> Wings, a Horn and Hooves
>  by Autum Breeze
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter 1 - Filly by the Farm
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Wings, a Horn and Hooves

Chapter 1

The Filly by the Farm

_____________________________________________________________________


Lyra breathed in the scent of the Sweet Apple Acres orchard as she walked passed.

The scent was wonderful, something she’d missed in Manehatten.

Her latest performance had gone for a few more days than she’d expected and hoped Bon-Bon wasn’t too angry at her for it.

As she passed by several trees, a quick flicker of movement was caught in her peripheral vision and she turned her head.

It looked like a young foal was running through the trees.

Lyra looked up at the sky.

Celestia was lowering the sun and Luna would be raising the moon soon.

The mint-green unicorn frowned.

Why would a foal be out this late? Why weren’t they at home?

Lyra wanted to follow and knew she’d have to run to catch up to the young pony, but didn’t want to scare them with the sound of her galloping.

Her horn glowed with its golden aura and her hooves glowed with the same.

A second later, Lyra ran off in the direction she’d seen the shadow of the foal run off, her hooves making no noise due to the spell she’d cast on them.

She normally used the spell whenever she had to sneak out of the apartment and didn’t want to wake Bon-Bon.

She caught sight of the foal within minutes. It was a Pegasus filly with an orange coat and purple mane and tail.

Lyra raised an eyebrow. Why would a Pegasus filly be out so late and why was she running when she could simply fly?

She followed the filly, keeping far enough back so the filly wouldn’t notice her, having to hide behind a tree one or two times when the filly stopped to look around.

As she followed, Lyra noticed the filly had two saddlebags on, both filled with a few things you wouldn’t anticipate a filly to have.

There were several tomatoes, a loaf of bread, some sticks of celery and even half a bottle of milk.

Lyra felt a small piece of logic fit in here. Maybe she was returning home with groceries because her parents hadn’t had the time to go themselves.

Though those mustn’t be too worried parents, allowing their little filly to go out this late to get groceries all on her own.


Ponyville was a great place and not dangerous... unless the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony or Princess Twilight were somehow involved, but sending a filly out this late was a very irresponsible thing for parents to do.

Lyra was shaken from her inner thoughts when the filly suddenly left the trees and headed towards what looked like a small house.

Upon a closer look, however, Lyra realized it was a clubhouse.

This only confused her. Was the filly’s family living in a clubhouse? That didn’t seem right.

The filly walked up a plank leading to the clubhouse door, quickly glanced around, then walked in, closing the door behind her.

Lyra stood within the trees for several minutes, her mind soaking in what she’d just seen.

It... didn’t seem possible, but, it looked like that filly was living in that clubhouse.

She couldn’t hear the sound of voices, meaning there were no other ponies inside the clubhouse, which also meant the filly was alone in there.

Lyra’s heart suddenly felt heavy and ached as she realized what was going on.

That filly must be homeless and was using that clubhouse as a place to stay.

And if the filly was living on her own, that meant she was an orphan. No way would parents let a filly live on their own.

Lyra decided she wouldn’t let this go on.

She walked up to the clubhouse, climbed the plank and knocked a hoof on the door.



____________________________________________________________________



Scootaloo plopped her saddlebags to floor and stretched.

It had been a rough day.

Once school was over, she’d had to go straight to her job and had been there for two hours. Weekends she worked longer, but school days she could only fit a few hours of work in before she needed to head home.

Her employer never bothered to ask Scootaloo why she worked so hard to earn what she could. He probably just thought she needed the extra pocket money.

If only he knew it was her way of earning a living.

She sighed, reaching into her saddlebag, ready to prepare dinner, thanking Celestia she and the other Cutie Mark Crusaders had thought to install a wood oven for making snacks.

While she wasn’t the best cook, she was pretty good and she’d be able to make something with what she’d managed to buy at the market shortly after she left work.

Scootaloo was about to light the wood to start a fire when a knocking came from the door.

She froze. Nopony came out to the clubhouse this late.

She waited. After a few seconds, she decided she’d imagined it and returned to lighting the fire.

Another knocking came from the door.

This time Scootaloo knew she’d not misheard. Somepony was at the door.

Her body started shaking.

Nopony should even know anypony was in here, so they wouldn’t bother knocking. That meant, whoever was knocking, knew she was in here.

She tried going through her mind who it could be. The most likely pony was Apple Bloom or her older siblings, but why would they have come here this late in the first place and how would they know she was here?

Had one of them spotted her heading into the clubhouse? How? She’d learned how to sneak back to it without being noticed months ago. How had they seen her when she was always so careful that nopony saw her?

“Hello?” an unfamiliar female voice called from the other side.

Now Scootaloo started to panic.

Whoever that was outside, she didn’t know them, and that was even worse.

If it had been Applejack or another member of the Apple family, she could’ve lied, saying she decided to have a sleepover in the clubhouse and was going to ask Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle if they wanted to join her.

But this was a pony she didn’t know. For all she knew it could be a bad pony, come to foalnap her. Or worse. Some scary pony who wanted to kill her.

She felt herself shaking. The window was too far away for her to run and the pony outside would see her easily and give chase, no doubt catching her since her scooter was still broken right now.

If only she could fly, this wouldn't be problem. She could just fly away, circle back and go to Rainbow Dash's house and wait the night out.

But she didn't have that option. Curse these stupid currently flightless wings! She had nowhere to go, no way out. She was trapped.

“I’m coming in,” the voice said, before a golden magical aura engulfed the door.

For a split second, Scootaloo thought it was Princess Celestia, she had a golden magical aura, but those thoughts died when she remembered she knew Celestia’s voice and that wasn’t it.

The door opened to reveal a mint-green unicorn mare with a white and mint-green mane with golden eyes and a lyre for a Cutie Mark, wearing several saddlebags.

Her worst fears confirmed, this was not somepony she knew, Scootaloo curled into a ball, waiting for the inevitable.

The other pony was a unicorn. She wouldn't have been able to fight against her magic, so she just waited for the end.

Hoofsteps told her the unicorn was walking into the clubhouse.

Scootaloo was so scared; she started peeing, her fear making her lose her grip on her bladder, the warmth from her pee giving her small comforts of warmth for her last moments.

This was it. This was her end. After all the struggles she’d gone through, all her hardships—

She felt a hoof on her mane and stiffened, bracing for the worst.

“You poor thing.”

The unicorn’s voice was soft and gentle and... sad?

Scootaloo risked a glance up and saw the unicorn was looking down at her with concerned eyes.

Okay. That she did not expect.

It took her so off-guard she lifted her head up to the mare, blinking.

The unicorn slowly sat down on her haunches and gave a warm smile. 

She held a hoof up to her chest. “My name is Lyra. Lyra Heartstrings. What’s yours?”

Scootaloo slowly sat up, still keeping her guard up. This mare might be acting nice now, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t turn nasty any second.

Lyra seemed to be waiting for something and Scootaloo decided she’d introduce herself.

“Sc-Scootaloo,” she said, trying to ignore the puddle of pee around her. “Just Scootaloo.”

Lyra’s smile seemed to grow a little. “Well, Just Scootaloo, it’s nice to meet you.”

“No, my name’s not—” Scootaloo began, but stopped when she saw the small smirk on Lyra’s muzzle. She giggled. “Good one.”

Lyra looked around the clubhouse, taking in the wooden stove, the blankets and pillows (Scootaloo had gotten Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle to bring those from home under the guise of using them whenever they were tired and wanted a small rest), Scootaloo’s scooter in the corner, a wheel missing from the front and her saddlebags.

“Scootaloo,” she said, retuning her gaze to the filly, “why’re you here?”

Scootaloo cocked a head. “Well, cos I wanted to go to sleep and I didn’t want to sleep outside.”

Lyra gave a tiny frown, then shook her head. “Let me rephrase that: Why’re you here and not at home? Won’t your parents be worried if you don’t come home tonight?”

Scootaloo felt her heart sink and tears came to her eyes.



____________________________________________________________________



Lyra regretted asking as soon as the words had left her lips.

She didn’t want to ask, for she’d been able to figure out the answer already, but had felt it was polite to ask, though now she wished she hadn’t.

The small Pegasus’ ears drooped, she shoulders slumped and tears quickly welled in her eyes.

Before Lyra could do more than register this and the mistake she’d made, Scootaloo started crying, looking away to no doubt try as little as possible to hide that fact.

Lyra quickly pulled the clearly distraught filly into a hug.

Scootaloo didn’t reject her hold, in fact, she returned the embraced and bawled into the mint unicorn’s fur; more tears flowing from her than Lyra thought a filly should be able to shed.

She held Scootaloo, stroking her mane and rubbing her back as the poor child cried all her sadness into the older mare.

After several minutes, Scootaloo’s sobbing her come down to sniffles as Lyra held the fragile filly in her forelimbs.

“I’m guessing... you don’t have parents, do you, Scootaloo?” she asked softly and felt the filly nod into her fur.

“When did you lose them?” she felt she didn’t have the right to ask such a question, but something told her to ask, so she did.

“Four years ago,” Scootaloo’s voice answered, muffled by Lyra’s fur.

Lyra gasped. “You’ve been living on your own for four years?”

She couldn’t believe it. How could a filly have survived on her own, with no adult care for four years?

Scootaloo shook her head. “I’ve been living with my Aunt Caring Heart til three months ago. She’s the only family I have left. Dad’s family moved far away years before they... left, and Mom was all that was left of her family, aside from my aunt.”

This brought one question Lyra felt perfectly normal asking. “So, why’re you staying in this clubhouse instead of with her?”

Scootaloo stiffened and tighten her grip.

Lyra was worried now. Was her aunt not caring for her and she wanted to go on her own? No, it had to be something else. Maybe her aunt was poor?

“She’s in the hospital.”

Lyra’s stomach dropped. The way Scootaloo had said those words... they had a finality to them, as if she was saying her aunt wasn’t coming out of the hospital.

“Is... Is it bad?” Lyra asked, knowing full well Scootaloo wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t.

The Pegasus nodded. “She has cancer. They— they say she doesn’t have long!”

Scootaloo stared sobbing again.

Lyra just held her; it was all she could do. Her mind was racing with this information too fast for her to say anything.

Scootaloo had lost her parents four years ago, hadn’t been able to make contact with the rest of her family and now she was going to lose the one pony of her family left in her life? How could life be so cruel to one so young?

After several minutes Scootaloo’s breathing returned to normal and Lyra looked at the filly’s tear-stained face.

A quick glance outside showed Luna had raised the moon. It was getting late.

“Would you like to come stay at my place tonight, Scootaloo?” she asked softly, wiping a few stray tears from the filly’s eyes. “It’d be much nicer than sleeping out here tonight, don’t you think?”

Scootaloo gave a shaky smile. “Re-really? I-I won’t have to sleep outside?”

Lyra gave a soft smile. “If it’s alright with you. You didn’t have any plans, did you? I wouldn’t want to disrupt them.”

Scootaloo giggled, then yawned, snuggling into Lyra’s fur.

Lyra felt a warm flow through her, something she hadn’t felt since she’d first fallen in love with Bon-Bon.

Bon-Bon. Lyra hadn’t thought about what Bon-Bon would think about her bringing a filly home with her, but she shook it off. Her wife would understand.

Careful not to wake the now sleeping Pegasus, Lyra levitated her onto her back, where Scootaloo instinctively snuggled closer for warmth, making Lyra smile even more warmly.

Using her magic, she gathered all of Scootaloo’s things, her saddlebags, the produce she’d seen before and the scooter with its missing wheel, levitated them around her and left the clubhouse, heading off towards Ponyville, the filly sound asleep on her back.

Scootaloo deserved a nice place to sleep. After what she'd been through, it was the least Lyra could do for the poor filly.




> Chapter 2 - Breakfast at Lyra and Bon-Bon's
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 2

Breakfast at Lyra and Bon-Bon’s

_____________________________________________________________________



Lyra sighed as her apartment building came into view.

Using her magic, she unlocked the front door and went to hers and Bon-Bon’s apartment, which was on the ground floor.

Quietly she opened the door and snuck in, after casting the silencing spell again, so she made no sound as she crept in.

She trotted over to the coach and levitated Scootaloo onto it gently, so as not to wake her.

At once, Scootaloo’s face scrunched up and she started reaching for something to replace the warmth that had left her.

“Mom...” she whispered, a few tears poking through her closed lids. “Dad. Aunty Heart... don’t leave me.”

Lyra’s heart stung and she knew she couldn’t simply leave the small filly on the coach. She needed somepony besides her.

At that moment a light came on in the kitchen, bathing the living room in enough light that it illuminated it, but not enough to wake the sleeping filly.

Lyra whirled around to see the cream-coloured fur and bubblegum mane and tail of her Earth Pony wife.

Bon-Bon was not looking pleased, causing the unicorn to shrink a little under her gaze.

“Do you know how late it is, Lyra?” she asked, her voice curt and firm.

Lyra had missed that voice, though right now she was fearing it more than relishing in it's tones as she’d planned.

It was at this moment that Bon-Bon noticed the small filly lying on their coach, reaching around in her sleeping for something and recognized her from the many visits she and her friends had made to Bon-Bon’s, her store.

She turned to Lyra, a puzzled looked on her face. “Lyra, why did you bring Scootaloo to our home?” she asked in a whisper.

“I found her outside of town,” Lyra said, turning to look at Scootaloo as she continued to reach for something that wasn’t there.

Bon-Bon’s puzzlement turned to a frown. “Then you should’ve taken her home. Her parents must be worried sick. How will it look if they learn a complete stranger just came up to their daughter and took her home with them? The last thing we need is for her parents to sue us over a misunderstanding.”

Lyra turned to Bon-Bon, a sad look in her eyes. “She doesn’t have any parents, Bonny.”

The Earth Pony blinked, her face blank. “What?”

Lyra looked down, a few tears in her eyes. “I found her in a clubhouse near Sweet Apple Acres. She’s been living in it for the last three months since her aunt went into hospital.”

Bon-Bon took a step towards her mare. “Her parents... are dead?”

Lyra nodded solemnly. “She said they died four years ago. She was living with her aunt til she had to go into hospital.”

“Are you...? Is it possible she was just making up a story?” Bon-Bon asked hesitantly.

Lyra looked up at her. “She was crying into my fur while she told me, Bonny. I’ve never seen a filly so distraught before. She was so scared when I found her she curled into a ball and peed herself; certain I was gonna hurt her or something.”

Bon-Bon put a hoof to her mouth as she gasped and looked to the filly on the coach, still looking for the warmth that had left her.

“I thought we could take her in, at least for tonight,” Lyra said, walking over and resting a hoof on Scootaloo’s mane.

The filly grabbed her hoof and held onto it as if her life depended on it.

Bon-Bon joined Lyra, her eyes misty. “I’m proud of you, Lyra.”

The unicorn smiled. “Let’s get to bed. I think we should let her sleep with us tonight. She needs somepony close to her.”

Bon-Bon nodded.

Lyra levitated Scootaloo onto Bon-Bon’s back, where she snuggled into the warm of the other pony and gave a contented sigh as Bon-Bon’s natural scent reach her senses and she curled a little more into the Earth Pony’s fur.

Bon-Bon blushed and Lyra smiled.

“Come on, Bonny,” she said, and they headed for their bedroom after Lyra quickly levitated Scootaloo's stuff into the kitchen.

Their bed was a double, always had been, even before they’d become a couple. it was more efficient,

Lyra and Bon-Bon got into bed, Lyra levitating Scootaloo off Bon-Bon’s back so she could get in.

Once the two had settled either side of the Pegasus, she sighed and snuggled, somehow into both mares at the same time.

They chuckled, said goodnight to each other and went to sleep, the small filly sleeping happily between them.



_____________________________________________________________________



Scootaloo was standing in an empty field.

She looked around, her eyes wide with fear.

“Hello?” she called out, her voice trembling. “I-is anypony out there?”

Her answer was the sound of the wind blowing.

She lowered her head and started crying. 

“We bid thee welcome to my realm, Scootaloo.”

Scootaloo’s head shot up, her eyes brightening. She knew that voice.

The sky turned to that of the night and Princess Luna came out of the moon, landing in front of the small filly.

“Princess Luna!” she cried, running forward and hugging the alicorn’s deep-blue foreleg. “You’ve no idea how good it is to see you!”

The lunar princess chuckled, then sigh sadly. “Oh, but I do, sweet Scootaloo.”

The Pegasus looked up to see the sad look on the alicorn’s face.

Luna closed her eyes. “We have watched your dreams for a while now and what we have seen has greatly saddened us, Scootaloo.”

Scootaloo looked down, ashamed her dreams had caused Luna such sadness.

Luna lifted the filly’s head to look in her eyes.

“Do not be ashamed, Scootaloo. You have no control over the dreams that have been plague you. You suffer these dreams because of what has been happening to you.”

Scootaloo looked down, tears in her eyes. “Everypony leaves me. Soon I’ll be all alone.”

A chuckle made her look up to see the princess smiling. “Not all have left you, young one. There are two mares right now that wish only that you are happy.”

Scootaloo cocked an eyebrow. “Who?”

The night princess merely smiled, releasing Scootaloo and flew backwards into the sky, disappearing into the moon.


_____________________________________________________________________



Scootaloo felt warm. Really warm. She’d never been this warm in the clubhouse before.

It was like back when her parents would let her sleep in their bed with them after a bad dream.

Her aunt had done this too when Scootaloo had a particularly bad day... before she’d gone to the hospital, anyway.

She’d always felt better whenever she’d slept with another pony next to her. She’d missed this feeling so much.

She heard the sound of a sigh.

She slowly opened her eyes.

Lyra, the pony from last night was lying next to her, giving a warm smile as she slept.

Wait. That hadn’t been a dream?

Scootaloo was shocked. She was certain she’d been so depressed about how things had been going in her life that she’d just imagined all that. But Lyra being here proved that wrong.

So Lyra wasn’t a made up pony in her mind. She was real and she’d really let her sleep at her house for the night.

Scootaloo’s heart swelled and she snuggled into the unicorn's mint-green coat.

“Hey, Scootaloo. Have a nice sleep?”

She stiffened. Lyra was awake?

“I-I-I-I—” Scootaloo stammered, not sure what to say.

Lyra chuckled and ran a hoof through the filly’s mane. “S’okay, kid. We were happy to let you sleep here.”

Scootaloo was about to responded when she registered exactly what Lyra had just said. 

“We?”

It was then Scootaloo noticed the warmth she was feeling from Lyra’s body was also behind her.

She craned her neck and saw an Earth Pony she knew well.

“Hello, Scootaloo,” Bon-Bon smiled, her eyes half closed. “Did you know you snore a little?”

Scootaloo’s face went bright red and she turned around, burying her face into Lyra’s fur. She’d been snoring again? Oh, Celestia! How much more embarrassing could it get?

Lyra shifted, then made a “Hmm?” noise.

Scootaloo wondered what was up, until she noticed, the warmth from the two mares around her wasn’t the only warmth.

Oh, no.

She burst into tears. Couldn’t she have had just one night without this happening?

Both mares became worried by Scootaloo’s crying.

“Scootaloo...?” Bon-Bon asked slowly, sitting up and noticing the warmth of the bed. “Scootaloo, do you sometimes wet the bed in your sleep.”

A small whimper was all Scootaloo could manage.

Lyra held her closer and sighed. “Then I guess tonight you’ll be wearing a diaper.”

Scootaloo’s heart froze. The bluntness. It was almost cruel.

“B-but I’m not a FOAL!” she shouted, looking up at the unicorn angrily.

Lyra smiled apologetically. “Sorry, I should have made that clearer. You’ll have to wear them only tonight and every night, until you stop altogether.”

Scootaloo blinked. Wait. Tonight? Every night? As in, she’d been sleeping here tonight too and after? They weren’t just going to leave her alone outside?

Lyra chuckled. “With your aunt still in the hospital, we can’t just leave you out on your own, can we?”

Scootaloo felt sad at the mention of her aunt’s condition, but then she realized what Lyra had just said. She’d be staying with them instead of having to sleep in the clubhouse every night. She had not told any of her friends about it, not wanting to bother them, so was not sure how she felt about this now.

She hugged Lyra tightly, whispering, “Thank you.”

Bon-Bon got out of bed, shortly followed by Lyra and Scootaloo.

Lyra’s horn glowed, as did the sheet, then they all lifted off the bed and folded themselves up before floating into a basket on the other side of the room.

“I’ll just wash these,” Bon-Bon said, picking the basket up and putting it on her back and headed out to the washing room.

“How about we get cleaned up?” Lyra asked and Scootaloo giggled.

Scootaloo really enjoyed the shower and Lyra helped clean her.

She hadn’t had a warm washing in weeks and it felt heavenly.

Lyra then started tickling Scootaloo as she washed her, causing the filly to burst out laughing.

After several minutes of horsing around, if you’ll pardon the pun, they dried off and went out into Lyra and Bon-Bon’s kitchen.

Scootaloo was surprised this was an apartment building. It was pretty big. The kitchen only was just smaller than the one in Rarity’s house.

Scootaloo sat at the table as Lyra went about getting breakfast ready.

She watched, intent as Lyra poured some ready-mix pancake batter into a buttered pan and started making pancakes.

Her mouth began to water, especially when she saw what type of pancakes they were. They were choc-chip pancakes. She loved chocolate chip cookies. She’d never thought pancakes could have choc-chips too. The very idea blew her filly mind.

Several minutes later Lyra placed a plate with three pancakes on it.

Scootaloo stared at the steaming, mouth-watering, puffy delights in front of her. She’d never have expected to be given this kind of a breakfast from two ponies she’d never really spoken too before.

She looked at Lyra, her eyes wide.

Lyra giggled at the look on her face.

“I’m gonna guess this is the first time you’ve had choc-chip pancakes, huh?”

Scootaloo nodded viciously, unable to speak from the large amount of pancake she had stuffed in her mouth.

This was the most wonderful thing she’d ever tasted in her life. It was like Celestia had risen the sun within her mouth.

Lyra went over to the fridge, opened it and turned to Scootaloo.

“What would you like to drink? We’ve got milk?”

A nod was all Scootaloo could answer with, her mouth still too full to speak.

Lyra chuckled, took out the milk and poured Scootaloo a glass, then set it in front of her.

Minutes later, Bon-Bon came out and Lyra placed a plate for the two of them on the table, with noticeable smaller pancakes and began eating.

“So,” Bon-Bon asked as Scootaloo started devouring her second helping of pancakes, “what do you think of the chocolate chip pancakes?”

“d’r da b’s e’r," Scootaloo managed through her pancakes and Bon-Bon giggled.

“They should be the best ever,” Lyra smirked, glancing at her wife. “The chocolate chips they use in them come straight from Bon-Bon’s shop.”

Scootaloo almost choked and had to drink some milk to swallow before she could respond.

“Seriously?! They use your chocolate chips in the pancakes?”

“You betcha, kiddo,” Lyra’s smirk grew a little. “Ain’t nopony in Equestria that knows candy like my Bonny, here.”

Bon-Bon blushed deeply. “Lyra, you’re embarrassing me.”

“No, I’m not,” she grinned, giving her a peck on the cheek. “I’m flattering you. Totally different.”

Bon-Bon’s blush deepened and Lyra nuzzled her.

Scootaloo couldn’t help but giggle, but covered it up by making a gagging expression.

“So, you got school today, Scootaloo?” Lyra asked once she’d finished nuzzling her wife.

Scootaloo nodded, then looked a little worried. “I hope I won’t be late.”

Bon-Bon smiled, her blush mostly gone. “Don’t worry, Scootaloo. Lyra can help you get ready.”

Scootaloo blinked, then frowned, confusion coming over her face. 

“What’s wrong?” Bon-Bon asked, having expected a different reaction than what was given.

“I dunno,” Scootaloo said, looking down, still frowning in confusion. “This feels... normal.” She looked up at the mares across the table. “Why is that?”

Both mares looked to each other, their expressions saying they had no idea why either.

“Let’s worry about that later, Scootaloo,” Lyra smiled, getting up. “Right now, we gotta make sure you’re not late for school.”

Scootaloo got up and followed Lyra.

A few minutes later she and Lyra said goodbye to Bon-Bon and headed off towards Ponyville’s only school.

When they got within range, Scootaloo said goodbye to Lyra and headed off, ready for a new day of learning after a good night’s rest.
> Chapter 3 - Final Goodbyes
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 3

Final Goodbyes

_____________________________________________________________________



Lyra walked into Bon-Bon’s and saw her wife just finishing a deal with Filthy Rich.

He left; his butler pulled a wagon filled with several different jars of candy, including, of course, the store’s trademark, bon-bons.

Bon-Bon smiled at her wife as she walked up to the counter. “What can I get for you, miss?”

“How about a sugar tongue?” Lyra asked, giving a coy smile.

Bon-Bon lowered her eyes seductively. “You’re in luck, ma'am. We have one left.”

The two mares kissed, holding it for several seconds before pulling away.

“So, why’d you come, Lyra? Or were you just here to get a smooch from me?” Bon-Bon gave her a sly sideways smile.

Lyra chuckled, then her face fell a little. “No, Bonny. I came because of Scootaloo.”

Bon-Bon stopped playing around and leaned on the counter. “What about her?”

Lyra sighed, looking down. “I went to the hospital to check on her aunt.”

“And?” Bon-Bon asked quietly.

Lyra shook her head. “The doctors told me she’s not likely to last to t’night.”

Bon-Bon gasped, covering her mouth. “That’s horrible. Poor Scootaloo.”

Lyra nodded. “Can you finish early, before school gets out?”

Bon-Bon nodded. “One of the advantages to running your own store. But why?”

Lyra sighed, then looked right at her lover. “We’re gonna pick Scootaloo up from school and take her to see her aunt. She deserves to be with her aunt before it’s time.”

Bon-Bon nodded, tears in her eyes.

“What’s... what’s gonna happen to her afterwards?” she asked, her voice nothing more than a whisper.

Lyra bit her lip. “They’ll send her to an orphanage.”

Bon-Bon’s eyes widened. “They can’t do that. That’s too horrible.”

“The orphanage isn’t that bad,” Lyra said, shaking her head. “I grew up there, remember? Actually, for an orphanage, the one here in Ponyville’s more like a long-term day care, they take such good care for foals.”

“That doesn’t mean it’s right to send her there!” Bon-Bon said fiercely, slamming a hoof on the counter. “After everything she’s already been through that would be the worst thing for her.”

Lyra nodded. “Um, Bonny? What would you say if there was a way we could keep her out of there?”

“I’d say let’s do whatever it is before she gets hurt any more than she already has been,” Bon-Bony said firmly.

Lyra smiled. “So you wouldn’t mind if she were our daughter?”

Bon-Bon stopped, her face going blank. “What?”

“Adopting her,” Lyra said matter-of-factly. “That’s the only way we can keep her out of the orphanage. If we don’t adopt her, we can’t legally keep her, even tonight. Plus, we did kinda tell her she’d be staying again. And you can't say we didn't enjoy having her around this morning.”

Bon-Bon’s face blushed so red that if she’d stood by some of the red candies, her head would have vanished and her face would’ve been looking out from the jars.

“M-me, a mother?” she stuttered, putting a hoof to her mouth. “Lyra, do you think I could do that? What if I mess up? What if I can’t take care of her properly? What if the store goes out of business and we end up on the street and I can't provide for her? What if—?”

“You wouldn’t be alone in this,” Lyra chuckled. “I’d be her mother too. We’d both take care of her, Bonny. And, besides,” she leaned forward and nuzzled her mare, “I know you’ll make a great mother.”

Bon-Bon returned the nuzzle, a contented sigh leaving her lips. “I’m glad you came back when you did.”

Lyra nodded. It was a very good thing she’d come back when she did, or Scootaloo might’ve ended in the orphanage anyway. She’d have only been able to hide out in that clubhouse for so long before Foal Protective Services would have gotten to her and taken her there.



_____________________________________________________________________



“Hey, Scoots?” Apple Bloom asked, glancing to the orange Pegasus.

School had just ended and they were leaving, along with their fellow classmates.

“Yeah, what?” Scootaloo asked, turning to the youngest of the Apple family.

“Why’re Lyra and Bon-Bon standin’ over there and waving to ya?” she pointed and sure enough, Lyra and Bon-Bon were standing not too far away, waving to Scootaloo.

“I’ll explain later,” she said, and turned in the two mares’ direction. “See you girls tomorrow.”

With that, she hurried towards the mares kind enough to take her in, not noticing the bewildered expressions on her fellow crusaders’ faces.

She stopped in front of the two mares, smiling. “Hey, why’d ya come and pick me up?”

Both mares looked at each other, an uneasy expression coming across their faces.

Scootaloo went cold. She’d seen that look before. It was the look the doctors her worn before they told her and her aunt that her aunt had cancer.

“Come on, Scootaloo,” Bon-Bon said, wrapping a foreleg around her small body. “We’re going to the hospital.”

Scootaloo felt tears fall down her face and buried her muzzle into Bon-Bon’s fur.

She felt Bon-Bon wrap her hooves around her and then Lyra joined the embrace too.

After a few moments, they broke apart and headed for the hospital, Scootaloo knowing in her gut that this would be the third worst time she’d been to one.



_____________________________________________________________________



They walked down the clean white halls of the hospital, not saying anything.


Not much had been said on the walk to the hospital. Wasn’t much to talk about anyway.

Lyra had tried to tell her something, something about an orphanage.

Scootaloo hadn’t bothered to listen. She knew what was going on.

With her last known family member gone, she didn’t have anypony left to look after her and, therefore, was going to have to live in an orphanage.

She didn’t blame or feel she could be mad at either of the mares. It wasn’t their fault. They’d had no idea her last guardian would be leaving soon and had honestly thought they could offer her a place to stay for a while.

Still, she couldn’t ignore how much it hurt that, after they’d promised she could stay with them, she’d now be going to an orphanage.


They reached the door Scootaloo had visited so often. Though she’d kept her head down the entire time, she’d been to this room so many times her body had known where to go by instinct.

Lyra opened the door with her magic.

The sight they met wasn’t pretty and they both gave sharp intakes of breath.

Scootaloo’s aunt was a Pegasus with a yellow coat that looked very faded and her body was unhealthily thin. A small picture on the night stand showed her with a bright blue mane and tail, standing next to an Earth Pony mare with a deeper yellow coat and an orange and red mane. The mare in the bed, however, had no mane at all, no doubt a side effect of the medicine she’d been taking for her cancer.

She had tubes in her body; an IV in each of her forelegs and one up her nose.

Scootaloo slowly walked up to her aunt’s side.

The doctor tending to her, a grey unicorn mare with a blue mane, brown eyes and a stethoscope Cutie Mark, looked down sadly at her.

“She doesn’t have long.” She headed towards the door and nodded to the two ponies standing there, who moved aside to let her pass.

She paused at the door and looked back. “I’d suggest saying your goodbyes and making peace.”

With that she left, leaving the four ponies to their own devices.

Scootaloo put her hooves on the thin hoof of her aunt. “Aunt Lofty? Can you hear me?”

The mare stirred, her voice sounding like it was gravel in a blender.

She opened her eyes and turned her head. A small smile played across her face when she saw the small filly.

“Hey, there, Scoots,” she said, her voice eerily quiet. “Didn’t expect to get a visit from you t’day.”

Scootaloo gave a weak smile. “Hey, I promised I’d come everyday, didn’t I?”

The older mare gave a small nod, a weak grin playing across her face. “That strange Pinkie Promise from that party mare, if I recall.”

Scootaloo smiled sheepishly. “That's a Pinkie Promise. It means I can’t break it, even if I wan’ed to.”

She nodded and turned to her left. “Excuse me,” she said to Bon-Bon and Lyra. “Could one of you nice mares get the parcel out from that cupboard by my bed? I’d do it myself, but—”

She was interrupted by a large coughing fit.

It last for several seconds, while Scootaloo patted her aunt’s back to clam her down.

“D-don’t worry, Miss Lofty,” Bon-Bon said, her voice quivering slightly as she moved towards the small door on the bedside table. “I’ll do it. Y-you don’t have to strain yourself.”

“Th— cough, thank you, dear,” Aunt Lofty said, leaning back against her pillow, but not lying down. “I’m not as spry as I use ta be.”

Bon-Bon took a small blue box with crystal on it out and gave it to Aunt Lofty, who looked to Scootaloo.

“Now, no matter what anypony ever tells, you Scoots, I’m never going to leave you.” She leaned a little down and put a hoof on Scootaloo’s heart. “I’ll always be right here, just like your mother and father and Holiday.”

Scootaloo sniffled. She didn’t like her aunt talking like this. She didn’t want her talking like this. Why couldn’t the doctors have found a way to make her better, for Celestia’s sake?!

She sat back up and opened the box, taking out a small necklace. It had some bead and jewels and a few yellow feathers on it.

At first Scootaloo was taken in by how beautiful it was. But then she noticed the feathers. They weren’t any ordinary feathers.

She moved her head to looked behind her aunt at her wings. Almost all the feathers were gone, including...

Scootaloo sobbed as her aunt put the necklace around her neck.

“Now, whenever you’re wearing this, I’ll be close to you, Scoots,” Aunt Lofty said, a warm, weak smile on her face.

Scootaloo leaped up and hugged her aunt tightly. She didn’t want her to go. She didn’t want it. Why couldn’t she get this one thing?

She’d never wish or ask for anything else again as long as her aunt stayed.

They remained that way for a long time, neither saying anything, just holding each other.

Her aunt was so cold. She missed her aunt’s warmth. She needed that warmth.

Suddenly, she felt a hoof on her shoulder.

She looked up to see Lyra and Bon-Bon standing behind her, solemn looks on their faces.

“Come on, Scootaloo,” Lyra said quietly. “We should go.”

“No,” Scootaloo whispered, tightening her grip on her aunt. “You said we could stay til... til...”

She couldn’t bring herself to say it.

“Scootaloo,” Bon-Bon said, her voice cracking a little. “She—” she sobbed. “She’s already gone.”

It was at that moment Scootaloo heard a sound that had not been in the room when they’d entered and the absence of another.

When they’d entered the room, there had been a gentle boop... boop... boop. But now, she couldn’t hear it anymore. In its place was a long, never ending beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep.

She looked at her aunt’s face. It was smiling... but she wasn’t breathing.

“NO!” Scootaloo screamed, shaking her aunt, trying to wake her up. “Aunt Lofty! Please! Wake up! Please wake up, Aunt Lofty! Don’t leave me!”

There was no response. Her aunt remained still and silent.

“NO-HOOO!” Scootaloo wailed, burying herself in her aunt, tears streaming down her face. “Wake up! Please, please wake up, Aunt Lofty! Plea-he-heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeese!”

She poured her sorrows onto the now lifeless body of the only member of her family she had left.

She felt somepony hold her and she whirled around and grabbed whoever it was. The lack of a candy scent told her it was Lyra.

She wailed and wailed, soaking the mare’s coat with her pain.

Bon-Bon’s scent made itself known, meaning she’d started hugging Scootaloo too.



_____________________________________________________________________



Lyra and Bon-Bon held the distraught filly, allowing her to pour all her sadness onto them.

They didn’t know how much time passed before Scootaloo had calmed down enough for them to talk with her.

“We know this probably isn’t the best time to talk to you about this, Scootaloo,” Bon-Bon began as she stroked the poor filly’s mane. “But, about you going to an orphanage...”

Scootaloo’s sobbing turned into whimpering.

“It won’t be happening,” Lyra said firmly.

Scootaloo looked up at her, her face stained with tears, snot dripping from her nose. “What?”

“We came here while you were still in school and talked to your aunt,” Bon-Bon said, rubbing her back. “We asked her something very important and she said yes.”

Scootaloo looked from one of them to the other. “Said “yes” to what?”

Lyra smiled. “She signed some papers with us. We’ve adopted you, Scootaloo. You won’t have to go to the orphanage.”

Scootaloo looked from one of them to the other. “You— hic, you mean, I can stay...?”

Lyra nodded. “Yes, Scootaloo. You can stay with us. We’re your new mothers.”

Scootaloo’s tears burst forth anew and she hugged her two mothers tightly. “Thank you,” she whispered.

The two mothers held their daughter, comforting her in her time of need.

It would be a long time before Scootaloo would get over this loss and  she'd never truly be able to get over it. It would always be there, deep inside.

But at least she had two mothers that would do everything they could for their new daughter.
> Chapter 4 - Comfort and Love
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 4

Comfort and Love

_____________________________________________________________________



Lyra held Scootaloo as they sat in the living room, Scootaloo crying into her chest-fur.

They’d left the hospital about an hour ago and returned to the flat. Bon-Bon had gone to prepare dinner and Lyra had stayed behind to comfort their new daughter.

It hurt her so much to see the young filly suffering so much. She could feel Pegasus’ pain. It was like a cold knife to her heart. She wished she could do more than comfort her, to make her feel better, but she knew this was all she could do right now.

Scootaloo looked up at her, her eyes red and puffy from all her crying.

“Y-you— You won’t leave me, too, will you?” the filly sobbed, sniffing up a bit of snot as it trickled down her nose.

Lyra held her close, rocking her and whispered, “No, honey. We won’t leave you.”

Scootaloo returned to her sobbing, but it was more like low sniffling now.

Lyra just sat there, holding her, rubbing her back as her daughter cried into her.

A small part of the unicorn still couldn’t believe that.

A daughter. She had a daughter. She and Bon-Bon were parents now.

But she knew it wasn’t all sunshine and lollipops, though a certain pink Earth Pony would probably disagree with her there.

Today was a first step in showing she and Bonny were ready for this. To take care of Scootaloo and always put her needs before their own. And that meant staying with the weeping Pegasus until she was calm.

Eventually Bon-Bon’s voice called from the kitchen, saying dinner was ready.

Lyra helped Scootaloo onto her back and walked to the kitchen.

Scootaloo sat down and Lyra and Bon-Bon sat either side of her for comfort.

Scootaloo thanked Bon-Bon for the meal, a daffodil lasagne with hay bacon, but both mares noticed she didn’t eat much, mostly just poking her food with a fork.

When they’d finished dinner, Scootaloo having left more than half on her plate, they went into the living room, where the two mothers held their daughter, reminding her without words that she wasn’t alone.

Scootaloo returned their embrace, but said nothing.

Lyra glanced at Bon-Bon, who shook her head, meaning they’d talk about it later. Right now Scootaloo was their main focus.

After a while Scootaloo had cried herself to sleep in her mothers’ hooves.

Lyra gently levitated her onto Bon-Bon’s back and they went to bed, opting to bathe Scootaloo in the morning instead of waking her now.

Just before they lay her down, Lyra put a diaper on Scootaloo, just in case she had an accident in her sleep.

She stayed with her while Bon-Bon went to have a quick shower.

As she held the small sleeping Pegasus, Lyra realized they barely knew anything about their new daughter. Her likes, her dislikes, why she saw Rainbow Dash as her big sister, etc. So much they hadn’t asked Caring Heart before she passed and now couldn’t.

Maybe they’d ask Scootaloo herself if she was feeling a bit more like talking tomorrow.

After a few minutes Bon-Bon came back and took Scootaloo while Lyra went to have her shower.

As the water poured down onto her, Lyra couldn’t get the sound of Scootaloo’s wails when she’d learned her aunt was dead out of her mind. It kept echoing, over and over again.

Had anypony seen the unicorn, they wouldn’t have been able to differ her tears from the water cascading down on her.

When she was done, she dried herself off and went back to the bedroom, to see Bon-Bon lying next to the sleeping Scootaloo.

She walked over and got into bed, cuddling up with her wife and daughter.

“Should we send her to school tomorrow?” the earth mare asked as she stroked the small Pegasus’ mane.

Lyra shook her head. “I don’t think we should. I don't think she could handle school tomorrow. Plus, I think you mentioned she and her friends sometimes complained about bullies amongst themselves when they were in your store. I don't want her having to deal with that at the moment.

Bon-Bon nodded, a small frown appearing on her face as she remembered said bullies having teased a few fillies when they thought she hadn't been able to notice.

"And we’ll need to let Cheerilee about her new living arrangements,” Lyra sighed as she moved a bit of Scootaloo's mane out of her eyes.

“I’ll do it,” Bon-Bon nodded. “I’ll go to the school tomorrow on my way to work and tell her.”

Lyra raised an eyebrow. “That’s not "on your way to work", Bonny. That’s a fair way out from work. The fillies and colts go to your shop every day after school because it’s on their way away from school.”

Bon-Bon gave a small shake of her head. “She’s our daughter now. I think going out of my way a little before work is something I can manage for her.”

Lyra nodded and closed her eyes, falling into a restless sleep.



_____________________________________________________________________



Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were chatting with each other, waiting for class to start and for the third member of their group.

They wanted to know why their Pegasus friend had gone with Lyra and Bon-Bon. They knew she had an aunt, but something didn’t seem right.

Cheerliee called all the young ponies to attention and was about to start class when a knock came from the door.

All turned to see Bon-Bon standing there, a solemn look on her face.

“My apologies for interrupting, Ms. Cheerilee,” she said, taking a step forward. “But can I speak with you in the hall for a moment?”

Cheerilee looked slightly confused, but complied and went out into the hall with the cream-coloured Earth Pony.

The other students started talking amongst themselves, wondering what was going on, but the two members of the CMC watched Cheerilee's face from the doorway, which they had an angle to watch from.

From what they could see, Bon-Bon was talking about something that was very sad. Cheerilee gasped, putting a hoof to her mouth.

Both fillies were shocked to see several tears leak down her muzzle. Whatever they were talking about, it was really bad.

Suddenly fear gripped both fillies. What if it was about Scootaloo? Had something happened to her after she left with Bon-Bon and Lyra yesterday?

Cheerilee walked back in and it was obvious she was sad. All the foals in class noticed it.

But as soon as Cheerilee got to her desk her face returned to it’s normal smile. She started the lesson as if nothing had happened and class went on.

This worried both fillies. What could have happened? Why wasn’t Scoots in school? Where was their friend?



_____________________________________________________________________



Lyra lay next to the sleeping filly.

Bon-Bon had gotten up a while ago to go to the school and tell Cheerilee that Scootaloo wouldn’t be there today, why and what had recently happened.

She wanted to get up too, her stomach’s growling was enough of an indication that she should get some breakfast, but she couldn’t. She couldn’t risk Scootaloo waking up on her own. The Pegasus was still distraught over the loss of her aunt and the pain was still raw.

If Scootaloo didn’t have some comfort to wake up to, she might have a nervous breakdown.

Finally, at 10:34 the filly stirred, slowly opening her eyes.

“Hey, sweetie,” Lyra smiled, moving her hoof through her purple mane. “About time you woke up. I was wondering if you were gonna sleep all day.”

Scootaloo didn’t answer, just looked away, sitting up.

Lyra put a hoof on her shoulder. “Scootaloo, we want to help you, but we can’t do that if you don’t talk to us.”

Scootaloo sighed, her shoulders slumping a little. “Sorry, Lyra. I just... I miss her.” She bit her lip. “I miss them all... so much!”

Lyra pulled her into a hug and kept her there, letting her filly find comfort in her embrace.

For a long while they stayed like that, Scootaloo basking in the warmth of the elder mare.

Eventually, Scootaloo moved a little away, her head looking down, her eyes fixed on the diaper around her flank. She looked up at Lyra, a hurt expression on her face.

Lyra pulled her closer again, stroking her mane. “You know we only put it on you in case you had another accident in your sleep, right?” she soothed.

“I... I know that,” Scootaloo said, and Lyra noticed the shame in her voice. “I’m upset about it because... I used it.”

Lyra moved her foreleg down and patted her hoof on the diaper. Indeed, it had bulged out a little, a sign of having soaked up a night’s peeing.

“It’s okay, Scootaloo,” Lyra said, nuzzling the filly affectionately. “I don’t blame you for wetting yourself and neither does Bon-Bon. We know you can’t help it right now.”

Scootaloo only sniffled, tightening her grip on the unicorn.

After a few minutes of silence, Lyra pulled a little away and smiled at the filly. “How about we get some brunch?”

Scootaloo blinked, a tiny fraction of confusion entering the sadness in her eyes.

“It’s well passed 10:30, kid,” Lyra winked. “But, first, let’s get you cleaned up.”

Scootaloo’s eyes widened at the realization of the time, then she looked away, blushing about having wet herself and needing a bath.

Lyra carefully let go of Scootaloo and got out of bed, shortly followed by the Pegasus.

After a quick shower for the filly, Lyra led Scootaloo through the apartment, levitating a saddlebag onto her back and headed for the door.

She stopped and looked back when she noticed Scootaloo hadn’t followed to the door.

“Why’re you heading for the door?” she asked, looking confused. “Isn’t the kitchen that way?” she pointed a hoof in the kitchen’s direction.

Lyra smirked. It was a kind smirk though. “Brunch is far better at a cafe or restaurant than at home. And I have a feeling you’ll like where we’re going.”

Scootaloo blushed at the idea she was being treated to something other than a simple meal, but quickly followed the unicorn out the door, which closed and locked behind her magically.

The two ponies walked through the street, headed for a small place Lyra had gone to brunch several times at. It was the same restaurant/cafe where she’d proposed to Bon-Bon two years ago.

They stopped in front of the establishment a few minutes later and Lyra couldn’t help but chuckle quietly at Scootaloo’s shocked expression.

Indeed, The Grassy Knoll was a very awe-inspiring place. A two story building, painted in bright purple, with the words The Grassy Knoll in big yellow letters with an image of a beautiful knoll like the namesake set behind it.

Lyra nodded her head towards the building and started towards it, Scootaloo following right behind, her mouth still hanging open in awe.

They entered and a bell tinkled, signalling their arrival.

A blue unicorn mare with an hourglass Cutie Mark walked up to them from behind a counter wearing a purple vest and a small purple hat much like Mr. Cake’s on her head.

“Lyra,” she smiled as she stopped in front of the pair. “We haven’t seen you and Bon-Bon for a while now.”

Lyra scratched behind her head. “Sorry about that, Colgate. I only got back to Ponyville two nights ago and thing's have been a bit hectic.” Then she grinned. “Business at the dentist still slow, huh?”

Colgate blushed. “Yeah. It’s a good thing I took this second job a long time ago. You’d think, with the amount of sugary foods Pinkie eats she’d be visiting regularly, but she’s been maybe once in the last year.”

A small noise came from below them and they both looked to Scootaloo, who was looking a little anxious.

Colgate cocked her head. “Scootaloo. Didn’t expect to see you here.” She frowned, confused. “Wait. Why are you here? Shouldn't you be in school right now?”

“That’s... a long story, Colgate,” Lyra said, trying to defuse things before Scootaloo got too upset. “We’ll have two of the usual. Give Tasty Quiescence my regards too,” she winked.

The unicorn nodded and headed back to the counter and opened a small window, calling out, “Tasty! Lyra’s back. Two of the usual. And she gives her regards.”

“You got it,” a deep stallion’s voice chuckled from the other side, followed by, “Great ta have ya back, Lyra.”

“Thanks, Tasty!” she called back and giggled at the confused look on Scootaloo’s face.

Lyra led Scootaloo down a small hallway into a large dinning area big enough for about a thousand ponies.

Round tables were spread out, a majority of them occupied.

Lyra led Scootaloo to a table near the kitchen and they sat down and waited for their orders.

While they waited a purplish grey Pegasus mare walked up to their table, wearing the same uniform as Colgate had, carrying several bottles and cans.

“May I offer the ladies some refreshments?” she asked, looking from Lyra to Scootaloo.

“I’ll have an orange soda, Cloudkicker,” Lyra smiled, then turned to the filly next to her. “Scootaloo?”

The smaller Pegasus looked down, shifting a little. "Orange soda... please."

Cloudkicker nodded, then placed two cans of orange soda on the table before moving to another table.

Lyra opened her can and took a long sip.

Scootaloo took hers and did the same, though her sip was small.

A few minutes later what looked like two large bread rolls and some cutlery were brought over to them in a purple magical aura by a pink unicorn mare with purple eyes, mane and tail.

She placed them on the table then went away.

Scootaloo looked at the bread roll with confusion. It was large as a normal bowl. The inside had been hollowed out and filled with a soup of some kind.

The smell was of onions and leaks and made her mouth water. But the bread bowl itself was what puzzled her. She looked to Lyra, an eyebrow raised.

The unicorn chuckled. “I thought the same when I first ordered that.” She levitated a spoon, filled it with some soup and sipped it.

She sighed. Oh, Celestia, how she’d missed this soup. Nopony could make a soup like Tasty.

She turned to Scootaloo, who was still frowning at the bread bowl.

Lyra chuckled. “Tasty came up with the idea. The bread is strong enough that the soup stays inside and when you’re finished with the soup, the bread will have absorbed enough of the soup that it’s nice and tasty.”

“Bowls... you can eat?” the Pegasus asked, her voice showing signs of interest.

Lyra nodded. “And once you’ve tried the soup, you’ll wonder how you spent your whole life never having tasted it before.”

Scootaloo picked up her spoon, scooped up a spoonful of soup and looked hesitantly at Lyra. After a nod, she sipped the soup.

Lyra smiled warmly as Scootaloo’s eyes widened, before she started shoveling the soup down quickly.

Lyra chuckled and went on eating her own soup.

Once the soup was all gone for both of them, they eat their bowls, Scootaloo making squeeing noises as she savoured the taste.

When they were done, Lyra put a hoof on the filly’s shoulder.

Smiling, Scootaloo got up and followed her to the front, where Lyra placed some bits on the counter, which Colgate took and put in a cash register.

Both ponies waved goodbye to her and headed out, back towards the apartment.


Once back at the apartment, they went into the living room and sat down on the couch, Scootaloo leaning into Lyra’s side.

“Scootaloo?” she asked, looking down at the filly.

She looked up, smiling. “Yeah?”

Lyra sighed. “Scootaloo, I know this won’t be easy for you... but could you tell me how your parents died.”

Scootaloo stiffened and a small sob came from her. “Okay.”

She gave a sigh and snuggled closer to the unicorn.

“Four years ago, I was living in Baltimare. It was a great life. My mom and dad were so loving. They tried their best to make sure I was always happy.”

She shifted a little, and Lyra felt a small part of her fur become moist.

“One night, we were staying in an apartment before we moved. We were gonna be coming to Ponyville to help my aunt with something. I... didn’t know it back then, but, now that I think about it, it was probably her early stages of cancer.”

“I’m guessing things didn’t go as planned,” Lyra said, her voice heavy.

Scootaloo shook her head. “That night, a bunch of crooks broke into the complex. Several other ponies heard them and confronted them, trying to stop them. My parents were among them. When they were cornered, they tried to cause a small fire. What they didn’t know was the fuel tanks for the hot water were close to them and one was leaking a little.”

She whimpered, holding Lyra closer.

“When one of them lit the match, there was a huge explosion that destroyed the first few floors. I woke up in a hospital with burns on my legs... but not just there.”

Lyra felt her blood run cold. From the way Scootaloo had said that, it was as if something else had affected her and was still doing so.

“What else happened, honey?” she asked, tightening the foreleg around the filly.

Scootaloo whimpered again, a few more tears moistening Lyra’s fur. “My wings.”

Lyra’s heart dropped. Though she wasn’t a Pegasus, she knew their wings were as important to them as a unicorn’s horn was to any unicorn.

"Th-they told me they healed several months later, but..."Scootaloo started sobbing. “I-I act like I don’t worry about it, but I’m scared! I’m scared I’ll never be able to fly. I wanna be able t’ fly, Mommy!”

Lyra was silent for a second. One, because she was taking in the fact that Scootaloo thought she’d never be able to fly, and two, she’d just called her “Mommy”. She’d been calling her and Bon-Bon by their names before.

She put her head on Scootaloo’s and whispered, “You don’t have to fear, honey. I know you’ll fly. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but someday, I know you’ll fly and you’ll even give Rainbow Dash a run for her money.”

Scootaloo sniffed and moved her head to look up at Lyra. “You—” sniff, “You really think so?”

Lyra smiled. “I don’t think so, Scootaloo.”

Scootaloo’s head dropped.

“I know so.”

She looked up again to see Lyra with a few tears of her own.

They both held onto each other for a long while, just enjoying the warmth of the other.



> Chapter 5 - A New Family
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 5

A New Family

_____________________________________________________________________



“Well, looks like we’re finally free of that flightless Pegasus.”

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle turned at the sound of the taunting voice of the worst Earth Pony to ever walk on the face of Equus, Diamond Tiara as she and Silver Spoon walked towards them, large sneers on their faces.

It was recess and all the fillies and colts had run out of the classroom to have fun before having to return to their school work.

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle had sat near the gate and had been discussing why Scootaloo hadn’t come to school and why Bon-Bon of all ponies had come to talk with Miss Cheerilee about something that had made their teacher cry.

However, their discussion was now on hold, since they had to deal with the gruesome twosome of Ponyville Elementary.

“About time,” Silver Spoon said, glancing at Diamond before leering at the two other ponies. “The less useless blank flanks around here the better.”

“Shut it, you two!” Apple Bloom snorted, facing the two like Applejack would a stampede of... well, anything. “Ya’ll got no right ta say tha’ ’bout Scoots. Something really bad’s happened.”

Silver Spoon huffed. “Like anything bad happened to her that we could care about, right, Diamond Tiara?”

The pink Earth filly nodded. “What could possibly be bad about her not being here? She probably just ditched school to go hang with the pigs, where she belongs.”

“Something bad did happen!” Sweetie snapped, glaring at them. “Didn’t you see how sad Miss Cheerilee was when she came back from talking with Bon-Bon?”

Tiara glanced at Silver, an eyebrow raised in genuine confusion. “She was sad?”

“What’s she gotta be sad about?” Silver shook her head. “With that blank flank gone it’s one less hassle.”

“Scoots is in really big trouble!” Apple Bloom said, her rage barely being kept from showing.

Tiara smirked. “Oh, really? What’d she do this time, smash into another grocery cart while flying?” She emphasized the last word with gleeful malice.

“Ya’ll didn’a see Cheerilee’s face as she was talkin’ ta Bon-Bon!” Apple Bloom almost shouted. “She had tears streamin’ down her face! Something bad has happened ta Scoots. Ya’ll have no right in makin’ fun o’ her!”

“An’ if my big thithter wath the one t’ tell Mith Cheerilee, it mutht be real bad!”

The two snotty Earth Ponies whirled around to see a very angry Twist standing behind them, her nostrils flaring.

“My big tithter has never, never looked tho upthet before. Not even when our grandma died! If the wath tho clothe to breaking down jutht talking to Mith Cheerilee, it’th thomething really, really bad.”

The freckle-faced Earth Pony stomped towards the two and they started backing away, before realizing that Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were blocking them in that direction.

“Whatever my thithter came to tell the teacher, you have no right to thpeak.” She pointed a hoof away, towards a tree. “Go and don’t thpeak about thtuff you don’t underthtand.”

“How dare you?” Diamond said angrily. “My daddy could have your sister fired in a... a... wait. Sister?”

Twist nodded. “Bon-Bon ith my big thithter. You gotta problem with that?”

Tiara and Spoon’s faces went pale and they hurried off, not looking back.

Twist walked towards her two friends, both of whom had shocked expression.

“Is that true, Twist?” Sweetie Belle asked, her eyes wide. “Bon-Bon is really you big sister?”

Twist scratched behind her neck. “Well, thep-thithter, really? Her mother married my dad when I wath jutht a foal. But the’th been my thithter for ath long ath I can remember, tho I don’t think about the thtep thing.”

Both the unicorn and farm filly turned to each other, saying “Whoa!” in unison.

“After thchool, let’th go to my thither’th houthe. Myabe we can find out what’th happening from her.”

“Why not stop by her shop?” Sweetie Belle suggested. “It’s closer and we can follow her there.”

Apple Bloom nodded. “Sounds like a great idea, Sweetie. We’ll do it, right after school.”



_____________________________________________________________________



Bon-Bon sighed as she moved the sherbet lemons to another shelf. The last batch had gone a bit stale, so she couldn’t sell them.

However, her mind was far away from thoughts of any type of candy. They were on her new daughter and all the pain that poor filly had already been through.

After her own father had died, Bon-Bon hadn’t wanted to talk with anypony, even her mother and when her mother remarried, she’d felt like her mother was trying to replace her dad, so Bon-Bon didn’t speak for days after, even refused to eat at the same table with them, waiting until after they'd finished their meals before she'd go and sit to eat her own.

That was until, on the third day after the wedding, she noticed the sound of crying.

She’d followed the sound to a nursery with candy designs. The walls were papered with candy canes backgrounded by pink, the floor was padded, with sugar drops designs and the crib in the centre was covered in all sorts of candy patterns.

She knew her mother hadn’t been pregnant, so it must have been the foal of her step-father. She refused to call him “father” or “dad”, even in her mind.

She walked hesitantly over to the crib and looked in. Inside was a small Earth Pony foal with a white coat and bright red hair and a freckled face.

As soon as she was within view, the foal stopped crying and looked at her with big bright pink eyes.

Bon-Bon couldn’t help but smile, to which the foal smiled a big, toothless smile back.

The young mare had leaned in and nuzzled the small foal, who cooed and gurgled happily in response.

She’d learned shortly after that this was her new sister, Twist. Her mother had died giving birth to her, so Twist had never gotten to know her birth mother.

Upon hearing this, Bon-Bon had felt guilty for how selfish she’d been about her mother remarrying. Her remarrying had given little Twist a mother, something she’d never had before; from the very moment she’d been born.

After that, Bon-Bon had loved her little sister like any big sister would. In fact, years later, it was while Twist had been helping Bon-Bon make a new batch of candy for the store that Twist had gotten her Cutie Mark.


Bon-Bon was pulled from her reverie of memories by the sound of the store bell tinkling.

Knowing her sister, and since school would be out by now, Bon-Bon wasn’t surprised when she turned around to find Twist walking into the store. What did surprise her were the two fillies following her. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle.

She hadn’t expected those two to come for a while. They normally only came when they were with...

Bon-Bon’s heart sank as she realized why they had come and lowered her eyes to hide the tears. They wanted to know why Scootaloo hadn’t been in school and Twist must have suspected that her big sister had something to do with it, since she’d come to the school.

Twist walked up to the counter, a worried expression on her face.

“Thith?” she asked with her usual lisp. “Thootaloo didn’t come to thchool today. And why were you talking with Mith Cheerilee. Do you know thomething about thith?”

Bon-Bon looked away, not wanting to meet her sister or her sister’s friends’ eyes.

“I... I shouldn’t be the one to tell you, Twisty,” she said softly.

“Did somethin’ bad happen to her?” Apple Bloom’s voice was loud as she ran to the counter. “Please don’ tell me she is in any trouble?!”

“Please, Bon-Bon?” Sweetie Belle asked, giving her puppy dog eyes. “We’re really worried. If something bad happened to Scoots, we wanna know about it.”

The older mare turned to her shelves so they couldn’t see her tears. “Wh-what...? What makes you think I’d know anything about it?”

She didn’t like how this was going. She knew her sister and the two fillies were Scootaloo’s best friends, but this was something only Scootaloo should tell them. Sure, she and Lyra were her mothers now, but this was something personal to Scootaloo and she didn’t feel right telling anypony about it without asking her first.

“Cuz you an’ Lyra were the ones tha’ picked her up, yesterday,” Apple Bloom stated firmly. “Ya’ll were the last ones ta see ’er. What happened after ya took her away.”

“Thith?” She turned to see tears in Twist’s eyes. “Do you know thomething? What’th going on?”

Bon-Bon sighed. She’d never been able to resist when her sister was like this.

“Okay,” she said quietly, barely a whisper. “Wait a few minutes. Once I’m finished here, I’ll take you all to see Scootaloo.”

The three fillies looked at each other, both with excitement at finding out what was going on with Scootaloo, and worry from Bon-Bon’s reaction.



_____________________________________________________________________



Scootaloo sat on the couch, looking outside at the rain. It had started a few minutes ago. The weather pegasi were sending a downpour down now, since they’d missed two showers and were planning on getting it all out now so there’d be clear skies over the next couple days.

She watched as the rain poured outside, hitting the windows of her new home at regular intervals.

Her home. It was still hard to believe she was even able to think those words. She had a home. After so many months of living on her own, she had a home.

When her aunt had gone into hospital, she’d been put in a foster home til she got better, or so the doctors had put it. But the family she’d stayed with didn’t really want her there and, to be perfectly honest, she hadn’t wanted to be there either.

So, she’d gone at it alone. She could’ve asked one of her friends, but she hadn’t felt right about it. It was something she’d had to burden and didn’t want to force that on her friends.

Now, however, that wasn’t the case. Her aunt was gone and she’d never be coming back.

Scootaloo touched the necklace around her neck, her hoof resting on one of the feathers. They were her aunt’s pinfeathers. Pegasi only gave these to those they wanted to be with or...

Tears slid down her face. The moment she’d seen the feathers, she knew it was too late. Her aunt wasn’t going to get better.

The sound of Lyra getting something for them to eat snapped her back to the present and a tiny smile managed to appear on her face.

She had a home again. Not only that, she had two loving mothers.

I know I should just say I’m happy, but please watch over me, Auntie Lofty, she thought, looking back out at the cloud-covered sky. Mom, Dad, Aunt Holiday. I miss you all. But I won’t let that hold me down. Heh, or I’ll try, anyway. You know me: tough on the outside, absolute mush on the inside.

She felt a hoof on her shoulder and looked around to see Lyra, giving a sad smile. 

“You okay, kiddo?” she asked, though she clearly knew Scooaloo was far from it.

The Pegasus turned and hugged her unicorn mother, not wanting to let go. She’d lost too much already. She didn’t want to lose anymore.

The door banged open, indicating Bon-Bon had returned early from work.

“Guess the storm’s too heavy for anypony to go to the store,” Lyra said as she released Scootaloo and the two of them headed for the front door. “At least it means we both get to spend some time together...”

She trailed off as they saw Bon-Bon wasn’t as soaked as she should be. There was a green magical aura surrounding her and three smaller ponies that were around her.

Scootaloo went rigid at the sight of her three friends, all of whom were staring at her, wide-eyed.

A second later, the Pegasus was pulled into a huge hug by the three fillies, all shouting how happy they were to see her and that she was okay.

“Of course I’m okay,” the confused filly said, pulling away slightly so she could breathe properly. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Bon-Bon said they took you to the hospital last night!” Sweetie Belle squeaked.

Scootaloo turned to Bon-Bon, hurt she’d told without asking.

Lyra glared at Bon-Bon.

The Earth mare looked down. “Sorry. It just slipped out.”

Scootaloo looked down. “What did she tell you?”

Apple Bloom shook her head. “Nothin’ really. She said they took ya ta the hospital, but nothin’ else.”

Scootaloo gave a small smile to Bon-Bon, letting her know she was forgiven, since she hadn’t told them anything but that.

“What happened, Thcootaloo?” Twist asked, looking very worried. “Were you thick or thomething? Why didn’t you tell uth? We'd’ve helped.”

Scootaloo shook her head. “We didn’t go to the hospital because something had happened to me.” She paused, before going on, taking a deep breath. “It was my aunt.”

“Lofty?” Apple Bloom asked, her ears drooping. “Wha’ happened?”

Scootaloo looked away. “She... She had cancer. It was pretty bad.”

Sweetie blinked. “She had cancer? Is...? Is she okay now? Did she get better?”

Scootaloo said nothing, just looked at the floor.

Lyra walked over and put a leg around Scootaloo, who buried herself into the unicorn.

Lyra sighed. “No, girls. She didn’t get better.”

Apple Bloom had gone pale. “Ya... Ya don’ mean...?”

Sweetie Belle looked at Apple Bloom, her lips quivering. “Don’t mean what?”

Bon-Bon sighed and nodded to Lyra, who looked down at Scootaloo and felt her nod into her fur.

“She... she didn’t make it, girls,” she said quietly. “Last night... Lofty passed away.”

A dead silence filled the room as the words she’d spoken sunk into the three fillies’ minds. It sunk more into Scootaloo’s mind as well. Hearing it from Lyra somehow made it seem more real. Like, if she’d pretended last night hadn’t happened, she could pretend her aunt just went away to another hospital.

Now, however, she couldn’t do that. It was all too real and her tears dampened Lyra’s fur.

“Who...? Who’s gonna look after Scoots now, then?” Apple Bloom asked, looking down. “Ah ain’t never seen her parents. Or any member of her family, really?”

Bon-Bon shook her head. “Scootlaoo doesn’t have any other family, girls,” she said solemnly. “Her father’s side of the family moved away a long time ago and nopony knows where they went. And Lofty was the last known living member of her mother’s family.”

“Then... what’s going to happen to Scootaloo?” Sweetie Belle squeaked, tears streaming down her muzzle. “She won’t have to go away, will she?”

Lyra shook her head. “No. She’s staying right here, in Ponyville. And, no, she won’t be going to the orphanage either.”

Twist looked both worried and confused. “Then, where’th the gonna go?”

Lyra gave a small, warm smile. “Before she passed, Lofty, Bonny and I talked. We talked about Scootaloo. She signed some papers and gave us the legal right to adopt her.”

Twist blinked, her worried turning to shock. “You and... you and my thithter are gonna be her momth?”

Lyra nodded and could feel Scootaloo giving a smile into her fur. “Yes. Yes, we are. She’s our daughter now.”

Twist turned to her older sister. “Doeth that mean... what I think it meanth? Thcootth ith...?”

Bon-Bon nodded. “Scootaloo’s a part of our family. You’re an aunt, Twisty. Her aunt.”

All for fillies’ eyes went wide, Scootaloo looking up at Lyra.

“Is... Is she right?” she asked, shaking ever so slightly.

Lyra nodded. “We’re both your mothers and since I’m married to Bonny, her family are my family. And, since Twist is her little sister, that makes her your aunt and you her niece.”

Scootaloo looked dumbstruck.

“I’m... an aunt?” Twist asked, her mouth gapping. “But... I’m not even a teenager yet.”

Bon-Bon chuckled, pulling her little sister into a one legged hug. “You don’t have to be an adult to become an aunt, or in a colt’s case, an uncle. If you have a sister or brother that becomes a parent, you still become an aunt or uncle. In your case, you’ve become Scootaloo’s aunt.”

Both fillies stared at each other, their eyes as wide as saucepans.

Suddenly, they both screamed, ran at each other and embraced one another in a hug.

Lyra looked at Bon-Bon and they both smiled. After what Scootaloo had been through, this was a good thing. Probably some of the best news the poor filly had had in a long time.

Soon, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were part of the hug too, all four fillies jumping up and down as they held the hug, squealing with glee.

Lyra turned away from the happy scene in front of her and looked out at the pouring rain through the window.

She frowned. “I’m not sure you girls will be able to get home in this weather,” she said, noticing that it had also started hailing slightly.

“But, what’ll we do then?” Sweetie Belle asked, looking anxious. “Rarity will freak when I don’t come home.”

Lyra put a hoof to her chin, thinking. “It might be hard, but I should be able to send messages to your families, letting them know you’re all safe.”

Apple Bloom blinked, raising an eyebrow. “Ya can? How?”

Lyra smirked. “Did Princess Twilight Sparkle ever tell you that she and I both went to Princess Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns?”

All four fillies’ mouths dropped open.

“Seriously?” Scootaloo gaped. Her new mother had gone to the same school as a princess? No way.

Lyra nodded. “Seriously. And I studied message teleportation there a lot, since she always sent messages via Spike’s dragon flame and I had to find a way to respond.”

All the fillies were staring, wide eyed.

“Wait...” Sweetie said, thinking. “If we can’t go home tonight, we’re stuck here. And if Scootaloo lives here now... and we’re staying over the night...”

The fillies all wore wide grins and shouted, “CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS SLEEPOVER AT SCOOTALOO’S HOUSE! Yay!”

The unicorn mare chuckled and turned to her wife, who nodded, having already taken some paper and a pencil out from a draw.

“Now,” Lyra asked, turning to the four fillies, “what should I write?”



_____________________________________________________________________



Several minutes later, three letters had been written and placed in envelopes. The four fillies watched in awe as Lyra lit her horn, enveloping the three letters in her golden aura, her face scrunched up as she focused her magic.

Suddenly the three envelopes in her aura caught alight, turned into golden smoke and floated away, passing through the walls.

“There,” Lyra gasped, wobbling as she breathed deeply, as if she’d just run a marathon. “The letters should arrive at your homes in a few minutes.”

“That was cool!” Apple Bloom bounced, grinning from ear to ear. “Can ya show us some more magic?”

Lyra chuckled weakly. “Maybe in a few hours. Right now, I’m kinda...”

She collapsed on the floor, panting. She’d forgotten just how much effort it took to send messages like that. She was also severely out of practice. She hadn’t used that spell since she and Twilight had left Canterlot and come to Ponyville.

“Lyra!” Bon-Bon shouted, running over.

“Mom!” Scootaloo shouted at the same time, her and the other fillies hurrying to the unicorn’s side.

“I’m okay,” she said weakly. “Just used too much magic at once. I’m not an alicorn, like Twilight. She could’ve sent a thousand letters at once and still not felt tired. Us normal unicorn’s don’t have that kinda luxury.”

Lyra let Bon-Bon help her up. Despite her exhaustion from the overuse of magic, she was smiling. Scootaloo had just called her “Mom” without a second thought and that made her happier than she could ever express.

Bon-Bon helped Lyra onto the couch, where she lay, her eyes drooping, her body begging her to take a small nap.

“Well, while Lyra’s regaining her strength,” Bon-Bon said, shaking her head as she smiled, “I’ll go get dinner started. Will you girls be okay on your own?”

Scootaloo nodded, giving a small salute. “Don’t worry Bon— I mean, Mom,” she said firmly. “We’ll find something to do.”

Bon-Bon’s smile grew warmer and she nodded. “Okay. Just don’t disturb your mother, Scootaloo. She needs her rest after using so much magic.”

The Pegasus nodded. “You got it. Come on, girls. Let’s explore my new home.”

The other three nodded and the four of them ran off to explore new territory.

Lyra smiled, closing her eyes and letting sleep take her.
> Chapter 6 - Sleepover
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 6

Sleepover

_____________________________________________________________________



Scootaloo ran down the hall, her three friends following behind.

She was really excited. She hadn’t gotten a chance to explore her home yet and now she was going to be able to do it with her friends.

Her eyes sparkled as an idea came to mind. Maybe she, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle could get Cutie Marks in investigating while searching her home.

They came to a door that said Basement.

“Let’s check in here, first,” the Pegasus stated, leaping up and turning the knob.

The door slowly creaked open.

Sweetie Belle and Twist gulped.

“Um, Scoots?” the former asked, her voice squeaking a little. “Are you sure it’s safe down there?”

“I don’t think anypony that would adopt me would have something dangerous in their basement, Sweetie,” Scoots replied, rolling her eyes. “Come on! We’ve got exploring to do.”

She hopped down the stairs, hearing the reluctant sound of her friends hoofsteps behind her.

Once at the bottom of the stairs, Scootaloo found a light switch on the wall and turned it on.

The room lit up to reveal a trove of objects. Boxes marked things like “School Stuff” and “Wedding stuff” were stacked on the farthest wall. There were a few mirrors, some chests and a few old books.

Scootaloo ignored these and opened the nearest box titled “Foalhood Memories”.

She opened it and gasped. It was filled with pictures of Lyra and Bon-Bon when they were younger.

One picture showed Bon-Bon standing next to a cream-coated Earth Pony mare with a blonde mane and tail, blue eyes and a lollipop for a Cutie Mark. On her other side was an Pegasus stallion with a yellow coat, coat, mane and eyes similar to Bon-Bon’s and a tornado for a Cutie Mark.

“Are those Bon-Bon’s parents?” Sweetie Belle asked, looking at the photo over Scootaloo’s shoulder.

Twist nodded. “Thoth are our mother and her birth father.”

Apple Bloom glanced at Twist, frowning. “Birth father?”

Twist nodded. “Her momb married my dad. I don’t know what happened to her dad. She never thayth.”

Scootaloo flipped over the page and her eyes widened. It was a picture of Lyra when she was a filly, maybe a few years older than her. But what shocked her was the background.

“Is... Is that an orphanage?” Apple Bloom asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah, look,” Twist pointed to a small sign in the picture. “Ponyvthille Orphanage.”

“My mom was an orphan?” Scootaloo asked, her voice showing her shock.

“Was?” Apple Bloom frowned. “How’s she not still one?”

“Look,” Scootaloo pointed at the picture.

In it, filly Lyra was hugging two adult ponies, one a unicorn stallion with a blue coat and black mane with a flute as his Cutie Mark, the other an Earth Pony mare with a black coat, and brown mane and tail and a piano for a Cutie Mark.

“They look like nice ponies,” Apple Bloom said, smiling at the ponies hugging filly Lyra. Then she frowned. “Who’s that?”

She pointed to another filly looking around the same age standing next to the three hugging ponies. 

She was a grey coated earth pony a little older than Lyra in the picture. She had a black mane and tail and dark lavender eyes. Around her neck she was wearing a pick bow tie. Her Cutie Mark was a purple treble clef.


“Hey, I know her,” Sweetie exclaimed, her eyes wide. “That’s Octavia Melody. Wow, she’s cute as a filly.”

Apple Bloom turned to the unicorn. “How da you know her?”

Sweetie Belle smiled. “Rarity took me to one of her shows a few months ago. At first I thought it’d be really boring. Classical music isn’t fun, but she was really good. Plus, she’s Pinkie’s cousin.”

“And how would you know that?” Twist asked, an eyebrow raised. 

“Pinkie told me so herself,” Sweetie replied. “That’s way she didn’t really get in trouble at the Grand Galloping Gala. Octavia tried to make things easier for her.”

“Wait a minute,” Apple Bloom said, her eyes widening. “If she’s in this picture, then that means Octivia’s Lyra sister.”

“Cool!” Sweetie Belle turned to Scootaloo. “Scoots, you’ve got an aunt who’s famous!”

“That’s not all!” Apple Bloom said, pouting. “Ah wasn’ finished.”

“Go on, Apple Bloom,” Scootaloo said, looking up from the photo album. “What else were you gonna say?”

Apple Bloom’s eyes sparkled. “Pinkie’s related to the Apple Family.”

Scootaloo raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, so?”

Apple Bloom jumped, grinning. “If Pinkie’s related to the Apples, and Pinkie’s related ta Octavia, an’ Octiavia’s Lyra’s sister...”

Scootaloo’s eyes went wide. “Are...? Are you saying...?”

Apple Bloom pulled Scootaloo into a huge hug. “We’re cousins!”

Scootaloo was stunned for several seconds as that sunk it.

By being adopted by Lyra and Bon-Bon, she’d not only become Twist’s neice, but Apple Bloom’s cousin as well?

At once it all came rushing at the group of fillies and they cheered, bouncing around.

“Are you girls okay down there?” Bon-Bon’s voice called, sounding a little stern. “I don’t want to find a mess down there. Well, anymore of a mess than it is after Lyra was last down there.”

“Don’t worry, Mom!” Scootaloo called. “We’ll behave...” She trailed off as she realized what she’d just said and a few tears and a small smile came on her face. “I never thought I’d say that again.”

“Scoots?” Apple Bloom asked, putting a hoof on Scoots’ shoulder. “Everythin’ okay, cos?”

Scootaloo quickly wiped her eyes and puffed out her chest. “Yeah! I’m fine, cos. Let’s see what else we can find down here.”

With that, the four fillies started searching the basement, wondering what other surprises they might find.



_____________________________________________________________________



Lyra slowly opened her eyes and yawned. Glancing at the clock, she saw it was 7:30. She’d slept longer than expected.

“Nice to see you awake.”

Lyra turned her head to see Bon-Bon ducking back into the kitchen, the smell of daffodil lasagne with hay bacon, just like last night wafting into the living room.

Lyra smiled. Now that Scootaloo was in a better mood, she’d find out just how good Bon-Bon’s cooking could be.

Lyra got up and stretched, then walked into the kitchen and nuzzled her wife. “Where’re the girls?”

“Down in the basement,” Bon-Bon replied, giving the unicorn a small peck on the cheek. “They’ve been down there since you went to sleep.”

Lyra chuckled. “Wonder if they found anything interesting down there.”

“Mom! Mom!”

The two ponies turned as Scootaloo and her friends bound into the kitchen, an item Lyra recognized as a photo album held in Sweetie Belle’s magic.

Lyra smiled. “What’s up, Scoots?”

Scootaloo took the photo album and opened it up to the happiest day in Lyra fillyhood. The day she was adopted.

“Why didn’t you tell me you’re related to Apple Bloom?”

Lyra and Bon-Bon exchanged glances of confusion.

“Um, what are you talking about, Scoots?” Lyra asked, an eyebrow raised. “Why would you ask that while pointing at the picture from the day I was adopted?”

Scootaloo gave the album to Twist, who held it open as Scootaloo pointed at Lyra’s big sister. “You’re Octavia’s little sister.”

Lyra still didn’t understand. “I know that, Scoots. But how does this make me related to your friend Apple Bloom?”

Apple Bloom bounced, a grin on her face. “Octiva’s Pinkie Pie’s cousin.”

Lyra nodded. “Yeah, I know.” She put a hoof to her forehead, closing her eyes. “I still can’t even look at Lemon Meringue the same way since that day.” She shivered.

“Honey,” Bon-Bon said softly, “we still don’t understand. How does this make Lyra related to Apple Bloom?”

“Pinkie Pie’s mah cousin, several times removed,” the farm filly practically shouted with excitement.

“I still don’t...” Lyra paused as she went over this and all the other information they’d just gone over. Her eyes went wide. “No way.”

“Yeah way!” Scootaloo grinned, hoofing the air. “If you’re related to Pinkie, that means you’re related to the Apple Family. We’re part of the Apple Family!”

The four fillies jumped into the air, cheering.

Lyra glanced at Bon-Bon, who was just as shocked as she was.

“Well,” the earth mare said, giving a sly smile, “looks like you’ll have to thank your cousin for letting Apple Bloom stay the night.”

“I... guess so,” Lyra said, shaking her head. She was still reeling from what she’d just learned. Not only had she become a mother, but now she had a whole family she’d never even known about?

“Now Ah can’ wait for the next Apple Family Reunion!” Apple Bloom high-hooved Scootaloo. “Yer gonna have so much fun!”

“I can’t wait either!” Scootaloo shouted, her wings buzzing. “Hey, when the storm lets up, let’s go and tell Applejack about this. It’ll blow her mind!”

Bon-Bon cleared her throat, getting the fillies’ attention. “Girls, dinner’s almost ready. Go wash up.”

“Aw, but we wan’ed to play some more,” Scootaloo pouted.

Bon-Bon shook her head. “Wash up now.”

Grumbling, the fillies all filed out, heading for the bathroom.

Lyra glanced at Bon-Bon. “So you’re a tough mom?”

Bon-Bon smirked. “No. I’m the strict and disciplining mom.”

Lyra smirked back. “Guess that makes me the soft and comforting type.”

Her wife nudged her in the ribs. “You think I can’t be comforting?”

Lyra winked. “Never said that, did I?”

A few minutes later the girls had come back, hooves washed and sat at the table, Lyra had gotten some spare chairs out of the basement.

The daffodil lasagne with hay bacon was evenly spread out amongst the six of them, Lyra and Bon-Bon having slightly more than the four fillies.

Scootaloo raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t we have this last night?”

Lyra nodded. “But we thought you’d like it more tonight.”

Scootaloo shrugged, picked up her fork and took a bite. Her eyes lit up like a Hearth’s Warming Tree and she became eating with gusto.

The other fillies (save Twist) frowned in confusion, before taking bites of their own food, eating just as much as Scootaloo was seconds later.

Lyra and Bon-Bon grinned, as did Twist. She’d had her sister’s daffodil lasagne with hay bacon before and knew it was good.

Dinner was a very happy occasion. Scootaloo and her two Crusaders told Lyra and Bon-Bon about all their crusades and about how they’d presented Ponyville’s flag at the Equestria Games.

Lyra and Bon-Bon had been there and seen them present the flag and told them how impressed and proud they were of her, now even more so, since they were her parents, to which Scootaloo blushed.

When dinner was over, Bon-Bon got some Vanilla Oats Swirl ice cream from the freeze and gave each pony three scoops.

Scootaloo ate hers way too fast and held her forehead shouting, “Brain freeze! Brain freeze!”, causing everypony else to giggle.

Dinner finished, Bon-Bon started the dishes, while Lyra help the girls set up for the night in the living room. Luckily, they had a lot of sleeping bags leftover from one of Pinkie Pies sudden, Sleepover with My Relatives party.

Scootaloo helped her mother get the sleeping bags from the basement, where Lyra told her she honestly hadn’t known about her own relations that were now Scoots’ relations as well.

Once everything was set up, Bon-Bon came out of the kitchen saying, “Girls, time for bed.”

The fillies all responded with “Awww. Can’t we stay up a bit longer?”

Bon-Bon shook her head. “Tomorrow’s a school day. Do you girls want to be late for school?”

They were about to reply, when they looked away sheepishly, knowing that wasn’t a question they could answer any way but, “no”.

Bon-Bon nodded. “Then go have your showers and then it’s off to bed.”

The four fillies marched off to the bathroom to have their showers.

Lyra knew when they saw how big the shower was, they’d have a group shower for fun.

“You’re taking the role of mother pretty easily, Bonny,” the unicorn wrapped a leg around her wife’s shoulder.

Bon-Bon pecked her on the cheek. “You too, mom.”



_____________________________________________________________________



About half an hour later that girls were all showered and ready for bed.

"Scootaloo," Lyra indicated for the filly to follow and her ears drooped. She'd dreaded this.

"What's goin' on, Scoots?" Apple Bloom asked, noticing Scootaloo's sudden mood change.

Lyra put a hoof on Scootaloo's shoulder and smiled. "You wanna tell them? They'll find out anyway."

Scootaloo nodded, bracing herself.

"I... I wet the bed sometimes," she said, a few tears sliding down her face. "And I have to wear a diaper at night to be sure I won't wet the bed."

She waited for the inevitable teasing to start, the tauntings, the name calling.

Nothing happened.

Scootaloo turned and saw her friends all giving her sympathetic smiles.

They all came up to her and hugged her.

"Aw, Scoots," Apple Bloom said softly, "we understand."

"Ya... ya do?" Scootaloo gaped. She hadn't expected that response at all.

They all nodded.

"Loosing your aunt had to be so hard," Sweetie said, sniffling a little. "When I lost  my great uncle Stomper, I wet the bed for weeks.'

Scootaloo was stunned. Her friends were all okay with her wetting the bed, having to wear a diaper?

She shed a few tears of joy and bathed in the warmth.

"Hey!" Sweetie Belle cried, pulling away and bouncing. "Let's all wear diapers tonight!"

The other fillies just stared at her like she was a madpony,

"But.. why?" Apple Bloom asked, looking nervous. "What if AJ comes ta pick me up tomorow mornin' and Ah'm still wearing mine? Ah'd never be able to live with the embarrassment."

"I think ith a great idea," Twist grinned. "If we all wear diaperth, Thootaloo won't feel tho bad about it anymore."

The farm filly thought about it for a few moments, mauling it over in her mind, before she came to a decision.

"Alrigh'," she sighed, giving a defeated smile. "Jus' this once, for Scoots."

Scootaloo grinned sheepishly. "Thanks, guys."

"Well, then, come on, girls," Lyra chuckled. "Let's get you bed ready."

They followed Lyra into her room, where she'd set up a mat on the floor to change Scoots, now all four of them.

Scootaloo lay down on the mat and let Lyra diaper her, her cheeks flushing red as she saw her friends watching.

Once she was done, she got up and walked aside, so her friends could be diapered.

Sweetie hopped down right away, giggling as Lyra applied the foal cream and powder before doing up the tabs, then bounced up and joined Scootaloo.

They both watched as Twist was diapered. she seemed like she didn't pay it much mind; the, just get it over with as quickly as possible routine.

When Apple Bloom's turn came, she hesitated, her face a bright crimson as she did her best not to meet anypony else's eyes.

"Come on, Apple Bloom," Sweetie encouraged. "It's kinda fun. Feels like I'm wearing a cloud." She giggled, imaging a cloud floating around her rear.

Apple Bloom looked at Lyra. "Ya'll won' tell AJ nuthin' 'bout this, right?"

Lyra nodded. "I promise, Apple Bloom. I won't say a word of it to your big sister. Unless she asks," she muttered so Apple Bloom didn't hear. I need to have something funny to talk with my new relatives about, right?

Sighing, the yellow filly trotted over to the mat, lay down and let Lyra put the dipaer on her.

Once all four fillies were diapered, Lyra led them back into the living room.

"Bed time," Bon-Bon said, almost sing-song.

"Aww," the fillies replied, which made Lyra chuckle. "But—"

"No buts," Bon-Bon cut them off. "Bedtime."

Grumbling a little, the fillies all went into their sleeping bags.

The two mares tucked the fillies in, Scootaloo squirming a little when was kissed on the forehead like the others, though secretly, she wanted to hug Lyra and Bon-Bon for it, but wasn’t going to risk looking like a sap in front of her friends.

“Goodnight, girls,” she said, turning out the light. “Sleep well.”

“Goodnight, Lyra,” Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom said, snuggling down into their individual sleeping bags.

“Goodnight, Auntie Lyra,” Twist said, doing the same.

“Night, Mom,” Scootaloo said, closing her eyes.

Lyra smiled and walked out of the room, turning out the light, her and Bon-Bon heading for their bedroom for an early night.

Once she was sure her mothers were gone, Scootaloo sat up and whispered, “Girls? You asleep?”

“As if,” Sweetie’s voice answered, followed by her horn glowing, lighting up the room.

"Ah'm not sure Ah'll be able to sleep," Apple Bloom said, shifting around, her diaper crinkling as she did so. "Wha' if'n I need to use the little fillies' room?"

Twist just chuckled. "Then go. You've got your own toilet on you."

Apple Bloom looked uneasy. "Ah... Ah don' know if'n Ah can. Wha' if Ah go too much. Ah don' wanna make a mess."

Scootaloo shook her head. "Don't worry about that, Bloom. These're super absorbent. Big Mac could go in onea these things and he wouldn't even half filled it."

Apple Bloom's face went red as she imagined her big brother wearing a diaper and using it.

She shook her head, trying to purge the image from her mind. "Ah wish Ah'd never imagined that."

The others all giggled as they too imagined Big Macintosh wearing and using a diaper. It was actually a really funny image.

“Who can sleep anyway, when we’ve only just learned yer a part o’ mah family?” Apple Bloom said excitedly, though keeping her voice down, trying to stear the conversation away from the padding on their rears.

“Aww.”

They all turned to Sweetie Belle, who was pouting.

“Wath wrong, Thweetie Belle?” Twist asked.

“You’re all related,” she said, her eyes downcast. “I’m not related to any of you.”

“Ah wouldn’t be too sure ’bout that, Sweetie,” Apple Bloom grinned slyly.

“What do you mean?” the unicorn replied, raising an eyebrow.

Apple Bloom chuckled. “Well, Ah don’t wanna be spreadin’ no rumours around, but Ah’ve noticed mah sister likes yer sister a lot.”

Scootaloo frowned, raising an eyebrow. “So? Rainbow Dash likes Rarity too. What’s the big deal?”

Apple Bloom’s grin somehow became even slier. “Ah don’ mean she jus’ likes her. Ah mean she like likes her.”

Sweetie Belle’s eyes widened. “You know, that kinda remains me of something.”

“What? What?” the other three asked eagerly
.
Sweetie grinned. “Well, right after Twilight became a princess, the night before it, I mean, Applejack came by really late. I don’t know what she was talking about with Rarity, but when Applejack left, Rarity had this really warm smile on her face.” 

Scootaloo frowned. “So she smiled? Big deal. What’s so odd about that?”

Sweetie’s eyes turned sly, as did her grin. “The only time I’ve ever since that smile on her face is when she was fantasizing about her prince charming. Guess she was really fantasizing about her princess.”

They all started giggling.

“Tho, if thingth go right, we’ll all be family thomeday?” Twist asked.

Apple Bloom nodded. “Mah sister never gives up. If’n she wants to be Rarity’s special somepony, she’ll be Rarity’s special somepony.”

“And you know what happens after that,” Sweetie giggled and she and Apple Bloom started singing quietly.

“First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes filly in the filly carriage.”

They all started snickering and had to keep their hooves over their mouths to stop themselves from alerting Lyra and Bon-Bon that they weren’t asleep.

“So, assumin’ all goes well, we’ll all be family, maybe even before we leave school,” Apple Bloom concluded.

They all nodded.

“Ya know,” Scootaloo grinned, “unless some crazy whackoo comes to Equestria and starts stealing everypony’s magic.”

They all chuckled at how ridiculous that sounded, then settled down and went to sleep.






> Chapter 7 - Pain Brings Family Closer
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 7

Pain Brings Family Closer

_____________________________________________________________________



Apple Bloom slowly opened her eyes. Living on a farm, she was used to waking up early, so, even though she wasn’t at the farm right now, her inner clock was set to wake up.

She yawned, getting up and stretching, before freezing. Her diaper felt heavier than it had when she went to sleep.

She looked at it and noticed a tiny stain of yellow.

She sighed. Great. Bet the girls’ll love this.

She wanted to get this thing off. She’d only worn it make Scoots feel better, but knowing she’d actually used it made her face flush.

She was debating whether or not to try getting it off herself and go clean up, when something caught her eye. It was still dark.

“That’s weird,” she muttered to herself. “Ah always wake up jus’ before the sun comes up. Why’s it still dark?”

She got out of her sleeping bag, making sure not to wake her friends and tiphoofed over to the window and looked out.

The moon was still in the sky.

She frowned. “That’s not right. The sun should be up by now.”

At that moment, the moon seemed to shudder.

Apple Bloom paused, watching.

The moon shook again, then shot down almost too fast for Apple Bloom to see it. Then, it came back up, moving across the sky in a wobbly motion, like a foal trying to stand as it takes its first steps.

The sun shot into the air in an arch, only to full back down in the opposite direction, followed by the moon copying its motions, before the sun came back from where it had gone down and wobbly made its way into the sky, finally settling at the top.

Apple Bloom raised an eyebrow. “What in Sam Hill was tha’ all about?”

“You say somethin’, Apple Bloom?” a sleepy voice asked.

Apple Bloom turned to see Scootaloo slowly rising, rubbing her eyes with a hoof.

“Somethin’ really weird jus’ happened with the sun an’ the moon,” Apple Bloom said, walking over to her friend.

“Weird?” Scootaloo replied, yawning as she rubbed her neck. “Weird how?”

Apple Bloom explained the weird movements of the celestial bodies and how the sun hadn’t been up when she’d awoken which normally only happened in winter or when it was overcast.

Scootaloo yawned again, stretching her body, buzzing her wings. “Sure you didn’ just imagine it?”

Apple Bloom shook her head. “Ah was fully awake when it happened. Ya think there might be somethin’ wrong with the princesses?”

Scootaloo chuckled. “From what you said, it sounded like the sun and moon were acting drunk. Maybe Celestia and Luna just had too much cider last night.”

Apple Bloom frowned at the floor. “Maybe.”

Scootaloo shifted and little and sighed, sounding disappointed. “At least I was wearing one.”

“You too, huh?” Apple Bloom said before she could stop herself.

Scootaloo blinked, then burst out laughing, rolling on the floor.

Apple Bloom pouted. “Tain’t funny, Scoots. Wha’ if mah sister found out?”

Scootaloo just continued to laugh and roll on the floor.

Her laughter awoke the other two fillies, who sat up, rubbing their eyes.

“What’th going on?” Twist asked, yawning. “What’th tho funny?”

“A-A-Apple Bloom went in her diaper!” Scootaloo managed before her laughter consumed her again.

Sweetie Belle giggled, before she froze and a sheepish grin appear on her muzzle. “I think I did too.”

This only made Scootaloo roar even louder, holding her sides as tears streamed down her muzzle.

“O-oh! This is pri-priceless!”

Twist shifted, then smiled. “Not me. I’m bone dry.”

“Good thing, too,” Sweetie giggled as Scootaloo struggled to stand, still laughing her flank off. “I don’t think Scootaloo could take anymore.”



_____________________________________________________________________



“Well, looks like you all had a good night’s sleep.”

The fillies all turned to see Lyra and Bon-Bon standing in the living room doorway. Bon-Bon was wearing a white dressing-gown with pink edges. Both were rubbing their eyes, with looks that said they’d just been woken up.

“Um, sorry we woke ya,” Apple Bloom said, looking away.

Lyra smiled. “Nah. It’s okay. From the looks of the sun, we should’ve gotten up earlier anyway.”

Bon-Bon wait into the kitchen and started making some coffee for herself and Lyra, while the unicorn took count of the fillies.

“Now, who went last night?” she asked casually, as if they all wore diapers every night.

Scootaloo put her hoof up, looking nonchalant about it, Sweetie put up her hoof, smiling sheepishly and Apple Bloom hesitantly put hers up, her face beat-red.

Lyra turned to Twist. “You stayed dry, huh?”

Twist nodded. “I didn’t wet mythelf onthe, auntie.”

Lyra smirked. “Well, until you do, you can’t take it off.”

Twist eyes went wide with horror. “What?”

“Well,” Lyra pointed to the other three, “they all used theirs. Seems not right that you get left out.”

“N-no way, auntie!” Twist said, shaking her head violently. “I’m not uthing my diaper!”

Lyra grinned. “You’ll have to some time. Now, come on, you three. Let’s get you changed.”

The three fillies followed Lyra, leaving a stunned Twist behind.

When they were down the hall, Twist went into the kitchen to see her sister sipping her coffee, looking a little more awake than she had moments ago.

“Thith...” she began in a whiny tone.

“Nope,” Bon-Bon replied, a smirk on her face.

“But, thith...” Twist tried again, pawing at the ground.

“You agreed to this last night to make Scootaloo feel better, Twisty,” she said, giving a small smile. “You don’t wanna be the kind of aunt who goes back on her word, do you?”

“... No,” Twist said, looking away.

Bon-Bon smiled. “Don’t worry. All you need is to go before you head off for school. That’s bound to happen.”

Twist frowned at her big sister. “Why do you thay that?”

Bon-Bon gave a sly smile. “When I was still living with you and mom and dad, you never left the house without going.”

Twist pouted. “Not funny, thith. Not funny.”



_____________________________________________________________________



The girls walked into the kitchen a few seconds later, all undiapered and clean.

Scootaloo wondered why Twist was still wearing her diaper and why she seemed so annoyed, shooting Bon-Bon glares every few seconds.

She decided to leave it. If Twist wanted to tell them, she would.

“Alright, girls,” Lyra said, her horn glowing, several different types of breakfast stuffs coming out of the shelves and cupboards. “What do you want for breakfast?”

“Have you guys tried the chocolate chip pancakes from the store?” Scootaloo asked, turning to her friends.

They all shook their heads.

“Rarity says they’ve too much sugar,” Sweetie Belle said.

Bon-Bon scoffed, muttering, “Do I ever tell her some of her designs are too out there? No.”

Sweetie looked confused as to why Bon-Bon was annoyed, but said nothing.

“Applejack says they’re too expensive,” Apple Bloom said, her shoulders slumping a little. “She says homemade are better and healthier anyway. Ah’ve always wanted to try them though.”

Scootaloo grinned. “Well, then you’re all in luck. Mom, can we have some chocolate chip pancakes?”

Lyra glanced at Bon-Bon, who nodded.

Scootaloo grinned. “My mom makes the chocolate chips that go into them.”

Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom gasped, turning to Bon-Bon. “Really?” they asked in unison.

Bon-Bon nodded.

Several minutes later, three pancakes were placed in front of each filly.

Scootaloo thanked her mothers and dug it, slowly, then quickly followed by her friends.

Lyra smiled at Bon-Bon, who told her she’d clean the dishes, but Lyra had to make sure the girls were ready for school and take them.

She nodded.

Just as Lyra and Bon-Bon were about to start on their own pancakes, there was a loud and rather frantic knocking on the front door.

Lyra got up and went to answer it.

When she opened the door, she was surprised to find Applejack gasping for breath, her mane a little bit dishevelled.

“Applejack?” Lyra asked, raising an eyebrow. “Are you here about last night? I thought my letter explained enough. It wasn’t exactly like we could send her back to the farm in that weather.”

Applejack shook her head. “Tha’ ain’ why Ah’m here, Lyra. Ah need you ta keep my sister and her friends inside.”

Lyra blinked, then frowned. “I don’t understand. Doesn’t she have school today?”

The blonde maned mare shook her head. “Not t’day. Everypony’s gotta stay inside.”

Lyra felt a sense of dread go down her spine. “Why?”

Applejack shook her head. “Don’ ask. An’ don’ tell the girls neither. Jus’ keep ’em inside. We’ll handle this.”

With that, she ran off down the road, leaving a very perplexed Lyra standing in the doorway.

She closed the door, slowly making her way back through the living room.

Lyra knew Applejack wasn’t a liar. Yes, there was the instance not too long ago with the Flim Flam brothers, but that didn’t mean she was a liar. If she said there was a reason she had to keep the girls all inside, then she’d trust the farm mare.

“Who was it?” Bon-Bon asked as Lyra sat back down at the table.

“Applejack,” Lyra said, turning to the girls and noticed Apple Bloom was going to ask why her sister had come. “Girls, there won’t be any school today.”

The four fillies all grinned at each other, their eyes shining.

“However,” Lyra said, getting their attention, “we’ve all got to remain inside.”

At once, the fillies’ faces fell, followed by a simultaneous, “Aww.”

They all started complaining, asking why they couldn’t just go outside.

Lyra smiled slyly. “So, are you saying you explored everything in the basement? Are you saying there’s nothing left down there you haven’t seen?”

The fillies all glanced at each other, thought for a minute, then turned back to Lyra.

“Okay,” they nodded.

Lyra’s smile became warm. “Good. Finish breakfast and you can all go exploring some more.”

That’ll hopefully keep them all occupied until whatever Applejack was worried about blows over, she thought to herself.

The girls quickly finished their breakfast and headed back for the basement, exploring their only intent.

Once the girls were gone, Bon-Bon turned to Lyra. “What’s going on, Lyra?”

Lyra shook her head. “I don’t know, Bonny. Applejack just told me we need to keep the girls inside.”

Bon-Bon frowned. “How come?”

Lyra shook her head. “She didn’t say. She just told me we need to keep them inside and not let them go out. Frankly, I don’t need her to me to know we should trust her.”

“Even after that Flim Flam thing?” Bon-Bon asked sceptically.

Lyra frowned. “You’re still holding that against her? Seriously, Bonny, it was the first time she’s ever lied and promised she’d never do it again. Isn’t that enough for you? Plus, she’s trusting us with her little sister’s protection. Doesn’t that seem worth overlooking one lie?”

Bon-Bon looked away. “I hate it when you’re right.”

Lyra chuckled, wrapping a foreleg around Bon-Bon’s neck. “I could say the same about you.”

That earned her a hard nudge in the stomach.



_____________________________________________________________________



Lyra smiled as the girls fawned over hers and Lyra’s foal pictures.

She had to admit, she’d forgotten just how cute Bonny looked as a foal. There was even a picture from when they were fillies and at one of Pinkie Pie’s first parties, the very one that had made that other pony, Cheese Sandwich decide to be a party pony too.

Suddenly, the ground shook.

They all looked around, confused.

“Wha’ was tha’?” Apple Bloom asked, frowning.

“I don’t know,” Lyra said, glancing at Bon-Bon. “But you girls don’t have to worry. We won’t let anything happen to you.”

She’d sensed something magical in the air. Something dark. Something... wrong.

At that moment, the roof glowed with an orange magical aura that felt the same as what she was sensing.

The roof came up and Lyra’s eyes went wide with horror.

Standing taller than their building was a large, heavily muscled, red-skinned centaur.

“We have to get out of here!” she cried, her horn glowing and they all teleported out of the house, reappearing a few metres away from their building.

“Applejack!”

“Rarity!”

Lyra whirled around and her eyes went wide again, her body going cold.

Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie were all in some kind of metal cage and Discord was laying on the ground next to them, his body wrap in the same aura that had lifted their roof.

But the reason Lyra’s body had gone cold was because she’d seen their flanks. Their Cutie Marks were gone. Just, gone! And their eyes. Their eyes had a slight blankness to them, as if something had been taken from them.

Lyra turned to the centaur, her body shaking, her eyes narrowed.

She knew just who that centaur was and why five of the bearers of the Elements of Harmony no longer had their Cutie Marks.

“Tirek,” she snarled.

She’d read about his story when she was in Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns, shortly before moving permanently to Ponyville.

After what Twilight had learned about the Tale of Nightmare Moon being based on true events, she’d looked up other such tales and found the Tale of Lord Tirek. He’d come to Equestria shortly before Princess Luna became Nightmare Moon, and had been intent on stealing all the magic in Equestria.

“New some of those other tales had to be true,” she muttered, then turned to Bon-Bon. “Bonny, get the girls out of here, now!” she shouted, running towards Tirek. 

“Lyra?!” Bon-Bon cried, her eyes wide. “What’re you doing?”

“I’ll hold him off!” she shouted, teleporting behind Tirek and blasting him with a blinding spell. “I’ll buy you as much time as I can, now go!”

“But, Lyra—” Bon-Bon began.

“GO!” Lyra shouted, teleporting again, this time in front of Tirek, who’d just turned to grab at Lyra. “NOW!”

Bon-Bon looked like she wanted to argue, but agreed, tears in her eyes and hurried the girls away.

Lyra turned to Tirek, her eyes narrowed.

He smirked. “Trying to protect your fellow ponies?” He frowned. “A wasted effort.”

Lyra charged the most powerful offensive spell she knew and fired it.

Tirek merely caught it as a small sphere in between his fingers, popped it into his mouth, chewed for and second and swallowed.

Lyra’s eyes went wide.

“That the best you can do?” Lyra was surrounded the orange aura and lifted into the air. “Still, even small amounts of magic are magic that belong to me.”

Lyra screamed as she suddenly felt like her very soul was being ripped from her body, her eyes wide as she watched her magic flowing from her horn and into Tirek’s mouth.

After a few seconds, she was released from the orange aura and fell to the ground, her body too weak to move. She felt empty, as if a piece of her very being had been taken.

“Now, for those others,” Tirek’s voice said above her as her vision became clouded.

Tears slid down her muzzle as she heard the sound of Bon-Bon and the girls crying out in fear.

I’m sorry, she thought as she fell from consciousness. I failed you all.



_____________________________________________________________________



Lyra could feel a cloth on her forehead. She slowly opened her eyes, squinting at the light from the sun.

Bon-Bon and the girls were looking down at her, worry in the faces.

“How long was I out?” she asked, her voice feeling hoarse.

Bon-Bon sighed. “About an hour.”

Something she noticed was their eyes looked like the mane six’s had. Tirek had taken their magic, just as he had hers. And Bon-Bon’s flank. Her Cutie Mark was gone.

“I’m sorry,” she said, tears welling in her eyes.

“Don’t be,” Bon-Bon said, taking the cloth off, rinsing it, putting it in a bowl of water, then put it back on Lyra’s forehead.

Lyra shook her head. “If I’d only been stronger, I could’ve stopped him and none of you would’ve had your magic stolen.”

“You’re wrong, Mom,” Scootaloo hugged Lyra closely. “He took everypony’s magic. We weren’t the only ones. While you were out, that Tirek guy stole the magic from everypony in Ponyville, unicorn, pegasi and earth pony alike.”

“So, nopony has magic anymore?” Lyra asked, her gut twisting.

Without magic of any kind, how could they all care for Equestria? How would they all survive?

At that moment there was a loud explosion.

They all looked up to see a strange rainbow light flying across the sky.

“What?” Lyra asked, squinting.

The light came over across the town, bathing it in its rainbow light.

Lyra felt a warmth wash over her, restoring her strength. She gasped as she felt her horn light up with its magical aura.

She glanced at Bon-Bon and the girls and gasped. Their eyes were back to normal and Bon-Bon’s Cutie Mark was back.

Lyra glanced at her own flank and saw her Cutie Mark. Had hers been gone when her magic had been taken too?

They all embraced in a huge hug. They’re magic was back! It was back!

Suddenly the ground started shaking.

“Oh no!” Scootaloo cried, looking around. “Is that Tirek guy back?!”

There was a large rainbow light from the direction of Princess Twilight’s library.

As they all watched, a large, crystal, castle-like tree grew out from the ground, the symbol of the Element of Magic adorning the top.

“What...? What just happened?” Sweetie Belle asked, her mouth agape.

“I’m not sure,” Lyra shook her head, brow furrowed. “Let’s go find out.”

They all headed off towards the direction they’d seen the light, all wondering what had happened after Tirek left Ponyville, having taken all their magic, yet it had somehow been returned, followed by the emergence of the strange tree castle.

Lyra didn’t know what was going on, but she knew one thing. Her family were safe and for that, she was thanful.




> Chapter 8 - Old Fears Born Anew
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 8

Old Fears Born Anew

___________________________________________________________



“Ah still can’t believe Twilight’s got her own castle now!” Apple Bloom cheered as she, Scootaloo and her mothers walked up the path leading to Sweet Apple Acres.

It had been a couple hours since Tirek had been defeated, after he had attempted to take all the magic in Equestria for himself, even Discord had lost his magic to the tyrant.

However, as usual, the Element Bearers had defeated him and, for whatever reason, a castle tree had grown just outside of Ponyville for Twilight Sparkle to call home.

“It’s awesome!” Scootaloo shouted, thrusting a hoof in the air as she slowly buzzed her wings, her scooter moving at the pace of the other three ponies.

“We have to thank you again for letting us stay with your family at Sweet Apple Acres until our flat gets repaired,” Bon Bon said, looking to the small Earth filly with a smile.

It was going to take a while before their roof would be repaired. Being ripped clean off by a magical draining centaur tended to lead to such problems.

As such, they couldn’t sleep in an apartment with no ceiling and, even though a tarp had been strapped over where the ceiling had been to ensure that, if it rained, the apartment wouldn’t be soaked, they couldn’t live in a building in that kind of state.

The thing Bon Bon had found odd at first was that while Tirek had taken the time to remove their roof and take their magic, he hadn’t bothered with the rest of the town, instead heading off towards the Everfree, no doubt to confront Princess Twilight and take her magic as well.

However, after a bit of thought, she’d reasoned that, the only reason he’d gone after the six of them was he’d sensed Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle’s connections to their sisters and, finding more ponies, had decided, what the heck, and taken their magic before moving onto Twilight.


Apple Bloom just waved a hoof dismissively. “Yer family. It’s perfectly normal t’ help out family in trouble.”

“I’m honestly still finding that hard to believe,” Bon Bon whispered to Lyra as the two fillies started chatting out what they’d do whilst they were all living together. “What are the chances that, because you’re Pinkie’s cousin, it makes you an Apple relative at the same time?”

Lyra shook her head. “Ya got me. I had no idea the Pie family was distantly related to the Apples. When the girls told us, it was the first I’d heard of it, too.”

Apple Bloom opened the farm house door, allowing the other three access.

“Granny, Ah’m home!” Apple Bloom called as the door swung closed behind her.

“Welcome back, young’n,” the elderly mare’s voice called, shortly followed by its owner as she hobbled out from the kitchen. She paused, raising an eyebrow at the three unexpected guest. “Oh. Hello, there. Welcome to Sweet Apple Acres. What can Ah do ya for?”

Bon Bon, Lyra and Scootaloo all blinked, confusion coming over their faces, before they turned to a sheepishly smiling Apple Bloom.

“Uh... technically speakin’, Ah hadn’t spoken with Granny ’bout it yet.”

“Spoken t’ me about hwhat?” the green mare asked, narrowing her eyes at her granddaughter.

Apple Bloom chuckled nervously, scratching the back of her head with a hoof. “About Lyra, Bon Bon and Scoots staying with us til their roof gets fixed?”

Granny Smith blinked a few times, before looking to the couple and filly. “Yer roof?”

Lyra shrugged. “When Tirek attacked Ponyville, he ripped our apartment’s roof off and, what with the party Pinkie threw to celebrate beating him, it’ll take a while until the repairs can even start. Apple Bloom said we could crash here until then.”

“She also said something rather interesting last night,” Bon Bon said, realizing now she had a chance to get some facts. “She said Pinkie Pie is related to the Apple Family?”

Granny chuckled. “Well, we don’ quite got the proof, but we’re pretty sure. That gal’s got Apple in her blood, after what Ah’ve seen.” She frowned in confusion. “Why’d ya ask?”

“You see, I was adopted when I was a little filly,” Lyra said, taking over the conversation. “I got adopted by the parents of a mare whom recently moved into town. Octavia Melody?”

Granny smiled and nodded. “Ah, yes. Ah’ve met her. Nice mare, even if her marefriend’s a bit on the wild side. Plays wonderful cello music.”

Lyra chuckled, rubbing her neck. “Well, thing is, Octavia is Pinkie’s cousin, which, since I’m her sister after I was adopted by her parents, makes me Pinkie’s cousin, too.”

Granny cocked her head, seeming confused. “Ah’m afraid Ah don’t quite follow ya.”

“Well, if Pinkie’s related to the Apple Family,” Bon Bon stepped back in, “that would mean anypony related to her, whether by blood or by adoption, would also be part of the Apple Family, correct?”

“Uh... Ah guess so,” Granny replied, still looking puzzled.

“Well, I’m related to Pinkie... sorta,” Lyra said, grinning sheepishly. “So... doesn’t that make me an Apple too?”

Granny paused, her brow knitting together as her aged mind went over everything they’d just talked about and sifting through them.

After several minutes, Granny’s wrinkled face pulled up into a smile and, with a speed for a pony of her age that will baffle all who experienced the moment to this day, rushed forward and pulled Lyra into a crushing hug. 

“Ah’ve got another grandfoal!” she cheered, pulling back, chuckling like a drunken pony. “Who knew?”

“And a great grandfoal, too!” Scootaloo called, squeezing herself between her mother and the older mare and hugging her.

“Ah what?” Granny Smith said, taken aback.

Bon Bon chuckled. “You see, Granny Smith, we adopted Scootaloo a short while ago. Since they makes her our daughter and Lyra’s your granddaughter, Scootaloo is your great granddaughter.”

Granny Smith blinked for several moments, before giving a, to everypony’s surprise, a dejected sigh.

“Don’t you want me as a great granddaughter?” Scootaloo asked, fearing just that. Maybe, while Lyra could be accepted, her being adopted cancelled it for herself somehow?

The elderly mare gave a wry chuckle and hugged the filly closer. “Nah, young’n. Ah’m more th’n happy t’ welcome ya as family.” She sighed again. “Ah just feel real old now, knowing Ah got me a great grandchild, and AJ an’ Big Mac ain’ even settled down yet.”


After that, they all went into the kitchen, where Big Mac was preparing dinner. He blinked in confusion at the three ponies walking in with her sister and grandmother.

However, a quick explanation from Apple Bloom and a confirmation from Granny was all it took for his confusion to become a smile as he welcomed new family, before apologizing, saying dinner might take a bit longer, since he now had to increase to double the recipe.

Bon Bon, after experienced at cooking, being a candy maker, offered to assist, which Mac happily accepted.

Whilst they began to make a larger meal for a group of six, Lyra and Granny went out of the kitchen with the two fillies to discuss sleeping arrangements.

“Ah hope the you two won’t mind the guest room?” Granny said as they headed upstairs, the fillies bounding up like it was a race.

“That’ll be just fine, Granny,” the unicorn replied, smiling at her newest grandparent. Boy, were her parents going to be in for a surprise when she next spoke to them. The Pie family itself was pretty big. Add the Apples to that, and they probably amounted to a large portion of Equestria’s pony population.

Granny gave an odd frown. “But... there’s only the one bed.”

Lyra smirked. “Granny, Bon Bon and I are married, have been for a long time now. Sharing a bed isn’t odd for us at all.”

The elder mare blushed, scolding herself. “How can Ah be so scatter-brained as t’ not think o’ that. Scootaloo couldn’t be both o’ yers daughter unless ya were. Must be gettin’ older than Ah thought.”

Lyra chuckled. “Well, you did just learn you had another granddaughter, granddaughter-in-law— Wait, is that even a thing? —and a great granddaughter. Learning that kinda thing would shock a lot of ponies. I doubt age has anything to do with it. Anyway, as for where Scoots will sleep,” she decided to move them back onto their original topic “I’m pretty sure she and Bloom have already decided.”

The giggling from Apple Bloom’s room confirmed Lyra’s theory, causing the two mares to chuckle.


Less than an hour later Applejack came home and was very surprised to see the other three ponies, though the situation was quickly explained and she welcomed her new kin with open hooves.

Dinner was a warm affair, with conversations about Lyra and Bon Bon’s past as well as discussions about Applejack’s visit to Appleloosa for the Appleloosa rodeo in a few weeks.

Of course, the moment she half-heartedly mentioned how several of the family had gotten their Cutie Marks in rodeos, the two Cutie Mark Crusaders begged her to take them and Sweetie Belle with them when she went.

Applejack had no chance to deny, for the two fixed her with Apple Bloom’s patented (though she had clearly taught it to her friends) puppy dog eyes, leaving the farm mare no choice but to yield to their pleas.

After dinner was over, the family all gathered round and Granny showed them all the old photo albums, revealing all the new family the three ponies had to look forward to getting to know.

Not too much later, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were put to bed, in light of their protests that they weren’t tired, which were made null and void due to the massive yawns the fillies gave after finishing said protests.

As Applejack tucked her sister in for the night, Bon Bon and Lyra did the same for Scootaloo in her sleeping bag.

“Goodnight, sweetie,” Bon Bon said, leaning down and kissing the Pegasus’ forehead.

“Yeah. Night, kiddo,” Lyra said, copying her wife’s actions.

“Night, Mom,” Scootaloo gave a sleepy smile to Bon Bon, before turning her head to Lyra. “Night, Momma.”

The two mares smiled, before turning out the lights and following Applejack out the room, before bidding her, Big Mac and Granny Smith goodnight before heading for bed themselves. It had been a long day and they decided they could really use some rest.




___________________________________________________________




Scootaloo looked around. She was standing in a field she remembered all too well.

“Hello?” she called out, looking around. “Mom? Momma? Is anypony there?”

“Scootaloo!”

The hair all over the Pegasus’ body stood on end. Those were her parents voices. Her birth parents voices.

She whirled around to find herself in a building she didn’t like remembering. It was the building she’d spent her last night with her mom and dad.

She tried to back away from the flames, her eyes brimming with tears as she could see them standing in a burning cirle, unable to get away.

“Mom! Dad!” she cried, her tears falling as she watch the two ponies who’d brought her into this world as the fire grew closer to them.

Suddenly, the flames surged upward, engulfing them and blocking them from view as the roars of angry monsters rang out.

Before Scootaloo could cry out, the flame vanished to be replaced with a new scene. She was standing in the middle of Ponyville. However, she was not alone. Standing before her was the giant centaur who’d taken hers, her friends’ and her mothers’ magic.

He leered down at her, holding Bon Bon in one hand and Lyra in the other. “Any final words for your parents, foal?”

“Let them go!” Scootaloo cried in both fear and rage, leaping forward, only to be held in place by Tirek’s orange aura.

He chuckled. “Very well then. Down the hatch.”

With those words, he opened his mouth, that horrible sound coming from it and both ponies magic started flowing out of them and into Tirek’s open maw.

Scootaloo watched in horror as their Cutie Marks faded away, leaving their flanks as blank as her own. However, Tirek didn’t stop. More and more magic seemed to be flowing out of her mothers.

To her horror, their bodies started to thin, their faces becoming sunken.

“Stop!” she screamed, tears streaming down her face as she struggled frantically against the magic holding her in place. “You’ve already taken their magic. What’re you doing to them now? You don’t have to!”

"I think not,” Tirek leered as Lyra and Bon Bon’s body became thinner and thinner. “I may have taken their magic, but I want their life forces as well.”

“Sc-Scoots,” Lyra struggled to say as her very life energy was being drained from her.

“S-sorry,” Bon Bon wheezed, looking almost like a skeleton.

“Stop!” Scootaloo wailed at the top of her lungs.

“ENOUGH!”

The booming voice rocked the very world around the distraught Pegasus, before Tirek vanished into a cloud of smoke.

Scootaloo, free of his magic, dropped to the ground. She looked around frantically for her mothers, but saw no sign.

“You will not find them, Scootaloo,” she turned as the regal form of Princess Luna appeared before her and landed in front of the filly. “They were never here to begin with.”

“This... this is just a dream?” Scootaloo croaked, her face still stained with her tears.

Luna came forward and pulled her into a winged embrace. “I am sorry for not arriving sooner. We are still getting used to our magic again after having to go without it.”

Scootaloo didn’t meet the Alicorn’s eyes, just kept her head down.

“Scootaloo, your dreams express your greatest fears,” Luna said solemnly. “I realize it is hard, but you must fight those fears, or they will consume you... just as mine did so long ago.”

“B-but I don’t wanna lose them!” Scootaloo cried, looking up into the lunar princess’s eyes. “I’ve already lost my first parents and then my aunt! I can’t lose them, too!”

“You won’t, Scootaloo,” Luna said with a warm, yet slightly wry smile. “You never will.”

There was a flash of blue light and the necklace Aunt Lofty had given Scootaloo was suddenly around her neck.

“Your parents and your aunts live on within you, Scootaloo,” Luna said softly, lifting the filly’s chin to look her in the eye. “They have always been watching over you and always will. And your mothers are tougher than you give them credit. I know you fear losing them, but they can handle themselves in ways that would surprise you.”

Scootaloo blinked, a little confused. “What do you mean?”

“Something Tia is unaware I know of,” Luna replied with a mischievous wink. “But I am sworn to secrecy.”

“Hey, no fair,” Scootaloo pouted. “You can’t just tell me you know something juicy and then say you can’t tell me about it. Maybe just a hint?”

The lunar princess shook her head, chuckling. “Now, I do believe there is something you want to do, is there not?”

Scootaloo blinked a few times, before she looked down, a slight blush on her cheeks. “Yeah.”

The princess nodded. “Then I shall not keep you any further, young filly. A good night We wish to you.”




___________________________________________________________




Scootaloo slowly opened her eyes. She lifted her head and looked around to find herself in Apple Bloom’s bedroom.

Nodding to herself, the Pegasus got up out of her sleeping bag, crept quietly so as not to wake the farm filly out of the room and down to the guest bedroom.

She carefully opened the door and slid inside. She crept up to the bed and climbed up, crawling over until she was in front of her sleeping mothers, who were holding each other in their forelegs.

Carefully, she squeezed herself into their embrace, before settling down and closing her eyes.

As she was soothed to sleep by the warmth of her mothers and the sounds of their gentle breathing, she could swear, for a moment, that she could also feel her mother, father and Aunt Holiday and Lofty holding her too.

With a small smile, she closed her eyes and returned to the realm of sleep. This time, no nightmares would haunt her, protected in the loving embrace of her family.
> Chapter 9 - Ties of Life
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 9


Ties of Life


___________________________________________________________




Scootaloo was awakened by the shifting of the bodies around her, followed by light chuckles. Opening her eyes, she was met with Lyra’s grinning face. 

“Morning, sleepyhead,” the unicorn chuckled, slowly sitting up. “Wasn’t expecting to see you til breakfast.”

“That’s okay... right?” Scootaloo sat up as well, fiddling with the sheets. “I... I had a bad dream and just—”

She felt forelegs wrap around her and smelled a candy scent. “Honey, it’s alright. After what happened yesterday, we understand if you had a nightmare and wanted some comfort.”

Bon Bon’s words calmed the little filly down and she sunk into the embrace.

“I wonder why the Apples didn’t try and wake us,” Lyra pondered, getting out of bed and looking out the window. “I thought, since they live on a farm, they get up earlier than most ponies.”

“Why does that seem odd to you?” Bon Bon asked as she and Scootaloo got out of bed too.

Lyra shook her head. “I know we’re guests and all, but I’m not afraid of some hard work. They could’ve woken us.”

Bon Bon deadpanned. “Not afraid of hard work? Might I remind you who’s the one that normally has to clean up the flat because somepony keeps forgetting to?”

“Oh, come on, Bonnie, it was only that one time,” Lyra groaned, before she noticed the raised eyebrow of her wife. “Alright, alright, maybe it was more than once, but my point still stands. Remember, I am Pinkie’s cousin. I ended up having to visit the Rock Farm a few times and, trust me; nothing the Apples do could be more tiring than even a day on the Pie Rock Farm.”

Bon Bon just rolled her eyes and moved towards the door. “Come on then, Miss I Can Work Just Fine. Let’s get some breakfast and then you can go out and help our new relatives with their work.”

When they got downstairs they found Granny Smith setting some food out that was clearly meant for the three.

“So, Granny?” Lyra asked as they sat down, Scootaloo tucking right into her meal of honey oats and hash browns. “Anything we can do to help around the farm?”

The elderly mare paused from the dish washing she’d just returned to and looked back, a little surprised. “Ya wanna help out around the farm? But, yer guests.”

“And we’re also family,” Bon Bon say, having finished a mouthful of oats. “True, I’ll be heading out to open my shop, but Lyra’s not really got anything to do today and she wants to some work.”

“Wait, I never said—” Lyra began, only to see a sly smirk on the Earth Pony mare’s face.

“What’s the matter, Lyra? I thought you said you’ve done harder work?”

Lyra gave her wife a determined glare, before looking to Granny Smith. “Anything, Granny! Even the hardest job on the farm, I’ll take it!”

The green mare looked uncertain. “Well, Ah dunno. We could use some help, hwhat with Applejack helping out Princess Twilight in that new fangled castle o’ hers, so we’re a pony short and could use the help. But, are ya really sure, dear? Workin’ on the Apple Farm ain’t no picnic.”

Lyra nodded, her determination not wavering. “No problem, Granny. I can handle it.”

The elder mare still looked uncertain, but nodded in agreement. “Alright, youn’n. Big Mac could use some help with plowin' the fields, as he’s doin’ the applebuckin’ AJ ain’t.”

Lyra nodded, pretty much inhaled her breakfast, then headed out to aid Big Mac.

“What about you, Scoots?” Bon Bon turned to the filly. “Any plans for today?”

Scootaloo stopped munching and frowned, thinking. “Uh... well, not really. School doesn’t start til tomorrow because of the whole thing with Tirek, so can I help out around the farm?”

Bon Bon nodded, before giving a playful sad smile. “I was kinda hoping you’d help me out in the store today.”

Scootaloo thought for a moment, before turning back to her mother. “Maybe I can come over and help after I do some things around the farm?”

Bon Bon nodded. “I don’t see why not. Just... no crusading in the shop, okay?” It was something both Lyra and Bon Bon had agreed upon when they’d thought about adopting Scootaloo. The CMC were well-known in Ponyville for trying pretty much anything to get a Cutie Mark and it wasn’t the first time they’d learned first-hoof the damage that could be caused by their crusades.

Bon Bon was lucky she had fire insurance after their attempts at candy corn. How the fire started she still didn’t understand, nor how they’d gotten in without her knowing it.




___________________________________________________________




“So, what do you think we’ll get Cutie Marks in at in Appleloosa?” Scootaloo asked her red-headed cousin as they slopped the hogs.

Apple Bloom shrug, though wore a huge smile. “Dunno. But Ah’ll be we’ll find somethin’. There’s a lot that goes inta a rodeo.” She glanced outside the barn and raised an eyebrow. “Say, Scoots?”

“Yeah?” the Pegasus asked as she leaped up and pulled the cord, letting the pigs out, remembering to keep out of the way this time around, thus avoiding being trampled by the hungry hogs.

“Ain’t that yer ma buckin’ apples?”

This caused the filly to stop what she was doing and turn to see that, indeed, Lyra was bucking an apple tree, surprisingly with a lot of force that near-match Applejack’s own, causing the apples to tumble down into the bushels set below.

“Ah didn’t know yer ma could buck,” Apple Bloom said, sounding impressed.

Scootaloo frowned, thinking about what her mothers had talked about right after getting up. “Yeah. Mom said she would sometimes work on that rock farm Pinkie talked about when she told us how she got her Cutie Mark.”

Apple Bloom looked to the unicorn as she moved to another tree and bucked again, causing more apples to fall. “So, she’s worked on Pinkie’s rock farm? Tha’ must’a been tough.”

Scootaloo nodded. “Momma acted like Mom couldn’t handle working on the farm here, so Mom told her, if she could handle the rock farm, she could handle this one.” 

Apple Bloom nodded. “Ah may not know much about how a rock farm works, but Ah can’t imagine it’s easy. If yer ma went there a lot as a foal, Ah wouldn’t be surprised if she’s as strong as mah sister.”

“You bet she is,” Scootaloo grinned.

The two fillies nodded to each other, before moving off to do the next chore on their list. Sure, they’d rather be crusading, but after what happened with Tirek, Sweetie’s parents weren’t letting her out of their sight. Once they’d calmed down, they’d be able to go crusading again. They just hoped they’d chill before Applejack left for Appleloosa, or they’d have to go without Sweetie, and it just didn’t feel right to go crusading without all the crusaders.





___________________________________________________________





Lyra pulled back and bucked the tree, hard, causing apples to cascade down on her.

“Ya sure ya can handle this, Mrs Lyra?” Big Mac asked as he tossed a full bushel off his back and into the cart.

Lyra pulled back and wiped her brow, though it wasn’t really sweaty, it was more a force of habit for when she did hard work like this.

“Don’t worry, Mac. I’ve can do this. Also, it’s just Lyra. We’re family, remember? No need for any Mrs.”

The stallion blinked, before giving a small smile and moved to continue their work.

Lyra pulled back to buck, before an odd feeling reached her horn.

She paused, frowning up at the pointed cone shape on her head. It was a feeling she was familiar with. For reasons she could never explain, ever since she was a filly, ever so often, several moons or so, about thirty she'd calculated one time when she was younger, her horn would suddenly tingle, as if sensing something familiar, but that she couldn’t put her hoof on what.

For some reason, it always reminded her about humans, though the reasoning behind why her tingling horn would do that was a mystery she’d never been able to solve.

She wasn’t even sure where she’d first heard of humans, to be honest. It was just something she’d always known since she was a filly. In the orphanage, a lot of the meaner fillies and colts had often teased her about it, saying how she was a baby for believing in such creatures.

When she’d been adopted, her new family had humoured her about humans whenever she spoke about them, though she knew her parents never really believed her.

Her sister Octavia, on the other hoof, whilst not saying she believed in them, did agree that some things about their world would make sense for such creatures.

The fact that she had to stand on her hind legs, in a bipedal stance very similar to how Lyra described humans do, had not been something the grey Earth Pony had missed. It did lead to some interesting discussions about musical evolution that they’d always enjoyed.


Lyra was pulled from her inner thoughts of memory lane when a loud crash came from the barn.

When she and Big Mac went to check, she couldn’t help laughing and Mac couldn’t had a smirk as they saw Apple Bloom and Scootaloo had somehow gotten themselves tangled in a haystack, one that was currently being eaten by a few of the sheep.

“Er... we were tryin’ t’ get our Cutie Marks in... sheep feedin’?” Apple Bloom tried with a sheepish grin, whilst Scootaloo continued to struggle in vain against their bindings.




___________________________________________________________




Bon Bon waved goodbye to the young colt with a hayburger for his Cutie Mark as he walked out, carrying a bag of her finest black liquorice. She still couldn’t understand why someponies thought the sweet tasted terrible.

She and Lyra certainly enjoy the softer kinds, especially when she used her family’s recipe.

I wonder if Scootaloo likes black liquorice, she thought suddenly realizing she’d never seen the filly or her friends buy the sweet. Though, now that she thought more on that, they’d always been out whenever the CMC came around.

Shrugging, she went into the back room to see how the latest batch of honeycomb was coming along. As she made sure it was coming out in the right shape, her mind couldn’t help but think back to when she’d fist met Lyra.


It had been during Pinkie Pie’s first party in Ponyville. Lyra had been visiting the town with her parents and sister and the unicorn had decided to join the party whilst her sister remained with their parents.

Bon Bon, or, as she went by back in those days, Sweetie Drops, had encountered Lyra when they both had gone over to the food table and reached for some of the honeycomb at the same time. Somehow, her own name had never come up.

The two had chatted whilst enjoying their own honeycomb pieces, along with several other foods and really hit it off.

When Lyra’s parents came to get her, the two had been sad to leave each other, but gave their addresses so they could stay in touch.

That had started their, at first, long distance friendship, each sending letters almost daily, telling the other about what they did and what was going on in their lives and it was then that she used the pen name Bon Bon, just for the fun of it. Lyra had somewhat gotten the idea, ending her letter with just Heartstrings.

Only now did Lyra’s letters about the farm she’d sent letters from actually make sense now. She’d never heard of rock farming as a filly, so she’d been rather confused by some of the things Lyra’s letters from those times had said and simply thought Lyra was being silly.


When Bon Bon got accepted into Canterlot University not long after having to move back to Ponyville, thus becoming more of a hassle with having to also move to Canterlot, she wasn’t sure if she would be able to see Lyra regularly or not despite then being in the same city.

However, Lyra found the time during her music courses to come and  visit Bon Bon, even sometimes helping out.

The two would regularly spend their breaks that aligned together, sometimes with Lyra simply visiting the campus cafe where Bon Bon had to work as part of her course.

It hadn’t skipped Bon Bon’s attention during those days that Lyra would mostly get stuff that Bon Bon had made herself that was being sold in the cafe.

As their years wore on, the two had eventually started dating and, after graduation, each a year apart, they’d agreed to move in together in Ponyville.

Not long after, Lyra had borrowed a loan along with some of her own money to help Bon Bon open her store. At first, the idea of owing Filthy Rich the money borrowed had been daunting, but business was so good that they had paid him back with interest so soon that she was soon able to be an independent business pony.

After several years of living together, they’d decided to get married.

And now, here they were, finding out they had even more family on Lyra’s side and had their own daughter to care for.

“Who’d thought retirement could be so much fun,” she murmured to herself. “I wonder how the others are doing these days.”


Her musings were cut off by the sound of the store bell jingling. She finished setting some of the honeycomb to cool and wet out to see who and come, to find two fillies that always made her grateful for the patience her past life had given her.

“Hello, girls,” she said, putting on a smile as the two fillies looked around in boredom. “What can I get you?”

“I’ll have some lemon balls,” Silver Spoon said, looking at the front counter. “And... maybe some jelly frogs?”

Bon Bon nodded. Seemed they were being better behaved than usual. She turned to Diamond Tiara, who was looking over a display of chocolate-covered honeycomb. “And you, dear?”

“I’ll have the finest of you chocolate honeycomb,” the filly replied in a snotty tone. “The remains can go to whomever would want them.”

“Of course, dear,” Bon Bon said, thankful her training was helping keep the strain from her tone. Typical that one would behave and the other is still as bratty as ever.

Suddenly, the grey filly leaned and whispered something along the lines of, “Remember what happened at school” and Diamond suddenly straitened up and looked down. "Thank you, Mrs Bon Bon."

Bon Bon cocked an eyebrow at this, but said nothing and sorted their orders.



When late afternoon arrived, Bon Bon decided to close up shop, though was a little disappointed that Scootaloo hadn’t come to help.

Must’ve gotten too tired after helping out at the farm, she thought with a small smile.

Locking up, she headed back towards Sweet Apple Acres. As she neared the farm, she could hear Lyra grunting as she bucked another tree.

Coming up to the orchard, she saw Lyra had at work, with Big Mac doing the same. Lyra was easing the load and speed by using her magic to lift the filled bushels of apples, leaving them to move from one tree right to the next without having to stop.

“Well, you’ve been hard at work today,” the Earth Pony said as she neared.

"Bon Bon!” Lyra said cheerily, seeming a little winded, no doubt due to using so much magic to lift such heavy loads, whilst also physically working to buck the trees. She came over and Lyra gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Hey, how was your day?”

Bon Bon shrugged. “Not quiet, but not too busy.” She smiled. “So, why’d Scootaloo not come to the store to help out?”

Both the unicorn and stallion shared a chuckle.

“What?” Bon Bon laughed, sensing something was up. “What’d I miss?”

“Those two were so focused on what they were doing, they got up in trying to tie the haystacks for the sheep and somehow got stuck in one,” Lyra giggled, whilst Mac gave some soft chuckles. “By the time everything was done with, they were both so exhausted we took them upstairs for a nap.”

Bon Bon couldn’t help but chuckle. Wow. She’s taking after Lyra with her all out attitude already. Add that to her already similar attitude and I have a feeling things are gonna be pretty lively. She looked around, before frowning slightly. “You guys seem to still have a lot of work to do.”

Lyra gave a sigh, wiping her brow and looking out. “Yeah. I’m not as good as Applejack and I’m a bit rusty at the farm work. Go on in and see if Granny wants any help with the cooking, kay, Bonnie. We’ll try and handle this all ourselves.”

Bon Bon gave a playful frown to her lover. “What? You think I can’t help out here?”

Lyra looked to Bon Bon, before smirking. “Good one, Bon Bon. I know your more active than most candy makers, but this isn’t exactly easy work, you know?”

Bon Bon’s lips rose at the challenge and she moved over to a line of tree that had yet to be bucked. She pulled back, coiling all the energy she felt would be needed, before thrusting with her hind legs. They impacted the tree, causing it to shudder, said shudder moving along the lines of trees for several metres, before a cascade of apples fell from each tree, filling bushel after bushel.

Once the wave of apples had subsided, more than half the trees Lyra and Mac still needed to buck were clean of apples.

The two just stared, open-mouthed as Bon Bon smirked, flicking her mane back with a toss of her neck before saying, “I’ll leave you two to handle all the hard work then,” and went inside to see if Granny wanted any help with dinner.