Lyra Heartstrings sat on a bench. She did not sit upon her haunches or lie along it as a normal pony would, rather she had her spine to the bench's back. Her hind legs dangled in the air and she seemed content. She sat much in the way a human would - as if something so ridiculous could actually exist - but she had never heard that word. In fact there was a simple logic and curiosity to her posture. Why did the bench have a backing if it wasn't meant to be used in such a way? Wouldn't a slab have made much more sense to the ways a typical pony would relax upon a bench anyway? These were thoughts such as Lyra had on any day whether sun, rain, or blizzard. Perhaps her constant thoughts and actions involving the everyday were why so many ponies thought of her as 'a little off'.
There were just so many things in their world which didn't make a lick of sense to her. Take for example doorknobs which are difficult to operate without magic but are still far more widely spread then the ease which is a handle. You just push down on it with your hoof, nothing complicated involved. Or perhaps another example is needed, in such a case why not look upon books, stairs, the handles on mugs, swords, bows, balloons... there really wasn't much in the way of hoof-friendly devices and tools. So she thought upon it and wondered if perhaps they had been modeled after something from days gone by.
Regardless of her reasons behind her actions, and stepping around the issue of her own sanity, the way in which she sat probably saved her life that day.
"Watch out!" Screamed a familiar rainbow blur as it rocketed past mere millimeters from her snout and just about her lyre. If she had been sitting normally they would likely have both been dead. As it was though Dash merely found herself buried in a puddle of mud, apologizing profusely to a very irate rarity who was shaking her in the air with magic. Mud had plastered itself all over Rarity's coat, and just after the spa as well. None of you should try to understand why she was thus angered, after all such an event did involve a mud bath, a second one was hardly an issue, possibly a bonus in fact.
The two passed by Lyra as she sat on the same bench silently thanking the universe for her own uniqueness. She only caught a snippet of their conversation but it piped her curiosity.
"I'm telling you I just heard it from Twilight. There's a new Alicorn in Canterlot."
In fact it was less curiosity and more a savage greed for knowledge about this shocking revelation which led Lyra to follow them on their way to the Library where the others were waiting. Rainbow had brought a cloud and washed them off as they walked.
Spike greeted them at the doorway and quickly ushered them in. But paused at the sight of Lyra following behind. "I know this is a public library Lyra but could you possibly come back at another time? There's a personal issue they need to work out." Spike was never the best at lying under pressure.
"Unless the new Alicorn is Twilight I'm not leaving little guy." His mouth hung open in surprise as she walked past him and into the main room. The other girls looked at her as she cleared her throat and spoke a bit louder. "I overheard Rainbow telling Rarity about what happened." The girls glared at Dash for a second before Twilight beckoned her over to join them.
"All the letter says is that before he is introduced to Equestria officially, the Princesses want us to meet him. Then there's just a post script saying. 'have spike burn the letter when everyone's there.' " Spike obviously didn't need further invitation and promptly tore the letter our of Twilight's hooves before sending it away via green flame. "Spike wait till i ask-..." A flash of light blinded them all before 2 familiar and one most definitely new Alicorn stood amongst them. The 7 of them gasped and bowed, while spike merely blinked an cocked his head at the newcomers.
"Rise my little ponies, there are no need for formalities among friends. That means you as well Lyra, I haven't seen you since you graduated the academy." She smiled down at all of them, making the mistake of pausing long enough for Luna to flank in.
"Greetings friends! I wish we could stay longer but there's a lot to do incorporating our dear young nephew here into Equestria."
"I may be your nephew Luna, but after those thousand years of exile I think you'll find I'm the older of us two." He smiled snidely at Luna.
"Is that true dear sister? Is he truly older then we?" Celestia nodded her head in ascent, yes. Luna then employed the full power of the royal Canterlot voice, focused into a single word, "BUCK!".
"Language Luna! in front of the elements no less" Celestia somehow managed to look scandalized, while Jord, rainbow, and Pinkie laughed at Luna's outburst. "Twilight, friends I would like you all to meet Jord. He's the current representation of Gaia, and will be ruling alongside us in the future."
"But Princess!" Twilight intervened.
"No buts twilight." Celestia said, causing both Pinkie and Lyra to snicker for some reason. "Equestria was originally a Triarchy between the 3 heavenly bodies, and if harmony is to truly return it must be so again. I had placed all my hopes in you elements restoring what once was, but now some of that burden can be lifted away." In turn the ponies too turns introducing themselves, Fluttershy uttering a squeak from behind the couch when Rainbow said her name.
"As Luna said we cannot stay long, I'll answer any questions you send me in your letters however. Goodbye everypony." Celestia and Luna whisked themselves away in a cloud of starlit and a flash of brimstone. Jord paused before following, looking at the instrument in Lyra's hooves. A grin creased his face.
"If it isn't too much trouble Lyra I would greatly enjoy hearing you play. I was never one for the softer melodies and instruments myself, but I still enjoy their music." Lyra smiled slightly and nodded. With the whole room watching Lyra began to play.
While everyone wore a smile by the piece's end, Jord's was the largest. He was obviously lost in thought, but came out quickly after everyone turned to look at him questioningly. He turned to Twilight.
"It is my understanding that you are Celestia's protege, am I correct?" He asked. Upon seeing Twilight's acknowledgement he continued. "Was there some sort of ceremony to inaugurate you as such? Any sort of special papers needed signing and such?"
"Yes actually, I had to sign a few waivers and the like. But there wasn't any real ceremony other than a private one with my family and the Princess." She hesitated. "Why do you ask." Jord ignored her question and turned back to Lyra.
"In that case, I'll need to ask Celestia to find the appropriate forms for you dear Lyra. I'll see you in Canterlot this time next week." With a flash of green he left the 7 ponies and young dragon. All with their mouths open in shock. All eyes turned to Lyra just as Twilight tackled her.