Rise of Ruinous

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic: RISE OF RUINOUS

Chapter 33: The (Zap) Apple of My Eye

The time: One week after Trixie adopts Rayzor.

Trixie: Quills.

Rayzor: Check.

Trixie: Scrolls.

Rayzor: Check.

Trixie: Extra ink.

Rayzor: Check.

Trixie: EXTRA extra ink.

Rayzor: Check.

Trixie: Hug.

Rayzor: *blink* Hug?

The two giggle and hug up, Trixie rubbing his back a bit.

Rayzor: *sniff* Thanks, Trixie.

Trixie: You're welcome, Rayzor.  Trixie knows how it's like not having friends.  Trixie's life wasn't always pleasant, and it's due mostly to what she did.

Rayzor: Eh?

Trixie: *nod* Trixie's self-promoting herself got so far out of hoof, many thought I was bragging.  It wasn't until Trixie met friends like Twilight that she saw what was truly important.  After all, what good is being *rears up* THE GREATEST EQUINE THAT'S EVER LIVED! *lays back down* if no one's there to see it all?

Rayzor: *murr* That's a great lesson to learn, Trixie.

Trixie: *nod* Yeah.

The two finish their preparations and head out, Twilight Sparkle listening in.

T.Sparkle: Good one, Trixie.

*INTRO SEQUENCE*

That night, Nightmare Moon was flying through the sky, absorbing nightmares when a timber wolf howls, followed by.....

G.Smith: *clangs bells and runs around* THE TIMBER WOLVES ARE A-HOWLIN'!!!  *Nightmare Moon startles and looks down semi-annoyedly*  THE TIMBER WOLVES ARE A-HOWLIN'!!!

N.Moon: By the Eternal Night!  *flies down to about level with the farmhouse's bedroom windows*  Granny Smith, what the haybale are you doing running around at this time of night like that?!

G.Smith, A.Bloom, B.MacIntosh and Applejack: THE ZAP APPLES ARE COMING!!!!!

N.Moon: *blink* Zap Apples?  What're those?

Applejack: Ya'll see, they're super-special!

N.Moon: *nods, then another timber wolf howls* And THAT.....

G.Smith: That's the first sign!

N.Moon: I see.....

Applejack: Nightmare, why don't'cha come 'round tomorrow and help us set up?

N.Moon: *blink* Really?

A.Bloom: 'Course!  And get the royals here, too.

N.Moon: *blush* OK.

After completeing her rounds, Nightmare Moon flew back to the castle.

P.Luna: What WAS that screaming?

N.Moon: The Zap Apples *Princess Celestia perks up* are coming.

P.Celestia: Zap Apples?  OH!  Those are amazing!  Trust me, you two are in for a treat!

P.Shiftshape: What's a Zap Apple?

P.Celestia: *smile* You'll see.

P.Shiftshape: *blink* OK?

The next day, Nightmare Moon flies down to help with the harvest, only to spot a special landing zone set up for her.  As she touches down, storm clouds envelop the orchard, lightning bursting out of them and leaving clusters of four leaves all over the trees.

N.Moon: WHOA!

A.Bloom: Big Sis didn't want ya to get zapped by the second sign.

N.Moon: So I see.

Just then, the voice of Granny Smith singing the Alphabet Song can be heard as the elder pony jumps over a set of watering cans full of water arranged in a circle while wearing a bunny costume.

N.Moon: OK?

A.Bloom: OK, it looks a bit..... silly..... but these steps are important.

N.Moon: Seems like a LOT of steps, though.

A.Bloom: It IS! But it makes it worth it.

N.Moon: *laugh* Now you're sounding like Virtuna.

The two high-hoof, then head for Granny Smith.  The matriarch stops jumping as she sees Nightmare Moon.

G.Smith: *looks at Apple Bloom* Get Rarity.

N.Moon: Rarity?  What's Rarity got to do with.....

After a while, Nightmare Moon is in a bunny costume, customized for her!

N.Moon: .....Ha-ha.

G.Smith: Now, now, it's kinda like a machine.  Each cog and each belt and each drop of oil is essential.  OR, if ya wanna equate it to what YOU do at night, it's kinda like how each star is important.

N.Moon: *nod* I see where you're coming from, Granny Smith.

G.Smith: Now, what'cha gotta do is jump around counter-clockwise and sing the ABCs, like this.

Following a two-lap demonstration, Nightmare Moon, then Apple Bloom join in.  The Mare in the Moon seemed to actually lighten up and have fun with the strange tradition, even in her bunny costume.  As the baskets were being set up, Applejack chuckles as she sees Nightmare Moon bouncing, then a massive bank of clouds blots the sun from the sky.  Next was a huge flock of crows, the birds making concentric apple-shaped circles in the darkened sky!

G.Smith: WHOA!

N.Moon: What?

G.Smith: That's the third sign!  WAY ahead of schedule!

Blue star-shaped flowers appeared in the trees, each sending sparks arcing from plant to plant and tree to tree.

N.Moon: Is it supposed to be THAT power-packed?

G.Smith: No.....  The Zap Apple blossoms usually don't get THAT charged.

N.Moon: Maybe it's a bumper crop.

G.Smith: Possibly.  This is the first time we had a Zap Apple harvest with those changelings on our friends list.

N.Moon: *chuckle* Yeah.

Soon, the blossoms turn into grey apples!

Applejack: Tarnation!  At this rate, we'll be *Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Prince Shiftshape and Princess Morphina land near her* buckin' Zap Apples in no time!

P.Celestia: Oh?

Applejack: *turns and bows* Yes, Princess.  The signs have occured REAL quick this year.

P.Morphina: Maybe it's Nightmare.

G.Smith: Or it's you guys.  This is the first harvest after we met ya'll.

P.Shiftshape: Maybe.

Applejack: I'll help paint the barn.

A.Bloom: Me and my friends'll gather the supplies.

G.Smith: I better give the jars a stern talking-to.

The changelings exchange curious looks.

N.Moon: Stars.

P.Morphina: Right.

Prince Shiftshape snickers a bit at Nightmare Moon's costume, then the three break out laughing.  The next day, all the elements were in place. Pink polka dots were painted on the farmhouse and the supplies were gathered.

A.Bloom: Thank Celestia those bees didn't think of me as a stranger.

G.Smith: I told ya, stick with me and it all makes sense.

The two high-hoof - carefully - then rejoin the festivities.  Just as the last basket was put in place, the Zap Apples appeared - and it was a HUGE crop!

Applejack: All hooves on deck!

Try as they could, the Apple family was insufficient to get all the apples off the trees!

G.Smith: HURRY!

Prince Shiftshape sighs, picking up a single Zap Apple, then he beat his wings again, summoning a massive flock of changelings.  He held up the apple as if to show them what they need to do and the swarm nods as if one.  Then, the swarm start harvesting Zap Apples like crazy, not stopping until they were all down!  Granny Smith was shocked and Applejack was impressed!

P.Shiftshape: HOOH! Good thing I know how to use the hive mind.

G.Smith: Eh?

P.Shiftshape: It's how I'm able to tell them all what to do at once like that.  Had that skill since I was hatched.

P.Celestia: *nod* I see.  Real heads-up there.

P.Shiftshape: Thanks, Princess.

The ponies enjoy the fruits of the huge crop of Zap Apples.  One of them was a white unicorn halfway between Prince Blueblood and Princess Celestia size-wise.  His blonde hair made him a truly regal prescence even without a cutie mark.  When he spotted Rainbow Dash, he smiled and bowed, carrying a Zap Apple pie.

Gilda: *lands near Rainbow Dash* Heya, Dash.

R.Dash: Heya, G.

As the two high-wing, the white unicorn smiles widely at them, bowing and walking off.  Gilda cocked her head at him.

R.Dash: Don't ask.

The two shrug, enjoying the harvest.  Nightmare Moon and the changeling royals expressed similar rave reviews.

N.Moon: WOW!  This is amazing!

P.Shiftshape: I concur, these apples are incredible!

P.Celestia: I TOLD you you'd be in for a treat!

The trio giggles as they watch Discord work his zany dessert magic using the spectrum fruit.  Everypony loved seeing the draconequus make great foods with Pinkie Pie using the Zap Apples.  This brought a big grin to Virtuna's face.

Trixie: *chuckle* One of your best projects, eh, V?

Virtuna: Oh, yeah!

Both laugh as they head for Discord's stall.  At the end of the harvest festival, Princess Celestia took some leftover Zap Apples home. One of the apples glowed green, being copied.  The copy wound up with no pony but Queen Chrysalis.  The changeling takes a bite and murrs.

Q.Chrysalis: I had one of these..... long ago.....  It's one of the things that... that led me.....

The changeling breaks down and cries.

TO BE CONTINUED