Second Wind

This really did feel too forward. But you didn't want to hurt Rarity's feelings. The whole talking horse thing was kind of hard to swallow. You took a peek at the clock behind the receptionists desk as you signed yourself out. 5 AM. This pony had sat beside you for, what did the doctor tell you as you left? 1 week? She brought you here, fixed your suit, read to you (for whatever reason), the least you can do is humor her with some breakfast.

It's still dark outside, which is a relief to you. Although you're 97% Rarity wouldn't mind being seen with you, you didn't want to embarrass her, or yourself, for that matter. You walked behind her, and made sure to make no sudden movements or do anything to scare her.

It may have been a little after 5 AM as you began your trek back to the "Carousel Boutique" as Rarity had called it, but that didn't mean there were no ponies out and about. You assumed the ponies you had saw this early were merchants or farmers or something that required being away at such an early hour. You watch as ponies of various colors haul carts down the dusty roads, while they watch the creature they heard had been killed outside of the Carousel Boutique walk behind Rarity.

You never put much thought into the fact that, while these may be ponies, they're sentient ponies. Maybe, comparing them to horses, is like comparing yourself to a gorilla. That makes you feel better about following a sentient pony home to have breakfast with it.

"Alright darling, we're here. Come right on inside, have a seat wherever you see fit. I believe I have a stool in the kitchen, if you would like to sit with me while i cook, if not, there are some sofas in the living room." She unlocks the door, and begins to walk ahead of you

"I'd prefer to sit next to you, if that's okay."

"Why, of course darling! I have a plethora of questions, and I dare say you do too!" She pats the stool sitting near the stove top. She begins to dig around her cabinets, grabbing skillets. She talks with you while she prepares everything.

"So..." She starts. She accidently hit two skillets together, sending a loud DING throughout the house.

"While I would normally strictly follow the idea that ladies go first, this isn't exactly a normal situation, is it? So, please darling, ask any questions you may have!" You smile. At least someone here looks at you like you're another person. Or pony, rather.

"Alright, um...What exactly do I call male and female ponies? I have a feeling boys and girls doesn't work here." Rarity laughs to herself.

"Mares would be adult females, Stallions would be adult Males, Fillies would be young females, Colts would be young males."

Makes sense, I suppose.

"Who's in charge here? I've got to find somewhere to live, and I would like to clear up my image a bit. I also have a good feeling that i'm going to need a job." Rarity laughs a little louder this time.

"Relax darling. While normally I would point you towards Mayor Mare regarding setting up some form of event to meet the ponies around here, I would strongly suggest you meet Princess Celestia. She's our ruler of sorts. As for a place to stay, there is no need to worry about that. You are more than welcome to stay here for as long as you need. Lastly, I am not quite sure about the job. The new shipping port opened in town, I'm sure they could use another pair of hands for sorting packages. I saw the way you handled that manticore, i'm sure you're quite strong enough for the job..." Rarity then flashes a brief stern look at you.

"AFTER you have made a FULL recovery, you are welcome to start working. But before then, I cannot allow you to hurt yourself, darling." She then smiles again.

"Thanks Rarity. That's all the questions I have for now. I'm sure I'll have thousands as this day progresses." You shift around in your stool.

"Ask them as they come, darling. Now, if you don't mind, I have a few questions for you, as well. My thought process is a little different, however." Rarity begins mixing something in a bowl with a whisk, dropping a few berries in the mix. It actually smells really good.

I bet those turn out to be bad ass muffins...

"What's your plan?" you ask,

"Well, being as you seem to suffer from amnesia regarding your personal self and how you got here, I was curios if you could possibly recount the history of your people. You see, by listening to you speak, and gauging your reactions to certain things, i can get to know you without ever asking a personal question, darling."

Maybe you should tell her you regained a chunk of your memory...

"Alright, sounds pretty reasonable. Shall we transcend history?"

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You secretly were extremely excited to hear Aaden talk. You tried to conceal your excitement by mixing your muffins faster. Maybe this is why Twilight reads so much, because this is absolutely fascinating.

"Well. I don't really know where to start, and i'm not much of a history buff, so I hope i don't accidently lie to you. I know that my kind, Humans, Humanity, we were hunter gatherers in the beginning. We never really forged any civilizations, just kind of wandered around for awhile. Once we figured out the secret to farming, we started to settle down, form communities, which eventually became civilizations. From there, mining was really the reason we continued to jump in technology. Bronze, iron, that stuff. After several civilizations formed, that's when war started. I know that this period continued for awhile, when a particular civilization, The Roman Empire, was founded. It lasted for well over 1,000 years if you count the Byzantine continuation after the western part of the empire had fallen."

1,000 years? Goddess, that's a long time!

"Then, we started to evolve in culture more than technology. Art, architecture, food, medicinal practices, that kind of stuff. We called it the renaissance Don't get me wrong, it was all very important, but it's also very long, so I'm gonna jump over it all. The land I come from, The United States of America, was founded several hundred years later, after warring with the the country that had created them. That same nation then fell into a civil war another several hundred years later over politics and slavery. But that violent war was nothing compared to the coming storms. World War One was right around the corner.

WORLD WAR ONE? Were there multiple wars involving their whole world?

I won't get in specifics, but World War One was very violent. 16 million humans died. You couldn't help but let your jaw drop.

"16 Million? For what reason is there to fight such a violent conflict?" Aaden shrugs his shoulders.

"I don't understand much, myself. 21 years later, World War 2 broke out. This was a little more violent, with the death toll estimated to be at least 40 million." You feel your jaw drop again in surprise.

"But, it gets better. After the world suffers a brutal depression from all of the spending on War, the world began to slowly pull itself back together. Nations began to unite, economies prospered, and the world lived in relative peace. There is your boring, and probably inaccurate lesson on Human history." Aaden stretched up, yawned, and looked at you. During his speech, you had filled a muffin tin, and were now boiling pasta and stir-frying some vegetables you had.

"Darling, I didn't find it boring at all. I surprised me a tad, but I believe that's only because I don't find you particularly violent." Aaden shifts around in his stool again.

"Eh. No one human is particularly violent. It's when you get us in groups, then we become awful." You smile.

"Well darling, I have only a few more questions. Those things with you at the hospital, that's all you own, isn't it?" He nods.

"Well that simply won't do! Poor thing. We'll spend today getting you familiar with this new environment, and tomorrow, we'll take care of getting you some more clothes!" Aaden stood up, and gestured with his hands (he said they're called hands, at least).

"No, Rarity, you really don't have to. I appreciate all you're doing, I really do, but I'll feel bad if you keep helping me.

"Darling, I'll hear nothing of it. I suggest you accept these things as an inevitability." You smile.

"You have a friend here, Aaden." You watch as he looks down at his feet. You don't want him thinking too hard about his situation, it may upset him.

"I notice you have a briefcase. Do you know whats inside it?" You ask. Aaden shakes his head.

"Sadly, no. It has a combination lock on it, and I have no idea what the combination is. My smartphone has the same problem. It's a shame, too. I guarantee the phone has pictures and music and maybe even texts on it that will make a few memories slide back into place, like at the hospital."

What? He regained some memory?

"Oh, yeah, I probably should have told you earlier." He rubs the back of his neck in embarrassment.

"When I looked at my cards inside of my wallet, and I saw my name. a few memories came back to me. I guess my mind is kind of like a blank spot, and when I saw my name, it was like several puzzle pieces had just slid together. I remember that I have 5 siblings, two parents, and that I grew up in Manhattan, but that's it. I can't really picture what these siblings, parents, or cities look like, but i know their names, and i know they're there."

"Darling, that's marvelous news!" You walk over to him, hop on your hind legs, and give him a hug. Your head comes just short of his neck. Then you realize what you're doing, and feel your blood run cold. you are hugging him without asking. You acted without thinking.

Good going Rarity, now he thinks you're a creep!

That's when you feel his arms slide around your back. He was hugging back. You breathe heavy in relief, and embrace the moment between Aaden and yourself. It must be so hard to do what he's doing, and you think he's quite brave for pulling through as well as he is. After all that he's been through, and being forced to put his mind back together, the poor human must be exhausted, terrified, and lonely at that. He releases his arms around you, but you don't notice, still hugging.

"Uh, Rarity?" He says.

"Hmm...?" You reply.

"The vegetables are burning." Your eyes shoot open, and you immediately hope down and dash over to the stove. You can feel yourself blushing.

That may be the best hug I've had my entire life.

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Damn. Maybe i should have just let those vegetables burn.

You adjust your tie while Rarity frantically stirs the vegetables, and strains the pasta. You walk over to her coat rack, and place your blazer on one of the rungs. You walk back over to the stool, and sit back down, watching her work her magic. Even in a frenzy, she still managed to look graceful. She removes the vegetables from the stove top, and lets them cool slightly while the pasta finishes straining. Your eyes lock for a brief moment, broken by voice from behind you.

"Hiya Aaden!" It shouts. Your blood runs cold. You and Rarity both turn around. It's a smaller pony, a filly, if you were correct in your assumptions. She looked a lot like Rarity.

"Sweetie Belle! Were you eavesdropping?" Rarity sounds a little upset.

"Only a little..." The filly says in an almost whisper-like voice.

"Sweetie Belle, is it? I like your name! I'm assuming you're Rarity's sister?" You exclaim. Rarity looks over at you, a concerned look on her face. She walks over to you, and whispers in your ear.

"Are you sure you're ready to talk with other ponies? Sweetie Belle can be a little...excitable." you smile and whisper back.

"I have to start somewhere, I suppose." You pat your hand on the stool next to you. Sweetie dashes over to it, and you help her up on it.

"I heard you guys in here cooking, and it woke me up! I went over to the door and listened to you guys talk, and saw you guys hug!"

Rarity blushes while you rub the back of your neck again.

"You saw that, huh?"

"Yep! You sound like a really nice human! You did say you were called a human, right?"

"That I am."

"I like you! You sound like you're gonna be fun to have around! Rarity, is Aaden staying here, with us?" Rarity is now getting out plates and silverware.

"Yes. Mr. Locke will be staying with us for some time."

Mr. Locke. I like that.

Sweetie Belle kicks her legs rapidly against the stool in delight. Rarity is now scooping food onto everyone's plates, and distributing glasses of water. All via magic, of course. The dish itself is rather simple, but filling. Simple long noodles with various vegetables sliced up with some kind of oil completing the dish. You talk about simple things, the day ahead of you, the dish itself. Sweetie Belle crosses her hooves. She's about to ask something.

"Can Aaden walk with us to school?" Rarity looks over to you.

"Oh, I don't know. Mr. Locke may not want to go out." Rarity is indirectly asking you if you want to.

"Absolutely I will! I've got to get out and see the town, anyways. You see Rarity smile as she collects all of the plates and glasses. Sweetie Belle kicks her feet again, this time they move so rapid, they're a blur. It's unbelievably cute.

As Sweetie dashes into her room, and begins preparing herself for school, you help Rarity with the dishes.

"Darling, you don't have to help with this mess." She says. You roll up your sleeves, and smile at her.

"I suggest you accept these things as an inevitability." She returns the smile.

"Touché" You clean all of the dishes together, and get them all put in their respective holding places. Sweetie Belle is now sitting in the chair next to the front door, seemingly vibrating from excitement. Rarity excuses herself, and runs upstairs for a moment, while you roll down your sleeves, and snag your blazer from the coat hanger. You put it on, yank on your sleeves, and adjust your tie.

"I've got to ask Sweetie Belle, why are you so excited for me to accompany you to school?" She jumps up.

"Because my friends would never ever believe me if i just TOLD them! Not only am I friends with the only human in Equestria, but I also get to prove it?" She smiles a devilish smile.

"They're gonna be soooooooo jealous." You Rarity coming down the staircase.

"Alright darlings, are we all ready?" Sweetie Belle yelps, which you assume means yes, and you nod your head. Rarity leans over to you and whispers again.

"Aaden, if you aren't ready for this, it's fine. Darling, this can be a tad stressful for you." You use a dismissive hand gesture.

"I'll be okay. Thank you though, Rarity. It means a lot that you consider my opinion." you whisper back. You notice Sweetie Belle about to burst with anxiety, and decide not to keep her waiting. The sun was shining bright, the temperature was perfect, and Rarity could explore the town with you today. You had to get out and see the town and it's people eventually. Might as well go now before the rumors start. Maybe this wasn't too forward, after all. Your mind goes back to the hug you had with Rarity. You smile like a fool.

Hopefully I see a few more hugs before this day ends.