//------------------------------//
// -51- Throwing Rocks at Problems 
// Story: The Anthropologist 
// by Weavers of Dreams 
//------------------------------//

"She might have overdid it this time," Lyra mentioned to Bon Bon as they made their way home through the slushy streets. Upon theirs backs were Twist and Henry, each wrapped in the mares' scarves.

Pinkie had waited the required week before giving the new person in town a party. This being Henry. She had also "enlisted" the help of Screwball in order to make it a memorable moment. Then she had decided to kick it into overdrive when Henry had said he couldn't ever remember having a party.

"My birthday is right between my dad's and old sister's, so we just celebrate them on the same day," he had explained with a shrug. "Why would grownups want kids around during their party? So, I never asked."

Lyra had found herself torn between congratulating him for being very mature about it, and giving him a hug. He got a hug anyway, but it was more out of principle. Ponies really were a touchy-feely lot.

Bon Bon turned her head around to nuzzle Twist's cheek. "Nah. It just ensured they got to bed on time. Hard to believe a game of twister got that passionate."

"At least he got to test out his quadrupedal skills in a fun way," Lyra chuckled, feeling her own bundle shift in his sleep. "It's nice he's managed to make a few friends around town."

"He'll sleep better tonight, that's for sure," the other mare sighed. "Poor thing just can't seem to sleep properly. I'm thinking about scheduling him an appointment to see if he's got chronic insomnia."

Lyra tilted her head. "That's a thing?"

Bon Bon rolled her eyes. "Yes, Lyra, it's a thing. Thank you, by the way, for staying up with him."

The mares had been taking turns staying up with the colt at night to help him fall asleep. It kept him calm, and the nightlight Bon Bon dug out of storage seemed to relax him.

"No prob, Bonny," Lyra returned. "Though, I suspect that he faked falling asleep on Wednesday. Seriously, the kid's so conscientious about other's feelings. It's kind of worrisome in a way."

"He's just nervous about being in an alien world," the confectioner explained. "Though, speaking of which, how are things going with the portals?"

"We're still throwing rocks at them," Lyra answered with a shrug.

"Lyra...," Bon Bon groaned.

"No, I'm serious," Lyra defended herself, quickly creating a snowball with her magic to demonstrate. "See, our two worlds are incredibly similar in physiology, so a few new rocks aren't going to turn any heads. But our success is growing rather... nil."

"The portals keep exploding?"

"Not exactly," Lyra sighed, throwing the snowball against the side of a house. "They've started do that, only more bouncing off. No matter how much we attune them to earth, nothing seems to be getting through, period."

"Almost as if the dimensional fabric has grown an immunity to such travel?" Bon Bon asked, sidling up closer to her friend.

The mint mare gave her an odd look. "Yeah. Almost exactly like that. Which... theoretically should be possible. We are literally pulling at the fabric of time and space here. It could be trying to correct itself. I'll bring that up at the next meeting. But, somepony may have already tested that idea."

"What happens if you can't find a solution?" Bon Bon pressed carefully. "What if this is the end of that?"

"Then I'll be out of a job," Lyra groaned, looking a little down trodden at the thought. "The title of World's Greatest Anthropologist will be rendered as meaningless as being Employee of the Month. Ugh, to be the last of a centuries old profession isn't as noble as it sounds, Bonny, let me tell you."

"No need to be so sad," the other mare comforted her with a sympathetic nuzzle. "It would be a good thing that humans wouldn't be torn from their loved ones anymore."

Lyra sighed and shook her head. "You're forgetting the ones who would be forever torn apart, Bonny. Take this little guy on my back for instance. He'd never get to see his family again."

Bon Bon found herself feeling stupid. "Urgh. Sorry, long day. But, just in case, what will happen to him if..."

"Don't worry about it," Lyra cut her off softly. "I've already been thinking about it since the incident."

"And what are your thoughts?" Bon Bon persisted.

Lyra just looked away. "Please. It has been a long day. The party was nice. Henry got to make a lot of friends today. We're all a little tired. Let's just cross that bridge when we get to it."

"I've done some thinking about it as well, in case you're curious."

"Bonny, be careful," Lyra warned. "You're very maternal mare, but you shouldn't let yourself get too attached. When this is all fixed, it'll just wind up hurting you both."

"You mean 'if' this is all fixed."

Lyra shook her head. "I'm a little more optimistic than that."

"Anyway, I'm more worried about you becoming overly attached," Bon Bon pointed out with a knowing glint in her eyes.

Lyra almost tripped over her own hooves. "W-what?"

"You get close to him, every opportunity you get," the mare explained. "Sure, I may be around him more often due to my job not requiring privacy, but you seem to have taken a special interest in him. Last Tuesday, you were more than welcome to join in conversation with me and Mrs. Cake. But you chose to sit with him."

"It's my job to make sure humans are getting along with ponies," Lyra quickly answered.

Bon Bon chuckled. "Keep telling yourself that, Lyra. You might just end up believing it yourself."

"What about Noteworthy?" Lyra countered. "He likes to hang around Henry as well."

Bon Bon rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. He's just glad that there's another colt around the homestead. It's not easy for him being the only rooster in the hen house."

Lyra honestly couldn't come up with a proper rebuttal. It was to the stallion's credit that the two mare's he lived with hadn't driven him looney by now.