Chapter One
It's cold... I can feel the light plops of rain against my light-blue coat as I lay on the ground with my eyes closed. I can't feel anything beyond the soft, rhythmic beat of water falling against me, and a heat growing in my skin. The rain is cold however, counteracting the heat and allowing me to lay comfortably. Something is telling me that I need to get up, that something is wrong. But the ground feels great. It's as if I was meant to stay here for the rest of my life. I continue lying there for a few more minutes, listening to the soft beat of the liquid falling from the sky. That is, until the burning in my coat grows into a burning pain. My eyes shoot open and I jolt furiously, only to be met with another wave of bone-chilling pain. I try to prop myself up on my hooves, but to no avail. I instead fall back down, face first into the mud that had been pooling around me as I layed, enjoying the ground. The mud splashes a good distance away from me as I meet the ground, and the burning pain slowly makes it's way into my face.
With an exhausted groan, I try another approach and slowly lift myself this time. The pain comes in waves, slowly increasing as I further lift myself up off of the soppy ground below me. Why am I in this much pain? I don't remember doing anything to hurt myself, so why does it feel like my muscles are imploding on themselves? I quickly discard the question and continue trying to force myself upwards, the pain still growing in every inch of my body. With one last exhausted grunt, I give in to the pain in my forelegs and let my body fall to the ground, causing another splash of mud to paint the ground around me.
Instead of trying a third time, I settle for rolling over onto my back and look up to the sky. All I can see is a thick layer of clouds, pouring the gracious cold water on me that helps fight off the pain slightly. I look around at my surroundings after examining the cloud cover.
A field.
That's it. Nothing more, nothing less. Trees and grass, as far as my eyes can see. I try to call out, but am only met with a pained exhale. I then realize how dry my throat is. With as much effort as my dry mouth will let me, I stick my tongue out and run it across my cracked lips. Must have been laying there for too long...
It takes a moment, but I'm able to slowly lift myself onto my haunches, allowing me a slightly better view of the field. Nothing much has changed as a result of my actions.
Still a field.
Still nothing interesting.
Still no hope.
With a pained sigh, I give one last attempt to make it up on my forelegs. I close my eyes and grit my teeth, throwing my forelegs forward to get a footing in the grass. After a quick mental count down, I thrust my back legs upwards, allowing me to finally reach a standing position.
Then comes the pain.
I instantly stumble sideways, but am able to catch myself from falling once more. It takes a large amount of my already exerted energy and adds to the pain, but It's worth it. Falling once more would only guarantee that I stay there for even longer. Gritting my teeth once more to try and fend off the pain, I slowly spin in a full circle, examining my surroundings as extensively as I can. Frustration slowly enters my mind as I again find nothing, along with the waves of a headache coming on. Why am I in such terrible condition?!
The waves of pain now enter my head, stabbing at my brain with each heart beat. I would rather have my heart stop all together than deal with the combination of ailments I'm feeling. It's like being struck repeatedly in every part of your body at the same time. I shake my head to try and expel the pain, but nothing changes. My eyes continue twitching as the pain grows. Only one option left at this point.
Without further contemplation, I inch forward in a random direction, causing my body to buckle as my joints move slightly. Tears are nearly rolling down my cheeks at this point, which wouldn't be noticeable due to the heavy rainfall, and because of the absence of life around me. I try to call out again, but only an exasperated squeal exits my throat. I simply bow my head and try to continue walking.
The first few steps are absolute hell. Spending an eternity in Tartarus would be better than the pain I am feeling right now. Despite the feeling that my bones will snap any second, I continue across the field and eventually reach the treeline. I'm shielded from the rain momentarily as I make my way under one of the trees. Instantly, my nostrils are greeted by the scent of wood and sap, which allows me to calm my nerves and takes away some of the pain. Just focus on the smell, I keep telling myself. Just focus on the smell.
I take the opportunity of my unobstructed vision to survey my new surroundings. A few feet in front of me is a dirt path, wet and muddied from the rainfall. I follow the road with my eyes for a moment and, to my surprise, it's leading into a town. A small flutter of hope enters my pained heart as I examine the buildings sprawled out across the landscape from a distance. I can't tell if anypony is on the streets of the town, but assume I'll find help if I go there. After a few seconds of mental preparation, I inch towards the road, the burning in my body still holding strong.
After what feels like hours of trudging through the relentlessly thick mud, I finally reach the edge of the town, and what I see discerns me. My vision from afar could've never prepared me for what was waiting in that town. Lined on either side of me, were tattered and run-down buildings, boards nailed against the windows and doors. I inch a few more steps forward and get a better look at the structures deeper into town. They're all the same. Boarded up and half-destroyed, as if a band of outlaws had just robbed the town dry. My view quickly shifts to a massive amount of rubble and crushed wood on the ground, just beside what looks to be a small tower. Or used to be a small tower. The ravaged look of the tower symbolizes that the pile of destroyed wood on the ground must have come from it, along with various burn marks against the wood that still remained on the tall building. A Town-Hall, maybe? The thought crosses my mind for a moment as I sit there, examining the desolate town before me. Everything is dead silent, save for the constant pitter-patter of raindrops falling from the sky and further wetting the dirt beneath my hooves.
I continue through the town for a few moments before the pain in my skull begins to get the best of me. I bow my head and shake it vigorously yet again. As expected, it does nothing, and I soon find myself falling to my knees just outside of a large tree further into the town. Shallow breathing, eyes twitching from the agonizing pain thumping in the walls of my head, and the constant strain on every muscle in my body even as I remain still. Why? Why so much pain? Why was I even in that field?! I can't remember. I search my thoughts, but as soon as I'm able to grasp onto one idea, the pain quickly shoves it away like a bully, laughing maniacally as it holds something just out of my grasp.
Still remaining motionless, the pain continues growing. My breathing is even more shallow and I can feel the ground spinning below me. The first town I stumble in to, and It's a ghost town... just my luck. Or have I had good luck in the past? My past. My past... The pain blocks the thoughts of my past away yet again. One last thump of pain as my heart beats and I fall over onto my side, water engulfing half of my face as a mixture of soil and liquid splashes wildly in every direction.
I can't move...
I can't remember...
Maybe this is where I die...
* * *
A voice. I can hear a quiet, almost inaudible voice next to me. It's a mare, I'm sure of that, but I can't tell who. Can I even remember anypony? The pain quickly comes back almost as if on cue to me having a thought. I shift my stiff body slightly, my eyes shut tight. Something is different, however. I don't feel the soppy mud beneath me, or hear the constant droplets of water hitting the ground anymore. My eyes slowly creak open, revealing my extremely blurred vision. It's hard to tell, but I know for sure I'm not outside anymore... I'm in a house of some kind, in a bed, a warm blanket covering me. A shiver runs down my spine as the warmth sets in.
"Winter Wrap-up, Winter Wrap-up..."
There's the mare's voice again. It's more distinct this time, and she seems to be singing, but the tone is slightly depressed. She continues the soft melody and the lovely string of perfectly-pitched notes enters my ears, only calming me further. It seems as though the pain in my bones and joints has left, and all I can feel is my headache. At least my body is making progress.
"... Cause' tomorrow spring is here..."
A small groan exits my throat as I shift my position once more, and the notes stop completely. I blink my eyes several times to try and regain some vision as hoofsteps come closer to me. After a few more blinks, my vision comes back and I can see a purple unicorn crossing the room towards me. Did someone actually save me in this ghost-town?
"Great, you're awake!" The unicorn mare says, her voice cheerful and slightly shrill.
I try to speak in response but am quickly reminded how dry my throat is. I can only elicit a pained exhale while my mouth makes "Wa" movements. The mare picks up on this fast and levitates a nearby glass of water to my lips. I close my eyes and tip my head back slightly as the purple glow nears my face. As expected, a cool rush of liquid slides down my throat, coating the insides and and sending a shiver down my spine.
"Shhh... There you go..." The mare says in a motherly tone.
After a few gulps of the much-needed water, I tap the glass lightly signalling that I've had enough, and it floats away. I run my foreleg across my lips to wipe off any of the excess liquid and am able to sit up slightly in the bed to face the mare. My muscles ache slightly for a moment, but I'm able to quickly get over the pain and look the unicorn in the eye.
"T-Thank you..." I manage to say, catching my breath after downing nearly the whole cup of water.
"It was no trouble really, anything to help a friend!" She says with a smile that sends another shiver down my spine.
A friend? I don't remember this mare... or anything.
"Sure you don't want more? I've got plenty!" She says, her teeth still shining through her lips as she smiles at me.
"I'm alright.. thank you though..." I say, trying to be as civil and kind as possible.
"Alright then," She says, looking to the side and placing the glass on a nearby table. "I found you outside and you looked like you needed help, so I helped you!"
She pauses for a moment and inches closer to the bed I'm laying in.
"That makes us friends, right?!" The unicorn says, her eye twitching.
Something is definitely off about her...
"Y-Yeah... totally." I say, my voice shaky and nervous.
The mare sighs loudly and takes a seat on the floor, a satisfied smile across her face. I glance towards her flank and examine the cutie mark on it. A large purple star, surrounded by smaller white stars. Part of me feels like I've seen it before, but before I can give it any thought, the threat of a headache soon starts to cloud my thoughts, and I quickly expel the thought from my mind.
"That's good. It's been sooo long since I've had a friend!" She continues, her voice becoming more shrill and exasperated.
A nervous chuckle exits my throat as I scan the walls of the room wildly. The only light source is a nearby candle, flames dancing across the wick gracefully as the mare continues smiling at me. The walls are lined with various bookshelves, all packed to capacity with books of every shape, color, material, and I'm assuming subject. The mare quickly clears her throat, drawing my attention back to her.
"I'm Twilight Sparkle!" She says eagerly. "What's your name?!"
"I'm..." I begin to say.
But I pause.
Why do I pause?
I've had to have said my name over a thousand times in my life, why now would my brain chose this moment to not process my name. I know my name. It's...
Frustration begins to enter my mind and I look to the floor.
My name..
I've got to remember it...
It's right there...
"Are you alright?" The mare asks, a concerned tone entering her voice.
"Yeah... fine... just..." I say, shaking my head and closing my eyes.
I can't remember.
I can't remember my name.
I've forgotten my own name. Is that even possible? I sigh and look up to Twilight Sparkle.
"I... don't know..." I reply, my voice sounding lost and desperate.
The mare quickly raises an eyebrow and tilts her head.
"You don't know?" She asks, quizzically.
I shift in my seat on the bed nervously and look the the floor
"Y-yeah..." I reply.
"Your own name... You don't know it." She says, confirming what I've just told her.
I simply nod in response. The mare quickly shrugs and smiles, her frizzed and out-of-place mane bouncing up and down as she moves her shoulders.
"Well, it doesn't matter, as long as we're friends!" She says.
Now I know for sure there is something wrong with this "Twilight Sparkle". Every part of me wants to leave this place and get as far away from her as possible.
It's then I notice something. I notice the look in her eyes. She's carrying pain behind them. A deep, painful, loneliness hidden behind a bright smile meant to attract somepony, anypony. She needs a friend.
"Y-Yeah... of course we're friends." I say, forcing my own smile.
I may have a lot of problems going on for me right now, but this mare saved my life. The least I can do is hope to return the favor somehow. Twilight's smile only brightens as the words exit my mouth, she instantly springs upwards and begins hopping around the room shouting the word "yes" repeatedly in the most cheery tone possible. I can't help but flash a weak smile and chuckle slightly as she continues prancing about.
I may not remember who the hell I am, or why I was just dying in a field, but at least I'm not alone.
Both of us are quickly alarmed however, when a number of intense beats against a nearby door sound through the room. Twilight instantly stops her jumping around and cowers slightly, her expression going from ecstatic to terrified in a matter of seconds.
"Who's in there with you, you witch?!" A mare's voice shouts on the other side of the door.
Something is different about this voice though. It sounds more boyish and has a slight raspiness to it. Whoever it is, they're furious, and the purple mare seems very fearful of them.
"N-Nopony..." Twilight says, her voice cracking slightly.
"You and I both now that's a lie, you mad-mare!" The boyish mare voice replies.
Mad-mare?
"Flitter told me she saw you drag somepony else in here!" The voice on the other side of the door continues.
Twilight freezes in place, her eyes locked on the door. After a moment, the pounding on the door continues, this time with more anger and determination behind each hoof. A shiver runs down my spine for the third time as the pounding continues. It seems as though my suspicions about this mare being crazy have just been confirmed. I look to her and realize her face is flustered and tears are beginning to roll down her red cheeks.
"I'm not letting you murder any more ponies!" The voice screams from the other side of the door.
Twilight quickly looks to me, her expression as terrified as it can get.
Murder?
