Silhouette In The Sky

by The_Dash

Chapter 2: To The Nurse's Office.

Silhouette In The Sky,

Chapter 2: To The Nurse’s Office.

Light filtered in through the small window. The soft golden glow blanketing the body that hid itself under a layer of blankets, in an attempt to embrace the night for a moment or two longer. James was desperately clinging to sleep. His dreams for the first time in what seemed like an eternity, or at least since his waking in the forest a dew days ago, weren’t filled with nightmares. He slowly roused himself from the warm nest he’d created himself, and sat up in the small bed. James couldn’t remember it all clearly, then again he couldn’t even remember anything but his own name. He did however recall running through the forest, before...oh yeah he had run into a barn...hadn’t he? A small chuckle escaped him as he thought about how frantically he’d ran, how much force he’d pushed to his legs. How obviously blind he’d been from the sheer adrenaline pumping through his veins, and then wham! I didn’t even know I could run that fast. He thought, rolling off of the bed. His hooves landed on the wooden floor of the room. He inhaled deeply, enjoying the calming feeling he found in the simplistic surroundings.

“Looks like y’er feeling a heap better there stranger,” called an orange mare, leaning against the doorway.

James turned to see her standing there, and smiled at her words. “Uh yeah, I’m actually feeling a lot better,” he paused. “Then again I had been sleeping in the woods before,” he said. Rather embarrassed by the fact that he had indeed been forced to sleep on the forest floor.

“Yeah about that, what were you doing out there?” She had stepped inside the room, staring the unknown pegasi down suspiciously.

James found himself feeling slightly intimidated by the orange earth pony, as his mind searched for an answer. Sadly though, as had been the case when questioning himself in the forest, no answer came.

“Well,” she asked. Arching a brow in question.

With a long sigh James thought it best to be honest with her. “My name is James...or at least I think it is,” he started. “There isn’t really much to say honestly...I woke up in the forest three, no wait four days ago,” he paused, realising how odd it must sound. “I don’t know who I am, where I am, or even where I’m from. All I can say for certain is that I wandered those woods until I stumble across your barn.”

“More like ran head first into it.” The orange mare said with a small laugh, causing James to blush.

“Yeah I guess I kinda did do that didn’t I?” James joined in with his own bit of laughter, thinking about how he must have looked.

“Well it’s a pleasure to meet you James, my names Applejack. Lotta folks round here call me AJ for short.” Applejack smiled, holding out a forehoof to greet James.

“It’s nice to meet you as well Applejack,’ James said with a smile. Reaching his forehoof out to shake her’s. He cringed slightly as he felt a small pang of pain shoot through his legs, his face contorting slightly.

“You alright there James,” Aj asked? The pony after years of caring for her family, had learned to notice such small changes.

“Yeah I’m fine, my legs are just a little sore.” James looked his legs over, taking note of the cuts and bruises that covered them. “I guess I got a bit more banged up in those woods than I first thought.”

Applejack stared at James for a moment, gazing at his legs. The pony was right, a series of of cuts from thorns, and limbs covered him. “Well you look like y’er more than a little sore. I would even say them wood worked you over pretty good. Why didn’t you just fly out?” Applejack gave him a quizzical look as she waited for his answer.

James stretched his wings slowly, even they were sore from his little trek through the woods. “Well...I...I don’t know how to fly. I don’t even know if I can fly with these,” he said. Admittedly he was confused, and embarrassed by his lack of knowledge.

Aj just stared at him for a moment, finding even she was at a loss for words. “Wow so you mean to tell me, you claiming ta have amnesia...isn’t just a cover up or nothin’,” she asked, admittedly she was more than a bit confused. Here she thought that James’ story had been nothing more than an excuse not to tell her about himself. James simply shook his head, not really knowing what to say in response. Aj sighed, before stepping towards James, placing a hoof on his back.

“Look James, there ain’t a thing I can do about y’er memories,” she paused, thinking for a moment. “I won’t lie and say I know what its like to be in a place I know nothin’ about, without even an idea of who I was, or where I’m from.” With that she smiled. “What I can tell you is that it’ll be a whole mess easier if you have a friend.” The orange earth pony continued to smile, causing James to blush with embarrassment from her kindness.
“I...thanks Applejack,” he managed to say after a few moments. James smiled, suddenly wensing due to the cuts on his legs. Aj sighed, taking a step towards the door of the room.

‘Well come on now, I’ll introduce you to my family. I figure ya might wanna meet ‘em since you’ll be stayin’ with us a while.” Aj stepped out of the room, a smile still across her face. James stood there, more than a bit confused. You’ll be stayin’ with us a while. He thought about her words. Did she really just invite me to stay here, with her family? James wondered how somepony he’d just met, could invite him to stay with her and her family. He quickly stifled his thoughts, another quick pain shooting through him. He let out a sigh, slowly making his way towards the door. Even though he had small pains passing through his body from time to time, he couldn’t help but let out a quick chuckle out at how quickly he’d become accustomed to walking.

“James you coming!?” James heard Aj shout from downstairs, causing him to poke his head out into the hallway. “Yes I’m on my way down,” he shouted. Stepping out of the room he couldn’t help but smile. Everything looks so peaceful, so tranquil. He thought, taking in the way the Apple’s had decorated their home. The walls were lined with pictures of family, some looking older than the house itself. James slowly, and slightly painfully, made his way down the stairs. Reaching the bottom step, he was greeted by a small yellow pony. He was taken aback for a moment as she smiled up at him, her red mane tied back in a large bow.

“Hiya James ah’m Applebloom, ah’m Applejack’s little sister.” the small filly said. Her accent seeming almost thicker than her sisters, as she bounced around excitedly. James was about to respond, when he suddenly was cut off by a large red stallion standing behind her. He was taken back by the sheer size of the pony before him, as he was nearly twice as tall as James himself. The stallion noticing the look of intimidation in James’s eyes the stallion smiled, feeling a bit embarrassed about scaring the unknown pegasus.

“Aw don’t mind him Jame’s.” Applejack appeared from the kitchen, a older green mare following behind her. “That theres just my brother Big Macintosh, Big Mac for short . He may seem like a tough guy, but he’s one of the nicest colts around,” she said with a chuckle. “Eeyup,” Big Mac said in response, nodding his head in agreement with his sisters words.“An this right here would be Granny Smith,” Aj said. She stepped to the side so James could get a look at the Apple family Matriarch, who just smiled and replied simply with, “Howdy.”James looked at them all and smiled. They seem like such a happy family. He thought. When his thoughts were broken by Aj staring him right at him. James could feel his cheeks heat as he blushed. Why is she staring at me like that? He thought, seamlessly drifting back off into his own little world. “It’s very nice to meet you all, I’m James.” He finally said after noticing that their stares had all fallen on him while he’d been lost in thought.

James spent the next half hour of his morning with the Apple family in their kitchen, where he was offered a delicious breakfast. Apple pancakes, apple turnovers, apple doughnuts and apple juice...just to name a few. He ate to his hearts content, conversing with his new found friends as he did. He went back through the story he’d told Aj already, how he’d awoken in the woods, and eventually came to run into the Apple families barn. Once they had finished breakfast, James leant a hoof in cleaning up the dishes, before receiving an quick goodbye from Applebloom as she left for school. Big Mac also bid a quick farewell to James, explaining how he had to tend to the orchard, before taking his leave. As for Granny Smith, she had no sooner finished eating before she was sitting in her rocker, taking an after breakfast nap.

“Well Ah recon that takes care of the cleanup, ah appreciate the help James.” Aj called over her shoulder, as she made her way back into the living room. James following behind her.

“Think nothing of it Applejack, after all you and your family are nice enough to open up your home to me,” He said with a smile. When Aj turned to face him.

“Well ah guess we should be heading out,” she said quickly. She was looking James over again, taking note of the cuts on his legs as, she had earlier.

“Uh...where...where are we going?” James was a bit confused, she hadn’t mentioned anything earlier about going anywhere.

“Well ah thought it’d be best to take you to see Nurse Redheart. She can give you a quick look over, patch up your legs...and well,” Aj paused. “She might know, or even be able to help you with your memory problem,” she said.

James just simply nodded in response. He knew it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have a nurse pony patch him up, and if she could...if she could help him regain his memory. James started to feel a bit of hope, but quickly he subdued his thoughts. He realised thats if he got his hopes up...well he realised that it would be best for him to simply go to Nurse Redheart with an open mind.

Applejack told James to wait there in the living room while she ran upstairs, mentioning that she had to grab something . She came back down after a few minutes, to find James simply sitting by the door, staring out at the orchard. She walked up to stand beside him, they exchanged a few words, and then they set out. She lead him down the front path, asking him a few questions here and there, which in turn James responded with questions of his own. They passed through the orchard, casually walking down the path towards Ponyville, stopping every so often as James would rest his leg. With each minute they drew closer and closer to Ponyville, and by the time they had reached its outskirts, James knew he was in Equestria...and that the town they were nearing was called Ponyville.

The two made their way into Ponyville, James pausing with a smile as he took in the sights and sounds. James finding himself smiling from all the different ponies he saw, even seeming a bit giddy as he watched the weather patrol pegasi fly overhead. Which prompted him to make the astute comment, “Wow so you mean I can fly like that?” Applejack just laughed at his bit of childlike splendor. That’s when he saw it, their destination. They made their way towards a small white building, a large red medical cross on the sign that hung above the door. Compared to the other buildings surrounding it, this one looked rather new. Applejack took lead, making her way to the door she opened it, ushering the bewildered pegasus named James inside.

Once inside James was quickly greeted by a white pony, her mane and tail pink, and her eyes a deep sapphire. He just stared at her for a moment, not really sure what to say, when Applejack cleared her throat.

“Howdy Nurse Redheart, hows things going with the new clinic,” she asked?

“Well hello there Applejack,” she said. “The new clinic is doing well, but what brings you here, you didn’t get hurt applebucking did you?” Nurse Redheart cast Aj a quick glance looking her over, before focusing on James.

“Nah ah’m fit as a fiddle,” Applejack proclaimed proudly. “But my friend James here is a bit worn for wear. I thought you could patch him up.” Applejack spoke, gesturing towards James as she did.

“James..,” she paused looking him over. “Well he does seem a bit roughed up...a few lacerations on his legs, as well as several on his wings.” She began to mumble something to herself, placing a hoof to her chin. “Don’t you worry one bit my dear, Nurse Redheart will fix you right up,” she said with a reassuring smile. “Now Applejack says your name is James, are you new to Ponyville,” she asked the brown pegasus?

James stammered for a moment, before recovering his train of thought and nodding. “Yes actually I am. I’ve only been here for a few days,” he paused. His cheeks shown with blush, slightly embarrassed by how he’d have to explain the cuts covering him. “I was attempting to find Apple Acres, but got lost in the woods...if you’re wondering about the cuts,” He said quickly. Feeling like a child that had to admit he’d been wrong.

Nurse Redheart simply laughed, and waved her hoof. “Now now no need to be embarrassed.” She remarked, as if she knew exactly what the pegasi was feeling. “We all get a little lost from time to time.” James smiled, thanking Nurse Redheart for her understanding, as she instructed him to take a seat behind a curtained off area, while she spoke with Applejack for a moment.

“So Applejack, your friend..” Nurse Redheart started, staring at the orange earth pony with a smile.

“Oh no, now don’t you be getting any ideas...James is just a friend ah’m trying to help out.” Aj replied quickly, causing Nurse Redheart to laugh softly.

“Oh I’m just poking some fun dear, but you know,” she paused, looking off towards the curtain James had just passed through. “Something just seems off...you have noticed he has no cutie mark?” She asked, pausing to wait for Applejack’s reply.

“Ah noticed, and thats one of the things ah wanted to speak with you about.” Applejack began to explain how she’d come to find James after he’d burst out of the forest surrounding Apple Acres, how he’d crashed into her barn, and also how he had no memory.

Nurse Redheart listened intently, finding her interest in this new pony growing by the second. “So you’re saying he’s suffering from amnesia?” She said after Applejack had finished her story, which prompted Applejack to nod in reply. “So we have here a pegasus nopony knows anything about, who doesn’t even have a cutie mark despite seeming to be in his twenties...and he doesn’t even have his memories...” Nurse Redheart rubbed her forehead with a hoof before sighing.

“Is there something you can do for him Nurse Redheart?” Applejack asked, hoping the white mare would have some kind of answer. Sadly though she was answered by a distraught look.

“I’m sorry Applejack, I wish there was something I could do...but amnesia is tricky business,” she said with a slight pause. “Even if we could force him to remember, it could leave lasting damages to his psyche. Its best that he slowly regains his memories, of his own accord.” Nurse Redheart placed a foreleg around Applejack, giving her a small hug. “What he needs is a friend, and he couldn’t have asked for a better one than you.” With that Nurse Redheart turned, and began walking towards the back, disappearing behind the curtain leading to James.

A few minutes passed, as Applejack waited just outside the clinic for James. She let out a soft sigh, as she thought about Nurse Redheart’s word’s. Let him remember on his own huh...what he needs is friends... She thought. Not even noticing the brown, bandaged pegasus that stood next to her.

“You alright Applejack?” James asked suddenly, startling Aj.

“What! Oh James it’s you...yeah ah’m just fine.” She said with a weak smile.

“Is something wrong, you look a little preoccupied?” He asked, before striking a rather silly pose. “So what do you think, do these bandages make me look fat?” James was smiling, trying his best to cheer up his friend.

Applejack let out a soft laugh, before focusing her green eyes on James’. “So did Nurse Redheart, did she talk to you about your memories,” Aj asked a bit hesitantly?

“Yeah she did, and she told me that I’d just have to wait for my memories to return.” James’ expression confused Applejack. He seemed almost as ease with the news.

“Well are you not upset,” She asked quickly.

James just shook his head and smiled. “Nah, why should I be? I know now that eventually I’ll get them back, besides if I don’t...well I guess they weren’t worth remembering.” James said with a laugh, and was relieved when he heard Applejack join in.

“Well we best grab somethin’ to eat,” Aj said once she’d subsided her laughter. “I got somepony I’d like you to meet, and believe me you’ll need your energy...or she’ll dash right by ya.” With that Applejack smiled, as she began walking away from the clinic.

James stood there for a moment, more than a bit confused by Aj’s comment as he thought about it. She’ll dash right by me? "Hey wait up, what do you mean!?"

Comments

[Otrepony]

Again nice story.

[The_Dash]

1263699 Appreciate it brony