Chirpy Hooves Breaks Her Quill and Gets Caught Up in The Underground Rock Trade.

The train to Rainbow Falls slowed to a stop and the masses came pouring out. The Hooves family walked out onto the platform and stared in awe of the sights to be seen.

"Wow this has to be the busiest I have ever seen the Exchange. I hope they are all in the mood for muffins. Why, I would say I should have made even more!" Derpy exclaimed.

"Mom why don't you sell actual stuff instead of food? Isn't trading antiques and crafts the point of having an exchange in the first place?" Dinky Hooves asked.

"Well sweetie I am providing a craft! My homemade muffins are an art in themselves. Did I ever tell you the story of how your great grandfather developed a recipe that made muffins especially fluffy and moist. He made them so well that a commercial bakery offered him one hundred bits for the recipe and even though that was a lot back then, he never sold it. The secret remains in the Hooves Family to this day and one day I will tell you that secret," Derpy said to her children with excitement.

"You only tell us that every time you make muffins mom," Chirpy replied.

"I only tell you that because it may be the last great baking secret there is left in the world. The heartless corporations will hound you for the recipe and even though they may tempt you with riches, you must never sell the recipe. It is called having integrity and being loyal to your family," Derpy lectured.

"We know mom! Can we please go now since the heart of the Traders Exchange is over there?" Chirpy said.

"Ok you can run along now. Stay out of trouble and come back for lunch," Derpy told her children as they ran off.

The Traders Exchange was now in full swing and countless items where flying off the booths just so they could be traded for something else. Chirpy and Dinky where among the restless crowd and they were trying hard just to get a peep at the objects for trade. Dinky wasn't having much luck convincing vendors that they absolutely needed her book on yodeling. Chirpy faired even worse than her sister since her humble pen was seen as an insult of an offer. Eventually the sisters agreed that waiting for the rush to calm down would be the best course of action. Instead the two went sightseeing around the Exchange. Chirpy was especially interested in seeing the new Princess Twilight Sparkle but was disappointed when she wasn't at her official throne.

"Good luck finding her kid! She seemed to escape the watchful eyes of the Royal Guard. I have my guards combing the entire Exchange for her," the Royal Guard officer said at the roped off entrance.

This just made Chirpy even more determined to find her since no Royal Guards mean that she could probably get a closer look. The duo searched far and wide for the whispers of where the Princess could be. Eventually a group of ponies said they saw her running away in a certain direction. Even though that tidbit of information only ruled out half of the Exchange Chirpy wouldn't give up.

"We should split up I will go this way and you will go that way!" Chirpy said with conviction.

Dinky agreed and split off from her sister. Chirpy ran passed the countless booths while scanning each one for the Princess. She was shocked to come across a quaint bookstand that Twilight herself was managing. Chirpy didn't know what to say. What could you say to royalty? Chirpy immediately became self-conscious about her pen. What would the Princess think if She offered it up for a trade? Chirpy wondered if the Princess be offended. Just as that thought came to her mind she saw a couple of Royal Guards on patrol from the corner of her eye. This could be the only chance that Chirpy would ever get to meet the Princess so she decided to tap her ever so lightly.

The Princess turned around. She looked at the pen displayed proudly in the mouth of the young Chirpy Hooves. The Princess was trading with her! She offered up her books in exchange for the pen and Chirpy was delighted. Just as the deal was about to sealed a hyper, pink pony ruined everything!
She persuaded the Princess to reconsider. The pink pony convinced her that the pen was not what she really wanted. The menacing pony turned to Chirpy and told her to scram and get away from the Princess.

Not wanting to get in trouble, Chirpy obeyed. Chirpy was absolutely heartbroken. Her only short encounter with the Princess was a disaster! In the quick escape from the stand the pen that Chirpy valued so dearly was snapped between her teeth. Without a worthwhile item to trade, Chirpy ran off to the food court but couldn't find her sister or mother. What she did find was a bench to quietly sob on. It was unfortunate that she chose that particular bench because it was soon going to involve her in something way over her head.