//------------------------------//
// Chapter 2 
// Story: A Beautiful Mane 
// by Insert Clever Name 
//------------------------------//

Simply looked upon the town library. True to Mrs. Cake's word, it was easy to spot, considering it was a giant tree. He trotted up the door, and brought his hoof up to knock, but before he made contact, the door opened to a small, purple and green dragon.

"See ya later, Twi. I'm gonna see if Ra-"

The dragon stopped in his tracks when he saw Simply.

"Oh, uh, hi there." Simply began "I'm here about the residency. Are you the owner of this library?"

"Uh, no." The dragon said "She's inside. Let me get her."

Simply followed the dragon inside. The faint, musty smell was the first thing he noticed. He always liked that smell, comparing it to knowledge itself. Spike went to the top of the stairs, and a few moments later, came down with a purple unicorn, with a deeper purple mane.

"Hello." She began, as she reached the bottom of the staircase. "My name is Twilight Sparkle, what's your name?"

"Simply Brilliant, ma'am." He said. "And, as I'm told, you have residency here?"

"Aah, yes, if you'll follow me." She said. She trotted to the doorway between two shelves and opened the door, revealing another staircase leading downwards. Simply followed Twilight to a nice little basement, with a bed, drawer, and a bathroom.

"We were using this space for storage originally." Twilight said. "But when we finally got everything sorted, I decided to hold rent."

"How much is rent, by the way?" Asked Simply.

"I'm glad you asked. This place is surprisingly busier than you'd think, so your rent will be a satisfactory day of work. 7 hours to be precise." She stated "Along with pay of 10 bits."

"I get to work in the place I live, AND get payed for it?" Simply said in astonishment. "This town gets better and better."

Twilight smiled and said "I'm glad you like it."

"Now that that's sorted out." She began. "Let's get to know each other. Where do you come from?"

"I come from Canterlot." He stated.

"Really? So do I!" She excitedly said. "What school did you go to?"

"Canterlot High, did you go there?"

"No, I went to Celestia's school for gifted unicorns."

Simply gaped in surprise. "I heard only a hoofful of ponies are picked for that school. You must be a very lucky mare."

Twilight giggled. "How I managed to attend actually has to do with my cutie mark." She pointed at her flank. "I specialize in magic. May I ask what yours means?"

"Math." He said. "When I was in school, I always payed attention, especially towards mathematics. When I was twelve, I took one of those advanced tests that they let anyone take. Initially, I was laughed as soon as I entered the room, but you should've seen their faces when they read my score. 99 out of 100."

"Wow. What was your missed question?" Twilight asked in honest curiosity.

"It's been so long, I couldn't remember even if I tried."

Twilight looked up at the clock on the wall. "Wow, has it been a half hour already? One last question before I tend back to the library. Why did you move? 

Aah, the dreaded question. The question Simply was preparing for since he got on the train to Ponyville. Well, it couldn't really be a 'dreaded' question, considering Simply was preparing for it. Nevertheless, he was hoping she wouldn't ask it, he didn't particularly like lying to others, but he had too. He didn't want to risk being ostracized again.

"The noise was getting to me."

"Hmm, it is quieter here than it was in Canterlot, pleasantly so." She smiled, then continued up the stairs. "Oh, before I forget, the dragon you met was Spike. He's my assistant."

Simply waited for her to close the door. As soon as he heard the click, he did a full inspection of the room. 'Nothing wrong with a little paranoia' he thought to himself as he opened the shelves on the drawer. He found nothing in them. He looked under the bed, and again found nothing. He went into the bathroom, and saw what was about a medium sized toilet, and a shower with shower curtain. When Simply opened the shower, he jumped when he saw one of his hallucination there, staring at him. If he were younger, it would probably laugh at him.

When he regained his composure, he began talking to it. He knew that wouldn't do anything, but their was no harm trying.

"If you mind, I wish to take a shower." He said.

It did nothing, continuing to stare at him with it's blank eyes.

"Listen, I can't walk in there if you're in there as well. If you mind." He made a motion out of the bathroom. It didn't budge, as if silently mocking him.

He sighed in frustration. "This is a waste of time. I may as well just take a nap, maybe you'll move somewhere else by then."

He walked out of the bathroom, only to nearly bump into Twilight.

"Oh, er, hello again." He said. I really hope she didn't hear any of that.

Why is he talking to himself? She thought, as if to silently disprove him. when she realized she had been staring, she shook her head to focus. "I, uh, came to give you your key. In case if you ever wanted to, you know, lock the door."

"Thank you." He said, as he placed the key on the drawer next to his bed.

"Have a nice nap." She said as she went back up the stairs. 

Simply went wide eyed when he knew the implications of what she said. 'Oh no, she did hear it. Oh man, she probably thinks I'm a freak, already rounding up citizens to...' Simply began laughing. 'You're overreacting, Simply. She seems like a nice mare, as intelligent as I am. more so, considering. the school she went too. Intelligent people talk to themselves all the time, right?'

As Simply began his nap, Twilight was pacing left and right in the lobby. Let's see, he's smart, so maybe he talks to himself too. I mean, I do all the time. But still, what he said sounds like he was having a conversation. Is it possible he's...' She gulped. '...Insane?' She thought about it for a minute, then giggled at herself. 'Your over thinking this, Twilight. Ponies like that don't have the social skills that he clearly demonstrated. She began walking up the stairs to read the rest of her book. Besides, if he does have any ...issues, then I will gladly lend an ear for him.