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// Adventures in Shopping 
// Story: With the Shadow of Lightning 
// by oneupthextraman 
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Chapter 8;
Mare-waukee was a busy town. Many ponies were walking around the town, window shopping, purchasing things, drinking tea at one of the many outdoor cafés, and doing friendly things with other ponies. Rarity and Lighting walked down one of the many streets that were presented to them. The roads were cobble stone, and produced a nice click as the ponies walked. Rarity was busy looking around. Lighting has been to the city as a young colt, but it had been many years. Rarity quickly ran into one of the stores. It took Lighting several seconds to discover this. He quickly followed her into the store ‘Fabric and Fabric Related Things.’ 
The store was full of spools of fabric, threads, and other things that appeared to be related to fabric. Rarity darted around, looking at the various fabrics, and examining things with her hoof, checking for softness, and texture. Then, just as quick as she entered, she left the store. Lighting had trouble tracking the pony she moved so fast. Lighting wasn’t sure if it was because there were so many other ponies around, or because he did not suspect Rarity to move that fast.  Lightning ran after Rarity. 
The next store was more prosperous. Rarity bought two spools of fabric. Rarity attached the spools to her saddlebag, so she would not have to use her magic to carry them around for the rest of the day. For what seemed like forever, Lightning followed Rarity around from store to store, with her running from store to store. By noon, Lighting found himself getting rather tired. His training was not geared toward this kind of running.  After a while, Lighting even started carrying some of the spools of fabric.
After one of the stores, Rarity walked up to Lighting. “Are you hungry? Let’s get some food.” Lighting panted. Chasing after Rarity all morning was a crazy adventure. Rarity led Lighting over to an outside café. Rarity softly sat down in one of the chairs, and Lightning flumped down into the chair. Rarity looked to Lighting, “Tiring day?”
All Lighting could do was get out a meek nod. A waiter came over, and brought two glasses of ice water. Lighting was so out of it that he did not hear what the waiter asked, and just downed the water, using his magic to levitate the water to his mouth. Rarity ordered some sandwich for both of them. 
Rarity took pity on Lighting. “You’ve done very well, my dear. Very few ponies have kept up with me as long as you have. Big McIntosh only survived two hours on the fabric train.” Rarity made a hoof motion as if she were pulling on the whistle of a train. Lighting was not amused, and his facial expression showed it. Lighting laid his head down on the table. The waiter walked over and deposited two sandwiches in front of the two ponies. Rarity smiled at the sandwich; it looked good.
Lighting opened his eye that was not pressed against the table to examine the sandwich in front of him. He opened his mouth, and stuck his tongue out toward the sandwich. “Darn you sandwich. Get into my mouth.” He stuck his tongue out again. “How dare you disobey your prince?” 
Rarity couldn’t decide if she was charmed by this, or disgusted. Rarity used her horn magic to levitate the sandwich into Lighting’s mouth, which Lighting gladly chewed on. After some chewing, he swallowed it, and noticeably perked up a bit, sitting up, and looking at Rarity. “So, what’s fabric for? Making something big?”
“No. Just needed some more. Never know when inspiration might strike.” Rarity extended her arm out perpendicular to her body, and looking out into the distance. It was a pose mocking that of Lighting’s epic stance. 
Lightning was unfazed by this. “Where to next?”
Rarity returned to her normal sitting pose a little disappointed. She was hoping to get some kind of reaction out of the pony. “A few more stores, and then it’s off back to the store.” Rarity continued to eat her sandwich. “I’m hoping to get to Mega-Mega Fabric store. They have the largest selection, as the most average prices.” Rarity smiled. 
Lightning did not respond to her quip. “Most average prices? That’s a weird slogan.” Rarity stopped smiling. The two finished their sandwiches, and Lightning paid. The two walked a short distance to the Mega-Mega store. By this point in the day, there were fewer ponies around post lunch. Lighting looked around paranoid again, not sure why there were less now. He adjusted the fabric Rarity already bought in his saddle bags Rarity had given him to use.
The two shopping ponies arrived at Mega-Mega. Lightning had been to the city before, but somehow never seen this MASSIVE store. It must have been three stories tall. Lightning stood outside of the store for some time, just looking at the size of it. He wondered how many different kinds of fabric there could be. The large yellow building held a large sign above the main entrance; Mega-Mega Fabric Store; If we don’t have the fabric, then it does not exist. Lighting thought it was an odd slogan, and a bit presumptuous. Rarity entered the store without hesitation; Lighting quickly followed suit.  
Upon entering, Lightning was again shocked by the fabric. So much fabric, everywhere in so many colors. Lighting was not even aware of some of these colors existence before. Rarity strolled into the store more so, and looked around. Lighting followed as best he could. Lighting noticed a light amount of conversation in the store. People talking about fabric, and other things. Lighting listen to some of the conversations using his special training. One couple was discussing if the purple fabric they were thinking about getting was purple enough. Another group was discussing if there could be too much sparkle in certain kinds of fabric. Lightning figured there could be too much sparkle, if one tried hard enough. 
To pass the time, Lightning examined one of the many fabrics on one of the nearby tables. It was a light blue, and soft to the touch. Lighting liked the way it felt in his hoof. 
Two older ponies were discussing what ‘they’ were doing, and what they were hoping to accomplish with being there. Lighting wondered who ‘they’ were. Then, the store got quiet, too quiet. Lightning started to panic. Looking around, he saw no good places to hide. He could hide beneath some of the tables with fabric on them, but that would provide minimal cover, and would not offer enough surprise to the target that has silenced the store. Looking around, he found no other options, and decided that beneath the table was the best option. 
Lightning dove beneath the table. It was not a very good hiding spot, but one must do with what one has. Lightning then looked for Rarity, but was outside of arm’s reach. Two ponies approached his position. Lighting pulled out his baton, and readied for battle. The two ponies talked to Rarity, who then gave away his position. Lighting figured she did not know better than to give his position away to the enemy.
One of the new ponies walked over to Lighting’s position, and bent down to look under the table. Lighting was quick with his baton, and quickly hit the pony in the face, causing the pony to stagger a bit. Lighting took the opportunity to jump from under the table, and quickly survey the situation, briefly looking around, but not acknowledging what was near him. Prince Shining Armor was rearing from the swift hit from the baton, and Princess Cadance was standing near Rarity, both of which looked rather shocked. But, Lightning was in full commando mode so who he hit did not fully register with him, and attempted to flee, jumping into the air almost making it over a table. He was stopped in midair by Cadance’s magic. Lightning started to panic, failing about, trying to get contact with something. 
He was then swung over upside down to meet face to face with Cadance. She had a disapproving look on her face. Lightning made eye contact with her, and quickly exited commando mode. Lighting put his baton back into his cloak, and smiled a sheepish smile. 
Cadance clicked in disapproval. “Getting carried away again, are we?”
Lighting replied, “Well, I thought since the store was getting very quiet, that we were under attack.” He smiled a weak smile. 
Cadance was not amused. “You are not always under attack.” She paused. “And you hit my husband.” She swung him around to meet a now standing Shining Armor.
Lighting smiled slightly in an attempt to dissolve the tension. “Sorry Shining Armor. I thought you were a secret spy from the organization here to kill me.”
Shining smiled and laughed a bit. “Don’t worry about it. I know how you are. Sometimes your paranoid aspects come in handy too.” 
Cadance released Lighting, causing him to land with a thud. Lightning let out a groan, and slowly got up.
Rarity turned to Cadance, “So, Princess, what brings you to Mega-Mega Fabric Store? I figured the royal store room would have enough fabric for some time.”
Cadance turned to face Rarity. Lighting was being helped up by Shining Armor. “Sometimes you just need to get out and experience the different fabrics and see the new fashions the different ponies are wearing.”
Shining Armor laughed. “Yeah, Cadance had been bit by the design bug.”
Rarity smiled. “That’s excellent princess! The fashion leaders have been slacking lately. They could use some pony in power to show how it’s done.”
Cadance smiled a weak smile and looked away sheepishly. “But I don’t know where to start.” She paused, and looked back to Rarity. “You could show me!” Cadance smiled a great big smile.
Rarity returned the smile. “It would be my honor princess!” They both jumped up and down in excitement. 
Lighting looked to Shining Armor, and said, “I don’t like the way this is heading.”
Shining Armor gave an inquisitive look to Lighting. “Why? What’s wrong with them hanging out?”
“I’m not sure yet. But in those situation comedies, this is often a plot point, and this often leads to…” Lightning paused, and thought about the correct words to describe what he was thinking. “Comedic hijinks.” 
Shining Armor smiled. “I like funny things! What’s wrong with that.”
Lighting got super serious, and looked at Shining with a very dark look. “It’s funny when it happens to other people.”
Shining Armor thought about this for a moment, and then grew sad, and concerned. “Oh.”
The rest of the day was rather uneventful. The two mares walked around the store, discussing various fabrics, and fashions, and various other fashion things. Lighting and Shining ended up carrying the various spools of fabric around. Spools upon spools upon spools. The various colors and such started to blend together by the end. Rarity and Cadance one stood for about 10 minutes discussing two apparently different kinds of fabric. Shining Armor almost spoke out about what the difference was, but Lighting stopped him, having seen too many situation comedies to know what would have come of that.  By the end of the day, the two were over loaded. Shining Armor had the advantage of a carriage ride home, but Lighting had to carry everything to Rarity’s house using his physical strength and magic. By the time they arrived, it was early evening. 
There was still some light out, but it was getting late. Rarity opened the door, and Lighting brought the spools in. Upon entering, he collapsed into a pile of cloth. 
Sweetie Bell came running down the stairs. “How was shopping?” She smiled with glee.
Rarity happily replied, “It was fabulous! I picked up tons of fabric…” She paused pointing to the pile that held cloth and some Lighting in there somewhere. “…and I met up with Princess Cadance.” Rarity smiled a big smile. “And she asked me to help her design some outfits for fun.”
Sweetie Bell smiled, and started jumping up and down with excitement. “Really? That’s awesome big sister.” Rarity started jumping up and down as well. The pair jumped around in circles for about two minutes. By this point Lighting had managed to pull himself out from the pile, and was slowly crawling toward his bedroom, wincing from some pain in his side, where he was attacked several days ago.
Sweetie Bell noticed Lighting, and suddenly remembered something. She ran over to the table, and levitated an envelope over to Lighting. “Here, this came for you today.” She passed the envelope to Lightning who quickly opened it, and examined the contents. There was a letter, and some kind of Compact Disk like device. Lighting gave the letter a quick read, and put them both back in the envelope.
He stood up. “Well Rarity, I must be off. It certainly was an…..interesting day. I hope your fabrics work out for you” Lightning left for his room, and closed the door behind him.
Rarity looked at Sweetie Bell. “Did he seem, upset to you?” Sweetie Bell did not seem to notice. 
The next day, Lighting was up early, packing things up. Rarity stumbled into the kitchen to see Lighting packing things in his back pack.
She asked, “What are you doing?”
Lighting did not turn to face Rarity, and continued packing. “I have to go Rarity.”
Rarity was caught off guard by this. “Why?”
Lighting stopped back, and turned his head to face her. “I can’t tell you.” He continued packing.