The three casually approached Canterlot Café, which was not too far from the meadow. Normally an after school hangout, it was also where one could go to hear some jazz music, talk of philosophy and other intellectual pursuits, and to meet new ponies.
This afternoon the establishment was fairly quiet with only a few ponies scattered here and there. April and Bubble approached the counter with Lydia trailing behind.
"Afternoon, girls," the counter pony greeted them with a friendly smile.
"What can I get ya?"
"Three glasses of apple cider, un-fermented," Bubble replied promptly.
The counter pony nodded and began to prepare the drinks. The three ponies seated themselves down at a table. April and Bubble began to discuss their crushes at school. Lydia just sat absentmindedly, pushing around the salt shaker. Were those eyes really just an illusion? She couldn't help but wonder more than ever.
It was true that hallucinations were symptoms of both her anxiety and her anxiety medication, but this was different. The hallucinations with her anxiety or her meds had had a dreamy effect on her as if attempting to relax her or even hypnotize her to accept them as reality. This one seemed much more real. This one didn't make her feel entranced or mindless. On the contrary, it made her think more than ever. And it made her fear more than ever.
"Hello? Earth to Lydia," April called out waving her hoof in front of Lydia's face.
With a confused "Huh?" Lydia jumped back to her senses.
"Oh. Sorry, April," she said quickly.
"I was just preoccupied, that's all."
"I told you already. Golden Rays is just trying to get a reaction," Bubble said.
"No, it's not that."
"Well, what is it then?"
Lydia sighed.
"I think it wasn't an illusion. I think we were being watched back in the meadow."
"You're just letting your anxiety get the best of you again."
"You don't understand, Bubble. This is different! The hallucinations from my anxiety have a sort of sleepy effect on me. This one is making me more alert. There's no way it's my anxiety!"
By now Lydia was beginning to feel frustrated. Was she the only one who understood the difference between anxiety-caused sleepiness and alert reality?
"Maybe the sleepiness is your way of blocking out the anxiety," April suggested.
"No, April. I swear this is different."
"Three apple ciders," the counter pony called.
Bubble jumped off her chair and brought them back.
"Maybe you need a drink," Bubble suggested handing her an apple cider.
"Maybe that and some music," Lydia sighed seeing as how she didn't want to frustrate herself anymore.
"Too bad it's the jazz band's day off."
She took a few sips. It was refreshing enough, but it wasn't going to help her forget those red eyes.
"Have you been seeing a therapist about this anxiety?" April asked.
"Believe me, I've tried a few, but their methods never seem to work. Either that or they're too bucking weird."
"They couldn't be that weird."
"Oh yeah? One of them suggested hypno-music therapy."
"What the hay is that?"
"It's where they play music to make you relaxed and then put you into a deep trance."
"Sounds like something out of a horror film," Bubble shivered.
"I know. And I like listening to music, but having it hypnotize me is just too much."
Lydia began to take another sip when she heard the soft tunes of an instrument not too far off.
"What is that sound?" she asked in awe.
April and Bubble looked at her confused.
"What sound?"
As if by instinct, Lydia put down her cider and hopped off her chair.
"What are you doing, Lydia?" April asked.
She walked out of the café towards the sound.
"Hey! Where are you going?"
"So....beautiful," Lydia whispered.
She had no notion of where she was headed, nor did she seem to care. All she wanted was to hear that beautiful music close up. And the closer she got, the more her eyes began to glaze over as if she was falling into a deep, deep trance.
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After a while, Lydia came upon a forest just on the outskirts; the Nevermore Forest. It was said to be Canterlot's equivalent of the Everfree Forest, except ponies who went in usually never came back out.
Nevertheless, Lydia didn't care. All she wanted was that music. She needed the music. And she knew she was close to it.
"Your father has sent me," a voice purred from nowhere.
"To bring you salvation through music. Music is your destiny, Lydia. Come to me, your angel, and I shall bring you your destiny and to your cutie mark."
Obediently, Lydia walked closer to the sound and to the voice.
"You love the music, my dear."
"I do," Lydia said in a dreamy voice.
"It is relaxing. It removes your worries. Do not think. You shall not think. Only do. I shall worry and think for you."
She had no fears, no worries, no thoughts. Her angel, her guardian, was to think for her now.
"Come to me, my angel. Trust me. Love me. Obey me."
Lydia nodded as she began to feel a warm sensation flow through her body. She thought nothing of it as she walked towards the voice.
Then it happened again. She saw the red eyes flash. But this time, she wasn't worried. She liked those eyes. They were relaxing her even further.
"Look at the calming red of my eyes," it purred.
"They are so lovely. So beautiful. Come closer to them."
"So lovely....so beautiful....come closer," she repeated entranced.
"Yes, my dear. Come to me. And I shall give you all you desire."
She was so close to those eyes. All she wanted was a life filled with those eyes and the beautiful music. Whatever her life was before was meaningless.
"Yes. Come to me---"
"Lydia!" a voice yelled.
Suddenly the eyes and music disappeared, jolting Lydia awake. She was still a bit dazed and confused when she felt a force push her to the ground. She could barely make out the silhouettes of her friends as she was coming to consciousness.
"Lydia! What the hay were you doing?" April asked when she finally came around.
"I-I don't know," she groaned as she pushed herself back up.
"I thought I told the counter pony that the cider was supposed to be un-fermented," Bubble exclaimed.
Lydia looked around and gasped.
"What are we doing in the Nevermore Forest?"
"A better question would be why were you walking into the Nevermore Forest?" April asked.
Suddenly the sound of growling erupted from nearby, startling the three.
"I think we should get out of here before we discuss why we went in," Bubble suggested.
"There could be carnivores in here. And they're growling because they need a fresh meal. Let's just go."
"Agreed," April and Lydia said in turn.
The three cantered out of the forest, failing to realize that the growls came not from a wild animal; instead it came from the throat of a very frustrated draconequus whose plot was just foiled by two concerned ponies.