Before you can make your decision, it appears (for once) that it has been made for you. The house door swings open, slamming against the adjacent wall. A miffed Apple Bloom stands in the archway and points directly at you.

“See? I told yah’ he’s right there!”

A larger mare walks through the door and then stops. They look like silhouettes from here, but you can tell from pure body expression that she is looking directly at you and is either shocked or in awe. She pushes her little sister back into the house and closes the door behind her. Moments later, that same little sister is watching through the window.

You remain completely still as the older one, who you still presume is Applejack, walks towards you. Your glow has intensified slightly, you notice, and you can see things farther away much clearer. Finally, from about twenty feet ahead, you see her in color. She’s orange, with a yellow mane in a ponytail and she has a set of apples as her…

Dang it, what’s the word? Tattoo? Mark?...Mark sounds right.

“So, yer the one who helped mah sister?” she asks sternly, still approaching.

“That’s correct,” you say astutely, working around the topic of names. You try not to move, holding your ground. It’s quite likely she’s thankful for escorting her little sister, but you are a stranger after all, as she is to you. A strong tension hangs in the air, almost thick enough to cut.

“So, I gotta ask, why were you out there Mr. Secret Agent?” She finally stops near you, keeping a safe distance away, but close enough to keep a quiet conversation.

Your increasingly brightening aura blocks some of your facial features, so you don’t think she notices the small band of sweat dribbling down. “I was out there because I was investigating my surroundings.” Which, you know…is kind of true.

“In the middle of the night? With no l-“ she stops herself short, realizing that I had a light the entire time. Me. “Right. Well why were you so close to the Everfree? You know that’s dangerous right?”

More perspiration beads up on your forehead. “Oh, I’m sure I’ve been through worse.” Wow, I’m really starting to sound kind of cocky; I need to pull back just a bit. If I act all high and mighty, I may not have any place to sleep tonight.

“Well surely somepony as secretive and sophisticated as yerself wouldn’t be stoppin’ by to help any ol’ pony.” She gives you the impression she’s not really buying your story, and you can’t really blame her.

“Like I said, I was investigating my surroundings and I must have gotten turned around at some point. As you said, the Everfree forest is dangerous and I guess the path took me in the entirely wrong direction.”

“To where?”

“What?”

“If you were goin’ in a direction, you must ah had a destination.” The tension reaches its peak.

You take a step back, unconsciously signaling to the orange farmpony that she found a tremendous loophole in your false tale.

Picking up on your tell, the one you assume is Applejack furrows her brow. “Listen here, Sugarcube. I don’t like dishonesty, especially around my farm. Now, either you come clean or go home.”

You wish you had time to think this over, but from the stern glare you’re getting from the protective mare isn’t worth causing more tension. Lowering the bucket and the lantern (Was I really talking through that the entire time?) you begin to apologize. “Alright, I’m sorry. I should have guessed I’m not a good liar.”

She raises her left brow.

“Right…you see here’s the thing…” you begin explaining your tale about waking up in the middle of a clearing and not knowing a thing outside of common knowledge. Since the time span was only over a couple hours, there really wasn’t much to say outside of what happened at the river and you discovering you glow. Never the less, you fail to dismiss any detail, seeing as they are the only details you know. As you finish, you take a deep sigh.

“That’s uh…really somethin’. But why didn’t you just tell me that was the case.”

“You would have thought I was nuts,” you argue.

She snorts in a small fit of laughter. “Yeah, I suppose yer right there. Here, let’s get you inside, it’s getting too cold for this out here.” That thick tense air you were feeling earlier lifts away like fog clearing, instantly and clearly.

Thank Celestia. Wait, who’s Celestia?

You both walk back to the house, silently. A giddy Apple Bloom meets you at the door, asking all about what happened. A bemused Applejack looks at you, insisting you tell her the truth. First you apologize for lying to Apple Bloom, twice, and then tell her the real real story. She cocks her head and looks at her older sister, and she nods to confirm that it’s the truth. When you both walk in, your glowing aura dissipates.

“Wait…why am I not shining anymore?”

“Oh I know!” Apple Bloom chimes in. “You didn’t start glowin’ until the sun went down right? Maybe it’s a night time thing?”

Taking a spot on the soft couch in the living room, you give a rebuttal. “But then why aren’t I glowing now?” Your flank sinks slightly into the cushions.

“I dunno Mr.-“ Applejack pauses, and you pause, and Apple Bloom looks at you again. “Well shucks, you still don’t have a name do you?” she asks, pointing a hoof at you.

Faking insult, you reply, “I do too have a name, Applejack!”

“How did you-?”

“Apple Bloom mentioned your name, and I’m finally now reaffirming it.”

“So what is it?” the younger filly asks, interrupting the argument unintentionally.

“It’s… It’s…”

What the hay should my name be? I glow during the night, I have amnesia…which I guess is the name for memory loss, and some other third thing.