WEBVTT Kind: captions Language: en 00:00:12.400 --> 00:00:18.200 Indigo Spark: Alright, Lemon Hearts... Sea Swirl... Spring Fresh... 00:00:18.220 --> 00:00:30.600 Narrator: As Indigo Spark called out each young unicorn's name, their papers floated over to their desks. There were various reactions once they saw the grades -- smiles, indifference, utter horror... 00:00:30.609 --> 00:00:37.100 Indigo Spark: And... er... Lee-ra? Or is it... Lyra? 00:00:37.109 --> 00:00:40.600 Lyra: Oh, that's mine! How did I do? 00:00:40.600 --> 00:00:43.300 Indigo Spark: Oh, Heartstrings...? Er, yes... 00:00:43.300 --> 00:00:47.300 Lyra: Do you mind? I like the name Lyra better. That's all,. 00:00:47.300 --> 00:00:53.300 Indigo Spark: I suppose that's fine...Your paper was... interesting, I'll say that much... 00:00:53.300 --> 00:00:54.900 Lyra: What?! 00:00:54.900 --> 00:01:11.300 Narrator: Lyra 2large red D- was written in the upper right corner, along with a note in the teacher's hastily-written script: Equestrian History (the second word had been underlined twice), not legends. Throughout the paper were underlined phrases with question marks. 00:01:11.300 --> 00:01:28.500 Narrator: She gaped at the paper in disbelief. Was that true? She'd read those books for hours on end and not a single one had said anything about humans being 'legends.' There was just too much on the subject, so many diverse topics about their culture and biology and customs and... and everything! 00:01:28.500 --> 00:01:50.400 Narrator: True, there were parts of it that were obviously legends. Just like ponies, humans had their own folklore. She'd actually come across her new name in the old stories -- Lyra. As soon as she'd read that, something about it just sounded so right. She liked the name much more than 'Heartstrings.' She'd said the name out loud to herself a few times -- "Lyra" -- and the way it sounded was so perfect. 00:01:50.400 --> 00:02:11.200 Narrator: Human names were like that. Most ponies had names that were made up of other words, but humans had names that were just that -- names. Ponies might say that something 'tugged at the heartstrings' (a phrase that had always bothered her) but they never mentioned anything about 'Lyra.' Human names were all unique words, with no other meaning. And they were beautiful. 00:02:11.200 --> 00:02:14.000 Indigo Spark: Now, on to our next assignment. 00:02:14.000 --> 00:02:15.100 Class: groans 00:02:15.100 --> 00:02:18.000 Indigo Spark: I'd like each of you to learn a new spell... 00:02:18.000 --> 00:02:36.600 Narrator: Lyra was hardly listening. She was reading over her paper again. There had to be some reason nobody believed in humans... Why had they been forgotten? More importantly, where had they gone? She couldn't focus on things like magic when there were such mysteries in the world. There had to be answers. 00:02:38.000 --> 00:02:51.700 Narrator: This was it. All those years of ponies saying humans had never existed, that creatures like those were impossible... If this experiment worked, Lyra would be able to see just how humans might have lived. It could prove everything. 00:02:51.700 --> 00:03:15.000 Narrator: Lyra took a deep breath. She was in her bedroom, and Twilight's book was on the floor in front of her, opened to that wonderfully detailed illustration of a hand. She'd gone over it a few times -- the way each finger on the hand was formed, how long they were, the placement of the joints. She'd once come across a human expression about knowing the back of your hand -- she was probably about as familiar with it as any human ever was by now. 00:03:15.000 --> 00:03:29.700 Narrator: She bit her lip, knowing what to expect as she unwrapped the bandages from her hoof. Lyra had applied them several layers thick to hide any suspicious protruding shapes. As the wrapping came off, she frowned, looking at all her mistakes from her previous attempt. 00:03:29.700 --> 00:03:53.200 Narrator: A few half-formed fingers stuck out from an appendage that was still -- kind of - a hoof. They jutted out at all the wrong angles, one of them actually pointing backwards. A few had too many joints in them, and others didn't have enough. There were two that resembled thumbs, one on either side of her hoof since she'd been indecisive as to which side it was supposed to go on. The whole thing was a tangled mess. 00:03:53.200 --> 00:03:57.200 Lyra: This time it'll work. Let's see... 00:03:57.200 --> 00:04:15.900 Narrator: She referred to the book (the illustration seemed to be a... left hand, that's because the thumb was on the right) and then back to the results of her last experiment. She flexed one of the fingers. Even if it was all messed up, she still had motor control over the fingers. It just felt all wrong. This attempt would be better. 00:04:15.900 --> 00:04:19.200 Lyra: Just gotta focus... 00:04:19.200 --> 00:04:29.200 Narrator: She started to channel the magic through her horn and onto her hoof, wincing both from the mental strain and from the sensation of the entire anatomical structure of her hoof being rearranged at the same time. 00:04:29.200 --> 00:04:36.200 Narrator: The fingers were changing shape, retracting back into her hoof and then protruding back out as the entire hoof transformed... 00:04:39.200 --> 00:04:56.600 Narrator: Finally, it seemed like they'd gone over everything. Mrs. Cake shook hooves with Bon-Bon. Bon-Bon's job interview had been little more than a pleasant chat over cupcakes. The owners of Sugarcube Corner, Mr. and Mrs. Cake, were a very friendly and welcoming couple. Still, that hadn't helped make Bon-Bon any less tense. 00:04:56.600 --> 00:05:14.200 Narrator: They had gone over the policies of how they ran their business, from the recipes used to the packaging methods to the proper behavior when running counter service. They seemed glad to have a level-headed, mature confectioner apply -- as opposed to Pinkie Pie, who had been bouncing in and out of the bakery for snacks several times throughout the meeting. 00:05:14.200 --> 00:05:22.600 Mrs. Cake: It was so nice to have this chance to talk to you, dearie. We'll need all the help we can get, what with Nightmare Night coming up soon. 00:05:22.600 --> 00:05:27.200 Bon Bon: You mean I'm... hired? I'd be so honored to work here! 00:05:27.200 --> 00:05:33.200 Mr. Cake: You said you've been working from home? You wouldn't mind if we stopped by for a quick visit, would you, Ms. Bon-Bon? 00:05:33.200 --> 00:05:36.500 Bon Bon:Oh, not at all! I always keep everything in order. 00:05:36.500 --> 00:05:51.600 Narrator: They followed her back through Ponyville to her house. Bon-Bon was glad she had taken the time to clean up a few days ago. The house would still be presentable. Lyra had been in one of her odd compulsions lately. Maybe that had blown over by now. Anyway, it wouldn't be a problem. 00:05:51.600 --> 00:06:06.600 Narrator:Bon-Bon entered her house and led them into the kitchen. They could hear the sound of a lyre being played down the hall. It was the only sound in the otherwise silent house. The melody was complex. Compared to what Lyra usually played, it had many more notes and was at a quicker tempo. 00:06:06.600 --> 00:06:11.600 Bon Bon:Sounds like my roommate must be practicing something new for the Gala. You'll have to excuse her. 00:06:11.600 --> 00:06:17.600 Bon Bon: (thinking) Actually, this is perfect. Lyra is finally focusing on what is real and important. 00:06:17.600 --> 00:06:19.800 Mr. Cake: No problem at all, Ms. Bon-Bon. 00:06:19.800 --> 00:06:32.800 Mrs. Cake: She sounds absolutely wonderful. I've never heard anything like it. Now, I'm curious. You said you used original recipes? We'd love to see them. 00:06:32.800 --> 00:06:39.800 Bon Bon: My recipes? Why, of course. I keep them all in my own personal cookbook. Let me just go get that real quick. 00:06:39.800 --> 00:06:45.800 Narrator: She trotted in the hallway towards the study. The music grew louder as she came closer and walked through the doorway. 00:06:45.800 --> 00:06:51.500 Bon Bon: It sounds great, Lyra. By the way, have you seen my -- (scream) 00:06:51.500 --> 00:06:56.500 Narrator: Bon-Bon's scream could be heard from the kitchen, where Mr. and Mrs. Cake exchanged confused looks. 00:06:56.500 --> 00:07:11.500 Narrator: Lyra, reclining there on the sofa, glanced up at her. She stopped playing -- but she hadn't been playing the lyre with magic, like any normal unicorn would. Instead, she had some kind of... thing... on the end of each hoof, and was holding the instrument in those. 00:07:11.500 --> 00:07:20.200 Lyra: Hey, Bon-Bon. Check it out. Hands! It took me a few tries, but they came out perfectly in the end! 00:07:20.200 --> 00:07:24.200 Bon Bon: What did you -- How did you -- 00:07:24.200 --> 00:07:36.800 Lyra: It wasn't easy, I just referred to a few of the diagrams -- I had to come up with the spell on my own -- I should probably figure out how to walk on two legs next, these aren't meant to be used like hooves. 00:07:36.800 --> 00:07:40.400 Mr. Cake: (Calling from down the hall) Ms. Bon-Bon, are you okay in there? 00:07:40.400 --> 00:07:45.400 Bon Bon: I'll be right out! Everything's... Everything's just fine, thank you! 00:07:45.400 --> 00:07:46.400 Lyra: We have company? 00:07:46.400 --> 00:08:16.400 Bon Bon: You... You... No, listen! The Cakes are right out there in the kitchen. They are just about to give me a position as Assistant Confectioner at Sugarcube Corner. This is the chance I have been hoping for ever since moving to Ponyville, and if they seeyou -- with those -- If they see those, I mean if anypony sees those, they're going to think you're some kind of a... I don't even know what! They're going to think we're both crazy! 00:08:16.400 --> 00:08:20.800 Lyra: It's not that bad, you even said my music sounded better. 00:08:20.800 --> 00:08:31.400 Bon Bon: Your music? No, no, no, you can't show up at the Gala with - ! Just... I need my cookbook. 00:08:31.400 --> 00:08:36.400 Narrator: Lyra went over to the bookshelf and reached up, gripping it in her hand and holding it out to her. 00:08:36.400 --> 00:08:37.400 Lyra: Here you go. 00:08:37.400 --> 00:08:47.400 Bon Bon: Could you just not -- Oh, nevermind. Bmmf mff ff... 00:08:47.400 --> 00:08:48.400 Lyra: Huh? 00:08:48.400 --> 00:08:55.400 Bon Bon: I just said you better not show yourself out there with those until everypony's gone. 00:08:55.400 --> 00:08:59.600 Lyra: See, that's why these are so great, because you can carry things around without -- 00:08:59.600 --> 00:09:00.600 Bon Bon: I don't want to hear it! 00:09:00.600 --> 00:09:06.600 Narrator: Bon-Bon picked up her recipe book again and headed back out down the hallway into the kitchen, trying to keep it together. 00:09:06.600 --> 00:09:20.600 Narrator: Mr. and Mrs. Cake were still waiting there. Bon-Bon walked in and set her book down on the table, while forcing a smile. She had to give the impression of being a capable baker, absolutely nothing was wrong, this was a normal household, nothing out of the ordinary to see here. 00:09:20.600 --> 00:09:25.600 Mr. Cake: Ms. Bon-Bon, are you doing okay? What was that racket in there? 00:09:25.600 --> 00:09:38.600 Bon Bon: Oh... it was just... A spider! Two of them. Huge. To tell the truth I can't stand the sight of the things, all those weird spindly legs moving around and all that stuff... 00:09:38.600 --> 00:09:39.600 Mr. Cake: You have spiders in here?. 00:09:41.600 --> 00:09:48.600 Bon Bon: Not usually. Certainly not in the kitchen. Nope no spiders there. 00:09:48.600 --> 00:09:52.600 Lyra: By the way, you dropped some notecards. Do you need these? 00:09:52.600 --> 00:09:53.600 Bon Bon: (force back a scream) 00:09:53.600 --> 00:10:06.200 Bon Bon: Oh... d-did I? Well, I'll come get those, no need to -- NO! I mean, no need, I'll just... You should really be practicing for the Gala, shouldn't you? 00:10:06.200 --> 00:10:10.800 Mrs. Cake: We could hear you earlier. It sounded quite wonderful! 00:10:10.800 --> 00:10:13.800 Lyra: Thanks! I'm working on a new technique. 00:10:13.800 --> 00:10:17.400 Narrator: Bon-Bon rushed over to the doorway before Lyra could come fully into view. 00:10:17.400 --> 00:10:31.400 Bon Bon: Thank you, Lyra, for bringing these over, but you really should be... practicing! No need to let us disturb your creative focus, now you should really get back to work where we won't be around to distract you while you perfect your art! 00:10:31.400 --> 00:10:34.800 Lyra: Um... Okay, I guess... 00:10:34.800 --> 00:10:38.800 Narrator: Lyra gave a thumbs up, which Bon-Bon stared at in confusion. 00:10:38.800 --> 00:10:40.200 Lyra: Good luck with the interview! 00:10:40.200 --> 00:10:55.800 Narrator: Bon-Bon glanced back at the Cakes, who were looking through her cookbook. They hadn't seen anything. Lyra had turned around and was heading down the hall. She attempted to pick herself up and walk on two legs, but wobbled and fell forward. Bon-Bon put a hoof to her face in exasperation. 00:10:55.800 --> 00:11:01.500 Bon Bon: Anyway, my recipe book... And my appologies, there shouldn't be any more distractions 00:11:01.500 --> 00:11:05.500 Narrator: When the music started playing again, Bon-Bon's eye started to twitch. 00:11:06.500 --> 00:11:19.500 Narrator: The sun outside was just starting to set when Bon-Bon said goodbye to the Cakes, with the assurance of a new job enough to offset the stress of the past day. A few minutes earlier the music had stopped. Who knew what Lyra was up to in there now? 00:11:19.500 --> 00:11:32.500 Narrator: Bon-Bon reluctantly headed back to the study after her interview was over. She braced herself for what she was about to see. Lyra had never taken her obsession with humans this far before. Something must have gotten into her. 00:11:32.500 --> 00:11:33.500 Bon Bon: Lyra....? 00:11:33.500 --> 00:11:49.000 Narrator: Lyra was on the couch, lying on her back and staring at the ceiling. She didn't move. One foreleg hung over the edge onto the floor... but it ended in a regular hoof. There weren't any fingers there at all. Bon-Bon couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. 00:11:49.000 --> 00:11:51.800 Lyra: Hey, Bon-Bon. How'd it go? 00:11:51.800 --> 00:11:57.800 Bon Bon: Um... Everything went very well. I got the job. They want me to come in for work starting tomorrow. 00:11:57.800 --> 00:11:59.200 Lyra: That's good. 00:11:59.200 --> 00:12:00.400 Bon Bon: What about your... 00:12:00.400 --> 00:12:13.200 Lyra: My hands? You were right. Nobody would understand. They'd probably react just like you did. Nobody else believes in humans, anyway. 00:12:13.200 --> 00:12:14.200 Bon Bon: Oh... 00:12:14.200 --> 00:12:24.200 Narrator: Bon-Bon fidgeted for a bit. Right now Lyra looked like any normal pony, but after today, Bon-Bon would never be able to forget what she'd done, no matter how hard she tried. 00:12:24.200 --> 00:12:28.600 Lyra: I'm tired. I think I'll turn in early. 00:12:28.600 --> 00:12:37.200 Bon Bon: Lyra... Um, it's good that... that you're finally seeing some sense. This whole 'human' thing has just gone too far this time. 00:12:37.200 --> 00:12:38.400 Lyra: This isn't over. 00:12:38.400 --> 00:12:39.400 Bon Bon: What? 00:12:39.400 --> 00:12:59.400 Lyra: I may not be able to make myself human, but that doesn't change the fact that understanding them is very important to the history of Equestria. Now that I've seen how hands work, it's even more obvious that our society was made by something that didn't have hooves. It wasn't just the lyre. Those hands would have made any task much simpler. 00:12:59.400 --> 00:13:01.400 Bon Bon: Surely you don't still think... 00:13:01.400 --> 00:13:11.400 Lyra: The information I have right now isn't sufficient. That much is obvious. If I can find some more... like the book Twilight gave me... Here would I be able to find out more, though? 00:13:11.400 --> 00:13:23.200 Narrator: She walked past Bon-Bon, headed to her bedroom. Bon-Bon turned to watch her, but couldn't think of anything else to say. At the very least, she hoped there wouldn't be any more self-mutilation like today's. 00:13:23.200 --> 00:13:25.400 Bon Bon: I don't have time to worry about this... 00:13:25.600 --> 00:13:32.600 Narrator: She had a new job, at one of the finest bakeries in all of Equestria. She had to focus on that. Things would be fine. 00:13:32.600 --> 00:13:35.600 Narrator: They both ended up going to bed early.