> Quest for the Golden Apple.
>  by Snowday
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> The Start of Something.
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  The day started out as a normal Equestrian day should have,the sun's rise gave way to a beautiful day,just as the night before was a perfect blend of the full moon and a darkblue sky that had a tinge of purple.
Cloudsdale was floating in the sky elagently as its fluffy,white form complemented the bright blue sky;Ponyville was positivly beaming,as usual,and its earth-bound residents were going about as normal,performing thier everyday tasks.
All the ponies of Ponyville were going about thier business,selling goods,sorting books,cleaning the streets;but one pony had another agenda,Rex Right.Rex's real name was Cresent,but he was called Rex Right by the ponyfolk due to his current occupation.
You see,Rex recently graduated from college at Canterlot Universaty,a year ago infact,and since then has been on 
numerous game-shows and contests.Rex had a keen intelect and was quike to answer a question,and he often had a right 
answer,so if you believed he was wrong he could easily justify his answer in a logical way.
Having been on nearly every profitable game-show in Equestria,and having won most times he competed,made him some what of a celebraty.Not to the point where ponies would go out of thier way to take note of him,but enough so that he could walk down the street and everypony would be able to say,"Hi Rex.",which some would;but it would not spawn any real conversation.You could even say he was royalty,though the status was never actualy applied to him.He was the youngest of Princess Luna's nieces and nephew's,and he seldomly visited the royal family in Canterlot.Though he loved most of them he made one acception,Blueblood,as he was perceived by Rex to be an overall blowhard and a bore to boot.
Rex's coat was an egyption blue and his mane was a blend of midnight and black,his hooves were well kept and so was his 
mane...most of the time;his cutie mark was a question mark,a sign that he was most inquisitive.His horn was also rather 
sheen compared to most,but he never actually used his magic unless he really needed to.
He traveled alot,as he was always being hosted on t.v.,but it didn't bother him,he liked meeting new people and he liked 
trying new things.
Today was different than the norm for him though,his friends Snowday and Skipper were comeing to visit him,so he was making a quike run to Sugar Cube Corner.He didn't live far from it,the store was quite literaly on the corner about 3 minutes away from his home in Ponyville,which he had bought with some of his prize money from a show called "Thinking with Ponies.",it was actually one of his fonder moments.Upon entering he was greeted by Pinkie Pie with a loud,"HEY REX,WANNA JOIN IN! We're having a CUPCAKE EATING CONTEST,and guess what smarty-pants,the winner gets...THAT GOLDEN APPLE!" Rex turned to the counter (over run with ponies) which had a banner above it that said "Cupcake Conquerer's Contest."Looking just under it was a display case that held a golden apple,and it was actually a rather odd sight,the way it sat there.The apple almost becond him."Challenge accepted.", said Rex in a full hearted voice that rang out through the room.Pinkie's eyes lite up and she met his gaze,"You're really gonna-"
"-Nope,just came down for a cake if you dont mind.",interupted Rex with an ear to ear grin,it was almost as if he snickered the words instead of actualy saying them."Aww,you party pooper,I'll bring it right to ya.Give me a 
minute to see if all the cupcakes are baked for the competition . Mr. and Mrs.Cake have been going all morning.",said Pinkie 
with smile,then she bounced off to the kitchen.Almost emidiatly she came back."Sorry but the ovens are full right now,come back in an hour to pick up your order,ok?"
"Yeah,I'll come back later than,just give me a call.",said Rex,his gaze drifting from Pinkie Pie to that mysterious apple.
"Uh yeah,can do,so whats up with you and the apple?",asked Pinkie,her face was somewhat curious but she was definetly 
amused. "Huh? Nothing,seeya.",replied Rex,then he went out the door and headed back home.
Upon opening his door he was astonished to see a light green pegasis pony with a long,dark red mane and eyes.
"AAH,what are you doing here?! How did you get in?!",exclaimed Rex upon seeing his friend Skipper in his house."Well,Snowday and I were going to visit you anyway,so I came here early hopeing to see you first.",said Skipper with a small grin on his face as his eyes slowly started drifting to left.Rex turned to see what he was looking at and became enraged at the site of a broken window,glass on the floor along with what appeared to be a crowbar.
"Celestia help me,you realy did just break my expensive custom window,why did you do that;I though you weren't 
supposed to be here till around 2 o'clock anyway."
"Well,I got here and thought,'I can't just wait outside,I'm sure he wants to get together in the comfert of his own home 
right?',so I smashed the window.",said Skipper in an appoligetic tone,but was still smiling as he said it.
"Well,it's still good to see you Skip,so whats been happening in Cloudsdale lately?",asked Rex in an attempt to make small 
talk until Snowday arrived,it wouldn't be long as it was now 1:47,so Snowday would be ariving shortly.
Skipper looked towards Rex and cracked an akward smile and said jokingly,"You know everything,why not tell ME how 
it's been.",his eyes squinted into a friendly face of a joker as he started a snicker.
"So now we just gotta wait for Snowday.",stated Rex,looking towards the door in an anxous face.
"I love a good snowday,I love sundays to,though I like an ice cream sundays better...with syrup.",said Skipper.The 
statement was rather odd,but then again so was he,and that's why Snowday and Rex were drawn to him.
"You guys have sundays!",suddenly the door opened and an earth pony with a white coat and a darkblue mane with hazel 
eyes rushed into the house with an ectstatic face and a bright smile.
"You really did go all out didn't you,I guess you certanly missed us-HEY SKIPPER WHATS UP BUDDY!",said 
Snowday as he started walking towards the two of them.Rex embrassed him and so did Skipper,which was interupted 
by a sudden movement by Snowday as he grabbed Skipper in a head lock and proceeded to give him a noogy.
"I thought we were gonna meet up in Canterlot buddy,care to explain what happened to that little plan?",asked Snowday,he 
was obviously only playing with,him the plan WAS to meet and Skipper did arive early.
"I Forgot about it!",said a muffeled Skipper as he punched Snowdays flank,right on his cutie mark.Snowday fell to the 
floor,luaghing.The blow had made the snowflake cutie mark slightly pink,but 
it would go away in no time at all.Snowday was a mountain climber and he'd been an 
orchestrator for the Winter Wrap in the past.
"Ok chums,what are we gonna do?",asked Skipper as he gently started beating his wings,raising him off the ground 
about 4 feet,his stance exagerating his cutie mark,which was a feather.
"Well,we where gonna have some cake and go to the park,but Sugar Cube Corner was busy with a cupcake eating 
contest;they said to pick up the cake about an hour from now.",said Rex as he looked at the clock eagerly.
Skipper's head realed towards Rex,"A cake eating contest,why didn't you say so;LETS GO!"
and with this he grabbed Rex's hoof and flew through the roof with a crash,leaving Snowday confused and alone.
"Hey,what the hay? I guess I'm going to Suger Cube Corner then,alone.",Snowday was now heading towards the 
door,rolling his eyes as he did so;he shut the door behind him as he left,then made his way to the famous sweet shop.
When he arrived at the store the excitment from inside range out into the street,so he approached the door and entered.
Upon entering he was astounded,speachless;so many ponies were here and they were going balistic.
They were jumping around and shouting,placeing bets,signing up;the competition started in two miutes,but he was Still 
looking for Rex and Skipper,and then it hit him like a kick,and not a metaforical one either;it was Rex's hoof actually,and 
right in the gut.
"Come man,we gotta see the competition,I placed some on Pinkie Pie,if she wins in a -15 to +18 I win a 
motherload.",said Rex as he pointed to the wager board above the counter.
"Why am I getting hit so much today,and what do the numbers 
mean,how do you know you picked right?",asked Snowday;the camotion along with the confusion gave him a headache."Wait,where's Skipper,I thought he was with you?",asked Snowday as he began looking around,but the crowed of 
ponies was too great and he couldn't make him out if he tried.
"I was signing up for the competition,it's gonna be awesome,almost as awesome as me.",Skipper said above 
them,flying around as to make movement more liegurable.
"Dang,realy? Good luck to ya then,we'll be cheering you on.",said Snowday,cocking an eyebrow.Skipper competed in 
all sorts of things,but this competition wasn't nearly as odd as Skipper usualy signed on for.Snowday's eyes perked up to the board and he turned to Skipper in an odd expresion,"Hey Skip,what number did you sign for?"
"Seven,right at the edge of the table,by Pinkie!",replied Skipper as he pointed to the long competiters' table where 
there had to have been 1,000 cupcakes.Then the camotion was silenced as Mrs.Cake stood on the counter with a mega phone and began explaining the competition,after explaining the rules she named the 
competitors till she got to anouncing Pinkie's entry.
"..and everypony's favorite party planner Pinkie Pie will also be joining the competition,and last but not least..."
"Get ready dude,your gonna be fine,if you feel sick then just drop out.",said Rex in a supportive tone,patting Skipper on 
the back.
"Yeah man,you got this.",added Snowday,who's face suddenly turned daft at the sight and sound of Skipper laughing 
histeracly.
"What's going on,you got a dent in your brain-pan?",Snowday was most curtenly confused as to why Skipper was laughing.
"Y-you like m-muf-ffins r-r-right?",forced out skipper trying not to snicker,but the whole thing sounded very sputery as it 
came out just as a normal snicker would.
"Why?",responded Snowday hastily,his voice was paniced,like he was about to be called on to a stage for a speech  he had no idea he was presenting at the last second.Mrs.Cake continued on with her speech,"...he's a strong,young colt;a regular of our beloved Ponyville.he is as charismatic as he is enjoyable,give it up for...Snowday!"
As she said it Rex almost choked he started laughing so hard,and Skipper was now pushing Snowday to the table,a 
moon sized grin went from one ear to the other as he said,"Dont worry,you'll do great!"When he finaly sat down at the table next to Pinkie Pie he could see Skipper and Rex gasping for air as they were on the floor,faces wet with tears,laughing to the point were Rex was turning purple.Skipper lifted is head and gathered himself just long enough 
to say to Snowday,"don't lose,I got enough rideing on you so that if you win,I COULD BY CANTERLOT!"
Snowday felt his heart drop as he heard the words.A hoof sized knot built up in his stomach and he had the feeling he 
was going to throw-up.Mrs.Cake held the megaphone to her muzzle,"READY...SET...GO!"
And in an instint everypony started on thier cupcakes,even Snowday;as reluctant as he was to even participating at this point,he wasn't about to throw the contest,he liked winning.A considerable amount of time in and four competiters were out,leaving only Pinkie,Snowday,and an amber pony named ButterScotch.Snowday looked to the mountain of cupcakes in front of him;the competition was about who could eat the most,not eat them all first,meaning it was quite literaly endless cupcakes.Pinkie was destroying the poor things,like a rabid wolf tearing apart a defensless rabbit.
Butterscotch was starting to like a bit overwhelmed,so the colt stood away from the table,pushed in his chair,then said he was done.Afterwords Mrs.Cake walked up to him,and threw a bronze medal around his neck.
"Good job Butterscotch,you did well,here's one on-the-house.",congradualted Mrs.Cake,lifting a cupcake to him,but 
he declined hastfuly with a smile as his face started turning a light green.
Pinkie turned to Snowday and winked as she cheerfuly said,"Well I guess it's just you and me now,good luck!";as she 
said it Snowday knew he was gonna lose,he had a preasure in his stomach now that made the world seem like it was going too fast.He had eaten at least 100,well maybe not that many,but it was curtainly alot.
Mrs.Cake had put a ton of frosting and sprinkles on each cupcake,and he had a thing about eating too much sugar.
As Sugar Cube Corner's interior was busting with ponies,the camotion was enough to rile up everypony,and the energy was 
palpable.He saw Rex and Skipper in the crowed,a wide grin on Skippers face as he was waveing to him,and Rex was going 
crazy.If the two were to laugh at his expense anymore than they had already then Snowday wouldn't be the only one with a 
headache.He cringed and his muzzle became numb at the sight of the mountain of frosting and confectionaries next to him,and his eyes could only stare in shock and horror as he turned to see the pink mare next to him demolishing the pastries as if they were figments of his imagination.
The crowed chanted both of thier names in an ecstatic wave,it was so sureal for Snowday,everypony was just beaming as 
they chanted his and Pinkie's names.He turned to Pinkie and she grabbed his hoof and asked in a competative yet encouraging way,"You ready to do this?""You bet.",said Snowday in a triumphant tone that range out 
across the room,making the audience cheer even louder than before.He withdrew his hoof and crabbed a cupcake,and in unisine they each took a bite.The ambiance was assassinated by Snowday as he immediatly threw-up after the bite,but 
fortunatly it was out of the line of site from the other ponies,as his head was behind the table when he did.
The room grew akward as the ponies remained silent,stareing 
at the table that the now sick Snowday was sitting at.Mr.cake,along with Rex and Skipper,the mouths on the pair 
frozen in the largest smile known to Ponyville,helped him off the stage and examined him.
"Is he okee dokee?",asked a concerned Pinkie Pie with a shocked face.
"Oh he'll be fine,just had to many sweets.",replied Mr.Cake as he helped up Snowday,who was now green in the face 
supposed to his normal white."That makes him second place,PINKIE WINS!",shouted Mrs.Cake,and the crowed cheered;Snowday clapped as best as he could without fealing sick.Rex,Skipper,and Snowday were now on thier way to Rex's home after the competition.The air was cool as it was now somewhere around 5:00 pm and the breeze was rolling in.The sky was a mix of orange and purple,the sun was setting,and a handful of stars were now visible in the colorful mesh in the sky. "It was fun though wasn't it? Come on dude,tell me that wasn't the tinyest bit awesome.",said Skipper with an arm around Snowday and a hoof on Snowday's silver medal;"You even got this thing out of it."
"No,you signed me up for something I didn't want to do?",Snowday glared at the pegasis,then looked at the medal,stareing at his reflection in it's mirror-like form.
"But I guess that last part was pretty funny,right?",Snowday added as he lifted his gaze to meet Skipper's.
"That's the spirit,speaking of which,are you feeling well;I thought you'd melt the way you blew up at the table?",Rex asked as he looked towards the two of them.Snowday felt a little tight in the stomache,but he was certanly better thanearlier,"Yeah,I'm good for now...NO THANKS TO THIS GUY!";Snowday then pointed a hoof to Skipper,who had a cocked eyebrow and a wicked grin,"You know me,always one to liven up a party.",then he winked and raised his hoof for an epic BRO-HOOF moment.His face fell flat when Rex and Snowday both responded with a big,fat "NO".
They finally made it to thier destination and quikely made thier way inside,the day was actually rather cold on the way 
back due to the breeze from the shift in light."So are you guys staying here or are you gonna head to a hotel 
or,what?",asked Rex as he closed the door behind him. "Well,regardless of our plans,I think we should fix your window and your ceiling;or am I the only one who remembered that Skipper broke both on the way in and out?",responded Snowday.
"Excellent,let's get to it!",Rex exclaimed,and the three went to work.After they were done the window looked good as 
new...ish,but it was repaired along with the roof.Snowday called it a night,as he was still a bit sick,and Rex and Skipper went back to Sugar Cube Corner to pick up the cake that they forgot to grab when they initially entered the store earlier that day;and when they got back,they desided to hit the hay.
The next morning Snowday felt much better,in fact,he was the first one awake;he decided to clean up the house a bit since 
the other two were asleep and the house had some debris from yesterday on the floor still.When the other two woke-up,they decided to head to the park,that was yesterday's plan but the competition was a bit a distraction,consuming alot of thier time.
Upon ariving at the park they noticed the Cutie Mark Crusaders playing with an object,a shiny,golden object.
Rex's vision narrowed,zeroing in on the familiar object,and he could feel his face turn cold;it was the apple from yesterday.
"What's up you cute crusaders.",said Snowday with a smile,he was rather fond of the three fillies,especially Applebloom;he found her spunk to be quite refreshing,he didn't like other fillies though,Snowday wasn't the best with little ones.
Applebloom squinted and spoke in that southern lass voice of her's that Snowday found so adorable,"We ain't the Cute 
Crusaders,we're the Cutie Mark Crus-"
"I know,but you three are just the cutest little fillies this side of  Equestria.",interupted Snowday as he pinched Applebloom's cheek.Skipper smiled as he looked at the Apple in the fillies' possesion,the apple made him feel powerful,though he didn't know why;then he turned to Rex and said,"It's a thing of beauty isn't it,shame that Snowday didn't win."Rex continued to stare at the apple,like a sailor to a siren. "Rex!"
"Huh what! Oh,sorry man,just couldn't stop stareing at that apple.Speaking of which,how did you get this,Pinkie won this yesterday at the Cupcake Conquerer's Contest,did she give this to you?",asked Rex.
Scootaloo,balancing the apple on her muzzle,said,"Yeah! Me and Dash were hangin' out yesterday here at the park,we were about to leave cause it was getting dark, and then Pinkie Pie showed up with this;I thought it was cool so she said I could have it."
"You know who was competing against Pinkie Pie in the competition yesterday?",Skipper asked the three fillies with a grin.
"The colt right next to me!",he said as he grabbed Snowday,bringing them shoulder to shoulder.
"Wow,did you get that medal from the contest?",asked Sweetie Belle.
Snowday's face turned a little red at the thought of it;he could remember Skipper and Rex laughing at him durring the 
competition,he wasn't mad but he was curtainly not prepared for it.
"As a matter of fact I did,do you wanna see it?" Snowday slipped of the medal from around his neck and threw it around Sweetie Belle's;her face lit-up as she gazed at her reflection in the silver medal,like a mirror,but she felt as if it was some how better.
"It's so pretty.Can I have it?",asked Sweetie Belle,stareing at him with those great big eyes that all three of them shared.
"Of course you can.Remeber that you have to share it though,ok?"
"Yes sir!",exclaimed the delighted little fillie.
"Alright then,it's yours.",said Snowday in a delighted tone;doing this made him reflect on his own fond memories of when he was growing up,he lived for moments like this."Well,I think I wanna visit the book store today,last week they were out of a new book I wanted.You mind comein' with me to see if they have it you two?",asked Rex;he read often,though he would regularly make trips to Canterlot,as the stores there were often stocked better on popular books.
Snowday and Skipper looked at each other then said "Yes."
"You three be careful,alright?",said Snowday.
"Yes sir.",piped Applebloom in excitement,then the CMCs went back to playing.
And with that,the three friends headed to the book store.30 minutes went by while they hung out at the book store,Rex got the book he wantedand pre-ordered an anticipated buy that is being released by an up-and-comeing author.Skipper managed to find a selection of 'old school' adventure comics called "Pony Quest." And Snowday read an artical about 
some ski tornements that would be held later in the year.
"Well I got what I came for,anyone feel like heading out?",Rex asked his two companions.
Skipper set down the comic he was reading and opened his mouth to talk but was interupted when Scootaloo barreled through the door and b-lined for thier group.
"HEY,HEY,YOU GUYS GOTTA COME QUIKE!",she shouted,she was panting heavily and her face was red.
Rex looked shocked as his attention was drawn to the fillie,"What happened?"
"We were kicking the apple around,then I kicked it too hard and it flew into the forest;when we decided that we couldn't get to it,Sweety Belle started screaming and freaking out.It was so bad that we had to get Rarity and Applejack,she 
wouldn't even stop then,Rarity had to take her home.",Scootaloo was on the virge of tears,her voice was getting shakey.
"I'm so sorry,please,can you help me get it back?"
Snowday embraced the now crying fillie in his arms,Rex and Skipper looked at each other in puzzlement,but thier answer 
was absolute..."Of course we will,it was at the edge of the park right?",asked Skipper.
Scootaloo sniffled and nodded her head as Snowday wiped her eyes.
"Don't worry sweety,we'll get it back for you.",Snowday looked to his companians,"Skipper,would you mind taking her home while we get some stuff ready to get it?"
"Not at all,come with me Scootaloo,let's get you home.",said Skipper as they left the book store.
Snowday and Rex headed back to Rex's house and gathered some things in a backpack,about 45 minutes later Skipper arrived.
"Sorry it took so long,it took a minute to calm her down once she was home.",his face was somber and he looked tired.
"We decided to go tomarrow so that way we can focus the whole day on finding it. Are you alright Skipper?",Rex wasn't 
feeling to well either.
"Just wasn't excpecting this,so,let's have dinner and go to bed early,got a long day tomarrow."
Snowday wiped a tear from his eye and let out a short sigh,"Let's do a good job tomarrow everypony."
Skipper floated up the stairs to a guest room and shut the door,and everypony else soon followed suit.
The next morning everypony woke up early and got ready to head out,the sun rose early that morning,giving way to a long 
day.
Three made thier way to the edge of the park by the forest and stared deeply into it,all three of them glareing with 
unshakeable conviction to retrieve this apple.Before they started into the forest,Snowday stopped for a second and stared at the sky,"Am I the only one who feels that something wierd is going on,that apple was giving me vibes last time I saw it.",he asked with a sense of disbelief,this who thing seemed kinda wrong.Rex felt his forehead begin to sweat a little and then 
replied,"No,but something is definently wierd for Sweetie Belle to have acted out like that."
Skipper started to lift himself into the air,saying as he did so,"I'm going to look out for it from above,if you guys need anything,just shout for me."
Rex looked at Snowday and pointed a hoof to the forest.
"Let's get to work."