At the Golden Oak Library, I caught another mare’s eye! That mare was a white unicorn—just like me!

As soon as she saw me trotting in, she gasped romantically!

“HELLO-O-O-O-O, HANDSOME!” she cried in a singsong manner.

“Oh?” I thought aloud, and turned to face the white unicorn mare. “You think that I’m handsome, do you?” I asked her.

“I don’t just think so, darling,” she answered. “I know so!”

“I just love your accent,” I commented.

“Oh, why, thank you kindly, darling!” she cried.

“I don’t mean to pry,” I told her. “But what are you doing here?” I asked her.

“I came here to borrow a book on gems!” she answered.

“For what purpose?” I inquired of her.

“To see which gems are the most fashionable today, of course!” she burst out, batting her eyelashes rapidly.

“Oh—OK, then,” I answered, showing no interest in her favorite subject matter.

“I’m Lonesome Knight,” I told the white mare, and offered to shake hooves with her.

“Such a romantic name!” she cried, gasping upon hearing it. She thought, “I can see it now—you and me, together forever, like a brave knight—you—who’s rescued a princess—me—from a fate worse than death! We could live happily ever after!” I just stared at her, waiting for her to shake my hoof.

“My sincerest apologies!” she cried, snapping out of her daydream. “My name is Rarity,” she finally told me, shaking hooves with me. “It pleases me greatly to make your acquaintance.”

“The mayor gave me permission to stay here,” I told her. “I hope you don’t mind.”

“Not one little bit,” she answered. “Make yourself at home, and enjoy your stay!”

I could tell that Rarity’s hospitality had pleased me a lot, so I decided to stay at the library for a while.

Author's Note

The title of this chapter is a reference to Baubles & Beads, a resale shop close to where I live.