//------------------------------// // Epilogue // Story: What If...? // by solsticebrony888 //------------------------------// “Are you done searching yet, ma’am?” a light blue mare questioned from behind a glass counter, “We’re going to close in less than ten minutes.” “Almost done, I just have to be sure,” a turquoise unicorn responded, her eyes scanning the contents within the glass counter. Through the glass she could see groups of necklaces, with jewels on them of all shapes, colors and sizes. They were extremely dazzling, some just a bit out of her price range. The prices would have been too much for Lyra a month ago, but she had been working overtime at the stringed instruments store she ran with her older sister Octavia. It got to be quite stressful working long shifts day after day, but she knew it would be worth it. Lyra had been planning this day for the last year, and now that the day had come, she became much more anxious about what she should and shouldn’t choose. The reason she had been working overtime to save up money for one of the exquisite necklaces was that she wanted to propose to Bonbon, whom she had been dating for slightly over a year. It didn’t take a long time for her to realize that she and Bonbon were going to be together for a long time. After going through so much just to finally be together, over a year later they’re happier than they ever had been. Bonbon worked at Sugarcube Corner, helping to bake treats for Mr. and Mrs. Cake. It was important to make sure this day went perfectly. Lyra couldn’t hold off a giddy smile as she gazed at all the choices of necklaces in front of her. “I think I want… I… hmmm,” she started, but quickly changed her mind as one particular necklace caught her eye, “How about that one?” On the gold necklace was a purple gem of some sort. Lyra knew that her love’s favorite color was purple, which is why it piqued her interest. “Two hundred bits and it’s yours!” the employee said with a smile. The teal mare didn’t even have to ask to know that the employee gets commission pay from each item they sell. Lyra took a deep breath as she used her magic to retrieve the bits from inside her Saddlebag. She hadn’t spent money like this since her previous wedding dress. Taking a few more seconds to make sure that that necklace was the one she wanted, she placed the bits down on the counter, the employee eagerly using her hooves to place it in a pouch that hung around her neck. “Thank you!” the light blue mare said happily. “So, who’s the lucky colt? I haven’t seen many mares ask their stallion to marry them before!” Lyra grimaced at the all-too-familiar situation of explaining to somepony that she was with a mare. “I-I actually am going to ask a mare…” She replied sheepishly. “Oh…oh!” The employee responded, “I’m sorry for assuming…” “It’s fine!” the turquoise mare replied. “I get that a lot.” “I’m sure she’ll be very happy with this necklace; my own father made it several years ago! I’m almost sad to see it go,” the employee said, placing it carefully in an oblong position and adjusting it to fit neatly in the white cushions inside of it. For being an earth pony, she was very good at what she did without the aid of magic. “Thank you so much!” Lyra said, already picturing Bonbon’s face when she gives it to her. Her heart beat with anticipation, as it had done every single time she thought about it since getting with the cream-colored mare. Just imagining the look of joy on Bonbon’s face warmed her heart and made her smile. “When are you going to pop the question?” The employee almost instinctively asked. “I-I mean, sorry, I shouldn’t be asking personal questions like that. Have a nice day!” “Oh, tonight,” Lyra answered bluntly. “Tonight? Really! That’s so…soon!” the light blue mare said with a grin. “Is it going to be romantic or what?” she continued, now asking whatever she wanted, since Lyra answered her first question. “I’m not the romantic one usually, but I have an idea of how it can be tonight,” The teal mare said, waving her hoof back and forth. “All I know is that she is going to love it…I hope.” “Mind going into the details just a little…?” The employee asked sheepishly, “My name is Blue Rose, by the way.” “My name is Lyra, and I guess the way I am going to do it… is… well…” She paused. “I’ve known Bonbon - that’s my marefriend - since we were fillies, and when I first became her friend, we were in class during the Running of the Leaves, you know? I think she fell or got lost…wait, yeah, she fell and she was left behind the class.” Another pause, “Our teacher told me to go find her, and I did. She tripped over a rock, and, between you me, she can be just as clumsy nowadays! Anyway, we became instant friends. Long story longer, I am going to have us meet near where we first became friends, and then I am going to ask her.” “That’s adorable,” Blue Rose exclaimed with a gasp. “I could only hope when I am asked that it’s half as romantic as that! Does she have any idea you’re going to ask her?” Lyra pondered the question, “Hmmm. I doubt it, even when I work overtime. I still get home before her, because she works at a bakery and works the evening shift,”. Noticing the room being slightly darker than when she entered, Lyra saw that the sun was setting and deduced that it would be dark soon, “I think I should be on my way… I told her to meet me there after her work, and that’s in about an hour!” Lyra said, using her magic to float her newly purchased necklace into her saddlebag. “Nice meeting you! Have a good day, Lyra! I know she’ll say yes, I just do!” Blue Rose said, her high pitched voice cracking with her own excitement for her newly made acquaintance. “I just have one more thing to do, then it’s off to see BonBon. Bye and thanks!” The evening was calm outside. There was a very slight breeze; since the inside of the jewelry store was warm, Lyra enjoyed the few moments of the cool air. She had a destination to get to, and she didn’t have much time to spare to enjoy the beautiful evening. After taking one more glance at the necklace she had just purchased, her nervous heart skipping a beat as she was once again imagining how her love could react to seeing it, she made haste towards a home in town she hadn’t been to in what seemed like ages. It wasn’t a far trot from the DiamondHoof jewelry store. At least, it felt like everything was going much faster for Lyra. She couldn’t keep her mind off of BonBon, and she was worried whether she would say ‘yes’ or ‘no’. There was no reason for her to feel worried, but she was worried anyway. She still had to keep a promise to herself, and as she rounded the all-too-familiar corner towards the cluster of homes that she hadn’t seen in months, she could feel her heart pick up its pace once more. Once Buckley’s house was in her sight, she stopped and sighed. They had only spoken a few times since she ran out on their wedding. They were painfully awkward and she could tell he was hurting, and it hurt her to see him that way. I can’t believe I’m about to do this, what am I thinking, he probably still hates me… Once again she sighed, and then pressed forward, now reciting what she had been planning to say to him. All she wanted was to bury the hatchet, because knowing how much she hurt him only made her feel worse the longer she waited. Lyra had promised herself to do this before she ask Bonbon to marry her, and she was going to go through with it. She used the wonderful smell of the pine trees around her to calm herself down. Lyra was always an energetic mare, but she knew it wasn’t the time to be anything but calm and collected. Thankfully, the familiar light was on in Buckley’s room. This made the situation much more certain, and though it caused her to feel that familiar anxiety about seeing him again, she knew it had to be done. She trotted slowly up to the brown door, darkened by the fast approaching night, and used her magic to control the knocker on the door, and knocked three times. The turquoise pony could hear her own breath, loud as ever, as her thoughts raced out of control. She heard his familiar lazy groan as he left his room. Lyra tapped her hoof nervously on the ground as she waited. A light then turned on in the living room area, where Buckley then turned the doorknob and opened the door. Well, here I go “Huh? Lyra I…? Why are you here?” the stallion said, surprised, and clearly slightly bothered at the sight of the teal mare in front of him. “You’re definitely the last pony I was expecting…” he added with an agitated chuckle. “Buckley…” Lyra started, though her voice faded out as? she thought of what to say, “I really need to make thing right between us.” “It’s been a year, it doesn’t even matter anymore,” the stallion said, as nervous as Lyra, though not from any remaining feelings for the teal mare in front of him. Once again the mare found herself tapping her hoof on the ground nervously, “I left in the worst way possible, I can’t imagine everything is okay now.” Buckley’s eyes wandered as he considered his options in an awkward situation he had not prepared for. He used his hoof to open his door a little bit more invitingly. “Come in.” Inside, Lyra made herself into her former home, though it was less familiar than she had expected. The couch had been moved, any pictures of them that had been on the wall were removed, the blinds had been changed from the dark blue ones they had been to a light brown. Oddly enough, she was tempted to ask him about the changes in their home. However, she sat on the couch while he stayed near the wall adjacent to kitchen, adjusting a picture for no reason at all. She set her saddlebag right next to herself on the couch. “I feel we need to make things right between each other. I’ve never really gotten over the guilt, Buckley. I can only imagine how you’ve felt.” The stallion turned his head towards her. “It was hard at first, I guess, but time makes things better. I’ve tried to change. I’m calmer than I used to be. What I think you want me to say is that I forgive you, and I guess I should; I just don’t know if we can really be friends after this. We can be cool with each other, but I really couldn’t see us being closer than that.” “All I care about is knowing that you don’t hate me,” the teal mare said, adjusting her upright position on the couch. “Or Bonbon for that matter.” “I don’t hate her. I don’t even really know her. I guess I was mad at first, but I guess I was more grossed out. You’re not together anymore, are you?” the stallion said, then walked over to a new chair he had purchased recently, and sat a few feet away from Lyra. “No, we are still together,” Lyra said calmly, and firmly, as if speaking it with confidence would help him understand that it wasn’t a fling. “Oh,” he started, then backtracked understanding that he started off on the wrong hoof with that subject. “I didn’t mean that in a bad way, Lyra. I-I think I’m surprised more than anything. Y’all are the first couple of your kind I’ve ever actually known.” Lyra shifted uncomfortably, consciously hoping it doesn’t turn into another conversation where she has to defend herself from somepony who doesn’t like her choices. “There’s a lot more of us in northern Equestria. BonBon and I have met a few. ‘It has?’ Made us feel better.” “Weir-“ Buckley started, then backtracked. “I mean, interesting. Sorry.” “Look, I understand if you don’t agree with us, but me being with her is the reason I’m here. I want to start fresh, I don’t want you holding back…or whatever. Say what needs to be said, Buckley.” “But what is there to be said?” Buckley asked rhetorically. “Things happen. I don’t exactly like them, and maybe I deserved it, but whatever. I’ve moved on since then, like you did. I forgive you Lyra. I guess I’ve become at least a slightly better stallion since, but heck, I don’t know,” His calm demeanor was a slight surprise for Lyra, knowing he had been very hot headed during their relationship. It made her calmer as well, after being so nervous about this day for so excruciatingly long. Before Lyra could respond, the stallion continued. “Wait, what did you mean about your relationship with that mare being the reason you’re here? Kinda confused me there.” The turquoise mare opened her mouth to speak, but quickly decided on doing something else. Using her magic, she sifted the pocket in her Saddlebag and lifted out a thin box. She opened it and revealed the necklace she had just bought. He stared at it inquisitively, until the gears clicked into place in his mind. “Huh…you’re going to ask her to…really?” Buckley asked, genuinely surprised at what the mare in front him had implied by showing him the necklace. Lyra looked away. “Y-yes,” she said, and then returned to looking at him. “I’m a little nervous about it…” “If you’ve been together this long, I’d be pretty surprised if she said no,” the stallion commented. “What if she’s not ready? What if I should wait longer…” Setting the necklace back in its case carefully, Lyra continued. “What if she doesn’t want to marry me?” “Well I don’t know much about her, but I doubt she’d say no. She seemed nice,” The teal mare smiled at Buckley, touched that he was being nicer than she had expected. “Thank you. Maybe I’m just overthinking things,” Lyra said, setting the necklace back into her saddlebag carefully. “You know, it’s about time for me to go…” she said, getting off of the couch and attaching her saddlebag around her. “Yeah…” “So…” There was an awkward silence as both stood near each other. Almost a fleeting moment of what used to be. Lyra quickly ended with the silence with a soft “Thank you.” She surprised him with a hug, which he wasn’t exactly expecting or wanting, but wasn’t going to avoid taking part. “Anytime,” he said, as she exited his home. Once again she was in the cool night air. It was darker than she had expected it would be. She took a deep breath, then realized Bonbon was almost certainly waiting for her. Please Celestia let this go well! After taking one last nostalgic glance at her former home, Lyra trotted off into the cold night. As far as her eyes could see there were tall trees lit up by the brighter than usual moon. It was cold, which wasn’t exactly Bonbon’s favorite temperature to be in, but Lyra wanted to take a walk with her. It wasn’t very often she could take a walk with her love, and she was going to enjoy the time they had together before they returned home to get ready for the next day’s work. As she waited for Lyra, she went over the day in her head as she planned for the next one, as she had gotten used to doing since becoming a cook at Sugarcube Corner. She had to help her coworker Pinkie Pie with some of her job, the pink pony being sidetracked by two very fussy twins, since Mr. and Mrs. Cake were taking time off. The cream colored mare smiled warmly as she thought of the twins; she loved them as if they were family. “Fashionably late, as always,” Bonbon said to herself, less to point out Lyra being late to meeting her there, and more to see her breath in the dim moonlight. It had been a while. “Lyraaaaaaa, issssssss, laaaaaate,” Bonbon said, with a filly like giggle, as she watched her breath raise in front of her. “W-What are you doing, Bonnie?” Bonbon jumped, and blushed madly as she saw Lyra behind her, laughing really hard. Bonbon pushed her in retaliation, though not in an attempt to hurt her. “My breath was distracting…” “Riiiiight,” Lyra said, reaching in to give Bonbon a peck on her nose. “I missed you today.” She said in a softer voice. The cream colored mare smiled and returned the kiss. “I missed you, too. I’m surprised you actually wanted to talk a walk with me. I’ve been asking for months.” Looking around her, Lyra absorbed the feeling of anticipation and anxiousness, knowing this would be a memorable night no matter the outcome. The two then started walking side by side, Lyra not able to hold off an expectant smile. “Wow, it’s beautiful tonight. Princess Luna has outdone herself,” the candy mare commented, gazing across the whole sky just above the rest of the trees that were at the sides of the pathway they were standing in. The teal mare then realized she had absolutely no plan on how to pop the question to Bonbon. She wanted to be as romantic as possible, and that’s why they were in the pathway in the first place, but the rising tension caused her mind to blank on the whole plan she had prepared. “Yeah,” Lyra agreed, responding oddly late. “We sure had a funny day at work today. Pinkie was taking care of the twins. They’re growing so fast!” Bonbon said with a big smile, her voice cracking with joy as she thought of the two foals. “Really? I haven’t seen them in so long. I need to go to your job with you some day. I need a break from all this work.” “I’m sure you do, Lyra. You’ve been working so hard and it makes me so proud of you. I’ll fix you up something yummy when we get back home! I’ve been wanting to try a new recipe! Oh! The new frosting arrived today at work, maybe this weekend I can bring us some back and make us some delicious desert,” “Oh Bonnie, you don’t have to,” Lyra said, as they rounded a corner. “You deserve rest, too.” “Sugar, don’t be silly,” the mare beside Lyra said with a loving smile. “I love to cook, you love to eat. We’re meant to be together,” the cream colored mare said with another giggle, though the simple sentence struck a chord with Lyra. Celestia, that’s cute Lyra thought about BonBon’s little giggle. It certainly felt like they were really meant to be together. It’s why she had prepared for this night so strenuously. When they were fillies, they had walked down the exact path they were currently walking down. They had been in the same class. Lyra remembered this day so well because it was the day she and Bonbon became friends. Bonbon fell behind the class; Cheerilee asked Lyra to find her, and when she found her, they quickly became friends. Lyra and Bonbon grew up together as friends, and were now living together as much more than just friends. Lyra could remember days when they were just teenagers. Lyra was always the outgoing one, Bonbon a bit timid, but still very fun. She even had a coltfriend here and there, but nothing too serious. The nostalgia brought warmth to her heart. I walked out of a wedding for this mare. We really must be meant to be together. With a relationship like theirs, there are always so many doubts about whether they could be going through an experimental phase, as if they were just foaling around and nothing more. Many ponies they knew, including Buckley, kind of assumed this about them. Month after month, they remained together. Month after month, they feel deeper in love. They weren’t judged harshly by other Ponyvillians as they had expected. Ponies respected them, and that made them even happier. Suddenly a voice snapped her out of her daydream. “Lyra you dropped something.” Lyra could see Bonbon’s hoof waving in front of her face to get her attention. “Oh did I?” In BonBon’s hoof was the necklace box, thankfully still closed. Lyra’s heart skipped a beat. “Honey, you’re out of it today,” the candy mare said with another giggle. “We should get home soon, you must be really tired.” “Oh,” Lyra said, quickly using her magic to quickly put the necklace back in her pack. “What’s in the box thing?” Bonbon asked as they started walking again. “W-what box thing?” the turquoise mare said, her mind racing a mile a minute. “…The one I just picked up for you.” “Oh,” Lyra stammered, then gathered herself. “Bonnie, face me,” she said, sitting on the soft dirt of the pathway. BonBon looked at her inquisitively, though doing so. Lyra felt the burst of anxiety as she faced her marefriend. The moon’s light gleaming of her eyes, and a tiny smile making Lyra blush extremely. She felt like she was a filly again. Even her magic was shaky as she levitated the black box out of her saddlebag. The black box floating in between them, as Lyra sighed for confidence, Bonbon eying the box, trying to connect the dots on what was happening. “Bonnie,” Lyra started, with an awkward voice crack, though continuing. “I never would have thought so many years ago, when we first met, that we would be sitting here again, where we first met, now as a couple,” “Th-this is where we first met?” Bonbon looked around; memories hitting her like a tidal wave. “Oh my…” A tear sparkled in the moonlight as it dripped down her cheek. Lyra knew she was emotional, but the quick tear suggested that BonBon had a feeling what was going on already. The teal mare continued, getting just a little closer to the emotional Bonbon in front of her. “I remember when we were younger, you told me you thought nopony would ever want to marry you.” “L-Lyra…I…” Bonbon’s voiced reached a higher level as her emotions caught up with her, her eyes tearing up and her chin quivering, though a loving smile remained on her face. “You told me you thought nopony would think you’re beautiful, or they wouldn’t think you’re interesting enough.” A tear then ran down Lyra’s cheek. “I…Lyra, are you..?” “I think you’re beautiful, my Bonnie. I think you’re interesting. I-I think you’re talented.” Lyra paused as she looked Bonbon lovingly in the eyes. “Bonbon, I brought you here today to tell you that when you said that nopony would want to marry you, that you were wrong.” Lyra then opened the box revealing the dazzling necklace she had bought. The purple diamond shimmered gently in the moonlight, casting elusive reflections all around the box it was in. Bonbon’s eyes widened, her mouth opened in awe. Then with one long “Lyyyyyyrraaaaa!”, she embraced the teal mare strongly, joyful tears pouring down her cheeks. “Yes! Yes! Yes!” Lyra returned Bonbon’s hug, elated and relieved she had actually gotten the answer she had strove for, and an immediate sense relief and elation. Then there was the long, joyful and passionate kiss that surprised even Lyra, knowing Bonbon wasn’t exactly the aggressive one in the relationship. It was the most emotional and meaningful kiss of their relationship so far. Every time they took a short break from it, they gazed into each other’s eyes and smiling. It was a moment of pure bliss that they would never forget. "I love you so much, BonBon," Lyra said with tears in her own eyes, "I could n-never be happier," "I love you too!" The cream colored mare exclaimed, then embracing Lyra once more, "You've made me the happiest mare alive! I never thought this day would come- I-I still can't believe it, I just-" Losing her words in the midst of her joy, she again embraced Lyra. The moment was perfect for the couple. It had been so many years since the day they met and over a year since they became a couple. Their love for each other made it an easy choice for both of them. Their love stronger than most and their relationship undoubtedly a happy one. After such an extraordinary moment for the two mares, the two left to their home the happiest they had ever been, tears in their eyes and smiles on their faces and of course, warmth in their hearts knowing they were both so happy to spend the rest of their lives with each other. Lyra realized something soon after. She had never been so happy to know somepony else wanted to spend their life with her. It meant so much, and certainly it was because of how much she truly loves BonBon. Everything about the mare made her smile, made her proud and definitely envious of her cooking skills. To have such an amazing mare be so happy with the prospect of living their lives together was a truly outstanding moment for Lyra. The past two years in which their relationship had gone through its ups and downs, its twists and turns but they both could agree on something: neither could imagine it turning out any better.