//------------------------------//
// Book Covers 
// Story: Book Covers 
// by el-bronio 
//------------------------------//

Well, the good citizens of Ponyville seemed a little surprised by me.I’m used to this reaction, but really, my name is right there on the dust jacket of every. That alone is a clue that I’m not a pony. My publisher is located the Griffin Kingdom. It’s not like I’m hiding anything. Still, even with all that, I had to admit the Golden Oaks Library was a nice place for a book signing. Everything was meticulously clean, the books sat neatly on the shelves, and the various Daring Do fans who had come to this particular signing were calm and well-behaved, which was quite a relief after the disastrous reception I had in Trottingham. 

I leaned over to me handler for this tour, Gregore, but before I could share this observation with him,  he gave me a look, and clicked his beak. Chastised, I leaned back into my seat. With nothing else to do, I turned my attention to the speech that the head librarian was giving. If I remember correctly her name was...Twilight Sparkle or something like that.

“And that’s why I would like all of you to give a warm welcome to the author of the Daring Do series, Gebbert Griffith,” she said. Ah, good, looks like that part’s over.  Being able to listen is a vital skill for an author, but I always get sleepy when anyone, pony, griffin, or otherwise, starts speechifying around me. There was polite applause as the various ponies brought their hooves down on the floor. I stood up, and nodded to Ms. Sparkle, and then turned to face the crowd.

“Good morning, everypony, “ I began, “It’s a pleasure to see you all out here today. When I started writing the Daring Do books, I never thought they would become so popular. But, in the years since that first story, each new book has reached an ever-wider audience. The success of the series is entirely due to you, the loyal fans and readers. With that in mind, I would like to introduce you to our favorite heroine’s newest adventure,” I stopped talking for a second. Judging from the look of bewilderment that was spreading through the audience, I must have mispronounced something. That wouldn’t be the first time I messed up because of my Griffinish accent. Still, there was nothing to be done but finish my little speech, “Daring Do and the Verdant Vestige.”

There was more applause, although this time it was quieter and more scattered than before. I moved over to the nearby table, heaped with copies of the new book, and sat down. Now began the most fun, and most difficult part of any tour: the signing. Fun, since I had the chance to interact with adoring fans one-on-one, which is one of the great pleasures of fame. Of course, those same fans are sometimes the reason why it can be a challenge. Today was no different in that regard. The first few ponies were no problem, asking the usual questions, and making the usual requests. I had just finished signing a little purple filly’s copy of Chalcedony Chalice (She said it was her favorite. I hated the ending to that one. I wrote it two hours before the deadline, so jittery from overdosing on caffeine I could barely hold the pen straight.) when I was nearly blinded by the rainbow mane that floated into view. Literally, floated, since the pegasus mare had to land in order to look me in the eye.

She was clutching a copy of Daring Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Statue to her chest. This one looked like it had been through the wringer, if the worn cover and bent spine were anything to judge by. 

“Oh wow, I finally get to meet you!” She stuck one hoof out. I gripped it in my claws, and gave it a shake. “I’m Rainbow Dash,” she said, “and I can’t get enough of Daring Do!”

I pulled my claw back, and adjusted my glasses. That mane was even more dazzling at close range. “Glad to hear it. I just can’t stop writing about her.” I nodded at the copy she was holding. “Long-time fan?”

“Oh no, I just started a coupla months ago. Twilight here turned me on to it. I gotta say, I never liked reading before, but these books are undeniably, unquestionably, unforgettable! I just have to ask you, where do you get all these adventures from? Did you ever do anything as awesome as what you write about? ‘Cause that would be so cool,” she said, standing up on her hindlegs as she finished.

“Well, I’m a little old be going on adventures.” I turned my head, showing the greying feathers. 

“Still, you had to have done some really cool things when you were younger, like break into a fortress, or run from an erupting volcano, or something else completely incredible!.” She threw a couple of jabs with her right leg, keeping the book close to her with the left.

“Er...” I had no idea how to respond to that. Now if she had asked me where I get my ideas from, I had an answer down pat, but I had never been asked about what I did before. And, like an idiot, I blurted out the first thing that came into my head. “I never really did anything like that. I always just loved reading.”

Rainbow’s face fell so blatantly, even I picked up on it.

“When I was a kid I was in the Feather Scouts. We...um...we went camping a lot.” I said. More of my brilliant repartee. No wonder I’m such a hit with the ladies.

She regained some of her composure, although the smile had left her face.. “Yeah. That’s. That’s cool too. Camping is fun,” she said, as she pushed the book at me. I signed it, and she headed over to the librarian, and started talking with her in a low voice.

I tried to put some cheer into my voice as I greeted the next fan, but my eyes kept wandering over to Rainbow Dash’s corner. Normally I’m more comfortable writing out what I want to say, but this time I’d really dropped the ball. Gregore caught me staring, and tilted his head towards the pony standing in front of me. I tried to put the whole situation out of mind, and kept signing.

Once the signing was over, I was too tired to even be hungry. Gregore saw my face, and nearly pulled me out the door, and we headed for the local hotel, conveniently near the train station.

Gregore walked next to me, and brought his head in close. “It was good signing today. Very calm, very smooth.” His accent was even more atrocious than mine.

I chirruped to show my agreement.

“Are you feeling good? You look terrible,” he said when I didn’t elaborate.

“I’m just tired. My foreclaw hurts from holding that quill the whole time, and my legs are numb from all the sitting,” I said.

“I think it’s more than that. Beginning was fine, but then you,” he swept his wings up, then down, “just crashed.”

“Eh it’s nothing.”

He turned his face away from me. “Fine. It was nothing. I worry about nothing. We eat instead.”

“Actually,” I said, “I’m just going to head up to the suite. I am pretty tired.”

“I’ll have them send up fish.”

“Thanks.” I stood up on my rear legs, and gave a tremendous flap of my wings. The ponies that were milling about looked over at me, then looked away as I took off, aiming for the hotel.

The trip back was uneventful. Most ponies were inside at this time of day, and the weather teams were up higher than I flew, preparing rainclouds for later on today. Thankfully, I didn’t see a hint of rainbow mane, which was good since it probably would have sent me into a funk.

At the hotel, I crashed into the bed, and fell asleep immediately, without even closing the curtains fully. When I woke up it was dark. I tried to look at the clock, but there was absolutely no light at all. I could hear the rain outside. It seemed to be really pouring down. That meant it had to be afternoon, although I thought that it was supposed to be only a light shower. I reached for my glasses, then realized they were still on. I still couldn’t read the clock. Something was bothering me. I pushed my glasses back up to my eyes. Whatever the problem was, I would be able to think about it better after a meal. I stumbled out of the bed, and over to door. I cracked it open, expecting a platter to be waiting for me.

The corridor outside my room was dark too. Then the stench hit me. Something was burning. I pulled the door open all the way. There was a silver tray right outside my room. I ignored it, since there was something else that demanded my attention. The whole hallway was filled with smoke. I slammed the door shut, and began to cough. 

Thankfully, the fit was brief. Once I straightened myself up, I knew I had to get out as fast as possible. Even more thankfully, as a Griffin I had an exit right there. I dashed over to the window, and grasped the latch. It didn’t want to move at first, but after a few tugs, it opened up. I pushed the window open, and jumped out, spreading my wings. I was on the fourth floor, so I could glide down with no problems. 

Below me, the hotel guest’s were streaming out. They consisted mostly of ponies, but there were a few goats and donkeys scattered among them. I didn’t spot any other griffins, except for Gregore, who was standing down the street from the hotel, inside of an expanding crowd.

I went in for a landing next to him. The ponies cleared out a space for me, and I came down heavily, my wings already soaked by the rain.

“There is fire. Started in the kitchen,” Gregore said to me once I came down.

I could barely hear him over the rain and wind. “You okay?” I yelled.

“Fine, fine. You swallow smoke?”

“No, I got out in...” I looked at the building. There were an awful lot of pegasus ponies around the top few floors. I put a leg around Gregore’s neck, and pointed him at the sight. “What’s up there?”

A yellow and green pony had wandered closer to us. “There’s still some ponies trapped on the upper floor. The weather team’s trying to get to them,” she said, bringing her face very close to the two of us.

I looked at the hotel. It was eight floors, much too high for anything that didn’t have wings to jump.

I let go of Gregore. “Out of the way!” There were more ponies milling about already. I pushed them out of the way, and broke into a run. 

“What? Wait!” Gregore ran after me.

“I’m going up there!” I spread my wings out.

“Stupid! You’re no good there!”

“I can do more than a pegasus!” I jumped into the air, and took off. My feathers were weighed down with rain, so it was awkward, and I nearly crashed back into the ground before I leveled out. As soon as I could, I started gaining height. I had to flap a lot more than usual, and by the time I was slightly above the roof of the hotel, I was breathing hard. I went into a glide, aiming for the closest window, which was on the top floor. I had to break as a pegasus stumbled out of it, holding onto a baby basket. He was so streaked with soot, I couldn’t tell what color he was supposed to be. I regained control, and hovered.

“Who’s in there?” I gasped when I talked, but he heard me.

“Three kids left. Fifth door on the left, I couldn’t get to them.” He started to drop down. I went through the window. I clipped a wing on the way in, but there was no time to check it. 

I couldn’t see once I was inside. The smoke was much worse here. I wasn’t even sure where I was in the building. This room was a double bed, and the layout was different from mine, but I had a hunch where the door was. As soon as I stepped away from the window, something else crashed through it, sending glass shards everywhere. I pushed my glasses up. It was Gregore.

“Fool!” He stood up, and ran into the bathroom. I was completely dumbfounded, then he came out with a stack of towels, all of them wet. He threw one to me, and I wrapped it around my beak, while he did the same. I pushed the door open. Out in the corridor, the smoke was even thicker. I couldn’t see anything, and my eyes began to tear up. 

I moved to one side of the hallway. I felt talons take hold of my wing. Gregore was next to me, although I couldn’t even see him in this mess. “Fifth, left!” I shouted.

We began to walk forward. Gregore counted out loud. I crouched down. Each step forward pushed us deeper into the smoke. I put one leg up against the wall, and felt for a doorway. The third door was the stairway entrance, but I was on the right. We kept going.

Gregore tugged at me. I turned, and felt for what was hopefully the fifth door on the left. If there was anyone in there, I couldn’t hear them over the tumult. We pushed at the door, but it refused to give. I grabbed one of Gregore’s legs, and took a step back. My throat was raw from the smoke, but I could still shout.

“One!”

“Two!”

“Three!”

The two of us slammed into the door, tearing it from it’s hinges. There was a scream as we barged in. 

“Hello!” Gregore tried to make himself heard, but he sounded far away, and I was standing right next to him.

The room was slightly less smoky than the hallway, but that wouldn’t last, since the smoke was already pouring in, getting thicker.

If I was a scared child where would I...I pulled Gregore forward, and crouched again. Under the beds. They had to be there. I pulled the spread off of the nearest one, and Gregore reached out, grabbing a tiny pony. I stuck my head under. Yes, there were two blobs of color. My glasses were askew again. I grabbed both of them and made for the windows. Gregore already had one open, and he jumped out. I followed him.

I the two of us spread our wings, and fell. There was too much junk clinging to our feathers. Gregore looked at me. At first I thought he didn’t realize that we couldn’t fly. Then I noticed he was turning so that his body would hit the ground first. I angled my wings so I could turn over as well. 

The fall seemed to stretch on, much longer than it should have. I looked up at the sky. The rain was even thicker now. I looked at the ground. It really was rushing up to meet me. I’d never be able to write about what it was like. Pity, about that.

Then, I slowed down for real. There was something strange about the wind. On the ground, right beneath us, there was a brilliant rainbow circle spinning around. A whirlwind formed in it, and surged upwards. I felt it hit my back, and then, my feathers spread out. I was dry. I flipped over, spreading my wings, trying to ride the air currents. Gregore was doing the same. The ponies we were holding were screaming their heads off, but it didn’t matter in the least. We would all be fine.

Even with the help, I nearly crash landed. Landing on just two legs, from that height is no mean feat. Gregore was a bit more graceful than I was, or at least what passed for grace under the circumstances. We started to move away from hotel when I heard the sky crash.

A column of water fell out of the sky and enveloped the hotel. It poured in through the windows, and the doors, drenching everything. I watched, awestruck, until it reached the bottom. 

Then, it came rushing at us.

Gregore jumped, and tried to take off, but he couldn’t get above the water. I had just enough time to take a deep breath, then it swept over me. I lost my footing, and tumbled over and over again. I pulled the two children close, and held on to them. My forelimbs ached, but I didn’t let go until my head smashed into something, causing colors to explode in front of my eyes.

I was suddenly let down. The water had gone by. My neck refused to move at first, but I breathed deeply, and once I could see normally, or at least as normally as I could without glasses, I looked around for the pony kids. I didn’t see them at all.

Then, the clouds above me opened up, and none other than Rainbow Dash, the mare who I had talked to before, came down, with both of the children on her back.

“You okay? Anything broken?” she asked.

I still couldn’t speak, so I raised a claw to show I was still in one piece.

She walked closer to me. “I gotta admit, even by my standards, that was awesome.”

I wheezed. Then, speech returned, a little. “Thank...you...”

“Hey, saving the day is what I do. Sorry I couldn’t lift you out though. I had to grab the squirts first” She turned her head towards the crying fillies on her back. Now I could see that they were unicorns, although their faces were blurry. Of course, so was everything else. She whispered something to them, and they started to make less noise. I used the time to catch some of my breath

“What...Gregore...” I was still having trouble talking.

“Don’t worry ‘bout your pal. I sent the other weather team members to grab him before I even started that waterspout. You two were the only ones standing close enough to get caught. I got it all covered.”

“That was a little reckless,” I said.

“So was going back in there.” She at the hotel, “but you grabbed these three, so it worked out pretty good in my book.”

I blinked. “Was that a...pun?”

“Huh, no I wasn’t trying to...I guess it was. Ha, that was totally like in one of your books!”

“Not at all. I write much better jokes than that.” I smiled despite myself.

“C’mon,” she nodded, “first, we gotta find the kiddo’s parents, and then, get you a towel.”

She turned and started to trot down the street. I got up, and despite the aches, managed to follow her.

“Hey, Rainbow Dash,” I said.

She looked back at me, without breaking stride.

“Guess I can say I have done something completely incredible now, haven’t I?”

She rolled her eyes. “Then the next book better be that much more awesome, got it?”