Heart beat thundering loudly, breathing quick, exhaustion high. Just a few things to describe the poor creature that lay in the dirt on this cold and rainy night. Having been on the move for so long, it just couldn't keep itself moving along, and its body made sure of that. Now face first in the mud and completely drained it remained there until its mind finally went blank and all went dark.
The sun shone through the eyelids of a sleeping male unicorn pony. White in fur color with a black mane. he groaned as he opened his eyes, revealing irises of bright crimson as he moved a hoof to block the intruding light. His hooves were red at the bottom and gleamed a bit in the light. His tail was a decent length in a crescent shape, sporting a black and blue color. His cutie mark was black in color with the design of an eye looking at small things that seemed to express great detail.
He noticed that he was surrounded by trees when his eyes adjusted, turning over onto his belly he soon realized he was on a dirt path. His blue vest and blue starry cape a little dirty from rubbing against the ground. his hair was a bit messy past the blue hair band that held it in the form of a ponytail.
"Where am I?" he wondered, his voice between high and low as he pondered his location. Slowly he tried to stand up, his legs wobbling greatly as he slowly lifted upwards. At about halfway up his legs gave out and he made friends with the dirt again. he tried again this time managing to move forward right into a tree, where his lips met bark and he scrunched up his face in pain.
"Ow!" he said as he managed to move himself to where he was still standing, just braced against the tree. He lifted a hoof to rub his mouth to try to alleviate some of the pain. "Man...I must have gotten hit pretty hard in the head for me to be this clumsy..." he said as he took in his surroundings and began to mull to himself.
"Okay...so you wake up...you're in a forest...and" he paused as he tried to think, that was all he knew. He couldn't remember anything and the harder he tried the harder it became. "You can't remember a damn thing..." He sighed as he raised a hoof to scratch his head.
"There must be something I remember..." he said as he began to think more, "what about my name?" he then began to think about what his name could be and something came to him.
"S-Sl-Slip-Slipsdo-Slipsdoo" he finally said. "My name is Slipsdoo. At least I know that much" he said with a chuckle before remembering he was in the middle of nowhere.
"Might as well try walking again, see if I can find any help" he said as he began to move, doing his best to keep his balance. If he were in a relationship he'd be called a cheater due to how many times he kissed the ground and came back for more. He just couldn't get any coordination going as he walked. Thankfully though he finally started to get the hang of it and was soon trotting at an average pace as he made his way through the trees. He smiled as he reached a clearing and saw a cozy little cottage that was teeming with animals.
"Huh, that's a start at least." He said before walking forward. His ears then perked up as they caught a peaceful melody being hummed. Turning his head toward the source he saw quite a sight. A mare with a pink mane and tail, and pleasant yellow fur with butterflies adorning her flank as her cutie mark. Her turquoise eyes shimmered with joy as she flew around and fed the animals.
A Pegasus, tending to animals. Now I've seen everything. he thought as he cautiously approached her. She was unaware of his presence as she continued to cater to the animals. A little furry rabbit on the other hand saw him coming and noticed that his pace was a little shaky. With a smirk he got into position and held out a foot and sure enough Slipsdoo tripped right over it and bit the dirt.
Will I ever catch a break today? He thought as he heard the mare gasp. She turned and noticed the stranger, "Oh my." her pleasant voice said as she kept her distance. Her hooves curled up as she just hovered there. She then noticed Angel was busy rolling around and laughing. It didn't take much else for her to put 2 and 2 together.
"Angel Bunny, that wasn't very nice." She said sternly to the rabbit as Slipsdoo got back onto his hooves and stood. Fluttershy blinked as she looked at him, his appearance was certainly new to her eyes.
"Hello." he said with a smile. She just looked to the ground as she landed before moving a hoof around in the dirt a bit. She was doing her best to avoid direct eye contact.
Apparently not... he thought, answering his previous question before clearing his throat. "My name is Slipsdoo. What's yours?"
"My name is..." she mumbled her name.
"I'm sorry could you repeat that?"
"My name is...Flu..." she mumbled half her name.
"One more time?" he asked before she whimpered a bit and backed away about a foot. He stood there in total silence with her. She was hiding behind her mane and this wasn't going anywhere anytime fast.
"Well, I guess I'll be on my way then" he said before turning and starting to walk away. Of course Angel decided a second time would be funnier and tripped him. Angel was right, it was funnier, since he had tears in his eyes from how hard he was laughing. Slipsdoo just grumbled in the dirt as he saw the rabbit.
Just you wait fuzzball...I'm gonna get you... He stood up and spat some of the dirt out that managed to get into his mouth before his stomach growled loudly.
Dammit...that's 3 for 3. I have no memory, I have no coordination, and now I'm so hungry I could eat a horse. He paused for a moment after that thought Did I really just say that? I'm not that desperate for a meal. Goodness I must've taken quite the hit to the dome He just sighed as he hung his head low and began to walk again.
"Umm, if you're hungry I could make you something." Fluttershy said. He stopped and turned to her as his head rose and his smile began to return.
"That is if you want anything." She said as she hid again. He just smiled more as he walked over to her stopping a few feet in front of her.
"I'd like something to eat, thank you." he said.
"My name is...Fluttershy by the way" she said with a blush.
"Nice to meet you Fluttershy." he said before his stomach growled again. She smiled and gave a small giggle before going over to her door and opening it.
"Come on in, I was just about to have lunch" she said with a smile. He nodded before trotting up to the door and entering the home after she did. The inside of the house certainly made him relax a lot more since it was pleasant to him. Fluttershy smiled as she got some salads put together with some hayfries to go with them.
"Should be ready in a couple minutes" she said as the hayfries started cooking. The smell hit his nostrils and strange to him it whet his appetite.
Mmmm, those hayfries smell delicious.
A few minutes passed before Fluttershy brought the food to the table and sat down to begin eating. He drooled a bit and was about to tear into it like a wild animal. That is until he remembered he was in kind company and stopped himself. Managing to eat his food in a civilized way and enjoying every bite.
Today is going to be a long one he thought as he continued to eat. The meal was soon finished and he covered his mouth with a hoof as he burped. "Excuse me." he said. Fluttershy just smiled as she took the dishes to the sink and began to wash them.
"Umm, if you don't mind me asking, why were you in the Everfree forest?"
"Is that where I came from?" he asked as he put a hoof to his temple, unable to recall anything before waking up. "I don't know, I can't remember." he said
"Oh dear" she said before thinking a bit. "I know, how about I introduce you to my friend Twilight? She might know what's wrong" she said as she turned to look at him, noticing that Slipsdoo seemed to be in deep concentration, as if he were struggling to recall something. The name Twilight seemed to familiar to him, and it felt as if it were on the tip of his tongue. Though try as he might he couldn't remember anything past familiarity.
"Shoot..." he said in defeat.
"What happened?" Fluttershy asked
"It felt like a memory was coming back, but it didn't." he said. "And I'd like to see this friend of yours, any help I can get would be appreciated" he said. She nodded and put the clean dishes in the cabinet before leaving her home with him and setting off for Twilight's home.
Why does Twilight sound so familiar to me? he wondered as they walked, hoping Twilight could help him. Or maybe even get his memory fully restored. One could only hope.
Slipsdoo blinked as they reached the town, he just gazed upon the bustling little community that was going about its daily business.
Why does she live on the outskirts...oh yeah, super shy. Got it.
They continued to walk, Fluttershy leading the way to Twilight's house. He would occasionally glance to his left and right, taking in the sight of the smiling ponies who looked upon him with curious gazes. Even the foals that ran around and played stopped to gaze upon him. He couldn't help but have a smile on his face as he looked at all the warm townsfolk.
"We're here." Fluttershy said, directing his attention forward. Slipsdoo gazed upon the giant tree before him, his jaw slightly hanging.
"Somepony lives here?" he asked in disbelief.
"Oh yes, my friend Twilight lives here. This is also the Ponyville Library." Fluttershy said as she knocked on the door.
Well that answered my future question of where I am. Ponyville huh?
The door opened and revealed a lavender colored unicorn with a moderate sapphire blue mane and tail with a pink and violet streaks. Her eyes were a lighter shade of violet than the streak in her hair. She smiled at Fluttershy, "Hi Fluttershy, what brings you down here?" she asked.
"Oh well, I found this Stallion coming from the Everfree Forest, he seems to have Amnesia, but i'm not too sure." She said. Twilight peered over her friend and saw the stallion in question. Slipsdoo just smiled at her and smiled more when she returned the smile.
"Well come on in." Twilight said as she moved aside for them to both enter the home, shutting the door once they were all inside. She then trotted up to the mysterious stallion
"I'm Twilight Sparkle, what's your name?" she asked.
"I'm Slipsdoo." He answered with a smile, hiding the fact that the familiarity factor just rose higher. Seriously, why does she seem so familiar?
"So, Fluttershy says you're having memory trouble?"
"Yeah, I can only remember my name" he said.
"Hmmm" she thought as she examined him. "Well I've never seen you around before that much is certain." she said as she continued to think.
Gee really? We only just met...
"I've got an idea, i'm gonna name off different locations throughout Equestria, and we'll see if anything comes to you." She said.
"Worth a try."
And so she named off many places like Fillydelphia, Trottingham, Las Pegasus, Baltimare, Neigh Orleans and the like. None seemed to jog his memory.
"Hmm, perhaps it's too early to try this. Your mind is most likely still recovering from whatever shock left you without your memory." Twilight said. "I think I should write a letter to Princess Celestia, see if she has any advice."
"The Princess Celestia? you're pen pals with the Princess?" he asked with pure bewilderment.
"I'm actually her personal Protegee." If his jaw could it would as it shot open as if about to go through the floor.
"Holy Hay...that's incredible!" Twilight just giggled at that before she called Spike down to take a letter. The little purple and green dragon was quick to respond as he descended the stairs.
"A dragon?" he asked.
"Heya, I'm Spike" Spike said.
"Hi Spike, my name is Slipsdoo."
"Spike, take a letter" Twilight said as Spike got the quill and parchment out.
Dear Princess Celestia,
My friend Fluttershy has just brought a Stallion with her to my home that seems to be suffering from Amnesia. Only able to recall his name in fact. I was wondering if you had any ideas on how to jog his memory? I've tried naming places, but it seems the amnesia is a recent ailment since nothing came to mind for him.
Speaking of memory I think I left the stove on-No don't write that Spike! What do you mean you already wrote it? Will you stop writing what I say? I know that would make it impossible for you to take letter-oh for pete's....
Just write back with any ideas you may have, thank you.
Your Faithful Student,
Twilight Sparkle
Spike rolled up the parchment and blew fire onto it, causing it to be sent to the princess.
"That's one handy delivery system." Slipsdoo said as Twilight headed into the kitchen to check the stove.
"All part of being Twilight's Number One Assistant." He said with pride.
"Hoo?" Came the sound of an owl, turning his head Slipsdoo did in fact see an owl perched on a bird stand.
"Me, Spike, that's who." Spike said.
"Hoo!" The owl said again. Spike opened his mouth, but stopped himself since he knew where this was going.
"That's Owloysius." Spike said to Slipsdoo.
"Nice to meet you Owloysis, I'm Slipsdoo." he said with a smile.
"Hoo?"
"Slipsdoo, that's my name."
"Hoo!"
"Does he do this a lot?" Slipsdoo asked.
"Unfortunately." Spike answered before belching up a flame that turned into rolled up parchment. He grabbed it and opened it as Twilight entered the room.
Dear Twilight,
I'm sorry to hear that this pony has amnesia, and I am proud that you are taking it upon yourself to help him. I'd say just give it time, Amnesia usually resolves itself in a few days. That is if it's a mild case.
Keep me posted.
Princess Celestia
"IF it's a mild case?" Slipsdoo asked worried now.
"I'm sure it is, most are" Twilight said. "But on the bright side, you'll have friends like me and Fluttershy to help you"
He smiled at that, finding it a comforting thing to hear. "Thank you very much Twilight." he said.
"How about we take you to Sugarcube Corner?" Twilight asked "You can meet our friend Pinkie"
"Sure, lead the way" he said.
"Spike, watch over the place while I'm gone" Twilight said.
"Yes ma'am" Spike said with a salute.
"Let's go" Twilight said before leaving with Slipsdoo and Fluttershy. The three ponies making their way to Sugarcube Corner.
Friends like them he thought with a happy smile on his face.