//------------------------------// // Scenario 5: The Unexpected Date // Story: Reality is Magic // by ninjintonic //------------------------------// LYRA'S APARTMENT, HUMANEHATTAN - 9:00 AM, SATURDAY Sweet acoustic melody produced across the living room from the guest room. Lyra sat on a wooden chair with a music stand in front of her. For every note she plucked, she'd stop intermittently to take a sip of her coffee and aligned notes while examining closely at her music notepad. Assortment of string instruments hung across the high wall of the guest room: from guitars, violins, to ukuleles; and an organized chaos of music sheets haphazardly arranged on the floor and coffee table. Lyra's love for music dedicated her career as a music teacher at Canterlot High School. She had hoped one day to be a part of the most famous symphony orchestra group in HuManehattan, Dawn's Advent. She knows it's quite flamboyant of her to think outside of the box, but it's something that she'd always wanted to do. On her day off, she had a steady routine which she spends half of her day in the morning rehearsing and the rest of her day consisting of either seeing both Pinkie Pie and I or a stroll to Central Park with her Lyre. Cell Phone Rings Lyra stopped temporary to pick up the phone from the coffee table and observed to see who's calling: Wind Rider is calling you Lyra drew in a dull sigh pondering whether to answer the call or just let it go to voicemail. "Hello." Lyra said in a monotone voice. "Hey beautiful, what you up to?" Lyra rolled her eyes and cringed at Wind Rider's words, "Rehearsing." Lyra replied expressionlessly. "Well, I was thinking, since I am free, and hopefully thinking you are too ummmm, maybe we can go out again tonight?" "I ughh.." Lyra quivered in words to say next, she wanted to say no but at the same time didn't want to turn him down. "How about Gustave Le Grand's Steakhouse at 7?" Wind Rider asserted without giving Lyra a chance to reply. "Okay, but I gotta..." "It's okay, I understand you had plans, how about at 8?" Wind Rider interrupted. "Ummm, Okay." "Good! I'll pick you up at 7:30, so looking forward to tonight, dear." Click sounded on the other end. She looked at her phone, the call ended in three minutes. Lyra flinged her phone to her nearest couch, then grab hold of her coffee and drank it all in one gulp, not caring if it were to burn her tongue. The thought of Wind Rider's voice and the phone conversation had made her edgy. Wind Rider is perceived to be an assertive guy, and she was a pushover. Opposite attracts, not necessarily for Lyra. She was not looking forward to tonight, but she had no choice but to go because it was a plan that she had slyly agreed to. While holding a Lyre on her hand, she indiscreetly turned the page through her musical notebook, and let out a heavy sigh. She lost the momentum of playing for this morning. It's a beautiful sunny day out and thought it was a smart idea to take a walk at Central Park. Lyra ascended from her chair and hung the Lyre next to the corresponding instruments across the high wall. It is indeed a beautiful sunny day, but only indoors. It's awfully cold and slightly windy, after all, the fall season is here. Lyra was bundled up in a double cotton twill trench coat and a scarf, with her Lyre in a case which she carried it along her back with a strap. She took a stroll through the streets of HuManehattan, waved at some common folks as she walked pass them. Lyra has not eaten breakfast yet, so she decided to take a brief stop at Sugar Cube Corner. The chime sounded right after making an entrance to Sugar Cube Corner, seeing Mrs. Cake calculating at the register and Mr. Cake setting each pastries behind the pastry glass. "Hey guys." Lyra asserted beatifically. "Hi sweet cakes!" Mrs. Cake replied brightly. Mr. Cake with a grin, "How are you today, Miss Heartstrings?" "Eh, just ducky." Lyra walked and cowered lightly through the pastry glass, brushing her hair back with her index finger as she pondered through the varieties of deliciously warm pastries. "I got a date tonight..." "Oh do ya, now.." Mrs. Cake replied with a tease. "Eh, I sense a girl talk coming, I shall be on my way doing inventories now, I'll be out of y'alls discussion." Mr. Cake remarked. Mr. Cake completely aligned all the pastries behind the pastry glass, then pushed the baking rack trolley back in the kitchen and began doing his inventories there. Lyra, with one palm covering her mouth and letting out a cute chuckle. "Ummm, there wasn't a discussion about it to begin with, I was only here to buy a pastry." "Oh honey, don't mind him, what would you like?" "Well, I want something light.. I'll get one of your delicious baked croissants to-go please." "Delightful choice, sweetie." Mrs. Cake walked towards the pastry glass while grabbing a tissue paper and a white paper bag, picked up the croissant with the tissue paper, placing it in the bag and offering it to Lyra at no charge. "Oh Mrs. Cake, thanks, but I insist on paying." "It's in the house, but in exchange I need to know who this guy is you're dating tonight, I want to help you." Lyra gazed at Mrs. Cake, apprehending what kind of a plan could Mrs. Cake have that may be able to help her tonight. "Well if you insist." As kindly accepting the croissant in a bag, "I don't think there's much to say except he's very outgoing, handsome, and a fast runner." "Sweetie.... that's too vague, you have a face of a scared puppy, I can foresee you're shying away about something." "Well..." Lyra quivered in words, "He persuasively invited me to dinner at Gustave Le Grand's Steakhouse at 7." "Whoa, that's a very expensive restaurant, how did he get a reservation there?" "He has way into things, and honestly, I am not looking forward to it." "Why not?" "I really don't like the guy... Mrs. Cake... I want to get out of it." "No, don't do that. Lemme tell you, before I met Mr. Cake, I've gone on some dates that I thought would not turn out well, and believe me, most dates I've had, gone into turmoil. But on the bright side, I had free dinners, heheheh.. Besides, he could be different than what you perceived him to be if you gave him a chance." Lyra let out a shallow sigh, "I guess you're right. It's just a date, if it doesn't turn out well, it's not the end of the world." "There you go, just have fun, you have needs, embrace your womanhood!" "Huh?" "Ummm, nevermind that, heheh." "Well, thank you again for the croissant, I'm taking a stroll to central park just to free my mind for awhile. Give my regards to Mr. Cake." "Will do, Goodbye." Lyra waved a goodbye to Mrs. Cake as she turned around to make her exit from Sugar Cube Corner. Lyra pulled out her cell phone from her Coat pocket and began a text message to both Pinkie Pie and I: "Hey, I have a date tonight with Wind Rider, 7pm at Gustave Le Grand Steakhouse. You girls want anything from the restaurant? Text back if you do, love you." Message Sent I slipped the phone back in my coat pocket, then took the croissant out from the bag and devouring small bites whilst strolling down the streets. LYRA'S APARTMENT, HUMANEHATTAN - 7:27 PM, SAME DAY Lyra had arrived back from the strolls of HuManehattan after meeting a couple of work friends on the way home from Central Park. She hastily removed her coat and scarf, tossed it on her couch and walked to her bathroom to make final touches on her make up. Just because she didn't like the guy, doesn't conclude the fact that she didn't need to gussy up. She redid her lipstick and her eyeliner, gazed at the mirror one more time and relinquished a smile. "HONK" Lyra didn't think it was a gentleman of him to honk his car than to walk up to her doorstep and ring a doorbell; On the contrary, she quickly hid her make up kit in the mirror cabinet, headed towards the apartment door while grabbing her coat and scarf, then made her exit. A red sporty looking car was parked by her curb in front of her apartment driveway. He revved the engine loud signifying an affectation towards Lyra, which does not bode well for her, not even one bit. As she approached closer, she opened the passenger door, crouched lightly to plop herself in on the seat and shut the door. "Heya, beautiful." Wind Rider asserted in a lowly tone. "Hi.." Replied Lyra. "How was your day?" As driving off from the curb. Lyra had second thoughts about this guy, but since he actually asked how her day was, she thought it was a good start. reverting back from the conversation earlier with Mrs. Cake, This date may turn out well after all. "My day was good, productive, just like any of my off days, I spent..." "I am feelin' for a soft, pink, medium rare filet mignon tonight... I am so hungry, what about you?" Wind Rider interrupted. "..Yeah, I am hungry too, I only had a croissant the whole day." Lyra refuted. "Good." Lyra knew the directions to the steakhouse, but stumped at some directional turns Wind Rider took. "Umm, you could've just gone straight, ya know." Lyra conveyed. "Yeah I know, but there's a short cut." Wind Rider corrected. "Okay.." Lyra replied expressionlessly. "So Wind Rider, how was your day?" "Good." "Oh okay, well... What does your day consist of?" "Run, coach, work, eat and sleep." Wind Rider took another different turn. Lyra explored out her passenger window noticing the location she is being taken to, began to look foreign to her. "Wind Rider?" Lyra with a big gulp, "Umm.. Where are you taking us?" The car had gradually slowed down that led to a dark alley, and stopped. "Wind Rider, what are we doing here?" Lyra continued nervously. "Lyra... I have something to tell you." "Wha.. What is it?" "Ever since I laid an eye on you a week ago, I can never get you off my mind. Every where I go, you're there; Every time I eat, you're there; Every time I take a shower, you're there; Every time I jerk off, guess what... It's like you're literally there with me." Lyra hugged herself and looked at him with haunting expression, "Wha.. What are you trying to acquire?" Wind Rider positioned his body in a slant, facing Lyra's direction, "You're not alone in this world, Leera." "Lyra.." She vaguely corrected. "I am sorry... Lyra... You're not alone in this world... Most guys out there, including me, waited sooooo long for someone who is beautiful as you, someone with grace and affection. Lyra, you have those qualities that I'm looking for." Lyra's bothered by the short silence in between them, she didn't know what to do or say at this point, but shivered in fear as she foreshadowed on what will happen next, is not going to be pleasant. Wind Rider quickly locked the door then tossed himself from his driver seat without constraint and forcefully positioned on top of Lyra, grabbing both of her wrists and held it locked on the head rest of her passenger's seat. "If you scream, I will kill you." Wind Rider had said in a wolfish voice. Wind Rider is a very strong man. Most of his weight rested on Lyra's legs, trapped down, at the same time Lyra struggled for freedom from the terrifying situation. But Lyra was helpless. "Wind Rider, please let me go." Lyra cried. "Oh, I will let you go, if you give me what I want." Wind Rider replied viciously. Wind Rider hemmed in on the side of Lyra's neck then strenuously engulfing it with his tongue. "Let me go, please!..." Lyra had said sobbingly. Wind Rider persisted as Lyra's neck had been covered in saliva, leaving a red blotch on her neck, "You smell like a Meadow.." Lyra, still trapped on the passenger seat, continued to strive for an escape as she ascended a quarter way, but was pressed back down by Wind Rider's strength. "GET BACK DOWN! You're not going anywhere." With tears on Lyra's eyes and with frightful voice, "What did I ever do to you, Wind Rider? Whatever it is I did, I am very sorry..." Wind Rider impatiently unzipping his pants, "You did everything. It's your fault. If killing Pinkie Pie didn't work, I'll just ruin your life instead." Lyra was appalled to Wind Rider's mentioning of Pinkie Pie's name. He was the suspect, the culprit, the one who tried to run over Pinkie Pie weeks ago, It wasn't an accident, it was an intentional murder. "What?!" Lyra replied vigorously. Wind Rider slowly gazed at Lyra's frightened face, then down from her cleavage to her skirt and bare legs, "You're so beautiful, I can't wait to mess you up." Wind Rider came to a close, forcefully attempting to get in between Lyra's legs by shifting one to an open with his right knee, by doing so, Lyra had an advantage to deliver her knee to his rib cage which startled his balance. Letting her wrist free from his grip, Lyra had a built up of rage and adrenaline, she deliberately landed a fist straight to his face, causing him to be stunned. This was Lyra's chance to escape while he's dazed in a prone position on the passenger dashboard. She manually unlocked the door, grabbed her purse, and ran from the dark alley to search for a light. The area was secluded and horrifying. There were torn, abandoned houses everywhere, at least that's what she sees when everything was pitched black. She heard strangers in a low voice from every direction, "Who is that girl? What is she doing here? Lets get her!" Being strong was the only choice she had, so she continued running through the hollowed, dark alley as fast as she can, and finally felt a presence of public ambience drawing near, which brought to her sighed relief. She finally freed herself from the shadows, and stepped into the bright night streets of HuManehattan. Lyra leaned back against a closed shutter, then slid and huddled to the ground. People who walked pass Lyra kept asking if she was okay, some even offered cash so she can take a cab home safely. Tears streamed down her face, whatever happened tonight was perhaps too much for her to take in. A lot of things are going through her head right now, unsure how or what to feel. What she needed most right now are her friends, Pinkie Pie and I. Lyra took her phone out from her coat pocket and noticed a couple of text messages received earlier from both Pinkie and I: Pinkie 2:34pm: "Thanks, but no thanks. Be careful Lyra, call when you need me, love you too." Sunset Shimmer 3:02pm: "Why are you going out with him?" Lyra asked herself that very question. Why did she? Was it really that difficult to say 'No' to begin with? She didn't want to think anymore. She placed a phone call to me. "Hey Lyra!" I said brightly on the other end of the phone. "Hi.." "...Are you okay?" "No.... I need you and Pinkie Pie to come get me.." Lyra looked at a corner street sign of her own location. "I am at 53rd and 6th Street." Lyra said expressionlessly with a sniffle. "Pinkie and I are on our way in a jiff, don't go anywhere." Lyra didn't wait long. Pinkie and I rushed with her business van, through the red traffic lights, arrived closely and parked the van quickly to a stop by the curb right in front of Lyra, who is huddled to the ground against a shuttered door. We ran out leaving the doors opened, towards Lyra then we both dropped to the ground beside her and hugged her tightly. As we let go freely from each other, I asked worriedly, "What happened Lyra?" While Pinkie Pie wiped the tears from Lyra's face. Lyra continued sobbing even more, words came out nothing but a stutter when she tried explaining. I should've known better not to ask, not right now. So instead, Pinkie Pie and I gave her another unforgettable hug to calm her down, stealing away the pain from every little bit of her until she can smile again. Pinkie Pie dolefully suggested, "Lyra, You don't have to go home tonight, you can spend the night in my place as long as you want.." Lyra looked at Pinkie with a gloominess expression on her face, still faintly moist from her tears, then slowly peered at me as Pinkie and I nodded at the idea. Holding Lyra's arms, we all stood up without convulsion, slowly walking towards the van. I sat in the backseat with Lyra, and Pinkie was the driver. It's a thirty-minute drive to our destination, Lyra spent those thirty-minutes clinging on to my arms with her eyes closed and head softly rested against my shoulder, "I love you girls." She said in a tiring low voice realizing that her only home is within both Pinkie Pie and I. She let out a heavy sigh and went to sleep for a short while.