The soft turning of pages echoed through Lyra's empty head. The hollowness, however, did not hold out for long as the floodgates of her mind reopened, triggered by the gentle sound nearby. Thoughts once more flooded the mare's head, a number of them wondering just where she had left off within the realm of reality.

Lyra jerked her head up from the book in which it was buried and set her eyes straight ahead. Her powder blue and white mane flowed down over her eyes, but between its thin strands she could make out a familiar figure sitting across the table.

“Starlight?” Lyra murmured, lifting her head. “Where did you come from?”

Lyra watched with her blurred vision as the stallion glanced up from a book he held. Starlight’s typical timid smile emerged.

“Oh, you're finally awake! I walked in a few minutes ago,” he explained in his usual hushed tone. “I came for some peace and quiet, as well as an interesting read. I saw you had a stack of books and was curious what you were doing, but before I could ask I noticed you were napping. I didn't want to, you know, disturb you or anything.”

“So you sat at the exact same table as me?” Lyra grumbled.

Starlight's ears retreated. “I got carried away reading some of what you gathered here. I... I wasn't loud, was I?”

“Not necessarily. You've just startled me is all.” Lyra narrowed her eyes, to which Starlight leaned back in his cushioned seat. “I'm watching you, Starlight. Even though I've had my eye on you recently, you've still managed to sneak up on me like this.”

“Sneak up on you?” Starlight asked, puzzled.

Lyra narrowed her eyes further. “You're not stalking Twilight and me, are you?”

The magic Starlight held his book with stopped; the volume dropped to the floor with a slam, drawing a shush from a librarian nearby.

“Wha-? Creeping?” Starlight exclaimed, barely managing to keep his voice low enough to escape another hush. “We're in the same class, Lyra-”

“Same class indeed,” Lyra remarked smartly. She suddenly stared down at the book before her, but her eyes couldn't focused on the words. “Same class. Class... ugh, the word itself is becoming rather unbearable to say.”

Starlight raised an eyebrow and slowly picked up his book, placing it on the table with extreme caution.

“I-Is something the matter?” he asked.

“No, no, you wouldn't understand,” Lyra said with a shooing motion. “You, a lucky and fortunate stallion-” Suddenly a light went off in her head, which in turn brightened her countenance. “Wait, no, that's it: you wouldn't understand! Talking to you about my dilemma would be like... like talking to a pet! That is to say, I won't have to worry about you regurgitating it to some other pony in an understandable manner.”

Starlight began leaning closer though a certain hesitance lingered in his eyes. “What do you mean? What wouldn't I understand, exactly?”

“Oh, you know, emotional trauma, hardships,” Lyra sighed. “You've probably had it good your whole life, so you wouldn't know what trouble I've been experiencing. Not that that's a bad thing; it's actually perfect in this case.”

Her cheery tone and baffling words summoned a confused look from the stallion.

Lyra laughed and simply continued, “I'm going to tell you some rather distressful things, but you must promise not to tell anypony else, understand? I'm only telling you because I don't know if I can tell it to a certain somepony that matters... yet.”

Starlight's eyes narrowed as an unimpressed frown came along. “A certain somepony that matters? You wouldn't happen to be talking about Twilight or Luna, would you-?”

“Ah ah ah! No guesses.”

… HOW DID HE KNOW!?

Lyra's eyes darted about the vicinity, and Starlight's tried to follow. After a minute of twisting and turning his head, though, the stallion put an end to his attempt, leaving his eyes to spin until they came to a complete stop.

“Um, so,” Starlight stammered, “w-was there something you wanted to say?”

“Ugh, you don't want to know,” Lyra remarked. “Where do I even begin? Well, let's start with the basics: you know that I'm in the light magic track, yes?”

Starlight rolled his eyes as a tired expression began emerging from the timidity. “Lyra, we're in the exact same class.”

“Right, right, of course. Now, you've probably noticed that throughout the weeks I haven't been completely - what’s the best word? - challenged. Are you still comprehending all this?” Starlight simply nodded. “I'm being forced to take this track by my parents, something they've unfortunately done ever since the day I was born.”

Starlight suddenly shook his head, “Wait just a second. Weren't our placement exams designed to put us into magic courses in which we had the least experience?”

“Yes, what of it?”

Starlight blinked. “Well, how did you end up in a magic class in which you already excel?”

“Oh. Well I lied, of course.”

“You WHAT!?”

The librarian at the desk on the opposite side of the floor gave a long, loud shush once more. Lyra shot Starlight a nasty scowl.

“Hush up, you! No need to act so surprised,” Lyra ordered. “I had to lie; I knew my parents wouldn't approve of me being at this school if I weren't studying the 'ever-applicable’ light magic material. Now, Starlight, this is where things get extremely complicated, and I know you most likely won't understand: if I had the choice, I'd much rather be studying something else. Something like, say, elemental magic.”

Starlight nodded some more, to which Lyra lifted a hoof to her forehead.

“Oh, don't try and be so sympathetic,” Lyra said with a weary sigh, “I know it must not make much sense to you. It's all so dizzying and complex-”

Starlight cut in, “But every day for the past few weeks you've been telling Twilight and me about how uninteresting classes have been.”

The mare's face filled with sudden shock, but Lyra quickly inserted a small laugh. “Well, those instances weren't quite so serious. Yes, I, I was most likely joking back then. Ha ha... ha?”

“How's the even joking-?” Starlight closed his eyes and rubbed his temples, exhaling a deep sigh all the while. “You know what, maybe I don't understand. But in any case, what do you plan to do now? Switch classes despite what your parents think? Or have you talked to Princess Luna about all this-?”

“What is this, twenty questions!?” Lyra snapped. “I didn't ask for advice, I came here to rant!”

“But you didn't come to me-”

“Nevermind!” Lyra hissed, then fell back into her seat. “Oh, I'm not even sure what I should do first. I can't even think straight anymore. I guess it all boils down to whether I want to study what I already know and don't love, or leave and find a way to pursue my passion elsewhere.”

“Wouldn't leaving to study what you love only make your parents more frustrated?”

Lyra grumbled, “Again with the interrogation! Ugh, I'm sorry Starlight, I was secretly hoping you might understand all this.” She watched as Starlight's head dropped into the book he held, defeated. “Oh, are you tired? I must say, these books are rather comfortable; at least, compared to the table. The pages are unexpectedly comfortable and nice... like everything else in your life. You with your rich family ties, your luxury and lavish summer cottages-”

Starlight lifted his head from the pages and interrupted, “Apparently you don't know me very well.”

“Are you suggesting you've never had any of those things?” Lyra asked. “But I was so sure! No matter. I've practiced pouring my heart out enough today. How would you rate it? Say, on a scale of one to extremely well-done?”

“On a scale of what-? You can't really rate things like this, can you?”

“Why not? All things can be 'rated'. Speeches, music, manes, the list goes on.”

Starlight put the book he had been reading on one of the stacks on the table and groaned, “Well, I don’t know, how about a... five?”

Lyra's heartache left her jaw to drop. “Mediocre? But what did I-?” She pushed herself away from the table and brushed the dust from the book off her face as she regained her composure. “A five. Ha! You cannot simply grade the expression of emotion, I guess. Thanks for at least having open ears, Starlight Hooves.”

The stallion scanned the table and stacks of books piled on top of it as Lyra stood and brushed her mane in preparation to leave.

“What about all your books?” Starlight asked. “And where are you going?”

Lyra sighed, “I need a real nap, preferably in my bed where I won't wake up to somepony staring at me. As for the books, leave them out for Twilight. Wait, was I not supposed to tell anypony about that?” She stared at the ceiling for a moment, then added, “As far as you're concerned, Starlight, you didn't see or hear anything.”

“But-”

“A-ny-thing.”

She bumped into a bookshelf and stumbled the rest of her way out of the library, her physical tiredness overtaking her. She slowly made her way back to her suite, stopping only in the glass corridor for a moment, where the ocean caught the gaze of her weary eyes.

But it was her ears that rose in anticipation. She waited for some kind of call from the sea. But with a storm of newly-aroused thoughts – most of them terribly unpleasant and loud – no voice could reach her at that time.

---

Taking a nap hadn't fixed a thing other than Lyra's physical well-being. With her brain in a constant state of chaos, though, the condition of her body seemed insignificant. As the evening drew near the only solution to the mental matter Lyra could muster was to go down and experience the ocean up-close, to rid of her exasperation and take in the serenity.

Lyra, however, found the scene less tranquil than she had hoped. The waves she watched were unexpectedly tall, and the shore was cold from melted snow and ice. Each breaking swell sounded as though the ocean were growling, its waves scratching the ice from the rocky parts of the shore. The air was cold and the water colder, numbing the skin of any of those caught unprepared.

Fortunately for Lyra she had packed all her needs; with a scarf and boots to keep her warm and her lyre to keep her mind and hoofs occupied, the mare was ready to stay on the harsh beach until nightfall. In time her eyes distracted her mind, and the mare’s consciousness retreated from the reach of reality.

Lyra stared long and hard at the shades of the water, from its deep blue to the shallow white. Its undulations and breaking bores mirrored the restlessness in her mind; the waves pulsated like the blood in her veins. The moon even seemed unnaturally large, as though the gravity of the mare's situation was drawing everything near.

All Lyra could think about was her own situation, of her trip to Ponyville as well as her early departure. The images of her parents and then of Bon Bon flashed through her mind. Everything they said and everything they did replayed within the mare's mind. Emotions of frustration traded blows with embarrassment.

If I left, what would I do? My parents sure wouldn’t welcome me back.

What would Bon Bon even think? I shouldn’t have left without telling her...

Where would I go if not to either of them? I’ve never been out on my own!

Without even thinking Lyra picked up her instrument with her magic and settled it in the grasp of her hoofs. She held the golden lyre for a while, warming its cold metal frame. Without even thinking she began pulling its strings, the music but a translation of her emotions. Waves of frustration created a series of fast-paced plucks, while her embarrassment drew out long vibrations of depressing notes. One song turned into a couple, and then a couple turned into many.

Even over the course of an hour, though, her mind searched for words to put into song. But with traffic of irksome ideas traveling through her cluttered head, the chance to even begin a line never emerged.

“Hey Lyra,” came a gentle call from behind.

The minty mare ceased her playing and turned. Behind her approached Twilight and Starlight, both stepping toward her with a slow and steady pace.

“Is this a secret meeting you two are having?” Lyra asked, shocked. “I would offer to leave, but... I don't think I can.”

Twilight rolled her eyes and giggled. “No, Lyra, we're here to see how you were doing.”

“Twilight, what ever do you mean?” Lyra asked, shooting Starlight a nasty grimace.

Starlight looked away, abashed, as Twilight examined the two.

“Is there something I should know about?” Twilight inquired, switching her gaze between the two.

Lyra stuck her nose in the air and harrumphed. “I thought I had told somepony not to go tattling about certain things he was told.”

Starlight gasped. “What? I didn't say anything!”

“Starlight didn't say anything about you, if that's what you're suggesting,” Twilight stated. “I found him painting the main hall facade from the commons lawn and checked to see what he was up to. When I came outside, though, I thought I heard you playing your lyre. We both went searching to see if it was you.”

Lyra looked back at the sea, unsure of what to say any longer.

Twilight, after a pause, added, “If you want us to leave, we can. I was just a bit concerned about how you were doing. With how disoriented you seemed this morning, I thought I'd let you know the time, too, since we didn’t catch you at dinner-”

“It doesn't matter,” Lyra sighed.

Twilight tilted her head to a side. “What do you mean it doesn't matter?”

“Twilight, I never had the chance to tell you,” Lyra said, putting her lyre down. “That is to say, I've been trying to tell you just what has been going on, but things have been getting in the way. But I suppose now that I've thought things through, it doesn't matter anymore.”

Twilight blinked. “What doesn't matter? Is something wrong?” She gasped. “Is this about your trip?”

“Yes, Twilight, it's all about my last trip. I wanted to find you to talk about the whole ordeal before I went to Princess Luna.”

“But I thought you spoke with her last night?”

Lyra shook her head. “No, I didn’t. I couldn’t.”

“Why not?”

Lyra exhaled her anxiety, but her body continued to shake. “I wanted to speak with you first, but I got too nervous last night. I tried to practice with Starlight, but I’m not sure it helped a lot.” Starlight’s head bowed in shame, but Lyra shook a hoof. “Don’t worry, Starlight, you shouldn’t have had to put up with my mess.”

“I’ll still listen,” Twilight said. “That’s what good friends do! So, what’s the problem?

“Well,” Lyra began, “I had some unfortunate things happen over the break. Bon Bon found out that I'm not studying what I had hoped to, and so she convinced me to tell my parents I wanted to switch.”

“I'm guessing your parents didn't like the idea,” Twilight said.

Lyra's head waved about with the winds of incertitude that had been blowing from the sea. The waves that accompanied them made the waters slowly rise.

“They did not like it in the least,” Lyra said, teeth clenching. “My parents said that they won't help me pay for my attendance here if I switch studies. As a result, I'm now at a point where I must choose whether I wish to stay and study what I don't enjoy, or head home and leave this wonderful place.”

“Lyra, why didn't you ever say anything?” Twilight asked. “I mean, is there anything we can do to help your decision?”

Lyra looked out at the ocean once more. Her heart began beating in her chest as the very thought of what she was about to say made her insides churn.

“No, Twilight, there is nothing that can be done now.”

Twilight and Starlight exchanged concerned glances.

Starlight angled his head to the side to capture a glimpse of Lyra's shadowed face. Her amber eyes were locked on the waters. “What do you mean?”

Lyra dug in the sand with her hoofs and planted them in as deep as she could, bracing herself for the declaration.

“I'm leaving the Winter Magic Academy.”

The two accompanying her gasped.

“You're what?”

“Leaving!?”

Lyra nodded as she composed herself. She could see the water in her own eyes blurring the nearing tide. She held her lyre with her magic and began playing again, its long, soft notes filled with pain and sadness.

“As much as I love the ocean and the company here, I don't think I can stand to sit in another class and suffer having to deal with longing for something I cannot have,” Lyra explained. “It's worse than giving a filly candy and telling her she can't eat it. Far, far worse.”

“Why don't you just take some extra lessons on the side?” Twilight asked. “I'm sure one of the professors would be willing to lend at least an hour a week to teach you-”

“I thought of that, too,” Lyra said, “but my parents refused to allow such distractions. They said that even the professors couldn't convince them otherwise.”

Lyra continued to strum the strings of her lyre, but above its music was the growing sound of the sprightly tide. She closed her eyes as she felt as though the sea were trying to speak to her, its words mere drones in the breaking of the waves. As the emotion inside forced out a whimper and tear Lyra could feel the sea calling out with a greater intensity.

Starlight tried to speak. “Uh, Lyra-”

“It's no use, Starlight,” Lyra stated. “I've already made up my mind.”

“No, Lyra, I-”

“Please, Starlight, no more questions!”

Twilight tried to speak as well. “Lyra, I think he’s trying to...”

Her voice drifted beneath the sound of the waves, which by then were screaming as though in pain. Lyra, swept up by the pent-up frustration and sorrow, kept on playing her lyre, which mysteriously overpowered the surrounding noise.

All of a sudden a tremendous zephyr brisked through as the breaking of the waves echoed louder. The cold was nothing like the frozen heart Lyra bore; she wished to escape the icy depths of her dejection and swim to shallow waters where she could wade in peace. But peace became unknown to her as the sea began spurting violent waves. They rolled in with rapid succession and broke with a force Lyra could begin to feel.

“Lyra, look out!”

The mare's eyes shot open to reveal a wave ten times her height tumbling right over where she stood. She turned galloped to escape the crash, only to have the icy waters numb her hoofs. The tingling liquid lingered for only a moment before trickling back to the shoreline behind her.

Lyra glanced back over her shoulder at the bay. Cruel winds blew about sand and tiny grains of ice as giant waves cavorted through the bay. The changing water level was nothing Lyra had ever before seen: as waves built up the waters retreated meters out into the bay, only to crash and surge all the way up the beach to where the three ponies stood shivering.

“What's going on?” Twilight asked. “Lyra, did you do something to summon a storm?”

Lyra glanced at her golden instrument.

I didn't do this, did I?

She turned and faced the others that stared out at the new face of the ocean.

“We need to find Princess Luna!” Lyra said, turning around to head for the school. “She'll know what to do-”

“Wait, Lyra!” Twilight shouted as she jumped in the way. “Remember when I was telling you about Luna and her odd behavior the other day?” The moment flashed through Lyra's head as a speculative gaze crossed her face. “Do you think this has something to do with it?”

Is she suggesting... Luna is causing the moon to do all this-?

“What do we do?” Starlight panicked. “If we can't go to Princess Luna, what can we do?”

Twilight looked up the cliff-side at the stone stairs leading upward, her eyes eventually resting upon the edge where the school grounds reached.

“Let's head back before things gets worse!” Twilight suggested. “We can’t tell Princess Luna, though. Maybe we could tell one of the teachers about what's going on-”

“I don't think we'll make it!” Starlight interrupted.

“What do you mean?” Lyra asked. “It's just a bit of a high tide, Starlight, I think we can outrun-”

But as she turned to face the sea her eyes kept her from finishing her thought. Out in the distance a giant wave rose from the depths of the sea, reaching as high as the school itself. Every smaller wave in it ran into was absorbed, until the water formed a wall fast approaching. Lyra could only stare in awe.

“What do we do?” Starlight asked, his eyes darting between the two mares.

Lyra felt her heart stop. She had never seen the ocean in such a vicious state before. She had never seen the waters display such might.

Like the water, calm, my spirit...

She had never heard the words more clearly.

“I've got a plan!” Twilight suddenly shouted before hopping between the two. “Hold still, I'm going to teleport us back to the school-!”

Her horn lit a dazzling violet color, but she stopped the second Lyra began walking away.

“Where are you going!?” Twilight yelled. “Lyra? Lyra!”

The mint-colored unicorn made her way to the edge of the water, which continued to retreat into the giant wave. The wall of water, which then spanned the entire length of the bay, approached like a train at full speed with no intention of coming to a halt. But Lyra felt no fear at the surreal sight. Her ears had all her attention.

She could hear it, the voice of the sea, singing:

“Show thy sense of perfect peace...”

Next Chapter: Chapter 24 (Episode 6): Facing the White Horse Estimated time remaining: 5 Hours, 44 Minutes