//------------------------------// // all that glitters... // Story: Bleeding Strings: Man in a box // by The Drifting Bard //------------------------------// After a brief stay at the hospital, I took a good walk around the city. I found myself watching a funeral procession, hearing the phrase "ashes to ashes, dust to dust" It made me think about what was happening back on earth. Were people looking for me? or was I deemed just another missing person. Fucked if I know, Fucked if I care. Quite frankly this place was more quieter than the village I was born in, dryer too. "So Cadance, this is the library?" "Yes it is, I suppose you want to take a look inside?" I nodded. Considering I'd need to learn about this new world in order to survive. "lets find a book that covers everything then" I gave the princess a smile. It was lucky she knew the invisibility spell, she had told me that it was useful to get away from large crowds. As we walked in, the librarian instantly bowed. "P-Princess Cadance, What can I do for you?" the Librarian stood stock still as she raised her head. "I need you to find me a book, the basic history of Equestria? preferably the newest edition" Cadance giggled lightly. The Librarian raised a confused eyebrow but scarpered off to find it. "So, the newest edition huh? what about the previous edition?" I asked with an air of curiosity. "well, the Crystal Kingdom fell under darkness thousands of years ago, along with the Crystal ponies, because of a curse" She spoke as she dissipated the invisibility spell. The Librarian finally arrived, and upon seeing me she started to whimper. "Monster!" she shreiked. I quickly turned around to look behind me. Cadance noticed this. "Shh, He is no monster, He..... he's..." "I got lost on the road of life" I smiled at the Librarian, before picking up a book and casually flicking through it. "hmm.... at least now I know i can read equestrian" I grinned. as it turned out both the Equestrian and english writing systems were the same. I placed the book I flicked through back on the shelf. the mare fainted shortly after. Cadance was about to call someone, but I stopped her. "Let her sleep, the poor mare looked tired anyways" I smiled slightly as I carried the history book to the table. As I read the book, Cadance was studying my facial expressions. she then noticed the scar near my right eye. "Robert, Whats that near your eye?" "Hair" I bluntly stated. "No your other eye" "More hair" I gave a cheeky smile, as she facehoofed. "no... the scar" "what scar?" She groaned slightly as I started to chuckle. I shut the book shortly after. "that scar" She ran a hoof along it. "oh... some fool threw a few stones hidden in a snowball at me when i was younger" I grinned. She left it at that. trying to figure out if I was serious or joking. "I just can't read you" she mumbled. I turned to face her. "That's because sentient beings aren't like books, we're constantly filling in blank pages with new information and learning more and more about ourselves on a daily basis, anyways, You've asked your Questions... can I ask a few?" she blinked twice during my little speech. "Uh sure" "Why is there a picture on your butt?" She then started to giggle. "that's a Cutie-mark, all ponies get them, they're a symbol of a pony's special talent" I stroked my beard absently, taking in the information. "I see, so yours is basically emotion, more importantly love? Am I right?" she nodded, eyes widened, dumbfounded by my revelation. "How did you know?" "would you believe I'm psychic?" "no" "Your right, neither would I" I chuckled. She looked confused at first but then finally got the joke. "You really don't care I'm a princess do you" "nope, far as I'm concerned we're all equal" She smiled. soon after, we left the library. but she forgot the spell. "er... Cadance.. the spell?" she grinned back at me. then came the teleportation. "okay... Warn me next time" I said as my atoms reformed themselves. "sorry" She smiled sheepishly. "anyway, I need to go collect my stuff" Cadance looked at me for a moment, then her face lit up. "ohhhh yes, that... Trixie brought them to the castle, And I've also sent word back to my aunts" I stopped dead in my tracks. "I see.... okay... was that a good Idea?" she nodded. I slumped to the floor. The princess looked at me for a bizarre moment. "are you alright?" I gave a small nod. "do you need anything?" the only thing I could think of was Tea. "I need a cup of tea, earl grey preferably" I said quietly. an odd sense of despair befell the room. she sent for the tea, considering the look on my face was one of worry. I looked at the Princess, as Shining walked in and spoke to her. soon enough, another smaller Alicorn walked in and the two of them started a bizarre ritual. "Celestia sent me as soon as the letter arrived, Where is it?" the lavender mare asked. A servant appeared with 3 tea pots, and three cups. I took a sniff. the servant placed the tray on a table and left. I stood up and slowly made my way to the tea and poured out a small cupful. I took a swig of the heavenly liquid. I was being British and no-one could stop me. "Is this what you were on about in your letter?" she sat down opposite me and took a tentative sniff of her own tea, chamomile I think. "yes, he is" "He?" The alicorn looked mildly surprised. "yes, this one is a he" I grinned at the lavender mare in front of me. "does this one have a name?" "My name is Gimli, You must be.... Celestia?" the whole room was engulfed in laughter. The short mare patted my leg. "Celestia's my tutor, I'm Twilight Sparkle" I placed the teacup on the table and simply looked at her. "Interestingly enough, I lack a joke for this situation... so I'm just gonna call you starbug" "what? why?" "Because you have a star for a cutie mark, and i have a feeling you'll bug me with questions" "wha... how?" "Because Reasons" "That doesn't make sense" "Where's the fun in making sense?" Twilight looked at me, her mouth opening and closing like a floundering fish desperate for water. "It's Pinkie Pie all over again"