Shopping Spree Dayby Lets Do ThisChaptersA Pony and a BookThe Council of WindowshoppersA Hard BeginningUnexpected TreasuresA Relaxing StopLunch and a Pinkie SaleThe Run-Off in the MarketplaceThinking Outside the GiftboxGames Princesses PlayThe Complete SetTo This Shop \ We Must Now HopA Pony and a BookIt all began in Ponyville, the quaint farming-and-tourism hamlet located in the Canterlot Foothill Plains, just a brief few hours train-ride from the royal city of Canterlot itself... Well, that's how the official pamphlet begins, the one published by the Canterlot Tourism and Recreation Department. Happily, there's a more interesting way to approach it. It starts with a pony. And a book. Up the street leading from Ponyville's town square, and passing through the smaller square in front of Sugarcube Corner Bakery, a lavender unicorn mare with a dark blue mane and tail trotted along. Hovering in front of her face was a large hardback book, held in place by a bright magenta field of magic projected from her horn. Occasionally a page flicked as she ambled up the street, completely lost in reading. "Hey, Twilight!" Twilight looked up, the book lowering so she could see past it. Standing before her with amused looks on their faces were an orange-flanked mare wearing an eleven-gallon Stetson hat, and a brilliantly white unicorn mare with elegantly flowing violet locks. "I reckon that's some kinda record, Rarity," said the orange-flanked pony. "We only had to call twice a'fore we got through." "Now, now, Applejack!" Rarity scolded. "I'm sure Twilight was just engrossed in... uh... what is it you're reading today, my dear?" "The Codex Hippophilia," Twilight replied, showing them the cover. Its embossed-gold title said exactly that, leaving them none the wiser. "Which is what now?" Applejack asked. Twilight blushed a bit. "It's... kind of a history of cult behavior in ancient Equestria. Though it's not nearly as risqué as it sounds. It was written by academics who didn't get out very much." "Uh huh," Applejack nodded. "And... it's a good read?" "Oh yeah, it is! I'm putting together a comparative study of ancient cultural traditions, and it's interesting seeing the parallels with Griffonian and Draconian cultures." "Annnnd... those would be the other two books." Twilight glanced at the pockets of the carryall draped over her back. There was an equally heavy book weighing her down on either side. She gave a sheepish smile. "I brought them along in case I finished this one. But I've already given them a quick skim, and there are so many interesting parallels..." "I'm sure there are, dahling," Rarity hurriedly put in, to stem the impending flood of erudition. "Applejack and I are taking a stroll around town on this exquisitely sunny afternoon. Is that what you're doing, dear?" Applejack laughed good-naturedly. "I bet she's been inside reading all day, and hasn't even noticed the weather." "Not so!" Twilight replied. "In fact I realized I'd been inside all morning, and decided to spend some time outdoors for a change." "Reading?" "Of course!" Applejack rolled her eyes. "Twi, hon, don't you ever kick back and jest do stuff, jest fer fun?" "Like what?" "Wayall..." "-- like a shopping spree?" Rarity put in. "Er, well, that's what I might do, if I wanted to get away from my drafting table for a while." Applejack nodded. "Okay then, a shoppin' spree. Ever done one, Twi?" "Um... no, I don't think I have." "Y'all never just spent the whole day browsin' through the shops around here? I mean there's more to the place than the Cake's shop and Rarity's and Sweet Apple Acres. Oh my lordy! Hope Granny Smith never gets wind I said that!" Applejack and Rarity looked at Twilight expectantly. "I guess I haven't," Twilight said, shrugging. "Whenever I feel like browsing, there's always the Library stacks." "All raight," Applejack said. "I hereby challenge ya to a winner-take-all, no-holds-barred, all-day, doing-nothing-but-fun-stuff shoppin' spree." "Well, okay! I'm in!" Twilight said happily. "Uh... what are the rules?" Applejack and Rarity looked at each other. "Gonna be a bit harder than I thought, I reckon." The Council of WindowshoppersNext morning they gathered in the main room of the Golden Oak Library for a belated but filling breakfast. They'd also picked up a few additional participants in the meantime. "Um... thanks so much for inviting us," said Fluttershy. The butter-colored pegasus smiled. "This is going to be such fun!" "Not a problem, my dear," Rarity replied. "The more the merrier, in this case." "Yeah, yeah," said Rainbow Dash impatiently. The sky-blue pegasus was hovering in the air above them, wearing her "cool" shades. Her forehooves were crossed in a bored pose. "Let's get on with it!" "Ya know, Rainbow," Applejack grumbled, "if'n you don't wanna to come along you don't have to." Rainbow casually stared at the ceiling. "Yah, well... I really don't have anything else to do today --" "Aside from settin' another record for nappin'?" Rainbow gave her an annoyed look. "So I might as well tag along, just to see what happens. Heh! Two bits says it fizzles out after the first store." SLAM-SLAM! They all looked to the Library's main door, which had just slammed open and then immediately slammed shut again. Pinkie Pie, the radioactively pink party pony, was leaning against it in a panic, breathing heavily. She held up a hoof, paused a moment to catch her breath... Then dropped to a sitting position on the floor, completely at ease. "Hey gals! Applejack-Rarity-Fluttershy-Rainbow-Twilight! Whatcha doing?" "Uh, hey, Pinky," Twilight said cautiously. "Is... something the matter?" Pinkie looked puzzled. "Why d'ya say that, Twi?" "Wahll..." Applejack said, just as cautiously, "ya did kinda bust in here like Nightmare Moon herself was a length a'hint ya." "Oh! That's because my Fun Radar was going off!" "Fun... Radar?" Rainbow asked, disbelievingly. "Is this like your Pinkie Sense?" "Yep! And I knew there was something super-duper-uber-wowa-gonzo-FUN going on over this way, so I raced on over here, afraid I'd miss it. But you're all still here, so I didn't. Wheeee!" She managed to turn a cartwheel in place, and then sat down again, smiling at them. "Yes, well..." Twilight said, "Applejack and Rarity suggested we all go on a shopping spree today, just for a change of pace. You want to join us?" "You know it, Twilight! Count me in!" "All raight, then," Applejack said. "Let's go over the rules we agreed on afore we get started. First, we'll all pool the bits we wanna contribute, and each of us gets an even share. That way nopony has an advantage, money-wise." "Ante up, as they say!" Rarity plunked a jingling velvet bag on the floor. Applejack looked askance at her. "Rarity, I know your parents are made'a money and all, but you don't have to chip in that much! We all decided we'd contribute a reasonable amount, so we wouldn't feel pressured to overspend." "Well... I did come into a bit extra from my latest design, and I can't think of a nicer way to spend it." Rarity replied. "Besides, I'd hate to think somepony felt like she had to pass up on something nice, simply because it would mean going over an arbitrary budget." "Oh, all right. We can use this as the kitty." Applejack picked up the bag and added her coins to it, then passed it around for each of them to add to. "Oh, Spikey-wikey!" Rarity called, when it got back to her. Twilight's assistant Spike, a small purple dragon with green spines, was already floating in the air beside her, love-lights in his eyes. "... yes, Rarity? ..." he breathed. "Be a dear and look after this for us, won't you?" "Absolutely!" Spike took hold of the bag. Rarity released it, and Spike immediately plummeted to the floor. Twilight had to put a hoof to her snout to suppress a laugh. "Um, Twilight?" Fluttershy asked. "Isn't Spike going to be looking after the Library while you're out today?" Twilight shook her head. "It's been a slow week, and I doubt anyone will mind if the Library is closed for one day. I'll just put out the returns box and the request clipboard, in case anyone comes by." "Already done, Twi!" Spike said. "Thanks, Spike!" She fondly scuffed his green spines with a hoof. "What would I do without you?" "Next," Applejack went on, "We each pick our favorite store, write 'em down, and put 'em all in the hat." She set her hat upside down in front of her. "We'll each take turns at bat, and when it's our turn, we draw a store from the hat, and that's the one we shop in next. The one who drew the store needs to find something that they want there. That way each of us is equally out of our comfort zone, so to speak." "Oh! What if we draw the one we put in?" Fluttershy asked. "Hmmm... okay, if you draw your own pick, you put it back and go again. Oh and just for variety's sake, you cain't write down the place you work at. Otherwise I'd just put down Sweet Apple Acres, obviously. And Rarity would likely put down the Carousel Boutique." "Awwww!" Pinkie looked devastated. "I was gonna pick Sugarcube Corner!" "Sorry, Pinkster! But don't give up hope, maybe someone else will. Also, it cain't be a store where everything's super-'spensive, like the jewelry store. And it needs to be someplace that sells gifts and the like, so that leaves out the cafe, the arcade, bowling alley, and so forth." "Ah, geez! I was gonna pick the Arcade!" Rainbow Dash said. Then she looked at the ceiling again. "That is... if I was playin'..." Applejack pointed at the velvet bag. "Still time to buy in, gal." Rainbow Dash held out a moment longer, then gave in. "Oh, all right!" Flying over to Spike, she added her bits to the velvet bag. "Uh... shoot, I forgot," Applejack said, looking around. "Gonna need some paper to make slips with." "Gotcha covered, A.J.!" Pinkie rummaged in her cotton-candy mane and came up with sheets of paper, all different colors, and a small scissors. She industriously began cutting out slips of paper, and managed to provide each pony with a slip that matched her coat color. Applejack stared at her. "Pinkie, how in tarnation did you manage to be wandering around with all that stuff on ya?" "They're pre-confetti!" Pinkie chirped, stuffing the sheets of paper back in her mane. "Pre..." "...confetti! It's what confetti looks like before it's cut up into all the little pieces!" "Pinkie, you know that's just colored craft paper, raight?" "Oh, come on! Get out! Would I load anything but the BEST in my party cannon?" She beamed. Applejack gave it up. "All right, everypony!" Rarity said breezily. "Pick your store!" Twilight used her magic to fetch quills from her desk, and they spent a busy few minutes thinking, writing, and adding slips to the hat. When they had all finished, Applejack tucked a hoofkerchief in over the slips. "That'll keep 'em from fallin' out while we're walkin' around." She set the hat back on her head. "Now, one more rule. When it's your turn to shop, you need to find something up to but not over your bits. That's so nobody feels like they need to hold back. Anythin' left over you can spend however you like during the day, but each of us needs to find at least one thing we want with our share." "I think we should allow," Rarity said, "that we can spend our spare bits to help another player, if they find they're short or over the limit!" "Fair 'nuff! And at the end of the day, we can have fun comparing notes on what we come up with!" "Aw, come on!" Rainbow Dash objected. "You gotta make it interesting! I say at the end of the day, we all vote on who made the best choice. Win, place, or show! Huh? Who's with me?" "Ooh! Ooh! I am!" Pinkie said, bouncing up and down. "Wait, what?" The others were less enthused, but there was general agreement. "All raight, gals! Just give Rarity a mo' to count the kitty for us and figger our shares, and we're off to the races!" "Oh, um..." "Yeah, Fluttershy?" "Is... um... would it be okay if... um... I go first?" A Hard BeginningThey waited until they were all assembled out in Ponyville's Town Square. Then Applejack ceremoniously doffed her hat, pulled out the hoofkerchief, held the hat just above eye-level, and gave it a quick randomizing twirl. "Just so ya'll don't think I'm playin' favorites," she explained. Fluttershy dipped in a hoof and came up with a slip. It was orange. "What was that about playing favorites, A.J.?" Rainbow asked, giggling. "Twern't my doin'," she replied, as surprised as the rest of them. "It says..." Fluttershy blinked. "Hay's Hardware?" "Ah ha ha!" Rainbow Dash doubled up and all but fell out of the air laughing. "That's rich! The hardware store? Really, A.J.? That's your favorite place to shop?" Applejack shrugged. "I spend so much time in there, buyin' tools and rope and such, it might as well be. Plus, I did kinda figger it'd make an unusual stop on our tour." "And Fluttershy's supposed to find something to buy there?" Rainbow laughed harder. "I was wrong, this donkey-derby might not even make it past the first store!" "Oh not at all," Fluttershy said. "That's just perfect!" That silenced Rainbow's laughter. "What?" "Um, actually, I was going to stop by there at some point. I need to buy some of the thinner brand of wood they carry to make some new birdhouses. Mmm... and I did need to buy some nails as well." "So let's head on over," Twilight said, leading the way. "Shopping spree, ahoy! I mean, if that's the kind of thing you say on one of these..." The others followed behind her, bemused. Hay's Hardware was a couple turns from the Square. It was a long, low building with rough timber walls, open rafters, handmade shelving, and relatively poor lighting, even with the sunlight streaming in through the dusty windows. But what it lacked in charm it more than made up for in selection. Twilight found herself wishing she was more of a maker pony like Applejack given the sheer variety of tools and parts on display, which cried out to be put to use. There were piles of hammers, bins of wooden pegs and metal nails, coils of rope, lengths of chain, wooden boards of every length and thickness, and many other smaller and more obscure items. Fluttershy quickly found the thin, delicate variety of board she was looking for. Then she debated animatedly with Applejack about the proper nails to use. "Oh, I find the three-eighteenth Barton brads are best for the trim. So much better quality than the Hoofstone brand." "If you say so, hon," Applejack said. "Personally, when it comes to nails, I just buy 'em and whack 'em in where they're needed." Twilight trotted past a display of outdoor furniture and small barbecue grills. Then she came to a halt and backed up, realising it wasn't a plastic flamingo she'd seen lying sprawled in the hammock. Pinkie Pie had on her rainbow umbrella hat, and was wearing sunglasses. Plus she was holding up a foldable reflective board in front of her. "Pinkie, what are you doing?" Twilight asked, bemused. "Catchin' some rays, Twi!" "We're indoors." "Well, DUH! Which means any sunlight that can get through that roof has gotta be super-suntan-toasty! Do you think I need more sunblock?" Producing a bottle, she smeared some on her snout. Shaking her head, Twilight moved on. She found Rarity over by the wind-chimes, gently tapping them with a hoof. "Honestly, I never knew these were here. I must remember to stop by and pick one up for the Boutique. They sound divine!" Rainbow was desultorily looking though a rack of hammers, picking them up, giving them an experimental swing, then putting them back. "Now I know why we pegasi build our homes out of clouds. Imagine having to buy all this junk just to put up a place to sleep!" "Maybe so," Applejack said, strolling up. "But we don't have to worry about our houses blowing away. 'Cept in a strong twister, maybe." Rainbow shrugged. "Eh. There's always more clouds." Fluttershy came over and joined them, followed by Rarity and Spike with the money bag. "Okay, girls, I'm all set!" Fluttershy said happily. "Then let's a-mosey on!" Unexpected TreasuresSurprisingly, Rainbow wanted to go next. "Just so I can say I got my money's worth, in case this does go south!" No one objected, so Applejack spun the hat for her. Rainbow reached in and pulled out a slip of paper. It was lavender in color. "Oh!" she said dramatically, holding the slip to her forehead. "The Great and Powerful Rainbow Dash will now use her awesome mind-reading abilities to determine that the store written on this slip of paper is..." She turned it over. "The bookstore! HA! Called it!" Twilight shrugged. "What can I say? It is my favorite store!" They trotted back to the Square and down another street, to the Owl and Scroll Bookshop. It was a smallish building with a glass-fronted display window and a sign shaped like a hardback book hanging by its spine. "Heh. This shouldn't take long," Rainbow said, landing in front of the door and pushing it open to enter. "The only thing I'd possibly be buying here is the latest Daring Do book, and that won't be out for another couple months yet!" They all trotted in, and with all seven of them inside it the tiny store was pretty much packed. Twilight immediately gravitated to the science section, Applejack dug right into the books on farming techniques, Fluttershy winged her way over the shelves to reach the section on birding, Pinkie Pie skipped over to the section on games, Rarity waltzed over to the section on music, and Spike leapt off Twilight's back to reach the comics shelf in a single bound. And Rainbow morosely nudged books in the fiction section, trying to pretend to be browsing. As she'd thought there was no new Daring Do book on display, and she'd read all the titles the store currently had in stock. After a while, Twilight wandered over to join her. "Maybe this would be an opportunity to try a different author?" Twilight gently suggested. "Find someone else you like as much?" "Eh, I've looked around before," Rainbow said. Idly, she picked up one of the Daring Do titles, and flipped through the front pages. "There just aren't any other series that I like this much. I mean, Daring Do's got everything! It's got action, it's got adventure, it's got treasure and valuable statues, it's got ancient Aztec deities bent on world domination and total destruction --" Suddenly, she froze, staring at the page in front of her. Then she rapidly flipped back to the copyright page. "Omigoshomigoshomigosh!" she whispered. "What? What is it?" Twilight asked, peering over her shoulder. "It's a signed first edition!" Rainbow gently put the book down, and rapidly checked the other titles. "Darn, it's the only one here!" "Well... it's probably a used copy that got mixed in with the rest. Owl and Scroll does carry used books, too." "But this is so coooool!" Rainbow picked up the book and hugged it. "Really?" Twilight looked puzzled. She generally bought books to read or to stock in her Library, so new, used, or antiquarian made little difference to her. "Yeah! It means it's like, rare and valuable!" Worried, she checked the label on the front. "And it's regular price! They must have missed it! And that means it's under our bit limit too!" "Well, congratulations! Take it on over to the register. I'll go see if I can peel Mr. Moneybags away from the graphic novels." She and Spike joined Rainbow at the register, and Twilight counted out bits from the bag. The wavy-haired stallion behind the counter rang the sale up, and wrapped up Rainbow's purchase. "This is a great choice. You're really into the series, huh?" "Oh, yeah!" Rainbow said nervously. "And this one's my all-time favorite!" Twilight raised an eyebrow. "Daring Do and the Great Ball of Yarn?" "Shh!" Rainbow shot back out the corner of her mouth. The shopkeeper smiled. "Oh, I see! You're a collector!" Rainbow suddenly looked panicky. "A... a collector? W-w-what makes you say that?" "This one's been out for a while. You must have it already!" "Uh... oh, yeah! Yeah I do! But... I don't have a copy I can just... take with me... when I'm flying around so... I don't have to worry about losing it!" Rainbow finally drew a hurried, tense breath. "Well then, enjoy!" The stallion handed Rainbow the wrapped book, and turned to his next customer. Rainbow somehow managed to keep from exploding, as they all trotted out through the door. Then she launched into the air and whipped around the store twenty times, leaving a rainbow-colored halo in the air. "Yeesssss!" she said, landing. "I'm gonna be the first pony to have a signed first edition copy of every book in the series! This is beyond cool!" She realized Applejack was looking at her. "What?" "Thought you said this wouldn't last past the first store?" Rainbow shrugged. "Meh! It's early yet!" Then she hugged her book again. "Okay, everypony!" Twilight said. "Who wants to go next?" A Relaxing StopApplejack decided she'd take her turn, so she had Twilight hold her hat for her, and she drew out a slip. It turned out to be bright white with a purple edge-trim. "Okay, and we have... the Day Spa? Rarity!" "What, dahling?" "Thought we agreed it had to be a place you could buy stuff?" "And so you can!" Rarity huffed. "They sell all kinds of beauty products, conditioners, do-it-yourself facial kits, and the like! And they sell such wonderful treatments. I think it'll make a nice break before luncheon!" The other ponies looked at each other, then back at Applejack. Rainbow smirked. "Still think it's on, A.J.?" "Oh, it's still on!" Applejack took back her hat, stuffed the kerchief into it, and slapped it back on her head. "Still on, I reckon! All raight, lead the way!" The Day Spa was on the south edge of the Town Square, a deceptively small building with a high-peaked roof. Rarity waltzed right in at the head of the group, nodding to Aloe and Lotus, the pink and blue pony twins who ran the Spa. "Morning girls! Got a big group for you today! Hope you like a challenge!" The Blossom twins simply nodded and smiled, and went to get things ready. "Uh... how's this gonna fit in our budget?" Applejack asked. "Well, that's one of the reasons I threw in a bit extra," Rarity said cheerfully. "So we can all try whatever we'd like, and still have plenty to shop with!" Rainbow was skulking around the border of the spa's main room, checking behind the potted plants and under tables. "Erm... what're you looking for, Rainbow?" Fluttershy asked. "Just makin' sure there's no Gabby Gums lurking around here somewhere!" In the end, they decided to do the Calm-Me-Down special, which included the steam room, hot tub, and massage. All of which was highly relaxing... except when Pinkie Pie tried to do a cannonball into the hot tub, and had to be forcibly restrained by Twilight's magic. Their package also included a facial and hooficure, which most of them took advantage of. Except for Rainbow. She sat on a chair in the corner during this last part, rereading her Daring Do book. "Nah, I'm good," she said, waving a forehoof. "You go ahead!" So Spike had a manicure done on his claws instead, and Aloe polished his scales until they shone. Twilight smiled at him. "Lookin' good, there, Number One Assistant!" "Thanks, Twi! You too!" He realized he was saying this while she had mud smeared over her face and Lotus was applying cucumber slices to each eye. "Ah, you know what I mean!" Applejack was curious enough about the hot stone massage to give it a try. When Lotus first started applying them to her back, Applejack started. "Hoo-eee! That's hot! Not sure about this!" "Just give it a few minutes, A.J.!" Rarity suggested. "You'll see." A few minutes later, there was a noise like a pig being sawed in half. Applejack had fallen asleep. When they woke her up she gapped and stretched. "I see whatcha mean, Rarity! I'm more relaxed than a twice-boiled noodle!" As they were heading out, Rarity came to a halt. "Oh wait, Applejack -- we haven't shopped for your item yet!" Applejack thought for a moment, then turned to Lotus. "How much'd one of them massage stones set me back?" As Lotus went to fetch one, Applejack looked at the others and shrugged. "Souvenir! And if my leg starts twingin' me again after a long day's apple-buckin', I figure I can always try a little home heat therapy myself!" Lunch and a Pinkie SaleAt this point it was past noon already, so they went to the Café Hay, had a light lunch, and chatted for a while in the warm sunshine. As they were talking, Derpy the gray pegasus mailmare came trotting by. She was wearing her usual carryall, but its pockets were nearly empty, apart from her postal hat tucked into the right-flank pocket. Pinkie waved to her, and she came over to join them. "Hey, Derpy!" Twilight said. "Aren't you doing your rounds today?" The mailmare shook her head vigorously. Disconcertingly, her eyes took a moment longer than the rest of her to settle down in their normal cross-eyed gaze. "Nope! Mail was light today. I got the afternoon off!" "Hey! You wanna go on a shopping spree with us?" Pinkie asked. "You bet, Pinkie! Do I need to go buy a ticket?" Apparently she was under the impression it was a kind of train, like the Friendship Express. It took a few minutes to set her straight, mostly because Pinkie kept jumping in to try to explain it. But in the end Derpy nodded happily and immediately dipped into the left-hand pocket of her carryall for her bit-bag. After some discussion, they decided the simplest method was that Derpy could contribute whatever she wanted, and they'd allocate her a share of the remaining kitty. Pinkie found gray paper in her mane and made a slip for Derpy, and Spike handed over his official quill so she could sign in with it. Derpy dropped her slip into the hat. Applejack was about to put it back on her head, but then she stopped and looked round. "We 'bout done here?" Everyone nodded. "Anybody orderin' dessert? No? All raight, then. Who's up next?" Pinkie's forehoof shot skyward, and she waved it excitedly. "MEEEEEEE!" Grinning, Applejack spun the hat. Pinkie reached in, made a big show of feeling around with her tongue sticking out. She pulled out a slip. It was Derpy's. "Now, Pinkie..." Applejack began, giving her a suspicious look. "What?" Twilight smiled. "A.J., you don't really think she marked the slips, do you?" "Knowin' Pinkie, she probably marked 'em in Braille!" She waved a hoof. "Ah, never mind. It's all good. What'd you get, Pinkie?" "Quills and Sofas?" Pinkie read in surprise. Derpy looked round, puzzled by their reaction. "It's a store, right?" Twilight smiled. It was also where Derpy and her daughter Dinky lived, in an upstairs room they rented from Mr. Davenport. Why wouldn't she pick it as her favorite store? It was her home in Ponyville. "Mmm...," Fluttershy said uncomfortably, "I think we forgot to explain the rule about stores that sell expensive items!" Rainbow sniggered. "Unless they've got one heck of sale going on couches!" She fell over laughing. Applejack frowned at her, but Rarity focused on Derpy. "All right, Derpy," she said. "That's a store, certainly. But to make this work, we really need a store that sells lots of different items. So you go ahead and pick again!" Derpy thought hard, her eyes rolling about in different directions. Pinkie leaned close to her and stage-whispered: "MUFFINS!" "Mrs. Cake's!" Derpy blurted out. "Yes!" Pinkie Pie pumped a forehoof. "Nailed it!" Because Mrs. Cake was Pinkie's employer. Applejack shook her head. She felt like she'd been expertly flimflammed, but couldn't quite see how. She decided not to pursue it. "All raight, I guess we'll have dessert at Sugarcube Corner!" Mrs. Cake was a little surprised when the eight of them trotted into her store, but she willingly set about serving tea, muffins, cupcakes, and other bakery sweets. "I should give you the day off more often, Pinkie," she said. "If you're going to bring back business like this!" "Actually, Mrs. Cake, can I come back to work for a minute?" Mrs. Cake looked puzzled, but nodded. "Well, of course, my dear!" Pinkie zipped behind the counter next to the cash register. "Hi! Welcome to Sugarcube Corner! What can I get for ya?" She shot around in front of the counter. "Hello! I wanna buy a party hat!" She zipped behind the counter. "Sure! One party hat, comin' up!" Back in front again. "And a bunch of balloons!" Back behind again. "A bunch of balloons! Yay!" She was zipping back and forth so fast now, it was like there were two of her, one on either side. "And a noise maker!" "One noise maker!" PHWEEEE! "And a horn!" "One tooty frooty horn!" HONK! "A box of chocolate-covered raisins!" "Chocky-wocky raisins! Sweet!" "And a party cannon!" "Silly! You already have one of those!" "Oh yeah, never mind!" "Anything else?" "Nope, that'll do me!" Pinkie rang up the sale, bagged everything, and pushed it across. "There ya go! Come back any time!" She came around front again. "You bet! Thanks for everything!" She trotted back to join the others, not even out of breath. They were all staring at her, slack-jawed. "What?" she asked, honestly puzzled. And altogether, it had been exactly one minute. The Run-Off in the MarketplaceIn the end, they regrouped on the street outside. Applejack doffed and spun her hat, and this time Twilight took her turn. She came up with a pink-hued slip. And immediately encountered a problem. "Huh? The Costume Shop, The Party Store, The Joke Shop, The Toy Store, and the Antique Store! Pinkie!" "Sorry!" Pinkie looked broken-hearted. "I just couldn't decide!" Applejack rolled her eyes. "Weyall... I suppose you could just pick one of those for us, Twi!" Twilight thought for a moment. Then she smiled at Pinkie, seeing a way to make it work. "No! We'll do it as a run-off!" "Excuse me, dahling?" Rarity asked. "A run... off?" Rainbow Dash perked up. "Now you're talking, sister!" Twilight nodded. "We have five stores, and there are five of you, not counting Derpy. Oops! Sorry, didn't mean to exclude you, Zecora!" The zebra nodded, unoffended. \ Rather than rush about, \ \ I shall as well sit this one out! \ "Okay. Each of you picks a store, and goes shopping there. We'll say for... thirty minutes, going by the clock tower. You each pick something you think I'd like, for no more than one fifth of my share. And here's the fun part: the last one who finds their way back to me wins! "What?" Rainbow looked disgusted. "What kind of rule is that?" "Well, look at it this way, Rainbow," Twilight replied. "The faster you get there, the more time you have to look. And before you all go, we can let Derpy draw her slip, and Zecora and I will go with her while you're shopping." They nodded in agreement, even Rainbow Dash. Applejack spun the hat for Derpy, even though there were only two slips left. Derpy pulled out the zebra-striped one. Zecora laughed. \ Most auspicious, this pony's draw! \ \ For it will be where I was going before! \ "The Marketplace," Derpy read off the slip. "Okay!" Twilight said. "We'll meet at the Marketplace in thirty minutes!" There was some discussion of who would take which store, and then the five other ponies set off, as fast as they could. Twilight, Zecora, and Derpy turned and trotted on through Ponyville, heading for the Marketplace where the fruit and vegetable vendors had their stalls. As they walked, Zecora seemed to be eyeing Twilight evaluatingly, but in a pleased way. At Twilight's questioning look, she finally spoke: \ Your friends to you look for a guide, \ \ Sensing the leadership you hide inside! \ "Who me? I just keep them from butting heads over silly stuff. And I rely on them just as much as they do on me!" Zecora nodded cryptically. Then she looked at Derpy. \ And on this small one, they too rely, \ \ Though perhaps in ways they cannot spy! \ Derpy looked up at her, puzzled, and then looked at Twilight. Twilight shook her head as well, for once having no idea what Zecora was driving at. Then Derpy shrugged and smiled, and was immediately distracted by a passing butterfly. They reached the Marketplace, and Derpy set out to shop. And Twilight had to smile at her approach, which was typical Derpy. She moved from stall to stall, in order, up one row and down another. At each one, she sat down in front of the stall for a couple of minutes, and just looked at everything it had to offer. Then she got up and moved to the next one. And the next. She didn't pick up anything, or inspect anything more closely. She just looked, patiently and methodically, and moved on. Zecora did some shopping herself at a few of the stalls, buying vegetables and herb seeds, plus a loaf of bread. But mostly, she followed Twilight and Derpy, watching the gray pegasus doing her peculiar form of shopping. At the Apple Family's stall Twilight said hello to Apple Bloom and Granny Smith, feeling like it was her responsibility to be social, since Derpy was regarding their stall with the same stolid dispassion as anyone else's. As they went on, the others began to trickle back and join them. Finally all of them had arrived except for Rainbow Dash. Twilight looked up, expecting to find Rainbow hiding behind a cloud, waiting until everyone else had arrived so she could pretend to arrive last. But there wasn't a cloud in the sky. And Derpy kept going, stall after stall, looking and moving on, for another half-hour at least. For something to do, the others browsed the stalls as well, but soon they regrouped, speculating amongst themselves what exactly it was that Derpy had set herself to find. Eventually, Derpy reached the last stall in the Marketplace. And then she got up, walked back one row, down to the fifth stall, and plunked down several bits for a small carved house sitting amongst other assorted knickknacks. She tucked it carefully in her left-flank pocket along with her bit-bag, and trotted back to Twilight. "All done!" she said simply, and sat down smiling at them. Twilight looked around, still wondering what had happened to Rainbow. And then she saw her, approaching by land rather than by air, a guarded look on her face. "Well!" Twilight said, half-seriously. "You really wanted to be sure you won, huh? Think we should disqualify her for going over on time?" "Aww, never mind about that," Rainbow said. "Let's just show ya what we got!" From the Antique Store, A.J. had bought a small picture frame. "I saw that the picture you've got of all of us was lookin' a little beat up, so I figured you could replace it with this." From the Party Store, Pinkie had brought a sack of confetti. "This is for you, Twi!" she said proudly. "I'll stash it away until your party, and load it in my party cannon!" "What party, Pinkie?" "The next one I throw for you, silly!" Twilight couldn't help but smile at Pinkie's absolute confidence that there would always be a next party. From the Toy Store, Fluttershy had brought a box of watercolors. "I figured if you ever need a break from study, you might try painting. It's very relaxing!" "Thanks, Fluttershy, I'll give it a shot. I must have a book on painting in the Library somewhere!" "Uh, Twi?" Spike said, tugging her mane. "I think the idea is you don't need a book!" "Oh. Right." Twilight smiled weakly. "Sorry, force of habit!" From the Costume Shop, Rarity had brought a costume cape. "I thought this might compliment your Starswirl costume when Nightmare Night rolls around again, dahling." "I... don't think Starswirl wore a cape over his robe... but it looks beautiful, so I'll give it try!" And from the joke shop Rainbow had brought a hoof-trap. Twilight could still remember first encountering one as a filly, and shuddered at the sight of it. But she thanked Rainbow for the thought all the same. She felt a little odd about having not done any shopping herself on her turn. But the things they'd all found were so wonderful that she didn't really mind. Thinking Outside the Giftbox"All raight, it's just Rarity's turn left now," Applejack said. They'd returned to the Square, which was more centrally located, and were gathered in front of the Town Hall. Rainbow was looking even more pensive. "Well... it's getting kinda late. Maybe we should just pack it in for the day?" "Rainbow, it's only the middle of the afternoon!" Twilight objected. "Somethin' gnawin' at ya, sugarcube?" Applejack took down her hat, and just for form's sake spun it on her hoof before offering it to Rarity, who took the last, sky-blue slip of paper. Rainbow crossed her forehooves and frowned, as if preparing for the worst. "Ahem," Rarity said. "And the last store is... Joe's Donut Shop!" She stared at the slip in disbelief. "Aw, c'mon, Rainbow!" Applejack grumbled. "That's not even in Ponyville, it's in Canterlot!" "I know! Okay?" Rainbow hunched down, looking ashamed. "I know! Well, I... when I wrote that this morning I honestly didn't think we'd actually get this far! And I haven't had the nerve to ask for my slip back. I'm sorry! Okay?" "Wayall..." Applejack smirked. "I guess we can just pick another store in town, like with Derpy." "Yeah, rub it in!" Rainbow muttered. Derpy, hearing her name, looked around. And then she looked straight at Twilight, as if waiting for something. Twilight looked back, puzzled. And then she had an idea. "Just a second," she said, in thoughtful tone. "Did we ever say the stores had to be in Ponyville? I don't think we did!" Applejack thought back. "I reckon you're right, Twi! It never came up. We all jest assumed that was how we were playing it. But so what? We cain't get all the way to Canterlot and back in one afternoon, even if there was a train leavin' right now goin' our way!" "Girls," Twilight said, "isn't it just lucky for us that you have a friend with a little pull upstairs? Spike!" Startled, Spike leaned around her head to look her in the eye. "Yeah, Twi?" "Take a letter!" Spike hopped down, produced paper and quill, and started writing as Twilight dictated: Dear Princess Celestia, I regret to report that my latest research into the Magic of Friendship has hit a small roadblock. My friends and I have spent the day engaged in a social bonding activity, to wit, a shopping spree, which up to this point has progressed without flaw. However, to complete this activity according to the rules we have laid down for ourselves, we find it necessary to obtain an item from a shop in the Royal City of Canterlot as expeditiously as possible... "Hold it! Ex-pe-di-tious-ly," Spike spelled out. "Got it!" ... which we find impractical with the resources available to us. Can you offer any advice or assistance? Your Faithful Student, Twilight Sparkle "Send it, Spike!" Spike rolled the scroll, affixed band and seal, and with a huff of immolating green flame, sent it on its way. Applejack looked nervous. "Are you sure, Twi? Seems like a awfully picayune matter to bother Princess Celestia with!" Twilight shook her head. "I haven't asked for any help lately, and she's told me time and again that I can call on her at any time if she can be of assistance in my studies. Hey, the worst she can do is chide me for being foolish! And I can deal with that!" "Thanks, Twi," Rainbow said, smiling weakly. "Don't thank me yet, Rainbow!" But Spike was already making a face. He belched green fire, and a return scroll materialized. "Geez," he muttered, rubbing his throat. "I wish she'd at least gimme time to get my breath back first!" Taking the scroll, Spike unrolled it, coughed officially, and read: My Faithful Student Twilight, Remain where you are. Help is on the way. "Help is on the way?" Rarity asked. "What does she mean by that?" "Uh, Twi?" Applejack said, "you might wanna look at this!" She pointed up at the sky. Twilight looked, and blinked. In the far distance they could see the towering peak of Canterlot Mountain, with the royal city projecting out to the left from its upper slopes. And from it, two small black dots had lifted, heading their way. As they watched, the dots gradually resolved themselves into not one but two royal chariots, with teams of flyers, which rapidly approached Ponyville. On the left was Princess Celestia's elegantly scroll-worked Golden Chariot. And on the right was Princess Luna's dragon-winged Night Chariot. "Are the Princesses coming here?" Spike asked, amazed. "I don't know, Spike," Twilight said, feeling nervous despite her earlier confidence. Games Princesses PlayAs she watched the approaching chariots, Twilight suddenly noticed Zecora standing beside her. The zebra leaned close to whisper: \ It seems you have an answer got. \ \ So I shall return to my forest plot! \ Twilight nodded. "Oh, of course! And thanks very much for joining us, Zecora!" The zebra herbalist bowed her head. Then she gave Twilight that same evaluating look, but with a smile as well. She turned away and set off at a steady pace, heading back toward the Everfree Forest and her home. In short order, the chariots were circling the Square as their teams picked out a landing area. Then they settled into place, amidst crowds of ponies who were gathering to stare and comment. The two chariots were empty. The teams of flyers looked at Twilight and her friends expectantly. No, Twilight realized with a chill. Me! They're looking at me! Swallowing, she stepped forward and addressed the lead flyers. "Uh, thank you for coming so quickly, sirs! Will you do us the honor of transporting me and my friends to Canterlot City? Uh, please?" "Yes, ma'am!" the flyers replied smartly, in unison. Quickly, the ponies sorted themselves out between the two chariots. In the end, they had Twilight, Spike, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash riding in Luna's chariot, and Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Derpy riding Celestia's. As the flyers called out to each other and prepared to depart, Twilight took up station at the front of Luna's chariot. Then she looked across at the other, and found Derpy had taken up similar station on Celestia's, with the others arranged around her. Derpy smiled happily back at Twilight, as if it was all just some wonderful game to her. The flight back to Canterlot City was similarly rapid. The ponies all hung on the railings, watching the landscape pass below them, feeling the swift wind ruffling their manes and tails. Twilight, however, was furiously thinking, trying to come up with an explanation to give Princess Celestia that wouldn't sound completely scatterbrained. She glanced over at the other chariot, and saw Derpy was leaning forward, eyes shut, revelling in the feel of the breeze ruffling her mane and feathers. Then she looked across at Twilight, and gave a wink. Twilight sat back, trying to calm herself down. The chariots circled the city and swiftly settled to a landing. Twilight suddenly realized she hadn't told the flyers where they wanted to go. Were they heading to the palace? No, they were setting down in the middle of Diamond Avenue. Right in front of Joe's Donut Shop. And standing waiting for them, accompanied by guards and a small crowd of curious onlookers, were the tall, regal figures of ivory-white Princess Celestia, and night-blue Princess Luna. The ponies quickly climbed down from the chariots and assembled in front of the Princesses. As one, they knelt respectfully to them. All except for Twilight, who as Celestia's personal student had dispensation not to. And Derpy simply sat peering up at Celestia and Luna as if uncertain which one of them to look at. "Twilight Sparkle!" Celestia said proudly. "And the bearers of the Elements of Harmony. It's so good to see you all again!" "It is a pleasure to us as well!" Luna added. "Welcome, friends!" "Thank you, Princess," Twilight said, cautiously. "Princesses. Um. Well, I guess you already understand why we needed to get here." "You wished to be accommodating of a friend who had realized she made a mistake, by making it not be a mistake any more. Very wise, Twilight! How could I not assist my student in such an elegant solution?" "Yeah, but -- I thought we might just ask you to send something to us. Going out of your way like this..." "Is no trouble at all. In fact, I'm interested to know more about this 'social bonding activity' you mentioned. A shopping spree, yes? I wasn't aware there were rules for such a thing. I assumed one... well... shopped." "It's my fault, actually!" Twilight admitted. "I asked what the rules were, and so we got together and made some, to make it fair for everyone and keep it interesting. That way it was more of a game we could all play!" "A game?" Luna's ears perked up. "Intriguing! An opportunity for us to continue our research into 'fun', Sister?" Celestia nodded. "Twilight, would you and your friends have any objection to Luna and I joining in your game?" "We'd be honored, your Highness!" Applejack said. Then she glanced around. "Uh, sorry if I'm talkin' outta turn, here!" "Applejack's been our referee," Twilight said. "She's kept us all honest!" "Shoot, all I did was keep track of the bingo numbers!" Twilight quickly summarized the rules, though she half-suspected the demigodlike Princesses already knew them. As she did so, Pinkie Pie crafted two more strips, one ivory white, one night blue. Spike provided his quill, and the Princesses each considered for a moment and then wrote down their choices. Applejack took off her hat and let them drop in their slips. Then she spun it and they drew them out again. Not surprisingly, they drew each other's on the first try. "Should we go first, Sister?" Luna asked. At Celestia's nod, she lifted her strip and announced "Thé et Gâteau Restaurant! Sister, did you not observe the rule that shops must vend nonconsumable goods to be considered qualified?" Celestia tsked softly. "I did forget! My apologies!" "It's okay, Princess!" Derpy spoke up. "You can always choose again, if you get it wrong!" "Why, thank you, Derpy!" Celestia smiled at her. For a brief moment she considered her options, then gave a very minute, very regal shrug of her shoulders. "I suppose it will have to be Parfumerie. It's where I buy my bubble bath soap." Poker-faced, her gaze swept around as if daring anyone to comment. Leaving the chariots parked where they were, the group trotted up the Avenue and around the corner to the small store, its windows filled with bottles of various colors. The poor young pony at the sales counter was frightened out of her wits when both of their Royal Highnesses ducked under the doorframe and entered the shop, surrounded by what seemed a small army of regular-sized ponies. Clearly feeling a little embarrassed, Luna took the initiative. She strode directly up to the salespony and glared down at her sternly. "FEAR NOT!" she intoned in the Royal Canterlot Voice, making the windows rattle. "WE WISH ONLY TO PURCHASE..." She glanced at her sister. "... BUBBLE BATH SOAP!" "eeep!" The salespony made a mighty attempt to pull herself together. "Ah... does her Highness... h-have any particular preference?" "NAY! THAT WHICH OUR SISTER FINDS SUITABLE IS SUFFICIENT!" The shellshocked salespony was now clinging to sanity by her hoof-nails, her eyes like saucers. "Uhm... do... you have one of our frequent buyer reward cards?" With Luna's turn resolved, they turned to Celestia's slip of paper. "Canterlot Fine Toys," she said, with a smile at Luna. The Princess of the Night looked mildly sheepish. "We have found it an excellent resource for our studies of the modern approach to 'fun', Sister." "I'm sure you have!" The gray-maned pony at the toy shop was much more familiar with the unanticipated arrival of royality. "Princess Luna!" he bowed. "I am gratified by your visit. And what fortuitous timing! That board game you requested has come in!" "We shall conclude that transaction at another time!" Luna told him, in a more conversational tone. "For the moment, it is our sister who requires your assistance." "Your Highness!" the shopkeeper knelt to Celestia as well. "How may I be of service?" Celestia allowed the keeper to lead her on a quick tour of the store's contents, while Twilight and her friends browsed the racks and shelves of puppets, dolls, games, building sets, puzzles, and all manner of small toys that called out to be played with. Twilight passed Pinkie Pie, who was yammering excitedly to a small group of the upper-class ponies who had gathered to gawk at Celestia and Luna. "And then we put our stores in the hat, and spin it, and pick one out, and then the one who picked goes SHOPPIN'!" Twilight shook her head at Pinkie's irrepressible exuberance. She circled back to the front of the store. There was a wall of shelving out of which plush animals dangled: ponies, dragons, griffons, farm animals, puppies and kittens, and even a fluffy spider and a wide-mouthed crocodile. Wait... She stared. Is that... "Ah!" said Princess Celestia, coming up beside her. "I see they have more Twilight Sparkle plushes in stock. Hoof-stitched, finest quality! I wouldn't permit anything less!" "Me? Seriously?" "You and the other Element bearers are well-known heroines, Twilight! And it's heartening to see so many small fillies wishing to grow up following your example!" She leaned closer to whisper in Twilight's ear. "Such a pity I already have one of my own!" And she winked at Twilight's astonished look. In the end, Princess Celestia settled on a small set of hand-carved figurines depicting the six Element Bearers. Unfortunately, even with the shopkeeper's generous discount for the Princesses as regular customers, it was over the limit. Rarity looked around. "Girls, I do believe we have enough left over from our own shares to make up the difference?" They all nodded willingly, Rarity emptied the kitty-bag on the counter, and the shopkeeper relievedly rang up the sale. The Complete SetThey finished up at Joe's Donut Shop for a late afternoon snack of tea and donuts, and spread out their haul on the table to admire: - Fluttershy's boards and nails, - Rainbow Dash's signed first edition, - Applejack's massage stone, - Pinkie's sack of party goods, - Twilight's picture frame, confetti, paint box, cape, and hoof trap, - Derpy's small wooden house, - Luna's bottle of ivory-white bubble bath soap, - Celestia's "Elements of Harmony" playset, plus an "Eat at Joe's" coffee mug that Rarity had purchased, just for completeness' sake. There was a half-hearted attempt at a vote, but most of them were simply pleased by the sheer variety. Fluttershy meekly suggested a Traders Exchange, where anyone not happy with what they had could trade with someone else. But this only made each of them want the things they'd found all the more. "Well, Twilight?" Celestia asked, raising her voice a little to be heard over Luna chasing the last of her milkshake with a straw. "Was your friendship research successful?" "I think it was, your Majesty!" she said. "I learned that sometimes the best way to play by the rules is by making the rules fit the players. And by taking advantage of mistakes you make to find new ways to play!" Derpy blinked as she looked around the table. "That was a fun game! Can we play it again tomorrow?" They all laughed at that. And secretly wished that they could. Unbeknownst to them, the upper-crust ponies that Pinkie Pie had been talking to spread the word about the game. And since it appeared to have the Royal imprimatur, of not just one but both Princesses, it rapidly became the fashionable thing to do. It was spoken of with reverence and an air of knowing sophistication by its aficianados. Soon enough, it was assigned its own day on the social calendar, and every year the celebration became more and more elaborate, with celebrities doing the drawings, and stores readying sales and making sure they had smaller items in stock so they would not be disqualified from selection. And that, in the end, is how the Canterlot holiday known as "Shopping Spree Day" came to be celebrated. But to the ponies in Ponyville, all that is just ridiculous. They laugh at the naiveté of the elite, and get on with their day-to-day living. Because they know it all really started with a pony. And a book. The End My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, its characters and indicia are the property of Hasbro. No infringement is intended. This story is a work of fan fiction, written by fans for fans of the series. Cover image based on the following, generously made available by BonesWolbach at DeviantArt: https://www.deviantart.com/boneswolbach/art/Ponyville-Market-525702394 To This Shop \ We Must Now HopThey all stepped out into the small square in front of Sugarcube Corner. And just as they did so they saw Zecora, the zebra herbalist, strolling calmly up the street that led from the Everfree Forest where she lived. Her dzilla neck rings jingled rhythmically and her hooves tapped in perfect time as she trotted along. "Howdy, Zecora!" Applejack called. Zecora smiled and nodded, and then smoothly moved to meet them as they approached. \ Good day to you, my pony friends! \ \ To what place do your journeys tend? \ "We're doing a shopping spree today, Zecora!" Twilight said, being a little quicker than the others in grasping Zecora's poetic manner of speech. "Applejack and Rarity suggested it... I think as a way of getting me out of the Library for the day." \ A wise notion, this shopping spree! \ \ Does your path have room for me? \ "Sure! We'd love to have you come with us!" Twilight agreed. Zecora nodded her thanks. "You feel like buyin' in, Zecora?" Applejack asked. "Or jest spectatin'?" Zecora simply tilted her head in a questioning fashion, her placid expression unchanged. Quickly, they explained the rules of the game. She smiled and nodded in understanding. \ A few bits to spare, I have it seems, \ \ To take part and share your dreams! \ Pinkie somehow managed to find a black-and-white striped piece of paper in her mane, and Zecora added her slip to the hat. "So, who's up next?" Applejack asked. Pinkie jumped in the middle of them and spun around, pointing with a hoof. "Eeenie-meanie-mynie-moe-catch-a-pony-by-the-toe!" Her hoof pointed to Zecora. The zebra smirked, and willingly dipped a hoof in the hat. She came up with a light-yellow slip. Her voice took on a mysterious, woe-begotten tone: \ Oh my, oh my! O deary me! \ \ For I have drawn... the Shop of Tea! \ "Um, yes... the Tea Shop," Fluttershy said, nodding. "It... seemed like the right kind of store to pick for a shopping spree!" "It's perfect, dahling!" Rarity agreed. "They are certain to have lots of items to choose from." But when they arrived at the Tea Shop, which was an upscale storefront right on the Square itself, Zecora walked in, picked up a small tea caddy from the first display island she passed, paid for it, and walked out again, without a single look back. "Um..." Fluttershy said bashfully, "I think the idea is we spend a little more time looking around?" Zecora shook her head. When she spoke, her tone sounded subtly different: \ I found an item, \ \ It was what I wanted most. \ \ So I bought it quick! \ "Huh?" Rainbow dash blinked. "That doesn't even rhyme!" "No," Twilight said, excitedly. "It's a haiku!" "A what, Twi?" Spike asked, from his perch on her back. "A haiku," Twilight explained. "A traditional verse form of three lines: five, seven, and five syllables each." Zecora nodded, and went back to her previous speaking voice: \ In my land, this haiku form, \ \ Is spoke by those above the norm! \ She gestured at the Tea Shop's upper-class exterior as she spoke. Applejack chuckled. "I think she's tryin' to say that's how the tony-ponies talk where she's from!" Zecora smiled. \ More or less, \ \ But I digress! \ Zecora nevertheless patiently waited outside the shop while the rest of them browsed. Twilight asked Fluttershy for recommendations of new tea flavors to try, and Rarity seemed to inspect every tea pot and caddy the store had to offer. They deliberately left Pinkie Pie standing outside for safety's sake, ostensibly to keep Zecora company, with Rainbow keeping an eye on her as well. A bull in a china shop was as nothing compared to Pinkie let loose in a tea shop.
A Pony and a BookIt all began in Ponyville, the quaint farming-and-tourism hamlet located in the Canterlot Foothill Plains, just a brief few hours train-ride from the royal city of Canterlot itself... Well, that's how the official pamphlet begins, the one published by the Canterlot Tourism and Recreation Department. Happily, there's a more interesting way to approach it. It starts with a pony. And a book. Up the street leading from Ponyville's town square, and passing through the smaller square in front of Sugarcube Corner Bakery, a lavender unicorn mare with a dark blue mane and tail trotted along. Hovering in front of her face was a large hardback book, held in place by a bright magenta field of magic projected from her horn. Occasionally a page flicked as she ambled up the street, completely lost in reading. "Hey, Twilight!" Twilight looked up, the book lowering so she could see past it. Standing before her with amused looks on their faces were an orange-flanked mare wearing an eleven-gallon Stetson hat, and a brilliantly white unicorn mare with elegantly flowing violet locks. "I reckon that's some kinda record, Rarity," said the orange-flanked pony. "We only had to call twice a'fore we got through." "Now, now, Applejack!" Rarity scolded. "I'm sure Twilight was just engrossed in... uh... what is it you're reading today, my dear?" "The Codex Hippophilia," Twilight replied, showing them the cover. Its embossed-gold title said exactly that, leaving them none the wiser. "Which is what now?" Applejack asked. Twilight blushed a bit. "It's... kind of a history of cult behavior in ancient Equestria. Though it's not nearly as risqué as it sounds. It was written by academics who didn't get out very much." "Uh huh," Applejack nodded. "And... it's a good read?" "Oh yeah, it is! I'm putting together a comparative study of ancient cultural traditions, and it's interesting seeing the parallels with Griffonian and Draconian cultures." "Annnnd... those would be the other two books." Twilight glanced at the pockets of the carryall draped over her back. There was an equally heavy book weighing her down on either side. She gave a sheepish smile. "I brought them along in case I finished this one. But I've already given them a quick skim, and there are so many interesting parallels..." "I'm sure there are, dahling," Rarity hurriedly put in, to stem the impending flood of erudition. "Applejack and I are taking a stroll around town on this exquisitely sunny afternoon. Is that what you're doing, dear?" Applejack laughed good-naturedly. "I bet she's been inside reading all day, and hasn't even noticed the weather." "Not so!" Twilight replied. "In fact I realized I'd been inside all morning, and decided to spend some time outdoors for a change." "Reading?" "Of course!" Applejack rolled her eyes. "Twi, hon, don't you ever kick back and jest do stuff, jest fer fun?" "Like what?" "Wayall..." "-- like a shopping spree?" Rarity put in. "Er, well, that's what I might do, if I wanted to get away from my drafting table for a while." Applejack nodded. "Okay then, a shoppin' spree. Ever done one, Twi?" "Um... no, I don't think I have." "Y'all never just spent the whole day browsin' through the shops around here? I mean there's more to the place than the Cake's shop and Rarity's and Sweet Apple Acres. Oh my lordy! Hope Granny Smith never gets wind I said that!" Applejack and Rarity looked at Twilight expectantly. "I guess I haven't," Twilight said, shrugging. "Whenever I feel like browsing, there's always the Library stacks." "All raight," Applejack said. "I hereby challenge ya to a winner-take-all, no-holds-barred, all-day, doing-nothing-but-fun-stuff shoppin' spree." "Well, okay! I'm in!" Twilight said happily. "Uh... what are the rules?" Applejack and Rarity looked at each other. "Gonna be a bit harder than I thought, I reckon."
The Council of WindowshoppersNext morning they gathered in the main room of the Golden Oak Library for a belated but filling breakfast. They'd also picked up a few additional participants in the meantime. "Um... thanks so much for inviting us," said Fluttershy. The butter-colored pegasus smiled. "This is going to be such fun!" "Not a problem, my dear," Rarity replied. "The more the merrier, in this case." "Yeah, yeah," said Rainbow Dash impatiently. The sky-blue pegasus was hovering in the air above them, wearing her "cool" shades. Her forehooves were crossed in a bored pose. "Let's get on with it!" "Ya know, Rainbow," Applejack grumbled, "if'n you don't wanna to come along you don't have to." Rainbow casually stared at the ceiling. "Yah, well... I really don't have anything else to do today --" "Aside from settin' another record for nappin'?" Rainbow gave her an annoyed look. "So I might as well tag along, just to see what happens. Heh! Two bits says it fizzles out after the first store." SLAM-SLAM! They all looked to the Library's main door, which had just slammed open and then immediately slammed shut again. Pinkie Pie, the radioactively pink party pony, was leaning against it in a panic, breathing heavily. She held up a hoof, paused a moment to catch her breath... Then dropped to a sitting position on the floor, completely at ease. "Hey gals! Applejack-Rarity-Fluttershy-Rainbow-Twilight! Whatcha doing?" "Uh, hey, Pinky," Twilight said cautiously. "Is... something the matter?" Pinkie looked puzzled. "Why d'ya say that, Twi?" "Wahll..." Applejack said, just as cautiously, "ya did kinda bust in here like Nightmare Moon herself was a length a'hint ya." "Oh! That's because my Fun Radar was going off!" "Fun... Radar?" Rainbow asked, disbelievingly. "Is this like your Pinkie Sense?" "Yep! And I knew there was something super-duper-uber-wowa-gonzo-FUN going on over this way, so I raced on over here, afraid I'd miss it. But you're all still here, so I didn't. Wheeee!" She managed to turn a cartwheel in place, and then sat down again, smiling at them. "Yes, well..." Twilight said, "Applejack and Rarity suggested we all go on a shopping spree today, just for a change of pace. You want to join us?" "You know it, Twilight! Count me in!" "All raight, then," Applejack said. "Let's go over the rules we agreed on afore we get started. First, we'll all pool the bits we wanna contribute, and each of us gets an even share. That way nopony has an advantage, money-wise." "Ante up, as they say!" Rarity plunked a jingling velvet bag on the floor. Applejack looked askance at her. "Rarity, I know your parents are made'a money and all, but you don't have to chip in that much! We all decided we'd contribute a reasonable amount, so we wouldn't feel pressured to overspend." "Well... I did come into a bit extra from my latest design, and I can't think of a nicer way to spend it." Rarity replied. "Besides, I'd hate to think somepony felt like she had to pass up on something nice, simply because it would mean going over an arbitrary budget." "Oh, all right. We can use this as the kitty." Applejack picked up the bag and added her coins to it, then passed it around for each of them to add to. "Oh, Spikey-wikey!" Rarity called, when it got back to her. Twilight's assistant Spike, a small purple dragon with green spines, was already floating in the air beside her, love-lights in his eyes. "... yes, Rarity? ..." he breathed. "Be a dear and look after this for us, won't you?" "Absolutely!" Spike took hold of the bag. Rarity released it, and Spike immediately plummeted to the floor. Twilight had to put a hoof to her snout to suppress a laugh. "Um, Twilight?" Fluttershy asked. "Isn't Spike going to be looking after the Library while you're out today?" Twilight shook her head. "It's been a slow week, and I doubt anyone will mind if the Library is closed for one day. I'll just put out the returns box and the request clipboard, in case anyone comes by." "Already done, Twi!" Spike said. "Thanks, Spike!" She fondly scuffed his green spines with a hoof. "What would I do without you?" "Next," Applejack went on, "We each pick our favorite store, write 'em down, and put 'em all in the hat." She set her hat upside down in front of her. "We'll each take turns at bat, and when it's our turn, we draw a store from the hat, and that's the one we shop in next. The one who drew the store needs to find something that they want there. That way each of us is equally out of our comfort zone, so to speak." "Oh! What if we draw the one we put in?" Fluttershy asked. "Hmmm... okay, if you draw your own pick, you put it back and go again. Oh and just for variety's sake, you cain't write down the place you work at. Otherwise I'd just put down Sweet Apple Acres, obviously. And Rarity would likely put down the Carousel Boutique." "Awwww!" Pinkie looked devastated. "I was gonna pick Sugarcube Corner!" "Sorry, Pinkster! But don't give up hope, maybe someone else will. Also, it cain't be a store where everything's super-'spensive, like the jewelry store. And it needs to be someplace that sells gifts and the like, so that leaves out the cafe, the arcade, bowling alley, and so forth." "Ah, geez! I was gonna pick the Arcade!" Rainbow Dash said. Then she looked at the ceiling again. "That is... if I was playin'..." Applejack pointed at the velvet bag. "Still time to buy in, gal." Rainbow Dash held out a moment longer, then gave in. "Oh, all right!" Flying over to Spike, she added her bits to the velvet bag. "Uh... shoot, I forgot," Applejack said, looking around. "Gonna need some paper to make slips with." "Gotcha covered, A.J.!" Pinkie rummaged in her cotton-candy mane and came up with sheets of paper, all different colors, and a small scissors. She industriously began cutting out slips of paper, and managed to provide each pony with a slip that matched her coat color. Applejack stared at her. "Pinkie, how in tarnation did you manage to be wandering around with all that stuff on ya?" "They're pre-confetti!" Pinkie chirped, stuffing the sheets of paper back in her mane. "Pre..." "...confetti! It's what confetti looks like before it's cut up into all the little pieces!" "Pinkie, you know that's just colored craft paper, raight?" "Oh, come on! Get out! Would I load anything but the BEST in my party cannon?" She beamed. Applejack gave it up. "All right, everypony!" Rarity said breezily. "Pick your store!" Twilight used her magic to fetch quills from her desk, and they spent a busy few minutes thinking, writing, and adding slips to the hat. When they had all finished, Applejack tucked a hoofkerchief in over the slips. "That'll keep 'em from fallin' out while we're walkin' around." She set the hat back on her head. "Now, one more rule. When it's your turn to shop, you need to find something up to but not over your bits. That's so nobody feels like they need to hold back. Anythin' left over you can spend however you like during the day, but each of us needs to find at least one thing we want with our share." "I think we should allow," Rarity said, "that we can spend our spare bits to help another player, if they find they're short or over the limit!" "Fair 'nuff! And at the end of the day, we can have fun comparing notes on what we come up with!" "Aw, come on!" Rainbow Dash objected. "You gotta make it interesting! I say at the end of the day, we all vote on who made the best choice. Win, place, or show! Huh? Who's with me?" "Ooh! Ooh! I am!" Pinkie said, bouncing up and down. "Wait, what?" The others were less enthused, but there was general agreement. "All raight, gals! Just give Rarity a mo' to count the kitty for us and figger our shares, and we're off to the races!" "Oh, um..." "Yeah, Fluttershy?" "Is... um... would it be okay if... um... I go first?"
A Hard BeginningThey waited until they were all assembled out in Ponyville's Town Square. Then Applejack ceremoniously doffed her hat, pulled out the hoofkerchief, held the hat just above eye-level, and gave it a quick randomizing twirl. "Just so ya'll don't think I'm playin' favorites," she explained. Fluttershy dipped in a hoof and came up with a slip. It was orange. "What was that about playing favorites, A.J.?" Rainbow asked, giggling. "Twern't my doin'," she replied, as surprised as the rest of them. "It says..." Fluttershy blinked. "Hay's Hardware?" "Ah ha ha!" Rainbow Dash doubled up and all but fell out of the air laughing. "That's rich! The hardware store? Really, A.J.? That's your favorite place to shop?" Applejack shrugged. "I spend so much time in there, buyin' tools and rope and such, it might as well be. Plus, I did kinda figger it'd make an unusual stop on our tour." "And Fluttershy's supposed to find something to buy there?" Rainbow laughed harder. "I was wrong, this donkey-derby might not even make it past the first store!" "Oh not at all," Fluttershy said. "That's just perfect!" That silenced Rainbow's laughter. "What?" "Um, actually, I was going to stop by there at some point. I need to buy some of the thinner brand of wood they carry to make some new birdhouses. Mmm... and I did need to buy some nails as well." "So let's head on over," Twilight said, leading the way. "Shopping spree, ahoy! I mean, if that's the kind of thing you say on one of these..." The others followed behind her, bemused. Hay's Hardware was a couple turns from the Square. It was a long, low building with rough timber walls, open rafters, handmade shelving, and relatively poor lighting, even with the sunlight streaming in through the dusty windows. But what it lacked in charm it more than made up for in selection. Twilight found herself wishing she was more of a maker pony like Applejack given the sheer variety of tools and parts on display, which cried out to be put to use. There were piles of hammers, bins of wooden pegs and metal nails, coils of rope, lengths of chain, wooden boards of every length and thickness, and many other smaller and more obscure items. Fluttershy quickly found the thin, delicate variety of board she was looking for. Then she debated animatedly with Applejack about the proper nails to use. "Oh, I find the three-eighteenth Barton brads are best for the trim. So much better quality than the Hoofstone brand." "If you say so, hon," Applejack said. "Personally, when it comes to nails, I just buy 'em and whack 'em in where they're needed." Twilight trotted past a display of outdoor furniture and small barbecue grills. Then she came to a halt and backed up, realising it wasn't a plastic flamingo she'd seen lying sprawled in the hammock. Pinkie Pie had on her rainbow umbrella hat, and was wearing sunglasses. Plus she was holding up a foldable reflective board in front of her. "Pinkie, what are you doing?" Twilight asked, bemused. "Catchin' some rays, Twi!" "We're indoors." "Well, DUH! Which means any sunlight that can get through that roof has gotta be super-suntan-toasty! Do you think I need more sunblock?" Producing a bottle, she smeared some on her snout. Shaking her head, Twilight moved on. She found Rarity over by the wind-chimes, gently tapping them with a hoof. "Honestly, I never knew these were here. I must remember to stop by and pick one up for the Boutique. They sound divine!" Rainbow was desultorily looking though a rack of hammers, picking them up, giving them an experimental swing, then putting them back. "Now I know why we pegasi build our homes out of clouds. Imagine having to buy all this junk just to put up a place to sleep!" "Maybe so," Applejack said, strolling up. "But we don't have to worry about our houses blowing away. 'Cept in a strong twister, maybe." Rainbow shrugged. "Eh. There's always more clouds." Fluttershy came over and joined them, followed by Rarity and Spike with the money bag. "Okay, girls, I'm all set!" Fluttershy said happily. "Then let's a-mosey on!"
Unexpected TreasuresSurprisingly, Rainbow wanted to go next. "Just so I can say I got my money's worth, in case this does go south!" No one objected, so Applejack spun the hat for her. Rainbow reached in and pulled out a slip of paper. It was lavender in color. "Oh!" she said dramatically, holding the slip to her forehead. "The Great and Powerful Rainbow Dash will now use her awesome mind-reading abilities to determine that the store written on this slip of paper is..." She turned it over. "The bookstore! HA! Called it!" Twilight shrugged. "What can I say? It is my favorite store!" They trotted back to the Square and down another street, to the Owl and Scroll Bookshop. It was a smallish building with a glass-fronted display window and a sign shaped like a hardback book hanging by its spine. "Heh. This shouldn't take long," Rainbow said, landing in front of the door and pushing it open to enter. "The only thing I'd possibly be buying here is the latest Daring Do book, and that won't be out for another couple months yet!" They all trotted in, and with all seven of them inside it the tiny store was pretty much packed. Twilight immediately gravitated to the science section, Applejack dug right into the books on farming techniques, Fluttershy winged her way over the shelves to reach the section on birding, Pinkie Pie skipped over to the section on games, Rarity waltzed over to the section on music, and Spike leapt off Twilight's back to reach the comics shelf in a single bound. And Rainbow morosely nudged books in the fiction section, trying to pretend to be browsing. As she'd thought there was no new Daring Do book on display, and she'd read all the titles the store currently had in stock. After a while, Twilight wandered over to join her. "Maybe this would be an opportunity to try a different author?" Twilight gently suggested. "Find someone else you like as much?" "Eh, I've looked around before," Rainbow said. Idly, she picked up one of the Daring Do titles, and flipped through the front pages. "There just aren't any other series that I like this much. I mean, Daring Do's got everything! It's got action, it's got adventure, it's got treasure and valuable statues, it's got ancient Aztec deities bent on world domination and total destruction --" Suddenly, she froze, staring at the page in front of her. Then she rapidly flipped back to the copyright page. "Omigoshomigoshomigosh!" she whispered. "What? What is it?" Twilight asked, peering over her shoulder. "It's a signed first edition!" Rainbow gently put the book down, and rapidly checked the other titles. "Darn, it's the only one here!" "Well... it's probably a used copy that got mixed in with the rest. Owl and Scroll does carry used books, too." "But this is so coooool!" Rainbow picked up the book and hugged it. "Really?" Twilight looked puzzled. She generally bought books to read or to stock in her Library, so new, used, or antiquarian made little difference to her. "Yeah! It means it's like, rare and valuable!" Worried, she checked the label on the front. "And it's regular price! They must have missed it! And that means it's under our bit limit too!" "Well, congratulations! Take it on over to the register. I'll go see if I can peel Mr. Moneybags away from the graphic novels." She and Spike joined Rainbow at the register, and Twilight counted out bits from the bag. The wavy-haired stallion behind the counter rang the sale up, and wrapped up Rainbow's purchase. "This is a great choice. You're really into the series, huh?" "Oh, yeah!" Rainbow said nervously. "And this one's my all-time favorite!" Twilight raised an eyebrow. "Daring Do and the Great Ball of Yarn?" "Shh!" Rainbow shot back out the corner of her mouth. The shopkeeper smiled. "Oh, I see! You're a collector!" Rainbow suddenly looked panicky. "A... a collector? W-w-what makes you say that?" "This one's been out for a while. You must have it already!" "Uh... oh, yeah! Yeah I do! But... I don't have a copy I can just... take with me... when I'm flying around so... I don't have to worry about losing it!" Rainbow finally drew a hurried, tense breath. "Well then, enjoy!" The stallion handed Rainbow the wrapped book, and turned to his next customer. Rainbow somehow managed to keep from exploding, as they all trotted out through the door. Then she launched into the air and whipped around the store twenty times, leaving a rainbow-colored halo in the air. "Yeesssss!" she said, landing. "I'm gonna be the first pony to have a signed first edition copy of every book in the series! This is beyond cool!" She realized Applejack was looking at her. "What?" "Thought you said this wouldn't last past the first store?" Rainbow shrugged. "Meh! It's early yet!" Then she hugged her book again. "Okay, everypony!" Twilight said. "Who wants to go next?"
A Relaxing StopApplejack decided she'd take her turn, so she had Twilight hold her hat for her, and she drew out a slip. It turned out to be bright white with a purple edge-trim. "Okay, and we have... the Day Spa? Rarity!" "What, dahling?" "Thought we agreed it had to be a place you could buy stuff?" "And so you can!" Rarity huffed. "They sell all kinds of beauty products, conditioners, do-it-yourself facial kits, and the like! And they sell such wonderful treatments. I think it'll make a nice break before luncheon!" The other ponies looked at each other, then back at Applejack. Rainbow smirked. "Still think it's on, A.J.?" "Oh, it's still on!" Applejack took back her hat, stuffed the kerchief into it, and slapped it back on her head. "Still on, I reckon! All raight, lead the way!" The Day Spa was on the south edge of the Town Square, a deceptively small building with a high-peaked roof. Rarity waltzed right in at the head of the group, nodding to Aloe and Lotus, the pink and blue pony twins who ran the Spa. "Morning girls! Got a big group for you today! Hope you like a challenge!" The Blossom twins simply nodded and smiled, and went to get things ready. "Uh... how's this gonna fit in our budget?" Applejack asked. "Well, that's one of the reasons I threw in a bit extra," Rarity said cheerfully. "So we can all try whatever we'd like, and still have plenty to shop with!" Rainbow was skulking around the border of the spa's main room, checking behind the potted plants and under tables. "Erm... what're you looking for, Rainbow?" Fluttershy asked. "Just makin' sure there's no Gabby Gums lurking around here somewhere!" In the end, they decided to do the Calm-Me-Down special, which included the steam room, hot tub, and massage. All of which was highly relaxing... except when Pinkie Pie tried to do a cannonball into the hot tub, and had to be forcibly restrained by Twilight's magic. Their package also included a facial and hooficure, which most of them took advantage of. Except for Rainbow. She sat on a chair in the corner during this last part, rereading her Daring Do book. "Nah, I'm good," she said, waving a forehoof. "You go ahead!" So Spike had a manicure done on his claws instead, and Aloe polished his scales until they shone. Twilight smiled at him. "Lookin' good, there, Number One Assistant!" "Thanks, Twi! You too!" He realized he was saying this while she had mud smeared over her face and Lotus was applying cucumber slices to each eye. "Ah, you know what I mean!" Applejack was curious enough about the hot stone massage to give it a try. When Lotus first started applying them to her back, Applejack started. "Hoo-eee! That's hot! Not sure about this!" "Just give it a few minutes, A.J.!" Rarity suggested. "You'll see." A few minutes later, there was a noise like a pig being sawed in half. Applejack had fallen asleep. When they woke her up she gapped and stretched. "I see whatcha mean, Rarity! I'm more relaxed than a twice-boiled noodle!" As they were heading out, Rarity came to a halt. "Oh wait, Applejack -- we haven't shopped for your item yet!" Applejack thought for a moment, then turned to Lotus. "How much'd one of them massage stones set me back?" As Lotus went to fetch one, Applejack looked at the others and shrugged. "Souvenir! And if my leg starts twingin' me again after a long day's apple-buckin', I figure I can always try a little home heat therapy myself!"
Lunch and a Pinkie SaleAt this point it was past noon already, so they went to the Café Hay, had a light lunch, and chatted for a while in the warm sunshine. As they were talking, Derpy the gray pegasus mailmare came trotting by. She was wearing her usual carryall, but its pockets were nearly empty, apart from her postal hat tucked into the right-flank pocket. Pinkie waved to her, and she came over to join them. "Hey, Derpy!" Twilight said. "Aren't you doing your rounds today?" The mailmare shook her head vigorously. Disconcertingly, her eyes took a moment longer than the rest of her to settle down in their normal cross-eyed gaze. "Nope! Mail was light today. I got the afternoon off!" "Hey! You wanna go on a shopping spree with us?" Pinkie asked. "You bet, Pinkie! Do I need to go buy a ticket?" Apparently she was under the impression it was a kind of train, like the Friendship Express. It took a few minutes to set her straight, mostly because Pinkie kept jumping in to try to explain it. But in the end Derpy nodded happily and immediately dipped into the left-hand pocket of her carryall for her bit-bag. After some discussion, they decided the simplest method was that Derpy could contribute whatever she wanted, and they'd allocate her a share of the remaining kitty. Pinkie found gray paper in her mane and made a slip for Derpy, and Spike handed over his official quill so she could sign in with it. Derpy dropped her slip into the hat. Applejack was about to put it back on her head, but then she stopped and looked round. "We 'bout done here?" Everyone nodded. "Anybody orderin' dessert? No? All raight, then. Who's up next?" Pinkie's forehoof shot skyward, and she waved it excitedly. "MEEEEEEE!" Grinning, Applejack spun the hat. Pinkie reached in, made a big show of feeling around with her tongue sticking out. She pulled out a slip. It was Derpy's. "Now, Pinkie..." Applejack began, giving her a suspicious look. "What?" Twilight smiled. "A.J., you don't really think she marked the slips, do you?" "Knowin' Pinkie, she probably marked 'em in Braille!" She waved a hoof. "Ah, never mind. It's all good. What'd you get, Pinkie?" "Quills and Sofas?" Pinkie read in surprise. Derpy looked round, puzzled by their reaction. "It's a store, right?" Twilight smiled. It was also where Derpy and her daughter Dinky lived, in an upstairs room they rented from Mr. Davenport. Why wouldn't she pick it as her favorite store? It was her home in Ponyville. "Mmm...," Fluttershy said uncomfortably, "I think we forgot to explain the rule about stores that sell expensive items!" Rainbow sniggered. "Unless they've got one heck of sale going on couches!" She fell over laughing. Applejack frowned at her, but Rarity focused on Derpy. "All right, Derpy," she said. "That's a store, certainly. But to make this work, we really need a store that sells lots of different items. So you go ahead and pick again!" Derpy thought hard, her eyes rolling about in different directions. Pinkie leaned close to her and stage-whispered: "MUFFINS!" "Mrs. Cake's!" Derpy blurted out. "Yes!" Pinkie Pie pumped a forehoof. "Nailed it!" Because Mrs. Cake was Pinkie's employer. Applejack shook her head. She felt like she'd been expertly flimflammed, but couldn't quite see how. She decided not to pursue it. "All raight, I guess we'll have dessert at Sugarcube Corner!" Mrs. Cake was a little surprised when the eight of them trotted into her store, but she willingly set about serving tea, muffins, cupcakes, and other bakery sweets. "I should give you the day off more often, Pinkie," she said. "If you're going to bring back business like this!" "Actually, Mrs. Cake, can I come back to work for a minute?" Mrs. Cake looked puzzled, but nodded. "Well, of course, my dear!" Pinkie zipped behind the counter next to the cash register. "Hi! Welcome to Sugarcube Corner! What can I get for ya?" She shot around in front of the counter. "Hello! I wanna buy a party hat!" She zipped behind the counter. "Sure! One party hat, comin' up!" Back in front again. "And a bunch of balloons!" Back behind again. "A bunch of balloons! Yay!" She was zipping back and forth so fast now, it was like there were two of her, one on either side. "And a noise maker!" "One noise maker!" PHWEEEE! "And a horn!" "One tooty frooty horn!" HONK! "A box of chocolate-covered raisins!" "Chocky-wocky raisins! Sweet!" "And a party cannon!" "Silly! You already have one of those!" "Oh yeah, never mind!" "Anything else?" "Nope, that'll do me!" Pinkie rang up the sale, bagged everything, and pushed it across. "There ya go! Come back any time!" She came around front again. "You bet! Thanks for everything!" She trotted back to join the others, not even out of breath. They were all staring at her, slack-jawed. "What?" she asked, honestly puzzled. And altogether, it had been exactly one minute.
The Run-Off in the MarketplaceIn the end, they regrouped on the street outside. Applejack doffed and spun her hat, and this time Twilight took her turn. She came up with a pink-hued slip. And immediately encountered a problem. "Huh? The Costume Shop, The Party Store, The Joke Shop, The Toy Store, and the Antique Store! Pinkie!" "Sorry!" Pinkie looked broken-hearted. "I just couldn't decide!" Applejack rolled her eyes. "Weyall... I suppose you could just pick one of those for us, Twi!" Twilight thought for a moment. Then she smiled at Pinkie, seeing a way to make it work. "No! We'll do it as a run-off!" "Excuse me, dahling?" Rarity asked. "A run... off?" Rainbow Dash perked up. "Now you're talking, sister!" Twilight nodded. "We have five stores, and there are five of you, not counting Derpy. Oops! Sorry, didn't mean to exclude you, Zecora!" The zebra nodded, unoffended. \ Rather than rush about, \ \ I shall as well sit this one out! \ "Okay. Each of you picks a store, and goes shopping there. We'll say for... thirty minutes, going by the clock tower. You each pick something you think I'd like, for no more than one fifth of my share. And here's the fun part: the last one who finds their way back to me wins! "What?" Rainbow looked disgusted. "What kind of rule is that?" "Well, look at it this way, Rainbow," Twilight replied. "The faster you get there, the more time you have to look. And before you all go, we can let Derpy draw her slip, and Zecora and I will go with her while you're shopping." They nodded in agreement, even Rainbow Dash. Applejack spun the hat for Derpy, even though there were only two slips left. Derpy pulled out the zebra-striped one. Zecora laughed. \ Most auspicious, this pony's draw! \ \ For it will be where I was going before! \ "The Marketplace," Derpy read off the slip. "Okay!" Twilight said. "We'll meet at the Marketplace in thirty minutes!" There was some discussion of who would take which store, and then the five other ponies set off, as fast as they could. Twilight, Zecora, and Derpy turned and trotted on through Ponyville, heading for the Marketplace where the fruit and vegetable vendors had their stalls. As they walked, Zecora seemed to be eyeing Twilight evaluatingly, but in a pleased way. At Twilight's questioning look, she finally spoke: \ Your friends to you look for a guide, \ \ Sensing the leadership you hide inside! \ "Who me? I just keep them from butting heads over silly stuff. And I rely on them just as much as they do on me!" Zecora nodded cryptically. Then she looked at Derpy. \ And on this small one, they too rely, \ \ Though perhaps in ways they cannot spy! \ Derpy looked up at her, puzzled, and then looked at Twilight. Twilight shook her head as well, for once having no idea what Zecora was driving at. Then Derpy shrugged and smiled, and was immediately distracted by a passing butterfly. They reached the Marketplace, and Derpy set out to shop. And Twilight had to smile at her approach, which was typical Derpy. She moved from stall to stall, in order, up one row and down another. At each one, she sat down in front of the stall for a couple of minutes, and just looked at everything it had to offer. Then she got up and moved to the next one. And the next. She didn't pick up anything, or inspect anything more closely. She just looked, patiently and methodically, and moved on. Zecora did some shopping herself at a few of the stalls, buying vegetables and herb seeds, plus a loaf of bread. But mostly, she followed Twilight and Derpy, watching the gray pegasus doing her peculiar form of shopping. At the Apple Family's stall Twilight said hello to Apple Bloom and Granny Smith, feeling like it was her responsibility to be social, since Derpy was regarding their stall with the same stolid dispassion as anyone else's. As they went on, the others began to trickle back and join them. Finally all of them had arrived except for Rainbow Dash. Twilight looked up, expecting to find Rainbow hiding behind a cloud, waiting until everyone else had arrived so she could pretend to arrive last. But there wasn't a cloud in the sky. And Derpy kept going, stall after stall, looking and moving on, for another half-hour at least. For something to do, the others browsed the stalls as well, but soon they regrouped, speculating amongst themselves what exactly it was that Derpy had set herself to find. Eventually, Derpy reached the last stall in the Marketplace. And then she got up, walked back one row, down to the fifth stall, and plunked down several bits for a small carved house sitting amongst other assorted knickknacks. She tucked it carefully in her left-flank pocket along with her bit-bag, and trotted back to Twilight. "All done!" she said simply, and sat down smiling at them. Twilight looked around, still wondering what had happened to Rainbow. And then she saw her, approaching by land rather than by air, a guarded look on her face. "Well!" Twilight said, half-seriously. "You really wanted to be sure you won, huh? Think we should disqualify her for going over on time?" "Aww, never mind about that," Rainbow said. "Let's just show ya what we got!" From the Antique Store, A.J. had bought a small picture frame. "I saw that the picture you've got of all of us was lookin' a little beat up, so I figured you could replace it with this." From the Party Store, Pinkie had brought a sack of confetti. "This is for you, Twi!" she said proudly. "I'll stash it away until your party, and load it in my party cannon!" "What party, Pinkie?" "The next one I throw for you, silly!" Twilight couldn't help but smile at Pinkie's absolute confidence that there would always be a next party. From the Toy Store, Fluttershy had brought a box of watercolors. "I figured if you ever need a break from study, you might try painting. It's very relaxing!" "Thanks, Fluttershy, I'll give it a shot. I must have a book on painting in the Library somewhere!" "Uh, Twi?" Spike said, tugging her mane. "I think the idea is you don't need a book!" "Oh. Right." Twilight smiled weakly. "Sorry, force of habit!" From the Costume Shop, Rarity had brought a costume cape. "I thought this might compliment your Starswirl costume when Nightmare Night rolls around again, dahling." "I... don't think Starswirl wore a cape over his robe... but it looks beautiful, so I'll give it try!" And from the joke shop Rainbow had brought a hoof-trap. Twilight could still remember first encountering one as a filly, and shuddered at the sight of it. But she thanked Rainbow for the thought all the same. She felt a little odd about having not done any shopping herself on her turn. But the things they'd all found were so wonderful that she didn't really mind.
Thinking Outside the Giftbox"All raight, it's just Rarity's turn left now," Applejack said. They'd returned to the Square, which was more centrally located, and were gathered in front of the Town Hall. Rainbow was looking even more pensive. "Well... it's getting kinda late. Maybe we should just pack it in for the day?" "Rainbow, it's only the middle of the afternoon!" Twilight objected. "Somethin' gnawin' at ya, sugarcube?" Applejack took down her hat, and just for form's sake spun it on her hoof before offering it to Rarity, who took the last, sky-blue slip of paper. Rainbow crossed her forehooves and frowned, as if preparing for the worst. "Ahem," Rarity said. "And the last store is... Joe's Donut Shop!" She stared at the slip in disbelief. "Aw, c'mon, Rainbow!" Applejack grumbled. "That's not even in Ponyville, it's in Canterlot!" "I know! Okay?" Rainbow hunched down, looking ashamed. "I know! Well, I... when I wrote that this morning I honestly didn't think we'd actually get this far! And I haven't had the nerve to ask for my slip back. I'm sorry! Okay?" "Wayall..." Applejack smirked. "I guess we can just pick another store in town, like with Derpy." "Yeah, rub it in!" Rainbow muttered. Derpy, hearing her name, looked around. And then she looked straight at Twilight, as if waiting for something. Twilight looked back, puzzled. And then she had an idea. "Just a second," she said, in thoughtful tone. "Did we ever say the stores had to be in Ponyville? I don't think we did!" Applejack thought back. "I reckon you're right, Twi! It never came up. We all jest assumed that was how we were playing it. But so what? We cain't get all the way to Canterlot and back in one afternoon, even if there was a train leavin' right now goin' our way!" "Girls," Twilight said, "isn't it just lucky for us that you have a friend with a little pull upstairs? Spike!" Startled, Spike leaned around her head to look her in the eye. "Yeah, Twi?" "Take a letter!" Spike hopped down, produced paper and quill, and started writing as Twilight dictated: Dear Princess Celestia, I regret to report that my latest research into the Magic of Friendship has hit a small roadblock. My friends and I have spent the day engaged in a social bonding activity, to wit, a shopping spree, which up to this point has progressed without flaw. However, to complete this activity according to the rules we have laid down for ourselves, we find it necessary to obtain an item from a shop in the Royal City of Canterlot as expeditiously as possible... "Hold it! Ex-pe-di-tious-ly," Spike spelled out. "Got it!" ... which we find impractical with the resources available to us. Can you offer any advice or assistance? Your Faithful Student, Twilight Sparkle "Send it, Spike!" Spike rolled the scroll, affixed band and seal, and with a huff of immolating green flame, sent it on its way. Applejack looked nervous. "Are you sure, Twi? Seems like a awfully picayune matter to bother Princess Celestia with!" Twilight shook her head. "I haven't asked for any help lately, and she's told me time and again that I can call on her at any time if she can be of assistance in my studies. Hey, the worst she can do is chide me for being foolish! And I can deal with that!" "Thanks, Twi," Rainbow said, smiling weakly. "Don't thank me yet, Rainbow!" But Spike was already making a face. He belched green fire, and a return scroll materialized. "Geez," he muttered, rubbing his throat. "I wish she'd at least gimme time to get my breath back first!" Taking the scroll, Spike unrolled it, coughed officially, and read: My Faithful Student Twilight, Remain where you are. Help is on the way. "Help is on the way?" Rarity asked. "What does she mean by that?" "Uh, Twi?" Applejack said, "you might wanna look at this!" She pointed up at the sky. Twilight looked, and blinked. In the far distance they could see the towering peak of Canterlot Mountain, with the royal city projecting out to the left from its upper slopes. And from it, two small black dots had lifted, heading their way. As they watched, the dots gradually resolved themselves into not one but two royal chariots, with teams of flyers, which rapidly approached Ponyville. On the left was Princess Celestia's elegantly scroll-worked Golden Chariot. And on the right was Princess Luna's dragon-winged Night Chariot. "Are the Princesses coming here?" Spike asked, amazed. "I don't know, Spike," Twilight said, feeling nervous despite her earlier confidence.
Games Princesses PlayAs she watched the approaching chariots, Twilight suddenly noticed Zecora standing beside her. The zebra leaned close to whisper: \ It seems you have an answer got. \ \ So I shall return to my forest plot! \ Twilight nodded. "Oh, of course! And thanks very much for joining us, Zecora!" The zebra herbalist bowed her head. Then she gave Twilight that same evaluating look, but with a smile as well. She turned away and set off at a steady pace, heading back toward the Everfree Forest and her home. In short order, the chariots were circling the Square as their teams picked out a landing area. Then they settled into place, amidst crowds of ponies who were gathering to stare and comment. The two chariots were empty. The teams of flyers looked at Twilight and her friends expectantly. No, Twilight realized with a chill. Me! They're looking at me! Swallowing, she stepped forward and addressed the lead flyers. "Uh, thank you for coming so quickly, sirs! Will you do us the honor of transporting me and my friends to Canterlot City? Uh, please?" "Yes, ma'am!" the flyers replied smartly, in unison. Quickly, the ponies sorted themselves out between the two chariots. In the end, they had Twilight, Spike, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash riding in Luna's chariot, and Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Derpy riding Celestia's. As the flyers called out to each other and prepared to depart, Twilight took up station at the front of Luna's chariot. Then she looked across at the other, and found Derpy had taken up similar station on Celestia's, with the others arranged around her. Derpy smiled happily back at Twilight, as if it was all just some wonderful game to her. The flight back to Canterlot City was similarly rapid. The ponies all hung on the railings, watching the landscape pass below them, feeling the swift wind ruffling their manes and tails. Twilight, however, was furiously thinking, trying to come up with an explanation to give Princess Celestia that wouldn't sound completely scatterbrained. She glanced over at the other chariot, and saw Derpy was leaning forward, eyes shut, revelling in the feel of the breeze ruffling her mane and feathers. Then she looked across at Twilight, and gave a wink. Twilight sat back, trying to calm herself down. The chariots circled the city and swiftly settled to a landing. Twilight suddenly realized she hadn't told the flyers where they wanted to go. Were they heading to the palace? No, they were setting down in the middle of Diamond Avenue. Right in front of Joe's Donut Shop. And standing waiting for them, accompanied by guards and a small crowd of curious onlookers, were the tall, regal figures of ivory-white Princess Celestia, and night-blue Princess Luna. The ponies quickly climbed down from the chariots and assembled in front of the Princesses. As one, they knelt respectfully to them. All except for Twilight, who as Celestia's personal student had dispensation not to. And Derpy simply sat peering up at Celestia and Luna as if uncertain which one of them to look at. "Twilight Sparkle!" Celestia said proudly. "And the bearers of the Elements of Harmony. It's so good to see you all again!" "It is a pleasure to us as well!" Luna added. "Welcome, friends!" "Thank you, Princess," Twilight said, cautiously. "Princesses. Um. Well, I guess you already understand why we needed to get here." "You wished to be accommodating of a friend who had realized she made a mistake, by making it not be a mistake any more. Very wise, Twilight! How could I not assist my student in such an elegant solution?" "Yeah, but -- I thought we might just ask you to send something to us. Going out of your way like this..." "Is no trouble at all. In fact, I'm interested to know more about this 'social bonding activity' you mentioned. A shopping spree, yes? I wasn't aware there were rules for such a thing. I assumed one... well... shopped." "It's my fault, actually!" Twilight admitted. "I asked what the rules were, and so we got together and made some, to make it fair for everyone and keep it interesting. That way it was more of a game we could all play!" "A game?" Luna's ears perked up. "Intriguing! An opportunity for us to continue our research into 'fun', Sister?" Celestia nodded. "Twilight, would you and your friends have any objection to Luna and I joining in your game?" "We'd be honored, your Highness!" Applejack said. Then she glanced around. "Uh, sorry if I'm talkin' outta turn, here!" "Applejack's been our referee," Twilight said. "She's kept us all honest!" "Shoot, all I did was keep track of the bingo numbers!" Twilight quickly summarized the rules, though she half-suspected the demigodlike Princesses already knew them. As she did so, Pinkie Pie crafted two more strips, one ivory white, one night blue. Spike provided his quill, and the Princesses each considered for a moment and then wrote down their choices. Applejack took off her hat and let them drop in their slips. Then she spun it and they drew them out again. Not surprisingly, they drew each other's on the first try. "Should we go first, Sister?" Luna asked. At Celestia's nod, she lifted her strip and announced "Thé et Gâteau Restaurant! Sister, did you not observe the rule that shops must vend nonconsumable goods to be considered qualified?" Celestia tsked softly. "I did forget! My apologies!" "It's okay, Princess!" Derpy spoke up. "You can always choose again, if you get it wrong!" "Why, thank you, Derpy!" Celestia smiled at her. For a brief moment she considered her options, then gave a very minute, very regal shrug of her shoulders. "I suppose it will have to be Parfumerie. It's where I buy my bubble bath soap." Poker-faced, her gaze swept around as if daring anyone to comment. Leaving the chariots parked where they were, the group trotted up the Avenue and around the corner to the small store, its windows filled with bottles of various colors. The poor young pony at the sales counter was frightened out of her wits when both of their Royal Highnesses ducked under the doorframe and entered the shop, surrounded by what seemed a small army of regular-sized ponies. Clearly feeling a little embarrassed, Luna took the initiative. She strode directly up to the salespony and glared down at her sternly. "FEAR NOT!" she intoned in the Royal Canterlot Voice, making the windows rattle. "WE WISH ONLY TO PURCHASE..." She glanced at her sister. "... BUBBLE BATH SOAP!" "eeep!" The salespony made a mighty attempt to pull herself together. "Ah... does her Highness... h-have any particular preference?" "NAY! THAT WHICH OUR SISTER FINDS SUITABLE IS SUFFICIENT!" The shellshocked salespony was now clinging to sanity by her hoof-nails, her eyes like saucers. "Uhm... do... you have one of our frequent buyer reward cards?" With Luna's turn resolved, they turned to Celestia's slip of paper. "Canterlot Fine Toys," she said, with a smile at Luna. The Princess of the Night looked mildly sheepish. "We have found it an excellent resource for our studies of the modern approach to 'fun', Sister." "I'm sure you have!" The gray-maned pony at the toy shop was much more familiar with the unanticipated arrival of royality. "Princess Luna!" he bowed. "I am gratified by your visit. And what fortuitous timing! That board game you requested has come in!" "We shall conclude that transaction at another time!" Luna told him, in a more conversational tone. "For the moment, it is our sister who requires your assistance." "Your Highness!" the shopkeeper knelt to Celestia as well. "How may I be of service?" Celestia allowed the keeper to lead her on a quick tour of the store's contents, while Twilight and her friends browsed the racks and shelves of puppets, dolls, games, building sets, puzzles, and all manner of small toys that called out to be played with. Twilight passed Pinkie Pie, who was yammering excitedly to a small group of the upper-class ponies who had gathered to gawk at Celestia and Luna. "And then we put our stores in the hat, and spin it, and pick one out, and then the one who picked goes SHOPPIN'!" Twilight shook her head at Pinkie's irrepressible exuberance. She circled back to the front of the store. There was a wall of shelving out of which plush animals dangled: ponies, dragons, griffons, farm animals, puppies and kittens, and even a fluffy spider and a wide-mouthed crocodile. Wait... She stared. Is that... "Ah!" said Princess Celestia, coming up beside her. "I see they have more Twilight Sparkle plushes in stock. Hoof-stitched, finest quality! I wouldn't permit anything less!" "Me? Seriously?" "You and the other Element bearers are well-known heroines, Twilight! And it's heartening to see so many small fillies wishing to grow up following your example!" She leaned closer to whisper in Twilight's ear. "Such a pity I already have one of my own!" And she winked at Twilight's astonished look. In the end, Princess Celestia settled on a small set of hand-carved figurines depicting the six Element Bearers. Unfortunately, even with the shopkeeper's generous discount for the Princesses as regular customers, it was over the limit. Rarity looked around. "Girls, I do believe we have enough left over from our own shares to make up the difference?" They all nodded willingly, Rarity emptied the kitty-bag on the counter, and the shopkeeper relievedly rang up the sale.
The Complete SetThey finished up at Joe's Donut Shop for a late afternoon snack of tea and donuts, and spread out their haul on the table to admire: - Fluttershy's boards and nails, - Rainbow Dash's signed first edition, - Applejack's massage stone, - Pinkie's sack of party goods, - Twilight's picture frame, confetti, paint box, cape, and hoof trap, - Derpy's small wooden house, - Luna's bottle of ivory-white bubble bath soap, - Celestia's "Elements of Harmony" playset, plus an "Eat at Joe's" coffee mug that Rarity had purchased, just for completeness' sake. There was a half-hearted attempt at a vote, but most of them were simply pleased by the sheer variety. Fluttershy meekly suggested a Traders Exchange, where anyone not happy with what they had could trade with someone else. But this only made each of them want the things they'd found all the more. "Well, Twilight?" Celestia asked, raising her voice a little to be heard over Luna chasing the last of her milkshake with a straw. "Was your friendship research successful?" "I think it was, your Majesty!" she said. "I learned that sometimes the best way to play by the rules is by making the rules fit the players. And by taking advantage of mistakes you make to find new ways to play!" Derpy blinked as she looked around the table. "That was a fun game! Can we play it again tomorrow?" They all laughed at that. And secretly wished that they could. Unbeknownst to them, the upper-crust ponies that Pinkie Pie had been talking to spread the word about the game. And since it appeared to have the Royal imprimatur, of not just one but both Princesses, it rapidly became the fashionable thing to do. It was spoken of with reverence and an air of knowing sophistication by its aficianados. Soon enough, it was assigned its own day on the social calendar, and every year the celebration became more and more elaborate, with celebrities doing the drawings, and stores readying sales and making sure they had smaller items in stock so they would not be disqualified from selection. And that, in the end, is how the Canterlot holiday known as "Shopping Spree Day" came to be celebrated. But to the ponies in Ponyville, all that is just ridiculous. They laugh at the naiveté of the elite, and get on with their day-to-day living. Because they know it all really started with a pony. And a book. The End My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, its characters and indicia are the property of Hasbro. No infringement is intended. This story is a work of fan fiction, written by fans for fans of the series. Cover image based on the following, generously made available by BonesWolbach at DeviantArt: https://www.deviantart.com/boneswolbach/art/Ponyville-Market-525702394
To This Shop \ We Must Now HopThey all stepped out into the small square in front of Sugarcube Corner. And just as they did so they saw Zecora, the zebra herbalist, strolling calmly up the street that led from the Everfree Forest where she lived. Her dzilla neck rings jingled rhythmically and her hooves tapped in perfect time as she trotted along. "Howdy, Zecora!" Applejack called. Zecora smiled and nodded, and then smoothly moved to meet them as they approached. \ Good day to you, my pony friends! \ \ To what place do your journeys tend? \ "We're doing a shopping spree today, Zecora!" Twilight said, being a little quicker than the others in grasping Zecora's poetic manner of speech. "Applejack and Rarity suggested it... I think as a way of getting me out of the Library for the day." \ A wise notion, this shopping spree! \ \ Does your path have room for me? \ "Sure! We'd love to have you come with us!" Twilight agreed. Zecora nodded her thanks. "You feel like buyin' in, Zecora?" Applejack asked. "Or jest spectatin'?" Zecora simply tilted her head in a questioning fashion, her placid expression unchanged. Quickly, they explained the rules of the game. She smiled and nodded in understanding. \ A few bits to spare, I have it seems, \ \ To take part and share your dreams! \ Pinkie somehow managed to find a black-and-white striped piece of paper in her mane, and Zecora added her slip to the hat. "So, who's up next?" Applejack asked. Pinkie jumped in the middle of them and spun around, pointing with a hoof. "Eeenie-meanie-mynie-moe-catch-a-pony-by-the-toe!" Her hoof pointed to Zecora. The zebra smirked, and willingly dipped a hoof in the hat. She came up with a light-yellow slip. Her voice took on a mysterious, woe-begotten tone: \ Oh my, oh my! O deary me! \ \ For I have drawn... the Shop of Tea! \ "Um, yes... the Tea Shop," Fluttershy said, nodding. "It... seemed like the right kind of store to pick for a shopping spree!" "It's perfect, dahling!" Rarity agreed. "They are certain to have lots of items to choose from." But when they arrived at the Tea Shop, which was an upscale storefront right on the Square itself, Zecora walked in, picked up a small tea caddy from the first display island she passed, paid for it, and walked out again, without a single look back. "Um..." Fluttershy said bashfully, "I think the idea is we spend a little more time looking around?" Zecora shook her head. When she spoke, her tone sounded subtly different: \ I found an item, \ \ It was what I wanted most. \ \ So I bought it quick! \ "Huh?" Rainbow dash blinked. "That doesn't even rhyme!" "No," Twilight said, excitedly. "It's a haiku!" "A what, Twi?" Spike asked, from his perch on her back. "A haiku," Twilight explained. "A traditional verse form of three lines: five, seven, and five syllables each." Zecora nodded, and went back to her previous speaking voice: \ In my land, this haiku form, \ \ Is spoke by those above the norm! \ She gestured at the Tea Shop's upper-class exterior as she spoke. Applejack chuckled. "I think she's tryin' to say that's how the tony-ponies talk where she's from!" Zecora smiled. \ More or less, \ \ But I digress! \ Zecora nevertheless patiently waited outside the shop while the rest of them browsed. Twilight asked Fluttershy for recommendations of new tea flavors to try, and Rarity seemed to inspect every tea pot and caddy the store had to offer. They deliberately left Pinkie Pie standing outside for safety's sake, ostensibly to keep Zecora company, with Rainbow keeping an eye on her as well. A bull in a china shop was as nothing compared to Pinkie let loose in a tea shop.
