“Heya, Princess!”
Twilight Sparkle looks up from her book and notices an upbeat cyan unicorn waving her hoof fervently at the lavender alicorn. Twilight was catching up on her daily reading on the recent books sent by Princess Celestia, so it wasn’t unusual for Twilight to be seen lying down in the middle of the throne room with numerous books scattered around her. Twilight has yet to be accustomed to the new castle but feels comfortable when surrounded by the several thrones each designated to one of her friends.
“You know you don’t need to call me that, Lyra,” Twilight contested.
“I know but it does have a ring to it, don’t you think?” Ever since Twilight became an alicorn princess, Lyra made it a customary ritual to call Twilight ‘Princess’ every time they meet even though Twilight doesn’t want any of her friends to call her that. Lyra Heartstrings is indeed a friend, from Canterlot no less, although she is a little high-strung, enough for Twilight to describe her as weird. Not ‘Pinkie Pie’ weird but exhaustingly bothersome, Twilight thought, especially when it concerns a certain subject.
“Yes, you tell me that every time, but I’m not comfortable being called that by a friend. Just call me Twilight, please?”
“Alright Twilight,” complied Lyra, nearing towards Twilight. “Have you found anything more on what I’m looking for?”
Twilight heaves a heavy sigh whilst already commencing to organise the chaos that has bombarded the room. “Lyra, there is no such thing as humans,” Twilight sneered at her own remark.
“Of course there is! How else can you explain our technology when they seem more suited for human hands than with hooves? It would’ve made things a whole lot easier, don’t you think?”
“I’ll admit your theory does seem plausible but ponies have managed to be able to use them. Also there’s never been any record that humans ever existed, and I haven’t found any slight bit of evidence that they do.” Of course for Twilight those last two claims were more or less half-true since she has been to the human world several times before with the Crystal Mirror. Although as far as Twilight’s concerned there really is no such thing as a bipedal creature with hands and fingers, not in Equestria anyways. The human world can’t be evident enough for their existence either; it was an alternate dimension after all. From what Twilight has gathered, there are other dimensions containing various other versions of Twilight and her friends, or every citizen in Equestria for that matter. Try explaining that to Lyra; Twilight would never hear the end of Lyra’s pestering. Not like that’s anything new, Twilight thought.
Lyra regularly visited the new castle ever since it appeared in Ponyville after Tirek’s defeat but even before then she was a regular patron of the Golden Oak Library – which got destroyed by Tirek – and constantly pestered Twilight to help Lyra with her research project of which Twilight always dreaded and hoping Lyra’s obsession would soon pass. Unfortunately that dream has yet to come, or would never come. It was ridiculous how she can be so invested in a myth, an issue of which everypony in Ponyville can’t seem to put up with. On that note, Twilight cannot fathom the prospect of Lyra ever finding out about the human world, or even dare think about the dire consequences. But in saying that Twilight wasn’t going to turn down Lyra’s request.
“Go help yourself to the library. I haven’t come across anything new since I’m still trying to replace the destroyed books from the old library after all. Other than that, there’s not much to say.” Most of the scattered books have already been neatly piled and structure making the throne room somewhat presentable. “I’m just going to tidy up a bit here and a few other things then I’ll be right with you.”
“Alrighty then. Don’t keep me waiting too long,” Lyra said cheerfully, while heading off to the library with a bounce in her step.
As the library doors close behind her, Lyra once again admires its astonishing crystalline architecture – well, the rest of the castle is crystalline, with the rooms made out of crystal, and the castle is probably carved out of a crystal itself, which makes you wonder whether the Crystal Empire is also made of the same crystal – but anyways it’s still pretty amazing in Lyra’s eyes. The library in the new castle is much bigger than the one at Golden Oak, somewhat of a silver lining for both Twilight and Lyra. The walls are stacked with books, and its bookshelves are nicely sculptured for performing their rightful task. The library was a bit disorganised though from the many straggling books across the floor and several tables.
“I know I’m close to finding actual evidence of human existence. I can feel it!” Lyra declared to herself, albeit in vain. The only traces of humans Lyra has found so far have been in either fantasy or mythological literature, which usually begets a grunt or sigh from Lyra. She peruses the entire room including the mirror situated in the middle of–
“Wait a minute. I never saw this before.” Lyra stares at the strange contraption adorning the mirror, constructed of wood, gizmos, and other sciency stuff including Tesla coils – Why are they named Tesla coils anyway? Lyra asked herself, needlessly irrelevant to the situation – and a box with a gauge and two pistons inside of it. Most notably it also includes what seems to be a pedestal for – something – high above the mirror at the very top. She studies the machine intensely for a good few minutes unable to make out what the thing is for. “Did Twilight make this?”
Lyra slowly pries her eyes away from the mirror except her curiosity gets the better of her as she looks back at the mirror a couple more times. She finally returns to the bookshelves commencing her futile attempt to find any research material since that mirror contraption still lingers in the back of her mind. Lyra gets annoyed and growls at herself. That’s what you get for being easily distracted, she thought.
Lyra jumps up immediately to the sound of vibration. She quickly scans the room to investigate the source and soon directs her eyes to the central table which contains a glowing, vibrating brown book on top of it. She comes closer to it and could see a fiery red-and-gold sun featured on the cover. It rumbles in place and gleams a pinkish aura. This is very most strange to Lyra as her eyebrow is raised glaring at the peculiar object. Much like she did with that strange invention–
A light bulb flashes above Lyra’s head along with a loud ding ringing inside it. Because Lyra just had an idea, an idea so dastardly clever that she wonders if she’s a natural genius as a snarky grin creeps upon her face. It’s more of a curious guess than an idea though as she remembers the pedestal high above.
Lyra levitates the book still vibrating in her grasp as she brings it over to the mirror and positions herself in front of it. She raises the book high above and fixes the book in place on the pedestal. The machine springs to life causing Lyra to jump. That feeling of surprise soon turns to astonishment as she becomes transfixed with the awesome display before her.
Magic surges from the book and conducts two coils from each side of the pedestal. It transverses its way down towards a large tank on one side and lights up the gauge box starting up the pistons up and down in a constant rhythm on the other, which allows a stream of magic flowing down several rollers. Soon the magic travels upwards upon its two larger coils producing a large massive spark that shoots itself into the mirror which then causes a blinding flash of light. Lyra quickly covers her eyes and soon opens them slowly to see a pinkish whirlpool inside the mirror.
“Wow…” A large gaping smile is plastered on Lyra’s face. She comes closer and suspects the mirror a little more. Raising her hoof, Lyra cautiously touches the mirrors face which, to her surprise, went through it very easily. Her shock forces Lyra to retract and inspect her hoof for any change which doesn’t seem to be the case. Looking back at the mirror, a revelation comes to mind. “It’s a portal!”
Why Twilight Sparkle was in possession of a portal Lyra didn’t know but it’s quite a discovery on her part. Imagine that, one of the greatest inventions right before her very eyes, which makes her wonder as to why Twilight kept this a secret. She must have a good reason, Lyra thought, but worrying about it doesn’t really interest her in the slightest bit. As Lyra gazes deep into the mirror as if hypnotised by it she questions herself as to whether she should go through the portal or not. Of course Lyra doesn’t know where it leads so it would be very risky to enter the portal without knowing. It is quite inviting, Lyra admits. Plus what can possibly go wrong! It’s either now or never!
Lyra takes a few steps and scans the room behind her. It’s still empty except for the books and furniture occupying the room. It’s been a while since Lyra has seen Twilight, she contemplates, but the coast is clear and that’s all that matters. Lyra directs her face forward and stamps her hooves to the floor. She dashes through the mirror and disappears into the abyss.
The library doors swing open almost immediately, allowing the Princess of Friendship to waltz into the room with an open book levitating in front of her along with several others stacked in tow. “Sorry about that Lyra, I had to help Spike with something. I did come across a mythology book while I was cleaning up and surprisingly enough it does contain something about humans.”
Twilight looks up and finds the library completely empty with nopony in sight. “Lyra?” Twilight begins investigating the room. Usually Lyra would be jumping from bookshelf to bookshelf so it is unusual that Twilight couldn’t see Lyra anywhere or even hear her cheerful voice. “Lyra, are you here?” Twilights searches a little more until she finally notices the Crystal Mirror.
The portal seems to be operating, causing a perplexed look on Twilight’s face. “That couldn’t be right. I mean, the book is right over–” Twilight looks over at the central table unable to find Sunset Shimmer’s personal journal. She looks up at the pedestal above the mirror where right there in plain sight was the same journal situated in place in order for Twilight to travel to the human world and visit her friends from Canterlot High.
A sinking feeling begins to overwhelm her. Images start to fill up Twilight’s head of substantial theories and possibilities as to why Lyra wasn’t in the library, why Sunset Shimmer’s journal is on the pedestal, and why the Crystal Mirror is activated. But as each theory and possibility creeps into her mind they’re rejected immediately being unable to produce a reasonable explanation. Twilight hyperventilates refusing to believe such an obvious conclusion. It can’t be true, it can’t possibly be true, Twilight tried to convince herself. But no matter how much Twilight rejects it, reality comes back to strike her otherwise.
Twilight freezes as a different feeling overtakes her. The books she was carrying tumble down as Twilight returns her gaze at the activated mirror, her eyes widen. Her face becomes one of pure horror and she lets out a bloodcurdling scream.
“NOOOO!!!”