Second Chances

by Nailah

Chapter 11: Applejack's Stand.

Flim was glad that Applejack had decided to speak with the owner of Quills and Sofas and had gotten him his job back. Flim did wonder why his brother had all of a sudden seemed to change... it wasn't like him at all. Applejack had spoke with him briefly before he went to work, about making sure to keep an eye on Flam while he was at work.

“It's so good to have such a well known salespony as part of our team. We will be looking forward to seeing you succeed here with us at Quills and Sofas.” smiled the head of Quills and Sofas.

“Oh thank you, it's an honor to just have a chance to show what I'm really capable of, and for once, I'll be helping somepony, rather than helping myself...” replied Flim. Flim couldn't help but want to continue to prove himself as a good pony now. Though even as he stood there preparing him for the opening of the store, he couldn't help but wonder about Flam's intentions. Was he actually being sincere or was this just another scam of his? As much as he wanted to find out, he also wanted to believe there was hope for his brother but...he had this bad feeling in the pit of his stomach.

He knew he couldn't afford to be worrying about it right now...he had a job to do and he did trust Applejack's word. If he wanted to make a new start for himself, he had to protize what was more important, and his success was much more crucial then simply worrying over nothing, or at least what he hoped was nothing.

“Flim is everything alright?” questioned the salespony. “I don't mean to be a bother but you seem to be lost in thought, is there anything I can help with?” he asked politely. After all Flim and Flam were rather well known for their salespony skills of being able to sell a pony their own left hoof without them even realizing it, and that talent would go a long way in his shop. He couldn't help but smile softly as he reached out his hoof, putting it on his shoulder, looking towards him to see if he would talk or not. He totally understood that each and every pony was different.

“Oh it's nothing, I assure you I'm just fine. Just first day jitters.” smiled Flim. He didn't feel right about dragging another pony into his problems. It was bad enough that Fluttershy had to be involved in all of the drama with his brother. Of course Fluttershy had assured him that everything would be fine while he was at work, but still he couldn't help but wonder about the words of his brother and doubting if they were sincere or not.

*******8

“Oh Flam just wait until I introduce you to Harry. He's such a friendly bear, and he gives the best hugs!” spoke Fluttershy as she was showing him around her animal sanctuary but now she was looking for Harry whom often helped out with anything she needed.

“Yes, I'm sure he's quite the sight to see.” replied Flam with a bit of a sigh and a slight groan mentally, why was he doing this? The more time he wasted here in this town, the more the resort suffered but the only way to get his brother back was to play his little game of “friendship.” Though he didn't really see the point of Fluttershy introducing him to all of her animals. I mean he could definetly see potential in marketing some of the rarer ones but that wouldn't really help the resort at all so it didn't really matter to him what happened to her animals. Ugh...all he wanted was to get his brother back and the more and more Fluttershy talked, the more he rolled his eyes and scoffed at the whole ordeal. This was just simply a waste of his time, and he didn't have a lot of time to spare.

“Oh here he is. Hey Harry how are you today?” spoke Fluttershy towards her fellow friendly bear.

Harry came up from his resting spot as he stretched out his form, and scratched at his back, a sheepish yawn escaping his maw, as he then looked towards Fluttershy and gave her a big hug.

“I'd like you to meet my friend Flam, he's Flim's twin brother. He's looking to change himself for the better. Isn't that wonderful?” smiled Fluttershy as Harry looked towards Flam with a raised eyebrow as he scratched the top of his head. He then put Fluttershy down and offered his paw in greeting towards this stallion.

Flam really wasn't sold on talking to a bear...I mean sure he was sure why Fluttershy got along with these animals, it was kind of her thing but why would he care? Flam just smiled ever so slightly. “Um...hi there Harry it's nice to meet you?” he spoke up still thinking this entire thing was ridiculous.

Harry slightly nodded towards him as he raised his paw in greeting and the two shook hoof and paw. Harry then returned by Fluttershy's side nuzzling down in the grass next to her and letting out a long yawn.

“Well it seems like he's awfully tired today. You get some sleep now okay? I'll be back later on today.” smiled Fluttershy as she waved towards him and went back towards Flam.

“So what would you like to do now?” smiled Fluttershy softly. “I realize animals aren't really your thing. Oh I know how about we go see Applejack. I'm bet you would like seeing Apple Acres again.” suggested Fluttershy.

“Nah. I appreciate the gesture but the only place I want to be, isn't anywhere near here. I want to return to Las Pegusus and make our resort the most successful resort out there, but I can't do that alone. I need Flim to come with me but it seems that someone has inspired thoughts into his head of reception and even love....I wonder whom that would be.” spoke Flam with a glare towards Fluttershy.

“But I don't understand I thought you were willing to compromise to be with your brother again...” began Fluttershy who seemed a bit worried now, and she had every right to be worried, he was acting like he hadn't changed in the slightest.

“And now I'm going to remedy the problem, starting by taking the one thing he loves. After all it seems that's the only way to get through to him now.” spoke Flam as he took out his bag, and ropes and went to grab Fluttershy. Fluttershy tried to escape quickly but she wasn't that fast, and he used his magic to pretty much make sure she didn't escape as he tied her wings up to her body and put a scarf around her mouth so she couldn't scream for any pony's help as he shoved her into the bag, of course she struggled but luckily for him it seemed like no pony had seen what had just occurred. He had this evil smirk on his maw as he headed back towards Las Pegasus taking a detour right outside of the town to avoid running into any pony.

But what he didn't know was somepony had seen what had occurred and that pony was none other than....Applejack. She had been coming out to give Fluttershy a fresh batch of Apple's from her family's farm. Her basket dropped to the ground with a loud thud to the ground as the apples rolled all about the grass rolling from one side to the other. Her jaw dropped in shock as she was in disbelief but at the same time angered at what she had just witnessed here. And as much as she wanted to run after them and free Fluttershy, she knew she had to tell Flim or else, Flam might get exactly what he wanted and she knew that Flam didn't care about Fluttershy but clearly he was taking her in order to get to Flim. Applejack wasn't having any of it, she ran as fast as her hooves could muster, granted she was fast but she certainly wasn't as fast as Rainbow Dash was. So she had to hurry. She dashed in to Quills and Sofas in a heavy pant as sweat drops ran down her face.

“Flim! Fluttershy....she's been kidnapped!” shouted out Applejack as she managed to catch her breath.

“What?” questioned Flim as he turned to see an exhausted looking Applejack by the door. “You are joking aren't you? Please tell me this is just a joke...” he begged her.

“I'm sorry Flim....but it seems like all your brother cares about is bits, we should've known better than to trust the word of that lying....” began Applejack when Flim hushed her.

“Just as you had no right to trust me at first. My brother just doesn't realize what I know now, that friendships are worth fighting for, and if he can't even have the decency to face me himself. I am going to finish what I should have started back at Fluttershy's cottage, and I'm going to save the mare I love.” spoke Flim in a determined voice as he ran off in a hurry. Of course it didn't take long for Applejack to catch up to him.

“Granted, I realize why we are in such a hurry, but I reckon it'd be a lot quicker if we take a train there.” spoke Applejack.

“It'll take too long to wait for a train...we need a pegasi or a balloon. Something that will get us there faster. Who knows what he's going to do to her in the meantime.” spoke Flim with a worried look and a concern on his hues showing for the mare of his dreams.

“I reckon I could call in a favor from a wonderbolt, I guartnee she won't like this anymore than I do.” suggested Applejack.

“Where is she do you know?” asked Flim.

“Probably up in cloudsdale doing practice right now, so I reckon it would take awhile to get a letter to her from here. Ah gosh darn it. We might as well just handle it ourselves. We wouldn't want to overwhelm Fluttershy...” spoke Applejack concerned for her dear friend. She couldn't even imagine what she must be going through, and having to watch her being taken away was just horrible, there was no way she was simply just going to let him get away with this. Flim and her were going to get Fluttershy back and take care of Flam once and for all. Flim hated it but he was going to have to pretty much put his brother in jail for his crimes. Sometimes love had to be tough, and right now it was tough love that his brother needed, and maybe then they could finally get through to him. He could only hope...they weren't too late.

*******8

“Mmm!!!....” mumbled Fluttershy from within the bag and trying to talk through the scarf trying to get help somehow.

Flam didn't even care if she tried to ask for help, most ponies in this town just went about their day without a care in the world. Most ponies simply thought he got stuff from one of the many sales within the main stands of Las Pegusus. No one had time to question his suspicions or try to stop him from where he was going. Flam arrived at the resort, and hurried on up to his office where he let Fluttershy out of the bag, and grabbed a leash from his favorite dog and pony show and attached it to a hat pole in his office and clicked the leash part onto the rope that was holding her in place and keeping her from flying away.

Fluttershy wanted to cry but she knew it wouldn't really help her now, she knew this office was soundproof unless you pressed the microphone and she was way too far away to be tricky like she had been when Gladmane had been running the place. She still didn't understand why he was doing this, it had seemed like he had wanted to change so that he could be with his brother again. She couldn't believe all he cared about was bits. How could any pony want coins over their own brother? She just shook her head.

“You are a bad pony.” spoke Fluttershy with an annoyed expression on her face as she turned her tail towards him in an upset huff.

“You can call me whatever you want.” replied Flam. “I'm going to have my way no matter what it takes.”

“You should actually care about your brother. He's been doing so much to redeem himself in the eyes of the townsfolk and now here you are trying to ruin his reputation! I am not about to let you do that.” spoke Fluttershy defensively.

“Not much you can do about it now dear. You are my ticket to getting my brother back. If he truly loves you, he'll be here any minute now and I'll finally get what I want.” replied Flam with a devious smirk crossing his brows.

Fluttershy knew he was right about one thing, there was nothing she could do right at this moment but that didn't mean she had to do nothing. She had to find a way to help Flim, even if it was something simple and small, she had to try because she knew Flim deserved a second chance unlike Flam who had clearly shown that he didn't deserve any more chances. She just hoped Flim would be okay...after all she couldn't even imagine what she would do if it was her brother so she could only imagine what was racing through his mind now and what he might do to his brother for his actions.

Comments

[QueenChrysalisForever]

8760167
You're welcome! All caught up now. Can't wait for more!

[Nailah]

8760188
Glad, you are enjoying it! Only a few more chapters to write yet. Updates on Tuesday xD.

[QueenChrysalisForever]

8760196
Good, not too long a wait then. But yeah it has been an interesting read.

[Azure Drache]

I like Harry, sleep and hugs, thats a bear