//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: The Taffy Tale // by yotoeman //------------------------------// Chapter 3 Bon Bon led Lyra to her shop, “Whelp, this is it.” the Earth pony said, “It’s not as fancy as places I’m sure you’ve stayed at before, but for me it’s what I call home. Help yourself to some treats if you wish.” “Dandy place you have here,” Lyra replied popping a horshey in her mouth, “It’s pretty well organized and such. So uhh... tell me, how did a place like this start going downward in sales?” Bon Bon was a bit surprised at the green unicorn. Lyra had been talking while chewing the chocolate piece in her mouth the whole time. For a Canterlot pony, she certainly didn’t seem to have very Canterlotian manners. Nevertheless, Bon Bon proceeded to tell her story. "It all started about six months ago when the local dentist moved into Ponyville. Before then, the store prospered quite well with customers lining up to the end of the block to receive some of my candies. I employed quite a few ponies back then to help customers out, deliver orders, and run the cash registers. Since Colgate... that’s the dentist’s name, moved in 6 months ago, ponies began to think that candies were horrible for their teeth because of their high sugar content. I tried to minimize the use of sugar in my candies but that barely did anything. Ponies just assumed that all my candies were bad for them and ignored the shop all together. Slowly, I had to fire each of my employees until eventually nopony was left except me. These days I’ve fallen into debt because I still have to pay the rent for this store. I’ll be lucky if I get maybe 2 sales a day even. If I don’t have another 2000 bits by next week I’ll...” tears were beginning to fill Bon Bon’s eyes as she was finishing the sentence. Lyra at the time was eating her 5th horsheys bar when she noticed the droplets that were about to fall from the earth pony’s eyes. She put down her candy and put a forehoof on Bon Bon’s shoulder. “Hey now, don’t do that, we’ll make those 2000 bits together, I promise.” With that the green unicorn gave the yellow earth pony a hug “Well, it’s an optimistic thought,” Bon Bon began, “But optimism can only get you so far in life. I guess we’ll just have to see what happens.” She gave out a long sigh... “You know, I’m not exactly sure why I brought you here in the first. When I first heard your music a day ago, I don’t know why, it just sort of...called to me in a way. I’ve never seen you before but yet I still trusted you enough to allow you to live with me for a while. I don’t really think a little music can save a dead shop like mine but yet I still asked. I don’t know, maybe I’m just tired.” “Maybe it was because of my dashing good looks.” The unicorn said flipping her mane upward in an obvious attempt to lighten the mood. “Please don’t do that,” The yellow earth pony said trying to hold back her laughter at how funny the unicorn looked. Bon Bon was beginning to seriously doubt that the unicorn was actually from Canterlot. “You look pretty silly. Now then, it’s getting pretty late, let’s get you to bed.” With that the yellow earth pony showed the green unicorn her room. The unicorn opened her lyre case and revealed several hidden pockets within it. Lyra opened one of the pockets and pulled out a small toy about the size of a hoof. Lyra then used the magic her horn produced and made the toy expand in size until it was about a foot tall. Bon Bon noticed that the toy was in fact a teddy bear causing her to raise an eyebrow. “What?” the unicorn asked noticing the look on Bon Bon’s face, “I call him George. I hold him while I sleep. Is that weird to you or something?” “Yeah just a little,” the earth pony responded, “Considering you’re a grown mare. What kind of name is George anyways? It doesn’t sound pony at all.’ “That’s because he’s named after a human.” Lyra explained, “And for your information, I think that teddy bears should be enjoyed by everypony, not just little fillies.” “Mhmmm...” Bon Bon said rolling her eyes. Yeah, this unicorn is defiantly not from Canterlot. “I’ll go ahead and leave you two alone then. Nighty night.” Bon Bon turned off the light and closed the door. She then proceeded to trot to her own room where she immediately went to bed. “Oh dear Celestia,” Bon Bon thought to herself, “I hope I didn’t just make a huge mistake.” --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lyra awoke the next mourning when she felt a hoof shaking her body. “Huh, what?” The unicorn looked around still half asleep, “uggghhh it’s too early to be waking up.” “It’s 8:30 dear.” Bon Bon said clearly annoyed at the unicorn, “If you’re going to sleep and work with me than you’re going to have to work on my schedule.” “But Boooon Booooon,” the green unicorn whined, “Just 10 more minutes please?” The yellow earth pony gave out a long sigh. “Alright little filly... you get 10 more minutes.” The unicorn gave out a weak “Yeah” and proceeded to go back to sleep. 10 minutes later, the earth pony came back to the room. This time, she noticed not only that the unicorn was still asleep, but also that throughout the night she had drooled all over her bed. Bon Bon walked over to remove the covers that Lyra had been using. “This is just like raising a little foal...” Bon Bon thought. Lyra's eyes suddenly shot open when the warmth of her blanket was removed. “Hey! What gives?” “You’ve slept quite long enough little filly...” Bon Bon said even more irritated than before, “Now get out of bed. I prepared a tooth brush for you in the bathroom first door to your right. When you are finished, come with me to the table behind the shop counter. I hope you like waffles because that’s what I made. “Alrighty then, will do” responded the green unicorn. She did as she was told and proceeded to go to the table behind the counter not wanting to piss off her host any longer. “So then,” asked Lyra while chewing a waffle, “where do you want me to play my lyre at?” “You see that stool over there?” Bon Bon responded pointing to a stool that was left of all the candy shelves. The unicorn nodded her head. “You’ll be playing your melodies on that stool because it is closest to the door. Ponies can hear you much better that way.” The two ponies finished their waffles. Lyra went to her bedroom and came back with her lyre in hoof. “Alrighty then, I suppose we should get started.” said Lyra. Bon Bon nodded in agreement. She flipped her door sign from closed to open and went back to the counter. “So... what song do you want me to play first?” Lyra asked. Bon Bon was surprised at the question. She’d assumed Lyra had some sort of routine she always followed. “Play whatever you like I guess, as long as it sounds good.” “Alright, Branhoofberg Concerto number 3 movement 2 it is then.” The unicorn decided. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For the next 2 hours, Lyra played away on her lyre once again captivating Bon Bon’s attention. The music however did not seem to yield many customers as most of the ponies who noticed the music simply took a look from the window of the shop and then left abruptly. It was 11:30 when Bon Bon spoke again. “Well I guess the music didn’t make much of a difference despite how nice...” her sentence was broken up however by the door suddenly springing open. A white unicorn with a purple curly mane entered the store. “That music! I’ve heard that song somewhere. I just know I have. Yes I remember now I heard it while at Canterlot. Hmm... I’ve never been here before; I usually walk on the other side of the road in this neighborhood because this end seems rather dirty. But today I heard this music and just had to see what was inside that was making such nice sounds.” “This is my candy shop” answered Bon Bon walking up to Rarity shaking her hoof. “The lovely music comes from the unicorn over there named Lyra.” Bon Bon pointed her hoof at Lyra causing her to blush “Oh my, well you certainly are the talented one darling,” Rarity said giving the unicorn a wink, “Candy shop huh? I’ve never had candy before in my entire life though I heard rumors that it decays your teeth and makes you lose your form; is that true?” “That’s what everypony thinks, but the candies I make are different,” the earth pony explained, “I make sure to limit the amount of sugars used and use pure dark chocolate instead of fatty milk chocolate to make my candies keep its taste but be perfectly healthy for a pony’s diet. Do you wish to have a sample?” “Well I suppose one piece couldn’t hurt.” Bon Bon handed Rarity one of her mini Mares Bars and the unicorn took a bite. “Dear Luna this was delicious!” Rarity said eyes opening wide open. “Where have I been all my life to never try this stuff before. Ehh...what is this stuff called again?” “Candy,” Bon Bon answered, “Or more specifically chocolate, or more specifically a mares bar.” “Well I say; it certainly is tasty. How much is it for a bag of mares bars?” “5 bits,” Bon Bon responded “Here’s 10, and keep the change.” Rarity said tossing Bon Bon a bag of bits. “If this is really as healthy as you say it is then I will certainly be coming back here with some friends.” Bon Bon quickly went to her room and took out the recipe book she created herself to make the treats. “Oh I assure you it is, you can see what I used yourself right here.” Rarity didn’t even bother to look inside the book and instead giggled at the earth pony. “Don’t worry darling, I believe you. Now then, I’ll be on my way then. I have to make a few dresses for some important clients of mine.” As Rarity was beginning to exit, she suddenly turned her attention to the green unicorn who had been sitting patiently on her stool. “O yeah, by the way, I just remembered where I had heard that song you were playing on your lyre. An earth pony by the name of Octavia was playing that very same tune on her cello while I was at Canterlot last week. Do you know who she is?” Lyra’s face suddenly turned pale at the mention of the name. She began to shake her head violently. “Nope, no idea who this Octavia pony is, I’m sure she’s a nice pony though, haha....” Rarity raised an eyebrow at the unicorn’s response but shrugged and exited the door. “That was great!” Bon Bon cried in excitement not noticing that Lyra was pale and breathing heavily. “We finally made a first sale of the day and not only that, we also managed...” Bon Bon stopped as she noticed Lyra’s changed expression. “Are...are you alright Lyra?” Bon Bon asked. Lyra suddenly stopped her heavy breathing and looked at Bon Bon. “Yeah... everything is fine,” the unicorn said, her face starting to turn back to its natural green color. “Huh? Yeah, first sale of the day, great. What else did you say we gained?” Bon Bon gave Lyra a weird look but continued where she left off. “We also gained a reoccurring customer that is likely to lead to more customers. Now then, let’s continue where we left off after lunch.” “Yeah...after lunch,” Lyra said as she was looking outside the window of the shop. She eventually just gave out a sigh though and followed Bon Bon back to the table behind the counter to chow down on some hay fries.