Future Pages is a wandering chronicler, talking to everypony he meets to write down their stories.
Future Pages has been travelling Equestria and its cities for years, doing his best to talk to everypony he came across and write down their stories in his compilations. These are some of them.
This story was written for the Tenebris Dawn forum writing contest. I believe that it can be enjoyed without any knowledge of that forum, but be aware that it will contain parts of OC backstories. I'd also like to point out that according to my art teachers, fragmentation is an art form. XP
Tagged as Completed since all chapters are complete in themselves. More chapters might or might not be written.
Pages' books in order of appearance:
Book 1: Canterlot Stories Book 2: Equestrian Stories Book 3: Manehattan Affairs Book 4: Tour De Equestria Book 5: The Canterlot Chronicler Book 6: Ponyville or Pony Won't
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.
Equestria is filled with ponies of all kinds of fate. Many a life is bright and lucky in this land… some not so much.
Pages was trotting through the empty, dimly lit alleys of a small town, just West of the Hollow Shades forest. This night, the whole town was gathered in the central plaza for the Summer Sun Celebration, leaving the rest of the town completely abandoned. Pages didn’t mind… He had already watched the celebration for a while, taking some notes, and now he wanted to see the other side of it, the empty part of the town. It was still a few hours until sunrise, at least.
He was quite surprised to actually find somepony who wasn’t attending the festivities. The colt was staying close to the walls to avoid attention, a futile exercise considering he was the only pony around.
“Hello there.” Pages trotted up to the unicorn colt, smiling friendly. Now that he got closer he could make out more details about the young colt. His fur was a rusty shade of orange and he had a dirty blond, long mane. His mane was a mess, but Pages could make out some bangs swiped across his forehead and around his horn. His cutie mark looked like some sort of aura wrapping around a black crystal, much like a snake and his eyes were a dark shade of emerald green. More than anything, though, the colt looked like he had been stalking through the forest for days.
The colt looked at him, frowned slightly and turned back around to walk off in the other direction.
“Hey, wait a moment.” Pages rushed after him, falling in step with him.
“What do you want, pegasus?” The colt’s voice could best be described as passive-aggressive.
“Hey, I don’t want any trouble. I just wanted to ask what your name would be.” Pages stopped and raised his hooves defensively.
The colt looked back at him for a while, seemingly thinking about something. Finally he said, “My name is Seller. Is that all or are you going to–”
The rest of his sentence was cut off when the first of the fireworks exploded in the sky above them. Seller spun around and looked in all directions, crouched down and in an offensive pose. After a few more explosions, he realized where the sound was coming from. He turned his head to glare at Pages one last time, then started to trot away in a crouched walk without another word.
Pages didn’t try to follow him. Sometimes a short impression was better than forcing a longer conversation.
I heard that the young colt is living in Canterlot now, as Princess Luna’s personal student. I hope that he has grown since then. Just looking at him I could tell that something in him was broken, I can only hope that the Princess can help him heal again.
As I once heard in a joke, there are two nutjobs in a psychiatrist’s office and only one of them is certified.
Future Pages knocked on the door and stepped into the small office. The young grey earth pony stallion with the blond mane looked up and smiled at him nervously.
“Doctor Terastari, I presume?” Pages trotted over to the small couch at the side of the room and sat down.
“Oh, please just call me Tarascha. Everypony does.”
“Very well, Tarascha. It’s a nice office you have here.” He looked around the room.
“T-thank you. I’m hoping that I’ll be able to afford it long-term.” Tarascha paused, creating an awkward silence, though Pages didn’t seem to notice. “So, uhm… You are here for therapy, yes?”
“Oh, not at all, actually.” Pages shook his head, smiling. “I still feel quite sane, thank you. The truth is that I am here to talk to you.”
“Talk to me? I’m not sure if I follow… Are you from the Guard? Did something happen?” Tara raised an eyebrow.
“Oh no, don’t worry.” Pages waved off, chuckling. “You see, I am a chronicler. I talk to ponies to hear their stories. I would like to hear about you.”
“Me? Oh my, I don’t think there’s anything interesting to hear…” Tarascha looked down in embarrassment. “I’m nopony special.”
“Please, if there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that everypony has a story. I heard that you just started this office… What did you do before you started to give therapy?”
“Oh, I’ve been travelling a little after graduation. I needed to get away from Canterlot, for… personal reasons. I’d rather not talk about that.”
“Oh, I can understand that. But you said you went travelling, I’d love to hear more about that.” Pages leaned forward excitedly.
“Well… It wasn’t all that interesting. Me and a friend travelled together for a while. Eventually I went back to Canterlot while she kept travelling…” He trailed of and looked into the distance, muttering. “I wonder where she is now…”
“A friend you say? Tell me about her.”
“Oh, where to start.” A happy grin appeared on his face. “She’s a wonderful mare. I-I mean, we’re only friends of course… She wouldn’t want to be with somepony like me.” His smile faded and he looked down again.
“Oh, she didn’t want to be your marefriend?” Pages gave him a sympathetic look.
“Well…” Tarascha rubbed his neck nervously. “She didn’t actually say that. I never asked her… But why would she want to? I’m just a good-for-nothing.”
“Is that what she said?”
“Well, no… If she heard me saying that she would just hit me over the head and tell me to stop being silly.” He looked down, smiling. “She would always do that. Sometimes she would tell me to stop being silly when I hadn’t said anything. She could notice when I was getting myself down before I did.”
Pages just nodded, watching and smiling.
“And I always managed to make her laugh. Half the time I didn’t even know what was so funny, but seeing her laugh…” Tarascha smiled, looking down. “But seeing her laugh like she did…” He trailed off.
“Well, this has been a few minutes and I’m paying for at least an hour…” Pages leaned back, smiling. “Please, tell me more.”
I haven’t been to Canterlot for some time. I hope Tarascha is okay. I wonder if he has reunited with his friend by now.
…Maybe I should see about another therapy session sometime.
“And you do this every year, for the whole forest?” Pages set down his tea cup to give a respectful look at the other pony.
“Twice a year, actually. I get Spring Paint and Fall Paint from the Princess.” Sitting across the table was a young, yellow pegasus mare with a green and brown mane and gray feathers secured behind her ears and at the base of her tail. Right next to her a tiny orange fox pup was sitting on the floor, curiously looking between pages and the mare.
The pegasus took another sip from her tea. “Nopony wants to wrap up winter in the Everfree Forest. That’s why I’m here. It’s not a real Winter-Wrap-Up, but the unicorn paint helps enough to get the plants in and out of winter.”
Pages nodded and took another note. “And why exactly did you decide to live here, Miss Fuchsfeder?” He looked around at the freshly-built treehouse that was located a good ways into the Everfree. “Surely you could just fly down from Canterlot twice a year. Or maybe live in that small town at the edge of the forest, in Ponyville?”
Moxie Fuchsfeder just smiled and shook her head, leaning down to scratch her pet fox behind the ears. The little fox pup responded by happily rubbing his head against her hoof. “I moved here because of Forest. He grew up in the Everfree and I couldn’t just rip him from his home. He wouldn’t have been happy in Canterlot, or any other town.”
“Well, that’s understandable, of course. He really is adorable, and I’m sure he is a good friend and a fierce guard against the dangers of this forest.” Pages chuckled and leaned down until he was close to being on eye level with the pup. “Isn’t that right, little guy?”
Forest looked up at him for a second, then pounced forward and jumped onto Pages’ head to bite one of his ears. The chronicler let out a surprised yelp and stood up again, trying to shake off the growling fox on his head.
“Forest, stop that! I’m really sorry, he doesn’t usually do that with ponies… too often.” Moxie quickly stepped forward to grab Forest before he could do any more harm. The fox indeed paused at hearing her voice, looking up at her with part of Pages’ left ear still between his teeth.
Pages chuckled, wincing just a little. “It’s okay, Miss. It doesn’t hurt much, and it still has a certain kind of cuteness to it. I assume that’s how he shows his affection?”
Moxie gave him an innocent smile. “Oh, I’m glad you aren’t mad… No, he just likes to bite every stallion that comes close to me. Or talks to me in general.” She scratched her fox under the chin until he let go of the ear, then scooped him up in her arms.
“O…kay? Sounds like he’s protective of you, at least.” Pages laughed and rubbed his ear. “Well, I guess that’s my sign to leave, then. It was a very nice conversation with you. I hope I’ll see you again someday.” He smiled and offered her a hoof.
The mare smiled and shook it, then gasped. “Oh, I know! Give me a second.” Before Pages could say anything, she had dashed over to a closet, coming back with a large bucket she dragged across the floor.
Pages watched curiously as she carefully opened the bucket and dipped one feather of her wing into the green liquid inside. “This is the Spring Paint I told you about. If I use just a little bit of this on you, you’ll get out of the Everfree a lot easier.” She stepped up to Pages and smeared the small drop of paint on his back.
The chronicler gasped as a wave of energy washed through his whole body. Moxie just smiled and closed the bucket again. “You’ll feel stronger and more energetic for a while, an hour maybe. It was only a little bit, so you should only feel a bit wobbly when it wears off.”
“Wow… I feel like I could win the Running of the Leaves.” Pages grinned and cantered in place. “In fact, I think I’ll do that now. I wish you the best of luck with your life in this place.”
Moxie waved as he jumped down the ramp to the treehouse and galloped off into the forest.
~~~~~
After about a minute of running, he had gotten used enough to the magic high that he could slow down and start paying attention to his surroundings again. It didn’t take him long to notice the sounds of metal and splintering wood just off the path. Following the sounds, Pages trotted around a large tree to find a pegasus stallion quickly dissecting a group of timberwolves with his wingblades.
Pages watched as the timberwolves were cut to pieces one by one, almost as fast as they could resurrect. They kept attacking the pegasus for a while until they finally had enough and turned tail, growling as they retreated. He waited a few seconds longer, then walked up to the other pony. “Are you alright? That was quite a show you put on, there.”
The pegasus shook out his bladed wings and folded them again before he turned to Pages, grinning. “Nothing I can’t handle. Name’s Flux.” He held out a hoof.
Pages shook it, smiling. “Future Pages. I take it that wasn’t your first run-in with timberwolves, then?”
Flux shrugged. “Eh, I had worse. Though if you know how to get out of this forest the fastest, that’d be just swell. I’m trying to get to Ponyville.”
“Sure, it’s…” Pages paused, then tilted his head and looked around. “Actually, I’m on the way to Canterlot myself, so that’s pretty much the opposite direction. But if you need directions, just a couple minutes down that path is somepony I’m sure can show you the best way to town.” He pointed towards the treehouse he had just left.
Flux nodded and looked in the direction, shielding his eyes with a wing. “Sounds good. I’ll give it a try.” He started walking, raising a wing for goodbye. “Good luck getting out of this forest yourself!”
Pages looked after him, then nodded to himself and turned back around to make his own way back to Canterlot, humming to himself.
He could have just given the pony the direction for Ponyville, but he had a feeling that sending Flux to meet Moxie was the right thing to do.
On my travels I have seen many things and many ponies. Still, one of the strangest sights must have been a little filly I saw on my way to Manehattan.
Pages put up his hoof as a newspaper tried to hug his face. Creators knew where it came from, the next town was miles away. The cold wind was his only company on his way to Manehattan, and it continued to whip his mane around, apparently rather irritated that Pages wasn’t wearing a hat to have blown away by the storm.
Grey clouds hung in the sky, turning the day into a dark and depressed afternoon. Pages could see a certain beauty about it, as long as it didn’t start raining. It was that ambiguous kind of weather were you couldn’t tell if it already qualified as a storm, or if it would turn into a storm at all. The kind of weather that even the pegasi who controlled it couldn’t fully predict. It was the kind of weather that made parents hesitant to let their kids play outside.
It certainly wasn’t the kind of weather that would have a young filly sit on a beach in the middle of nowhere, staring out at the sea.
Pages rubbed his eyes, then looked down at the beach again. The filly was still there, seemingly oblivious to the world around her as she watched the waves and the clouds. She was a unicorn, sea green with a two-toned, blue mane. She didn’t appear to have a cutie mark yet and Pages couldn’t see much of her face. She didn’t seem the least bit concerned, though, not because of the storm, nor from being alone out here.
Pages parked his cart at the side of the road and started to make his way down the short slope that lead to the beach, but hesitated. He had a feeling that he should wait, rather than going over to the filly. Pages always trusted his feelings.
He stood there, halfway down to the beach, for what felt like minutes, watching the filly. The wind continued to howl all around them, picking up for a moment, then getting weaker again. The blanket of clouds drifted by overhead, making it impossible to tell how far the sun had moved.
Pages had just lifted his hoof to walk the rest of the way down when the filly started to sing. Her voice sounded clear and bright over the sound of the waves and the wind, even though it didn’t seem loud at all. If she used words, they were in a language he had never heard before.
He sat down again and watched, listening as the filly sang to the water, singing about the sea and the land, about worlds she lived in and worlds she wasn’t allowed to even see, about the wind and the sun and the clouds and the sand and about her family…
Pages couldn’t understand the words, but that didn’t mean he didn’t understand what she was singing. Music was a strong power amongst ponies. If he wanted to, he felt like maybe he could even sing along in this strange language.
After a while the song came to an end, the filly sitting on the shore again to watch the waves try to reach her hooves. Pages considered going down to talk to her, but turned around and walked back to his cart instead. The filly seemed fine on her own, and he didn’t think talking to her would help anypony.
Besides, good stories always had some mysteries left.
I don’t know if she really was one of the legendary merpony folk. Even if she was, I still have to wonder what she was doing all alone on that beach. But I have a feeling she’s just fine. Maybe I’ll meet her again, and I can actually try talking to her.
~~~~~
Pages walked around the city, looking around and watching the ponies. He had reached Manehattan without any more problems or strange encounters, and had checked in to his hotel shortly after sunset.
He stepped to the side just in time to avoid bumping into a tall mare. The clean white unicorn with the tri-colored mane gave him a glare, then turned back with a haughty huff and continued to walk, ignoring him.”
Pages stared after the mare for a while, tilting his head. He recognized her as renowned fashionista, but there was something else about her that seemed familiar.
He shook his head for and continued to walk, looking down in thought. After a moment he stopped and looked up, a small grin on his face. “Oh, no way!”
“Mister Pages?” The brown earth pony mare with the yellow and white mane trotted up to the small table of the café. She was wearing a purple suit and a red tie, as well as a black sash around the waist.
Pages smiled at her and held out a hoof. “Indeed. Miss Deeds, I presume? It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Docket Deeds gave a curt nod and a small smile as she shook the offered hoof. “I’ll admit, I was surprised when you asked to meet me for your new book. After Manehattan Affairs, I didn’t expect you to return that soon.”
“Oh, so you’ve read my books, then? Wonderful, wonderful.” Pages grinned and sat down, motioning for her to take a seat across from him. “Yes, it hasn’t been all that long since I was here the last time, but I couldn’t just make a ‘Tour De Equestria’ without one of the most important and diverse town in the country, now could I? Frankly, I think the only place that might have more stories to offer is a little village south of Canterlot.”
“Really? I think I know what village you’re talking about.” Docket let out a small, controlled chuckle and shook her head. “And I’m afraid I haven’t actually bought any of your works yet. I got your latest book as a gift when I graduated. But I’ll admit that it helped me in more than one case so far.”
“Always glad to hear that.” Pages grinned and waved over a waitress. “I’d like a cup of mint tea, please.” He turned back to Docket. “Please, order whatever you’d like. I invited you here, after all.”
Docket gave a short nod. “Thank you. I’ll take an espresso, please.”
“Ahh, coffee…” Pages chuckled as the waitress left to get their beverages. “I usually stay clear of that stuff. Can’t really afford to be twitchy.”
“I can imagine.” Docket gave another small smile. “It must be interesting, travelling as much as you do.”
“Oh, I’m sure it’s not any more interesting than what you do. I can only imagine the stories you’ve heard and experienced in your job.” He waved off, then leaned closer. “Which brings me back on topic… I’d like to know a bit about your own story. Anything that comes to mind, really.”
“Anything that comes to mind, yes?” Docket tilted her head, then glanced down at the sash around her waist. “Well, maybe… You might have heard that I am in a Hoof Fu school. Not half bad at it, either. I’m good enough to teach classes on occasion, at least.”
“Interesting, yes.” Pages nodded and scribbled a few notes.
“Well, the reason my parents gave me for enrolling me there was that I had too much excess energy…” She giggled, more freely than the previous times. “I’ll admit, I was maybe a little hyper at times. But I don’t think that was the main reason. Have you heard about the Diamond Diggers?”
“The group of Diamond Dogs who executed their heists through an underground cave system?” He raised an eyebrow.
“The same.” Docket nodded and frowned. “My cousin Peach is from a rather wealthy family, and apparently the necklace she was always wearing was shiny enough to catch their attention. Before we knew it a couple Diamond Dogs had ripped the necklace from her and I… I wasn’t strong enough to do anything about it.” She sighed. “I know, I was just a little filly, but it still gnaws at me from time to time. My dad caught them, in the end, but I just felt so weak and helpless on that day…”
Pages nodded and took up his tea cup. “And that’s when they suggested you learn martial arts?”
“Yes. It was either Hoof Fu, or Tae-Pon-Do… I chose the more offensive one.” Docket shrugged. “I’ve never regretted it, either. Probably saved my life more than once. Either way, it was another good reason for me to become a Defense Attorney.”
“And that’s a good thing, right?” Pages laughed as he got another small smile out of the mare. “A good story, I like it.” He took another sip of his tea. “You’re an amazing mare and a role model, Miss Deeds, and I’ll do my best to do you justice in my books. Now, I’d love to hear some more stories about your work as an attorney.”
“And this is Night Whisper. He will be your personal guard during your stay in Canterlot.” Princess Luna extended her wing towards a corner of the room and a young Thestral – a batpony in the armor of the Night Guard – stepped out of the shadows. He gave a curt bow and stood at attention, unmoving.
Future Pages, a dark brown earth pony stallion with the silver-grey mane raised an eyebrow. “A personal guard? Princess, I don’t think that will be necessary.”
The Princess nodded. “Indeed, it most likely won’t be. Night Whisper has just finished his training, and he will be assigned easy missions for now. He will follow you around, make sure you are safe and help you with your work. Of course, all that is only if you don’t mind.
Pages looked him over for a moment and nodded. “I don’t mind at all. It might make my work a little easier, and it should certainly prove interesting.”
“Then it’s decided. You are hereby dismissed, both of you.” Luna made a small gesture and the guard gave another quick bow, then turned to walk outside.
“Thank you once again for your time, Princess.” Pages bowed as well and turned to follow the guard.
~~~~~
“So, you are a Night Guard…” Pages glanced over to the guard who trotted right next to him like a shadow.
The Thestral had barely said anything since they had left Luna’s office together. Even now he only nodded.
“And I am your first assignment?” Pages probed.
“That is correct, Ser.”
Pages watched him for a few seconds before he made one last attempt. “That must be quite exciting for you.”
“My personal feelings are not of importance. My duty is to protect you and assist you with your work.”
Pages sighed. “Do you even know what I do as work?”
Night Whisper raised an eyebrow, but quickly resumed his stoic expression. “I was told that you are a writer. A novelist.”
“That is not entirely wrong, but it is a rather simplistic explanation.” Pages smirked and stopped to look at his guard. “I write down the stories of ponies. All ponies that I come across, if I can, including ponies like you. So relax a little.”
The thestral stopped as well and raised an eyebrow, but didn’t react aside from that.
Pages frowned. “I’m serious here, I can’t write about you if you don’t show any emotions.”
No reaction. The earth pony scratched his head. “Uhm… At ease, soldier?”
The guard sighed and relaxed a little. “I’m sorry, I… Well, I didn’t want to take any chances on my first assignment.”
Pages smiled. “It’s understandable. But it would really help me more if we could just talk normally. For example, what made you join the Night Guard, and in such a difficult position no less?”
Night Whisper shrugged. “Most ponies in my family are in the Guard. Of course, that’s not the only reason, but it was a big part of the decision. I guess we’re just destined to protect others.”
Pages nodded, scribbling a few things into a notebook. “There are a few families in Canterlot who are in the guard, aren’t there… Do you have any goals for your career? Getting into the Princesses’ personal guard, maybe?”
“Not really… I mean, it would be great to guard Princess Luna someday, but I don’t set my hopes to high. All I want is to guard ponies who need a guard, for whatever reason.”
Pages chuckled and put his notebook away again. “You’re already setting your hopes pretty high with that, especially in this city…” He trailed off and blinked, then leaned a little closer to look at Night Whisper.
The thestral backed away just an inch, nervously looking back at the earth pony. “Is… something wrong?”
“Hmm?” Pages pulled back away, shaking his head. “Oh, no no no… It was nothing.” He chuckled and gave Night Whisper a smile before turning around again.
“Come on, let’s not dawdle any longer.” The earth pony started to walk again, waving a hoof and not looking back as he shouted, “And don’t worry about your career… I have a good feeling.”
Night Whisper stared after him for a few seconds before he realized that he was supposed to guard him. He shook his head and dashed after the writer to catch up.
I often wonder if I will meet ponies again when I write down their stories. With as many ponies as I talk to, there are always some I might never see again, but in all the time I haven’t yet forgotten a single face.
“Plush? Plush Ramen?”
Future Pages trotted over to the orange pegasus mare, smiling gently. It had been several years since he met this particular filly and she had grown into a nice young mare, as far as he could tell. The pegasus gave him a confused look and he laughed. “I don’t expect you to remember me. We barely talked for five minutes. But I still remember you and that Plush you made… Patch Work, wasn’t that its name?”
“Oh, uhm, of course…” The mare paused and gave him a nervous smile. “I don’t really think I remember, Mister…?”
“Future Pages.” He offered her a hoof. “It’s a pleasure to meet you again. Did you ever open that shop?”
The mare took the hoof and shook it a little too quickly. “Shop? What shop… Oh, did I tell you about that? No… It didn’t work out and then I got that other job…” She looked around nervously.
“Are you alright? You seem a little nervous.” Pages gave her a concerned look.
Plush quickly waved off. “Nervous? No, noooo, why would I be nervous. I’m just… in a hurry, is all. Actually, I should probably go and–“
They were interrupted by a loud *pop* as a young unicorn stallion appeared a couple steps away from them. He looked around for a few seconds before he spotted them. “Plush, there you are! What are you doing here, we have work to do.”
“Coming!” Plush waved back at him, then quickly turned back to Pages. “Listen, uhm… Pages, was it? I’m really sorry, but I can’t stay and talk. Maybe if I see you again, but I doubt it. Sorry!”
She turned around and ran off after the unicorn before Pages could say anything else. Not that he would have had anything to say, anyway… He just stared after the two ponies, trying to fight down the feeling of a really bad hunch he’d gotten.
“I brought you your drink. I apologize for the delay, the shop was very crowded.” Night Whisper stepped up beside him, holding out a paper cup with iced tea.
“Oh? Yes, thank you. I was just talking to–“ Pages turned around to take the drink, but paused. He looked at the bat pony, blinked, then looked back in the direction Plush and her friend had disappeared.
“Is something wrong, Sir? Are you feeling well?” Night Whisper gave him a worried look.
“Oh, uhm, yes yes… I’m fine.” Pages shook his head and took the tea. “It’s nothing you should be concerned with. But if you don’t mind…” He sighed and took a long sip from the cup. “I’d like to visit a school next, right after I’ve taken a couple notes. I’m feeling a little depressed right now, and I think watching some children play is the best way to get my spirits up again.”
He took one last look to where Plush had left and shook his head. The feeling he’d gotten was one of the worst so far, and he was very glad that he didn’t know what exactly would happen to the poor mare and her friends.
Pages looked at the young stallion addressing him. He was a dark blue unicorn with light blue eyes, his mane two shades of red. On his flank was the picture of a rolled-up piece of parchment, tied together by a light blue ribbon.
“Oh, hello. No, I was just looking around, not for anything in particular.” Pages looked the other pony over. “I don’t think I have met you before. Do you work in this library?”
“Uhm, yeah, I do…” The unicorn rubbed his neck nervously. “I’m sorry, I’m not sure what to say. With you not looking for anything in particular, I mean…” He trailed off, giving a nervous smile.
Pages chuckled. “Don’t worry, I’m sure I’ll find something worthwhile.” He held out his hoof to Moonlight. “But right now I’m more interested in you. My name is Future Pages.”
The unicorn shook it hesitantly. “Moonlight Scroll. I’m not very interesting, though…”
“Oh, pish posh. Let me be the judge of that.” Pages waved him off. “There is no such thing as a boring pony. I should know that, I talked to ponies that definitely looked the part.”
“If you say so…” Moonlight avoided his gaze, slightly embarrassed.
“I do say so. But right now I’d like you to say something. What is your life like, Mister Scroll… How did you get this job at the library? Do you have a marefriend, family, what is your special talent? Please talk about whatever you feel comfortable with.”
“Well… I really don’t know what I’m supposed to talk about. I don’t have a real talent… I just got at this job because they were looking for somepony and I like being around books. I don’t have a marefriend, either… I don’t think anypony would be interested in me.” He looks down.
“Now don’t go saying something like that. There must be something special about you.”
“There really isn’t. I’m not bad at stacking books, but that’s really nothing to be proud of. Everypony could do that.” Moonlight took a small stack of books, not even taking a closer look at the titles as he levitated them into several places in a bookshelf seemingly at random.
“Excuse me?” A middle-aged pegasus mare trotted up to them. “I was looking for–“
“Aisle Seven, third shelf.” Moonlight pointed in one direction. “Smarty Brickoven’s “Baked Spectaculars” has a lot of recipes that are easy to make and very good. That’s what I heard, at least, I never found the time to try them myself, yet.”
“I, uhm…” The mare blinked, trying to catch up with the conversation. “Okay? Thank you, that’s exactly what I was looking for.” Her face had visibly lit up during the last sentence and she turned to trot in the direction Moonlight had pointed in.
Moonlight had already turned back to his books. “Anyway, like I said… I’m not anything special, and I don’t think any mare would be interested in me. I can barely talk to mares as it is.”
Pages looked at him for a moment, then shook his head, smiling. “If you say so. You’re not giving yourself enough credit, though. I’m sure that you’re going to find the perfect mare for yourself someday.”
Moonlight didn’t reply, already completely distracted by his books. Pages chuckled and turned away, starting to trot away.
“Aisle Fourteen.”
“I’m sorry?” Pages stopped and turned back around.
“Aisle Fourteen.” Moonlight didn’t look away from the books he was sorting. “I don’t know where, but somewhere in that aisle is the book you’re looking for.”
Pages watched him for a moment, then smiled and turned away, trotting off towards the back of the library. Aisle fourteen…
I found out recently that Moonlight has indeed found himself a marefriend. I have written about that travelling showmare before, and it seems that she has finally decided to settle down. I think they’re just perfect for each other… It would be a sad world if they weren’t.
Pages looked over the tables in the corner of the library. Only one of them was occupied by a tan unicorn mare with a violet streak through her blood red mane. He walked over to her and sat down. “Do you mind if I take a seat here?”
The mare looked up from her adventure novel. “Hmm? Sure, why not.” She tilted her head. “Say, do I know you?”
“You do seem familiar.” Pages leaned closer. “Don’t tell me… Miss Moondancer?”
The unicorn tilted her head. “Do I know you?”
Pages chuckled. “Future Pages. I talked to you a couple months ago. What’s a teacher from Manehattan doing all the way over here?”
Moondancer’s eyes lit up. “Mister Pages? Oh wow, does that mean I’m getting into your books again?” She giggled. “Believe it or not, I was actually born in this town. I’m visiting family this week.”
“Ah, of course. Back to the roots, then.” Pages nodded. “I don’t know about the book, but I’ll see what I can do.”
“Awesome!” Moondancer did a small hoofpump, then paused and slowly peered past the chronicler. “Say… I don’t want to make you nervous, but I think that guard over there is watching us.”
Pages smirked. “The thestral? Yes, I have been assigned a bodyguard while I stay here. Believe it or not, but the Princesses themselves called my books an ‘important contribution to Harmony and culture in Equestria’.” He chuckled. “Beats me why they would be that important.”
“Hah. So you’re making your way to becoming royalty?”
“Hardly. I wouldn’t even know what to do with a title.” Pages shook his head and picked up his book again.
Moondancer glanced at the book and raised an eyebrow. “Stories From Ancient Times. How’d you get stuck with a book like that?”
Pages shook his head. “No idea… The librarian told me I would find a good book for me over there, and it was the first that sprung up. Do you know anything about it?”
Moondancer took the book with her magic and looked over the cover. “A little bit… My friends could probably tell you a lot more about that, but they’re both in Ponyville. They’ve always been the history ponies.” She sighed and flipped it open to a random page. “This is translated from old Moonwhinny, I think. Really old stuff.”
“That doesn’t sound like you have much interest in that kind of history.” Pages watched her curiously.
“Eh, I wouldn’t say that. There just isn’t really much in this book that isn’t common knowledge. Or common knowledge for ponies from Princess Celestia’s School for yadda yadda... I’ve lost a year of my life for saying that full name each time.” She started to flip more pages, looking them over quickly. “Ponies, ponies, dragons, ponies, Celestia and Luna fight… Oooh, this here sounds interesting: A page about a race called ‘Bicorns’.”
“Bicorns? You mean like unicorns with…?”
“Yup. They had two magic-makers sticking out their noggin.” Moondancer giggled. “Must’ve been compensating for something.” She gave Pages a meaningful wink.
“According to this their magic power was just short of an alicorn’s,” she continued. “Needless to say, they weren’t a natural race, they were created… somehow. Doesn’t say here. Started to appear sometime a couple millennia ago and disappeared again just as quickly during the rise of Lord Dark.” She looked up. “’Lord Dark’, huh? I wouldn’t take too much from these stories.”
She shook her head. “Anyway, those creatures are long gone. It says here that there may be a last one still alive, but even that would’ve been ages ago.” She laughed and set the book down. “Makes you wonder why they never made a movie about this. ‘The Last Bicorn’, I bet that would’ve made a fortune.”
Pages sighed and shook her head. “So much about that, then. Anything else in that book?”
Moondancer flipped through the pages again. “Battles between diamond dogs and minoboars… A story about pony doppelgangers… Something about a General of the Princesses’ Army getting lost during the Ice Dragon Wars?” She closed the book and set it down. “Nope. Nothing much in here, just some old stories of dubious credibility.”
“Well then, I guess they were interesting enough, at least.” Pages took the book again and carefully put it into his saddlebags. “I think I’ll read some more in it, anyway. Would be a shame to go to the Canterlot Library and not take a single book to read.” He stood up and shook his legs.
Moondancer grinned. “It was nice meeting you again. If you need somepony to down a few drinks with, I know my way around the bars in town.”
Pages smiled, shaking his head. “I’ll keep that in mind. Take care!”
He waved over his shoulder and left the library, shadowed by Night Whisper.
Being a chronicler isn’t always easy. Sometimes I wonder if I’m really making a difference in ponies’ lives… Just writing stories down won’t help turn those stories for the better, will it?
Pages trotted over to the balcony door and pulled the curtains aside. Having visitors at the window or on the balcony wasn’t exactly strange, but it was rather uncommon. Opening the door, he could see an orange mare standing outside.
“Hey, uhm… Can I come in for a second?” Plush Ramen shuffled her hooves, avoiding his gaze.
“Of course, come right in.” Pages nodded and stepped aside, letting her in. “What do I owe this visit to? Anything I can do for you?”
Plush looked around for a moment, then sighed and slipped of her saddlebags to pull out an old cardboard box. “I still can’t say I remember much about you, but after I met you yesterday I found this here.” She held out the box for him.
Pages took it and inspected it curiously, then opened it to peek inside. “Is that…?”
“I think I made it as a little filly… Apparently you told me that you would buy one from me when I open my shop, so I made this one in advance.” She cringed. “It’s… really not one of my better works. I don’t know what I was thinking when I made it, I guess it was just me being a little foal.”
Pages held up the misshapen piece of stuffed fabric, threads in all colors spanning around it. It had the form of a pony, but it didn’t look like one. It looked like somepony had taken the forms of over a dozen different stallions and mares in all sizes and ages and mixed them into one pony. What seemed like hundreds of thin colorful threads went out from the cutie marks on its flanks, spanning around it and connecting all the different parts.
Plush watched as Pages inspected it for a few seconds, then she cringed and looked down. “Oh Celestia, it’s horrible, isn’t it? I’d understand if you didn’t want it, I don’t even know why I showed–“
“It’s perfect…” Pages turned it around one last time, then looked back at Plush, smiling happily. “It’s absolutely perfect. I promise I’ll take good care of it.”
“You don’t have to patronize me, you know?” Plush frowned, glaring at him. “It’s a jumbled mess made by a little filly with too many colors at hoof, and it’s probably for the best that I never tried to make those things for a living.”
Pages sighed and looked at the plush. “You don’t see it anymore, do you? This plush was made by an amazing little filly who knew more about what she was doing than she might have realized herself.”
Plush just groaned and shook her head. “If you say so… It doesn’t really matter, anyway.” She stomped back to the balcony, her wings twitching.
“Plush, wait!” Pages walked over to a desk as the pegasus paused and turned her head back to him. “I told you I would buy a plushie from you and that implies paying for it.” He pulled out a small bag of Bits from the drawer and tossed it over to the mare, who expertly caught it in a wing.
Plush pocketed the Bits and scoffed. “You don’t need to give me pity money.”
Pages just shook his head. “Then take that money for something else. You take the Bits and you promise me that you’ll make another plush.” He gave her a sad smile. “I remember that filly very well, even if we only talked for a few minutes. Please don’t lose that filly.”
Plush stared at him for a moment, then shrugged and spread her wings. “Whatever. I doubt I’ll see you again, so goodbye, Mister Pages.”
Pages looked after her for a while as she disappeared against the night sky. Then he closed the door and the curtains and sat down on the bed, holding the plush in his hooves. He took a deep breath and looked down, unfocusing his eyes.
The plush blurred and wavered a little before the colorful threads seemed to move. A dozen ponies, from a foal and a young filly to an elderly stallion or a hulking farmer pony, moved forward for a second before blurring back into the background. The thin threads hung between them, connecting all of them in a net of different colors.
Pages smiled and laid back, hugging the plush in his forehooves as he fell asleep.
