Understanding Confusion

by FeatherCord


Naming


It's night and I'm completely alone on the bench. Time to revise facts: I have nowhere to go, no food, No money, It's cold, I have no friends that I know of, and last but not least I do not know where I am or who I am.

Analise: I have to sleep in this park and then get my hooves on a newspaper tomorrow morning. It will provide me work and thus a roof over my amnesiac head.

"Sleeping on this thing is so hard!" I complained "I just had to have some self respect and 'find my own way around'! Hmph!"

It took me long enough but I slept eventually.


*PECK*...*PECK* *PECK*

"Whaa.." I rub my eyes and open them to find a bird pecking my head. What's up with me and animals?

"You know, I'm not a worm, early bird. Neither am I dead...yet."

It flew away. Good thing too since I have to start my paper-hunt. The time was too early for newsstands. I think of an alternative as I make my way down town.


"This was a stupid decision." I said. I thought I might find somepony to ask to borrow a darn paper. Nopony. the streets were so empty that the sound of my trotting echoes. "Did I miss a Zompony apocalypse?" I shuddered at the Idea. Wait...What's that on the step of that door? Could it be? I approach a little. Yes! Finally! A paper! But It's not mine. I frown.

"This is considered stealing. But desperate times call for desperate decisions."

I sit on the doorstep, grab the paper and flap through it trying to find a job. But what's my talent? Oh well, I just gotta try and-

"What do you think you are doing?" A voice said from behind me causing me to jump.

"Oh, Um, I was just...borrowing your paper?...*ahem* sir.?"

He gave me a long look. A look that I didn't survive through and broke out.

"Ok, I'll just be off then." I scramble my way out leaving the paper hanging for a dew seconds.


"Hmm, now where will I get what I want?" I start talking to myself, If I don't stop it the habit will grow on me.

"Hey, Lyra, take a look at the news." A creme colored mare on a bench said.

"Shoo bushy." An aquamarine mare replied. I think she meant 'Too busy'. Then I realized that she was digging on a pie. The two desires I need right now are right there on the bench: paper and pie.

*GRUMBLE*

"I told you stomach, I don't have any food!"

Back to thinking, how am I supposed to get these objects? Maybe ask nicely? No I'll sound stupid. The paper has priority over the pie, so I just gotta peek quietly and maybe she won't notice me.

I lean from behind the bench trying to get a glimpse what she was holding on her hooves. I must've looked very creepy but I couldn't care less. Lucky for me, the help needed page was open. I just need to get a little clos-

"Can I help you Mr.?" The creme mare said catching me completely off guard.

"Um, yeah..." I stopped not knowing what to say.

"Well? how can I help you?" sounding friendly and suspicious at the same time.

"By forgetting you ever saw me."

"Wha-" I dashed away, again. I'm such a coward. But her thinking I'm a potential creep didn't help the matter. Escaping sounded so much more reasonable.


As soon as I was away I began to brainstorm my next plan.The first thing that popped in the back of my head was begging, but I immediately shoved the thought away. My mind came up with nothing.

"ALL I WANT IS A DARN PAPER PONIES! IS THAT HARD TO ASK?!" I shouted completely forgetting the ponies all around me. Speaking of which, all of their eyes were on me.

"Eheheh. Nothing to see here, just carry on, ignore me." I said as I shied away.


"Hey there, I couldn't help to...overhear, but why do you want a paper? you want to send a message?...That is if you don't mind me asking." A sky-blue Pegasus stallion with red mane said.

"No, I don't want to send a message, I want a newspaper"

"And why is that?"

"I just want a job" he started rolled over laughing his flank off

"What's so funny?" He clearly couldn't find the breath to reply so I just waited for him to stop laughing, which took him time.

"Dude, you're a Pegasus!" He said wiping some tears.

"Yeah, so?"

"so go to Cloudsdale, they're always hiring" I have no idea where Cloudsdale is but I'll ask later.

"Ok, so what about a place to stay?"

"You serious?"

"Yes I need to get home and fast, I don't wanna sleep on the bench again" Tears were forming on the edges of his eyes.

"BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!" He started slamming his hoof on the ground. I hope he doesn't get a heart attack.

"Boy, this is going to take time, call me when you're done laughing."


"So I need to go to Cloudsdale for a job, find a cloud to sleep, and when I want to shower I kick a cloud? a Pegasus' life is cloudy indeed, get it? it's cloud an- never mind. Now you don't wanna laugh" I say to the Pegasus as he recovered from his mocking session.

"Right you are my friend" he said.

"If what you say is right, then my life is so simple. I don't need to over-think things anymore"

"Yes, and by the way, I need to stick by you since you seem so lost"

"Thanks, I guess..." I said "One more question though"

"You wanna know were Cloudsdale is?"

"How did you know?!"

"Lucky guess."


"You can apply there, they'll ask a lot of questions but they'll be easy enough, even for you."

"Uhuh, so that's it?"

"Pretty much. Oh, and my name is Thunder Clap" he extended a hoof. Quick, I need a name! The idea of clouds was stuck in my head.

"Cloud Burn" I grab his hoof and shake.