A Fair Soul

CHAPTER 9
Welcome to Ponyville

Spike let out a fiery green burp. Spike on reflex rushed over to Twilight and roused her from her slumber. She groggily looked at the scroll through a half open eye.

"Spike what is it..." Her eyes shot open and she grabbed the scroll in the magic holding it in front of her face.

To my faithful student,

Twilight I am most pleased to hear that you have captured the creature, and I am very interested to find in your writing that it seems to have a certain degree of intelligence as well as powers that cannot be explained. I am relieved that it submitted so easily to capture lowering the risk of it to my little ponies. I am afraid to say that I cannot come immediately to inspect him, but I have other duties to attend to. I will be able to come on Monday to see the creature in question. Seeing you write about it's passive nature I believe you should have no trouble keeping an eye one him.

Your teacher

Princess Celestia

Twilight Rolled the scroll back up and went downstairs to grab some breakfast. Spike had already finished making hers and was sitting at the dinning table chewing on a emerald. She slowly chewed on her salad wondering what she was going to do with this stallion for two days. Spike had already asked a number of questions last night about their new guest but realized that not much was known about the strange creature. The creature unsettled Spike greatly but decided that it would be best to just avoid him during his stay. Twilight on the other hand was anxious to learn more about him so she went into the basement to find him.

She descended the stairs to see him laying on the mattress. The glow in his eyes was no longer there leading Twilight to believe he was asleep. Twilight spotted his affects in the corner of the room and grew curious on what his saddle bags contained. Twilight felt the pain of guilt set in just at the thought of looking at his things with out permission , but set that aside seeing how curious she was.

She opened both sides of the saddle bag only to find one item inside. It was a hard cover book. Twilight raised a brow and pulled it out with her magic. She read the title.

"The crystal empire..." Twilight's questioning gaze fell on the crystal stallion. Questions rushed her mind as she looked over his sleeping body. 'Can he read? Is he actually a pony or related to the crystal empire?!' Her mind ravaged in the realm of possibility with no real answers.

"Twilight the others are here with those two musicians." Called Spike from upstairs breaking Twilight from her trance.

Twilight shook her head. "Alright I will be right up!" She called back carrying the book up with her.

Everypony saw her enter from the basement with a face full of confusion.

"So..." Started Vinyl trying to break the silence. "How is our little crystal shape shiftier?"

"Yes how is he?" Asked Octavia

"Oh he's um..." She paused to think. "Sleeping. I think."

"Twilight dear. What do you mean you think?" Asked rarity.

"Well he is completely unresponsive to all my actions..." Everypony in the room starred flatly at. "Ok more then usually. Plus his normally glowing teal eyes are not there anymore."

"W-Well that's nice to hear he's getting some rest." Said Flutershy

"No Flutershy you don't get it." Twilight said shaking her head lightly. "He has no flesh, no sense of pain and possibly other senses, and from what I can tell has no organs or bodily fluids."

"Twilight what are you getting at?" Asked Octavia thinking about the strange creature in question.

"This creature should not have a need for sleep, and yet it seems to be doing just that!" Said Twilight passing furiously. "This creature spits on the face of all Equestrian science, and logic."

"So?" Asked Rainbow. "That must mean he's from a different world right?"

Twilight shook her head again. "That's what I thought too but this creature has just presented something that can't be ignored."

"What do you mean Twily?" Asked Pinkie in an unnaturally calm mood.

"I found this book on the crystal empire in his bag." She said levitating it for all to see.

"Wow Twilight. Never took you for a snoop." Said vinyl with a smile.

"What?! no I-"

"Dear it is not lady like to go through somepony else's personal effects." Supported Rarity.

"But I-"

"I have to agree with Vinyl and Rarity Twilight." Continued Octavia. "But what could have possessed you to do such a thing?"

As Twilight tried to explain her actions no pony was aware that the crystal stallion had made his way up stairs. Spike tried disparately to get their attention when it approached him. Spike whimpered under the hypnotic blue gaze he was giving him. All of Spike's attempts to speak were destroyed under his intense gaze.

Fortunately for him just like yesterday Flutershy noticed. She pointed over Twilight shoulder gathering all the others attention. It was Twilight's turn to act hastily. Her face filled with anger when she saw he assistant cowering under the crystal stallion. She charged her magic getting ready to strike the stallion.

"Twilight please wait!" Octavia jumped in front of her.

"Octavia?! Move aside!" She shouted

Octavia shook her head. "We have wrongly accused this stallion once already! It would be foolish to do so a second time!"

They glared at each other but stopped when they realized the stallion was no longer starring down Spike. In fact he was standing right next to Octavia causing her to jump.

"O-Oh hello?" She asked

He looked up at her pointing a hoof at her. Octavia looked at him confused. He then pointed to the book that was still floating then to Twilight.

"Twi ah recon he wants that book back." suggested Apple Jack

"R-Right of course here you go." She stammered bringing the book in front of his face.

The stallion stomped one hoof on the ground releasing a dozen pieces of himself. The pieces surrounded the book and to Twilight surprise canceling out her levitation spell. The book remained in the air floating in an invisible field. He then placed it in his saddle bags and through his cloak on.

"Ah what's he doing?" Asked Vinyl as he walked to the door.

Before he could reach the door Rainbow landed in front of him blocking his path. "And where do you think your going?"

The stallion only stopped for a moment before trying to walk around her. Rainbow simply side stepped to obstruct his path once again. He cocked his head at her, then pointed at himself and then at the door. Rainbow shook her head.

"Your not going anywhere." she said flatly.

Much to Rainbows annoyance the stallion starred at her then repeated his motions.

"Hey maybe we should let him outside." Suggested Vinyl.

"Are yo crazy?!" Shouted Rainbow from in front of the stallion causing his eyes to widen.

"Actually Rainbow I agree with Vinyl." Said Twilight.

"Not you too Twilight!" Rainbow turned her head to Apple Jack. "Your with me on this right AJ?"

AJ turned her head to meet the stallion's eyes looking into her's. She starred into them trying to find out what he was thinking. It frightened her when she could not see his intentions. She first thought it was because he was hiding them. But she then realized it was because they simply were not there. His emotions, thoughts, desires, his... soul. They just weren't there. Apple Jack let a cold shiver take hold of her.

"Ah Don't know." She said turning her eyes to Rainbow's. "He doesn't seem like he want to hurt anypony."

"You can't be serious." Rainbow dash frowned.

"Come Rainbow he should be fine." Encouraged Octavia walking up to the stallion with Vinyl and Twilight who nodded at her.

"Fine." She mumbled stepping a side.

Octavia and Twilight nodded at the stallion motioning to follow. He looked at them and bowed deeply causing her and Twilight to blush. Vinyl saw the crimson on their cheeks and let out a quite giggle

'Alright it seems they are giving me a tour of the town.'

The Rainbow one was intent on keeping me in the home, but I seemed to have gained some trust from the others. I was being guided through the town by the grey pony, the white unicorn with the shades, the lavender one who took my book, and the grey one who stood up for me. The others left the library to do other things I suppose.

When I think back Luna giving me that book was rather pointless. I can't read it after all. I am going to have to find my own way around this language barrier.

We walked through the populated streets of the town while the ponies went about their businesses. I was drawing lots of attention from them however. I shared the mares nervousness who led me. Maybe this was not such a good idea. I shook my head banishing the nervous feeling. As long as I stay cloaked I should be fine.

The town was rather simple but pleasant. The buildings were mostly constructed out of wood, stone, and hay for roofs. The town had many stall as well as buildings that served as shops. I made note of a large number of heart decorations around the town. The inhabitants seemed to be acting strange as well. I saw many stallions cheeks beet red as well as some mares. The stallions bowed and sometimes came baring gifts.

'must be some kind of tradition going on soon. Perhaps I should attempted to partake in it. I may lower tensions if I do so.'

The rest of the tour gave little in terms of information it was mostly the same seen over and over. But I made use of the time to make a mental map of the town's layout to better traverse it later.

When we came to one store the lavender unicorn stopped us. She spoke with the other two before turning to me with a nervous look. She scratched the back of her head and motioned for me to stay out side. She waited for a response from me.

Bow had worked well so far so I did one of those and she smiled and nodded at me, while the three mares walked into the store.

I waited there for a few minutes starring at two stores across the street. One had a musical instrument above the door and the other had a musical note. For some reason I felt nostalgic just looking at them. Their was a strong urge to go to them, but I did not want to betray the trust of the mares I had gained. My resolve was soon rewarded when the mares walked out of the store carrying small bags.

We made our way to the what I assumed was the library when the unicorn with the shades and the gray pony parted ways. It was now just myself and the lavender unicorn that arrived at the library. We entered and I saw that same purple lizard I was so interested in again. He seemed to be wary of me so I decided to leave him alone.

I walked over to a window and watched the sunset.