The Hearts of Man: Chapter 3 -More Questions, Less Answers-

Chapter 3: More Questions, Less Answers

 

>You stand and stretch your back, cracking your spine with rapid "pops"

>Wiping the sweat from your forehead, you look down at the work you've accomplished.

>The store looks like nothing ever happened at all. The glass from the shattered window is gone, and the window fixed.

>You had a hard time replacing the glass, but you eventually got it done, and no hands were sliced into bits this time.

>You rearranged the cakes you scattered around the room, and even waxed the floor.

>All in all, the place looks damn fine. You're proud of it.

>And it should, considering you didn't even sleep at all the night before.

>You were too racked with guilt over what you did that you just willed yourself to finish fixing the shop.

>Seeing the clean, pure shop in front of your eyes, you let out a proud sigh and relax.

>Then Pinkie Pie rushes down the stairs and gives you a heart attack.

>"Hey there, whats-your-face! I didn't know you were still uuuuuuuuuuuWOAHWOAHWOAHWOAH!"

>She slips around on the freshly waxed floor, and crashes into you, sending the two of you flailing onto the floor.

>"Oooooooh it's like I'm skating!" Pinkie says as she giggles uncontrollably.

"Pinkie."

>"Yup?"

"Groin"

>"What?"

"On my groin."

>"Something on your groin?"

"Hoof."

>"Hoof?"

"Pinkie your hoof is on my groin getoffgetoffgetoffgetoff."

>Pinkie bounces off of you, and you breathe a pained sigh of relief, as you curl up onto the ground in pain.

>"Whoopsey-daisy, sorry about that... uh... say, you never told me your name did you?"

 

 

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>You pause for a moment in the fetal position.

>Name?

>What... what's your name?

>You rack your brain, trying to draw it out from your memory, but to no avail.

"I... I don't know.."

>Pinkie looks at you with a blank stare, then bursts into laughter.

>"Eheeheeheehee, what do you mean, 'I don't know?' You silly filly, everyp0ny has a name! C'mon, I don't bite! Oh, is it a funny sounding name? Like Butter Rump, or Melon Head, or-"

"No, Pinkie, I don't remember my name."

>She stops talking, and stares at you again. This time though it seems... sadder than usual.

>"Really?"

>You rub your temples and focus your thoughts, but no matter what you try you just can't place your name.

>You feel something you haven't felt since you woke up in the Everfree.

>Fear.

>You look up to Pinkie with a scared look in your eyes, and nod.

>"What... what ARE you?" she asks, taking a slight step back from you.

>Twilight: "I was about to ask the same question."

>You and Pinkie turn to see Twilight standing in the doorway, her gaze locked onto you.

 

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>Your name.

>Good god, your name.

>How can you not know you're own god-damned name?

>These are the only thoughts running through your mind as Twilight leads you to her library.

>She has some questions that you need to answer apparently.

>Pinkie stayed behind, saying she had to tend to the shop.

>You think her staying really has to do with Twilight's current disposition.

>You were worried. So far the only pony that was anything close to being nice to you had been Pinkie Pie.

>Of course, that's just the way Pinkie was.

>You stop dead in your tracks.

>You knew her name.

>You knew Pinky's name BEFORE she introduced herself.

>You even knew about her personality.

>Hell, you knew you woke up in the Everfree.

>You knew this was Equestria.

>You knew who each of the ponies that found you by name.

>But you never met them before now.

"...what the fuck is going on?..." you whisper to yourself, fear settling in once more.

>Twilight: "Hey! What are you doing?"

>You snap back to reality and see that Twilight has stopped in front of you, looking at you with trepidation.

"Sorry," you apologize as you pick up the pace.

>As you and Twilight round a corner, your line of sight is drawn upward at the sight of the tree in front of you.

>Twilight's library was bigger than you thought it would be.

>Stepping inside, you're assaulted by the smell of musty old books and paper.

>You take a moment to let the scent settle in, relaxing and enjoying your surroundings.

>There are books on every inch of the library. In the corners, all over the shelves, and in large stacks and piles along the floor.

 

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>You see one of the piles rustle tow and fro, and you spot the hint of something purple and green.

>Twilight: "Spike, come here please. I need you for a moment."

>Immediately a small, purple dragon jumps out from the pile and rushes over to the two of you.

>Spike: "Hiya Twilight. Sorry the place is still a mess, I was trying to clean it up as be-"

>Spike's sentence is cut off as he drifts his gaze to you, looking up at your face with a surprised expression.

>Spike: "Whu-.. what IS that thing?"

>Twilight: "That's what I'm trying to find out. I need you to go get me a scroll to send to the Princess. She'll need to be informed of this right away."

>Spike nods, his eyes still on you.

>You must be one of the strangest things he's seen.

>Twilight: "Spike."

>Spike: "Yeah?"

>Twilight: "Now, if you don't mind."

>Spike snaps out of it, nods at Twilight again, and darts off into the next room.

 

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>Twilight's horn starts to glow as she hovers a small chair over to where you are.

>Twilight: "Sit."

>You do so, although the chair is rather small, and you're afraid you might break it with one wrong move.

>You really don't want to break anything else.

>Twilight: "I've read up on all manner of creatures found in Equestria," she says as she levitates books to her face, flinging them away when she finishes inspecting them.

> "But I have never read, or heard of something like you."

>She slowly makes her way toward you, her face locked in a stern, inquisitive stare."

>Twilight: "What are you?"

>You can't shake Twilight's intimidating demeanor, and swallow the the lump in your throat.

"I'm human.. I'm a human being."

>She spins around and begins levitating more and more books to where she's standing.

>Twilight: "No, no.. no no no no, NO!" she says, flinging the last of the books to the side.

>Twilight: "What is that, what even IS that? There's nothing in any of my books about... 'humans.' What is your name, if you have one?"

"My name... I don't have a name."

>You drop your head down and sigh. You still haven't gotten used to that.

>You close your eyes, and try to think. You hear Spike come back into the room and Twilight beginning to dictate a letter for him to write.

>You don't pay attention. You're drained, as it is.

>You stare at the floor and see a book.

>It's a book of poems.

>You look at the name of the author.

Anonymous

...

"Twilight."

>The two stop talking, and look at you."

>Twilight: "Yes?"

"Anonymous."

 

"My name is Anonymous."