In Ponyville a teenage pony was trotting along the road to the marketplace, looking around for string for her lyre. She was a mint colored unicorn named Lyra and she was somewhat of a daydreamer, not paying too much attention to where she went. It was because of her daydreaming that she didn’t see a pony fumbling around for something in her saddlebag while walking in the opposite direction. Both ponies crashed onto the cobblestones. “Hey watch where you’re going.” Lyra said, winded and trying to get up from the cobblestone road.
“Sorry” said a butter coloured earth pony who Lyra guessed was her own age. She had a curly blue and pink mane and she glared at Lyra as she dusted herself off.
“Oops, sorry about that. I was daydreaming. Here, let me help you miss...”
“Bonbon.” The earth pony replied, trying to pick up the bag of sugar that had slipped out of her saddlebag during the collision. Lyra concentrated for a moment and then picked up the bag in a soft orange aura, her horn glowing a similar colour. She maneuvered the bag into the earth pony’s saddlebag. “Thank you...” Bonbon paused, waiting for the unicorn to supply her name.
“Lyra, Lyra Heartstrings at your service.” She stood up on her hind legs, putting one forehoof over her chest and holding the other out in front of her before bowing. Bonbon stared at the antics for a second before shaking her head, dismissing it as simple theatrics.
“Thank you Ms. Heartstrings-” Bonbon began. Lyra cut her off.
“My friends call me Lyra.” She grinned disarmingly.
“Alright.” The earth pony paused, “Lyra. I do suppose you owe me a lunch. It’s almost noon anyway” Her stomach grumbled. She glanced at the sun, which was directly overhead. The green unicorn nodded.
“Sure, can’t see why not.” She said, “Only fair considering I bumped into you.” Her stomach rumbled involuntarily, “And I do appear to be a bit hungry myself.” They moved from the road and stand on the sidewalk.
“Come on Lyra, I know the perfect to eat. Wonderful sandwiches.” Bonbon began trotting towards the other end of the marketplace, where Clover Cafe stood.
“I like sandwiches.” Lyra mused to herself, cantering so she was beside Bonbon.
They sat down at a small table near the outer patio of the restaurant. A colt in a waiter’s uniform soon trotted up to them, pulling out a notepad and awkwardly holding a pencil in his mouth.
“What can I get for you two today?” He asked. Bonbon pursed her lips, thinking for a second while Lyra dug around her saddlebag for a bag of bits.
“I’ll have the garden sandwich, and my friend here will have...” The nodded at Lyra, who had been daydreaming again. She felt the two sets of eyes looking at her expectantly.
“Oh, I’ll have the green pepper sandwich.”
“One green pepper and one garden. Anything to drink?” The waiter asked, his speech distorted by the pencil in his mouth.
“Lemonade pitcher.” Bonbon said, “Two glasses.” The water nodded and scribbled it down before trotting off.
“Do you always treat your new friends to a date?” Lyra asked sarcastically after the waiter had left earshot. Bonbon glared at her again, then snickered.
“A date? You think this is a date?” She asked, a slight blush forming on her cheeks.
“Let me see? Open air cafe, table for two, shared lemonade. That’s a date in my opinion.” Lyra replied, tapping her hoof on the table with each element she had listed.
“And if it is?” Bonbon countered.
“Well, in that case-” Lyra was cut off by the waiter returning with the two sandwiches and the pitcher of lemonade. Lyra hastily paid him. The young stallion counted the bits and nodded, heading back inside the restaurant. Bonbon took a nibble of her garden sandwich while Lyra munched on her sandwich with gusto. The earth pony opened her mouth to say something when an earth shattering boom reverberated across the town. A menagerie of colours reached over the sky, as if a pegasus had decided to paint a rainbow.
“A sonic rainboom!” A pegasus who was sitting near them called, “That’s a sonic rainboom!” He flew off before either of the mares could question him.
“What’s a sonic rainboom?” Bonbon asked Lyra.
“I don’t know Bons, something to do with pegasi.”
“Well, the library should have something about it. Come on Lyra. Let’s go.”
“I’m coming, I’m coming.” Lyra responded, picking up the sandwich in her telekinesis and shoving it in her mouth. She galloped out of the cafe, racing after Bonbon.
“Well, where you want to start?” Lyra asked, looking around the room. All around them there were books, lots and lots of books. The librarian; an old unicorn by the name of Glue Spine, glared up at them.
“Who the hay are you and what do you way?” He asked, annoyed by the two teenage mares barging in when he was having a nap.
“There’s a rainbow in the sky.” Bonbon replied, out out breath.
“So?” The librarian asked, already shuffling around to get back to sleep.
“There was a loud boom before it.” Lyra explained.
“Ah, so you claim to have seen a sonic rainboom.” The old stallion snorted, “Listen to me; they’re a myth.”
“A myth? That didn’t look like a myth to me.” Lyra shook her head, glancing outside where the rainbow was starting to fade.
“Fine. I’ll prove it to you.” He trotted to the bookshelf and began to scan through the books, eventually selecting one and
picking it up. He gently placed it on the desk. “Here. This book should have what you’re looking for.”
“Thanks.” Lyra levitated the book and trotted to a small group of cushions situated near the back of the library. The old stallion stared at them for a while before falling asleep again, snoring.
“See anything Bons?” Lyra asked. They were going through every page, glancing up and down.
“Bons? Is that my new nickname?” The earth pony questioned, Lyra nodded.
“Yep.” She grinned.
“Why am I never going to hear the end of this.” She sighed and flipped the page. On it was a slightly crude picture of a pegasus soaring over a cloud, a rainbow trailing behind the pony. “Here we go.” Bonbon tapped the book with her hoof.
“Sonic Rainboom: A mysterious event first documented in the classical era. The legend goes that a pegasus by the name of Bright Wing, a messenger for the famous Commander Hurricane, spotted an army of Diamond Dogs heading towards the newly formed state of Equestria. He rushed back to the town of Canterville, now known as Canterlot, fast enough to break the sound barrier, at which point a rainbow started to form behind him. The rainbow scared off the Diamond Dogs, saving Equestria. But it also says that it was just a myth and that most likely the Diamond Dogs turned back on their own when they realized the tribes were united.” Bonbon inhaled, breathless from the explanation. Lyra nodded, then sighed.
“So you think it was a rainboom? Even though it’s a myth.” She asked.
“What else is there to explain it Lyra.” The earth pony shrugged.
“Good point.” She glanced at the sun, which was now dipping low in the sky. “Wow, we sure lost track of time.”
“Did we? Oh ponyfeathers.” Bonbon swore. She grabbed her saddlebag and galloped off, “See you around Lyra. Actually I
had a fun time.”
“Thanks Bons, me too.” She called after the mare. She trotted off to her home, exhausted. Her parents glanced at her.
“Where’ve you been Lyra?” Her father asked, sitting awkwardly so his hindlegs reached over the couch and his back was vertical. He’d been an archeologist when he was younger, searching for ancient visitors to Equestria that walked upright. In his youth he had attempted to see what their day to day life would have been, and had adopted the postures. From a young age Lyra had tried to imitate him, much to the displeasure of her mother, who thought that she might fall one day and break her neck.
“Oh, out and about. Spent most of the day with a new friend. Pony my age, name’s Bonbon.”
“Ah yes, the candy shop owner’s daughter. It’s good that you made a new friend, your mom and I had this feeling you were a bit lonely.” Her father said thoughtfully.
“Well, I guess I was a bit lonely. I accidentally ran into her and had to buy her lunch. Then we saw the rainboom and-”
“What’s a rainboom?” Her father asked.
“Oh, it’s just this thing that pegasi can apparently produce and it’s a myth but most of the town saw it.”
“Ah, I see.” He nodded, then yawned. “Well, you’ve obviously had a full day, but you still need your sleep.” He got up and tried to balance on two legs, shuffling towards his bedroom. Lyra followed on all fours; not yet adept enough to walk bipedally. Her father waved his hoof in the air as he entered his room and Lyra trotted to her own room.
When she took off her saddlebag she noticed something different; instead of the lyre clasp that her own saddlebag had this one had a yellow and blue striped candy on the clasp. “Lyra you idiot, Bonbon took your bag.” She chastised herself. She gently set the bag down on a chair before climbing into bed. A lyre rested against the headrest, and her walls were covered with sheet music. It was a pleasant and familiar sight, and her lyre allowed her to escape from the world for a while. She never did consider herself great at it. She took the lyre, levitating it gently before making a piece of music fly to her. Quietly she began to play the lyre, reflecting on the day. Her thoughts drifted to Bonbon, the mare had some wit to her, she looked cute enough, of course she wouldn’t tell her that. No doubt the earth pony was straight as one of her lyre strings. Eventually she set the instrument down and drifted off to sleep.
Lyra yawned, stretching her forelegs out. The sun was shining through her window, it’s light painful. Glancing around the room she finally located her clock, half covered by Beethoofen’s Third. The clock read nine o’clock in the morning. She dragged herself out of bed and made her way to the kitchen, still only semi conscious. She mechanically picked up a bagged lunch that her mother had left her. She was going to look for Bonbon today, mostly because of the fact that they had swapped saddlebags by accident but also a little part of Lyra wanted to talk to her again. She slid on Bonbon’s saddlebag and exited the house.
She circled through Ponyville, looking for the distinctive blue and pink mane of Bonbon. But she wasn’t having any luck. Sugarcube Corner; aside from the owner Shortcake and his son Carrot Cake, was empty. The library had a few ponies in it, but none of them were Bonbon. Eventually she trotted dejectedly to the park, assuming that she wouldn’t find the other mare. She rounded the corner to her favourite bench and gasped. Bonbon was sitting there, a saddlebag resting beside her.
“Hey Bonbon!” Lyra called, trotting up to her. Bonbon patted the bench beside her and Lyra sat down, trying to get into a good bipedal position. Bonbon stared at her in horror.
“Lyra, what are you doing?” She asked suspiciously. She was unused to anypony sitting vertically.
Lyra shrugged, the movement more pronounced in her current postion “Just sitting, so what. Anyway I found your bag.” She set the saddlebag she had been carrying onto Bonbon’s lap. The earth pony rifled through the bag, making sure everything was in order.
“Thanks Lyra.” She said. The two of them fell into an awkward silence. They stared at the park for a few minutes, Lyra’s gaze cycling between Bonbon, the pond beside the bench and the fountain that was slightly further down the path. A few foals ran around, playing with a blue ball and giggling as one of them tripped and faceplanted into the ground. They sat there for one more minute in silence before Bonbon broke it. “Well what do you need? You seem to want something.” she asked.
Lyra responded with “I just wanted to ask you if you wanted to do something together?”
“Well... ok.” Bonbon thought for a moment.
“Where too?” Lyra asked.
Lyra got up with Bonbon and followed her through Ponyville, eventually stopping at a store with candy in the glass display. Lyra saw the vast amounts of candy on the shelves and gaped, “Oooooh cool!” The unicorn said, a glow in her eyes.
“My dad’s candy store. Do you like candy?” Bonbon asked.
“Do I” Lyra asked. She licked her lips and stared greedily at the orange candies in a jar. Bonbon noted this.
“You like orange candy?” she said with a wink as she took one out of a jar and passed it to the unicorn. The mint coloured pony popped it in her mouth, swishing it around.. “Is it good?” she questioned, waiting for a critique.
“Yes it’s perfect.” Lyra said while moving the candy around her mouth trying to spread the flavor around her mouth. The cady eventually dissolved and she sighed.
“Come on then, there’s still more to show you.” Bonbon showed her more of the store. Candies and flavours Lyra had never imagined seem to float around her, the next few hours were a whirlwind of tasting treats. The two mares eventually sat down at the front of the store, their bellies still warm from some hot chocolate flavoured jellybeans they had tried.
“Hey, Bons,” Lyra turned towards the other mare, “You like music?”
“Ya, somewhat. Why you ask?” The earth pony questioned.
“I could take you to my house, play a bit for you.” The unicorn gestured at the lyre on her flank.
“Don’t see why not. My parents won’t get back for a few hours.” She replied happily, trying to get up. They both made their way to Lyra’s home. The door was locked but Lyra dug through her saddlebag and pulled out an extra key. Bonbon glanced around the well furnished home, “Nice house.”
“Thanks.” She beckoned Bonbon to enter her room. Now it was Bonbon with her mouth agape, staring at the wall to wall sheet music.
“Did you write all of this music?” She asked. Her voice cracked slightly. For a moment she expected the unicorn to say yes but Lyra shook her head.
“No way silly. I’ll never be about to write this much. I just collect it. There’s Marezart, Beethoofen, Buck, Hoofel, all the famous composers.” She gestured at a few seemingly random sheets and to the shelf of music books that took up the entire wall. What Lyra did next was unexpected, even to herself. Lyra, who had never played her music to anypony outside her family, took up her lyre and started playing. Bonbon sat down on the bed beside Lyra, totally ensnared by the music. The unicorn closed her eyes, letting her aura move almost on it’s own accord. She went through all her songs that she knew by heart, careful not to miss a note but at the same time calm. Eventually she finished, then opened her eyes and set down the lyre.
“Lyra how did you learn to play like that?” Bonbon asked.
“How do you make crazy good candy” She replied.
“It’s just my special talent.” Bonbon shrugged. Nopony had complimented her candy making skills before.
“Same here. In fact you’re the first pony outside my family to hear me play.”
“I am?” The earth pony asked with genuine shock.
“Yep.”
“I liked it.” Bonbon hugged Lyra, “You need to play it more often. I’m sure that those ponies in the band would like to hear it.”
“You’re being honest.” Lyra questioned, slightly suspicious.
“Of course. It was beautiful to my ears.”
“Thanks Bons.” At that moment they heard the sound of the door swinging open.
“Lyra. I’m home!” Her dad called.
“Who’s that?” Bonbon asked.
“My dad.” Lyra replied, “You should be heading home, it’s getting a bit late.”
“What?” Bonbon glanced out the window. The sun was setting already, dipping beneath Canterlot. “Oh horse apples.” She started to get up. Lyra followed her and they trotted into the living room, where her dad was already getting relaxed on the couch. His eyebrows rose at the sight of the two mare.
“Who’s your friend Lyra?” He asked.
“Ah, dad. Say hello to Bonbon, the friend I was talking about.”
“Hello Bonbon. I’m Jazz Heartstrings. Lyra’s father.”
“Pleasure to meet you.” Bonbon nodded, then grabbed her saddlebag and after checking to make sure it was hers and not Lyra’s she started to head out the door. Lyra cantered up to her before she left.
“Hey, Bons. Thanks for the date.” She kissed the earth pony on the cheek. Bonbon opened her mouth to protest but held her tongue, instead grinning.
“See you at school tomorrow Lyra.” She winked again and gave Lyra a soft peck on the cheek before trotting off. Later that night Lyra sat down and reflected on the weekend. She played her lyre for a little while after her parents had gone to bed, plucking at the strings thoughtfully. After a while she cleaned the stringed insturment, afterwards bringing it into tune and finding the case. Eventually she fell asleep, a small smile on her face as she imagined what tomorrow might be like.
Authors Note
I would like to thank the two people who made this possible Thorlol (He gets all most all the credit the other guy helped a lot less) and TheWritingGuru (He helped me fix what I messed up aka he's my brother so he did it to shut me up and get me to leave) well everypony have a good night/day