//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: Coming to terms with reality........ // by Furstreak //------------------------------// The following day had arrived in the small town of Ponyville much like it had before. This time however, the town had found itself a new resident that was on the far outskirts. A young stallion that had been brought into this world by Discord himself. As the sun crested over the horizon, its warm rays began to slowly creep across the ceiling and down the wall before finally reaching the sleeping form of the stallion, laying covered in his bed. After a short time the form began to move ever so slightly before a groan escaped from beneath the covers. “Why is it always so warm during this time of the year?” He groaned softly as he pulled the covers from him, turning over and flopping out of the bed and onto the floor with a thud. After finding his bearings, he slowly got to his hooves and looked at the small wind-up clock on the dresser to see how early it was. “You’ve got to be kidding me. It’s six in the morning.” He deadpanned as he shoved the clock over with his hoof. Then making his way into the bathroom to take care of his morning business, then heading into his kitchen to make some breakfast. Once he had arrived in the kitchen, he began to pick up a few things with his mouth and move them around before remembering that he was a unicorn. But why did he just think of that? He should remember something like that because of having lived as one every day for his entire life, right? Then something else occurred to him, he couldn’t recall how to use magic. This caused panic to set in as he continued to try and remember. Sitting there for nearly an hour before he finally broke down in a serious panic upon realizing that his memories, all of them, were a figment. He could recall friends and family, but he could also recall other things from within his memories. Technology that he had in his home that was no longer there, devices that would call for something other than a hoof, in order to use. Looking around his house, he had come to find that any and everything he could remember having, was now missing. His television, video game systems, dvd’s, countless things that he knew in his heart that he had, were now missing from his home. Running into his bedroom he began to tear the room apart as he attempted to locate his phone. Over turning his dresser and nightstand, then bucking them because he couldn’t get into them quick enough. Once he failed to locate the phone, or any other electronic device, he ran out of the room and to the front door. After taking a few seconds to finally open the door, he bolted out into the morning sun. After looking around for a minute to see if he could run to his neighbor’s house for help, he realized immediately that he was alone, in a place unfamiliar to him, and in a home that he felt was his, but knew it wasn’t. “Oh God... what the hell is going on?!” He cried out as his eyes began to mist up slightly. His total confusion causing him to become more and more panic ridden. After sitting there for a few minutes thinking things over, his thoughts slowly lingering to the morning sounds of nature all around him, he began to feel more at ease. Taking in a breath and then slowly releasing it as he closed his eyes brought a sense of security and peace about him. That was of course until he heard some soft steps against the ground. Opening his eyes, he looked down to see a small, white rabbit hopping across the yard in front of him. Tilting his head slightly as he looked at it in curiosity, the little rabbit turned and looked at him before bounding over to him and looking up to him itself. Smiling down to the little fella, he slowly lowered himself to the ground as he began to speak. “Hey there, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a rabbit as brave as you. Coming up to me like I’m no threat at all, you are something else.” He chuckled softly before the little rabbit twitched his ears and turned his head to the sound of some hoof steps that came from several yards away. “Angel? Where’d you go?” Came the voice of a butter yellow pegasus as she rounded the bend of the small dirt path nearby. Her vision falling onto the dark blue unicorn that was laying on his apparent front lawn in front of the little white rabbit. The young stallion watched as the pegasus paused in place for a moment, giving a slightly wide eyed expression upon seeing him, then lowering her head slightly as she slowly walked toward him. The small white rabbit turning back and forth between the two, noticing them having locked each other into their sights. Then, doing what Angel does best, he tossed a wrench into the cogs of motion, by tossing a small acorn at the side of the young stallion’s head. *PONK* “HEY!” The stallion shouted as he looked down to the little rabbit who had a smirk across his face as he crossed his arms. “Angel bunny!” Came the soft shout of the pegasus, causing him and the stallion to put their attentions back onto her, in return, causing her to flinch backwards slightly. “You should know b-better than to do that to a pony. Come over here this instant!” She spoke out rather forcefully, surprising the little white ball of fur, and making him hop over to her. After a few more seconds of trotting slowly, she had made it over to in front of the stallion, who was by now standing and looking at her curiously. “Uh... hi, you wouldn’t happen to live nearby would you?” He asked, hoping to be able to find at least one native to the area so that he could ask some questions about what was going on and why he couldn’t remember anything in specific to him being there. “Um... Yes, I... I live just down the road, around the bend, next to the Everfree Forest.” She stated shyly, looking to the ground and trying not to make eye contact. “You ok?” He asked, feeling a slight pang of worry as he noticed her shy demeanor. “Yes... I’m fine. It’s just that... I haven’t seen you around Ponyville before... Or this house...” She trailed off as she finally looked up to the new house curiously. “Yea, well... I’m actually in quite the pickle.” The stallion laughed nervously for a moment until he saw the look of slight confusion on the pegasus’ face. “Pickle? But... You’re not in a pickle... You’re just standing there.” She stated with a slight giggle at the use of words. This only causing the young stallion to cock a brow at her. “O... kay? Anyway, what I meant to say is that I’m in a little bit of trouble here.” He said as he looked around to see if there were any other ponies around. “Trouble...? Oh... I’m sorry, but how are you in trouble? Did you do something... bad?” She squeaked out softly in worry. “Hmm? Oh! No, nothing like that. It’s just that... I can’t remember how I got here, or why a lot of my things are missing... or why I can’t find any of my friends... or family.” He said softly, only getting softer as he came to a stop, his head drooping toward the ground as he began to shake slightly. “I don’t know what’s going on... I’m... alone... I don’t know who to talk too about why this is happening... I’m just so confused.” He began to sob softly before feeling himself being pulled into an embrace, a set of butter yellow wings wrapping around him to try and add to the sensation. “Shhhh. It’s ok...” The young pegasus stated as she attempted to comfort him. He was still slightly sobbing, but was feeling slightly better now that at least this being was kind enough to give him a hug to try and comfort him. After a minute, they separated; he gave out a slight sniffle and started rubbing his eyes with his forehooves. The young pegasus smiled softly to him as she sat down onto her haunches before speaking. “I have some friends in town that might be able to help you. My friend Twilight is a skilled unicorn, maybe she can help you find your friends.” She smiled softly, hoping to raise his hopes. “I... I think that would be nice. Thank you.” He smiled as they both stood and began to walk down the dirt path. Angel bunny jumping up onto the young pegasus’ back and resting between her wings. “Oh my, I haven’t introduced myself yet.” She stated with a soft eep upon realizing that the stallions attention was now fully on her. “I’m... Fluttershy.” She smiled meekly to him. “It’s nice to meet you Fluttershy, I’m...” He trailed off for a moment as he thought of his name, coming to a stop in the middle of the dirt path. Fluttershy noticing his slight confusion and coming to a stop just a few paces ahead of him. “Are you ok? You didn’t finish telling me your name.” She stated as she watched his face contort in annoyance. “I... Can’t remember.” He spoke out in broken words as realization of what was going on finally fell fully onto him. He was technically alone, in a world, with memories that he knew must have been forged into his mind since he couldn’t find anything in his apparent home that he could remember having. Nor find a trace of anything that he could relate to his family or friends that he could recall having. “Well, don’t worry. I’m sure that Twilight can help you. Maybe somepony in town knows who you are. But, then again...” She trailed off for a moment as she looked down the path to where his house apparently was. “I don’t even remember your home being down this path before, and I take it every day into town.” She stated meekly, trying to hide behind a forelock of her pink mane. After a few moments of silence, Fluttershy looked up to the stallion as he sighed. “I guess the only way to find out is to head into town...” He paused for a moment as he looked to the pegasus in front of him carrying the little white rabbit. “This would be the way to town, right?” He asked seeing her nod with a slight smile. “Good, God knows I don’t want to get lost trying to find civilization.” He sighed as he began to trot ahead slightly. Fluttershy slowly making her way up to his side as one word from what he said stuck in her mind. ‘God?’ She thought, curiously. XXX After the short walk into town, the stallion began to look in awe as to how many ponies were actually out and about, running around the small town. Various differently sized and proportioned ponies ranging from small to large. Young fillies and colts running around, laughing and giggling loudly as they played. Businesses seemingly packed to the gills with customers. Even a few other species that the young stallion hadn’t really seen before, walking about as if nothing was wrong at all. “Is that a... minotaur?” He asked Fluttershy as they passed by another small business. “Yes, I believe that is Mr. Iron Will. One of my other friends from awhile back. He’s a very nice minotaur, even though he speaks a little loud.” She giggled softly before coming to a stop in front of the stallion, causing him to bump into her. The little bunny on her back however started squeaking at him at the sudden bump, causing him to back peddle slightly from him. “Sorry, sorry! I didn’t mean too.” He stated quickly before receiving another acorn to his forehead. “It’s ok Angel, he didn’t mean to. Besides, this is Twilight’s home. We should go in before anything else happens to you.” Fluttershy stated with a soft smile, only to cause the stallion to blush slightly. As the two walked into the oversized tree, the stallion looked around in awe at the plethora of books that lined the walls, and tables... and floors. “Good grief. This place is a wreck!” He spoke out softly as he trotted up to a stack of books and then over to a card catalog to check and see what books went where, seemingly forgotten as to why he had come to this so called home, in the first place. Fluttershy on the other hand was making her way through the library to try and locate Twilight, one of her best friends. Upon making several rounds within the library, she finally came to a stop as Spike stepped out from a back room carrying several books. “Oh! Hey Fluttershy, what brings you here?” He asked, causing her to eep softly before diving behind a stack of books. “O-oh! Hello Spike, you startled me.” She stated as she timidly came out from behind the stack of books. “I brought a new friend with me to see Twilight, is she in?” She asked as she looked around once again to try and locate the lavender unicorn, but failed. “No, she stepped out for a while to go to the market. It’s grocery day and she tends to go overboard when it comes to getting food for the library.” He groaned before hearing one of the card catalog drawers close and another set of hoof steps on the wooden floor. “So this is your friend?” Spike asked as he trailed off for a moment, watching the stallion trotting over to one of the shelves and look at the numbers labeling it. He continued watching as the stallion began to pick up a book in his mouth and trot over to the shelf before placing it into one of the open slots. The young dragon looked up to Fluttershy curiously for a moment before she just shrugged. After a minute of watching the stallion placing books here and there, the door flew open as several large burlap bags of food began to float in. “Spiiiiike! I’m home! Can you help me put away the... groceries?” She paused, letting each of the bags fall to the floor as she noticed a blue stallion placing books onto the shelves. Spike coming up in front of her and waving a hand in front of her face to garner her attention. “Ugh, Spike. Why is that stallion placing books onto the shelves?” She asked in surprise as he hadn’t even looked her way as she came in. His full attention devoted to the books that needed to be reshelved and dusted. “Fluttershy said he’s her new friend and wanted you to meet him about something.” He stated as he began to tug one of the overstuffed burlap bags toward the kitchen. Twilight finally seeing Fluttershy for the first time, smiling toward her. “Hey Fluttershy, who’s your friend here?” She asked curiously as she trotted over to her. “Um... Well, I don’t know his name.” She meekly stated as she glanced over to the stallion before turning back to Twilight whom only had a cocked brow in question. “You... wanted me to meet him, but don’t know his name?” She asked in slight surprise. “Yes, the poor dear seems to have some memory loss or something. He doesn’t know who he is or why he was where I found him. Not to mention the fact that a new house suddenly appeared on the path from my cottage to town.” “That.. is rather odd.” Twilight stated as she cocked a brow at the stallion that was now placing a book that Twilight knew didn’t go into that one spot on the shelf. She hesitated for a moment as she watched him look at the book for several moments, opening the cover and then looking on the inside of the cover, then to the back of the book to make sure that his assumptions were correct before closing it and stepping to the next shelf over and placing the book onto it. Giving a slight smirk, she trotted up to him as he was about to pick up another book... with his mouth. “Um... Excuse me, sir?” Twilight began, catching his attention as he picked up the book in his mouth. “Yeth?” He spoke out around the book causing her to giggle, only to make him place the book down and give a sheepish grin. “Fluttershy said that you seem to be having some trouble with your memory. But you seem to be rather intelligent if you can properly shelve books within a library. So you must not have retained an injury of some sort.” She paused though as she noticed a small speck of drool on the book that he had just sat down, and picked it up with her magic, which she immediately regretted as he gasped upon seeing the book float up from the ground and back peddle into several stacks of books, causing them to collapse onto him. “Then again...” She trailed off giving a sigh.