Keystrokes

As Keystrokes looked up at his new home, he knew this was a bad idea. He promised himself he would never return to Ponyville or any of the surrounding areas.

The purple stallion unlocked the door with his horn and entered. Inside was exactly what he had expected. An old, decrepit house. In one corner was a cobweb, and another he was sure he had seen a rat scurry into a hole in the wall. He continued through the house to find the bedroom. It was in no better shape than the rest. He realized the bed was missing, and that he would have to sleep on the floor. He sighed. "It's better than sleeping in the forest, I guess." he thought aloud. It wouldn't be comfortable, but at least there was a smaller chance of being devoured alive by a timber wolf.

Heh. 'Smaller chance'. He had grown to be a dark minded person, and sometimes he wondered that maybe the reason he thought of death so much is because he wanted to be free of that life. He felt so alone sometimes. He sighed again.

He decided to check out the rest. It was all in terrible disrepair.

He went to the market to pick up some food. He had hoped that the large bandage around his chest wouldn't attract to much attention. He was dead wrong. The entire time he was getting looks from almost everypony. At least nopony recognized hi-

*SMASH*

"Oh, I'm sorry. I was reading this book and wasn't paying attention to my surroundings. Sorry agai-Wait a second..." He had trotted into a young purple mare, and she seemed to be having a panic attack. "Oh sweet Celestia! You're the famous author Quilliam Keystrokes aren't you!?" So much for that, he thought.

"Sigh, yeah. I'm Keystrokes. But could you please calm down? I really don't want to attract any attention." If she hadn't already been hyperventilating, she was now.

"OH MY SWEET CELESTIA, KEYSTROKES!? What are you doing here in Ponyville? I'm your biggest fan. I-" It was then that the last part sunk in. "Oh, um, yeah okay. I'm sorry. I'll try and calm down." She had already attracted much more attention than he had intended, however. He got agitated, but managed to keep it to himself.

If she had been a stallion he would have kicked her face in right there. He hated some ponies so much. They act like they own the world and do EVERYTHING they know he doesn't want. Like attracting attention.

"So, 'biggest fan'," he said in a slightly mocking voice, "can you suggest a good eatery around here?"

She began to realize just how much attention she had drawn, and didn't respond at first. "Er, yeah. The Cabbage Cafe is just around the corner."

He thanked her and went to go on his way, when she came galloping up to him. "I'm feeling kind of hungry too now that you mentioned it." He decided that he did not like this pony.

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"I'll have a lettuce sandwich and a coffee, please." Keystrokes said, handing his menu to the waitress.

"And I'll have just a coffee, thank you." The mare had decided to say 'A table for two, please,' before he could say anything, which made him feel uncomfortable. He was good with books, but with ponies, not so much. "So, Mister Quilliam Keystrokes-"

"Please, just call me Keystrokes."

"Okay then, Keystrokes. What brings you to Ponyville?"

He quickly responded "I came here to write a book in solitude. I have never been to this town before in my life." He realized only too late that the last part implied otherwise. "But now I have a question for you. Who are you!?"

The mare looked shocked for a moment, then silently scolded herself. "I can't believe I didn't introduce myself earlier. I'm Twilight Sparkle." Now, it was HIS turn to look shocked.

"Wait, you're Twilight Sparkle? Really?"

Looking amused she said "Yes? Yes, I AM Twilight Sparkle. Why don't you believe that?"

His contempt for this pony was slowly fading. "Sorry, I just...didn't expect Princess Celestia's head pupil to be like this."

She looked at him, slightly offended. "How did you expect me to act?"

"I apologize. I meant no offense."

There was a long and awkward silence.

"I tried to avoid the topic, and it probably isn't any of my business, but why do you have that bandage?"

Keystrokes grimaced He had been hoping to not have to talk about it. But there was no ignoring it now.

"I-uh...went into the Everfree Forest, and I got into a tangle with a manticore. It got me pretty bad in the ribs."

The disbelief showed on her face, though it was obvious she was attempting to hide it. He was a bad liar, and he knew it, but he could at least try.

"I am sorry for changing the subject, but do you know how I can find a zebra named Zecora in the forest? I lost something in the forest and I need to retrieve it."

She happily responded "Of course. The path leads directly to her hut. Just take a right when you get to the crossroads."

He nodded. "I'll remember that. What does the left lead to?"

"The temple where I and the others fought Nightmare Moon. Also, I look forward to doing this again. Goodbye Keystrokes."

As the food arrived at their table, he tried to stop her as she exited the building, trying to get her to remember her coffee, but she pretended not to hear him.  "Wait...she looks forward to doing this again? She doesn't think of this as a date, right?" he thought aloud.

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