Learning to Say Goodbye

Learning to Say Goodbye

“This isn’t what I had in mind when you said we were having dinner, Lyra.”

The Round Table, the most extravagant restaurant in Ponyville. It was much more than just a sight to behold on the outside, the interior was just as alluring. The structure resembled that of Cloudsdale’s mythological decor. Sporting classical age stone columns gilded to give the place a feeling of grandeur, there was no doubt that even some of the most affluent ponies in Canterlot would go out of their comfort zone to sample dishes that were simply delectable. Aside from consuming the usuals, most would prefer to try something a little different, including hors d'oeuvres crafted from specialty ingredients that according to food critics, are almost impossible to acquire in Ponyville. The one thing that makes this place unique is that although it caters to the wealthy, even the middle class citizens of Ponyville are able to taste the food that only the rich can eat anywhere else.

Lyra was able to get a table for two but it wasn’t what her friend Bon Bon had imagined. She wanted to eat there sometime but anypony wishing to dine there needed to make a reservation almost a month before. The mint green unicorn did make a reservation, but it was a last minute reservation. As a result, she and her friend had to eat in a secluded portion of the restaurant. It was a measly storage room that wasn’t even used as a storage room, it was more of a dysfunctional freezer that reeked of rotting foodstuffs and sweaty aprons that haven’t been washed for days. The food didn’t even matter to Bon Bon; despite the appealing taste and beautiful presentation, the smell deterred her from eating.

“You know, this wouldn’t be happening if you made that reservation a month earlier.”

“But this restaurant just opened like almost three weeks ago!”

“Well you should have made that reservation when it opened. Come on, let’s see if we can still eat this stuff somewhere else.”

The revolting atmosphere of the room the two had eaten in made the cream pony leave in disgust, wishing that she could have made the reservation herself. At least the two were allowed to order the food to-go. They would then eat their meals in the comfort of Lyra’s home just a few blocks away. Along the way, Bon Bon chanced upon the beating wings of a pegasus flying overhead. Though it would be just another pegasus flying by, the one thing that caught her attention was the sight of bubbles on the flank, one that she knew too well. She waved her hoof for a while and went on her way.

With a ray of light in the horizon paving the way for the arrival of day, Bon Bon woke up to a beam of light hitting her face. The warmth of the sun and the bright aura are two things she wouldn’t be bothered with whenever it wakes her up. She got up, stretched her legs, ate her breakfast, and off she was to work. Despite being frequently out in the open, she works with Lyra in a candy store in the southern section of Ponyville. While most ponies would enjoy delicious confections from Sugarcube Corner, others would like a little something to pop in their mouths and not have to wait in line. That’s where Bon Bon’s candy store comes in. When ponies need a little something to eat, the cream pony’s candies are the satisfaction they need. A normal working day was generally slow. A few ponies come in to check out what’s new, buy a few pieces of candy, and leave. The shop closes early in the afternoon if nopony comes around after lunch but it would usually be open until five o’clock.

“Good morning Bon Bon! ‘Morning Lyra,” a stallion said. Two fillies came in after him and greeted the clerks the same way the first one did. Surprisingly, they were some of Bon Bon’s classmates from kindergarten and elementary school. It’s been a long time since she saw them and as always, she would return with her own greeting.

“Good morning to you all,” she replied. “Would you like to try a free sample of our mint flavored candies? They’re the talk of the town, you know?” Lyra raised an eyebrow to her fellow employee before handing out the samples.

“Don’t mind if we do. Thank you!”

The three proceeded to look around the store and possibly pick out a few things from the shelves. One thing that Bon Bon liked was a whole box of candies going off the shelf, a tell tale sign that there was good business for the day. As the trio turned their backs on the counter, one of the fillies started whispering to the other. The silence of the store made it easy for the cream colored filly hear what they were saying.

“You know, I’ve heard Bon Bon’s been hanging out with Derpy.”

“So what’s the problem with that?”

“It’s just that she hangs out with her almost all the time; they meet everyday. The more I think about it, she’s becoming more like that pegasus than what we thought she would be. She’s becoming... ditzy the more she is with her, if you know what I mean.”

What the filly heard was just disheartening. She felt an excruciating pain in her side like a spike had impaled itself into her heart. Their words were lies and she knew the truth. Bon Bon had a favorable reputation back in elementary school that made her a likeable filly. She was smart, pretty, helpful, and quite athletic, all the things that every pony wanted to be. It all changed when she opened up to a wall-eyed pegasus filly who silently sat in the corner everyday. Most ponies thought that she was mute but Bon Bon and her friend Lyra saw her differently. The two thought that she was just shy or taciturn and befriending her made the pegasus become open, revealing everything about herself, both good and bad.

Quickly dismissing the chatter as lies, the filly kept a positive outlook and just as she initially expected, the stallion did buy a box of candies. He tossed his bits on the counter and left one bit in the tip jar. Normally, tips were a thing of random chance but the stallion knows the filly behind the counter. The least he could do for an old acquaintance is to see her business continue to flourish despite slow working days.

“Lyra? Do you think something’s wrong with me? Have I changed?”

“No,” the filly replied. “Well, not really. What makes you think so?”

Looking outside the store and watching the group of three walking out into the distance, the cream pony was in deep thought before she gave her reply. “Never mind. It’s nothing.”

“Okay. If you say so.”

Lyra closed shop and walked with her friend back to her home. It wasn’t normal for Bon Bon to question herself. She was always in a positive attitude and never thought about any aspect of herself, her friendships, and her personality. Then again, Lyra remembered something she heard a long time ago about ponies having a moment of deep reflection. It didn’t happen often but when it does, it changes the way a pony thinks of himself or herself and the world around them. The mint green filly just thought of her friend undergoing that stage of life.

“Goodnight Bon Bon. See you tomorrow!” Her friend just smiled and entered her house. Lyra stared into the moon as if she was looking for an answer. It was pointless though. Her friend is the one with the problem but as much as she wanted to help, it was a hopeless cause. The unicorn went home, taking one more look at the earth pony’s house as she walked along the cobblestone streets of Ponyville.

“...Seriously, have you seen her behavior lately? You know, that Derpy should really stay away from ponies like you, Bon Bon. You’re better off without her. Besides, there are other ponies that are far more likeable than that pegasus. Take Romana for instance...” Twisting and turning, wanting to wake up from a nightmare, the cream colored earth pony hadn’t figured out why the townsponies have been acting so negatively about her. She knows she is likeable but mentioning Derpy Hooves in a conversation would turn heads and change the topic into the unlikely friends. As she continued to sleep, the more she hears things about herself, things that she believes are lies. Then, as if she was paralyzed, one of the ponies in her dream started to smack her face. The filly woke up to reality with her friend Lyra doing the same thing.

“Bon Bon! Wake up!”

The sleepy filly grunted as she got up. “What time is it?”

“Eight o’clock. You sick or something? It’s not like you to oversleep on a working day. Come on, we need to get going. You don’t want a riot outside the candy store, do you?”

“Lyra, you do realize that today is a holiday,” the filly said. “There is no need to go to work.”

The mint green unicorn facehoofed and smiled. Sometimes, she forgets even the most basic of things that the citizens of Ponyville know. Another thing that sets her apart from most ponies, she would do things a little differently from others. One instance, she was found sitting in the park in a very unlikely pose with her front legs hanging to her sides and she was upright on the bench. Bon Bon washed up and prepared for the day. She and Lyra sat down for breakfast but the filly couldn’t eat much.

“Lyra, I need to be serious with you right now.” Her friend listened close while eating her daffodil sandwich. “You know that I befriended Derpy a long time ago and we became close friends. I don’t see a problem with that but I need to ask you, is it really a problem? Being friends with her?”

“Umm... No?”

“Then why do the other ponies think otherwise? I haven’t been doing anything to cause this this misery. If they could only tell me what’s wrong, I could fix it. If they say that being friends with a wall-eyed pegasus is such a bad thing, why brand me a misfit like her? I guess it’s all about looks this time around. You hang out with a misfit, and you become a misfit.”

This time, Lyra was downright insulted at the way her friend has been talking. Losing a cheerful disposition is alright with her but questioning herself about gossip and taking it seriously is another. The filly spat out the stem of a daffodil hanging out of her mouth and swallowed hard. She slammed the table and spooked her friend back to reality. It even spilled a little bit of coffee on the tablecloth.

“This isn’t like you at all! You really need to tell me what’s bothering you or nothing will happen! Seriously, if this is all about that random gossip you’ve been hearing about, its nothing to worry about. Besides, gossip is mostly false anyway.”

“That’s just it! I’ve been trying to tell you about that and it’s affecting the way everypony looks at me!”

“Oh. Well, this is a friendship problem. I don’t know how to deal with this but I know a certain unicorn who can. She is an expert at this kind of stuff. I bet she’ll know how to help you.”

If it was somepony who had the expertise in handling friendship problems, it was Twilight Sparkle. With having written a lot of friendship reports to the princess herself, she has had a lot of experience dealing with the hardships of being in a relationship with her friends and how to overcome them. A lot of ponies come to her to seek advice from mending broken relationships to getting along with somepony who’s different. The two finished up their meals and went on their way to the library, Twilight’s abode where she resides with her trusted assistants Spike and Owloysius. Lyra and Bon Bon passed by the crowded marketplace, the only place where businesses would continue to operate and garner lots of bits. It was basically the busiest day of any pony that works the stalls from sunrise to sundown and because there were more ponies who weren’t working, it meant more income for those who were. As the two passed by, some ponies turned their attention to the duo that walked past them. Each muttered a thing or two to their companions. At first, Lyra had no idea what was going on but as she turned to her friend, she noticed Bon Bon was walking faster as if she was looking for a place to hide her face from the crowd. The green filly picked up the pace to catch up with her friend and soon enough, the brisk walk brought them to the library.

Lyra knocked on the door. There was no answer. She knocked harder, hoping to get the attention of the occupant. This time, the door swung open and Spike was there to receive the guests.

“Good morning, Spike. Is Twilight here?”

“Good morning to you too Lyra. Twilight will be with you in a while. Come inside.”

As usual, the interior of the library was in tip-top shape but it was something to be short lived. Due to Twilight’s insatiable hunger for knowledge, the place would become a disaster. Books of all categories were organized into their alphabetical order and not one was out of place. Owloysius stood on his perch nearby and slept the morning away. Typical of Twilight, she brushed her mane until each strand has settled in its place, usually taking about a few minutes or so. If desperate, she would resort to using a spell that will hold her hair in place until the day is over. The lavender unicorn marched down the stairs and caught sight of her guests.

“Good morning Lyra and Bon Bon. What brings you here?”

“Well Twilight, I am not the one looking for help with a problem. You see, Bon Bon’s been having some trouble with dealing with the townsponies about her friendship with Derpy. I think you might be able to help her.”

“I will certainly try my best, Lyra.” The two fillies joined the unicorn to one side of the room to discuss possible solutions to the problem. “Alright Bon Bon, have a seat. Now tell me, what’s been bothering you lately?”

“It all began when I was in elementary school. I was the filly that every pony in class wanted to be. This changed when I opened up to Derpy. I don’t find it wrong to befriend other ponies that looked different but I guess I was wrong. Ever since then, I’ve had this feeling that other ponies would talk dirty things behind my back whenever Derpy was the topic of the conversation. A few days ago, I overheard some of my former classmates talk negatively about me because I hang out with the pegasus. The gossip quickly spread throughout the town and soon, everypony just thought of me differently. They even started calling me ditzy when I almost tripped on the street. I don’t know how to deal with this. Could such an innocent relationship really give negative feedback about myself? Am I doing something wrong?”

“Hmm... It’s nothing I’ve ever encountered before. Wait right here. I will check my records and see if there is anything I can find about the matter.”

Twilight rushed to her notepad containing records of her past clients and their respective dilemmas. Though the unicorn has received many visits from various ponies in Ponyville, their problems were simple enough to solve based on what she has learned through her own experiences with her friends. Searching through her list, she couldn’t find a similar problem and left the unicorn scratching her head. Despite having learned about the magic of friendship, there was a lot more for her to learn and although it is nice to learn something new from the citizens of Ponyville every now and then, this one particular case has baffled even the expert in dealing with such problems. Twilight returned to Bon Bon with the news.

“I’m sorry but I’ve never encountered such a case in my experiences dealing with friendship problems. I will certainly try my best to help you. So, befriending Derpy has caused problems for you and now ponies are staying away from you just because you’re her friend?”

“Yeah,” Bon Bon replied. “I guess you could say that.”

“I don’t know how to tell you this but I really have no idea how to deal with this kind of problem but it’s nothing I’ve ever encountered with my past clients. If you want my opinion, it’s something you wouldn’t really like. It is really up to you to decide what path this friendship has to take. You can continue to deal with the humiliation but retain a close bond with Derpy, or you can choose to prioritize your pride and end your friendship. This is a really tough decision to make because you have to think about your friend as well as yourself. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to give you a straight answer.”

“It’s alright, Twilight. I may not have the answer with me right now but what you’ve told me could help clear things up. I just hope I make the right decision. Thank you kindly for your time.”

Bon Bon left the library with Lyra as the lavender unicorn watched from the corner. Being helpful is the best that Twilight could offer to anypony in need but on that day, she realized that some problems can’t be solved by another pony. Only the one seeking answers has to find those answers and not every pony would react the same way. Most would choose to end the relationship and save their pride and self esteem instead of choosing to undergo much hardship for something thought to be innocent. Bon Bon on the other hand has cherished a friendship much like holding on to something of sentimental value. Every last one of her friends is important and although she tries to keep things steady with them, the involvement of the gray pegasus in her life has had a different effect on their relationships. One by one, Bon Bon’s friends started abandoning her until the only ponies that ever come to her are Lyra, Sparkler, Berry Punch, Dinky, The Doctor, and Derpy herself. An unbearable pain of carrying the burden of a problem with an answer that is difficult to find and harder to execute lingered in the mind of the cream coated filly. She continued to wander the streets with everypony locking their gazes at her and firing a barrage of insults that only they could hear. A tear rolled down her face and as she reached her home; she locked to door in front of her friend Lyra, bidding her a silent goodbye for the day. Whilst inside the privacy of her own room, she started to think really hard about her predicament and soon, she started to hear herself talk, questioning the very reason behind her actions for the past number of years and voicing out her mindset completely contradicting those of the townsponies. The sound of her voice left her surroundings devoid of the eerie silence that once occupied her quarters.

“What have I done to offend them? Was it because of Derpy that I have become the target of insults and slander? Do I even deserve this kind of punishment? I see no problem with befriending the outcast of society and I have no quarrel with that notion. They too need a chance to experience the beauty that life has to offer them the way a normal pony is graced with. But with all the changes in perception this community has seen throughout the past, I guess looks work like first impressions. Fail to give a positive outlook and one is branded as a deviant with no chance of redemption. The impression stays in the minds of others and no matter how much one wishes to change, there is no hope for such. Maybe it is because of the way I think of others that differs so much from the norm. I see others for what they can be and not what they are. It is true that we can’t be born perfect mares or stallions but that doesn’t mean that there is good within each of us. I seek to harness the best in each of my companions in all that they do and that includes those like Derpy Hooves. There are those that stand in the face of this adversity and are willing to make the sacrifices necessary to see the outcast through this storm of sorrows, even if those with the kindest and purest intentions at heart are branded deviants themselves. I guess those kinds of ponies are a rare thing in this world today, almost extinct to be exact. For as long as I can remember, my mind was torn between polar opposites both yielding consequences that I hope that I wouldn’t have to face. Now my heart bleeds for clarity, yearning for even the slightest glimpse of silver lining that can show me through this thick layer of dark clouds that there is still a chance for salvation from this twisted perception of deviants. What happened to the lesson of not judging a book by its cover? Has it been forgotten or was it never learned at all? I pray from the deepest depths of my heart that I can find a way to solve this problem and if I must, then I shall die a deviant to the outside world to prove to them that someone different is not all that they perceive them to be. The only problem now is if I am really willing to stand up for what I believe in. I’m just so confused...”

She felt the coolness of the wind through her open window blow past her mane and the plush, soft pillow under her face. The more she thought to herself, the more she cried her heart out, wishing for things to be different. Everyday was another chance for the townsponies to throw their hurtful words at their intended victim and it was another day of suffering the hatred that she had no intention to follow through with. It was an inescapable fate that the filly has placed herself in; her image was destroyed the moment she walked up to the gray pegasus and opened herself to her. She remembered the smile on her new found friend’s face as it brought a smile to hers. The two became almost inseparable, sharing their thoughts and dreams almost all the time. Then things began to change. That was when the first wave of slanderous claims and gossip began to rise. At first, they were subtle but as time went on, the constant chit-chat of the ponies who wanted to ruin Bon Bon’s reputation increased. Soon after, Bon Bon’s friends began to leave until only those who remained loyal to her are the only ones left. There was no resolve for her internal conflict despite trying her hardest to mend her image by making new friends. The earth pony got up and washed her face, ate her lunch and slept the day away, still wishing that things could be different and hopefully, turn out for the better.

Earlier that day, Derpy was out and about with her daughters in the fields outside Ponyville. Her husband was out of town for a few days because of important business matters and was expected to come home the following day. As Sparkler and Dinky ran around in the open without a care in the world, their mother lay down on the bed of grass and as her eyes watched the slow and steady motion of the clouds above her, she began to reminisce all the times she spent with some close friends and as a filly in elementary school. However, one memory stood out from the others, one that haunted her for a very long time. There was a feeling of anguish as she remembered the time when she was picked on by the school bully because of her eyes. It was that same bully that teased the pegasus about her clumsy nature. It wasn’t something natural of the pegasus filly but the more she was picked on, she became less aware of what happened around her, causing mishaps. The severity of her situation had somehow created a habit of being ditzy, which made the insults more relentless than ever.

A strange feeling of concern grew within the filly, a feeling of guilt. She had never experienced such a feeling before but she knew it had something to do with her friend Bon Bon. As much as she tried to ignore it, she was compelled to find a way to fix it. While most ponies think that Derpy wasn’t capable of many things, she proved them wrong time and time again. She, together with Dr. Whooves, raised a family together and she even has a job. The first pony the pegasus thought of approaching was Twilight Sparkle, the friendship expert.

Twilight was walking along the edge of the Everfree Forest when the gray pegasus found her. No introduction was needed as the the shadowy silhouette cast a blanket of darkness on the unicorn. Derpy landed to greet the pony on the ground.

“Hey Twilight! Can I talk to you? It’s really important.”

“Sure Derpy! I am on the way to lunch right now. You want to join me?”

The two sat at the local cafe for a quick bite but it wasn’t going to be as quick as Twilight perceived it to be. Overburdened with carrying her deepest feelings, Derpy spilled out her heart’s content for the unicorn to hear.

“Twilight, I don’t know if Bon Bon has approached you anytime within the past day but I want to tell you everything you need to know if she ever comes to you about what I’m going to say.”

“Go on,” the filly replied.

“I have this feeling that I am to blame for her problems. I was and still am being picked on, insulted, or rejected by other ponies because of what I look like. Other ponies get the idea that once they look at me, they think that I’m stupid and clumsy. I understand that my eyes tell a story that I’m afraid to tell myself to others but I didn’t want my friend to suffer the kind of injustice that I was meant to suffer. Is there a way to fix this? I want the best for my friend but I find it impossible to think of a way out of this problem.

“Derpy, Bon Bon already came to me and it’s not your fault that this is happening. Friendships are supposed be meaningful relationships and Bon Bon exemplifies a lesson I learned a while back. Before my friends and I met Zecora, we all thought of her to be evil but she was just misunderstood. The bottom line is: don’t judge a book, or a pony, just by their appearance. It’s different this time, the townsponies can’t seem to get this idea straight into their heads. I would suggest talking with your friend over this because this is a very difficult problem to solve, even for me and the choice is really up to you.

Both the unicorn and the pegasus finished up on their meals and went their separate ways. Derpy thanked Twilight for her help and proceeded to see a pony that came to her mind.

A knock on the door. Lyra’s image flashed before the blackness that could be seen before her closed eyelids. Derpy’s face then took its place. Was it a scam to get Bon Bon out in the open for more humiliation? There was only one way to find out.

Approaching the door, there was an eerie silence that followed. The peep hole mounted on the door was the eye to the outside world and most would ignore its presence. As the filly looked outside, the sight of relief got the best of her. The only pony that would ever look into the peep hole would be one that was curious, typical of Derpy. The door swung open and the pegasus looked at her friend with a saccharine smile, another aspect of the pegasus that always made sadness go away.

“Hiya Bon Bon! Wanna grab something to eat?”

The earth pony hesitated for a second before giving her reply. “Um, yeah but let’s do it somewhere secluded. I have been having some problems with showing myself in public. How about we get something from the candy store? I think Lyra’s doing fine running the store by herself but I need to be sure she isn’t doing something she isn’t supposed to.”

“Okay!”

Ever since the harrowing experiences of having been scorned and verbally abused, Bon Bon hasn’t been quite the same. Despite doing her best to keep a straight face, she seemed that the world was against her, watching her, waiting for the right time to strike. She could only hang on to the company of her closest friends and yet they sometimes try to back away, fearing that they too will be in the same situation as the filly. The earth pony and the pegasus moved through the town’s narrow, complex network of tunnels and alleyways until they arrived at the candy store. As expected, Lyra was behind the counter and doing everything by the book. Bon Bon and Derpy moved into the store and was greeted by the green filly as the front bell rang.

“Hey there Bon Bon! Nice to see you up and about! Hi Derpy!”

“Hi Lyra. I just stopped by to get something for us to eat. You can join us if you want. Don’t worry, I’ll grab some of food from the storeroom.”

The filly went to the back room and looked through boxes and crates filled to the brim with candies of all varieties. Jawbreakers, caramel toffee, black licorice laces, and a little bit of comfort food courtesy of Lyra’s cooking were the order of the day. Derpy didn’t really care much about what she was about to consume. Although being picky about muffins, she wouldn’t mind eating other kinds of food as long as it satisfied her. Grabbing what seemed like an entire box loaded with sweets and other delicacies, Bon Bon invited her friends into the backroom and dined with them. Each was satisfied with the little banquet as they dined in a slow but very relaxing pace. Derpy struck up a conversation regarding her life at home and with her children. Lyra and Bon Bon then told their own stories and soon enough, the three were catching up on all the time that has passed them by.

The green unicorn filly offered to clean up after the meal. Bon Bon and Derpy were just about to leave the store when a group of pegasi led by Cloudkicker and Cloudchaser entered. Word around Ponyville spread so fast that even the pegasi of Cloudsdale are as well-informed as the earth ponies. It was only natural that the posse that arrived knew about Bon Bon’s relations with Derpy. The earth pony bumped into one of the sisters as they opened the door.

“Hey Bon Bon! Feeling a little clumsy today? You better watch where you’re going!”

Cloudkicker pushed the earth pony aside, slamming her into one of the racks filled with boxes of unopened candies. Cloudchaser and two other pegasi grabbed the helpless filly and pushed her to the opposite end to the store destroying a candy jar and a few other glass cases filled with sweets.

“Oops! My bad,” one of the group said. “Oh wait, NOT!”

“You better clean that up, Bon Bon! Nopony isn’t going to do that for you,” added another.

One of the pegasi in the posse had with her a muffin. She offered it to the pegasus but as it was within reaching distance, she shoved the treat into Derpy's face. "Hopefully this muffin will fix your face for good, Derpy! Hahaha! See ya around losers!"

As the group left, they moved Derpy and Lyra aside and looted the store of whatever is left. To add more insult to injury, some of the rowdier members of the group, including one ripped pegasus named Snowflake, broke whatever fragile materials were left on the counter and took the jar that held tips. It wasn’t much but every bit within the vessel wasn’t spared. In the end, the whole store was ransacked. Nothing inside could be salvaged save for some kitchen appliances that no longer served any purpose. The cream filly got up and looked left and right. Her whole livelihood, destroyed before her eyes. It was a staple that was meager but sufficient. Now, nothing is left. A heavy feeling struck swift and hard; Lyra and Derpy had no knowledge of what bothered their friend so much but once the attack ended, they had fully grasped the horrors of what their friend experienced for a long period of time. Feeling responsible for her friend’s misfortune, Derpy ran out of the store and flew back home. Bon Bon just stared at broken glass panes and perfectly crafted candies now wasted on the floor as Lyra picked up the pieces and began to clean up. She offered to clean the whole store for her friend but even with a favor like that, nothing can cheer up the distressed earth pony.

A tear rolled down her cheek as she lay down on the ground. “I’m finished! My life, my livelihood, my dignity, ruined! There is absolutely nothing left for me here. What have I left to live for when everything that I worked for is taken away from me? I am a victim of a crime that I never intended to exist but now, I guess it is a felony to be amongst the outcast. When one is branded, one is an outcast. I had done nothing to deserve this but what has happened can’t be changed. I don’t know what to do.”

“Things are going to turn out for the better Bon Bon. Trust me. Even if I seem a little different from others, I don’t really mind. It makes me feel different from other ponies; it gives me a sense of individuality.”

“This is different Lyra. What does it matter to me if I am different but unable to express it freely? Derpy doesn’t pose a lot of problems to other ponies but when I am being talked about, this happens! This world has become so uncaring and intolerable to the strange and bizarre that I am losing faith in the good that it is capable of showing. Perhaps I should have listened to Twilight and thought of this sooner.”

“And that would be?”

“To leave Derpy. Forever.”

The earth pony arrived in her home. Many ponies had heard of the incident that transpired in the south and kept it to themselves. With Bon Bon passing by, no insults were thrown, no scornful badmouthing happened, a sense of relief for the filly who had went through so much in so little time. As she entered her room, she sat by the window and thought long and hard into the night. Now deliberating between two difficult choices. It was the kind of decision that left her without an answer for days on end. The darkness of the night enveloped the room and only the flame within the small tinderbox on the table provided warmth and light to both the room and the filly. It was with the deepest sorrow that Bon Bon had begun to take action. Sore from the day’s events, it may be best that she should have considered one of Twilight Sparkle’s options to deal with the problem however, it was difficult to leave a friend who has been so close and supportive every step of the way. Considering how badly she was treated throughout the past few days, she also thought about herself and what she could do. In her best interests, it was high time that the distressed earth pony should consider her own future too. And it was so that the night passed silently and while many ponies slept soundly in their beds and tucked snugly under the covers, one remained up, determined to solve her dilemma once and for all.

A soft knock was heard in the door of the Whooves residence. Nopony was up early in the morning aside from a little foal named Dinky, who thought of making breakfast for her dad when he comes home. She opened the door to find that there was nopony around the front step, only a letter addressed to her mother.

“Mom! There’s a letter here for you!”

The pegasus went down the stairs to meet her daughter with an envelope in her mouth. She returned to her room to inspect its contents. Upon first examination, the envelope only had the pegasus’ name on it. The letter inside was short and concise, only bearing requests for the pegasus filly.

Meet me in the park. Come alone

• Bon Bon

The pegasus left the house as instructed as if her life depended on it and failed to leave instructions for her daughters Sparkler and Dinky. It was early in the morning and almost nopony was wandering the streets. There were those that woke up early to set up their stalls in the market for the day ahead but other than that, Ponyville was a ghost town. As expected, the park too was abandoned and empty. In the corner of the field just next to a bench stood her friend Bon Bon.

“Bon Bon? I’m here. What’s this all about?”

The earth pony turned around and walked with a sluggish pace. “Derpy. I guess you know what has been going on with me for the past few days. You may have only experienced the most severe case I’ve gone through but it’s already enough to help you understand my situation. Our friendship has yielded more uncalled side effects to my pride. The other ponies think that I shouldn’t be hanging around with you, that I am better off without you. Because I grew close to you, I’ve been insulted and bullied by other ponies and now there is nothing more for me here.”

“No Bon Bon,” the pegasus replied with her hoof on her friend’s back. “We can fix this. There is still something for you here in Ponyville.”

“What is left for me now? You are a lucky filly, Derpy. You have a loving husband and two beautiful children. You have a home to call your own and a happy life. You have a job that can support your family. I on the other hand have nothing. My livelihood, my pride, my dignity, most of my other friends, there is nothing left for me to live for now. Other than you, Lyra is the only pony here who can help me carry on. This is too much for me to bear but I guess what I’m trying to say is: goodbye. I think it would be best if we don’t see each other anymore. For both of us.”

Derpy felt her chest constrict with a great force. The earth pony and the pegasus hugged each other and cried on each other’s shoulders. Derpy couldn’t believe the rapid turn of events. The gravity of her friend’s sorrow affected her too; she felt that she caused all this misfortune to happen to her closest friend.

“I’m sorry,” Bon Bon said as she let go of her friend. “I wish things could turn out better. I’ve always wished that we could live the good life, have a family to call our own, and experience all of life’s pleasures. Now, only one of us has achieved that. I may have sacrificed my own life to make yours better and that brought about a consequence that I must live with. Don’t feel sorry for me, this is all my doing and I have no regrets because I was able to help out a friend in need. Now I must bear with the effects of my sin and neglect alone.”

“So, where will you go?”

“I don’t know. Hopefully somewhere I can start with a clean slate, a place where I am a nopony. With luck, I can live on my own and work without the distractions of having to deal with scorn and hate. Prejudice is one thing that I cannot change now that my image is distorted but the only thing that I am looking forward to would be to start anew. I am unsure about what lies ahead but I must face it whether I want to or not.”

The two walked towards the train station without saying a word. The silence of the early morn at the peak of the crepuscular hours still kept the town in their beds but the train conductor’s whistle broke that tranquil silence. A thick fog rolled in and clouded the movements of the pegasus and the earth pony. Once the two reached the platform, Lyra stood at the corner and greeted the two. Nopony else was around other than the conductor.

“Well, I guess this is it,” said the earth pony

“Will we still be able to see you?”

“I doubt it. I don’t know where this new path will take me and I don’t think we will ever meet again. It may be for the best for all of us.” The three friends hugged each other one last time. Bon Bon clutched her friends tight, savoring the ephemeral feeling. She will never again feel the warmth and joy of being in the company of her closest friends.

“I’ll never forget you, Bon Bon,” Lyra said, wiping a tear from her eye.

"We'll miss you," the gray pegasus added.

“I’ll always remember you Lyra. You too Derpy. Thank you both for everything. No matter where we'll be from here on, we'll always be friends to the end.” Boarding the train, the earth pony waved her hoof high into the air before disappearing into the carriage.

As the train roared to life, the sole occupant of the train sat quietly in the front with the conductor following close behind. The doors closed and the train left the station heading to its next destination. Uncertainty clouded the devastated minds of Lyra and Derpy. Without Bon Bon around, their lives will never be the same. The store wouldn’t have the one pony that envisioned a bright future for the business. The pony that the wall-eyed pegasus had looked up to and gave her a chance at a life filled with all its beauty is gone. The earth pony that gave the citizens of Ponyville a place where small, bite sized delights can be bought at reasonable prices and made everypony’s day a sweeter one no longer remained. As Princess Celestia’s sun rose high into the sky, nothing more can be done as the two ponies watched the train leave, disappearing into the horizon.