Chapter 214: Leap of Faith
A few day had gone by after Scootaloo had fought the Beldam and Spyro was stepping up the fillies training, making her stand on her head with her eyes closed while meditating in his garage, trying to reach out with the Force to try and lift a small box nearby while remaining n her head, trying her best as she struggled to do two things at once before falling over, groaning as she got up.
"Ugh, this is impossible." Scootaloo said.
"It's only impossible because you deem it impossible." Spyro said, walking over. "You have the ability to do both at once, you just need to focus."
"But it's hard to focus when I'm standing on my head all the time." Scootaloo said.
"You just need to find a way to do both." Spyro replied. "Now, again."
"Can't we stop for a little while?" Scootaloo asked. "Big Mac, Applejack and everypony else went to the pond to relax, why can't we?"
"As Jedi, we must continue to improve and expand upon our abilities to weild the Force and to be ready for whatever threat may arise." Spyro replied. "Besides, we need to improve on your skills and knowledge of the Force as you showed you're capable of using Force Lightning, so you need to be ready."
"Ugh, fine." Scootaloo said. "But can't we train near the pond? At least get out of your garage and get some fresh air."
"You're really wanting to go to the pond today, aren't you?" Spyro asked, seeing the hopeful look in the fillies eyes as he sighed. "Alright, we'll go to the pond, but only for training. Got it?"
"You got it Spyro!" Scootaloo said.
The two then left his garage and started making their way to the nearby pond where the rest of the Apple Family had gone to relax for the day, reaching the pond and seeing Big Mac and Applejack splashing around in the water while Apple Bloom and Granny Smith were outside of the water relaxing. A second later, they saw both Spyro and Scootaloo approaching the pond and waved to them, happy to see they had finally gotten out of the garage and came to join them.
"Hey hun!" Applejack said.
"Hey AJ." Spyro replied.
"Finally decided to come and enjoy some relaxation before we finish buckin' the apples?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Afraid not." Scootaloo replied. "Spyro's having me spend the day training."
"Seriously?" Apple Bloom asked. "Ya really makin' her train?"
"No better day to do so that today." Spyro replied. "After all, we got a lot of training to catch up on over the weekend. I've been far too lenient."
"Spyro, ah can see ya wanna make sure she can take care of herself, but she's still just a kid." Applejack said. "Couldn't ya let her at least have some fun before makin' her train?"
"I wish I could, but her abilities are growing and I need to make sure she's ready." Spyro replied.
"Spyro, ah think she proved she was more than ready for whatever comes her way." Applejack replied. "Now come in and join us. The waters great."
Spyro was watching as Applejack and Big mac continued to splash around and laugh, seeing that Apple Bloom was setting up a blanket and looked at Scootaloo, who looked to him pleadingly as if asking to join in, which he smiled and nodded to Scootaloo, letting her know she can go and have fun, which the filly cheered loudly and ran into the water to join the fun, Spyro walking over to the blanket to see if she needed any help.
"Hey Applejack, could we do it again!?" Apple Bloom asked, confusing Spyro. "Just one more time? Please?"
"Oh alright, but this is the last time." Applejack replied.
Apple Bloom smiled and ran over, hopping across the rocks before getting on her brothers back, which he launched her off his back and she landed on Applejack's hind hooves, being kicked off and into the water, making a splash and the water hit Granny Smith, who was sleeping peacefully when the water hit her, waking up and coughing and spitting out the water as she looked around to see what had happened.
"Oh, sorry Granny." Apple Bloom said. "It's too bad ya couldn't come in and join us."
"Aw, it's alright Apple Bloom." Granny Smith said. "But unfortunately Ah'm not as young as Ah use to be. Otherwise Ah'd join you in that there swimmin' hole."
"Wait, you were a swimmer before?" Spyro asked.
"Of course Ah was!" Granny Smith replied. "Why Ah was an Aqua Pony all-star back in mah time. Why Ah was the only apple to come close to breakin' the Equestria high divin' record."
"Wow, you must be good." Spyro said.
"Ah was." Granny Smith replied. "But unfortunately divin' six stories into a deep dish pie pan does take a toll on the hindquarters."
"Oh, that bad." Spyro said.
"Oh it was that bad." Granny Smith said. "Ah was so sore from it, it took me years before Ah could ever look at water again. Just the idea of swimmin' makes mah body ache." She the got up and creaked over to them. "Besides, with how old these legs are, they can't even pedal fast enough to keep this old body afloat."
She then stepped into a puddle of water and was starting to slip, barely able to stay up as everyone watched.
"Boy, Ah'd hate to be afraid of swimmin'." Apple Bloom said. "Ya think when Ah'm old, Ah'll be afraid of swimmin'?"
A second later, there was a shark fin and both Apple Bloom and Scootaloo both rushed out of the water to get away as Spyro got ready to jump in and save Applejack, but Big Mac popped his head up, revealing he was wearing a shark fin to play a joke on the fillies, which Spyro just smiled at them.
"Nope." Big Mac said.
They all then started laughing at the fillied for being spooked by Big Mac, which Applejack then smiled and rushed over and grabbed Spyro, making him yelp as he was then dragged into the water, making him pop his head up out of the water and look annoyed while Applejack just laughed, making him look at the mare before smiling and opening his mouth, sending a stream of water to her and drenching her again before they started splashing one another, having fun as the fillies came back in and started attacking Big Mac for his little prank, but as they were having fun, there was a shadowy figure nearby watching, letting go of the. A while later, everyone was on their way to the farm after spending some time together in a nice relaxing swimming hole, glad to be blowing off some steam and enjoying some relaxation.
"Ah can't believe you were a high diver." Apple Bloom said.
"Yeah, that's totally awesome!" Scootaloo said. "I can't believe ya didn't get a cutie mark for it."
"There are some that thought Ah would get a Cutie Mark for it." Granny Smith said. "Ah was the best."
"Hey, think Scootaloo and Ah can get a mark for High Divin'?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Nope." Big Mac said.
"Absolutely not!" Applejack said.
"Nein." Spyro replied, everyone looking at him as he said it. "Oh, sorry. That's German for no."
"But why?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Look here little seed, Ah never never said bein' a High Diver was a smart decision." Granny Smith said. "It's incredibly dangerous."
"Ah know, but-" Apple Bloom began to say before Granny Smith stopped them.
"But nothin'!" Granny Smith said. "It was the riskiest, scariest, darn foolish thing Ah ever did do! Which goes to say that Ah wish Ah wasn't young, spry, and confident, but let's leave the flyin' to the Pegasi!"
She then winked at the filly, making her rethink everything, but as they were talking, a crowd was walking by, talking to themselves as Spyro and the Apples looked at them walk by, which some of them were walking by with injuries or were related to someone who was injured.
"Wow, this is quite the crowd." Applejack said. "Wonder where they're headin'?"
"And why are the majority of ponies walking by injured?" Spyro asked, catching a whiff of something that was farther away. "And what is that I'm smelling?"
A second later, they heard what sounded like carnival music, which intrigued Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Granny Smith and they followed the crowd.
"Where in Ponyville are you three goin'?" Applejack asked.
"Are you guys really following the music?" Spyro asked.
"Aw, will ya both quite bein' a couple of worry worms and listen with yer ears?" Granny Smith asked.
"Yeah, come on Applejack." Apple Bloom said. "Aren't ya both just the tiniest bit curious?"
The three of them then started to follow the crowd, wondering what was going on, Applejack, Big Mac, and Spyro followed their family to where ever it was they were heading to and a moment later, they saw that there was a big top with music playing and a huge crowd walking into the big top, the three of them walking into the big top to see a whole bunch of ponies there, a stage in the center of the room, but as Spyro walked in, he could smell something strong, making him cover his nose as he walked in.
"What's wrong Spyro?" Applejack asked.
"I smell something." Spyro replied, not liking what he was smelling. "And its something foul."
As he said it, the same shadowy figure appeared again near a machine and poured a red liquid into the machine, which diluted into the water and faded. A moment later, the lights in the big top started to dim down, Granny Smith and Apple Bloom pushing t the front as the spotlight lite up and in the light, there was a machine on the stage, which a green aura started to crank the machine as music came out and more Spot lights came on, revealing two silhouettes of a couple of unicorns.
"Thank you one and all for your attendance!" A male voice said, Spyro recognizing it.
"Oh you have got to be kidding me." Spyro said.
"And we guarantee that your tie will not be spent in vain!" The voice continued.
"In fact, we believe it will be the most valuable time you've ever spent!" The second male voice said, the curtains pulling back to reveal Flim and Flam, who were walking up to the front of the stage.
"MOTHERBUCKER!" Spyro shouted, everyone turning to him. "Flim and Flam!? What are you two con artists doing back here!?"
"Oh, you're highness, welcome to the show of a lifetime." Flim said, trying to put on a calm face.
"A demonstration of a better life!" Flam continued.
"A demonstration of a better time!" Flim said. "And if we haven't captured your interests just yet, by the time we finish, an unfortunate phenomenon practically guarentees that we will!"
"A phenomenon, what's that?" Flam asked.
"It's a circumstance that's perceptible to the senses, but in this case, it's the simple fact that..." Flim replied, only for music to start as the two brothers started to dance.
[Flim]
There's ailments all around us,
in everything we touch and see!
[Flam]
A sickness that lies waiting there,
in every breath you breathe!
[Flim]
The 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!
"Now I understand that some of you don't think you're sick." Film said, he and his brother hopping down.
"But twisted hooves and aching joints don't heal all that quick." Flam said.
"Unless yer Spyro and can heal over night." Applejack said, making Spyro smile at her.
"Consider just how dangerous this world is! You might..."
[Flam]
Slip and fall, break or sprain,
something here tonight!
Flam ended up tripping a bunch of injured and elderly ponies, which got on Spyro's nerves as they went on.
[Flim and Flam]
But luckily for you,
we've got the thing you need!
And it's easier when all you need's the cure,
The Flim Flam Miracle Curative Tonic,
Is just what the doctor ordered, I'm sure!
"On brother." Spyro said, not convinced by their claims.
"Now I know our claims seem fantastical." Flim said.
"Impractical." Flam added.
"Improbable." Flim continued.
"Impossible." Flam announced.
"And magical!" Flim and Flam said together.
"It's practically improbable and impossible." Spyro said.
"So we welcome every suffering pony to make their way up to the stage." Flim said.
"Now don't crowd." Flam announced.
"And we'll prove our tonic's effectiveness before your very eyes." Flim said.
They then began scanning the crowd for somepony when they saw who they were looking for.
"You there!" Flam shouted, pointing to a pony who was on crutches. "Come up here, good sir."
"I'll wager you're tired of those crutches, my friend." Flim said
"Try taking a sip of this!" Flam said.
He then brought out a bottle of the tonic and popped the cork open and poured the liquid into his mouth, showing how bitter the taste was, but a second later, he got out of his crutches, smiling like a madman, but Spyro was not convinced it worked.
[Flim and Flam]
That's why you're so lucky,
we've got the thing for you!
Just come on up,
we've always got some more!
Of the Flim Flam Miracle Curative Tonic!
[Unknown ponyl]
I won't need these crutches to dance out the door!
"Now how do ya like that?" Granny Smith asked
"Ah don't." Applejack said. "There's somethin' funny about this whole thing."
"I'm with you there AJ." Spyro said. "This is an old trick used by peddlers back in the Old West, paying people to try out their phony all healing products jst t make a sale."
[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 and I'll tell you,
that you don't need to fear.
Your ears will work, your muscles tone,
your eyes will see so clear!
[Chorus: Crowd]
Luckily 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 by far!
"It cures the reins, the spurs, and the Clydesdale fur blight." Flim said as the crowd was chanting tonic.
"Hooferia and horsentery cured in just a night." Flam said.
"Yeah right." Spyro said.
"You've got swollen hooves and hindquarters or terrible bridle-bit cleft." Flim said.
"Saunter sitz and gallop plop will give your tail some heft." Flam continued.
"Mane loss, hay fever, or terrible tonsillitis." Flim added.
"Common ailments and natural occurances that comes with getting old." Spyro said.
"You heard it here, folks!" Flam announced. "This is the only place in all of Equestria you'll find it!"
[Flim]
It can make you shorter, taller, or even grow old!
[Flam]
But who'd want that?
[Flim]
When with one drink,
[Flim and Flam]
You can be young again
"SOLD!" Ganny Smith shouted, pulling out some bits.
"Congratulations, Granny Smith!" Flim said, taking the money and pouring a fresh bottle from their machine. "You just made the purchase of a lifetime!"
"Are you as worried as I am?" Applejack asked.
"Eeyup." Big Mac said.
"Same here." Spyro said.
"My Miss Applejack, you look different than last we saw you!" Flam said. "You're positively glowing!"
"And a bit bigger than when we last saw." Flim said. "Are you having an eating disorder?"
"Back off charlatan." Spyro said, getting in front. "She's pregnant, not sick."
"Oh my, that's marvelous news!" Flim said. "Why, when the baby comes, it'll put a strain on you."
"Perhaps a bottle of our tonic will help when the baby comes." Flam said.
"I said back off!" Spyro shouted, getting in their faces before getting on the stage. "And I'm not convinced your tonic is on the level."
"Why, you doubt us?" Flim asked, smiling as he went to look at the crowd. "Why, let us show you we mean it. Now, let's see, who-"
"I'll be the one who will choose who will drink it." Spyro said, surprising the brothers as he scanned the crowd, finding a pony who had a bandages over his foreleg, his eye, and on his back. "You. Come up here bud." The pony was surprised to have been chosen as he limped towards the stage, FLim and Flam looking nervous as he approached. "What happened to you?"
"I had a serious accident that broke my leg, injured by back, and did some serious damage to my eye." The pony replied. "Doctors say my eye might not properly heal and I'll be blind in one eye."
"Don't worry bud, we'll get ya fixed up." Spyro said, turning to the brothers. "So here's your challenge Flim and Flam. Produce a fresh cup of your tonic from your machine and not from what's already on the shelves. Prove that it actually does what you claim it does."
The brothers looked nervous, looking tot he crowd as they awaited patiently for the brothers to get the tonic for the pony, both giving a nervous smile as Flim walked over to his machine and pulled a lever, producing a cup of the tonic and brought it over to Spyro and the injured pony. Spyro then took it and gave it to the pony, who drank it happily before his eyes widened and he nearly threw up, gagging from the taste as he staggered backwards.
"Ugh, that it the most foul tasting tonic I've ever drank!" The pony shouted. "Why it's so bad that..." He then stopped talking as a light came out of the bandages, traveling across his body all the way to the injuries, which his eye started glowing and then stopped, looking down and lifting his foreleg, showing it was fully healed, much to Spyro's shock. "It... it worked!" He then removed the bandage over his eye and revealing it was fully healed and his back was no longer hurting. "IT REALLY WORKED!"
"See, it really, truly worked." Flim said. "Are you convinced now?"
"That... that's impossible." Spyro said, not believing what he saw as he turned to the brothers, wondering how they did it.
After that demonstration, ponies all started clamoring for a fresh bottle, the brothers smiling as they made a whole bunch of money from their tonic, much to Spyro's displeasure as the family left. As the crowd got what they wanted, they all left and left the brothers alone as they went to their brewer, popping it open as they saw that they had just ran out.
"We got lucky brother." Flim said, looking to his brother. "We had just enough for the entire crowd."
"Indeed, and with the little test the prince made us do, it sold the fact that our tonic actually does what we claim it does." Flam said. "But I'm curious as to how it healed that pony. Our tonic is nothing more than regular apple juice and beet leaves."
"Perhaps I could enlighten you as to how it worked." A voice said, the brothers turning to the shadows as a dark green pony with a black mane, a pair of wings, and a cutie mark with a flask with smoke came out of it.
"Who are you?" Flim asked.
"I'm Blight." The pegasi replied. "Shadow Blight. And I'm the pony who will make you tons and tons of money. All you need to do as add a bit of this into your tonic." He then produced the same vial that he poured into their machine earlier, Flam using his magic to bring it over to them. "It's a little something that I got from my master, who wanted to see if it can do what he claims it can."
"And what exactly is it?" Film asked.
"Oh, it's not for you to worry yourselves about." Shadow Blight replied. "Just add it into your machine everytime you make your Tonic and let the liquid do the rest."
"But what do you get out of it?" Flam asked. "What's the catch?"
"No catch." Shadow Blight replied, turning around. "No catch at all."
The pony then started chuckling to himself as he walked out of the big top, leaving the two brothers alone and confused as they looked at the liquid they were holding, wondering what it was. A while later at a river, Applejack, Big Mac and Apple Bloom were near a river while Spyro was messing with his bracers, a screen popping up as he did some calculations to figure out how the brothers made the tonic.
"Wow, Ah can't believe Flim and Flam's tonic actually did everythin' that they claim it did!" Apple Bloom said.
"Sometimes when somepony says somethin' is too good to be true, it usually is." Applejack said.
"I agree." Spyro said, continuing his calculations. "I'm finding it hard to believe that Flim and Flam actually made a Tonic that goes around healing ponies of severe injuries."
"So, yer sayin' Granny wasted her money?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Well, Ah don't know about that." Applejack said. "But Ah know for a fact there isn't a tonic in Equestria that can make an old pony young again."
"You got a point there AJ." Spyro said, deactivating his screen. "Only way a pony can be young again is if the take a dip into or drink waters from the Fountain of Youth, or even drink Dragon blood."
"Dragon blood?" Apple Bloom asked, not looking comfortable about hearing that.
"Yeah, Dragon blood has healing properties and can make somepony young again if ingested." Spyro replied. "But only if ingested. And even then, it's ill advised."
"Why?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Howdy everypony!" Granny Smith shouted.
They all looked to the river and to their shock, Granny Smith was in the water doing the back stroke.
"Granny!?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Hang on Graany, we're comin' to rescue ya!" Applejack shouted.
Applejack, Spyro, and Big Mac started running along the side of the river to try and save Granny Smith. Big Mac took his harnass off and tossed it into the river, just missing Granny Smith as she just swam right by while Applejack kicked a tree and made it fall into the river to try and catch her, but Granny Smith just went around the tree, making them worry, so Spyro opened his mouth and released a wave of ice, freezing part of the river to catch her, but she just dove underneath the ice, surfacing. Second later like nothing was wrong. A moment later, they had reached a section of the river where they could hop down and get to the water, only for Granny Smith to walk out in her swimsuit like nothing was wrong, shaking the water off.
"Granny, what the heck are ya doin'!?" Apple Bloom asked. "Ah thought y'all were too afraid to swim. And what about your hip!?"
"Well it was a problem, but that was before Ah had me a dose of this here Flim Flam Tonic!" Granny Smith replied. "Mah hip has never felt better, Ah feel like Ah have more energy, why Ah feel fifty years younger because of it!"
"Um Granny, Ah'm not so sure that tonic does anything." Applejack said.
"Doesn't do anythin'!?" Granny Smith asked. "Well have a look at this!"
Granny Smith then downed the whole bottle, tossing it away before she started to tap dance before she started break dancing, coming to a halt by lying on her side before winking at them. They were all speechless, Spyro included, though he didn't believe it was from the tonic, still he looked at the bottle and saw a small amount of liquid was still in it and picked it up, looking at it before taking a whiff, gagging as soon as he smelled it.
"Ah'm glad yer feelin' good Granny, but how do ya know it's even from the tonic?" Applejack asked.
"Why when Ah looked at the water, Ah felt the same aches and pains Ah had." Granny Smtih said. "But one sip of that elixir and it all went away! Heck, Ah might even do all the chores myself!" She then rushed over and nudged Big Mac in the side, freaking him out. :"So what do ya say Big Mac, ya feel like some afternoon Apple Buckin'!?"
"Uh, nope." Big Mac replied.
"Oh, quit yer bellyachin' and let's go!" Granny Smith said, dragging Big Mac away while leaving Spyro, Applejack, and Apple Bloom behind, watching as the old mare was dragging Big Mac away.
"Wow, that tonic really does work." Apple Bloom said. "Wonder what's in it."
"Ah think it's time we found out." Applejack said.
"Agreed." Spyro said, holding the bottle. "There isn't much left in this bottle to get an accurate scan of what's in it. We'll need to find out ourselves."
That night, Applejack, Spyro and Apple Bloom were heading back to the Big top to find out how the tonic works, hearing them singing as they approached.
"So, ya think they'll tell us if we ask?" Apple Bloom asked.
"I doubt it." Spyro replied. "If the cure is genuine, then they'll be keen on wanting to keep it secret. But with how they acting this afternoon, the cure is nothing more than colored water."
[Unknown pony]
To dance out the door!
The three of them looked up and saw the same pony come out of the big top singing, wiping the sweat off his brow as he smiled.
"Hey, Ah know that pony!" Apple Bloom said, making the actor freeze and look to see the three of them. "He's the same pony we saw earlier drink the tonic-"
"And dance out the door." Spyro said, repeating the actors words.
The actor freaked out and ran away from them, Spyro and Applejack following close behind as the actor crashed itno some barrels, but kept going, finding himself cornered when he turned around and saw that his pursuers had caught up with him.
"Alright bud, you can't run now." Spyro said. "Now spill the beans. Who are you and why are you doing this?"
"I-I-I'm Silver Shill." The pony replied. "W-w-what do you want to know?"
"Our granny took some of that Tonic and we want to know how it works." Applejack said.
"Our granny couldn't swim before and now she can." Apple Bloom said. "Just like you couldn't walk, but now you can."
"And you're now back to the Big Top, singing the same song and doing the same routine." Spyro said, leering at him. "The Tonic doesn't work, does it?"
"W-w-what make you think that?" Silver Shill asked.
"Look pal, Ah'm tired and Ah'm pregnant." Applejack said. "Ya don't wanna know how much hurt a pregnant mare can put on ya, so tell us the truth!"
"AJ!" Spyro said, making Applejack look at him and realize what she said.
"Uh, sorry." Applejack said, looking to Silver Shill. "Now, it's time for ya to come clean. Now!"
Silver Shill looked around, trying to find a way out when he spotted a lever near him, hitting it and making the Organ Grinder blow out steam, blinding them as he fled, but Spyro was already on his trail, following him as he ran past a group of ponies who had the tonic with them and went into the Big Top, he and Applejack close behind as they stepped into the circus tent to confront him.
"Well, if it isn't our favorite Apple and prince!" Flim said.
"What brings you to our humble abode?" Flam asked, standing next to bags of money.
"Ah'll tell ya why we're back!" Applejack snapped, she and Spyro walking up t them. "Ya went and sold mah granny a bottle of that Tonic and now she's actin' like a filly again!"
"And what's so bad about that?" Flim asked.
"I'll tell you why that's bad." Spyro said. "In her state, if she continued to act like that, she'll collapse from exhaustion and who knows how it might affect her health. She's old. She can't handle that."
"Plus yer friend there is part of the act." Applejack said, pointing to Silver Shill. "He dresses up as somepony different every night just to sell that phony tonic."
"My, that's quite the accusation." Flam said.
"One I intend to prove." Spyro said. "I have a sample of the tonic from Granny Smith's bottle. Given enough time, I can prove that your tonic is fake."
"Alright, say that it is fake." Flim said, he and his brother heading to a table to get a juicer.
"Hypothetically." Flam said.
"And theoretically." Flim added.
"As we understood it, your granny was a famous aqua pony, right?" Flam asked.
"So what?" Applejack asked.
"What does that have to do with what we're talking about now?" Spyro asked.
"Well, she must have been good once upon a time." Flim said.
"And she hasn't been in the water ever since, right?" Flam asked.
"Until today." Applejack replied.
"Well, hypothetically speaking, if our tonic wasn;t a mixture of apple juice and beet leaves along with this secret ingredient we have here..." Flim said, holding up a vial of red liquid, which Spyro could smell and could tell it was a familiar scent.
They then put the beat leaf and the apple into the juicer with a small amount of the red liquid on top, now the scent was stronger and easier to figure out as they pour more juice into the bottle.
"Your granny is now happier than she was before she tried it." Flam said, corking the bottle.
"Ah... Ah guess." Applejack replied.
"Your still conning everypony out of their money!" Spyro exclaimed.
"Come now, all we're doing is giving ponies some hope." Flim said. "And now, the question to you is..."
"Do you both really want to take all of that away from her?" Flam asked, passing them a bottle.
Applejack looked at the bottle, knowing that her granny would be very sad if she did tell her that the tonic didn't work, but didn't want to lie to her either and loose her granny's trust.
"AJ, this is just a trick." Spyro said. "They know you wanna keep her happy, but-"
"There ya both are." Apple Bloom said, walking up to them. "Ah've been lookin' everywhere for ya. Did ya find out what was in the tonic?"
Applejack looked at her sister, then to the bottle and backto the brothers, not sure what to say before looking to Spyro, who was waiting for her to say something as she felt her own heart race.
"Honestly Apple Bloom..." Applejack began to say, Spyro listening to what she has to say. "As long as it works, Ah suppose there's no need to know what's in it."
Spyro was shocked to hear Applejack say that, understanding that she wants to keep Granny Smith happy, but at the cost of ruining their relationship when the truth came out and the lose of their money as well.
"Well, Ah guess if it doesn't matter to you, then it don't matter to me." Apple Bloom said.
The group then started to leave, Flim and Flam following close behind and waving to them.
"That's what we like to hear!" Flim said.
"Come back any time now!" Flam said, both brothers waving to them.
When they got home, Applejack and Spyro were both heading to bed, Spyro removing his jacket while Applejack put her hat on the stand, getting in bed while Spyro just stood in front of the window, not facing her and knowing she was disappointed him.
"Ah'm sorry Spyro." Applejack said.
"Why didn't you say anything?" Spyro asked, turning to her. "We both know that the tonic is nothing more than a fake. So why didn't you tell Apple Bloom and then your granny?"
"Because Ah wanna keep her happy." Applejack replied. "Even if the tonic is fake, in her mind, it's real and it works."
"That's because she thinks it works." Spyro replied, approaching the bed. "It's mind over matter. "It's basically the Sugar Pill trick."
"The what?" Applejack asked.
"Doctors would give their patients pills that had nothing but sigar when they were running out or if the patient was addicted to them." Spyro replied. "When the patient takes them, they think they got the medication and some would believe the doctors, some falling asleep, others thinking the pain is gone and in their minds, there is no pain. But if granny continues to drink the tonic and finds out that it didn't work, you won't just loose her trust, but also Apple Blooms as well because she'll know that you knew and didn't say anything."
Applejack was looking at Spyro, thinking about it before reaching under the bed and pulling out the tonic that Flim and Flam gave them, looking at it before looking to Spyro.
"So, what'll Ah do?" Applejack asked.
"You already know the answer AJ." Spyro replied, getting into the bed. "But the real question is, when are you going to tell them?"
Spyro then laid his head down to go to sleep, Applejack looking at the bottle before putting it on the nightstand as she shut the light off on her bedside table, laying down as she felt Spyro wrap his foreleg and wing around her, hearing Spyro's gentle breathing as he slept while she was wide awake thinking about what he said, closing her eyes and she knew she needed to tell the truth sooner or later. The next day, Spyro was in his garage doing some tests on the tonic that he and Applejack managed to get, looking at the mixed up juices and sniffing it, trying to recognize the oder as to him it was familiar.
"Hey Spyro!" Scootaloo said, running up to him. "Everypony else is at the water hole where we were yesterday! Wanna come along?"
"No thanks Scoots." Spyro replied. "I need to figure out what's in this tonic."
"But didn't Applejack say it doesn't matter what's in it as long as Granny Smith is happy?" Scootaloo asked.
"I know, but I'm more curious about how it healed somepony even though it's fake." Spyro replied.
"Fake?" Scootaloo asked. "Wait, you're saying you already know what's in it!?"
"Partially." Spyro replied. "It's a combination of Apple Juice with beet leaves. And the cherry on top was some kind of red liquid they poured on top, which it smelled an awful lot like blood."
"B-blood?" Scootaloo asked.
"Don't worry about that." Spyro said. "Just let me focus on what's in the tonic. You go out and have fun."
"Ok, I guess." Scootaloo said.
She then started making her way out of the garage while Spyro got back to work on the tonic, attaching the top of the bottle to the tubing that connected to his chemistry set, which the suction took out some of the liquid from the bottle, the tube turning it upside down to make the tonic pour into the machine, putting in a few commands as he got started.
"AIVA, begin analyzing the liquid for any and all compounds that's in it." Spyro said "I wanna figure out what's in it and while it has a acidic metalic smell to it."
"Certainly sir, one moment." AIVA said, numbers going by as she was calculating something. "Sir, this is unusual."
"What's unusual?" Spyro asked.
"There is a liquid in the tonic that seems to have healing properties." AIVA replied. "However, it's diluted due to the amount put into the tonic. It will take some time for me to decipher what the liquid."
"Hmm, in that case, I might as well go swimming." Spyro said. "Send me a message when the analysis is complete."
"Affirmative sir." AIVA replied.
Spyro then walked out of the garage to go and swim with the others when he spotted a note on the ground, picking it up to see what was written.
"Spyro, we're headin' bacl to Flim and Flam to get more of the tonic." Spyro said, reading the note. "We'll be heading to the Ponyville swimming competition after we get more of the tonic. Hope to see you there. Granny. AJ, what have you done?"
He then tossed the note and ran towards the big top to try and stop them from getting the tonic, only to see that Flim and Flam were packing up their crates of tonic.
"Ah, your highness!" Flim said.
"Can it side show reject!" Spyro exclaimed. "Where is Applejack and the other apples?"
"Oh, straight and to the point." Flam said. "They went to the swimming competition."
"And they gave us a whole bag of bits to pay for a whole supply of our tonic." Flim said. "Heck, even Applejack said that our tonic works wonders for everypony, boosting our sales sky high!"
"She what!?" Spyro shouted, looking to Ponyville. "AJ, why?"
At the pool, the competition was underway with some ponies diving into water and judges were judging how the dives were, Granny Smith and Apple Bloom stretching as they got ready for the swimming competition.
"Now remember you two." Applejack said. "The most important thing is to be safe and have fun, right?"
"Fiddlesticks to that Applejack!" Granny Smith said. "With the routine we've been workin' on, Ah'll be a plum puddin' if we don't win this thing."
Granny Smith then winked at Apple Bloom, confident about the competition, which Applejack seemed a bit more unsure about it than her little sister or her grandmother.
"Well, good luck then." Applejack said.
"Luck!?" Granny Smith asked, showing how confident she was. "Who needs luck when ya have this here tonic by our side!"
She then pulled out a bottle of the tonic and started chugging it down, much to Applejack's dismay as she watched her granny drink it.
"Uh, Granny, that's your seventh bottle today." Maybe you should-"
"Flim Flam's Magical Curative tonic!" Film shouted, the crowd gathering to see it. "Get your Applejack approved tonic. Granny Smith drinks it, why shouldn't you!?"
Granny Smith then downed the whole bottle again, but as she did, she opened her eyes and they started glowing before changing to dragon eyes, tossing the bottle away as she wiped her mouth.
"Now if you excuse us, we got some swimmin' to do." Granny Smith said.
Applejack was unsure of this, starting to regret everything she said and wishing she had told the truth sooner before walking back to the bleachers to watch the show.
"AJ!" Spyro exclaimed, flying down.
"Spyro, ya made it." Applejack said.
"AJ, why did you say that the tonic works when we know it's made with ingredients that have no medicinal purposes?" Spyro asked. "We both know it does no good."
"Ah'm sorry Spyro." Applejack replied. "Ah just couldn't bring myself to ruin my granny's happiness."
"But-" Spyro said, trying to say something when they both looked to the pool, seeing how well Apple Bloom and Granny Smith were swimming, performing their routine, seeing how well and elegant they were swimming and when they reached the end of their routine, with Apple Bloom standing on Granny Smith's shoulders and each with a foreleg extended out, the entire crowd was cheering for the two of them as the judges all held up tens, showing they loved the act. "Wow, that was... awesome."
"Well Ah'll be." Applejack said, the two of them coming out of the water as they were handed the first place trophy, getting swarmed by reporters who wanted to have an exclusive with them.
"That was the best water aerobics I ever saw in my life." A reporter said. "How did you do it? Practice? Hard Work?"
"Actually, it was the tonic." Granny smith said, removing her cap.
"That's right!" Flim said, he and his brother coming to their side. "Thanks to Flim Flam's Curative Tonic, these two managed to win this!"
"Get yours now while supplies last!" Flam said, Granny grabbing both and downing them instantly. "That is if there's any left."
"Why is Granny drinking that like she walked through a desert?" Spyro asked.
"Ah have no idea." Applejack replied. "For some reason she's been chuggin' them things like they're the only thing keepin' her alive."
Spyro was watching as the crowd was gathering around them, Granny smiling and waving to them, but when her eyes were in view of Spyro, he could see that they were dragon eyes instead of her regular eyes, which made his heart drop in his stomach as he had a bad feeling about what was going on.
"Oh no." Spyro said.
"What's wrong?" Applejack asked.
"AJ, how many of those things did she drink?" Spyro asked.
"Plus those two, nine." Applejack replied.
"It can't be." Spyro said. "Dragon's blood?" A moment later, his bracers went off, seeing that he was receiving a message from AIVA as she had found something. "AJ, I need to get this. Would you mind if I left for a second?"
"No problem sugarcube." Applejack replied. Spyro then left to get the call and as he left, she saw Silver Shill wearing a stripped shirt with a tray that had a lot of tonic on it, selling a bottle, so she walked over to see what was going on. "What the heck are you doing here Shill?"
"Oh, hey AJ." Silver Shill said. "Business was going so well, Flim and Flam gave me a promotion. And look, I just made my first bit as a sales pony. No more costumes for this pony."
"Uh huh." Applejack said, seeing he was still wearing a costume.
"Uh, this is actually more of a uniform than a costume." Silver Shill said.
"If you say so." Applejack said.
"You know, I use to wonder if I was doing the right thing by putting on those costumes and pretending to be cured just to lie about this tonic." Silver Shill said. "But thanks to you, I realized that Honesty sometimes isn't the best policy."
"Because of... me?" Applejack asked, feeling her heart stop as she looked to the brothers, which Apple Bloom was on the mini stage talking about the tonic.
"With Flim Flam's Curativ tonic, mah granny can do anything." Apple Bloom said. "Just ask Applejack."
Everyone then turned to Applejack, which she felt nervous as they started taking photo's of her, which got on her nerves as she decided that enough was enough.
"That does it!" Applejack exclaimed, spooking everyone. "This has gotta stop. If everypony keeps believing that can do thing it can't, who knows what'll happen."
"Uh, ya mean something like that?" Silver Shill asked, pointing to the high dive.
They all looked up to see that Granny Smith was climbing the ladder, waving to them, which Applejack felt her heart race as she ran over to the high dive, Apple Bloom pushing a dish over full of water.
"Apple Bloom!" Applejack shouted, running over. "What's going on here!? What in Tarnation is Granny doing!?"
"Oh, Granny's going to attempt the Equestria High Divin' record." Apple Bloom replied.
Applejack looked up at the high diving board, feeling her heart about to explode from what she was seeing.
"For goodness sake!" Applejack said, running around to the side and reachign the ladder to climb up the ladder as Granny Smith drank another bottle of the tonic, licking her lips as she tossed the bottle away, her eyes glowing as her tongue changed. "Granny wait!"
However, Granny Smith jumped off the diving board, Applejack looking around to think of what to do when she spotted a rope, getting it and fashioning a lasso out of the rope before using it to catch her granny, mean centimeters from the water, which she wasn't so happy about.
"Applejack, what the hey!" Granny Smith shouted. "What in tarnation did ya have to go and do that for!?"
"Granny, out of all the ponies Ah expect to try this, this has gotta be the most fool pony thing ya ever did!" Applejack shouted back. She then rushed over to the ladder and slid down it, walking back over to her grandmother, which she seemed angry. "Ya can't do that!"
"And why the heck not!?" Granny Smith asked, getting out of the rope. "Ah've had enough tonic to dive ten times as high!"
"Twenty times as high by my count." Flim said.
"Thirty with a favorable breeze." Flam said, giving her another bottle.
She looked at the bottle thirstily, popping the cork to drink it, but as soon as she started drinking it, the light from the sun hit the bottle, creating a rainbow, which Applejack's eyes started to glow as a rainbow, knowing she couldn't let them get away with this.
"Ah hate to disappoint everypony, but there is no way that granny could make that dive!" Applejack said, walking up. "Because this tonic-"
"Is poison." Spyro said, walking up as everyone looked at them.
"Spyro?" Granny Smith asked. "When did y'all get here?"
"I got here a little while ago." Spyro replied. "And I'm glad I did."
"Ah'm sorry for what Ah said everypony." Appejack said. "Ah know Ah said the tonic was good and all, but the tonic is actually fake."
"Wait, seriously!?" A pony in a wheelchair asked. "But you gave it your stamp of approval!"
"Are you saying you lied!?" Another pony asked.
"Well, in a way, Ah did." Applejack replied, everyone gasping. "Ah didn't mean to, but when Ah saw how happy it made everypony, Ah couldn't bring myself to say that it was fake." She then removed her hat, knowing she did was wrong as she looked up at them, giving them a look that said she was sorry. "Ah know Ah was wrong. Ah hope that in time, y'all can forgive me and Ah can earn back yer trust."
"But, if the tonic was fake, then how was Granny Smith able to swim again?" Apple Boom asked. "And what about all that Aquabatic stuff?"
"And what about the pony who was fully healed?" Flim asked, with a smug look.
"And the others who were healed from our tonic?" Flam asked.
"I can answer that question." Spyro said, not looking too pleased as he approached. "Flim, Flam, when in all of Equestria did you get dragon's blood?"
The crowd gasped, Flim and Flam looking horrified as he asked the question.
"W-what are you talking about?" Flim asked.
"We don't have any Dragon's blood!" Flam shouted.
A moment later, Spyro used the Force and yanked the vial out of Flam's jacket, everyone seeing it as Spyro glarred at them.
"Do you even know the risks that comes with the cunsumption of dragon's blood!?" Spyro shouted. "In small amounts, it can heal highly critical and life threatening illnesses and injuries! But in large quantities, it has near irreversible side effects that could ruin a ponies life!"
"But everypony only took one bottle a piece." Flim said.
"Yeah, and no pony has any sighs of any side effects." Flam said. "Just look at Granny Smith. She seems alright."
Spyro looked at Granny Smith, seeing her eyes were dragon like before looking behind her, looking back up at Granny as he saw something.
"Granny, could you show us your tail real quick?" Spryo asked.
"Why, what's wrong with it?" Granny Smith asked, turning around to show she had a dragon's tail with a spiked ball, making everyone gasp while Granny Smith screamed, falling over to where she was looking at her reflection in the tin with the water, seeing her eyes and she screamed before seing her tongue and continued screaming. "WHAT THE FLIP FLAP APPLE BUCKIN' HECK IS HAPPENIN' TO ME!?"
"Granny calm down." Spyro replied. "It's a side effect of drinking so much dragons blood."
"A side effect?" Flim asked, starting to sweat.
"Yes, a side effect." Spyro replied. "Drinking it in small quantities only heals you, but in large amounts, you start to slowly turn into a dragon or acquire dragon-like features. In this case, Granny Smith has dragon eyes, a dragon tongue, a dragon tail-"
"Uh Spyro." Granny Smith said, getting his attention. "Is it bad that Ah'm startin' to crave meat now?"
"And a dragon's urge for wanting to eat meat." Spyro said, making everyone drop their bottles. "And that's just the tip of it. It can also lead to acquiring unwated knowledge, dagon-like behavior, nausea, stomach aches, uncontrollable transformations, addiction to the blood-"
"So they were selling us a drug!?" Someone shouted, everyone glarring at Flim and Flam.
"But what about Granny bein' able to swim?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Ah think that sometimes we forget what we're capable of." Applejack replied, walking over and hugging her grandmother. "And it takes a little confidence to remind us of what we can do and that it was inside of us the entire time." She then turned to Flim and Flam, who looked nervous as Applejack walked over. "As for you two, lyin' about your tonic bein' able to do all those things and sellin' tonic spiked with dragon's blood is just wrong."
"Not to mention illegal." Spyro said, walking over. "I think the princess would love to hear how y\the both of you came to acquire something this dangerous."
"B-b-b-b-but Applejack said it helps to boost confidence." Flim said.
'And that's not all it does folks-" Flam said, trying to save their product.
"Yes it is!" Silver Shill said, showing he had thrown the tray of tonic down. "In fact it's not a tonic at all. It's just Apple juice with beet leaves in it with that dragon blood mixed in. How do I know? I helped t make it." He then walked up, Flim and Flam sweating harder than before as he approached. "After seeing App,ejack save Granny Smith and then admit that she lied, it made me realize that I was helping ponies believe in something that wasn't so."
"Believin' in somethin' can help ya do many amazin' things." Applejack said.
"But if it's based on lies and deceipt, then it will lead to real danger and seriosu consequences." Spyro said, continuing what she was going to say. "If something is too good to be true, then assume it is nothing more than a hoax or a scam."
"Amen to that my friend." Silver Shill said, pulling out the bit he made. "I got this thorugh dishonest work. It's a mistake I won't be making again."
"You know, I checked the tonic that you made and it could be an amazing brand of juice." Spyro said. "How's about you open your own juice shop and sell your product for everypony to enjoy."
"You think I can?" Silver Shill asked.
"I know you can." Spyro said, putting his hoof on the ponies shoulder.
"Wow, if you think so, then I should go for it!" Silver Shill said, takign Applejack's hoof and giving her the bit. "You should have this. As a way of you helping me to finally see the truth within all the lies."
"Are ya sure?" Applejack asked.
"Oh don't worry, I'll track the pony who I sold that poisoned tonic to and give him a new one to replace this one." Silver Shill said.
Applejack smiled, looking to Spyro as he wrapped his wing around her barrel, planting a kiss on her head befoe looking at the bit, which a rainbow light went across it, getting Spyro's attention as he looked at it.
"Ah'm sorry Ah lied to ya granny." Applejack said, turning to her. "I hope ya don't stop swimmin'."
"Why in tarnation would Ah do that!?" Granny Smith asked. "Why Ah'll keep on swimmin' every chance Ah get until I finally kick the bucket! But, uh, Ah'd like to swim as a regular pony."
"Well Granny, you might be in luck." Spyro said, walking over. "Though you drank a lot of the tonic, it's diluted enough to where the transformation isn't permanent. And with the remaining bottles, I think I can create an antidote to reverse the transformation."
"That's wonderful to hear!" Granny Smith said. "Ah just can't believe Ah let them lyin' sales ponies believe Ah can fly!"
"Well, if you drank another of those tonics, you might have grown a pair of dragon wings and would be able to." Spyro replied, spooking her. "Of course you'd probably be sending a whole bunch of Pegasi to the looney bin if you did."
"Speakin' of them deceivers, where'd they go?" Granny Smith asked, lookign around.
"There they go!" Apple Bloom shouted, pointing in their direction.
"I got this." Spyro said. He opened his mouth and immediately a green energy ball and chain came out of his mouth, yanking on the chain until he bit down and severed the connection, spinning the ball around before striking it on the ground to make it catch fire as he smiled. "HE HA HA, @*#% YOU!" he then threw the flaming energy ball and it flew all the way to the fleeing brothers, who had the large sacks of money on their backs as the ball exploded, making gold bits fall from the sky as everyone looked up. "Well what do ya know? I made it rain."
Everyone was laughing, finding the little remark amusing while Spyro and Applejack leaned into one another, looking up as it continued to rain bits. Meanwhile in the distant future, Shadow Blight was smiling as he was approaching the throne room that Princess Celestia once sat on, now the Dark Overlord was sitting upon it as he had tubes connected to him, extracting his blood as the green pegasi approached.
"Report." The Dark Overlord said, removing the tubes.
"The test was a resounding success!" Shadow Blight said. "Oh, you should have seen it. First, I put it in the tonic to see the effects it had for healing purposes and-"
"SILENCE!" The Dark Overlord shouted, dark bolts of lightnin shooting out, which he ducked behind a pillar for safety and only oppped his head back out when he knew it was safe. "I want to know if you can extract and seperate the dragon portion of my blood from the pony part."
"Well, yes I can." Shadow Blight replied. "But the process is quite slow. It'll take months for me to perfect the method."
"I don;t care how long it takes, make it so!" The Dark Overlord shouted, getting up and walking to the scared pegasi. "I was betrayed by the pony I considered my daughter, one of my minions was destroyed due to a rampaging prince, and now I have reports of more and more unknown ponies popping up and slaughtering my men." Shadow Blight was backing up the whole time he was talking, backing himself into a wall as the Dark Overlord towered over him. "I want my minions to be invincible. And if infusing them with dragon blood, my blood, can make them stronger, then I have nothing to loose, now do I?"
"N-n-no sire." Shadow Blight replied, looking nervous. "I'll see about improving the formula and getting it don'e quickly."
"You had better." The Dark Overlord said, Shadow Blight running out to get way from him "For your sake."
Back in the present, Spyro was updating his list of items that had the rainbow aura, placing a bit next to Applejack's image as the farm mare came into the room and put her hat up.
"Hoo-doggy." Applejack said. "Feels good to get that off of my chest."
"I bet it was." Spyro said, putting the tablet away. "I'm proud of you for speaking the truth. Who know's how much harm would have come to granny if she went through with that jump."
"Ah;m sure we don't wanna find out." Applejack said, making them both laugh. "So, you say you can make an antidote for Granny?"
"Yeah, i should be able to concoct something that should bring her back to her old self again." Spyro replied. "It'll take a couple of weeks or so, but I should be able to make something that should do the trick."
"Good." Applejack said, yawning as she got into the bed. "Well, we better get some sleep hun. We gt a lot of work in the mornin'."
"No arguements there." Spyro said, turning the light off. As they got in bed and Spyro wrapped his foreleg and wing back around Applejack, Applejack was closing her eyes when she felt a slight ping in her gut, groaning as she curled up a bit, Spyro looking at her with worry as her eyes shot open. "Aj, you ok!?"
"Yeah, yeah Ah think so." Applejack replied, looking at him. "Ah think the baby just kicked."
"Are you serious!?" Spyro asked, placing his hoof on her large belly as he felt another kick. "She did kick."
"Just think, in another five months, our little baby girl will be born." Applejack said, looking to Spyro. "Have ya thought of any names for her yet?"
"Well, I kinda got a few ideas." Spyro replied. "I was thinking something along the side of the apple family and apple related names. Something along the line of Candy Apple. Or maybe Autumn Harvest. Or even Honeycrisp or even Cherry Apple."
"Spyro, does the color of a dragon's scales affect their element?" Applejack asked.
"In some cases yeah." Spyro replied. "Depending on the color of the scales is the element a dragon has."
"And Ah;ve been able to use earth magic." Applejack said. "Maybe she'll have earth powers."
"More than likely AJ." Spyro replied, hugging her. "More than likely." Applejack returned the hug, closing her eyes as she did, but she then felt like her stomach was upset, her eyes opening wide as they suddenly turned to emerald green dragon eyes, closing them quickly as she groaned. "AJ, you ok?"
"Yeah, Ah need to use the restroom!" Applejack said, getting up. "Ever since the pregnancy, Ah've been needin' to use the bathroom more! Gotta go!"
She the. Burst through the door, stopping for a second to try and not pee her self as she opened her eyes again, which went back to normal as she rushed to the bathroom.