Guiding Light

Guiding Light:

CHAPTER I -

Two Steps Forward

* * *

My conscious mind was a mess. Thank the stars I hadn’t tried to do this last night - I would have nearly yanked out my mane in frustration. Actually, I was close to doing it now; I can’t imagine what kind of havoc I could have set upon my home if I hadn’t slept first.

Organizing your thoughts is a pain, especially in my condition. Not knowing anything about myself had proved to be more frightening, but at least it didn’t strain my mind when I didn’t have to make sense of things that just did not add up.

Eventually, I calmed myself down over a breakfast of apples - the only thing I’d eaten for three days - and brought out my folder of documents once again. Were they forged? The bank manager would probably have noticed, so that question was of no use to me. The information on the documents just wouldn’t fit with what I had discovered.

Even after I had answered all the questions my mind had longed to answer, it just formulated newer, impossible-to-answer questions which I decided to ignore for the time being. Trying to answer those questions was like striking my cranium with a hammer. I rubbed my temple, a headache starting to form.

I tried to separate the facts into two different categories.

First category - I am a six-year resident of Ponyville. I have no money, therefore I cannot buy any food, which I don’t have much of, either. I don’t know what I do in terms of work. I have parents living in Manehattan. And, apart from my amnesia, I am healthy.

Second category, the stuff that doesn’t make sense - My bank documents say that I withdrew a small amount of bits from an account that did not have any activity whatsoever, registered only five months ago, as opposed to my six-year residency. My Cutie Mark doesn’t add up with my name, and the special talent it indicates has no place in Ponyville.

The last bit of information I had acquired fell into neither category - The cause of my amnesia could not be determined. Well, at least medically, anyway.

That’s when my brain automatically started coming up with ideas and possible solutions.

Maybe not medically, but possibly magically, I thought, tapping my horn.

I remembered that I wanted to find a spellbook somewhere, so I could regain some magical ability. What kind of unicorn doesn’t know how to use magic? That would probably bring questions to other ponies, in time.

Another plan: If I could work up enough bits to purchase a train ticket to Manehattan, I could find my parents and they could help me recover my lost memory. That was my best chance at remembering everything.

So I deduced that I needed two things. First priority - Find a job, so I can earn bits for food and a ticket. Second - Find a spellbook.

Even though it was my first priority, finding a job that would suit my needs would take time, and I’d need to actually be able to use my magic first. So, I guess finding that spellbook should have been considered my real first priority.

I had a full day ahead of me, and I intended to use it. I unfurled my map of the town, and quickly located where I could find exactly what I needed - the local library.

I tidied up my portfolio and tucked both it and the sack of bits into my saddlebags, and I was set. I opened the door, and stepped out, inhaling the fresh, early morning, post-rain air. The calming smell of ozone still lingered.

As I passed the market, ponies were already milling about, some setting up their vending carts, while others purchased their daily goods.

I was starting to get to know the layout of the town better each passing day; I had no idea if it was my memory being jogged, or simply memorization of my map. I hoped it was the former.

Truth is, I was scared. Not only because I had to completely start anew, but because nothing I had done so far had brought back a single memory. I shook my head. I’ll remember, I just need to give it time.

But that small consolation couldn’t stop the un-answer-ables from invading my thoughts. I concentrated on those mysterious, confusing facts, unable to shake them. I shook my head once again, dismissing them. They would make sense eventually. I just need to give it time.

Casually strolling through the market, I passed the bank. Something clicked that I hadn’t noticed the day before - The bank manager had addressed me by name! Why hadn’t I thought of that while I was there? Why didn’t it register? Was it so casual, that I had regained some of my memory, and when somepony recognized me, I didn’t concentrate on my name?

Immediately, I took a detour, stepping up my pace as I approached the bank.

The stallion from yesterday was there, and he was talking to a colt at the front of a line. I took a place in the line, and after a few minutes, I was face-to-face with the old stallion once again.

“Hello, sir! I hope you didn’t catch a cold, yesterday.”

I shook my head. “No. I just wanted to ask you a question. Yesterday, you addressed me by my name. Do you know me - or, do I know you?”

His expression scrunched to that of a slightly befuddled one, but I gulped as I realized it was not one of one friend not recognizing another.

“No, sir. Yesterday was the only time I’ve ever seen you. I just read your name off your identification.”

I blinked slowly, as my excitement died down and allowed anxiety to fill its place.

“Alright, thanks anyway.” I winced; I had said the same thing yesterday. The bank had no information for me. It was useless to my search. I turned to leave.

“Good day, sir!” The bank manager chimed.

Once outside, I kicked at the dirt. I should’ve known. Stupid. I had to be more vigilant if I were to continue. Now that I had no memory, I had to absorb and analyze every single detail.

Across the street, I noticed a large tree, in the middle of a row of houses. In front of it stood a small sign, with a picture of an open book on it. The library.

Walking up to the door, I couldn’t help but think that it was such a strange thing to be a library. It was a tree. I had no words for it.

Even the door was awkward. It didn’t look like one that belonged to a public place. I tried the handle. It was locked. Strange. Were they not open yet? I knocked.

Only but a few moments later, a light purple unicorn with a streaked navy-blue mane opened the door.

“Hello,” She greeted cheerfully, “Can I help you?”

I arched an eyebrow. “I’m sorry, I thought this was a library. Do I have the right building?”

“Oh, yes. This is a library. Sorry for the confusion. It’s also my home. Please, come in.”

I stepped inside, glancing around. Bookshelves lined the circular walls. Hundreds of volumes were in this place.

“Um, I’m looking for a spellbook or two, so I can practice some magic.”

“We have plenty of those,” The unicorn said, shutting the door. “What kind of spellbook are you interested in?”

“What kind?”

“Like, beginner, advanced, strange spells, wizardry, the list goes on.”

“Can I take a look at beginner and advanced?”

“Sure,” she said, levitating a couple of books off of a nearby shelf “What do you need them for?”

I sighed. “Long version or short?”

She raised an eyebrow slightly. “Long.”

I sighed again. Over the next few minutes, I carefully explained every excruciating detail of what had occurred in the past two-and-a-half days. I concluded with my need for the books.

“That’s quite... complicated...” She stated, still trying to grasp everything.

“Yes. Is there a cost for the books?”

“Each book costs three bits a week.”

“And I can’t just read them here?”

“Afraid not.”

I only had 8 bits. Spending 6 bits on two books wouldn’t leave me enough left over to buy lunch.

“I guess I’ll just take the beginner book.” I took three bits out of my bag.

And then that’s when another idea took shape. I might be able to accomplish both tasks I had set right now. It was awfully dusty in the room.

“Um, pardon me for asking, but, are you in need of assistance? You know, in tidying this place up a bit? Sweeping floors?”

She frowned a bit. “I’m sorry, I already have an assistant, and he works for free.”

My brain told me to keep pushing. “Couldn’t you make an exception? Just for a little while, so I can get myself back on my feet?”

“You can’t work anywhere else?”

“I don’t think any other job would have free access to a plethora of books that could potentially jog my memory.”

She rolled her eyes. “Oh, alright. I’m just worried about what Spike will say-”

“Say about what?” A voice called from behind me. I turned to see a baby dragon eyeing me from a flight of stairs.

“Um, eheh... Spike, this is...” She trailed off. “What did you say your name was again?” She whispered.

“Steel Tempest.”

“Twilight Sparkle.” She raised he voice again. “Spike, this is Steel Tempest. He’s going to be my assistant for awhile.”

By this time, Spike had come down the stairs and was standing right next to us. I wasn’t prepared for his next shout of rage.

“WHAT?! Twilight, you said you’d never-”

Twilight leaned over and whispered in Spike’s ear for a while, and, once again, an eyebrow was raised at the telling of my story.

When Twilight was finished, Spike looked at least consoled for now.

“Alright, Mr. Tempest. I guess you’re fine for now. Just don’t try any funny business. I’m Twilight’s Number One Assistant, got that?”

I nodded. “I have no intention of replacing you, Mr. Spike. I’m just broke and don’t know any magic.”

Spike smiled a little bit. “Mister Spike... I like the sound of that. I’m beginning to like you better, Mister Tempest. All I need now is a moustache!” He leaned over and elbowed Twilight, who just smiled and rolled her eyes. Spike went into the kitchen.

“So, I can get started right now?” I asked.

“Well, first,” Twilight started, “I’m going to make a list of all the chores I need done.”

After she had prepared the list, showed me around the library, and taught me how to organize the books, I set to work dusting, sweeping, and cataloguing.

Twilight spent most of the day studying, and that led me to wonder why and how she could spend nearly an entire day doing so. Spike went outside, making the most of his new-found spare time.

An hour after my working day had ended, I dedicated some time to read over the beginner’s spellbook, learning spells like levitation and such. After my ‘study hour,’ I was able to close the book, using magic, with little difficulty.

It was just on the verge of evening, and I picked up my saddlebags, making sure I still had my portfolio and sack of bits.

Just before I left, there was just one more thing I needed to ask.

“Um, Twilight, do you mind if you paid me a day-to-day salary, instead of a weekly one? I don’t have any food and only eight bits.”

“Sure,” she said, closing her book.

Walking up behind a desk, she opened a similar burlap sack full of bits and gave a few to me.

“Thanks, Twilight. I really appreciate everything you’ve done to help me.” I pushed three of the bits back to her and levitated the beginner’s spellbook over to me.

“No problem, Steel.” Twilight pulled out a catalogue book, wrote down the title of the spellbook, and had me sign my name. I levitated the book into my saddlebags.

“You’ve been learning fast. I couldn’t even turn a single page on a book when I first studied magic,” Twilight said with a chuckle.

“Re-learning,” I corrected. “See you tomorrow. Same time as today?”

“Okay. See you, Steel, it was nice meeting you!”

“You too, Miss Sparkle!” Thanking her once again, I turned and left.

The sun was lower in the sky, and the chill of evening wind was starting to set in. The air was still fresh, and the ground had dried. I could feel the warmth of the setting sun on my face. Ponies were returning to their homes after a long day. Ponyville was a wonderful town. It was no place for misdeeds or crime. I had been here three days and I never wanted to leave.

I started back to my house. There were only a few ponies left in the streets. However, they still lingered in the marketplace, actively bartering with the vendors.

The market never sleeps, I figured. I could only imagine ponies sleeping out with their carts at midnight.

Nearing my house, my stomach started to grumble. I hadn’t eaten anything today, save two of my last three apples this morning. With all my new wages, I decided to eat something that wasn’t a fruit. Just down and across the street from my house was what looked like a giant gingerbread house, decorated with all sorts of over-sized candy.

‘Sugarcube Corner,’ the sign read. Sounds enticing.

I entered the sweet shop and took a deep breath. It even smelled of gingerbread. I wondered if-

“Hi! I’m Pinkie Pie! Welcome to Sugarcube-”

The sudden appearance of the pink pony that somehow popped up from behind the counter took me by surprise. What shocked and confused me further was when her eyes went as wide as saucers, she jumped three feet in the air, and gasped in more air than I thought was possible. Then, she took off like a bullet into the back of the store. A resounding crash was heard not a second later.

An older mare walked out of the kitchen the pink pony had rocketed into.

“Sorry about that. What can I get’cha?”

Still baffled, I looked down at the assortment of candy and baked goods before me. Just the sight and the scent of the delicious food made my mouth water.

A perfect-looking blueberry muffin caught my eye, nearly making me drool all over the floor. I asked the mare the cost.

“That’ll be four bits, please,” she said. The entrancing smell of the delicacies behind the counter didn’t even faze her in the slightest.

I fumbled around with my saddlebags using my magic, before getting frustrated and doing it the earth pony way. I pushed the bits across the counter a little too quickly, and took the muffin likewise.

“Thank you, ma’am.” I stuttered. I resisted the temptation to shove the entire muffin in my mouth all at once. I had to wait until I was on the street, at least. Somepony had probably given in at some point and done what I might have if I didn’t have self-control.

“No, thank you. Come again!”

“I’m sure I will!” I definitely would. How could I not come back to this place? This was the food of the gods! And it was cheap, too!

Exiting the shop and forgetting all my troubles and my confusion, I happily chomped down on the muffin on my way back to my house. It was bliss, and I savoured every bite. I had never tasted better food.

Pleased with my ‘dinner,’ I entered my house, set my folder on the back desk, and lit the candle on it. Today, I had accomplished nearly everything I had set myself to do.

Taking the candle with me, I entered my bedroom and laid down on the bed, clearing my mind of anything else that didn’t pertain to recovering my memory. I set the candle down on the night table - I liked to sleep with it still burning.

I found that this would be a regular practice; allowing myself some time every night or morning to recap my day, and to plan my next moves.

All the confusion and my strange information still lingered deep within my mind. Another thing was still bothering me; Nopony knew me. Surely, somepony might have recognized me on the streets? My anxiety was rising again. I pushed these thoughts from my mind, and focused on everything that was good and that made sense.

I had all the bits to just barely sustain me from day to day, and I had a job where I could access any kind of literature, be it folklore or modern science. I even learned some basic magic. I also learned that Sugarcube Corner was probably Heaven’s Kitchen. I was on the road to recovery. Soon, I’d be able to see my relatives, and I’d be back to my past self.

That led me to wonder who my past self was. I was probably a completely different pony. Was I mean, or cruel? Was I generous and caring? Did I have friends?

Friends. Did I have one? I thought about that.

Twilight Sparkle was my friend. My first friend.

No matter what kind of pony I was before, I still wasn’t the same person. It was as if I was staring anew -  the old Steel Tempest had dropped off the world and I had come to take his place.

I had made a friend. Amidst all of my troubles, all my confusion, all my worry and my mysterious case, I had found a friend in somepony. I could trust them with whatever I found out. I could go far with a friend, farther than I could ever have gone by myself.

I was content.