The Poet's Grimoire

CHAPTER 1

Cross Hook opened the door to his apartment and stepped inside. He shut the door, and let out a relieved sigh. Ever since he left for work that afternoon, the thought of coming back home and collapsing on his couch lingered in his mind. Cross slid his saddlebag off onto the floor, and did just as he planned. He fell back onto the couch with a satisfied moan. He wasn't very tired, just worn out from the day. His job at the Ponyville Post Office wasn't that difficult, and it was only part time, but still, it took the wind out of him sometimes. Maybe because it was boring and dead end? He didn't hate his job though, and it paid well enough for him to get by.

Cross's eyes wandered aimlessly for a moment, and then they stopped on a pair of blue boxing gloves hanging on a nail in the wall. He couldn't help but grin a bit. Boxing was not a hobby for him. It was a passion. That passion was reflected by his cutie mark; a red boxing glove surrounded by a fiery aura. Cross's mind drifted off to his past, various highlights of his minor boxing career playing themselves over in his imagination. Unfortunately, boxing was an under-appreciated sport in Equestria. It took training and dedication to be a part of, not to mention learning to stand on your hind legs properly was a challenge. Still though, Cross had gotten it down after some time, and fell in love with the sport. He wasn't the best in the world, but he wasn't the worst either.

At least, that's how it used to be. It had been quite some time since he was last in the ring.

Last time... a memory that still haunted him. Cross turned away from the gloves and rolled on his side. That didn't stop his mind from recalling that one match, and that time of his life where everything started going wrong.

…

“Sharp as ever, Crossy. I'm glad you didn't get too rusty.”

“… We don't have to settle it like this. I... I don't want to fight you.”

“That's too bad, because I'm going to knock you on your flank!”

DING DING

“Stop this! I don't want to hurt you!”

“I'm going to make sure you never come back to this ring again!”

“What!?”

“YOU'RE OPEN”

Cross jolted awake, panicking. He glanced around frantically, swearing that someone had just punched him in the neck. He saw that he was in his living room, on the comfort of his own couch, alone. His senses gradually returned, and his quick shallow breathing slowed to a steady rate. He growled to himself as the nightmare fresh in his mind broke away into blurred fragments. That was okay with him though; He didn't want to remember it.

Zoning back into reality, Cross glanced at the window. The blinds were down, but the orange glow seeping through the cracks told him that it was early morning, even though he felt like he had only been asleep for ten minutes. Groggily, he rolled off of the couch and onto his hooves, and made his way to the kitchen corner. Coffee wasn't normally a priority for him, but right now, being more awake was a good idea. He started the coffee maker, and then headed to the bathroom next. He rubbed his eyes a bit, feeling the cool drops of sweat on his face. He took a look at himself in the mirror. His short cut black mane was glistening lightly with sweat, as was his sky blue fur.

“Still moving forward, I guess.” Cross spoke to his reflection, and managed a grin. His following thought; a shower after his coffee. He took a moment to turn on the cold water in the sink, and splash some on his face. Feeling a little more fresh, he walked back out. The coffee wasn't quite ready, so the next part of his shotgunned morning schedule was the morning newspaper. He usually only read it for the cover story, if it seemed interesting enough, or the Sunday funnies, and today's paper would be no exception. He opened the front door to see a bundle of paper at the foot of the entryway. He picked it up in his mouth and carried it inside.

With his now ready coffee in hoof, he sat down to look it over.

BREAKING NEWS: THEFT AT THE ROYAL CANTERLOT LIBRARY

“Hmm...” The word “theft” wasn't something he liked to hear about. A pit started to form in his stomach, but he kept reading anyway.

Last night, the Canterlot Royal Guard reported a robbery at the Royal Library. However, only a single item was missing: The mysterious Poet's Grimoire, an old relic of the Library.

“The... Poet's... no way.” Cross felt tension welling up inside of him. He set down his coffee mug as the news story drew him in.

… around midnight last night, a guardsman saw a trio of ponies just as they went into the library. However, upon giving pursuit, the guard reported, “They were just gone! And the case for that book was wide open and empty!”. The guard suspects that at least a Unicorn was involved in the robbery. If anyone has any information, please report to your nearest Royal Guard, or to Princess Celestia, or Princess Twilight...

Cross dropped the paper as his mind worked to process the information and disbelief that followed.

“So... they finally did it.” He said to himself as he rubbed his hooves together in thought. He wasn't a hundred percent sure that it was that trio of ponies. He was, however, nintey five percent sure.

“Penn... you just couldn't let it go.”

Penn Jewell, Dust, and Echo: Three of the most selfish, black hearted ponies he'd ever met. They were known theives, taking anything they could get their hands on. Cross hated them from the bottom of his heart. However... he didn't always hate them.

They used to be his friends..

Without another thought on the matter, Cross stood up, knowing what he had to do. He had hoped that this would never happen, that he wouldn't have to deal with those three ponies ever again.

Cross hated fate at this point.

“Princess Twilight, huh?” He double checked the paper on the floor. Princess Twilight's castle wasn't too far from his appartment. Everyone in Ponyville knew where it was after the old library there got blown to pieces. Cross wasn't much of a reader, but to see the rubble of that building, and all those charred, burning books...

He shook his head vigourously. No, now wasn't the time for that. He had a mission now, one that he hoped would be over with quickly. Just tip off the Princess, and things will resolve themselves after that. Everything was going to be alright, Cross thought.

Right?