Ask Lyra

[Pause]

Bon-Bon: I felt my heart sink when they mentioned a warehouse… We don’t know anything about Tootsie’s parents, we just know where she was found. But I figured, it’s gotta be a coincidence. But then they mentioned a colt… [Pause] Do you know, Lyra? Do you know that even Champagne doesn’t know that Tootsie was born a colt? My sister says she never intended to keep it a secret from him- it’s just never come up. [Pause] But that doesn’t surprise you. By the time you met Tootsie the scars from the surgery were practically invisible, but you already knew. You knew before you ever met her. [Pause] Now you say something.

Lyra: I’m… sorry…

Bon-Bon: It’s true then? I hoped maybe they were jumping to conclusions… It always ate me up inside, Lyra. What, in all of creation, could justify changing the sex of a baby? [Pause] Oh. They probably wanted to mask her identity. Make sure there was no way of linking her to something so horrifying… No wonder she dreams about blood. Did she see you do it?

Lyra: Yes…

Bon-Bon: You… killed Tootsie’s father… in front of her…? I can’t even fathom how, when you were mortally wounded… No one… Nothing is beyond redemption. That’s supposed to be what separates Equestria from the rest of the world. You can’t get a second chance if you’re dead, Lyra. [Pause] Well, this is just one more thing I can’t tell my own family about. At this rate either Liza’s going to develop a complex or I am… Hah… I just realized… Tootsie was adopted when she was around 6 months. I always thought she was found the day she was born. They must have shipped her to Manehattan immediately.

Bon-Bon: This is upsetting, Lyra. I’m shaken by this. But it’s not why I’m angry.

Dollface: Fillies and Gentlecolts, I feel like we’ve gone a little off track. How about a short recess? You can all head back to the hotel and get yourselves some lunch- our treat of course! We’ll pick things back up in, lets say an hour?
??? 3: If I can even eat anything after that…

[Long Pause]

Sprint: What warehouse? Dolores! What warehouse?

Dollface: It was going to be our last stop tomorrow… The next day, after the attack in this alley… Twelve stallions, seven of which had criminal records, were found murdered in a warehouse near the skydocks.
Tamale: Murdered?
Dollface: Yeah… When they arrived they found one half-dead mare, identity withheld… and one crying, blood-soaked, 6-month-old colt.
Bon-Bon: [Gasp]

Raindrops: Stop. Stop writing!
Tamale: Ah-! Doll! Catch!
Raindrops: Stop it!
Sprint: You better back up, Rain!

Raindrops: You can’t publish this! If the public finds out Lyra committed murder Princess Celestia will be forced to banish her forever! Doll! [Pause] Doll!

Dollface: You’re right… Tamale. Purge: Code Red. We need this done fast. Sprint, you get us a bucket. Rain, secure a location. Toss the ashes off the edge of Canterlot… Hey! I want this spread so wide even magic can’t restore it, you hear? [Pause] In the mean time, I gotta find some way to smooth things over with those rich ponies… And we definitely can’t go to that warehouse… I’ll tell you this much, Lyra. I don’t know how you did it, but I wish I’d been there to stop you… I wouldn’t have left twelve bodies for them to find.

Lyra: Two came from the front…
Dollface: There’s nothing in the report about-
Lyra: One more came up from behind… It was planned.
Dollface: Tamale… Write down everything.
Lyra: One more came flying down from the roof… From the roof.

[Pause]

Bon-Bon: Lyra…?
Lyra: Why? W-… what did they think I going to do? Fly away?

??? 1: Is this part of the tour?

Lyra: The unicorn from behind had a knife… I charged him. Knocked it away, but the other two were right behind me… I ducked a bat and pushed one over into the other, but the pegasus grabbed me by the hair and… just started pulling me straight up… I was on my hindlegs, screaming, flailing at him… Then… the unicorn got the knife back…
Raindrops: Lyra don’t.
Lyra: He held me still and dug the knife into me… here. Then he dragged the blade down…
??? 3: Good gracious!
??? 1: Is this real?! I-Is that scar real?!
Lyra: I… fell… I couldn’t feel anything. Everything was disappearing… I thought I was dead, but I wasn’t afraid… I wasn’t.
Bon-Bon: It’s alright, Lyra. Y-you’re okay now.

Dollface: Then what happened?
Sprint: Doll! For God’s sake!
Dollface: What. Happened?
Lyra: I… I woke up chained to a wall… Locked in a cage, inside of a-
Dollface: Warehouse?

??? 1: So what’s so special about this particular alleyway?
Dollface: This, according to records released to the public, is the location of the last known predatory attack in Canterlot linked to gang activity.
??? 1: Who was-?
Dollface: As with the other locations, no public records reveal the identities of any party involved in the attack.
??? 1: Aww…
??? 2: That’s a shame.

Sprint: Celes…
Raindrops: Still think information has no bias?

Dollface: Ahem. According to this diagram the bulk of the attack was roughly here… Leaving a bloodstain… in about… this shape. The report indicates there was blood along the walls, blood spray on the ground, and a trail of blood leading around that corner before disappearing. The nature of the attack and the fate of the victim is either unknown or unlisted.
??? 3: Can you draw a chalk outline for the other blood markings?
Dollface: Um… For time’s sake, I’ll leave that to your imagination. Let me check my notes and we’ll move on in just a moment.

Hot Tamale: Doll, I’m having like second and third thoughts about this…
Dollface: I know. I know. Insensitive rich pricks… They only signed up for this because it was something exclusive to lord over others… But this information isn’t for them. Remember, we’re doing this for the public.

Lyra: This isn’t right…
Raindrops: You’re darn right, it isn’t.
Lyra: This dumpster was moved. It used to be bolted down here, across from the other one.
Raindrops: Well… That’s not really what I-
Lyra: That would have made the attack here.
Dollface: Hmm?

Lyra: Everypony? This is Bon-Bon. Bon-Bon? This is Sparkle Sprint.
Sprint: Hey. Don’t mind the hoof; it still gets the job done.
Bon-Bon: Nice to meet you.

Lyra: Hot Tamale.
Tamale: Hello, and be sure to let me know if you need anything. Maybe lunch?
Bon-Bon: Oh. Um-
Tamale: She’s not spoken for, is she?
Lyra: Nah, but you’re gonna need some celestia luck for that, sister.
Tamale: Some risks are with taking.

Lyra: And I guess this is Dollface, but she used to be a lot more chill.
Dollface: She used to not have so many responsibilities, either. You don’t have any editor or publishing connections, do you?
Bon-Bon: Oh… Sorry.
Dollface: Yeah… Me too… I take it you’re a non-paying guest.
Bon-Bon: Not necessari-
Lyra: We’re not in the best financial situation right now.

Dollface: Yeah? Join the club. Evidently we’ll have T-shirts soon. Speaking of which- Lyra, it is nice to see you again. But as we’ll have some paying guests along the way this time, a certain level of professionalism is necessary. So if you start to feel… upset, I’d appreciate it if you took your wailing a few blocks over- so as not to make anypony uncomfortable.
Raindrops: Right… We wouldn’t want anypony feeling like they didn’t get their moneys worth…
Dollface: Oh ho ho. I haven’t forgotten about you. This is an officially sanctioned tour. That means the guard is going to be watching out for us. So just in case you’re feeling a little outburst-y…? Well, it’d look awful funny for a big hero like yourself to be dragged off by armed soldiers.

[Long Pause]

Raindrops: I really hate her.

Lyra: Um… Hi girls.
Sprint: Holy crap. It really is you.
Tamale: Lyra! Hey!

Dollface: Oh. You’re here for real. Your letter was so last-minute I… Well look, we’re doing a paid tour this year and we actually got a few ponies to sign up-
Raindrops: You’re exploiting our suffering for money?
Dollface: Funding. For the book. No thanks to you, Ms.Got-Out-Early Wonderbolt.
Raindrops: And what’s that supposed to mean?
Dollface: Oh my, I had no idea the Wonderbolt’s lengthy list of exclusive benefits included a spine implant.

Tamale: Come on, girls. Not already.
Sprint: Nah. Let ‘em go at it. I wanna see Rain finally snap and rearrange Doll’s face.
Dollface: Thanks for the vote of confidence.
Sprint: Shoot. Rain here could have broke you in half before she became a big shot. You just stick to pushin’ pencils for us, pencil pusher.

Raindrops: I take it that means you’re still in favor…
Tamale: Sorry, Rain. If history repeats itself out of ignorance, our sacrifices will have been for nothing.
Raindrops: I’m sure that’d look real nice on a T-shirt…
Sprint: T-Shirts. Now there’s an idea. Are you writing this down, pencil pusher?
Dollface: I don’t know. Tamale, are you?
Tamale: Oh! Right!

Lyra: This isn’t everypony, is it?
Raindrops: We used to have a better turnout, but somepony ran them all off.
Dollface: Once this book gets published, you can take your reunion and shove it for all I care. The truth is getting out, whether you like it or not.

[Pause]

Bon-Bon: And I thought my reunions had some tension…

Bon-Bon: I know it’s sort of late to ask, since we’re already on the train, but are you sure it’s alright for me to be here?
Lyra: No.

Bon-Bon: Gee, thanks…
Lyra: What do you want me to do, lie? I don’t even know if it’s alright for me to be going!
Raindrops: Don’t you worry, Lyra. No pony’s gonna turn you away while I’m around.
Lyra: I appreciate that, Raindrops, but that’s not what I’m worried about…

Bon-Bon: Have you ever gone to one of these reunions before?
Lyra: Eh… Once.
Raindrops: Yeah… That one could have gone better… Hey wait. Lyra! That’s not why we stopped talking, was it?
Lyra: It was kind of embarrassing…
Bon-Bon: What happened-?
Raindrops: You listen up, Lyra. You are a strong pony. And just because you’re a strong pony, doesn’t mean you won’t break down. But I want you to know that no matter what, I’m with you! E-even though I can’t physically follow you if you run off, because I have to stay with the group. [Pause] Oh! Plus… you’ve got Bon-Bon! I mean, who else could a pony ask for?

Bon-Bon: Thank you, Raindrops.
Raindrops: Do you feel any better, Lyra?
Lyra: A little.
Raindrops: Good… ‘cause I really don’t like talking so much…

[Long Pause]

Bon-Bon: No one is forcing you to do this, Lyra.
Lyra: Yes they are… I’m forcing me to do this…

Lyra: You go every year, right Raindrops?
Raindrops: Oh sure! They can’t keep me away. I’m the oldest active member. They can’t tell me I can’t go.

Lyra: Uh…

Raindrops: Sorry. I know I’m a little quiet, but I have strong political beliefs.
Lyra: About what?

Raindrops: Oh! I don’t guess you’d know much about that… See, ponies like us… you know, the survivors? We’re kind of divided. The younger ponies want to tell the world about all the bad stuff that happened in Canterlot. Publish a book and everything. But older ponies like me? We know that’s not going to help. It’s just going to put bad ideas in pony’s heads. You know, copycat crimes? You’re actually sort of an oddball for being on our side since you’re younger.

Lyra: I… had no idea there was a movement to publish the truth.

Raindrops: Yeah… The younger ponies have all but chased all the older ones off. But they’ll never get rid of me! And I’ll keep speaking out against them! Protecting ponykind from themselves! It’s what Princess Celestia would want, I’m sure.

Bon-Bon: You look like you slept well. As usual.
Lyra: Uh-huhuhu… Hey. This is kinda stupid, but you haven’t seen…? You know, that letter I get every year…? The one about the reunion. [Pause] Where are you going?

[Pause] [Drawer opening]

Bon-Bon: Here.

Lyra: W-… What in Tartarus, Bon-Bon?! How long have you had this?! The reunion is… next week!
Bon-Bon: And? What does it matter? You never go. You get upset every time the letter arrives. Why bother giving it to you?

Lyra: Are… Are they all in there…?
Bon-Bon: The first one was tear-stained and torn up. Thankfully you’ve toned it down in the years since.
Lyra: But… why? W-why would you keep these?

Bon-Bon: Because for some strange reason I always thought one day you’d want them. That you’d go back- to Canterlot, and really face your past. Connect with ponies that went through the same things you did. Maybe get a bigger picture of what happened. Maybe make a difference in somepony’s life. Honestly? When you started hanging out with Raindrops more I thought it was imminent. Then last year I realized just how much time had passed. So this year I figured “might as well skip it“. Couldn’t bring myself to throw it a way, though.

[Long Pause]

Lyra: Where’s your stationary set?
Bon-Bon: Why? Do you plan on going?
Lyra: I… I don’t know…

Lyra: Princess Luna?
Princess Luna: Hello Lyra.
Lyra: Where am I? And why do you sound different?
Princess Luna: You are asleep, and because I am communicating directly into your mind.

Lyra: Oh… Why are you here?
Princess Luna: Because the last foundations of your resolve have crumbled, and from the remains we may yet construct a healthier method of coping.
Lyra: Oh…

Princess Luna: Lyra, here in the dreamscape I may bring clarity where there was doubt. I may bring hope where there was despair. But I cannot change the past. Nothing will.

Lyra: It’s not fair…
Princess Luna: You are not wrong. But your waking mind avoids what haunts you, so your dreams are plagued with endless nightmares. It is a cycle. One cannot end until the other.

Lyra: Y-you’ve seen-?
Princess Luna: I have.
Lyra: I-I’m s-s-so-
Princess Luna: Do not apologize. Instead, reflect upon this. Your past has constructed who you are. Can you use your past to construct your future?

Lyra: No… Yes?
Princess Luna: Tis not my decision to make. But I see a window of opportunity. And I see friends that will support you. You need only act. I wish you well, Lyra.
Lyra: Wait!
Princess Luna: You may not think yourself deserving of redemption, but I can tell you from experience that nothing good will come of torturing yourself. Now…

Wake up.

Earlier…

Tootsie: I don’t think this is helping…
Lyra: It’s not a switch, Liza. It’s gonna take a while.
Tootsie: I guess…

[Pause]

Lyra: How long had you been sneaking out? [Pause] What? You think you’re gonna get in more trouble?
Tootsie: A few months…
Lyra: So those students you were with, they weren’t just random ponies. They were your friends? [Pause] Liza.
Tootsie: Yes. Alright? And now I can’t see them anymore because they’re in class all day and I’m in Manehattan on the weekends.

[Pause]

Lyra: You know… If you were to do something undeniably benevolent that left you tired in the evenings, you could go to bed earlier without any question. I mean, Bon-Bon? Ninty-nine times out of one hundred she’s so tired at the end of the day she can’t even think. Her head hits the pillow and she’s out. And… if you still woke up at night, regardless of why… Well, the only reason we knew you were sneaking out at all was because Princess Luna told us.

[Long Pause]

Tootsie: Nurse Redheart? How would I go about volunteering to help out here at the hospital?

Bon-Bon: You’re back! How did it go?

Tootsie: It was fine. I’m just tired.
Lyra: In a mad bid for filly-of-the-year, Liza has decided to volunteer at the hospital.
Bon-Bon: Really? Are you sure about that, Liza?
Tootsie: Yeah. But I’m going to go to sleep. Good night.
Bon-Bon: Oh? But it’s still a little… early…

Lyra: She’s exhausted. Heck, I’m pretty tired. We must have crossed that hospital nine-times-over.
Bon-Bon: How’d she do?
Lyra: Well, she never passed out. [Pause] It’s a process. One trip was never going to cure anything.

Bon-Bon: What about you?
Lyra: What about me?
Bon-Bon: For somepony that jumped at the opportunity to help Liza, you sure have neglected to help yourself.

Lyra: Blood is unavoidable. The things I’ve seen no pony should ever experience again. So it doesn’t matter.
Bon-Bon: Is that what Doctor Reification said? [Pause] No comment then? [Pause] Well Lyra, you can ignore me until I walk away. But your own problems? They’ll outlast you.

Lyra: Hey, Liza.
Tootsie: Go away… [Sniff]
Lyra: I know you’re upset, but I need to talk to you about something. It’s not related to the whole sneaking-out thing.
Tootsie: What do you want?

Lyra: Bon-Bon told me about the blood dream. We spoke to Princess Luna about it.
Tootsie: Princess Luna? Great. Now you can’t even stay out of my mind.
Lyra: She said you’re subconsciously fixating on it when you sleep. Is that translating into daydreams?
Tootsie: What do you care?
Lyra: I’ve had similar problems in the past. I’ve seen faces twisted in agony, or heard tormented screams. It’s called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It’s pretty serious stuff. Do you ever feel afraid, but you’re not sure why? [Pause] How about guilty, but you did nothing wrong? [Pause] Was sneaking out at night affecting your sleep, or did you start sneaking out because you couldn’t sleep?

Tootsie: Sometimes, when I close my eyes, I can see it… dripping. I don’t know where it’s coming from… but it’s pooling. Sometimes there’s other pools. Sometimes it’s on shapes. Sometimes it’s on me… Why is this happening?
Lyra: PTSD comes from some kind of stimulant or event. Video games?
Tootsie: That doesn’t sound right…
Lyra: Movies? Books?
Tootsie: It can come from books?
Lyra: Anything that affects you deeply enough. It might not even start right away. It can fester inside you for a long time.

Tootsie: Is there a way to make it stop?
Lyra: Maybe. There’s this thing called Exposure Therapy. We could visit a hospital. Reinforce in your mind that blood is just a thing. [Pause] Unless you-
Tootsie: Anything to make it stop…
Lyra: Come on, then. The sooner we start the sooner it might end.

Bon-Bon: Are they drinking alcohol?
Lyra: Nah, it’s just soda.
Bon-Bon: Are they eating drugs?!
Lyra: Are they eating drugs… Is the line you just subjected me to.
Bon-Bon: Lyra!
Lyra: No, Bon-Bon. It’s just junk food. Like, not even the super-bad-for-you kind.
Bon-Bon: So?

Lyra: So they’re just… sitting outside. Liza is sneaking out at night to go hang with some older students. That’s it… I don’t know how to feel about this.
Bon-Bon: This is still really bad!
Lyra: I mean… it’s bad. But in my mind I was prepared for so much worse. They’re not even that much older than her. If she took a nap after school she wouldn’t even be losing any sleep.
Bon-Bon: That’s not any better! That’d ruin her sleep schedule!
Lyra: Yeah… I know…

Bon-Bon: You do understand we still have to punish her, right?
Lyra: Yeah… It’s just… If this was the worst thing I did when I was her age? I would have expected a marching band to come out and sing about what a well-behaved filly I was.
Bon-Bon: Marching bands don’t typically sing…
Lyra: See? You learned about marching bands while I was learning how to pick locks. And I’m the musical one! I know, I know. What she did was wrong. I just… wish it wasn’t…

??? 2: And my sister is tripping over farm equipment and the “snake’s” still attached to her hoof and the farmer is swinging the axe yellin’ “If you don’t stop I can’t get ‘em!“

[Laughter]

Tootsie: Hey everycreature!

??? 1: Liza!
??? 2: Liza.
??? 3: Hey, Doolittle. What? I’m only foolin’!
??? 1: You always foolin’!
??? 1 & 2: Hahaha!

Tootsie: You guys save me a drink?
??? 2: You got the chips?
Tootsie: Yee-ah!
??? 2: Yee-!

??? 3: Pass me some-ah dat dried carrot goodness!
??? 2: Blam!
??? 3: Ah! Mah brand! You really do care.

Tootsie: Neh. So what’d I miss?

??? 1: Misty Rose was just starting to tell us about that one time with her sister and Golden Harvest’s farm.

??? 2: No I wasn’t…? Oh! Well, the first thing you need to know about my sister is that she is deathly afraid of… snakes. Like, end of the world, salvation lies across this bridge, but there’s a snake in the way? “Eh. I’m good.“

[Laughter]

??? 2: “It was- It was getting too hot here anyway. Just… bring on that heat-death of the universe!”

[Laughter]