Lyra sat down in front of Moon. "You were doing a super important study for Celestia and you didn't even think of talking to me? Classic Moonie." She laughed, throwing a hoof. "You haven't changed one bit."

Moon had to laugh as well. "I'm not sure if it counts as change or lack thereof, but I did try to talk to you once." She looked down at her notes. "But it's been some time since we have spent time, just you and me."

Lyra inclined her head. "Is that why your bro is here?"

Called, Spike hopped to his feet. "Heya!" He waved energetically. "You were kinda scary there, Moon. The amulet was doing a number on you. We took care of it."

Moon nodded softly. "Thank you, Spike." She reached over, proving with her action far more conclusively than her words her affection for him. "I was convinced I was approaching my research in the most expedient fashion."

Lyra shrugged. "I mean, it probably worked. It wasn't a good idea." She gestured around. "But, if you ask me, the best way to learn about friendship is to try being a friend, see what works for you, see what others need." She offered a hoof. "One platonic friend! You got one right here. Not family or kissy kissy partner or nothing. You're not gonna find that hiding in here."

Moondancer had to chuckle at that, shaking her head. "Yes, I learned as much when you helped with my cursed amulet problem. Which I'm still working out how to thank you for."

"You don't owe me anything." Lyra slid to her hooves. "You needed help, and I could help. Now, I say we do something fun between friends. I know a lot of great places around Ponyville to go. Or we could just do some relaxing . Oh! I know a good bench for pony watching. Get some research done, with a friend, and chill out all at the same time."

Moon started smiling. "That actually sounds quite nice, Lyra. Thank you." She got to her hooves and stretched herself out. "Let's go." She gestured for Lyra to lead the way. Spike raced up behind her and scaled up easily onto her back. Sure that she had all she needed, she walked from the library with a parting call, "We're headed out."

A distant reply reached her before she left, "Have fun!"

Lyra grinned as they stepped outside. "So, Moonie. What's been going on in your life? I haven't heard much from you since you went to Princess Celestia full time."

Moon took a breath to consider that. "Studying has been taking most of my time. I have made a great deal of progress in many fields, though, so I cannot complain about that." She walked alongside Lyra down the dirt road. "Then I came here, to Ponyville, where I received a new objective, and many distractions." She glanced away before leaning closer. "Some of them have been worth the time."

Spike snickered from her back. "She means she's made lots of friends, but she's still working out how to deal with that."

Lyra laughed softly. "You're one to talk, Spikester. I hear you're getting all the lady attention these days."

Spike blushed furiously. "I'm not complaining!" He coughed into a balled hand. "But this dragon does have a marefriend, and she's great! Have you ever met Diamond Tiara?"

Lyra shook her head. "Nope! You've got me curious now. Tell me all about her!" She gave him an expectant look.

Moon chuckled at the sight. "Yes, Spike. Regale us with tales of your marefriend."

Spike colored faintly, but sat up all the prouder. "Well, since you two are insisting. She's a well-to-do filly that understands the finer things in life, but she can get her hooves dirty when she wants." He rolled his eyes. "Which isn't often. She likes looking and acting her best, and she likes encouraging me to do that too. Being with her is always fun! There's parties and dances and fun events. And there's a lot of nice places to eat. I love food."

"Mmhm." Moon nodded with him. "She is also a very good motivator for keeping oneself clean." Her horn glowed as an arrow pointed to various parts of Spike. "I've noticed you have been far more meticulous in your daily grooming. Not that I mind."

Lyra looked from the arrow to Spike. "She's got you working at it." She smirked at Spike. "You must really like her, then."

Spike huffed at them. "I like her a lot! Um, I mean, I lo—" He tripped over that word, blush fierce. "Luh." He patted himself on the chest. "Super like her! Love her! There, said it." He let our a relieved sigh. "Why was that so hard to say?"

Moon chuckled softly. "You are cute." She glanced at Lyra with an amused look. "But it does sound like a very different approach from my own romantic situation. How is your relationship with Bon Bon?"

Lyra went from normal to a dark red instantly. "Woah! Right for the throat." She went in to bump her side against Moon. "You are far more predatory these days. I didn't even mention Bonnie, and you go calling me out like that?" She laughed despite it all. "I knew coming to see you would be worth every moment."

Moondancer gave a light laugh in return. "We are both rather pointed, it seems. So, did I guess right? I only know your romantic interests from our school years together."

Lyra's smile grew soft. "She wasn't at school, um, but you knew that. I ran into her not long after I graduated, and we've been, um, kind of a pair since then. We never really made it official, but wherever I thought to be, there was a good chance she'd be there too, and it worked the other way too. If you're in for destiny, feels a lot like that. Helps that she's pretty great."

Spike looked up with a quirked brow. "How did you know they were a pair, Moon?" He glanced back at Lyra.

Moon rolled her eyes. "Lyra would talk about her friends a lot. She mentioned her last time. I remembered." She tapped at her own head. "And brought her up now. I am pleased that my observation was correct." She considered a moment. "I would like to compare how you and her get along in comparison to Twilight and myself."

Lyra smiled warmly up at Moon. "I'd be glad to introduce you sometime. She's a really nice mare, once you get past her social shell." She glanced at Spike. "You'll really like her, she makes the best candies."

Spike licked over his lips at that. "Well, off to a good start there. Oh! Wait, she runs the candy shop, doesn't she?"

Lyra nodded. "That's her, yeah! Or, it's both of ours now. We run it together." She closed her eyes in thought. "I guess we have been a couple without calling ourselves a couple."

Moon's smile was slow coming, but genuine. "Then I have assisted you." She sounded proud of her own work. "How do you greet her after a long period of absence?"

Lyra laughed nervously. "Oh gosh, Moonie. Well, um, it depends on how long the absence is. A quick nuzzle, or a nuzzle and a nip, or a long nuzzle, or we can, um, you know." She glanced away.

Moon went in curiously. "Kiss?"

Lyra burst into laughter at that. "Sure, kiss. Kissing's fun. We don't do it nearly enough. Maybe she doesn't know we're a couple either, come to think of it. I came here to help you, and you're the one shaking my world!"

Moondancer shrugged. "It is fair. I'm glad it's working out for you."

Spike slipped down off her back. "I'm gonna get something to eat from Sugar Cube Corner before I head back to the library."

Moon nodded at her brother. "Do not overindulge on sweets. You have my permission to visit Diamond if she is available today."

Spike beamed. "Thanks! But don't worry, I won't." He jogged off towards his destination.

Moondancer and Lyra went along. "So, Spike has a lover, you might have one." She rolled a hoof as she walked. "You and Bon Bon, huh? You two, you know?"

Lyra gave Moon a look. "You're asking that? I thought I just did."

Moon blushed lightly at the thought. "You mentioned you kiss sometimes, which I have seen Twilight do for greetings, so I was unsure how far your relationship went."

Lyra snickered softly. "We're not that close that I'd tell you that, Moonie. Nice try, but gonna vote no on this one." She hopped up onto her favorite bench, but sat on it a bit oddly for most ponies. Instead of laying down, she was upright against the back of it.

Moon sat as Lyra was used to, laying on her belly. "That is your odd sitting position. I didn't expect to see that in action."

Lyra giggled. "What?" She waved Moon away. "You can see more ponies from up here." She pointed to her eyes, then out to the traffic of other ponies going about their business. "And since you asked, gonna turn it right back on you and show you how it feels. What are you and Twilight up to, together, when nopony else is watching?"

Moon gave Lyra a look. "You were not supposed to turn that question around." She looked at her notes. "I will have to ask her before I can reveal anything. You have to understand, my research and studies come first."

Lyra was too busy laughing at the whole thing. "Good on you. You really should ask her before you go talking about that. That's private! Exactly why you got not one word out of me. Now, do you know how to pony watch?"

Moon glanced over the street with her book in front of her. "I am learning." She gave a nod to Lyra. "I am doing it right now, and taking notes in my mind."

"Good." She relaxed, still upright. "Better to keep notes in your head. If ponies see you scribbling, they'll get nervous. Then you miss out on when they do things. Now, there's Mister Cake. He's probably doing a delivery the way he looks right now. And that mare with him is pretty new, but she's part of his business. I think she runs the shop when he's out and about. You should be able to see how they work together just by how close they stand."

"I thought that was Pinkie?" Moon turned her eyes to Mister Cake to see he was indeed with some new mare. "Huh." The two walked with purpose to a door that she knocked on. He passed the box on his back to the pony that opened it, and the two shared a high-hoof of accomplishment.

Lyra chuckled. "They've been working like that since she showed up. Even Pinkie's been having to stay in the shop more often. I think she likes the new gal." She looked down the street and pointed with a hoof. "No jealousy between those two. They're all working hard to keep the shop running at full speed."

Moondancer had to nod with agreement. "I did not know you were so observant." She gestured at the street before them. "What else can you see?"

Lyra giggled and pointed with her hoof as she narrated to Moon what she saw. "And this time of day, Bon Bon usually shows up right there." She pointed just as Bon Bon came around a corner.

Bon Bon saw the point, blinked, and came closer on quick hooves. "Lyra, why are you pointing at me?" She stopped a couple meters away with a scowl. "What'd I do? Why are you pointing at me?"

Lyra gestured for Bon Bon to come to her. "No, no! I was just talking about what I could see, and how could I not talk about that lovely mare right there?" She gave her best winning smile.

Bon Bon narrowed her eyes. "You're up to something. What is it?" She leaned in to give Lyra a good sniff. "Been drinking?" She sniffed again, then pulled back. "No." She looked to Moondancer. "You. What has she been doing?"

Moon looked at Bon Bon. "She has been watching you. I think she wants to kiss you."

Bon Bon's ears shot straight up at the word kiss, her face dark red as she looked back at Lyra, who was also going red. Bon Bon coughed into a hoof. "That would be improper here and now." She climbed up onto the bench between the two and sank down. "Lyra, really."

Lyra laughed awkwardly, glancing at Moondancer. "I just thought you were a nice pony to point at, Bonnie. I didn't mean to make you feel awkward."

Moon made another quick mental note with a soft hum. "Since you are here, Bon Bon, may I ask a few questions?"

Author's Note

So, what do you do with your marefriend?

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