Chapters Immortality: Lyra's Suspicion
"Good day, Miss Heartstrings," called a passing stallion to Lyra as she elegantly walked through the roads of Canterlot.
"It is indeed!" She returned happily, waving. The stallion looked vaguely surprised at the informal gesture, but continued on his way.
"Lyra! Please wait!" A voice from behind called. Lyra turned to see her friend Jewel walking up.
"Hello, Jewel!" Lyra replied cheerfully, stopping and turning around. Jewel quickened her pace slightly to reach Lyra.
"How is everything today, Lyra?" Jewel asked as the pair began walking again.
"Just fine!" Lyra responded. "The sun is shining, and the temperature isn't too warm." Jewel nodded, her red and blue curls bouncing.
"I would like to have you over for tea this afternoon. Is that alright?" She asked. Lyra nodded.
"What type of tea will it be? Green Tea? Herb Tea?" Lyra asked. Jewel frowned slightly.
"I see no difference; tea is tea, after all." Jewel adjusted her parasol and pulled the cuffs of her dress lower. Lyra tapped her chin for a moment.
"I'm sure they taste different," she suggested. Jewel tossed her head.
"Not so different," she responded. "I just came by to invite you. I expect you to be there." She gave Lyra a hard stare. Lyra suddenly felt a knot forming in her stomach. She stopped walking.
"Jewel, will any... stallions be there?" She asked. Jewel closed her eyes. She took a deep breath and opened them again.
"Lyra Heartstrings, it's high time you were settled down with a gentlecolt," she said. Lyra rolled her eyes.
"Think what you like, Jewel. Who have you invited?"
"Ravenwood," Jewel replied primly. "If I wasn't seeing Mr. Charm, I would love to see him." Lyra stared at her.
"You don't like Charm, then?" She asked. Jewel twisted her parasol.
"Of course I do, Lyra. Let me continue. As your best friend, not to mention being two years older than you, I take it as my responsibility to see you have a fit husband, since your mother has passed on and your father is abroad." Lyra felt her face get red.
"Lyra, did I hurt you?" Jewel asked. "I'm sorry I mentioned your parents. I just thought you- that is, it's been so long since-" Lyra cut her off.
"I don't think I'll be joining you and Ravenwood for tea," she stated. Jewel put out a hoof.
"Please, Lyra-" Lyra was already galloping away, not caring that she looked far from dignified. Lyra tried not to let tears well up in her eyes.
Lyra wasn't quite sure why the subject of her parents bothered her so much. Her mother had been dead a long while, and there was no reason to be ashamed that her father served in the Equestrian Army. Still, she did not like to bring them up in conversation.
Lyra ignited her horn with a golden glow and turned the doorknob. She stepped inside her small house. The air was cooler than outside. It was also dark.
"Didn't I make a note to fix my lamp?" She muttered, climbing the stairs to her loft.
Lyra's loft was the size of a medium-sized room in larger houses. In her house, it was large compared to her tiny kitchen, the parlor, and her father's neglected study.
Lyra flung herself onto her bed. She curled some of the linen sheets around her front hoof. She stared at the map of Equestria on her wall.
"I wonder what it would be like to walk, free of responsibility, through Equestria," Lyra murmured to herself. "Just for a day." Then it hit her: Why couldn't she? Her only responsibility was to be a proper, well behaved young mare that kept her house clean. The house was paid for on her father's wages. She had nothing to stop her from doing whatever she pleased!
Except society , Lyra thought glumly, turning and burying her muzzle in her pillow. What would Jewel say if I were to gallop around, carefree? What would Princess Celestia say?
"But they don't have to know if I stay out of Canterlot," Lyra decided. "If I snuck out- perhaps in a comfortable shirt- than maybe nopony would notice!" She opened up her dresser. Lyra had always owned a pair of trousers and shorts, though nopony knew. She shed her frilly pink dress and pulled on the shirt and pants. An afternoon of exploring the mountains around Canterlot! Wouldn't that be an adventure!
Maybe I'll write a book about it when I'm through , Lyra thought, brushing her minty hair down from an elegant bun to its natural curves. Except I might not have enough information .
Lyra looked out of her window. Nopony was in the street. Excitement ran through Lyra, from her horn to her back hooves. She opened the door and ran into the shadows of the alley.
Immortality: Lyra's Suspicion
Despite having never left Canterlot in secrecy before, Lyra found it very easy to leave the grand city. All she needed to do was stay in the shadows. Once, Lyra was almost discovered. A burly stallion had entered the alley Lyra had been in, and Lyra had needed to crawl under a broken carriage. Thankfully, he had not stayed very long. Lyra was soon on her way again.
"I'm almost there," she murmured, peering at the guards that stood outside the gates.
I'm not doing anything illegal , she told herself. Lyra cautiously took a step out of her hiding place. One of the guards heard.
"Who goes there?" He barked. Lyra stepped fully out. The guards widened their eyes in astonishment.
"That's not civil attire, Miss," the second guard said sharply. Lyra tried not to roll her eyes.
"Are there laws on dress code?" She asked. The guards exchanged glances.
"I suppose not," he admitted. Lyra nodded and trotted up to them.
"I'm leaving Canterlot for the day," she explained. "I'd prefer if you spoke to nopony about this. Some of my friends would not approve."
"Alright, Miss," the first guard agreed, after a moment's hesitation. "Are you sure you are aloud to be without a companion?" Lyra nodded. The guards responded with small nods and let her pass.
"Thank you!" She called. Then, Lyra turned and stared at the several mountains towering around her.
"I bet I could see all of Equestria!" She exclaimed, galloping to the side of one mountain. Spotting a ledge, Lyra attempted to climb up to it.
"Oomph!" She grunted as she struggled to climb onto it. Her back legs kicked furiously. After a minute, Lyra finally made it onto the ledge.
"I have to learn basic teleportation when I'm done!" She told herself. She looked down. Of course, she was only several feet off the ground. Lyra giggled and looked up. She saw several ledges that she would easily be able to access. Farther up, the mountain looked less steep and easier to climb.
"I feel like I could sing!" She exclaimed as she went up. "I will sing!"
"The mountains are aliiiiiiiiiiive, with the sound of Lyyyyyyyyyyyraaaaa !" She sang softly as she ascended to another ledge. By now, she had a fairly better view of the world below her. Lyra was amazed at the plains she saw, and woods and forests in the distance. When she looked for Canterlot, Lyra saw ponies roaming the streets.
I hope they can't see me , she thought. I'd be the center of a scandal! 'Lyra Heartstrings, A Disgrace to Canterlot Society!' 'Mare in Scandalous Attire Climbs Mountains Over Canterlot!' Lyra suddenly felt uneasy.
"Nopony will know," she reminded herself, turning back to the mountain. "Nopony will know."
Lyra was a little farther up the mountain when it occurred to her that she hadn't thought to bring food.
"Uh oh," she muttered. She looked to either side of her. She was right between two mountains. She could easily see the snow that capped the mountains.
"I really should have thought this through," she muttered again. Lyra stood perfectly straight and contemplated going back down. Finally, she forcefully stomped her hoof.
"I won't starve!" She declared. Lyra began to continue climbing up when she heard a rumbling from above. Lyra looked up.
"Avalanche!" She yelled in terror, backing up to the edge. She jumped down to the next ledge. The avalanche was getting closer. Lyra frantically looked around.
"HELP!" She screamed. "HELP!" Lyra jumped down to the next ledge. She wasn't fast enough. As the snow enveloped her, she could just see a flock of Pegasi carrying a carriage towards her.
Lyra could barely feel anything. It was endless white frost that numbed her horn and stung her eyes. She felt as she was falling along with the white. Maybe she had been pushed off her ledge by the force. It was peaceful, in a way. Lyra felt to scared and weak to move. Lyra shivered before she closed her eyes and lost consciousness.
~
The Pegasi guards that flanked Princess Celestia shook their heads.
"There's no possible way anypony could have survived that," one said gravely. "Almost all the snow on that mountain came down on her. Even if we found her, she'd probably be to far gone." Princess Celestia shook her head.
"We cannot allow a pony to be left frozen in the snow. Please, look for her." The guards exchanged glances with one another. The lead bowed his head.
"Of course, Princess," he replied. "We will begin immediately." They flew down to the mass of snow that had settled at the very base of the mountain.
"I wonder if the moon is as cold as the snow," Princess Celestia mused.
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.
Immortality: Lyra's Suspicion
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?
Immortality: Lyra's Suspicion
Jewel had been right about one thing: the Canterlot Library was musty. Lyra coughed as some dust from a mantle settled onto her. She knew it had only been in use for fourteen years, but ponies rarely visited it, deeming reading and studying something for stallions in possession of high-level magic. Lyra assumed she might be the first mare to enter in a while, if ever.
Her theory was proven correct when the stallion at the door looked surprised to see her.
"We don't usually get mare visitors," he informed her.
"Well, it seems I am here now. How is everything sorted?" She asked.
"Alphabetically, by topic" he replied curtly.
"Thanks," Lyra told him with a smile. The stallion gave a small smile back.
Lyra was shocked to see that only a dozen, or less, shelves lined the room. Some weren't even fully filled.
I guess this won't take too long , she thought. She immediately went to the middle shelves, searching for the 'I' topics.
"Nothing on immortality?" She pushed a useless book back into its place. Lyra bit back her tongue to prevent an unladylike word from escaping.
"I might as well read up on magic," she told herself. "Maybe that can teach me something." She ignited her horn and levitated several books over to a chipped wooden table.
The Levitation Spell is perhaps the easiest spell in the history of magic. All unicorns are equipped with it. Depending on talent, some unicorns can levitate many objects at one time...
The Age Spell is very high magic. When cast, the pony upon whom it is cast changes not only in physical appearance, but in mental maturity, which is why it is rarely used. An Appearance Spell can alter one's appearance of age (i.e. appearing as an elderly mare or newborn colt) but one's maturity is not changed...
It is theorized that any unicorn can learn the Teleportation Spell to at least a few yards, though unicorns with higher magic can teleport longer distances. However, this theory is unproven...
Lyra was absorbed in her books. Nopony could rouse her from the trance that the books held over her. She was learning so many things about magic!
"Maybe one day I can master an age spell," she murmured, but in the back of her mind, she didn't really believe that.
When Lyra had finished the last of her books, she reluctantly returned them to the shelf. As she turned, she suddenly had an idea. She rushed over to the 'P' section. There were several books about Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, the Nightmare Pony. Lyra grabbed one titled Everything You Need to Know about Princess Celestia and Other Historical Figures and sat down to read.
Princess Celestia was actually covered in the last chapter, instead of the first, so Lyra skipped to the end.
"'Someponies theorize that Princess Celestia, being an alicorn, is of an immortal state,'" she murmured. "'Others believe she has the lifespan of a normal pony. Still a third group believes she only has a heightened lifespan. The only way one could prove any of these theories in one's lifetime would be an attempt to assassinate the Princess, and since this is illegal and treasonous, it will never happen.'" Lyra scanned the other paragraphs, but none contained the information she was seeking.
Lyra suddenly remembered playing hide-and-go-seek with Jewel as a filly. She shook her head, trying to clear away the random thought.
"Excuse me, miss." The guard from earlier approached her. "The library is closing."
"Oh, alright," Lyra replied, shutting the book. "Good bye." The stallion merely nodded. Lyra trotted out of the building.
The sun was beginning to dip over the mountains. Lyra cringed, recalling her foolish near-death experience. She remembered she had to see Jewel. Lyra picked up her speed to a canter. Jewel lived on the other side of Canterlot, so Lyra needed to hurry.
After a short time, Lyra arrived at Jewel's house. The shutters were closed, and the house seemed void of life. Lyra looked at the two neighboring houses, both with open shutters and lights shining through the windows. Lyra had a feeling something was wrong.
"Jewel!" She ran up into the porch. "Jewel! Are you in there?" No answer.
"Mr. Charm!" Lyra tried the name of Jewel's fiance. "Is anypony in there?" Still, no answer.
Stay calm , Lyra told herself. Jewel could be out for tea! And of course, Mr. Charm isn't always at Jewel's house. But in the back of her mind, Lyra didn't really believe it.
She carefully, quietly opened the door to Jewel's house and stepped inside.
Author's Note
You remember Mr. Charm from Chapter 1, right?
Immortality: Lyra's Suspicion
Nothing happened. Nopony stepped out of the shadows menacingly like they did in the stories Lyra had read when she was younger. Jewel's house was dark, except for a light coming from her kitchen. Lyra quietly tiptoed over to the doorway. Two stallions, one an Earth Pony, the other a Unicorn, stood over a battered Jewel. The unicorn was levitating a bag of jewelry next to him.
"Who was at the door just now?" Hissed the Earth Pony. Lyra tensed. Jewel coughed.
"She was a friend of mine. She should be gone now," she replied. "Let me go now, please." The unicorn laughed.
"We've only raided your kitchen , and we already have enough to buy a house," he replied in a gruff voice. "What makes you think we'd leave now?" Lyra found herself stepping out of her hiding place.
"I do," she said defiantly. The stallions laughed.
"Is this your friend ?" The Earth Pony asked. Jewel twisted to look at Lyra. Her hair was scuffed, she had bruises on her hooves, and Jewel was an altogether pitiful sight. Jewel's expression hardened.
"I don't know what she's doing her. We aren't friends anymore."
The unicorn ignited his horn. "It was a mistake to come here, filly."
"I'm a grown mare!" Lyra shouted furiously. The unicorn shot a beam of fire out of his horn. Lyra gasped, but quickly dodged it. The fire hit a hatstand behind Lyra.
"My hats!" Jewel shrieked. "You evil thug!" She suddenly attacked the unicorn. Lyra grinned for a split second before throwing a blazing hat towards the other stallion. He dodged and picked up a chair.
"You're going to throw a chair at me." Lyra wasn't impressed. He nodded, and hurled it towards Lyra. She dodged and turned to look at the damage it had done to the wall of Jewel's house.
"Look out, Lyra!" Lyra turned to see another blast of fire aimed right for her.
Lyra suddenly had another wild idea that could kill her. She faced the attack head on, and absorbed the flames with her horn. Everyone gasped. The unicorn threw Jewel to the floor. A small amount of blood ran through her red and blue mane. Lyra gasped.
She redirected the fire energy and shot it out of her own horn. It made contact with the Earth stallion.
"Curse Celestia!" He howled in agony. While his partner worked to diminish the flames, Lyra rushed over to Jewel. She performed a small protection spell she had learned earlier. A golden glow surrounded Jewel, as visible proof the spell had worked.
"You'll be safe, for now," she whispered to Jewel. She was suddenly shoved forward.
"Aha!" She cried, scrambling forward. The two stallions faced her, the Earth Pony's scalded face filled with hatred and anger.
"You aren't getting out of here alive," he snarled. Lyra backed away. The unicorn once more ignited his horn. Lyra's hooves were suddenly stuck to the floor.
"Let's see how long you last," he taunted, touching his horn to Jewel's table. Lyra watched in horror as flames flickered to life and began to spread over the wooden surface.
"W-what about the jewelry you were planning to steal?" Lyra asked. The stallions glared at her.
"We have enough already. Good bye!" They ran towards the door.
"The neighbors will put out the fire!" Lyra shouted at them.
"You'll be dead before they realize there is a fire!" One yelled back, then they were gone out the door.
Lyra struggled against the spell that had immobilized her hooves. They stayed stuck. Meanwhile, the fire jumped onto the walls and the floor.
"Jewel!" She cried. She tried to levitate Jewel outside, but it was no use. Lyra hoped the protection spell was strong enough.
Lyra looked around for a sorce of water, but found none.
"Could I try a teleportation spell?" Too risky . The fire spread over the floor. Lyra was relieved to see the flames didn't harm Jewel. That relief turned to fear when the fire reached Lyra. She felt searing heat as the fire reached her hooves.
"Oh Celestia!" She gasped as pain coursed through her body. She instinctively tried to back away from the fire, and found it had burned away the spell!
Lyra limped over to Jewel and tried pulled her away. Lyra was horrified to see the fire had grown very quickly- almost everywhere she looked, there was blazing red, orange, and yellow.
Crack ! Lyra screamed as a piece of the ceiling nearly crushed her.
Why would those thugs try to kill me for mildly burning one of them? They are insane!
Lyra continued to haul Jewel to the door. The tips of her mane and tail were on fire, and Lyra tried to beat the flames out at the same time.
"JEWEL!" Lyra heard a voice from outside.
"SHE'S IN HERE!" Lyra screamed as loud as she could, then suddenly coughed. She must have inhaled some smoke. The pain in her hooves suddenly returned. It was so hot. Lyra struggled forward as the door was opened by prepared ponies. Seeing them, Lyra knew Jewel would be safe. She collapsed on the burning floor.
Am I destined to die young? First the avalanche, now this...
Immortality: Lyra's Suspicion
Lyra was sure she was dead this time. She was in a place she had never ever seen. It was flat land in every direction. The sky was a deep indigo, but it didn't feel like nighttime to Lyra.
"I fail to see how you are still alive." Lyra turned to see Nightmare Pony glaring at her. "Your life force is power, Lyra."
"Does that mean I'm immortal?" Lyra aren't. A shocked expression passed over the mare's face.
"That's impossible. You are a mere unicorn. If an alicorn isn't even immortal-"
"You're evil, right?" Lyra interrupted. "Can you leave, please? I need to process my thoughts alone." Nightmare Pony dissolved into black mist and reformed in front of Lyra.
"Don't be disrespectful," she hissed. "I will leave you; you are of no use to me. I hope I never meet the likes of you again. Unless-" she bared her sharp teeth "-it's to give you terror." She reared up. Lyra took a step back in fright before she remembered it was a dream. Nightmare Pony dissolved one more, for good.
Lyra was left alone in the endless plain of her dream. It would be so cool to be immortal. She could see so many things! Lyra wondered if mares would be aloud to ever wear clothes that were comfortable for mountain climbing.
"I could watch over Jewel's descendents!" She exclaimed. "They'd be safe, if I could protect them!" She suddenly stopped. "But that would mean- Jewel would be gone.
Lyra didn't feel like being immortal anymore. And yet- she had a feeling she was. A feeling. Why would she trust feeling? She had no way of knowing she was or wasn't.
But if I was immortal, she thought, then I would know, because I wouldn't die. And I've been in two deathly experiences in the past two days. And I survived.
Lyra started walking. She felt like walking. She could walk until she woke up. Whenever that was. Could she be immortal and be in an everlasting sleep? It seemed possible.
"Wake up, Lyra," she told herself. "Wake up." The sky suddenly moved down. Lyra backed away. She was suddenly on a small patch of tan in an ocean of blue. She could see the sun in the distance.
"My dreams are so beautiful," she breathed before everything turned to black.
Lyra knew she was awake. She just had no idea where she was.
"Uhh," she groaned as she opened her eyes. Her hooves felt sore, and her chest was heavy. Lyra was staring at a wooden surface.
"Where am I?" She murmured, trying to raise her head. It hurt, but Lyra managed to stand up. She was amidst wreckage of a house- Jewel's house. Lyra's eyes widened.
"Would that mean- they just left me here?" She asked. "They'd leave my body to disintegrate rather than lay me to rest with the proper burial?"
Lyra looked around. She had absolutely no idea what time it was.
"I guess I'd better get home," she told herself, then looked down. She had totally forgotten she had been wearing a dress.
It's a miracle , she thought as she began walking. My dress isn't in tatters. It's only singed around the edges.
It was surprisingly quiet in the area. Lyra wasn't really paying attention to anything. She wasn't thinking. She was just walking on sore hooves.
Lyra happened to glance at an alleyway and jolted out of- whatever she had been in. Those crazy stallions could still be on the loose.
Lyra looked around and performed a small appearance spell. She shrank to the size of a filly and changed her mane color to orange. At least, she tried to change it.
"Did it work?" She asked aloud, turning to stare at her tail. It was a short, tangles mess of orange hair that ended in a burn.
"Oh right," she grumbled as she resumed walking. "My hair was burnt off."
Lyra was almost home when she realized she hadn't seen anypony at all.
"Hello?" She called, looking around. Nopony answered. Lyra was starting to panic. She started running. She hadn't gotten very far when she realized she could attempt teleportation. Her horn glowed gold, and Lyra disappeared.
When she reappeared, she was standing in front of her house. She walked up and pushed the door open.
The first thing Lyra noticed was the hat lying on the floor. It was an army hat that could only mean one thing.
"FATHER!" Lyra yelled. Nopony answered. Lyra ran into her father's study. A letter was sitting on his otherwise cleared desk. Lyra picked it up.
"'Clock Strings: We regret to inform you,'" she read aloud nervously, "'that your daughter, Lyra Heartstrings, passed away-'" Lyra dropped the letter.
"He thinks I'm dead," she whispered, tears welling up in her eyes. He must be attending my funeral right now .
Lyra grabbed a quill and a piece of paper. She scrawled three words onto the paper, signed it, and left it on her father's desk. Then, with a sigh, Lyra trudged up to her loft.
At one point, she considered staying and explaining she was not dead. But that thought passed when she realized her father would see her as a ghost, not to mention Jewel and the neighbors that had rescued Jewel.
Is Jewel even alive? Did they save her? Lyra wondered as she stuffed her neglected diary into her leather saddlebags. Or did the spell wear off, and she died?
At one point, Lyra also wondered if she should go out for revenge on those two stallions.
"No," she muttered as she rolled up her map of Equestria. "No, no no."
SLAM ! Lyra froze at the sound of the front door being shut. She heard the sound of hooves trotting slowly up the stairs. Lyra quickly ducked under her bed.
"Oh, Lyra." Lyra heard the sorrow in her father's voice as he entered her room. "I leave you alone, and you leave me." Lyra watched her father's pale grey hooves walk over to her nightstand. She held her breath.
"I was going to surprise you, Lyra. I was going to come home next week, as a surprise," he said. Lyra felt her eyes welling up with tears. She gasped to let some of the regret escape her.
"Who's there?" Her father asked sharply, turning around. Lyra carefully turned her head to look at her saddlebag. She had enough supplies, along with the spells she had learned from the library. Lyra ignited her horn and disappeared in a burst of light.
She reappeared just outside of Canterlot.
"Filly! Stop!" Yelled a guard. Lyra swung her head around and realized she still looked like a young filly.
"You'll see me again, Canterlot!" She yelled, before transforming back to her true appearance. She broke out into a full speed gallop and raced away.
Immortality: Lyra's Suspicion
Lyra walked through the streets of Canterlot for the first time since she had left. It was hardly the same. Mares no longer wore itchy dresses, but skirts and slippers. It was Lyra's ideal fashion.
"It might have been a mistake, coming here," she murmured to herself. "Too many memories. Good and bad." She did have a plan though. She walked up to the Canterlot Library, which had doubled in size.
"Excuse me," she said to the pony at the door.
"Yes?" The pony asked in a dull tone.
"Hi, would you be interested in a diary from 400 years ago that shows insight on life in Canterlot in those times?" Lyra asked hurriedly. "It belonged to my ancestor, and I know that from what my Momma told me, she'd want to show it to the world." The white unicorn raised an eyebrow.
"Hey, I'm just the door pony until my instruments come in. Don't talk to me about that stuff. But you're lying," she added as Lyra began to walk past her. Lyra froze.
"H-how did you know?" She asked. The mare laughed.
"I didn't. You just told me," she answered. "Care to tell me what's going on? I'm still door pony." Lyra looked into the mare's magenta eyes, then at her saddlebags.
"You wouldn't believe me."
"Try me," the mare replied.
"You'd tell everypony and I'd get arrested."
"Rightfully, then."
"When I've done nothing wrong," Lyra added pointedly.
"Just tell me already," the mare replied. Lyra took a deep breath.
"I'm immortal and I've been travelling around unsettled Equestrian land for the past 446 years so nopony would notice I wasn't aging and I hope to get bits and settle back into civilization for about 10 years," Lyra blurted out. The mare's eyes widened.
"You haven't aged? Like, you could be 46 but you look like you're 23?" She asked. Lyra nodded.
"But I'm much older than that," she added. "And I need the money."
"No, no! You don't understand!" The mare exclaimed. "I haven't aged a bit! Ponies are starting to talk! I think I'm immortal, if that's what immortality is like!"
"What's your name?" Lyra asked.
"Vinyl Scratch," the mare replied. Lyra lowered her head and lit her horn.
"What are you doing? Wait- wow that's ticklish!" Vinyl squirmed as the spell hit her.
"You give off the same magical frequencies as I do," Lyra told her, slightly shocked but recovering quickly. "I think you are immortal." Vinyl stood up.
"What am I supposed to do?" She asked. "You- wait, what's your name?"
"Lyra Heartstrings," Lyra replied with a smile. "I know an appearance spell that can change your hair color and make you look like a filly. But first, do you know the Drops family?"
"You mean Chocolate Drops and Mint Drops?" Vinyl asked. "Sure. They run a confection shop." Lyra nodded.
"Thanks."
Author's Note
And that concludes Immortality 2! Lyra has met her companion for the next 600 years until the events of Pinkie Pie's Search.
