Lyra woke up, cold, as usual. Her stomach screamed out in pain, knocking her back from an attempt to stand. She had no idea where she was; though her eyes were blurry, she knew this was not the damp ally she had fallen in. It was just as cold, but not as...dark. On the ground, she noticed that her face was padded in the green grass that expanded across Equestria's hills. It was much more comfortable than the dirt roads. Also with the senses she retained, she saw that she was shielded from the pouring rain. A shadow cast over her, and she weakly looked up at the flimsy lean-to structure. She had not made this.
Once again, she tried to stand. Her hoof trembled on the cold ground, but this time she did manage to get one shoulder up before her gut knocked her down again. She turned down to see her starving belly. Her ribs were bold on her the skinny unicorn; she could not remember the last time she had eaten. Coughing, she let her head fall with a thud. Her energy was running out by the second, and now, she had hardly the energy to breathe. Defeated by her situation, she just stared out behind her at the town of Ponyville. The only bright side to this was now she knew where she was.
Over a hill behind her, she saw an approaching pony. Lyra had to blink rapidly to clear her eyes and discover who this pony was. She could tell that this approaching pony was light blue, and a unicorn from the looks of it. The most blatant feature that caught Lyra's eyes, however, was the fact that this pony was in the same condition as her. She was obviously weak, Lyra could tell by how she was walking. This pony was skinny, and her ribs thrust out her sides with each step she took. But she could not see the pony's face; her head was bowed, and blue her main was covering her face.
"H...Hello...?" Lyra hoarsely pushed out. Straining her eyes, she saw the approaching pony's ears perk up.
"You're actually alive," said the astonished voice of the pony. She sounded oddly familiar to Lyra, but she could not put her hoof on it. So she just lay limp in the grass, hopeful as this new pony looked up. "I didn't think you'd actually make it."
Lyra tried to speak again, but her voice cracked, and she began coughing harshly. "You shouldn't strain yourself," the pony said. Lyra watched her pick up her pace. "Hold still," this pony commanded as she knelt by her side, "You don't want to waste your energy."
The unicorn's horn glowed a dim blue light, and Lyra began to feel a bit of strength coming back to her. Air was rushing into her lungs just as it had when she was healthy. The pony backed down, and began breathing heavily. "That's all I could do," she panted.
It was enough for Lyra to talk though. "Who...Who are you," she said dryly.
The panting pony suddenly stood, chest puffed. "I am the Great and Powerful..." then, she slouched back on the ground. "Ah, who am I kidding, no one cares anymore. My name's Trixie," she said. Lyra's eyes grew wide; yes, she did remember this pony. This was the one who bolstered until the ursa minor destroyed half of the town.
"You...You're the one that brought the ursa to Ponyville," Lyra said heavily.
Trixie sighed and shook her head. "No, it was two morons that wanted a show. Even still..." Trixie's voice trailed off. The blue unicorn looked out upon Ponyville, and a good bit of silence persisted.
"I imagine you're pretty hungry," Trixie eventually said. Lyra didn't want to admit it to this proud pony, but she was. Weakly she nodded her head, her dirty mane falling into her face. "Yep. Here, I, erm, found these," Trixie said, picking some carrots up from the ground. "They aren't as good as apples, but they're all I've got."
Lyra lifted her head with great effort to get at the carrot Trixie was levitating in front of her. She took a chunk from it, and fell back to the wet grass. The carrot was the first food she had gotten in a long time, and it was by far the best thing she had ever tasted. But, she was not interested in savoring the flavor; she quickly swallowed the bite, and went for another. Trixie had gotten the carrot closer to her, so she could get it with less energy, but she still fell to the ground when she had successfully gotten a bite.
"So..." Trixie began as Lyra took a third bite, "I hope you don't mind the fact that I dragged you here. But I saw you in that ally, and I'm pretty sure you were as close to death as anypony can get."
Lyra swallowed, and spoke up. "Water?" was all she said.
"Hang on, I'll check the bucket," Trixie said. Lyra had no idea what that meant, and could only watch as the blue unicorn slowly walked around the tree. When she was out of sight, Lyra sighed, and closed her eyes.
Only a moment later, Trixie was back. "Here you go," she said, getting Lyra's attention. "With all the rain, I figured I'd put a bucket out. It tastes much better than the river water," she said, bringing the bucket up to Lyra's mouth with her hooves. Lyra, extremely grateful, pressed her lips to the bucket's rim, and began gulping down the water. But Trixie pulled away. "Don't drink too fast, you'll throw it all up, and water is not to be wasted, fool."
Lyra nodded in understanding, but snarled at the 'fool' part. "I'm sorry," Trixie apologized as she brought the bucked back to Lyra's lips. "I don't mean to be so self righteous. It was a bad habit I got into...I'm trying to break it." Lyra just sighed and continued drinking, slower this time.
Trixie pulled away again. "You don't want to drink too much either," she told Lyra, as she placed the bucket at the back of the lean-to. "Now as I was saying," she continued, "you were pretty beaten. You ARE pretty beaten. And I knew you probably wouldn't have made it in that ally, especially in this freezing storm. Honestly, I can't understand what the pegasus ponies are doing. " She sat in front of Lyra's hind hooves, and began munching on a carrot herself. "But I'm getting off track. I know what it's like to be in that situation, and I couldn't just leave you there. So I took it upon myself to get you here," she said. But then she looked away. "I'm sorry, I'm getting arrogant again."
"No, it's okay," Lyra told her weakly. There was no reason to hold a grudge now. "Thank you."
Trixie gave a half hearted smile. "You know, I don't blame you if you're mad at me. I'm not bitter anymore."
Lyra rolled on her stomach. "Neither am I," she admitted as she tried to stand again. This time, she managed to get her torso off the ground before her arms gave out. She fell to the ground coughing.
"Don't strain yourself," Trixie sincerely warned. "It's a mistake I made a lot in the beginning." Lyra said nothing as she tried to regain her breath. "Speaking of that," Trixie said, taking another bite of the carrot, "How long have you been like this?"
Lyra, who had given up, answered: "Almost three months."
Trixie nodded. "That explains quite a few things." She nudged another carrot to Lyra. "So how did you get here? I think I saw you in the Ponyville crowd, and you were still full there. What happened?"
"I...Don't want to talk about it," Lyra coughed, looked down at the carrot. She leaned in, and gripped it with her teeth. Her mane still in her face, she pulled it up to her, and began nibbling away at it.
"Trust me, I understand," Trixie responded. "Even after a year, I...I don't even like to think about it. But if anything, it taught me a few things." Trixie nibbled on her own carrot. They were down to one carrot now.
Lyra looked over her shoulder with effort, and gave a slight interested look. Trixie wasn't paying attention, she found. Her rescuer was staring out at the river. "You learn a lot of things when you lose everything," Trixie commented quietly. Her tone had gotten much more serious.
After a few minutes of silence, Trixie changed her tone and said, "But, some say life's a full circle, so who knows. Anyways, don't you have somepony that you can turn to? I mean, you can't be all alone."
Lyra sighed. "I...I am," she said, burying her face in the grass. "What about you?" she weakly asked, her voice muffled.
"Me?" Trixie repeated. "I'm alone too. Well, I was, till I found you. To be honest, it's kinda nice to have some company besides the ponies I beg to," she sighed.
"You don't have parents or somepony like that?" Lyra coughed.
Trixie shook her head. "Nah, they've been gone for a long time," she chuckled. Lyra could hear a hint of sadness though. "But ya know the last thing I remember my mom telling me? She said, 'Trixie, you'll go far in life.' I wish." She downed the last of her carrot. "But I never was good at magic, so I guess my wishes don't come true."
"I'm sorry," Lyra sympathized.
"Well what about you?" Trixie asked, still staring at the river. "Don't you have a family?"
Lyra, still on the ground, quietly shook her head. "No..." she weakly muttered. She pushed her mane from her face, but it just fell back.
"I see," Trixie whispered to herself. Lyra was too focused to hear. She was trying to push herself up again. She had gotten her torso off the ground, and was working on her legs. She was under a lot of strain, but with aching tendons, she got to her hooves.
Trixie got up to help the stumbling pony. "Well I must say I'm surprised," she said, leaning to Lyra to keep her up. "Only about ten minutes ago and I thought you were gonna die," She smirked. "Come on, you should have a seat." She helped Lyra to the back of the tiny lean to - which wasn't very far - and helped her sit. When she was upright, Trixie sat next to her.
"Alright, now deep breaths," Trixie told Lyra. She took in a large breath, and exhaled it, then repeated. "Good," her companion said.
After some blood began flowing to her brain, Lyra began to stabilize. "You're doing better than I did," Trixie told her. "Well done."
"Trixie?" Lyra asked. "When you were in Ponyville, you were so boastful. What..." she took a moment to capture her breath. "What happened to you?"
Trixie sighed, and slouched. "It, uh...It was a year ago, in Ponyville. Well, actually it started just after the ursa incident. I left Ponyville for Trottingham. I had gone there before, so I was sure they'd have me back. But..." She sighed. "Word spreads faster than fire across Equestria. By the time I had made it to Trottingham, I was despised. Everyone thought that I brought the ursa in to destroy Ponyville. I was a villain to everyone..."
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"Go on! Get out!" the mayor of Trottingham yelled to Trixie. The blue mare had been hit with tomatoes and rotten fruit as she entered the town, and now, she was told to leave. All she wanted was some work.
"You fools! How dare you speak to the Great and Powerful Trixie in such an insulting manor!" She spat. "Be ignorant if you want, but Trixie has no need for such idiocy!"
"Then get out of here already!" somepony yelled.
Trixie was offended. "How dare you talk to Trixie like that! How dare you talk to Trixie at all!"
Suddenly, she was hit in the face with an apple. "Go away before you bring in another ursa you monster!" a pony in the crowd demanded.
Her face steamed red.
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"From Trottingham I went to Fillydelphia. They weren't any better," she sighed. She looked to Lyra, who was listening intently.
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"I say!" a stuck up pony shouted in disgust.
"Trixie shall not be tossed from this town! You will RESPECT Trixie's power!" She snapped.
A snooty pony stood from the crowd. "I would respect you more if you did not smell like a dying animal! Take a bath!"
"I agree!" another shouted, "You smell absolutely awful!"
Trixie blushed from embarrassment and was flustered from frustration. "You do not understand what the Great and Powerful Trixie is going through right now!" she stammered.
"It smells as though you've gone through a sewer!" Somepony exclaimed. This led an uproar of laughter.
She could only watch as a crowd of at least a hundred ponies laughed straight at her.
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"Of course I couldn't take a bath," She told Lyra. "My cart was destroyed by the ursa. I was sleeping on the roadsides as I traveled from town to town. At first I was optimistic..." Lyra watched as Trixie turned away. "I don't know why. Hoofington, Manehattan, they all treated me the same. Hay, I even went to Dodge Junction and Appleloosa. But they were no different. Even Cloudsdale...but I don't want to talk about that." She shuddered. She looked back up to Lyra. Her cheeks were red as an apple now. "The worst one, though, was Canterlot."
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Trixie stood in the middle of the town, surrounded by condescending ponies. This was her last chance, and she blew it already.
Her mane was an awful mess, and she hadn't eaten in days. "The Great and Powerful Trixie CAN do amazing things!" she protested.
"Right! I do say, the stories from Manehattan were quite amazing!" A pony yelled sarcastically. Trixie blushed hard.
"Why don't you just go? You're done!" a pegasus snarled. For the fanciness of these ponies, their bite was hard.
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"It was just like the rest of the towns. But then, Celestia and Luna showed up," Trixie said hushed. "That was when I knew it was over..."
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"Yes, I do remember you," Celestia said, getting in Trixie's face. The crowed of ponies hushed in anticipation. "Twilight sparkle has told me about your ursa."
"P-Please, Princess," Trixie said, low to the ground and shaking.
"Not so Great and Powerful now!" somepony in the hushed crowed laughed.
Luna intervened. "Thou shall be silent!" The pony backed down immediately.
"Tell me," Celestia said, "after half a year, have you still not learned your lesson?"
"I...I..." Trixie stuttered.
Celestia shook her head. "You may just want to leave."
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"Well, a lesson I did learn eventually," Trixie said quietly.
Lyra looked at her, almost understanding. "But wait. Celestia just told you to leave?"
Trixie shook her head. "Yep," Trixie mouthed. It looked like there were tears in her eyes.
Lyra looked away. Her mane had fallen into her face again, but she could see all too well. The two skinny ponies sat there, motionless, for a good while. Neither said anything to the other, rather, they let the rain do the talking for a little bit.
"What was the lesson that you learned?" Lyra asked, shaking her head.
Trixie snapped from her daze, and looked to Lyra. "I, uh, I learned that boasting won't get anypony anywhere. That's why I'm not the 'Great and Powerful Trixie anymore...I'm just Trixie." She coughed from exhaustion. The sun was setting over the hills and mountains, and the harsher cold of the night was creeping in.
"I don't have any blankets," She told Lyra. "Nights are pretty cold..." She coughed again.
Lyra sighed. "Well, I, um..." she blushed. "I wouldn't mind getting close for warmth."
Trixie smiled softly. "I...I'd actually like that."
They smiled to each other. Lyra was glad to finally be warm again. So, with the mutual agreement, they got close, and snuggled into each other. They were both too skinny to produce any real heat, but it was enough for them. The sun continued creeping down, and the two looked out at the pink sunset that was piercing through the breaking clouds.. They were both dirty, and they both smelled, but right now it didn't matter; they were warm.
"So, um, I don't think I caught your name," Trixie told the unicorn she was snuggling with.
"It's Lyra," Lyra told her. She saw Trixie smile again, and they both snuggled in again.
Trixie was staring out at the sunset between the clouds, silent, but she soon opened her mouth. "Lyra," she said, "I don't mean to make this any more awkward, but-"
"I don't think it's awkward," Lyra smiled.
Trixie blushed, and continued, "But I'm sorry. I don't think I've ever actually said it, but I feel like I need to."
"I understand more than you know," Lyra said, her head falling down on Trixie's shoulder. "I, um, I'm feeling better by the way. Thank you for getting me from the ally. You...You're probably right. I don't think I would've made it."
Trixie picked up the carrot, and snapped it in half with magic. "Here," she said, giving the bigger half to Lyra. "I'm glad you're feeling better, and I don't want that to change. Eat up." She smiled to her.
Lyra took the carrot with her own magic, and began nibbling on it, enjoying the taste this time. It was more...savory now. It tickled her dry taste buds.
But Trixie coughed again. She turned away from Lyra of course, but still wheezed nonetheless. "Are you okay?" Lyra asked.
Trixie smiled and nodded. "Yeah, I'm just getting a little sick is all. I'll be alright," she reassured her new friend.
Lyra was weary, but smiled back and continued with her carrot. The clouds were breaking quickly, but the sun was fast disappearing, and the cold was rolling in with the starry night. She gripped Trixie a bit tighter.
"Days are cold, and nights are colder," Trixie said. "I'm sure you already know. But still, it's nice to not be cold alone."
Lyra nodded in silent agreement, and the two snuggled as the sun set below the mountains, and Luna's night began..........
"..........Lyra? Lyra, wake up!" Trixie was shaking her.
The green unicorn shot up. She was sweating and shaking horribly. "What's going on?" she asked frantically.
"Nothing. You just started shaking. I think you were having a nightmare," she said, turning to cough. "Besides, it's day, and we need to be getting up. The sun is already over the mountains, and we need food. Especially before the pegasus storms pick up again."
"Oh, um, okay," the tired pony said. She stood up, this time a bit easier than the last. Trixie was helping her, so that did contribute to it, but the slight nourishment was doing wonders. When she was on her hooves, she said, "Thank you, Trixie." She smiled, and Trixie could pick up on the meaning behind it. She smiled, and they turned to face the new day.
"Lyra," Trixie began, "You can stay here. I'll be back with something soon...Well, I'll try anyways. You still need some rest. So stay and take a breather. That nightmare must've been pretty bad."
Lyra protested this. "I don't know. You're sick. I think you should be the one to take a break."
"Please, you're my only friend now, one of the few I've ever had. I'll go," Trixie said. Lyra sighed, and backed down. She was still very weary, and probably wouldn't be too much help anyways.
She nodded slowly. "Okay, but stay safe," Lyra sighed as she fell to her plot, her legs giving out.
"I've been doing this for almost half a year. I'll be alright," She reassured Lyra. It didn't help with her anxiety about this. Though, she was always anxious now... She could not speak up in time to protest again before Trixie left. She could only watch as her new friend weakly walked over the same hill she had came from the day before.
It felt like hours - it probably was a few - before Trixie returned. The storm clouds were recollecting, and Lyra knew that if she didn't get back in time, she'd be caught in the storm. And even though Trixie seemed to handle herself just fine, Lyra knew that deep on the inside, she was afraid of being alone again. So she stared out at Ponyville, nervously awaiting the return of Trixie.
She was sprawled on the grass, weak and tired, when Trixie returned. It was just beginning to rain, so Lyra was thankful that her friend had made good time. But there was a look of disappointment on Trixie's face that upset Lyra. As the blue unicorn approached, Lyra pushed herself up to her feeble hooves and asked, "What's wrong"
Trixie didn't answer, but instead stay silent with only two apples in her mouth. She dropped them on the ground under the lean-to tent, and fell to her side. "This is all I could find," she said softly, coughing again.
Lyra smiled. "It's more than I've had in a long time. And honestly, I'm glad we have these. You did a fine job," she said weakly.
"You sound thirsty," Trixie commented. And now that she thought about it, she was very thirsty. "You could go to the river and get a drink. We're out of rainwater, but this storm should take care of that. Still, go, get a drink. I'll try to get something warm going." She smiled to Lyra, and sat up.
Lyra was too thirsty to ignore it, and she used the energy she had left to drudge herself down to the river. In truth, it wasn't bad. The rain felt...nice today, a strange change from the bitter sting she had grown accustomed to. It was almost refreshing as she sat on the river bank. Looking into the water, she bent down to get a drink, but was stopped. The water was murky and muddy, obviously nasty. It almost looked as bad as her reflection. She could see clearly, even in the mud, her cuts and bruises. She could even see the dirt, which was surprising. But the burning in her throat got her attention again, and she leaned in for the tainted water.
It was bitter and diluted, and she wanted to spit it out. Trixie was right; this was not like the rainwater at all. Grudgingly, she swallowed it, and concluded that she had had enough. She turned from the river, and headed back up to the lean-to that sat under the tree.
"That was nasty," she said in a scratchy voice. She sat next to Trixie, and sighed. Trixie, though, gave a tiny chuckle.
"I told you," she said. "You should listen to me...wait, I'm sorry." She said, hanging her head.
Lyra smiled. "It's okay. But I guess we're gonna be here all day," she nodded limply to the rain. Trixie silently nodded. Lyra wrapped her arm around Trixie's bony body, and pulled her close. Trixie did the same, and they sat silently staring out into the rain.
"Trixie," Lyra said eventually, "I guess since you told me you're story...and I know how hard it was for you to say...I can tell you mine."
Trixie looked into Lyra's eyes. "You don't have to if-"
"No, it's okay. I'll tell you. If you want to hear it, that is," she blushed.
"I'd be honored. And not much is honorable to me anymore, so..." she smiled.
Lyra giggled slightly, and began: "It was about four or five months ago." Her voice was very weak. "Well, I was playing my harp in Ponyville, and princess Luna was in town for some reason. Well I was playing a song called 'Thy Calm Night.' Apparently she knew it."
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"Little Pony, what is that thy art playing. It sounds like Thy Calm Night," Princess Luna remarked as she approached. Lyra was sitting on a hill, under the rising moon, simply playing away when she had appeared.
At first she was startled, but honored nonetheless. "P-Princess," She smiled nervously. After last nightmare night, she knew the princess was okay, but she was still uneasy. "I-It is."
"Thy plays marvelously. Tell me, where did thou learn thy skills?" The Princess asked.
"I-I was self taught," Lyra fumbled her words.
"Thou art truly impressive," Luna remarked.
Lyra put on as good a smile that she could create, and said, "Thank you."
"I believe I hast an idea," Luna bolstered proudly. "Dost thou like Ponyville?"
"W-Well it's nice."
Luna smiled, full of joy. "How would thy like to come to Canterlot? My sister hast been searching for a musician! She would love to meet thou!"
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"I went with her. To be honest, I never really did like Ponyville. I always wanted to be big and famous. And the castle sounded so good," she explained hoarsely.
"Did you have no one you were leaving behind?" Trixie asked.
Lyra turned slightly pale. She took a deep breath in, but did not say anything. Instead, she just turned away. Tears swelled, but did not fall. "I'll tell you."
She gave Trixie a moment to cough again, and continued.
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"Well, Luna, I think you've done it," Celestia said, impressed.
Lyra was shining, happier than she had ever been in her life. The princess liked her! She never thought it would happen! "Princess...Thank you...THANK YOU!" she cheered.
Celestia laughed. "Yes, you are quite the musician. I love you're harp, and you have quite the personality. I think you'll fit in here," she shined.
Lyra almost exploded with joy. This was the best thing that could have ever happened to her! If only her parents could see her... She sighed, but continued her mental rave. Now was no time to be brought down by the past. Now was time for celebration! "Does this mean I get to stay in the castle?" she asked excitedly. And when Celestia nodded, her heart boomed.
She began cheering, bouncing all over the main hall of Canterlot. Her smile was bigger than a crescent moon, and her excitement could have fueled a second sun. But, as the sun and moon watched her dance, so did a different part of Lyra herself.
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"I was so excited," Lyra smiled sadly. She looked out of the lean-to, and saw that the sun, though shrouded by the clouds and wind, was at about midday. "I was finally leaving the dust and dirt of Ponyville behind."
"Sounds like you had a lot going for you," Trixie said with a confused look. She levitated an apple to her mouth, and took a very tiny bite. "What happened?"
Lyra sighed, and with her magic, picked up her apple and began taking extremely small bites. She had learned to conserve food well in the three months that she had to. "Well," she said, "I learned a lesson of my own."
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Lyra was doing her best to explain. "Look Bon-Bon, I'm moving up in Equestria, you just have to accept that."
But Bon-Bon was distraught. "You're just leaving...Just like that?" she asked in tears. "After we were roommates for years... I took you in when you're parents..."
"Bon-Bon, you mean a lot to me, but I just have to go. I'm in your debt, truly I am, but it's time for me to fly, so to speak," she said, tossing her last bag onto the royal carriage.
"Please..." Bon-Bon begged, "I don't have anypony but you. You mean so much to me!"
Lyra wouldn't hear it though. "It was good rooming with you, it was. And you're a great friend, but I have to do this. Like I just said, it's time for me to fly. And I can't soar if you bring me down."
Bon-Bon watched her dearest friend get in the carriage. Not even the interested crowd of ponies could steal her attention from this. "But Lyra...I thought you cared about me..."
Even the guards pulling the chariot looked away. "If you cared about me, you'd let me go." She turned to the guards, and nodded. Instantly, they took off, soaring to Canterlot. But, as they flew over Ponyville one last time, she looked down at Bon-Bon's house, and the crying Bon-Bon that watched her fly away. Lyra turned away, and wondered if she was doing the right thing.
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"See...I left behind a piece of myself that day," Lyra said.
Trixie gave her an odd look. "Well can't you still go to her. I thought you said you had nopony you knew."
Lyra was going to respond, but just sighed and continued with the story.
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She stood at the end of the dining hall, doing her new, prestigious duty. She knew she would be fed soon, but for now, she just played, her eyes closed, her music flowing. Her wonderful notes filled the hall, soothing the air, and filling it with a sense of calm.
She had been here for three weeks now, and she was loving every bit of it. She was even befriending the princesses, and that made her overwhelmed with joy. But in her music, she could hear something that sang a different song. It was...nostalgic. She sighed, and kept playing.
Her mane was fine combed, and she was well groomed, wearing a little blue tie that matched her coat. She was quite the pony now, and she was proud of it! If only Bon-Bon could see her now...
"Lyra?" Celestia gained her attention. She snapped from her music induced haze, and bowed to the dining princesses. "Is something the matter?"
"No, Princess, nothing," she said, putting on a smile.
"Art thy sure? Thy music is...heavy tonight," Luna observed.
"Everything is perfectly fine, my Princesses," she said. The royal respect tone lessons were kicking in.
"Only if you are sure," Celestia said, slowly returning to her food. Lyra nodded graciously, and began playing again.
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Lyra, the bony pony she was now, was staring down at her cutie mark. "The lyre is a beautiful instrument..." she said.
Trixie chimed in, "It is. But what significance is it to your tale? Oh...I'm sorry. I don't mean to be pushy." She blushed hard.
"It's okay. I said that because I always thought music came from the mind, that it was complex and created because our mind wished for it to be so," she said.
"You're a poet to?" Trixie smiled.
Lyra tried to smile back, but she just couldn't do it.
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"Lyra," Celestia said to her as she sat on her bed. They were in her private quarters, and Lyra had no clue what was happening. "You are a talented musician, and a wonderful pony. But I can hear in your music an obvious fact."
Lyra was worried now. She had been here for almost two months; was Celestia just tossing her? "Princess, I don't understand..."
"I know, Lyra. I don't think you're ready to," she sighed. Celestia sat on Lyra's bed, and looked at the pony, straight in the eyes.
"Are...Are you getting rid of me? I thought I was important..." she looked away.
"Exactly," Celestia said. "And that is the reason why, my little pony, I don't think you are ready to be in Canterlot."
Lyra's eyes swelled with tears. "No...Please don't force me out. I...I..." her voice trailed off.
"I'm sorry Lyra, but you just aren't ready," Celestia said quietly.
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"Just like she told me," Trixie pieced together, "She told you to just go..."
Lyra silently nodded. "I was so devastated that I thought about suicide. Sometimes...Sometimes I still do. But at the moment, I was actually hopeful."
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Lyra knocked on the door to Bon-Bon's house, a worried look on her face. She had so many things to say, so many apologies to give. She just prayed to Celestia that Bon-Bon would forgive her. She knocked again, and a third time, each time getting no answer. Eventually, she had given up.
She turned away from the house, and began to walk out into the fading day, when she heard the door open. Her heart skipped a beat. Her ears perked, and a smile on her face, she spun around to greet her sorely missed friend. But she was not there. Instead, there was an old pony with a withering mane. "Can I help you miss?" he asked in a frail voice.
"Where...Where's Bon-Bon?" Lyra asked, her smile gone and her ears down.
"Eh, who?" the old pony asked.
"The pony who lives here," Lyra said with tears in her eyes.
The old pony thought for a minute. "Ah, you mean the young pony who lived here. She skidattled outta here a few weeks ago. When I bought the place, she said something about 'Having to Fly.' Not sure what the crazy gal meant," he said, rubbing his chin.
Lyra felt tears flow down the side of her cheeks.
*************************************************************************************
The tears were very real, even now. Lyra was crying from the pain of that day. "That was the day that I truly fell to shambles," she sniffled.
Trixie sighed, and hugged her tighter. "I'm sorry to hear that," she comforted Lyra. "But you don't have to cry now. You're not alone anymore."
"Don't say that!" She cried. "I am alone..." Lyra buried her face in her hooves.
"We aren't anymore," Trixie tried to comfort her.
"We are! We are..."
Trixie sighed. "Ya know, a year ago, and I would explode and bolster of my great and powerfulness. But I changed. Who's to say you haven't?" Trixie coughed hard when she finished, but she still rewrapped Lyra in her arms when she recovered.
Lyra just sat there, in tears, in the warm embrace of a now generous pony. Who knows...If Trixie did it, then maybe she did to.
Days, weeks, months - three to be exact- passed. The two ponies grew close, closer than they had ever been with anypony else. To Trixie, Lyra was her last slice of heaven, and to Lyra, Trixie was her shred of hope. The two, though they were embarrassed to admit it, were in love. There was no doubt to it. But though their love grew with each passing day, Trixie's condition only worsened. She was coughing most of the time, and her skinny body grew every more frail. Lyra was deathly worried, but Trixie kept telling her that she loved her.
It was no condolence for the fear that Lyra had. She began taking every moment with Trixie, every breath they shared, and recently, every kiss they had, as a treasure to life itself. Trixie meant so much to her, she would gladly give up Canterlot and all its glory and prestige just to be with Trixie. In fact, she was almost...happy, with her situation. As long as the two mare's were in each other's arms, they were smiling.
They held each other for each sunset, for each sunrise, and any time in between. They were happy here. But Trixie's health continued to fail, and soon, she could hardly move. Lyra knew they day would come when she stopped moving all together. That was a day she dreaded, and prayed to Celestia that she could avoid. But no one can avoid fate.
Lyra held the sick Trixie for the sunset. It was beautiful, they both agreed. Lyra, still skinny and in failing health herself, looked down at Trixie, who was barely breathing. Even still, Trixie looked up, and gave a small smile.
"Life," Trixie coughed, "Truly is a full circle. I'm glad to have completed it."
Lyra looked down at her in dismay. "No, no, don't say that," she whispered. "It'll be alright, I promise. We'll get through this."
Trixie coughed and shook her head. "In such a small time, our love grew so big. I can say that right now, I am so very happy. I love you, Lira. I just want you to know." She coughed again.
"I love you to Trix," Lira sniffled. This couldn't be the end... "It'll be all right."
"I know," said the weak Trixie. "It will be, you'll see. And things for me are alright, to be honest." She coughed again, loudly and painfully. "I've been all over Equestria, and the best place I've ever been is in your arms." She coughed once more.
Lira felt tears begin to fall. "You listen to me. It'll all work out, you'll be fine," she said in a wavering voice.
"I will be," Trixie said, snuggling into Lyra's arms, "But will you? You have to go on Lyra. For me."
Lyra was in full tears. "I...I can't go one without you. I love you..."
"I love you too, Lyra. And you've taught me so many things. But the most important thing you've taught me is that there was still a pony, deep in my hollow shell. I love you, and if you truly love me, you'll keep going."
As the sun reached it's cresting point, Lyra sobbed to Trixie, "I'll never forget you. You are the best mare in the world, and worth it and more to me. Thank you."
Trixie coughed, and giggled. "No...n..no... Thank you, Lyra. For everything." She leaned in to her love, and turned back towards the sunset. With one last breath, she closed her eyes, and left Lyra alone on this world again.
Lyra held Trixie, shaking. "I...I love you," she told the lifeless body. Her tears fell onto Trixie's dirty body, rolling down her blue coat. "I love you so much," she whispered in her sobs. Her clutch on Trixie tightened as the light left her world. Now, in the damp night, she was crying alone. "I love you..." she mouthed through her sobs.
She sat with Trixie for hours, crying all that she could. In her arms was the only thing she treasured, lifeless. She rocked Trixie gently, crying for all it was worth. The moon was high in the sky, illuminating her tears as they shimmered on Trixie's body. With all the energy she had left, she mouthed one last time, "I love you."
But before she fell limp to the ground, a huge flash of scalding light appeared before the pathetic lean-to. Lyra squinted, forcing the rest of her tears out. But the light died down, and when her vision focused, she saw Princess Celestia in front of her.
"Hello, my little pony," Celestia said, sitting next to Lyra and the body of her lover.
"P-Princess?" she said weakly. "Why..."
Celestia sighed, and looked up at the moon. "There are more lessons to learn in life than there are stars in the sky," she said. "But each one of them glows just as bright as the other."
Lyra was confused and still in tears. "I don't understand..."
Celestia turned down to Lyra. "Lyra, you pushed away your only friend as if she were nothing. Trixie boasted of her power and caused danger. She learned a valuable lesson, and died happy from the looks of it. I think your lesson is in your arms right now." Lyra sniffled, and looked down at Trixie. "See Lyra, our life isn't infinite. Even Luna and I will pass one day."
Celestia looked down at Lyra, who looked up at her with watery eyes that reflected the raw moonlight. "So I'm sure," Celestia told her, "That now you understand what is valuable in this short time we call life. You traded the love of a dear friend for a castle, and I could hear in your music that even you knew it wasn't worth it. But denial is an awful thing." Celestia sighed, and looked back up at the stars.
"I hope you didn't think I sent you out without knowing what would happen. I knew Bon-Bon had moved, and I knew that you were otherwise alone in this world. Just like I knew Trixie was ruined when I told her to go. But you both learned one of the most valuable lessons life has to offer," she explained. "Can you tell me what it is?" She looked down at Lyra and asked.
Lyra pulled back her tears for now, and did her best to respond to the overshadowing princess. "I learned," she sniffed, "That love, of a friend, family member....or a lover is the most valuable thing in the world." She looked down at Trixie, and began stroking her dirty mane. She felt tears begin to flow again.
"I'm proud of you Lyra," Celestia smiled gently. "You are ready for Canterlot now." The large alicorn stood, and her horn grew a bright, intense gold. Lyra closed her eyes, expecting to teleport, but it did not happen. Instead, she found her arms empty; Trixie was gone. But before she could speak out, the princess's horn glowed the same, intense gold, and they flashed away from the little lean-to shack, to the gold-laced palace of Canterlot.
Lyra was blinded, but when she could see, she saw she was alone in the main hall. Celestia was nowhere. But when she looked at herself, she saw she was not dirty anymore. The dirt and grime had been washed away somehow. She was in disbelief, but more so in dismay. She would give anything to just have the body of her lover in her arms again.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a guard pony. "Excuse me, miss, I've been ordered to take you to your quarters."
She was very close to objecting, but sighed, and silently followed the pony, her head hanging and tears silently creeping down. She followed the guard down a side hall, and to the left, where her room was over half a year ago. "Here you are miss. And don't worry, all are ordered to leave you be," the guard said, standing tall.
She quietly thanked him, and when he left, she opened her door. Without looking up, she closed her door, and fell to her plot, tears flowing free. Even now that she had her life back...she felt too alone to feel alive.
"Your tears," she heard a familiar voice, "are much sweeter than the river water." She looked up, ears perked, and there, sitting on her bed, was a blue unicorn. Trixie. Lyra's love. Lyra's world.
The End