While most would agree that Ponyville was a fairly calm and peaceful place, there was also no denying that, when something happens to bring the community together, they really come together. Such was the case today as row upon row of mares and stallions lined up right outside the front gates of Sweet Apple Acres. So vast was the collection of ponies there that the line stretched from those front gates all the way to the other side of town. And among the ponies gathered was every notable member of the community, from local teacher Cheerilee to the Mayor herself. All of them looked ahead with anticipation, licking their lips in an excited manner for what they knew they would get at the end of all of this. For today was the day that the Apple family brought out one of its signature products; their apple cider. Every pony in Ponyville was salivating at the thought of getting to taste it, so much so that some had even camped outside of the Apples' home to get in early on the action. And so, they all continued to wait, with some even skipping in place because of how eager they were. Eventually, their patience was rewarded, and the front doors of the Apple family barn began to swing open. Sure enough, there they were; Applejack, Granny Smith, Apple Bloom and Big Macintosh.

All the ponies of Ponyville cheered as they saw them, and then cheered even louder when they saw that they were all busy carting out massive barrels of cider along with them. Amongst the crowds, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash looked on, with Rainbow especially looking more happy about this than the ponies around her.

"I tell ya, Pinkie, this is the best time of year! Their cider is so delicious, it just makes me want to...want to...ugh! It's just so good!"

Pinkie giggled at her friends words.

"I know it's good, silly! That's why I'm here too!"

The two friends laughed together as they looked ahead, watching as Applejack and her family finished with their preparations. The barrels they brought out had all been stacked up as high as they could, and a table had been placed in front of them, ready to take the custom of the ponies gathered before them. With that work done, Applejack took a seat next to her Grandmother before clearing her throat, letting out a loud call.

"Alright, everypony! The annual cider sale is on!"

As expected, there was a massive cheer of approval from the crowd, and they all began to charge forward, ready to get the cider they'd been waiting all year for. So, ponies approached the Apples' front desk, bits in their mouths, and happily turned it over to Applejack, and soon afterwards, the latter smiled as she brought out a large mug of cider. Accepting it, the customer just drank the whole thing then and there, much to Applejack's amusement, before walking off and making room for the next pony. This went on for several hours, with every member of the Apple family doing their part and handing out the cider to everypony who asked for it. However, after about noon, there inevitably came a time when the last barrel had finally been emptied, only just managing to get out one final mug for the customer that was waiting. Looking upon the empty barrels behind her, Applejack gave a nod to her Grandmother, their expressions not exactly happy, as both of them knew what was coming next. Steeling herself, Applejack stood up from the desk and called out to the crowds, which were sill large in spite of how much time had passed.

"Alright, y'all! That's it! The cider's run out!"

As expected, this caused a general groan of dissatisfaction from the assembled ponies, with Rainbow practically leaping into the air, letting out a loud groan of annoyance. Seeing this, the Apples all turned to one another, looking rather upset that, as always, they were never able to satisfy every pony that had come to them. However, before they had the chance to offer some kind of apology, the moment was interrupted by a new and strange sound from across the horizon. All of the ponies stopped what they were doing and turned in unison to the sound, and when they did, they looked on with both awe and confusion. Coming over the hill, right towards the crowd, was perhaps the strangest thing any of them had ever seen, at least, THIS week anyway. It was clearly a machine of some sort, but one constructed to look as bizarre and complicated as possible, moving along the grassy ground like a train without tracks. A lot of the ponies turned to each other with looks of concern after seeing this thing, none more so than the Apples. But, as they watched the machine finally grind to a halt, it let out a billow of steam, followed soon afterwards by the arrival of two unicorn stallions, who had been piloting the thing. Bearing red manes, with one having an equally red moustache, they were dressed not unlike carnival attendants, and looked out at the crowds with cheesy smiles on their faces.

"Well well, brother...looks like we have ourselves a parched crowd!" the stallion with the moustache said.

"Indeed, brother! Lucky we came long to help!" the other added.

Raising an eyebrow, Applejack got up and out of her chair, and, as she walked towards these new arrivals, she noted that Twilight was approaching from the same hill they had come from, looking at their machine with great interest. But, Applejack turned from her friend and instead continued to approach the two brothers, speaking up when she got close.

"Beggin yer pardon, Sirs...but who are ya?"

The brothers both retained that smile of theirs as they spoke.

"Why, we're the Flim-Flam brothers! We're to satisfy the needs of a thirsty populace with our Super-Easy-Cider-Sqeezy 6000!"

Upon hearing the word "cider" Applejack immediately raised her eyebrow at that.

"Yer sayin this doohicky contraption makes cider?"

The brother with the moustache nodded.

"Indeed it does, little lady. And we're here to show the good citizens of Ponyville that they don't need to wait all year for the paltry amount that your family produces."

As expected, that remark immediately caused Applejack to look at the two stallions with anger. But, it was here that Twilight finally looked away from the machine and towards her friend, seeing the clearly-insulted look on her face. As the orange mare began to step forward, Twilight sensed a conflict brewing in all of this, and so lit up her horn. In moments, there was a bright flash, with Twilight disappearing from where she stood, and then reappearing between Applejack and the Flim-Flam brothers. Although taken aback by the sudden and unexpected arrival of her friend, Applejack's expression softened when the latter finally spoke up.

"Okay, AJ, I know you're upset, and with good reason, but there's no need for a fight."

Applejack looked to Twilight in a rather indignant manner.

"No need?! These fancy-schmancy stallions think they can just waltz on in here an insult mah family an the way we've done this cider business fer generations! Ah ain't gonna sit down and stay quiet with that, Twilight."

Twilight nodded after hearing that.

"Understood. Just...let me talk to them...please."

Applejack looked to her friend and then glanced at the brothers, who, as one might expect, were still wearing those unpleasant smirks on their faces, practically begging her to have at them. Although the air was one of tension, Applejack eventually relented, letting out a sigh before nodding to Twilight. The young unicorn smiled at her friend before turning her attention to the two brothers. She took a moment to compose herself, clearing her throat as she did so, which caused Applejack to roll her eyes somewhat, perhaps expecting her to give one of her now-famous Twilight speeches. However, no sooner had Twilight opened her mouth when everypony was halted by a loud noise. They spun around, just in time to see the Flim-Flam's cider machine become engulfed in a massive explosion. Everypony ducked for cover, including Twilight and her friends, and watched as the machine flew several hundred feet into the air from that massive boom. After a few moments of staying up there, it came crashing back down to the ground and, as one might expect, shattered into a million pieces. As their machine now lay ruined before them, the Flim-Flams looked on with shock at the wreckage, as indeed did Twilight, who clearly hadn't been counted on such a turn of events. As for Applejack, she looked at the whole scene with confusion, before her eyes suddenly widened. Spinning around, she turned to her sister.

"Apple Bloom! Have y'all been leaving yer potions strewn about the field again?"

The young filly peeked out from behind her brother, looking embarrassed and sheepish at having been called out like that. Letting out a sigh, Applejack shook her head in a disapproving manner at her sister before returning to the task at hand. The remnants of the cider machine continued to smoulder before them, with the two brothers picking up a nearby piece of it, only for it to suddenly disintegrate into a pile of ash in their hooves. Meanwhile, Twilight simply stared at this with sheer disbelief upon her face.

"Well...I was not expecting that."

Walking beside her, Applejack looked to the wreckage before turning to the brothers, speaking up in a genuinely apologetic manner.

"Ah'm real sorry what happened ta yer machine, fellers."

The brothers turned to her, appearing quite indignant, and yet somehow maintaining their usually upbeat tone of voice.

"And indeed you should! After all the hard work we put into making that thing for a full...er...brother?"

The other brother pulled out a notepad from his pocket and read over a few lines, after which he turned to his sibling.

"Two hours."

The previous brother then turned to Applejack, still looking irritated.

"You hear that? We spent a whole two hours on this!"

Applejack opened her mouth to speak, but was interrupted by Twilight, who once more situated herself in-between the two.

"Look! Would you, perhaps, be willing to accept some form of compensation for this? I'd be willing to pay on Applejack's behalf."

As expected, the mention of money caused the brothers to look to each other, their eyes lighting up at long last. They turned away from the mares for a moment, whispering amongst themselves in what Twilight could only assume was a discussion on what they should actually be paid. After some time of this, they turned to her, with the younger brother clearing his throat slightly. He smiled to her and offered her his hoof, a sign that he had accepted her offer. Taking his hoof, Twilight shook it, before turning back to Applejack and giving her a look that made it clear that she was going to deal with this situation. Applejack nodded at that, showing an appreciative smile, before seeing her friend walk off with the two stallions. But, after they were all gone, the orange mare turned to see, to her chagrin, that there was still the matter of half the town having gone without cider, as the ones brave enough to remain after the explosion were all looking at her, tapping their hooves in frustration. Although grimacing at this, Applejack was then taken aback when Pinkie popped in from out of nowhere and started speaking in her usual enthusiastic manner.

"Ooh! Ooh! Is it okay if I give the big speech about how the cider is only as special as it is because it's made with love and time and not just churned out by a machine, so they'll all learn to appreciate the fact that you don't have enough of it?"

Applejack looked to her, somewhat surprised how she could still stay as cheerful as she was in spite of everything that had happened, before sighing and shrugging her shoulders.

"Sure, why not?"