One could sing, both could dance, but even when coupled with a pair of degrees in arcane sciences with strong emphasis during their studies in the fields of engineering and chemistry the FlimFlam brothers regarded themselves above all as businessmen.
Admittedly after their arrival in Ponyville their dreams of fortune and recognition had a minor setback when the local Hick farmers had emptied them of their entire supply of barrels and cheated them out of the greatest sale both of them thought possible to make in one town. Needless to say tensions where high between the brothers. They rarely fought growing up but even when they did neither of them could recall a moment where they had actually meant anything they said to one another in the few spats they had growing up. Their beliefs in peace with each other usually stemmed from recognising the Herculean efforts making a business together required. Right now though with nary a bit to their names and a machine that would need replacement parts very soon neither had spoken to the other.
In public they hid it beneath a friendly smile and a sob story of how badly they needed the bits, and since the Cider squeezer didn't offer a roof over their heads when it rained it wasn't hard to be sincere. Under the watch of civilized of and potential customers they still did their usual routine to have ensure enough energy to move on. Far away from the nearest town though things were different.
"Flam get you're fat flank back here already" Flim shouted staring at the sky with growing concern, he didn't have the local pegasus team pegged as the vengeful sort, but after overhearing his comment about calling the Show-mare that lived there a, quote "two bit charging one trick pony" they had threatened to run them out of town with rain and thunder. He sighed as he awaited what was probably going to be another night sleeping out in the rain while their clothes and invention were underneath a tarpaulin.
"Go bite a lemon dear brother of mine" replied a nearby tree with Flam's boater resting on one of its limbs. Flim scoffed and resumed looking at the constantly changing sky, if his brother's small bladder caused him another delay he swore he would quickly become the sole inheritor of the- "FLIM!".
Heart racing he jumped off the Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000 and into off road forest where his brother was "what's the matter" he shouted before his brother's hoof shot into his mouth silencing him "there" he whispered pointing to a sharpened branch with a rock tied to it.
"A stick" he asked in disbelief hastily removing his brother's hoof "you called me over for a stick"
"N-no" Flam stammered raising a quivering hoof toward the far end of the bush. Following his brother's hoof Flim walked around the to other side and stared at the bush, his eyes were almost unable to discern it from the surrounding shrub but just faintly he could see splotches of black hair and a few crimson droplets.
"Its an injured pony" he whispered to his brother charging his horn with magic and carefully levitating some of the branches away, he was about to uncover the prone body completely when another green aura wrapped around his pushing the branches back "Flam" he scolded putting more effort into lifting "let go" his brother replied doubling his efforts "we have to help them" Flim retorted concentrating on the entire bush in an attempt to uproot the whole thing.
"It could just as likely be a dangerous animal" Flam replied matching his brother's magic with a determined yet fearful look. Scowling he was about to send a final burst of magic to shake his brother off when a violent cough broke his concentration. In the sudden absence of his brother's magic Flim sent the bush flying out of the ground flinging it's contents on the ground.
The body landed in front of Flam sending him recoiling in shock "monster" both of them shrieked backing away from the animal that was slowly stirring "run for it" Flim shouted running head first into a tree "Flim" his brother called charging his horn with magic to defend him.
Meanwhile the creature before them had curled into a ball holding a small black item to its chest. His fear quickly leaving him at the sight Flam stood his ground watching the animal before him "Flim" he called without taking his eyes off the animal "yes Flam"
"What in Equestria is it doing" he asked desperately trying to remember the defensive spells he learned long ago "I think its whimpering" he replied looking curiously at the animal before him. It's body was almost hairless except for the top of its head which was mattered with twigs and saw sticking haphazardly in all directions, its midsection was covered in a sort of tunic covered with stand, rips and recent stitches to repair them, the rest of its body fared no better showing signs of varied healing progress.
The body suddenly jerked and lay completely still with its closed eyes facing the sky "what in the name of Celestia" he said worriedly jumping back "don't worry brother I managed to subdue it" and as if to prove his point Flam walked cautiously toward the creature and nervously poked it with his hoof.
The body lay still and Flam stood above it satisfied with his work "no need to fear it any more" he remarked with a relived sigh
"You killed it" his brother replied accusingly
"What, no I didn't" Flam said defensively "I just sent it to sleep"
"Wonderful" Flim said eyeing the item the creature had curled around to protect "Flam, what would you say that is" he said pointing to the animal's object. Creatures as far as he knew never carried things unless their owners gave them things "could it be identification of some sort?"
His brother prodded the creature's face once more for good measure before replying "It looks like a book, you don't suppose this is somepony's pet do you". He nodded walking cautiously toward the unconscious animal picking up the object with his magic and retreating back away, he trusted his brother's skill in raw magic but in combat had never been their forte.
He causally opened the book as his brother continued to examine the body "such strange hoof writing" he mused aloud "this is council property, any attempts to read classified information contained in this book will be met with a hearing and trial for suitable punishment, further more it's contents are private and any damage will be repaid severely no matter the reason"
"Looks like this poor...thing found that out the hard way" Flam replied showing the unhealed cuts that ran over its sleeping form "I don't believe it is a pet my dear brother more so a messenger " Flim said grimly, shutting the book and walking over toward his brother.
""What makes you think that brother"
"Look at the first page" he replied levitating the book over to him "if we are this close to the Zebra boarder this fellow could have wandered over and been attacked". Flam took a single look at the book's cover then scowled as he read the warning "then we must get him back to town, they have a hospital there do they not".
Flim shook his head and began focusing his magic on the creature "they have a general practice but I believe that is the best chance we have before our mysterious fellow here bleeds to death" grunting with effort he picked the being up with his magic and tugged him toward the Super Squeezy "wait there is more here" Flam called levitating a small woven pouch along with him.
"Hurry up brother we have a life to save" Flim called securing the creature on the back of their vehicle "you think they will give us a room" Flam asked hopping on the couch next to his brother "probably not since my, er, outburst". Flam laughed dryly and shook his head "it needed to be said, besides we will find a town soon enough"
"I still feel awful about having us kicked out like that"
"Apology accepted" he answered offering his hoof. Shaking hooves the rest of the journey was spent in comfortable silence. With the town still a suitable distance away from the mad dash to clear out of range of thunderbolts earlier, aside from powering the machine the driving was far from difficult. Ten minutes into the trip Flim's curiosity finally prevailed "can you watch the road for a bit" he asked grabbing the book and opening past the warning. He looked curiously at the first upturned page that was stuck to the second one with the words Do Not Read written across the entire length of the page. Undaunted he carefully pried the page free and began reading.
Author's Note
“My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic is owned by Hasbro, no profit was made in the distribution of this material.
And now that we are done with the legal segment, please pay no attention to the appalling behind the scenes, try looking at the man behind that curtain over there. This was written with the intention to chisel away at the writer’s block I seem to be stuck in so go please read and pay no heed to it
Dearest reader: I don't know where this thing came from but if anyone finds this I am sorry. I am so so so so so sorry you are here. This isn't mine and I don't know who you are or if you can read this but I am sorry you have been sent here. Maybe you're my brother, or one of my parents reading this, maybe you just happen to be the one who gets to go into here head first to find the missing people... Congrats in that case for I swear this book will never leave my side and you have found all that is left of me, or anything for that matter. I will be brief because I can barely see what I put down here, if you are reading this and are my family you know the story of how I 'came' here. If not, then don't worry it won't matter. What matters is that you know a bit of the place you are in. As of this moment everything around me is dark and for the life of me, I cannot see the ground I am sitting on.
The only illumination offered to me is the digital wristwatch that is currently balanced on my head, and yes dad if you get this its not broken just a little rusted around the wristband. So thank god for small miracles, like how I can write this and not accidentally stab myself with the ballpoint I use. Where I found a book and a ballpoint pen? Don't ask I literally cannot tell you when everything is invisible to the naked eye. Well, almost everything. If you by chance see something shimmer in front of you do yourself a favour and do not yell. Because apparently I'm deaf now. And while on the subject numbness, I know this as a fact because I cannot feel the wind, but thanks to some calm and rational thoughts (after some healthy panicking) I took the liberty of taking inventory of my senses. Again I am sorry you have to go through this, but ignore that for now
Either way back to the shimmers. Don't know if they are a way home, or some divine joke to tick me off but they are solid and almost invisible. Almost. They are harder to see from up close but even in near darkness if you squint long enough you can make out some movement. Secondly If you see things moving in the darkness DO NOT PANIC, they are not hostile, I know this because when I woke up I no longer had a tan and I'm pretty sure that is a long time to be asleep, and vulnerable.
But what do I know, they may just not see me as a threat, so if you are here reading this and this place is still the dull devoid...void which I am trapped in please don't worry, nothing will hurt you out here because there is no-one and nothing that can. Best of luck, live a better life than I am/did
Day 2?: I see something...I'm not sure how much I can make out from this distance but it looks roughly hu noid. What I can see are the people around it. All lying down in single file. Five, mayb more but I cannot see clearly witho iving myself away. All of them are not motionles cept the thing looking at them. Some ok like they are breathing but annot see what they are doing to them. If this mak back let it be know that I died savi ives from aliens and not cowering in the dark afraid of what might happen to myself. d help me if I sit here and do nothin
(I CAN HEAR AGAIN!)
Day 3/4? WE found more , and some food, I am a of science but don't get me wrong when you take a bite into a bunch of crackers I was shouti aise to deities until just blubbering praise to gibberish. Apparently there are more people than I though here. That aid though they are of stasis. Lined up like this lot I have decide to name group Allen, they look like they could lated or at least shar ome similar features: blond hair, blue eyes, and little to no growth of hair facial or otherwise. ote in case my realit omes crashing into this one, there are some things that are appearing every now and then like ho hold items, preserved ods, clothes, and what appears to be a bed sheet (more colours than a weekend in Gl o). Either way these next few pages should be like life in the dead zone... except this time I have the company of... probabl hould have exchanged names instead of the whole "who are you, what are you doing, stop -bad word-ing repeating what I say"
Day 4: T s t me. kn w s ne is m ing wi h m notes wil f nd y u, o s n f bi ch