Chapter 3 - Twlght_Sprkl.lib

In a huge forest, surrounded by trees that seemed to stretch to the heavens, I opened my eyes and was blinded by Celestia’s sun yet again. I squinted my eyes and cursed out, “Fuck, Celestia. Make it brighter why don’cha, seriously?”

Even with these trees everywhere, I still had to shield my eyes. I didn’t even know where the buck I was. I got off my back just started trotting in a direction. I didn’t know where I was going but a well-worn path of grass seemed to be forming just past where my eyes could see, so I followed it.

Walking for what seemed like hours. I was getting a bit concerned. “Anypony here?”, I yelled. There was nothing. No sound but my own echo.

What’s going on here? Seriously, is there nopony else here?

Now I was going from concerned to a bit of a panic. No bugs. No birds. No nothing, just forest and a path. I continued on, given all the choice I had. Just then, my ears perked up to some sound beyond the shrubbery in front of me.

“Circuit.”, some random voice echoed

“What? Hello? Is somepony there?”, I inquired

“…he would have grown to be quite the stallion.”

I walked closer to the sound. I didn’t know what was going on and since there wasn’t anypony else here, I had to be the one he-she-whatever was talking about.

“Yes, ‘Circuit Wave’. That’s a fine name for him. It fits him well.”

I jumped up and pushed the shrubbery to side. “HA!”, I yelled, but nopony was there. I looked all around, darting my eyes, making sure I wasn’t being ambushed or something. I got myself low to the ground, kept silent.

“You don’t have to be scared, Circuit. I won’t bite.”

There was voice coming from somewhere but I couldn’t exactly pinpoint where it was coming from, whoever it was could obviously see me. This was a problem.

“Who are you? Where are you? How do you know me? Where the hell am I?”, I shot these questions out faster as my level of panic rose.

This omnipresent voice was laughing. “So many questions, Circuit. I will answer all of them in due time. First, my name is…”

The voice faded into incoherent mumbling after that as the ground began shaking. I was watching the clouds dissipate as if some filly was popping them like bubbles. I grabbed on to the nearest tree and shouted, “What? Tell me! What is your name?!”

“Mmmggetup....”. That was the only word I could make out. The shaking continued and got more intense. Soon, I was shaken off of the tree and right onto the ground.

* * * * *

“Come on now, git up! We just got the sun and Ah don’t wanna waste a minute of it!”

That was when my eyes quickly opened and I saw Applebloom towering over me. I was somehow shifted off of the soft comforting bed to under the way-too-chipper filly, laying on my back. She had a huge smile on her face. I got myself off of the floor and her attention diverted from my face to my flank. It was a bit weird but my grogginess made calling out her rudeness less of a priority.

“Ah tried to to be gentle but you can sure sleep when ya want to. A gentle buck did the trick though.”

Thanks, Applejack. I glanced at the mare in question standing on the opposite side of the bed from her sister and I, and inwardly groaned.

I don’t know if there were a special set of apples these ponies had in their rooms or something but there was nothing normal about her and her sister being this damn cheerful this damn early.

If they have all this energy, we don’t we just have them power Equestria or something.Who in Tartarus gets up this early?!

Her and Applebloom trotted from the room like mares on a mission, and I groaned. As quickly as my aching body would allow, I threw the covers back on the bed. I slowly trotted downstairs and saw the Apple Family already digging into breakfast.

It’s gotta be the apples...

I sat myself at the only chair available at the table, next to Applebloom. She finished her set of pancakes just as I was digging into mine.

As soon as the last bite went down her little throat, she asked the question that seemed to be burning her little mind since I woke up. “So...where’s your cutie mark?”

“My wha?”, with apple pancakes still thick in my mouth, it was hard to get the words out.

“Your cutie mark. Y’know, that special symbol that’s supposed to show your special talent.”

I just shrugged, “I don’t know. I guess I don’t have one.” Adding that to the list of things I don’t have...

“Whadda mean you don’t have one? Everypony gets one. Your supposed to get it when you find out that special something you can do.”

“So where’s yours?”

“I don’t have one yet.” She didn’t seemed phased at all by that question. “Everyone says that I’m too small and I need to wait...” Applejack nodded from across the table “but my friends and I are working real hard to find our talents! I mean, if we just keep trying different things, we are bound to get our cutie marks sooner than later. That’s why we are the Cutie Mark Crusaders!”

Those late three words bellowed from her mouth like some kind of speaker set way too high. When the ringing in my ears stopped, I replied, “Well, I hope you get it soon.”

“Yeah, maybe you can help us too! You don’t have yours either and you're a lot older than us.”

Honestly, I don’t know how to feel about that. Thanks?

“Now Applebloom, don’t go gettin’ Circuit wrapped up in your club when he has his own problems. I am sure he can help you girls later.”

“...Ok.” Applebloom seemed a little deflated by that. I guess she thought that I held some magical key to her cutie mark.

After a very uncomfortable breakfast, Granny Smith slowly cleared the table and Applejack informed us all what we would be doing today.

“Now, Ah know that we’re excited about this visitor but we still got chores that need doin’.”

Applebloom groaned, “But Sis, somepony needs to properly introduce him and we can’t have him doin’ our chores.”

“Right you are,” Applejack replied, “but on the same hoof, somepony and her friends wanted to get their cutie marks in campin’ and now the clubhouse is a half-burned mess. There ain’t no time like the present to get it cleaned up.”

“Aw phooey...” Applebloom kicked at the floor.

“Now while you clean your mess and Big Mac gets plowin’...”

“Eeyup.”

“...I’ll take Circuit over to Twilight's before I hit the apple stall. Maybe she can get some questions answered for you.” She nudged me and I yawned. It was still too early for normal ponies to be up.

“Well come on now! Time’s a wastin’!”

I still didn’t quite understand how a pony could have this much energy so early in the morning. Maybe it was something in the apples. I’m not sure. One thing I did know what was that she was the closest thing to help I had so I kinda had to deal with it.

The well-worn road leading from Sweet Apple Acres to Ponyville was a long one. The trot to town did wake me up and I was able to take in the scenery a little better than I had yesterday. The trees were tall and sporting a full set of leaves, perfect for sleeping under. That one tree giving you enough shade to set your flank down and be completely covered while the cool breeze on top of the warm sun made the perfect temperature to put me right into a nice nap. I could so go for some more sleep right now...

The grass was especially green and the soft wind was making the already beautiful flowers dance a little. I didn’t know whether or not I was still suffering under some type of concussion but things were just really...pretty.

Applejack led me through town and there were just so many ponies just up and about. They were all so friendly as well. I was getting, “Hi”s and “Hello”s all the way through. I didn’t know any of them so I just cocked half a smile and nodded.

“So where is this Twilight that you said could help me?”

“She actually lives right here.” Applejack stopped and pointed to the largest tree I had ever seen. There was a little patio deck and a door on the front. I looked around the sides and it didn’t seem to be anything more than a tree but I didn’t understand how anypony could actually live inside the trunk of a tree.

Applejack went through the solid oak doors and I followed suit. Inside, I could have sworn that I walked through some sort of portal. The inside of the tree was huge with books everywhere and a wooden bust of somepony dominating the center of the room. I stood there for a bit with my eyes wide open just staring at it all with a dumb look on my face. I went back to the door and stuck my head out, making sure it wasn’t a trick or anything.

It wasn’t. Somehow the tree was just bigger on the inside. While I was admiring the view, Applejack disappeared up a set of stairs, calling for Twilight.

Good thing I know where I am...

A little annoyed at her sudden departure, I decided to inspect the massive selection of books. Whoever lived here had a meticulous eye for detail. Trotting around this massive library, I could see that each area of books had been ordered by category and alphabetically, in that order. There wasn’t a book out of place nor was there a speck of dust on the outer spine of any of them. It was as if somepony dusted each book individually.

I heard hoofsteps coming down the stairs and Applejack came down with a lavender pony. She had a multi-colored mane and some type of star on her flank. It was in the same spot where Applejack had her set of apples. That must be what Applebloom was talking about earlier, the “Cutie Mark.” I could gather that Applejack’s talent had to with apples, being on the farm and all. But this other pony just had a six pointed star. I couldn’t make that out but I wasn’t going to ask her out of the blue.

As they reached the bottom of the stairs, their conversation seemed to be ending, “...and that’s why Ah came to you, Twi. I figured that if anypony could give us a hint about where he came from, it’d be you.”

“Well, I appreciate the vote of confidence, Applejack. I will surely do my best.”, the lavender one, who by now I realised must be Twilight, replied, “But honestly, I don’t where to start with him. I am going to need a little more information.”

“You can get it from him yourself. This here is Circuit Wave.”, gesturing to me, “And Circuit, this is Twilight Sparkle, the smartest pony Ah know...”

Twilight interrupted her with a slight blush coming to her cheeks,“Applejack, I’m not that smart. I am sure there are other ponies smarter than me.”

Applejack raised an eyebrow and smiled,” And saved Equestria three times already?”

Trying not to be the center of attention, Twilight was looking for an escape, “Thank you, Applejack. I know you have a stall to get to and I will do my best with Circuit.”

Applejack nodded and quickly trotted out the door after saying, “Thanks, Twi!”

The door slammed shut and Twilight turned to me and smiled, “So Circuit I know introductions have already been made but It’s nice to meet you. My name is Twilight Sparkle.”

Author's Note

It was actually a hard thing trying to get this chapter out. I was debating whether or not I was putting in too much detail. Then, my editor fixed that and here we are.

Thanks to my editor, Mistress_SarahKun

As usual, I know Circuit Wave, Motherboard, "The Commander" and nopony else.