Living with Lyra

Chapter 5:I don't like the rain

I woke up, feeling horrible. The first thing I noticed was that my room was spinning. Rooms don’t spin. "Oh Celestia, what did I drink last night... wait, I didn't go drinking last night... so why do I feel so horrible?" I said to no one in particular, my voice weak.

I got up and sat on the side of his bed "Okay, I'm feeling sick... nothing too bad... but is there any reason for my being sick other than just my bad luck -"  I couldn’t even finish my musing before I fell back on the bed. "Well, maybe there would have been something in the environment that my body isn't used to... it's that or just bad luck," I mumbled to myself.

Struggling to get up, I forced myself to the living room. I saw Lyra reading a book. "Good morning, Lyra," I called out to her.

"Oh hey,” she called back. “Drag, are you feeling well? Today feels bad... I mean, look at the clouds today. They look like they’re going to rain any second, and to top it off the Pegasus ponies forgot to make a day rain so today’s going to be a doozy," ranted Lyra.

"Well, a pony who made that mistake must be a big bludger," I replied.

"What's a 'bludger'?" asked Lyra.

"Never mind,” I said hastily, forgetting that she didn’t know all of my terms. “But since you  asked how I was feeling, well,  I'm feeling not too good... oh no, don’t worry, it’s just a headache and a cold. Nothing bad, it'll mostly be fine later today," I said.

"Are you sure you'll be okay? Do you want water or anything?" asked Lyra. I could tell she was concerned, and that made me feel strange. I had to fight to keep my wings down again.

"No thanks, I'm fine... What are you reading there?" I asked, before she could feel more worried.

"Oh, this? It’s just an adventure story, nothing that special about it," Lyra said.

"Really? So it’s just another stallion and some treasure in a forest, desert or island in the middle of nowhere?" I asked with very little enthusiasm.

"Forest in an island in the middle of nowhere, and yes,  looking for treasure because some family members get ponynapped." She shut the book. "I know, how very original," Lyra said sarcastically.

"I'll just get some fresh air before it rains. I'll be fine. It's about 10am, I'll be back in about half an hour," I replied, a bit abruptly,  as I began walking to the front door. I left then, wandering about for some time. I estimated that half an hour had passed soon enough, and I headed back. Thank Ponyville for being a small place.

"Hi Lyra, I'm back," I called out.

"Sorry, Lyra left to get 'something', she didn't tell me what it was she was getting," said Bon Bon, who I noticed was reading the same book Lyra was reading earlier.

"Thanks, Bon-Bon," I replied.

"What have you and Lyra been getting up to?" Bon-Bon asked.

"All I have done is help her around town," I answered Bon-Bon, perhaps a bit defensively.

"I'm back!" called out Lyra, floating a bag near her.

"What do you have there?" Bon-Bon asked.

"GLOVES!" Lyra shouted in excitement.

"Why do you need gloves?" I asked Lyra.

"I just want to have some," she responded, still in excitement.

"Well, if you mares need me I'll in my room," I said while I noticed Bon-Bon rolling her eyes with a smile on her face.

Later, at least an hour past noon, - I guessed from the sun out the window - I heard a voice out my door. "Hey, Draga, do you want anything to eat?" asked Lyra.

"Yeah, I'll come out and eat a bit," I said.

"That was good hay," I said calmly with my hoof on my stomach. It was. The meal was just great.

"Um, Draga...  so far you seem to be a perfectly nice stallion. Why did you want to move from your home and start fresh in Ponyville?" Lyra asked.

"Well, if you want to know the bad side of me, I don't see why I should hide it from you," I said. I couldn't keep secrets - not from her. I took a deep breath and began to belittle myself.

"I am quite cynical, I'm not the smartest stallion around, oh but who is? With all these experts on certain things around... oh there you have me being cynical! I came here to Ponyville because I just wanted to, as you said, start fresh," I said. It took me a bit of time to regain my breath in full.

"I need to go out, I noticed we're out of bananas earlier when I when I was getting the hay," said Lyra suddenly getting out of her seat.

"Are you sure? It hasn't started raining yet so it could start any second," I questioned.

"If it hasn't started yet, surely I would be home before it starts to. What, do you want to come?" teased Lyra.

"Not much to do right now, so okay I guess," I said.

We left the house and headed straight to the market. It didn't take us long to get there - thank Ponyville for being so small - but then once we'd gotten the bananas, it began to rain. For a moment I thought the bananas were some sort of switch to turn on the rain, but I kicked that thought out. "Well, shit, I don't like the rain," I moaned to myself.

"Not many ponies do," said Lyra while taking the bananas. The rain, although strong to begin with, only got more and more powerful.

"Gosh did the Pegasus forget to make a day rain, this rain is really coming down," said Lyra.

Right then and there I took off my hat, put it on her, and put my wing around her. "I don't want you to get too wet" I said with a smile on my face. We headed back home - when did I start thinking of Lyra’s house as home..? - and luckily the trip was short. Again, I cannot say it enough - thank you Ponyville for being small.

"Thanks, Draga," she said once we were at the door. And then she kissed me on the cheek before walking inside.

Oh, there it was again. I blushed, and had to fight harder than ever to retain control of my wings. A battle I was losing. The battle for control of my voice I lost already. "I - I b - b - better try to dry myself a little," I said, stuttering. Luckily she was inside already. Shaking my head, I dried myself and headed inside.

"So, Lyra why did you need to go out and get just... bananas?" I asked. It was weird, the way she suddenly stood up and announced it like it was normal. Based on her reactions, I guessed this was fairly normal.

"I like to have banana smoothies," Lyra answered.

"You must love your banana smoothies to go out and risk rain like that," I said.

"Yes. Yes I do," she joyfully said.

"Hopefully it won't rain tomorrow. Like I said earlier, I don't like the rain," I said.

"Me too, Draga," Lyra said back.

"So...” I fidgeted a bit. Celestia, why was that little thing outside the door stuck in my head? “Do you have anything else you were going to do today?" I asked.

"Maybe finish that book I was reading, but other than that, no," Lyra responded.

"In that case I'll see if I can take a nap," I said as I started walking to my room.

End chapter 5