The sounds that emanated from the library of Ponyville were relatively few, but if somepony had super hearing, they would hear the sounds of pages being turned. Baen was busying himself flipping through a large tome of an updated Equestrian History book.
“Hm….”
Twilight glanced up from a few pieces of parchment as she did some more measurements of The Box, “Hm, what?”
Baen shook his head, “It’s simply amazing how much I’ve missed in the centuries I was petrified.”
“Well history just doesn't come to a halt because of one pony,” Twilight gave a good natured smile as Baen mumbled under his breath and flipped another page.
Though Baen was not friends with Twilight she still did work at the library, so crossing paths with her was inevitable. Lately in his down time he had begun to research what he had missed during his time as a statue. He had discovered quite a lot during his research, many were great things indeed. The imprisonment and future defeat of Discord & Nightmare Moon both. What still baffled him was that Twilight and her friends had done the deed. Though out of all the history books that had been updated one thing struck him with curiosity, something known as the Tree of Harmony. His eyes narrowed at the explanation, or what was available at that time.
“Twilight.”
The alicorn glanced over once more, “Yes?”
“This Tree of Harmony,” he tapped the entry, “where is it?”
Twilight turned fully around, “It’s at the bottom of the canyon beside the Old Castle in the Everfree Forest, though out of curiosity why do you ask?”
Baen shut the book and walked to the shelf he had nabbed it from, “I’m thinking of going to…look at it.”
Twilight teleported to his side, “OOOOh no you’re not! First off, there’s no telling what being in close proximity with the tree will do to you, and secondly, we don’t even know how it’s magic works!”
Baen placed the book back, “Right,” he smirked at her, “I can handle myself thank you,” he tilted his head at his axe, “this axe is made from orachulum after all.”
Twilight blinked a few times, “Orachulum? Isn’t that an extremely rare ore?”
Baen nodded with a smile, “Yep. Best part is when it’s forged into a blade, it never dulls,” he gave his handle a pat; “this baby has been as sharp as the day she was forged.”
Twilight now stared at Baen’s weapon with the interest of a scholar, “Oooo! Can I-“
Baen backed up, “No.”
Twilight pouted as Baen turned to the door but stopped when he noticed a massive rolled up scroll.
“What’s that?”
Twilight smiled proudly as she teleported beside the scroll, “This is some noted from a genealogical research project I did a long while back,” she gestured to the scroll, “it yielded some very interesting results.”
Baen nodded knowingly, “Ah yes, like how Pinkie was apparently related to Applejack.”
Twilight nodded, “exactly,” she then tapped her chin and beamed with curiosity, “what would you say if I asked you if I could do the same thing to you?”
Baen blinked in confusion, “Come again?”
Twilight sighed, “If you gave me a drop of blood, I could use a spell to research who shares your bloodline,” she clapped her hooves excitedly, “We could trace your lineage to present day Equestria!”
Baen tapped his chin, “Hmmm, well I suppose-“
Twilight immediately yanked him to a chair and magiced one of his boots off and pricked it with a pin. Dropping the blood onto a long piece of parchment as Baen put his armored boot back on, the process began. Twilight sent an ancient looking magic bolt into the blood drop causing it to melt into the fibers of the parchment. Words then began to write themselves in small print with many interlocking lines connecting them. Twilight ooed as the names listed, after a while of waiting, the writing stopped. Twilight blinked and became slightly irritated.
Twilight glanced to Baen, “How many mares in your time were you with?”
Baen stared evenly at her, “Why is that any of your business?”
Twilight raised the parchment, “Because according to this,” she placed a hoof to his name and the name he was connected to, “ONE of them was with foal after meeting you.”
Baen widened his eyes and grabbed the parchment and scanned it, “How’s that possible, I was always careful and….,” he then sighed and slumped, “so it was Honey Blossom….that explains it.”
“Honey Blossom,” Twilight raised an eyebrow, “You’re saying ponies in your time had names-“
Baen nodded, “That weren’t like mine? Yes.”
Twilight stepped forward, “Who was Honey Blossom to you?”
“Nopony,” he gazed out the window, “she was the daughter of an innkeeper, she gathered flowers to decorate the Inn.”
“Really? Sounds like you know how to pick em.”
Baen and Twilight turned and noticed the other five mares in the doorway and both ponies spoke as one, “How long have you been there?”
Rarity was hooked on the potential scandal about to be told, “Oh we were going to announce ourselves but we decided to be an audience to this tale.”
Baen rolled his eyes, “Fine whatever, I wanna make this quick though. Somewhere to be and all.”
Fluttershy was blushing slightly, “Of course.”
“Alright,” Baen nodded, “Now... Honey was as I said a flower mare….”
*
The mare standing amongst the fields of flowers was as red as a rose in the face. She wore a white dress that was weaved with brighter white thread in patterns. Her coat was the color of a bright sunshine. Her mane and tail both were a dark honey blonde that were in a cascade of natural bouncing curls. A cutie mark depicting a blooming golden blossom was on her flank and her eyes were a dark green, but they were darting back and forth refusing to meet the stallion’s eyes before her.
“T-thank you for helping my father,” her voice was like a soft breeze but it hesitating due to nervousness.
Baen raised a hoof, “It’s no trouble. I couldn’t stand by and watch your Inn be destroyed by those dire wolves.”
Honey Blossom fidgeted slightly, “Both my father and I are grateful,” she smiled up at him, “you’ve been in our village for a month now and have done nothing but bring business to us and study. Does it not get lonely?”
Baen nodded, “Well I suppose, but I’m used to it. The road I’m going down, the quest I am taking, I can’t take my allies with me.”
Honey Blossom placed her hoof on his shoulder, “I can ease your loneliness if you wish.”
Baen raised an eyebrow, “Really?”
Honey nodded, “Yes,” she fidgeted, “though I am quite inexperienced I assure you I can…”
Baen shushed her, “We don’t have to, if you do not wish to.”
“But I do,” Honey leaned forward, “I really want to, ever since I first saw you.”
Both ponies then met in a kiss as they both fell into the flower field-
*
Applejack raised her hooves and waved them around red in the face, “Okay okay! We get the idea!”
Baen smirked, “But I thought you wanted to hear the tale?”
Rarity was blushing furiously, “Um…yes. B-but, well….”
Baen nodded, “Right, I forgot,” he got to his hooves and looked down the list, “you’re all mares.”
The girls narrowed their eyes but all became surprised when Baen gaped at the list, “You have got to be kidding me,” Baen dropped to the floor and moaned in anguish, “why Tieg why!?!?!?!”
Twilight trotted over to the list and read the last entry, “I don’t believe it….”
A knock was heard as Cheerilee entered the library with her saddlebags in tow, “Hi Twilight, I just came by to drop off the book I,” everypony was gathered around the list then glanced up at a confused Cheerilee, “What? Is there something on my face?”
Baen stared at her, “…..”
Twilight levitated the list to her and revealed the last name on the list, “Cheerilee of Ponyville, EXTREMELY distant relation.”
Cheerilee’s eyes became dinner plates and her pupils pin pricks.