Playing the Heart's Strings

Albert inspected the room that had been assigned to him by Applejack. It was small, but cozy, with a small bed and a wooden closet against one of the walls being its only furniture. He sat on the bed and found it was pretty comfortable. His room had a window; he walked up to it and looked through it to find the orchard’s trees covered by the night shadows. It was quiet, really quiet and peaceful.

Outside of his own home back on Earth he could only see buildings and cars all the day. Here, he could hear crickets chirping outside, he thought he saw a bird soaring through the field and it was generally calm and peaceful. He sat back in the bed. His thoughts finally flashed to his mind memories of his home, of his friends and of the great jump he had taken across dimensions. He wasn’t sure of anything that had happened to him and he wasn’t sure if he would ever be back, but that would not be for lack of trying. Albert knew that from the next day onwards things would be really different. He laid on the bed, reaching for a soft pillow and resting his head on it, but it became obvious after several minutes had passed that no sleep would come to him soon.

He opened the door to his room slowly, being very careful, and stepped outside, closing it with the same carefulness. It was very dark inside of the house, with no lights to guide him; he walked very slowly, feeling his way around. He finally found the house door and walked outside, being greeted with full force by the light reflected by the moon in a clear sky. The air was cool and he shivered, not having anything particularly covering his arms and head.

He looked around. There were plenty of apple trees everywhere. The barn was behind the house. He wanted to explore more, but in the cover of darkness he wouldn’t have much of a chance.  Then he heard the foots... hoofsteps closing from behind and turned in time to see Applejack coming over to him. She had a bat in her mouth which she dropped once she was near him. He decided to just roll around and accept that ponies somehow played baseball; he had read enough to know that the ones that just accepted stuff were the ones that fared better.

“Albert? What’cha doin’ out here, Sugarcube?”

He looked down at the orange pony,who was looking at him with a serious expression. “Well, I couldn’t sleep and just went outside to get some air and... see things. I didn’t mean to wake you up.”

“That’s nothin’, we Apples have it light, well except for Granny Smith, o’ course, and Ah had just laid down when Ah heard some noises. Turns out it was a very big bug.”  She smiled at him and he returned it.  He then looked back at the trees.

“I haven’t seen it properly, but you have a very nice farm.”

“O’ course, Sugarcube. This is our family’s pride and joy, after all.” The orange mare smiled even wider, though he couldn’t see it very well.

“Well, you know, I hadn’t ever seen a farm. I hadn’t even ever been in a town as small as Ponyville. I live in a big city and everything’s so different...”

“Ah know them big cities. Ah know they gotta be good or else why would any pony choose t’ live there? But personally Sugarcube, there’s nothing like the tranquility of the farm and the certainty of knowing you have your hard work and your life here.”

“Yes... Yes, I know that, Applejack.”

Behind them, in the house, lights were switched on. Soon, Big Mac, Granny Smith, and Apple Bloom came from the house, joining with them.

“Applejack, what’s all this ruckus y’all are doin’ in the middle of the night? Ah appreciate y’all bringin’ friends to the farm, but we need to sleep.”

A merely half awaken Apple Bloom rubbed her eyes, yawning. “Yeah, Applejack, Ah want to sleep.”

“Sorry, y’all. Ah’m plum tired mahself, as well...” Applejack followed her sister with a bigger yawn. She turned to look at Albert. “Wanna go to bed? Ah’ll give you some warm milk if ya want.”

“No, that’s fine, Applejack, thank you. I’m sorry, everypony, let’s go.”

And they all, including the big red stallion who had simply remained silent during it all, went back into the house and to their sleep.

On that same night, in the Library of Ponyville, Twilight Sparkle was turning around in her bed, unable to go to sleep, as she recalled the day in her head. The bed was creaking, and her mind was turning in all directions, her mane unkempt, flowing at all sides and her eyes gleaming, with the trail of tears in her cheeks.  Spike woke up, annoyed.

“What’s the matter with you, Twilight?! Are you planning the days of let’s bother Spike when he’s sleeping? I have to get to work early, unlike you, you know!”

The lavender mare just looked at his assistant, retreating in her bed as much as she could. She started sobbing and then went to all out crying, tears flowing freely. Spike felt the pang of guilt in his stomach, and climbed to the bed.

“I’m sorry, Twilight... Don’t cry, is alright... What’s the matter?”

As the disturbed unicorn kept crying, Spike went to the kitchen and poured a large glass of water. He came back to the room and approached his boss.

“Twilight, is ok... Here, drink this... Don’t cry anymore, let’s speak.”

Twilight slowly calmed, taking sips from the glass. Her breathing slowed, her eyes were bloodshot and she looked at her assistant between slight hiccups. She finally spoke, her voice not much louder than Fluttershy’s.  “Sorry about this, Spike...”

“No deal there, Twilight. What is this about?”

The lavender unicorn choked back tears, gulping. “Well, it’s... it’s... it’s Lyra, Spike. She barely noticed me at all yesterday... All she did was follow that human around, like he had a leash around her. Why, Spike, why?”  She could feel the tears pushing to come out again, and he must have felt it, because he pulled her into a strong embrace.

“Oh, not any more of that, Twilight. I don’t know about Lyra, but I think that you must talk to her.”  She sobbed slightly, rubbing her eyes, washing the tears away. They remained in silence for a while, Twilight having at last recovered her normal state.

“I suppose that’s what I should do...”

“I’ll bring you another glass, and then we’ll go to sleep, ok?”

She nodded silently, waiting for the small dragon to return.

The sunlight carried away the darkness, signaling the new day. The early rising ponies were long ago up and about, going into their business, while the most late staying ponies turned around in their beds.

On Sweet Apple Acres, that meant every pony was working. Apple Bloom left for school, Granny Smith tended the house and Applejack and Big Mac worked on the fields.  The human sleeping on the same house just opened his eyes. He was greeted by his first daybreak in Ponyville. Getting out of bed, he yawned and exited the bedroom, looking for a bath.

“Why hullo there, young ‘un!” called Granny Smith’s voice from behind him. He turned around to find the old mare smiling at him. “Care for some breakfast, sonny?”

“Yes, I’d like that, Granny Smith, but I’d like to go to the bathroom first.”

“Oh, it’s that door there, sonny. I’ll wait for you in the kitchen over there!” The Apple matriarch walked by his side, entering through another, wider door.  After going to the bathroom, he entered the kitchen, where the smell of hot apple pie filled his nostrils.

“That smells delicious, Granny Smith!”

“Here, young ‘un, eat ta yer heart’s content!”  In the table Albert sat at, there were slices of apple pie, apple juice, bread and butter. It was slightly different from his usual breakfast, but he took them and ate contentedly until he felt full; he had woken up really hungry. The old mare watched him eat with a kind smile on her lips.

“Ya know, boy. There’s few things Ah like more than ponies.. and others... enjoyin’ the Apple family food.”

“Well, you can be sure I enjoyed it, Granny.”  His gaze fell on a calendar on the wall that indicated the day. It was Monday, apparently. From a window in the kitchen some of the fields could be seen. They took on really different qualities under the moonlight. He turned back to his host.

“Say, Granny Smith, could you tell me some stories?”

The mare’s grin grew even wider. “Come over here, boy.”

“Mail!” announced the wall-eyed pegasus as she arrived in front of the Candies and Pastries’ Shop. Bon Bon smiled to her.

“Good morning, Derpy! Doing fine today?”

“Yes! Very much fine, thanks, Bon Bon!” answered the light grey pegasus, flapping her wings excitedly. She rummaged in her saddlebag and selected several letters, passing them to the earth pony. Then, the blonde mailpony went on her way, waving goodbye to Bon Bon.

“Have a good day!”

“Bills, bills... An invitation to Lyra from Fillydelphia..”  Bon Bon tucked this one away in the counter. “...an invitation from Canterlot and one from Manehatten.” She trotted over to the kitchen and put all the letters on top of the table, going back to the front.  She soon heard Lyra coming downstairs.

“Hey, Lyra! There’s breakfast in the kitchen, along with some invitations for you in the table.”

“Thanks, Bon, I’ll check them out. Good morning!”

“Good morning!”

Lyra entered the kitchen and floated the food and the letters next to her, sitting down. While eating, she checked the invitations. Both were invitations for clubs; a invitation for next Sunday in a centric Canterlotian club, and another for the Friday after that in Manehatten. She finished eating, and trotted upstairs with the letters, setting down in her study to write down the answers.

She finished composing the letters, and decided to practice a little before going out to the post office. She floated her lyre back to her, closing the door and began plucking the strings with her magic.

Derpy Hooves finished her morning round in urban Ponyville. She had a delivery for Sweet Apple Acres and so she set off the path towards it. Flying was all well and cool, but she also liked to feel the ground below her hooves, and the path to the Apple family farm was one of the best walks she could get. She trotted, her saddlebags hitting her flanks constantly, until making it through the door and walking up to the house. She was about to knock when she was startled by a voice coming from behind her.

“Why, if it’s no one but Derpy Hooves herself! Good mornin’, Sugarcube!”  She turned around to meet a smiling Applejack, and quickly gained a smile of her own.

“Good morning, Applejack. How are you doing?”

“Ah’m doin’ mighty fine, girl. How about y’all? How’s Dinky?”

“We’re fine, thanks, Applejack! Here.”  The mailmare handed the farmpony a couple of envelopes. She then started trotting outside. Applejack called out to her.

“Why all that hurryin’, Sugarcube? Why don’t y’all eat somethin’ with us here for a change?”

“Thanks, Applejack,but I’ve got to pick up Dinky and have lunch with her. See you later, bye!”

“That’ fine. G’bye, Derpy. Thanks for the mail!”

Applejack then entered the house, where Big Mac was seated at the table and Granny Smith and Albert went around the kitchen, picking things up and carrying them to the table. She trotted to a cupboard and placed the envelopes in there.

“Hello, Applejack. Having a good day?” asked the human, putting plates around the table. Granny then served generous portions of salad in each one.

“A mighty good one, indeed. How about y’all? Ah see you’re being helpful to Granny, that’s good.”

“Yes, Granny here just told me a couple of stories about Ponyville and the farm. They were all very interesting.”

The elder mare smiled while putting on the table a large bowl filled with apple fritters. “It’s not all the days that you see one of them hee-umans, don’tcha? He’s a pretty good boy.”

The door opened and Apple Bloom came inside. “Ah’m home!”  The filly tossed her backpack aside and trotted into the kitchen. “Howdy, everypony! It was a long morning at school...”

“Yeah, just sit down and let’s eat, Apple Bloom, ya can tell it all afterwards. Come here, little sis’.”  Apple Bloom complied and they all sat down to eat.

Albert ate his salad slowly. He wasn’t accustomed to eating only salad, and upon finishing -while the family did the same around him and chatted animatedly, Big Mac adding one or two sentences to the conversation sporadically- he munched on two apple fritters. He could still feel hunger inside, but he decided not to bother the generous family anymore. Finally, they all ended. He rose up and took his plates to the sink, washing them. All the family did the same.

“Well, Sugarcube, it’s about time we went back ta town and see what are we goin’ to do, right?”

Albert nodded, and Apple Bloom jumped in front of them. “Kin Ah go with ya? Yes, yes, yes, yes?!”

“Yeah, come on, Sugarcube, but don’t forget your homework afterwards.”

The small filly lifted a hoof and pressed it against her chest, affecting a serious expression.

“Word of Crusader!”

Albert did his best not to have a heart attack at the cuteness and go down petting the filly, knowing he would probably not come out of it unscathed. Soon, he walked alongside the two sisters in the path to Ponyville. The sun hung in its zenith, directly over them.

Lyra floated the lyre back to its place, and carrying the letters with her, grabbed a saddlebag from her room. She stuffed all the letters inside and went downstairs.

“Hey, Bon, I’m taking some letters to the mail and will go to the Library!”

“Take care.”

“Thanks, you too.” Lyra nuzzled her friend lightly before going on her way. She soon made it to the office, sending the two answer letters off. She continued her path to the Library, entering the tree.

“Good morning! she called out to both Twilight and Spike, who turned around to look at her.

“Oh, good morning, Lyra!” said simply the small dragon, hurrying upstairs. She followed him, dumbstruck, until looking back to Twilight, who was simply looking at her.

“Did something happen?”

The lavender mare screamed. “No!”  Lyra looked at her, Twilight chuckled nervously. “No, I mean. Nothing happens, right? Nothing!”

Lyra just looked at her some more, before relenting and going towards her, levitating her letters out of her saddlebag. “Hey, look at this, Light!”

Beaming, Twilight picked up the letters Lyra showed her and read them. She smiled. “Oh, these are really good news, Lyra! Are you going to go?

“Of course! I’ve already sent the responses. They should give an answer soon. It’s all very official-like, but I’m getting there!”

Twilight kept her smile, and reached to her marefriend, embracing her. Lyra acquiesced and Twilight felt everything falling into place. They separated soon after.

“What were you doing, Light?”

“Oh, I was just reading a treatise on ancient magic. Just an old reference book.”

“Which reminds me I should probably get one or two books for reading. What do you think it’s good?”

They started scouting the shelves, which occupied them for the best part of an hour. They were only interrupted by a knock on the door.

“Hey, Twi, we’re here!”

Applejack and Albert -Apple Bloom had been sent back to do her homework- entered the Library. Upon seeing the human come inside, Lyra dropped a book she was holding and trotted over to him.

“Oh, it’s you, how’ everything going? Are you feeling better? How’ve you find Ponyville?”  The giddy unicorn flipped her tail excited, her eyes shining. Twilight’s ears fell down. She picked up the book Lyra had dropped and put it in a pile they had been building for Lyra to choose. She shook herself out of it when she saw Applejack was coming to her.

“Well, Ah don’t think we’ve got anything to worry with this one guy.  But’s better if ya use that special spell o’ yours, right?”

“Yes, Applejack, when the right time comes..”

Applejack looked at her friend. “Sugarcube, yeh’re all right?” She looked at her friend, knowing there was something deep inside her.

“Yes, I’m fine, Applejack, I just read a bit too much...”

“Come on, Twilight. Ah kin see it from a mile.”

“I’m telling you I’m fine!” The earth pony stepped back; Albert and Lyra were too distracted to notice anything.

“Ok, ok, hold yer horses, I was just trying ta help y’all.”

“Yes... I’m sorry, Applejack, I shouldn’t have screamed at you. Everything’s just fine, don’t you worry, please.”

Twilight approached the human and his unicorn fan.

“Albert,” called her with a raised voice; Albert couldn’t help noticing something hidden inside it. Both looked at her.

“The Princess has said that she will get out a Document of Equestrian Residence for you in the next few days, so you shouldn’t worry about legal issues. We’re going to have to find you a job, but that shouldn’t be difficult. We’ll be researching methods to make you come back to your world as well.”

Albert listened, and nodded. Sure things were very much more complicated that the standard HIE fanfic made them look like...

“For now, you should go see Rarity, she wanted to see you. You can go with him, Lyra.”

“Oh, I’d love to. Let’s go, Albert!”

Albert, sensing the dark aura that enveloped the room -which apparently only Lyra was incapable of feeling, as the green mint unicorn danced happily around, complied. Both left for the seamstress.

“Um, well, Ah think it’s better for Ah to come back to the farm. See ya ‘round, Twilight!”

“Yes, take care, Applejack.”

Once the earth pony had left, Twilight trotted upstairs, Spike was sweeping the stairs.

“Spike, please take care of the Library. Also, you can find somewhere to stay at, I’m not going anywhere.”  She entered her bedroom and closed it; Spike heard the click of the lock behind him. He went downstairs to clean the main floor when Applejack approached him.

“Ok, Sugarcube, what d y’all know?”