Travelling to the library was unnerving, at first. I knew everypony, but I didn’t know them as well as I did; Derpy got a new mane cut, Lyra and Bon Bon were married, Carrot Top moved away. So much happened that I simply don’t know about. Maybe I could remember attending Lyra and Bon Bon’s wedding, maybe I had heard Derpy talking about getting a new mane cut or Carrot Top moving away, maybe if I could remember anything that’s happened recently.
Yet still, every time I try it feels like somepony’s gripping my brain and squeezing it, disrupting my focus and drowning the memories I try to conjure.
The streets are the same, but there are new plants in the gardens or decorations outside. It’s as if a whole chunk of my life has just been stolen from me, and for what, for money? Was I beaten over the head by a burglar because he wanted some change, or is there something even bigger I can almost see?
The outside of my library is the same as the rest of Ponyville, like it’s almost how I left it. Everything’s almost the same, but I can see the sign hanging slightly crooked and the branches near the top in need of trimming. Why didn’t I fix this before? Was I too busy? Too busy doing what, though?
I manage to tear my eyes away from the outside of the library and open the door to step inside.
I don't know why I didn't expect them to be there. I just got out of the hospital, of course they would be waiting at my library. Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Spike were all gathered in the front room to welcome my return.
Thankfully, nothing extreme has changed with them. They all look concerned, Fluttershy very concerned, and Applejack looks a bit mad about something, but they don’t seem to be different from before.
Thank Celestia for small favors.
After a group hug, Spike brings out tea and we sit down and talk.
"My Celestia, Twilight, you look absolutely dreadful. What were they feeding you at that hospital? How do you feel?" Rarity asks.
"I'm fine, Rarity. Really, I just want to find out what happened." I take a sip of my tea and look around the room, the place is spotless, but I can see where Spike cleaned things up. I can even see there’s a missing chair usually off to the side which must have been the weapon used against me. I pause from inspecting the room and count my friends again. "Where's Rainbow Dash?"
Applejack huffs, looking out the window. "In Las Pegasus. She said she had 'urgent family matters' to attend to. 'Tain't right, though. She doesn't have any family in Las Pegasus. She should be here for you."
SMU?
Your friend, Rainbow Dash, was the one who discovered you and took you to the hospital.
"She took me to the hospital?"
Fluttershy nods. "I think she just needs to be alone for a while."
Alright. I'll talk to Rainbow Dash later. For now, I need to find out what I was doing. "Was I acting strangely for the few weeks before I went to the hospital."
Spike laughs. "You're always acting strangely."
I shake my head. "No, really. Try to think. Did you ever hear me say what I was doing or what kind of things was I talking about?"
Applejack shrugs. "You did ask a lot about my family, what I remembered about 'em and such. But I thought you were just curious."
I might have just been curious. Why wouldn't I be? What could have been so important about Applejack's parents? They died in a house fire, no foul play, nothing wrong. It was probably nothing. I tell myself it was nothing.
But I don't believe it was nothing.
Pinkie Pie raises a hoof and jumps up and down. "Ooh, ooh! You were also asking me questions about my rock farm and about Fluttershy's, Rarity's, and Dash's parents."
Why the sudden interest in their parents? If I asked about all of their parents, that makes it much more likely I was just curious, unless I can find a connection between all of their parents besides that their daughters are friends, maybe the books I was reading at the time could shed some light on this.
I rub the bridge of my nose between my eyes.
No. I'm grasping at straws now. They were innocent questions and I should stop being so paranoid. End of discussion.
"Are you alright, Twilight? You've been sitting completely silent for ten minutes." Spike laws a claw on my shoulder and I gasp and jump back, falling over and slamming my head down onto the wooden floor.
"Please don't startle me like that again," I say. Jeez, I'm jumpy. What is wrong with me that a touch from Spike sends me flying? My head slides to the left of me and faces one of the bookshelves. When the world stops spinning, my eyes focus on one of the books on the bookshelf.
The title is 'Blue Sky's Guide To Pegasus Flight,' but there's nothing wrong with that. What is wrong is that it's in completely the wrong place. It should be under the pegasus reference section, but instead it's on the animal reference section. I stand up and trot over to it.
"Something wrong, Twilight?" Rarity trots over and starts to place a hoof on my shoulder, but stops and thinks better of it.
I nod, absently. "Did anypony move this book?"
The collected ponies and Spike shake their heads no.
I take it out and flip through the pages, coming across a bookmarked page.
"Pegasi naturally fly using the air currents and streams naturally found in Equestria. However, in order to supplement this ability to fly faster, or fly without any air current, they are able to use the magic found inside them and in the air."
What does that have to do with anything? Any ideas SMU?
Blue Sky was a little known author and publisher of only two books. The first being a compilation of generally accepted facts on pegasi, and the second being a short story about a pegasus mare named Sprinkler.
So, it's useless. Gotcha.
Regardless, I put the book to the side so I can put it back where it goes later and lay the bookmark on top of it.
I shake my head.
Breathe, Twilight. You'll work on this later. For now, almost all of your friends are here and waiting for you to stop freaking out.
After a moment, I look up and see the slightly concerned faces of my friends. I smile and they relax, smiling back. My stomach rumbles and I laugh. "Who wants something to eat."
Pinkie Pie leaps up in the air. "I do, I do."
The six of us leave the library towards Sugarcube Corner and I close the door behind me, leaving behind Blue Sky's Guide and a torn piece of paper used as a bookmark with the letters 'C U V C B Z R A N' imprinted in neat ink cubes.