Playing the Heart's Strings

“Good morning, Twilight. Have you been doing fine lately?” asked the royal mare, when her student stopped at her side. The unicorn smiled and nodded.

“Yes, Princess. I’ve been researching de-petrifying spells and I’m also going to learn about herbs and potions with Zecora.”  The purple unicorn gained an enormous smile with each word. Lyra looked at her, measuring just how much her new friend loved studying. It reminded her very much of her own approach to music, and an involuntary smile invaded her face.

Celestia then turned to face her. “Hello, Lyra, is good to see you as well. I haven’t seen you since the Wedding, if I recall correctly.”

The green mare retreated a little feeling the monarch’s gaze upon her. “Yes, Your Highness. You may call on me, though, if you want. I’ll be giving a concert in Canterlot on Sunday night.”

Celestia considered this. “Yes, I’ve heard about that one. I’m not sure I might assist to it, however. Don’t worry, we’ll fix something up.  Now, I understand that you are accompanying Twilight with her research?”  Her gaze returned briefly to her student, who only followed the conversation and then back to the musician, who nodded.

“Yes! Well, I’ve always been interested in humans, and I wanted to see them so much!  Besides, I think Twilight’s cool!”

Celestia laughed heartily and lowered her head to Lyra’s level. She whispered in her ear.

“That’s fine, my dear. Even though Twilight has found very good friends since she came to Ponyville, she’s so lonely when she’s studying. I hope you keep her some company, right?””

The Princess lifted her head again and smiled wordlessly. Lyra just answered the same way. Twilight frowned a little, unaware of the message that had been passed between the two mares.  Celestia addressed her again.

“How about we go back to the Library? I’d like to discuss this properly and the edge of the forest doesn’t seem to be the best place for it.” Twilight agreed with her.

“Let’s go back.”

The three mares walked the path leading to the town proper. When passing by the side of Fluttershy’s cottage, the shy pegasus was tending to some of her plants outside. Celestia waved a hoof to her and she answered meekly.   During their walk, they were met by most of the population of Ponyville, including Mayor Mare, who kept Celestia occupied for twenty minutes asking about all sorts of things. When they finally made it to their destination, it was well past lunchtime.

“Sorry, Twilight. I didn’t know you’d be having two guests and I did only prepare for you and me. Let’s see what I can pull off now.”  The small dragon turned back into the kitchen and set to work. Celestia approached the statue and inspected it, with the two unicorns standing behind her.

“It’s been two thousand years now...”

“What do you know about humans, Princess?”

Celestia broke her gaze apart from the statue and turned to look at Twilight, who was looking at her inquisitively. She smiled internally. No matter how much time passed, the small unicorn in front of her would always be the same.  She turned completely and stood before the two unicorns.

“You read about what happened in the book I gave you, didn’t you?”

“Of course.”

“Then I’ll tell you that I know very few about them. In the days after Discord was vanquished and Equestria was beginning to be established, Luna and I spent most of our time overseeing the development of the new lands ponies would use as their home. We had very few moments to spend them investigating about three creatures that didn’t belong in our land. That said, we did keep an eye on them, having been thrown here by Chaos, we could not afford to leave them unchecked. But the bulk of what has been registered in the books about them is the work of unicorns. They are counted among the researches conducted by Star Swirl and Clover, as I’m sure you know.”

The royal mare was about to continue, when Spike’s voice resounded in the Library, calling them to lunch.

“How about we continue this after lunch? I must admit I’m quite hungry, and I’m sure you two are as well.”

Both of the unicorns’ stomach rumbled in response, and they shared a laugh before going to eat. Once they finished, they all came back to the main room, including Spike.

“Between that, and the few time two of them passed among us, we couldn’t learn much about them.”

“Well, that I can understand, Princess,” said the scholarly mare, looking at the statue. Celestia also fixed her gaze on it.

“I’m going to take the statue to the Palace, Twilight.”

Both unicorns took some time before processing the Princess words. Lyra jumped to the front, waving her hooves erratically.

“But why would you do that, Princess? You can’t do that!”

Celestia looked at her, and Twilight was quick to put herself between them. “Let me handle this, Lyra.”  She advance two steps towards her mentor. “Why did you decide this, Princes?”

“‘Why did I decide this’, Twilight? Are you really asking me?” She pointed a hoof towards the stone figure. “It hasn’t been that much time, comparatively, since Discord was sealed again. Chaos is a strong force affecting Equestria right now. We don’t even know how much did it have to do with the Changeling invasion.  And you ask me why do I decide this? I don’t believe that humans are evil per se, in the few time I’ve interacted with them, they didn’t give such signs, but Chaos is a destructive force, and we don’t know where it coulde be seeded. We don’t know...”

Celestia fell silent. Certain images flashed before her eyes. A voice boomed all over, and the sky turned deep dark.

NOT ANYMORE, MY SISTER!

She shook her head energetically and came back to the present. Twilight and Lyra were looking at her in silence; Lyra’s foreleg pawing at the floor.

“I’m sorry. Twilight...” began Celestia, before being interrupted by her student.

“I know about that, Princess. I truly know,” said the purple mare, looking directly into her mentor’s violet eyes. “But we can’t know that, really. It might happen, and it might not happen.” She approached Celestia even more, without deviating her eyes from the royal mare for a second. “Besides, I know what are you thinking about... And that took a real, extremely long time to happen. More that it would have.” Upon hearing those words, the alicorn trembled slightly. Very imperceptible for any normal pony to see, but Twilight had spent time next to her since her foalhood. She could read Celestia’s unreadable deviations.  “And if something were to happen, I’d immediately send

you a notice. You know you can trust me, Princess. Please let me do this...”

Not once did Twilight’s gaze wander away as she spoke. Several seconds passed as they looked at each other. Lyra and Spike, who had only recently come into the room, only witnessed the scene as both wills were confronted. Celestia’s mouth opened again, but Twilight spoke first.

“I know I often don’t think about things and end up making everything worse, necessitating big efforts to solve the situation.” Twilight paused a moment, letting the words be registered. She took a deep breath. “But I’m also your student, and by this point, I think that some trust has been gained, hasn’t it, Princess? Or should I quote the Wedding’s events?”

The words came in torrents out of the unicorn’s mouth, flowing and filling her Princess’s ears. Celestia closed her eyes, and Twilight backed a couple of steps.

Twilight Sparkle was not one who would talk back to her mentor in such a way. In all her years of studying under Celestia’s wing, figuratively as well as literally, never had such an incident happened.  A musician unicorn and a dragon held their breath, while Twilight looked forth, impassive, and Celestia meditated. Finally, the Princess opened her eyes and looked back at her protege.

“You are right, of course, Twilight. I will leave the statue here with you. Be careful, will you?”

The purple mare relaxed, and nodded. “I will be, Princess.”  Student and teacher walked towards each other and shared a hug. They separated at last. Celestia looked at Lyra, smiling. “Remember what I asked of you, Lyra. “

The other unicorn nodded and smiled. “Of course, Princess.”

Celestia said goodbye to everyone in the room, and left the Library, taking flight to Canterlot.  After her departure, Twilight and Spike turned back to the green mint unicorn.

“What did she tell you?” asked Twilight, approaching her. Lyra shook her head, her mane flying around freely.

“Nope, not telling.”

“Oh, come on, Lyra!”

“No, you come on! We have a lot to do!”

Just when Twilight was about to open one of the books, though, the Library’s door was opened again. Nopony but Applejack was the one that came inside the building.

“Hullo, Twilight! We need you...” Applejack stopped mid-sentence when she saw the other unicorn present in the room.  Her eyes opened in surprise. “Ya’re here as well. Looks like we’ll be killin’ two birds with a stone.”

Twilight, Lyra, and Spike looked at her, bemused.

“Why would we do that, Applejack?”

“Well, Sugarcube, ‘s just... Oh, nevermind, no time fer explainn’ now. Look, we have an emergency reunion. The girls are reunited now in the Boutique. Care to come for a little, Twilight, Lyra? Ah’ll explain there, tho’ Ah believe ya’ll need no explainin’, Sugarcube.” Applejack addressed Lyra, whose face took on an understanding expression and soon followed the earth pony through the door.

“What was that about?” asked the small dragon, looking at the door.

“I don’t know, but I need to go and find out. Take care of the library, ok?”

“Is what I always do...”

Twilight raced to the door, and waved a hoof to her little assistant. “I’ll  ask Rarity for a gem for you!”

Twilight arrived at the Boutique’s door and knocked at it. Rarity’s sing-song voice answered.  “Come on in, darling!”

She opened the door and crossed the threshold, closing behind her. Applejack and Lyra were already there, as were Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and,surprisingly, Bon Bon.  Pinkie Pie shone by her absence. She looked from one side to the other, taking in the scene.

“What’s the matter, girls?”

Her friend were silent. The cream colored earth pony stepped in front of the group and talked.

“You see, Twilight,” said Bon Bon gravely, “your friend Pinkie Pie came to my shop and from out of nowhere, challenged me to a pastry contest. And now, she’s decided that it’ll be this Monday. I couldn’t find it in me to stop her, despite the fact that I should’ve had done so immediately and completely. Now, I don’t know what to do...” Her voice lowered then, just a few levels above from a whisper.  “I thought you, as her friends, could help me...”

Lyra walked over to her friend and put a hoof around her neck. “Hey, Bon, I know everything’s gonna be fine.”

“I hope you’re right, Lyra.” The earth pony looked at the friends that were reunited, who in turn looked at each other.  Twilight cleared her throat.

“Well, it seems that Pinkie is going that way again...,” declared the purple unicorn. Four heads nodded.

“We’re gonna have to rescue her once again.”

“Boy, here we go...”

“Um, I hope she’s not too upset.”

Five sets of hooves abandoned the boutique. One quite distinctive voice called up to them over the noise. “Could you please close behind you when you leave? Thank you!”

Bon Bon and Lyra watched the door closing in front of them. The earth pony turned to look at the unicorn.

“Well, that’s some friend you have gotten yourself there, eh Lyra?”

The green unicorn drew out a sheepish smile.

The Cakes were behind the counter, attending some ponies that visited the shop, when the bell rang and the door opened, letting Twilight Sparkle in. She trotted over to them.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Cake. Is Pinkie Pie around?”

“Well, she is, but she is a little busy right now, preparing a cake and baking it. I think she’ll be free in around forty minutes.”

“I understand. In that case, we’ll wait outside.”  Cup Cake nodded, while dispatching the last pony. Twilight looked at the glass display.

“Can you give me five slices of this pumpkin pie, Mr. Cake?”

The baker complied , and a minute later Twilight trotted out with a bag floating at her side.

“Pinkie can’t come out to play, girls, but I brought sweets.”

The five ponies sat down to wait, chatting among themselves.

“Hey,girls! You were looking for me?”

Everypony jumped as a pink blur sprung out from among the group. Five voices shouted as one.

“PINKIE PIE!”

“Thats’s me!  That’s me!  Oh, is this a game?!”  Pinkie pointed a hoof towards her pink maned pegasus friend.  “FLUTTERSHY!”

Rainbow Dash and Applejack facehoofed while the unicorns groaned. Fluttershy approached the pink mare. “Um, no, Pinkie... We just wanted to talk a little... if that’s ok with you, I mean...”

The bouncing pony stopped, calming a little. “Oh, it was that?  What’s it about, girls?”

Fluttershy continued. “Well, Pinkie.. Bon Bon told Applejack that you had challenged her to a pastry contest. Is that true?”

The addressed mare nodded vigorously, shaking her head and mane. “Yup!”

Now Applejack intervened. “Now why in tarnation would’ya do that, Sugarcube?”

“Well, I just wanted you to say that my desserts are the most delicious!” Her ears were slightly down, but the rest of her was just as normal.

“But, Pinks, you know that we think that. What need is there to prove that?” asked the chromatic pegasus.

“Well, that’s what you say, but I really, reallly want you to say who makes better sweets!”

Her hair was beginning to deflate. All around her began to sweat. Twilight came forward.

“We understand, Pinkie, but...” Twilight was interrupted as the baker jumped forward, and addressed them before entering the shop.

“Sorry, there’s work to do! I’ll wait for you on Monday, right?” Pinkie disappeared through the door, leaving only the ringing bell behind her.

The five mares outside looked at the business door, stunned.

“Well, horseapples. Now what are we gonna do?” asked Applejack, turning to her friends. “Somehow, Ah don’t think she’s gonna listen ta us...”

Twilight sighed and looked around. “Sometimes, you have to take the problem up to its logical extent...”

Rarity looked at her. “You mean that we let her go on with her insane enterprise?”

“I can’t think of anything else... Let’s go and talk to Bon Bon, shall we?”

The five mares sighed and went to look for the candy maker.

“What do you mean I have to go along with this?” shrieked Bon Bon, upon listening to the group. They retreated one step, wincing. Twilight answered to her.

“Sorry, Bon Bon, but as she is so fixated with you, I don’t think we can solve this problem... We are going to support you, though. We’ll give you what you need for the contest and help you with what you need. Is that right?”

“Whatever ya need fer yer preparations I’ll give you, Sugarcube, ok?” Applejack tipped her hat to her, an apologetic smile on her face.

Bon Bon looked at her. Lyra was by her side, and in turn looked at her earth pony friend. Finally Bon Bon sighed.

“I sure hope this ends on Monday, hopefully without having to go and work on Pinkie’s desserts. I don’t know what I’m going to do if it goes on.”

“We’re sorry, Bon Bon, but as I said, we’ll support you. Isn’t that right, girls?”

The other four ponies nodded.

“Thanks, I guess. That’s pretty good. Now excuse me, I have things to take care of.” She turned back to them and trotted inside. Lyra looked back at Twilight.

“Sorry, Twilight, I guess I’ll see you soon. Thanks you all!” The green unicorn followed her friend inside. The scholar turned to her friends.

“Well, it’s time for us to come back, too.”

Night fell upon Ponyville. Twilight was upstairs, preparing her astronomy equipment. She didn’t want to stay up too late that night, as the next day she would have her big first day with Zecora. A knock resounded on the library’s door.

“Spike, open up, please!” called the unicorn down, cleaning her telescope.

“I’m on it, Twilight!”   The baby dragon went to open the door and found Lyra on the other side, smiling at him, a bag in her mouth.

“Hi Shpike! Ish Twilgh arnd?”  She lowered her head to drop the bag in his arms. “Sorry, I brought some sweets for you. Is Twilight around?”

The dragon shrugged. “All’s cool. Twilight’s upstairs. Let me call her.”  He went to one of the tables, leaving the bag in there, and screamed. “TWILIGHT, LYRA’S HERE!”

From upstairs, her voice replied. “TELL HER TO COME HERE!”

He turned to the musician and pointed up with his thumb. “You heard the boss. I’m off to bed now.”  With that, he grabbed the bag and hurried upstairs, disappearing behind a door. Lyra followed him, going higher to find a balcony with a plaftorm in which Twilight stood with her equipment. The student turned to look at the musician.

“Hello, Lyra.How’s Bon Bon doing?”

“She’s fine now. She just needed some time to ventilate. I stayed and talked to her, keeping her company. She went to sleep and I decided to come here and see how you were doing.”

“Oh, I’m fine, thanks for coming. I’m just going to do some astronomy before turning in for the night. I could go to bed now, but if I don’t do it, I won’t feel calmed.”

“I understand it. Astronomy? I haven’t ever done it... What’s it like?”

The purple unicorn called her with a hoof. “Come over here.”

Once Lyra complied, she pointed the lens of the telescope to her.

“Just look through it. I’ve already set up coordinates.”

The musician looked down. Closing her left eye to focus better, she distinguished a bright blue star that saluted her from the night sky above. She let out a loud gasp of amazement, opening her mouth. Next to her, Twilight chuckled, delighted.

“That’s Spica, one of the brightest stars in the sky and personally one of my favorites. It makes you think of Princess Luna, doesn’t it?”

Lyra continued her observation of the star, until finally separating from the lens.

“That’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen, Twilight!”

“I know, right?  It helps me immensely every night.”

Both unicorns shared a smile.

“Well, I’m glad to see you’re fine. Guess I should go home. Will I see you tomorrow?”

“I’ll be with Zecora in the morning, but I think the afternoon will be fine.”

“Ok, then! Will see you tomorrow afternoon. Have a nice day. Good night, Twilight!”

“Good night, Lyra. Have a nice day too!”

The green unicorn descended quietly, so as not to wake up Spike, and exited the Library. Twilight spied her from the balcony; her coat was bright enough to be distinguishable in the dark night. She then went back to observe through her telescope. From both unicorns’ lips, a single phrase escaped simultaneously.

“Thank you...”