Lucy reached out a small hand and found cold stone at the base of the statue. She frowned delicately. "That's odd..."
Sam stepped in over Lucy and gave a shove against the unyielding stone. "It's supposed to be here, right?"
Lucy nodded. "Yes, but maybe they had to shut it off for a few minutes? I don't know what it runs on. Magic, or electricity, or fond wishes. I'd like to find out though."
Suddenly a human popped through the wall, Bon Bon. Lyra emerged moments later with a big smile. "You're here! Oh thank Celestia! Ready to go back?"
Bon Bon looked upset and crossed her arms. "I want to see more of the magic horse land."
Sam hiked a thumb at her. "She can take my place if that works."
"No no no no." Lyra moved around Sam, gently nudging him towards the portal. "You in. You, not in. Let's keep the line moving."
Lucy smiled up at Bon Bon. "Goodbye." She stepped calmly into the stone, gone back to Equestria.
Lyra soon had Sam through, and everyone was back where they should be. Spike pulled a small switch, turning off the portal before more accidents could occur. "Everypony alright?"
Sam, returned to ponydom, rose up to his hooves with an angry snort. "Let's get this over with. Where do I have to go to get back to what I was doing?"
Lyra took a slow breath, sagging in place. "Give me a moment. I'm just glad everything is working out right now..."
Lucy moved to Lyra and hugged one of her legs before moving for the stairs. "Be good, Sam. They'll return you. They've yet to break a promise to me." And she was gone.
Spike rubbed behind his head, "Next time Twilight goes to a book fair, maybe I'll go with her instead."
Lyra perked an ear at Spike. "Is that where she is? Huh. Oh! You can send letters to Celestia right?"
"Sure can, why?"
Lyra sat on her haunches and smiled. "Tell her I have Sam and we're ready to do whatever she has in mind to fix things."
Sam blinked as he approached Lyra. "You mean you don't even know what we're doing?"
Lyra shrugged. "Celestia is doing it, not me. My job was just to fetch you."
Sam held up his hooves, shaking them. "No way! I don't want to be some kind of guinea pig!"
Spike gave a soft pshaw. "Celestia'd never hurt somepony like that." He breathed on a scroll, sending it off in a green vapor cloud. "She'll get that in a moment or two."
Lyra smiled at Sam. "Relax. Celestia is very kind and great. She won't let you come to any harm, and she'll get you back to where you want to be afterwards, be that through the portal there, or wherever else."
Sam tilted his head. "Home?"
Lyra perked her ears. "Is home your original world? Probably... not that. That's not possible as far as I've been told, and I'm really sorry about that..."
Sam flopped to his haunches. "Yeah... I kinda figured I'd lost rights to there when I went over the cliff."
Lyra smiled hesitantly. "It's not quite like that. We'll get through this, together, as friends, alright?"
With a sudden bright flash, Celestia appeared before them, folding her wings back against herself. "Lyra, Spike. Good to see you both." Her eyes fixed on Sam. "Ah, and our errant human. Good of you to join us."
Sam's ears wilted and he shrank back, clearly fearing the worst.
Celestia tilted her head. "Don't look that way. You're not here to be punished. I need your help to set things right, so other ponies, and humans, don't fall through the cracks. We're going to fix the wall between our worlds, so only those who really want to be here will find the way, and in a controlled fashion, and the other way around. I'm not sure what pony would desire it, but we can't rule it out." She held out a hoof towards Sam. "Are you willing to help?"
Sam looked at the gold-lined hoof and the towering pony that owned it before he stood up tall and offered his own hoof, bumping them together. "What do I have to do?"
Celestia smiled. "Nothing too difficult. Come with me." She draped a wing over him, and they were both gone in a bright flash, leaving Lyra and Spike in the basement.
Lyra looked over at Spike, tapping her chin. "So... Today's been a day, huh?"
Spike laughed at that. "That's an understatement."
Lyra smiled and gestured for the stairs. "You deserve a milkshake, Spike. We both do. My treat."
Spike clapped his claws together as he hurried for the stairs, clearly eager to accept this offer. "Can I get one with emeralds mixed in?"
Lyra cringed softly. "If they're having a sale or you bring your own, champ. Professional friend doesn't make that many bits."
They ascended to the first floor, then left the castle, heading into Ponyville proper. "Thanks, for your help today Spike. Everything was going wrong at once! You were the only part of the day, well, besides Lucy, that went the way it was supposed to."
Spike tilted his head. "If she hadn't run off, I'd say we should invite her along too."
Lyra smiled. "I'll catch her another time. For now, it's just the two of us."
They enjoyed their frozen treats and shared some idle chat, and were able to shed some of the stress of the day. It had been quite a trip, but both had made it through.