The train pulled into the station with a rattle and lurch, a belch of steam emitting far forward from the engine as it braked to a halt. Bookworm's eyes flew open as the noise and movement woke him from the shallow slumber he had fallen into. Yawning, the blue-gray unicorn's horn began to glow softly as he levitated the leather saddle bags out of the bin over his head and onto his back, where he secured them with a grunt. Not for the first time, he was baffled at how so little luggage could weigh so much, but he tightened the straps and bore the burden easily once he grew accustomed to the extra weight.
The other travellers who were making Ponyville their final destination were already filing out the door: a tall amber colored stallion with orange hair, closely followed by a green and blue mare with long bangs hiding her face, a pair of colts arguing about some matter or another, their mother keeping a close watch on her foals with a look of tired exasperation on her face. Bookworm made it almost to the door to the cabin before smacking his forehead with a hoof, and, looking over his shoulder, magically retrieved the book that he had been reading before he fell asleep, and that had fallen open on the floor where he had been sitting.
And, of course, now I've lost my place.
The unicorn sighed, and stowed the book in his bags, before rushing to the doors before they closed and the train departed for its next stop.
Alighting on the platform, Bookworm took the opportunity to stretch his hooves, leaning back on his haunches and raising his forelegs as high as possible, breathing deeply. A smile came to his face as the sweet, fresh air of the country filled his lungs. It had only been a few hours since he left Manehattan, and he already felt the dust and grime being replaced by the smell of flowers and fresh-cut grass. He trotted happily to the front of the platform, pausing to toss a bit into the can sitting by the tow team, who were even now stretching and drinking water in preparation for the next leg of the train's journey. The closest of the team to him smiled and gave a slight nod as Bookworm dropped the coin into the coffee can, and Bookworm smiled back warmly. The tow team had a tough job as it was, having to pull not only the train and all its passengers over hundreds of miles of hilly terrain, but also the heavy engine that provided power for the brakes and lighting for the rest of the train. It was the least he could do to tip the team in appreciation, even though it was not expected of everypony. Especially after his sister had gone and gotten married to a tow team pony, at the very latest.
After walking around the small train station, Bookworm paused and sat on his haunches. Lying spread out before him was the town of Ponyville.
At first glance, there was nothing remarkable about the town. Just another small farming village, one of the myriad that dotted the landscape between the metropolis of Manehattan and the Castle in Canterlot. Looking at a map, one would be hard pressed to single out Ponyville, nor would one have been able to guess why an assistant librarian from the Manehattan public library would show an interest in the town, other than perhaps to visit family. He did have family in Ponyville, and in fact he was looking forward to meeting his Apple family cousins again after having missed so many reunions, but that wasn't what drew him to the sleepy hamlet.
Bookworm looked at the sky, where he saw the pegasus ponies hard at work preparing the town for a light summer drizzle, and decided he had better get a move on if he still wanted to make his destination before the rain forced him to seek shelter. Lacking a map of the town, he knew he would eventually have to ask directions to his target, but for the time being he didn't mind wandering around aimlessly, taking in the sights and sounds of small town life.
He missed the country. Not that he wasn't happy with his life in Manehattan. On the contrary, big city life suited him well. He loved the convenience of having whatever your heart may desire on hoof at any time of day or night, the endless variety of sights and sounds and entertainment, the sheer diversity of the ponies that littered the roads and sidewalks and sky of the Big Apple.
And the food! From the street vendors to the five-star restaurants, Bookworm couldn't remember a single meal in he'd had in his five years in Manehattan that hadn't filled his taste buds with delight, despite the sometimes meager size of the portions.
Though he was a country colt at heart, it wasn't like he couldn't just take a stroll through Central Pasture if he ever wanted to feel the dirt beneath his hooves. In fact, he knew his opinions might very well be different were it not for that oasis of nature surrounded by stone and glass and concrete. One of his favorite activities on a lazy summer afternoon was to curl up in the shade in a corner of the Pasture, book in hoof or hovering before his eyes, and just letting Equestria revolve around him.
He was awoken from his reverie by the realization that the town was beginning to thin out around him, the shops and houses being slowly replaced by farms and apple orchards. Bookworm realized he had just trotted straight through town, and either didn't come across or simply was daydreaming past the target of his search. Looking around, he realized that not only did he have no idea where he was, he was also uncertain as to which direction he had come from. Sighing, he looked around him to see whether there was anypony around whom he could ask for directions. The street around him was empty, but the door to a nearby establishment was propped open, and soft, exotic-sounding music wafted its way out onto the street.
Bookworm decided to poke his head inside, and was immediately greeted by the aromas of lavender and rose blossoms, as well as by the attractive young mare manning the desk opposite the entrance.
“'ello, iz zere anything we can help yoo with?" The pink, blue-maned mare's voice was high pitched but sweet, layered behind a thick accent that Bookworm couldn't quite place.
"Er, perhaps, miss..." Bookworm paused, eyebrows raised to indicate the question.
"Oh, I am Aloe. And zis is ze Lotus Blossom Spa. I take eet yoo are new to Ponyville?"
Bookworm, who despite his experience with the many different accents spoken by the many immigrant ponies of Manehattan, was still having trouble pinning hers down. Eastern, certainly, perhaps Romaneia?
"Oh, yes, my name is Bookworm. I was hoping that you could, erm, direct me to the library?"
"Zust down zis road here, turn left at the Carousel Boutique." Aloe smiled warmly, and stretched out a hoof in the direction of the library. "It iz not far."
"Thank you, miss Aloe." Bookworm adjusted his saddlebags and began to back out the door, but was stopped by a particularly intense smell of... He couldn't quite place it. Orchids? It suddenly occurred to him that he had a long day of traveling behind him, and a good soak would certainly do his hooves and back well. He turned back to the mare behind the desk.
"Beg pardon, madam, but, may I enquire, would I be able to perhaps make use of your, er, facilities?"
The mare looked puzzled. "You wish to use our restroom?"
Bookworm blushed and shook his head. "No, no, sorry, I meant... Your spa, would you happen to have an opening today, perhaps this evening?"
The mare laughed, a melodious and clear thing. "Oh, of course! Let me just take a look." The earth pony produced a book from underneath the counter top and flipped to a dog-eared page. Bookworm gave an involuntary shudder at the method of place marking - years of working at the library, most recently in the rare books department, had instilled him with a bit of a revulsion to the practice - but the mare didn't seem to notice. Finally, her hoof rested on a line in the book.
"Oh, I am so sorry, meester..." it was the mare's turn to arc a questioning eyebrow.
"Bookworm, miss Aloe. My name is Bookworm."
"Bookworm." The mare's accent turned his rather plain name into something that sounded more suited to a songbird in Bookworm's ears. "I'm sorry, wee are all full today. Tomorrow perhaps?"
"Yes, tomorrow will do nicely." Bookworm tried to keep the disappointment out of his voice, but the mare detected it despite his attempts. "I am so sorry, my seester Lotus is feeling ill today, so eet is just me here."
"I understand." Bookworm made an appointment for the next afternoon, then, with a smile and a wave for the mare, he took his leave, and headed in the direction she had indicated.
It was just as well, Bookworm figured. The sun was just about under the horizon, and the pegasus ponies were maneuvering the last of the rainclouds into place before the night's downpour. Now that he knew where to look, Bookworm could easily make out the form of the ancient oak tree that housed the library. He could also see, in the opposite direction, a copse of apple trees that surely marked the beginning of the Sweet Apple Acres. The library was almost certainly closed by now, and he didn't want to leave his cousin waiting for too long, so he turned his back on the goal of his journey and headed to see his Apple family cousins.
"Why howdy Bookie!" Applejack was just as full of energy as he remembered her, even though it had been years, perhaps even decades, since he'd seen her last. "We're so glad you could come visit with us, seein' as how you never seem t'a make it to the reunions." Bookworm blushed. His ties to the Apple family were distant at best, and he hadn't made the time to reconnect with the extended family since he started attending Canterlot College.
"I'm sorry cousin Applejack, but you remember what Manehattan life is like." To this, Applejack made a disgusted face, but it immediately cleared into a warm smile.
"I certainly do, cuz! How you could ever stand to live in that noisy, dirty city is somethin' I'll never quite git about you, but it's always good to see you." She poked him in the sides playfully. "And I declare, how you manage to put on so many pounds with the food in the city is a mystery too, I reckon!"
Bookworm took the good-natured ribbing, but had the decency to at least look a little hurt, before breaking out in a wide grin. "We don't all eat at those fancy five-star restaurants you know. There are a million places to get some real food. With real portions, even."
"I can tell." Applejack laughed. "You'll have to take me to one of these places if I ever come and visit. But enough yackin', let me show you to yer room."
Bookworm followed his cousin around to the back of the small farmhouse to a smaller outbuilding, a few years away from the building proper. Applejack opened the door to the small house, and then stepped aside to let Bookworm in. Bookworm declined the opened door, but instead bowed his head and stepped aside.
"Ladies first!" His gallantry earned him a hoof smack to the head, but Applejack took him up on his offer and entered the small, one-roomed guest house first, tossing a quick glance to make sure one more time that everything was in place.
"Here ya are, cuz’! You got yer bed, yer... floor, yer... ceilin'..." Applejack looked slightly embarrassed at the sparse furnishing of the one-room shack, with a bed, a table, and two chairs, and not much else.
Bookworm simply smiled, letting out a small chuckle. The bed looked comfortable though, and he was tempted to curl up under the blankets there and then, but resisted the urge, and gave his cousin a warm hug.
"Ow! Watch where ya point that thing!" Applejack pointed at his horn. Bookworm withdrew quickly, putting a hoof to its tip to prevent any further injury to his cousin. This just evoked more laughter from the orange mare, which in turn made Bookworm blush.
"Gotcha!" Applejack laughed again, and Bookworm couldn't help but find himself chuckling along.
"Celestia, I can't believe I fell for that again!"
"Yeah Bookie, you were easy as a colt, and the big city sure hasn't changed that about you!" They shared a good laugh for a minute, both reminiscing to their days as foals, him running around the only unicorn in the herd of earth ponies at every family reunion.
"Welp, you have a long day o’ travelin’ behind ya, I'll let you get some sleep." The two ponies embraced once more, then Applejack said her goodbyes and left the unicorn to settle in to his temporary home.
Bookworm unpacked his bags, putting away his clothes into the small dresser and setting the two books he had brought with him on the bedside table. Then, the day's exhaustion finally settling in, he took off his pocketed jacket, laid down on the invitingly soft mattress, and closed his eyes. In a matter of minutes he was prancing through the starry fields of Luna's dreamland.
Bookworm was startled awake by a familiar sound, but one that he had not heard in many years - the "cock-a-doodle-doo" of the Apple family's rooster. He smiled, the sound reminding him of his family's home, then yawned and stretched his forelegs. Bleary-eyed, he rolled out of the bed and ambled over to the window. The previous night's rain had left the ground darkened and damp, but the pegasus ponies had worked overtime to make sure the clouds were out of the sky long before Celestia rose the sun, and the morning was setting the stage for another beautiful summer day. Bookworm opened the window and breathed in the fresh air. He could detect the notes of dirt, grass and fertilizer that bought back fuzzy memories of his childhood growing up on the farm, as well as not quite as pleasant memories of waking up at the crack of dawn to maintain their family's livelihood. Searching the scene in front of him, sure enough he saw Applejack and Big Macintosh heading out to tend the apple orchard, AJ skipping along merrily while Big Mac followed at a more demure pace. He couldn't see them from this angle, but he was sure Granny Smith was sitting on the porch, surveying the new morning over her knitting, and Applebloom was most likely milking the cows before heading off to school.
Pulling his head out of the window, Bookworm was almost tempted to offer a hoof with the chores, even though he knew that wouldn't be expected of him. But he shook his head, remembering the primary reason he had come to Ponyville in the first place, got dressed, made himself presentable in the small bathroom, and headed out the door.
The smell of the previous night's downpour hit him even more strongly once he walked out the door. He remembered reading once that that smell had a name: Petrichor. He smiled at the obscure word, and breathed deeply, enjoying the petrichor as it filled his lungs and nostrils. A smile was plastered on his face as he followed the winding dirt path back into town.
As he walked past the sleepy residences that lined the main thoroughfare of Ponyville, Book once again marveled at the variety of architectural styles that were present in the small town. He knew that was partly due to the age of the village; a town named "Ponyville" had sat here since at least the time of the Banishment, and perhaps much longer than that. He smiled as he passed a half-timbered farmhouse, flanked by a carousel-inspired building that could have been in a traveling carnival, and a modern-looking, elegantly simple-faced residence. One particular building caught his eye, or rather his nose. A garish yet inviting pink building that looked like a giant frosted cake emitted a smell that invoked even more pleasant memories than the farmhouse smells - the smell of freshly brewed coffee.
Bookworm wandered over to the cake house, taking in the sign that read "Sugarcube Corner," and peered in the open door. The interior was just as inviting and saccharine as the outside had been, and he could see a pink pegasus puttering around behind a glass counter. Patting his pocket to make sure he had brought enough bits, he entered the room. It smelled of pastries and freshly roasted coffee beans, and Bookworm trotted up to the glass counter. The pink pony, noticing his entry, turned to him and flashed him a welcoming smile.
"Good morning! what can I get for you today?" Bookworm was momentarily taken aback by the pony's accent, which marked her as somepony from the Uneighted Kingdom, but he soon recovered and smiled warmly in return.
"Pardon me madam, but I couldn't help but notice that divine smell as I walked by. Do you think I could trouble you for a cup of coffee..." He broke off as he noticed a finely-polished brass and wood espresso machine sitting on the back counter top. "And perhaps a shot of espresso to go with that?" He added quickly.
The pegasus giggled softly. "So formal! Please, call me Taffy. And I'll get that for you in a jiffy! Would you like the espresso in the coffee?"
Book grinned at the pegasus. "Why, Miss Taffy, I do believe you can read my mind!" Taffy laughed.
"One Red Eye, coming up! And please, just Taffy, mister..." She trailed off, the question hanging in the air.
Bookworm realized that he wore a shocked look, then answered quickly. "Bookworm. And I’m surprised you know that term. I've been to highly regarded coffee shops where the proprietors have looked at me as if I were from the moon when I ordered that." This just elicited another bubbly laugh from the delighted Taffy.
"Oh, this isn't my first time behind a coffee machine, Bookworm. I put myself through college pulling shots." She poured the espresso into the large, ceramic mug and set it on the counter in front of Bookworm. She then reached underneath the counter and pulled out a plate with two delightful-smelling pastries and set them before the unicorn. "Here. You're new in town, aren't you? Have these, on the house. Call it a welcoming gift." Bookworm made to refuse her generosity, but the smell of warm baked goods soon overcame any resistance he may have mounted, his sincerity undermined by thee rumbling of his belly.
After sipping the coffee and nibbling on the pastry, Bookworm sighed contentedly. "I have seen through your plan, miss.. er, I mean Taffy. You give us these delicious treats for free to get us hooked, so that we keep coming back for more!" Taffy just shrugged, wings outstretched, and winked.
"I do believe you are on to me, mister Bookworm" She put a slight, teasing emphasis on the word mister.
"Well, you are quite successful. I think I may just have to make your shop a regular part of my morning routine!" He downed the rest of his coffee and ordered another.
"So, what brings you to Ponyville? Visiting family?" She poured him another cup, added the espresso, then began wiping down the countertop while she listened.
"Yes... and no. I'm here on business, actually, though I am taking the opportunity to visit with my cousins, the Apples." Bookworm took his time with the second cup, savoring the earthy aroma of the freshly-roasted beans, as well as the slightly sharper tang of the espresso shot.
"Why am I not surprised?" Taffy again let out a bubbly laugh. "Seems as though half of Equestria is related to the Apple family!"
Bookworm smiled. "Yes, well, we're not exactly closely related, something to the order of second cousins once removed, but the Apples have always been known for their hospitality, and we do try to make it to the reunions when we can."
"So if that's the pleasure part, what's the business? Let me see if I can guess... field research? Archeology, maybe, or agriculture?"
Bookworm laughed. "Close. Actually, I am here on a cultural mission, but not one of research. I'm an associate librarian at the Manehattan Public Library, you see, and I..."
Taffy let out a squeal, her eyes opening wide. "You're from Manehattan! I grew up there!"
Bookworm nodded, shrugging off the interruption, though he felt a smile curl on his lips. "I've only lived there almost six years now, so I'm hardly a native. Still, I wouldn't have expected to find another Manehattanite way out here. What brings you to Ponyville, if I may ask?"
"Oh, a little of this, a little of that." Taffy resumed her cleaning. "My bakery apprenticeship to the Cakes was the main reason, but the proximity to Canterlot makes it easier to further my studies as well."
Bookworm smiled again, finishing off the second pastry with a murmur of pleasure. "Correspondence classes from the University of Canterlot, I presume? What are you studying, if I may ask?"
Bookworm's formal tone brought forth another giggle from Taffy. "Pharmacology, actually. I’m hoping to start up a pharmacy here in Ponyville once I have my degree. Right now, there is only the clinic's dispensary, and it can barely keep up during flu season, not to mention should a pony develop something more... exotic."
Bookworm looked at her with open admiration. "You've a completed apprenticeship in baking, a college degree, AND are working on your graduate degree?" He scanned her up and down, taking in her young age. "When do you find the time?"
She giggled at him in reply. "Well, the apprenticeship wasn't hard, the Cakes are excellent mentors. I was able to finish my degree in Hospitality while working here at the bakery. And Ponyville is a sleepy enough town for the most part that I find plenty of time to devote to my studies."
Bookworm just nodded. "Yes, it's a welcome change to the big city. I grew up in a town much like this, and although I love living in the city, there is just something about a small town that really does a soul good."
Taffy nodded as well, understanding in her eyes. "Yes, I know what you mean. I still visit the Big Apple whenever I can, but I don't regret moving here one bit. Anyway," she looked down at the rag in her hoof, suddenly remembering herself. "I didn't let you finish. What brings you to Ponyville?"
Bookworm finished his second cup, and debated an whether to order a third. Taffy noticed his empty cup and set about making him another before he could make up his mind. "Well, books, actually. The Ponyville library has a unique collection of rare and valuable books, and I was sent here to see if we can't coax some of them out of this small town and into the Manehattan Public Library's collection."
Taffy finished preparing the coffee, and gave Bookworm a puzzled look. "If they are so valuable, why would you think they would want to part with them?"
Bookworm accepted the coffee gratefully, and blew across the top of the cup to help cool it. "Well, a number of reasons. For one, they would be compensated generously, above what a private collector might pay, and small libraries like these are always looking for more funding... although Ponyville's is a special case. The other is that the Manehattan library is better suited to restoring and preserving them, ensuring that future generations will still have access to the knowledge contained within them."
Taffy, content with the cleanliness of the counter tops, rinsed out the rag and settled in across the counter from Bookworm. "Why is Ponyville a special case?"
"Well, the Ponyville library isn't an independent one," Book took the cup in his hooves, and gently tilted the hot liquid into his mouth. "It's an adjunct to the Royal Library in Canterlot, and is used as a repository for a lot of the rarer books in the Royal collection. They don't exactly need the extra funding." Bookworm chuckled, and took another sip. "That's why I was sent here in person, to talk to Miss Sparkle and see if we couldn't come to an arrangement. Normally, these sort of acquisitions would be handled by mail."
"But wouldn't Princess Celestia have some say in the matter?" Taffy seemed genuinely interested in the goings-on at the local library, and her sincerity made Bookworm smile.
"Well, I don't think she, personally, takes that much of an interest, but she did appoint her protégée, Miss Sparkle, to the post, and I'm sure Her Majesty trusts her judgment. In any case," Bookworm shrugged. "This is a bit of a long shot, but we can at least try to get a dialogue going with the library, which will help us in the future if we need to work with them to help our patrons with their research."
As Bookworm finished his third cup, he smiled and asked for the bill. Taffy simply waved it off with her hoof, but Bookworm left a not small number of bits on the table as a tip. "I'm afraid I should be going, I still have to meet with Miss Sparkle today."
Taffy flew over the counter and escorted Bookworm to the door. "Well, it was truly a pleasure meeting you Bookworm. Hopefully we'll see you in here again soon?"
Bookworm nodded and stepped out the door. "You can count on it Taffy! I will be sure to stop by every day I'm in Ponyville. I only wish I could take your coffee back with me to Manehattan!"
Taffy just waved off the compliment with another hoof motion, and then waved goodbye to Bookworm as he trotted towards the library.