There was something very different about this bedroom, Lyra could tell. The sheets were not nearly as soft as they usually were, the room was surprisingly dark, and even the atmosphere felt off, like it wasn’t as warm and welcoming as it usually was. Lyra really had no idea what any of this meant. She just woke up, after all, and it was possible her mind hadn’t fully adapted to its surroundings just yet.
She could feel herself lying next to somepony’s back, and she smiled. Even in her groggy state, Lyra began to think about her marefriend, the love of her life. She was going to marry that mare someday. She already got the ring for it, she just needed to find the right time to actually propose.
It wasn’t that she was scared Bon Bon would say no. Lyra had no doubt in her mind that she would say yes. She just wanted to make it right. Make it special. Lyra was wondering if a cruise ship would be nice. A nice vacation for the two, out in the open seas. She would take Bon Bon out on the deck, and they would look out at the endless blue together. Lyra would make some speech about how much she loved her and how she changed for the better, and then, then she would propose.
But cruises were expensive. She already spent too much on the ring, so maybe a nice dinner would be the right way to go. But what restaurant? Someplace fancy, to really celebrate the occ- wait, no. Bon Bon hated overly fancy restaurants. So where would she go?
Lyra groaned to herself. Now was not the time to get caught up in her thoughts, not when she had to figure out where she was. Her vision still blurry, Lyra tried to blink rapidly to clear her sight, but to no avail. Maybe Bon Bon could tell her where she was.
Lyra forced herself on her side and leaned against Bon Bon’s back before wrapping a hoof aro-
Wait. Now Lyra could tell something was definitely wrong. Bon Bon’s coat was not nearly as long or wavy as this one. Lyra sniffed Bon Bon’s mane and recoiled back. It did not smell at all like Bon Bon, of confectioner sugar and vanilla extract from the long days at the store. This smelled like alcohol, more specifically like cheap beer.
Lyra shot up in the bed, wide awake and sweating profusely. She looked around the bedroom, even though the darkness made it hard to see. This clearly wasn’t her house, but that wasn’t what scared Lyra. It was that the room was still all too recognizable to her as if she had been there dozens of times before.
She had done it again. How it happened this time, it didn’t really matter. It always resulted in the same thing, and Lyra doubted it would be the last time. When it first started, Lyra kept telling herself she would stop, that this would be her last time. After around the fifth night, she stopped trying to convince herself that.
Lyra quickly realized she needed to calm down and think. She found a way to get out of these situations before, and she could do it again. Taking a couple of deep breaths, Lyra began to run her story over in her head.
Sorry Bon Bon, I didn’t mean to get home so late. Me and the orchestra decided to go to the bar after practice. And I, well, I got a little carried away. I’m sorry, it won’t happen again, I promise. Yes, I know I always say it, but I mean it this time. No, of course, I would never lie to you, I promise. I love you. In fact, I need to ask you something, Bon Bon. Will you marry me? ...You will? Oh, I love you so much, honey! You don’t even care I’m a no-good stinking cheater, you love me, and I love you. Come here, sweetie. Let’s celebrate in the bedroom.
Pushing herself off the bed, Lyra did not dare look back behind. She didn’t want to see who it was, there was never any need to. Instead, she walked out of the bedroom with the pace of a marching soldier, muttering to herself the actual story, and walked towards the love of her life.