The Bjorn Identity

Dreams are like flowers, only pretty while they’re growing.”

~ Ditzy Doo

When Twilight finally came to take me to the hospital, I discovered to my horror, that my attire was a little on the blasted side. I wasn’t really sure what a good set of clothes were supposed to look like, but I imagined that if the clothes had holes and burn marks in them, that meant that it was a bad thing. So she suggested that we go to her friend Rarity’s shop and see what we could do about getting her to mend or at least attempt to mend the damage to my attire.

It wasn’t that long of a walk, and yet for some reason, which I cannot say, I was enraptured by the sights of the town. I must have looked like a wide mouthed crazy person, looking with big eyes at everything that I could.

“So tell me,” she said to me as we walked. “What’s it like being a human?”

I don’t know about anyone else, that is if I had a better grasp of my thoughts, and memory I’d probably know, but I didn’t really ever just sit down and think to myself about how awesome or terrible it was being a human. I hadn’t done so in the past day or two that I had been here, and I can’t really see that as something that I would have done before.

“I guess it’s kind of cool,” I told her, not really sure if that was the answer that she was looking for or not, but it was the best I had to offer never the less. “What’s it like being a pony?”

“Well, it okay, but sometimes being a pony can be a little boring.” She looked a little sad at the thought, and shrugged a little. “It’s the same thing every day, and truth be told, it’s more fun to imagine being something else.”

“Well, I’m sure I’d enjoy being a human more if I understood what it meant. Right now, I’m just some guy with no idea about anything.” I figured if I was going to use my disability, I’d best use it to a good end. “Seems to me, we should be thankful for what we are.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right.”

~   ~   ~

Looking back on it, it was rather odd that I didn’t have more of the local ponies going bonkers about my being a non-pony. They were pretty accepting of me, and the fact that I looked nothing like them; I talked, and walked, and walked on two legs I might add, and they didn’t come running out with pitchforks and torches to drive me out of town. Hmm, now I wonder why pitchforks and torches are the preferred method?

I should have considered myself more lucky, even though I do so now, it would have at least calmed me some, as me and Twilight made our way to the garment shop, and were asked to step in.

Twilight’s friend Rarity was a riot. Never in all my life, or at least the last two days that I could firmly remember of it anyway, had I met with someone, or pony, that was more eccentric, and worrisome over her sense of fashion, or that of anyone else. It was as if she had spent her every waking hour fretting over the smallest detail of fabric and garments. I found her to be hilarious.

“I see, I see,” she says to us, as I’m standing in front a tall mirror, letting her rub her hooves all over my clothes. “And you want me to mend them?”

“That was the idea,” Twilight said to her, as she reclined back on a small ornamental sofa, tapping her tail and keenly observing the human/pony interaction. “I can pay for the work, if you’re worried about him having money.”

“I wouldn’t dream of treating this poor unfortunate creature in such a manner,” she said cutting Twilight a glaring look. “You just need to have your big sister Rarity fix you up. Isn’t that right?”

She grabbed my face in her hooves and rubbed my cheeks affectionately, as she made a faux-sympathetic expression. I suddenly imagined that I was a little baby, and helpless, and she was somehow my self-appointed caretaker. Though, I had to wonder how that was going to make Ditzy feel, since she was filling that role rather nicely, and we seemed to get along.

“I’m fine with whatever,” I said, as Rarity began to pull on my clothes.

“Nonsense.” She was frowning as she pulled the shirt open in the front. “I consider it a learning experience, as well as a challenge to broaden my horizons. Now get out of these clothes, so that I can make some sewing patterns to work with.”

I wasn’t sure why at the time, but suddenly getting naked was a little embarrassing. Not that I was ashamed out-right, but that it felt wrong somehow to just stand around naked in front of ponies of the opposite sex.

“Wait, wait,” I croaked out, shoving at her hooves. “Isn’t there some kind of changing room I can use?”

Changing room, was just one more name for something that I knew, but had no idea how I knew of it. Eventually, I hoped that my memory would come back completely, and if my brain really was mending, then maybe that would happen sooner rather than later. And then I figured that Ditzy and I could have real conversations about the things I liked.

“There is a changing room, if you insist on using it.” Rarity looked a little off-put by having to wait, as I could see her all but salivating over the idea of diving into what made my wardrobe tick.

Two hours later, I found myself standing in front of the tall mirror once again, only this time wearing a thin short sleeved shirt, pastel blue, and wool trousers, that were actually pretty comfortable. The trousers were light tan, and were of a color to match the shirt. As for my other clothes, the black t-shirt, and black slacks, were donated to Rarity for further study, and in the event that more of my kind happened to wander into Ponyville from the waterfront.

“I wish I could say if they looked good or bad.” I didn’t think I looked bad, as I adjusted the new collar on the shirt and pulled it close together, instinctively unbuttoning the top, and letting it hang open. “But I think I look good in them.”

Rarity seemed to beam inwardly and outwardly at the compliment, as she clapped her hooves together, and rushed to give me a huge hug around my waist.

~   ~   ~

The hospital experience was as I figured it would be. When we got there, Nurse Redheart was waiting for us, and quickly voiced some concern at our tardiness before we proceeding to be lead to an examination room in the back of the facility.

Two days of brain damage, and lost and fragmented memories were all I had to use as tools, when she sat me down in a chair, and proceeded to hand me things that were my personal effects. Why these weren’t given to me when I left was a question I never asked, but if I had to guess, I’d say they were being cautious; since most everything about me was unknown, as were the things I had with me.

“Does this thing look familiar to you?”

I frowned as hard as I could, and try as I might, I had no clue what the flat squareish device was she laid down in front of me was. It seemed to be made of some hard black material, with a small plate of glass in the center on one side. There was one small button of some sort at the top, but other than that it was a complete mystery.

I picked it up delicately, and pressed the button, but nothing happened. “I guess it doesn’t work, what ever it is. And, to answer your question; it doesn’t look at all familiar to me.”

Eventually, Item after item were placed in front of me. Some seemed as if they should be familiar, but every single one of them was a complete enigma.

“There are two item left in the box,” said Nurse Redheart, just as the door to the examination room opened, and Ditzy entered wearing a smile, which got broader as soon as her eyes saw me sitting there. Nurse Redheart nodded to her, but I doubt she noticed.

Rushing up to me, Ditzy patted me on the shoulder affectionately. “Hi’ya Bjorn!”

“Hi, Ditzy,” I said, as Nurse Redheart brought out one of the last two items.

Ditzy took a quick glance at the table, and regarded the five items on there, tossing her head from side to side as she looked them over.

“What about this one?” Nurse Redheart asked, as she placed a heavy, oddly shaped metal device on the table in front of me. It was black metal, and looked like a large version of the letter L. On the short end of the device, was what looked like a place for someone to hold it, and I cupped my palm around it, and brought it up from the table.

Security’s been breached!

Shaking my head, I realized that I was holding the device straight at Nurse Redheart, and I had taken my left hand and held the bottom of the metal object, to keep it steady. “Get to the landing platform.”

“What was that?”

Looking up at Nurse Redheart, I shook my head again, and had the strong feeling that I needed to do something with what was in my hand, and as if moving of their own will power, my hands slid along the letter shaped item, and had removed it into two smaller pieces, producing a small concealed slide in box of shiny brass tubes, and had laid them in two pieces on the table.

Realizing what I had done, I jumped from the chair, and stepped back away from the table.

“What was that you just said,” Nurse Redheart pressed.

“I don’t know,” I told her. “Something that someone said to me. I think.”

Reaching down, and scooping up the two pieces of the metal object, I placed them back in the box, and reached in to retrieve the last item. A very small thin folded cloth-like item, held together by a small strap.

Ditzy was watching me curiously, as was Twilight, though I suspect more at the curiosity at the items they had never before seen.

This seemed familiar, but I wasn’t sure what it was used for exactly, and again, relying on instinct, I pulled the strap back and unfolded the item, to be met with a picture of my face.

“This is my wallet.” I slid the picture ID out, and held it up, but I had no clue what the words meant, even though I could read them, they had no value as words for me. Just the letters.

G-I-L-M-O-R-E-R-O-G-E-R

“This is me,” I said, turning the photo ID over in my hands. “This is my wallet, and my identification.” God, I suddenly had a massive headache.

Turning the picture around, I showed Ditzy first, then Twilight.

“What are those symbols under the picture?” Twilight asked.

“I think it’s my name, but I can’t remember what the letters mean.”

It’s hard, being so close to answers, and not being able to fully realize them. To have the secret right at one’s fingertips, and being unable to grab it.

“I need to go,” I said, suddenly getting up from the chair, and making for the door. “I need to get some air.”

~   ~   ~

Later that afternoon, I was resting on Ditzy’s couch in her living room, when she came in with some tea, and sat it on a small end table. She had been quiet since i came back from the hospital. I knew she was just trying to be accommodating as best she could, and I appreciated her efforts. But I didn’t want to be such a burden to her.

Security’s been breached.

What did that mean? Why would it have been breached? Where was I at, that something like that could have happened?

“Are you okay?”

I looked up to meet Ditzy’s honey golden eyes, and nodded silently.

Not satisfied with the answer, Ditzy scooted up next to me on the couch, and laid against me. I wasn’t sure, but I felt it was right that I rest my arm across her back and shoulders, and I felt very warm, and comforted.

“I’m happy I found you Bjorn,” she said, laying her head against my chest. “You give me something to look forward to.”

Get to the landing platform. I was getting closer, I knew it. But I was worried, that the closer I got, the more I learned, that the more upsetting it may be.

As I sat there, with Ditzy next to me, I had a fleeting thought. A thought that maybe, I didn’t need to know anything. I was comfortable, relaxed, and somewhat at peace. There was no guarantee that once I got my memory back things would be better, or that I would be as happy as I was at that moment.

Bringing my hand up to rub her neck, I told her, “That’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”

Yes, that wasn’t so bad. If I had to, I could make all new memories. I would be fine with that.