Intermission: Behind the scenes

A few hours back

Cloudsdale: Wonderbolt academy

The coffee maker had just finished its buzzing. Soaring, licking his lips, filled for himself a generous mug. An enticing fumet was emanating from the black liquid. The wonderbolt took a careful sip since it was still piping hot and once he drank it, a smile formed on his lips.

‘’Aaaah, that hit the spot. Nothing's better than a nice cup after quite a day.’’

‘’Oh! Then would you not mind leaving me some? Celestia know I need some.’’

Fleetfoot, in her blue uniform, came through the doorway while using her wing to wipe the sweat off of her white mane. Soaring politely invited her at his side.

‘’Come serve yourself, there is enough for everypony. Want me to make your cup.’’

‘’Appreciate.’’

So he did fill it, put it two creams and no sugar, since he knew her enough to not even have the need to ask, and gave it to his partner. Both pegasi, holding the cups with the tip of their wings, clung their respective mugs against each other and took a long, delicious sips and in perfect synchronicity, sighed in delight.

‘’Aaaah, how nice. You were right Soaring, nothing can beat a nice coffee break.’’

‘’Yeah. It sure was quite a day.’’

‘’Quite so. I was sure it would have been fun to be the one screaming orders to the newbies this time. But it's harder than you think. Have to command it to Spitfire. Speaking of her, you have seen her recently at the hospital. How she is?’’

‘’What do you think, she's unkillable. Already, she was walking out of bed even against the protestations of the doctors. So if you want my opinion, I'm sure we will see her at tomorrow morning. Top. You know she'd been in worse accidents like the time//

‘’Yea yea, I know. Been in a full body cast, drinking from a straw. I know the whole serenade by heart. But even that accident was not that severe, it was still... humiliating.’’

‘’See what you mean. Good thing she does not fully remember because if not... yikes. I would not like to be at the place of those poor youngsters.’’

‘’Regardless, we will have to prepare ourselves to see her in a foul mood tomorrow. Especially when she will learn about this little problem.’’

Fleetfoot us the tip feather of her wing to point towards the window behind the coffee table. Beyond the window, there was in full display the dormitory of the wonderbolts. That nice little building, made of solid clouds, that for a lot of cadets, was quite a cozy place after a grueling day of training.

Both pegasi were looking at it with slight annoyance.

‘’I hear you Footy. Such a shame that we are forbidden to enter it. Already that it was a hard day, now we can't even relax at our usual spot.’’

‘’You know, I had heard that some of today maintainers were not pegasi, well, actually, they were not even ponies but instead... weird... creatures with gray furs.’’

‘’They are call Diamond Dogs. And I know. I had met one.’’

‘’Really! How it was?’’

‘’It was quite something, I tell you. It was even him that had told me about the infestation.’’

|***|

So as you know, it had been quite a day. Hours of track courses, wings push-ups, intense acrobatics. The whole package. I wanted to go to the dorm and catch up some well deserve zzs. Hey don't look at me like that. It would have been a quick nap, I swear. So, as I was about to open the door, it opened itself and from it came quite a surprise.

It was the first time in my life that I saw a Diamond Dog. Good thing he wasn't that big or I may have been intimidated. But still, I was surprised and did not know how to react. I think him too was not quite at ease seeing me. He had difficulty looking me in the eyes. However, I wanted to be cordial to that newcomer.

‘’Hey there, youuu, hum, what are you exactly?’’

Yes, I know. 'What are you exactly'! That was not very smooth.

‘’Huh! Hum, I'm... I am a Diamond Dog. The usual team of maintenance was lacking some members so they hire me and another one like me in advance for the day for additional help. I am a sort of jack-of-all-trade if you catch what I mean.’’

‘’Ahhh. I see, I see. Well... sorry if I offend you.’’

‘’That's fine, you didn't mean it, I'm used to it. Anyway, I just finished cleaning the dormitory, I will take my leave.’’

‘’Ah. Well, thank you for a job well done then.’’

He went away and I was about to enter but then, I felt his paw on my shoulder.

‘’Hey wo, wait a sec. You are about to go inside?’’

‘’Huh! Well, that was the idea, I was going to take a rest.’’

‘’You cannot enter! Hum, sorry, it's more like it will be best if you don't enter, at least until tomorrow.’’

‘’But why?’’

‘’Maybe I am worrying for nothing but I have bad feeling.’’

‘’What was that?’’

‘’Huh! No, what I mean is, you can't enter because, hummm, there'ssss an innnfestation, yes an infestation of... of... virulent and nasty clouds fleas.’’

‘’What, seriously!’’

‘’Yeah. Those are a kind of special bug thriving in clouds. That's why they also love to digs into cloud buildings as if they were termites and crawl on everything that came with contact. Especially pegasi flesh, oh yes, they also love to jump on ponies fur and making it their home. I just found those fleas during the cleaning and that why I forbid the access until we fully exterminate those pests.’’

‘’Oh my! Oh my! Then, could you just leave me a few minutes the time I grab my belongings.’’

‘’HEY HEY HEY, WHAT DID I JUST SAY. You can't go in there. Your belongings are already infected anyway.’’

‘’But//

‘’Hey who is the expert? Are you the expert? No, I'm the expert. You want those critters causing you horrible itching for days and them proliferating into your house?’’

‘’Oh dear Celestia no! My apartment has already enough vermin like that.’’

‘’You what!’’

‘’Hum I mean, that would be bad.’’

‘’And that why you, nor anypony else, must not enter, oh you know what, better I make that loud and clear.’’

He took from his pocket a big white card and a marker pen and scribbled on it with a vengeance. It was so fast I even thought he wrote on both sides. Then, he went towards the doors, took a rope from once again, his pockets, what he was doing with so much stuffs in his pockets anyway, and with a quick efficient that was making me impress, he tied up the two extremities and the rope became a makeshift barricade with the white card tied up in the middle, serving as a warning sign.

‘’There. This place is officially in quarantine until next order. Understood?’’

He took a ferocious air and I couldn't help but take a few steps back. Again, if he was not so little, I would have the scare of my life.

‘’Hum, ye, yes, sir.’’

‘’Good. Now I must go, I have a next important job at Happy, I mean, at another town, I have no time to rest. I will warn the... superiors for that they send exterminators to deal with this.’’

‘’Hum... thanks you.’’

He readjusted his cap and went his way without even looking at me.

‘’I'm sorry.’’

I am not sure on that point but think I heard him whispering that he is sorry. I probably heard him wrong. I don't think there was anything to apologize, it was not his fault. And when I turned back, he was already gone.

**|**

‘’And that's that. That was all an encounter. I am still weirded out by it.’’

‘’Ah, so he was the one responsible for that sign. Guess I should thank him, I could have got those fleas. But it is still annoying as hay.’’

|***|

Training those cadets had been intensive and I had worked quite a sweat. And to make matters worse, I had to waste another hour because somepony counted wrong in our inventory of anti-riot canes and it's to me we come to fix that blunder. Damn bureaucracy I tell you. And so that mean I was stuck with a sweaty uniform for all that time. So naturally, I wanted to go to the dorm to find a new uniform to change into. You can imagine my surprise when I saw that barricade forbidden me to enter and that sign. I took that sign on my hoof. It was written:

This dorm is infested with cloud fleas. It is forbidden to enter.

‘’... ... No but do they really think that I will bear that sticky uniform much longer just because I am scared of a few fleas? In their dreams.’’

I turned around the sign.

And especially to you.

What was written on the verso in bold letters written with violence. There was even the drawing of an angry dog face on the corner.

‘’... *gulp*’’

I know it's stupid but... I felt a chill and I was looking around nervously to make sure that nopony was watching me. I nervously giggled and decided it would be best if I stayed away from those dorms.

**|**

‘’Pffft. Bwahaha. You got scared by something like that! It's so funny.’’

‘’I suppose it is. But I must say, this is the first I ever heard about those cloud fleas. Did you Soaring?’’

‘’Can't say I have. But if he said it, it must be true. Why would he lie?’’

‘’Regardless, where we will sleep tonight? On the floor?’’

‘’Bah, I am sure we could make some makeshift beds without prob.’’

‘’It sure was quite a day.’’

‘’Be positive, Fleetfoot. Think that at the very least, this day can't possibly get any worse.’’

‘’Amen to that.’’

They both cling their mugs in agreement and then

The dorm exploded in a fiery blast with a cry that could tear apart ear-drums. The shockwave made rattle the window displaying that explosion to the wonderbolts.

Both pegasi, in their shock, dropped their mugs which shattered on impact, spilled their hot contents on the wonderbolts legs though it's not sure if they felt it. Their mouths were wide open and all they could do was staring at that huge bonfire that was burning so fiercely that even from there, it was bathing their consternated faces in red. Embers were dancing on the outside air like fireflies.

After a moment of silence and stillness, Soaring turned his head towards Fleetfoot in panic.

‘’Our stuffs!’’

Fleetfoot, her, turned her head slowly towards Soaring, making a grimace that seem to silently say a ''are you serious''.

‘’Now that's quite a nice 'welcome back' party. Guess I took the right decision not to listen the doctors and come back sooner.’’

A newcomer had entered the conversation and both wonderbolts turned back to see who it was. If at first they were scared, now they had become terrified. You could not notice it because of their uniform but underneath, their already pale colors were as white as a ghost. Before them, wearing sunglasses and a lot of bandages, was none other than their chief, Spitfire. Looking rather composed. But they knew her well enough to know this is a bad sign.

‘’So, let me get this straight. I absent myself for, one, day, and this is what happens?’’

With her wing, she grabbed and snatched away her sunglasses.

‘’Alright, so tell me. Which of your heads I must make roll on the floor?’’

Just a little longer after

Somewhere in Ponyville

On the road of Ponyville, under the turbulent sky, an earth pony of cream color with blue and pink mane was galloping so fast that her hair was now a disheveled mess. She had just sent important messages troughs her special contacts. Now, she wanted to find back Lyra to know how her errand turned out. She was going in the direction of the Friendship Castle to find her on the way and that she did. Lyra appeared from an intersection and Bon Bon was on the way to enter into collision with her.

‘’Hey Lyra, watch out, watch out!’’

It was said too late though and they crashed into one other, making both mares roll on the dirt. Bon Bon was coughing because some had gotten into her throat. Lyra was lying on her back, seemly not perturbed as if it had been a casual encounter.

‘’Hello again Bonny. Did I miss you that much?’’

‘’Now is not the time for lame jokes. We are in a crisis.’’

She got back on her four hooves.

‘’Did you speak to Spike?’’

‘’Oh right!’’

Lyra followed suit.

‘’That what I wanted to tell you. I searched every nooks and crannies of the castle, screaming his name enough to make my throat sore but no sign of him. I did not find him at all.’’

‘’Ah shoot. That's not good. That's not good at all. We must warn the princess and fast.’’

‘’Bon Bon? You look spook. Did something happen in the meantime?’’

‘’On my way back, I peek a look at that cubic screen to see how things were progressing. He... it was unbelievable. It's not a game at all Lyra. It's torture, pure and simple. You cannot imagine what he did to Rainbow. And that dorm. The dorm of the wonderbolts academy. He blow it up. It's gone. Gone in smoke.’’

‘’What! Wait. By blow up do you mean... boom?’’

At that, Bon Bon just nodded her head. Because it was too hard to find the words. Lyra, feeling faint, fell on her rump.

‘’Dear Celestia. That stallion will really go that far?’’

‘’Seems likely.’’

‘’And the... the wonderbolts? Are they alright?’’

‘’I really don't know.’’

‘’Does that means... does that means they are other bombs... somewhere?’’

‘’My instincts are telling me yes and I saw he won't hesitate to use them.’’

‘’That's demented. Is there something we can do?’’

‘’The question is what can we do? My speciality is dangerous creatures. Not terrorists. Hell, I'm not even sure if my agency have a branch in that domain. It is not like we can guess where he had put them.’’

‘’Why did he blow up that dormitory in the first place.’’

‘’Well, the reason as because the wonderbolts were important for Rainbow Dash so he used that as leverage. So if we use that logic, he must have put bombs into place that are important for the others so that... mean...’’

Her pupils dilated because she just got a very scary thought that gave her cold sweat.

‘’Does that mean... that there are bombs in... Ponyville?’’

Both mares looked at the building around them. They were the same as always but now... it like they had changed. Like as if any moment, those familiar houses could burst into fires that will lunge at them and devour them.

‘’... Oh my gosh, OH MY GOSH, of course there are bombs in our town, they live there! What are we gonna do, everywhere could be a dead trap!’’

Bon Bon was on quite a panic and was galloping in circles. But Lyra intervened, slapped her on the face and shook her shoulders.

‘’Calm down Bon. Calm, down. Yes I know, it's terrifying but when you think about it, it could be a silver lining.’’

‘’Huhhh! Can you explain how?’’

‘’If there are bombs in Ponyville, then maybe we could find them before they do any harm.’’

‘’Lyra! ... Yes. Yes, you're right. Sorry if had lost control. You do have a point. Maybe in the end there is something we can do. Just give me a moment.’’

She took a deep breath to force herself to calm down. When she opened her eyes, she had become a calm, collected and self-assure mare. She had brought back her other self. The persona she use when she used to go into dangerous missions. The secret agent, Sweetie Drop.

‘’Alright, let us think carefully. Should we ask for a big group to disperse and search for the explosives? No no, too risky. Some would surely be caught in a explosion or two. We also cannot search for them at random, we have to deduce where they are before going for them.’’

‘’That's, hum... that's nice but how?’’

‘’Let us be rational. If there are bombs here then that means than that Melancholia guy must have put there himself.’’

‘’Yeah, sounds... !!! No wait, it's not right. Pinkie Pie always throw a party at any new ponies that come in Ponyville. I am pretty sure we will have noticed a pony like him.’’

‘’Wait, you're right! (Sometimes she really surprises me on how sharp she can be.) And Pinkie always asks me for confectionery and always tell me who is the pony of honor so I should know. Humm. But somepony must have planted them. So if it was not him then... accomplices then! That seems the most logical solution.’’

‘’You know, I like to see you all professionals like that.’’

‘’Lyra, I am trying to concentrate, please. But then there is still the problem on how they could get access through those places though. I am imagining those places must be personal so it is not like anypony could go there without raising suspicion. Whatever those bombs are. ... Maybe we are on a wrong track and that it is too difficult to put bombs in Ponyville. ... ... Tell me Lyra, I don't suppose you saw something suspicious?’’

‘’Hum. Sorry. Nothing comes to OHH!’’

The unicorn hit the backside of her front hoof with her other front hoof as a lightbulb lighted in her head.

‘’I did notice something curious but, how should I say? It is just a guess, it might be nothing.’’

‘’Lyra, believe my experience as an agent. Sometimes, a guess is all we have.’’

‘’It was some months ago. I was on a bench, practicing my music but then I could not help but noticed some... dogs.’’

‘’Wait, dogs!’’

‘’I do not mean normal dogs. Bipedal huge dogs. I saw one going out from Sugarcube Corner and he was holding a bag full of fixing tools. It was the giveaway that make me understand that he was a repairpony. Well, you know what I mean.’’

‘’A diamond dog, here! And working as a repairpony! Alright, that is very unusual.’’

‘’I was finding that curious so the next day, I could not helped but paying attention each time I was seeing them. There was another one, a way more bigger. I followed him, it was without malice, I swear, and I saw him going into the Everfree Forest.’’

Now Sweetie Drop was definitely finding that suspicious. Her instincts were screaming that those weird individuals were triggering many alarms.

‘’Wait. If there were repairponies then it will be the perfect cover to infiltrate... ... Lyra, is there anything more?’’

‘’Well... yes! I had also seen both of those dogs going out of the hospital, clearly having just finished their work.’’

She had said while pointing her hoof at the direction at the Ponyville hospital that was close by. Close enough to see the well-lighted windows. The window showing that a lot of ponies were moving around and that building was full of life.

Full of life.

The two mares were feeling their chest constricted and becoming heavy.

‘’Bon Bon... you... you don't think... that...’’

‘’I don't know but I don't want to take the risk, we must do something, now.’’

‘’So, let me see if I understand. You are saying that there is a mad bomber out there. Who is planting explosives on all place. All to make a sort of political point.’’

The lobby of Ponyville Hospital was well bright even at that time of the night. Ponies of all kinds were sitting on the waiting chairs while doctors and nurses were moving around at a leisurely pace, a hint that it was a rather calm day at that hospital. Not that busy days were used to happen in Ponyville. That mundane scene of life coupled with the potential danger hidden under it was quite jarring for Lyra. Bon Bon was at the main counter, talking through the receptionist, a unicorn with bags on her eyes that clearly did not have enough coffee and looked like she wanted to be everywhere else but here. As for Bon Bon, she instead was on edge and impatient.

‘’Yes yes, that's exactly that. Well, his point is not quite political but let us forget the details.’’

‘’Also you are saying that you have a suspicion that a bomb is hidden in that very hospital, and you want us to evacuate the whole place. To make sure they are not caught up in a possible explosion.’’

‘’Yes yes and yes. For the last time, it is vital that all personnel and patients get out.’’

‘’Okayyy. I... will try my best to say it the most nicely I can. What you said, sounds a little crackpot. No offense.’’

‘’Wha wha, whattt!’’

‘’I mean, I know we live in Ponyville but that sounds coming right from a Power Ponies comic book. It's... rather hard to take seriously.’’

‘’But a lot of Ponies would attest that it is true, in fact the whole town would attest that it is true.’’

‘’Yeah, regardless, you are asking to evacuate the whole place. I don't need to explain that it would be very cumbersome for our patients who need all the comfort they must have.’’

‘’But they may die.’’

‘’And also, you based all that on a simple guess. Guess without proof to back it up. And I'm still not sure that this story of bombs is true in the first place. And besides... who are you exactly?’’

‘’Arrrh. Alright, I didn't want to resort to this but...’’

Bon Bon angrily took her identification badge of secret agents and shoved it at the apathic secretary face.

‘’As you can see I am a secret agent working directly under Celestia herself. So now you will listen to my advice and believe me when I say that we have to evacuate that damn hospital, pronto.’’

The secretary didn't even react to this and instead, she just took the badge with her magic.

‘’Yeahhh, about that Miss, hum, Sweetie, Drop. First I find rather dubious that story of secret agent. Also, it is said that your department is 'dangerous beasts' so I am not sure that you have any jurisdiction over us. And besides, even if I forget the previous two points, it is written black on white that you are retired. Which should make you no different from a normal citizen.’’

‘’But! Well, it's technically not wrong but//

‘’Yeah, so, I'm afraid that's that. Now, it thinks it will be best for both of us if you stop bothering me. I still have a lot work to do tonight. So yeah, I'm sure none of us would want me to call security. So, have a good night then.’’

She did a small wave of her hoof and went back at her paperwork, clear signs that the discussion was over. Bon Bon, understanding it was useless to continue, went back towards Lyra, grumbling under her teeth.

‘’What is her problem? Doesn't she realize how dire the situation is?’’

‘’Put yourself at her horseshoes. We won't have believed it either if we had not seen it first hooves. But wait. I think I have an idea.’’

She lighted her horn and a magazine got caught in her golden magical aura. She folded to give it a conical shape. Then she jumped on her chair and used the magazine as a makeshift megaphone.

‘’Hum, attention, attention everypony. You are all listening to me? Sweet, so, I hate to bring bad news and to be in the way of your busy days but I have to announce that there is a dangerous terrorist out there and that there is a high chance he hid a bomb here. Yup, that's right. A bomb. Which means that you are all in danger to die and to burn alive in atrocious pain. So if you don't want to be reduced into piles of ash with not enough to even fill a plastic bag and leave your friends and families traumatizes and in grief, then I suggest that you galloped like hell out of that soon to be burning house. That was all. Have a good day.’’

Once her speech made, the minty unicorn jumped from her chair and casually threw her magazine at a wide open-mouth Bon Bon that could not believe what her partner just did.

‘’And there we go Bonny. You wanted an evacuation, you will have one.’’

All the ponies didn't know how to react. They just stayed there, dumbfounded, blinking their eyes. Then they screamed and all ponies ran in every direction like headless chickens. Even patients galloped out of their room. The minty mare responsible for that mess was smiling proudly.

‘’Ponyville, the city of hysteria and mass panic.’’

Bon Bon facehooved.

‘’Lyra, for pony's sake. Oh fine, I suppose it does get the job done. Now if we could only know where that bomb might be.’’

‘’This might be simpler than you think.’’

A galloping pony with a doctor coat and glasses got caught in a golden aura and stopped his screaming as he was levitated before the unicorn.

‘’Excuse me, I have a little question for you? Did there is some Diamond Dogs who did some renovations or reparations in here recently?’’

And the doctor answered her casually as if his previous panic was never there.

‘’Ah sure, I remember them. The ventilation system was going fritz so they come to repair it.’’

Lyra released her levitational grip on him.

‘’Thank you, that was nice of you.’’

‘’It was nothing. Now if you excuse me. WAAAAAAAH.’’

And he went back to galloping and screaming like a banshee. Lyra, her, looked at the ventilation system on the wall and without thinking, grabbed it with her magic and thug at it at the horror of her partner.

‘’Wait Lyra, what are you doing! It is not safe//

*thump*

It was too late. The burly system came out of its hinges easier than Lyra thought and it smashed on the ground and many broken pieces were spread around it. One particularly small piece slipped on the floor, and even though the noise it made as it slipped was small, it was enough to stop all ponies dead in their tracks and to stop the screaming, leaving only that noise to fill the silence. That is until that piece stopped its course at between Lyra and Bon Bon.

That small piece was looking a lot like a gem of gray color made of plastic.

Both mares wanted to speak. But only gasps were coming from their mouths.

Lyra pointed at the device to which Bon Bon nodded in affirmation to which Lyra made a gesture with her upper hooves that had for goal to imitate an explosion to which Bon Bon panicky pointed towards Lyra and herself and made a slicing throat gesture to which Lyra grabbed her own face in terror.

All the while, while still gasping.

And to make matters worse, it was at this moment the bomb decided to flash red and to make a beep.

If there were anxious before, now they were utterly terrified and cold sweat was running on their fur. A look at the other ponies and they knew they were just like them. Frozen in fear.

Bon Bon, thanks Celestia her training, was the first to react and screamed to all the room:

‘’RUN AWAY. TAKE THE BACK DOOR. HURRY.’’

They got free of their trance and did as that cream earth pony had said and ran away while screaming. And this time, there was nothing comical in it.

Bon Bon, as for her, was looking everywhere for, something, anything. She then saw a rolling cart for medical tools.

‘’Quick Lyra, put the bomb on the cart.’’

Lyra, trusting her marefriend blindly, did not lose time asking questions and levitated the bomb and put in where Bon Bon had asked her to. Once the deed done, Bon Bon grabbed the cart handle.

‘’Bon Bon, you will not//

‘’That thing must get the farthest away from those ponies, I have to.’’

She ran full-speed ahead into a corridor void of life. She thought she was alone but though her surprise, Lyra was beside her pushing the cart just like her. Before she could express her extreme disaccord, the beeping and the flashing of the bomb went faster and that was not a good sign.

‘’Oh no no. RUN AS IF YOUR LIFE WAS ON THE LINE.’’

‘’BUT IT DOES.’’

‘’SHUT UP.’’

They double up their speed and at the end of the corridor, they come across the rotating doors and ended up in the operating chamber also serving of amphitheater for all who want to see the operation. Deciding that it was as a good spot as any, they pushed away the cart and went back their way. They galloped and galloped and were sure they would be safe but then they felt a wave of heat on their back and a force lifting their hooves of the floor//

When they woke-up, the first sensation they felt was a buzzing in their hears that was so annoying and also, a splitting headache. They opened their eyes and saw that the corridor before them... well, in fact, there was not much of a corridor left. What was not intact was charred. What was not charred was burning. And the rest... gone. There were no longer any operating chamber. The end of the corridor was leading towards the outside and also, what was left of the right wing. Both Lyra and Bon Bon could feel the night breeze from where they were.

‘’Wooooo! That was intense Bonnie.’’

‘’Yeah, I admit, it was intense. Too intense, even for me. At least, nopony was hurt. I just hope they have an assurance. Oh wait. Of course they do. We are in Ponyville. Property damage happens all the time.’’

The cream earth pony decided to go back on her feet.

‘’Still, that was too close for comfort. I'm not sure if finding those bombs was such a great idea in the end. I think it will be best that we just concentrate on evacuate all the rest of Ponyville. The importance is after all that nopony end up dead.’’

‘’If it means we won't have to deal with explosion scenes anymore, then I am on that at one hundred percent. Look, I... I am so sorry. If not for my blunder//

‘’It's alright, I don't blame you. You were in the heat of the moment. Besides, things turned out well in the end. Relatively speaking. Here. Give me your hoof.’’

‘’Ah thanks Bon Bon. It's very wooohoo! ... The hay?!

Once Lyra got up, she noticed that her four hooves were shaking and she could hardly keep herself upright.

‘’Hey! That's... that's strange. Haha. I don't get it, they, haha, they won't keep firm no matter what I do. It's funny. They won't stop. Hahaha. They, they won't stop, I... I...’’

Hearing enough, Bon Bon took Lyra hoof and put it on her shoulder for support. They both walked away with Lyra leaning on her marefriend.

‘’Oh my Lyra. You were the one that was the most afraid of us two, is it not? Yet you try to hide it for my sake.’’

‘’Huh, me! I, I don't know what//

‘’Oh it's alright Lyra. I know you for, how much? I knew since the moment you were playing the goof to cheer me up.’’

‘’Ohhh. And I was trying my best to not be that obvious.’’

‘’You're a very courageous mare, you know that? Even more courageous than me.’’

‘’Thanks. It means a lot. ... ... Say. I... Do you... do you think they will be alright? It's not like I was interacting with them a lot but I was seeing them almost every day. If they never come back, I, I don't know how I will react. Twilight is one of my old friends. You think they will be fine?’’

Bon Bon pondered for a moment. And then smiled.

‘’Yes. I have faith. You don't have to worry about them. It's those ponies we are talking about after all. They are invincible.’’

Author's Note

A little break from the main narrative because it is important to sometime lower the steam. Did you really think for a moment that I will let a massacre happen? I never been a fan of killing bystander to raise the tension. So I kinda cheat and made the characters believe that they die when in fact they did not. It was still hard to find reasons that does not sound like lame deus ex machina that actually make sense with the story. Good thing that plan nearly everything in advance. I had try my best to make that chapter entertaining and I hope that it at least give you a few chuckles.

Oh and let's rejoice. Because I had at last made a chapter in less than one month. Hooray. Hope it make me redeem a little to have make you wait that long for the previous chapter.