Twilight Sparkle found herself quite distressed. Before her stood the most curious pony she had ever met. A terrible snowstorm raged behind him; fiercer than she'd ever seen; and it let in a wind that was colder than a Hydra's heart. The figure stood in the shadow of the tree just outside of the blizzard's wrath. He wore a simple black cloak that concealed everything but his face; the hood's shadow did that. His deep growly voice sent shivers down her spine even more effectually than the snowstorm's influence had as he once again spoke.
"You are Ms. Twilight Sparkle are you not? Caretaker of this fine library?" he repeated. Though Twilight could not see his face, she could tell (as the hood shrouding it wrinkled a bit) that it had been turned slightly to it's side. A circular glint could be seen within the hood for a fraction of a second before the figure spoke again. "Ah, but I can see I've awoken you," he said, indicating her out-of-place mane with a hoof. He retracted it back beneath the cloak just before She managed to have a glance at it. "Please accept my utmost contrition if I've disturbed you. I'm quite the night-owl you see, always conducting my business at night. Sometimes I scarcely stop to think of other ponies' schedules when I become lost in thought." Twilight didn't know what to say. The stranger spoke in pleasant tones. He had the air of high-class socialite straight out of Canterlot. However his overall demeanor lacked, well, everything. His voice held about as much personality as a glass of water. It was as grey, and as bleak, and as forgettable as they come. Not to mention just plain cold.
It simply fascinated Twilight.
"I do so hope I'm not to seem as frightfully uncouth as I must appear to be, but would you mind ever so much if I were to just take a brief turn about this fine establishment? To admire it's collection? I do sincerely beg your remission if I you find this impertinent, but what say you?"
"Err..."
"Thank you most sincerely." Said the stranger vapidly, striding past Twilight without waiting for her reply. "As much as I love the cold, and believe me, I do so love the cold; It's nice to be out of the storm. Ah ... there we are." he sighed as he shed his cloak and hung it on the hat rack. It was at this point that Twilight was able to get a good look at him ... sort of. For some unknown reason, her eyes began to sting as soon she the stranger's figure came into an unobstructed view. She had to turn away and squeeze her eyes tightly shut as she did so. A small gasp of relief escaped her as she did so, catching the stallion's curiosity.
"Are you quite alright?" he asked, his voice betraying no sense of any actual concern. "It must be this dry night air that makes your eyes water."
"Ugh... what the...?" Twilight groaned as she rubbed her eyes. the stinging was not quite as severe now, but her headache was building in intensity.
"Just blink a few times. You'll be grand." he said flatly. Twilight did as instructed, opening her eyes overly-wide before slamming them shut. "There now, no reason to fret." The unicorn looked up at her company, who had suddenly donned a top hat.
'Where did that come from?' wondered Twilight as she looked the new comer up and down. He was a pegasus, with a tall muscular body, he stood roughly the same height as Big Macintosh; if a bit taller. His coat was of the deepest blood-red she had ever seen, and his well-combed mane was dazzlingly white. So bright in fact, that it appeared luminescent. Unlike most colts, his bushy tail was long and un-cropped. He wore a fancy embroidered vest which was an extremely dark green with gold trim. He wore cuffs around each of his hoofs with fancy gold links in the shape of snowflakes in each. A well-tied bright red bow protruded from underneath his collar and a gold pocket watch chain could be seen hanging from his vest's pocket. to top off the whole affair; a gold monocle adorned his right eye. Twilight found the entire ensemble rather absurd, and it didn't help that he had the most ridiculous little mustache she had ever seen. She betrayed this feeling with a small stifled giggle; which prompted the stranger to lift an eyebrow.
"Do you find humor in my appearance?" he asked with a small teasing smile. Something and nothing had changed about him. His voice seemed normal, well, slightly less odd at least. It held emotion in it. It sounded intelligent, jovial, and just a bit pompous. There was still something off about him however ... while looking at him no longer caused Twilight's eyes to sting they did feel oddly ... compressed? As if they were not getting enough oxygen and drying out. Something about this stranger disturbed Twilight deeply; she just could't tell what.
"Why are you talking like that?" she asked.
"Hmm? I'm not quite sure as to what you are referring."
"You're ... you're ..." Twilight thought for a moment as how to best put it; the headache was starting to get to her now. "... mannerisms."
"I'm still not sure of your conundrum. I do try to conduct myself with the utmost aplomb and equanimity. As well as to be consummately erudite and articulate in all elocution; as well as confabulation." Twilight stared vacantly at him with her mouth slightly ajar. Had he just ... use a word she didn't know? No, no he didn't ... he had used several words she didn't know! Never before had anypony used a word or term that she didn't know or couldn't guess the definition to. This was unprecedented! Is this how Spike felt when she dictated her letters?
"I say, is that a Star-Swirl the Bearded costume?" the stranger suddenly asked with a step towards the costume, interrupting her thoughts. Silently, she cursed Spike for failing to put it away before retiring. "My, I dare say this is quite an accurate representation. Indeed, you even got the bells right." the stranger said cheerfully as he studied the costume. "Where ever did you get such a costume? Not that his discoveries were unimportant; but Star-Swirl the Bearded was one of the more obscure unicorns in history. I didn't think many ponies nowadays even knew he existed."
Twilight stared blankly at him for a moment before she even realized she had been asked a question. "Oh! Errr ... The costume! Right! Let's see ... err ... oh, I made it myself." She said proudly.
"Indeed? Well now, that's quite an splendid achievement now isn't it? Impressive, most impressive." He regarded the librarian with a smile, which faltered once he saw the look that she was giving him. It was calculating, and unfriendly, and he didn't like it. "Is ... everything alright?"
"Oh ... nothing," answered Twilight slowly, "I've just got a slight headache; that's all."
"Mmm, I see. Well I do hope you fee..."
"Actually, you know what?" Interpreted the lavender unicorn, her headache causing her to lose regard for being polite. "That's not all. Something about you is making me feel really uncomfortable."
"Oh?" He replied with a raised eyebrow, causing his monocle to catch the glare of the firelight and obscure the view of his eye. "And what may that be?"
"I don't know," replied Twilight frustratedly, "there's just something amiss about you; something about you I can't quite tell."
"Oh really? What can you tell about me; pray tell?" He asked with a slightly challenging smirk.
"Well, you're clothes and manners are exquisite; I assume you hail from the upper classes of Canterlot?"
"Ah, bien sur ma cherie." he replied slyly, with a small twitch to the sides of his mouth as he answering her back in the fancy language.
"And you know who StarSwirl the Bearded is, so that means you must have studied."
"Quidem. Scientia thesaurum pretiosissimum me." he answered in the scholar's speech.
"Err ... okay, where'd you come from?"
At this, he gave her a slightly suspicious gaze. "Far away." He said slowly, his tone giving a sense of finality to his answer.
"What are you doing her?"
"I already told you, admiring your libraries catalog."
"I meant here in Ponyville." snapped Twilight.
Again he regarded her with calculating look, "Research."
"What does that mean?"
"It means research." he answered in a mock tone of explaining something very sophisticated to somepony very dim-witted.
"What. Kind?" Twilight asked hotly through gritted teeth. This headache was making it hard to think. She got angry when she had a hard time thinking.
The stranger raised his eyebrow even further, so much so that his monocle was alarmingly close to popping out. He allowed a wry smile to lift one edge of his mouth before he answered, "Profitable."
'He's ... is he ... enjoying himself!?' Twilight asked herself. A small smirk seemed to confirm her suspicions. "Fine," she said in a near-pout, "have it your way." She made her way over to the sofa and slumped down on it, rubbing her temples with her fore-hoofs. This headache was getting on her nerves. It was dull, and thudding, and just enough to keep her from forming any coherent thoughts.
"Although to be perfectly honest," he continued, prompting Twilight to look up at him, "One of the aspects of Ponyville that first attracted me was your residency."
"Me?" asked the unicorn curiously. "Why?"
"Well you're princess Celetia's prized pupil. You're bound to know a thing or two." This statement peeked Twilight's interest.
"About what?"
"Oh," the stranger had evidently not expected this question, "about ... magic. And such."
"Huh, right. Magic and such." Twilight said, getting up and taking a few steps towards her company. "And why would a pegasus be interested in magic? And such? Pray tell." Twilight inquired sardonically.
"Oh I ... just an affinity of mine I suppose."
"Unh-huh. Yeah. Sure." retorted Twilight. "You know, I don't think I caught your name misterrrr...." she went on, pausing to allow him to introduce himself. All the while stepping closer and closer towards him, making him retreat backwards towards the bookcase.
"I err..." He murmured. He seemed to be getting more and more flustered. As he did, Twilight could feel her headache dissipating somewhat. Some strange works were afoot, that much she was certain. As his flank hit the bookcase with a soft *thud*, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Collecting himself and regaining his previous composure he said, "All in good time." Something had changed about him again; his eyes seemed blank, as did the rest of his features; and he spoke again in that same strange torpid drawl. He removed his top hat and Twilight's eyes began to sting again. She forced herself to keep them open however. "I am not a choleric colt." he said coldly, turning from Twilight and striding towards a bookcase some feet away, "but I'm do not hold the interrogation of guests in very high regard. Now If you'll just let me inspect your inventory..."
"Fine, go ahead." Twilight capitulated. She was too tired and too impatient to keep up her inquiry.
"Thank you." He replied shortly. As he passed in front of the fire, the strangest image met Twilight's eyes. His figure appeared to flicker; to glimmer as a glass would when held up to the sunlight. Intrigued; Twilight fought her natural instincts, and forced her eyes to look even closer, through all the tears. She squinted her eyes, the veins in her neck straining as she struggled to focus on the stranger. Though her vision swam before her, she did manage to discover one small detail about the newcomer. He had no cutie mark.
'How was that even possible?' wondered Twilight to herself. 'No, that can't be right. He's a fully grown stallion. He must have a cutie mark! I must have seen wrong! No ... no, I didn't see wrong! But how can that be?' She rubbed her eyes a bit before looking up to watch him some more.
He patrolled along the length of the bookcase; regarding it's contents with the most remarkable mixture of interest and indifference. The only sign of life from him apart from the movement was the occasional non-committal grunt here, or a slightly intrigued "Hmm..." there. Ok, seriously, this guy was creeping her the buck out. As if on cue, he spoke in that same voice of the utmost monotone.
"Well, I do believe a valediction is in order. I can quite clearly tell that my presence is causing you distress, ergo, I shall take my leave."
"Oh, I don't know if I'd say that..." Twilight said.
"Yes, I highly doubt you would have said it as nicely. That's not to say you're an impolite pony, but, well, there you are. Good night." He made his way to the door pausing only to readjust his bow tie and don his cloak. Twilight wasn't exactly unhappy to watch the stranger go; but still felt a small twinge of guilt at making him leave so suddenly. Twilight watched as he disappeared back into the blizzard, the door closing behind him; before proceeding back to the sofa and slumping down on it hard. She thought long and hard before finally coming to a decision about the new pegasus: She didn't like him. Neigh, she despised him. She hated the way his voice sounded like a load of gravel in a tumble dryer. She hated the way he smiled satisfiedly whenever he said something baffled her. She hated the way he pontificated like some pompous pedagogue. She hated his fancy clothes and his fancy monocle. And she especially hated that stupid little mustache.
"There's only one logical thing to do!" announced Twilight. "I'll have to study him!" she strode forward and flung open the door where she glared angrily into the snowstorm towards the direction she presumed he set off in. A small glint in the bottom left of her periphery caught her eye. Looking closer, it revealed itself to be the shining sticker seal of an envelope. Twilight opened the letter with her telekinesis and read it's contents.
Dear everypony,
Please come to a super-fun extra-cool snow-tastic party to celebrate the first day of winter! Hosted by yours truly, Pinkie Pie, at Sugarcube corner! There will be fun, food, dancing, games, fun, cake, balloons, streamers, fun, confetti, party favors, bubbles, fun, and most importantly: fun! Not to mention I'll be debuting my latest tasty creation! But shhhhh! It's a secret! So come on down tomorrow night! Everypony's invited, so all your friends will be there! Also there will be fun! FUN!
Lovey-Dovey with many X's and O's,
Pinkie Pie!
Twilight smiled to herself. If she knew anything at all about Pinkie Pie, she knew that before tomorrow's party, she will have found the mysterious stallion and forced him to come to her party. The unicorn chuckled quietly as she refolded the letter and tucked it back in it's envelope. 'Tomorrow then...' she thought as she closed the front door and made her way to her bedroom. Yawning and stretching, the librarian pulled an extra quilt from the closet and settled herself in her bed underneath it. With all the night's activities she hadn't even realized how cold she was.
Confused? You're supposed to be...