//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: Bon Bon! Octavia! // Story: Lyra Gets Lost! // by XangelMusic //------------------------------// Twilight and Spike emerge from the portal within the school’s central statue and are now standing in front of Canterlot High School. Twilight transformed into a human girl with her bag in tow while Spike transformed into a lovable small pooch. “Explain this to me again, Twilight, how did Lyra manage to open the portal?” inquired Spike, without hesitation. “I don’t know, Spike! All I know is Lyra was missing by the time I arrived at the library then I saw that the portal was activated!” “But that’s what I don’t understand. She couldn’t have known that using that book would open the portal. And it’s not like the book was lying in the middle of the room, right?” An awkward silence came prompting Spike to look up and see Twilight cupping her face into her hands. “Twilight!” “I’m sorry, I was distracted and I didn’t have time to clean up…” “But you should have been more careful!” Twilight winced. “This is a disaster…” While Twilight wallows in her predicament, she scans her immediate area to see if by chance Lyra hasn’t gone far. Alas Twilight cannot see indication of the mare – or girl; it’s most likely Lyra has transformed into a human like Twilight, which piques her mind as if she’s supposed to remember something. Just as Twilight begins to plan her next move, several voices call out to her. “Twilight!” Six girls race from the school entrance towards her. They hug Twilight one-by-one, the last being Sunset Shimmer, albeit in a deeper embrace. “It’s good to see you again, Twilight.” “Thanks, Sunset. I’m sorry it had to be under these circumstances.” “Not to worry, sugarcube. We did ask for yer help with the Dazzlings before. So we can jus’ call it even.” Twilight cannot help but smile at the statement while everyone else follows suit. “So what’s the problem, Twilight? It sounded really urgent when you last wrote to Sunset,” Fluttershy exclaimed. “It’s not another adversary I do hope.” “I assure you it’s nothing like that, Rarity, but it is serious. Someone from Equestria came to this world using the portal.” “What!?” everyone gasped in one form or another. “Who is it?” “Lyra Heartstrings…” Twilight answered Sunset in a disheartened tone. “The same Lyra who’s always ramblin’ ‘bout that alien mumbo jumbo?” Twilight grumbled, realising the obvious oversight Applejack unintentionally pointed out. “No, the Lyra from my world who believes that humans are real, and I just realised there’s another Lyra at Canterlot High as well.” The girls look at each other until Rainbow speaks up. “Uh, you do realise there are human beings standing before you, right? Not to mention, you are one right now as well.” “I know, but humans don’t exist in my world. Humans are treated as a myth much like how you treat dragons as a myth here.” “That’s most peculiar. I do recall Spike is a fire-breathing dragon back in your world,” professed Rarity. “But now he’s a dog in this world,” Fluttershy concluded. “But I never thought it would be that perplexing. We were surprised when we found out you and Spike came from a different world. But I can’t get my head around the fact that human beings are treated as a myth there.” “Either way, whether I’m a dog or a dragon, I do my best to look adorable.” “Awww, I bet you are a cute handsome little dragon, aren’t you, Spikey-wikey?” giggled Rarity, who just commenced scratching the back of Spike’s ears. “Why does that happen?” “I’m not too sure about that, Fluttershy, but I think it’s because we have to adapt to the rules of this world. The same applies to my world or every other world for that matter.” While Twilight offers her theory to the rest of the group, Sunset draws her hand to her chin and speaks up a peculiar thought. “We did bump into Lyra earlier…” “Ya don’ think…?” “I think so, AJ.” Sunset faces Twilight again. “I think we met the Lyra from our world not too long ago. We did think she was acting weirder than usual but it makes sense if she just came from a different world.” “Really? Where did she go?” “We met her in the foyer but we did see her heading towards the cafeteria,” Rainbow Dash proclaimed. “Alright, I really do need to catch her as soon as possible. I’m afraid what’s going to happen if she stays in this world for too long.” “Of course, Twilight, and we’ll help you find her.” Everyone nods in agreement. “Thanks girls.” “But we need to be careful not to confuse your Lyra with our Lyra at school.” “Fluttershy’s right. We’d need to be sure the Lyra we’re looking for is the right one.” “I agree with you on that, Sunset, though that might be a tad difficult,” Rarity digressed. “I know. And from what I understand, Lyra has a fascination with humans, am I right?” Twilight confirms with nod. “That means Lyra would most likely not come with us so willingly so she won’t hesitate to run.” “Ah can imagine that. It mus’ be a dream come true for Lyra to be able to fin’ this place.” “Let’s check out the cafeteria first; hopefully she hasn’t gone too far. Let’s go everyone.” “Woo hoo! Let’s go catch us a Lyra!” Everyone confirms with Pinkie Pie being the loudest of the lot with her announcement. They rush into the school and head towards their destination. ***** “This place is amazing!” Of course it’s the first place Lyra sees once she came out of the portal but her fascination with her new surroundings and its inhabitants doesn’t allow her to register that fact. She studies every aspect from the trophy cabinet housing various awards and trophies and their commemorative photos of various sports and cultural events remarkably similar to the ones back in Equestria, to the clothes, accessories and other features these humans wear or use including the way humans use their hands, from opening doors and lockers to carrying and packing their bags quite conveniently. There is no doubt in her mind that she had made the discovery of her lifetime. But she became so preoccupied that she hadn’t contemplated as to where she was going or what she should be doing from here on onwards. She even bumped into those girls earlier who, by some ironic miracle, are her friends from Equestria – in human form! That psyched Lyra even more but the comment that Sunset Shimmer girl made pronged Lyra’s mind for awhile. It seems she knows ‘Lyra’ and that they have ‘Chemistry’ together. This building she is in seems to be most likely a school, plus all the banners and posters plastered across the walls indicate as such. If the girls from earlier are the counterparts to those in Equestria, then it’s logical that there is a Lyra here as well, of course she has yet to meet her other self. Lyra comes across double doors that leads to a large room filled with long dining tables. There was also a place where several humans line up to a middle-aged woman giving them food on the trays they were carrying, and a buffet with other sorts of dishes down the line. This must be the cafeteria. As she opens the doors and steps inside anticipation and excitement overwhelms her as she bursts out the widest smile she has ever done. And alas nobody suspects her, not even a glance from anybody in the room as Lyra studies the cafeteria in all its glory. “What’s got you so worked up?” Lyra jumps up by the unexpected voice but couldn’t contain her excitement as soon as she sees the very owner of that voice. She is a girl the same height as Lyra with blue and pink bicoloured hair in a white dress. “Bon Bon!” Lyra latches onto the girl into a bear hug that made the girl fervently protest at her and telling Lyra to stop. Bystanders take a quick look at the scene but pass it off and nothing unusual. Soon the girl is released while the air returns to her lungs. “Jeez, Lyra, I told you not to hug me so tight.” “I do that to you?” “Of course you do!” Bon Bon answered, angry at her friend’s obliviousness. “Let me guess it’s got something to with aliens, isn’t it? “Sorry?” “Well, did you find something interesting about aliens?” “What are you talking about?” Before Bon Bon could retort, another voice interrupts them. “Hello, Sweetie Drops, I have the album you were asking for the other day. I would have found it sooner if Vinyl never lost it in the first place.” The black haired girl in a multi-piece purple-white dress with a pink bow offers a CD to Bon Bon who accepts it with grace. She then notices Lyra staring at her with her mouth gaping open. “Is there something wrong?” “Octavia!” Like Bon Bon, Lyra latches onto the other girl, surprising both Octavia and Bon Bon, although her hug was not as strong as she did with Bon Bon. Bon Bon looks at the scene sternly, crossing her arms in an obtuse manner. “Lyra? What has gotten into you?” “Oh, nothing, I’m just happy to see you,” Lyra smiled, letting go of the surprised cellist. “Happy or not, that was quite the exaggeration. I bet it has got to do with your alien business.” “Aliens?” “Yes. I cannot understand how you find aliens so interesting what with your talents in music.” “Why would I find aliens interesting?” Bon Bon and Octavia stare at Lyra from the unexpected question. That’s not exactly the reaction she was expecting, Lyra told herself. “What did you just say?” Octavia asked in a shocked voice. “What did I say what?” “You said you weren’t interested in aliens,” Bon Bon joined in, also in shock. “Yeah… Oh!” Lyra realises her mistake. Apparently the Lyra in this world believes in aliens rather than humans, which is ironically amusing, she thought. But Bon Bon started to feel Lyra’s forehead as if she is sick, confirmed by the next thing Bon Bon suggests. “I think you’re not well. Come on, Lyra,” declared Bon Bon who quickly grabbed Lyra’s arm by the wrist. “Huh? Where are you taking me?” “I’m taking you to the nurse’s office.” “What? Hey! I’m not sick, Bon Bon!” Lyra struggles to release Bon Bon’s fingers from her arm whom surprisingly has a very tight grip. “No buts, Lyra. I am taking you to the nurse and that’s final!” “No, please, I beg you! I don’t even like doctors. Noooo!” Octavia continues to hear Lyra’s voice trail off into the distance. Again the other students in the cafeteria pass it off as if it’s nothing unusual. ***** “I don’t see her anywhere.” As soon as she comes into the cafeteria, Twilight looks around but couldn’t see anybody that resembles Lyra. Twilight and her friends split up to expand their search of the place but to no avail. There were no clues that Lyra has even come here. “Ya sure she came here, RD?” “I only said she was heading to the cafeteria; we did see her coming here as well.” “Do you think maybe we might have missed her?” “Probably, Fluttershy. This doesn’t exactly fair well for us.” “This is all my fault. I never thought something like this would happen.” “Hey don’t beat yourself up silly-billy, it’s not the end of the world. Although if the world did end maybe Lyra would have ended up in a different world where everyone is a dinosaur or maybe an alternate dimension where the good people become bad and the bad people become good, or maybe a world with giant transforming robots.” “Giant transforming robots? Really? ‘Cause that would be awesome!” “I think someone already made something like that?” Sunset interjected. “They did?” Twilight couldn’t help but giggle at their conversation whose laugh was infectious to the rest of the group. “Listen, we don’t have much time until classes begin but I suggest we split up into several groups and search the main areas of the school.” Everyone nods in agreement, as Sunset formulates her plan. “Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie will take the gymnasium, Rarity, Applejack and, Rainbow Dash you guys check out the pitch.” Rainbow Dash saluted with a ‘roger’. “Twilight and I will check out the library. Is everyone ok with this?” The girls nod in sync. “Then let’s go!” “Come on, Spike.” Twilight picks up Spike and carries him in her backpack. The girls run off with each group heading towards their respective designation.