The Big Tree & the Twin Unicorns
The tree was big, very, very, big. Intimidatingly big. Apple Jack swallowed hard as he just took in how big it was. He felt a bit ashamed with how afraid he was, would his name sake, his great-great-great-great granny Apple Jack, be afraid of this tree? Of course this wasn't just a tree, it was a building too, and every Apple Clan filly and colt since great granny had come here eventually. The Books and Branches Library, one of the biggest, most extensive libraries in all of Equestia. The fact the building was also a giant livening tree wasn't it's only odd distinction. The pony who lived in the library was a legend, and Apple Jack was afraid of her.
"Honestly why are you scared of her?" His friend Gregor had asked. "I was younger than you when I visited her, she isn't frightening at all."
"Auntie Twi is really nice!" Cream Pie had said. "She's the smartest bestest auntie ever!"
"I visit her when ever I can." Skybrust had told him. "She knows almost everything!"
All his friends had seen her, just like their parents, and their grannies and grandpas, and all the way back to the ancestors who where her friends. Twilight Sparkle was the 3rd oldest being in all of Equestria, only the Princesses where older. The families of Apple Jack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Rarity had made it tradition to visit "Auntie Twilight", to see how they compared to their legendary ancestors. He'd heard that Twilight never true compared any pony to her friends, and usually wound up offering advice that lead to earning their cutie marks. But something about her unnerved him, he'd seen her before, like most of the young fillies and colts and kept his distance from the ancient mare. Twilight visiting the family reunion, or taking part in some public celebration wasn't the same as a personal visit. He'd be alone with her, all her attention focused on him. Apple Jack recalled what she looked like. Her fur was a light grey, almost white, her mane and tail a darker shade of grey with a bright magenta streak, her cutie mark was a six pointed magenta star with smaller white stars around it, her eyes where light purple, and her long horn was a slightly yellowed ivory white. The bright color streak and clarity of her cutie mark where unusual, once a mare reached 90 all color in her coat and hair would be faded, their cutie marks also drained of color. Despite the coloring oddities her eyes where what really disturbed Apple Jack, she had long ago developed cataracts that would normally rob her of sight, but Twilight Sparkle's eyes could still see, her magic allowed her clear vision despite her condition. Everything about her that defied normalcy could be traced back to her magic, the fact she was 500 yet still healthy, that at 467 she had give birth to twins with out a stallion to plant his seed, and how her children themselves where not normal ponies. Long ago rumors that she was the child of Princess Celestia had begun, a half mortal offspring that had her mother's immense magic and immortality, but lacked the enteral youth of a true goddess. Still afraid Apple Jack swallowed his fear and entered the Library.
The inside of the library was actually quite inviting, the lights where bright but not overbearing, and a earthy wood scent filled the nostrils upon entering. It reminded Apple Jack of Sweet Apple Aches, a bank of computers for public use sat to his right, a children's reading nook to his left, and in front of him a massive check out desk.
"Welcome young seeker of knowlage." A soft voice said.
"To the Books and Branches Library, can we help you?" A slightly deeper voice added.
Apple Jack looked up and saw the twin Librarians, Twilight Moon and Twilight Star. Twilight Moon was a dark blue filly with flowing violet hair, intense blue eyes, and a cutie mark of a Crescent Moon. Twilight Star was, color wise, the inversion of his sister, violet with a dark blue mane, with his soft grey eyes and cutie mark of a 8 pointed silver star. Both where unicorns, their horns always glowing softly because of their special connection. The siblings where psychicly connected, sharing their thoughts and feelings to such a degree it was like they where a single pony at times. They usually spoke in tandem, one completing the thought of the other, and they communicated with their mother almost exclusively by telepathy, most ponies where unnerved by this and Apple Jack was no exception.
"She is Twilight Star." Twilight Moon said.
"He is Twilight Moon." Twilight Star said.
"We are the librarians." the spoke together.
"I'm.. I'm Apple Jack.." Apple jack croaked out.
"Ahh, Apple Clan." Moon said.
"One we have not see before." Star said.
"You are here to see mother are you not?" Moon asked.
"Y-yes, family tradition, ya know." Apple Jack said trying to be confident.
"You are." Star started "Intimidated." Moon finished.
"N-No, an an Apple isn't afraid of nothing!" Apple Jack declared.
"This one is like the others." Moon started. "Trying to convince himself he isn't afraid." Star finished.
Apple Jack felt even more uncomfortable, they why they where talking, it was like they where judging him.
"Not uncommon." Star began. "Among the Apple Clan." Moon finished.
"Do not be embarrassed young one." Star Said.
"Fear is nothing to be ashamed of." Moon said.
"But not needed when it comes to Twilight Sparkle." the both said.
"Mother is in the reading room on the second floor." Moon said.
"She will remain there as long as it takes for you to be ready to see her." Star said.
As he began to walk away from the front desk Apple Jack couldn't take his eyes off the twin unicorns, had his big brother Apple Dumpling, been as creaked out by them? Nearly as many rumors surrounded the two as their mother, Dumpling might know what was true, he'd grown up with them. Finally able to break his gaze Apple Jack looked at the stairs before him, it felt like they should be more ominous, but the craved ivy and heart patterns in the wood where comforting. All around him the building that had intimidated him so a few moments ago seemed to be welcoming him. It didn't seem nearly as scary as he climbed the stairs, the second floor was much like the first. It felt open, despite the endless shelves lined with books, and had 3 comfortable looking sitting areas with cushions and reading lamps scattered about. On the first floor Apple Jack had seen no other ponies aside from Twilight Star and Twilight Moon, but here there where a good number. A lime green earth pony sat at one of the desks in back, scanning over the books and research notes that surrounded her. A blue pegasus flew up to a high self to help a yellow unicorn get a book she wanted. A white pegasus stallion began to fly up to the third floor, his saddle bags filled with books. A pink unicorn pushed a cart full of books past Apple Jack. Soon his eyes where drawn to a large door, Twilight Sparkle's cutie mark emblazoned on it. Screwing up his courage Apple Jack walked to the door and lifted his forhoof for the door knob.
