Beyond the Books
Chapter Two
By the time you finish the book, the sun looks about ready to set. Is the library open? Perhaps you can still return it. Heading over to the library from the apartment you rent, you notice ponies are returning home from places like Sugar Cube Corner, taverns... the like. Deciding that trotting was taking too long with that heavy book on your back – you briefly wonder how you finished it in one day, before reminding yourself that it had been an epic story – you launch into the air with your wings, flying off to the library. Landing at the door soon after, you knock.
“Coming!” A male voice calls from inside, catching your attention – before your remember hearing something from others: Twilight has a baby dragon as an assistant. The door soon opens. “Uh, hello?”
“Hey,” You say with a smile, before reaching back and pulling the book out of your saddlebags. “I checked this out, and I'm here to return it.”
“And you're here to return it?” The dragon guesses, receiving a nod. He invites you inside, which you thank him for. “Wait, this says you checked it out today! You've already finished reading it?”
Hearing it from somepony other than yourself, you blush at the realization that, yes, you did finish reading it in one day. Then again, it was a Sherhoof Holmes story, and those were worthy of reading in a single afternoon.
“And here I thought only Twilight was crazy enough to –” Spike began with a grin, as he checks the book in.
“Crazy enough to what?”
Spike jumps and turns around on the spot, sweating visibly at spotting Twilight standing right there. You just stand there, trying to keep your laughter quiet. After making some obscure excuse involving an owl and waking said bird up, the little dragon races upstairs. Shaking your head as you chuckle, you turn back to see the mare finishing what her assistant had started.
“You actually finished it in one afternoon?” She inquires, levitating the object up to its proper spot.
“It was too good to put down,” you shrug.
Twilight has a look of interest, “I've heard good things about the series, but I've never –”
“You've never read Sherhoof Holmes?!” you exclaim, wings flaring in shock as you gape. “But... but... aren't you supposed to be some sort of major bookworm or something?! How could you not have read something as awesome as Sherhoof Holmes!”
The mare fixes you with a look that makes you blush at your outburst, as you try to reel in your wings from where they'd popped out to. Twilight giggles a little at the look on your face. The soft, gentle sound is enough to make it about three times harder to pull in your wings, but you manage anyway. Letting her words wash over you for the moment, you ponder what just happened. That giggle had made you feel all fuzzy inside, and had made your wings stiff. Opting to ponder the phenomenon later, you focus back on what the unicorn is saying, trying not to appear rude at ignoring her.
“...I do get caught up in my studies, but not that much,” She says, before blushing a bit. “I mean, is reading for four hours straight all that excessive?”
You stop her with your gaping mouth at what she'd just said. She reads books for four hours straight? And from the way she said it, it seems like that happens quite often.
“You can actually read a single book for four hours straight?” You ask, eye twitching a bit at the thought. “How do you have the patience?”
Her blush deepens a touch, “Well, I have a lot of practice...”
“You should see her on test nights,” Spike pipes up from nearby with a devious grin. “She once stayed up for fourteen hours to cram for one.”
You can't help but laugh a little at Twilight's expression of embarrassment, before you decide that it's late enough to warrant going to bed. Especially since you have to get up early again tomorrow.
“I have to get going,” you say to them, heading for the door. “If you got anymore of those books, could you save 'em for me?”
“Sure,” She nods. “Nopony really comes in here that much, anyway, so that shouldn't be much of a problem.”
“Just go to bed on time, mmkay?” you say with a teasing grin, chuckling with the little dragon as her face flushes a deeper shade of red. “See you later.”
With that, you launch back into the chilled night air, relishing a flight back home in this kind of night. You remember your mother telling you stories about how Princess Luna had felt jealous over ancient ponies not appreciating the night, and right now, you wonder mildly how they could ignore this awesome view. You put those thoughts aside, however, as you arrive back at your humble abode. That title fits really well, just as it did when you first started to rent the place – which you're close to paying off after years of saving up. As you step inside, a frown covers your face as you recall that strange feeling that tugs at your wings even now.
I mean, she was just giggling, you think with a shrug as you head for the bathroom. You never got a shower earlier that day, considering how fast you moved out the door and such. Sure, it sounded kinda cute, and that mane of hers just –
Poomf.
You freeze at the sound, and slowly turn your head to look at your back. Sure enough, your wings were stiff as a board. Blushing lightly as you step into the shower and turn on the lovely water, you wonder just what had caused you to pop a wingie. Returning to your previous train of thought as the water ran over you, you notice as the thoughts cause your wings to stiffen to the point of actually being a little painful. Almost immediantly, your face turns a deep shade of red.
“I can't believe it,” you murmur to yourself, embarrassed at your feelings. “I've got a crush on Twilight Sparkle.”
Burying your face in your hooves, you wonder just what it was that caused that to happen. Looking back on it, you're not all that surprised; she is cute. It doesn't help that your friend has mentioned her several times over, as have your other friends. They've talked about her now and then, and apparently, interest for her had reached the point where you went and met her yesterday. And now you have a crush on her. As you contemplate your feelings for the mare, you finish your late-night shower, grab a quick snack, and head for bed.
“I'll be talking to her again tomorrow,” you say to yourself. “I mean, I promised I'd pick up another book...”
Maybe you can introduce her to Sherhoof Holmes? That wouldn't be such a bad idea, considering her love for reading. You fall asleep with a smile on your face, carefully ignoring the slightly-painful wingie you still have going on. By the time morning rolls around with your alarm going on, you've mostly forgotten about why your wings are still stretched out aside from it being comfy to sleep that way. The only difference about this morning and others was that you actually got up on time. It takes you all the way to getting in the shower to fully wake up, and realize that you're not sleeping in.
“A first for everything, I guess,” you muse quietly. “Certainly makes it easier to get there on time...”
As you go about, taking your time in getting ready, you think back on yesterday and your realization of your feelings for the lavender librarian. When you get off your early morning shift today and go back for another book from that series, perhaps you could stay and talk with her? That wouldn't be so bad. You decide that doing so would be the best course of action, provided you can keep your wings at your sides when you're there. Your thoughts continue on the same route as you head off to work, probably to clear the skies for the morning. After the last few rainy days, it only makes sense that the schedule would plan for some sun.
“Wow, you're here early,” your friend comments as you land and walk in.
“Your tone of surprise is one I find insulting,” you say with a grin, making the two of you chuckle.
“Well, today's pretty simple for you,” He continues. “You just gotta clear the skies about Sweet Apple Acres, then you're done.”
With a nod, you head out to get the work done right away. No point in wasting time. Lifting off and back into the skies, you head for the nearby farmlands of the best apple trees ever. As you head there, one thought continuously goes through your mind:
What am I going to say to Twilight later?