Life is an Unwritten Book

It wasn’t long before the clouds had covered up the sky again and Written Script had made his way to the Golden Oaks Library.  The tall, thick oak tree stood proudly, the bright green leaves and rich brown wood seemed to have hardly been perturbed by the blazing summer heat.  Written Script saw the warm glow of lights from inside and a small sign on a window reading ‘Open’ in rather plain text compared to the ornate design on the door next to it.

Written Script pushed open the door and found himself in the center of a large round room.  The edges were completely filled with bookshelves except for a staircase at the far corner and a door off to the side.  A large table in the center was surrounded by small cushions laid out on the floor with the centerpiece of a regal-looking stylized pony head in the center.  The library itself was lit up with a large amount of softly-glowing candles placed in lanterns with glass that magnified the light so that no corner of the room was dark.

Not far away from the entrance, sorting through books, was a familiar lavender unicorn mare with a purple mane.  She hardly even flinched as Written Script closed the door behind him and brought his saddlebags out onto the table.  “Miss Twilight?” he called out.

The mare turned around, showing Written Script a pair of bright purple eyes staring back at him.  After an initial moment of curiosity, the mare smiled.  “Hello, Written Script,” Twilight Sparkle said pleasantly, putting the book she currently had in her aura back into the shelf.  “I got your letter yesterday.  How was your meeting with Final Draft?  What did he think of your story?”

“It went well,” Written Script said noncommittally.  “The piece was accepted and he’ll be sending it off to the magazine shortly, and plans are being made to compile them in a two-volume short story collection.  Something about a marketing strategy to sell more books and generate more interest.”

Twilight nodded, though she was no longer smiling.  “That sounds like it wasn’t the end of it.”

Written Script sighed.  Twilight had a knack for seeing things like this.  “Metal Quill was there.”

Twilight Sparkle put a hoof to her chin.  “You mean the author who just published his first novel that was somehow wildly popular in Canterlot and gloated about the thing in the Foal Free Press?”

“Yes, that’s the one.”

“Oh, dear.”  Twilight ran her hoof down her face.  “I’ve read the book,” she said, sounding exhausted.  “His writing style bores me, yet he made it sound like he was on par with some of the greats from Equestria’s gothic period.  It was good, but it just felt so long at times, and I’ve read longer books.”

Written Script knew that fact very well; Twilight had gone through an entire fifteen-volume encyclopedia series like it was nothing, on top of writing reports and doing editing for his more recent works.

“What did he do?”

“He was being rather polite about it, but he was brushing off some advice about the signing circuit that Final Draft was giving him about not caving in to pressure.  He was acting like he was above the potential breakdown and that he was immune to the scrutiny.”

“Well, that’s not the right way to behave about it.  Did he say anything specifically to you?”

“He basically told me that I was only second best and would never reach the popularity or talent he has.  He forgets I invited him to a writing workshop held around here a little over a year ago by A.K. Yearling, which is what got him into writing in the first place.”

“So, what are you going to do about it?”

Written Script kicked at the floor absentmindedly and lowered his head.  “I’ve been thinking about going to one of the signing events he’s going to be doing in Canterlot.”

Twilight cocked an eyebrow at him.  “Why?  Wouldn’t that give him the idea you’re either sucking up to him or admitting he’s right?”

“I don’t want to look like a coward.”  Written Script was still making himself look small, but his voice had suddenly gotten quite strong.  “If I didn’t go it’d be like saying ‘You win; I can’t even show my face around you’.  But if I go, then I’m powerful enough to be seen in public with him and can stand on my own.”

Twilight smiled at him again.  “I don’t think many ponies in your situation would do such a thing.  It’s like you told me once; even A.K. Yearling has writer’s block every once in a while.  He’ll soon see his mistake, I’m sure.”

Written Script looked up and smiled back.  “Thanks,” he said.  “This is why I like you as my editor.  You’re not belittling me but genuinely helping me with my stuff and want me to improve.  You have no idea how helpful you are.”

“It’s not often Equestria gets itself a decent young writer,” Twilight commented, a slight pink tinge appearing on her cheeks.  “Which, of course, means more for me to read.  Editing for me is fun and different from what I normally do, and your stories are engaging enough I’m never bored.”

It was Written Script’s turn to turn pink.  “Aw, geez, Twilight, you’re making me blush…”

“It’s true, though,” Twilight said.

Written Script chuckled to himself.  “Anyways, I did want to come by here and ask if you had picked up any other old books for me to read.  I know it’s a little earlier than last time, but I was already out to stop by my publisher, so I figured I’d drop by and check.”

Twilight shook her head.  “Nothing new in terms of books.  However, I do have something for you.  Let me go and get it.”

Written Script sat himself down on one of the cushions as Twilight went upstairs.  He could hear the shuffling of books and papers as Twilight went through her stores, sounding like she was throwing books around to try and find what she wanted.  Thankfully, the ruckus upstairs soon stopped and Twilight was coming down with a nicely-bound leather book with gold patterns on the front of it.  She held it out in front of Written Script.

Written Script took hold of the book, his aura taking over Twilight’s until the mare’s disappeared completely.  Written Script opened the pages to find a bunch of thin-ruled beige blank pages with brown lines.

“You were always talking about taking your writing around with you but not finding the right notebook for it,” Twilight said.  “It cost be a few bits more than I would have liked, but it looks nice enough and was extremely nicely bounded, so I figured I’d pick one up for you.”

“Where did you get it?”

“Oh, there was a traveling salespony that came through here not too long ago.  I figured with the twenty-second short story mark coming up for you that it would make a good gift.”

Written Script pulled the book out of the way and brought a hoof around Twilight, who reciprocated the gesture.  “Thank you so much!  It looks amazing, and the pages are nice and sturdy, too.  I’d be able to bring this to my family reunions and not have it be torn apart.”

Written Script laughed at his own joke, and Twilight laughed along with him.  After a minute or two, they sighed and went quiet again, Written Script staring at his editor and friend in appreciation; Twilight stared back at him with warmth and something else he couldn’t recognize.

It was Twilight who broke the silence.  “So, I was thinking we could still do a little party for your release anyways.  I could invite a few of my friends, you could invite your family, and we could still have a get together for it, even if your publisher won’t do it for you.”

“You wouldn’t mind if I invite Final Draft to it if he’s not on duty, do you?”

“Not at all.  I know how much you respect him, so he’s free to come.  I could talk with Pinkie Pie and have things set up for a couple of days from now.  How about it?”

“That sounds excellent.  Thank you again, Twilight, both for the book and the party.”

“It’s a milestone most don’t reach,” Twilight said.  “I’d say it’s cause for celebration.”

Written Script laughed as he left the Golden Oaks Library and made his way home.  Twilight seemed to always know what to say to cheer him up and how to help him out like that.  It was something he wished he could find and see more often.