The Mystery of the Zap Apple

The Mystery of the Zap Apples

‘However did Zap Apples come to be? Granny Smith found the mysterious Apples in the Everfree Forest with no idea where the apples originated from though she managed to discover the strange qualities of the plant… The protection from the Timber Wolves… The way they bloom only once every year and show strange signs before fully blooming into the rainbow coloured fruit… Then they disappear if not picked within one day…’

The sun rose over Ponyville, its warm gentle rays touching each part of the town. A ray of light shone through the small gap in the curtains into Carousel Boutique and reached out to cover Rarity’s face. The light was blocked by her soft cotton yellow with a pink ruffle trim sleep mask with the pink ribbon bows sown over where her eyes would be on the fabric, but the warmth reached her white coat easily. She groaned,

“Morning already?” She sighed and magically removed her sleep mask to place it perfectly on the bedside table; then took a large stretch of her fore-hooves to then get out of her plush red coloured bed.  She walked over to her dresser and brushed her dark purple mane, making sure her curls bounced in their right place. She hummed a tune as she walked down the stairs towards the kitchen feeling very peckish at that time in the morning. She walked over to the counter and heard her stomach grumble slightly,

“Hm, whatever shall I have for breakfast this morning?” She thought aloud still humming a small tune.

A light blue glow appeared around her white horn as she used her levitation magic to take out the packet of eggs from the cooler, then after placing a frying pan on the hob of the oven. She delicately cracked two of the eggs and poured the contents into the pan perfectly then she waited until the eggs were cooked then took the spatula, again with her magic, to lift the eggs and place them on a plate so the plate was absolutely flawless. She sat gracefully on the stool by the table and ate each egg piece by piece. The yolk was slightly poached to create perfection,

“How wonderful! These eggs are perfection!” She smiled just before she finished her last bite. She placed the dirty plate into the sink and washed it quickly before heading towards the door.

There was a tiny knock from the other side of the door, quite a coincidence since Rarity was stood by the door already!

“Hello~ who is it?” She chimed magically opening the door for the pony on the other side,

“Hi big sister!” An all too familiar voice beamed, Rarity smiled,

“Why hello Sweetie Belle! Whatever do you want this early in the morning?” Rarity sighed; Sweetie Belle gave Rarity an excited look,

“Apple Bloom told me the Zap Apples are blooming!” Sweetie Belle bounced excitedly,

“Oh really? Applejack must have her hooves full again.” Rarity wondered, Sweetie Belle answered with a quick nod of her adorable little head.

“Hmm, I guess I can go see how Applejack is doing today… And maybe I could find some way to help her out… without getting dirty.” She closed her eyes and smiled proudly.

Rarity made her way out of the door,

“Sweetie Belle you should make your way home now. I’m off to Sweet Apple Acres.” She smiled, Sweetie Belle made her way off into town on her own. Rarity made her way towards the Apple family’s farm, Sweet Apple Acres. She daintily made her way down the dirt paths looking around at the scenery around her, it was fall now so the leaves on the trees were a wonderful array of colours, reds, orange, yellow and a light shade of brown, the leaves around her looked splendid this time of the year. She trotted across the bridge towards the huge red barn. She looked to her right to see the Zap apple leaves had already appeared, that would mean that it would only be four more days until the Zap Apples are ready for harvest. She noticed Applejack by the trees talking to her brother, Big Macintosh. She walked over to them.

“Applejack dear, I was just wondering if there is anything I can help you with… without getting dirty.” She said elegantly,

“Howdy Rarity!” Applejack grinned walking over to greet her unicorn friend.

“There’s not much to do right now here on the farm, we’re just gettin’ the buckets ready by the trees for the harvest in four days time!” Applejack smiled,

“Thanks for the offer though!” Applejack walked off towards the barn with Big Macintosh to collect more wooden buckets leaving Rarity alone in amongst the Zap apple trees.

The tranquillity around her gave her plenty of time to contemplate things,

“Hm, I have always wondered where the Zap apples actually originated from. This deserves investigation I think!” Rarity thought aloud in determination,

“Granny Smith had originally found the Zap apples in the Everfree forest. So that is where I must start!” She trotted off towards Fluttershy’s cottage which was the place closest to the entrance of the forest.

She arrived at the lovely cottage and knocked on the wooden door,

“Fluttershy darling! Are you in?” Rarity called as if knocking wasn’t enough, she door swung open quickly to reveal a certain dragon pony, Cutie Dragon, she was visiting Fluttershy today.

“Oh! Why hello Cutie!” Rarity stepped backwards from the sudden action of the door opening,

“Hi! You want to see Fluttershy?” Cutie bounced up and down much like Pinkie Pie, an excited look lit her entire face; Rarity cleared her throat,

“Ehem, Yes I would like to.” She replied stepping forwards again to look inside of the cottage. Fluttershy walked to the door and stood shyly beside of Cutie Dragon,

“Oh! Hi Rarity…” She squeaked quietly with a cute smile,

“Oh there you are Fluttershy! Just to inform you I’m going into the Everfree Forest, I may pop into Zecora’s house for a bit.” Rarity smiled to her close friend then began to turn around to be stopped by a hoof on her shoulder.

“Please be careful!” Fluttershy declared, her soft voice still quiet, Cutie stepped out the room to stand beside of Rarity,

“I’ll come along with you! It’s better to have company when going through the forest right?” Cutie grinned to reveal her full set of dragon-like teeth.

“Bye girls! Stay safe!” Fluttershy waved the two off as they walked into the dark entrance to the Everfree forest.

At first everything was ominously silent as the two walked down the path through the creepy forest, the only sound penetrating the deafening silence was the sound of their hooves against the dirt. Rarity looked at Cutie; Cutie’s black mane made it difficult to see her in the looming darkness as they walked deeper into the forest, though her bright red mane and tail with a darker red streak down the middle made her stand out at least a little and her red eyes seemed to stare forwards into the incoming shadows ahead of them.

They began to approach Zecora’s forest hut, a dim light diffused through the blackness ahead of the two. Rarity looked excitedly and sped up into a light trot, still looking fabulous as she moved faster.

“Look there Cutie! Zecora’s hut is not far now!” Rarity beamed excitedly, she always wondered if Zecora ever made a potion which enhances beauty though that was not why she was there that day, no… she wanted to know about the Zap apples. She knocked gracefully on the door of the strange tree; Cutie caught up with her and waited by the door. There was no answer…

“Zecora? Are you in?” Rarity bellowed, she wasn’t the most patient of ponies after all! Cutie turned around to see a hoof trail leading down another path deeper into the forest,

“Hey! Rarity look!” Cutie pointed to the tracks for Rarity to see,

“This must be Zecora’s trail! Let’s go!” Rarity announced then carefully followed the tracks though made sure that she wouldn’t bump into any trees, she began to hum that same tune from that morning again as she happily trotted down yet another path Cutie followed closely behind.

They reached a clearing where the sun dimly lit the area ever so slightly; the strangest of things happened… the tracks came to a complete stop in the middle of the clearing, no sign of any Zebra around or anypony in fact! But there was one thing which surprised Rarity… All around the clearing were… Zap apple trees! Several of them!

‘Could this have been where Granny Smith found the Zap apples?’ Rarity’s face beamed with joy at her discovery, she stamped her hooves excitedly with a bright grin.

“Look at all the Zap apple trees!” Rarity squealed, Cutie smiled and sat down to rest for a bit. Rarity sat by Cutie to take a short rest and to think… She had made it this far but what more can she find out by being here? She wanted to know answers… but just by being near the Zap Apples wouldn’t necessarily give her answers…

Rarity’s thoughts were disturbed by a violent rumbling of the ground, the two jumped to their hooves and looked around themselves alertly, an earthquake was extremely rare so they had no idea at all why the ground would be shaking so violently like it was then! The ground beneath them cracked open fiercely into a huge chasm, Cutie flew upwards and Rarity jumped to the right to dodge the opening fissure right through the centre of the clearing. A spiteful laugh echoed around them…

From the huge crack a wicked being rose to stand in the clearing. A much too familiar and utterly malicious laugh emanated from the evil being… it was… Discord!

“Ha-ha! I have returned! And you can’t do anything about it! The reign of Chaos will happen once again!” Discord roared with laughter which was unpleasant to Rarity’s ears.

“Discord!? How did you escape the stone prison I and my friends placed you in?” Rarity growled, when she got angry she really got angry!

“Why… The Zap apples of course!” Discord gestured to all the trees around them. He clicked his fingers and a flash of harsh light blinded Rarity temporarily as Discord’s magic took place…

Rarity opened her eyes and flickered them delicately to adjust her vision again; she looked around to see Cutie stood by one of the Zap apple trees; staring up at it with a shocked expression. Rarity wondered why then looked at the Zap apple trees… All of them… Every single last tree... Had bloomed to show the rainbow coloured fruit…

“What is this? The Zap apples…” Rarity stuttered in complete distress. A low laughter sounded behind Rarity as she stood there, her mouth open as if to scream in shock yet no sound escaped it.

“The Zap apples are my creation! They are the most chaotic fruit of all!” Discord howled with evil laughter,

“I created them just in case one of you ponies were to trap me again! On the fateful year where the Zap Apples begin to bloom during the time of the great eclipse will signal the return of none other than me!” Discord fell onto the floor, chortling with laughter; he held his ribs as he laughed crazily,

“You should see you’re faces! Priceless!” He chuckled again; Rarity couldn’t believe what she had just heard… The Zap Apples… Discord’s creation…

Rarity remembered an all too important fact… She had remembered the reports, that in fall there was to be a total solar eclipse around midday! She looked up through the gaps between the trees to see the sun completely covered by the moon, a shimmering ring of light remained around the black orb in the sky. Cutie crawled towards Rarity,

“If you distract him I may be able to seal him away with my magic…” She whispered into Rarity’s ear, Rarity understood what she must do; Cutie was the only pony around at the moment with the magic powerful enough to seal away Discord again!

“I won’t let you!” Rarity shouted, standing up tall to face Discord.

“Hm? And what, pray tell, can you do to stop me?” Discord grinned mischievously; his single large sharp tooth gleamed as he grinned slyly.

“The only Chaos I like… IS ORGANISED CHAOS!” Rarity shrieked galloping full speed towards Discord who simply stood there watching her, not even bothered to move out of the way. Rarity jumped off her hind legs strongly, her eyes fixated on her target, Discord. She spun round and bucked the Draconequus right on his chest knocking the beast onto its back.

“Cutie! Now!” Rarity jumped away from Discord to allow Cutie to charge towards him, horn glowing frantically wild with a black-gray radiant light which twinkled with strong magical energy.

“Discord! I seal you away to your stone imprisonment!” Cutie yelled she jumped to hover above him then an extravagant beam of pure magical energy surrounded Discord,

“NOOOOO!” Discord yelled his last words before his whole body froze into cool lifeless stone…

“It’s done…” Rarity sighed, panting wildly from her run and kick. She collapsed to the ground to conserve energy as she inhaled and exhaled rapidly. Cutie breathed fire onto the Zap apple trees to cause them to burn away into dusty ashes… Since Rarity was too tired to walk anymore Cutie carried her all the way back to Ponyville… They went straight to Sweet Apple Acres where Cutie dumped Rarity on the grass gently by the entrance to the orchard. Applejack galloped over to them worriedly,

“What happened Sugar-cube?” She asked the two of them, her tone worried and full of concern.

“Well…” Cutie explained the whole story to Applejack who listened intently; which also gave Rarity time to regain herself. She stood and brushed herself off to make sure she had no more dirt on her wonderful white coat.

“We have to get rid of all the Zap Apple trees to prevent this from ever happening again! I’m not sure if I could cope with seeing that ugly face again!” Rarity said in disgust as she thought of Discord again. Applejack sighed,

“It’s a shame isn’t it… The very thing which founded Ponyville… It was always something evil created by none other than that Discord!” Applejack sighed; they got to work burning the Zap apple trees… Rarity watched as each tree burned in the flames… The whole town gathered to watch the sight! Even Spike and Twilight had turned up! Everypony’s faces looked shocked and confused, they had no idea what had happened that day…

“Spike… Can you take a letter please?” Rarity asked her little dragon friend, he immediately pulled out a parchment and quill,

“Dear Princess Celestia,

Today I learnt something more than just about friendship… Yes I learnt that when in desperate need a friend is there to help you no matter what the consequences… But I also discovered the origins of the Zap Apples! Something I would have rather not found out about to say the least…

Kind Regards,

Rarity.” Rarity put on a brave smile as Spike sent the letter off with a puff of green flame. Then returned to watching the trees…

“The mystery of the Zap Apples… Maybe it was best off unknown…”

All that was left of the Zap Apples were the charred leaves which scattered amongst the colourful leaves of fall… The blackened leaves deteriorated away with the other leaves which had fallen off the trees, they founded Ponyville… But yet they must be destroyed…

Fin.