Twilight was walking through Ponyville, minding her own business when she realise how different her life was to the others.
First, no-one apart from her friends took her as any other pony any more, ever since she became the princess of friendship. Second, she had no family she could relate to or even remember. The orphans at the orphanage, including Scootaloo at least had a faint memory of their parents, but she had none, she knew of no sibling, mother or father, even if they were all dead. She only had Spike.
As she saw the Apple family herding up cows, or Pinkie as she washed the dust off her family's portrait, or Rainbow dash how she made models of her cousin from the clouds, before turning the clouds back to normal, or even fluttershy who just received a letter from her mum or remembered how Rarity had her sister, she sighed in loneliness.
"Ah see something's bothering ya, Twilight," Apple Jack said, appearing out of nowhere, well not quite nowhere, as she saw that Twilight seemed to be upset about something. "Let me guess, I have a family."
"Yes."
"Rainbow does too."
"Uhuh."
"Pinkie has images."
"Yes."
"Rarity has a sister."
"Yep."
"Flutter Shy's letter?"
"Yes."
"And you remembered that ya don't actually remember your family and you wish you had?" Apple Jack asked the final question, receiving a small nod from Twilight.
"That's nothing to be ashamed of Sugar Cube," Apple Jack reassured her. "It's hard to remember a family member whom you only saw so little of. I can't remember Great aunt Sweety Golden and I saw her when I was six. You've probably only seen your family when you were newly born. Then they probably disappeared. I only know my Great aunt because granny talks about her so much and I barely know who my father was."
"Oh and don't you have a brother?" Apple Jack asked.
Twilight put on a weal smile. "Thanks Apple Jack and yeah, it's just that I see so very little of him that it seems he's more of an old friend from a distant country, than a brother that visits me all the time," she said and the she flapped her new wings slowly. "I hope your cows won't run off like that again."
"Don't bet on it Twi," Apple Jack called after her alicorn friend as she saw her friend fly off into the clouds. The earth pony sighed, hoping that Twilight won't feel bad about not remembering her family and then she went off to finish herding the cows.
***
Twilight Sparkle felt so much better now. Her friends always helped her get through even the toughest times and for that she had always been grateful.
Suddenly she herd a cry for help. It came from the direction of the Everfree forest. She gulped but then realising that a pony was in danger, she quickly stopped worrying about the dangers of the forest and sped up.
She entered the forest to see a pack timberwolves closing in on a frightened pony. It was obviously lost and in need of help as it's body was bruised and bleeding. Twilight Sparkle reacted at once and used a magic lasso to tie up one of the four timberwolves. She then landed onto the ground and started galloping to another wolf, before kicking it in the jaws, which made it back off. She then used some of her magic to scare of the remaining timberwolves by conjuring up a life-like image of an Ursa Major.
Once the wolves had disappeared she slowly walked up to the hurt pony, who was unconscious (probably from shock). She nudged the pony softly and in reply she heard a moan escape from the pony. Then it's eyes open wide, it stood up and just stared at her, tail down. "Who....who are you? Why are you here? Are you going to eat me?" the pony stuttered. Twilight giggled at the pony's questions.
"I'm Twilight Sparkle, I heard your call for help so I came here and I helped you - those timberwolves are a nasty bunch. And don't worry, I won't eat you," Twilight replied.
"Timberwolves?"
"Let me guess, you're not from here, are you?" Twilight questioned the scared pony.
"I... I'm not sure. I just remember chased by those things and the knocking my head of something and now this," the pony answered.
"So you've practically got amnesia," Twilight finished off.
"Eh... If...if that's what you call it... are you sure you're not going to kill me?" the pony said.
"Oh don't be silly, I'm a pony, ponies don't eat one another, or kill, that would be illegal," Twilight said smiling. "I'll get you to my house. There you can heal and then I'll show you around, and I'll get the doctor and Celestia and Luna to look at you. They might be able to help where I cannot."
"Th.. thank you," the pony whispered.
"No problem," she replied as she help the pony to her feet.
Now that the pony was standing up, she looked a bit like Twilight. Or at least the hairstyle. It was not the same hair-colour, but the style was simple and easy to do. She was also the same height as Twilight and was also an alicorn. Maybe she's a princess, Twilight thought. Otherwise she was a midnight-blue mare with a dark and light blue mane and tail, both of which look simple and neat. She wore a pair of shoes that seemed to take an elven fashion style and a cape with stars. But she seemed to have no cutie marks even though she seemed similar age to Twilight.
Taking her mind of the missing cutie mark, Twilight decided to show her new friend (hopefully) around Ponyville. The mare seemed to like the town as it was peaceful, but she was shy when a pony came over to greet her and Twilight. Well, Twilight knew that feeling quite well.
As night came, Twilight thought of getting to pony to her house. "Do you mind sleeping in a guest room?" she asked. The pony shook her head and followed her inside.
Spike just came in and he froze when he saw the pony beside Twilight. "She.... that pony.... looks like you Twilight!" Spike exclaimed. The ponies looked at each other before the other pony greeted the young dragon shyly.
"Don't you worry about Spike, he's a friendly dragon and Spike, haven't I taught you to greet guests first and then comment?" Twilight spoke to both the pony and the dragon. Spike blushed and then apologised before showing the guest into the bedroom.
Let's hope we find out who she is and why she ended up here, and how is she an alicorn, Twilight thought as she headed to her own bedroom to get some sleep.
It felt quite strange having a guest in her castle. Well, she did not mind guests, but this one was a stranger. As much as she liked the thought of getting a new friend, the fact that Twilight Sparkle had gone through so much already, made her cautious of her actions and nervous of new comers. However, that didn't stop her from being curious about the new pony.
Twilight Sparkle almost galloped to the guest room where the pony was at, but she restrained herself. Before she knocked, Twilight decided to listen for some proof that the pony was awake. She did not want to wake her up, the pony looked like she needed a long rest last night so Twilight didn't dare wake her up.
After hearing the curtains being pulled to the side, Twilight was convinced that her guest was awake. She walked in, to see the dark blue pony staring outside the window, looking at the birds that tweeted in the morning sky. "Good morning," Twilight greeted the pony.
The pony turned around, looking slightly startled, but then she smiled. "Good morning to you as well."
"If you want you can come to the kitchen, I've prepared some scones with jam," Twilight offered. The mare nodded.
"That would be great, thank you, Twilight," she thanked sincerely.
"That's nothing. If you want to have some real food, then Pinkie is the one you should go to," Twilight said. Realising that the pony could not have known who Pinkie Pie was, she frowned. "Oh, sorry... I forgot that you are new to this place."
"That's all right."
Twilight lead her into the kitchen and sat down into one of the seats. Her guest sat in the chair directly opposite her and started eating. Twilight ate only slowly as she was thinking about the new pony. At least the pony knew how to talk and walk, but she remembered little else, at least that's what she told Twilight, and she most certainly forgot her name.
***
The guest pony was also thinking, even though she did not know that Twilight was thinking. She had only gotten to her second scone and her hunger had passed. She felt as if she was not completely trusted by this Twilight Sparkle.
Last night, she had not seen many ponies, so she had no clue about this pony called Pinkie, but she knew that Pinkie must be Twilight's friends because of the way she had talked about her when Pinkie was mentioned. Apparently the pony was great at cooking and baking.
A memory struck the pony's head as she looked at Twilight. Her face looked so familiar and there was something about the fact that she had both wings and a horn, but the pony couldn't quite put a hoof on what it was. There was some rule that most ponies had gone by to have both wings and horn, that she had not gone by, but she wasn't sure what the rule was either. She was only certain that she was born in such a way for a strange reason.
As breakfast had finished, the pony rose and looked at Twilight who seemed to have finished her breakfast too. The blue pony was sure that this meant an offer to walk through Ponyville yet again, she just did not know why she had though of that.
***
"Spike? Do you mind staying here whilst I guide this pony through Ponyville?" Twilight asked her small, green and purple dragon friend as she opened the door of her castle.
"Don't worry Twilight, I can handle this!" the dragon reassured her and as the two ponies walked out, the dragon slowly closed the door behind them.
When they were outside, Twilight headed to Sugar Cube Corner, where the dark blue pony that looked similar to her followed her. Twilight saw Pinkie Pie in front of the shop and walked up to her, smiling.
"Hello Twilight! How are you? Who's this pony? What is she doing here? Is she your friend? What's her name?" Pinkie Pie asked, her list of questions endless, making the violet alicorn giggle.
"Hi Pinkie Pie," she greeted back. "I have come here to introduce you to this alicorn. She had caught amnesia when she got lost in the Everfree forest and she can't remember her name, her past or relatives. And I hope that she will be my friend as well as yours."
"Oh..." Pinkie Pie said. "Hello there, Pony Who Forgot Her Name Because Of Amnesia."
"Hi," the pony greeted her back shyly. "I've heard that you're great at baking."
"I think I am. So how come you're an alicorn?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"Oh, so that's what you call it, thanks for reminding me," the pony said.
"So you don't know that either," Pinkie Pie deduced. "Hey what do you say, I prepare a party?"
"If you want to," Twilight said.
"Thanks Twilight," Pinkie Pie said, jumping up and down already as she began planning.
Twilight led the new pony to Sweet Apple Acres. Much of the same thing happened there and Apple Jack got very similar answers from Twilight and the new pony.
The new pony, thought that Apple Jack was a friendly mare, who was honest and understanding as she had hoped her good luck in remembering what she had forgotten.
As they headed over to Rainbow Dash, the pony could not help but smile at the thought of being in this place. It felt like she was at home, even though she currently could not remember her old home, she knew that this place felt perfect. All the ponies were so friendly. Each had there own personality and there own skills, she did not even have a cutie mark of her own, even her name was forgotten.
Rainbow Dash was excited to see the alicorn, but not so excited when she saw that the alicorn had as much trouble flying as Twilight did when she first flew. Otherwise, the pony saw that and though it wasn't anything strange, pegasi were probably not used to ponies who had wings yet could not fly. Rainbow Dash seemed like a likeable person, she was a prideful pony, but there was nothing wrong with that. Besides the pegas had loaned her a daring do book she had bought. Rainbow Dash told her that she would love it and Twilight said that if Rainbow Dash liked that book it meant it would be great.
Next they visited Flutter Shy, whom even though was shy, was a kind and welcoming pony, even though it took her a while before she greeted her loud enough for the pony to hear it. However, she did feel more confident speaking to Twilight, maybe it was because Twilight was a friend of hers who seemed to try and listen to everypony.
When Flutter Shy had told the two ponies that they would adore the new addition to her animal friends, she was right. As a small kitten with black spots, white and silver fur and blue eyes stepped out of the undergrowth, they both were stunned by it's cuteness. For a moment a memory of a silhouette of a cat about this size flashed through the new pony's mind, but then it disappeared as Twilight moved on with her following.
Next was Rarity's house. Rarity seemed generous and friendly enough and her outfit designs were fabulous. Though Rarity seemed to mainly talk about fashion, pointing out that New Pony's mane was messy, she was an interesting pony who was generous enough to wash it off and style it up a bit. Which made New Pony rather fond of the ponies of Ponyville, as they were such kind.
After both Twilight and New Pony greeted their friend goodbye, they headed back to the castle. The sun was setting so Twilight said that it would be better to be inside for the rest of the day.
As she opened the door, New Pony saw that it was rather dark inside. She stepped in first. As Twilight stepped in afterwards she lit up the lights, when suddenly several voices called out," Surprise!" New Pony jumped in shock to see Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Apple Jack, Flutter Shy and Rarity all there, plus spike and some other ponies from town.
"Wow," she whispered. "This looks so awesome!"
"Wow Pinkie Pie, when you said party, you really meant PARTY!" Twilight said in shock.
"She always means that," Apple Jack exclaimed. "It's her profession and a part of her. Making ponies smile."
"Thanks, but that's nothing..." Pinkie Pie said very modestly indeed.
The New Pony, suddenly walked up to a table with rainbow cupcakes. She had one, before her face turned read and she looked like she was going to lit up on fire any minute. "Aaahh!" she cried out. Pinkie Pie and the others laughed.
"I guess you haven't read the ingredients on the cupcake wrapper - reminds me of Twilight trying these," Rainbow Dash said, laughing hard.
"I...I did, it said rainbows," New Pony said, running around, trying to find enough water. Then Pinkie Pie decided to spill a bucket over her but once it was too late, she realised that it wouldn't help. So instead, she got Twilight to freeze her and Pinkie poured some water into the pony's mouth.
"Any better?" she asked. The blue pony nodded slowly. "You see, I tried these ones too, my own recipe, the rainbow seems to make them a little spicier," Pinkie Pie added.
"What?! A little, it made me breath fire the first and last time I tried!" Twilight Sparkle complained. The pink pony giggled.
"Hello," another pony came up and greeted the girls.
"Hi, Mayor Mare," Twilight and Pinkie greeted.
"Hello," New Pony greeted shyly.
"I've heard that you're new here," the Mayor Mare turned around to New Pony. "I haven't heard your name yet though."
"I..." the new pony looked at the floor. "I don't know my name. I forgot it, I think I may have some sort of amnesia."
"That's okay, would you want a new name for now?" Mayor Mare asked the pony. New Pony seemed to perk up as she smiled.
"Okay, I don't mind," she replied.
"Oh, but you don't seem to have a cutie mark either," the Mayor Maresaid.
"That's what I don't understand either. I should have one by now, shouldn't I?" New Pony asked. "Being and adult and an alicorn."
"Of course, well let's focus on the name first," Mayor Mare said, nodding her head. "Ponies, let's give this pony a new name."
The ponies that were in the castle started murmuring some names, but none was speaking out loud yet.
"I know, why not Azure," a pony suddenly spoke.
"Yes, that seems fitting," agreed another.
The Mayor Mare looked at the new pony. "That's a wonderful name, thank you," the new pony thanked.
"You're welcome Azure," the pony that came up with the name said.
"So Azure, I hope you enjoy your stay here in Ponyville and I hope you meet new friends and your lost memories," Mayor Mare said, smiling at the blue mare.
"Thank you, Mayor Mare."
***
Twilight looked at the azure blue mare. She seemed happy for her name and her name sounded fitting. She hoped that Azure would be happy here. It would be nice if all ponies were happy, but that would be barely possible. She knew that her new friend would have a long way till she found out who she was. And she knew that herself would have a lot more to learn in friendship. And so did Azure.
As the party came to an end, Twilight decided to check on Spike before going to sleep. A look at the peacefully sleeping dragon, would make anypony feel both calm and sleepy.