Over the next few hours my mind wandered from image to image. Not piecing any of the images together, or even giving me the decency to remember most of them. I guess even in my dreams my mind was screwy.
After sleeping for a good while, I opened my eye's. The shadows of the night still lingered in the room, but from underneath the door I could see a faint light. A good enough indication that it was a good time to get up. I noticed that there was something laying on top of me. I moved my head and noticed Pinkie was still laying on me. Her eye's were shut, and small breaths escaped her lips.
The sight of her brought nothing but warmth to my mind. This was the one I cared for, the one I confessed to, the one who had always treated me nice. Not many had treated me as nice as she did, not since Alex...
Wait, who was Alex? I laid there thinking over the name that had crossed my mind. Whatever switch had been turned on, had turned itself immediately off. Whoever Alex was, he seemed relatively important.
The thought of Alex fully escaped my mind as Pinkie shifted around on top of me. She nuzzled her face into my neck. This would have been a really cute motion, and my mind would have sent into utter bliss, if her mane had not smacked me in the face. Okay, it was probably a good idea to wake up.
I wrapped a hoof around her and leaned down to her ear. "Pinkie, come on, it's time to get up." I said softly into her ear. The pink pony didn't react. I tried again. "Come on, it's time to get up gorgeous." This brought forth no reaction from her either. Although, I was sorta glad she didn't hear me compliment her, but she needed to wake up, we still needed to get ready for the day.
With all viable action's depleted, one unlikely idea came to my mind. I knew it wouldn't hurt to at least try it, so I brought Pinkie's head out from my neck, and I slowly brought my lip's to hers. At the moment of impact it felt like the world had gotten a little brighter. Pinkie's lip's perked up and started to return my kiss. I broke the contact and looked at her. She was wearing a ridiculously happy smile.
"Well good morning sleepy head." I said, a goofy grin on my face.
"Good morning to you too." Pinkie said cheerfully if not slightly groggy, bringing her lips back to mine. After a moment of contact she broke the kiss. "Okay that's enough of that, let's get to work." She said whilst jumping off me, and dashing out of the room.
"But I was having fun." I complained. I wiggled off the couch and got up, stretching my muscles as I made my way to the exit. Once I had reached the exit, I heard a noise and stopped immediately. I looked back over at the couch. Off to the side, two small, green reptiles were laying on the ground. "What are you two doing?" Both looked up at me and blinked before they waddled over to me.
I went to grab both of them, but I stopped as I noticed something in Rythian's mouth. "What are you eating?" I asked as I moved my hoof over to the object in his mouth. I noticed it was a curved, white piece of plastic. On it were a series of colorful round buttons with a big X in the middle. When I grabbed it, Rythian refused to give it up. "Come on Rythian you can't eat that. How about this, I'll get you something else to eat, like actual food." Rythian just gave me a blank look, while Gummy kept trying to claw the controller. "Okay fine keep it. Let's just go!" I grabbed both of them and proceeded to the kitchen.
The two reptiles sat quietly on my head as I walked into the kitchen. Pinkie stood by a counter whipping something together in a bowl. She turned her head to look at me when the door closed with a click.
"Ooo, whats Rythian got in his mouth?" Pinkie asked, leaving the bowl on the counter. As she made her way towards me.
"It's not yours?" I asked her.
"No, but it looks fun!" Pinkie had somehow retrieved the controller from Rythian's mouth and was pressing random buttons on it.
If it wasn't hers than whose was it? I doubt it was Vinyl's. Maybe since Rythian had it, maybe he got it from my scarf, void, pocket, thingy.
"Okay, well you have fun with that, I'm going to go take a shower, then I'll come down and help you."
"Okie dokie lokie!" Pinkie responded enthusiastically. Her eye's lit up brightly as she watched me leave.
I smiled at her as I left the room, but banged my head on the way out. This caused Pinkie to break out laughing. I guess we were getting past the point where she would worry about my injuries, and laugh at my clumsiness instead.
***
After the events of last nights party I had decided to retire rather early. Sure I appreciated a Pinkie Pie party as much as the next pony, but the musical entertainment left a little to be desired. After saying my goodbyes to my friends I left the party, and promptly returned home and went to bed.
There I lay now between the euphoria of sleep, and the reality of the real world.
I would have stayed in that state but something was shaking me.
"Twilight, hey Twilight! Come on get up!"
"Spike, what do you want?" I mumbled, trying to stay in my comfortable position as much as possible.
"Twilight, I just received a letter from the Princess!"
My eyes shot open, and without another seconds hesitation, I jumped out of my bed and tackled Spike. "Spike! Why didn't you tell me sooner!" I yelled, inches away from my assistant's face.
"Twilight I only just got the message!" Spike said, handing me the letter as best he could from the floor of my bedroom.
"Oh, I'm sorry Spike." I said sheepishly, backing up off of Spike and taking the letter with my magic. I unfurled the scroll as Spike dusted himself off, and as soon as he was clean Spike asked, "So what does it say anyways Twilight?"
I read the letter aloud.
"My Dearest student Twilight Sparkle,
I feel that you should be one of the first to know, I am sending a group of soldiers to Ponyville around noon today. Their objective is to investigate a threat found within the Ever Free Forest. They will make judgment of whether or not there is truly a threat..."
"What kind of threat?" Spike asked impatiently.
"I don't know I haven't finished yet."
"Not much is known about the threat, other than the unfamiliar magic that has been felt building up within the forest. Both Princess Luna and I have noticed a link between this threat's appearance, and the events that have happened since this pony Jason arrived. So we ask that you relay this message to Jason, since we feel that he may be involved with this threat, we ask that he consider joining our forces as they embark into the forest. Please do notice this is not a command, and if Jason wishes he is not required to join the soldiers.
Sincerely your mentor,
Princess Celestia."
"I can't believe she would do this." I said, my mind racing.
"I can't either...” Spike paused, as if lost in thought, “So who's Jason anyways, and why is he so important?"
***
Jolon stood in front of his mirror. The reflection on it was not his, but of a black, murky silhouette. The silhouette spoke with a deep voice. This was the voice of Jolon's master, the same voice that threatened Jason, and the same voice that had stolen Jason's memories. "You have not responded to me in the last day. Have the preparation's been finished?" The mirror asked coldly.
"I'm sorry for the delay sir, it's much harder to work with these damn hooves, but my spell was a success, nonetheless. Although, it did take quite a few of our lower pawns to make the new ones." Jolon spoke nervously, speaking each word carefully to make sure he did not make a mistake.
"How many were you able to make?"
"Five sir!"
"You had enough for five?"
"I mean three." Jolon was trembling, as he realized his mistake.
"So is it three or five?"
"I'm sorry my lord, it is three."
"And why would you say five then?"
"I was tired, I have not slept since making the preparations. And I assure you I wont make a mistake like it again!"
"Are you complaining?” The voice asked.
“No sir!” Jolon was almost sweating now.
“Then you were giving me excuses?” The voice asked evilly.
“I apologize sir, I was not giving excuses.” Jolon was bowing his head slightly in respect, hoping to fix his mistake rather than be punished.
“Then what were you doing?” The mirror snapped.
“I was...” Jolon paused, realizing that this was his last chance to escape punishment. “I was only trying to give good reason as to why I made my mistake, I apologize master, it is no fault of yours.”
The mirror's figure snorted, “You better be sure of it, otherwise the consequences will not be as forgiving. Now when are you planning on attacking?"
"Before noon."
"What is your plan?" The voice grew deep, and foreboding, ready to continue his conquest for revenge.
***
After I had gotten done with my shower, I helped Pinkie with baking downstairs. Even though I was working my hoof to the bone, Pinkie still managed to make more stuff then me.
I looked at my measly portion of brownies, snicker doodles, cupcakes, and fudge that I had made. Then I looked at what Pinkie had made. She had once again made loads of assortments of cupcakes, cakes, sweet breads, chocolates, and pies. I reached under my scarf and pulled out the first thing I found. It was a white flag. I waved it in the air, admitting defeat to Pinkie.
"Come on Jason let's get these delicious looking treats ready for the customers!" Pinkie said. I didn't want to get up but I complied. I mumbled as I got up trying to force a few of the treats in the air so it would be easier to carry "Wow Jason, you certainly have gotten better with that levitation magic thing you do!" She exclaimed.
I looked up and realized I had managed to make every sweet levitate off the counter. Each had the same small symbol on them. "I guess my memories aren't the only thing that's returning then, I guess my magic is too."
"That's awesome Jason! Now let's get those out of here before you drop one!" Pinkie said, holding the door open for me.
I made the treats go through first, slowly, and once they had gone through, I followed. Once behind the store counter, I sent the desserts into their proper positions. After I made sure every pastry would land safely, I broke the spell.
"That took almost no time at all!" Pinkie said jumping on to my back. The added weight threw me off balance, and I fell to the side.
After I toppled over I opened my eyes and made eye contact with Pinkie. For some reason she started to laugh. I couldn't control myself, so I started to laugh as well.
Our laughing fit would have gone on for awhile, if not for the chiming of a bell.
"Hello, Pinkie, Jason are you here?" A familiar voice asked.
Both Pinkie and I looked at the source of the voice. "Twilight?" I asked
"Jason?" She said in return.
Pinkie got up and bounded towards where Twilight was in one motion. "Oh my gosh Twilight I missed you last night! Why did you leave the party so early!? I didn't even get a chance to say goodbye!" Pinkie said in one breath. I made my way off of the ground and I stood behind the counter looking at the two.
"Sorry Pinkie, I was just getting tired last night."
"Don't worry about it. So what brings you by this early?" Pinkie asked.
"Well, I actually came over to talk to Jason."
"You want to talk to me?" I asked.
"Yes, I received a letter from the Princess this morning. She told me about a possible threat that is lurking in the Ever Free Forest."
"And what does that have to do with me?"
"Well the Princesses felt that there's some sort of correlation between your appearance and the threat. So she has asked if you would be willing to go in with her group of soldiers."
"I'm sorry Twilight, but I fail to see my connection with the threat."
"Jason the Ever Free Forest is where the dragon came from." Twilight said with a stern face.
The same forest where the dragon came from! There might have been a connection between me and this "threat" after all. Wait the forest where the dragon came from? Wasn't that where Fluttershy and I got cornered last night?
I sighed heavily, "Okay, I'll help." I said.
"You will!?" Both Twilight and Pinkie said at once.
I jumped back at the sound of there voices going up few levels. "I kind of have to." I said sheepishly, avoiding eye contact with both of them.
"You don't have to. The Princess specifically said that it wasn't an order, that you don't have to do it if you don't want to." Twilight said.
"It's not that, it's that I know what the threat is." I said moving my eyes to look at a speechless Twilight. "Last night after I made my last delivery to Fluttershy, she had decided to walk with me back into town. We were on our way back, and we were taking the path on the edge of that forest when we were attacked." Twilight had her mouth open. I looked over towards Pinkie and her face was emotionless. "Neither of us got hurt, I took them out with a bit of magic, Rainbowdash was also there, so she could have taken care of things if it got too out of hoof. The thing was, they were just like that dragon. Except they were dead ponies. And what ended up happening was like the dragon, I absorbed the souls that had been used to reanimate them. Also like with the dragon, I passed out, so Dash carried me back to the town.” I paused for a moment, trying to recall all the events of that encounter. “One more thing, Luna came to visit me.”
"You met Princess Luna?" Twilight asked, she seemed slightly annoyed for some reason.
"Yeah, she came into my mind while I was passed out. She said she wanted to meet me. Then she helped me explore a memory I just retrieved. The memory we saw showed what happened to me before I came here." I noticed Pinkie perk up at the mention of the memory.
"What happened to you?" Pinkie asked hesitantly.
I hesitated, what if what I was about to say would damage my relationship with Pinkie. "I found out that I'm not actually a pony." I said. The look on Pinkie's face was unchanged, but Twilight's mouth was hovering above the ground.
"If your not a pony, what are you then?" Twilight asked.
I took a deep breath. "I'm what's known as a human." I looked at Twilight who was looking at me with a quizzical look. "Humans are a Bipedal species, meaning they walk on two legs. And instead of having hooves, they have hands. Anyways, Luna and I went through my memory and found out how my memories were stolen, that I was flung into a random dimension. This dimension, and for some reason I turned into a pony in the process." I looked back up and Twilight was still doing her impression of a goldfish.
"So you're not only a different species, but you're also from another dimension?" Twilight asked.
"Yes." I said as blunt as possible. I looked over towards Pinkie, her eye's were looking down at the ground. I made my way over towards her. I placed my left hoof on her shoulder, this caused her to jump, but her eye's looked at mine. "Pinkie I'm sorry, and I understand if you don't want to be with me."
Pinkie eye's watered up and she launched herself at me. She gripped my sides and rested her head on my shoulders. "NO, NO! I don't want you to go! It'll be dangerous if you go into the forest!" Pinkie pulled her head back up and looked at me. "And-And-And..." She buried her head into my neck and sobbed, "I don't want to lose you!"
I immediately wrapped my hooves around her, returning her embrace, and I started to stroke her hair. I moved my head closer to her ear, and whispered, "Pinkie you wont lose me, you never will. I will always be there for when you need me, but whatever is in the forest is my fault, and I need to to take care of it."
Pinkie released me, so I let her go as well. She turned away from and started walking towards the stairs. It was the quietest I had seen her since we had met.
I turned around to look at Twilight who had just witnessed the entire situation unfold. "When are the soldiers going to be here?" I asked her.
Twilight looked at me with a look of horror. "You're still going to go out there?" Twilight asked. “What about Pink...”
"Twilight I'm afraid that if I don't stop whatever is in the forest, they'll hurt Pinkie!" I interrupted
Twilight was shocked by my response. "They'll be here around noon."
"Okay then. Also would you mind doing me a favor?"
"What?"
"Can you go comfort Pinkie."
Twilight smiled at me. "You really do care for her, don't you?" Twilight asked, as she made her way towards the stairs.
I stared at a stack of white boxes on the counter. "I would risk my life for her." I said to Twilight as she passed by me, making her way to the top of the stairs.
I walked towards the boxes, they were the day's order's. I looked around for the list that contained the addresses. I stopped when I noticed Rythian on the other side of the boxes, the address sheet in his mouth. I smiled at the sight of the crocodile. "Hey you ready get the day started?" I asked him.
He dropped the sheet on top of the boxes and jumped on my head. His claws dug sharply into my hair, until he made himself comfortable. I looked at the boxes that needed to be delivered, and took a deep breath. I moved them onto my back and proceeded towards the exit. When I got towards the door I felt something warm roll down my cheek. I placed my hoof on my cheek and found it was wet. I was crying. I felt more tears forming. I looked back at the stairs, and whispered "I'm sorry Pinkie." under my breath, before I opened the door. The sun burned it's image into my eyes immediately.