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seen from United States
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(art by @amodwithoutamark)
(As you can see, Lyra’s encounter with the artifact has left her quite changed. Why did this happen? Well, that’s something that’ll come up when I finish up her story arc. Honestly, she makes a great hippogriff.)
Lyra: Train Ride Reflections
The trip to Shetlearn was quieter than Lyra had expected. The gentle clacking of the train on the rails lulling the mare to a far more peaceful sleep than she had thought it would.
Her dreams brought reminders of what happened when she left Ponyville. True to her word, she made sure not to follow Blacklin’s lead and make everyone worry. No running off in the early morning for her.
Not like she could have even if she had wanted to. She had only gotten a few yards after leaving the library when Minuette caught up with her. The older mare’s pace and expression looking contemplative. On her back was Lyra’s bag, causing the younger mare to wince upon seeing it.
The light blue mare brightened up at seeing her, however, moving faster and with purpose. She sat the bag down once she had reached Lyra.
“You’re lucky,” she said, “neither of them were upset with you. Just confused and, in Black’s case, hurt.” The smile that had been on her face faded to a look of concern. “We have to talk though. Whatever your plans are now, they wait until we have.”
Lyra: Explanations
Lyra sighed softly, slumping down and resting her head on the bar top. The realization of her feelings suddenly weighing heavily on her mind. It was a strange feeling, to be honest. One that made her question each of her actions in the past.
She began to wonder where it was they all started. Certainly not from their first meeting. That would be absurd beyond belief. He was nothing but a silly gryphon who enjoyed her music at that time to her.
Was it between the time they met and when he first became friends with Roseluck? If that was the case, it would explain the pain that had started in her chest then. Before that point, she had been the one he hung out with the most along with her sister, but after gryphon and earth pony had met, it changed.
No longer was she the one he turned to with questions about the town. No longer was she the one he visited with after his deliveries were done. No, after they had met, Roseluck was the one he went to. Well, no, that was unfair to say. To put it like that would be saying that they had become fast friends right from the start. That hadn't been the case though.
No, Roseluck and Blacklin hadn't become fast friends. In truth, she believed that Roseluck was more of a bother to the gryphon than anything else. Yet was that really how it was or was it now how she had wanted it to be? What was true was that Blacklin mentioned her off hand to Lyra the day they met. He had wondered if Roseluck had a habit of bumping into every new person in town. What was true was that it was a good month before they did start hanging around together.
Lyra: Realizations
Anger continued to flow through Lyra’s body as she marches away towards Ponyville proper. Her cheeks felt like they were on fire from the embarrassment she’d just endured. The indignity of it all! How dare that mare say things like that. What did she know anyways? Nothing, that’s what! If that mare was around, she’d be shown exactly what Lyra thought of her!
She continues on her way, only stopping when she spots two figures also coming down the path. Her eyes narrow and the rage that had been building up boiled over. Blacklin. That gryphon was the cause of all this. Him and his flapping beak. Never knowing when to shut up. Well, it was time to do something about that!
She was met with looks of confusion by Blacklin and Scootaloo. The gryphon opening his mouth to speak. What, she wasn’t going to find out. No, it was only going to be inane excuses or blathering. No, there would be no speaking. Not now.
It happened fast. Her subconscious taking over and causing her magic to well up, though only her horn lit up as she summoned up the aether around them and formed it into a solid plank. This created plank slammed itself alongside the gryphon’s face with enough force to nearly knock him over.
The sight causes her to give a snort of satisfaction. That would show him. Her tail flicked in agitation as she started to continue on her way. The satisfaction of smacking the insufferable birdbrain doing wonders to release all that pent up rage she’d been building up.
By the time she reaches Ponyville proper, however, her frustration and anger had subsided. The realization of what she had done dawns on her and her cheeks warm and flush.
“Oh ponyfeathers,” she mutters to herself. “I walked in it this time.”
“Walked in what, Lyra?”
The aquamarine unicorn looks up and blinks, surprised to find herself facing Berry Punch. The earth mare’s cheek seemingly flushed and small grin on her face.
“Good thing I had the door opened or you would have smacked your face into it,” Berry adds. “Don’t need anymore holes in it. Carrot’d have my hide if that happens.”
“I wha-?” She looks up and blinks, realizing that Berry had stopped her right in front of The Carrot’s Top, the bar the earth mare ran with her sister and best friend. Berry hadn’t been kidding either, Lyra realized that if she’d taken one more step that’d she’d have ended up with her horn embedded in the bar’s door had the earth pony hadn’t opened it.
“Sorry,” she says, “just a bit distracted.”
“You don’t say? I hadn’t noticed.” Berry’s voice dripped with sarcasm as she turned around and padded back into the bar, hips swaying slightly as she walked. “Well, get your rump in here and lay it out. What has you nearly walking into doors, Lyra.”
The unicorn mare hesitates. How would Berry react to what happened? Lyra knew that the she was on good terms with Blacklin and to hear what happened, well it might not do good for herself. On the other hoof, if she didn’t spill the beans, there was no telling what Berry might do to get the info.
Feeling out of options, Lyra gives a soft sigh and follows in after Berry. Unsurprisingly, the Top was near barren of patrons. It wasn’t unusual for early and mid afternoon. Business never really picked up until early evening.
Besides Berry, the only other ponies inside were the local DJ, Vinyl, and Derpy. The sight of the mailmare left Lyra feeling slightly confused. It was the afternoon, Derpy should have been out delivering mail.
“So spill it, Lyra,” Berry says, settling behind the bar and placing her forelegs on the countertop. A small, almost smug, smirk crosses her lips as she looked at Lyra with half-lidded eyes. “What’s got you looking like you kicked a puppy and are hating yourself for it?”
Lyra bites her lower lip, still unsure of telling Berry about what happened. No, not of what happened, but the reason behind why it happened. In the end, telling was better than keeping inside or being prodded about it.
She takes a breath and begins to relay the earlier conversation.
Even as she does so, Lyra’s mind replays the back and forth she had with Viola. It was admittedly strange that she had gotten so flustered so easily. How long had she been friends with Blacklin now? The gryphon had been living in Ponyville for nearly three years and she’d known him for all that time.
Has it really been that short of time? It felt like he’d been there forever. Still, she never really considered him more than a friend. At least, that’s what she thought. Now? Well now she didn’t know.
Her mind delves back farther, looking over all the interactions she’s had with the gryphon. From the first meeting in the town square and Pinkie’s welcome party for him that same day to her failed attempts to cheer him up after the incident with Fleetfoot.
She winced inwardly as that incident crossed her mind and subconsciously she brought a hoof to her left eye. A few days later, when Blacklin had questioned her about how she was when her lyre had snapped, she’d told him that she was fine. The yelp had simply been of surprise. That hadn’t been the full truth.
Yes, she did give a yelp of surprise, but it was also of pain. The string had come up and slashed her near her eye. She’d been lucky that hadn’t lost it then. It hadn’t been a deep cut, thankfully, but it left a scar. A scar she hadn’t wanted Blacklin to see.
At the time, he was already going through grief and she didn’t want to add on to it. Even now she didn’t want to add to any problems he might have been facing. Rarity had been kind enough to help her cover the scar and Lyra continued to do so even now.
Without realizing it, the unicorn mare trailed off, becoming silent. Her mind now drifting off as she looks down at the bar top but not really seeing it.
She didn’t want to hurt Blacklin, yet that’s exactly what she had done. Why? What was it about Viola’s words that cut so deeply?
Her mind drifted back to after Blacklin had run off to Shetlearn. She’d been so frustrated with him. Hadn’t he cared about how his friends felt? How Rose felt? How she felt? How she felt. How did she feel?
His running away had been an emotional blow to her. In her heart, she felt as if she’d pushed him to that end. It was silly, she knew that, but she couldn’t deny her part in it all. Not only had she paid physically for her botched attempt, but she’d paid emotionally as well.
She recalled how Rose nearly gave up on looking for him. It was baffling how the earth mare who cared so deeply for him could do that. For the first time, Lyra questioned if Rose truly did love Blacklin. Did she really want to be his alpha? Truly? Was there a chance that she’d lose resolve fully and leave an opening?
An opening that someone, someone like Lyra, could take?
That thought finally occurs to her. She realizes just how buried it must have been and she remembered what she had told Roseluck then.
“If you’re going to give up, fine. I’m not going to give up on him.”
When she had told her that, she consciously had meant it as being she wasn’t going to be the friend that just left him behind. Was that really what she had meant? Was that truly in her heart?
No, it wasn’t and she realized that now.
“Ah fudgecicles. She was right.”
Ponyville Pride Parade-Lesbian Flag, featuring Lyra and Bon Bon! Art by Ahriman! link to the original post https://www.furaffinity.net/view/36745437/
Lyra: Train Ride Memories
The trip to Shetlearn was quieter than Lyra had expected. The gentle clacking of the train on the rails lulling the mare to a far more peaceful sleep than she had thought it would, waking only when they made a short stop at Canterlot.
Her dreams brought reminders of what happened when she left Ponyville. As impulsive as she could be, Lyra did keep enough of her head on her shoulders to stop from simply leaving town and not letting anyone know about it. She wasn't about to put everyone through the same turmoil that Blacklin had when he left.
No, she didn't just up and leave with no word. There were those she could tell, those she needed to tell. The very first one she told was, of course, her sister. It had been an odd meeting. Minuette had been returning from The Flower Shoppe, a small smile on her face. It almost seemed sad and reflective in retrospect.
Of course, that was only for a brief moment. She brightened up at spotting Lyra and hurried over to her. Only when she had gotten closer did Lyra notice the saddlebag resting on her sister's back. Her saddlebag. The sight of it causing her to wince internally as she realized that it must have fallen off during her fit towards Blacklin and Roseluck.
A soft sigh had escaped her lips as she accepted from Minuette, remaining quiet at the questioning look the sound received. Only once it was nestled firmly on her back did she speak, telling her sister of her plans.
Lyra: Plan of Attack
Running into her sister had been the best thing that'd happened to Lyra all day. Her heart had felt crushed and emotions had been in turmoil ever since she had seen Spike with those gems. She is glad that she had family around to help her out even when it was accidental.
Minuette had been right, of course. She usually was. Ever since they were fillies, Minuette had been the calmer of the two. Which was surprising given how excitable she could get with her friends. Even the wildest of personalities can have their serious sides she figured though.
It was silly of her to think that a simple little gem would be enough to get Blacklin's attention. What was he going to do with them? Same with flowers. Roseluck was his alpha, he could get all the flowers he ever wanted from her! No, she needed to go bigger with the jewels.
She needed to get something that would hit on a personal note for him. A jewel or item or something from his homeland that really would drive home just how much he meant to her. An item that couldn't be refuted.
No update this week. Instead, enjoy a picture of Lyra and Minuette enjoying some sisterly bonding time together.
