"Ughh," she groaned as she opened her eyes. Everything looked really fuzzy and blurred, but at least it wasn't complete darkness. She shook her head to clear her vision but immediately realized that that was a mistake. The sudden movement felt like a railroad spike had been drilled through her brain.
"Gahhh!" She cried out, cradling her head in her hooves. She writhed on the ground, tears streaming from her clenched eyes.
All of a sudden, she felt a strange hoof - a gentle hoof - running through her mane.
"You're awake!"
It was a strange voice, one she hadn't heard before. As the pain ebbed, she cracked her eyes and got a good look at the pony standing over her.
He was an earth pony with dark, stormy fur. His mane was bright yellow, matching his eyes almost perfectly. His cutie mark showed a bolt of lightning striking the middle of a target. His eyes were kind and he looked like he could be trusted, so the pony gave a small smile.
"My name's Thunder Spear. What's yours?" The stormy pony reached down and hoisted the clueless mare to her hooves.
"I- I don't know," came the reply. The pony dipped her head, unable to look Thunder Spear in the eyes. "I don't even know what happened to me."
"There, there. Don't you worry about a thing. You can stay with me until you start remembering stuff." He started walking down a small path and gestured for the pony to follow.
As they walked down the path, she dared to ask a question: "Where are we going?"
Thunder Spear chuckled as if it was the simplest question in the world. "I live on the outskirts of Ponyville. Do you remember anything about it?"
"Nothing. When I woke up, I just felt... hollow. Like I used to be somepony, but now I'm nopony. I can't even remember my own name! How pathetic is that? I don't even know what happened to me!" She hung her head again, those tears making her vision blurry again.
Suddenly she felt Thunder Spear bring her into an embrace. Am I the kind of mare who likes hugs or not? She wondered while in the embrace, but eventually returned it, leaning into the kind stallion.
"You know..." Thunder Spear broke the hug and leaned back to take a good, long look at her. "You look kinda like one of those ponies."
"Which ponies?"
"Those... oh, what were they called...? Elements of something. You look like one of them. They're six best friends who constantly save Equestria."
She thought about this for a second, then shook her head. "I doubt that. If I was one of those Element thingies, then that means I have five best friends. But I was all alone when you found me. If I did have best friends, then they should be looking for me, but I don't see anypony running us down." She stopped walking for a second, lost in thought.
Thunder Spear glanced towards her anxiously. "Well, even if you aren't one of them, you at least have one friend, right?"
She resumed walking, keeping pace with the earth pony. "Maybe, but I don't even know you. How should I know that you're not going to stab me in the back?"
He stopped, looking her in the eyes. Golden eyes met what color are my eyes, anyway? and he solemnly stepped in front of her.
"Because, I Pinkie Promise. Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye."
She watched him incredulously as he mimed through some strange actions. "O-okay, then. What does that mean, exactly?"
Thunder Spear resumed walking. "It just means that I can't break that promise unless I want to face the wrath of Pinkie Pie."
"But who... nevermind, forget I asked." She matched his gait and together they walked on in silence.
"How's your head doing?" Thunder Spear asked after a while.
Her hoof drifted to her forehead and felt around. "I... Well, it's not hurting anymore, but I still can't remember anything."
After a moment: "Thunder..."
He glanced over but didn't break his stride.
"...Do you think anypony's actually looking for me?"
"I'm sure that at least somepony's looking for you. But you can stay with me until that time comes. Speaking of which, here we are."
He stopped in front of a dilapidated, old shack. Cobwebs hung in the windows and the yard - if it can even be called that - was severely overgrown.
She froze, staring at this poor excuse for a house.
"I know it's not much, but it keeps the weather out and it's actually quite cozy inside. I didn't want to live any closer to Ponyville; I never really cared for the hustle and bustle of living around a bunch of other ponies. I hope you don't mind."
She shook her head as she followed Thunder Spear into his "house".