I trotted along the treeline to pace myself, instead of running. Wait, is "trotted" the right word? Cantered? Power-walked? Heck I don't remember.
I commuted along the treeline at faster than a walk and slower than a run, to pace myself so I wouldn't have to stop and nap. Yes I know, we cats do love our naps, but I have a mission today! As much as I love books, they aren't very space- or weight-efficient. However, modern technology to the rescue! The library also has large digital databanks I can plug my computer into and download stories and videos alike! No more lugging books and tapes back and forth!
As I continued across the countryside, I let my mind wander, and as usual I got the soothing images of large fluffy bellies! I imagined my own belly swollen into a beachball, swaying back and forth and gurgling softly. I closed my eyes and sighed at the image, blushing slightly. Oh if only, if only!
I popped back into reality when I saw the tips of the colorful market tents poke above the horizon. They're always a pretty sight! Creative designs of fabric fluttering in the breeze, some of the tents had flags on top to attract more attention! So much nicer on the eyes than the endless expanse of green.
I wonder if I could get a garment with colors like that! I'm sure it would cost way more bits than I could easily afford on my allowance, but I did manage to save enough to get a computer, so perhaps someday! I could get it in super-XXXL size so my belly can grow into it!
Nah Widget, keep dreaming! You can be a balloon on paper but not for real. Bodies don't work like that.
I reached the start of the gravel path and looked around at the tables. Nobody was selling today, but they were still interesting to look at! Each table and tent were totally unique from each other, unlike my family with our nearly-identical gray-white-with-rosettes coats! Not that rosettes aren't lovely, but some color variation would be awesome!
"Yo Widget! Shopping for some empty air today?"
I turned around. "Oh hey Devin! Naw, actually I was after a void vortex! You know if they have any?"
The yellow fox more bounced than walked over to me, wearing a sly sideways grin. "Oh, are you sure you can afford one of those after you spent your whole savings on that computer?"
"Hey, that just proves I'm capable of saving for a large purchase!" I poked a fingerbean into his fluffy chest defensively, though unable to keep a smile off my face as well. "That's totally a grown-up skill!"
"Whatever you say, flowers!" He walked past me and smacked his fluffy tail into my face.
We both giggled for a while, with him whispering "void vortex" a few times. I flopped over on my side. "So, what brings you here on the weekend?"
His face quickly switched from comical to serious/excited. "Oh! There's a horse here from one of the other worlds! He's checking markets for unique artifacts for his museum or something."
"Oh yeah? Not sure we would have anything museum-worthy out here! Unless Cornhole and Horseshoes are considered antique games."
"Oh oh oh, that's not the best part! He has a magic horn!"
"A magic horn? What does it do, summon an army of rams when you blow it?"
"No no no, not the musical kind of horn, the kind that sticks out of your head!" He tapped his forehead with a paw. "It glows and can pick stuff up without even touching it!"
I furrowed my brow and looked at him quizzically, trying to decide if he was being serious, or getting vengeance on my "void vortex" joke. He kept staring at me with wide eyes and erect ears instead of his usual foxish swagger, which definitely indicated /something/ unusual was going on.
"Ok, where is he? I rolled to my feet.
"Last I saw he was staying at the inn next to the library! Apparently he got the dates mixed up since his world uses a different calendar, so he's hanging out until the shops open on Monday."
Snooze Inn. I love that name. "Ok let's go! I gotta see this 'magic horn' you speak of." I left just enough skepticism in my voice to let that trickster know I was keeping in mind the possibility he was pulling one over on me. He didn't smile or laugh at all, but kept looking straight forward as we traversed the town square.
Devin acting completely serious during a prank? That was unlikely to a similar degree that this horse actually had a magical levitation horn. My eyes widened and I quickened my pace.
The bell above the door ding-donged as we entered. "Hey Tia!" Devin waved. "Is the horse guy still here?"
The elderly raccoon behind the desk smiled benevolently down at the young fox, though her eyes carried a tinge of annoyance. "He's not a 'horse guy,' he's called a Unicorn, and his name is Ancient Treasure. Yes, he is here, but he is in his room and I'm sure he doesn't want to be disturbed."
"His NAME is Ancient Treasure? That's like... a legit name someone can have?" I blurted out. I regretted my phrasing shortly after receiving another subtle-yet-powerful disapproving glance from Tia.
"Yes. Beings from his world, collectively known as Ponies, are named after their career, once they choose one. They also receive some sort of fur-tattoo on their haunch as a symbol of their talents, as a sort of coming-of-age ritual."
"Hahaha... well, close enough I suppose!" A new voice came from the doorway beside the front desk.
"Oh, Mr. Treasure!" Tia jumped slightly. "Apologies if we disturbed you--"
"Quite all right, quite all right, I came here to learn of your culture after all!" He turned to Devin and me. "And who might you two be?"
I looked up at the unicorn. His fur was a pattern of lemon yellow and softer beige, but his mane and tail were stark-white. I leaned to the side to see his haunch, and sure enough, there was an image of a pile of gold coins and a fancy hat with colorful feathers sticking out of the top.
"Oh, hah, I see you noticed my cutie mark!"
"'Cute mark'?" Devin said incredulously. "That's just what they call it on girls right? Please tell me the dudes get a better name."
Ancient Treasure snorted and placed his hoof over his mouth as he chuckled. "No, that's what we call them on everypony!"
"But it sounds so GIRLY!"
I turned to him with deadpan eyes. "It sounds FIIIIIIINE." I bopped him gently on the back of his head. A moment later, I noticed something as my most recent memories quickly played back. "Wait, you said, 'everypony.' Is that what you say instead of 'everybody'?"
"Well yes, of course!" He hesitated. "Oh, I don't know why I said 'of course,' there's no reason it should be obvious to you!"
"Well it sounds sort of exclusionary!" I looked up at him again. "Like, what if you're with people who aren't ponies? Do you use different words?"
He looked up to the side and tapped his hoof to his chin. "I suppose we've been using these words since before we knew of other worlds! I guess they didn't consider that back then!"
Devin and I nodded thoughtfully at his answer.
"Though you know what... if 'everypony' is exclusionary to non-ponies, then is 'everybody' exclusionary to ghosts?"
Devin and I looked up sharply, then looked at each other and kind of snorted, then plopped down on our haunches and laughed heartily, soon joined by Ancient Treasure and even a chuckle from Tia.
I slapped my side. "Ok, that's the best joke I've heard in a while!"
Devin added, "Yeah!"
Ancient Treasure's laughter slowed to a chuckle. "Thanks kids, I'm here all week!" He then stretched and yawned, and only then did I notice the bags under his eyes.
"Oh, if you'll excuse me, the time difference between here and home is giving me some pretty bad portal-lag! I should retire for the... time. Nice to meet you kids! Hope to see you around."
"Yeah, us too!"
Then something amazing happened. I had completely forgotten about the real reason I was so eager to come see this foreigner, right up until his horn lit up bright yellow.
I gaped in amazement as a magazine on the shelf beside me was wrapped in a shimmering field of light the same color as the glow of his horn! My eyes got even wider as it lifted from the shelf and hung in the air, with nothing at all touching it!
"Miss Tia, may I bring a few of these to my room to read?"
"Oh, certainly! That stack is actually last months issues, so you can keep them!"
"Thank you."
He quickly returned to his room, the magazines floating beside him as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
I didn't even hear Devin chanting "See? I told ya I told ya!" because my mind was in the process of a slow-motion explosion. If there was magic, REAL magic in the world, then... then...
I gently placed my paw on my belly and squeezed my fur. I imagined a beach ball. I imagined a bean bag chair.
I imagined that pile of grain that was bigger than three tractors.
Anything... ANYTHING might be possible...