Boss_Hoss1

Candy Catch-em nodded as Dan declared he would not want to see what would happen to an orchard. "I hope to never see such a thing either."

She watched as Louise inspected the mane styling "Oh! That looks wonderful Louise! You have assured yourself of steady work Dapper Dan."

Candy smiled as she watched Sherrif Silverstar praise his special somepony and the unflappable donkey Thorn hides a smirk.

Suddenly a light brown mare with a poofy mane came in greeting her friends.

Candy looked over to them and smiled "Looks like business is picking up for you Dapper Dan... Oh would you all like to introduce me to your friend?"

(OOC: I will be starting an OOC thread on this to discuss what the side effects might be and when they might start. I dont plan on any happening on the first page, just a long enough delay before they find themselves surrounded by an angry herd and possibly under the effects too.)

Flim wiped his face off with a towel and tossed it behind the counter, then looked at Cloudchaser, as well as the other curious ponies .

"What we are selling this fine morning is Energy Drink! Caffinated goodness! Herbal pick-me-ups! And Carbonated sweetness! All in one convenient sized bottle! It will make you so fast you'll think you have wings! If you are a pegasus, you'll feel full of magical unicorn energy! Speed like greased lightning! Stamina like that big red fella in this town! Energy to staty awake instead of falling asleep if you have a long shift at work. What have you got to lose but a couple bits? It will even inprove the sheen on your coat for attracting a special somepony, or impressing one you have"

At this point, Apple Fritter said she would be telling Applejack they were back in town, and his lips got that odd smiling quiver again. He suddenly hoped it would not include a good look at the bottoms of her back hooves...

He slammed the last of the taste test bottle down his gullet hoping for more immedate effects on said sheen and managed to keep it down.

Flim then turned to Harrington and got of the good bottles out "Here, since some ponies seem to be casting doubts on our product, Please give this a sip. If you like it, its yours for half off, and tell everypony how good it is. What do you say?"

Flam whinnied in surprise as the mare spit out the drink, then had them try it the hard way..

He tried not to wince at the taste. "Brother Flam, it appears I forgot to turn the quality control on again... Oh dear madam, please forgive us. Here is your Bit back and let me see if I can find the batch we made last night. Now that is a fine batch if I must say so myself "

He reached into the back of the cooler and hoofed her a bottle of a different color. "Please let the Apple family know how sorry we are about... last time we were here in business."

Flim turned to the next pony in line and hoped he could find enough of the good bottles, with just a hint of a sweet blue flower they found.

Apparently the newer bottles had more blue flower and grit.

"Good morning dear sir, Just a momentary bobble with QC there... We cannot make any claims of Extra-sensory Perception, mostly due to the Equestrian Board of Health, but it should make you extra alert and speedy. Would you like a taste test first?"

Flim dramatically shaded his eyes with his hoof as he watched the elderly Earth pony speed away.

"Excelsior! Watch that elderly chap fly! Come one, Come all! Give our energy drink a try!"

Inwardly, he felt a pang that the old pony got a freebie, but if it drew in the rubes it was worth it.

The first customer of the day, who looked familiar somehow. ...Perhaps it was the apple related Cutie Mark?... stunned Flim when she actually offered to pay less. - One Bit?!

After a very brief moment with a nonplussed look on his face, he put his trademark smile back on and graciously pulled a bottle from the cooler for her.

After all, a little more generosity can only help their case with the citizens of Ponyville, right? and if this fine filly was in fact related to AppleJack, that can only help on that front as well.

"All right you lucky lady, one Bit for you! Just tell everypony how well it works out for you and we shall be deliriously happy."

Amber saluted Balance with his hoof "You got it!" and stood guard with her wand at the ready.

(OOC: since most of the threads the con ponies have been invited into are dying and one is waiting on chapter 1 to end before they can join, we have decided to grab the unicorns by the horns and start an original thread for the unicorns you love to hate)

It was a nice pleasant Saturday morning in Ponyville Park, with Snails and other foals watching a Daring Do puppet show near the Pavilion.

Everypony was relaxing from the recent excitement of the end of this years Iron Pony and chatting about the events.

Suddenly a strange chuffing, boinging and wheezing sound came from the street.

Everypony knew the train tracks were the other way so it could not be that, so what?...

A fire engine red technomagere' steampunk wagon that was all too familiar to the citizens of Ponyville came chuffing into the park and wheezed to a stop next to the pavilion on the opposite side of the trees from the Daring Do show.

Panels added to the side suddenly sprung open like Trixie's Wagon, into the shape of a sellers booth, with little flags emblazoned with the Flim-Flam Brothers logo waving on the corners.

The cream colored unicorn Flam took a deep breath as he looked out into the busy park. His comb floated over in a green nimbus and gave his red and white mane one last combing. "Well Flam, given that we werent' rode out of town on a rail or even hurt by the citizenry during the Iron Pony last week. I have to say the odds are good we can come back and profit handsomely this time."

For a moment his lips took on an infatuated quiver, thinking of the kiss a month before, honestly bestowed by a certain orange Earth pony. Perhaps they could bury the hatchet this time, -and hopefully not in his head...

Snapping back to awareness with a start, Flim grinned at his brother "I'm ready Dear Brother Flam, Are you? In 3..2..1 Aaaand Dance!"

Their latest theme song blared from a record player in their booth while Flim jumped out and began dancing.

"Lookee what we got here Brother of mine,

Ponies just sitting and frittering away their time!"

Flim zipped on over to a pony dozing in the shade and lifted up her chin, tisk-ing critically.

"Are they tired? Just worn out? Even lacking get up and go?

Perhaps they havent' heard we got something NEW to show!"

"Something to wake you up, give you Go, Go, Go!

Something Sweet! something you'll think is a treat!

Something we promise you want to know!"

As he danced, he pointed to each skeptical pony nearby in the park.

"What is this product? What is this miracle we will show?

Come closer friend, Come closer still. We promise this time is not a shill.

It's not a con! It's not a sugar pill! Want to feel energized and not ill?"

He danced back to stand beside a magically powered drink cooler and winked before singing the finish.

"Its...

the....

Super Speedy,

Elixir,

Six Thousaaaaanddddd!"

With that, he tapped his cane on the lid, which sprang open, revealing glass soda-type bottles in a variety of flavors.

"Yes, WE, the AMAZING World Famous Flim Flam Brothers,

have scoured Equestra to bring YOU, yes YOU!

The finest, fastest, zippiest, get-goingest, Unbelievable Energy Drink, Nonpareil!"

Who among you wants to be the Lucky first customer for the measly price of just... Two Bits?"

Madam Bistro smiled as Braeburn asked about the comet piece "Certainly! I will tell you all about it next time you come down to my bistro. Its going to take a while so its already too late to tell it tonight. and I would be honored for you to escourt me home"

After she had complimented the two brother gentlecolts, she raised a brow when one of them said he would pass on the fillies and gave a speculative look at Braeburn. Bistro wondered how Braeburn would take this if he had noticed. Either way, Braeburn said she would be escourting her home, which had her very happy. She had not been walked home from a date since Business college.

She smiled to the pair "In any case, I hope you enjoy Appleoosa, you two."

Meanwhile, Candy Catch-em giggled when Dunder seemed surprised at only asking for a kiss, then tipped her chin up for a very nice kiss.

She blushed cutely "Um, yeah. like that, Dunder...."

Amber suddenly had her hooves full with Rainbow Dash trying to get past her to help "Come on! I never leave anypony hanging!"

the unicorn ulped 'Today would be a good time Miss Dash. Youre practically wearing a target on your back untill we get all of you together with your elements"

"Well i'm helping, Egghead, and you cant stop me!"

Frowning, Amber tapped Dash with the wand, putting her asleep "Now you are sleeping, tomboy.... Guards, keep her in one place please."

"Yes Ma'am!" The guards saluted and Amber trotted out to help.

She galloped over to see the pony the Doctor had located and cast a spell to check the injuries and frowned "Oh dear!"

Amber floated bandages from her saddlebags to wrap the leg wound, then fashioned sticks into a basket like weave for wing splints and gently wrapped them in place. "Can you move? We need to get out of here before more of those minions find us. If you cant, I'll try to float you over'

(OOC: Sorry delays, IRL has been a pain lately. Feel free to message Riverhippo if you would like Arrowplain to show up. River wants assurance you want the filly in.)

Madam Bistro nodded tiredly and followed Drowsy to a spot to rest.

She examined her legs and hooves to see if the rope rubbed anything raw and did not notice anything so far.

"Good...good idea, Drowsy Feather."

She nodded and drank from her water as she cooled down "Yes, we shall see. May I treat you to breakfast later?"

The twins grinned "Yes! That's a great idea!"

Lightning Horn mooed curiously "Ice Cream? What is this ice cream?"

Shanna smiled and started moving toward Madam Bistros and the ice cream within "Oh you are in for a wonderful surprise, you two!"

Meanwhile, Flim quickly painted and hung an amended sign listing the cost of a telescope and offering a 1/3 off discount for scrap metal and glass.

Immediately, a yellow pony in a bonnet trotted up with a saddlebag full of clear bottles "Will this do?"

Flim grinned with practiced ease "Of course my dear. And before I forget, I must excuse myself a moment to present your dear Granny Smith with her telescope."

With a flourish, he took one of the telescopes the brothers started out with and tap danced over to kneel and present it to Granny Smith "And this is for you my young filly, our Dear Granny Smith. No hard feelings, hm?"

Amber closed her eyes and cast a finder spell.

Her wand floated in midair for a moment then spun like a compass needle.

It finally settled on a direction "The cries for help being broadcast are coming from that way. Whoever it is... is in great pain too."

She looked to the Doctor. "Can your machine follow my wand?"

Snails bounced eagerly in the nook formed by the stacked tables as Silver Flash appeared on stage.

Him and probably all the foals perched up there on the stacks were cheering and waving in excitement.

When snails took a glance out the window, he noticed Rainbow Dash and Carrot Fields were gone but stuff was coming in and out through an open door so he hoped they made it in all right.

Suddenly the actress on stage said the first stage production was not going to be any of the books, but an original adventure that nopony had seen before!

Snails got a goofy grin "Snips! Didja hear that? A totally awesome Adventere thet we wont know word fer word before we sees it! Suhweeeeet!"

Snails was more than a bit shocked that PeaBea had no idea how to care for her wings and was turning that over in his head as he held his corner of the coat.

He braced his hooves to hold the coat as Haywire looked like she would fall. Suddenly when she did, Soarin' came in from the side to catch her.

Everyone was too excited to see the pegasus, Yuki coming their way as Snails bounced on his hooves, cheering.

He slowed down as he heard Peabea, Purple Haze and Sunrise talking about how to clean her wings and fly. "Um, Mabe th' Wonderbolts know of somepony local ta teach ya too. An' Th' Library probly' has books on wing care right?" He waved a hoof at the Wonderbolts 'Ya also cant ask fer a better chance t' find out, huh!"

Snails grinned goofily as the Wonderbolts announced they would be doing autographs and gave a coltish squeak of joy... His face fell a bit as he realized he hadnt' seen Applebloom at all during the stunts. Had she been asleep the whole time?

He galloped right to the school and back with some paper and pencils, and hoofed some to Applebloom for autographs.

"Sorry y' missed so much t'day Applebloom. Ah'll tell them ta come ta ya if y'cant get in the line."

(OOC: *bump* -was waiting for others to post so I could "hear" Lightning since it was pointed out. will do so now)

As Amber felt the mchine mae its disorienting lurch in a short hop to the refugee camp. She got the feeling of someone needing help. once the machine rematerialized she could hear it more clearly. "Is that... Lightning I am hearing? He's in trouble!"

Madam Bistro watched Yuki's antics as he raced around fretting, certain there were items missing from the pile.

She thought he acted a lot like she heard a certain pink pony from this town acted when she visited Appleoosa.

With a wry smile, she went back to examining the tiny figure held by High Roller. "I will be sure to look your shop up when I finally start dating regularly. A figure of myself sounds a very special gift indeed if you would feel up to it sometime."

Her ears perked "Perhaps a special run of them as displays to be placed on a shelf near the front counter in each of my four locations? That should fascinate my customers."

The mocha earth mare tried not to giggle at Yuki's and Saddlesore's antics and moved over to where the Princess was when the cab pulled up. "I believe I am ready if you are, Princess."

Bistro looked at the shaggy owner of the shop. "I will certainly let you know, Mr Pigpen. Did...did those flies of yours actually grab a hat off that cab pony?"

(OOC; Sorry for the delays, I have been dogpiled by IRL lately.)

The twins laughed at the mention of what Duke Polaris would do to a certain unicorn if he tried to stop the Duke from a well-deserved day off.

Hoss chuckled "We dont know what all the events will be but some of the preps make them obvious. You cant set plans and supplies for up a hybrid cloud and wood high dive as tall as the mountain Canterlot sits on and not have anypony guess what its going to be for."

Shanna blushed cutely as he said she was brave for choosing such an event. She smiled as he asked what training she has been doing. "Well, I have been spending an hour a day doing climbing exercises for the past couple months, and I've been working on routines during our storm dives for the Weather Patrol."

Shanna looked to Miss Chai "They are setting up a place for ponies to watch from. That's definitely not a secret."

Hoss added "Venders are planning ahead to show up and provide for spectator and contestant alike. For our part, we'll do our best to wow the spectators."

Both twins turned to Jubilee "Oh yeah!" Hoss smiled to his Special Somepony "We can only guess at some of the events but we will do as many as we can. I may be too sturdily built compared to my sis to do my best in some events."

Shanna nodded "Yes, even though we are twins, some events will be better suited to my lighter build... Hmm the Barrel Weave sounds fun! I can give that a try."

Hoss blinked as he noticed Jubilee was drinking something. "Um, where did you find that one hon?"

The still somewhat-sticky pegasus mare stared in awe at the strange pony who came in with a strange saddle device on her back.

Candy watched amazed as the mare moved around with it on, and tried to make out the details of the machinery.

The unicorn suddenly saw Professor Klyde and dashed on over to speak with the elderly pegasus.

Candy trotted over to meet the strange unicorn. Her eyes went blank as much of the question aimed at the Professor went over her head.

She shook her head to clear it "You know the Professor too? Hello, I am Candy Catch-em, critter wrangler. Are those...wings on your back? i have never seen mechanical wings before other than the steering vanes on airships."

Snails crossed his eyes in thought as snips suggested using magic. "Ummm, maybe we could try that t'gether as Plan B. Ah aint sure ah got th' reach in m' magic just yet. Maybe t'gether?"

Just then Remington started kicking so Snails joined in, hoping to add to Remington's kick power.

Snails blinked when an apple dropped on Remington, knocking him back to sleep "Wow! He sure is easy to get ta sleep. Think his foalsitters got an easy job?"

Suddenly Snails felt a tingle of magic as one of the other foals used her magic and some apples exploded.above Pinchy. "Maybe we should make magic plan C?"

Haywire got into the act by launching fireworks into the tree she was applebucking, startling Snails into an extra-hard kick.

Snails looked at Haywire and the tree she was bucking, moments before a few apples from the startle-kick rained down on his head

The unicorn foal's eyes went wide as he saw the apples that had come down on him, and turned to thank Haywire for scaring him, and suddenly noticed some of the leaves in her tree caught fire.

He called out "Dont worry Haywire!" as he saw his Best Bud working to use his horn power to do something.

Suddenly a magically powered wind blew through and made the fire bigger "Okay, Ah totally didnt see that coming... How about water?"

Snails concentrated hard, sparks sputtering from his horn as he made a bucket rise. it shook and wobbled so he kinda, sorta threw it at the fire. Unfortunately it came down short and dumped all over Haywire.

"Errr, Sorry Haywire, Lemme try again, eh?"

(OOC: since The guy playing as paired with Twilight hasnt popped back in since we started going for the element bearers almost 2 months ago now, our next target is Twilight Sparkle ^_^

Amber Wands nodded to the Doctor "That depends on Spike. If he can tell us where Twilight is, we should go to her. If not, we go back to the hidden cloud city."

She looked to the door "And before that zebra finds a way in."

The baby dragon ulps "Ummm, If she isnt at the refugee camp, she would probably be heading to the town hall to help organize the evacuation -before Discord makes it impossible to move anypony."

Amber smiles triumphantly "We have a destination, Doctor."

Candy frowned thoughtfully as she absently rubbed her wing, streaked with new growth over the past year as she heard about the tactics of the air pirates. The regrowth appears about the shape of a griffon's talons.

"I see... Perhaps you can advise the captain and myself on a reasonably safe route when you return. While "Tiny" would be a nasty surprise to any boarders, I would rather not risk him getting loose at all until we get to this little box canyon south of Dragon's Peak."

Candy nodded to the hangar bay near the ship "For those staying here with me until Swift Squall returns, would you like to meet Tiny?"

She looks to Swift Squall "If we can wrap up the other preparations before you return, we will be dining at the Phoenix Feather down the street here."

Madam Caramel Bistro smiled "Well you missed a great show with the comet, and subsequent chase after a piece of it. then again, you might have been busy that night. Would that have been the night you were chasing the ghost lanterns and finding a lost city?" She giggled happily at Braeburn's question about Mr. Rockefilly. "Well, yes. He is quite a different stallion than what I had heard back in Manehattan. Perhaps we are the first to see the real Maximillian. This town is a miracle in what it does to ponies."

She still was unsure yet of sharing her thought that this is the first time Max has seen the real Max too, and she wanted to know that Max. At the least as somepony of like mind...

The Mocha Mare smiled as the Sherrif announced the Final dance, and offered an elbow. "I would be honored!"

The square dance was quite lively, with the two new stallions not taking the lack of fillies as an excuse to sit things out, but romping and stomping through the dance with everypony else.

When the dance ended, She clopped her hooves to the ground in applause and nodded to Arrow and Boxer "Good show you two, hopefully next time we'll have enough ladies around for you two. As busy as Appleoosa is going to get, a fair number of unattached fillies might follow the workers here." She winked.

She turned to Braeburn with a smile, truly in the dark about the next part "And how does a date end at a hoedown, by the way?"

Meanwhile, Candy Catch-em smirked at Dunder. She didnt think it would work on him, but perhaps a bluff?

She turned to face him and giggled "Perhaps a little..." She took on a stern gaze, her eyes glowing a little. She gave it all she had to give him a taste of it. It didnt' seem to have much effect on ponies, but just the threat of it to ponies who had seen her use it on animals was enough to put abusive customers in their place.

Candy stopped after a second or so and gave a playful smirk "Perhaps a kiss would keep me from giving you a full blast, hm?" she finished with giggle. She hoped the bluff would work this time.

Madam Bistro listened to Maximillian speak glowingly of what the town meant to him and that he was proud to be an Appaloosan.

She puffed her chest out proudly as she realized he meant every word and she felt the same way. She would be counting the minutes until their... date? yes, date, even if it was at her place.

Caramel softly beat her hooves to the ground in the pony equivalent of a golf clap. "Bravo, Maximillian. Well said."

She turned to watch Louise and Sherrif Silverstar. as they said their piece. "I will defer to Miss Snowfall on that. I am pretty sure even i have not seen all there is to see of Appleoosa in a leisurely manner. I must admit this is the longest I have spent in the orchard since the whirlwind tour Braeburn gives everypony who moves in."

Thorn galloped toward the smell of root beer. Turn a corner... turn that corner... and....

*CRASH!*

The russet colored jack skidded to a stop at the sound, startled and glad he had not been the cause of the sound.

"Sounds like all that shaking blew up the bottles... and the sound was just ahead! Avanti!"

Thorn sprinted to the next corner and came upon the sight of Miss Gale and Honovi apparently having collided.

The young buffalo was apparently trying to steal a kiss from the jenny.

"*Ahem* I hope I am interrupting? ...Oh! Miss Gale! You are hurt! ....and so are you, Honovi..."

He sighed and moved to block the main route out that wasnt' covered in glass "Since you are both also covered in root beer, shall we all go to Madam Bistros for washing and patching up? Carbonated sodas of any kind itch horribly when it dries on one's body." He gave a stern look to the buffalo "And then we can discuss the root beer situation, or you try to escape again, whichever comes first...?"

Madam Bistro nickered in relief as she was hugged and carried to the ground. She wobbled a bit on her legs and sat down.

*pant* "A little achy and tired. That was some stunt for an Earth pony to accomplish, huh?"

The mare stretched her limbs "I wish I had known how to do this before I ended up in the desert. It would have helped me immensely."

She rubbed herself down with a towel and took a long drink.

"So, whats the plan now?"

Candy shrugged her shoulders "I guess what keeps them from coming back is the forests they are led back into, where nature takes care of itself. It would seem the reason ponies and other creatures near the forests are rarely bothered by the predators of the forest is they must be making Parasprites the mainstay of their diet*. The darn things would be eating the forests down to the dirt in no time if they werent' being eaten by something. As for their moving somewhere else, it sometimes happens when a windstorm hits a forest, or when ponies removing them from their town dont' remove them far enough. "

She nodded at Sherrif Silverstar's idea to check new arrivals a bit more carefully "Watch the foals especially, they might think their new pet is cute and harmless. the darn things are all the colors a foal loves in toys."

*(OOC; Wolves in IRL have been seen to eat mice and other rodents as their mainstay diet between big kills)