//------------------------------// // Prologue: Imaginary Friends // Story: One of Us // by PxDnNinja //------------------------------// The sun was high above the playground in Ponyville. Several fillies all ran around on various equipment playing made up games. The young colts were reenacting a great war against the Griffin Empire they had learned about recently, while some of the fillies were in a corner talking about how nasty the colts could be. Still some other young ponies simply played games of chess or whatever else they could find with friends. A few would play alone still. Maybe their friends were out sick, or they themselves weren't feeling well. But for some, there simply wasn't another option. Nonetheless, for Lyra Heartstrings, that didn't matter. She had her books and her music. The first of which was currently occupying her time. While everyone else was outside, Lyra instead chose to visit the library to read a book she found recently by a famous magic user named StarSwirl the Bearded. She didn't know much about him, as he wasn't a topic many grade schoolers ever were taught, but this book spoke of great lands outside of Equestria: Some even outside the entire planet! When she had first found the book, she expected it to teach her more about using magic, but there was very little about how magic worked in the book. Starswirl would start talking about some technique or law of magic that even at her age Lyra knew was incorrect, then explain how some race such as Imps would use it in their realm in order to do whatever. Once Lyra realized the stuff had to be fiction, she continued reading to learn more of these great races he described. Orcs, goblins, and even a race of creatures made out of lightning. They all seemed interesting and often Lyra would imagine if they were real. How would it feel to talk to one and learn about them. Alas, all she knew was a few bits from the book about each race. One section, however, broke the trend. Unlike the others she had read thus far, this one spoke of a race that supposedly had been to Equestria. They were said to have powerful magics and warriors who would be able to take on a full grown dragon. Their Kings would war to gain land, then war again to maintain it. The stories at first made them sound terrifying to the young filly, but she kept on. Eventually Starswirl spoke of one that had unified his land under a rule of peace and equality. No more of the typical 'one law for the ruler, one law for the ruled' mentality that other lords had used. This left Lyra to believe that this race was capable of great violence, but great benevolence as well. Soon the book got into their magics. Many were the same as what ponies would use. Fireballs, spells of light, ice manipulation, the whole thing. But some were grand. Some wizards, as they called them, could transform into dragons. Others would give up their life to become an undead lord to live forever. Some actually had an animal who they could talk to and commune with. The rare few could also jump from world to world, or from time to time within their own worlds. This concept was amazing to young Lyra. "Oh, if only it was real." She mumbled to herself as she turned the page. Finally she had come to the part she was curious about. The illustration. A full page, hand drawn, for what the creature looked like. It stood upright, with long arms and legs. Their hands had fingers instead of hoofs, just like many of the other creatures, but their skin appeared light colored. They also didn't seem as large as the orcs. The armor and cloth draped across its body hinted at great strength, but fragility as well. Below the image was a single stylized word just as all the others. Human. -------------------- Two days later Lyra was once again sitting in the library during recess. Outside a game of groundball had broken out, so occasionally thumps could be heard against the building where either a pony or a ball slammed into the wall. Such a sport seemed ridiculous to Lyra, who much preferred learning and playing music. Leaning against the table was a lyre that she played in the school band. Being one of the few string instruments in the band, she always kept it near to make sure it did not get damaged. Another young filly named Octavia used to be in the band with them with her cello, but had recently moved to Canterlot leaving Lyra with her lyre alone. None of that mattered to the filly currently as she was digging through several books strewn across the table that spoke of this mythical race called human. Something deep in her heart told her that Starswirl was doing more than writing fiction with that book that had so recently grabbed her attention. "There has to be more info around here. Starswirl was a master unicorn and researcher." Lyra spoke aloud to herself as she read about these human creatures. Unfortunately the only places she could find that referenced them was in books of fiction published after Starswirl first ever mentioned them, or in books of magic theory debunking what Starswirl had described. No where was there an example supporting the existence of these mythical creatures, but everywhere was information about them (presumably made up). "Oh I wish I could meet one of them. They must have fantastic stories." The young filly thought as she sat back and rested her head on the table in defeat. Days of research and nothing to show for it aside from a working knowledge of a fictional race. Her eyes started to slowly close from having been focused so hard when a flash of light in the room drew her attention. "What was that?!" Jumping up, Lyra looked around to find the source of the flash. After a brief moment, there was a second flash and the sound of books falling off a shelf in the back of the library. Taking off on her little hoofs, Lyra ran to see if everypony was alright. As she rounded the corner to the last row in the library, she spotted a large stack of books that had been knocked off the back wall in to a large pile. Slowing to a slow trot, she approached the books to see if anyone had been hurt. "Ouch." A muffled voice, clearly belonging to a colt of some sort, could be heard underneath the pile. The voice as accompanied by movement within the books of somepony trying to get free. "Here, let me help." Lyra spoke, loudly so he could hear, and used her magic to start moving books aside. The sight that awaited her took the breath from her lungs so rapidly she nearly passed out. The pony under the books was not actually a pony. She knew exactly what it was, but at the same time her own study said it couldn't exist. Torn between fear of the unknown and excitement that she could be right, she finally stepped forward to the creature. "Um...are you alright?" She managed to squeak out. The creature who was laying face down nodded his head. Or at least Lyra thought he did. The hood up over his head made it hard to tell, and the blue simple robes that hood was connected to hid most of his body. "Yeah, that spell must have backfired. Guess there is a reason Master Sand says it is impossible to do." The creature explained as he stood up slowly and dusted himself off. "Thanks for the.....help...." His voice trailed as he finally turned to face Lyra, clearly not having expected to find what he saw. Subconsciously he took a step back to distance himself from the unknown creature. "You're a talking horse?" He half asked, half stated with shock on his face. His blue eyes were open wide as he took in what he saw. Even with the hood on, Lyra could just make out strands of blond hair down the side of his face, appearing to be shoulder length. "Pony actually. But are you really here? A Human?" Lyra corrected then immediately went on the inquiry offensive. The human's back straighten a bit from the question. "Yes, but how do you know that? Where are we?" The human started looking around, realizing that the pony wasn't a threat. At least not yet she wasn't. His eyes took in the library while his ears absorbed the noises from outside. "Well, I know what you are from books I have been reading recently. Unfortunately according to those books, you are fiction. As for where we are, this is Ponyville Elementary Library in the city of Ponyville." Lyra explained, levitating a few books back on the shelf. The human nodded to the information, and smiled when he saw her use of magic. "Ah, a fellow wizard I see. Let me help." The human lifted his hands and more of the books rose to the shelf. Between the two of them, the mess was quickly cleared up and they both were sitting on a cleared floor in the back of the library. "Um, thanks for the help with the books, but why are you here. Or how even?" Lyra finally asked the human, who seemed to think about the best way to answer the question. After a couple moments of thought, the human nodded his head and began to speak. "Well, in my world, I'm still learning how to do magic. My teachers say I'm a prodigy, and that the mana within my body is much stronger than any before me. For my age, they say I have the power of someone five times my age. So today I was looking through some old spell books and found a dimensional gate spell that our elder wizards have trouble casting." The human explained with the occasional nod from Lyra. "I thought, why not give it a try. After studying the theory behind the spell, I decided to go ahead and cast it, which judging by my presence here I assume it means I succeeded." He finished his explanation. Lyra thought about her own knowledge of magic and from what she new, such a spell should be impossible. "How does it work? We have studied magic for over a thousand years and have no way of jumping dimensions." Lyra asked, confused. The human shared her confusion as he started his explanation. "Well, it has to do with inverting the polarity of latent nature magic with a sentient beacon at the destination point. The inversion will create a funnel to the destination for travel, and part of the soul of the visitor will remain behind as a tether to return with." He explained clear as day. Well, clear as day to him. Lyra had no idea what this nature magic and sentient beacon stuff was about. "That makes no sense. We don't have that kind of magic. Such feats simply can't...." Stopping mid-sentence, Lyra realized the truth. The invalid formulas that Starswirl wrote about. The theories that made no sense. He wasn't writing about Equestria. He was writing about these other worlds and how their magic worked. "Can't what?" The boy asked, wondering where this pony was headed with the discussion. "Oh, sorry. We can't perform such feats with our world's magic. I would love to learn more of your world's magic, and world in general." Lyra jumped topics as the two continued their conversation. The human seemed confused but came to the same realization the pony had, that the magics of their world were different. "That would be wonderful. I could learn about how things work here. Perhaps we can find a common point and build up each others power." He offered with a smile. Lyra stepped forward and raised a hoof to the human. "You have a deal...." Lyra started, then realized she hadn't even asked the human his name yet. "Oh, what is your name?" "I am Silver, First Student to the Master Wizard Sand, and in line to serve the Lord of the Realm. Who might you be?" Silver responded, having presented his normal name and title. Lyra blushed slightly at the regal sounding introduction Silver had, and worried her own wasn't up to par. "I'm Lyra Heartstrings, Gradeschooler." She answered. "No major titles or magic abilities for me." She added, feeling out of place suddenly. Silver appeared confused. "I wouldn't say that. My spell needed to lock onto a powerful and compatible magic source here. I would say you are very powerful in spirit." Silver smiled as he explained what he felt was fact that Lyra was more special than she realized. His smiled proved addictive as Lyra soon joined him in a grin as the two finally shook hooves, or hands for the human in agreement. A sound from the front of the library signaled teachers walking in. "Oh no, you have to hide!" Lyra whispered quietly, but not quietly enough to prevent detection. "Lyra! Are you hiding back in the stacks again?" The librarian spoke aloud approaching their hiding spot. Silver stood and simply nodded to Lyra. "I'll return when I can." He silently mouthed to the young unicorn as he stepped back and disappeared as though moving through an invisible door. He faded out of sight just as the teacher peaked her head around the corner. "Who were you talking to back here?" She asked, confused. She knew she had heard Lyra speaking but no one was around. "Oh, um...no one." Lyra nervously laughed as she approached the teacher, who simply rolled her eyes. 'Kids and their imaginary friends. Oh to be young again.' The librarian thought as she lead Lyra back up front. "You need to get packed up Ms. Heartstrings. Class is about to start back up." She explained as she helped Lyra back up her research books. "Thank you! I'll be back tomorrow!" Lyra yelled as she threw her bag on and grabbed her lyre before running out the door to her class.