//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: Discovery // Story: Lyra’s Journey // by _Undefined_ //------------------------------// Lyra Heartstrings wasn’t entirely comfortable discussing metaphysical quandaries with three fillies. But lately, she had been wondering what the meaning of her life was. And one day, while she was at the park contemplating that subject, Bulk Biceps had showed up out of nowhere and hoisted her into the air. When she asked him what was going on, he told her how the Cutie Mark Crusaders had helped him discover the true meaning behind his cutie mark. Lyra wasn’t sure how three ponies still in primary school could help her understand the purpose of her existence, but she also didn’t have any other ideas. Which was how she found herself in a small clubhouse in the middle of Sweet Apple Acres. The Cutie Mark Crusaders had been only too eager to welcome her – they said that they didn’t get many walk-ins, and they thanked her for coming to them for help. Lyra didn’t want to hurt their feelings, so she chose not to tell them that her visit was more out of desperation than any expectation of results. “So, you’re trying to figure out what your cutie mark means,” said Apple Bloom. “Just looking at it, I’d assume it means you’re good at playing the harp.” “Lyre,” said Sweetie Belle. “What’d you call me? She’s got a picture of a harp; it probably means she’s good at playing the harp.” “No – L-Y-R-E. That’s a picture of a lyre.” “What’s the difference?” “A harp is bigger and has more strings. A lyre doesn’t have as many strings and can be held in one hoof.” Scootaloo asked, “Are you saying she should try playing the lyre instead of the harp?” “I know how to play the lyre,” Lyra interrupted. “And yes, I like to think that I’m pretty good at it.” “If you already know your special talent is playing the lyre,” Apple Bloom asked, “then why’d you come to us?” “Because I don’t know what to do with it. There isn’t a lot of demand for the lyre in bands or orchestras, and there haven’t been wandering minstrels since the Reneighsance. Why is my gift the ability to play an instrument that nopony cares about hearing?” The Cutie Mark Crusaders looked thoughtful. “Well, why not become a wandering minstrel?” asked Sweetie Belle. “Maybe you’re destined to bring it back.” “Because ponies can read now – they get their stories from books. And if they want to hear music, they can listen to a record. They don’t need a minstrel to wander in and entertain them. Plus, I don’t have a great singing voice and I’m not a fan of walking that much. At best, I’d be a novelty act – and I don’t want my life to be nothing more than a novelty act.” Sweetie Belle went back to thinking. Silence filled the clubhouse. After about a minute, Lyra spoke. “Look, I understand if you can’t think of anything. I’ve been trying to figure this out for a while now, and—” “No!” Apple Bloom said. “We’re the Cutie Mark Crusaders – this is what we were born to do! It’s just that some cutie mark problems take more time to figure out than others.” She took another moment to think. “What if you learned to play the harp, too? There’d be more demand for that.” Sweetie Belle glared at Apple Bloom. “It isn’t a harp; it’s a lyre!” “I know,” Apple Bloom said. “But they’re kind of alike, aren’t they?” “You wouldn’t want me to tell your family to start growing pears just because they kind of taste like apples, would you?” “Pears do not taste like apples!” Once again, Lyra had to interrupt. “I’m sticking with the lyre. I’m good at it, and I really like playing it. I just wish other ponies liked it even half as much as I do.” More silence. Eventually, Scootaloo spoke up. “Your full name is Lyra Heartstrings, right?” “Yes.” “Well, maybe it has something to do with that.” “How is her name supposed to tell her what she’s supposed to do with her life?” asked Apple Bloom. “It’s not like when she was born, her mom and dad already knew what her special talent would be.” “Maybe not, but there are a lot of ponies out there whose talents relate to their names. After all, I was named Scootaloo before anypony knew about my love of scootering. And Rainbow Dash got her name before she became the fastest flier in Equestria. There has to be some reason it happens as often as it does.” “Well, it’s worth a try,” Apple Bloom replied. “Okay, so ‘Lyra’ obviously has to do with your ability to play the lyre.” She shot Sweetie Belle a look before Sweetie Belle could say anything. “‘Heartstrings…’ What could that mean?” “I always assumed it was just a pun based on ‘Lyra,’” Lyra said. “Can you make ponies fall in love?” asked Sweetie Belle. “Like with a magic spell or with a special song you play?” “Not that I’m aware of,” Lyra said. “What about the whole word?” asked Apple Bloom. “When you play the lyre, does it tug at ponies’ heartstrings?” “Why would she want to make ponies feel sad?” asked Scootaloo. “Sometimes it’s good to feel sad,” replied Sweetie Belle. “Like when I asked Rarity why she reads those stories that make her cry. What was the word she used…? ‘Catharsis.’ It means that even though you’re sad, because you’ve let those feelings out, it makes you feel better later on.” The three looked at Lyra. Lyra considered the question. “Well, I don’t think I’ve made anypony feel sad,” she said. “I don’t like to play that kind of music. But I don’t think heartstrings are just sad feelings – why can’t your heartstrings make you feel joy, too?” She reflected back. “When I got my cutie mark, I had just played a piece that made my grandma smile after she had been sad for a long time. I thought that I got it because that was the first time I played my lyre so well. But what if it was because I brought a sense of happiness back to her life?” The Cutie Mark Crusaders looked at Lyra, smiles growing on their faces. As Lyra thought about it, she liked the idea even more. “That’s what I want to do here in Equestria! I want to use my lyre to touch the hearts of other ponies! Thank you!” She scooped the three fillies into a hug, then bounded out of the clubhouse, leaping off of the entrance ramp and galloping back home. “Good work, Crusaders,” said Apple Bloom. “Should we be charging for this?” asked Scootaloo. At home, Bon Bon was lying on the sofa, reading. Lyra burst in through the door, grinning from ear to ear. Bon Bon sat up. She couldn’t help but smile back. “What are you so happy about?” “I figured out the meaning of life!” An incredulous look crossed Bon Bon’s face. “Well, the meaning of my life, at least. You know how I’m good at playing the lyre?” “Yes, of course.” “My purpose in life is to use my lyre to bring joy to the hearts of ponies who need it!” Bon Bon just looked at Lyra. “I thought you’d be a little more excited for me,” Lyra said. Bon Bon glanced down for a moment. “It’s just…” she said, looking back at Lyra, “you already play your lyre for other ponies. And they already enjoy it. So… don’t you already bring joy to ponies with your lyre?” “No, but…” Lyra stammered. “This is different. I don’t want ponies to just like my playing. I’m supposed to use my lyre to actually make them feel something. To… to transform… to move them… in their hearts!” Bon Bon felt bad asking, but she knew she had to. “…How?” “I… I don’t know. We… didn’t figure that part out.” Lyra slumped down and sat on the floor. More quietly, she said, “I was so excited – I thought I finally figured out my purpose in life. But I still don’t really know why I’m here.” Bon Bon walked over and rested her foreleg across Lyra’s back. “Aw, don’t be like that,” she said. Lyra sniffled. “Hey, at least you made some progress, right?” Lyra looked up at Bon Bon. “I guess,” she said, although she didn’t sound particularly happy about it. “What if we went over to Sugarcube Corner for a couple of cupcakes? Would that make you feel better?” “Maybe…” Lyra said. In reality, she knew that that actually would make her feel better. “Well, come on then. Let’s go.” The couple strolled through Ponyville. Already, Lyra was starting to feel more like her upbeat self – a lot of it was simply due to the fact that Bon Bon was there for her. As they rounded the last corner, a high-pitched voice caught their attention. “Lyra! There you are!” The two stopped as Pinkie Pie zipped in to meet them. “I’m so glad I found you! I just wanted to let you know that Twilight and the girls and I are about to head off to buffalo country for five days!” For a moment, Lyra was confused. Then she gasped as she remembered and realized what this meant. “Five whole days?” she asked. “Yep! I’m still not sure why you wanted to know… oh, unless it’s part of some kind of surprise! If that’s it, then don’t tell me! But if there isn’t a surprise, then you’d want to tell me so I don’t get my hopes up, but that means if you don’t say anything, then I’ll know there’s a surprise, which would ruin the surprise! So don’t tell me, but also don’t don’t tell me! Actually, just forget I said anything – we’re leaving in an hour, and I still haven’t packed! Bye!” She raced away before Lyra could say a word. “What was that about?” Bon Bon asked. A smile appeared on Lyra’s face – even larger than the smile she had when she thought she had figured out her purpose in life. “I’ll explain at home – I have to get ready!” She galloped off, back toward their house. Bon Bon just stood there. “But… the cupcakes…” she said. Shrugging, she chased after Lyra. At home, Lyra was upstairs, digging through the mess at the bottom of the bedroom closet, deciding what to put into her saddlebag. A slightly winded Bon Bon entered the room. “What’s going on?” she asked. Lyra stuffed a set of hoof-mounted suction cups into the bag. “Twilight Sparkle isn’t going to be home!” she exclaimed. “I finally have a chance to use the portal!” “The what?” Bon Bon replied. She then recalled a conversation she had had with Lyra a few months ago. “Wait, is this about that primate world?” “The human world,” Lyra corrected. “And of course it is!” Bon Bon sighed. Twilight Sparkle had taken Lyra out to lunch a while back in order to rekindle their Canterlot friendship. When Lyra returned, she relayed to Bon Bon a story Twilight had told her about using a magical portal to live among tall, hairless, chimp-like primates. Normally, Bon Bon didn’t mind Lyra’s fascination with the idea of intelligent apes (and her occasional emulation of their supposed behavior), but when Lyra found out that such creatures definitely existed, her obsession became a little excessive. Fortunately for Bon Bon, Twilight had told Lyra that she couldn’t allow her to go through the portal – something about excess magic possibly disrupting the balance of the other world or something. Bon Bon had just been glad that that seemed to be the end of it. Until now. “Princess Twilight won’t let you use her portal,” she exposited. “So you’re going to do it when she’s not home?” “What other choice do I have?” “To not use it!” Lyra placed a grappling hook in her bag. “Bon Bon, this is a dream of mine. To have the chance to not just live among humans, but to experience being one for myself? I have to do this!” “You’re planning on sneaking into a princess’s castle and using a magical device after she specifically told you not to. Do you know what kind of trouble you’ll get into?” “Only if I get caught. That’s why I had to wait until I knew she’d be gone.” Lyra found a rag and a bottle of chloroform. She wondered when they acquired a bottle of chloroform, then added both items to the bag. “And how will you even know how to use the portal? There’s probably some special spell you need to cast.” “Nope – no spells. It’s just a simple mechanical hookup. Pinkie told me.” Their exchange out on the street suddenly made more sense to Bon Bon. “So you got Pinkie Pie to tell you how the portal works, and then you asked her to let you know the next time Princess Twilight would be out of town. And you don’t think Pinkie will put two and two together and tell the princess?” “It was two different conversations, a few weeks apart,” Lyra said. “This is going to work. I’ve never been this excited in my entire life!” She started flipping through the miniature file, screwdriver, scissors, corkscrew, and other tools embedded inside a pocketknife. “You are planning on coming back, right?” Lyra folded up the pocketknife, placed it alongside the smoke bombs and wig in her saddlebag, latched the bag closed, and looked at Bon Bon. “Well, come on – pack your bags!” “Wait, what?” Bon Bon exclaimed. “What makes you think I’m going?” Lyra looked stunned. “I… I assumed we’d be going together. Don’t you want to go?” Bon Bon’s expression softened. “Lyra, you’re the one who wants to see these creatures. And if it didn’t involve disobeying a royal command and traveling through a mysterious portal, then of course I’d love to come with you. But I can’t risk it. And to be honest, I’m a little afraid of what a portal of pure magic might do to an earth pony.” Now Lyra just looked hurt. “You don’t trust magic?” “No, that’s not what I mean! I trust magic here. In our world. And I love your magic. But this is an unknown portal that sends you to another dimension and transforms you into a completely different animal. What if it only works because it’s reacting with ponies who are magical themselves? What would it do to a pony that didn’t have magic?” “I really don’t think that’s an issue,” Lyra said. “But we’re talking about a magic that nopony completely understands. Look… I still think it’s a bad idea, but if you really want to do this, I’m not going to stop you. And I promise I won’t tell anypony. Just please be careful.” “I will,” Lyra said. She kissed Bon Bon on the cheek. That evening, Lyra set off for Twilight’s castle. She had originally planned to go that afternoon, shortly after Pinkie left. But Bon Bon’s admonitions had stuck with her, and she realized it might be better to go under cover of darkness, when there would be fewer witnesses and fewer questions. Her decision had the unfortunate side effect, however, of making that night’s dinner with Bon Bon extremely awkward. They had each tried to keep things peaceful by talking about anything except Lyra’s plan. Even though the plan was all that either of them could think about. Lyra peered around the corner of a building. There wouldn’t have been any reason for the citizens of Ponyville to question why Lyra was walking through the streets shortly after nightfall. Still, she stuck to the back alleys and the shadows. She wished that her coat wasn’t so brightly colored. Once she reached the edge of town, Lyra checked to make sure that no one was around. She then cantered down the open pathway toward the front door of the castle. Ignoring the door, she kept moving, hugging the sides of the castle’s base until she reached a back window roughly three times her height off the ground. The light wasn’t on, which Lyra hoped meant the room wasn’t currently occupied. Soon, the entire window was enveloped in a golden glow as Lyra used her magic to unlatch the window from the inside and open it. She then removed the grappling hook from her bag, levitated it toward the open window, and gently secured it against the ledge. Rope climbing wasn’t Lyra’s strong suit, but her adrenaline got her up the wall and inside the castle. With a faint light emanating from her horn, Lyra examined her surroundings – she was in the kitchen. Satisfied that she was alone, she quietly removed the grappling hook and relocked the window. Now she just needed to find the room containing the portal. Lyra extinguished her horn, cautiously opened the kitchen door, and peeked out into the hallway. Pinkie hadn’t said whether Spike was accompanying Twilight on this trip (or whether “the girls” included Twilight’s new student), so Lyra still had to be on guard. It made Lyra feel a little better to see that none of the lights in the hallway were lit. Re-illuminating her horn, Lyra was dismayed to see so many doors. Well, nothing to do except try each one. Some of the rooms were meant to be guest rooms, and some of the rooms were empty, waiting for Twilight to find a use for them. Eventually, Lyra found a room containing scrolls and parchments. The portal wasn’t inside, but she knew she had to be getting close. Sure enough, the next room was a library. Followed by another library. Followed by a… how many libraries did this pony need? Lyra grew frustrated – any one of these libraries could house the portal, and the time she spent examining each one just increased her chances of being caught. Finally, Lyra found herself in a much larger library than the previous rooms had contained. Off to the side, she saw a body-length mirror attached to some intimidating-looking mechanical equipment. It seemed to match Pinkie’s description – this had to be the portal! Now she just had to find the magical book. Lyra assumed that if the book powered the portal, it would probably be in the same room. She really wasn’t looking forward to scouring all of those libraries in an attempt to find one unknown book. While keeping her horn aglow, she cast a second spell and began running over each of the shelved books with her field. Soon, she identified a book which had a faint, yet unfamiliar magical energy. Lyra pulled the book from the shelf – the cover depicted Princess Celestia’s cutie mark. She opened the book to the first page, hoping to find a title or some instructions, but instead found what appeared to be a hoofwritten letter: “Dear Princess Celestia,” it began. Lyra flipped through the pages until a familiar name caught her eye: “Dear Princess Twilight.” The letter described some kind of school competition unfamiliar to Lyra – this had to be the right book! It was even the right size to fit in the empty stand mounted above the mirror! Lyra stopped and listened once again for any hint of Spike or another pony. She wasn’t sure how much noise the portal would make once it was activated and didn’t want anyone to quickly reach the room before she could go through. Satisfied that no one was nearby, she levitated the book to its spot at the top of the contraption. Instantly, there was a surge of magic and light, followed by crackling energy. Several parts of the apparatus began moving and making noise. Lyra winced at that, but she still didn’t hear anyone else approaching. Soon, the image in the mirror changed to a swirling pink and white pattern. After a few seconds, the surface returned to being reflective, but now maintained a kind of motionless fluidity – almost as if it contained a still pond mounted vertically. Lyra was pretty sure this meant it was ready. Lyra took a step forward, then stopped in place as the enormity of the moment washed over her. She took a deep breath, exhaled, and stuck one hoof into the portal, as if to test the water. Then, giving herself a determined nod, she stepped all the way through.