The ship drew into the dock. The pier they would be at had been decided long before, and the birds guided their vessel in to pull alongside it smoothly. They didn't go sight-seeing that time. Celestia, Silver, and the others went directly for the museum to have a look around.
Patty looked around as they wove through the streets. "Well, would you look at that? Not a single chair in the place."
Shei nodded lightly. "They're birds, aunt. They perch. See the rods just beside their tables?"
"So I do," agreed Patty. "Oh there's one!" She pointed shamelessly to a group of turkeys that had settled on cushions beside a table instead of perching.
"Don't point, aunt, it's rude."
Master Stroke chuckled softly. "I doubt any of my peers will call you out on it, out loud anyway. You're terrifying to them. To think, horses, here, in Gobble! Oh here we are." He gestured with a wing to an overwhelmingly huge and stately building. It seemed to radiate stability and majesty just looking at its heavy marble pillars and walls. Gold and silver trims drew attention to where the ancient builders wanted eyes to roam, and it was itself a monument of art and permanence. "We shall have to purchase tickets."
Celestia nodded lightly. "Please, lead the way. In fact, why don't we save your countrybirds some trouble by having you purchase the tickets for us?" She pulled out a bag of bits and surrendered it to Stroke.
Stroke took off with it, flying to a small window at the side of the building. A brief discussion seemed to be going on before he handed some coins over from the pouch and got some tokens in return. He returned and passed out the tokens. "The tokens are good for today. Keep them where others can see them. They have a little string on them, so you can wear them." He put his around his neck to demonstrate. "See?"
Soon everyone had their token worn, and they were allowed to walk through the huge doors that led into the art museum. Celestia spoke quietly, "Let's try to look interested in a few pieces on our way. We don't want to tip our hooves too much."
That proved easy to do. Much of the art was amazing in its own different ways. Each had a plaque that described its history, and much of it had come from beyond the borders of Turkey. Traded for, purchased, found in old ruins, or just turning up in some bird's collection, there were countless ways for art to eventually find its way to that building.
Celestia's eyes widened at a particular piece. "It's my old tail bangle." She pointed up at the thick golden bracelet on display. It even said 'Celestia' on one side, and had her cutie mark on the other. "I stopped wearing it after my mane and tail became the way they were, then it went missing."
Silver approached its plaque and read. "It was sold to the birds over a thousand years ago."
Celestia shook her head before turning to move on. "It seems this is where everypony goes to get rid of whatever they 'happened' to find."
Bottom frowned a little and leaned in, whispering as quietly as she could, "Are they stealing things?"
Celestia smiled gently. "Oh, no. I doubt that. Others are taking advantage of them. They're paying good money for goods that may have had shady pasts."
Oman gestured. "And here we are."
Silver trotted up to the display and suddenly felt a powerful pulse run through his loins. He spilled out of his sheath instantly, but felt breathless, not horny. He gasped for breath, but it didn't want to come, and he sank to the cool floor, weakly pulling in little snatches of air. His eyes found the object that called to him. It looked a lot like the first, but clearly larger. He wanted it. He wanted it so badly...
Shei nudged him away from the display, and breath returned to him, gasping loudly as the spell was broken. "Are you alright, master?"
Silver nodded quickly at her. He gave her a little nuzzle before he stood up, glad that his cape concealed the other effects it had on him.
Celestia raised a brow at it, but moved right along as if it wasn't special. and the others followed after it. Silver gave a glance back at the artifact. Just looking at it made him tingle and the urge to possess it became stronger until he wrenched his gaze away.
Celestia's horn glowed as a cake appeared beside her, prepared at Master Stroke's advice. The cake was better than any bell or gong. A bird flew in and settled before Celestia, peering at her, and her floating cake. "Enjoy your visit?"
Celestia nodded at her. "I am, but I was curious about a little exchange perhaps? This being the first time Equestria and Turkey have formally been in contact, an exchange of art seems like the perfect way to mark the occasion." She looked at the art pieces around her, never focusing on the bird.
Spreadfeather smiled. "Oh, perhaps. Did you have your eye on anything?"
Celestia pointed back. "I saw something of mine back there, at least it once was. I would like to have it back, for memento's sake. In return, something I use more recently." She kicked off a shoe and lifted it up with her magic. "One of my golden slippers in return for my old tail bangle. A fair trade? No other museum in the world has one of these."
Spreadfeather reached out her wings to take the slipper, inspecting it critically. "No other? Hmm... Well, since we're just trading mementos, I suppose we could arrange this, out of friendship. Friends also share things you know."
Celestia nudged the cake held in her magic closer to the bird. "Oh certainly, please have some."
No further invitation was required, and she took a big bite out of it, still on the plate. "Mmm..." She fixed her eyes on Stroke. "Did you tell them what my favorite was?"
Stroke shrugged with a bit of a grin. "They wanted to be polite, miss."
Spreadfeather waved a wing at him. "Yes yes, well they've done that. Is that all?"
Celestia gestured at Silver with a bare hoof. "My new husband had his eye on a little bauble that fancies him. Display numbers 58 and 92. If you would see fit to throw those in, I'll make it a full set."
Spreadfeather shook a wing. "Nothing doing. Those are very valuable. One shoe, that's something, four shoes, not much more than one shoe."
Celestia pouted a little. "Ah, and here I thought it would be a nice gift, but if it's much more than that..." she said, implying she didn't care too much.
Patty suddenly raised a hoof. "Oh! I have something." She buried her snout into her saddlebag and pulled out an old looking rug. She shook it and laid it on the ground. "This was once the royal messaging carpet of the father of the current king of Saddle Arabia."
Spreadfeather hopped down to have a look at it. "This... looks surprisingly authentic."
Patty Windsong bobbed her head. "'Course it is! I purchased it myself years back when it went to auction. It doesn't fly no more, but it's still a mighty fine piece of history."
Spreadfeathers got a shrewd look about her. "I see... And you wanted 58 and 92?"
Silver shrugged a little. "Well, I suppose just 58 would suffice, if it's not valuable enough for both."
Spreadfeathers bobbed her head. "Sold. Sold sold." She snatched up the carpet with a talon and flew off with it. She returned shortly with a key. "Let's get you your purchase."
This was going well! Too well... Silver expected the universe to smack him across the snout and make fun of him at any moment as he walked along with the others back to the larger bangle. "Thanks, Patty. That was generous of you."
Patty smiled brightly. "What? I wasn't going to watch you miss out when I had something that might help. Besides, you're important to my niece, which makes you important to me. You treat her right and we're even."
Spreadfeathers got Celestia's purchase out first, and replaced it with the shoe she traded for. "One trinket of the queen of horses for another. Very fair." She moved to Silver's desire next, unlocking the display and retrieving the large bangle. "You know, it's one of a set. We never did get the other half, quite the shame, that. Maybe you'll have better luck." She dropped it right on Silver's head, where it landed a bit skewed over one ear and under the other.
Silver shook his head as powerful waves ran through his body, seeming to pulse from his loins up towards his head, as if trying to reach that new bangle. The bangle sank down over his neck, then everything went dark. He collapsed bonelessly in front of the others.
Celestia reacted quickly. She picked him up in her golden magic and smiled. "He gets a little over-emotional over art sometimes. Thank you, and what a lovely collection you have. Here." She set the cake aside where it could be claimed, and they left with the limp form of Silver floating along. Bottom and Shei peered at the body worriedly, while Oman looked faintly amused. Fiddah moved forward and put her body under his. "I can carry him, m'lady, if you would rather not expend your magic."
Celestia carefully draped Silver over Fiddah. "Thank you. We should get back to the ship as soon as we can."
Master Stroke cleared his throat. "You can't leave just yet, you know? The king and queen will be most upset if you don't visit them, heaven forbid. You must!"