It took me a few months to get over the shock of Lyra’s book. Lyra helped me deal with it, of course, but I couldn’t help seeing things differently. Whenever one of the elements came by my shop for sweets or just a hello, I couldn’t help but feel strained at the reminder of the book. That first month was the worst; if I even saw Twilight, I would freeze up, and Lyra would have to drag me home.

Over time, I was able to keep my emotions in check; in three months, I was able to hold an entire conversation with Pinkie Pie about pie crusts without even remembering Lyra’s book. It still haunts me in the quiet of the night, even today, but I got better.

Despite these emotions, I think that Lyra took the best course of action when she showed me the book. It would have come up sooner or later, and I don’t want to think of how I would have lived with this knowledge while also feeling betrayed. This way, Lyra and I grew closer instead. We had many long discussions about how and why the book was made, but we mostly stuck to Lyra’s original hypothesis. By the end of the second month, we were inseparable.

That’s mostly what I remember of those four months. I don’t think they would be so blurry if our trials during Cadence’s wedding weren’t so vivid, but they were, and they started with a note.

Dear Bon Bon,

Did you know that there’s a wedding going on in Canterlot tomorrow? Well, there is, and I was chosen to be a flower girl there! I’m sorry to leave unannounced, but I needed to go as soon as possible! See you soon, Bonnie!

With love,

Lyra Heartstrings

This letter was already suspicious. It was very short and vague, for one, and Lyra would wake me up if she had to go somewhere. The part that really got my attention was the nickname. “Bonnie.” Lyra knows I hate being called that, so I immediately started to pack for Canterlot (She was there; the letter was in her hornwriting and I was taught how hostage situations work.).

The first thing I did was retrieve Lyra’s book, still under her bed. I could use it to get to her more easily; I could say she forgot it, and I was giving it to her. After a quick pack of necessities, I bought the next ticket to Canterlot and worried the whole train ride.

Is she okay? Is she hurt? Maybe I should have brought a weapon, just in case. Could this be a misinterpretation? Probably not, but maybe I shouldn’t bring a weapon into the castle. Yeah, I’ll do fine, I’ll just scout and see how I can save her. I’m going to save her.

What if this is what makes us the subjects of that sketch?

The room started wavering, feeling too closed and open all at once. Darkness crept into the edges of my vision. I was glad I was sitting down; I don’t think I could handle this standing up. I was so worried that this would be an end to something. I was hyperventilating. I almost passed out, teetering on the edge of consciousness. But somehow, I pulled through. And I was more determined to save Lyra than ever.

The train pulled up to Canterlot Station, slowing down as I became more anxious to get off and run for the castle. After a brief thanks to the steward after the train came to a complete stop, I sped off the train and down the main road. That was when I realized that a forcefield was put up around the city. This might have been bigger than I had thought. Nevertheless, I continued to rush to the castle, taking care to avoid the passerby.

When I came to the palace, I slammed open the door to an unexpected scene. Decorations were put up all around the hall, like at one of Pinkie’s infamous parties. I guess there was a wedding after all. In fact, I think I see Pinkie now, pouring over a blueprint. I can’t trust her; she might be another pony in disguise or something else, but she is my best lead to Lyra. “Hi Pinkie,” I approached her, out of breath.

“Oh, hi Bon Bon!” Pinkie responded, always in her chipper mood. “I didn’t know you were invited to the wedding! Like, me and my friends were invited, but that was because we saved Equestria and are good at parties. You know, I’m doing the Funtastic Festivities™ for the reception, Rainbow’s doing the Awesome Aerial Show™-”

“That’s great Pinkie, but do you know where Lyra is?!” I probably would have listened, but I was pretty anxious to see where Lyra was and save her.

“Lyra? She’s one of the Fantastic Flower Girls™, and she’s upstairs in the guest room on the right. She’s with Princess Cadenza Mi Amore. You should meet the princess, she’s-”

“Thanks! I’ll get-”

“Hey, wait a second. Why are you so excited to see Lyra?”

“Oh, I need to give her this… b-book.” I had to struggle at the end of my excuse. I really didn’t need a reminder of that book, especially with an element (or somepony disguised as an element) in the same room. It only served to kindle my fears that Lyra’s capture could lead to something truly terrible. But I had to stay strong for Lyra.

“Well, good luck on getting that b-book to Lyra! You know what, I could bring some b-books to the reception for ponies like Twilight. Not just books, but b-books!”

Not wanting to reveal my nerves any more, I hurried up the stairs and found the guest room to the right. When I got to the door, I decided to slow down and open the door carefully, as to not reveal myself immediately.

It turns out that if a pony is actually leaning on the door, that point is pretty much moot.

“Oh! Hello there, how can I help… Bon Bon?!”

“Lyra?! I mean, hi Lyra, how you doing?” Well, I wasn’t expecting Lyra to be at the door. I thought she would be tied up somewhere, and I would have to find her a way out. Well, I guess my job is easier if she isn’t incapacitated.

“Bon Bon, um, what are you doing here? I gave you the letter, right? I’m okay, you don’t need to worry.”

I actually started to doubt myself here. Was this just a misunderstanding? Did Lyra actually want to be a flower girl for this wedding? This might just be an overreaction on my part.

“I guess I just wanted to check on you, see if you were all right,” I responded sincerely.

Lyra stood still for a second. “Well, that’s alright.” She leaned in to give me a hug. “I’m sorry you can’t attend the wedding, but I’ll be home as soon as I can.” We hugged for a long while, just enjoying each other’s presence and thinking that everything was fine; there was no danger.

Lyra pulled out of the hug. “By the way, what’s the book for? I don’t think I’ve seen a book like that… ever.”

I froze.

Something wasn’t right.

Lyra had been holding on to this book for years. Hay, even if she hadn’t, the last four months of my anxiety would have cemented the book into her memory. I can’t even count how many times we sat down and talked about the book.

This wasn’t Lyra.

I backed off, now assured that something much bigger than I had thought was going on. “So, yeah, I guess I’ll be heading back to Ponyville, bye Lyra-”

“Oh hello!” A new pony had entered the hallway, bright pink in color. I knew that it must be that princess that Pinkie(?) had mentioned. “I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Princess Cadenza Mi Amore, and you are?”

“I’m, um, Bon Bon, a friend of Lyra’s.”

“Well, nice to meet you! I’m sorry that you can’t attend the wedding, but I’ll be sure to wish you well later!”

“Yeah, thanks. I was just going, I wanted to see Lyra, but she’s fine, so I guess I’m good.”

“Well, see you later!” Now terrified, I started to walk slowly down the stairs. As I walked, I heard Lyra close the door, and the princess mutter something that completely broke me, to the point of falling down the stairs and fainting.

“Ugh, not another pony on my case. I swear, I could kill that Wylder kid.”

Someone’s in the hall. No it must be a dream. They’ve been there a while. Well it’s not as it seems. The crystals all around you- Yeah, stop judging me for that. They hold the Princess Cadence. Stop being such a gnat.

That’s what I heard; while I was unconscious. It was meaningless at the time, but when I came to, during the Changeling invasion, those words took on a whole new meaning. But I must end my story here for now. Tomorrow I might feel better, but tonight- I’m not up to telling the story of Chrysalis and Alex Wylder. For now, I wanted to recount a vivid dream Lyra described to me. The dream happened when Lyra was under Chrysalis’s control, and it bears… correlations to mine when I learned about the book.

Author's Note

Hooray, a new chapter! First off, I wanted to thank everyone who has read this fic. Next, I wanted to address the weirdness of the last chapter, so I retconned in a connection that I hope is satisfactory until the actual reveal. Finally, if that bold part is confusing, I tried to make some lines with a sort of rhythmic flow. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter!