//------------------------------//
// Memory is a blessing. 
// Story: Uncharted Books 
// by DawnBreeze 
//------------------------------//

Over the next few days, I felt sicker than a dog. I liked saving pony’s lives, but when the reason you flunked out of medical school is because you don’t like the sight of blood, you never want to open another pony ever again, but when I’m needed I can pull through, even if my patient is a drug smuggler, dealer, or just somepony without the bits to pay a real surgeon.

The blood, though. I hate the sight of anypony else’s blood, but when It comes to my blood slap a bandage on it and go on with the day. I sat up in my bed and rubbed the orange orbs that allowed me to see. Getting out of bed I nearly kicked the bag that Tea Leaf had sent home with me two days ago. He knew it was mostly just going to go in my safe and back to him, but I could really use a new fountain pen. Those things are so expensive but they’re so much better than quills.

Buck it. I thought as I walked past the bag into the kitchen, picking up my new book as I walked into the kitchen to fix myself a sandwich. I’ll end up having to launder it anyway. I started thinking of all the scenarios that could go down when a clerk all of a sudden spends twenty thousand bits on a bunch of books and a fountain pen.

I finished making the very cheap sandwich and grabbed the plate with my free wing and proceeded through the mostly empty living room, looking over the lonely bookshelves. “Hmm, maybe I should buy some furnishings for this empty flank apartment.” I said, as I opened the window, which led to the fire escape, and stepped onto the small metal platform.
Looking to my left, I found my usual sitting spot was occupied by my new neighbor, who liked to blast the loudest and most wonderful music all night long. “Good morning Vinyl Scratch” I greeted lazily, as I sat down next to her.

Setting my sandwich down I opened my book to the first page, where I noticed she hadn’t said good morning back, I craned my head and saw she had ear buds in. I hate those well hidden music producers. I suppressed my annoyance and chomped down on my sandwich. I hadn’t eaten since day before, so I ate the whole sandwich in less than ten minutes.

“Oh, hello Cheerwine.” Vinyl chimed in, after about twenty minutes of sitting there quietly. “Good morning.” I repeated to her. I sighed and went back to my book, which was fairly uninteresting. I turned to my neighbor, who seemed to be emitting good vibes, was staring at me. I scooted uncomfortably away from the pony, trying to make it seem as I was physically trying to adjust.

“I saw you were sick.” She said, looking out across the alley, seemingly into the eyes of the pony on the faded advertisement. “I was playing that music from my room hoping you’d like it. I hope you did.” She said, picking up the book I had just been reading. “I did, Vinyl, but I’m not much of a late night rocker, if you know what I’m saying.” I looked innocently at Vinyl, her blue mane hanging from her head as she read the summary on the back of the book.

“I was thinking I should buy some furniture for the apartment.” I said off-topic, when she didn’t respond for several minutes. An icicle fell from the roof of the building and on my plate, smashing the plate and the icicle into several large pieces. “Aw, buck. I’m sorry, I got to clean this up.” I excused myself from the one-sided conversation and picked up the pieces, turning to go to the window. Vinyl floated a CD in front of my face. I looked over, and she had opened the book and was reading it intensely. I grabbed the disc with my wing and crawled back into my empty apartment. I looked around my room and noticed the floor was covered in clover stems and seeds. I guess I had never really noticed how bad my apartment looked, but then again I guess I never cared really.

I walked along the way to the kitchen and deposited my bounty of broken pieces of ice and clay into the trash can I kept next to the end of the counter. I hated doing dishes, so it was no surprise when I looked at the sink and found it filled to the brim with bowls, plates, and empty mugs. I quickly turned into the living room or dining room, whichever you prefer. I sat at the end of the cheap wooden dining table I had gotten on discount at the woodworkers shop. I used my wing to grab my pipe and fished around in my pocket for several seconds, revealing a small bag of clover.

After a while of smoking from the pipe I stood up and stumbled over to the stereo in the corner and popped in the CD Vinyl had given me. I turned the volume up and pressed play. The bass emitting from the speakers shook the ground under me and I jumped in panic, turning the volume down to a mere loud crash rather than an explosion of epic proportions. I bounded  with one leap and the flapping of my wings back to my seat next to the table keeping myself calm and comfortable.

I woke up the next morning dazed and confused. I needed to get to work. That’s the only thing I thought as I rolled out of bed, falling hoof first onto the cheap rug that lined the floor of my living room. I must have passed out on the couch because I looked around and saw my stereo was turned off. Funny I didn’t remember turning it off last night. Once I think about it I only remember going to Vinyl’s apartment towards twelve. I’ll worry about it later.

I threw on my coat and flung open the door. I trotted down the stairs out into the street where ponies were going about their business. A few ponies crowded around a kiosk where a vendor was claiming his wears were the best in all of Equestria. Yeah, and I’m Princess Luna. I trotted quickly across the road and into Uncharted Books.

“Good morning Cheerwine, you’re a little late today, I thought you weren’t coming today.” Book Shelf said, as he floated several books to their respectful places on the shelves of the bookstore. “Sorry boss, it’s been a weird morning.” I trotted around the counter and sat down in the usual spot of comfort for me. I proceeded about my day as if I had just won the lottery, I felt renewed.

The day was pretty routine, except for the purple unicorn that arrived in the doorway as the bell over it rang. “Good morni-“I choked out before Twilight suddenly jumped on top of the counter, her hair in total dismay and her eye twitching. I shrunk away from her, trying to seem insignificant. “Any problems I can help you with, Cheerwine? As a good friend?” She chimed seemingly insane. Then it hit me. I could probably get my memory from her magic, but before I could say anything, she bolted out the door into the street running at full speed. Well that was generally interesting.

With my day over I walked down my street, by the fruit market next to Loyal Blade and Cloud Feather’s apartment building. As soon as I walked up to their building, I noticed Loyal sitting on the steps and Cloud laying down with her head keen, almost as to sense danger. “Good morning you two!” I chimed cheerfully, as I walked by. Cloud Feather waved a hoof, and Loyal Blade waved his brass coated wing in response. I trotted up to them as casually as possible for how awkward it was for me to try to be normal. “I have a question to ask, Loyal.” I said, climbing the steps to the two of them. “Shoot.” He said, almost like he was uninterested. “Is it possible to use a spell to retrieve memories?” I questioned. I really don’t like knowing things. “I have no clue. You might want to ask Twilight Sparkle; she lives at the library.” He responded with his uninterested tone. “I know who Twilight is, but she seems kind of off her rocker, if you know what I mean.” I informed my unicorn friend. “Then I don’t know what to tell you, try retracing your steps.” He gives useless advice sometimes. I thanked him and said goodbye to both of them and trotted off to the market.

After carrying the grocery bags with my hooves as I flew down the street back to my apartment window, I was ready to go to sleep. I threw my jacket onto its hanger in the main hall and sat down on the couch. I cracked the can full of tomato juice and knocked it back. I was insanely malnourished from having only a sandwich to eat since yesterday.

After finishing the fruit juice, I got off the couch and threw the can in the trash. I trotted down the hall and flew into my bed.  I was about to fall asleep when the unnecessarily loud doorbell made its ring-ading-ding sound, almost trying to deafen me.

I got up from my nice cold bed with a groan and walked out into the main hall and opened the door. “What do you want?” I yelled, before I even knew who it was. It was Vinyl Scratch, and she was scared beyond belief from how loud I had yelled. “It’s just me dude. Chill out.” She said calmly trying but failing to hide her scared tone from me. “Oh, sorry Vinyl.” I said a bit quieter. “What do you need?” I asked trying to not sound annoyed. “What, you don’t remember?” She asked without hesitation. I looked around her for some indication of what was going on. “I honestly have no idea what you’re talking about.” I told her, without finding any clues to give me an idea. “Well you were banging on my door higher than Celestia’s sun.” She said with a giggle. “And when I came to the door, you started going on about how hot you thought I was and how awesome my music was and ended up asking me on a date.” She blushed slightly.

The same could not be said about me; I was redder than a freshly ripened tomato. Thank god my coat helped hide the redness on my cheeks or I would have been easily exposed, it’s true that I found Vinyl Scratch attractive, but what’s up with that? Tea Leaf probably grew some strong stuff. I’d give him a horseshoe print on his flank later, but right now I had to defuse this ticking time bomb. I could hear the tick in my head, I was fucked and I knew it.

“I-um-I w-would but I’ve-“ I stumbled over my words trying to come up with a good excuse. Tick tick. “But um- the-um uh- Ok, let me grab my jacket.” I sighed, defeated. Boom. “That’s ok! I’m not even near ready yet! I just came to remind you.” She said as I had turned to walk away. Why would she? I had seen her that night with the pierogies, and she had been overdressed for the occasion. Oh this is going to be one hell of a relationship.