Ponyville never had a good history with show ponies. There had of course been Trixie, twice. Later they'd had Flim and Flam that basically did their best to ruin the entire apple family business. So yes, this small village didn't exactly have an open mind to wandering show ponies.
But of course, the one closing in on the small village couldn't know that.
He was large, incredibly so, close to being the size of Big Macintosh. But of course you had to be reasonably large to carry around a personal wagon. He was a golden brown with a darker brown mane. His wagon had green banners on the side with a small gold purse serving as the cover on a red book. Their colors matched those of his clothes, which was green cloth with white trim that was draped around his shoulders and chest.
"Another day full of opportunities." He said to himself, looking towards the small village.
"Another village, more money."
"Spike, get over here, quickly!"
The tiny dragon noisily woke from his sleep. Twilight was standing by the window that faced the town square, enthusiastically waving the small dragon closer.
He responded by rolling onto his side and attempted to fall asleep once again.
Twilight stared at him with eyes half closed. Her horn lit up and the tiny bed frame was enveloped in a lavender glow and was carried to the window, where the dragon was unceremoniously dropped onto the ground. Spike quickly recovered and got to his feet.
"This is one of the reasons why your reputation as sister has received some hairline fracture." He growled, rubbing the back of his head to make the numbness disappear.
She rolled her eyes, "nevermind, I wanted you to see this." She pointed a hoof out the window. Spike, still rubbing the back of his head, walked over with tired eyes, and was met with the sight of an all new carriage standing outside. It had golden and green banners on the sides, and a rather large stallion was busily preparing........ Something, with the large construct.
"You're seriously dragging me away from my beauty sleep to look at some old stallion setting up a weird scheme?" He raised an eyebrow in fake disbelief before dragging his bed back to its place, "sometimes Twilight........ Sometimes........"
"He isn't a show pony Spike, he's a salesman."
Spike stiffened like a board, as if he'd died and rigor mortis had activated about 10 hours sooner than it should. This, however quickly stopped as he hurried towards his own drawer, where he took out one of his most valuable possession. His piggybank.
"I've been waiting an eternity for an opportunity like this." Spike was on the point of almost giggling as he smashed the porcelain piggybank into the floor, the coins were strewn across the floor, as was the small pieces of what was once a whole doll.
"I know you have." Twilight smiled, this was why she'd presented it to him in the first place, he'd saved up for months. Not for anything specific, but because he'd been waiting for an opportunity, and now one presented itself on a silver platter.
"One, two....." Spike was counting carefully, dragging the bits into a small pile on his right, with the chunks of porcelain going to his left. "73 bits." He proudly announced, picking up the coins and showing them to Twilight.
"Hurry down there then," she pushed him forward. "Before all the good stuff is taken!"
Spike needed no more encouragement than that, he ran down towards the door as fast as his legs could carry him. Twilight smiling the entire time, slightly amused, but moreso happy for his excitement.
Spike almost ran the door down, running towards the town square without closing it after him. Soon he could see the salesman clearly, he was wearing what Spike could recall Twilight calling a tabard. It had a red book with a small bag of money on its cover on the chest, with green silk and a white trim covering almost his entire body. He had a small green fez on his head, tilted slightly to the left. Spike clutched the small amount of bits tensely, watching the stallion pulling at ropes to set up the stand. He walked carefully closer, trying his best not to interrupt him.
"Umm, excuse me sir?"
The stallion immediately let go of the rope, making a wood panel flap down and cause something inside the wagon to make weird noises. The stallion turned around and looked frantically around him, before Spike poked at his shin, making him look down.
"Oh dear, you scared the life out of me little one." He laughed heartedly, "tell me, what can I do for you thats so important?"
"I-I-I......." Spike stammered, his intention hadn't been to scare the stallion. Panic was striking down, almost like when Twilight started freaking out. What if he won't sell me anything now? What If he's angry? What will Twilight think?
"Come on now, speak up, I don't bear a grudge, everyone makes mistakes now and then." He lowered his head so he was eye level with Spike.
"I-I'm sorry, I didn't want to startle you." Spike managed to blurt out.
The stallion blinked a few time in confusion before flinging his head back and roaring in laughter. Spike jumped a few steps back, this hadn't exactly been the expected reaction. The stallion finally finished laughing and started wiping away the tears. "Well, I'm sorry for worrying you so much little one." He choked out in between small spurts of laughter. "What did you want?"
Spike blinked twice to get his mind back on track, and once he had done so he couldn't help but hide a smile. It was nice to meet a showpony who wasn't an arrogant snot head. "I just wanted to get a look at your wares." Spike said, extending his money filled claw. The salesman eyed it with amusement, and perhaps a little guilt.
"Well come on in, let's see if I've got something for you." He smiled again, waving a hoof for the dragon to follow. Spike was more than happy to obey. The salesman opened a door in the side of the wagon, he scuttled inside, soon followed by Spike. The dragon could so absolutely nothing, as it was completely pitch black dark.
"Just wait, I've gotta light my lamp." The salesman said, rumbling through the large piles of stuff strewn all across the floor. "Where is the blasted thing?" He grumbled under his breath, until he felt something collide with his forehead, "ah, here it is." He exclaimed, and soon after he'd twisted the small button on the side, Spike could see.
And boy, what he could see.
Exotic wares lined the walls, some things spike could recognize, like different gems -of both the familiar and unfamiliar variety. Different types of clothing. Huge ornate weapons that looked far too alien for any normal pony to use. Staves, books, even glowing orbs that would make Twilight giddy with excitement. There was even different types of food hung up on a long piece of string. On shelves there was potions and salves that covered the entire color pallet.
Spike could feel the money burning a whole in his claw, they wanted to be spent.
"So," the stallion hung up the lamp on the string alongside the different foods, "does anything here peak your interest?"
"Everything does....." Spikes whispered, turning to the salesman, "how do you have all this stuff?"
"Traveling and connections little one..." The salesman looked towards the roof with slightly blank eyes. "Too much traveling, and slightly unfortunate connections." He quickly shook his head, escaping the sort of dreamlike state he'd been in, "but never mind that, how much spending money do you have?"
Spike proudly presented the small pile of bits to the salesman, "73 bits." The dragon smiled, "I've been saving up for ages."
"I'm sure you have." The stallion nodded, "anything particular that might interest you?"
Spike had his eyes firmly fixed on a beautifully cut red gemstone. It seemed to have some sort of weird light flowing inside it that sparkled and glowed randomly. "How much for this?" He asked, grasping the red gem. He could feel it spark in his claw, this was no ordinary gem.
The salesman smiled apologetically, "I'm afraid you don't have quite enough for that little one." He bit into the gem and gently took it from the dragon, placing it on its original stand. "It's about 300 bits."
Spike couldn't even get his head around that kind of number. It was a special gem to be sure, but for 300 bits you could buy a single pony trip to Zebrania for about five months, five star hotel, touring and special events included. That much for a gem was ridiculous.
"Well," Spike said, obviously disappointed, "how much for that one?" He pointed towards yet another of the gems, this one was a light pink, and he felt stronger even holding it.
"50 bits." The salesman said. "Is this your choice then?"
Spike shook his head and placed the gem back on its stand, "that's just too much in my opinion." He looked at the ground, feeling the tears well up in his eyes. "Thank you for showing me around." He started walking towards the door, wiping his eyes free of the wetness.
The salesman put a hoof on his shoulder and turned him around. "Today I will be hosting a show right here in ponyville. If you can be there I promise you that the most prized artifact in this shop shall be yours."
Spike lit up in a smile, "when is it?"
"Tonight." The salesman smiled, "tonight little one."