Ace
It was high noon and the Carousel boutique had been very quiet all day, all of the orders had been finished, the gem-chests were filled to the point of bursting so no gem-hunting was needed and Sweetie Belle out crusading with the rest of the CMC. And to top it off were Rarity in a complete designers-block so she was just sitting there, at her designers-table, bored to tears and chewing on a pencil...
*Ring*
''What was that?'' The white unicorn thought.
*Ring*
''I'm not imagining things now am I?''
*Ring*
The realization hit Rarity like a train. ''The doorbell! Coming!'' The unicorn sang. Finally something to pass the time, maybe it was a friend, or a new customer, she didn't care... ''Welcome to the Carousel Boutique where every creation is hip, chic and magnifique.'' She said with the door half-open.
''WOAH!'' A shocked voice shouted, it belonged to a bigger-than-average grayish-brown earth-pony stallion with a silver colored mane. He was dirty and bruised all over his body, Rarity saw that the tip off one off his ears was missing and she noticed a number scars covering his body.
''I beg your pardon?!'' The designer said, slightly offended by this sudden outburst.
''I'm sorry my lady'' The colt said, ''But when you haven't seen a mare in months seeing the most beautiful creature in Equestria can be quite a chock...''
''Oh'' Rarity said, a little surprised, ''Anyway, how can I help you today mister...?''
''My name is Ace, and how can you help me? You might not specialize in reparations but a prized possession of mine have been damaged.'' He paused to pull something out from his saddlebags, it was an old, dusty and worn black fedora with a huge hole running through it.
''Oh dear, how did this happen?''
''I'll tell you later, but please tell me, can you save it?''
''No problem dear, just let me work my magic...''
Later that day...
''Thank you for doing this'' The stallion said, ''I'm forever in your dept.''
''Do not worry darling, it wont be that expensive.'' The unicorn said with a smile.
The fedora had been repaired and In Ace's eyes, it looked better than the day he bought it, the huge hole had been fixed and there was no traces of the earlier damage, it had even been dyed into an darker shade of black and had a new ribbon.
''The problem is that I don't have any cash on me right now, so I hope this will cover all the costs.'' He gave Rarity a heavy looking bag made from rough cloth.
It was filled with golden coins...
Rarity could't believe her eyes, these coins where ancient, manufactured before the rule of Celestia, maybe even before the Discordian period.
''Nonononononono!'' Rarity protested, ''I cannot let you pay this much for a simple repair, you could buy a smaller house in Chanterlot with these.''
''What if I could be getting something in return then?''
''What in Equestria would that be?''
''Does a luxurious dinner with the must beautiful mare on earth sound like a fair deal?''
''I think I can arrange someth... oh.'' She said before she realized what he meant. ''Well, if you insist, meet me at the Dandelion & Rose at 9 am today.'' She said with a slight blush.
''Perfect, but there is one more thing, I can't go to a fancy restaurant in this condition, do you happen to now a place where I can clean myself a little?''
''Oh I know this wonderful spa, wait here and i'll get some bits to pay for the treatment.'' She left for a minute and returned with some bits and a plastic card. ''Here give them this and say that I sent you.''
''That reminds me, whats your name? Its cannot be Beautiful right?'' Ace said with a smile.
''Its Rarity darling.'' She smiled back.
At the spa...
Ace was in bliss, it had been weeks, maybe months since he had been this relaxed. And the spa twins noticed that. The second he mentioned Rarity's name they brought him into the V.I.P section of the spa. His coat had been groomed into perfection, his hooves that used to be jagged and worn were smooth as polished marble and every muscle not in his body was no more.
He thanked the twins and headed for The Dandelion & Rose.
And there she stood, she was wearing a black sweater and a red beret on her head, her mane was also straighter than before.
''Shall we go inside?'' He asked.
''So, what do you do for a living?'' Rarity asked, seeing Ace's Cutie-mark for the first as it was not covered by his saddlebags, an open map, a compass and a bag full of golden coins.
''Someponies call me an archaeologist, someponies call me an adventurer, I've even been called a thief, I hate when they call me that.
''Go on'' The unicorn said.
''But I prefer the term treasure-hunter. I search tombs and ruins for anything of value.''
''That explains the golden coins... That reminds me, what happened to your hat?''
''Let me tell you. I was exploring this old temple...
Later...
''And it swiped its paw at me, and it sent me flying. Luckily, I was flying in the direction I wanted to go. When I landed I got up on my hooves and started running...''
Rarity was completely lost in Ace's story, this stallion had been through more than 3 normal ponies. It was on par with the adventures she have had with the elements of harmony.
''It had me cornered, but it did the mistake at trying to hit me again... When all hope seemed to be lost I threw a rock, it landed directly on the pressure-pad. I instinctively closed my eyes. And the first thing I saw when I opened them was the manticore, pinned to the wall by huge spears emitting from the opposite wall. To my horror I also saw my dear hat hanging on a spear.''
''Manticores aren't that dangerous, I bucked on in the face once.'' She said proudly.
''Damn.'' Ace said. ''Beautiful, smart, funny and tough. And I used to say nothing was perfect.
''No need to exaggerate dear, I'm having a wonderful time, but your table manners could use some practice...
''I'm honest, you are perfect in my eyes, and silverware is not designed for earth-ponies.'' He said while trying to put a spoon of soup in his mouth.
''Here, let me help you with that.'' Rarity said with a grin and grabbed the spoon with her magic.
''You've got to be kidding me.''
''Say aah.''
''Its fine, I can do this.''
''Here comes the Pegasus.'' Rarity insisted.
''For the love of Celestia...''
Later still...
''... and then I snapped, shouted the truth right in his face, and threw cake allover his body!''
The two of them laughed together.
''Thank you Ace, this have been the best night ever.''
''No problem, I'm glad to meet somepony like you. Will I meet you tomorrow?''
''Of course dear, I would love to spend more time with you, meet me at the boutique in the morning. And before I leave...''
She leaned forward and kissed him.
''See you tomorrow honey!'' And she trotted away.
Ace, who had been near death dozens of times, and spat in the face of danger more times than he could remember, was shocked, he had just eaten dinner with the mare off his dreams, and she kissed him! No amount off ancient bits, no priceless artifact, hell, not even the discovery of a long lost sister of Celestia would make him happier than he were in this moment. With a stomach full off butterflies he trotted off.
Libri
It was sunrise and Libri walked through his new home town; Ponyville, it was a quiet little community, perfect for his studies.
He was a skinny pegasi with a deep-blue coat and a lime-green mane and tail.
He was currently on his way to the library to kill some time before his belongings arrived.
On his way he had seen many things, he briefly saw a pink filly before she gasped and ran off, he had seen a little filly play with her new balloon and a worn out green earth-pony resting on a bench, the colt had certainly seen better days.
He was finally there... The library.
It was not what he'd been expecting, a giant tree, is that even possible?
''Further investigation is required...''
*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*
No answer...
*Knock* *Knock* *Knock* He knocked harder this time...
''Give me a minute!'' A fillies voice said from inside.
When the door opened he saw a purple unicorn standing in the doorway. Her mane were a mess and she looked like she'd just woken up.
''What do you want?'' She said with a hint of annoyance in her voice.
''Do you happen to be the librarian of this, um, tree?''
''You could say that...''
''Do this happen to be a public library?'' He with a nervous smile.
''Technically no, but I do not give a damn about that right now, step in and help yourself. I will be in the kitchen if you need me.''
''Um, thanks.'' He said with a nod. ''Wait, did she just say kitchen?''
Later...
After a shower, some breakfast and a big cup of coffee made the cranky unicorn into her usual self. And she felt bad for being rude to the pegasus earlier.
''Um, hello?'' Twilight said to the colt that was practically buried in books of all kinds.
Libri looked up a the lavender mare, a pair off small reading-glasses resting on his muzzle.
''Oh, hello.'' He said. ''I don't think I've introduced me, I'm Libri.''
''My name is Twilight, so, you are new around here?
''I just moved here from Stalliongrad, it's was a nice town but way to much noise and the library was in horrible shape...''
''You seem like a pony who loves books.''
''Oh yes.'' Said Libri, he felt very comfortable with what seemed like a fellow book-lover. ''Books have always been my main hobby, sadly there is so few ponies who understand the magic of books.''
''True..'' Said Twilight. '' But I convinced a friend of mine into reading the Daring-do series to pass time in the hospital.''
''You read Daring-do? I love the series, I've even pre-ordered the latest one.'' Libri proudly pulled a book from his saddlebags.
Twilight's eyes became wide as saucers.
''The final book in the Daring-do series... How did you get it? Even the pre-orderers wont get until next month.''
''I have connections.'' Libri said with a grin.
''I. Want. That. Book.'' Twilight said with her eyes still on the book.
''Then you will have to wait...'' Libri tried to hide the book behind him, but it was no use, Twilight had grabbed the book with her magic.
''I probably read faster than you anyway. Its better if I read it first.''
''Oh no you wont.'' The pegasus grabbed the copy of Daring-do with his mouth.
Libri realized the unicorn would't give up.
''Careful, you'll break it!'' He managed to say with the piece of literature in his mouth.
Twilight dropped her magic grasp off the book.
''Works every time...''
''That's mean.'' Twilight said with a sad tone to her voice. ''Sorry I got carried away.''
''Don't worry, what if I would read it for you, you know, out loud.''
''Then neither of us would need to wait.''
''Exactly, win-win.'' ''I know, how about we get some candles, pull the curtains and get some blankets for some atmosphere.''
''Great idea, but you do know it sounded like we were going to...''
''I know what I said.'' Libri interrupted. ''Will you get the candles?''
Later that day...
While preparations Twilight and Libri discussed their favorite literature, their favorite books, fantasy, romance, horror, they also discussed magic theory, witch Libri had surprisingly high knowledge in.
''Are you ready?'' Asked Libri in a over-dramatic voice.
''Ready doesn't even bucki...''
''You know what? Lets just start reading.''
Libri's voice suddenly dropped a few octaves.''Daring-do was walking the halls of the museum...''
Twilight found Libri's voice calming, almost entrancing. It was the perfect narrator's voice. She was stuck, she could't focus on anything except the story...
Later...
Twilight still hadn't broken from Libri's magic narrating. They had been interrupted once by Derpy but the unicorn had simply taken the letter and given the mailmare a bag full off bits. What neither off the bookworms noticed was that Twilight instead off sitting on the floor in front off Libri she sat down next to him, leaning slightly against his side.
But when the pegasus cleared his throat it woke them both from the trance. They both blushed when they realized they were cuddling... Libri did not know what he was doing, but he was slowly moving his muzzle toward hers... They kissed.
''Shall we continue tomorrow?''
''Yes...''
They fell asleep in each-others hooves...
