This was Anyuna's first time on Earth, and she was impressed by what she saw. Of course, it helped that Bloom's hometown was exceptionally beautiful. Bloom always loved coming home to Gardenia, even when it was raining like it was that day. On this occasion the weather was the last thing on everyone's minds, even Stella, who normally hated the rain - as far as she was concerned, anything that could mess her hair up deserved to be hated. Soon they were outside Bloom's house, where Bloom saw two familiar figures stepping out into the street.
"Hi Mom! Hi Pop!" she shouted, waving happily to her parents.
"Bloom!" cried Mike as he hugged his darling daughter. "We weren't expecting you home - has school finished already?"
"No, 'fraid not," she said. "We're just here on a little shopping trip. I'm afraid we can't stop, we're kinda in a hurry."
"That's a shame... still, it's nice of you to call by. Hello Stella - I hope you've been keeping our little girl out of trouble!"
"Oh yes, of course," Stella replied. "Every day at Alfea is SO boring and quiet!"
Mike and Vanessa laughed. "So anyway Bloom - why ARE you here?"
"We have to get these things for a potion," she said, handing the list over to her father. "And we have to get them by tonight. Do you have any idea where to find them?"
"Hmmm... well, there's a nursery quite near here - you should be able to get your herbs there... but this black seed oil stuff? Never heard of it."
"Apparently, it's a traditional medicine from the Middle East and Asia."
"The Middle East? Oh, I think there's a Middle Eastern shop on the other side of town... I'll just go back inside and look it up in the telephone directory..." A few minutes, he emerged from the house clutching the local phone book. "Found it - here it is!"
Bloom peered at the small advert for a continental grocery.
"Oh, I know that street. Um, Daddy? You couldn't drive us there, could you?"
"Well, I suppose so - I couldn't fit ALL of you in the car though."
"That's okay," said Layla. "It'd be quicker if we split up anyway - you carry on to the shop, and the rest of us will go get the herbs."
"Okay!" said Bloom as she got into the car with her dad, Sky, Mimi and Nini. "We'll meet you guys back here when we're done."
A few minutes later, the group arrived at the store - it was a quaint little place nestled in the heart of one of the busier suburbs. The shelves were stocked full of dates, sweets, nuts, cakes and all manner of fruit and veg. At the back of the shop, a butcher was preparing some meat for a customer. As they walked in, their senses were pleasantly welcomed by the aroma of exotic spices.
"Wow! Get a load of that smell! It's gorgeous!" said Bloom.
"Yeah, and check out the sounds too," added Mimi, commenting on the Arabian music playing quite merrily in the background.
"We have to get that!" Nini replied eagerly. "We could make some totally killer tunes with that!"
"I'm glad you like my music!" The twins turned around to see they were being greeted by a kind-looking old man with dark skin and a greying beard. "Good afternoon my friends, and what can I do for you?"
"Hi." said Bloom's dad. "Do you have any... what was that stuff called again?"
"Black Seed Oil."
"Black Seed Oil? Yes, we should have some of that left." he said, looking towards a shelf behind the counter. "Let me see now... ah, here we are."
He handed a small box to Mike, containing a bottle. "There is cure for every disease in black seeds except death" he read out aloud. "Wow... that's a pretty big claim."
"Let's just hope it's true." said Bloom.
"What do you mean?" enquired the shopkeeper.
"Well, erm, we need it to make a poti... I mean, a medicine for a friend of ours. He really needs our help."
The shopkeeper smiled warmly. "With friends like you, I'm sure he'll be fine. I'll pray for your success."
"Thanks mister!" she said as she handed over the money. "Okay, we better get going. Mimi? Nini?"
"Be right with you!" the twins shouted - they had spotted a CD which just happened to be the same one that the shopkeeper was playing. "Come on, let's get it!"
"Okay... ummm, where's the money?"
"Didn't YOU bring it?"
"No, I thought you did."
"Bummer, we must've forgotten. Ah well, we'll have to come back later."
The shopkeeper laughed. "No no my young friends, you keep it!"
"Oh, I don't know..." Mimi started.
"We really oughtta pay." finished Nini.
"No, I insist. You keep it." said the shopkeeper. "You caught me in a good mood today, and I won't take no for an answer!"
"Really? Thanks!" As they ran out of the store, the shopkeeper called out "Peace be upon you!" The twins turned around, grinned and each gave a V-sign. "Peace!"