Long ago, Equestria wasn't the happy, colorful place it is today. Actually, it was the complete opposite. It used to be dark and depressing. Like a painting without the paint. If anyone was ever happy, it would only be the slightest bit. But how is it so cheerful now, you ask? Well, it was all because of one pony...
Lyra looked out the window and sighed at the grey clouds. She would have to do her weekly shopping before it started raining.
She put on her coat and went outside, where the wind was blowing hard. She struggled to get to the market, and then noticed something extraordinary. Somepony stood out. She was brighter and more colorful than the others at the market. She seemed to be looking for someone.
Lyra decided to pay no mind to this new pony. She started to feel drops of rain, warning her to hurry home. She picked up the food she needed and started to head back to her house when she bumped into the yellow earth pony with a curly, pink and blue mane. She seemed to brighten everything around her, if only a little.
"Sorry!" she exclaimed. Then she smiled really big at the sight of Lyra. "Oh! Hi! I'm Bon-Bon! Pleased to meet you! You must be Lyra!"
"Um...yeah." Lyra replied awkwardly. "Do I know you?"
"Sorry! Again!" Bon-Bon's smile turned to an embarrassed grin. "No, you don't. I mean-never mind." It was now starting to rain heavily. "Hey, I don't have any where to stay. Do you think I could come home with you?"
"I guess. Makes no difference to me."
"Great!" And so, they both walked (ran, really) back to Lyra's house. Just in time, too. Outside, it was pouring rain.
The minute Bon-Bon entered the house, she frowned at the lack of color and decoration. How could somewhere so plain and boring be Lyra's home? Of course she didn't know who Lyra was exactly, she just knew her mission was to cheer this pony up. And she would not fail this mission.
"So, what kinds of things do you do for fun around here?" Bon-Bon tried to start up a good conversation. "You know, when it's raining you can't play outside, so you do something inside."
"Fun?" Lyra asked, a confused look on her face. "I wouldn't consider watching the rain fall outside fun."
"Don't you do anything else? Like color or draw or read or write?" This may be harder than Bon-Bon first thought.
"No. There really isn't much else I enjoy."
"I have an idea! Since there is two of us, we could play hide and seek!" Bon-Bon waited for an excited response, but all Lyra did was stare at her blankly.
"What's that?" she asked finally.
"Are you kidding me?! You don't know what hide and seek is?! Well, it's simple. One pony hides, and the other counts to a certain number before looking for them. It's funner than it sounds."
"I guess I could give it a shot. Funner isn't a word, by the way. It would actually be 'more fun'."
"Tomato tomoto." Bon-Bon giggled. "I'll count to 20, and you hide! Ready...GO! 1...2...3..." She covered her eyes and started counting while Lyra hid underneath the couch.
"20! Ready or not, here I come!" She looked in other rooms, on top of things, under things, around corners, until she finally looked under the couch. "Gotcha!"
"Whoa!" Lyra jumped in surprise, and Bon-Bon could see a hint of a smile. She was making progress.
"So, do you agree that this is better than just sitting around doing nothing?" she asked.
"Of course!" Lyra replied. "What's next?!" These words made Bon-Bon so happy. If she kept this up, she'd be done in no time, which meant another job well done. I could easily cheer this whole town up! she thought.
"Hey! It stopped raining!" Bon-Bon pointed out the window. There were puddles everywhere. "We could jump in the puddles!"
"Wouldn't we get soaked?"
"That's the idea! Come on!" She ran outside and jumped really hard into a puddle, splashing mud and water everywhere, leaving her laughing covered in the icky stuff. Lyra hesitated, then finally joined the soggy mess, giggling all the while.
"Told ya it was fun!" Bon-Bon noticed other ponies watching them, and they all looked disgusted. But eventually, most of the crowd had joined in and didn't care if they were dirty. Nopony noticed, but since Bon-Bon arrived, everything was way more bright and happy.
Lyra dried herself off with a towel. Everyone had gone home and made sure to thank Bon-Bon.
"Hey, Bon-Bon?" Lyra asked. "Um, since we're friends-Wait, we are friends, right? Ok, so, can I call you Bon?"
"Of course!" Bon answered. "I don't mind one bit!" They both smiled. "But I don't have anywhere to live unless you let me stay a little longer." Lyra nodded and said it was fine with her.
"Hey, Lyra?" she said slowly. "There's...something I have to tell you..."
"What is it? You know you can tell me anything." Bon-Bon really wanted to tell her secret, but then she remembered what would happen if she did. Maybe she could save that for another time, or else she would have to leave before she needed to. No, she won't tell her yet.
"I, uh, never mind." Bon answered. "Maybe later." She felt really bad about not telling Lyra, but it just couldn't be done.