Simon's Story

“Now can we ask him?”

“Afraid not Apple Bloom, I think he’s still asleep.”

Sleep…afraid…apples…

“I don’t see what the big deal is. I mean, my story is way better.”

“No doubt you’re the coolest Rainbow Dash, but we really want to know.”

Rainbows are pretty cool…am I still asleep?

Simon woke up once more to the sound of ponies outside the library door. This had become a common occurrence since his stay in Ponyvile. He looked at the clock that was beside his bed and noticed that it was twelve o’clock. Crap! I’ve nearly slept the day away. Simon thought as he clambered out of bed. He was emotionally exhausted after the conversation he had, had with the voice the other the night.

He went downstairs and looked out the window that was beside the door. The voices he had heard earlier were Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo, Applejack, and Apple Bloom. Alongside them were Sweetie Belle and Rarity. They were all waiting outside, clearly hoping that Simon would join them.

“I wonder what they want.” Simon thought aloud. When he exited the library the three young fillies looked at him accusingly.

“Uh…good morning.” Simon began.

“Finally we’ve been waiting all morning.” Scootaloo started off.

“Waiting for what?” Simon asked.

“To hear the story of how you got your cutie mark.” Sweetie Belle chimed in.

“Oh…okay.” Simon began telling the story of how he had obtained his cutie mark. He described the exam he had to take and the realization that lead to the cutie mark revealing itself in the first place. Simon was a bit nervous this time around while telling his story. Not because he thought it was embarrassing or anything like that, but just at the number of listeners that were present. He was never good in front of large crowds.

“And that’s how I got my cutie mark.” Simon finished.

“Well I must say Simon, that was a very refined story.” Rarity said as she started inching towards him.

“Yea it was okay…but definitely not as cool as mine.” Rainbow Dash boasted.

“So you’re kinda like Twilight then.” Applejack offered.

“Huh? Why would you say that?” Simon asked. Applejack proceeded to tell him Twilight’s cutie mark story. It was practically identical to Simon’s, except she received hers at a much younger age.

“Speaking of which, where is Twilight?” Applejack asked.

“Oh, she said that she wanted to take a look in the Canterlot library to see if there was some way to help me.” Simon replied.

“So Twilight just left…without telling us?” Rainbow Dash questioned.

“Please Rainbow Dash, you are being much to skeptical of our new friend, Simon.” Rarity helped.

“Wait a second. Did ya’ll just say that Simon can’t remember anything?” Apple Bloom asked.

“That’s right sugar cube, Simon has a touch of amnesia.” Applejack explained.

“Well then why don’t we take him to Zecora?” Apple Bloom suggested.

“Well because…I…” Applejack struggled.

“Because if there was a potion that could bring back a ponies memory, then Twilight would have already found it.” Rainbow Dash helped.

“Yea but-“ Apple Bloom started to argue.

“Not now Apple Bloom, we need to get back to the farm and start harvesting.” Applejack interrupted.

“Wait, we still have more questions for Simon though…about his cutie mark.” Scootaloo said rather hastily.

Applejack stood there and paused for a minute thinking about weather or not Apple Bloom needed to be at the farm right then and now. After a few minutes she agreed and left. So did Rainbow Dash claiming that she needed to practice, and Rarity saying that she had more clothes to make. Once they had all left, it was just Simon and the kids.

“So…uh…what else do you need to know?” Simon asked.

“Don’t worry about your memory Mr. Simon, the Cutie Mark Crusaders are here to help.” Sweetie Belle promised.

“The Cutie…what?” Simon confusingly asked.

“It’s a group that we started to help those who don’t have cutie marks. But we do other stuff to.” Scootaloo explained.

“So now, were going to take you to Zecora.” Apple Bloom promised.

Simon, having nothing better to do, agreed to let them take him to see Zecora. They seemed pretty confident that she could restore his memory, and Simon felt as if he was running out of options. After all, Twilight wasn’t back yet, Luna was missing, and the possible fate of Equestria may lie on his shoulders (at least according to the voice). The Crusaders stopped when they came to edge of a forest. They started shaking, only just a little, but Simon was able to notice.

“What’s wrong?” Simon asked.

“It’s just that…well…this is the Everfree Forest.” Scootaloo said as if that explained it all.

“Yea, and…” Simon pressed.

“The forest is filled with all kinds of crazy monsters and weird plants.” Apple Bloom explained.

“Then you all wait here. I’ll look for Zecora myself.” Simon offered.

“No way! The Crusaders never back down. C’mon girls, we need to get Simon to Zecora.” Sweetie Belle enjoined.

That seemed to the trick, because pretty soon they were all deep in the Everfree Forest. The forest was big and it took a long while until they found Zecora’s hut. It was small with a bunch weird talisman around it. Simon started to back away. The place looked like it belonged to some kind of dark of wizard. Then he started to remember how reluctant the others were in coming. Maybe there was a reason… Simon started to think.

“Who is out there? Please do not be scared.” A voice rhymed from inside the hut. A black and white pony emerged and started to smile as soon as she saw Apple Bloom.

“Why, if it isn’t young Apple Bloom. What brings you to my hut this afternoon?” She asked.

“Zecora this Simon. Simon this is Zecora, and she’s the zebra that can help you get your memory back.” Apple Bloom explained.

“So, your memory has become weak? Then I do have the remedy that you seek.” Zecora promised.

“Great…what is it?” Simon asked.

“Two ingredients, we do contain. The fang of a timber wolf, we must obtain.”

“A…what?” Simon asked.

“A timber wolf. You know, wolves that are made of wood and are practically indestructible. They live here in the forest” Scootaloo explained.

“Alright then. You three wait here, and I’ll look for the wolf.” Simon shouted as he raced into the forest.

Simon had no idea how to find a timber wolf, nor any way of identifying it. Though according to Scootaloo it shouldn’t be that hard. How am I even going to get its fang? Simon thought as he maneuvered his way through the forest. Simon couldn’t remember having any skill in fighting. In fact, he thought that he was quite passive. I might be able to use magic to get it. Simon thought. Or maybe I could-

“Help!” A voice shrieked from the woods. Not one to ignore a cry for help, Simon quickly dashed his way to the voice’s origin.

When he arrived his instant thought was how dead he was going to be, when he returned to Ponyvile. Timber wolves were surrounding Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle.  Crap! Simon thought. What in the hay am I going to do! He looked around, trying to see of there was any type of advantage that would produce an edge. He found none. No low hanging branches, no rocks, no nothing. It was just a field where nothing but grass was growing.  Simon searched for any way out of the situation, any way to rationalize leaving. The thought was crossing his mind, but he quickly pushed it aside. No way was he going to be responsible for their deaths. At last he came to one conclusion.

He charged the nearest timber wolf and sent it packing right into some others. Hearing the commotion that was going on, the other timber wolves took quick notice of Simon and started to circle him. The silence was defining, and all that could be heard was the wind. Simon looked his foes in the eyes and then looked at Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom. They were still standing there struck by fear, and by the possibility that Simon might die. He looked up at them and broke the silence. “Run!” He shouted at them.

The first timber wolf came Simon’s hind leg. Big mistake, because Simon was able to hear it coming. He quickly stretched out both legs, and he felt the connection as his right hind leg broke its jaw. The next one came in front, but Simon was able to levitate it and swing it in a big circle, taking three more down. I’m pretty good at this! Simon thought as adrenaline started to pump through his body. He started to celebrate a bit to soon though, as the timber wolves that were circling him attacked at once. They pinned him to the ground and were snapping at his back. Simon always thought that in a moment like this, one couldn’t feel the pain. He was wrong…so horribly wrong. The wolves weren’t ripping off his flesh, they were just putting their fangs deep into his body. One almost reached bone. It was like a thousand daggers being forced into his body. The pain was immersive, and at last he passed out.

The coma wasn’t much better, in Simon’s opinion. He wasn’t dead…he was sure of that. He wasn’t awake either. Once again, he was in a white room. He looked around the room to see if there was anything of interest. As far as he could tell there was none.

“Maybe I am dead.” Simon thought aloud. “Maybe this is it. I’m finally at peace. No more voice, no more Ponyvile, no more memory. Yep…seems about right.” Simon paced around the room and continued to talk with himself. “To think…the entire reason that I’m here is because someone wanted to know the secret history of Equestria. If I had just left it alone and waited for Twilight…I might still be alive. Instead I’m in this bucking room! With a bucking book right in the middle of it!” Simon shouted angrily.

Then the moment of real clarity came. He rushed over to where the book was. It had just appeared…Celestia knows when. He looked at the title and it read Simon’s Memories. Simon looked at the book with hope in his eyes. This was it, the moment that he had been waiting for. Then there was another book that had just appeared at Simon’s side. Curious, he looked at its title, which said Simon’s New Memories. Confused, Simon decided to take a step back. Clearly he had to make a choice of some sort. To either except who he once was, or to become something else. The choice was obvious, to take his old memories…but. Simon had to admit that maybe there was a reason his memories had been removed.

Simon continued to ponder on this when the books changed shape again. One became the shape of the moon, and the other the sun. Simon, confused once more, sat down and thought. He thought for what seemed like hours, searching for what he really wanted. At last he decided on the moon. As he approached the moon, all of his old memories rushed back. Simon drew closer slowly, not wanting to go into a deeper coma. When he touched the moon, everything became clear.

Simon awoke inside Zecora’s hut with Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash staring over him. In the corner were the Cutie Mark Crusaders, crying at the possible loss of their new friend.

“Simon? You’re awake! Oh thank Celestia…” Applejack exclaimed, relieved at Simon’s recovery.

“Sweetie Belle told us what happened and we rushed to save you. We thought you were…” Rarity struggled.

“We thought that you were…gone. Lucky for you, I’m one of the best fighters in Equestria.” Rainbow Dash bragged, though clearly glad that Simon was okay.

“Thanks…how did you find me so fast?” Simon asked.

“After Apple Bloom didn’t come home after an hour, we figured they had taken you to Zecora, so we were already looking.” Applejack explained.

“Mr. Simon…we’re…” Apple Bloom tried to find the right words.

“It’s okay…don’t mention it…” Simon assured. “Now… we really have to get to Canterlot.”

“Why? What do you need in Canterlot?” Rarity asked

“I just got my memory back.”