//------------------------------//
// Conversation 
// Story: Opportunities 
// by QuirkyQuills 
//------------------------------//

Applejack had, however reluctantly, agreed to host the Flim Flam Brothers on her farm until the unicorn twins got back on their hooves - or until they once again proved themselves charlatans, which she was certain would come first.

Still, to her vague, irrational frustration, the two had proved solid workers - strong for unicorns despite their lanky builds, clearly knowing their way around a farm, and more than willing to work even if there had been one shaky moment when Flim had managed to goad Rainbow Dash into doing half the pest control work in his section on a ‘speed challenge’.

If Applejack were honest - and she was! - she had to admit the look on Rainbow’s face when she realized she’d been had was pretty funny. And she had to admit that the extra help was welcome.

Being honest didn’t mean she had to like it, though. More to the point, it didn’t mean she wanted Apple Bloom hanging around the brothers. 

Which was unfortunate, as that was exactly what Apple Bloom seemed to want.

Applejack could see it happening even now. Flim, who had taken an apparently genuine liking to the foal, was hard at work repairing an irrigation pump with Apple Bloom’s full attention; Applejack couldn’t hear what they were saying, but it looked as if Flim was walking her through the process and even going so far as to eschew magic so Apple Bloom could repeat the steps later.

That this was awfully kind of the unicorn - unusually so, in her opinion - was beside the point, especially once they finished the chore and, instead of going off to separate activities, simply kept talking.

Worse when Flam trotted up and joined the conversation.

Apple Bloom was sitting on the fence now, the brothers on either side of her with forelegs draped over the rail, laughing and chattering like old friends. The more animated Flim was gesturing broadly with one forehoof; Flam, as usual, spoke comparatively little and seemed to be mainly asking questions and listening to Apple Bloom’s responses.

Once, Flim made a sweeping gesture toward the orchards. Apple Bloom nodded fervently. Applejack fumed.

What in the name of Celestia were they doing, pointing at her fields while questioning her baby sister?

It was a trick! It had to be! 

Applejack waffled, caught between how very wrong eavesdropping was (she didn’t allow herself to think about how spying was hardly better) and the need to protect farm and family from a pair of obvious scoundrels. Apple Bloom didn’t look suspicious - she had, in fact, started laughing so hard she fell off the fence and Applejack had to make herself not notice how the brothers scrambled to catch her - but she had been impressed with those two from the moment they rolled in on that crazy machine.

She’d thought Apple Bloom had learned her lesson, but then - how many times had her baby sister had to relearn the Cutie Mark Lesson?

Apple Bloom was excited about something, bouncing around Flim and Flam like a lamb. After a moment Flim gave in to her enthusiasm and started following her at a similar gait, at one point leaping over his brother; Apple Bloom tried to follow and ended up draped across Flam’s back.

Applejack realized she was smiling and groaned, wiping a hoof over her face.

They’d calmed down now, still chattering, Apple Bloom still draped over Flam. Applejack looked at their laughing faces and grumbled, arranging her features into a sterner expression as she trotted down toward them.

Might be best to have a word with Apple Bloom. Even so, she found herself struggling not to smile as her sister wiggled down and galloped toward her, still bright-eyed and high spirited.

Whatever they’d been talking about, those brothers sure had a way of making a pony excited.

Applejack was definitely going to have to keep an eye on this.