//------------------------------// // Extra: Lyra's Song Part 2 // Story: Brony Recon: Ascension // by Freescript the Bard //------------------------------// Lyra's POV Seth had taken Derpy, Ben, Dinky, and the Doctor into another warehouse. Personally, I was glad to be away from the awkward situation of the small grey filly's parenthood. While it was greatly disturbing that Derpy had taken the now-human Doctor for a partner, he had said he was a pony in appearance, so I guess that reduced the level of… controversy. So that left Cereal Velocity and I sitting at a card table in the main warehouse. The entire setup was amazing in itself, even more so that it had been built without magic. Humans and their wonderful hands… "So, Lyra," said Cereal, breaking me out of my reverie. "What would you like to know about humans?" "Everything!" I exclaimed excitedly. This is what I've spent my life beyond music studying. Finally, I was going to learn about the humans and how amazing they are. From an actual human, no less! Cereal chuckled at my enthusiasm. "Anything specific?" I put a hoof to my chin in thought. "Okay, um… how many humans are there in existence?" "About seven billion, if my knowledge is correct." Seven billion?! Whoa, that's more than fifteen times the number of ponies on Terra! "How does your planet support them all?!" The human's expression darkened. "It doesn't." "Then how--" "The Earth has been overpopulated for some time now. Our natural resources are running low and the world is slowly degrading from pollution and poverty. Not to mention all the war and political upsets. And don't get me started on the god damn economy!" I was stunned. This world full of these perfect creatures was dying. It was a huge contrast to the world I studied, full of peace and white-columned temples. "But… the world that I had researched had a peaceful land of marble cities with triangular buildings, and a variety of tools and musical instruments. Like my lyre." Shaking his head, Cereal gave a sad chuckle. "That sounds a lot like Greece," he said, lifting my hopes slightly. "ANCIENT Greece." In my head, a small whistling sound decreased in pitch, ending in a dramatic explosion. The overall mood had gone from enthusiastic to dreary, so I decided to change the topic. "How long does the average human live?" "An average of seventy-two years, counting natural and unnatural deaths." "Interesting, ponies live for longer than that, regardless of unnatural death. Almost a hundred years. The oldest pony in Ponyville is probably Granny Smith, and she just celebrated her ninetieth birthday." He nodded his understanding and motioned to continue. "Of all the places you could go, why Equestria?" I grew confused when he smiled and shook his head in amusement. "I trust Ben gave you the run-down of the bronies?" I nodded, thinking back to Ben's speech about the group of humans. "We are one of the most peaceful organizations on the planet, as we take after the prosperity and ideology of Equestria. Your world is the example we live by. If anything, my response would be this; why not Equestria?" "That's another thing I wanted to know," I said. "How do you know about our world?" Cereal scratched his head, looking unsure. "It's complicated. We humans have a device that allows us to peer into other realities for our entertainment. One happens to be Equestria, and more specifically, Ponyville. Although the actual viewing of Equestria is centered around the Mane Six, the Elements of Harmony if you will." I raised my eyebrows at this. "Was I part of this… viewing during any point?" "As of right now, the only speaking parts you ever had were in Canterlot, when you were a bridesmaid to the imposter Cadence. Other than that, you are in the background a lot. We refer to ponies like you as 'background ponies', like Colgate or Bon Bon. An especially popular background pony was Derpy." Wow, I suddenly felt insignificant. "Could I possibly… see one of these viewings?" "Oh, sure. One sec…" Cereal dug around in his pocket and pulled out a black rectangle. He began to poke the rectangle in various places before turning it around to face me. On the other side, it had word 'Netflix' on it. Suddenly, the surface went dark. What new and amazing technology was this? Abruptly, the image changed again, fading into a familiar scene. In it, Rainbow Dash was flying behind Fluttershy. "Now, what have we learned?" "Loss of control." "Good." "Screaming and hollering." "Yes, and most importantly?" "Passion." The viewing continued for a good twenty minutes. I watched in awe as the events that I had been told about unfold before my very eyes. I saw Rainbow Dash's Sonic Rainboom! How she saved Rarity and the Wonderbolts and won the competition! And it was all on this tiny black rectangle! "What is this…?" I whispered rhetorically. "This is reason the bronies ever existed," said Cereal with a smile. "This is 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic." Taking the device in my hooves, I looked at the many different 'episodes'. I could recognize a few by name, like Winter Wrap-Up or Hearts and Hooves Day. 'Dragonshy' I assumed had something to do with the dragon that had almost covered Equestria in smog for a century. Luckily, Fluttershy frightened it off… somehow. I used the tip of my hoof to scroll down through season two and finally reached season three. There were only eight episodes in the third season. "Why are Bon Bon, myself, Carrot Top, and others so… lacking?" I asked Cereal. "The main character of the series is Twilight Sparkle. She and her friends are the perfect examples of love, tolerance, and friendship. On top of that, they're the Elements of Harmony." I blinked in understanding. Twilight Sparkle had been tasked by Princess Celestia to study the magic of friendship in Ponyville. However, nopony in Ponyville ever thought of her as anything more than the local librarian and neighbor. Much less the protégé of the Princess and the Element of Magic. "Now, I'm sorry to say that this visit is almost at it's end," said Cereal sadly. "If you'll follow me, please." We got up from our seats and walked back over to the portal. Cereal had said the design was improved from the initial portal, making it safer than it was at first. I wonder why they had to make it safer? Soon enough the door to the other hanger opened. First came Ben along with Derpy, Dinky asleep in Ben's arms. The Doctor was next, holding a tissue to his nose for some re-- oh god, is his nose bleeding? Sethisto came out last, carrying a box of green bottles. "Hey Cereal? Can we send packages through the portal?" Seth asked. "Skyblaze has made a ton of requests for Mountain Dew, so I'm gonna send him a month's supply, if that's okay." I peered at the strange bottles in the box. "What's 'Mountain Dew'? Is it actually few from the mountains?" Cereal chuckled. "No, it's a soda. It's what makes us able to run Equestria Daily around the clock." "Equestria Daily is run by HUMANS?!?" I exclaimed. EqD was the bestselling newspaper in Canterlot Valley. Bon Bon loved to read it every morning with her coffee. "Wait, are you saying that there is an Equestria Daily newspaper in Equestria?" asked Seth. I nodded. He then did a fist-pump and turned to Cereal. "Dude, we're canon!" The two bronies shared an excited high-five. I decidedly concluded that humans are strange creatures. Derpy took the box of Mountain Dew from Seth and stepped onto the portal. Ben followed her, the grey pegasus hovering and wrapping her hooves around Ben's neck when he came to a stop at her side. "Thanks, Benny…" "It was my pleasure, Derpy," he replied. "Your pleasure, my pain…" complained the Doctor, rubbing his swollen nose. Cereal took my hoof and led me to the top of the portal. "Time for you to go home, Lyra," he said. "Oh, before you go, how are you and Bon Bon?" "We've been dating for about a week now." He patted my side and smiled. "Now that you've met us humans, try to get along with her. If you want to know anything, just write to us or Ben using this." Cereal reached into his pocket and pulled out a necklace with a crystal pendant. "Ambassador Lyra Heartstrings of Equestria, welcome to Brony Recon." He made a swift retreat as Seth threw the lever. The next thing I knew, we were all staring into the eyes of an extremely surprised creme earth pony, making her drop the teacup she was holding.