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// Prompt #369-Cons, Cons Everywhere 
// Story: Ponywatching 
// by ThunderTempest 
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“Look out!”

“Yaaaaa!”

The front end of the magic-powered machine slammed into the wagon, caving the side in and exposing the interior. Flim and Flam backed their Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000 up, and winced as the wooden wagon collapsed as the machine withdrew.

“I think we should get out of here, Flam,” said the slightly younger unicorn.

“I wholeheartedly agree, Flim,” replied the moustached unicorn, and they prepared to once again fire up the machine with their magic and escape. However, before they could, a light blue unicorn mare emerged from behind the collapsing wagon, and glared at the two salespony brothers.

“Hold it! Trixie demands that you take responsibility for the damage you have caused to Trixie’s home!” yelled the showmare. The two brothers glanced at each other for a brief moment, and Flim winked at his brother.

“Now just hold a moment, young miss. You were the one who left your wagon parked in the middle of the road. We can hardly be faulted for hitting it. And besides, your wagon may have damaged our transport as well. Flam?”

“I can’t get the front panel open,” replied the unicorn from his position by the front end of the Cider Squeezy 6000, “It’s completely mangled. Who knows what damage has been done to the delicate machinery inside?” Flim and Flam were perfectly aware that beyond a little superficial damage, their machine was fine.

Trixie narrowed her eyes as she stared at the two brothers, “Trixie would like to know how you two dunderheads propose we solve this situation, then.”

“That’s easy, Miss Trixie,” said Flim, and magically withdrew a single coin from a bag on the Cider Squeezy 6000. Green magic floated the shiny coin over to the salespony, “We’ll flip for it. Tails, we will take you and your wagon to the nearest town, and pay for repairs. Heads, we’ll all just go our separate ways. Seem fair?” explained Flim, as Flam stood beside him.

“Fair enough,” grumbled Trixie, “Toss the coin.”

Flim gave the coin a flick with his magic, and watched as it tumbled through the air. It landed on the hard earth road with a gentle clink, and all three ponies moved over to inspect the result.

“Heads. Well, that will be us off, Miss Trixie. It was pleasant meeting you,” said Flim, bowing deeply and taking his hat off. Trixie didn’t reply, and just moved closer to the coin, and flipped it over with her hoof. Then she laughed.

“A double headed coin? Come now, Trixie saw that one coming from a mile away.” The brothers glanced at each other, wondering what this mare was going to do now that she had figured out their trick.

“Trixie suggests that we try again, but using this coin,” said Trixie, floating a bit of her own over, and carefully showing both sides to the brothers, so that they could see it was quite clearly a standard coin.

“All right then,” said Flim, “Go ahead and flip.” The coin tumbled through the air, and landed on the ground.

“Tails,” smiled Trixie, as Flim and Flam groaned.

“A deal’s a deal, Miss Trixie. We’ll take you to the next town, and pay for your wagon to be fixed.”

***Time***

Once everything was hooked up, it didn’t take long for the three unicorns to arrive at a nearby town. Once there, they quickly located a carpenter who could fix the collapsing wagon, and there they used the last of their bits to fix up Trixie’s wagon.

“Trixie thanks you two for fixing up Trixie’s home. She also thanks you for your couch and hospitality, and suggests that you not try to con Trixie again.” As the unicorn brothers were pondering that statement, Trixie hooked herself up to her wagon, and beat a hasty escape. The two brothers turned back to their Cider Squeezy, and discovered that not only was the couch, and all their worldly possessions missing, but in Trixie’s attempts to get the couch detached, she had also demolished half the machine.

“Flim?”

“Yes, Flam?”

“I think we got conned.”

“Oh, she’s good.”