It was a sunny day in Ponyville.
The birds were chirping happily and the bees where buzzing faithfully as the many ponies of different shapes, sizes and ages went about their daily routine. Some obtained food and other items at the market. Others were catching up with old and new friends.
And then there was Ragna.
The red coated pony shifted his head from side to side, his emerald eye darting left and right as he began to notice something that many of the ponies that he past seemed to tense at times.
“Hey Applebloom.” He spoke up, an uncertain tone of voice being conveyed as he did so.
“Yeah M-Ah mean Ragna?” The little filly responded as she looked up from the map of Ponyville she and her two friends had grabbed from their clubhouse wall. Ragna, having caught a glace of it earlier on, could clearly tell that it was completely hoof drawn, more than likely by his supposed tour guides. Such a map to him, as it would anyone, had instilled little confidence that they were going in the right direction.
Though, right now, being led the wrong way wasn’t his immediate concern at the moment.
“This may sound crazy to you…but I think a lot of ponies are staring at us.” He finally relented; shifting his one eye gaze back to the three little mares.
Applebloom and the other two fillies all popped up from their self-made map, the three of them noticing more than a few concerned and frightful looks being thrown their way.
Actually, now that Applebloom had time to process it…
“Actually Mr. Ragna, I think they’re all looking at you.” She corrected with a slight frown.
“Yeah…I figured.” He sighed with an exasperated tone, both by the revelation of being the center of attention and by being called Mr. again. “The question is why? I’m a pony like all of you right?”
“O’ coarse y’all are.” Applebloom reassured him. “Ah think that you may be getting all the attention cause O’ your clothes.”
“And your huge sword!” Scootaloo added.
Ragna raised an eyebrow before scanning the area. Sure enough, aside from a few ponies here and there, many of the ponies were wearing nothing at all. “Well…I can see that clothes aren’t really worn,” Ragna deducted. “But are weapons all that rare here?”
Scootaloo tapped a hoof to her chin, conveying deep thought. “Well, besides the royal guard, I don’t think many other ponies use weapons or carry them.” she answered. “And I don’t think any of the royal guards have weapons quite like yours.”
“Wonderful…” The red clothed stallion droned, one hoof adjusting the blade upon his back to a more comfortable position. Not only was he the center of attention, but now he was dangerous. Why did he have a sword like that anyway? Was he a fighter? A killer? Was he somehow part of this royal guard these girls were talking about? He couldn’t help but scoff at the last Ideal, shooting it down compleatly.
Me? Military? I may not have any memories of who I was, but I know for damn sure I’d never joining any military.
He was pulled from his thoughts as one of the fillies next to him cheered happily.
“Oh! Hey! There’s Sugar Cube Corner!” Sweetie squeaked, pointing to the oddest building Ragna had ever seen constructed. To be fair though, he doesn’t remember any other buildings past the ones he seen in Ponyville. Still, a building constructed to look like a gingerbread house has to be rare in any town, anywhere.
“And why are we here again? I thought we were going to the Train-station soon.” Ragna said as he followed the little fillies into the establishment.
“We are.” Sweetie said as she ran to the counter of sweet smelling confections behind the glass casing making the little mare smile with glee.
“But before you came and exploded near our clubhouse, we were going to come here and get one of Pinkie’s free cupcakes.” Applebloom mused, following her friends lead.
“Besides,” Scootaloo said nudging him a bit with her foreleg. “You have to be hungry right? Can’t go traveling on an empty stomach, right?”
He was about to respond with a rebuttal when his belly decided to defy its master will power, a loud gurgling noise emanating from his stomach. He frowned and looked away from the smug smile that Scootaloo bore. “Fine…” He chuckled and smiled. “And who am I to pass up a free meal anyway?”
There was a noise from the back before a pleasantly plump female mare made her way to the front of the store, candy blue fur and cupcake pink mane. “I swear…that mare…” She grumbled gently to herself before notice three familiar customers and one very, very unique one. “Oh…Oh my…Hello dearies and…Um…I don’t think I had to pleasure of meeting you…”
“No surprise there.” He commented. “Just…well…Popped into town not too long ago.”
“Yeah! We’re showing him around Ponyville so that we can find his memory!” Sweetie said with a bright smile, her response causing the stallion to flinch.
“H-Hey…No need to…” he began to say before he was cut off.
“We found him knocked out in the apple orchard.” Applebloom clarified when the older mare gave them all a confused look. “He lost and memory and we were helping him find out who he was…or is it is?”
He sighed, exasperated by the little fillies slightly. “Now hang on…I didn’t…”
“Doesn’t matter if it’s is or was! We’re gonna help him and get our memory savors Cutie Marks!” Scootaloo announced before adding. “And his sword is wicked cool!”
Ragna just gave a deadpanned expression from behind the three fillies, his eyebrow twitching ever so slightly.
“Oh…I-I see.” The older mare finally said with a unsure smile. “Well, it’s nice to meet you Mr. Ragna. And I am sorry you lost your memory” She said, getting a cringe from him for some reason. “My name is Mrs. Cake. I and my husband own Sugar Cube Corner.”
“Hey! Hey! Where’s Pinkie Mrs. Cake?” Scootaloo cut in. “It’s Cupcake Saturday ya know.”
Mrs. Cake blinked before answering, “Oh yes…well I’m sorry to say that she’s not in right now dearie.” She said in an apologetic tone. All three fillies’ ears drooped at that information. Ragna could see the mare smiling slyly. “But…” The fillies perked up. “For you three, I believe I can whip something up.”
The fillies cheered before clapping hooves with each other joyfully. Ragna himself just shook his head at the display. “Does this Pinkie always give away your supplies? Seems pretty bad for business if you ask me.”
Mrs. Cake gave the stallion an impassive look. “Pinkie usually bakes the cupcakes with supplies she buys herself.” Mrs. Cake said. “So, really, she’s rather helping us then anything.” She turned to the fillies again. “You three go over to that table while I get your snacks ready ok?” The girls nodded before dashing to the table in question that sat a ways away from the counter. Ragna contemplated on making his way to the table as well but was stopped as Mrs. Cake softly called out to him. “Could you stay here for a moment Mr. Ragna
“Oh…Well sure.” Ragna said making his way back to the counter. “And just Ragna, okay? Makes me feel old when you put Mr. on my name.”
As the mare worked and kept her eyes on the three fillies, she addressed the red coated stallion. “So you really lost your memory?” She asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Well…Yeah. Besides my name and a few other things I don’t really know too much.” He answered.
“And those three fillies you met want to help you?” She inquired further.
“Yeah.” He said with a sigh. “They are a bit of a pain, but I doubt I would have known where to go or what to do if they didn’t help a little.”
“I see…” She said softly. “You know, those three little fillies are like daughters to me Ragna, and two are friends with two very powerful mares within Ponyville. If something were happen to them…” She warned, leaving the statement to hang in the air.
Ragna raised an eyebrow before his one good eye widened. “Woah, woah, woah! Why do you instantly think that I would do something weird with three little girls?!”
“Forgive me if I don’t readily trust a stallion that would surround himself around little fillies.”
“They were the first ponies a saw when I woke up!” He rebottled. “They helped me and I at least owe them for looking after me. I can at least humor them and let them show me around a bit. After that, I leave on the first train out of here. No point in staying someplace I’m not wanted.”
Mrs. Cake gave a relieved, yet regretful sigh. "I am sorry dear. I'm sure you are a nice pony and all. And the girls really do seem to have taken a shining to you and all..."
“Hey, no. I get it. Random older male seen in the company of little females would make anyone think that, not that, that’s a good thing...” He said in an exasperated tone.
“Carrying a sword with you doesn’t help your case none either Dearie.” Mrs. Cake added, pointing a hoof at the blade upon his back.
“Yeah, though I doubt I even remember how to use it.” He said as he gazed at the blade, its intricate design forcing a feeling of both nostalgia and fear into him. “I mean, don’t even know if it’s really mine or not. All the girls said, was that it was practically in my hands when they found me.”
“Hands?” Mrs. Cake asked with a raised eyebrow.
He went to confirm what he said before looking down at his limbs. “Well…Hooves.” When she nodded he continued. “I can understand what you’re saying though. Might be the reason I’ve gotten so many odd stares when I came into town.”
“Ponyville looks after their own.” Mrs. Cake mused.
Ragna just smiled. “Heh, In any case, maybe I can save myself and maybe a few others any headaches if you tell me where the train station is from here. I’ll be out of your hair and the children will be out of mine.”
Mrs. Cake smiled gently. “Well…that is certainly an idea. And…Really, I don’t mean to acuse you fo anything Ragna. You seem like a nice enough pony and all…”
Ragna waved a hoof in front of his face. “Don’t worry about it. Saves me from having them follow me wherever I go.” He looked back at the three before shaking his head. Being alone somehow doesn’t feel all that new to me anyway…
“What will you say to them?” Mrs. Cake inquired with a tilt of her head. “And, for that matter where will you go?”
“I’ll think of something.” He said with a wave of his hoof. “And as to where…well…Doesn’t really matter does it?”
“Well…” She smiled and filled a bag full of muffins. “Take this. As an apology from me…And all of Ponyville.”
He took the bag within one of his hooves. “Heh…Thanks. If they taste twice as good as they look and smell I might come back one day.”
“Then I’ll have a muffin hot and ready for you when you do.” Mrs. Cake responded, smiling softly.
After taking the directions she give him to heart, he made his way to the exit, bag of muffins clinging tight to his chest. He didn’t get too far when the three fillies all called out to him.
“Mr. Ragna! Where are you going? I thought we were supposed to take you to the Train station.” Applebloom asked.
He stood at the door way for a moment before speaking over his shoulder. “Change in plans, kiddo. Going at it alone.”
“What?!” Scootaloo gasped. “You’re ditching us?!”
He turned back to face the door. “Hey, appreciate the help and all but its better this way in the long run.”
“Totally uncool!” Scootaloo whined, folding her hooves about her chest. “The most interesting thing happens to fall at our door step and he goes and leaves us behind.” She puffed up a bit of her mane that fell in front of her eyes before ending with, “Jerk.”
Ragna sighed annoyingly before pushing the door open. “Yeah well…Life can be a letdown sometimes Kid.” He said before pausing. He looked back, his normally sharp green eye softening. “But…Ya know…thanks for helping me. Doubt I could have gotten this are without ya.” He said before making his way out the door.
Sweetie Belle sighed woefully as the door closed behind him, accompanied by the ringing of the stores bell. “Aw pony feathers. I thought we were gonna have an adventure and everything…”
“Yeah…” Applebloom agreed. “And see all kinds of amazing places and ponies. Maybe even another griffin.”
Scootaloo pouted as she watched the red dressed figure make his way further from the building. “Well who needs him?! If he wants to ditch us fine by me.” She fussed a bit too strongly.
Mrs. Cake placed each of their cupcakes in front of them as she neared the trio. “You dears were thinking that you would be pulled into some sort of fantasy adventure or something?”
“Well, no…but it could happen?” Sweetie Belle lamented. “I mean how many ponies do you know who lost their memory?”
“Yeah! And he was dark and mysterious. Like Bat-mane!” Applebloom agreed.
“Bat-mane would have taken in a sidekick.” Scootaloo growled, still very much upset.
“I doubt any of your sisters would have allowed you to go.” Mrs. Cake said with a chuckle. “For that matter, I don’t think he cares too much for company.”
“Yeah…” Applebloom said before sighing deeply. “But…well…we could have seen him off at least. I mean…It must be scary to wake up with nothing but the clothes on your back.”
Scootaloo huffed before placing her head on the table sighing audibly. Just as quickly as she had laid her head down, she had suddenly lifted it back up, raising an eyebrow. “Wait…what’s he doing?”
The rest of the girls trailed their gaze to the gray stallion just as he began to look around uneasily. It wasn’t long before his gaze shifted to the right just as a cyan colored blur rammed into him, tackling Ragna to the ground with extreme prejudice.
“Oh shoot…was that…” Applebloom suggested.
“It couldn’t be anypony else…” Sweetie Belle agreed.
“Come on! We have to see this!!” Scootaloo said, already making her way to the door.
Mrs. Cake gulped as she gave chase to the three fillies. “Girls! Wait!”