The Different Prince

"A Wooly Weaver book, a book enchanted by the librarian sorceress Wooly Weaver, is a special book designed for all who read it," Lyra went on to explain as we got back on Corner Stone's back. "She wanted a way to help ponies without having to interact with them herself. She was very shy. So she created this enchantment, to make a book that could act as a companion. It offers advice, and the more you use it, the better it's advice becomes, because it gets to know you, like an actual friend. Though... I wouldn't be taking its advice too early yet."

"Can I see it?" I asked. Lyra looked about, then dug into the bag and passed it to me.

"We're going to get potion-making supplies, ask it for the best location," she told me.

I did just that. A name appeared. "The Black Cauldron? Where's that?"

"Out of business for years," Lyra explained, taking the book back and hiding it. "Went to their going-out-of-business sale as a filly to get my own supplies for Celestia's School. Got a great deal. Was probably the place to go when Glitter Omnibus was a filly... however..."

"It's like our friend here," I said, patting Corner Stones back. She looked at me and I just smiled, she smiled too then went back to walking, following a guard on the back of a stallion to our next destination. "Needs to get used to more modern times."

"Exactly," Lyra said with a nod. She looked down to our left at the stone wheels rolling beside us. "Just what is she planning to use those for?"

Mother had chosen the route we would be taking, knowing all the best shops for what we needed. The Picked Poison was our next stop. Posted outside was a sign 'Absolutely Nopony Under 20, NO ACCEPTIONS'.

"I'll make an acceptation for royalty," said the old mare who ran the shop. She pointed her crooked cane at me. "Just don't touch anything. "You may be able to talk, but you're still male. Most the stuff in this store could kill just about anypony in an instant. One hoof out of line and I'll throw you out, Celestia's son or not."

"Charming, isn't she," I said in a hushed tone as she walked away. Lyra nodded.

"Just stick close to me and don't touch anything. The sooner we're out of here, the better," she commented, looking over her list of items. "Wow... your mother seems to want to you to have your own laboratory. Lucky-lucky colt. Let's see... beakers..."

It was an incredibly well detailed shop. Well polished tubes and bottles of all shapes and sizes. Containers of ingredients made of wood, metal, glass, crystal and even a few of leather. Some bottles were strapped down with chains, the ingredients writhing about inside in desperation to escape, these were labeled with 'ASK THE STAFF FOR ASSITANCE'.

Holy water, imitation holy water, unholy water, and regular water. That odd quartet drew my attention for minute. "Regular water? What's that about?"

"It's water in it's most normal state," Lyra explained, taking a bottle of the stuff as it seemed to be on our list. "Very hard to come by."

That just brought up more questions. But, fearing a headache, I followed her to the next aisle.

Plants. Potted, hanging, and even a few hovering. Seeds were sold separately on the other side. A few, creepily, followed us as she selected a small plant in a pot covered by a glass lid. A Biting Begonia, the foul thing lashed out at Lyra's hands with its many petal covered in many more teeth. She just laughed.

"Careful with this one, they don't like strangers. Take care of her long enough and she'll let you take her petals willingly."

I had to visit mother's exotic garden at some point. It had just become more interesting. She got a packet of seeds for snap dragons and centipede orchid. I shivered at the thought of what that last one might look like.

"Ah, perfect, safety equipment," Lyra said with a smile, which soon faded as she realized that a lot of the safety equipment was not for quadrupedal hooved mammals. The gloves would be useless, I would trip over the apron. About the only thing useful to me was the goggles. "Some of this stuff is going to have to be made custom, Gold. Though, a respirator, a military surplus store should have one for a stallion your size."

Military grade equipment for school. Nice.

Our basket was pretty full by the time we had finished. I had Lyra set it on my back so I could take the weight off of her. The mare behind the counter kept an eye on me in an almost contemptuous fashion as she marked up all the items for the royal receipt.

I had been a good colt. Check that, I was a model child. Thusly, I glared back at her in equal disdain for each other's presence. Call me immature if you will, but I was going to enjoy being eleven, thank you.

"That was awful," Lyra commented as we left. "It felt like she was following us around the whole store. Probably has some sort of scrying scroll behind the counter to watch guests she doesn't trust."

What wonderous materials. Was all that Corner Stone had to say. She seemed a little upset at not being able to go inside. Though, she insisted she had no interest in apothecaries. Apparently apothecaries were a thing in her old empire. I hope we can stop to eat soon. These crowds are rather exciting.

Seems she'd been entertaining the crowds while we were inside. Juggling mostly, she informed us, though she had sung too. Though no one could hear her. I wonder what kind of songs she used to sing in her land of long ago.

"We'll stop at nice outdoor restaurant so she can join us," Lyra told me, then mentally messaged our ride the same. She perked up at that and had a little bounce in her step as she followed the wet-nurses directions.