Why must I feel this way? Even now I can remember when I had fallen in love. Entirely, utterly, and devotedly in love. My love, as many love stories happen, went unnoticed and unrequited as the years passed by. Who am I but a lowly, withdrawn presence? My power may seem vast and mighty, having to host many beasts and critters, but my inner workings are subtle and quiet by nature. I cannot tell her how I feel, for I would risk rejection. She is beautiful, generous, and a blessing from the greatest power to walk on this earthly plane. Yes, it is true.
I am in love with Carousel Boutique.
Perhaps I humble myself a little much, for I do hold all knowledge this quaint town of Ponyville acquires. From common knowledge to forbidden secrets, I contain within my hold the wisdom of ponies and ponies hence. I may be meek and shy, but I contain great power within. Power that a capable pony could grasp for herself. If only I was capable of molding the magical energy within, then perhaps I could impress my sweet, dear Boutique.
I remember the day I fell in love with her as clearly as I can remember my days as a sapling. Clear as skies ten seconds after the rainbow pegasus decides to cease her sloth. Bright as the legendary Sonic Rainboom.
When she was constructed and the last embellishment was placed on her, I found my branches quivering with strange delight. An alien feeling to a building, if I may say so myself. My leaves turned green, startling many ponies in the fall season. When she was built, I couldn’t stop photosynthesizing in delight. According to a few books, particularly the ones that adult ponies tried to hide for their secret indulgence, I was in love.
In my naivety, I confided in my best friend: Sugarcube Corner. She was the eccentric type, always delighted to see ponies smile and hold parties within her walls. We had a brief fling in the past, even coming as far as to call each other ‘dear.’ Unfortunately, all good things come to pass and we parted as dearly beloved friends. Or so I thought.
The day after I had shared my secret, Sugarcube Corner went under my roots and asked my dearly beloved to gaze at the skies with her. My anger was immeasurable as the two buildings watched the cloudless skies together; of course they could not move close, but it’s the thought that counts. It was an intimate sight, and one I despised.
Sensing my calm storm, and against my pleas, the birds resting upon my branches pecked at the sugary building, bringing forth her wrath. Thus began a small war; skirmish after skirmish between birds and the building ensued. Many of my devoted followers fell ill to sugary toxin. Thanks to the butter pegasus, they recovered (thank the builders).
Sensing our feud, Carousel Boutique turned from Sugarcube Corner and returned to her own merry ways. Not only did I lose my friend, and she lose love, but I lost any chance I had with the refined establishment.
In my woe, my leaves turned golden and fell, troubling the mare and dragon that lay within. Several ponies examined me, running their hooves through my shivering bark, to find my lack of will to live and revive me.
One fateful night, something tragic commenced. I noticed from my foundation that a small, spandex-clad pony sneaking near Carousel Boutique. It was when he retrieved a brick from his saddlebag that I realized his nefarious intent. As he lifted the brick in his hoof, I tried to warn Carousel Boutique. I desperately tried to awaken her, warn her, save her from the villainy about to take place.
Something in me changed as he brought down the brick to the window. Something inside… burned. As a tree, a fear of fire is only natural. The sensation of burning is hellish. This burning, however, felt… good.
It was anger.
My leaves, one by one, turned from yellow to red to symbolize my anger. My branches shaked in rage as I watched the ruffian break the window of my beloved. As if to answer my will, the wind began to roar. The, no, my birds flew off my branches as my leaves were blown into the wind.
I watched with satisfaction as my leaves, in the wind, enveloped the ruffian and blinded him as birds attacked him. Guity smugness filled my being as I watched medical ponies drag him off in the morning, a wreck of what he used to be; whatever could remain of a pony of that evil, that is.
It was no secret Carousel Boutique was a hopeless romantic (so was I, but I digress), but I refused to brag of my accomplishment. Not only would I be met with skepticism and ridicule, but exploiting a small personal achievement to unfairly win the heart of your beloved was a dishonorable deed.
Weeks passed as that fateful night was left behind in memory. I went about my ways, housing birds, ponies, and knowledge alike. It was my duty, my destiny, and one I was happy with.
Awhile later, Sugarcube Corner began to speak to me again. She apologized for her rude behavior in our disputes and came to understand the birds acted on their own free will, and I forgave her for stealing the heart of my beloved. Once again, we became friends.
Curiously enough, once Sugarcube Corner and I made up, Apple Barn conversed with us. At first it was friendly conversation, but slowly turned more intimate. Soon enough, it was revealed to me, and me alone, that the barn was in love with Sugarcube Corner.
This put me in a corner (no pun intended). While my grudge was long gone, there was a rift between Sugarcube Corner because of our entangled past. Using the wisdom contained in the tomes within my vault, I decided to transcend my personal feelings. With time and effort, I managed to convince Sugarcube Corner to give Apple Barn a try.
To this day, they’re happily together and have a shed to their name. Why Fluttershy refuses to let anypony enter will forever escape me and my vast arsenal of knowledge.
Today marks a new page in my story. A fitting metaphor for an immense library. Curiously enough, a message was sent to me by a cat. I was used to birds and the occasional squirrel, but never a cat.
The cat purred and rubbed against me as it passed along the message.
Dear my beloved Oak,
Since the day we met, and especially since your heroics-
Perhaps I should save that for another day. Until then, I have a boutique to woo!
Good day, my little ponies.
~Great Oak, Library.