It’s no surprise ladies and gentlecolts, I ask that you broaden your minds. I cannot force you to come to any sort of conclusions, that you must do yourselves. However, I can provide you with the information and tool set to persue your own truth. In other words I will present information and I humbly ask you to come to your own conclusions with an open mind. Shrouded in mystery are the tales of creatures called “Humans”. Someponies now days thought these creatures were simply stories to either encourage little fillies to go to sleep, or myths of a less civilized time. A time some argue before anypony knew about how the world worked and relied on made up stories to draw their conclusions. Others believed they were real but have long since passed on.
The myths surrounding Humanity ranged from region to region. In some stories they were great heroes who helped “tame” a wild and dangerous Equestria eon’s ago. Using strange magic they conjured great beasts to toil soil, move mountains, redirect rivers to cater the earth to their whims; I’m sure there’s more than a few Earth ponies who would love to know there secret. Eon’s before Celestia first raised the sun they were said to have been able to control the weather, a feat the noble pegusi have only managed in the last 500 years. Using strange magic they were said to accomplish tasks even the most accomplished unicorn magician could achieve alone. Other stories tell of horrible and frightening tales of these creatures. They were said to have been greedy and evil creatures whose misdeeds eventually led to their down fall. Humans were described by some as cruel warriors who enslaved their victims and in the darkest tales were said to have even eaten them. Even the details of their appearance was sketchy at best.
But, no matter what anypony thought, their influence was present. Ancient artifacts depicting creatures littered Equestria’s museums, written in ancient architecture, and proclaimed by poets of old. Sometimes modern media like the “Daring Do” novels even featured humans. The mythos of humans was subtly ebbed in the minds of the ponies who inhabited Equestria, usually without them even realizing. Humanity has played an important part in our culture regardless of whether they existed or not. What they do is inspire ponies to do the impossible, to seek out what they don’t understand, and fill us with a sense of mystery. True some of these stories seem outlandish; moving mountains and accomplishing feats we have only now done does seem improbable. But perhaps that says something about us ponies. They inspired pegasi to claim the air, for earth ponies to cultivate the land and for unicorns to strive to improve their magic. As odd as it sounds their as much a part of Equestria as we are.
~~~~
The mint green unicorn finished her lecture and waited for questions politely. A dozen or so ponies raised their hooves. She was pleased by the turn out quite a few ponies had taken time from their schedules to hear her lecture. She was proud that some ponies were interested in history regardless of the topic. She gazed over the crowd and pointed toward a blue stallion.
“Professor Lyra is it true humans were hairless?” Asked the stallion. Lyra smiled at his question and happy he was genuinely interested in her lecture.
“Some scores declare Humans were entirely hairless, like dragons, or fish. Some sources say they had hair but was colorless making them appear hairless” answered Lyra “anymore questions?” Another hoof was raised, but this time by a red unicorn mare.
“Exactly what magic did the humans use?” she asked.
“A good question, one Anthropologists have been debating for a while. What it is clear that humans were depicted to use a magic different from unicorns or other modern magic users.
Lyra answered a few more questions until it was time to draw the lecture to a close. She watched as the audience departed and stayed behind for a few minutes to answer the questions of a few more ponies before they too left. She then packed her things into her suitcase and begin walking to her office. She arrived in her office and thought contemplatively about her demonstration; analyzing it so her next one could be even better.
She looked at her diploma declaring her as an “official” Anthropologist and smiled. Lyra couldn’t be happier. Ever since she was a philly she was fascinated by the stories of humans. They were so exotic, and mysterious; nothing like the normal, mundane world of Canterlot. She idolized them in a way, they represented a kind of higher power and something to aspire to be. They were bigger than life characters that could do the impossible, and that was inspiring. Sadly, few ponies in those days were interested in humans. Her parents, teachers and even her future mare-friend Bon-Bon all disapproved of Lyra’s interest in humans. They said it was all fairy tales and had no practical use in Equestria. They said she should stick to playing the lyre, because it was something she was good at and it payed the bills. True, Lyra liked playing the lyre, but she also loved learning about humans too, she often wondered why she couldn’t do both. So in spite of what everyone kept telling her she decided to write a book detailing her research about humans. Lyra remembers how hard it had been to get her book published, but she never gave up. She didn’t lose faith in what she was doing, and despite being turned down many times finally found a publisher.
As luck would have it, it would be one of her friends that would eventually lead to her book being published. In those days she was living with Bon-bon in a two room apartment in Ponyville. She was a performer and an accomplished one at that, many ponies wondered why such a talented musician would waste their time on fairy tales. In those days, when she wasn’t playing at concerts and other occasions she was either trying to get her book published or studying in the Ponyville library. She spent many hours there and eventually made friends with the librarian Twilight Sparkle.
At first Twilight just suggested books for Lyra’s research, but as she became a more fuequent visitor they began to talk more friendly too each other. They had a lot in common, they were both from Canterlot, they were both unicorns, and they were both scholars. Lyra remembers fondly their chats in the library. They would talk about all sorts of things; magic, life in Canterlot and even their personal lives upon occasion. When Twilight became an Alicorn she still made time for Lyra; which Lyra really appreciated.
One day Twilight asked to see Lyra’s manuscript for the novel. Lyra was hesitant, because even though Twilight was a friend and even helped her research she was afraid she would dismiss her work like so many other ponies had. But she decided to trust her friend. Lyra handed Twilight a folder containing a series of her notes, diagrams, essays and personal illustrations with the folder title being labeled “The Ghosts of Equestria”. As Twilight had begun reading that fateful day her face lit up.
“Lyra this is amazing! The way you speak so passionately about these creatures, the way you relate them to modern ponies, and the connections you draw between ancient sites is phenomenal. You even drew your own interpretations of the humans? That’s amazing!”
Lyra flushed, truth be told nopony had ever been so fascinated about her hobby before. “Yea? Tell that to the publishers. They absolutely refuse to print anything human related. Not enough ponies like or know about humans they say” Lyra explains.
“No this won’t do at all. After all the effort you put into this? The public deserves to hear your ideas and come to their own conclusions. Those publishers don’t know what their talking about!” Twilight said indignantly.
“Doesn’t matter, if I can’t get published than nopony will ever know about the research I’ve done.”
Twilight couldn’t accept this. Her friend had worked so hard on something she was obviously passionate about, and to not be given a chance was just wrong in her mind. Then Twilight got an idea.
“Lyra I think I have a way to publish your manuscript but you’re going to have to trust me. I’m goanna need a copy of the manuscript though.” Twilight said.
“Gee…I don’t know Twilight…”Lyra begin hesitantly.
“Trust me Lyra. If you just give me one week I’m sure your work will be published” Twilight said confidently.
In the end Lyra decided to trust Twilight and gave her a copy of her manuscript. That would turn out to be the best decision of Lyra’s life. Turns out Twilight had sent the copy to Princess Celestia and she agreed that the book should be published. With recommendations from both Princess Celestia and Princess Twilight one publishing company finally caved in. What followed nopony, not even Lyra saw coming. Every single issue had been sold! The publishing company tested Lyra’s book in Canterlot and every single issue was sold. Soon word of a book about the mythical, humans reached all across Equestria. Small phillies were enchanted by the diagrams of creatures so exotic and alien, and drawn into the mythos surrounding them. While adults were intrigued by the connections humans had in ancient pony history, and admittedly the stories about the humans. Soon nearly every pony in Equestria had a copy of “The Ghosts of Equestria”.
Lyra had become an overnight celebrity. She had received quite a bit of the profits; some of which she used to buy Bon-bon and herself their own house in Ponyville. Mostly though, Lyra was happy to be spreading something she enjoyed with others. Shortly after her book was published she was offered a position as the foremost Anthropologist in Canterlot University. She turned down the offer, because she couldn’t bear to leave Ponyville where all her friends and Bon-bon lived. She did however agree to occasionally lecture for them, and she was awarded a PH.D in Anthropology and was considered the foremost expert on humans.
That being said she couldn’t help but feel in debt to the pony who had helped her realize her dream. She had tried to offer Twilight some of the profit but she had gracefully declined. She said “the fact I could help a friend achieve their dream and passion is enough reward for me”. Still Lyra felt obligated to the Ponyville librarian in some way.
Lrya heard a knock on the door. A yellow aura Lyra summoned surrounded the door knob and opened it.
“Yes?” she asked politely to a mailmare.
“This was sent to you from Ponyville Professor Heartstrings” the mailmare said as he handed over a letter and left.
Lyra opened it and begain reading
Dear Lyra
I know you must be busy between your concert performances, book signings and lectures, however this is urgent so I’ll make this brief. A matter requiring your expertise has come up. I cannot give details in this letter so I ask that you come to Ponyville yourself. I know I am asking a lot and I wouldn’t do this if it wasn’t absolutely necessary. Meet me at the Ponyville Library and I’ll detail the situation for you.
Your Friend
Twilight Sparkle
Lyra looked over the letter a few times. The letter was almost like a demand, it was unlike Twilight. Even as an Alicon Princess, Twilight was never one to impose her will on any pony. There must be something really important happening in Ponyville for Twilight to be this firm. She decided that she would leave for the next train to Ponyville immediately. If whatever was happening was enough to raddle the magician who faced Discord and Nightmare Moon then Lyra should treat the matter as seriously as she could. Within the hour she was on a train heading to Ponyville, all the while thinking. What was the emergency? Why did Twilight need her? What awaited her in Ponyville?