Lyra walked down the street, heading for the train station. Celestia had called her in to ask about what was going on with the humans that had never shown up. Lyra sighed, and looked to the ground, pausing for a moment. Why, why did everypony want her to tell them why? As if she wasn’t feeling horrible enough by the fact the humans she thought were her friends had abandoned her, but everypony wanted her to say it over and over again.
Wiping away the moisture in her eyes, Lyra steeled herself. She was strong, she could overcome this. Flash Fire was with Rarity, she could do this. Just walk onto that train, walk up to Celestia, and tell her the truth about the humans. Tell her they are liars. Tell her they must never be allowed into Equestria again.
’Surely there was a reason why Blue-No! Don’t do this to yourself Lyra!’ Lyra stamped her hoof and forced herself to remain focused on the truth. She couldn’t afford to lie to herself anymore. Four years she had waited for him. Four years and days wasted waiting, and he hadn’t had the gall to show himself after putting her down like that.
‘This is how I must think.’ Lyra sighed and turned to look at the sky, facing away from the train station for a moment. The sky was clear of clouds, and even the Pegasi were nowhere to be seen. Lyra noticed how peculiar a day it was. If she wasn’t heading to Canterlot, she might have asked Rainbow Dash about the strange weather. Oh well.
It was then, just as she made to turn away, that she saw it appear. At first, the sight was so alien she didn’t even recognize the white swirling vortex, even as a familiar red dragon appeared from it. Lyra froze, her mind going blank, not able to accept what was in front of her as reality. The dragon landed and he was tossed to the ground, a second form leaning over and smashing his watch. The second form glanced once to her, before leaping back onto the dragon and heading through the portal. It vanished a moment later, and silence returned.
Lyra slowly approached his body, noticing that he was unconscious. After a moment, Lyra rolled him onto his back and parted the short hair so she could properly look at his face, before realising that water was dropping down her face and onto his. Lifting a hoof to her eyes, and pulling away the wet tears, she looked to her hoof as her emotions returned to her all at once.
At first, they overwhelmed her and she was unable to move, anger at his lateness, happiness he had finally come, it was all about him. Lyra forced her thoughts to stop focusing on how she felt, and instead focus on what was around her. Twilight and the others were quickly coming toward her, shouting her name.
“What happened? I saw the portal.” Twilight paused and breathed in sharply as she saw the body in front of her, and raised her eyes to look at Lyra. Lyra met Twilight’s gaze, and finally her face contorted and she began to sob with open relief, falling to his chest as her voice filled with emotion.
“He’s back! He’s back Twilight.”
Laying on the couch was a tall human with bright orange hair, a black t-shirt, and baggy light-purple/brown shorts. As he stirred, the ponies around him paused in their tasks as he shifted and stretched out on the couch, amazingly large enough to accommodate his size. After a moment, he stifled a yawn and slowly opened his eyes. As his memory returned, thanks to the many faces around him, he sat up and groaned loudly.
“Damnit,” he spoke, rubbing his forehead as he began to name the faces of the ponies around him he recognized. The first he saw were the two Pegasi, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. After that he saw the pink menace and the farm pony called Pinkie Pie and Applejack. Finally, he saw Rarity and Twilight, and behind them he could see the orange fuzz of the Growlithe that had been left here during his first adventure.
Looking down to his feet, he saw a mint-green pony slumped on the ground leaning her head on the couch. Looking at the pony, it was obvious she had fallen asleep due to staying there all night. Heaving a sigh, he leaned forward and gently shook the pony. After a moment, she began to stir, and swiped his hand away. He redoubled his effort, and the pony finally opened her eyes.
“Lyra, wake up.” Removing his hand, he watched Lyra raise her head and look to him, sleep still in her eyes. Giving a tired smile, she tilted her head and looked toward Twilight, stifling a yawn as the sleep finally cleared. Leaping to her feet, Lyra breathed in and looked to the human, opened her mouth, and paused.
“Hey...Blue.” Lyra scratched the back of her head and glanced away, silence making the situation all the more awkward. Twilight glanced to her friends, and they all quickly ushered themselves out of the home, leaving the two alone. Lyra watched them go, and bit her lip as apprehension filled her.
Blue sighed, and looked to the back of Lyra, and thought quietly for a moment. There were things that would need to be explained very soon, but for now there was something else that had to be done. Swinging his feet around, Blue slowly moved over to the side of the couch closest to Lyra. Tapping her on the shoulder, she glanced toward him as she was suddenly swept off her feet and into his embrace.
“Sorry I’m late.” Blue smiled as he felt Lyra stiffen as his words, before finally returning the hug. After a moment she pushed him away and pointed a hoof at him, puffing out her cheeks. Blue winced, remembering for a brief moment his Lawyer.
“Yeah well you should be! Do you know how long I waited for you?” Lyra glanced away as moisture sprung to her eyes and she quickly fought to stop it. After a moment she glanced back and realised Blue was absolutely devastated at her words. Lyra sat down on the couch next to him, unable to speak up after seeing how her words had affected him.
“Six days, four hours, and twenty-seven minutes give or take the time I was knocked out.” Blue looked to his hands and slowly rolled them between each other, before raising one to scratch the back of his head. The wound had finally healed, but it was still a little sore when he touched it. Glancing to his broken PASS, he sighed once more, knowing he had no way back to the world of Pokemon now.
“You kept track?” Lyra tried to make sense of her emotions as Blue gave a small nod. Was she happy? No, it definitely wasn’t that. Sad? No, but somewhat close. Lyra sighed and decided it didn’t really matter, there were obviously bigger problems than her emotions at this point.
“So why did Red break your PASS?” Lyra noticed the flinch, and knew there was something going on. For a brief moment she felt a shade of humor enter her thoughts. That was just like Blue, trying to hide his problems so as not to bother her.
“So I uh, couldn’t go back home.” Blue purposely looked toward the door, noticing this was a different house. It seemed Lyra had had an interesting four years. If they had time he would have to ask her about it.
“And why would that be a problem?” If Lyra had been going to get an answer, it was interrupted by Twilight running into the room and looking to the both of them, puffing as if she had just been running a marathon.
“Lyra, Blue, another portal’s opened. This time’s it’s in the old location and...And many humans have come out of it. They are asking for our compliance in their investigation.” Both Twilight and Lyra turned to Blue, who had gone pure white as he stood up and closed the curtains that showed the front of the house.
“Blue, what is going on.” Lyra and Twilight watched Blue slowly turn around, still pale and wide-eyed. After a moment, he held his hands up helplessly and looked to them in defeat.
“I’m being executed for being born.”