//------------------------------//
// Prologue: A Rotten Deal 
// Story: The P-Team: The Cider Wars 
// by NightmareDash 
//------------------------------//

The piles of cider barrels were staggering, on both sides. Both sides were determined to win, so it came down to a contest of pony vs. machine. The last grains of sand fell to the bottom of the glass, and Doctor Hooves signalled the Mayor.

"Time's up!"

She quickly glanced at each group's pile, and the winner was very clear.

"Flim and Flam win!"

Everypony was definitely shocked. Except for Flim and Flam, that is, who were quite obviously proud of themselves.

"Daww, too bad, Apples. Guess you'll just have to find a new line of work that doesn't match your names quite so... perfectly." 

"Now should we tear down all these tacky old buildings and put up new ones, brother?"

"I don't see why not, brother. After all, this isn't Sweet Apple Acres anymore. How about 'Flim Flam Fields'?"

Applejack, quick to shoot for a hope at saving her family, challenged them.

"But wait! Let's see who has the better-tasting cider. That should determine the real winner."

A group of ponies from the crowd lined up to sample a cup from each batch. The Apples' tasted exactly like they knew it to, with a good, clean taste the town had come to expect. The brothers' cider, however, tasted exactly as it looked: garbage.

"Ha! We made the better-tasting cider. Nopony can argue that. That's gotta count for something, Mayor!"

"Think again, Applejack. The terms of this competition said that whoever made the most cider would be declared the winner. We quite clearly did that, isn't that right, Ms. Mayor?"

The Mayor was distraught, but obligated by the duty of her position to agree with them.

"They're right, Applejack. They did produce more cider than you, regardless of its quality. Based on that, they did win."

The Flim-Flam Brothers, assured in their victory, laughed triumphantly.

~~~~~~~~~

Back inside their home, the Apples were forced to face the new reality of having to leave Sweet Apple Acres for good.

"I can't believe it! We did everything right, and now we've lost it all! Say it ain't so, Big Mac."

"I wish I could, Applebloom. But they won. And right now, I just don't know what to do."

Applejack, who had been sitting in the corner, depressed by her own percieved failure, finally spoke up.

"I do. My friends are good for more than companionship. I reckon', with their help, we just might be able to save our farm."

Granny Smith, bitter at the prospect of having to leave what had been her home for almost a century, was not so optimistic.

"I doubt it, Applejack. Almost anything they could do would be against the law, and besides, they're just five ponies. Oh dear, what are we going to do?"

"I'll tell you what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna hire The P-Team."

"