//------------------------------// // Chapter One // Story: Who Is Twilight Sparkle? // by Running From Time //------------------------------// Falling. Falling further and further. I watched as the ground below came closer and closer. There was nothing left but falling to my death. I spun around slowly in the air, waiting for my impact to close in on me, waiting to die. This was it. This was the end. The end that I so graciously thrusted upon myself. The end, for me, at least. I swooped into consciousness, as I slowly opened my eyes. I was in some sort of room, yes, a hospital room. I was currently alone in this room, other than the medical equipment. I found that if I attempted to get up, every bit of me ached horribly, so I tried not to move around too much. As my mind began to actually turn the gears, questions began popping up in my mind. Why am I in pain? What happened? I attempted to review what happened, to remember what happened to me, which I realized quite important; not only could I not remember what happened, I couldn't recall a single other thing in my life. I had no memory. I immediately began to panic. Who... who am I? What am I? I looked at my hooves and felt my face. I was obviously a pony, but I had a large bandage on my forehead. I saw a mark on my flank, which in a way I thought would describe who I was. However, if I had no memory, how would I be able to guess who I was by the mark on my flank? I couldn't recall a single thing, event, or pony. There was nothing. Absolutely nothing. I eventually gave up trying to remember what I lost, since it was useless. I then returned to looking around the room. It was a fairly small room, and somewhat cozy. There was a door across from the bed, with a window on it. The walls were white, and the floor was also white tile. On one side of the room, there were medical equipment. On the other side of the room, there was a window that gave a beautiful view. The scenery included a gorgeous blue sky, with puffy white clouds. Buildings, such as houses and stores, were throughout the home-like town, with ponies walking and talking on the streets, happiness showing everywhere. Next to the bed was a nightstand, where I saw several cards and balloons that said “Get well soon!” including a large balloon that had a pink pony with a fluffy darker pink mane on it along with the phrase. Either who I was had very kind friends, or I got hurt so terribly everyone pitied me. I attempted to reach down and look at a card, hoping it would tell me about myself, but as soon as I outstretched my front leg, pain shot through me and I decided to leave them be. I then just did nothing other than lying there. Well, rather than doing nothing, perhaps I should go to sleep. Yes, for some reason, sleep sounded lovely. A nice, wonderful nap sounding like a very good idea... I stared across the landscape, off the cliff. It was a very long fall. I closed my eyes and sighed. I inched closer to the edge. A little voice in my head told me to stop. They told me to not do it, to live on, and forget about it. However, it was too late. I had to do it. I soon returned from my thoughts and into reality, and stepped to the edge of the cliff. I was just a step away from the end. I didn't have to do this. I could turn back now. I could act as if nothing happened. I shook my head in denial. No one could live knowing this. Not even me. I then proceeded to step into the air, off the cliff, and fell. As I fell, I could hear someone calling something. It sounded a little like... “...light... Twilight... Twilight!” I woke up from my strange dream to the same cozy hospital room. Only this time, there were seven visitors. Six ponies, and a baby dragon. One of the ponies was obviously the doctor, as his lab coat and stethoscope around his neck made it quite obvious. The other five ponies were two pegasi, two earth ponies, and one unicorn. Smiles grew on all of their faces to see me conscious. “Twilight! Oh, I'm so glad to see you alright, sugarcube!” shouted the orange earth pony, with a southern accent, which broke the long silence. The other ponies and dragon joined in with happiness and how glad they were Twilight was alright. “Ooh! Twilight! Yay! We should totally have a 'Twilight is okay' party and it will be so much fun, and-” The pink pony was interrupted by the cyan pegasus, who told her to calm down. “Twilight! Thank Celestia! I was getting so worried!” “Seriously, Twilight, you don't even want to know how terrible the library got. I can't run it without you!” “Geez, Twilight! You really could live through anything, couldn't you?” As I listened to the ponies and dragon talk, I had trouble understanding. Twilight... who is that? I don't know who that is. Are they mistaken? Or... am I “Twilight”? “Um... I'm sorry... but... I don't know who this 'Twilight' is. Perhaps... perhaps you could shed light on who exactly she is...?” The room dropped into silence. “I mean, I don't really know you guys, either...” “Twilight?” the baby dragon whimpered. “Do you... Do you not... remember us?” I shook my head. “I... I'm sorry. I don't know who any of you are...” I quietly spoke. The white unicorn spoke up. “Twilight, dear, you've forgotten... everything?” I reluctantly nodded my head. There was nothing in my mind before I woke up the first time. There was just nothing. I couldn't remember anything. The doctor cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. “Ms. Sparkle, I can't say I'm surprised you have amnesia. That fall could have been fatal, but you were incredibly lucky. You still had a head trauma, however, so amnesia would be likely.” He turned to the visitors. “I will start some tests, to see how Ms. Sparkle is healing. You could come back later, to help her with her memories, but I'm afraid you will have to leave for now.” As the other ponies and dragon left, a gloomy atmosphere was left in the room. The morning sun is way too bright. I don't like mornings. Especially because there is practically nothing to do all day in this boring place. It has been a while since I've seen anybody other than the church staff, other than the occasional visit to see if I was alright. I didn't quite know any of them, however. I may have know them in the past, but I can't remember any of it. It might as well not even exist. The doctor told me I was to be released in a week or two, because I was healing quite well. He told me I couldn't participate in any athletic activities for a while, either. While, I was bored the whole time, however, I decided to try and use my magic. I used it with ease, since it wasn't my memory that was required to use magic. It's like how I know how to walk and talk even though I have no memory of learning it. I used that magic to read all of the cards I couldn't because it was out of my reach. I learned nothing other than the names of some of my friends, such as Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, Spike, and a few others. I figured Pinkie Pie was the earth pony on the big balloon. Apparently I used to be a bookworm. I have no idea, since I haven't really read too much yet. I only read the books that the hospital had. They don't really have too much books. I was staring out the window when the door creaked open. "Twilight? You awake?" I heard a pony with a southern accent inquire. I think that's Applejack. "Yes, come in." Ponies walked in, five of them. I'm guessing they were Applejack, Pinkie Pie Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Fluttershy. I could guess which one was which since their names sort of match their personality or what they looked like. One of them had a saddlebag with them. "So, uh, Twilight? How are you? When are you getting out?" the rainbow maned pegasus, most likely Ranbow Dash, asked. "I was told I would be released in a week or two, since they told me I was healing well. I can't run or do sports, though, for a while." "That's okay, you never really were athletic before either." Rainbow Dash had a little bit of a laugh, before Applejack kicked her and glared. "That's great that you'll be out soon, sugarcube. Don't forget that we're be here for you, alright? Oh, and don't let me forget. Rarity brought something for you." I admit, I was curious as to what they had given me. The white unicorn, most likely Rarity, lifted books out of her saddlebags and on the side of the bed. "We weren't sure, out of all the books, which one you would want to read, so we just got these. We got them from the library, which I'm sure you've read every book. Although it might not help you remember, you would at least have your nose in some good books," Rarity declared. I looked at the books, where there was four. One was a book about magic and its properties, named, well, Magic and Its Properties. Another was, after I read the summary, a love story between two ponies, named As the Petals Fall. The third was the first book of the Daring Do series, Daring Do and the Sapphire Stone. The fourth was a story that takes place in outer space where there is ponies with three eyes and no fur or manes, which was named Stars That Aren't Really Stars. I wondered which one I should read first, since they all seemed really good. I then realized that my guests were still there, watching me look at all the books they gave me. "Wow, thank you so much for bringing these to me! They look so interesting. I can't wait to read them. Thank you so much!" I beamed, since I really did appreciate what they had done for me. I still sot of hoped they would go soon so that I could read those books. They looked incredibly interesting. "Geez, Twilight, I know you're an egghead, but you're way too excited to be reading those books. I guess we should go then. See ya, Twilight!" Rainbow kidded, and then she headed out the door. "Yeah, see ya Twilight! Hope you come out soon!" giggled Pinkie Pie. "I hope you feel better, Twilight," said the yellow pegasus, obviously Fluttershy, very quietly. As soon as everyone was out of the room, I had to decided which one to read first. I decided to read Stars That Aren't Really Stars because of its interesting name. I opened up the cover and read into the world that this book created.