Chapter 19, Trip to Filly part 2
“Well, what do you think of this then?” Discord asked holding up an inch high figure of a turtle dressed as a mailpony.
“She’d love it…” Jax from the front counter of the store, “But it’s a little too small, one of the animals might try and play with it,”Discord scratched his chin and went back to roaming around the store looking at all the exotic odds and ends. “Sorry about him…” The stallion said to the sale’s mare, “Please continue.”
“Don’t worry about it hun, we get tourists like him all the time… thought not many can do that.” She said pointing at discord as he materialized a glass and pink cloud that filled the glass with chocolate milk. “But hey, that’s Filly for you, never know what you’re going to see. Anyway, if you’re looking for some heavy duty stuff, you came to the right mare. You can get the needles and cord at the store three doors down, and five more down for the padding.”
“Oh, Jax, what about this?” Discord said wearing a fur coat; Jax gave him a heavy look of disgust. “Oh you’re no fun,” Discord moped putting the coat away having not gotten the reaction he wanted.
“ Anyway…” She continued, “The tools are a little pricey, but the only stallion I know that will sell you those will be at the end of the strip here. He can’t sell you the metal plating you want, but judging by the tools you’re looking for, I don’t think that’s a problem for you.”
“No, that won’t be a problem, thank you,” Jax said
“Oh, and one more thing,” The mare added, “You can just leave that little ditty here, come back in a few hours and I’ll have it capped and ready in no time.”
“Really? Thank you,” Jax reached back into his saddlebag, pulling out a small red box. He handed it to the mare and was given a receipt just as Discord popped up again.
“Well, I’ve looked at every inch of this place, and have found nothing suitable for Flutter Shy, On to the next store I guess.” Discord said as he floated to the door, Jax waved goodbye to the mare and left soon after. “Five stores so far and not one of them had anything for Flutter Shy; honestly, I thought this place would have more to offer.”
Outside Discord continued his complaining, causing Jax to roll his eyes as he thought back on the many absurd items discord brought forth and considered possible gifts. “Well she likes knitting, why don’t we go in there?” He said pointing three doors down at a store called String Emporium. Discord scratched his chin thinking for a moment as the stallion started heading for the store stopping at the door waiting for the draconequus. After a moment Discord joined him and the two went inside.
Aisle and aisle of string filled the dimly lit store; in the back at the end of the first aisle at the door was an old light blue and gray-haired mare waving hello as she finished speaking to another guest. “I don’t know Jax, do you really think this would work?” Discord asked looking at small sewing kits at the front of the store.
“Doesn’t matter what I think Discord, just look around and find her a nice yellow or purple bundle of string.” Discord shrugged his shoulders and floated off while Jax went to the far end of the store passing through racks full of all kinds of string arranged by type and sorted by color. Each aisle was like looking at a color scale, until the last one. The last aisle had no racks of string or yarn; instead, it was full of large spools of leather cord of various thicknesses. “Now let’s see…”Jax thought as he examined each different type. After a moment he settled on a mildly thick spool of cord that seemed to be new on the shelf and likely to last much longer than others, shortly after he grabbed to thick sowing needles to go with them. Throwing three spools and the needles into and nearby shopping basket, he headed to the chaser only to be stopped.
“Well hello there,” A tall gray stallion said waving his hoof almost in Jax's face, “welcome to String Emporium, finding everything alright there?”
“Oh, umm yeah got everything I need,” Jax said showing the stallion his little selection.
“Hmmm, got yourself a big project do yeah, don’t use cord like that for anything small, otherwise you’re just wasting money.” The stallion said with a slight laugh at the end.
“Well I wouldn’t say big, but it’s definitely something I want to make sturdy,” Jax said as he slipped past the stallion and to the front counter. The sales mare was pleasantly silent with a warm smile, ringing in Jax purchase and exchanging the supplies for payment quick and simple. Just as the supplies were slipped into his saddle bag, Discord appeared again with a look of disappointment on his face.
“Didn’t find anything?” Jax asked
“Oh there was plenty,” Discord answered, “and then I realized how easily it would be for one of her little friends to chew through anything she makes. Shall we move on then?” He added as he floated for the door.
For the second time that day, Twilight got that old familiar feeling all young fillies felt when their parents brought them to a new toy store. The research lab was just like her own back home in the castle, times as many desks and computers the university would fit into one building. Again she scampered off, looking over each and every piece of equipment, writing down the labels of any that she did not recognize. Meanwhile, Pinkie Pie took the time to act out what she thought was a classic movie scene, standing behind the larger beakers and making herself look funny thought them.
Maud watched as her sister acted like a child, playing and laughing all through the lab every way she could without actually touching anything. She only stopped when she saw a bright flash of light from what seemed to be a magic blast. “Hey, what’s going on in there?” Pinkie asked her sister pointing to a large display window.
“That’s where they're testing some of the new research material,” Maud said which summoned Twilight to her side peering through the glass and down into a small testing room, completely empty aside from three unicorn, a glass box, and a large black stone that resembled coal being levitated in the middle of the room. The three mares watched as one unicorn charged up magic into his horn and shot a magical blast at the stone causing a flash of blinding light for a moment. When the light died, the stone remained unscathed, still floating in the middle of the room.
“Wow,” Pinkie said, “that’s one tough rock!”
“What is it?” Twilight asked turning to Maud.
“We still don’t know much about it, so we just call it the earth stone,” The gray mare responded as she turned and moved toward a small monitor. Hitting a button on the device a video started up with another three ponies in the same room, firing much more powerful magic at the large rock, again it having no effect. “The stone was found in Germany, it somehow contains magic properties that prevent it from being broken by powerful magic.” Twilight watched in awe, knowing that the spells being used in the video could level a house if used right, and yet could not so much as scratch the stone. “If you think that’s impressive, watch this,” Maud fast-forwarded the video to another test on the stone, this one closer up with a green unicorn levitating a feather. Twilight's brow raised, confused as to why anyone would use a feather in a scientific test such as this, where the goal was clearly to see how much force it would take to break the rock.
The father was slowly brought to the stone, so slowly that it was hard to tell if it was actually moving. “So what is this going to…” Twilight stopped mid-sentence as the feather made brushed against the rock, causing a large chunk of it to break off and fall to the ground. The sight of such a bizarre reaction to the touch of a feather left Twilight speechless looking back and forth between Maud and the monitor.
“Right?” was all Maud had to say before explaining. “We still don’t know how or why by these naturally formed rocks somehow reverse what we would consider normal. This stone, for example, becomes harder and more durable as kinetic energy is applied.”
“So the harder you hit it,” Twilight said, “The stronger it becomes?” she asked to which Muad nodded yes. “Wait, but you said rocks, plural, there’s more?”
Muad showed a hint of a smile as she pressed another button, switching to another video test, “this one isn’t really a stone,” she said as the monitor showed another glass box, this one full of water, “but we consider it to fit into the same category.” Magical orbs formed and floated around the glass box, giving off a genital glow, Twilight recognized it as fire magic. As the glow grow brighter, the water slowly started to frost over. Twilight knew this spell, the more the orbs glowed, the hotter it got, and yet, the water was defying all logic and began to freeze to solid ice. “But this one is my favorite…” Maud said switching the video once again, this time showing a bright yellow stone in another container. The stone was levitated out of its glass box by a red unicorn that seemed to be frightened of something. The other stones were like any typical rock, but this yellow one was pointed at each end like a gem. The unicorn slowly lowered the stone down on a table in the center of the room stopping just a hairs with from making contact. The unicorn released his magical hold and ran out of the room as if fearing for his life, the question why was fleeting as the three mares watched the most bizarre display of recorded science they had ever seen. The stone had merely tapped the table, not even hard enough to hear, but somehow it bounced, and then again, and again, and again, bouncing and falling all over like a hoof ball. With each bounce, it seemed to get higher and higher with more force applied every time. Moments later the stone was ricocheting off the table, walls, and ceiling. The walls began to crack under the tremendous force the stone produced with each impact until the sound of ponies panicking could be heard, demanding they stop the test. Soon the stone was moving so fast, that only its moments of impact could be seen, to the naked eye, it would vanish and appeared in a different place. Finally, a loud bang could be heard as a shock wave toppled the camera, ending the video.
“Did that this just hit mock one?” Twilight asked recognizing the sound of a sonic boom from Rainbow Dash’s sonic rain-boom.
“It’s called the lightning stone,” Maud said to Twilight while her sister restarted the video, her mouth still gaping from what she had just say. “It has the ability to absorb kinetic energy, multiply it, and redirect it over and over again. The more kinetic energy it absorbs, the faster it go’s until it eventually hits mock one. We actually had two of these, but when the first one hit mock one it shot through the roof and went celestia knows where. Since then, we’ve kept the other stone in its container.” Twilight watched the video over and over again with Pinkie, still in disbelief that anything could move that fast, all the while Maud just watched the mares enjoying their excretions for a moment. “So, who’s hungry?” she asked, to which Pinkie raised her hoof while keeping her still shocked expression glued to the monitor.
“Honestly, I just can’t imagen what you need all that padding for.” Discord said poking his paw at the brown sack on his green friends back.
“Shouldn’t you be more concerned with what you’re going to get Flutter shy,” The stallion responded as they walked down the artists street passing one performer after another. “Honestly,” Jax said mocking Discords use of the word, “you’ve dragged me from one store to another and you can’t pick out one simple gift for the pony that would love almost anything she got from you.”
“Well it’s not that simple,” The draconequus replied, “Flutter Shy took the risk of a lifetime inviting me into her home, to dinner with her friends, and putting up with my patented brand of madness, all so she could hopefully show me that having friends is better than aimlessly doing whatever you want for eternity. I have to get her something special, something that will remind her of what she did for the world by turning me from my old ways.” Discord then realized that Jax had stopped walking, looking a little over his shoulder he saw the green stallion looking at him with an eyebrow raised as if questioning something. “What?” Jax said nothing and sighed before turning into the shop he had stopped in front of, the hanging wooden sign told Discord that it was a mass collection of antics from around the world.
Inside Jax was waiting, just as the sign said, the store was filled to the brim with trinkets and decor from around the world. Clocks from Switzerland and Germany covered the walls next to tapestries and scrolls from the eastern dragon countries. Robs from Greece and Africa were displayed on manikins next to shelves that held all manners on figures and other strange items, each with a small card explaining meaning and providence. Without a word Discord grow a big smile on his face and went right to work looking around. “This place is perfect,” he called back to Jax as he wandered the store, “Flutter Shy has always loved old stuff like this, oh, what about this,” Discord asked holding up a African mask that resembled a wolf’s face, “The card says it means something about safeguarding and protection.”
“It’s the guardian wolf mask, it’s a type of African spirit ward,” The stallion said placing his bag at the front of the store and joining discord.” If you wanted something like that I’m sure Zecora world gladly make you one herself. However, I hear Flutter Shy was not very pleased with the ones our zebra friend already has.”
Discord looked over the large mask thinking it looked spectacular, but saw his friends point, this mask would no doubt send the poor yellow pegues into shock compared to the ones Zecora had. He put the mask back and wondered around for another few seconds as Jax headed deeper into the store, his eyes fixated on something in the back corner. “What about this?” Discord asked bringing up a Russian doll, “I think she would love a little pony thing like this.”
“That’s a Russian doll,” the stallion replied, somehow knowing what Discord was holding without looking or stopping. “They are interesting, to say the least, but being made of wood I think the animals would have a little too much fun with them. Plus, I learned to make those years ago, if you really want, I could show you.” Jax stopped and sat in front of a display case as Discord flow off again.
“Oh, now this is just perfect,” Discord brought over a small stone figure of a fat mare standing on her hind legs, with subtle carvings on her belly to show her front legs wrapped around it. “The card said that it’s a thousand-year-old artifact from Europe, let’s see those little miscreants try and take a bite out of this. Plus just look at it, it looks ridiculously wonderful.” For a moment Discord held his head up in triumph, but then looked down to see Jax covering his face, holding back from laughing. “Well, what do you think?” He asked
“That’s… that’s and fertility statute…” Jax said trying to hide the amusement in his voice as Discord flinched nearly dropping the small figure. After putting the small stone invitation back, Discord rejoined the stallion, who was looking around smiling. “Well,” Discord nearly hissed at him, “Since you know so much about this stuff, what would you get her,” Jax said nothing and just pointed a hoof at the display case behind him. Looking closer, Discord noticed a dull and chipped teapot with a set of odd cups that didn’t even have handles on them. The set was a dull and sickening mix of green and brown stocks that looked a lot like the color of dying moss on old bricks. Small tools came with the set, as well as one cup that was much bigger than the others. “You must be joking, of all the junk in this store, you want me to give my best friend in the whole world a strange tea set that looks like it came out of the garbage?”
“No, I’m suggesting you get her a one-hundred-year-old tea set made by.” Discord's eyes widened, “I learned about these kinds of tea sets in china, from another traveler I met on the road. Tea sets like these were made to be used in a short ceremony, in which you make the tea from scratch. The tea is, at some point, pored over the pot itself, cleaning the pot and giving it a new shine. In its time, a dull looking pot like this was a sign that its owner wasn’t very social since the ceremony was used to celebrate the presence of a guest.” Discord started to look at the pot in a new light as he imagined the dull colors of the pot shining brightly. “The most interesting thing about it is you never actually clean the pot with soup, you use lemon and vinegar.”
“What on earth would you do that?” Discord asked not thinking of the pot growing mold.
“The lemon and vinegar kill off any bacteria that could grow and be harmful while leaving traces of the tea behind. Because of this, you’ll always have a small hint of your last batch of tea mixed with the new one.”
Discord’s jaw dropped, this crummy old pot really was the perfect gift, something he knew for a fact that the animals would never lay a paw on. Just as well, it involved a small activity the two could do together that would celebrate their friendship. The draconequus was speechless as Jax started walking back to the front of the store to retrieve his things. After a moment Discords paw popped off his body and started waving itself in his face when this proved fruitless, a firm slap was delivered his check, snapping the spirit of chaos back to the real world. As his head jiggled around and settled, he saw that there were more tea sets just like the one Jax had pointed out, each with a unique design and color, seconds later Discord noticed that Jax was about to head out the door. “Where are you going?” He asked as the door cracked open.
“You said you wanted the perfect gift right,” the stallion asked causing the draconequus to fold his arms waiting for a response. “Well, each little set there is made the way it is for a reason. The color, the shape, the cups, you’ll have to read through the cards to know what one is just right.”
“Well, can’t you just tell me what they all mean?” Discord asked gesturing his arms to the displayed tea sets.
“I’ve been to a lot of places Discord, but never Japan, I don’t know even half of the meanings behind those little details.” The smile on Jax's face was more than a sign that he had planned this. Somehow, some way, Jax got the idea that Discord would actually stand there and read through each card until he picked the perfect one, the one that best suited Flutter Shy in every way. Coupled with the sly look of his crimson eyes, half shut; the stallion knew he was right and very pleased with himself while Discord gave him a look of both question and disgust. “Oh come on Discord, I’ve just got one more place I want to stop by before we head back, I figure I can do that while you’re picking out one of these.”
Discord didn’t know what was worse, that he was being ditched, or that this sneaky little pony’s plan was more obvious than his love of chocolate milk, and it was working. “Fine,’ he said trying to sound calm about the situation, “but you best believe I’ll be right behind you once I pick something out.” He finished folding his arms irritated.
“I’m sure you will,” Jax said as he walked out rolling his eyes as soon as he was out of view.