Find Her, Stay With Her

Kyle was standing outside of his the guest bedroom where his mother was staying for now. Jan and Lyra were both inside, the former helping the latter get into some clothes.

"So... it just goes on... like that." Jan's voice came.

"...Huh..." Lyra's voice said. "...wait... uh... ugh! Ngh!"

"What's the matter?" Jan asked.

"I don't like this! I'm not wearing it!" Lyra said.

"But you need undergarments for hygiene purposes! And to keep your... assets... supported." Jan said, struggling a bit at the end.

"This isn't garments!" Lyra complained. "This is... bondage!"

Jan sighed in impatience. "Do you want to wear clothes properly, or not?"

"Okay, fine..." Lyra said. "...if this is what humans do, I'll just go along with it."

Kyle was chuckling a bit in silence. He found it amusing that Lyra supposedly always wanted to be human, but now that she is, she is having some problems trying to adapt. Soon enough, Lyra emerged from the room, accompanied by Jan. She was adorned in a white, sleeveless tank top, khaki trousers that went halfway down her calves, and some tan sandals.

"Well..." Lyra said, looking at Kyle. "...how do I look?"

He examined her from head to toe, taking in every fine detail of her gorgeous body. The clothing surprisingly looked fairly good on her.

"You look pretty good!" Kyle said. "How does it feel?"

Lyra tugged at the clothing subtly. "Well... it feels kinda restrictive." she remarked.

"Yeah, clothing can feel that way. Sucks, but that's unfortunately how it is around here." Kyle said.

"But... I guess the one good thing about it is that I'm not so cold anymore." Lyra said.

"Well, let's take you shopping, so you can have some clothes that fit you better, and aren't so binding or loose." Kyle offered.

Lyra immediately looked excited at the idea.

"Oh yeah! Let's go!" she said.

Some time later that day, Kyle decided to take Lyra to Kohl's, the latter still been adorned in Jan's old clothing, which fit her alright, but was nothing special. She was absolutely awestruck by the appearance of the clothing store. Since she was now in a human form, and would be so for the next week, she did not have to stay hidden at the mansion all the time.

"So... this is a human shop?" Lyra asked.

"Yep." Kyle said.

She continued to look around, spinning while she did so.

"This place is so big...!" she commented. "Not even the really fancy shops in Canterlot hold a candle to this place!"

"Well, let's not dawdle, and we'll get you some sets of clothing." Kyle said.

"Right!" Lyra said, taking her eyes off... everything.

With that, the two set out to the women's section of the store... which was a little awkward for Kyle, but he had to help be Lyra's guide in the human world.

Wonderful... I get to go shoe-shopping with Lyra Heartstrings from the My Little Pony cartoon. Kyle thought, If other people ever heard me say that... they would probably think I'm a big, metrosexual pussy...

He let her pick out some tops, trousers and shorts, shoes, socks, panties, bras, and then he escorted her to the fitting rooms in order for her to try them on. She went in and out a few times, handing Kyle some things that weren't her size. There were some men, women, and children who were giving Kyle strange looks because he was holding female garments, but he tried his best to just ignore their glimpses of him. Still, it was a bit embarrassing.

Eventually, Lyra determined her size, and they went back through the clothing floor to get the same things she handed back to Kyle in her size. And just for the hell of it, Kyle decide to get Lyra some jewelry, too. She chose a necklace, a cuff bracelet, and she wanted to get a ring to symbolize their relationship.

The jeweler sized her left-hand fourth finger, and settled on a lab-grown colorless topaz with a silver band. She consciously chose the synthetic stone, as she did not want him to be pressured into buying anything outrageously expensive, despite his insistence that he would be willing to get her a real diamond.

Kyle had also decided to start wearing his original golden wedding band once again, now that Lyra was back, and in human form, no less.

"So, is that everything you want?" Kyle asked.

Lyra nodded. "It should get me by for the week."

"Okay," Kyle said. "I think we're ready to check out then!"

So, the two waited in line at the checkout, and Lyra continued to look around, admiring the place.

"Wow..." she said. "...most humans around here seem kinda... decent. From how you were treated, Kyle... I always thought you were some sort of renegade or something... that all humans were selfish."

"No. We're not all like that." Kyle said. "I was just unfortunate enough to become associated with the wrong people."

"Well, either way... it makes me look forward to exploring the human world even more!" Lyra said, excited.

"You might wanna lower your voice when you talk like that, Ly..." Kyle said, dropping his own voice. "...people might think you're weird!"

The two promptly checked out, Kyle not bothering to nitpick anything "bad" that the clerk might be doing, as he knows from personal experience that the clerk would not appreciate it. But he managed to get everything paid for, and the two left the store.

On the drive back... they happened to pass by a Kroger store. Kyle groaned in anger at the mere sight of the place, with, somehow, was still up and running.

"What's wrong?" Lyra asked.

"...It's the grocery store I used to work at." Kyle said, pointing to it. "Over there, the Kroger."

Lyra looked at the place. She was a little confused.

"It doesn't look so bad. Looks kinda similar to that Kohl's shop." she said.

"Don't let appearances fool you." Kyle said. "The clerks might act all bright-and-cheery... but inside, they are in agony. The customers expect to be treated like royalty, and lack any measurable level of common sense."

"Oh yeah, I forgot about that..." Lyra said. "...so, have you wanted to give 'em a piece of your mind?"

"Oh, I have..." Kyle said. "...but... I think some more punishment might be in order!"

Lyra smirked while narrowing her eyes. "So... want me to join the fun?" she asked.

Kyle nodded. "Sure... we just gotta head back to the house so I can pick up some things I'll need. And you can get into some new clothes while we're there, too." he said.

Shortly after they arrived at the mansion, Lyra got into her new clothes (which she commented felt much better), Kyle grabbed a laptop computer from his office, and the two were headed out again.

"Where you two going this time?" Jan asked.

"Oh, there's just something I wanna show Lyra." Kyle said.

"Okay, you two have fun!" Jan said, waving.

"Oh, we will..." Kyle whispered to Lyra.

Both of them started silently chuckling.

They drove back to the Kroger store, and both decided to sit in the Starbucks area of the store. Kyle decided to get them both some coffee, just so they would not seem suspicious. Kyle got himself a cappuccino, and Lyra decided to have an iced vanilla frappuccino. From there, the two took a seat at a table in the corner, away from the other patrons, and Kyle pulled out his laptop, which he connected to the free, public Wandering Wi-Fi that the store offered.

Using some third-party software, Kyle was able to make Skype achieve screen and audio capture of his laptop, which would help with the prank they would pull on the store. He also made a special call that would make his IP address over Skype, and encrypted it altogether on the connection to the router he was linked to.

"So..." Lyra spoke up. "...what exactly are you doing?"

"You'll see." Kyle answered. "Let's just say... we're gonna be broadcasting a meme."

"What's a... 'meme'?" Lyra asked.

"A meme is a phrase, image, song, or other thing that is catchy and easy to remember, which has gained widespread, sometimes even viral, attention. Personally, I'm not much for memes... but that doesn't mean I won't find one I like from time to time." Kyle said.

Kyle was able to finish everything up on the computer, and prepared to initiate the Skype call.

"I hope they haven't changed the intercom number..." Kyle said.

So, he clicked the call button, and after a moment, it was able to connect to the line. To see if it was working, Kyle pressed “play” on his laptop... and “Do Your Best” from Good Manners Songs For Children began to play on the intercom.

It took effect near-immediately. Many customers and employees started glancing at the speakers, confused. Kyle and Lyra were both struggling to hold their laughter; Kyle was snorting and pounding the table, and Lyra was clutching her stomach and flailing her legs while hyperventilating.

“Wh-what...” Lyra said, trying to stop laughing. “...what is this song?”

“I don't know, exactly... but, I mean... you just gotta do your best.” Kyle answered, shrugging at the last part.

With that, both of them resumed laughing at their little prank. Nobody would be able to use the PA to make any pages, since Kyle was using it via his laptop, and it could not be overrided. They let the song play through the entire first verse, and the instrumental bridge, which went on for quite a while. Kyle was certain that some people needed to make intercom pages, but he did not care.

"Second verse, same as the first!" he said, right as the song was about to start the lyrics back up again.

Soon, Kyle and Lyra each wrapped one arm around the other's shoulder and started rocking side to side in sync with the beat, silently singing along. Despite the song being very stupid, they just felt compelled to swing to the music in triumph.

After they felt that it had gone on long enough, Kyle decided to end the Skype call, and the intercom returned to the normal playlist.

"Well..." Kyle began, a look of satisfaction on his face as he gazed over the confused customers and employees. "...that was fun!"

After a few moments of the two laughing, there was a strange page over the PA.

"Attention everyone in this Kroger store." came a female voice. "Whoever took over the intercom to play their own music, please report to the service desk at this time. You have delayed some important pages, and we have the right to know who you are. So, once again, come to the service desk at this time to receive your penalty for misconduct."

"C'mon," Kyle said, standing. "let's blow this joint before they catch us!"

"Gotcha!" Lyra said, as she stood and quickly began to follow behind her human lover.

The two were able to make their way out by acting casual under the cover of the crowd of customers. Nobody happened to spot them, and they were able to make it out of the store.

"Sweet! That's twice I've successfully given this sweat-hole a piece of my mind! And this time, they didn't even know it!" Kyle said.

"And I got to enjoy it with you!" Lyra said.

So, the two made their way back over to Kyle's car, and they hastily drove out of the parking lot to make their way back over to the house. As they were driving, Kyle watching the road while Lyra got a nice, clear look at the human world, the former could not help but be constantly distracted, yet satisfied by the earworm that the song back in the store created.

“Y'know Lyra, people from your fandom are always wanting to let you know to do your best... but, I'm sure you already try your hardest.” Kyle said.

“Oh, I always try my hardest, sometimes.” Lyra responded.

Upon their arrival at home, they just decided to laze around for the remainder of the evening, more or less browsing the internet, watching some movies, playing video games, cooking dinner with Jan, and just unwinding for the night.

It was later that same evening when Ed and Danny, back at the prison, had managed to make it outside of the building, both adorned in guard uniforms. Danny successfully picked the lock to his cell through the bars, knowing the timing in which the guards would pass by his cell to do so without being caught, and came to his father's cell to get him out.

Both of them knocked out a pair of guards from behind, and stole their uniforms and equipment, using some soap and a pocketknife that one of the guards had to shave off their beards, so as to blend in a little better.

"He should've come by and clipped the fences after blinding the cameras..." Danny said.

They quickly rushed over to the inner fence in a blind spot from security cameras.

"Let's see..." Danny said, pressing the fence.

The chainlink bent outward on the bottom corner of one of the metal posts. A look of triumph spread over his face as he looked back at his father.

"Well look at that! My friends don't screw me over!" he said.

"Gotta hand it to ya, son..." Ed began. "...you got some damn good friends!"

At that moment, an alarm began to sound in the prison. Both of them jumped at the sound of it.

"C'mon, move!" Ed said.

With that, the two pushed their way through the openings made in the fence, and sure enough, they managed to get beyond the perimeter of the prison. They had run for some distance across a long stretch of field before they found a freeway bridge to hide under and catch their breath.

"Nicely done, son... it's because of you that we're gonna put that little shit in his rightful place!"

"Yep!" Danny said. "That little pussy-bitch is finally gonna get his share of payback!"

"And I think I remember where he lives..." Ed said. "...but my memory's a little fuzzy. Hope it doesn't take too long to find that big-ass house that's too fucking big for some scrawny-ass like him..."

"We'll find him!" Danny said, confidently.

With that, the two decided to head off to Atlanta, which was close by, and bust into a clothing shop to steal some garments to blend in better and not be so conspicuous...