“So, you don’t remember waking up?” Dr. Monitor asked.
“Didn’t I wake up just now?” I asked.
The next morning, the doctor came in to check up on me. I decided to play dumb and act like my earlier episode didn’t happen. I wanted to let on that I didn’t know anybody or anything……..which is kind of true.
“Mrs. Weaver…” he paused, gauging my reaction at being called by my pony name. When I didn’t react to the name, he continued. “Yesterday evening, you woke up and believed you were something called a human named Alice Mills. Does any of this ring a bell?
“No. This is the first time I woke up.”
“Alright Miss Weaver, what’s the last thing you remember?”
I pretended to think hard, like I was trying to solve a difficult puzzle, then I gave up.
“I don’t remember…..I don’t remember anything.” I added some panic into my voice, which honestly wasn’t exactly hard. I haven’t exactly gotten used to this situation yet, but I have to work with what I had.
“Anything?”
“Nothing. All I remember is waking up here.” Alright Ally, time to probe. “So…my name is Miss Weaver?” I asked.
“Yes. Miss Dream Weaver.” Dr. Monitor levitates the clipboard in front of his face. “Age 21, single and lives at 7300 Horseshoe Lane. You were involved in an accident, Miss. Weaver.
Okay, so I live on my own and I’m single. That’s good, I guess.
“What happened to me, exactly?”
“From witness reports you were in an accident involving a wagon. One of our mail-ponies was flying her route; the wagon she was flying dropped and you pushed your son out of the way. He’s the one who brought us to you. We brought you in two days ago.”
“…My what?”
Dr. Monitor looked up from his paperwork. “Pardon?”
My mind was a total blank. I felt like I was listening to one of the adults from Charlie Brown. ‘wah wah, wah wah wah your son wah wah wah….’
“I…I have a son?”
Dr. Monitor’s face softens as he lowered his clipboard. “Yes. You have a ten year old adoptive son, Miss Weaver.”
I couldn’t answer. This pony that I’ve inhabited had a son. No, I had a fucking son? How the hell was I supposed to raise a son? Wait; stop Ally, one step at a time. Figure out as much as you can before you make any decisions.
“Am I okay?” I asked, then added last minute, “Is he okay?”
“Well, we looked you over, and it seems other than a minor concussion and your amnesia, you are doing just fine. And other than a couple of scrapes and bruises, your son is just fine. “He looked closer at my face. “But I want to know how you’re feeling?”
“I’m not sure…” I found myself speaking honestly, “I’m not really sure what I’m supposed to do. I don’t know who I am, I have a son that I don’t know, and I’m just scared.”
Doctor Monitor came over and put a hoof over mine. “We’ll figure this out Miss Weaver. We just have to take things slowly and breathe.”
I took a few deep breathes to calm my rapidly accelerating heart. After a few calming deep breathes, I gave him a reassuring smile. Returning the smile, the doctor removed his hoof and went to the end of the bed to put the clipboard down. Turning to face me, Dr. Monitor asked “Are you alright to receive visitors?”
My ears lifted up in interest. I was slightly startled by the raising of my new ears, but put that thought aside as I inquired to the doctor, “Visitors?”
“Yes ma’am. Your mother is in the waiting room. She’s been very worried about you and would like to see you.” Noticing the panic look on my face, his face softens. “You don’t need to feel obligated to see her. If you don’t feel you’re ready, you don’t have to see her.”
I wanted to tell him that I didn’t want to see the mother of this body. I mean, this woma-PONY! I silently corrected, was expecting to see her daughter. I didn’t want to see the pained look in her eyes when I tell her I don’t know her. Who would ever want that? But, the sooner I got out of this hospital, the better. Strengthening my resolve, I looked at the doctor.
“It’s okay. I want to see my…mother.” I choked out, finding the phrase somehow foreign.
“Alright, I’ll go send her in. You just sit tight, Miss Weaver.” And with that, Dr. Monitor left the room.
I looked at the door for a good long while before I tore my gaze away and stare down at my hooves. All I did was stare. I mean, it would usually be hands I would be staring at, but instead it was replaced by something so different and foreign. I waved them back and forth in front of my face. I’m not really sure what I wanted to get out of doing it, but I just did the first thing I wanted to with them. Not getting anything from that, I ended up putting my hoofs together.
I felt them out, trying to get the feel of my new body. Rubbing them together, I felt a tingling sensation where my hooves connected. It wasn’t the same as skin against skin, but almost like as if my hands were EXTREMELY dry. I continued to work my way up my arms and down my torso, feeling every sensation that this new body had. It felt exactly the same, which surprised me, except it felt like I was feeling a dog. Which wasn’t exactly bad, I mean, I would spend hours just petting my dog.
The thought Charlie brought new tears to my eyes. The thought of never seeing my best friend again made my heart twist in pain. She was so important to me. When everything and everyone was changing around me, she was the only thing to stay the same in my life. She was my anchor, and now she was gone.
I shook the thoughts away. No, now’s not the time to be thinking of this kind of stuff. Not here. As I dried up my tears, I continued to feel out my new body. I reached in the back to touch my wings, but I could only reach far enough to feel the feathers, not the bones. I kept trying, but before I could even get close, I heard the door start to open.
My head whipped to the door in panic. No, I can’t do this. I can’t face this grieving mother. I can’t stand the thought of seeing the hope drain from her eyes when she realizes I’m not her daughter. And even so, what I supposed to say? Do I hug her? Do I call her mom? I mean, what was I supposed to do. I’m freaking out right now!
I watched as the door opened to reveal a light pink pegasus with a cropped yellow mane and grey eyes. She stared at me and her eyes widened with shock.
I panic some more. She knows! She fucking knows!! I tried to find the right words to say, but found myself not finding any.
“Um….” I stammered out.
“Oh! I’m so sorry. It looks like I got the wrong room,” the pegasus replied apologetically.
What?
“I’m so sorry to bother you. I think I’m on the other side of the hall. Again, sorry to bother you.” And with that, she was gone.
I stared at the door then punched the bed between my legs. Dammit!! That was unnecessary years taken from my life. I took the pillow from behind me and yelled my frustration into it. I just wasted a good freak-out on nobody!
“Miss Weaver, your mother would like to see you now.”
I looked toward the door and saw Dr. Monitor, standing in the doorway holding it open for a white pegasus with a long flowing light blue mane, same color as my tips, I noticed, with deep violet eyes. I continued to stare at her. So this was Dream Weaver’s mother. Wow. Just…wow.
“I’ll leave you two to talk.” And with that, Dr. Monitor was out the door again.
We didn’t talk for what seemed like hours, but I knew it was only for a couple of seconds. I was expecting to be freaking out right now, but honestly, now my mind was just a big fat nothing. I didn’t know what to say, but it looked like I didn’t have to.
“Do you know me?” the pegasus asked. Her voice was light and sweet like honey. She had the voice that could calm an angry mob. I didn’t want to upset her, but I needed to be as honest as I could be.
“No.”
I saw her flinch at my response. She closed her eyes, took in a deep breath and exhaled, opening her eyes back up. I was honestly waiting for her to cry or something, but all she did was smile gently and start walking towards me.
I was shocked to say the least. I remembered hearing her outside my room and she sounded so upset and sad. I was expecting her to look so sad at my response, or to start crying, but not this. Maybe she came to terms with what happened. I had to give her brownie points for that. It also made me feel better. I don’t know what I would’ve done if she started busted out crying.
“Do you know who I am?” she continued.
“Yeah…you’re my mother.”
She nodded. “Do you remember anything?”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t remember anything,” I answered. I was honestly saddened that I couldn’t reassure her that everything was alright. But all I could do was answer her as best as I could.
“It’s okay, sweetie. You don’t have to rush it. It’ll come back to you sooner or later.” She hesitated for a moment then continued. “You don’t have to call me ‘mom’ if it makes you uncomfortable. My name is Sweet Feathers. Call me whatever you feel is more comfortable for you.”
I just nod my head in understanding. I want to call her Mrs. Feathers, but seeing as I’m supposed to be her daughter, I felt like that was being too formal. Although, I don’t think she’d mind. I mean, I do have amnesia and don’t know who the hell she is.
“I’m going to be honest with you, Dream, I don’t really know where to go from here,” she started in a low voice. “They never really give you a guide on how to deal with your daughter having amnesia.” Breathing in deep, she continued. “So here’s what we’re going to do. You tell me what you want to do, and we’ll do it. Okay?”
I stared at her and told her the first thing I wanted to do. “I want to get out of here.”
Sweet Feather chuckled. “Alright. I’ll go get the doctor and sign you out. I’ll be right back.” And with that, she walked out the door.
I thought over what happened between us and honestly, that was the best case scenario that could have happened. Worst case, she’d bust out crying, turning into some psycho pony that starts yelling that I wasn’t her daughter…but that’s just me.
I started to get anxious with the thought of finally getting out of this room…actually…I don’t think all of that is anxiety. I looked toward the restroom and realized that I haven’t gone in a while. My gaze kept going from the bathroom to my new pony body. Alright, first challenge of the day, here I come.
“Are you okay, Dream? You’re walking a little slow there,” Sweet Feathers commented, just outside the hospital doors, waiting for me.
I was taking each step one hoof at a time. It was just so awkward; at first I was moving my left and right sides at the same time. But that didn’t work, so I just kept repeating left front, right back, right front, back left over and over again. I swear I was moving slower before. I DID get faster, just not…normal speed.
“I’m good. Just…stiff.” Not exactly a lie. I’d been in that bed for two days apparently; it so it was perfectly natural to be a little stiff.
As the first rays of sunlight hit my face, I stopped looking at my hooves and looked at this new world for the first time. I could honestly say it looks like something out of an animated show. Warm cobblestone roads with beautiful cottage houses with straw roofs; little stalls placed around the town selling fruits and tidbits of accessories. And the ponies? They were everywhere. Different colored ponies of every shape and size were everywhere. There was pegasi flying around, unicorns floating their bought goods behind them, and regular ponies buying and carting their items.
It was all amazing. It felt like I was in a pilgrim village that had people dressed up and acting like they still lived there back in those days. I mean, this place wasn’t like that, but I guess it was the feeling of being in a culture that wasn’t your own. It was so overwhelming, but exciting. And for a couple of minutes, I felt excited and happy, like I was in a theme park and was ready to explore.
I could feel Sweet Feathers watching my face and took it as me being glad that I was out of my room, which was half of it.
“It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?” she commented.
“Where are we?” I asked in awe.
“Ponyville. A place where everypony is accepted and everypony works in harmony. You’re very lucky to live in a town like this.”
I wanted to make a joke that the name was kind of hilarious, but decided against it. “You don’t live here?” I asked.
She shook her head, “No, I live in Cloudsdale. You moved out when you were eighteen and came to live here. And you lived a good life,” she answered softly. I stared at her and smiled back, but for just a moment, I thought she looked a little sad. It was gone before I could think about it further. I was about to ask her why Dream Weaver left when she was eighteen, when my stomach growled.
Sweet Feather chuckled, “Sounds like somepony’s hungry. How about we stop at the Hayburger and get something to eat?”
“That sounds great.” And with that, we headed on over, and I swear, I was almost walking at normal speed.
As we walked on over, I found myself swinging my head side to side scanning the area around me. Everyone was going about their day like normal people…I guess? Usually, in a town, there were like a couple of people out. But here, it was like everyone was out of their house today.
We came to the Hayburger and when we walked in it was just like a regular fast food place. Getting in line, I looked up at the menu and was astounded by what was on there. Instead of meat, it was all hay and oats done in different ways with hay fries and regular french fries. They even had soda.
I stared at it in horror. It may sound bad…but I don’t ever eat fruits or vegetables. I liked meat. End of story. I mean fruits? I liked the juices, but I could never get past the texture. And as for vegetables? Well…..I never could never make myself like them. Holy shit…. I’m going to be a terrible pony.
“What would you like to have sweetie?” I heard Sweet Feathers ask.
“Um….”I looked over the menu. “I think I’ll take some fries and water.” Sweet Feathers tilted her head. “I don’t really wanna over stuff myself.”
Sweet Feathers nodded her head and ordered our food. When our food was ready, one of the unicorn staff levitated our food to a table and we sat down to eat. I’m grateful that they at least had fries. I can at least eat that.
Sweet Feathers watched me as I nibbled on my fries. I wanted to ask why she was staring at me, but I could probably guess why. Her daughter was sitting right across from her and she was a stranger to her. I wondered what’s going through her head right now, but I couldn’t look her in the eyes.
Breaking her silence, Silent Feathers decided to speak, “So what exactly do you know, Dream Weaver?”
I didn’t really know what to answer. I mean, I don’t really know anything about Dream Weaver or anyone around me anyway, so that’s not hard. But it’s more than that. I need to be able to get information about this world without sounding like a complete brain-dead dumb-ass.
“Well, I know I’m a pony. I mean…pegasus. I’m 21 years old and I live in Ponyville. I have a ten year old adoptive son and a mother. We all talk and we’re herbivore……that’s about it,” I said bluntly.
Sweet Feathers stared at me for a while before finally speaking. “Alright then…well, I’m not sure exactly where to start. How about,” Sweet Feathers picks up her straw, “this is a straw. We sip it to drink stuff easier.”
I just stared at her. I reached up and put her hoof down on the table with my hoof. “I know what that is,” I said slowly. “I do know what the essentials are. I just….” I tried to find the right way to say it. “I don’t know if there is anything other than pegasi, unicorns, and regular ponies. I don’t know how to fly. Um…I don’t know how far magic goes and how do you pick up stuff with hooves!? I mean seriously, how!? It’s physically impossible!” I groaned in annoyance while I tried to pick up the straw with my hoof and failed.
“Okay okay okay…” Sweet Feathers repeated calmly, putting her hooves on top of mine. “How about this, what would you like to know, right now?”
I was so frustrated with everything. I feel like it’s my first day of work. I’m just standing around doing nothing because I don’t know what to do and I feel so out of place and I said the only thing that I couldn’t keep back. “I just wanna go home…”
Sweet Feathers nodded in understanding, seeing that I’m going to start crying. “Okay, sweetie. Let’s go home.” And with that, she led me out of the fast food place towards somewhere that was NOT called home.