“Cannon Ball!!” DJ yelled. With a big splash, he landed in the water and came up a second later. “Whoo! Man, do I love swimming.”

“Eeyup,” Big Macintosh said as he swam by. It was another hot day in Ponyville and DJ was spending the day with his siblings at the lake just south of the town. DJ was brought out of his thoughts by the sound of a screaming filly.

“Woo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo! Woooo!” and Apple Bloom splashed into the lake causing a wave of water to drench Granny Smith who was sleeping on the shore.

“Who done that?!” the elder mare sputtered awake.

“I know nothing!!” DJ yelled sending out his right leg out in a slanted salute. Applejack rolled her eyes.

“Why do you always do that when questioned on sumthin’ suspicious?” she asked.

“Don’t disrespect the good sergeant Shultz!” he warned. “Plus, it’s me! Haven’t you learned to stop questioning this crap?” DJ asked with a raised eyebrow. Applejack face hooved.

“I keep forgettin’ ‘cause you keep on actin’ like a smarty one moment then a fool the next. Make up your darn mind!”

“Mmm, nope! It’s too much fun!” he said with a smile. AJ groaned and started shaking her head. “BTW, thanks for the present last night, guys. That blanket is amazingly comfortable.”

“Every Apple needs a special blanket,” Granny said. DJ’s twenty-first birthday had come and gone the night before, though it was a much smaller affair than last year’s. The party was fun, the presents were enjoyable, and the company was fantastic.

“Sure wish you’d come in and swim with us, Granny,” Apple Bloom whined.

“Uh, sorry, dear. I just can't bring myself anywhere near that there swimmin' hole,” Granny said.

“How come?” Granny then went into telling her grandchildren about her time as a diving champion, but a harrowing feat scared her into giving it up. DJ was amazed.

“Wow, Granny got skills.” He got out the lake and approached his adoptive grandmother. “Respect,” DJ said while putting out his hoof. Granny returned his hoof bump, a little smile on her face.

“And don’t ya forget it, youngin’.” They four ponies played in the water for a little while longer, but they eventually made their way back to town. Along the way, they noticed a bunch of injured ponies on their way to a large tent that had been set up just off the road. Granny, Apple Bloom, and DJ started to make their way to the tent as well, curious as to what was going on.

“Now where in Equestria do you think you three you’re goin’?” asked Applejack.

“Aw, quit bein' such a worry-worm and follow your ears!” Granny said.

“Come on, Applejack, aren't you curious?” asked Apple Bloom.

“I know I am,” DJ said, trotting on ahead. Applejack and Big Mac were still a little cautious, but they followed their fellow Apples inside the large tent. Inside was quite the large crowd and each one seemed to have one ailment or another. One with a broken hoof, another with a strained wing, the list goes on. Granny and Apple Bloom went to the front, while AJ, Big Mac, and DJ waited near the exit. Then the show started and two familiar stallions came out from behind the curtain.

“Thank you, one and all, for your attendance, and we guarantee that your time here will not be spent in vain!” announced Flim.

“In fact, we think it will prove to be the most valuable time you've ever spent!” added Flam.

“The Flim Flam Brothers! This should be interestin',” said Applejack in surprise and then disdain.

Big Macintosh wasn’t too happy either. “Eeyup,” he said with a frown. DJ just watched in silence as the two conponies riled up the crowd. They started going on about how they were going to be describing something amazing to the audience. And then they started to sing.

There's ailments all around us in everything we touch and see (Flim)

A sickness that lies waiting there in every breath you breathe (Flam)

It's amazing how infected that the natural world and all its things can be (Flim)

“Now I understand that some of you don't think you're sick…” said Flim.

“…But twisted hooves and aching joints don't heal all that quick,” finished his mustachioed brother.

“Consider just how dangerous this world is! You might...” Flim said before his brother finished in song.

Slip and fall, break or sprain something here tonight

(Together)

But luckily for you, we've got the thing you need

And it's easier when all you need's the cure

The Flim Flam Miracle Curative Tonic

Is just what the doctor ordered, I'm sure

“NNOPE!” DJ called out over the crowd, interrupting the two stallions mid-stride. The audience all looked at him with sour faces. He didn’t pay them any mind as he strode out of the tent. Flim and Flam looked at one another in surprise.

“Well that was an unnecessary reaction,” they said together before going back to their routine.

DJ waited patiently outside of the tent for his family. A little while later, they all came out and scowled at him.

“What was that!?” Applejack scolded her older brother.

“That is how I react to conmen, dear Applejack,” he responded truthfully.

“Ain’t no con in there, youngin’!” Granny said, looking miffed. She then pulled out a bottle and took a swig. “This here be a miracle cure for anythin’!”

“That’s what they said in the twenties, too,” DJ said underneath his breath. I know exactly where this story’s goin and I am not partaking.

“What was that?” asked Granny with a harsh glare.

“Nothing,” DJ huffed. “Well, it’s been fun hanging out with you all, but Twilight needs me back at the library soon.”

“What for?” asked Applejack as DJ started to trot off.

He turned back to them with a sour look. “I’ve taken over Spike’s job being a spell tester. This ought to be fun,” he said without enthusiasm. He trotted off to what could be a very exciting day, for Twilight that is.

**********

A few days later, DJ found himself staring at a giant diving board that had been put out in the middle of town, Granny Smith at the very top. He noticed Applejack climbing the ladder as fast as she could, trying to get to Granny before she jumped. While he watched, DJ conversed with Malice.

Knew it!

Even a child could have guessed how this was gonna turn out. Never doubt the flimflammers.

But they could be useful.

Are you sure about this? I mean, seriously? Those two?

Who else? If there’s anypony that can do it, it’s those two.

DJ was brought out his thoughts as a large gasp came from a large crowd of injured ponies.

“But you gave it your stamp of approval!” one pony yelled from a wheel chair. DJ guessed that they were yelling at Applejack for agreeing to the tonic.

“Are you saying you lied?” another asked from the crowd.

DJ looked at Applejack, who was looking ashamed. “…I am,” she admitted causing another gasp from the crowd. ”I didn't mean to! But everypony seemed so much happier, I couldn't bring myself to tell you when I found out the tonic wasn't real. I know it was wrong. I just hope with time, I can win back everypony's trust.”

“But if the tonic is a fake, then how come Granny can swim again, and what about all that aquabatics stuff we just did?” Apple Bloom asked.

This where DJ decided to step in. “It’s because she believed it worked AB.”

“Huh?” came from the audience around them.

“How long have you been here, DJ?” asked Applejack.

“Whole time. Just decided to explain myself a little here. You see, tonics like this have been around on my world for over a hundred years. The whole thing was that they never worked. There is no such thing as a cure all. The reason Granny felt better wasn’t the tonic, it was the belief that she could. It’s known as the placebo effect. Basically, the mind tricks itself, using the tonic as a catalyst. It doesn’t make you do anything you can’t, so Granny Smith has always been able to do all those aquabatics. She just needed the confidence to do it.”

Applejack nodded in appreciation. “I reckon sometimes you can forget what you're capable of, and it just takes a little extra confidence to remember that it was inside of you all along. But tellin' ponies your tonic can do things it can't is just wrong!” she admonished the conponies.

“But you just said it boosts confidence!” retorted Flim.

“And that’s not all it does—“ Flam added, but was interrupted by another stallion who went to explain his role in the con. This pony, Silver Shell, told everypony that it was all a sham and even apologized to Applejack by giving her a special bit. The chugging sound came from somewhere in the crowd. Everypony turned to see DJ downing a bottle of tonic.

“DJ!!” Applejack yelled. “What are you doin’?”

He stopped drinking when the entire bottle was gone. “Enjoying a tasty beverage. You see, a lot of the tonics and potions back home eventually turned into the some of the best tasting drinks that still exist to this day. And this stuff ain’t half bad.” He grabbed another bottle and started chugging. As he drank, DJ noticed out the corner of his eye that Applejack’s new bit glowed a rainbow color for just a second. The key of honesty! Five down, one to go.

The entire crowd just shook their heads; DJ will always be DJ. Applejack turned back to her grandmother. “I'm sorry, Granny. I hope this doesn't mean you'll stop swimmin'.”

“Why in tarnation would I do that? I just can't believe those two salesponies had me believin' I could near fly! Hey, where'd they go?” Granny asked looking around. AJ looked over too and saw something else.

“Where’d DJ go?” All three stallions were gone.

**********

The bag was pulled off Flim and Flam’s heads and they looked around. The room was dark, but silhouettes of a large desk with a pony sitting behind it were distinguishable. Both of them were quite scared. They had been attempting to sneak out of town after Applejack and Silver Shell spilled the beans about their tonic when they were attacked from behind. The two stallions had found themselves knocked unconscious and unceremoniously deposited into this dark room.

“Ahem,” the shadowed pony cleared his throat, drawing the Flim Flam brothers’ attention back to him. “I bet you’re wondering why I had you brought here, no?” he said with a strange accent. It was similar to a Manehatten native, but something wasn’t quite right with it. Flim started to answer his question when the pony put up a hoof. “Don’t answer that. I have had both of you brought here because…I have proposition for yous guys. I need what you have.”

Flim and Flam were shaking in fear. “A-and w-what is t-that?” Flam asked nervously.

“You boys travel all over Equestria, yes?” They both nodded. “You’re ponies who can sell anything, yes?” Again they nodded, still not sure what was going on. “You see, I have an invention that I need to be spread to as many homes in Equestria as possible.” The pony got up from the desk as a bright light lit up over a square device covered by a sheet. “Gentlestallions, allow me to present the next generation of home entertainment.” He pulled off the sheet and square, wooden box with a glass covering and few nobs in the upper right corner. “The television!” he proudly proclaimed. “Imagine, the perfect combination of radio and movies. All the entertainment of the movie theater with the home convenience of a radio!”

That had the brother’s attention. This pony wanted their salespony ship to get his invention out to the populace. That was certainly something they could do, but what was the catch? “Does it work?” Flim asked.

“See for yourselves,” he said while pressing a button on the box and the screen lit up. Nothing appeared save for a snowy screen and a scratching sound coming from the speakers on the side.

“Is it broken?” asked Flam. He tried to hide his disappointment as the prospect this pony was claiming sounded amazing.

“No, it requires signals to be sent to it so it can project the images and relay the sound. That is why I need your assistance.” The lights came on and the two stallions could finally see the pony before them, it was the blue stallion from before.

“Hey, weren’t you with the Apple family?” asked Flim.

“Why yes, yes I was. Allow me to introduce myself. I am DJ Sparkle, a prince of Equestria.” The conponies’ eyes bugged. “You have no idea how hard it was to create this little doohickey. Took many trials, errors, explosions, and fires to finally get this right. As for programming, I already have deal with Ponywood to have television shows produced. There was a minor catch, however.” Both brothers leaned, eager to know. “I need to have a television in at least five hundred homes by the start of the first fall season for this project to really get off the ground. That’s where you two come in.” The prince returned to his seat and stared down Flim and Flam. “I need you two to get these out to the public. You two go from town to town, city to city, selling to ponies everywhere. Will you do it?”

The brothers looked to each other, shared a smile, and then turned back to DJ. “What’s the catch?” they asked in unison.

“No catch. I will even pay you for your services. How does one hundred bits a week sound?” The widening eyes of both brothers was all the answer he needed. “I take it that’s a ‘yes’. Good. Now, a little information you need to be able to sell this thing.” DJ went back over to the TV and put a hoof on it. “This is called a television, or TV for short. It brings entertainment to the home in numerous ways. From action, to horror, from comedy, to drama, and more! All at the push of a button and the twist of a nob. They run on a magical cores that only need replacing every ten years or so to keep it powered. To prove that this works, you both will also need to know how to work the built in DVD player.”

“’DVD player’?” they echoed.

“Digital video disc, or DVD.” DJ lifted up a gleaming silver disk. “These discs have stored programs that can be watched at any time.” DJ went on for an hour explaining everything on how to use the TV and more. “Also, a simple duplication spell replaces manufacturing costs so don’t worry about that. The only thing is that I have a spell on it that only allows me to duplicate the device, so don’t try. It won’t work out well. You will be selling these for one hundred and twenty-five bits each. You two can work out specials and bundles yourself, but the standard must go for that price. I will also allow you ten percent of each one sold added to your pay. While you are on the road, I will be sending you your payment once I get a report on your selling. Do we have a deal?” DJ stuck out his hoof.

The brothers turned to each other and leaned in, whispering to one another. After a moment, they turned back to their prince with smiles. Flim and Flam shook hooves with DJ. “You got yourself a deal, your highness,” Flim said with joy.

“We won’t let you down, your majesty,” Flam added proudly.

DJ beamed in happiness at them. “Great! Oh and one more thing!” he said, ala Uncle. “If you both meet the mark of three hundred by this time in September, then I will give you a massive bonus!”

Flim and Flam’s eyes suddenly turned into gold bits and DJ could have sworn a cash register went off nearby. “Why so generous, your highness?”

“You see, I made another deal. If you both can get the TV’s out there, then you can start to advertise that the Equestria Games will be the first ever program on the device. Those that don’t have the privilege to go to the Games themselves will still be able to watch every event from the comfort of their own homes. So if we hit that mark by early September, we’ll all be rolling bits with how much we’re gonna rake in from that spectacle.”

“You are most generous, your majesty!!” they both bowed to him. Normally this would have put DJ off, but he was fine with. Just this once.

“Great, your caravan has already been loaded with the first three hundred.” DJ opened the door to the outside world and motioned for them to be off on their way. “I expect great things from you two. Great things!” After thanking him profusely one more time, the Flim Flam brothers hightailed it off to get to their first sale. DJ chuckled as they raced off and went inside his home. Twilight was inside getting dinner ready. “Hey, hon,” he said while giving her a peck on the cheek. “Need any help with dinner?”

“That would be great DJ. Why so chipper?” she asked as she got back to chopping vegetables.

DJ started mixing the salad as he replied, a big smile on his face. “Oh you know me, always happy to help!”