Fresh Start: Next Chapter (Enigma/Me)

[DMis]

"Never knew that you could alchemize plushies," Beth noted with a smile. "And it's been a while since I heard that term."

Beth gave a small giggle. "It is a type of fan for a show from my old home," she offered.

[enigmamystere]

Sweetie's eyes widened, finally understanding. "Now I get it! They must like that show Alex showed me!" She giggled, sheepishly blushing. "I look like such a klutz on there!"

Rulett smiled playfully, rolling her eyes. "Yes, because we know you aren't that clumsy in person." She leaned in close, cupping a hand over her ear but using a stage whisper, loud enough for Beth to hear. "Like how you tried to make pancakes for Alex and I?"

Sweetie blushed softly, a hoof making tiny circles in the ground. "...I'm getting better at cooking...besides..." The unicorn filly looked up, a sly smile on her lips. "...you burnt cereal..." She giggled softly at Rulett's flustered look, poking her chest with a hoof. "That's what you get for making fun of me!" She bounded over to Beth, wrapping her legs around one of the human's. She playfully stuck her tongue out at the troll, making it clear they were both joking around.

[DMis]

"How do you burn cereal?" Beth asked with a straight face as the inside of her was cracking up. "Also why are there shirts with the god tier symbols on them in the stores? Is it a culture thing or a recent event?"

The last part of her words kind of stuck out. Mentally and somewhat physically she winced.

"I just sounded like an idiot......" she muttered.

[enigmamystere]

Rulett shrugged, sheepishly smiling. "...I didn't know you didn't need to heat it..." She glanced at the God-Tier shirts, frowning slightly. "...and don't worry, I asked Alex the same question..." She reached into her shopping bag and pulled out a book. On the cover, there was a white figure with glasses and a beagle in his hand. "...it turns out that we're not the only ones to play the game...but we are less popular than the other ones..." She handed the book over, letting the title, 'Homestuck', be face-up.

Sweetie was oblivious to their conversation, having been more concerned with playing a game on her holographic computer. She made her character hide inside their blocky house, grumbling about how zombies were stupid.

[DMis]

Beth nodded as she looked at the book. So others have played, she thought.

"Okay. That makes more sense than what I had going through my head," she replied. "I think being less popular is just fine for me."

"So what are you playing Sweetie?" Beth asked as she looked from Rulett to the filly.

[enigmamystere]

The young unicorn looked up at Beth, smiling brightly. "Minecraft!" She turned back to it, expanding the screen so the three of them could see. She pointed at a large, multi-spired building. "Look, I built a castle like Princess Celestia's!"

Rulett leaned in, blinking in surprise. "...that's interesting..." She leaped back in shock as a zombie popped up, quickly hiding behind Beth.

Sweetie easily beat up the monster and turned back to her friends, still smiling. "What do you think? Pretty neat, right?"

[DMis]

"Yeah. And nice work on the castle too," Beth answered. "Rulett you okay or did the zombie startle you?"

[enigmamystere]

Rulett blushed brightly, coming out from behind her friend. "...s-startled, honestly..." She gave a sheepish smile. Soon she realized her fetch modus was still out. She snapped her fingers, and it vanished. She sighed in relief, walking over to the plush unicorn. She gently picked it up, holding it out to Beth. "...um...do you want it? I have plenty more..."

Sweetie giggled, saving her game and closing it. She looked up at her new friend, happily smiling, waiting to see what she did.

[DMis]

Beth smiled as she accepted the little plushie.

"Thanks," she replied with a chuckle. "You want to join Sweetie and I as we wander around?"

By this time Beth realized that she was still wearing the jacket Sweetie had pointed out earlier. She set the plushie down before taking it off and picking up the gift that Rulett had given her.

[enigmamystere]

Rulett nodded, smiling brightly. "I'd like that." She put a hand on Sweetie's head, playfully rustling her mane as she took her fedora. The filly giggled, batting the hand away. The troll put the hat with her shirt, smiling softly at the young pony. "I'll buy this for you. I'm fairly certain you didn't bring any currency, right?"

Sweetie stopped in the middle of putting on her saddlebags, frowning softly and facehoofing. "I knew I forgot something!" She blushed in embarrassment, rubbing the spot on her face where she facehoofed. "...I also forgot how much that hurts..."

[DMis]

"Yay!" Beth said in an excited tone."Sweetie could I have the things you picked up for me? I should probably pay for them."

[enigmamystere]

Sweetie nodded happily, lighting up her horn and taking the pile up with a small, emerald-green aura, levitating them over to Beth. "Here you go!" She looked over to Rulett, watching as the troll purchased their clothes.

[DMis]

Beth nodded as she waited behind Rulett. It still felt a little odd for her to be buying the clothes but it was better than the worn out clothes she was wearing.

"So what's the the conversion rate for boonbucks?" Beth asked Rulett after going up to the register.

[enigmamystere]

Rulett thought for a moment, trying to recall the conversion rate. "...I think it's...two and a half times the local currency?" She completed her purchase, taking the fedora and putting it on the filly's head.

Sweetie, meanwhile, was bouncing around Beth's legs, chattering about the shops that they could go to and the food at the food court. One would almost expect that she'd eaten a pile of sugary food, given how hyper she was acting.

[DMis]

"Then I have enough to cover this," she sighed before paying for the shirts and jacket. "Well that's a start."

"Sweetie, how much sugar have you had today?" Beth asked looking at the filly again and taking her bag of clothing.