Ask Lyra
Month
If I weren’t laughing so hard I’m crying, I’d be [omitted] at some of those. But hey, you’ve at least proven that you’re a long time follower, whoever you are.
Also, it was Honey Bunches of Oats.
First, a bit of trivia. While it certainly is one, “Love is in Bloom” isn’t a typical wedding song. It’s more rarely used because it’s often viewed as less of a union between two ponies and more of a union between two families or a group of close friends, or both!
“You’re starting a life and making room for us.”
That said, I love this song.
1) You’re trying to think logically about a phobia; that’s not how they work. As long as you don’t think about it or aren’t looking at it, you’re okay. You could have somepony with Apiphobia (which I also have) in a room with twelve bees and as long as they aren’t looking at them and the bees aren’t making any noise, eventually they’ll calm down.
What else is there to look or focus on while hang gliding other than the projection of your own body going splat on the ground far below?
2) Not nearly as good as the ignorant sense of self-entitlement you must possess.
3) Just looked different? No. I’ve wished I had specific special talents, but never really cared what they look like.
I’ve said it before a long time ago, but adults don’t really care about cutie marks.
4) Um… Because I’m an adult?
There’s nothing wrong with embracing one’s own sexuality. I just don’t follow tumblrs that post sex or exposed genitalia or anything I might have trouble explaining in public. Remember, I check my tumblr on my Manedroid while I’m out.
“Oh, but it’s just supposed to be artistic!” Doesn’t fly, but there is a difference between sexy and sex. There’s nothing on Spitfire’s page you wouldn’t see on a city billboard or advertised in a public magazine.
1) Funny you should ask. I was having a conversation with somepony yesterday and that came up then too.
Yes I did. I wasn’t huge on it. Way too dependent on rare drop rates for crafting. And I already hate crafting in video games. Some other reasons why I didn’t care for it, but there were some good points to it too. Those big fights ol’ boss fights were fun the first few times.
2) Not what I was looking for but surprisingly apt.
3) Pretty sure that’s not only a load of bull, but that you also just made it up.
A unicorn raised on raw meat would probably just be really unhealthy.
4) Doesn’t look familiar, but I have no idea how to fly a plane anyway.
5) Hey! I’ve never heard this one! Never even heard of the band! This is some kickin’ ska!
Thanks for the lead!
The last hurrah? Nah! Do it again!
6) I have no problem with individuals. I remember Martian Manhunter from Justice League.
1)
I don’t know really know if they’ve alive or not.
2) I wear makeup to… Ugh… I hate talking about this…
Yes. If Rarity was the only pony that used any kind of makeup there wouldn’t be much of an industry to produce it, would there?
3) Once upon a time I was held over the edge of Canterlot for trying to avoid some ponies.
Now I’m afraid of heights.
The end.
4) Certainly! I could probably use the exercise, too.
Holy crud! You log in to play some Minecraft for a bit and come back to three pages of questions! This is definitely the most I’ve ever gotten at once!
pegasus-cloud-kicker replied to your post: 1) Look again. Your question is now diamonds. 2)…
WITCHCRAFT!
Lots and lots of answers after the break.
1) Look again. Your question is now diamonds.
2) What a slippery slope we descend…
Pegasus have to train to fly. Unicorns have to train to cast. For the most part we use it responsibly. Or even in the darkest of views, we use it to alter our environment, but our environment alone.
Shapeshifting at its core is about deception. Ideally it would only be used to defend oneself from attack. And if that’s all it was being used for, I wouldn’t have a problem with it. But that’s not what shapeshifters do. Nearly all shapeshifting creatures are predictors that use their power to manipulate their pray in order to destroy them from the inside out. There may be upstanding individual shapeshifters, but no species of shapeshifter has a positive reputation.
You want to call me a bigot, fine, but history doesn’t lie. At best, as individual species, they’re mischievous, manipulative opportunists. At worst, they attack a nation unprovoked and attempt genocide.
3) Well, you can’t do that on somepony else’s property, that’s trespassing.
I think the reason you don’t see ponies do that is mostly a modesty thing. If somepony cut the grass, dried it and served it I’m sure no pony would be able to tell the difference, other than size. So, no. No fine if it’s your own property. Might be negatively viewed from a social standpoint. Unless I’ve missed my mark, be about like a human grabbing a walnut off the ground, smashing it open and eating it.
4) Sort of got to this late. Sorry about that. How about tomorrow?
1) Shapeshifters aren’t a race; they’re a loose collection of unclassifiable ani-… Can’t even call them animals because some share characteristics closer to other kingdoms or even domains.
It’s not about a species, it’s about power. Shapeshifters don’t have to work for their power; they’re born with it. It’s easy to them. Even Twilight Sparkle or Rainbow Dash had to train for years to reach where they are now, and they’re far from peaked. Shapeshifters just can. Little to learn; requires no more training than walking. There’s nothing to harness, no muscle to build, and once they’ve got it, that’s it. Nothing more to learn, nothing to train, no reason to even practice.
And with this easily gained, already questionable ability… When you have to work for power, there’s at least a chance you might recognize what it was like before hoof and use it responsibly. Shapeshifters have no reason to care. Shifting isn’t even second nature to them. It is their nature. It’s too much power given too fast and too freely.
2) Of course not! What a silly thing to ask!
3) He didn’t shapeshift; he transformed with his reality altering “magic.” Magic in quotations because it isn’t technically magic, the same way five out of the six Elements of Harmony aren’t technically magic.
Shapeshifters are so called because they shift their genetic makeup to an approximation. They don’t literally become what they shift to; if they did they couldn’t turn back. Transforming is literally becoming something else. Unless you’re using time-limited magic or in possession of nigh-unlimited power, it’s permanent. Of course, these are just technical terms.
I don’t even know if Draconequus as a species had as much of, or any of the powers Discord has. They aren’t around anymore, if there ever even was more than one. Lots of rumors surround that.
4) Quick! Everypony become paranoid for the rest of eternity!
Is it any wonder why the public didn’t know about Changlings?
5) Sounds like you’re more of a fan of me than the music.
Don’t have many free days anymore. More of free evenings. Of which I am free this evening.
1) No, they aren’t.
When a species is capable of modifying their DNA to shift into something else, any genetic make-up is disregarded because it can be altered.
All shapeshifters are classified as shapeshifters and nothing more. And Flappy aside, I’ve never known them to cause anything but extreme trouble.
2) I can’t seem to find what that means. Does it have something to do with Gundam?
3) And as a friend, I think you for it. But as an artist I’m left wondering why.
4) Lots of numbers, lots of spreadsheets. Currently I’m trying to research the worth of all the base chemicals Boscov has. I took an accounting class in high school but all those numbers were just provided.
This is much more involving, but I’m a little more invested.
askfuselight replied to your post
I think you’re allowed to be proud of it. I don’t even know how to do .gifs! Well done, Lyra!
Answers after the break.
Sometimes I stick my nose where it doesn’t belong. Can’t help it.
Planned birthday performance by Boscov and me for Sir Lints-Alot and Rocky.
1) Considering all the nature preserves and endangered species lists you humans have, I don’t think even you’re stupid enough to believe that.
2) Wrong Lyra, though I suppose I should be surprised I don’t get these more often.
1) Lot of learning; lot of memorizing. And it’s not over yet.
2) Because I never sent my army to stealth attack the capital of a nation I never declared war against and attacked civilians and foals. Nevermind what the final result of devouring all the love from somepony is.
No pony died, but if she’d won it would have been genocide.
3) Sorry, Strawberry. My break is over and I need to get back to work.
Sorry about yesterday! Minecraft wouldn’t let go of my attention.
Answers after the break.
1) A good question, but I’ve addressed it before.
2) No, that’s just Ramses.
3) Excuse me? (Warning: Strong Language).
1) The answer is yes.
2) Haha! Sort of, yeah. They don’t look like they could stability support anything.
3) Teamed-up? I’d like to see that. Maybe that shapeshifting queen would be willing, but you can’t team up with Discord; his ego’s too big. That was the whole reason why he lost. He just stood there and let Twilight and her friends strike him down because he knew they’d fail.
If they came back at the same time, they’d probably go after each other, and that would give us time to mobilize against them both. Given a little preparation time, Equestrian forces could easily take out an army of changlings. And Twilight’s little unit could handle Discord again.
If they could really work together, would Discord be more dangerous with an army of changlings at his side? Of course. But I just don’t see that happening.
Keeping the door slightly ajar, you stealthily creep across the room with as much swagger as you can muster. As you reach the far end of the room you try to picture Amy. Spry, athletic build not uncharacteristic of a pegasus. Lot of heart; lot of fire. But you can’t help but feel she would probably wind up cheating on you. N-not that you were thinking of going out with her or anything!
Now that you’re inside, you see there are two more hallways; one to either side of you. You can hear multiple sets of hoof steps coming from the hallway that shadow slipped behind.
In a moment of clarity you’ve lacked as of late, you look around the room for architectural signs. Regrettably, just about everything is gone. You can see signs on the floor where furniture once sat, a few pieces of splintered wood and dirt, but little else. In addition to the light from outside, this building seems to contain a dim light source that makes seeing possible without any aid, but you can’t make out from where it originates.
Looking up, you can see the floor above you, complete with railings still intact. They appear to be made of a metal, but it’s hard to tell from this distance. Everything you can see has a black/gray dingy coating to it. There’s also a… fog of some kind. It seems to be getting worse and coming from the door being open.
Continuing with this new-found focus, you listen carefully to the hoof-steps. It sounds like three different sets. Working off that alone, chances are the shadow you saw pass around the corner was just your friends.
That thought, even if wrong, relieves you enough for the moment to realize it’s strangely warm in here.
1) Having a hard time even understanding what that is. Something about a human/sea monster?
2) Depending on your level of psychosis, pain.
3) Oh, you know, Canterlot being attacked by shapeshifters.
4) What country you from?
5) I figured it was some kind of shorthoof for the Fantastic Four.
You leave me disappointed.
6) Ah, Terry. Thank you. Never really been into fighting games. I suck too much.
Oh Kay. So. Glad that’s over.
I mean [omitted]…
…
Hehehe. And Boscov asked me to work for him last night.
[Sigh]
When the wheel starts rolling it sure don’t stop.
…
I guess I’ll just stay here for the rewedding and the reception this evening.
We didn’t discuss it, but let me know when you want me to start working for you, Boscov.
[Heavy breathing]
B: Are you alright?
I’m fine.
Ya see? Ya see?! THIS IS WHY I HATE SHAPESHIFTERS!
B: Are you comin’ are not?
Yes! Fine! … [omitted]!
[Recording has timed out.]
1) Who is Buster Wolf?
2) Um… Thanks. Sort of sudden.
3) FFFF? You mean the rage guy thing?
4) Hmm… That’s tough. I suppose if I had to pick something it would be that-…
…
Oh… Oh that was pretty clever.
5) Ray Charles.
6) I didn’t go.
I just… haven’t liked the looks of that barrier around Canterlot. I know some ponies might think the safest place to be during an emergency is the one that’s most protected. But experience has taught me it’s better to be someplace no pony would bother attacking.
…
Huh… Just looked out the window and the barrier’s gone.
7) Never heard of it.
8) Probably not for a while. I mean, the first one was like forty tracks. The second one was twenty. Even if I cut that in half it’d still be ten and I’ve only done four.
Not to shake the piggy bank expectantly, but if I had some reason to upload things prematurely…
9) Never played it. Not a huge Zelda fan. Only even played maybe half of them. Only beat like two. Generally good music, though.
10) You’re joking, right? If an above-average caster like Trixie can conjure a lightning cloud on a whim, what do you think a group of forty trained mages can do with their powers combined?
There’s a reason no nation dares openly wage war against Equestria. It’s always guerrilla tactics.
11) Only if the caster made it have a small or taste.
Again, though, there are those that argue magic does something to the taste of food.
…
Maybe I will go after all. You know, just to like the reception or something.
…
Why would the barrier be down…?
This is the simplified version of this. To those of you that responded to my question late last night, this is what I was going to upload. But when everypony said to wait I decided to write the parts for my violin friend and they did an excellent job.
If you listen to both, I hope you’ll see what I mean about that midpoint transition being stronger in this simplified version. Again, though, the other version is the completed one and sounds much better overall. If you haven’t yet, I recommend listening to it. It’s probably one of the best tracks I’ve done. Same with Tal Tal Mountain.
You’re overgeneralizing things. “Healing magic” is a laymare term that refers to Partial Acceleration and the more recent Mending.
Partial Acceleration is the oldest form of time manipulation magic. It predates antiquity; literally was produced before recorded history. It’s advanced, but one of the most finely tuned branches of any defined school of magic. Using it properly is sort of complicated and requires a lot of preparation before, during, and possibly even weeks after the procedure. But if done properly, there’s no real danger in advancing time on a specific part of your body; the rest of your body will compensate.
However, it will only heal what the body is naturally capable of healing on it’s own. I don’t know what happened to the pegasus that sent that message. If s/he crashed through thick glass and completely mutated their wings, no amount of acceleration is going to heal what the body is incapable of healing by itself.
Mending, on the other hoof, is new. And by new, I mean like a decade old. The ponies that originally presented it as a legitimate branch of manipulation are still alive and continuing research in the field today. It’s incredibly complicated and is technically a form of forced bodily mutation. It’s thus far proved unreliable and long term effects are unknown, but in life-or-death situations mending has done some remarkable things. But last I looked into it there was a possible correlation with producing cancer in the years after the procedure.
All the procedures I’ve had that involved magic were all partial acceleration. And they still left scars.
1) I actually had a conversation with… um… somepony about that recently.
Sounds horrible.
2) Most major things wind up with a pun tacked on out of habit, but our version of your world’s internet really is just called the ponynet. Remember, when we developed it, we didn’t even know about you humans. It’s called the ponynet because ponies were the ones that devised it, and it was a method of communication with other ponies that were far away through a vast network of connected electronics.
3) Sorry, I’m a little busy right now. I’m at Boscov’s; just wanted to get these questions out of the way.
4) No. I’m raising her to be respectful and polite. To trust others and try to see the good in everything. She doesn’t need to be raised tough; plus I think she has more than enough cunning already.
5) Don’t worry about it.
I made two versions of this track. I think this version sounds more full overall, but the midpoint transition isn’t as powerful as in the more simplified version.
I’ll upload the simplified version later tonight.
I wanted to make sure I did the piece justice, and I think I did.
1) That sounds like a history question. Not my strong suit, sorry.
2) I spent many nights on Canterlot’s streets, not in the dirt.
3) Of course not, because you’re a pegasus. Not being able to fly isn’t suddenly going to make your bones heavier or take away your ability to walk in clouds. You’d simply be classified as disabled. But even if you live in Cloudsdale, most buildings are connected by a cloud walkway.
I’m sorry for your injury, though, and I hope you manage to recover.
4) Thanks! I was just about to get started.
5) What time is it…?
…
Well, tomorrow it is then! Ah ha ha!
… Sorry about that…
1) Alright, I guess. I got a music request I’m going to try. The full piece goes in an A B A C stanza, but I only have the sheet music for A and C. So I’ll either have to do a short version of it or figure out that B part myself.
2) Oh… Oh Celestia of course! I would be honored! What do you want me to do? Where? When?
1) The [omitted] does that word mean…
…
Oh! OH CELS! OH [omitted] ME SIDEWAYS! EW! CELESTIA [omitted] ALL TO [omitted]!
Thanks a lot, you little [omitted]! I really wanted to go to Wikipedia and see a picture of a human [omitted] with some white, flaky [omitted] coming off of it!
To answer your Celestia [omitted] question, evidently yes. But you probably knew that since it was specifically said ON THE CELESTIA [omitted] PAGE!
While I’m [omitted] eating…
2) Go read an erotic fanfiction or somethin’, guy.
3) What’s a tire iron?
Something about her boastful nature being linked to her being a selfish brat who didn’t always get her way. But who knows if any of that’s even true.
I don’t normally do these, but…
Lyra: Lv.5 Viking. Special trait: can tolerate high temperatures.
Great, I suck. Wait a minute…Lyra Heartstrings: Lv.73 Gunner. Special trait: rides a unicorn.
That’s somehow worse.Same as Lyra, I am not really fond of these… HOWEVER —-
Twilight: Lv.53 Scholar. Special trait: great dancer.
Twilight Sparkle: Lv.90 Angel. Special trait: can do impersonations.
Somehow; I am okay with this.
Strange that it got scholar right, but great dancer my hoof…
I do love your impersonations, though!
Jakob: Lv.16 Clone. Special trait: can resolve any conflict.
jeez i wish
I don’t normally do these, but…
Lyra: Lv.5 Viking. Special trait: can tolerate high temperatures.
Great, I suck. Wait a minute…
Lyra Heartstrings: Lv.73 Gunner. Special trait: rides a unicorn.
That’s somehow worse.
krastosthegluemaker replied to your post: 1) I know for a fact that quite a few of them…
And I honestly wasn’t thinking when I hit the post button instead of the private button… I’m sorry.
Answers after the break.
1) I know for a fact that quite a few of them are.
It’s weird, but you get used to it. It’s fun to play pretend.
2) That’s both complicated and not funny.
Yeah. Think about that.
4) Are we in a negative context for some reason? That’s sort of where romantic relationships eventually lead.
5) Grape. Artificial grape is the best artificial flavor.
6) Things kinda went out of control, huh?
I never intended for him to reply publicly the first time. Sort of just got out of control there after.
7) Sorry about that (Strong Language warning).
8) Of course.
Boscov hasn’t been, though. Not sure if I want to go without him. Still working on some things.
1) Probably the two Lyres I got.
2) How do you know Unified Equestrian?
This has been addressed before. Yes, they’re terribly similar when spoken. No, I couldn’t tell you why.
3) I had to do that as a filly before I learned magic. Besides, I’m pretty good at holding things with my hooves.
4) Fantastic idea. I’ll be sure not to do that.
6) Alright, thanks for trying.
1) Oh, relatively. Sorry, I obviously misunderstood. I found a pretty good hole, though. It’s full of mud. That’ll mask relatively putrid smells right? I’ll just stay here from now on.
2) No, I’m relatively putrid.
1) I think there’s somepony else that needs a hug a lot more than me right now.
2) Well, I didn’t know they were so completely putrid. Excuse me while I find a hole to crawl into.
4) Look, sunshine. A prep is the high-brow. Good grades, good home life, pretty, well off financially; could be friends with anypony, but instead is just friends with other preps or jocks with few exceptions.
Having friends, being nice; that’s not preppy. I had a goth friend from elementary to high school and he was nice! Wore demonic accessories, was smart but had terrible grades, hung out with other goths and talked about devils and death n’ [omitted]; but he was a nice stallion!
Everypony deserves friends, but you have to act like a friend would to keep them.
