A Twilight in Time

"Apple peasant!"

Applejack looked behind her, to find the purple unicorn in an odd, elaborate grey robe galloping after her from the prairie beside the forest.

"Hold on, Apple peasant"

Twilight galloped briskly to Applejack and slowed to a light canter upon approach. The look of inquisitive bewilderment adorn Applejack's face was palpable. Twilight however couldn't notice the mood and went straight to asking Applejack, "Excuse me, Apple Peasant, but I am in need of directions. I am on a search for the settlement known as Ponyville. Is it possible for you dictate to me, an accurate set of instructions to lead me to my destination?"

Applejack was stuck in a moment of hyper analylization. Her mind was rapidly racing to both take in every detail that was setting off in front her as well coming up with any situation where this bizarre pony has any place in reality.

"uhhhhh.."

Twilight gave an impatient forced smile, before her eyes lit up in discovery, "Oh, you're one of those slow learning mares, even for Earth ponies," Twilight said in earnest sympathy, "I've heard of you, but never seen one in person. Well, uh, sorry for bothering you. I'll be going this way then."

Twilight turned away, while Applejack grimaced smacked a hoof to her face. She wiped her hoof off her face and then pounded it in the ground. "Now just wait one apple buckin minute".

Twilight gave a patient nurturing smile, "Yes?" only to elicit more ire from Applejack.

"First of all, I ain't no 'Apple Peasant'. My name's Applejack, you hear?"

"Well I was half right," Twilight muttered under breath.

"Second of all, I'm not the 'slow', wierdo pony here; what with your costume on, running through the Everfree Forest?"

Twilight looked behind her at the parting she came from the forest through and then back to Applejack. She had to admit that anything having to do with that accursed place must be suspicious to which she did understand the apple peasants remarks, however she could not let anypony know her plan lest things get complicated.

She mulled her head around thinking of how to best mince her words, "I… am on… an official Unicornia… endeavor."

Applejack rolled her eyes and snorted, "Right, and I'm Chancellor Pudding Pop, welcome to Equestria."

"Are you daft?" Applejack furrowed her brow and jaw dropped. Twilight sighed, "I shouldn't wasting my time entertaining such a delusional mare."

"Now don't you go acting oblivious on me!"

"Call me impressed," Twilight backed up in shock, "That must be a big word for you."

"I was bein sarcastic"

There was a long drawn out awe of understanding, "Ohhhhh, you were merely acting the fool in jest." Twilight playful smacked the side of her head. "Right. Earth Ponies do that too. I, uh, actually was convinced you were just a loon from the conviction in your role."

Applejack closed her eyes and forced the corners of her mouth up as hard as she could, "Mmm."

"However, that doesn't help me whatsoever. I approached you with an important matter at hoof." Appplejack released a breath already exhausted from the conversation.

Twilight looked Applejack seriously in the eyes, "Do you~. Know where~. I can find~. A cartographer~? All I need is a map."

Applejack spread her mouth to a stressed line and shook her head. She wave a hoof up and then pointed down the trail, "Ponyville's over there. Look for the library. It should have what ya need"

"To whom does this library belong to?"

Applejack replied, "Uh, everypony I guess."

"Really?"

"Eyup."

"Odd… so anypony can simply enter and browse to their heart's content?"

"Eyup."

Twilight nodded slowly, "Okay then, well thank you then, Apple, uh, Jack. Your cooperation is appreciated." She waved off and cantered ahead of the still cart leaving a befuddled and annoyed apple peasant behind.

She muttered to herself, "What an odd mare. Perhaps, the rest of this Ponyville is ill effected. To think the Everfree might have an effect this wide outside of the forest parameters. Or maybe it's the drinking water."

Twilight cantered on the dirt-paved road, her field of vision reduced to almost null due to winding road flanked high on both sides by apple trees. However upon reaching the peak of a hill the view of Ponyville revealed itself instantly. Twilight smiled and continued onward towards the settlement, almost with a skip in her step, however as soon as she made it into town, things started feeling weird.

The hatched roofs of the houses, the streets littered with ponies, the distant sound of working ponies everywhere. All these things felt normal, but looking upon the details, things felt off. The streets were cleaner, the air was not as smelly, the ponies looked cleaner, the rich vibrant atmosphere of pleasant and inviting cheer was in the smiles of too many ponies. And most importantly, how naked they all were in comparison to herself. Being naked was not taboo at all, however, most ponies needed that extra layer of protection from the elements. Twilight gave a slant eyebrow, peeking her eyes everywhere to study this strange phenomenon, however she wouldn't be able to give it much thought or else risk getting absorbed in her work. For now she could only chalk it up to something from the Everfree leaking into the local well.

"However, it seems they are enjoying it. Will write more on this later," she whispered to herself in a subconscious slip up. Little did she know the affect her preccence was making, as a gap formed around her where she went as ponies thought better to pass around her than confront her with questions about her weird getup

At last she was getting to point where she could no longer progress any further intown without direction. She looked left and right for any apparent sign that could give her clue, but she found none. She scratched her chin when from above someone said, "Hey, you lost?"

Twilight jumped and sanpped into a defensive position, to spot a rainbow maned pegasus lying on a low hanging cloud. "You're new here, right? Need any help?"

'Right, these are just well meaning locals,' Twilight thought. She relaxed and smiled, "Of course, I seem to be in need of assistance. There is supposedly a repository for books under public domain and I need to retrieve the means of navigating towards… a certain destination." Twilight made sure not to guve any more hints to the unicornian redevoire than neccessary

Rainbow Dash gave her a befuddled look, "So you're looking for the library?"

"Yes, exactly, my good pegasus."

"Well, the library's over that way," the local motioned with a hoof, "Want me to show you?"

Twilight smiled, "I would happy to take up your offer"

The pegasus rolled off the cloud and fell to the ground on her hooves, "By the way, I'm Rainbow Dash, Future Wonderbolt and best flier in the world"

"Twilight Sparkle, Apprentice to the Archmagus of Clan Stardust and Student of Magic", the unicorn said automatically. She put up a hoof only for Rainbow to hoofbump her and move past her

"Nice to meet ya. Follow me." Twilight looked at her hoof and then to her pegasus guide before bringing up a note. 'Must be a local custom'.

As they walked down the cobblestone streets, Rainbow looked behind her, "So, 'Student of Magic, huh? That means you're from Canterlot, right?"

Twilight gave a cautious look over to Rainbow Dash. "Yes."

"Cool."

Twilight pursed her lips and furrowed her left brow.

"Thank you?"

"Nah, I'm just thinking about Sunset Shimmer. She's from there and went on a brief trip there to take care of some business. She should be back in a few days I think."

Wait. A the mare that Zecora told her about went to Canterlot recently? What if she's an ally to the Alliance? Would she break Twilight's cover upon arrival? Or was she part of the resistance to the alliance?

"Ahem, did your friend, this 'Sunset', say what kind of business she was on?"

Dash kept walking while she looked up to think.

"Uh, I think she mentioned something about family. I don't remember. It's typically that or she's meeting with the Princess"

Twilight nearly froze. 'Meet with the Princess'. It's very, very possible that this mystery friend is some collaborator with Princess Platinum. One thing is very clear: She must leave town long before this Sunset gets back. 'Confound you Zecora. The aid you sent me to would have skinned me if I sought her out.'

"Alright, here we are."

Twilight was snapped out of her panicked stupor and was shown a tree in the middle of town. A tree house. The silliness of it, really took Twilight off guard as she started with a snicker, "T-that's the library, pfft?"

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes, "Yeah, yeah, Golden Oaks Library. A 'treehouse'".

Then from a snicker to a giggle, then full blown laughter. Twilight's legs gave out from under her and she was left to bellow as she laid.

"You know, it's not that funny"

"Hew, wew. No, not that. It's just. It's a tree, and then to make the books you work it into pulp and then paper. And so then paper for the books are put back into the tree," Twilight wiped away a tear, "Hehehe. Very clever."

Whilst Rainbow Dash gives Twilight a look, the unicorn had already brought out her notes and started jotting away. She mumbled, "Tree Library Idea: a location to store books inside the existential origin point."

Twilight looked tapping her chin with a smile, "Might need to conscript earth pony laborers to accelerate the growth."

Rainbow Dash squinted at Twilight, but brushed it off. Ponyville typically attracts a certain crowd. All they'd like to hope for is that with enough time, they'll mellow out on their own or leave.

After finishing her notes, Twilight walked toward the library with Rainbow Dash in tow. Twilight reached for the handle and pulled, only to be met with resistance. She tugged a second time, only to be denied again. She turned towards the pegasus and asked, "Isn't this supposed to be open to the public?"

Rainbow Dash just shrugged, "Well, somepony has to watch the place for it to be open. Sunset and Spike are technically the librarains so, I guess since they're gone, it's closed."

Twilight shook her head, "Oh, that will not do. I need this information now." Thus Twilight's horn glowed and an aura surrounded the hand of the door.

"What are you doing? Is that some sort of unlocking spell?"

"I would use something of that nature if Starswirl didn't guard all his work like a Diamond Dog. No, I am simply making due with what I have."

At first there was a gentle push, but quickly the wood started to splinter around the lock, until finally section was pushed through the door completely and floated lightly inside. Twilight then gave a gentle tap on the door and the hinges creaked ever so.

Rainbow Dash gave a weary look to the property damage. "I don't think you're supposed to do that."

Twilight walked into the dark interior of the library only lit from the windows that had semi-open curtains. The smell of old paper wafted straight from the shelves into the nose of Twilight, who savored the fragrance as if it were expensive perfume. "Unless it’s the personal property of the Princess, there is very little that a mare of my position is bounded against."

"I still don't know about this"

"Hush your doubts. The Stardust Clan will compensate the keeper for the damages later, now give me some peace while I find what I'm looking for."

Twilight looked along the shelves carved into the very shelter itself and looked for a map. However after reaching from one half of the semicircular room to the other side, she felt a bit perturbed when she noticed something. She reached with her a magic a book at random and brought the spine to her face. She squinted and furrowed her brow. Then she turned it over and looked inside and pressed her face against the page. Her anguish only amplified now as she lifted her head and flipped the page. And another page. And another one. And another one.

She turned to Rainbow Dash who had been watching from the doorway, "What language are these written in?"

Rainbow Dash tilted her head, "Equestrian?"

"What?"

"Equestrian."

Twilight just stood with a look of utter bafflement. "Well, whatever you call this blasted collection of garbled symbols, I CAN'T READ IT!"