A Hero Never Rests

Author's note: Due to this chapter turning out to be so long, it has been divided into 3 parts. Enjoy Lyra's diary.

Dear Diary.

Today has been a most unusual day to say the least, I have mixed feelings about it but I think everything went well considering all that has happened. In fact I think it's kind of surprising we managed to return back home in one piece, but I'm going off topic here; first let me write what happened before.

It all started yesterday, when Twilight asked me to go with Miss Cheerilee's classroom to the Everfree Forest, I didn't have to be asked two times. a few days ago I had considered planning another expedition to the forest, looking back at my plan, I don't think I would've been able to find any other pony to go with me looking for something believed to be a fairy tale.

Twilight led the way into the forest, I was the first of the group to follow her. Sure I was afraid of the Everfree Forest just like anypony else, but my curiosity was bigger than my fear. I heard hoofsteps following me and I saw Rainbow Dash and Applejack leading the crowd of students and a teacher into the forest. All the while I was begging in a low voice that we would walk just a little big deeper into the forest.

"We're here; deep enough to see many plants, but close enough to stay clear from the majority of the dangerous creatures." said Twilight as she stopped, much to my disappointment.

"Come on Twilight, I'm sure we can go deeper; how about the ancient castle in the middle of the woods? I hear there's a story behind it." I told her as I used my begging expression, it worked 1 out of 2 times and I really hoped it would work on Twilight Sparkle.

"Lyra, we can't endanger the students like that!" replied Twilight as she looked at me mildly dissapointed; at least I think it was, it's hard reading Twilight's expressions. While she gave me a small lecture about my obligations as a protector of the ponies, Cheerilee was giving the students a speech about the crimson rose. I remember that one from a book I read yesterday actually, it is said that the rose blooms when in the presence of true love. After Twilight was done with her speech I insited one last time on the subject.

"But Twilight, we must do it! It's for the future of science, knowledge, the both of them together!" I told her with determination, hoping that this new approach would make her see things my way, if anything it made her laugh at me. I hate it when other ponies do that, but this time I had an ace up my sleeve that would make her at least curious. Before I had a chance to show it, she raised her hoof to stop me and said.

"Lyra, I can assure you that there's nothing else in that castle. I've been there and I can tell you with complete confidence that there's nothing there and even if there was, your muhams wouldn't be there." said Twilight to me, for a moment I hesitated because of her answer. It barely managed to hit a nerve, but the important thing was that it managed to hit. I think that was the moment I felt close to giving up hope on my search, this time I felt like she was right. She had been to the castle along with her other friends, surely she would've seen something there wouldn't she?

Then I remembered, I had the proof, I had the book and I know secrets of that castle that Twilight can only begin to imagine.

Was I being selfish? Did I wish to risk all those fillies and colts just to look for something that I'm not even sure exists? No, I didn't want anypony else to get hurt for me. Those thoughts were swarming across my mind and in the end, they all converged into a single thought that would define my next actions.

"You're right Twilight." I told her with a serious expression, for a moment a look of surprise filled her face but was quickly replaced by one of her comforting smiles. The kind of which are supposed to make ponies feel better about themselves; before she could talk however, I stopped her.

"I can't endanger the students that way, it would be very selfish from me. For even suggesting that, I'm sorry." I said to her, earning the looks of some students of the crowd. She started to look quite relaxed from my answer, that changed after I told her what I was planning.

"That's why I've decided to go alone." I told her as I began walking to the path of the Everfree Forest, I hadn't even moved ten steps when Rainbow Dash and Applejack stood in my way.

"Are you crazy Lyra? The Everfree forest isn't just a stroll in the park, it's the most dangerous part of Equestria!" said Twilight as she began walking towards me, I began backing up to where Applejack and Rainbow Dash stood.

"Now stop right there sugarcube, what're you thinking going into the middle of the Everfree forest all by yourself?" asked Applejack as she began to approach me, I looked at Rainbow Dash to see that she was doing the same thing. I had seen enough movies to know that they were planning on surrounding me along with Twilight.

"Last time you went there, we lost you for 5 days. Bon Bon went all crazy and began bossing us around town to look for you, it was like super assertive Fluttershy all over again!" said Rainbow Dash with a small frown. Geez. did Rainbow have to bring that up? I mean, not that I need reminding of what happened once she found me, but you know that story diary. A kick to the face, a severe scolding, the law of ice for a while and then hugs; way too many hugs.

"This time I have a map!" I told them as I waved it in their faces. It had cost me a whole month of social life and reading through a mountain of books just to sketch this map, it clearly showed the approximate locations of the Timberwolves, Manticoras and the Hydra, Not only that but also the canyons and other natural obstacles were portrayed. I drew a path with a green marker in order to remind me of the safe path I should follow. Twilight snatched it quickly from me and started to look at it, the students' attention was now on us rather than on the crimson rose or Miss Cheerilee.

"Map or not, we're not taking any chances. It's for your own good sugarcube." said Applejack as she was mere centimeters from me. I couldn't see a way out of it now, Twilight had the map and I was surrounded by two of the strongest mares in Ponyville.

"Rainbow! Look out behind you!" yelled one of the fillies, Rainbow turned around to look for what the filly pointed out; while she was looking for anything I saw the filly winking at me with a sly grin. I mouthed a thank you, snatched the map from Twilight's hoof and made a run for the path.

"Lyra! Come back here!" yelled Twilight in surprise as she started to follow me.

"Hold on Twilight, you keep an eye on the ponies. I'll get her!" said Applejack as she stopped Twilight, at that moment I began to run even faster. Not only was I running away from one of the strongest and fastest mares in Ponyville, but one of the only ones who uses a lasso. I didn't look behind me once and kept on running, sweat dripping down my forehead as I did my best to take a path that would make her crash against anything.

"Now sugarcube, don't make me do this the hard way." said Applejack as she followed me, never slowing down her pace. Luckily she didn't appear to have her lasso with her otherwise my adventure would've ended right there. I jumped through several trunks, some branches and even made tight squeezes through some bushes, even with all of that she managed to keep up with me and was even getting closer. Guess working on the field is really rewarding on the physical department.

I had to think of something fast and the result isn't something I'm proud of, the Poison Joke field was a short distance ahead and after seeing from far away the effects on some of the ponies, I thought it was my best shot against Applejack. I ran straight towards the field and as expected, Applejack followed me.

"I can keep doing this all day sugarcube, just stop and come with us. We won't hurt you but I can't say the same thing about the forest." said Applejack as she quickened her pace, by the sound her hooves were making I knew that she was nearly on me. Luckily I saw the field of Poison joke just a few meters away, Applejack noticed too as I heard her hoofsteps getting slower than before.

"Lyra stop! Those flowers aren't a joke!" yelled Applejack with a concerned tone, before I even touched a flower I used a spell I had saved just for these occasions. I kind of teleported myself behind her and when she approached the Poison Joke I may or may have not pushed her. The effects this time were instantaneous and she was reduced to the size of a small fillies' toy.

"I'm sorry Applejack, it's the only way I could think of stopping you." I told her as I picked her up with my magic and deposited her in my rucksack, much to her annoyance as she was struggling all the way inside the side pocket.

"Don't worry, I'll take you to Zecora's. You didn't actually think I would leave you alone in the forest right?" I asked her. Her response consisted in many inaudible squeaks, I sure am glad that I didn't run into her on my way back into Ponyville or else I would've been in big trouble. Fortunately for me, Zecora's hut was quite near to the field of Poison joke so I arrived without straying far from my planned path. When I stood outside her hut I took her out of the pocket and deposited her in front of the door, I knocked quickly, hoping to get a quick answer from the zebra, such was the case as she opened the door in mere seconds. Though I had only met her on a few ocassions I think she's a pretty cool zebra; very unique too.

"Lyra Heartstrings, what a surprise. I invite you, to come inside." said Zecora as she looked at me with a gentle smile as always.

"Hello Zecora, I'm in a bit of a hurry so I can't go inside, but I came here because Applejack touched Poison Joke and I happened to be passing by when that happened." I told her as I pointed to the squeaking pony under me, Zecora shook her head in slight dissapointment while looking at Applejack. I sure was glad she couldn't hear what she was really saying.

"Have no fear my little mare. The remedy for this joke isn't quite rare." said Zecora as she entered her hut quickly. I took the chance and ran off in the direction I came from, using the map as a guide I was back on track in no time. Though I do feel a bit guilty about leaving Applejack with Zecora, what I found in the temple makes up for it.

The walk through the forest was as uneventful as a trip to the market, a trip to the darkest and most dangerous market in all of Equestria, but still nothing bad happened to me. Ha! Take that fate, in your face! After crossing the wooden bridge I found myself in front of the castle, the doors were huge and I mean Canterlot Castle huge! The sun was in the middle of the sky so I decided to get over with it as soon as possible to return home before dinner.

I slowly opened the door to the castle and walked inside, it was exactly as I read in the book but even more beautiful. Sure the windows were broken and the pillars were covered in moss, but for me it was like paradise. The old pedastal of the elements of harmony was there, but that wasn't what I was looking. I walked on the pathway that led to the faraway tower in which the battle against Nightmare Moon took place, or at least I think it took place there... it smelled like evil; or moss.

When I arrived I saw parts of Nightmare Moon's armor scattered around the floor, instead of the normal grey color of the walls, these ones were black and they seemed to be emmiting energy... it sent shivers down my spine as I made my way into the central pedastal. All the while I was very alert of my surroundings, the atmosphere was one of terrible danger and it screamed at me to get out of there. I ignored my senses and took out The Book, that book was the one that got me this far.

The name of the book is unknown even to me, but I like to call it The Book, makes it sound very important. In there I found an old text in a language so ancient even Twilight Sparkle was unable to do the translation; which is why I looked far and wide for anything that could help me find out what it said. My efforts were rewarded on my tenth consecutive night in the Canterlot Royal Library, there was a note hidden in the pages of "Basic Spells 101," hey I was desperate diary! The note had the symbols in the book written in it alongside its modern translation.

After the excruciating month of translation, I managed to end up with a whole page of the book filled with notes. The beginning said.

"To open the first door, sing the story of old. On the beloved instrument of the goddess, you will play the first song."

If I had been left with the text by itself I would've gotten nowhere, but it seemed as if The Book wanted me to go. On the back I found 4 different musical sheets and each one of them had titles I could understand! Talk about giving me a break from all that translation, if it gave me a headache imagine poor Bon Bon navigating through all of my notes. The songs were; The Ballad of the Goddess, Farore's Courage, Nayru's Wisdom and Din's Power; talk about strong names. As for the instrument of the goddess, it was a lyre! Lucky me!

"Alright, here goes nothing." I said to myself as I began to play the song in my lyre, to be honest I don't consider myself a good singer but I did my best effort on this song.

"en daʃeʋu, no be̞ ʃo̞ndʊ tʏe̞ ʃʊtʊ keuænu sa le̞"

The normally dark and withered stone walls began shining with a blue light that wasn't there before, the central pedastal began rising from the floor and a spiral staircase appeared underneath it, lighted by some torches on the wall. The text wasn't kidding when saying this temple had some ancient magic in it, most surprising of all I didn't see any lamps on the wall when I arrived.

I stared at the light show in wonder and after a while of looking I slowly made my way to the staircase and started to descend into the deeper levels of the temple. All the while I was looking at the walls searching for any inscription or drawing that could be translated into anything else. Any clue that could show me proof about the existance of humans or anything related to them, before I even realized it I had arrived into another chamber with torches burning on the crystal green walls.

"This is amazing! Just for discovering this I can silence Twilight and the others for good, they'll see I was right all along!" I said as I pumped my hoof into the air. I quickly scanned the room and found some platforms over a seemingly bottomless pit, on the other side of the pit another platform with the three triangles could be seen; deciding that I needed another clue, I opened the old book once again and searched through the underlined sentences.