Lyra sat on her couch watching TV, the only light being the embers from her cigarette and the screen. She could hear Bon Bon working in the kitchen one room over. "Lyra, I hope you're not smoking again, you know I can't stand the smell."
Lyra let out a sigh. "Sorry Bon, I'm just thinking." She pulled the stick from her mouth and put it out on the ashtray next to her with her magic, not even looking away from the screen. Smoking in Equestria wasn't dangerous, but it wasn't too attractive either. For one, the smell of burning clovers was not a favored smell around Ponyville, no matter what enchantments unicorns found, they couldn't combine the relaxing spell combine with an odor extermination spell. "Clears my mind you know?"
"I know honey, but I'd prefer if you did that outside." Bon Bon's voice called.
"Of course baby." Lyra called back, eyes still transfixed on the television. The unicorn flipped from channel to channel to see what else was on. Celebrity gossip in Ponywood, interviews with DJ PON-3, plans for the weather patrol, and the newest product the unicorns in Canterlot have come up with. Lyra let out another sigh due to boredom and got up onto all fours. "I'm heading outside baby. Don't wait up." She walked outside into the night air and levitated another cigarette from the case she had outside, lighting it up with their oil lamp. She took a drag and looked out into the night sky. "By Luna's moon, her night is beautiful." Lyra smiled as she reflected on her night three years ago with Bon Bon. They shared their first kiss after telling one another how they felt. Lyra had captured Bon Bon's eyes, as well as her ears with her performance on her harp. Lyra Heartstrings fell deeply in love with Bon Bon that night, while playing the most romantic tune she knew. It was a night much like this one. Lyra looked to the door she just came out of and levitated her harp over towards her. She sat down on their porch swing, back against the seat as she held the harp in her front leg and ran the other across the strings. She played the song note for note like she did long ago. The notes rang out through the stars in the sky, soothing anypony near enough to hear it. With her eyes closed and legs playing, Lyra lost herself for a moment, so when she opened her eyes she was surprised to see she had attracted a visitor.
"Who!" It was an owl, perched right on the wooden railing.
"Hey, you must be Owlowicious! Twilight told me about you before. She said you were a great helper." Lyra set her harp down on the seat next to her.
"Who." The owl replied.
"Twilight. Y'know, your friend Twilight Sparkle?" Lyra chuckled. "Look at me, trying to take what you say literally."
"Who?"
"Me, Lyra."
"Who?"
Lyra's smile fell to half. "Who is Lyra?" She took another drag at her cigarette. "That's a very good question. I haven't done very much in the past two years. I go out, play in the street and the park, make a few bits, come home and watch TV." She ashed her cigarette and let out a puff of smoke. "I should have a little more going for me right now. Don't get me wrong, I love Bon Bon and living with her has made my life so much greater, but..." She hesitated, and the owl looked at her, waiting for an answer. "I was supposed to be so much more than a layabout, watching cartoons for little fillies day in and day out." Lyra took a final drag on her roll of clover before dropping it in the outdoor ashtray. "I was gonna be LYRA, the pony of many talents, even without hands! ...When did I become so bland?" She looked to the nocturnal creature as he let out a hoot and gazed back at her, as if he was expecting something to happen. "What? You waiting on something? Or you trying to tell me something?" He only spun his head around and continued to gaze at her with his large owl eyes. "Forget it, I have to support Bon Bon. She wouldn't approve if I missed a meal, came home late, skipped out on-"
"Who!" Owlowicious interupted Lyra's rant.
"Bon Bon. My wife. She's back there in the kitchen getting dinner ready to go."
"Who! Who-hoo!" He hooted with a bit more urgency.
Lyra looked him over, trying to understand what he was saying. "You have a point... I do kind of let Bon Bon run everything I do anymore. I love her but she's become kind of restrictive as of late." Lyra began tapping a hoof against her chin. "Y'know Owlowicious, you're right. Bon Bon didn't fall in love with a lazy mare who sits around gaining weight. She loves Lyra, the awesome unicorn who mastered sitting like a human and the art of the harp! Lyra, the pony who was gonna change Equestria. She'd want me to do this, even if she doesn't realize it. I don't wanna end up in one of those relationships where the couple argue 'you're not the same pony I fell in love with' and all that crap." Lyra stood up with renewed vigor, she was determined. "She'll have a wife she can be proud of! An awesome unicorn who mastered not only the harp, but...but... uh... I'll master a lot of other things is the point I'm trying to make." She looked down and realized she was only standing on her hind legs. "Would ya look at that. Let's have this be the first thing!" She announced happily before falling over backwards. "BY CELESTIA'S BEARD! I WILL WALK ON TWO LEGS!"
"Celestia doesn't have a beard darling!" Bon Bon called from inside.
"RIGHT!" Lyra brought herself back up to four legs, and balanced herself back to two legs, holding against the wall for support. She grinned and looked back up to Owlowicious. "Just watch little buddy, soon my name will be bigger than the Wonderbolts, Celestia, PON-3, Photo Finish, Fluttershy and everypony else altogether! Lyra, the pony who changed Equestria!" She thrust her front legs into the air with an array of blue fireworks erupting from her horn. "BON BON! PUT EVERYTHING ON HOLD AND GET TO THE BEDROOM! I'M TAKING YOU FOR A RIDE!"
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The next morning, Lyra teetered on her hind legs as she attempted walking over to Sugarcube Corner for her first show. "This isn't so bad. A little wobbly but not bad at all. I may have fallen down a time or... 6, but I'm sure everypony does whenever they try this... if anypony has ever tried this..." She swung her hooves to try and keep her balance as she almost fell over once again. "Well, if I am the only pony to try this, then that makes it all the more special." She smiled to herself as she thought that, seeing the building approach her vision. When she got to the door, she was greeted by a blur of pink fur and mane bouncing around her.
"Lyra's here! Lyra's HERE!" Pinkie Pie zoomed around the blue green unicorn. "We've been so excited for you to join us for Gummy's party! Hey, why are you standing like that?"
Lyra worked hard to maintain her balance, finally stamping down and holding her front legs to either side, letting out a sigh of relief. "I just thought I'd try it out. Y'know, keep it fresh."
Pinkie Pie let out a giggle. "You sounded a little like Dashie just then. Everypony is inside! Come on!" As soon as she had rushed out, she had rushed back in. Lyra looked in amazement, she never saw anypony have as much energy as Pinkie Pie. She waddled on inside where she saw nopony but Pinkie and a number of animals.
"Uh, Pinkie, is this just a party for everypony's pets?"
"Well, duh silly filly. Everypony else is out tonight, so they left me in charge of pet sitting! So I decided, why not throw a party for all of Gummy's friends! See, there's Tank, Winona, Opal, Angel, Owlowicious, and of course Gummy. Also look! Philomena is joining us today!" The phoenix flew in from downstairs at the mention of her name, beautiful and elegant. "Princess Luna was talking to Twilight, and then Twilight was talking about how we were having a pet party! So Princess Luna asked me if she could have Philomena come over to have fun too, and I was like of course she can, there's never too many guests at a Pinkie Pie party! So when I heard that Royalty was coming I though I would have to have some of the prettiest music I could find. I thought about asking Tavi, but she's too serious and her music always makes me kind of sad, and I always found your music to be much much much prettier!"
Lyra took a second to absorb everything that Pinkie had just said, but eventually she put it all together. "Well thank you Pinkie Pie." She turned and bowed her head towards Philomena, impressively keeping her balance as well. "It's an honor to play for such a regal guest." Lyra brought a sparkle to her horn and her harp appeared in a puff of magic. Looking around the room she noticed that all of the animals besides Opal had a party hat on. The Persian cat instead, had a shredded mess of colored paper and string next to her. "Any requests?"
"Um... do you remember that really pretty one that you played for Bon Bon at your wedding? The really pretty one? Could you play that one?" Pinkie Pie bounced happily in place.
Lyra remembered the tune well. "Of course! That's my favorite one, I hope Our guests enjoy it too." Lyra began playing, gliding her hoof across the strings. For some reason she found it easier to stand while she played the notes. It soothed her nerves and she saw all the other animals calming down as well. She closed her eyes and let the music take her back. She continued to play, and she began to let notes ring out of her throat as well. She had a beautiful voice but never put lyrics to her songs so much as more tones. Bon Bon loved to hear her sing and Lyra loved to sing, though she hadn't done so in recent times.
After the party Pinkie Pie handed over a pouch full of bits to Lyra who accepted them graciously. She stepped outside and started walking home. Owlowicious came out and landed on her shoulder, the unexpected weight made her fall back to all fours. Owlowicious gave a hoot and Lyra looked up at him. "Hey there buddy. You enjoy the show?" Another hoot. "Y'know I think I'm beginning to understand you now." Lyra chuckled a little. "And thank you by the way." The owl gave out a series of hoots in response. "Well I'm going to go home and-"
"Hoot-hoo-hoo!" Owlowicious interrupted.
"Oh! RIGHT! My goals! I almost forgot Owlowicious... don't look at me like that. Can't expect me to remember too much from last night after Bon Bon and I-" The owl hooted in objection. "Sorry, I got carried away.." Lyra blushed a little. "Just let me tell ya that pony sure knows how to please me like nopony can! So! First thing's first. I've been trying to walk on two legs as you saw." She lifted herself back up on her hind legs, catching her balance. "Not too easy but I think I'm getting it down. Now as for what to do next..." Lyra took in her surroundings. In the sky she saw the pegasi flying by, pushing clouds and doing tricks. "Nah... we'll try flight later. What I really should try, has to be awesome, something that will grab somepony's attention, something like..." She noticed a television in the window of one of the shops and walked over, pressing her front hooves against the glass. It showed the statue of Discord being placed in the royal garden. "That's it! I'll stop the god of chaos! AGAIN!"