I am terribly sorry for making you wait this long. Between watching videos and playing video games,
my writer's block usually comes and goes. And since I got back to going to collage since its drama courses are back,
this story may get updated even more slower then the few months you have waited. Also, this chapter is more
longer then the last few ones because I figured I should put double the amount of words into my future chapters.
Hope you like it. :)
It wasn't long before Twilight Sparkle and her friends led Zenith to the farm where the sweet apples are harvested. After walking up a hill, Applejack turned to Zenith smiling and waved her hoof to the farm.
"Well, here we are, sugarcube!" Applejack happily announced, "Welcome ta Sweet Apple Acres!"
Looking to where Applejack is pointing, Zenith's eyes widen in amazement. Not only were there plenty of farm equipment placed neatly around the place, but there is white painted fences, a farm house with a barn connected to it, and lots and lots of apple orchards seen for miles beside the farm.
"This is where the Apple family does the simple farm work of harvestin' fruits and vegetables, including apples," Applejack explained, "and it is as ya said, the place where Ponyville came to be. What 'cha think?"
Zenith smiled, still in awe of what he sees. Rarity finds his amazed face so divine, even more so with the light from the sun shining down on it. This made her blush mildly and glance away smiling a goofy smile.
"By the forces above." Zenith muttered out loud, "Chester would love to see this."
"Who?" Applejack raised her eyebrow as her friends gathered.
"Who's Chester?" Rainbow Dash asked.
Zenith notices that the mares and the baby dragon looked at him in confusion. "Oh. Sorry," he apologized, "I didn't mention this when we met. During my travels I met a little colt and four other stallions, and we've been good friends since I helped them out."
"Is Chester one of those friends?" asked Twilight.
"Yeah, the stallions' names are Chester, Pebble, Tranquil, Ace, and the colt's is Meteo." Zenith answered.
"I guess you're already satisfied having those friends?" Starlight inquired. Twilight looked at her pupil with minor suspicion in response.
"P-heh! As if!" Zenith mildly exclaimed while making an exaggerated face for a second, "It's like the saying goes, 'the circle of friendship always has room for anypony to join.'"
Twilight's eyes lit up at what Zenith said. "That sounds like a good friendship lesson!" she said, then she turned to the dragon, "Spike, remind me to take note of that phrase."
"Righto." Spike mockingly saluted.
"Hey!" Applejack pointed to the farm house. "It's Big Mac!"
The ponies and Spike look to the path of the farm house where a large and well built stallion walks to them. He has a brilliant amaranth coat, light yellowish grey hooves, a brilliant orange mane and tail, and moderate sap green eyes. He is wearing a light brown yoke and has a cutie mark of a green apple sliced in half.
"A relative of yours?" Zenith inquired.
"Sure is, sugarcube." Applejack replied.
The big stallion approached the ponies, and Applejack came up to him. "Hey, big bro," she greeted him, "Ya came back after helpin' Braeburn with settin' up things in Appleloosa?"
"Eeyup." Big Mac said in a similar accent to Applejack's.
"Well, you're just in time to meet a newcomer," Applejack waved her hoof to Zenith, "Big Macintosh, this is Zenith, a new pony that arrived today. Zenith, meet my big brother, Big Macintosh. Big Mac for short."
"Hello, Big Mac." Zenith bowed his head politely to the red stallion, "Are you in charge of this farm?"
"Nope." Big Mac simply said.
"Actually, Granny Smith is in charge of things here." Applejack smiled, "Me and Big Mac help with the harvestin' and chores."
"Really?" Zenith raised his eyebrow.
"Eeyup." Big Mac replied.
"Big Mac's pretty soft spoken," Applejack chuckled, "but he's a nice guy when ya get ta know him."
"You mean...Big Mac stopped being talkative?" asked Zenith.
Applejack and Big Mac are a little surprised at Zenith's unusual deductive question.
"Hey! Enough of the meet and greet stuff!" Rainbow Dash said as she hovered in the air, "Are we gonna get some lunch or what? We're nearly starving here!"
"Okay, Rainbow," Twilight rolled her eyes, "We did come here for lunch after all."
"Oh, yes, I am in dire need of a bite to eat." said Rarity.
"Let's head to the farmhouse." Applejack declared.
By the time they headed up to the farmhouse, they see an old mare sitting near the corner of it having a stern look on her face.
"Granny Smith!" Applejack called.
Granny Smith looked up and sees the ponies and Spike. "Oh! Applejack, Big Mac! And their youngin' friends." She smiled as they met up, "Ah take it Big Mac's done helpin' Braeburn at Appleloosa?"
"Eeyup." said Big Mac.
"Big Mac returned a few minutes ago," Applejack explained, "and we are here to have some lunch, if it's not too much trouble."
"Oh, not at all. Ah'd be glad to whip up some of my best apple pies and apple fritters for our guests." Granny Smith then notices Zenith. "Who's the new fella?"
"This here is Zenith, a new pony that just arrived today," Applejack introduced, "Zenith, this is Granny Smith, the pony Ah was telling ya about."
"Hello, ma'am," Zenith bowed his head, "I've been told you are in charge of Sweet Apple Acres, is that right?"
"Darn-tootin'!" Granny Smith affirmed, "And still doing that for the last few decades."
"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Smith." Zenith said.
"Hey, the pleasure's all mine, and there's no need for that kind of formality," Granny Smith chuckled, "just 'Granny Smith' is fine."
"I understand clearly, Granny Smith." nodded the silver coated stallion, "You know, you remind me of my grandmother."
"Do Ah, now? Is she old lookin', but not as old lookin' as me?" Granny Smith inquired.
"She was alive and still kicking, as she likes to say so," Zenith replied, then his face changed to a sad one, "but when her ninth decade on this world almost ended...she moved on to a better one."
"Oh. Mah condolences to your granny, sonny." comforted Granny Smith.
"Much obliged." Zenith smiled.
"Say, where's the Cutie Mark Crusaders?" Rainbow Dash asked, looking around.
"Who?" Zenith is confused about that group name, and he nearly makes a 'hoot' impression, which Spike notices.
"Oh, just mah sister, Apple Bloom and her friends Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle," Applejack explained, "though Ah too wonder where they are."
"They are servin' their punishment, that's what they're doin'." Granny Smith replied.
"Punishment?" Rarity repeated, "Whatever for?"
"For wandering into the Everfree Forest by themselves." Granny Smith answers.
"WHAT?!" Applejack, Big Mac, Rainbow Dash and Rarity shouted in surprise and concern.
"How did that happen?" Twilight asks.
"Uh, Twilight?" Spike spoke up, gaining Twilight's and other ponies attention, "Me and Starlight heard from Zecora what happened."
"It's true." Starlight affirmed, "She was at the Castle of Friendship yesterday explaining how they got attacked by a cragadile."
"Did they do something to provoke it?" Applejack asked, narrowing her eyes.
"No, it simply attacked them, out of the blue." Spike explained, "Then Zecora said that a pony saved them by scaring the cragadile off."
The other ponies aside from Zenith gave surprised looks at the thought of a pony intimidating a cragadile. "That part is a little far-fetched." Dash said, "Though it does sound pretty cool."
'Oh, you have no idea.' Zenith thought, smirking a little.
"And who was that brave pony?" Rarity asks.
"Zecora didn't say," replied Starlight, "You'll have to ask her for more detail."
"Was there something else she wanted?" asked Twilight.
"Zecora wanted to find some research on why that cragadile chased the Crusaders for no reason or so it seems." Starlight answered, "Me and Spike helped her, but we didn't come across anything at all."
"So I suggested that we find that information at the old library Twilight and I used to stay at in Canterlot." Spike added.
"Hmm, that is mysterious and concerning." Twilight held her chin in ponder, "I can do that the next time I'm in Canterlot."
"So where are the Crusaders now?" Applejack asks Granny Smith.
Before the elderly mare can answer, a sudden scream was heard.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!"
"That was Sweetie Belle!" Rarity exclaimed.
"Look!" Rainbow Dash pointed her hoof to the northern area of the farm.
In the distance, on a trail with apple trees on its sides, three fillies, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle are running from a creature where various branches and logs are formed together to make a vicious looking canine, and it's eyes glow a yellowish green color as two leaves serve as its eyebrows. It is chasing the three fillies and is gaining on them as they scream in horror.
"A timberwolf!" cried Spike.
"Hang on, ya gals!" called Applejack, "We'll save-"
ZOOM!
They notice Zenith running towards the fillies as fast as he could, and he dropped his bag and case beforehoof.
"Is he crazy?!" Rainbow Dash yelled.
The timberwolf started to gain on Sweetie Belle, and as she looked back she is more frightened, leading her to lose her pace. Zenith notices this and runs to the right. Then, he jumps sideways, lands on the trunk of an apple tree and jumps sideways off of it, brings his front legs out, and catches Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo before the timberwolf could pounce on them.
Then, crossing his hooves while keeping the three fillies in his front leg's grasp, Zenith grabs onto a thin yet sturdy trunk of another apple tree, swings himself forward, and releases at the right angle while turning himself around. Zenith then lands on the ground with his back hooves while holding onto the three frightened fillies. The timberwolf turns around and charges at Zenith.
"Look out!" shouted Twilight.
"Not my little sister!" Rarity cried.
Then, as the timberwolf made its pounce towards Zenith...
WAPOW!
Zenith jumps and spins to his right bringing his back right leg up and knocks down the timberwolf on its head hard to the ground. Then, before anypony could hold their breath, Zenith brings his other back leg to the corner of the timberwolf's mouth, shoving his back hoof into its mouth, and back flips while lifting up the timberwolf by its head with his back legs.
Time nearly comes to a standstill, as everypony at the farm watches in surprise, concern and horror, the moment transpiring before their eyes. Zenith, while holding the three fillies in his front legs, is halfway through his back flip while carrying the timberwolf into the air. Time then resumes, and in an instant...
CRASH!
Zenith completes his back flip, letting go of the timberwolf while smacking it down to the ground and lands safely on his back legs. Apparently as the timberwolf got up, it seems to be afraid of the pony who beat it up, so it turned tail and ran in the opposite direction.
"Yeah, you better run, ya wooden mutt!" Zenith shouted, "If I see you chasing young ponies again, your head won't be the only thing smashed by my hard hooves!" He lifted his left back hoof up to prove his point. Seeing that the timberwolf disappeared over the hill, Zenith turned around and set the three fillies on the ground.
As they get up on their hooves, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle look at Zenith in awe. "Are you girls alright?" he asks softly.
"Uh, yeah, we're um, we're alright." Apple Bloom answers, she and her friends still shaken up about what happened. As that was going on, Sweetie Belle looked at Zenith in awe, and for some reason there's something familiar about him, she just can't put her hoof on it. But what's more surprising, is that she finds Zenith so very handsome, which makes her blush a little bit.
The group at the farm came up to the three fillies and the silver coated stallion, bearing awed looks as well. Zenith looks up at them, and after a second or two, Rainbow Dash speaks, "That, was, awesome!" Then they cheered for Zenith, while the three fillies are a little confused at what is going on.
"Way to go, Zenith!" exclaimed Starlight.
"You girls alright?" Applejack asks the three fillies.
"Right as rain, I think." replied Apple Bloom, "We were picking up some apples for Granny Smith when suddenly that timberwolf leaped out of nowhere."
"We got scared by it and turned tail," Scootaloo added, "which allowed the timberwolf to start chasing us."
"We would've been timberwolf lunch if this stallion hadn't saved us in the nick of time." Apple Bloom turned to Zenith, "So thanks a bunch, mister."
"Call me Zenith," corrected the silver coated stallion, "and I'm just glad to help."
Applejack puts her hoof on Zenith's shoulder. "Sugarcube, I'm as grateful as a hen relieved ta see her chicks safe and sound," she smiled, "ya have mah thanks for savin' my little sister and her friends."
"Mine, too!" added Granny Smith.
"Eeyup." Big Mac nodded.
Rarity then nearly tackled Zenith and hugged him, almost knocking Applejack out of the way. "Ooh, Zenny-Wenny!" she snuggled the bewildered silver coated stallion's face, "Words don't come close to the feelings I have when you saved my sister! Thank you so very much!"
The other ponies are a little shocked at Rarity hugging Zenith, though Applejack smirks at the scene. But in a certain little dragon, certain feelings arose. For a few seconds Spike is wide eyed at the gorgeous mare he'd ever known hugging a new stallion in town, then he narrows his eyes while clenching his claws. None of the ponies noticed Spike's jealous demeanour, and if they did, they would've understood how he is feeling.
"Uh, Zenny-Wenny?" Zenith is confused by that nickname. Rarity suddenly opens her eyes and notices how close she is to the stallion she is hugging. Blushing heavily, she releases her front legs off of Zenith and giggles a bit.
"Pardon me, darling, but I can be a little dramatic when I express myself." Rarity explained.
"Don't you mean a lot?" Rainbow Dash chuckled, earning a huffed glare from the white unicorn.
"Well, you're welcome." Zenith said, "It's what I do."
"Where'd you learn those cool karate moves anyway?" Dash asked.
"From a certain master of the arts." replied Zenith.
"And who is this master of yours?" asked Twilight.
"Sorry, can't tell." Zenith shook his head, "But I can give you a hint: she prefers to remain anonymous until the time is right."
"Huh. For a second I thought he'd start with 'he.'" Spike muttered in confusion as he scratched his head.
"Anyway, I'm humbled that you are grateful for what I did," Zenith then turns his attention to the three fillies tip-hoofing to the barn and says out loud, "but that doesn't let some certain fillies off the hook just yet."
The Crusaders freeze in their tracks as the group looks at them. "Oh yeah, Ah was wonderin' about that." said Applejack, then she walks up to the fillies giving them a stern look, "Ah heard from Granny Smith about that punishment for going to the Everfree Forest by yourselves and Starlight and Spike filled us in on the details. Care to explain why?"
The fillies smiled nervously, then Apple Bloom spoke up, "It's mah fault. When you and your friends went to the Crystal Empire to see Twilight's niece, I talked Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle into going to Zecora's hut by ourselves," she paused to rub her leg, "because I thought that since the three of us got our Cutie Marks, that makes us fully pledged big ponies who can handle any danger."
"Well, ain't that a familiar tune. Even though you three got your Cutie Marks, you are still young ponies." Applejack pointed at the three fillies, "Foolish decisions can cost you greatly, walking into a dangerous forest by yourselves is no exception. Ya'll do well to remember that. Clear?"
"Clear." the Crusaders mumbled, looking down in shame.
As Zenith sees Applejack scolding the fillies, his eyes widened a bit when something clicked in his mind about the farm and its family. "Say, Applejack?" he walked up to the orange coated mare as she turned her attention to him, "You said before that Apple Bloom is your sister, right?"
"Yeah?" Applejack answered, eyebrow raised at the simple question, "Why do ya ask that?"
"Well, forgive me for asking this next question in advance, and if you feel uncomfortable answering it then I won't press it further," Zenith cautioned, "but...if you, Apple Bloom, Big Mac and Granny Smith make up the family living on this farm...then...where's your mother and father?"
Applejack is taken aback a little by that question, yet she sees the concerned and patient yet apologetic look on Zenith's face. She then looks at Big Mac and Granny Smith, the former who shares her feelings on the matter and the latter raising her eyebrow in a stern manner. The rest of her friends look a little puzzled. Applejack then looks at Apple Bloom, who nods a little.
"Well, since you are respecting our feelings on this, Ah guess it wouldn't hurt to tell ya this much." Applejack sighed, "Mah mom was unable to handle the pain from giving birth to Apple Bloom, and as a result...she kicked the bucket." she looked down sadly as she continued to lament, "This left mah dad so depressed, more so than the rest of mah family, that he decided to leave the farm to search for something to help us remember mom, and not come back until he sends a letter stating he will. Unfortunately, not long after mah dad left something unexpected happened, and a friend of mah dad came over to bring the sad news. He said that dad had an accident...making him kick the bucket too."
Applejack closes her eyes as she finished the tale of her parent's fates. Zenith, along with a few ponies and the little dragon in the group are shocked to hear it.
"Whoa, that's deep." Spike said, astonished.
"That's the first time I've heard anything about Applejack's parents." Twilight added.
"Me, too." replied Starlight.
"I had no idea you lost your parents, Apple Bloom." Sweetie Belle said.
"That's okay. I never really got to know my parents aside from hearing about them from my sister." the amaranth haired filly sniffed.
"I would say 'welcome to the orphan club', but that would be pushing it, wouldn't it?" Scootaloo wondered.
Apple Bloom looked at Scootaloo with a deadpanned yet stern face. "Yeah, a lot." she replied.
Zenith could see the sadness on Applejack's face, then he looks at his scarf, and at Apple Bloom. "Darn." he mumbled. He then walked up to Apple Bloom and sat on his haunches, lowering his head a bit to be at eye level with the filly. "Apple Bloom? I'm deeply sorry for your loss of your parents."
"It's alright." Apple Bloom replied, "But as I said, I didn't get to know them."
"I'm in that same boat as you are."
Apple Bloom looked up at Zenith, surprised by his response. "Really?" she asked.
"Yes." Zenith continued, "You see, when my grandma took me in, she took care of me like any mother would. She did a good job at it...until that moment when her time came." he held the end of the scarf up with his hoof, "Before she passed on, she gave me this scarf. She explained she gave it to my mother so that she can give it to my father as a wedding present, but something happened to my mother, so much so that my father disappeared and my grandma always wore it to remind herself of her daughter, my mother that is. She then told me that I should do the same thing for her and my mother, along with not to be regretful of not knowing my parents, but to be grateful to them."
"Grateful for what?" asked Apple Bloom.
"...For bringing me into this world."
The group that gathered around Zenith and the Crusaders felt various emotions on Zenith's tale about his parents and grandmother. Rainbow Dash smirked a bit, being impressed that Zenith held in there through all that pain. Applejack, Big Mac and Granny Smith smiled softly, accepting Zenith's sympathy and apology.
Rarity tried to hold her tears back, not wanting to make a scene, but being awed at Zenith for showing such concern for anypony and hearing more of his background was making it difficult, not to mention her newly blossomed feelings for him growing stronger. The rest of the group is awed at Zenith's endurance of the events he faced.
"Say, Zenith?" Granny Smith spoke up.
"Yes?" Zenith replied.
"Considerin' that ya saved mah granddaughter and talkin' about your own granny and parentin' folk, Ah think ya earned an apple pie for your efforts." said Granny Smith, "That is what ya came here for, right?"
"Oh, yeah." Zenith chuckled, "Driving off that timberwolf made me more hungry than usual."
"Come on then, everypony!" Applejack called out, "Them apple pies won't be baking themselves!"
"Can we help, too?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"Well, Ah suppose ya can," Applejack replied, "but that means you'll only get one slice of the pie. It's what you'll get for going into the Everfree Forest after all."
"Eeyup." Big Mac added.
"Nuts." Scootaloo muttered.
The group then laughed a bit, until Granny Smith asked, "Say, what became of your two other friends, Pinkie and Fluttershy?"
They stopped short of laughing and felt uneasy. "Well," Spike started, "Pinkie went off to do the 'thing' since she was introduced to Zenith, but Fluttershy..."
"Alright, say no more." Granny Smith waved her hoof, "Ya'll can tell us everything once that apple pie get's bakin'. Now let's get rollin'!"
Despite the elderly mare's 'understanding', the group nonetheless followed her to the farmhouse.
At the badlands, in another part of the large cave, various clashing noises are heard as a red glow illuminates faintly and quickly across the cavern walls. Azerrad, the dark coated stallion, crashes into the wall and slumps to the ground, holding the magical red aura covered white blade in his hoof. Then, a gruff and monotone voice is heard, which Azerrad grunts at.
"Hmm, getting sloppy, my brother?"
Another stallion emerges from the shadows. He is an Earth Pony with a pure red coat, a large neat white and gray mane and tail, and a pair of light gray eyes. He is holding a white halberd, having a black coated spear at the bottom end, and a black coated axe at the top. His expression on his face seem emotionless.
"No way, Vohrnil." Azerrad replied as he got up, "You just caught me off guard, that's all."
"Hmm, your arrogance has blinded you, it seems." Vohrnil said.
"What would you know?!" yelled Azerrad.
"You assumed that you are stronger than your opponents." Vohrnil raises his halberd to look at it, "Hmm, yet you failed to see that there will always be future opponents, more stronger than you." he then looks at Azerrad, "You have forgotten that lesson. Thus, Father has seen it wise to ask me to remind you of that," Vohrnil then smiles widely while keeping his emotionless eyes intact, which looks very frightening and uneasy, "hmm, so I will enjoy watching you being frustrated at your failed attempts to defeat me."
"ENJOY THIS!" Azerrad charges at Vohrnil, holding his magic blade up high. He swings it down on Vohrnil, but the red stallion dodges to his left. Vohrnil then lunges the spear end of his halberd at Azerrad, but he deflects the attempt with his blade.
Back and forth they go, dodging each other's attacks while attempting to land a blow on the other. Eventually, Vohrnil started going on the offensive, and Azerrad deflects most of the swings and stabs. Then Azerrad starts to push back, and...
SLASH!
The halberd is flung into the air spinning until the axe part lands into the ground. Vohrnil expressionlessly sees that Azerrad has his blade at the right side of his neck, threatening to slice it then and there. "Hmm, not bad. But your technique still needs work." Vohrnil stated.
"Hmph." Azerrad released his hold on his blade as it disappeared from his hoof, "If I had a more worthy opponent, I can refine my technique just fine."
"If you killed me then and there, Father might be just the perfect worthy opponent for you, if that's what your aim is for, hmm?" Vohrnil smirked.
"Sometimes I don't know how you can stay so emotionless yet smile so viciously." Azerrad said.
"Hmm, I told you, I find it fun torturing the innocents' minds before breaking their spirits." Vohrnil replied.
Then, Azerrad's and Vohrnil's eyes lit up, and they turn their heads to the cavern exit, for they sense something over there. "Hmm, it seems Ryzoth has returned." Vohrnil said.
"Who did he recruit this time?" wondered Azerrad.
"Let's find out, hmm?" Vohrnil chuckled as he walk to the exit, with Azerrad following behind frowning.
When they got out of that little cave to their master's throne lair, they are surprised to see a frail looking centaur standing beside Ryzoth. The centaur looks around the cave, noticing the Changelings who are still trying to take care of their unconscious queen is now being intimidated by him, and Azerrad and Vohrnil.
"Well? Where is your master?" Tirek glares at the gray coated stallion.
"Huh. Maybe he is taking care of some personal stuff." Ryzoth notices Azerrad and Vohrnil, "Hey guys, have you seen Dad?"
"Hmm, not since he told me to train Azerrad." Vohrnil rubs his chin.
Azerrad gives the dirty look at Tirek, which he notices. "What are you looking at, feeble pony?" he glared at Azerrad.
"You're the new recruit Master told Ryzoth to bring here?" Azerrad snorts, "Judging from your old and frail state, I am not impressed."
"How dare you!" Tirek shouted, "I am Lord Tirek, the almighty powerful being Equestria ever feared!"
"Still not impressed." Azerrad responded sarcastically.
Ryzoth chuckled a bit, and Tirek growled at him. "You think this is amusing?!" the centaur glared at Ryzoth, "Do you also think that dragging me here to this wretched place for nothing is amusing?!"
"Hey! I got you out of Tartarus as I promised I would!" Ryzoth replied, "This isn't a prank!"
Tirek started to advance on Ryzoth, "I ought to pummel you into-"
"SILENCE!"
The cave shook from the loud voice, and everypony froze in their tracks, except for Vohrnil. Then, black smoke appears from nowhere surrounding the throne, and out of that smoke emerges a large stallion coated in black smoke and wearing a helmet. "You lay your finger on my son and I will pummel you into dust!" he bellowed at Tirek.
The centaur is frightened by the stallion standing at the throne, and being frightened is something he has never did since his young days which he notices, and he hates that feeling. "Who...w-who are you?" he asked.
"I am Dark Shadow," the stallion calmly replied, "and I am the one who requested my son, Ryzoth, to recruit you to my cause, Lord Tirek."
Still frightened, Tirek continues talking, "So, you are the master Ryzoth spoke of. He said that you would grant me power if I accept your offer of an alliance with you."
"Correct." Dark Shadow said, "I have learned about your raid on Equestria a millennia ago, and your recent one some time back. I find it most impressive."
"Hmph, not to me." Azerrad muttered. Tirek glared at the black coated stallion.
"Thus, I grant you this choice," Dark Shadow continued, "you can choose to be sent back to your homeland as a disgrace to yourself and your brethren, or you can choose to join me and my cause. With your strength, I will be one step closer to my achievement of my plans and you can have your revenge on the ponies. But to join me requires two things: you will refer to me as 'Lord Shadow', and you must swear to obey my commands until I see you unfit for my cause, or if you betray me."
Tirek is bewildered at what Dark Shadow is requesting of him. Getting revenge on the princesses of Equestria in exchange for ultimate obedience to this stranger? Various thoughts ran through the centaur's mind.
"Well? What's it gonna be, big guy?" Ryzoth smiled evilly at Tirek, "His way? Or the high way?"
Tirek feels unsure of what to do. Doing this kind of thing goes against his pride, that is for certain. But this chance of vengeance doesn't come that easily to just anyone. All eyes are on the centaur as he ponders his decision.
The group at Sweet Apple Acres are sitting in a circle on the grass near the farm house, while Applejack and her family along with the Cutie Mark Crusaders help make some apple pie for lunch. During that time, Zenith is hearing a story about what happened at the Crystal Empire told by Spike.
"So, that Azerrad pony used this ability to choke anyone nearby without touching their throats, and Fluttershy is affected the most by it?" Zenith asked.
"Yeah, she's been down in the dumps since it happened to her." Spike answered, "We tried to cheer her up, but she still feels sad."
"If I see that jerk again, he'll get a good pounding by me for hurting Fluttershy until he cries 'uncle!'" Rainbow Dash declared, punching her hoofs together.
"And where's Fluttershy now?" wondered Zenith.
"At her cottage, at the opposite side of the town." replied Twilight, "Though I doubt she wants to see anypony at the moment."
"I see." Zenith looks to the side in thought. "Hearing what happened to her, I'd would've want to see her."
Hearing that made Rarity a bit wide eyed. It seems to her that Zenith wants to meet Fluttershy, and the white coated mare's thoughts start developing the jealous kind. Fluttershy is nearly as beautiful as Rarity without any makeup, so if Zenith sees the yellow coated Pegasus mare, he might become smitten with her before Rarity could make her move! Putting those thoughts aside a bit, Rarity cleared her throat gaining everypony's attention.
"I'm sure we all are concerned about Fluttershy, and that we should cheer her up somehow," Rarity stated, "but I'm sure we'll think of something as we talk about some cheerful subjects."
"Like what?" Dash asked.
"Like..." Rarity notices Zenith's violin case beside him, "Like that violin case Zenith has there. I take it that means you are a violinist?"
"In a way, yes. It is one of my hobbies." Zenith answered, "Playing a violin caught my interest in my young days, and it was through trial and error that I got the hang of it."
"You must have studied a lot to master violin playing." Starlight commented.
"In a few months, I did." replied Zenith.
"A few months?" Twilight went agape a bit, "That would be enough to make you a prodigy!"
"I prefer not to brag about that." Zenith said, "The last thing I'd want to be is some arrogant jerk who does not take everypony's feelings into consideration."
Hearing that made Starlight look to the side in grim thought. If he had heard what she did to the timeline of Equestria, Zenith might not want to be around a former villain, at least that's what Starlight thought.
"Can we have a closer look at your violin, Zenith?" asks Rarity.
"I don't see why not." Zenith opens the lid of the case and takes out his violin. "Take a gander if you like."
Twilight, Starlight, Spike, Rarity and Rainbow are immediately in awe at what they are seeing. At close inspection, the violin's body is coloured dark purple while the sides of its bouts have lilac flower designs on them. Even the scroll and pegbox are dark purple, whereas the pegs are coloured white. Its tailpiece and fingerboard are lilac coloured, and the bridge is designed in a unique way from others. The chinrest is simply black, aside from a purple rose design featured at the bottom of it.
"Cool!" Spike said.
"That is one impressively designed violin!" Twilight added.
"The decorations on it look so inspiring!" Rarity marvelled.
"I've never seen a violin like that all my life!" Starlight declared.
"Kinda fancy looking, but pretty awesome in its own way." Rainbow bluntly noted.
"Well, if my mom left it plain as she designed it, it wouldn't be fancy looking, would it?" Zenith sarcastically remarked while smirking.
"Your mom made that violin?" Twilight asked.
"No, she 'designed' it." Zenith reiterated, "My grandma once said that the woodwork was done by somepony else, and my mom took care of the painting part of it."
"Considering that your mom did that, maybe you followed in her hoofsteps of a violinist, right?" Spike wondered.
"Not really." replied Zenith, "More like I found myself being drawn to it."
"Whatever the reason, your mother ought to be proud of you." Rarity said.
"Probably more so when I play a certain melody in memory of her, which I'm now in the mood again to do so." Zenith takes the bow from the case, "Want to hear it?"
"Why yes, please. We would like to hear this melody you have for your mother." Rarity answered, "Don't the rest of you?"
Twilight, Starlight, Spike and Rainbow Dash agreed in unison. Zenith smiled at that, "Alright. Here goes."
Putting the chinrest under his chin, Zenith softly puts his bow on the strings of his violin, and starts playing. Slowly yet gracefully Zenith guided his bow as he played the notes of the music, one the group has never heard of before. It sounded sad, yet inspiring, like even though whatever's apart from you, it will always be with you.
Rarity puts her hoof on her heart as she watches Zenith play his violin, feeling like her throat is getting choked up in a good way, and her feelings for the silver coated stallion grows more stronger by the second. Rainbow Dash is mildly surprised as she listens to the music, like she had noticed that something that doesn't seem cool is actually cool, twenty percent cooler in her opinion.
Twilight smiles softly to the music played and Spike smirks a bit to how Zenith conducts his violin. Spike then notices Starlight's hooves clenching in place, and when he looked at her face, he is surprised. Tears are flowing freely down Starlight's cheeks as her face shows major sadness, and this concerns Spike.
Zenith finishes playing the music on one long high note, and he puts his bow down. The mares except Starlight clap their hooves calmly, applauding Zenith's splendid playing, though Spike continues to show concern for Starlight.
"Bravo, Zenith!" praised Rarity, "An extraordinary and inspiring performance!"
"I guess it sounded cool." Rainbow Dash added.
"I'll, take that as a compliment." Zenith nodded, "That melody isn't complete yet, but once I have it done it will really sound like a piece of music my mom will like to listen someday."
Twilight noticed Starlight crying softly. "Starlight? Are you okay?"
"Huh?" Starlight sees everypony looking at her and notices her cheeks getting wet from her tears. "Uh, yeah, I'm fine." she says as she wipes her eyes with her front leg, "I just find that music really getting to me, in a good way, like my heart was getting tugged."
"I know what you mean." Rarity agreed.
"Also, call me crazy, but somehow I recall hearing that kind of music before, "Starlight wondered, "I just can't remember when."
"But Ah know when Ah heard that." an elderly mare's voice said. The group looks and sees Granny Smith in front of them, her face showing an soft yet clear awed expression.
"Granny Smith? Shouldn't you be helping baking those apple pies and fritters?" Spike asked.
"And what do you mean you know when you heard the music I played?" Zenith inquired.
"Ah was in the process of puttin' the last touches on them pies and fritters until Ah heard that music playing loud and clear from the kitchen," Granny Smith explained, "and that's when Ah recalled somepony playing that same music. Ah just can't recall the name of that pony, almost."
"And who was that pony?" asked Zenith.
"Ah think it was an elderly mare, and her first name started with an O, and her last name an S. Was it Osmic? No, Oshawa? Oshep?" Granny Smith rambled, "Oshun? O-"
"Ocean Swing?!" Zenith blurted out in surprise.
"Yes! That's the name!" Granny Smith nodded firmly.
"You know my grandma?!" Zenith exclaimed.
Everypony gasped at Zenith's abrupt question. Before anyone can say something,
"Granny Smith!"
Apple Bloom runs up to her grandmother, and she appears to be breathing hard while her face shows a fearful look.
"What's the matter, Apple Bloom?" Granny Smith asked in concern.
"A creature snuck into the house and stole one of the apple pies!" Apple Bloom replied catching her breath, "Applejack and Big Mac chased it into the barn, but it is too fast for them to catch!"
"Then we better get that thieving varmint before it runs off with mah pie." the elderly mare's eyes narrowed, "Come on, younglin's, help us catch that thief!"
"You heard her, everypony! Let's go!" Twilight commanded.
"Got it!" Rainbow Dash saluted.
They all run to the barn as Dash flew ahead. As they got there, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle are at the entrance while Applejack and Big Mac are trying to catch the creature who has his claws on the pie.
"Hold still, ya varmint!" Applejack frustratingly yelled as she missed the creature.
"Mind the scales, cow girl!" the creature yelled back. Zenith's eyes then widened, for he recognizes that young and cheerful voice. Suddenly,
CHOMP!
"OW! Who's got my tail?" the creature demanded. He looked behind him and sees a dog having her teeth on his tail while she is growling. The dog has black eyes and moderate tangelo fur with white patches on her tail, legs, belly and a bit on her muzzle while wearing a red collar with a gold name tag on it.
"Nice job, Winona!" Applejack thanked the dog.
"We caught him red hoofed!" Big Mac stated.
"Darn tootin', ya did!" Granny Smith added. She, Applejack and Big Mac surround the creature. It looks like a colt, but with some dragon features on him, noticeably his eyes, wings and claws.
"You try anythin' funny, and we won't be nice to ya, ya hear?" Applejack warned the creature.
"That's right." Granny Smith agreed, "Now how about you-"
"STEP AWAY FROM MY SON!"
Everypony jumped from the sudden shout Zenith gave out. But what he said made all of them gasp.
"Your son?" Applejack bewilderedly said.
"Are you Sweet Celestia serious?" Rainbow Dash gaped.
Zenith glared his signature glare at the three farm ponies, which they seem to find frightening, even if they considered themselves used to receiving glares. Then he looked at the colt. "Meteo," he sternly addressed him, which surprised everypony, "How did you follow me all the way over here, and what's the big idea stealing a half-way baked apple pie?"
Meteo looked at the pie and noticed that it isn't giving off the fresh baked smell, and back at everypony who is surprised by the relationship between him and Zenith. "Well, ah, if you can get this dog off my tail and the farm ponies out of my private zone, I swear to give an honest explanation." Meteo chuckled nervously.
TO BE CONTINUED...
You'll have noticed by now that I put my different take on how Applejack's parents died, and considering that I saw the episode featuring her real parents,
I may work on my future chapter with that in mind.
Also, the violin music Zenith played? If you want to know the specific song in mind, look up the Youtube video called
"The Most Beautiful Melody in The World" You might be amazed by it. I know I have.
Until next time. :)