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// vi: i don't think you're looking old 
// Story: dasher 
// by The Red Parade 
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The glow of the gaslights seemed to bounce and dance giddily, like a foal on Hearth’s Warming Day. Laughter echoed from open doors and windows, and the moon watched it all from above. 

Bon Bon hadn’t realized it until now, but she felt… warm. She smiled, glancing at her unicorn companion. “How long will you be in town?”

The unicorn shrugged. “I dunno,” she replied. “Probably not long. I’m a bit of a… dasher. Always moving.” 

When she saw Bon Bon’s ears fold at that, the unicorn quickly continued. “But if you’re right about the food, I could always make an exception.”

They shared a laugh, stopping outside of the meeting hall. “Well, this is it,” Bon Bon declared. “Best party Pinkie’s ever thrown… until her next one.”

“Heh. Thanks, by the way,” the unicorn said with a genuine smile. “I mean it. It’s great to finally see a friendly face.”

“Don’t mention it,” Bon Bon replied. “That’s just a thing they do in Ponyville. Look out for each other.”

The unicorn nodded again. “You coming in?”

“Probably not,” Bon Bon said. “I’m pretty tired. Kinda want to get a headstart on sleep.”

“Alright,” replied the unicorn. “Thanks again.” She offered her hoof, and Bon Bon shook it.

Bon Bon turned away and took a few steps down the street. 

“Hey!” She flinched and glanced backwards to see the unicorn waving at her. “I just realized, I never got your name!”

“Oh.” She almost facehoofed at the faux pas of not introducing herself. “I’m Bon Bon.”

“Bon Bon? Pleasure to meet you. I’m Lyra. Lyra Heartstrings,” said the unicorn. “You said you work at Caramel’s Cafe on Fourth Street, right?”

“Uh, yeah.”

“Cool!” Lyra beamed at her. “I might come visit you before I go.” 

Bon Bon shrugged. “Well, that’d be nice.”

“So… be seeing you?” asked Lyra.

The sound of a rousing cheer came from within the meeting hall, followed by the stomping of hooves in applause. “Sure,” Bon Bon replied. “Sure.”

“Awesome.” Lyra waved again and trotted into the meeting hall.

Bon Bon stood there in the street for a moment longer, piecing together what had happened. She shook her head and laughed, continuing on her journey home. The wind blew through her again, and the snowfall had picked up its pace, but she didn’t care.

The lights around her glowed a bit brighter, and the snow felt a little bit softer. Bon Bon pressed her hoof a little bit harder against the imaginary window, and she passed through to the other side.

She wondered how long the feeling would last.