//------------------------------//
// The Flim Flam Brothers 
// Story: Society as We Know It 
// by Comma Typer 
//------------------------------//

In the heat of Appleloosa, ponies walked, pulled carriages, carried bags as they passed by the wooden buildings on the desert ground. There were a few cacti. Several ponies wiped the sweat off of their faces, others pulled their hats closer to their faces as they tried to block more of the heat.
At the train station, on the wooden platform, two lanky unicorns wearing quite similar clothing—a straw hat, a shirt with white and blue stripes and a black bowtie—were standing behind a stand. The two unicorns looked very similar to each other—they both had yellow coats and manes and tails with red and white stripes. One of them had a red mustache.
"So, brother," the one without the mustache said in such a confident accent, "do we have all the supplies for the con?"
The unicorn with the mustache levitated a few wooden boxes as they glowed green. "Check!"
"And, how long will it take for the next train full of unwary customers to get here?"
The unicorn with the mustache pondered as he tapped his chin with a hoof. "About a minute, brother!"
"Assortments all ready?"
He opened the wooden boxes. He peered inside. Then, he closed them and turned to face his brother. "All ready!"
"Have you memorized the lyrics for the song in case the amazing qualities of our products isn't enough to lure them in?"
"I did! How about you, Flim?"
"I practiced for it," he said as he pointed a hoof at himself and then smiled. "I heard that there are lots of changelings inside the next train. Is that why you picked this certain spot at this certain time?"
"Oh, why, yes, brother! The changelings are surely gullible for our tricks—I bet that the ponies in Ponyville, including that Applejack, haven't told them about us."
"More bits for us, then, Flam?"
"More bits for us!"
Then, a loud train whistle sounded in the distance.
The colorful train was approaching.
"Alright, brother," Flim said, pointing at the stand and the boxes there, "prepare everything now!" He held his hat as he watched the train.
Flam quickly threw the boxes on to the stand and hurriedly placed everything in its place, decorating and filling the stand with decorations and products to sell along with the price tags.
"Microphones?!" Flim yelled.
Flam levitated two microphones. He brought one to his brother.
"Alright, Flam," Flim said, facing his brother as the train neared. "Con the changelings?"
"Get their bits?"
And the two unicorns laughed and cackled.
The train stopped.
Smoke went out of the train.
The doors opened.
Many changelings exited the train, some of them walking, others buzzing as they flew. They all looked excited as they looked around, beholding the wonders of Appleloosa.
The two unicorns looked at each other and grinned.
Flim walked forward towards the changelings. "Why, changelings, Appleloosa is a great place to visit, but it's quite necessary—
"—and," Flam continued, smiling as he walked forward to be beside his brother, "let's not be contrary!—"
"—to buy some of these to truly have the authentic Appleloosan experience!"
The changelings looked at each other.
They smiled.
Flim leaned towards Flam's ear. "Let's sing now?" he whispered.
"Let's sing!"
Flim grabbed a bottle of apple cider.
Then, he sang, "Appleloosa is a town full of ponies and establishments!—"
"—but if you're not excited, you might as well be under banishment!"
"And let's be quite honest, the souvenirs in this town are quite lacking—"
"—which is why we have decided to give you our own with our backing!"
"Yes, changelings, it sounds too good to be true, but it is true!—"
"—just have a taste or a trial, and you'll never be blue!"
"We have apple cider, photos, postcards, and more!—"
"—and all you need to do is to pay a visit to our store!"
Flam was pointing a hoof at the stand as a vinyl player was active, playing the background music. The stand had bottles and barrels of apple cider, photos of Appleloosa, postcards of Appleloosa, books, medicines, bottles that boasted of various beneficial effects, and cameras, also.
A changeling raised a hoof. "Uh, are you from Appleloosa?"
Flam went to him, levitating the microphone. "That's an irrelevant question—what you need is our products!—"
"—all of these guaranteed to fill your appetites and stomachs!"
"We have apple cider ready for your refreshment!—"
"—and, if you need a snack, try our apple pies beside the beverage!"
"If you aren't looking to be filled, we still have things to show—"
"—to advertise, to let you see that it's no joke!"
"Our books about Appleloosan history will quench your thirst for knowledge!"
"And, when you're done touring, you can have some photos for your family!"
The changelings were now dancing to the catchy beat of the song. Then, they lined up, all of them eager. Some of them were already holding out their bits on their hooves.
"Ah, yes, a line of needy customers requiring something!—"
"—whatver it is they need, to them we shall fling!"
"Do you want food, do you want drinks, do you want anything else?"
"Here's a fan, here's a window frame, and, oh, here's an Appleloosan bell!"
Flam rang the bell.
"I'll take one!" a changeling shouted as he grabbed the bell and threw his bits.
Flam caught the bits with his hoof.
The two unicorns looked at each other and grinned.
Then, they faced the changelings.
"A satisfied customer, that is what we want to see!—"
"—and, if you want to be like him, just step up! There's no fee!"
"Unless, of course, you count the pice of our lovely, fine items we have here!"
"But, that's OK, because our discounts are the greatest—they are not just mere!"
"And, before we forget, let's introduce ourselves to you!"
"My name is Flim!"
"My name is Flam!"
"And we're the Flim Flam brothers!" they sang together.
And, they bowed, holding their hats.
The changelings cheered and rushed towards the stand.
"We could've done better," Flim whispered.
"I think that would be enough, anyway," Flam whispered back as they looked at the changelings all amazed by the products on sale. Several were all rotating the items around in curiosity and wonder. "The changelings have no idea what they're getting themselves into."
"Escape plan ready?"
"Escape plan ready!"
The two unicorns cackled quietly.



"There's something wrong with my Appleloosa history book!" a changeling whined as they sat on the train. The desert scenery was rolling by.
"What's that?" the changeling beside him said.
The changeling opened the book. "There's no words at all! It's just blank pages! And, so many pages!"
And, another changeling spit out something. "This apple cider doesn't taste like apple cider at all!"
"My bell's already broken!" yet another changeling yelled as he held up his broken bell.



The two unicorns were pushing their cart as they looked at the leaving train.
"Alright, where's the next town?" Flim asked.
"We could go straight to Dodge Junction!" Flam replied. "Nearest pony settlement to the Changeling Kingdom—there's bound to be lots of changelings there willing to buy our products!"
"And lots of money!"
"Plan approved, brother?"
"Plan approved, brother!"
"To Dodge Junction!" the two unicorns yelled.