Granny Smith followed behind the two colts and her granddaughter down the street, heading towards the carousel Boutique. She was looking downward, trying to avoid bringing attention to herself, still somewhat embarrassed about being a school foal. But no matter how well she tried not to bring attention to herself, her efforts to remain invisible were all in vain as many ponies waved a hoof at the foals and gave the foals friendly smiles. The young filly grumbled irritably, muttering curses under her breath, keeping her head down and trying to avoid talking to anypony. She continued on the path trotting off even faster while her cheeks flushed red. The filly wasn't just embarrassed by the unwanted attention. Still, she needed to make sure she kept her identity a secret.
The little filly was still nervous about her identity being exposed when she heard her granddaughter turn around and asked, "Hey, Granny, why ya lagging' behind?"
"I'm comin', and don't say my name out loud!" Granny whined as she ran over to catch up with the other foals.
As the little filly caught up with the rest of the foals, Apple Bloom continued to trot ahead of the little herd as she chirped out loud, "seems like we got three new crusaders, huh?"
Flim and Flam looked at each other in confusion, then they both asked in unison. "What are crusaders?"
Apple Bloom seemed to get rather excited as she started to explain. "Oh, it's a club my friends, and I created to work together to find our cutie marks! Maybe we can help ya two find new cutie marks that don't involve scammin' ponies out of their hard-earned bits."
Flam slammed a hoof in the dirt and snapped, "Our cutie marks have nothin' to do with scammin' ponies!"
"That's right! We are entrepreneurs, little filly; we try making bits any way we can." Flim added in a more confident tone.
Granny couldn't help but roll her eyes at the remark. No matter what their cutie marks actually mean or how they got them but most likely, it seems that some ponies may be born to be more on the morally gray side, or that's what she believed and scoffed, "Yeah, sure, and I'm the princess of Equestria, give me a break ya two were swindlers the day you were born no doubt."
Flim turned over, faced the green-coated filly, and shouted, "Say that again!"
"Ya no good for nothin' scammer who got what he deserved! Turning himself into a little foal and then tryin' to insult a spirit!" Granny Shouted back, having more than enough of these two colts acting like nothing was wrong and they weren't in this mess because of them.
The two pressed their heads together, with tension brewing as it looked like the two foals were probably going to get into a fight. Apple Bloom got in the middle of the two, throwing her hooves out and shouting, "Will you two stop it!"
She stood over them and placed a hoof over her chest, "As far as I'm aware, I'm in charge of yall, so you three better start behaving."
Flim couldn't help but snicker behind a hoof. "Yeah, Granny, you better start listening to your granddaughter."
"Haha! Ok, fine! Let's get going; hopefully, after this is over, I will see you two again!" Granny jeered back before trotting alongside Apple Bloom.
"Likewise," both Flim and Flam spat back as they followed the Apples down the dirt road.
The Cutie mark crusader continued leading the foals to Carousel Boutique without much incident after that. Apple Bloom knocked on the door when they reached the posh-looking fashion store. Granny Smith stood there feeling somewhat nervous as she shook in place. She didn't want Rarity to open the door and was slightly surprised to see the four foals and asked, "Apple Bloom, what are you doing here?" She then pointed a hoof at the other foals and asked, "And who are you three!?"
Apple Bloom started to get excited, jumping and down in place as she began to exclaim, "You're not gonna believe this! But this is Granny Smith! And long story short, those two colts are the Flim Flam brothers; we need some cute scout uniforms!"
"We told you not to use our real names!" The two colts and Granny all shouted at once.
Apple Bloom's face turned a beat red as she suddenly realized her mistake and squeaked out an apology, "Sorry!"
Rarity blinked, being somewhat concerned as she turned her attention to the regressed adults and asked, "I don't mean to pry, but may I ask how you three turned into foals exactly?"
Granny Smith rubbed a hoof over her mane, seeing that she can't explain everything. But the filly decided she will do her best as she explained, "It's a very long story, but we need to use our cute appearances to sell some baked goods, and we need ya to make some scout uniforms."
Flim came forth over and held a hoof up. "To be fair! We put her in this situation, so we're making it up to her and to make us earn a decent amount of bits."
"It's more like you're here to make yourselves some bits," Granny Smith grumbled irritably, knowing full well they could've easily just taken the cure and turned back to normal instead of having them go through the hassle of selling baked goods.
Rarity was still unsure of what was happening. Still, she threw a hoof in the air and cried out, "Alright, darlings, I guess if there's a good reason for it...and you three would look adorable in some outfits, and the request doesn't seem too hard to pull off…."
The three foals just waited in anticipation as she gave one more sigh before she replied, "All alright, I'll do it; follow me!" She then led the foals into the boutique with Granny Smith gulping and feeling a sense of dread that she would be dolled up…she could only hope that Rarity could control herself.
Rarity then went upstairs (followed by Apple Bloom, who would probably find her friend Sweetie Belle) to her studio to craft the uniforms. Flim and Flam took the opportunity to look around the boutique and took the time to admire some fancy suits. Granny Smith just sat there in the boutique, mulling things over. She was wondering if maybe she should take advantage of her filly form. As a young adult, it was almost obvious what her identity was. But now she had anonymity without a cutie mark and her young filly body...she could, in a sense, actually start over. Change her name, maybe start a new life? The idea sounded tempting, but it would make Applejack and Big Mac become her legal guardian. She wouldn't wish to put more unnecessary responsibility on them.
Her thoughts were interrupted as Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle came downstairs chatting together. The little white-coated filly was surprised as she saw the other foals at the bottom of the stairs.
"So you're saying that your granny is a foal!" Sweetie Belle shouted with her eyes wide, looking astonished.
"No, just my granny and those scammers, the Flim and Flam brothers. They got turned into foals too." Apple Bloom casually explained as the two foals reached the bottom of the stairs.
"Apple Bloom!" The three shouted again as the yellow-coated filly squeaked, throwing her hooves up. "I'm so sorry!"
"You're gonna be if ya keep doing that!" Granny snapped, getting somewhat agitated.
Sweetie Belle was still rather stunned by the news as she came over and asked, "Wait, Apple Bloom isn't pulling my leg here?"
Granny Smith rubbed a hoof over her mane and sighed, seeing there wasn't going to be any way to explain everything again. "No, she ain't, but we can't tell ya how we turned younger, ok?"
"Ok...still, that's cool! We could use more crusaders!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed, seeming to be getting excited at this prospect of more members.
Granny Smith gave a loud groan seeing the two fillies weren't getting what she was trying to say, and shouted, "Ugh! No! We ain't staying like this!"
She walked over and pointed a hoof at the colts. "These two got us in this mess, and we're just trying to settle a deal, then we're all turning back to normal."
Flim pointed a hoof to his chest and explained, "We plan that we're going to sell some treats, the Apples made to make up for our failed endeavors here."
Sweetie Belle eyed the two colts and said, "Ya mean, you two are gonna stop shilling that fake tonic?"
"Yes," The colts grumbled irritably.
Granny Smith walked over with a determined look on her face and exclaimed, "Okay, so now we're all caught up; we need to come up with a cover story before we leave this boutique and stick to it!"
Sweetie Belle shrugged, "why don't ya do what I said earlier? Apple Bloom has tons of cousins nopony will blink an eye seeing ya three are just siblings coming down to visit."
Apple Bloom clapped her hooves and squealed, "That sounds like a great idea!"
Flim and Flam both slammed their hooves on the ground in protest. "No way!"
Granny turned around, facing the two colts, and shouted, "Yes, way! If ya ain't gonna pretend to be my cousins, then you two will have to do a good job explainin' why you look like Flim and Flam."
The two colts huddled together, whispering amongst each other. While Granny turned to Apple Bloom and, feeling a tad embarrassed, she asked, "So...um, what should my fake name be?"
Apple Bloom tapped a hoof to her chin, then suddenly snickered, "Now that I think about it, being called a granny as a foal is rather silly."
"Yes, I know!" Granny Smith snapped; she came out more aggressive than she wanted to, as she didn't have the best memories of being mocked by her fellow foals during her early years in Ponyville.
Sweetie Belle nodded as she replied, "This is interesting; I never named a pony before. Maybe something like Apple Pie?"
"Ya know, not everypony in my family has Apple in their name." Apple Bloom snapped, getting a bit angry at her.
Sweetie Belle held up a hoof and scoffed, "Okay, take it easy! I didn't mean it like that; I'm just trying to figure out what we should name her and the colts?"
Granny Smith cleared her throat; there was one name she constantly desired but was always too embarrassed to say out loud. She took a long pause before speaking out loud. "Well, I think a good name for me could be Apple Blossom."
"Sure...guess that works," Sweetie Belle responded sort of sarcastically.
Apple Bloom clapped her hooves and cheered rather cheerfully. "Yes, that's a perfect name!"
Flim and Flam finished their meeting as they both trotted over to the other foals. Flim held up a hoof, "We have decided to agree to pretend to be your cousins."
Granny Smith rolled her eyes, knowing another "but" was coming, and asked, "What's the catch?"
Flim came forward and pointed a hoof at himself, "Yes, there is. We will choose our names; mine will be Apple Peel!"
"And I'll be Apple Core!" Flam exclaimed proudly.
Everypony groaned as the names were all pretty generic. Sweetie Belle looked at Apple Bloom and scoffed, "And you're telling me I'm not creative?"
"Yeah, yeah, guess ya can be triplets or something but, I'm older than ya." Apple Bloom responded with a smirk on her face.
The colts looked at each other, wanting to protest against this idea. Still, Granny Smith stomped over, went right into Apple Bloom's face, and pointed a hoof at her granddaughter's chest. "For now, don't forget Sugarcube; I'm still your granny."
Apple Bloom threw her hooves in the air. "Ok, take it easy; I'm just playing with ya!"
Granny stepped back with a smirk seeing her granddaughter couldn't tell if she was teasing or not. But at the same time, she didn't want her to make her think she was in charge; no matter how she looked, she was much older than her.
"Alright, the outfits are finished!" Rarity exclaimed as she clapped her hooves with a smile on her face.
The little green filly was snickering as she watched Rarity dress the colts in little green sashes and plop two little berets on their heads. The colts were rather angry and were grumbling their grievances. Still, Rarity had none of it, throwing a hoof, "Oh, stop your whining; you all look adorable."
Rarity then turned her attention to Granny Smith and dressed her in a little beret, a small green sash, and a little green skirt. She looked in the mirror and looked at her reflection, getting a good look at the outfit dressed over her body. Granny Smith didn't want to admit it, but she did look adorable, with the skirt fitting squarely around her midriff, a dark green sash across her chest, and the little beret on her head.
"Could you turn around? I would love to get a few photos of you?" The fashionista asked as she brought out a camera.
Granny wanted to protest as she held up her hooves, "We-" but it was too late Rarity started to snap away as Granny Smith squeaked with the bright flash of light, blinding her as she performed various poses. Rarity then turned her attention to the Flim Flam brothers, getting some pictures of the colts, who were much more accommodating, posing on purpose. She then ruffled the filly's mane and asked, "oS, can you explain exactly what happened? I've seen you in your young adult form, and you were just stunning. I have to say, darling, what turned you so young?"
The green-coated filly shook her head, being adamant on the subject, and said, "As I said, it's a long story, and I can't explain everything right now….but thank you for making these outfits. I know this was putting you on the spot here, and you didn't have to do all this."
"It's quite alright, darling, and I only wish you the best of luck." Rarity whispered as she nuzzled the filly and ruffled her mane.
Granny Smith was so embarrassed being treated in such a little foal, but she couldn't help but feel the appeal of being patronized and cared for. She then turned her attention to the other colts and waved a hoof, having them all come close before she explained, "Ok, so remember we are scouts from...um...Appleloosa, and we're here to sell some Apple products. My name is Apple Blossom, Flim is Apple Core, and Flam is Apple Peel. We stick to that story and these names, alright?" She emphasized the final part glaring right at Apple Bloom, who held up her hooves in response. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. I won't slip up again, I swear!"
Sweetie Belle snickered and teased, "Yeah, Apple Bloom, don't blow your granny's cover."
The farm filly shook her head as she looked downward, "Fine, sorry…."
Granny Smith trotted over and nuzzled her granddaughter. "Hey, it's alright if ya mess up; I can just say I look like ya Granny or somethin', alright?"
"Yeah, sure…" Apple Bloom stammered as she looked away, seeming embarrassed to be almost the same age as her grandmother.
Rarity then came over and asked, "So...is there anything else you foals need? I don't mean to be rude, but I have some work that I need to catch up on?"
Flim bowed, "Yes, we wasted enough time as it is; thank you again, Rarity, for these stunning outfits."
Rarity gave the colts a smirk and said, "Don't think flattery is going to make me forget your little schemes."
"Trust me, we'll come clean about our fake tonic when we're normal, but for now, we have a deal," Flim responded before he and his brother skipped off with their heads in the air.
Granny Smith stood there still, looking at her young body in the mirror; her reflection was more than just making her feel embarrassed now. It was like looking at a window through time, seeing her so young, and that thought crept into her mind, the one telling her that maybe she should stay like this. That she could restart her life again…
"Hey, ya alright?"
Granny blinked, realizing that she was staring at her reflection, and looked over at Apple Bloom and said, "Yeah, I'm fine, sorry, just in shock is all…."
"Yeah, I bet you can't believe ya the same age as me," Apple Bloom chirped; she then blinked, seeming to pause for a second. She then took the opportunity and came over to nuzzle her granny as she whispered, "Yeah...even I can't believe it…."
Granny Smith suddenly became overwhelmed with emotion as she hugged her granddaughter back, holding back tears and whispered back. "Yeah, too bad this ain't gonna be long until I'm a cranky old mare again; let's try to make the most of today."
"Yeah, let's do that," Apple Bloom responded once more as the two trotted off, almost looking like twin sisters with Sweetie Belle following them.