//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: An Unlikely Visitor // Story: Second Chances // by Nailah //------------------------------// “Hey Applejack look at me!” smiled Applebloom with a big wide grin on her face as she caught a bunch of apples at once from a tree. Applejack turned towards her little sister. She knew that she was trying to impress her but she didn't need to do any of that, Applejack had been so proud of her little sister. Though before she could respond, she looked towards the distance and with an annoyed glance, one word escaped her lips. “Flim...” she glared towards the salesman pony, she couldn't help but wonder what he was up to this time, there was no way she was going to fall for their tricks again. She had almost risked Granny's health just because she didn't want to tell her the truth about the tonic. “Applejack! It's so good to see you again. There's a reason I come towards you today, I could really use your advice.” began Flim. Applejack raised her eyebrow at this. Her advice? She wasn't about to let him think he had the advantage here. “You listen here Flim, you and Flam aren't welcome here, so I reckon you pack up and leave.” spoke Applejack. She looked towards Applebloom and had her go off and hang out with Big Mac, there was no sense dragging her into any of this. “Applejack, I'm terribly sorry about what happened with Granny, but just hear me out please.” began Flim who seemed to look sentimental and lost in his own train of thought but yet Applejack was still looking around for any signs of the other salespony. “So where's your partner in crime? I reckon ya'll we're as close as peaches and cobbler.” questioned Applejack. “He's not here, and he's not going to come either. I..., he began and seemed to tense up a bit. He stood completely still, it was like he wasn't the Flim she was used to. She knew better than than to simply believe a word he said but she just continued to stand there and listen to the rest of what he had to say. "Flam, he doesn't want me around anymore, he's all busy with his own success in life, and he threw me to the side like a piece of garbage, my own brother! Can you believe it? Even I didn't think he would do such a thing, not to me, I mean we con ponies all the time, we've always been a team and now I feel so lost and empty.” explained Flim further. “Applejack there you are, thank you so much for letting me gather some of your fresh batch of apples for the animals, they will love this so much. It really means a lot.” spoke Fluttershy coming up beside Applejack now, she noticed Flim standing there alone and remembered the last time she had seen him the two of them had been called to Viva Las Pegusus and she had to convince Applejack to actually help the Flim and Flam brothers. “Oh Flim it's so good to see you again, where's Flam?” she asked curiously as this was the first time she saw just one of the two, they were always together, they seemed really close. “Honestly, probably taking over the resort back in Viva Las Pegusus.” sighed Flim. He then glanced back towards Applejack. “Listen I know you don't owe me any kind of favor, and honestly I'm not expecting a hand out here but I just want some advice. I've never been on my own before and I feel so lost without Flam by my side. I still can't believe he ditched me...” explained Flim with an expression of sadness, regret but mostly fear of the unknown of what might happen to him now. “Listen Flim, I don't reckon I know how to help you if you actually need help which I highly doubt. Now get off of my farm, I don't want to see you around my kin or I reckon...” spoke Applejack obviously she didn't believe a word of anything he was saying. “I understand...I was wrong to think you might give me a chance.” he spoke as he would then turn to walk away. “Wait! You can come with me to my cottage, maybe there's something I can do to help.” offered Fluttershy. Unlike Applejack she was willing to hear and listen to Flim and she had to figure this out, Flim didn't look like himself. He seemed really out of it, and Fluttershy had this feeling in her gut he wasn't lying or trying to con Applejack, he genuinely needed help and Applejack's prior history with the Flim Flam brothers didn't allow her an open perspective on what was going on now. “Fluttershy are you really going to trust him?” questioned Applejack concerned for her dear friend. “I'm at least willing to hear his side of the story. I know how you feel Applejack but every pony, even a salespony deserves a second chance.” spoke Fluttershy as she then picked up the basket of apples for her animals. “C'mon Flim follow me.” Flim smiled towards Fluttershy as he turned to Applejack with a sad expression. “It's really a shame Applejack, I was thinking you could give me some advice but I guess it's not going to happen.” and with that Flim followed Fluttershy towards her cottage. Applejack couldn't help but watch the two walk off together, and already she had a bunch of suspicions in her mind as to what was actually going on here. What were they planning this time? It had to be something pretty sneaky for Flim and Flam to be able to work without actually being together. She rubbed her hoof on her chin as she thought. “I reckon, I'd better keep my eyes on him, I wouldn't trust him, just like I wouldn't trust a snake near my crops.” spoke Applejack aloud. “Sis? Are you okay?” questioned Applebloom as she came up beside her older sister, Big Mac at her side as well. He had this look on his face, that seem to match Applejack's distrust. “Where'd he go?” questioned Big Mac. “He's gone, good riddance as far as I'm concerned, I just hope Fluttershy knows what she's getting herself into.” spoke Applejack as she then turned towards her sister, assuring her she was fine and giving her a soft hug. “Don't worry sis, I'm sure Fluttershy will be okay.” spoke Applebloom. Applejack still wasn't sure about that, who knew what Flim was up to this time and she had it set in her mind he had to be up to something, there was no way his brother would just ditch him after how hard they had worked to scam ponies, it didn't make any sense, not a lick of sense so of course she would have to find out what was actually going on here. “Can you watch Applebloom, Big Mac?” she asked him as she didn't want Flam to show up when she wasn't there. “Yep.” replied Big Mac. “But sis can't I go with you?” asked Applebloom with a sad look in her big eyes. “No Applebloom, those two are dangerous, I want you to stay with Big Mac or Granny okay?” she instructed as she gathered her things and finished up her work for the day, it didn't take her that long, she had been just about done when Flim had shown up. She then decided to go see what was going on at Fluttershy's cottage, she trusted her friends but she also cared about her friends and she wasn't about to let Flim take advantage of Fluttershy. She was way too nice for her own good sometimes, and Applejack was determined not to allow Flim to abuse her kind nature. ***** Fluttershy had lead Flim back to her cottage and immediately Angel gave him the death glare. “We’re here, I can make you some tea... if you would like.”  questioned Fluttershy as she opened up her home to Flim. Flim followed Fluttershy into her cottage with a slight smile and a nod in response to her question. He had been hoping Applejack would have at least listened to him, but he understood her distrust. He sat down on Fluttershy's couch as she went into her kitchen to make him a cup of tea. Angel glared up towards Flim the entire time as he attempted to kick and bite him. Flim didn't pay much mind to the rabbit as he looked around the lovely cozy little cottage. “You have a really nice place here, it's very quiant, it suits you.” smiled Flim softly. “Oh thank you so much. Here do you want sugar with it?” she asked softly. “Oh sure just one cube, thank you again, really it means so much to me.” replied Flim, very emotional it was hard to believe that somepony was actually willing to believe him. Then again Fluttershy had helped him and his brother get reunited after Glad Goldmane had tried to tear them apart. He was grateful to her for that but when he thought of his brother, a soft sad expression came to his face as he sighed heavily and looked off into the distance. He missed his brother already and wished more than anything else that things could have been different. “Listen Flim, I understand that Applejack and you don't have a good history but she's just looking out for herself and her family. I'm sure she didn't mean to hurt your feelings.” spoke Fluttershy. “Oh I know, she has every right to be upset with us after what we did to Granny that last time. I am so sorry...I just want to make up with my brother and be a team again but he doesn't even want me by his side anymore, he's convinced he doesn't need me to make our new resort a success. Well, I guess his resort now. Do you have a brother that you always wanted to help but weren't sure how too?” questioned Flim. Fluttershy nodded and took a sip of her tea. “Yes I do, and despite all my attempts to help him he didn't want to help himself, finally I got through to him and he's doing a lot better now. I'm sure maybe if you just talked to him again, maybe he could change too.” “I don't know Fluttershy, he didn't seem to want to “talk” when he kicked me to the curbside.” sighed Flim very disappointed in himself. What kind of pony was he anyways? Without Flam by his side he was nothing, he had nothing, no name, no family, and not a single friend in the world and yet here he was in Fluttershy's cottage enjoying a cup of tea. This mare had offered him kindness that frankly he knew he didn't deserve. Her mane suited her completely with how it fell over her face and covered one eye. The affect made her look absolutely beautiful. How she was able to work with animals and even get them to listen was rather amazing. She was truly something special, someone that any pony would want to see. He couldn't help thinking how he could use this to get back onto his feet but he couldn't do that. He had to prove he was willing to try to change so he had to think like a normal stallion rather than as a con artist but how would he prove that to the rest of them, especially Applejack. “Flim? Are you okay? You're tea is going to get cold if you don't drink it, I could reheat it if you'd like me too?” she offered kindly. Flim was touched, it was just a simple gesture to reheat his tea, but no one had ever offered him anything like this before. “No thank you Fluttershy, you're really sweet but I can drink it like this. I was just thinking was all.” replied Flim. “About your brother?” asked Fluttershy. Flim nodded as he couldn't help but look away and shed a tear, he wouldn't let her see him so weak, especially when she was so strong despite seeming so soft. She was beyond amazing. Flim then sipped at his tea, it was delicious, full of flavor despite not being piping hot, but it was still warm so it wasn't like it was cold. He finished his tea as he watched Fluttershy in her chair trying to convince Angel to eat his salad. “Come on Angel you know you need it.” she gestured towards the salad. Angel just pointed to Flim and huffed his chest out crossing his arms together and turning to the side. “I'm so sorry about this Flim but I think Angel thinks you are taking me away or something.” began Fluttershy as she looked towards him with a soft look and gave Angel that look, Angel's ears drooped a bit and he scattered off with a huff of annoyance as he threw his carrot at Flim. “It's fine Fluttershy, in a way I understand how he feels. I'm a stranger here and he doesn't know me so he has reason not to trust me, but then again Flam has known me all our lives and yet he still was willing to throw me to the side.” he sighed softly. “Well I won't, you can stay here as long as you need. You can sleep on my couch, and don't mind Angel I'm sure he'll warm up to you eventually, he just needs time to adjust. Just promise me that you really want to change.” asked Fluttershy. “I swear, I'm not the same pony I used to be. I'm going to be a different pony from now on and I'm going to show Applejack and the others that I'm serious about this.” replied Flim.