> Fantasy? No its real. > by Spirit of EverFree > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Hi my name is Lyra > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- A cool summer breeze blew through out Ponyville as birds chirping filled the air. Through the streets ponies were shopping at the many vendors, others socializing among each other. One stood out in the crowd, a mint green mare humming a tune all to herself. Pass the vendor and through the crowds she arrived at her destination. A old hollowed out oak tree which served as the town's only library. Opening the door it sounded with a ding signaling a customers arrival. "I'll be right with you my dear." came the shaky voice of a elderly stallion. "now confounded where was that blasted entrance..Ah here we are right where my desk is." The stallion propped himself up on his chair at the front desk lifting up a Monocle to his eye. "Ah Lyra my dear back for more books?" The librarian shuffled around his desk opening up a book and pulling out a card. "Yup Mister Inkwell and I have the copy of Equestrian Quirky Legends and the book I forgot to turn in last time." Spoke Lyra as she pulled the books out of her saddlebags, ears folded down in embarrassment. "I think this time I want a book on Human stories!" her mood changing as her voice picked up a beat as she claimed what she wanted, Hopping in place without actually leaving the ground. The old stallion smiled at her shaking his head. "still fascinated over those silly stories huh my dear?" the stallion tapped his chin thinking while humming to himself. "I do believe I put a book your looking for in the upstairs portion of the library labeled under Fiction row G-K, or was that in the kitchen?" spoke Inkwell. "excuse me? why would the book be in your kitchen?" questioned Lyra. "Didn't you want a cup of tea my dear?" asked the librarian. Lyra held a hoof to her muzzle to stifle a giggle. "No Mr. Inkwell I wanted a book on Humans." Inkwell scratched his head while humming with thought. "your right Lyra you did say you wanted a book. This old stallion can be quite-" He waved a hoof in the air pausing in his speak- " Forgetful at times, now if you would follow me up the stairs we'll get that book. Lyra nodded in agreement to the stallion as the two walked up stairs Inkwell started up a conversation as he does anytime he can. "Lyra sweetheart how have things been? Have those bullies still been picking on you about still being a blank flank?" Lyra folded her ears back, looking at her flank, still bear as the day she was born. "I-I haven't had trouble with them lately or atleast been to busy reading to pay them any mind." "I know it bothers you dearie but why not giving up on reading these books it might help ease it some." I was a well known fact that Lyra was weird to most of the ponies considering she was awkward in public settings and always reading and fantasizing over stories that involved things that were simple not real or true, such as stories on discord or humans. To her though it didn't matter if these things were real or not it atleast made her happy when she was reading, that somewhere even in a fantasy was a world that wasn't as simple as this small town. A place bustling with noise, building far above the ground that no pony can simple build, a world all in its own unique and different in perspective. Lyra stood there silently sporting a silly small smile lost in her dreams. "Lyra dear are you there?" the librarian was waving a hoof in front of her face. "Y-yes sorry I was daydreaming again." she let out a small squee. "pay no mind, well here we are this should be the right bookshelf." said the librarian as he stepped onto a ladder rolling it across the shelf in hunt for the book. Tilting one by one out to read the title before setting them back in place, dust lifting off the shelf as he did suggesting that ponies other then Lyra read these sort of books. "Ah ha!" shouted the stallion. "Lyra dear here is the book, Humans 101 your guide to everything man." stepping down the ladder his hoofs shaking, making his way pass Lyra and down the stairs to the desk. Pulling out a large check off book he pulled out the other books card. signed the checkout card, logged in the book and slid it across the desk to Lyra who excitedly picked it up with her magic and placed it into her saddlebags. "Thank you Mister Inkwell." Lyra said in a sing song voice. "wait a moment Lyra." spoke the Librarian. "yes?" question Lyra. "Why don't you stay just a bit and have some tea with me, The library hasn't been getting much business lately and it has been dreadfully quite without the school fillies that generally come during the later months." He then got up and walked towards the kitchen waving his head towards the opening motioning for Lyra to follow. Together the two ponies entered the kitchen, conversing back and forth as Inkwell set a pot of tea on the burner. They talked about what each other has been doing the last few days, how the weather has been, birds, and many other subject. "It is wonderful to have company....I can't seem to remember what it was like in the first place, but I'm sure whatever it was like it would have been just as good as this." Inkwell turn his head to the stove as the tea kettle started whistling with steam, getting up he placed the handle in his mouth and masterfully pour a cup for him and Lyra. "Now drink up it's cold out there today." Lyra giggled "Its the middle of summer Mr. Inkwell" she didn't mind has random mentioning however odd they seem to be at the time, she simple enjoyed company that was pleasant in her life, and the old librarian was one of few. Lyra took a sip of her tea her face scrunching up from the bitterness, if anything he could learn a thing or two making tea sweet. "Now Lyra I have a gift for you." "Oh? a gift what is it? can I see it huh huh? does it have something to do with discord or maybe celestia second sister twice removed!" Lyra was grinning ear to ear as Inkwell chuckled at her excitement. "Now now its nothing as silly or...unbelievable as a sister twice removed which by the way Lyra would make her Celestia second cousin not sister." Inkwell said correcting lyra. He walked over to a shelf in the kitchen pulling out a book with a strap held fast with a lock on the front, before placing it in front of a confused pony. "Whats this?" Lyra asked. "A journal, not just any though this was given to me by my grandfather." Inkwell looked at the old book with half lidded eyes, a small smile gracing his features. "I never had the time to write in it always books to catalog and what not.... but I never wanted it to go to waste." he slid the book closer to Lyra on the table. "I always viewed you as if you were my own daughter.... I never had foals of my own you know? Married to one's job I suppose." "Geez old man you getting sappy on me?" Lyra giggled flashing the largest grin she could muster. She took the book into both hooves running over the spine and front of the book. "its pretty." Lyra commented. "I suppose it is, Lyra you can write down anything you want into that book and with the lock no one can see what you write or work on. Well now I believe its getting late missy you should be heading home before it gets dark." "Wait WHAT!?!?!" Lyra jerked her head towards the nearest window to see the setting sun. "Ugh! have I been in here this long?" groaned Lyra. she put the book into her saddlebag, took her cup to the sink and finally gave Inkwell a hug goodbye before heading to the door. Looking back as he left she yelled out to the Librarian. "Thanks for the new book and the gift Mr. Inkwell!" before galloping off towards home. Inkwell stood at the door watching the mare run off in the distance a smile spread across his tired face. "Today has been great new book on humans, spent the day having fun talking and this really cool new journal...err Diary? whatever." Passing by vendors closing up shop Lyra could see her designation, A small hut town the end of town the place she called home. she slowed her gallop into a slow trot humming to herself completely bliss for the time being. "Oh look its Freaking Lyra!" Lyra stopped dead in her tracks, head dipped low and ears pinned down as he looked around for who just addressed her. When she found the source of the voice she gulped a lump of tension in her throat. > The Bullies > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lyra Looked behind her towards the voice that called out. Again she gulped as her eyes met the new company. Approaching her was four ponies, two stallions and three mares. Among them are Thunder Lane the one that bullied her the most, Cloud Chaser, Flitter, Bon-Bon, and caramel. "W-what do..do you want?" Lyra questioned the group as the slowly circled her. Thunder Lane sized Lyra up with his eyes, a smirk sprawled out across his face. "Oh we just wanted to know how our favorite blankflank is doing? is that so wrong?" questioned Thunder lane as he closed in more space to Lyra. "Yeah" both Cloud Chaser and Flitter giggled in unison. "Fine, I'm doing f-fine." answered Lyra. "Now see was that so hard ,Lyra I mean really." Thunder Lane dipped his head low. "So whatcha got in the saddlebags?" Lyra eye pinpricked as she backpedaled away from the stallion, head held up high. "N-nothing just my...-" Lyra darted her head left and right at the others -"j-just my schoolwork" "Oh! goodie I need help with math homework!" quickly spoke Cloud Chaser as he darted forward lifting off Lyra's staddlebags as she took off causing her victim to jump and fall backwards. Muttering to herself Cloud Chaser started digging through the saddlebags. " Haha oh man really? A book on human?" "Hey that's mine!" yelled Lyra. "give it back please?" The group of ponies started to laugh at Lyra, pointing hoofs. "Guys catch!" shouted Cloud Chaser tossing the book to Flitter, who started a game of keep away. Lyra followed the book path over and over spinning in circles, as the laughter of her tormentors rang in her ears. Finally growing tired of the teasing Lyra horn started to glow in a mint light aura caught hold of the book. stopping it in the air. "Its mine!" shouted Lyra "Nope" was all Lyra heard before she hit the ground as Flitter pushed her. She laid there rubbing her muzzle tears collecting in her eyes. "haha No way! I found her diary." Caramel said as he waved the bound book in his hooves. "That's great!. give it here Caramel." "sure thing Thunder." Caramel tossed the book and Thunder Lane caught it staring at Lyra with a wicked grin. "sooooo freaky Lyra has a diary?" putting on his best mock voice Thunder Lane said. "Dear diary today I saw Discord and me and him had a picnic with a human while riding cotton candy clouds, I even got my cutie mark." The group once again burst into laughter. Lyra covered her eye with her hooves hiding her tears, while Thunder Lane, Cloud Chaser, and Flitter started to chant. "Freaky Lyra, freaky Lyra, freaky Lyra the blank flank" "u-umm hey guys its getting late we should g-go home before our parents come looking for us." Bon-bon who had mostly been quite aside from joining in on the laughter and playing the game of keep away finally spoke. "Y-yeah! Bon-bon is right guys." Caramel agreed shaking his head up and down. "Fine....Lets roll girls" Demanded Thunder Lane as he turned and started to walk away throwing the book behind him. " I was getting bored with blank flank anyway." The five ponies left Lyra on the ground with the contents of her scattered around her. Slowly she stood up watching them fade into the distance until Caramel and Bon-bon turned around to look back at her, Lyra picked up her possession and ran off to home tears streaming down her face. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The door slammed behind her flank as she bolted inside, shaking her threw down her saddlebags. Taking a few deep breaths to calm herself Lyra called out. "I'm home!....anybody here?" no answer she walked into the living room to find it empty, she continued to the kitchen and found a note sitting on the counter. she levitated the note in her magic holding it up to her face. "Dear Lyra we went out to a play in Canterlot won't be back till this weekend. p.s. didn't fix dinner find whatever you want in the fridge your on your own till we get back xoxo." Lyra stared at the note with a deadpan expression before grabbing it from her magic with her hooves ripping it apart. "Figures! they always leave me all alone!" Lyra groaned stepping over to the fridge. opening the door she scanned her choices of food. "Daisies, apples, honey suckles." Lyra stood there a moment before finally making a selection of honey suckles and apple juice. She took her plate to her room shutting her door behind her. A smile graced her lips as she looked around the open room poster of the wonderbolts, drawings of her fantasy, and even her personal action figures as she called them spread all through out the room. Setting her plate down at her vanity Lyra used her magic to levitate a bite of her food to eat, while pulling out her recovered book. Wiping the mud from the cover she smiled. "Atleast I have my books." Lyra cracked open the book pouring her heart into the activity, page after page, chapter after chapter she read. Look of wonder sprawled on her face ,she truly felt happy even if human weren't real she could atleast daydream they were. Lyra had finish reading half the book when she looked up into her vanity mirror. Frowning she looked at her reflection, dried mud sticking to her coat, faded line running across her face from the tears she had cried, sighing she closed her book. Out her window she could see the nightmaremoon moon, judging it was very late at night. "I better get a shower for ...school I..guess." Once in the bathroom Lyra used her magic to turn the faucet adjusting the temperature of the water to her liking. Lyra pour a greedy amount of shampoo into her hoof, rubbing it into her coat making sure she got all the mud and avoiding the scraps she had. she worked her way from front to back stopping once she reached her flank. she stood there staring at he flank the works blank flank echoing in her head. After rinsing off and turning off the water Lyra wrapped a towel around her waist and her mane, returning to her room she climbed into bed only wanting sleep. Several minutes passed and Lyra tossed and turned not quite finding a comfortable position to sleep in regardless if she could even sleep. Her mind was wondering far to many topics to calm down enough to sleep. She found herself staring at her saddlebags before out of the tip of the bags stuck the corner of a book, the very one Inkwell had given her. Levitating it with her magic Lyra brought it to her face, eyeing the covered locked book Lyra scooped it up in her hooves. She curled up holding the book in a tight embrace before her eyes fluttered shut. > She likes to party.. > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Everywhere she turned all she could see were buildings higher then any she had seen before. Unlike like any she knew either made from metal , stone, and glass. Sounds filled her ears, both familiar and completely foreign, sounds of several voices chatting calling out and the footsteps of others silently moving through the crowds. Lyra trotted along the hard stone ground with the humans she was so fascinated with, to nervous to say something to one of them she played with her choices. "Oh what should I say? hows the weather up there? no that would be weird. I could ask what is it like having hands." Lyra stopped her trot placing a hoof up to her mouth considering option. "Ha I know I'll ask about their pants that's it the perfect question!" she cheer clapping her hooves together. Lyra walked up to a man sitting outside a small café drinking coffee while reading a newspaper. She eyed him up and down before climbing onto a tall stool having some difficulty balancing she slipped a few times before managing to sit. gulping a lump in her throat Lyra opened her mouth to speak only to find herself snapping it shut. "Come on Lyra its just a human you can do this just say something, think pants girl." gently smacking her cheek psyching herself up Lyra tried again. "U-umm excuse me? Sir?" No response from the man who just simple shifted his paper sipping from his coffee. Ears folded back in suspense Lyra stared for a moment. "Hey buddy!" She yelled at the top of her lungs. "Hey two legs over here. Can you understand what I am saying or nay?" The man folded up his paper and placed it down on the table. Lyra slammed both hooves onto the table standing up in excitement grinning ear to ear. Looking over to Lyra he opened his mouth to speak but only a loud screech came forth startling Lyra causing her to fall. Slamming into the ground with her eyes clenched shut all she could hear was the laughter of several fillies and colt. Opening her eyes looking around she could see she was infact in school and all the wonderful people, building, and strange machines were all part of a vivid dream. Her dissatisfaction quickly turned to dread once she noticed her teacher standing by the chalkboard, Hoof raised up ready to sound off another earsplitting drag down the board. scampering up to her hooves Lyra quickly sat back down in her seat placing her hooves under her chin sporting the most innocent smile she could muster. "Miss Lyra this is my classroom you well not sleep in my classroom nor shall you act as if nothing happened, is that understood?" Lyra smile fell into a frown as she responded. "Y-yes Mr. Noteworthy" the other classmate snickered around her including Cloudchaser who teased Lyra after the teacher turned to continue his lesson. "Nice going blankflank." Cloud chaser said giggling. "Shut up" responded Lyra glaring at cloud chaser. "Don't say that to me blank flank we wouldn't want any thing bad to happen" "Like I'm scared of you." Lyra turned around focusing on the lesson writing down notes to study as the fillies and colt whispered behind her. She made sure to only write what was important, facts on each ponies magic abilities, the limit, the uses and etc.. Not noticing the others in her class, mainly her bullies whispering and passing a note around Thunder Lane rolled up a paper ball and flung it at Mr. Noteworthy making contact in the back of his mane. "Alright!" yelled the annoyed teacher. "Which one of you troublemaker's threw that at me?" All at once every student in the class pointed their hoof to the middle of the room straight at Lyra. "It wasn't me! I-I-I didn't throw it I s-swear!" She defended herself against the accusing hoofs. "Oh really now?" Mr. Noteworthy took in a deep breath rubbing the bridge of his nose before letting out a long frustrated sigh. "Then who I suppose is responsible for this Lyra ,and I don't want to hear some tall tale story that it was discord or nightmare moon, or some other nonsense that you can come up with." "I...." Lyra began to reply but stopped unsure how to respond. "Well Lyra? who then my patience has run thin with you today I teach you fillies and colt, I am not your babysitter for your games." "I don't know. I..." Lyra hanged her head down in defeat. "don't know." "Up get up miss Lyra to the front of the class" directed Mr. Noteworthy motioning his hoof to a seat in the front corner of the classroom. "You will sit there for the rest of class and I want you to stay after everyone leave do I make myself clear?" the teacher said as Lyra got up and walked to the chair sitting up and curling her tail around her side. "Miss Lyra?" "Crystal" responded weakly tear filling her eyes as the other classmate held in laughter at their rotten prank. "Now then back to todays lesson shall we class? "Yes Mr. Noteworthy" every student replied with the same lethargic tone as the teacher continued writing on the board lecturing the class. Several minutes passed by everyone was busy writting note with the exception of Lyra, The sound of a bell ringing thrice echoed through the air causing each little pony ears to perk up, rejoicing in another day of school being over. sounds of shuffling books into saddle bags and chit chat filled the room as everypony rushed to clear the doors. "Rummhmm-" loudly came a grunt from the teacher. "-Did I say class was dismissed?" "No Mister Noteworthy" in unison said the class. "Very good class dismissed and remember homework." and with that every student with the exception of a small mint colored filly left the classroom. Lyra sat there glaring at Thunderlane and his gang who stuck their tongues out in return. She looked towards her teacher who sat at his desk, his facial features mute as usual no real smile ,or sign of any emotion besides the occasional annoyance he don with the my troublesome students. He signed papers while eating a apple and sipping from a cup of apple cider from what she could tell. The Silence was almost maddening to Lyra, she wished he would just get it over with. Lecture her and let her be off for all she cared anything but sitting here doing nothing. Noteworthy let out a tired sigh before turning his head, He was at his wits end handling with this little filly disrupting his lessons though knowing full well most the times she doesn't mean to or try for that matter it seems to just happen without the slightest bit of effort. "Lyra as much as I enjoy longer work days teaching my students I rather it not be in these circumstances." The teacher pulled out from a file cabinet a hefty folder. "Now this is the fifth time in a week I've had you sitting here I believe this is now a issue where I need and want to talk with your parents and-" Lyra ears shot up and her voice split into a squeak as she protested interrupting her teacher. "What no! w-w-w-we don't have to I'll do better I promise. I can stay quiet I can do extra work whatever!." Lyra then clapped her hooves together in a begging fashion. "Just please you don't have to tell my dad." "Miss Lyra calm down now I-" "Hello Teacher man!" came bursting in a small pink filly once again interrupting the Noteworthy bouncing all over the place the little filly continued her torrent of words. "Hey my name is Pinkamina Diana Pie, but you can call me Pinkie Pie isn't that so much better to say? well I say it is atleast its more fun, don't you think its more funnerrific or fantastical? "Pinkie...Pinkie....Miss Pie!" Tried the tired teacher before he finally reached his limits with this hyper active pony as she raced questions and nonsense off topic subjects . "PINKIE!!!" Yelled Noteworthy grabbing the pink menace attention which she simply snapped still saluting the teacher. "Reporting for duty Chief." "That's all well and good miss Pie but your first day isn't till tomorrow we talked about this yesterday when the Cake stopped by with you. Now that being said I understand you are a apprentice baker for them, but let me make this clear they well be consider your guardians while in my class therefore ill inform them of any trouble from you." Noteworthy rubbed the sides of his pounding head hoping it would calm the building headache. "Now both of you leave my classroom....I'll see you both tomorrow." Lyra darted to his saddlebags picked them up and flew out the door happy to just be free from the building. Trotting down the road towards the library she was soon joined by a pink filly. Looking in the corner of her eye Lyra spotted her, but didn't say a word. "So my names pinkie whats yours? I don't think we have met before and I want to met everyone here cause hey you can't be friends with someone you haven't met am I right? "ugh friends...right?.. wait what you want to be my friend?" questioned the mint filly. "yeah totally!" cheered pinkie who nodded her head with enthusiasm. "This isn't some trick its it? Lyra stopped walking and was now staring at a blue eye filly with suspicion. Pinkie pie only giggle at her silly new friend she kinda like the weirdness displayed something she hadn't come across much since she left the rock farm. "Nopey Dopey." chirped the filly sporting a ear to ear grin. "Oh? umm ok then I umm." drooping her ears in embarrassment Lyra apologized "sorry d-didn't mean to be." Lyra closed her mouth thinking for abit. "I-I don't have many friends." "What!" yelled the pink filly in surprise. "That's impossible not with yours truly Pinkie Pie on the job, everyone has to have atleast a bazillion friends!" Lyra just stood there with her mouth hanging open snapping it shut and blushing once she realized how stupid she must of looked before a small smile spread across her face and I idea came to her. "Do...you...want to hang out or something?" asked the mint filly.