[Chapter 2]
[Recoil]
A near deafening silence echoed in the darkness. Even though it may always be that why, this was different. A cold light poured from the black of night and fabric of space, poking through the shadow of day.
Gaining more and more energy, a spinning singularity began to form not ten meters from the ground, shooting spokes of white light that bled onto the surrounding area as it grew brighter with each second, illuminating the suburban environment. With the fluctuating rip in reality reached a certain intensity, the waving sound of wind was overrun by the sound of a brief thunder that shook the earth beneath.
Suddenly, as if shot from a cannon, two rolling figures emerged from the light. They were thrown outward and became projectiles as they hit the damp soil. Bouncing a several meters, they tumbled until they collided with a dense object, striking it with painful force.
After coming to a halt, the light of the portal vanished, the night taking its rightful place once more.
The two grunting figures lay twitching and wincing after the immediate impact, resting one on top of the other. They could only wonder what went wrong.
Lyra was already struggling to remain alive and regain normal muscle movements in her limbs and other motor functions responsible for motion. Her eyesight, however, was of utmost concern to her. She couldn't make out if she was blind or if it was just pitch black. She went with pitch black. The uncertainty of impairment mocked her mercy.
Now, after a few more seconds atop a squishy surface, her brain was back at half capacity, which was more than enough to think with ease. She immediately thought of what happened. She was cut short when the squishy surface wiggled and pushed her off. She got to her hooves and shook off excess numbness while frantically trying to search for her assailant.
No use if she can't see. Her horn was too burnt to preform even a simple illumination spell. She rubbed her eyes and tried again, this time only making out the blur of dark blue next to her.
“What have you done!?”
Lyra nearly jumped out of her fur at the intimate voice of none other than Princess Luna, booming like a manticore's roar. She cowered fearfully away from the voice. With such booming authority and dripping anger, the mint unicorn huddled beside herself.
“Where have you taken us!?” Luna's voice demanded, slightly quieter this time.
Lyra could barely see the form of the Princess of the Night in front of her. She might as well be talking to her conscience who might as well have taken the voice of Luna. That is, until a pale blue light took shape over the tip of the alicorn's horn.
“L-Luna?” she croaked.
“Answer me!”
Lyra cringed. She had no idea what was going on. Her teleportation spell should have worked, but if that's the case, why is Princess Luna with her. She was too afraid to take a guess why. Only briefly, she took advantage of the newfound light and stole quick glances at the new terrain around them.
A tall wooden fence enclosed the area where they stood. Caged from all sides, it rose out of the shrub nearly twice her height. Just behind her was an old apple tree without the apples, which she now knew what what broke their tumble. The floor was was littered with decomposing apples that have fallen long before she arrived.
Towering behind Luna was a large white house, or what she thought was a house. Or white. It was like no design she had ever seen, the architecture so precise, perfect and dull. At first sight, it seemed unique, until that is she looked left and right to find similar structures with only slightly different details and shades of gray.
Finally, Lyra looked up. The night sky loomed over the land, but she saw less stars than she would remember if she was in her won backyard. Only a few of the brightest could be seen, but that's not what concerned her most. One portion of the sky was unmistakeably the Orion constellation. Maybe the spell didn't work and she's still in Ponyville, but what of these huge rows of houses.
Several seconds went by as Luna waited for her to speak. Thankfully, her vocal chords were one of the things undamaged by the spell. Only problem was her anxious fright, frigid guilt, and incoherent thoughts worked to reveal her shame.
“I-I j-just wanted to—“
She paused, running out of breath immediately. The pause turned into silence. She didn't know what to say. What could she say? How could she explain herself now that Luna had apparently sent the incantation spiraling out of control, sending her off course, assuming she was off course.
She wondered why Luna hadn't interrupted her, yelled at her, or even spoke after stumbling over her words. Looking back at the alicorn, she knew why.
The light on the second story from the house behind her turned on as a silhouette of a tall creature peered out the window. Luna had cut the light from her horn just hoping it didn't spot them within the darkness. The figure seemed to do the weird gesture of scratching the top of its head before leaving.
The light was still on.
“Where are we?” Lyra whispered.
Luna didn't respond. She was too busy scouting the area for anything that might look like a threat. Scanning a three sixty sweep of the yard, she silently took to the air, pushing a strong gust of air downward. She flew like an arrow straight up to get a better view of where they might be.
Lyra was alone now. She would admit she deserved it to be abandoned, but this wasn't the best time to be left behind.
*screeeech*
Her situational awareness snapped to the house again as soon as the high-pitched noise hit her. Quickly she lurched back and ran behind the apple tree for cover. She poked her head around to see just what exactly scared her.
Another, much more luminous light spilled from what she believed to be a porch, only without the usual back door. Only a absurdly large window pane that stretched from floor to ceiling. After her eyes adjusted to the brightness, her gaze fell upon something that made her heart flutter.
Standing in the opening to the house was a tall creature, a young skinny biped of some kind. Perhaps it was... no way.
Did her eyes deceive her? Was she hallucinating? Imagining? Crazy?
No.
She couldn't believe it.
A human.
A young human male. One with clothes. A short mane. And shoes.
This may as well be the moment she's been waiting for. Mountains of questions piled around up her mind without context. She was excited and afraid to come out from her hiding spot at attempt to talk to it. But what would she say? What could she say? Did it speak her language?
Of course it spoke her language. If Andrew could speak Equestrian, maybe this one can too. Does my hair look good? She thought.
Lyra found that trying to suppress the overflowing happiness was more difficult as time went on. And time felt slower now she was looking at this human from a distance.
However, it looked different than she pictured a human to look like. Her own interpretation based on verbal testimony by an unreliable source known as Andrew Fera were just a smidgen off key. Her cartoon hoof drawings were malformed and disproportional, closer to that of a minotaur. Most of her sketches were just plain sloppy.
This presumption did not surprise. She knew what she was getting herself into and was ready for anything, even if it meant failing at imaging the physical appearance of an actual human. A guilty as can be, it's everything she's been preparing for, and now she gets put her skills to good use.
The unicorn watched as the human stepped onto the grass carrying some sort of long, blunt object. Wait a minute, it knows somepony is here! The human must have been attracted by the noise Luna was making, taking precautions as it investigated the situation.
Speaking of the princess, where is Luna anyway?
Lyra could not take it anymore, she couldn't stay hidden forever. Being misunderstood for a thief or shady trespasser would not be the greatest of first impressions, so she needed to make sure she meant no harm.
Shaking to the bone, Lyra began to step forward from behind the shadows. She didn't even make it two steps before a rapid whoosh blew past her.
She watched in horror as the human was swept off the ground a few feet and tackled to the ground by a dark blue blur.
“NO!” Lyra quickly called out as she ran over to them.
As the unicorn galloped closer, she found Princess Luna standing defensively over the human laying on the grass with a hoof pressed against it mouth. She could tell it was in absolute shock, its eyes laded with more fright than a filly who just woke from a nightmare.
Even with the vulnerable state of the creature she had pinned to the earth, Luna refused to let up her scowl and growl. Slowly but steadily she lifted her head but kept her hoof where it was. Even through the silver slipper she wore, the creature's skin was warm to the touch.
“What is thy purpose for sneaking up on Us!?” she said authoritatively. Apparently her old way of speech slipped through. Before she could suffocate it, Luna removed her hoof from its mouth. “Explain thyself tiny beast!”
“Luna stop!”
The Princess turned her head around but maintained her body height as she pressed down on the creature's chest to keep it subdued. She felt the rapid pulse of its heartbeat increase further. “Lyra, this thing hath attempted to—“
“—investigate what was trespassing on their property... and who was making a ruckus out here.” Lyra finished flatly, much to Luna's disgrace. The mint unicorn could help but shake her head. “Luna, the spell worked.”
It was then that Luna backed away, however the creature did not so much as have the courage to escape, let alone move.
“What spell?”
“The one that brought us here. It worked. I've done it. I've finally done it!” Lyra was practically radiating with glee, although ignorant of the terrified expression on the human's face. His hands were curled into tights fist glued to his stomach, shaking from both the cold and from fear.
It was Luna's turn to be horribly impressed and extremely disappointed. Her waving mane and tail slowed to a gentle frequency, now glowing from the sparkles of stars within. She exchanged a frown of confusion at Lyra and at the strange creature on the floor. She could see how frightened it appeared to be, staring wide from its little eyes.
She had no reason to attack the poor thing. Luna took some steps back to let the creature free, but the creature remained shivering on the grass.
“I do apologize for my actions, young one.” Luna planted her hooves into the soil and stood firm. “Allow me to be pardoned of my wrongdoing, my name—“
“Luna,” Lyra began, rolling her eyes. “This isn't some diplomatic situation. This human is just a kid. You've scared the life out of him.” It was in Lyra's best interest to teach Luna the ways of casual etiquette and informality. Ever since becoming her student, she thought she'd take it upon herself—atop her normal studies—of getting the Lunar Alicorn to shape up and become a more modern mare.
“Human?” Luna's ear flicked.
“Oh yes, well you see, I've finally created a spell stable enough to follow out good friend Andrew into his human world. This here is a human. A real live human. Oh my gosh!” Lyra's joy was spilling over again, but had enough confidence in her to contain it a little longer.
“A-Andrew?”
Just like that, a weak voice from below spoke with a questioning tone. Both ponies snapped their heads to the human laying down. Lyra must have been mentally occupied by the fact that it was their first time she'd heard a human speak because she had not taken a good look at the human since before Luna tackled it... him... argh!
The clothes on his body were minimal, only one layer over the torso and a thick gray covering for his legs. Assuming it was some sort of sleep wear—the kind Bon-bon would occasionally use when she was cold—the aesthetics were hardly pleasing. She cared not for looks, but for practicality.
Luna and Lyra stood staring at the young human, waiting for something to happen, may it be a single word, a movement, or even a breath. He remained still, shaking vehemently under the orange glow of the flood light above.
Lyra decided to take the first move. She didn't come this far to allow a human to suffer in the cold.
- - -
What was left of his sanity might as well have left altogether after his previous encounter with blunt force that led to serious brain damage. Alex just wasn't ready for any more surprises. This foolishness had to stop.
This, however, was more than just a surprise. If the universe had a personality, he'd say it hates him.
Standing over his body was not another hallucination, nor the result of another concussion, but the real thing. Even with his one working eye, it was unmistakeable. Two ponies. Two very similar looking creatures to the one his brother turned into a while back. And now exactly a year later, the cavalry shows up. This has got to be some really messed up coincidence.
At least now he knows what that noise was from earlier and who was yelling out here a minute ago. Hopefully his limited vision would atone faster to the dark because what startled him next was the teal one advancing cautiously towards him.
He flinched, only to save him the time of whatever it was about to do. His response was to stay completely still. He didn't want to believe it. As the pony stepped closer with care, he could make out a sort of warm smile from it. Its eyes were a striking orange yellow, gold to be more precise, and its fur color only reminded him more of Andrew.
Then he saw the horn on its head. Yup, definitely reminiscent of what Andrew used to look like, the vivid memory shoving its way to dominate his mind. It carried a leather saddlebag, slung over the unicorn pony's back like a typical cargo for horseback.
It was now that the creature stood too close for comfort. He wanted to scurry away, but was far too afraid and cold to try. If her were to meet his fate, it be with his dignity intact. Alex closed his eyes.
“Hello.”
His heart jumped a few beats. The immediate voice was not what he was expecting. It was definitely female. Even through one word, that sweet tone was of pity and worry. It was also vaguely familiar, oddly enough. He cracked his right eye open.
The pony was still there, looking at him with her head tiled. She briefly glanced back at the larger one behind her before extending a hoof out towards him.
“Do you need any help?” she said.
Even with his eyes open, his nerve shot up with an impossible mix of alarm and relief.
“W-who—“ Alex wasn't allowed to finish as the intimidating figure of the large blue horse exited from within the shadows. Her features just screamed importance and beauty.
All of a sudden, and second source of light emanated from the blue one, originating several inches from the top of his head. This one has a horn too!? And— really? Wings too!?
Alex's mental evaluation of the pony creatures was all done in silence. He just laid there on the ground with shoulder pressed into the grass. His shuddering couldn't be more violent.
“Let me help you up,” the small one offered.
Alex did not resist. He let the unicorn help him up with her forehooves. As he stood, he rubbed his eyes just in case and ran his fingertips down his face while a sigh left him. Once he was done with a deep breath, he proceeded to smack his head with a hand over and over again.
He stumbled back, stepping onto the freezing concrete of the porch.
“Are you alright?”
Alex looked at the mint pony once more, this time with more glint in his eye. Her eyes met the same level of curiosity as he smirked. That smirk turned into a laugh.
“I never thought I'd see this again, but this is crazy.” He scanned the area around him. “Hold on while I bash my head against something hard.”
“No no don't do that!” The unicorn shouted, running around to stand in his way as he tried to leave. “Please don't hurt yourself. We're deeply sorry for hurting you like that.”
If her plead wasn't convincing enough, the fact that the pony didn't catch the joke was somewhat amusing, much to his guilt. Alex didn't make any more sudden moves to avoid further injury to add to his insult.
“What is your name, dear human?”
His eyes went wide this time and his heart dropped on ice. This new voice from behind was far more strict and demand, yet maintained a sort of calm elegance that spelled sincerity.
Slowly, very slowly, he turned to face the navy winged-unicorn once again. Her glowing horn provided more light to the dark, but now that she was closer, he thoughts went numb at the very sight of her.
His lips quivered. The tall flying unicorn had herself a felt necklace with a white crescent moon in the middle and a black tiara or crown behind her sharp horn. What was most impressive was the way her hair move along with her tail, seemingly on their own. The night was calm and the dark was still. No wind.
That's just nuts.
He forced a smile on corners of his mouth. He breathed in. If he wanted to rid himself of the shock these ponies gave him, he might as well cooperate and converse with them.
“Why did you attack me?” he said.
“We thought you were after our student. We only did so to protect her.”
“Your student?
“Yes, our protege and pupil, Lyra. I am her teacher and Co-Ruler of the land of E—“
“Lyra?” Alex cut her off and turned around to looked at the mint unicorn with his mouth open just slightly for a grin to poke through. “Is that your name?”
The pony smiled brightly. “Yes! Lyra Heartstrings, nice to meet you.” She held out a hoof.
Alex didn't take it. He instead huffed humorously and rubbed his forehead while he walked over to the reclining chair that sat idle on the porch. He then sat down with a hand on his cheek. “So it wasn't just some elaborate prank, he really was telling the truth.”
The two ponies followed after him. Lyra spoke first.
“Who are you referring to?”
“He is not going to believe this.” Alex continued to talk to himself, lost in the speculation of thought. He acted as if he was hit hard by a revelation, only this revelation manifested itself into mythical ponies. He was far too busy with laughing and looking off to the side, while his heart desperately fought to jump out of his chest. “This is unbelievable, he's gonna freak when he sees this.”
“Might I ask who?”
Alex looked up.
“My brother, Andrew. Who else?”