Something is wrong with Strawberry Bell, something frightening and mysterious. Can she figure it out before it's too late?
Strawberry Bell has lost all of her memories, she doesn't know who, what, or why she is the way she is. Plagued by violent and frightening dreams, she journeys across Equestria, looking for her lost memories, but some things are better left buried, and when a new and frightening Strawberry Bell begins making her appearance, is there anyway she can save herself and the ponies she loves?
Chapter One Unfamiliar Spaces The Most Difficult thing in life Is to know yourself _Thales
The filly was surrounded by smiles, but she didn’t feel like she deserved them, she didn’t feel like she knew them, or even that she wanted to. Her body felt compressed somehow, her innards constricting painfully inwards, and twisting. She closed her large blue eyes and hung her head, trying to hide from those unfamiliar smiling faces.
“How do you feel, young one?” asked a beautiful mare with a constantly shifting waterfall of pastel colors for a mane. The filly opened her eyes again and looked at the ponies around her. “I don’t know how to answer that question,” She said honestly. Wavering on her hooves.
“Do you know who you are?” asked another midnight blue mare with wide curious eyes. That question seemed odd to the confused filly, but for the life of her she couldn’t remember who she was. She tossed her mane and pawed impatiently at the stone floor.
“Strawberry Bell,” Said the beautiful white mare, touching her soft muzzle to the spot right under the filly’s horn, “Don’t you remember?” her voice was warm and musical, but it only served to make the filly: Strawberry Bell, more uncomfortable.
The filly tossed her mane again, whinnying in uncertainty. The Mare nuzzled her gently and brushed her cheek against Strawberry Bell’s. “You had a nasty accident,” Said the blue mare, Strawberry Bell’s eyes darted over to her taking in her starry mane and her horn, then falling to her large, folded blue wings.
“What sort of accident?” she asked, turning back to the white mare. “It’s best you don’t ask,” She said, a mysterious gleam in her purple eyes. Strawberry Bell nodded. She felt like she was about to vomit.
“Come with me,” Said the blue mare, a sigh in her voice. “You need rest; tomorrow we’ll send you home.” she began leading her up a flight of stone stairs. “Where is home?” asked Strawberry Bell, staggering clumsily behind the taller mare, her movements were practiced and grateful, but tight, as if she was fighting of something inside of her. “Why, Hoofington of course.” Her voice was darker and richer than the other mare’s, and Strawberry Bell felt far more comforted by it than the airy lilt of the white mare’s voice.
“Who are you?” the filly whinnied softly, her ears dropping flat on her skull. The mare looked over her shoulder. “I am Princess Luna, and she is Princess Celestia, my sister.” She jerked her head towards Princess Celestia, who bobbed her majestic head slightly. “Princesses?” It was just too much, Strawberry Bell crumpled, resting her muzzle on her forehooves. Her head was reeling, and it hurt. Half glimpsed images crackled behind her eyelids like fireworks, bursting to painful life behind her eyelids, and then fading, everything went black.
~0~
Hoofington was bright, filled with verdant plants and shining flowers that stood out like jewels, the air was thick with the smell of sweets, and the mild perfume of the plant life. the ponies she met seemed friendly enough, if not a bit too curious. She didn’t like the feel of eyes on her, and she couldn’t help but think that something was wrong.
“Who am I staying with again?” she asked her escort, a colt only about a year or so older than herself. A hyper thing with the propensity to be unintentionally insulting, he had introduced himself as Marshmallow. “The Skys,” he said in an exasperated voice, rolling his lime-green eyes. Strawberry Bell flinched slightly. “I’m sorry.” She whispered. Her ears drooping a little, the colt just ignored her, jumping quickly to the next topic.
Strawberry Bell’s eyes drifted to the right, and landed on a purple stallion, turning the pages of a book with his horn. He was humming quietly to himself, idly tapping his hoof on the grass, the wind rippled through his brown mane, sending it scattering about his face and back. “That’s Moon Dancer.” Marshmallow announced, following her gaze. “He’s my teacher.”
The stallion shivered slightly, as if a fly had landed on his flank, and his blue eyes rose to meet hers. The square rimmed glasses he wore magnified them, making them look too large. He offered a quick nervous smile before turning back to his book.
“I…I want to go home.” Strawberry Bell whimpered, tears welling in her eyes and spilling onto the grass, quickly disapearing into the rich, fertile soil. “You are home,” Said Marshmallow.
My family is my strength And my weakness _ Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
Strawberry Bell couldn’t explain the nervous feeling that was roiling in her stomach. A thousand thoughts galloped through her head; what if they didn’t like her? What if she didn’t like them? What if they knew how thoroughly messed up she felt inside, and what if they hated her for it.
She gently raised her hoof to tap on the door, and it swung open almost immediately, revealing a cherry red earth mare with dancing brown eyes. Her butter colored mane was cut in a choppy fashion, but even so she carried an exotic beauty about her.
“M-Mrs. Sky?” Strawberry eyed the mare, who eyed her in turn, there was a certain degree of tension about her, but her eyes were kind. “Are you Strawberry Bell?” she asked, her voice was low and muddy somehow, it was very natural sounding.
“Yes.” Strawberry nodded, a chunk of her pink mane falling in her eyes. The mare lowered her head in polite greeting. “I’m Mythic Sparkle.” She said, smiling. “Don’t bother with calling me Mrs. Sky.”
Mythic Sparkle backed into the house, leading Strawberry into a cozy parlor, stuffed with brightly colored baubles and plush furniture. It was all very pretty, but the colors hurt Strawberry’s eyes, and she squeezed them shut, shaking her mane in frustration.
“Come into the kitchen and meet the rest of my family.” Said Mythic Sparkle, turning around and leading her through a door with swinging hinges and into a small tiled room colored with warm browns and yellows.
An earth pony stallion sat at the table, flanked by two foals, both of them much younger than Strawberry. The stallion and the colt to the right of him (both similar shades of green) glanced up when they entered, but the other colt stayed focused on the small machine in front of him, brightening visibly when the machine began to play a song.
“Hello,” Said Strawberry, attempting to be friendly. Mythic Sparkle took her seat beside the colt with the machine, nuzzling him gently. “Hi!” said the other colt, waving a fore-hoof, the stallion nodded. The colt with the machine didn’t pay any notice, but began giggling when the tempo picked up.
“I’m Little Star!” exclaimed the green colt, tapping his hoof on the ground beside him, encouraging Strawberry to sit down. “I’m Strawberry Bell.” She sat down nervously beside him and her regarded her with barely concealed admiration. “I’m Blue Harmony.” Said the stallion, then tossed his head towards the other colt, who was nestling into his mother, the machine cradled gently between his fore-hooves. “That’s my other son, Steam Rhythm, he’s…he’s a little different.”
Strawberry watched him as he patiently tapped out a new beat on the machine, it was obvious that the colt had musical talent. The machine played the beat back to him, and he stomped his hooves with glee.
“You’ll sleep upstairs,” Said Mythic Sparkle, looking at Strawberry through her lashes. “Your curfew is 10:00 that means lights out and eyes closed.” Strawberry swallowed thickly, and nodded. “Dinner is at 5:00, in the meantime, why don’t you go exploring.”
Mythic Sparkle turned her head to the kitchen door, outside a lush, fenced garden grew, feeding tiny butterflies that shimmered pink and blue, beyond the fence the town nestled comfortably in the grass. Bustling with Earth ponies, Unicorns, and Pegasi, all clustered in small groups amongst themselves.
Chapter Three Moon Dancer I am two fools, I know, for loving, and for saying so. -- John Donne
Strawberry didn’t like walking the streets of Hoofington alone, the colors were too bright and obnoxious, and the ponies were too loud and boisterous. The air was too crowded, filling her senses and blocking out coherent thought.
She kept her head down, her mane covering her eyes. Trying to avoid contact with anypony and everypony, however, it didn’t turn out that way.
“You’re new.” The voice came from behind her, and Strawberry jumped, spinning around and flattening her ears. It was a filly, with blue fur overlapping yellow fur, and a peach colored mane. Her eyes were mischievous, narrow and bright green. Her mouth was pulled into a slightly diabolical smile.
“Um…Yes…” Strawberry shook her head to clear her thoughts. “M-My name is…Strawberry Bell.” She said.
“Strawberry Bell?” the filly eyed her, taking in her small stubby horn, her pure white body, and her blank flank. “I’m Marble Bee, and I think I have something you’ll like!” The pony hopped in place, her eyes shining with excitement.
“Wh-what’s that?” Strawberry asked, following the bouncy pony with her eyes. “Marble, lay off.” A new voice, a male voice, Marble Bee stopped bouncing and glared. “Back off Mr. Moon Dancer, this has nothing to do with you.” She neighed, a warning in her voice. Strawberry looked over her shoulder into the eyes of the purple unicorn stallion she had seen earlier. He smiled at her and shrugged his shoulders, Strawberry smiled back weakly. She liked Moon Dancer; he seemed more grounded than the other ponies of Hoofington. “Don’t mind Marble, she’s always looking for victims for her get-rich-quick schemes.” He cast Marble Bee a look and she intensified her glare.
“You’re Strawberry Bell, did you say?” he asked politely. His gentle blue eyes focusing on Strawberry, Marble Bee hissed and took off around a corner, mumbling to herself.
“Yes, and you’re Moon Dancer, Marshmallow told me about you,” she said, plopping down on the rough cobble stones. Moon Dancer chuckled, tossing his head. “Ah yes, Marshmallow, he’s a bit of a difficult one.” He said. Strawberry smiled, fighting back a giggle. “But the fact that he even talked to you is encouraging, the colt rarely leaves his house and barely has any friends.” Moon Dancer shrugged.
“Who are you staying with?” he asked, sitting beside her and tucking his hind legs under him.
“The Skys.” She said, watching the older pony intently. Clusters of other ponies cantered by, laughing and playing. “Ah, Mythic Sparkle and her family, she’s an extraordinary mare.” He smiled, casting Strawberry a sly glance. “A bit hard to get along with at first, but once you have her trust she’s in your corner for life.” Strawberry Bell nodded, her eyes following a group of colts as they kicked a ball down the street.
“You look troubled.” Moon Dancer watched her, concern evident in his blue eyes. Strawberry Bell shook her mane and sighed deeply.
“I just feel like…maybe…there’s something wrong with me.” She said. Moon Dancer leaned closer, studying her face intently.
“Maybe…” he snorted and closed his eyes. “If you ever need to talk to me, I’m here,” He said with a kind smile. “Sometimes, you just need somepony to talk to.”
