//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 // Story: War in Equestria: The Tale of Bright Blade // by Michael_Ravencroft //------------------------------// Chapter 6: Amnesia for Two I hope I'm not too late, thought Twilight. She had gathered the Elements of Harmony and brought them with her in the hot air balloon. Ponyville's skies were clear, and the pillar of light was gone, Twilight didn't know if this was a good thing or bad thing. All she cared about was getting back to Ponyville to help her friends. As Twilight entered Ponyville's airspace she was able to scoop out the damage from a birds-eye-view. Some of the shops and houses were damaged, but not as bad as Twilight imagined, but what she did see was worse. The bodies of lifeless ponies littered the streets of the town. Tears began to well up in Twilights eyes; she shook her head and slapped her face with both her hooves. I can't break down now; I have to find my friends! She then heard a commotion coming from the town square; Twilight directed the balloon in that direction. Once over the square Twilight noticed a large gathering of ponies, she could make out that some of the ponies in the crowd where her friends. Oh thank Celestia, they're all alright! Twilight then noticed something odd, in the center of the crowd. Is that a blue pegasus, no wait, a pegasus with gold wings, and a horn! Twilight was able to land the balloon next to the statue in the square, when she jumped out she turned to see that the pony she saw at the center of the crowd was hurrying towards her. Twilight's suspicions were correct, it was an alicorn. Most of his body was covered in navy blue armor, his wings were golden, and had intense emerald green eyes. Surprised by the oncoming alicorn, and unsure of his allegiance, Twilight fired a single blast of magical energy. The beam whizzed by his head, just like she planned, a warning shot. "Who are you, and what did you do to Ponyville!" "Twilight wait, I know I look different, but I swear it's me Bright Blade," said Bright Blade. Twilight raised an eyebrow in confusion, "Bright…Blade…I don't know any pony named Bright Blade!" When she said that the alicorn looked hurt for some reason, he genuinely looked hurt by what she said, Twilight couldn't understand it. "Twilight, hold up!" Twilight recognized the voice and watched Spike rush through the crowd to the unknown alicorns side. "Don't attack him, it really is Bright Blade!" "Spike… you know this alicorn," asked Twilight in disbelief. "Of course I know him, so does everyone," Spike retorted. Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders all rushed to his side, defending him. "BB, next time I think you should take it easy considering the way you look right now, I think you spooked Twilight a little," said Rainbow Dash. I don't believe it, how come they all know him, but I don't! Something's going on here, I don't know what it is, but I'll figure it out. For now, probably best to play along, thought Twilight. Twilight walked up to the others, putting on the best apologetic face she could. "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry Bright Blade I just didn't recognize you is all," said Twilight. That seemed to lift Bright Blade's mood. "No I'm sorry, I shouldn't have rushed over like that looking - well like this," said Bright Blade, gesturing to himself with his hoof. "Hey guys look Bright Blade's glowing again," said Pinkie Pie. Indeed it was true; Bright Blade's body began to glow with golden light. The others stood back not knowing what would happen. Twilight readied herself; she had no idea what was going to happen. There was big flash of light, and when everypony looked they were amazed at what they saw. "Bright Blade you're...you're a colt again," said Sweetie Belle. Indeed it was true, Bright Blade had returned to normal. No horn, wings, or armor, but something was different, something that Apple Bloom noticed right away. "Bright Blade you got your cutie mark!" Bright Blade quickly jerked his head back, and smiled when he saw it. "It's the same mark that was on my armor when I was an alicorn!" "That's the coolest cutie mark I've ever seen," said Scootaloo. "Hey Twilight are you alright?" Twilight's mouth was gaping open and eyes wide with surprise. Am I alright! A grown stallion alicorn just turned into a little earth pony colt, and you're asking if I'm alright! Twilight shook her head and tried to regain her composure before she said anything, "It's just, that – was this the way it happened before," she asked. "Oh no it was much bigger – and taller – and sparklier – and with much more BOOM," said Pinkie Pie, flaring her arms out for effect. Twilight looked around for confirmation, "What she said," replied Applejack. "Twilight dear, why did you go to Canterlot earlier this morning," asked Rarity. Twilight sighed heavily, "I'll tell you guys later, the Princess has sent the Royal Guard here to help with the recovery effort. For now let's all help everyone the best we can, check on your families and friends, and rest up. There are some things I need to sort out so I'll be heading home for now." Twilight's friends nodded their heads and went their separate ways. "C'mon Spike…" Spike jumped on Twilight's back, she then trotted along towards her house but stopped when she noticed Bright Blade following close beside her. "Umm…Bright Blade, what are you doing?" "We're going back home aren't we, cause to tell you the truth I'm really tired,"yawned Bright Blade. "I bet you are after everything you did," Spike then began to yawn; "Actually I'm tired myself." Guess he lives with me…? Twilight let Bright Blade stay close, every now and again she would glance down at Bright Blade, partially out of suspicion, and because part of her was actually worried about the little colt. But it was hard to ignore everything else around her. As far as Twilight could tell damage to the town was moderate, but loss of life seemed to be high. Several times Twilight had to make detours to her house, sparing both her, Spike, and Bright Blade the sight of the ponies whose bodies were left lifeless and strewn on the street. This…This is horrible. Night had finally fallen; the Royal Guard had flown in many ponies from Canterlot to help in the recovery effort for Ponyville. Meanwhile Twilight had been pacing in the library for hours trying to make sense of today's events. Spike and Bright Blade had gone straight to bed obviously exhausted from the ordeal. From time to time Twilight would go upstairs and check on the both of them, Spike and Bright Blade would toss and turn and make whimpering noises while they slept. Nightmares, thought Twilight. She would stroke Spikes head and fix his blankets after he moved too much. When she moved to Bright Blade Twilight was a little less willing to do the same for him, and it didn't help that Bright Blade would occasionally say "Twilight" while he slept. In the end she stoked his mane, which seemed to comfort him, and fixed his blankets, all the while studying him. During her pacing Twilight accidentally bumped against the table where the horse head statue was. When Twilight lifted it with her telekinesis something fell out of the bottom of the head, a journal. Upon inspection it seems that the underside of the statue head was carved out to accommodate it. Twilight took the journal into her study and closed the door as to not be disturbed. Once she was sure that there was no one around she flipped open the journal and began to read. Day 1: When I went to visit Zecora in the Everfree Forest I was surprised to see that there was a young colt in her hut. I asked Zecora who he was; she only shook her head and said that she didn't know. According to Zecora when she was collecting herbs and plants for her potions she found the young colt alone and unconscious in some random place in the forest. I stayed awhile to see if the colt would awake. When he did I asked him his name, the colt said his name was "Bright Blade." "So he was in the Everfree Forest…" Twilight flipped through a few pages till she found the next entry. Day 5: I have decided to take Bright Blade in until we find his family. After taking him to the hospital I was relieved to find out that nothing was wrong with him. I took Bright Blade around Ponyville; he seemed genuinely intrigued by everything he saw. He was like a newborn seeing the world for the first time. I'd be lying if I said I didn't have ulterior motives in bringing him to Ponyville. I wanted to see if any of the other ponies in town recognized him, but unfortunately no one seemed to know him. Not even my friends had any idea who he was. The good thing was he was the same age as Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo. Those fillies were more than happy to make friends with him, especially since he hadn't gotten his cutie mark either. Whenever I ask Bright Blade who his parents are or where he lived he always seemed to get severe headaches. I've concluded that he may have amnesia, but what could've caused it. "Amnesia seems to be contagious." Twilight was noticing that her entries were getting less and less frequent. Day 20: A few days ago I had asked Princess Celestia if she could find out if there were any reports about a missing colt. A report came from the Princess saying "I am sorry Twilight, but there are no reports about any missing colts anywhere, rest assured that that doesn't mean the search has stopped in any way." It seems the search goes on… Twilight flipped through some more pages. Day 45: I've been contemplating using my memory recovery spell…It worked when I used it to help my friends remember our friendship during our battle with Discord, but I've never tried it on a young colt, especially one that has amnesia. Bright Blade trying to remember on his own causes him pain, if I try to force him to remember I could cause him severe brain damage…I just don't know what to do… Day 47: When I was talking to Spike he told me that Bright Blade did something strange. Apparently Bright Blade has an uncanny ability whenever he holds a long stick or metal rod between his teeth. He's able to swing and flip it around with such skill and precision that you'd think he'd been doing this his whole life…Spike's been a great help with Bright Blade, those two act like as if they were brothers. Day 49: I've made a decision; I'm going to let Bright Blade stay with me! Until the day he finally regains his memories! I talked it over with Shining Armor, my friends, and Princess Celestia, and they agreed that it was the best thing for him. Plus Bright Blade didn't object, in fact he seemed quite pleased with the situation. I don't know when or even if Bright Blade will regain his memories, till then I'll continue to make entries as needed if anything new pops up. Twilight didn't understand, according to these entries Bright Blade had been staying with her for a long time, in fact it seems she had grown attached to the young colt. "So why don't I remember anything about him now, even after reading all this it feels like I'm reading somepony else's entries…" Twilight sighed heavily, her face then became serious as she telekinetically lifted a quill pen and began to write in the journal. New Day 1: This is Twilight Sparkle, on August 25th Ponyville was attacked by creatures known as Daemoni. The young earth pony colt named Bright Blade was transformed into an alicorn, and with his strange powers was able to save Ponyville. I write this entry as "New Day" for the fact is I have lost all memory of ever knowing or taking care of the colt known as Bright Blade and I seem to be the only one affected. I don't know how or why I lost my memories, a part of me doubts they were even real, but at the same time I feel as if I should trust him...Until I can figure this out I'll continue to pretend like I know him. With that Twilight closed the journal and quickly returned it to its original hiding spot. Afterwards Twilight ascended the stairs again to check on her sleeping assistant and young ward. Whenever she looked at him her mind flashed back to the armored alicorn from before and that that alicorn was originally an earth pony. "Bright Blade...who exactly are you?" Indeed who is Bright Blade, and why is Twilight the only one who doesn't remember him. While the citizens of Ponyville recover from the Daemoni attack evil stirs and waits. This is only the beginning…War in Equestria: The Tale of Bright Blade.