“Order! Order! Order in the League of Lyras!” Yelled Lyra as she slammed a gavel onto the table. The chatter ceased and all eyes turned towards her. “Now, you all may be wondering why I have called you all here today...” Lyra stopped and snickered. “I've always wanted to say that.” She noticed that the assembled were staring at her, and quickly put on a serious face.
“I have called you all here today to discuss something important, fundamental to this organization's very existence, our very existence. I have called you all here today to answer a question that has haunted me on many a sleepless nights, and many of yours too, I'm sure. Why are we here?”
A green mare seated to the east of their round table stood up and spoke. “Well, when a mare and a stallion love each other very much-” “Shameless Lyra sit down! That's not what I'm talking about. What I want to figure out is, why are there so many of us?”
“What do you mean?” Asked Interrogator Lyra. “Well,” Began Philosopher Lyra. “I mean, you know how there are only one of some ponies? There is only one Sepia Tock, and only one Applejack. So, why are there so many of Lyra?”
The assembled Lyras blinked at once, sans Philosopher Lyra. “Why does it matter?” Asked Care-free Lyra. “Well, it doesn't, not really. I just want to know. And, we're not the only ones, either!” “Yeah!” Said Wanderer Lyra. “I got lost on my way here, and when I went into one of the rooms to ask for directions I saw the Band of Bon-Bons.”
“How do you know that they really were the Band of Bon-Bons?” Asked Interrogator Lyra. “They had a banner.” Replied Wandered Lyra. “Not the Band of Bon-bons banner? I thought that was banned!” “It is!” Said Knowledgeable Lyra. “So, they put up the Banned Band of Bon-Bons Banner?” Asked Interrogator Lyra.
Wanderer Lyra shook her head. “No, the Banned Band of Bon-Bons are still serving ten to twenty in the big house, and I don't think they even have a banner. the Band of Bon-Bons I saw weren't banned, just the banner.” “So,” Began Interrogator Lyra. “just to get this straight, the Banned Band of Bon-Bons are still in prison, they might not even have a banner and the Band of Bon-Bons were flying the Banned Band of Bon-Bons Banner, but the Band of Bon-Bons weren't Banned?” “Exactly!” Said Wanderer Lyra. “Weird.” replied Interrogator Lyra.
“So, it's been established that there are more than just us that are multiplied.” Declared Captain Obvious Lyra. “But that doesn't answer my question! Why are there so many of us?” Asked Philosopher Lyra. “Maybe Discord? He does crazy crap for the fun of it, and he's been around since before any of us.” Offered Realistic Lyra.
“Naw, I bet it's because of Changelings!” Declared Conspiracy theorist Lyra. “No way, I'm sure that any Changeling that's seen how nice we are would come clean.” Said Naive Lyra. “I can't take it any more! I'm a Changeling!” Yelled Suspicious Lyra from the top of her lungs before burning her disguise away.
The congregated Lyras gasped, all except Conspiracy Theorist Lyra, who said something more along the lines of “I knew it!”
“I should go.” Said Suspicious Turned Changeling Lyra before started to get out of her south facing seat. “No!” Yelled Philosopher Lyra. “We need every head we can get to figure this out!” Changeling Lyra's face brightened. “So I can stay?” She asked excitedly. “Only if you put Lyra back on.” Said Conditional Lyra.
Changeling Lyra Quickly flashed on a Lyra and sat down. “Waaiiit a second, if we want every head we can get to help us, why don't we invite the not-Banned Band of Bon-Bons?” Asked Realistic Lyra. “Because, shut up.” Replied Philosopher Lyra. Realistic Lyra stared shocked and incredulous at Philosopher Lyra, but otherwise didn't speak.
“Well, even though there is a changeling here, that doesn't explain the rest of us.” Said Philosopher Lyra. “So... Anymore ideas?” The other Lyras all put their hooves to their chins at once. The resounding 'Hmm' of a roomful of ponies thinking could be heard throughout the entire building.
“What if...” Hesitant Lyra started “Yeah?” Prompted Philosopher Lyra. “Well, what if we're all clones of just one Lyra?” The silence that followed was palpable. “But then, who would be the original?” Asked Captain Obvious Lyra.
“Wait a second! Who's ever heard of cloning except in science fiction? No way we're all clones of the same pony.” Stated Realistic Lyra. “How do you know that the crown isn't hiding experimental cloning technology?” demanded Conspiracy Theorist Lyra.
“Because it's ridicules, and I'll tell you why.” Began Knowledgeable Lyra. “One, I am current and on the fore-front of science, anything that is even remotely possible, I'd hear about it. Two, What would be the point of cloning twenty versions of the same pony?
“Three, Celestia wouldn't just clone a pony then set the clones free with the chance of them finding each other. If it was a success, than she would announce it to Equestria, if it was a failure, that would probably mean that we all died. So in other words, there is no way that the government is doing cloning stuff, and we aren't clones.”
“Oh.” Conspiracy Theorist Lyra said. “W-well how do you know that it wasn't somepony else than? Like... Like the Minotaurs! They've always been good with biological science!” Knowledgeable Lyra was about to disprove that as well when she realized that she had never been to Tauros, neither did she have any informants from over their. She just didn't know. This deeply unsettled her.
“Ah ha! So you don't know!” Said Conspiracy Theorist Lyra triumphantly. “W-well... No, I don't know if Minotaurs have developed cloning or not. But I still don't think I'm a clone. If I were, wouldn't we be the exact same as each other?” Asked Knowledgeable Lyra.
“Hm. Good enough for me. But let's not trash the idea just yet, let me write it down to think over later. Anypony got a pen?” Asked Conspiracy Theorist Lyra. “Here you go.” Said Supplier Lyra as she hoofed a pen and a note pad to Conspiracy Theorist Lyra.
“...” Said Quiet Lyra. “What is it? You know I always know when you have something to say.” Said Observant Lyra. “Well, what if we're all versions of Lyra from different universes brought together to the same world?” Quiet Lyra Asked.
Before any Lyra could answer that thought, the doors to the room were thrown open and a bright light shone through, leaving the silhouette of Regular Lyra's good friend, Bon-Bon Decimo. All the Lyras squinted and blocked out the light, as the room had been rather dim. “Lyra? What are you doing all alone in the dark? And who were you talking to?”
Alt. Ending
Before any Lyra could answer that thought, the doors to the room were thrown open and a light green unicorn stallion walked in. “Is this that convention of Lyras? My name's Guyra, I got a memo?”