Old Sparky and the Forgotten Amulet

"Psst... Hey... Blue colt... Wake up!"

Sparky sprung from his sleep. It was still very dark. He adjusted himself and looked around.

"Psst... Up here! It's me!"

Sparky scanned directly above him and caught a glimpse of the mare who was hanging out of the window above him. It was the stranger from earlier. Her orange eyes lit up in the moonlight, and she smiled down at Sparky. She beckoned him inside and closed the window. Sparky was shocked by this. In all of his life he never imagined that anything like this would happen. What was it that made this feel so surreal?

He stared into nothingness wondering if any of this was really happening. Had he really lost almost everything he had? The door creaked open and the aquamarine coloured mare stood. There was something about her which made her very welcoming. Sparky skipped up the steps and through the open door.

"My name is Lyra Heartstrings," she whispered, "and you are...?"

"Old Sparky, you can just call me Sparky though. Thanks for allowing me in."

"My pleasure, make yourself at home!"

Lyra smiled and started walking up the stairs as quietly as she could. Sparky nervously creeped into the living room and lay down on the blue settee. It was strangely warm, like someone had been laying here before him. The house was surprisingly clean. Everything was neatly packed away in corners or cupboards. The house smelled of fresh flowers, which was very soothing. The nice atmosphere meant he drifted away faster than a feather in the breeze. He liked it here. He really liked it.

Morning came faster than Sparky could have imagined, but then, so did Lyra...

"Rise and shine sleepy head!" Sparky opened his eyes to see Lyra towering over him, "We've got a long day ahead of us! We haven't even introduced ourselves!"

Sparky grunted and yawned, "Miss Heartstrings, I'm really hungry, can I have something to eat?"

Lyra giggled and smiled, "Please, call me Lyra, and of course. Two pieces of toast with apple jam coming right up."

Sparky sat up on the sofa and stretched himself out. He felt like he had been imprisoned in a tight space for an extremely long time and was only now emerging. No matter how far this was from the truth, it felt like it.

The smell of toast quickly hit Old Sparky, and it made him feel even hungrier. He hadn't eaten since the previous morning, and all that was was a rushed Pop Trot. He waited patiently, playing with his mane. Lyra appeared from the room on the left holding a plate of food and a mug of tea.

"I couldn't help but notice you still haven't got a cutie mark, and at your age, my age!" Lyra exclaimed, setting down the food and drink beside Sparky.

"I was a journalist, and I was sure that was what I was good at, but it wasn't my special talent. I gave up searching and went on with my life as a journalist, but I lost my job, and now here I am with you," Sparky reluctantly replied, taking a sip of his tea and then moving onto his toast, "I can see yours is a Lyre. You'll have to show me why one day."

"And where are you from?" Lyra enquired, "you're obviously not from around here, and have you got a place to stay? I let you in because I was worried. You can stay here until you find a place, I'll be glad to have you."

"I'm from Meire," he replied, "It's to the south. I have no place to stay, which is why I'm so glad you let me crash here. I'll try to get a job soon."

Lyra smiled as she put her hoof on Sparky's, "Don't worry. Everything is going to be ok. You go out and get yourself together. Find some things to help you on your way. Keep all your things in the basement while you still have nowhere to stay. You can get through this, alright! I'll help introduce you to the locals too."

Well Lyra had one thing going for her... She was as reassuring as reassuring can be.

After breakfast, Sparky stored his furniture in Lyra's basement and put his camera around his neck. He loved his camera. It had captured some of the greatest things he had ever witnessed, and made him famous throughout Meire... Now it was not much more than an accessory.

Sparky left the house at midday. At this stage the residents of Ponyville were already out in full force, enjoying the day they had been presented with. The sky here was much clearer than Meire, which Sparky found very strange. He first went to Quills & Sofas, a store in the middle of town, to buy a quill with which to write his CV to apply for a job. Quills & Sofas, how silly, he thought, though they seemed to do good business with the locals.

Suddenly, as Sparky was walking down the street, a pink pony whose puffed up pink mane smelled like cotton candy appeared out of nowhere, "Hey, I don't know you. That must mean you're the new pony in town!"

"Uh, ye--," Sparky was interrupted.

"Welcome, welcome, welcome! A fine welcome to you! Welcome, welcome, welcome, I say how do you do? Welcome, welcome, welcome, I say HIP HIP HURRAY! Welcome, welcome, welcome to Ponyville today!!!" Sang the pink pony, "Hi, I'm Pinkie Pie, what's your name!?" She asked excitedly, maybe over-enthusiastically.

"I'm Old Sparky, nice to meet you."

"Well a big, big welcome to you Old Sparky, I hope we can become great friends!"

Sparky trotted away, faster than he usually would. He felt uncomfortable after that welcome. He hoped that would be the end of it, but he hadn't even gotten back on his hooves yet. Still though, he wasn't far away from it.

All thanks to Lyra Heartstrings.