//------------------------------//
// Reminiscence 
// Story: Aberrant Memories 
// by Solarip 
//------------------------------//

	

Remembering is easy. It's forgetting that's hard.



It's a bright and sunny morning in Ponyville. The sun shines down the town and the ponies who live in it. The sky, never flawed from its perfect blue. The clouds, on the other hand, taint the beauty of blue. That doesn't cast a problem to the weather pegasi on the job. In fact, they don't seem to mind a few clouds in the air. Why? That's because those are intended for comfortable slumber.

The beautiful nature incorporated with the fruit of the alabaster white alicorn, Princess Celestia, makes me want to do something worthwhile outside. Maybe a friend will be nice. It never hurts to have some fun under the sun. If it would, then Pinkie Pie, the nicest and funniest pink mare in town, would send everyone to the hospital.

I think I'll bring Flare along. She's a childhood friend of mine who's always up for fun and laughter. She's that ray of sunshine that wants to be with her best friends. Come to think of it, she's much like Pinkie, only maize with a short straight mane and not pink with a fluffy mane like cotton candy. Flare always loves to do random stuff; she hates inactivity like watching paint dry or watching birds. But there's something about her that likes to stare at the sky.

I've decided to take her for a walk in the park. Just a calm walk. Kinda boring, but it'll suffice. I finished my breakfast and got ready to head out. I opened the door and stepped outside. The morning rays of the sun welcomed me first, then the cool gentle breeze that blew across my coat. I went across the dirt road toward Flare's house. I think I still know her house, so I'll trust my instincts and head to where I know.

After doing what my gut told me, I crossed past Sugarcube corner, the Ponyville Library and the famous Carousel Boutique—where everything is chic, unique, and manefique. How did that got in my head? Anyway, I thought I was lost, but luckily I got to her house. It's not actually far from my house, not as much as Sweet Apple Acres. Her house is not grand nor eye-catching. Just a plain house that every middle-class resident owns.

As I stood in front of her porch, I felt something... weird. A warm feeling deep inside my chest. I know I didn't see her for sometime, but I can't possibly miss her. I mean, we talk to each other every time we cross paths. And if we have some spare time, we do random stuff, like rappelling off a cliff or jumping over houses, oddly ending up covered in tree sap.

Sweet Celestia, I miss those days.

Back to reality, I anxiously knocked on the door. No one answered. I knocked again, but no avail. Before I knock again, I heard a faint voice saying:

"LOOK OUT!!!"

I moved further away from the door, assuming that Flare would charge through the door. But what really happened is something I didn't expect. I heard a loud crash and I fell on the ground. Clouds of dust covered my field of vision and with that, I can barely see what happened.

Ow! My back! What fell on me? It feels like an empty piano. Wait, I think it's a pony. Oh Celestia it hurts! I think Rainbow Dash crashed and I was there. The pony just sat on me, with its tail tickling my back throbbing in pain. It feels the weight of Canterlot sitting on my body, yet so soft like a cloud.  After a few minutes of me groaning in pain, the mysterious mare finally spoke.

"Hi Caramel!"

She sounds so gentle, like Fluttershy, but I can see her up in the air with a skein of geese.

"Who are you and what have you done with my back?!"

"Let's just call it, a dynamic entry."

"Well, I think your dynamic entry almost killed me! Now before you break my back even more, would you mind getting off my back?" I said impatiently.

"Oh, right."

She finally got off and the first I saw is a set of maize hooves, one of them reaching out to me.

"Flare?"

"Uh-huh. Who do think I was, Fluttershy?"

She read my mind. I grabbed her hoof to help me get up. I raised my head to face her, making eye contact, but she's too close to me.  So close that I can see her features in high definition.

"So, what do you want to do next?"

"Well, I was thinking. How 'bout a walk in the park?"

"Sounds pretty boring, but okay."

The flashback of memories will have to wait, I have to enjoy this day first.






The rhythm of hoofsteps and the battle of noises fill my head. Each minute, my mind gradually turns blank. I can't think of anything to do or to say. I think she's right, it is pretty boring.

"So..."

Then I realized that she's out of sight. Where did she run off to? Come to think of it, it is kinda crowded in the park. I scanned the perimeter, briefly looking through possible places to where she would end up. The alleys, restaurants, park benches, trees, and flower stands. My mind is racing with my heart, and I think its losing.

There she is, at a flower stand not far from the park. That was awfully quick. I thought she might be lost or end up in Appleloosa. She's such a klutz and she always end up lost or in another place far from where she must be. But it's a good thing I found her in record time. I should receive a medal for that.

I ran to her and she met me halfway. She has a decent bouquet of flowers on her mouth. From the looks of it, she bought it from that stand. I'm not stupid for not knowing that, but I don't know why she bought it. Inside it are petunias, calla lilies, roses, and a cabbage. Wait, a cabbage?! I don't even know why that stand sells cabbages. Moreover, I don't know what's going on inside her head. She's just random, I guess.

"Flare, I've been looking all over for you. And what's with the flowers?" I said, trying to catch my breath.

"Um..." she whispered something inaudible.

"Huh?"

"It's for you." she shyly said, with her face turning to a crimson red.

"Um, thanks."

I'm burning up. She just can't make eye contact with me while making small circles on the ground.

She's so cute.

I would definitely slap myself if I can tell what she'll do next. I bet that she will hug me.

For what seemed to be an eternity of silence is actually a minute of awkwardness. She finally made eye contact, while I prepare for what I'll do next. She slowly walks closer to me. I closed my eyes and felt two hooves wrapped around my neck. I can feel her intimate warmth and soft embrace.

I raised my hoof and gave it my all in one blow. A loud slap was heard by only Flare and me.

Ouch! It hurts to be right.

Obviously, she's surprised that I slapped myself. Then again, who wouldn't be surprised that the one you hugged would slap himself? Even with that part confusing her, she still continued to hug me. Actually, her hug kinda tightened a little.

Now that I realize it, her embrace shouts out her feelings, for me that is. Her soft yet tight grip says that she cares for me, no matter what happens. Her slow beating of her heart shows that she didn't to do something embarrassing. Her bashful smile means that she's happy to be with me and she truly likes me. And to top it off, the stinging pain on my cheek means that I'm stupid for seeing this one coming and I didn't do something about it.






It's another day in school. As always, I am excited to go outside and be free from sitting down a chair bigger than me. I am also excited to learn, so I'm always the first to sit down on my chair and wait for school to start. To make myself productive while I wait, I draw. Candy, houses, foals and hay bales are just part of what I can do. If I want, I can draw on the walls that limit my freedom, albeit my capabilities aren't at its prime.

And when school finally starts, we always start class with a greeting so loud it hurts my ears.

"GGOOOD MOOOORRRNIINNGG TEEAACCHHERRR!!!"

Ouch! I try to be silent, but to suffer from the shouts of others is inevitable.

"Okay class. I'm happy to say that we have a new student." he lethargically announced.

A small filly walks to the front of the class. She looks shy. Her outside personality doesn't quite match her colors. She is mainly yellow, darker actually. Her mane has two colors—gold and pineapple as its accents. Usually, yellow means confidence, but she's anything but.

"Um... hello. I'm Flare. I-It's nice to meet—" her soft voice was interrupted by the teacher.

"It's nice to meet you too, Flare. Now, would you kindly find a seat." the teacher monotonously said, as if he was ordering Flare.

Flare slowly walked to he only seat available in the room—the one beside mine. With her legs shivering, she put her saddlebag down neatly at the chair and shyly sat down. I wouldn't be surprised if she'd faint like a goat when somepony else calls her.

"Hi Flare. I'm Caramel."

She just stared at me as I greeted her. I stared at her, too. She seemed to be turning to a cute red, if there's a right term for it. With her eyes widened and cheeks red, she turned to her desk. She was then directed to the teacher, who is currently talking about Celestia-knows-what. I think he's discussing about how his teaching experience got him to Canterlot and teach about advanced science. I hope this doesn't show up in the exam. I turned my attention back to her. She seems nervous. Why is she nervous about? Perhaps it's her first day. Besides, the same thing happened to me when I had my first day in school.

I was surrounded by new faces, some weird and terrifying. A new environment, the school, brings me a feeling of curiosity. Although it's good to be curious, I hate to be in a place I don't know of. New personalities, potential threats or benefits. Strangers everywhere. Opportunities to get lasting impressions. Those never fail to leave my head.

Of course, there were some good things that happened. Perhaps the same thing might go for her. On the first day, she already has a new friend—me.

The rest of the morning was uneventful. It is really boring, until lunchtime came. It is a time for us to engage in conversations and replenish and satisfy our cravings, whether it is physical, mental or social. I enjoy lunch break with a large sandwich, a juice box and a bench to sit with nopony else but me. I like peace and quiet and nothing will stop me from having it.

As I take down my sandwich to eating all of it, I enjoy the view of vibrant foals across the playground. Everyone was involved in a game of tag. All but Flare and me. She's resting under the blessing of a shade under a tree. I'm still on the bench, finishing on my sandwich. I think I should go talk to her, to know her a lot better.

Eating the last bit of the sandwich, I wait for the right time to cross the playing field. The foals running to and fro look like the traffic of ponies with their carts on the street I see every weekday. The untimely rhythm of hoofbeats on the grass and the high pitched screams and yells of the foals make me feel irritated. The crowd ran to the other side of the school. Now's the time for me to go to her.

I carefully ran, taking note of the foals on the other side. As fast as I can, I sprinted when I saw them running to where I stand. With fear of getting run over, I outran the stampede of colts and fillies. Heavily panting, I sat beside Flare while she's staring at the spot where I was a while ago. Then she continued to stare at the sky dotted with clouds as big as apple carts. She looks so cute and peaceful.

"What?" she turned to me and noticed me staring at her.

"I was just curious. Why aren't you out there, playing tag like the others?"

"I don't know anypony around here but you, and I could get hurt. Real bad." Flare sighed.

"And why are you staring at the sky?"

"I do this all the time. The sky just looks so pretty. Sometimes, I space out for hours." she explained.

Her cheeks turned red, again. Mine did, too. She just looks so cute and adorable with her cheeks blushing. The both of us stared at the sky. After a few good minutes, she gets closer to me. She rested her head on my shoulder. Her mane tickling my neck as the breeze makes it sway and dance according to its will. After a moment of silence which seemed to last an hour, I heard tiny snores from her. I turned to see her face and I saw her eyes closed and her mouth letting out small sounds of snoring.

"Yup, she's asleep." I said softly, trying not to wake her up.

This day, her first day in school, the day I met her. She's quite a unique filly—looks confident yet real shy. I'm her first friend in Ponyville. Ever since, she never forgot about me. For me, it's not about forgetting her. It's about remembering her every time.