//------------------------------// // Episode 6 - One for the Alicorns // Story: The Equestrian Zone // by Revenant Wings //------------------------------// Flim had seen the cliff coming long before Flam even saw it. He heard about the whole thing with the Mare-Do-Well a long time ago, prompting him to tell his brother about the easily amused ponies, that and the approaching cider season made for a fine time to sell their new machine. Deciding to show his brother he could handle himself, Flim decided to take a risky decision. “Fine, you old man! I’m going to go off on my own, and I’ll prove to you I’m the better salespony!” And he jumped off the moving cider-making machine. Flam turned around and shouted at him as the machine kept going at its steady pace, now with nopony to drive it. “Ha! I’d like to see you do so. Anything else to say?” “Look out!” Flim shouted. Once Flam had seen the cliff Flim had seen, he’d admit his younger brother was on par with him and would gratefully accept his ideas, although Flim had seen a few ‘original ideas’ come out of his older brother that had looked oddly familiar. “Are you trying to sell me something?” Flam said. “Well, I know better.” “Turn around and drive!” Flim shouted, now with greater urgency. “Are you already running back to your older brother? Ha ha ha! I can’t believe it! You really are a youngster. Well, I’m kic—” Flim never heard the end of it. Whatever threat Flam was making was cut off as his brother plummeted down the edge of the cliff with the Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000. Flim ran over to the edge of the cliff and watched as the machine crashed and broke into thousands of pieces, losing the plans of making another one along with it. It wasn’t more than a second later that Flam crashed into the wreckage and Flim found himself suddenly alone. With no money in his pockets, Flim silently left the scene and made his way to the bank where the tellers happened to be the only ponies who didn’t know about the scene at Sweet Apple Acres. Taking out one hundred bits and seeing he only had a mere four hundred bits left in his account, Flim trudged his way to the train station and bought the first ticket to Canterlot; if he stayed any longer, Ponyville would have mobbed him. So much for the home of the Elements of Harmony, Flim thought to himself. - - - - “So… you say your name is Applebuck?” “Yes,” Flim said. “My name is Applebuck and I wish to work for your company.” The interviewer adjusted his glasses and examined the single apple slice that was Flim’s cutie mark. “Your cutie mark’s right for it, but… isn’t that a job usually done for earth ponies?” “My parents couldn’t think of a better name for me,” Flim said hastily. The interviewer raised an eyebrow but eventually shrugged it off. “Well, you’re resume is very impressive, Mister Applebuck. It says you’ve created a machine called the Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000 and a previous 5000 model that have sold well in places like Trottingham, Las Pegasus, and Phillydelphia. In fact, with sales of such an inventive new device, I’d say that’s enough for me to open up a space in our company. Congratulations, Mister Applebuck, you’re hired.” Flim breathed a sigh of relief. The ponies in Canterlot didn’t know about the Sweet Apple Acres incident. For now, this was a safe place. Which was even better, considering he’d just used his last bits on a down payment for his apartment. - - - - The next day, Flim was in for his first day on the job. Flim was given a box filled with knives and a few supplies to show how to test them out as well as a fair amount of money. Flim even went to the local farmer’s market and bought a few items with the bits he was given to get supplies for. It was going to be hard work, but selling the Cider Squeezy 6000 had been harder and that was the way things worked for the company; you sold the harder items to sell, you got the easier ones that raked in profits. Flim’s first idea was to try local, so he went to his little apartment building and started knocking on the door nearest to his own apartment. The door opened to reveal a grey-violet unicorn filly with a golden mane and no cutie mark that looked at him quizzically. “Excuse me,” Flim said as politely as he could. “Is there an older relative of yours at home?” The unicorn filly nodded and turned around. With a voice that would have matched the Royal Canterlot voice, the filly shouted: “SIS! THERE’S SOMEONE AT THE DOOR LOOKING FOR YOU!” From a hallway came a light magenta unicorn with a violet mane and three diamonds as a cutie mark. “You don’t need to shout, Dinky,” she said as she walked over to the door where Flim was standing with a ringing in his ears. “Now, you said you needed me?” Flim quickly regained himself. “Hello, miss, I’m Flim. I own the apartment next door and I’m here to show you the knife of your dreams. This knife can cut through a shoe, a tennis ball, and even a piece of wood and still have the ease of cutting you need to cut things like lettuce, tomatoes and carrots. Care for a demonstration?” “I suppose…” the unicorn said half-heartedly, but stepped out of the way and let Flim in. “May I ask your name, miss?” Flim said. “I’m Amethyst Star, and the filly you see around here is Dinky.” “Well, Miss Amethyst Star,” Flim said as he walked over to a table and started to pull out a cutting board. “I guarantee you, after this demonstration you’ll see that this is the perfect knife. Is there anyone else you live with?” “It’s just me and Dinky,” Amethyst replied. “Although I end up babysitting another filly every once in a while.” “Well, have you ever had trouble with knives that dull out after so much cutting up lettuce and tomatoes for breakfast, lunch and dinner?” “Um, I guess.” Although she was expressing interest, Flim could tell she wasn’t buying it. “Well, let me give you a demonstration. Take this apple for instance,” Flim said. “A nice sweet braeburn apple. Let’s see how this works…” Flim took the knife handle in his hoof and started swiftly cutting through the apple with utmost precision. Amethyst’s gaze seemed to widen. “Now, let’s go to something like a tomato. Now, a tomato gets squashed if you’re not careful and using the wrong knife, but this knife makes it as easy to cut an apple as it can a tomato.” Flim quickly proved himself with a bright red tomato, cutting it perfectly in half. Now Amethyst was interested. Even Dinky had come over to watch. “What else can you do with it?” Dinky asked. “I’ll show you,” Flim said, opening up a package of new tennis balls and pulling out one of them. Taking the knife, Flim proved himself by cutting the tennis ball with ease then going back to the tomato. “Now, what do you think?” Flim said. “Well, I must admit that I’m impressed,” Amethyst said. “But…” Flim became nervous. “But what?” “You don’t know what it’s like living in Canterlot. I can’t just buy things even if they will make things a little easier. Everything’s so expensive here. Even the things I need cost more than I can afford sometimes.” Flim felt something change. It was odd and occurred somewhere within him, but he couldn’t exactly explain where. He’d heard of ponies having a ‘change of heart’ before, but never knew what it meant. “A knife like this usually costs twenty bits,” Flim said. “Normally, in Canterlot, it’d go for twenty five, but our Company goes for the lowest price. Now, I am willing to make a little deal with you and give you this knife for only fifteen bits. This is a one-time only offer and it isn’t going to last long. So, are you going to take the deal… or not?” Amethyst looked at Flim, then at Dinky, then back at Flim. “I’ll take it.” And she shook hooves with Flim and gave him fifteen bits, five bits less than what he was supposed to sell it for but five bits Flim knew his company wouldn’t notice was gone. He said his goodbyes to Amethyst and Dinky and left the apartment and started knocking on the door of the next one. By the end of the day, Flim made six more sales. He went back to his company with the extra profits and five extra bits hidden in with the rest. The company took out a quarter of the money made from Flim’s sales and told him to keep the rest for himself and to come back tomorrow for more work. - - - - By the end of the month, Flim was much better off than before. He had a few hundred bits in his bank and was able to support himself. He’d also been promoted to selling children’s toys, which were much easier to sell than other things. Though the money came in slowly, Flim continued his work starting at his apartment and eventually making his way out into the streets of Canterlot, and there the money started coming in. Soon after he started selling the toys, Flim made his way over to Amethyst’s apartment yet again. He knocked on the door to be answered by Amethyst herself this time, although there were two other fillies besides Dinky also in the apartment. “Babysitting?” Flim asked. “Yes,” Amethyst said. “I’ll admit, the knife you sold us has been working well. Have you come by to sell us something again?” “Well, since you have the fillies over, this is the perfect time. I’ve got cars, bouncy balls, coloring books, picture books, crayons and markers and all other sort of things. You could get a cheap price on something for every filly and I’ll see what I can do to make it cheaper if you need it.” Amethyst smiled. “One coloring book, one ball, two picture books, and a pack of crayons, please. And I’ll pay the full price since the knife you sold us is holding up well.” “Thank you very much, Miss Amethyst.” Flim pulled out the items Amethyst had asked for and Amethyst gave him the amount of bits he asked for before he left with a tip of his hat. “Hey.” Flim turned around to see Amethyst still in the doorway. “Yes? Is there… something else you need?” “Do you want to go out for lunch tomorrow?” Amethyst asked. “I’ve got tomorrow off and the fillies are going to be at daycare so I’ll have tomorrow afternoon off.” Flim was surprised at the offer, and even more so at his answer. “Yes. That sounds… fun.” “Tomorrow at one?” Amethyst asked. Flim nodded. “Tomorrow at one.” Amethyst smiled again and went back inside. Flim merely sat there dumbfounded as the information processed in his brain. When it did, Flim broke into the biggest grin he’d ever had in his life. - - - - At one o’clock, Flim went over and knocked on the door of Amethyst’s apartment and waited outside. His boss had been kind enough to give him the day off as well, so there was nothing between him and his date with Amethyst. Amethyst opened the door. “Hey. You ready?” “Yeah,” Flim said, then followed Amethyst’s lead as they left the apartment. “Where did you have in mind?” “There’s a little place nearby that makes a decent daffodil and daisy sandwich,” Amethyst said. “It’s also one of the few places around here within my price range.” “Ah,” Flim said thoughtfully. The two walked a few minutes away from the apartment to where the café was. Flim and Amethyst sat down at a table on the patio outside and ordered a daffodil and daisy sandwich with hay fries each. The two started talking and eventually started telling each other jokes and other funny stories about their life. Amethyst told Flim about their near win in the Sisterhooves Social and her experiences with the Mysterious Mare-Do-Well. Flim told Amethyst about a wrestling match with his brother that Flim came out on top by tickling him. Amethyst laughed in all the appropriate places, and Flim did so in turn. After a particularly long bout of laughing, Amethyst sighed. “Wow, this is the best time I’ve had in a while. It isn’t easy raising a filly like Dinky; she’s such a little ball of energy. It feels good just to get out of the house for a little while like this.” “Yeah,” Flim agreed. “I only moved here recently so I’ve had to work long hours in order to get enough money just to pay rent and live here. I’ve been moving all over and switching jobs so it’s been hard for me to settle down.” “Well, Canterlot isn’t exactly the easiest place to settle down,” Amethyst affirmed. “I moved here with Dinky soon after the Sisterhooves Social when I finally had enough money to sell my last pig and move here. It isn’t easy paying the rent, but with the farmer’s market and a good school and daycare for Dinky close by, not to mention the security of the Royal Guard always walking around here, it’s not bad and better to live than most places.” “I’ve got to agree with you there,” Flim said. “It’s quite amazing. And I heard the ponies are pretty friendly here,” he said with a wink. Amethyst giggled. Flim could swear he saw her blush. When their lunch was over, Amethyst left to pick up Dinky from school and Flim went back to his apartment next to Amethyst’s. At his apartment, Flim went into the bathroom to wash his face before getting ready to go out to the farmer’s market to pick up a few things for the week. However, his otherwise peaceful afternoon was interrupted when he saw what looked like the figure of a pony cloaked in a pure black cloak with the hood up, but under the hood it was too dark to see what the figure looked like. “Who… who are you?” Flim asked. “Ponies often see the signs of death when it approaches,” the figure responded coldly. “A cold wind in the air. A shadow looming over them.” “Why are you here?” Flim asked, now becoming scared as the lights in the apartment dimmed around them. “I’m here to watch… and to wait.” “What for?” “I’m here… to watch you die.” “Die?” It took a moment for it to register. “No! I… I can’t die yet! I’m one of the greatest salesponies in all of Equestria, and you expect me to die just like that?” “Well, yes.” “What time?” “About seventy minutes and twenty-three seconds from now.” “Well, I might be one of the greatest salesponies in Equestria, but that doesn’t mean my life’s work is complete. I’ve sold a cider machine. I’ve sold knives. I’ve sold toys. I’ve even nearly sold a chariot with wings that moved without pegasi. But I haven’t made that deal yet.” “What do you mean?” “Give me a chance. Let me make one last deal. A deal for the alicorns. A… a… a sort of deal that would make even the Princesses Celestia and Luna buy from me! Give me that last chance. This is a one-time only offer and it isn’t going to last long. So, are you going to take the deal… or not?” For a moment, the cloaked figure considered the offer. “Very well. I suppose I’ll let you live.” Flim sighed. “Although…” “What now?” There was a whinny, a crash, the sound of something breaking, and an oddly familiar scream that sent a shiver down Flim’s back. “Somepony must die.” - - - - Flim dashed out of the apartment and down into the street to see the horrifying scene. There were ponies all over the place and broken and splintered wood almost everywhere. Stray apples and oranges and lettuce and tomatoes were rolling everywhere, tripping up everypony that stepped on them. Most of the ponies seemed to be okay, and a quick surveillance told Flim that a chariot carrying a few of the guard had landed right in the middle of the street after one of the pegasi carrying it were blinded by a gust of wind. However, one pair of unicorns in particular were in particularly bad shape. One was a lavender-colored filly with a golden mane and the other was a lighter-colored mare with a violet mane. It didn’t take long for Flim to recognize them. “Amethyst!” he said, galloping over to where the unicorn was sitting panting. “Flim!” Amethyst cried out, running over and nuzzling him. “Amethyst!” Flim said. “What happened?” “I don’t know,” Amethyst cried. “I was bringing Dinky back home from daycare when a chariot with some of the guard came crashing down on top of us. I’m okay, but… oh, Celestia, Dinky…” “Where is she?” Flim said. Amethyst and Flim galloped back to where Dinky was laying in the street covered in blood. There were a few gashes on her back and her horn was damaged at the tip and she was barely breathing. Flim ran over and shook Dinky gently. “Dinky!” Flim cried out. “Dinky! Can you hear me?” Dinky didn’t respond. “We’ve got to get her to a hospital!” Amethyst said. “She’s only got an hour or so,” Flim said. “Don’t ask me how I know. Just get Dinky on my back and we’ll get going to the hospital.” Amethyst nodded and used her magic to gently lift Dinky onto Flim’s back as more guards came to the scene. Amethyst broke into a full gallop and Flim followed closely behind, making sure to keep Dinky from bouncing around too much on his back as Amethyst lead him through the Canterlot streets. “Make way!” Flim shouted. “Injured unicorn filly coming through!” Crowds leapt out of the way as the approached the hospital. Amethyst and Flim made their way through the hospital to the emergency unit, where Amethyst bolted for the counter. When Flim arrived, a few unicorn doctors took hold of Dinky and started rushing off with her on a stretcher. Amethyst followed the stretcher with Dinky and Flim started following behind Amethyst. “Sis…” Dinky said weakly. “I feel so cold…” “Don’t worry, Dinky,” Amethyst said, trying to maintain her composure. “It’ll be okay. The doctors will have you fixed up quick.” “Sis…” Dinky said weakly. “Who’s that pony in the black cloak?” Amethyst stopped and turned around, but Flim was the only one there in the hallway besides her and Dinky, whose stretcher quickly turned a corner and went into a room with three doctors. “Don’t look at me!” Flim said. “I didn’t do anything!” “You knew…” Amethyst said. “You knew this was going to happen, didn’t you?” “Well, maybe I made a slight deal with Death himself that said I could live until I had made a deal for the alicorns, but I never knew he was going to take someone else instead until after the fact! And I certainly didn’t think he was going to take Dinky if he did!” Amethyst looked at Flim with disgust and turned around running for the room. “Amethyst!” Flim shouted, galloping after her. “Amethyst, wait!” Amethyst had already closed the door to the room Dinky was in. Flim could only watch from a viewing window in the hallway outside as the doctors took notes and spoke with Amethyst about her little sister’s condition. “Death!” Flim started calling out. “Death! Where are you? I’ve changed my mind! Take me instead of her!” A shadow on the floor materialized into a vaguely pony-like form with a black cloak. “The deal is done, Flim. In a short amount of time, the filly shall be mine.” “No…” Flim said. “No… You can’t do it.” “But that’s the job. Surely you understand.” Flim stared at him in horror. “Look at me!” he shouted as tears started falling down his face. “You can’t do that! You can’t just take a little filly like that! Please! Take me instead!” Death stared at Flim from under his cloak. “And why would I want to do that? You’re older and not such a prize.” “That’s the thing,” Flim said. “I’ve experienced more than that filly has. I’ve been selling things for the last five years. It’s my job. I’ve met every sort of pony there is out there. I’ve met ponies who are willing to backstab and cheat and take shortcuts even if it means doing whatever is necessary.” “How should you know?” Death asked. “Because…” Flim gulped. “Because I was one of those ponies. I fought with my brother. I fought with the citizens of Ponyville. I fought with my brother some more. I did whatever I needed to in order to get by, even if that included lying and cheating and stealing and backstabbing. I could have done something to save my brother from dying, but I didn’t do anything. I thought I could make it better off without him, but instead I doomed him and myself.” “But Dinky…” Flim continued. “Dinky is just an innocent filly. She has the world ahead of her. And she means so much to Amethyst. Amethyst is such a good sister and takes such good care of Dinky, and to have the only family she has here with her to be taken away from her so quickly just isn’t worth it.” Flim paused for a moment and looked at his cutie mark with a sigh. “My cutie mark is a single apple slice. I have no family to go back to; I’ve rolled too far away from the tree. I have no apple that fits; my brother was killed over a month ago. I’ve got no one and nothing left. I am the one you should take. Please, take me… and leave Dinky alone to live out her life. Please…” Flim was now on the floor and nearly crying out. Out of the corner of his eye Flim saw Amethyst staring through the window and was quite sure that she could now see Death as well. Death remained silent for a moment. After what seemed like a long time, he nodded. “Very well, Flim. I shall take your life instead of Dinky’s. It is past the time I should have taken someone by a few minutes now, and I must return with somepony.” “You… you will?” Flim asked incredulously, a small smile on his face. “I shall.” Flim started hooting for joy. He didn’t care if anyone saw him. He just was happy he’d been able to somewhat make it up to Amethyst. The unicorn herself came out of the room and wrapped his arms around Flim shortly afterwards, crying for joy herself now instead of sadness. “I don’t know what you’ve done, Flim,” Amethyst said, “but you did it. The doctor’s said Dinky’s going to make it. Her wounds just closed up on themselves. Thank you… thank you so much!” Flim laughed for a little while, then looked at Death. “What is it?” Amethyst said. “I did it. I made a deal for the alicorns. I made a deal that convinced even Death himself.” “What… what did you do?” “I bargained with Death. My life… my life for Dinky’s.” Amethyst frowned and shook her head. “No… you can’t go…” “I’ve got to,” Flim said. “Don’t worry about me. Worry about yourself and Dinky. She’s got a long life ahead of her, and she’ll be wanting you there with her.” “Flim…” Amethyst said. Death reached a hoof out to Flim. “Come on, Flim,” Death said. “It’s time.” Flim reached out to take Death’s hoof and watched as Amethyst slowly waving and smiling at him, along with the rest of the world, faded away into white… - - - - Flim. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you. Where… where am I…? You’re dead, Flim. Although, you’ve certainly lived over this past month. I suppose I have. He he… Tell me something. You were a salespony when you were alive… weren’t you? I certainly was. One of the finest salesponies you ever saw. I made a deal for the alicorns, even. One that persuaded even Death himself. Did you like being a salespony? There was no greater joy to me. Especially when I started selling those toys. To see the look on those filly’s and colt’s faces was the greatest source of happiness I ever received, not to forget to look on the mother’s faces when their little foal was entertained enough to give them a short break. How would you like to continue selling those toys and continue bringing joy to everypony? But how? How will I sell things if I’m dead. You never know what pony will need that sort of thing up there. ‘Up there’? Didn’t Death tell you? He didn’t say much else other than it was time for me to go. Well, you never know who might need items up there, Flim. That’s where you’re going. You’ve made it.