//------------------------------// // Take My Reins // Story: Building Blocks // by BirdyTheEarthPony //------------------------------// Chapter Four Take My Reins It was a nice night outside, the stars were clear and bright and the moon looked full and beautiful; just as it had in my past mind. “It all looks so similar…..How can it be different?” I wondered aloud. I was somber in my thoughts as I stared into the night sky. I had never been a runner, but now……now I was running from everything all at once. Was I really running for a reason? I was at a party meant to welcome me into this strange world and I ran from it. What was I doing? I was being pathetic; A real let down to myself. But, somehow I felt justified. I had just lost some of my most important memories, and I didn’t even know if they were memories at all. It was just so confusing, and I had to process this all at once. A light breeze swept over me, sending a slight chill down my spine and disturbing the long grass around my hooves. I started walking again, feeling sorry for myself and moping, not knowing what to do next with my life. I had been walking for some time enjoying the night air and peaceful solitude before I came to a small stream. It was clear, but still held a reflection of the night sky within its waters. I came to the water’s edge and looked to the bottom; small moss tipped rocks barely stirred as the fresh water cascaded over them. My eyes changed focus to the reflection, this time in front of the night sky there was a face; different than before, it was me. My once pale brown coat had grown a lustrous latte color as my mane had darkened into a softer brown that blended better with my body color. My eyes that had been deep set and sunken, now were full and vibrant; the glazed brown color from before had been replaced with a smooth, dark , rich brown that gave me a look of character. I smiled at the reflection, “Not near what you were buddy, but you’re better” I then decided that I needed to pick myself up from this slump. Being a sad wretch was getting me nowhere in a world where I was already nowhere. I had to start climbing and I finally knew where to start. Before returning to the tree-lined path that I had been fallowing I looked back into the stream. I was met with my face once again, this time with a hopeful look. I had direction; a place where I should head and I knew how to start. I sighed, returning to the path, continuing along as I had before. As I walked I held my head higher, letting the light breeze tease my mane and entice my senses. I could tell this walk was going to be a habit for me in the near future. Someway further down the path I broke away from the worn dirt road to sit under a giant tree that had grown away from the rest. Even in the moonlight it seemed to cast a shadow upon the ground. This was going to be my spot I decided; my spot to think and clear my head, and what better time than now to do just that? I slumped against the worn bark and leaned my head back, staring at the sky through the newly formed leaves. “What had even caused me to lose my memories?” Focusing on a small star that seemed to twinkle, I sighed “Will I lose them all? What happens if I do? Did they even technically exist?” nothing but the wind answered me, picking up to an almost strong gust. I closed my eyes for a small moment to think. Realizing that I was tired, I decided I would just rest here for a small moment is all. Give me some more time to clear my head before returning to the hospital before Nurse Redheart sent a full search party. Just a few moments…… Something wet hit my nose, then another, and another, before soon I was being pelted with raindrops that seemed to be more of a mist then anything. My eyes snapped open and I saw that morning light was being hidden by thick ominous looking clouds. I had slept all night out in the wild! I could see ponyville off in the distance, so I started at a gallop towards where I knew the hospital was. I eventually got to the big front door of the hospital, but before entering I hoped that I was early enough. I was not. There sat Nurse Redheart, looking furious and tired, “I said Sunset.” She glared at me “NOT, sun RISE the NEXT MORNING!!” I stammered, “Uh…. I…got lost?” she shook her head. “Sure you did, lost all the way to a party, or so I heard.” “How did you even…” before I could finish asking she cut me short “Pinkie Pie told me, she has a way with those things.” Of course…… “Well Mister since you are alive I guess and have NO trouble “finding” your way about I don’t see why I should keep you here anymore….I mean you can still come by and check up on me….cant you?” I nodded my head, “Yes of course nurse! Always, you have given me nothing but good care and I am forever thankful Mrs.Redheart!” She looked sad, almost too sad. Something was about to happen. She looked at me, tears in her eyes and said “Goodbye son, be careful…..” before I could react she had left back into the hospital, crying. “Wha-?! Mrs.Redheart! You’re my mom? How?” I yelled in the direction that she had walked but I got no response. Day two on my own and I had another bomb dropped in my lap.Why would she just say that and then leave? I decided to go ask the only other person I really knew at all for some help, direction or anything! Twilight Sparkle had just left her house and was running through her list of errands to complete before I almost ran directly into her. “Hi Ethan, why the hurry?” she asked, adjusting herself. “I was leaving the hospital and I was sorry for making Nurse Redheart mad and then she yelled at me and I think she kicked me out but before she did she called me son and I don’t know if I’m her son or how I’m her son am I her son?!” I panted, feeling a bit like Pinkie Pie with that last sentence. “Well I guess shoping can wait really….” She said flatly as she put her list back in her saddlebags. “So Ethan what happened at the party last night?” I felt bad, they had noticed. “Well I needed to clear my head; I lost something very important to me….” “What was it? Do we need to ask everypony if they had seen something?” “Not really, thank you though, it’s a kind gesture” “No really it’s no problem at all Ethan let me just ask Pinkie and….” I cut her short. “It’s my memories Twilight; I lost some of my memory.” She didn’t seem too shocked, “But how do you have memories? If you were in a coma your entire life, no offense but, you should be blank.” I should be blank? Maybe I should be blank…..Just start new, leave the old me behind, but I knew I couldn’t. I missed my old life very much still. “Hey Ethan? Are you still listening?” I blushed, “Sorry I kind of got lost in thought”. “No problem! Since you did say memories and how you lost them, I thought maybe you would allow me to try a new spell to see if I could recover them?” I looked at her, with shock in my eye. “Get them back? You can give me my memories back?”. “Well I can certainly try! No guarantees though…..”She trailed off as she went through her library, scanning books. I was left sitting on a plush couch in the center of the library. I looked around and saw a common theme; Books. Everywhere there were books, I understood that it was a library and that books were not abnormal but the amount of books here was just plain excessive! Soon enough Twilight found her way back carrying a large dusty book in her magic grip. “Okay just relax please and try your best not to move!” I laid down on the couch, my head nearest to her. “This shouldn’t hurt should it?” I looked nervous. “Nope” I don’t know if there was more to the sentence because before she could finish I was out. I awoke with Twilight inches from my face, horn still slightly glowing. I backed up suddenly, blushing. She looked at me with a blank stare, “Ethan you don’t have any memories but the ones you have from waking up.” I sat in stunned silence, what was it that I remember then? Just a large dream that I’m losing fragments of? But how could I speak their language and think thoughts at all? My voice cracked, “So I can never have my memories, or dreams, or whatever back?” She shook her head “No I don’t think so Ethan, I’m really sorry, truly I am. I know this must be hard for you and all and if you need help with anything feel free to ask me!” I looked up, I did need help. Now actually, I needed to find a way to be productive or to help somehow, maybe earn some bits and buy a house even. But first I wanted to be in prime physical shape, just as I had been. I thought it might help me with my thoughts and my fears, at least some. “Yes actually! I need a job, or someway to earn money and I need it to be very physically demanding!” “That’s a really….odd request.” She cocked her head to one side, “If you really wanted a job that fits that criteria I would seek out Applejack, she has one of the hardest jobs in Equestria!” “Really?” I asked, “Where is she and how can I get there?” Twilight laughed and looked out the door; the rain had picked up now and was almost a downpour. “Well, you aren’t going anywhere is this terrible rain, and neither am I!” Twilight sat down on the couch next to me, “Why do you want such a hard job anyway?” “Well” I started, “Back in my old memories, I had been somewhat of an athletics star. It was what I did and what I took pride it. I just think that if I got back to where I was in my past thoughts that I might be a little more stable in this world.” “Oh I see, so you’re trying to find an identity in a way?” I nodded. I hadn’t even thought about this, I needed an identity in this world now; just as I had in my last mind. So far I had been the “lost and confused” pony, but no more! Twilight sighed, “Sorry if I jumped to conclusions, I just get carried away sometimes with my thoughts and I tend to say something I shouldn’t have.” I shook my head, “Not at all Miss Sparkle, you are a very wise pony! I do need an identity and I hadn’t even thought about that. Thank you for reminding me!” Twilight blushed and looked away from me, “Not very many ponies use my name like that! You’ll embarrass me! Just call me Twi or Twilight please. “She giggled. “Anyway as soon as the rain clears we can leave to get you to Applejacks! Oh and I almost forgot, since you don’t have a place to stay, I guess it would be okay if you stayed here!” I tripped over my words, “Here? Just me, a random pony, in your house? When do I need to leave, and what do I need to do to pull my weight around the place?” She chuckled and looked outside, “The rain is clearing some, atleast enough to travel in. And yes you, here, no rules or policies or anything tricky. Just don’t sweat things so much, you worry too much and that means a lot coming from me, trust me.” She trotted towards the door and looked over her shoulder, “Coming?” I rushed out after her, looking forward to the new direction that I was heading.