Never Let It Be Said I Don't Consider Reader Feedback

Tweaked some stuff in the Epilogue -- added a brief conversation with Bean to give more closure to that relationship, and slightly changed a line to remind people what happened to Lyra's (ex?) husband Beanpole. I shall reproduce them here for your convenience, spoilered and with a bit of context.

The Bean Edit:

Bon Bon touched Lyra’s foreleg gently. “I remember my programming. It gives me all the knowledge of what to do. The only thing I need from you is for you not to distract me.

“I won’t distract you,” said Lyra. “I want to be here.”

Bon Bon kissed her. “No. You will distract me simply by existing. Please go wait someplace else.”

Lyra turned to leave the operating room, head hung, feeling sullen. She could avoid being distracting!

“Mom,” said a masculine voice as she passed.

Lyra closed her eyes and cringed. She’d hoped he was still unconscious; she didn’t want to face him yet. “Bean. I’m so sorry.”

“Come over here,” he said. His voice was strong and calm, even though his legs lay nearby in a bin of packed snow.

Lyra sighed. “If I could have done things any other way...”

He shook his head. “Please don’t apologize. You know what you did. And I’m angry. Furious. I couldn’t hope for a worse mother.”

Ouch.

“But I’m also impressed. When I told you Ponysmith was the only choice for the wasteland? That was because I didn’t know what you’d become.”

“I don’t want to be a leader,” she lied. In the cold light of day, she didn’t want to admit to the power fantasies she’d indulged when she’d half-accepted, half-seized command of the Minutemares from Crispy for a few giddy hours.

“You’re strong, and more importantly you’re willing to use that strength. You don’t let morality limit you from doing what you think is right.”

Lyra tilted her head to one side. “Honey, you’re delirious from the meds. If something is the right thing to do, then it’s moral.”

Bean laughed. “Maybe I am. You don’t cling to the old world’s ways, even though for you, the old world was, what, only a few months ago? I admire your flexibility. Your adaptability.”

“So you understand why I did what I did,” said Lyra. She hovered over him, wanting to kiss him, but not sure if she should.

He closed his eyes. “I understand,” he said, finally allowing a bit of a tremble into his voice. “But I can’t forgive you. Maybe if your girlfriend gets my legs back on right. Don’t let her get them mixed up.”

“She will. You need to rest, honey. I know you’re hiding so much pain, right now.” She turned to one of the unicorn orderlies. “Can you get him some more Med-X?”

The Beanpole Edit:

Lyra felt empty. She’d succeeded in so many things since she’d come to the Wasteland — she’d won battles, she’d forged peace, she’d brought justice. She’d lost her family, but she’d found a new one in the Minutemares. Her husband had abandoned her for Sea Sprite and the Enclave, but she found Bon Bon. She’d lost her son and found her son, and if she was lucky one day he’d forgive her.