//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: Tugging at Her Heartstrings // by neutralmilk //------------------------------// “Elements of Coherence? What are you talking about?” Lyra asks, confused. “You know, those ponies with the magic jewelry?” you reply, waving your arms in the air, desperately trying to mimic a tiara and a necklace. “They made those weird noises like bloop bloop bloop and bzzzzzz?” Lyra looks at you even more confused than before. You facepalm and look to Roseluck for help. “… Oh! You mean the Elements of Harmony!” she cries joyfully, as if she had just solved a million-dollar question on a game show. You clap your hands together. “Yeah, them!” “Ok, what about them?” Lyra asks, the puzzled look still on her face. “Oh, I just saw the pink one walk by a second ago.” “Who, Pinkie Pie?” “Uh, yeah. I think that’s her name.” “Wow, cool story.” Lyra says, turning back to Roseluck who stood behind a vendors stall, various flower displays adorning every inch. “So anyway, I was all-“ “Wait, I thought you’d be impressed or something that I’m starting to really get my bearings around here! I almost recognized Pinkles Pie!” “Well, first off it’s Pinkie Pie, not Pinkles. Secondly, you’re bound to see her pop up pretty much everywhere. “ “What do you me…” Your voice trails off as you notice Pinkie Pie in the distance hopping happily, moving along the exact same path that she had traveled down only a minute prior. She disappears behind a building and reappears at the head of the path, hopping down it once again. “What the hell…?” Roseluck turns to watch the pink mare hop around happily, humming a song. She shrugs and returns to watering her flowers. “She’s Pinkie Pie. Ignore it and it won’t bother you.” Lyra laughs. “I think we’ll let you get back to work, Rose. I'm pretty sure he’s had enough breaking of the laws of physics for one day.” “Ok! You guys have a great day! Oh, and tell Bon-Bon I said hi!” Roseluck waves a hoof at you; you respond with a smile. “Sure thing!” Lyra calls back, trotting alongside you and into town. “So let’s see, we saw Rose, Carrot Top and Daisy.” “Hey, don’t forget Derpy!” you add. Lyra laughs. “How could I? Especially after what happened with you guys today!” “That mare really loves those muffins…” “Hey, speaking of food, I’m starving! Let’s get something to eat.” “Hmmm…” You stroke your chin as if deep in thought. “Fine. But you’re buying!” “Wow, lazy and cheap! You’re every mare’s dream!” Lyra snipes back jokingly. You recoil overdramatically and pretend to sob into your hands. “Oh boo hoo! My life is a misery! I’m so alone and misunderstood! Woe is me!” “Hey, it’s ok.” Lyra grins back at you. “I’m sure you’ll find somepony that’ll want to date your sorry ass. So what do you say? This place has great food.” “Hoity Toity’s Fine Equestrian Cuisine?” you read off a banner hanging above the restaurant. “Uh, yeah. Sure. Sounds cool.” You smile and walk inside with Lyra by your side. An earth pony wearing a black vest appears before the two of you and seats you almost immediately, dropping a plastic menu directly in front of each of you before darting to help another couple. You revel in the brilliance of the high-class restaurant, noting that normally you and Lyra opt to order out and sit in front of the television. You scan the restaurant curiously, examining each aspect of the lavishly decorated interior. Paintings and portraits of important ponies hang on the wall, an elegant chandelier shining rays of dim, gold light upon each of them. The remainder of the restaurant seems especially dim, save the individual candles standing in the center of each table and illuminating everypony’s faces. You turn to face Lyra and your heart flutters. The candlelight shines brightly in her golden eyes as if giving them a life of their own. She smiles at you softly, delicately, her aquamarine coat standing out brightly from the ambient lighting. She’s absolutely beautiful… You tell yourself, wondering how come it took so long for you to notice. It takes all your strength to keep yourself from confessing to her how you feel; how much she really does mean to you. How you love her. You wish Lyra could be yours instead of Bon-Bon’s. Oblivious to your inner turmoil, Lyra picks up her menu and begins skimming it. You notice her tongue sticking out of the side of her mouth and stifle a chuckle. “Awwwww, you look so cute!” you coo, breaking the silence. You proceed to make baby noises at her, Lyra responding with a blush. “Shut up and pick something to eat.” She reaches across the table to hit you but you push your chair back enough for her to miss you. You laugh and pick up your menu off the table. “Hayburgers, grits, salads…” You mumble while reading over the myriad examples of entrees offered. “Daffodil sandwiches?” You grimace and sigh, putting the menu back on the table. “Best one’s in town, I swear. Gustave’s has got nothing on this place. ” Lyra responds, unaware of your distaste. You frown; Lyra’s attention is devoted to the menu rather than you. Hoping to catch her attention, you scrunch up your face and waggle your fingers at her, but to no avail. Shortly after you puff up your cheeks and pull your ears forward, moving closer toward her until your nose is inches away from her menu. You suddenly notice the complete silence that envelops the restaurant. You realize that pretty much the entire restaurant is presently staring at you, your fingers contorting your face into as bizarre an expression as any yet seen by humanity or ponykind. You smile, embarrassed, and shrink back in your chair, waiting for the ponies’ prying eyes to turn back to their own tables. Lyra, in the meantime, sits before you, flipping through her menu. You twiddle your fingers rapidly as if trying to beat a high score to some made up game. Where’s the damn waiter in this place? You think to yourself, boredom setting in. Striving not to be outdone by a plastic menu, you quickly hatch a fiendish plot to ensure Lyra’s attention, good or bad. “Sigh…” You begin. “What I wouldn’t do for a hamburger…” You see Lyra’s ears perk up from behind her menu. You smile. You’ve got her in the palm of your hand. “Or maybe a nice cheesy-beefy-oober-melt burrito from Taco Shell; with extra beef…” You smack your lips loudly and begin rubbing your stomach. You can see Lyra begin to lower her menu, her eyes peering over it and straight at you. “Is there something wrong?” you ask innocently, fluttering your eyelashes at her. “You know what you’re doing. Stop it.” She replies menacingly, her eyebrows crossed at you. “Stop what? Talking about how much I’d love a big juicy steak right about now? Or maybe some… bacon?” “Stop-“ “Hell! Even a Shepard’s Pie would do right about now! Or even haggis! Just something nice and bloody.” You sit back and fold your arms, staring at Lyra. By this time the entire restaurant was watching your exchange, engrossed. “Look, you’ve got my attention, now please stop. Please?” Lyra whispers, a blush growing on her cheek from the unwanted attention. “Fine.” You reply, clearly the victor. “Waiter?” Your voice practically echoes throughout the presently silent restaurant. The earth pony from before dashes before you, a pencil and pad of paper in his hooves. “Can I, uh, take your orders?” “Why certainly, my good stallion. The lady will have the daffodil sandwich, extra lettuce and tomatoes.” You order, speaking in your fanciest tone possible. Lyra rolls her eyes at you and sits back. The remaining ponies turn back to their own meals, your spectacle finished. “And for you sir?” “Hmmmm… Do you guys have anything with meat?” Lyra instantly blushes and drops her head to the table, sighing heavily while the waiter looks at you nervously. You let out a reassuring laugh. “Scratch that. I’ll take a salad.” “You really suck.” Lyra says to you as the two of you walk out of Hoity Toity’s Fine Equestrian Cuisine. “You almost got me banned from my favorite restaurant!” She punches you in the arm and trots ahead of you, leaving you standing there smiling widely. “Aw c’mon, wait up!” You shout, running to catch up with the mare. “You’re just pissed that I embarrassed you before you got a chance to humiliate me.” “Yeah, yeah. You know how everypony freaks out about the mention of meat! You cheated and you know it.” “Cheated? No, my dear, that’s simply not true.” You mock curl an invisible moustache and continue your walk beside the aquamarine mare who looks up at you, smiling wryly. “As a human, I’m destined to excel at everything.” You smile back smugly, walking with your chest puffed out. “It’s clear that ponies are inferior beings! While you may be peaceful and happy, humans are strong, enduring, incredibly smart, and very percepti- whoa! Surprised, you trip and fall to the ground face first landing with a thud. You look up to find Lyra, her hind leg sticking out in front of where you were just walking. She brings her face close to yours and smiles. “Perceptive, huh? How’s that working for you?” “A sunset by the lake? How cliché.” You say jokingly, nudging the musical mare sitting beside you on a park bench. “You just have to ruin everything, don’t you?” Lyra retaliates with a punch, slumping back in the bench. You laugh and grab your arm, rubbing away the dull pain. The two of you sit alone, enjoying the soft breeze that wafts by. You sigh and lean back. A small flock of ducklings waddle nearby, quaking at each other quietly. “This is beautiful…” Lyra says softly, entranced by the scenery. You nod in agreement. Everything had gone perfectly. Your day with Lyra went by flawlessly, and now you and the mare you love are spending a sunset together by a lake. Even with the picturesque landscape stretching around you, your thoughts are focused on Lyra. You silently wish that this moment spent with her was one in which you two were together, not just as friends. Almost as if on cue, Lyra leans into you and sighs peacefully. Your heart races and you nervously wrap an arm around her, pulling her closer into an embrace. I don’t how I was so lucky as to come here and meet you. You think at her, wishing you could say these words aloud. Wishing she would say something back. God knows I could’ve appeared anywhere! Or met anypony. I couldn’t have been luckier to have met you so quickly. You’ve been amazing. You’ve housed me, fed me, hell, even befriended. You’re the most amazing pers- uh, pony I’ve ever met. I want to tell you how thankful I am and how much everything you’ve done has meant to me. Even if I could go home, I wouldn’t. My home is with you now. “What are you thinking about?” Lyra asks, looking up at you. Strands of her white hair from her mane dangle over her eyes. She blows at them, sending them back into formation. “N-nothing.” You reply shakily. “What? C’mon, don’t lie to me.” “Well, Lyra… I… well, I loooo,” you begin, suddenly deciding against your confession and developing a hasty lie. “ooove this…lake? Yeah! This place is niiiiice.” Smooth, man. Real smooth. You think to yourself begrudgingly. “That’s crap and you know it.” She says matter-of-factly, pushing up off of you and looking into your eyes. Her demeanor instantly softens. “Now tell me the truth, please?” Oh God, what do I say?! I mean, now’s my chance and all… Lyra looks into your eyes, almost as if staring into your soul. A soft, yet firm gaze. I don’t know if I should do this… She’s with Bon-Bon! It’ll ruin everything! Do this and you can kiss your friendship goodbye… Her mane blows gently in the breeze. She wears a light smile on her face as she calmly awaits your answer. But… I love her! Why should I care if she doesn’t back? I gotta at least tell her. If not for her sake, but my own. I’m sure we can work it out… “I’m not getting any younger, you know.” She says playfully. I-I-I… I can’t do it. “Lyra, you’re… you’ve been a great friend.” You say to her, clenching your teeth in self-disappointment. Her smile slowly begins to drop. I wish you could be mine. “You’ve been way too nice to me since I wound up in Equestria.” And I love you so much. “You’re the best friend I think I could ever have.” You look up at Lyra, her eyes tearing and confusion on her face. “Lyra? What’s wrong?” “N-nothing. Just-just gimme a minute.” Lyra’s voice falters as she turns away from you and toward the deep blue lake. You hear her sniffle lightly. “What’s wrong?” you repeat, confused. “Did I say something?” you reach an arm out to her but it gets slapped away. She drops from the bench and begins to trot away. “Lyra?” you call after her. She turns to face you, her eyes tear-stained and her face wet from crying. “Screw off! Just- just leave me alone. I’m done. Go find yourself a new friend.” She turns back to the road and gallops away back into town, sobbing heavily.