//------------------------------// // Chapter Three // Story: Who Is Twilight Sparkle? // by Running From Time //------------------------------// Burning. That was all it did. Burn, burn, burn. The fire burned. I thought of how much the fire burned to remove it from my mind. I could not. The image played over and over in my head, causing me to shiver. The fire burned. I wanted to touch the fire, let it trickle up my hoof, on my body, to swim in the flames. As if death were a nice plan. Maybe it was. "Twilight! Come on, wake up!" I groaned and rolled over. "What is it, Spike?" I asked, still quite tired and unwilling to get up. I had another one of those strange dreams again. I had not had one of those in a while, but I had one today. "Don't you remember? Your parents are coming tomorrow!" My eyes popped open and I sat up immediately. "WHAT?!" I screamed, truly not understanding the situation. I stared at Spike with wide-open, tired eyes, and he cocked his head in confusion. "Didn't you look at the letters you got? I told you there was a lot to see yesterday," Spike responded nonchalantly. I groaned and smacked my hoof against my face. "You never told me that! I don't even know where they are!" He stepped backwards at my anger. I got out of bed and came up to him. "Where are the letters that you received while I wasn't here?" I asked in a much softer tone. He pointed to a pile of letters on a table in which I considered looking at, but did not due to other things that needed to be finished. I took a look at the letters, where there was a good amount, maybe ten or so. Three caught my eye almost immediately, as it seemed to relate to my situation. Dear Twilight Sparkle, How glad I am to hear that you are alright! Hopefully it will not be long before you will be just fine. Several things seemed to be occurring in Canterlot currently, therefore I am unable to visit. However, I sent a letter to your parents, and hopefully they will arrive in little to no time. Your Beloved Ruler, Princess Celestia. Dear Twilight Sparkle, How terrible it is to hear you have amnesia, my faithful student. Amnesia is not an unimportant thing, you know. When one has no memories, they are not quite the same person. Hopefully when your parents come, they could help you remember your past. Speaking of which, apparently they hadn't received the letter even after a month! I found out it was due to the guard that was supposedly delivering it instead destroying it! I could never understand why one would do such a thing. Canterlot is still in a worsening state, and unfortunately I will be tied up for perhaps another couple months. As soon as I am able to, I will visit you. Your Beloved Ruler, Princess Celestia. Dear Twilight Sparkle, Your parents have decided to come a week after you have been released from the hospital. I reckon it may be because they would want to help you regain your old lifestyle, but I cannot know for sure. Hopefully you may regain your memories when they arrive. Your Beloved Ruler, Princess Celestia P.S. Has Spike been giving you these letters, or has he waited until the day your parents arrive to show you all of them? I glared at Spike, then once again smacked my hoof against my face. Just as Celestia had asked in the post script, Spike had waited until today to show me all of these letters. I sighed. No matter, I will just get ready for their arrival. Princess Celestia said in the letters Mom and Dad would arrive tomorrow, and leave in one week. That means they would stay here, so I need to tidy up the guest bed for Mom and Dad. I picked up a piece of paper and my feather pen with my telekinesis and began making a checklist. "Tidy up the library... Clean my room... Make the guest bed... Buy groceries for an extra two people..." The list continued on until I had written down all of the things I would need to do before they arrived at noon tomorrow. It was seven o'clock in the morning now, so I had some time. Hopefully I would complete everything before then. It was not long before I checked off the last box on the check list. I had gotten everything done in about five hours. The library was spotless, without a single book or feather pen out of place. I had enough food for all four of us for a week, which were delicious meals Spike knew like the back of his hand. I would try to cook at least a little, but I would much rather have tasty dished for them than my cooking, since I have not cooked at all since I forgot. Other than that, everything was perfect and ready for them to arrive. Completely perfect. I slumped down in the chair in front of the desk, and wondered what they were like. I wondered what sort of memories that they could try to resurface, and maybe I could remember who I was, everything I forgot. Maybe I could be Twilight Sparkle again. "SPIKE! Was there any letters? Anything from Celestia? It has been FIVE HOURS since they were supposed to arrive! Oh no, what if they were injured? What if they hurt themselves? What if they were... dead? Maybe there was an accident and they died! But... I need to talk to them!" Tears welled up in my eyes. I haven't even met them yet. They can't die. I need them to remember! My back legs buckled as I worried more and more about this situation. Suddenly, I felt a small clawed hand gently pat my shoulder. "Twi, you're overreacting. A lot. I'm sure your parents are fine! They probably got held up or something. But, just in case, I'll send something to Princess Celestia, okay? She said she is really busy, though, so it may take a while for her to respond," Spike comforted. I gave a small smile. "Thanks, Spike." I stood up. "I'll wait here in case they come, maybe read a little." I thought of the books that I really wanted to read that were in the library that I had not the time to read, which were very many, since I had read only about thirty when I was in the hospital, and yesterday my day consisted on very little reading. Spike began his letter, writing himself what to say. I would help him, but I forgot when my mind jumped into the books in the library. I looked at all the books in my library, to find and choose the first book I'll read. I could not initially choose what to read, but then I saw a book in one of the drawers that looked like a blank book. However, when I looked at the front page, I noticed it was a recorded book of friendship reports. However, when I peered into the next page, I realized it was not just friendship reports, but other letters also. As an added note, it was here that Spike yelled, "I'm done!" and blew the letter into flames. I was too focused on the letters to notice, but later I realized that he set the letter on fire. I assumed that setting the letter in green flame was how to send it to Princess Celestia. The first letter consisted of some nonsense like "The Mare in the Moon" and how that year was the thousandth year after something or other. I sighed in a confused manner. This made sense to me? Oh well. Perhaps I could ask someone about it later. I read through the pages, and questions built up in my mind to ask someone later. As the questions piled on, I decided there was too much to remember, so I made a list to perhaps bring up in a conversation, and some space below it for the answer. There were questions like "What are the Elements of Harmony?" and "Who is the Mare in the Moon?" that could perhaps be found in the library I sat in. Other questions, like "What happened on this day?" and "What made her/him/me so upset?" needed someone who I knew personally to answer, unless there was a book published of my and my friends' personal lives. The thought of something like that crossed my mind. Unless it were a biography, I would find it creepy if someone was watching our every move. But what if there is? I shivered at the thought. That would be creepy. I shook my head and rid of the frightening thought, and then continued to read through the pages of the recorded letters. When I reached the last page, I noticed it consisted nothing of the letters I had received. I then felt idiotic when I realized that it was me who had written all those. I could not had written it when I had hurt myself. I suppose I should write it myself, but there might have been other letters, and I should record what was written to her, also. I knew where the letters that Princess Celestia sent were, but I had no idea if copies of the letters sent to her were kept here. I trotted up the stairs up to where the other letters from Celestia were kept. I checked the shelves if there was a couple shelves of where I keep the letter that go to her. I did find many letters I sent to her, but they were all already recorded, and there was none in there past when my friends and I defeated this so-called monstrosity called "Discord". "Twilight? What are you looking at?" I heard Spike ask. "I'm looking at the letters sent between Princess Celestia and the rest of us. I saw a journal where all the letters were recorded, but it stops at a certain point, and then nothing afterwards. I'm looking to see what was written afterwards to record what I couldn't when I was in the hospital." Spike then rushed in front of me, as if there was something I wasn't supposed to see. He attempted to appear as if nothing was wrong, but he was very terrible at faking so. I could see the nervousness in his face, plus the beads of sweat running down his face. "Twilight, maybe you should read other books, you know? You have a lot of books to read in the library, and maybe it would be easier than to try and dig up those other things." He was trying to hide something, which I could not fathom why he would want to hide it. "This could help me regain what I lost, Spike. If I find something here that will help me remember, I could be the same Twilight Sparkle I was before! What could be so terrible that I shouldn't find?" Spike was speechless. The fake smile left his face, and his arms hung in regret. "Twi, I'm really sorry, but I pro-" what he was about to say was interrupted by a loud belch and a letter. I picked up the letter with my magic and read it. Dear Twilight Sparkle, I apologize very greatly in advance. I bear unfortunate news of your parents. I had just received word that they were incredibly busy and could not make it. Your mother is very busy with her several novels, and your father is also busy with editing several other novels. I wish I could help, but unfortunately they will be unable to arrive today, or tomorrow. They may not be able to arrive for a while. My greatest condolences. Your Beloved Ruler, Princess Celestia Spike looked in disbelief, and my eyes teared up in anger and disappointment. They are not coming. I was really excited for this, to be honest. "That... that sounds like an excuse! But why? Why would they not come? Is there something wrong with me? Did I do something bad?" I shouted. Tears rolled down my cheeks. Maybe there really is something wrong with me. Something so terrible even my own parents shun me. Spike covered his face with his hands. "Twilight..." he whimpered, "I'm sorry. I'm really sorry..." He rushed our of the room and downstairs, and out the door. I had no idea where was headed, but at the time, I didn't care. Spike knew that it was excuse, because he knew of something that might drive my parents away. I wish I could find out, but at this point, I may be afraid to find out. If it was so terrible that my own parents that apparently loved and cared for me did not want to see me, then maybe I should not know.