"Pal, I've been a weather pony for a long time. And believe it or not, I'm actually good at my job! Now being a weather pony for mostly Ponyvile and farms, I've gotten used to how the weather needs to be. But this? What in the name of Celestia are some of these weather orders about!?"
"Miss Dash. You've been a loyal employee at the Cloudsdale Weather Co. for the longest of time, and you've followed your orders to the letter. Why stray now?"
"Because some of these orders make no sense! And I've talked to other weather ponies recently, and they're all noticing the same thing. Then! For some strange and unknown reason, they stop talking. Care to explain four eyes?"
"Hm. I'd reframe from your childish behavior if I were you. Now all we expect of you is to do as you've always done. Roll over like the stupid, loyal dog you are."
"Say what? I'd oughta beat your sorry flank until you're a new shade of blue! You come into my home and push me around? Do you want me to take you for a little flight and show you what it feels like to be tossed across Equestria into the Griffin kingdom at the speed of sound!?"
"Big talk Miss Dash. But you hardly scare me. What you need to understand is, things are different now. Not to mention the fact is I have one advantage you couldn't have if you lived for a millennia."
"Oh yeah? What's that?"
"Leverage."
__________________________________________________________________________________________
I don't know how long I've sat around. After the revelation with Twilight, I just don't know what to do. The thought of never knowing who I was, hurts so much. Without your past, what moves you on into the future?
I'm just glad Twilight let me stay for awhile. She took my locking up harsh. I just kind of shut down in the middle of the place. Been resting on the floor since. Meanwhile she has worked furiously to find a cure to the memory wipe spell.
I must have fallen asleep at some point. That voice in my last dream didn't appear again. When I woke up it was turning evening, and Twilight was still hitting the books.
Though I do notice that now, there is a blanket over me. Twi or Spike must have put it there. I'll have to thank them both for their kindness. But at some point, I'll have to leave. This is my problem, not theirs.
I started to get up when I noticed that somepony else is in the room. A Pegasus.
She has a yellow coat, a pink mane, and a cutie mark with butterflies. When she realizes I'm awake and staring at her. She blushes and tries to hide behind a stack of books.
"Hey! What's the matter? Did I do something wrong?"
My voice must have gotten Twilight's attention. "Reason? Who are you talking…? Fluttershy?"
The little pony moved out of her cover of books by just a smidge. She looked over at Twilight and mumbled some words.
"Fluttershy. Speak up. I can't hear you. Don't worry about Reason. He's just lost and confused, and I'm trying to help him."
Fluttershy moved out of her cover and came out into the open. She finally spoke up so I could hear her, but it wasn't much different from the whispering.
"I'm... I'm sorry Twilight. But I walked in a moment ago. I saw you working and you didn't notice me. So I didn't want to bother you. But then I saw a pony on your floor sleeping. He looked so cold, so I got him a blanket. After that I decided to wait for you. But he woke up, and I didn't know what to do…"
Wow. Talk about issues. Though she can't be all bad, she seems really kind. Not to mention…
I… What's wrong with me? I, I just. Can't control. Hugh. I want something to eat.
I quickly came back to reality to find Twilight standing by me and the Pegasus. "Oh Fluttershy, you wouldn't have been bothering me. I'm just trying to help Reason. He lost his memory."
I shakily stood up and folded the blanket with my magic. I then levitated it toward a basket and settled it in. I faced Fluttershy, giving a small smile to calm her nerves. "Hello. I'm…Reason. Detective Reason at your service madam."
"Um… hello. I'm Fluttershy. I take care of the local animals. Oh! Are you hurt mister Reason?"
"I'm fine. Just sore. I was attacked. Then wiped of my memory. I don't know-" I left the sentence unfinished. I'm still having a hard time taking it all in. It's funny actually. I sounded so nonchalant about it too.
"Reason needs help." Twilight spoke up. "And I won't rest until I find the answers I need to help him."
Fluttershy shifted her gaze from me to Twilight, and then settled on me. She seemed to be in deep thought, perhaps debating what to say next. After a moment, her gaze soften, and she seemed to relax a bit.
"I'm so sorry for what happened to you mister Reason. I was going to ask Twilight to come to a picnic with me and the others. Would you like to go too? I know it's not much, but it may help you feel a little better."
I didn't know what to say. These ponies have been so kind. Here I am. A complete burden and a complete stranger. Yet they welcome me openly. For the first time in my new memory, I've never been happier.
"I would love to Fluttershy. Come along Twilight. If there is a cure, then I can wait. Besides, I think I'd rather make some new memories right now."
Twilight gave a sad smile then nodded her head. She believes she can find a cure. She really does believe that I can be helped. And with that confident pace toward the door she made, my suspicions were confirmed. But I know the truth. You can't help what's already long gone.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
The three of us went out of town into nice, rolling hills. The stars we're starting to show, and the sunset in the background. It was magnificent, all of it. The spot where we we're to meet the others was at the top of a tall, steep hill with a tree.
As we were going up the hill, I could spy some lit candles, smell the aroma of food, and the sight of other ponies.
Fluttershy flew up ahead, while Twi and I trotted up the hill. There was the sound of greetings and other chatter. All conversation stop though, when Twilight and I finally made it to the top.
All eyes were on Twilight and me. I could see a huge blanket spread across the place. Lit candles in hanging lanterns. All kinds of food and deserts spread around. Quite the feast.
Besides Twilight and Fluttershy, there were two ponies I didn't recognize. There was of course Applejack, sitting back on the tree with her hat tilt up. A white unicorn that had a giant purple mane, that must have been fluffing a pillow before stopped. And a pink earth pony with an equally pink puffed mane, that seemed to have finished off a salad, fruit I might add judging from the apple bits hanging off her lip.
It seemed that nopony was going to speak. So I decided to end the awkward silence. "Ahm. Hi. My name is-"
In the blink of an eye, the pink pony was right in me and Twi's faces. Looking over me especially with a huge grin.
"Hi! My name is Pinkie Pie! Are you new in new town? What's your name? Why do you look beat up? Why are you here? Are you Twilight's new coltfrie-"
"Pinkie!" Twilight stop her, a furious blush in her cheeks. Thank goodness. This mare scares the bloody hay out of me.
Twilight recomposed, now with her brimming smile back. "Girls, I'd like to introduce you all to detective Reason. Canterlot's finest!"
The white unicorn, now on her feet, ran over into my face with twinkles in her eyes. "The one and only gentlecolt Reason?! Oh my, it's such an honor! I've seen you're picture now and again, and I must say your much more handsome up close. My name's Rarity. It's such an honor!"
"Um, thanks?" I answered. Okay I take it back. Compared to Pinkie Pie, this mare scares me more.
Applejack had gotten to her hooves and joined the group crowding me. "Wait, that's your name? I thought you said you can't remember it."
Rarity gasped dramatically. "Applejack. You're already acquainted with the handsome detective?"
Pinkie started tilting her head back and forth. "Wait! Why wouldn't you remember your own name? That's just silly."
Oh boy. This is going to be fun. Well, at least I'll have something to do while I eat
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Twilight had managed to get everypony settled in after a word or two. We all had some food passed around and I retold my story. Though I felt I was going to have to tell it all again since Twilight was asking about somepony named Rainbow dash. Apparently she decided not to show up.
Fluttershy was given the task to see if she could find Rainbow, while I retold the tale.
After I was finished. Everypony had something to say.
"Does this mean I can't, or can throw you a welcome to Ponyvile party? Sense you may, or may not have been here before."
"Oh this is terrible! This is just the worst. Possible. Thing. Ever!"
"Oh shucks. Now I just feel terrible kicking ya to the curve sugercube. Hope you can forgive me."
They barely know me. And I barely know them, yet they care. All of them. They're treating me like I was one of them. Like I was a friend. It's sad that I can't remember feeling like I was cared for and loved by others.
I put down my sandwich, not feeling hungry anymore. I looked onto each individual mare. "Thank you. All of you. I can't remember the last time I felt this close to others. Thank you all for being here for me. For being a friend."
"Don't thank us quite yet." Twilight spoke up. The first time in awhile. "After a day or two of rest. I'm going with you to Canterlot. We can get help, and we can try and find other friends and family of yours. And I'm sure, if the others had some free time, we could all go."
The three other ponies nodded collectively. All of them even coming together to give me a hug.
Hands down, this is the best day ever. I don't care I've got tears in my eyes. I don't even care that I may never remember again. I just want to enjoy the moment.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
After the hug broke apart, I took out that list of places and took another look at it.
"You know, it's still driving me crazy. I must have been on some kind of investigation. Something that lead me to Ponyvile. But all I have is this aforementioned list that might be mine. Apparently I was supposed to meet Applejack. Then go meet somepony else, possibly my attacker. Then finally go to Cloudsdale."
Pinkie spoke up. "Kinda weird you'd go out into Cloudsdale since you can't stand on clouds."
"Wait. Cloudsdale is a giant cloud?"
Twi answered. "Yes. Pegasi can walk and manipulate clouds. So they normally live in clouds. Though considering who you are, I'd have guess you would have just casted a cloud walk spell."
"Fair enough. So the only immediate clue is Applejack."
Everypony looked at Applejack. Applejack replied with a hint of agitation, "I've already done said Reason."
She recovered, adding in a nicer tone again, "Sorry. Look, I wasn't expecting ya sugercube. The only one that showed up was that fancy dress pony. And he…"
The realization came to us all. Twilight saying what we all were thinking.
"Applejack. That may have been the pony that attacked reason, taking his memory! If the note isn't Reason's, it was his!"
I nodded. "Even if it isn't his, it's the only lead we have. Applejack? Tell us about this fancy pony, and what he said to you."
Applejack shook off the shock. Then she looked at the ground, starting to speak. "Well-"
In flash of yellow, and with a boom, Fluttershy came crashing into the ground at the bottom of the hill with a crazed look in her eyes. We all sprinted down to find her collapsed, huffing like she just ran a marathon.
Rarity was the first to help her up, giving Fluttershy one of her own cups of water. The rest of us came along with questions asking what happened to her.
Her answer silenced us all.
"Rainbow dash." She cough out between breaths, "She's, she's gone. Her house is a wreck. And her feathers all over the place. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry everyone. I tried. I tried so hard to find her. But. But..."
Fluttershy broke into tears and sobs before finishing.