Clean Up Crew

by Fuedra

Rating: mature
Tags: Dark, Alternate Universe, Sad, Anthro, Romance
Length: 7872

"There are things that go bump in the night, and we are the ponies who bump back"

"The Clean Up Crew" the most hated post in all of the Adeptest Republic. At least that's what everypony who doesn't work the job says, but for the ponies that do, nothing could compare. They have what they consider the most important job in all of the Republic, there the ponies that keep all the monsters out of the cities, and no matter what your background, anypony can join up with the Crew. Some join to get away from it all, some join for vengeance, and others don't really know themselves, but all know their duty, and will lay down their lives to defend it. Like the motto says "there are things that go bump in the night, and we are the ponies who bump back."

Cation from the author:
Some but not all characters in this fic will be anthropomorphised, these anthropomorphised characters are part of a race called Ponytaurs, which will be explained latter in the fic.

Book Six in the Truth Behind Harmony: Expanded Universe Series.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2013-07-13 12:10:21 UTC

Hush Now...Quite Now...

Lyra cried, clutching close to the mare in front of her as tears leaked from her eyes. The mare rubbed her back slowly, singing softly as she hugged her close, not wanting to let go.

“Hush now quiet now its time to lay your sleepy head, hush now quiet now its time to go to bed.”

Lyra clung tighter, her arms shaking as she listened to the mares words.

“Hush now quiet now its time to lay you sleepy head, hush no w quiet now its time to go to bed.”

Lyra felt the mare push her away, and then looked down as the mare placed a gun into her hands.

“Drift drift off to sleep and leave the exciting day behind you; drift drift off to sleep that the joyous day might find you.”

The mare placed a hand on Lyra’s cheek, causing her to look up as she wiped away the blood that had smeared there, blood that had come from the bite wound on her neck.

“Hush now quiet now its time to lay your sleepy head, hush now quiet now its time to go to bed. Hush now quiet now its time to lay your sleepy head, hush now quiet now its time to go to bed.”

She gave one last smile to Lyra, and then nodded at her. Lyra sobbed hard, then lifted up the gun, pulling the trigger and shooting her mother through the head.

* * *

“Lyra! LYRA!”

Lyra opened her eyes, seeing the face of her new partner staring down at her, a look of annoyed concern stretched across her face.

“Well finally you fucking bitch,” said Bon-Bon, “I have been trying to get you up for the past fucking hour now, its time for us to head back to base.”

Lyra simply stared at her for a moment; then closed her eyes and sighed. “You go back to base yourself Bon-Bon; I want to stay here for a while longer.”

“What, you can’t do that it’s against regulations!”

Lyra groaned, fucking brilliant, HQ had to assign her a partner who didn’t even know her fucking clearance. “Look Bon-Bon, I know this whole partner thing is probably new for you, but I have different clearances then you do, so I can stay out in the field as long as I want. And before you ask-” I said, pointing a menacing finger at her, “-my clearance comes from the president herself. Just go back to base on your own ok, I’ll be fine.”

Bon-Bon looked like she wanted to argue, but for once the girl shut up and turned around, leaving Lyra with her thoughts. Lyra secretly cursed herself; she hated mentioning the president when she wanted to get her way, for it always made ponies uncomfortable around her. It wasn’t her fault that she happened to be President Mercury’s step daughter, she would be happy if everypony just treated her the same.

She sighed, getting up and pulling out her bow, knocking an arrow and looking for a decent target to pick off. A lot of the ponies thought she was crazy for never using guns, but they never voiced these opinions out loud for fear of the presidential hammer cracking down on their heads. They didn’t really have to worry though, the only thing her step mother had ever done was to help her get into this line of work in the first place, the rest of her clearances and training she had earned from the only pony who had not been skittish about the idea, Boss S.H.I.E.L.D.

She took in a deep breath, pulling back the bowstring as she thought of the old codger. He was the only pony in the entire boarder guard that treated her like normal soldier instead of the president’s daughter, making her work for all her privileges instead of giving them to her outright. He also saw her as a mare, which was good because when you were assigned to “The Cleanup Crew” as everypony called it, fuck-buddies became as much of a necessity as food and water, and nopony save Boss would touch her in that way, let alone look at her.

She finally found a group of monsters stalking through a nearby street, and so she took aim, drawing on the head of one as she began to whisper.

“Hush now quiet now its time to lay your sleepy head, hush now quiet now its time to go to bed.”

She then loosed her arrow, hitting it dead center while its fellows looked around in confusion. She pulled out another arrow, knocking it and drawing back the bowstring before speaking again, taking aim at another of the beasts.

“Hush now quiet now its time to lay your sleepy head, hush now quiet now its time to go to bed.”

Another fell, and again she pulled out another arrow, the next words on her lips before she even had the bowstring pulled back.

“Drift drift off to sleep and leave the exciting day behind you; drift drift off to sleep that the joyous day might find you.”

Two more fell, leaving one standing alone in the street looking afraid. She pulled out one last arrow, knocking it and drawing back the string, a tear sliding down her cheek as she uttered the last part of the lullaby.

“Hush now quiet now its time to lay your sleepy head, hush now quiet now its time to go to bed. Hush now quiet now its time to lay your sleepy head, hush now quiet now its time to go to bed.”

The final creature fell and she lowered her bow, tears falling down her face as she reached inside her jacket with her free hand, pulling out an old beat up locked. She lowered herself into a crouching position then, popping open the locket and tracing a finger around the picture inside, a small smile forming as she looked up into the smoke covered skies above her.

“Happy mothers day…mom…”

The Bonyway

Bon-Bon grumbled as she walked into the elevator, cursing herself for not knowing about her partners clearances. Every one knew Lyra Heartstrings, she was the best dam boarder guard that had ever joined, and when word had gotten out that she was to be assigned a new partner, she had fought hand over hoof to get the assignment. She had admittedly skipped over looking at her new partner’s paperwork, and now she was beating herself up for her reactions.

She finally reached the bottom floor, exiting out to the under city and making a bee line for her favorite karaoke bar, she needed to blow off some steam and singing always helped in that regard. As she walked she heard a call behind her, looking back to see Boss exiting another elevator and walking toward her. She stopped so he could catch up, smiling at him as he caught up to her.

“Well nice to see you Boss, I didn’t know you were back from the field.”

“I got stuck doing paperwork like usual, so when I heard that you had come back early I figured you would be heading down to the bar and thought I might join you. I was also curious with how things were going with Lyra now that your partners.”

Bon-Bon gave him a smirk, of course he wanted to know about Lyra. It was no small secret that he was the only guy in the entire core, Pony or ponytaur, that was willing to have relations with Lyra. That of coarse led a lot of ponies to believe that the two were lovers by some extension, but Bon-Bon knew better, the old codger just liked fucking babes who had power, and Lyra was practically a princess in every right.

“She seemed kind of out of it during boarder patrol, and when it was time to go she sent me back ahead of her, said she wanted to stay a while. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that would you?”

Boss chuckled knowingly, drawing a raised eyebrow from the mare beside him. “You know today’s mothers day right?” Bon-Bon nodded, “Lyra lost her mother to the feral on mother’s day, and so every mothers day she stays out in the field for the entire day and night, it’s of her way of dealing with the grief.”

Well that was a punch in the gut thought Bon-Bon, now she really felt shity. She shook her head and motioned for the old codger to follow her, she was definitely going to need a good round on the stage after hearing something like that.

* * *

She pulled the arrow out of the creature’s skull, wiping off the tip with a specially enchanted washcloth and then putting it back into her quiver, and then proceeded to pull out her roll out knife and surgical set and got to work. Despite the fact that the Feral were in essence uncontrollable monsters that feasted on pony flesh, their blood, organs and even their bones were highly valuable and could be used for many different things. She first used a needle to draw out what blood remained into vials she had on her, putting then into their case as she filled each one. After all the blood was drained she pulled out one of the knives, cutting open the flesh and peeling it away from the bones, wrapping up both the bones and organs in specially treated wrappings before opening up the magically enchanted pouch in her satchel and placing them all inside.

After she was finished she got up, putting away her kit and then running over to a nearby building, using the claws on her gloves and boots to climb up the wall so that she could get to the rooftops above. As she ran up the side she heard a screech from behind, and looked to see several runners speeding her way, their thin frames moving in exaggerated speed as they leaped from the building adjacent to hers, and she grinned. She reached to her left hip, pulling out the twin ninjato and running up to greet them.

She sliced the first one in half, using its lower half as a springboard to leap at the next one, cutting off both its arms as she flew past and latched onto the other building. She turned to see the creature smack into the side of the building, laughing as she watched it fall and splatter on the ground. But as she laughed she heard a roar above her, and looked up to see a brute leaping at her, intending to take her down to the ground below. She leaped off the building, using the boosters on her power armor to slow her descent as the monster crashed to the ground.

She landed on the ground, putting away her swords and leaped at the monster, punching it in the face as it tired to get back to its feet. As it shook of the blow, she dove under it, lifting it up and through ting it into a nearby car. It got back up, grabbing the car and throwing it at her, which she kicked out of the way before putting three arrows into each of its lungs. She watched it fight to breath, taking vindictive pleasure in watching it suffer before putting a final arrow in its heart.

She sighed after the beast feel, once again putting her bow away and taking to the roof tops. She needed a good run before she rested, and broken rooftops always provided the best terrain.

* * *

Bon-Bon sauntered up to the stage; the bar patrons cheering as they saw who was singing next. The guy at the turn tables gave her a wink, leaning over the mike to announce her.

“Fillies and gentle colts, for your listening pleasure I am pleased to announce the return of our beloved Bonyway!”

The bar erupted into cheers and whistles, Bon-Bon not even blushing as she grabbed the mike, beginning to sway to the music the DJ started up, and after a moment she began to sing.

(First Song)

She let her voice fill the room, using the magic held within it to stir the emotions of all the patrons. She was what everypony called a siren, a mare gifted with a magical voice that when used to sing, could influence others in various ways, from giving them a nice emotional boost to actually augmenting those that heard her if she put in enough energy.

Today she wanted to just give all the guys a boost, for most of them were from the boarder patrol, and she new the next best thing to a mare or stallion to bed was the gentle caress of her voice.

After she finished the first song, she bowed as they began to clap with a ferocious fever. When she finished bowing, she looked up to find Lyra standing near the entrance of the bar, a smile on her face. She watched as Lyra lifted her hand to her ear, and then heard a click as her built-in communicator turned on.

“You mind taking a request partner.”

Bon-Bon didn’t really know what to say, but she decided to cup her chin in her hand, which she knew nopony at the bar would think odd, she always took a little break when deciding the next song. She whispered into her palm, and then listened to the request, smiling and then giving her consent. She walked over to the DJ, telling him the song then returning to the stage, grabbing the mike again as the music started to play.

(Second Song)

She began to sing, but unlike the last time, she focused the majority of her power on Lyra. She still focused a bit of it on the other patrons, but she wanted it mostly to be for her, it was her request after all. She poured her heart and soul into the peace, making it a personal experience for both of them as she continued to sing, noting that it was having the desired effect on Lyra, her face flushed red as sweat ran down it.

After she finished she bowed as the crowed clapped, looking up to see Lyra lifting her hand to her ear, her face flushed as a panting sound came into Bob-Bon’s ear. “Very impressive partner, I think you earned yourself a nice reward from me, meet me in my room when you’re done.”

Bon-Bon’s felt her eyes widened with joy, repressing a mad giggle as she watched Lyra leave out the door, and then she turned to take requests from the crowd.

Making Armaments (Light Clop)

Lyra waited patiently for Bon-Bon to arrive, positively giddy over the prospect of adding another to her small list of sex friends. Everypony knew that their job was harsh, and so the practice of grabbing sex partners had spawned as much out of necessity as out of shear boredom. Most border guards rarely ever got to go home, they in HQ city twenty for hours a day, seven days a week, three hundred sixty five days a year. This meant a lot of mares and stallions stuck in the same place with no outlet for their sexual stress, so everypony started making arrangements.

It had started out small, a few ponies hooking up every now and then. But as more ponies joined and patrol schedules started getting more hectic, everypony had come together to form the group system. Everypony could fuck everypony, ponies could have favorites but if something came up and somepony wanted a nice little fling, they could find somepony willing and have a nice romp till the pony they preferred came back.

Lyra of course was the odd pony out in this system. While lots of ponies thought she was attractive, none of them would touch her due to her step mom being both the president of the entire Republic and an Alicorn, which meant the likely hood of a pony taking a role in the hay with her was next to nil. Even her old partner Ditzy Doo wouldn’t touch her, but that was more because she had been a coldhearted bitch with as much sex drive as a dead carburetor. She had been lucky Boss was so willing and open minded, but he wasn’t always around to take care of her, so sometimes she was left to her own devices. So she had been not only surprised, but fucking ecstatic that Bon-Bon had taken her request, for it had been the same way she had picked up Boss S.H.I.E.L.D. all those years ago.

She heard a knock on her door, giving the ok to come in and leaning back in the couch as Bon-Bon entered the door. Lyra patted the spot on the couch next to her, and watched as the mare walked over and sat down, her hands fidgeting nervously as she looked at Lyra.

“So,” said Lyra, “I assume you know why I asked you here right?”

Bon-Bon nodded, causing Lyra to giggle a little due to the enthusiasm. “Ok, first things first, have you ever been in this kind of relationship before?”

Bon-Bon nodded, “yes I have been before, but we kind of had a falling out sadly.”

“May I ask why?”

“Well-” said Bon-Bon, moving her hand so it drifted down to Lyra’s thigh, “-it was because I wanted to bring you into our group…and naturally they were all afraid to even go near you, so I left them. I was actually going to ask you to my place for the same thing tomorrow, so this worked out for the best really.”

That caught Lyra off guard, and what Bon-Bon did next surprised her even more. Bon-Bon grabbed her around the waist, pulling her close and giving her a very dirty French kiss, snaking her tongue in and wrapping it against her own. Lyra’s eyes widened at this, then she melted into the kiss, wrapping her arms around her partner and pinning her down onto the couch. After a few more minutes of kissing, Lyra pulled away, looking down at Bon-Bon with half lidded eyes as she panted.

“Wow…” said Lyra, “that was…I don’t even…”

“First time kissing a mare?” said Bon-Bon with a sly smirk.

“Well…yes actually, and I will admit I was kind of surprised, I didn’t expect that to feel so good.”

“Oh wait till I show you my next trick.” said Bon-Bon, “why don’t you move so I can sit up, then I want you to lie down in my lap.”

Lyra did as she asked, getting up and then laying her head in Bon-Bon’s lap when she had righted herself.

“So, have you ever been pleasured by a Siren before?” asked Bon-Bon, rubbing a hand over Lyra’s belly while placing the other at the top of her head.

“No, I mean yeah I had had sex with Boss, but he focused more on the aggressive side of his power rather then the sensual side.”

“Well then-” said Bon-Bon with a grin, “-I’ll make this extra special for you k.” She gave Lyra a wink, and then she began to hum.

It was a simple toon, but Lyra immediately lost track of it as she was hit with several sensations at once. As Bon-Bon hummed Lyra felt a sucking sensation on her horn, the feeling of penetration in both her marehood and butt, and the feeling of hands gently massaging and kneading her breasts and squeezing her nipples. Lyra moaned aloud as the pleasure washed over her, amazed beyond words for many reasons, but mostly because the mare above her wasn’t even touching her in those places. No, instead Bon-Bon just diligently rubbed a free hand over Lyra’s tummy while she continued to pleasure…No, while she continued to fuck her with her voice.

Bon-Bon kept up the humming, all the while keeping her concentration on Lyra’s pleasure erogenous zones. It had been at least a month since she had been able to use her voice in this way, so she was relishing the chance to use her power like this.

It didn’t take long for Bon-Bon to bring Lyra to climax, and she grinned as the mare on her lap screamed audibly, leaning down to kiss her before sitting back up.

“FUCK!” shouted Lyra, looking up at Bon-Bon with stupid grin on her face. Bon-Bon was just about to speak when the door opened again, and they both looked over to see Boss walk in, a smile on his face as he walked over to the two mares.

“Looks like you two are already getting friendly, what did I miss?”

“Oh just me showing Lyra the better side of a Siren’s gift,” said Bon-Bon with a suggestive eyebrow wiggle.

“Yeah, you’ve been holding out on me Boss, what gives?”

“What muah?” said Boss with mock look of hurt, “I would never think of holding anything back from you my dear. I told you my voice is more for aggression, and besides, in all honesty it takes a mares touch to access that side of Siren magic.”

“Dang straight,” said Bon-Bon, getting up and looking down at Lyra. “Hey babe, you mind leading the way to the bedroom, that way we can…”

Suddenly the claxon alarm began to sound, the emergency lights turning on as the voice started emitting from the speakers.

“RED ALERT, M-CLASS TITAN FERAL SIGHTED HEADING TOWARD FARE CITY, ALL AVAILABLE DRAGON ARMOR PILOTS REPORT TO YOUR UNITS AND DEPLOY AT ONCE!”

The message began to repeat as Lyra swore, getting up and running to the door before turning back to the other two. “You two enjoy yourselves, I’ll be back soon.” Then she ran out the door, leaving Boss looking worried and Bon-Bon looking confused.

* * *

Lyra made it to the hanger in record time, running along the walkway as other pilots leapt into their personal Dragon Armor. She finally made it to her unit, putting her hand on the crystal on the left side of its chest.

“Hey girl, missed me?” she asked, looking up toward the face of her dragon armor.

At first there was no reaction, but then the crystal lit up, and then the head turned to look at her, and a voice began speaking in her head.

“Yes we did,” said the voice, “it has been some time since last we have tasted the thrill of battle, is this why you are here?”

“Yep, so why don’t you open up there Muse, we got a titan to slay.”

She backed up, watching as the chest of the Dragon Armor opened up, revealing the organic interior within. Lyra climbed in, turning around as the chest closed and then waiting patently, even though the next part she hated with a passion. The felt the familiar sensation of her bottom hooves and her hands being covered as the organic gloves and boots used to pilot move Muse’s arms and leg slid over her. Next came the chest and back plate, and she had to grit her teeth as the back plates large needles stabbed into her neck veins, allowing her blood to begin pumping into the Dragon Armor as it began to come fully to life. Finally came the mask, wrapping first around her mouth, and then covering her eyes, causing her to close them. After a few moments and an familiar burning sensation in her eyes, she opened them again, gazing out from the Dragon Armors eyes as the bay doors opened, letting her and the other pilots charge out into the broken field beyond.

Still Rember You

Lyra moved swiftly along the broken landscape, her speed aided by her Dragon Armor having changed into its Dragon Aspect, allowing her to fly over the random broken buildings as she followed the two pilots who had left with her. She opened up her communicator, linking up with the other two as she pulled up beside them.

“Alright ladies or gents who do I have the pleasure of flying with today?”

“Hell Gate here Commander.”

“Silent Wing here Commander.”

“Alright I want to wrap this up quick but not do anything dangerous, I got a hot piece of ass waiting for me at home but that doesn’t mean we should be sloppy about this opt.”

“No need to fret Commander we understand completely, we were getting busy in my own unite when the alarm sounded.”

This made Lyra laugh, and then she spotted the target coming into range. “Ok guys I spot her, lets get to work.”

They banked towards the beast, but as they started the first fly by, Lyra’s suit started talking to her. “You have an urgent message coming in from Soul city, shall I patch it through?”

“Go ahead Muse,” she said, but immediately regretted it when her ears filled with a familiar voice.

“LYRA HEARTSTRINGS!”

“hi mom,” said Lyra, dodging out of the way of the monsters tentacles as it tried to whack her out of the air. “How you doing?”

“Don’t you pull that one on me young lady, you may be 497 years old but I am still your senior by a long shot, do you realize what day it is?”

Lyra quickly pulled up the date as she blasted the creature, and groaned when she saw what day it was. “By the celestial stars…I’m sorry mom I totally forgot.”

“You have that luxury Lyra, but I do not. Once you’re done I want you to head strait over to the factory, I will be waiting for you.”

The communication cut off, leaving Lyra feeling horrible. Why, why the fuck did she have to forget about today, it hurt her as much as it hurt Mercury.

She turned to see the creature fall, and patched in quickly to the guys and told them to mop it up. As she turned to head back to base, she phoned into her home, and breathed a sigh of relief when it was Boss who picked up.

“Hey Boss, I am sorry but I won’t be able to come home yet, I got things to do…”

“Yeah about that…we will need to talk when you get back.”

“What’s…” she started to ask, only to have Boss cut the signal. Lyra cursed, Boss always did things like that when something was bothering him, and it annoyed the hell out of Lyra. She shook her head and grumbled; this was not turning out to be a good day.

* * *

She shivered as she walked along the road toward the Spectra Factory, not really wanting to go inside but knowing she had to. She met up with her mother, who was standing outside the large iron doors, glaring at her as she approached.

“Come on, were late,” said Mercury, opening the door and leading her inside.

As they walked through the doors, Lyra caught sight of a sign on the wall beside them, carrying what had been adopted as the workers morbid mantra.

“Now spectra’s tale isn’t quite as nice, as the story we hear of sugar and spice,

But spectras easy once you get to know it, with the help of the magic of the spectra device.

Let's delve deeper into spectra philosophy, far beyond that of Soul City’s mythology

It's easy to misjudge that sprawling city with its alluring decor and social psychology.

But with all great things comes a great responsibility, that of Soul City’s being technological stability

How, you ask, are they up to the task, to which the answer is in a simple facility

In the Spectra Factory, where your fears and horrors come true,

In the Spectra Factory, where not a single soul gets through.

In the Spectra Factory, where your fears and horrors come true,

In the Spectra Factory, where not a single soul gets through.”

It was crude, at was horrid, but it was the truth, and all factory workers knew it. They put hundreds to death every year, and then spent the rest of that time refining and processing the spectra that they harvested from their fellow citizens. Lyra turned away from the sign as she followed her mother through the next set of doors, exiting out onto the factories main floor. Around them were hundreds of ponies in lab coats, running two and from doors as they helped monitor the ponies as their blood was slowly harvested from their bodies.

Occasionally one of the doctors would wave, smiling sadly at them before hurrying on their way. Lyra waved back, not at all worried by their actions, for they were frequent visitors to the facility. They soon passed through another set of doors, walking toward and elevator and entered.

“Level zero, Spectra Enhancement Chamber,” said Mercury.

“Voice key recognized, access granted to restricted level.”

Lyra felt the familiar sensation of the elevator detaching from the wall, then taking off to the desired floor. It was a long elevator ride; it always was when anypony went to level Zero, the heart of the Spectra factory. Finally the elevator stopped, and they stepped out into a small hallway, Lyra getting nervous as they walked toward the lone door at the end.

Mercury punched a code into the keypad next to the door, then growling when it told her the code was wrong. “Fucking agency keeps changing the pass code on me,” she growled, lifting up her bionic foreleg and used one of her tools to override the lock. The door opened, and Mercury motion for Lyra to enter, the mint colored pony gulping as she walked inside.

They slowly entered the room, Lyra closing the door as Mercury walked over to the one prominent feature in the room, a large stasis chamber holding an alicorn sized unicorn inside. Mercury knelt down in front of the tank, gazing up at the pony as Lyra walked up beside her, a sad smile forming on her face as they both looked up at her father Cell Soul.

Mercury had met Lyra’s father 491 years ago, one year after Lyra had shot killed her mother. They had apparently known each other before, but had separated after Cell had hooked up with Lyra’s mom. They had gotten close after that, and Lyra had gotten to know Mercury’s extended family, not realizing that her dad was dating the president. When her dad had popped the question three years latter, Lyra had been outraged, thinking her dad was trying to replace her mom with somepony better.

She had stayed mad at her dad since that moment, not showing up to the wedding and refusing to call Mercury her mom. Then the day came, the day system core selected her father to head to the factor to be harvested. She remembered how Mercury had fought with her dad, saying that she was the president and that she could take him out of the system. He had said no, saying that it would cause chaos throughout the nation and lead to technological collapse. So he left, leaving Mercury in tears as he was escorted to the factory.

It was then that they had discovered that he had a special enzyme in his body, an enzyme that enhanced the spectra in his blood. They had run tests, extracting the enzyme and adding it to another patient’s blood, and discovered that it had the same effects. So they had constructed level zero, building the stasis chamber and putting Cell Soul into a medically induced coma, and set up a system that would continually extract his blood while introducing new blood into his system, allowing it to get enhanced before being extracted to allow the new blood to be introduced.

In Lyra’s opinion, it was a fate worse then death, but one good thing had come out of it all, she had finally accepted Mercury as her new mother.

“Do you ever wonder what things would have been like if I had just pulled him from the system,” asked Mercury, bringing Lyra back down to earth.

“Mom, you know what he would never have gone along with it; he was always stubborn as a mule.”

“I know…that’s what I always loved about your father, he never would take no for an answer, even when I refused to date him after your mom passed.”

“Wait, he asked you out?”

“Yes,” said Mercury, “he asked me over about a year after she died…and asked if I wanted to start dating him again, and initially I refused.”

“Why, didn’t you like him?”

“Well yes…but…its kind of hard to explain…”

“Come on mom, you know you can tell me anything.”

Mercury hesitated, but then sighed, looking at Lyra as she spoke. “because Lyra, by that point I had already decided your father was just going to be one of those ponies who faded into the recesses of my mind, that way when he…when he died I would be able to move on.”

Lyra looked surprised, in her 494 years living as Mercury’s daughter, her mother had never told her this. “Then…then what the hay made you hook up with him, it can’t have been just because he kept asking.”

“Well, mostly it was because of you,” said Mercury, much to Lyra’s surprise. “After he failed by just asking me, he introduced me to you, if you remember he introduced me then as your god mother.”

“Yeah I remember, I also remember the paparazzi going crazy when they found out, I even remember the head line.”

Mercury laughed at that, waving her hoof dramatically as she spoke. “President adopts random motherless pony as god daughter.”

Lyra laughed at that, and then bumped her mom in the shoulder. “Well enough about that, I got some where to be soon, Boss said he had something he wanted to talk about, I really hope its not what I think it is.”

“What’s going on?”

“Well you know I got a new partner right, well last night I…I…”

“Honey, you don’t need to pretty it up for me, if you fucked her I’ll understand.”

Lyra looked taken aback at first, then the biggest grin spread on her face as she spoke. “Ok I did, well actually it was her who fucked me but it was fucking amazing, I didn’t know sirens could be so talented.”

Mercury giggled, “Another mare I get to intimidate, you’re so good to me.”

“Mom,” said Lyra, “I don’t need you intimidating her, Bon-Bon’s sweet. Now why don’t you stop stalling, I’m sure dad wants to hear you sing.”

Mercury nodded, then turned back toward Cell, opening her mouth and beginning to sing.

“I thought of you the other day

How worlds of change led us astray

Colors seem to fade to gray

In the wake of yesterday...

You looked into my eyes

You had me hypnotized

And I can still remember you”

“I had a dream of you and I

A thousand stars lit up the sky

I touched your hand and you were gone

But memories of you live on…”

“You looked into my eyes

You had me hypnotized

And I can still remember you

Those moments spent together

Promising forever

And I can still remember you”

“Do you ever think of me

And get lost in the memory

When you do, I hope you smile

And hold that memory a while…”

“You looked into my eyes

You had me hypnotized

And I can still remember you

Those moments spent together

Promising forever

And I can still remember you”

“Still remember you

Still remember you

Still remember you

Still remember you

Still remember you

Still remember you

Still remember you

Still remember you…”

Mercury finished singing, a tear rolling down her face as she slowly stood, followed closely by Lyra. Lyra placed a gentle hand on her mothers back, allowing the alicorn mare to brush up against her side, knowing it had been hard for her. They then turned and left the room, leaving nothing behind but tears as the door closed shut behind them.

Savior Song

Lyra made it back to her pad as the sun began to set, opening the door and seeing Boss sitting down on her couch, his legs folded under him and a grim look on his face.

“What kept you so long hm?”

“Don’t be like that boss, I had some family matters to attend to, so no griping ok, now what was it you needed to talk about?”

Boss got on all fours and waved a hoof, indicating that she should follow. They went up to her bedroom, going inside and stopping at the bed, for resting on it was Bon-Bon. “Ok, what did she do?”

“Nothing, It’s what she is that’s got me bothered,” said Boss, brushing away the mares mane to reveal the back of her neck.

Lyra had to repress a groan the minute she saw the bar code upon it, face palming herself in frustration. “Boss…”

“You know my standing on this Lyra I don’t fuck fucking lab rats!”

Lyra then grabbed him by the mane, dragging him out of her room and back into the living room below. “Do you have any decency!” yelled Lyra, “She is asleep and…”

“You called that thing a she, what the hay is…”

Lyra slapped him, her nostrils flaring as she glared down at the equine below her. “I don’t give a rat’s ass about your prejudices Boss; as long as I allow her here you will treat her with fucking respect. She isn’t exactly the first lab rat you’ve slept with.”

“What the buck are you talking about?”

Lyra didn’t even hesitate, grabbing at the patch of fake fur on her shoulder and ripping it off, exposing her own bar code to the stallion as she kept her glare locked on him. “I’m a fucking lab rat to, and as I recall very fondly you didn’t have a problem fucking me.”

Boss stared at her for a second, then spoke, his face looking downcast. “I’m sorry.”

Lyra breathed in a deep breath then bent down to hug him, ruffling up his mane before pulling back and smiling. “Its ok kido, just don’t do it again, now come on were going to be late for the club.”

* * *

Lyra found her way to her favorite spot at the club, a nice secluded table that kept her out of sight but still allowed her to see the stage. She was still a bit nervous about how Boss had reacted to Bon-Bon, but she knew a good round or two on stage would calm her stallion down.

She watched him get up on stage, waiting excitedly as he grabbed the mike and started to sing. However the moment the words began to leave his mouth Lyra felt something was wrong, and soon was clutching her chest as she felt a growing pain begin to center there. As Boss continued Lyra wondered what the hay was going on, it felt like a knife was digging into her chest.

Her mind raced over all the possibilities that could be causing it, and then her eyes caught the looks of the other patrons, and saw through her enhanced eyes that his song was having no effect on them, it was totally focused on her. “What…why would he do that…unless…”

Lyra reached up to the zipper on her vest, unzipping it and looking at her chest. And it was just as she feared, for just where her neck met her chest was his fading cutie mark, which was slowly burning away and leaving a few points where the growing scar was bleeding. She knew what he was doing now, and she quickly reached up to her mike. “B…boss, stop…please…!”

He ignored her, continuing to sing as the pain spread through her body and mind. And then it was over, and Lyra’s world died.

* * *

Bon-Bon woke up to the sound of crying, and walked outside to find Lyra curled up on the couch in tears. “Lyra what’s wrong,” she asked, sitting down and placing a hand on her shoulder. The moment she touched Lyra’s skin she know something was wrong, and immediately grabbed at her face, pulling it up to look at her. “Lyra you answer me now what is wrong?”

Lyra just looked at her, her mouth moving but no sound coming out. Finally after one last attempt at speech, Lyra simply grabbed at her vest and pulled it down, showing the scar on her chest.

Bon-Bon’s eyes widened at that, for she not only recognized the shape of the scar, but she recognized what it signified, though it shocked her to see it. Sirens could imprint themselves upon a mate, branding an image of their cutie mark onto their mate’s chest and their mate’s cutie mark on themselves. To remove such an imprint was considered a crime between Sirens, for to do such not only hurt them physically, but also emotionally scarred them.

Bon-Bon knew she needed to do something, for the longer somepony was left scarred the way Lyra was, the more dangerous such a mental wound became, even getting to the point of driving the victim to suicide. So, disregarding the possible consequences of what she was about to do, she lifted Lyra up and carried her outside, heading for the siren district.

* * *

After an hour of walking and a few odd looks she finally made it to the siren district, making a turn down one of the well-trodden streets in the direction of the local bath house. She made it inside, walking over to the counter and getting attention of one of the attendants.

“Bob-Bon, what are you…?”

“No time Glade, I need to use your big bath; I got a mare here that had her connection to a siren forcefully removed.”

That got the attendants attention, who reached out and touched the shaking form of Lyra, immediately flinching due to the emotional turmoil. “Do you know which siren did this?”

“A stallion named Boss Shield, but he’s mine, for she mated with me as well, now go get the bath ready.”

“As you will high elder.”

The attendant teleported away as Bon-Bon turned and went to the hallway that led to the baths, but had to stop when a voice called out to her.

“Bon-Bon darling, so good to see you again.”

Bon-Bon turned to see one of her fellow elder sirens walking up to her, two young stallions draped at her sides and her loos bathrobe left open to let everypony see her body. “Misty I don’t have time to talk, I got to…”

“Oh I am sure your pet can wait while we talk,” said Misty, who placed a hand on Lyra before flinching away as though her very touch had burned her. “What the, what’s happened to…”

“As I said I have no time for you now move aside, unless you want this mare’s death on your hands?”

Misty looked at her for a moment, and then bowed out of the way, “as you will high elder.”

Bon-Bon walked past her and made it down to the end of the hallway, opening the door and walking into the room that held the largest of the baths, which was already full of steaming hot water. Bon-Bon set down Lyra, pulling off her clothes and threw them to the side before picking her up again and carrying her into the water. As she walked toward the center she noticed others gathering around, sitting down around the tub and watching as she got ready to work her magic.

She finally reached the, holding Lyra out so that her body was straight and then let go, watching as she was caught in a golden aura. She closed her eyes then, moving her hands over Lyra as her body began to glow with bright golden lines that spread all over her body.

Bon-Bon then opened her eyes, which glowed golden as she looked down at Lyra. Then after letting out a deep breath, she started to sing.

It was a slow piece, one she had used as a healing song before, but now she was not only using it to heal her, she was using it to bind herself to Lyra. As damaged as Boss had left her, Lyra needed a strong emotional tether to keep her from spiraling into the depths of madness. If Lyra was to survive, she needed the love and comfort of another, a love to fill the hole left behind by Boss. So Bon-Bon sang; building up a high pitch as the second chorus started.

As she kept singing the other sirens watched as the water began to slowly wrap itself around Lyra, slowly enveloping her and beginning to heal her wound. Meanwhile Bon-Bon began weaving her fingers, forming imprints of their cutie marks before placing hers over Lyra’s scar, while she placed Lyra’s onto her own chest. Then she started to sing the final chorus, and that was when the true magic began.

* * *

“B…Bon-Bon?” asked Lyra, slowly opening her eyes as she heard the sound of her singing. But when she got a look at Bon-Bon she gasped, her eyes widening at the sight of her. Bon-Bon was bathed in golden light as four golden wings spread out from her back, sheltering both of them as Bon-Bon stared at her with her glowing golden eyes, smiling down as she finished her song, rubbing a glowing hand over the side of her face as the wings dissolved into golden feathers, which dissolved as they hit the water.

“Hey,” said Bon-Bon, picking up Lyra as the light faded and her body returned to normal.

“You…wha…what was…?”

“Shh, no questions, you still have to recover a bit,” said Bon-Bon, carrying her out of the bath and then setting her down, grabbing a nearby towel and drying her off. It was during this time that she noticed the other ponies around her, and quickly grabbed at the towel to cover up, feeling embarrassed as they got closer.

Bon-Bon noticed this and waved them away, pulling Lyra closer as she called upon her magic again and rubbing her back, which caused Lyra to raise an eyebrow. “You…you’re using magic, how?”

Bon-Bon placed a finger to her lips, shaking her head as she slowly calmed her down. “I’ll tell you when we get back to your place, now cover yourself, I must speak with the other sirens before we part.”

Lyra nodded as she was passed her clothing, watching as Bon-Bon as she conversed with the others of her kind. She caught scattered speech every now and then, one of them calling her a “high elder” while another said something about a “winged one”, but other than that she couldn’t make out the rest. Finally after a long moment Bon-Bon left them and came back to Lyra, helping her up and leading her toward the doors.

“Um, Bon-Bon?”

“Yeah?”

“…Where the hay are your clothes?”