Above Eagles

    "Andrew? Hey, uh... It's Sweetie Belle. I just wanted to talk about a few things. --Well, actually, it's really just one really important thing."

    That was the statement which brought myself from my developing trance, and I found me staring into the light yellow eyes of Opalescence. The chinchilla cat's reticent features simply blinked as I came to suddenly, glancing down to see the floor, four feet below. Just another day with Andrew the Mind Freak.

     The knocking on my door told me that my locking skills were still intact - good. Wouldn't wanna give Ms. Marshmallow a heartattack, now, would I?

     I had spent the duration of my consciousness today in this position, practicing my levitation on living organisms. First was Opalescence, after I convinced her to shut the Hell up. Beforehand, though, I used her meows and hisses for signs of where I was putting too much force in, and where I was putting too little in. Soon, that practice translated over to my own body. I bruised myself a little on my initial grab, and for the first few seconds, my mind shook at the thought of how little of a nudge it took for me to either spew across the room in a gory mess, or combust into a little ball of ooze.

     That thought got to me, and I let myself down for a little bit. This was my second attempt, and with some numbing of the brain, I've had no problems for the fifteen minutes I've spent airborne. Thoughts of flying occasionally entered my mind, but I was far from bringing those wishes to life. For now, I needed to practice resisting the urge to tear myself into a gory meatball.

    Well, for a few seconds ago, it seems.

    "Hang on a sec," I got out, before trying my best to steadily float to the ground in a collective fashion. After some vibrating, however, my sense of fashion proved to be ghastly. My upper body swung down my right side, and I bonked my head on the floor. Luckily, said floor was carpet, but I was still pretty sure it was going to cause the second nasty bruise of the morning. I muttered a curse or two, my lower body still being held above myself, almost making a C shape. Annoyed, I lifted my front hooves into a supporting position before putting my Olimpian Athleticism to an untimely end.

     I muttered some colorful statements as I stood up in my white room, and...

     ...was it just me, or was Opalescence snickering?

     I shifted my glare to the feline currently affixed to the top of my plain bed, who was indeed using a paw to surpress the maleficent laughter. Okay, I am now officially done questioning this place. She can probably understand me when I talk, for all I knew.

     "Bastard," I muttered (her snickering stopping in the meanwhile), before trotting to the door in the corner of my room. With an annoying creak of the door opening, I was given the dry sight of Sweetie Belle, standing a foot and a half shorter than me - yet her green eyes shown up audaciously. Her face was indifferent, although the right side of her lips were sucked into her mouth, her left front hoof kicking. I blinked. "Sup?"

     Sweetie Belle seemed uncomfortable now. She narrowed her eyes, but not in an angry way. She opened her mouth to speak, but after realization crashed down on her, the filly was silent.

     "Well, good talk," I acknowledged, before making a move to close the door.

     "You don't have to be so rude!" Sweetie blurted out, her narrowed eyes now not so familiar. Her abashed nature was no more, replaced by something much more persistent. Even her body language changed, and her snow white hooves were spread apart on the floor, neck craned to glare daggers at me. It was adorable as Hell, and was enough for that door to stay open. "I wanted to talk to you. Because, uhm... I want to make sure my sister is safe with you around."

     That made my ears perk, and my eyes soften. Sweetie Belle soon recovered from her defensive stance, glancing behind herself, as if to make sure nopony was listening When her surroundings were secured, she peered back up at me with a concerned look of sincerity. "I just wanted to talk about something. It'd only take a little of your time, I promise!"

     I grunted my cooperation, before stepping forward and closing the door behind me. Sweetie Belle nodded thankfully, before backing up and taking another look around us. Rarity was nowhere to be seen, earning an unsure sigh from the investigator. "Andrew, did you really lose your memory?"

     "Don't remind me," I deadpanned, lowering my eyebrows, before Sweetie Belle gave me a pleading look. Her eyes instantly told me all that I needed to know - this was serious to her. "Yes, I did. Couldn't even remember how to speak correctly for a few days."

     Sweetie Belle lowered her head gloomily. "So... you don't remember where you're from?"

     My blood ran chilly at that question. I wasn't sure what to do - there was no right answer to that. The filly was uncomfortably shifting her weight from her left side to her right, and soon, I was following suit.

     "I mean, I've never heard a name like yours. Or, seen an earth pony do what you can. I thought where you came from might've had something to do with it...--"

     On her oblivious mouth went, leaving my shocked mind in the dust. My blood was frozen by now, and my legs weakened from under my body, but I held brittlely firm.

     Sweetie Belle knew.

     I knew I should have pushed us into my room, to have this conversation in private, but my body was frozen with paralyzing shock, and a burning hatred aimed at myself.

Of course she would've figured it out! I can't keep this shit under wraps for the life of me - why not just repeatedly huck some at the ceiling fan above? When Sweetie Belle tells Rarity, I'll be thrown out into a world I can't even read in! God dammit, I should've been more careful!

     I facehoofed, before figuring that was too little of a punishment. My hoof obeyed my mind, repeatedly punching myself in the forehead.

GOD. DAMMIT. THIS. CAN'T. KEEP. HAPPENING!

     "What're you doing?!"

     My hoof ceased all violent tendencies, saving the onslaught for later. Sweetie Belle was now peering up at me, confusion and a hint of concern on her visage. The look gave me hope - perhaps she was talking about something completely different, and out of my own self-loathing, I had missed it?

     "I just said I saw you move things with your mind! I'm sorry if I made you feel stupid!"

     Well, back to hitting myself.

     My hoof went back to work, just before Sweetie yelped out a stern, "Hey! You stop that!" It was then my hoof couldn't move.

     I stubbornly tried to pull my hoof again, although it wouldn't budge. Confused, I opened my eyes to see that a green, gel-like glow was enveloping my hoof. That same glow was portruding from Sweetie Belle's horn, the unicorn's face contorted into one of pained concentration. I frowned, trying again - my hoof curled up just a few inches before Sweetie snapped, "Would you stop it? I just said that I'm not going to tell anypony!"

     My facehoofing came to an end, yet my self-loathing decided to stay without even so much as a two-week notice. Okay, try to calm down... She won't tell anypony. My reading classes could wait a little longer.

     Still, it was beyond frustrating to not even have faith in myself for keeping my own secret.

     What did Nurse Redheart say? Bring whoever found out to her? I nodded inwardly, knowing what to do - until the thought came to me that Sweetie Belle was a filly. She couldn't convince anypony if she tried. But...

     ...No. I needed to start taking responsibility for my actions. Later today. No excuses. That was the plan, and I was going to stick to it.

     "I saw you yesterday," Sweetie Belle informed pragmatically. "Coming from the restroom. And... well, you didn't seem to care too much about using your hooves for the door."

     I nodded, exasperated, and steadily put a hoof on my throbbing forehead to steady myself. I already knew her alliance was to me, but it still felt reassuring to say the words, "You cannot tell Rarity. Or anypony."

     "I know," Sweetie Bell said patiently.

     I nodded, her words adding to my console. And at that, the conversation was over.

     We stood there for a while, and soon an awkward silence enveloped us. I nodded occasionally, encouraging her to nod in mutual respect and silence. Her comradery in this subject would help tons. She could perhaps remind me to keep quiet aswell before I give myself away. I imagined Sweetie Belle was probably going to use that as a grip on my balls, though - best to stay on her side of the everything. But, above all, I had to take her to Nurse Redheart. "Okay..." I muttered coolly, trying to find the right words, before I was inturrupted.

     A sporadic series of knocking on the front door was what served as a trap door for the developing information I had to pass on. I gently pushed her aside to peer at the flamboyantly violet door, and saw that it was occasionally almost knocked from its hinges - almost cartoon-like.

"Andrew, you get your butt out here right now!" I heard Pinkie Pie blurt from outside, and I instantly knew my trip to the hospital would have to wait. Hanging with her might give me all the different reasons to go, however.

     "Butt or flank?" I asked smugly, turning back to Sweetie Belle.

     She let out a small chuckle, peering up at me with wide, green eyes. "I guess that's going to become a 'thing' now, huh?"

     "Pinkie, darling, you'll knock down the door!" Rarity's muffled voice suddenly yelled, and I could hear her hurried hoofsteps elegantly clamoring down the stairs. "I'm coming, have patience!"

     "Not a word," Sweetie Belle reminded to me ironically. I peered down at the filly, who had a well-meaning grin worn on her face. I admired her trust.

     Meanwhile, Pinkie Pie exploded in Rarity's face in the front door. "Where is Andrew?! I thought he said he'll meet us at 8am tomorrow yesterday, and now it's 8:03! Is everything alright? - I'm asking that because the last time a friend was three minutes late I had to send her a message through the electromagnetic spectrum to remind her, but that started a chain reaction which inevitably caused everypony to go blind, so I had to tear a hole through reality into another dimension to fix this one, but the big purple chinchilla-Sensei said I wasn't ready, so I had to train in a super awesome-dubstep-montage, but then--"

     "I'd rather you would come and ask, too," Rarity acknowledged.

     At that, I gave Sweetie Belle one last look, before stepping into the open battlefield of Pinkie Pie's vision. The sniper rifles desguised as her eyes instantly locked onto me, and suddenly I felt very small. Before she could do anything involving anything that has to do with herself, the welcome form of Applejack entered through the front door.

     "Settle down, there, Pink," she chuckled, making her way to her friend's side. After she saw the pony in Pinkie's crosshairs, she put a hoof on her shoulder. "See? Ah' told you he's fahn.--" She turned to me. "Ain't that right?"

     "Right as rain," I confirmed, before making my way to the trio of ponies. I could feel Sweetie Belle's eyes on my backside as I neared them. "All right, let's head on out."

     Pinkie surpressed a vibration I could only assume was excitement, before rolling her eyes and head playfully. "Fiiinally~!" she moaned, before turning said head around, and using it to lead the way outside, still craned painfully upwards.

     Applejack gave me an expecting but kind look, before also following her friend.

     "Have fun, darling," I heard Rarity say from behind, before--

Wait, WAIT, WHAT THE SHIT--

     She pulled me into a light shoulder hug. It was a simple and friendly gesture, but in my mind, a whole damn community of signs were bouncing this way and that. And, before I knew it, my mind was as convaluted as the bright red stain on my cheeks.

     I took a moment to relish in her soft fur, and her faint lavender musk. But a moment was all I had, as Rarity pulled back and appropriately trotted back up the stairs, humming a lighthearted tune I had never heard of before. Still discumbobulated by her brusqueness, I let out a weak, "Bye," before stumbling forward and out of the door. Instantly afterwards, the fresh scents of a new world greeted myself into the light. Yet, I was already as sky high as one could be.

    "...So here's a thought for you: if the pootis bird never regained his dispenser, how could he ever forgive the defiant Engie for destroying his homeland of Painis Island? Nopony knows. That's what I really like about that story - all the characters are three-dimensional! It's almost like you can reach out and touch him as he stares blankly into your eyes with his own, buggy perceivers. *And then, with a distinct***--"

     And, that was when I slowly drifted off, Pinkie's maundering fading in the meanwhile.

     From the looks of it, Applejack was completely numb to the noises coming from Pinkie Pie's mouth. Her eyes didn't hold any deceit back, however - she was completely, utterly uninterested. And, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't hide it. I had that connection, at least.

     I took this time to inspect the surroundings Applejack had taken us to - it was her turn to choose dinner, and she took the liberty to take us to Big Wood's Grill. Not only was this the place I found out that these ponies were omnivores (*shudder*), but it was also one of my new favorite places in all of Ponyville. It was a small, cabin-style, open-wall restaurant just at the edge of Ponyville, which served various Southern-themed salads and meats (The deer and cows in Equestria are also sentient, but it's almost as if they agree with our predatorial instincts - a little poignant is all they see in us eating their neighbors. Creepy shit, me thinks.). It had an outdoorsy-feel to it, basically consisting of a long outstretch of a dark wood floor, with an equally expansive wooden roof over our heads, supported by log purlins and columns. Inside the log sanctuary of the place was lit splendidly by orange-tinted lights and lamps around the many wooden tables and chairs around us. The cool breezes of the outdoors (or, in this case, fifteen feet to the left) susurrated gently over the occupants of Big Wood's Grill, consisting of us, and a few other families and partners scattered around the large expanse. Soft music, full of aplomb, danced around everypony's ears from some speakers on the underside of the roof.

     Outside was a different story. It was a busy night, no moon in sight (unfortunately), but full of the countless charms the backside of the sun brought. The constant tunes of crickets and other bugs joined the river of pithy music, adding that tinge of the laid-back Southern lifestyle I took Applejack to love. And, I could see exactly why.

     At that thought, a suddenly forboding sensation crawled up my spine. I shivered, at first thinking it was the breeze, but soon recognizing the cold feeling as somepony else's eyes on my fur. Under the cover of Pinkie's monologue about how "there are no secondary characters in life," and how "Fleck deserved a second chance," I glanced around uneasily.

     "...And then the galaxy expanded and retracted, creating yet another wormhole, and-- Hey, Andrew, what's wrong? You look like you just found a glowing red dot on your chest!"

     I redirected my look to Pinkie, and as my visage neared her own, I suddenly grew pragmatic. I know I was trying to be more honest to my friends, but really, I had no reason to feel this way. What I didn't know couldn't hurt them too bad. "Just got a little chilly, all of a sudden."

     At that, the two ponies reacted as if I had hit a switch to their sympathies. Applejack opened her mouth to speak, just before Pinkie beat her to it: "Oh, well why didn't you say so, Silly? Nopony's uncomfortable around Pinkie!"

     ...Ah-heh.

     During my growing mnemonic collection of times I had, indeed, felt uncomfortable in her presence, Pinkie was suddenly pulling a wool patterned blanket that a grandma would've approved of. Before I knew her intentions, I felt her hooves come over my shoulders, and my entire back suddenly felt very warm. I looked back to see that the pink pony was evidently now behind me, wrapping me in the heavy blanket. When the fabric was laid over myself, I could feel its weight instantly, and my shoulders sagged.

     Pinkie Pie took the time to steal a quick, tight hug. Suddenly, the warmth was multiplied by the biggest number you can think of right now. I didn't know what it was about cute mares hugging me, but I was really starting to like the feeling.

     "You're a good friend," Pinkie Pie chippered innocently. My nonexistent heart both sank and rose at the word "friend," creating a paradox in my mind. I didn't know why, but I didn't like that word coming from somepony else's mouth, aimed at me. "Friend." But, Pinkie Pie's undeniable innocence and somewhat (ugh... fine.) charm soon tussled with the negative feeling.

     "Thanks," I said weakly, before Pinkie Pie trotted back to her seat, humming a sweet tune to nopony in particular. My eyes hurriedly found their way to the empty plate in front of me again as I tried to mull over what had just happened. Yet, the more I thought, the more the chilly feeling crept up my back. I held back shivering, but it still felt like a blizzard inside the blanket.

     I quickly stole a glance around us, just to confirm or deny my suspicions. Our surroundings seemed completely fine: ponies around us talking, music above us continuing, and the night outside still being damn sexy. I took another second to further inspect the ponies around us, though. A family of four sat just a few tables to our right; the young colt was currently trying to steal bits and pieces off his bigger sister's plate while the parents (a mare and a mare, I noticed) whispered sweet nothings into each others' ears. I scrunched up my snout, unsure if this place was particularly well-suited for families, when I continued peering at the surrounding residents of Ponyville. Another couple, this time without their children - again, a mare and a mare (Did the uneven ratio of males and females have something to do with that?). A group of teenagers, huddling around the table with garrulous intent. And then, my eyes fell on a lone stallion.

     The feeling of chill turned into an ice-cold dread the moment our eyes met. The uneasy aura came from him, and now I knew it not to be that being-watched tingle of the spine. It was something completely different - it was as if lonliness, fear, and guilt all had a fun time on a late Friday night, and dropped off their horribly deformed offspring on my doorstep the next morning - all the responsibilities and legal shit included. He had fastidious, dark brown irises, although his look suggested something lighter than "murder". I tried to inspect the rest of him. I tried to move my eyes across his being, to jot down every detail as if it'd give me a hint as to why I felt this way. But, his eyes were a magnet.

Just like the scar in the mirror.

     The realization hit me like a train. I physically flinched, although Pinkie's blanket caught my limbs and I ended up falling from my seat in a raucous frenzy of fright, and hitting the floor with a thud. That noise echoed throughout the restaurant, proving to go along just as strongly as the music and Southern charm.

     Just a moment after my brain went kaPOOYA, it was back to normal. I shook away the sudden, horrific fear and came back to reality. And, that involved looking up into a startled Applejack's eyes as she bent down to help me up.

     I took her hoof and staggered back into my chair, eyes wide as could be. I turned to AJ in an attempt to explain things, but her attention was turned elsewhere: to the other ponies in their seats, all eyes dead-set on me.

Fan-fucking-tastic.

     I faked a smile, although I knew it came off as an especially uneasy smile. I had to acknowledge each and every one of the staring ponies' stares (minus my accomplice in crime), my gaze steadily crawling across the expansive room. Then, with a guilty raise of a hoof, pushing the heavy wool aside, I said pragmatically, "Sorry." My voice was still in light-speech-impediment territory, so that didn't help much with my public status.

     The restaurant gradually returned to its neutral state of happiness, dismissing me without so much as a second glance. I slouched back into my chair, my entire face burning with embarrassment. I didn't attempt to explain to Applejack or Pinkie Pie my problem, because it wasn't explainable to even myself. They seemed to realize something was wrong, and I was the last one who wanted to talk about it.

     Even then, I could feel the inevitable, accusing question coming. I had embarrassed them as much as myself, and now it was time to pay. When I caught Applejack opening her mouth from the corner of my eye, I braced myself for the nail on the coffin for my secrecy:

     "You okay, partner?"

"What was that abou--" Wait, what?

     Surprised, I tilted up to see genuine concern in Applejack's eyes. Same with Pinkie Pie, which I discovered after a slight turn. They were both concerned.

     A sudden warmth sprouted in my chest - weird, considering there was nothing inside. But, looking into their eyes which held nothing but interest in my own well being, I couldn't help but dismiss that physical emptiness, for once. A smile suddenly appeared on my face, and I leaned back in my chair, Pinkie Pie's blanket suddenly a lot warmer. I must've looked like a complete dumbass, but at this point, I couldn't care the slightest. "Yeah, just thinking about stuff. And things."

     It wasn't technically a lie. My uneasiness really did spawn from just me thinking about what had happened, which I didn't completely understand. So, it was all in my head. And, the more I told myself that, the more I believed it.

     Applejack wasn't completely convinced, but Pinkie Pie's reaction drowned out her oncoming questioning: "Whew! That's a relief! I can't tell you how many ponies I've met that just suddenly spaz out and are never the same again! Ooh! I have GOT to tell you this story about this one guy, in Band Camp..."

     Aaaand here we go again.

     Off went my mind to the subject at hoof again. Applejack gave me a flat look of disapproval, before sighing and turning back to Pinkie Pie. Taking advantage of this open moment, I tried my best to look at the black stallion just to my left. I caught his eye out of the corner of my own.

     He was dropping a hefty tip on the table, at the same time throwing on what looked like a black hoodie from hanging on his chair. After both actions were completed, he peered at me again.

     This time, it was a glance, though. I caught his dark brown eyes with my own ones, before he turned away casually. Then, he lowered his head and grinned before walking out.

     Not the grin of a pursuer or hit man, but of one damn happy pony.

     "Welcome back, darling--!"

"SHIT-CAKES," I yipped out, almost dashing into the newly closed door just behind me. But, once the fact that it was Rarity who had greeted me from the darkness settled in, I sighed out my anger, and breathed in understanding. Luckily, when I looked back up at the Junoesque mare I knew as my host, sitting comfortably on one of the equally elagant sofas in the center of the room, I saw nothing but abashed contrition.

     "I am so sorry!" Rarity said in a mix of apology and amusement, adjusting herself so she looked straighter. "I didn't mean to scare you."

     I mentally slapped myself. Who else would greet me at Carousel Boutique at this time? I must be getting paranoid.

     "I only wanted to talk with you," Rarity continued, adjusting herself once again fastidiously, glancing down to see how she would look to me. "About the future. Your future. Please, come sit."

     I could feel the foreign but-somewhat-instinctive rise of my ears, and curiosity shaking hands with my mind so quickly it couldn't keep up. After making my way to Rarity and sitting beside her on the soft sofa, I couldn't help but feel that same blossoming warmth which engulfed my system the first time we met. Rarity nodded at my approach before scooting to correctly face me, and I was given a front row seat to some of the most... beautiful eyes in Equestria..

Oh, God...

     I was so close to Rarity. I didn't give two shits if it was some innocent schoolboy crush (granted, schoolboys would never in a million years think up the kinky shit that was currently sitting in my mind), and I had virtually no chance with her (unless if I was a lot older than I looked. Hey, how old am I, anyways? And what Hell do I even look like? Okay, sticky note on my brain's mirror: LOOK AT SELF IN MIRROR SOON.) it was still fun to amuse the thought of us, having dinner at some expensive fancy-language restaurant, and coming home to--

     "You are really easily distracted, aren't you?" Rarity said simply.

Bang. COCKBLOCKED.

     "Sometimes," I responded, trying to not think about it too much.

     Rarity calmly jumped up a little and settled back down in her seat, a gesture I was slowly getting used to. "Well, I must have your undivided attention for the impending conversation, as it concerns subjects of the upmost importance for your future."

     I loved it when she talked like that.

     That thought must have reflected from my eyes, though. Rarity caught that shine, and the concerned curve of her eyes inverted into somewhat of a glare. I took the hint, and serious'd the Hell up.

     "Andrew," Rarity started, before the thought which seemingly dawned upon her lost itself. She took a moment to revise her words, looking down and back up at me, before clasping her hooves together. "What are your plans? For the future, I mean. We both know you can't stay here with me and Sweetie Belle forever - for the convinence of both of us. No offense, darling."

     I adjusted my own seat, knowing where this was going. This was no movie - waking up with no memory and otherworldly medical conditions were apparently not enough to get by society's grip. Well, at least that's where I knew it was going - I couldn't even read shit.

     Because the word "shit" doesn't have the letter "A" in it. Thanks, Purple Smart.

     Yes, I am going to keep making that joke.

     "I don't want to seem like the bearer of bad news, so I won't put down a stern deadline. But, I really do think it will help if you obtained a job sooner or later. Granted, your condition will surely limit your options... How do you feel about going to school?"

     "You know," I mused. "I just got this chilly, forboding feeling when you said 'school'. I think I'm good."

     "Andrew, you know it's for everypony's good."

     I folded my arms and leaned back on the sofa, sulking.

     "...But there are a few jobs that don't require a high school diploma. Granted, their pay is horrendously miniscule..."

     "I could be a politician," I pointed out suddenly. "Dumb as shit, hosting no physical heart." I had to.

     "Andrew, do not call yourself such names!" erupted from the unicorn furiously, catching me completely off guard. I flinched as her words hit home, and found Rarity's eyes to be full of icy determination. Her words were of equal levels of temperature. "You are not dumb. Do not even think of such glib. Education and intelligence are two very different things, Andrew, and mistaking the two is a mistake most ponies regret on their deathbed."

     I made a move to tell her that her scolding was not needed, but the ice-cold glare she gave me shut me up instantly.

     Rarity seemed to notice her hostility, and retreated to a calmer approach. "...I'm sorry, I just can't bear hearing somepony talking about themselves like that - let alone you, mon copain."

...Moan co-pahn?

     "Andrew, please consider my preposition. It's simply not fair for you to fail as an Equestrian citizen, with your lack of memory.--" Rarity's eyes turned softer, and a weak smile appeared on her face as she peered up. "--Please, Andrew. Enroll in a class or two - I will help you along the way if I must. Find a job, find a beautiful mare, buy a house... I know I'm thinking into the far future at this point, but I want you to have a life of your own." She leaned back into her position before, her smile staying intact. I felt some of my innocence be drawn with her direction, and the resulting feeling was a mix between warmhearted comradery, and icy despair.

     "Because... well, Ponyville needs you, Andrew. And I'll guard you if I have to."