The door to the library shut softly and silence fell over us. Twilight seemed rather pleased that I was to stay with her in a library and, for a reason I hoped didn’t involve me, was practically tearing books from the shelf fervently.

Who am I kidding? It probably involved me.

“So,” I began. Twilight gave no indication of having heard me. I tried again louder. “Twilight! Where am I going to sleep?!” Twilight seemed to slow down somewhat. She continued skimming through books, though now she was mumbling as she did so. Unfortunately for me, at the moment her voice is softer than the shy one’s. I walked silently into position on her right and crouched. She still showed no sign of noticing me so I continued, grabbing the tip of her ear and lifting it. This earned a slight twitch of the opposite ear. Not enough.

Now. I’m not proud of what I did next, nor did I take any amount of pleasure from her reaction, but it had to be done. For the greater good.

I opened my mouth wide and brought out my tongue. I then licked her from her jaw up, intending to keep going until I reached my own fingers. She tasted, strangely enough, like a purple crayon. That is if each crayon tasted different. I had gotten just up to her eye before she started flailing her hooves and squealing like a pig that was just pushed on its side.

“Why would you do that?!” She was still flailing about not even noticing as one of her hooves clipped my chin, forcing me to bite my own tongue. I fell onto my back tried to suck the blood out my own tongue.

Why would you do that?

“Boredom,” I replied, more to my attacker than to the useless twat in my head. Though, due to the condition of a certain pink organ, it comes out sounding more like “Bodum”. Twilight (who had still been flailing up until this point) finally calmed down enough to see myself and her books collapsed on the floor. And guess which one she was more worried about.

“The books!” Her horn lit up and the pieces of literature surrounding her were picked up in a similar pink glow. Each and one goes zipping across the room into what I assumed were their proper places. “I’m okay too, Sparkler. No thanks to you.” The second statement was not at all a quiet whisper though somehow Twilight hadn’t heard it. So being the prude she was she decided to hear everything else.

“Sparkler?! What gave you the idea to call me that?” I didn't expect her to be irritated by a nickname. I could’ve given something worse. The least she could do is be grateful.

“Come on, Sparkler, it’s that or Sparklebutt. Actually, scratch that; Celestia’s gonna be Sunbutt. Of course, I’ll never say it to her face or at least not in public. But yeah, seeing as you are technically my caretaker it’s only fitting that I give you an endearing nickname.” Sure enough, that’s the situation I was put in; Princess Celestia basically said ‘I know you’re new and all but I’ve got stuff to do so I’m leaving you with my student.’ And that’s exactly what happened. She deserved that nickname too for the sun-raising stunt she pulled.

“That’s not really all that endearing... and you can hardly give such a ridiculous nickname to the princess! Or any nickname for that matter!” She was looking really upset at that point.

Wonderful and completely unique nicknames. Great job.

Quiet, you. I mentally shot back. I’d had it with that one. Twilight, on the other hand, was looking at me like I just kicked her puppy in the throat. Whatever she was going to say, I wasn’t going to let her. “Anyway, Sparkler,” Her pouty glare became a grimace. “Do you have a bathroom or something?” She nodded and gave some directions but stopped me when I began to walk away.

“Can you actually, you know… see?” What type of question was that supposed to be?

“Um. Yeah? Why?” As far as I knew there was no reason for her to ask something like that.

“Well, your mane is covering your eyes.” My hair, ya mean? She pointed it out like it was obvious and sure enough, as soon as she said it I noticed locks of hair hanging in front of my eyes.

“Has my hair been covering my eyes this entire time?” Nod. Well, that’s inconvenient, ain’t it? Don’t move the hair. I’ll explain some things in the bathroom. He caught me just as I was reaching to brush my hair from face. I asked for the bathroom and Twilight gave me directions that I quickly followed and sure enough, there it was. Crouching a bit, I entered.

Go ahead and look in the mirror. I bet you’ve been aching to get a good look at yourself.

“Not really,” I answered but I complied regardless. I step in front of the mirror and part my hair. Not for any reason other than to see why ‘the voice’ didn’t want me moving my blonde mop.

“Huh.”

Under other circumstances, I probably would’ve freaked or been somewhat intrigued by the fact that I had lizard-like eyes. All it elicited was a ‘huh’. I gave the rest of me a once over. A sleeveless white shirt— I turned my head— with a blue hood. Somewhat worn jeans and gray sneakers.

I bet you’re wonderin’ ‘bout your eyes, the voice said with quite a bit of snark.

“Not really,” I said, indifference or boredom making my voice sound dull.

Oh yeah. You never actually saw her.

“I’d really appreciate it if you would explain.” He had the nerve to laugh at that.

Yeah, yeah. It’s about time I explained those complications. Alright. Sit down and close your eyes. I— very reluctantly I might add— complied.

“Alright. Go ahead and open ‘em.” I opened my eyes. The bathroom was gone and once again I found myself in some painfully empty space. At least this time I there was some sort of ‘ground’. I stood and brushed myself off.

“Start explaining,” I admit I was fairly peeved at that point because Mr. Mysterious was playing me for a fool. He chose that moment to reveal himself and I wasn’t nearly as surprised I should’ve been. Simply put ‘Mr. Mysterious’ was almost a carbon copy of myself. As far as I could tell anyway. He had no hood and he wore all gray. His hair was still over his eyes too.

“Good evening, old friend.” He spoke as he approached me. Once he was an arm’s length away he stuck out a hand. I took it reluctantly and we shook.

“It’s morning, idiot. Now. Explanation.” He wasn’t going to get any more time out of me than was needed.

“Ok. Here's the thing. I was separated from you. I'm not sure when I just I know it happened. I'm just as clueless to your past as you are but I actually have access to your memories. Kind of. Once I reformat all those we can go back to bein' buddies. I can remember, or rather, feel our connection at least.”

It took me a second to realize that him calling me old friend meant he probably knew me before I showed up in Equestria. Three more seconds to recognize the fact that he apparently has 'access' to my memories. The last overrules the first in terms of importance. “So you can just give me my memories?” Even through his hair, I could tell he was giving me his best ‘are you an idiot?’ look.

“Did you not listen? I said reformatting for a reason. Think of it like this,” he said and in each hand was a book. The book in his left hand had very few pages but the spine was large and looked as if it had once held quite a bit more. The book in his right was, in simple terms, two covers held together very poorly with too many pages in between. “The borderline-empty book is full of your current memories; Equestria and some random facts from Earth. Its tattered counterpart is full of your old memories; your family and daily life. Had you remained unconscious and therefore had no memories of Equestria, I could’ve simply shoved your old memories into the proper cover. As it is now, having new memories in a world nothing like your own has changed how your mind observes things. It went from a grim novel to a children's book in seconds." He sighed. "That being the case I have to adjust perceptions a bit in your old memories so I can return them to you. Once I do that everything would, theoretically, correct itself.”

The somewhat lengthy explained had me speechless. Mainly because I had highly doubted his ability to properly think. He was probably just trying to sound smart. “That was something else.” He nodded solemnly.

“What should I call you?” I wasn't very good at picking new subjects; he smiled at my attempt, though. Well, seemed a bit less frustrated. “Don’t know. If anything you can call one of two things.”

“And what are those?”

“You could call me what I feel I was or what I now believe myself to be.” He smiled. It wasn’t a threatening grin or anything similar in intent but it gave me a shiver all the same.

“I wish you wouldn’t try to be so mysterious. Hurry up and tell me your ‘names’.” I was becoming quite impatient with this one.

“Impatient much? Well, I—”, My eyes shot open, my fruitless conversation interrupted by loud pounding.

“Rowan! Are you still in there?”

Are you serious, Sparkler? At this rate, she was going to end up more annoying than Mr. Nameless. “The hell do you want, Sparkler?” I practically shout as I move to open the door. She was still knocking when I opened the door so imagine what happened when her hoof was given full clearance. If you guessed that I got a hoof straight to the nads then bravo; you were right. Unbelievable. I hadn’t even gotten through the doorway.

“Twilight,” I said as she set her offending hoof down. It took far too much effort to keep my pain from showing. I at least managed a blank expression. “Um. Yes?” she replied, hesitantly.

“Whatever you were going to say can it wait for, like, a minute? Please?”

“I guess?” I mouthed a silent ‘Thank you’ and stepped back into the bathroom, closing the door once I was completely inside. I turned around and slumped against the door. I took a deep breath and let out a soft, almost inaudible groan as I slid down the door.

That was quite the show. I would laugh but I know full well how much that hurts. I think. My sympathy.

As if that helps, I thought. After what was roughly another thirty seconds I managed to convince myself to stand. I opened the door and stepped through the too small doorway. “Alright, Sparkler,” I began. “What is it?” Twilight looked a bit sheepish. “Well… Spike is making breakfast and I was wondering if you wanted anything to eat.”

“Considering the fact that I’ve eaten a singular cupcake since I got here, of course, I want food. Let’s go.” Twilight nodded and made her way down the stairs as I followed closely behind. I was really tempted nudge her a bit; see if she could catch herself. I’m not that mad though.

Too bad she interrupted us. Guess we’ll have to talk later.

You’re talking to me now aren’t you? Silence. He must’ve been serious. Twilight reached the bottom a few seconds before I did. It seemed I had slowed down a bit with Mr. Anonymous taking up my attention. It’s decided; I’ll call him Anonymous until he gives me his name and/or names. Twilight was already at another door by the time I got to the bottom of the stairs. She practically tore it off of its hinges with her glowing mojo. I’m going to have to ask what that’s about sometime.

“Spike! I need you make an extra serving of pancakes!” No need to yell, Sparky. Ooh. That’s a good one. “Gotcha, Twilight. But umm, how much is a serv- Ahh!” I was about halfway through the door only to see a large purple and green lizard hurling a frying pan in my direction. I caught it easily and was about to say something snarky when I felt a searing pain in my hand. I dropped the pan and squatted down, squeezing my reddened hand in between my knees.

You are a glutton for punishment, aren't you? I was about to be a glutton for something else real soon. Probably brain people.

I’m sure Twilight was saying something but I was focused on Anonymous.

“Rowan, are you okay?” That seems to be asked a lot lately. Or, at least, things along those lines.

“Hmph. As if something like that would ever phase me.” I guess I pulled the arrogant douchebag card. My apologies. She didn’t look the slightest bit peeved. Twilight backed up gestured to the lizard. “This is my assistant, Spike and he is very sorry.”

“Yeah sorry um… Rowan.” Spike rubbed the back of his head with a claw. “It’s just that your eyes looked so much like Nightmare Moon’s.” Who?

It’s your natural eye color.

“One: It’s my natural eye color. Two: Who the hell is Nightmare Moon?” Why the hell do you have me lying? That was quickly belied by the frustration that I'd followed him without question.

It’s not a lie. Considering the fact that I can't really see you, the first thing I learned about you was your appearance. Natural appearance, I might add.

“Wow, Spike, you’re right!” Thanks for ignoring me. “And how did you notsee Nightmare Moon?” I rubbed a hand over my face. Of course; the hyper-convenient thing where I didn’t see the supposedly important pony.

“I was in the wall the entire time— I couldn’t see anything— and was in there for like, five minutes.”

“You were in the wall?!” I nodded.

“Yup. Slammed and swallowed faster than a shot of whiskey.” Twilight looked a bit put off by my analogy but it fit so I thought it was cool.

“Well sit down and I’ll go grab the book detailing the story of Nightmare Moon,” she said, marching out of the kitchen. That left Spike and me on our own. We were in complete silence; Spike making more pancakes and me sitting cross-legged at the small table.

“So,” I started. “I doubt I’ll enjoy Sparkler’s explanation; the way she was blasting through books earlier hinted at that.”

“Understatement of the century!” Spike burst into laughter. Well, that made me feel somuch better. After that exclamation, Spike turned around holding a plate of pancakes in his claws. “But I'll tell you now to spare you the disappointment: You won't.”

“Thanks, Spike,” I said, irritated. For the food and the truth.

He looked pretty surprised at my change of attitude but he took it in stride. “No problem! I’ve gotta make more pancakes for Twilight, though.” Twilight came back into the room immediately after Spike said that. Spike froze and I tried to hold back a grin. I failed, of course, but I tried.

“I couldn’t find the book so I’ll explain on the way to Fluttershy’s,” She said this without breaking stride. The familiar pink glow surrounded my plate of pancakes and lifted it into the air. “Rowan, you can eat on the way there and please cover up your eyes; Ponyville had enough of a scare yesterday. You being yourself will be another beast altogether.” Ooh, Burn. She turned towards Spike. “Are you coming, Spike?”

“No, I should probably stay here and clean. You'd make me do it later anyway.” Wow. Thanks for the backup kid. I pulled my hood over my head and grabbed the now floating plate of pancakes from the air. Unfortunately, the plate was still hot and I was once again burned. On the bright side, it wasn’t unbearably hot so I was at least able to force myself to keep holding the plate. Twilight turned and exited the kitchen. Before following her out I gave Spike a look, trying to tell him with that gaze how little I would be enjoying this. I don’t think he understood it because he simply waved and set about to do exactly as he said he would.

“ Hey, is Fluttershy the shy one…” What had begun as a question quickly faded into a murmur. I don’t think I’ve ever felt more ridiculous. Of course, Fluttershy’s the shy one. What type of ridiculous question was that? And that was rhetorical so don’t answer. The last thing I needed was my mirror image laughing at me. Twilight giggled in response to my painful idiocy.

“Yes. Fluttershy’s the shy one,” she said as we left the library. To my dismay, the roads were already full of ponies. I couldn’t wrap my head around that fact because the sun had ‘risen’ an hour or so ago. Absolutely absurd. As a result of the abnormally lively town, the second I was within earshot a pony glanced in my direction, doubled back, and then stared. From there it was a wave; pony after pony suddenly registered my existence and all gave me looks of shock and fear. A lot of them looked ready to scream and three mares in particular actually did; fainted as well.

I’m a little impressed they haven’t all run off screaming yet. When the first three started I just assumed it would be taken up by the rest.

I think it was the pancakes. Reckon it’s pretty hard to be too scared of something holding pancakes.

It’s rather depressing that you’re probably correct. I did my best to look as neutral as possible for the crowd as Twilight and I continued forward but it’s impossible to look anything but suspicious while wearing a hood. Twilight went into her explanation of Nightmare Moon. What I gathered was Luna got jealous over something that was completely out the hands- err, hooves -of Equestrian citizens. She started brooding a bunch and eventually the frustration got to be too much for her. Twilight had gotten just to the point where Luna had reached her breaking point when I heard shouting behind me. Twilight, much to my surprise, didn’t bother turning around to find out what caused the commotion and immediately went sprinting-

Galloping

-to the side. I, on the other hand, turned around as quickly as I could and got a faceful of gray. Whatever it was that had hit me sent me flying some three feet and I landed flat on my back. I groan; not in pain but in ever growing irritation. That irritation became fury as I clenched and unclenched my jaw. But just as quickly as my anger came it faded, leaving me with a hollow feeling instead of the rage. The anger was still there, biting at the edges of mind. I let out a sigh that should’ve been filled with frustration but instead sounded tired. What was that? That God-awful feeling, I mean. Not the being run down thing. Even my thoughts felt empty at that point.

Don’t ask me; it’s your body.

His answer left me unsatisfied but I took it all the same. I sat up slowly and made sure my hood was still covering my eyes. Surprisingly enough it still was. As I busied myself with readjusting the rest of my clothing, Twilight and some gray Pegasus with a blonde mane and crossed golden eyes stared up at me. Twilight gave a moderately worried look while the gray one just looked ashamed. “I’m sorry mister! I really didn’t mean to bump into you!” I cocked my head in curiosity and I assume the Pegasus finally took in my appearance because she cocked her head as well. I broke out of my stupor seconds later and stood. I gave my surroundings a long look. Ponies were watching me, probably wanting to see how I’d react. The only thing that bothered me in the slightest was the fact that my pancakes were all over the ground. I got back on my knees and gathered up the pancakes and stacked on the somewhat dirty plate. I stood to my full height and put a hand over my heart.

“Farewell, my friends.”

“Rowan It’s not that big a-”

I shushed her. “I’m mourning, Sparkler. Quiet down.” She looked at me like I was mourning food. Oh, wait. I cleared my throat. “It was good while it lasted. I mean, sure. You would’ve croaked one way or another, but I just thought… it wouldn’t be like this… I-I’m sorry.”

They were probably dry as fuck anyway. No syrup equals no life. Your acting skills suck too.

The crowd of onlookers probably felt super awkward and understandably so. Twilight looked like she wanted to say something, badly. The gray Pegasus had tears in her eyes. Well, that wasn’t supposed to happen. I smiled. “Well now that that’s done, may I ask your name, miss?” She busied herself wiping tears from her eyes with a foreleg. An actor possibly? Once she finished with that she had a smile as bright as my own. She dug into a bag with her hoof and pulled out a muffin. She held it out to and introduced herself.

“I’m Ditzy Doo!” I grabbed the muffin from her impossible grip.

Quite the name. I think I'll enjoy her company. I chuckled a bit; not at my mental companion or Ditzy but at Twilight. She looked like she was about to pop a blood vessel.

"Are you really about to leave my plate on the ground?" I laughed a bit louder but aside from that, ignored her. My focus is on the bubbly mare in front of me.

So for clarification’s sake I’ll say this; you just made an unintended pun. How, you’re asking? She’s got bubbles on her ass.

What? Sure enough, she had seven bubbles on each side. Once I was finally informed I started taking notice of the fact that every pony within my field of vision had some sort of symbol on their rear. Weird. “I’m gonna call you Bubbles, Ditzy. Is there any reason you were in such rush?” I took a bite of the muffin. Fantastic.

“Rowan,” Twilight interrupted, oh so rudely. She had the plate of pancakes in her telekinetic grasp once more. “It’s great that you’re making a friend and all but we really must be on our way to Fluttershy’s.”

Way to kill the mood, Sparkler.

I know right? Probably just jealous that you gave another pony a nickname. The smile that was plastered on my face then became an extremely painful grin and I tried my best not to waggle my eyebrows at Twilight. That would’ve been awkward.

Ditzy brightened up after hearing Twilight’s statement. “That's right!” she said cheerfully. “I have a letter for Miss Fluttershy!”

Hearing that, I pulled her bags from her back and slung them over my shoulder. I picked up the cheerful Pegasus so she was tucked under my arm. She giggled at that. Twilight wasn’t nearly as happy. “Then let’s get going!” My voice was filled with plenty of false bravado. I began to walk with the giggling Pegasus in my hold and Twilight begrudgingly moved with me. She decided to go right back into her explanation of Nightmare Moon.

“Overcome with rage, Luna— or Nightmare Moon at that point— struck out against Celestia. The book doesn't go into detail on whether or not it was a full-scale rebellion or a single strike against Princess Celestia but I believe it was the latter. *Ahem*. So, using the Elements of Harmony, Princess Celestia banished Nightmare Moon to the moon. Nightmare Moon was trapped there for the last millennium.” Ditzy, despite still finding her current position in my arm funny, seemed to be listening just about as much as I was. Which is to say almost listening. However, Twilight had said something I wasn't going to let go unpunished.

“Sparkler. This was all in a book, right?” She nodded. “And you read this book, correct?” Another, slower nod. “So why the Hell were you surprised when Celestia announced who she was?” Silence. We continued for a second before I glanced over to Twilight; she had the most dumbfounded expression on her face. I cleared my throat. “Anyway, none of that really explains why you and your friends were at the ruins to begin with.” Or why I have somebody else's eyes for that matter.

Would you believe me if I said I’ll tell you later? I didn't think I would considering that he seemed to exist for the sole purpose of being a pain.

Twilight jumped into another explanation as to why she and the others had been where they were but I tuned her out. I’d just about stopped caring and wished more than anything that we could reach Fluttershy’s.

"Hey, Mister. Why do you have cuffs on?" Ditzy was making an effort to poke at my wrist and honestly, that probably wasn't the best course of action.

You gonna tell them? I had no reason not to so I gave a nod. Though, that must've seemed strange from an outsider's perspective.

"You two are gonna love this," I started, a smirk spreading across my mouth. "Your princess thought it was a great idea to lock up a dude who fell from the sky— and almost died from it too." Ditzy was looking up at me, her eyes shining with curiosity. Twilight however stopped in her tracks.

"THAT WAS YOU?" I put my free hand over an ear. I scowled and bent over so that we were eye level.

"YELL A BIT, LOUDER NEXT TIME, WOULD YA? I DON'T THINK I COULD HEAR YOU OVER THE CROWD OF SILENT PONIES!" Twilight's ears pinned back as she flinched at my tone. I stood back up and sighed. The 'crowd of silent ponies' stared at me like I just shot their grandmothers. At my staring, they returned to their business "Don't yell, Sparkler. You could hurt somebody's e—"

"Don't you mean somepony?" I looked down at Ditzy. She looked absolutely unfazed by the shouting.

"I'm not a pony." I made sure to finish that quickly. I glanced back at Twilight, smiling. "So what were you saying?"

"Earlier this week, something- supposedly you- fell from the sky above Canterlot. It landed"— If you can call that a landing.— "a lot faster than I 'd anticipated so I went to get a closer look. The guards, of course, wouldn't let me get close to the landing site so I went to Princess Celestia to ask permission to study whatever it happened to be. She told me that she would let me later once she found out for sure and that I should simply continue on with my studies. I had no idea it would be anything like you," Ouch. "nor did I know why the Princess withheld something so important from me."

"Maybe she doesn't trust you nearly as much as you think." Twilight was aghast.

"Of course she trusts me; I'm her student!" I rolled my eyes at the mare. At that moment, Anonymous and I agreed on something, though it was only I who spoke it:

"Whatever the case is, you need to realize that simply being somebody's student isn't going to change how trustworthy you are. Especially if you're so naive as to think she's obligated to trust you."

After that, we walked in silence.

Author's Note

I'm so sorry but for the sake of my sanity this story- and one more- is going on hiatus.
That way I'll only be writing two stories at the same time.
Also I'd rather not start suffering from carpal tunnel while I'm young.
Oh yeah. Mr. Head Voice will have a name. I'm not doing some weird H/AIE. Just HIE.
Although, I feel that Mr. Head Voice is going to be just as offensive as other Anons.

Update: Came through and gave this a round of editing, for my own sake.