//------------------------------//
// Chapter One - New Beginnings 
// Story: Gale Break 
// by FDSuprema 
//------------------------------//

	Gale’s injuries weren't serious, and he was released from the hospital after only a few days. Though his physical injuries had healed, he still was alone, not knowing who he was. Because of his predicament, Twilight offered Gale a room in the library, seeing as he had nowhere else to go. He accepted for the time being, though he felt like he didn’t wanna stay long. 
As thanks, Gale helped out all he could throughout the library, though he spent a lot of time studying books and learning about Equestria. Everything seemed so... foreign to him, as though the more he learned, the less sense anything seemed to make. Twilight had suggested that learning new information, reading through these books, might jog his memory somehow. Though at this point, it seemed a lost cause. 
        Regardless, Gale kept diligent and continued studying, hanging onto that strand of hope. A month had past since he awoke in the forest that day... He sat in the library, reading a book on the basics of flying. 
“Ooh no! Nononono!” Twilight walked down the stairs, muttering to herself, and began pacing around the library.
Gale looked up from his book, “Um... Miss Twilight? Is something the matter?”
“Is something the matter? YES, something’s the matter. Princess Celestia has requested an audience with YOU! But you’re not ready! You don’t know the first thing about the proper etiquette around royalty!” Twilight snapped at Gale, “What to do... What if I...?” She resumed muttering to herself, seemingly trying to come up with a plot to fix the situation.
Gale sighed, “Geez, Miss Twilight. It seems like you don’t trust me at all...” He said halfheartedly, with a light smile crossing his face.
Twilight shook her head, “It’s not like that, I just want you to make a good impression... I mean, what if she doesn't like you? What if you accidentally say something wrong and she sends you to the dungeon! Or worse, the MOON!”
“Would she really do that...?” Gale inquired, tilting his head inquisitively, “I thought she was supposed to be a really kind and benevolent Princess...”
Twilight frowns, “Well, maybe it’s a bit of an exaggeration, but still!”
Gale chuckles, “It’s kinda funny, you’re way more nervous than I am about this. Personally, I don’t think worrying will help. Besides, you’ve helped me so much as it is, if you keep worrying like this you’re gonna get wrinkles.”
Twilight pouted. “Well excuse me for worrying about your well being.” 
Gale shook his head, “That’s not what I mean... Well, you’ve just been so much help, I can’t imagine where I’d be now if I hadn’t met you and Vee. You’ve both helped so much, I just at this point feel bad for putting you out so much, like a burden...”
Twilight smiled, “Oh shush, you’re not a burden." she waved her hoof at Gale dismissively, then turned and looked around, "But, come to think of it... Where IS Vee? Honestly, that lazy pony always seems to disappear on me...” She holds her hoof to her chin, then turns to Gale. “Well, since Vee seems to be missing, and Spike’s off helping Rarity today, do you think you could pick up some supplies in town for me...?”
Gale nodded, “Sure, no problem. I’m pretty sure I've got the layout of the area down now.”
Twilight pulled out a paper, written on it were the supplies she needed. She walked over and gave it to Gale, as well as a pouch full of coins, “There should be more than enough here... Just get what you can. If there’s any you can’t get, don’t worry about it.”
Gale took the list and money and pocketed it. “No problem.” He walked over to the door, but stopped before stepping outside, “And... Miss Twilight... Thank you again... Really. Thank you so much.”
Twilight smiled awkwardly, “Oh come off it. It’s what friends do.”
“Friends, huh? I suppose you’re right...” Gale smiled as he walked out the door.





“Alright, I’ve got the quills, paper, ink... Now to go and pick up the perishables from the market.” Gale looked at his list and spoke to himself, before turning and walking down the road. As he walked, he thought to himself. ‘Still... I wonder what the Princess could want with me...? Maybe she knows something about my past... Miss Twilight said something about a strange magical aura around me... Maybe it has something to do with that...? Ugh, this is making my head hurt...’
As Gale continued walking along and thinking to himself, suddenly a flash of light blinded him, and a strange tingly feeling covered his body. “What in the world...?!” He raised his hoof in front of his face to shield himself from the light. As the light died down, he lowered his hoof and looked around. He noticed that the scenery had changed. He was no longer on a road in Ponyville. It seemed to be a large castle hall, lined with stained glass windows. 
“Ah, there you are... It’s been awhile since I’ve used a teleportation spell quite like that... I wasn’t so sure where exactly in the castle you’d show up.” A woman’s voice rang out through the hall. Gale turned around, only to find himself standing in front of a tall white alicorn mare with flowing multicolored hair. 
“P-Princess Celestia...?” he blinked, confused.
“I see you’ve been studying then, though I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised at that, considering you’ve been staying with my faithful student, Twilight Sparkle.” Princess Celestia smiled warmly, “Regardless, young Gale Break, I do have something I wish to discuss with you.”
Gale opened his mouth, about to say something, then shut it, looked as though he was thinking, then finally spoke. “...Can I, uh, ask a few questions first?”
The Princess nodded. “Of course you may.”
Gale sighed, “Okay, barring the obvious ‘Why’d you teleport me without any warning’... What do you want with ME? I’m just a Pegasus. Sure, I happen to not know who I am or anything, but... There’s really nothing special about me.”
Princess Celestia chuckled, “That, my little pony, is where you are wrong. I’m sure you sensed the darkness inside that twister the day you woke up, because I did as well, and there was no way ordinary pegasi could have taken care of it, even with the entire emergency weather team stationed in the Ponyville region,, let alone singlehoofedly. In fact, I was just about to take care of it personally when the dark presence faded. When I later learned about what you did, I knew there was something special about you.”
“How can there possibly be anything special about me...? I don’t even know who I am...” Gale frowned, his eyes narrowing and looking to the ground.
“All that really matters, Gale Break, is who you are now, not who you were.” Princess Celestia placed her hoof on Gale’s shoulder. “Now, I have a question for you. Rather, a request. I would like your help in protecting peace and order in the land. I believe your talents are just what we need.”
Gale looked up at The Princess, “You mean like... Join the Royal Guard...?” 
Celestia shook her head, “No. I have another unit in mind. There are many creatures across Equestria, and even more beyond our borders. This unit I assign missions to protect ponies from the dangers of magical creatures and beasts that might threaten the safety of the citizens of Equestria, and I make sure that only the best of the best are part of it. They are the only full unit that serves directly under me.”
Gale frowns and his eyes begin glowing green “So basically you just want me to fight for you... Tch, typical royalty." He pulls away from the Princess and looks out a window, "Listen, I don’t like fighting. I don’t fight because I enjoy it. I fight because I have to. To protect what’s dear to me.”
Celestia smiles, “I know. I don’t expect you to fight in any real battles. But... There’s something out there. Something far darker than anything I’ve ever felt before. I fear that the entire planet is at risk, not just Equestria. That is what I’m asking you to fight. I want your help to protect everything that’s dear to me.”
Gale looks to the floor, “I... I really shouldn’t. I need to focus on getting my memory back... I keep seeing these faces in my mind; In my dreams. I feel so sad when I see them, but I can’t remember who they are. I just want to remember...” The glowing subsided from Gale’s eyes as he recounted.
Celestia nodded, “And I believe this force might be connected to you. I sense a similar power inside you. It’s likely- No. I’m certain that if you confront this darkness, you’ll remember.”
Gale looked to the ground, “I’ll think about it... This is just all so sudden.”
The Princess smiled, “No need to decide now. After all, I still expect you to come along with Twilight Sparkle soon. Give me your answer then.”
Gale Break turned towards the Princess and nodded. “Alright then. Now, uhh... Could you send me back, please? I was actually doing some shopping when you zapped me here...”
“Of course. I’ll be eagerly awaiting your answer. Until next time, young Gale Break.” Princess Celestia raised her horn upwards as it started glowing. A magical aura took hold of Gale Break, and he was once again teleported. This time, back to where he was before... Give or take a few feet.





About an hour later, Gale returns to the library holding a number of bags full of supplies and groceries.  “Miss Twilight! I’m back!” He shouted, announcing his return as he walked into the kitchen, placing the groceries down on the table.
“Gale! There you are! You took a bit longer than I expected. I was starting to get worried that you got lost again...”  Twilight entered the kitchen, using her magic to grab the supply bags that Gale had carried in. “Did you find everything okay?”
“Yeah, not a problem. Except for that Quill you wanted... Davenport said he should have them back in stock in a few days though. ” Gale ran his hoof through his mane.
Twilight shook her head, “Don’t worry about it. I swear, that pony runs out of quills faster than me.” 
“Heh, yeah... Well, uh, while I was out, I did run into somepony... Kinda...” Gale kicked the ground nervously. “While I was out shopping, suddenly I was surrounded by a veil of light, and then was somewhere entirely different. It was some kind of teleportation spell.”
Twilight raised an eyebrow, “Teleportation...? Are you alright?! That’s a dangerous spell if used improperly!" she frowned angrily, "Do you know who it was?!” 
Gale furrowed his brow as Twilight ranted, “Well... Uhh... When the light dimmed... I found myself in Canterlot Castle. Princess Celestia was the caster.”
“What.” Twilight's expression suddenly blanked at the mention of Princess Celestia.
“Yeah... Imagine my surprise, out shopping then suddenly in a completely different city, let alone in the company of the Princess.” Gale smiled sheepishly.
Twilight frowned, “You didn’t speak inappropriately or be disrespectful did you?! Oh this is exactly why I wanted to be with you when you met with her!”
Gale shook his head, “Relax. I didn’t say anything that would get anypony in trouble. I don’t think I did, anyway...”
Twilight grimaced, “How reassuring... What did Princess Celestia want with you, anyway?”
Gale frowned, “About that... Basically, she offered me a job.”
Twilight blinked, “She... offered you a job? As in, with the royal guard? But you’ve got to train for years before they’ll even think about recruiting you!”
Gale shook his head, “No, she said it’s a unit separate from the Royal Guard, that answers directly to her. Something about the unit existing to protect Equestria from magical creatures such as those in the Everfree Forest.”
Twilight brought her hoof to her chin, “Hmm... Maybe she was referring to Clarion...”
Gale tilted his head curiously, “Clarion...?”
Twilight nodded, “All I know about Clarion is that it’s a small and secretive group of ponies that Princess Celestia trusts with her life. I met a few of them, which is why I know about the group... If she wants you in Clarion, she must definitely know something about your past. This isn’t a decision she’d take lightly...”
Gale sighed, “I still don’t get it... Honestly, I don’t like fighting. I only fight when absolutely necessary. But here she’s asking me to fight for her... She says if I do, I might get my memory back.”
Twilight put a hoof on Gale’s shoulder, “Gale, I think you should do it. You’ll get to travel all over Equestria, and even beyond its borders. The things that you would see could definitely help with your memory. Besides, I've seen you training outside, you’re incredibly skilled.”
        “That’s... Muscle memory. ...I think. Instinct. Just something I start doing without thinking about it." Gale shrugged Twilight off and looked away, "As for my memory... I’ve started having second thoughts. I had a bit of time to think about it after I got back and finished the shopping. I... Don’t know if I really want to remember anymore... What if I turn out out to be someone completely different than I am now? What if I forget all that I’ve learned from everypony here; What if I-”
Gale was interrupted as Twilight slapped him. “Oh, shut up! You won’t forget your friends. And even if you do, we’ll make you remember, just like you’d remember your past!”
Gale rubbed his cheek. “Ow. That’s one heck of a right hook you got there." he smiled, "Thanks, though. I think I’ll sleep on it. Princess Celestia still wants us both to come to the castle soon, so I’ll think about it and give my answer then.”
Twilight smiled, “You do that. In the end, it is your decision after all.”
Gale nodded, “Right then! In that case, I thought I’d try my hoof at cooking tonight! I found a really interesting recipe in a book earlier, I thought I’d try it out and see if maybe I was a cook before I lost my memory. You never know, you know?”