Dear Bon Bon,
I am so glad to hear that you’re back on your hooves. I wish I had been able to stay longer and talk to you more while I was in Ponyville. Please tell Lyra “thank you” for me for all of the updates she sent – I really appreciated them. I would have been a nervous wreck if I didn’t know how you were doing.
I’m really happy that you’re up and healthy again. I hope you’re back to making treats for your town. I don’t know if you remember me telling you this while I was there, but I tried a few different types of your candies while I was in Ponyville. They were just as good as I remembered them being. Maybe even better!
I bought a bag of your strawberry drops right before we went home. When I ate them, they brought back memories of when you were a teenager, making different recipes for us. It felt really nice to relive those moments. I just wish the bag hadn’t disappeared so quickly. I wanted to let you know, I am so proud of you getting to do what you wanted to do for a living.
I’m writing to tell you that your father got his next assignment. Now we’ll be moving to Vanhoover. I just hope they don’t start winter until after he’s done with his job. I know he comes from hardy stock, but I still don’t want him to be outside in the snow all day.
Our new address will be at 257 Pine Needle Way. It sounds like it’ll be a festive place to live for Hearth’s Warming.
Say hi to Lyra for me. Again, I’m really glad she kept me up to date on your recovery. She told me that you usually take care of her, but I’m glad to see that she takes care of you, too. I’m so relieved that you’re feeling better. I’ll be thinking of you at Hearth’s Warming.
Love,
Mom
-
Dear Bon Bon,
I know it’s only been a couple of months since I last wrote to you. We’re not moving yet – your father is still wrapping up his work here in Vanhoover.
I’m writing to you because I found a support group for parents who have a gay child. I went to the last two meetings (they meet every month). All of the parents there are really nice. We spent a lot of time talking, and they helped me realize some things I hadn’t thought about before. They suggested I write you this letter.
Here’s what I’m writing to you to say.
I’m sorry, Bon Bon. I’m sorry that I didn’t support you when you first came out to us. I regret everything that happened afterward. I wish I could go back in time and do it all differently. I didn’t realize I was hurting you, and it makes me sick to know that I was.
I know now that being gay isn’t a choice, and I’m sorry for thinking that it was something you could change. I want you to know that I love you for who you are. All of who you are.
I’m sorry it took me this long to realize it.
I understand why you’ve been so distant all these years. I hope you can forgive me. I want to get to know my daughter again. For who she is.
I love you exactly the way you are.
Love,
MomP.S. Several of the parents were jealous when I told them that my daughter had a marefriend who loves her as much as Lyra loves you. Her faithfulness was really something to see when I was in Ponyville. I’m glad you two found each other.
-
Dear Bon Bon,
Of course I would want to write to you more regularly! I want to know all about the great pony my daughter has grown up to be.
Things are nice up here in Vanhoover. Your father finished clearing up the magic and a couple of days later, they had the first snowfall of winter. They have a whole celebration for it, with a feast and games and singing. Everything looks really pretty now all covered in snow. And our house holds the heat really well, so we haven’t had to burn as much wood to keep ourselves warm.
Has winter started in Ponyville yet? If it has, remember to wear your boots and earmuffs when you go outside, even if it’s just for a short trot. I don’t want you getting any chills. (I’m your mother – it’s my job to pester you about these things.)
I forgot to ask how Nightmare Night went for you. Do you still dress up, or are you too old for that now? Do you give out candy? Knowing what you make, I bet your house is the most popular one in town.
I tried to get your father to come to the last support group meeting, but he refused. I’ve been trying to convince him to come to the next one, but he keeps saying no. You know, you get your stubbornness from him. I’ll keep trying, but you know your dad.
How’s Lyra? Say hi to her for me.
I can’t wait to hear what’s been going on in your life. Tell me anything you want, even if you think I won’t care. I want to know what my daughter’s been doing now that she’s all grown up.
Love,
Mom
-
Dear Bon Bon,
We won’t know until the assignment comes, but I think we’ll still be in Vanhoover the month after Hearth’s Warming. I can’t remember the last time your father got his next assignment in the middle of winter, so it seems likely.
And yes, I would love to see Lyra’s band play. Let me know when and where so I can get tickets.
Do you travel with Lyra when she plays with her band, or are you only coming to Vanhoover because we’re here? Either way, I’m really looking forward to seeing you, especially under normal conditions. Get here as early as you can, and as soon as you get into town, come to our house. I’ll be home, and I want to spend as much time with you as possible.
Wouldn’t it be great if the next assignment was Ponyville? Now that I think about it, I’m surprised your father hasn’t been called back there yet, especially now that one of the princesses lives there. I know it’s because the city is mostly unicorns, but you remember how we get called back to Canterlot every three or four years.
Some of the buildings around here already have their Hearth’s Warming decorations up. Maybe they just really like the holiday here because it’s so far north and snowy. This is the snowiest winter I’ve seen in a long time. I hope you’re not too deep in snow in Ponyville.
Well, I should stop writing. I need to start dinner. I’ll write to you again soon.
Love,
MomP.S. You don’t need to buy a gold chain. I have one that I’d be honored to let you have when you come visit.
A couple of weeks after Hearth’s Warming, Lyra’s band began its winter tour across select cities in Equestria. Bon Bon traveled with Lyra to the first three performances, but then had to go back to Ponyville to resume her candy making. The loss of income from the time she had spent recuperating didn’t hurt them too much financially, but she wanted to ensure that she and Lyra had plenty of money on reserve. Luckily, she had already been able to push herself to make nearly as much as she usually made during the holiday season.
The evening before the band’s performance in Vanhoover, Bon Bon got on the overnight train for the city. When she arrived that morning, she walked directly to the house where her parents were living. As she approached, her stomach was practically doing flip-flops as memories of past heartache mixed with a sort of apprehensive eagerness and optimism.
Before she made it to the front door, Sugar Plum stepped out to meet her. There, on the snow-covered front lawn, Bon Bon hugged her mother for the first time in ten years.
It felt very nice.
Sugar Plum invited her inside. Once indoors, she saw her father. He acknowledged her presence, asked how her candy making business was doing, then mumbled an excuse that he had “something else to do” in another room.
“I got him to attend half a meeting last month,” Sugar Plum explained. “He walked out in the middle of it, but I hope that at least signals some progress.”
“Neither of us raised our voice this time,” Bon Bon said. “That’s progress.”
Straight Lace reappeared when it was time for lunch; he disappeared again immediately afterward. The rest of the time, Bon Bon had pleasant conversations with her mother, catching up on what they each had been doing in the past years.
That evening, Bon Bon took her parents to a combination restaurant/nightclub and treated them to dinner. They sat at one of the small dining tables that surrounded the open area that would serve as a dance floor. Bon Bon made sure to choose one of the tables closest to the stage so they could easily see the band once the show began.
When dinner was over, Bon Bon excused herself to go to the backstage area, which was in reality simply a hall that ran behind the length of the stage. There wasn’t even anyone at the doorway to prevent her or any other random ponies from wandering into the area. The other members of the band were used to seeing her backstage before performances, so the ones closest to the doorway greeted her and pointed her toward Lyra. When she reached her marefriend, the first thing she did was give her a big hug and kiss.
“I take it things are going well?” Lyra asked.
“I can’t remember the last time I talked to my mom this much,” Bon Bon enthused. “Dad and I are still distant, but at least we can be in the same room together. That’s an improvement.”
“I’m so glad to hear that,” Lyra said. They shared another peck on the lips. “By the way, we have something special planned for the show tonight. I hope your parents like it.”
“Ooh, what is it?”
“I don’t want to give it away. You’ll know it when you hear it.”
A voice interrupted their conversation. “Set the instruments!”
“Time for the lyre to make its big entrance,” Lyra said. “Do you want to give me my pre-show kiss early so you can go be with your parents?”
“Don’t mind if I do,” Bon Bon said. The two shared a longer kiss.
As she turned to leave, Lyra said, “Enjoy the show!”
Bon Bon replied, “Break a leg!”
As was her customary response, Lyra pantomimed stumbling over her foreleg and limping for a brief moment.
Bon Bon returned to the table, where Sugar Plum had moved her chair closer to Straight Lace’s left to get a better view of the stage. Bon Bon followed her lead and moved her chair closer to her mother. Meanwhile, the eight members of the band were each taking a turn walking out onto the stage, placing their instrument on display, then walking backstage again. It was a ritual they performed before every show to allow the audience time to get some idea of what they were about to see.
After all of the instruments were in place and the stage was once again empty of ponies, Straight Lace looked at the arrangement. Upon seeing the collection of unconventional instruments from all across the land, he scoffed.
“This is the band?” he said. “You can’t make a band with those instruments. They’ll sound terrible together.”
Sugar Plum said, “At least give it a chance.”
He emitted a sound that was a cross between a sigh and a moan. “Fine. I’ll stay for one song. Just so I can tell you that I’m right. This isn’t going to work.” He slouched over the table. “This is probably one of those ‘experimental’ bands that thinks sounds are the same thing as actual music.”
After another ten minutes, the lights surrounding the tables dimmed while the stage was illuminated. The eight members of the band walked out together and took their positions with their instruments. It was crowded in the small performing space, but they were used to it.
A powder blue unicorn stepped forward and addressed the crowd.
“Good evening, Vanhoover! My name is Melody Fusion and we are Trots of Life!” She paused as the small audience applauded politely. “As you may have guessed, we get our name because we’re a collection of ponies from all sorts of different backgrounds. And as you also may have guessed, we’re not your typical band. For starters, I’ll be playing the balalaika.” She strummed a few freestyle notes.
As she pointed out each instrument, the pony playing it offered their own short ditty. “We also have a lyre… a marimba… the tabla… a cornet… a sousaphone… a double bass… and a concertina.
“Now, we understand that you may not have heard some of these specific instruments before. We know for sure that you’ve never heard all of them together in one band like this. But we’re here to show you that even though the eight of us come from all different trots of life, one of the things that we share – one of the things that all ponies share – is a sense of wonder and joy. And this is how we express it.”
Immediately, she stepped back and played the beginning of the band’s first song, “Awakening.” It started with each of the musicians taking a turn playing their own somewhat lethargic tune. Next, the instruments paired off, taking turns playing their tunes again, this time in four duets. That was followed by two quartets and finally, all eight instruments with their tunes played simultaneously. From there, the lethargy was replaced with purpose as all of the musicians played a song that demonstrated exactly what kinds of cheerful sounds they were capable of producing.
Bon Bon had heard the song numerous times before – it was always the band’s opening number – but each time, it filled her heart with joy. The feeling only intensified as she fixed her gaze on Lyra, who was happily pouring her heart into her instrument up on the stage.
The majority of the audience reacted the way all audiences who were unfamiliar with the band first reacted. A slight hesitation gave way to understanding, relaxation, and enjoyment. The mood of the room turned to celebration when halfway through the song, Lyra, as the only musician whose hooves weren’t occupied, raised her forelegs above her head and moved them in the universal gesture for “clap along.”
Warmth spread through Bon Bon’s chest as she watched her marefriend look completely at home on the stage, doing what she was born to do. When “Awakening” ended, the pegasus playing the concertina stepped forward to introduce himself as well as the next song, titled “Summer.” Lyra didn’t have as large of a part in that one, so Bon Bon glanced over at her parents while the band was performing. She was happy to see that her mother was clapping along and bobbing her head to the music. Her father appeared to be sitting still, eyes focused on the stage. She noted that after the first song, he hadn’t said anything negative or made any effort to leave. When she carefully stretched her neck to get a better look at him, she saw that his rear leg was subtly tapping along to the beat.
Once the second song had concluded, Lyra stepped forward to take her turn addressing the crowd.
“Thank you! My name is Lyra Heartstrings and it is my pleasure to share my happiness with you this night.” She played a brief, jaunty little tune on her lyre. “Now usually, we only play our own original songs during any given show. But tonight, I asked the band if we could try something a little different. I don’t want to embarrass them by pointing them out, but there are some ponies who I’m really grateful decided to come to see us perform tonight. This song is for them.”
After she stepped back in line with the band, Lyra looked Sugar Plum directly in the eyes, letting her know exactly to whom “this song is for them” referred. Bon Bon noticed the nonverbal communication and wondered what exactly Lyra had planned. For her part, Sugar Plum looked just as puzzled as Bon Bon did.
The tabla player counted them in, and all together, the group began to play a melody familiar to Bon Bon. She hadn’t heard it in over a decade, but still, she immediately recognized it from when she was growing up. It was her parents’ favorite song. They were being treated to their own special rendition of “The Nicest Thing Under the Moon.”
While the band did have a couple of musicians who could hold their own on vocals, none of Trots of Life’s music had lyrics. In keeping with that custom, the group was playing a strictly instrumental arrangement. And even though the original was performed primarily with traditional brass instruments, the cornet and sousaphone didn’t take the lead. Instead, all of the instruments joined together to create a more layered, nuanced version of the song.
Bon Bon looked at her mother, who was staring at the stage in awe. Halfway through the first verse, Sugar Plum reached over and placed her hoof on Straight Lace’s. He responded by holding her hoof in his. She leaned over, rested her head against his shoulder, and closed her eyes. Bon Bon returned her attention to the stage. But in her peripheral vision, she saw her father quickly wipe at his eye.
Bon Bon wondered whether the tempo was going to change at any point to match the livelier, extra upbeat feel of Trots of Life’s other songs. But the band showed restraint and stayed true to the composition of the original. The only things different were the instruments playing the song and the passion with which those instruments were being played. And that was enough.
When the song ended, Sugar Plum sat back up in order to applaud. Straight Lace respectfully applauded, too. He hadn’t applauded for the first two songs.
The rest of the concert proceeded as usual. The band went back to playing their own joyful music. Soon, ponies were out on the dance floor, turning the concert into a celebration. Bon Bon and her parents stayed at their table the entire time, but Sugar Plum was clapping along and applauding after each song. Straight Lace spent most of the remainder of the show staring at the stage, a pensive look on his face.
After the concert ended, Bon Bon asked her parents if they’d like to go back and say hello to Lyra. Sugar Plum immediately said yes. Straight Lace responded with a more hesitant yes. But the hesitancy didn’t seem to come from a place of reluctant resignation. His tone seemed almost… humble.
There wasn’t a lot of room in the hallway for ponies to stop and talk while others walked past them, so Lyra led the three to the far end. Standing in a circle was inconvenient, so Lyra and Bon Bon stood next to one another, facing Sugar Plum and Straight Lace. The other members of the band were busy with their own work, so the four were effectively by themselves.
Lyra, mindful of Straight Lace’s reactions the last time she saw him, did not hug Bon Bon or Sugar Plum. Instead, she warmly thanked them for coming to see her perform.
“You were great – the whole band was great,” Sugar Plum said. “I can’t remember the last time I heard a band that made me feel… just so good inside.”
Lyra smiled. “That’s our goal. In fact, it’s the whole reason we formed this band in the first place.”
Bon Bon said, “And it happens every time, too. Even when they rehearse. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve heard them play, and it always makes me smile, both on the inside and out.”
Lyra said, “She’s our first and biggest fan.”
Sugar Plum reached across and put her hoof on Lyra’s shoulder. Lyra glanced over at Straight Lace to see his reaction, but he remained uncomfortably aloof. “And thank you for that beautiful version of ‘The Nicest Thing Under the Moon,’” she said. “You didn’t have to do that for us.”
“I wanted to,” Lyra said. “Think of it as my small way of saying thank you for sitting with Bon Bon and me at the hospital and being there through those rough first days.”
Straight Lace broke in. “About the hospital…” he said.
For a moment, he didn’t say anything else. The others waited. He looked down at the floor. Then he opened his mouth.
“I…”
He looked over toward the wall.
“I just…”
He settled on looking at a spot slightly above and to the right of Lyra’s head.
“I wanted to say… when we were at the hospital… the things that I said… I… apologize.”
There was noise elsewhere as ponies went about their business, but at that end of the hall, things were dead silent. All three of the others stared at him, stunned.
“About you two. Maybe it’s okay if you two are together.”
Lyra and Bon Bon wore twin looks of complete and utter astonishment. They each had to consciously make the effort to close their mouths.
“It still doesn’t make sense. But… I didn’t think all of those instruments would be able to play the best version of ‘The Nicest Thing Under the Moon’ that I’ve ever heard, either. If all of those weird instruments can work together, then maybe… maybe the two of you can work together, too.”
For many seconds, no one spoke.
Finally, in a voice barely above a whisper, Bon Bon asked, “…Do you mean it?”
Tentatively, he replied, “…Yes. I won’t get in your way. If your mother’s okay with it, then I can be, too.”
For another few moments, Bon Bon simply stood in place. Slowly, she stepped forward. She lifted one foreleg and placed it around her father. Then the other. As soon as both forelegs were locked in the hug, she began to cry.
“Thank you…” she said. She couldn’t form any other words.
As Bon Bon held on, Sugar Plum put one of her own forelegs around her daughter in a hug.
Lyra fought the tears in her eyes. She looked at Straight Lace. Quietly, she said, “Thank you.”
He gave her a small tilt of his head in return. Then he looked down and hugged his daughter back.
Eventually, Bon Bon’s parents left the restaurant/nightclub to return home. Bon Bon stayed behind with Lyra. The first thing the couple did was confirm with one another that what had just happened actually happened. That was followed by another hug.
Once the band was ready to leave, the two bundled up and walked together through the snow-covered streets to the train station. They stayed a few paces behind everyone else.
“I mean, Trots of Life was my favorite band already,” Bon Bon said, “but now you’re definitely my favorite band.”
“Honestly, I was just trying to do something nice for your mom,” Lyra said. “I never would have guessed that would happen.”
“Nopony would have. I thought he was never going to accept that we’re a couple. Let alone actually say he was okay with it. I had just gotten used to telling myself, ‘Well, at least my mom is happy with my marefriend.’ I thought that was the best I could hope for. Even if dad would never understand… but now… now even he isn’t angry…”
Bon Bon suddenly stopped. Her eyes widened slightly as she stared into space.
Lyra looked at her.
“You okay there, Bon Bon?”
“Oh… yeah,” Bon Bon said, resuming her pace. “I was just thinking about… what just happened. It’s going to take the whole ride back to realize this is real.” A big smile appeared on her face.
They reached the train station. Lyra said, “In a couple of weeks, the tour will be over and then I’ll be home to assure you that it is real.”
“I can’t wait a couple of weeks,” Bon Bon replied.
“It’s that or disappoint Ponyville. I know they need you.”
Lyra stepped up to the train car’s entrance. She gave Bon Bon a good-bye kiss, then climbed aboard.
“Wait,” Bon Bon said. Inside the door, Lyra turned around to face her.
“Wait?”
“You’re playing Whinnypeg on Sunday night, right?”
“Right.”
“Where?”
She thought for a moment. “At The Salty Stallion.”
“I’ll see you there.”
“Really?”
“Really. I’ve got something I need to do at home, but then I’ll be right back. Ponyville can survive without new candy for a couple of days.”
Lyra sat on a small crate in a tiny room backstage at The Salty Stallion. As the name implied, the club had once been a dive. But in recent years, it had seen improvements that made the establishment more tolerable, going from “seedy” to “actually kind of charming, especially with the lights low.” The building was even large enough to have a space for performers to prepare before the show.
As she sat, she randomly strummed her lyre. She was glad that her musical specialty was an instrument that needed no setup and minimal tuning. It meant that she was always one of the first to be ready for each performance.
She didn’t understand why Bon Bon was going to all the trouble of traveling back to Ponyville just to turn around and see her again two days later. But since it meant more time with her favorite pony in the world, she didn’t think about it too much.
“Groupie’s here,” Melody Fusion said as she entered the room with Bon Bon. “Groupie” was the affectionate nickname the rest of the bandmates had given to her after one of them noted that she often showed up at their performances and had a romantic relationship with their lyrist.
Lyra got up and gave Bon Bon a hug and a kiss. “Welcome to Whinnypeg,” she said.
Bon Bon gave Melody a small nod as she left the room. “And here I thought Vanhoover was cold,” she said.
“Tell me about it. It’s even drafty in here somehow. And there aren’t even any windows.”
“Things will warm up a little once the show starts, right?”
“They’d better. Otherwise Jazz’s and Brassy’s lips are going to freeze to their instruments.”
Bon Bon giggled.
“Speaking of lips,” Lyra said, “I need more copies of that picture of you that I carry in my case.”
“Why?”
“When you’re not here with me, I give it a kiss before each show. It turns out photographs aren’t made to be kissed that often.”
“I’ll get right on that,” Bon Bon said. “For now, though, this will have to do.” Her lips met Lyra’s, staying there for several seconds.
“That is so much better than the photograph,” Lyra said.
“It’d better be.”
“And I’m not as cold now.”
Eventually, it was time to begin the show. Bon Bon gave Lyra her customary pre-performance kiss, then told her that she’d be watching from just offstage.
Lyra walked out with the rest of her bandmates to a respectable round of applause. Although it was still relatively small as far as venues went, The Salty Stallion was one of the larger stops the band would be playing on their tour. The stage was wide enough to give eight ponies and their instruments a little room to move around and there were a few more ponies in the audience than the band was used to seeing up to that point. Lyra felt energized, knowing that it would give her and the others more incentive to put on a great show.
The performance began and proceeded as planned. Five of the members of the band, including Lyra, had already introduced themselves and the group was playing the fifth song on that night’s set list, “Anticipation.” As was the case whenever they performed it, the song would immediately segue into the sixth song on the list, “Elation.”
As “Anticipation” approached its end, Melody signaled to the rest of the band to stop playing. Lyra felt a little more caught off-guard by the instruction than the others appeared to be, but she joined them in bringing the song to a close. When they stopped, Melody addressed the crowd.
“Thank you!” she said as the applause died down. “There’s more to come, but before we continue, I’d like to bring somepony out for a very special announcement.”
She signaled to the offstage area. Much to Lyra’s surprise, Bon Bon walked out in front of the audience.
“I’d like to introduce you to Bon Bon,” Melody said. “One of our band’s biggest supporters and the longtime marefriend of Lyra over there. Tonight, she has something she wants to say.”
Melody stepped back, leaving Bon Bon at center stage. Bon Bon swallowed, her legs trembling slightly. Lyra couldn’t imagine what could have compelled her to stand up and talk in front of so many ponies like this. She took a step forward in case she needed to calm her marefriend down.
Bon Bon began to speak. “So as Melody said, Lyra and I have been dating for more than three and a half years now. From the very first day we met, I knew that Lyra was something special. She’s nice, she’s funny, she’s fun, and we know we were made for each other. Ever since we’ve been together, I’ve felt like the luckiest mare in the world.”
She turned to face her. “Lyra, I love you more than I could ever say. Whenever I think about you, I think about how happy I am that I get to spend my life with you. Year after year, you’ve been right there by my side, and every step of the way, you’ve been loving, kind… and patient. And now, I’m going to do something that I should have done a long time ago.”
Folding her right foreleg inward, she bowed down in front of her marefriend. With her front left knee on the ground, she reached up. From behind her mane, she produced a gold chain necklace with a heart-shaped garnet hanging from the end.
“Lyra Heartstrings, will you marry me?”
For just a moment, an overwhelmed Lyra froze in place. Quickly snapping out of it, she stepped forward and lifted Bon Bon’s face to hers.
“Yes!” she cried. She gave her a long kiss as the audience and other members of the band began to applaud. “Yes! Of course, yes!”
The two embraced. After a few seconds, Bon Bon pushed her back so she could place the necklace over Lyra’s head. Then they embraced again.
After a few more seconds, Melody cued the band to begin playing the next song on the set list. Lyra was so preoccupied with her hug, she initially forgot that she was part of it. Finally, as she stood directly next to Bon Bon with one foreleg around her now-fiancée, she joined in with the rest of the group.
Together, they played “Elation.”