Interesting so far I really like it, I hope the rest of the apple family will find themselves in diapers and foalish outfits, of even the F&F in diapers somehow. Still I am not sure how this could make for a multi chapter story.

9175466
Glad I snagged your interest. Once Part 2 hits I think you’ll see how this one managed to be longer than a one-shot

Like the idea so far. i wonder what your going to do with part 2 but im sure it will be great coming from a writer like you

9175542
Nice, I can'T wait to see it and how the diaper and outfit has anything to do with the cider? I hope their will be a whole merchandise related to AJ, maybe even public plays or movies. By the way if you didn't know I am an artist, if you are interested, I am open for commissions, I might be willing to make a deal with you.

https://www.deviantart.com/amalgamzaku

I can't wait for the next chapter

It feels like there's a lot of assumptions happening to make the story move along. For example, Film and Flam commissioning a dress like that before knowing who their mascot would be and how said mascot would be able to make up for a significant 25% difference in profit.

However, I also hated how the episode had an anti-message with the Apple family effectively cheating to win the contest (bringing in third party help) and them still technically losing (the contest wasn't about making quality cider, it was the quantity of cider). It's barely referenced in passing, but I do like how you still actually work with the acknowledgement that the twins won.

Style-wise it's solid, and I think this might be the most mechanically sound stories of yours yet; I don't recall seeing any spelling mistakes or other typos of that sort. Applejack is a pleasant mixture of her vocal tics without drinking too deeply from the Well of Annoying Southern Stereotypes. Flim and Flam do feel like they're missing their usual gusto, though, not playing off of each other as much as I recall (though it has been several years since I've watched them in action). However, the foundation for this story and the justifications used for the fetish feel weak compared to your more recent work. It's not bad, but the rush to reach payoff is felt acutely here. Also, I'm sure I'm voicing many people's thoughts when I say Big Mac would have filled the role quite well ;)

"Fifty percent and no lower, if you want me to wear that get-up."

Flim and Flam exchanged glances. "You drive a hard bargin, but we'll agree-"

"-if we can have your brother as the mascot when he's free." The pair chortled.

"Deal."

The laughed stopped. "Just like that?" Flim said.

"Speaking as a brother, I would certainly ask my dear sibling whether he was okay with such an arrangement before signing the dotted line!" Flam added.

Applejack winked. "Trust me, he'll be happier than a hog in fresh mud. I'll go get him for you~"

As they watched Applejack sashay back down the dirt path with a jaunty whistle, Flam asked, "Were we just played, brother?"

Flim turned around, taking the dress in his magic. "No, I believe we simply stumbled into a mutually beneficial arrangement. Now, might you help me loosen this?"

9175575
Aww thanks Hope I meet expectations.

9175638
I’ll keep you in mind for the future when I need art. For now nothing comes to mind.

9175900
I’m excited too

9176039
I won’t lie that I stretched things to make this fic happen. I considered having Flim and Flam take some time to prep once they got the idea for the mascot with AJ coming back later or even another day, but that really just made the story longer without really adding much in the grand scheme of things.

As for how a mascot is going to make them more money, that’ll all be explained in the next chapter.

Lastly, your disappointment regarding Big Mac is 100% justified. I will now hang my head in shame.

9176505
I just made a padded story on Big Mac. Lol. All that's missing is Apple Bloom

9176582
Hopefully someone will take care of that for us. Between this fic and my next I’m swamped.

9176792
I'm busy trying to finish up my padded guard story as well. But I'm glad the Apples are padded they don't get enough love lol. But keep it up. You make the best padded pony fics.

9177225
Aww, thanks

If I didn't know better, I'd swear Flim and Flam had the mascot idea in mind from the start and were just waiting for Applejack to make the deal with them.

This should be interesting, wonder what'll happen when Applejack's friends inevitably see her in her new foalish state.

9177388
I'm sure Applejack isn't as eager to find out.

This was a fun little story. Definitely something I wouldn't put past Flim and Flam. They'd certainly relish in such a way to further add pain to punishment upon achieving such a victory.

The scene of AJ getting brought to the stage was definitely fun. Nice lead up along with great description of how she was dressed and styled.

9177704
Thanks! Hope you’re looking forward to more.

9176505
In this case, I almost feel like the opposite approach would have worked better, starting with Applejack already in the mascot uniform and having her recall what led her to this unfortunate predicament through snippets. However, it would have possibly been more difficult to organically slide that in so it didn't feel like plain In Media Res. Alas, writing is but a series of choosing between the lesser of evils like that, and your way isn't wrong, I'm just not sure if it's ideal.

Heh, it's a matter of character and scenario preference. Applejack being proud, and therefore humbled and embarrassed, by this experience is the main driving force for your interest in this idea, I imagine. Everyone has their preference; I'm sure there's someone out there who'd prefer Granny Smith in the role instead.

Love this story.

Not gonna lie though, I'm a little disappointed with the mascot name AJ got saddled with.

Not that Jackie is bad, just saying it could've been a lot more humiliating.

9178860
In Media Res might have worked, but I personally have never been a fan of jumping between the present and flashbacks. I doubt I would have handled writing that well.

9179114
I tossed around a few ideas before settling on Jackie. Not the best, I know, but it was simple and a believable mascot name, so it stuck somewhere in the writing process.

I'm down with this.

9179600
Good, cause there's more coming

9179577
I didn't mean In Media Res exactly; it's a tool for people who can't inject enough engaging elements into a story before it reaches action, so instead they make a promise of action coming later like an IOU for the reader. I specifically said it shouldn't feel like In Media Res if executed well; you don't drop the story into a flashback every time you need to justify something happening at that point. Instead, something occurs which reminds Applejack of what led to these events, or gives reason to the characters to talk about what happened in brief snippets. This weaves the backstory into the more interesting primary conflict. It's like a clever callback but instead of reminding the reader of a running joke you're filling them in on the events that led up to this.

9180811
Eh, even if it could be weaved in organically, I'm still just not a fan of that story-telling style.

9181175
Fair enough. As I said, how you did it wasn't wrong, and anything beyond that is merely personal tastes.

OH SNAPPITY SNAP SNAP!!! XD

“If you don’t want too(to),” Flim leviated the outfit away. “That’s fine. Flam and I didn’t come to you asking for money, after all.”

She should be able to look the winners in their eyes, smile, and congratulate them. That’s what she’d cobbled together for a friendship letter to send to Princess Celestia, at least.

Oh painful. This has got to be one of the worst letters anyone has ever had to write.

Flim and Flam didn’t even have to sacrifice quality for quantity. In the end, they’d barely won by just a single barrel, and that had been enough.

Ouch. Missed it by that much. Always did wonder how that bet was supposed to work realistically speaking. Would Applejack's friends volunteer their services every Cider Season? Because it doesn't really solve the lack of Cider product problem otherwise.

And now, the Apple’s had to honor their agreement: the Flim Flam brothers would get the lion’s share of the profit for selling apple cider this winter.

Back when the internet and Youtube was wild and free, someone pointed out that with The Flim Flams making Cider at almost ten times the speed the Apple Family could, even 25% would at least double their income.

I haven't been able to accurately compare the rate of barrel production, and I can't find the video, but it is interesting to think about.

That being said I don't imagine they had time to run the numbers either amid all the drama.

Applejack shuddered; each time she closed her eyes she could see a swarm of bills drowning her in red ink. The possibility that they could lose the farm… that they’d have to leave...

That couldn’t happen. Applejack wasn’t about to let it happen.

It's not really in the interest of the Brothers or Ponyvile either. But it's understandable that Applejack wouldn't feel that way.

“Listen, I can’t…” Her brow twitched into a furrow. “The farm ain’t gonna survive this winter if we only get twenty-five percent of the cider profits, okay?”

“And what do you have to gain by burdening us with such a sob story?” Flim asked, his tone a breath away from taunting.

Huh. I guess they don't care if their producer gets destroyed.

Or maybe they've run the numbers too?

“It had to be cute, and non-threatening, and fun to be around. You know something on brand, so to speak.”

Ah there's the title reference!

“Uh-huh.” Applejack still wasn’t sure where this was going.

I do.

Partner? Applejack snorted. A seventy-five to twenty-five split can hardly be called a partnership.

Applejack gawked. Suspended in the air by Flim’s magic was easily the worst mascot costume she had ever seen.

It was a white and green dress, with a matching bonnet and booties. Despite being sized up to be worn by a grown mare, it looked suspiciously made for a filly. The fluffy skirt with a gold, frilly trim, the puffed sleeves, the white swirl patterns and accompanying apple designs stitched in. Applejack was no fashion expert, but even she could tell this was overdoing it a bit.

Lies! It's a beautiful costume. You can never over do cuteness!

None of that was the particularly bad part, however. That dishonor went to the diapers.

Welp they have to have something to make sure you keep your new outfit clean.

“So whaddaya say, Applejack?” Flam tightened his hold on her ever so slightly. “Want to be the Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000’s mascot?”

Do you even have to ask?

Her? In that dress? And diapers!?

Yes please!

As her eyes lost track of them, Applejack turned her head, but was only able to catch the frills of the dress at best.

Oh you'll catch more than that soon.

“Let’s see here.” Magic gripped the tip of Applejack’s tail, lifting it high into the air.

Let's see those pretty cheeks of yours!

“Hey!” Applejack squeaked, cheeks pink. Suddenly she was feeling very exposed back there.

Don't worry. They'll fix that for you very soon.

Her pink cheeks dipped to red as she felt the padding nestle her plot, and they only burned more when the diaper folded around and pressed against her marehood.

Does that feel good sweetie?

It was like a perpetual, soft hug against her flanks. The invasive floof smothered her inner thighs, and crinkled with every slight movement of her hindquarters,

As it should be.

Applejack winced as the layers of padding compressed under her, shoving swaths of floof against her inner thighs. Her face glowed with an anguished red.

Aww what's wrong honey? Hot?

“Consarnit!” she cried.

Some filly's feeling frustrated.

The frilly green shoes of the foal costume locked onto her hooves, shaking themselves on before Applejack could protest. Two more dove for her hind legs.

Now for the best part... The outfit.

“Ergh,” she groaned. She tried waving her hooves to shake them free, but the booties were stuck snuggly in place. The most infuriating part is that they were actually kind of comfortable.

Isn't she just precious? And already she's enjoying her new outfit!

She still wasn’t used to the diapers hugging her plot; no way she was ready for the filly dress to be plopped on top of it. Her resistance was overridden by Flam, whose magic returned to her hooves, forcing them to reach for the sky.

Resistance is futile.

The bonnet wrapped around her head, sealing off Applejack’s peripheral vision with a row of gold frills. Her ears poked through little slits in the top, before folding down to show her discomfort. Before tying the whole thing in place, Flam brought her hair around and tied it into twintails that came to rest on the front of her dress.

Aww! She's so cute!

She squirmed, trying to shift her diaper into a less awkward position, but was only rewarded with crinkles and invasive floof. The skirt of her dress swished delicately, each little movement of hers only serving to make her look more dainty than what the outfit alone could manage.

Such a fidgety foal. Are you a fidgety foal Applejack?

Introduction? Applejack frowned. She knew she had no chance of being discreet in her get-up, but she at least was hoping to avoid the spotlight right away.

Poor Applejack. Oh well, no backing out of this now.

“Hurry up!” Flam sent a jolt of magic to tug her tail skyward.

Sneaking another peek, Flam?

Applejack let out and “eep” of surprise as her plot was dragged into the air. She was quickly set down on all fours, before another slap of magic pushed her diapered rear, making her waddle forward.

Oh yeah! You smack that ass, Flam!

Her steps were wide and awkward, like a foal still learning how to walk. She was forced to toddle after Flam toward the public eye, all the while chased by the chorus of crinkles her five diapers made.

Aww! It's time to meet your public sweetie!

“The mascot of the Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000!” Flim extended a hoof to reveal Applejack as she waddled into view of the crowd. “Jackie!”

I love the name.