Lyra Heartstring's Anthropology Dissertation

A machete hacked through the thickets, each swing punctuated by a magical chime as it chopped a clearer path for the mint green Unicorn weilding it.

Lyra Hearstrings, dressed in explorers garbs and a pilth helmet, glanced at her map and checked a compass to get her bearings; before continuing to chop away at the forest undergrowth.

She was 90 days into a 60 day expedition deep in the Forbidden Jungle. The remaining members of her party were exhausted, but spirited. None more than herself. The others had either wisely abandoned the hopeless pursuit of a mad-mare, or volunteered to accompany the injured back to base.

Cirrus was anything opposite his namesake, a hot-headed, cocky Pegasus stallion that acted as their scout, he never relented in trying to get under Lyra's tail, or the other mare of their group. She was convinced he was only sticking things out for the chance to mate with her.

Mist Maker, Lyra learned Cirrus had given her that name for reasons not related to the famous Pillar despite also being an Earth Pony, and had yet to learn what her real name is, was their remaining medical professional. A confident and strong-willed mare nearly as grating as Cirrus. Lyra learned they were constant on-again, off-again couple due to both having similar personalities.

Hans was their cook-slash-pack mule, a stubborn half-breed carrying what was left of their supplies, he always had a funny story to tell

Xen was their zebra guide, a quiet, large, and dependable Zebra, his exotic body caught Lyra's attention on more than one occasion.

Years of obsessive pursuit finally bore fruit for the Unicorn. An ancient pony artifact depicted a figure standing on two legs. The intellectual community gave little credit to the study of anthropology, believing the two-leggers were just another enemy of pony-kind that eventually died out; or were left behind and forgotten during the "Great Migration". Many accepted them as extinct, because they did not harmonize with nature as ponies do.

That was assuming they ever existed in the first place, which was argued among the community to a near -bloody degree. Lyra almost made physical contact against one colleague during one heated argument.

Lyra's theory was that the Two-legged possessed advanced intelligence, and wielded technology and magic far beyond Pony kind's comprehension.

The creatures were largely considered mythological, based on rumors the beings could wield magic with machines, until her recent discovery of the artifact. That lead down a rabbit hole of new discoveries. Things once considered equine-made, instead were looked at differently.

Despite that, it took years more afterwards to finally convince the intellectual community to sponser her endeavor. They ultimately withdrew all funding.

Many were skeptical, but Lyra knew they existed longer than pony kind had developed sentient thought. She believed they were actually the progenitors of Pony kind.

The artifact was confirmed, by the Princess herself no less, to have been made by a long forgotten civilization that fell in the Forbidden Jungle, some 100,000 years before the Great Migration.

It hinted at the whereabouts of a lost Pony tribe, but more importantly it displayed one of the mythological two-leggers.

The intellectual community was in an uproar, and Lyra was the first to petition and volunteer for the expedition. Although she never received any support, she was willing and eager to sell all her possessions to fund the expedition herself.

She lied, cheated, stole, and made promises, ending with leaving behind large amount of debt. Thus her travels had to bear fruit, or she'd be living in the dungeons for the rest of her days.