Keeper of Harmony

It was such a blissful and sunny afternoon in Ponyville; the young fillies were in school learning mathematics and alphabets, the stallion farmers were out harvesting their ripe vegetables on massive, plowed fields, the pegasi were flying and soaring through the oceanic skies keeping it clear of clouds.  This was the habitual way of life of the residents in Ponyville, and the only possible thing that could disrupt this peaceful habit is Lynx.

Speaking of Lynx, we return to the human and his long and laborious walk to Ponyvile after his quality bond time with Fluttershy.  As time passed, he finally arrived at Ponyville; but he stopped at the edge of town and was suddenly overwhelmed with nervousness and embarrassment for he knew he would have to go through the streets with Fluttershy's present girdled around his neck.  It was the moment he had begun wearing it, that he felt his once proud dignity and pride had been stomped to the ground by humility's boot.  However, the reminiscing of Fluttershy's gratefulness made him feel less insecure about the gift ringed around his neck and rather made him feel more content of wearing it.

As Lynx merrily walked through the village's paths and crossroads with both hands behind his head, he took upon notice some of the ponies along his merry way were doing their best avoiding or making any sort of contact with him.  Some even retreated to their homes when they gave him a first glance.  The outcast treatmeant they were giving to Lynx bothered him most entirely.  All he wanted to do was fit in with the townsfolk, but his alien appearance and their fear of that case made it all the more difficult for him to do so.

Lynx covered his mouth with an entire left palm, pondering what Lyra had told him.

I'm sure if you try communicating with them they'd get to know you better.

'I'll keep trying, Lyra.' said Lynx in thought.

He took a deep breather, gathering confidential determination, and prepared his quest to mingle with the next pony he'll come across.  And what do you know, he bumped in to a grey pegasus who had a blonde mane and tail with a cutie mark of bubbles located on her flank.  Lynx found this pegasus to be rather... special (as in interesting) because her eyes were crossed and goofy looking.

Like Lyra, this pegasus showed no sign of fear or anxiety when she saw Lynx and instead greeted him with an approachable smile.

"Hi there!" said the pegasus, waving a hoof at Lynx.

Lynx hadn't expected this pegasus to be rare of the few to greet him so friendly-like at first flance, so he returned her gesture with a wave of his hand.

"Why, hello there." Lynx replied.

He came up to her, stroking his bottom chin while he took a brief moment observing the pegasus.  She also observed his entire being with only her right eye since her left eye was apparently staring up in to space.

She was the first to start a conversation.

"So, what are you?" she curiously asked.  "An alien or something?"

"I guess you could say I'm an alien." Lynx scoffed, and he then extended an arm out at her.  "The name's Lynx, miss..."

"Derpy Hooves!" said Derpy as she took his hand and shook it zealously.  "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Lynx."

"You can just pronounce me as Lynx." said Lynx.  "Mister is my father's name.  Although I have no idea who my father is or whether or not I have one even...."

"What was that last part?" asked Derpy.

"Oh, uh, it's nothing." assured Lynx.  "I got kinda lost in my own train of thought, is all."

"No worries." said Derpy.  "It sometimes happens to me too."

Derpy blinked and her eyes had re-coordinated; her left eye was now focused on Lynx while her right was plainly staring down at the soil beneath her.

Lynx upon noticed this strange change of her eyes and scratched his head.

"Pardon me for asking this for I can't help but wonder." said Lynx.  "Why are your eyes like that?"

And suddenly Derpy's smile drooped down to a slight, depressing frown.

"I was born with them...." Derpy murmured.

"I'm... sorry to hear that." said Lynx, strickened with regret.  "I didn't mean to ask such a personal question."

"It's fine, it's fine." said Derpy as she lifted an assuring smile.  "But why not we talk about you to change the subject.  How are you enjoying Ponyville, have you made lots of friends since the day you came here?" she presumed.

"Well," Lynx started.  "I can't matter-of-factly say I've made a lot of friends.  The ponies around here are easily agitated from my presence."

"I can understand." Derpy nodded.  "It takes time for the folks here to adapt to changes.  Like when I first came here I was treated-"

"Like an outcast...." said Lynx, cutting her off.

"No, not really." said Derpy, shaking her head.  "Where did that come from all of a sudden?"

"It's just..." Lynx trailed off.

"It's just what?" Derpy asked.

Lynx stood still and remained silent like a boulder, his ears then picked up audible voices that were neither his or Derpy's from a distance.  He turned his vision away from Derpy to the direction where two ponies, one a white stallion with a yellow mane and one a yellow mare with a green mane, were chattering to each other.  What prompted Lynx to look at them was that he swore he heard either of them say 'human' along with 'abomination' between their loud blabbering.

The stallion shifted his eyes away from the mare and came to discover that Lynx was staring at him.  The uneasy gaze he was receiving from the human had petrified him in to a statue-like state.  His female companion, the mare, was confused and attempted to snap her stallion friend out of his stance but had no success.  The mare harrumphed and took her leave.

Derpy wasn't sure what was happening.  She wondered why Lynx stayed quiet all of a sudden.

She unfolded her wings and hovered over to Lynx.  "Lynx?" said Derpy as she waved a distracting hoof in front of his vision.

Lynx broke from his gazing duel as he turned back facing Derpy.  "Ah, sorry." he apologized.  "I got lost in my head again."

"I don't think you were at all." doubted Derpy.

"What makes you think that?" Lynx questioned.

"Because I was just standing right here seeing you staring at those two ponies." said Derpy observingly.  "You looked pretty deadpanned when you were.  Is there something that's bothering you?"

It's because you're different.

Lynx depressingly sighed.  "It's just....  Do you know what it feels like?"

Derpy slightly tilted her head.  "Know what what feels like?" she asked, raising a brow.  "Why not tell me what's going on?"

Lynx would've been more willing to tell Derpy, but his distraught confliction confronted him and broke through his mind's window; compelling him to put the shards of his confidence back together, piece by piece.

"Derpy." said Lynx, addressing her name in a depressed tone.  "Do you know what it feels... to be different; to be afraid by someone whose appearance is abnormal?"

"No, but I do know the feeling of being treated differently because of my condition." said Derpy.

"Your eyes?"

"..."

"Again, I apologize for asking rhetorical questions." Lynx apologized.

It was then an eerie sound Lynx was unfamiliar with echoed inside his head, whispering.

You're not sorry...

Lynx could barely hear the fainting echo, and after he heard it he flinched and held the side of his head with his right hand, trying to sustain the unexpected headache.

"Jeez..." Lynx grunted.  "This headache's killing me."

He felt a benumbing chill swift through from the center of his body up to his head; the nerves of his legs shot as they weakly wobbled; his heart beating slower and slower; a stream of vein pulsating on his forehead.  Lynx was profoundly dazed and had no idea why he was having these strange conditions so abruptly.

Derpy witnessed his eccentric behavior as she raised a concerning brow.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

Lynx maintained his balance, rubbing his temples as he tried to speak.

"I-I'm fine." he said with a small groan.  "I think I just need to lie down, is all."

His energy was being sapped scantily, Lynx had felt his legs become more fragile and wobbly than before and he took a couple of steps before he begun to lose swerve, losing his balance.

Derpy could tell something was awfully wrong with Lynx, she hovered next to him catching him before he had a chance to tumble.

"Are you sure you can walk all on your own?" asked Derpy.

Lynx didn't reply to her just yet,  he took a moment closing his eyes, breathing deeply, trying to recollect the energy that had been depleted from an unknown cause as his eyelids slowly rose up until halfway-lidded.

'Why.' Lynx thought.  'Why would I not be sorry?'

Because I'am your conscience.

'My... conscience?'

Listen to your conscience, Lynx, these prejudicial insignificance aren't worth your time.  They'll never accept you for who you are, no matter how hard you try.

'But Twilight and the others-'

All playing you for a fool.  They only pretend to like you because they are afraid of you; why do you think Princess Celestia is trying her best to find a way to send you back home?

Lynx was in denial.  He wasn't sure why it'd be his conscience telling him the benefit of the doubt.

'You're- you're wrong...' he shook his head.

"Lynx?" Derpy asked.

If you refuse to accept the truth then so be it.  You'll soon see the error of your ways once you realize it in front of your very own eyes.

And just like that the echoing in Lynx's head disappeared.  Lynx could feel his energy coming to as his headache went away as well.  He regained his balance, and the meanwhile Derpy took her hooves off, looking at Lynx with a concerning look.

"Are you all right now, Lynx?" Derpy asked again.

"Yeah." said Lynx waving a hand gesturing 'I'm fine'.  "Sorry I worried you."

Derpy was still uncertain.  "You sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine.  I just need to walk it off, is all."

Lynx made his farewell with a dismissive wave to the worrying pegasus and headed out toward Twilight's Treehouse.  Derpy, much as she wanted to lend Lynx a helping hoof, pursued only to say her goodbyes.

"See you later, Lynx." Derpy hollered softly.

Lynx didn't holler back but waved another hand in the air as he kept on walking.  Still, he couldn't get over the troubling thoughts that concern his conscience.  Something about it seemed... menacing, but all Lynx could think was going back to Twilight's place for a yearning rest.

What sort of other cryptic montages will our human experience next?  Tune in on the next exciting chapter of Keeper of Harmony!