//------------------------------//
// Chapter 7 - Work Day part 1 
// Story: Glint Stones: Visit 
// by Middle Ground 
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	After the trouble involving the Spellbind Brothers' demonstration of their incredible powers, things quieted down in Ponyville. Sadly, the citizens have been talking about the brothers lately. They have been feeling un-easy ever since then and have become very cautious. A few days have gone by since then, and right now the brothers are working in Applejack's apple orchard, Sweet Apple Acres.
"Uugh...this sucks!" Sparx complained as he made his way to the barn carrying two large baskets full of apples.
"Sparx...get over it. We're not here to mess around and you owe her for picking apples before their time." Chilly followed him with his own baskets full of apples. Meanwhile, Gust and Ashes were helping Applejack and Apple Bloom get the field ready for planting new trees. They pulled the plows while the mares pushed.
"Phew...this is hard. And you make it look so easy, bro." Gust was having a hard time keeping up with his physically stronger brother.
"You need to work on that muscle, little bro!" Ashes kept a steady pace as he plowed the field.
"Sis, maybe Gust isn't cut out for this kind of job." Apple Bloom noticed how winded Gust was and became worried. Applejack also noticed this.
"I guess you're right. Gust, you and Apple Bloom leave the rest to me and Ash here. You two go and help Sparx and Chilly harvest the apples."
"Ok...!"
"Yes ma'am...." Gust took off the gear connected to the plow and the two left the fields.
"Hey Applejack, I got a question."
"What is it?" They continued their work on the field.
"I read in this book Twilight had that said something about a magic tree in a crazy forest." Applejack didn't quite understand what Ashes was talking about at first, but she then remembered something.
"Do you mean the Tree of Harmony? The one in the Everfree Forest?"
"Yeah, that one...! What is that thing anyway?! What's it do?!" Ashes was quite curious.
"Well...I don't really know too much about it, but it's what helps keep peace in Equestria. And it has these magic doohickeys called the Elements of Harmony. My friends and I used to use them to beat all kinds of bad guys in the past."
"DUDE...THAT'S SO COOL! I DIDN'T KNOW YOU GUYS WERE HEROES! WHERE ARE THEY NOW?!" Ashes became very excited that his eyes began burning.
"They're...in the Everfree Forest. You already know that...." Applejack didn't know how to deal with an over-excited pony that can catch on fire.
"I WANNA SEE IT! CAN I GO SEE IT?! HUH?! HUH?!"
"No, you can't! The Everfree Forest is a dangerous place and you could get hurt!" Applejack knew Ashes would just run off without warning.
"BUT I'M STRONG! I CAN BEAT WIERD FOREST EASY!" Ashes was quite confident in his strength.
"I said no! You and your brothers got into enough trouble the other day, and ya'll got work here to do!" Applejack was not going to change her mind so easily. Ashes went back to work feeling disappointed. The flames of excitement were then extinguished. Back at the apple orchard, Apple Bloom and the rest of the brothers were nearly done with the section of the orchard they were told to harvest.
"So Gust, is it true that you and your brothers were in a rock for a long time...? My sister told me what Pinkie told her."
"Yeah, that's right. And we don't remember anything.... We met up with Pinkie and her family, spent some time with them, and now we're here. We're hoping Miss Twilight will help us." Gust used his long wings to gently pick the apples from the branches.
"She's making us do boring school.... Not sure how that is helping us." Sparx said as he magically removed the apples from their branches. He felt quite un-amused.
"Sparx, I said get over it. Whatever Twilight has in mind, I'm sure it'll help us in some way...." He was also using his magic to remove the apples from their branches, but some of them were partly frozen by mistake.
"Who cares about the past?! I got a future at being awesome waiting for me and being stuck here is not helping me get there!"
"The reason why we're here is to teach you how to behave yourself in this day and age.... Which you clearly have a hard time doing so."
"Do they always argue...?" Apple Bloom kept her distance in case they start fighting.
"Yes, they do.... I just hope they don't start fighting each other." Gust was worried since that also happens a lot. They continued to work the day away, and thankfully nothing crazy happened this time. The Spellbind Brothers were about to head back to Ponyville for the night.
"Mighty fine work today, boys. I think ya'll deserve a freshly made apple pie. Tastes great after a hard days work." Applejack presented a basket with a piping-hot apple pie covered in a table cloth.
"We hope you like it...!"
"Thanks, ladies. It smells great...." Chilly magically sent it over to Gust for him to carry it.
"Oh...! I can't wait!" Gust looped his wing around the handle of the basket. His mouth watered.
"I WANNA BIG PIECE...!" Ashes' mouth was watering while his eyes burned.
"As long as it's sweet...." Sparx was also curious of what the pie tasted like.
"Be sure to drop by and we'll have another one ready for you next time. After some hard work, that is." Applejack felt pleased with how the brothers reacted to the pie.
"Sure thing. G'night...." Chilly said with a yawn. The brothers made their goodbyes to Applejack and Apple Bloom as they made their way back to Ponyville.
"I can't wait...! It smells so good!" Sparx was increasingly getting more and more excited over the pie. His mouth watered like a waterfall.
"Take it easy, Sparx. We'll try it when we get back to Twilight's castle...." Chilly then yawned after all that hard work. They then arrived back at Twilight's castle to see Starlight reading a book in the kitchen.
"Hey Starlight...! We did a great job at Applejack's farm today!" Starlight jumped from Gust's outburst, nearly sending her book flying.
"Uh...well done, guys. Nothing bad happened, right?" Starlight then magically re-positioned her book back on the table as she got her composure back.
"Nah...nothing bad happened. We even got a free pie. Pretty sweet, huh?" Chilly and his brothers sat down to eat the pie.
"Well, I guess you four deserve it then. Here are some plates and forks then." Starlight magically brought plates and forks out of the cabinets and presented them to the brothers. She even pulled a knife out for them to use.
"THANKS...! I'M SO READY!" Ashes couldn't wait any longer. His mane began to burn this time.
"Alright, I got this...." Chilly began cutting the pie into four corners for them to share. They all began to eat it and they loved it.
"SO GOOD~!" Ashes couldn't stop eating his piece of the pie.
"It's so sweet, yet it's got some kind of other flavor...! I can't describe it!"
"I think you're looking for 'tangy', Sparx." Starlight said, adding to Sparx's excitement.
"Oh...! So that's what it's called?! Sweet and tangy?! I love it!" Sparx went back to eating in joy.
"This was so worth the hard work~!" Gust couldn't help but smile. The three ate like no tomorrow while Chilly ate a slower pace.
"Hey Starlight, what's that book your reading...?" Chilly stopped eating to look over Starlight's book.
"It's a book on memories and mental theory. Twilight and I have been looking for a way to help you guys remember your past." Starlight presented the book to Chilly. It had many complicating words and images that not even Chilly could understand.
"Where is Twilight anyway...?" Gust and his brothers just now noticed Twilight and Spike weren't around.
"They left to meet with Princess Celestia and Princess Luna today. They won't be back for the next few days." Starlight went back to reading her book.
"WHAT?! THEY LEFT TO MEET THE PRINCESS WITHOUT US?! I WANNA GO TO THE SUN!"
"Yeah...! Maybe the Princess might be able to help us!"
"I wanted to show this Princess who the better magic user i-" They were all disappointed and then they got whacked by frozen hammers each.
"Guys, just stop.... Whatever Twilight and Spike are doing, it probably has nothing to do with us." Chilly then just finished his piece of pie, magically placed the empty plates and forks into the sink, and made his way to his room.
"Besides, it's late and I'm sleepy.... Time for bed." Chilly gave a deep yawn as he made his way out of the kitchen.
"Yeah, I guess so...."
"Whatever...."
"G'NIGHT...!" They all made their way to bed for the night after all that hard work.
Starlight gave a relieved sigh, "Good night." She went back to her studies in hopes of finding something to help the Spellbind Brothers remember their past. The night went by quietly and a new morning came with birds chirping happily. Unfortunately, the thick cloud cover remained in place. The smell of toast and waffles filled the castle and the brother quickly made their way to the living room to see stacks of freshly made toast and waffles with syrup and butter all ready for them.
"DUDE...! THAT LOOKS GREAT!"
"Good morning...!"
"When can we eat?!" Ashes, Gust, and Sparx were all excited for the new morning and for the big breakfast that was prepared for them.
"Good morning, guys. I hope you like what I made. But...where is Chilly?" Starlight and the brothers noticed that Chilly wasn't around.
"Screw that guy...! Let's eat!"
"Sparx, we have to wait! It wouldn't be right without him!"
"CHILL, GET YOUR BUTT DOWN HERE!" They were beginning to get impatient when Chilly finally made his way to the living room.
Chilly yawned, "Sorry for being late. I was being lazy.... Is it breakfast time?"
"YES!!!" Sparx, Gust, and Ashes were both hungry and angry. Their outburst definitely woke up Chilly. Starlight sighed out of stress since it was too early for yelling. They all sat down to enjoy a hearty breakfast.
"I love syrup." Sparx couldn't stop eating it with his waffles.
"Hey, give me some...!"
"I want some too!" They began fighting over it.
"These brothers of mine, I swear...." Chilly was too sleepy to deal with their crap.
"Now I know how Twilight feels when putting up with them...." Starlight thought as her head and ears began hurting. They then heard the sound of knocking at the front door.
"Who could that be this early in the morning...?" Starlight then left to answer the door. When she did, Rarity was there waiting.
"Good morning, Starlight. I hope I'm not interrupting anything." Rarity looked like she had prepared for a special occasion with freshly applied make-up. All while wearing a fancy coat and hat.
"Oh, not at all. Do you need something? What is with the coat and hat?" Starlight was a bit curious.
"Darling, I merely wanted to look presentable for my visit! I could never go out without looking fabulous!" Rarity stated as she flicked her stylish mane and tail back and forth.
"Of course...." Starlight wasn't at all surprised.
"But that is not why I am here, darling. I wish to acquire the assistance of Pinkie's guests for the day. Are they available by any chance?" Starlight was surprised to hear that from Rarity considering she was also there when the incident occurred. But since she didn't have anything planned for the Spellbind Brothers while Twilight and Spike were out, this would be better than doing nothing. She wasn't sure what Rarity had planned though....