Simon's Story

“You let him what?!”

“Now Twilight he needed a place to stay.”

Who needed a place to stay?

“I’m with Twilight on this one Applejack. Letting some other pony crash at her place without asking is so not cool.”

Crash…cool…what time is it?

“Yea, Applejack how could you let some stranger sleep in Twilight’s house. If anything you should have let my new friend Um stay there. I can’t wait till you guys meet him!”

Simon slowly rose out of bed to see what all the commotion was about. As he looked out the window that was next to him, he saw Applejack arguing with Pinkie Pie and four other ponies. I should really go down there and see if I can help. Simon thought. As he got out from the warmness of the bed, Simon started planning out his strategy as to what he was going to say. One of the ponies Applejack was talking to clearly owned the Library he was staying in, and he wanted to make sure that it was okay if he continued to live there.

“I must say Applejack, that Rainbow Dash is absolutely right. I mean you barely know anything about this unicorn. After all he could be a thief, or a freeloader, or a-“

“Sorry to interrupt.” Simon apologized as he exited the building. It was sunny outside and Simon couldn’t help but take a moment to let the warmth from the sun fall on his face. “I thought it would be best if I came out here and apologized for taking advantage of Applejack’s hospitable nature.”

“Um? What were you doing in Twilight’s place? Do you know this Simon guy?” Pinkie Pie asked.

“Uh, right. Ya’ll this here is Simon, the unicorn I was telling you about. Simon this is Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Spike, and of course Twilight Sparkle.” Applejack introduced.

“Applejack failed to mention that our new friend was so…handsome.” Rarity swooned. Rarity was a unicorn like Simon, and even had a white coat but a dark purple mane.

“He’s not that handsome.” Spike muttered. Spike wasn’t a pony but was instead a small dragon with light purple scales and green spikes.

“Besides Rarity it doesn’t matter how he looks. All that matters is that he’s staying at Twilight’s house without her permission. Besides…I don’t trust him.” Rainbow Dash argued. Rainbow Bow dash was a pegusus with a rainbow colored mane and a light blue coat.

“Oh, I don’t know Rainbow Dash, he looks like a nice enough person. After all he did come out to apologize.” Fluttershy whispered. She was pegasus, like Rainbow Dash, except she had a light yellow coat and a light pink mane.

“ No, Rainbow Dash is right Fluttershy. I stayed at Twilight’s house without here permission, and for that I apologize. If you wish me to move out than I shall.” Simon promised Twilight. Twilight was an alicorn who had a dark purple coat as well as a dark purple mane that had a pink stripe running down the side of it. She looked from Applejack to Simon as if deciding weather or not she should take her word for him.

At last, Twilight said “It’s okay if you stay Simon. I’ll just stay somewhere else this weekend.”

“Thank you.”

“Really it’s no trouble at all. Now Applejack was telling us that you were having a problem with your memory, is that true?”

“Yes, I can’t remember much from my past.”

“Well did you remember anything after I left last night?” Applejack asked.

Simon looked around at all the ponies that were before him. He didn’t know most of them and didn’t owe half of them anything. Simon felt as though his memory was a personal burden that he alone should carry. Except… except there was something about these ponies, something that he couldn’t quite put his hoof on. He felt as though he could trust them and proceeded to tell the events of last night’s memory. When he had finished everyone was seemed to be stunned, especially Twilight.

“You were friends with Luna?!” Twilight asked, shocked.

“I don’t really know. All that came from the memory was that I had met here and that she let me join her school.” Simon said.

“Either way you’re involved with royalty! That’s very impressive here Simon and quite the accomplishment.” Rarity swooned once more.

“It’s not that impressive.” Spike muttered again.

“Right…anyway, Twilight, Applejack said that you are a princess? Do you know Luna? Has she ever mentioned me?” Simon asked, hopeful that Luna could fill in his memory gaps.

“Uh, sorry Simon but Luna has never mentioned you.” Twilight said sympathetically.

“Oh…that’s fine. You can take me to see her though, right?”

“No, I’m afraid Luna has gone away on a secret diplomatic mission. She won’t be back for at least a week.”

Simon couldn’t help but freak out a little on the inside. He had come so close to discovering who he was. Now it turned out that his best hope was probably thousands of miles away. Diplomatic missions were risky business, Simon at least knew that much. What if she never returns! Simon mentally freaked out. I’ll be stuck in Ponyvile for the rest of my life never knowing my true identity!

Twilight must have been able to sense that Simon was having some sort of mental breakdown, because she promised that she and her friends would help in anyway they could.

“Thanks Twilight. Thank you all.” Simon offered.

“It’s no trouble Simon. If you don’t mind me asking, you said that you attended Luna’s school for gifted young unicorns?” Twilight questioned.

“Yea…why do you ask?”

“I’ve never heard of that school before. Hmm, something’s not right. Simon why don’t you go and explore the town for a little bit, I have some research to do. Spike, come along now.” When Twilight entered the Library, it was just Simon and the rest of the gang. He thought it would be best if one of them showed him around, since he had no idea where he was going, and asked if any of them would like to join him.

“I would like to Simon, but the harvest doesn’t bring its self in.” Applejack apologized.

“I would to, but I just got a big order for one hundred dresses.” Rarity practically cried.

“Yea I would like to but…no.” Rainbow Dash said rather bluntly.

“Oh…um,…sorry…but, no.” Fluttershy whispered apologetically.

“I would like to Simon, but I need to find Um first. He could be lost or worse!” Pinkie Pie shouted as she away before Simon could explain that he was Um.

They all left to do their own thing and left Simon standing alone in front of the library. Not wanting to waste the day sitting on his butt waiting for Twilight to finish her research, he went off to explore the town on his own. As far as he could tell there was nothing exceptionally special about Ponyvile. It was a small community consisting of a variety of ponies, just as the voice had promised.

As he walked past the local playground, school had just been let out. The children all ran outside eager to be done with their studies and play with their friends. Simon was about to walk away, eager to continue exploring the town, when he witnessed three students being bullied.

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t the cutie mark wannabes. Discover your special talent yet?” Diamond Tiara teased.

“Oh don’t worry they’ll figure it out soon. As matter of fact I’m already predicting what it is…being losers.” Silver Spoon joined in.

“What seems to be the trouble here?” Simon asked as he walked over.

“W-w-well…umm…” Diamond Tiara struggled, searching for an answerer to get out of this situation.

“Nothing! Nothing’s going on.” Silver Spoon pitched in. seeming pleased with her answer.

“Well that’s good, because for a minute there I thought I was going to have to get the teacher.” Simon threatened. “However, since nothing is going on then you have no reason to speak to these three anymore and you can be on your way.”

“Well…I…come on Silver Spoon let’s go.” Diamond Tiara enjoined.

When they had both left Simon got a chance to see who was being bullied. It was Apple Bloom and her two friends, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle.

“Thanks for helping us out Mr. Simon.” Apple Bloom said with a touch of gratitude.

“Yea that was awesome! You totally got her all freaked.” Scootaloo said with admiration.

“Can you teach us how to do that?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“Um…no, but you’re very welcome. I have to ask though, what were they teasing you about?”

The three friends looked at each other with sadness in their eyes.

“We don’t have cutie marks.” Apple Bloom explained sadly.

“We’ve tried everything, but nothing’s turned up.” Scootaloo sadly stated.

“We’ve asked every pony in town how they got theirs…but no ones been particularly helpful.” Sweetie Belle remarked.

“Can you tell us how you got yours?” Apple Bloom asked.

“My cutie mark story? That takes me back. I was a little older than you three, and I had a big examine-“ Simon was cut off by another memory surfacing in his head.

It was the day of the big finale. The subject was ward dismembering. Basically what that meant was disarming protection spells, and Simon was quite adapt to that skill. Everyone said he was a natural at it, but Simon still thought he had a lot to learn. As the teacher came around passing out tiny locked chests, she started to rattle off instructions.

“You will have five minutes to open the chest using your magic. You may not get assistance from another student. Doing so will guarantee an automatic failure. If you do not open the box within the time limit you will not move on to the next level.” The teacher instructed.

“This is going to be a walk in the park! Right Simon?” The pony next to him muttered.

“Yea…easy.” Simon swallowed hard.

“You may begin!” The teacher said when the time limit started.

Okay…okay, just breathe, you can do this! Simon motivated himself. Just focus on the box, and the say the spell in your head. Simon thought as he started to focus on the box with all his might. When nothing happened the first time he tried again…and again…and again.

“Two minutes left.” The teacher warned.

Simon looked all around the room. Nearly half the class had managed to open their chests. Simon started wasting time by looking at his box and then at another students, believing that his must be defective.

“One minute left.” The teacher warned again.

Simon’s hooves started to tremble on the tabletop. I’m going to fail. He thought as the clock started moving at what looked like warp speed. Simon sat there and thought about what going home would be like. His mother would greet him at the door and ask how his test went. His father would already be prepared with a present for his assumed success. Then would come the moment where he had to fess up to failing the test. His parents would go into another room and yell about he had slacked off too much. Then they would ground him and force him to attend the graduation of his fellow students. He would awkwardly congratulate them all, knowing the whole time they would just feel pity for him, and whisper about how much of a loser he was.

“Thirty seconds left.” The teacher warned for the last time.

All the anger Simon was feeling toward the chest was…well, it was hard to put into words exactly. He was so angry that he felt like he was going to destroy Equestria if the box didn’t open. Open darn you! Open...open…open! Simon commanded. To his surprise the lid flew open so fast that it came undone and hit the ceiling.

“Time! Please cease all magical activity now.” The teacher commanded.

Simon had done it he had passed the test. At that moment whom should walk in but princess Luna herself, congratulating all who had passed. When she walked over to Simon, he couldn’t help be feel a rush of gratitude. After all if it weren’t for her, then he would never be in the class in the first place.

“Princes Luna, I did it, I passed.” Simon excitedly shared.

“Yes young Simon I know. There was never a doubt in my mind, not after you were able to climb the stair case to the observatory.”  Luna beamed.

“What do you mean? They were just stairs right?”

“There is a reason why Celestia and I only fly to the top of the tower. It is because that the stairs are protected with powerful wards to keep out intruders. So you see, that was the reason I wanted you to attend my school. You were a natural at breaking wards.” Luna smiled.

Simon just sat on the ground, processing the information that had been presented to him. He loved breaking enchantments that much was clear to him. He was also a natural at it. Then he looked at Luna and thought about how much she had believed in him. This is what I’m meant to do…no question about it. Simon thought. Just then his cutie mark had appeared. The cutie mark started whispering to Simon, letting him know why it was there. He already knew though, and for the rest of his education he started to train in order to become-

“Mr. Simon! Are you okay?” Apple Bloom asked, terrified that Simon was in some kind of pain.

Simon came back to the present with a group of ponies standing around him.

“I’m fine…I just…I just need to go lay down for a while.” Simon said, embarrassed for causing a scene.

“But you never told us about your cutie mark.” Sweetie Belle complained.

“I’ll tell you later.” Simon promised as he ran off to the library.

Twilight stood in front of the library, nervously awaiting Simon’s return. In her hoof she held a book known as The History of Ancient Equestria. When Simon finally arrived he couldn’t wait to share what he had discovered, but her expression told him it would be best to just listen.

“I’ve been doing some research on the school that you had mentioned earlier.” Twilight began. “Sure enough it did exist.”

“Did?” Simon asked.

“Simon that school…that school was shut down over a thousand years ago.”

“What?!”

“I need you tell me the last thing you remember.”

“Well just to day I learned how I got my cutie mark.” Simon told Twilight the events that lead up to such a momentous occasion. When he had finished Twilight stared at him with disbelief.

“What is it? Doesn’t my story make sense?” Simon questioned.

“Well…” Twilight started.

“Well what?” Simon demanded.

“Luna has never been known to be so…generous. Especially after she turned into Nightmare Moon.”

“Who?”

“Nightmare Moon? You know…the person Luna became after growing jealous of Celestia.” Twilight began.

“No…I’m sorry but I don’t know who that is. Usually a memory will come to me after a certain word or phrase is said. This time however, it doesn’t ring any bells.”

Twilight sat there and thought for what seemed like forever. To Simon, it looked as if she were trying to understand why this, Nightmare Moon person, didn’t start any type of memory.

“Simon, I’m going back to Canterlot. The library there is vastly superior to the one here in Ponyvile. This is a mystery that can’t be solved by just looking for clues.”

“Can I come with you? Maybe I can talk to Celestia or someone else?” Simon pleaded.

“Sorry but you need to stay here and continue recovering your memory. If all else fails we can still rely on you to figure yourself out. Tell my friends I said good bye for now.” Twilight requested as she flew off to Canterlot.

For the second time in today, Simon found himself sitting in front of the library not knowing what to do. The day was growing short as the night was rising and he thought it would be a good idea to go inside.

“Hello Mr. Simon.” A voice greeted as Simon entered the library.

“Who’s there?” Simon called.

“Don’t you remember?” The voice teased.

“Oh…its you. What do you want?”

“I just wanted to let you know that everything is right on schedule.”

“How? I don’t even have all of my memories.”

“I know! That’s part of the game were playing here.”

“Game? What game?”

“Oh you’ll find out soon enough. Think of you finding your memories as…part one.”

“Part one? Then what’s part two?”

“That will only be discovered when all your memories have been recovered. Hey that rhymed.”

“Well bad rhyming aside, why don’t you just give me my memories back?”

“Think of it as a journey of self discovery.”

“Well that’s just stupid. What’s the real reason?”

“Very well, I suppose giving you some information wouldn’t hurt. You see Simon…I didn’t capture you. I only released you. That is why I can’t give you back your memories…because I don’t really know you. All I do know is that in that little head of yours is the secret history of Equestria.”

“W-what? Secret history…I don’t know…”

“Oh I know you don’t know. That’s why you’re in Ponyvile, to discover your true self.”

“Yea, or I could wait until next week and just talk to Luna.” Simon challenged.

“I took care of that.” The voice assured.

“What does that mean?” Simon asked.

“That’s for me to know and you to find out. Ta-ta for now.” The voice taunted as it left.

“What does that mean?” Simon whispered into the darkness. “WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?!”