//------------------------------//
// Vampony Attack! 
// Story: Secrets 
// by bahatumay 
//------------------------------//

Lyra awoke early the next morning to the smell of something frying. Her eyes slowly drifted open.

The first thing she noticed was that Bon Bon was already up. She had apparently decided to make the most of her morning already; she was doing sit-ups. Many sit-ups. Without stopping. Lyra couldn’t help but watch the muscles ripple under her best friend’s fur. Her tongue subconsciously slipped out.

Suddenly, there came a knock on the door. Lyra jumped. Bon Bon looked over and grinned. “Good morning, Lyra.”

Lyra quickly wiped her face, hoping desperately Bon Bon hadn’t noticed her staring. Hopefully she thought the knock had startled her awake. “Yeah, g- good morning.”

Bon Bon trotted over to the door, slid the dresser back, and opened the door. “Morning, Fleur.”

“Good morning!” Fleur returned cheerfully. She held up a plate with her magic. “I made breakfast!”

Bon Bon nodded. “Thanks.” She looked over. “Lyra, you ready to get up?”

Lyra nodded, too. She suddenly realized she was pretty hungry. There had been a lot of running yesterday that she had not been planning on doing, and her body was starting to notice—and complain. 

As they walked over to the kitchen, Bon Bon paused, up against the corner of the wall looking into the living room. “These windows are really open,” she said, a hint of suspicion in her voice.

“I know!” Fleur said cheerfully. “It is such a lovely morning.”

“No, ‘it burns’?” Lyra asked curiously. 

“Again, older vampony,” Bon Bon said, glaring suspiciously at the window. “She's gotten used to the light.”

“True; though I do appreciate it when sunglasses come back in fashion every few decades,” Fleur said, dishing out a couple plates. “Please, have a seat.”

Breakfast was delicious, and Lyra quickly found herself adding more to her plate. She was now convinced that Fleur had graduated up from scullery maid very quickly. 

Maybe it had happened after she'd killed that mare? Nothing would be holding her back then.

Now more than slightly uncomfortable with that train of thought, she looked down at her breakfast and picked up another bite. 

Fleur tittered. “Sweetie Drops, it is not like it is going to run away,” she said.

Lyra glanced over to see Bon Bon eating quickly again, just like she had at the diner.

Bon Bon grunted noncommittally and shoveled another bite into her mouth.

“And so fast, it is almost like you are not enjoying it,” she pouted, her lower lip jutting out cutely.

Bon Bon rolled her eyes. “Well, if you're fishing for a compliment, then...” But her voice trailed off. With her fork halfway to her mouth, her ears pricked, and then she suddenly launched herself at Lyra, tackling her. “Get down!” 

Before Lyra could articulate a response to being so thrown, and even before she hit the ground, an explosion rocked the house. Fleur cried out in pain and hit the ground, her own silverware flying and clattering to the ground a split second later. 
Bon Bon lay still. So still. Lyra couldn't move beneath her. Her heart was seized by a cold grip. Was she…?

Two ponies entered. “I think we got her,” the first one said. 

The second one nudged Fleur with the top of his hoof. “We got Fleur de Lis, too. That won't bite us in the flank,” he said sarcastically.

“Collateral damage,” the first said dismissively. “That's why we used the silver grenade, remember?” He turned to Bon Bon. “We got the one we were paid to. She's one model. She won't be missed.”

Bon Bon snorted, as if amused. But before anything further than weapons could be leveled, a new voice broke in. 

“Now, to that, I do take offense.”

They looked over and at the same time, Bon Bon lashed out with her hind legs, and both jumped from the dual threat of a ‘dead’ pony come back to life and a very angry Fleur de Lis behind him. 

One managed to avoid Bon Bon's kick, but the first was not as lucky. Fleur de Lis punched him. Her strength was much greater than that of the average pony; her impact very nearly caved in his skull and he dropped, dead before he hit the ground. 

Bon Bon was on her hooves and swinging. She hit the second pony hard enough to knock a couple weapons loose, and at least two knives hit the floor. Not even bothering to try and fight back against the two mares, he tore out the door and disappeared down the hall. 

Lyra looked at Bon Bon, and then at Fleur. “Are you ok?” she asked. 

“I'm good,” Bon Bon scowled, wiping brusquely at the blood trickling down her face. 

“Older vampony,” Fleur groaned through gritted teeth, borrowing Bon Bon's phrase. “Silver burns like a fire, but a cold bath and a little time, and I shall be fine.” She straightened up and took a few calming breaths, slowing her breathing down from the frenzied panting. Now that the immediate danger had passed, Fleur looked down. She grimaced and glanced up at Bon Bon. “Oopsie?” she tried.

Bon Bon exhaled and massaged her face with her hoof. “Let me see your hoof,” she sighed. 

Lyra watched in apprehensive fascination as Bon Bon examined Fleur’s hoof, and then the apartment. She looked around, looking critically at everything in her apartment from the chair legs to the pepper grinder, and finally settled on the bottom of the leg of the small side table. “You were startled, grabbed the first thing you could with magic, and threw this table at him. It just happened to hit him just right, he didn't move again. That’s all you know-”

“And I was so frightened that it is all a blur; and I’m so sorry, officer, but that’s all I can remember, I couldn't even say how many there were,” Fleur finished dolefully. Apparently, this hadn't been her first time telling a story like this. She sighed and lifted the table with her magic, unceremoniously dumping its contents all over the floor, letting them smash to help sell the illusion. She winced. “If SEMHA were still active, I would ask compensation for those perfumes.”

Bon Bon smirked. “If SEMHA were still active, I wouldn’t be here—and I wouldn't owe you a favor. Lyra, I think it’s time we left before the royal guard shows up.”

Fleur nodded. “I'll start washing the dishes,” she said. “‘Nervous habit’, you know.”

It would also hide how many ponies had been there. Lyra slowly nodded and followed Bon Bon out.

“But if you ever want to visit again, you are welcome to,” Fleur called. “Especially your unicorn friend!”

“Go choke on a toothpick!”