“Hmm, I wonder if I combine wolfsbane with garlic it will produce the right reaction.” This thought was pondered by a young, unicorn mare. She poured over her research material with intellectual haste, turning to and fro between her books and her test tubes. This was the prodigal Twilight Sparkle, the student of Princess Celestia herself. “Oh shoot! Looks like I’ve used up all my wolfsbane. I’m going to need to visit Zecora if I wanna get this potion just right. Maybe I can get her expert opinion on a few others that I have been working on, too! Now where did I put that journal?”

Twilight moved around, searching for her missing journal only for it to come flying over to her. She looked and smiled at the winged creature holding the book. “Why thank you Owlowiscious. You are so thoughtful.” With a bit of magic, Twilight placed the book inside her saddlebags and got ready to leave. “You keep an eye on the library while I’m gone Owly. If you do good, then I will be sure to get you extra special treat!”

“Who!”

“You, silly,” Twilight giggled at her own joke. “See ya later!” With that, the young mare was off.

Oh boy, it must be nice being a pony, but then again not many get a job like me. Oh, hello there! I didn’t see you come in. Welcome to the Golden Oaks Library, where every book will have you ‘bark’ing for more! Ohohoh… yeah that was a terrible joke; I’m still working on our proper motto. Now, who am I, you ask? Well, allow me to introduce myself: I am the number two assistant here at this wonderful establishment, Owlowiscious.

Although, that wasn’t my original name, no, nor was this my birth form. Oh, but you don’t want to hear the tales of a old bird like me, now do you? What? You want to hear my story? Well, um, I don’t know, I’ve never been good with talking about myself, but then again not many know my tale. Very well then. Friends, bronies, countrymen lend me your ears and I shall tell you my tale of life after we are gone.

My tale begins many years ago, several months before I met my caretaker, Twilight Sparkle. It seems like so long ago these days that its almost as if it were dream, yet I know that it was no dream. I was a different fellow back then, a human by the name of Michelangelo if you can believe it. One would think I was named after the famous sculptor, but alas no I was named after that blasted mutant turtle. Oh why did I have to be born such a family? Oh, do you think I’m going to go off into the old ‘woe is me I had a terrible family and now I can live in the utopia that is Equestria’ spiel? Most certainly not.

No, in fact I adored my family, just not my beginnings. My mother was at a very young age at the time of my conception, you see, and my father was one of those few rare ones that ‘stuck around’ as it were. It was a hard time all those years ago. We were not a poor family, but we only had enough to scrape by. I did what I could to help my mother and father as I got older, always appreciating the little things that we got to do. Why, I remember my first vacation when father got that wonderful Christmas bonus. Of course it wasn’t very large, what with him working for a small printing shop at the time, but it was enough for us to go visit a nearby city for a few days. Oh it was so wonderful getting to see New York City for the first time. We lived in upstate New York for most of my life, but we never got out of our small town very much. Oh the sights and the sounds were so glorious to my younger self. Ah, those were the days, no?

Ah, but we are getting off track now aren’t we? Where was I? Oh yes, my beginnings towards Equestria. Yes, let’s see, oh it was so long ago now that I hope I don’t forget anything. Let’s see, ah now I remember! It was a warm summer’s day in Washington D.C. and I was busy toiling away my day at my job. Oh how I so loved my job! You see, I was the head librarian at the Library of Congress! Oh it was a dream come true for a young Michelangelo! Yes, I prefered to use my full name instead of something as ridiculous as ‘Mikey’. I shudder whenever anyone dared to use that name for me.

Whoops, I guess I’m scatterbrained quite well these days. Ah, but I was not so young all those years ago. I had worked in that cornucopia of knowledge for nearly thirty years by then. What a glorious thirty years those were. I was able to do all the things I had wanted to with my life, I even was able to study abroad in England for a few semesters, just like I dreamed. I majored in library science if you could believe it, even received my PhD. A secondary major in literature was also quite beneficial to me.

Why my fascination with books? Well, growing up, books were all I could ever afford because the library let me take them home for free. I, of course, always returned them, on time I might add, but they were always cherished in my hands. It was a secluded childhood, yes. I knew many of you would ask, and yes I was quite similar to Twilight in that respect. Unlike her, however, I never grew attached to others, always relying on my books for company. So many stories, with so little time in life. It was being around all those books that allowed me to see my destiny would lie with them, in sharing their greatness with others. So, after years of study and dedication, I started in a small town library in Pennsylvania, but I soon began working my way up the ladder, as they say. Until finally one day, I was recommended to the Library of Congress, where I spent the best years of my life.

I had many wonderful things during those years. Money, which I knew that I should never waste and was always careful with what I did with it, stable employment, and most importantly of all a loving wife. Ah yes, Cortana. She was so beautiful, as if she were crafted by God himself. Oh how I miss her, but I have had many years to move on. Sadly, she was taken from me far too soon. She had taken ill from a terrible flu, only for it develop even worse into pneumonia. Those days were the worst of my life, being unable to ease my wife’s pain as she slowly left this world. I cried so much on the day that she was finally relieved of her pain, knowing that I would never be able to hold her again, at least not until I had passed on as well.

But, that was my past life. You probably don’t want to hear an old man talk about his life for on and on, so let’s get to what you came here for. Well, as I said it was ordinary summer day, not that I paid it any mind. I had just finished reshelving the historical fiction section and was now on my way for lunch. Eating in the library was allowed by the staff, but I could never bring myself to violate such a sanctuary like that. So with my messenger bag slung around me, I made my way out into the heat for a quick bite to eat. Ah, I rhymed, how droll. Well, as I was walking down the street, I noticed a young girl, no older than seven chase after a ball into traffic. A trailer truck was barreling right toward her, and I knew I could get to her just in time to save her. So, mustering what little courage this bookworm had, I threw myself at the child, pushing her out of danger. The only problem is, that I took her place.

For a moment, there was a burning pain all over my body, but it was gone in an instant. I was surrounded by white, just white. Nothing more, nothing less. Just an endless land of white. I felt… nothing. Nothing at all, strange enough. That soon changed, though, as my eyelids began to feel heavier and heavier. Soon, I had passed into a dreamless sleep.

I awoke who knows how long later, sitting in a tree of all things. Twas a strange day that was. I was frightened, I was confused, but I was also disappointed. I had always hoped that when I moved on, I would be able to meet up with my lost wife after so long apart. But no, I was to die heroically, to a point, only to be brought to a strange forest in the middle of nowhere. And also transformed into an owl. Most certainly the strangest of days indeed.

Author's Notes:

This was an idea that I came up with late at night. Questions and comments are appreciated.