The mare behind the counter appeared to be a centenarian. Tarnish could not help but be astonished by the sheer number of wrinkles upon the old unicorn’s face. The counter was decorated with pictures of ponies, family members by the looks of it, including a family portrait filled with ponies. On the top of the frame ornate letters made up the words, “six generations above ground.” When the meaning of those words sunk in, Tarnish was impressed.
“Need something?” the old mare asked.
Tarnish looked around and caught a glimpse of Maud’s tail disappearing behind a bookshelf. She had told him to get a book or two for himself. Tarnish however, wasn’t sure what to get. After a moment of internal debate, he blurted out, “A primer on botany… I could use a primer on botany and a primer on magic.”
“Sonny, yer a unicorn… you don’t know magic?” The old unicorn mare narrowed her eyes at Tarnish. “Tell me, what excuse do you have for not educating yerself?”
“My magic is particularly dangerous and destructive. And it was not until recently that I was in a place that was safe for me to use it. I’ve always just held it in,” Tarnish replied, being honest and upfront.
“I see.” The old mare blinked a few times as she studied Tarnish. “Hmm, that’s poison joke… what an odd cutie mark. I reckon yer magic is troublesome, ain’t it?”
Somewhat surprised by her observation, Tarnish gave the mare a nervous smile. “Oh, you have no idea, ma’am.” He relaxed a little and began to feel better. The cafe had been stressful.
“I have a magic primer that focuses on control for troublesome foals,” the old mare said. “Like little pyros. My great, great, great, granddaughter, she’s a flaming mess. There might be another great or two in there… I’m getting old and losing track. Anyhoo, the book has exercises and guides to help a foal learn a bit more control. Should work for you as well.” The old mare’s wrinkled face crinkled and she appeared thoughtful for a moment. “As for the botany primer, aisle five, nine shelves down, somewhere near the middle.”
“Thank you,” Tarnish said as the old mare teetered off to find the magic primer.
Taking off on three legs, Tarnish found aisle five, walked nine shelves down, and then began to look around at eye level. He found a marker that said, “Flora.” He began looking at the various books, introductions to botany, basic botany, guides to Equestrian flora, and then, he saw something that intrigued him.
Extremophiles: A Guide to Ballistic Botany, Flaming Flora, and Predatory Plants.
Standing on three legs, Tarnish wasn’t sure how he was going to pull the book out. He didn’t dare use his magic. He didn’t have a hoof free to pull the book out. He was going to have to ask for help it seemed. Tarnish sighed.
“Need something?” Marble poked her head around the corner and peered down the aisle at Tarnish.
“I found a book I want,” Tarnish replied.
Now silent, Marble walked down the aisle, a thick book balanced upon her back. She came to where Tarnish was standing and looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
“That one… the one that says Extremophiles on the spine…”
Nodding, Marble reached up with her hoof, pulled the book out, gave it a little flip, the book soared upwards, and then landed upon Marble’s back on top of the book that was already there.
Tarnish supposed that Marble took the book so it could be paid for. He smiled at her and then had a look at the book she had upon her back. Psychology of Motivation and Emotion Volume Eight: Understanding the Emotionally Disconnected. After reading the title, Tarnish felt a little overwhelmed. Marble was looking at him with a strange expression upon her face. She glanced around, her eyes darting up and down the aisle, and Tarnish could see that she had become nervous.
“Maud has feelings,” Marble said in a low whisper. “She just can’t show them very well. She has moments where she’s happy and moments when she’s sad but she can’t laugh and cry like we do. I just want to understand her and maybe help her so she can be happy. She’s been lonesome for a long time… I know that she gets depressed because she told me.”
Not knowing how to respond, Tarnished Teapot stood there while Marble walked away, her ears were splayed out sideways and she looked even more nervous. Tarnish wondered if it was because she had revealed her sister’s secrets, or if Marble just had a hard time talking to ponies.
After Marble vanished, turning around the corner at the end of the shelves, Tarnish decided to browse for anything else that might be worth reading.
The department store was packed with ponies. Looking in, Tarnish could see a crowd. Feeling apprehensive, he stopped on the sidewalk, let out a groan, and then he started to back up.
“Tarnish?” Cloudy asked.
“I can’t go in there. Too many ponies. I don’t trust my magic,” Tarnish replied.
The matron of the Pie family frowned and then nodded her head. “I understand.”
“I’m going to go sit in the wagon and wait.” Tarnish looked at Maud and his gaze lingered upon her. “Don’t hurry on my account. I don’t mind.”
“Your books are in the wagon, placed inside the trunk. Do keep yourself busy,” Cloudy said to Tarnish. She took a step towards him, looking worried, bit her lip, and then took a step back. She started walking again when Igneous gave her a gentle tug.
A most peculiar feeling came over Tarnished Teapot, and he did not know what it was.
After a lot of effort of rummaging around, using his teeth to grab things, and then working to get himself comfortable, Tarnished Teapot had his prize. Extremophiles: A Guide to Ballistic Botany, Flaming Flora, and Predatory Plants was in front of him, lying upon the wooden boards of the wagon’s bed. He opened it with his hoof and then with much care, he began to flip the pages. When he reached the ‘P’ section, he began to gnaw his lip, nervous, wondering if the book would have a listing for poison joke. And then, there it was.
Poison Joke. Venenum iocus. The Blue Bane. Tarnish flipped through more pages and realised with growing excitement that it was a very long entry. He took a deep breath, tried to calm himself so he could be a bit more studious, and then he began to read, starting at the beginning of the entry. Almost right away, as Tarnished Teapot was reading the discription, it was as if he was reading about himself.
“Hi.”
Maud’s bored sounding monotone jolted Tarnish from his study. Startled, he let out a low cry as he lifted his head and looked around. Behind Maud, several unicorns and an earth pony pulling a shopping cart stood around.
“Complimentary wagon loading service,” Maud said.
“I’ll move.” Tarnish stood up, picked up his book in his teeth, dropped it into the trunk, and then hopped down from the back of the wagon. He landed and wobbled on three legs. After recovering his balance, he got out of the way so the wagon could be loaded.
“Did you have a nice read?” Maud asked.
“I had a wonderful read,” Tarnish replied. He gave Maud a smile. “I learned a few interesting things… I’d like to tell you about them. Maybe tonight, when we’re camping out…”