Hello, my name is Lyra. Lyra Heartstrings. You may have seen me in the background, behind the six troublesome ponies, usually sitting with my partner Bon-Bon, or doing other things, like sitting abnormally. I don't sit like that on purpose. I wish I could stop. Bon-Bon gets a little embarassed when I sit like that. I feel embarassed sitting like that. I don't even think like other ponies. I think about becoming one of you, a "hu-man" I think is what you're called. But I can't. I wouldn't be like this if it weren't for my childhood. I get it, "Oh blah blah you had a rough childhood". Wouldn't be the first time hearing that, but please. Just listen to my story.
I was born into a middle-class family in Baltimare, decent house, had sustainance, and whatnot. My older sister, Harper, was so happy to see me that day. I know because of pictures around the house. My mother was a photographer. She had a small studio downtown, making enough money for food and clothes, but my father, he made the most money. He was a concert pianist, traveling around the city with his group, a simple name, The Quartet. Him and his "buddies", for a lack of a better term, were amazing. I had the opportunity to see them before he went nuts. But enough about that, back to my mother.
Her name was Films. A basic name for a photographer, kinda generic. She was a sweet lady, with a mane that could calm even the most fiercest of lions. It was a light blue, lighter than mine, with a hint of mint. Her voice was almost sing-song, brightening up any dreary morning, and exciting every weekend. The way she trotted around the house was almost inspiring, bringing life to the menial housemare tasks. Sometimes she would bring me to her studio, and I would act as "her little model" as she called me. Growing up with her was a blast. It's a shame she met the same fate as my father...
Ah yes, my father. His name was Keyes. Another simple name, also quite generic. Now that I think about it, the my family has some pretty generic names. I'm sorry, I'm getting off topic. Anyways, like I said, he was a concert pianist for The Quartet. You might have heard of them, but most likely not. They were a local group consisting of him, a violinist, percussionist, and a flutist. They were really good, like REALLY good. I'm pretty sure they were offered to play at the Grand Galloping Gala, but turned it down, as my sister was being birthed.
Speaking of which, let me tell you about my sister Harper. She was almost as sweet as my mother, if not more. If you were sick, she would care for you, if you were hurt, she was the first one to get first aid. She never left you when you wanted to play together, and she would always be polite to any adult. Harper excelled in school. She did so great one year, she was able to skip a grade. She was quite intelligent, and quite the harpist. She picked up the harp around the time I was born. Apparently one day after school, she was stopped by the teacher, Ms. Daisy, and was told that she should try out a musical instrument. Harper tried everything from the tuba, to the clarinet, and even got piano lessons from my father. She hated these instruments. It wasn't until a few weeks later until she heard somepony playing the harp outside a local restaurant, and fell in love with it.
Well, now that you know about my family, let me tell you about myself. As you already know, I am Lyra Heartstrings. My special talent is, of course, playing the lyre. According to many, I am very talented, although I think it's an overstatement, but whatever. School life for me was boring, getting food grades here and there, and the occasional bad grade. My mother yearned for me to do well in school, but I couldn't focus. At a young age, my sister Harper asked a local instrument dealer to craft a small harp for me to play. She had no idea that it was called a lyre, which made me giggle as I heard this story for the first time. It was supposed to be made by Hearth's Warming Eve, but it was delayed for lack of supplies, so Harper tore apart an old harp she didn't have and they used that to make my first lyre. When I opened it up that crisp morning, my eyes shone like Celestia's Sun. Ever since then, the harp has been my passion. So I guess that the harp was the distraction from school work. Whatever.
Now, I know you're thinking, "What happened that was so bad?" Yes, it seems that I lived a good life, but that was only for the first ten years of my life. The day of my birthday, something happened that turned my life upside down. My mother became very depressed and her joyous, life-bringing, attitude was replaced with sorrow. My father became very angry and started abusing alcohol. After a few months of drinking, he started taking his anger out of my mother, and soon after that, me. He started shouting profanities, and would punch my mother in her jaw, breaking it a few times. After she was passed out, he would start hitting me. One night, he even smashed a bottle on my arm and pushed the glass in my front right leg. No matter how much I cried and pleaded, he wouldn't stop. And this was all because my sister, the joy of everyponies life, died, the night of my birthday.
I woke up that day, jumping out of bed. The sun shone through the shutters of the window, then quickly filling the room as I opened it. It radiated a warmth that was the perfect amount of heat. I ran downstairs into the kitchen to see a table filled with presents and a birthday cake, and my family yelling simultaneously, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" giving me a startle. They each came over and hugged me one by one as Harper brought a present to me with the largest grin I've ever seen on a pony.
"Open it Lyra! This one's from me!" There it was. The sing-song tone like my mother.
"Thank you Harper!" I shook the box, and heard that something rattled inside. It was heavy, so I was excited to see the extravagant gift she got me. I pulled open the container, revealing a beautiful gold lyre. The sun was now shining though the kitchen, the light bouncing off the plated instrument. I felt tears welling up in my eyes, 'H-Harper. This is amazing! Where did you even find this?"
She gave a snicker and said, "I made it with the help of Mr. Plucks." I gave her a confused look. She obviously saw that I didn't know who she was talking about. "Mr. Plucks is the new music store owner. He's very kind. Here, open mothers next!"
She handed me a pink box with a purple ribbon. I quickly opened this up, and pulling out a book. I flipped through the pages, and it had pictures, pictures of the family starting with my birth to just the other day.
"I got you a scrapbook sweetie. That way, whenever you catch something important in your life, or just something you want to save, you can put it here. To remember all of the good times." I once again felt the tears coming, and I gave her a giant hug. "Here is your fathers gift dear."
As I received the gift I looked over at him, and I saw a smirk, almost evil-like on his face. I opened this box cautiously, awaiting a gag-gift of some sorts. I looked inside, and there was another book, but a lot different. This book had music notes on the front, and two words, The Quartet. I stared at the book, mouth agape, then up to him.
He gave a hearty laugh and said, "That right there, is a music book containing the songs I play in The Quartet. I would like if you and Harper to guest star in our next performance next Sunday." Now both me and my sister were in awe. "Close your mouths girls, you might eat a fly." We chuckled and hugged him at the same time.
"Thank you so much you guys. I'll be sure to play my new lyre next week at the performance." As I finished the sentence, I winked at Harper.
My mother stood up and said, "Well, I think it's time for birthday cake! Keyes, will you do the honors of singing happy birthday to the special little mare?" My father still had a smile on his face and nodded. We all walked over to his piano and they sung happy birthday. After cake, we had to get ready for school and get some actual breakfast.
The day progressed with just about every pony in class telling me happy birthday. All but one sang, the little white filly across the room. She looked happy, but lonely. I asked Ms. Daisy after class, and I learned that she was the new kid to Baltimare, and her name was Bon-Bon. I made it my mission to be friends with her, no matter what it took. I tried looking for her after school, but I couldn't find her, so I headed home.
On the walk home I couldn't stop thinking about two things; One, playing my brand new lyre, and two, the new kid. I pushed the new kid thoughts aside as I entered the house. I saw my mother sitting in the living room, and my father pacing around the room.
I walked up to them and asked, "Father, are you okay?"
He replied with a stern voice, "No, I am not fine." then continued to pace around. I thought that maybe my mother knew what was going on, so I asked her.
Her response startled me, "Harper did not come home from school today. She's been missing ever since, but don't worry, I'm sure she'll be fine. I slowly nodded and went up to my room to play my new lyre.
I played that lyre for a few hours, completely forgetting about the Harper thing until I heard a knock at the door. I crept downstairs and overheard somepony talking to my parents. His voice was grim and had a monotonous tone to it.
I heard something that shook my family, and shook my life. It was something I, let alone my family, never wanted to hear. After a few minutes of talking, the strange pony said, "I'm sorry to tell you this, but your daughter has been found dead on the outskirts of Baltimare. All of her belongings were taken, she was the only thing we found at the scene." I heard him flutter away, and my father slam the door shut. My mother was crying her eyes out, and my father noticed me crying on the stairs. He lowered his head and walked into his room, also slamming that door.
I slowly made my way up to my room and I jumped into bed, trying to sleep, trying to forget the news that the pegasus at our door had brought. It took a few hours for me to finally come to the conclusion that she was gone. The only sister I ever had, was gone, never to come back. I looked at the nightstand by my bed and saw my scrapbook. I opened it and looked at the pictures of my sister on my first birthday, the day I got my first lyre, and just this morning. Tears fell from my face like a waterfall and landed on the scrapbook. I couldn't look at it anymore, and for the first time in my life, nothing was perfect.
A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter, more will be coming very soon! Any criticism will be taken!
