It was rare that Lyra left her bed before nine. Well, at least according to her parents and their surprised faces as she sat down at the breakfast table next to them. “Morning, dear,” her mother greeted her. “Sorry, I didn’t put a plate out for you. We thought you wanted to have a lie-in on your first free day since Hearth’s Warming.”

“I have to go as early as possible, mom! This is the sensation of the century!” Her mother looked up in search for some explaining words from her father, who was just about to read the newspaper that was next to his breakfast.

He didn’t notice at first but looked up as the room fell silent. “Umm? Oh yeah. Lyra thinks humans are aliens who landed here thousands of years ago and never left,” he stated dryly.

“Lyraaa…” She knew that particular tone from her mother. She used it every time she thought Lyra had some crazy ideas running around in her head, or some that might get her in trouble. “You know that I’m proud of you and such, but couldn’t you have chosen another subject? Anthropology was abandoned centuries ago, dearie. It’s a dead subject. Have you ever thought of repeating your last school year and choosing another major? Maybe one where you can earn money with and not make every stallion gallop away from you? I would really like to be a grandmother one day.” Lyra rolled her eyes as the silvery mare pushed a plate with a pancake on the table in front of her.

“You’ll have to bet on Moondancer for that. Lyra is with Bonbon, her nice marefriend.”

“Dad!” Her older sister was the pride of the family. Not only was she working in the illustrious area of astronomy together with big names like Orion and Night Light, but she also had a coltfriend for over two years now in Prince Blueblood who, over several generations, was related with Princess Celestia. It was no secret that the princess had fallen in love over the course of the centuries and had given birth to several foals. “I’ve already told you so often that we’re only living together. It’s just because of the money.” Of course, Bonbon had become her friend as well, but that was after the utilitarian flat rent.

“Moony is so focused on her career all the time, and since Lyra has always been so hoydenish, I thought she would be the first with a little filly or colt of her own.” Lyra noticed how she was being excluded more and more from the conversation. “Since she has no real job, she would surely be a good housemare…”

“Honey, have you ever seen your daughter cleaning her room? She’s only here for a night, and I bet if we go up there right now, it will look like a tornado went through the room.” What did they expect? Lyra had to prepare herself for the audience with Princess Celestia. Her desk was small, so she had to use the floor to prepare her notes. Her formal attire had been in the way when she had tried to get it out of her bag, and maybe Lyra had slammed it on the ground a little too roughly.

“Urg,” she moaned. “Thanks for the breakfast, mom, but I’m not hungry anymore. I have to go now.” Even if the princess was not receiving anyone this early, it would surely be better to wait in the castle than enduring this scene here.

“Darling?” she heard her mother call behind her as she was about to leave through the kitchen door. “Just a recommendation, but maybe you should shower first. Or is a bed mane in fashion again?”

“I wouldn’t even be surprised by today’s youth,” her father added. With a hoof, she noticed that her mother was right, and she quietly went into the other direction, heading towards the bathroom. It was enough that some thought she was crazy - she didn’t have to look it too.

Not only with a neatly done mane and fresh perfume but with much more élan in her steps as well, Lyra Heartstrings, anthropologist extraordinaire, was on her way through the downtown of Canterlot. Her destination was clearly visible above the rooftops. In a few minutes, she would leave behind the hustlers, the poor, unknowing ponies. While they would live on in their simple world of fashion, power, and money, she would unravel an ancient mystery and would finally grasp the recognition she deserved.

She wouldn’t only show it to her parents, not only to her sister, not only to the council, no… to the whole world! Or at least where everypony would have access to the professional journals where the countless interviews she would give could be printed and sold. But that was of no matter now; those were just some minor details.

With a wide grin on her face, she ran up the stairs that led to the visitor’s entrance of the castle. “Mommy, she looks scary,” whimpered a foal that saw her and clenched tightly to her mother’s back.

“Just wait for it! I’ll show you too!” The mother and various other ponies just stared at her, flabbergasted. “Umm…” She had once again slipped into an awkward situation, causing her to speed off on her hooves. Maybe she should wait with the daydreaming until after she met with the princess, because they would be real then.

Slightly drooling at the thought of how her life would be after her revelations, she continued on her way. It didn’t take long until she absently passed the guards at the door, who only shrugged as she walked past them and marched through the large gate into the castle. Unlike the main entrance, which was mostly used for special events, this one was used for everyday activities. “Good morning, sirs. I would like an audience with the princess,” Lyra proudly declared.

One of the two stallions only nodded slightly towards the large door behind him and opened it with his magic. Behind it was usually a large queue of ponies with the same destination as hers. However, today was an exception. Confused about the empty hallway, she looked back to the guards. "The princess awaits you, Miss Heartstrings.” Lyra could barely tame her excitement. The princess awaited her? Surely she had heard about her great work and was just waiting for her presentation.

Excited like a little filly, she stepped through the second door at the end of the foyer into the throne room. It was no longer decorated with purple banners, but the traditional white and blue banners with the symbol of Equestria - the planet Albion circled by the two princesses - on them. Lyra stopped for a second and remembered what Thiemo had told her about the pretentious image that Equestria had garnered by those outside its borders. For all she knew, Equestria was the only country that showed the entire planet in its banner. But Celestia would never abuse her power; she was a god above fault and reproach. On the other hoof, Celestia had fired her, but that surely was just a mistake of the bureaucrats. If it were up to her, bureaucrats and lawyers could all be put into a large bag and be used as a piñata. You would never hit the wrong one. Maybe those annoying salesponies and Celestia’s witnesses could go in as well. Everypony knew that she was their god; why ring the doors of tired ponies at such early hours then?

Lyra shook her head as somepony in the room coughed slightly. She looked up and saw Princess Celestia staring down at her from her throne. “I suspect you want to talk with me, my little pony?”

Slightly embarrassed, she walked the rest of the way towards the throne and bowed to her as was right and proper. “Pardon me, Princess. I was just wrapped up in some thoughts.” Celestia smiled and nodded.

“What can I do for you, Lyra?” Now was her time.

“Well, Princess, I have worked with the imprisoned human over the last two months on behalf of your daughter. I have discovered a lot of interesting facts during this time and have a theory. Hold on tight!” She paused for a moment, giving time for the imaginary drum roll to finish as the excitement and tension reached a climax before saying, “Humans… come… from… space!” A raised brow was not the reaction she had expected. Not at all. Couldn’t she show a little more enthusiasm?

Well, it was less than she had hoped for. The princess listened to her theory, the facts she had gathered, and thought about it for a less than a minute. The counterarguments she brought up were a real damper to Lyra’s mood.

“How could the human know where he came from if it happened thousands of years ago?”

“Where is the magic, alchemy, or technology required for that?”

“There is always the possibility that they were just stories,” Lyra mimicked the princess’ voice as she was guided through the castle by a guard. She noticed how the stallion was looking at her from the corner of his eyes. “Something wrong?” Like most of his colleagues, he preferred to stay silent and didn’t reply.

This was her last chance. Celestia had informed her that the human would be relocated to Tartarus, a prison for dangerous magical creatures and other criminal scum. A journey with no return, for no one had ever gotten past Cerberus. Well, if one didn’t count the one day when he had neglected his duty and decided to visit Ponyville. Fluttershy had been able to calm him, and Twilight Sparkle brought him back afterwards. Why exactly he ran away Lyra never found out, but she hadn’t really asked why either.

At least she could speak to him one last time before that. Furthermore, the princess had called in a maid that gave her a package. It was for Thiemo and was apparently his last wish in freedom. Most likely it was some delicacy. Judging by the size of the box in the borrowed saddlebags that came from the same maid, it was most likely a pineapple or something. For a moment, she thought about looking inside herself, but then her guide had already appeared.

It didn’t take long until they reached the servant’s quarters where Thiemo and the changeling were stationed. It was still a mystery to Lyra as to what was going on with the real monster there. Why were they held together, and who was she? Over the past few years, changelings had occasionally been found. They were usually thrown into the dungeons, where they slowly dried out to death. Parasites like them didn’t deserve anything else. At first, their victims got tired, slowly but steadily becoming sicker by the day. Eventually, they would die if there was no one to care about them. Unfortunately, many confused the symptoms of a changeling attack with simple magical exhaustion, or regular exhaustion in the case of pegasi and earth ponies.

Her thoughts led Lyra to a dark place. Were they allowing the changeling to feed from Thiemo? No, that wasn’t possible. He had shown none of the usual signs that someone was feasting on his emotions. Au contraire, over time he seemed to get friendlier and even healthier, even if just by a little.

“Here we are, Miss Heartstrings.” They stood in front of the simple quarters with the two guards that guarded the human. It was debatable if they were always the same ones. That stupid armor made them all look alike. “The princess said you can leave when you’re done.”

Lyra didn’t dare to knock, knowing exactly what kind of reaction it always incited from the prisoner. Instead, she just opened the door and entered the barely furnished, dark room. As always, only a few candles were lit on the wall and one on the desk where Thiemo had done his work. Lyra had hoped that his cooperation would receive clemency from the princess, but the judgement apparently still stood. Without trial. “Lyra?”

She saw how Thiemo sat up in his bed. It looked like he had finally gotten some decent clothes, but that was to be expected. Tartarus was deep in the mountains of Tramplevania, surrounded by snow and ice. “Hi. Umm… I came to speak with you one last time… I guess.” She levitated the box from her saddlebags and held it in front of him. Meanwhile, she saw that he wasn’t alone on the bed. The changeling was still lying on the sheets, dozing away.

“Thanks Lyra, just what I was waiting for.” Well, it didn’t hurt to ask.

“What’s inside?” Thiemo grinned and knocked on the box.

“Inside are the finest bath salts in all of Equestria. Since I’m not going to take another one in my life, I think I will take the best one ever.” Thiemo went over the other bed and pulled the sheets off it.

“What are you doing?” Saying that she was confused was an understatement. For someone who was going to go into a prison with no return, he was way too happy. “You know what the Tartarus is, right?”

“Of course. Some hole where they put bad boys like me and can forget about us. They explained it to me when they announced the sentence.”

“First of all, why the sheets?” She pointed with her hoof on it.

“They don’t have towels my size. Well, they do, but they belong to the princesses, and they don’t want to waste them on a grubby little human like me. So I have to take this alternative to dry myself.” He was creative, Lyra had to admit that.

“Okay… I bet you’re wondering why I’m here.” He stared flatly at her, but Lyra pushed on. “You told me a lot, and I didn’t get around noticing some things. Innuendos no one else understood. Countries no one ever heard of before. A-mare-ica or something. I have checked many atlases, but there were no entries about it. Ti is also way too small to have so many states and countries. That’s why I think that you and the other humans are aliens!” The both stared at each other for a few seconds.

“Really? Aliens?” Lyra nodded determinedly. “Alright, you got me. Get your dissecting table, and I’ll get undressed.” Was that a confirmation? “I’m from the planet Melmac, located in the alpha quadrant of the known universe. Our favorite foods are cats, and we have these round thingies you call flying saucers.” No, just another of his usual sarcastic replies.

“So… not alien?” That was her second disappointment today. Maybe she shouldn’t have said it to her parents’ face about how she would show them. There was nothing waiting for her at home but scorn and derision as well as the usual talk about how she should search for a stallion.

“I didn’t say that;” the human grinned over both ears and shook the changeling. “Amy… hey, wake up. Our bath salts arrived.”

“You’re bathing with her?” Lyra shouted, indignant and surprised.

“What? No, everyone’s getting their own bath.” Lyra knew something was rotten there.

“Won’t she get her own trial in front of the parliament? Why should she…” No, Lyra couldn’t believe that. “You and her?”

“What? No… At least not like that.”

“Not like I would have anything against that,” Amaryllis piped up with a smile.

“Amy, stop it. You’re totally giving her the wrong image.” Lyra took a few seconds to process all this. A human and a changeling? Two creatures that were publicly seen as heartless monsters were a pair? That would change everything! If you could show it to a larger crowd and made it public that changelings and humans were capable of love, there might be a way to integrate them into society. The changelings wouldn’t have to steal emotions, and humans would no longer be seen as monsters.

“Guys! Can you stop now?” The two had exchanged some playful strokes. “Amy, right?”

“Princess Amaryllis to be exact. Daughter of Chrysalis, third of her name and future leader of the Leylands,” she replied as she stiffened her body and tilted her head regally. Lyra had to resist a giggle, but apparently the changeling had seen her mirth. “Hey, you said I would look illustrious if I say that. Meany!” Amaryllis complained as Thiemo burst out into laughter. “I should have known this was just one of your jokes.”

“’Scuse me, couldn’t resist after I heard how you introduced yourself to Princess Celestia.” Amaryllis stood up from the bed as well and stretched her body. This was the first time that Lyra had gotten a halfway decent look on her. Unlike the changelings she had seen so far, she actually had a coat. It was not as thick as a pony’s, but it was there. She also had a long purple mane that almost touched the ground. She was missing the typical changeling carapace, but the horn that was crooked and sharp and the wings on her back were of her kind. She looked less intimidating with her normal purple eyes rather than the usual changeling membranes, but her size also worked against that. Her head reached directly underneath Thiemo’s chin so that she was as tall as him with her horn. Lyra just reached to his chest, making Amaryllis a good head taller than the average pony. Without the magic suppressor on her horn, Lyra would be a little scared right now.

“Then I shall let you know that you have been forgiven,” she replied in a staged, snooty voice. “But you said something about our bath salts being here?” Thiemo again knocked on the box in his hand again. “Then it’s time to go now.”

If they left now, Lyra would be escorted out, and her chance for proving that humans are aliens would be gone. “Would you mind if I join you? I need a bath as well.”

The two looked at each other shortly and exchanged a few looks. “Umm… how do I put this the best way…? You remember how I told you that humans always wear clothes and why?” Lyra nodded. How could she forget that? At least she had speculated that a few years ago already. “No hard feelings, but we would rather have some privacy.”

“But she’s going to the same bathroom as well, right?” She wouldn’t give up that easily.

“Yes but she’s… a friend. A better friend. I know her better…longer.” Lyra’s eyes narrowed down to slits. Something was rotten here, and she knew she hadn’t left the mayonnaise in the sun again. Wait a second, she did. Urgh, Bonbon would be sure to have something to tell her when she went back home. “Look, we want… privacy.” He sternly looked at like he wanted to tell her something.

“Look, I have a plan to save you from Tartarus, and as soon as I’m out of here, the chance will be gone. I won’t let my research project be taken away from me that easily.” They again exchanged some looks. Then Thiemo sighed.

“Okay, have it your way.” It almost sounded like he wanted to go to Tartarus! “Guards! We want to take a bath. The princess should allow that as a last wish.” The door burst open shortly after he finished speaking. The head of one of the guards appeared in the hallway and nodded at them, motioning for them to come out. Thiemo let Amaryllis go first and together they left the room.

“What is with Miss Heartstrings?” one guard asked the other. Lyra couldn’t even say which one brought her here, but it was most likely the one that had just asked.

“She’s coming with us. She wants to speak with me a little longer while we take our bath.” The guard shrugged and began to show them the way. Thiemo and Amaryllis walked in front of her and both seemed just too relaxed. If she was going to be standing in front of the parliament or be transported to Tartarus soon, she would be a total wreck. What did she overlook here? Something just wasn’t right.

A spiral staircase later, they were in the quarters of Princess Celestia. Lyra had only been here once in her life. That was for a birthday party for Twilight when she was still a filly. Unfortunately, the guest of honor had refused to appear and instead hid in the library, so every foal from the elementary school except her had gotten busy with the three cakes, two clowns, and one magician.

The door to her left opened, and the soldier told them they only had two hours. Thiemo thanked them briefly and assured him that it was more than enough time. They entered the spacy bathroom that completely stunned Lyra. Especially the large ornament on the ground. “That’s Princess Celestia’s private bathroom! She agreed for a human to use it?”

“We’re not here for the first time,” Thiemo replied as he threw the sheets onto the ground and put the box down. He then looked outside through the large window. It was a typical winter day: cloudy, cold, and a little windy. Fortunately, Cloudsdale had stopped the snow for a week. “Well then.” Thiemo placed his hands together. He crouched down in front of the box and opened it. At first, a bangle went over his right hand, and then he pulled out a letter. Those were definitely not bath salts.

“What’s that? Did I get the wrong box?”

“No, everything’s alright,” Amaryllis replied while Thiemo read the letter. Eventually, he placed it in the inside pocket of his coat and pulled a small brown bag out, tying it around his belt. The last object seemed to be a kind of bracer.

“What’s that?” she asked as Thiemo put it around his left lower arm.

“A gift,” was his short reply. Thiemo stood up and rummaged around in the box with his fingers. “And I’m really sorry about this, Lyra.” He pulled out a blue crystal, and before she knew what was going on, she flew across the room and landed in front of a mirror at the wall with a thud. She groaned and tried to stand up, but she simply couldn’t. “I can’t take the risk that you call the guards.”

Lyra slight opened her eyes again and saw how he went over to the door. The lock glowed shortly before it started to melt. It didn’t make a sound, so no one who wasn’t directly watching it would have noticed. Only now Lyra realized what was going on. It was an escape. But how would that go? They were high up on the mountain. Of course, Amaryllis was large enough to fly them both for a while. But why the sheets then? Just as a distraction?

Thiemo went over the large window and pushed the cloth in front of one spot. “Of course,” Lyra mumbled as she slowly got back on her hooves again, wincing slightly. “So the shards won’t make a sound when the glass breaks.”

“We don’t need these any longer.” She saw Thiemo pulling something from his finger and then from Amaryllis horn before throwing it in the water. He surely noticed that she would be mobile again, for he said, “Lyra, please just stay there. I don’t want to attack you again.”

She wanted him to escape, but not like that. But why wasn’t she calling for help then? When she stayed silent, Thiemo turned away from her again and pulled out another stone out of the bag, a red one this time. He set his hand against the glass, and it began to glow. Slowly but steadily, he burned a hole into the glass on one side, Amaryllis on the other. Occasionally, the glass cracked and a lot of shards fell out of it, but just as expected, the sheet muted the sounds.

“Everything alright in there? We aren’t hearing anything.” Now was the moment. If she called for help now, she would stop an escape attempt and would get rewarded. But Thiemo and Amaryllis would be doomed. After that, none of her findings would be of use. They would receive their punishment.

“Yes, everything’s okay. The human’s just changing his clothes. Ashamed of being naked,” Lyra shouted back and looked over the confused looking human. She motioned him with a wave of her hoof that he should hurry up.

“I don’t hear the water running. Is really everything… Hey! The door is locked!” The door shook, but the molten lock would keep them at bay. “Sound the alarm! They are trying to escape!” Thundering hooves were heard as one of the three guards galloped away. “Miss Heartstrings, open the door! In the name of Celestia and Luna, that’s an order!”

“Dammit, Lyra! Why didn’t you just kept your mouth shut?” She asked herself the same question. Suddenly, there was a light clinking of glass, and a cold draft blew through the otherwise warm bathroom. “I’m through!” Thiemo jumped aside and Amaryllis positioned herself to break out the rest of the broken piece. She kicked forcefully but nothing happened.

“Let me help,” Lyra jumped in. Some of her power had returned. She had no idea how Thiemo had put her out of action with a single blow, but that had to wait until later. She stepped over to Amaryllis and nodded at her. They both lunged out, and with another strong kick, the rest of the glass splintered, making a large hole.

Before Lyra knew what happened, something grabbed her legs. In the next moment, she was on Thiemo’s shoulders. “We won’t leave you here to get unnecessarily punished,” he simply said and jumped on Amaryllis’ back. “I’ll give us a boost as soon as we’re outside. Can you do that?”

“If I know when it's coming, that shouldn’t be a problem.” The door to the bathroom behind him got blown out of its hinges, and a brigade of soldiers, led by Captain Estoc, charged in.

“Gentlemen! You will always remember this as the day that you almost caught Captain! Jack! Sparrow! Goodbye and off we go!” Lyra saw how his shoes were pushing against Amaryllis sides shortly, which appeared to be the signal for take-off.

“Get them!” Estoc snapped. Lyra could almost feel the grin on Thiemo’s face. He turned around half way, still with her on his shoulders, and pointed his hand at the pegasi who started the pursuit. Like Lyra, they were knocked into the air, only more forcefully and were knocked against the wall. With an evil laugh from Thiemo, they flew through the opening into freedom. The unicorns tried to catch them with various spells, but a rapid acceleration quickly brought them out of range.

Author's Notes:

Thanks to Gron for translating this chapter.
Special thanks to JBL for proofreading and editing.