//------------------------------// // Book 1: Plush // Story: Writing Future Pages // by River Road //------------------------------// Pages looked around, walking through the park in one of the poorer parts of Canterlot. There weren’t any fancy flowers or exotic birds, but the park was well tended to nevertheless, and its simplicity only added to its charm. A few other ponies were about, workers and wives who used this place to unwind after a stressful day, and of course young fillies and colts who ran around, laughing happily. The park was the perfect playground for them, and if any of the adults minded, they didn’t show it. Pages watched them for a while, until his attention was drawn to something else. A bright orange filly with a deep black mane and tail was sitting alone on one of the few simple park benches, her concentration focused on the colorful something she was working on. Pages walked closer to see what she was doing, until he was standing right in front of her. Only now could he make out the sewing needle and thread in her one hoof, and the colorful plushie she was sewing together with it. The filly didn’t seem to notice him as she kept working, but after a couple seconds her hoof began to slow down, then came to a full stop as she lifted her head to look up at him with wide, curious eyes. Pages slowly took a step back and sat down, giving the filly a warm smile to put her at ease. “I’m sorry, I didn’t want to be a distraction. I simply wanted to watch such a young talent for a while.” The filly looked at him for a second, then nodded and silently got back to her work. Pages watched her for a few minutes until the filly suddenly leaned down to cut the thread with her teeth. She carefully set the needle down and secured the end of the thread, then lifted the plushie to inspect it from all sides. By now it was easy to recognize the plush as a unicorn colt, the fur being made from several patches of differently colored fabric. “That’s an amazing plush.” Pages leaned a few inches closer, smiling as he looked at the handiwork. “You are very good at that.” The filly looked up again, staring at him for a second before she gave a small smile. “Thank you.” She glanced down again and the smile changed into a concentrated frown as she squinted at the plush. She poked the horn a few times, then once more before she gave a satisfied nod. Pages suppressed a chuckle and instead turned his attention back to the plush. “So, why is it so… colorful? If you don’t mind me asking, of course.” The filly shrugged. “I can’t just buy the material. Mr. Threads always gives me some of the leftover fabric and thread that don’t sell, but sometimes I just don’t have enough of one color for a whole plush.” She looked down at the plush again. “This time I barely had enough of all colors.” “I see…” Pages looked at the plush again, then looked up again to give the filly a smile. “Well, I think he looks cute that way.” The filly gave another small smile and nodded. “It’s for a friend. I hope she likes it.” She held up the plush again to look at it. “Now I just need to think of a name.” Pages put a hoof to his chin. “Well, considering how you made him from different fabrics… How about Patch Work?” “Hmm…” The filly thought on that, taking on a slightly exaggerated thoughtful expression. “Hmmmm… Patch Work… Patch! I like that.” She grinned and hugged the plushie. “That’s a good name for you, isn’t that right, Patch?” Pages bit his tongue, trying not to grin or d’aww out loud at the sight. He slowly stood up and dusted himself off with a hoof. “Well, I’m glad that I could help, but I should get moving again. Things to do, more ponies to meet. I’m travelling through all of Equestria to write a book, you see. Maybe I’ll see you again somewhere, and maybe then you can make a plush for me, too.” He chuckled and held out a hoof. “My name is Future Pages. It was a pleasure meeting you, Miss…” The filly giggled and shook his hoof, still hugging the plushie with the other foreleg. ”Plush Ramen.” Her smile suddenly turned into a mischievous glare. “And next time we meet I’ll have my own shop where you can buy one for yourself. I’ll be a the best plush-maker in Canterlot, and I’ll make enough money for myself and the whole orphanage.” She determinedly raised a hoof to the sky. “I’ll make sure to come by when that happens.” Pages gave another smile, feeling a twinge of sadness. Orphans always got right to his heart, and he had the feeling that this filly had the worst yet to come. He sighed and waved at the filly as he walked away, smiling until she was out of sight. Her future wasn’t his business anymore. All he could do to help her was to make a few prayers and give her a page in his book. At the very least, and whatever happened, he could make sure that the talented little filly and her plush would not be forgotten.