//------------------------------// // -3- Monday Part: Three // Story: The Anthropologist // by Weavers of Dreams //------------------------------// Being an anthropologist had plenty of perks as well. “There-there, dear,” Lyra said, giving the small human girl a kind hug while levitating a plate of Sugarcube Corner’s melt-in-your-mouth sugar cookies and a glass of milk to the little table. “Tears alone aren’t going to solve this problem. We’re going to do our best to send you back home to your mommy and daddy as soon as possible.” The girl sniffed as Lyra used a cotton handkerchief to dry her eyes, and then had her blow her nose. “Better?” Lyra asked as she tossed the handkerchief into the wastebasket. The girl nodded. Lyra sat down beside her, gathering her clipboard. “Okay, let’s see here. You were found just outside of Whitetail Woods, at eight-forty PM, by the Flower Sisters. At the time, you thought it was a dream, and let them lead you to their home, where they gave you a hot bath, a warm meal, and bed to sleep in for the night. Is that correct?” The girl nodded as she hesitantly reached for the milk and cookies. Lyra continued. “Upon waking up, and finding yourself in a strange environment, you screamed for help.” Lyra gave an understanding nod. It was common for the younger ones to experience a brief period of terror the first few times they woke up in Equestria. “The flower sisters heard your cries and rushed in to try and help you… you managed to hit Roseluck over the head with an encyclopedia.” “Sorry,” the girl managed to say around her mouthful of cookie. “Don’t worry about it, sweetie,” Lyra comforted her. “It says here that, after she regained consciousness, she expressed her forgiveness of the action, and is still willing to put you up in her home for the time being. Looks like you’ve had a busy morning, Jessica.” The girl had a guilty look on her face as she nibbled on another cookie. Lyra chuckled softly as she set the clipboard aside. “Well, Jessica, it’ll be about a week or so until the mages have dealt with all the other misplaced humans so that they can create a return portal for you. Unless we can get some of them from Canterlot.” “You want me to leave?” Jessica asked, looking as though she had been caught doing something wrong. Lyra shook her head frantically. “Oh, no-no-no-no-nooo, it’s not that we want you to leave, it’s that we want you be with your family. They must miss you terribly, don’t you think?” Jessica nodded and sniffed. “Yes ma’am.” “That’s Dr. Ma’am to you,” Lyra said good-naturedly. That made the little girl laugh. Awe, good times. She grabbed a fresh piece of notepaper and a quill. “Now, before I have you sent to Ponyville General with one of my assistants… that came out wrong… for quick physical check-up, I would like to compile a small list of things.” “What sort of things?” “Oh, you know,” Lyra said with an abstract hoof motion, “like, what’s your favorite food? What games do you like? Are you allergic to anything? Do you like bedtime stories? If so, what kind of stories? How many cookies can you take from the cookie jar before anyone notices? You know… the important stuff.” Jessica giggled. Lyra was good with kids. The questions went by quickly, and Lyra let her out early so the little girl could finish up with the rest of the standard human proceedings and still enjoy a day in the snow with the other children. It also gave her some time alone before her next patient to wonder how a little girl of Jessica’s age could possibly enjoy Lovecraft’s eldritch horror.