Ten. Thirty-six. Thirty-eight. Forty-six. Those numbers have been burning in my memory for months, ever since I woke up one day with no memory of my previous life, not even when or where I learned the numbers. I've used them anywhere I could think of, to no avail. I tried my best to forget them, to block out their eversounding resonance in my head. Yet, they stay. It's not all bad though. I have by my side all of my friends. At least, they say that we were friends before, but I have no reason not to believe them, not with the situation I had been thrown into. As far as I can remember, this is how it was.
I wake up somewhere I've never been before. There's a lot of white around and the light is blinding me until my eyes adjust. I sit up and look around. Then, suddenly, a gasp from the side takes my attention. I look over and see one pony of each race. Behind them, black fills out the windows. It must be night.
Darkness has come.
"Pinkie! You've finally come back!" the white unicorn mare calls as all three race over to me. "You must excuse Twilight and Fluttershy, one had to escort the other home, do you know how- no, of course you don't."
I say nothing at first and keep just looking at her, trying to figure out where in my memory I can find her, but it's absolutely empty.
Slight worry comes onto her face as she notices I'm not responding, "Is there something the matter?"
Am I supposed to know her or anypony present? Who am I, anyway? She called me Pinkie. I guess that's gotta be my name then. Still, I just have to ask, "Sorry, but who are you? Where am I?"
She briefly turns towards the pegasus, "Rainbow Dash, would you kindly fetch the doctor if he's still around?"
"On it!" she calls back. I just so manage to catch a glimpse of her rainbow colored tail before she's out the door.
"Well, darling, that blow you received on the head was nothing to kid about. Don't worry though, the doctor said you're going to be fine."
My memory did not come back since then. Apparently, I'm Pinkie Pie, I live and work at Sugarcube Corner in Ponyville, and am close friends with all of those ponies, called Rarity, Applejack, Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy. It's been long since I woke up. I shake my head to get the numbers out of it and remember that I'm headed towards Applejack's farm, to help her clean up fallen leaves and branches after yesterday's storm, together with Twilight. I've been lost in thought for so long that I've already arrived without noticing. The purple unicorn is awaiting me a bit ahead. "Ah, there you are," she says. "Applejack's already out in the acres. The task's simple, pick up all the twigs and leaves and use that cart over there to bring them over to the empty field in the North."
"Sounds like a lotta work," I say, scanning the orchards. There is a lot of stuff lying around to collect, but plenty of time to do it, too. Neither of us has any plans for the day and the Sun has only just passed its peak.
"Yes, I'd suggest that we work as a pair. That way, I can help you pile them in with my magic." After I turn away, when she thinks I can't hear her, she quietly adds, "And I won't have to pull the cart."
I can't say I mind that as I yoke myself to the cart and started pulling it towards the trees. "So what'll happen to it then? Just a bonfire?"
"All will burn."
"Okie dokie!" I cheer. We start collecting. Maybe I would have chosen another use, but I can't help
yielding under better judgement.
We unload the cart one last time, Twilight piling it up neatly into one big, but still arranged, bunch of wood. We all stand back, Applejack comes in with a burning torch and sets it on fire. The resulting flames come higher than the nearby buildings. It's destructive, but also beautiful in a way.
Applejack sighs, "Thanks again fer helpin' us clean up the rabble, y'all." She points to the side of the barn, "There's a bath in case anypony wanna clean up right here, feel free. Ah know Ah'm goin' there."
"Sounds good," Twilight says and we all head over. As soon as we get there, she and Applejack jump right in. Unfortunately, there's only room for two ponies, so I stand by the side and talk to pass the time,
waiting to be cleansed.
"Sure been a lotta work, ain't it? Ah, but we gotta do it." Applejack quickly submerges her head, then climbs out and dries off her mane.
I jump in now that she's gone. The water's cool, but not uncomfortably cold. Just what you'd need after an afternoon out working. I can feel myself relaxing as its power reaches and cleans me all throughout, washing out all the sweat and stress from my body. I hold my breath and dive under to clean my mane, though what I notice once I'm below the surface almost makes me gasp underwater. It's completely silent in here, no sound, no numbers. I emerge with what I can only imagine to be an endlessly relieved expression.
"Wow, Pinkie, you somehow look... even more cheerful than usual?" Twilight comments while we both get out and Applejack gives us both towels.
"Oh, I'm just happy to be with my friends and all," I lie as the three of us watch the fire burn. She apparently accepts it without question. I don't like lying to my friends, but this was nothing of their matter. Hah, was! I can barely resist jumping through the air in joy. Finally those blasted numbers are gone and I can live on happily.
I am Pinkie Pie, and these are the first thoughts of my new life.