Untitled

ALBANY

Albany trudged into town. Her spirits lifted as she observed the old sights. Sugarcube corner. The library. The towering statues. The fountain. The town hall. The spiral tower.  The large purple hot air balloon tethered to a nearby pole. This was Ponyville. Certainly not in all it's glory but it was Ponyville all the same. The place where Albany formed her firmest friendships.

Albany soon found herself conflicted. Where to go first? Albany, was alone, she had no idea where she might find something fun to do. Perhaps she would go for a cider, that would freshen her mind, give her some ideas may-

"ALLIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" A high pitched, screeching voice beckoned from behind. Before Albany had the chance to think, she was tackled. Hard. She fell roughly to the ground with an audible thud and her mystery assailant grappled with her for a while, causing Albany's hat to fall from her head and land neatly on the ground. Rolling around on the floor, Albany could finally get a good look at her attacker. Lyra. That stupid, good for nothing... Albany was grasping her chest, gasping for air, clutching onto a life that felt like it would slip away in an instant... The combination of the scream and the tackle had taken it's toll of Albany's senses, scaring her half to death. As she looked up at her assailant's menacing, chaotic and calculating eyes, she could only think one thing. Kick her bucking flank.

Under Lyra, Albany tucked in her hind legs, placed them strategically underneath the pony's stomach and gave a powerful push. Lyra squealed, clearly surprised from the sudden turn of events as she flew into the air. Her forelegs flailed in surprise from the attack and her body writhed, trying to turn so she wouldn't land on her head. Too late. Whack. Down she went, head first, with a thud, followed by a long, whining groan. She stood on her head for a second before falling forwards and onto her back.

Albany gasped as she got to her feet, she quickly grabbed her hat and shoved it back onto her head. Lyra peered over her stomach, fore legs extended in the air. She let out a quiet, "ow." Albany then proceeded to pounce on Lyra, pinning her down with her forelegs folded across her chest, her hind legs supporting the majority of her weight.

"Ah, Allie! You just keep getting heavier and heavier you bloated, old- GAH!" Her sentance was cut short as Albany relaxed her hind legs, allowing her entire body to fall onto Lyra. "Oh, sweet Celestia! Have mercy, have mercy!" Lyra tapped the ground in a desperate attempt to end the wrestling match.

Albany grinned and nonchalantly examined her hooves. "Ah, but Lyra my dear. You see Ah'm very tired from the walk over here and your pudgey frontier has proven to be a very comfortable pillow. Ah might just stay here all afternoon, if that's okay with you."

"It's not!"

"It is? Well, that's just dandy."

"I will kill your family and eat your livestock."

"Tut tut. Now now Mr. Wolf, that's no way to speak to your captor. Actually, captor sounds a bit, oh Ah don't know, insensitive on your part. Ah would much rather you refered to me as your queen. Yes, Queen Allie, Ah like that. " She extended the hoof she had been inspecting over Lyra's head. Lyra had a concerned look on her face. "Now, subject. Kiss my hoof."

"What?!"

"Oh, you heard me, sugarcube."

"I will do no such thing, you beastly mare."

"I guess I'll just get comfy then." Albany curled up slightly, moving her knee into Lyra's side and pushing down just enough to hurt her slightly.

"AH! I yield, I yield!" Lyra cried in a half plea, half laugh.

Albany gave Lyra a very serious look. "Kiss it."

Lyra glared up at Albany, her left eye twitching in anger, her mouth quivering in a terrifying frown. Albany simply smiled down at her. Slowly, Lyra's frown began contorting upwards, the early stages of a smile she could hold back no longer. Then a slight wimper. Before too long, both ponies were laughing hysterically. Both out of amusement from their recent scrap and out of happiness at finally seeing each other after so long. Lyra extended her forearms, givng Albany a tight and unforgiving clamp of a hug. Albany returned the gesture, nuzzling Lyra's neck. As the embrace broke, Albany rolled off Lyra. Both ponies stood, face to face, their smiles unwavering, their happiness maintained.

Niether quite knew what to say in that moment. All they could think to do was engage in another long embrace.

*****

Lyra and Albany had converged in Sugarcube corner and were chatting merrily over a cold, refreshing cider beverage. Lyra had been Albany's closest friend from as far back as she can remember. They had first met through their mothers, who were also close friends. Albany couldn't remember a time she didn't know Lyra. She was the same height as Albany and a similar slender build. A unicorn. She had a very distinct mint green coat which always helped her stand out in a crowd. People often said how wonderful the contrast of colour was between the two of them when they were playing together. Her mane was a slightly darker green, with a clear white streak pertruding down the middle of it. Her mane was unkempt and shaggy, but it suited her quite well in a somewhat tomboy style. Lyra did not have much magical ability. She could levitate objects, easy enough, but beyond that she was not particularly skilled. Lyra, like Albany was without a cutiemark. She and her had formed a group when they were fillies. The idea was given to Albany by her loving Aunt Applebloom. The name of the club was kept the same in honor and respect of it's founder, The Cutiemark Crusaders. When Lyra and Albany were fillies, the club had almost thirty members, ponies of all ages and backgrounds. When the club was young and small, Lyra, Albany and the others would converge in the old treehouse on Sweet Apple Acres. When ranks began growing, the mayor allowed them to use the town hall. It was a strange experience for two fillies as young as they were guiding others onto their destiny. That's what a cutiemark was, a destiny. Not just a mark, or a way of identifying a specific talent. It told your future, right then and there, for the entire world to see should they choose to look. It was a part of you, shining out your personal traits through bright colours and patterns. As the pair got older, their ranks thinned. More and more ponies achieving their cutiemarks, leaving the club to persue their lives. After a year, the club was reduced to the two original founders. The only two whom had not achieved their cutiemark. By the time the two were young mares the club simply became forgotten amidst the chaotic changes happening throughout Equestria.

Lyra took a large gulp out of her third cider. "Sweet Celestia, that was just what I needed. You know they're got me of box loading duty now? How bizarre right? I mean, come on. Get someone with some level of magical ability to do it? Perhaps then that box of expensive dining plates wouldn't have been smashed to smithereens. So that's why I'm out and about, they told me to go home. Hah! The fools thought I dropped it because I was feeling under the weather. Oh man, I tell you, someponies are stupid."

Albany smiled and chuckled as the story progressed. Lyra liked to talk and, to some extent, Albany liked to listen. Her best friend had a certain charm to her. The kind of mare you could really grow to like no matter how sour you were. Lyra was sweet and caring with a wicked sense of humour. Her and Albany would prank the other residents of Ponyville to no end. The salt in the tea was always a personal favourite of Albany's but Lyra had a soft spot for a good old fashioned scare.

"How in Equestria did you manage to drop a box of plates? Surely-" Albany paused to take a sip from her glass. "Surely it can't be that heavy."

"Well... no" Lyra looked toher left. Then to her right. Her ears rotated like radar, trying to pick up any clues as to whether there was someone listening. "I got a litle distracted. You know Douglas? The cute colt at the manedressers?"

"Ah absolutely do." Albany wouldn't trust him with a pair of scissors around her mane anyday soon. "You think he's cute?" Albany turned up her nose. She was never particularly fussed on the appearance or looks of others. She likes to judge people based on their character, their work ethic and their loyalty.

"Oh absolutely one hundred per cent yes. His eyes are just..." Lyra let out a small, childish squeal. That's what Albany loved about Lyra, they were polar opposites. Lyra was all about having fun and letting loose. She would do odd jobs around the town to maintain a living but most of the time she spent her hours running, drinking and socialising. Albany on the other hand was hard working, focussed and... dare she think it, a little lonely. Sure she had her family around, but it was a different experience altogether having an army of good friends, Albany was sure.

"You do know he's not exactly a... mare pony."

"How do you figure?" Lyra inquired.

"He's a MANEdresser, Lyra."

"A noble career choice."

Albany giggled quietly. "Have you ever seen him... look at other mares?"

"Well I certainly hope he's looking at me when he's cutting my hair." Lyra suddenly gasped. "Actually, that explains why my hair looks like an aligator had a seizure in it."

Albany laughed briefly. "Ah have no idea how much more clear Ah can make it without blurtin' it out."

"What, that he's gay? I knew that, but I'll be damned if I can't convert that stallion of a pony!"

Albany couldn't help but let cider spill out of her mouth as she burst into laughter. An unexpected fit of laughter ensued between the two, turning some heads on the neaby tables. Some other ponies even began laughing as a natural reaction.

This was the relationship these two shared. Full of laughter and trust.

When the laughter subsided, there was a moment of silence as the two mares eagerly sipped at their drinks. Lyra broke the silence. "So how are things on the farm? It's been far to long since I've popped round for a visit, do you still have those adorable pigs?"

Albany shrugged. "Ah can't complain. We're gettin' by." Albany took another sip.

Lyra raised her eyebrows and leant her head forwards, as if to say 'and'? Albany seemed to understand her gesture.

"That's all I can really say, Lyra."

"All you can say, or all you want to say?" Lyra interrogated.

"Hmm, never really thought about it like that." Albany contemplated. "Yes, Ah guess. That is, all Ah want to say."

"Oh Allie, you know you can tell me anything." Lyra extended her hoof across the table. Albany looked at it for a brief period and then placed her hoof on top of hers, squeezing gently.

Albany soon found the words. "We might not have a farm for much longer Lyra. These long nights have taken their toll on our crops. We can sustain them for now, just about, but it won't be long until they begin to wither away. The long days don't exactly help us either. The sun can beat down for days on our wheat, causin' it to become dry and just die. It's been utterly stressful. It's mostly the reason Ah havn't been into Ponyville much at all, 'cept to buy a few niks and naks. When an Apple family member's business is in crisis, we know we can always turn to friends and family to provide financial support. But nowadays, things are just as bad everywhere else. Noone is earnin' any money, our livestock is slowly starving... Lyra it's been hell. Sometimes... Ah wonder why Ah should even stay. You know, it seems so helpless." Albany held her head in free hoof and gave a deep sigh.

Lyra squeezed Albany's hoof again. Albany smiled a bit at that. It was a tremendous comfort, something as simple as placing one hoof on top of another. Knowing there was trusted support coming from the other end of that hoof. Everything went calm for a while. Albany knew she could trust Lyra with her life.

"Allie. You're going to stay there because I know that's what you love the most. Your family, your work. You're vital to this entire community. You, Mac, your mother and Anna."

"But that's just the thing. When the farm closes we won't be... we won't be..." Lyra lifted Albany's hoof slightly and hit it back down onto the table. Albany yelped in surprise.

"Sorry but I get so sick of you sometimes. Always going off on these 'it's so helpless, woe is me, all is lost' moments. All is not lost, at least not for you. You're a strong, well adjusted mare with a great family and a bright future, with or without the farm, which I still believe isn't going anywhere." Her voice was soft and delicate, almost soothing as Albany stared her friend directly in the eye, hanging onto every word. Lyra sighed and looked around the room again. This time much more seriously. This time she really didn't want anyone listening in. "Allie can I tell you something that you have to swear you can never repeat to another pony so long as you live?"

Albany gave a slight nod and leant in a bit. Lyra began, "You know I don't have a stable career. I jump in and out of things, it's what I like to do. I couldn't be held down to one job for years at a time it would drive me crazy. That's the difference between you and me I guess, huh? Well, not long ago I landed a job catering a royal event, in Canterlot. Well, not so much a royal event, more of a very formal meeting. I know what you're thinking, how the hay did I get that job? Well, my grandmother was a member of the royal guard, quite high up. Needless to say they recognise my name." Lyra and her family were peculiar. For generations, no matter who fathered the child, the mares in the family would all be born identical besides the cutiemark. The same coat, the same build, the same attitude to life and it even became a family tradition to name the first born mare 'Lyra'. Lyra continued, "My job would be to carry the food into the hall. I had never been so nervous, it's a miracle nothing went wrong. Well, something did go wrong but that's a story for another time, I'm serious right now. So, I walk into the hall, and there are six ponies sat there, one of them being Princess bucking Luna. Which just made my nerves ten times worse, I tell you. But she didn't look right, exhausted really. Her hair was dull and lifeless, not like the first time I ever saw her. Her eyes were no better, dark and drooping like she hadn't slept in weeks. She could hardly even lift her head. She was sat at the head of the table with the Captain of the Royal Guard and Jorah. You remember Jorah right? Older pony, going grey, Lieutenant. Ah, I don't know, maybe you do, it's not important. He was in the paper that one time, caught the cider smugglers? No? Okay, well. There was them and two other ponies who I didn't recognise. Although one thing I'm sure of is they were not from Equestria. Their accents were too... bizarre. They were dropping in and out of another language every now and again. And then there was a Zebra, you know the black and white striped ponies, like Zecora. Except it wasn't Zecora, it was a stallion. But he was dressed very smartly, not ethnic like Zecora but... fancy. Like a Rarity suit, or something. Really quite posh. Now, Albany, I've told you this much but... I need you to promise me again that you won't repeat this to anyone. And I mean anyone." Lyra had never called her 'Albany' before. Lyra gave Albany a stare that almost looked like a pathetic beg. Albany could trust Lyra, and she believed Lyra trusted her too. But a promise would enforce that trust so Albany had no objection.

"Ah promise, Lyra. Ya can trust me. Ah swear on my Great Great Grandmother's zap apple pie recipe." Lyra did not laugh at Albany's joke, which made her think for a second it may have been in poor taste. Lyra was being deadly serious, and Albany had to respect that, so she continued, "But really, Lyra. Ya can trust me, not a soul. Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye."

Lyra paused for a moment. She was really struggling with this. What could be so secretive? Albany thought. Her question was about to be answered as Lyra opened her mouth to resume, "Well, Allie. Truth be told I wasn't even supposed to be taking food through. That was the job of the maids and the butlers. My job was to carry food from the carts into the kitchen. When I entered the kitchen there was a flurry, almost a kind of mania. Turns out one of the maids had fainted. There was a small panic, needless to say. I heard the head-butler shouting about how everything had to go according to plan, there was a routine to keep, this was a dance, blah blah blah, he was really eccentric. So I, foolishly, raised my hoof and offered to take her place. The head-butler was so panicked he accepted. Heh, he wouldn't stop thanking me. But one of the royal guards that was present wasn't keen on the idea, and before I could even step into the maid's dress a contract was written up by the sergeant. It was fairly long winded but it held the royal seal so this was some official business. I read it. It was swearing an oath to secrecy on the threat of imprisonment. This is why you cannot tell anyone." Albany gave a firm, understanding nod before Lyra continued. "Needless to say, I signed it. So, there I was with the dining platter, all suited up, ready to head in. When we finally did, there was a conversation underway between the Captain and the Zebra. As maid's we were required to hang around inside, fill drinks, yadda yadda. Jorah kept a very close eye on me, probably because he hadn't seen me before. He barely averted his gaze until the sergeant walked in and whispered in his ear. I assume he told him the situation with me because after that he was relaxed again, didn't bat an eyelid. The Captain was talking about Equestria, and the state it was in. Turns out the three other guests were all from different countries, other parts of the world. And they too were describing similar situations in their homelands, much like what is happening in Equestria. Longer nights, longer days, crops dying, exotic animals appearing... But it was worse, and I mean much worse where this pony was from. He was describing a land that was living in starvation, ponies dying at an exponential rate. Famine, poverty, disease... it was hard to listen to. And that was when the Princess finally spoke after about thrity minutes. She was apologetic, saying how sorry she was that he would go through such a traumatic event. But then the pony started shouting at Luna, blaming her, saying it was her fault, being really agressive. Whenever the Captain piped in to try and shut him down he just parried his comments and continued. It's totally understandable from what he's been through that-"

"Can I refill your drinks, ladies?" Lyra jumped out of her skin and the table seemed to explode from underneath as Lyra's knees connected with the underside. The waitress was just as shocked, a splash of cider spilling out the jug she was holding.

Albany finally spoke with a smile. "Yes, that would be mighty kind. Thank you." The waitress regained her composure and filled both their drinks. It was only when she walked away that Lyra finally spoke.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly. Albany assumed the pony hadn't heard because she didn't acknowledge her apology. That or she was just plain rude. Albany gave Lyra a nod for her to continue. Lyra though for a moment before speaking. "Maybe I shouldn't say much more, I'm sorry Allie, I really am. At least not here. Tell you what, why don't we head back to mine. It's not particularly homely at the minute but it's a bit more... private. Seriously, Allie, this is a huge development in the situation and I'm telling you because I trust you."

"Ah completely understand Lyra. Just, promise me one thing. Does what you tell me have a good endin'? Is Equestria goin' to head the same way as that... that other pony's land." Albany said that last bit with a slight quiver in her voice. The thought terrified her and she soon pictured an image of just what Ponyville might look like should it ever happen.

"Possibly, Allie. Come on, we'll finish our cider and head home."

The two sat in silence for the next few minutes. Albany didn't know whether to be scared... or excited.