“AAAAAUUUUGGGHHH! YES!! Best day EVER!” Pinkie Pie cheered as the airship descended down upon the Rainbow Falls airfield. “We’re all going to the Rainbow Falls Traders’ Exchange!”
The Harmonic Twelve and Spike disembarked the airship, the majority of them carrying some goods they’d brought just for the occasion. Both Applejack and Big Mac pulled small wagons full of goods, Blueblood, Rarity, and Cheese Sandwich carried saddlebags, whereas Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Spike, and Twilight carried some goods they’d brought themselves.
“And not only that!” Pinkie cheered excitably, “We’re accompanying a prince and princess on an official royal duty!”
“Please, it’s not that big of a deal,” Twilight waved off Pinkie’s excitement while levitating a boxful of books. Leading her friends into the tunnel that led down to the Traders Exchange grounds on the flat below the Rainbow Falls’ town, she explained, “There always has to be a royal at the Exchange.”
“Last year was Princess Cadance,” Midnight added, “this year it’s us! It’s a simple traditional formality.”
“Indeed. I bet the ponies attending the Exchange will barely notice we’re here-” Twilight was saying just as they came out the other end of the tunnel, when…
“LOOK! LOOK OVER THERE!”
“THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS!”
“THIS IS AMAZING!”
The friends were all flabbergasted to see a welcoming crowd of cheering ponies, a banner unfurling to reveal Twilight and Midnight’s images, confetti and streamers, the works.
“Could be wrong, but-” Applejack started with a smirk, only for Midnight to interrupt while he and Twilight were both giving a nervous smile to the masses.
“Not. One. Word…”
Ignoring some of his friends stifling their laughs, Midnight’s horn lit up, and almost immediately the crowd dispersed and carried on with their businesses, looking for the objects of their desire among the Exchange.
“What’d you just do?” Thunderlane asked.
“Aversion spell,” Midnight shrugged, his horn dimming as the spell lifted. “Deflected everypony’s attention off of us.”
“Thanks, Midnight,” Twilight gave her boyfriend an appreciative smile. “I know they meant well, but those kinds of gestures still bother me.”
“Well, my friends, treasures aplenty await us,” Blueblood proceeded forward, the others following, and already looking around at the items, baubles, valuables, collectibles, trinkets, toys, goods, objects, antiques, and all manner of tradables to be found even at the edge of the Exchange.
“Oh my!” Fluttershy looked at a figurine of a cupid bunny.
“You said it!” Rarity admired some hats in a mirror. “The Rainbow Falls Trader Exchange is simply divine!”
“You can get practically whatever you want here!” Soarin looked at an old flight cap and goggles.
“If’n ya got the goods t’ trade for it,” Applejack reminded them all, Big Mac nodding with another of his ‘Eeyup’s.
As Spike looked at the comic book he was carrying, he failed to notice a rock, and- Trip!
“Augh!” Spike fell to his knees, throwing his arms up to stop his fall but suddenly realized his goof.
Looking up he watched as his comic book fell towards a puddle, “NO!!”
Only for a white-gold aura to bring it to a halt, and levitate it back to Spike. He looked to see Blueblood smiling at him.
“Thanks, Blueblood! Phew! One ding, nick, or dent, and this Power Ponies comic wouldn’t be in perfect mint condition anymore!”
“No problem, Spike,” Blueblood gently patted Spike on the shoulder. “After all, to you need a mint-condition comic book to trade for a mint-condition comic book.”
At that point, everypony noticed some bystanders speaking excitably as they noticed Twilight and Midnight again (since the latter stopped his aversion spell), causing Twilight to cover her face with her wings and hurry ahead.
“Ah s’pose somepony here on official royal business has t’ expect a mite bit o’ fussin’,” Big Mac chuckled as they all followed after Twilight.
“But all we’re supposed to do is settle disagreements about whether a trade is fair or not,” Twilight clarified as she set up her books on a table, “and since the rule is a trade is fair so long as both ponies get what they want, there’s never been a disagreement.”
“In other words, we can be here just as regular ponies taking part in the Exchange,” Midnight agreed when he noticed a pegasus filly and earth pony colt approach.
“Oh hello, can I help you?”
The filly and colt both wagged their tails with big smiles as they held up photos of Twilight and Midnight, and both royals sighed, as Twilight levitated a pen.
As they signed autographs, Rainbow flapped overhead with such excitement, “There’s a pony here who’s got a signed first edition of ‘Daring Do and the Quest of the Sapphire Statue’!”
“And lemme guess, Dashie,” Soarin chuckled, “you’re gonna get it.”
“Hay yeah, I’m gonna get it!” Rainbow Dash boasted, “I’ve been able to get first editions of all the Daring Do books except this one! Nopony’s ever put together a whole set, and I’m gonna be the first.”
“Too late, Dash,” Midnight spoke up, giving her horseapple-eating smirk. “I already have a complete collection of the Daring Do books signed by the author.”
“WHAT?!” Rainbow gaped at Midnight. “How did you- Oh yeah… You know Daring Do personally.”
“She owed me for saving her tail back in ‘The Griffon’s Goblet’ and for helping her out in ‘The Razor of Dreams’,” Midnight shrugged, “so I asked for a signed copy of every one of her books since then.”
“Well… I’m still gonna have a first edition of the very first book in the series!” Rainbow insisted before she suddenly worried, “Unless it’s already been traded. It’s the only one in Equestria!”
“No worries, Dashie,” Soarin assured her, “I’ll help you get that first edition!”
“And me too, Rainbow Dash,” Fluttershy said helpfully.
“Really?” Rainbow Dash smiled gratefully at them.
“Well, it’s clear getting that book is so important to you,” Fluttershy nodded.
“And what’s the point of being the coltfriend of the most awesome pegasus if I can’t make her happy?” Soarin pulled Dash into a wing-hug.
“Then what’re we waiting for?!” Dash grabbed her coltfriend and best friend before zooming off in a rainbow blur.
“Welp, Big Mac an’ Ah’re off t’ take a lookit th’ vintage stalls,” Applejack hefted a bag of goods onto her back while Big Mac waited for Twilight to remove her box of books before following with the stuff he had in the wagon.
“An’ Ah wanna see if’n Ah can get some new farm tools.”
“AJ, hold up, I’ll come with you!” Thunderlane followed Applejack, as did Rarity.
“As will I! Vintage items are so in style right now, especially old and rare ones!”
“I’ll come along,” Blueblood followed, levitating a box of goods. “I’m not actually looking for anything, but perhaps I’ll see something that catches my eye.”
“I just hope I brought enough to trade…” Rarity said apprehensively.
“Ah know wha’ you mean,” Applejack replied before she perked up, “Hey! Why don’ we pool our goods t’gether? Tha’ way if one of us finds somethin’ th’ other can’t live without…”
Rarity gasped in realization, “She’ll definitely be able to get it! Who can say no to exchanging a single object for such a large assortment of items?”
“Ladies, please,” Blueblood dissuaded, “I’m sure, with proper bartering, you can both walk away from the Exchange equally satisfied without having to trade every single good you’ve brought for a single item.”
“Blue’s right, girls,” Thunderlane nodded. “A trade should be fair, as while both traders should get what they want one shouldn’t have to… overpay?”
“Fair enough, Thunderlane,” Rarity considered, “but I think Applejack and I can work out a trade mutually satisfactory.”
“Ah feel th’ same way,” Applejack agreed before saying see-ya-later to her brother as he went a different way and Rarity waved at Spike as he made his way towards a comic book stand.
“Then let’s go shopping!”
Blueblood and Thunderlane shared an unsure look as they followed after their mares.
As Twilight and Midnight set up her book stand, Pinkie and Cheese stood nearby, Pinkie asking, “Shouldn’t your royalnesses be headed to the royal box seats?”
“We may be the royals on duty…” Twilight confirmed.
“...but that doesn’t mean either of us have to sit up on that pedestal all alone doing nothing,” Midnight concurred. “Besides, there hasn’t been a disagreement at the Traders Exchange for years.”
“And ever since we became royalty, Princess Celestia’s been sending me more books to read than ever, and the library’s overflowing!” Twilight explained.
“So since we’re here, you’re thinking of trading away some books you don’t need anymore?” Cheese asked.
“Mm-hm,” Twilight nodded, “so I’m just gonna stand here and wait till somepony comes to trade me something and take these books off my hooves.”
“Meanwhile, I think I’ll have a look around,” Midnight decided. He and Twilight shared a quick kiss, whispering, “Be back later.”
As Midnight trotted off, Cheese decided, “I think I’ll look around for some new props or gags, coming, Pinkie?”
“No thanks, I’ll stay here with Twilight,” Pinkie replied.
“Suit yourself, Pinkie,” Twilight shrugged as the boys went off to enjoy the Exchange.
“There it is!” Rainbow gasped with joy as she spotted a mare dressed in a pith helmet and khaki shirt, setting up a trading stall and right in the front and visible to all was… “The signed first edition of ‘Daring Do and the Sapphire Statue’! It hasn’t been traded yet!”
Rainbow squeed and hugged herself as Fluttershy and Soarin approached her. Before the two newcomers could say anything, Rainbow was already in the attendant mare’s face, looking as confident as ever. “Lucky for you, because I brought my most valuable possession to trade for it.”
As she smugly slapped her item onto the table in front of the mare, it took all of Soarin and Fluttershy’s power not to facehoof.
“My lucky horseshoe!” eyes closed and smile wide, Rainbow was the picture of smug confidence. Unfortunately, she was too smug and confident to notice as the mare looked over the ‘prized possession’ Rainbow had just dropped in front of her, and she didn’t look very impressed. As such, they were unsurprised by her answer.
“Ah don’t want it.”
Immediately all the smugness disappeared to be replaced with confusion and panic.
“What?!” Dash cried, eyes wide and fearful.
“It’s just a rusty old horseshoe. It’s not worth anything to me.”
The mare didn’t seem to notice Rainbow look forlorn that her lucky horseshoe meant nothing to her, but Soarin did, gently wrapping his wing around the colorful speedster. Rainbow appreciated her boyfriend’s comfort, but she was still too worried that her chance to nab the elusive first edition Daring Do novel was slipping away.
“But… but how is Rainbow Dash going to get the book she really wants?” Fluttershy asked stepping forward while Soarin held Dash tighter, hoping to try and stop the upsetting sadness on his girlfriend’s face.
The mare at the stall however seemed to hold no sympathy and with a frown merely replied, “She’s not.”
If it hadn’t been for Soarin holding her close, the despondent sigh that slipped from Dash’s mouth might have knocked her over. Almost immediately though, her rapidly fading hope skyrocketed again.
“Unless…”
Instantly Dash’s eyes lit up like a filly at an ice cream store and her smile was so wide it looked like Pinkie Pie would bow out in shame.
“… she can get me that!”
And the hope disappeared once more as the trio turned to where the attendant was pointing, only to find a gigantic snarling dog, with sharp teeth and razor claws. Oh, and two heads! The beastly mutt was growling and yanking on its chain, trying to rip itself free from its trainer, who was struggling to hold it in place.
Dash and Soarin just stood there, mouths to their knees and eyes like pinpoints.
“Aw, an Orthros, how cute!”
Only to turn bewildered to their butter yellow companion, who had the same expression on her face she got whenever she tended to a ridiculously cute animal. The Orthros just snapped the bone it was chewing in half and continued to growl and salivate, as though hoping desperately to make a meal of one of the ponies in its sight.
The mare continued despite the clear concern plastered on Soarin and Rainbow’s faces. “The pony running the ancient beast stall doesn’t want anything I got. But if you can get me the Orthros, I’ll trade you the book for it.”
Rainbow looked at the book in sheer joy, while Soarin and Fluttershy exchanged worried looks.
“Uh Rainbow, I don’t think…” Soarin started, only for a wildly happy Rainbow to ignore him.
“You got it!”
The mare nodded in agreement and Rainbow started to trot away, with Soarin and Fluttershy worriedly trailing after her.
“Uh Dashie, I don’t think this is a good idea. That animal is clearly not trained and it might attack if we get too close. I really don’t think we should be trying to get a hold of it.” Soarin’s worry did make Rainbow pause for a moment, before determination covered her face.
“Don’t worry, Soarin, we’ll be careful, and we have Fluttershy after all. But one way or another we are gonna get that Orthros!”
As she took to the sky, deciding to follow her usual approach of dive forward without a plan, Fluttershy and Soarin just exchanged looks and gave a sigh. This was not going to go well.
Blueblood and Thunderlane watched on as Rarity and Applejack stood together to discuss pooling their goods for trades.
“So Blue, any ideas on what to get while we’re here?” Thunderlane asked, casually, as he leaned against a tent post. Blueblood stood beside him in the shade. Both stallions had followed the mares, but quickly found that trading with mares wasn’t all that much different than shopping with mares. As a stallion, you shut up and stay out of the way until the bags needed carrying, less you end up in a bad situation.
“Like I said earlier, I’m not looking for anything in particular to trade for, but I brought along a few spare goods just in case something caught my eye. What about you? Have you something in mind?”
Thunderlane just gave his chin a scratch before shrugging. “Not really. I mean, I hope something catches my interest, but overall, I’m just here to have a good time with my friends.”
“As am I, friend, as am I.”
“HEY YOU THIEVING VARMINT! GIVE THOSE BACK!”
“YOU SCOUNDREL! RETURN OUR GOODS AT ONCE!”
At Rarity and AJ’s cries, both stallion whipped around to see a scruffy looking pegasus stallion running off with Rarity’s saddle bags, and Applejack’s goods sack. His greyish, white fur looked coarse and rough, and rather fluffed and scruffy around his chest. His black mane and tail were both unkempt and gruff. He wore an open collared brown shirt, with a loose red tie around his neck. But it was his greasy smug look and amused expression that screamed bad news.
Immediately Blueblood and Thunderlane took chase after the thief as he started bolting passed the stalls, the weight of his literally stolen goods on his back too much to fly with any speed, so he chanced running away.
“Come back here, you lowdown hoodlum! How dare you steal from my beloved!” Blueblood lit up his horn angrily.
“When I get my hooves on you, you are in for a world of hurt, punk!” Thunderlane was rubbing his wings together, generating a static courtesy of his pegasus magic.
Blueblood and Thunderlane’s shouts of anger just seemed to amuse the thief further, as he chuckled through his clenched teeth holding AJ and Rarity's bags, before making a rapid dart under a stall and into a new row of tents.
Determined and angry, Blueblood and Thunderlane chased after him in pursuit.