//------------------------------//
// Chapter 4: Second Thoughts 
// Story: Memory Lock 
// by Psychic Smith 
//------------------------------//

I’ve been waiting in this room for hours, pacing back and forth in the sunlight pouring in through the open door that leads to the marble balcony. The rays make the star shaped gems on the tapestries seem to twinkle against the dark violets and blues of the night sky behind them. Walking out onto the balcony, I take a breath of fresh air. It’s probably better if I describe it as what my brain is interpreting what is fresh air. This room is really just a dream after all. The time alone has allowed me to over analyze the entire room. Like how the floor tiles are asymmetrical in relation to the room by about 6 inches.
To put it simply, I’m bored.
While I had all that time to myself, I have already relived the past day or so in my head. Twice! None of it seemed real. Colorful ponies that talk and do magic? It doesn’t make sense. It defies all logical reason! I swear if there is one of them that can pull impossibly large objects out of thin air, I am going to have a stroke, and I’m barely in my twenties! I think anyways. The only thing that makes sense right now is the piece of the memory that Princess Luna had shown me a few hours ago. Even then, it was strange to think about surviving getting hit by a car like that. It sends shivers down my spine.
Since the time Princess Luna left to help prepare for the surgery, I have been going over the consequences of what I had agreed to. Transforming into a pony? I’m not sure if I’m ready for it. I don’t think any other human would. Not having fingers, walking on all fours, and becoming a vegetarian are the least of my worries. In truth, I’m most worried about losing my goddam mind in this place. These worries are the reason I’ve been carving a rut into this floor. As the image of a trench in the floor enters my mind, I find myself actually standing in a groove making a circle in the tiling/.
With a sigh, I step out of the hole.
“How could I be so stupid?” I mutter to no one in particular. I am not ready to go through with this decision, but in a way, it is already too late, isn’t it? The (quote unquote) surgery is being prepared, and there is no going back now. With a thud, I flop unceremoniously back into the wooden chair. I look at the table to see my empty mug. (As soon as I was getting tired of the endless flow of hot drinks a few hours ago, the mug emptied itself, like it knew I was finished.) I let out a frustrated groan, both out of frustration and boredom. I would give an arm and a leg for something to distract myself from the coming consequences of my mouth that refused to stay shut. Then again, I already am paying for my life, with my limbs. Not a concept I am entirely comfortable with. 
‘Wait a second. This is all in my head. I can do whatever I want!’ I close my eyes and I let my mind imagine the first thing that it can think of. I focus, willing whatever it is in my mind’s eye to manifest itself in my dream. When I open my eyes again, an acoustic guitar appears beside my chair. 
I look at the instrument curiously. Did I even know how to play the guitar? Only one way to find out.
With a finger, I reach and pluck the fattest string. The guitar responds with a deep twang, forcing a smile to cross my face. I pick the guitar up off of its stand, resting it on my leg. Reaching up for the neck of the guitar, I let my fingers curl into a natural position on the frets. It feels so easy, like I have done it a million times before. I play each string, each note blending harmoniously with the ones before it. The sound reverberates off of the walls of the large room, filling it with the beautiful sound of what I think is a G chord. I’m not sure how I know what it is, but I do nonetheless.
I can feel my eyes brighten as I can already almost hear so many songs filling my brain. Lyrics, melodies, and rhythm fill my mind.
Looking at my hands, I instantly know a song I can play by heart. I strum in a vivaciously cheerful rhythm, letting my body do the work rather than my brain. Each chord flows into each other as I merely enjoy the music my subconscious was providing me. I find myself getting lost in the chords that I lost touch with the world around me. I barely notice that I began to hum the melody, my voice blending with the chords almost perfectly, despite the few sour notes that make me cringe. Next thing I know, I’m singing the last few words to the walls.
“It’s something unpredictable, but in the end is right. I hope you had the time of your life.” I hold the note while I give one last strum of the guitar. Taking a deep breath, I chuckle to myself. It’s strange, but playing to no one in particular gives me a calming sensation, relieving some of the stress that was bottled up inside my head.
“You play beautifully,” the voice of Luna said from behind, startling me. I whip my head around to collide with the tip of Luna’s sharp horn. With a howl of both pain and surprise, I fall out my chair onto the floor.
So much for playing without an audience.
“How do you not understand the concept of knocking?” I say indignantly, rubbing my forehead. The very amused princess of the night didn’t move to help me. I look at her crossly as she giggles behind her hoof.
“It was merely meant to be a compliment,” Luna says, composing herself. “I did not mean to harm you, even though in a dream one cannot feel pain,” Luna said with a smirk. With a huff, I cock my head indignantly, not believing her. I reach my hand up to my forehead where her horn had struck. Sure enough, when I try to feel the spot where I face-planted into her horn, the sting vanished.
“The hell?” I say in wonderment.
“As we,“ Luna pauses, correcting herself. ”I mean ‘I’ was saying, you cannot actually feel pain in a dream.” I look at the pony princess, still bewildered by the fact that she appears and disappears out of nowhere and constantly makes me feel like an idiot. “You do not need me to have you perceived as a fool, Wild.”
Go suck on a doorknob Luna.
“I would rather not,” Luna mocks.
“Get out of my head!”
I don’t even need to look up from my hiding place below my hands to know Princess Luna is trying not to laugh.
The presence of Luna reminded me of the looming fears I was having earlier that I forgot for a few blissful moments.
‘I’m not ready for this. I can’t be one of them,’ a tiny voice in my head tells me. ‘But its either that or losing my legs,’ I retaliate, trying to reason why it must be done. ‘I could die!’ I internally argue with myself. I try to tell the little voice in my head to shut up, but he persisted. I was so caught up in my internal struggle, I didn’t notice Luna’s worried eyes fixate on me.
“Your mind is conflicted. Are you alright?” I feel Luna place her hoof gently on my shoulder.
“Do you mean with or without your constant mind penetration,” I say facetiously. Luna’s stern reaction is enough for me to know not to push her buttons like this. Letting out a sigh, I met her gaze. I point to my forehead. “I bet you already know what I’m about to say. You have a habit of asking even after you read my mind anyways,” I let out a shallow laugh.
Luna nodded solemnly. “We can understand your concerns. It is not irrational to entertain these thoughts. However, you are correct on one other subject. If we do not use this method, there is a rather high chance that you will not live to see tomorrow.”
“Then there really is only one option for me, isn’t there.”
“I am afraid that assumption is fairly accurate.”
I breathe shakily, trying to compose myself. This is my chance to think before I speak, but I made up my mind hours ago.
“No going back now. Let’s do this.”
Luna let out a relieved sigh. “I am glad you trust me enough for you to make such a decision.” The statement left me rather confused.
“You’re a princess,” I respond, “and you’ve shown me nothing but kindness when you could have easily let me die. I see no reason not to trust you.” Luna turns her back to me at hearing that.
“Let us say that we have done some rather… unforgivable things in the past.”
It is my turn to give her the worried eyes. Luna gives me a sideways glance, the remnants of a tear still on her cheek. “I would rather not talk about it. A later time perhaps, under better circumstances. I am not comfortable talking about the matter amongst my subjects.”
Ignoring the fact that she was royalty, I reach out placing my hand on her shoulder.
“All things considered, Luna. All that you’ve done for me so far. I trust you enough that I can call you a friend.” I watch the lunar princess’ eyes brighten, holding her breath. Another small tear traces her cheekbones. In a flash, I was wrapped in a tight hug, crushing my diaphragm. Pulling back, Luna looks away, seemingly embarrassed.
“Apologies Spirit,” Luna says softly. “It is just very rare for somepony, or someone as the case may be, to say such things to me.” In a flash, her gaze hardens. “But we have much more serious matters to deal with at the moment.”
“I know. So what’s next?”
“Next is for you to wake up.”



“Fluttershy! Is everything okay? What happened?” The panicked voice of princess Twilight sparkle fills the waiting room of the Ponyville Hospital. The butter yellow pegasus looks up from her hooves to see her friend rushing though the open doors. Luckily there are no other ponies in the room besides the receptionist, or else her intrusion may have resulted in a heart attack.
“I’m fine,” Fluttershy says, as Twilight rushes over to inspect her friend, the lilac alicorn searching her for injuries. Not seeming to hear her, Twilight continues to scan for any bruises or gashes in the yellow coat. Still not satisfied, Twilight lights her horn, preparing some sort of spell.
“Twilight,” Fluttershy says in a stern whisper, “I’m fine. I’m not hurt.” That seems to snap Twilight out of her antics, as her horn stops glowing, and her face contorting into a confused look.
“Then why are you here?”
“I’m afraid that’d be my fault.”
From the main hallway, a grey, scruffy coated unicorn steps into the lobby, a neutral stare towards the two ponies across the room.
“And who might you be?” Twilight asks skeptically.
The grey stallion steps fully from the hallway. “Colonel Barricade,” he said gruffly. “HCS equestrian royal guard. Princess Twilight Sparkle. It’s a pleasure,” The colonel bows at that. He was respectful, but his eyes lacked any sort of emotion. Twilight glares at him though calculating eyes.
“And may I ask why a guard of your ranking and position is posted within a civilian hospital?”
“I am afraid we had no other choice your majesty. Your friend, Ms. Fluttershy, was very persistent in bringing the creature here.”
“What creature?” Twilight questioned, never dropping her commanding tone.
“The one that appeared in Ponyville earlier today, princess. He, as well as the few other injured guards were in need of dire medical attention.”
“Is this true?” Twilight turns to Fluttershy, who was watching the exchange from behind her mane. She meekly nodded in response. With a deep breath, Twilight returned her gaze to the colonel, who now stands up in attention, looking down at the princess while maintaining his stiff posture.
“Colonel, have you informed any other’s about the status of this, creature’s condition?”
“Yes ma’am. Princess Luna is tending to it as we speak. There is talk about an operation to possibly save his life. Celestia is skeptical, but is trusting her sister to deal with the matter with discretion.”
“Thank you colonel, that will be all.” With that, Barricade marches backward, flanking the entrance to the medical wing, where Twilight can only assume is where the… thing is being held.
“So… are the others coming to? I’d hate for Applejack to drop everything for a false alarm,” Fluttershy asks after the only other pony in the room gave the two friends some privacy.
“Honestly, I have no idea. The only other pony I saw on the way here was Rainbow. She’ll probably be along soon enough.”
“Oh dear. You don’t think-“
“Don’t worry about it Fluttershy,” Twilight says reassuringly. “I’m sure if we need them, they’ll be here.” Twilight’s mind wanders to the prospect of a never before seen creature arriving in Equestria. The possibilities that studying such a thing could bring. The things she could learn. The books she could write.
The door to the waiting room is thrown open wildly, startling Twilight and Fluttershy as a rainbow maned blur busts into the center of the room. The sky blue pegasus is knelt over in a stance as if she is ready to pounce. She scans the room, not noticing either Twilight or Fluttershy, choosing instead to lock her cutting stare on the only other pony in the room, Colonel Barricade.
“Where’s Fluttershy?” was her simple, yet potent question.
With a roll of his eyes, Colonel Barricade simply points a hoof at the butter yellow pegasus. Seeing her friend, Rainbow Dash seems to relax, standing upright. Before letting her guard down, Rainbow analyzes the mysterious guard, mentally scanning him to see if he is a threat. Satisfied, Rainbow lets out a relieved sigh and quickly trots to her friends’ side.
“When I saw Twilight running here, I knew something was up. Applejack said she saw you with mister tall dark and suspicious over there,” Rainbow said, gesturing to Colonel Barricade. “What happened Fluttershy?”
Fluttershy goes on to try and explain the events that happened earlier today. Twilight listens intently, trying to understand the best that she can, and Rainbow Dash half listens, not really fully understanding her friend’s actions.
As Fluttershy’s story was ending, the sound of galloping hooves is heard down the hallway. The three mare’s ears swivel in that direction, and turn their heads to see an out of breath stallion, whom was wearing medical scrubs and a facemask. His eyes lock on to Twilight immediately.
“Princess? So it is you. Ms. Cloven Heart here told me you were here,” the stallion said in a trottish (British) accent, motioning to the receptionist. Neither Rainbow, Twilight, nor Fluttershy noticed her leave in the first place. “We’re about to go through a rather advanced procedure and-“
“And we might need your magical assistance,” Luna said, suddenly appearing behind the doctor, also wearing a surgical mask around her neck. 
Looking at twilight, Fluttershy knows that Twilight is contemplating her choices, analyzing the situation.
“I don’t know Princess Luna, he could be dangerous.”
“He is not dangerous!” Luna booms, cracking the floor with a hoof. Her eyes turn from furious to apologetic as she realizes that she had overreacted.
“I- I’m sorry, I will pay for the damage I have caused to your floor,” Luna says to the doctor. He just nods and turns back down the hallway. Luna turns back to Twilight.
“Please, Twilight Sparkle. He’s… he’s a friend of mine. As princess of the night, I’m begging you. Help me save this man’s life.” Tears begin streaming down Luna’s face. Fluttershy found it strange that Luna would take to this creature so quickly, and suddenly cares so much about his wellbeing, but holds her tongue, knowing that it was neither time, nor the place.
“If he means that much to you princess, I’ll help.”
“Thank you,” Luna says, quickly regaining her composure. “Then we have no time to loose. He will be waking up soon, and we need all hooves at the ready.”
“Think you can handle this Twi?” Rainbow dash questions, raising an eyebrow.
“I don’t know dash,” Twilight responds, following Luna deeper into the hospital. “I don’t know.”