POV: Bon-Bon

Bon-Bon sat in her new office with her new title. She was now Barnyard Bargains’ controller and interim CFO – after both the controller and CFO were dusted. She never wanted the promotion this way but Filthy Rich wanted her to take the new position.

The Dusting had taken a hit in Barnyard Bargains’ profits. She didn’t have so much to work with anymore. But it had only been fifty days, perhaps things will take a turn around thanks to her. Bon-Bon was eager to prove that she was up to the task. Rich was counting on her.
But Lyra’s words still haunted her about all of this - “Your promotion won’t matter if half the world is gone.” She did miss Lyra so much. Lyra was the pony Bon-Bon always wanted to impress. The money was nice but with half of Equestria gone, there wasn’t much to share.

Bon-Bon needed to focus on work. She noticed the area where Barnyard Bargains had taken the biggest hit. In most areas, it seemed that revenue and expenses both decreased at a similar rate – but it was the apples. Sweet Apple Acres hadn’t been able to produce nearly as much apple products for Barnyard, much less than demand actually.
Now, she needed to think of solutions. Bon-Bon made her way to Rich’s office. Rich was the CEO of Barnyard Bargains – but much nicer and more down-to-earth than what one would expect from a corporate bigwig. It was one of the reasons why Bon-Bon liked working there.

She saw that Rich was poring over some reports on his own.
“Hello, Rich”, said Bon-Bon, “is now a good time to stop in?”

“Certainly, Bon-Bon. How have you been?”

“As good as I can be, sir, given you know..”

“I know. Lyra was an angel. We all lost some ponies in our lives. You’re doing a mighty good job filling those big shoes though.”

“Thank you, Rich. I appreciate the kind words.”

“It’s the truth, Bonnie. So have you figured out what Barnyard could be doing better?”

“I have, sir, it looks like that our biggest losses are coming from our apple products.”

“Sweet Apple Acres – my, that farm was massacred. It’s just the little filly left, right?”

“Yes. I am sure she is trying as hard as she can – but she can’t get enough apples to us to satisfy the remaining half of Ponyville.”

“I have to remind my daughter to go visit Sweet Apple Acres at some point. Not that my little princess could help out much with the farm work but it must have been awfully lonely.”

“How’s Diamond?”

“She’s lost a lot of her friends – so that’s not good. And her mother... but Diamond’s a strong filly and is holding her own.”

Bon-Bon knew that Rich and his wife were in the process of getting divorced. The two were miserable together. Perhaps Rich could find a special somepony who actually loved him for who he was rather than how much money he made.

“I think I might have a solution to help out the Apple farm.”

“Great”, said Rich with a grin, “any catch?”

“Only catch is that I think Apple Bloom is going to hate it. Reports are in that both Flim and Flam had survived the Dusting. If we could bring them in – we could produce more apple products.”

“Interesting idea – but shouldn’t we also be concerned about quality?”

“I think we will be fine if Apple Bloom is there to supervise and besides, last time their technology proved to be effective – it was just their cheating got the best of them..”

“I say it’s worth a try. I will call these two up and we can set up a meeting.”

Bon-Bon hoped that Flim and Flam would be on their best behavior. Rich told her to compensate them well. She asked them to meet her at Ponyville Café. At least, Bon-Bon would get an iced latte out of all of this.

A minute or two after, Flim and Flam entered. They looked the same as ever. Flim and Flam were two unicorns with their striped shirts and straw hats. The brothers brought their Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000.

“Hello, Flim and Flam, thank you for taking the time to meet with me.”

“Our pleasure”, said Flim.

“I see that our contraption is very much in need”, said Flam.

“What a horrible tragedy had fallen upon all of Equestria”, said Flim dramatically, “we have heard that most of the Apple family had been wiped out.”

Bon-Bon wanted to slap both of them. It was like neither one gave a shit about the Dusting.
“We do wish to turn over a new leaf”, said Flam, “and I have heard our compensation will be top notch.”

“Things are awfully busy at Las Pegasus”, said Flim, “still booming as ever – many ponies visit us to get over their troubles. However, we can certainly split our time between the two.”

“The Dusting was oh so tragic”, said Flim, “but you certainly have benefitted greatly from it.”

Bon-Bon was pissed by the comment but she kept her cool.

“We need your help”, said Bon-Bon, “there is a great demand for apples and apple products. Ponyville needs your Speedy Squeezy thing and admittedly more, for the apple pies, the apple cobblers, the apple tarts – so many uses for apples.”

“Ms. Bon-Bon”, said Flam, “no need to worry. We will be glad to help you out with our services. One thing though. We would be much better off and more efficient with our work if Apple Bloom was only on the farm part-time.”

“Huh? We need you to help Apple Bloom.”

“This is how we are going to help”, said Flim.

“Those Apples are far too stuck in their old-fashioned traditional ways”, said Flam, “certainly, Apple Bloom would be a…”
Bon-Bon heard a low snarl. She turned around and saw Apple Bloom was there with gritted teeth.

“What is the meaning of this, Bon-Bon”, growled Apple Bloom, “what is all of this cockamamie chit chat about Flim and Flam taking over my goddamn farm?”

Flim and Flam looked rightfully nervous at the angry filly.

“Apple Bloom”, said Bon-Bon, “you know as well as I do that Ponyville has been mighty low on apples lately.”

“I think we have more to worry about than Barnyard Bargain’s profits right now”, said Apple Bloom with a huff, “otherwise, you wouldn’t have given a shit about me, my family, or my farm.”

“I am sorry, but please I encourage you.. you’re a smart filly, think through this rationally.”

“Flim and Flam are just going to muck up the farm and make things worse. We can’t trust them.”

“Oh Apple Bloom”, said Flim, “we are terribly sorry about the loss of your family.”

“But the tragedy has helped us turn over a new leaf”, said Flam, “we promise that we are only here to help Ponyville and its apple situation.”

“There is only one thing we ask for you in return”, said Flim.
“What in tarnation is that?”, asked Apple Bloom.

“We ask that when we bring apples back to the shops of Ponyville – that you publicly make a statement that Flim and Flam helped save Sweet Apple Acres”, said Flam.

“Time to make way for the future”, said Flim, “we are terribly sorry for your losses.”

“Ugh”, groaned Apple Bloom, “Bon-Bon, I wish you told me about this in advance and I wouldn’t have to find out through Diamond Tiara.”

“I’m sorry, Apple Bloom, I guess I was just..”

“You can tell me anything, sugarcube”, said Apple Bloom, “ah know that my family is going to be rolling in their graves that I am even going to agree to this deal.”

“Splendid”, said Flim.

“We always knew you were the smart one of the family”, said Flam.

“So, we have a deal”, asked Bon-Bon.

“Yes, we shall sign that contract you have”, said Flim.

“Oh my, this compensation looks a little low – maybe we should..”

Bon-Bon glared.

“Oh, just kidding”, said Flam with a chuckle, “this is perfect.”

It better be. 150,000 bits a year for these two charlatans.

“Good”, said Bon-Bon, “now, I have set a production schedule for you both which must be followed to the T at Sweet Apple Acres.”

“You said you don’t want me there”, asked Apple Bloom.

“No – no not that”, said Flim, “but…”

“You can be our quality control”, said Flam, “to make sure we are doing an honest job but we don’t need you out there bucking apples.”

“This is freedom”, said Flim, “you have so many talents beyond just being an apple farmer!”

“Ah think being an apple farmer is fantastic”, said Apple Bloom, “but I accept your terms.”

“Thank you”, said Flim.

“You won’t regret this”, said Flam, “may you take us over to Sweet Apple Acres?”

“Might as well”, said Apple Bloom. She walked out with Flim and Flam along with that bizarre contraption.

Times were changing in Ponyville. Bon-Bon found it weird, but she trusted Flim and Flam to do the right thing. Anyway, if they didn’t – Apple Bloom would make sure those two wish they were dusted. If Bon-Bon’s projections were right, this would help Barnyard Bargains significantly.

Author's Note

I hope everyone is liking the story - a lot more to come!