The worst part of holding the memories is not the pain. It's the loneliness of it. Memories need to be shared.
I looked under the doormat and grabbed my keys. With extreme precision, I managed to unlock the door. I stepped inside and opened the lights. Flare ran to the nearest couch. She seems to know where my couch is. Maybe she hasn't forgotten my house that much.
"Flare."
"Hm?"
"Are you sure you've never been to my house before?"
"Yup."
"Then how do you know where my couch is? If you haven't been to my house, then everything would look new to you. My couch is hard to spot. How come you found it so easily?"
We shouted across the room as she sits on the couch and I walk to where she went. My couch is really hard to spot. One needs to take a right, then a left, then a turn to see it. I finally got to Flare, looking curious and worried at the same time.
"I... I don't know." she said, matching her looks and words.
She has forgotten some parts of her memories of being here. I don't know how and why that happened to her. Flare's either traumatized and forgotten some of her memories or something or someone made her forget those without her being aware of it. I have to find out for myself.
The rest of the night was uneventful. We ate a light dinner–a daisy salad and some soup. We watched the stars as they sparkle in the twilight. We read some books in my surprisingly huge library. We moped around the house like we used to. Why is that, you may ask? Maybe she does those things to others' houses. As for me, this is my house and I can do whatever I want in it. Finally, we laid on the couch with her head rested on my shoulder and her hoof holding mine.
"I'm getting really sleepy Caramel." she yawned with her free hoof in front of her mouth.
"Same here. I think it's time for bed anyway. Why don't you—" a yawn interrupted me while I speak.
"Why don't you go up to the bedroom?" I requested.
"Okay." she said while going upstairs.
See? She even know where my bedroom door is among the many similar and parallel doors in the hallway. She kinda knows where everything in my house, so she still remembers something in my house.
I followed her to my bedroom–the only one in the house. She opened the door and the room came into full view. The plain white walls are decorated with bookshelves, filled with nothing else but books. Candle sconces on the walls made the night a lot brighter. The bed–lined with white sheets under white pillows–is sort of large enough for two ponies. In front of it is a painting of the sunset in Ponyville which hangs on the wall. A window is situated on the right side of the bed, giving light to the room in the morning and a simple dim glimmer of the moon and stars at night. A sunroof above the bed has the same purpose as the window.
Flare didn't hesitate to get inside and jump to the bed. With a soft flop, the pillows jumped and the bed sheet was crumpled. The pillows landed on her and feathers filled part of the bed and her soft body. So much for fixing it.
"C'mon, Caramel. What're you waiting for?" she gestured at the bed, patting it lightly.
I went in and jumped to the bed, lightly this time. I don't want to hurt her by falling on her. I rolled slowly until I'm at her side. Once again, a physical bond was made as I wrapped my hooves around her belly. She also held my hooves. I leaned my head to her mane. As it tickles my face, her mane brings back memories. The scent of lavenders reminds me of our field trip to the gardens of Manehattan for our Botany class.
While we cuddled and with Flare dreaming, I can't seem to sleep. It feels like I've been haunted by something. It feels really strange. The rising and falling of her belly soothes my mind a little, but it keeps coming back.
I had this feeling of mystery, but it went away after a few minutes. Strange. Flare woke up from the rapid movements of my head and hooves. She opened her eyes and turned her head to face me.
"Hey, honey pie. What's wrong?"
"I dunno. I felt something really weird."
"Really? How weird?"
"Just, weird." I can't explain it. It's just so new to me.
"Well whatever it was, I just hope it goes away. I don't want to see you–or in this case, feel you–like this." she said with concern.
"Yeah, me too."
I've seen her like this, and it was much worse than mine.
She pecked on my cheek and held me tighter. Soft sweet words came out of her lips before she buried her face on my chest.
"Good night," she whispered.
Flare fell asleep a few moments after. She's right, though. I hope I don't get to experience this anytime soon. It's already hard enough seeing her like that, but I want to help her in any way I can. Then again, I can't fulfill some of her wishes.
I just hope for tomorrow's sunshine to shine on the road ahead. Mysteries keep piling up and I can't seem to solve them.
I close my eyes to see the black nothingness I expect.
“Huh? Where am I?” I said to myself as I opened my eyes and saw the tall yellow grass surrounding the sky at the center.
Things aren’t so weird at all. In fact, it’s much better than plain darkness. Every once and a while, instead of just dreaming about nothing, I dream about everyday life. It sounds pretty boring for dreams, but a simple one is enough.
The grasslands that spread from what seemed like miles away danced in sync with the wind. The sky looks so pure for it carries nothing. Not a single cloud tainted the perfect blue and acted as a canopy for anyone under it. I looked down yet another time and saw nothing but grass. Not a tall figure stands out amongst this wonderful wilderness and its virgin beauty.
I have no choice but to move forward. It’s the only thing I do besides looking back. I don’t know where I will end up. Trust my guts. That reminds me, where in Equestria am I? I can’t remember a wide grassland located in the kingdom, let alone any memory of going to one before.
A close inspection and I already know it’s a dream – a perfect one to be precise. As I trot forward, a trail of tampered grass forms which eventually fades in the ripples of grass by the wind. I looked forward to see more grass. At least I’m dreaming because walking miles and miles will kill me.
Oh Celestia! When will this end?
After what seemed like an imaginary hour of walking, something strange ensued. I felt a warm spot on my forehead, which gradually went warmer.
“Hey!” I heard a familiar voice from a distance ahead.
I did what any castaway would do – follow the voice. I galloped so I won’t lose it. Strange enough, I thought my legs would give out from all this trotting, but they didn’t. Instead, they have gained stamina to continue moving.
I went closer to the source of the voice. At a distance is an orange and yellow figure about the same height as me. It’s really hard to spot for it looks like an orange pushpin in front of me.
“Flare!” I called out loud.
She heard it and went to meet me. The both of us galloped like we‘re in a horse race. Wait, she’s a unicorn. Why don’t she just use her magic to get here faster?
With a burst of light, she appeared in front of me. Traces of sparks flew around her as her mane fell slowly. With the usual grin of hers, she greeted me.
“Hey Caramel!” she said as she wrapped her hooves around me as I did the same.
After a moment of silence, I let go of our embrace. Her head rested on my shoulder and her forelegs still wrapped around me. I gave her a gentle push, but she don’t want to let go of me. Every time I push her, Flare’s grip gets tighter. I’m not always good with reading other’s feelings, but she feels like she’s relieved to see me like when a puppy sees its owner after a week of solitude.
“What’s wrong?” I asked with a soft tone.
“I-I…” she said like she’s really frightened.
“C’mon Flare, tell me,” I said as I caressed her flowing pineapple mane.
“It’s just…” she said, but I didn’t respond back. Instead, I simply lent her my ears.
Silence ruled the atmosphere as I wait for her to say what she has to say. The wind blows through each blade of grass surrounding us. The sound of placid nature gives the awkward silence a pleasing aura.
“It’s just that I was alone in the middle of nowhere. I was floating and I don’t know where I was or how to find the ground. I was so scared when I was surrounded in black. Then, my horn glowed and everything turned white,” she explained. After a short while, she stopped and turned to stare at the sky.
“Then I ended up in this field. I shouted out loud, but nopony answered. I did it again and heard your voice. I was so happy to see and hear you. But now, I’m happy to be with you,” she said as a shy blush emerged from her downy cheeks.
I know it’s just a dream, but how could she end up in the same dreamscape as mine?
My process of thoughts were interrupted when I felt something hot. Really hot. Gradually, it becomes uncomfortably hot, then scorching hot. Then, I took a sniff and picked up the scent of burning grass.
Wait, burning grass?
I turned to see smoke from the grass behind me. The unbearable smoke turned to a small flame. Then the threat grew larger to a huge inferno. It crept close to my leg. As a reflex, I jumped forward to dodge it. Flare let go of me when she saw the flame behind me.
“Run!” she yelled and galloped in front of me.
I did what she told me and caught up to her. It appears that an easy escape brewed to a near-impossible way out as the fire grew larger and larger. After a few seconds, the inferno surrounded us. Flare ran to the blaze and slipped past through. It’s a dream, after all. I followed her, but the intense heat hindered me. How can she run through that and be left unscathed?
The inferno grew and crept closer to me, engulfing me as the fire burned my mane and tail. The sharp pain from my hooves climbed up to my neck and to the rest of my body. I groaned in agony as the fire scorches the fur and hair around it. The flame manages its way deeper into my skin. A scream of agony eluded from my mouth while half of my body is burnt till it's black.
What if I trot myself out of this dreadful torch? What if I call for help? Unfortunately, Flare’s far away from me now. I doubt she would come back for me if she’s running in fear. What if I…
Come to think of it, it's bizarre how I can still think about escape when I have no way out.
Before I knew it, the inevitable came. I can’t help but lie down while every part of my body cooks to a crisp. My blood is boiling as it were like water. My light brown coat turned to a deep scarlet. Blood gushed from my body and forms a pool of crimson. Muscle tissues have no chance against their opponent. My flesh gives up and lets itself burn and fall apart. The victor pushes on to my bones. They were no match for it. My eyeballs were long gone as they popped out of my eye sockets. My mouth and wounds pours out nothing but blood.
And after all that, I can still feel the pain.
I opened my bloodshot eyes and saw Flare, sleeping beside me. I’m in cold sweat and my heart races a marathon. Her muzzle touched mine and her horn glows as it touched my forehead.
“Flare,” I whispered to wake her up, but to no avail.
I shook her while calling out her name. She still hasn’t woken up, so I stopped afterwards. Then I stared at her face. She’s so innocent. I pulled back so her horn wouldn’t touch me. After that, I pushed my head and our lips met. Her soft lips didn’t respond, until her eyes opened and gave out a gentle moan as we continued our kiss.
A blissful moment has passed and we finally broke free. I pulled back, but she pushed forward. She obviously wants more, but that will have to wait.
“Why do you have to wake me up?” she asked with a hint of curiosity.
“Well, I had a nightmare. I was in a field and you were there. Then a fire busted out from nowhere. You escap—” I was cut by a hoof on my lips.
“I know. I was there, having the same dream,”
“But, how?”
“I can’t explain much, but lemme ask you this. Did my horn touch your forehead?”
“Yeah,” I said with a nod of agreement.
“And it glowed, right?”
“Yup.”
“So while we were dreaming, my horn became a bridge for my dream to link to yours. What you dreamt is the same as mine,” she explained with confidence.
“Wow. So how did it glow while you were still asleep?” Really, I simply can’t understand unicorns.
“Well, my horn does this every time I sleep,” she nervously said.
“Oh,” I said. It wouldn’t hurt to learn a little of life every day.
“Now, how did it end?” she asked as if she were a therapist.
“I was burned to death,” I said with indifference.
“Oh,” she was surprised at my response.
“So I guess we had different points of view when we were dreaming.”
“Oh yeah? How so?”
“My dream ended when everything went black while I was running through the fields.”
“Well that’s entirely different as mine.”
It was a dream, but what happened in it looks real enough. I mean, if I was in a dream, then I would be an alicorn. A strong and handsome alicorn. But all that comes and goes every time I wake up. A stallion can dream, right?
If I were to die in a fire, then if my hunch is right, Flare wouldn’t be touched by fire. I will prove that correct. If I don’t, then it was just a weird dream.
I know what I’m gonna do today.