"Zapple!" I heard my ma call up to me. "You gotta get up! The apple trees won't buck themselves!"
I chuckled lightly at that. Oh, if only they could. That would be amazing to see. I thought to myself as I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes.
Gently rolling onto my hooves, I lightly stretched out my back before trotting down the stairs as the smell of apple cinnamon pancakes drifted up to my nose, a slight tingle running through my forelegs. Crap. I really needed to learn how to control my Zap Apple Lightning better. Speaking of Zap Apples...
I looked back at my Zap Apple Cutie Mark. I remember how I was able to conduct the lightning across my forelegs as I tried to help restart the electricity at the power box. Damn, that had been shocking... uh, no pun intended. I mentally chuckled to my self as I looked forward again, lost in thought.
I was, surprisingly, the only Apple Family member to ever get a Zap Apple Cutie Mark, and the meaning to it still eluded me. No matter how hard I thought about it, I kept coming up blank for a meaning to my Cutie Mark. Meh... It didn't really matter at this point.
"Mornin', Zapps." I heard my pa say upon me reaching the kitchen, jarring me out of my thought process.
My pa, Aroma Apple, was not a Stallion ponies would call 'Stoic'. He had an apple cobbler coat and forest green mane and tail, an Aroma Apple Cutie Mark resided on his flank, and always seemed to show his emotions.
"Oh. Mornin', Pa." I greeted, my apple cobbler mane and tail the same shade as his coat. "Sorry. Ah was just lost in thought." I excused, nonchalantly.
It was still a bit surprising that I was somewhat smarter than my pa. I always thought he would be smarter than me, and be the voice of reason when I couldn't, not the other way around.
A light, somewhat musical giggle sounded at the stove, and my ears perked as I looked over to my ma, Starfall Apple, reminding me why I was smarter than him in the first place.
Ma wasn't Apple Family by birth, but rather marriage, seeing as she was actually a unicorn. She had a light sapphire coat with light Cream-Peach mane and tail, the same shade as my coat. Her Cutie Mark, three stars in the shape of a microphone showed her talent as a singer.
"Oh, don't worry, Zapple." She told me in amusement, a light smirk on her muzzle. "We noticed."
I rolled my eyes at that. "Yeah, yeah, the way I seemed to just zone out there was probably your biggest hint." I teased, smiling, causing ma to stick her tongue out playfully at me.
"Oh, almost forgot." Pa exclaimed suddenly, causing me to jump at the same time ma did.
I turned my head to face him when he scooted over a letter to me.
The return address showed it was from Cousin AJ. But why would she write to me? What could I have done to earn this?
"Cousin AJ wrote ta me?" I asked in confusion.
"Well don't just gawk at it." Ma told me, giggling as she did.
I tore open the flap and pulled out the letter, reading it aloud for everypony.
"Dear, Zapple. Ah was wonderin' if ya'd be willin' ta come with ma friends an' me to the Crystal Empire. Twi says it may just be for vacation fer us, but seein as she's Princess o' Friendship, she may have to deal with delegates with her brother and Cadence. Ah can't wait fer yer reply. Love always, AJ."
I turned to my mother, mouth open, but she cut me off, however.
"Pack your bags." Was all she said.
I beamed and hugged her.
"Thank ya, thank ya, thank ya!" I gushed, before galloping back up the stairs to pack.
* * * * *
Twenty five minutes later, I was all packed and standing outside the barn.
"Have fun." Ma said, as she wrapped her hooves around my shoulders.
"Thanks, Ma. Ah will." I promised, giving her a gentle squeeze in return.
Pa patted me on the back as Ma tightened the straps on my saddle back.
"Make me proud, Zapps." He told me, smiling warmly.
"Don't Ah always?" I reasoned, smiling back.
I gave them one last wave, before turning around and trotting off, in the direction of the train.
* * * * *
As I was waiting for the train to arrive, two royal pegasi guard flew down to face me.
"Are you Zapple Apple?" The one on the left asked.
Feeling wary, I slowly nodded to him.
"You're not in trouble." The guard on the right explained. "Princess Celestia wants us to make sure you get on the train safely."
That caused me to tilt my head in confusion.
"May Ah ask why?" I curiously inquired.
The guard on the right looked nervous as the one on the left cleared his throat.
"Your family's barn was burned down, killing both your parents." He told me softly.
The train arrived just as silent tears slipped down my face.
"Princess Celestia asked Princess Twillight Sparkle to talk to Applejack about letting you live with her." The guard on the right told me.
I nodded to him, giving him a silent thanks as I boarded the train, letting the tears just flow freely. I didn't cry any more than that. I owed it to my parents to be strong.
I kept that last thought close to my heart as the Royal city of Canterlot faded in the distance.
