Immortality: Lyra's Suspicion

Lyra opened her eyes to see Princess Celestia, her guards towing a chariot to Canterlot. Lyra frowned. What was that white sheet in the chariot for? Lyra suddenly felt sick. There couldn't be a... It was impossible...

Lyra went to fish around for a hoofkerchief in her dress, but was shocked and slightly embarrassed to realize she had no dress or any attire on.

Lyra suddenly realized that it was a dream.

"Phew," she said in relief, wiping her hoof across her forehead. "Nopony can see me, then." Her eyes suddenly widened.

"I was in an avalanche! The pony in the carriage..." Lyra whipped around to see the mountains of Canterlot. Tears sprang to her eyes.

"I can't die!" She sobbed. "I haven't talked to Jewel! I haven't talked to my father!"

"And yet this dream is a vision of the present," a cold voice drawled. Lyra was suddenly enveloped in darkness. She could see twinkling lights far in the distance. A tall black mare suddenly entered Lyra's view. Lyra swallowed her tears.

"Aren't you that Nightmare Pony? Banished to the moon?" The mare chuckled.

"Oh, Young Heartstrings. I may be banished to the moon, but I still retain most of my power. Including the power to present reality to ponies in dreams. The guards down there have pronounced your case hopeless. I expect you will be drawn to the Big Sugarcube in the sky very soon." She smiled cruelly, revealing sharp teeth. Lyra backed away. "Personally, I like rebels like you."

"I'm not a rebel," Lyra argued. Nightmare Pony looked ready to respond, but her expression changed suddenly to confusion.

Nightmare Pony called out something. Lyra was confused.

"I can't hear you," she responded. Nightmare Pony was becoming blurry. Lyra frowned.

"Am I leaving the dream? Wait!"

~

Lyra tried to open her eyes, but they seemed to be shut with some of that pasty stuff that sometimes came out of Jewel's kitchen instead of cake.

"Elp!" She croaked instead. She heard moving in the room.

"Lyra?" A soft voice asked. "Are you alright?"

"I was in an avalanche, wasn't I? I blacked out. And... and you rescued me? Princess Celestia?" She was now able to open her eyes. The princess was indeed standing in the room.

"I issued an order to the guards that your body was to be found. When one subject is in danger, I do not usually stay in the room, but..." She trailed off. A doctor next to Lyra's bed cleared his throat.

"To be frank, Miss, we didn't think you would make it," he explained. Lyra did her best to sit up. The doctor rushed to her side to help.

"How did I?" She asked. The doctor shook his head.

"Her majesty herself is baffled," he replied.

"You were buried under feet of snow for over an hour as the guards searched," Princess Celestia explained gently. "There was so much snow that had fallen. You were unconscious when a guard finally found you, and he claimed he could not feel a heart beat." Princess Celestia cast a glance at the clothes on a nearby stand. Color rose to Lyra's cheeks.

"Excuse my attire, your majesty. I did not think a dress would be appropriate for a mountain climb. I felt the need to leave Canterlot and explore for a day. I apologize," Lyra said humbly. Princess Celestia looked at her.

"That was a dangerous thing to do. I realize the mountains should be considered off limits, so as to prevent the occurrence of events like these. However, I see no need to punish you." Princess Celestia stood up. "I hope you will have no more events like these."

"I won't, your majesty," Lyra promised. Princess Celestia nodded.

"Good day." She left the room.

"This is not possible," the doctor muttered as he checked Lyra. "You seem to be at full health, despite being near death! With more advanced magic and equipment, perhaps the recovery could be possible. But with the little I have to work with, you have bounced back on your own!" He paced, levitating a scroll and jotting down notes as he went. Lyra watched him.

"May I leave, then?" She asked. He stopped and looked at her.

"I suppose so," he answered. "There is a spare dress next to your... previous wear. I will leave you to change." He left the small room, closing the door behind him.

Lyra took off the thin gown that had been covering her and donned the pastel pink dress. She also did her mane up in a tight braid.

What if I was immortal? Lyra thought. Or I could make myself immortal, like the princess! I could go through all the avalanches I'd like, and still not die! I could wait for millions of years until mares are aloud to wear shirts! Lyra suddenly decided something.

I could research immortality! She smiled as she gazed into the mirror. It was a good plan. Surely somepony had written about it.

Lyra opened the door and stepped out to join the doctor, who let her go without a word.

The streets of Canterlot were crowded, and Lyra was jostled.

"Sorry, Miss!" A stallion called to her.

"Quite alright!" She responded. It suddenly dawned on her: she was alive when all odds told her she should be dead!

"Happy day to you!" She called out to nopony in particular. Maybe the day had started with a need to sneak away, but Lyra was now happy to live in Canterlot with a new goal. She was going to learn about immortality.