Watermelody yawned as she rolled out of her bed, pausing to look in the mirror as she took in her appearance. Her mane was sticking up in various places.

“Urgh,” Watermelody groaned quietly and reached for a mane brush sitting on her dresser. “That’s gonna take forever to fix.”

She started dragging her brush through her mane, wincing occasionally as she had to apply more pressure to get some knots out. She continued brushing it till it resembled her normal style as she tossed her beret on top.

“Makeup or no makeup?” Watermelody muttered to herself as she started rummaging through drawers. She cared a lot about her image compared to most of her friends. “Makeup it is. Everypony likes to look nice.”

She flicked her ear and briefly looked outside at some ponies walking on the street outside. The sun was just starting to rise and Watermelody didn’t necessarily consider a morning pony but it was always helpful to beat the competition to get the best business stall spot downtown. Watermelody had no intention of giving up her place to some of the other artists in the town. The three there was, of course.

Watermelody finished applying her makeup and posed briefly in front of the mirror with a smirk and rested a hoof on the back of her head. She didn’t consider herself arrogant in any way, but she had to admit she looked good.

She gave a sigh as she looked around her empty room. Watermelody hated to admit it, but her house was quiet. Too quiet. It was only her who lived her after all. Soarin visited occasionally when he could, which she always liked his visits.

I could use a pet Watermelody thought to herself as she continued trotting through her house to the kitchen.

Sunset sat in her kitchen, idly levitating spoon fulls of cereal into her mouth as she reread the letter Wallflower had given her last month. To her left sat a fresh piece of paper and quill with an envelope. Even without opening the letter, she had known who it was from. Lyra always did have a perfect type of writing that she secretly loved reading.

Dear Sunny,
It’s been too freaking long since I’ve sent a letter. Been busy being lazy at home, hanging out with Bon Bon. She sends her best wishes, by the way. She’s doing well. The candy store is doing well. I provide the entertainment, of course. I am the best at playing the lyre. How you been? Derpy told me all about you being some weird element thingy. I’m honestly not surprised you got laughter. You always did have a crazy sense of humor that rivaled me and Minuette. Oh! Minuette is dating Berry Punch! You remember her? Mulberry colored earth mare, cute unicorn filly? Yeahhhhh. Doing long distance apparently. I heard Twilight became some element thingy too. I can’t even imagine how you got her of all ponies to open up. I remember how annoying she was about books. Don’t get me wrong, I like books too. Preferably comics and coloring books. Bon Bon is currently complaining about my letter saying I’m going all over the place with it but meh, what does she know?

Sunset snickered and traced a hoof over a small ink spill. If she knew those two, Bon Bon most likely whapped Lyra on the back of the head in retaliation for that comment. Sunset could imagine Lyra fighting back. Bon Bon was probably one of the most confusing ponies Sunset knew. Quiet on the outside but when she got going, she was surprisingly playful.

I know what you’re thinking and yes, Bon Bon did give me a light tap for that. I gave her it back though. Anyway! I hope you and your mare are doing well. We should set up you three come visit or we come there. I hope Spike is doing well. I miss that little dude. I’m still doing my research into humans. I’m certain I’m getting close. One day. One day, I’ll prove I was right and all who laughed at me will be regretting doing so. Lemon Hearts got promoted earlier this week at the castle to Head Event Staff. She was pretty excited about it. Twinkleshine saw Shining Armor the other day. Talk about a shocker. He’s a captain in the Royal Guard now. I hope Spitfire and Blaze are doing okay. Derpy told me about the Silver Spoon issue. Surprised you didn’t kill the ponies who took her. Joking, of course. I know you wouldn’t ever kill. I hope you come back soon for a visit. Ponyville misses you and more importantly, I miss you. I left a picture of me and Bon Bon in the envelope for you to put on your wall. I know how you like having pictures. Let me know if you wanna meet up sometime soon “big sis”.

With love, Lyra Heartstrings :).

Sunset smiled faintly at the picture next to the letter as she examined it closely. Lyra and Bon Bon were sitting on a bench with Bon Bons foreleg around Lyra’s neck. A few words were scribbled on the bottom of the picture that Sunset vaguely identified as the the date the picture was taken.

Sunset enveloped the picture in her magic, levitating it up to a picture frame as she slide it in the frame before hanging it up on the wall followed the letter in it’s own frame.

She smiled at them before focusing on her own letter as she stated to write.

Lyra paced back and forth in her living room as Bon Bon watched with a small smile from the couch.

“Lyra dear, sit down please. You’re gonna tire yourself out,” Bon Bon patted the couch cushion.

“I will when Sunny sends me a letter,” Lyra grumbled and her horn glowed gold as she pulled the blinds down with a similar golden color as her eyes flicked up and down the street. “Where in Celestia’s name is Derpy?”

“Lyra, Sunset can send a letter straight to you, remember love?” Bon Bon pointed out flatly. “Sit. Now. Flank on couch.”

Lyra grudgingly obeyed and sat down next to her marefriend and rested her head on Bon Bons shoulder as the two continued watching a random romance show Bon Bon enjoyed on the tv.

“Oh come on!” Bon Bon shouted and flung her forelegs up. “You idiot! She loves you! Kiss the mare already!”

Lyra raised an eyebrow as she lazily watched Bon Bon continue to shout at the TV as Lyra smirked slightly. Bon Bon got surprisingly vocal about her romance shows and novels.

“This is ridiculous. I can’t watch this anymore,” Bon Bon scoffed and rolled her eyes. “Shut it off please.”

“You’re going to be watching this tomorrow morning when I wake up. You always do this. It’s the same song and dance,” Lyra commented casually and levitated some pops from the kitchen.

“I do not!” Lyra simply raised an eyebrow again at Bon Bon as the cream mare blushed faintly and nuzzled Lyra. “Okay, maybe you’re right.”

“I know I am.”

“Shush you.”

Lyra smirked at her as a letter popped above their heads and landed with a thud on the coffee table.

“Yes!” Lyra screamed and Bon Bon jumped. “She responded! After a month!”

“She’s the princess’ student. She’s a busy mare.”

“Yeah, yeah!”

“Now please open the letter would you. She’s my friend too, after all.”

Wallflower locked her door and opened a drawer as she set down some paint, a drawing she had made of a microphone and hair dye she had picked up from the drug store along with some contacts.

It was almost midnight as she started to dye her hair a tan color tied off in a pony tail. She was grateful that the drug store sold hair dye made by unicorns to make the result appear faster.

“Ahh ahhhh,” Wallflower practiced a few times in the mirror. “I need to make my voice sound a bit deeper. If anypony I know is there, they’ll recognize my voice instantly.”

Wallflower had a secret ability of doing all types of voices. She used it to act out various stories when Dinky was just a foal still. She could change her voice to be super high pitched to deep enough to rival a stallions voice. She just had to get the perfect mix.

“Paint brush,” Wallflower held it in her hoof and started painting over her potted plant cutie mark slowly to make it perfect. She didn’t want to be caught doing what she was about to do. Nothing illegal, of course. She didn’t do illegal activities. Except the occasional jay walking. “Looking good Wallflower. Reallllll good.”

Wallflower giggled behind a hoof before focusing on her left flank, gently brushing the same microphone over her other potted plant.

“Humph. I still like my potted plant cutie mark more than a microphone. I need a name,” Wallflower mused aloud as she faintly made out Rufus snoring loudly in the other room and she giggled again. Her eyes flicked a plant growing on her window sill. It was a black flower and her eyes widened slightly. “A royal serenity. Good enough alias as any.”

Wallflower gave a final look over in the mirror before she applied her bright blue contacts before trotting out the door.

Author's Note

Name: Lyra Heartstrings.

Age: 26.

Nicknames: Ly-Ly, Strings, Harp, Sis.

Status: Alive.

Bio: Lyra is a friendly unicorn who attended Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. She is the only daughter of two high ranking Canterlot nobles. She is easily excitable and often can be found hitting up bars around Canterlot and Ponyville. Lyra often has to be walked home with Bon Bon or her cousin, Noteworthy. She, Vinyl and Pinkie often work together and the three are considered trouble when together. She is the closest ally of Sunset and was her first friend. She and Sunset briefly dated as fillies and looks up to the mare as an older sister. Lyra is extremely adamant that humans exists, a fact that later is proven correct by Celestia. Current mare friend of Bon Bon. Lyra was one of Cadence's bridesmaid in the Canterlot Wedding. It is very rare for Lyra to get genuinely angry or mad. She briefly fought back against Tirek.

Abilities: Lyra may not possess many magical abilities, but she's highly agile and quick on her hooves. She made most of her spells herself, including a hand spell.

Allies: Sunset, Bon Bon, Twist, Derpy, Dinky, Silverspeed, Silver Spoon, Spitfire, Blaze, Twilight, Spike, Wallflower, Twinkleshine, Minuette, Lemon Hearts, Moondancer, Pinkie, Roseluck, Big Mac, Noteworthy, Celestia, Discord, Shoeshine, Watermelody, High Winds, Trixie, Celestia.

Enemies: Tirek, Chrysalis, Changelings, Sludge, Gilda, Discord (formerly).

Weaknesses: Lyra has a weakness anything mint flavored.

Notable quotes:

"Ay Sun-nay!"

"What's up!?"

"Let's hit the bars and get smashed!"

"You're so cool!"

"Humans do exist, damn it!"

"I love you both. You and Bon Bon are the closest friends I have."

"W-what are you?"

"Minuette, run!"

"Ahhh!"

"Bon Bon, get out of here. Leave Tirek to me. Take the kids and run. Fast as you can."

"Arghhh!"

"You're not going anywhere."