“I had breakfast, the library will open in about ten minutes. And I have all my gear. Time to head out.” I mutter to myself. I then turn off the light and leave my house. I immediately have a feeling of suspense, of something important either having just happened, or being about to.
I have lived in this town for all my life. I was born in this very house. I know that no matter the time of day, or the weather, this town doesn’t go silent: The birds chirp, the highway still has cars going down it, squirrels still scurry, and moose still trot about as if they own the town.
But at that moment, the entire town is seemingly taking a moment of silence, out of respect. Respect the likes of which I attribute to mourning a fallen leader. I am slightly worried that I am so out of touch with the greater world. As I knew of no recent deaths that would inspire such respect. I am already isolated, as I barely know what is happening beyond my life, let alone my town.
Could the state governor had died? Or maybe our congressional representative? These thoughts fly through my head, causing me to almost miss the crate in front of me.
It is such a curious sight, so out of place with our trashy yard. New, it looks new. Compared to the worn path litted with dozens of forgotten projects ranging anything from car parts to furniture, it looks out of place.
Then the top of the crate moved, and a little, green, unicorn head peeped out. I recognised the unicorn. It was a character from a show my big brother introduced me to. It was Lyra Heartstrings, from My Little Pony; Friendship is Magic.
The only thoughts that are going through my head, is how screwed I am. I am a junior in high school, who doesn’t even have a summer job. How am I to deal with this? I still live with my brother and parents, so I don’t even have privacy.
The next thought to run through my head, was a series of stories I had read off of FIMfiction, from Tatsurou, of various fictional characters finding a filly on their doorstep. Now I am thinking that of a story that I now regret having not read, My Little Dashie, and I don’t even know who wrote it.
Then the crate’s lid flips open, and Lyra jump out. I instinctively catch her. The warm body causes my own to shiver a little, as I realise how cold it is out here. In this realization I almost missed her speak.
“Dada cold.”
Such a simple statement, which implies so much. Lyra considers me her father, and I am making her uncomfortable. She even spoke as a young girl, rather than a fully grown mare. And I am apparently her father.
I bring her inside the house as I ponder that her simple statement. I am in no position to be a father. Especially a father of an speaking unicorn. I couldn’t even support myself without help. I am so screwed.
Then she yawns; Such as simple action, which still implies so much. She feels at ease in this new place, with odd sounds and strange smells. And this little filly is tired.
I gently sit down on the cluttered couch, in between a pile of junk and the wall. She quickly settles into my lap, and relaxes. What am I to do with her? I am not ready to be a dad. I am so very screwed. I am just an ordinary guy. Yes I am a Brony, yes I have decent grades, no I don’t really have a life.
I notice that I have been idly petting Lyra, as if she was a dog that had jumped into my lap, and she was cooing. As suddenly as I had noticed my actions, Lyra started to snore, having fallen asleep in my lap.
A filly that I had found on my doorstep minutes prior, was already falling asleep in my lap. My mother always claims that I have a way with small animals, but this is something all on its own.
I have been focusing too much on what I can’t do. I am responsible for more than just myself. I have to think for that adorable filly on my lap, as well as for myself. What can I do?
Basic needs, what will this young mare need? Food, water, shelter, and care. The basics of civilized life. And if real life turns out anything like the fanfic I’ve read, then something musical, preferably something stringed.
Ugh, this is just adding stress. I need a new angle, some way of looking at all of this that won’t frustrate me. Somehow I can do this.
Ok, what assets do I have?
I live with my parents and brother. Therefor I do not have private home. I have a small allowance from my grandfather. So I have a minor amount of cash. I have read a bunch of ‘character finds filly’ stories on FIMfiction. Which amounts to a lot of ideas on what could happen.
Wait a moment, Johny D. is going to a summer family-get-together! I could offer to house-sit for him, and give Lyra and myself some privacy. From there I have no idea. Unless I can get Johny D. to pay me to house-sit for him, I am still stuck without a summer job. I have the feeling that this filly is gonna take up all of my summer break, then some.
But what about after she leaves? That is pretty much the one standard I have seen, the pony grows up, and goes home to Equestria, sometimes taking their adoptive parent(s) with them. I have a family here, I have some friends, I have a life here. I can’t just stand up, and leave this world behind. But would I live with myself if I had to let her go?
What am I thinking? I at least, likely, hopefully, have weeks, if not months or even years before this becomes a real issue. Besides, as much as I hate the idea, they might not care if she is gone. Lyra could just as easily be from an alternate version of Equestria, where the world is dark and gritty. Ponies experimented on for no more reason than to further a demented genius' studies. The whole infinite alternate universe theory thing. I have no idea what version of Equestria she could even be from. She could have just fallen into a broken mirror pool, or maybe she is an alternate version of twilight, and the mirror messed up. I need to can this line of thought, or I’ll end up groaning and waking her up.