A Mind Enshrouded

Chapters

Chapter 1: Where It All Starts
Chapter 2: Memories....See ya at the bar.
Chapter 3: Romance? Take a Ship and wait.
Chapter 4: Recaps Are Good, Right?

Chapter 1: Where It All Starts

“Well, seems we have a slight problem on hand.” mutters a quiet voice from my left, something sickly sweet and dripping with dangerous intent.

“Of course...but it is not a problem that cannot be handled. Simply leave it to me, dear sister and all can be worked around.” comes another voice, mirroring the other yet lacking that same sweetness, though it had mirth and amusement inside.

“Hmmmmmm, you do bring up a point, dear brother. This one is not yet fully anchored to the world, so we could just have our fun with her. She is simply too useful to pass up.” the feminine voice throws back, giving me a chance to try cracking an eye open to reveal...nothing. Inky blackness and darkness still remains my sight, unable to allow me even a respite from the pain that I'd suffered.

“Yes, well, do be careful of taking a ride with one who could become a subject of that boorish and tiring Celestia. She simply just doesn't take kindly to passengers along for the ride, even if it is just to visit and chat with her...” the masculine voice prompts, his tone dropping a bit at the mention of somepony named Celestia. I try to recall where that name came from, even why it would exist, yet my memory is just too fuzzy to bring the reason to me.

“It seems this little mechanically inclined pony has something she's trying to remember...not that it bears anything of import. So, brother Discord, do you have a way to bring us out of this prison?” the feminine voice wiles away, Discord answering.

“Sister Eris, you know only one of us can appear on the world of Equestria at a time in that body, it is part of that curse dear old Celestia had imparted on us initially all those years ago. But, you may be allowed to partake of that use this time, for I have no intention to go and meet Celestia again. She didn't take kindly to my last intrusion, so I imagine yours will be less than thrilling to her.” Discord retorts, acting as if this was an everyday affair.

“Ah, quite right...quite right, brother. Well then, I shall appear for them myself and see about what has happened since then. This little mechanic pony should prove helpful later, once she's realized that it is only a matter of time.” Eris states, as the two voices suddenly fade out and I awake, fully awaking this time and realizing that what I'd been dealt was a nightmare, not a dream. I carefully get up from the bed, cautiously making sure that I am steady on the three hooves I have.

Yes, three hooves, one was lost in an accident during my previous time as a filly before learning my gift for the mechanical sciences. The details of this will come later, when I don't need to bother you with what is in the present. For now, I shall just state that when you lose a leg at the shoulder in a clean break of the bone...even though powerful magic can help you, the cost of such an expense is entirely too much to handle for one pony alone. So, to avoid the extensive medical bill and to secure a job, I had come to the doctor with my plight.

I lived alone, nopony else to call my family and even less bits to my name than the payment required.

I proposed a work opportunity, on condition that if proven helpful to stay on until I could be on my own hooves again.

This all came down in a matter of days from my treatment after the loss of foreleg, especially due to me because I had no tail. A birth defect, you could say, since as an Earth pony that tail is inherently important for various other tasks.

The Doctor I had asked was none other than Dr. Stable, known for his unorthodox planning and even for having eccentricities that few other ponies could handle. He looked at me that day with nothing at all like caring or amusement, I saw curiosity in those eyes that pierced my gaze. He was genuinely curious and had inquired if my head was okay. I gave an affirmative and insisted he consider my application.

Two weeks.

That was how long I waited for his response, even after I'd had no more of a reason to stay at the hospital than a fully functioning filly had. He accepted my offer, having seen my reactions to the other patients and how occasionally I even helped them when the Nurses weren't even busy. Hidden from view, of course, but I did help where I could. A few plants for food here and there, even the occasional mint to clear up bad breath for a few others. He confronted me on these actions before revealing his intent, to hire me on as his assistant in the field of biological research and development.

I was so happy to hear this, I nearly forgot I had a lost limb and hugged him. Mid-hug, I realized I'd need to figure out how to re-steady myself and tried doing so, only to end up flat on the ground with a bit of wind knocked-out of my lungs. He helped me up and laughed openly, claiming it was on nerves. I agreed reluctantly, not knowing what I was getting into.

Dr. Stable was as capable as any other doctor, just bad with bedside manners. I was significantly better and wound up being his go-to whenever he'd interact with a patient, often being the spokespony for his diagnosis and treatments. In fact, I became so great at the job that he'd test me while there and speak with the patient himself, just to keep me on the tips of my hooves. This rarely ever threw me off the job, working with the troubled patients and easing fears in the blink of an eye.

This was how I came to get a prosthetic from him eventually, as a gift one day for my birthday. He'd claimed to not know how it got there, or what it was for, or even why he'd had to drop it off himself...but I knew it was out of the kindness and generosity and love he'd grown to have for me that it came about. Plastic, of course, nothing like the metal one I have now. But it was interesting all the same to see such a device meant for aiding in my movement. Not many ponies can say they'd lost a limb and gotten to replace it, especially as a filly.

Then again, not many ponies lose such a limb in the first place while at work...sorry, again, I won't delve into that too deeply. Not a story for now. Speaking of the now, this is where I hook up that metal prosthetic of mine, flexing it lightly to ensure movement works and that I can still use it like a regular ol' hoof. That check down, I head to the storefront that I have, a small unassuming lot of metal parts and machinery that looks rather crazily jumbled. My job is designing replacement limbs for other ponies, though it goes further than that. What I tend to do is design limbs meant to aid a pony's use of the limb in their life, ranging from a Unicorn's horn to the tail of an Earth Pony. I'd learned all about anatomy and the science behind how a pony's body works inherently, even the naturally blessed magics within that lend us ponies our special skills.

This is where I'd learned a trick, something that I imagine even Celestia and Luna to this day have known for the eons they've lived. This trick is what gave me my insight into how ponies work, and how to fix that which cannot be mended by magic alone. The trick involves a certain bit of insanity and luck to measure properly, of which I tend to have both but the insanity more specifically stemming from these nightmares and lack of sleep I have.

Speaking of sleep, that was a whole two hours of fitful rest I had in that nightmare. Its still night, so I can try to fall asleep again. Luna knows that I can't...I have a major order to work on the rest of the day, so I can not rest until it is done.

The way I replace these limbs comes with a price of course, but it is not nearly as expensive as mine had initially been. The reason for the cost being steep was that Celestia was worried about it over-developing into dangerous forms, ways that would harm everypony under her and Luna's rule. I did my best to try and assure her that without it, I could not function well enough to be considered a subject at all.

The one thing nopony will ever admit, is that seeing a handicapped pony with a lost limb gives you a feeling of dread. That they do not have long to live without access to what makes the pony unique or capable of fitting in. This was what I had initially set out to fix, to give those disabled and trodden-down ponies a chance to go back to their normal lives. Now, it works fairly well and I can replace a lost limb within a few days' work. Celestia and Luna saw this in work, essentially asking me to report in the form of a letter to them each day that I'd initially set out to solve this.

Recent times have changed, advances in machinery have created finer methods and I am once again a pony with a job that not only pays well but allows me to witness happy and grateful ponies for once approaching me with a sense of wonderment and awe. I used to be scared initially, since most ponies had been fearful and skeptical it would work. When shown, they simply became further scared and less willing to cooperate. This is where all my work with Dr. Stable came to be helpful and generally allowed me to establish rapport, enabling my work to be given a chance to improve the lives of other ponies.

I do think I have rambled on quite enough here, so do forgive me for all this. Merely background to know where I am from and why such pride is taken in my own work. Since the time of my first work to the most recent, which is a set of wings for a pegasus who broke his own off in a rather death-defying crash, I have been told that my work is solid and durable to the point of being twice as strong as what once was. It is not for the sake of myself that I do this, in fact other ponies ask why I even like my job as a limbs specialist.

I tell them, 'I do this for the others who need the help I'd been offered once.' and all that happens then is a knowing nod and smile. A pony capable of returning their gratitude for life with enabling others to appreciate it back is a wonderful thing, it gives other ponies hopes and dreams for the future. Enough on my rambling, I should keep it in check more. However, during this time I have started on the wings, the mechanical monstrosities lying in front of me as I work them through the rigors of testing, ensuring the metal can bend and flex like a real pegasus feather.

You could say my creations are based on the magical energies inside us all, since everypony who has a gift has magical potential. This much is certain though, that because of my skill I can help others replace the lost capability they'd had in the limb. I break off bits of the machinery to mold and craft it into the basic shape first, getting a rough blueprint laid out to work from.

Then comes the application of parts, from the basic down feathers to the large ones meant for flight and gliding. It isn't hard, but I have to do this a second time and already I've gotten to witness the sun rising in the distance. Already nearly up close to mid-morning already.

Mid-morning? Already? Time does indeed pass quickly, faster than I'd thought. My mind turns back to the nightmare of the night, that I could have even forgotten about Celestia and Luna frightens me a little. I decide to pause work for a morning breakfast outing, quickly closing up shop with a 'Back in an hour' sign up.

I trot into the village I'd come to, beyond the confines of Ponyville was where I live and a decent ten-minute gallop away. A few ponies were already out and about at this hour of day, the weathermare leader, Rainbow Dash flashed overhead for a second on her way to some important business. This brought my gaze slowly across the rest of the populace of the village, where I got to notice Twilight Sparkle actually coming over towards my direction this time. 'Perhaps she's got business with me today, another letter from Celestia of praise about my works?'

“Solid Gear...? You're here earlier than you usually go...what's the occasion?” she asks, genuinely interested in why I'd come to the village.

“Ah..uhm...breakfast.” I reply simply, smiling awkwardly before cantering away from her nod. It wasn't long before I reach the square and find the earliest signs of the marketplace, Applejack's Apple Wagon piled up with all those apples she keeps at the farm. I take a quick detour to her wagon, noting that little Applebloom wasn't around. “Good morning, Applejack. Got any new apples today?” I ask, almost always amused by that slow grin she'd get on my query.

“Same as any day, Solid. Ah'd reckon on the Golden Delicious though, they'd been the more hardy o' the crop this year.” Applejack answers back, giving a tilt of that weather beaten stetson she's always got atop of that blonde mane.

“Thanks, Applejack. I'll take one peck, for pickup later.” I state to her, giving Applejack the usual smile. She nods in return and I drop off the ten bits required for payment, the few extra bits needed for reserving the fresh apples. If there's one thing enjoyable about Applejack's apples, its that she ensures full quality with an honest smile. My route takes me down by Sugarcube Corner, where I find a bouncy and excitable Pinkie Pie giving all passersby hopeful smiles and offering out a slice of some sort of pie.

“Well...that's curious. Must be a new recipe from the Cake family...or is it that Pinkie's gotten the baking spirit started again?” I muse aloud, blinking before suddenly being faced with the Pinkie one.

“HeyaSolidGear,whatareyouuptotoday?Ijustgotdonebakingthesesamplesofmynewpierecipeandhaven'tbeenabletoconvinceanyponytotryit!” She takes a momentary breath, as I hold mine a bit upon hearing the torrent of words and try to sort through it all. Unfortunately, she continues on, blurring my analyzing thoughts into a paste, “Oooh, you wanna try it out now? I've been waiting for somepony to just give it a whirl! This is a special pie I'd designed after Dashie, meant for celebration of the upcoming rainy season!” this prompted a confused gaze from me, as Pinkie Pie wasn't known for her treats being all that tasty or good for you...too much sugar, as a few will attest.

“Pinkie...can you give me a moment? I haven't had breakfast yet. Unless this pie is meant for actual eating, I can't rightfully try it at the moment.” I asssuage her, the party pony giving a vivacious nod of affirmative before blurring back to the table she's watching over. I watch where she goes, noting the table of baked goods that could possibly be mostly made of sugar...to find it isn't all that sugary-looking. Her usual frosting-coated sweets are just vibrantly bright and rainbow-painted, along with the inside having this muddy brown tone to it. A frosting container sits open and used, though it was a light greyish-white tone meant to signify the stratus clouds Rainbow Dash would whip up during the wet season. In fact, the pie itself looked tasty already...which meant I needed food quickly, or I would be the first tester of Pinkie's Pie.

I take my eyes off the pies long enough to spot Rarity exiting her shop far back closer to where I'd entered the village, giving me an excuse to trot up and greet her. “Hi, Rarity...” I deadpan, knowing her response immediately.

“Ohh...good morning, Solid...another rough night I take it? That mane of yours is always so disheveled when they're at the worst.” she says, with that air of fashionista in her voice. She gives me a quick look-over, glancing and noting that despite the horrible mane, I was still rather decent. “Hrmmm....no, simply not something you can tame, is it?” she asks me, that gaze of hers settling on my mop of mousey-brown mane that straggles in tendrils about my face. I would be afraid to imagine what my tail would be like, should I ever have one.

“You've tried before, Rarity. We both know the answer. Can I just ask to come along with you to brunch? Its about that time of day anyways...” I state, keeping as neutral as possible to not offend her. Rarity gives a curt nod and toss of her mane, eyes glittering lightly in the interest of hearing new gossip.

“Lead on, Solid Gear, dahling. I'd love to hear what nightmares have plagued you this past evening.” she states, giving that generous smile that I know so well. It wasn't long before we found the place to dine at, a semi-posh spot that allows outside dining for convenience on beautiful days. Today was no exception, where both Rarity and I ordered hayfries. I added on a mushroom and alfalfa sandwich, no onions.

“Again? That is the fifth time this week, dahling...” Rarity complains, as I give her a smirk.

“I blame the work I've been doing, Rarity. My client is a pegasus this time around and the metal needs just the right touches to it. I've asked Dash a few times to help me, since its a weatherpony I'm doing this for.” I state, giving that amused smirk once again at Rarity's flash-focused reaction of slight surprise before she returns with a concerned smile.

“Can I assume she hasn't been all that helpful? I rarely get her to help with my own works...” Rarity beams at me, before I just shake my head to shoot down that theory.

“No, she's been quite helpful. I just needed input on the way pegasus wings work in rough weather, which she supplied rather gratefully. Nothing all that groundbreaking, but it gave me a starting point.” I supply, to help ease Rarity's fears of the impatient sky-blue pegasus offending another pony.

“Aha...well, that is good, dahling.”

“So...about the nightmares...it had Discord and his 'sister' Eris again.” I state, Rarity nearly spit-taking upon hearing this. Fortunately, she'd avoided it by carefully biting down the instinct and swallowing rather ladylike to speak.

“Really?! Anything new? Like an appearance or something visual?”

“No...but I can guarantee that it was about me. I don't know much about what happened when the Elements of Harmony fought him, but he seemed at ease about it all. Eris is curious to meet Celestia, apparently for a second time.” I relay, memories quickly flooding my mind as I recall what was said.

“Mmhmm...so, a statement of actual plans this time, not just random banter between the two?”

“Yes...though what plans they have are hazy at best. Also...they were talking of me as if I wasn't a proper pony...” I say, giving Rarity that cautious gaze. She avoids my eyes at that, taking a glance towards Pinkie's pie samples.

“That...well, if you must really know that, I suppose Twilight can talk to you. It really is strange you have no memories of your arrival here...” she says, giving me that slightly pained look. That same one I get all the time from Fluttershy when she talks about my arrival. In fact, everypony who I've talked to other than Twilight gets that same expression...odd, isn't it?

“Well..thanks for the talk, Rarity.” I say, as I return to nibbling on the food I'd received. My mind wanders back towards that work in progress, the pegasus wings, mostly as a way to cope with something that was out of my current mental capacity at the time.

Thankfully, the rest of the day was uneventful...Applejack had the peck of apples ready once I'd come back by way of Pinkie's pie samples, which were rather divine for being so based on such a dreary day of work for the pegasus ponies. Even the work on the wings goes well...up until I fall asleep on them after all the work I manage to buck my way through.

Chapter 2: Memories....See ya at the bar.

Falling...that’s what this dream felt like this time. It was falling, freely and unabided by the laws of gravity, no consequences happened as it went on. The amount of time spent falling keeps it from having a time, a length, no particular end or stop at the point where it should encounter solid ground. But it tingled too, something felt different yet the same as before. Its at this point I manage to open my dreamworld eyes, see what it was I’d seen while falling. Hands? Faded pink-like skin that had slight wrinkles at the joints...joints? As in multiples of them? Not one large mass of bone here, it was a bunch all put together and saved by cartilaginous fibers strung around a core of bone and muscle?

Now I knew my mind was playing tricks on me...when did I ever have these? I flexed my newfound fingers, for what felt like the first time. It wasn’t the first time from how they reacted, quickly responsive and familiar. I glanced further down, blinking as I came to...well okay, I’ll be frank here...a word immediately popped into my mind that I did and did not understand at the same time. ‘Breasts’, was the word and it described what I saw, yet at the same time was alien...foreign, like my hands were. A quick grab and squish confirmed that they existed, yes...but it still baffled me.

What kind of creature did I turn into that needed this kind of anatomy? Furthermore, I could see a shimmering reflection coming up quickly at me...actually, it wasn’t far off...could that be..? A lake? I instinctively braced myself for impact, knowing what I do about inertia and gravity that the impact won’t be kind to my body. I’m braced for impact anyways, thinking I could lessen the impact...

There was no impact when I hit it...in fact, I went right through it easily and effortlessly. I wonder if I’d actually gotten hurt, since there’s always some delay in the body with catching up in pain dealt to it. Some time to register the hit, so to speak. That’s how some ponies can stay going for so long, they’ve managed to avoid letting the pain register for a long enough time to complete what they’re doing. In fact, I’d managed to do this a few times as well. Two scrapes I came out of were along my flanks, before I got my mark...wait a second, my flanks aren’t exactly different from this perspective.

I take a long look around at my flank, staring lightly at it and noticing one particularly odd thing...no cutie mark. In fact, I also had something covering my flank, what looks like shorts and some sorta frilly thing under it. Actually, now would be the best time to get a full report on what my body now is. So I decided to try swimming up to that reflective surface. Turns out, I didn’t need to swim, I just glided up there and suddenly got to rest.

The surface was solid, but it flowed like water...reminded me of mercury, that mysterious liquid metal. It flows around me and under as well, parts of my clothing vanishing underneath the solid obstructive barrier. Tingly, wet, but most of all inviting...that’s what it felt like and what it had felt like after falling in. I fully get up to a prone position, taking in my new face...another word quickly comes unbidden to my mind, ‘Human’. I ponder this one aloud.

“Human...what is it?” I ask in my dream state...I lean down to stare deeply at my own bright greenish-blue eyes, the ones with no pupil yet can plainly see in light.

And I wake up, gasping lightly as I realize something felt wet around my barrel. I slowly moved up off the hard metal of the device I was in the middle of working on to notice it was my own sweat, suddenly realizing that what I’d witnessed was another nightmare...or was it? Perhaps the dream itself made me think of a nightmare, despite the nature of it being so calm and collected...like a real memory. Something at the back of my mind told me it was not just a dream...that it was real. That somehow the pony me that I know was fake...

“Just another bit of insanity to add to the pile for later I suppose.” I mutter, quickly taking into stock my surroundings. It was early morning again, though this time the hour that I was supposed to be up at. You’d think that I could get used to being in my workshop early as a treat, but nope, this was almost a normal thing. I’d have nightmares in my actual bed removed from the workplace, proper dreams while around my gears and machinery. Strange, eh? Then again, I’ve been one of the stranger ponies according to Twilight and her mentor, Princess Celestia.

“Oh, right...these wings need the finishing touch.” I mutter to myself, quickly setting down to put in the last few pounds on the metal. Not weight, just the last few kicks needed to put it into shape. Once that was done, I could move back and stare at my work. A masterpiece of machinery and robotics, something that would last years after the ponies’ body would give out. I shuddered a bit at that thought, realizing I’d accidentally wished a death on the pony who’d paid for these wings. Then, I slowly came to grips with my dream.

“That wasn’t natural, whatever it was...and it felt the same as me...” I grumble, before turning to head out and stopping as quickly in my tracks as Rainbow Dash’s pet tortoise, Tank. There was Twilight Sparkle, alongside her was the pony who’d paid for my work before I’d set on it. He was a heavy-set stallion of a bright blue, nothing like Dash’s but similar in tone, he had stumps for where the wings would be. I grin lightly, knowing exactly what the moment called for and carefully picked up the metal wings beside me. Carrying them over I fit it onto his back, the holes I’d left behind for those stumps meant for controlling his new metal wings.

“There, finished.” I state, as I cinch the last few straps down tight enough that it secures on his body in a manner designed to never move or shift even during flight. I move back as he gives the wings a test flap, Twilight joining me as she mutters something under her breath that I couldn’t hear at the moment. I was too focused on listening to the joints of the wings work, paying close attention so as to know whether something had gone wrong before he tries taking off. Just as he’s about to get off the ground, I move forward at a quick darting pace, softly securing a stray bolt I’d just noticed near the lower belt. Slamming it in and giving a quick twist and yank, it locks in and settles back again, permanently.

“There...sorry for the worry, had to make sure it’d stay secure.” I state to him, Twilight and the pegasus boggling at my insane precision and capability to detect that one fatal flaw. I back off, Twilight giving me a cursory gaze of curiosity, “Its safe to use now...I didn’t find anything else wrong with it.” We both look back to the pegasus, who grins and tries again, thankfully now safe from any other ‘gremlins’ I would’ve found if they presented themselves. He lifts off proudly, easily and effortlessly into the air, though only for a while before he settles down again.

“Thank you, Miss Gear. I owe you my livelihood with this...” he states, as I could only bashfully blush and nod my response. Then, the most sudden of things happened. A kiss, straight from him in the middle of my workshop. I caught myself and backed off soonest he’d stopped, which was thankfully short-lived. He gives me this odd smile, like he’d done that before with a similar response before leaving with a, “Thank you again!” and a quick flap into the air.

“Well...that was certainly...different.” Twilight states, as I immediately glance to her with a wry smirk, “Okay, okay...amusing is more like it. I’ve never seen you blush before...what was that all about?” she adds upon being so prompted, acting like the bookworm she is and blushing lightly.

“That, was all about him being overly grateful. Something I hadn’t expected here in Ponyville. Usually, I’m more used to the simple nod and praise, the average response from a Manehattenite. No flirting with the working class, lest you become one yourself. I seriously need to reconsider my options for engagement if there are ponies like that stallion about.” I managed to banter on, making Twilight go from abashedly curious to infuriatingly embarrassed in the blink of an eye. I take a quick glance to Twilight to confirm that suspicion, then was about to banter onwards when I hear a knock at the door.

“Yes, I’m coming...” I sing-song my way to the entrance, expecting another customer. To my utter surprise it was Celestia, ruler of Equestria and personal handler of the daytime hours. Once there, I quickly kneel onto my forelocks and bow my head in as submissive a pose as manageable without falling prone. Celestia grins lightly at my response before moving back and looking to Twilight Sparkle, who’d also assumed a similar position.

“Come now, my little ponies, no need for formalities when I’m just simply taking a break...” she intones softly, reminding me of that particular voice of a parent chiding their foal as it tries hard to be impressive with a display of grown-up intent. I felt more at ease once she’d spoken, as if a heavy weight were lifted. I quickly got back to my hooves, Twilight likewise doing the same as I heard the familiar clop of hooves on stone behind me.

“So...what brings you here, Princess?” Twilight managed to ask over my shoulder. I thought I was asking it, as my mouth had moved to speak but no sound came forth. Celestia stifled a giggle at my pantomime, as if thinking I’d done it on purpose. I truly had not, but for amusing the princess I was just going to let it alone.

“Just wanted to give Solid Gear another round of thanks for being so willing to help out ponies with her gift here in Ponyville. I’m sure she could be in Manehatten with family...” she says, before I stare at her curiously.

“Excuse me, princess, but perhaps I should just mention that my parents are long dead...I didn’t even get to wish them a proper goodbye.” I mutter, not softly at all just in that jerking and half-baked way normally reserved for a tear-inducing moment. It was a bit of a relief when Celestia and Twilight took notice of this.

“So...that’s why you rarely speak of them, Solid. I’m so sorry, I had no idea that you were still estranged from them.” Twilight responds, immediately earning a glare from me. I know she was right, but her phraseology got me angry right there. That word, estrangement, it just didn’t work...not with how I truly felt. Estranged was used for when parents had allowed something to happen with their foal, that it drove them apart with a sense of it being somepony’s fault on either side.

“What I’d experienced...was nothing short of just being deprived of a proper upbringing, Twi. That’s it. No estrangement, no blaming somepony for what happened. There was no blame to be had...just death and departure.” I stated, with a finality that made even Celestia give me an odd gaze before she quickly changed subjects.

“Well, be that as it may, I am down here to enjoy time with my protege and star pupil, Twilight Sparkle. I simply managed to catch her at your place, Solid.” she states, as I glance up to notice Celestia had on this very serious gaze. I shy away just a bit, worried she’d get even more upset at me when Twilight comes forth.

“Don’t be angry with her, please, Princess? I trust that even if Solid Gear can be rather abrasive in her manners, she is not lacking in kindness and friendship.” Twilight offers, Celestia quickly changing tune as she listens. Upon a bit of thinking and staring at me, which I dubiously try to shy away from as well, Celestia nods lightly.

“Then I’ll consider your friendship with her, Twilight. Now, we need to be off...I’m certain you had other errands this day?” she asks, giving a grin and wink to Twilight upon saying so. Twilight’s face lights up grandly at this, immediately giving off that feeling of a spark suddenly igniting somewhere.

“Oh yes, Princess! I have just the thing I’d been waiting to do for the day! I was headed off to meet Fluttershy, as she’s returning from one of her jobs aiding the animals.” Twilight states, easily cantering up and following after her Mentor. The two canter off into the distance, giving me a moment to sigh and sit down, pulling up the bushel of apples and quickly biting into one. Said silence lasted all of a short, sweet few minutes.

“Heya, there Sugarcube! Looks like yer mighty busy with nothin’ on yer hooves, Solid.” Applejack calls over, causing me to glance over to the blonde-maned mare. The most immediate thing I’d noticed was...her stetson wasn’t on, and that mane usually tied-back was down and loose. I panicked a bit inside, since...well, you usually never see her without that hat.

EVER.

So, it made me wonder just what she was up to by the time AJ’d gotten within a few feet of the workshop’s threshold. “AJ...you uh...you realize you don’t look quite the same as usual right now...right?” I ask curiously, just checking to see that Applejack was quite aware of her current state. Upon the inquiry I felt foolish, for she’d immediately gotten a slightly more sour expression crossing her face.

“Yes...Ah’m rightly aware of it. I don’ really want ta talk about why, neither.” She responds, quite bluntly like an apple falling on a pony’s head. I nod, slowly taking in the ‘wilder’ AJ with a bit of pause at the mane and tail... “Solid, you got somethin’ in yer eye or somethin’?”

“Uhm...no?” I ask for an answer, blushing as I quickly forced my gaze more towards AJ’s face. Tough thing to keep a straight face at, especially when the mare you’re talking to looks like she’d just finished wrestling a bear. “Sorry...uhm, want to come in and chat? I’d love to have words with you...er, I mean, hear what you’ve been busy with this season.” I stumble, just minorly weak at the fetlocks for a bit before heading inside. It wasn’t for me to see, but I swear I could have heard Applejack grin.

We settle down at the table I have sittin’ off to the side of the workshop floor, AJ immediately taking to fixin’ me up with a beam of amusement. I grin embarrassedly, “So, this thing ya wanted ta talk about...what was it?” she asks, keeping true to that pure element of honesty and voicing her curiosity.

“Well...it has to do with your relatives? And something I figured that might be a bit...of a dark spot, if you know what I mean.” I respond, AJ’s gaze hardening a little before she nods as a sign to continue. “So...that pegasus I had helped out...he happens to be a relative of Rainbow’s.” There was no response at this, AJ either too in shock to visibly respond or already informed of this.

“He didn’t ever say how he’s related, or what makes him her relative...just that he’d seen her before and that it was a family meet up. You know all about those, don’t ya, AJ?” I ask, careful to not go all that deep into details yet.

“Ah do recall a few meet ups where I’ve seen a Pegasus around, yah. Why do ya need ta know? I’m sure it won’ do ya any good ta just ruminate on it...” Applejack responds, her originally sour applesauce turning just slightly bitter.

“Well...as much as I want to know if he’s actually a cousin of RD’s, something tells me that the particular pegasus in question has no real relatives.”

“Oh he does, that much is certain. I just don’ want to give ya the wrong impression of mah family, Solid.” AJ iterates, her attitude slowly slipping more towards an amiable and comfortable drawl, “That pegasus happens ta be related ta me through a cousin o’ mine. Ah’m not certain who took ta who first, but since they’d been togetha I’ve had a bit o’ trouble keepin’ the two separate long enough for the Apple family reunion ta run its course.” she grumbles, as I pick up slowly on the cues from what she was talking about.

“So, he’s engaged to a cousin of yours, is related to Rainbow Dash and...” I take a deep gasp of realization as it hits me, “You don’t like him much, do you?!” I exclaim, mildly surprised that even the affable and friendly Applejack could have somepony she’d dislike. It didn’t take much more than a look away from AJ to confirm that suspicion. “So then, want some help with it?” I offer, Applejack giving me this curiously concerned gaze that simply spoke volumes about my idea of helping her.

“Uh...if its all tha same to ya, sugarcube, Ah’d like to keep this a little low-down ta earth? Nothin’ highly complicated or dangerous?” she asks, as I just smirk lightly and offer a hoof to her.

“I promise on pain of cupcake in the eye to never ever tell anypony about your dislike of Rainbow Dash’s cousin.” I state confidently, AJ returning the solid affirmation with a hoof of her own. A simple clop of hooves echoes in the room before I return to more chatter, “So...what’s his name? And which relative of yours is he dating?”

Chapter 3: Romance? Take a Ship and wait.

“We~ll, if I had ta say anythin’ ‘bout the stallion, Ah’d say he doesn’ much like the idea of anypony else discouraging ‘im from what his heart says. Stubborn and strong-willed, certainly comes ta mind when Ah think of Snowstorm.” Applejack drawls on, as I immediately latch on to her every word on the stallion whom managed to catch my heart. Granted, no more than a schoolfilly’s crush, but it was an uplifting feeling all the same and I so desperately wanted a bright thing to talk about after mentioning my parents.

It still hurts to let the memories come forth each time I mention it. But for now, I was awash in beautiful love-struck bliss. “Say, Applejack...does Rainbow Dash have any other cousins of hers she’s never mentioned to anypony?” I query, upon realization that I could actually find a proper stallion to call my own...well okay, maybe just to get married to, but it still crossed my mind.

“Honey? I think ya’ll need ta settle down a bit a’fore you get all worked up over nothin’. Ah only got to meet Snowstorm at mah own family reunion meetin’s. Ah doubt Rainbow’s got more family waitin’ in the wings...so to speak.” AJ deadpans, letting the palpable joke sit there like an overripe apple just waiting to be bucked off a tree. I would have responded right away, had it not been for a particular multi-hued mane and sky blue flash quickly landing outside and cantering in.

“Hey, AJ, what’s up, SG?” Rainbow Dash greets, both of us staring at her with minor confusion, “What? I’m not allowed to just come in and see how it all went with my cousin Snowstorm?” she asks, incredulous at our stunned reactions. I managed to recover enough of a semblance of clarity that I got to speak first.

“Yes. About that, Rainbow...” I start, blinking as I sounded a little darker than intended. A quick vocal cough to clear the throat ensued and I give the two a smirk as a sign that they had no need to worry. A reply of two light smiles brightened the room as I continued, “He was splendid and the new wings fit quite well on him. Had to fix a small snag before he got to proper flying, but otherwise all was smooth....” I let it trail off there without noticing, though Rainbow caught that immediately.

“As much as I’d like to have you as a sister-in-law, Solid, having Applejack as a potential one is a bit more work than I’d prefer. Not every day you find a pegasus who’s more interested in the ground than the sky ya’know.” Dash states, with this air of confidence just oozing about her and partly reaching out at us. I could feel AJ’s immediate reaction before it happened, though the volume with which it happened was more surprising.

“Seriously, Rainbow?! You pick now of all times ta voice your issues with bein’ part o’ tha Apple Family?!” Applejack bellows, catching not just me off-guard but Rainbow Dash as well with the way her voice just breaks the serenity permeating the room. We both stare at AJ once that was done with, giving a slightly more curious look at her for the moment....which was exactly the moment Rainbow Dash notices the one thing I’d seen earlier out of place on her.

“Uh...gee AJ, I never thought I’d see you without your trusty ol’ hat. What happened? Does it have anything to do with how jumpy you are right now?” she asks, giving me a moment to marvel at the fact that she was indeed more worried about whatever had happened to her hat than she was about Rainbow’s concerns regarding the Apple Family.

“Ah’m mighty sorry ya’ll had ta witness that...Ah shouldn’t’ve exploded at ya’ll. S’not your fault I’ve to leave it at home for a few days...” she mutters out the apology, as I immediately catch on that said hat is more of a keepsake from days long ago that were probably related to family.

“Don’t worry ‘bout it, AJ. I’m totally cool with it.” Rainbow replies, sliding down a pair of sunglasses she totally had with her before. Okay, so maybe I had no idea where she got ‘em, but I just learned to deal with it as Rainbow never explains where they come from either. Or how they fit, since I’d studied pony anatomy well enough to say that those sunglasses shouldn’t...oh whatever, this is more than enough rambling in my head about sunglasses.

“He he...Ah suppose yer right about it, Rainbow. Just that today came as a bit strong of a shock. Ah’ve never had ta leave the farm while mah hat’s bein’ treated for the rougher weather. Still takes time for the waterproofin’ ta work, ya’know. But at least it ensures a dry mane for me.” Applejack states, thus stopping all of my speculations that Applebloom had ruined it, or that Big Macintosh had accidentally stomped on it.

“So...Rainbow...you never did answer my query about other cousins you have...” I state, noticing that the sudden shift in topic was not wholly welcome. Rainbow flinched a bit, though it was hidden partly by those sunglasses of coolness.

“So what if I didn’t? Shouldn’t you be focusing on getting a way home instead of staying here in Equestria?” She shoots back at me, as I stare at her blankly for a bit.

“Rainbow...don’ talk about that. She doesn’t remember anythin’ yet.” Applejack quickly whispers a bit loudly to Rainbow Dash. I catch on that this is some sort of ‘thing’ that was discussed about me. Not quite what I wanted to think about, especially after the fact that I feel such a strong bond with everypony that lives here. It just tore my heart in twain to think that I wasn’t supposed to belong, so I did the only thing anypony with any sort of normal emotional sense does.

Cry. More specifically, I started to pout and it slowly turned into a light bawling as I let my head thump onto the tabletop. This prompted AJ to move around and gently assuage me with a hug, giving Rainbow Dash an annoyed glare. Rainbow, being in the predicament she was in, got flustered and decided to just hang back and do nothing.

“Why do you two know everything about me?” I whine, obviously fed up with the fact everypony...well okay, not everypony since it was just the six whom I’ve first met in Ponyville, but still it was definitely plenty of ponies who felt this way so it felt like everypony. I totally was fed up with the fact they knew all about me without me ever remembering any of this. It was like I’d popped into their world without my memories of who I am and was expected to retrieve them sooner or later.

This immediately got to my attention again...that the dreams I was having were maybe some form of memory I’d had a while ago. Maybe even years ago, who knows? But at least I knew one pony who always keeps a record of what happened, Twilight Sparkle. That Librarian of a pony never let new knowledge escape her mind, especially important stuff that happened. Well, once I’d gotten the crying out of my system, which was relatively short, I decided to look at Rainbow Dash for a further prompt.

“What are you lookin’ at me for? I’m not going to tell you what’s going on!” Rainbow replies, still flustered and less willing to entertain helping me out. I pout, giving another threat to cry, just to see if it would provoke her into talking. It doesn’t, as she looks at Applejack.

“Well...okay, sugarcube. Since ya’ll really want to know...Ah might as well tell ya.” She states, looking to me square in the face. That comforting voice and emerald-green set of eyes were all I needed to suddenly feel safe and secure, especially since her forehooves were wrapped around my shoulders in a hug. I nod, letting AJ and RD know I was willing to listen.

“Now, what all happened was that you’d fallen outta the sky, sans that metal leg of yours and were followed by Discord’s sister, Eris. Now, nopony thought that Discord was gonna appear once again, what with bein’ turned inna statue an’ all. But he did...or rather, she, since according to her explanation, she was just another side of him or somethin’ like that.” Applejack starts off.

“She gets this idea to go meet Celestia, to have a tea party with her and for some reason decides to start using ponies to get her way...even turning a few ponies into objects like teacups and such! It was totally not, twenty percent cooler seeing that happen. Especially when she turned it on us to try and get her way. Luckily for AJ and I, we got out of the way of the first few blasts. Nothing happened to us so we fought back and managed to get Eris to go into hiding around Ponyville. Rarity and Fluttershy weren’t so lucky though...” Rainbow continued, the two now going into trading off the retelling of this story.

“Once we got ta see ‘em, they were all hogtied inta bein’ a set of fancy dishes. Right expensive-lookin’ too for Rarity’s sake. So we all gave chase, in an effort to capture the bothersome creature once an’ for all. And to get our friends ta normal.”

“So we took off to find Twilight and get her to help. Good thing we did, since that’s where Eris had fled to! She was cornering Twilight just as we entered, so I flew over and gave her a few good bucks to convince her to flee. Nothing landed, really, I was just trying to show off...but she was convinced that we were tough nuts to crack. So I naturally got to being proud of protecting a friend, being all loyal and stuff.”

“As Ah started ta explain ta Twilight what happened ta Rarity and Fluttershy. Once that was mentioned, Twilight galloped with us back to where they were and managed to undo the transformation that had fallen on our friends. Ah thought it right funny how Rarity was fuming at being turned into fancy stuff without her gettin’ to see how it looked. She was so focused on it looking good that she forgot that she’d been unable to do anythin’.”

“Now is where you wind up coming in, Solid. It wasn’t exactly coincidence that you appeared, as Twilight put it, since you came in at the same time as Eris did. So Twilight’s idea was to track Eris using the residual magic emanating off of you. Turns out it worked so well that we’d gotten to plan out how to re-stone her without much of a hassle. During all that time though, you kept going on about how this wasn’t your home and how you had to return to some place called ‘Earth’.”

“It was mighty disturbin’ too, since ya’ll knew our names as well. Like, eerily well, ya’know? Especially once you’d managed to say Pinkie’s full name...” Applejack went quiet at this, as I stare at her blankly.

“I...what now? What is Pinkie Pie’s full name?” I ask, my mind racing to catch up with the story as I try to puzzle together what possessed me to let out such a huge rush of secrets. I’m willing to bet that they’d found out how I got my metal leg too, but then again something felt off with how they mentioned it. That I didn’t have my prosthetic limb as it was. Does that mean it was some other kind of limb? Too much to ask and not enough alone time! I give a slight whine as I lean my head on the tabletop again, this time frustrated at how much this wasn’t helping. Applejack and Rainbow Dash caught this bit of frustration as I’d let it be pretty darned obvious, Rainbow deciding on one final course of action.

“Okay, that settles it, AJ. We all have to get a meeting of the Elements of Harmony up again, to tell Solid Gear what really went down. No more of this being nice to keep her safe from harm again, she needs to remember it all! Every last bit!” Rainbow declares boldly, her loyalty to friends winning out in the end. Applejack sighs, shaking her head tiredly.

“Ah hate ta haveta admit it...but she’s right, Solid. Maybe Ah shoulda just tried to convince Twilight ta talk to ya earlier than this, just ta get it out of the way. Maybe then ya’d think of us a bit better than ya do now...” she states, as I caught that famililar sense of sadness in a long-trusting friend upon realizing an awful truth. I move closer to AJ and return the hug, before breaking off and quickly moving over to catch Rainbow in one as well. She didn’t resist, but the moment AJ came by to make it a group hug...she’d had enough and was trying to get out of our grasp. Luckily for AJ and I, that was easily quelled by the sheer fact we’d flanked her to prevent flight being any easier for her.

“Hey! Since when do friends kidnap each other for sentimental things?” Rainbow complains, giving a half-pout at the situation she’s gotten stuck in. AJ and I share a laugh, before letting go of the multi-hued pegasus to let her hover overhead. Rainbow keeps just out of our reach, giving a light snicker of amusement before heading out the doorway. I take a look back at the rest of the workroom, a light sigh coming from me as I realize I won’t be seeing the place for close to a day. AJ looks back at the room with me, putting a reassuring hoof on my shoulder.

“It’ll be a long time, sugarcube. Ya’ll still sure ya want ta know all about what happened?” Applejack asks, giving me one last chance to back away and forget this all went on.

“...No, I’m not sure at all, Applejack. But I can’t let my memory break down into unbridled insanity while I keep having these creepy dreams. I may talk to Rarity about ‘em for reassurance that its all okay, maybe even just ignore the impact on my sleeping pattern they have...but I can’t let it consume me any more. I have to face up to whatever I was before this, whether its with friends or not.” I state, resolutely coming to my senses that this was important and just couldn’t be ignored. It was my past, after all...I wasn’t going to shy away just from something that it seems everypony else knew about.

“If’n yer sure, sugarcube...” Applejack drawls out, before turning to canter off towards the Treebrary, Twilight’s home and place of consistent study. I follow after her, noticing that Rainbow Dash had dashed off somewhere...probably to get all the others gathered for this. Soon as AJ and I arrive at the door to Twilight’s Treebrary, I got plenty of time to look around at Ponyville. It was late in the day, close to evening and I could bet that Princess Celestia would have excused herself to go lower the sun. Not quite all that surprising to think of, but as soon as I’d felt the thought pass through my mind, I’d started analyzing it. Where did I get this thought? Why’d it simply just appear in my head? What was going on that I’d need to know so much about?

Chapter 4: Recaps Are Good, Right?

It was about five minutes to canter over to Twilight’s Treebrary, barely any time had passed other than the fact it had transpired straight into the afternoon while Rainbow Dash, Applejack and I had talked over my arrival here in Ponyville. Along with Equestria itself. Our arrival at the door was posthumously answered by Spike, who was the number-one assistant to Twilight Sparkle and a baby dragon at that.

“Oh, hey...its that not-a-human and the competitive duo. Come in, Twilight’s out for the time and I figure you three here all at once can't mean anything good.” he states, deadpanning just a little as he moves back from the door and into the library proper. RD quickly followed inside, as Applejack just simply glances to me with a slightly worried expression before continuing after Rainbow Dash. I follow afterwards, glancing up to the ceiling and measuring just how BIG the tree is compared to the other houses around Ponyville. Its expansive, you wouldn't have guessed that so much room is inside from the outwards glance of the place, but then all that made me think of is that somehow Twilight may have used magic to expand it just a little.

The opposite was true here, as I find out much later when Twilight and the Princess Celestia return, finding us sitting around and looking nervous and tense. At least, all of us did until Twilight appeared. Moment she was in, I got up to my hooves and headed over with a slight canter, giving a bright smile. However, Twilight’s first notion wasn't greeting us, so much as it was to immediately give a glare to Spike, “Spiiiike, why didn't you try to tell me I had friends waiting for me at the Treebrary?”

“Well...uh....its because I didn't want to bother your alone time with Princess Celestia?” he querulously answers, not even sure if he did something right or wrong here. Twilight just sighs and turns to Princess Celestia.

“Well, thank you for spending time with me out of your busy schedule, Princess. It appears I'm needed by my friends for somethi--”

“It is fine, my student. I can tell you have a lot of catching up and figuring out to do ahead of you. I am only glad that such friendship is on your side, Twilight.” Celestia interrupts, before giving a wry smirk and carefully heading out the door...before jetting off into the sky on her own. Shortly thereafter, Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie come up, all looking skywards except for Pinkie.

“Heya, girls! What's up?”

“Have you not seen the sky, Pinkie?” Rarity deadpans, before looking to the rest of the group, “But...seriously, Pinkie...just why did your 'Pinkie Sense' say we had to be at Twilight’s for something?” she asks of the pink earth pony.

“I dunno...sometimes it says stuff to me that even I don't know about.” Pinkie Pie answers, Fluttershy giving a meek smile as she heads in to greet everypony present.

“Hi...I-I hope we are not barging in o-on something important, Twilight...” to wit, even I was mildly impressed with how demure and cautious Fluttershy was being. Twilight, on the other hoof, was unimpressed and moved aside to let them in.

“All right, let's get everypony settled in. I have a long bit of story to retell for Solid Gear, and its of the utmost importance that there is no delay!”

“Twi...what're you--”

“No! DELAY!” Twilight cuts off Applejack's possible query, making the still-lacking-a-hat earth pony suddenly gain a bit of attention. Moment Rarity lays eyes on AJ, she gives a deep gasp and was just about to ask about her current state of dress....when she catches Twilight’s hardened and fury-coated gaze. It was a simple act of repressing her inner fashionista, despite the burning desire to ask to help out Applejack's particular plight.

“Anyways...now that we're all here, I guess we can all start talking to Solid Gear about the stuff we'd sworn to her to keep secret...” Pinkie Pie giving the loudest of loud gasps at the moment.

“We're breaking a Pinkie Pie Promise?! Oh noes, just how bad could this be?!” she wavers, bouncing nervously and trotting in place. I was mildly baffled at this, though after a while of looking at the others I figured it should be time that I speak.

“Pinkie Pie...I'm perfectly fine with all of you breaking your promise to keep my secrets, even if its from me. I don't know what all of you girls got to hear from me, so I kinda want to hear it all again...especially since my memory has been rather fuzzy lately...” I state, Twilight nodding and smiling lightly. Rarity and Fluttershy looked very concerned for my well-being, while Applejack and Rainbow Dash just simply gave a single decisive nod. Pinkie Pie....just simply kept trotting in place, still with that nervous energy and worried expression.

“But...but nopony breaks a Pinkie Pie Promise without it being for a REALLY GOOD, super-duper-awesome, fantabulistic, party-smashing, stupendously outrageous reason!” she cries, looking rather scared at having to break one of her own promises. After a while of deliberation, I slowly walk over and lift up my prosthetic hoof to place it on her shoulder, which almost instantly weighs her down and ceases the incessant trotting she was doing.

“Pinkie Pie...if my mental well-being isn't reason enough to break a promise...then what is?” I ask, as Pinkie Pie slowly realizes that this could very well damage my opinions of them. She then finally sighs and calms down a bit more, her hair deflating just a little bit but not enough to warrant an immediate change in personality.

“Oh, right...I remember that sort of thing. Well, then its okie dokie loki to me!” she sing-songs, giving a bright smile to let everypony in the room know she's okay with it. Twilight sighs and looks around at the library foyer, telekinetically pulling up a bunch of pillows for everypony to sit on.

“Here, we can sit on these while we talk.” she states, placing them down in a circle around the group of friends, even giving me one. I just simply stand by it, not taking a seat like the others, “Not gonna sit down, Solid?”

“No...I figure if it really needs to happen, I shall sit of my own volition.” I tell her, just a little too firmly for Twilight’s taste. She eyes me cautiously before continuing.

“Right...well then, let's recap what everypony knows first. That'll help start the information giving, since it won't be anything new.”

“Well, first there was the fact of that dreadful Draconequus appearing in the middle of Ponyville.”

“Causin' a ruckus(frackus) as usual, adding another pony to tha mix with a large crater in the center of the Marketplace Square.”

“Uhm...and then started all the fighting...all over, I think it was some sort of identity thing? I was too scared to get close, so all I could hear was that it wasn't very nice of the Draconequus to do.”

“Then followed the chasing and the battles afterwards, going at really high speeds and totally resulting in the Draconequus gettin' caught and tossed back into stone!” Rainbow Dash finishes off, as it had changed speakers clockwise excepting Pinkie who chimed in with her favorite rendition of the word 'ruckus'. Being that she was closest to the pink cotton-haired one, RD gave Pinkie Pie a half-hug around the shoulders as Twilight picked it up from there.

“After all was done, and the Elements of Harmony once more used to defeat chaos...you lost your memories, Solid Gear. In fact, it was rather odd as you'd suddenly blacked out after we sealed away Eris into stone once more. Nopony I've asked knows how you could be linked to that Draconequus, especially not with what Rarity's told me.” Rarity cringes lightly at this, mildly upset that it was revealed that she was talking to Twilight about me. I took a glance to Rarity, whom immediately was prompted to speak.

“Its not what it sounds like, Solid...I only ever told her about your dreams and how you couldn't really figure out what that strange creature you see yourself could be. There was nothing to do with how you'd been that thing before arriving and...” she blinks and promptly shoved a hoof into her own mouth, stopping there. Twilight and the others give Rarity a curious look, before all of them nod lightly as to tell her to continue. She sighs, slowly removing the hoof from her mouth, “I'm not...overstepping my bounds here?”

“This is the first I've heard Solid told anyone about who she really was before arriving here. She never told me anything other than that prosthetic she had was her pride and joy in machinery. The best thing she'd ever built and not capable of being duplicated no matter who messed with it.” Twilight says, almost as if reciting a quote.

“Oh...uhm...well then, I guess I shall continue?” Rarity asks, as Rainbow Dash just shrugs. I look around at all the others, finally catching that Fluttershy seemed to be wanting to speak. Everypony else's gaze follows mine...and the mounting silence finally is broken by the shy, passive pegasus.

“All right...since this is really important for Solid, I'll talk about it...” she says, taking a deep breath to prepare herself to launch into a hyper-detailed rant.