Tooth and Hoof Chapter 2- MLP: FiM FanFic

A Note from the Pony
'Ello again! Star Striker makes his return here but still not in the story!
This is where the story gets a little dark, and I debated about taking some bits out, but I changed my mind, thinking- and hoping- it would add a bit of my own touch to the story and for some effect, plus a little moral and stuff... Maybe... Hopefully…


Chapter 2- The Author

Twilight closed the registration book that held all the classification cods for all the books in the library.
"The book that was burned was called 'The Wonders of Astronomy' by a stallion under the name of Astro Hooves."
Spike lay on a chair with his arms behind his back, "Cool name." he muttered.
"Well, I'd better go and find another copy. Look after the library while I'm gone."
"What, me?" said Spike sitting up.
Twilight closed the door without answering. Spike stared after her and scratched his head, "Guess so then."

* * * * *

Twilight had her forehooves up on the stall that she was at, "You don't have it either?" she sighed, exasperated.
The stallion behind the stall shook his head, "I'm sorry, but no."
Twilight sighed again and walked away with her head down. She had been all over the Ponyville marketplace and she couldn't find 'The Wonders of Astronomy' anywhere.
She pulled a list out of her purple saddle bag and crossed out "Alfie's Bookstall" with a blue quill. It was the last bookshop name on the list.
"Maybe if someone knew the author himself, I could get a copy off Astro Hooves…" she muttered to herself.
"Astro Hooves?" said a deep voice behind her.
Twilight turned to see a dark yellow pony with a dark brown mane. He had an old straw hat on his head, and stubble around his muzzle. In his mouth was a piece of hay. He smiled kindly, "Couldn't help but overhear; you're looking for Astro?"
Twilight nodded, "Do you know where I can find him?"
The pony nodded, "I'm Candle Dipper, Astro was a good friend of mine." he said as he walked in the opposite direction.
"Was…?" asked Twilight hurrying after him.

Dipper led Twilight to a small yard, he pushed open the rusty gates and they creaked with age. Leading her through, Dipper continued, "Yep, there'll never be another pony like Astro… Best astronomer there was. He wrote a good few books…"
As he trailed off Twilight said, "You keep talking about him in the past tense. Did you two fall out or something?"
Dipper turned and looked at her, "Err… No." he said.
He stopped suddenly causing Twilight to bump into him then he stood back to let her see what he was showing her.
Twilight stared in front of her, for right there was a gravestone with the name "Astro Hooves" engraved on it.
She turned to Dipper, "He… He's dead?"
Dipper nodded then shook his head in surprise, "I'm sorry, I thought you knew before. Aren't you family?"
"No," said Twilight, "I was just trying to find a book he wrote." she looked down again at the gravestone, "What's this plant carved into it?" she asked.
Around one corner of the gravestone was a plant curling its way half way around the arch.
"It is aconitum." said Dipper, "He studied the plant in his spare time; came to be somewhat of an obsession."
"Isn't aconitum poisonous?" asked Twilight.
"Yeah, Astro was always careful with it. But then…" he trailed off, swallowed, then continued, "One day he wasn't careful enough. He accidently touched the plant and that is what killed him."
Twilight cocked an eyebrow, "But… aconitum isn't that poisonous."
"Guess Astro was just that little bit different," he paused and raised his eyebrows, "in every way."
Twilight began to feel a little afraid, what was this pony talking about? Aconitum wasn't a killer plant in that way- somepony would have to eat it before dying and even then, there were plenty of spells to heal that pony.
Twilight frowned at the gravestone, "It says 'beloved father and husband.' he had a child?"
Dipper shook his head and the strangeness from earlier seemed to be shaken away with it, "Hmm? Oh, yes, Star Striker was his name. He took up astrology just like his father."
"Where does he live?" asked Twilight eagerly.
Dipper looked up to the sky where the moon, almost full, could be seen. Unusual during the late afternoon, "In the Everfree Forest." he said.