//------------------------------// // 212. Trade Ya! - Part 3 // Story: Blaze the Pony Tale // by Wolven5 //------------------------------// Mac grumbled as Cheese Sandwich once again GASPED and suddenly dragged him over to a random stall, this one selling novelty models of different places around Equestria and the lands of other nations. Despite how interesting the little city miniatures were, Big Mac was still no closer to finding a present for his Fluttershy. “Ooh, look at this model of Appleloosa! And this model of Canterlot! Wowie! There’s even a model of Ponyville here! Neato!” Big Mac gave a sullen nod, debating how mean it would be if he just tried to sneak off and leave Cheese by himself. Of course he knew he wouldn’t. Cheese would find him… Suddenly a glint of light caught Mac’s eye, and he turned to see a beautiful crystal bunny sculpture sitting on a nearby mare’s stall, alongside an assortment of other sculptures. It was exactly what Mac wanted, but he knew he had to act fast. Several ponies seemed interest in the crystal sculptures, and were all making their way to the stall. That bunny was perfect, and sitting alongside a crystal ogre, a crystal hydra and a crystal dragon, he knew it was the only one that would do for his `Shy. He turned to the stall, ready to make the trade that would bring the biggest smile to his lovely wife, only for an orange hoof to wrap around his neck and swing him away. “Hey Mac, looky over there, it’s Blue and Thunder!” Big Mac watched as a tired and somewhat ragged Thunderlane and Blueblood trudged passed several ponies, making their way to where Rarity and Applejack had headed to start their shopping. “That’s great, Cheese, an’ we can go see how their doin’ in a minute but first Ah need to…” “Boy, they sure look tired, let’s go see what’s up!” Suddenly Cheese lunged forward, almost yanking Mac off his hooves. The big red stallion made one last desperate look to the crystal sculpture stall, only to see a mother swap a large vase for the bunny and pass it down to the excited filly at her hooves. Big Mac sighed again, this time with a grunt of anger. Now he’d need to find something else for Fluttershy. If only he could get his hyper friend to give him a moments peace! Rarity and Applejack had been browsing some of the stalls around them, making plans on what to trade for when Thunderlane and Blueblood returned, ragged tired and carrying all the stolen goods for trade. “Oh thank you my sweet prince and brave pegasus. I was so worried that awful ruffian would run off with all our goods and ruin our trip.” “Yeah, thanks a bunch, boys. Would’a been jus’ plain awful t’ have t’ go home empty-hoofed after draggin’ all that stuff up here t’ begin with.” The two mares stepped forward to retrieve their things and show their thanks. Rarity gave Blueblood a loving kiss and as she moved around to unload her goods from his back, her coiled tail seductively slid across his chin in a manner that left Blueblood blushing, and even laugh a little like a sheepish colt. Applejack in turn gave Thunderlane a nuzzle and, with a blush that spread to both their faces, a short but sweet kiss on the cheek, which he touched with his hoof. Despite being tired and ruffled from chasing down the thief, both stallions felt proud and strong. “Hey guys n’ gals, what’s going on? Why do you two look like you got in a wrestling match with Rarity’s cat?” While Rarity gave a little huff about the jab at her precious Opal, the rest of the group turned to see the approaching Mac and Cheese. “Oh hey how’s your search going? We ended up having to hunt down a thief that tried to make off with Rarity and Applejack’s goods.” Thunderlane nodded to them, the feeling of pride still strong. Blueblood nodded in a agreement and continued the tale, “He was a slippery miscreant, but we foiled him in the end. However he had some strange escape method via an even stranger magic portal. If he were a unicorn it would be impressive enough, but the individual was a pegasus, so we were very shocked.” Big Mac still looked a bit glum but was otherwise wide-eyed and impressed by his friends exploits. Cheese Sandwich looked ready to explode, his jittery hooves dancing in place, just waiting to rush off and find Pinkie so they could set up a ‘Congratulations-on-stopping-the-thief-and-getting-back-Rarity-and-Applejack’s-stuff!’ party. “That is quite a tale. A pegasus thief who escapes through a mysterious portal. Not something you hear of often. But I have heard of that particular individual a few times before.” Everypony turned to the new voice to see Midnight approaching the group. He had been making his way to Twilight and Pinkie, whom he could see some ways away attempting to auction off Twilight’s books. “Hiya Midnight. So you know this thief?” Cheese asked turning to face the newcomer. The blue alicorn nodded in confirmation. “In a sense. I haven’t actually met the guy, but I have heard a few reports about him. More of a high profile thief than somepony that would mess with the Traders Exchange, but doesn’t really have a set pattern for his thefts and tends to just steal whatever he wants at the time. You’re lucky you got your stuff back, the guard has had very little success stopping him in the past.” Blueblood and Thunderlane gave each other a proud look then turned back to their royal friend. “Well then, I guess we’re more awesome then the royal guard.” Midnight just smiled and shook his head at Thunderlane’s comment. “Well, while we both dearly appreciate your efforts, my dear stallions, Applejack and I now have some shopping to attend to, and if we don’t hurry, all of the good trades may have already been made.” Big Mac seemed to agree with Rarity’s statement and attempted to make a move to some more stalls before Cheese grabbed him again. “No problemo, Rarity. You and AJ go have some fun. Us stallions are gonna go find ourselves some food for our heroes, because they look they’re about to collapse.” Big Mac grunted in annoyance, but Thunderlane and Blueblood definitely seemed to appreciate the thought and gave a very enthusiastic nod. Midnight, just cruising around, saw no reason to object either. “Excellent darlings. Well, we shall be off. Ta ta.” Then giving her beau a flirty wink, Rarity turned, Applejack in tow but not before she gave Thunderlane a smile, as they made their way deeper into the maze of tents and stalls. The stallions all watched them go, before a rumbling caught their attention. Thunderlane blushed as he rubbed his stomach. Sheepishly he exclaimed. “Let’s go grab that bite. I am starving!” Big Mac sighed, even his legendary patience starting to wear thin despite his belly in agreement with his friends’ bellies, as he muttered, “Jus’ wanna get muh `Shy a lil’ sumthin’-sumthin nice, tha’ too much t’ ask?” “Come again, Big Mac?” Big Mac raised his head to see Blueblood giving him a curious look. “S’nothin’, Blue,” Big Mac waved it off. “Le’s jus’ feed th’ beasts an’ get back t’ browsin’.” “Well that place looks gouda!” Cheese was pointing to an oatburger shack, where a line was moving along oddly fast, with happy ponies trotting away with grease-stained paper bags hanging from their mouths. “I… don’t usually partake in fast food, but…” Blueblood hesitated but his hungry gut demanded immediate satisfaction. “What the hay, I’m too hungry to care at this point.” The four friends took their places in the line, fortunately being allowed ahead of a pegasus in a wheelchair cart, and as they moved forward every few moments or so, they began to hear a familiar voice, “Next! ...Next! ...Next!” “Wait a minute, I know that voice…!” Thunderlane commented when it was his turn- “Dash?!” “Fluttershy?” Big Mac flabbergasted. “Soarin?” Blueblood raised a confused brow. “Cheese!” Cheese Sandwich bounced up, confetti blowing all over, everypony giving him a look. “What? Nopony else was gonna say my name.” “Hey guys,” Rainbow Dash welcomed them but was making a motion with her hoof, “Could you just take your food and move along? You’re holding up the line.” “Well, it would help if somepony would explain why you three are working at a burger stand,” Blueblood retorted. “That’s what I’d like to know!” added the fry cook pony who owned the stand. “Uh, that pony in the wheelchair cart behind you guys?” Rainbow pointed him out. “I need to trade him an antique chicken for one of his lamps, to trade for an orthros, so I can trade the orthros for my book, but… he closed his stand down for a lunch break, and-” “We get it,” Thunderlane sighed as he whipped out some bits and they paid for their oatburgers, nopony noticing Fluttershy and Cheese Sandwich whispering to each other. “Who’s got something valuable enough to trade for Princess Twilight’s princess books that she got from Princess Celestia?! Did I say ‘princess’?” “Over here, over here!” a unicorn levitated a large gem. “Oh come on!” Pinkie scoffed, wearing a boater hat, a bowtie, and a fake mustache, as she stood at a podium in front of Twilight’s table where she had her books she’d brought to trade. “These are the books the princess would sit up with all night with nothing to read by but the light of her own horn Earlier, Twilight, wanting to trade away the books in order to make room for new books in the library, had tried to trade them to a filly for a broken quill until Pinkie nosed in and made a big fuss. Now, she was turning an anthill into a mountain, trying to get a big and valuable trade for Twilight to trade her books, and using Twilight’s royal title and her connection to other royalties to excite any would-be traders into offering something big and valuable to trade for. One pony offered a funny-looking green toy, Pinkie saying “Ooh, that looks fun. But not fun enough! These are the books that made Twilight the princess she is! So who’s got the-” “ENOUGH!!!!!!” Everypony jolted and all eyes turned to see a very irritated-looking Midnight approach Pinkie, the crow parting before him, as he snapped, “I can’t leave you alone for a minute, can’t I?!” “What?! I’m just trying to help Twilight trade her books away,” Pinkie protested innocently. “More like, making a nuisance of yourself. As always!” Midnight glared Pinkie down before turning to address the crowd. “Everypony! The only reason any of you should want these books is for what they have to offer, as sources of knowledge or as stories to enjoy, not because they belonged to somepony of royalty. If that’s the only reason you’re interested in them, kindly move along, please.” The ponies all murmured disgruntled as they began to disperse, Pinkie calling, “Wait! Somepony out there must want these books for-” “Pinkie…” Midnight said in such a chilling tone it made Pinkie stop. “One more word… and I’ll pop all the balloons at your next party, and you know I would!” *GASP* Pinkie sulked to the side while Midnight spoke to Twilight, “Sorry if you didn’t get to trade for whatever you wanted, Twily. Pinkie can be such a-” “It’s alright,” Twilight assured them, both Midnight and Pinkie looking at her perplexed. “None of those ponies had anything valuable enough to trade for my books. Not because these books belonged to a princess, but because they helped make me who I am, just like you said, Pinkie!” Twilight levitated one of the books, “Midnight, this is the one you and I studied to prepare for the Running of the Leaves” - She set the book down and levitated another - “and this one reminds me of the day I got it, which was the day I met you, Pinkie! “I may not ever have to read these again” - Twilight hugged the book to her chest, Midnight and Pinkie both smiling in understanding - “but that doesn’t mean they don’t have value.” Huh! I guess… I kinda owe you an apology, Pinkie,” Midnight smiled apologetically while rubbing the back of his head. “Aw, forget it,” Pinkie waved it off, like a good sport. “I know that sometimes I can be a biiiiiiit of a pest-” “RAINBOW DAAAAAAAASSSHHH!!!!” That voice ruined the moment as the three of them jolted, Midnight saying, “That sounded like Soarin!” “And it sounded like Rainbow’s gone and made a mess of something,” Twilight sighed as she put her books back onto her table and cast an anti-thieving ward on them, “C‘mon!” The three of them hurried in the direction they’d heard Soarin, but getting closer made it easier as they heard him giving his girlfriend the riot act. “I cannot believe what you just did!” “I- I uh- I didn’t mean to- I- !!!” Midnight found himself being barreled over, Rainbow Dash yelling, “Midnight! I need you and Twilight to say a trade wasn’t fair! Fast!” Groaning, Midnight pushed Rainbow off, asking in a tone, “What did you do?” "What’s going on here?” Everypony looked to see the rest of the guys converging on the scene, Blueblood just finishing the last of his hayfries while Cheese was making those annoying slurps one makes through a soft drink when there’s nothing left. So annoying that Midnight snatched it out of Cheese’s hoof, his lips still on the straw, crumpling the cup in his telekinetic aura and throwing it into a nearby trash bin. Cheese shrugged, tossed his straw in after it and let out a big obnoxious BELCH. “Sorry, everypony, those colt colas are just so gouda!” “Moving on,” Blueblood threw away his greasy paper bag, “what seems to be the hubbub?” “And why is Rainbow Dash hiding behind Soarin?” Thunderlane added curiously. Rainbow Dash was indeed hiding behind Soarin, trying to conceal herself with his tail, hoping Big Mac wouldn’t- *Shove* Rainbow fell almost flat on her face, looking to Soarin desperately but the look on his face told her he was not helping her out of this one. All eyes were on her as Midnight asked, “Well?” Rainbow Dash squirmed as she hesitantly confessed, “I… well, it’s possible that I… just might have… kiiiiinda… tradedFluttershytogettheDaringDoobookIwaslookingfor!!” … … … Big Mac stepped forward, his face unreadable but the look in his eyes made Rainbow Dash feel like her guts was tying themselves in a knot! “If Ah don’ get muh `Shy back… yer banned from Cider Season fer life.” Everypony at the Exchange gathered before the royal box seats where Twilight and Midnight, wearing her crown and his regalia respectively, were presiding over a Trade Trial. Apparently, Rainbow Dash had traded an Orthros to a pony named Teddy Safari to get the first-edition signed-by-the-author “Sapphire Stone” Daring Doo book but Teddy had added the condition that Fluttershy come with her to train the Orthros, which meant she’d be gone for a while. Big Mac stood by his wife while giving Rainbow Dash the granddaddy of all stink eyes while Rainbow Dash was sweating and hoping things would work out. “We’ve heard what you both have to say,” Twilight started only for Midnight to tap her shoulder and then whisper something into her ear. She nodded and then continued. “And I’m sorry, Rainbow Dash but our hooves are tied. You said it was a fair trade.” “Yeah, I said it…. But I was wrong!” Rainbow Dash protested, her face the very picture of guilt. “I did want that book. A lot. I said I wanted it more than anything in all of Equestria! “...But there’s no thing that’s worth as much to me as a friend. I might’ve forgotten that for a little bit, but it’s true. Which means, there’s no way this trade can be fair!” Fluttershy and even Big Mac smiled proudly at Rainbow Dash when Teddy Safari exclaimed, “Oh come on! That’s…” - her eyes teared up as she smiled in understanding - “the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard! Okay, the trade’s off.” The trial attendees erupted in cheer as Rainbow Dash returned the book to Teddy before giving Fluttershy a hug, and they got dog-piled by the Orthros. “And with that, we declare this trial…” Twilight announced. “And this year’s Rainbow Falls’ Traders Exchange…!” Midnight added. “Over!” Twilight officiated it with a slam of the gavel. By that declaration, everypony in the Exchange returned to their stalls and began packing up, making last-minute trades, and preparing to go home. Before they could take the Orthros off to find anypony who might want it, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy ran into Midnight. “Glad things worked out, Dash,” Midnight gave her a lighthearted punch in the shoulder, which made Rainbow smirk until Midnight added, “Faust forbid what might have happened had they not.” “Whattya mean?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Well…” Midnight drawled a little to add the suspense, along with a horseapple-eating grin, “technically, Dash… when you traded Fluttershy to Teddy Safari, you were committing a crime.” “Oh my, a crime?” Fluttershy held her hoof up to her lips, Rainbow Dash flinching. “Indentured servitude,” Midnight clarified. “An agreement that binds an employee to work without pay to a specific employer for a period of time. It was a common practice in older times but eventually Princess Celestia had it abolished, making it a crime to practice indentured servitude or any other form of slavery or unpaid service. “If Teddy Safari had refused to call of the trade in the Trade Trial, you and her would have been held responsible for breaking laws regarding basic sapient rights.” Rainbow Dash’s pupils shrunk to pinpricks as she realized she’d nearly lost more than just a friend, her mouth opening and closing like a gasping fish. “Oh my, Rainbow Dash?” Fluttershy waved a wing in front of her friend’s face, “are you alright?” Rainbow Dash just stood there in shock… until the Orthros gave her a big sloppy lick, making her cough and sputter, “Hey!” “Welp, see y’all on the airship,” Midnight chuckled as he trotted off, passing by Spike as he just made a trade with a colt for a new mint-condition comic book. Aboard the airship, the Harmonic Twelve and Spike were setting into their seats. Blueblood and Thunderlane sat next to Rarity and Applejack respectively, Blueblood saying, “I hope you ladies enjoyed yourselves at the Exchange.” “We did indeed, my love,” Rarity nuzzled up to Blueblood, “and to think you and dear Thunderlane saved our time at the Exchange from that uncouth thief!” “Darn tootin’,” Applejack gave Thunderlane a good-natured punch on the shoulder, “thanks fer havin’ our backs, Thunder.” “Always, AJ,” Thunderlane chuckled before lifting his wing to cover his rubbing his shoulder where AJ had slugged him while whispering, “Ow…” “And to show our gratitude,” Rarity levitated a burgundy bowtie while Applejack pulled a pair of flight goggles out from under her hat, “we thought such chivalry should be rewarded.” Blueblood and Thunderlane accepted the gifts with smiles before they shared a mutual smirk, and Thunderlane said, “Well… we kinda went and got you ladies each a little something too.” “I’m afraid it’s a little simple compared to what you were looking for, dear,” Blueblood said apologetically as he levitated a purple gem-shaped brooch, “it was kind of last-minute.” “And I don’t know if this is the pie tin you were looking for…” Thunderlane said to Applejack hesitantly as he pulled the aforementioned tin from out under his other wing. “Oh!” Rarity couldn’t help but gush at the brooch. Sure it was a little simple but its design, along with the fact her beau had gotten it just for her, that just made it all the more darling to her. “Blueblood, you spoil me.” “An’ this ol’ tin is jus’ wha’ Ah need!” Applejack laughed as she pulled Thunderlane in for a one forelegged hug. “First pie Ah make in this is jus’ fer you.” Thunderlane couldn’t help but blush as he took a chance and wrapped his wing around Applejack’s shoulders. The act made Applejack blush as well, that she leaned into Thunderlane, the both of them smiling warmly. Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash was saying nervously to Big Mac, “So, uh… Big Macintosh? Seeing as how Fluttershy’s not going anywhere… we’re cool, right?” The stoic unreadable look on the farmer pony’s face made Rainbow fidget in her seat a little before he finally said, “Eeyup.” Rainbow almost phew’d in relief only for Big Mac to give her another stink eye, “But pull sumthin’ like that again, an’ Ah’ll use you fer a feather duster.” “Mackie…” Fluttershy said in a gentle and calming tone to her husband, which made Big Mac smile at her. Rainbow Dash was just glad Big Mac’s attention was off of her. Then Big Mac sighed, Fluttershy asking “Macintosh, whatever’s the matter?” “Ah wanted t’ get sumthin’ nice fer you at th’ Exchange, `Shy,” Big Mac explained before groaning a little, “`cept Cheese Sandwich wouldn’ leave me t’ trade in peace.” Fluttershy peered over Big Mac’s shoulder and the party pony winked at her, making her giggle. “Well, Mackie…” Big Mac looked at Fluttershy curiously as she reached under her seat and pulled out what appeared to be an apple-shaped picture frame with a couple small butterfly ornaments, and it portrayed Big Mac and Fluttershy on their wedding day! Big Mac accepted the frame in awe as Fluttershy explained, “I might have asked Cheese Sandwich to keep you preoccupied while I looked for the perfect frame to hold that picture of us.” Big Mac gave Cheese a confused look, which Cheese responded by putting on a funny pair of nose-glasses, as if trying to hide through a silly disguise. Big Mac couldn’t help but chuckle before he pulled Fluttershy in and gave her a tender kiss, which she returned happily. “Hey! Where’s your double doggie?” Rainbow Dash answered that, “I traded him for something way better.” Fluttershy held up an ornate bird-caller and sounded it, making a genuine chirping noise that attracted a little orange bird to her hoof, making her smile happily. “Well, what do you know?” All eyes turned to Soarin as he walked up, looking pretty proud of himself as he lifted with his wing, “A first-edition, signed-by-the-author copy of ‘Daring Doo and the Sapphire Stone’.” *GASP* Rainbow Dash zoomed up to him, asking, “How did you get that?!” “I caught up with Teddy Safari after the trial and asked her if there was anything else she would trade the book for,” Soarin explained, “turns out, she wanted VIP tickets to a Wonderbolts show to be held in Baltimare.” Rainbow Dash smiled like a filly on Hearth’s Warming Morning, almost holding out her hooves when Soarin saw an opportunity. “So… what am I gonna do with this? A first-edition, one of a kind, signed by the author, first of the series, Daring Doo book…? Maybe I could get a sweet deal out of it. Or perhaps I should donate it to a library…” Rainbow Dash was chewing her hooves, the way Soarin was talking and holding the book in front of her, absolute torture! “Or maaaaaybe I could… give it to my special somepony,” Soarin held it out to Rainbow but snatched it back right before she could take it. “As long as she’s learned her lesson…?” “YES! YES already! I get it! I’ll never do something so stupid as trying to trade a friend away for an object!” Rainbow whined in agony before she started to get grabby. The sight of the pressured pegasus caused everypony to laugh as Soarin finally let her have it, and she held the book to her chest, squealing like a filly, at long last it was truly her, her collection complete! Midnight sat with Twilight as she levitated up her own old copy of ‘The Sapphire Stone’, “I was gonna give this to Rainbow, but I guess Soarin beat me to the punch.” Midnight placed a foreleg around Twilight’s shoulders, giving her a chuckling smirk, “I’ll read that with you, if you’d like, Twily.” Twilight smiled at her special somepony as she levitated the book in front of them and opened it to the first page, a welcome distraction for the flight home.