Chapter Nineteen: Just a friendly dinner.

Rainbow Dash smiled. The tension she felt in the library dissipated as she knocked on Bonbon's front door.

The knock was quickly answered. Bonbon's smile mirrored Dash's. "You're early," she said. "I haven't finished setting the table."

"That's not a problem, is it?"

"Not at all, just have a seat on the couch while I finish getting ready," Bonbon said with a giggle.

Dash nodded. She smiled as she trotted into the living room.

Bonbon quickly returned to the kitchen. The small table was suitable for two ponies to eat a normal meal, but this dinner was far from normal. Tonight had to go perfectly, Dash had to be impressed. She had debated lighting candles, but the table simply wasn't big enough.

In the living room Dash examined the wall decorations. There were a few framed photos on the wall as well as several large band posters. She recognized a few of the musicians in the posters, but many were foreign to her.

She had to move several decorative pillows to find a place on the couch. The entire room seemed to be decorated in two very different styles. Dash wondered if the whole house was the same way.

"How did it go with the princess?" Bonbon called from the kitchen, where she frantically rushed to finish preparing.

"It could have been better. AJ, Pinkie, Rarity and Fluttershy all showed up. It's probably for the best that you didn't go with me." Looking around the room Dash's eyes fell on a particular poster in the far corner. It was a picture of Sapphire Shores in concert. She recognized the outfit she was wearing as one Rarity made a while back. "I like your decorations."

"Thanks, most of it's Lyra's though. She has the weirdest tastes." Bonbon reached into the oven. Using a dish cloth to grab the steaming tray from the oven, she felt the heat searing her lips as she quickly placed it on the counter. She mumbled to herself "Parsnips are done. Bread is done. Desert is in the fridge. What am I forgetting?"

"Is the Sapphire Shores poster hers?" Dash called. "There is a neat story behind the outfit she is wearing."

Bonbon giggled "All those posters are hers, she is really into music. I only have one poster, it's packed up in the spare room." Making sure everything was in place, Bonbon breathed a nervous sigh. "Dinner's ready, hope you're hungry."

"Boy am I! Thanks to all the craziness today, I skipped lunch." Rainbow stood up. She attempted to put the pillows back where they had been when she sat down. After three tries she gave up and trotted to the kitchen.

As Dash entered the room Bonbon rushed to the table. She grinned timidly as she pulled out a chair for her guest. "I'm sorry, I haven't done this for a while. I'm a little out of it."

Dash tilted her head. "What do you mean? From what you said I kinda thought you cooked all the time."

"I do, I just never cook for anypony. Well… anypony besides Lyra." Bonbon placed a small basket of freshly baked bread in the center of the table. "You said you had a story about that poster? I would like to hear it."

Rainbow Dash giggled playfully. "You don't have to be so nervous, you're not being tested or anything. Besides, the food smells delicious." She examined the table. It was absolutely packed. A place setting on each side, a vase with flowers and a basket of bread in the center, even cloth napkins. There was a large pitcher of ice water on the counter next to a simple lattice wine rack.

"He~he, yeah. I guess you're right," Bonbon said sheepishly. Her cheeks were a bright pink and her heart raced. She pointed a hoof at Dash's chair. "Well, don't just stand there, make yourself comfortable."

Dash smiled. She sat down and grabbed a piece of bread. "Oh, it's all buttery, like at a fancy restaurant. You didn't have to go through all this, I would have been happy with a frozen pizza." She took another look at the place setting. "Um, are there cups? I'm kinda thirsty."

"I knew I was forgetting something!" Bonbon said sharply. She breathed several rapid, shallow breaths. "I'll go get them, just a second!"

Dash watched quietly as Bonbon raced back and forth between the cabinets and the counter, filling two small etched glasses with water from the pitcher. She frowned, noticing the sweat forming on Bonbon's brow. "Are you sure you're alright? You don't look so good."

"It's just nerves, I'm okay," Bonbon said. She coughed and cleared her throat, attempting to hide the crack in her voice. She picked up a glass with her mouth, carried it to the table and set it carefully in front of Dash. As she retrieved the second glass she took a few deep breaths, steadying herself. "Would you like some wine?"

"No thanks Bonbon. After everything that's happened these last few days, alcohol may as well be poison. No offense." Dash took a bite of bread. "Woy dond juu hab a seed?"

Bonbon giggled "You wanna try that again?"

Dash swallowed hard. A pained cough and a sip of water later she repeated "Why don't you have a seat? Everything looks perfect. I can't wait to taste your cooking."

"Oh crap! The food!" Bonbon grabbed the two plates from the table and rushed to the stove. With a quick tilt of the baking tray and flick of the spatula the plates were filled with steaming veggies and ready for serving. She nearly galloped as she brought them, one at a time, back to the table.

"Sit down Bonbon, you're going to hurt yourself," Rainbow Dash said, concern heavy in her voice. "The table's set now. Let's just eat and have a nice chat."

Bonbon stood beside her chair, examining the table for anything else that may have been missing. Everything seemed to be in place now, so she sat down. "I'm sorry Dash. I just want this dinner to be perfect."

"It's already perfect Bonbon. The table looks great, the food looks and smells great." Dash giggled as a thought occurred. "The only thing wrong is how you keep freaking out over everything."

Bonbon blushed. She cast a timid gaze at Dash across the table. "Thanks. You don't know how glad I am to hear you say that."

Dash studied her plate. The meal was an array of julienned vegetables baked in butter and herbs. A simple meal, but the look and smell was absolutely irresistible. She chose a large piece of parsnip to try first. She had been craving parsnips ever since Bonbon had mentioned them at the library earlier. The savory taste of this meal far exceeded her expectations. "Wow Bonbon, this is amazing! When you said you were a great cook you weren't kidding."

Bonbon's blush deepened. "Dash, stop, you're making me blush. Why don't we talk about you for a bit?"

Rainbow Dash smiled "Heh, that's one of my favorite topics."

Dinner seemed to fly past. Dash loved to talk about flying, about tricks she had done and tricks she was working on, but her friends only half listened. Bonbon was hanging on her every word. She would lean in and her eyes would grow with every sharp turn and every flip Dash described. It was a little embarrassing, but she could not remember the last time she enjoyed just talking to somepony this much.

"Just leave your plate there, I'll clean up later." Bonbon stood up. She closed her eyes as she stretched her legs.

Dash watched. Bonbon's legs were long and slender. Her coat, aside from being moist with nervous sweat, was well kept and neatly brushed. Bonbon was smiling, throughout the meal she had never stopped smiling, but now with her eyes closed her smile took on something new. Something Dash couldn't place.

Bonbon opened her eyes as she straightened her stance. She cocked her head and suppressed a giggle. "Dash, you're about to knock over the water pitcher."

"Huh?" With a puzzled look Dash turned her attention to the counter beside her. Her face instantly flushed bright red. She folded her wings.

Bonbon extended a hoof towards the living room. "Why don't we relax on the sofa? We can chat a little more while we have dessert."

"That sounds nice," Dash said. "If you don't mind, I need to use the restroom, then I'll be right there."

"Sure, it's the small door under the stairs. I'll be waiting." Bonbon winked. Stopping briefly to grab something from the refrigerator she made her way to the living room.

Dash took a small sip from her glass. She wiped her mouth with the cloth napkin. Confusion struck as she examined the napkin. There was a very light pink smear. She looked back to the water glass. Half of a lipstick smudge colored the rim. Bonbon must have left it when she served the glasses. Dash smiled.

As Rainbow Dash trotted through the living room she heard Bonbon humming quietly. She definitely seems to be more relaxed now, she thought. Spotting the restroom door she picked up her pace.

Bonbon continued humming serenely. She was worried about how Dash would react, but it seemed as though Dash was enjoying herself even more than she was. As she waited for Dash to join her she moved the many pillows from the couch to a nearby chair. Lyra may be right, all these pillows barely leave enough room for just one pony.

She had made chocolate mousse for dessert. It sat on the end table in a large, decorative dessert glass. Two spoons stuck in the rich layers. Bonbon sat down on the side of the sofa by the end table. She picked up the mousse and smiled as she waited for Dash.

Dash turned the faucet on. As she washed her hooves she looked around for a hoof towel to dry them. Her eyes fell on a small lipstick tube on the counter. She quickly looked back into the mirror, examining her mouth in the reflection. There was a small bit of pink on her upper lip. She smiled again. She turned off the faucet, dried her hooves with a towel, and wiped the pink from her lip.

Bonbon's eyes lit up as Dash came out of the restroom. "Hurry up Rainbow, the mousse is getting warm." She held up the dessert for Dash to see.

Dash trotted quickly to the sofa and sat down with a loud "fwump". "Oh my gosh, that looks wonderful Bonbon. Did you make it yourself?"

"Of course I did. Candy may be my trade, but I know how to make all kinds of sweets." Bonbon grabbed a spoonful of the chocolaty treat. "Here, open up."

Dash opened her mouth, struggling through giggling fits to keep it open long enough to accept the morsel.

"Hold still Dash." Bonbon laughed "Don't make me drop it."

"Hee~hee! Sorry. Try again." Dash leaned forward. Sticking out her tongue, she opened her mouth as wide as she could. "Ahhhh!"

With a wide grin Bonbon slid the spoonful into Dash's mouth. She closed Rainbow's mouth around the spoon with a hoof. "So, what do you think?"

"Mhmmnm… So good." Dash mumbled.

Bonbon let go of the spoon, leaving it dangling from Dash's mouth. "I'm sorry Rainbow Dash. I wanted this to be a date so bad. I'm ruining our friendly dinner."

Dash stared at Bonbon for a moment. She grabbed the spoon from her mouth and spoke. "Ya know, I've been giving it some thought and… well… maybe it wouldn't be so bad if this was a date." Dash fidgeted in her seat and looked at her hooves. "That is… if you still want to."

Dash felt the couch cushions shift. She closed her eyes. She felt Bonbons hoof on her cheek. She opened her eyes and looked up. Bonbon had moved closer, their faces mere inches apart. Dash froze, her eyes grew wide.

Bonbon leaned in, brushing her cheek against Dash's. She whispered into her ear "I would. You have no idea how bad I have wanted to hear you say that."

Dash breathed deep. The smell of cotton candy and strawberries once again filled her world. She leaned against Bonbons hoof. Her coat was soft, like velvet caressing her cheek. Dash felt a brand new warmth filling her.

The hoof on Dash's cheek moved to the back of her head and began playing with her mane. She felt a tap on her chin, Bonbon's other hoof, raising her face so their eyes could meet. Bonbon's half closed eyes glinted as the distance between them closed. Dash's heartbeat thundered in her ears.

As their lips met Dash felt fireworks shooting up her spine. Her cheeks caught fire and her head began to swim as she sank into Bonbon's warm lips. Her body melted into nothing as her senses were overwhelmed by the taste of Bonbon's lips and the cotton candy smell of her coat.

Dash closed her eyes and relinquished herself to Bonbon. In this moment she didn't care about flying, about being cool, or about anything else that had happened today. All that mattered was this moment with Bonbon.

She reached out her hooves uncertainly. Placing one hoof on Bonbon's chest, she grasped at the sofa cushions with the other. Their mouths parted for just a moment. Dash's mouth continued to move, uncertain whether she was trying to speak or begging for Bonbon's lips.

Bonbon leaned in, their lips meeting again she pushed against Dash, who began sliding downward. Dash offered no resistance, she slid down in the couch until she was laying flat on her back.

Bonbon broke herself from Dash's mouth and began a trail of soft pecks down the side of her neck and across her chest. She hesitated over the more tender areas of her chest, working her tongue around in circles. Dash giggled and squirmed at her touch.

As Bonbon worked her way lower Dash's eyes shot open wide. Suddenly brought back to her mind she began waving her hooves frantically. "NO! STOP!" she shouted as she snapped upright.

Bonbon reared back. Upright and alarmed she responded. "Why? Is something wrong? What's the matter?" Her startled eyes darted up and down Rainbow Dash's body.

"It's too soon, you're moving too fast." Dash crossed her hind legs and shivered. She pressed her back into the arm of the couch. "I'm not ready."

"I can go slower! If you need more warm-up…"

"That's not it and you know it," Dash said with a glare. "This is barely even a first date. I am not going to go all the way until I'm sure I want to. You can't rush that."

"Dash, I..." Bonbon managed before a knock at the front door cut her off. "I gotta get that. Don't move though." She stood up, ran a hoof through her mane, and trotted to the door. She glanced through the peephole and began to panic. "Dash, hurry to the restroom and get cleaned up, it's Lyra and Applejack."

"You have been acting strange since you came back to the apartment. Is something wrong Applejack?" Lyra asked with a concerned tone. "If you're not up to this you don't have to help me. Besides, I kinda need to talk to Bonbon about some… stuff."

"No, ah promised ta help ya an thats what ah'm gonna do. 'Sides, it'll help me get mah mind offa things," Applejack said, staring determinedly at the door. "Ya sure you're ready ta face her though? Ah know how hard it can be."

Lyra nodded. Mimicking Applejack's determination, she gave another rap on the door.

As the door creaked open Bonbon peeked her head out. "Hi girls, what's up?" she asked with a squeak in her voice.

Lyra responded "We've come to get some of my things. And, if you have a minute, I'd like to talk to you."

Bonbon looked back at the closed bathroom door. Breathing a sigh of relief she continued. "Sure. I've got all the time in the world for you Lyra, you know that. Just… uh… I have a guest at the moment so…"

"I gotcha, I'll try to be brief." Lyra gave Bonbon a warm smile. As the door swung open she and Applejack made their way inside. "Just wait here AJ, I'm going to chat with Bonbon while I gather my things. I'll let you know when I'm ready."

With that, Lyra and Bonbon trotted up the stairs to the bedroom. Applejack was left alone in the living room. She took a seat on the couch.

After a silent moment of admiring the wall decorations Applejack's concentration was broken by the sound of the bathroom door. She turned her head and saw Rainbow Dash.

"Uh… heya Applejack," Dash said nervously. "Didn't expect to see you here."

"Ah'm pretty sure ah told ya that ah was comin' over here ta help Lyra get her things." Applejack said through narrowed eyes. "An if'n ah recall correctly, shortly before ya jumped mah case for takin Lyra in, ya said ya had a date tonight. So, did ya lie ta me or are you a hypocrite?"

"Neither! Nothing happened!" Dash caught herself trying to yell, she adjusted her tone so as to not disturb Lyra and Bonbon upstairs. "I told you it wasn't a date. I'm just here to keep her company. A friendly dinner, remember?" She trotted around to sit with AJ on the couch.

"MmmHmm," Applejack began. "An just what kinda company involves lipstick on yer nethers?" She pointed a hoof at Dash's waist.

Dash looked down at where AJ was pointing. Sure enough there was a perfectly formed kiss mark in pink lipstick right where her right leg met her pelvis. "Uhhh…"

Applejack lowered her voice to a near whisper. She growled through clenched teeth "You called me out in front of all our friends fer bunkin' with Lyra 'cause of circumstances ah can't control, an immediately come over here ta get yer rocks off with the very mare ya lectured me about." Her hooves began to shake as anger filled her. "Ah have never been as angry at you as ah am right now."

Dash licked her hoof and attempted to rub the kiss mark from her waist. "AJ, you gotta believe me. We didn't have sex. She wanted to but I said no. I told her that this could be a date without thinking. It was wrong of me to lecture you, and I'm sorry for that. But we only kissed, nothing else."

Applejack scoffed "Yeah, an ah can see exactly where ya put those kisses. You said that Bonbon is your friend, well Lyra is mine, what you're doing is just like what ya accused me of only worse."

The bedroom door creaked open. AJ and Dash fell silent. Lyra's voice called out "Applejack, I got everything packed up! Ready to go when you are!"

Bonbon descended the stairs. The happy smile on her face quickly turned sour when she saw Dash. As she passed the couch she silently motioned towards the kitchen, urging Dash to follow her. Applejack rolled her eyes and made her way upstairs.

Bonbon had only to wait a few seconds for Rainbow Dash to join her in the kitchen. Her somber expression was immediately visible. "Hey, about tonight…"

"Huh?" Dash cocked her head, frowning. "Bonbon, is everything okay? You're worrying me."

"Well… Kinda yes and kinda no."

The bedroom door closed quietly behind Bonbon. "What did you want to talk about Lyra?" she said.

"Do you love me Bonbon?" Lyra asked, a harsh scowl across her face. "Because I love you. And I thought I knew all about you, but you didn't trust me to know about your feelings."

"Lyra, you know I love you more than anything. Being alone is killing me." Bonbon stared at the floor. She knew Lyra's scowl better than anypony. "I have always liked Applejack. But you should know that no matter how much I like her I'd never leave you."

"I know that Bonbon. That wasn't the point." Lyra trotted to the bed and sat down. She grabbed her pillow and squeezed it tight. "Why don't you trust me? You have problems honey, I want to help but I can't if you can't tell me about them. I want to be there for you always, that takes a lot of effort, and I feel like I'm the only one putting in that effort."

"I was scared that this would happen. That if you found out I'm still attracted to Applejack you would leave me." Bonbon leaned against the windowsill, looking out. The sun had set and the lights of the town were slowly being put out. "Tell you or don't tell you. I guess I was damned either way."

"Sweetie, nopony is perfect. You're screwed up, I'm screwed up. But the thing about us is that we're screwed up in just such a way that between the two of us we can make one functional pony." Lyra smiled. She squeezed her pillow tighter. "I have decided that I can give you another chance. But you have to be completely honest with me. You have to trust me, even when… no… ESPECIALLY WHEN it is hard to do."

"So you will move back in?" A smile instantly grew on Bonbon's face. "You wouldn't believe how awful this place is without you."

"No. I'm staying with Applejack until her issues get resolved. You and I need some space and you need to prove that you are serious about changing." Lyra buried her face in her pillow. Hoping to hide the tears threatening to escape her eyes. "You have to swear that you are going to change, and you have to prove you're committed to making it work."

Bonbon trotted to Lyra's side. Taking her in an embrace, she kissed her forehead. "I swear it. I'll tell you everything and I'll never hide my feelings. But you have to promise to be patient with me. It took me a long time to get this screwed up, it will probably take even longer to get straightened out."

"Deal." Lyra rose from her pillow, eyes red and glistening. She was smiling. "By the way, why is Rainbow Dash here?"

"Promise you won't get mad?"

"Well she was pretty mad. But we agreed that, since we were broken up, we would work really hard to get past it." Bonbon shuffled her hooves. Though she was facing Dash her eyes were moving across the room, landing anywhere besides on the blue pegasus in front of her. "So I guess that's the long reason why we can't have a second date. And I'm sorry, but you should probably leave."

Rainbow Dash's heart began pounding. Her breath became rapid and shallow. "But… you and me… on the couch… my first date… my first kiss… Bonbon, you can't just take that from me and throw me away!"

"I'm sorry Dash. It was a mistake," Bonbon muttered at her feet. "We can still be friends."

"Why in Celestia's name would I want to be friends after this? You have no concept of what you took from me do you?" Dash screamed at Bonbon. The rage flushing her cheeks shone through her blue fur as a dark purple. "I stood up to my friends for you, stuck with you when you upset Fluttershy so much she locked herself in the bathroom to drink. I stood between you and Twilight when she was as angry as I have ever seen her. AND THAT'S ALL STUFF THAT HAPPENED TODAY!"

Bonbon's head hung low. Her ears pinned flat.

"I just wanted a friendly dinner. But you kept pushing. You kept flirting and making me feel special. But I'm not special, am I? I'm just somepony willing to put up with your bullshit till you get me in the sack." tears flowed freely down Dash's face. Her eyes red with a mixture of rage and pain. "I'm glad you have Lyra though. Somepony willing to settle for a bitch like you deserves exactly what she gets."

"Dash, Lyra is…" Bonbon started.

"You got my hopes up, seduced me, and put your mouth on me. Then, when I won't give you what you want you just tell me to leave?" Dash wiped her eyes with a hoof. "Fine! I'll leave, and I hope you really savor my taste on your tongue cause if you ever come near me again you won't be able to taste anypony with your jaw wired shut!" Dash turned away and galloped toward the front door. Her eyes clouded with tears, she did not see Lyra standing in her way. She slammed into her, knocking her to the floor. Unfazed, Dash continued her gallop through the door and down the road.

Bonbon rushed to Lyra's side, offering her hoof to help her up she asked "Are you okay Lyra?"

"I'm fine." Lyra said as she brushed the carpet lint from her coat. She held out a small pill bottle. "We need to talk about this. It's still full, you haven't been taking them."

Applejack, descending the stairs, called to the two mares "What happened? Ah thought ah heard Rainbow shoutin."

Lyra quickly pushed the pill bottle into Bonbon's hoof. "I'll tell you on the way back AJ. You ready?"

"Yeah," AJ said cautiously. A glance between Lyra and Bonbon told her something had happened. "Ah got mah saddlebags all full. Ya sure there's nothin' else ya need?"

"Positive. Let's go," Lyra said curtly.

"APPLEJACK! THERE YOU ARE!" Rarity shouted, taking everypony by surprise. The white unicorn stood, panting her breath, at the open door. "We've been looking everywhere for you. I saw Dash… *gasp* I asked, she pointed… *gasp* Apple Bloom!"

"Slow down Rarity. What's wrong? What about Apple Bloom." Applejack's pupils shrank. Her mouth went dry.

Slowing down to catch her breath, Rarity spoke "Applejack, we need your help. Scootaloo and your sister have gone missing."

"WHAT?! Have y'all sent out a search party?" Applejack shouted frantically.

"That's just it, we can't."

"Why in tarnation cant ya?" Applejack put her hooves on Rarity's shoulders. Looking into her eyes she saw terror reflected back.

"Because of the hydra."