Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 2
By TDR
The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 4000,
part 2
[Sweet Apple Acres.]
Applejack raised an eyebrow looking at the two brothers after their 'generous' offer.
“So who gets the 75 percent?” Applejack questioned.
“Why us of course. And we'll throw in the magic to power the machine for free.” Flim added.
“Pretty sure we don't need that bit.” Applebloom scoffed as she glanced over to Twilight who was moving around the machine studying it.
Applejack frowned. Something about these two struck her as wrong, a feeling in her gut that bothered her. She was used to slick ponies trying to sell something, the farm got a number of them from time to time, and a whole glut more after being declared as a heritage site.
“Lemmi have a word with tha family.” Applejack stated and moved over to huddle with the other Apples. There was a bit of hushed conversation as one of the four kept looking up to either glance at the machine or the brothers. After a moment of conversation the group breaks.
“Well I know how we tend tah need tha cider sales tah git through tha winter. With yer deal we'd lose Sweet Apple Acres if we agreed to that.” Applejack sighed.” Well we would lose it if'n we didn't have a influx of funds from being a heritage site.”
Flim opened his mouth about to say something though Applejack shoved a Apple into it, shutting him up.
“We'll go 75 25 , but you get tha 25. Yer machines useless without our apples, and we've been making cider without one of them things fer so long it ain't any fur off mai leg if we don't use it.” Applejack stated.
“60, 40 you get the 40.” Flam offered.
“90, 10. You git the ten.” Applejack countered.
“That's not how negotiations work...” Flim frowned.
“All that things gonna do is give us some time tah relax we didn't have. And Apples ain't afraid of no hard work.” Granny Smith snorted. “Yah ain't selling anything we need, just something we might want.”
“I see. Negotiations are clearly not going well. Perhaps something else. A wager then?” Flim grinned.” I mean if you're not afraid of a little competition?”
Applejack blinked, her eyes narrowing.” Whatcha got?”
“Our wondrous machine against your little family. Which can produce more cider of a better quality fastest.” Flam added.
“If we win 90, 10, the ten for you.” Flim continued.
“And if we win, we'll take yer little contraption there.” Big Mac spoke up suddenly looking down at the pair.
“Oof, confident aren't you?” Flim flinched.
“Nope, jus you owe us fer a fence post as well as hundred an thirty apples. “ Big Mac stated calmly.
“There's no way there were a hundred and thirty apples on that tree, our hoppers barely filled.” Flam pointed out.
“Nope only about 67 apples, but yer machine also broke a couple of branches and sucked up all tha budding flowers, this orchard tends tah have two late production periods which is why we use um fer cider cause it's too late tah pick and store um all fer tha winter. “ Big Mac explained.” Yah sucked up tha future apples tha tree could have too.”
“How would you even know that?” Flam demanded.
“Mac's got something of an eidetic memory when it comes to numbers. He's never off by more'n a few and that's usually due to something throwing off his count. If he says there was a hundred and thirty coming off that tree then there was sure as shooting a hundred and thirty.” Granny Smith stated. “ Course he probably only wants that thing to impress his mare friend...”
“If yah win we can take tha bill off tha top, which yah prolly won't even notice, but if yah lose ah don't think yah got enough on yah tah pay fer than many apples, and tha fence.” Big Mac stated.” So we get tha cider squeezy.”
Flim and Flam both duck off into a huddle questioning a few things among themselves. After a bit of discussion they came back. This was less of a easy mark than they thought, but they had already counted how much Cider the Apples had made today and knew the machine would blow that number of barrels away by a long shot. The bet was only brought up due to talking with some towns ponies and finding one bearded pegasus who spoke at length and with great gusto about how stubborn and hard headed the Apples tended to be.
“That is acceptable.” Flim stated. Though with a little less certainty than before.
“Do we have a deal?” Flam asked.
“Hey, ken we ask some of our other family tah help, ah got homework tah do.” Applebloom chimed in.” School work ain't gonna wait fer a contest.”
“Sure why not........” Flim agreed with a shrug. More ponies would cause problems if not well organized. They had seen the Apples cider system, and while efficient for it's basicness, it would take more than what they had set up to beat the machine.
It was then after he agreed that Flim noticed that all four of the Apples were suddenly smiling rather wide. Creepily so.
“Umm” Flam and Flim blinked.
“Ken ah tell um what they agreed to? Ken ah?” Applebloom hopped around with a grin.
“Nah you gave um tha length a rope, let some one else kick tha stool out.” Applejack chuckled.
“See here's tha thing young fellas, given that yah rolled up here and tried tah start something with us with yer fancy doodad and yah worked tah turn every pony against us with yer little song.” Granny Smith smirked.” We wasn't ever planning on going easy on yah. See this is here is an Equestrian Heritage site. It was granted to the family by Princess Celestia herself and over the course of years tha Princess has, on one or two occasions, become family through marriage adoption, or some other interactions that ain't fer young ears.”
“Wha......” Flim stammered.
“Yeah so one of tha members of family we could call on, and she owes me a favor or two any way fer Discord and Nightmare Moon, is Princess Celestia.” Applejack smirked. “Now tha second thing is my big brother here is dating that mare over there.”
The pair look to where Applejack was pointing at the purple unicorn mare who was laying under the machine,jotting down notes as a small purple dragon looked on in annoyance.
“That's Twilight Sparkle. She and her brothers have been adopted by Princess Luna, and her eldest brother's dating Princess Cadence. “ Applejack continued.
Wha....” Flim and Flam both paled.
“So what yah fine gents, who came up in here like yah already owned tha place have done is, agreed tah a deal tah beat a family who ken call on all three of the Princesses tah come help.” Applejack smirked.
“Oh and Spike's Mom's tha dragon god.” Applebloom offered. “So we ken get a buncha dragons in here too.”
Every pony looked at Applebloom.
“What now?” Applejack raised an eyebrow the statement not seeming like a lie. “Ah thought Bleu said she knew who they was, not that she was one.”
“Yeah that's what she said, but Princess Celestia told Spike he was one of Bleu's eggs because she practically admitted it over tea one time with Princess Celestia. That and she was mad at Bleu cause she ate a couple of that castle's chandeliers on tha way out.”Applebloom rambled. ”Least that's what Spike told me.”
“Huh.... “ Applejack considered. ”Oh before ya'll opt to call mai bluff. Aside from what Apple bloom said, and ah don't think she's fibbing, all of that's that truth. Ah mean it is pretty common knowledge now that ah'm tha Element of Honesty. Lying don't sit well with me.”
Flim and Flam were visibly sweating now.
“Perhaps we might, come to a .. more mutually beneficial arraignment.” Flim offered.
“And not do tha wager?” Applejack asked with a grin.
“Umm yes.” Flam stated.
“Well yah did say negotiations were failing and we did agree to all this, so ah figure ah'llah'll give a last chance fer a negotiation, though if ah don't like it , ah'll take tha wager.” Applejack responded.
“Certainly madam.” Flim and Flam chimed up.
“Figured you'd see it our way.” Granny cackled.
[ The Next Day Sweet Apple Acres ]
Twilight took a sip of her cider.” I can taste the difference, but I've got to have both practically at the same time to do so.”
“Yup, it ain't bad in truth,but some folks ken tell and we got three types a barrels with it now. One with the full machine's product, one with just Apple power, and one that's mixed. Interesting blend that last one. A bit more tart than ah expected.” Applejack nodded. “Still this allows us to sell tha machine and mixed cider a bit cheaper and save tha good stuff fer those who know tha difference.” Applejack grinned leaning back on the chair at the small table the two were sitting at. “Plus it keeps Rahs outta most of it.”
“Well the brothers magic can't help but blend with the cider since they are powering the machine to make it.” Twilight offered.” Rahs says Flim's magic tastes like orange juice, while Flam's tastes like mint toothpaste.”
“Blargh.” Applejack agreed. “ That explains why he ran off to start stuffing his mouth with grass.”
“So what happened any way? I get that the two of them are working for you now, but other than that.” Twilight questioned looking up at the line that was slowly getting smaller as Big Mac dumped another bushel of apples into the machines hopper.
“Well they tried a bit of fancy talk tah wheedle a bad deal outta us, but it back fired on um pretty big. If'n they'd set up an honest trade right off instead of trying tah pull one over on us it'd been better for um. Ah could feel they was up tah something and ah was on guard fer that. Got that others in on it too pretty quick. Applebloom was almost too excited about tha machine tah help, but she pulled through.“Applejack explained. “Didn't take much to reign um in after finding out just what sorta favors we ken call in from family.”
“Mmmm I can think of a number of things that could be done. Speaking of one of them, Princess Celestia still owe you fifty bits for that cask of cider you sent to her?” Twilight nodded.
“Nah. A fine mustached gentle pony offered tah pay fer that.” Applejack grinned as Twilight face hooved realizing who she was talking about. “But any way we sweetened the deal fer them, by dropping tha cost of tha apples they used and paying out thirty percent of profits from all tha sales rather than just theirs.”
"No offense Applejack , but you never struck me as the sneaky type. Yet you took on two shysters and got them to do some honest work." Twilight commented.
"None taken, Granny's tha wily one, but it ain't like ah can't hang with that business ponies. been dealing with Filthy fer years already, and since we got a bit ah extra money coming in ah been taking some send away courses in business. " Applejack explained. "Working on a business Doctorate from tha same place Princess Luna said Dr. Choppy got his."
"Changing the subject before anything more about that axe ever comes up." Twilight growled.
"Go ahead." Applejack smirked.
“Well that machine is a wonder of modern technology. It doesn't strike me as something the two of them could build, particularly after they tried to pull that' don't worry your pretty little head' bull crap when I asked questions about it. Given that they were looking to try and pull a fast one for a get rich quick trick, rather than patent it and sell the designs to farms every where, it may very well be stolen.” Twilight frowned. “More likely they scammed some pony else, Comet Trail is looking into it.”
“Well hope who ever really owns it won't mind us using it. Least fer a bit.” Applejack stated. “Them two ain't thrilled with all this, but they liked the alternative a whole lot less.”
Twilight nodded as she took another sip. “Is there a reason that you wanted me to sit and talk with you. I don't mind, but you were kind of insistent.”
“Yeah, cause ah think this nonsense has gone on long enough.” Applejack sighed draining her mug and looked up as Rahs stormed over to them carrying a struggling Blue Beard the Rainbowed with him. The bearded pegasus was saying quite a number of things that were not safe for foals to hear.
Rahs put the angry pegasus down with a growl.
“Bork.” Rahs snaped.
“What?” Blue Beard The Rainbow questioned.
“He said you're not fooling any one Rainbow Dash.” Twilight stated realizing what Applejack was doing.” So please sit down.”
The bearded mare huffed and pulled off her beard taking a seat.
“Thanks Rahs, Mac's got that cask for you.” Applejack offered.
“You should have done this months ago.”
“Kinda hard to when yah can't find her.” Applejack stated as Rahs left. The trio stared at each other a moment before Rainbow Dash started to get up only to stop as Applejack reached under the table and slapped a large cider cask on it.”Rarity says it's me an Twi you got tha most issue with. Ah git that yer mad, but ain't nothing gonna change if yah keep avoiding us. So yah sit there, let us say our piece. Tha Ciders yers if yah accept the apology or not.”
“So what do you say Rainbow?” Twilight asked with a small exhale.” You willing to let us talk?”
Satisfactorily resolved.
Also, yeah those family trees are getting even more convoluted. Lets not forget that Luna also adopted Sweetie Belle, so we would have two out of three Crusaders helping, and possibly that could extend to Rarity's family, though maybe not with how Luna is playing it.
And i forget does Blueblood have a familiar claim to the princesses? Cause that's one more line to shoot off this twisted mangrove of a family tree. Then there could be argument for bringing in Rainbow Dash as "dating" him.
Sure wouldn't mind the investigation coming through as a between chapter. Nice to know the Apples weren't caught holding the idiot ball.
Make sure actual wendigos show up during the Heartswarming pageant and I'll salute you for using world building from season five onward to improve the first four.
I'm might do it anyway.
Ah, I LOVE numbers beating charlatans.
Those two ain't ever going to forget being Flimflamed by one of their own marks. Which is truly delicious. :)
Sneakiness is a second nature to business person. Plus, she and Granny dealt with Filthy Rich all the time, no doubt pick up a thing or two from him.
It did strike me as odd in the show too. I mean if they really did made this giant machine themselves, why didn't they tried to patent and sell it instead? Sound much safer than the bet, and you could charge the maintenance fee afterward. And I didn't recall the duo invented anything else after that. Pretty strange for some inventors to resort to potion after heavy mechanic.
Finally, better late than never.
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i'm really good at convoluted family trees. looking back at SiS, Rhede and Jer'rahd were pretty much related to every one some how, including non pony species. But that's cause Rhede was a slut and Jer'rahd was fucked up.
Celestia has mentioned in SiS about trying to get into an apple farmers pants, and granny mentioned she missed out on Mac cause Twilight claimed him first. And the nobles are still trying to figure out the legalities of Luna's adoptions.
Also yes, the Blue Blood familiy is very distantly related to the goddesses, not through Tia though.
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I was gonna draw out the apologies a bit more, but i still have Pinkie Pie to do. And all my ideas with Dash and AJ sucked.
You know this was just funny. Cause they really could have called in a army for this challenge when the brothers said they could 'call in family' if it wasn't for how short cider season is for them they could have literally called in the entire apple family clan, the princesses, Twilight's brothers, Spike's mom and a bunch of dragons, possibly the royal guards. The apples organize and examine the apples the rest gather them and make them into cider.
THANK YOU! I always hated this episode for the way they wrote it (AJ betting her farm instead of wanting to work with Flim and Flam and use their machine; AJ cheating in the bet by using her friends as 'honorary family'; "I ain't learned nothing" smug, make wanna PUNCH her in the mouth attitude after all that!). You're not the first to notice the issues with this episode, nor the only one to 'fix' it by having a resolution that makes more sense (Reality Check/rhJunior has made mention of this a few times in a couple of his stories back when he used to be on here before moving over to a different fiction hosting site). But I am really glad you too ended this particular chapter in such a manner (and get me excited too to see the MUCH later chapter of how you handle the events of A Leap of Faith).
I won't lie, I kinda like the way this chapter resolves the incident more than the canon episode's solution. It shows a lot more common-sense and maturity on Applejack's part.
Oh they're toast if they agree
We are all the Apples in this scene
The clean, mutually beneficial ending was good. I usually prefer those to “run them out of town!” Endings
Mutually beneficial business deal? I like it.
Interesting take on things, really fun to see Rahs being the one going nuts over cider instead of RD, and some unexpected twists, but really not much to say overall beyond that. Though on a lot of comments about how much 'better' this was, not seeing the issue with the ep, at least the ones they are taking about. The bros are conponies, everything about them is built to exude 'don't trust them' even their song is a reference to a musical in which the main character was a con artist who used the song to talk the town into going along with his scam. There is no 'work out a good deal' with them, as they would find a way to screw you somehow with the least bit of trust. About the one way it might work is like it did here, where you just overload them with so many reasons why even trying to con anypony would end very, very badly for them.
Granted, there was one major issue with the ep, and that's how... how the fuck did this turn into 'they lose the bet, the bros get the farm"? That was never part of the bet, it was just on who would get to sell cider in town, and while they said they needed the money to get through the winter, there are other options, and none of that leads to F&F taking over the farm right away, or having any claim to it, that bit, that just made no sense. And I actually liked the "I didn't learn anything!" letter, was really fun and she's not wrong.
Okay, this gave a very strong 'just kiss already' vibe between RD and AJ, also the bearded Raonbow.... why did I love this joke as much as I did?
Drama Dog gotta ham it up.
I love how savy everypony is, though at this point it raises the question why anypony ever leaves their home on a Tuesday.
Okay, Granny trying to take over the song... first off, I am loving the ideas for Heart Song's here, and ponies being savy enough about them to use them like this, and even having them regulate in doing so, it just feels, kind of right, but Granny, trying to take it over.... remember back when I wanted her and Nanny Ogg to hang out? Well I still want that, but even more now, I want her to meet Granny Weatherwax.
Odd thing, but am I alone in noticing this is the last ep where the Apples are strapped for money?
And, nice reason for Big Mac to take a different track in things, wanting to get that new toy for Twilight.
Yes, but bringing in more ponies means bringing in Twilight Sparkle. Book Horse powers ACTIVATE! Form of extensive organization skill!
Applebloom looks so cute wanting to drop the 'good' news on the con ponies.
Wait..... Celestia, married apples? S, that nasty look Grannies mom gave her dad when he kissed Tia's hoof..... that gets a whole new context now.
As above, also a nice way of saying "Don't fuck with us, we have ponies in our corner who can and well end you." By just, happening to bring up all the Ponies who just might take that personally.
Oj and toothpaste.....
Also good reason for AJ to take a different tract, having time and money to do some studying. On the comment about her should have known better because she deals with Filthy Rich. 1. It's been Granny handling most of that. 2. Filthy is an all around good guy who isn't hard to get a fair deal from.
And thank you for bringing up how they most likely stole or conned somepony out of the machine.
And now the end of the MMDW fallout. So thoughts overall.. I did like it, and I do love how things played out afterwards, with them just needing time to cool off, and then RD needing a bit of a push to get over being too stubborn to admit to not being so pissed off anymore, with everypony apologizing, yeah this was played really really well. About only issue was it felt like it played out a bit to long, and going back to my original complaint, that how... rather anti-climactic the ending was, it makes just how over the top the explosion was feel even more overdone.
but aside from the rant pushing things a bit too over the top both on it's own, and for how things ended up working out, I do love how things resolved, very well done.
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I actualy wrote out a rather large number of scenes where they others apologized.
And they all sucked.
So having a off screen thing was my only real choice.
*engaged to
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Believe it or not there's a reason that i keep saying dating. Because they haven't TOLD anyone else yet. Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie know but that hasn't been passed on
Yes, she did say that, but she also never said she wasn't one of those parents
Everyone wins in the end. Great chapter!
Guess we see the Revival of Loyalty
For a lazy Bunny, TDR did a juicy fine chapter. Live all 6 Seasons so far ♡
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Plus the apple family is all over equestria surely these can't be the only possible customers. Plus considering the apples would doing the majority of the work dealing with the trees and harvest and if the machine breaks down who will fix it.
That's fair
Me:
Abridged laughter of Alucard is the best ♤
Magnificent chapter ♡