They 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!"