A Wise Decision

Chapter 2: Open For Business

‘I really should’ve thought this through.’

The blanket of darkness that covered the Apple family farm made it incredibly difficult to navigate the landscape. Even with her years of experience, Applejack was bumping into: trees, rocks, and other natural decorations. An elevated heart rate didn’t help the situation either, as it lead to unnecessary jumps and scares, due to small noises. Applejack was still in a heat from the rather intimate situation, not five minutes ago.

She tried to shake her head free of the unwanted thoughts. But the constant heat on her face prevented that tactic from working. The question of how to get rid of the heat melted into, is it really a bad thing? Another question happened to be, when in the hay did they get all these pointy rocks?

Applejack had a bit of luck when she spotted a dull light from her house. Sighing in relief, she moved full speed towards said house. She knew that there couldn’t be any obstacles, because she could see the light, so there was no reason for reservation. Steps here and there landed uncomfortably on the ground. Applejack’s teeth, like old gears, grinded against each other to distract from the pain in her hooves. The farm girl eventually made it to her front door. Lifting a hoof, she turned the handle.

Opening the door, a horrible sight was waiting for her. The living room was a comfortable, small area, with two different seats. One was a large green recliner, which Granny Smith sat in. Another was a red, three chaired sofa, which an angry Big Macintosh and a downcast Apple Bloom occupied.

“We need a serious talk about this.” Granny Smith spoke in monotone.

“About what?” Applejack inquired, as she closed the door and entered the building fully.

“About those Flim Flam brothers you seem to be so happy with.” Granny Smith barked.

“What about them? I’ve been with them all day, and I can tell that they really are good--”

“Ain’t nothing good about them, Applejack. They’re salesponies, everything they told you was just to trick you. They don’t have a single honest bone in their body!”

“I tried to convince them, but they won’t listen to me.” Apple Bloom said to Appleajck, moving over to her.

“Now Applejack, I know that you want to help your friends.” Granny Smith continued, barely changing her tone. “But there are things that we need to preserve, tradition being one of them.”

“But Granny, I’m tryin’ to do what’s best for everypony. Is it fair that so many walk away disappointed, even though they support us year after year? How is it right to ignore like they somehow don’t matter! ” Applejack spoke through the adrenaline pulsing through her veins.

“Sis, I don’t think that’s how you should be talkin’ that way to Granny.” Big Macintosh reprimanded.

“I just think that we need to give the Flim Flam Brothers a chance. They put hard work into their machine, just like we--”

“Don’t you compare us with them Applejack! They’re nothing but trouble.”

“How could you know that? Do you know what pain those boys have been through? Disowned by their own parents while they were youngins. Travelin’ from town to town, nopony ever giving them a chance. How can we turn a blind eye to that.” Applejack said growing upset.

“Yeah, why shouldn’t we get help from ponies who just want to help us!” Apple Bloom started in, hopping every few syllables. “C'mon Big Macintosh, you know what I’m sayin, right?”

“Nope.” Apple Bloom shrunk at the answer, as the other two mares continued arguing.

“Why are you so attached to those no good tricksters?” Granny Smith asked as Applejack’s face grew red. “No.”

“What?”

“Don’t tell me that you have feelings for them.”

Applejack’s body went rigid, and her mouth opened in shock. Broken words tripped their way out of her mouth. The apple buckers big brother facehoofed, while her little sister started to squeal. Granny Smith was in utter disbelief. She knew when Applejack was hiding something; it was something else that was greatly bothering her.

“I can’t believe you would fall for unicorn salesponies.”

“I told you I ain’t. . . Wait, what’s wrong with that?”

“Salesponies are scam artists who--”

“No, not that. The unicorn part, what’s wrong with me likin’ unicorns?”

“You know just as well as I do that our family are earth ponies.”

“What about Crisp Apple, and Caramel Apple? They’re both unicorns.Two of my best friends are unicorns!”

“It’s not something I like talkin’ about, alright?” Granny Smith declaimed leaving Applejack agape.

“I can’t believe I’m hearing this! You know what, I’m hitting the hay, and tomorrow you can say hello to our new partners!”

Storming up stairs, Applejack left a silent room behind her.

“Brother, is this the right decision?” Flim asked sitting next to his brother, a firefly lamp lighting the immediate vicinity. They had found it stuffed away in their cart, and had spent the last few minutes gathering fireflies.

“What do you mean? Of course it is! We finally get to show off The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000.” Flam said barely holding back his glee.

“I mean, fair to Applejack.”

“Are we not providing her and the Apples with the most ingenious machine in the past millennia? What exactly is not far?”

“You know, as well as I do, that it’s not the business that’s the problem.”

“Yeah, I know brother. The Apple family has always been very regressive. The fact Applejack isn’t. . . It’s a true blessing to us.”

“That’s just it brother, it’s all profiting us!”

“How exactly is that wrong again?”

“Flam, you can’t be serious. You know that this deal is going to hurt Applejack, badly.”

“Yes, I remember Baltimare clearly, but it can be different this time. We know the mistakes we’ve made before and how to prevent it.”

“That’s not the point! We’re splitting another family apart. We’re taking a mare who has shown us kindly rarely seen before, and ruining her life.”

“What you don’t get Flim, is that we couldn’t harm her even if we tried. She’s too strong to have any colt, mare, or filly bring her down, and with us around, it’s a guarantee she’ll be ok!”

“I hope you’re right brother. I really, really do.”

A roosters crow awoke the residence of the Apple farm. Applejack and Apple Bloom donned great smiles, as they, in their respective rooms, jumped out of their beds and prepared themselves for the day ahead. The elder sister took a few seconds to comb her hair in front of a small hoof mirror, while the younger used magnificent speed to organize her hair and bow in her own way. A simple adjusting of a hat and bow, the sisters simultaneously made there way to the front door.

“I’m so excited, I can’t wait to see the look on everypony’s face when they all get some cider!” Apple Bloom exclaimed with a smile that should be physically impossible.

“I’ll be glad when I don’t have to announce that we’ve run out of cider.” Applejack said with a relieved sigh.

“Hey Applejack, do you know where Granny and Big Macintosh are?”

“Uh, they’re probably waiting at the stand for us.”

“Oh, well let’s go then!”

The sisters began walking out of their house, and began quickly trotting to the stand, no longer able to get their excitement hidden. It took a matter of seconds for them to spot the stand, but without the speculated family members waiting for them there. Instead they were greeted with a long line of ponies, and two brothers waving frantically at them.

“Apples, you finally made it!” Flim and Flam cried out.

“Of course we did, it’s our sale after all!” Apple Bloom shot back, causing the brothers to chuckle.

The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000 had already been hard at work. Barrels upon barrels stacked on each other, just waiting for consumption. Ponies in line started to drool at the idea of the limitless cider. Apple Bloom took her position at the stand, getting ready to serve up the cider.

“Alright everypony, order up!”

“Hold it everpony, just a second!” Applejack quickly said, tugging on the back of the Flim Flam brothers necks to make a quick huddle.

“What about the rest of the contract?” She whispered to the brothers.

“We took the liberty. . .” Flim began with usual gusto.

“. . . Of signing the contract last night . . .” Flam continued, speaking just like his brother.

“. . . Seeing as how we covered almost everything . . .”

“. . .All that’s left is for you to sign.”

Flam took out the contract from his shirt, along with a pen, and hoofed it over to Applejack. She glanced over it one last time. She saw that there weren’t any noticeable changes made since last night. Applejack took the pen and signed the contract with her mouth.

“Now, it’s time to begin!” Applejack exclaimed, getting a roar of approval from everypony present.

The second day of cider season began just right. The sun was high in the sky, leaving no shadow untouched. Apples on the trees glistened like morning dew. Even the dirt road seemed to be swept clean, as it had a perfect sand colored cover. The Apples broken fence from the previous day, as a result of Flim and Flams entrance, still leaned at an acute angle.

The line that use to stretch on for miles, dwindled down in a matter of minutes. One particular cyan pegasus was shaking with joy. Her tongue fell out of her mouth, drool increasing as she got closer and closer to the stand.

Rainbow Dash stood in front of the yellow earth pony, Apple Bloom, and the two engaged in a shiny, gleaming, death battle of smiles.  As two bits lay on the table before her, Apple Bloom grabbed a mug, and began to fill it completely, delicious froth spilling out from the top.

Unable to wait any longer, Dash grabbed the mug, and brought it up to her mouth. She savored the moment, as the froth connected with her lips. Then the edge of the mug secured itself between the upper and bottom lip. Rainbow’s head tipped back as the heavenly liquid gently slalomed across her tongue and down her throat.

Just like that, years of pain were forgotten. Rainbow fell into the ecstasy, along with every other pony that got a drink. They all stood in the general area in front of the cider stand. They didn’t know what to really do after everypony got a drink, this being the first time. So the citizens of Ponyville just talked. Sharing everything from, mundane concerns, to weddings, reunions, etc.

“So, did we tell you our machine was great. . .” Flim began

“Or did we tell you our machine was great?” Flam finished high hoofing his brother.

“Yeah, yeah, keep your hats on.” Applejack said with smile, shaking her head at the brothers antics. “So how early were you guys out here, and where did you go to sleep?”

“We’ve been out here all night, we kinda just sleep on the Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000.” Flam said with a simple shrug.

“Wait, you guys slept out here? In the cold. Why?” Applejack said surprised.

“It’s what we do. We’ve traveled all across Equestria, sleeping outside is more natural to us honestly.” Flim answered just as casually as his brother.

“Hmm, you guys really don’t have to do that anymore, not since you’re helping us.”

“And what exactly did you have in mind?”

“W-Well I thought that you could possibly. . . I mean, maybe if you wanna, I’m not going to force ya. . . “

“Whaddaya tryin’ to say Applejack?” Apple Bloom asked, with the brothers standing nearby, their attention caught.

“Can you move in with us?” Applejack murmured to herself.

“What was that?”

“Can you move in with us?”

“Pardon?”

“Oh in tarnation, will you move in with us!” Applejack shouted.

All the commotion ceased at that moment. Nopony misunderstood the words, yet there were a few different interpretations out in the open. While some ponies swooned at the romantic implications, others giggled perversely. Even Rainbow Dash, who was still on a high from the cider, grew red as a result of her own imagination.

Applejack stood through the embarrassment strong, and looked Flim and Flam in the eyes. The two stallions returned the look, albeit a lot more weak kneed then the mare standing in front of them. They looked at each other, sweating profusely, but nodded their heads in mutual understanding. Flim and Flam nodded again, this time at Applejack, who shined a smile at them.

“Do you need help with moving any stuff inside?” Applejack said moving over to the cider machine, looking for personal belongings.

“We don’t really bring much with us, just the shirts on our back and the Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000.” Flam said to the farm mare.

“Oh, well then. I guess you guys can just move right in.” Applejack asserted, hoping off the machine. “We have a guest room with a couple beds. That’ll be ok, right?”

“Are you sure, we wouldn’t want to be an imposition.” Flim asked slightly wary of the generosity.

“Of course you guys aren’t an impos-, an impi-. . . Of course you guys aren’t a bother, just look around! You’ve done something I’ve dreamt of since I was a little filly, you made every single pony happy during cider season, and only in one day. Givin’ you a place to stay is the least I could do.” Applejack elaborated. She wasn’t prepared though when the brothers shook their heads in negation.

“No, it’s actually all because of you AJ.” Flim said putting his arm over her.

“Yeah, if you didn’t say yes, none of this would’ve happened.” Flam said mirroring his brothers lead.

“Oh, garsh guys, I don’t know what to say.” Applejack said hiding herself behind her hat.

“But we do!”

“Three cheers for Applejack everypony!”

“Hip-hip hooray!” All of Ponyville joined in the cheer.

“Hip-hip hooray!”

“Hip-hip--”

“Just wait a dang gone minute!” An elderly voice shouted. Granny Smith and Big Mac strolled up to the group, with gnarled frowns doned on their faces.

“Ah, Granny Smith, it’s so good to see yo--” Flam began but was abruptly stopped.

“Now feller hold it there for one second! You never got my permission to use our apples in your heartless brew.” Granny Smith quickly narrowed the gap, and began poking Flam in the chest. “You are nothin’ but a bunch of lyin’, good-for-nothin’, cheatin’, cowards! You are not welcome here. Get off of our farm immediately!”

“Granny, where have you and Big McIntosh been all day?” Apple Bloom asked.

“We were talkin’ about this mess, and we’ve figured out how we’re going to handle it.”

The brothers looked at each other warily, then they shrugged their shoulders. Both of them looked at Apple Bloom who started looking very uncomfortable. Applejack starred on with bated breath, truly conflicted as to what she should do. While she knew what Granny was saying was wrong, it’s not like she could actually say it in front of everypony. If only there were some kind of sign, to tell her what to do.

“You liars will not fool anypony else here! Especially Applejack, tryin’ to seduce her and whatnot.”

The true definition of quite took form. Everypony looked with bugged eyes at Granny Smith, and like acting with a single mind, they moved their gaze over to the brothers and Applejack. Gears in their heads turned slowly. Flim, Flam, and Applejack this time refused to meet eyes.

Since movement was a rare things at that moment, the sudden motion of the red stallion was a slightly jolting experience. Big McIntosh walked over to the stack of cider, and stood in front of it without a single word. His head cocked sideways, like he was looking at an abstract painting.

“Hey big guy, is there something we can help you with?” Flim asked cautiously, standing behind Big Mac alongside his brother.

“Nope.” Big McIntosh said simply. . . As he bucked his two hind legs into the chests of Flim and Flam.

The brothers went flying into two separate, yet equally stiff, trees. These walls of wood stood a full twenty feet away from the launch pad. Applejack quickly rushed to the side of the slumped over salesponies, accompanied by her sister. They were still conscious, but in serious pain.  Distracted by the sudden violence, the citizens then turned their notice to the destruction of cider by the rampaging stallion.

“That’s right McIntosh, makes sure there’s not a drop left.” Granny Smith yelled, encouraging with a huge, close-eyed smile.

“What the hay has gotten into you two!?!” Applejack demanded with an ember burning in her eyes.

“Applejack, if you don’t listen to reason, then that’s up to you. But you ain’t gonna bring the rest of the family in on this.”

“Eeyup.” Big Mac said joining the side of his grandmother.

“You two have crossed the line! I don’t care what you have against these two, but this ain’t how you handle it!” Applejack yelled, ember turning into flames.

“I don’t like that tone you’re carrying young lady.”

“And I don’t really care!”

“Applejack. . .”

“No, you don’t understand Granny. Flim and Flam came here trying to make something of themselves, and in doing that, they’re helping us too. They are good friends to our family, and now you’re pushing them away!”

“And here Applejack, I thought you cared for the family.”

“I do, that’s why I signed a contract with these two.”

“You did what!?!”

“That’s right Granny, I already signed the papers for us!”

“You can’t do that!”

“I already did!”

“I’ve had enough of you little missy. Big McIntosh, bring your sister to her room, she needs some time to think about what she’s been doing.”

Big Mac obeyed without question. He strolled over to his little sister, who was still over by an injured Flim and Flam. As Applejack’s fear began to build, she looked frantically for a way out of the situation. That’s when Flim and Flam made do on their promise, and gave Applejack what she truly needed, opportunity. Two powerful green blasts shot through the air, sending the red stallion flying back, making a sickening thud as his actions came full circle.

Flim and Flam rose from the ground, legs shaking terribly, dry coughs escaping their mouths.  Despite the protests from the Apple sisters, they began charging magic in their horns again. Big Mac shrugged off the cobwebs in his head, and removed himself from the tree he was lodged in. Flim and Flam wasted little time in shooting off their next barrage. Green magic flew through the air like heat seeking missiles, redirecting their paths as Big Mac dodged them.

The green lights did not alter the red vision of Big McIntosh

After a few blasts, the hive mind of Flim and Flam combined their powers to create a magically explosion. A dull green light illuminated the field, encompassing it in a dome. Ponies from miles away stopped in awe at the display of spherical art. Dieing slowly, the light rescinded and revealed the prone form of the red stallion. Granny Smith ran, as quick as she could, to her inert grandchild. Her green hooves brushed over the crimson fur, to which she was disturbed to find crimson liquid. .

“McIntosh, get up, please Macintosh, get up.” Granny Smiths frail voice pleaded.

“Big McIntosh!” Apple Bloom and Applejack exclaimed, running past Flim and Flam who were breathing heavily on their knees.

Apple Blooms small body allowed her to get to her brother first. She couldn’t stand the sight of him for a few seconds before breaking down into tears. Applejack wasn’t far behind, but she never had a chance, as two cold eyes and a sneer stopped her dead.

“Don’t take another step.”

“W-What?”

“You’re the reason for this. You acceptin’ those snake in the grass salesponies. It’s brought nothing but trouble! You’re bringin’ nothin’ but trouble!”

“Granny, I don’t understand.”

“I don’t want you anywhere near me anymore Applejack, I don’t you want anywhere near my family! As far as I’m concerned, you’re no longer part of my family.”

Big Mac made it safely to the hospital, where Nurse Redheart had declared his injuries superficial and non-life threatening. Granny Smith never left his side during the entire ordeal. She had made Apple Bloom follow her to the hospital, just in case her old body couldn’t stay awake during the long hours.

Another brawl was on the brink of spilling out. A few of the more ambitious mares and rambunctious dragons, gunned for some sort of violence. They approached the unicorn duo, as Twilight and Fluttershy were concerned with directly comforting their friend. Barred teeth was the theme of intimidation, with snarls acting as the rising action. Flim and Flam cared not for the maddened mares and dragon. Simply, they strolling by and an anti-climax ended the confrontation as soon as it began.

Applejack remained where she stood, in an open area close to the front of the cider stand. The only thing moving on her, were strays of hair from her mane in the soft wind. At first she couldn’t stand on her own, but the Flim Flam brothers quickly attached themselves to her sides, ensuring she didn’t tip. Both of them tried to speaks words of encouragement, but they were largely ignored.

The remnants of the mane six tried their hoof at helping. No matter what they did though, Applejack just looked on with vacant eyes. Even Pinkie Pies antics, that usually receive sighs of frustration and facehooves, didn’t budge the petrified pony.

The rest of the crowd returned back to town. It was largely known that the Apples were as close as you could get when it came to family. Sure, there were stories about evictions in the family before, but the ponies that left were described as horrible, beasts of the filth. Then letting the scene sink in some more, one question began to arise.

‘Did Applejack deserve it?’

She did go against her family wishes, and against everything that they’ve stood for since the creation of Ponyville. Granny Smith did seem to tell Applejack, explicitly, the wrongness of her actions. It all then boiled down to a brawl. Shouldn’t that of been a clear sign of to Applejack that her family had taken a side? And that she should’ve chosen them to be with them? Does that warrant her expulsion?

It wasn’t until later afternoon, that signs of life began to reappear. Flim and Flam could feel AJ bumping against their sides. They also began to feel a definite tug downwards from the mare. With a simple glance, their thought processes aligned. They pushed against the mare. Creating a wedge that gently held her up, the brothers escorted Applejack to the couch on the front of their machine. There, the brothers let her down gently, her body laying mostly on the armrest, her flank resting on the far left sofa cushion.

“Applejack, darling, can you say something.” Rarity spoke softly.

“I have no home.” Applejack whispered.

“That’s not tru--” Twilight tried to say before she was interrupted.

“I have no Granny.” Applejack voice cracked under the pressure.

“I-I-I still think she loves--” Fluttershy followed in her friends footsteps.

“I have no brother.” Her mane shadowed her face.

“C'mon, you know that’s not rig--” Rainbow Dash tried, but ultimately failed.

“I have no sister.” Tears fell with gravity.

“Applejack, please list--” Pinkie Pie, in a rare case of seriousness, tried her hoof at reaching her friend.

“I. Have. No. Family.” Applejack slumped down to her stomach, sprawling across the entire couch, completely defeated.

“Applejack, there's no reason to think that.” Flam said nursing his ribs. He was met with silence.

“Yeah, you have your friends here.” Flim elaborated, painfully motioning to the rest of the mane six.

The farm girl smiled slightly from her prone position. Looking at all the ponies still with her, was at least a small comfort. But there was the still lingering results of rejection in her mind. Applejack let her head hang in the air. Her eyes strained on the ground, as if looking directly through it.

“I think I should leave.” Applejack said with a resigned sigh.

“Oh, ok then, I have room left in my library, I’ll just have to move a few things. . .”

“No Twi, I think I should leave Ponyville.”