Life gives you so many surprises...
Author's Note
I want to thank my friends Sage Archer for letting me publish this short part of his story...this won't be the only one though.
Life gives you so many surprises...
The Sage was reading through the files to archive old foaltales when he heard a bump in one of the distant shelves. With a sigh and a smile on his face, he walked through the library that stills smells like new even it's been a while. When Tirek destroyed the old one in the brutal fight with the Princess of Friendship, Celestia decided to donate funds to make a new one and Archer decided to be the Unicorn in charge since the Canterlot Archives had already Moondancer as the official librarian.
"Derpy, did you fell off a ladder again, how many times do I have to tell you to use your wings?" said the Sage when he approached the disaster done by the gray pegasus.
"I'm sorry...I'm wanted to try the ladder like regular earth ponies do" apologized Derpy under the pile of books that fall down. Sage was not mad, he looked at her with a caring smile and with his magic instantly organized and set each book on each shelf without even looking at them.
"I still remember the first time we met, you know?" said Archer, going back in time to his memories.
The unicorn went back in time on his mind when he first got to Canterlot and set a hoof on the Royal Castle. Celestia and Luna looked at the newcomer a bit surprised due to his size being almost as tall as them and quickly called for a private audience. "I apologize for the secrecy...hum...dear...?" Celestia mumbled.
"Don't worry your majesty, I know my lookings are unusual for any unicorn, but it's totally comprehensible you feel curious. I come from Ponyland, the continent next to Equestria that has been isolated due to the storm barrier. I'm Lord Archer, I'm a Sage from the Ministry of Magic and Sorcery of the Midnight Empire. Please just call me Sage Archer." explained the unicorn.
Celestia and Luna looked themselves a bit worried and concerned and then took a deep breath.
Luna then spoke: "We are honored to have a visitor from the old continent, Lord Archer. In all honesty, we thought that after the land got divided and Starswirl disappeared, the Midnight Empire collapsed and the place turned into wildlands."
The Sage then smiled at this. He was well aware that the sisters would know little or nothing since the Council of Elders established that it was risky to let the alicorns know about the power the Midnight Empire got, then the Ministry was founded and the Sages showed up. "Well I have to say that Ponyland is actually very prosperous and rich in technology, magic, and a population just like Equestria is. However I would prefer to keep my stay in here with the most secrecy since I'm looking for a place I can retire to live peacefully," said Archer sipping the tea offered by one of the maids.
"And I know about all I need to know of this land. We Sages exist with the purpose of taking care of the pony kind as well the balance in the world, so if our existence is made public many would feel confident. I'm sure your Majesty understands we cannot intervene in the events of the world unless it's a clear risk or a treat that could damage the world we live in." added the unicorn.
Celestia nodded "I understand your point, Sage Archer. And we feel pleased to know that if something was to happen to ponies life you guys would help, I can sense the great power within you. I shall assist then on your plea for anonymity and make sure you get everything you need."
After a conversation regarding Ponyland, the Empire and the Ministry, Archer was guided into the Royal Archives. Sage was careful not to reveal details that could compromise the secrets of the Ministry and the other Sages powers.
"This are the Royal Archives Lord Archer, please feel free to read and work here along with Moondancer, she's our current librarian." explained the Princess. "I'm honored, your highness. I'll do my best." said the unicorn when he has introduced the mare with glasses that looked up at him.
"So..." said the librarian when Luna was gone. She walked around the unicorn and examined his lookings "You're the new Archive Headmaster. I hope you can keep things here in order sir." she concluded.
The Sage smiled at her and said "It's actually Lord, but I guess you can call me Archer. And yes, I hope we can be friends."
Moondancer backed up and knew she just fucked up in front of a wise colt, after all, he had an aura of power and wisdom and was brought by Luna herself.
"I'M SORRY!" yelled the mare kneeling in front of Sage to the point her glasses dropped on the floor. "I'm just always paired with ponies that don't understand the importance of this job, forgive me Lord Archer!" pleaded her. Archer then laughed heartily and smiled, picking up her glasses and looking her calmed while he set them back on her face.
"Don't worry about that, I'm not mad. I'm new here and I hope you can guide me through the place and get me the hang of how are things done here."
She then smiled and wipe a tear from her eye. "Y-yes of course! Please follow me, I'm glad we can work together."
Some time passed and Sage got used to the life on Canterlot and in the Royal Archives, and Moondancer was good company when he wanted to talk since most of the times the Princesses were busy. However the life in there felt almost as living in the Midnight Empire: luxury everywhere, parties with nobles all the times, boring royalty events, and even though the food was gourmet he could feel like was not able to eat at his heart content without getting judged by the fancy people there.
"I thought I could have a simple life, this is not what I had in mind when Celestia said "anonymity," said Archer sighing while looking through the window on the Archives.
"Then what did you had in mind Lord Archer?" asked Moondancer while she was making tags for books.
"Living in a place far from castles and nobility. A place where I can meditate in front of a chimney while drinking some tea and read a good book in peace. Like a small town, where people have fun... like real fun and not boring parties." said Archer when he turned to her and start taking notes about her work.
Moondancer smiled a bit nervously since she wasn't even invited to the royal parties. She wasn't from a noble family but understood how he felt. "I heard Celestia is planning of building a new library in Ponyville since the previous one was destroyed. You could ask to be transferred there since Twi- I mean, Princess Twilight no longer holds the position." The offer sounded good, but Sage wondered what kind of place was Ponyville.
He noticed then that Moondancer moved some steps to the side and pointed towards the window. Sage looked at her confused "What, do I have something on my face?" asked the unicorn looking at his nose.
When he realized and turned it was too late. A strong thud was heard through the Archives when the thing that crashed into the window fell into Sage and shelves causing a ruckus that alarmed the guards outside.
"Is everything OK? What happened?!" Asked one of the guards that rushed inside. "It's ok, is just Derpy," said Moondancer totally calmed, already familiar to her usual way of showing up.
Sage then looked around with blurry eyes at the thing on top of him, which felt curiously comfortable there. "Excuse me, but can you please move? I'm glad you find me as comfortable as a bed, but I'm actually a living thing" said the unicorn holding his head trying to stop the dizzying.
"Oh...OH I'M SORRY" said a funny young voice and then wings flapped and moved quick almost crashing against another shelf. "Easy there Derpy, you already give us a lot of work with your arrival," said Moondancer holding her.
"I'm sorry, I was in a rush and forgot to reduce speed. I should had used the main gate to get in, but Princess Twilight had an important message and wanted me to deliver it to you quickly" said the gray pegasus. Sage examined the mare in front of him: big wings, blonde mane like a mess, and her eyes...they looked, totally funny.
She had a bag of mail on her side and a cap with the EPS logo on it, with a careless look on her face. "I know it sounds important Derpy, but you could had used the main gate and delivered the message as well without causing a ruckus," said Moondancer already picking books.
"E-hem" coughed Sage trying to catch attention and perhaps an apology.
The pegasi looked back at him and walked towards him and raise her hoof to greet him "Hi there Sir, my name is Derpy Hooves. I'm the mail mare of Ponyville."
Sage looked at her surprised by her careless behavior, not only she didn't apologize but now was talking to him casually, what a disrespectful prick! "Is everyone in Ponyville this welcoming when entering a place?" asked Archer sarcastically to her pupil.
Moondancer quickly noticing a vein pulsating on his boss forehead quickly moved Derpy "Derpy! This is Lord Archer, a Sage invited by the Princesses to live here, and the Headmaster of the Archives, you just crash on him, apologize!"
"It's ok Moondancer. I'm not mad, just a bit surprised. Greetings Derpy, please everyone calls me by honorifics here even when I said is not necessary, please just call me Archer." he said smiling to the mare.
To his surprise, she smiled happily and responded "Okay Archer, I'm pleased to meet you. Please take care of me, I'm always a bit careless" sticking out her tongue and winking. After all the idea of Ponyville could be actually good. If the residents of Ponyville were actually as hilarious and entertaining as Derpy, could be that the possibility of having fun was not so distant.
Sage then spoke with Celestia regarding the job as the new Ponyville Head Librarian. Celestia looked surprised about his request explaining the city of Ponyville was small and his library was not worth of his wisdom, and the salary could not even be fit for his title.
He explained to Celestia the concept of "peaceful life in a small town, away from the high life" and did not care about bits paid for the job there. And it was an opportunity to meet the famous mane six and with any luck, get a welcoming real fun party by the mare named Pinkie Pie.
"Ok then Lord Archer, I understand what is what you want to now. Please just be in touch regularly, I want to know if you need anything. I might need your wisdom sometime in the future." said Celestia when she let him take the position and left to Ponyville.
"Do you really have to go Lord Archer?" asked a crying Moondancer at the train station, even though Sage said it was unnecessary for her to accompany him knowing would only make her pupil sad.
"I want a peaceful life away from the nobility and the rush of the big cities and kingdoms. I would visit you, of course, don't worry, after all, I would be needed sometimes. That creates an opportunity to stop by and see you." said Sage looking at her with a friendly smile.
"Ok...please give my regards to Princess Twilight. And please write me a letter whenever you can, I'll do the same" she said trying to clean her tears with her hooves.
Sage then used a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped her tears carefully "Stop crying or I'll feel like I'm doing something terrible to you. Go out more, make some friends and stop wasting your times only in books. It's good to increase your knowledge, but isolating yourself won't do any better for your social life." advice Archer just when the train whistle did the last call.
She then nodded, with a smile waving at her master when he boarded the train and this one started moving. At the end of the day when the sun started setting the train arrived in Ponyville. "Well ain't this nice. The pure fresh air of a town far away from everything is the best. Now I was supposed to be greeted by some Spike...where is he?" wondered Sage looking around at the now empty train station.
Then a familiar figure showed up, from the air, crashing on him.
Sage looked up at the pile of clothes now everywhere on the ground thanks to the only mare he knew would arrive like that. "Derpy, I hope this doesn't turn a habit of you to greet me every time. You could get hurt you know," said Sage looking at the mare now on top of him sticking out her tongue and scratching the back of her head.
"Hehehe sorry again Archer...my landings are never as good as I planned them to be." said the pegasus jokingly.
"I promise next time I'll land carefully. Or I'll try," she said shrugging at the thought of trying to land properly.
"Good, that's an advance. Now to start, can you like, get down... you're still on top of me," said Sage looking at her from below with a smile. Not like he was uncomfortable with her there.
The mare then blushed and laughed nervously, getting up and standing aside. "Oops, sorry about that. Let me help you pick your stuff, please," she said looking around picking random stuff and placing it back on the bags. "Don't worry, I got this," said Archer and with his magic instantly all the things got back inside again and bags closed.
He smiled at the pegasus that was looking at him with shiny eyes and mouth wide open. "Wow, I know Twilight is skillful but you surely are faster than her," said Derpy picking one of his bags.
"Oh this is nothing, basic tricks actually. But why are you here, did Twilight send you?" asked Sage looking at her picking one of his bags.
"Well actually Spike send me, Princess Twilight leave on an urgent Friendship mission and she's sorry she couldn't come and greet you herself. But I'm here to help you out!" said Derpy flapping her wings proud and smiling. Sage then laughed a bit and said "Let's better stick to the ground ok? I was informed my apartment would be in the residential area nearby...Fluttershy Cottage?" he said looking at the instructions in a letter from someone named Mayor Mare.
"Oh I know where that is, Princess Twilight suggested Mayor Mare have them build after the castle showed up, in the case ponies visiting town would not fit in the castle." said the mare walking towards the town direction.
Sage looked around at the cozy houses and the smiley faces looking at him, some of them waving in a welcoming manner and others looking surprised at the size of the new unicorn in town.
"So I heard this Pinkie Pie mare always throw welcoming parties to anyone that comes to town." asked curiously Sage checking if any surprising pink crazy mare would jump on him any moment. "Well...yeah...she does indeed. I guess I have to say I'm sorry on her behalf as well." said the mare getting in a sad mood, her ears twitching down.
"Friendship call huh?" said Archer getting a sad nod from the gray pegasus. "It's ok don't worry. We will have our own welcoming party, after all, you're the only pony I know in town," said Sage shrugging and smiling.
Derpy then looked at him smiling widely quickly looking eager to the idea "Can we have cupcakes?! Like a lot of cupcakes," she asked happily, with hype on her eyes. Sage laughed and then used his flank to push her playfully, carefully not to use too much strength. "Yes Derpy, we can have all the cupcakes you want."
"Sage...Sage...SAGE!" yelled a Pegasus looking up at him when she bumped his nose. "You're spacing out again. Are you ok?" asked Derpy looking with her funny eyes at the unicorn that was absorbed on his memories.
Smiling he nodded "Yes, I was just thinking when we met back then. It's been a few years already." responded Archer bopping her nose with his own. The pegasus blushed and backed up a bit laughing nervously.
"N-not here...people might come in and see us..." said Derpy looking at Sage, just when a knock was heard on the door and Spike entered the library and watched them from the first floor. "Oh, I'm glad I found you here Lord Archer, Twilight is asking for you. She received an urgent letter from Princess Celestia, something about a Sage arriving in Canterlot." said the barely catching breath dragon.
"So...another one arrived already," said Sage looking through the window towards Canterlot.
