Project Heartstrings

You gaze at the metal sphere. It had to be a rough 25 foot diameter. 30 at most. It glistens in the lights above. Two cylinders on the ceiling and floor hold it in place. There's a walkway leading out to it. This had to be the portal. The employee's notes, the start up logs, they were all here. There was almost no reason for it not to be.

You snap your head to Lyra. She is laying upon the floor, resting. You lie your hand on her belly. She was shaking slightly. Even when you had began rubbing her. She knew where she was.

You turn back to the computer, and look over the applications upon it. "Command Prompt", "Test", and "Startup Sequence". Startup Sequence seemed to be the correct one to launch. You double click the application. A black box appears.

...:::RELICS 5.40:::...

_TYPE "HELP" FOR LIST OF COMMANDS

.>

You type in "help", not knowing any commands available but the one. There were lots of commands, but three commands stuck out: begin sequence [01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06], system analysis, and override. You were not sure if override would come in handy, but you never know. To make sure everything was in order beforehand, you run system analysis.

.>system analysis

_PREPARING FULL SYSTEM ANALYSIS...

_GENERATOR 01...........OKAY

_GENERATOR 02................OKAY

_GENERATOR 03.......OKAY

_GENERATOR 04......OKAY

_GENERATOR 05......OKAY

_GENERATOR 06.........OKAY

_GENERATOR 07.....OKAY

_GENERATOR 08...........................OKAY

_GENERATOR 09...........OKAY

_SYSTEM ANALYSIS COMPLETE. NO ERRORS FOUND.

_ENTER A COMMAND

.>

Alright that's very good.

Let's start this thing up.

.>begin sequence 01

_RUNNING BACKGROUND PREPARATIONS FOR GENERATOR STARTUP...

You hear a small whirring come from the area of the portal. It stops some 30 seconds after. You may actually know what you're doing... You hope...

_BACKGROUND PREPARATIONS COMPLETE.

_ENTER A COMMAND

.>begin sequence 02

_RUNNING GENERATORS 01, 02, 03...

You hear a loud "CHUNK" from the sphere. A loud whirring comes from it. You thought you saw Lyra twitch to your side there for a second. You turn back to face the portal. It's just now you see 9 large metal devices surround the sphere in the ground.

_GENERATORS 01, 02, 03 FUNCTIONING FULLY. NO ERRORS WERE DETECTED DURING SEQUENCE 02 INITIATION.

_ENTER A COMMAND

.>begin sequence 03

_RUNNING GENERATORS 04, 05, 06...

CHUNK

You hear slight shaking beside you. Lyra's head is making a metal 'clinking' onto the ground. You place your hand on her side, but doesn't seem to help.

"Please hang in there... Just a few more minutes...", you whisper quietly to her.

More whirring noises coming from the portal. Looking back at the computer prompt:

_GENERATORS 04, 05, 06 FUNCTIONING FULLY. NO ERRORS WERE DETECTED DURING SEQUENCE 02 INITIATION.

_ENTER A COMMAND

.>begin sequence 04

_RUNNING GENERATORS 07, 08, 09...

CHUNK

Lyra is shaking uncontrollably. You feel tears well up in your eyes.

"N-no... Just a bit longer... Please..."

You pull her in close to you.

"Just a little bit longer..."

_GENERATORS 07, 08, 09 FUNCTIONING FULLY. NO ERRORS WERE DETECTED DURING SEQUENCE 02 INITIATION.

_ENTER A COMMAND

.>begin sequence 05.

_ENTERING ORBITAL STAGE...

You feel the sphere begin to spin. It makes a low humming noise. Lyra's shaking begins to slow down a bit, but doesn't stop. Your tears are waterfalling down your face now.

"Please Lyra... P-please... For m-me..."

The sphere is speeding up, It could be spinning in any direction. The humming noise has increased greatly now.

_ORBITAL STAGE COMPLETE.

_ENTER A COMMAND

.>begin sequence 06

_OPENING GATEWAY...

All other lights shut off in the room, and emergency lights flicker on due to electricity usage. You look at the ceiling. It's beginning to turn a bright red. The room is lightened by the sphere. You look down at Lyra. Her shaking decreases, but you don't think that's a good sign. Falling to the ground with her, your voice trembles.

"D-don't go... P-please... You're a... almost h-ome..."

The tears roll down your cheeks onto her stomach. You hold her in close. The humming is practically shaking the entire room now. Wires are swinging rapidly.

Suddenly, a burst is heard from the room.

Silence.

"... Please... come home..."

You hear quiet sobbing.

That phrase...

"Please... please come home..."

You lift your head up, kneel up, and look over your computer. Through the portal. You view the same sand colored pony. It's the exact same cartoonist universe you saw in Lyra's memories. It's the same park where it appeared. The only thing that splits between you and her are a row of ponies in armor.

It's time for Lyra to go home. You look down, and see her shaking has ceased. Reaching down, you hope to hear her heartbeat.

Tump

She's still alive. Just barely, but she can make it.

You scoop her up in your arms, and walk over to the left slowly. You descend the stairs, and walk over to the walkway, leading into the portal. You set her down carefully. Once she's upon the ground, you work out a quiet word.

"H-hello?"

She didn't seem to hear. You say it louder.

"Hello?"

Her ears perk up, and she lifts her head. She's looking at you, with sad eyes and a trembling mouth.

A guard turns around curiously, eyes becoming wide when he sees you, mouth agape. He draws his spear at you, in defense. The others join him, all wide eyed, but defensive.

You kneel down, and touch Lyra. They take notice of her.

One guard ceases defense. Another. Eventually, they've all dropped their spears, staring at the creature before them. You scoop her up, and begin walking toward the portal. Lyra lifts one forehoove, and taps you on the sidearm. You understand her, and set her down on all fours. She's a bit shaky, but manages to catch her balance. She turns different directions, as if looking for something. Then, turns toward the portal, and stops. She can feel the energy the portal gives off. You watch as she trembles slowly up to it. Just a foot away from contact, she turns around, toward you. You're unsure of what she's going to-

"... I..."

Her radio turns on, searching for channels.

"... Love..."

You attempt to hold tears back.

"... You..."

You break into a small cry. But try to keep your eyes on her, to make sure she's safe stepping through. The sand coated pony stands up, trying to hold her cry back as well, and the guards hold saddened looks on their faces. As soon as she comes in contact with the portal, part of the sphere morphs, and engulfs her. A bright light is emitted as she steps through completely. You look back up, after protecting your eyes. She's back to her cartoon self again, yet, her head and stomach remain ever the same. The sand coated pony walks slowly over to her.

"L-Lyra...?"

She puts a hoof on Lyra's back. Lyra shakily returns the favor, and they come in close for a seemingly endless hug.

A good minute passes, and suddenly a much larger horse comes into view, around your height. She looks over to Lyra and her friend, and back to you.

She speaks, "Your species is a much more violent type."

"That's a very true stateme-"

You're cut off, "But even the most evil of any race, species, or animal, can redeem itself, in any shape, or form. I thank you for returning one of my... our... little ponies."

The sand coated pony speaks up, "Th-thank you... Thank you so much for returning Lyra!"

You look over at Lyra.

"Will... Will you be able to... help her?", you ask.

"Our highest-of-the-class doctors will take a look and see what they are able to do. It's a chance that she will be able to see again."

"But... can't you just use your magic?", you ask hopefully.

"We could use magic, but alas..." She looks back over to Lyra. "Not even our mental abilities would stand a chance over such a delicate immune system."

You sniffle a bit.

"I understand... Please take good care of her..."

"We will put our very best efforts into giving her the highest-priority treatment." She looks to her side, and gestures her guards. They take Lyra onto their backs, and carry her off. The sand coated pony gallops after them.

"We pray this is the final time we come in contact with your universe. It's a mortifying world."

"I'll try to help on working to get it better. At least one would help... right?"

She smiles. "You have a lot to expect. But I wish you the best of luck. If you would be so kind as to cease the portal's process, along with the disabling of it?"

"Will be done."

"And again--thank you so much." She takes her leave, following the paths her guards took Lyra off to.

You turn around, and are about to make a retreat up the stairs, when a group of armed men enter the room.

"FREEZE! WE'VE GOT YOU SURROUNDED!"

Oh shit...

You aren't able to disable the portal now.

Unless...

You reach into your back pocket slowly, pull out a grenade... And pull the ring out.

You quickly toss it in the portal's lower supporting cylinder, and run, hopefully for an escape. The men begin to open fire at you, not noticing what you just threw. Your upper arm shoots a piercing pain through your body, but manage to make it behind a counter.

You begin to count to three.

One

This is likely your death. Capital punishment will be given either way; if you live or die.

Two

You think of Lyra, and pray to whatever god that exists up there that she makes it out alive.

Three

"I love you too, Lyra."