Lyra The Undying

The training camp of the Everfree Legion’s Muck Company didn’t have a proper graveyard. Two earth ponies, Star Ward and Road Strip, were the official gravediggers. The position kept them away from battles and added a few bits to their wages. They could’ve done a poor job of it, and none but the dead would've cared, but Star Ward took pride in his work, and that rubbed off a little on Road Strip.

They were your typical earth ponies: strong muscular builds, brown coats with silver mane and tails. They were also twin brothers, distinguished by their cutie marks. Star Ward’s was a shovel pointed up, and Road Strip’s was a shovel pointed down.

        Road Strip scooped out a shovel of dirt and glanced at the setting sun.

        “It’s getting dark. That hole is deep enough for her,” Road Strip said as they dug the grave for Lyra Heartstrings.

        Star Ward shrugged. “I don’t know about that. Doesn’t seem as deep as the last commander.”

        “That’s because I liked the last one.” Road Strip says.

        “You would have liked this one,” Star Ward retorted as they pulled the box with the dead pony inside off the cart and busted the crate open to throw Lyra in the grave.

        Road looked at Lyra’s dead body. “We’ll never know now.”

        Dark clouds spread overhead, a few heavy drops of rain fell as Star Ward placed a simple small tombstone.

        “That’s nice,” Road Strip said, complimenting his brother's handywork. “When did you make the tombstone?”

        “Soon as I heard the new commander was arriving. Didn’t think I’d have to use it so soon,” Star Ward said.

        In an unadorned makeshift cemetery, eleven graves stretched beside Lyra’s. Each stone bore the name of a dead commander of Muck Company. As their last duty they marked the stone that read ‘Lyra The Undying’ with a league X over the words ‘The Undying’. A clap of thunder ended the uneventful ceremony as the two earth ponies packed up their tools and traveled to the training grounds bar to escape the threatening rain.

        After a few minutes the heavy rain stopped and the clouds parted to reveal the beautiful moon in the heavens. Out of nowhere a cloaked pony stood at Lyra’s grave. She was larger than most ponies and wore a magical aura of moonlight. She moved her cloak just slightly to reveal a dark blue horn that gathered the magic necessary to raise the dead.

        Lyra had been raised so many times that it was absurdly simple. Every time Lyra died this cloaked pony would raise her from death’s grasp.

        “Lyra...Lyra…” whispered the cloaked pony to the grave. After a minute of no response the pony looked around to make sure no one was around, then she used her Royal Canterlot Voice.

        “I COMMAND THEE TO RISE, LYRA HEARTSTRINGS!”

        “Celestia damn it! Give me a few minutes! Okay, Luna?” Lyra yelled thru the dirt to the disguised Princess of the night. After a few minutes Lyra used her strength to crawl out of her own grave to see the Princess staring at her with a bit of worry.

        Lyra rubbed her neck and popped it back in place. Lyra looked at Luna as the princess walked into the shadows.

        “Why me?” Lyra muttered to Luna who stopped in her tracks.

        “You know we have been through this before, Lyra. I had to think on my hooves and there was no other option.” Luna said.

        “So you say. It’s been a few years since I’ve seen you, Princess, and I hope you’ve finally found a way to free me from this torment you put on me.” Lyra dropped her head.

        “I am sorry. I have searched for decades and found nothing in Equestria that can free you and keep the realm from being destroyed.” Luna frowned.

        “I figured as much. Well, I guess I’ll see you next time I die.” Lyra looked up from the ground to see that Luna was gone.

        Lyra couldn't say whether Luna walked away or vanished into a puff of magic. Lyra looked around to notice her belongings, a black vest with a dagger and her bit pouch attached, were missing. They didn’t seem like much but the vest was a gift from long ago by her old friend Bon Bon, the dagger was from her time in the Legion Army. Lyra lingered on her missing items,  However the odor of berries and cream reminded her how thirsty she was. Returning from the dead always gave her an dry throat. The Training Ground’s Tavern was a dim beacon in the dark night and Lyra headed for it, using her magic to light the way as she thought about Princess Luna and the past.

.        .        .        .

A long time ago, Lyra was just a normal pony living in Ponyville. She could remember it as clear as day.

 It was a peaceful afternoon in Ponyville. The idle chatter of the town’s ponies and the clacking of hooves on the cobbled stones of the little town's streets were the only sounds that permeated the air. All around where little houses with thatched roofs, brick and stucco walls, and happy ponies in the doorways. Vendors called to ponies from behind their stalls and in front of their carts. The smell of baked foods and fresh produce wafted from every corner. Within the center of the town was the Castle of Friendship, the home of Princess Twilight Sparkle where Lyra had gone to meet her best friend Bon Bon at a party.

It was a nice little party, full of ponies both old and new to Lyra. Most of Ponyville was in the castle, including Princess Luna and Discord. Out of nowhere, Discord started to glow a dark purple color. The castle and the ground quaked violently, and the sky darkened. The last thing Lyra could remember were the screams of the Spirit of Chaos as he died in a terrible burst of magic that would forever change Equestria.

.        .        .        .

        Lyra quickly shook off the memory as she made it to the camping ground near the tavern, quickly looking over her surroundings. She was now the new commander of these misfits, so she had better know what was what. The front entrance to the tavern was wide open, and the sentries were asleep at their posts. Soldiers slept in their ents, under the oasis’s few trees, and some even on the ground. Lyra had heard that Muck Company was undisciplined, but this was ridiculous.

        Lyra entered the pub, a poorly lit, musty and crowded cesspit. She managed to avoid the pubs goers attention and reached the barkeep. Lyra got the bartender's attention, and revealed that once you’ve died enough times, your taste in alcohol becomes very open minded.

        “Barkeep...give me a glass of cider, some doom mushrooms, and the oldest lemon you got,” Lyra demanded.

        “Aren't those the ingredients for a Rusty Horn Brew? That drink usually gives folks a crushing headache and a bloody nose. ” The barkeep, an old Diamond Dog, raised an eyebrow at the commander.

        “I don’t care…” Lyra gave a cold look to the barkeep, who quickly made the drink for her. After a few minutes the barkeep set a mug of thick, black liquid before Lyra.

        Lyra lifted the drink and gulped it down as everyone in the Pub looked at her. Rusty Horn Brew was not a normal drink. you had to chew it a bit to get it down the throat, but  swallowing it was a feat of willpower. Lyra’s gut burned a bit, her tongue made a sizzling sound, and her throat constricted tightly. However after all that a cool pleasantness filled her head.

        Lyra turned around to look at the astonished faces of the crowd that watched her drink what was almost considered poison. Lyra scanned the pub and her gaze fell across two earth ponies who couldn't look her in the eyes. On their table was her black vest and dagger. Lyra stomped across the room as the Bar fell quiet.

        “Did you two bury me?” Lyra calmly asked the two brothers.

        Star Ward nods “Yes, Mam.”

        “You’re not supposed to bury me.” Lyra snapped. Her muscles tightened as the gravediggers gulped.

The Rusty Horn Brew bolstered Lyra’s anger. She had been in so many battles before her old job as a bookkeeper that she could easily fight any pony. In truth, Lyra had no real fear of death, just a general dislike for it.

“My bits, my vest, and my dagger.” Lyra held out a hoof to the brothers.

Road Strip placed the items in her hoof. “We didn’t think you’d be needing them anymore, Ma’am.”

Lyra belched loudly and stood tall as the brothers tried not to smell her foul breath. Lyra put on her black vest, checked to see that all her bits were accounted for, and then smacked both brothers in the face with one hoof. Lyra was still dazed from the Rusty Horn Brew, and didn’t notice that she knocked both earth ponies from their chairs onto the bar floor.

The Bar patrons cheered the new commander. Every Muck Company soldier appreciated a good, solid beat down as an art form. Lyra stood over the brothers and gave them a lesson.

“Here is an order even you dumb flanks can understand. Don’t ever bury me again!” Lyra felt they learned their lesson and walked back to the barkeep. Lyra ordered another drink as the midnight hour came to pass.

End of Chapter 2