A little surprised with the price, Arcana counted the bits and handed them over to the sales pony. Taking the pie in the box, she thanked him and looked around possible other things to enjoy.
Arcana smiled at Taffy, "This is where I make a dramatic confession. I've never been on a picnic before," she admitted to Taffy.
Taffy stared at Arcana, mouth agape. "How c'n ya never have been on a picnic?! How does that even happen!?"
Arcana thought a bit before answering, "My parents were always really busy, especially since my mother is a musician. I just don't think we had the time really."
Taffy shook her head. "Well we gotta remedy this; we've already got the pie, so we need a quiche, a blanket, a hamper, some sandwiches, maybe a salad, probably some bread," She looked at the sun to gauge the time. "I think we should split up to save time; I'll get the blanket, the hamper and the salad; you get everything else; sound good?"
Surprised with the authoritative tone Taffy took, Arcana smiled and went shopping for the items requested. She thought for a moment and decided to get sandwich makings rather than pre-made sandwiches. She continued shopping as she finished by buying a Gruyere and Bacon Quiche.
Walking through the market, Taffy smiled as she saw what she'd been looking for; a distraught looking vendor pony. Taffy headed over. The pony turned out to be a potter, whose potter's wheel had given out on her; Taffy soon had it running again, and the grateful pony gave her a hoofful of bits for her help. As she wandered around the market collecting the hamper and the blanket, she noticed with some disappointment that she'd already scuffed her hooves. She was so busy inspecting her hooves, she almost walked straight into the fruit and vegetable stall. "You ok Ma'am?" asked the vendor pony. "Ah'm ok thanks; it's just been an interesting day." Taffy replied, nodding. "Ah'm looking to make a salad for a picnic; do ya have any suggestions?" After being walked through the basics of salad construction, and handing over most of her remaining caps for what he promised would be 'the scrummiest salad you've ever eaten!', Taffy went back to regroup with Arcana.
Arcana showed the items she bought for their picnic to Taffy. She was especially proud of finding French style bread freshly baked. She also bought a knife to cut everything that needed it.
"Ok," Taffy said, stowing their collected items in the hamper, "Now all we need is a park. Oh! An' some tea!" She made sure to visit a tea merchant before they left the market in search of a park in which to enact Arcana's first picnic.
Arcana took out her map and studied it for a moment. "Well," she looked to Taffy after she got the tea. "Central Pony Park isn't too far from here. I heard it's pretty nice when you want to get away from the city," she said.
"Sounds good!" Taffy said, smiling; in all honesty, most of her picnics had been in the desert surrounding her hometown, except for a few she'd had with the fortune teller she'd spent some time with, so she didn't know what good picnic area criteria might be. She figured trees and grass were good though.
Arcana found the quickest and safest way toward Central. She led the two mares using quick references to her map. As they walked, she past by a poster detailing his concert tomorrow, saying sold out. "Oh Celestia..." she trailed off. Arcana noticed that she was starting to get a bit nervous already.
Arcana looked at Taffy, and started to calm down, "No, not another, but this one's sold out." Arcana walked away from the poster and took a couple of deep breaths, "I still get very nervous over the prospect of a full house."
Taffy could see where Arcana was coming from, but felt she should reassure her. "You're a very talented pony, and all those ponies that bought tickets know that. Ah don't have any experience performing in front of large crowds, but it seems t' me you did fine last night." She put a leg around Arcana's shoulders and gave her a reassuring squeeze. "Ah'm sure you'll be great."
Arcana calmed all the way down from her hug and she pointed down the street. "Shall we get to the park?" she asked.
Arcana led them both to the park, smiling as she walked. She found a nice clearing, what she knows could make a good picnic. "How's this spot?" she asked Taffy.
