The Trials of Love (A Human LyraBon fic)

The Trials of Love: A (human) Lyra/Bon Bon fanfiction by SigmatheAwesome.

Part 1: The Reunion

"So..." The rainbow-haired avian said, hovering over the annoyed Lyra. "How long have you known each other?"

Bon Bon looked sweetly at Rainbow Dash. "Most of our lives." Dash responded with a facepalm.

"No, I mean, how long have you... known each other?"

"I don't get what you're implying."

Dash grew impatient. "How long have you hooked up with each other?!"

Lyra raised her arm, slouching on the bench. "We're not 'hooked up'."

"Then why are you so close?"

Bon Bon dropped her sweet look into one of seriousness. "We're in love, Dash. With each other. Though sometimes..." She looked at Lyra in annoyance. Lyra caught the look.

"What?"

Bon Bon chuckled, dropping back into a positive mood, or one that could mimic it. "Nothing, never mind."

"So, you are hooked up, then?"

"For the last time, no!" Lyra growled in frustration. "There's a difference between 'hooked up' and 'in a relationship'."

"Hang on, I'll run that by Twilight, she'll know."

"We'll be here if you need us." Bon Bon said with relative joy. "Don't take too long."

Dash unfurled her wings, and crouched for take-off. "Hey, if it's not too much to ask, can I here the story when I get back?"

"Yeah, why not." Lyra threw her arm up again. Her milkshake would have dropped if it were not for the fact that it was being held up by magic. "Dear?"

"I'm fine with it. Maybe bring the others, if you want."

"Roger!" Dash took off, a burst of air and a rainbow trail in her wake.

Lyra sat up straight, and took a sip from her cup. "It feels like it was years ago, when we fell in love."

Bon Bon nearly broke into laughter. "That's because it was years ago, Lyra."

"Oh yeah. Well, we can recap when Dash gets back." She pulled out a small journal from her pocket telekinetically. It wasn't particularly flashy, with a leatheresque, slightly ruined cover and a well-worn string, and the thing itself was slightly bent. "I've got my journal, in case I forget anything."

"How long have you had that thing?" She asked, poking it within the magic field. "I've had my own for the better part of 10 years."

"Since I moved to Canterlot, so about... 18 years, give or take a few."

"I can tell."

"Hey, don't bag the journal. It has my life in it."

"Sure it does." She replied sarcastically.

Lyra was woken up by the sound of flapping wings and grinding gravel. And Bon Bon prodding her horn, which jolted her skull slightly.

"Hey guys!" Dash said, touching ground. "How's it going?"

Lyra blinked sleep out of her eyes. "Good."

"And as Twilight told me, there is a difference."

Bon Bon lifted the dazed caster of her lap. "Good to hear."

"Wait." Lyra said, looking at the six others behind Dash. "Why are there so many of you here?"

"We're here to listen to your story, remember?" Twilight, her long hair blowing slightly in the breeze. "For some reason or another."

"Ah'm only here because RD said that if Ah could make it through your story, I'd get 10 bits." She readjusted her hat slightly. "I mean no offense."

"S'kay." Lyra waved it off with her hand. "Now, I think we should start. After you, Bon Bon."

"Why me?"

"You're better at starting these things."

"Oh, fair enough." She cleared her throat. "I remember my last day with Lyra before the day she moved to Canterlot. It felt so normal..."

She ran through the field, wishing she had wings. She imagined her gliding through the skies, feeling the wind in her hair...

Her imagination jolted from her as her foot hit a raised object, and she lost her balance. She crashed face-first into the dirt, and lost her connection with the world for the briefest of seconds. Then the pain shot through.

Lyra stopped her own sprint, and turned to see her friend sitting up, crying her eyes out. She groaned, and walked up to her.

"Stop falling on your face, silly." She held her hand out, and offered it to her. "Here, lemme help you up."

Bon Bon stopped crying, and looked at her friend through blurry vision. She placed her hand on the caster's, and was hauled up, assisted by weak magic.

"Let's take a break."

* * * *

Sharpedge looked at his daughter being helped up, and sighed. "You know, Eclipse, I'm glad it's so peaceful here."

The caster next to him looked up from her book to her own child. "Indeed." She pulled the book's ribbon between the pages and snapped it shut. "Shame it won't last."

"Why did you enrol Lyra in that Canterlot School? And why are you going?"

Eclipse sighed. "I studied there myself. I only want the best for her. And she's only five. I'll move back when she's old enough. Why did you sign up for the Ponyville Guard?"

"A similar reason. I want the best for Bon Bon, so I joined up so I could protect her world."

"Unlike the School, the casualty rate for the Guard is-"

"I know the risks." He clenched his fists. "And I'll make it through them."

"Seraph hope so." She looked to the sky. "I miss Davian..."

"Davian Heartstrings, your ex-husband?"

"Indeed. He broke up with me when I had Lyra."

"Why?"

"He's earthbound, and wanted an earthbound child. When I had Lyra, a caster, he was not happy, and left."

"That selfish..." Sharpedge scowled. "That is the most absurd reason for breaking up, and at the worst time too!"

"Yeah... By the way, I haven't heard from Floral in a while."

"She's been busy at work, and with Bon Bon. Nothing too tragic, fortunately."

"Good, good..." Eclipse saw her daughter walking up with Bon Bon's hand in her own. "This may sound odd, but I think these two will only grow closer. Maybe beyond friendship."

"You really think so?"

"Just a hunch."

Lyra approached her mother, smiling. "Hi, mum!"

"Hey sweetie." She lifted Lyra up with her magic. "Wow, you're getting bigger. I won't be able to lift you soon!"

"You can lift me up easily." Sharpedge muttered.

"Quiet, you."

Sharpedge lifted Bon Bon up with his arms. "C'mon, let's go get some ice-cream."

"I want chocolate!" Lyra piped up, now back on the ground and holding Eclipse's hand.

"Can I have strawberry, please?" Bon Bon said in response.

"Sure you can. It's a special day today."

"Wow..." Pinkie gaped, sitting firmly on the ground.

"What happened next?" Fluttershy said quietly.

"Well, the next day, I left for Canterlot, 18 years ago." Lyra sighed. "It was the biggest day of my life..."

Lyra looked at the massive chunk of steel, fire and water that made up the engine that was soon bound for Canterlot. She gripped her mother's hand tightly. "Mum, can I ask you something?"

Eclipse closed her book in the way she always did. "Sure, honey."

"Will I see Bon Bon at all?"

Eclipse's heart nearly skipped a beat. "I don't know, dear. We should be able to."

"What about Hearth's Warming? Or her birthday?"

"We'll see."

"Or my birthday? Nightmare Night? Winter Wra-"

"Lyra, please!" Eclipse snapped through clenched teeth. "I've already told you the answer."

Lyra looked to the ground. She felt a build-up of sadness, which ended up breaking forth. She was gripped in a tight hug from her mother, who sounded equally disheartened.

"I'm sorry I snapped at you, honey." She lifted her up when the whistle to board sounded. "C'mon, I have something to give you, and I'll give it to you on the train."

"Did you ever see her after that, darling?" Rarity asked, sounding quite connected with the story.

"Before I returned after 18 years? Once."

"Lyra!"

She looked out the window of the slowly-moving carriage, and saw her friend sitting on Sharpedge's shoulders.

"Bon Bon!"

The train picked up speed, but Sharpedge still kept speed. "Lyra, I have something to give you!"

"What is it?"

Sharpedge thundered closer to the window, allowing Bon Bon to lean closer. Lyra leaned out, arm outstretched.

"Dad! I need to get a bit closer!"

"Working on it!" Sharpedge edged as close as he dared. "This good?"

"Fine!" Bon Bon pulled her head next to Lyra and pecked her on the cheek. "Good luck, Lyra!"

Lyra was stuck for words. The train now reached a speed faster than the average avian's speed, yet Sharpedge still kept pace.

Sharpedge looked at Eclipse. "Hey, if you can find any time to come over, do so!"

Eclipse wiped a tear from her eye. "I'll see what happens!"

Bon Bon and her dad veered off, Sharpedge having reached his speed limit. They waved back, and for the rest of the day, life seemed full of joy.

"Aww..." Spike said. "That's so cute!"

Twilight giggled. "That's a bit out of character, Spike."

"Hey, I'm allowed to get sentimental sometimes!" He looked at the ground, embarrased. "'Sides, they're so good at speaking, even I can get caught in the moment."

"Fair enough." She looked at the pair again. "Did you end up communicating at all?"

"I had no means of talking to Bon Bon directly, only through letters we sent to her dad."

"So you could talk to each other, right?" Dash added.

"Not quite. Bon Bon's wellbeing eventually dropped out, and then the letters altogether. I did make a friend, Sparkler, during those years, but something, and I wasn't sure what, was missing."

Twilight paused. "I think I passed by you on the Summer Sun Celebration's Eve. I was in a hurry."

"Oh yes, that."

"So, Sparkler." Lyra said, flicking an errant strand of hair from her eye. "Why are you going to Moondancer's party?"

"Why not?" She said, lifting the bag in her hand. "She and I know each over well. I even cut her a gem!"

"Well, you are good at gemcrafting. You might be good at enchanting, too."

"I'll find out when I get my exam scores back. I don't think I did too well at the enchanting bit."

Lyra stopped on the bridge. "I'm only good at playing music. I'm ok at other fields, but music is my best." She sighed. "I'll never be as good as you."

"That's no way to talk!" Sparkler cried out. "Your music has the ability to move people! Hell, even Celestia said it herself! AND SHE'S THE FREAKIN' PRINCESS!"

"You have a point. Besides, I like playi-" She stopped and pointed. "Hey, isn't that Celestia's personal student?"

"She looks like she's in a hurry. She's a Second Tier 6, right?"

"Yeah. That means she's younger than us. Maybe I should say hi?"

"People say she's not very social."

The blue-haired caster sped up to them.

"Hi the-"

And just as quickly as she arrived, she passed, heading to the Dorm Tower.

"Well, that's rude of her."

"She's probably got a major project coming up."

Lyra sighed. "Well, I should get going. Third Tier 5 is the last year for me."

"Us."

"Us." She looked off the bridge, staring into nothing.

"You alright?"

"I'm... Not really. I feel like there's something missing in my life. I've got excellent grades, a cutie mark, friends, and my own room I have to pay almost nothing for. But I'm missing something..."

"A boyfriend?"

Lyra scoffed. "Even if there was anyone I liked in this campus, it wouldn't fill the gap."

"A girlfriend, maybe?"

"Wha- No! You're missing the point!"

"I thought you told me-"

"I was very, very drunk. I wasn't thinking straight, if at all. I said some things that weren't true."

"Whatever." Sparkler joined Lyra's side. "So, what are you missing?"

"I had a friend, before I moved here. I kinda forgot her name, but she was my best friend. Ever. Even to this day, beyond my friendship with you."

"Do you have anything to remember her by?"

"All the letters were taken by mum when she moved out. And her last gift was a kiss."

"You sly gi-"

"ON THE CHEEK! Just a kiss on the cheek."

"She sounds important to you."

"She is. I don't even know if she still lives in Ponyville."

"Hm..." She glanced at her watch. "You coming to Moondancer's party?"

"Nah, I've got some stuff to do."

"Okie doke!" She pushed herself off the arch. "I've gotta go, so see ya tomorrow?"

"Yeah, sure."

"I guess I have seen you around Canterlot." Twilight said. "So, what happened next?"

Bon Bon whispered into Lyra's ear. "Can I have a go, honey?"

"Sure."

"Anyway, while Lyra was off studying in Canterlot, I was preparing food for the Summer Sun Celebration..."

"Another perfect batch."

Bon Bon pulled the tray out of the oven, loaded with excellently-cooked muffins. She was greeted with a positive gasp from Derpy, her googly-eyed avian friend.

"Sorry, but these are for the Celebration. I'll make some more later."

"Ok!" Derpy chimed, and walked in. "I hear that some Canterlot students are coming here for the Celebration, and some of the tertiary students who have completed their 5th year will be staying here to live."

"How d'you know?"

"I'm a mailgirl. I find out these things."

"In the back of a newspaper?"

Derpy laughed. "That, and through conversations."

"I see." She set the tray on the bench to cool. "So, why'd you tell me?"

"You had this friend that went to Canterlot." Derpy pulled up a seat. "She'd be your age, meaning that she's completed her 5th year."

"Oh yeah!" She took her oven mitts off, and pulled up her own seat. "I barely remember her name, and I don't think she ever had a picture taken."

"You can't remember her name?!" Derpy gasped. "I thought you said she was your best friend!"

"She was. She may have better friends now."

"Even time can't seperate friendship."

"We were five when we last met. But somehow, I think, that when I see her again..."

"Eh?" A small beeping sounded from Derpy's wrist. "Oh, gotta go! Mail to deliver before the Celebration."

"Kay then. See you at the hall?"

"Yep!" She paused. "If you see Carrot Top between now and then, can you tell her I want to spend a bit of time with her or something?"

"Certainly." She stood up, stretching her arm. "That's what friends are for."

* * * *

Carrot Top was leaning against a pillar, looking at something insignificant, when Bon Bon walked up.

"Hey, Carrot."

"Oh, hey Bon Bon!" Carrot Top pushed herself off. "What's up?"

"Just preparing for the Celebration. Yourself?"

"I've already done my part, so I'm taking a break."

"Fair enough." The two of them sat in silence for some time. Bon Bon had grown good at reading emotions, at least the fairly obvious ones, and noticed Carrot's mood. "Is there something you want to say?"

"Eh? Oh, not really."

"Kay. Oh, by the way, Derpy said she wants to hang out with you during the Celebration."

"She did?!"

Bon Bon looked at her friend in confusion. "What's with the reaction."

Carrot Top stopped. "Uh, well... I must be tired."

"You blame everything on that."

"Shut up." She chuckled, punching Bon Bon lightly in the arm. "But, seriously, I've been working all day. I am truly buggered."

"I see."

Silence fell. The two of them stood around the pillar, gazing at anything that caught their eye.

"Haven't seen her before."

Bon Bon looked at Carrot Top, who tilted her head in the direction she was looking at. Her eyes tracked a caster, carrying a variety of suitcases in fields of amber energy, her short mint-green hair slightly bobbing with her steps. She seemed too deep in concentration to notice them.

"Lyra..." Bon Bon unconciously muttered.

"What?"

"Huh? Uh... Nothing."

"Did you just say lyre?"

"Why would I?"

"You said something that sounded like it."

"I did?"

Carrot Top raised an eyebrow.

"I don't know why I said what I said." In truth, she knew perfectly well why she said it. She also knew Carrot Top wasn't buying it.

"Whatever."

"So you and Derpy were friends?" Dash asked.

"Derpy and I still are." Bon Bon said in a flat tone. She turned to Lyra. "Your turn."

"Okie dokie then!" She cracked her knuckles for some reason, then resumed her story. "So, as you know, I passed Bon Bon without me even knowing it, on the way to my mum's house..."

Lyra had only three things going through her mind as she walked. First and foremost was concentrating on carrying her luggage. Second was getting to her mother's place on time. And third was the constant feeling of longing she had since she lost contact with her best friend 18 years ago.

She lowered her bags as she knocked on the door thrice. The door swung open, a tired-looking crimson-haired caster at the door. "Can I help you?"

"Hi, mum!" Lyra said cheerfully as to hide her tired nature.

"Lyra, sweetie! Come in!" She ushered her inside, and pointed an area to put her bags. "I'll sort out your room in a while."

"Cool." She walked into the lounge room, and looked around. She jumped at the sight of a sleeping avian on the couch. Eclipse looked over her shoulder, and chuckled.

"That's Icegale. He's my husband."

"Uh..." Lyra somehow felt betrayed. "That's... nice..."

"Listen, he's fine. Trust me."

"I've been stuck in Canterlot for most of my life, mum, with only you for outside information. I can't exactly trust easily."

"Fair enough. Do you want a drink?"

"Yes, thanks." Eclipse walked off, into the kitchen area. Lyra felt uncomfortable, with a strong-looking avian who has never seen her before. What if he wakes up and starts attacking me or something?

Unfortunately, her thought became a reality when a sudden ringing erupted from the kitchen, waking Icegale from his sleep. The first thing he noticed was the unfamiliar caster, standing in shock at his wake.

"Who the hell are you?" He asked, threatingly.

"I-i'm L-L-Ly-" Lyra stammered, in shock.

"And what are you doing in my house?" He stood up. He was a lot taller, stronger and wider than Lyra, and walked up.

Fate interrupted the situation when Eclipse walked in, just as Icegale was about to grab Lyra. "Icegale, hone- What the hell are you doing?!" She ran in, faster than any human of any kind would run normally, and wrapped her arms around her daughter.

"You know her?" Icegale asked, his tone suddenly softening.

"She's my daughter, Lyra!" She yelled, which made his posture drop like his tone.

"Oh..." He dropped down and looked at Lyra in a different view. "Sorry." He held his hand out to Lyra for shaking.

Lyra was still in shock, but managed to hold her hand out weakly. Icegale gripped it, and shook it.

"I guess I should introduce myself. I'm Icegale. Nice to meet you." He seemed a lot more friendly when he wasn't trying to rip your throat out.

Lyra could barely manage a word. Icegale stood up, and helped the two of them up.

"Sorry if I gave you a scare. I'm easily startled."

"Anyway," Eclipse resumed. "Floral has invited us over, before the Celebrations."

"Okay then. When?"

"In an hour or so." She turned to Lyra. "So you might want to get changed, dear."

"Uh... Sure."

* * * *

Bon Bon swatted an insect away. "Carrot, why does this day have to be so hot?"

"Dunno. Maybe it's for balance?"

"This is torment. The Princess controls the sun, for goodness sake. She can change this heat!"

"I know that if we had continuous cold, we wouldn't be able to grow food."

Bon Bon paused. "Fair enough."

Carrot sighed, and looked at her watch. "I've gotta go, Bon Bon. See you at the Celebration?"

"Yeah..."

"You alright?"

Bon Bon merely grunted in responce.

"Alright, see ya later!" She walked off, leaving Bon Bon sitting on the bench.

Bon Bon continued staring at a slowly-moving cloud, which was smacked into oblivion by a kick from an avian. This drew her back into reality, even if she didn't want to. She stood up, stretched, and walked inside. It was conciderably cooler in there, due to a recent development in technology, involving a slow-acting ice spell in a magic limiter, allowing direct control of the temperature being expelled by the machine. She felt a shiver through her body as the cold hit her, and moved herself to the couch.

"What's the matter, dear?" Floral walked from the kitchen, somehow knowing Bon Bon's feelings.

"Something's been troubling me all day. Can't exactly say what."

"You know, you can tell me anything."

"Okay..."

Floral moved to the couch. "Anyway, I've invited Eclipse's family over. They should be here within half-an-hour."

Bon Bon sighed. "I guess that means I should get changed."

"An excellent idea." She stood up and walked off. "Don't want to feel all sweaty and all that."

Bon Bon took in some more of the cold, and stood up slowly. Another shiver, and she slowly walked along the hall. She stopped next to a photo on the wall, of her with her father before he was sent off somewhere. She wasn't very old then, only 10. She continued on, but stopped at an older-looking photo. It was her, only 5. Next to her was her father on her left, but on her right...

"Lyra." she said the name almost unconciously. She looked next to the young caster in the picture, and next to her was a younger-looking Eclipse. Something in her mind snapped, pulling together loose pieces of information scattered in her mind. She heard, a few weeks back, that Canterlot students from Ponyville were heading over to Ponyville for the Celebrations. She last saw Lyra when she went to Canterlot, when they were 5. Eclipse had been talking about her daughter coming to Ponyville. And finally, Eclipse was Lyra's mother. She spoke the result of the connections, as they formed in her head.

"Lyra is back, and is coming over." She gained energy from absolutely nowhere, and bolted to her room. She flinged off the shirt she had been wearing, then the skirt, then threw a simple beige one-piece dress over herself. She glanced at herself in her mirror, looking very pretty, then returned to the lounge room in a flurry. Her arms now being exposed, the cold hit sharply. She looked at the mark on her left shoulder, a wrapped candy, then looked around the room for no real reason except for the fact that she was full of energy. Floral appeared, looking vaguely nervous.

"Are you alright?"

"What, me? No, of course not!"

"You seem panicky."

Bon Bon sighed, her adrenalin dropping. "I just worked something out."

Floral moved to the couch next to her. "Oh?"

"I'm going to be seeing Lyra for the first time in 18 years."

She gasped, honestly surprised. "I thought you had forgotten her." She blushed as she realised what she had just said. "Well, not in a bad way, but we stopped being able to talk to her for years now. I honestly did think-"

"Mum, don't get worked up over it." She looked into nothing. "I wonder what she looks like nowadays..."

I guess we'll s-" A knock on the door interruped her. "Coming!"

The door opened up to Eclipse, Icegale and a nervous-looking caster behind the two of them. Eclipse spoke first. "I hope we're not early."

"No, perfect timing." Floral said, and invited them in. Lyra glanced at Bon Bon, their eyes locking for a second, before they both looked away nervously.

"Lyra," Eclipse said. "You remember Floral, right?"

"Barely, but still enough." She nervously spoke.

"Hello, Lyra." Floral greeted her. "It's been a while."

"Hi." She glanced at Bon Bon, who was also looking at her.

"And," Eclipse gestured to Bon Bon. "You remember Bon Bon as well?"

Bon Bon stood up nervously, looking at everything except Lyra. Eventually, she looked up, and their eyes locked again.

"Hi, Bon Bon." Lyra said, still holding her soft gaze.

"Hi." Bon Bon replied.

Eclipse, being the smart person she was, realised that these two needed to be alone so they could talk properly, and whispered to Icegale and Floral that fact. They reluctantly moved elsewhere, leaving the two girls staring at each other.

Lyra swallowed. She hadn't seen her for 18 years, and had almost completely forgotten what she was like. And chances were, she was different from those days.

Bon Bon made the first move, hugging her tightly. "I've missed you so much, Lyra."

"Me too." She wasn't sure if that was true, but she started feeling better being near her. Bon bon relinquished her grip, and gestured to the couch. The two of them sat down, Lyra sitting in a somwhat awkward position.

"Why are you sitting like that?"

"Why not? It's pretty comfortable." She sighed. "So, how's life?"

"You've missed a lot. We have a new mayor, new stores, new everything."

"I see." She sat up properly. "Look, Bon Bon... I can't exactly remember what you're like."

"That's ok, neither can I." They both laughed, then fell into silence. "How was school?"

"Believe it or not, I actually passed First Tier and Second Tier."

"First what and Second what?"

"Tiers. They're just blocks of education. First is 7 years, Second is 6, and Third is 5+."

"I see."

"As I was saying, I found that I was great at music. Not just the playing, but theory and stuff. I can play a great tune on a lyre."

"Cool." She looked away. "So, what's your cutie mark?"

"It's a lyre."

"Can I see it?"

Lyra blushed. "Wha- no, it's-"

"The one on your shoulder, numbnuts."

"Oh." She chuckled nervously. "Sure." She pulled the sleeve on her left arm up, exposing her shoulder to Bon Bon. On it was a simplified lyre, gold in colour.

"Nice." She showed Lyra her own shoulder mark. "I'm good at cooking sweet foods, notwithstanding candy."

"Awesome. You can actually cook things."

"Why, you can't?" She said in a playful tone.

"Not exactly, no. I can make simple stuff, but..."

"I should teach you things, so you can feed yourself."

Lyra laughed, then Bon Bon caught on, and they just laughed madly for a good few minutes.

"And that is when we first met." Bon Bon sighed, and passed the journal back to Lyra.

"What happens next?" Dash inquired, agitated and eager for more. "When do we get to the good bit?"

"That will be for next time. I've got work in the morning, so I have to get some sleep."

Twilight stood up, stretching. "Wow, I didn't think it would be that exciting."

Applejack lept up, and pulled Rarity up. "That's some story so far."

Rarity flicked her hand out of Applejack's, and glared at her before turning to the two on the bench. "Same time next week?"

"Maybe earlier, at my place." Bon Bon gently nudged Lyra off the bench. "It's more comfortable."

"Okay." Fluttershy squeaked, and picked herself up. Pinkie bounced up, and nudged Spike, who had fallen asleep. He didn't wake up, so Twilight just picked him up with magic.

Pinkie turned to the two on the bench, and grinned. "See ya later! Enjoy yourselves!" She skipped off, the sound of springs fading off with her.

Lyra and Bon Bon sat in silence for a second. "What now?"

Bon Bon looked at Lyra lustfully. "My place or yours?"

"Your place had AirCon."

"Okay, let's go."

* * * *

To be Continued in Part 2: Attraction.