A Different Kind of Family

"Twilight?" asked a distant voice, disrupting the silence.

"Twilight, wake up," it said again, louder this time.

A sigh sounded, "Did you really fall asleep researching again?"

I groaned, the pressing ache on my forehead bringing me to consciousness rather than the childlike voice. Opening my eyes I was met with the sight of a book. It took me a short while to realize that it was the book that I was reading last night. Well, one of many.

As I slowly tried to force myself to be somewhat more lively and awake everything came back in a slideshow kind of way. I got back into town, Rainbow flew over to me and asked if the house was fine I told here it's safe but to leave it be, went home and proceeded to try and find any and all books concerning humans, mythical, fictional or fact. Funny thing was I didn't remember going to bed. Lifting my head and stretching my sore neck I found out why I didn't remember going to bed; it was because I fell asleep on my desk. That explained the ache situation much better than sleeping funny because of these darned wings again.

A quick rub of the eyes later, I turned my head to see Spike concern plastered upon his face. The sight melted my heart, he was my number one assistant after all. "Are you alright Twilight?" he asked, his worry laced through his words.

I gave him a sleepy nod, rubbing my eyes again. "I'm fine Spike, just wanted to see what I could find."

"On what?"

I opened my mouth to give him an honest answer when a thought stopped me. What would happen if I told Spike about Ivan? I closed my mouth to think about it reasonably. On one hoof, he could be curious and want to help me find out more about humans, on another he could be frightened and try something hazardous to himself or Ivan. Or he might not care one way or another. I nodded my head, my mind made up. "Just general research, got to keep everything right up here," I responded with a light tap of the temple. "Don't want to forget any of it now."

Spike held his look for only a moment longer before it melted away and his usual smile came into view. "Well, don't do it again or you'll end up all crazy like last time." he said making his way out of the room and down the steps.

I chuckled and followed, "I know Spike, I was just really into my reading."

Spike let out a quiet sound of disapproval but otherwise no words were traded between us as we made our way into the kitchen. It wasn't that long a walk from the bottom of the stairs to the kitchen, it branches off of the main room of the library after all.

The instant I walked through the doorway the intoxicating smell of freshly made pancakes met me. I was practically salivating as I took a seat at the table, my stomach sure to make its demands clear with a single groan. I grinned sheepishly and Spike was quick to serve me a small stack of four blueberry pancakes, buttered and topped with maple syrup. I quickly thanked Spike before wholeheartedly diving into my food.

I noticed Spike getting his own, somewhat smaller breakfast of two pancakes and haybacon. I didn't really give it much thought, giving my stomach the food it desired. The now stretching silence continued as both of our meals slowly shrank to nothingness. I finished my last bite of pancake with a satisfied sigh while Spike continued to take his time. I thanked Spike again for the breakfast before excusing myself, leaving Spike to his own devices.

As I started to make my way back upstairs and quickly review some of the bigger topics in those books, I heard a knock on the door. Each rap was irregular but strong, and I found it odd. Most ponies just walk in. But then again, most ponies aren't up and going to the library at eight in the morning.

Deviating from my path I opened to door to have Rainbow Dash rush in, closing the door behind her, her features nervous. Now, I know that Rainbow can be nervous, she just doesn't like to show it. Ever. But now her face was openly displaying her feelings, and it made me wonder what was on her mind.

Rainbow took a moment to try and collect herself, using the breathing technique that I learned from Cadence and taught her, before she turned back to me, seeming a little more calm. "Hi Twi."

"Hi to you too Rainbow. How're you doing?"

"Uh, good," pause, "Look, I wanted to talk to you 'bout something."

I tilted my head slightly, "And what would that be...?"

Rainbow hesitated, her brow furrowing, "That house is evil!" she blurted out.

I blinked slowly, turning what she said over in my mind before responding, "And, why exactly, do you think the house is evil?" I was careful not to reveal anything. Rainbow was acting strange about this whole situation, and it'd be unwise to startle her with any unexpected news.

Rainbow tried, and failed, to calm herself. "You don't get it do you?" she sharply accused, "We fight bad stuff all the time, we know when something's up! How am I the only one who can see it?!"

I felt a small patch of anger flare up at the accusation but was quick to smother it, "Look, Rainbow. Why don't we just sit down and talk about this like civilized ponies?"

Magenta eyes darted around the room, it was only then that I realized her eyes were red and baggy.

"Rainbow, have you been sleeping well?"

Rainbow's eyes locked on me, staring at me with an intensity that would make a bear think twice, "That's what I was going to talk about." her eyes lost their intensity and shut halfway, "I haven't been able to sleep..."

I moved to her side, running a hoof along her back, between her wings. Rainbow stiffened at first, but slowly relaxed. "Can I ask what your lack of sleep has to do with the new house?" I asked quietly.

Rainbow sighed and slouched, "I haven't slept this bad in years," she said, looking up to me with weary eyes, "Last night I had the worst, er I mean, I couldn't fall asleep because of that house!" her eyes darted for a moment.

She hadn't directly said it, but I knew what trouble was plaguing her, "Rainbow, why do you think your nightmares are from that house?"

"What? I didn't say anything about nightmares!" Rainbow crowed proudly.

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes, "Rainbow, you need to set aside your pride so we can get to the bottom of this."

There was a pause. Rainbow looked to be thinking deeply about this.

"There was something there...I saw it..." she mumbled, barely a whisper.

"What did you see Rainbow?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"I...I don't know. It was...Something. Something tall. Something about it...Do you know what I mean?"

I tried my hardest to not show any sign of me knowing what she'd be referring to. Had she seen Ivan or his family? They obviously hadn't seen her from what I had garnered. "I'm afraid I don't Rainbow." I said feigning ignorance as best I could.

Rainbow looked down and let out a small sigh, "It just doesn't feel right. Like it just isn't meant to be there, or anywhere." she looked up to me with sad eyes, "I...don't know how else to say it." with a small shake of the head Rainbow made her way towards the door.

It took me a second to see this, "Wait," I called out in an even tone, "What do you mean it doesn't feel right?"

Rainbow stopped, one hoof already on the handle, and turned to me, "I mean that it just doesn't seem to be where it aughta be. Far away if I'd guess." with a small shake of her head, Rainbow's usual confident smile returned, if somewhat forced, "Well, I told you what was in my head, might as well take off. See you later Twi!" without further ado she threw the door wide open and shot into the sky without another word. I walked to the door, a cold breeze chilling me though my fur, and watched as Rainbow streaked across the sky, her rainbow trail fading behind her.

Oh, Rainbow, I thought, concerned and saddened in equal amounts, Why can't you tell me all of what you're feeling? A question that I ask myself any time that Rainbow tries to be roundabout or charge headfirst into something. If anything I could tack that on with her usual flighty tendencies, but it can't be helped. It was after all, part of who she is.

With a small sigh I closed the still open door and made my way back to my study, peeking my head into the kitchen to see Spike cleaning the dishes. The sight brought a smile to my face as I went up the stairs. Entering the medium sized room I paused to take in a deep breath, smelling the crisp, new paper and old ink. A familiar smell. Taking a second I saw the scant few books that I had gathered last night to have more incite, grimacing as I remembered exactly how much mythology and folklore were in most of them. About four of the twenty-or-so books that I picked out had some facts. Or at least what could be fact.

I highly doubt that humans have three sets of teeth and lure foals into their caves to do dastardly things. Nor do I believe that Ivan or his family would be capable of lifting over a thousand pounds and shoot electricity. I mused, remembering some of those 'facts'. It really was unfortunate that there were more stories than cold hard fact, but then again, that's what happens with fact over time. Details are forgotten or left out or erased. Events told differently, some with more flair, others simplified more gruesome and otherwise.

I chuckled at my small tangent, skimming over a few lines of the book I had left open on the desktop. "The human skeletal structure is in many ways similar to that of a ponies, with obvious key differences in the hips, shoulders, spine and neck to support their bipedal nature." I read that line a few more times and the lines proceeding it. It noted differences, but not how the structure was different.

If only they could tell me the differences they might know about... I mused, sitting silently for a moment before my thought caught up to me like a train wreck. They don't know Equestrian! I thought frantically, looking around, scanning over the titles or my personal collection of books to see if there was anything I could use, If Rainbow or anypony finds them they might be rash and they won't be able to explain themselves! I thought, my breaths becoming shallower as my mind played out several bad scenarios.

Cadence flashed into my mind and I was quick to put my hoof to my chest, taking in a deep, calming breath before pushing my hoof away slowly and releasing my held breath, releasing some of the minor tension. I repeated the motions a few more times until I was calm once more. Okay Twilight, just think. You are a student under Princess Celestia, you're the Element of Magic, you've gone from a noble to a royal in a year and a half and you've saved Equestria several times over! You can think of a way to teach somepony - or somehuman as it were - Equestrian when the human language is lost to history and all one of them know is from one to a hundred. Sitting down I put my hooves to my temples, pooling all of my thoughts together, letting them flow in a quiet stream, none trying too hard to be noticed but making themselves known. None of them shone amongst the rest until one glittering idea came to me.

The idea was absurd and Ivan and his family may even get be a little offended, but it was something. Quickly getting up I made my way back to the ground floor, entering one of the two other rooms filled to the brim with full bookshelves. Moving around the room with ease I found the small section of books that I was looking for.

I smiled to myself, satisfied. Not all books have the solutions I thought to myself, collecting all of the books in the small shelf, humming, But I'm sure these foal books might help.