//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: The brothers // Story: The Unforgiven // by Trigger_Finger //------------------------------// The Jeeps drove along the rough trail and the occupants felt every bump. The stallion with the large revolver drove one Jeep with the mares while the other Jeep had a stallion driving with the other stallion operating the mounted machinegun. The Jeeps stopped a few yards away from the front steps of a fairly large building. The building was seven stories high with several glass panels for windows. “Come with me, and don’t try to take any detours. The bosses want to talk to you about you sisters” the stallion told the group. “And my dragon?” Twilight asked. The stallion nodded, “Yeah, and your dragon” he replied as he led the group towards the building. The front doors were guarded by two stallions with battle saddles mounted on their backs. Each stallion had twin M249 SAWs mounted onto their saddle. The stallion gave them a salute which they returned as they allowed them to pass. As they entered the front lobby Twilight was awestruck. Despite being in the Everfree forest, this place was absolutely incredible. “Please don’t deter. This way” the stallion ordered them. They all followed the stallion to an elevator which they took to the top floor. The elevator pinged as it reached its destination and let the occupants out. The stallion led them down a hallway filled with office doors until they came to a door that read ‘F&F executive office’. “The bosses are waiting inside” the stallion told them as he motioned for them to enter. “Why thank you darling, you have been all too kind” Rarity said politely as they opened the door and entered the office. The office was pristine and orderly. Behind a large desk was two very large office chairs that were currently facing away from the group. The large stallion outside closed the door to give them some privacy. “Uhm… hi, we’re here tah pick up our sisters and dragon” Applejack told the two ponies who were sitting in the chairs. “Why dearest brother, I would remember that voice anywhere” said a young peppy voice. Every-ponies’ jaw dropped as the office chairs swung around. “Yes indeed fair brother. It appears that it’s our old friends from Ponyville” Flam said enthusiastically. “Why yes brother. I do remember now” said Flim then they proceeded to make a song and danced around playfully. The brothers stopped their gig and sat back down. “Cider?” Flam asked. Rainbow Dash nodded, “Please” she replied and Flim clapped his hooves. Several servant ponies entered the room with trays of cider. “Please, sit down, sit down. Make yourselves comfortable” Flam offered. The group accepted their offer as they sat down, each with a cup of cider. Well minus Pinkie who slurped up several cups of cider all by herself. “Uhm… thanks fer the hospitality” Applejack said hesitantly. “Oh please, no need for the polite manners. We’re all friends here. Now please relax” Flim told her. The group let out a sigh of relief. They all figured that the brothers would be rather scorned after what happened to them after the whole incident back on Sweet Apple Acres. Rumors had it that the brothers ran into financial difficulties after the whole ordeal and simply fell of the face of Equestria. Several ponies claimed that they had committed suicide, Applejack was thankful that those rumors were false. “Wow, this is really good” Dash told the brothers as she finished her cider. “Yes, why thank you for the compliment. It is our finest grade of cider… I must apologize for our rude behaviour during that whole ordeal a while back. Truly we are sorry” Flam told the mares. “Oh don’t sweat it. It’s over an in the past” Applejack assured the brothers. “Yes, well to any of which, may we ask why exactly you come here at such a late hour?” Flam asked. “Yeah well our sisters were out tryin tah get their cutie marks and a stallion told us that yah had them here, safe” Applejack informed them. “Oh… so it was your sisters that were in our scrapyard… I see well that would explain it then” Flim said casually. “Yeah, they tend tah get outta hoof sometimes when we ain’t watchin them” Applejack chuckled. Flim and Flam both laugh heartily. “Yes well aren’t young foals always like that?” Flam laughed. “Yes indeed, why I remember one time Sweetie Bell hacked up some finely woven quilts to try and make a parachute” Rarity laughed as they engaged in small talk. They all began to laugh and converse with each other like old friends getting together after a long time away. “Well I do say that it is quite dangerous out there. They were very lucky to have that dragon with them” Flim told the mares. “Yes, little Spikey Wikey is quite the brave young dragon isn’t he?” Rarity asked rhetorically. “Yes indeed he is” Flam replied. Twilight checked the clock on the wall, it was past midnight. “Oh… I hate to bring this to a close but it’s getting late. Maybe we can catch up another time. Can we have our sisters and dragon back so we can be going?” Twilight asked, almost certain that they’d say yes after the whole friendly conversation they just had. “No” Flam said casually. All the mares’ faces went from smiling and bubbly to expressionless faces. “Alright, enough jokin. We really need tah be on our way” Applejack chuckled. “Oh we’re not joking. You can’t have your sisters back” Flim said casually, almost like it wasn’t a big deal. “WHAT!” all the mares screamed in unison. “Well it’s very simple. The law states that any trespasser on Flim and Flam Enterprise HQ will be detained and put to work until further notice” Flam told them as he brought out a small law book. “That’s horse apples. Tain’t no law that says that” Applejack yelled. “Well maybe not in the civil lands but you have to remember that this isn’t Ponyville or Canterlot. This is the Everfree” Flim told them. “That’s stupid give us back our sisters” Rainbow Dash yelled. Flam twitted his hooves. “Well… I suppose you could have your sisters back… if you sign over the deed to Sweet Apple Acres” Flam bargained. “No way, no how” Applejack yelled. “That’s enough give us back our sisters or else” Twilight threatened. Flim and Flam both laughed. “Or else what?” both brothers asked in unison. “Or Celestia will have you arrested and brought to justice” Twilight told them. “Yes well that’s quite funny. If Celestia was to try and arrest us for nothing it would be a clear act of war in which we would have to retaliate” Flam told them. Rainbow Dash laughed. “Yeah? You and what army?” she asked tauntingly. Flim stood up and pointed out the window to a very large army base. “That one” he replied. Outside in the army base were grotesque pony creatures. They had black fur with a reddish outline around their entire body. Blood dripped from several of them. “Dear sweet Celestia! What are those horrid creatures?” Rarity gasped. Flim and Flam both laughed. “Why they are The Bloody Hooves of course. They are what’s left of their bodies and souls after they died in the forest. If you were to try and have Celestia arrest us then we would declare war… and believe me, those ponies out there aren’t going to think twice about killing ponies” Flam told her with darkness in his voice. “Now, like you were saying. It’s getting late so you should be on your way. I’ll have Daffodil escort you out of the forest safely. Tootle-loo” Flam said. The mares all turned to leave. “Oh and I wouldn’t try breaking them out either. This place is very-very secure” Flim told them as they left. Applejack slammed the door as they left the office. The stallion, whose name was Daffodil, approached them. “The bosses have ordered me to escort you out of the forest. Please follow me this way” Daffodil told them. “Oh… well, being such a big and manly stallion like yourself, I don’t suppose that you could bring us to our sisters” Rarity said seductively. Daffodil’s face was ice cold. His eyes gleamed and struck fear into the mares. “No. Now come with me” he said coldly and began to lead them out of the building.