Graycoat of Everfree

Chapter 9

Twilight and Graycoat were heading to the library. She had asked for his help with a spell, and his was happy to oblige, eager to get away from the boredom of his vacation. There was a noticeable increase of flight activity today, but with the lack of clouds Graycoat assumed there was some sort of event.

“Hey Ellis!” A voice called out above them.

“Good god, five years and you still get it wrong.” Graycoat shouted up to the yellow pegasus, as he made his slow descent.

“Like I told the captain 'If we aren't using are real names I'll call you whatever I want.'” The yellow pegasus chuckled.

“Yeah, then who spent the rest of the night scrubbing the latrines with his toothbrush.” Graycoat smirked at his friend.

“It was worth every time I got to call him cocoa bean.” He smiled wistfully and then closed his wings. “Oh where are my manners, my name is Eagle eye, and you are..?” He held out his hoof to Twilight.

“My name is Twilight Sparkle.” She said returning his hoof shake. “How do you know Graycoat?”

“Oh me and little Gray go way back.” He said as he tussled Graycoat's mane.

“Was he your co-worker that got tangled up in that patent dispute?” Twilight asked, as Graycoat pushed his invasive friend off.

“Who, Eagle eye? I doubt he even knows how his wings work.” He jeered at his friend.

“Come on man, at least give me some credit. They wouldn't have hired me if I didn't know anything about aerodynamics.” He chuckled again. “So what are you two up to?”

“Well Graycoat was going to help me with a spell, but I should probably let you catch up.” Twilight said and had started to walk away.

“Nah you should come along, we can talk about the past, and Graycoat can talk about himself because we all know how much he likes to talk about himself.” He smiled evilly at his friend. The two continued to bicker as they made there way to a nearby restaurant.

“Since I'm in the area I should stop by the parchment store and get some supplies, as long as you two are okay with that.” The two stallions nodded and she left for the parchment store.

“Well I always thought you may have been a bit self centered, but never a full blown narcissist." Eagle eye remarked leaning back in his chair.

"What?"

"Twilight, she is like a female version of you. Bookish, nerdy, a tad bit eccentric, -"

"Socially awkward." Graycoat said harshly, glaring at the friend sitting across from him.

"Hey, your words."

"And I fail to see how having a friend with a similar personality..." Eagle eye raised his brow when heard friend. "You think were together, don't you." His hostility turned into exasperation.

"You aren't? Wow I never thought you had it in you-"

"No you ass! I would never do that to someone I care about. Betray there trust like that, its despicable."

"So you do have feelings for her." Graycoat slammed his hoof into his forehead.

"You know that word I said earlier, friend?" Graycoat grumbled. "Don't look any further than that, you won't find anything."

"Come to think of it, I don't see why I thought you two were a thing. In the past you were always so distant and hostile I thought you were one of those emo's."

"I would rather be an emo, than a dumbass who can't even figure out how to put his armor on."

"Hey man, that thing was complicated, you should know, you built the damn thing. You know I'm just messing, no need to get all ax crazy on me." He laughed and leaned further back. Graycoat took a sip of water, and stared out the window, enjoying the silence.

"Soooo..." Eagle eye made random noises with his mouth, and tapped his hooves on the table. "Dibs."

"What?"

"I call dibs."

"On what?" Graycoat said,  starting to get annoyed.

"Twilight." There was silence. "What?"

"You arrogant pile of horse apples." Graycoat spoke with fiery indignation. "First off you don't even know if she even has a special somepony already, or if she even like stallions. Secondly, dibs? Who the buck told you it was acceptable to call dibs on another pony?"

"Why are you getting so offended? You said you didn't like her, that's fair game in my book. I think you're just mad that I planned ahead."

"Implying that I am not currently in a relationship."

"...what?"

"You heard me."

"How the hay does that even work? When you aren't emotionally distant, you're an unbearable ass."

"Lets just say that stallions bring out the worst in me." It was at this time that Twilight had returned from her errand, and was now heading towards the table.

"Not a word of what we talked about is to leave this table." Eagle eye then made a ziping motion across his mouth, causing Graycoat to roll his eyes.

"Sorry about that, I hope you two did some catching up." Twilight took the seat next to Eagle eye.

"Yeah I remembered why I stopped talking to him."

"Oh Graycoat is such a kidder." He said reaching across the table in an attempt to tousle his hair, and received an agitated snort from the gray unicorn.

"Have you two ordered yet? It would be strange if you haven't yet, this place usually has good service."

"They were probably waiting for you to return so we could order at the same time." Graycoat said, while passing her a menu. They were silent as they looked, and then Graycoat noticed a strange noise emanating from the planter near the window.

"Hiya guys!" Pinkie Pie said bursting from the planter.

"HOLY HORSE APPLES!" Eagle eye screamed as he fell out of his chair.

"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you, I just get so excited when I get to meet new people, that I can't help but surprise them, and who doesn't like surprises, well besides Fluttershy-"

"I think he gets it Pinkie Pie." Twilight said, interrupting her before her train of though derailed any further. Pinkie Pie looked towards the pegasus who was now using his chair as cover, and nodding his head violently. She sat down next to Graycoat and smiled happily at the pegasus who was now returning to his seat.

"Hi my name is Pinkie Pie what's yours?"

"Uhh.. Eagle eye." He was still jittery from her arrival.

"Do you like flying? I went flying once, but I had to use a hot air balloon because I don't have wings, and I went to Rainbow Dash's house and replaced her shampoo with hair dye, and her hair turned brown and she wasn't happy, but I thought it hilarious. This one time I went swimming, but I had to use a whale because I don't have fins, and there were all these seaponies singing..."  Twilight had long since covered her ears, and Eagle eye stared in shock as she kept going.

"What is this? Who is she? Is this some weird form of torture?"

"No she just really likes making new friends." He tapped her on the shoulder. "Pinkie pie."

"Huh? Oh sorry." She blushed and smiled sheepishly, realizing she had been rambling. Twilight uncovered her ears just as the waiter came to take their order. The four of the made idle small talk as they waited for the food, and while they ate. After paying the bill the four headed towards the center of town.

"Oh my gosh, I just remembered I have to make cupcakes for an order for tomorrow. Bye guys." Pinkie Pie waved goodbye to her friends and headed towards Sugarcube Corner. The remain three made their way to the library.

"So where are you living now Eagle eye?" They were sitting in the main room of the library, Twilight was in the kitchen preparing some tea.

"Cloudsdale, but boy those clouds get really boring." He yawned, trying to get comfortable in his seat. “Its better than Canterlot though, I swear everyone there had a sliver spoon up their-”

“Ixnay on the anterlotcay!” Graycoat whispered loudly, with frantic leg movement.

“Exnay on the what?”

“Don't talk badly about Canterlot.”

“Why? I thought you hated that place.”

“Not everyone here hated living there.” He said motioning towards the kitchen with his head. Eagle eye frowned, hoping she didn't hear him. “So what do you do for a job now?”

“Well when I moved to Cloudsdale, the Guard was real eager to get me to join, but I told them repeatedly that it wasn't going to happen. Its funny, I still get letters from them asking me to join.”

“Wait, why would the Cloudsdale Guard be so eager to have you join?” Twilight asked, as she walked into the room bringing tea.

“Well being the top marksmen in my graduating class at the guard academy helps. But it was probably knowing who our previous employer was.” He said looking towards Graycoat who was now unusually silent.

“I don't get it, what sort of job requires a skilled marksmen and a inventor?” Twilight asked. Suddenly Graycoat stood up and left the library, not even bothering to close the door while he left. “Why did he leave? Did I say something to offend him?” Twilight asked worried that she might have jeopardized his friendship. “What happened in the past?”

“You didn't anger or upset him.” Eagle eye breathed a  heavy sigh. “He doesn't like talking about the past... none of us do.”