Kisses and Crinkles

Lyra had no idea how long they had been lying here. Just there on the ground, just the two of them. Like a rock in the middle of a river of mud. The world drifted onward, with or without them, leaves, twigs, roots, bits and splinters, but they just remained. The small site of the landslide had become the backdrop for their little play of survival, the discord of the storm their orchestra.

But the storm had turned. No longer was it the rabid destroyer that tore away at everything with a furor of angry slaps and crashes, threatening to whittle away at life until it was reduced to a mere memory. It had changed its mind. The downpour had lost its ferocity. The frost had lost its bite. There was a lull in the force of nature, time for recall and recollection. It was a nudge in the right direction. The great cleansing was over, the pieces had been reset, the field was fresh. There was new earth, new water, new space. Come and get it.

There was a recurring vibration at Lyra’s chest. It wasn’t Teak’s shivering. Not to say Teak wasn’t shivering, because he certainly was, and so was Lyra too from the cold. She didn’t know whether to be relieved or scared of the fact she didn’t even notice anymore. But there was still reason for joy. Teak was snoring. He had actually found the strength to fall asleep. No stinging, no aching, no pain, but, amidst the ruins of destruction and on the precipice of oblivion, the most mundane and animated act a living being could perform. Does one laugh or cry in the face of such a fantastic absurdity?

Also turned had Lyra’s longing. She couldn’t wait to see Bon Bon. And she didn’t need to hope, there was no fear of being left behind because it wasn’t a chance that Bon Bon would find them. It was certainty.

As real as the rain itself. Lyra knew it in her heart. Bon Bon’s coming, and it will be awesome to see her again. Surely she would know something insightful to say, even if it took some time, because she often tended to stay quiet before speaking up. But then she would be happy if somepony acknowledged the subtlety of her thoughts. Lyra couldn’t wait to coax that smile out of her. Despite the fact that all hell will probably break loose when Bon Bon and her have to carry Teak back to safety, maybe there’s a free moment for a hug. Just a quick one. It’s been ages since Bon Bon’s curly mane had bounced against Lyra’s nose. She could really use that right now.

The serenity had something unreal. Like Lyra was removed from this world. But really, nothing could happen anymore that she couldn’t handle. The worst already lay behind her, and, despite all odds, Lyra had brought absolution into reach by the sheer force of her will. It had been a ridiculous coincidence of various circumstances that had delivered them into the abyss, but it was enough that Lyra embraced the essence of her being and the nature of her heart to claw her way back to the top.

Magic’s something really strange, thinking about it. It’s everywhere, all the time, and though nopony can see it, we can certainly feel it. It follows us wherever we go, courses through our bodies, suffuses us, and we make use of magic all the time. Whether fully aware or entirely subconscious, carrying our bags to a vacation, tending to our flowers for a nice meal or locating the sun and the moon to find our way. Living together with everypony else, working together, celebrating together. Loving together.

That’s why the fact of Bon Bon’s impending arrival was so certain. The bond of purity forged between Lyra and her was sacred, perpetual, and very, very real. Love’s not just a figment of imagination, not only a mere chemical imbalance, but love is a very concrete interaction between a pony and the world, and just like the tiniest flutter of a bird’s wing can cause a tempest, even the smallest gesture of love can set in motion occurrences of immeasurable grandeur. Everypony must adapt to the universe as much as the universe must adapt to her.

“You like all this talk about magic, don’t you?” Lyra said to the sprite.

It was practically vibrating with energy. It hadn’t come to rest in a long time, orbiting Lyra with determined twirls and mystifying bursts, its light always just where Lyra needed it beyond the dim sheen of the rising moon. Unseen currents guided the tiny arcane apparition to and from the vast complexity of the aether, with Lyra herself a well of infinitely expanding influence erupting recursive configurations like a fractal anchor into the chaotic turmoil of creation. The moment wasn’t lacking of ethereal features rising in their state of energy to settle into order, the magical plane at rest with harmony as the fixed points aligned.

“That leaves one last thing to do, old friend,” Lyra said.

She raised an uncovered hoof to the sky. The sprite had been waiting for this all along. It gently touched down on the very tip of the hoof and became patiently unmoving.

“Bon Bon,” Lyra said, “I love you so much. You have never stopped believing in me even when I’ve been at my worst. You taught me how to embrace harmony in this world. Every step forward you were there to support me, every flaw of mine you grew to complement, every failure you grasped and turned into nourishment for growth. You saved my life more times than I can count. It’s beyond question that you will be there for me, many times more, and still I treasure every moment I can spend together with you as if it was the first.”

“You are coming to save me once again. I know it. Everything I gained and everything I learned I vow to share with you, to examine and to learn from. I want to improve, so I may become the best I can be, for that is the least what you deserve that I can do. You are never further than right around the corner, and I’m always here waiting for you. Come for me, Bon Bon.”

Lyra held her hoof up, took in the vibrantly spirited air and blew the sprite into the sky.

The sprite erupted into a star, soaring high into the heavens, trailing curtains of blazing ephemeral sparks onto the forest in a brief display, breathtaking enough to rival the firmament itself.

===

The unicorns felt it first.

Bon Bon followed their gaze to determine what was going on, but the light was too painfully bright to see. Beyond the impenetrable mesh of vegetation, spanning all the way to the tree tops, a new star was born, momentarily lighting up the night as bright as day, as it carried out its transcendence into the sky.

Remaining in its searing streak were erupting veils of brightly glittering sparks that descended back towards the world, to grace the forest with their dreamlike light before vanishing.

In the middle of the forest, the depth of night, inexplicable energies, a signal of glaring light. This could only mean one thing.

“Lyra!” Bon Bon shrieked, “That’s her! She’s over there! We have to go get her!”

Applejack barely caught Bon Bon by the fold of her coat, as Bon Bon tried to storm right past Twilight and dig her way through the overgrowth. Twilight hadn’t missed a beat and had already turned to clear the way toward the signal’s origin.

The pace quickened considerably as everypony scraped past the natural obstacles, bending branches, mounting roots and pushing aside rocks to clear the way.

The first crack of moonlight shone through, and Bon Bon could no longer be held back. She shoved herself against a leech seed, and Twilight immediately tore it down. She got her leg entwined in a root, and Applejack promptly opened it up to free her. She slipped on the muddy ground, but Rarity was there to catch her and push her on. Finally, Bon Bon broke into an earthen clearing.

At the other end of the clearing, from behind a pile of earth surrounded by debris, amidst a river of mud, water and ice, a head popped up.

A head framed by a dirt-streaked shining plastic hood, a messy mane and fur soaked to the skin, a face uplifted by the most genuine smile. And those golden eyes sparkled only for her.

“Lyraaa!” Bon Bon screamed.

“Bon Bon!” Lyra returned.

Bon Bon immediately shot off like a predator. The instability of the slippery ground didn’t even seem to register as she homed in on Lyra with ferocity. Lyra had gotten up and attempted to steel herself for the impact as the fountain of muddy water shot straight toward her, but she already knew all attempts were futile.

“Oof,” Lyra made as Bon Bon impacted into her like a hammer, knocking them both over as they tumbled and slid across earthen puddles. Bon Bon only needed to disentangle her face from underwater before she began crying out.

“Lyra! Lyra!” Bon Bon wailed, mud splashing all around, “I’m so sorry! I love you so much! I’m so sorry!”

“Bon Bon! I’m so sorry!” Lyra cried in return, dripping with water, “I love you more than anything! I’m sorry!”

“Wait, what are you sorry for!” Bon bon howled.

“I’m sorry I sent you away on your own,” Lyra said, “I should have never left from your side. We should have gone together to get help. How could I ever have put you at such risk? I don’t even want to think of what could have happened. I’m sorry the first pony I thought about was myself instead of you. I wanted to take all of this on my own shoulders and I wanted to have all the glory for myself. I should have listened to you and should have stayed around. I’m sorry that you were alone and cold and scared because of me and that I wasn’t there to stand with you like I had sworn.”

Bon Bon cared not for the slippery sand between their skins, as long as she could continue to rub her face against Lyra’s neck with as much surface area as possible.

“But you have nothing to be sorry for,” Bon Bon said into Lyra’s chest, “You did everything right. I don’t love you because of who you say you can be, I love you so much for who you are. Don’t you ever try to be anypony else. It doesn’t matter what could have been because you are you, and you will always do the right thing, and I will always love you! It was me who screwed up, not you. I got lost on the way and had to circle the town once before I could get here. It took me way longer than I had any right to. You gave me such a simple task, and I disappointed you, even though your life depended on it.”

Lyra scrambled to enfold Bon Bon’s soft form as closely as possible as they writhed on the ground.

“But Bon Bon, we made it!” Lyra said, “We made it! Everything turned out alright! You didn’t screw up, you did just fine. I knew you’d be coming for me and you did not disappoint. I would never have found Teak if I didn’t have time to search for him this long. But we’d have done so faster and safer if I had gone with you, to get help first. I’m the one who screwed up!”

Bon Bon embraced Lyra’s head and pressed their foreheads together, splashing mud over the back of her hood.

“If you hadn’t sent me across town to get help,” Bon Bon said, “I wouldn’t have gotten lost and then stumbled upon Twilight, Rarity and Applejack. They helped me get here faster than anypony else could have, and their help was invaluable. You brought me to them! It wouldn’t have worked without you! But I could have done so much better. I’m the one who screwed up more!”

“No, I’m the one who screwed up more,” Lyra said.

“I screwed up more,” Bon Bon said.

“I screwed up more,” Lyra said.

“I love you,” Bon Bon said.

“I love you too,” Lyra said.

The clammy earth was soon ground thin between their cheeks and threatened to dry out against the overbearing heat. After an eternity of unfathomable profanity, Bon Bon savoured the sensation of the subtle and refined softness of Lyra’s warm skin. Not even the ice water crashing down on their sides could mar Bon Bon’s complete and utter preoccupation with Lyra’s soft fur, electrifying as it tickled gently over the side of her muzzle. Soon the tips of their noses brushed against each other, and Bon Bon relaxed into the familiar excitement of Lyra’s breath against her chin. Their faces were pretty close. Her lips were tingling. it wouldn’t take much …

“Ladies,” Rarity said from behind. Lyra rolled off of Bon Bon and got up, shaking the moisture off her coat, a luxury Bon Bon didn’t have since her overcoat hadn’t kept the water out in the first place.

“How is he?” Lyra said.

Applejack huffed as she hefted the half-consciously groaning Teak over her back.

“He’s okay for the time being,” Applejack said, “But we have to get him back somewhere warm, pronto. It’s fastest if I carry him. Back to the house?”

Twilight readied herself and gave the signal.

“Wait,” Lyra said, throwing herself into the river of mud. Her hooves rummaged around in the earth and turned rocks while masses of liquid dirty splattered onto her.

“Lyra, we have to go,” Bon Bon said.

“Just a moment,” Lyra said, “it’s gotta be here somewhere.”

Within the stream, she gathered the earth with her forehooves and pushed it in front of her while walking forward slowly. A moment later, her hooves struck smooth metal.

She pulled it out of the water and grabbed her machete firmly, before turning to leave.

“Got it,” Lyra said, “Let’s go.”

===

“Things didn’t feel natural at all, I can tell you that,” Applejack said, “like something was wrong with them. I’ve seen a few vermin in my time, believe me, but none did ever try to take everything they can with such tenacity. Did you see how empty the forest was? Quiet as a grave. It’s obvious the leech seed don’t usually belong there. Few more weeks without anypony noticing and they’d probably consumed everything.” She turned her hoof on the table. “Didn’t put up much of a fight though once I’d shown them the ropes.”

“The leech seed’s natural habitat is the swamp,” Twilight said, “Where, though relatively isolated from the surrounding climate and rich in nutrients, there are enough predators with similarly varied abilities to keep their population in check. The leech seed can not usually survive in an environment as harsh as the forest. That’s why their effects were so strongly felt, they needed to exhaust all resources available in order to stay strong. In addition, they wouldn’t have gained that much of a hold in the first place without their strength in numbers. So many leech seed being able to settle at the same time must have been a pretty big coincidence.”

Having Twilight along on the return trek had been amazing. Though she didn’t appear like it on the outside, she was an incredibly resourceful unicorn. Beyond her slow and methodical approach, her wordless brooding and her reserved presence lay a wit as sharp as a razor’s blade. And it was no surprise either considering the sheer magnitude of raw power lying dormant within her already remarkably refined abilities.

Neither the monstrous leech seed nor the difficult environment had been much of a challenge. True, Twilight tended to dawdle around when her friends were hesitant, but once it was clear how to proceed, she was on the job like a bloodhound. There had been a need to get back to the house as quickly as possible, and Twilight had already laid out the direction of travel from memory alone from the first moment. Her concern was making sure everypony stayed within the range of her shield, as magical weeds disintegrated and the natural overgrowth parted in their path downhill.

Crossing the river in the other direction had been amazing. They had come up to the stream in the flatlands, which had been the degenerated Root Canal. And though it wasn’t much more than ankle deep at this point, the other side had been hard to see because the stream had become so broad.

But Bon Bon didn’t even get a chance to warn the other ponies as Twilight simply dragged them into the water. Well, not entirely true, since Twilight cut through the water like nothing more than a flimsy cloth. Their hooves stayed dry, a great relief in particular to the only pony bare-hooved, and Bon Bon couldn’t stop gawking at the massive sprays of water sparkling over their heads as the waves crashed against Twilight’s reach.

A bit of stew splashed onto the table as Applejack slammed her cup. She was pretty content chewing on the crunchy remains.

“Is he going to be alright?” Bon Bon said, nodding toward the sofa. Teak kept trying to get up, but Parting Ways wouldn’t let him, keeping him wrapped under a mountain of blankets and feeding him hot stew unrelentingly. “From being trapped in the forest, I mean.”

“Applejack and I checked him out as best we could,” Twilight said, “and it is our opinion that Teak did not suffer any lasting injuries or impairments, neither physical nor magical, aside from the expected respiratory complaints from being in freezing weather for so long. There is some lingering fatigue from the exposure to the leech seed though, he will have an increased need for rest for some time.”

“He’ll be fine,” Applejack said, “Forest and the storm barely scraped him. Probably caught a nasty cold out there though, so he’d better try and stay warm. A few days of sleep and he’ll feel much better. Speaking of which, the same goes for you too, Lyra.”

There hadn’t been a chance to really talk until they’d arrived at the house. Up to that point, they had been too busy leading the vanguard and carrying the weakened, respectively. Rarity had commendably kept up with Applejack, and kept in steady contact with her to restore balance whenever Teak’s head or his backside keeled over and threatened to meet with the ground.

That left Bon Bon free to support Lyra at the rear end. Both of them sorely felt the aftermath of the night’s adventures as they increasingly faltered, but somehow they never fell outside of Twilight’s prickling wall of protection.

Regardless, when the hollow drumming of rain on top of sheet metal preceded the radiant allure of warmly lit windows amidst the flurry of the night, Bon Bon was the second most happy pony to finally arrive at home. She was carried by a second wind as their hooves dredged through the back yard’s ugly dirt patch. Then they ducked past the water spraying off the shed, rounded the corner and kicked open the front entrance, and crashed right into the hooves of the first most happy pony.

Parting Ways had been no less than ecstatic. She must have noticed the approaching commotion through the dining room windows, because she was already waiting with a bunch of towels over her neck on the other side of the door.

She posed a slight bit of a hindrance, with everypony bunching up in the entryway, but nopony faulted her for pushing her way through and applying all the towels on her coltfriend first. Parting could barely contain herself as she threw herself on top of Teak, huddling him tightly with her towels and keeping close contact with her face, which was almost wetter than his. Bon Bon took care to give the two reunited lovers some space, as she discreetly purloined some towels for the others.

She understood what Parting had to be feeling. It’s horrible to worry about a pony you care for in the first place, but when her life’s imminently at risk, it can thoroughly erode you down to nothing.

Lyra was getting increasingly heavy against her shoulder. Bon Bon tightened her snuggle.

“Are you going to take that off?” Applejack said.

“Uh … yeah …” Bon Bon said, “sure … in a bit. We just need to warm up first.”

And wait until you’re all gone. Bon Bon felt pretty stupid, Lyra and herself the only ones around the table still fully clothed in rain gear, not even their dripping manes rubbed dry yet. However, considering what they were both still wearing underneath, it was much preferable to be stupid rather than being basically dead.

Undressing was not an option if they wanted to avoid being brutally exposed. Bon Bon was beginning to sweat beneath her soaked coat. Whenever she moved, she caused a little squeak from Lyra’s plastic waterproof.

“In either case, that still leaves one question unanswered,” Twilight said, “how did all those creatures come to settle into the forest? They are usually native to the swamp, at least the ones we saw. For the leech seed, there must have been an opportunity to breed and flourish somewhere closeby until there were enough to get picked up by the climate and carried into the forest. But the wetlands should be fully cultivated, and I can’t think of a secluded spot with enough groundwater large enough anywhere else.”

“Whatever it is,” Applejack said, “I reckon the swamp followed after when the leech seed made themselves at home. The forest’s still going strong, that much was pretty clear, but it felt like the leech seed were becoming more than a nuisance. And who knows what else was lurking in the darkness? Wasn’t there also some magical sprite you told us about, Lyra?”

That got her attention. Lyra revealed her bleary eyes from under the bright yellow hood. “Yeah,” she said, “the sprite came floating down from up high pretty soon after I’d went into the forest and stuck with me all the way. I know we don’t have sprites like that anywhere outside the swamp, so you’re probably right. I’m lucky I didn’t have to go entirely alone, because the silence was getting pretty creepy quickly. And he provided me with light, so there’s that. I wonder if he’s going to be alright without me.”

“Well, technically he’s not a he,” Twilight said, “because the magical characteristics we know as sprites aren’t attributed with genders in the first place. Nor are they actually sentient, since they’re just quite simple arcane mechanisms, that pop up as artifacts whenever there are many appreciable sources of magic operative in parallel. That goes both for the physical and the ethereal planes, though only here are the sprites as tangible and substantial. That’s why it appeared like it was following you, when in fact it was simply the effects of your presence creating a magical tension pulling along, and in case of your signal flare, extending the reach back into … “

Rarity less than covertly cleared her throat for Twilight’s attention.

Lyra had increasingly clenched her jaw in worry of all this terminating in a very elaborate, but ultimately apathetic, no.

Which wasn’t at all what Twilight had intended to convey. “Sorry,” she said, “what I mean is, yes. Your friend is going to be fine. Maybe you’ll see him again someday.”

“Now that is much more agreeable, isn’t it?” Rarity said, “a happy end for everypony and every sprite. I doubt my poor little heart could take any more suspense tonight.” It was barely a nod she acknowledged Bon Bon’s silent thank you with.

Rarity couldn’t have been aware it so much more than just a little joke to lighten the mood, could she? Lyra practically melted into Bon Bon’s side when she finally found reason to relax again, but it was the copious contentedness radiating off of her that sent Bon Bon’s heart aflutter.

Lyra had been ailing, and every little bit Bon Bon could help to lift her spirits, came back like a thousand jubilees in return. The ease with which Lyra laid her head down on Bon Bon’s shoulder, the lack of second thought as she entrusted her whole being entirely to Bon Bon, the little smile of serenity only the both of them could see. All the accomplishments they had achieved were surely empowering, but this was something entirely different. This was home. And it was only now beginning to sink in how truly happy Bon Bon was to be here.

Metal scraped against metal as Applejack worked the ladle. The pot had stopped steaming about three refills ago, making the two dish towels underneath wholly superfluous. Whoever placed it here must have really worried about the table.

“It’s all gone already?” Applejack said, “That’s too bad.”

“I’m surprised too,” Bon Bon said, “usually when Lyra cooks, she makes way too much. I don’t think we ever managed to go through an entire portion of her stew in just one weekend.”

“I’m not surprised everypony went for it though,” Applejack said, “It’s right warm. But, let me tell you, I’ve had quite some stews in my time, and this one must be one of the best I’ve ever tasted. I don’t know how you did it, but nothing’s overcooked, even though it’s a stew. How about that!”

“Oh, Bon Bon here really likes my stew,” Lyra said, “so I got to refine my technique over the years.”

“I’ll have to get me some of it then one day,” Applejack said, “tastes really amazing too. A whole bunch of stuff you wouldn’t expect in a stew. The hearty taste, is that sorrel? Must have gone quite a ways to get that.”

“Yeah, it’s sorrel,” Lyra said, “but it wasn’t at all a problem to get it! You’d be amazed what you can find growing around here, if you just look hard enough. Not far from here grows a whole bunch of sorrel, all juicy and ripe for the taking. Okay, I had to cut it free from all the junk, but it’s still the perfect spot. It’s almost standing with water because it’s so low, there’s loads of shrubs as protection, everything grows wild! And best of all, nopony would ever come across … the place ...”

No way. The prostrate realization in the back of her head quickly came creeping into the obvious, the thrill knocking her jaw open.

Judging by the size of her eyes, the awareness hadn’t been lost on Bon Bon either.

They looked at each other.

And then they broke into howling laughter.

“What’s the matter?” Applejack said, “What’s so funny?”

There wasn’t anything strictly funny about it. In fact, the banality of the mystery’s conclusion was almost disappointing. But Lyra and Bon Bon still found themselves overtaken by fits of hilarity due to the outrageous absurdity of the explanation.

It also felt pretty good to actually laugh. Took the edge off.

“It’s the sorrel!” Bon Bon said, “No way!”

“What?” Applejack said.

“Yes way,” Lyra said, “Do you know the path past the lake when you go from here to Sweet Apple Acres? The one where you have to go along the forest and down some rough ledges. Just before you see Ponyville again, there’s this row of thornberries. Big, huge bushes.”

“Pretty sure I know the one you mean,” Applejack said, “We always go swimming in the summer.”

“You couldn’t go very far past that into the field,” Lyra said, “because some big tree had toppled over and there’s, like, junk and earth piling up behind it. Lucky me, I managed to get through with my machete because there was the sorrel growing further out. The entire thing is overgrown! You can’t even step a hoof in there without carving a way first, and it hurts like crazy if you walk into the thorns. And there were puddles of water everywhere because the whole thing’s, like this huge furrow. I didn’t go very far, but I could see it went on like forever.”

“Isn’t that fairly close to the swamp?” Twilight said.

“Yup,” Applejack said, rubbing the bridge of her nose, “seems we’ve got our culprit.”

“That’s fascinating,” Twilight said, “Just think of the biodiversity in an isolated spot like that. It’s very plausible the leech seed would flourish in such an environment if left undisturbed. I just can’t believe nopony ever noticed. You told me about the presence you felt, the day before, Bon Bon. You’re an earth pony, and you’re much more prone to the effects of natural magic. Surely, in all this time, somepony must have passed by and felt it too?”

“Twilight,” Lyra said, “do you have any idea how good thornberries are?”

“And here I’ve been wondering,” Rarity said, “if I had only imagined seeing more of those dreadful things around town this year.”

“Rarity,” Applejack said, “you just can’t appreciate a good kick. Doesn’t matter what you eat on the side, it won’t hold a candle to the taste.”

“I can appreciate an acquired taste, it’s not about that,” Rarity said, “it’s the outlandish skin of the fruit, with its wrinkled texture, and all covered in fibers. The sensation of having something hairy on your tongue, it’s positively appalling! I can’t believe you enjoy something like that.”

“I’m not the only one though, apparently,” Applejack leaned back. Sweet victory. “Guess you can’t please everypony.”

The calm felt very good.

Only the fire cracked and crackled fiercely in the other room because apparently somepony had decided to throw two, possibly more, logs of wood into it at once. A good idea, the mollifying warmth, that descended thickly onto the room, did wonders for the nerves. The bustling about over at the sofa had died down to a mere whisper, as the two travellers had obviously managed to come to an agreement in comfortable posture. What remained was the gentle tapping of the rain against the glass of a black dining room window, to lull them into a mellow tranquility.

That left only Bon Bon wanting to jump out of her skin. It hadn’t taken more than a few moments of silence for Lyra to doze off again, her weight increasingly more like a big bag of flour. But it was better that way, because she didn’t have to sit through the embarrassment of having to hold out in front of their friends completely mummified.

It was silly, really. Bon Bon shouldn’t be so self-absorbed. She wasn’t the one who had barely scraped by ruination tonight. The hour belonged to the survivors, Teak and Parting. She shouldn’t be moping around. It’s time to celebrate.

Still, Bon Bon couldn’t help wishing to be able to feel Lyra’s skin instead of that insufferable plastic coat.

“So,” Applejack said, “we’re not going to leave the forest like this, are we?”

“Of course not,” Twilight said, clapping her hooves, “I’m going to send a message to the Academy first thing in the morning. Free reigning overlap of different biotopes? An undisturbed display of botanical competition? Oh, the institute is going to love this. I expect a reply the same day.”

“On a Sunday?” Applejack said, “Are you sure somepony is going to read it when they’re all likely at home? I’d hate for Ponyville to be invaded by creepy magical plants again just because nopony’s coming to do anything about it.”

“They’re not staying at home on Sunday,” Twilight said, “trust me. It pains me to propagate ecologist stereotypes, but I know those ponies in Canterlot. We’ll be buried in scientists before we even know what happened. And at the very least, they’re going make a scientific evaluation and ensure the natural balance is restored in this area. We’ve seen that the leech seed can be driven back even with unspecialized magic, it shouldn’t be a problem for the experts to work something out.”

“Good,” Applejack said, “Glad to know things are in good hooves. Last thing I need is something happening to the crops, and I’m not exactly keen on going back in that mess myself either. Though, truth be told, it wasn’t all bad, was it? At least we got to take an exciting hike through the forest at night. When’s that ever happen? Knowing that everything’s taken care of and we all made it back in once piece, you could even say it was kinda fun.”

“I realize tastes may vary, Applejack,” Rarity said, “but most would agree that fun is something different.”

“Suit yourself,” Applejack said, “but it was decent exercise. Had me all juiced up for a while there.”

“We’re not finished yet, though,” Twilight said, “There’s yet more fun to be had. We still have to file an incident report to complete the records. I doubt there’s going to be anypony present at town hall tomorrow.” She clapped her hooves together. “Luckily, I keep printed copies of all standardized forms at the library! That means we won’t have to waste any time sitting around idly. I suggest we all get some rest and file that report first thing tomorrow morning, all right?”

Tomorrow? Cripes. Bon Bon had hoped to get some undisturbed playtime with Lyra.

“Sure,” she said.

“Great,” Twilight said, “There’s nothing better than keeping proper documentation. Believe me, I know that better than anypony. Fail to report something and you’re in a whole world of trouble. Boy, do I have some stories to tell.”

“What, you mean the one where you forgot to tell the school you were going to travel with the Princess?” Applejack said.

“How did you know?” Twilight said.

“You may have mentioned it already,” Applejack said, “Once or twice.”

“Well, it wasn’t that I forgot to notify the school,” Twilight said, “I mean, I did forget. But I told Princess Celestia after we’d left, and she said she’d send a message. But then she forgot as well. The headmistress was really annoyed when we returned.”

“I’m sure she got over it, Twilight,” Applejack said, “I agree with you though, that it’s probably best to report even minor incidents. You can never know whom else they might affect. Did I ever tell you about our ice cellar?”

“Your family has the biggest one in Ponyville, isn’t that so?” Rarity said.

“We sure do,” Applejack said, “except for the community freezer of course, but that one’s being used by everypony and we needed one of our own. Anyway, we dug the ice cellar way before Twilight came to Ponyville. I was young back then, and eager to take up most of the work on my own, hollowing out the room and reinforcing the walls. In the following season, I got way too much ice down there, but I was sure it’d keep until next winter. But no, the ice began to melt and the cellar was standing with water. Turns out, the insulation hadn’t been done properly and water was dripping in. I decided not to report the fact to Ponyville. They’d have been sure to send some inspector snooping around, fearing our neighbours would be affected, and how would this look on our building permit? I figured I’d just wait until the wall had dried out and fix the problem. But things kept getting worse as the soil began to dry out because all the groundwater was drained into the cellar … “

Bon Bon tried to pay attention. She honestly did. It was a good story, and what better to break the ice than a good story? Telling a story is a great way to make friends, and Bon Bon loves nothing more than making a new friend.

It’s the thrill of sharing some interesting anecdote, the anticipation at the other’s reaction, the prospect of many more moments yet unwitnessed shared in companionship and laughter. Truth be told, Bon Bon didn’t know Twilight and Rarity very well outside of saying hello, nor was she familiar with Applejack on account of their homes being on almost opposite ends of town. But they were thoroughly amicable ponies, a tightly knit group of friends, and Bon Bon would have loved to accept the hospitality that was so blatantly being extended toward her. Because that’s who Bon Bon really is, and, even if just for a moment, she liked pretending having the leisure of staying true to herself.

But the moment lasted way too short. Bon Bon couldn’t. Not with the dreadful inevitability hanging over her head, taunting her into making a false move and bring everything crashing down. The normalcy they had, the freedom of burden as they happily took part in a light communion, sharing warmth, food and joy.

It eluded Bon Bon. She wasn’t normal, not like them. And it had never occurred to her just how painfully unadjusted it made her feel. Or maybe she had, but she didn’t have the heart to think about it. She couldn’t just invite somepony over to her home, because her home was hers and Lyra’s sanctuary of virtue, a place to unmask and reconstitute. They didn’t have to hide their true selves here. Bon Bon couldn’t share her most heartfelt feelings either, because she found not the means to verbalize them. Nopony could relate to Bon Bon’s desires as long as they couldn’t understand. And how could she make others understand what she didn’t understand herself?

Bon Bon was practically sitting on nails. It was close to a miracle nothing embarrassing had been lying around on the lower floor. No curious pacifiers, no inexplicable foal toys and, luckily, no baffling adult diapers. At least, Bon Bon hadn’t seen any, but she was willing to take what she could get. Still, she stuck out like a sore hoof, Lyra and herself being the only ones still fully dressed in their raingear.

That was her Lyra, out like a light the moment the excitement was over. Lyra had earned the chance to sleep though, she had really gone through much tonight. Bon Bon wished she could be strong like Lyra. It was up to her to do something about the current situation, and every moment delayed didn’t exactly make things look better for her. It would be the best if she just managed to get everypony out of the house, preferably without moving too much and risking exposing the tattered and dirty diapers both of them still wore underneath their coats.

That would be certain to create some confusion and awkward moments. What is that? Why are you wearing that? Are you sick? Why didn’t you say anything? Do you need help?

And once more, Bon Bon wouldn’t be able to do anything but stutter out scraps of sentences that meant nothing. It was always the same. Frightened. Powerless. Weak. The only thing heavier than Bon Bon’s limbs hanging down her sides was her mind, stuck in the perpetual sludge that just kept piling on until there was nothing left of her.

Nopony suspected anything strange. Why should they? They’d never met anypony like her before. They’d continue doing whatever they wanted in here until they’d eventually stumble upon something they couldn’t explain. And then the questions would come.

Bon Bon could only pray it would be over quickly. Tomorrow, Lyra would wake to stories of an adventure with an awkward ending and a bunch of ponies who would avoid them for a long time.

Sorry, Lyra. I can’t handle this alone. You keep telling me about the value of friendship, but this goes way beyond. No matter everypony’s best intentions, in the end, there just is no explanation for everything. In the end, there’s just the two of us. In the end, we’re always alone.

Bon Bon felt like somepony had hit her over the head, but she couldn’t allow herself to fall.

“ … and then, he even stopped by to give me back my tools. I was glad to see him, but when I unwrapped the tools, the thermometer was missing,” Applejack said.

“What happened to the thermometer?” Twilight said, aghast.

“I asked him about it,” Applejack said, “and he just said, the desert is not a place where -- well hello there.”

Accompanied by a Parting Ways trying to get him to lay back down on the sofa, Teak shuffled through the door and made his way to the table. It was difficult to assess his state of well-being, as basically only his muzzle was visible from under the huge blanket that had been piled on top of him.

Bon Bon didn’t have the heart to tell Parting that blanket was actually an ugly rug, seeing how she fussed about him zealously, her eyes way redder than his. But Parting wore a tired smile, a relieving sign that nothing more was amiss than a lack of rest.

“Hey,” he rasped, followed by a sweet cough, “Look, I wanted to thank you … I mean … everypony who, uh … is Lyra here?”

“Shh,” Bon Bon made, indicating the pony who was, in fact, sleeping on her.

“Oh, sorry,” he said much more softly, “I didn’t mean to interrupt. I just wanted to, er … say thank you for what you did. I mean, I’m not sure I’m getting things quite right just yet, but you pretty much, well, you saved my life.”

“I don’t even know how I can begin to thank you for bringing him back to me,” Parting Ways said, “I’ve never been as afraid in my life as tonight, and I pray I’ll never have to be again. Teak here should be asleep right now, considering what he must’ve been through. He’s never been able to hold the ropes down when he should. I wholeheartedly agree though, you guys deserve all the appreciation.”

“Don’t sweat it, Parting,” Applejack said, “we do this regularly.”

“She’s right,” Twilight said, “There hasn’t been any incident in Ponyville that we weren’t able to take care of in years, in no small part thanks to the town’s amazing residents, like Bon Bon and Lyra. What town would ours be if we didn’t help visitors any way we can? Everypony deserves a happy end, right?”

Things usually aren’t that simple, Twilight. Happy endings are usually a thing of fables and tales, books and stories. This isn’t a story though. This is real life.

“Yeah, right,” Bon Bon said.

“We’re going to make it up to you, on another day,” Parting said, brushing her cheek against Teak’s nose, “we are truly thankful. It’s not every day we meet remarkable ponies like you in a remarkable town like yours. Especially you, Bon Bon, and Lyra. You never even hesitated to help when I sought you out. Never scrutinized me, never demanded anything in return. You simply departed to right all wrongs. You share a very special bond between you that lets you achieve so much incredible feats. It’s truly a sight to behold.”

“Wouldn’t anypony have done that?” Bon Bon said.

“Most ponies wouldn’t even have been capable of acting like you,” Parting said, “nor would they have the wisdom to extend their sense of harmony beyond their own self. I didn’t want to say it at first, but I knew I was at the right address the instance I saw you.”

“Oh yeah?” Applejack said, “How so?”

“I notice these things, trust me. I work as marriage counsellor by trade,” Parting Ways said. The pause was perfectly studied. “Yeah, I know, I know, it’s because of my name, right? Let me tell you that I don’t take relationships lightly. It’s always better to base a marriage on fact rather than ideology. If togetherness can only be achieved by hopeless frantic strain, nopony gains anything. No relationship is better than a bad relationship, and a happy relationship is best, and there are always ways to build a happy relationship. That’s why I can safely say that Bon Bon and Lyra won’t be needing my professional services. It hardly gets any better than this.”

Bon Bon ventured a glance. Parting Ways’ cutie mark was that of a signpost, but the sign had the symbol of a heart on it. Ironic how she should be the one to get lost in the corporeal wilderness, when she claimed to be capable of navigating the world of emotions so well.

“Huh,” Applejack said, “and here I thought any marriage counselling is just a bunch of mumbo jumbo. I sure as shoots don’t need any professional telling me that a relationship needs working on. If it didn’t, it wouldn’t be worth it.”

“Applejack, please,” Rarity said, “A relationship is a delicate thing, and by applying force from the wrong angle, it may be trampled so much like a mere spring flower under a boot. That’s why we have specialists to guide our efforts onto the right places, so the union may grow and flourish. Say, Parting Ways, where do you come from, originally?”

“We hail from Dewshire,” Parting said, “Do you know it? It’s a small city when you travel past Canterlot and turn toward the sea. That’s where I currently work, and where I met my sugarbun here. He’s a carpenter by trade, and an amazing woodworker by his own right.”

“I try my best,” Teak said meekly.

“Oh, nonsense, honey,” Parting said, “you should see our apartment. He did most of the furnishing, and it’s breathtaking. Anyway, we had agreed to visit a relative of his in the warm south. But really, we just couldn’t wait to get out of the city for a change, so we decided to set off earlier and make a stop wherever we first felt like it. We travelled for a while until we reached Canterlot. But that was too urban for our taste, so we got off in Ponyville instead, locked up our suitcases, and went to get a breather out in the fresh air.”

“And that was the point where the air turned out a mite too fresh,” Applejack said, “I’ll see too it that the weather report is posted at the train station as well as town hall. I’d much prefer it if we could avoid incidents like this.”

“Yeah, sorry about that,” Parting said, “We didn’t see a single cloud when we arrived. I guess it must have slipped our attention.”

“Well, to be fair,” Applejack said, “It was a pretty crazy storm. Hadn’t seen one like it in a long time. Our crops might be better for it, sure, but we’ll be cleaning off debris from our roofs for days. If I didn’t know any better, I’d have said the pegasi lost control over this one and are trying to make it look like it was intentional. How nuts would that be! Anyway, make sure to be more cautious, especially here in the countryside.”

“I promise we will,” Parting said, “it’s not an experience I would want to repeat either. It felt like I would never see civilization again on the endless way back here, and when I did arrive, my fears got even worse when it occurred to me I had left Teak back there. It wasn’t my proudest moment. I was so upset after Lyra and Bon Bon had left, I couldn’t seem to think straight while I tried keeping myself busy around here. I hope I didn’t break anything or cause too much disorder.”

Oh no. Where had she gotten that rug from? Hadn’t that been stashed somewhere upstairs?

“Don’t fault yourself,” Twilight said, “There’s nothing else you could have done. It’s difficult to remind yourself what the best course of action is when you’re in a panic, and you acted best as anypony could expect. Besides, things look to be in order around here. Is there anything broken that I don’t see?”

There it was. The conversation was heading in the direction she most dreaded. Everything was falling apart in her hooves.

It was a nightmare Bon Bon couldn’t awake from.

“Well, I may have made a bit of a mess at the fireplace,” Parting said, “We don’t have one at home, so I don’t know how to use one. And sorry about your special weekend, Bon Bon. I heard Lyra when she said we’d interrupted it. I didn’t mean to. I also really needed to get more towels and blankets for when you returned. So I, uh, I kinda had to look around through your stuff to find some, so … well … I had to open … I mean, um … I kinda had to go upstairs. Sorry.”

Bon Bon tried to keep still, but her hooves were trembling too hard. She couldn’t even muster the strength to hide her burning cheeks from sight. It was happening so fast. The hurt and the shame had hit her like lightning and left her paralyzed.

She had been discovered, truly and utterly exposed, her painstaking efforts to mask and conceal her true self so diligently for such a long time, ultimately for naught. The questions kept coming, and she would have to answer their call. Whatever Bon Bon did, stuttering half-baked explanations that would raise more concerns than they answered, shutting everypony out and throwing them out of the house into the rain, keeping silent and letting herself get crushed under the tears of her devastation. She would do wrong. She couldn’t win. So long had she dreaded this moment in her mind, but reality was worse than she could ever have imagined.

“Why?” Applejack said, “What’s upstairs?”

Parting stuttered. Of course she realized too late. She sought Bon Bon for help.

Bon Bon’s heart was racing like mad. The maw of the abyss had opened up and was waiting for her.

It was no use. She had no way out. Bon Bon stepped up to the precipice. It had come to pass.

There was nothing else she could do anymore. She almost couldn’t see past the tears.

She set out to speak.

But then, a miracle happened.

The missing piece of the puzzle set itself in place to complete the dawning realization.

Rarity had been wordless for some time. Pondering. Despite the splendor of the situation, her sharp mind had never ceased chasing the trail of the detail she felt had gone unnoticed. But she had found it, and her instincts had homed in on it with unfailing purpose. It was clear what had to come next. Now was her time to shine.

Within the roiling masses of anxiety, Rarity was a guiding light, radiant with a balance so resolute to help even the most astrayed fragment of a shattered whole achieve absolution. Like a valkyrie in blazing golden armor, she ascended from the confusion, a likeness of immaculate harmony gleaming in perfection, her steadfast resolve trained on no less noble of a goal than to return the scales to equilibrium.

Rarity was breathtaking. It was the way she carried herself, the barest of changes of posture, the most subtle of movements, the tonality of her voice, the briefest of moments looking into another’s eyes. Nothing more than the resolution of her will was required. With an effortless grace, she had commandeered the attention of everypony at the table. The reins were firmly in her hooves.

It was sublime.

“Alright, everypony,” Rarity said. Her voice was perfect. “I believe that is enough chit-chat for tonight. It was all terribly exciting, but we should consider settling in to rest. If you agree, I believe we should head back to the library. I’m sure we can find a room for our visitors to spend the night.”

“Good thinking, Rarity,” Applejack said, “It’s warmer there, too, and we’ll be close in case anything comes up.”

“Besides,” Rarity said, “our two heroes are deserving of some peace and quiet as well. With the most pressing matters settled, all of us should make use of tomorrow to recuperate. Everything else has time until Monday.”

“But,” Twilight said, “the report!”

“Twilight,” Rarity said. The moment she looked Twilight in the eyes was neither too long nor too short. “That has time until Monday.”

“If you say so, Rarity,” Applejack said and stood from the table, “can’t wait to get some shut-eye myself.”

Twilight knew well enough to trust Rarity when she spoke with such certainty. “Alright, see you next week then,” she said and went to retrieve her coat.

“Thanks for the food,” Applejack said, “and, good job out there. See you around.”

“Thank you again,” Parting Ways said, “We had better go and find someplace to sleep for the big guy here.”

“But I’m not --” Teak yawned, “tired.”

“Wha …” Lyra said as Bon Bon unseated herself to stare.

It was baffling. Had this really just happened? Had Rarity just stood up for her? An entire lifetime of failed attempts, struggling to do just the very same, and Rarity had merely done it on the side? And she wasn’t even aware of the ramifications of what had just transpired. How could she? Bon Bon couldn’t yet grasp it either.

Everything she had built up for Lyra and herself in this wicked world, that little ramshackle patch of dirt she could present with a semblance of ordinariness, as long as she bent backwards stepping through the craziness on the increasingly wobbly stilts she had to perch herself upon. And when it all came crashing down, she found herself floating to a pillowy soft landing. They didn’t have to be alone. There’s somepony else. A good friend makes every burden easier to bear.

And Bon Bon had made a good friend indeed.

Rarity couldn’t have known. She didn’t need to either. And that was testament to Rarity’s true powers. She hadn’t been only keeping track of the conversation when it steered in the direction of the topic, but she had embodied its ultimate turnout all along. There had never been a risk of losing control, because of Rarity’s influences, so subtle not to burden anypony’s attention in the slightest.

Of course she caught on when somepony wasn’t feeling well. Rarity wasn’t just good in social situations, she was the true master of the domain. Her empathy and her intellect are as one. Her generosity is not a mere trait, but it’s in her essence, manifesting itself in a thousand facets, each more varied and incredible than the last. And it is that mastery that allows her to snap the reins, to move mountains, to save lives. She set the direction, and her cause was true.

“Rarity … “ Bon Bon said. Everypony else had already left, but Rarity lingered in the doorway.

“Oh, I apologize for not catching on earlier, darling,” Rarity said, “myself of all ponies should have realized what it was, that kept you on edge. I do believe the two of you deserve to spend some time in private undisturbed. We really appreciate what you did tonight, averting a crisis and preventing something terrible from happening. Ponyville’s better off thanks to your intervention. It’s the least we can do for you. Who knows, maybe we’ll see each other again sometime? I remember the last time you stopped by at the boutique. I had so terribly much fun that evening.”

Quick, say it before you think it better.

“How about on Friday,” Bon Bon said, “after work? I mean, there were some, uh, things we were planning to get.”

Rarity lit up. Of course, she had planned this.

And that was fine.

“Good,” she said, smiling in satisfaction, “I will be looking forward to having you over again. You’ll see, it’s going to be exciting. Good night.”

She turned to the door and left.

The bickering rain never had a chance to make contact with her intricately styled rainwear, as Rarity could make her own umbrella with her horn. It wasn’t nearly as large or as bright as Twilight’s, but it didn’t need to. Instead of Twilight’s segment of a sphere, Rarity’s umbrella was paraboloidal in shape, and the slanted angle of incidence caused the raindrops to ricochet off the surface at high speed. She remained completely dry without much effort. Her magic was just like Rarity herself. Elegant, subtle, and very clever. The shining beacon of her horn soon vanished in the listless dark as the tired curtain of rain closed shut. They were alone.

Lyra was about to ask why Bon Bon was staring at the closed door, when Bon Bon whirled around.

“She knows!” Bon Bon said, “She knows, she knows, she knows!”

“Of course she knows,” Lyra said, “that’s what I’ve been telling you all along. It wasn’t very hard to guess back when she made us those sleepers, now was it?”

“Yeah,” Bon Bon said, “but she really knows. I don’t get it! Why? Why does she help us? It’s weird! I never explained it to her! She can’t possibly understand.”

“Silly Bon Bon,” Lyra said, “you’re thinking way too much again. Just because a pony can’t understand doesn’t mean she can’t sympathize. Besides, she said herself how much she enjoyed the last time we were around.”

Bon Bon couldn’t keep her hooves still. She never dared ask this question. “Do you …” she said, “do you think she really meant it?”

“Of course she did,” Lyra mumbled, taking in a deep yawn to stretch her tired lips, “Rarity knows what she wants, she won’t do anything she doesn’t fancy. Do you think she gets this kind of spectacle every day? It’s exciting. And we don’t have to explain anything. She’ll ask if she feels like it, and thinks we’re ready to answer.”

Lyra attempted to brace herself, but it was too late. She had to rear up to catch Bon Bon, who had immediately thrown herself at her in a huge embrace.

“That is so amazing,” Bon Bon said, her cheeks warm as daylight, “I feel like I could jump from joy.”

It really was amazing. All those things Bon Bon had taken for fact. She was abnormal, she had to be ashamed, she had to hide it from everypony else, she had to be alone. The bulwark of the reality she had been thrown into, towering above oppressively and threatening to grind her up at the slightest misstep.

It all began to crumble, bit by bit. Nothing was set in stone after all. Sure, it was just the first step of the first beginning, and some things certainly would never change. But the air felt so much lighter already. No more hiding, no more shame. It was their home. It was their sanctuary. There were so many things to try out.

Bon Bon hadn’t had butterflies in her stomach like this in a long time.

“How about we jump into bed instead?” Lyra murmured, “I’m pretty tired.”

They broke the hug, their raincoats squeaking against each other. Bon Bon drew a hoof across Lyra’s cheek and it came back muddy, the residue of what had been ground up between their skins.

“Ew, Lyra,” she said, “you’re dirty.”

“Well, too bad,” Lyra said, “because I don’t feel like washing up right now.”

Bon Bon couldn’t help a giggle. “Now you’re the silly one,” she said, “what kind of foal knows how to wash up by herself? Not the Lyra kind, that much I can tell you. You need a bath.”

“But …” Lyra said.

“No buts,” Bon Bon said, “except yours, in the bathtub. Now come on, give me your hoofsies so we can take off that coat.”

Lyra rolled her eyes and offered a hoofsie. Bon Bon undid the buttons.