Meanwhile, the other ponies were talking outside.
"It sure has been a while," Applejack commented.
"Oh, I hope there isn't something horrible wrong," Fluttershy whimpered, ears drooped again.
"Let's not jump to conclusions," Applejack soothed, though not hiding the concern on her face and in her voice. "I'm sure the doctor is just being thorough. Everything's gonna be fine, like Mr. Sparkle said."
"Well," Rarity added. "I think there is a fine line between being thorough and being inconsiderate to other ponies," She stamped a hoof. "And it is very close to being crossed. I have to know how Twilight is!"
"Pipe down, Rarity," AJ scoffed. "Does this doctor tell you how long it takes to make a dress? Of course not. So, I suggest you don't try and tell him how long it takes to examine a patient."
"I suppose you're right," Rarity sighed. "I'm just so worried. I mean, we thought everything was fine, but now…"
"I know." She put a hoof on her friend's shoulder. "Hey, to keep your mind off things, why don't you see what's keeping that Rainbow Dash?"
"No," Rarity shook her head. "I shan't leave this spot until we get word from the doctor."
"Suit yourself." Coincidently, the doctor came out at that moment. The group turned towards him. Twilight Velvet was the first to speak.
"What's the diagnosis?" She asked.
"Quite a few bruises here and there, and a pretty bad concussion, but otherwise good," He replied. The others sighed yet again.
"Can we go in and see Twilight now?" Fluttershy asked.
"Certainly," The doctor stepped aside to make room. "But one at a time for right now, please."
"Why don't you go first, Fluttershy?" Applejack suggested. "You have the gentlest way about ya."
"Are you sure we shouldn't wait for Rainbow Dash?" Fluttershy backed off a bit. "I mean, she was there when it happened, and she was so worried when we got here. She should get to see Twilight first."
"Well, we don't know how long it might take for her to get back with that book. Go ahead, Fluttershy," Applejack urged.
"Okay…" Fluttershy said shyly, walking in. "Hello, Twilight!" She greeted with a smile once she got inside. "How are you feeling?"
"Okay, all things considered," Twilight replied. "Are you one of my nurses?"
Fluttershy jumped a little bit and stepped back. "N-no. It's me… Fluttershy."
Fluttershy? Twilight wondered. She says that as if I know her… but I don't. "I'm sorry, maybe you've mistaken me for somepony else."
"What are you talking about? We've been best friends for years!" Fluttershy frowned.
Years?! Twilight thought. Either she's mistaken… or something is seriously wrong with me.
Seeing the freaked out look on her friend's face, Fluttershy turned towards the door. "I'll be right back." She went outside and approached the others. "Doctor?"
"Yes?" He turned towards the yellow pegasus.
"Something's wrong. I went in there, and Twilight acted as if she didn't know me! She thought I was one of the nurses, and didn't remember my name!"
"Oh my..." He looked at Twilight's parents. "Would you two come with me? Perhaps together we can figure this out. Everypony else, stay outside, please."
Twilight was still a little freaked when the doctor came in with her parents. It did give her relief to see familiar faces again. Maybe they could explain what the hoof was going on. The trio walked up to her.
"Twilight," Her mother started. "Do you know where you are?"
"Uh..." Twilight arched an eyebrow. "Canterlot General, right?"
The elder Sparkles exchanged a concerned look. "No, dear," Crescent shook his head and frowned. "You're in Ponyville."
"Ponyville?" Twilight's eyes nearly came out of their sockets. "What am I doing in Ponyville? Why am I not at school?"
"You've lived here for four years," Crescent explained. "Don't you remember that?"
"No..." Twilight put a hoof to her head. "Why can't I remember?"
"It's not uncommon for ponies with head injuries to suffer from amnesia," The doctor explained. "You did get quite the hit in your flying accident."
"Flying accident? That's why I'm here? But, I can't fly. I'm just a unicorn."
"But you have wings... How do you explain that?" The doctor lowered his glasses.
"I had assumed that I was here because I had another magic blowout at school," Twilight replied. "I thought maybe these wings were a result of that, and just no pony had reversed it yet. But, if that's not it...then why do I have wings? Why am I in Ponyville?"
"You were sent here by the princess to study friendship," Twilight Velvet explained. "You decided to stay, and, a couple of years later, you were crowned princess for your achievements."
"Princess?" Twilight started of into space, slack-jawed. In her current mental state, she was perfectly fine with being a loner, but, in reality, she was supposed to be the royal expert on friendship? She didn't know how she would handle all this. How did she the first time?! "I-I can't believe it."
"It's a lot to take in, I know," Twilight Velvet soothed. "But we'll all help you through this: Your friends, your father and me," she turned towards the doctor. "How long will it last? Is there any way we can help her remember?" She put her hoof on her daughter's.
"Sometimes it's temporary " He turned towards the elder Twilight. "An event might trigger her memory, or it will gradually come back."
"But other times?" Crescent asked, stepping towards the doctor.
"The amnesia is irreversible, and the patient just has to settle with their new found life, or start anew." Twilight gasped slightly at this.
"Don't worry, Twily," Her mother soothed. "We'll make sure that that doesn't happen. Is there any way to jump start things?"
"Once she recovers from her injuries," He lowered his glasses. "It would be best if you helped Her Highness get back into a normal routine, gradually. Maybe arrange get-togethers with her friends."
"Friends?" Twilight asked.
"Oh yes!" Twilight Velvet said. "You have several friends here in Ponyville. I know that after all you've been through together, getting your memory back will be simple."
"Yes," The doctor added. "Support from friends and family is the best thing for Twilight right now."
"All of Twilight's friends are outside already," Crescent Sparkle commented. "If it's okay with Twilight, maybe we can have them all come in and re-introduce themselves?"
"Sounds like a good plan to me," The doctor turned to Twilight. "Do you feel up to it? We don't want to expose you to too much too soon."
"I don't know…" Twilight thought about it. On one hoof, at this point, she didn't value friendship very highly. On another, though, if she was the princess of friendship, it was her duty to bond with these ponies. And, who knew? Maybe she would enjoy friendship more than she realized… "It'd be fine, I guess."
"Great," Twilight Velvet beamed. "They'll be glad to hear that. I'll let them know and send somepony in." She began to exit the room.
"And," Crescent added, "If you need us, we'll be right outside," then began to follow his wife, followed by the doctor.
Twilight's friends were all either pacing or pawing at the floor at this point. When they heard the Sparkles come out, they all stopped in their tracks.
"So?" Fluttershy asked. "What's wrong? What happened? Why did Twilight act so weird when I saw her?"
"She has amnesia," Crescent admitted reluctantly.
"WHAT?!" The entire group exclaimed, including a new voice, followed by the sound of a book hitting the floor. The group turned to see a slack-jawed Rainbow Dash, who had just returned from getting a book for Twilight, The Griffon's Goblet on the floor in front of her.
"A-a-amnesia?" She stuttered.
"She hit her head pretty bad," Crescent explained. "She doesn't remember her coronation, or living in Ponyville."
"So, she may not remember…" Pinkie Pie started, scratching her chin.
"Any of us?" Rarity finished.
"There's little telling what she remembers," Crescent explained. "What's important now is that we don't try to force it. Too much pressure might only scare her memory even further back in her mind."
"Of course," Rarity agreed, glaring as she saw Pinkie slip her party cannon behind her, a sheepish grin on her face.
"What?" Pinkie asked. "I was going to throw her a 'Get Well' party! How was I supposed to know she'd have amnesia?" The other ponies shrugged.
"Twilight agreed to let you each visit her," Twilight Velvet said. "We should probably limit it to one pony at a time. We don't want to overwhelm her."
"That rules Pinkie out as the first visitor," Applejack teased.
"Hey!" Pinkie objected, then shrunk back. "Well, maybe you're right."
"Your Highness," Crescent turned to Princess Celestia. "Perhaps you should visit first, since you are the pony of this group that Twilight knows best."
"Yes," Celestia nodded. "A good idea." She entered Twilight's room.
"Hello, Twilight," She greeted. "How are you feeling?"
Twilight chuckled a bit. "If I had a bit for every time I've heard that lately…"
The white alicorn smiled. "Well, the fact you still have a good sense of humor is a good sign. Now, is there anything you'd like to ask me?"
"A lot, actually." Twilight scratched behind her neck. "First… My parents told me you sent me here to Ponyville. Could you elaborate on that, please?"
"Do the Elements of Harmony ring a bell?"
Celestia explained the Elements, and described the defeat of Nightmare Moon and revival of Princess Luna. She explained why Twilight decided to stay in Ponyville, and how she eventually became a princess. After all this, Twilight stared off into space for a while, soaking it all in.
"I apologize if I've overwhelmed you."
"No," Twilight shook her head. "It's fine. Just… Four years of my life are gone, and all I have of them is a nutshell description to sort through. And, there are five ponies out there who expect me to be as close to them as they are to me."
"Would you like to be alone for a bit?"
"Yes, thank you. Give me a minute, then someone else can come in."
Celestia walked out, and Twilight continued to sort through what she had just learned. It brought up so many images, but none of them connected. It was like some equation with a variable missing. It drove Twilight crazy! There was a knock on the door. "Come in," Twilight called. Applejack came in.
"Hey, there, Twilight," She greeted. "I'm Applejack."
"Hi, Applejack," Twilight replied awkwardly.
"Here," AJ reached into her saddle bag and brought out a paper sack. "In case you're hungry, I brought you your favorite treat from Sweet Apple Acres: my famous Apple Brown Betty! The desert, that is- not my nanny."
"Thanks!" Twilight wasn't sure what it was, but it sounded good! Well, Twilight thought, It must be, since Applejack called it my "favorite treat." "What's Sweet Apple Acres?"
"Sweet Apple Acres is my family's apple farm. I've been helping tend it since I was a little filly." She got a proud look in her eye.
"That's nice." Twilight smiled. They continued to have a nice conversation, and the more they talked, the more familiar AJ seemed to Twilight. It was easy to see how anypony could easily become friends with her. It was the same with every other pony that came in: Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and yes, Rainbow Dash- even though she spent the least amount of time with her, and seemed most awkward about it.
"Well," RD said after talking with Twilight. "You probably need your rest. Must be a lot, you know, suddenly having a new town and new friends, and all. I'll go ahead and leave you in peace. Oh wait! Before I go, here," She took a book out of her saddle bag and handed it to Twilight.
"Daring Do and the Griffon's Goblet," Twilight read off the cover. "This is one of my favorites!" She gave a surprised look to Rainbow Dash.
"I know," She gave a half smile. "That's why I brought it. Well, see you later, Twilight." She exited the room.
Twilight looked at the book again, and smiled. Maybe friendship isn't such a waste of time, after all, she thought as she turned off her bedside lamp and fell asleep.
Applejack walked up to Rainbow as she came out of Twilight's room. "Well, that was fast." She commented.
"Well, I just figured she was tired and all, after talking to all of us." Rainbow Dash put one hoof behind her head.
"Rainbow Dash, remember my element? Honesty? Yeah, it's a good thing it isn't yours." Applejack gave her friend a look.
"What do you mean?" Rainbow Dash said defensively, glaring.
"I can tell there's another reason you didn't stick with Twilight longer." They began to follow the others out the front door. "Now, what is it?"
"I told you, I just thought she would want her rest! Sheesh, AJ." Rainbow threw her hooves up in frustration.
Applejack knew Rainbow Dash was lying, but since it was evident she didn't want to talk about it, she let it be, much to RD's relief. After waving good-bye to her friends, Rainbow quickly flew to her cloud home, and collapsed on the bed.
How could I just leave like that? She asked herself. Then again, how could I have stayed, looking at Twilight like that, knowing it's my fault? And what if she had remembered the accident, but taken it out of context, and hated me for it? I know her body will heal, but her heart and her mind might not, and I could lose her as a friend. That would be worst of all. Oh, if only I had raced like I always do... I would feel better even if it had been me to hit the tree instead of Twilight.
As Luna raised the moon, Rainbow Dash turned over and fell into a fitful sleep.