"Have we arrived yet, Twilight Sparkle?"
Luna and Lyra stifled their laughter as they saw Twilight's hackles rise along her back. "No."
Luna waited a beat. "How about now?"
The sound of teeth grinding screeched on their ears like nails on a chalkboard. "No."
Another beat. "Twilight Sparkle, when—"
"For the last time, we are not there yet and we will not be there for two more days. If you ask me again I will feed you poison joke for breakfast tomorrow!"
At Twilight's outburst, Lyra and Luna lost all shreds of restraint and burst into laughter, leaning against each other for support as Twilight stomped ahead of them. "Oh, you were right, Lyra Heartstrings," Luna exclaimed merrily. "This is an enjoyable endeavor! I never knew how amusing it could be to repeatedly ask the same questions!"
"Told you so." Lyra giggled as they trotted to catch up with Twilight. She limped as she trotted, but they needed to keep going. She steeled herself internally, forcing a smile. "Still, we should probably wait a little before asking again. We don't want to get her too mad."
Luna pouted and shifted the star she was carrying on her back. "Aww, is there nothing else we can do? Travelling by hoof is so boring."
Lyra thought back to the rare occasions when her family would take a couple weeks off to go to the beach. What did they do to pass the time while they rode in a train or walked to their destination? "Hmm... we could play the alphabet game."
"Pray tell, what manner of game is this?"
"Well, what you do is look for a word on a road sign that begins with the letter A. When you find one, you call it out and you win a point. Once 'A' is found, you find a word that begins with 'B,' until you finish the alphabet. Whoever has the most points when you reach 'Z' wins."
Luna nodded sagely. "A delightful notion, Lyra Heartstrings, save for one problem."
"And that is?"
Luna shifted the weight of the star on her back to gesture at the path around them. "Tell me, when is the last time you have seen signage of any sort?"
Lyra looked around and blinked before giving a nervous chuckle. "Oh. Right." She quickly moved on from the awkward moment. "Do you need help carrying that star?"
The princess snorted as she cradled the rock between her shoulders. "I highly doubt you would be able to remain standing, much less walk if I placed this on your shoulders, Lyra Heartstrings. It weighs over a thousand pounds."
The green unicorn gaped at Luna, stunned into silence. The princess shrugged, the fallen star shifting as she did so. "There is more to being a princess of Equestria than royal formalities."
"But... even an earth pony couldn't carry it that easily if it weighs that much."
"Lyra Heartstrings, Celestia and I embody the traits of all three subtypes of ponies. Each part strengthens the other, giving us abilities far beyond what each part could accomplish on its own. It is why I can carry this star with little difficulty, and how my sister and I can move celestial bodies, and fly without tiring. We are blessed and cursed beyond compare, save for Discord himself."
Lyra stared. "...Wow. You really like monologuing." After a few moments passed, Lyra suddenly realized what she said, clapping a hoof over her mouth and flushing brightly. "I'm so sorry, Princess Luna. I don't know why I said that."
Luna squinted at the mare, scrutinizing her carefully, before she nodded and resumed walking. "Have you any more suggestions for entertainment?"
Lyra hummed a random tune, trying to think of something to stave off the boredom. Suddenly, she shuddered, her concentration shattered by a horrendous bout of itchiness that had been getting steadily worse throughout the morning. She reached to her flank with a hoof, scratching madly at her skin. Luna noticed the frantic scratching and gave Lyra a funny look. "... Are you well, Lyra Heartstrings?"
Lyra looked at her hoof, where a startling amount of her fur had rubbed off her flank onto the appendage. "I'm fine." She was startled as Twilight reminded them that she was still a little ahead of them as she voiced an option.
"We could always try identifying the local flora of the forest! For example, the flowers on the side of the path are Matricaria recutita, more commonly referred to as wild cha—"
"Twilight, I don't want to complain, but please, please, please do not play 'Flower Bingo' again. You went through six cards of that and two cards of 'Exotic Bird Bingo' on the way here."
"I offered you a card to give you something to do, but you always said no."
Lyra huffed. "I can't identify birds or flowers to save my life. Please, just let me play some music."
"I already said no. The last time you did, we encountered an Ursa Major."
"That was just a coincidence!"
"Lyra, please. I know it's silly to assume that correlation implies causation, but I would rather not take any chances, especially since we are escorting Princess Luna while she is in a weakened sta..." Twilight trailed off as she realized that the aforementioned princess was giving her a rather displeased look. "Um, well, Princess Luna, you are rather weak at the moment. I would rather us not take any chances at the—"
"Twilight Sparkle, I have fought in more battles and defeated more eldritch abominations than you could dare to imagine. If you think I am incapable of handling myself in a crisis, you insult me more than you think." She turned to Lyra with a determined expression. "I would appreciate it greatly if thou wouldst grace us with thine instrumentations, minstrel."
Lyra gulped nervously, levitating her lyre from her saddlebags. "My playing won't be as good while we're moving, Princess."
"Yes, I know most musicians dislike using magic to play music, but we must keep moving. Twilight Sparkle has impressed upon us the importance of haste. I would appreciate it if you could improvise for my sake."
The green mare nodded and looked down at her lyre, quickly giving it a strum to ensure it was in tune. Lyra ran through song options in her head as she was making some minor adjustments on the newer strings. She had many songs memorized and she could probably figure out the chord progression to some more, but she had absolutely no idea what Luna wanted to hear.
Fortunately (or maybe unfortunately) for Lyra, the chaos magic residing within her made a choice on its own. She felt her magic reaching out towards the lyre and swirl around the strings, coating them in a distortion spell and starting to strum the instrument, giving the appearance that the lyre was haunted. As Lyra recognized the intro to the song that was playing, she silently cursed her luck. This has got to be the worst choice of music for this occasion... Before she could apologize to Luna, who appeared to be surprised by the sudden distort on the instrument, her compulsion to sing the lyrics to any song she knew bubbled into fruition.
The secret side of me
I never let you see
I keep it caged
But I can't control it
So stay away from me
The beast is ugly
I feel the rage
And I just can't hold it
It's scratching on the walls
In the closet, in the halls
It comes awake
And I can't control it
Hiding under the bed
In my body, in my head
Why won't somebody come and save me from this?
Make it end!
Lyra's voice trailed away as she realized Luna knew the song and was singing it herself. She let the princess take over while she strummed her lyre, watching Luna pour her heart into the chorus with all the passion she could muster.
I feel it deep within,
It's just beneath the skin
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I hate what I've become
The nightmare's just begun
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster
My secret side I keep
Hid under lock and key
I keep it caged
But I can't control it
Cause if I let him out
He'll tear me up
And break me down
Why won't somepony come and save me from this?
Make it end!
I feel it deep within,
It's just beneath the skin
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I hate what I've become
The nightmare's just begun
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I feel it deep within,
It's just beneath the skin
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster
Lyra looked over to Luna, unsettled by the shadow that seemed to fall over the princess. Her pupils were narrowing, neary draconic. Her periwinkle blue mane was becoming darker, wispier. A flash of light caught her teeth, giving Luna the appearance of fangs.
It's hiding in the dark
It's teeth are razor sharp
There's no escape for me
It wants my soul,
It wants my heart
No one can hear me scream
Maybe it's just a dream
Or maybe it's inside of me
Stop this monster!
I feel it deep within,
It's just beneath the skin
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I hate what I've become
The nightmare's just begun
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I feel it deep within,
It's just beneath the skin
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I'm gonna lose control
Here's something radical
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster!
Lyra let the distortion spell on her lyre die. "I didn't know you listened to Griddle, Princess," she breathed.
Luna nodded ecstatically. "I have been acquainting myself with the intricacies of modern music, and it is very much enjoyable. Although my talent for music is limited, I can appreciate the effort that goes into it."
Lyra grinned broadly. "I think I found my new favorite princess.” She looked at her bandaged shoulder, shrugging it experimentally. When the usual pain that accompanied it failed to appear, she tugged at the bandage with her teeth, letting the gauze fall away.
A perfectly healthy shoulder revealed itself, the only sign of trauma being four faint scratch marks. "Hey, Twilight?"
"Yes, Lyra?"
"What is the probability of my shoulder being healed by now?"
Twilight slowed her walking and looked over at Lyra. "The likelihood of your shoulder recovering in three days is slim to none. Why?"
Lyra rotated her shoulder into view. Twilight's jaw dropped momentarily before she rushed over to examine the formerly wounded unicorn. "I don't understand! That chimera slashed your shoulder wide open! It should have taken weeks for those wounds to heal completely!"
Luna's eyes widened considerably as she heard Twilight's outburst, and she carefully set down the fallen star before rushing over to Lyra and examining the places where her coat was missing from the gouges. "Lyra Heartstrings, you were attacked by a chimera? You are sure of this?" She lowered her head, squinting and looking intently at the healed flesh.
Lyra squirmed uncomfortably under their combined scrutiny. "I'm pretty sure. Lion front, goat rear, snake tail."
"If you truly were injured by one, you should have died by now. Their claws have a powerful poison." She gave Lyra a serious look, focusing on her fang. "It appears that you have unnatural healing abilities, and your body is beginning to undergo major alterations."
Lyra gave a nervous laugh and quickly ducked her head, the chaos magic grabbing the discarded bandage and shredding it into confetti as she trotted ahead of her travel companions.
Luna kept her gaze trained on the green mare as she trotted ahead, then hefted Julianos between her wings and moved forward. "Twilight Sparkle, walk with me."
Twilight blinked and quickly caught up to Luna. "Yes, Princess?"
"I need you to keep an eye on Lyra Heartstrings."
Twilight nodded, looking a little hesitant. "I should have known that she couldn't be trusted—"
Luna gave her a sad look. "Twilight Sparkle, I have no doubt she can be trusted. However, Lyra Heartstrings is not the only entity residing within that body."
Twilight blinked. "What do you mean?"
"I mean I have glimpsed her dreams. There is something else within her, and it is more than a mere echo or imprint of an eldritch horror's magic. Nay, I sense something much more definite." She looked at the ground. "I fear she will not be able to contain it forever. This... thing... it wants to be free."
Luna sighed and readjusted her stance, keeping her steps high as she kept the star carefully balanced on her back. "I must ask you, Twilight Sparkle, to accompany Lyra Heartstrings in whatever she does. Until we have safely locked away whatever is possessing her body, it would be folly for her to be alone for any length of time. Can you do that?"
Twilight looked ahead to Lyra, who was just out of earshot. The mare looked antsy, her hooves never staying in cadence as she trotted at a nervous pace. "I will, Princess Luna."
"Very good. Now, let us make haste for the castle. Julianos is heavy and I need to make sure he is well."
"Who is Julianos?"
Luna made a miffed expression as she tossed a glance to the silvery rock on her back. "The star, of course."
Twilight chuckled nervously. "Of course... the star."
"Is there something wrong?"
"No, no, not at all."
Lyra wondered what Twilight and Luna were talking about while she walked slowly along the path. She was tired of waiting for them to finish but she didn’t want to lose them in the ever present darkness of the Everfree Forest. She sighed, hefting her saddlebags off her back and to the side. She groaned as the weight was lifted from her back. "Ahhh, that's better."
Lyra was bothered by her shoulder. Even though it wasn’t injured anymore, she was still limping a little, like it had healed wrong or something. She stretched her leg and inspected it, looking for anything that would be causing the limp. Nothing appeared to be out of the ordinary. She shrugged and sat back in a suddenly appearing lawn chair, courtesy of chaos. Lyra continued to scratch at her flank a little more, just in front of her cutie mark.
Lyra felt her hoof brush against an odd texture and stopped to look down curiously. She brushed aside the thinning fur, thinking maybe she was acquiring a rash of some sort.
“Losing fur, walking funny, fangs, and chaos magic. I think I need a vacation."
Hmm. Could be signs of rapid aging. Meaning that y- *SMACK* *THUD*
:No mare likes being called that silly!
That song choice...
Also, Luna's hiding something. And I don't think it's a good thing she's hiding...
~Skeeter The Lurker
Griddle...
I hate you for that soo much.
Bring on some more.
As a card-carrying member of the Panheads, this pleases me.
3211204 They both have evil demons in them!
This calls for an exorcism! MAY THE POWER OF FAUST COMPEL YOU!! MAY THE POWER OF FAUST COMPEL YOU!!
Anyway, I fear this will end with dead ponies strewn all across the land.
And so far it's too well-written for me to find a large enough crack in the plot to wrest open and save them.
3212053
Agreed.
~Skeeter The Lurker
3212214 There is only one chance... we must go back in time and bribe the Head Architect!
3212229
We gonna need either a TARDIS or a DeLorian.
~Skeeter The Lurker
Okay, I have to hand it to the author of this story. You managed to break 200 likes without receiving a single dislike, even from a troll? Such a feat is simply incredible, and I applaud you sir.
Of course, now I bet I just jinxed it. Sorry.
Well, sir, you have one of the greatest ratios of any story on this site, and that isn't by number necessarily. You have a high ratio due to no dislikes, but you have one of the greatest one because you are 200 likes in, and not a single dislike. You are doing something right, my friend.
3212964 DON'T SAY IT! YOU'LL JINX IT!
3213017
And then thirty dislikes....
3213128 I know, you all thought I could only write if /me was in front of my paragraphs :p
3213019 Thirty... thousand...
This is one of those rare stories where the protagonists could legitimately lose. Not by some backhanded Gary Stu villain with all the powers over everything. Not because they're all made to be virtually braindead. Not because everything in the universe is against them winning.
But simply because the circumstances are such that the cards to quite naturally fall either way.
It's an extremely well-made conflict that feels perfectly natural within the story's world.
Which is why I am so terrified for the poor ponies.
3213019 I am not kidding when I say I immediately scrolled up to the top.
Amazing story! This is the first real MLP fanfic I've read, and I'm hooked!
This has zero red thumbs. A think a huge congratulations are in order. I love the story.
Call it what you will, but I find the NMM predicament to go well with "Animal I Have Become" by Three Days Grace. It just clicks
3217939 If it is a reference, it was purely unintentional, so your guess is as good as mine.
3218094 Well, read the rest. It was mostly correct, but with an extra detail I could never have postulated since it's non-canon.
3218171 I insert myself into all stories, and become God of their universes by doing so!
IT MAKES SENSE THAT WAY!!!
Luna is best troll.
I highly approve of your song choice.
3212053 who says there has to be a crack in it already, make one yourselves
3218066
Sounds like it could be from "A bards tale" - funnest game I have played in a while
Griddle = Skillet
Luna now further reinforces herself as best princess
3221736 Alas, it's the one power I don't have!
I'll need to enlist the aid of the Warner Brothers (and the Warner Sister). They can break into ANYTHING!!
images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20080701032916/animaniacs/images/8/8d/YakkoWakkoDot.jpg
Their 4th wall breaking powers HAVE NO LIMITS!!
3222877 I was thinking more along the lines of the human being part of SGC and they come down on the ponies heads to investigate why one of their operatives disappeared and came back in immense pain
3223906 Trust me. Camping (True camping, not that RV bull pucky) without a knife is a bad idea.
3224303 I'm glad someone finally figured it out! Leave it to the Doctor
3224437 Eeyup.
I know. I'm sick.
3212229 Okay, seriously. this needs to stop. people don't need to downvote you just because you posted comments on another story that they didn't like. Heck, I've even disliked a few of your comments. But only when I had a reason. This is just meaningless. ...wait... Is Eris downvoting you!?
3224476 I do not understand the motive myself. They must think I'm a teenager.
3226372 I'm a teenager and I don't think that way. they must be angry internet-yearolds(because there are always exceptions to the rule, I'm not listing a real age group)
3227983 Teleportation is a gamble if you don't know exactly where your destination is. If you guess at where to go, you could end up impaled in a wall. Trust me, I thought of that
3226915 Well, yes. I was just generalizing. I wasn't like that as a teen myself.
Perhaps we can simply class them as 'drama llamas'.
Honestly, I've always found the entire idea behind popularity contests for comments ridiculously vain.
3229137 I agree. FIRST!
(to reply to your comment)
............
3213017 he jinxed it.....
3233226 *Taps plays in distance*
As we gather here today, another story has fallen to the power of the jinx. Blame is all on Time Lord. Good day.
3235021
The poor story. It had so much to live for!
Good thing it's not over! Oh, no! From what I can tell, this is only the beginning!
3236065 Oh, I never said the story was over... Not even close, by the look of things. I can't wait to read the rest.
3232254 actually if I'm remembering correctly the prophecy never once said 1000 years since being banished, it said 1000 years of the celebration of the sun(I can't remember the actual wording, but if I am remembering correctly it had to deal with the celebration, and not the banishing)
I think everyone can recognize Skillet. At least that song, and yes, I hate you for the Griddle thing.
3256297 You would be surprised at the number of people who don't recognize it, and I felt like covering my bases anyway.
I read the prologue and the first two chapters, and the thing that strikes me the most is that your characters have a distressingly casual attitude towards torture and genocide.
3411690
I think you didn't read it very well. Yes, Lyra did cause some unfortunate soul extreme agony, but she wasn't aware that it would cause pain.
Also, yes, Celestia and Luna did, in fact, wipe out an entire race. They were not the aggressors in the situation. They merely defended their home. If you really want me to give you the three page backstory into why humans were launching an assault on Equestria, I will. Yet somehow, I don't think you would actually care to read it.
TL;DR: I have written the characters as best as I could, and you are the only person who seems to be of the opinion that my characters are cruel, heartless bitches. If it were a recurring thing, I would look into rewriting it.
3411725 Whoah man. Chill.
I never said they were cruel heartless bitches. I said their attitudes were distressingly casual. I caught on very well that their actions were justified, but there's a world of difference between having reasonable cause for your actions and being emotionally unaffected by the results.
3411745 Okay, fair enough. I'm sorry; I didn't mean to retaliate that harshly. I just think that taking time out of the story that soon into it to look into the psychological repercussions of accidentally torturing someone via summons is unnecessary. It might come into play later, it might not. Also, the thing with the humans happened a loooong time ago, enough that hopefully Celestia and Luna have obtained some measure of closure.
Edit: "Thing" being killing them all
3821553 Chaos Magic!
The monster sleeps.
But it sleeps a very restful sleep.
With dark designs to be free.
It cuts and changes the world.
So that it may wake to a world of its liking.
So, I'll give you 3 guesses as to what song came up in two tabs at once, really, my playlist reaching Monster as I start to read it in a story, that's scary>