What Family Means To Me
A few days ago, Starburst had told Nova that his class was having this thing called family appreciation day where once a week, one of the students would bring in a family member to the school and stand before the class talking about what it is they do for a living. Nova found himself standing before his little brother’s class about to tell them what his job is. “How exactly did I let Starburst talk me into this again?” Nova asked himself.
Flash back to a week ago. Nova and Starburst were sitting down with their parents for a family dinner when Starburst suddenly brought up the subject. “Oh, hey guys, guess what, my school is having a family appreciation thing where we can bring in a member of our family and let them talk about their jobs in front of the class. This week is my turn and I want to bring Nova. I hope that’s okay with you mom and dad.”
Cosmos smiled at Starburst. “It’s fine son, I’m sure the ponies would find a lecture on star mapping boring anyway.”
Nova cut in. “I don’t know Starburst, I’m not exactly comfortable around large crowds.”
Starburst gave Nova such a pleading look. “Please big brother, your job is so much more interesting and I’d really like it if you came, pleeeeeease!”
Starla cut in. “You might as well do it Nova, you know how he is when he sets his mind to something.”
Nova looked back to Starburst. “Starburst, I just….”
“Please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please!”
“All right, all right, I’ll go for cosmos sake!”
“YAY!” Starburst cheered.
Back to the present. “Oh, right.”
Starburst sat in his seat with a big smile as he and his friends and classmates were ready to listen closely to Nova.
Nova began. “Okay, first, I would like to thank you all for inviting me here today. I think this family appreciation day thing is a great idea.” He looked to Cheerilee with a smile. She returned it with one of her own. “Now, on to what it is I do. As I’m sure some of you are aware, I make specially made gemstones with enchantments in them for added effect.” He levitated a long pointer up and pointed it at a picture of a gemstone with a few tools around it. They weren’t of the same tools he uses as he couldn’t let on about him and Starburst being aliens to the kids.
“What I do is I make use of my tools to shape the gems to specified designs as requested by my customers.” He removed the picture to reveal another one of a shaped gemstone. “Then, I begin the process of enchanting the gemstone to have certain magical images inside the gemstones.” He removed another picture of a finished gemstone. “The enchanting process isn’t easy but it doesn’t take very long either. Some of the enchantments requested tends to be more difficult than others so I charge a little more for them.”
“Today, I brought along one of my more popular gems to show you all.” Nova levitated a clear white perfectly round gemstone out of his bag that had a rainbow colored flaming circle at its center.
Most of the class ooed at the sight. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon weren’t amused. “Go ahead and pass it around so you all can get a good look.” He floated it over to the foal in the front row to the left to start. “This gemstone I modeled after the legendary sonic rainboom. I was lucky enough to see one when I was young performed by Rainbow Dash. It was thanks to that that inspired me to take on the job I have now. I’m very lucky to have her as a friend too.”
Once the class finished passing it around, Nova floated it back to him and placed it in his saddle bag. “And that is my job. I thank you all for your time and hope you enjoyed my presentation.”
“Thank you Nova, that was very nice.” Cheerilee said as she took the center.
Nova turned his attention to Cheerilee. “Oh, Miss Cheerilee, I was wondering if I could speak with you after school. There’s something I want to discuss with you.”
“Of course Nova.”
“Thank you, I’ll let you address your class now.” Nova stepped aside to let Cheerilee take the floor.
“Way to go bro!” Starburst cheered.
Nova rolled his eyes with a smile.
Cheerilee picked up a scroll with a list of the students. “Now let’s see who’ll be bringing in a student for next Monday’s family appreciation day. Umm…..Apple Bloom.”
Apple Bloom raised a hoof. “But Miss Cheerilee, Monday is zap apple harvest day, and Applejack and Big Macintosh will be too busy to speak.”
“Well is there anypony else in your family that could….” Cheerilee was cut off with Apple Bloom shaking her head no.
Starburst picked up on it and looked at her with a curious expression.
Diamond Tiara waved a hoof in the air. “Miss Cheerilee, Apple Bloom’s Granny Smith isn’t working the harvest, she could come.” She finished her sentence with an evil smirk as she looked at Apple Bloom.
Starburst practically glared at Diamond, then turned his gaze back to Apple Bloom with a worried look. Something was up and he didn’t like it.
Apple Bloom struggled to try and come up with an excuse. “Oh, no…um…..that wouldn’t….”
Cheerilee cut her off before she could come up with an excuse. “That’s a splendid idea Diamond Tiara. Apple Bloom, you shall bring in Granny Smith on Monday.” The school bell rang to signal the end of the class. Cheerilee walked out with the other students. “Have a great weekend every pony.”
Starburst came up to Apple Bloom with worry. Before he could say anything, she went off. “Granny Smith? Come Monday, I’ll be the laughing stock of Ponyville.” She planted her face on her desk.
“Apple Bloom, what’s wrong, why do you think that?” Starburst asked.
Apple Bloom raised her head and looked at Starburst. “Hoh, Starburst, you didn’t see how silly Granny Smith was acting before, it was so embarrassing.”
“Embarrasing? Really?” Starburst asked.
“You should have seen it, she was dressed up like a bunny jumping over water pales singing a song, was talking to a bunch of bees, she even bit down on a pan. It was ridiculous.”
“Come on Apple Bloom, it couldn’t have been that bad. I’m sure once Granny Smith gets in front of every pony, things will be just fine.”
Before she could respond, Nova and Cheerilee walked in. “Apple Bloom, Starburst, what are you still doing here?”
“Oh, uh, me and her were just talking about family appreciation day.” Starburst answered.
“Well, Apple Bloom should get going then. Starburst, your brother said he wanted you here to talk to me about something.”
Apple Bloom got up and made her way out. “Bye Starburst.”
“Bye Apple Bloom.” He didn’t want to say anything about her troubles in front of Cheerilee, it might just make things worse. “So what’s going on, I’m not in trouble am I?”
Nova chuckled. “No Starburst, you’re not in trouble.” He turned to Cheerilee as Starburst took his side. “Miss Cheerilee, there is something I feel we can let you in on, but to be safe, we kind of need to close things up here so no pony accidently wanders in. Would that be okay?”
“I guess so.” Cheerilee was a little unsure as it was evident in the sound of her voice.
Nova used his magic to close the door. “Cheerilee, I would like to consider us friends as we have gotten along pretty well in the past, and Starburst just loves being in your class.”
Cheerilee gave a smile. “Well I’m glad to hear it.”
Starburst cut in. “Wait, bib brother, does this mean you’re going to tell her what I think you’re going to tell her?”
Nova looked to his brother and only gave a smile and a wink. He then turned back to Cheerilee. “Which is why I feel that you can be trusted with a little secret me and my family have.”
Cheerilee raised a brow. “A secret?”
Nova nodded. “I know it will seem like a lot, but please try not to freak out. I promise you aren’t in any danger.” Nova moved a hoof up to his neck and pressed the small button on his holo-emitter. Starburst did the same and they both now stood before cheerilee in their true forms.
“Ta daa!” Starburst cheered with a hoof wave. “We’re aliens!” He said again in a cheery tone.
Cheerilee looked on and just stared at them in shock with her jaw hanging open. A dead silence filled the room.
After almost a minute, Nova broke the silence. “Cheerilee, I know this is a lot to take in, but it’s still us, I’m still Nova and this is still Starburst. Are you…okay with this?”
Cheerilee shook her head and regained her sense. “Well…this is….interesting…you two are..aliens?”
“And my mom and dad.” Starburst added happily, unfased by his pony teacher’s reaction.
“My goodness, I…I don’t know what to say.”
“Cheerilee, please….PLEASE don’t say anything to anypony.” Nova begged. “We aren’t here to cause trouble, we just want a home, that’s all.”
“Uh…um….Nova, I…this is very strange. This is a lot to take in. You mean to say that you’re from another planet?” Cheerilee finally asked.
“We are.” Nova answered. “A planet that is no more.” Nova then went into detail about what happened to his race and how he and his family came to be here. Retelling this story got a little easier but was still a little painful. At the end, Nova and Starburst hung their heads slightly. “So…that’s our story.”
“Oh my, you poor dears.” Cheerilee said with a sorrowful look. “I can’t imagine what that must be like. I’m so sorry.” She then gave a warm smile. “Well, you don’t have to worry about a thing, I won’t say a word.”
The two brothers smiled upon hearing that. “Thank you Cheerilee.” Starburst said.
“We really appreciate it.” Nova added. He then told Cheerilee of the other ponies that were aware of this information. “So it’s okay to talk to them about it. Just no pony else, deal?”
“Deal.” Cheerilee and Nova shook hooves.
The brothers reactivated their disguises and left. “Thanks again Cheerilee.” Starburst said as they left.
As they made their way out and into town, a fierce wind picked up and dark clouds and a murder of crows filled the sky heading for Sweet Apple Acres. “What in the cosmos is going on?” Nova asked.
“Oh, I know, Apple Bloom told me about this. This is the third sign for the zap apples.” Starburst informed.
“The third what for the what now?” Nova asked with a curious expression.
“Apple Bloom told me they have these magic trees that bloom only once a year. There are five signs you need to look out for that signal when they’re going to produce these fruits called zap apples. This is the third sign.”
Nova looked up to the sky curiously. “Really? Fascinating, I’m going to have to see if Applejack will let me study them.”
“OH, that reminds me, I have a crusaders meeting to get to, I better go. See you later Nova!” Starburst galloped off to Sweet Apple Acres.
Nova chuckled as he shook his head.
Starburst soon arrived at the club house and dropped his disguise. Whenever he was on the apple farm, he was free to lose his pony look and be himself without worry. He was just in time to hear Apple Bloom fretting over family appreciation day. “I’ll be embarrassed, shamed, disgraced, mortified, humiliate….” Sweetie Belle cut her off by sticking a hoof over her mouth.
“What are you, a dictionary?” Scootaloo asked.
Starburst walked up to Apple Bloom after Sweetie Belle removed her hoof. “Apple Bloom, are you still going on about your Granny Smith embarrassing you?”
“I can’t help it, she just so odd.”
Sweetie Belle chimed in. “Snap out of it, we’re here to help you.”
“Yeah, after all, we are the cutie mark crusaders.” Scootaloo added. “We’ll figure out a way to postpone your presentation.
Starburst tried to offer some words of wisdom. “Apple Bloom, you shouldn’t be ashamed of your family, you should be proud of them, no matter how odd they are.”
Apple Bloom looked to Starburst with a pleading look. “But you didn’t see how embarrassing she was yesterday, it was horrible. Please Starburst, you just gotta help me.”
Starburst sighed. “All right, I’ll help postpone your presentation too.”
“But how? Oh, all this worrying is making me sick.” Apple Bloom held her stomach.
“Sick?” Sweetie questioned.
The three of them began to think when Scootaloo jumped up with an idea and struck a lantern hanging over her head which caused it to light up. “That’s it!” She grabbed Apple Bloom’s hoof and started to drag her away. “Come on.”
The four went into Apple Bloom’s house. “Sweetie Belle, go grab a bowl of peas and come up stairs.”
“Right.” Sweetie Belle gave a salute and did as she was told. They all met back up in Apple Bloom’s room where Scootaloo put Apple Bloom in her bed. “Stay still Apple Bloom, you have to look sick.” Sweetie Belle smooshed some of the peas and rubbed them on Apple Bloom’s face. “Here Starburst, make this thermometer hot.”
Starburst took the thermometer Scootaloo offered and took it to a kettle with hot tea in it. He let it sit there a while before using his magic to bring it out and brought it over to Apple Bloom. He stuck in her mouth and she cried out. “AH! This ish hot!”
Granny Smith’s voice was heard coming up the stairs. “What in the hayseed is goin on in there silly billies?”
Sweetie Belle quickly covered Apple Bloom’s face with green mush before hiding the bowl away. Granny Smith entered the room and looked the kids over.
“Hi Granny smith.” Starburst greeted.
Scootaloo spoke with slight nervousness. “We were just about to come get you.”
Sweetie Belle picked up from there. “Apple Blooms sick, looks like she might have to stay home all week.”
Granny Smith checked the thermometer that was in Apple Bloom’s mouth, then felt her forehead. “Mmhmm, perfect as a pickadilly pear.” She then left the room after that.
“Oh, now what?” Apple Bloom whined.
“So much for that plan.” Starburst commented.
The four went back to their clubhouse as the sun was setting. Apple Bloom was pacing back and forth with worry. “It’s almost sundown. Tommorow is Sunday and I only have one more day to figure something out.”
Sweetie Belle suddenly called out from the telescope they had set up in the club house. “Hey, look.”
Apple Bloom put her eye up to the telescope to look through it. “That’s the fourth sign.”
Starburst looked out the window and saw what looked like a meteor shower up in the sky. “Whoa, stellar.”
Scootaloo jumped up and knocked Apple Bloom off the stool to look for herself. She seemed to focus the telescope at a certain location.
Even from Starburst’s view he could see little blue leaves on the zap apple trees fall off and grey colored apples appear in their place. Apple Bloom jumped back on the stool with Scootaloo and looked through the telescope again. “The zap apples have appeared.”
“Those are the zap apples?” Starburst questioned. “They don’t look too good.”
“They aren’t don yet Starburst, there’s still a few more signs to go before they’re complete.” Apple Bloom explained.
“And that gives me an idea.” Sweetie Belle pointed out. Without a word, she motioned for the others to follow her out. They did so and made their way out into the zap apple orchard where the hid in a bush near one of the trees. “We can’t move family appreciation day, so let’s move harvest day instead.”
“They don’t look….quit ripe.” Apple Bloom stated.
“Harvesting apples early never hurt an apple.” Scootaloo argued.
Apple Bloom continued to object. “I don’t know, zap apple trees aren’t like regular apple trees, they’re magic.”
Starburst threw in his voice as well. “Maybe we should listen to Apple Bloom on this and forget about it.”
Sweetie Belle raised her muzzle and walked toward the tree. “How different can they be?” She turned around, raised her back legs, and tried to buck the tree. It sent what looked like a magic electric wave up the tree to the leaves, then it came back down and shocked Sweetie Belle, sending her flying back.
“Sweetie Belle!” Starburst cried out in worry. He ran over to her to help her up. “Are you okay?”
Sweetie Belle rubbed her head with a hoof as she stood up. “I think so. Guess we should have listened to Apple Bloom.”
“You sure you’re okay? You had me worried there.” Starburst pointed out.
Sweetie Belle gave a smile and small blush at Starburst’s words. “You were? Thank you.”
Starburst blushed a little himself. “S-sure, we are….well…uh…” Starburst failed to finish his sentence.
Sweetie Belle giggled and planted a small kiss on his cheek.
Starburst's blush grew more intense.
Scootaloo cut in on the sappiness. “Ugh, save that sappy stuff for when I’m not around would ya?”
“R-right…um…sorry Scootaloo.” Starburst said. “So what now? We’ve seen that we can’t buck them out of the tree.”
Apple Bloom offered a suggestion. “Well if we can’t buck em’, let’s just pick em’.” She managed to jump up and grab one with her mouth. Then Scootallo jumped up and grabbed Apple Bloom by the tail with her teeth, Sweetie Belle was next with Starburst last. Sweetie Belle and Starburst pulled as hard as they could to get the apple out. The apple held steadfast as the tree bent with the pulling. Sweetie Belle’s hoof slipped in a puddle of water and caused the whole group to be flung into the air by the tree.
They landed in a pig pen full of mud. “Any other bright ideas?” Apple Bloom asked.
After a bit more thinking, Starburst perked up with an idea. “I think I know.” He then explained his idea and they all agreed. It would have to be done tomorrow though as it was starting to get late. So the group parted ways and headed home.
The next day, the CMC met back up and began to enact the plan Starburst came up with. Now they just had to wait. Cheerilee came knocking on the door. “Granny Smith, it’s miss Cheerilee! Apple Bloom said you wanted to speak with me!” She called out happily. She waited a moment for a response, but none came. “Helloo? Granny Smith…uh.” She peeked into the window to see Granny Smith sitting on a rocking chair wearing red glasses. They were fake and had fake eyes on them. Granny Smith was actually asleep and had some ropes tied to her forelegs. Apple Bloom and Starburst stood behind Granny Smith.
Apple Blooom spoke for Granny Smith while Starburst used his magic to manipulate Granny Smith’s mouth to make it look like she was talking. Sweetie Belle was manipulating the rope for her right hoof from the top of the stairs while Scootaloo worked the left from the kitchen. “Well hello there, howdy do.”
“Uh, hi…Granny Smith. Is uh, everything okay?” Cheerilee questioned.
“Of course it is, why wouldn’t it be?” The sleeping Granny Smith responded. She then gave a quick snore and turned her head to the side, causing her glasses to fall off. Apple Bloom quickly put them back on and turned Granny’s head back forward. “Oh uh, excuse me. Pickles always give me the hiccups. I just needed to tell ya that I can’t make it to the presentation tomorrow after all.”
Cheerilee responded with disappointment. “Oh no, is that so?”
“No doubts about it, I gotta sheer the flowers and water the sheep…I mean, water the flowers and sheer the sheep.”
“Oh, that’s too bad. We can reschedule.” Cheerilee then started to walk off.
Scootaloo jumped up in victory with a, “Yes!” which caused her to pull her rope more, causing Granny Smith to bump her head against the ceiling and wake up.
The glasses fell off and Granny noticed Cheerilee walking away. She made her way to the door and poked her head out the top half. “Well howdy there miss Cheerilee, you window shopping?”
Cheerilee responded in confusion. “Uh no, you said you wanted to see me to tell me you wouldn’t be able to make it to family appreciation day?” As she did, Granny kept touching Cheerilee and rubbed her cheek with the ropes still attached to her forelegs.
“Fiddlesticks, I wouldn’t miss it for all the tea in Canterlot.”
“But didn’t you just say…”
Granny Smith cut her off as she somehow started to float upwards into the air as if pulled by the ropes. “See ya Monday.”
Cheerilee had no idea what to make of what she just witnessed. She just let it go and walked off.
A little later, Granny Smith was in the kitchen painting pink polka dots on the walls.
Apple Bloom lay sprayed out in the living room with her face flat against the floor, her voice was muffled by this position. “I can’t believe she woke up from her nap.” She lifted her head up. “She never wakes up from her nap.” She planted her face back down again. “I wish I could just run off and hide.
Starburst hated seeing his friends like this. He had to think of someway to help. It was then Sweetie Belle made a suggestion. “Well you can’t run off, but maybe somepony else can.”
The next day, the four had gathered together again to try their new plan. As they waited to enact it, the sky suddenly filled with clouds again and the zap apple trees came alive with magical energy. The clouds parted and the sky filled with rainbow colors. The zap apples soon gained rainbow colors as rainbows shot between them and the apples became more square shaped. Granny Smith jumped high in the air with a cheer. “Yee haw!”
Applejack cheered out as well. “The zap apples have appeared!”
After Granny Smith recovered from her fall, she stood back up and started walking off. “And tomorrow, we’ll be making zap apple jam.”
Scootaloo popped up in front of Granny Smith dressed like a mail pony and tried to make her voice sound lower when she presented Granny with a letter. “Miss Granny Smith, telegram.”
Granny Smith took the telegram in her mouth and Scootaloo zipped off. Granny read the note before dropping it. “Well bust my buttons. Uncle Apple Strudel wants me to pay him a visit.”
Starburst, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle were hiding just around the corner of the barn when Apple Bloom came up to her. “And you can just make the eight A.M. train. I already packed you a bag.”
“Well that was considerate.” Apple Bloom smacked Granny Smith across her flank. “But doooon’t you worry flippidy jibet, I’ll be back in time to make that jam.” Granny Smith walked off and made her way to the train station.
The four ponies gathered together as Apple Bloom sighed in relief. “That train ride takes all day. I’m safe.”
It was now time for school and the four foals made their way to the school house. They took their seats and class began. “For today’s family appreciation day, we are pleased to welcome Granny Smith.” Cheerilee gestured toward the door as she expected Granny Smith to walk in. When Granny didn’t walk in, she turned to Apple Bloom. “Um, Apple Bloom, is Granny Smith here?”
Apple Bloom was smiling as she leaned back in her seat at first. When Cheerilee addressed her, she spoke with a fake sorrowful tone. “Oh, I’m sorry Miss Cheerilee, but she got called out of town on the count of a family emergency.”
Granny Smith suddenly appeared in the doorway of the school and greeted everypony with a smile. “Well howdy there my little ponies.”
Apple Bloom grew worried and Diamond Tiara just smirked evilly. “Awe quasars.” Starburst said to himself in disappointment.
Granny Smith made her way to the center of the class. “Howdy ya’ll, I’m as happy as a pig in fresh mud to be here.”
Apple Bloom went up to Granny Smith. “Wh-what are you doing here? Did you miss the train?”
“No, it came, and uncle Apple Strudel was on it.” Granny smith looked behind her as an elderly looking stallion in leiderhosen walked in.
“Oooohiiiiii noogie, noogie, noogie.” Apple Strudel gave Apple Bloom a noogie on the head.
“I can’t wait to hear Granny Smith’s presentation.” Diamond Tiara said scarcastically as Apple Bloom made her way back to her seat.
Starburst just glared at Diamond. “Lousy prissy pony.” Starburst thought to himself. He just faced forward and got ready to hear what Granny Smith would have to say.
Apple Strudel put a chair behind Granny for her to sit in. She raised her flank and brought it down on the chair, causing it to fly backwards. Granny Smith then began telling a story. “Long ago, when I was a little pony…” She produced a map of Equestria. “Things were very different here in Ponyville, because there was….no Ponyville! That’s right my little ponies. Me and my family were pilgrim folk back when I was a little filly. Oh we traveled far and wide, collecting new seeds and selling old ones, but my pa was the finest seed collector in all of Equestria.”
“Then one day, the Smith family found themselves in the most brilliant, most grand, most magnificent of all cities. A place called…Canterlot. I’ll bet ya hoofs to hindquarters I ain’t never seen anything like it before nor since. And as if the beauty of that city wasn’t enough, suddenly…she appeared, Princess Celestia. The most regal of all ponies. When low and behold, she stopped and saw my pa’s seed collection. Then she saw that we were plum tuckered and hankerin to find a home. Bein a princess and all, she knew exactly where we could lay down our stakes.”
“My pa gave the princess a mighty thanks. We soon found that land near the Everfree Forest and we built our first home. Next, we planted our first orchards, but an orchard don’t grow overnight and we were mighty short on food. Now mind you we were warned about the forest and it was not fit to enter, but I knew if there were critters living in there, then there must be something to eat. It was dark and musty, and I won’t lie, it was scary. But every inch was covered in plant life, and before I knew it, I was standing in front of the most outstanding, incredible, zapple trees! I had never seen anything that bore this kind of colorful fruit.”
“I started pickin them apples quick as a whip. But then, there before me stood….the timberwolves. Why I never ran so fast in all my life. I did the only thing I could think of. I started bangin pots together and it managed to scare off them timberwolves. The next day, my pa and I planted them seeds, and before our eyes grew like a wildfire. Why we had full grown trees faster than you could say lickity split. Each year, I paid special close attention to the zap apples harvestin time, like how the weather affects the Everfree Forest, and how the timberwolves start howlin when the zap apples start growin, and how they zapped away if you didn’t pick em all in one day.”
“And the fruits of our labor were the best fruits we ever tasted. Soon enough I was mixing up batches of zap apple jam. Just like harvestin' the zap apples had its special rules, so did makin' zap apple jam. I learned that you gotta be extra friendly with the bees, otherwise their honey won't taste rightly sweet to mix in with the zap apples. Who'd'a thought that glass jars needed talkin' to? Or that zap apples like pink polka dots? But magic is as magic does. Just funny that way. Then ponies started comin' to our farm from far and wide just to get a taste of my zap apple jam. Some of them decided to stay, like Stinkin' Rich, Diamond Tiara's great grandfather. Matter of fact, the first thing he ever sold was my zap apple jam. And before we knew it, we had ourselves a nice little town, bustling with all kinds of ponies. And that is how Ponyville was founded.”
Starburst was left in awe at Granny Smith’s story. He just couldn’t believe Granny Smith and her family were the ones that founded Ponyville so long ago. As he thought this, the clapping of hooves was heard. He looked over and saw Silver Spoon was clapping. Soon, the whole class started to applaud except for Diamond Tiara. “Oh, thank you kindly, little ponies. Oh, now, now, settle down little ponies.”
Once the clapping died down, Scootaloo chimed in with a question. “So if it wasn’t for you and the zap apples, Ponyville wouldn’t even exist?!”
“Darn tootin’ little filly.” Granny Smith said with a smile.
Apple Bloom wore a smug smile as she spoke to Diamond Tiara. “If it weren’t fer ma’ Granny Smith, your daddy wouldn’t have barnyard bargains.” The other children sounded off in agreement.
Diamond tiara tried to argue. “But…” Granny Smith licked a number off the chalk board. “But…she’s just a cooky old lady!”
“HEY, you take that back!” Starburst practically shouted at Diamond Tiara.
Apple Bloom rushed over to Granny. “Yeah, she is NOT a cooky old lady. She is the most amazing pony in Ponyville.” She then gave Granny a hug.
Once school was let out, Granny Smith and the four friends went to Sweet Apple Acres to help out with the zap apples. Apple Bloom was learning how to make zap apple jam with Granny Smith. While the zap apple sale was going on, Starburst had to wear his pony disguise as many ponies were coming by for zap apples and zap apple jam.
At a smaller table, the four friends and a few other ponies from the school were gathered around to try some of the zap apple jam. Starburst took his first taste of it on a slice of bread and smiled big. “Oh WOW, this stuff is galactic!”
Scootaloo took a bite for herself. “I think this is the best zap apple jam yet.”
“Must be because you had something to do with it Apple Bloom.” Sweetie Belle stated.
Granny Smith walked up to Apple Bloom and nudged her in the cheek. “You betcha’, Apple Bloom is one hum dinger of a zap apple jammer.”
“I am?” Apple Bloom hugged Granny Smith.
Applejack joined in then. “So I take it family appreciation day went well?”
“Did it? My Granny Smith is super special.” Apple Bloom pointed out. She then hung her head and looked a little sad. “I just forgot that for a while.”
“Awe, don’t fret, I forget things all the time.” Granny Smith said as she tried to cheer Apple Bloom up. “Now, I’ll get to…uh…mm…somethin.”
Starburst walked up to Apple Bloom. “I’m real happy for you Apple Bloom. Granny Smith really is something special.”
“Thanks Starburst.” Apple Bloom said to Starburst.
“I’d better get on home. I just gotta tell my big brother about what I learned today.” Starburst started to trot off, but not before grabbing a jar of zap apple jam to take home. “Bye apple family, thanks for the jam!”
“See ya later Starburst, take care now!” Applejack called back.
Later that evening, Starburst had met up with his big brother at their parents place and were enjoying the zap apple jam. “Great cosmos this stuff is good.” Nova stated.
“I’ll say.” Starla said.
Starburst began telling of how Granny Smith was pretty much responsible for the founding of Ponyville. “…And that’s how Ponyville was made. Isn’t that great?”
“That is quit a story there son.” Cosmos said.
“Yeah, she is something special.” Nova agreed. The family sat around and talked a bit before Nova and Starburst left for their home.
“Hey Nova, do you think you might ever do something great like that one day?” Starburst asked.
“Well I kind of am a bearer of an element of harmony and helped stop an evil god of chaos from taking over Equestria, so….no, I don’t think I will.” Nova said jokingly.
Starburst giggled. “Oh yeah, heh heh, I forgot about that. But still, do you think something else amazing will come around?”
“I doubt that little brother, I doubt that.”
Later that night, Nova stirred in his sleep. He found himself in a dark void. “Hello?! Is anyone there?!” His voice echoed out. “What is going on?” The scenery changed and Nova found himself surrounded by stars. “What the…what in the cosmos is going on?”
A deep rumbling voice was heard. “Noooovaaaaaa.”
The sound of this voice sent a bone chilling tingle down Nova’s spine and filled him with fear. He slowly turned around and saw a pair of big white glowing eyes staring at him. Soon, a set of sharp white teeth appeared and opened up with a hiss. “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!” Nova screamed.
Nova shot up out of bed and panted heavily in a cold sweat. “Wh…wh…what…what was that?” He asked himself quietly. He looked over to make sure he didn’t wake his little brother. Thankfully, he was still asleep. Nova sighed in relief. “Phew.” He placed a hoof on his head for a moment. Nova climbed out of bed and headed outside for some fresh air. It was another cool night with a slight breeze in the air. The moon was full tonight and a few clouds drifted along lazily.
“Nova, what are you doing up so late? Don’t tell me you had a nightmare.” Twilight asked as she approached Nova with a concerned look. “You don’t look so good. Are you okay?”
Nova greeted Twilight with a weak smile. “Hey Twilight, yeah, I’ll be fine.” His smile faded as he looked away and up to the stars.
Twilight sat next to him and kept her eyes on him. “What is it?”
“This nightmare I just had, it wasn’t like the others I had before, it felt….more real. I…I don’t know how else to explain it.”
“What was it about?” Twilight asked looking more concerned.
Nova looked to Twilight as he explained. “It was….weird. At first I found myself in this dark void of nothing. Next thing I know I’m surrounded by these massive stars all around me and I hear this booming voice that just chilled me to the bone. When I turned around, I was confronted by these white eyes that looked…evil. Then it was joined by a set of sharp teeth. It looked like it was going to eat me. I don’t know what it was, but it was then I woke up.”
“That is strange.”
“Do you think it could mean something?”
“I…I don’t think so, it was just a dream after all….right?” Twilight tried to reason to ease Nova’s mind.
“Yeah, maybe your right. Perhaps it was that zap apple jam we had before bed.” Nova allowed himself a smile. “Guess that’ll teach me to eat sweets before bed.”
Twilight managed a smile and giggle at Nova’s joke. “Hm hm, yeah, guess so.” She gave him a nuzzle as she leaned into him. “It sure is a lovely night tonight.”
Nova looked back up at the stars. “Yeah, it sure is.”