“And that, Mister Shill, is the plan,” said Flim.

Flam smiled beneath his mustache. “Are you in?”

Silver Shill shifted from hoof to hoof. “Well, it was a very interesting explanation, but I’m not quite sure I understand. So the tonic doesn’t actually do anything?”

Flim and Flam shared a smirk. “Well,” said Flim, “I wouldn’t say that.”

“Not at all,” said Flam. “It quenches thirst.”

“Tastes great.”

“Provides several essential vitamins and minerals.”

“And more than that:”

The two spoke together. “It provides hope.”

Silver blinked. “Say again?”

“Ah, my good stallion,” said Flam, “the Flimflam Miracle Curative Tonic may not directly cure most ailments, this is true.”

“But the promise of a cure is a truly precious thing,” said Flim.

“It gives a pony something no mere medicine can.”

“Not just confidence.”

“Not just nourishment.”

“But hope,” they said, doffing their hats.

“Hope,” said Flim, “that can make ponies do what they never dared to dream they could do.”

“Hope,” said Flam, “that can overcome the despair that so many resign themselves to when mistreated by malady or misfortune.”

Flim held up a bottle of tonic. “Hope that this.”

Flam leaned in next to it. “This little bottle.”

“For this mere pittance.”

“Can cure all their ills.”

Flim smiled. “And when you think of it that way…”

So did Flam. “Why, what could possibly be wrong about it?”

“But!” Flim leaned in close. “We need a testimony.”

Flam moved to Silver Shill’s side, draping a foreleg over his withers. “A trustworthy pony who can assure them that our claims aren’t just boastful bunkum.”

“Aren’t they?” said Silver.

The brothers shared a glance, too brief for Silver to read. “Well,” said Flim, “there are a few things the tonic can cure on its own.”

“Nutrient deficiencies, mostly.”

“And starvation.”

“Which, when you think about it,” said Flam, “is a deficiency of every nutrient.”

“Valid point, brother of mine.”

“But that is but a side benefit.”

Flim nodded. “Indeed it is.”

“Because a pony with enough hope?”

“Why, he could overcome anything this side of the grave!”

"And furthermore, we can boast something that no other medicine on the market can."

Together, they said, "No harmful side effects!"

They turned back to Silver, Flam returning to his brother’s side as he asked, “So, what do you say, Mister Shill?”

“Care to help us spread some hope?”

“We can’t do it without you!”

Silver looked from unicorn to unicorn. He'd been doing that from the beginning, and at this point, his head was spinning in more ways than one. He gave it a shake to settle his thoughts, followed by a nervous chuckle. “Well, shucks. When you put it like that, how can I refuse?”