Past is Present

Chapter 5

Legends

"But that's impossible!" Rarity exclaimed, tearing her eyes from the page and looking to Twilight Sparkle. "Twilight Sparkle, how can this be?"

"I don't know, it shouldn't be possible." the lavender unicorn had yet to turn away from the page. "Lyra," she said, not looking up "where did you get this book?"

"My father found it in the ancient foreign cultures section of the library. I can't read it at all, but the pictures are fascinating. I've never seen creatures like some of the ones in this book. Look at this picture-" She turned a few pages to another illustration. This one depicted what looked to be a ball of fur with large round eyes, a sizable mouth, and two long arms which ended in hands, yet no feet could be seen. "and this one" Another picture, this time of a creature that had the face of a pony but a short smooth body that ended in a curling tail. Instead of front hooves this creature had fins and no back hooves whatsoever. "and these" Lyra kept flipping past giant bees, large armadillos which seemed to be made of stone, strange trolls, beautiful birds, the Old Castle, a great volcano, and all manner of other strange creature. "But this one," Lyra turned to a page marked by a thick emerald green ribbon, "is my favorite." The ponies stared. The illustration filled both pages entirely and on it stood the blond human girl once again, this time with two other humans behind her. The first appeared to be a young boy with short reddish brown hair and freckles, he held a red and white cap in his hands. The other had blond hair like the first girl but appeared much smaller and younger. She had her long hair tied in pigtails. Behind these three humans stood a number of earth ponies, unicorns, pegasi, and even a few ponies who's eyes seemed to sparkle on the page. But what drew gasps from the three friends were not these but the ponies the human girl seemed to be addressing. Standing opposite the humans was a pony like none they had ever seen before. She had long thin legs and a graceful form like that of Princess Celestia, yet somehow even more nimble and glorious. Her gossomer wings were like those of a butterfly. She was pale yellow in color with a light pink mane which matched her eyes. Her cutie mark covered the whole of her thigh in delicate pink roses and tiny rosebuds which extended to the hock. Next to her eye was a small rosebud. On her mane she wore a deep pink crest and on her tail a purple bow. Behind her a pale blue pony with a gold mane stood, she had the same lissome body and glorious wings as the first but with a large bouquet of morning glories on her hip that extended down her leg.

"What are those beautiful creatures?" Rarity seemed to be in raptures. "Look at those dazzling wings and those splendid cutie marks! How utterly magnificent!" But Spike's attention was drawn elsewhere. Next to a small lilac pony with a pale pink mane stood a very familiar looking creature.

"But... but that's me." Spike uttered.

"What?" Twilight Sparkle turned her gaze from the butterfly winged ponies to her small friend who appeared rather disconcerted and pale.

"It's me. Twilight, it's me! In the picture." Twilight Sparkle's gaze followed Spike's arm to his clawed finger which pointed directly to a small pink dragon with green spikes.

"Spike." Twilight Sparkle whispered. Rarity glanced over and tossed her head.

"Really I don't know what you're getting all worked up about, that dragon is clearly not our Spikey Wikey - it has pink eyes, not emerald. If there is something worth looking at it is those gorgeous wings!" Spike and Twilight Sparkle took a closer look, indeed Rarity was right - the little dragon was the very image of Spike... except for the eyes.

"I wonder what it could mean." Twilight Sparkle said quietly, looking quite perplexed.

"It means that humans once lived in Equesria!" Lyra's face and hooves appeared over the back of the book. The three were snapped back to reality by Lyra's sudden reappearance. "Oh, and the cookies are ready."

"Do you know what language this book is in Lyra? I've never seen it before." Twilight Sparkle asked.

"Dad said he thought it might be ancient Zebra, but he couldn't be sure." Lyra looked rather pleased with herself.

"Do you mind if I borrow this book? I'd like to show it to Zecora."

"Sure, take it. Maybe it'll finally prove to you all what I've been saying all along."

"I don't know about that, but we'll see what Zecora says." Twilight Sparkle lifted the book off the pedestal, opened her pack, and dropped it in. As the three were about to leave, Spike with a mountain of cookies in hand, Twilight Sparkle turned back to Lyra. "Oh, I almost forgot! There's going to be a meeting at the town square in half an hour. Pack everything you and Bonbon will need to travel."

"Why?" Lyra asked. "What's going on?"

"We'll tell you at the meeting, there's no time right now." And with that Twilight Sparkle closed the door.