Chapter 1: Sounds Simple Enough
Brushed mane? I ran a hoof through my freshly washed mane. Check.
Clean coat? The towel in the hamper and the steam on the bathroom mirror would testify to that. Check.
Brushed teeth? My still-wet toothbrush was in the sink and the taste of peppermint hung onto my teeth. Check.
Fresh breath? I breathed into my hoof; minty fresh. Check.
I looked at myself in my bathroom mirror, the steam wiped away by my bath towel, and couldn’t help but notice a cheesy toothy smile. Looks like I’m presentable enough. Guess it’s time to time to head out.
As I walked around my house, making sure things were closed before I stepped out, my plan kept playing out in my mind:
It sounded easy enough; there shouldn’t be any reason as to why it wouldn’t work.
It was only then that I realized I cleaned my kitchen and was in the process of organizing my closet cabinet. I wasn’t sure whether I should be ashamed of me trying to delay myself subconsciously or worried that I did an amazing job so far with cleaning and organizing. Hay, I saw some canned fruits and veggies that I didn’t know I had mixed in with some other canned goods, all organized from oldest to newest expiration dates. I put down the can in my hoof and closed the cabinet door, leaning my head against it.
Seriously, it’s an easy to follow plan. So, why am I trying to stop myself from doing it?
I shook my head and made my way towards the front door, offering the hallway mirror a quick glance. Outside of looking a bit tired, I still looked the same from when I checked myself out in the bathroom.
If you don’t make your move soon, somepony else will. Pop’s words rang in my ears, telling me what I knew already, that if I didn’t do it now that I would regret it later.
I grabbed the saddlebags waiting for me by the entrance door. I would have left then and there, but a light blue object on a hat rack caught my eye – my beanie. I plucked it from its perch. Despite its age, the fabric felt as soft as the day as I got it. The touch brought back a lot of old, very fond memories. A smile came to my face as I rubbed the beanie softly, trying not to damage it in anyway. It was a silly thing to think, but I always felt that it was a lucky item. With what I was about to do, it wouldn’t hurt to have a bit more luck on my side. I placed it on my head, checking the nearby mirror to make sure it was looking alright, and headed out. My destination was set, and I wouldn’t let anything stop me from reaching it. That being said, I took one step outside only to come back inside to get my scarf before I ventured more.
I made my way through the town market, it being the fastest way for me to get to the library, and moved through the crowd; even in fall, the market was full of ponies buying and selling various wares.
I made my way through the town market, it being the fastest way for me to get to the library, and moved through the crowd.
I shivered under the chilled breeze and tightened the scarf around my neck. Even with all the ponies in the market square, it was still surprisingly cold. The market was alive and well, the owners trying to get the last of the summer harvest sold before they spoil. My ears drooped to rest against my head, the noise far too loud for my tastes. Ponies haggled to the lowest bit, hooves clopping against the ground, bushels of food scratched against the counter.
Carrot Top’s voice was louder than all the noise, trying to drag in her next customer. Half her carrots were missing from her brown woven basket, the carrot leaves shaped almost like a green flower. All dozen of her carrots were a vibrant orange, not a blemish or scratch on them; just seeing them made my mouth water. As my hooves automatically headed towards her, some pony bumped me out of the way, leading several other mares towards her. I shook my head and surveyed where my brief trek had taken me.
Hugh was having a blast showing off his jellies and jams. How he was able to sell as many as he could was beyond me, especially since he was able to afford renovating his parent’s old run down cart into something that grabs your eyes. Jars of jam, all different sizes and flavors, dotted the cart. Most of his stock, however, was gone, with only five or six left- was that strawberry? I squinted through the shuffling ponies and saw a single strawberry jam jar hidden in the back. Grinning like a fool, I ran over and tried to get it, but once more, a mini-pony stampede knocked me flat. Before I could get up, the jar was gone as Hugh put away several bits.
I sighed, before nearly being taken out by a bunch of fillies and colts. A filly smashed face first into his cart, knocking a jar right on his head, the grape jam slowly dripping down his face. Everypony that saw laughed as the filly stumbled around for a moment.
My snout twitched as a breeze brought a pleasant smell to me. I turned and saw Roseluck, surrounded by a plethora of flowers, the names of which I couldn’t even begin to remember. Bouquets of bright purple asters, goldenrods blooming from the corners…what I’m sure was orchids, and, surprisingly, a sparse collection of summer flowers, like delilahs and surprise lilies, held her front line. I smiled and waved as we made eye contact. She waved and smiled back.
I continued my journey, trying to unconsciously count how many pumpkins there were. It was my own little mission, to see if I could find all the pumpkins the earth ponies put around. Last year there were one hundred and twenty two, and so far I only had seen ninety eight. Quite a few stalls loved to showcase them, even if they had nothing to do with it, like Dove’s stall. Why she put out a new pumpkin scented soap, I’ll never know.
I heard Applejack’s trademark accent as I looked to see her stall completely empty, the biggest grin on her face as she placed a few bits into a bulging bag. I blinked in surprise as several ponies left her stall, all munching on deliciously ripe red apples. Apple Bloom and Big Mac were nowhere in sight, probably had dashed off to grab more supplies back home. Applejack tipped her hat towards me and I did the same before going on my way.
I managed to take a few steps before my hooves were ensnared and I was dragged backwards, flat on my face.
“Ah’m sorry ta have done that to yah, Grey,” Applejack told me when I finally reached her stall, “but Ah need a quick favor from yah.”
“You could have just asked Applejack,” I told her as she untied me. “You dirtied up my scarf and coat.”
“Yah sound like Rarity right now.” She helped me up. “Besides, yah don’t look all that dirty.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I looked at the crowd. “I’m kind of on a hurry right now. So, could that favor of yours wait until later?”
“Ah’m sorry, but it can’t.”
I sighed. “Okay. What is it that you need me to do? Check up on Apple Bloom and Big Mac?”
“Actually, Ah need yah to look after the stall for a while. We’ve been selling out quick today, so Ah want ta get some of ta barrels we have at ta farm.”
“Is that why Big Mac isn’t here? Today’s usually his day at the stall.”
“Ah sent him out to get a few barrels at the farm we put aside earlier this mornin’,” she rubbed the back of her head, “though he’s takin’ longer than he should have.”
“Maybe he got held up by somepony?” I asked while shrugging. “Though, that doesn’t really sound like your brother.”
Applejack kicked the ground. “Ah know, and that’s got me worried.”
I looked at her and couldn’t help but feel my heart start to ache. I knew that I probably couldn’t afford helping her, but it looked like she needed the help and she was one of my closest friends. Stupid, dumb heart; making me do things.
“I’ll cover for you for a bit, Applejack,” I told her. “Not too long though. Just enough for you to see what happened. There’s something that I need to do today and I really don’t want to put it off more than I already have.”
She looked up at me, giving me a heartfelt smile. “Thanks Grey! Ah promise that Ah won’t be long. Ah’ll be back as soon as Ah can.” As she turned and left, a part of me, an annoying part, felt like she might have played me, but another part felt like she wouldn’t be the type to do that.
I stepped behind the stall. Nopony was walking up to me. It felt like time would pass by quickly, that Applejack would be back soon.
That feeling changed when a roaming crowd of ponies decided that they wanted to buy apples all at the same time. I’m not that good of a salespony, so dealing with one pony is hard enough to me. Having twenty ponies trying to talk over each other was hectic to deal with, especially since none of them seemed to get the fact that “there are no apples right now” meant that there weren’t any apples.
My torture ended when the Apple siblings arrived out of nowhere. It felt like they were my apple-based angels, swooping down from the skies, bringing with them barrels of delicious Red Galas, Golden Delicious, Granny Smiths, and Macintoshes, and selling the goods so fast that everypony seemed to be satisfied all at once. The frenzied crowd fighting to get their apples before the stock was depleted gave me enough time to slip away, though I looked back at the stall, just in case they needed some more help. Apple Bloom was the only one of the siblings who noticed me through the frenzy and give me a quick wave. I smiled and waved back before leaving the market and continuing onto my quest.
It didn’t take long for me to spot the library as I rounded a corner, being that most of the town’s roads led to it in one shape or form, so I couldn’t help but speed up my steps, though my hooves turned more into loose forms of jelly with every step. It took a bit of doing, but I somehow managed to stop my jelly hooves from moving long enough to let gather whatever resolve was left in me.
Come on; you could do this. The library is just a block away. Just go in there, drop off the books that are almost due, and subtly ask Twilight out on a date. No big deal.
Before my brain went on a possibly interesting debate against itself, a bump brought me back to my senses. I was about to apologize for bumping into somepony, but saw the smile on the white coated unicorn mare and felt like I should probably worry a little.
“Grey! What a pleasant surprise!” Rarity exclaimed, several rolls of tightly packed fabric poked out of her saddlebags.
“Hey Rarity, how’s the shopping going?” I said, not stopping my trot towards the treehouse.
Rarity kept pace, a frown adorning her face. “Sadly, not so well; I can’t seem to find my muse…” She trailed off as she stared at me, a slight unnerving chill slowly working its way through me.
“Um… you okay Rari-Hey!” She captured me in a vice grip, using my scarf as leverage, and started to haul me towards her boutique, it being in the opposite direction.
“Oh, it’s wonderful darling!” she gleefully exclaimed, and was nearly bouncing with joy. “I found my muse!” I would’ve retorted if only air could get to my lungs. “I was just looking at you, with your scarf, and I felt this bolt of inspiration~” she hummed to herself.
“R-Rarity… I-I’m kinda busy…” I managed to croak out, but she seemed oblivious. Scrambling to get purchase against the mighty mare, I finally managed to put on the brakes and she blinked, coming out of a daze. I gasped at the cold air and rubbed a hoof along my throat. “Sorry Rarity, I’m actually really busy. I’d love to help…” I muttered as she blinked, her baby blue eyes, shining like mini sapphires, stopping my train of thought.
“Like what darling?” she asked, just a hint of curiosity in her voice. Her chest seemed to puff up and, if I was serious, I would’ve bet her mane suddenly had a sheen it didn’t have before.
“W-well, I needed to drop off some books at the library…” I didn’t get to finish my sentence as she giggled, holding a hoof over her mouth. “W-what?”
“Would the ‘busy thing’ involve our resident librarian Grey?” she asked in a singsong voice.
The ground became very interesting; the cold air was slowly wilting away the once green grass. I could hear the blood roaring in my ears as I coughed. “Well… Um…”
“So darling, from your expression, I hit the nail on the head!” she giggled again.
I muttered something before I was pulled again, by her magic this time, back towards the Boutique. I was about to argue when Rarity held up a hoof. “If you help me with trying on my idea, I’ll help you with your little… dilemma,” she said with a wink.
“You’d give me....” I started. She’d be giving me help; as one of Twilight’s closest friends, she could put me in a good light. It would make things easier for me. It would be the smart thing to do.
“No, I’m sorry Rarity, but I can’t let you help me out on this.”
“How come?” she asked, stopping in her tracks.
“It wouldn’t feel right,” I said, giving her a smile. “I know it’s sounds like a dumb and stupid reason, but I need to do this by myself, for me.”
She placed a hoof on my shoulder. “Nonsense, Grey.” She smiled. “It’s a good reason.”
Politely removing her hoof, I bid her goodbye and turned back towards the library, though a thought popped up almost immediately and made me turn over my shoulder. “I’ll help you out tomorrow though,” I told her. “That should give you some time to work with that inspiration that hit you. I’ll do the usual with whatever ideas and designs you worked on then.” I waved her goodbye and left once again.
The early fall wind creeped up on me as I dodged a small fleet of fillies and colts speeding by, off to do whatever it was they do nowadays. I’d like to say that any onlookers would have been at awe with the grace of my dodge, but it took a fair bit of effort not to get ran over by them. After giving myself a quick pat down, I quickly rounded a corner in hopes of avoiding any more obstacles and distractions. It just so happened that my goal was right ahead.
The Golden Oak Library was a stocky hollowed-out tree, with a few windows here and there, a beehive hanging off of a branch, a sign of an open book hanging over the main entrance, and 2 balconies, one with a telescope, making up the exterior. All of the tree’s leaves were a healthy green, with a hooful here and there slowly changing their colors.
I went to go knock on the library’s door, more so because it was also somepony’s home, but the door opened up, revealing a small purple scaled, green barbed dragon.
“Oh, hey Grey,” Spike said, closing the door behind him. “What’s up?”
“Oh, not much. Are you going somewhere?” I asked him, stepping aside to give him some room.
“I’m just going to get some goodies from Sugarcube Corner,” he beamed. “I just helped Twilight with all her organizing and cleaning, so I feel like I deserve a reward.”
I chuckled a little. “Yeah, I get you on that. It’s really heavy duty doing that. Feels like I did more with her cleaning than what I usually do in a week at the farm.”
“Anyway, why are you here?” he asked me, crossing his claws.
“Oh, I got a few books to turn in,” I told him, gesturing towards my saddlebags. “They are almost due, so just trying to avoid any late fees.”
“But wouldn’t a late fee mean that you’d get to spend some time with Twilight?” he teased, an eyebrow raised.
“W-well, that might be true,” I said, my ears starting to warm up a little, “but that would just be a happy accident.”
“Sure, sure,” he said. “Anyway, Twilight’s inside reading a book,” he told me as he walked pass, “with nopony else inside. Let her know I’ll be back in a bit?” Would have answered him, but he was gone in a blink of an eye. He’s pretty quick for such a short drake.
Turning around, I came face to face with the final obstacle: the library door. On the other side of it was the mare that I wanted to see, the actual reason for everything I’ve done for today, the pony I would do anything to talk to. For some reason, a sudden need to quell my sandpaper mouth crossed my mind, as well as trying to figure out how the ground became jello.
I took a deep breath, trying to center myself and stop the jittering of my hoof. This is what you wanted, what you planned for. If you don’t go through that door, you are going to regret it. If you don’t try right now, you’ll never try again. There have been moments where I hated how much of a jerk my conscience could be.
A single doorknob stood between Twilight and me, stood between me asking her. All I had to do was turn it.
The library door glided silently on well-oiled hinges as I stepped inside. The library itself was deceptively spacious, seemly bigger on the inside. The floor itself was a smooth mahogany, weathered by age. A doorway led to the kitchen, the door itself was closed with a gleaming door knob. Next to the door, a set of stairs led up to the second story, an ivory lantern hanging over the door itself. A flower decal of faded gold dotted the wall hugging the stairs. In the center of the room, a small wooden desk seemed to have been carved from the tree itself, a bust of a noble earth pony sitting proudly on the stump. Several books were open to random pages, one looking like the ledger of checked out books. On the ceiling was Princess Celestia’s cutie mark, warmth emitting from it. The peachy walls were hollowed out, natural bookshelves for the thousands of tomes there. The shelves themselves were overburdened, books stacked upon books. A natural chaotic order was in place, scrolls and books side by side. Two alcoves housed two shiny windows, natural light pouring in. An old ladder with wheels rested near one of the window cubbies, a rag hanging from the top rung. Two potted plants with vines dangled near the doorway, trying to mask the musk of old parchment. The golden flower embroidered by the staircase also skirted around the room, in-between bookshelves and a large flower above the door. An empty podium was near the door with an empty ink well on the ledge, a few small drops of ink fused with the wood.
The kitchen door opened up, revealing a beautiful light lavender coated unicorn mare, an open book and a plated sandwich being held in a light raspberry glow. Her mane seemed brighter and lovelier than usual, but that could have just been my fatigue finally setting in.
“Hello Grey,” she said, her smile lighting up the room.
My heart sped up. “H-hey, Twilight.”
She placed the book and plate down on the center desk before turning to me, giving me her complete attention. “What can I do for you today?”
Why was I relieved that Pop wasn’t here for that? “Oh, I just came by to drop off the books I checked out.” I went to get the books out of my bags, but they were being levitated out.
“Let’s see,” she said, looking at the books. “The Beginner’s Guide to Baking by Raspberry Cobbler, The Stories Behind the Stars by Night Sky, Sleight of Hoof by Miss Direction, and Early Equestrian Practices by Professor Inkwell.” She checked off each book and placed them on their respective shelves.
Honestly didn’t think it would be over so quickly, but it was easy to see that she enjoyed it.
“S-so T-twilight...”
“Yes Grey?” she replied, a bite of sandwich in her mouth.
I chuckled and shook my head. “Did nopony ever tell you that it’s impolite to talk with food in your mouth?”
She rolled her eyes and finished the sandwich. “It sounded like you were going to ask an important question. Didn’t want to be rude by making you wait.” She closed the book and I noticed the title.
“Death Masks?” I gave her a quizzical look. “You started the fifth book already?”
“Oh, no. I just finished it.” A yawn left her mouth. “It was a good read, though some parts could have been better.”
Feeling that this could be a long discussion, I took one of the seats at the desk. “Really? Like what?”
She took the other seat. “It was just the scenes where Mirage and Sugar Star were together. They felt a bit too off and weird.”
“Yeah, I get you on that. I mean, I get what the writer was trying to do with Mirage’s relationship with Sugar, but it felt like it could have been a bit more natural, especially with how the whole book’s events played out.”
“Exactly!” She moved one of her hooves to emphasize. “There was so much more he could have done.”
“Icy would agree with you on that,” I smiled. “Oh, right, just remembered something. Are there any questions you had from reading the stories you’d like answered? At least without giving too much away for future events.”
The words barely escaped my mouth when a notebook slammed down onto the desk, a large smile plastered on Twilight’s face. I shook my head a little, feeling like this was going to happen to begin with.
We spent the next hour, answering any questions she had from what she read. Let it be known that she takes really extensive notes.
“Is that all of them?” I asked, half my body spread out on the desk.
“Yes, that is all of them.” She touched my hoof, probably to scoot it away from one of the display books. “Thank you for your help Grey.”
I stood up, popping my spine a little. “Any time Twilight.” I got up to leave, but stopped. Wasn’t there a reason why I came to visit? Something that had to deal with books. Oh right, the signing.
“Say Twilight,” I rubbed the back of my neck, “I wanted to see if you’d like to go with me to a book signing in Canterlot this Saturday.”
“This Saturday?”
“I know it’s short notice and everything, but I only learned about it yesterday. It’s just that I don’t really know how to get to the store since all I got is an address.” I brought out a piece of with the address and hoofed it to her. “Since you’re from there, I thought you might know where it is.”
Her face lit up. “I know this store! It’s not too far from Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. I used to go there every day. I could take you there easily.”
“Really? Thank you!” I said, hugging her. It lasted a few seconds, before I realized what was going on and let her go. “Sorry about that; just really looking forward this.”
“It’s okay, but who is this mysterious author?” she asked.
“Oh, right; didn’t tell you his name. That store is going to be hosting a stop for the new book from Vague Basis.” Still couldn’t believe that I’d be possibly meeting him.
“’Vague Basis’? Why does his name sound familiar?” She looked at the bookshelves. “Could I have read something of his recently?”
Holding back a smile was impossible at this point. “Oh, you might have. Probably because of how much Icy and me talk about it.”
“You and Icy? What are you-“ She smacked her hooves together, sudden realization on her face. “The Copperstone Cases, that’s why the name sounded familiar.”
“Yeah, that’s him alright,” I chuckled. “He’s doing a book tour for his upcoming book, Turn Coat.”
She looked at me for a bit, either in deep thought or trying to see through me. Either way, it was unnerving. “All I had planned for Saturday was to see if any of the girls needed help with anything, but I’d like to go to the signing with you.”
“That’s awesome!” I coughed into my hoof, trying to calm down a bit. “I mean, that’s cool. Maybe we could walk around a bit afterwards, just so I could get the feel of the town better, you know. Grab a bite while we are at it too.” It felt like the last bit saved me.
“That sounds like a plan to me,” she told me. Thought there were small flicks of pink on her cheek but could have just been the light from the windows.
“Guess I’ll meet you at the station Saturday morning at 9?” Really hoped that any potential longing wasn’t said.
She nodded and I took that as my cue to leave, which I did after giving her my goodbyes. The walk back home was filled with a single thought-I had a date with Twilight. I HAD A DATE WITH TWILIGHT!