This is the 18th chapter. I don't own the series of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.
The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000
It was very early in the morning as Sweet Apple Acres, so early that the sun hadn't risen in the sky. Apple Shine is sleeping next to her mother, who yawned with her eyes open as she smiled at her daughter snuggled up against her soft and warm fur chest. Apple Bloom quietly sneaking inside of her sisters room, looked at her niece when she noticed Apple Shine is dreaming of her and her family.
Applejack decided to wake her up by kissed her forehead nuzzled her, waking her up. Apple Shine was shrugging while she's waking up, opened her eyes and smiled at Applejack.
"Morinin', sugarcube." Applejack said to her daughter. "It's time to get up, it's Cider Season."
"Cider Season?" Apple Shine repeats, gets up as she puts her hat on and then turned to Applejack. "What's Cider Season? You're sellin' cider?"
"It's our special brew of apple cider. Most of our profits every year comes from the season, aside from the Zap Apples." Applejack explains as she, Apple Bloom, and Apple Shine gets out of the room. "I know this is probably the first ever of cider season you may have been to, but every year, ponies especially Pinkie Pie, always lined up first way early in the mornin' to try and get the cider first."
"Wow, is cider made at this time that good?" Apple Shine asks surprisingly.
"Follow me and I'll show ya." Applejack gestures.
Applejack, Apple Shine, and Apple Bloom eventually got out of the house and walked up to the barn to find where the rest of the Apple Family was.
"Good mornin' Apple Shine, nice see ya up and at'em bright and early." Granny Smith greets her granddaughter with a smile.
"Morin' Granny Smith." Apple Shine greets back. "Ma told me about how the cider season starts, so I thought I can help out."
"We're glad to accept all of the help you can give us, Apple Shine." Bright Mac said with a smile.
"Eeyup." Big Mac agreed while Mario, Buttercup, and Apple Bloom nodded with an agreement.
"Now trust us on this one, sugarcube. When I say that cider makin' ain't easy at all." Applejack explains. "We always try to use the most fresh and most delicious apples that we can find to make the cider each year."
Applejack, Bright Mac, and Buttercup then lead Apple Shine out to where the apple orchard was and the Texan filly sees ten barrels laid out that clearly was for today.
"We always try and lay out at least 15 barrels for the day so that way since some of our time is taken out because of us sellin' cider." Buttercup told her. "We lay out 12 barrels so that we can get as much ponies as we can for some cider."
"Geez, I've tried that cider before back in Texas, but this must be a whole new level." Apple Shine said surprisingly.
"You bet yer Texas heart that it's on a whole new level." Applejack said with a chuckle. "Here, try some."
Applejack goes to where the table, where one of the barrels is connected to a faucet and places a small cup under it before turning it on, so that the cider comes into the cup. Applejack then hands over the cup to her daughter which she grabs it with her hoof and takes it a sip of it before her eyes widen in astonishment as that was probably the best cider she ever had.
"Hoowee! That's the best cider I've ever tasted!" Apple Shine said with a smile. "No wonder y'all sell the cider once a year. I bet those ponies would go nuts just to grab a barrel full of it."
"Actually, we don't sell barrels, Apple Shine." Bright Mac corrects her. "Ponies actually buy a mug, all of them linin' up at a stand where we set up down by the road to taste it."
"Plus, with how delicious it is, everypony all over Equestria wants at least one mug. Sadly, we don't really have enough every year, and many ponies go home without even tasting it at least once for the whole week." Buttercup adds, finished filling up the last barrel for the first day, stacking the barrel with the others.
"Kinda doesn't help that the first batch for the last few years are mostly taken by Pinkie Pie. She buys almost three dozen mugs." Mario told her, approaches to her niece.
"I see." Apple Shine said with a hum, but thought it over. "Still, if we're gonna get most of the ponies come here to try the cider, then Pinkie is limited to one mug if she's in the line. She's not gonna hog a full barrel for herself...or more. Many barrels three dozen mugs make up."
Apple Shine helped the Apple Family carry the barrels of cider over to the stand set up near the road outside of the orchard.
Meanwhile at Fluttershy's cottage, both Fluttershy and Winter Breeze were just sleeping soundly in their bed, dreaming when some knocking on the window could be heard nearby. Fluttershy and Winter Breeze just yawned as they heard the knocking again.
"Who could that be?" Fluttershy asks sleepily. "It's still dark!"
Suddenly, Rainbow Dash came bashing through the window and crashed into the other side of her room.
"C'mon, Fluttershy! Winter!" Rainbow Dash said once she recovered and got into Fluttershy's face. "Cider Seasons about to start!"
Fluttershy gives a squee when Rainbow Dash pulled off her blanket, causing her to blush sheepishly and crossed her hooves to cover herself, much to her annoyance. Though, Fluttershy forgets that neither of the ponies ever wear clothes. Rainbow Dash didn't think about it too much and Fluttershy shrieked as she pushed her out of the window at high speed and into the open skies. Both Storm Hawk and Winter Breeze followed them from behind.
"Oh, where are we?" Fluttershy asked, still feeling drowsy since she hadn't fully woke up just yet. "What's the rush?"
The four Pegasi were still flying at high speed, but rather than try to keep up with Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Storm Hawk, and Winter Breeze kept pace by just riding the momentum she had given them when Fluttershy was pushed out of her home while Winter Breeze and Storm Hawk were following them. Whether it's because she's still sleepy or not, Fluttershy had adjusted to the speed easily.
"The rush?" Rainbow Dash snapped frantically. "Don't you remember what happened last year? Or the year before that? Or pretty much any Cider Season ever?"
"Uh, well, uh-"
"Let me guess, Pinkie?" Storm Hawk asks, raises his eyebrow.
"Yeah, her." Rainbow Dash replied, narrowed her eyes. "She always end up ahead of us in line, and then they always run out of cider!"
Rainbow Dash then began to push Fluttershy forward while Storm Hawk and Winter Breeze followed their mothers so they could go faster.
"I guess I-"
"Well not this year!" Rainbow Dash cuts her off with determination as they flew by at high speed, a bunny was waking up and stretching when they zoomed past and startled it. "This year, I'm gonna get there before sunrise, so me and Storm Hawk can drink all the cider we want and laugh when she doesn't get any! It's the perfect plan! Y'know, I might even buy some cider and hold on to it for a while, drinking it drop by drop in front of her...GASP!"
Rainbow Dash then came to a stop when she noticed a long line of tents had been formed in front of the stand and it extended for several miles.
"Um, Mom, it looks like a few other ponies had the same idea as you do." Storm Hawk points out.
Right at the front of the line of tents was a tent that's decorated in balloons. The front of it was unzipped and after some balloons came out, was none other than Pinkie Pie, in a messy mane. Both Rose Lotus and Djali walked out of the tent.
"Oh gosh, Pinkie, I love your new style." Fluttershy said with a smile.
"Who are all these ponies?!" Rainbow Dash asked with worry.
"Isn't this great?" Pinkie Pie said as stood on her hind legs, fore-hooves on her cheeks for a moment, causing her mane to stick out before it went to being brushed on its own. "I couldn't sleep last night 'cause I was so excited about Cider Season, and I had this brilliant idea to come down here and camp out, so I told a few others about it, and they all thought it was a good idea too, and now it's just a big old cider party! Woo-hoo!"
"Sorry, Pinkie, but yer binge drinkin' over the cider ends now." The voice of Apple Shine said as she approached at the stand, making Pinkie Pie's jaw dropped in shock. "Ma told me you bought several mugs and waste up a lot of cider, where the other ponies far in the back might not get some because you've been hoggin' up a large percentage of what mah family made."
"B-But it's so good." Pinkie Pie whined.
"Yeah, so I heard." Rainbow Dash said, leering at Pinkie Pie.
"And as for you, Rainbow, if you want any cider, I suggest you find a spot and get in line before it gets worse." Apple Shine suggested sternly, making Rainbow Dash grumbled as she, Fluttershy, Winter Breeze, and Storm Hawk flies away.
My Little Pony, My Little Pony
Ahhhh
My Little Pony
I use to wonder what friendship could be
My Little Pony
Until you all share this magic with me
Big adventure,
Tons of fun,
A beautiful heart,
Faithful and strong,
Sharing kindness
It's an easy feat
And magic makes it all complete
You all have my little ponies
Do you know all you're my best friends?
The sun was rising in the sky as the Apple Family were getting things ready to begin selling the cider. The cider stand was set up at an open white fence and tons and tons of tents could be seen lined up with one up close which was Pinkie Pie's tent, which she and Rose Lotus were the first woken up along with Djali. Applejack and Mario were on the road next to Apple Shine, staring at just how far the is from their stand.
"Great horny toads!" Apple Shine exclaims, shocked. "You weren't kiddin' about all of these ponies tryin' to get the cider for the day."
"Actually, this may be the first year we have this many folks lined up like this." Applejack said with worry.
"They're desperate." Mario states.
"You can say that again." Bright Mac agrees, approaching at the stand.
"But that doesn't help Rainbow Dash's attitude though." Apple Shine points out.
"That's because she's been trying to buy a mug of cider every year, but every time she reaches the stand, we always ran out." Buttercup explains, also approaching at the stand. "Other ponies got mad too and...most of the anger comes from both Pinkie buyin' out a couple of barrels and making small batches of high quality cider. That, and Ah think the same ponies who already got a mug endin' up comin' back for another."
Then, Applejack, Mario, Apple Shine, Buttercup, and Bright Mac walked back to where the stand was with the rest of the Apple Family.
"So, here's how this is gonna work." Applejack said, turns to her daughter. "Granny Smith and Ma are in charge of keeping track the amount of bits that are given, Apple Bloom will be behind the counter turning the faucet for the cider on and off, and finally, Big Mac, Mario, and Pa will be in charge of restocking the cider each time the barrels run out."
"Easy enough." Apple Shine states with a hum. "We'll be able to make a lot of ponies satisfied with the amount that we all have for today."
"Let's hope so." Applejack said, worried.
Soon enough, the sun was shining as it was almost time for Cider Season to begin. Lots of ponies could be seen in the line waiting patiently for it begin with Pinkie Pie, Rose Lotus, and Djali at the front line while Twilight, Comet, Daylight, Rarity, who's carrying Flora Heart, Kronk, Golden Charm, and Spike were somewhere on the line right behind them, and Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Storm Hawk, and Winter Breeze were far out of the line. Rainbow Dash throws a glare ahead at how long she'll have to wait in order to get some apple cider for today. Meanwhile, Twilight and Spike were upbeat.
"Isn't this exciting, Spike? Opening day of Cider Season!" Twilight said happily.
"Yeah!" Spike replied. "That means it's only 30 days 'til Sapphire Season."
Spike licked his lips as Twilight, Rarity, and Kronk just rolled their eyes while Comet and Daylight gave him a blunt look on their faces.
"Spike, how many times did we have to tell you? We don't eat gems, you do." Comet said with a matter of fact tone.
"Did you been sneak into Rarity's house to snatch one of those jewels the other night?" Daylight asks with a glare.
It got Spike stiffened with widened eyes while Rarity, Golden Charm, and Kronk looked at him with a stern glare.
"No! I was just, well...uh..." Spike stuttered nervously before given up. "Yes, I did."
"We really need to work on your diet because we've got a huge load of jewels to be kept safe from your greedy hands, lad." Golden Charm said sternly.
"Yes, I'll give your mom her jewels back." Spike said, honestly.
"You'd better." Golden Charm said.
It got Twilight, Rarity, and Kronk chuckled at Spike's punishment when the megaphone was heard.
"ATTENTION, EVERYPONY! CIDER SEASON IS NOW OFFICIALLY OPEN!" Applejack announced when the ponies cheered. "THERE'S GOING TO BE A FEW RULES IN PLACE SO EVERYPONY CAN HAVE AT LEAST ONE MUG RULE! RULE ONE: ONLY ONE MUG PER CUSTOMER! AND RULE TWO: IF YOU ALREADY BOUGHT A MUG, YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE ANOTHER THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE WEEK!"
Most of the ponies in the queue all groaned, which the Texan filly knows that some of them had been selfish enough to get back in line the next few days. With the new rules set in place, the Cider Season officially begins, with Pinkie Pie at the start of the line. Pinkie Pie pulled out a large sack of bits, but Apple Shine leered at her and shook her head, not allowing her to have more than one mug. Even though she gave the Texan filly a sad look, but Apple Shine stood her ground and stood by what she announced, wanting at least everypony for today to have at least once chance to drink the cider. Pinkie Pie sadly pulled out a couple of bits from the large bag, receiving one mug for her and for Rose Lotus, filled up by Apple Bloom. Rainbow Dash noticed of Pinkie Pie walked away with a sad look on her face, which she smirked.
At the stand, business continued at a brisk pace with many ponies paying and drinking mugs of apple cider with very delighted looks. After Cheerilee got her cider, Apple Bloom turns on the faucet to try and let out some more cider, but dispense only a few drops and a burp of gas. Bright Mac grabs the barrel that's connected there and placed it on his back to go and make a stack of empty barrels in another section. He nods to Mario, who uses his magic to levitate a barrel on top of the filled-up stacks of cider and he hooks up the new supply onto the counter to allow Apple Bloom to continue filling up the mugs. Rainbow Dash glares impatiently from her spot behind Fluttershy and Winter Breeze in the line.
The inventory of cider was steadily decreasing over the hours as Rainbow Dash was constantly getting worried looks on her face that if she may ever get any cider.
Eventually, Mario connected the last barrel and also it near to where the line was ending to get the very first cider. Fluttershy pays it for her and her daughter along with Rainbow Dash paying bits for her and her son as a foamy mug is dispensed for Fluttershy and Winter Breeze, who moves off to make room for her friends. Rainbow Dashs eyes grow as her tongue lolls greedily out and then the tap runs dry and she cycles from anticipation to teary-eyed disappointment to teeth-grinding rage. She does, however, keep herself under enough control to let off only a subdued growl as Applejack walks up, no longer using the megaphone.
"Heh. Sorry, everypony!" Applejack said. "That's it for today!"
The rest of the ponies in the line let out a disappointed moans from that and Rainbow Dash flies over to her angrily.
"Surprise, surprise! You ran out again!" Rainbow Dash said angrily.
"Yeah, you always run out of cider!" A stallion named Caramel adds angrily.
Apple Shine had enough, using his earth element to conjure a earth hammer as she slams it down to ground to make seismic tremors, spooking them and ceasing their complaints.
"Listen up! As good as the cider is, there's a reason why it's so good that none of y'all seem to have the patience for!" Apple Shine said sternly.
"Wait, you gave Apple Shine a cider and not me?!" Rainbow Dash shouts, earned a whack down to the ground by Apple Shine.
"Don't start this, Rainbow!" Apple Shine warned her.
"And if you ponies should know, we tried our best to make as much as we can for this year using the most delicious apples we could find." Mario adds.
"That's what they always say!" Caramel retorted.
The rest of the ponies agreed while having the same reaction as Caramel and Rainbow Dash.
"And it's always true." Applejack said, stands in front of Apple Bloom, Granny Smith, and Buttercup. "But the Apple Family cider is made with love and integrity, and only the highest quality apples in Equestria. Sorry, but that recipe takes time."
"Which means patience is the key." Mario points out.
"Which is why we can't rush supplyin' what y'all demand." Apple Shine adds. "Whether it involves art, buildings, food, or drinks, you can't rush everythin', otherwise it'll be a mess!"
"Well put, Apple Shine." Buttercup said with a smile, turns to the ponies. "Ah'm sorry, everypony, but y'all will have to come back tomorrow!"
More dissatisfied complainers start to chatter before just deciding to leave. Rainbow Dash turns to leave, but finds Pinkie Pie standing directly behind her.
"They're right, y'know!" Pinkie Pie said cheerfully. "You can't rush perfection! And this years batch was perfection!"
"Uh, mom, you only had one mug of cider." Rose Lotus points out, but earned a deadpan look from her mother.
Pinkie Pie then wraps a hoof around Rainbow Dash and thinks dreamily of the cider that she drank while Rainbow Dash was slowly building up rage.
"I'll never forget the cider I just drank!" Pinkie Pie said. "It was a moment in time that will never exist again."
Pinkie Pie lets out an ecstatic little moan, having paid no heed to Fluttershy's warning or the steadily building fury on Rainbow Dash's face. Rainbow Dash launches into a rising growl until it was interrupted by the honking of a horn.
Everypony looks at the direction to where it came from as they all see a vehicle chugs along the road towards them. The vehicles design is similar to that of a gigantic, open-topped antique roadster automobile, with machinery stacked up where the rear seats would go and various controls and pipes built into the side.
"What in Equestria is that?" Applejack asks with her raised eyebrow, causing Mario and Apple Shine to shrug.
"That's probably the most advanced looking locomotive I've seen so far in Equestria." Apple Shine said, confused. "Normally, I would see those kinds of machines on Earth."
Many of the ponies took interest in the vehicle as they all walked up to it curiously. The cowcatcher-style front grille on the vehicle knocks over one post of the fence as it chuffs to a stop, causing Granny Smith, Buttercup, and Bright Mac to scowl.
The two male unicorn ponies jumped out as they were wearing matching outfits of blue and white collared shirts with black bowties along with matching hats. They were both identical twins as they both had pale light grayish olive fur coats, moderate red manes and tails with white stripes, moderate pistachio eyes. They did have a couple of difference on them as they both had different cutie marks and one had a mustache while the other didn't. One had a cutie mark of a left facing apple slice while the other had a cutie mark that had an apple with a slice missing on it. These were the con-artist twins, Flim and Flam.
The twins drop down from their vehicle and starts to sing.
Flim addressed Flam before zipping up to a mare whose face was hanging out. He closes her jaw as he looked back at Flam with a smirk on his face.
Film (Sings):
Well, lookie what we got here, brother of mine, it's the same in every town
Ponies with thirsty throats, dry tongues, and not a drop of cider to be found
Maybe they're not aware that there's really no need for this teary despair
Flam (Sings):
That the key that they need to solve this sad shortage you and I will share
The other ponies gasp and chatter excitedly as the twins begin to sing together, waving their hats before zipping apart.
Flim and Flam (Sings):
Well you've got opportunity
In this very community
Flam (Sings):
He's Flim
Flim (Sings):
He's Flam
Flim and Flam began to dance and mirror each other.
Flim and Flam (Sings):
We're the world famous Flim-Flam brothers
Traveling salesponies nonpareil
"Nonpa-what?!" Pinkie Pie asked, puzzled.
Flim then heads to the other ponies as he answered her question, also lifted Apple Bloom and kissed her forehead. Apple Shine and Mario took notice and growled defensively at him.
Flim (Sings):
Nonpareil, and that's exactly the reason why, you see
Nopony else in this whole place will give you such a chance to be where you need to be
And that's a new world, with tons of cider
Flam uses his magic to make a giant vacuum tube appear
Flam (Sings):
More cider than you could drink in all your days of drinking
"I doubt that." Rainbow Dash said skeptically, crossed her fore-hooves.
Flim and Flam begins the can-can.
Flim and Flam (Sings):
So take this opportunity
While the twins are singing, the crowd joins in.
Flim, Flam, and the crowd (Sings):
In this very community
Flam (Sings):
He's Flim
Flim (Sings):
He's Flam
Flim and Flam (Sings):
We're the world famous Flim-Flam brothers
Traveling saleponies
Nonpareil
Flim then gets into the face of some ponies as he pointed back at his and Flam's machine.
Flim (Sings):
I suppose by now you're wondering 'bout our peculiar mode of transport
Flam steps in front of his twin brother.
Flam (Sings):
I say, our mode of locomotion
Flim then stood before a podium.
Flim (Sings):
And I suppose by now you're wondering, where is this promised cider?
Flam (Sings):
Any horse can make a claim and any pony can do the same
Flim stands in between some mares.
Flim (Sings):
But my brother and I have something most unique and superb
Unseen at any time in this big new world
Flim and Flam (Sings):
And that's opportunity
Flim (Sings):
Folks, it's the one and only, the biggest and the best
Flam (Sings):
The unbelievable
Flim (Sings):
Unimpeachable
Flam (Sings):
Indispensable
Flim (Sings):
I-can't-believe-able
Flim and Flam (Sings):
Flim-Flam Brothers' Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000
"What'd you say, sister?" Flam offers, but earned a slap in the face from Rarity. Twilight, Comet, and Daylight looks worried as the crowd were now singing.
Crowd (Sings):
Oh, we got opportunity
In this very community
Please, Flim, please, Flam, help us out of this jam
With your Flim-Flam Brothers' Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000
"Young filly." Flim said, earned their attention. "I would be honored if you might see fit to let my brother and I borrow some of your delicious, and might I add spellbindingly fragrant apples for out little demonstration here?"
Applejack, Mario, and Apple Shine just look at each other, confused the Texan filly shrugs her shoulders.
"Uh, sure, I guess." Applejack complied reluctantly while Mario gave the twins a suspicious glare.
The rest of the Apple Family looked worried and skeptical about the two unicorn stallions. Apple Bloom is the only pony eager to see what their machine can do. Applejack and Apple Shine looked at Granny Smith afterwards.
Crowd (Sings):
Opportunity, in our community
Flam (Sings):
Ready, Flim?
Flim (Sings):
Ready, Flam?
Flim and Flim then began glowing their horns.
Flim and Flam (Sings):
Let's bing-bang zam!
They both shoot unicorn magic from their horns to activate the machine and it takes some apples off an apple tree.
"And show these thirsty ponies a world delectable cider!" Flim said.
The crowd of ponies were showing desperation on their faces and even Rainbow Dash had her tongue hanging out. The apples then headed into a large barrel. The barrel then rotated at a high speed.
Crowd (Sings):
Cider, cider, cider, cider...
Flim (Sings):
Watch closely friends!
Flam (Sings):
The fun begins!
"Now, here's where the magic happens." Flim said quickly. "Right here in the heaving, rolling, cider-pressing-boiling guts of the very machine, those apples plucked fresh are right now as we speak being turned into grade-A, top-notched, five-star, blow-your-horseshoes-off, one-of-a-kind-cider!"
The ponies, except the 6 foals, were now chanting 'cider' with the other ponies.
Flam pulled a level, showing off a display window as several ponies gathered around to take a peek.
Flam (Sings):
Feel free to take a peek!
Apple Shine finally had enough as she gets into Flam's face before walking away once she finished her stanza.
Apple Shine (Sings):
Now y'all just hold gal-darn minute, ya lowlife loafers!
You went and over-sold it!
I guarantee that what you have there won't compare
For the very most important ingredient
Can't be added or done expedient
And it's quality, friends, Apple Acres, quality and care!
However, Flim approaches Apple Shine as he sings.
Flim (Sings):
Well, young filly, I'm glad you brought that up, my dear, I say I'm glad you brought that up
You see that we are very picky when it comes to cider if you'll kindly try a cup
Flim gave Apple Shine a mug of his and his brothers machines freshly made cider. She tasted it just to humor them, only for her pupils to shrink as she drank it. It's surprisingly delicious, and better than her family brand, even though they use the same apples. She failed to hide the shock from the twins, sliding the mug back on their cart.
Flam showed a display of apples at they go through a conveyor belt. Good apples pass without fuss while bad apples are disposed of.
Flam (Sings):
Yes, sir, yes, ma'am, this great machine lets just the very best
So whaddaya say then, Apples?
Care to step into the modern world
And put the Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000 to the test?
The crowd continued to chant 'cider' during the song.
"What do you think, folks?" Flim asked. "Do you see what this young filly or the Apples can't? I see it clear as day! I know that mare does and so does she! C'mon, Ponyville, you know what I'm talking about!"
Flim and Flam mirror each other as they dance.
Flim and Flam (Sings):
We're saying you've got
Flim, Flam, and the crowd of ponies now cheering and Rainbow Dash was dancing happily on the background.
Flim, Flam, and Crowd (Sings):
Opportunity
In this very community
He's Flim, he's Flam
We're the world famous Flim-Flam Brothers!
Traveling salesponies nonpareil
Flim and Flam (Sings):
Yeah!
As their little singing promotion came to an end, Apple Bloom immediately rushed up to them.
"You got a deal!" Apple Bloom said.
"What?!" Apple Shine exclaims as the crowd cheering as they'd finally get the cider. She pulled her aunt away, and ran towards them. "No deal!"
"I'm sorry, but who exactly are you, miss?" Flim asked.
"The names Apple Shine, ya loafer! And you two are not going to be doing any business here on this farm!" Apple Shine said with a glare when Apple Bloom approached next to her niece.
"But Apple Shine, with their machine, we could make enough cider to please everypony!" Apple Bloom protested.
"Ah don't care if this hunk of junk works, we're not makin' that kind of a deal with these two low lives!" Apple Shine argued which the twins feels offended.
"Excuse me, are you an Apple relative?" Flam asks.
"That's right, ya got a problem?" Apple Shine asks back.
"Maybe your family should've taught you manners on how to speak and show some a little respect." Flim states with a smug.
"Respect?! Why I oughta!" Apple Shine growled, about to approach them as Buttercup pulls her by the tail.
"Settle down, Apple Shine, we'll settle this." Buttercup assures her granddaughter.
"So, are you willing to agree to having our assistance in cider making?" Flim asked.
"...Ah don't know." Applejack said. "We've always made cider the same way, takin' the time to make it perfect, not fast."
"And ponies still loved it!" Mario points out with a glare. "Even some of the most little jobs that we do can make a big difference."
"Eeyup." Big Mac agrees.
"How about we sweeten the deal?" Flim bartered. "If you can supply the apples, then we'll supply the Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000."
"And we'll throw in the magic to power the machine for free." Flam added.
"Splitting the profits 75-25." The twins said in unison.
"Wait...who gets the 75%?" Bright Mac questions, raising his eyebrow.
"Why, us, naturally." Flam answered with a smug.
It got the Apple Family shocked, that the deal nowhere near equal or close to share the profits between both sides. The Flim Flam Brothers barely lift a hoof and use their magic to power the machine, quickly made the cider better for them. The Apple do all the harder work, caring for thousands of apple trees needed to make said cider: make sure the orchard was well-watered, keep out pests that threaten to ruin the ripe apples, even take care of old trees that have died and remove them before the decayed roots could infect the other nearby trees.
Apple Shine steps in front of her mother and her family with a scornful look.
"That's not even fair!" Apple Shine snapped. "A better share would be half, not some quarters over this lousy piece of junk than hard workin' labors!"
Both Flim and Flam looked at each other, undeterred by Apple Shine's words.
"Well, kiddo, it's actually quite a fair share if you past the 'lousy piece of junk', as you put it." Flam told her.
"It actually takes quite a lot of money just to build something like the Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000." Flim adds, showing the blueprints to the Texan filly. "There are all the parts needed to build and replace any if it malfunctions, combined with expenses of repairs if physically damaged by an odd occurrence, like, for example, a hoofball comes flying in and breaks one of the tubes charging energy that makes our machine run."
"And since this baby requires magical power for it to run, you'll need us around in order to use it anyway." Flam said. "We've spend quite a lot of bits going through prototypes, and in case it runs down and we needed to make another, 75% of the profits is quite reasonably sound."
"Maybe so, but the Cider Season is what keeps our business and our home afloat!" Apple Shine told them, smacking the blueprint aside. "And it also keeps us flowing through winter. And we'll be out of business if we agree something we don't like or somethin' shady. Reasonable or not."
The twins flinched and felt offended again, but knows that the Texan filly made a valid point. However, ignoring the Texan filly as they turned to the Apple Family.
"So? What will it be?" The twins asks with a smirk.
The Apple Family all looked at each other, all of them silently agreeing on their answer.
"No deal." Big Mac answered.
"Hmph, very well." Flim said, but not sounding disappointed. "If you refuse out generous offer to be partners, then we'll just have to be competitors."
"You wouldn't dare." Applejack warned.
"Generous? You two? Don't make me laugh." Mario scoffs.
"Oh no?" Flim said.
Flim nods to his brother which cues him to address the crowd from the platform.
"Don't you worry, everypony!" Flam announces. "There'll be plenty of cider for all of you!"
"Once we drive Sweet Apple Acres out of business." Flim said quietly.
The entire Apple Family let out a long and surprised gasp from that. Mario was surprised by this while Apple Shine decided to speak up.
"I don't think so!" Apple Shine said with a serious glare, causing her family to turn to the Texan filly. "If you thought for just one sec that you can just barge in here with a hunk of junk that produces cider and say that it's gonna drive Sweet Apple Acres outta business, then you two loafers thought wrong. Sweet Apple Acres is my home, and it's the home to the rest of mah family that's been around in generations. And there's no way that I'm gonna sit here and watch you two weasels take that away from us!"
The Apple Family, escpecially Applejack and Mario, smiled at Apple Shine defending them.
"Sorry, I guess you've agreed to the deal." Flim said with a smirk. "It's a good one. 75-25."
"And for a salespony, you're not very reasonable." Apple Shine states. "Which it explains why yer cutie marks that has a strikin' resemblence of an apple that was big and the other is very little as your fat heads."
"Excuse me?!" The twins exclaims, feeling offended while the Apple Family chuckled.
"And with the deal y'all are making, it's sad and disappointed." Apple Shine said. "And it's a business that involves takin' advantage of others."
"I am shocked that you'd accuse us of such a thing." Flim said with a gasp, but faking. "Very well, if you believe that you and these Apples have everything that it takes to surpass us, then we are more than lovely to see what happens."
"Oh, don't worry, you two loafers will." Apple Shine said with a glare.
Flim walks back to the machine where his twin brother is. Apple Shine then turns back to her family who all had looks of gratitude for the Texan filly and Applejack walks up, hugging her daughter which she returns.
"Thanks for that, sugarcube." Applejack thanked her daughter. "I don't think we've ever had anypony besides us about Sweet Apple Acres so much."
"If there's one place in Ponyville I know that shouldn't ever go away, it's Sweet Apple Acres." Apple Shine said as she and Applejack breaks a hug. "'Cuz it reminds me of my old home."
Applejack understands with a nod and smile at that.
"Well, what are we waitin' for? Let's get back and show these hooligans who they're messin' with." Applejack said to her family.
Apple Shine nods as she follows the rest of her family back to Sweet Apple Acres so that they could all be prepared for tomorrow.
The next morning, the Apples tried to make some more barrels of cider before the crack of dawn for the town, but they made a few less barrels than yesterday. It seemed like the pressure from the twins as competition had gotten to them, making them nervous and make less cider out of trepidation. Apple Shine was both angry and upset at the two con-artists, Flim's threat to destroy her families legacy for over a century still lingered on her mind. She's busy fixing the fence post the twins knocked over on purpose while the family served the others. Unfortunately, the amount they made was about to out mostly because of Pinkie Pie being the first to get the amount of cider, which Mario made sure she only gets one mug.
The rest of the ponies except for Rainbow Dash, waiting in line for her chance to get some cider, noticed the Texan filly as she worked on the fence.
"Apple Shine, are you alright?" Mario asked his niece.
"I'm fine." Apple Shine uttered, nudging the fence to check if it'll stay still.
"You don't sound fine." Twilight said. "Did something happen yesterday?"
"It's the no-good loafers, that's what's botherin' me." Apple Shine told her with a groan, feeling her blood boil when she mentioned the two conniving salesponies.
"What did they do that got you riled up, lass?" Golden Charm asked curiously. "They seemed to be reasonable when it comes to business."
"Not where Ah'm standing, they're not!" Apple Shine snapped. "While it's true that it's reasonable, but splittin' the profits that cheap, that machine wins over hard work toiling away in the fields, it's not right! I don't care if it's expensive to make! Ma and her family need the sales from Cider Season along with the rest of the profits for the winter, when they can't grow anythin'. Now, they're gonna compete with a hardworking family because they just sit on their hides and let some junker do everything for them!"
"It's innovative, Apple Shine-"
"I don't care what it is, Twilight!" Apple Shine cuts in, but sighed as she looks down. "Sorry, it's just that the cider they made...what I tasted..."
Apple Shine then looks over at her family, afraid to even utter the words she's about to say behind their backs. She then looked back at them, swallowing a lump on her throat.
"...It's better than theirs..." Apple Shine said.
"It was?!" Pinkie Pie exclaims, but Apple Shine quickly presses her mouth with her hoof.
"Keep it down, will ya!" Apple Shine hissed. "It's bad enough these two loafers, having the cutie marks resembled as an apple, are causin' problems here. I just don't want to tell them and freak them out even more than they're already are right now. And with how much they made today, there's not gonna be enough for this whole line."
Just as Apple Shine predicted, the last barrel fizzed out, completely ran out of small batch they made for the day.
"That's it! Last cup!" Apple Bloom announced.
"OH FOR PETE'S SAKE!" Rainbow Dash yelled, who's all the way in the far middle of the line flew up and aggravated.
The rest of the crowd let out a disappointed groans as well.
"C'mon back tomorrow, everypony!" Apple Bloom said, trying to stay cheerful.
The crowd started complaining like yesterday and Rainbow Dash has clapped a foreleg over her eyes in disgust.
"This is a nightmare." Apple Shine grumbled. "This cider's like a drug no pony can get clean of."
However, Rainbow Dash lowers it once she hears a sound and it's Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000 as it approaches the area once again. Applejack, Mario, Bright Mac, and Buttercup looked up with their eyes widen as it advances over them. The twins then purposely ran into the corner post again, ruining Apple Shine's work.
"Are you serious?! I just fixed that, you flea-infested little weasels!" Apple Shine shouts angrily.
"Sorry! Didn't see where we're parking!" Flim apologized, causing Apple Shine's eye twitching in anger as the twins turns disembarks and sidles up to Applejack.
"Ugh, I've gotta hand it to those two, they knew when they would have the competitive advantage." Mario said in annoyance. "Right when we're out of cider!"
"What seems to be the problem?" Flim asks in a smug manner.
"Oh my, oh my, out of cider again?" Flam replied over-dramatically, making Mario and Applejack glare.
At the machines back end, which sports a shelf loaded with barrels and an attached chute. Flim reclines against one rear fender as the barrel lowers into position.
"What have we here? Who'd like a cup?" Flim offered.
The other ponies began to chatter excitedly as the Apple Family and Twilight looked worried. Suddenly, they're promptly swept up in a stampede of clamoring ponies approaching the machine as they all gathered around it. Apple Shine was furious and she couldn't take them stealing the apples, finally had enough as she ran past the crowd of ponies. She then kicks the mug of cider away from Rainbow Dash, silencing the crowd.
Rainbow Dash was heartbroken, finally moving as she tried desperately to scoop the absorbed cider from the ground, chewing on the dirt to try to taste some of the cider with tears on her eyes.
"Is this some kind of cruel joke?" Rainbow Dash whimpered.
"I've had enough of y'all snivellin snakes stealin' our property and stealin' our products!" Apple Shine shouts angrily which the twins are shocked to see how angry the Texan filly was. "I'm gonna give you one last chance to get off this property before I turn this stupid machine into a scrap metal!"
"Apple Shine, calm down!" Applejack exclaimed as she ran up to her daughter, placing a hoof on her shoulder. "Don't blow your top, but Apple Shine's right, y'all just stole our apples!"
"Fine, whatever." Flim, said, snapping out of his shock. "There are plenty of apple orchards to go around. We'll be able to make more cider than the Apples ever can in decade."
"That's it! I'm breaking it right now!" Apple Shine snapped as she tried to rush after the twins and their machine, but was held back by Applejack, who's holding on tightly to her tail while Bright Mac and Buttercup tried to restrain her. "I'm not lettin' you ruin the orchard and run them out of business! they deserve a lot more than you selfish, lousy, no good-"
Applejack slammed Apple Shine down hard to the ground, spitting out her tail.
"Consarn it, Apple Shine, what's eatin' ya?!" Applejack asks with worry. "Ah know Flim and Flam are rivals, but you're lettin' this get out of hoof!"
"I don't want those lowlife con-artists take away everything you and your family had made of this land for nearly hundred years!" Apple Shine snapped. "And I don't want anyone else to know their cider tasted better than yers!"
It got Apple Shine gasped and quickly shut her mouth, accidentally blurted out when she didn't want to tell them.
The crowd stared all Apple Shine in surprise, Rainbow Dash out of anger for knowing how good it was when they offered her their cider, and the twins smirked as they looked at each other, their cider faster to make and better than the Apples. Apple Shine slowly looked over at Applejck, noticing her expression was in a mix of shock and slight disappointment.
"...What?" Applejack muttered.
"Well, it seems as though your little daughter doesn't feel confident enough in your cider anymore, Applejack." Flim taunted, snapping Applejack's gaze up to the twins. "We all witnessed her drinking our cider, and Flam and I both saw just how much she liked it."
"Trying to play it off after the first sip, but she knows she wants more of it." Flam adds, then turns to Apple Shine. "Right, Apple Shine?"
Apple Shine could only look down at the ground in shame and guilt, dragging her hat down to cover her eyes. She couldn't deny the machine's cider was delicious, but she didn't want to drink it anymore of their brand. She only made her families business worse, knowing everyone else was going to get their drinks from Flim and Flam and their machine. She didn't notice her family were leering at the twins, finally had enough of their sudden appearance, stealing their customers, and for hurting Apple Shine which the twins finally cross the line.
"Alright, Flim and Flam, how about we make a little wager?" Applejack suggests which the twins are intrigued. "We'll have ourselves a cider makin' contest. First team to make more barrels in an hour wins, and the winners will have full rights to sellin' their cider. Permenantly."
The crowd of ponies gasped, but Apple Shine looking up through her hat was shocked at what she just heard.
"Very well, we accept." Flim and Flam said.
"Good, we begin tomorrow mornin'." Applejack said with an angry glare.
"Excellent. We bid you all adieu until tomorrow, Ponyville, with hundreds of barrels of cider ready to be sold!" Flim and Flam announced as they sped off of their machine back down the road again, the crowd eerily quiet.
With everything settled for tomorrow, Applejack turned around and looked down at Apple Shine, who's averting gaze at her, crying.
"Apple Shine, look at me." Applejack said to her daughter which Apple Shine reluctantly obeyed, sitting up as she forced herself to look at her mother. "Was their cider really better than ours?"
Apple Shine can only nod in respond, but lowers her hat to cover her eyes.
"How come ya didn't tell us?" Applejack asks sternly.
"...I...I didn't want y'all to panic." Apple Shine said sadly. "They threatened to run you out of your home if they took over the Cider Season...I didn't want everypony else to know what I thought, because they'd go to those loafers when they don't do so much hard work as we all did."
"Did you know about this?" Applejack asks, turned to Mario, who nods.
"I'd rather taking having my cider now than wait another year to not get any!" Rainbow Dash complains, but Storm Hawk flew up to his mothers face.
"Mom, you're not helping!" Storm Hawk told her. "Have a little humility for once!"
Ignoring Rainbow Dash, Applejack pulls her daughters hat up and lifted her chin to get her to look at her.
"Apple Shine, Ah don't care if ya think their cider's better." Applejack told her. "Ah'm glad you're stickin' up for us like ya did yesterday and today. And to be honest, we wanted to punch their lights out, too, just comin' up outta nowhere as if they planned on arrivin' to try and take over."
"...Y'all aren't mad?" Apple Shine asks.
"No, we're just a little disappointed that ya lied, but we know you didn't want to upset us." Bright Mac assures her as he, Applejack, and Buttercup hugs Apple Shine. "And don't listen to a thing they say. Ya became part of the family when Applejack gave birth to ya because of that magical flower."
Apple Shine was just surprised and shocked, but couldn't take it as she now had a breakdown as she burst in tears. The Apple Family knew that she's having a mental breakdown as they group hugged Apple Shine, comforting her as the crowd began to disperse. Mario decided to take matters into his own hooves.
'Well, if Flim and Flam want a fight, they've got one thing coming to them.' Mario mentally thought as he turned and went home while he used his magic to write a letter.
The very next day at Sweet Apple Acres, ponies have gathered around to watch the competition of cider making between the Apples and the Flim-Flam Brothers. The Apples were getting prepared to start as Big Mac, Mario, and Bright Mac had a pair of goggles propped on their foreheads and they trot in place to limber up their hooves. Granny Smith was sniffling an apple very deeply, Apple Shine and Buttercup were doing push ups, and Applejack set up a heavy bag and is taking a few practice bucks, with Apple Bloom hanging on to provide extra weight. Twilight then walks over to them.
"Applejack?" Twilight said. "Are you sure this is such a good idea?"
"Me 'n' the family are...one hundred percent confident...in our cider making capabilities." Applejack said in confident, stilling bucking a bag.
"And besides, nopony makes Apple Shine cry and gets away with it." Apple Bloom adds just as Applejack sends her flying.
Mayor Mare speaks up on a megaphone.
"Attention, everypony!" Mayor Mare said.
"Well, good luck." Twilight said as she walks off while a badly disoriented Apple Bloom staggers back to Applejack.
"Thanks, Twilight." Applejack thanked her as Apple Bloom collapses down to the ground. "We'll need it."
Apple Shine and Mario then walk right up to Applejack.
"Hey, don't worry." Mario assures his sister. "We'll win, we make sure of it."
Applejack gets a determined smile from his resolve and nods.
"The teams have one hour to produce as much cider as they can, after which the barrels will be counted and the winner will be named the sole cider provider for all of Ponyville!" Mayor Mare announces as the crowd lets out a shocked murmurs from that as Flim and Flam both smirk at each other on their vehicle. "Are both teams ready?"
Big Mac socks his goggles into place and starts his first run, Granny Smith glares toward the adversaries with a snort, Apple Bloom blows her mane back from her face while Apple Shine tipped her hat with a glare, and both Applejack and Mario stand resolutely at the fore.
"Ready!" Applejack and Mario said.
"Ready!" Flim and Flim said in arrogance.
"Then let's...go!" Mayor Mare said as a stallion named Doctor Whooves flipped over an hourglass to signal that the competition has begun.
Everypony, but Granny Smith then race toward their base of operations, while she shambles after them at her usual arthritic pace. The twins don't stir from the couch and Flam just yawns in a bored manner as they both fired up their horns to activate the machine and it immediately starts to vacuum some apples off a tree.
Back with the Apples, Applejack and Buttercup relies on hind-leg power to bring down a load of apples for Apple Bloom and Apple Shine to catch in a tub on their heads. The fillies then brings the apples to Mario for inspection and he immediately glows his horn to use the spell that could tell whether something is fresh or ripe. He looks closely inside and sees a few apples glow white to show that their fresh and he immediately uses his magic to put it over to a machine that's sloshing apples to a pulp and it's activated by Big Mac, who's running fast on a treadmill. Granny Smith was busy keeping track of all of their progress as one barrel was immediately filled up and she puts the top on the barrel.
"Great job, y'all!" Applejack said. "We've already filled an entire barrel!"
"I'll bet you those guys don't even have-"
The sentence trails off as the Apples widen their eyes with a gasp in shock.
At the end of where the machine was, a full barrel is swiftly ejected onto the chute and flipped away to land neatly atop of two others. However, it's revealed that the twins have already stacked up a pyramid of six barrels. Both of the brothers wave mockingly at the family. Both Applejack and Mario were surprised from that, until he got a serious look.
"Let's not waste any time! Let's move!" Mario shouts.
Later on, the competition was still on as the machine continued its work on making cider and Apple Bloom was staring in shock.
"Aunt Apple Bloom, focus!" Apple Shine shouts, ran to her uncle. "We gotta forget these loafers if we're gonna win this!"
Apple Bloom then shakes her head clear to get out of shock as she collects the apples and rushes over to her brother, who's still doing his thing on checking for fresh and ripe apples.
"Sorry, Apple Shine!" Apple Bloom apologizes as she sent the bucket over to him. "Mario, we're movin' as fast as we can!"
"I know! Just don't tire yourself out." Mario told her, then turns to his niece. "Same goes for you, Apple Shine!"
"Right!" Apple Shine replied.
Apple Shine and Apple Bloom takes another empty baskets, then rush off to refill it with more apples. On the cider press, Big Mac was tiring out as he starts to sweat and slow down a little and slow down on the treadmill.
"Alright, Big Mac, take 5 minute break! I'll take care of the rest!" Bright Mac suggested as he and Big Mac switch places, puts on a burst of speed so that cider positively gushes from the tap.
The Mane 6 and the 5 foals were just watching it all happen with worry.
"This is just dreadful." Rarity said. "Even at top speed, the Apples are only making one barrel to the twins three!"
"They need help!" Comet states.
"Speaking of, why aren't you with them?" Rainbow Dash asks. "Aren't you also a family member?"
"I only see Applejack as a friend and a godmother, like you and the others." Comet told her. "But with those two guys and the machine, they're at a disadvantage."
"Those hypocrites!" Storm Hawk grumbled, looking at the twins. "Look at them, taking their sweet time making fun of the Apples!"
"But we've gotta do something." Daylight points out. "What do we do?"
Twilight thinks for a moment before getting an idea.
"Come on, our friends need our help." Twilight said as she and the rest of the ponies then advance towards where Mayor Mare and Spike was. "Um, Mayor Mare! Are honorary family members allowed to help in the competition?"
"Well, I'm not sure..." Mayor Mare pondered before turning to the twins. "Flim, Flam, would you object to more honorary family members helping?"
"Are you kidding?" Flim asks with a smug.
"We don't care if the whole kingdom of Canterlot helps." Flam adds. "It's a lost cause."
"Hm, I guess it's okay." Mayor Mare muttered, then turns to Applejack. "Applejack? What do you think?"
Applejack delivers a furious buck to the nearest tree and stands upright, her perspiring face lined with fatigue.
"I think I'd love to have the rest of my family helpin' out." Applejack replied.
"All right!" The Mane 5 and the 5 foals said, then rushes over to Mario who still hard at work at his station.
"Mario! We've come to back you all up." Twilight told him. "Is there anything we can do?"
Mario looks at the rest of the station and back to them before getting an idea.
"As a matter of fact, yes!" Mario said with a smirk. "Fluttershy, I need you and Winter Breeze to help Applejack and Mom with bucking down the trees."
"Got it." Fluttershy and Winter Breeze replied.
"Pinkie Pie, you and Rose Lotus help Apple Bloom and Apple Shine catch some more apples." Mario said.
"Yes sir!" Pinkie Pie salutes while Rose Lotus nods.
"Rarity, an extra eye can be helpful. Can you and Golden Charm help me with assorting the apples?" Mario offered.
"Of course." Rarity replied.
"Rainbow, do you think you can speed up that treadmill with Dad?" Mario replied.
"In my sleep." Rainbow Dash said in confident, then turns to Storm Hawk. "I'll be needing your help, too, champ."
Storm Hawk nods with a smirk.
"Twilight, I need you to help Granny Smith keep everything organized!" Mario said.
"Can do." Twilight replied.
"Comet, Daylight, you two can help out in case they ran out of steam." Mario told them as they nodded. "Alright, let's save Sweet Apple Acres!"
Everypony rushed off to their respective stations, Applejack gallops toward a tree to buck it. As the apples fall loose, both Fluttershy and Winter Breeze flies past and disappears among the boughs of a neighboring trees. A quick shake dislodges all the fruit: they zoom to another one for a repeated performance. Pinkie Pie and Rose Lotus gallops up with an empty baskets.
"Over there, Apple Bloom! Don't miss them!" Pinkie Pie said as Apple Bloom made a dive and caught the apples.
"Right behind ya, Pinkie Pie!" Apple Bloom called out as Pinkie Pie does a high backflip, the basket made a perfect touchdown on her head so that a few apples land neatly within.
Mario, Rarity, and Golden Charm were sorting the apples with Mario still using the method and Rarity and Golden Charm method looking at the apples to see if they were good or bad was slower, but it did speed up the process.
Both Comet and Daylight uses the animal spirits and slammed their hind legs into the trees, catching all of the apples without losing a single one. They then cast a wind magic to sweep the apples in their buckets around the cyclone barrier. they commanded the wind magic to fling out the rotten apples while tossing the good apples into the chute with the others.
Rainbow Dash is galloping a treadmill alongside with Bright Mac and with both of their speed, they're going at a consistent pace. As more cider drops into a barrels, Twilight uses her magic to levitate all of the full barrels over to a stack and bring back the empty ones. Granny Smith then walks up to her.
"How are we lookin', Twilight?" Granny Smith asks as Twilight levitates the quill and scroll in front of her.
"Based on these figures, we're making five barrels to six barrels for every three of theirs." Twilight told her.
"Keep it up, everypony!" Applejack said with returned confidence. "We're back in this!"
The pronouncement puts enough scare into Flim to propel his mouthful of cider into Flam's face.
"Come on, brother, we've got to pick up the pace!" Flim exclaims with panic, shook his brother.
"Right, uh, double the power!" Flam said.
They then beam from their horns kick the machine into overdrive, sending sparks up through the vacuum tubes and flinging the vacuum nozzle towards the tree. It sucks up a fresh load of apple handily enough, but the power boost causes it to pull the entire tree as well. Rotten apples, leaves, twigs, mulch all are swiftly rejected at the inspection station, causing the twins to panic.
"We've got to try something else!" Flim said.
"I've got it, brother of mine!" Flam said with an idea.
A press of a red button shuts off the automatic inspector inside of the machine. Every junk to hit the conveyors get passed along and winds up in the reservoirs. Nasty looking barrels are then shot out of the machine along to the stack of other cider that was made. Mario was watching this happen and it got him confused.
'Don't tell me that their going to make the cider for ponies looking like that?' Mario mentally questions.
"Well done, Flam! We're at top productivity!" Flim said with a smile.
They trade knee/hoof high five as the crowd cheers. Over the cider press, Rainbow Dash is so distracted by the news that she's about to hover off when Storm Hawk stops her.
"Forget it, it's not worth it!" Storm Hawk told her. "There's no point in winning if we cheat! We just got to work harder!"
"He's right, Rainbow!" Comet agrees when he and Daylight finishes another batch. "All they care about is making a quick bit, their arrogance and faith in their machine will be their downfall."
"Tag out with me and Big Mac, we'll handle the apple pressing!" Storm Hawk said as Big Mac nods.
They both nodded and swapped out with Storm Hawk and Big Mac, running faster than the two while using his lightning element, creating more cider while they assisted with the others.
At this point, everypony worked as fast as they could, even if they're tired from it all and gave their all. Which it's a pretty close call, the barrels all stacked pretty evenly. Time was almost up as Spike got a worried look. The machine keeps hovering up the trees to fill the mechanism with slop, while Applejack and Buttercup bucks for all their worth and both Fluttershy and Winter Breeze does their aerial agility. Apple Bloom, Apple Shine, Pinkie Pie, and Rose Lotus hurry across the grove with full baskets on their heads, giving Rarity, Golden Charm, and Mario sorting operation no shortage of raw material. Storm Hawk and Big Mac keep the press whirling at insane amount of speed. Spike covers his eyes as the sand keeps draining. Flim and Flam take it easy on the couch. Levitating a few more barrels onto Apples stack, Twilight throws a split-second glance to Applejack, who returns a fierce one of her own. Spike uncovers one eye as the last few grains slip through the neck of the hourglass.
"Time's up!" Mayor Mare announces.
Everypony who's working then flops to the ground with everypony who's past the fence cheering to themselves. Mayor Mare starts to count barrels.
"I'm proud of you, Applejack." Twilight said in exhaustion.
"Thanks." Applejack thanked her, panting heavily as she turns to Apple Shine. "Apple Shine...I'm mite proud of ya, sugarcube."
"Thanks, Ma." Apple Shine said with an exhaust smile as Mayor Mare finishes counting.
"It appears to be a tie!" Mayor Mare announces.
"WHAT?!" Flim and Flam exclaimed, highly shocked as they didn't even pay attention to how much both sides produced.
"A tie?" Applejack repeats. "T-Then who wins?"
Both Flim and Flam looked at each other and smirked, knowing a surefire way to tell who wins.
"We have an idea. We'll have three random judges test each one, and the one with the most votes win." Flim and Flam said in unison.
"Fair enough." Apple Shine said, stands up.
While the others finished resting, Kronk grabbed one of the barrels from their side while Flim and Flam levitated the topmost and 'freshest' batch. Mayor mare chooses the random judges in the audience as both sides poured three separate mugs. The first judge is a health inspector who goes as Diesel, a Pegasus named Jetstream who's also a health inspector, and Bon Bon. Apple Shine and Flim approached the three ponies, which he smirking, already claiming victory when he's oblivious to all the twigs and rocks in his mugs held in his aura.
"How about the losing team goes first, knowing that the BEST cider, which you claimed to be ours yesterday, will obviously win?" Flim gloated, ignored by the Texan filly.
"I wouldn't count it, ya brainless loafer." Apple Shine said, gave out the Sweet Apple Acres cider to the judges as they took a sip.
"Mmmm! This is the perfect last years!" Bon Bon said with a smile.
"This cider tastes really good, ma'am." Jetstream told her. "Sure made my day."
"Which makes me want to have another." Diesel states.
"Yes, yes, their cider is 'acceptable'." Flim interrupted, bumping Apple Shine aside as he replaced the judges empty mugs. "But, as Apple Shine suggested, ours is far better because it's lot more fresh! Have a taste, and you'll see just how true it is!"
The judges stared at the mug, which they noticed a floating bits of tree in the liquid, smelling more like mud than cider. Diesel and Jetstream made an agreement as they pushes the mugs aside, which Flim is confused.
"Sorry, but we refuse to take a sip." Diesel told him. "Because this mug of cider is sick and inhumane! As well as threatening to take a family business!"
"What ever do you mean?" Flim asks with a smug.
"I wanted to know about this myself." Apple Shine said with her raised eyebrow.
Diesel then slams a newspaper article as Flim looks at it, shocked when he saw a picture of him and his twin brother smirking triumphantly with loads of bits as the Apples were in the picture devastated.
"'FLIM AND FLAM CHEAT WITH A MACHINE!' 'TASK MASTERS ATTEMPT TO TAKE OVER THE FAMILY BUSINESS!'" Flim reads the articles. "'FLIM AND FLAM BROTHERS MASTERMINDS THREATEN APPLES FOR SWEET APPLE ACRES FOR A COMPETITION IN EXCHANGE SO THEY CAN RAKE IN THE DOUGH LIKE BUFFOONS?!'"
"WHAT?!" Flim and Flam shouts in shock.
"Uh oh, somepony's in trouble!" Apple Shine said with a smirk.
"T-This isn't fair! Y-You must've cheated!" Flim exclaimed.
"I did know such a thing, you loafer. You two are big cheatin' swindling weasels!" Apple Shine retorted, points at him and Flam. "Both of y'all are so focused on winnin' and tryin' to kick mah family out of their farm that you forget one thing you should've paid attention to: Quality control! We saw you decided to speed up your hunk of junk to get more apples, but you ending up sucking out at least two dozen tree out of the roots, destroying the apples. So, what do you do next? You flip a little switch on that vacuum to make it accept anything that isn't fresh and ripe, turning the cider into a big mess!"
"We have other barrels of better cider!" Flam said, began tossing the barrels that were made with the cocktail of earth water, pointing his hoof at the now lesser amounts of cider. "See?! Our better cider right here!"
Flim face-hooved, knowing that the twin brothers won't be able to win back the crowd with their inventory dwindled to only twenty barrels and showing they cared more about winning and earning bits than caring about giving their customers quality beverages. As Flim looked up at the crowd of ponies, he chuckled nervously, stretching out the collar of his shirt as he began to sweat.
"Well, given that not only that you true colors revealed, but you also took out the bad cider. That means we won the bet." Apple Shine said with a smirk, earned his attention. "So, Sweet Apple Acres stays as Ponyville's cider provider, but you two sidewinders aren't off the hook. Ma! You think these two gutless, brainless, heartless, sidewinders should compensate for not only destroying our property, but also destroying our families legacy? The same legacy that was founded this town and built it from the ground up since Granny Smith was younger?"
Apple Shine, Flim, and Flam turned to the others, all of them having caught their breath as they held the same smirk she has.
"Oh, Ah believe they should." Applejack answered.
"They did steal one of our apple trees yesterday, and they uprooted a couple of dozen healthy trees in our orchard." Buttercup adds.
"And before the two of ya try to weasel your way out of a historical fact, our Ma really was there when Ponyville was built." Bright Mac told the twins.
"But, Ah don't think ya might have any bits on ya account of that fancy little machine of yours that caused more trouble than it did help." Applejack said, pondered as she thought hard about how the twins could pay them back. She then turns to the three unicorn foals, her grin widened as she found her idea. "Kids, ya know what to do."
Comet, Daylight, and Golden Charm nods as they began glowing their horns, using their magic to pull the screws, nuts, and bolts out of the machine while tearing it apart. After few minutes of dismembering the machine, the twins are shock with horror when their machine is now turned into scrap.
"This should be enough." Applejack said with a smirk.
Just as the twins were about to protest, the health inspectors grabs hold of them with Diesel using his magic.
"Boys, we're placing you under arrest for take the family properties." Diesel told them. "I think the Princess would have a word with the two of you."
The twins were flabbergasted as the two health inspectors dragged them away, but to add insult to injury, the 6 foals gave the twin brothers a raspberry. Applejack and her family were happy that Flim and Flam are going to be away for a long time, but the Sweet Apple Acres remains in Ponyville.
"But there's just one thing I don't get." Applejack said in confusion, turns to Twilight. "Who excatly called the Health Inspectors?"
"Actually, that will be me." Mario told her, earned their attention. "I sent a letter and the newspaper article regarding your concern and led them here to help you. Everypony knows that health inspectors are suppose to be here to taste the product before something is done."
Applejack was shocked as were the rest of the group before they gave him teary smiles.
"Ya did all of this for me? For us?" Applejack asked as Mario smiled with a nod before he was taken by a surprise as she hugged him with tears falling from her face. "You're the most sweet, kind, loving, caring stallion I've ever met, Mario."
Mario smiled and hugs his sister back when Twilight came up and hugged him.
"You really are the most caring stallion to help anypony I've met, Mario." Twilight said sweetly as she kissed him on a cheek, making him blushed before the Apple Family hugged him.
"Plus, we can have high quality Apple family cider!" Caramel said, points to the high mountain of barrels.
"Not only that, but we've also got scrap metal to sell." Apple Shine adds.
"Because of this silly competition, we've made enough of our cider for the entire town!" Apple Bloom adds as the crowd of ponies cheered as Applejack recited.
'Dear Princess Celestia,
I wanted to share my thoughts with you...I didn't learn anythin'! Ha! I was right all along! If you take your time to do things the right way, your work will speak for itself. Sure I could tell you I learned something about how my friends are always there to tell me, and I can count on them no matter what, but truth is, I knew that already too.'
While the Cider Season has reached to an end, everypony had all paid for their mug of cider and some scrap, no one went home disgruntled and crabby without one drink. Even Rainbow Dash finally got her cider after so long, but she didn't savor it like the rest, she just nearly swallow the entire mug along with the beverage. As the night was setting, Apple Shine and Mario helped Big Mac drag the cider presser back in the barn for further use next year Cider Season. After covering the hoof powered machine with a trap, they're about to back to the farmhouse when Applejack came up to them, rolling a barrel of cider along the way.
"Huh? An extra barrel of cider." Apple Shine said, confused. "I don't get it."
"Well, we really went overboard with making the cider. But next time, we're gonna invite our friends to help us make a lot of cider so we won't keep disappointin' everypony again." Applejack told her. "So, as thanks for helpin' us with them Flim-Flam Brothers, Ah think ya deserve to have the last barrel."
"Huh? Me?" Apple Shine said surprisingly, earned a nod from her as she rolls the barrel in front of her daughter. "...Should I after the other day?"
"Even after ya said their cider was better, ya stuck with our family's instead." Applejack explains. "Besides, Ah'm sure your friends would want some, too."
Apple Shine was utterly speechless, but nods as she hugs to her mother.
"Now, hurry and hide that cider before Rainbow smells it and chugs the whole thing down." Applejack suggests as they break a hug. "Dinner's almost ready, and we don't wanna start without you."
Apple Shine nods as she quickly hides the barrel of cider next to the cider presser, and walk up to her family to the farmhouse.
That's it for the 18th chapter.