//------------------------------// // Discovery // Story: Cast Iron Chaos // by Mr Merritt //------------------------------// Twilight Sparkle, always looking for new ways to increase the patronage at the Ponyville Library, had hit upon a veritable grand slam of an idea. After a discussion with her good friend Rarity, the lavender mare had decided upon the controversial (for Equestria, at least) idea of lending out monthly periodicals alongside the usual reading material. Despite some initial misgivings with the ponies who ran the town’s only newsstand, the Element of Magic had managed to gather a wide selection of newspapers and magazines to offer to the users of the library. Once the news of these new materials had spread, the big tree in the middle of Ponyville had become extremely popular and crowded. While most of the adult ponies were happy to borrow and take home the new items, a lot of the younger ones preferred to do their reading in the building itself. While Twilight was thrilled to see so many eager minds devouring the literature, her number one assistant was decided less happy about the situation. It was that Spike didn’t approve of the dramatic increasing in readership, for he shared Twilight’s high opinion of the written word. But with all the colts and fillies now occupying every available inch of floor space on an almost daily basis, it made doing his daily library chores that much more difficult. The baby dragon might not have been the type to shun hard work, but there were limits to his patience for how little free time he seemed to be having as of late. Today was no exception to the new rule, and Spike was struggling through his shelving with a forced smile. He was particularly annoyed by the fact that most of the new readers seemed to actively plop themselves down exactly where he needed to be, whether it was in front of a bookshelf or in front of the wheeled cart he now used instead of going back and forth from the circulation desk. It seemed no matter where he went he found his optimal path blocked by young pony flesh. “We do have designated places to sit you know…” muttered the baby dragon as he danced around a pair of young fillies who had their snouts buried in what he recognized as one of the fashion magazines Rarity had a sizable collection of. They were oblivious to the grumpy reptilian as he skirted around their swishing tails and longing gazes at the beautiful dresses worn buy equally beautiful mares. Managing to put the armful of books back onto their proper shelves, Spike turned away from the fillies only to near trip over a familiar grey Earth colt that was leafing through a different magazine. The fact that he was probably the last pony Spike would have expected to not obey the rules was surprising, as was his apparent choice of literature. “Canterlot Today? I never would have expected you to be interested in something like that Peppermill.” remarked the dragon as he sidestepped the colt. “Sometimes when I got…bored back at the…restaurant I would…look through some of…Mother’s magazines. I like to see if…I recognize any of the ponies…from conversations or…who might have come to dine.” explained the grey colt with a lop-sided smile. “Besides, it helps…whenever I suddenly feel…homesick for Canterlot.” “You can’t take the city out of the pony huh?” laughed Spike. Peppermill responded with a chuckle and a nod. Spike turned away to get back to his duties when he was stopped by a sudden noise. The gasp was significant enough to make him glance over his shoulder back at the source, which was the youngest Apple pony. Something in the magazine had got his attention, and he was looking anxious. “Spike, this was…last month’s edition, right?” “Um, yeah it is.” “And shouldn’t…the new one be available…by now?” “Yeah, we usually don’t get a copy to lend until a day or two after the newsstands get them.” “Or…the mail for subscribers?” “Probably…” “I bet…Rarity would have…a copy of that one, right?” The colt was growing more and more excited, and all Spike could manage was a nod of agreement before Peppermill quickly pushed his now forgotten magazine into the dragon's arms and jogged out of the building. “What was all that about?” wondered Spike out loud. *** A surge of hope flooding through Peppermill made him break into a full gallop the second he stepped out of the library towards the Carousel Boutique. Memories of his past life, and one particular bit of knowledge about his late parents urged him to duck and weave among the other ponies on the street. He had to make certain that what he had just read was not a misprint or a cruel (in his opinion) joke. It wasn’t long before her arrived at the shop, and he burst through the door. Normally, Peppermill was not the type to lean towards excitable behavior, for he felt he had a certain mature reputation to live up to. But his discovery and its implications, not to mention the need to verify the facts made him slightly reckless. Before the tiny chime over the entrance had even finished he heard the familiar, cultured voice of the dressmaker sing out. “I’m in the kitchen Sweetie Belle!” The colt gave a small chuckle at the thought of being mistaken for the mare’s younger sister. It was understandable, given just how excitable the little filly could get. Peppermill noted the voice had come from the little kitchen off of the main show floor, and headed there. Sure enough, Rarity was at her kitchen table, levitating a cup of tea to her lips as she scanned an opened magazine before her. “I’m sorry to…interrupt your break…Rarity but this…is really important.” “Peppermill darling! What a pleasant surprise. Do come in and pour yourself a cup.” “No thank you. Please tell me…that is the most recent edition…of Canterlot Today?” “Why of course it is darling. Ditzy Doo delivered it less than an hour ago. Why do you want to look at it?” “I just want…the section where they…print special announcements and…events across Equestria.” Her curiosity piqued, the pure white mare allowed the colt to take a hold of the publication and leaf through the pages. Eventually the little chef found what he was looking for because he began to recite from the page out loud, his voice growing more and more excited with every word: MANEHATTEN – Canterlot Today is proud to announce the six locations where famous metal shaper and blacksmith Pygg Iron will be allowing his Cast Iron Pans to be sold. As it is well known, Mr. Iron only makes thirty-six of these superb kitchen utensils ever twenty years. Chefs all across Equestria covet these pans for their superior heat retention, durability and high quality. Six hoof-chosen sellers of fine cookware across six randomly chosen cities and towns across the kingdom are expected to receive these utensils no later than the middle of this month. Given the scarcity and infamy of these items, they are expected to sell out quickly. “Manehatten…Las Neighgas…oh!” Peppermill just about tumbled out of his seat, and pointed with a trembling hoof at the page. “Rarity…please tell me…that says what…I think it says?” The mare peered at the point in the paragraph the colt was motioning to, and then gave a gasp of surprise. “Dear Celestia…Ponyville! Ponyville is going to be selling these pans! What an absolute honor!” “This is more…than an honor! This…is the…greatest news…I have ever heard! I…I have to have one!” The unicorn mare watched in fascination as the colt began to look more and more excited, practically bouncing in place not unlike a certain pink party mare she knew. She couldn’t recall every seeing the normally composed colt so jubilant. “Oh!” The colt suddenly stopped in mid-bounce, a look of panic on his face. He managed to avoid falling with a thud on Rarity’s kitchen floor, as he gave her a look of distress. “I…I have to…go home. I have to…count out how many…bits I have saved.” And with that, Peppermill was a grey blur as he took off out of the back door. “My…” Rarity found herself looking over the article herself, amazed at the reaction from her little friend. But then she spotted a small sentence in regards to the cost. It might have been hard to believe, but a white pony paling was as spectacular a sight as a red one blushing. “Oh my…that is…quite a lot of money.”