The Reluctant Protector

A while later, Lyra spoke up once again. “I think… I think I’m finally feeling something…”

“Yeah?” I asked.

“Yeah… It’s kind of like a pressure in my stomach.”

“In your stomach?”

“Yeah… That’s good right?”

I opened my eyes to see that hers where still closed and her face was contorted in deep concentration. I looked up to the sky and frowned. “Well, it is around lunchtime…” As soon as I said those words, her stomach let off a deep grumble and she gave me a sheepish look. I rolled my eyes and got to my feet. “Come on, Grasshopper.” I helped her to her hooves. “That’s enough of that for today anyway. Let’s go get some grub.”

When we got back to the cabin, she rushed to the kitchen and I swept some papers off of the couch onto the already cluttered floor and plonked myself down. “Sandwiches okay with you?” She called.

“Yeah whatever, I’m not picky.” It’s times like this I really wish Equestria had TV. Or at least radio… I reached down next to the couch to find a nearly finished bottle of… Something? I sniffed at the contents. And immediately recoiled. Vinegar. Bloody hell, how long has this been here? I really need to sort myself out… I took out my flask and sipped at it.A frustrated groan came from the kitchen and a few seconds later, Lyra came stomping in to stand in front of me.

“What?” I asked.

“The only thing you have to eat is mouldy bread.”

“Nice!” I said. “I love mushroom on toast!”

Lyra recoiled. “Artemis! That’s Disgusting!”

“I’m only kidding!” I said, Laughing. She frowned. “Oh, don’t be like that!”

“Surely you must have something else?” She asked, hope in her eyes.

I rubbed the back of my head. “If that’s all you found in there, then that’s all I have. And don’t call me Shirley.”

“Oh, I know!” She said, snapping her fingers and ignoring my genius joke. “We can go into town and grab a bite to eat there!”

“Ugh, but, general populace…”

She took my hand and pulled me off the couch. “Come on, it’ll be fun.” She dragged me towards the door.

“Ugh!” I said, a bit louder that time to try to emphasise my point.

“How old are you again?”

“Don’t ask…”

“Then act your age.”

“…What?”

A walk through the forest later, we arrived on the outskirts of Ponyville. While the townsfolk didn’t run and hide at the sight of me this time, there weren’t many around and the ones that were, didn’t look like they wanted to stick around as they hurried to do their shopping and whatnot. I wasn’t too bothered. Ponies are a skittish race by nature. Can’t fault that, it’s what’s kept them around so long. It’s good to be cautious. Especially in a world like this one.

“So where are we going?” I asked.

“What are you in the mood for?”

“I don’t really get hungry.”

“Of course, explains the bread…” Lyra said, despondently. “Tell you what, I’m gonna go to Sugar Cube Corner and get a pastry. If you want to get something while you’re there, you can, if not then fine.” She started walking.

I grabbed her hand “Woah woah woah.” I said stopping her. “What wrong with you?”

“Nothing.”

“Sure there isn’t.”

She sighed. “Okay fine.” She looked around, trying to piece together what she wanted to say. “It’s just… I thought being your apprentice would mean…”

“Would mean?” I prompted.

“Look, you used to be the Princess’s teacher, right? So, I just thought that being your student would involve more… I don’t know, magic? So far all we’ve been doing is breathing. And you didn’t even fully explain why.” I Blinked at her. “I mean, I get that its supposed to help. But with what?”

“Lyra… It’s the first day.”

“I know that. But I just… I just…”

I raised an eyebrow. “Is this something to do with that?” I pointed to her horn.

She gave a shallow nod. “Something like that.”

“Lyra, when you’re sick and you take medication, does it work right away?”

“…No.”

I patted her shoulder. “One of the things you need to work on is your patience. Everything is always ‘now now now!’ with you. You need to slow down. Everything will work out in the end. Trust me.” I gave a winning smile. She did not look convinced.

“If you say so…”

“I do.” I said, confidently, putting my arm around her shoulder. We started walking towards the centre of town. “How about after lunch we go and find something to blast with magic?” She giggled.

“Sounds good.”

Sugar Cube Corner was an interesting building. Set completely apart from its surrounding building-brethren. Instead of the typical thatched roof of an everyday structure, this had tiles decorated to look like gingerbread… with a cupcake on top. Not my cup of tea, but hey, whatever makes the owners happy.

The door opened with a ‘ding’, and a “welcome!” from someone behind the counter. We walked inside. I immediately felt like I walked into a wall of… Wrong. Just a feeling of… of something that shouldn’t be. My knuckles tightened and I could hear Lyra saying something to me. I narrowed my eyes and looked around, trying to find the source of the feeling. I found it.

“...temis. Artemis? I’m talking to you!” Lyra was tugging on my sleeve. I looked down to her.

“Oh, sorry Lyra. What was that?”

“I asked if you wanted to find a seat while I order. You okay? You’ve gone pale. Well, paler than usual, anyway.”

“Yeah… Sounds good.” I said, absentmindedly and walked off towards an empty corner table.

“Wait.” She called back. “Do you want anything?”

“Yeah… Sounds good.”

“Okay then…” Lyra went to order.

I sat down, squeezing my long legs underneath, and attempted to think on how I would handle this. Why didn’t I bring my staff with me...? I Lamented. Stupid. I took out my flask and took a very long swig. I did not put it back in my cloak and instead, opted to place it within easy reaching distance on the table for future consumption.

A few seconds later, Lyra sat down in front of me. “She’ll be over with our food in a minute. I Just got you the same as me.”

“Yeah… Sounds good.”

“Okay, please stop doing that. You’re freaking me out.”

“Yeah… Sounds-”

Lyra smacked the table. “Hey!”

I smirked. “Okay, I’ll stop.”

“So, are you going to tell me what’s going on?”

“I’m not even really sure myself. When the food comes, just be quiet and let me handle it.”

Lyra raised an eyebrow. “Oh… Kay…?”

A few minutes later. Our food was placed in front of us, very slowly, by a bright pink mare. She was quite chubby, but not overweight. She had a neutral expression and long, straight pink hair of a darker hue than her coat, that came down to the middle of her back. Lyra smiled at her. The mare did not smile back. Instead, she never took her eyes off of me, as if waiting for something. I matched her neutrality, put on my Princess face and exerted a small amount of will into the surroundings.

When speaking while exerting your will, you can affect the world in small ways. I’m serious, you should try it. I mean, it probably won’t do much for you other that giving you an air of confidence. But hey, even that can affect the people you interact with and make them say “Damn, that person knows what they’re doing.” Works wonders in job interviews. However, when you have magic, exerting your will and speaking can give you authority. Not just in a material sense like, ‘that person is my boss therefore I must listen to them’. I’m talking on a Spiritual level. Lyra was looking between the two of us nervously.

“Are you with him?” I asked with a measured tone. The pink mare slowly nodded once. “Do you know who I am?” She nodded again. Her expression never changing. “Then you know what will happen if I deem you a danger to these people.” That was not a question. Another nod. I nodded too and looked around. There were a few patrons, just sitting and minding their own business, unaware of this conversation or exactly what had served them. I turned back to the mare and looked her in the eyes. “Stay away from us.” She quickly turned and walked through a Staff Only door. I breathed a sigh of relief.

Lyra looked on, mouth moving like a fish out of water. “Okay.” She said. “Explain.”

I took a shaky sip of my flask. “Do I have to?”

“Do you have to explain why you just said those things to Pinkie Pie. The happiest, most fun-loving mare in town? Yes. Yes, you do.”

I sighed. “That thing was not a mare.” I said in a hushed tone. “It isn’t even from this dimension. I mean, it may have been born here, but its true origins are not.”

Lyra stared at me. “Ha! No, sorry, I thought you just said that Pinkie Pie isn’t from our dimension.” I stared at her. “Because… Because that would be silly.” I continued to stare. “Wouldn’t it?”

“No sillier than me…” I said under my breath.

“What was that?” She asked.

“Nothing.” I picked up the pastry in front of me and took a bite. Mmm, Apple. “Haven’t you ever noticed it doing things that you can’t explain? Things that are just easier to write off, rather than try to rationalise?”

She stared at me. “Well, there was that one time when she-”

I cut her off “Stop! On second thought, I don’t want to know.” I looked around the café again. No sign of the pink mare. “Look, if it-”

“She"

"-She hasn’t caused any trouble so far, then just don’t think about it. If something does happen, I’ll take care of it.”

“But I don’t understand” Lyra said, taking a sip of her tea. “What is she?”

“Just don’t worry about it.” I said. “The more you try to explain an entity like her, the more you’ll want your brain removed because it itches so much. Trust me on this.”

“I’ve known her since I moved here…” She said with wide eyes.

“That’s fine. Just go on living your life.”

“Yeah, like I can do that now…” She said taking a bite of her pastry.

I looked out the window. “Sorry…”

She sighed. “It's fine." She was looking around at the café. "I don’t really feel comfortable here anymore.” She looked to her half-eaten pastry. Then to me with wide eyes. “Wait, these are safe to eat right?!”

I finished off the last of mine. “What, don’t like apple?”

“Nevermind…”

As we exited the café, with the sound of “Come again!” from one of the owners, I looked back inside through the window and saw the pink mare staring at us through the window in the Staff Only door. I didn’t do or say anything.

Lyra looked to me. “So, what now boss?”

“What did you have in mind?” I asked, still looking at the pink mare, who was still looking at me.

She thought for a moment. “Well… You did say we could blow something up.”

I looked to Lyra and smiled. “I did say that didn’t I?” She nodded excitedly. I turned back to look at the Staff Only door. The mare was gone. I sighed. “Come on then.” I said and started walking towards the tree line of Everfree Forest. “I kind of feel like doing that too.” Lyra followed behind with a small, “yes!”