Even before I made Twilight Sparkle cry… I was having a bad day. I woke up in an infirmary, a large bump on the back of my head, and everything around me blurry. Finally everything settled and I saw everything in one steady shape.
“What… What happened?” I said. “Where am I? Who am I!?”
“Quit messing around, Sentry!” a voice said from my left. I looked to see a white unicorn with blue hair of two shades. He was wearing a red royal coat and sash with many badges indicating what I assume were accomplishments. “We need you back on the walls ASAP.”
“Who are you!?” I asked… maybe I was a little forceful but it was too late to take it back.
“Is that any way to talk to your emperor!?” he said.
“You’re right… I’m sorry… but do you know who I am?”
“You’re… serious?” he started to lose the look that made him sure I was okay.
“Dead serious,” I said without any second thought. That drove the nail in.
“Maybe you should stay here for a while longer… I’m, uh, Shining Armor by the way.” He stuck out his hoof.
“And I am?” I clopped mine against it.
“Private Flash Sentry. Heh never thought I’d have to introduce a pony to themselves.” There was something about this colt that I just found very… likeable. Then I realized something. Why would the emperor of… whatever his kingdom was, go out of his way for a private like me? And how did I know an emperor normally wouldn’t? I shook my head to get rid of the thoughts, at least somepony came.
“Your Majesty,” The doctor said as he trotted in. “Visiting Hours are over, I must ask professionally that you leave.”
“I see… in that case I have a request doctor…” Emperor Armor said. “Don’t let my sister in here.”
“Understood.”
“I’ll come by tomorrow… Private.” He said that last word with a bit of a smirk, not one that said he enjoyed it but one that said he had to say it but would rather not.
“Any time… Your Majesty.” I said returning the Smirk for some reason. He left the room, and I was alone with the doctor.
“So… Private Sentry… how do you feel?” the doctor asked.
“A little scared…” I admitted.
“Why’s that?”
“Didn’t you hear the conversation with his Majesty? I can’t remember anything on my own.”
“It’s a commonly known ailment,” He said. “It’s called amnesia.”
“Well… besides that and the inner workings of a military.” I said.
“You’ve been in the royal guard since you were ten, I’m not entirely surprised you retained that much memory,” Then the doctor looked at the clock and had me lie back down. “I normally wouldn’t advise this for patients who were in a coma for a week, but you should get some sleep.” I decided it wasn’t a bad idea. I stretched and refolded my wings to make them comfortable in the bed, and drifted into a dreamless sleep.
It was around midnight that I woke up again. I noticed it was raining just outside the window, and walked over to… get a feel? See if it was really there? I don’t know I just went to get my hoof wet. There was something about the rain that brought back images of somepony. A purple alicorn… I couldn’t understand at first. I pulled my hoof back and went right back to the bed to try and get a little more sleep.
This time, I did dream. The mare was right there next to me. Sitting on a hill beneath a light drizzle, my right wing wrapped around her. It was a beautiful sight in the valley below. The empire shining with the evening lights of the heart shaped crystal in the tower. Was this really just a dream? I woke up the next day to a rumbling in my stomach. The doctor came in with a tray of food.
“Bad dream?” he asked when I cocked my head he gestured to my cheeks. I touched them to feel tears running down them.
“Not bad… just beautiful.”
“Well I have breakfast here for you, if you’re interested.” My stomach gurgled. “You’re interested. Just remember to take your time, you haven’t eaten in a week.”
“Alright, Doc,” I said and took bite after bite of the food he prepared. It felt so good to have something slither down my gullet… yes I was seriously that hungry. But my morning meal was interrupted by the sounds of an argument just outside the room.
“Your Highness, I can’t let you in there!” the Doctor’s voice said.
“But I just need to see him! Please!” a mare begged. Wait… Highness?
“Your brother told me to keep you out of that room, and I’m afraid I have every reason to agree with that decision!” there was a bang against the wall, and somepony other than the Doc came rushing into the room.
“Flash!” She said. I was dumbstruck. It was the mare from my dream! She looked even more stunning in real life! The tears started to flow again as I realized something. Whoever I was to this mare, I wasn’t him at the moment… was I? The bump on the back of my head started to hurt with the thought of what I had… nothing… no memories of anything anyway. She repeated my name when I didn’t respond.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I don’t…”
“Flash?” the mare said. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m gonna say this as gently as I can, Your Highness,” I said, hoping to calm her down a little bit. “Who are you?”