Chapter 2: Strange Surroundings
Chapter 2
Strange Surroundings
Lyra slowly opened her eyes and was a little confused to find herself laying on a mattress with clean sheets. Since she was just waking up she couldn’t immediately remember how she arrived here in this bed. But after having the best sleep she had in weeks she couldn’t bring herself to get up just yet.
After enjoying the comfy mattress a little while longer she finally sat up and studied her surroundings. Lyra didn’t recognize the room or any of its belongings, at first. It took her a moment to remember that this was Bon Bon’s house, and it was then that she remembered everything.
Last night Bon Bon proved a very generous host, despite their rough start. After Lyra bathed for the first time in days Bon Bon prepared a delicious meal and then offered her bed for Lyra to sleep in. The unicorn must have fallen asleep quickly because it was all pretty vague in her memory. In that instant, Lyra because curious where Bon Bon was and tossed aside her covers to get up and find out.
She opened the bedroom door which stepped out onto a flight of stairs that she descended. Arriving in the living room, she began to remember the very colorful decor of Bon Bon’s house she saw last evening. Bon Bon seemed to have a good eye for simple complimentary colors that made her house warm but not too showy.
Lyra thought it was very nice. But after checking around the living room and inside the kitchen she was surprised Bon Bon was nowhere to be seen. She was just not home.
“Bon Bon!” she called.
It was strange being alone in somepony else’s house. It made Lyra feel like an intruder. After turning around, she found the grandfather clock and was alarmed when she saw the time.
“Oh my gosh, I slept straight through till eleven in the morning!” she exclaimed. Turning around, she suddenly found a note she didn’t notice before on the table and picked it up with her magic. All her questions were finally answered when she read it.
“Dear Lyra, You’re certainly a heavy sleeper. Since you’ll probably be asleep for a little while longer I’ve decided to head out and open my candy shop. Help yourself to anything if you’re hungry, and please lock up if you head out. Bon Bon.”
Lyra didn’t know what to think when she reached the end of the note. Having this nice house all to herself for the whole day felt awkward. At the same time, she couldn’t help but feel thankful somepony was generous enough to trust her with it and let her stay here alone.
Lyra put the note down and noticed a few pictures sitting on the table before her. They were pictures of a happy family that included Bon Bon a couple of times. Lyra saw her roommate’s mother, father, aunts, uncles and cousins, but Bon Bon looked uncomfortable having her picture taken with them. The unicorn finally found a picture of Bon Bon alone with only the slightest hint of a grin, but it was hardly the pearly white smile she remembered from yesterday.
With dreamy eyes, Lyra bent down and couldn’t resist looked at the beautiful mare. “Bon Bon, you are the nicest pony I’ve met since coming to Ponyville,” she smiled.
Bon Bon rolled a gum ball across the counter as she minded her candy store. Business was slow for the past two hours since she opened, but the earth pony didn’t complain. It would have been nice if business could pick up soon, but all her thoughts were focused on the same thing.
“Lyra Heartstrings,” she mumbled to herself. “Beautiful name. I wonder how I happened to meet a mare such a her.”
Suddenly, the bell over the door jingled and Bon Bon snapped out of her dreamy trance just in time to see a customer stepping inside. It was an earth pony, the same as herself; an orange mare with a yellow mane and a cowboy hat.
It was Applejack, a country talking pony who didn’t look to be in a friendly mood as she came storming up to the counter. “It’s Bon Bon, ain’t it?” she asked.
Bon Bon wasn’t immediately sure how to react. “Uh... yes it is,” she answered. “Welcome to my emporium. Anything I can help you with?”
“I have a bone to pick with you!” Applejack interrupted. “I want to talk to you about the way you were to Apple Bloom when she was visitin’ your shop yesterday!”
It took Bon Bon a moment to realize what Applejack was talking about. After she did, the candy pony suddenly felt cross. “She and her friends made a complete mess out of my store!” she responded. “How do you expect me to react when three fillies come in here and wreck everything?”
“They’re just youngens!” Applejack stated. “They make a mess out of my farm at least once every other week when the Crusaders are trying to earn their cuties marks! It’s one thing to get mad at them but it’s another to scream your lungs out at them! Apple Bloom needed some real cheerin’ up to keep her from endin’ the club all together.”
Bon Bon tried to think back on the way she must have yelled at Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. Business was stressful, whether she had no customers or was forced to put up with their incompetence. The last thing she wanted were three fillies trying to earn their cutie marks in candy making.
“I hope yall are proud of the way you hurt my little sister’s feelings,” Applejack said aloud.
Bon Bon took a moment before she raised her head and spoke. “I’m sorry,” she responded.
Upon hearing that, Applejack almost couldn’t believe her ears. She was almost convinced she didn’t hear Bon Bon correctly. “Pardon my askin’, but what did you just say?”
“I said I was sorry,” Bon Bon said again, growing impatient.
Applejack still had trouble digesting this. “Forgive me for mentionin’ it, but I’ve never heard you apologize for anythin’ in your life Bon Bon. What’s this here all about?”
Bon Bon lowered her head to the counter and sighed deeply. The thought of what happened yesterday seriously bothered her. “I wasn’t quite myself,” she eventually said. “Business was slow and three fillies asking to help me in the kitchen was the last thing I needed to make my day even worse. But I suppose I was maybe too hard on them. It’s not entirely their fault that they want their cutie marks so badly.”
Applejack nodded. Her sister and the Cutie Mark Crusaders had tried for so long that they were resorting to desperate measures to get their cutie marks and it was worrying the apple farmer they would get into some very bad trouble one of these days.
Still, Applejack wasn’t quite satisfied with Bon Bon’s apology. “What brought this feelin’ of forgiveness on so suddenly?” she asked. “The town gossipers don’t speak very favorably about your temper Ms. Bon Bon.”
Bon Bon didn’t like the sound of those words but went ahead and answered anyway. “Maybe they’re right,” she said. “I normally keep to myself but I found this special somepony yesterday who I feel very excited about.”
Applejack raised an eyebrow. “No kiddin’,” she smiled. “Is he handsome?”
Bon Bon was starting to feel really awkward getting down to the specifics. Nervous of what Applejack might think, she tried steering away from that question. “I found this somepony at the park yesterday evening. Since that pony had no home I invited them to my house for the night and decided they could stay.”
Applejack couldn’t help notice something strange in the way Bon Bon was wording her sentences, but something even more serious gave her reason for concern. “You saying this somepony had no place to live?” she asked.
“Yeah, pretty much,” Bon Bon answered.
Applejack hesitated. “You best be careful!” she exclaimed. “Inviting homeless ponies to your house like that... you might want to be cautious of them stealing your things.”
Bon Bon was surprised. The thought never occurred to her. Now that she thought about it, she hardly knew anything about Lyra. When they met just yesterday Bon Bon was simply taken by how much she liked her, and there weren’t very many ponies Bon Bon liked.
Applejack could tell by Bon Bon’s expression that the thought worried her. Feeling a little awkward to get back on subject at the time like this, she quickly said the last thing she wanted to get across. “Bon Bon, I’m going to send Apple Bloom over to your shop later so she can hear the apology straight from you. She needs to know you’re sincere. Can I count on you?”
Bon Bon was a little afraid from her unattended house, but nodded her head in response to Applejack’s question. “She can come any time,” she agreed. “I promise I won’t get mad at her the same as before.”
“That’s good,” Applejack said. Making her way towards the door she was about to step out before turning and looking at Bon Bon one last time. “I noticed your attitude seems mighty improved since you found this special somepony. Hope he’s everything you look for in a good stallion.”
Bon Bon grinned, a little nervous of the truth, but happy for the compliment all the same. When the door closed, Bon Bon stood there feeling awkward. She rested an elbow against the counter and couldn’t help but doubt her own feelings as she pondered.
“Lyra couldn’t be my special somepony,” she mumbled. “She probably isn’t that kind of mare anyways. It’s stupid of me to think so.”
Bon Bon couldn’t help but think of the loneliness in her past that had always made her appear distant to other ponies who never got to know her. That was before she came to Ponyville, but even the neighbors and townsfolk preferred to avoid her before even getting to know her. Her short temper was so apparent that she stopped caring to make friends after a while. Only after she met Lyra did Bon Bon realize these problems she had with other ponies.
But her antisocial flaws became the least of her problems when Bon Bon began picturing how Lyra might be stealing her possessions and leaving with them right now. The first mare she ever got along with... it was too easy to believe that it might actually be happening.
After the possibility became too realistic for her, Bon Bon hurried from behind the counter and put the ‘back in 5 minutes’ sign on the door as she ran out. Galloping down the streets of Ponyville, she hoped she wasn’t too late to catch Lyra. It was quite a gallop across town from her shop to her house, but she rounded every turn and cut every corner without slowing down until she arrived her street. When she came into view of her house Bon Bon came just in time to see Lyra stepping outside.
The minty green unicorn didn’t looked like she had anything valuable on her, but Bon Bon noticed she was carrying a letter that made her concerned. When Bon Bon came galloping towards her, Lyra noticed the cream colored pony just as she reached the mailbox. When Bon Bon came to a halt Lyra was happy to see her.
“Oh, hi Bon Bon,” she smiled. “I didn’t expect you back so early.”
Bon Bon was a little short of breath when she finally caught up with her. “I just needed a break from the shop for a while,” she lied. “I just thought I’d pay a visit to my new friend... you know... to see how you’re settling in.”
Lyra chuckled. “I’m settling in very well,” she smiled. “Thank you very much for lending me your bed. It’s the first time I slept on one in a while.”
Bon Bon nodded. She tried thinking of a reason to believe Lyra was up to no good, but the always easy-going pony seemed too cheerful to be suspected of anything suspicious. Lyra seemed happy-as-could-be and not alarmed at all by Bon Bon’s return. It wasn’t long before the mare took note of the letter Lyra was holding with her magic and became curious of it.
“What’s that you were mailing?” she asked.
“Oh, this?” Lyra said. “This is a letter I was writing to my Mom in Canterlot. I send her a letter every few days or so. I... have to confess, I haven’t been completely honest about some of the details. I don’t want her to worry, of course. But, I’m excited to report this time that I have nothing but good news to tell her. Care to listen?”
In all honestly, Bon Bon didn’t really care to know at the minute, but decided it couldn’t hurt. As long as Lyra proved she wasn’t up to anything it was fine with her. After nodding her head, Lyra opened the envelope and unfolded the letter.
Clearing her throat, the unicorn started at the beginning and read aloud. “Dear Mom, Thank you very much for answering all my letters and telling me how you're doing. My time in Ponyville has been totally awesome and I’m very happy to be here. Just yesterday, I met the nicest pony, Bon Bon. We had a bit of a run in, but when I apologized for an accident I caused she became the most wonderful pony you could possibly imagine. Anyways, since my old landlord was getting very fussy, Bon Bon invited me to stay at her place so we could be like roommates and I already enjoy it very much. She is very sweet and also a terrific decorator and a great cook. But she also seems misunderstood because nopony else cares to be friends with her. Not me. I think she’s a wonderful friend to have. I hope I’ll be just as good a friend in return, but who can say? Anyways, I just want you to know that I love it here in Ponyville and I hope you’ll write back to me as soon as you can. Love, your loving daughter, Lyra.”
After the letter was read, Bon Bon almost didn’t know what to say. Her eyes began to water and her heart was overwhelmed by the kind words Lyra said about her. They were hardly words of poetry but they were more than anypony else had ever written about her before.
Lyra seemed oblivious to Bon Bon’s silent gaze as she awaited her friend’s critique. “So, what do you think?” she asked. “Does it seem a little sappy? Should I rewrite it?”
“No! Go ahead... please. I think it’s perfect,” Bon Bon smiled. “I’m sure your parents will love it immensely.”
Lyra shrugged and put the letter back in its envelope. As she put it into the mailbox Bon Bon actually found herself leaning closer to make sure it was safe. After the door was closed shut Lyra looked up at Bon Bon with her always cheerful smile. “By the way, thanks again,” she said. “I really mean it. It means a lot to me; you letting me stay the night and everything.”
“No, don’t mention it,” Bon Bon answered, holding back a tear. “Stay as long as you like.”
Chapter 1: Brand New Best Friend
Chapter 1
Brand New Best Friend
Lyra Heartstrings sat on the park bench and allowed herself to be carried away by the melody of her own music. Eyes closed and ears open, the tune of her lyre was gentle and sweet and it lifted her spirit to enjoy her passion and forget her troubles, if only for a little while. In the quiet outdoors of Ponyville’s park her instrument helped bring a tranquil mood to all who passed by and came to see her.
Lyra was unable to guess how many ponies had already paid her a visit today but she left her lyre’s case open for whatever loose change they wanted her to have. Even if they had nothing to give her it was reward enough to the unicorn just to be enjoyed by an audience. After her magic strummed the last note of her song Lyra kept her eyes closed for another minute as an applause came from the ponies who stopped to listen.
It couldn’t have been very many who stopped to enjoy her song, judging by the volume of their applause. After they dispersed Lyre opened her eyes and looked in her case to see what she made. It was a modest amount but it made the minty green pony happy just to see something in there.
“Twelve bits... I guess that’s alright. It’s better than not making anything I suppose.”
Lyra pocketed the loose change into her saddlebag and was about to continue playing before she realized it was getting dark out. When it was nighttime all the visitors upped and left the park, which meant no pony would be around to listen anyways. Deciding she had played enough for today, Lyra put her instrument in its case and hopped down from her bench. She then walked along the path aimlessly and wondered where her late night stroll would take her this evening.
After walking just a short distance Lyra notice an ice cream stand. Lyra realized it had been a long time since she tasted anything sweet in her mouth, but she knew she couldn’t spend her hard earned money on something like that, even though it was tempting. Looking away, she tried not to notice the ice cream stand as she passed it by.
But just when she wasn’t looking she suddenly bumped into somepony else and was startled. Lyra didn’t think she bumped the pony that hard, but she looked just in time to see a scoop of ice cream splat across the ground.
The pony she bumped into turned her head and gave Lyra a piercing glare that made her back away. “Crazy pony, didn’t you look where you were going!?” she yelled. “That was the very last scoop of strawberry! Where am I going to get another one this late at night!”
Lyra lowered her head and felt ashamed of herself for her clumsiness. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to bump you.”
The cream colored pony named Bon Bon looked down at her angrily. A lot of pent up anger and frustration was threatening to come to the surface if she didn’t get control of herself immediately. Inhaling a deep breath, she sighed and tried to look passed the accident.
“Well... I guess it’s not that big a deal,” the earth pony moaned. “It’s just... the last thing I need is spending three hard earned bits on an ice cream I was only going to loose in a silly accident. I came out here trying to get away from my life... but even here I can’t do it.”
Lyra stared and became curious of the stranger she happened to bump into. “Why would a pretty mare like you be trying to get away from your life?” she asked.
Bon Bon shrugged. “It’s nothing really,” she answered in a much calmer voice. “I’ve just been having problems lately with both my business and my rent. I considered abandoning them both but I don’t know where I’d escape to next if I did. In the evenings, strolling through the park is the thing I can do to forget I’m going through such a rough patch in my life right now.”
Lyra paused. She couldn’t begin to describe how much she sympathized for this earth pony she happened to bump into. “I understand exactly how you feel,” she eventually said.
“Oh, do you?” Bon Bon said mockingly.
“Yes, I do,” Lyra insisted. “I used to live in Canterlot. I was a student practicing under a mentor to hone my education and my abilities. My advanced schooling was always about making my father proud... until something happened between us. When I couldn’t take it anymore I ran away from home and decided on a whim that I’d come to live in Ponyville where life seemed so much simpler. At least... that’s how it sounded before I actually arrived.”
Lyra became distracted remembering that little story; especially the details concerning her father. When Bon Bon realized the pain in Lyra’s expression, something inside of her just melted. When she understood the kind of rough patch this fellow pony must have been going through as well, it made her stop and consider.
“I guess maybe you do know something about how I’m feeling,” Bon Bon sighed. She paused and a curious expression suddenly crossed her face. “Actually, I’m quite surprised that I bothered to tell you anything about myself. We haven’t even exchanged names, and I don’t normally talk to anypony I don’t know.”
Lyra understood completely, even though she had to be the more social of the two. But looking across at Bon Bon, their eyes made contact for the first time and something strange suddenly passed between them. At first, Lyra was oblivious to this strange feeling when she noticed Bon Bon’s sparkly blue eyes. Only when Bon Bon’s mouth curled into a smile did Lyra smile as well.
It was then that Bon Bon noticed Lyra’s brilliant golden eyes, which made her realize that she liked Lyra. But when she realized it, she quickly turned her head away and became ashamed of herself for thinking such a thing. It couldn’t have been natural to think they liked each other, but Bon Bon decided that had to be her queue to leave.
With a heavy sigh, she turned around and prepared to walk away. “I should be getting back,” she said. “It’s getting late, but it’s been nice talking to you.”
Lyra frowned. Just when she thought she was getting to know her first friend since arriving at Ponyville she felt disappointed to say good bye all of a sudden. “Wait!” she exclaimed. After Bon Bon looked back the green unicorn waved to her. “I’m Lyra, by the way. Lyra Heartstrings.”
Bon Bon blushed. “My name is Bon Bon. Not much of a name, I suppose.”
“Well, I think it’s lovely,” Lyra smiled. After a pause, she suddenly remembered. “Can I buy you a new ice cream? You know... to make up for the one I made you drop.”
Bon Bon was a little startled by Lyra’s offer. Nopony had ever done such a thing for her. Maybe it was her own short temper than drove them away but Lyra was the very first pony who ever wanted to buy her a new ice cream cone.
“I... really couldn’t,” she said.
But Lyra searched her saddlebag and got the twelve bits she still had. She counted three, which should have been enough, before putting the rest away. “I’ve earned a little money today playing my lyre in the park,” she smiled. “I think I can afford to get you an ice cream cone if the ice cream stand is still open.”
Bon Bon frowned. “Was that all the money you made?” she wondered. “My dear Lyra... where have you been staying at night with so little?”
“Oh, just around the park,” Lyra answered. “It’s not that big a deal, really. Saving enough money’s been kind of hard, but I’m trying my best.”
Bon Bon approached and put a hoof on top of the money. Looking into Lyra’s eyes, she tried to be sincere with her new friend as she forced her to take the money back. “You shouldn’t have to do this for me,” she said.
“But I want to,” Lyra chuckled. “It would make me very happy to do something good for a nice pony such as yourself.”
Bon Bon blushed again. This was another first-time thing for her; to be called a nice pony by somepony else.
When Bon Bon didn’t raise any further objections, Lyra took her bits and strolled up to the ice cream pony who had been hearing everything between them that whole time. When he saw Lyra coming it surprised him that somepony was trying to be nice to Bon Bon.
Lyra laid the bits across the counter of his stand, quite cheerfully. “I’d like to purchase one scoop of ice cream in a cone,” she said. “I... don’t suppose you have anymore strawberry, do you?”
The ice cream pony frowned. “Sorry kid,” he said. “We’re out, just like Bon Bon said.”
Lyra turned to her new friend who was watching from a distance. “Is there any other flavor you care for!?” she called.
Bon Bon wasn’t sure at first. “Mint chip would be fine, I suppose. Does he have any of that?”
Lyra asked and the ice cream pony ducked below the counter and began fetching a mint chip ice cream cone like they wanted. When he came back up, he handed the cone to Lyra who immediately took it to Bon Bon. The green unicorn was quite happy to give it away.
“I hope this makes up for my silly mistake,” she apologized.
“It’s alright, I’ve already forgiven you,” Bon Bon said, reluctant to take the cone.
“Even so, I want you to have this,” Lyra smiled. “It’s been a long time since I did anything nice for somepony else. It would make me feel better if you would take it.”
Bon Bon felt awkward but honored at the same time as she took the cone. After taking it, the two ponies looked at each other for a moment and that same special feeling from before return. But after a second, Lyra realized she must have been taking up Bon Bon’s time and began looking away.
“Well, I guess I’d better get going,” she decided. “I think I’ve wasted enough of your time.”
Bon Bon was surprised Lyra would just up and walk away like that. After they seemed to be getting along so well it just didn’t feel right for some reason. As she was preparing to leave, Bon Bon found herself doing something she never thought herself capable of.
“Lyra Heartstrings... would you mind... well... could I offer you a place to stay for the night?”
Lyra was taken aback by the offer. “Uh, thanks, but no thanks,” she responded. “I don’t want to be a bother. I’m sure you don’t want a pony like me staying at your place.”
“I seriously mean it!” Bon Bon insisted. “Lyra... it would mean a lot to me if I could pay you back for buying me this ice cream. No pony has ever done something so nice to me before. So what do you say? I’m sure it would be nice having a roof over your head for a change. I’ll make us a nice meal and I could fix you a bath if you want. That would be better than sleeping out here with no one looking after you, right?”
Lyra couldn’t deny, it was a very generous offer for Bon Bon to make. She was, indeed, a nice pony like she knew she was. She shook her head and smiled. “Is there no way I’m leaving without saying no?” she wondered.
“I insist,” Bon Bon stated. “I know we’ve both hit rough patches in our lives. But if you need a place to help get your life back together I’d love to lend you my place. At least until your money problem is sorted out, I wouldn’t mind if you stayed.”
Lyra didn’t know what to say. She went day by day believing the park bench was really not that bad and she was happy playing her lyre every day to anypony who listened. But being given a place to stay at long last was almost too good an offer to accept. She tried not to let it show how excited she was.
“Okay,” she smiled, “but only if I won’t be too much of a burden!”
“I promise, we’ll get along fine if you obey just a few simple rules,” Bon Bon answered. “Come on and I’ll show you.”
Lyra couldn’t begin to express how grateful she was. As she walked with her new friend out of Ponyville’s park she felt like the luckiest mare in the world to have bumped into somepony like Bon Bon. They got off to a bad start, but Lyra knew better when she recognized the sweeting caring pony underneath that Bon Bon was. Together, they walked out of the park and enjoyed each other’s company some more as they left.
