//------------------------------// // Chapter 79 - Secret Seasonal Shopping (Part 2) // Story: A Pony Displaced: Homeward // by NoLongerSober //------------------------------// After a brief trip to Color Splash’s kiosk, which ended with Verdant placing a custom order, the pair soon arrived at a shop whose sign was completely coated in glitter. The sign read ‘Glittering Treasures Jewelry’. Stepping inside, the two found a pink coated unicorn mare with a flowing pale blue mane standing by the register. “Welcome to Glittering Treasures. I’m Jewel Twinkle. How may I be of service?” “Good afternoon, Miss Glitter.” Swift’s horn ignited as she pulled a photo from her saddlebags. “I was wondering something. I heard that some jewelers make custom necklaces based on the Elements of Harmony. Are you one such jeweler?” “Indeed I am, ma’am.” A wide grin stretched across her face as her magic placed a book on the counter, flipping to a page that showed the necklaces. “These babies are specially made to order, based on the photos of the elements taken in the very few times they’ve been seen in public.” “Hmm… They do seem quite accurate,” Swift muttered as she examined the images in the book. “Very well, I’d like to order one such necklace.” “Splendid!” Jewel excitedly said as she put the catalogue back behind the counter. “Now, would you like it based on one the element bearers’ or would you like one based on sompony else’s cutie mark?” “Somepony else’s,” Swift replied, placing the photo in front of Jewel. Verdant then saw it was a close up photograph of Spearmint’s flank, showing the fleur dis lis surrounded by three diamond-like sparkles. “Alright, this is a great reference.” Jewel picked up the photograph in her aura. “The fleur dis lis should be easy, but I’m not sure I could do the stars around it too well.” “That will be fine, Miss Glitter,” Swift said as she pulled a cheque book from her bags. “Now, how much will this commission cost?” “Well, first we need to figure out what kind of gemstone you want me to use. Gimme a sec.” Jewel left the pair, heading through a door to a back room. “I’m sure Minty’s gonna love this, Swift,” Verdant said as he looked at the noblemare. “Thank you. I certainly hope so,” the carolina blue mare replied back. A smirk slowly crept across Verdant’s muzzle. “Gotta pay her back for that wild night two weeks ago?” A low growl came from Swift. “What all did you hear?” “Let’s just say that I never realized magic or horns could have such creative applications,” Verdant said before chuckling. “And I assume hearing us kept you from making one of your ‘donations’ on your typical schedule,” Swift coyly said, noticing a tiny trace of a blush forming on his face. “I will neither confirm nor deny,” Verdant replied just as Jewel returned from the back, carrying a case with some gemstones inside. “Well, here we have a sampling of some different green jewels that I could use for order,” Jewel said as she set the box on the counter. “I’d probably go for the tsavorite garnet due to the color match.” “It does indeed have a very good color,” Swift responded quietly as she closely examined the stones. She soon pulled back and looked the jeweler in the eye. “Very well. I shall go with the tsavorite garnet.” “Excellent choice, ma’am.” Jewel nodded, picking up the box. “The total will come to four-thousand, eight-hundred and twenty bits.” “Very well. That’s less than I expected,” Swift replied as she took out a pencil and quickly wrote out a cheque. “Thank you. I should just be a moment,” Jewel said as she grabbed the cheque in her magic. “Just a moment to process the cheque?” Verdant asked, quirking his brow.  Jewel gave the shamrock stallion a chuckle. “No, I meant crafting the necklace.” She picked up one of the gems in her aura where it started to change form in the air. “My special talent is remolding and rearranging stuff. I just need to get some gold and tsavorite garnet from the back and I should be right back with your order.” “Ah. Quite impressive,” Swift stated as Jewel headed into the back. “Considering her and Color Splash, I think Vanhoover has a talent for pulling in talented artistic unicorns.” “Perhaps, but I would still prefer something hoofcrafted, y’know?” Verdant replied to the noblemare.  A brief moment later, Jewel came back, carrying the necklace in a red velvet carrying case. “Tah-dah! One custom made necklace, just as you ordered.” “Thank you, ma’am. This is truly a work of art.” Swift smiled widely as Jewel levitated the box over to her, which she took in her pale blue aura. “Any time. Feel free to recommend this shop for all your jewelry needs.” Jewel smiled and waved as Swift and Verdant started to depart. “So, now that I’ve taken care of Minty’s present, where shall we go next?” Swift looked to the shorter stallion. “That would be this one little game shop in the Midnight Mall,” the emerald coated earth pony answered, looking up to the unicorn. “It’s called The 8-Bit Basement. It’s a place for all things video game related in Vanhoover.” “My, I didn’t know video games were so inexpensive. A mere eight bits seems ridiculously cheap.” Swift’s reply made Verdant let out a loud and hearty laugh as they trotted along. “Oh, I wish this stuff would be that cheap,” Verdant said, trying to keep from chuckling. “Eight bit is some sort of video game related term. I wouldn’t know exactly what it means, but it’s not something about their price.” “Ah, my apologies,” Swift said as they trudged along the snowy streets. “Well, hopefully we’ll find one of the games High Gear mentioned.” *** The pair had soon started down one of the sets of stairs in the Midnight Mall, taking them down to the third floor. The floors were practically sparkling black tiles while the walls were a deep midnight blue. The ceiling was a lighter shade of violet, the various lighting fixtures acting like stars in a night sky. “Hmm… Perhaps I should visit this place more often,” Swift said as she gazed about the various shops. “Does this place have a theater?” “I think there’s two, and one’s a pornographic theater,” Verdant answered as something caught his attention up the hallway. “Alright. The 8-Bit Basement is right th—” A loud and excited squeal drowned out Verdant’s voice as a violet unicorn mare rushed out of the store. Her long and jagged mane was a striking combination of pink, yellow and light blue. She paid the pair of former guards no mind as she darted past them, a strange golden object carried in her light gray aura. “Well,” Verdant said before clicking his tongue. “That was Pixel Flash and she seems to have gotten her hooves on that gold Neightendo World Championships game.” “That just means you’ve only four more options to get her.” Swift gave Verdant a pat on the back as they drew closer to the store. Stepping inside the shop, Swift was rather stunned by the amount of strange devices that were set up behind the counter where a gray unicorn stallion stood. Lining the other walls and shelves were many different kinds of smaller devices, along with toys, collectables and apparel.  “Hello there, sir.” Verdant’s words drew Swift’s focus away from the wall that held a Flame Crest game, complete with Mars Falchion’s appearance on the box. “I was wondering if you could help me find a certain game.” “Well, you’ve come to the best place in Vanhoover for it,” the grey stallion replied. “If you can’t find it here, you can’t find it anywhere. So, what are you looking for?” “I need to find one of four different games for a friend,” Verdant answered as he reached the counter, where he could see a name tag that said the clerk’s name was High Score. “I need either Ponybius, Mortal Fighters: The Movie: The Game, Mighty Morphin’ Pony Rangers: The Fighting Edition, or Super Marinara Sisters Vs..” “Okay, when it comes to Ponybius, I’d say it’s one of those ‘you can’t find it anywhere’ cases,” High Score replied as he took a catalogue out from behind the counter. “As for the rest… Ah. We’ve got the Super Neightendo version of that Pony Rangers game. The Hayga Luna version of the Mortal Fighters: The Movie is available for pre-order and we do have that Super Marinara Sisters Vs. game, that’s a full arcade cabinet, so that’s gonna be more expensive than the other two games.” “How much are we talking here?” Verdant asked as his brow rose.  “Well, I think we can work out a deal,” a grin crossed High Score’s face as he leaned across the counter. “Hey Swift, do you feel like browsing around?” Verdant looked over his shoulder to the noblemare. “I get the feeling I’m gonna be here awhile, haggling.” “Very well,” Swift replied as she wandered about the store, taking in the various odd sights of the shop. There was a vast assortment of different games and figurines that covered the store’s walls. “I never knew there were so many games based on Flame Crest,” she muttered to herself as she pulled one of the boxes over to closely examine it. “Perhaps this would be an interesting thing to try. Hmm… Requires Game Filly to play.” Swift started to look about to try to find one of these ‘Game Fillies’. Eventually, she saw that what she sought was hidden in the counter in front of High Score in a wide variety of colors. As Swift drew closer, Verdant turned about to face her. “Hey Swift. Found something you’d like?” “Yes, I have,” the noblemare quickly replied as she set the box on the counter. “I’d also like to purchase a… silver Game Filly Pocket.” “Can I get you these for Hearth’s Warming?” Verdant asked the tall mare. “I have plenty of shopping to do and this would let me cross you off the list.” “Hmm… I suppose so. Thank you,” Swift said before giving Verdant an appreciative nod. “Right, so your total for the cabinet, gift wrapping, delivery, and the Game Filly and game comes to eleven-hundred and fifty eight bits.” “Not a problem,” Verdant replied as he pulled a cheque book and a pencil from his vest. Once the purchase was made, the shamrock stallion slipped Swift’s gifts into his saddlebags. The two soon made their way out of the shop, back into the large halls of the mall.  “That was quite the large set of purchases you made, Verdant,” Swift said as she pulled ahead.  “You should have seen what the price for the cabinet was before I started haggling.” A wide, prideful grin came across Verdant’s muzzle. “It was originally twenty-two hundred bits, not factoring in tax, delivery or gift wrapping.” Swift let out a low, impressed whistle. “Seems you are quite the haggler, my friend.” “I got it from my mom,” Verdant said as he shrugged. “So, want to come with me to Stellar Imports? I’m going to get Erica’s present next.” “Hmm… I think not,” Swift gently replied. “I believe I’d like to explore the mall on my own, as well as get Hearth’s Warming gifts for you and the rest of our housemates.” “Alright. I’ll see you later, Swift.” Verdant started to pull away before turning a corner, leaving the noblemare on her own. Now, what would be gifts that Hat Trick, Gem and Forge would like? The unicorn mare asked herself as she reached what seemed to be some sort of odd plastic tablet in the middle of the hallway. Gazing upon the strange obelisk, she saw the names of various different shops placed over boxes, as well as a dot with the words ‘You are here’. Ah, a map! Swift grinned as she started to examine the elaborate display. Seems that there’s a place called Terrific Tomes. That should have some of Hatty’s Star Trot books, along with a cookbook for Verdant. Not too far from that is the Massive Movie Museum. Hopefully it’s just the name of a shop and not an actual museum, otherwise it will make getting something for Forge trickier… Swift’s eyes started to dart about, hoping for more shops to hit up. There’s a ticketmaster on this floor. Perhaps Gem would like a season pass for those wrestling shows. She seemed to like them. Hmm… Littlest Pet Shop on the second floor. Maybe I should get a pet for Wind Whistler? … No, that’d be thrusting a lot of extra responsibilities on her. Ah! Perfect! There’s a Hassenfeld Bros. toy shop not too far from there. I’m bound to find something she’d like there. That only leaves Barrier, Fleetfeather and Daring to get gifts for.... But that leaves the question of what they’d like for gifts… Swift brought a hoof to her chin as she tried to think what to get for the three. Unfortunately, she drew a blank. Drat it all. Swift thought as she stomped her hoof in frustration. I suppose I will have to get their gifts tomorrow after a bit of questioning. *** Swift had a rather restful night after having purchased a Star Trot novel for Hatty, 1001 Vegetable Delights for Verdant, a copy of The Kre-O Movie for Forge, the season pass for Gem and a set of Glitter Force: Star Twinkle figures for Wind Whistler. The next day, while the rest of the adults were out spending time with their special someones and Windy was at the casino on the lawn, Swift found herself in the kitchen, getting a drink of water as Barrier was working on cooking dinner while Daring and Fleet were chatting amongst each other at the table. “Excuse me, everypony,” Swift interjected as she finished her drink off. “Might I ask what you’d like for Hearth’s Warming?” Barrier hummed as he shut off the oven, pulling out a large roast chicken that he set in the center of the table. “Hard to say… How about a history book? Specifically about the fallout of what happened with Nightmare Moon.” “I think I’d like a book or two on Neighponese legends, particularly yokai,” Daring said as Barrier placed some mashed potatoes beside the chicken. “It would be useful for this one book I’m writing.” “And I think I’d like… a scarf,” Fleet replied as a gravy boat levitated onto the table in front of her. “I’m sure you’ll find one that would look nice on me.” “Very well,” Swift nodded as she committed their requests to memory. “I’ll be sure to remember—” Suddenly, a bright flash of light flooded the room, blinding the four as a loud crunch reached their ears, followed soon by a splat.  When the light died down, the four were surprised to see a crate that had apparently crushed Barrier’s chicken. The impact also caused the gravy boat to tip over, spilling it all over the table. Meanwhile, the mashed potatoes fell off the table entirely, breaking the bowl and scattering the spuds all over the floor. Craning her neck to examine the crate, Swift spotted a sign atop it that made her sigh. If found, please return to Dr. High Gear Vanhoover Institute for Science and Technology - 46 Sunlight Street Laboratory 13, Third Floor As Barrier’s eye furiously twitched, Swift picked the crate up with her magic. “I’ll take this back, and procure some take out. Want me to get some scotch as well?” “Yes, please,” Barrier said before letting out a sigh. “I’ll need it after I finish cleaning this up.”