Tinkering in the Outskirts [open]

[flam]

Flam heaved a sigh. He didn't feel all that comfortable being this close to Ponyville again. Needless to say, their last visit didn't leave fond memories in his mind. The town was even in plain view from where he was, which only made him more grateful for the excuse to not look at it.

Flam was, in fact, lying on his back, staring up at the underside of the Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000. But the contraption had gone over many modifications since the last time it was in Ponyville. After all, it was doubtful that they would be able to sell a drop of cider in this town ever again. So, just as their business had to grow more versatile, so too did their machine.

"Let's see... cooling coil here... Tighten that bolt..." Flam knew that talking to himself, and occasionally the machine itself was an odd habit, but it helped him keep his thoughts in order. "Alright, let's get you running..." He rolled himself out from underneath the contraption and dusted himself off. Wiped the grease stain from his mustache, and replaced his hat on his head. "Here goes nothing..." His horn glowed with magical energy, and slowly the machine rumbled to life. A grin slowly spread itself across Flam's face.

[Deleted]

Not being the mechanic, Flim was spending his time waiting on the couch of the machine while Flam toiled with the gears and gadgets of the Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000. It wasn't as if he didn’t want to help, but by this point the machinery had advanced to the point that Flim wasn't sure if he could get his head around it all. Sure, he knew how to run it and to use the magic to get it moving, but that was about it.

But that left him doing something probably even more annoying than maintenance; looking at Ponyville. Ever since they had left that town it had been nothing but trouble; nopony even gave them the time of day anymore because of that town. Sure, they might have pushed things a bit by trying to undermine and take the Apple family farm, but that was business. They shouldn’t be punished that much for it.

That would change soon enough, however; they were coming back better than ever with their newly upgraded machine. Even if they couldn't get cider, they could sell something else. They had the ingenuity and skills to make and sell anything. All they had to do was get the ponies of Ponyville to trust them again. How hard could that be now?...

His musings were thankfully interrupted by his brother’s starting up of the machine. It sounded like it was ready to go towards a hopefully brighter future.

”So are good to go now brother?” Flim said as he looked down at his brother, making sure to add his own magic to the machine to make sure it was running at full power.