Chapters Before Ponies, There Was Man
"I'm telling you, they're real!" The mint unicorn slams her hoof onto the wooden desk of the library, glaring daggers at the librarian across from her. Even if the castle, and everything in it, was made almost entirely of crystal, the princess had apparently had a soft spot for the layout of her tree library. As such, the public library was the only room in the entire castle that was made entirely out of a non-crystal structure.
"Lyra, I'm not debating this!" Lyra rubs the bridge of her nose with her hoof and groans. "Look, the point isn't whether or not they're real, the point is we have no books on them." Lyra sighs in defeat and concedes to the lavender alicorn across the desk. While many ponies from different cities would be too timid to even speak to her — being a princess as she is — most ponies in Ponyville have learned she is still their equal, and as such they should interact with her normally. That included arguments.
"Fine!" Lyra huffs in exasperation. "Do you know any... mythology books that might talk about them?" She absolutely hated implying the existence, or previous existence of her beloved humans might even POTENTIALLY be myth — and visibly cringed upon speaking the word — but she had long ago learned to face facts that if anything was written about them, it would be in the mythology section.
"Hmm..." Twilight hums to herself as she puts on her thinking face. "I don't think so. There isn't enough info on them to really put them in libraries... although you MAY be able to find a book on them in the Canterlot archives, but they would be far hidden and–" At the word "archives" Lyra had rushed out of the room and towards her house.
Lyra gallops down the empty row as she spots her small house. She quickly charges through the door, startling her earth pony roommate, Bon Bon.
"Oh, hello Lyra! What's got you in such a–"
"We're leaving." Bon Bon paused, in shock of the sudden proclamation, before shaking her head and coming to her senses.
"What? Lyra, what do you–?"
"Or at least, I am." The unicorn interrupted the beige earth pony, slightly irritating Bon Bon. She started shoving things into saddlebags as she spoke, not even paying attention to the irritated pony. "But I'd like if you came along."
"Wha–?" Bon Bon cocked her head in confusion, her blue mane with a rose streak plopping off the side of her head.
"But we might be there for awhile..."
"Lyra–" Bon Bon taps her hoof in impatience and frustration, watching the mare rapidly shove things into bags.
"If you're coming, you might want to–"
"LYRA!!" Bon Bon yelled, stopping Lyra mid-sentance. "Before I make a decision, where are we going?" Bon Bon said through gritted teeth. She wasn't an aft angry pony, per se, but Lyra often drove her up the wall with her stupid antics over–
"The Canterlot archives. I'm going to prove humans are, or were, real." Bon Bon groaned. Lyra and her fantasies of humans. There was no evidence backing them up, but she INSISTED. Bon Bon would've thought she'd learn to deal with it by now, but nope. It doesn't grow on you.
Still as irritating as ever.
"Why..."
"Are you coming?" Bon Bon sighed and thought for a moment.
"Sure... if only to keep you out of trouble"
"I'm telling you Janet, the end times are coming!" The girl with the black hair exclaims, slamming her hands down on the wooden desk of the library her friend worked at.
"Theresa, stop freaking out about this." Theresa rubs the bridge of her nose between her fingers. "Look, the point is I don't know that we have any books on... ancient apocalyptic prophecies. Why do you believe in that stuff anyway?" Janet asks, huffing as she leaned her head on her hand at the library desk.
"I keep seeing it in my dreams." Theresa says with certainty, before realizing how stupid of a reason that is, or at least SOUNDS to other people. She nervously glanced around the empty library, made nervous by the talk of impending armageddon.
"Your dreams will come true the day pigs fly. Which, if MY dreams are as prophetic as yours apparently are, should be someday soon." Janet stared Theresa in her hazel eyes with a sarcastic glare and lazily flipped her brown hair back over her shoulder. Theresa mirrored with her own black hair and they stared each other down. Eventually Janet groaned, "What else do you want? I gave you your answer!" Janet slowly standing up from her chair with a creak and twists left and right, popping her back.
"Look–" Theresa begins with a sigh, pacifying herself. "If my dreams are to be believed, in about a week something terrible will happen in New York. I need to be there to help, as I am the only one with the foresight to help. I don't know what will happen, but I know it's bad. I need you to come with me for backup." Janet thinks for a few moments.
"Only if you promise that after a week, if nothing happens, you will give up on all this bullshit and calm down." Theresa glares at her for a bit.
"Deal." She says through clenched teeth. After calming down, she turns to leave the library where her friend works, but stops at the door and turns back to her.
"So... you coming?" Janet sighs and thinks for a moment, tapping her finger on the wooden surface with a thoughtful expression.
"Sure... if only to keep you out of trouble."
Author's Note
Hello everypony! So, a few things.
A fair warning, most of this story actually focuses on the human telling of events. While most chapters will contain pony, at least half of each chapter will be the human saga, and some chapters MAY be entirely human.
This is my first story on FimFiction. I am not new to fan fiction, but I am still relatively young in it, and it shows. When I get more skill I may come back and rewrite this story one day (or, edit it that is)
I have not planned this story ahead of time. I have the BASIC events, but my writing style is WING IT!! As such, some writing may be sloppy or not make sense. I will try to avoid this as much as possible.
Anyway, thanks for reading this chapter! Leave a like — Or a dislike if that's the case, honest criticism here — and leave constructive criticism. Hearing what I did wrong is great, but I don't want messages like "YOU SUX!!" Course, I can't help that.
Anyway, I have rambled for long enough. Stay beautiful every pony!!!
Before Ponies, There Was Man
Lyra had packed her things in a hurry. She didn't have much to bring, so she was done rather quickly. Bon-Bon, on the other hand, took her sweet time. Sweet being quite literal, as she packed many candies. This made sense — she was a candy maker after all — but that didn't lessen Lyra's anger. Lyra trotted in place impatiently as Bon-Bon grabbed her last few things and packed them in a small truck and met Lyra outside.
"Geez, we're visiting some archives, not moving," Lyra angrily states as she turns around and begins to head off to the train station, Bon-Bon in tow.
"Lyra, I know you. When it comes to researching 'humans,' one minute will become one hour, one hour will become one day, and so on until you either waste away, or somepony intervenes. If need be, I shall be that somepony," Bon-Bon says with a tone of finality. She then eyes Lyra's small sattlebag. "That's all you're bringing? To Canterlot?" Lyra nods.
"I needed some toiletries, obviously, and a few of the books I DID find containing humans to cross reference." Lyra tsks. "You can't cross reference ancient creatures with some hard candies."
"No..." Bon-Bon replies. "But maybe I can use them to cross reference mythological creatures." She responds sarcastically. She knows she's pushing it. She KNOWS how annoyed Lyra gets when any pony, even her, implies humans are mythological beasts of fantasy — as they so obviously are — but she just HAD to push that button. Lyra set it up for her, and Bon Bon was annoyed she had to go through with this. Hey, at least Canterlot looks nice this time of year.
Lyra huffs and they trot in relative silence to the train station, as the only sound that reaches their ears are the clop clop of their hooves striking the ground, and Lyra or Bon-Bon's occasional huff at the other. They had fights every so often, most of them being on this same topic, but they both knew at the end of the day they'll have gotten over it. Still, that did little to abate their anger with each other in the moment.
Upon reaching the station and checking the arrival times, they notice that a train won't be arriving for another thirty minutes. They both sit on a bench, and Lyra immediately adopts her infamous sitting position: she sits with her spine to the back of the bench, her hindlegs hanging off the bench and her forelegs at rest by her side. Bon-Bon always wondered how that could possibly be comfortable to anypony. This position always annoyed Bon-Bon. It was very weird, "Like a human," Lyra would say.
"Humans," Bon-Bon scoffed under her breath. She silently wondered if, in a universe where humans existed, they had myths about earth ponies, or pegasi, or unicorns, or alicorns. Heck, maybe they had myths about minotaurs and phoenixes. But wouldn't that just be impossible.she's just lucky she looks cute like that, however impossible that may be.
Theresa packed her bags quickly. She quickly shoved a few books into her bag, as well as some cryptograms and the like. She silently picks up lucky necklace — though she prefers to call it a pendant as it sounds archaic and ominous — and lightly places it around her neck. Her fingers quickly dance over the straps of the bag as it shuts tight. She flips the large strap over her shoulder and runs out of the house.
She arrives at Janet's house at exactly when they planned to meet, but as expected Janet wasn't out. Theresa drummed her foot impatiently on the concrete of the sidewalk as she waited for Janet to finish packing. After a whopping ten minutes, Janet finally comes out toting a large purple duffel bag. Theresa crosses her arms over her chest and taps her foot as Janet walks over to her. When they meet, Theresa blows some hair out of her face and turns to walk to the airport, Janet in tow.
"The apocalypse is coming. No need to pack anything really." Theresa scoffs.
"Really now? I notice your bag has things in it." Janet retorts snappily, eying the large black satchel hanging at her side. The satchel was packed lightly, lightly enough where it was impossible to see what was inside, other then a few bits of paper sticking out here or there.
"Uh-huh." Theresa responds, still looking forward. "Are you trying to stop the apocalypse with me?" She sasses, never once turning back around. Theresa hears some silence from behind her, as the only sound made was the slap of soles on concrete.
"No..." Janet responds angrily after some pause.
"Then you don't need anything. When you wanna help me save the world, then come talk to me." Theresa can practically hear Janet fuming behind her, but doesn't care. She doesn't have the time to explain her position to skeptics. They walk in relative silence to the airport. After buying tickets and getting held up at security for almost an hour, they finally reach the terminal.
"Geez, that took forever!" Theresa groans as they sit down in some chairs as they wait to board. Janet looks at her in disbelief and anger.
"Yeah, well maybe you shouldn't have tried to sneak a KNIFE ONBOARD!" She snaps. Theresa glares at her.
"Excuse me for being prepared to save the world. I will help save alo-"
"NO, YOU WON'T!" Janet interrupts. Theresa stares in shock at Janet. She was used to Janet being upset, but this... "YOU WON'T SAVE THE WORLD!! YOU'RE JUST A LUNATIC WITH A HERO COMPLEX!!" Hot tears boil up into Theresa's eyes. "YOU TRIED TO BRING A KNIFE, A FUCKING KNIFE, THROUGH AIRPORT SECURITY!!" Theresa blinks back some tears and buries her head in her lap. Janet sighs in anger and sits back, looking up to the sky and closing her eyes.
"Apocalypse my ass..." she mutters. Janet then looks back to Theresa to see her body shaking with what she can only presume to be silent sobs. Janet resolve cracks. Oh my... that was far too out of line... I'll wait a bit for us both to calm down — so it doesn't become heated — and then apologize to her.
Author's Note
Hello! So, I have been loving the generally positive reception I have been getting. While there may not be all that much feedback, what I HAVE been getting has been generally positive, and I love to see that.
I don't have much to say this time around. Review, like if you liked the story. If you didn't, give it the dislike it may deserve, and tell me why you didn't like it. I hope to see you all soon.
Goodbye everypony!
Before Ponies, There Was Man
The train pulls up into the station with a loud toot of a horn.
"We have arrived at Canterlot station!" The conductor yells from the front of the train. "All those wishing to depart, do so now!" The doors open as mobs of bustling ponies make their ways off the train and onto the platform, and all disperse to go about their activities. Lyra and Bon-Bon are among them.
"We're here!" Lyra says, excitedly. At the same time however, she was nervous. Being this close to the princesses mean they can keep an eye on me. What if they intentionally hid this information? What if they'll come after me?
"You're being paranoid." Bon-Bon says as she walks past, seemingly having read Lyra's mind. Lyra didn't realize she had stopped moving, and trotted to reach Bon-Bon before slowing to walking pace. "The princesses wouldn't hide any information, and even if they did they wouldn't hunt you down if you were searching for it — unless you were, like, a threat to Equestrian security. Seeing as you probably aren't, there's no need to be worried."
On the train ride over, Lyra had told Bon-Bon of her worry. The first time she mentioned it, Bon-Bon had said something along the lines of "they wouldn't hide information on something that didn't exist." That hadn't helped Lyra, of course. This time, Bon-Bon had taken a different approach.
The two ponies step off the station platform and begin to amble around the city, before they realized they had no idea where they intended to go. Lyra was a Canterlot born pony, but even so that doesn't mean she's good at thinking ahead. She knew she had to go to the Canterlot archives, but what of lodging? They might be here awhile.
"So, what do you want to do first?" Lyra asks Bon-Bon. Bon-Bon looks back with an eyebrow raised and a confused expression on.
"What? I imagined you'd gallop straight for the archives." She questions as they continue trotting down the cobblestone street.
"Yeah," Lyra responds, "but this'll throw them off my trail." Bon-Bon rolls her eyes.
"Why do I even try?" Bon-Bon murmurs to herself, looking back at the road ahead of them.
"Besides," Lyra continues, "Night'll fall soon. It'd be nice to get some lodging beforehoof." Bon-Bon nods as they walk through the city. The moon quickly rises and the other ponies on the street begin to disappear until they are the only ponies on the street, and the clopping of their hooves is the only sound echoing down the cold street.
"Geez." Bon-Bon says after a long moment of silence. "How hard is it to find an inn or a hotel?"
"Are you looking for lodging?' The two ponies hear from behind them. They both jump with a start and turn around. A cloaked pony approaches them. It stands there for a few moment in silence before taking off its hood. A white earth pony stallion with yellow hair is shown. He smiles, "I'm staying in an inn not far from here. It's not much, but it's affordable. I can take you there if you'd like!" Bon-Bon smiles in response and takes a step forward, but is quickly blocked by Lyra's hoof.
"Wait... what are you doing out here at night?" Lyra says, eying the stallion suspiciously. Bon-Bon facehoofs and the stallion smiles nervously and backs up.
"Look... I may seems suspicious, but I'm not a bad pony!" The stallion smiles warmly again and reaches into his cloak, pulling out a journal. "My name is Night Watcher. I like drawing pictures of scenery, particularly at night. I... do any time, but I especially love the night."
"Really? Can I see one of these drawings?" Lyra says, accusingly. The stallion once again looks nervous.
"Sorry, I'm... a bit self-conscious about my drawings. I don't really like ponies except for close friends seeing them." Lyra walks closer to him as the stallion retreats.
"Really? Isn't that a coincide-?"
"LYRA!!!" Bon-Bon yells, halting Lyra. She walks up to Lyra and pushes her away, before smiling apologetically to the stallion. "I'm sorry, my friend is a bit of a conspiracy nut."
"I understand," The stallion says, nodding. "It can be hard to trust strange ponies, especially at night. But my offer of the inn is still up in the air."
"Good thing I don't need to be a pegasus to catch it then," Bon-Bon replies, earning a chuckle from the two. Bon-Bon manages to convince Lyra, and they walk to the inn. When they finally get there, Bon-Bon thanks the stallion (Lyra just watches him) and they check into a room. As they unpack, Bon-Bon sighs.
"Well, today went well. We couldn't find anything to do, and wandered around lost all day." Bon-Bon looks over at Lyra, who was sitting in a thinking position on the bed. "Lyra, you were really mean to that nice stallion."
"Look, there was something wrong about him! I don't trust him." Lyra snaps. Bon-Bon shakes her head.
"Look, let's just forget about this. I agreed to meet him tomorrow-."
"What! Bon-Bon, why?"
"He's nice, and he offered to show us some nice places. I know you lived here, but since you'll be busy at the archives I wanted someone to be with, and he offered! Now, I'd like it if you came with us, just for tommorow before you become absorbed in your research." Lyra tries to protest, but knows it's pointless and eventually resigns. They then agree to go to sleep, before they realize something.
There's only one bed.
Night Watcher smiles at the two as they walk into their room before his smile turns into a frown. He looks in his journal and pulls out a piece of paper, before pulling out a jar of green fire and dropping the paper in it.
"Lyra Heartstrings... we have our eye on you."
Theresa and Janet's plane touches down and they exit onto the terminal. After waiting for their luggage to come around on that conveyor thing, they leave and hitch a bus to a nearby hotel. Theresa almost screws up and books a room with one bed, but Janet corrects her and gets a room with two beds. What kind of idiot ACCIDENTALLY orders a one bed room?
Their hotel room is nothing special. It is two rooms. One room had two simple beds with a tv on the wall. A sink rested on the left of the room, next to a kitchen set (Who actually uses those?) The other room is a simple bathroom. One thing the hotel room DID have was nice bed sheets. They stay in their hotel room for a few hours doing anything and everything to keep them occupied — TV, reading, playing, the like — until Janet decides to speak up.
"Theresa... why are we here?" Janet asks, not looking up from the magazine she was casually reading.
"It’s one of life’s great mysteries isn't it? Why are we here? I mean, are we the product of some cosmic coincidence, or is there really a God watching everything? You know, with a plan for us and stuff. I don’t know, but it keeps me up at night." Theresa finishes with a shrug. They sit in silence for a bit until Janet fully comprehends what she said.
"No, I mean why are we here if you aren't actually gonna do anything?"
"Oh." Theresa says, her eyes going wide.
"What was all that God stuff?"
"Nothing..."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"No." A moment of silence reigns.
"But really, aren't you gonna go searching for the apocalypse?" Janet asks, breaking the silence. She turns to look at Theresa and Theresa flops back on her bed with a sigh.
"I don't know where to go. If I went anywhere, it would be a complete shot in the dark. I need to wait for another vision." Theresa closes her eyes and hums as Janet stares wide eyed at her.
"That's your entire plan?! To wait for more vision. The apocalypse is supposedly supposed to happen in a week, and in your eyes the world's only hope is that you get lucky and have another vision?" Theresa nods and Janet groans and falls back on her own bed. This is bound to be a long trip.
Night falls and Janet and Theresa go to dinner. It's a simple affair, not much to talk about. On their way home though, something strange happens.
Janet and Theresa walk out of the restaurant and breath in the cool air, the waning moon in the sky hovering over the earth as the clock reads 8:30. Janet looks up at the sky and sighs. She lives in a... not so big town, so the stars always illuminate the sky. Now... the sky looks so empty.
They continue walking, and after five minutes they turn a corner and a strange man approaches, setting off all of Theresa's warning flags. One, he was wearing shades at night. Two, he was wearing a coat with a strange icon on it. And Three, he is getting too close for comfort. Bottom line, he's bad news.
"Hello," he says, "I would like to ask you two ladies if you've seen anything strange lately?" The two eye him warily and Janet tries to leave, but Theresa stays.
"Aside from my visions of the impending apocalypse, no." Theresa says, before leaving with Janet. The man watches them turn another corner before pulling out his phone.
"Someone seems to be onto us potentially. She seems to have visions of an 'impending apocalypse.' I think that might be related to recent events. I took a picture of her with my camera. I'd recommend having someone following her at all times." The man eyes the corner they turned around and then disappears into the night.
Author's Note
And the plot thickens!
Hello everypony! It's been awhile since my last update, but I feel good to finally get the plot rolling! I have two, maybe three more chapters planned, but I'll try to get some filler in to make it last longer!
Anyways, I hope you all are enjoying! And trust nopony.