Lyra has been walking through unfamiliar streets for the past hour. Nobody was chasing her plus she has no idea where she’s going. That doesn’t mean she doesn’t know how to walk back to the school; she’s always had a photographic memory. It is one of the traits that she is proud of about herself especially the fact when she is able to produce an active imagination and ‘produce’ being the correct term she uses for it allows her to play the lyre extremely well.
That’s how this whole human business began because the lyre was an unusual instrument for anypony. Unlike a cello or violin, it has a small frame, much smaller that hooves would have difficulty playing its strings while a cello or violin are structured for hooves to be able to manage both playing the strings and coordinate the frets, the way her friend Octavia plays her cello albeit with a bow. When Lyra found the interesting device she imagined ‘fingers’, because a lyre is supposed to be played with fingers, and with her magic she was able to produce notes beautifully from it by using imaginary fingers.
She wasn’t able to use her magic for anything else when she was a filly which got her down for most of her fillyhood when the other fillies often teased her for not being able to acquire her cutie mark sooner like everypony else. That was until that day when she finally received her cutie mark in the shape of a lyre. Though she wasn’t particular enthralled about receiving her cutie mark, even if her parents were undeniably and obviously thrilled for her, or even if Lyra did forge some sense of pride within her, but rather it was an observation, a hypothesis, a piece of circumstantial evidence for Lyra to digest that suggests humans do exist.
At the time she was already investigating about humans but because of the lyre incident when she got her cutie mark, she never backed down from her theory that humans have existed in Equestria to this day when Equestria’s current tools and machinery that supposedly made ponies’ livelihoods better, would make more sense if they were utilised by human hands than with pony hooves. That said the technology is surprisingly lacklustre compared to the standards demonstrated here in the human world, that is the technology in Equestria was far limited and that it was magic that made up for their inconveniencies that made life better for ponykind.
Lyra grins as she became lost in her own thoughts. Realising she had abandoned any sense of direction, she looks around and notices that she has gotten herself lost in a place she doesn’t know.
“Oh, horseapples…” It was her fault, one she failed to recognise in time. That said she doesn’t mind getting lost but it’s annoyingly taxing if she tries to find somebody to help her with directions. Surprisingly no one is around at the moment, only metal-looking wagons that run through the streets. She looks around to see if there were any landmarks that seem recognisable which was undoubtedly pointless yet her instincts couldn’t succumb to such a revelation especially when she was so confident before. Yeah, you really are a stubborn mare, aren’t you? Lyra exclaimed to herself. So much for being able to take care of yourself…
Lyra relents as she sits against a slab building while trailing off towards the clear blue sky above, not having a care in the world. She thinks back what she said to Twilight. It was pretty harsh what she congested toward the Princess of Friendship; it wasn’t exactly one of Lyra’s best moments in that retrospect. Twilight has always been socially awkward even during their time at Canterlot; she was always in her books, was always beside Princess Celestia at the hip, doesn’t go out that much, or much less know what it meant to have fun. Lyra has always been somewhat spontaneous and being social with the few friends she has, even having got to know Princess Cadance and becoming a bridesmaid for her, although her memory was hazy at that point. Lyra becomes lost in her memories, especially her most recent one that was made not too long ago, a memory she already regrets.
“Are you alright?”
*****
Twilight sits against the stone slab of the school’s central statue careful not to fall through the portal already open for anyone to use. Twilight was already in a rush to come to the human world that there’s nobody on the other side to manage the portal while she’s gone. Spike did send a letter to Fluttershy, the only pony available, hoping that she has read the letter in the time.
The waterworks has since passed awhile ago leaving Twilight to reminisce her earlier conversation with her friends who have now gone to class. Soon after her fight with Lyra, Twilight and her friends were interrupted by the school bell indicating classes have begun.
“Oh no, we’re supposed to be in homeroom by now,” Rarity gasped.
“Yeah, this ain’t lookin’ too good.”
Applejack saw how distraught Twilight was in yet felt frustrated considering they were more concerned with being late to class, than try to comfort Twilight however they can. But even they knew they wouldn’t know where to begin. Only Sunset was the only one brave enough to speak up to Twilight.
“Listen, Twilight, I’m sorry but we need to get to class and…”
Twilight wipes away her tears and stands to face Sunset. She waves her hand at Sunset assuring her predicament is nothing to worry about. “It’s ok, I understand. I just need to be alone for awhile and think things through.”
While that may seemed convenient to Sunset, she was still worried about Twilight. “Alright, we’ll come see you once lunch starts, ok?”
Twilights nods at the assertion.
“See you later, Twilight.” The girls wave their farewells as they head on towards the school. Twilight reciprocates them but still fraught how things didn’t as smoothly as she hoped. Spike could see her downed expression as soon as the girls were out of their vision. Even if Twilight decided she wants to be alone Spike wasn’t going to abandon Twilight just like that. They have gone through so much together and Twilight means more to Spike than just being her number one assistant. She is family.
A long time passed. Spike still sits next to Twilight not budging from his position, looking up at Twilight every once in awhile. He doesn’t say anything thinking it best to follow Twilight’s recommendation. And before they knew it, it was lunchtime.
Sunset purchases two drinks from the vending machine and comes out to the front of the school. She finds Twilight sitting on a bench, her legs closed and her hands clasped on her lap while looking down at the floor, not slouching but neither in an upright position.
“Here.” Sunset offers Twilight a drink after popping the can for her. Twilight accepts it and thanks Sunset in a sombre tone. “You feeling, ok?”
Twilight says nothing but takes a sip from her drink nonetheless. She nonchalantly compliments her drink with a murmur barely audible to Sunset. Twilight then exhales and commences her words.
“She’s right, you know? I never respected Lyra because I thought she was a nuisance. I didn’t want to deal with her antics whenever she came to me. I was being selfish.”
“You’re not selfish, Twilight.”
“But that’s how I treated her, Sunset. She’s my friend and I do think of her as a friend but I didn’t pay much attention to her. I didn’t tell her about this world because I didn’t want her to know not because it was too dangerous or anything like that. I just didn’t want to give her the satisfaction. The only ponies that know are my best friends back home because I trusted only them. Should Lyra be treated any different? Lyra has been so desperate for human beings to exist and I refused her the one legitimate proof that they do.”
Silence envelops them as they sit idly on the bench side by side. It’s a calm necessary for them along with gentle breeze that rustles the grass and the leaves of from the trees surrounding them. Sunset allows Twilight’s words to sink in and soon delivers her words.
“When I was Princess Celestia’s student, I never bothered to make friends. I was selfish and only cared about myself. I was only obsessed with power and was so egotistic in being Princess Celestia’s student that I began to dwell into dark magic. She expelled me soon after that.
“At the time, I did feel betrayed by Princess Celestia and escaped to this world begrudging those same thoughts, getting everyone to fear me. After you and the girls defeated me, everyone stayed away from me. That’s when I realised I didn’t have anyone I could call a friend. I never felt so alone. If it weren’t for you and those girls, I’m not sure what would have happened to me.
“Lyra is the same way. Just because she has something she believes in, everyone began to stay away from her and didn’t want to deal with her shenanigans. I can imagine how lonely she must have felt. I think that’s why she came to you, Twilight. She was hopeful you two can be friends in something, towards the same goal. She respects you and admires you for that. She does care about you. But when she felt you rejected her, she lost hope.”
“It’s funny how I’m supposed to be the Princess of Friendship and then this happens. It doesn’t make me feel confident at all.”
“Researching about friendship and making friends are two different things, Twilight. While I’m still getting used to this friendship thing, I think friendship is quite simple in retrospect, and making friends is much easier than we realise.
“Friends are honest with each other and say what’s on their minds. They’re kind to one another and try not to hurt each other. Friends stick by one another, no matter the situation. They laugh and have fun with each other; and offer help and guidance especially to those that need it most.”
“That’s the exact opposite with Lyra…”
“But you know what friends also do?” Twilight looks up at Sunset, anticipating her answer. “They forgive each other and learn from their mistakes, like how you forgave me, how I learnt from my mistakes. Remember even good friends have arguments and we learn how we can become better friends.”
Twilight’s face shines as if a weight has been lifted from her shoulders and she hugs Sunset in a warm embrace.
“Thank you.”
“Seems like you’re all better, sugarcube.”
Twilight and Sunset’s friend come into view, relieved to find Twilight in high spirits.
“I am. And I believe I need to look for Lyra and apologise to her.”
“No sweat! We’ll look around the neighbourhood for any sign of her.”
“We do have to come right back here once classes start again. I hope you don’t mind, dear.”
“I don’t mind at all. Well, I guess that’s the plan then.”
Twilight and her friends desert the school grounds. While it didn’t seem right to do, finding Lyra to apologies is of utmost priority.
*****
Lyra surveys her surroundings of the luscious fauna covering the landscape of the park. In her hand was an ice-cream cone purchased by the last person Lyra would ever expect to meet sitting right next to her. It was Twilight Sparkle, but she was wearing black, big-rimmed glasses and a pure white lab coat, completely different than the one who was chasing Lyra around the school. Like Lyra, she was also enjoying her ice-cream. Across from them is her dog, Spike, playfully rolling on the grass and running around without a care in the world. It was such an uncanny picture for Lyra.
“So, are you feeling better?”
“Yeah, I think so.”
“I was surprised to see somebody laying there in the street.”
“Yeah, well, today wasn’t exactly a good day. I had a fight with my friend. Not to mention, I got lost while I was deep in my thoughts.”
“That’s too bad. But you do know that’s dangerous, right? You should pay more attention to your surroundings.” Lyra chuckles at her sentiment. Twilight on the other hand didn’t understand the joke. “What’s so funny?”
“It’s nothing just that you sound exactly like my friend.” It was truer than true. Right here is the human form of Twilight. Her mannerisms, her speech, even the implication of how this Twilight is such a nerd with her large white coat draped over her that it reflects exactly how studious Twilight is with her books back in Ponyville. “I’m sorry, it’s just really humorous.”
Twilight passes it off taking no offense to Lyra laughter.
“This friend of yours, is she the one you fought with?” Lyra confirms her hypothesis with a nod. “I see. Do you want to talk about it?”
Lyra struggles with herself whether she should confide with this person, especially when she is the spitting image. But soon Lyra pours out everything to Twilight only mentioning the important bits and neglecting the fact that Lyra and Twilight came from another world. Lyra wasn’t sure whether she got the message across, but she at least try to convey them in simpler terms.
“She sounds really presumptuous.”
You have no idea, Lyra chuckled once again.
“Forgive me if I couldn’t comprehend your situation well, it is a bit vague from what you told me, but I think she’s just worried that she couldn’t tell you about her secret especially because it was something she couldn’t tell anyone, not even you.”
“But the secret was something really important to me and would’ve helped me with my project. She could’ve trusted me.”
“But did you trust her?”
For a few seconds Lyra said nothing. She shakes her head recognising that maybe Lyra was in the wrong after all.
“Keeping secrets isn’t exactly a good thing. As a self-proclaimed scientist myself, keeping secrets is the same as withholding important information. But even I do know that there is knowledge that you’re not supposed to know regardless of how much you trust the other person. And you know what else? I do know that you are sorry about before.”
She’s right. Lyra was too harsh on Twilight. It was like all of Lyra’s frustrations came bursting out all at once, especially when Lyra was so desperate to stay in this world for at least a little bit longer. Lyra was acting a like a filly.
“Thanks for that.”
“You’re welcome.”
Lyra smiles at her companion, her ice-cream already finished a few moments ago. That doesn’t stop Lyra from having a crazy idea.
“I know we just met and all but let’s do something!”
“Like what?”
“Let’s be friends! You are pretty cool.”
Twilight is taken aback by the request, unsure whether she should comply or not. “You’re right, we have just met.”
“Come on!”
“Uh…” Lyra was dangerously close to Twilight while she eagerly clasps Twilight’s fist with both hands.
“Come on, say yes!” Twilight says nothing. “Say yes~”
“…Yes.”
“Woo hoo!” Twilight cannot help but smile at her crazy new friend as soon a Lyra lets go of her hand. But Lyra jumps right back up feeling more energetic than before. “Anyways I gotta head back. I lost my way here from Canterlot High.”
“Canterlot High?”
“Yeah, do you know where that is?”
“I do.”
Twilight shows Lyra directions on how to arrive at the school, and ironically it was not too far from the park. Lyra thanks Twilight for being such great assistance as she begins to head off.
“So you’re from Canterlot High?”
“Not really. Me and my friend came from another world.”
“…What did you say?”
“See ya, Spike.” Spike gives a few friendly barks in response.
And so Lyra speeds off leaving Twilight in a daze upon the answer she received but her stern grins revels her in suspense.
“No doubt about it, Spike. There really is something going on at that school.”