"Not today Bon-Bon. I have...plans...music practice and family stuff. Yeah! I have music plans and family stuff to take care of, but maybe tomorrow?" Lyra nervously replied to her dear friends request to spend the day together. It had been a long week at school and Bon-Bon was excited to spend time out and about with her friend, but for the past month, Lyra had become somewhat distant. Every time people wanted to spend a weekend day playing, she was busy with music, or studying, or family events. She had even missed two band practices, which was highly worrying considering not only was music something she NEVER missed, but her special talent was music.
Bon-Bon wasn't the only pony who had noticed this odd behavior as well. Lyra's parents had asked her if she knew what was going on with their daughter in the recent weeks. Bon-Bon had no answer, but explained to Lyra's parents that school had simply been busy lately and taking its toll on everypony.
That simple lie had started Bon-Bon's current project. She had started noting when Lyra would blow people off and what excuses she would use. It was almost always on the weekend when Lyra would bail, though occasionally throughout the week she would skip out right after school, missing music. One weekday when Bon-Bon spotted Lyra leaving school early, she snuck out and followed her to find out what was obsessing her best friend. She followed her through town as far as the road that lead directly to the Everfree Forest.
That day, Bon-Bon had chose not to follow her friend to such a dangerous place.
The next day, Lyra returned to school looking as though nothing had occurred. This relieved Bon-Bon, who worried her friend would get gobbled up by any number of creatures hiding in the forest, but the relief was short lived as she noticed something odd about her friend. Her magic seemed slightly stronger. It wasn't anything major, but she was able to lift heavier weight than Bon-Bon could recall, and she was able to react to things faster with her magic. Sure, simple practice would allow a unicorn to do this, the dedication required to improve was something Lyra had never shown before. Even if this was the case, that was no reason to go into the Everfree without a parent. Bon-Bon decided enough was enough, and had invited her friend to play this Saturday as a ruse to sit down with her and find out what was going on. Rarity, who had joined into the groups circle of friendship was going to show us as well to find out what their friend was up to. Of course, Lyra had yet again simply blown them off with another lie about having stuff to do, and for Bon-Bon it was the last straw!
"No Lyra! Why do you keep lying to us?" Bon-Bon nearly shouted at her friend, who simply leaned back in shock at the outburst. An uncomfortable silence hung in the air between the two friends for what felt like hours. Finally, Lyra was the pony to speak up.
"What do you mean?" She tried to sound as innocent as possible, but the look on Bon-Bon's face assured Lyra that she wasn't getting away with it.
"You know exactly what I mean. You keep blowing everypony off and going off by yourself. I followed you a week ago and saw you going into the Everfree alone. You KNOW that's dangerous!" Bon-Bon didn't let up as she berated her friend, who at this point had sat down as she listened to Bon-Bon's outburst.
"You are keeping something from all of us, and we are getting worried." Bon-Bon finally let up as sat down, mimicking her friend. Lyra just sat silent for a minute before apparently coming to a decision.
"Bon-Bon. I told you once before, but you didn't believe me. I have been visiting a friend who uses magic to come here. He doesn't think being around a lot of ponies is a good idea, but he trusts me. I trust him too, and we have been going into the Everfree to visit and to swap stories." Lyra explained to a shocked Bon-Bon. Bon-Bon recalled Lyra mentioning this before and blowing it off as her friend being silly, but to hear it yet again brought confusion.
"Wait wait, you were serious about that?" The young filly asked her friend, skepticism heavy in her voice. Lyra simply nodded while looking to the ground, almost as if ashamed that she had been blowing her friends off as much as she had. Perhaps that was exactly what was going through her head, but Bon-Bon couldn't be certain.
"Yeah, but I can get more time after this weekend. He said they had some stuff happening soon and he wouldn't be able to visit much for a while." Lyra explained, with no deception in her voice. Last time they had wondered through the Everfree, Silver had told Lyra about a nearby kingdom who was amassing an army, so his Liege had started forming up defenses against a potential attack. Lyra had been shocked to learn that a child of Silver's age would be used for this, but he quickly explained that his role was to buckle down and study in case the worst possible thing happened and he was needed in the war. Even though he was just thirteen, he was considered part of the military though, so if it came to it, he possibly would be sent to the front lines to fight. The thought of her best friend going to war brought a frown to Lyra's face once again, as it had several times since she had learned about it.
Bon-Bon noticed the change in her friend and realized perhaps she was pushing too hard into an area she shouldn't.
'I think she is still keeping something from me. Maybe she is meeting a colt out there. Whatever it is she seems down about it, or about lying about it. I guess I should back off a bit.' Deciding to let her friend off the hook for the moment, Bon-Bon played along with her friends outlandish story.
"It's ok Lyra. I'll stop asking about this human. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, I was just concerned because people have noticed you not behaving as yourself." Bon-Bon explained, earning a slightly surprised look from her friend. Lyra had thought she was keeping things well and under wraps, but Bon-Bon wouldn't lie about others noticing.
'Darn. I guess Silver being busy will give me time to fix all this.' Lyra immediately started thinking about how she could recover from the damage she had caused.
"It's alright Bons. I am sorry I seemed like I was avoiding you. It had nothing to do with you I promise, and Sunday we can spend the whole day together!" Lyra promised her best friend, leaning forward to give her a hug as part of her apology. Bon-Bon happily returned the hug with a smile on her face, glad that her friend seemed to be coming back, and all thought's of what she was hiding being swept aside by the warmth of Lyra's front legs around her neck.
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"Silver!" Lyra shouted to her friend as she ran towards him. Typically she was the first to arrive for their meetings, but this time he was already there. This worked well for Lyra as she needed to talk about her conversation with Bon-Bon earlier in the week.
Silver stood beside a small creek that the two usually picnicked alongside and occasionally swam in. His body stance this time however almost appeared regal, yet worn. This didn't escape Lyra who slowed down as she approached him from behind.
"Silver?" She hesitantly asked about five hoofs from him. He slowly turned, and nearly took the breath from Lyra with his eyes alone. He looked so depressed, as though he had seen or heard things. After the shock of his depressed look hit her, she noticed his outfit was now different. Where before he wore simple robes and his bracers that bound him to his lord, he now wore a cape that hung off his back, with elaborate body armor and a sword at his side. This outfit reminded her of the image in the book she had first heard of humans from, and radiated a much more threatening appearance. Had he appeared this way when they first met, Lyra doubted she would have trusted him very much.
Silver's eyes noticed her take in his outfit as his right hand rested on the sword at his hip.
"Intimidating, isn't it? It's battle armor. A wizard has to wear it when the nation is at war." He explained figuring that a pony as bright as Lyra would quickly put the pieces together. Sure enough, her eyes shot to his own when the word 'war' left his lips.
"War?" Lyra could only mimic Silver's words. The shock of such a thing happening hit harder than she thought it would. Young ponies learned of wars from the past in school, but it had been decades since any real threat had happened in Equestria, so the concept of war, or of one pony trying to kill another pony even, was foreign to Lyra. She had learned that Silver's world was a potentially violent place, but the idea of anypony, or anyone as humans would say, would lead their subjects to a potential death was sickening.
"But you said if that happened you wouldn't have to fight." Lyra repeated from what Silver had told her before. Silver shook his head however, and corrected her.
"No, I said I wouldn't be the first to fight. If needed, I would be expected to go to the front line. The first attack was larger than expected, and had support we didn't think possible. The south Wizard's Tower was destroyed, and many of our front line casters were there." He explained, trying to maintain a stoic appearance, though his voice betrayed the fear and, to a lesser extent anger, at what he was describing. Lyra had no need to remain stoic, and could feel tears forming and slowly falling down her face.
"I'm not going to be in the very front, but I will be auxiliary support." He added, hoping to help calm the pony down before him.
"What does that mean?" Lyra asked as she took a hesitant step forward. She had so many more questions, but that was all she could trust her voice with at the moment.
"It means I will help defend against the magics cast by our enemy, so that our soldiers and offensive wizards can attack without fear. It also means if our offensive casters die, I take over and start using offensive magic." Silver answered simply. Lyra was shocked even at the concept.
Offensive magic. Magic to hurt. To Kill.
"How long will you have to fight?" Lyra tried to ignore the idea that he might have to take a life, but failed. Silver was a friendly person, and never acted aggressive or threatening, yet now he was talking about killing another human.
"As long as it takes. I am my Lord's Wizard, and as such his weapon to wield." Silver answered, almost sounding like he was speaking from a recording. Perhaps part of some oath he had taken. No matter, Lyra lept up and wrapped her front legs around his neck, hugging him tight as she cried at the thought of her friend going to war. Silver finally broke his stance and gently returned the hug, stroking his hand down Lyra's mane as the two simply stood there with the sounds of the forest and water the only thing around them. After several minutes, Silver finally let go of his friend who reluctantly did the same.
"Well, I have to return. I was only given a few minutes of personal time before I report to the airship hangar." Silver explained as he checked his armor and weapon to make sure nothing had fallen loose. Lyra simply nodded as she watched him prepare for war.
"When will you have time to return? I'll be here whenever you need." Lyra asked, realizing that with a war, there probably wasn't any sort of schedule he could maintain. The look in his eyes confirmed her suspicions.
"I probably won't know until the war is complete. It could be year if things go bad. Possibly longer." Silver explained, leaving just how long silent, though the two of them knew. He might not come back at all, if he didn't survive. Lyra opened her mouth to make him promise to return, but stopped just short of voicing the thought. She wasn't an ignorant pony, and knew that war involved death, and that none of those deaths were planned on the side of the loser. As such, no promise such as that could be made. Instead, she spoke a different promise.
"Promise me you will watch your back, and fight as hard as possible. Win this war, and then come visit. I promise I'll be looking forward to it when you do." Lyra commanded, her voice still shaking and tears flowing from her eyes. Silver simply gave her a warm smile and knelt down on one knee, bowing his head to her.
"I give you my word, as a Wizard of the Crown, and member of the First Royal Wizard Academy that I will fight this war to the best of my abilities and then some, and that I accept from you this promise. I promise to maintain due vigilance during battle, both on the field and off, and upon victory, returning to you milady." Silver spoke, sounding more regal than he ever had before.
"I speak these words as a Wizard, and as such will always be bound to them." Taking one of Lyra's hoofs in hand, he lifted it to his mouth and gently kissed it before releasing and standing up. Behind him, the familiar portal he used the first time they had met opened. Lyra wiped away the tears and smiled to her friend, not wanting his last view of her to be a filly in pain.
"I promise to be here. Go win that war!" She cheered him on, hoping it would give him the strength to do just that. And with a simple salute, Silver stepped backwards into the portal, out of Equestria, and out of Lyra's life. Potentially forever.