Transequine Dreams: Mark of Ages

It was just my luck that the Golden Oaks library was close by, so Pinkie Pie escorted me there first. Despite my worries, my thoughts settled on pride in the mark I was displaying for all to see. I had a sneaking suspicion that it was a strange mark among cutie-markdom, but among the renewed if subdued muttering of ponies we passed on the main street, I failed to recall that I was no longer a Solar Wind lookalike. But a certain Lyra obviously noticed two ponies with the same cutie mark walking around with two Element bearers today. I broke from my tunnel-vision walking trance as she approached us, and my mind raced. Is that her? It almost certainly is. Will she turn into a problem? I don't have a back-story! Where's Bonbon? This is reality, not fanon, stupid. How am I going to find out these details, and will I even be motivated enough to try? I knew she couldn't see through me, but everything began to feel farther away. My body felt clumsy, bigger somehow, as I became dreadfully self-conscious.

"Hey, Pinkie."

"Lyra! Just the pony I wanted to see." I see you stealing glances at me...what am I doing? I have a couple secrets, but I want to be part of this world, not hiding from it.

"Um, I am?" Cool, I have secrets! There's still the back-story problem - oh boy.

"Yeah! Lyra, meet Blue Dreams. Blue Dreams, this is Lyra. She only owns the best music shop in all of Ponyville!" Maybe that's where Pinkie gets her wonderful toys.

"Right down on Hen Way, heh heh," she gestured. Punny, but I'm not going to remember that. "But you seem new in town. Visiting?"

"I just got here, but I don't know how long I'll be staying." Just vague enough...?

"Moving in with family?" So pushy. Please stop with the investigative, over-analyzing intensity.

"Um, no. So far I just know Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and you now."

Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "That's funny. Rainbow Dash was walking around with another blue pegasus with a cutie mark just like yours. You might have a relative here after all."

Keep your face straight. Not that that's ever a problem, you emotionless changeling. The irony. "I'll have to ask her. Sounds like Ponyville could turn out to be even better than I expected."

"Me too! Maybe we'll meet him today. But we gotta go. See ya, Lyra." I heard a 'Bye...?' behind me as Pinkie resumed walking, noticeably faster than when I was following her before. Out of the pan and into the fire, I thought as the library door approached. I cast my sight on the pastel branches and leaves, and a couple loudly colorful birds perched among them. Despite the jarring artificiality of the structure, I never expected this tree of all landmarks to be breathtaking. The golden sheen of sunset threw it in almost poetic relief. Yay, random aesthetic pleasure moment.

Which was short-lived.

*knock knock knock*

"Do you think she got a letter too?"

"I have no idea! Oh, I hope Twilight's home. What if she's already in Canterlot? I forgot to tell you, she's a princess. She could be with Princess Celestia right now, and I wouldn't even know because her days are crazy-wazy now."

Look forward, unimposing, good stance, wings tucked? - good, no problem with that. Smile? Nah, those rarely work when they're forced. Will it be Spike, Twilight, or no answer?

My brain refocused on reality with the turn of the handle. I heard muttering as it opened. "- have to say, this is a public - oh, hi, Pinkie Pie."