//------------------------------//
// 49 - Pony Watching 
// Story: It's OK to Be a Pony 
// by David Silver 
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Lyra wandered down the road, watching Ponyville. Carrot Top was just selling a bushel of her namesake to Filthy Rich, and she could see Pinkie Pie picking up some flour, for the bakery, or so Lyra guessed.

Lyra's attention snapped dead ahead as she tumbled over the form of a filly. It was Lucy. Lyra tilted her head. "You alright? I didn't see you there." She gathered herself up and sat on her haunches.

Lucy was fine, and said as much. With a big grin she asked. "Where are you going?"

Lyra made a circular motion with a hoof. "Around. Mostly wasting time. Can you believe fall's coming soon?"

Lucy bobbed her head. "I plan to enjoy summer while it's here. I'm going to go on a camping trip, but Cheerilee insists I have adult supervision. Are you up for it? It'll be me and two other foals. You know I won't cause trouble."

Lyra nodded a little at Lucy. "Of course you won't." She wasn't 100% certain of that. Lucy may have been adult in mind, but her young body did seem to have some effect on her. "But don't feel bad if you do. Being young is all about getting into things. When did you plan to go?"

Lucy's expression brightened as she grabbed Lyra's shoulders with her hooves. "Is that a yes? Thank you!" She bounded off without ever telling Lyra the specific day.

Lyra shook her head a little and rose to her hooves. She'd find out later, undoubtedly, and Lucy looked so happy about it. A muffled thump shook the ground beneath her and Lyra looked about until she spotted a trail of smoke coming up from the crystal castle in the distance. "Twilight..." Lyra rolled her eyes. Twilight may have become a princess, but that didn't change how often her experiments exploded violently.

She turned away from the castle and trotted towards the town hall to find Darrell and Steven sitting side by side on a bench, looking relaxed. She approached them with a smile. "Hey there you two! You're looking good. What's up?"

Steven raised the camera hanging around his neck and took a quick shot of Lyra, leaving her seeing spots. "Hey Lyre Flank. We're doing alright."

Lyra rubbed at her eyes with her fetlocks. "Warn a mare before you do that, sheesh. Oh, Darrell, you mentioned you wanted a pony name?"

Darrell perked her ears and suddenly came alert. "Oh, yeah. I had a few ideas."

Steven nodded. "Well, let's hear them."

Darrell pointed at the robin on her flank. "Robin Song."

Lyra smiled. "That sounds lovely, and compliments your talent nicely. What was your other idea?"

Steven nudged against Darrell supportively. "That was a good one."

Darrell nodded a little, looking unsure. "Are you sure? It was just... kind of off the cuff, and it felt... right?"

Steven shrugged. "Maybe it was crazy pony magic? They seem to have the right name for themselves more often than not. You make a fine Robin."

Robin smiled, looking relieved. "Robin..." She looked to Lyra. "What do I have to do, you know, legally?"

Lyra pointed to the town hall just behind them. "Head on in there and let them know and they'll take care of the rest. Really, it's just a formality. If you decide to call yourself aardvark, then that's that, but it's polite to keep the paperwork in order." She smiled gently. "Congratulations, Robin Song. A lovely name for a lovely pony."

Steven rubbed his cheek against Robin's lightly. "I'll drink to that. Let's go take care of that, and then we can celebrate. It'll be on me." He hopped to the ground, and Robin followed behind.

"You know I haven't started earning bits yet," she said on the way away. "But Roseluck wants to be introduced to a new pet patridge! It'll be my first real job."

Lyra let them go, smiling at their retreating forms. She had little fear for Robin. Steven would help her through the rough patches and they already made an adorable couple. Lyra trotted towards the office just for Sunny Days to come flying in at her, coming to an abrupt halt, hovering nose-to-nose. "Hey! Heyyy! Where's Darrell? She's been missing every time I come over!"

Lyra held up her hooves in a placating fashion. "Easy there, Sunny. Darrell's with Steven, and prefers to be called Robin Song now, or just Robin for short. Did you see her cutie mark?"

Sunny's eyes widened. "She got a cutie mark?! And she didn't show it off to us?! Aw sheesh, did we make her angry or something?" She sank to touch her hooves to the ground and folded up her wings. "I was only joking last time."

Lyra raised a brow. "Joking about what? And no, I don't think she's angry at anypony, just trying to find herself. She's registering her new name right now, actually."

Sunny leaned in on Lyra. "So what's her cutie mark? What's her talent? I know you know! Tell me!"

Lyra glanced left and right. "Well... I suppose that's not much of a secret. She's a bird singer."

"Bird singer?" Sunny tilted her head. "Like Fluttershy?"

Lyra brought her forehooves together. "More focused, just birds, not all critters."

Sunny grinned. "Hey, maybe it's a shy pony thing."

Lyra gave a slow blink. "You know, that's actually... maybe. Animals could be a replacement socialization..." She looked quite thoughtful, tapping her chin. "That's worth studying."

Sunny buffed a hoof against her chest. "I'm full of good ideas, don't you know?"