later with a few zap apples. “Here Zaps, eat these.” Zaps took one and took a large bite out of it. He soon finished it off, and the next one too. We watched with amazement as the bleeding stopped and simply vanished. “Amazing...” “Yeah it is!” Scootaloo beamed. “And he’s the only pony that can do it!” “True, but zap apples aren't always around, they usually go bad after a month or so, even if they’re kept in fresh storage.” I replied. “It might have it’s positives but the downside is that it can only work during the zap apple season, after that he will heal like any other pony if hurt.” “When you put it that way....” Scootaloo turned to Rarity who was walking up with a wash bowl and cloth. “What’s with that?” “To clean you both up, look at the blood you’ve got on your hooves.” Scootaloo looked at her hooves and sighed, seeing Rarity was right. “Fine...” Scootaloo muttered. “Good, now let’s clean you two up for the party.” Rarity started working on Scootaloo’s hooves and I turned to Night Spark who seemed startled by the sudden party Pinkie Pie put together. He looked around. “H-how!?” He blurted out. “How is this even possible!? It’s not even been a hour since she zoomed off past us!” Rainbow Dash was laughing at his reaction. Rarity calmly responded, “Two words darling. Don't bother.” “Don't bother!? But she’s not only set this up but she’s got Octavia and her friends to this party too! You have Parish Nandermane on the harp! Beauty Brass on the sousaphone! Frederick Horseshoepin the piano player! And the one and only Octavia on the cello!” Night Spark was flying up, pointing his armoured hoof shoes at them. “These are the best classical musicians in Equestria, they have no equal and they are all ready to play at this party!” “Sounds like Octavia got a fan.” Rainbow Dash teased the bat pony, nudging him. “Like classical music, do you Spark?” “Of course!” He replied and flew over to Pinkie Pie. “You knew didn't you?” Pinkie Pie giggled. “Of course silly! I’m always on the ball when it come to parties! Right Octi!” Pinkie Pie bounced over to the cello player. Octavia smiled. “Of course, shall we start?” “Yepronee!” “You heard her, friends.” Octavia started to play and the others all joined in with her. I smiled as the party officially started and turned to Zaps. “I wish we could have met under better, and more friendly settings. I do apologise for Blueblood, my nephew can be a bit of a hoof full sometimes.” Zaps smiled, feeling better from the look of things. “I'm ok...” He seemed to stare at something and I glanced at what he was looking at. It was my... Cutie Mark. “Hey you’ve got the same cutie mark as the pony in my flashback thing.” “Oh my darling you remember more of it?” Rarity said with a graceful smile. “So who was the name of the pony you remember in your flash backs?” Zaps was tapping his snout and I felt my heart race now. He couldn't remember that much already could he? Or was it just pieces of it? “Sunny Day, I think... I think she was married to the pony I called big brother in it...” Zaps sighed. “I am really trying Rarity... Really I am!” “I know darling, now why don't we go and listen to the music?” Zaps nodded with a smile walking with her to the stage and the other foals. I watched Rainbow Dash join them with Pinkie Pie and Night Spark, all listening intently to Octavia’s cello. I felt as if my own heart that beating for over 1000 years had stopped for a second when he said that name. I was overwhelmed by such a mix of feelings. I had never felt like that before, not when Discord took over, nor when Sombra destroyed the crystal empire, not even on the day when I banished my own sister to the moon for a millenia. I had never experienced such a mixture of hope, dismay and sheer helplessness. "Sister he remembered your...” “Don't Luna... Please don't... He knew the cutie mark, but not me...” I whispered, with tears falling, closing my eyes as my thoughts drown into them. “I wish I could tell you who I am Zaps, I really do, I knew your true name before... I can't begin to feel how sorry I am for everything that has happened and why it happened in the Kingdom of Harmony, a place I found a normal happy life, I might not have been an alicorn there but that’s what made it a magical moment in my own and Luna's life. It was a point in my life where everything was safe, secure...” “Princess...” My thoughts were broken, and my eyes snapped open as I turned to no other then Big Macintosh staring at me with those green eyes a serious, stern look. “After the party, you, Luna and I need to talk...” He walked away to join the others, turning one last glance at both of us. “In private...” The final words were icy and deep. “He’s figured it out hasn't he?” Luna turned to me. “Yes he...” A bright light caught our attention and out of no where Vinyl Scratch appeared landing on top of Octavia. “What the...” This wasn’t possible, I had placed a spell over the castle that stopped any pony from teleporting into the palace, only Luna and I could. The ponies were laughing at what happened and I even almost smiled a little. “Hehe... Hey Tavi, hope you don't mind me dropping in like this?” “Vinyl! What the hay are you doing!? And did you just teleport!? When did you learn that!?” Octavia yelled out at her. “Oh it’s a little something I’ve kept hidden, and for good reason too.” Vinyl got up as we stepped up to the stage. “It had better be a good reason; this party has only just started and you are already crashing it!” Octavia tapped her hoof firmly against Vinyl's chest as she spoke. Vinyl swiped it away. “It’s not my fault, Tavi! You try running away from a crazed purple alicorn all day long!” “Twilight? What the hay has she got to do with this!?” Octavia replied. “She keeps bugging me all day long about how I can suddenly teleport and use my sound proofing spell! I was going to keep them both back as a surprise for you, Tavi, when you got home! I figured that a nice sound proof spell would be ideal to keep things that bit quieter for you!” Vinyl explained.Her talk of spells caught my attention. Octavia sighed. “That doesn't explain how you ended up here... Ponyville is too far for any teleport spell!” “Not this one! It doesn't use much magic and it get you places in no time at all! I even teleported to the Crystal Empire and back! How awesome is that?” Vinyl grinned. “But I had a panic attack and had to get away from Twilight so I just thought about you for that split second and wham I teleported here on top of you!” “Oooooooookaaaay....” Octavia raised her eye a little. “Since you’re here now. Here.” She gave Vinyl an accordion. “What!? You can't be serious Tavi!” “Yes I am!” Octavia jabbed her hoof at Vinyl. “Either that, or answer to the princesses for crashing in!” Vinyl groaned. “Fine fine! I’ll play the stupid thing... I don't even know why I told you I played this in the first place...” We all laughed and the music started to play again, this time with a rather more upbeat edge to it. Rainbow Dash was dancing to the music, and was even trying to get Zaps to try, although he seemed less than impressed. Big Macintosh was sitting back watching with a smile and Pinkie Pie was showing off her crazy moves. This evening was going to be nice. Luna and I glanced at each other. We knew those spells that Vinyl described, and we could work out how she got them too. There was only one pony we knew who had that kind of magic and she never taught it to either of us during our lives in the Kingdom of Harmony, a set of spells she had kept back as a message to us.... We looked at each other and said to together. “Harmony Rose.”