Chapters I trotted down the somewhat dark path on the outskirts of Sweet Apple Acres. I had just come from Canterlot and made a lot of bits during the music show. I love my job, just like Bonnie did with hers. While running the Sweet Shoppe did take a lot of bits, seeing my marefriend happy made me happy. I pulled my coat tighter around me as the rain poured down and a bolt of lightning illuminated the distance.
“See the ponies trottin’ down the street. Equestria is where they wanna meet, they all know where they wanna go,” I sang quietly to myself as I continued trotting. This song was one my mom used to sing to me when I was a filly. The oldies are the best.
I froze when I heard movement and my head slowly turned to where it came. While I wasn’t afraid of the dark, I was afraid of what hid in the dark. Ponyville is right near the Everfree forest and that place was bucking crazy.
“Hello?” I called out nervously. “Anypony there?” The movement stopped before a filly with an orange coat and purple mane took off running out of a bush. She was carrying some saddlebags bulging with food. I recognized the filly immediately. She came into the shop often with her friends. “Scootaloo?”
She didn’t stop running, she only sped up. I don’t think she focused on my voice otherwise she would have stopped. All she knew was a pony found her in the dark and she was afraid. Why, I don’t know but I wasn’t about to let her disappear. I used a spell to make my hoofsteps quieter and galloped after her.
“Where the hay did that filly go?” I stopped galloping and looked around. My eyes slowly fell on a tree house and I knew I found her. I slowly worked my way up the stairs and knocked on the door. “Anypony in there?”
Nothing came from the other side and I sighed. Maybe I was wrong and she had hid in a bush and watched me leave. I turned to leave when I heard a cough come from the side. It had been covered with a hoof based on how muffled it was but it confirmed what I knew. She was in there.
“I’m coming in,” I called out as I turned around. I grasped the door handle with my magic, slowly opening it and I stepped inside. Scootaloo sat on the floor, shaking with her face hid in her hooves. “It’s okay,” I soothed as I got closer and brushed her mane with a hoof as a yellow puddle grew under her. “You’re okay.”
She looked up at me and her eyes were filled with fear. Almost like she didn’t recognize me and was afraid I’d hurt her. I kept stroking her mane and smiled warmly down at her.
“Let’s go to my house. You look starving girl,” I levitated her saddlebags on. I levitated her on my back under my coat so she didn’t get wet. I glanced back at her to make sure she was secured and smiled at her closed eyes as she slept. I let out a sigh as I trotted out the door and shut it softly behind me. This was going to be complicated at home.
I opened the door of me and Bon Bons house and stepped inside with the sleeping filly on my back. I shut the door and set the saddlebags down at the door. I lifted a blanket onto the couch before placing her on it. As sympathetic as I was, I didn’t want her urine on our couch. I placed a blanket over her and a pillow under her head as I stared at her.
“Lyra?” My marefriends sleepy voice came from behind me as the hallway light switched on. Bon Bon stepped next to me. “Uh why is Scootaloo asleep on our couch Lyra?”
“Found her hiding in a tree house on the edge of Applejacks farm,” I answered as we both looked at the filly.
“Why bring her here? Why not to her parents?” Bon Bon rubbed an eye with a hoof.
“I don’t think she has anypony Bon Bon. She was in there with saddlebags filled with food. She was shaking and peed her self when I stepped inside the tree house and got closer to her. Almost like she was terrified I was going to hurt her Bon Bon.”
“I’m proud of you Lyra,” Bon Bon smiled at me. She slowly reached out with a hoof and stroked Scootaloos mane. “Are you seriously making her sleep on the couch?”
“I didn’t know how to get her in our bed without waking you,” I admitted. “Looks like I didn’t have to worry about that.” Bon Bon gave me a tired smile as she slid the filly onto her back and grunted.
“Got that right,” Bon Bon agreed. “We can take her to our bed. We can figure this all out in the morning. Come on Lyra.” She started slowly walking to the bedroom we resided in.
“Okay. Let me sort out this living room and lock the door. You sort her out and I’ll be right there,” I promised as I locked the door with my magic. I lifted the blanket and folded it before carrying it to the laundry room across from our room. I quickly tossed it in the dirty laundry basket before trotting into our room. Bon Bon had cleaned Scootaloo up based on the wet towels and placed her in the middle of our large bed. She laid with her back facing the wall as she stared at Scootaloo.
“You could have saved her life Lyra,” Bon Bon glanced at me as I laid in the bed, pulling a blanket over the three of us. “You did a good thing.”
“I know. I’m just glad I was in the right place at the right time. We need to ask her about this in the morning,” I sighed.
“I agree one hundred percent. It’s going to be a hard conversation but it has to happen,” Bon Bon shut off the light on her side as I did the same. “Goodnight Lyra. I love you.”
“Good night Bon Bon. I love you too.”
I shivered at the touch of fur pressing against my chest. I assume the fur was part of my dream. There’s no way there’s fur in the tree house with me. I slowly opened my eyes and recoiled at what was in front of me. There was a mint green unicorn with a green mane sleeping peacefully in front of me.
“Good morning,” a voice from behind me said softly and I twisted my body to look behind me. There was an earth pony mare with pink and blue curled mane watching me with cerulean eyes. I think that was a fancy way of saying blue. I’m not entirely sure. Twilight hadn’t been too clear on the topic.
“Where the heck am I?” I asked hesitantly. While I did vaguely recognize the two from somewhere, I didn’t necessarily know where. I partially blame me being tired for that.
“Our house silly filly,” the unicorn mumbled. I didn’t know she was awake.
“Uh why? Why aren’t I in the tree house?” I tensed my legs up in preparation to run. The earth pony must have sensed it because she laid her foreleg over my chest, effectively pinning me down to the bed. Not to the point where I couldn’t breathe but just enough where I couldn’t move.
“Relax Scootaloo. Nopony here will hurt you. Lyra brought you home because the weather was awful last night,” the pony behind me said. Now I knew who these ponies were. They ran the Sweet Shoppe near school downtown. Since Lyra was in front of me, that must mean the pony behind me was Bon Bon.
“Oh uh thanks. I’ll be heading out now. Thanks for the shelter,” I struggled against the earth ponys foreleg.
“Not so fast,” Lyra chuckled. “We got some quick questions for ya.” That sounded slightly ominous and I don’t like it.
“Uh like what?” I asked cautiously. I had a slight feeling what this was about but I hope I wasn’t right.
“Why in Celestias name were you sleeping outside? Why didn’t you go home? The pegasus were making a crazy storm for the farm ponies.” Yep, it was what I thought it was about.
“Fine. I don’t have a home. My parents are always gone. My aunt has custody of me but she’s in the uh hospital,” I admitted. I felt the foreleg resting on top of me pull closer to Bon Bon in a hug. I felt the unicorn join in herself after a few seconds.
“I’m sorry. Did they tell you why?” Lyra asked.
“No. Something about hair or something I’m not sure. They keep things pretty hush over there,” I answered. “I don’t trust em.”
“Interesting,” Bon Bon mused. “You hungry for some breakfast kid?”
“Uhh maybe?” I said with a guarded expression. Lyra gave me a warm smile and tussled my mane.
“Let’s get some breakfast then.”
-------------------------------------------------------------I sat quietly at a table as Bon Bon hummed in the kitchen. Lyra sat at the table with a newspaper enveloped in a golden glow of her magic.
“Why don’t you try cooking?” I asked. “Uhm not to be rude of course.” Lyra smirked as she set the paper down.
“She can’t cook,” Bon Bon called out from the kitchen as she kept humming.
“Hey!” Lyra glared playfully at her partners hindquarters. “I am right here. And I can cook! I can use the microwave!”
“You set the microwave and toaster on fire,” Bon Bon said flatly as she entered the room with three plates on her back with orange juice on a tray.
“Okay that was an accident,” Lyra admitted as she took the plates and cups in her magic. She quickly set them at three spots, levitating forks along with knives and napkins out. I watched in awe as she did so expertly and easily. “What’s up?” Lyra giggled at my expression.
“I’ve never seen anyone use magic so easily,” I answered.
“What about Sweetie Belle? Or Rarity?” Bon Bon asked. “Isn’t her sister part of your crew?”
“Yeah Sweetie is but her magic isn’t that strong. Nor is Raritys to be honest. She’s no Twilight,” I answered. Lyra gave a chuckle.
“Nopony could ever be as good as Twilight. Except for somepony I knew as a filly back at Celestia’s school. But she hasn’t been seen in a long, long time,” Lyra admitted.
“You went to school with Twilight? What happened to your friend?” I asked.
“Yes I did. And Sunset wasn’t a friend. She was complicated to say the least,” Lyra sighed as she cut her pancake up and tossed it in her mouth.
“What was Twilight like? Did you search for this Sunset?” I pressed.
“A total shut in. Complete bookworm. Just like Moondancer was. I haven’t seen Moonie in years so I’m not sure if she’s changed or not. As for Sunset, we didn’t search. Princess Celestia sure did along with her guards but I don’t know if they ever found her.”
“Maybe I can search for her! Me and the other cmc!” I announced eagerly. “Missing pony finder cutie marks!”
“I wouldn’t search for her. Celestia said she knew where she went but was shifty about it. She didn’t tell me or Minuette or Lemon Hearts. Not even Twinkleshine,” Lyra sighed as she ate another piece of her pancake. “Maybe one day she will resurface. You really seem eager to get your cutie mark.”
“Got that right. All three of us will get our marks. It’s important!” I boasted. “We go all over Ponyville trying out different potential cutie marks!”
“Oh we know,” Bon Bon laughed. “I also remember Big Mac yanking Berry Punches house out of the ground when you three chained him to it after giving him and Cheerilee that love potion.” I turned a faint shade of red.
“I thought we agreed to never speak of that again as a community.” Lyra gave a shrug.
“Oh we did. It’s still fun to bring up now and again. Especially when Berry is around,” Lyra smirked. “Now eat your breakfast. We have to take you to school after this.” I gave a nod as I finally started eating.
“Wow. This is pretty good,” I announced. Bon Bon gave a giggle after she swallowed her own bite.
“Thank you.”
“Well that went better than anticipated,” I admitted as we watched Scootaloo trot into the school where Cheerilee was giving us a wave. Bon Bon quickly returned it as we turned around after making sure Scootaloo got to her classroom safely and started trotting to the shop.
“Well how do you think it would have went?” Bon Bon asked as we kept walking. I gave a wave to Golden Harvest and Bouncy Breeze who were setting up their stands in the town square.
“Uh I don’t know?” I admitted as the two saleponies waved back to me. “I thought she would have tried to leave during the night or some time during the day.”
“And go where exactly?” Bon Bon inquired as I levitated the key to the shop and turned it, pushing the door open and stepping in behind Bon Bon.
“Uh I don’t know? Maybe the treehouse? Or anywhere else in town. She may have more than one spot to sleep, you know.”
“Good point,” Bon Bon admitted as she started pulling down some boxes of chocolate. “I expect a rush of ponies today.”
“Why’s that?” I asked as I levitated some chocolate pretzels and filled the shelves with them.
“It’s almost Hearts and Hooves day. It’s always crazy before then,” Bon Bon answered as she ripped open the package and dumped the candies out on the countertop.
“Oh right. I’ve always kinda hated Hearts and Hooves day. I just wanna relax at home with you,” I muttered softly. I knew she couldn’t hear me but oh well.
“I heard that,” Bon Bon called out as she continued stocking the shelves and I froze. Okay I take back what I said. “I’m down with that this year. But you can cook me a dinner. Candles and everything.” She gave me a wink.
“Oh I’ll give you more than that later that night,” I smiled with a sultry look.
“Is that so? I’ll be expecting it.” I gave her a quick kiss which she eagerly returned.
“Should we be expecting Scootaloo to come back or no?” I asked with a raised eyebrow. I hoped she did.
“Maybe. I sure hope so. It’s a dangerous world out there especially for a filly,” Bon Bon commented as we finished our shelf stocking for the day. Benefits of a small shop I guess. We still have plans to expand the shop.
“Got that right,” I agreed as I flipped the closed sign to open. “If you would like, I could go pick her up from school and bring her back home.” Bon Bon tilted her head and looked at me curiously.
“You really care about this filly I see. I will admit, she’s a good kid when she isn’t destroying half the town with her crew.”
“Her crew? You make it sound like she’s in a gang or something.”
“Practically are some days. You remember when they almost set Rarity’s house on fire?” Bon Bon chuckled. “Little arsonists.”
“Firefighter cutie marks,” I giggled. “It would have been an interesting scene if they didn’t try to burn her house down I agree. On the upside, if they did we would be rid of random fainting couches appearing in thin air!” We both burst out laughing at that. While we were cool with Rarity, she did have a tendency to overreact. Like a certain three flower selling mares I could think of.
“At least for a few weeks till she bought some!” Bon Bon added with a grin as the door opened with a chime. “Hey Derpy!” Our pegasus friend trotted into the shop slowly in her attempt to avoid knocking anything over. She and I had known each other for years since we had been born.
“Hey guys,” Derpy gave a lopsided smile. “I uh want to get Dinky and Amethyst something. Got any recommendations? I only got four bits so something cheap please.” I quickly levitated down a tray and placed it front of her.
“While this is more than four bits, I’ll cover it Derpy,” I smiled warmly at her. Derpy quickly shook her head.
“I can’t accept that Ly Ly. You guys have to make money too,” she insisted.
“We’re Dinkys godmothers and your best friend,” Bon Bon argued as she pushed the tray forward with a hoof. “We love those fillies like they were our own and we love ya. We would do anything for them so please take it.”
“O-okay. I will pay you back though. I promise,” Derpy said adamantly as I levitated the tray and slid it in her saddlebags.
“Don’t do that. Focus on your kids,” I chided. “We make more than enough bits. We survive. If you need us to look after the two while you take a break, we would love to.”
“I don’t take breaks. But I can send Amethyst and Dinky over maybe tomorrow or tonight if that’s okay with you and Bons.” Me and Bon Bon made eye contact and had a silent debate. While we still had to figure out Scootaloo, we both could use the company.
“That’s fine,” Bon Bon announced. “You can send them over tonight. They might have a guest here too.”
“Okay,” Derpy waved as I subtly used my magic to help her walk out without hitting anything. The moment I learned how to use my magic, I’ve been helping Derpy get out of bad situations. But I can’t be everywhere unfortunately. If I could I would. Ever since she defended me for being bi, I know we were going to never quit being friends.
“She’s a nice mare. Shame she gets fired from jobs by closed minded people,” Bon Bon sighed as she shook her head. “Remember when Dinky was born?” I let out a chuckle as I rested on the counter.
“Like it happened yesterday. I was so excited for Derpy. We had been talking about this for years about her wanting to be a mom one day.”
“She’s a very good friend to us both. Here. Go subtly drop off these bag of bits at her house,” Bon Bon nudged a bag full my way. “She needs them more than we do. And pick up Scootaloo on the way back please if it takes that long. I’ve decided I want her.” I lifted the bits with my magic as Bon Bon slid some saddlebags on me.
“You got it.”
I smiled faintly as Scootaloo galloped past in the school yard with her two friends. I vaguely recognized the earth pony as Apple Bloom, Applejacks youngest sister. I knew the unicorn somewhere but I didn’t remember where.
“Hey Lyra,” my friend Cheerilee approached me with a warm smile. I really did love Cheerilee. Such a cheerful warm personality. If I didn’t have Bon Bon and Cheerilee swung that way, I’d hit on her.
“Hey Cheerilee. How’s it hanging with the school ponies?’ I asked curiously as Scootaloo kicked a ball.
“Pretty good. What are you doing today? It’s rare you just hang around the school,” Cheerilee pointed out.
“Watching Scootaloo. School gets out soon right?” She looked at me in confusion.
“Well yes but why Scootaloo specifically?” I let out a sigh as she looked at me expectantly.
“I know Scootaloo is important to you after ya know,” I looked away. The topic of her daughter was a very dangerous topic we didn’t bring up often. “So I need you to promise not to go crazy when I tell you this C, alright?”
“Umm okay? What’s up Ly?”
“So I was walking home one night past the Sweet Apple Acres and it was late. I heard movement, I looked around and Scootaloo ran away from into the treehouse. I naturally go up to her and she’s freaking out that I found her and everything. She pissed herself from being that scared, Cheerilee. I take her home because it was storming. Honest to Celestia, we think she’s homeless.” Cheerilee gasped and pressed a hoof to her mom as her eyes were glued to the laughing filly.
“I can’t believe any of this. You know Scootaloo is like my favorite student along with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. Best students in my class. Super inquisitive,” she glanced at me and gave a nervous chuckle. “Along with Twist, of course! Don’t tell Bon Bon this.” I let out a chuckle of my own. Twist was Bon Bons sister.
“Your secret is safe with me. But yeah, it was awful. I’m here to pick her up and bring her back home.” Cheerilee kept watching Scootaloo playing with her friends.
“Why’s that?” Cheerilee finally looked at me and I wiped a tear away from her face with a hoof.
“I don’t know. Just feels right. Having her around. She’s fun to be around,” I admitted as she gave me a wide grin.
“Weren’t you and Bons talking about adopting a colt or filly? If I remember, you guys found one you loved. What’s her name again?”
“Liza. Liza Doolots. She’s a pretty adorable unicorn filly,” I smiled. We hadn’t been by the adoption agency in a few days. I made a mental note to remind Bonnie to take the day off so we could go see her.
“And how long do you plan on keeping Scootaloo around?” Cheerilee pressed. I paused and pressed a hoof to my chin.
“I don’t know. We didn’t really talk about it. I guess till we find some of her family or she grows up and gets on her hooves.”
“Interesting. And how does Rainbow Dash feel about all this?”
“Oh well I don’t know. It’s not really her business if we take Scootaloo in. It’s not her house. Simple as that,” I shrugged. “And if she has a problem with it, she can come say something to mine or Bon Bons face about it.” Cheerilee rolled her eyes with a smile.
“Always the one looking for confrontation, aren’t you?” She teased. “So she doesn’t know about this at all?” I shook my head.
“Not at all. As I said, it’s not her business.” Cheerilee stared at me.
“You know the two view each other like sisters, right?” She asked pointedly. I snorted and rolled my eyes.
“Some sister she is. How do you not notice a filly you call a sister homeless? Do you know where we live Cheerilee?”
“Uh Ponyville?”
“Exactly! Fricking monster capital of Equestria! On the edge of the Everfree no less. It’s not safe for a filly to be asleep in a tree house. It’s not safe anywhere for a homeless filly. At least it was in Ponyville, imagine if we lived in Manehattan or Los Pegasus?”
“I thought Tartarus was the monster capital of Equestria?” Cheerilee smirked. I gave her a look and rolled my eyes.
“You know what I mean. It’s wild in town ever since Twilight moved here,” I answered. “Monster attacks are a weekly event it seems. Don’t even get me started on the national emergencies that seem to spawn around her. Whenever Twilight comes around, trouble is going on wherever she is.”
“Didn’t you grow up with her as a filly in Celestias school and are her friend?” Cheerilee raised an eyebrow.
“I’m not entirely sure we are friends. We’re friendly but I don’t know. She left Canterlot on awkward terms. I’m allowed to make these comments because former friend status,” I smirked and she rolled her eyes dramatically.
“I’m not entirely sure that’s how it works but okay. How’s the shop going? Do you and Bons need some help one day?” Cheerilee asked hopefully.
“It’s been going okay I suppose. We could always use some help, why? How’s Dinky and Twist doing?
“That’s good. Rent of my house went up again and I gotta get some more school supplies so I need the bits. Think I could stop by a few weekends and help around the shop? I can do anything you all need. They are doing fine. Silverspoon was making fun of Derpy behind Dinkys back but I quickly squashed that and gave her detention. Dinky is thankfully oblivious to it all,” Cheerilee sighed and a flash of anger rushed through me. Stupid fillies could be evil to each other.
“You can stop by anytime. We would give you the bits if you need it you know.” Cheerilee adamantly shook her head.
“I can’t let you do that. I want to help my friends out however I can,” she smiled and patted my head. “I’ll stop by this weekend if that works for you guys.”
“Yeah that works for us,” I nodded. Cheerilee nodded towards a running pegasus coming up to us.
“Here comes Scootaloo,” she said with a warm smile.
“Hey Miss Cheerilee!” Scootaloo smiled. She glanced over at me curiously. “Why is Lyra here?”
“Me and Cheerilee go way back,” I chuckled. “Me, her and Derpy grew up together.” Her eyes slightly widened.
“That’s so cool! But are you just here to talk to her?”
“Nah. I’m here to pick you up to bring you home. You’re staying with us for a while till we can find some other family members or you turn eighteen.”
“Why?” She asked incredulously.
“Because it’s not safe to live on the street dear,” Cheerilee said gently. Scootaloo stared at me with an unreadable expression.
“You told her?”
“I had to. As a teacher and a friend, she deserves to know what’s going on. Now let’s go home and get your homework done. And don’t try lying to me about not having any. Cheerilee will tell me if you do have some,” we both smirked at her terrified expression.
“Okay. I’ll get right on it!” Scootaloo promised.
“See ya Cheerilee,” I waved as we started to trot away.
“Bye Lyra. See you this weekend!”
I sat on the couch in my preferred sitting position as Bon Bon led Scootaloo, Dinky and the other Crusaders in. Me and Bon Bon decided to let them sleep over at our house. The Crusaders can’t be that much trouble. We both know Dinky is super well behaved so she isn’t going to be a problem. Besides Rarity was paying us to watch Sweetie so she could focus on a large order and Applejack was giving us extra apples. Can’t have too many apples.
“How can you sit like that?” Scootaloo asked in confusion. “Doesn’t that like hurt?”
“Don’t ask,” Bon Bon muttered. “I still haven’t figured out how she does it.”
“It doesn’t hurt. It’s quite comfortable. It’s how I play my lyre,” I answered with a smirk. The fillies looked around as Dinky sat on the floor.
“Thanks for agreeing to watch me Miss Heartstrings and Miss Bon. Mom said she will pick me up tomorrow morning right?” Dinky asked as she gazed at us.
“Yep!” Bon Bon grinned as she mussed her mane. “Please just Lyra and Bon Bon. Makes us feel old with the Miss part.”
“Okay,” Dinky shrugged as she wandered off around the house. We had evidently bored her enough.
“Can we try to get our cutie mark in firefighting?” Sweetie Belle asked eagerly as she rested her forelegs on the couch to look up at me.
“Uh how would you do that? Like use your imagination?” Bon Bon asked curiously as she sat down next to me.
“I was thinking setting the clubhouse on fire.”
Bon Bon and I exchanged shocked looks as Apple Bloom glared at Sweetie. Her suggesting arson was probably the last thing I had anticipated.
“We ain’t settin our clubhouse on fire! We got our stuff and all in it! Plus, it was mah sisters when she was a filly!” Apple Bloom said sternly as she rubbed a hoof against her chin. “Ah think we can set the kitchen on fire though. Y’all ain’t using it, right?”
Apple Bloom looked at us as Bon Bons face turned red as a tomato. I bit back a comment as Bon Bon inhaled.
“We are not setting your clubhouse on fire, we aren’t setting my kitchen on fire either!” Bon Bon said sternly as Apple Bloom opened her mouth. “And no, we aren’t burning down Spoiled Richs house either!” Apple Bloom closed her mouth as I snickered quietly behind a hoof.
“Darn it,” Apple Bloom mumbled as Scootaloo and Dinkys laughter echoed down the hall. “Ah really thought y’all woulda been chomping at the bit on that one.”
“Going to jail for arson isn’t exactly my idea of a good time,” I answered as Sweetie removed her hooves and sat down on the floor. “I’d prefer to play my lyre or sleep or well do anything except avoid a jail sentence. I’ve already been inside a jail cell once. I’m not too eager to do it again.”
“What?” Bon Bon echoed as she stared at me with shock written on her face. “You’ve never told me about this!”
“Never asked.”
“Oh I’m sorry that I never asked if you went to jail when we started dating! Not exactly a question to randomly ask somepony!”
“Fair point. Now who wants to play some games!”
I collapsed on the couch as Bon Bon watched with a glass of lemonade, hiding a smirk behind her glass as my chest rose and fell. Those fillies were insane balls of energy and all feed off each other.
“Now I know how Cheerilee feels,” I panted out as I stretched out a hoof, letting my tongue fall out of my mouth and rolled my head to the side. “I’m dead Bon Bon! Heart attack!”
“Don’t even joke like that,” Bon Bon snapped as she glared at me. “You know how I feel about that.”
“Did somepony say heart attack?” Scootaloo shouted as she, Sweetie and Apple Bloom ran in with Dinky hot on their hooves. “Get the first aid kit. We’re gonna say Lyra. Dinky, start cpr.”
“H-hey wait!” I protested as Dinky pressed her tiny hooves and started pressing down on my chest as I laughed at the feeling of them. It tickled more than anything.
“Hey stop!” Bon Bon shouted as she pulled Dinky off me. “No cpr, no first aid kit and no saws! Why do we even have a saw, Lyra? She was just playing around, Lyra is fine.”
Bon Bon set Dinky down as the fillies crowded around me with unconvinced looks.
“Are you sure she’s alright? Mom always said to help ponies in need, no matter who they are,” Dinky said as she pressed her horn against mine and I jumped at the static.
“Yeah she’s fine. Lyra does these dumb pranks often. You guys hungry?” Bon Bon asked with a knowing look. Please Celestia let them be hungry. I’ve been chasing them all over the house and getting chased.
“Yeah!” The four all shouted as Dinky hugged me.
“Yes please,” Dinky smiled as she released me.
“Hey what are these?” Apple Bloom asked curiously as she emerged from our bedroom with two of our adult toys. Bon Bon and I gawked in horror with growing blushes.
“I thought you put them up!” Bon Bon shouted at me with red cheeks.
“You said you would!”
“We can use them as swords!” Sweetie chirped as she took one shakily in her magic as she and Apple Bloom started hitting them against each other.
“Stop that! Now!” I shouted with a blush as I took them in my magic and tossed them in our room, locking the door from the inside as I pulled the four fillies in front of us. “Don’t tell anypony what you saw. Don’t tell your mom or sisters that you found those. You’re too young.”
“What were they?” Scootaloo asked curiously. “I’ve never seen swords like that. I thought swords were made of metal, not rubber.”
“Not happening. They’re uh training swords!” Bon Bon said hastily as we made eye contact nervously. “Now who’s hungry, eh?”
I pray to Celestia nopony finds out about this. I never knew the cutie mark crusaders were this crazy. Based on the look Bon Bon gave me, nor did she.
I yawned as I sat up in bed, rubbing my eyes with a hoof.
“Good morning,” Bon Bon muttered as I looked at her with wide eyes. “I’m kinda pinned down at the moment.” I resisted the urge to make a dirty joke as I levitated the four fillies sleeping on her barrel as she gave me a grateful nod. “For a pair of fillies who doesn’t eat much, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle weigh a lot. This wasn’t the most comfortable way to sleep.”
“I bet,” I chuckled as I levitated the fillies onto the floor under their blankets. When they got in bed with us, I’ll never know. They had been asleep on the floor when we went to sleep. “You want me to get started on breakfast while you tidy up?”
“I’ll do breakfast. The last time you tried to cook, you almost set the kitchen on fire. And then we would have had to get the cmc firefighters to put it out” Bon Bon smirked as she slid out of bed onto her hooves and trotted to the door.
“Gee thanks.”
The door opened and closed quietly as I sighed, staring at the fillies as I rolled out of the bed, hitting my face on the floor and gave a low groan as I rubbed my face with a hoof.
“Ow. Alright fillies, time to wake up,” I shook the fillies with my magic as they all groaned and opened their eyes. “Bon Bon is making breakfast, we have to take three of the four of you home, drop Scootaloo off at Octavia’s and then I have an appointment with Bon Bon.”
“For what?” Scootaloo asked as she yawned and stood up. I opened the door where the smell of pancake batter snuck up the stairs as I lead the fillies down into the living area.
“Visiting a less than fortunate filly just like yourself. Maybe you’ll be meeting her shortly.”
“Do I know her?” Scootaloo asked curiously as we sat down at the table.
“I think so? I’m not sure.”
“Mom says I’m not allowed too many sweets for breakfast,” Dinky said as I levitated plates and cups to the room. “Says it makes me overly hyper for the rest of the day.”
“We know. Proud of you for telling us. Most fillies wouldn’t,” Bon Bon said as she entered the room with a plate of pancakes and hay bacon on her back. I levitated the tray to the middle of the table as we waited for the kids to get their breakfast before we got our own food.
“You’re a good cook,” Sweetie Belle chirped as she drank from her orange juice glass. “Wish I was. I almost burnt the kitchen down the last time I tried.”
Bon Bon chuckled as she drank from her coffee mug as I smirked faintly.
“Thanks kid. You can come anytime and we will try to teach ya.”
“Really?” Sweetie asked eagerly.
“Really.”
Bon Bon and I trotted into the orphanage as I glanced around looking for Liza. I really hoped she was still here. I know that sounds kinda bad saying I hoped a filly was in an orphanage but it’s complicated.
A baby blue blur startled us as the blur attached itself to my foreleg and I looked down at Liza’s bright purple eyes.
“Hi!” Liza grinned as I patted her back with my free leg.
“Hey kid!” I grinned as Liza let go to hug Bon Bon. Bon Bon returned it as we lead the tiny unicorn to a nearby table.
“You guys haven’t been to see me in a while. Thought you guys forgot about me,” Liza chuckled nervously as she tapped her hooves on the table. “You guys didn’t, did you?”
“Of course not!” Bon Bon reassured her as she grabbed the tiny hooves with her own. “We just had a lot of changes go on. We found a homeless filly we’ve been temporarily looking after. It’s been difficult getting her situated.”
“Oh,” Liza sighed as I looked at Bon Bon with a raised eyebrow.
“We got something big planned. Just you wait and see!” I said with a large grin. “You’re gonna love it. Trust me. Why don’t you show Bon Bon what you showed me last time while I go talk to Heat Wave, deal?”
“Deal!” Liza said happily as the filly evidently forget she was upset. She grabbed Bon Bons hoof and dragged my protesting marefriend away.
I trotted to the nearby office and knocked on it as it pushed up to reveal a red unicorn with a red mane and a red quill cutie mark. She glanced up and waved me in.
“Hey Heat Wave,” I forced a smile as I sat across from her.
“Lyra.”
I gulped nervously at her stern tone. Normally she was way more jovial and friendly.
“What’s up with you? You seem more annoyed than usual.”
“Yeah well when ponies come into my orphanage and jerk my fillies and colts around into giving them false hope they’ll be adopted, I tend to get annoyed. You’re playing with that filly like a plaything and it’s wrong.”
“That is not even close to what we’re doing!” I snapped and slammed a hoof on the table as Bon Bon glanced over with a raised eyebrow as Liza showed her some paintings she did. “We aren’t bad ponies who hurt others for fun. We’re serious about taking Liza. Give me the paperwork, have somepony come to our house to do the evaluations and we will come get her when we are accepted.”
Heat Wave examined me with narrowed eyes as I gulped nervously yet again. She levitated a large folder out of a nearby cabinet and set it in front of me. She pulled it back as I reached for it with a hoof and I glared at her. I will admit it was very rare for me to get angry but it happens. Especially when I get accused of being a jerk.
“Don’t make me regret this. One more time and I will not let you back in here,” she warned as she let the folder go.
I gave a nod as I pulled the folder to me with my magic and bounced out of the room, eager to tell Bon Bon.
“So what exactly do we do?” I asked as I flung my hind legs out of the edge of the couch as Bon Bon and Cheerilee examined the paper Heat Wave gave us at the orphanage. We had asked Cheerilee for help because she was better at legal documents than us.
“Basically you sign all these, give your ID to these ponies. They do background checks, check your records. They don’t want to give ponies to abusive homes or ponies with bad records. You get your house examined. Safety and all that. I recommend you keep the knives locked away, keep any other weapons locked up and any adult items locked too,” Cheerilee said as she tapped a hoof on the spread out papers.
“Okay. Sounds managable,” I mused as I tossed a bouncy ball up and down with my magic. “I’ve been in jail for a day. Would that affect us at all?”
“Yes Lyra, do tell us what you were in jail for,” Bon Bon smirked as she looked at me expectantly. Cheerilee raised an eyebrow as she too looked at me and I looked around for a way out.
“Oh I forgot to pay a ticket. Jaywalking back when I was in college.” There may have been alcohol involved too but it was such a small amount, who cares? Not even the police pony cared. Benefits of blowing under the legal limit.
“You should be fine. That’s such a minor thing. They won’t care about that.”
“You went to college?”
“I’m not as stupid as you two think you know?” I scoffed as I rolled my eyes. Bon Bon and Cheerilee made sputtering sounds as Cheerilee wrapped a hoof around me.
“We never thought you were stupid.”
“Ever,” Bon Bon added as she hugged me.
“But uhm yeah your ticket problem shouldn’t cause any issues.”
“Thank Celestia,” I muttered as I started signing papers with Bon Bon for the next hour. Bon Bon gave a satisfied sound as she spat her pen out.
“You know, you made that jail story sound way more interesting than it actually turned out to,” Bon Bon commented as she stretched. “I expected something a bit more exciting, considering how wild our life can get with all the random adventures we end up on.”
“Would you rather I lie?”
“No,” Bon Bon admitted after a moment of silence. “We agreed after the incident. No secrets.”
“The incident?” Cheerilee asked with a raised eyebrow as she drank some of the lemonade Bon Bon had offered her earlier. We were a lemonade enthusiast household. Lemonade of all time was drank her, alcoholic and non alcoholic.
“It’s complicated. It happened during the wedding incident with the bug bear,” Bon Bon said nervously as she peeked out the window. “Nothing well super serious.”
“Okay so we’re done with the paperwork right?” I asked hopefully. Cheerilee gave a low chuckle as she shook her head, pointing a hoof to a stack of untouched papers.
Bon Bon and I looked at each other as we groaned.
“I swear I’m gonna die,” I grumbled as I paced back and forth in front of the window. It had been five days since we submitted all the paperwork. Bon Bon and I had been up late into the night, getting everything sorted out.
Cheerilee had wanted to stay and help but she had work the next day. Now we were waiting for the inspection pony. Scootaloo was temporarily at Cheerilees along with some items of hers.
Cheerilee had went off on us both about not telling anypony about Scootaloo and the legality of it. Or well, the lack of legality of it. Something about it technically being ponynapping and could not let us keep Liza.
“You know pacing is a sign of turmoil, a sign of coping with anxiety, great memory aid, improve cognitive function with time, signs of being overwhelmed, restless or agitated?”
I stared at Bon Bon as she sat on the couch with a book in confusion.
“I’m going to act like I know half of what the hell you just said and move on with my day.”
Bon Bon groaned as a knock paused my pacing as we both glanced at the door. I hastily opened it with my magic and smiled warmly at the mare.
“Hi!”
“Hello. I’m here to inspect your home for adoption,” the mare said as I let her inside. “I’m Golden Justice. Shall we begin?”
We nodded as we followed her around the house. She peeked in each room, writing on her clipboard and occasionally messing with doors and other items in the rooms.
“Who’s room is this?” Golden Justice asked as she walked into Scootaloos room and examined the decently sized room with the bunk bed.
“It’s a room we made for a filly,” Bon Bon said with a forced smile. Technically it wasn’t a lie. It was made for a filly, just not Liza. We originally planned on having her sleep with us before we decided to give her a room. Privacy and all.
Golden Justice nodded in approval as she wrote on her clipboard.
“Alright let’s go down to the kitchen and discuss your results.”
She followed us down the stairs as we faced her in the kitchen.
“So? How did we do?” Bon Bon asked hopefully as she drank some water.
“I’m sorry,” Golden Justice sighed as we both looked down before she smiled. “You passed. I did see minor problems that need to be fixed. Bathroom needs the shower curtain fixed, the soap holder is broken, the kitchen needs the knives put in a safer place and the fillies room needs a lock on it. But as I said, minor problems. I’ll drop the paperwork off at the office so you two can get started on getting Liza adopted.”
We watched as she left out the door and gently shut it behind her. We shifted our focus to each other with wide eyes.
“We did it?” I muttered under my breath. “We actually fucking did it.” We jumped around the living room with probably the biggest shit eating grins anypony has ever seen.
“You’re damn right we did it,” Bon Bon grinned as she wrapped her hooves around me. “Now let’s go sleep. I’m exhausted. Cheerilee did offer to look after Scootaloo for the night.”
I gave a nod as I used my magic to drag Bon Bon to the couch. Sleeping on the couch had a odd appeal to it.
Author's Note
Be sure to check this out! https://www.fimfiction.net/group/217012/sunsets-and-the-others-lives/thread/524796/future-stories
I also found out at about 12 or so (currently 2 am at the time this gets uploaded), that French fries shrink in the oven. Who fucking knew?
“I honestly thought there would be more stuff we have to do,” Bon Bon said as we trotted through the store and I tossed some random stuff into the cart I pushed with my magic.
“Me too. I’ve never adopted before.”
“Well obviously,” Bon Bon rolled her eyes as she added biscuits to the cart. “Neither of us have. What was Liza’s favorite food again?”
“Bananas, apples, pears the like. And hay lasagna.”
“And strawberries?”
“Yes. And strawberries,” I smirked as we passed the toy aisle. I trotted into it and looked around as Bon Bon groaned before following. “Oh my Luna!”
“What is it?” Bon Bon asked with an eye roll. I levitated a plush of a walrus.
“For Scootaloo!” I explained at her confused expression. “She likes them.”
I tossed it and a few other toys in the cart as I stopped with even wider eyes and grinned. Bon Bon slammed a hoof into her face as I added a human to the cart.
“I thought we were getting the fillies toys, not you.”
“Bon Bon, this is a rare one! The King was only packed and sold in a few places. He’s one of the few I’m missing!” I exclaimed as Bon Bon rolled her eyes. “I haven’t gotten any My Little Human in months either so.”
“Fine,” Bon Bon sighed as I turned away to push the cart. I ignored the sound of something being tossed into the cart and being covered by the sounds of rummaging. “Let’s just go check out and go home.”
Thank Celestia for that. Grocery story shopping is so boring. The only good part is the toy aisle. My Little Human was probably the most well known comic series in all of Equestria. One day, I will meet a real life human. One day, Celestia damn it.
I yawned as I laid on my stomach on the couch as Bon Bon sat reading a book. Scootaloo had passed out surprisingly fast, something about crusading all day and it being exhausting.
“You should talk to Princess Twilight. Maybe she could help us with Scootaloo,” Bon suggested as she turned a page. I scoffed and rolled my eyes.
“Absolutely not. She’s not my friend after all.”
“Are you seriously still holding a grudge against her?” Bon Bon asked incredulously. “That drama happened like what, four years ago?”
“Ah yes her just straight up abandoning Moondancer on a party she worked her flank off for and running off to Ponyville. And then has the nerve to make friends and act like we never were her friends,” I grumbled and folded my forelegs. “Sure, she reconnected with Moondancer and the others but we live down the street from her. I don’t see her coming to visit or reconnect.”
“Maybe she doesn’t know?” Bon Bon offered.
“She knows. I wrote Lemon Hearts a letter and Lemon confirmed Twilight knows I live in Ponyville.”
“Maybe she’s busy?”
“She’s the princess of friendship,” I pointed out. “Her so called friend should be on the top of her list. Not like she ever really cared about us in the first place.”
The only one who really cared was Spike. Love the little guy. He’s like the younger brother I never had. He and I spend time together all the time when he comes to visit. Plus, Bon Bon likes him too.
“You do know that when you were knocked out in the hospital after the changeling invasion, Twilight was one of the first ponies other than me to visit you. She alternated between you, Minuette and Twinkleshine. We talked a lot.”
“No,” I admitted and traced a hoof on the couch cushion. “Remember, I was knocked out? I hated that damn hospital. Stupid doctors fighting me.”
“You can’t really blame them. They don’t blame you either. You were still technically under Chrysalis’ mind control and tried to kill them all,” Bon Bon pointed out as I gritted my teeth. I hated that bug.
“True. Doesn’t make me feel any better,” I grumbled as I shuddered. “At least Lemon Hearts didn’t get mind controlled. It was awful. I could see what I was doing but I couldn’t stop it. Imagine if I tried to fight a filly. I would have killed her.”
“What filly would have been down there in the caverns?” Bon Bon demanded as she stared at me. “We’re getting off topic. Sure, Twilight made a mistake when she abandoned you girls but she clearly regrets. If she didn’t, she wouldn’t have reached out to the others. She wouldn’t have had you three put in the same room and sleep on the floor when you three were in the hospital alongside me. She wouldn’t have invited us to the castle for Hearths Warming every year. She wouldn’t have sent us anniversary gifts every year. She makes mistakes still but she’s just a pony like you or me or Derpy. She’s your friend, even if you don’t consider her one. If she truly didn’t care about you all, she wouldn’t have a picture of you girls in the castle. She wouldn’t have a picture of me and you in the castle either.”
“Wow, you’re a really good speech giver. Have you thought about politics?”
“No. Politicians are liars and thieves. No offense to the mayor of course but she’s a politician. They all want a win to push themselves up the food chain.”
Well, she got me there I’ll admit. Thank Celestia Mayor Mare wasn’t here to hear that. I’m not sure about what she would have done in retaliation. I glanced back at Bon Bon and shrugged in response.
“So will you at least try to forgive Twilight? I treated you worse when I had to keep my identity from you and you forgave me for it. Sure, it took a few nights but you did it. It’s been at least five years with Twilight.”
“I don’t know Bon Bon. I just don’t know.”
“Well you better figure it our fast because we are going tomorrow morning. And you’re coming with me or you’re sleeping on the couch.”
I groaned and nodded. The couch is not the most comfortable place to sleep on.
“Do I have to do this?” I groaned as Bon Bon dragged me with my tail in her mouth.
“Yes you do,” she grumbled and dropped me unceremoniously on the castle door steps.
“Can’t we just send her a letter?”
“We literally live down the street as you said last night. Why would we send a letter for that? That’s a waste of a stamp and a good envelope. Don’t even get me started on the paper.”
“Fine,” I sighed and knocked on the door.
“I mean Fluttershy already visits me everyday trying to get me to stop using so much plastic wrapping for my candies,” Bon Bon continued as I waited for the door to open and her to finish. “The last thing I need is her to visit me at home too. I can see it now. Her knocking on the door, me opening it and her giving me the sad puppy dog eyes you see in those anti animal abuse commercials in the newspapers while asking me why I’m killing trees.”
“Wow,” I said after a moment of silence as I made eye contact with her. “You’ve really put thought into this.”
“Sorry. My imagination kinda ran wild for a bit there.”
“Don’t be,” I smirked as I kissed her forehead. “It’s hot. Kinda want to see what else your imagination can get up to.”
“Down girl,” Bon Bon giggled with a blush. “Save that for when we aren’t in public and when hopefully the fillies are asleep.”
“Fine,” I grumbled as the door opened and we both smiled at the small dragon. “Hey Spike!”
“Hey Lyra. Hey Bon Bon,” Spike yawned and waved with his free hand as he drank from the coffee in his other.
“Hey Spike,” Bon Bon said and rubbed his head spikes. “Is Princess Twilight around?”
“Yeah this way. She’s been up all night for Celestia knows why. She’s currently four coffees in. Speaking of coffee, I need a ninth cup,” Spike grumbled as he lead us inside and I shut the door with my magic. “She’s in the library. You know where it is?”
I nodded as he waddled off and we wandered the castle till we found the library. Mainly me stalling and killing time.
“You know Golden Harvest has a thing for Spike?” I asked suddenly with my hooves resting on the doors. “Noi has been trying to set them up after Spike apparently called Golden pretty.”
“Huh,” Bon Bon mused and rubbed a hoof against her chin. “What happened to Rarity?”
“Who knows? Rarity seems a bit unpredictable to put it nicely. From going around hitting on Celestia’s nephew to hitting on Spike that one time to then just leaving him out on the door step,” I said and shook my head. “I wouldn’t entirely blame Spike for calling it quits.”
“True. You’re stalling.”
I sighed in frustration and pushed the library doors open. I could never get anything past that mare, no matter how hard I tried.
Twilight sat on a pillow throne next to a bunch of books as she wrote down something with a quill. She looked up as the doors shut and smiled.
“Lyra, Bon Bon. Nice to see you two. How can I help you?” Twilight asked as she shut her book.
“Princess,” I bowed my head slightly and groaned quietly.
“You can skip that. We’re friends after all are we not?” Twilight laughed as she sat down in front of us on the ground.
“Yeah friends,” I laughed nervously and felt Bon Bons gaze boring into my side.
“What can I do for you two?” Twilight asked as her ears flattened a bit.
“So we found Scootaloo recently sleeping in the cutie mark crusaders clubhouse because she’s homeless,” Bon Bon answered as Twilight gasped. “And well we already are taking in another filly. But we like Scootaloo as well and are worried about the well legality of us having her in the house without her technically being given to us.”
“I see,” Twilight mused as she flapped up to a bookshelf. “It’s technically legal in a way. You were saving a life so no pony really would prosecute for it. I certainly have no interest in pressing charges.”
“Why does it matter if you press charges?” I asked as Twilight sat back down.
“Technically it’s my job as the resident princess. Sure FPS has a lot of sway with things but I have the final say. And since I’m the Princess of Friendship, I don’t have any issue with punishing you or your marefriend. Especially for helping a filly I know quite well.”
“Thank you,” Bon Bon bowed her head slightly. “I had hoped for that answer.”
“Of course. Does Rainbow Dash know?” Twilight asked curiously as my marefriend and I looked at each other before shaking our heads. “Interesting. Are you not telling her because you’re afraid of her taking Scootaloo first or keeping Scootaloo safe?”
That was a good question. Neither of us really knew the answer if I’m being honest. I’d like to see Rainbow try and take her. She can fly but I have magic.
“Both I guess,” I admitted and kicked the crystal floor. “If Rainbow truly was her sister figure, you think she would have known about Scootaloo being homeless. Rainbow is messy, careless and often rude. She doesn’t really seem like a positive influence on a young filly.”
“But she’s also the element of loyalty and drops whatever she’s doing for her friends,” Twilight pointed out. “That seems like a pretty good role model to me. She also helped Scootaloo when she had nightmares on the camping trip with Rarity and Applejack.”
“So just because she’s an element of harmony just automatically wipes all her negative characteristics?” I snapped as Twilight recoiled and Bon Bon placed a hoof on my back. “Good to know that you all automatically get all your bad parts of your personality ignored, princess . I wish I was an element of harmony then, I could get away with anything apparently. This was a mistake coming here and asking for help if you’re just going to defend somepony for lacking. Let’s go Bon Bon.”
I stood up and teleported us outside the castle before Twilight could say a thing. Bon Bon groaned as she staggered on her hooves and I trotted off. Okay, maybe I got overly upset but I hate when ponies make excuses.
“I’m sorry,” I said quietly as she caught up to. “I know you really wanted us to get help but I hate when ponies defend others reckless behavior. I’ll bring my pillow and blanket down the couch tonight.”
“I know. Maybe we can try again in a few days when you’ve calmed down. You can sleep with me tonight. You need it,” Bon Bon as she nuzzled me. “But who knows, maybe she will visit us and sort it out?” I rolled my eyes as I nuzzled her back slowly.
I hope not. She can stay away for a bit.
“You excited?” I asked curiously as I glanced down at the smaller unicorn trotting alongside me. Liza nodded as I carried a few of her bags in my magic and the rest of her belongings in my saddlebags.
“Yeah!” Liza grinned as she blushed a bit. “Where’s Bon Bon?”
“She’s at home getting your room ready. You’re gonna be sharing a room with another filly till we get the basement room finished.”
“Oh okay,” Liza shrugged as she yawned.
“Tired?” I asked with a knowing smile. It had taken half the morning to sign all the adoption paperwork. Bon Bon had been there but quickly left to get the room setup while I got Liza ready to go.
“Yeah. Do you have any pets?”
“Not really. Bonnie is allergic to dog fur so we don’t have any dogs. Same with cats just to stay safe.”
“Makes sense I suppose,” Liza said casually as our house came into view. I opened the door with my magic and gestured for Liza to enter first. “Woah nice place.”
“Thanks,” Bon Bon called out from the living room as we glanced over at her. Bon Bon was sitting on the couch with a book about baking as she watched Scootaloo out of the corner of her eye, playing in the corner.
“Scootaloo?”
“Liza?”
The two gave each other confused looks as I smirked a bit.
“You two know each other I take it?” I asked as I settled down next to Bon Bon.
“Yeah I’m in Miss Cheerilees class with Scootaloo. I sit a few rows back next to Dinky and Alula.”
“Isn’t Alula like Cloudkickers daughter or something?” Scootaloo asked curiously as she cursed under her breath as her Jenga tower fell.
“No that’s her sister,” Bon Bon said and gave Scootaloo a dirty look. “Don’t curse. I heard that.”
“Sorry.”
“Forgiven. Now you’ll be sharing a room temporarily with Scootaloo till we get the basement room finished. Scootaloo, why don’t you take Liza up to your guys room and show her around?” Bon Bon suggested with a grin. “Me and Lyra will make dinner while you get her situated.”
“You got it!” Scootaloo grinned as she grabbed Liza’s hoof and dragged her upstairs.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” I asked curiously as the door shut.
“Absolutely. Now I’ll make dinner and you can play your lyre if you wish. I could use some music while I cook.”
I gave a nod and levitated my lyre off it’s stand in the center of the room and ran a hoof over the strings as music started to fill the house.
I sat on the couch and continued running my hoof over the strings as Bon Bon, Liza and Scootaloo listened. Bon Bon flipped a page of her book.
“You don’t use your magic to play?” Liza asked curiously as I gave a smug smile.
“Nope! I know it’s not common for a unicorn to prefer her hooves over magic for music but I do. Helps me get the right sound I want,” I boasted as a few knocks on the door made us all look over at it. It was dark outside and I’d venture a guess it was nine pm or so.
“I got it!” Scootaloo exclaimed as she scrambled off the couch and galloped to the door.
“I’m coming too!” Liza called out as she joined her and Liza climbed on Scootaloos back to reach the door handle.
“Oh hey Twilight!” Scootaloo exclaimed and presumably hugged the alicorn. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m here to see Lyra and Bon Bon. And you of course,” Twilight answered. “Can I come in?”
“Scootaloo, Liza, let her in please!” I called out and levitated my lyre back to it’s spot. Just because I’m frustrated with her doesn’t mean I won’t be a good host. Twilight trotted in and the door closed.
“Scootaloo, Liza, please go to your rooms. I’ll be right up,” Bon Bon instructed as Scootaloo groaned.
“But I want to see Twilight,” Scootaloo grumbled as Bon Bon pointed a hoof upstairs and the two fillies climbed the stairs and disappeared into their room.
“What can we do for you?” I asked and folded my forelegs across my chest.
“I haven’t been a good friend to you Lyra. I know that,” Twilight admitted as she sat across from us in a chair. “I didn’t mean to make you upset the other day. Rainbow can be brash and rude and well, loud but she means well. You and Bon Bon are good influences on Scootaloo but so is Rainbow. Rainbow would never teach the filly to do anything bad.”
“Uh huh. I may have over reacted,” I said sheepishly as I rubbed my neck. “But my point stands, just because she’s an element of harmony doesn’t mean she should be allowed to have Scootaloo taken from us.”
“That won’t happen,” Twilight said firmly and levitated something in front of us. “This grants you temporary guardianship of Scootaloo. Both of you. I’ll be visiting weekly to make sure she is safe. And if you wish, after ninety days you’re eligible to adopt her.”
“How did you even get this?” Bon Bon asked incredulously as we confirmed the authenticity of the document.
“The pony in charge of the FPS owed me a favor. Figured now was a good time to collect. Never really planned on using it in the first place except now,” Twilight admitted and rolled her hoof.
“Thank you,” Bon Bon said and put the paper in a frame we had sitting on the table.
“Can I see Scootaloo? And the other filly?” Twilight asked hopefully.
“Scootaloo! Liza! Come down here please!” I called out and the two shot down the stairs.
“Hey Scootaloo,” Twilight smiled and levitated something out of her saddlebags. “I didn’t know there was another filly here so I expect you two to share this.” Twilight levitated the stuffed dolphin onto the floor and nodded.
“Ooh did Sea Swirl make this?” I asked curiously as Liza examined it.
“Didn’t make it. She did have extras from work she wanted me to give you and Bon Bon,” Twilight answered as I nodded.
“Ah.”
“And who are you?” Twilight asked curiously and levitated Liza onto her lap. “I’m Twilight, I went to school with Lyra as a filly.”
“Really? I’m Liza Doolots.”
“Nice to meet you,” Twilight smirked as she bounced her leg. “I’ll be back on Tuesday next week to finish up and talk to Scootaloo a bit more. Where she came from, the like.”
“Sounds good,” I sighed and traced a hoof on the couch. “Thanks Twilight. You can uh stay the night if you wish.”
“Thanks Lyra. I wouldn’t miss spending time with these two for nothing,” Twilight commented as Liza jumped off her lap. “And you too Bon Bon.”
“No problem. Now me and Lyra need to have a quick conversation upstairs if you don’t mind watching the two fillies please,” Bon Bon said as Twilight nodded. I followed Bon Bon upstairs to our room and closed the door. “I’m proud of you. You finally got over that drama, right?”
“Right,” I admitted sheepishly. “She didn’t have to help us but she did.”
“Good. Now cast your sound proof spell thingy please.”
My horn glowed and the room went dark. Thank Celestia for magic.
Author's Note
Fun fact, I'm a huge Grand Theft Auto and Rockstar fan. Some leaked documents from Microsoft and Xbox confirmed the game is coming next year and yaah, I'm excited.