//------------------------------// // Chapter 12 // Story: Memory Lost and Found // by BoredAuthor817 //------------------------------// Princess Twilight leapt through the portal, taking little time to adjust to two legs. This was twice now she had to make the jump on short notice. She hoped Pinkie was over-exaggerating. If Wallflower had, indeed, turned violent, then they were in for a bigger problem. She rounded the corner and soon got a line of sight on Pinkie's house. Panting as she approached, she rang the doorbell. It wasn't long before the door opened and a pink hand reached out to drag her into the residence. Twilight was pushed into the kitchen were she saw her counterpart sitting on the floor, visibly shaken and Wallflower sitting on the opposite wall, being stared down by Rainbow and Applejack. Even with Pinkie's note, Twilight had trouble discerning the scene. “Somepo—body want to explain what happened?” “Twilight!” came a cry. Before she could react, Princess Twilight was receiving one of the biggest hugs she'd ever received. “Wallflower?” she surmised. “You now me?” a light came to the green girl's face. “Why, yes” Princess Twilight hesitated, “Yes, I do.” “Oh, thank Celestia! Twilight, tell them we're friends” she gestured to the other girls gathered, “They don't believe me.” Twilight bit her lip. She really didn't want to lie. It was bad enough she had to constantly lie to Sunset--and she had enough of a time keeping up with the ones she told her. She pushed her anguish further inward. “We're... we're friends, Wallflower. "We're all friends.” “I knew it!” Wallflower cried, pulling the princess aside. “Twilight,” she spoke in a low voice, “you've got to help me. I think someone erased their minds with Equestrian magic.” “What sort of magic?” More internal tears. “I dunno, something to make them forget me.” She paused, her eyes becoming wide. “Oh-no! Suppose someone has used the Memory Stone on them!” “Wallflower...” Twilight tried to be gentle, “the Memory Stone—” “Was destroyed, I know. The question is who would want to—ack!” Wallflower doubled over, her hands raised to her head. Princess Twilight reached out to grab the falling girl. However, she proved too heavy for her and both fell onto the floor. Twilight wrapped her arms around Wallflower, holding her tightly. “It's okay,” she whispered, “Just try to breath.” Wallflower let out another scream of agony. The heels of her palms pressing firmly into her temples. “Wallflower,” Twilight tried to snap the poor girl out of it, “talk to me. What is going on?” “It hurts!” “I know. What are you seeing?” Wallflower let out another cry and, for a moment, she found clarity. “Me and... me? Gah! I don't know!” “Shhh...” Twilight comforted her, tightening her hug. “It's okay.” she whispered, “It's all going to be okay.” She prayed that wasn't a lie. “No, it's not!” the girl sobbed, “I'm losing myself, Twilight! I'm losing myself and I don't know where I'm going!” She buried her face into Twilight's shoulder and wept. Princess Twilight bit the inside of her lip as she thought of what to do. She felt the strong urge to bring Wallflower with her back to Equestria. However, there were many things to consider when it came to bringing someone through the portal. Under normal circumstances, Sunset would have used her new geode magic to see into Wallflower's mind. However, these circumstances were anything but normal. Taking Wallflower to Equestria may be her only option. “Wallflower,” she said, kindly, “how would you like to make little trip with me?” The green girl sniffled. “To where?” “To Equestria. I think there may be somepony there who may be able to help you.” “Will I be gone long?” “Hopefully, no. It will just be for the night. We'll be back by morning.” Wallflower slowly backed away from Twilight and wiped her eyes. She gave a brief moment of thought before weakly nodding. “Okay.” “Good” Twilight smiled, “Let's get your jacket and shoes and we'll be on our way.” “Shouldn't I get dressed?” “Believe me” the princess chuckled, “it doesn't matter all that much there.” Despite Twilight's words, Wallflower still insisted on getting out of her pajamas. Once dressed she and Princess Twilight bid good night to the other girls and started their walk towards the portal. “Oh,” Fluttershy whimpered, “I feel just terrible.” Twilight Sparkle let out a dejected sigh. “Tell me about it.” “Look,” Rainbow tried to cheer them, “it's not like we could do anything else. All this magic stuff is way over our heads. At some point, we would have had to give it to Princess Twilight.” Pinkie closed the front door with a heavy sigh, “Still doesn't make things feel any better. I just wish we could do more to help.” Applejack stretched out a yawn. “Well, not much else we can do tonight. Might as well get back to bed.” She lead the way back to Pinkie's room, but stopped short of bumping into an all-blue girl. Trixie yawned and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. “What's all the ruckus?” --- Wallflower clung awkwardly to Princess Twilight as they walked to Canterlot High School. She eyed the other girl wearily, as if not sure what to make of her. “I feel like I know you” she said, “But I don't think that I do. Do I know you?” Twilight bit her lip. Unsure of Wallflower's exact state of mind, she had to choose her words carefully. “In a manner of speaking.” Wallflower raise an eyebrow. “How so?” “Well, you go to CHS and I've visited there a couple times. I've been involved in two of the school's largest functions. That's, st least, how a lot of the other students know me. So, stands to reason, that's how you know me.” “No,” Wallflower shook her head, “that's not it. Gotta be something else.” Fearing another headache attack, Twilight fought her hardest to get Wallflower not to think about anything. “Just try to clear your mind” she said, “Once we get to Equestria, we can try sorting this out again.” Thankfully, she could see the silhouette of the school building in the moonlight. It wouldn't be long now before they were back in a land of predictable magic. One of these days, she would have ask Sunset Shimmer how she could stand it. That is, if she could talk to Sunset Shimmer again. The girls stood before the rippling stone the two worlds. “So,” Wallflower quaked, “what do I do?” Twilight placed a gentle hand on Wallflower's shoulder. “Give me a moment to go ahead and make sure everything is okay on the other side. I'll jump through and, after a minute, you follow. “What you want to do is lean forward a little bit. The portal will transport you through in the same position you step into it. So, you'll arrive there standing on your rear legs. Leaning forward helps you get onto your front legs more easily.” Wallflower gave Twilight a sleepy look. “Oh... okay.” The princess smiled and patted the girl's back. “You'll see. We'll have you there in no time.” She stepped up to the portal and prepared to jump through. “Just remember, give me a minute before you come through.” She nodded. “Got it.” Wallflower watched as Princess Twilight took a step into the stone and was gone. In deciphering a minute, she decided to count to sixty before taking the plunge herself. The journey wasn't quite what she had come to expect. Certainly, a rainbow kaleidoscope was not the first thing that came to mind when discussing wormholes to other dimensions. Perhaps she had watched too many reruns of sci-fi shows, but Wallflower was expecting something a bit more spacey. As Princess Twilight had said, entering the portal with a slight forward posture did allow for an easier shift from bipedal to quad. Landing on her front hooves with an oomph!, Wallflower was quite happy with a seamless transition. “Twilight!” she called out with glee, “I—” She was cut off by a bolt of purple magic, and was soon sound asleep. Twilight felt horrible for pulling such a cruel trick on Wallflower. Yet, as she gently cradled the green earth pony in her aura, she couldn't help but rationalize it was for the best. She would have to find some way of making it up to the poor girl later. She carried Wallflower over to the sitting area and placed her gently on one of the sofas. Grabbing a small blanket, she laid it over her sleeping guest and tried to make her more comfortable. “So, this is where Sunset Shimmer's memories went to?” “Princess Luna!” Twilight smiled, “So glad you could make it.” “Your message sounded urgent” replied the night princess, “But, I didn't expect you to bring her here.” “Little other choice. You're the only one who can get into her mind and see what's going on.” “I can look into her dreams, and that is all. However, I doubt it will offer many clues to what you are searching for.” “Please” Twilight begged. Luna nodded. “Very well. Wait here.” --- Wallflower looked about herself. She was in a strange land, indeed, but she was most sure it wasn't Equestria. For starters, she wasn't a pony. However, despite being in human form, she knew she wasn't in Canterlot City either. She turned around and around, trying to see where she was. She was in a large, lush garden. Despite it being night, flowers were blooming everywhere. However, when she tried to see beyond its hedged walls, she saw only a black void where not even the moonlight could enter. “Hello?” she cried out, “Can anyone hear me?” She turned around, hoping to find an other being besides herself, “Is anyone there?” A voice came from the darkness. “I am here.” Wallflower turned around again, but saw no one. “H-hello? Who's there.” “I am.” “I hear you, but I can't see you. Where are you?” “I am here.” A tall figure emerged. Wallflower's eyes widened when she saw who it was. “Vice... Vice-Principal Luna?” “Luna is my name” replied the figure. A light smile crossed her face, “But I am not a vice-principal.” “No,” Wallflower remarked, looking at Luna's flowing robes and glistening jewelry, “I suppose you're not.” She gave the newcomer a good going over. She was clothed in the night sky, which flowed in an invisible breeze. Her feet were clad in silver shoes. Silver cuff bracelets adorned her wrists. They glistened as stars as she moved. A black collar necklace hung around her neck. In its center was a silver crescent moon. Upon her brow sat a crown, black as midnight, but shone as the moon. Though, what Wallflower found most fascinating was a little blue jewel which sat embedded in the middle of her forehead. “Yep,” the girl surmised, “you're definitely not my vice-principal.” The woman smiled. “I have come to help you, Wallflower Blush.” Wallflower was taken aback. “Help me?” “Yes.” “H-how?” “You tell me.” Wallflower pondered for a moment. What would it be that she needed help with? Her thoughts were disrupted by a large explosion which shook the landscape. “What was that?” she yelled. “Something from deep in your subconscious” Luna replied, calmly, “What could be trying to get out?” “More like something trying to get in” Wallflower replied, absentmindedly. Luna raised an eyebrow. “What, then, is trying to get in?” Wallflower backed away, her face paled. “The Notme.” Another explosion; shortly followed by an other. Soon, a whole volley of explosions. Though nothing seemed to be destroyed, they certainly shook the earth beneath their feet. Wallflower let out a cry, covering her ears with her hands. “Please! Make it stop! Don't let it catch me!” She curled up into a ball on the ground. Around the garden, thick vines grew. They twisted and weaved together to form fortified walls against the invader. “Wallflower,” Luna's voice sounded calm above the chaos, “what is the Notme?” “A monster” the girl replied, “It wants me. It wants my garden. It's already taken so much!” A shrill whistle filled the air followed by a massive explosion. This time, pieces of the thorn wall came raining down. Wallflower released a frightened shout and Luna looked up at the hole caused by the intruder. In it, she saw a fiery being. It towered over them. Its tentacles outstretched, it wrapped around the thorn wall and crushed it to splinters. More vines rose to repair the damage, but they, too, were were swiftly discarded. “Please!” Wallflower cried. She reached out and grabbed onto Luna's robes, “Don't let it take me! It's not a part of me and I don't know how to get rid of it!” Before Luna could do anything, a flamed arm reached around Wallflower. It flicked Luna backward and wrapped it self around Wallflower. Wallflower screamed in terror as she was lifted up and brought towards the main body of the Notme. “NO!” Luna shouted; her voice loud and commanding. She brought a hand to her forehead and focused on her jewel. A white light illuminated from it and spread throughout the rest of the garden. When the light dimmed, the Notme and any trace of it was gone. Wallflower let out a cry as she entered free-fall, but was soon safely engulfed in a nightly blue aura and safely down to the ground, where she was gently released onto the grass. “Okay,” Wallflower gasped, “definitely not my vice-principal.” Luna cocked her head, “I thought that was already established.” “Well, there's no doubt now.” She looked over to where the Notme once stood. “Is... is it gone?” “I'm afraid not” replied Luna, sadly, “I've only pushed it back for now. What can you tell me about it?” The girl hung her head. “Not much I'm afraid. It's only started showing up in the past couple days. Always this fiery tentacled creature.” She looked around. “This garden used to be much larger. It would stretch on for miles. Slowly, the Notme has been absorbing it, tearing it apart and changing it into... well...” She closed her eyes and concentrated. Slowly, the black void melted away to reveal a different world. One of fire, but not a fire that destroyed. Luna looked at this new landscape in wonder. Everywhere, life flames danced, created and grew. There was something familiar about it. Something integral to her very being. She felt it tugging at her from within her breast. Her eyes widened when she realized what it was. This fire was magic. “I used to be much larger” Wallflower continued, “I used to have more power. The Notme has taken all of that from me.” “Wallflower,” Luna placed a gentle hand on the girl's shoulder, “we will find a way of destroying the Notme and restoring that which has been lost.” The green girl looked up at the Night Princess with big hazel eyes. “You sure we can?” The princess gave a smile. “Most sure. I must go now. But, I promise, I'll see you again.” Wallflower wrapped her arms around Luna, giving her a big hug. “Please hurry back!” “I will try. For now, get some sleep. You need it.” She placed a hand on Wallflower's head and the girl was soon in a deep sleep. --- “You're back!” a cheerful voice cried out. Luna closed her eyes and shook her head and body. The whole experience had left her feeling rather weird and tingly. “You okay?” Twilight asked. “That was... interesting. I have heard you speak of the creatures in the other world, but I never imagined...” Twilight held in an excited gasp. “You were a human?” “Her subconscious changed me as so. That form seemed best, given the circumstance.” The younger princess smiled broadly. “So, how was it?” She often enjoyed talking with others who had experienced the transformation. She did it with Sunset and Starlight. Now, she could do with it Luna. “Enlightening. We encountered a being known as the Notme. It is a monster that haunts and terrorizes her dreams. Though, I'm afraid, it is a very real thing.” “You mean like the Tantibus?” “Yes, but, unlike the Tantibus, Wallflower didn't create it. This is something which was placed within her, and occupies more than just her dreams.” Luna walked over to the sofa where Wallflower was sleeping. She reached down and gently stroked the pony's mane. “I am very certain Sunset Shimmer's memories have been overpowering Wallflower's own.” Twilight's eyes darted from side to side as her mind began to process. “But, how?” “I'm no expert on how the brain works. However, it seems that her brain is attempting to reconcile two opposing memories by merging them together. Given Sunset's dominant personality, it's quite feasible that her memories would be as well.” “So, with Sunset's memories...” Twilight concluded, “Wallflower Blush is slowly turning into Sunset Shimmer!”