//------------------------------// // Chapter 26: All Good Things… // Story: Zaps Apple // by Electuroo //------------------------------// Zaps Apple Chapter 26: All Good Things… “Go Sweetie Belle! Go!” I cheered as she made for the final dash alongside the other three ponies. I couldn't quite see who was winning from where I was but I didn’t care. This sports thing was so much fun! I couldn’t wait to see the Equestrian Games for real! The racers approached the finish line and Shining Armor raised the flag. “The winner is...” He waved the flag and they raced past the finish line. “Button Mash!” He finished. Next to me, Twist screamed out in joy, dancing around in circles and jumping into the mud, spraying dirt everywhere, including all over me, Featherweight and Dinky. Everything froze for a second and we all stared at each other. Wet muddy sludge covered our faces and dripped off our fur onto the ground as we all turned to look at Twist, who looked right back at us in complete silence. Suddenly Dinky started to giggle, so did I and soon we all burst out into fits of laughter, before diving into the mud and splashing around like it was a bath, covering each other in the dirt as we played in the mud. “MUD FIGHT!” I suddenly heard behind me and turned to see Scootaloo run right at us and leap in, splashing us all. More and more ponies joined in, throwing balls of slime or splashing muddy water at each other. I have no idea how long we spent covering each other in dirt, or why the adults didn’t stop us, but they didn’t, and we had fun. Instead they just stood there and watched as Shining Armor use some sort of magic to protect them from any mud, well, apart from his sister, he didn’t cover her, and it didn’t make her happy. “Shining! You did that on purpose!” She glared at him. Shining Armor chuckled. “And what if I did? What...” He might have said more but Twilight had already picked him up in her magic. “Twily! D-AHHHH!” We all jumped out of the way as Shining Armor landed in the mud with a mighty splash. He surfaced and grinned. “Now it’s on!” He picked up a large glob of mud with his magic and moulded it into multiple balls of dripping mud. “Incoming!” He shouted and fired them all at her. “Ahhh!” Twilight cried and covered her face with her wing from the sudden barrage of mud balls, sending one right at Cheerilee and another flying off towards Sweet Apple Acres. “Ok that does it!” Twilight shouted, “No more miss nice mare! You’re in for it Shiny!” She leapt right at Shining Armor. Cheerilee looked speechless at what was happening around her, so did Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. “Miss, are Princes and Princesses supposed to do things like this?” “I don't really know... This is all new on me.” Cheerilee replied, watching in awe as the mud fight continued. “Incoming!” Thunderlane yelled out, before diving right into the mud causing a huge splash, covering Cheerilee, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon in mud. Eventually the mud fight ended with us all lying on the grass, covered in dirt and smiling like crazy. I had never had so much fun, although Cheerilee looked less than pleased. She pushed us all back towards the schoolhouse so we could get cleaned up before the final medals. When we got back Shining Armor gathered us around and stood in front of us with Twilight and a particularly worn out looking Cheerilee. “Well the mud fight was unexpected but it was a lot of fun to see everypony enjoying themselves, even royalty.” He said and everypony laughed a little as Twilight Sparkle looked incredibly embarrassed. Spike ran over to us from the tree where he had been sat, thankfully out of range of any muddy projectiles. “Yeah I even got photos of it too!” Spike said and raised a camera up.“Got to save those awesome moments right Twilight?” He added as he turned to her. Twilight stared at the camera and put a hoof to her head. “Yes Spike, just don't show them to everypony in town please...” “Sure no problem!” Spike put the camera away in the saddle bag. “Give me a copy for me and Cadance, ok?” Shining asked. I had no idea who this ‘Cadance’ was but Twilight hug her head down in defeat when Shining said Cadance was getting a copy, so I suppose she must be sompony important.. “Now, with that settled, it’s time to give these medals to the winning team of the relay.” He turned to the winning group. Button Mash, Rumble, Twist and Firelock all smiled in response. “Young fillies and colts please step fourth.” They stepped up in front of him. Thunderlane, who was standing behind us, whistled out to them. “Great job team! Awesome win bro!” Shining Armor took the medals from the tray Spike held up and placed each one carefully around the necks of the winners. “For a great race and winning the relay I give you the Junior Ponyville Games medals, not only for winning, but for having a great time, enjoying yourselves and finally for great team work. Congratulations to each and one of you. Never forget that enjoying the spirit of the race with your friends is just as important is winning.” He raise his head, speaking to all of us. “I hope to see you all at the Equestria Games in a few weeks time!” Let’s hear it for the winners!” We all cheered stomping our hooves. “Now what the hay is going on over here?” Applebloom and I turned quickly around to see Applejack walking over to Twilight and the other adults. “Applejack, I thought you was preparing everything for the sales.” Twilight asked as she walked up to Applejack. Applejack just looked around at the assault relay course that was still set up and at all of us kids. “Ah was, until ah got hit right in the face by a flyin’ mudball. What the hay all this, Sugarcube? Is this some sort of sports day ah wasn't told about? And what are flyin’ mudballs doing at a Sport’s day?” “Oh that.” Twilight glanced around. “This was set up by my brother, I didn't even know about it until I heard him speaking out to the children.” Twilight turned to Shining Armor. “And he was the one that hit you.” “Was he now?” Applejack walking over to Shining Armor. “Yer like throwin' mud balls at ponies huh?” “Applejack it wasn't like that! I was thrown in the mud by Twily first. I was only retaliating, one must have missed her and shot off.” “Yeah, right at me.” Applejack took a good look around and a diabolical smirk began to grow across her face. She was planning something. “Well, since yer dragged me here Prince Arfmor, how about a race on this here course.” Applejack suggested, and pointed her hoof to the relay course. “Is he going to accept?” I whispered to Applebloom “Ah do not know Zaps.” Applebloom replied. “Shining I wouldn't if I...” Twilight tried to warn him but he didn't listen. Shining Armor then smiled. “Why not. A friendly race sounds like fun.” “No darlin’. This is a wager, if ah win ya’ll be helpin' out on the farm for the rest of the day with the Zap Apple sale.” “Wh-what!?” Shining Armor gasped, Twilight put her hoof on her head, shaking it and Spike was laughing under his claw hands. “You can't be...” “Serious? Ah am. And if ah lose?” Shining Armor quickly looked at his sister for help. “I'm not getting involved. You already agreed to the race, you should have asked if there was a catch.” Twilight responded. “Thanks Twily...” He said dryly to her. “Fine, if I win you give me a extra jar of that special zap apple jam and all other jars that I was going to buy free of charge.” Applejack spat on her hoof. “Deal!” She put her hoof out to him. Shining Armor raised his own in response and to our surprise actually spat on it before he clopped it against hers, sealing their wager. “Shall we get started?” “Sure sugarcube.” Sweet Apple Acres I walked alongside Big Mac, helping to carry the jars of zap apple jam. It was stored in a holder I had hanging on my back, a cloth saddle with pockets for three jars on each side. Applebloom however was not with us, she had left to go and help Applejack sell the jars of jam to the ponies. Standing instead on the other side of my new big brother was a tall white Unicorn wearing a colourful polka dot apron. He had been tasked with giving out the jars to the ponies and taking the coins off them, the apron was an insistence of Applejack, something about not wanting to spill apples over the royal fur. A click and flash caught my attention and I saw Pinkie Pie taking photos. “Thanks Pinkie Pie, that’s going to go to Cadance.” Twilight said, emerging from behind her with a smile. Shining Armor just smiled back with a shake of the head. “I might have lost the race Twily but at least I can admit defeat with honour.” “Of course Shiny, and you’re doing a smashing job too. Who knew you were such a good apple seller?” Twilight retorted sarcastically. Big Mac and I put the carriers down and with the help of Shining Armor they were placed on a large pile behind him. “Well youngun'. Ya will get some jars as a thank you for helpin' us out and a good old fashion Apple's dinner for yer hard work.” Granny Smith said to Shining Armor as she gave one of the few special zap apple jams to a pony. He was careful to take it with his hoof rather than his magic, he was still suffering from his earlier attempts at dealing with the jam. He rubbed his mane with his hoof, trying once more to return it to it’s normal position, but it was still buzzing with the static. “Thank you Miss Smith, I just wish I had known about the dangers of unicorn magic on that special jam before I used it.” “Don't worry about it Shinin' Armor. Yer mane will be back to normal in a few hours, ah do apologise about that though, ah should've told ya about it but it slipped mah mind.” Applejack said to him as she place the Bits into the chest they had out. “It’s perfectly fine Applejack, I saw the photo of Twilight when she took one with her magic. At least I didn't suffer from the same ill effects of that magic backfire.” Twilight gasped and glared at Pinkie Pie. “PINKIE!” “Oops, I think I hear babies! Got to dash!” Pinkie Pie was gone in a puff of pink smoke, followed closely by a less than pleased Twilight. “Pinkie! Get back here!” Twilight yelled as she chased after the pink mare. Rainbow Dash saw them run past her as she landed at the farm. She shook her head and walked over to the stall to buy her jam. “Let me guess, Twilight's rainbow disaster?” “Eeyup” Big Mac answered. “Hehe thought so, Twilight hates that photo getting out.” Rainbow Dash said and placed the bits on the table. Shining Armor obediently placed three jars into her saddle bag. “Thanks Shining Armor. I heard about your loss to Applejack.” Shining Armor shrugged. “I lost and that's that. I don't mind, really this is a rather nice change of pace for me.” “Sure.” Rainbow Dash turned to me and Applebloom. “I heard your team came second in the relay course, nice going.” “Thanks Rainbow Dash!” Applebloom replied. I thought about the sports. I really found them to be fun. “I enjoyed it, the racing, the long jump and the relay! I can’t wait to see the real Equestria Games at the Crystal Empire!” “Yeah it’s gonna to be fun, shame yer didn't show up a month or so ago, yer could've been with us in the flag carryin'.” “Flag carrying? What do you mean?” I had no idea what they were talking about now. Rainbow Dash put a hoof to her head. “Duh I should have told ya Zaps, each team in the Equestrian Games represents their home region and each team has flag bearers responsible for carrying their regional flags out on to the field alongside the team.” Rainbow Dash explained to me. Flags? I knew about those. “Like a six colour crystal patterned flag with a with big purple star in the middle?” “Erm... Yeah but I never seen one like that before, except...” Rainbow Dash looked at me, a curious expression on her face. “Wherever did you see a flag like that?” I thought about it and looked at her. “It’s the one on top of the castle in my dreams, in the Kingdom of Harmony...” “Whoa whoa whoa!” Rainbow Dash interrupted, waving her front hooves for a second. “You’re telling me that crazy flags I saw in my dreams is the national flag of the Kingdom of Harmony!? But that star is Twilight's Cutie Mark!” “Ah saw it too! But how can ah know that dream place too? Did yer dream of that place Applejack?” Applebloom asked and we all turned towards Applejack. Who was looking at us wide eyed with shock. “Yer got to be kiddin' me! Ah had that same dream too! There was a crazy rollar coaster that Pinkie Pie made! And ah saw that flag on top of the castle too! There was a pony that looked exactly like... erm... well...” Applejack’s voice trailed off into a set of mutters. “Now, that’s strange, ah had the exact same dream. Ah saw Big Macintosh, Fluttershy and Rarity singin' on stage in front of ah lot of ponies includin' Princess Celestia and Luna.” Granny Smith said. So she had also seen the dream. I was surprised by this, I had dreamed of that place over and over again since waking up, and yet nothing ever made sense, how could they possibly be having the same dreams? “But Big Sis, how can you have dreamed of that place. I thought it was only in my head, I thought that was just a place I had dreamt of since I woke up in the Everfree Forest? How can you have seen it too?” I asked, confused and a little hurt that she hadn’t told me. “Ah don't know sugarcube, what’s really strange is the photo Pinkie Pie has of the dream with us all in it. Do yer remember it bein' taken in the dream?” Applejack asked each of us and we all gave a nod. “Shinin' Armor have yer dreamed of a place called the Kingdom of Harmony?” Shining Armor finished giving the last jar out to a pony and walked over to us as the last of the ponies left. “Well thinking about it now, I do. In fact, it was the night that Nightmare Moon returned and when you, Rainbow Dash, Twilight and the other girls defeated her and Princess Luna returned. I dreamed of that place only once. When I woke up I searched through the Canterlot Library for information about it, but all I found was the old painting and a barely legible diary, nothing more.” Shining Armor explained to us. “Am ah the only one that findin' this to be a tad creepy?” Everypony shook their heads. “Big Mac, ah think we need to gather everypony that dreamed of the Kingdom of Harmony and have a little chat about it. Maybe it’s just me, but somethin' about this seems awful fishy for something that’s just myths and legends.” Rainbow Dash raised her front hooves up, standing on her hind legs. “Whoa. Chill out ponies. So we all had a dream of the same place? I agree we should get Twilight, Vinyl and the others together on this but if we start acting crazy it’s not going to get us anywhere. Look at what happened at the Crystal Empire and even here in Ponyville whenever something crazy started happening, we all acted a bit out of sorts and things got a little out of hoof.” “She’s right.” Big Mac declared and we all looked at him as he spoke on. “This doesn't just involve Applejack and you the elements, this involves more of us: me, the children, maybe others we don’t know about yet. We each shared a part of this dream, and we each learned somethin’ too. Zaps should know about...” “Yer can't Big Mac! Remember what yer promised me!” Applejack cut in. I was looking at each of them trying to understand what was going on, nopony was making any sense. Applebloom was lost by this too. “Applejack what’s goin’ on?” “Now listen here, Applejack, if this has somethin' to do with the family then it concerns all us Apples, ya here?” Granny Smith stared Applejack and Big Mac. “Well do ya? Ah’m waitin' for an answer!” Applebloom and I looked at each other and back at the adults around us. “Do you know what they’re talking about?” I asked her. “Ah’ve got no idea. All ah know is that the adults know somethin' we don't...” “I wonder what it is, look at our brother and sister arguing...” Applebloom and I watched Big Mac and Applejack step away and talk about something that we couldn't hear, they were in a full blown argument with Granny Smith. Granny Smith suddenly looked shocked and shook her head sadly. “Yer two should be a shame of yerselves! Keepin' this away from Zaps and Applebloom. They have a right to know about this, ah don't care what the princesses said, this is the Apple Family! We don't keep secrets like this! Yer remember how much it hurt last time. It almost drove this here family apart and broke mah heart. Applejack yer know this more than anypony. Especially after yer left for Manehatten to live with yer Aunt Orange and Uncle Orange!” Applejack lowered her head and scraped her hoof in the dirt, looking to the ground in shame. “Ah do Granny... And yer right...” “Eeyup...” “What’s going on? What are you talking about?” I asked, trying to make out what in Equestria they were talking about happened before me. “Ah think it’s somethin' to do when ah was only a little foal, when Applejack left Sweet Apple Acres. Big Mac told me about it after Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo learned of how she got her cutie mark.” Applebloom said to me. “Ah still don’t really know what happened but it caused Applejack to just get up and leave, she returned after the Sonic Rainboom with a cutie mark.” “Wow talk about heavy.” Rainbow Dash said. “Why do I get the feeling there’s more to what has been said than we seeing here?” “Yer right, the only ponies that know about this are Vinyl, Big Mac. Ever since mah brother told me, the princesses and Twilight.” Applejack explained. “When everypony is gathered the truth will be told and ah hope this doesn't affect how yer see us as family Zaps...” I saw the concern and worried look in both hers and Big Mac's eyes, they looked scared, actually fearful of what they were going to to tell me. I gulped, feeling rather sick but I just about managed to say to them. “Y-You will always be my f-family…”