When Marjoram left the library earlier than usual, he was hoping to get something for breakfast for himself and the others. His plan had been to get the ingredients, and make breakfast for everyone; as a thank you for taking care of him.
What Marjoram hadn't expected, was for all the shops to be closed, and the streets deserted. Marjoram tried knocking on a few doors, but heard nothing more than a few quiet whimpers. Didn't think they were that terrified of me. Marjoram thought.
The sight of a cloaked figure, standing in the middle of town square, caught Marjoram's attention. He approached cautiously, wondering if the figure was why everypony was hiding. Marjoram cleared his throat, “Hello?”
The figure turned, her turquoise eyes the only thing clearly visible, “Ah! A pony, I see! Someone whom I can converse with, finally!” Her voice was deep, and thickly accented.
“Hello,” Marjoram responded, “I'm Marjoram.”
“I am Zecora, from a far way land. From everywhere, however, it seems I've been banned,” using a hoof, she lowered the hood, showing her face for the first time. Her mane was short, she was covered in thick, golden jewelry, and she was covered in stripes..
Marjoram felt surprised, “A zebra!? I've never met one of you before. It's an honour,”
Zecora smiled, “Please, the honour is mine. It is nice to have sompony in which I can confide.”
Marjoram nodded, “I'm guessing you're the reason the shops are closed,” Zecora frowned, and nodded. Marjoram sighed, “I'm sorry about these ponies. If you went to Canterlot, you'd be much better treated-”
“My work requires me to live in the Everfree,” Zecora gestured to the dark woods, “I need only one more ingredient for my recipe.”
“You can only find it here in Ponyville? What is it? I might have some.”
“You would be willing to do this for a stranger?” Zecora asked, baffled, “As far as you know, this could invite great danger.”
Marjoram shrugged, “It's not a big problem. Somepony here in this backwater town has to treat you fairly, might as well be me.”
“I thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Let's get going, and see if what you have can fill my cart.”
Marjoram didn't see a cart, but he figured it was a metaphorical for if he had what Zecora needed. Marjoram nodded, “Follow me,” and began to lead Zecora to the mortician building. Her eyes lit up at the sight of it.
“You work with the dead? Where many a pony fear to tread?”
“Yes. I was one of two morticians in Canterlot before Twilight and I moved here.”
Zecora nodded, and followed Marjoram inside, looking around the sterile office for a moment, looking at the labelled jars, and containers lined up along one wall. Moving closer, her eyes lit up, “This is what I require, thank you for fulfilling my desire!”
“It's not a problem. If you need anything else, I can probably get it for you, just let me know,” Marjoram offered a hesitant smile, getting the container from the shelf with magic, and allowing Zecora to take what she needed.
Zecora nodded, taking a good amount of the herb and putting it in her saddle-bag, “Again, I thank you for this. Are you sure this is something you will not miss?”
“It's fine,” Marjoram replied, putting the container back.
Zecora nodded, “Then I will bid you farewell, as I must return to where I dwell.”
Marjoram nodded, “And I should get going.”
Zecora smiled, pulled the hood up over her head once more, leaving the office. Marjoram couldn't help but wonder if he'd made a friend.
Marjoram was disappointed to realize Twilight and Spike had already eaten breakfast by the time he'd made it back to the library. He promised he'd make them dinner, which excited both of them as they knew Marjoram was an excellent cook.
Around mid-morning, an invoice was dropped off for reports that had been dropped off at the post office, coming from around Equestria. However, Marjoram had two autopsies to perform that day, and had no time to get them.
“Spike, would you mind getting them for me?” Marjoram asked, writing a quick note that gave Spike permission to pick the letters up, “and here are the bits for the reports, keep the change. Bring them to my office when you're done?”
Spike nodded, offering a toothy grin, “Okay! I'll go right now!”
Marjoram nodded in thanks, “I'll probably be in the back, performing one of the autopsies, so just drop them on my desk.”
Spike left the library, Marjoram leaving mere moments afterward. Marjoram headed to the mortician's, flipped through the chart for the first autopsy, and got to work.
When Spike appeared, carrying the massive pile of reports, Marjoram had been taking a break, flipping through the chart for the next autopsy. Marjoram had been surprised to find Spike hadn't dropped them off yet, as several hours had passed since Spike had left to retrieve them.
Spike offered a timid smile, “Sorry for the wait. Pinkie and Rainbow pranked me on the way here, and I got the hiccups-”
“Sent them to Celestia by accident?” Marjoram guessed.
Spike nodded, putting the pile of scrolls on the desk, “Yeah. She sent them back, though.”
Marjoram chuckled, “I heard they've been pranking a lot of people lately. They haven't gotten me yet-”
“Maybe they're too scared to,” Spike suggested, “Or don't know how to.”
Marjoram shrugged, “Whatever the reason, I'm glad they haven't. If they startled me like they did you, I'd probably cough until I spat blood.”
“True. Would you like me to do anything else?” Spike asked eagerly.
“No thanks,” Marjoram stood up, “I've got to get that second autopsy done so I can make you guys dinner.”
“Okay!” Spike said brightly, “Good luck.”
Marjoram offered a soft, crooked smile to Spike's back as the little dragon left. Marjoram magically levitated the chart he'd been examining, and went to the morgue. No point putting this off. Hello Mr. Seal, let's get started, shall we?
(LINE BREAK)
When Marjoram got back to the library, he drank his tea, and a dose of the potion Twilight had made him, then started to make dinner. He made spaghetti and garlic bread, something he knew the three of them would all enjoy.
Spike left the library to join Marjoram in the kitchen, inhaling the scents of garlic, baking bread, and tomato sauce, “Mmmm. Smells good!”
Marjoram nodded, “It does, doesn't it?-”
From where Marjoram was standing, he saw and heard Fluttershy burst into the library, nearly in tears. She looked around frantically for Twilight, and not finding her, focused on Marjoram. Through her tears, and obvious distress, she still walked slowly over.
“Um, I hope I'm not interrupting anything-”
“It's nothing important!” Spike exclaimed, getting up and leading Fluttershy inside, seating her at the counter, “What's wrong?!”
“Well, I was helping some parent ducks get their ducklings back home, leading them through Ponyville. I-I guess I wasn't paying attention to where I was going, and I ran into Gilda, one of Rainbow Dash's friends from Flight Camp.”
Marjoram nodded, stirring the marinara sauce.
“She's a griffon, and she got really, really mad when I accidentally ran into her,” Fluttershy sniffled, wiping away at the tears that were streaming down her cheeks, “Sh-she roared at me, and she scared the ducks, and I panicked, and-”
Marjoram pulled out a mug, and a bag of lavender tea. He poured water into the cup and boiled it with magic, putting the tea bag into the mug, “Here. Drink this. Breathe.”
Fluttershy sniffled again, heaving for breath. She waited for the tea to cool a little before taking a sip, “Where's Twilight?”
“Off to get more quills,” Spike gestured in the direction of the quill and sofa shop.
“Oh,” Fluttershy stared into her cup.
Marjoram sighed, “She'll be back soon,” at the announcement, Spike cleared his throat and drove his elbow into Marjoram's shoulder. Marjoram rolled his eyes, turned the burners down to low, and turned to Spike, “You're in charge of making sure nothing burns. Fluttershy is to watch and help in case of emergency, and the oven mitts are on the counter there. I'll go see if I can find Twilight.”
“Oh! I don't mean to impose,” Fluttershy's eyes were wide.
“It's no problem,” Marjoram replied dryly, moving to the door and draping his cloak over his thin body. He left the library and went into the streets of Ponyville.
Keeping his head down, Marjoram made his way through the crowd, wondering what to think about Rainbow Dash's friend. Well, she's a griffon. Might have different cultural views on 'weaklings'.
Marjoram almost ran into Twilight, who was looking down at an order form, “Ooph!” Twilight exclaimed.
“Sorry,” Marjoram offered a soft smile, “Fluttershy came over to talk to you-”
Twilight sighed, “Fluttershy now? Is Pinkie there?”
“No,” Marjoram replied, “Why-”
“Gilda, Rainbow Dash's friend-”
“Ah.”
“I ran into Pinkie before I ran into you. She's planning a party for Gilda, and she's invited all of us.”
Marjoram nodded, “Alright then. I've never met a griffon before.”
“Neither have I, though I think Pinkie was jealous of Gilda. She seemed so angry earlier. I'm glad she's changed her mind,” Marjoram made a non-commital sound in the back of his throat. Twilight glared at him from the corner of her eye, “What?”
“I think Pinkie was right about her initial assessment. Fluttershy is back at the library, Spike and I calmed her down. Apparently Gilda roared at her, and scared the living daylights out of her.”
Twilight winced, “Well, we don't really know Gilda-”
“No we don't,” Marjoram agreed, “That's why we're going to the party.”
Twilight blinked, stopping mid-stride, “Seriously?”
“Yes. And I'm going to pretend I'm sicker than usual, and see how she treats me in an environment filled with friendly, unfamiliar ponies.”
Twilight began walking again, “Okay...that's it?”
“That's it,” Marjoram replied evenly, “We need to know if it was a one-time thing or not.”
“I suppose so,” Twilight admitted slowly, “We should bring Spike and Fluttershy too, see how Gilda treats them.”
The crooked smile Twilight knew so well bloomed over Marjoram's features, “Let's get going. We want to make sure Rainbow knows how her friend is an ass.”
“Language!”
Marjoram let out a rusty chuckle, shaking his head, “This is going to be fun.”
(LINE BREAK)
When Rarity saw Twilight, Spike, Fluttershy, and Marjoram enter Sugar Cube Corner, she knew something was wrong. Twilight and Spike looked like they usually did when faced with a party: excited, if a little uncomfortable. Fluttershy, Rarity could tell, was more nervous than usual: tense, and refusing to look anypony in the eye.
However, it was Marjoram that Rarity couldn't help but wince at the appearance of. He always looked rather...undistinguished, tired, and messy, but this was a whole other level. Marjoram's mane was free of its usual bun, showcasing his newly shortened and crooked tail. He was walking slowly, almost like he was testing to make sure his legs didn't give out on him before he took the next step.
Moving closer, toward the punch, Rarity could hear his raspy, liquid filled breathing from several feet away and above the noise of the ponies that had already shown up for the party. Rarity poured herself a glass, then moved to one side, watching as Marjoram found an empty chair and sat down, his tired golden eyes sweeping the room.
Rarity poured another glass of punch, and walked over, magically floating the punch to Marjoram, whose own magic took it, “Gilda isn't here yet.”
Marjoram nodded, “I figured.”
Rarity had to stop herself from wincing: even Marjoram's voice sounded worse. Usually he was soft spoken, his voice raspy and weak. Now it sounded like he'd swallowed nails. Marjoram sipped delicately at the punch, observing the room.
“I hope you don't mind me asking, but are you going to the Gala?” Rarity asked suddenly.
Marjoram blinked, then shrugged, “Not sure yet. Depends on what's going on, I suppose. It's Twilight's first one, so I might stay for a few minutes.”
Rarity nodded, taking a sip of her own punch, “I know the girls, Spike and I are going together. I'm sure it won't be any trouble for you to come with us.”
“Thank you,” Marjoram replied quietly, “I'll consider it.”
“Have you heard anything about this Gilda?”
Marjoram shook his head. Before he could say anything more, the door to Sugarcube Corner flew open, letting in Rainbow Dash, then a griffon that could only be Gilda. Rainbow let out an awkward laugh, “Sorry, Pinkie! Didn't mean to slam the door open like that!”
“That's okay!” Pinkie smiled, bouncing over to Gilda, “I'm so happy to throw you one of my signature parties! And I really hope you feel welcome among all of us ponies!” With that, Pinkie outstretched a hoof, which Gilda hesitantly wrapped a paw around in a hoof-shake.
Gilda yelped, pulling away, her feathers and fur standing on end. Pinkie giggled, revealing the buzzer. Rainbow joined in on the giggling, though it clear through Gilda's facial expression that she was furious.
“Hm,” Marjoram's eyes were narrow as he took in the scene.
“What do you think?” Rarity asked.
“Too soon to tell,” Marjoram replied, downing the last of his punch.
Rarity nodded, suddenly feeling uneasy.
Pinkie turned to where the majority of the ponies were standing, “This is Gilda, everypony! She's the guest of honour, so please make sure she feels like she belongs! Please help yourself!”
Rainbow threw a leg around Gilda's neck, smiling. Gilda smiled as well, though her smile seemed forced. Gilda broke away from Rainbow to look at the copious amounts of food and drink that had been laid out.
“Don't mind if I do!” Gilda smiled a mean, seemingly genuine, smile. She forwent the desert plates Pinkie had provided, and took several pastries and began to eat them, staring down anypony who looked ready to mention her lack of manners. She began to make her way through the room, taking food or drink from the various tables scattered around the room.
Marjoram stood, moving slowly. Rarity looked at him in concern, “Do you need anything-”
“I'm fine, thank you,” Marjoram replied coolly, setting his cup down, “I'm just going-”
“Hey, G! This is Rarity and Marjoram,” Rainbow gestured to the pair of unicorns, “Rarity is from here, but Marjoram's from Canterlot. He's Twilight's teacher.”
Gilda looked at Marjoram with disbelieving eyes, “Uh-huh.”
Marjoram offered a curt nod, “Hello, Gilda.”
Gilda sneered, “Hello,” her husky voice bordered on being polite.
Marjoram's neutral expression turned into one that made Rarity nervous. He cleared his throat, “I think I'm going to get some of those vanilla lemon drops-”
“I think I'll have some of those,” Gilda interrupted, snatching a handful for herself. She gulped them down, them made a distressing noise, “Hot!”
“The punch!” Rainbow pointed.
Gilda ran to the nearest punch bowl. Grabbing a glass of punch, she tried to drink it down, but it was a dribble glass, spilling punch all down the feathers of her chest. Gilda nearly threw the glass down, and ran to the other bowl, filling a glass and knocking it back with barely a thought. She panted for breath, leveling a glare at Pinkie Pie, before offering a reassuring, fake smile to Rainbow.
Marjoram laughed, though far quieter, with the others. Gilda looked angry, but didn't seem to want to blow up at anypony yet. Gilda drank another glass of punch, then stuck closer to Rainbow for a while. Things were quiet for a bit, then Pinkie brought out the cake.
Spike stared up from the ground at the large cake, his eyes taking it in, “Can I blow out the candles?!”
“We should let Gilda blow them out, Spike,” Twilight admonished, “She's the guest of honour-”
“Yes, I am,” Gilda said, sliding over and shoving Spike out of the way. She inhaled, and tried to blow the candles out. They relit after every try, and the room erupted into laughter.
Gilda fumed silently at the attention, angry that whomever had set the pranks had apparently singled her out. Once again, Rainbow Dash's approval of the prank calmed her down. Though it looked like she threatened Pinkie behind the cake.
Marjoram wandered over, and ended up being right in Gilda's way. She rammed into him in full force, sending him sprawling onto the wooden floor. The impact knocked the breath from him, leaving him gasping on the floor.
Gilda let out a snarl, “Get out of my way, dweeb!”
Marjoram was unable to reply, though he glared up at her through the strands of his mane that covered his face.
“That was uncalled for!” Rarity moved forward, glaring at Gilda.
Gilda flipped her feathers out of her eyes, and moved on, muttering “Whatever,” under her breath.
When Marjoram caught his breath, he stood up, glaring daggers at Gilda. A delicate cough from Rarity drew his ire.
“What?”
“Shouldn't we tell Rainbow Dash what just happened?”
“Would she believe me?” Marjoram retorted.
Rarity was silent, for she wasn't sure of the answer herself. The pair watched in silence as Pinkie announced that they would all play Pin the Tail on the Pony. Marjoram had to fight not to roll his eyes at the childish game, and Rarity seemed to be in a similar situation.
A pony Marjoram didn't know very well tried to pick up the purple tail, asking if anyone minded if she went first. Gilda beat her to picking up the tail, loudly declaring that she wanted to go first because she was the guest of honour.
Pinkie agreed, and in under thirty seconds, had Gilda blindfolded and spun around. She hastily explained the rules, and guided Gilda to the poster, “Here, it's straight ahead. Good luck!”
Gilda snorted, turning on her heel to face the opposite direction, “Yeah right. This is going to be a stupid prank!”
Despite the protests of many ponies, Gilda continued going the wrong way. She stepped on something, and slipped, landing in the remnants of the cake. She flung off the blindfold, and let out a roar that silenced the laughter of the ponies.
“I'm sick and tired of you lame-brains and your stupid party!” Gilda shouted, “This was all a set-up for those no-brainer pranks, and I've had enough. C'mon Dash, let's go. We can go be cool on our own.”
Rainbow looked perplexed, “I set up those pranks, Gilda. They weren't all meant for you.”
Gilda looked taken aback, “C'mon, you're pulling my tail. This was Pinkie Pie's fault! She wanted to teach me a lesson!”
Pinkie stepped through the crowd, “I hoped a party would change your attitude, that's all.”
Gilda sputtered as Rainbow stepped forward to stand in front of her, “Clearly it didn't work. This isn't how I thought an old friend would treat my new ones.”
Gilda's uncertainty turned to anger, “Well...you're-you're a flip-flop. You're cool one minute, and a dweeb the next! You'd choose to hang around these lame-brain, weak ponies, rather than with me!? Let me know when you decide to be cool again, then maybe we'll talk!” with that, Gilda spun around, and left, slamming the door behind her.
Rainbow, looking ashamed, turned to the mass of ponies behind her, “I'm sorry, guys. I thought she'd be…cool with everypony. Apparently not. I'm sorry she ruined your party, Pinkie.”
Pinkie shrugged, “It's okay. We can still have fun, right everypony!?”
There was a cheer from the crowd, and things settled down. Marjoram went to leave, his part in the whole thing done, when a hoof touched his shoulder. Marjoram was surprised to see it was Rainbow, an odd look on her face.
“I'm sorry she pushed you down-”
“Don't apologize for her,” Marjoram replied evenly, “I've lived through worse.”
“But-”
“No,” Marjoram shook his head, “Enjoy your party.”
Before Rainbow could say anything else, Marjoram was already leaving, plodding down the cobblestone road. Feeling disquiet, Rainbow was pulled back into the party by Pinkie.
Soon after, Rainbow forgot about that odd feeling.