Veggie VBS

Five months had passed since Cozy Glow's redemption, and Bob and Larry had been visiting Equestria frequently. Their next big mission was to build a church in Ponyville. They commissioned Professor Borlaug and Dr. Mendel to do the deed, and the two veggie scientists quickly received a permit from Mayor Mare.

"Alright, Borlaug and Mendel," she said, guiding them to an empty lot on the outskirts of Ponyville. "This area is where you can build Bob and Larry's house of worship; I can't wait to see its completion."

"Thank you, Mayor Mare," said Mendel, "you won't be disappointed. Our architectural design for this church is quite a contemporary style."

"Yes," said Bourlag, holding the blueprints for the church, "we were glad not to be troubled by any red tape regulations."

"No problem," said Mayor Mare, "now, if you'll excuse me, I have bureaucratic negotiations with Filthy and Spoiled Rich." Mayor Mare left the lot as Bourlag and Mendel got to work.

"So how are we going to get this construction kick-started, Borlaug?" asked Mendel.

"Hmm," wondered Borlaug, "we're going to have to decide among our many options, Mendel. We could hire paid workers or volunteers. We could hire veggies, ponies, or a combination of them both."

Suddenly, Discord teleported into the area wearing a yellow hard hat and an orange reflective vest, startling Borlaug and Mendel. "Have you considered hiring a draconequus? I'm a construction crew on my own, and I work with no charge needed."

"Oh," said Mendel, "you're that Discord fellow Bob and Larry told me about. Are you sure we can trust you to construct this church?"

"Yes," said Bourlag, "I heard you can be pretty mischievous. From what I know, you expanded the size of Bob's stem and Larry's tooth."

"I admit," said Discord. "I'm regretful about those actions, especially after Fluttershy's lecture. You see when I was first given a second chance at my past evil life, I still relapsed many times as my chaotic nature got the best of me. But after seeing Cozy Glow be granted her second chance, she worked harder to retain her redemption than I ever did. Bob, Larry, and Starlight Glimmer told her she could live her life like a normal child. Instead, she volunteers at odd jobs around Equestria; today, she volunteers to pick apples with Granny Smith. So I thought if a child could do that, a powerful creature like myself should do the same. After all, if I can't resist my chaotic nature, I can use it for good. I'm sure Fluttershy couldn't be more proud of me."

"Alright, Discord," said Borlaug, "let's give you a trial today."

"Yes," said Mendel, "prove your labor competence, and we'll have you hired."

Discord then conjured up a bunch of smaller clones of himself and the proper equipment as he read the blueprints and began instructing his clones. "Alright, men, it's time to lay the cornerstone of Equestria's first church. Let's make our valiant vegetables proud!"

"Yes, sir!" the clones responded.

"I take it back, Discord," said Borlaug, satisfied, "you won't need a day trial."

"No," said Mendel in the same matter, "you only needed a minute trial."

Cheerilee's class was taking a field trip to Sweet Apple Acres, and Bob and Larry were about to teach them a biblical lesson.

"I'd find a field trip to muh home would be quite lame," said Apple Bloom, "but since we're going to have Bob and Larry teach us again. It's a whole other story."

"You said it," said Sweetie Belle, "school has gotten more exciting since Bob and Larry have come around."

"Uh-huh," said Scootaloo, "it makes me feel better about not attending the School of Friendship."

"Alright, class," said Cheerilee, addressing the students as they entered the fields of Sweet Apple Acres. "It's time to listen to another of Bob and Larry's values. They have been a pretty wholesome influence on you students."

Larry held a basket of seeds as he stood beside Bob, who was about to speak.

"Today's lesson that I'm about to share with you all comes from the chapter of Matthew 13. It is a parable from Jesus Christ about how individuals respond when they hear the word of God. Individuals like us are represented in this basket of seeds that Larry holds."

"But how would we relate to that?" asked Snips, "you're a tomato, and I'm a pony. I never began life as a seed."

"No, Snips." Snails said, "I think what Bob is saying is that we'll be transformed into seeds sometime in our future lives."

Cheerilee shushed them as Larry giggled. "No, boys, Bob is speaking in a metaphorical sense."

Bob then continued his lesson, "When we hear the word of God, we have four different options. The parable Jesus spoke about was about a farmer who went to sow seeds to plant some crops."

"Some of these seeds landed on the path," said Larry as he threw some on the nearby path, "and those seeds got eaten by birds."

Fluttershy, who was helping with the lesson, instructed the birds to eat the seeds. "Birds don't always eat seeds instantly," she said, "sometimes they store seeds to have energy later on."

"The seeds that land on the path," continued Bob, "represent those who hear the word and completely ignore and reject it. The devil later infiltrates them, like a bird swallows a seed."

"Some of these seeds landed on the rocks," said Larry as he threw them. "Those seeds spring up instantly in the shallow soil but are later burned and withered on the rocks."

Maud Pie stood by the rocks and explained in her usual monotone matter, "The sunlight's photons absorb into the rocks' atoms, which are later converted into kinetic energy."

"The seeds that land on the rocks," continued Bob, "represent those who hear the word and respond in complete joy, like a seedling that sprouts in shallow soil. But when trouble comes, they fall away since no root keeps them sturdy."

"Some of these landed on the thorns," said Larry as he threw them. "The thorns grew longer and choked the plants out of the ground."

Tree Hugger stood by the thorns and, in a hip fashion, explained, "Certain plants are covered in thorns to protect themselves from predatory animals. But the defense mechanism can go wrong when they're stunting the growth of their fellow plants. Kills the vibe, dudes."

"The seeds that land on the thorns," continued Bob, "represents those who hear and love the word but are later choked by the troubles of this world and become deceived."

"Finally," said Larry, "some of the seeds fell on the good soil, and they later produced a bountiful harvest."

Mudbriar stood by the good soil and, in his uptight demeanor, explained, "Technically, the ideal soil is roughly 40% sand, 40% silt, and 20% clay."

"The seeds that fall on the good soil," Bob explained, "are those who hear the word and fully accept it by practicing what it requires."

"Now class," said Cheerilee, "let's help out by planting the seeds in the good soil of these fields."

The students got to work as Fluttershy approached Bob and Larry, "It just warms my heart the lessons you instill in the young ponies. I just heard that Discord is volunteering to help construct your church. I've never been more proud of Discord since I've helped reform him. He felt that Cozy Glow was more diligent in gaining Equestria's trust since you two reformed her, and she should have the same effort."

"Yes," said Bob, "I told Cozy Glow that she doesn't need to work so much since she is only a child. But she still insisted it was the proper way to act."

"By the way," said Larry, "Cozy Glow is here at the farm working with Granny Smith by picking apples."

"Ya remember to twist the apple before you pick them, Cozy Glow?" asked Granny Smith.

"Affirmative Granny Smith," responded Cozy Glow as she hovered beside the tree. "I'd never forget any command that you give me."

"I gotta say," said Granny Smith. "Bob and Larry did the best job shaping ya up to be a model child. I can barely even recognize ya as the filly ya once were."

"Oh yes, I owe so much to Bob and Larry. They give me the privilege of experiencing the videos they make in a VR simulator. I've gotten to go on adventures from even longer videos. One of these was about a child chess prodigy named Josh, who lived in a city just like Manehattan, I related to him so much. On another adventure, I saw a knight gamble his life with the personification of death in a chess tournament. I also learned about a rivalry between these chess grandmasters, Anatoly Karpov and Garry Kasparov, and met them in footage of their tournaments via the VR simulator."

"Heavens to Betsy, Cozy Glow!" exclaimed Granny Smith. "I don't know what yer referring to. But it sounds like ya sure have quite the fun."

"You can say that again," responded Cozy Glow. "But the most important thing I've learned was about the God that Bob and Larry follow. He sent his son Jesus to die for our sins, and that if we accept him in our hearts. You will live in eternal paradise with him. So, I decided to let Jesus inside of my heart. I've never felt so peaceful in my life."

"That is just lovely," said Granny Smith. "I'd like to..." Suddenly, Granny Smith started coughing harshly and passed out at the bottom of one of the apple trees.

"Oh no!" Cozy Clow exclaimed worriedly. "Are you alright, Granny Smith?" But Granny Smith lay down at the tree's roots without responding.

"BOB! LARRY! FLUTTERSHY!" Cozy Glow shouted, panicking, as she flew to the fields.

"What seems to be the matter, Cozy Glow?" Fluttershy asked.

"Just take a deep breath and relax," said Larry gently.

Cozy Glow began to breathe heavily as tears fell on her face, "It's Granny Smith. She passed out in the orchards; I don't know what's wrong with her."

Apple Bloom later had tears streaming down her eyes as Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo began to wrap a comforting hoof around her each.

"Okay," said Bob assuringly, "let's get Granny Smith to the hospital, and then we will inform Applejack and Big Mac."

An hour passed as Granny Smith was taken into the ER at Ponyville's hospital. Fluttershy informed Applejack and Big Mac about their grandmother's plight, and Bob and Larry told Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie to come to the hospital. Cozy Glow was also at the hospital, telling the Cutie Mark Crusaders what had happened. Twilight Sparkle and Spike flew from Canterlot to Ponyville as well.

"Oh geez," said Spike sadly, "I hope Granny Smith isn't suffering."

"I have to hand it to Cozy Glow," said Rainbow Dash, "that was quite brave of her to go get help for Granny Smith."

"Here, here," said Rarity, "if there has ever been a time when everypony should trust Cozy Glow again, it's now."

"It must've been quite traumatizing for poor Cozy Glow to witness Granny Smith fall unconscious like that," said Fluttershy in tears.

"Look, here comes Applejack and Big Mac right now," said Twilight.

Big Mac couldn't hold back his tears, and he began to sob as Applejack started to hug him as she softly cried. "It's Granny Smith; she doesn't have much time....she's terminally ill and will die shortly. First, Mama and Daddy are killed in a timberwolf attack, and now our grandmother."

"Oh my," said Bob wistfully, "I never knew that about your parents; I'm sorry for your loss."

"Yes," said Larry as he choked up, "it's quite tragic for you to experience this type of grief twice in your young lifetime."

Apple Bloom began to wale as Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Cozy Glow consoled her, tears streaming down their cheeks.

Pinkie Pie's mane deflated as tears poured out of her eyes, and her usual silly and playful personality was out of sight. "I'll never forget that Hearth's Warming Eve, where I invited Granny Smith and the rest of the Apple family to my rock farm. I still don't know if my family is related to them."

"By the way," said Applejack as she sniffed. "Granny Smith invites us all to see her as she takes her final breaths, and she especially wanted to see you, Cozy Glow."

The Mane Six, Spike, Big Mac, The Cutie Mark Crusaders, Cozy Glow, Bob, and Larry entered Granny Smith's hospital room, where her eyes were bloodshot and wheezing hoarsely as her nostrils were linked to an oxygen tank.

"Cozy Glow," Granny Smith muttered.

"Y-yes," responded Cozy Glow nervously.

"I wanted to know how I accept Jesus Christ in muh heart just like you."

"You know how to do this, Cozy Glow," said Larry.

"Remember, just like we taught you," said Bob.

"R-repeat after me," said Cozy Glow, "but don't just repeat the words; mean them in your heart. This is known as the sinner's prayer and will get you saved."

So Cozy Glow gave Granny Smith the words as she repeated them.

"Father God. I admit that I am a sinner, and I acknowledge that I need forgiveness for my sins. I cannot be free without you, Lord. Thank you for sending your son Jesus to die for me and to take the punishment I deserve. I allow you to come live in my heart. I accept your salvation to save my soul. In Jesus' mighty name. Amen."

"Thank you, Lord..." said Granny Smith as she breathed her final breath. Cozy Glow used her hoof to close Granny Smith's eyes as Applejack removed Granny Smith's scarf and hugged it tightly.