Crystals Return

You wouldn't imagine the positive affect the simple hold of a mare can bring to a sad spirit like Branded. Not only did he get more than enough sleep, but he wasn't haunted by the hollow dreams of what he suspects to be his past. This is the most comfortable he's been since he woke up on the farm. The only question now is what does she see in him? His thoughts were interrupted by the screech of a rooster, but the more he focused on the irritation the more the sound modified into what eventually became the scratching of a pencil on paper.

He opens his eyes to see none other than the purple librarian he had met the previous night seemingly taking notes on the subjects in question.

"Uhh...good morning?" Branded managed to muffle out.

"Huh?!" Twilight quickly spurted out before squealing and falling out of her seat.

Branded rushed to help her up, and to ask what she was doing.

"Whoa there, you alright?" He asked with a half smile.

"Uhh...yeah I'm okay. You just startled me is all." She responded, desperately dusting off her back.

"So can I ask why you're watching me and Applejack sleep?" He questioned.

"Well, I..uhmm...just..." She pinched out before handing him the notepad.

What Branded expected and what he saw where two different things. What she had been writing seemed to just be simple observations. They ranged from his eye color, his bare forehead, to his mane and the absence of a cutie mark.

"So you were taking notes?" He said holding up the pad with his limited magic ability.

"Mhm" She gulped.

"You were looking at every inch of my body?" He continued.

"Mhm" She let out another gulp.

"Well you know you could have just asked me." He said, releasing the book.

"Wait...really? You're okay with just answering questions? I never thought of that!" She awkwardly said.

"Huh well..okay...so what were you trying to figure out, exactly?" He asked whilst moving away from the barn as to not wake Applejack.

"When you left the library, you had left me with a handful of questions. Not only have you displayed that Earth Ponies can harness basic magic, but you also left a huge aura imprint in the library." She replied sternly.

"What's an aura imprint, exactly?" Branded replied, visibly puzzled.

"Okay, well, everypony has an aura, some stronger than others. The older you are, or your magical ability can change that. You left an imprint rivaling that of the princesses. That isn't supposed to be possible. Not only do you not look young, biologically you ARE young." She responded with a rather curious look on her face.

"How could you know that?" He asked.

"I took a tissue sample." She replied.

"A what?!" He loudly questioned.

"I didn't actually take tissue, but from where you were sleeping on the bed, some of your coat hairs were left on the bed. I just used the skin cells left on those to measure your age." Twilight responded matter-o-factly.

"Pretty smart, I will admit. And truth is I am just as curious as you are. I've not a clue how I came to be this way, that's been my question through my entirety of being here." Branded responded more desperate than he had intended.

"Well could you at least explain that mana pool, and earth ponies doing magic more clearly?" She asked with a tilt of her head.

"Sure, no problem. Just be ready to take notes." He said as they stopped in their tracks.

Twilight had plopped down, and taken up a pencil and her note pad in anticipation.

"Go ahead" She responded cheerfully.

"Alright, well the mana pool I had talked about last time, picture it as a pool of energy at the base of your horn. Your horn acts as a direct conduit of energy flow from it. Unicorns, naturally, have the best link to it, but Pegasi and Earth ponies both have it, just in lesser quantities. Pegasi can use theirs to help them steer clear of obstacles mid flight, and walk amongst clouds. Earthies mainly transfer theirs into the harvest or demanding labor. With a lot of practice, anypony can harness at least a little magic. I for instance can only levitate objects and enchant items. Does that clear it up at all?" He concluded.

"Actually it does clear up quite a bit. Of course I'll have to do some tests to prove without a doubt that the common folk have basic ability." She continued writing.

"I'm surprised that you didn't do any tests earlier, I mean didn't you ever ask how Pegasi can walk on clouds, or how Earthies can meet surprise physical demands?" He questioned.

"Well, in truth, no. The way I and most other ponies were brought up, things were always one way. Pegasi can fly, Unicorns have magic, and Earth ponies can...work?" She responded, trying not to come off as prejudice.

"Well that is a very linear way of seeing things. Where I was from I was raised to question everything." He said. Wait...how'd he recall something from his past? OH great, he feels a headache coming on.

"It's just the way the Princess had us raised.." She trailed off.

"I don't mean to sound crude, but this Princess you keep referring to seems to keep you all blind of the world around you. Have you ever been to any other country aside from Equestria?" He asked.

"Uhmm...no...but the Princess is as honest as they come, except for maybe Applejack, but you know what I mean." She responded defensibly.

"Whatever you say Twilight, just...be careful with the knowledge you now possess okay?" He said with concern.

"I will, I promise." She replied with a smile.

"Well, I'm going to go wake Applejack up, make sure she's alright. I know what it's like to wake up cold and alone, it's not pretty ha." Branded said while scratching his head.

"Seeya later!" Twilight said while walking off,

"You too!" Branded said, walking towards the barn.

What an odd encounter Branded thought. He never thought he'd be welcomed so warmly into the lives of other ponies. He feels like he's done horrible things in his past, he can feel it. But what? What could be so bad as to make him start over? Things are seemingly looking up for him though, he's been welcomed with open hooves by two, rather dashing may I add, ponies. And they're smart to boot. He has a lot to think about, so he might as well do it over some apple pie.