Chapter Seven
Good Morning Stars
"That was a lovely meal," Trinny complemented as she delicately patted the corners of her mouth with a napkin, "The spout loaf was perfectly seasoned and the carrot mash and applesauce were so smooth," she smiled dreamily.
"It sure was good eats," Apple Bloom started to lick her plate clean.
"Apple Bloom!" Applejack chided, "We do not clean our plates that way! We have guests!"
"Sorry sis," Apple Bloom apologized, "But it was pretty good…"
"Yeah… it sure was," Babs Seed eyed the few licks left on her plate.
"Eeyup…," Big Mac had to agree.
"Hmm?" Trinny brought down the plate from her face; hints of mashed carrots lined her lips.
Granny Smith smile, "Now that's what I call an appetite," she licked her plate clean.
With a smile and a giggle, Apple Bloom and Babs Seed instantly started to lick their plates. Not wanting to waste, Big Mac gave his a good slurp. He stopped with the harsh glare from Applejack.
"Oh come on Applejack," Trinny lifted the plates and dishes off the table, "Licked plates are easier to clean."
"Oh you don't have to...," Applejack tried to grab the floating dished out of the air, "You're a guest and all."
"I insist," Trinny continued to clean up, "It's the lease I can do in exchange for a good meal."
The plates and dishes became surrounded with Trinny's red magical aura. Apple Bloom knew what was coming next. Any scrap of food that was left faded away from the plates, pots and pans. They shined like they were brand new; as if they were just bought from the store.
"Would you look at that?" Granny Smith whistled as her reflection floated by.
"Well ain't that the fanciest bit of magic you've ever done seen," Applejack was amazed.
Trinny smiled, "Oh it's nothing. Just a bit of my Squeaky Clean Spell, though," she yawned a big yawn, "I am very tired. I've been travelling for quite some time and haven't had a chance to lay my head down," she yawned once more, "I hope you don't think me rude if I want to turn in early."
"Of course not sugar cube," Applejack smiled as she turned to Apple Bloom, "Girls, why don't you show Trinny to her room?"
"Sure," she bounce up and down, "Come on Trinny, we'll show you upstairs."
Almost leaping up the stairs, the two fillies excitedly waited for Trinny to make her way slowly to the second floor. Passing the doors that lead to already occupied rooms, they came to the end of the hallway. Apple Bloom turned the knob and Babs Seed opened the door. It was a cozy little room with a bed to fit a grown pony. Though for Trinny, it was a little small. It was covered with a hoof made quilt that Granny Smith had stitched herself. It was filled with apple orchards and every single kind of apple that could be found on Sweet Apple Acres. Out the window a pony could view the south fields that were filled with bright red gala apples.
"Looks like those are ready pick," Babs Seed commented as she looked out the window.
"Yup," Apple Bloom joined her, "Tomorrow me, Big Mac and Applejack are going to buck those apples right off the trees."
"Can I help?" Babs Seed inquired.
"Well sure," Apple Bloom smiled, "You've got a pair of good bucking hooves back there," she inspected her cousin's hooves, "You'll be bucking in no time. What about you Trinny?" she looked back, "Huh?"
The poor tired mare had climbed onto the bed and was already sleeping soundly. Apple Bloom and Babs Seed quietly tipped toe out of the room and closed the door. Coming back down the kitchen, they found Applejack, Granny Smith and Big Mac were talking. They hung back just to see what they were saying.
"That mare certainly has a healthy appetite," Granny Smith looked over the immaculate pots and pans, "and a way with dishes," she had never seen them so clean.
"Eeyup," Big Mac started to stack the plates back on the highest shelf.
"Strange that she knew that me and Big Mac were coming with Babs Seed," Applejack commented, "Got us apple fritters and a shake for her… how could she have known?" she pondered.
Big Mac shrugged his shoulders.
"She does seem familiar," Granny Smith rubbed her chin, "I know that I've met her before…," she thought a little bit harder, "I know!" she exclaimed, "I met her when I was just a little filly."
Applejack rolled her eyes, "Granny, that's impossible. You must be thinking of some pony else."
"No, no," she insisted, "I know that I met her when I was a little filly. I just can't quite remember…," she tried but nothing came to her.
"It will come Granny Smith… it will come," Applejack paid her no mind.
Apple Bloom and Babs Seed stepped away from the kitchen and thought about the conversation they just heard.
"Do you think it's true that Granny Smith knew Trinny when she was little?" Babs Seed looked to her cousin.
Apple Bloom thought for a moment, "Maybe… but," she shook her head, "Granny Smith does tend to get her stories mixed up… so she could be remembering wrong."
"Hey you two," Applejack suddenly appeared, "It's getting late and we have an early morning tomorrow. Wash up and get ready for bed."
"Awww…," the girls were a little disappointed.
"Well," Applejack gave them a stare, "get on now, up to bed with ya!"
With a little jump of surprise, Apple Bloom and Babs Seed were up the stairs in a flash. Washing their hooves and faces, they did have to admit they were getting pretty sleepy. Saying goodnight to their kin, they headed for Apple Bloom's room for a good night's sleep. Crawling into bed, they let their eyes grow heavy and the night soothe their minds. Off they would drift into a world that they only knew. A sweet slumber.
…
She could hear the heavy hooves coming from in front of her. She couldn't see what or who was making the sounds. There was just a darkness around her. It was cold and suffocating. It was heavy… thick… dense… so hard to breathe. She didn't know if she had to strength to stand. It felt like her body would collapse at any moment. Where was she that everything was so dark? Why was she there? Who was that approaching?
"Apple Bloom…," a voice called out to her.
"Who's there?" she couldn't see any pony.
"Apple Bloom…," it called once more, "Be brave my little filly…," a flash of light blinded her, "Apple Bloom…"
Apple Bloom shot up from her heavy sleep. She knew that she had been dreaming, but she wasn't sure about what. That was the problem with dreams. They never lasted long enough to remember in the morning.
"You okay cuz?" Babs Seed lazily opened her eyes.
"Yeah… just had a dream," Apple Bloom wiped the sleep from her eyes, "But I can't remember it."
"Really?" she sat up, "Me too."
"What was your dream about?" Apple Bloom asked.
Babs Seed thought for a moment, "I'm not sure… I really can't remember… just," she thought of something, "I remember someone calling my name and saying that I needed to be brave."
"Me too," that sounded familiar to Apple Bloom.
Looking out the window, the moon was dipping low in the sky. Hints of the sun could be seen just on the horizon. The night was ending and the day would soon be here.
"Good morning…," a quiet voice greeted the growing day.
It must have been Granny Smith or Applejack going to get every pony up. Though usually they would be a little louder than just a whisper. It would be more of a holler. Quietly, both Apple Bloom and Babs Seed checked the hallway to see who was up. Every pony's door was closed and the distinct sound of snoring could be heard. They looked to one another, trying to figure out who was whispering.
"Oh…," the whisper giggled, "is that so? How wonderful."
Following the small giggles, the girls were lead to the guest bedroom. Pushing their ears up to the door, they listened.
"It looks like it's going to be another lovely day," it was Trinny, "It was a perfect night though," she giggled, "but you know about all about that," she sighed, "I just wish… hmm?" The door suddenly opened, "Good morning my little fillies. You're up early."
Trinny looked refreshed after a long night's sleep. Her grey blanket was already on her back, leaving Apple Bloom still questioning yesterday.
"We both had a dream," Apple Bloom explained.
"But we can't remember it," Babs Seed was still trying to recall it.
Trinny smiled, "That's the thing about dreams; they are often fleeting. Oh," something hit her, "Did you hear me? I hope that I didn't wake you."
"Nope," Apple Bloom smiled back.
"But…," Babs Seed asked, "Who were you talking too?" she looked about the empty room.
With her gentle smile still on her face, Trinny walked over to the window, "I was saying good morning to the stars."
"The stars?" Apple Bloom and Babs Seed joined her.
"Oh yes. I say good morning to them every day," Trinny looked up the glowing sky, "Ponies tend to forget about them during the day, but they are always there."
Apple Bloom looked up the sky, "They don't go down with the moon?"
"No," she shook her head, "They are always there. The sun is just too bright and over powers their light. The moon's light is gentle and soft and allows them to glow."
Babs Seed scanned the heavens above, "There sure are a lot of them. Why are there so many?" she looked up to Trinny.
Without looking away from the fading little lights, she explained, "Those stars… they are the hopes of every single pony. Stars are born when little foals begin to dream. Each one is as unique as the pony they watch over."
"They watch over us?" Apple Bloom was amazed.
Trinny sighed, "Yes. They are the guardians of hope… a wondrous light that is in all of us. It is from this burning glow that they are able light the way for the ponies that they come from. They watch them grow and make sure that they always remember the hope that started their path," she turned to them, "Can you find your star?"
They both scanned the sky. There were so many glowing points. Some shined so bright, while others were much dimmer. Some twinkled. Others sparkled. A few even seemed to wink. How could they possibly pick out the stars that were just theirs?
"OH! OH!" Babs Seed pointed to the sky, "That one there… I know it is my star!"
It was a little star that flickered with a raspberry glow. It was just above the horizon. It was amazing that she was able to see it with the rays of the sun trying to peak over the mountains.
Something caught Apple Bloom's eye, "I think," she squinted her eyes, "Yay! That one right next to yours."
This little star refused to blink in and out. It shined, but not as bright. The glow was that of a Red Delicious apple.
For just a moment, two other stars close to hers and Babs Seed caught her eye, but they soon faded as the sun started to rise.
"It is going to be a very lovely day," Trinny released a contented sigh, "So many possibilities…"
"JOSH DARN YOU LITTLE PESTS!" a loud irritated voice called out from the south fields.
"That doesn't sound good," Apple Bloom headed for the stairs.
All three ponies headed downstairs. Big Mac was already up and out the door. Poor Granny Smith was hobbling down the hallway wondering what the fuss was all about.
"Come on Granny," Apple Bloom tried to hurry her, "Something going on!"
"I'm coming… I'm coming…," she slowly stepped onto the stairs.
"Allow me," Trinny's horn started to glow red.
Granny Smith lifted off her hooves and floated down the stairs.
"Thank you my dear," Granny Smith smiled, "But why was I hurrying?" she forgot.
"GET AWAY FROM THEM APPLES YOU VARMITS!" Applejack sounded like she was getting mad.
"That's why," Babs Seed didn't like the sound of the shouts coming from outside.
Every pony ran out of the house and into the fields; save for Granny Smith whose pace was less than speedy. Coming to where the shouts were coming from, they found Applejack running from tree to tree, bucking all the apples off as quick as she could.
"Glad you all could make it," Applejack ran back and forth, "But we have a situation on our hooves."
Looking up into the apple filled trees, they could see something moving. More like… thousands of things moving. They shimmered and glistened in the sun's growing light. Their hard shells clapped together as they flapped their iridescent wings. Their little sharp mandibles pierced into the sweet flesh of ripe apples.
"We got an infestation of fruit beetles!" Granny Smith eyes went wide, "Get them apples as quick as you can!"
"What do you think I'm doing?" Applejack snorted, "Well?" she looked to Big Mac and Apple Bloom, "Aren't you going to help?"
Without a word, both of them ran up to the trees and started to buck off as many apples they could. It started to rain both apples and beetles into the large wooden baskets. Granny Smith began to separate the good apples from the chewed ones and beetles from everything.
Babs Seed stood there, not quite sure what to do.
"Come on," Trinny stepped forward, "Let's help out."
"How?" Babs Seed wondered.
She thought for a moment, "Apple Bloom," she called out, "You come and help Granny Smith with sorting. You too Babs," she looked down to her, "I'll help with picking and keeping the baskets flowing."
Apple Bloom ran over to her, "Gotcha."
"You got it," Babs nodded her head.
All ponies moved with great speed to get every single apple they could. Apple Bloom and Babs Seed sorted through the baskets of apples and beetles. Granny Smith tried to keep up with the younger generation, but with her glasses falling from her nose and the creak in her elbow kept nagging her, she was moving at a snail's pace. Applejack and Big Mac ran from tree to tree, bucking as hard as they could. Trinny was moving baskets and pulling apples from their branches. Slowly but surely they were starting to win the war against the fruit beetles.
Apple Bloom wiped her brow, "These critters don't give up easily," she tossed a few beetles out of the basket.
"I think they might be catching on," Babs Seed noticed that a lot of beetles were staring down at the baskets of apples.
"Sis!" Apple Bloom called out, "I think we've got a problem!"
Applejack looked over to see a swarm of beetles heading for the well sorted baskets of apples. Their wings clicked and shimmered as they hovered over the three ponies. Apple Bloom and Babs Seed waved their arms and tried to shoo the insects away. Granny Smith started to push a basket towards the barn, but she wasn't making much progress.
Gritting her teeth and giving a snort, Applejack jumped in front of the growing swarm, "You ain't gonna get any more of these apples!" she put her hoof down.
The beetles just hovered and looked to one another for a moment. A sinister smile formed on each of their little faces. Their little beady eyes shined brightly as they drew closer to their prize.
Applejack stood her ground, though she wasn't sure what she could do to fend them off. She readied her hooves, hoping that maybe she could kick them away.
"Big Mac! Get whatever you can into the barn. Save as much as you can!" she called out.
Big Mac stopped bucking and started to pile and pull the heavy basket of apples towards the barn. He was a strong stallion, but there were so many basket. There was no way that he could carry them all.
"What do you want us to do sis?" Apple Bloom was ready to help.
"Get out of here!" she ordered as she pushed Apple Bloom and Babs Seed out of the way.
"But we can help!" Apple Bloom protested.
"Yay!" Babs Seed wanted to stand her ground.
"No time for arguing!" Applejack growled.
Both Apple Bloom and Babs Seed folded their ears back at Applejack's harsh words. What could they do though? They were small and not very strong. Apple Bloom could buck almost as well as her sister, but she didn't see how that could help with small bugs. She could hull an almost full basket of apples, but it was slower than molasses dripping in the middle of winter. Poor Babs Seed wasn't use to the hard work on the farm. She was strong, but still too small to do something of worth.
They all watched as the beetles drew closer and closer. Their mandibles crunching together and wings twittering in the morning sun. Those juicy apples would soon be their ill-gotten prize.
Applejack wouldn't allow it.
"Come on you thieving varmints!" she taunted, "You want 'em? Ya'll will have to go through me first!"
The beetles didn't seem too impressed by her threats as they closed in.
Apple Bloom hid her eyes; she couldn't watch. All she could hear was the low grumbling coming from her big sis and the fluttering of beetle wings.
"This has gone on long enough," a voice boomed.
Opening her eyes, she saw Trinny step in front of Applejack with her horn glowing bright red. The entire scene flashed with Trinny's red magic. Everyone had to wipe their eyes and wait for the spots to disappear before they could see straight.
"Would you look at that?" Granny Smith took a few steps.
Gone… all the apples, baskets and all… all the beetles that once darkened the skies were gone…
"Where did they all go?" Babs Seed questioned as she looked every place she could.
"That was amazing Miss Trinny!" Applejack went over to her, "You got rid of all of them in one shot."
"Yes," Trinny released a tired sigh, "I transported the beetles to the Evertree Forest and the apples to the barn."
Apple Bloom looked around, "Umm…? Where's Big Mac…?"
Every pony looked around, but he was nowhere to be found. They even checked the barn to make sure that he hadn't been teleported with the apples. Nothing was there though. Not even an apple seed.
"Where did you say you teleported the apples?" Applejack looked back to Trinny.
"Oh… I thought I had… maybe I could have…," she thought for a moment, "I was so torn on if I should just get the beetles out of here or if I should teleport the apples to safety. I must have not… been concentrating…," she gave a nervous smile.
"You don't mean that?!" Applejack's eyes went wide.
"Nope," a familiar voice called out to them.
They all looked up to see Big Mac waving out of his bedroom window.
"There you are Big Mac," Applejack breathed a sigh of relief.
"Are the apples in there with ya?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Eeyup," he confirmed.
Trinny stepped up, "Sorry about that Big Mac. I didn't mean to… let me fix it…"
"Oh you don't have to," Applejack could see that she was tired.
Too late. Trinny's horn was glowing red. The red aura filled the house and Big Mac disappeared from the window. With a pop, he appeared next to Applejack. The glow went from the house to the barn. A giant pile of red gala apples appeared out of thin air and neatly placed into empty baskets. The glow faded from Trinny's horn and she released another fatigued sigh.
"To early for all this magic," she heavily sat down.
"You alright?" Babs Seed checked on her.
She smiled, "Yes… just need to rest for a moment."
Grumble… grumble… every ponies' stomach started to growl with hunger.
"Nothing that a good, big breakfast won't fix," Applejack smiled, "Come on every pony, let's get some grub," she headed into the house.
Granny Smith sat down and looked at the trees, "I guess we don't have to harvest apples today or sort..."
Looking back, Apple Bloom could see all the trees were bare save for their leaves. Every single apple had been plucked from their branches. The barn was full of apples and only the good ones too. She then looked to Trinny who was slowly following after Applejack. She turned to her for just a moment and gave a wink to Apple Bloom. She wasn't quite sure why she did that, but for some odd reason she felt like she was going to have an amazing day.
"Come on sis!" Applejack called out to her.
"Comin'!" she quickly caught up with them.