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The Ballad of Terrorist Lyra

By Writefag_Roulette
Created: 2021-07-16 21:31:33
Updated: 2021-01-20 14:27:04
Expiry: Never
lyra/pone/8chan/gtpone/

  1. https://web.archive.org/web/20190115030825/https://8ch.net/gtpone/res/2808.html
  2.  
  3. >this world
  4. >is sick
  5. >you're holding the binoculars in your hooves
  6. >you can't let the glow of your magic get you caught
  7. >not now
  8. >not after you've come so far
  9. >from the bushes, you espy the tree-like Ponyville Castle
  10. >it won't be long now
  11. >at the base of the castle is a small device you nonchalantly dropped about 28 minutes ago
  12. >soon there will be one less princess in Equestria
  13. >and this is only the test run
  14. >if it works, you're going to carry out your full-scale attack against Canterlot Mountain itself
  15. >no more Canterlot
  16. >no more princesses
  17. >well, there is that one other princess who lives way up north
  18. >but you'll figure something out for her too
  19. >now...
  20. >it should be just about...
  21. >NOW!
  22. >a loud squeaking noise rips through the night
  23. >a puff of confetti hangs just above the ground
  24. >the castle is unharmed
  25. "Huh?"
  26. >quiet! there's something stirring in the castle!
  27. >a door on a high balcony slides open
  28. >and out steps Princess Twilight herself
  29. <"Hello? Who's there?"
  30. >sshhh, don't respond, it's a trap
  31. <"Pinkie Pie?"
  32. >actually, you did get the device from Pinkie Pie
  33. >she said it was the most powerful firework she had
  34. >isn't a firework the same thing as a bomb?
  35. <"Eh..."
  36. >the unelected tyrant of Ponyville disappears within her castle once more
  37. >looks like now is the time to make your retreat, Lyra
  38. >you creep out of the bushes and zip through the shadows til you arrive at home
  39. >damn! another mission failed
  40. >oh well, you'll figure out a new plan tomorrow
  41.  
  42. >you like to think of your home as a reflection of Equestrian society
  43. >a total, unsalvageable mess
  44. >an innavigable maze of unwanted detritus
  45. >the ruins of a once-nice place buried under mountains of empty beer cans
  46. >you should really get all these cans out of your home
  47. >judging by the Sun hanging outside your window, you've awoken in the wee hours of the afternoon
  48. >judging by the rapping at your chamber door, you've been awoken by someone who wants to speak to you
  49. >is it the guard?
  50. >should you make a break for it?
  51. >no
  52. >they don't have any evidence
  53. >running will only look suspicious
  54. >better just ask what they want through the door
  55. >you wade through the cans and put your face near the heavy wooden door
  56. "Who is it?"
  57. /"It's Bon Bon."
  58. >Bon Bon
  59. >your best friend since college
  60. >you had some good times back in the day
  61. >but all that ended when she revealed her true identity to you as Special Agent Sweetie Drops
  62. >as a covert law enforcement agent, you just can't have her around
  63. >she'd ruin everything
  64. >you were forced to cut off contact with her almost entirely
  65. >unfortunately, that pony can't take a hint
  66. >or maybe she was assigned to monitor your activities
  67. >either way, you need to get her out of here
  68. >you have about a hundred more of Pinkie Pie's explosive devices sitting in your basement
  69. >you can't risk discovery
  70. "What do you want?"
  71. /"I wanted to see you. We haven't hung out in ages!"
  72. "Sorry, no time. I'm, uh, busy."
  73. /"But you haven't had a gig in months!"
  74. "I'm, uh, sick. Cough cough."
  75. >/"Lyra-"
  76. "Cough."
  77. /"I bought us two season passes to the spa."
  78. >sweet Sun!
  79. >it's social engineering!
  80. >don't fall for it, Lyra
  81. "J-just leave mine on the doorstep."
  82. /"Nope! You have to come with me."
  83. "R-right now?"
  84. /"Right now, or I'm giving yours to Lily."
  85. >don't fall for it, Lyra
  86. >don't fall for it, Lyra
  87. >don't fall-
  88. >you open the door and stare ashamedly at your hooves
  89. /"Lyra? Oh my goodness, you look terrible!"
  90. "I-I, uh..."
  91. /"I can see I didn't come a second too soon. You need to get spoiled, stat!"
  92.  
  93. >the spa
  94. >Ponyville's own hotbed of decadence and degeneracy
  95. >literally
  96. >because the spa has literal hotbeds
  97. >you're on one right now
  98. >you'd be disgusted
  99. >but it feels so nice
  100. >your bed is opposite Bon Bon's, lengthwise
  101. >laying on your belly, you can see her gazing into the depths of your soul
  102. >with that little smirk on her face
  103. /"See? You really needed this. Isn't life so much better when you listen to old Bon Bon?"
  104. "Unhuhuhhhhhuhhhhhh..."
  105. >this is bad
  106. >your muscles have become too relaxed
  107. >you can't even control your jaw well enough to speak
  108. >you're completely vulnerable to attack right now
  109. >if the guard is planning to strike, they'll do it any second now...
  110. >Bon Bon giggles
  111. /"I know, right? It's not like you to get so stressed out. What's up? Is it the whole can't-find-work thing?"
  112. "Nhuh-huhnhhhunnnhhhhhh..."
  113. /"Well don't worry about that right now. We'll get you back on your hooves. Those pricks in the Ponyville Chamber Orchestra are gonna realize that losing you was the worst thing that ever happened to them."
  114. "Mmmnnnhhh..."
  115. <"Oh, hello Lyra!"
  116. >like a rubber band snapping back into place, your muscles are tensed and ready to spring into action
  117. >it's Twilight Sparkle
  118. >fortunately, it doesn't seem like an attack
  119. >it looks like she and that friend of hers, Rarity, were following one of the spa ponies to the nearby hot tub room
  120. "Uh... hello."
  121. <"Lyra, I was visiting with the girls up in Canterlot just the other day. They were all saying you never go up to visit them anymore."
  122. "The... girls?"
  123. <"You know, all our old school friends. Minuette, Twinklshine, Lemon Hearts, Moon Dancer."
  124. "Moon Dancer is going outside again?"
  125. /"Lyra! You never told me you were classmates with Princess Twilight!"
  126. "Well, I guess I kind of forgot. We grew pretty distant after she ran off to Ponyville and made new friends."
  127. /"But didn't you move to Ponyville right afterwards?"
  128. "Yeah, but I always kept in touch with my old friends. Until... recently."
  129. >you sigh
  130. "Anyways, even before that. You know, Bon Bon, you were always hanging out with me and the girls in college, but somehow you never even met Twilight. She was always too busy with her private studies or something."
  131. >Twilight is smiling sadly at you
  132. <"I know I wasn't a very good friend, Lyra. I guess you're the last one I haven't apologized to yet."
  133. >Twilight frowns
  134. <"Lotus, could we upgrade to a bath for four?"
  135. >the spa pony smiles and nods
  136. <"Would you two care to join us?"
  137. >Bon Bon springs to her hooves
  138. /"Yes!"
  139. "Uh..."
  140. >Bon Bon glares at you
  141. /"Yes!"
  142. "Okay."
  143.  
  144. >"Oh, I know exactly what you went through, dear. I have to beg and plead every single time to get Twilight out to the spa."
  145. /"Yep. It's those gifted unicorn types, you know."
  146. >Rarity and Bon Bon share a giggle
  147. >Twilight is staring at you
  148. >you're staring back
  149. <"So, Lyra. What have you been up to? Still into music?"
  150. "Yeah, I was playing with the local orchestra. But then, uh…"
  151. /"The pricks kicked her out! Can you believe it?"
  152. <"What? That's horrible!"
  153. /"This is practically the first time she's gone outside since. I can't stand-"
  154. "Bon Bon."
  155. >Bon Bon shuts up
  156. "To answer your question, I haven't been up to very much lately, Princess. I've just been thinking. And doing a little light writing I guess."
  157. >Twilight cringes at "Princess"
  158. >and then lights up
  159. <"You've been doing some writing?"
  160. >oh, Tartarus
  161. >why'd you mention that?
  162. >if a princess got a hold of one of your manifestoes, you'd be on the moon before nightfall
  163. "Oh, it's nothing worth sharing. Just some random thoughts."
  164. <"Well, if you don't want to share it… I'm just interested because the Princess is holding a little fete this weekend."
  165. "Which one?"
  166. <"Which what?"
  167. "Which princess?"
  168. <"Oh, sorry, I mean Princess Celestia. There may be four… or… five of us now, but there's only one 'The Princess' to me."
  169. /"What's a fete?"
  170. >"It's a sort of high class ball for intellectuals."
  171. <"Right. All the princesses will be there, and I think most of the ponies from our class at Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns will be there too. Actually, pretty much every scholar in Equestria will be there, and probably some nobles and other famous ponies too. I'm going to be reading an essay about my findings on friendship, and there's going to be other speakers presenting their writings as well. Stories, poems, studies."
  172. "Oh, well, like I said, I don't think anything I've written is really worth-"
  173. >Bon Bon gasps
  174. /"Lyra! You could play there!"
  175. "Play? What? Like, on my lyre?"
  176. /"Probably your harp. This sounds like a really fancy party."
  177. <"That's a great idea! I could definitely get you a slot on stage if you want it, Lyra. It would be good to get you and your talents back into society."
  178. "Uh… sure. That sounds like fun."
  179. <"Oh, Lyra! This is going to be great! Do you have a song you want to play?"
  180. "I think I'll write something special for the occasion. I'll tell you what it's called when it's ready."
  181. >you sit and chat cheerfully for about another hour
  182. >you get out of the bath
  183. >you dry off
  184. >you get home
  185. >you grin
  186. >looks like you worked something out after all
  187.  
  188. >now
  189. >despite being an alumna of Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns
  190. >you've never been an especially powerfull spellcaster
  191. >such things aren't terribly uncommon
  192. >there was a colt named Sunburst in another class
  193. >he had a talent for memorizing all kinds of spell and magical theories
  194. >but he lacked the raw power to actually do half of the things he knew how to do
  195. >at a glance, it might seem that you were consigned to a similarly tragic fate
  196. >until one considers just what your talent actually is
  197. >music
  198. >lyres, harps, guitars, banjos, lutes, mandolins, ukeleles
  199. >if it can be plucked or strummed, you're already a master with it
  200. >and the nice thing about being well-versed in both music and in magic
  201. >is that there's plenty of music-based magic
  202. >and as for magical instruments
  203. >the harp is surpassed only by the fife
  204. >you wade through the lake of empty beer cans to a long-forgotten closet
  205. >and with some struggle, you get the door open
  206. >but there it is
  207. >your prized pedal harp
  208. >it's nothing too fancy
  209. >just some basic instrument strings stretched across a frame of cheap polished brass
  210. >but you take good care of it
  211. >and you know how to use it
  212. >giddily, you stroke the brass with your hooves
  213. >and you think up a few basic magical notes to play
  214. >your hooves move from the frame to the strings
  215. >the sound is beyond beauty to your ears
  216. >you really can't believe that you've gone so long without doing this, even just for fun
  217. >but now it seems that your calling as Equestria's reckoning has led you back to your passion for music
  218. >it's destiny, it has to be
  219. >you weave a simple spell into the song
  220. >it's nothing complicated, just a light show
  221. >the closet is filled with the shimmering essence of a rainbow
  222. >this is really a rapturous moment for you
  223. >because you've got a plan now
  224. >and it's sure to work
  225. >all the princesses and most of Equestrian high society will be eagerly gathered to witness you destroy them
  226. >your horn won't glow during the whole show
  227. >your victims will never suspect anything til the end
  228. >your hooves pluck a little sleeping spell
  229. >your head starts to nod toward the floor
  230. >whoah! careful, Lyra!
  231. >don't want to put yourself to sleep now
  232. >you stop playing and you grin at your reflection in the harp's brass
  233. >yes, just a little sleeping spell
  234. >and with just a slight modification to it
  235. >you can put them all to sleep
  236. >forever
  237. >though, realistically, spells like that only last for about a thousand years
  238. >whatever
  239. >it's plenty of time
  240. >you'll need to work on modifying the spell a bit, both to lengthen its effects and you exclude you from them
  241. >you'll probably need to get some sort of test subject too
  242. >oh man
  243. >you're really gonna do it this time, aren't you?
  244.  
  245. >crack of noon
  246. >Sun in your face
  247. >sheets on your body
  248. >you are awake
  249. >you'll probably have to worry about your appearance a bit on the day of the fete
  250. >but today
  251. >a wet hairbrush in your mane
  252. >and a wet toothbrush in your mouth
  253. >that will suffice
  254. >time to get to work
  255. >the safest way to prepare the spell would be to cast a little charm on your ears
  256. >this will render you immune to your own musical magic
  257. >problem
  258. >there's no way to know the spell works unless you use it to put something to sleep
  259. >you don't want this to end in a puff of confetti
  260. >like the bomb plot
  261. >solution
  262. >aquire an animal
  263. >an animal won't be able to tell you what your distracting lightshow looks like
  264. >but that can be tested separately from the sleeping spell portion of the song
  265. >if the animal goes to sleep, the spell works
  266. >preferred animal
  267. >songbird
  268. >small, won't eat much
  269. >believable pet for someone with your cutie mark
  270. >you're going out to get one right now
  271. >destination
  272. >the home of a pony named Fluttershy
  273. >you open your door to step out
  274. >on the other side is Twilight Sparkle
  275. >her hoof is raised
  276. >she was probably about to knock on the door
  277. >behind her are more ponies you recognize
  278. >Lemon Hearts, Twinkleshine, Minuette, Moon Dancer
  279. <"Lyra! Hi!"
  280. >this is less than ideal
  281. "Oh, uh, hi girls. What are you all doing here?"
  282. >somehow, the first one to answer you is Moon Dancer
  283. _"Twilight told us you were both performing at the fete. We thought we'd come pay you a visit."
  284. >Minuette thrusts forward to fling her hooves around your neck
  285. ~"We haven't seen you in forever!"
  286. "Ah, yeah, well..."
  287. >the others crowd around you to join in the hug
  288. >it's all very touching
  289. >there's just one thing at the back of your mind
  290. "Wait, so does this mean you're all coming to the fete?"
  291. ~"Uh huh!"
  292. >problem
  293. >all of your friends are going to be exposed to your sleeping spell
  294. >including the ones you weren't trying to assasinate
  295. >solution
  296. >unknown
  297.  
  298. >Minuette decided to come with you to Fluttershy's home
  299. >the others went out to lunch
  300. >they made you promise to go to dinner with them tonight
  301. >annoying
  302. >you've just told Fluttershy that you're interested in adopting a bird
  303. >her eyes are widening and sparkling in slow motion, almost as if Minuette cast a spell on her
  304. >but before you know it, she's grabbing your hoof and dragging you off to a large tree
  305. >she drops you and Minuette off at the base of the tree and flies up to peer into its branches
  306. >"Oh little birdies, come out please. I've got some new friends I'd like you to meet."
  307. >and the tree makes you aware
  308. >that it is swarming
  309. >with birds
  310. >cardinals
  311. >robins
  312. >finches
  313. >woodpeckers
  314. >there's even a toucan
  315. >Fluttershy smiles at the birds
  316. >"My friend Lyra is interested in adopting one of you. Go and say hello."
  317. >the birds
  318. >they don't say hello
  319. >they just stare at you
  320. >one bird, a bluebird, hops down to the branch nearest you and stares from there
  321. >Minuette points at it
  322. ~"I think that one likes you."
  323. >the bird hops from the tree and onto Minuette's pointing hoof
  324. ~"Oh!"
  325. >Minuette giggles
  326. ~"You look like toothpaste!"
  327. >the bird chirps
  328. ~"You like that, huh?"
  329. >she holds the bird right up to your face
  330. ~"Look! He reminds me of when we were little fillies, and we both thought we'd be dentists."
  331. "Because we both looked like toothpaste..."
  332. >the bird chirps
  333. >hops down Minuette's hoof a little
  334. >and nuzzles its face on your snout
  335. ~"Hehe, He definitely likes you."
  336. "Yeah..."
  337. >it's staring into your eyes
  338. >something about it feels...
  339. >like something
  340. "I think I'll take this one home."
  341.  
  342. >for the millionth time, you sit at your harp with the latest revision of the song before you
  343. >Toothpaste, music afficianado that he apparently is, sits perched at rapt attention nearby
  344. >you check your ear protection
  345. >and then go
  346. >there's really no adequate way to describe the music of a harp with mere words
  347. >the experience is much more significant
  348. >much more precise
  349. >much greater than language could ever be
  350. >here you play a little higher and quicker
  351. >Toothpaste's eyes follow a light show you cannot see with great enthusiasm
  352. >here you add a sort of trilling flourish, and the bird shivers
  353. >here the music slows
  354. >the bird's head droops
  355. >for only a moment, the song rises to fantastic heights, and the bird almost looks ready to take wing
  356. >but slowly it descends once more
  357. >lower
  358. >slower
  359. >the bird's eyelids look very heavy on it
  360. >and now...
  361. >holy hay is that Twilight outside the window?
  362. >no way! she's close enough to hear you!
  363. >the purple princess pony's eyes roll back into her head
  364. >then she collapses beneath the window
  365. >oh, no, no, no, no
  366. >the spell isn't perfected yet, she's going to wake up!
  367. >and when she does she'll know what you're planning!
  368. >you'll be on the moon before it sets!
  369. >whoah, when did the moon rise anyway?
  370. >you race outside and find her unconscious on the ground
  371. >oh, no, no, no, no
  372. >she's already beginning to stir
  373. >Twilight looks right at you!
  374. <"Lyra? What's wrong?"
  375. >you realize that you're trotting in place
  376. >stay still now, Lyra
  377. "Uh, I saw you... faint."
  378. <"Faint?"
  379. >she realizes that she's lying on your flowerbed
  380. <"Oh!"
  381. >she leaps up to her hooves and pats down her wings
  382. <"Sorry! I guess I really do stay up too late."
  383. >ohhhh
  384. >good
  385. >she has no idea
  386. <"Lyra?"
  387. >you're staring at her
  388. "Y-yeah?"
  389. <"You missed dinner."
  390. "Dinner?"
  391. <"You know, you said you'd meet me and the girls for dinner tonight."
  392. "Oh. Yeah, I did. I guess I just... lost track of the time. You know, working on the... song."
  393. <"Is is coming along well? Can I hear it?"
  394. "No! It's not ready yet!"
  395. <"Well, all right then. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to put any stress on you. With the fete only two days away and all-"
  396. "Two days?"
  397. <"Well, yeah. I asked you if you wanted to perform yesterday, on Wednesday. Thursday, Friday... Saturday. Lyra... Lyra, you're sweating."
  398. "Don't worry about me. Trust me, you're better off saving your worry for yourself. Anyway, if you're all right then, I'll just go and work on my song some more. Good night!"
  399. >you begin to make your way to your door
  400. >Twilight doesn't follow
  401. <"Lyra! Everyone's worried about you! They say you're pushing everyone away!"
  402. "Is this coming from you, Twilight?"
  403. >you're not looking at her
  404. >but Twilight's silence tells you that she probably took that like a slap in the face
  405. >you're halfway through your door
  406. <"Lyra, can you at least meet us for breakfast at my place tomorrow? I'm making pancakes!"
  407. "Yeah, sure, whatever, bye!"
  408. >the door slams shut
  409. >no, wait!
  410. >you meant no!
  411. >well
  412. >it might be good to learn the floor plan of a castle
  413. >anyway
  414. >you've come up with your solution to the problem of all your friends being at the fete
  415. >you're just going to put them to sleep along with everyone else
  416.  
  417. >there
  418. >Toothpaste has been asleep for over an hour now
  419. >obviously, there's no way to confirm that it really lasts forever
  420. >you'd have to wait forever, after all
  421. >but, as a master of musical magic
  422. >you're pretty sure this is it
  423. >and it only took you all night
  424. >the Sun is still low in the sky, though no longer red with the sunrise
  425. >you're probably just in time for breakfast at Twilight's
  426. >just need to freshen up a bit
  427. >a few minutes later and you're fresh as a splash of cold water and cheap perfume will get you
  428. >a few minutes after that and you're knocking on the door of a big crystal tree
  429. >wondering if you can really go through with your plan tomorrow
  430. >these ponies are your friends, aren't they?
  431. >the door opens
  432. >a purple princess pony sees you
  433. >and she smiles brightly
  434. <"Lyra, you came! Come on in, the girls are all here! I'm still cooking, but breakfast will be out in just a minute."
  435. >seated at a crystal table in crystal chairs are the mares you called friends as a foal
  436. >there are two seats open
  437. >you assume that the one with the purple star on it is for Twilight
  438. >so you take the one with butterflies stamped on it
  439. >Lemon Hearts waves vigorously and smiles cheerily
  440. >behaving exactly the way she won't after tomorrow
  441. >"Lyraaaaaaaa! Hiiiiiiiii! It's been for-eeeeeeever! How have you beeeeeeeen?"
  442. "I've been well."
  443. >"Mmmmm, we've got to catch up some time, just the two of us."
  444. "Sure."
  445. >Minuette gives a friendly greeting as well
  446. ~"Hey, Lyra. How's Toothpaste doing?"
  447. "He's... asleep right now."
  448. >the pony in the seat directly to your left is Moon Dancer
  449. >she nods shyly in your direction
  450. _"Hi, Lyra. Been a while."
  451. "Yeah. When did you decide to crawl out from under your rock?"
  452. >Moon Dancer flinches, and looks down at her hooves
  453. >Twinkleshine snorts
  454. >"You're one to talk."
  455. >Twilight walks in carrying plates stacked high with pancakes
  456. <"Okay! Who's ready to eat?"
  457. >Lemon Hearts is excited
  458. >"Oh! Me! I am!"
  459. >Twilight dishes out the food
  460. >you take a bite
  461. >ugh
  462. >it's bland
  463. >flavorless
  464. >squishy and moist
  465. >like chewing dank air
  466. >are you the only one who notices this?
  467. >the others are scarfing this garbage down so happily
  468. >are they faking it?
  469. >you've had enough of this
  470. >you stand up, clinking your fork against your glass
  471. "I'd like to propose a toast to the author of this meal."
  472. <"Oh?"
  473. "To Twilight Sparkle. The pony who abandoned all of her friends for four years and was made the Princess of Friendship for it."
  474. >Twinkleshine scoffs
  475. >"Lyra! Why are you being such a jerk toda-"
  476. "And to Twinkleshine. The bitch who always liked to put gum in my mane."
  477. >a plate flies past you and shatters against the wall
  478. ~"L-Lyra!"
  479. >you turn around and make your way toward the door without another word
  480. >"That pony is seriously messed up in the head!"
  481. <"N-now, girls, Lyra's under a lot of pressure. She's got a lot riding on the performance tomorrow, l-let's just try to be unders-"
  482. >the door shutting behind you silences all further conversation to your ear
  483. "I don't need your understanding."
  484.  
  485. >outside of the castle, it's starting to rain
  486. >the pale surface of the dirt road before you is rapidly peppered with dark polka dots
  487. >the Sun-baked earth greedily drinks the rain and starts to become soggy
  488. >so does your mane
  489. >you bow down your head
  490. >and quickly walk toward home
  491. >the rain seeps through your coat and pricks your skin with cold
  492. >letting you know that you still feel
  493. >how unfortunate
  494. >if they had known that they had been pleading for their world, maybe they wouldn't have insulted you so monstrously
  495. >that Lemon Hearts
  496. >had she thought you wouldn't notice?
  497. >the biting smirk disguised as a friendly smile
  498. >the condescension in her voice, hidden behind a cheery lilt
  499. >how horrific
  500. >and Twilight
  501. >had she intentionally prepared fouled food just for you?
  502. >it seems like the only logical explanation
  503. >the food on your plate was intentionally bad, while everyone else was served a proper breakfast
  504. >some sort of prank?
  505. >what a bitch
  506. >and that's to say nothing about Twinkleshine's outright attempted assault on you
  507. >all these high society types
  508. >these intellectuals
  509. >these Canterlot socialites
  510. >all these sorcerers and scholars and musicians and princesses
  511. >they all look down on you
  512. >but you're glad they look down on you
  513. >yes, glad!
  514. >if the social elite of this land had accepted you among their ranks, you'd be one of them
  515. >perpetuating their sickness
  516. >and someone else would have taken up the necessary task of eradicating them, destroying you in the process
  517. >no
  518. >starting tomorrow, this land will belong to the good ponies
  519. >ponies who won't condescend to look down on you
  520. >ponies like Bon Bon
  521. >in mid-step, your hooves collide with one another
  522. >and your face is in the mud
  523. >you lay there for a minute, drinking deeply of the physical sensation
  524. >and a set of creme-colored hooves stop just before your eyes
  525. /"Lyra?"
  526. >looking down on you are the greenish eyes of Bon Bon
  527. /"Are... are you okay?"
  528. >you grunt, and clamber to your hooves
  529. "I just fell."
  530. >Bon Bon blinks
  531. /"Well, okay then. Anyway, I was looking for you. Great news!"
  532. >this
  533. >this friendship
  534. >on an equal basis
  535. >among equals
  536. >that's why folks like Bon Bon are going to inherit the earth tomorrow
  537. >you smile
  538. "What's up?"
  539. /"I bought a ticket to that party you're performing at tomorrow! I talked to Princess Twilight about it and she was able to get me one totally last minute! I'm gonna be there for your big break, how great is that?"
  540. >oh
  541. >is it getting hotter outside?
  542. >or is that just the slimy thing writhing in your gut?
  543. /"Lyra?"
  544. "Y... you shouldn't... I... don't..."
  545. /"You don't want me to come?"
  546. "I've... got to..."
  547. >you stumble off to the side and make your way around Bon Bon
  548. /"Lyra! Where are you going?"
  549. "I've... gotta go... See you... tomorrow!"
  550. >the scenery passes by in a haze
  551. >and somehow you arrive at home
  552. >flinging open the door, you're greeted by the last thing you wanted to see
  553. >Twilight and Moon Dancer are standing there, staring intently at you
  554. "How... did you... get here?!"
  555. <"We teleported in. Lyra, there's something bothering you. We need to talk!"
  556. "Get... out... of my house!"
  557. <"Lyr-"
  558. "Out!"
  559. >you storm behind them and start shoving them weakly with your body
  560. _"Eep!"
  561. <"Lyra, I don't understand! Why are you treating us like this? Didn't I do you a favor? Don't you want to perform tomorrow?"
  562. >a poorly aimed shove sends you ricocheting off of Twilight and sprawling on the floor
  563. "I... I do. You did... You have no idea..."
  564. <"Lyra! We can't help you if you don't talk to us!"
  565. >you sigh and settle into the floor
  566. >the panic that's been building in you finally starts to settle into freezing cold, yet manageable, unease
  567. "After tomorrow. After tomorrow, you'll understand."
  568. <"Understand what?"
  569. "You'll understand. I promise. After tomorrow. Now go."
  570. <"Lyr-"
  571. "Get! Out!"
  572. <"I... Okay, Lyra. I trust you. Moon Dancer, let's go."
  573. >Moon Dancer looks uneasily at you
  574. _"Are you sure?"
  575. <"Yes. Sometimes friends need to give each other space. Come on."
  576. >and then they're gone
  577. >and then
  578. >there on the floor
  579. >among the stacks of cans
  580. >you descend into a troubled unconsciousness
  581.  
  582. >morning
  583. >in the cargo bay beneath you is the large luggage case which contains your harp
  584. >in the seat next to you is the briefcase which contains the sheet music that will end Equestria
  585. >it occurs to you now that you don't have any plans for what happens after today
  586. >it doesn't matter
  587. >whatever comes next
  588. >it'll be better than this
  589. >it might be possible to block up the doors to the castle before anyone notices
  590. >and maybe find some sort of artifact or spell in the archives that will enable you to protect ponies from external threats
  591. >it doesn't matter right now though
  592. >right now what matters is justice
  593. >the door to your lonely train car slides open
  594. >in walks a white unicorn, looking around nervously for something
  595. >she spots you
  596. >and freezes
  597. "Good morning, Moon Dancer."
  598. _"L-L-L-L-Lyra! H-hi! Um, I, um, I forgot some things, so the others went on ahead without me... a-a-and you, apparently."
  599. "I like to sleep in."
  600. _"R-right. I-I-I was actually just looking for a bathroom. Is there one in this car?"
  601. "Dunno. Haven't checked."
  602. _"Um... right... well... I don't see one in here so I guess I'll keep looking!"
  603. "Bye, Moon Dancer."
  604. _"Yep. See you later. Right... um..."
  605. "Yes?"
  606. _"S-since I found you there's actually something I wanted to say."
  607. "Oh?"
  608. _"I, um, Twilight and I, we, um, we read through some of your writings yesterday..."
  609. "That's nice."
  610. _"R-really? Twilight said you really didn't want anyone to, you know, read those."
  611. "It doesn't matter anymore."
  612. _"Um, well, I thought... it was... really... smart. And Twilight did too."
  613. "Did she really?"
  614. _"Uh huh. That stuff about introducing more democratic elements to the government... She said that even she hadn't gotten a say when she was made a princess!"
  615. "Well I'm glad you liked it."
  616. _"Yeah, m-me too. Um... yesterday you said... we'd understand after today and I just wanted to know what you meant by that!"
  617. >wow
  618. >you've never seen Moon Dancer act like this before
  619. >so agitated
  620. >of course, it's not without good cause
  621. >though she couldn't possibly know that
  622. "I meant you'll understand after today."
  623. _"Um... okay. I-I'll just go find that bathroom now."
  624. "Bye, Moon Dancer."
  625. _"Okay, sorry, sorry, I'll get going, I just... one more thing... I... I think you're really brilliant, Lyra... so, um... just... d-don't do anything rash, okay?"
  626. >you grin lazily at the flustered bookworm
  627. "I won't do anything stupid. I promise."
  628.  
  629. >the bizarre calm you experienced on the train is gone
  630. >and now it's back
  631. >and now it's gone
  632. >your heart can't decide how hard it wants to pump right now
  633. >so it seems to be cycling through all available speeds
  634. >you're behind the curtain right now
  635. >your harp standing tall before you
  636. >your retribution, desguised as music, sitting on a stand beside it
  637. >Twilight is just finishing her presentation on the study of friendship
  638. <"And now, a presentation from yet another good friend, who... who I have a lot to learn from. Without further ado, an original piece by Lyra Heartstrings of Ponyville!"
  639. >the curtain rises slowly
  640. >ever so slowly
  641. >torturously slowly
  642. >and the anticipation you've felt climaxes
  643. >as you know
  644. >that this very instant
  645. >is your moment of truth
  646. >Twilight winks at you
  647. <"Show us all, Lyra."
  648. >and she steps down from the stage
  649. >and finds a table populated with familiar faces
  650. >Minuette
  651. >Moon Dancer
  652. >Lemon Hearts
  653. >Twinkleshine
  654. >if you didn't know about their secret condescension
  655. >you might even say that there's no evidence of yesterday's scene in their bright faces
  656. >somehow, Bon Bon is sitting among them too
  657. >she's waving at you
  658. >how unfortunate
  659. >nothing less than total detachment from personal feelings will help you do what needs to be done now
  660. >as far as you're aware, no spell in the world will be able to recussitate her
  661. >but maybe someday you'll find an artifact that will
  662. >until then though
  663. >she's an unfortunate casualty
  664. >your resolve is ironclad with the looming presence of yet another pony at that very table
  665. >Princess Celestia herself
  666. >whispering something in Twilight's ear
  667. >to Tartarus with them, then
  668. >stiffly
  669. >professionally
  670. >you step beside your instrument
  671. >and assume an upright sitting position
  672. >and pluck your first note
  673. >the magical visual effects are lost to you due to the enchantment on your ears
  674. >but the audience
  675. >shivers
  676. >soon you're playing them up mountains
  677. >through forests
  678. >across rivers
  679. >through scorching deserts and biting tundras
  680. >that's the easiest way to word it, of course
  681. >music is, as always, beyond the capability of language to describe adequately
  682. >oh, you can use the technical terms
  683. >but that only gives a vague concept of the music
  684. >and only to an expert
  685. >much easier to describe it poetically
  686. >now you're playing them down into a deep valley
  687. >slowly, you play the Sun below its horizon
  688. >somebody near the front stretches and yawns
  689. >this is it
  690. >at the bottom of the valley lies a fragrant lilac bush
  691. >and ponies begin to nod
  692. >poor Minuette can hardly keep her eyes open
  693. >Twilight is grinning stupidly
  694. >not suspecting a thing
  695. >in just a few seconds now
  696. >it'll be all over
  697. >but your hoof hits the strings again
  698. >and no sound comes forth
  699. >the music stops
  700. >you try to pluck a few more times
  701. >what's going on?
  702. >the ponies in the audience
  703. >they're stuck in a place between wakefulness and sleep
  704. >frozen
  705. >not even breathing
  706. >who could have...?
  707. >Minuette?
  708. >no, she's as still as everyone else
  709. >oh
  710. >well there's your problem
  711. >just a few seats from Minuette's
  712. >Princess Celestia sits erect
  713. >blinking
  714.  
  715. >you stare at her
  716. >and she stares at you
  717. >maybe if you don't move, she won't either
  718. >nope
  719. >the Princess's body is moved by a deep breath
  720. >then she spreads her wings
  721. >and soars over the frozen audience
  722. >and lands in front of you
  723. >her wings still outstretched
  724. >the stage lights casting a deep shadow on her face
  725. >the wrath of a mighty monarch incarnate
  726. >well
  727. >you gambled it all
  728. >and lost
  729. >you knew something like this might happen
  730. >and you'll face it with dignity
  731. "N-not a lot of energy in this crowd, huh?"
  732. >no
  733. >more dignity than that
  734. ="Miss Heartstrings."
  735. >oh, hay
  736. >you'll be in Tartarus before five minutes pass
  737. >assuming time is passing, anyway
  738. >the least you can do is stand up straight
  739. >and look her in the eye
  740. >and keep your trembling down to a reasonable minimum
  741. "Yes, Princess?"
  742. ="I don't suppose you think your audience is falling asleep out of boredom, do you?"
  743. "No, Princess. I don't."
  744. ="Then why?"
  745. "I'm doing it. I wove a spell into my song that would have put them to sleep. Forever."
  746. ="Forever is a long time. I'm sure I taught you myself that those sorts of things usually don't last much more than a thousand years."
  747. "Yes, Princess. You did."
  748. ="I suppose I also taught you what happens to ponies who try to threaten my kingdom with spells that last forever."
  749. "Yes, Princess. You did."
  750. ="Good. I remember that your talent was never traditional spellcasting, and that your schooling was a bit different from most of the students at my Academy."
  751. >the Princess reaches a gold-shod hoof to her head
  752. >and pulls two glowing objects from her ears
  753. ="I have been a Princess for a long time. There is very little I'm not adequately prepared for."
  754. >she sighs
  755. ="I don't recall ever having to speak to you like this while you were a schoolfilly. Would you mind explaining to me why I'm doing so while you're a grown-up?"
  756. >you feel your face momentarily twitch into a scowl
  757. "Your society is sick. I wanted to destroy it."
  758. ="Destroy it? Good heavens! You'd certainly have achieved that had you put Twilight and her friends to sleep for a thousand years. Do you know how many times they've saved all of our lives? How ever did you plan to protect my ponies while I was away?"
  759. "Um... Without... Without your sneering intellectual elite, Equestria would... um... harness the true power of friendship: as a friendship among equals."
  760. ="Why, aren't you a part of Equestria's intellectual elite yourself? You're only the most talented musical mage to have graduated from a Canterlot academy."
  761. "A lot of good that's done me! Traditional spellcasters have always looked down on me!"
  762. ="Looked down on you?"
  763. >the Princess cranes her neck around
  764. >then turns around completely, standing exactly beside you
  765. >and she scans the crowd
  766. ="It looks to me like they're looking up to you. Especially..."
  767. >Celestia's hoof jabs at the table where your nominal friends sit in suspended animation
  768. ="...those ones. Aren't they your friends?"
  769. "They look down on me the same as anyone else. Mostly."
  770. ="Are you sure? Look closely. I see something different."
  771. "I..."
  772. >behind the frozen sleepiness, you see...
  773. ="I see pride, Lyra Heartstrings. Pride for you."
  774. "I... So what? Your society as a whole is still sick."
  775. ="Maybe. When did you first start to think like this?"
  776. "Only... about a month ago."
  777. ="A month, hm? Let me see... one month... ah yes, when you were asked to resign from the Ponyville Chamber Orchestra."
  778. "Yes. That's when it started. When I was thrown out onto the street by ponies I thought were my friends."
  779. ="That sounds horrible. Why did it happen?"
  780. "I was first chair of the strings section. Somebody 'important' wanted my position. I was thrown out to make room."
  781. ="Oh, my."
  782. "She was some prince's niece. A distant relative of yours, no doubt."
  783. ="Yes, I do believe she was. I suppose I deserve to be overthrown then, don't I?"
  784. "I..."
  785. ="Lyra, I'm going to go back to my seat and resume the flow of time. I'm not going to put my earplugs back in. You may do what you feel you must, if you will only promise to grant me one request."
  786. >you find yourself inhaling deeply
  787. "What do you need?"
  788. ="I need you to watch your friends. I need you to watch them very closely, as you put them to sleep. Forever."
  789. >you're blinking now
  790. "I'll do that."
  791. ="Thank you. And now..."
  792. >Princess Celestia soars back to her table
  793. >and settles into her seat
  794. >and the ponies begin to stir
  795. >you don't realize you've gone about ten seconds without playing, until a shout
  796. >half a shout, anyway
  797. >half a shout and half a yawn
  798. >makes its way across the auditorium
  799. <"You can do it, Lyra!"
  800. >you shake your head
  801. >get into your upright sitting position
  802. >and play
  803.  
  804. >the brightness level in your room tells you that it's long past morning
  805. >actually, it's telling you that this isn't your room at all
  806. >or even your home
  807. >the dingy brown walls have been replaced with clean white ones
  808. >bright white lights overhead almost overpower the Sunlight pouring in through a window that's much too clean to be yours
  809. >and...
  810. >and...
  811. "Twilight?"
  812. <"Lyra! You're awake!"
  813. "I noticed. But where...?"
  814. <"You're still in Canterlot Castle. This is Princess Celestia's personal hospital."
  815. "What was I doing in... How long...?"
  816. <"Oh, not long. Just about a day or so."
  817. _"Not quite. The exact count was eighteen hours, twelve minutes, and twenty-one seconds."
  818. >Moon Dancer waves at you from the foot of the immaculate bed you're lying in
  819. "Huh..."
  820. >you're racking your brain now
  821. >trying to remember something
  822. >something rather important
  823. "H-hey... shouldn't you both be... asleep right now?"
  824. >Twilight laughs
  825. <"Well, we did stay up all night, but it's morning now, Lyra."
  826. "No... I played you to the top of the mountain..."
  827. <"Lyra, try to stay relaxe-"
  828. "And beyond the mountain! I played you to the sky... To the stars! We danced in the Sun together, you, me, everyone! And then..."
  829. _"And then you collapsed."
  830. <"And Twinkleshine galloped onstage to help."
  831. "Twinkleshine? But why...?"
  832. <"Well, there she is now, why don't you ask her?"
  833. >Twilight points to an open door
  834. >striding into the brightly lit room is Twinkleshine, clad in a shining white labcoat with a stethoscope around her neck
  835. >oh yeah
  836. >she did go to med school, didn't she?
  837. >lined up behind her like baby ducks are Minuette, Lemon Hearts, and Bon Bon
  838. >"Is my patient awake? Are you two exciting her?"
  839. <"Wh- no!"
  840. >Twilight's face is scrunched into a shifty surprise
  841. _"Well, she is awake, anyhow."
  842. >"I see. Well, I think it's high time I gave you a piece of my mind, Miss Lyra Heartstrings!"
  843. "Uh, l-look, about the o-other d-"
  844. >"Why on Earth did you agree to perform on a stage being as sick as you were! You scared all of us half to death!"
  845. "I was... sick?"
  846. >"Only with the most acute case of brain fever I've ever heard of! Lyra! You... you!"
  847. >your stern friend throws her forelegs about your neck
  848. >"Why didn't you tell anyone you were going through so much?"
  849. "I, uh, guess I didn't know myself."
  850. >Lemon Hearts smugs into Twinkleshine's ear
  851. >"No exciting the patient now!"
  852. >"I, um, right!"
  853. >Twinkleshine gets up
  854. >and Bon Bon quickly fills the empty space she leaves behind
  855. /"Here, Lyra, I brought you some dinner. Twinkie here said you'd be good to eat as soon as you woke up."
  856. >a bag full of something that smells really good is dropped by your side
  857. "Wow, thanks."
  858. >Minuette almost shoves Bon Bon out of the way
  859. ~"And ''I'' went back to Ponyville and brought... this!"
  860. >Minuette displays a bird perched upon her hoof
  861. >he's small
  862. >blue
  863. >and named Toothpaste
  864. >and he's chirping and twittering away merrily
  865. >oh
  866. >naturally
  867. >the little bird hops up out of sight
  868. >and a small weight perches itself on your horn
  869. >the room is full of giggles
  870. >and somehow
  871. >you don't notice a massive, gold-shod hoof making its way toward your shoulder
  872. >it lands gently
  873. >Princess Celestia stands at the head of the bed
  874. >looking at you all upside-downedly
  875. >has she been in here the whole time?
  876. "I-I-I... uh..."
  877. >the Princess smiles
  878. ="Well done, Lyra."

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