"Is not . . . that." Her ears flicked back, then forward again. "Not." She licked her lips. "When Lyra and Princess Celestia went to Dale home, we did not expect you, but we were not . . . against you. We could have. . . ." Her ears went down again, and Dale turned fully towards her. For just a moment, Lyra's eyes went distant, and when she spoke again, her voice was husky. "We . . . I wanted to go back, to learn more. Even if . . . if it not go right." She muttered something else under her breath, something which sounded suspiciously like a swear. "You do not use magic like we, and all magic can hurt you. Is like crystal in lamp, yes?"