Ch 25. Meeting the barber.
After the whirlwind of hair settles down I finally get a good look at the barber. He has a sand colored coat and a red and white mane and tail. His mane looks like Flim and Flam´s, but a little less bacony. His face looks worn by age, but still holds a friendly genuine smile.
He grabs a mirror and shows me the back of my head. The mirror shows my dark grey/purple hair which is a lot shorter than before and looks a lot better. I think that I forgot to explain how I look. Yes, I think I did (Great monologue). I have a light grey coat, with a couple of darker spots towards my hooves. My hair is a color that consists of dark grey and a darker purple, it looks quite nice. My wings are the same color; they only get a bit darker at the ends.
“Do you like the haircut, mister?” He asks me.
“It´s great, thanks.” I say as I get a good look at the great work he did. I hop out of the chair and grab the bag of bits out of my ´pocket´.
“Oh, no, sir, there´s no need for that, sir. I saw that you are new in town and the first cut here is always free.” He says, his smile never faltering.
I rub some loose hairs out of my mane, letting them join the rest on the ground. “Thanks, that´s very nice of you,” I say as I shake his hoof. “But what´s your name?”
“My name is Cutting Edge and I have owned this barbershop for a long time. I run this shop with my wife Sharp Scissor and my son Snips,” He says as he puts the mirror down. He grabs a broom and start sweeping my hair into a bin.
“Nice to meet you, mister Edge. My name is Leo Lion,” I say to the sweeping barber. “I have arrived in Ponyville a couple of days ago.”
“And have you enjoyed your stay so far?” Cutting asks as he puts the broom back.
“I have. Everypony that I have met has been nice to me. I have been living with Miss Dash for a while because my bit supple has been running a bit dry lately. She offered me a place to sleep until I could rent a place.” I say as I look at my awesome haircut in a larger mirror.
“You live with Miss Dash? You must be a miracle worker. She is never seen around stallions, let alone that she would let a one in her house,” He says surprised. “Is there something that you aren’t telling me?” He gave me a suggesting grin.
“What… no? She’s just a friend and nothing more. And for the record, I have been sleeping at Applejack her house for a night or two.” I say, trying to avoid rumors. Only then I realize what I have said. I give a sheepish smile as I grab the book and balance it on my back.
His grin came back in full force. “I’m sure you have mister Lion.”
“Oh, don’t start again,” I say to him as I have my hoof on the doorknob. “I’ll send
you an invitation to the wedding.” I say to him as I open the door and give him a wave of my hoof. “Until the next time.”
“Until next time, sir.” I hear from behind me as I walk out of the door and into the street.
I think for a while about what I am going to do. Maybe I could get a carrot or a few cherries. Maybe I should do something that has nothing to with food. I think that I’m just going to read my book in the park, should be better for me than just eating all the time.
I walk through the town, towards the few spots of green that I see in the distance, past a few carts. I wave to Mac, who is manning the applecart. He gives me a small nod and I give one back. A wave and a nod at the same time looks a bit stupid, but I don’t care.
I walk into the park and find the nearest bench. I hop on it and sit upon the bench Lyra-style. I take the book and start reading the second chapter.
After some hardcore reading I am woken from my trance by somepony. The pony
in question sits down next to me on the bench and starts peeking at the book.
“Why are you reading a book on magic for beginners?” I hear a mare’s voice say next to me.
I turn my face away from the book to see who is talking to me. I see Rainbow sitting next to me, smiling as she is trying to understand something of the book. She doesn’t understand a bit from what I can tell.
“Why would be reading something for beginners if you can already use magic?” She asks as she peeks at the page number. I’m not even half-way through the chapter.
It’s lying time again. “I am just brushing up a bit on the basics. I let myself slack a bit, so I forgot some of the more important basics. And it helps that I like reading too.” I say, hoping that my smile isn’t too sheepish.
“You’re turning into an egghead that is capable of rivaling with Twilight,” Rainbow says as she blows a hair out of her face. “You read too much. I’m going flying for a bit. You are coming?”
I can humiliate myself in front her with flying or humiliate myself not at all. “Nah, I’m good.”
“Fine, go play egghead then.” She says as she flies up and flaps away.
It appears to me that she wasn’t surprised that I was reading a book about magic, just before she asked me to fly with her. Discord did a good job in hiding me from the public, but it is a bit macabre that he would kill the second pony that found out. I really hope that he was kidding, but I’m not taking any risk. No telling ponies about my wings and horn situation.
I hear rustling behind me and close the book. I turn around and get a face full of leaves, twigs and light grey fur.