Before Twilight Sparkle moved to Ponyville, the residents were plagued by two trouble-making mares. These mares were none other than Lyra and Bon-Bon. The two had a constant feud going, and it consumed them. They were simply not able to function when in the same vicinity.
Bon-Bon, a candy salesmare, immediately closed shop whenever Lyra walked by, denying anyone a chance to buy her wares. The townsfolk eventually grew to despise the two, for they would inconvenience everypony around them. Lyra would halt her wonderful medleys when Bon-Bon strolled by.
One day, their confrontation escalated to a whole new level. It was midday in the main square when Bon-Bon bumped into Lyra on accident, not seeing her on her way through town. Lyra's anger immediately flared.
"Watch where you're going, jerk!" Lyra said.
"Hey, it was an accident! Cool your lid," replied Bon-Bon.
The bystanders slowly backed away. This wouldn't end well.
Lyra shoved Bon-Bon. Bon-Bon shoved back. Lyra grabbed something, an apple, from a nearby stall and chucked it at Bon-Bon, hitting her square in the face. The salesmare responded with inappropriate swearing and tackled Lyra to the ground.
The two continued to fight until they were interrupted by a flash of golden light. There, in the middle of the square, stood Celestia, a hard glare on her face. The brawlers froze in their places.
"You're coming with me," Celestia commanded, her tone leaving no room for resistance. Her wings and horn flared, and the three were transported by magic to Celestia's throne room.
The two ponies appeared in a tumble of limbs while the alicorn appeared upright, ready to take action.
"Lyra and Bon-Bon, yes?"
"That's us," Lyra answered.
"You two have been causing trouble in Ponyville for quite some time now. You're causing distress to the other citizens and disrupting everypony. I won't have it anymore. Now, what in the hay is your problem?"
Bon-Bon answered, "Well, we just don't like each other. We're not the best of friends, if you hadn't already noticed."
Celestia was unmoved. "I see. Well, it seems you two need to learn a lesson in friendship. My best pupil is moving to Ponyville soon, and I won't have it in a state of disarray. You two are going to learn to be friends, or at least tolerate each other and stop causing havoc!"
Lyra had an attitude. "And how, Princess, are you going to do that?"
Celestia smiled wryly, but the grin did not reach her eyes. "I'm going to fuse you two together."
Bon-Bon and Lyra both blanched. "What!?"
Celestia chuckled, enjoying herself a little more than she should considering the situation. "Oh no, not physically. Rather, I'm going to bond your souls, your spirits, together."
"W-w-what will that do to us?" asked Lyra.
Celestia took a slightly perverse pleasure in explaining their sentence. It wasn't every day she handed out punishments. "You'll be bonded together with my magic. You'll have to be in constant physical proximity to each other, with a few exceptions. Also, you'll have to improve your attitudes, to each other and in general. Finally, you shall not be allowed to make any displeasure publicly noticeable."
Bon-Bon challenged Celestia. "What if we refuse?"
Celestia giggled, as if she was just told an inside joke. "You won't." She then used her magic to hold the two in place. Her horn's luminescence intensified and her magic penetrated the two mares before her. It acted like spiritual lava, mending their souls together with a golden chain.
Her horn dimmed. It was done. Lyra and Bon-Bon looked at each other and tried to move away. They couldn't get more than a few feet away before they were stopped against their wills.
Celestia smiled. "Your first lesson begins now. I'm sending you back to Ponyville. I've arranged housing for your unique... situation. Have fun."
With a flash of her signature golden magic, she sent them back to Ponyville to begin their education.
The two mares appeared where they had disappeared from. The town square. They immediately tried to go their own ways, but that invisible bond held them fast, allowing neither of them any lee-way. They looked toward each other and almost grimaced. But they remembered the Princess' warning. Lyra and Bon-Bon didn't want to know what the consequences would be for breaking a punishment.
Lyra sighed. "Look Bon-Bon, I dislike this about as much as you do. But we have to make it through this, alright? So, let's put our differences aside for now and just... head home. We'll figure it out tomorrow."
Bon-Bon nodded. "Alright."
Celestia had a magical scrying portal open in her room. She watched as the two mares had their first compromise. She nodded with satisfaction. This was going to work out just fine.
Lyra and Bon-Bon entered their new home. They looked around. Quaint settings, simple furniture. It had two floors, with a winding staircase of polished maple leading up to the second floor. The lower floor had a kitchen, living room, and two bathrooms. The unicorn and earth pony went upstairs.
There was another bathroom upstairs, a laundry room, and a bedroom. In the bedroom, there was only a single bed. The two glanced at each other.
The said it at the same time. "Awkward."
They would get to that when the time came. It was dinner time!
They headed into the kitchen. The two opened the fridge to find it fully stocked with every kind of food imaginable. Carrots, apples, lettuce, flowers, juices.
Lyra took the lead as she took a little of everything and started cutting with her magic. Bon-Bon got out a bowl and some sweet-tasting salad dressing. Lyra placed the sliced food into the large mixing bowl. The two looked toward each other.
"So... who's going to mix it?" Lyra asked.
They weren't going to get out of this situation by arguing. "Both of us. Together."
They each held the bowl with both hooves and shook the bowl up, down, left, right. The girls giggled in their delight. Eventually, they shook it so hard that is slipped and flew into the air. Lyra caught all of the food with her magic while Bon-Bon did a slow-mo dive and caught the bowl before it shattered on the floor.
The mares looked each other in the eye and started to giggle as they put everything back on the counter. They finished making dinner and served it. They sat at the the robust table as they ate.
Bon-Bon spoke. "You know Lyra,.. you aren't so bad." She looked away, afraid to test the waters of their relationship any further.
Lyra froze with her mouth full of food. She slowly masticated it and swallowed. She felt a little awkward, but felt the same. "Neither are you, Bon-Bon. Honestly, I don't even remember why we were fighting in the first place."
Celestia watched from her chambers. She smiled at their progress. Who knew that the best way to solve a problem was to bring the causes closer together?
The unicorn and earth pony had finished their dinner, and by that time it was dark out. Lyra stretched and lead Bon-Bon to the bathrooms. "Time to get ready for bed, eh Bon-Bon?"
Bon-Bon, who normally stayed up a bit later than most, simply nodded in agreement. It had been a long day. Lyra and Bon-Bon brushed their teeth and discovered that they were both right-hoof dominant. They looked around their home and realized there was only one shower.
"Who's up first?" Lyra asked.
"It's pretty late. I'm sure one of us could shower in the morning." Bon-Bon replied.
"And dirty the beds with sweat and whatnot? No thank you!"
"What do you propose then?"
"Well, look at the shower! It's definitely big enough for two."
"You want us. To shower. Together."
Lyra nodded. "Saves time and water."
Reluctantly, Bon-Bon nodded. "Alright then." She fetched them three towels, one to stand one when they got out and two to dry off. They stepped into the large shower area and pulled the curtain closed. Lyra started the hot water out of the shower head and stood out of the stream till it was steaming hot. The two mares stepped into the blazing water.
From her bed, Celestia watched the two shower. She was always trying to get ponies to couple up. She knew they wouldn't do anything that she would like them too, but she was pleased with their progress. Unbeknownst to them, her horn lit up and loosened the spiritual bond, just a smidgen.
The hot water ran down their manes and bodies, untying stress knots along their necks and backs. Man did it feel great. It was kind of embarrassing to shower with somepony else, even if ponies didn't normally wear clothes. Showering was just something... intimate.
Lrya's hair flattened a little bit, but generally held its shape since it was so short. Bon-Bon, however, was another story. Her long mane, normally a little curled, hung down in long strands in front of her face. Lyra giggled at the sight.
The two worked shampoo into their manes and scrubbed away till their manes gleamed. They washed their bodies and tails as best they could, but there was one fatal downfall to pony anatomy as far as showering goes. That one fatal flaw: ponies couldn't reach their backs.
Bon-Bon giggled as she watched Lyra stand and try to reach her back. She ended up flailing her arms around and falling on her rump. Lyra giggled as well; she almost couldn't stop.
"Will you stop laughing at me and scrub my back?" Lyra chuckled.
Bon-Bon nodden and lathered up Lyra's back. Lyra almost moaned out loud at the wonders Bon-Bon was performing with her hooves, but she contained it. She stood, forelimbs bracing the wall and her head resting upon them. Lyra didn't know how much time had passed, but the suds were long gone. She simply said, "Thanks. Your turn."
As Lyra repeated the procedure for Bon-Bon, she noticed that the salesmare's breath started to get heavier. She blushed, but kept scrubbing.
As the two were drying off and brushing their teeth when Bon-Bon spoke. " I don't remember either."
"Huh?" Lyra said.
"I don't remember why we were fighting."
"Oh..."
"It seems kind of silly now, doesn't it? Now that we're starting to be friends."
"I guess it does seem silly."
That was the end of conversation, at least until they got back into the bedroom after throwing their towels into the wash.
"Which side do you sleep on?" asked Lyra.
"I usually sleep on the right side."
"Ah. I do to... It's okay though, it's all yours."
"Are you sure? I can move if you like. It wouldn't be a big deal."
"No, no. I insist," Lyra insisted.
Bon-Bon shrugged and slid under the covers. Lyra stood there for a moment, then slid into the covers as well, her back to Bon-Bon. Lyra lay there for a while, unable to sleep. She was thinking. Not about anything in particular, but her mind was still whirring. She thought Bon-Bon had fallen asleep by now. It was easily midnight.
Lyra turned over, looking at Bon-Bon's mane. The two colors were very different, yet somehow, they worked for her. Lyra timidly reached a hoof up and stroked her new friend's mane slowly. It was so soft, like velvet. Lyra sighed. What was happening to her? She used to hate this mare, and now...
Now she was starting to feel... attracted to her. It was strange, and a little hard to deal with. She scooted closer, Bon-Bon's body fitting perfectly in her embrace. She wrapped her forelimbs around Bon-Bon as she fell asleep.
Unbeknownst to her, Bon-Bon was awake the entire time.
Celestia watched the two sleep and, once again, nodded in her satisfaction. These two were progressing just fine, as far as friendship goes. And progressing more than she thought they would romantically. She giggled to herself. She lowered the bond to half of it's original strength.
The next day, after a fruit-salad breakfast (no dropped bowl this time), the two headed out to town. They had work to do, after all. Bon-Bon opened up her candy stall as Lyra tuned her lyre. The townsponies approached slowly, knowing of their history.
However, when nothing happened, the townsfolk eased up and started their purchases. The sat down to eat them when they heard a gracious melody begin. They turned to look at Lyra to see her masterfully navigating the lengths of wire that produced the lovely tones. They were being played for.
As some patrons left, they dropped a few bits off at Lyra's feet. She couldn't see them, with her eyes closed and concentrating on her music, but she heard their jingle and used her magic to put them into a pouch on Bon-Bon's stand.
It was a pleasant change of pace for the residents of Ponyville. For once, their town was peaceful. At the end of the day, Lyra and Bon-Bon counted up their profits. They both had made double their usual day's work. They jumped for joy and hugged each other, Lyra getting this big, silly grin on her face. It seemed permanent as it stayed their even after their embrace broke.
Lyra said, "You know what Bon-Bon? We're celebrating."
"Celebrating what?" the candy mare asked.
"Our newfound success, and more importantly, our friendship."
Bon-Bon chuckled and said, "Okay Lyra. Where are we going?"
"You'll see."
Thirty minutes later, the two showed up at a restaurant called Absinthe. It was known as a popular couple's restaurant, but that fact didn't cross Bon-Bon's mind. It sure ran across Lyra's. They entered, and were immediately seated in a booth.
The two looked around. The eatery could only be described as 'cool'. Their were no overhead lights. Rather, cyan light emanated from the floor, casting icy shapes onto the walls. The floor was just thick glass, with water underneath. Upon closer examination, they saw that there were many small castles and other places inhabited by fish and other aquatic creatures.
Bon-Bon looked at Lyra, stunned. Her coat and mane fit right in with the scenery, almost looking a part of it herself. Bon-Bon thought that Lyra's smile was simply dazzling, and her honey-gold eyes sparkled in the low light.
"You really know how to pick a place to eat, Lyra."
"Thank you," was the reply given.
A waiter came and took their orders. In the down-time before their food arrived, Bon-Bon could do nothing but stare at her friend, realizing her attractiveness more and more with each passing minute. Lyra noticed, but said nothing. She only smiled.
Their food and drink arrived, but Bon-Bon was immediately confused. "What's with this drink?" she asked, inquiring about the cyan liquid in her glass. "Is it colored water?"
Lyra laughed. "No, silly. It's the restaurant's signature drink. Absinthe."
"I thought that was some sort of alcoholic drink."
"No, that's just what they call it. Non-alcoholic. It's really good. Trust me and try it."
Bon-Bon took a gulp of the cyan liquid and swallowed. Immediately, it felt like arctic wind had blown through her system, making her hair stand on end.
"Wow! That's really something!"
Lyra smiled again. "Isn't it?" She took a gulp of hers and the two dug in to their meals: bluegrass sandwhiches and blue iris reticulata bulbs.
On their way home, the two walked together, almost in direct contact. Suddenly, Lyra felt as if a large weight had been removed from her shoulders. "Hey, Bon-Bon, did you feel that?"
Bon-Bon looked over to her. "Like a big weight rolled off of your shoulders?"
"Yeah!"
"Yeah, I felt it. What do you think it was?"
"I have no idea, but I feel great now."
Princess Celestia watched from her palace. She had just undone their shackles. They were no longer bound by force. Now, they were bound by their own friendship. And love. She nodded to herself, seeing another job well done. These two wouldn't be causing any more trouble.
The two mares, after another shower, slipped into bed. They faced each other this time.
"Bon-Bon?"
"Yeah?"
"I have something I want to tell you."
Bon-Bon sat up, leaning on a forelimb. "What is it Lyra?"
"I... I wanted to let you know that, uh, well..."
"Let me know what?"
"That I love you."
Bon-Bon stared, open-mouthed. She was shocked. But Lyra's admittance of affection was bliss for her. She didn't have to hold back anymore. She quickly jumped onto Lyra and hugged her. "I love you too! I've been so nervous when I discovered how I felt about you. I didn't want to tell you and ruin anything."
"You wouldn't have ruined anything," Lyra insisted.
"Okay."
Bon-Bon's weight on Lyra made the musician feel secure and safe. She leaned her head forward as she closed her eyes. Her lips slowly met Bon-Bon's, her eyes closed as well. The two fell asleep in each other's embrace. They would always stick together after that night.
As she was falling asleep, Bon-Bon thought. 'At least things will go back to normal.' She fell asleep looking forward to a normal tomorrow.
The next day, Twilight Sparkle, Celestia's star student, arrived in Ponyville.