Amnesia: Helping You Forget

Helping You Forget
Chapter 5

“Sweet Celestia! Are you alright?” Twilight rushed to Daniel’s aid as he collapsed. His face still had the look of horror etched on it. His eyes were wide open where he had been staring right at the two of them.

“Whoa... now that’s creepy.” Spike declared.

“Spike! We need to find the others. I think it’s happening again.” Twilight said to him as she heaved Daniel onto the couch.

“Wait! What do you mean ‘it’s happening again’?” Spike asked feeling a bit left out.

“I mean Daniel might be going crazy again!” Twilight shouted in frustration. “Now come on, we need to find the others and take him to Zecora’s place. She’ll know what to do.” Spike followed closely behind Twilight, barely keeping up as she ran out of the library in search of her friends whilst mumbling something about curing a nightmare.

As they ran down the street, Pinkie came into view.

“Hi guys! Whatcha doing?” She asked curiously.

“We have to get Daniel to Zecora’s place and fast! We need to find the others.”

“Okay!” Pinkie said cheerily as she sped off leaving a cloud of dust behind.

“One down, four to go.” Twilight mumbled to herself.

It was not long before Pinkie found Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. Fluttershy went back to the library to make sure Daniel was still there and still breathing. Soon, Twilight, Pinkie, Rainbow Dash and Spike found Rarity and Applejack and gathered them back at the library.

“Right, I’ll find the map to Zecora’s. Applejack, I want you to carry Daniel along the way. Alright?” Twilight instructed.

“Sure thing sugarcube!” Applejack replied.

“Good. Rainbow Dash, see if you can spot Zecora’s hut from the sky. If not, then help guide our way.”

“Sure thing!”

Twilight then searched for the map to Zecora’s and they all headed off into the Everfree. Before that, Twilight had to tell Spike to stay at the library and take care of it till they got back.

Daniel rose from a squishy ground in the middle of a forest. The moon shone brightly and highlighted a path that was clear of trees. The bark of the trees was scorched and burnt and the leaves were nonexistent. The mere number of trees blocked any light from entering the thick forest that surrounded Daniel, all but the path. Wolves could be heard in the distance howling at the moon. The sky was a dark hue of purple and dotted with stars. With no other way to go, Daniel followed the path cautiously.

Suddenly, the ground underneath his feet shook and rumbled, like an earthquake that threatened to split the Earth in two. Daniel stumbled and landed flat on his face. He rose before spitting large clumps of sod out of his mouth. Not even wondering what had just occurred, Daniel carried on.

In the distance, but not in the distance at all, a dragging sound could be heard, as if a large carcass was being dragged along the grass. Daniel could not quite place where the sound was. It seemed so distant, but yet so close. Daniel continued down the long pathway through the thick forest. It seemed to go on for eternity.

Voices. Familiar voices at that. He heard Applejack.

“Sweet Celestia this one’s heavy.”

What was she talking about? Is she the one dragging something? What was she dragging?

Suddenly, Daniel was thrust off of his feet and into the air. He spiralled into the sky for several seconds before stopping on a large build up of clouds on his back. The cloud was bliss. It sent a warm sense of relaxation down his spine and up his limbs. Daniel stayed in a lying position on the cloud and watched the stars slowly travel across the sky.

Before long, he had noticed several things. The dragging sound had stopped and had instead been replaced by the soft clopping of hooves. There were also trees suddenly growing on the cloud mysteriously. They looked like the trees below, only that they had shot straight up through the cloud.

Daniel decided that lying around on a cloud was not a productive way to spend his time in this strange heaven.

He began by remembering what had happened earlier. At first his mind was clouded by a thick fog, but then, as if some other power wanted him to know, the image of what had happened appeared besides him. It was in his perspective. He looked up from his writing to see the floating Gatherer with a magical aura around its hands. He then saw the horrifying child-like Gatherer with a hungry look in its eyes. One thought came to Daniel’s mind. ‘Have I died?’ This raised even more questions. ‘Is this heaven? What is happening to my body?’

Daniel felt that he was suddenly depressed. It had not been long since he had finally settled down in Equestria, in Ponyville. Already he has left, and it was too soon.

Daniel then felt anger. He cursed his weak mind. He cursed the damned shadow. He cursed himself for being so feeble. He had made it through worse situations with his sanity barely gripping onto him. Daniel clenched his fists and screamed.

The world shook, as if it was suddenly surprised by his rage.

Daniel jumped up off of the cloud instantly, only to fall through it back into the forested area. He did not scream as he fell, and the fall only seemed to last a split second. As he hit the ground, he felt no force acting against his legs. No force threatened to break him. A low gurgling sound emitted behind him. He turned sharply to see... them. The six Gatherers that had pursued him through the castle. He could tell... he just knew it was them. They felt all too familiar.

“Go away! You shan’t have me this day!” He shouted at them and ran off into the thick forest. Already he could hear the Gatherers close on his tail. Daniel was not built for running and dodging and quickly he began to pant heavily. He desperately jumped in between the huge trees that blocked his path to freedom, wherever that was.

The six mares were shocked by Daniel’s sudden awakening. They were even more shocked when he told them to go away. Even further shocked when he said that they shan’t have him. By the time Daniel had ran off, their jaws had reached the floor. None of them saw it coming. Daniel had been unconscious until he suddenly screamed and shouted at them. The sudden change in pace had them thunderstruck. None the less, Pinkie suddenly running off after him caused a chain reaction. Soon all of the mares were running off in his direction, calling him to come back. He took no notice and soon, he disappeared in the forest. The five (technically four) earth-bound mares had stopped, but Rainbow Dash wasn’t giving up there. She took to the skies again (she had come down to see all the commotion) and zoomed off in the direction Daniel was running.

In his hallucinated state, all Daniel saw was a huge bloodied bird with its feathers torn off heading straight towards him. It didn’t seem to know where he was, so Daniel jumped into a dip underneath a tree’s roots. As he expected, the bird flew over Daniel’s position without a second glance.

Daniel, now that he didn’t have the pressure of enemies chasing him (he knew the others had stopped. Gatherer’s don’t follow their prey very far), had noticed that the dip he had jumped in was extremely comfortable. The soil was soft and bouncy. The wood was angled so he could lay back and relax. Everything underneath that tree was splendid.

Daniel took his time to consider his situation. He wasn’t dead. Whether he was pleased by that now he did not know. The six Gatherers still lived and they were after him. He recognised this place. It was the Everfree Forest. So he was back here again. Daniel briefly cursed the forest and its horrors. Daniel had to find a way back to Ponyville, or at least find the six mares he knew would probably be searching for him.

In his comfortable position, Daniel found it became harder and harder to stay awake. He drowsily let his head droop down and eventually, he fell into a long sleep...

Of course to him, it felt like he had just woke up again.

He felt rejuvenated. He felt alive and well again. He was not necessarily happy and he still was completely aware of the situation he was in. He stood up, clambered out of the hole underneath the tree and crept off in a random direction.

The wolves were howling again. He suddenly feared for his life, as he knew where he was. Knowing that their sense of smell was strong, he ran while kicking up the soft soil, not even bothering to confirm whether he was being chased or not.

It was not long before he suddenly fell into a deep ditch that led into a bottomless pit. He fell for what seemed like eternity, screaming in despair of his life all the while. Suddenly, something appeared in the darkness. It was illuminated by the light coming in from the hole. It was more grass. This grass was burnt, embers floated through the open air and a village as burning nearby.

The floor came rushing up to meet Daniel. It got closer... and closer...

Splat!

As he collided with the ground with a sickening splat, a large explosion erupted around him. Smoke was kicked up and waves could clearly be seen in the ground.

To his surprise, Daniel was completely unharmed from the fall.

As he rose from the ground, he took in the surrounding area. The village he could scarcely recognise, but he certainly had memory of it. He couldn’t quite put his finger on what it was. The village was ablaze, and a small group of men could be seen walking off with prisoners. The prisoners were wailing as they were dragged away. As one of the raiders looked his way, he swore a small glint of red evil flashed at him.

When Daniel turned to see what was behind him, he saw a small grave. It was smooth and freshly chipped with words. It was in the shape of a small cross with a circle behind the cross-section. Curiously, Daniel crept up to the grave so as to see who it belonged to.

As soon as he came into range of the grave, he regretted ever laying eyes on it. What it said pained him to his heart.

R.I.P

Hazel Godfrey

1820 – 1839

Died of an incurable disease given to her by the Devil at birth. She was caused much agony from Noon to Dusk.

She held her own even when told she would die. May God keep her soul in Heaven.

Daniel’s eyes began to tear up. How could this have happened? She was deemed to live against all odds for several more years. Daniel had prayed for her day and night and he had no doubt others were as well. Is this what rewards is given to him and her after extensive years of sorrow and hardship?

Was there even a God anymore?

As Daniel cursed the God he had faith in from the start, he heard soft footsteps besides him. He slowly turned his head towards the source of the noise. He gasped as he saw her.

Next to him, with a white glow radiating off of her body, was his little sister. Hazel. She had a small smile on her face. A smile that told Daniel she was happy... she was safe.

Daniel was more than relieved to see his sister once again. He stood up and embraced his now deceased sister joyfully... but she did not return the hug.

When Daniel noticed this, he pulled back to see his sister again. This time, she was different. Her face showed anger. He face even showed hatred. All the anger and hate in her was directed straight at Daniel. The white glow had been replaced by a dark red glow. Her features began to contort as she saw Daniel’s face again.

Suddenly, she threw Daniel away from her and he landed on his back. Daniel was taken aback by the gesture of hatred. She approached him and screamed at him.

“YOU LEFT US! YOU CHOSE TO STAY WITH THOSE PONIES! YOU CHOSE STRANGERS OVER YOUR LOVED ONES! YOU ARE A DEMON AND A TRAITOR! I WANT YOU TO DIE! YOU SELFISH BASTARD! DIE! DIE! DIE!!!!!!”

She dragged out the screaming and began to throw crazed punches at Daniel. Daniel desperately tried to crawl backwards away from his bloodthirsty sister. Her voice could turn the undead and even the ghastly Gatherers. The punches that landed hit Daniel hard and caused him pain. Not only physically, but emotionally. Daniel was sobbing as he retreated. His sister only wanted his death and nothing else. Daniel tried to reason with her over her screams.

“Please sister. I am sorry, truly. I did not think my actions through. Forgive me!”

“YOU ARE A MONSTER! JUST DIE ALREADY!”

She took no notice of his pleads. Daniel was now bleeding near enough everywhere. Blood flowed out from his wounds and onto the floor. Daniel was screaming his pleads now, but his sister began speaking differently. Her voice was changing to another familiar tone.

“DANIEL! WAKE UP DANIEL! DANIEL! WAKE UP!”

Daniel’s wet eyes burst open to see a pink object obscuring the outside view. It was shouting in his face to wake up.

“Wakey wakey sleepy head! You’ve been crying for a while now and you wouldn’t wake up. Did you have a bad dream?” Pinkie asked with genuine sincerity. She bore a large sympathetic frown. Daniel’s sobs slowly died down.

“Yes. I... I did.”

“Boy, you sure gave ‘s a scare when yo jumped ‘ff me back and ran away. You should think twace before runnin’ off like that.” Applejack told him over Pinkie’s shoulder. Daniel felt regret. It was them. The six Gatherers had been them all along. He had run from them in the castle and now in the forest.

“You should apologise to us as well! You told us to go away!” Rainbow Dash scowled at him.

“Yes... yes. I am sorry but... I could not see what was really there. Hallucinations have been haunting me for some time, even at the castle. I can see it now though. The six monsters I thought were chasing me. They were you. I owe you a lot considering I have been unwittingly avoiding you. I am sorry.”

“I’s alright sugarcube. And about them hallucinations, we were just taking ya to a pony who knows how ta fix them right up!”

Pinkie pulled Daniel out of the hole, and without any more words, they set off.

Daniel still remembered the nightmare he had, and he had taken it to heart. He felt that his sister was right. He did abandon them. He chose stranger people over the ones he knew and loved. He still felt that Equestria was a better place to live, but regret painted his mind red. He knew it wouldn’t make a difference whether he had been there or not, but seeing his sister again for the last time would have been better than just knowing she was gone.

Without warning, Daniel sunk to his knees and cried again.