Plants hanging from the ceiling, vials of mystery liquids, an enormous dreamcatcher...
And a few tasteful ornamental mats, most with motifs of all kinds of plants or ice.
Very rarely both at once, but they were quite artistic.
Even the wares were placed in a way to draw the eye from one to another so that ponies glanced over every one-
"Until they find the one that interests them the most." The owner of the shop said, taking what was labeled as a bottle of ink over five hundred thousand bits worth, then stuffed it into her saddlebags. "The plants near the pestle, the scales, the vines, the books - all placed so that, if you look away from the crystal ball once, you'd feel compelled to look at everything."
It certainly worked; Rarity's eyes had been lured away from the table (not very expensive) by a shawl (very expensive) that partially hung from a shelf (cheap wooden plank, varnished and carved, for those wondering), then followed the small golden accents of a collection of books (individually inexpensive) to a few bottles of liquids in a rainbow of colors (going from affordable to horrifyingly expensive), and finally came to rest on a decorative tree (from the botanist two streets from there; not expensive).
"As a seamstress, I appreciate good cloths, but what does that do that is so expensive?" She asked, as Cassandra took the indigo shawl from before, revealed to be large and long enough to mummify a pony or two, and folded it with that double-colored magic of hers before stuffing it into her bag.
"More like, what it can't. For a sufficiently skilled wearer, that is." She took a... weird machine with tubes and a tank in her magic, then stuffed it into her bag.
"Say, do you also sell saddlebags of holding?" Twilight asked, having finally noticed that the packing had gone for a long time without a switch in containers... and that that tank thing was too large for the bag. Seriously, the tank was half the size of her head.
"I don't. Space manipulations are not something I make a habit of, mostly because I'm bad at math; these bags were made by my best friend's boyfriend, who just so happens is the twin brother of mine."
She took a long pole with a circle on one end; it took them a moment to realize it was a large bubble wand-
"Staff, ponies, this is way too large to be a wand."
Bubble staff, as she corrected. The thing just went right in, despite being longer than she was and the ring wide enough for a foal to pass through.
Applejack and Rarity, thanks to a similar ability to Twilight's (curently subconscious) magic sensing, made a note to keep Applebloom and Sweetie Belle, respectively, away from it. It was a skill they had developed in such a way that it bordered on the instinctual.
A chime of magic and a poof of smoke later, there was a second blonde unicorn standing besides the first.
"Alright, keep watch over the store and take care of any customers." The first said as she dressed the duplicate.
"Yes, milady." The clone said, tone respectful and expression neutral like a maid receiving a list of chores.
She sort of was, Twilight thought.
"There are restoration potions in the fridge, so don't hesitate to use one if your reserves or the equipment's run low - we don't want you to dispel before I'm back, right?" She said, adjusting the tail through the hole of the skirt.
"Right, milady." The clone said, raising her hooves to allow the jeweled vest to be fitted on her.
"You don't really need to eat, but in case you feel the collectors and crystals aren't cutting it you can help yourself to anything here - but KEEP OUT of my special collection down in my cellar, do you understand?" The original spoke sternly as she placed her hat on the clone.
"Yes, milady." Her bearing was very regal, however, like a noble being fitted by a servant, instead of the reversed roles they had.
"Good. You know where the extras for all I took are, so get to it." She turned away from the clone and back to her new friends, who stared blankly at her - save for Pinkie, who sported a worryingly large smile with far too many teeth. "What?"
"Duplication magic?"
"That? It's... a variant of a variant; not as complicated, but not very resilient; doesn't work solely on magic, though, and is dangerous to attempt to learn without supervision." She stared at Twilight, as did the others.
"Well said, milady." The duplicate interjected before the conversation could get anywhere.
"Why does she call yah that?" Applejack asked, staring at the duplicate with a raised eyebrow.
Cassandra blinked once, twice, thrice, and tilted her head. "Ehh... I think it had something to do with how I understood the qualities of a ruler, as well as something about knowing how to lead and serve equally, or it might be because my mindscape has a castle in it. I don't know, you are better off asking my other me."
"So... why do you do it?" Pinkie giggled, bouncing up to the clone and stopping practically nose-to-nose.
"Because milady is a queen, of course." The clone responded, unfazed at the blue eyes less than a hoof's width from her own.
"Right, now I remember why I don't use you girls that often. It gives ponies the wrong idea." Cassandra sighed as she looked over everything one last time. "Stupid convoluted mental identities..." She mumbled.
"My apologies, milady." The duplicate said, causing the real one to groan.
"Please don't do that, it took me years to stop speaking like that the first time."
"Alright, whatever; better?" The clone shrugged and rolled her eyes, asking her question with a smirk and a raised eyebrow that everypony else found quite jarring. It had been a big change from the noble demeanor from a second ago.
"I can always dispel you and try with another one, so don't give me that."
"Alright, alright! Please, milady, I really want some of that Moscato Rosa ice cream you made yesterday!" The clone pleaded, with watering, big puppy eyes and everything.
"I need to restock that one, but there's also some Sagrantino Passito and Recioto di Valpolicella for more ice cream, provided she doesn't get to them." The original Cassandra scowled.
"Oh, yes..." The clone said dreamily, eyes half-lidded in anticipation, already tasting the frozen treat.
"It's like some bizarre comedy act..." Rainbow commented, to which Pinkie responded by wordlessly offering her some popcorn. "Awesome; thanks."
Twilight nodded in agreement; it was not that funny by itself, but the situation was so strange that she couldn't help but find it entertaining. A pony, arguing with herself, without coming across as insane.
"Milady, if I have your memories, why are we talking about things we both already know I have to do?"
"Because saying things out loud is comforting."
Without coming across as too insane.
"And because it never hurts to go over the list once more."
Forget about insanity - Twilight declared her a kindred spirit.
Inwardly, the ponies wondered what would their own duplicates call them. Rainbow quite liked the idea of being called 'boss', while Rarity's refinement and ladylike personality would be another 'milady'... Twilight thought that Shining's formality could very well make them address him as 'captain' or somesuch.
Nopony wanted to find out what multiple Pinkies would be like. Twilight briefly tried to compare it to the mirror pool incident, but the book said that the rhyme that Pinkie used didn't make aware duplicates like these. For a second, she was filled with dread, but... thinking about it... it might not be that bad - as long as she could be convinced to tone down her 'exuberance' a notch, like she did around Cranky.
*****
Twilight's clones tended to call her 'ma'am' when focused on a task. She was, after all, very formal and respectful.
That other mare's... if there was one thing she regretted, was letting her learn about that technique. Being 'reborn' was no excuse to be annoying while using Cassandra's clone spell variant. Still, her ability with it was amazing. Oh! And her use of illusions? Holy smokes (though Twilight couldn't decide whether that or the fact that Rarity was already a week or so from getting on the same level was more impressive).
Actually, whenever she did anything, she made sure it was dang impressive. Oh sure, subtlety was something she could do just as well, but when it came to the dramatic reveals and the big finish? It was obvious where everypony's eyes were going to be.
At least it wasn't as bad as the first few times, though; still was unable to avoid 'being captivating', however.
*****
The door swung open.
"I thought you would go with Twilight." Princess Celestia said, stepping inside the shop. "Imagine my surprise when I saw the 'Open' sign."
"I'm not here - well, I am here, but also there." The duplicate said, sitting on the other side of the crystal ball. "I used an altered duplication spell - not me me, but I take it you understand."
The princess nodded.
"Is there anything I can help you with? Star-crossed lovers needing a reunion? Ponies born with the wrong body? Gardening tips?" She smiled amiably.
"Wrong body?" The princess parroted with amusement, as if it was mere idle curiosity.
"Some times, a pony does not feel comfortable inside themselves. I don't have to use a complicated spell nor bother with medicine; I just use my crystal ball, pierce any barriers with my gaze, look upon the possibilities both real and not, then bring that here." She smiled again. "Simple. Simple and efficient; a duplicate like me can do it many times without risk of dispelling from lack of energy."
"Simple in concept, maybe. Most ponies would consider that impossible" The clone remembered why they kept their magical ability hidden from Celestia; the princess had grown so used to implications and hidden meanings, that she did it all the time. Talking with her could get annoying; not paying attention for a second made you miss a minute's worth of information.
"But of course, princess; then again, I live and love to do the impossible. I practice and train furiously to do all I am capable of... though I could do without the nested visions - really, it's like a dream inside a vision inside an illusion inside a time loop inside a flashback inside another vision inside the planning of my daily chores inside another time loop. I call it the Time Pretzel."
Princess Celestia chuckled softly.
"It's funny, isn't it? Still, in all honesty?..."
=====
"In all honesty? I would rather be a housewife." Cassandra said, again looking out from her seat in the train - though now going south. "I can't cook for toffee, but my magic can be very convenient for nearly everything else. I would have a large garden and everything."
The train ride to Ponyville was peaceful, in contrast to the departure and the (future) arrival. 'Congratulations on saving everypony' parties were like that. Twilight didn't want to prevent her friends from enjoying themselves, though, so she kept quiet and would let the surprise show once again that gossip is capable of teleportation across large distances (it was the only explanation that made sense).
The fortuneteller sighed. "But there was trouble; I wanted to do something, I wanted to make a difference. So I did." She shrugged, nonchalantly explaining herself. "Even if I have the choice to just leave all that tension behind - and believe me, there is - I wouldn't; it would make things too difficult."
"How would having a peaceful life make things harder?" Spike asked, scratching his head.
"Without the sword, he can't protect anypony; if he holds the sword, he can't embrace me." She replied. "I did not want to distance myself, nor allow anything to do so... so I took to the sword myself and stand next to him. Simple, no?"
"That's one hay of a commitment, sugarcube." Applejack adjusted her hat in surprise.
"Lesson zero on strength, Applejack."
"Seeing the world through yourself?" Twilight asked, making Cassandra gasp in shock.
"You know that?!" The blonde unicorn gaped for a moment, while the others looked at her quizzically. After a moment, she sighed and pressed a hoof to her face. "Right, you have the Element of Magic, of course you'd know."
"Oh right!" Spike snapped his fingers. "The weight of the heart behind your actions or something."
"Right again. I forgot; Celestia's student; I feel dull now."
"So... lesson zero?" Dash raised an eyebrow.
"Whenever you do anything seriously, you will want a reason - a very special one. Something really personal, preferably, like making sure that a certain mare can smile when looking at you." Cassandra said, then mumbled 'like he does'.
"Or making sure that anypony can, like princess Celestia." Twilight added.
"It's been a while since the last time she got personally involved on anything, so ponies forget, but she's really strong." Spike said.
"That thing with the changeling queen was a fluke." The three said simultaneously, then Cassandra continued while the others looked at each other in surprise.
"Going all out against a blast like that, in a room full of ponies, is not very smart; she was trying to protect them."
"How 'not smart' are we talking about here?" Pinkie asked. "Like 'eating lemon creme cookies while drinking chocolate milk' not-smart?"
"'Wasn't this room supposed to have walls?' not-smart." Spike answered.
Sure, he bored quickly, fell asleep easily, wasn't a unicorn, or even studying under one, but being assistant to Twilight and being raised by the princess teaching Twilight... well, he'd have to be pretty dense to not pick up something - specially the spell-safety bits. Sweet rubies on a stick, the safety bits. School full of young, impulsive mages, some of which still have the odd surge of energy? He liked his natural coloration just the way it was, thank you very much.
"Still, that will save some time; not that you don't have enough of it, but it'll have more noticeable results faster." The fortuneteller said. "Now, meet me tomorrow at the edge of the forest - White Tail is fine - you'll know the spot when you see it. Your first lesson will be on how to be The Wizard, not just 'a wizard', and the differences therein."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Alright, first fact; The Wizard is the smartest, most prepared being in the room, at all times... like this! Good bye! See you there!" She waved and... began turning transparent and faded from view.
"An illusion? But-but how?" Some asked, Rainbow even batting the air with her hooves, but none was more surprised than Spike.
He had smelled the perfume, the slightly-dusty bags, the actual pony scent that was absent from the duplicate... just how?
"That can't have been an illusion, it's not possible!" He began to walk around, waving his claws thorugh the air the unicorn had just occupied. "It had smell, it made noise when walking and could be touched!"
=====
In the next car over, a blonde unicorn snickered as quietly as she could. Another duplicate, a visual effect, and having the clone swap their places equalled everypony thinking she had just used some sort of super-illusion spell that could account for noise and scent while also being physical (though that last one made the line between illusion and outright construct blur one heck of a lot).
Not that there weren't any (at least, she remembered being told there were), or even non-magical ways to produce or add a scent to the air... but she broke illusions, instead of making them; that was more her friend's preference, anyways.
Still, they kept making the greatest possible compliment for a performance.
To see what has been done and claim it is not possible.
She calmly cantered away to the next car, humming a nameless tune and preparing a normal teleport spell to jump the last stretch to Ponyville.
What a great day to live and love to do the impossible.