Playing the Heart's Strings

The room was dark and lonely. Twilight laid on the bed looking blankly into space. The tears had dried long ago, as had everything else. She hoped that Applejack was recuperated by now. She turned around, facing the other side of her room. Perhaps soon would be time to get out and write a letter, or do something that didn’t involve just lying around. Perhaps.

The knock on the door was soft but constant, and her voice came through.

“Twilight?”

Pinkie Pie and Rarity crossed the park, while Spike slept on Rarity’s back, the baby dragon could not endure the day any longer.

“I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you any sooner, Rarity... Perhaps I should’ve told Applejack as well...”  Pinkie Pie looked to her friend with seriousness, her eyebrows fallen and her hair slightly flat.

“That is fine, dear,” answered Rarity, dismissing Pinkie’s worries, after some moments of quietness. “Nothing really serious must have happened, or we would’ve heard something of the emergency brigade by now. Besides, I’m glad you told me, so I don’t enter the Boutique unprepared... Now let’ s go on our way darling, we have to fix this as soon as possible.”

“Okie dokie lokie...,” said the pink pony, still not very cheerful. “I hope Twilight gets over this soon...”

The two mares crossed the park, illuminated by some street lamps, in which some ponies enjoyed the night, by themselves or in couples. They continued their path until reaching the two story house. It had several lights on and animated chatting could be heard from the inside. Rarity and Pinkie looked at each other. Rarity knocked in the door, which soon was opened by Bon Bon.

“Oh, hello.  Are you looking for Albert and Sweetie Belle? They’re here.”  Rarity gasped.

“Sweetie! How could I have forgotten... Thank you, darling, we’ll pick them up. But we came here looking for Lyra. I assume she’s here as well...”

“Of course. Come on in, please.”

The whole group was reunited in the kitchen eating some cookies. Sweetie ran to her sister’s side.

“Rarity!” The small filly ran up to her. “Where were you? I didn’t know what to do!”

“Sorry, Sweetie, I was driven away by other issues. We’ll go home soon, just let me take care of something, okay?”

“Ok, Rarity!”

Rarity shook Spike until the small dragon woke up, and sent him off upstairs with her sister.  Then she turned around, to where Lyra and Albert were.

“Lyra dear, Pinkie and I would like to have a word with you outside, if you were so kind.”

The green mint unicorn looked at her counterpart confused, but agreed.

“I’ll follow you.”

Albert and Bon Bon saw the three mares go outside; the candy maker’s furrows went up, but she remained silent.

“What is it, girls?” asked Lyra as the three sat outside; she looked from one to the other, unnerved by the looks they were giving her.

Rarity cleared her throat and spoke.

“Lyra, darling, let me ask you one question. What do you feel for Twilight?”

Lyra looked at her for a while, and then turned around, looking at Pinkie, who had somehow gotten right by her side and was piercing her with her crystal clear blue eyes. She turned back to look at Rarity, whom she felt was more bearable.

“I like Twilight. Why else would I be going out with her if not?”

“Do you? Because from recent evidence, that’s not what it seems like, dear.”

Lyra frowned. “Why not? I’ve been with her constantly lately, and you all know that.”

She turned in shock, feeling a hoof jabbing her in the face. The angry face of Pinkie Pie looked at her.

“Nope! You have been hanging out with that human since he arrived here! Twilight has wanted to talk to you several times and you haven’t even thrown a tiny, mini-look her side, Lyra! She’s now in her room, locked and hasn’t allowed anypony to come in! “

Lyra was about to open her mouth, but she fell silent, looking at Pinkie. She turned her gaze back at Rarity, still without speaking.

“Poor Twilight has been waiting for you, dear. I don’t know if she’ll receive you now; we’re planning to talk to her in the morning. But I want to hear it from you: Why did you do that to her?”

Lyra just sat there in silence, contemplating. Her golden eyes shone while her face reflected a thoughtful state.

“I... I just...” began Lyra, but fell quiet again. After some moments, Rarity continued.

“Just what, Lyra? What is it you’re going to do?”

Lyra took a deep breath. “I’m going to talk to Twilight, ok? Just give me this chance.”

Rarity and Pinkie looked at her with the same expression, finally lightening it, showing small smiles.

“Do so then, darling. Just bear in mind what are the important things, will you?”

Before she could answer, she was caught along with Rarity in a full fledged PInkie Pie embrace. The pink mare bawled strongly.

“Pinkie, darling, you can let us go now. Lyra needs to go.”

They separated and looked at each other. Lyra nodded and trotted away in the direction of the Library.

At the shop’s door, Albert and Bon Bon were watching everything and saw Lyra trotting off.  Rarity and Pinkie approached them.

Lyra arrived to the Library, and pushed the door open. The bellring resounded all around the empty main floor, covered in darkness. She entered and navigated her way through tables and chairs, finally reaching the stairs and making her way upstairs. She found the room in question and extended her hoof to knock at it, before sensing an extremely powerful magical field emanating from it.

She backed her hoof away, looking at the door, and finally got around to knock lightly.

“Twilight?”

There came no response from the other side. Lyra sat on her haunches.

“Twilight, it’s me, Lyra. Can you answer?”

Twilight’s low, hoarse voice came out of the door. “What’s there to answer, Lyra?  You obviously prefer the human over me. Though I don’t know why then did you give me that false lead on...”

Sighing, Lyra sat down in a step, resting her hind legs in the next and her forelegs in her lap. It was a rather painful position for a normal pony, but Lyra found herself able to sit thus for certain time periods.  She fiddled with her hooves.

“I cut my ties with my family, you know, Twilight?”

No response came from the room; not that she expected any.  She chuckled softly.

“The Crusaders would probably be astonished to hear it but I was a blank flank for quite longer that I know they’ll be, well into my teenage years.

I was born into an earth pony family of long tradition, in Fillydelphia. As the only unicorn born in the family for generations, they didn’t quite know what to do with me, and I didn’t know either. I went to a normal school and learned the basics of magic, but nothing else.  My parents were busy all the time running their business, one I didn’t have any interest on, and so my days went on and on with me not quite knowing what to do.”

Lyra stopped to breath. She could hear Owlowliscious flapping downstairs, going out of the window to hunt.

“My name then was simply Heartstrings, for I was the one tugging at theirs or something. Such feeling must have vanished quite quickly, among the glow of shiny jewels. Anyway, such a day came in which I couldn’t take it anymore. I learned there was a festival coming to the city. I went away from home, looking for it. My parents followed me and I broke apart with them.  With nowhere to go, I mingled with some bands that played there, as well a theatre company coming from Canterlot. It was the leader of this company who lent me a lyre, which I played for the first time, and I liked it.

They graciously offered me to go with them to Canterlot. They gave me some lessons, after which I tried for a small performance with them making up my small audience. I played well, receiving their ovations, and I cried upon receiving them and finding out that my cutie mark had appeared at long last.  I chose to add another name to mine, becoming Lyra, which is the one I’ve used since then.

The leader of the company, his name is Stage Lights, also told me many stories. Among them was that of a fantastical race rumored to have stepped on Equestria long time ago, of which there were few records available. I grew enchanted with those stories and ever since then had wanted to see a human. It was something that just seemed so... special.  I ran away from home looking for something that broke apart my boring life. And I dreamed to meet a human for so long, it consumed me when it happened. I should have controlled myself. I’m sorry, Twilight.“

She stood up, approaching the door and standing side by side to it.

“Can you come out, at least?”

For a moments, there was nothing. Then Lyra heard the sound of hoofsteps coming and saw a lavender glow covering the room, followed by the door opening.  Twilight stood on the other side, black bags below her eyes, her mane unkempt, looking straight at Lyra’s eyes; the musician returned the gaze.

“Lyra, if you’re still in, I’m still in.”