S4 E20 everypony! Testing, Testing, 1,2,3 is up next!
...
For Malibu, he was glad that it was a day where he didn't have to fight any supervillains in Equestria for a change, he and the Apples all hanging out by the swimming hole near the farm.
He was lying down on a floating ring while Applejack and Big Mac splashed about.
The teal alicorn heard Applebloom from nearby. "Just one more time? Please?"
Applejack gives a sigh, nodding. "Alright, but this is the last one." Her little sister smiles, running over, jumping onto Big Mac's back then leaping into the water. "Woo hoo!" She cheers, making the water splash all over Granny Smith who was lying on a chair on shore.
Malibu saw her splutter, looking up in shock. "Ack! Who done that?!" She shrieked, jumping to her hooves.
Applebloom poked her head out of the water, Malibu grinning at her. "Nice jump, AB." He compliments, making her flush.
But then she looks back at Granny Smith. "Sure wish you'd come swim with us, Granny," the filly begs.
Granny Smith gave a shudder. "Uh, sorry dear. I just can't bring myself anywhere near that there swimmin' hole." She states, pointing at the waves.
Malibu tilted his head. "How come?" He questioned, while taking a drink of his apple juice.
The elder mare smiled at him sadly. "Well, I wasn't always this way..." She began. And just like that, Malibu felt his eyes glow once more, having not experienced this in a while as Granny Smith told her story.
He could see a young Granny Smith at what looked like some kind of festival. She waves to the crowd, wearing a swim dress and cap.
"In fact, I was the only Apple ever to come close to breaking the Equestria high-diving record!" Present Granny says, Malibu watching her younger self climbing up a diving tower, making him flinch a little, Young Granny jumping off, which ended the flashback. "Falling six stories into a deep dish pie pan takes a toll on my hindquarters."
Malibu blinked, finding himself back in the present again, his heart clenching for Granny Smith who trembled. "Oh, I was so sore, took me years before I could even look at the water again." Granny said shakily.
"I'm sorry you had to go through all that. I probably wouldn't have wanted to swim either if I attempted that trick." Malibu said, attempting to cheer her up, which caused Granny to smile. When she got up from her chair her hooves stepped onto a puddle, nearly having her slip. "Yeah, just the idea of swimmin' makes my whole body ache! Besides, these old legs can't even paddle fast enough to stay afloat."
Applebloom's ears flattened from hearing that. "Boy, I sure would hate to be afraid of swimmin'. You think I'll ever be scared of the water?" She asked Malibu and Applejack. Before they could answer what looked like a shark fin appeared, making Malibu jerk up in shock.
The little filly yelped out, leaving the water instantly only for the 'shark' to actually be Big Mac wearing a shark fin on his head, smirking. "Nope."
Malibu struggled to hide his chortle. That was probably the best gag he ever saw, Applejack laughing more than him.
...
After their nice swim at the swimming hole, the Apple Family and Malibu left to head back to the barn, Malibu having a towel wrapped around himself to dry his wings since feathers took time to dry off.
Applebloom looked up at Granny Smith in admiration. "Wow, Granny. I can't believe you were a high diver!"
Granny Smith nods. "The best one in Ponyville!"
The younger filly jumped up and down. "Do you think I can be a high diver?"
That caused Malibu to glare sharply down at her, shaking his head no. "Uh uh. I don't think so young one!" He said.
Big Mac also shook his head. "Nope!"
Applejack agreed as well. "Absolutely not, like what Big Mac and Malibu said."
Applebloom did her best to protest. "But—."
Granny Smith glared. "But nothin'! It is the riskiest, scariest, darn-fool thing I ever did do! That's not to say I didn't wish I was still young and spry and confident, but let's leave the flyin' through the air to the Pegasi, Alicorns and gargoyles." She said, giving Malibu a light wink making him grin, though Malibu wasn't gonna add high diving to his bucket list anytime soon.
That made the young CMC to lower her head in doubt. "Wow. When you put it that way, it doesn't sound so fun."
After she said that, Malibu's ears suddenly picked up some strange music that sounded carnival like. He tilted his head, wondering what it could be, and noted ponies moving toward it. Most of them he saw however were ones with bandages and crutches.
"Wondering where everypony is going." Malibu said to Applejack who nods.
Suddenly Applebloom and Granny Smith were both heading in the way of the music too, Malibu's eyes widening. "Now where in Ponyville do you two think you're goin'?" Applejack demanded.
Granny Smith simply grins. "Aw, both of ye quit bein' such worry-worms and follow your ears!" She suggests.
Malibu wasn't so sure about it, same with Big Mac, hoping that it wasn't anything bad. Applebloom seemed to agree with Granny Smith. "Come on, guys! Aren't you curious?"
The two best friends and Big Mac all looked at each other, then reluctantly followed. The music continued to get louder until they spotted a tent over a hill, going to head inside.
The clone gargoyle stared in disbelief at what looked like some kind of large gathering of all the injured and sick ponies that had crowded around near a stage.
Applejack blinked, looking at Malibu who shrugged until he heard a crank, and steam from a machine coming out. And to his surprise; a large banner showing a bottle with two shadowed images of familiar ponies appeared.
"Thank you, one and all, for your attendance, and we guarantee that your time here will not be spent in vain!" A recognizable male's voice said, making Malibu tense up from the familiarity, growling lightly.
"In fact, we think it will prove to be the most valuable time you've ever spent!" Then, just when Malibu thought he would never see those two con artists again; Flim and Flam stood there on the stage with a spotlight shining down on the two.
Applejack herself was rightfully angry at the sight of them. "The Flim Flam brothers!" She snapped. "This'll be interestin'!"
Malibu nods in agreement, his fur bristled. "I had hoped we had seen the last of them." He growled, swishing his tail.
Flim grins out towards the crowd. "Welcome, one and all, to the demonstration of a lifetime!"
Flam also grins. "A demonstration of a better life!"
"A demonstration of a better time! And if we haven't captured your interest just yet, by the time we've finished, an unfortunate phenomenon practically guarantees that we will!" Flim states, making Malibu's irritation grow more, wondering what their con will be this time if not cider.
Flam raises his brow. "A phenomenon? What's that?"
"It's a circumstance perceptible by the senses, but in this case, it's the simple fact that—." Soon, Flim begins to sing, Malibu knowing where this was going since this happened before.
Flim:
There's illness all around us in everything we touch and see.
Flam:
A sickness that lies waiting there in every breath you breathe
Flim:
Disease will up and grab you as it crawls from land and sea
Flam:
It's amazing how infected that the natural world and all its things can be
Malibu's ears twitched from annoyance when hearing them doing their blasted singingagain,but he couldn't help but remember the time he got the Ali flu, shivering from the memory. Thankfully it was only a one time illness in his young alicorn life that replaced his old gargoyle one but he hoped it would never happen for a long while.
Flim:
Now I understand that some of you don't think you're sick!
Flam:
But twisted hooves and aching joints don't heal all that quick!
Flim:
Consider just how dangerous this world is! You might...
Flam:
Slip and fall, break or sprain something here tonight.
Malibu cringed when some of the injured ponies had wound up stumbling to the ground, wondering again why they were here and not at the Ponyville Clinic.
Both:
But luckily, for you we've got the thing you need
And it's easier when all you need's the cure
The Flim and Flam Miracle Curative Tonic
It's just what the doctor ordered I'm sure!
Applejack was stunned, as was Malibu, for he had never heard of anything except magic for being able to cure wounds. And he wondered how two con artists came up with this thing while the brothers held up the bottle of green tonic.
Flim couldn't help but smirk at the sight of Malibu's suspicious gaze. "Now, I know our claims seem fantastical."
Flam nods. "Impractical."
"Implorable!" Flim adds on, making Malibu roll his eyes in annoyance.
They both made birds fly out from behind them like a magic show. "And magical!" Flim gestured with his hooves, the injured crowd walking up.
"So we welcome every suffering pony to make their way up tot he stage."
Flam smiles big down at everypony. "Now don't crowd."
"And we'll prove our tonic's effectiveness before your very eyes!" Flim says.
Malibu saw Flam point to a stallion in the front nearby him who had a bushy mane, and large glasses, wearing crutches for his front hooves. "You there, come up here, good sir!"
Flim guided the stallion towards the tonic. "I'll wager you're tired of those crutches, my friend!" He said in his slick way.
Flam held out the bottle. "Try taking a sip of this!"
The new stallion ends up drinking the tonic, making a small face from the taste of it, Malibu's ears flattening further, ready to prove that these two were just up to their old tricks until to his surprise; the stallion managed to stand on his front hooves again... without the crutches. His eyes brightened in happiness.
The rest of the crowd all gasped aloud from it, Malibu seeing Applejack just as stunned.
Flim and Flam soon began to start singing again.
"That's why you're so lucky we've got the thing for you
Just come up we've always got some more
Of the Flim and Flam Miracle Curative Tonic"
The stallion began doing a dance, throwing away his crutches. "I won't need these crutches to dance out the door!"He sings, making Malibu stroke his chin. The way he sang it sounded too in sync with how the Flim Flam brothers did their lines.
Granny Smith now looked excited, much to Malibu's worry. "Now how do you like that?"
Applejack glares, shaking her head. "I don't. There's somethin' funny about this whole thing!"
Malibu nods in agreement. "Yeah. And I'm still sore at them for nearly stealing our home." He growled, eyes glowing lightly more red.
The two brothers kept up their song.
Flim:
"Now some of you may suffer from feelings of despair. You're old, you're tired, your legs won't work, there's graying in your hair!"
Flam:
Just listen I'll tell you that you don't need to fear. Your ears will work, your muscles tone, your eyes will see so clear!
Malibu glowered at the sight of Flam singing this to another elder stallion about Granny Smith's age. Besides colts elder ponies can also be as easily influenced depending on how they were raised. And to his shock and disgust, the rest of the crowd actually started singing with Flim and Flam. Have they forgotten what they nearly did with the Apple farm?!
Crowd:
Lucky for us, you've got the thing we need
The answer to our problems in a jar
The Flim Flam Miracle Curative Tonic
Is the greatest ever miracle made by far!
Then the twins went into a rant about how it can cure anything.
"It cures the reins, the spurs, and the Clydesdale fur blight!" Flim says, noticing Malibu's furious gaze and giving him a sly wink, making him more angry, swishing his tail.
Flam points to some other ill ponies. "Hooferia and horsentery cured in just a night!"
They kept it up, the crowd chanting the word tonic too. "You've got swollen hooves, and hindquarters or terrible bridle-bit cleft!" Flim exclaims in mock concern.
"Saunter sitz, and gallop plop will give your tail some heft!" Flam shouts, gesturing to a pony who has no hair on his tail. Malibu's face felt like it was going green, now wishing he wasn't among the contaminated crowd, not wanting to get sick.
"Mane loss, hay fever, or terrible tonsillitis!" Flim describes, yanking open a poor stallion's mouth to show off the illness.
Flam holds up a bottle of tonic. "You heard it here, folks— this is the only place in all of Equestria you'll find it!" They soon continued their song, revealing more things about the tonic that Malibu had a hard time believing.
Flim:
It can make you shorter, taller, or even grow old.
Flam:
But who'd want that
Both:
When with one drink you can be young again...
Before Malibu could speak up in protest, to his horror, he saw Granny Smith hold up some bits. "SOLD!" She shouted, her face all lit up in eagerness.
Just from hearing that made him and Applejack both really worried and frustrated. Flim smiled down at her. "Congratulations, Granny Smith, you just made the purchase of a lifetime!" He said, handing her a tonic bottle.
Applejack's ears fell down, Malibu's heart fluttering from his anxiety for Granny Smith. "Are you two just as worried as I am?" She asked. Malibu simply nods. "Uh huh."
"Eeyup." Big Mac responds simply, Malibu wondering what was gonna happen now, and he was going to try and demand answers from those con artists.
...
The next day while they were all fishing by the river, Malibu himself was still lost in his anxious thoughts about the possible fake tonic until Applebloom's voice brought him back to reality. "Boy, I just can't believe all the things that Flim Flam tonic can do!" She exclaimed, doing a little jump in the air.
It made the former clone gargoyle glare a little. "Didn't you forget about the time they nearly stole our farm?" He asked, stomping his hoof.
That caused Applebloom to tense up from his words as Applejack added in her own words. "Yeah. And when somepony says somethin's too good to be true, it usually is."
Applebloom frowned. "You both mean Granny wasted her money?"
Malibu gave a light sigh, knowing she was still a filly and he had to be gentle with her. "I really don't know. But from when I lived with my mom, she doesn't even know a tonic or a spell to make a pony young again." He said honestly, making Applejack smile at him for saying it.
Just then they all heard Granny Smith. "Howdy!" Malibu turned about, his eyes wide at the sight of the elder mare somehowswimming in the river!
His jaw dropped open, as did Big Mac's. "Granny?!" AB squeaked aloud. Granny Smith continued her swim, doing certain types of strokes that Malibu somewhat recognized from the video tapes about swimming Maggie had in the Labyrinth.
Big Mac even tried throwing his yolk he always wore around his neck (Malibu never really asked him why) into the river but Granny Smith just simply swam by doing the backstroke.
Having enough, Malibu ran down to the sand, using his magic to lift her out of the water, causing her to yelp. "Hey, ah! Sonny, keep yer magic away from me! Put me down!" Granny Smith scolded but Malibu didn't listen, placing her gently onto the sand. "Not happening." He said with a small grin.
She shook herself dry, giving him an irritated look, Applebloom staring at her in amazement. "Granny, I thought you were too afraid of the water to swim! And what about your hip?!" She asked.
Granny Smith having gotten over Malibu using his magic on her gave her answer. "Well, I reckon it might have been a problem before I had myself a dose of that there Flim Flam Tonic!" She proclaimed, holding out the bottle.
Malibu frowned, going to protest when Applejack spoke up. "I'm not so sure that tonic really does anythin'." She said, Malibu nodding in agreement.
The elder mare gave them a smile. "Doesn't do anythin'?! What d'you call this?" She gives a sip of the tonic, then began to dance, Malibu blinking in shock at the scene, Granny doing a twirl then winking.
Applejack cringed before trying to speak her opinions on the tonic. "I'm glad you're feelin' good, but how do you know it's from the tonic?"
Malibu nods. "Yeah, and haven't you forgotten what they've done before?" He tried asking again, his distrust towards the two con ponies growing.
Granny Smith noticed his distrust. "Ah know, ah know. But maybe they turned a new leaf, and decided to make somethin' to help folks out for once." She said, making Malibu's doubts grow even further. "And I looked out at the water this mornin' and I felt the terrifyin' aches and pains I always do. But one sip of that magic elixir and it all went away!"
She walks over to Big Mac. "What do you say, Big Mac-a-oo? Up for a little applebuckin'?" She asked, kicking lightly with her hooves, making Big Mac cringe up. "Uh... no." He grunts, Malibu unable to stop his small snickers despite the situation.
"Daw, quit yer bellyachin'!" Granny Smith said, nudging Big Mac towards the apple grove.
Applebloom stroked her chin. "Gee, it looks like that tonic works after all! I wonder what's in it."
Malibu frowned, looking to Applejack. "You up for a little detective work?" He asked, his frown turning into a grin.
AJ nods. "Yeah. Bout time we found out what those two are up to."
...
Later that evening the trio went back down to the tent, Malibu's ears flicking from hearing that same stupid Curative Tonic song coming from it. "So you two are just gonna walk up and ask them how it works?"
Applejack tensed up. "I guess. Though if it's a genuine cure, I don't suppose they'll be too keen on sharin' the recipe." She said, Malibu knowing though if it came down to it he would use his alicorn magic to make the two of them spill the beans.
Suddenly his eyes spotted a familiar looking pony dancing out of the curtain. "Out the door!" He sang, making Malibu growl lightly from that. "Hey, guys, look!" He said, pointing.
Applebloom gasped. "That's the same pony from before!" She exclaimed, startling the stallion who instantly made a break for it.
Applejack frowned. "Hey!" She along with Malibu and Applebloom, soon cornering the stallion near a lot of his make up and wigs section along with a steam machine, who cowered in front of them.
Malibu glowered, wings out. "You won't be going anywhere Mr...?" He said, suddenly realizing he didn't know this guy's name.
The stallion gulped, knowing he was facing against the future ruler of Equestria, feeling himself answer. "Shill. Silver Shill." He trembled. "Ooh, what do you three want?" He whimpered.
Applejack swished her tail. "Our Granny took some tonic and we want to know how it works."
Applebloom nods. "Granny couldn't swim before, and now she can. Just like how you couldn't walk and now you can. But what are you don' back here? I mean, if the tonic cured you and all..."
All Shill did was gulp, shielding himself further, making Malibu realize with anger from looking around at the different wigs that this guy had been faking being hurt, Applejack also realizing. "Because he's part of the act!" AJ said furiously. "It's time for you to tell the truth! You never needed crutches at all, did ya?"
The three continued to corner Silver Shill, watching him stutter until turning on the steam machine, making the whistles blow steam into their faces. "Hey!" Shouted Malibu, shutting his eyes from it until the steam cleared. But Silver Shill was gone.
Applejack had Applebloom go in one direction to find him while Malibu and AJ both went in another, finding themselves inside the tent, face to face with the brothers.
"Well, if it isn't our favorite Apple and little Prince!" Flim says with his sly grin on his muzzle, Malibu's ears pinned back from the nickname.
"What brings you two back to our humble abode?" Flam asked, looking casually at his hooves.
Applejack stomped forward. "You two charlatans sold my Granny a bottle of tonic, and now she's off actin' like a filly again." She accused.
Flim kept up his smiling. "What's so bad about that?" He teased.
Malibu growled. "If she keeps up with her roughhousing at her age, she's bound to drop from exhaustion or even worse!" He snapped.
AJ nods. "Yeah, and I know for a fact your friend here is dessin' up as a different pony every night so he can pretend to be cured!" She growled, seeing Silver Shill quickly going behind Flim and Flam, making Malibu want to knock some sense into this guy.
Flam grins snidely at the two. "Well, well, well. That's quite an accusation." He taunts, the two going over to a table and clearing it off.
"But let's just say that it's true..." Flim says, pulling out some strange device, Malibu raising his brow.
"Hypothetically..." Flam said, bringing out some apples and leaves.
"Theoretically..." Flim repeats.
Malibu huffs, rolling his eyes. "Just get to the point already!" He snarled, stomping his hoof.
Flam just keeps grinning. "Keep yer pants on, gargoyle. And as I understand, AJ's Granny was a famous aqua pony."
"The star of the show, once upon a time!" Flim said.
"But hasn't set so much as a hoof in the water since?" Flam asks in his slick way.
Applejack nodded, looking wary. "Until today, that's right."
Flam got the device started with his magic. "Well, then even if our tonic were nothing more than a mixture of apple juice and beet leaves..." He says, Flim putting some in the squeezer which made a green looking juice.
"Hypothetically..."
"Theoretically..." The two of them say again. Malibu's ears fell even further. He knew that this was a scam!
"The fact is that Granny is happier now than before she tried it!" Flam explains, making Malibu look over at Applejack whose face was full of doubt now. "I guess..."
Flim pours the mixture into another bottle. "So the question is..."
Flam hands it over to her. "Do you really want to be the pony who takes all that happiness away?" He asks tauntingly.
Malibu's stomach churned lightly, as he attempted to talk reason to Applejack. "D-Don't listen to them, they're just playing with you." He attempted, before Flim walks closer to him.
"And you. If you tattle to your mommy Princess about our little fraud, would she end up being disappointed that you denied ponies happiness and good health?" He sneered, making Malibu's face burn from it, gulping. "Er..."
That was when Applebloom suddenly showed up. "Guys! There you are! I've been lookin' all over! Did you find out what is in the tonic?"
It made Malibu look to Applejack, wondering if she would be able to tell the truth, seeing the smirking faces of the twins he wanted to deck so badly. But then Applejack did something that made Malibu be filled with doubt.
"Honestly Applebloom... as long as it works, I... don't suppose it really matters." She responds, nudging Malibu into wanting him to say something.
Clearing his throat awkwardly, Malibu struggled to reply as well like she did. "Yeah, what she said. If it makes ponies happy anyway..." He said reluctantly, while giving the Flam brothers a death glare that they both ignored.
Applebloom then shrugged. "Hey, if it doesn't matter to you, then it doesn't matter to me either, guys."
Both friends felt their faces heat up with guilt, knowing they did a big heaping lie but they knew there was no way to back out of this. Not if it meant Flim and Flam's threats will come true.
The three left the tent, Malibu's tail rather low and hearing the twins calling after them. "That's the spirit!" Flim yells.
Flam waves as well. "Come back anytime!"
Malibu's heart thudded wildly, knowing this won't go well and wanted to tell his mom Celestia so badly, but was afraid of what would happen if he did.
...
After that little intense moment, Malibu found himself back at the watering hole with Applejack and the others but couldn't bring himself to go swimming while watching Granny Smith, Applebloom and Big Mac do it.
Applebloom smiles eagerly at Granny Smith. "Hey Granny! Think you can buck me over the water?" She calls out.
Granny Smith smiles. "I don't see why not! Come on, Big Mac! Toss her this way!"
Malibu saw Applejack's look of horror at what was going to happen. "Granny, wait!" She yelped but to their surprise; Granny Smith was somehow bucking Applebloom who was laughing. This felt too unreal for them.
Applejack however couldn't relax about it. "Granny, don't you think you should take it kinda easy?" She asked, her ears flat, Malibu nodding.
Granny Smith shakes her head. "I've been takin' it easy for too long! And now, thanks to that Flim Flam Tonic, I don't have to!" She says with a smile.
Applebloom splashes into the water then swims back up again. "Granny, you think I could be an aqua pony like you?" She asks.
To Malibu's surprise, Granny Smith seemed to agree! "Of course you can, sapling. There's nothin' to it but to do it!"
The young alicorn shook his head in dumboundment. "B-But... you just said no earlier! What changed?" He asked.
Granny Smith smiled back at him. "Heck, the tonic seems to give ponies confidence too as well as healin' as far as I'm concerned." She says with a shrug.
Applebloom then got an idea. "Well, the Ponyville Swim Meet is comin' up, we could enter together! A legendary water pony like you? We'd be a cinch to win!"
Malibu though was wondering what a 'swim meet' was. Applejack looked to him. "Ya really have been livin' underground back in Manhattan, huh?" She asked, making him flush and nod. "Pretty much. What's a swim meet again?"
Granny rolls her eyes but not to mock him. "Just a competition for the best swimmers. Nothin' too fancy but it can get excitin'!" Then her face was doubtful when remembering Applebloom's suggestion. "And... I dunno about the whole thing about joinin'. Bein' back in the water is one thing, but a competition is a pony of a different color."
Applejack however had a different say that made Malibu even more worried for her now. "I don't know Granny. A swim meet sounds pretty safe. And after all, if that tonic lets you swim in a river and a swimmin' hole, a pool should be no problem at all."
That caused some more confidence to grow into Granny Smith who brought out another apple juice/beet weed bottle. "Well, I'll be a tart turnover, you are right! All we need now is more tonic!" She begins to drink it, Malibu looking over at Applejack.
"Are you sure you can keep up this lying? Despite you being theElement of Honesty?' He hissed softly under his breath, making Applejack flush lightly.
"It's what we gotta do to keep Granny Smith from being scared of the water again." She replies bluntly, making Malibu groan, hoof palming himself. This was gonna be bad.
...
It was now time for the big event at a large pool they all gathered at. So far other competitors had managed to show off their skills, Malibu watching an earth pony dive head first in. He looked over to the score board stand where judges hold up score signs.
That was when he and Applejack spotted Flim and Flam by the pool, holding out their horrible tonics to innocent customers. "Welcome, friends, and step right up! The next show starts in 5 minutes!"
Flim nods. "But why not buy your tonic now and avoid the rush?"
A stallion who looked familiar despite his disguise was about to go up and buy the tonic but at that moment, Granny Smith and Applebloom beat him to it. "We'll take the whole case!" She exclaims, dropping a big bag of bits on the ground, making Malibu's eyes widen in shock at how much she was willing to do all that spending on, Flim and Flam also staring.
One mare goes up to Applejack. "Are you saying this stuff actually works?" She asks.
Malibu's ears fell again, going to try and keep Applejack from lying again, but she gives him a look before answering. "It seems to work for Granny."
The twins smirked at one another. "You heard it here first, folks! Flim Flam Miracle Curative Tonic is Granny Smith-tested and Applejack-approved!"
"Wait... WHAT?!" Malibu yelped, looking at the two in disgust and hate for putting AJ even more in the spotlight now for her lying, knowing he was going to have a big talking to with Applejack after this madness is done.
"If Applejack says it works, that's good enough for me!" The mare cheers, holding up her own money along with the others, both Malibu and Applejack cringing big time, AJ feeling as though she stepped foot into the mud of lies too much now to turn back.
...
Soon, after many other events at the Swim Meet were done, it was now finally Granny Smith and Applebloom's turn for their performance. Applejack went up to them with her forced smile. "Just remember you two, the important thing is to be safe and have fun. Right?" She asks.
Granny Smith huffs, waving her hoof. "Fiddlesticks! With the routine we've been workin' on, I'll be a plum puddin' if we don't win this thing!" She says.
Malibu mostly nods in reluctance but did hope that they would win. "Well, uh, good luck I suppose." He said softly, rubbing his hoof, feeling like he was gonna reveal the secrets about the tonic at any moment.
"Luck? Pfft, who needs luck young prince? We got tonic on our side!" Granny Smith says confidently, holding up another bottle.
Flam's voice reached Malibu's ears as he glances around, seeing another stand of that horrible stuff. "Flim Flam's Magical Curative Tonic!"
"Get your Applejack-approved tonic! Granny Smith drinks it, why shouldn't you?" Flim says, Malibu seeing a poster with Applejack smiling on it, making him feel nauseous.
"Right..." Applejack muttered, with Malibu looking at her in sympathy now more than anger.
Granny grins at the two of them. "Now, if'n you'll excuse us, we got some swimmin' to do!"
Malibu sat down, Applejack doing the same thing, watching her Granny and little sister both diving into the pool in perfect sync, doing some kind of water ballet. Watching it had been leaving Malibu in awe at the sight. He himself wasn't a good swimmer but could appreciate the talent of others. How does Granny Smith even manage to swim like that at her age?
Soon the two finished their routine by having Applebloom stand on top of Granny Smith who stood on one hoof in the water, Applebloom spitting water out of her mouth, the two smiling.
The crowd erupted into cheers, Malibu looking over to the judges who give Granny and AB high scores! A little smile came onto his face from that, glad Granny Smith didn't get hurt. AJ took off her hat. "Well, I'll be..."
An interviewer rushed over as the two climbed out of the pool. "That was some of the most amazing aquabatics I've ever seen! How in Equestria did you do it? Hard work? Lots of practice?" He asks, cameras clicking endlessly.
Granny Smith continues her smile after shaking herself dry. "Yeah, but mostly it's the tonic!"
Before Malibu could speak up about this the Flam brothers interrupted, getting into the picture, making him growl. "That's Flim Flam Miracle Curative Tonic, to be precise!" Flim smirks.
Flam nods. "Buy now while supplies last!"
While the news ponies kept taking photos AJ and Malibu felt themselves backing away from the attention, suddenly eyeing what looked like Silver Shill giving another stallion some tonic, who gave him a golden bit in return.
Malibu's eyes glowed red at the sight, going over to Silver Shill. "And what are you doing here?" He demanded forcefully, making Silver Shill yelp from Malibu's voice, backing away but kept having a smile on his muzzle. "Oh, things are going so well, Flim and Flam gave me a raise!"
He puts out the gold bit, Applejack gazing down at it. "Just made my first bit as a salespony!" Silver Shill said proudly, Malibu raising his brow. "No more costumes for this pony!" Shill says, then seeing Malibu's suspicious look.
Silver Shill chuckles nervously, tugging his collar knowing that he was face to face with the future ruler. "This is more of a uniform." He gulped.
Applejack lowered her ears. "If you say so." She muttered.
However Silver Shill had more to say. "I used to wonder if I was doing the right thing. You know, pretending to be cured, basically lying to folks about this tonic. But thanks to you Applejack, I realized that sometimes honesty isn't the best policy!" He said with a grin.
Malibu's face paled from hearing that. Was he being real?!
Applejack stuttered lightly. "Thanks to...me?" She gaped in horror.
On the side, Malibu saw Applebloom supposedly advertising the tonic, feeling his own heart beginning to thump painfully, wanting this all to end. "With Flim Flam's Magical Curative Tonic, my Granny can do anything! Just ask Applejack!" She says, gesturing to her big sister.
The cameras were now on both Applejack and Malibu, the teal alicorn wincing as the bright flashes hit his eyes, seeing Applejack nearly breaking down from it, which caused him to snap, stomping his hoof. "Alright, enough! If ponies keep believing this stupid tonic can actually do all those things, who knows what will happen!" He snarled, making the crowd gasp, finding it hard to believe that the prince would say such a thing.
Silver Shill suddenly tapped Applejack's shoulder, pointing upward. "Maybe something like that?" He squeaked.
Applejack turned in his direction, gasping in horror from what she was seeing; which was Granny Smith climbing up a ladder to the diving board. "Granny!" She began to run over. "What in blazes does she think she's don'?"
Applebloom pushed a small bucket of water under the diving board. "Granny's gonna break the Equestria High Divin' record!"
Malibu looked down at the bucket, then back up, knowing that it would probably break every bone in her body, making him feel dread and worried for her.
Applejack looked more panicked than him, her eyes twitching. "Land sakes!" She screamed, racing over to the diving board, starting to climb up the ladder, but Malibu knew that she probably won't catch him in time, knowing he had to do something.
Raising his wings, Malibu waited until Granny Smith was about to dive in. He then took off, flying over to Granny who was now falling, instantly snatching her out of the air, causing Applejack to sigh in relief when she pulled out a rope, but was glad that Malibu had been quicker.
Granny Smith struggled, glaring. "Hey! Put me down!" She shouted, Malibu doing just that, the elder mare not looking happy. "What in tarnation did ya do that for sonny?!" She snapped, making Malibu flush from all the eyes on him, Applejack joining, looking out of breath.
"That was the most fool-pony thing I've ever seen anypony do in all my life! You can't do a dive like that!" Applejack snapped.
The elder mare rolled her eyes. "Oh, quit your fussin'! I had enough tonic to do a dive ten times as high!" She said, making Malibu wince in sadness from the idea of her actually doing such a thing, until the twins made it worse.
"20 times, by my count!" Flim encourages."
Flam nods, handing Granny Smith another bottle. "30, with a favorable breeze!" He said, making Malibu bare his teeth further at them actually wanting to harm an elderly pony like Granny Smith.
That was until something familiar happened he had seen before. The sun reflected off the Tonic bottle in a rainbow light for a quick moment, making him look at Applejack whose eyes reflected the light, shimmering for a few seconds.Her Tree of Harmony chest key...Malibu thought to himself, a small pang of both pride and jealousy going through him, hoping soon he would have his turn.
Applejack narrowed her eyes in determination, stepping forward. "I hate to disappoint everypony, but there's no way Granny could have made that dive, because this tonic, is a fake!" She declares, pointing in accusation at Flim and Flam.
Malibu's eyes watered a little from her bravery as everypony else gasped in shock. "But you gave it your stamp of approval!" One mare yelled out.
"Are you saying you lied?" Another asked.
AJ sighed softly. "...I am."
Hearing that made Malibu's heart ache for his friend, but was willing to forgive her, mostly because of it being a test from the Tree of Harmony chest. "I didn't mean to! But everypony seemed so much happier. I couldn't bring myself to tell you when I found out the tonic wasn't real." She took her hat off. "I just hope, with time, I can win back everypony's trust."
The clone gargoyle nudged his friend gently with a grin. "Well, you got mine." He said, making her smile back at him.
"But, if the tonic is a fake, then how come Granny can swim again and what about all that aquabatics stuff we just did?" Applebloom asked at that moment.
Applejack gave another grin before having a sudden realization. "I reckon sometimes you can forget what you're capable of, and it just takes a little extra confidence to remember that it was inside of you all along." She turns to the Flim Flam brothers, glowering. "But tellin' ponies your tonic can do things it can't is just wrong!"
Malibu growled when the twins wouldn't take what she said. "But you just said it boosts confidence!" Flim proclaims.
Flam goes into his salespony mode. "And that's not all it does, folks—!"
But to the teal alicorn's surprise; another voice spoke before he had a chance to.
"Yes it is!"
It was Silver Shill, who threw off his hat and goofy glasses, glaring. "In fact, it's not a tonic at all! I know, 'cause I helped make it!" He stepped over to Applejack and Malibu, glaring at the twins. "Watching Applejack and Malibu here save Granny and then Applejack admit to lying, well, that made me realize I was making ponies believe in a thing that just wasn't so!" He said.
The orange earth pony nods. "Believin' in somethin' can help you do amazin' things. But if that belief is based on a lie, eventually it's gonna lead to real trouble." She said with a casual smirk on her face, causing Flim and Flam to back away slowly, knowing they were screwed, Malibu's eyes narrowed in their direction.
"And I'm gonna tell my mom what you two swindlers had been up to, and that you've threatened me. Mark my words!" Malibu hissed, his eyes glowing a really bright red that made Flim swallow, laughing nervously before the two quickly ran off before Malibu could do anything.
Silver Shill smiled gratefully at Applejack. "Thank you, Applejack." He pulled out the bit he got. "I got this through dishonest means. That was a mistake I won't be making again!" He puts it in her hoof. "I'd like you to have it, as a reminder of how you helped me finally see the truth." He said, Malibu gazing down at the coin, in awe that it would soon be the key to the chest.
Applejack looked down in doubt. "Ah don't know..."
The stallion shrugged. "Oh, don't worry. I'll track down the pony I sold that worthless tonic to and give him another bit to replace this one! Honest." He claimed.
After smiling gratefully at Silver Shill, Applejack looks back at Granny Smith. "I'm sorry, Granny. I hope that doesn't mean you'll stop swimmin'."
Granny scoffs, glaring. "Why in tarnation would I do that? I just can't believe those two salesponies had me believin' I could near fly!" All of them looked around, seeing the twins had vanished. "Hey, where'd they go?"
Malibu rolls his eyes. "I got a feeling that we haven't seen the last of them." He mutters to Applejack who nods in agreement, gazing down at the golden bit in her hand as a symbol of honesty.
...
Back at Sweet Apple Acres, Malibu sat under a tree with Applejack who was writing in the journal about their experience, Malibu looking forward to his, whenever that was gonna happen. It went something like this:
"Bein' honest sure gets hard when it seems like the truth might hurt somepony you care about. But I think believin' a lie can end up hurtin' even more. Maybe some ponies don't care about that, but I sure ain't one of them."
Applejack places the pencil down after finishing, Malibu nodding approvingly at her as she turns to their little swimming pool that they set up. "Now you take it easy there, Granny!" Applejack called.
Granny nods. "Oh, I plan to." She gives a whoop, jumping into the pool, Applebloom giggling while they splashed each other.
Malibu eyed the golden bit that gave a small rainbow shimmer, knowing now they were getting closer than ever to unlocking that chest he was still aching to see what was inside.
...
Finally, we now have only two others left who would get their keys: Malibu and Twilight Sparkle! Malibu's will happen in the 100th chapter of this story which will be original after the Testing, Testing and Trade Ya episodes.