Lyra was rummaging through the study when she heard a knock on the door.

"Hello?" She asked politely, swinging the door open. Jewel was standing right there.

"Oh, Lyra! I'm so sorry about yesterday! I didn't realize I would hurt your feelings!" Jewel cried, giving Lyra a delicate hug. Lyra smiled.

"It's all forgiven, Jewel," she replied, returning the hug. Jewel nodded. After a moment, Jewel pulled out of the hug.

"Where were you yesterday? I came by twice, but you weren't home."

"Oh, sorry, I was... visiting with Princess Celestia," Lyra replied, trying to keep a nervous expression off her face. It wasn't entirely untrue. Jewel gasped.

"The princess rarely has visitors! How'd you get an audience?" She asked. Lyra opened her mouth.

"Uh, I needed to talk to her... I had, uh, an interest in, uh... mountains," she replied weakly. "And avalanches as well. She gave me information on the subjects." Jewel narrowed her bright blue eyes.

"Well, you are a lucky mare, Lyra," she said. "Although you missed an excellent tea with Ravenwood." Lyra looked down.

"I'm sure I did, Jewel."

"So, what are your plans for today?" Jewel asked. "Not busy, are you?"

"I was actually going to visit the library," Lyra replied. Jewel wrinkled her nose.

"That's hardly a ladylike place to be! A musty old place full of books? What do you hope to achieve, Lyra darling?"

"I wanted to research something... immortality," Lyra replied hesitantly. Jewel tossed her head and laughed.

"I'm sure Princess Celestia could enlighten you!" She exclaimed. "Come, Lyra, your time would be better spent entertaining suitors!" Lyra took a step back.

"Well, I might not be there long," she replied. Jewel didn't look like she believed Lyra.

"Lyra, leave the library to the royals and high-magic stallions. And besides that, what makes you think they'll even have a book on immortality? There's hardly any books!"

"Stop, Jewel," Lyra snapped. "I want to learn. I don't want to be pestered into having tea with a stallion who may be nice, but I am not interested in at the current time. Even if there is not a single book on the matter, I still have to try." When she finished, Jewel was shocked. After a moment, her face clouded.

"Well, Lyra, I am sorry you think I am a pest," she retorted. "In fact, it seems our views are so different, maybe we shouldn't be friends!" Lyra glared at her.

"I think you might be right," she responded in a tight voice. The tan unicorn turned her back on Lyra and began walking away.

"I never thought it would come to this. Good bye, Lyra Heartstrings!"

"Don't you ever come back, Jewel Drops!" Lyra yelled at the retreating figure. Almost immediately, she regretted it.

Wait! I'm sorry! She wanted to call out, but her mouth remained closed.

Lyra stood outside her house until Jewel was out of her sight.

"What have I done?" She murmured. "Researching immortality or keeping Jewel as my friend, and I choose research?" She slowly walked back inside. Her excitement at learning about immortality was gone, replaced with regret.

Does Jewel regret our fight too? She wondered. Is she thinking about me? Or does she really hate me?

Lyra returned to the study. She had been examining a bookcase before Jewel had arrived. Lyra tried not to think about Jewel as she looked at the titles on the books.

"'History of Equestrian Military'? Pretty lengthy covering a span of fifty years. 'The Civilian's Guide to Beasts, Pests, and Pony-Eating Dangers'? Not for me." Lyra looked around the room. She hadn't really hoped to find anything useful.

Lyra wondered if Jewel might've helped her in her search. Probably not.

Before leaving for the library, Lyra pulled out a quill and ink.

Dear Father, she wrote on a piece of parchment.

How are you? I hope you are doing well. Jewel and I had a fight today. Yesterday I was hospitalized because I had a very low temperature, but I am completely recovered now and you needn't worry. I am sorry for not writing for a while, but I hope this makes up for that.

Your daughter,

Lyra

Lyra rolled the parchment up. Maybe she would send it on her way to the library.

"Alright," she decided. "The Scroll Delivery System, and then the library." She opened up her door and stepped outside.

"Later I'll talk to Jewel," she added. Feeling confident, Lyra left for the Scroll Delivery System.

Author's Note

Blue eyes? Tan coat? Jewel Drops? Does Jewel sound a little bit like a modern day pony we know and love?