From the Ashes

The sun hit Twilight’s face, prodding her awake. With an irritated grunt, Twilight pulled the covers over her head in a desperate attempt to block out the sunlight. However, it did no good; she was already awake.

Sighing in defeat, she sat up in bed and glanced off to the side. Selene, the mysterious unicorn claiming to be a bard, was sleeping soundly on her back and a small pool of drool was collecting at the base of her mouth. The bright sun didn’t even seem to faze her a bit. But that was probably because she was traveling all night in the storm.

“Miss Selene,” Twilight prodded the sleeping unicorn gently. “Please do wake up. The sun has risen.”

“Go away Winter,” Selene slurred as she rolled over on her side. Twilight raised an eyebrow at the other unicorn’s antics. Last night she seemed defensive and wary. Now here she was at Twilight’s mercy, dead to the world. She was tempted to use the mind reading spell, but she had promised never to use it unless she was in dire circumstances. Every pony needed a place of refuge, and the mind was the holiest of them all. That’s what her teacher told her at any rate. At times she wondered why she was taught it if she could never use it.

“Miss Selene,” she insisted shaking the unicorn more forcefully wondering what went through the unicorn’s mind. She seemed more of a mystery then the party pony who worked part time at the Sugarcube Corner.

“Huh?” Selene’s electric blue eyes met with her own violet ones as she finally woke up. “What’s going on?”

“It's morning. We should head into the square.” Selene stared at her blankly for a moment.

“What?” Selene’s half-asleep confusion made Twilight want to facehoof. Honestly, how the unicorn managed to survive up until this point was completely beyond Twilight. And Rarity and Applejack thought she was bad.

“We should head into the square, so you can tell your stories.” Twilight narrowed her eyes in suspicion. “You do have stories to tell don’t you?” It wouldn’t be the first time she was lied to. Applejack and Rarity said she was too kind for her own good and that she should be on her guard more. But she had been shown kindness in the past to make her into the pony she was today, so she was determined to do that for any pony she came across.

“Of course I do.” Twilight noticed with a hint of dry amusement that the moment Selene’s story was called into question, she immediately woke up. “What do you want to know?”

“A lot of stuff,” Twilight admitted as she levitated Selene up (the shocked look on the other unicorn’s face was priceless) so she could make the bed. “But I will try to withhold my questions and burning desire for knowledge as of right now.”

The bed made, she let go of Selene who landed on the sheets with a “meep.”

“You are a very talented magician Miss Twilight Sparkle,” Selene told her as she slid off the bed, brushing her cloak off. Bits of dust flew into the air; Twilight wasn't surprised. How it wasn't dirtier was beyond her though. “It is not easy to multi-task when using magic.” Twilight, however, just waved Selene’s praise away.

“It’s not all that difficult with practice,” she admits, leaving out her special talent is magic, nudging Selene slightly towards the door. She wanted to hear Selene’s stories, and she couldn’t do so if they were dawdling here. “Now come on, let’s go.”

The walk into the town square was interesting. Everypony who was out and about stopped to stare at the duo, more specifically at Selene. However, the bard seemed unfazed. Which was good, Twilight mused. It would be bad if a public performer got stage fright easily.

"You seem to be the popular one," Twilight noted, attempting to make conversation.

"I wouldn't say popular as much as a novelty. I am not something ponies see everyday, am I?" Selene's words once again were filled with bitter humor, and she seemed to be the only one in on the joke. More than anything at the moment, Twilight wished she could get Selene's silent jokes. However, all she could say was,

"No, I suppose not Miss Selene."

The two fell silent. Soon they reached the town square. Twilight could see Rarity and Applejack trying to sell their wares. Both were struggling. Ponyville was a small town, so everypony's income wasn't much. Both got most of their income from their monthly visits to Canterlot.

Although to be fair, both would be faring much better if their respective younger siblings weren't terrifying all the customers away.

"Who is that pony over there?" Selene's sudden inquiry caught Twilight off guard, and she looked to where Selene was pointing at.

It was a young unicorn about the same age as her with a light blue coat and mane, although her mane had a single white strand near her ear. She was playing a lyre, the same instrument as her cutie mark. Twilight searched her mind for a moment; she knew who she was. She had come to Ponyville a few months before Twilight had because she lost to Octavia as the primary musician of Canterlot.

"Lyra," Twilight said after a minute, the name finally coming to her. "She plays here every day."

"She is quite good," Selene remarked thoughtfully. "Lots of potential."

"I suppose so," Twilight agreed noncommittally; she really didn't know much about music. Nor was she really interested to learn at the moment. All she wanted to do was hear Selene's stories. And was Selene walking towards Lyra? Flabbergasted, Twilight followed.

"Hello Miss Lyra," Selene called out softly just as Lyra's song ended. Lyra seemed to shrink back a bit once she noticed the bard. Well, Selene did seem have an intimidating aura. Not a threatening one mind you. She just intimidated.

"Hello, uhm," Lyra's eyes shot back and forth nervously. Twilight stepped forward to help the poor musician out.

"Her name is Selene," Twilight said kindly. "She came into town last night. She's a bard."

"Well then Miss Selene, nice to meet you," Lyra said finally, looking unsure of herself. She still seemed a bit frightened, but a little less so.

"That was Equestria's Dream just then, am I correct?" Selene asked pleasantly. This surprised both Lyra and Twilight. Twilight had no idea Lyra was playing anything in particular.

"Yes, how did you know?" Selene chuckled.

"I love music," she explained, waving her hoof a bit. "And I must say, you have a lot of raw potential. A bit rough around the edges, but nothing experience can't fix."

"I-" Lyra stumbled across her words before finally settling on what she wanted to say. "Thank you, but I'm not that good."

"I speak nothing but the truth," Selene commented with a shrug. Lyra smiled at this.

"Well Miss Selene, is there anything I can help you with?" Lyra asked amused.

"Well as Miss Twilight Sparkle already told you, I am a bard," Selene started off, pausing for a moment allowing for Lyra to nod her head. "As such, I tell stories for a living. However, stories are vastly more interesting if they had music to accompany them, no?"

"And you wish for me to play accompaniment to your stories?" Lyra asked. Selene grinned and nodded her head.

"Precisely; after all, music also benefits when words are sung to it." Lyra paused for a moment, the words sinking in.

"You do nothing but speak the truth," Lyra admitted with a chuckle. "So be it, I will play accompaniment to your story. Is there a particular song you were hoping for?"

"Do you know I'll Do My Best?"

"I do."

"Will you be so kind to play that one for me please?" Lyra smiled and nodded before beginning to play.

The melody made Twilight think of wide open fields and roaring rivers. It was a beautiful piece, and Lyra's rendition was flawless. Each note she played brought hope to Twilight's heart. After a few moments, Selene began to sing.

She sang of Commander Hurricane, a pegasus commander back during the Great War a 1000 years ago. She sang of his deeds, his victories, his losses. She sang of his strides to protect everypony across Equestria from the dragons. She sang of his death, and the lasting efforts his struggles had brought everypony even today.

Twilight was enthralled. She had known Commander Hurricane from merely what was whispered in school. He was a great pegasus, that much was certain. But Selene painted a picture so vivid that instead of some war hero that died in a fruitless struggle 1000 years ago, he became a real pony. His struggles were real. For those brief three minutes which Lyra played and Selene sang, she felt the Great War wasn't a lost cause.

She raised her hooves to clop against the ground, but somepony beat her. Pausing for a moment, Twilight noticed that Selene and Lyra's performance had gathered quite a crowd. Pretty much all the business in the town square had stopped to listen to them.

"Encore!" One pony yelled out, and soon the word was repeated. Demanding. Lyra looked at a loss. Twilight was amazed. How did they gather such a crowd in such a short time?!

Selene, however, was not shocked. She looked at Lyra with a small smirk.

"The crowd demands another one," she said, her voice light. "Best not to disappoint them, no?"

"No," Lyra agreed in a squeak, looking around. Twilight couldn't blame her. She probably never had this many ponies come to listen to her music. No, that wasn't right. She never had this many ponies come to stop to listen to her music.

So, Lyra played another song, and Selene sang. The songs ranged from unlikely alliances and friendships to tragedies that left even the toughest pony bawling. Between Lyra's heartfelt music and Selene's attention to detail, the stories became real and the ponies in them, alive.

After two hours did it finally come to an end. As ponies walked away grumbling in disappointment, Lyra had tears welling up in her eyes.

"Miss Selene," she sniffed. "I have never had that many ponies come to listen to any of my songs. Nor have I ever had anypony stay as long as they did. Miss Selene, you must come back tomorrow."

"I-" Selene started, looking unsure of herself. Twilight knew that as a bard she was uncomfortable staying in one place for very long. But in those two hours she had never been pulled into a story quite like that before. It was enthralling. She must hear more stories. She simply must.

"Please Miss Selene," Twilight begged. "I loved your stories so, and so did everypony else. And of course you are welcome to stay at my place for the duration of your stay. Your home is my home." Twilight could see Selene was wavering. So did Lyra.

"Please Miss Selene," Lyra pleaded, giving her the most pathetic look she could possibly manage. She looked like a hurt puppy. Selene sighed in defeat.

"I suppose one more day won't hurt." Twilight and Lyra cheered, giving each other high fives.

"Excellent!" Twilight jumped a bit in shock at the arrival of a new voice. Turning around, she could see the pink pony from Sugarcube Corner staring at all of them, her blue eyes brimming with excitement.

"That means you'll be able to make it to your party tonight Selene!"

"I-uh, what?" Selene was flabbergasted. Twilight couldn't blame her. Dealing with the baker left anypony like that. Despite living in Ponyville for three years now, Twilight was still shocked by whenever the baker showed up unannounced like that. Or was doing any of her antics. Nothing about her made sense.

"A party," the baker said slowly, as if she didn't make herself perfectly clear the first time. "For you. I'm the number one party pony you know. See?"

The baker pointed to her cutie mark, which was three balloons, before continuing on.

"Anyways, I saw you and knew at once you were new in town, so I thought to throw you a welcoming party. It's not every day we get a pony like you come through here."

"Thank you, uhm-" Selene began before the baker cut her off again.

"Pinkie Pie."

"Miss Pinkie Pie, but I don't want to trouble you." At this, the baker, no, Pinkie Pie simply laughed.

"Trouble me? Psh. I do this stuff all the time," Pinkie Pie assured her, at which Twilight and Lyra mumbled in agreement. Pinkie Pie was known for her parties. Then, much to Twilight's surprise, Pinkie Pie got serious and looked Selene dead in the eyes. "Besides, you need to stop taking all the burden on yourself, you know." Straightening back up, the mirth was once again back in her eyes as she skipped, no, hopped away.

"See you at eight! Twilight's place!" She yelled over her shoulder as Selene simply looked after her retreating hopping back, shocked. Twilight laughed nervously as Lyra mumbled something about letting Bon Bon know there was a party going on, so she better not make a heavy dinner before walking away. (Not before thanking Selene once again though for playing with her.)

"She's an odd one, isn't she?" Twilight offered sheepishly. "She always says the oddest things." Although, like always, Twilight burned to understand what she meant by her words. The only ponies who seemed to understand the baker were her best friends (both pegasuses) Rainbow Dash, a weather mare with an ego and Fluttershy, the vet. Even then, most of the time they simply accepted her words with a shrug, or to quote Rainbow Dash, "You're so random."

"She's different," Selene agreed, quickly composing herself. "But not in a bad way." She paused a moment before smiling.

"I can't wait for this party. It's been so long since I celebrated anything."

Although the wry humor note was in there, this time there was more of a melancholy pitch to it. Twilight hummed in agreement as she wondered once again what went through the unicorns head. Whatever it was, she mused, it must be sad.