My Little Disney: The Movieby DagaYemarChaptersWhat's this? There are ponies singing songs.He's been dreaming of a true love's kiss...There's a party here in Ponyville...What's this? There are ponies singing songs.Twilight hopped off the train, humming a tune to herself as she looked up and down the platform. “Huh? I thought the others would be here to greet me…” She was sure she had sent the message correctly, just the way Celestia had shown her. Spike should have gotten it with plenty of time to let everypony know when she was getting back. “Oh well, I’m sure I’ll see them later.” Checking the bags floating magically over her shoulder, she walked lightly away from the station. Spending personal time with her teacher and mentor always left her in a good mood for days. The street was strangely empty for that time of day, with only a few ponies here and there going about their business. It didn’t take much effort to find out why, as the soft sound of singing carried over from several houses away. Stretching up onto the tips of her hooves, Twilight could just make out a crowd marching away through a side street. Shaking her head, Twilight smiled and set off in the other direction. She had never broken out randomly into song before she came to Ponyville and it still occasionally surprised her how easily it was accepted by everypony. Large numbers like that one were rare, but fun enough for everypony to stop what they were doing for ten minutes and join in. “That’s probably where Pinkie Pie is, too.” Twilight thought aloud. As if that had summoned her, Pinkie sailed through the air right over Twilight’s head. “HI TWILIGHT!” she shouted merrily, landing deftly on the roof on the train station and bounding off. Twilight’s momentary shock deepened when a dozen more ponies followed closely after her. “Hi Twilight, step in time! Hi Twilight, step in time! Never need a reason, never need a rhyme…” Their voices faded off as the group got further away. Twilight stared after them before slowly getting to her feet. “Two songs at the same time?” It wasn’t unheard of, but something still seemed off. She suddenly realized she was humming under her breath again, the same tune as when she had gotten off the train. She couldn’t quite place where she’s heard the tune before. It was very catchy… Lost in thought, she turned a corner and froze. Her eyes widened as she realized what she was seeing. Something was wrong. Something was very, very wrong! Springing into motion, she dashed as fast as her hooves could carry her to her library. “SPIIIIIIIIIIKE!!!!!” Behind her, Big Mac stared deeply into glass window of the Quills & Sofas store as if it contained all the answers of the universe. “When will my reflection show… who ah am… insiiiiiide…” … “Come in, my child.” The voice said. “We mustn’t lurk in doorways. It’s rude.” Taking a deep breath, Lyra stepped quickly into the dark of the wagon’s interior. The Great and Powerful Trixie tried backing up to give her some more room, but between all her living supplies, packs of food, spare parts in case the wagon fell apart on the road, stacks of fireworks, and other various paraphernalia of the wandering lifestyle, there wasn’t a whole lot of room for two ponies. After jostling each other for a few minutes, Trixie sighed and pointed to the door. “Maybe we should do this outside.” “I’m having second thoughts about this…” Lyra muttered, backing out as quickly as she could. Come to think of it, she couldn’t seem to remember have first thoughts. It had just… occurred to her that Trixie would be out here just inside the Everfree forest and she had to find her. For some reason… “Now then.” Trixie said, trying to regain some of the drama out of the situation. “You’re here because you have a thing you want. And the only way to get it, is to become a human yourself.” All thoughts of questioning why flew from her mind. “Actually, being human is the thing I want! Can you do that?!?” Trixie tilted her hat down over her eyes and chuckled. “My dear, sweet filly. That’s what I do! It’s what I live for, to help unfortunate ponies, like yourself.” “I thought you were just an annoying show pony who spent her days traveling from town to town showing off.” Lyra interrupted. “IT WAS JUST THAT ONE TIME!” Trixie shouted. “And none of that would have happened if there weren’t so many rude ponies in Ponyville!” Lyra snorted. “What, you couldn’t handle a little heckling? And if you’re so powerful, why couldn’t you get rid of that Ursa Minor?” “I couldn’t figure out how to get the Ursa to hold a quill!” “What’s that even supposed to mean?” “Stop interrupting and maybe I’ll tell you! I swear, Ponyville is a bunch of…” Trixie put a hoof over her eyes and visibly calmed herself. “Look… I admit that in the past I’ve been a nasty. They weren’t kidding when they called me, well…” “A hack?” Lyra suggested. Trixie glared at her. “…But you’ll find that nowadays, I’ve mended all my ways. Repented, seen the light, and made a switch. To… THIS!” She bucked the side of her wagon and a large sign unfolded from the roof with a light shower of fireworks. It read ‘The Great & Powerful Trixie’s Traveling Shop of Wonders! Your Problems Solved, or Your Bits Returned!’ “And I fortunately know a little magic.” Trixie continued, floating her hat off her head to reveal her glowing horn. “It’s my talent; that I always have possessed! And dear Lyra, please don’t laugh, I use it on behalf of the miserable, lonely, and depressed…” “Pathetic…” Lyra muttered wondering where this sales pitch was going and whether it would get back to the more interesting topic of humans. “Poor unfortunate foals!” Trixie sang, too caught up to notice her audiences’ waning interest. “In pain, in need! This one wanted to be thinner, this one wants to get the mare, and did Trixie help them? Yes indeed.” “I’m not interested in your old clients.” Lyra said, pushing away the pamphlets Trixie was thrusting at her. “And why are these all little foals?” “Yes, all successfully helped foals!” Trixie continued. “So sad, so true! They come flocking to my wagon, crying ‘Spells, Trixie please!’. And does the Great and Powerful Trixie help them? Yes I do. “Now it’s happened once or twice, somepony couldn’t pay the price. And I’m afraid I’ve had to rake them ‘cross the coals.” “Did you sic a giant star beast on their hometowns as well?” Lyra asked a little too sweetly. “Yes, I’ve had the odd complaint.” Trixie grated, before slipping back into the swing of things. “But on the whole I’ve been a saint to those poor unfortunate foals!” “Seriously, you’ve only helped foals so far?” “Their parents don’t seem to want anything to do with me.” Trixie pouted. “Trixie believes that cruel and untrue rumors have been circulating from a certain nearby village… anyway, do you want to be a human or not?” “Yes I do!” Lyra said, bouncing excitedly in place. “…really?” Trixie asked, cautiously wondering where all the mint pony’s cynicism had disappeared to. “You don’t want to think about maybe never seeing your father or sisters ever again?” “Why wouldn’t I? Being a human is awesome! I plan on marching straight back into town after this!” “Alright…” Trixie said uncertainly, summoning a golden scroll out of thin air with a blue flash. “Well, if you’ll just sign here at the bottom, the Great and Powerful Trixie can get started with… what are you doing?” Lyra unfolded the roll of paper and sat down into a more comfortable position. “I’m reading this.” “WHAT?!?” Trixie cried, rearing back and throwing her forelegs out wide. “WHY?!?” “What kind of moron would sign a contract without reading it?” Lyra countered. Trixie gaped at her before collapsing onto her hind legs. “Everypony I’ve ever dealt with, apparently.” She muttered. The silence stretched. “Hey. Is this what you meant earlier, about the Ursa Minor and a quill? Can you only cast big spells if you get somepony to sign an agreement first?” “Shut up!” Trixie growled. “It’s a touchy subject for me.” “You’re some kind of lawyer-magician?!” Lyra laughed. “Oh sure, pick on Trixie like everypony else! Have you finished reading yet?” “Just a minute. What does this part here mean, about you holding the right to send minions to interfere with my progress during the trial period?” Trixie hopped up and started pacing. “Look, it’s very simple. The spell only lasts for three days. At the end of that time, if you’ve managed to kiss another human, the spell will become permanent.” “It says ‘you’ll take love’s true form’.” Lyra pointed to the appropriate passage. “Not the point!” Trixie cried. “If you can’t find another human, I don’t have to refund you no matter how unsatisfied you are. And I can try to stop you so long as Trixie doesn’t do anything personally. Understand?” “I suppose… but what’s this part here at the end about draining me?” “That’s right!” Trixie clapped her hooves together sharply. “We haven’t discussed the subject of payment!” “I don’t have many-” “The fifty bits is merely an accounting fee, a just a token really, a trifle! What I want from you is… your magic!” “My magic?” Lyra gasped. “But without my magic, how can I-” “You’ll have those hooks,” Trixie pressed, “They are called fingers. And don’t forget the importance of body posture, HA! The ponies out there never did believe you. They thought your precious beliefs were a bore! You see it’s really much preferred you didn’t have to say a word, cause after all dear, that’s what presentation’s for! “Come on, they’ll never be convinced with speculation! True skeptics will sigh and take their leave. But they’ll gape and swoon and wow when you stand up and take a bow. It’s she who brings the proof that they’ll believe! Come on you poor unfortunate foal!” “I’m nearly twenty-one.” Lyra tried to put in, but Trixie was done with interruptions and ignored her. “Go ahead, make your choice! I’m a very busy pony,” Trixie gestured to the empty clearing around them and proceeded to ignore that too. “And I haven’t got all day. It won’t cost much, just your magic! You poor unfortunate foal! It’s sad, but true. If you want to cross a bridge with feet, you’ve got to pay the toll.” Lyra took a gulp and then a breath. “NOW GO AHEAD AND SIGN THAT SCROLL!” Trixie shouted, her patience finally breaking. She pulled a stuffed ursa doll out from under her cloak and started brushing it. “Mr. Bearsie, I think I’ve hooked her, boy. I’m Great and Power-FUUUULL!” Trixie threw her arms out and started backing up the stairs of her wagon to gain height, fireworks shooting off with every step she took. “You Poor. Un. Fortunate. FOOAALLL!” “Alright!” Lyra cheered, caught up in the moment. Her horn glowed golden as she moved the pen quickly across the parchment, making her mark. Trixie immediately settled down and started concentrating, powerful magic gathering around her horn. “Beluga sevruga, what you wish you shall presently be!” Glowing strands of magic crept out from the earth and surrounded Lyra, lifting her up into the air and obscuring her from sight. It rolled and flashed, briefly illuminating the changes occurring within. “These words aren’t important, the beat’s all I need, now bow to Trixie!” A small ball of magic shot out from the tip of her horn and connected with the swirling energies. There was an explosion of light, and suddenly the spell was done. Lyra floated softly to the ground, landing lightly on her fleshy, five-toed feet. She looked down in amazement at her soft, mint green dress with a lyre stitched on the side to her hands. With wonder in her eyes, she twitched each finger one by one, as if to prove they were real. “Yes… well… that’s it.” Trixie said uncomfortably, but Lyra wasn’t paying any more attention to her. “You’ll be billed in the mail shortly. Now go away.” With that she stepped back and slammed the wagon door closed with a bang. He's been dreaming of a true love's kiss...Twilight burst through the door of her library and magically slammed it shut behind her. One is normal, two is a coincidence, but three? Three is a conspiracy. And she had run into two other singing groups on her way here and had felt the pull to join in with them. Not just a desire, a pull! “It must be compulsion!” she said aloud, her mind ablaze with the possibilities. “Some kind of magic forcing everypony to sing against their will! The amount of magic necessary to affect the entire town would have… to be…” Twilight became aware of the state of the room around her for the first time and her jaw dropped. It was clean. Sparklingly clean. Twilight could see her face reflected in the shine on the closest bookcase. Every book was in its proper place, every table was free of crumbs or spare papers, and there wasn’t a single thing lying on the floors anywhere she could see. “…Spike?” Twilight called anxiously, walking carefully forward as if fearing to suddenly stumble across an invisible pile of trash. Spike never kept the place this clean when she wasn’t here to goad him into cleaning. She might believe a roving band of rogue cleaners had broken in and fixed this place up before accepting Spike had suddenly developed a neatness streak. It was just further proof that something was very wrong with Ponyville. “Spike, if you are here, you really need to help me! I think somepony has cast a spell over the whole town!” Her pleas just echoed around the empty room. Where could he have gone at a time like this? Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed something out of place. The door leading to the basement was hanging slightly ajar. Cautiously, Twilight nudged it open and peered inside. Whoever had cleaned upstairs had not bothered to come down here apparently, if the thin layer of dust coating the floor was any judge. For that matter, Twilight didn’t think she had been down here herself since that one time with Pinkie. Making a mental note to sweep up after the crisis was averted, she was about to back out before a disturbance in the dust caught her eye. A tiny trail of dragon’s prints lead down the staircase and back up. Grinning in triumph, Twilight levitated a candlestick off the wall and channeled it alight. “Why would he have come down here?” She asked herself as she slowly descended the stairs. As she reached the bottom, she became aware of a soft glow coming from a large book lying open on a table at the other end of the room. The dragon tracks lead right up to it. Carefully, Twilight approached the tome and peered down into the open page. “…Blank?” she said in confusion. Lifting the book up with her magic, she peered closely at the paper as if she could make out words if she squinted hard enough. The empty page glowed softly as if lit from within, but otherwise remained the same. Humming to herself under her breath, she flipped through the pages until found one covered in a very ornate scrawl. As she watched, the words slowly faded off the page one at a time from top to bottom. “Definitely magic.” She flipped the book closed and stared at the cover. There was no title or author, just a strange design comprised of three black circles, two small ones next to each other over the third. “A paw print? What kind of creature only has only two toes? Perhaps a pad instead…” With the book closed, Twilight noticed that some of the pages were glowing brighter than the rest. In fact, the very first few pages were glowing brightest of all. Flipping open to the first, Twilight found that the words on this page were shining brightly and weren’t vanishing. Settling down into a more comfortable position, she began to read. … Spike started forward and froze for the third time. What was he thinking? He gazed at the front door to the Carousel Boutique, and the familiar pain shot through his chest. What possibly possessed me to think that today would be any different? Turning, he stomped back the way he came, but stopped again after only a few feet. Something was different about today, he could just feel it. He patted the pouch hanging over his shoulder as if to draw courage from its contents. If only he had the courage… “So many times out here…” the words seemed to bubble up as if on their own. “I’ve watched a happy pair of lovers acting so carefree…” He started pacing idly around the building, lost in his own musings. “A happiness that I envy them; wish I could be with Rarity.” Spike stopped and looked up at the nearby window as a unicorn’s silhouette passed in front of the glass. The sight made him feel both weak in the legs and light on his feet at the same time. But some small part of him still shied away from taking that first step. Grimacing, he turned away from the window and moved on. “I thought I’d never know, a way my love could show, though I might wish that it could be!” His hands strayed once more to the shoulder bag, but depression fell on him all at once and the arm dropped. He sat down with his back against the wall and scrunched up as tight as he could, tears brimming in his eyes. Doubts assaulted him from all sides. “No face as hideous as my face, could ever stay with Rarity…” Scrubbing the tears away sharply, the bag slipped down and overturned. Spike barely caught the top before its precious contents could fall out onto the ground. The light glinted off something golden inside arrested his attention. Slowly he pulled it out, the dark thoughts blowing away with each bit revealed. “But suddenly an angel, she appeared to be. She kissed my cheek without a trace of fright.” He put his other hand wondering to his cheek, remembering that amazing birthday. Standing up with renewed energy, he set off around to the front of the store. “I dared to dream that she might come to care for me. And now I hope with all my might…” The front door loomed in front of him again, and he almost turned and walked away once more. Steeling himself, he looked down at what he held in his hands. The sunlight shone on the giant blue gem, the very same gem he spent hours hunting through the dark tunnels trying to recover. The painstakingly etched ‘R’ on the front matched the ‘S’ on the other in style, and the golden casing and chain had cost him months of savings. “My cold dark fears seem so petty… I swear today I’ll ask Rarity!” Before he could second guess himself one more time, he slipped the necklace back into the bad and pushed open the door. The ringing chimes over the door seemed to snap him out of his daydream and he suddenly seemed to realize what he was doing again. Looking around timidly, he couldn’t decide if he was glad or terrified that the front area of the store was empty. Almost deciding to leave again, Spike caught the faint sounds of the sewing machine running from Rarity’s work space in the back. Curious despite his nervousness, Spike trotted to the open doorway and peeked in. Rarity was busy at work on what looked like five different dresses at once. Several half finished pieces orbited around her head as she dashed between the sewing machine and her work table, various scissors, measuring tapes, and needles floating along in their wake. And it seemed he wasn’t the only one who had been singing to themselves. “I remember Hoity told me,” Rarity sang as she dashed about, clipping this, stitching that. “Your fashion dreams can come true. But you’ve got to make it happen, it all depends on you! So I work real hard each and every day, so the business soon will come my way. Just trust in doing what I do…” The drawer right next to where Spike stood suddenly sprang open, several ribbons levitating out in a glow of blue magic. “Um… hello Rarity!” Spike said, trying to sound casual. “Not now, Spike, there’s so much to do…” Rarity barely glanced over him before returning to her work. She didn’t say it with any malice; in fact, she just sounded more tired than anything else. Looking over to the side of the room, Spike saw several racks filled with dresses very similar to the ones she was working on now. Seeing an opening, Spike hopped into the room and started picking up some supplies littering the floor. “Maybe I could help you out for a bit?” Rarity smiled gratefully and several of the items she was levitating settled down into Spikes waiting arms. “Thanks, Spikey-Wikey. I’ve just got this very important order I’ve got to finish, and I’m almost there!” “You’re almost there!” Spike put in happily, following her closely as she darted about the room. “Ponies are going to wear these everywhere, and I’m almost there…” Rarity’s gaze passed over the finished dresses and something akin to doubt flitted across her face. “But are these designs good enough… that is my fear…” She seemed almost on the verge of deciding to start all over from scratch, or at least making alterations to each of them. And judging by how tired she already looked, Spike though she might drive herself into the ground trying to alter them all. He reached up and turned her to face him instead of the dresses. “Rarity, you’ve sewn for the Gala and the Princess’s wedding, you’ve nothing to fear!” Encouraged by her slow smile, he gestured to the few pieces that were nearly done. “And you’re almost there!” “I’m almost there…” Rarity sang slowly, her confidence returning. She favored him with a quick hug before launching herself back into her work. “We’re all!” “Most!” Spike harmonized, trailing happily after her. “There!” The two of them sang together, holding out the last note for all it was worth. The last few alterations blew past in no time at all, and soon the last dress was complete. Rarity floated the dress onto a hanger with a relieved sigh. “Thank you, Spike. I might have spent hours yet trying to improve these if it wasn’t for you.” “Oh, don’t mention it…” Spike said, fighting the butterflies in his stomach. He looked over to where his bag lay by the door, but shook his head. Go slow… Spike didn’t know why that thought slipped through his head right then, but it felt right. “Would you…” he paused to swallow and tried again. “Would you like to go down to the café for tea? With me? To celebrate finishing this big order?” Rarity stopped cleaning up the debris around the room and smiled at him. “You know, Spike… that sound just lovely.” There's a party here in Ponyville...Twilight burst out of the basement at a full gallop, a crazed gleam in her eye. The mysterious tome floated along after her as she dashed over to the nearest bookcase and started rapidly reading spines. “Good, they’re still in order…” She started pulling down volume after volume with her magic, casting aside those that didn’t seem applicable. Soon she had a small mountain of works which she plopped down on the nearest table. Opening several at once, she began pouring through them at a feverish pace. The mysterious tome she had found downstairs floated forgotten behind her head, pulsing softly. “Compulsion requires constant attention and direct orders on top of that. Nopony should be able to make all these suggestions remotely, and I didn’t see anyone suspicious in town.” One of the books was cast carefully aside and two more took its place. “Mystic Scroll’s mass conformity theory predicted similar effects in group spell weaving, but that should imply that all the singing is identical, not personalized. Ugh! I know I’ve read something like this before! If I could just pin down where… this mystery is buzzing in my skull… will I work it out? I cannot tell…” Standing, Twilight walked over to the large window and looked down at several crowds moving about nearby. A half dozen books joined the magic one floating after her, the latter glowing slightly brighter than before. “So many factors I can’t grasp, that when I think I’ve pegged it down at last…” She eyed an open thesis describing Falling Star’s Irresistible Dance enchantment, but shook her head and let the book slam closed. “None of these spells perfectly fit. Though some are close, if just a bit.” Twilight shook her head and blinked a few times. “What…? I almost felt like I had something… unless I’m thinking along the wrong track… there’s something here I’m not quite getting. Though I try, I keep forgetting. Like a memory, long since passed. Here in an instant and gone in a flash!” She clapped her hooves several times on either side of her head. “What does it mean? What does it mean?” A sudden thought flashed through her head, banished almost before she could fully form it. Twilight turned to a nearby shelf and carefully pulled down an old book. “In this dusty almanac, the secret’s waiting to be cracked. Not really sure how I know, but I am certain that it’s so!” Frowning, Twilight shook her head again and blinked at the book she had taken down. “Wait, why would this help? It has to be somewhere in the spell books, it must be…” Placing the almanac carefully down on the windowsill, she trotted back over to the stacks she had first compiled. The next ten minutes passed silently as she perused and discarded books one after another. “Simple cantrips, nothing more.” She sang, scanning down the latest page. “Not at all what I’m looking for. Somewhere there must be some key. Some solution I just can’t see! What does it mean? What does it mean!” Finally, Twilight sighed loudly and draped herself over the table with her forelegs covering her eyes. “What does it mean…? “I’ve read these magic books so many times. I know their stories and their mystic rhymes. I could recite them all by heart… my mind’s so full it’s tearing me apart! As often as I’ve read them something’s wrong. I feel a hint I’ve worked out is gone.” She opened one eye and chanced to look upon the almanac again. Something seemed to be tugging her attention to it and she sat up from the table to see it better. “…Or perhaps it’s really not as deep as I’ve been led to think.” She contemplated the glowing book for the first time since coming upstairs. Idly, she opened it and started turning pages at random. “Am I trying much too hard?” The last page in the book turned over and Twilight sat up, eyes going wide. “Of course! I’ve been too blind to see the answer right in front of me! Right in front of… me…” She frowned and looked at the almanac again. What had caused her to choose that book out of all of them? It didn’t matter; it was exactly what she needed to solve everything. She snatched the almanac up with her magic and drew it closer, flipping to the page she needed. “It’s simple, really, and very clear. This magic drifting in the air; invisible, yet everywhere! Just because I cannot see it, doesn’t mean I can’t defeat it!” Finding the page she needed, Twilight practically squealed with delight as she immediately saw the connections. Holding the two books close to each other, she started pacing in her excitement. “You know, I think this singing thing is not as tricky as is seems. In fact, this problem just maybe could have been solved by anypony. But instead it falls to me! To solve this lyric mystery! And there’s no reason I can find, I can’t handle it alone this time! I bet I could work faster too! And that’s exactly what I’ll do!” Throwing open the window, she tossed her head back and shouted as loud as she could. “EUREKA! THIS TIME, I WILL SAVE ALL OF YOUUUUU!!!!” “That’s great!” Somepony called up to her. “From what?” Twilight paused and looked down at their expecting faces. “From… what do you mean, from what? From the evil magic that’s making everypony act all crazy!” The small group that had gathered beneath the window looked at each other in confusion. “I haven’t noticed anything different.” a pegasus shouted up. “What are you talking about?” “Everypony singing!” Twilight barked in exasperation. “Just breaking out into random songs for no reason! More often than we usually do, I mean. Haven’t you noticed?” “You mean like how you just were?” a filly asked. Twilight blinked several times as she mentally went over the last twenty minutes of her life. Spinning around, she magically slammed the window closed and glared at the glowing tome. “What are you doing to me?” she demanded. The book floated innocently in her magic. Grumbling to herself, she regarded her findings once again. She had never heard of this ‘Epcolt’ place, but the map matched up very well with the old map of Equestria in the almanac. And if the huge castle represented anything important… Twilight pressed her hoof to the appropriate spot on the other map. “Applewood…” … Pinkie bounced her way down the street, grinning from ear to ear. “This is the best! Day! EVER!” she crowed, barely able to contain her happiness. All day, everypony had been so cheerful! She had joined in on three wonderful songs so far, and she had only started one of them herself! It was like the entire town was celebrating some kind of huge party! “There’s nothing more I could possible wish for!” she laughed, letting her hooves take her where they will. She often trotted like this, eye shut tight and trusting in her Pinkie sense to keep her from bumping into anything in a non-hilarious way. After a while she stopped and opened her eyes expectantly. She was on the edge of town, staring into the Everfree forest. Behind her, she could hear the sounds of another parade of some kind coming to a dramatic end, but she resisted the urge to see how it ended and waited expectantly. Her Pinkie sense had never let her down before. Sure enough, after only a few minutes something stumbled out of the trees, scrapping leaves out of its hair. “Hi Lyra!” Pinkie shouted, bouncing out to meet her halfway. Lyra paused and smiled broadly at the pink pony. “Pinkie! What do you think? Notice anything different about me?” She twirled in place, obviously at ease with her new body. Bouncing over to her side, Pinkie had to crane her neck back to look her in the face. “I know! That brand new dress looks great on you! And it even has your cutie mark on the side! Very fancy!” Lyra stamped her foot. “You know what I mean. I’m a human!” “Of course you are, silly!” Pinkie stretched up improbably tall and patted Lyra on the head. “You always said you'd find one someday and now you are one! That’s like… TWICE as good! I’m so so so SO happy for you!” Clearly a little disappointed at Pinkie’s lack of shock, Lyra turned towards town and grinned. “Well, no time to stand around and talk. I’ve got to show this off to everypony!” Pinkie froze, her eyes going wide. She zipped in front of Lyra and waved her forelegs wildly. “NO! Wait! You can’t just march in like that!” Lyra frowned down at her. “Do you think I’d scare ponies? I don’t want to cause a panic…” “You need pizzazz!” Pinkie cheered. She dashed over to a nearby bush and rooted around for a few seconds before pulling out a large, pale blue wagon decked out with musical instruments, confetti cannons, and other various paraphernalia. With a push of a button the whole thing started up, creating a resounding tuneful beat that had Lyra nodding along immediately. “I keep these all around Ponyville in case of parade-related emergencies. Hold on to your hat, Lyra; I’m going to make you a star!” Back in town, the latest group song was just ending when the sound of music washed over the departing ponies. Most turned back to look expectantly, as actual instruments was a change from the last number. So there was quite a crowd when Pinkie bounced onto the main street followed by her wagon. Somepony was pushing the wagon from behind, but everypony’s attention was on the pink pony capering down the middle of the street. “Make way! Glad to see ya!” Pinkie sang at the top of her lungs. “Prepare to meet Lyra!” Several of the crowd turned to each other in confusion, muttering Lyra’s name. But before anypony could ask about it, Pinkie was amongst them. “Hey, clear the way through the marketplace. HEY YOU!” she shouted, grabbing a brown stallion around the head and getting in so close their foreheads were touching. “Don’t ask me for more personal space! Come with me, be the first on your block to meet her eye!” She pulled the unfortunate pony after her towards the wagon, trailing the rest of the crowd. “Make way, here she comes! Standing just behind the drums. Come on, Lyra, don’t be shy!” In a burst of confetti, Lyra stepped around the cart and into full sight for the first time. The crowd stopped as one and stared, smiles frozen on their faces. Pinkie, completely oblivious to their changing mood, continued to sing. “A human! Oh my, what fun! Lyra now is one! It’s the best, show some interest! Just look at her knees!” She tried to push her captive forward for a closer look, but he wriggled out of her grasp and backed up into the crowd. “Hi everyone…” Lyra said with forced cheerfulness. She raised a hand and everypony gasped. Sensing the mood for the first time, Pinkie swept in to soothe things out. “Now everypony stay calm. There is no need for alarm! She’s not a horrible monster, listen to meeee! “This Lyra is pleased to meetcha, humans are handy! This will be neat, a really cool feat, just wait and see!” Pinkie stomped on the end of a basket of apples, sending a half dozen of the fruit sailing through the air. Reflexively, Lyra snatched the first two out of the air and managed to catch the rest in the crook of her arms. The throng ohh’d and ahh’d appreciatively. “…You think that’s all these hands I’ve wait for so long can do?” Lyra said mischievously. With a confidence that surprised even herself she started juggling the apples in a wide circle, to the cheers of her audience. “How you become a human?” Somepony in the back asked. “She fought a raging dragon!” Pinkie cried, caught up in her own excitement. “Just a unicorn in her wagon.” Lyra corrected. “So who faced Trixie and won?!” Pinkie asked, raising up on her hind legs with her forelegs spread. “HUMAN LYRA!” the crowd responded. The lot of them started marching down the road with Lyra at the head, riding the high of all that attention. Pinkie danced among the parade, stopping here and there to swing a random pony around with her. “There’s so much her ten fingers can do! Don’t they look lovely, Junebug? Shiny teeth, she has got thirty-two! Fabulous, aren’t they? When it comes to exotic type mammals… well, she’s got them beat, with her awesome feet, and she’s taller than most of them too!” Picking out a familiar trio from the crowd, Pinkie pushed them to the front and gestured for them to take center stage. “Come and see, don’t you agree that she is nifty?” “I have to admit that she is alluring…” Daisy said, eyeing her up and down. “That physique, how can I speak?!” Pinkie continued, singing over the three of them. “Never ordinary.” Lily hummed, nodding to Rose. “Never boring.” Rose agreed, nodding back. “Just look at those knees!” Pinkie sang, pointing at her legs again. “Why are you so interested in my knees?” Lyra asked, but nopony paid much attention. “Now, get on out in that square!” Pinkie commanded, pushing Lyra ahead quickly to where the road crossed another. “She’s a wonder, not a horror, a wonder!” Lily sang happily. “Adjust your dress and prepare!” Pinkie pulled down the ends of Lyra’s dress to straighten them out. “An absolute marvel, I concur!” Rose put in quickly. “To meet your favorite mare, Human Lyra!” Pinkie sang, spinning Lyra around and pointing at a cream colored earth pony with a blue and pink mane standing of the other side of the road. “…Lyra…?” Bon Bon asked in a small voice, shopping bags lying forgotten at her sides. Lyra quickly walked over and knelt awkwardly next to her. “Umm, yes? I mean, it’s me… hi?” They looked at each other for a few moments, Lyra red in embarrassment and Bon Bon in rising horror. “What… what happened to you?” she asked. “And I absolutely love the way she dresses!” Daisy sang behind them. Neither made any move to acknowledge the parade continuing in the background. “I got a unicorn to turn me into a human, like I always talked about.” Lyra ran a hand through her hair nervously and launched into an explanation. “It was out in the Everfree…” “In the forest she found mighty Trixie!” Pinkie interrupted, bouncing between the two of them. She addressed Bon Bon, but her voice carried to all of those around them. “And she agreed to a nominal fee! Unicorn magic made her as you see. Now she has to find one more of her kind, in three days or stuck she will be! As a pony! Back she’ll be…” “I don’t recall telling you all of that…” Lyra tried to say, but Bon Bon pulled her head down to look her in the eyes. “Is all that true?” she asked. Lyra nodded, but before she could say anymore the crowd grabbed her and tossed her into the air several times. “A Human!” Pinkie sang, leading the crowd through the lyrics as they carried Lyra off down the road. “Oh, how much fun it must be to be one. It’s a sight the Princesses would love to see! And that, good ponies, is why we should bring her there to say hi! Go fetch some favors and presents galore! We’ll need wagons and posters, a brass band and more! And I’ll go and bake an enormous cake; we’ll party all the way there! To Canterlot, we’ll take ya! Human Lyra!” Several members of the crowd, Pinkie included, broke off to attend to various preparations for the journey. Most of them, however, stayed clustered around Lyra, plying her with questions and complements so that she couldn’t break away. For her part, Lyra seemed too excited by the attention to want to get away. Bon Bon watched her for a few minutes before stomping her hoof in determination. “I have to do something about this.” she vowed to herself. Spotting two figures slinking towards the edge of town across the street, she set off to do just that.
What's this? There are ponies singing songs.Twilight hopped off the train, humming a tune to herself as she looked up and down the platform. “Huh? I thought the others would be here to greet me…” She was sure she had sent the message correctly, just the way Celestia had shown her. Spike should have gotten it with plenty of time to let everypony know when she was getting back. “Oh well, I’m sure I’ll see them later.” Checking the bags floating magically over her shoulder, she walked lightly away from the station. Spending personal time with her teacher and mentor always left her in a good mood for days. The street was strangely empty for that time of day, with only a few ponies here and there going about their business. It didn’t take much effort to find out why, as the soft sound of singing carried over from several houses away. Stretching up onto the tips of her hooves, Twilight could just make out a crowd marching away through a side street. Shaking her head, Twilight smiled and set off in the other direction. She had never broken out randomly into song before she came to Ponyville and it still occasionally surprised her how easily it was accepted by everypony. Large numbers like that one were rare, but fun enough for everypony to stop what they were doing for ten minutes and join in. “That’s probably where Pinkie Pie is, too.” Twilight thought aloud. As if that had summoned her, Pinkie sailed through the air right over Twilight’s head. “HI TWILIGHT!” she shouted merrily, landing deftly on the roof on the train station and bounding off. Twilight’s momentary shock deepened when a dozen more ponies followed closely after her. “Hi Twilight, step in time! Hi Twilight, step in time! Never need a reason, never need a rhyme…” Their voices faded off as the group got further away. Twilight stared after them before slowly getting to her feet. “Two songs at the same time?” It wasn’t unheard of, but something still seemed off. She suddenly realized she was humming under her breath again, the same tune as when she had gotten off the train. She couldn’t quite place where she’s heard the tune before. It was very catchy… Lost in thought, she turned a corner and froze. Her eyes widened as she realized what she was seeing. Something was wrong. Something was very, very wrong! Springing into motion, she dashed as fast as her hooves could carry her to her library. “SPIIIIIIIIIIKE!!!!!” Behind her, Big Mac stared deeply into glass window of the Quills & Sofas store as if it contained all the answers of the universe. “When will my reflection show… who ah am… insiiiiiide…” … “Come in, my child.” The voice said. “We mustn’t lurk in doorways. It’s rude.” Taking a deep breath, Lyra stepped quickly into the dark of the wagon’s interior. The Great and Powerful Trixie tried backing up to give her some more room, but between all her living supplies, packs of food, spare parts in case the wagon fell apart on the road, stacks of fireworks, and other various paraphernalia of the wandering lifestyle, there wasn’t a whole lot of room for two ponies. After jostling each other for a few minutes, Trixie sighed and pointed to the door. “Maybe we should do this outside.” “I’m having second thoughts about this…” Lyra muttered, backing out as quickly as she could. Come to think of it, she couldn’t seem to remember have first thoughts. It had just… occurred to her that Trixie would be out here just inside the Everfree forest and she had to find her. For some reason… “Now then.” Trixie said, trying to regain some of the drama out of the situation. “You’re here because you have a thing you want. And the only way to get it, is to become a human yourself.” All thoughts of questioning why flew from her mind. “Actually, being human is the thing I want! Can you do that?!?” Trixie tilted her hat down over her eyes and chuckled. “My dear, sweet filly. That’s what I do! It’s what I live for, to help unfortunate ponies, like yourself.” “I thought you were just an annoying show pony who spent her days traveling from town to town showing off.” Lyra interrupted. “IT WAS JUST THAT ONE TIME!” Trixie shouted. “And none of that would have happened if there weren’t so many rude ponies in Ponyville!” Lyra snorted. “What, you couldn’t handle a little heckling? And if you’re so powerful, why couldn’t you get rid of that Ursa Minor?” “I couldn’t figure out how to get the Ursa to hold a quill!” “What’s that even supposed to mean?” “Stop interrupting and maybe I’ll tell you! I swear, Ponyville is a bunch of…” Trixie put a hoof over her eyes and visibly calmed herself. “Look… I admit that in the past I’ve been a nasty. They weren’t kidding when they called me, well…” “A hack?” Lyra suggested. Trixie glared at her. “…But you’ll find that nowadays, I’ve mended all my ways. Repented, seen the light, and made a switch. To… THIS!” She bucked the side of her wagon and a large sign unfolded from the roof with a light shower of fireworks. It read ‘The Great & Powerful Trixie’s Traveling Shop of Wonders! Your Problems Solved, or Your Bits Returned!’ “And I fortunately know a little magic.” Trixie continued, floating her hat off her head to reveal her glowing horn. “It’s my talent; that I always have possessed! And dear Lyra, please don’t laugh, I use it on behalf of the miserable, lonely, and depressed…” “Pathetic…” Lyra muttered wondering where this sales pitch was going and whether it would get back to the more interesting topic of humans. “Poor unfortunate foals!” Trixie sang, too caught up to notice her audiences’ waning interest. “In pain, in need! This one wanted to be thinner, this one wants to get the mare, and did Trixie help them? Yes indeed.” “I’m not interested in your old clients.” Lyra said, pushing away the pamphlets Trixie was thrusting at her. “And why are these all little foals?” “Yes, all successfully helped foals!” Trixie continued. “So sad, so true! They come flocking to my wagon, crying ‘Spells, Trixie please!’. And does the Great and Powerful Trixie help them? Yes I do. “Now it’s happened once or twice, somepony couldn’t pay the price. And I’m afraid I’ve had to rake them ‘cross the coals.” “Did you sic a giant star beast on their hometowns as well?” Lyra asked a little too sweetly. “Yes, I’ve had the odd complaint.” Trixie grated, before slipping back into the swing of things. “But on the whole I’ve been a saint to those poor unfortunate foals!” “Seriously, you’ve only helped foals so far?” “Their parents don’t seem to want anything to do with me.” Trixie pouted. “Trixie believes that cruel and untrue rumors have been circulating from a certain nearby village… anyway, do you want to be a human or not?” “Yes I do!” Lyra said, bouncing excitedly in place. “…really?” Trixie asked, cautiously wondering where all the mint pony’s cynicism had disappeared to. “You don’t want to think about maybe never seeing your father or sisters ever again?” “Why wouldn’t I? Being a human is awesome! I plan on marching straight back into town after this!” “Alright…” Trixie said uncertainly, summoning a golden scroll out of thin air with a blue flash. “Well, if you’ll just sign here at the bottom, the Great and Powerful Trixie can get started with… what are you doing?” Lyra unfolded the roll of paper and sat down into a more comfortable position. “I’m reading this.” “WHAT?!?” Trixie cried, rearing back and throwing her forelegs out wide. “WHY?!?” “What kind of moron would sign a contract without reading it?” Lyra countered. Trixie gaped at her before collapsing onto her hind legs. “Everypony I’ve ever dealt with, apparently.” She muttered. The silence stretched. “Hey. Is this what you meant earlier, about the Ursa Minor and a quill? Can you only cast big spells if you get somepony to sign an agreement first?” “Shut up!” Trixie growled. “It’s a touchy subject for me.” “You’re some kind of lawyer-magician?!” Lyra laughed. “Oh sure, pick on Trixie like everypony else! Have you finished reading yet?” “Just a minute. What does this part here mean, about you holding the right to send minions to interfere with my progress during the trial period?” Trixie hopped up and started pacing. “Look, it’s very simple. The spell only lasts for three days. At the end of that time, if you’ve managed to kiss another human, the spell will become permanent.” “It says ‘you’ll take love’s true form’.” Lyra pointed to the appropriate passage. “Not the point!” Trixie cried. “If you can’t find another human, I don’t have to refund you no matter how unsatisfied you are. And I can try to stop you so long as Trixie doesn’t do anything personally. Understand?” “I suppose… but what’s this part here at the end about draining me?” “That’s right!” Trixie clapped her hooves together sharply. “We haven’t discussed the subject of payment!” “I don’t have many-” “The fifty bits is merely an accounting fee, a just a token really, a trifle! What I want from you is… your magic!” “My magic?” Lyra gasped. “But without my magic, how can I-” “You’ll have those hooks,” Trixie pressed, “They are called fingers. And don’t forget the importance of body posture, HA! The ponies out there never did believe you. They thought your precious beliefs were a bore! You see it’s really much preferred you didn’t have to say a word, cause after all dear, that’s what presentation’s for! “Come on, they’ll never be convinced with speculation! True skeptics will sigh and take their leave. But they’ll gape and swoon and wow when you stand up and take a bow. It’s she who brings the proof that they’ll believe! Come on you poor unfortunate foal!” “I’m nearly twenty-one.” Lyra tried to put in, but Trixie was done with interruptions and ignored her. “Go ahead, make your choice! I’m a very busy pony,” Trixie gestured to the empty clearing around them and proceeded to ignore that too. “And I haven’t got all day. It won’t cost much, just your magic! You poor unfortunate foal! It’s sad, but true. If you want to cross a bridge with feet, you’ve got to pay the toll.” Lyra took a gulp and then a breath. “NOW GO AHEAD AND SIGN THAT SCROLL!” Trixie shouted, her patience finally breaking. She pulled a stuffed ursa doll out from under her cloak and started brushing it. “Mr. Bearsie, I think I’ve hooked her, boy. I’m Great and Power-FUUUULL!” Trixie threw her arms out and started backing up the stairs of her wagon to gain height, fireworks shooting off with every step she took. “You Poor. Un. Fortunate. FOOAALLL!” “Alright!” Lyra cheered, caught up in the moment. Her horn glowed golden as she moved the pen quickly across the parchment, making her mark. Trixie immediately settled down and started concentrating, powerful magic gathering around her horn. “Beluga sevruga, what you wish you shall presently be!” Glowing strands of magic crept out from the earth and surrounded Lyra, lifting her up into the air and obscuring her from sight. It rolled and flashed, briefly illuminating the changes occurring within. “These words aren’t important, the beat’s all I need, now bow to Trixie!” A small ball of magic shot out from the tip of her horn and connected with the swirling energies. There was an explosion of light, and suddenly the spell was done. Lyra floated softly to the ground, landing lightly on her fleshy, five-toed feet. She looked down in amazement at her soft, mint green dress with a lyre stitched on the side to her hands. With wonder in her eyes, she twitched each finger one by one, as if to prove they were real. “Yes… well… that’s it.” Trixie said uncomfortably, but Lyra wasn’t paying any more attention to her. “You’ll be billed in the mail shortly. Now go away.” With that she stepped back and slammed the wagon door closed with a bang.
He's been dreaming of a true love's kiss...Twilight burst through the door of her library and magically slammed it shut behind her. One is normal, two is a coincidence, but three? Three is a conspiracy. And she had run into two other singing groups on her way here and had felt the pull to join in with them. Not just a desire, a pull! “It must be compulsion!” she said aloud, her mind ablaze with the possibilities. “Some kind of magic forcing everypony to sing against their will! The amount of magic necessary to affect the entire town would have… to be…” Twilight became aware of the state of the room around her for the first time and her jaw dropped. It was clean. Sparklingly clean. Twilight could see her face reflected in the shine on the closest bookcase. Every book was in its proper place, every table was free of crumbs or spare papers, and there wasn’t a single thing lying on the floors anywhere she could see. “…Spike?” Twilight called anxiously, walking carefully forward as if fearing to suddenly stumble across an invisible pile of trash. Spike never kept the place this clean when she wasn’t here to goad him into cleaning. She might believe a roving band of rogue cleaners had broken in and fixed this place up before accepting Spike had suddenly developed a neatness streak. It was just further proof that something was very wrong with Ponyville. “Spike, if you are here, you really need to help me! I think somepony has cast a spell over the whole town!” Her pleas just echoed around the empty room. Where could he have gone at a time like this? Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed something out of place. The door leading to the basement was hanging slightly ajar. Cautiously, Twilight nudged it open and peered inside. Whoever had cleaned upstairs had not bothered to come down here apparently, if the thin layer of dust coating the floor was any judge. For that matter, Twilight didn’t think she had been down here herself since that one time with Pinkie. Making a mental note to sweep up after the crisis was averted, she was about to back out before a disturbance in the dust caught her eye. A tiny trail of dragon’s prints lead down the staircase and back up. Grinning in triumph, Twilight levitated a candlestick off the wall and channeled it alight. “Why would he have come down here?” She asked herself as she slowly descended the stairs. As she reached the bottom, she became aware of a soft glow coming from a large book lying open on a table at the other end of the room. The dragon tracks lead right up to it. Carefully, Twilight approached the tome and peered down into the open page. “…Blank?” she said in confusion. Lifting the book up with her magic, she peered closely at the paper as if she could make out words if she squinted hard enough. The empty page glowed softly as if lit from within, but otherwise remained the same. Humming to herself under her breath, she flipped through the pages until found one covered in a very ornate scrawl. As she watched, the words slowly faded off the page one at a time from top to bottom. “Definitely magic.” She flipped the book closed and stared at the cover. There was no title or author, just a strange design comprised of three black circles, two small ones next to each other over the third. “A paw print? What kind of creature only has only two toes? Perhaps a pad instead…” With the book closed, Twilight noticed that some of the pages were glowing brighter than the rest. In fact, the very first few pages were glowing brightest of all. Flipping open to the first, Twilight found that the words on this page were shining brightly and weren’t vanishing. Settling down into a more comfortable position, she began to read. … Spike started forward and froze for the third time. What was he thinking? He gazed at the front door to the Carousel Boutique, and the familiar pain shot through his chest. What possibly possessed me to think that today would be any different? Turning, he stomped back the way he came, but stopped again after only a few feet. Something was different about today, he could just feel it. He patted the pouch hanging over his shoulder as if to draw courage from its contents. If only he had the courage… “So many times out here…” the words seemed to bubble up as if on their own. “I’ve watched a happy pair of lovers acting so carefree…” He started pacing idly around the building, lost in his own musings. “A happiness that I envy them; wish I could be with Rarity.” Spike stopped and looked up at the nearby window as a unicorn’s silhouette passed in front of the glass. The sight made him feel both weak in the legs and light on his feet at the same time. But some small part of him still shied away from taking that first step. Grimacing, he turned away from the window and moved on. “I thought I’d never know, a way my love could show, though I might wish that it could be!” His hands strayed once more to the shoulder bag, but depression fell on him all at once and the arm dropped. He sat down with his back against the wall and scrunched up as tight as he could, tears brimming in his eyes. Doubts assaulted him from all sides. “No face as hideous as my face, could ever stay with Rarity…” Scrubbing the tears away sharply, the bag slipped down and overturned. Spike barely caught the top before its precious contents could fall out onto the ground. The light glinted off something golden inside arrested his attention. Slowly he pulled it out, the dark thoughts blowing away with each bit revealed. “But suddenly an angel, she appeared to be. She kissed my cheek without a trace of fright.” He put his other hand wondering to his cheek, remembering that amazing birthday. Standing up with renewed energy, he set off around to the front of the store. “I dared to dream that she might come to care for me. And now I hope with all my might…” The front door loomed in front of him again, and he almost turned and walked away once more. Steeling himself, he looked down at what he held in his hands. The sunlight shone on the giant blue gem, the very same gem he spent hours hunting through the dark tunnels trying to recover. The painstakingly etched ‘R’ on the front matched the ‘S’ on the other in style, and the golden casing and chain had cost him months of savings. “My cold dark fears seem so petty… I swear today I’ll ask Rarity!” Before he could second guess himself one more time, he slipped the necklace back into the bad and pushed open the door. The ringing chimes over the door seemed to snap him out of his daydream and he suddenly seemed to realize what he was doing again. Looking around timidly, he couldn’t decide if he was glad or terrified that the front area of the store was empty. Almost deciding to leave again, Spike caught the faint sounds of the sewing machine running from Rarity’s work space in the back. Curious despite his nervousness, Spike trotted to the open doorway and peeked in. Rarity was busy at work on what looked like five different dresses at once. Several half finished pieces orbited around her head as she dashed between the sewing machine and her work table, various scissors, measuring tapes, and needles floating along in their wake. And it seemed he wasn’t the only one who had been singing to themselves. “I remember Hoity told me,” Rarity sang as she dashed about, clipping this, stitching that. “Your fashion dreams can come true. But you’ve got to make it happen, it all depends on you! So I work real hard each and every day, so the business soon will come my way. Just trust in doing what I do…” The drawer right next to where Spike stood suddenly sprang open, several ribbons levitating out in a glow of blue magic. “Um… hello Rarity!” Spike said, trying to sound casual. “Not now, Spike, there’s so much to do…” Rarity barely glanced over him before returning to her work. She didn’t say it with any malice; in fact, she just sounded more tired than anything else. Looking over to the side of the room, Spike saw several racks filled with dresses very similar to the ones she was working on now. Seeing an opening, Spike hopped into the room and started picking up some supplies littering the floor. “Maybe I could help you out for a bit?” Rarity smiled gratefully and several of the items she was levitating settled down into Spikes waiting arms. “Thanks, Spikey-Wikey. I’ve just got this very important order I’ve got to finish, and I’m almost there!” “You’re almost there!” Spike put in happily, following her closely as she darted about the room. “Ponies are going to wear these everywhere, and I’m almost there…” Rarity’s gaze passed over the finished dresses and something akin to doubt flitted across her face. “But are these designs good enough… that is my fear…” She seemed almost on the verge of deciding to start all over from scratch, or at least making alterations to each of them. And judging by how tired she already looked, Spike though she might drive herself into the ground trying to alter them all. He reached up and turned her to face him instead of the dresses. “Rarity, you’ve sewn for the Gala and the Princess’s wedding, you’ve nothing to fear!” Encouraged by her slow smile, he gestured to the few pieces that were nearly done. “And you’re almost there!” “I’m almost there…” Rarity sang slowly, her confidence returning. She favored him with a quick hug before launching herself back into her work. “We’re all!” “Most!” Spike harmonized, trailing happily after her. “There!” The two of them sang together, holding out the last note for all it was worth. The last few alterations blew past in no time at all, and soon the last dress was complete. Rarity floated the dress onto a hanger with a relieved sigh. “Thank you, Spike. I might have spent hours yet trying to improve these if it wasn’t for you.” “Oh, don’t mention it…” Spike said, fighting the butterflies in his stomach. He looked over to where his bag lay by the door, but shook his head. Go slow… Spike didn’t know why that thought slipped through his head right then, but it felt right. “Would you…” he paused to swallow and tried again. “Would you like to go down to the café for tea? With me? To celebrate finishing this big order?” Rarity stopped cleaning up the debris around the room and smiled at him. “You know, Spike… that sound just lovely.”
There's a party here in Ponyville...Twilight burst out of the basement at a full gallop, a crazed gleam in her eye. The mysterious tome floated along after her as she dashed over to the nearest bookcase and started rapidly reading spines. “Good, they’re still in order…” She started pulling down volume after volume with her magic, casting aside those that didn’t seem applicable. Soon she had a small mountain of works which she plopped down on the nearest table. Opening several at once, she began pouring through them at a feverish pace. The mysterious tome she had found downstairs floated forgotten behind her head, pulsing softly. “Compulsion requires constant attention and direct orders on top of that. Nopony should be able to make all these suggestions remotely, and I didn’t see anyone suspicious in town.” One of the books was cast carefully aside and two more took its place. “Mystic Scroll’s mass conformity theory predicted similar effects in group spell weaving, but that should imply that all the singing is identical, not personalized. Ugh! I know I’ve read something like this before! If I could just pin down where… this mystery is buzzing in my skull… will I work it out? I cannot tell…” Standing, Twilight walked over to the large window and looked down at several crowds moving about nearby. A half dozen books joined the magic one floating after her, the latter glowing slightly brighter than before. “So many factors I can’t grasp, that when I think I’ve pegged it down at last…” She eyed an open thesis describing Falling Star’s Irresistible Dance enchantment, but shook her head and let the book slam closed. “None of these spells perfectly fit. Though some are close, if just a bit.” Twilight shook her head and blinked a few times. “What…? I almost felt like I had something… unless I’m thinking along the wrong track… there’s something here I’m not quite getting. Though I try, I keep forgetting. Like a memory, long since passed. Here in an instant and gone in a flash!” She clapped her hooves several times on either side of her head. “What does it mean? What does it mean?” A sudden thought flashed through her head, banished almost before she could fully form it. Twilight turned to a nearby shelf and carefully pulled down an old book. “In this dusty almanac, the secret’s waiting to be cracked. Not really sure how I know, but I am certain that it’s so!” Frowning, Twilight shook her head again and blinked at the book she had taken down. “Wait, why would this help? It has to be somewhere in the spell books, it must be…” Placing the almanac carefully down on the windowsill, she trotted back over to the stacks she had first compiled. The next ten minutes passed silently as she perused and discarded books one after another. “Simple cantrips, nothing more.” She sang, scanning down the latest page. “Not at all what I’m looking for. Somewhere there must be some key. Some solution I just can’t see! What does it mean? What does it mean!” Finally, Twilight sighed loudly and draped herself over the table with her forelegs covering her eyes. “What does it mean…? “I’ve read these magic books so many times. I know their stories and their mystic rhymes. I could recite them all by heart… my mind’s so full it’s tearing me apart! As often as I’ve read them something’s wrong. I feel a hint I’ve worked out is gone.” She opened one eye and chanced to look upon the almanac again. Something seemed to be tugging her attention to it and she sat up from the table to see it better. “…Or perhaps it’s really not as deep as I’ve been led to think.” She contemplated the glowing book for the first time since coming upstairs. Idly, she opened it and started turning pages at random. “Am I trying much too hard?” The last page in the book turned over and Twilight sat up, eyes going wide. “Of course! I’ve been too blind to see the answer right in front of me! Right in front of… me…” She frowned and looked at the almanac again. What had caused her to choose that book out of all of them? It didn’t matter; it was exactly what she needed to solve everything. She snatched the almanac up with her magic and drew it closer, flipping to the page she needed. “It’s simple, really, and very clear. This magic drifting in the air; invisible, yet everywhere! Just because I cannot see it, doesn’t mean I can’t defeat it!” Finding the page she needed, Twilight practically squealed with delight as she immediately saw the connections. Holding the two books close to each other, she started pacing in her excitement. “You know, I think this singing thing is not as tricky as is seems. In fact, this problem just maybe could have been solved by anypony. But instead it falls to me! To solve this lyric mystery! And there’s no reason I can find, I can’t handle it alone this time! I bet I could work faster too! And that’s exactly what I’ll do!” Throwing open the window, she tossed her head back and shouted as loud as she could. “EUREKA! THIS TIME, I WILL SAVE ALL OF YOUUUUU!!!!” “That’s great!” Somepony called up to her. “From what?” Twilight paused and looked down at their expecting faces. “From… what do you mean, from what? From the evil magic that’s making everypony act all crazy!” The small group that had gathered beneath the window looked at each other in confusion. “I haven’t noticed anything different.” a pegasus shouted up. “What are you talking about?” “Everypony singing!” Twilight barked in exasperation. “Just breaking out into random songs for no reason! More often than we usually do, I mean. Haven’t you noticed?” “You mean like how you just were?” a filly asked. Twilight blinked several times as she mentally went over the last twenty minutes of her life. Spinning around, she magically slammed the window closed and glared at the glowing tome. “What are you doing to me?” she demanded. The book floated innocently in her magic. Grumbling to herself, she regarded her findings once again. She had never heard of this ‘Epcolt’ place, but the map matched up very well with the old map of Equestria in the almanac. And if the huge castle represented anything important… Twilight pressed her hoof to the appropriate spot on the other map. “Applewood…” … Pinkie bounced her way down the street, grinning from ear to ear. “This is the best! Day! EVER!” she crowed, barely able to contain her happiness. All day, everypony had been so cheerful! She had joined in on three wonderful songs so far, and she had only started one of them herself! It was like the entire town was celebrating some kind of huge party! “There’s nothing more I could possible wish for!” she laughed, letting her hooves take her where they will. She often trotted like this, eye shut tight and trusting in her Pinkie sense to keep her from bumping into anything in a non-hilarious way. After a while she stopped and opened her eyes expectantly. She was on the edge of town, staring into the Everfree forest. Behind her, she could hear the sounds of another parade of some kind coming to a dramatic end, but she resisted the urge to see how it ended and waited expectantly. Her Pinkie sense had never let her down before. Sure enough, after only a few minutes something stumbled out of the trees, scrapping leaves out of its hair. “Hi Lyra!” Pinkie shouted, bouncing out to meet her halfway. Lyra paused and smiled broadly at the pink pony. “Pinkie! What do you think? Notice anything different about me?” She twirled in place, obviously at ease with her new body. Bouncing over to her side, Pinkie had to crane her neck back to look her in the face. “I know! That brand new dress looks great on you! And it even has your cutie mark on the side! Very fancy!” Lyra stamped her foot. “You know what I mean. I’m a human!” “Of course you are, silly!” Pinkie stretched up improbably tall and patted Lyra on the head. “You always said you'd find one someday and now you are one! That’s like… TWICE as good! I’m so so so SO happy for you!” Clearly a little disappointed at Pinkie’s lack of shock, Lyra turned towards town and grinned. “Well, no time to stand around and talk. I’ve got to show this off to everypony!” Pinkie froze, her eyes going wide. She zipped in front of Lyra and waved her forelegs wildly. “NO! Wait! You can’t just march in like that!” Lyra frowned down at her. “Do you think I’d scare ponies? I don’t want to cause a panic…” “You need pizzazz!” Pinkie cheered. She dashed over to a nearby bush and rooted around for a few seconds before pulling out a large, pale blue wagon decked out with musical instruments, confetti cannons, and other various paraphernalia. With a push of a button the whole thing started up, creating a resounding tuneful beat that had Lyra nodding along immediately. “I keep these all around Ponyville in case of parade-related emergencies. Hold on to your hat, Lyra; I’m going to make you a star!” Back in town, the latest group song was just ending when the sound of music washed over the departing ponies. Most turned back to look expectantly, as actual instruments was a change from the last number. So there was quite a crowd when Pinkie bounced onto the main street followed by her wagon. Somepony was pushing the wagon from behind, but everypony’s attention was on the pink pony capering down the middle of the street. “Make way! Glad to see ya!” Pinkie sang at the top of her lungs. “Prepare to meet Lyra!” Several of the crowd turned to each other in confusion, muttering Lyra’s name. But before anypony could ask about it, Pinkie was amongst them. “Hey, clear the way through the marketplace. HEY YOU!” she shouted, grabbing a brown stallion around the head and getting in so close their foreheads were touching. “Don’t ask me for more personal space! Come with me, be the first on your block to meet her eye!” She pulled the unfortunate pony after her towards the wagon, trailing the rest of the crowd. “Make way, here she comes! Standing just behind the drums. Come on, Lyra, don’t be shy!” In a burst of confetti, Lyra stepped around the cart and into full sight for the first time. The crowd stopped as one and stared, smiles frozen on their faces. Pinkie, completely oblivious to their changing mood, continued to sing. “A human! Oh my, what fun! Lyra now is one! It’s the best, show some interest! Just look at her knees!” She tried to push her captive forward for a closer look, but he wriggled out of her grasp and backed up into the crowd. “Hi everyone…” Lyra said with forced cheerfulness. She raised a hand and everypony gasped. Sensing the mood for the first time, Pinkie swept in to soothe things out. “Now everypony stay calm. There is no need for alarm! She’s not a horrible monster, listen to meeee! “This Lyra is pleased to meetcha, humans are handy! This will be neat, a really cool feat, just wait and see!” Pinkie stomped on the end of a basket of apples, sending a half dozen of the fruit sailing through the air. Reflexively, Lyra snatched the first two out of the air and managed to catch the rest in the crook of her arms. The throng ohh’d and ahh’d appreciatively. “…You think that’s all these hands I’ve wait for so long can do?” Lyra said mischievously. With a confidence that surprised even herself she started juggling the apples in a wide circle, to the cheers of her audience. “How you become a human?” Somepony in the back asked. “She fought a raging dragon!” Pinkie cried, caught up in her own excitement. “Just a unicorn in her wagon.” Lyra corrected. “So who faced Trixie and won?!” Pinkie asked, raising up on her hind legs with her forelegs spread. “HUMAN LYRA!” the crowd responded. The lot of them started marching down the road with Lyra at the head, riding the high of all that attention. Pinkie danced among the parade, stopping here and there to swing a random pony around with her. “There’s so much her ten fingers can do! Don’t they look lovely, Junebug? Shiny teeth, she has got thirty-two! Fabulous, aren’t they? When it comes to exotic type mammals… well, she’s got them beat, with her awesome feet, and she’s taller than most of them too!” Picking out a familiar trio from the crowd, Pinkie pushed them to the front and gestured for them to take center stage. “Come and see, don’t you agree that she is nifty?” “I have to admit that she is alluring…” Daisy said, eyeing her up and down. “That physique, how can I speak?!” Pinkie continued, singing over the three of them. “Never ordinary.” Lily hummed, nodding to Rose. “Never boring.” Rose agreed, nodding back. “Just look at those knees!” Pinkie sang, pointing at her legs again. “Why are you so interested in my knees?” Lyra asked, but nopony paid much attention. “Now, get on out in that square!” Pinkie commanded, pushing Lyra ahead quickly to where the road crossed another. “She’s a wonder, not a horror, a wonder!” Lily sang happily. “Adjust your dress and prepare!” Pinkie pulled down the ends of Lyra’s dress to straighten them out. “An absolute marvel, I concur!” Rose put in quickly. “To meet your favorite mare, Human Lyra!” Pinkie sang, spinning Lyra around and pointing at a cream colored earth pony with a blue and pink mane standing of the other side of the road. “…Lyra…?” Bon Bon asked in a small voice, shopping bags lying forgotten at her sides. Lyra quickly walked over and knelt awkwardly next to her. “Umm, yes? I mean, it’s me… hi?” They looked at each other for a few moments, Lyra red in embarrassment and Bon Bon in rising horror. “What… what happened to you?” she asked. “And I absolutely love the way she dresses!” Daisy sang behind them. Neither made any move to acknowledge the parade continuing in the background. “I got a unicorn to turn me into a human, like I always talked about.” Lyra ran a hand through her hair nervously and launched into an explanation. “It was out in the Everfree…” “In the forest she found mighty Trixie!” Pinkie interrupted, bouncing between the two of them. She addressed Bon Bon, but her voice carried to all of those around them. “And she agreed to a nominal fee! Unicorn magic made her as you see. Now she has to find one more of her kind, in three days or stuck she will be! As a pony! Back she’ll be…” “I don’t recall telling you all of that…” Lyra tried to say, but Bon Bon pulled her head down to look her in the eyes. “Is all that true?” she asked. Lyra nodded, but before she could say anymore the crowd grabbed her and tossed her into the air several times. “A Human!” Pinkie sang, leading the crowd through the lyrics as they carried Lyra off down the road. “Oh, how much fun it must be to be one. It’s a sight the Princesses would love to see! And that, good ponies, is why we should bring her there to say hi! Go fetch some favors and presents galore! We’ll need wagons and posters, a brass band and more! And I’ll go and bake an enormous cake; we’ll party all the way there! To Canterlot, we’ll take ya! Human Lyra!” Several members of the crowd, Pinkie included, broke off to attend to various preparations for the journey. Most of them, however, stayed clustered around Lyra, plying her with questions and complements so that she couldn’t break away. For her part, Lyra seemed too excited by the attention to want to get away. Bon Bon watched her for a few minutes before stomping her hoof in determination. “I have to do something about this.” she vowed to herself. Spotting two figures slinking towards the edge of town across the street, she set off to do just that.
