Chapter 77: Super Easy Cider Squeezy 6000
It was early the next morning after everyone had returned home, even Rarity and Pinkie got back home in time as it was getting dark, though he had to break up a serious'y deadly fight between Rainbow Dash and Rarity as the white unicorn mare was trying to kill Rainbow Dash for abandoning them. Spyro was asleep in bed, enjoying a nice dream and mumbling in his sleep, the light just cracking into his room, not enough to wake him up, but just enough to lighten the room up a bit. The door to his room suddenly opened, slowly and creaky as the two fillies looked in, sneaking into his room with a couple of pot lids with them and they crept closer to his bed, looking up and hearing him still snoring.
"Oh AJ, that looks lovely on you." Spyro mumbled to himself. "Really brings out your eyes."
The yellow filly giggled as she got ready to bang the lids together while Scootaloo just gagged, picking hers up as she got ready to bang the lids together.
"You sure this will work?" Scootaloo asked, whispering to not wake her brother up.
"Oh, it'll work." Apple Bloom whispered back. "Ah use to do this to mah brother if he overslept. Get's him every time."
The two fillies got ready and raised the lids to slam them together, both of the fillies giggling as they got ready, smacking the lids together hard enough and loud enough to make him yelp if fright, flailing out of bed and falling on his head on the hard wooden floor.
"Wakey, Wakey Spyro!" Apple Bloom shouted. "It's Cider Season!"
Spyro squinted his tired eyes open and his ears ringing from the headache he now has from hitting his head, seeing the two fillies beaming grins. He then reached out and poked the fillies muzzles repeatedly, making them giggle as he did.
"Where's the snooze button on you two?" Spyro asked.
"Spyro, ya gotta get up!" Apple Bloom said. "It's Cider season!"
She was about to slam the lids again, but Spyro used the Force and lifted the lids in the air, making her hit her hooves together and making her yelp.
"I'm already awake, you don't need to do that again." Spyro said, getting up. "But what's Cider season?"
"Applejack can tell ya down stairs." Apple Bloom replied. "Big Mac is getting the press ready to go and granny has already gotten the best apples ready to make the best cider in all of Equestria!"
"Well, guess I better get hoping then." Spyro said, getting up off the floor. "And the next time, just shake me awake instead of hitting a couple of pot lids together. Otherwise I'll give you a wake up call of my own. Besides, you both are just as bad as that monkey with the cymbals."
"We are?" Scootaloo asked.
"Yeah, but you both are far cuter than those freaky things." Spyro said.
He then picked Scootaloo up and started screeching like a chimpanzee while the two fillies laughed and screamed in delight as he messed with them. After having his fun with the fillies, he walked down the stairs with them on his back and outside where he saw the rest of the Apple family in an open and empty field, Big Mac was walking on a treadmill that seemed to make the rolling press move and squish the apples that Granny Smith picked out and put into the machines to let them get squished, releasing the cider from the apples into a barrel where the liquid is stored. Applejack took the full barrel of cider and replaced it with a new one, taking it over to the other barrels, making an even couple dozen before she noticed him coming outside witht he fillies on his back.
"Mornin' Spyro." Applejack said.
"Morning AJ." Spyro replied, giving her a peck on the cheek. "From what I heard from the little alarm clock on my back, it's Cider Season."
"Ya betcha." Applejack said. "Cider Season is when we sell our special brew of Apple Cider, which by the way, is some of the best tasting in all of Equestria. Basically, most of our profits comes from selling our Apple Cider, besides the Zap Apples, which Ah wanted to thank both you and Rosy as yer help in collecting the Zap Apples as we made a bit more this year than we did last year."
She then walked over to the cider press with a couple of mugs, pouring the contents from the press into the mugs and walked over to him with them, giving Scootaloo one mug while giving the other to Spyro, wanting them to taste it for themselves. Spyro used his magic to levitate the to his muzzles and took a sip when his taste buds suddenly started to dance the merry jig, his eyes widening at how tasty it was and took a hug mouthful and savored the taste before swallowing it, feeling like he had found heaven in a glass.
"WOW!" Spyro shouted. "That's good!"
"Ah knew you'd like it." Apple Bloom said, hoping off while Scootaloo drank her mug. "We make this every year for a week, but we never have enough for everypony in town."
"Why's that?" Spyro asked.
"Pinkie Pie, that's why." Applejack replied. "Every year, she buys a large percentage of the cider we make, drinking her fill before wasting the rest."
"Well, let's limit her to a single barrel then." Spyro suggested.
"We don't sell the entire barrel sugarcube." Applejack said. "We sell cider by the mug, everypony always buys a single mug, but Pinkie always buys a large amount. Everypony in Equestria lines up at the stand we set up at the road just to have a taste of the cider we make."
"So, we'll limit her on a single mug then." Spyro said. "Plus, why don't you make more than just a dozen barrels at a time?"
"Are ya plum crazy!?" Granny Smith asked. "Our cider is made with love and care, making the greatest cider yer tongue could ever taste! One bad apple is all it takes to ruin the quality of the cider we make. Better to have less of something good than to have more of something that tastes bad."
"Quality over quantity, no complaints here." Spyro said, finishing the mug of cider.
After the last barrel was filled up, Spyro helped Applejack and Big Macintosh carry the barrels to the stand near the road, but when they got their, they all stared in surprise to see that there was a line of tents along the route towards the farm. Spyro soon realized that the cider was sounding more like an addictive beverage than just a tasty drink everypony would come just to try. A moment later, Rosy walked up past the line and towards the three of them right as Big Mac went to fetch more barrels, both Spyro and Applejack waving to her as she approached.
"Morning Rosy." Spyro said.
"Mornin' sweetie." Applejack said, giving her a hug.
"Sweetie?" Spyro asked. "You seemed to have adjusted better than I did when I first learned she was my daughter."
"Well why shouldn't Ah?" Applejack said, walking over to him and hugging him. "We may not be her real parents, but she is our daughter nonetheless."
"Too true AJ." Spyro said, hugging her. "Too true."
While the two of them were hugging one another, Rainbow Dash flew in and her jaw dropped when she saw the line, groaning as she flew down.
"Are you kidding me!?" She shouted. "I woke up early in the morning to have a chance to get some cider and everypony else has the idea to camp out in front of the stand!?" A moment later, the pony out of the first tent near the stand was revealed to be Pinkie, whose mane was frazzled before shaking it back to its puffy style. "Pinkie!?"
"Oh, hi Dashie!" Pinkie said.
"Who are all these ponies!?" Rainbow Dash asked. "And why are you at the front of the line again!?"
"Isn't exciting!?" Pinkie asked. "I couldn't sleep last night because of all the yummy cider I get to drink today because it's CIDER SEASON! So I got the idea to camp out last night and I told a few others and they all thought it was a great idea, so we all camped out last night and had a big old CIDER PARTY!" The party mare then looked back and saw the massive line of ponies behind her, whistling at the number of tents there were. "Wow, that's a lot of ponies. Hopefully you get some cider before they run out." With that comment, Rainbow Dash started to growl at Pinkie, her face turning from blue to red right as everyone else came out of their tents, the pink party pony walking up to the stand with a big bag of bits. "I'd like three dozen mugs of cider please."
"Hold on there Pinkie, might want to save those for later." Spyro said, surprising her. "We're limiting everyone's ability to purchase cider to a single mug."
"But-but it's so good." Pinkie said, giving him the puppy dog eyes.
"I know it is Pinkie." Spyro said, walking over and hugging the sad mare. "I know. AJ gave me a taste of the remaining cider from the press. But this year, we got some rules so everypony has a chance to get some. And Rainbow, you may want to get to the back of the line before it gets worse, otherwise you'll miss out on some of the cider."
He then turned his head and nodded at Applejack, the orange farm mare taking a megaphone and placing it in front of them stand where everypony was waiting in line for their chance to get a mug of cider.
"Welcome everypony!" Applejack said into the megaphone. "Before we begin Cider Season, Ah have a few ground rules for this year so everypony has a chance to get some cider! The first rule is, and Ah know ya'll are gonna hate it, is that everypony is limited to one mug per customer." Immediatly, there were some groans coming from the crowd as they were probably planning on hoarding as much of it as possible. "Ah know, doesn't sound fair, but this is to make sure everypony gets at least one mug of cider this year. Rule two, if ya already got your mug of cider, that'll be it until everypony else has had a taste, no exceptions! And if ya even think about trying to sneak in for a second mug, Spyro will be watchin' ya as he has a good memory and will remember if ya had some cider or not. With that, Ah officially declare Cider season OPEN!"
As she said it, Pinkie was the first to walk up and was about to put the bits on the stand, but then looked over to Spyro, who was watching everyone as he knew there were going to be some ponies who will try to sneak around the new rules, so she sadly took out s few bits and put them on the table, Apple Bloom pulling the lever and poured out some cider into the mug, marking Pinkie down as having gotten her mug. The line then started to move as everypony walked up and paid for their mug of cider, going through the barrels as the sun ascended into the sky and many ponies who came to get themselves some cider went home very pleased, some of which were from Ponyville. Twilight, Spike, and Rarity were in the line and got their cider as more ponies came, however, their current supply of Cider was down to the last barrel, a few more ponies able to pay for the cider when it Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash walked up, which Fluttershy managed to pay for her mug and walked away right as Rainbow Dash slammed her bits on the table, panting like a thirsty dog, but when Apple Bloom pulled the lever, it sputtered a bit, but nothing came out as the last barrel was empty.
"Seriously!?" Rainbow Dash shouted. "You're out again!? Why am I not surprised! Every time I get to the front, you run out."
"Rainbow, calm down." Spyro said.
"Calm down!?" She shouted. "Calm down!? Every year they run out of Cider. Even with the new rules, they run out."
The entire crowd then started to complain, agreeing with Rainbow Dash as they shouted at the apple family, both Spyro and Rosy were infuriated with how everyone was acting, venting their anger on the farm ponies who were doing their best to supply everyone with some cider, so Spyro changed into his dragon form and let out a mighty roar, silencing everyone at once.
"Listen, I know all of you are unhappy that the cider ran out, but venting your anger on those who make it won't help them to restock any faster." Spyro said, returning into his pony form. "Good cider, tasty cider takes time to make, time and hard labor, labor that we put into it to make sure you all have a chance to get a taste before the season ends." As he was talking, he could see that some of the ponies who yelled at them looked guilty, regretting what they said. "Apple family cider is the kind of cider which takes time and love to make, so let's all just be calm and patient. We'll have more cider for you tomorrow at the same time, with the same rules."
A moment later, he then heard what sounded like some kind of machine heading their way, everyone looking in the direction that the noise was coming from, seeing a machine that looked like it was moving on it's own. The device looked to be some kind of collector with some kind of electrical device that seemed to run off of magic, moving their direction until it bumped into the fence, making it tilt and earning a glare from Granny Smith. On a comfy looking couch that was put onto the device were what appeared to be twin unicorn stallions as they looked identical by how they looked and what they wore.
They both had pale yellow coats with red and white striped manes and both wore blue and white striped shirts with black bow ties and with matching hats, making them look like they were apart of a barbershop quartet that split off from it's other two members for some unknown reason. The only major things that seperated them was that they each had a different hairstyle, different cutie marks, and one of them was sporting a mustache, which the mustached pony had a cutie mark that looked like a whole apple with a slice missing form it while the other had the missing slice. Spyro could sense that something was wrong with them as he felt their greed and dark thoughts right as music started to play
[Flim]
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]
That the key that they need to solve this sad cider shortage you and I will share
The ponies then started to talk with excitement in their voices as they approached the brothers, excited at the prospect of getting cider at last while Spyro, Rosy, and the rest of the apple family was weary of the two brothers, both Spyro and Rosy more weary than the rest.
[Flim and Flam]
Well you've got opportunity
In this very community
[Flam]
He's Flim
[Flim]
He's Flam
[Flim and Flam]
We're the world famous Flim Flam Brothers
Traveling salesponies nonpareil
"Nonpa-what?" Spyro asked, clearly confused by the word as the pony without a mustache, Flim, approached him.
[Flim]
Nonpareil, and that's exactly the reason why, you see,
No pony else in this whole place will give you such a chance to be where you need to be.
He then picked Apple Bloom up and gave her a peck on her head forehead.
And that's a new world, with tons of cider, fresh squeezed and ready for drinking
[Flam]
More cider than you could drink in all your days of thinking
"I doubt that." Rainbow Dash said skeptically.
[Flim and Flam]
So take this opportunity
[Flim, Flam, and Crowd]
In this very community
[Flam]
He's Flim
[Flim]
He's Flam
[Flim and Flam]
We're the world famous Flim Flam Brothers
Traveling salesponies
[Flim, Flam, and Crowd]
Nonpareil
[Flim]
I suppose by now you're wondering 'bout our peculiar mode of transport
[Flam]
I say, our mode of locomotion
[Flim]
And I suppose by now you're wondering, where is this promised cider?
[Flam]
Any horse can make a claim and any pony can do the same
[Flim]
But my brother and I have something most unique and superb
Unseen at any time in this big new world
[Flim and Flam]
And that's opportunity
[Flim]
Folks, it's the one and only, the biggest and the best
[Flam]
The unbelievable
[Flim]
Unimpeachable
[Flam]
Indispensable
[Flim]
I-can't-believe-able
[Flim and Flam]
Flim Flam Brothers' Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000
Though everyone was excited to see their machine in action, Spyro could sense their true intentions through the Force, both he and Rosy knowing that these two had something else in mind. They may have apple related cutie marks, but they were not part of Applejack's extended family as he knew they were all earth ponies, so these two were not exactly the kind to help others out without something in return while also having a bad feeling about them as these two together were more like tricksters and con artists than honest business ponies.
"What d'you say, brother?" Flim asked, standing next to the prince, the young prince leering at him.
[Crowd]
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 miss, I would be ever so 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 our little demonstration here?" Flim asked.
"Uh, sure, I guess." Applejack replied, though she was unsure about the amount of attention the brothers were getting.
[Crowd]
Opportunity, in our community
[Flam]
Ready, Flim?
[Flim]
Ready, Flam?
[Flim and Flam]
Let's bing bang zam!
The brothers then started to charge their horns up with their magic, a green aura surrounding their horns and shot a beam of magic into the machine, bringing it to life.
[Flim]
And show these thirsty ponies a world of delectable cider!
The crowd then began to chant cider over and over again as the machine got to work, Rainbow Dash more convinced that the machine will get her the cider she desired. The funnel on the device automatically then moved to the nearest apple tree and immediately started to suck the apples into the tube and through the cider making contraption.
"Watch closely, my friends!" Flim said.
[Flam]
The fun begins!
"Now, here's where the magic happens." Flim said, walking up the machine. "Right here in this heaving, roiling, cider-press-boiling guts of the very machine, those apples plucked fresh are right now as we speak being turned into grade-A, top-notch, five-star, blow-your-horseshoes-off, one-of-a-kind cider!"
[Flam]
Feel free to take a sneak peek!
The ponies then started to crowd the machine and instantly were sold on the idea of the machine making the cider, but all glared at Spyro as he got in front of it.
[Spyro]
Now hold it, wait a second!
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!
[Flim]
Well now sir, 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 took a cup from the machine and poured the contents of it into the glass, handing it to Spyro, who looked down at it and just rolled his eyes, drinking it just to humor them, but his eyes suddenly widened, surprised t find that it was actually good, but failed to hide the shocked expression from the brothers as they smiled, sensing their dark intentions right there and then as he slid the mug back onto the cart.
[Flam]
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 then started to chant again, watching as the machine made more cider
"What do you think, folks?" Flim asked. "Do you see what the hybrid and Apples can't?" Spyro then looked back to the apple family and besides Apple Bloom and Scootaloo who were enjoying, the adults looked as worried as he did. "I see it clear as day! I know she does! So does he! C'mon, Ponyville, you know what I'm talking about!"
[Flim and Flam]
We're saying you've got
[Flim, Flam, and Crowd]
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]
Yeah
Suddenly, Apple Bloom bolted past Spyro and towards the brothers, looking very excited.
"You got a deal!" She said.
"Hold on their Apple Bloom." Spyro said, pulling her away. "No way do we have a deal!"
"And you are?" Flam asked, looking unamused.
"Name's Spyro." He answered. "And I work with the Apple's and live with them. There is no way we have a deal."
"I agree." Rosy said, walking up.
"But Spyro, with their machine, we can make lots more cider for everypony here!" Apple Bloom said.
"Yeah, it's way easier and much faster." Scootaloo added.
"The easiest and fastest way isn't always the right way." Spyro replied. "Besides, these two give me the creeps."
"Well, are either of you two apples?" Flam asked, which Spyro was about to answer, but he just walked past them without getting an answer. "Of course you aren't. You're a hybrid, and as you said, you only work here for the actual boss, like all hybrids should."
"Why you little...!" Rosy said, Spyro having to restrain her.
"Like I was saying, before I was rudely interrupted." Flim said. "How would like our assistance in making the cider young miss?"
"...Ah don't know." Applejack replied. "We've always made the same way every year, taking our time and making sure it tastes good, not fast."
"Well, how about we sweeten the deal?" Flim suggested. "You supply us with the apples, and we'll supply our Super Easy Cider Squeezy 6000!"
"And we'll throw in the magic needed to power it free of charge." Flam added.
"And we split the sweet, sweet profits 75-25." They both said at the same time.
"Wait, who get's the 75?" Applejack asked.
"Why us of course!" Flim answered.
The Apple Family gasped at the answer as the deal was unfair and could bankrupt the ranch, putting them all on the street without a home while the brothers would just benefit from them loosing the farm, possibly buying them out and hiring them just for minimum wage.
"No deal!" Spyro exclaimed, getting in front of the family. "The Apple family depends on the sales from both Cider season and Zap Apple season. If they agree to this deal, they'll be out on the street while you would benefit from this with your lazy contraption!"
"Like he said, the fastest way isn't the best way." Rosy added, walking up next to him.
"Well our 'lazy contraption' as you put it, costs quite a lot to build and maintain." Flam said. "We paid for the parts, the prototypes and having to pay some of the workers to help us build them. Not to mention maintenance fees for this lovely, and you need our magic just to power it up. So, 75% of profits is more than fair, wouldn't you agree?"
"Not if it means an entire family will be homeless!" Spyro replied, still enraged by their outrageous proposition.
"Are you really going to let this hybrid make deals for you?" He asked Applejack, ignoring Spyro, but Applejack looked annoyed with him for his comment. "So Apples, do we have a deal?"
The earth ponies all looked at each other, taking Spyro's words into consideration and silently agreeing.
"No deal." Big Mac said, the entire family standing next to Spyro.
"Very well then." Flim said, not sounding disappointed in their failed business deal. "Since you refused our generous deal, that makes us rivals then."
"There is nothing generous about your deal pal." Spyro said, glaring at them.
"Fear not everypony!" Flam said, on the machine. "There will be plenty of Apple Cider for you tomorrow!"
Flim then walked back to their machine, but then turned around, a dark smile creeping on his face as he looked to them.
"If I were you, I'd quit and find another job." Flim said. "By this time tomorrow, we'll be running Sweet Apple Acres out of business."
The brothers then left, leaving the Apple Family in complete shock at the threat, but Spyro and Rosy were both enraged by the threat as both of their eyes turned into Sith eyes, watching them leave as they felt instant hate towards them. He wanted to reach out with the Force and Force Slam that contraption of theirs into the ground, busting it to pieces, but it would probably only cause more trouble for the Apples and himself, despite his royal title as the family would become bankrupt trying to pay for the damages. On the road, the brothers were laughing to themselves as they were already concocting a plan to ruin the Apple Family and their two friends, celebrating their success of winning the town over when Flam noticed Midnight on the side of the road, who used her magic and lifted the contraption up in a purple aura, surprising the brothers as their machine stopped and was then set down, the dark unicorn walking up to them.
"I do apologize for doing that." She said. "But it was the only way to get you two to stop."
"I must say, you have yourself some strong magic there miss." Flim said. "Who are you?"
"My name is Midnight Sky." She replied. "And I have a proposition that you could benefit from."
The next morning, Spyro was up and helping the Apple Family make more cider, but they made fewer barrels than they did yesterday, the pressure and fear of the Flim Flam brothers threatening to put them out of business got to the family, even Spyro was fearful for his mare friend and her family. Their farm has a century long lineage that dated back to the founding of Ponyville and he wasn't going to let those two shady twins ruin it just to make a quick buck. As they got the cider down to the stand, Applejack noticed how irritated Spyro looked, his eyes were still Sith as he felt his rage towards the twins build inside of himself.
"Sugarcube, you ok?" Applejack asked, snapping him out of his thoughts, returning his eyes to normal.
"Well... I don't know." Spyro replied, looking to the ground. "What the brothers said, about running you guys out of business, I think I'm letting it get to me."
"I know you're worried about us Spyro, but don't be." Applejack said, kissing him on the cheek. "We'll be ok. They aren't gonna run us oughta business."
Applejack then went back to the stand and was getting ready to open it again when he saw everyone but Rainbow Dash walk over to him.
"Hey Spyro!" Pinkie said.
"Hey Pinkie." Spyro replied, not his usually chipper self.
"Is something wrong?" Fluttershy asked
"It's those brothers." Spyro replied, looking to the Apples. "What they said is making me worry."
"Ah don't worry Spyro." Spike said. "Granny Smith said they were only blowing hot air."
"I wish they were." Spyro replied. "I could sense their intentions. They mean to drive the orchard out of business."
"Spyro, you are worrying too much." Twilight said. "It's innovation, you gotta admit, it's a good idea. It could really help them make a lot more cider for everypony."
"Not with the deal they made." Spyro replied. "75-25, three quarters of the Apples profit would go to them, and they would be bankrupt, giving them the chance to buy Sweet Apple Acres and run it to the ground, destroying a one-hundred year old legacy." He looked to last barrel and watched as Big Mac put it on the stand, Apple Bloom filling up another mug with Scootaloo taking over when she got tired. "We made even less cider than we did yesterday. That last barrel won't be able to satisfy this whole line. And I have a feeling we haven't heard the last of those fast talking unicorn twins."
As he predicted it, the barrel ran dry a few minutes later, using up the last of the small supply they had made.
"Sorry everypony." Applejack said. "That's it for today."
"OH COME ON!" Rainbow Dash shouted, flying in the air as she was a mile away from them.
"Ah Karabast." Spyro said. "This is a complete nightmare. The cider is more addictive than most of the drugs back at my home world that they can't get enough of. Not to mention that-"
"Mention what?" Applejack asked, walking up to them. "Is it about Flim and Flam?"
"AJ, I don't want to hurt your feelings, or your family." Spyro replied. "But their cider, it was delicious actually. Probably better than yours." He could sense the hurt in her heart and immediately walked up, hugging her. "But despite how good theirs was, yours is even better as I know it is made with love and hard work. That's what makes it taste better to me."
Applejack smiled at him, hugging him back as she felt relieved that he found their to be better than those con artists, but they then heard the sound of that machine again, everyone turning to see the unicorn twins were returning and purposefully ran over the post they damaged earlier, making his temper flare.
"Seriously!?" Spyro shouted. "I just fixed that thing you dim witted con artists!"
"Oh, sorry." Flim said, his apology being sarcastic. "But it seems you have run out of cider."
"Fear not!" Flam said. "We have some ready made Apple Cider for all of you! Who would like a cup!?"
The entire crowd then ran towards the brothers, who had a glass ready for the entire town, but as soon as they poured the first cup, Spyro could smell that the brew was familiar and immediately knew what they had done. As Rainbow Dash got the first glass, she was about to drink it when she heard someone shout something and looked to her right, Spyro's Keyblade slicing through the glass as it ricocheted off the tree and into the back of the machine, destroying the barrels they had before the blade returned to his side.
"NO!" Rainbow Dash shouted, the cider she had soaking into the ground, so she tried shoveling it into her mouth as she tried to get the cider she wanted. "Ish thish a cruel joke?"
"What just happened!?" Flim asked, looking into the back of the machine. "Our cider!"
"You mean the cider you stole!" Spyro exclaimed, walking through the crowd as the bowed to him, confusing the brothers. "You two stole those apples from Sweet Apple Acres!"
"How dare you accuse us of theft!" Flam said. "How do you even know it was us!?"
"By the tracks your machine made." Spyro replied, making everyone look to the tracks. "I saw a set of wheel tracks in the south orchard along with some apple trees without any apples. Not to mention the magical aura there was similar to yours and a set of hoof prints was left behind, which your hooves are dirty, matching the prints there."
The brothers looked down at their hooves, noticing that Flim had dirty hooves, busting them on the spot as they looked up to the hybrid, surprised at how he put everything together.
"Wow, you're like Sherlock Holmes!" Scootaloo said, making everyone look at her in confusion. "What? Spyro told me and Apple Bloom about a pony who was the greatest detective where he lives."
"Ok, you got us." Flam said.
"But fear not!" Flim shouted. "There are plenty more than all of Ponyville could drink!"
Everyone cheered after hearing it, but storm clouds gathered above them and lightning was charging up, ready to destroy the machine, but Applejack put her hoof on his shoulder, calming him down.
"Let them blow their hot air." Applejack said. "This here is Sweet Apple Acre's Cider territory. The quality of our cider will always best quantity."
"Oh, care to make a little wager on that?" Flim asked, drawing everyone's attention. "I'd wager we can make enough cider for the whole town in one hour!"
"Ah'll bet we can make more than you can!" Apple Bloom said, Granny Smith trying to get her to be quiet.
"Easy Apple Bloom." Granny Smith said. "It's about quality, not quantity."
"What's a matter old timer, chicken?" Flim asked, getting under her skin.
"What was that sonny?" Granny Smith said, instantly taking the bait.
"If you're so confident about your cider, why so scared to put your money where your mouth is?" Flim asked.
"TOMORROW MORNING!" Granny Smith shouted. "Right here in the orchard. You can use the southern orchard, as you've already taken apples from it!"
"Then it's a bet." Flam said. "Whoever makes the most cider in one hour, wins the exclusive right to sell cider in Ponyville and will own all of Sweet Apple Acres."
Everyone gasped at what they heard, even Spyro felt chills run up his spine as he realized what they were doing, trying to rush towards the old mare to prevent her from accepting the bet, knowing they wanted to take ownership and destroy the family legacy.
"It's a bet!" Granny Smith said, shaking his hoof. "And when we win, Ah don't want to see you bambaloozelers here again!"
"Then we bid you, good day." Flim said, using their magic to back it up.
Spyro was glaring at the brothers, sensing that they were up to no good right as Rosy walked up, though she could see him, she could tell he was angry.
"Rosy, this is war." Spyro said, turning to look at her. "An attack on the family is an attack against us all. We'll need your help."
"Don't worry, just tell me what I need to do." Rosy replied, snorting.
The two of them walked over to Applejack, who looked very worried as she sat down, sighing in fear as she feared for the future of their farm.
"Don't worry AJ, we'll win." Spyro said, making her look up at him. "You have two Jedi on your side, they don't stand a chance."
"Thanks you guys." Applejack said, getting up and hugging them. "We could use all the help we can get. Because if we loose, we'll loose the farm."
"That won't happen." Spyro said. "This is a family matter. You're part of my herd, you're my responsibility. To protect and make happy. Anyone who goes after my family is going to get hurt, severely hurt."
"Just tell me what I can do to help mom." Rosy said, making sure they were out of earshot of the others. "I'll help out anyway I can."
The next morning, the entire family was ready to go to war against the unicorn twins, though Applejack told the two of them to stay out of it as their powers would give them an unfair advantage and would be called out for it. As it came time for the match, Flim and Flam arrived and this time missed the post, arriving at their given position as everyone in town arrived.
"You sure you don't need our help AJ?" Spyro asked.
"Sorry Spyro, with your fancy Force abilities and other magic, they'd call us out for cheating and win by default." Applejack said.
"AJ, honey." Spyro said, putting his forehead to hers. "I don't want you to loose your farm."
"Ah know." She replied, kissing him to try and comfort him. "All we can do is try our hardest. Machines can break, but we farm ponies are stubborn and won't back down."
"Attention!" Mayor Mare said, using the megaphone to get their attention. "Attention everypony! The competition is about to start. Will both teams head to their assigned areas!"
"Good luck AJ." Spyro said, kissing her for luck.
"Thanks hun." She replied. "We'll need it."
Applejack then walked to where her family was, Big Mac on the treadmill while Granny Smith sniffed the apples, making sure they were good. Spyro walked over to the rest of his friends, everyone watching as the completion was about to start, making them worry for their friends.
"Competitors, you have one hour to produce as much cider as you can." Mayor Mare said. "The team with the most cider wins. Are you ready?"
"We're ready!" Applejack said.
"We were born ready." Flim said, sipping his cup of cider before leaning back to the shadows where a pair of mismatched eyes were glowing in the darkness. "You sure their hybrid friend won't be apart of their team?"
"Trust me, the Apple Family pride themselves on their products and their competitive nature." Midnight replied, smiling, though they couldn't see it. "They'll want to win fair and square, so they'll keep him off the team to try and win. Their pride will be their undoing."
"Alright, on your marks!" Mayor Mare said, everyone getting ready. "Get set!" Applejack readied herself to knock some apples down while everyone else was prepared to do their part, Apple Bloom readying the barrel as Flim and Flam just laid back nonchalantly, sipping on their cider. "GO!"
Both teams then went to work making their cider, Flim and Flam using their magic to start their machine as the funnel got busy sucking up the apples in their area while Applejack started to knock down the apples from the first tree as Apple Bloom caught them in a basket she had on her head, the filly taking it to her grandmother as she sorted them out from rotten or bruised apples to good ones, putting the good ones into the press while Big Mac walked, crushing the apples as the liquid poured into the barrel. Once it was full, Apple Bloom put the lid on and smiled to herself, pleased with their progress.
"Alright, that's one full barrel!" Apple Bloom said, catching more apples. "Ah bet they don't have a single..." She then looked over and saw the brother's machine had popped out three barrels already, preparing a fourth one as they all starred in shock. "...One?"
They kept on going for about ten more minutes, the brothers machine way ahead of the apples as they produced fifteen barrels while the Apples had only produces five, making Spyro bite his hoof nails as his anxiety was peeking.
"Karabast!" Spyro exclaimed. "They're going to loose!"
"This is awful." Twilight said. "The apples are only one barrel compared to the brother's three, even at top speed." The lavender unicorn pondered a bit before looking to Mayor Mare, walking up to her. "Mayor Mare, is it alright for honorary family members to help them?"
"Well, I'm not sure." Mayor Mare replied. "Flim and Flam, do you object to honorary members to help?"
"Pfft, we don't care if all of Canterlot helps them." Flam replied, smiling smugly. "It's a lost cause."
"I guess it's ok." Mayor Mare said. "Applejack, what do you think?"
"Honestly, Ah'd love the rest of mah family to help out." Applejack replied.
Spyro smiled and nodded his head, turning to his friends as he knew what they were best at.
"Fluttershy, you help Applejack knock the apples down." Spyro said. "Shake them out of the trees. Rainbow, you're with Big Mac, help him to make the cider, take turns resting if you get tired. Twilight, keep track of all the barrels we make compared to theirs and put lids on any barrels that are full, put them with the rest. Pinkie, Scootaloo, help Apple Bloom catch apples as they fall, bring them to the sorting area. Rarity, Rosy, help Granny Smith sort the apples from good and bad. I'll help out however I can."
"Ha! What's a blind pony going to do to help!?" Flam shouted, laughing at them. "Pick the barrels up and..."
They watched as Rosy Hearts walked to her area, where there were several baskets full of apples there waiting to be sorted, so she sat down and closed her eyes, lifting her forelegs and making the apples float in the air, catching them completely off guard as she felt through the Force which ones were bad and what were good, throwing the bad ones away from the press and sending the good ones into it, Rainbow Dash taking over for Big Mac to let him rest as he put a new barrel under the faucet one after the other. Spyro then flew into the air and closed his eyes, lifting his hoof up as apples on the trees started to shake, pushing upward as apples were suddenly picked form the trees, moving them to the sorting area while Fluttershy and Applejack knocked some of the apples down, Pinkie and the fillies caught the apples, bring them to the sorting station as Rarity and Granny Smith sorted through the apples, increasing their production as Twilight used her magic to help Big Mac put lids n the barrels and putting them in a pile.
"Twilight, how are we doing?" Spyro asked.
"Based on these figures, we're making five barrels compared to their three." Twilight replied.
"WHAT!?" Flam exclaimed, shocked to hear that. "How is he doing that!? How is she sorting those apples!? She's blind!"
"Don't panic." Midnight said. "Keep to the plan and increase power by fifty percent, that will give you the advantage you need to win."
"Forget the plan!" Flim said. "Brother, we need to pick up the pace!"
"Right so brother!" Flam replied. "Double the power!"
The two unicorns then charged up their magic and instantly fired a beam of magic to the receptor, doubling the machines power as it suddenly sucked up the whole tree, destroying it and the apples.
"Idiots." Midnight said, her shadow disappearing as the brothers rushed to the viewing screen.
They watched as the apples they had gotten were in terrible condition, some with wood stuck in it, some with rocks and dirt, and others with bits of both, the machine dumping them as they came.
"Shoot, we're in trouble brother!" Flim said. "What do we do?"
"Wait, I have an idea." Flam replied. He turned the nob on the machine and instantly, all the bad apples were going through the machine, being made into cider. "There. We're back in business."
Spyro had finished getting more apples to the sorting area, turning around to see how the two con artists were doing and found they had changed their tactics, seeing they were making muck instead of good cider, smiling to himself as he knew the unicorn twins had just lost this competition. He then looked over to his friends and saw that Rainbow Dash and Big Mac were getting tired, so he flew down to relieve them, but not before Rainbow Dash saw what they did, growling at them.
"Why those dirty cheaters!" Rainbow Dash shouted.
"Forget them." Spyro said, flying down to them. "All they care about is making a quick bit, no matter what. They don't realize they have already lost as they put their faith into their machine. That will be their down fall. You two take some time and rest, I'll run for a while."
Then two of them nodded their heads, hopping off and allowed Spyro to hop on, running on the treadmill as more cider was being made, keeping ahead of the pace while not feeling tired while the two ponies took some time to rest. It was getting down to the wire as both teams seemed to be evenly matched in the number of barrels they had, the Apple team putting everything they had to making as much cider as they could while Flim and Flam looked anxious as they watched their opponents pile keep growing as much as their was, reaching over thirty five barrels each. A minute later, the last grain of sand fell out of the hour glass, indicating that the competition was over.
"Times up!" Mayor mare said. Both teams stopped their production of Cider, the unicorn twins turning their machine off while Spyro skidded to a stop, breathing heavily, but not collapsing as it was a basic workout for him while his friends all collapsed from exhaustion, even Rosy as her overuse of he Force drained her energy. Mayor Mare then walked to the piles of barrels each team seemed to have had, counting them while Spike tallied up the number of barrels the mayor was counting. "It appears we have a tie!"
"A tie!?" Applejack and the unicorn twins said at the same time.
"Then, how do we determine who the winner is?" Flim asked.
"Easy, a taste test." Spyro answered, smiling. "Each team takes the top barrel of their pile and presents its contents to three random ponies from the crowd. They will determine whose cider is superior and gets to sell their cider here in Ponyville."
"Hm, that's actually a good idea, from a hybrid." Flam said, the Apples and their friends glaring at them. "Very well, loosers first. Bring your barrel down and we'll see whose is better."
Spyro just smiled, walking to the pile of cider barrels they had while Mayor Mare picked out three ponies to judge who has the better cider. After getting the barrel, Spyro saw that the ponies who were going to be the judges were Bon Bon, a cream colored earth pony mare with a black and pink mane who owned a candy shop here in Ponyville, her friend Lyra, a green unicorn mare with white and pale green hair, and Cloud Chaser, who is a pale purple Pegasus with a light blue mane. the three judges walked to the table right as Spyro and Flim walked to them with their barrels, the arrogant unicorn smiling as he believed he has won. Spyro then poured three mugs of cider for the three ponies, which they licked their lips clean as they savored the tasty drink.
"Oh, that is good." Bon Bon said. "Just like last year!"
"Yup, tasty!" Lyra said, gulping her down. "Is there a chance I can get more?"
"Lyra, we're judging who has the best cider, not begging for more." Bon Bon said. "Though now I am craving more of it."
"You said it sisters!" Cloud Chaser said, downing her glass. "Best cider ever!"
"Yes, yes, their cider is, 'acceptable.'" Flim said, bumping Spyro out of the way, much to their shock as he nonchalantly refilled their mugs with their cider. "But wait til you taste our cider."
The three of them then started to drink the cider, but almost instantly, they spat it out, Lyra gagging on hers until she threw up on the ground, the contents of her stomach all over the ground as she groaned in agony, looking greener than she already was.
"Ew, why am I tasting mud in this!? Cloud Chaser asked. "And, oh please tell me that isn't a worm in there."
"Why does mine have rocks in it?" Bon Bon asked, looking down at Lyra as she tried her best not to puke again. "Lyra, are you ok?"
"No... I'm..." She tried to say, but her cheeks blew up again, running for the closest tree as she puked again, Spyro rushing over and patting her on the back as he gave her a potion he made for nausea.
"But... why?" Flim asked. "Our cider is superior to theirs."
"That's because you idiots played yourselves." Midnight said, everyone looking up to her as she was standing in a tree.
"Midnight!" Spyro shouted, calling his Keyblade.
"I must say, I'm very disappointed." Midnight said. "I had hoped that this competition would cause the Apples and the prince to loose their home."
"Prince?" Flim and Flam asked together, looking at Spyro.
"Now it seems like I need to take care of this myself." Midnight said.
Her horn charged up her magic, shooting a purple beam to the Super Easy Cider Squeezy as her magic hit the control rods, the cider making device roaring to life as dark energy came off of it, causing Flam to jump off as flames shot across it, turning the mobile machine into massive Grublins, known as a troll, a massive tank like Grublins with large rock fists with some wood and metal in it's fists and body, glowing red eyes as green moss covered parts of it's body, staring at the twins hungrily.
"A Troll!" Spyro shouted.
Immediately, he and Rosy rushed forward, the blind pony calling her Keyblade as the two engaged the massive Grublin, which tried to hit them with it's heavy fist, but missed them as they rolled away. The two ponies then ran around it in circles, Spyro going one way, Rosy going the other as they casted spells and dealt minimal damage to the Troll, which got down low and spun around to hit them both, but Spyro jumped into the air and flapped his wings, flying away from the Troll while Rosy just leapt up and summoned flames underneath her hooves, flying in the air as the Troll finished spinning around. The two ponies then flew around each other, straightening up before twisting around one another as flames surrounded them, shooting towards the troll as it turned around, blasting through it's head as it looked in their direction, the two ponies landing and skidding to a halt as it crumbled to dust, looking to where Midnight was, but she was gone.
"She can summon Grublins?" Spyro asked, looking to Rosy. "You forgot to mention that."
"Sorry dad." Rosy whispered.
The ground was littered in rocks and broken pieces of the machine that was once there, everyone coming out of their hiding spots to see if the fight was over.
"I-Is it gone?" Flam asked.
"It's gone." Spyro replied, dismissing his weapon. "But it seems your machine is nothing more than scrap metal."
"But, we worked hard on this machine." Flim said. "It costed a fortune to make."
"And you tried to use it to put one of the mares I love out of business!" Spyro exclaimed angrily, making the two brothers flinch. "Ya stole apples that belonged to the Apple Family yesterday, you damaged private property twice, and you uprooted Celestia knows how many healthy trees. I'd say karma caught up with you, big time. Now, since you probably don't have any bits to pay for the damages, we'll take what remains of your machine and sell it for scrap, hopefully it will be enough to pay for everything you two did." He then listed them up with the Force, making them yelp in surprise. "But if you so much as show your faces here again and try to drive them out of business again, I'll make sure the next time a Troll comes along, I'll feed you to it, we clear?"
The twins nodded their heads, fearing for their lives as Spyro let them go and allowed them to run away with their tails between their legs, smiling to himself as he reached out with the Force and crushed all the barrels of cider the brothers made, eveyrone cheering for him as he did.
"Wow, you two were amazing!" Rainbow Dash said, rushing over and giving Rosy a nuggie. "It was as if you two fought as a team for years."
"Well, we kinda been training together." Rosy said, breaking free from Rainbow Dash. "Besides, we won!"
"And there's enough cider for everypony to have a mug!" Apple Bloom said, eveyrone cheering as they heard the good news.
The end of Cider season came as everyone got in line and paid for the mugs of cider that the entire family made from the competition, even Rainbow Dash finally got herself a mug of cider, but she didn't savor it like everyone else, but downed the whole thing, taking joy in how it tasted before leaving. After they were gone, Spyro helped Big Macintosh move the press into the barn, storing it away for next year when Applejack came over with a few extra barrels of cider left over.
"Well, looks like we got a few extra barrels of cider." Spyro said. "We must have really went over board making this stuff."
"You said it hun." Applejack said, straightening the barrels up and walking over to him. "Next year, Ah'm gonna make sure Ah ask all mah family, including the herd, to help make the cider next year, this way no pony is disappointed." She then hugged Spyro, the two smiling as they hugged one another, Big Mac smiling as he left the barn to give them some alone time. "Ah wanted to thank you for helping me and for supporting me, even when you said their cider was better than ours. So, Ah'd like you to have the last few barrels."
"Really?" Spyro asked. "You sure it's ok?"
"Ah'm sure sugarcube." Applejack said, looking up to him. "Ah'm sure."
The two love birds smiled to one another, Spyro leaning down as the two shared a long and passionate kiss, the sun setting as the night came, creating a romantic atmosphere as they walked back to the farm house to get some sleep as tomorrow was going to be another busy day.