“All right! Saddlebags…check! Shopping list…check! Bow-tie to impress the ladies…chekity-check! I´m all set to go…to the market!!!! I´m leaving Spines!”

Dusk Shine shut the door close before even bothering to hear his convalescent assistant. Usually she handled the shopping but last night she broke both legs or something and now it was up to Dusk Shine to gather some food. A task he found pointless, accustomed as he was to spend days without a single bite if he was in the middle of a big experiment. That was Spines´ biggest fault, she was a good assistant but has all those needs like sleeping and eating on a regular basis, not to mention that annoying tendency to get hurt in the important part of an investigation; how was Dusk Shine supposed to finish his research on bringing the death back to life if his guinea pig keeps getting poisoned on every single trial? Oh well, there was no helping now. Since Owloysius had fly off somewhere after the last time Dusk Shine tried to attach some electrodes to her head, it was up to Dusk Shine to get the groceries.

The market was, like usual but Dusk Shine had no way to know it, flooded with ponies, all bickering and bargaining prices. Dusk Shine remembered his sister talking about Saddle Arabia and the markets there where camels where quick to trick a pony selling some piece of garbage at excessive prices but he was sure this one was even worse. Since he wasn’t used to deal with a crowd so big he moved to the only stand he fell comfortable with, the one that sold apples.

“Hey Applejack…”

“Well howdy there, haystack! This sure ta be a strange sight, yah doing ta house choirs?” the mocking tone of the cowpony was obvious.

“Spines is bed-ridden because…I don’t know can´t remember. So yeah, I´ll be doing the shopping today.”

“Sure yah can handle it, haystack? It´ can get pretty rude out ´ere…”

“I defeated three evil monsters who tried to take over Equestria…”

“We helped too, Dusk…”

“I´m sure I can handle something as simple as the groceries as buying groceries. Now, how much for that bucket of apples?”

“Ten bits.”

“What? That´s outrageous! Five bits!”

“That ain´ going to work with me, haystack.”

“All right then, seven bits.”

“Ten bits.”

“Eight bits!”

“Ten bits.”

“Twenty bits!”

“All right then, twenty it is.”

“Great. No, what? Damn you Berry, this didn’t work at all!”

“Told ya.”

“Anyways, I´m your best friend Applejack! How come I don’t get a special discount for friends?”

“Ta was the discount. Them apples here cost thirty bits!”

“You´re unbearable!”

“One thing is friendship, another is business.”

“Argh!”

Frustrated, Dusk Shine left the stand, cursing out loud. He couldn’t believe this! Some friend Applejack was, scamming him right in his face! If this was the kind of crap Spines had to deal with on a daily basis he had a new respect for his assistant, well he wouldn’t go that far but yeah this was outrageous!

“Umm…Dusk Shine?”

And he still had a full list of things to buy he didn’t even know what they were. What the hay was a cabbage?

“Dusk Shine.”

And what if every stand was the same? He didn’t want to argue with every single pony in town but seriously, it was that difficult to just buy some apples?

“Dusk Shine!!!”

He turned around to greet a strange pony wearing a purple scarf, tainted sunglasses and an oversized hat. Dusk Shine may not be an expert of fashion as Elusive but that was certainly the most ridiculous outfit he had seen.

“Umh do I know you?”

“It me, Dusk Shine. Butterscotch.” And he put the glasses down to reveal his pristine sky-blue eyes.

“Oh it is you. Why are you wearing that, Scotch?”

“Umh I didn’t want to make a scene. Last time I came to the market some ponies recognize for my brief stint as an actor and well things get a little out of control…”

“Yeah I remember it. I was there too.”

“Oh you were? Sorry, all I remember where that pile of mares kissing me and pulling my mane.”

“Yeah poor thing…” Dusk Shine rolled his eyes in contempt.

“Ummh are you busy, Dusk Shine?”

“No, I was just shopping but turns out its more difficult that I think, especially because every sales pony it’s a scammer!”  He shouted out loud.

“Though luck, sugarcube.”

“Shut up!”

“Umh mind if I join you? I have to get some carrots for Angela.”

“Sure. Let´s go.”

While they walked down the market, Dusk Shine noticed that every pony, both male and female, turned over to see at Butterscotch. Even in disguise he still was the center of attention, ironic for a pony so shy. Dusk Shine cared deeply for his friend but couldn´t help feeling a little sting of jealously which was clearly visible on his face.

“Something´s wrong, Dusk Shine?” worried, Butterscotch asked.

“ Uh nothing it’s just…you´re so lucky for needing to wear a disguise.”

“I don’t think I´m lucky at all…”

“I mean, I´ll give my own right front leg to get mares jumping all over me!”

“Umh it’s not that great, Dusk Shine. Actually, it’s pretty annoying…”

“Remember all those problems I get with the gala tickets? How crazy I was to get that plus one?”

“I thought we agreed we didn’t need to take a date to the gala…”

“Yeah, and how that turned out for us? Let me remind you…” Dusk Shine took a deep breath and put on a crazy face. “YOU WILL LOVE ME!!!!”

“…was that really necessary? I´m not proud of that at all.”

“Sorry Scotch but my point is you guys have it easy. You´re all good looking or funny of can do impressive trick in the air. All I have it´s a stupid library full of dusty books nopony gives a feather about!”

“That’s not true, Dusk Shine! You have made some impressive feats this last year!”

“Yeah well, its ture but my life hasn’t improved at all. I´m still being ignored, no matter what I try. Even this stupid bow-tie isn´t working!” and he tossed it aside in contempt.

Butterscotch looked at his friend, trying to think about something to say to cheer him up when suddenly the unmistakable chatting of a group of mares came closer. Elusive was coming to his direction surrounded by his parade of female admirers.

“Great, just what I needed…”

“Greetings my friend and may ask, who is this lovely mare next to you Dusk Shine?”

“Mare? Wh-“

Before he could finish, Butterscotch grabbed Dusk Shine and held him closer.

“Hi, I´m Sun Flower. I came to visit from Canterlot.” He said in a rather impressive effeminate voice.

“Oh Canterlot? Dusk Shine, shame on you! You never told you have such and adorable acquaintance!”

Dusk Shine was dumbfounded but he quickly caught up with the act. “Oh yeah, Sun Flowers is…a very special friend form uh Solari´s school for Gifted Unicorns!”

“But she is a pegasus…”

“Uhh I met her during a mix camp with a umh Cloudsdale Flight School…”

Butterscotch almost facehoofed but luckily Elusive was too enthralled with Sun Flower to neither notice nor care.

“Well miss Flower. I´m Elusive, charmed to meet you.” And he kissed “her” hoof.” Since you´re new to town may I give you the official welcome tour or perhaps skip right into the finale…a dinner in my boutique?”

“Oh I´m terribly sorry Repulsive but Dusky here promised to take me shopping, right Dusky?”

“Umh yeah, he did I mean I did so umh see ya Lucy.” And they trot off.

“It´s…Elusive.”

Once they felt at a safe enough distance they both burst out in laughter.

“HAHAHA I can´t believe you did that. It was hilarious!”

“Sorry, it was the only thing that occurred to me.”

“No it was great but Lucy haha how come he didn’t notice?”

“Why? You think I don´t make a fine impression of a mare?” and he tossed his mane and blinked seductively.

Dusk Shine blush a little. “Well oh why don´t we uh move on?”

Before Butterscotch could ask what was bothering his friend, they ran into a familiar zebra.

“Good morning to you, my dearest friend; I must say that you being in the market it’s a sight indeed rare.”

“Oh hi Zicor!”

“And who may be this lovely lady next to you? Such a charming mare I have yet to know.”

“My name is Sun Flower and meeting you is such a delight.”

“That didn’t rhyme at all…”

“Judging for how tight is her embrace; I´ll said you no longer need that potion to ensnare mares.”

“What potion?” Butterscotch asked while Dusk Shine nervously gestured to Zicor to be quiet.

“Something is wrong, Dusk Shine? I was under the impression yo-“Dusk Shine put his hoof inside the zebra´s mouth to shut him.

“That I needed one of your potions for my mane. He he. I have dander.”

Butterscotch obviously didn’t believe that but played along, saying goodbye to Zicor as he took Dusk Shine foreleg and trot away.

“Dander, huh?”

“Let´s not dwell into that, please.”

Butterscotch giggled in a very feminine way as they passed next to Applejack’s stand.

“Howdy partner, came fer more apples? Well there, how you do miss? I think I´ve never see you around town before…” Applejack said and took his hat out.

“Well, what a gentlecolt. My name is Sun flower and I would love to have some apples.” “She” said, blinking flirty.

“Help yourself, ma’am.”

“How much is for this apples bucket?”

“For you, ma´am; just five bits.”

“You got to be kidding me…”

“Thank you, kind sir.”

“Applejack at your service, ma´am.”

“Woah, who is this fine lady, big bro?”

“Applebuck, be quiet.”

“Good day to you, Applejack.”

“Good day, ma´am.” Applejack said while still pushing his little brother behind the stand.

Dusk Shine couldn’t help but laugh. Applejack’s stupid goofy grin as he watched “Sun Flower” ´plot was simply ridiculous. Butterscotch was indeed a convincing actor but it also helped that all these ponies lost their head when around a pretty mare. Dusk Shine laughed at the complicity of knowing that said “mare” was actually one of their friends. If they knew the truth Applejack and Elusive will most likely exchange coat colors.

“You seem happy.”

“Yeah. Thank you Butterscotch. You really lift up my day.”

“Don’t mention it. It was funny playing a prank on Jack and Lucy. I always thought Blitz and Berry were hurting other ponies feelings but some pranks may be a little funny.”

“And speaking of Tyrek, look who’s coming…” Butterscotch turned over to see Rainbow Blitz calmly trotting in their direction. “Time for some payback. Come here Sun Flower.”

“Dusk Shine, wh-“ Butterscotch didn’t get to finish that sentence because his tongue get stuck with something.

“Hey Dusk. Hey Scotch. Glad to see you finally came out of the cloud.”

“Damnit, how come such a clueless pony never falls for any disguise? I even once used my magic to turn Berry into a pegasus once to fool him and he still recognize him! Oh well, guess four of four was beign too ambitious. Still, it was a fun day and I get mostly everything in the list. Although I´m sure Spines will find something to complain…well see ya later Scotch!”

And Dusk Shine calmly trotted back to the library. Butterscotch, in the other hoof, stood there with a blank expression, his mouth still wide open and crooked sunglasses.

“…call me.”