The Album

by Peregrine Caged


Lyra Heartstrings -- Minty Musical Minstrel Mare

Written by: JJ GingerHooves
Rated Everyone



Minstrel: A wandering musician who would travel from settlement to settlement and play music in public. They first emerged after the unification of the three pony tribes due to each of them sharing their different cultures and lifestyle with one another.

Minstrels were a thing of the past. The invention of the jukebox had been the final nail in the coffin for this profession, although minstrels were always in decline since the medieval ages of Equestria. But the principle of live music never died out and a special few continued to follow the principles of minstrels.

One of these ‘modern minstrels’ was Lyra Heartstrings. Born in Canterlot, it was almost certain that she would be more suited in a recital hall rather than the outdoors. However, at an early age, her family moved to Ponyville.  Despite her parents moving back to Canterlot when she was a young mare, she remained in the quaint town. She couldn’t remember when it started, but every couple of days she would wander through the town and play music to accompany life as it played out before her. Her instrument of choice was obvious: a golden lyre.

Lyra opened the front door of her cottage and took in a whiff of the crisp air. It was a beautiful day. Almost perfect. The weather was akin to what you would see on a picturesque postcard or painting and Lyra was grateful for it.

Leaving the door open so the calm breeze could waft into her home, she went back inside. Despite the serene atmosphere outside, something was missing. Music. That’s what the day needs! she thought to herself, retrieving her trusted instrument from its stand in the living room. She used her magic to make the lyre levitate alongside her and plucked one of the strings with a hoof. The note resounded across the room, bringing a content smile to Lyra’s face. Then she played a simple scale to check that everything was in tune.

Lovely as always! She was about to leave when a thought struck her, it being important enough to stop her in her tracks. Mint! I need a mint! I can’t go outside without my minty breath! Hurrying into the kitchen, she quickly retrieved a mint from a pack lying on the wooden table. As the taste of mint filled her mouth, she beamed with pleasure and let out a big breath once she swallowed. Now she could go.

Closing the door behind her, she went out of her front garden with a spring in her step. All she needed to do was find a nice spot to sit, play some sweet music and watch life go by. She trotted around Ponyville, saying friendly hellos to anypony who passed by. Almost everypony in town knew her and she almost had a fame for her talents. Almost. Word about her lyre playing skills rarely got out of town.

Lyra didn’t mind though and, in fact, probably preferred it. She didn’t play music for fame. She played music because she loved it. It was a powerful thing and could draw strong emotions from ponies. It could recall memories long forgotten in ponies’ minds or it could be a fantastic way to relax. So much could be done with just one instrument. And even more could be achieved with a collection of them.

She never had a set path when making trips like these. It was simply walking around until it felt right to play. No journey was ever the same as another. She went past Sugarcube Corner, the door of the establishment open and the delicious aroma of sugary treats wafting out. It was enough to make Lyra nearly abandon her journey but she knew that they would always be there, along with the Cakes’ smiling faces, their happy children and of course, Pinkie Pie.

It was sometime in the afternoon, as Lyra could see fillies and foals making the trip back home from school. Snips and Snails were darting off, apparently not ready to go to their homes just yet. The boundless energy of the younger generation was something to behold. Big Macintosh was pulling a cart and inside that were the Cutie Mark Crusaders letting out a chorus of cheers. Lyra looked at the children with a faint smile on her face.

Some day...

Suddenly a whiplash of wind whooshed into her face, her mane becoming a bit messy. She was nearly deafened by a loud noise and upon looking up to see a streak of rainbow in the sky, she immediately knew its source. Every other pony in the vicinity stopped and gawked at Rainbow Dash soaring through the air like a bullet. A bullet that had been launched out of a cannon. Despite being a long time resident, Rainbow still managed to amaze the citizens of Ponyville time and time again.

Continuing on, the mare saw Caramel heading towards a bin with a bit of rubbish to dispose of. A fairly normal action had it not been for Pinkie. As he reached the bin, Pinkie Pie popped up--completely clean somehow--and sang a friendly greeting to the surprised stallion. Once he caught his breath, both he and Pinkie shared a good laugh. Whereas Rainbow Dash could always amaze, Pinkie could always surprise.

Ponyville always seemed like a quiet town to outsiders but if anypony was here for a day, heck, maybe even just a few hours, they would see that it was really bustling hive of activity. Lyra loved that. So many stories to which music could accompany.

By now Lyra had reached the Ponyville park. A few ponies were walking about or, like Carrot Top, were taking in the pretty surroundings. The fresh green grass had splotches of fantastic flowers, their radiant petals always a delight to look at. Under one of the mighty trees, Twilight Sparkle was sitting and enjoying a book in the shade that the branches and leaves provided. Lyra simply moved on. Both music and silence had their places. Even a musician knew that silence could be wonderful.

Soon enough, Lyra found herself beside a small pond. Reeds and other plant life grew at the boundary of the water and, at the center, three ducks were swimming. Upon seeing the pony, they looked at her.

“Oh, sorry ducks. I don’t have any bread on me,” Lyra said apologetically. After a short while, the ducks ignored her.

Lyra turned around, eyeing a bench that overlooked the pond. Deciding it was a good place to rest for a bit, she sat on the bench in a manner that many would find peculiar. Most ponies had all their hooves on whatever they were sitting with only a few exceptions (mostly if one wanted to write on a desk). Lyra often sat on her haunches, none of her hooves actually touching the bench. This had a few benefits: it took up less room, it let her dangle her limbs and it allowed her to play her lyre with her forehooves. True, she could play it by using magic but the sensation of physically plucking a string felt nice to her. She connected more with the instrument that way.

The lyre then found itself in the hooves of its owner. Lyra began to pluck the strings, creating a slow but joyful tune. It was a simple piece that didn’t take risks but it was nice to play and listen to either way. The moment the notes entered her ears, Lyra immediately felt more relaxed. She got lost in the music before the quacking of the ducks that shook her from her trance.

She kept playing but took a moment to observe the birds. At first she thought that they were singing along with her, yet they were actually swimming away from the musician. Lyra looked beyond the ducks, to their destination and saw the source of their sudden excitedness.

“There you go, little duckies,” Fluttershy said softly, gently throwing pieces of bread at the ducks. The animals eagerly gobbled up the crumbs, voicing their pleasure repeatedly. Fluttershy looked up and jumped when she saw Lyra. The unicorn gave her a polite smile and kept on playing. Fluttershy returned the gesture then put her focus back on the ducks.

Lyra picked up the pace, the music now becoming jumpy, with some notes louder than others. The mood was the same but the notes now sounded like something a pony could dance to in celebration. If only ducks knew how to dance, they’d probably do so. Although Lyra caught a glimpse of Fluttershy nodding her head in time with the beat.

After a while, the last piece of bread was thrown and the ducks looked at Fluttershy expectedly. The pegasus showed them the empty bag that the bread had been in and the ducks nodded in understanding. Trust Fluttershy to make ducks nod like ponies. After a fond farewell, Fluttershy and the ducks left. Fluttershy flew off into the distance and it would not be long before the ducks did so as well, no doubt looking for more food. Lyra however, stayed.

In her solitude she kept on playing, her own music keeping her company. She kept on changing the style of the music but the transitions were always smooth and sometimes barely noticeable. Had it not been for her mortal limitations, she could have played forever.

Her stomach violently grumbling put an end to the music. “Ooo...those cupcakes do sound like a good idea now,” she muttered to herself, slipping off the bench. Leaving the pond behind her, Lyra set off at a fairly rapid trot towards Sugarcube corner. Music was a wonderful art but nothing could compare to a cupcake when you’re feeling famished.