//------------------------------//
// Normalcy 
// Story: Lost Memories 
// by pyro925 
//------------------------------//



	Blinking five or six times in very quick succession I stare slack jawed at Fluttershy’s now still body, laying on my bedroom floor.
Recovering from the initial shock of seeing one of my best friend’s bodies flickering I stand up and walk over to her, tapping her arm with my hand.
She has no response but instead continues to lay motionless on the floor.
I start to get worried and scared that the worst has happened and jasmine spent the last moments of her life without knowing who me or my friends were and are.
I settle my fears by checking her throat with my thumb and feeling a steady beat under it.
Sighing I pick her up and move her into my bed.
I realize that I’m still naked and grab some of my base clothes (a pair of running shorts and a blue tanktop) of the floor and put them on.
I leave the room with jasmine still out in my bed, with more questions than I had before.
Realizing that it’s nearly two o'clock I head out to a market in Cloudsdale, hoping Fluttershy won’t wake before I’m back.
I go out the front door into a beautiful cool day.
The storm I helped create with my team has dispersed and turned into a sunny day with a gentle breeze and small white clouds to top it off.
I grab a small bag to restock on food, wondering all the time about what I saw with Fluttershy and the emotions I felt during our makeout session (the last bit making me blush slightly).
I walk to the edge of my home overlooking a quiet day in Ponyville.
I take another step of the edge and do a quick spiral on my way through the light clouds that keep my house and all of Cloudsdale in the sky.
As I come down closer to the ground I unfurl my wings and slow my descent.
I stop abruptly when I see Derpy flying up to my house with her usual mailbag slung on her side.
Rushing over I tap her on the shoulder, being very careful not to touch her wings.
“Yo, Derpy!” I say just as she turns around.
“Ahh!” She screams, “Oh… uh, hi Dash…” She says calming down and regain her breath.
“Well… That was certainly a way you could respond to that.” I barely get out in between my own violent laughs. 
“Dash! Don’t startle me like that! Nearly made me drop my bag!” She says, nearly yelling and pouting.
“Uh-huh… Well since you’re here, can I get my mail?”
“Well… It’s not really allowed and I can’t get another demerit and I real-”
“Oh come on Derpy!” I interrupt her, “It’ll stay between us, honest!”
“But I can’t afford to-”
“Pleeeease?” I interrupt her again.
“Fine, but if I get in trouble I’m telling them it was your fault!” She mutters a couple of times while scrunching up her face and shuffling through her mailbag.
“Here.” She says as she starts back down to Ponyville on her more orthodox mail route.
I put the letters she gave me into my bag without looking at them (noting a bright red one)
In the town I pick up some food and snacks (soda, chips, treats that I can make in the morning really quickly) from a couple of vendors on the street and a small shop on the ground run by one of AJ’s relatives (cousin? aunt? uncle? No idea, with her family you have to be one of them to know!). After getting a mild migraine I stop at a small medical shop run by nurse Redheart’s cousin, who I only know because of my extensive time in the hospital. I pick up a bunch of assorted medicines on top of migraine pills remembering what happened to Fluttershy.
I notice that there is a much higher number of guards in Ponyville than regular. Taking note of this I open a bottle and take one of the migraine pills, and I start on my way home noticing that the pill doesn’t really seem to be working.
I reach my home around three and open the front door, almost expecting to be attacked again.
Flinching as the door reaches all the way in, I look inside to see nothing out of the ordinary and it’s even a little cleaner than before.
I walk inside, curious at what could possibly be in my own house.
Suddenly I hear a thump followed by a slightly quieter ‘oh no!’ coming from around the upstairs portion of my house.
I walk up the stairs, dropping the food I picked up on the hallway floor.
I finally get up stairs and don’t see fluttershy or anything else, for that matter. The hall floor has been swept and cleared of all items.
As I continue down the hallway, looking into all of the other rooms as I go along, I notice that there is a similar cleanliness about all of the rooms. There’s still some clutter in all of the rooms but they are much better than before.
I reach the end of the hallway and look into my room where I see Fluttershy picking up a stack of old magazines with the Wonderbolts on the front that I had been keeping on my bedside table.
Leaning slightly on the door frame, I survey my room.
It seems much more spacious than it has ever felt in the past, with little to no trash laying on the ground and clothes put into the hamper instead of strune about as if they had been in a tornado (actually, wasn’t that how they got there in the first place?). And in the middle of it all is Fluttershy still picking up my magazines.
Waiting awhile a she goes about cleaning up some more without noticing me, I decide to speak up.
Just as I’m about to say something, she turns around and notices me.
“Yo’, ya’ miss me?” I say, trying to keep the throbbing pain in my temple out of my voice.
“More than you know! It get’s so boring and lonely without you here.” She stops, smiling, “But whenever you’re around, I feel safer for some reason.” She continues, this time giggling, “That sounds really silly, even to me.”
“Yeah… It doesn’t sound much less silly to me either, but I would say the feeling is mutual, in a way I guess…” I start, not really sure where I was going with my sentence, “Anyway… You, uh, feeling alright? You seemed weird earlier and passed out on my bed…” I start again, and again trail off.
“Oh yes, much!” She says, cocking her head to one side, “I remember you leaving the room and when you came back you looked scared of me and then I… goodness! I pulled a knife out of a cupboard and attacked you! I’m not sure what came over me and I’m really sorry Dash.” She says looking at me in what seems to be severe worry.
I look back at her and shrug saying, “Hey, don’t worry about it! Water under the bridge. I’m fine, really!” I walk over to her and take her chin, turning her face back forward facing, “Really.” 
“Well… if you say so. After that I remember pouncing you and then we, oh…” She stops and turns bright red before continuing her recap. She gets to the end without stopping (barely) and says that she can’t remember what happened after we fell into my bedroom. After she finishes I remember my migraine and, after thinking on it, find it has become much less severe and becoming closer and closer to being non-existent.
She continues the cleaning of my room. I watch and continue chatting at her and she responds or gives input every once in a while. The whole knife thing comes up again and she starts asking about if it’s okay with me if she stays at my house. I realize the thought of kicking her out had never crossed my mind and tell her that it was still ok if she stayed here and lived with me for a little while until she either regained her memories or we found a way to.
As Fluttershy finishes up cleaning I walk over my now clean room and up to her and place my hands firmly around her hips and leaned in, smirking a little bit as I went all the in for a quick kiss and after she stands there staring at me for a couple of seconds, and I start thinking I may have done the wrong thing, but just until she leans in for a deeper and more passionate kiss.
This time as we break away I feel like my face is warming up, and realize that I must be blushing pretty hard in this moment.
“Sorry to stop this just as it’s getting good, but I haven’t eaten all day Dashie.” She finally says, looking a little embarrassed.
“But didn’t you eat those, oh…” I trail off, remembering what happened to the waffles, “Well, no use crying over spilt milk I guess… Anyways, I can whip something up really quick for you!” I say, already starting to move away from her.
“That’ll be just fine she says” putting her hands on my shoulders and wrapping them all the way around my back,”But for now, stay here with me for a moment. I really do feel so much more at ease when you’re around you know?”
“I know, I know.” I say as I pull her in for a hug instead of a kiss, surprising her and myself. I play it cool and listen to the sound of her heartbeat as we stand there. It feels very strong in her neck which I take as a good sign.
We stand there for what feels like hours, but it’s not as unpleasant as I always expected this situation to be.
I break away first and say something about how we should do something about her hunger and start heading towards the kitchen again, this time with her in tow realizing the sun is just now going down. 
After making a quick meal I serve it and continue talking while we eat. She doesn't eat that much at first but she starts eating normally after I tell her that this is dinner. “Is my cooking really that bad?” I ask as she continues to eat.
“No, not at all.” she says, staring in my eyes with a small smirk on her face, “Quite the opposite actually.” I feel slightly awestruck and can only stare at her for a second before responding.
“Thanks I guess, but, why aren’t you eating?” 
“Simple;” she says, pulling a bite off of her fork and pointing it at me, “I don’t want to take food from your mouth.”
“BUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH” I start laughing, “ Don’t worry about that, I have plenty of food!” I say smiling with a large grin. 
Fluttershy finishes her meal and we clear the table. The aroma from the vegetable stir fry lingers in the air as we clean the dishes in the sink, me washing them and Fluttershy drying them.
As the sound of drying stops and I look over to Fluttershy and see her staring out the window above the sink at the sunset. She has a little smile on her lips and looks very very content.
I start to think about the events of today and can’t believe that this cute little smiling person next to me pulled a knife out and attacked me earlier. I start to question if this is even Fluttershy but dismiss the thought after realizing how ridiculous the thought is. 
I hand her the last dish looking out at what she was just admiring and letting the water out of the sink. I smile as I stand and look out to the sun setting in the distance and realize that none of the thoughts racing through my head can be dealt with tomorrow. I decide to enjoy the moment and just stand there watching the sunset.
The sun goes down and the moon slowly rises in the night sky as we finish the dishes. I head into my now tidy bedroom and into my bed, which is for once made and slowly drift off into a shallow unrestful sleep.
Right as I’m about to fall all the way asleep I feel a movement at the edge of the bed and a warmth pressing against my back as what I assume is Fluttershy gets into my bed. I roll over to confirm my thoughts.
“Sorry, did I wake you up?” Fluttershy says, seemingly very awake.
“No. Don't worry about it, I was already pretty much awake.”
“Oh, that’s not good, are you feeling alright Dashie?”
“Yeah, fine, just not very tired” I lie, “More importantly, what are you doing in my bed?”
“I was lying on the couch like you said and I got scared at all the shadows that were outside the windows so I came up here and felt I would be safer with you.” She said, showing a little of the old Fluttershy, “Is it ok if I stay with you tonight?”
“Yeah, it’s alright.” I say, rolling over and closing my eyes. I feel Fluttershy burrow down into the covers and get closer to me, the heat her body gives off warming my bed rather quickly.
I close my eyes and let her heat wrap me in a warm cocoon and slip off into a restful sleep.

I wake up the the taste of iron in my mouth and the added warmth of sun on my face. I open my eyes and look to make sure that Fluttershy’s still there. The fact that she is reassures me in a weird way.
I look away and up at the ceiling, the uniform white that all my walls have, before remembering the taste in my mouth.
I move my tongue around my mouth and continue tasting the iron in my mouth. I shiver even though I’m not at all cold and get out of my bed, careful not to wake the 	sleeping pony next to me.
I realize what I’m tasting and why I’m shivering just in time to rush to the bathroom. I lean over the toilet and throw up, red mixing in with the rest of my puke. I finish and flush the toilet before standing up and looking at myself in the mirror. The pony I see doesn't look like me. I’m pale and have these large bags under my eyes despite how well I slept.
I leave the bathroom and go to the kitchen to put on a pot of hot water. I go about my morning ritual pretending that nothing’s wrong and venture outside to grab my mail (Derpy actually delivered it on time today) and open some of it. It’s mainly coupons on books and random things that I don't read or really look. One of the letters however is not only hoof written but also signed by Twilight.
The letter reads like a notice but basically asks me to meet her today for some kind of meeting and to discuss some issue. The letter says that we have to meet at Two. I quickly write a note to Fluttershy and turn off the stove, disappointed that I didn't get any coffee, before I rush out the door. The clock reads 1:50pm.

I arrive barely on time to a semi-disappointed looking Twilight. She mutters something to Spike before she sends him off and looks at me.
“You’re here earlier than I expected! Good.” She speaks with a slight sense of urgency in her voice.
“Sorry? Anyways, what did you call me here for?”
“Fluttershy is missing. Noponies seen her for days and I’m starting to get worried.”
“That’s all and well but I know where she is…” I say, now slightly mad that she called me out here.
“Really? Where is she?” Less urgency in her voice now.
“She’s in my house, with amnesia mind you, but in my house.”
“Oh. Amnesia? Really? I may have something to help her with that… May I come over tomorrow? Just for a short while of course.” She said, wings flexing a tiny bit as she 	unconsciously prepared for her flight.
“Sure, that would be fine, but you only get ten seconds once you get inside my house.” I replied, a smirk forming on my face.
“That’s hardly enou-”
“Fine, 30 seconds once you’re in my house” I cut her off, smirk growing.
“Rainbo-” She started.
“FINE! Twist my arm, a minute once you get inside, no more!” I cut her off again, smirk fully on my face.
“RAINBOW! This isn't a time to be joking around! I’ll need at least two or three hours. ” She said raising her voice ever so slightly.
“Fine. Whatever. You’re welcome to stay longer if you want to. It’s no trouble, I don't have work tomorrow either and I really don't have any plans, so you can stay as long as you like.”
“Fun.”
We part ways and I fly back to my house at a leisurely pace, the warm wind blowing against me, easing my stress and relaxing me as the calming sensation ruffles the entirety of my wings and body, and Although my headache returns, it is also easeAlt by my flight.
Though in no hurry, I still make excellent time, reaching my floating house in barely fifteen minutes and once again I open the door carefully into my house as I wait for something to happen.
I kick off my shoes and walk inside the house looking around for any sign of Fluttershy to no avail. I continue until I reach the kitchen, thankful to see a large pot of coffee on the stove which I pour myself a glass of, bitter taste making me feel instantly more awake.
I continue my search and find Fluttershy passed out on my couch with a romance novel over her face, breathing lightly into the pages. I watch her for a minute, calmed by her constant breathing, before I walk over to her and touch her arm gently to no response. I touch her arm again. This time she shakes her head once or twice, moving the book on her face ever so slightly. I pick it up off her face and put it on the couch a 
it farther down. I poke her again and she sits up, rubbing her eyes and looking around at my house and blinking her bright blue eyes and squinting at me, eyes barely open.
“Oh hey you.” she mumbles in a warm tone and with a childish smile on her mouth.
“Really? Oh hey you? Is that all I get? No welcome home? No glad to have you back? Wow. Our relationship has really blossomed hasn't it.” I reply with smirk and warm tone.
“Mmmmm.” She says, still smiling and closing her eyes again, leaning back on the couch, “Come ‘ere.” she continues.
I lean over, putting my face close to hers and looking questioningly at her.
She rises quickly and pecks me on the lips before dashing out of the room faster than I can believe, leaving a stunned me to think about what just happened.
I stand up, bewildered for a moment, before looking back down and finding a colorful paper note which I open. In neat handwriting it simply says,


Tag, you’re it!
“OOOOOh you’re going to get it now!” I shout at her, stamping my foot, though the only response I get is the sound of her giggling somewhere in my house.
I set off, sighing, and thinking of the other things I could be doing.
‘Oh well,’ I silently think ‘There'll be another day for that.’ Before I start running after the yellow mare in my house.

Eventually the game ends and we eat dinner giggling as I tell her about the things we have done with our friends and our adventures together, although some of the stories make her look like she wants to cry, the rest make her laugh harder than I believed anyone could.
All of them bring a smile to my face as I relive some of my best memories and shameful moments (and those seem more and more like things I’ve learned from now). I continue with the stories even after dinner, as the taste of food leaves my mouth and the smell slowly moves out of my house through open window in the living room.
We curl up on the soft couch together, her warmth further easing my stress and headache, as I run out of personal stories and switch to reading from the novel she was reading before she fell asleep aloud to her.
We continue this for awhile, switching readers about every hour, until we’re both exhausted and ready to fall asleep.
For the first time of the entire day I feel perfectly fine as we make our way up the the stairway and into my bedroom as we continue chatting and laughing at each other's jokes and versions of the story we were reading, making fun of the main character’s lack of understanding what was happening.
We continue like this as we get ready for sleep, brushing our teeth and putting on pajamas and all of the usual going to sleep stuff that everyone does.
We go into my bedroom before Flutts says she’s thirsty and rushes out of the room to get some water. Instantly my headache returns full first, causing me to groan and burrow into my bed.
Fluttershy joins me and my headache slips away with my consciousness as I drift off to sleep, another day completed and awaiting Twilight’s cure for Fluttershy’s amnesia of tomorrow.