The silence could be cut with a knife.
They both stared at one another. Wob Niar stared at the dark gray stallion, and the stallion stared back.
“I... I think I'm missing something here.” Kulart said. “Why are you two staring at each other like that?”
Wob took two steps forward, and the stallion took two steps back.
“I'm not going to hurt you.” Wob said, a tinge of sadness to her voice.”I promise. I'm just... I'm here to look at a book.”
“She's with me.” Kulart said. “She's alright.”
The stallion relaxed a little. “Oh, okay. I guess I just don't know the whole situation, then. So, erm, what's your name?”
“It's Ra- I mean, it's Wob Niar.” Wob said.
“...Isn't that just Rainbow backwards?” The gray earth pony asked, frowning.
“Don't look at me like that, Trixie came up with it.” Wob said. “What's your name?”
“My name isn't Generic Oblivious.” Generic replied simply.
“Um... Okay? Then what is it?” Wob asked.
Generic shook his head.
“Don't bother.” Kulart whispered to Wob. “He's never told anypony his real name, not even his closest friends.”
“Really?” Wob asked. “Why not?”
“It's really personal.” Kulart replied. “He answers by 'Generic', so use that name for him.”
“Uh... Alright?” Wob said, unsure. She then turned to the stallion. “So... Uh... Generic?”
“Yeah?” Generic replied.
“I'm looking to get into Tux Suave?” Wob said.
Generic's face lit up. “Oh! I'll be more than happy to help! I'll let you borrow the first book, free of charge!”
“Oh, wow.” Wob said. “Though this is a book shop, not a library.”
“It's from my personal collection. I'm willing to let you have it for a week.” Generic said.
“That's rather nice of you!” Wob said, smiling.
“Of course. I'm the Knight of Generosity for a reason.” Generic said.
“The Knight of... Oh! Like Trixie!” Wob said.
“Yeah, like her.” Generic said. “You know her?”
“I'm sorta staying with her. Just for a bit, fortunately.” Wob said.
“Fortunately?” Generic asked.
“Well, I get the feeling that she hates me because I'm a changeling.” Wob said.
“That's not too surprising. She hates changelings intensely.” Generic said sadly. “Ever since that invasion...”
“The wedding?” Wob asked.
“Yeah.” Generic replied. “It's a surprise she agreed to take you in at all.”
“Well, it was Luna's idea.” Wob shrugged.
“That explains it. So, I'll get you a book.” Generic said with a nod as he went into the back of the shop.
“Does Trixie really despise changelings that much?” Wob asked Kulart.
“Yeah. I'm surprised she didn't just kill you right off the bat, really.” Kulart said with a shrug. “I guess you got her to see you as a pony somehow.”
“I doubt that, given how she treats me.” Wob said.
“You get used to it. It's sort of her 'charm'.” Kulart said, making air quotes with his talons.
“Not very charming to me.” Wob said flatly.
“She's not that bad, really.” Kulart said. “She is a really good friend.”
“I'll take your word for it.” Wob said.
Generic returned from the back of the shop with a book balanced perfectly on his back. “One copy of Casino Royale. You'll enjoy it.”
He put the book into a small paper bag, and gave it to Wob.
“Thanks!” Wob said before taking the bag.
“No problem.” Generic said with a smile. “Take as long as you need.”
- - -
Several hours later...
“I'm boooooooooored.”
“Oh sweet Luna, not again!” Trixie groaned. “You just got a book!”
“I read it already.” Wob replied.
“It's not my fault you speed through your books.” Trixie replied.
“Sooooo booooooooored.”
“If you say that you're bored one more time, I'm going to kick you out.” Trixie said sternly.
“You wouldn't.” Wob said in disbelief.
Trixie glared.
“You would.” Wob said.
“Now, I'm not entirely heartless. You'll just have to live with one of my friends, the poor saps.” Trixie said.
“Wait, you mean I don't have to live with you?” Wob said, her ears perking up.
“Oh no...” Trixie said as she realized her mistake.
Wob began a deep inhale, and then...
“BOOOOOOOOOOOOORRREEEEEEEEED!!”
- - -
There was a knock at the door.
“Urgh!” Rose quill groaned. She was a pale pink unicorn with a long flat red mane, a cutie mark that was a rose with the stem replaced with a quill, and eyes as blue as... She can't think of a good analogy right now, she has a door to answer.
She exited her writing room, made her way through the living room, and entered the waiting room. “This better be important!” She growled before she opened the door.
“She's your problem now!” Trixie said as she shoved a blue pony in a black cloak into Rose before slamming the door.
“...Buck the what...?” Rose said, confused.
“Apparently she can't stand my awesome.” The pony said as she pulled back the hood of her cloak.
A changeling. One that looked like Rainbow Dash, but with the physical features of a changeling.
“What did I just get into?” Rose asked. “Okay, first things first. Name.”
“What?”
“Name! What's your name?”
“Oh, Wob Niar.” Wob said.
“Well that's a dumb name.” Rose said with an eye roll.
“Hey, it was Trixie's idea.” Wob said with a shrug.
“Obviously. She's not a writer like me, so of course she sucks at making names.” Rose said. “So. Your story.”
“Er, I think I'm Rainbow Dash, except I probably am not? I don't quite understand it, really. I don't know if I am me or not, but I'll just use the name Trixie gave me until I really know for sure.” Wob said.
“Well then. I guess it doesn't matter, it's getting a bit late anyways.” Rose said with a yawn.
“But it's just after sunrise.” Wob said.
Rose looked at her blankly.
“Right, nocturnal. I forgot.” Wob said.
“Whatever. I don't have a guest bed. You can either sleep on the couch or in my bed. Though if you want to do the latter, you have to treat me to dinner first.” Rose said.
“Oh, okay- wait, what?”
“Dinner it is. I normally don't have a thing for changelings, but I can adapt. Besides, you seem female.” Rose said with a shrug. “So, 6 o’clock?”
“Uh, sure?” Wob said, unsure.
“Alright then. It's a date!” Rose said with a smile. “Go ahead and get acquainted with the house, I'll be in my writing room. Don't interrupt me when I'm writing.”
Her face grew serious.
“Seriously, don't.”
Her smile returned. “Alright, then. See you at 6!”
She gave Wob a peck on the cheek then trotted out of the room.
There was an awkward silence for a good few minutes, before Wob finally said something.
“What just happened?”