//------------------------------// // When the Moon Comes to Town // Story: The Potion Shop // by Ashfur //------------------------------// The doors to the local haybachi shop burst open as a familiar alchemist got tossed to the roadside.  Shuffling out behind him in mild embarrassment were Juniper and Nickel. Still, they were holding hooves, and appeared to be enjoying each other's company.  The chef, on the other hoof, was not pleased, poking his head out the door after them. “New rule on the list, Catalyst!  No trying to juggle the knives! Only our chefs have the training to do that!” “Okay, but-” “OUT!  Go eat some hayburger and come back some other time!” “But I didn't get my noodles!”  Arca whined. Angrily, the chef threw a bowlful of noodles at Arca, splatting on his head like a giant helmet.  “Thank you!” “Well that went about as well as I expected,” Juniper remarked.  “Still,” she blushed, “I enjoyed dinner, Nickel. Sorry my boss messed everything up.  I'm sure he's sorry, too. Right, Boss?” She glanced at Arca, who was standing stock still all of a sudden.  He didn't even register his noodle hat slowly dripping sauce down his mane. “Uh, Boss?” “...someone's messing with my yard.” “What?” “WHO'S MESSING WITH MY YARD?!”  And without another word, the stallion booked it towards his shop. “Alright, the main stage should be ready to go, Your Majesty.” “Excellent!  Thy construction efforts art admirable.  We were quite surprised to find such a wide swath of open land in town so close to the market,” said Princess Luna.  “Tis perfect for setting up the trade exchange… the only thing in the way is that odd building… it looks as though it was built using construction methods from my time.  Still, setting up our judging platform in front of it makes for a fine backdrop… and it's not like we are-” “WHO'S OBSTRUCTING BUSINESS?!” Luna and the head of her building team watched a stallion storm up past them.  Luna immediately recognized him, although she hadn't seen him since prior to her banishment.  “No, that can't be possible…” “Hi Moon-Princess-Boss,”  Arca began as he stomped by.  “Nice to see you again and I'd LOVE to show you some of my new work over the past millennia, but SOMEPONY built a stage in MY YARD in front of MY SHOP so I gotta move it!”  He stomped over to the stage that had just finished construction, and pushed it from the side. “But- but- thou should have been dead dozens of times over!  How art thou still alive?!” “Not right now, please!  I've almost… GOT IT!” With one final shove and a massive surge of his magic, Arca shoved the stage hard enough to uproot its foundation and send it careening down the slight hill the shop rested atop.  It barreled over his mailbox, took out a fair portion of the cobblestone path that made up market street, and finally came to rest right in front of Emerald's jewelry store, pinning the door shut. “There!  Much better!  Now them, Luna.  WAIT! I need to get washed up for meeting with a princess!”  Arca levitated a gallon bottle of lemon-scented floor cleaner out of his shop, and doused himself in it.  “Eh, good enough for short notice. Haven't had to resort to that move in a while. Plus, now I smell GREAT!  Kinda soggy though. Hi, Moon-Princess-Boss Luna!” Arca trotted over and gave Luna a big hug, making her coat damp as well. “A-arca?  How?” “Got my big project to work.  Remember my little ‘rock collection’ experiments?” Luna's eyes went wide in shock.  “Thou dost not mean…? Thou hast done it?” “Yup!  I'm ageless now.  Been super busy though!  First trying to bring Meadowbrook back from Limbo, then you back from the moon, then Razzle out of my mane, and now I try and find new potions to make!  I can't wait for the trade exchange tomorrow! You're the acting princess this time, right? Where's your judging platform?” “Tis over yonder, Arcane,” Luna sighed, pointing at the platform that her old friend had just ruined. “Oh.  Why'd you build it all busted up and in the middle of the road?” Luna simply chuckled, patting the still-damp stallion on the head with her wing. “We missed thee, Arca, old friend.” “I mean, I missed you too, but that doesn't answer my question about the platform.”