//------------------------------// // Welcome to Dragon Eyes Spell Shop! // Story: Ace's Spell Shop // by Aceofgods //------------------------------// Chapter One: Welcome to Dragon Eyes Spell Shop! --Written by Aceofgods, edited with the help of Shockhoof Ace stood in the backroom of his humble store, using only his horn to light the dark room. His eyes quickly scanned over the supplies kept within: a few spell books, tall stacks of blank parchment, and a shelf of inkwells; some glowing a dim navy-blue color that did nothing to light the room. He took one of the glowing inkwells in his magic, as well as a quill hidden in a box. He opened the door out of the storeroom just as the bell above the door at the front of the store clattered and rang as a pony wandered into the shop. "Greetings, and welcome to the Dragon Eyes spell shop!” Ace said cheerfully. “How may I be of assistance?" Ace said out of habit. The cream-colored pony looked over the shop a bit as though she expected some sort of enchanted book to come flying off the shelves to serve her instead of a pony. Noticing the expression, Ace thought to himself, Hmm, maybe that's not such a bad idea, before shaking his head to clear his thoughts. The well-aged cream-colored mare gazed at Ace for a moment, taken aback by his dark gray, nearly black coat and two-toned dark-crimson and light-crimson mane. Her posture returned to normal as she noticed the sapphire eyes, gently framed by a pair of black, round rimmed glasses that covered all angles of his eyes, as if they put her at ease. Ace absent-mindedly adjusted his frames as she spoke. "I was told that I could buy a spell here, can you help me?" The elderly mare spoke with a deadpan expression on her face. "Oh,” Ace didn't like the idea of selling magic to somepony he hardly knew, but of course it was a spell shop “I'm sorry. We're out of spells for the week. Might I interest you in some tea instead?" Ace asked as he set the quill and inkwell on the counter. The elder mare sighed a low sound that was laced with sadness, her eyes turning to the floor. She hung her head down low as she closed her eyes and started to turn away as she said in a near-monotone voice. "No,” She shook her head slowly, “I'm afraid that the only thing I need today is a spell. Good day..." Before the earth pony could turn all the way around, Ace nodded his head, with a small knowing smile. "But of course, 'tis a spell shop, after all,” he said echoing his earlier thoughts as he pulled the quill up in his magic. “Perhaps you would like me to craft a spell for you personally, miss?" The earth pony turned her head to look at the prank-loving shopkeeper who had pulled a cruel joke on the aged mare. She tried to be indifferent, but couldn't keep herself from being tainted by his infectious smile as the corners of her mouth started to work into a smile of her own after what seemed like such a simple play on words he pulled on her. She turned to face the unicorn and sat down on the floor as she prepared to explain. The saddlebags on her back attempted to slide a bit at the shift. "My name is Winter Hollow, and I need a spell for my injured cat. He got in a fight with a neighbor cat a day or two ago. That would be fine, but I think he may have broken his jaw,” she said as a new wave of sadness worked its way across her features. “My poor darling hasn't eaten since the fight and I’m beginning to worry it may be affecting his health. Please, do you have any spells that could help him eat?" Ace looked thoughtful as he sat and listened to the gentle mare. He nodded when she had finished and motioned with a hoof to the compartmentalized shelves that lined the walls around the shop. Nearly every cubbyhole filled with parchment. Some were rolled up loosely, while others were tied closed and many laid haphazardly in their five-walled prisons. "Well I'm sorry to say that all of these parchments are blank and bare, as many ponies find it fit to come in and steal from the shop. Then they would run back down the hill and into town before considering what sort of magic spell or enchantment they may have taken. "So I regret to say that we do not 'have' any spells that may help your cat eat with a broken jaw, nor do I know of any such spell." The mare hung her head again, but as she opened her mouth to speak, Ace interrupted: "However, I do know the perfect spell to heal your poor kitten’s jaw in just a few shakes of its tail. I could certainly craft that instead, if you would prefer? It should only take a few moments to prepare, Miss Hollow." As he spoke, he made his way behind the store counter, bringing with him a piece of parchment. The earth pony's eyes lit up for a moment before they glanced over to the chart behind the counter. The listing of prices pinned upon the wall - for different magnitudes of spells - brought worry to her eyes. Ace caught a glimpse as her eyes changed from joy to newfound pain. "Is there a problem, Miss Hollow?" The elder pony averted her gaze as she slowly nodded. "I don't have the bits to pay for an expensive spell. Is there any other way I could be leaving here with that spell?" Winter Hollow looked up into Ace's eyes pleading before he averted his gaze to the poster as well, shaking his head with a soft smile as he motioned to the chart displaying the prices of services and the store's policies. "Please, see for yourself." Winter did as she was asked and started to read the policies at the top of the large poster, policies such as the ‘Right Spell Guarantee,’ and similar facts about the shop and its wares. After reading the policies, she looked down the chart displaying the prices for different levels of spells. Her heart sank as the price just got higher and higher the further down she read. She made her way to the bottom of the list, the print was a bit smaller than the rest - harder to read for her, but perhaps easier for a younger pony. Leaning forward, she started to read aloud, "Should anypony be unable to pay for a spell they require, (especially cases pertaining to a pony’s well-being) trade for services or trade goods, (or for other legal tender) is also accepted at the discretion of the shop handler," Winter Hollow started to visibly brighten. She carefully shrugged the saddlebags off of her back and pulled them in front of her with her muzzle. As soon as she lifted the clasp from one of her bags a pleasant aroma started to fill the shop. Ace looked on with interest, still holding the quill and parchment in his magic as he waited and smiled at the smell that started to fill the small shop. "I baked this just this morning and tried to take it to my dear nephew, but he wasn't at home when I arrived. I passed one of my ol' marefriends and told her about the cat not eating and she recommended this shop lickety split." She dug a covered pie dish out of the bag and held it out with a smile, proudly holding the pie as if it were a trophy. "It's a Hollow family recipe, no other pumpkin pie in town quite like it, not that I've ever seen!" Ace took the dish gingerly in his magic as he asked softly, "A pie? Might I have a small taste before I take it off your hooves?" He set the pie on the counter as Miss Hollow nodded proudly. Ace took a letter opener out of the drawer behind the counter while removing the cover from the pie, instantly catching a strong whiff of its alluring scent. He cut off a small slice of pumpkin pie as he removed the cover. Lifting the slice to his muzzle in his magic, he basked in the sweet smell before taking a small bite, his features almost immediately spreading into a wide smile as the elderly mare smiled a little softer in pride. "Miss Hollow, you have yourself a deal, though I must say I think I'm getting the better end of the bargain here!" he managed before taking another bite out of his slice of pie before replacing the cover. He began writing the spell on the parchment, stopping occasionally to dip the quill in the inkwell again. "Being an earth pony, you'll need a way to activate the spell. Do you happen to know any Unicorns who could help you when you get home, Miss Hollow?" Winter looked thoughtful for a moment, the proud chef's smile fading a bit as she thought of her neighbors. "Well there is Tuxedo Bow-tie, but he's away on business until later this week..." She started to look sad again as Ace was finishing the last of the slice of pie, nodding as he swallowed the decadent dessert. "No matter," he said as he furled up the finished spell and pulled what appeared to be a Unicorn's horn from a separate, vertically compartmentalized shelf beside the policies poster, laying it on the counter next to the rolled up scroll. Winter looked over at the horn and grimaced. Noticing the expression on her face, stifling a small laugh, Ace started to explain. "Oh, no need to be so morbid, miss. 'Tis a clay model made to impersonate a Unicorn's horn. It’s called a 'Spell Activator'. Of course, it doesn't need to look like a Unicorn's horn, but many ponies requested it look similar so that they can remember the purpose of the object.” Ace pulled a similar activator, a compass, to show his point before returning it. “Anyhow, it's enchanted with enough residual magic to activate the spell scrolls we sell here, but not quite enough to cast any spells of their own." The deadpan expression returned to the cream-colored mare's face as she mentioned in an almost depressed voice, "I haven't got the bits to afford anything like that, and the only thing I had to offer was that pumpkin pie..." Ace laughed joyfully at the misunderstanding. "As I mentioned before, Miss Hollow, I feel I'm getting the better end of this bargain. The activators we sell are simple to make and are only worth a few bits. The activator is yours, no charge." He used his magic to stow the spell and activator into her still-open saddlebag before he continued, her face regaining some of the emotion it had lost. "Since it’s your first trip to the Dragon Eyes, let me explain how our spells work, this healing spell specifically: Once you get home, unfurl the scroll and press the activator to the words on the front. After a few moments, the ink will light up a pleasing gold,” Ace said as he held a blank parchment against his horn as an example. “After that, just press the scroll as close as you can to the poor kitty's jaw and the spell will do the rest. Oh, but do be sure to have some water and food set out beforehoof. The spell uses the creature in question's own body and healing to recover any injuries, so it uses the nutrients and water already present to perform the healing. "Usually it just causes a mild case of hunger or thirst, but since the poor critter hasn't ate in a while, I would imagine the pangs of hunger will be a tad more forceful. Understand, Miss Hollow?" Winter Hollow smiled and nodded ecstatically as she settled the saddlebags onto her back, closing the clasp and tightening the cinch around her stomach. "Yes, I understand! Thank you so much, uh... I don't believe I caught your name, mister?" Ace was taken aback, seemingly offended by his own lack of proper etiquette. He stepped out from behind the counter, standing face-to-face with the elder mare before pressing a hoof to his chest and bowing deeply. "My name is Ace Deus Fenrir, and this is my shop. Customers always welcome!" Winter Hollow looked a bit confused at the odd name, more specifically the odd pronunciation of his first name, properly pronounced 'Ah-chay.' Ace came back up with a soft smile on his muzzle as he nodded once. "Yes, it is an unusual name. Most ponies find it easier to just call me Ace. Please feel free to do so as well." The older mare smiled, relaxing a bit at the easier, more familiar pronunciation of the strange name. She nodded before turning towards the door as she said over her shoulder, "Well thank you Ace, for helping to save my dear cat. Have a nice day!" She walked through the doorway, the door being held by Ace's magic, his dark black horn glowing in the gentle gesture as Miss Hollow nearly trotted down the grassy hill towards town as he waved her off with a hoof and a smile. After she had disappeared from sight, he started to check the spell he had around the hill and the shop. The spell was due to last until tomorrow, but Ace saw no reason not to renew the simple perimeter spell now and save himself the trip. Being a simple spell, it would allow Ace to know when somepony approached the shop no matter where he was and took moments to cast. This would allow him to relax without worrying about the establishment being untended. Ace walked back into the shop, casting an intention spell on the lock. The spell was a somewhat aggressive method for security, which would bring harm to anypony who was not a good-natured customer. Ace stowed the ink and quill as he passed the counter before flash-teleporting the pie to rest in the refrigerator in his home, entering the storeroom behind it and locking the door behind him. A black flash went off around Ace, and the room faded to darkness again, leaving the inkwells and parchment to ponder their existence alone. Ace re-materialized in a room surrounded on all sides with a series of shelves lining the walls, each reaching several stories high stopping just before the ceiling started to form into a dome. Painted upon the ceiling was a mural of Canterlot Castle with Celestia’s Sun and Princess Luna’s full Moon shining their shared light down upon the city. The light of the tall windows around the room was accompanied by the light shining from the sun of the enchanted painting. Perhaps I should change the enchantments to allow the moon to be alight at all times, rather than the sun during the day.... Ace proceeded into the next room of his exquisite home in silence, which was only natural as nopony else would be here today. He strode into the foyer, and made his way towards one of the two symmetrical winding staircases that ascended to the third floor. Not wishing to waste time with the manual climb, he flashed himself up to the top of the stairs. He then calmly walked across the landing and through the carved doors that led to the Library. This room, much like the first, was filled to bursting with books. A good number of them glowed tenderly, while a few others shone more fiercely. Unlike the first room, this room was a true library, filled with books lining the walls, and bookcases creating well organized aisles along the floor - though the books were anything but organized. Similar to the initial receiving room there was a mural on the domed ceiling, this one bearing the image of Celestia and Princess Luna, yet in this depiction the two were ruling over their separate domains of day and night on equal halves of Equestria. Much as the last mural, the sun shone brightly from the painted sky above, though it offered no warmth. Ace looked at the disorganized shelves as he passed, sighing. He collected the books, though he easily knew each of the spells contained within. The books were saved should he need a reference or to loan the book to another, but for now, Ace had other concerns. Proceeding out of the library through the double doors that bore a carving of Princess Luna holding the moon aloft in her hooves, he entered the master bedroom. The room was lit softly by the overhead mural on the slanted ceiling. The mural was of Princess Luna raising the moon over Equestria. Taking only a moment to bask in the gentler light, he then proceeded past the four poster canopy bed and a portrait done in his likeness along his path to the vanity set. The vanity was bare, save for the solitary necklace that gave flaw to its otherwise faultless surface. Taking the woven-fiber strand with his magic as he brought the necklace to rest around his neck. He centered the petrified Raven’s talon to his chest as he admired the lightly glowing, spherical ruby it clutched in the mirror. The necklace in place once more, Ace proceeded through one final door into the master bathroom. Ace longed to feel the water run through his coat after being interrupted by a customer coming to the Dragon Eyes spell shop, this time intending to take the precious necklace with him should he be interrupted again. The gem laid host to an enchantment that filled Ace with renewed vigor, making him stretch as his muscles flexed and calmed under the magic that flowed through them. Ace stepped out of the shower, levitating his towel to him from off the nearby rack. Wiping away the water from his face first, proceeding to his mane then his chest, back, legs and tail. Ace kept his eyes closed out of habit until after he replaced his glasses. Ace admired his emblem - his cutie mark - for a moment as he toweled down his flank: an image of a dark grey hoof not unlike his own grasping another, as though the opposing pony had fallen and needed a hoof regaining their balance again. Behind the grasping hooves was the full moon. Ace’s thoughts wandered as he lost himself in the image. Helping other ponies is just a way to further the race, right? Of course, helping others is still a kind thing to do, but it shouldn’t be regarded as a talent or skill… Anypony can do it, and everypony should, Ace thought to himself as he toweled himself off. But ponies do not always think of others, holding only themselves in their minds as they hide in the shadows; waiting to take what is not theirs to bring themselves pleasure, and others pain and sorrow. Ace took a moment to dry off the woven-fiber band of his necklace as he thought to himself. Ponies often find one thing that makes them happy, and lose themselves in it. Sometimes harming only themselves, but more often hurting those around them in their lust for themselves. Anypony, everypony, is at risk of such a fate... Ace shook his head and shrugged away the deeper thoughts as he returned to his morning routine. Ace, now dried off, discarded the dirty towel to the nearby basket, then proceeded through the master bedroom, the library, and the foyer to enter the ballroom that was situated below the library. The ballroom was massive, taking up both the first and second floor all to itself, a grandiose mirror to the Library above it. With picturesque double doors on each wall of the grand space; Ace smiled as he remembered how Prim and Proper - the twin butlers that tended to the large home - had mentioned that it had taken them years to differentiate the four doorways from one another. The ballroom featured a glossy hardwood floor - perfect for dancing of any sort, - soft wood walls that would help cancel out the echo of the huge room, and a pristine ceiling that matched the floor almost perfectly. In a three-by-three pattern, fine crystalline chandeliers hung from the ceiling, which could easily be willed into putting off soft moonlight or oppressive sunlight through magic, - though Ace cared little for the harsh light of Celestia’s sun - or even spread multiple lights around the room like a disco or a laser light-show should the fancy strike. However, Ace did not come to the ballroom to plan a party, not by any means. Having only woken up an hour or two ago, just before being summoned to the shop by a passing customer, Ace wanted to partake in a light breakfast as he proceeded towards the kitchen. Ace opened the large double doors on the left made his way through. He set out a few ingredients through levitation, laying them out on the fine black granite that featured a rare cobalt impurity that spread varying hues of blue across the white-spotted countertops, modeled after the star field that is Princess Luna’s wondrous night sky, the nighttime Princess having returned from her imprisonment only a few years prior. The counter rested in the center of the kitchen as an island, often operating as Ace or his butlers’ meal preparation station. Ace often cooked his own breakfast, though his attendants were frequently kind enough to cook as well. Ace made a mental note to thank Prim and Proper for all of their assistance when next he saw them. He was always happy to allow the twins to take a day off, should they request it, though today was a weekly holiday for the duo. The refrigerator was black with painted constellations and a crescent moon upon the top of the freezer side. To the left was the black stove that bore heating elements in the shape of Celestia’s scathing sun, while to the right rested the latest target of Ace’s desires: the coffee maker. Being the only white appliance in the kitchen was the mark of its age, as well as the coffee pot that had been replaced from a different model, the pot itself no longer matched the brewer due to some nondescript accident that Ace never bothered to commit to memory. Ace prepared the coffee maker, set a new filter inside of it, and pouring a cup of the finest coffee grounds. He then filled it to the top with water from the sink. Flipping the coffee maker on, he proceeded to examine the ingredients for his breakfast: a few cups of flour, two eggs, some baking powder, a pinch of salt, milk, and a bit of butter. Pancakes, the breakfast of champions, Ace thought to himself as he kicked on the stove, then pulled out some bowls and a skillet. Whistling a jaunty tune while he mixed the ingredients, Ace tossed his flank and moved about as his magic did all the work making the batter for his bountiful feast. Completing the batter, he dripped a bit into the skillet, then looked over to the coffee pot to see that the brewing was not going as swiftly as he wanted. Never being one known for extremes of patience where haste was possible, and normally having his personalized hot beverage, over an hour or two ago, he used a simple spell to speed up the brewing process… Ace’s horn suddenly pulsed too brightly for the spell, sending him into an instinctive dive for cover behind the island. The coffee pot, glowing brightly through his spell, exploded violently, rupturing the coffee maker as well. Parts scattered across the countertops, as shrapnel was sent flying over his head. Coffee grounds flew high into the air sending a thorough dusting all over the kitchen floor and Ace’s back. The filter disintegrated and spread among the mess, being torn to shreds by the force. Ace came out from behind the countertop with a sigh as he shook the powder from his coat, coughing from the dust that lingered in the air around him. A misfire? Have I really used that many spells already... Teleported to the store, renewed the perimeter spell, teleported back, flashed up the steps… “Fangs and Talons, I need to start keeping a list for this sort of thing…”Ace sighed and flipped the unfinished pancake, then prepared a time reversal spell to cast on the coffee pot. With a heavy sigh, Ace shrugged off the mishap, which he had accepted as part of his daily life as a regular occurrence, then began to think of how he could mend the damage done using another spell, rather than dwelling on the mishap. Ace had studied the misfires in the past, hoping to find a solution, a cure, or at least a way of predicting exactly when a misfire would happen, but to no avail. Ace reflected on his past, remembering the experiments and the lessons he learned in the process, but quickly shook his head to clear his thoughts as he begun to remedy the result of the latest misfire. The coffee maker reassembled slowly through the time magic, cracks mending themselves as though they had never happened. Once the coffee maker was whole again, the mess created by the mishap was pulled toward the coffee maker and reformed. Recasting the acceleration spell, the coffee was brewed instantly. Removing the now cooked pancake from the skillet with the familiar black glow, Ace began to prepare another. He simultaneously prepared to pour the freshly brewed beverage into a mug from the overhead cabinet. He added the powdered chocolate first, then poured the coffee in to mix the powder, followed by a serving of whipped cream upon the top that was dusted with a helping of powdered sugar, more powdered chocolate, followed by stiff, dark chocolate curls. Taking a quick sip to admire his work, Ace then refocused himself on the task of preparing his actual meal. He flipped the pancake, taking a bite of the previous, already cooked one without the need for unhealthy, sticky mess of maple syrup. This continued, Ace moving his hooves and whistling to a tune nopony else could hear, making and eating pancakes and finishing his pot of coffee similar to the first cup.