Two figures stepped up to the Sweet Apple Acre's Front Door. They nervously knocked. A dog barked. "Winona, hush." The barking stopped. "Comin.'" The door opened to an orange mare with blonde mane and a tan-brown stetson. "What are you two bozos doin' on ma farm?" She looked at them with disgust. The two were non other than the Flim-Flam Bros.
"Before you turn us away, we've been thinking about what happened," Flim began.
"We're sorry that the competition got the better of us. We'd like to make it up to you." Applejack looked at them, soaking up every word. The two were clearly sorry as by their sad faces and nervous dimenor. "We actually have an deal better than our other one....better for you, at least," Flam finished.
"60 for you, 40 for us," They said together.
"Hmm.......I'll need to talk to ma family, but you can come in," Applejack replied, holding the door for the two. Granny Smith, Applebloom and Big Mac were around the kitchen table. Noticing them, their anger showed. They didn't bother to talk to them. They just stared. They knew the only way they'd be let inside was for a good reason. Winona just snarled. They sat down behind Applejack after she sat. "There's a good reason these two are here."
"We're willing to make a better deal in your favor. 60 for you, 40 for us." The two smiled, still worried they might get beat up by Big Mac. "We're also very sorry for our behavior in the competition." They began to cry.
"Well, apology accepted, but..." Big Mac said. The two bros. began to smile a little.
"We think we know a better way to speed up productivity AND have you all contribute. We remember you had a little trouble on the tredmill contraption you worked, Big Mac. We think we can help, but not take too much away from the tradition. Granny Smith can still check the apples and...you two can get the apples from the trees," Flim suggested. The family huddled together to think about it. The Bros. didn't interupt this time. They split.
"We'd like to see a demonstration before we can really decide," Applejack said. The Bros. smiled wider than before. They ran up to them and hugged them tight.
"THANK YOU! You won't regret this." They let go. "Sorry. Anyway, let's try it." They walked out of the kitchen, out of the front door and shut it.
"All right. First, you get some apples." Applejack bucked an open tree, away from any other; About 10 or 12 apples fell into the basket Applebloom had on her head.
"Then, I check em." Granny Smith sorted the apples.
"Then, The SSCS6K uses magic to do the rest," The two bros. said. The nozzle sucked up the good apples and made a barrel of cider.
"I've got to admit. It's real fast an powerful," Applejack said, opening the barrel. She filled up a few mugs and handed them around. "3, 2, 1." They all drank it.
"Pretty good," Granny Smith said.
"Yup," Big Mac said.
"All because of quality OVER quantity," The bros. said. The Apple family nodded to Applejack.
"Flim and Flam, you've got a deal," Applejack said. She spit into her hoof and reached it out. The FFB shrugged, spit in their hoofs and returned the brohoof.
Dear Princess Celestia,
I learned to trust an apology by old enemies and that progress can be good.
-Applejack
Twilight: PS: Please disregard the 1/28/11 letter from Applejack.
Twilight sure can make us laugh.
I opened my eyes to a beautiful Dashie laid down next to me still sleeping. We were in a tent, waiting for Cider Season to begin. Ever since Dashie told me about what happened last year, I made a deal with Pinkie: She give us her spot and I purchase then teleport a barrel of cider to Sugarcube Corner. I poked my head out of the tent to see that it was almost time. I gently tapped Dashie on the shoulder. She opened an eye. "Almost time, Dashie." She got up and stretched her arms. We exited the tent and got in line.
"Howdy." A familiar voice said. We looked ahead to a shock. The Flim-Flam Bros. were next to her.
"What are you two doing here?" Rainbow flew up to them to give them what for, but AJ stepped in front of them. Dashie slowed and stopped.
"There here to..."
"We're sorry for last year, our behavior, more or less," Flim said. Twilight, Spike, Rarity and Fluttershy trotted up.
"We're okay now. Their even helping us a little with..a fairer deal," AJ said. "Most of making the cider ain't different, but after Granny Smith checks the apples, their machine takes over an makes cider real fast like a jackrabbit."
"Gives me a break from straining anything," Big Mac said, coming over.
"The best part is that, this time, honest to Celestia, we have cider for EVERYPONY!" The crowd cheered. We looked at the 60 barrels of cider before us. "Cider Season is now open!" Everypony cheered.
We were first thanks to Pinkie. "2 mugs for us both and a barrel for Pinkie. I'll take care of transport." I gave appropriate change and recieved the mugs. Big Mac rolled over a barrel and I said "Thanks."
"Eeyup."
I cast the teleport spell and made it disappear.
Meanwhile, at Sugarcube Corner...
"Thank you. Come again." Pinkie rang up the latest order for SCC. Derpy left with a box of 12 muffins and a bag of jelly-fillies(for The Doctor). Suddenly, a bright light filled the room. She turned away for a moment. When she turned back, her face lit up like a Christmas tree. "Yippee!" A barrel of fresh cider with a note:
Thanks for the spot in line. Just like I promised: 1 barrel of cider.
-Green
She hopped around, happy about what I did. After that, she pushed it into the kitchen.
