The Marerainian Affair

by Uncle Knot

The Librarian is in

In the library

Jorge entered the library expecting to see a library. What he found was something else. Yes, there were rows of book shelves, green, blue, orange and red shelves taller than the mast on a ship. But there were also these little apartments set in the shelves with a writing desk and a small bed or couch. The ceiling had windows to let in the light, and these windows seemed to be following the sun to give the maximum illumination to the room. The shape of the room was indiscernible, since Jorge could not see the far walls. The room was certainly too large to fit in the palace, perhaps even too large for Ponyville. Jorge decided to test this illusion. He placed a few books on the floor to act as a landmark and started his trek into the forest of shelves.

“Hello, is any pony here?” Jorge called out. His voice echoed into the forest.

“Twilight Sparkle, are you in here?” Jorge called out with similar results.

Again Jorge called out “Princess Sparkle of Equestria!”

Jorge looked back; he had traveled further than he had thought. His little landmark of books looked very tiny. His 2nd landmark was suitably more noticeable. He used colored books to give the most contrast in his vertical construct. If he had been a pegasus, he could fly around the library with ease, but as things were he had to walk.

“If only there was a card catalog or reference desk” Jorge said in frustration.

The floor beneath his feet took on a strange color. Jorge was a bit startled to see tiny arrows forming in the floor, callusing into bigger arrows making a path through the rows of shelves. They at first seemed to be insects. Jorge followed them and arrived at a reference desk. It seems very simple, but one thing about it gave Jorge his first taste of hope since entering the library. On the desk was a little sign that said “The librarian is in”

“Okay, where is she?” Jorge asked the floor. Several little arrows appeared and tried to go in all directions at once, then they seemed to give up, and vanished.

“She isn’t hiding from me, she is looking for something. What is the reference librarian looking for?”

Jorge heard the tiniest little click come from the desk. He walked around it and noticed a drawer just a little bit open. Jorge opened the drawer and was rewarded with a list. A check list of sorts;

History of Marerainia by Professor Sum P – check

Tour guild to Marerainia – check

Marerainia on 5 bits a day by Mr. Yew - check

Economic Opportunities in Marerainia by Mr. Yew – check

Ultimate Voyage by William Gilkerson - check

Sightseeing Marerainia – check

The War of the Flowers by Tad Williams – check,

Common Names in Marerainia – check,

The Unschooled Wizard by Barbara Hambly - check

The Royals of Marerainia by S. Shimmer – double check

The Complete Book of Swords by Fred Saberhagen– check

How to Disguise a Pegasus by Prof Sum P - check

Military Adventures in the Marerainian Guard by Lt O’Neigh – check

The History of the Wonderbolts by Lt O’Neigh – check

The Spy who Loved me by Irving Fleming – check

How to Disguise a Unicorn by Professor Sum P – check

Witch Hunters of Marerainia by Prof Sum P – check

The Savage Tales of Solomon Kane by Robert E. Howard - check

Professor Sum P - ? Who’s Who in Equestria – check (Prof Sum P no reference?)

Jorge reread the check list again. 2 things were very disturbing; first that Captain Shimmer knew who he was and had just played
dumb. Second that Princess Twilight probably also knew or at least suspected.

“When were you going to tell me?” ask Twilight

“My dear Dawn, this is supposed to be an un-official visit” answered Jorge

“Un-official, all your visits are supposed to be un-official. You’re a spy!”

“Wait, what?” stuttered Jorge

“You’re a spy! You are working with Sum P” responded Twilight

“I’m not a spy, I’m just a sight seer, and I don’t even know the Professor”

“But you know he is a professor, you lie!”

“it says he is a professor right here on your list”

“Oh, but you know he’s a spy” said Twilight

“He seems to have collected a lot of material on Marerainia” answered Jorge

“And you’re a spy too”

“Wait what?” answered Jorge

“What is the name of your airship? What sights did you come to see in Ponyville?” interrogated Twilight

“The airship is called the Argyle, and she is commanded by Captain Shimmer” responded Jorge

“Shimmer?! As in Sunset Shimmer?” asked Twilight

“I don’t know her first name” answered Jorge “but Sunset might suit her”

“What is she doing back in Equestria?” asked Twilight to no pony

“I don’t know” answered Jorge

“You didn’t answer my other question. What sights did you come to see in Ponyville?”

“You” said Jorge

“Me?” asked Twilight “Why?”

“My aunt and uncle suggested it” said Jorge

“Who are your aunt and uncle?” asked Twilight “Have I met them?”

“Twice, both times in the Crystal Empire, once at the Equestrian games” answered Jorge

“Tell me who they are?” demanded Twilight

“Okay, Dawn” said Jorge sheepishly “but you have to promise not to ask any more questions about me. This is supposed to be an ‘un-official’ visit.”

“I can’t promise that” said Twilight

“You will if you think a little about my answer” said Jorge “my aunt and uncle are the Grand Duke and Duchess of Marerainia”

“That means you are related to royalty” said Twilight “You might even be …”

“I will not tell you anymore” said Jorge “I need to go do some shopping now”

“Wait, if you came here to see the sights” said Twilight “then at least tell me what you thought of them”

“Okay Dawn,” said Jorge “the sights are the stuff of dreams, the edge of the shadow, the mist in the mystery that deserves to be solve only when it is ready”

“Er, thanks Jorge” said Twilight “that will be something to think about. I hope someday we get to meet in an official fashion”

“I hope so too” said Jorge

Comments

[NightBlaze422]

good job keep it up

[Uncle Knot]

thanks you for the attention, it is hard to write stories on my 10 minute breaks

[Honest Wisdom]

You should add some more details as to what the characters are doing, the dialogue is very fast and I read the last five chapters in less the 15 minutes. sorry for the nitpicks, it's a great story though.