A warm breeze hit him. The first one in what seemed like an eternity. He slowly opened his eyes, midday light stinging them. His eyelids clamped shut from the light, spots burnt in his vision. He opened them again, not stopping at any capacity of light. Once his eyes were open, everything was a blur. He lied on a sludge of green, and a smudge of brown was not distant from him. Above, there was a painfully light blue, light from the sun hitting his eyes, making it harder to see.
A moment later, a different color stood out from the background of brown, a blotch of yellow coming from it. The blotch of color came closer to him, at a more accelerated pace as it got closer. The color was almost among him when he tried to get to his feet. Yet, he had no strength. A surging pain filled his shoulder blades as he tried to stand. He could barely keep his eyes open when the blotch of color was among him.
A feminine figure stood on all fours in front of him, all limbs at full extent. The yellow color of her coat, even though in shadow above him, was still bright to the eyes. He glanced upward to see the head of the creature above his. Her eyes were large and blue, the very cuteness of them nulling his pain. Her nostrils flared and retracted on a small muzzle, sniffing him. Her eyes were scanning his helpless body, making him a tad uncomfortable as she surveyed his underbelly. She turned her head, revealing small white swirls on her cheek. The color spread to her chest and broadened there, going under her barrel. He looked up to the top her neck. Her mane was essentially the same color as her coat, just a tad bit more green. The color darkened as it reached the peak of the mane.
"Grandiur..." His voice rasped. He wondered what he just said, as it meant no meaning to him. The creature glanced back to his eyes, nodding in acknowledgement.
His vision lost focus. His head felt light. He felt as nauseous as a drunken sailor during a violent storm on sea. His strength entirely left him. As his vision faded, the figure sprinted away, yelling muffled cries as he slipped into unconsciousness once again.
---
He woke in a shaded area. Woven curtains surrounded him at either side, not translucent in any form. A curtain in front of him had been left open, retracted to the left, swaying ever so slightly. It was held up by a metal frame, resting on the ground for stability. A slightly translucent material was above him, allowing sunlight to illuminate the area. The wall far front of him was made of the same material, translucent enough if one would put their eye to it, they could see in.
He closed his eyes, savoring the darkness it provided. He was in no condition of any effort. He needed rest. As the warm fingers of sleep took his mind, a loud noise startled him. He sat up swiftly, searching for the source of the noise. After failing to seek the source of the noise, he rubbed his eyes with the side of his hooves.
As he drew them away, he spotted the yellow mare at the foot of the bed. She lightly smiled at him, sighing for relief. He was unsure of how to greet this lady, as he was a little shy of her.
"H-h-hi..." He stammered, sure as day he was making a fool of himself.
"Hello." She replied, rubbing one front hoof over the other ankle. Her eyes were low, studying the ground.
"So, w-what's your n-ame?" He didn't know why he couldn't stop stuttering.
"My name? It's -"
"Is this our newest patient?" A voice interrupted, the source of it appearing from behind the furled curtain. Her coat was purple, with swirls of a darker shade of grey swerving down her hind legs. Her eyes were a dark blue, almost the color of night. A blue horn pointed out from her forehead, parting a mane of the mixture of dark blue and grey from her face. The mane fell beautifully on her neck, swaying slowly as she walked toward him.
"Yes, Dr. Nightshade," The yellow mare answered, "He was deserted in the Forbidden Plains. He was barely hanging onto consciousness when me and my friends retrieved him."
Nightshade's eyes narrowed with interest. "Well, shall I ask why you were there in the first place, Ms. Radi?"
Radi looked down, rubbing her front hoof against her other leg in wider strokes. "Well... I..."
"Hadn't she come, I would've died in the... Forgotten Plains?" His mouth moved before he'd ever thought of this action.
"The Forbidden Plains," she corrected in an insulted tone.
"The Forbidden Plains, excuse me. She saved me from certain death. Of course that would drop any charges against her?"
"Drop any charges?" She laughed. "Don't you know politics?"
He ground his teeth together. He knew politics... but nothing came to mind. "Fine then," he muttered.
She laughed again, "Don't worry Mr. Grandiur, you're 'friend' here won't face any charges."
... Mr. Grandiur? Grandiur? He looked around. Nightshade couldn't have been referring to him... could she...?
"That's... that's not my name..."
"Okay then, what is it?" She raised an eyebrow at him, expecting an answer almost immediately.
But it didn't come. He hesitated. What was his name? Why couldn't he remember his own name? "I... I don't... know..."
Nightshade raised her eyebrows. She narrowed them back down, keeping her gaze on him. "Do you remember any past events?" She asked slowly.
"... No, I do not," he replied.
"Do you remember any other pony, dragon, cat, dog, et cetre, that have a connection to you?"
"I don't even remember if any other creature had a connection to me."
"Have you ever had a connection with any type of weaponry?"
"No!" He snapped. He was getting quickly stressed. Why couldn't he remember these things?
"Then why did you say 'Grandiur' before you fell unconscious again?"
"I... I don't..." He held his head in his hooves, fighting his stress.
Nightshade narrowed her eyes. "Look at me." - The colt did so reluctantly "Are you telling the truth?"
"Yes," He nodded along with the confirmation. She was silent, levitating a clipboard and a pen surrounded by a dark blue aura. She mouthed to herself, writing down the statistics. Hesitating, she announced to him, "Mr. Grandiur --and you will now be known by that name-- you have amnesia.
"You have lost memories, Mr. Grandiur, that you may not ever get back. Not even the darkest magic can repair it. I can help you no further." She looked at him confidently. "Well then, can you stand?"
"I don't think I ca -"
"Don't think, do."
Grandiur slowly scooted his way off the stretcher. He drifted one hind leg off the edge, then the other. He gradually hoisted himself on his hind legs, shaky from sudden exertion. Soon after, his front legs joined them.
"Good, now, can you walk?"
He put one hoof in front of the other at a slow cruising pace. He was surprised at his balance, but it wasn't perfect. He swayed to one side too far. Radi caught him before he hit the ground. Mumbling a slight, "Thanks," when he was back to his feet, he walked to Nightshade, unsteadiness diminishing by the second.
Nightshade's eyes were following him, but not looking at his legs or face. She was studying his flank. Grandiur wondered what would make her look there. A gaping wound? he thought, She looks pretty surprised. What is up back there? He took a look back to his hind. Nothing was out of the usual. Just a blank blue coat. His light red and blue tail swayed gently side to side behind him as he studied it.
"No cutie mark, I see..." Nightshade studied his figure. "You look about 16... yet no cutie mark..."
Grandiur was confused. "What is a cutie mark, might I ask?"
Radi blinked. "How -" she must have forgotten he had amnesia for a moment. "A cutie mark is a design that tells you your destiny. Which ever way you interpret it is up to you." She turned to show her flank to him, a reddish sun with orange rays flicking from it. Grandiur nodded. "I see."
"My name is Radi. It is short for 'Radiant Beam', the name I was given," She turned to face him. "My duty is to uplift people's moods, to put light in their hearts."
Grandiur nodded again. Her name fit so well with her cutie mark, he wondered what a 'Grandiur' would look like.
"So," Nightshade said, "You need to set up shelter. Conveniently, I had bought unused ground near the north side of camp. You may build there. I would wait until tomorrow though, so you have your maximum strength. Radi?"
"Yes, Dr. Nightshade?" She responded.
"Would you be so kind to shelter Grandiur for tonight? It would be unkind of us to have him sleep out in the wilderness."
Radi glanced at Grandiur, smiling lightly. "It would be my pleasure."
"Good." Nightshade looked toward Grandiur. "It doesn't seem like you have any serious injury. In fact, I would say that your condition is not too shabby. Just grab some grub and rest, and you'll be in top condition tomorrow."
Grandiur nodded once again. "Thank you for your services, Dr. Nightshade." He said.
"Don't mention it. Tomorrow I will escort you to your property. Plan for me to come at dawn."
"Okay. I will make sure to remember."
As they exited the infirmary, Grandiur took a gander around him, taking in what the village had to offer. They were standing on a vantage point of a green hill, extending down quite a ways before flattening. Slightly to the right was the village. Looking down on it from the hill, it seemed to be entirely tents. No buildings were in sight. The tents circulated around a statue of a mare with a long horn and wings. On the statue's flank was a set of diamond shapes. The statue faced toward the setting sun, as twilight fell on the camp. It was rearing slightly on its back legs, wings extended as if taking off, and its front legs were hovering off the ground, still looking as if it was running. Something about that statue reminded him of something.
"Grandiur, are you going to become a statue yourself, or come along?" Radi's voice broke him out of his trance.
"Oh! Yeah, I'll be down there!" Grandiur turned and trotted toward her.
"Could you make it fast? We don't want to be out past sunset." She was already down on the foot of the hill.
"As you wi-IIIIIISSSSHHH!" He had stumbled and fell on the steep hill, barrel rolling down it. Faster and faster the ground became the sky, and the sky became the ground. He'd tried to stop himself multiple times, digging dirt up with his hooves. He then would start somersaulting down it, and trying to stop again would only make him fly and barrel roll again. He hung on to his nonexistent lunch as he spun away, hoping it would soon stop. A moment later, the rolling slowed, and his brain detached itself from the side of his head. He came to a gradual stop, landing on his back, belly up, legs sprawled as the rolling came to an end. He could barely focus on Radi's face, she snickering at his clumsiness. He rolled carelessly on his belly, almost turning 360 degrees.
"Are you all right?" Radi asked, trying to keep back her laughter.
"Just took a little tumble. I'm alright." Grandiur stood, swaying to and fro.
"You took a graceful fall there," said a masculine voice to his left, "What's your name, Westley?"
"No," Grandiur answered, looking toward the source of the noise, "It's Grandiur."
He chuckled. "Well, Grandiur, nice to meet you. We saw Radi -" he gestured toward her with his head, "- and her gang haul you in. So, what's up with you?"
"Amnesia," Radi pitched in, "He was in the Forbidden Plains when I found him. He had no strength at all."
The stallion nodded, red mane bobbing as he did. "The Forbidden Plains, huh? What business had you there?"
"I'd prefer not to talk about it." Her voice cracked at the end of the statement.
"Sure you wouldn't," He responded, flipping his head to reposition his mane. "After all, didn't Teal -"
"Shut up!" Her voice blazed, the amplitude searing Grandiur's ears with pain. The stallion stepped back, intimidated by this sudden blaring noise. Surprised civilians poked their heads out of their tents, muttering amongst themselves.
"W-well..." The stallion stuttered, "I guess I-I have no business h-here, th-then." He immediately fled into camp.
Grandiur was blown away. That escalated quickly, he thought in awe, Better not bring up this subject.
Radi turned toward him. "Well, then," Her voice quivered, "Shall we move on?"
Grandiur looked toward the west, a sliver of the sun barely showing over the horizon. "Yeah, let's go."