//------------------------------//
// A Last Gift 
// Story: A Broken Lyre 
// by DarkPinkie 
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A Broken Lyre


Part Two: A Last Gift


Lyra had been walking around Ponyville for some time when saw a bench where she decided to sit. As she looked upon Bonbon’s necklace, Lyra began to cry, alone on the bench in her grief. After a while Lyra noticed a blue pony with a rainbow mane trotting towards her. Lyra recognized the pony as Rainbow Dash, the last of the cupcake killer’s victims. She barely survived.

Rainbow Dash noticed her and began to speak to her, ‘’Hey there. Lyra, was it? How’re you doing?’’

Lyra looked at Rainbow Dash clad in her Wonderbolts hoodie and answered, ‘’Oh, h-hi there Rainbow Dash. Glad to see you're recovering well. That was...was quite the race you ran last week."

Dash, seeing the fresh tears on Lyra’s face, looks her in the eye, feeling concerned for the unicorn. She asks,"What's wrong, Lyra?"

Lyra shows rainbow Dash the necklace and thinks back to what the investigator had said yesterday morning. making her almost cry again.

"It's... It's Bonbon..."

"She left for a candy fair and convention over in Hoofington several weeks ago. She was supposed to be back last week, but no one had any idea where she was. I started to fear the worst, as those disappearances had been happening for months and...and..."

Tears started to flow from Lyra's eyes again. She took a breath, and resumed her story.

"They just told me last night. This was found in the basement of Sugarcube Corner, and her cutie mark was on that psycho's dress..."

Lyra felt hatred for the killer as well as pity. She realized that the pony who committed those atrocities must’ve been mentally disturbed. But even if she were, and the killer did not commit those deeds with true malice, it would not bring Bonbon back.

Rainbow Dash began to try and console Lyra, "I...I know it's hard, losing someone very special. Thinking that life will never be the same. But if anything, I know she'd want you to be strong, Lyra. At least it's over." 

Lyra realized the wisdom in Dash’s words, and gave her a small nod.

"Thanks Rainbow, you're right. I have to find my way through this, just like you are. I can't imagine it's easy for you. Always being on the ground now."

Lyra thought for a second how hard it would be to not be able to do something that you have done all your life, something that was part of who you are. Like if she lost her horn, which she used when she played her lyre.

"I'm finding ways to adapt. It hasn't been easy in any sense, but I've been doing a lot of thinking. And the Running of the Leaves was something of a distraction, as well."

There was something Lyra had to ask. "Rainbow...I – I have to know. What happened to you? What happened to Bonbon?"

Lyra saw Rainbow Dash’s eyes widen, which caused Lyra’s heart to ache. Whatever happened to Bonbon down in that basement must have been horrific. 

"You don't want to know, Lyra." 

"Rainbow, I saw you when you first came out of the hospital. I see the scars on you-’’

"And if those don't give you enough mental images, I'm not going to give you any more." Rainbow said gently, but sternly. "You don't want to do that to yourself, Lyra."

"I-I just don't want to think that she suffered..."

Lyra was about to think back on how Rainbow Dash looked when she left the hospital. It wasn’t good. Mercifully her train of thought was interrupted when Rainbow Dash resumed speaking.

"Then don't think about it. Remember her for who she was. Don't focus on what happened down there, okay?"

Lyra wasn’t really satisfied with that answer, but she sensed Rainbow Dash was right, so Lyra sniffed and nodded. At that moment she found herself wrapped in an embrace, which gave her some sense of comfort  before Rainbow Dash left.

After a while of sitting on the bench alone just looking at the necklace in her hooves. Lyra thought back to what Rainbow Dash had said. She decided to follow the the advice she had been given by Dash. To not think about how Bonbon had died, but instead think about what had made her important to Lyra. As she was walking around town she noticed that the attitude of the ponies in Ponyville where very glum today. There where tears in many ponies eyes, as many had been close to one or more of the victims. Almost every pony in Ponyville had lost a friend or a loved one by the killer. Lyra, of course, was no exception. Lyra thought back to the times of her youth, when she had first met Bonbon back when they were little fillies.

Lyra was sitting alone on a bench and was about to start eating her lunch. Two other fillies came up to her to tease Lyra about the odd way she was sitting.
Lyra, being rather sensitive, started to cry. A third filly, Bonbon, showed up to tell the bullies off. She sat herself on the bench to try to comfort Lyra. 

‘’Its okay, its okay. There is nothing wrong with the way you sit. Although I must say it is very unique.’’ Bonbon started to giggle, followed up by Lyra.

‘’Whats your name?’’

‘’It’s Lyra,’’ she said while wiping away her tears.

‘’I'm Bonbon, nice to meet you Lyra. Is it okay if i eat my lunch with you?’’

“That would be nice, actually’,”Lyra answered with a smile.

They gave each other a smile and opened their lunchboxes. However, Lyra finds hers empty.

‘’Again? *sigh* My mom is so forgetfull’’

‘’What is it Lyra? is something wrong?’’

‘’My mom forgot to pack me any lunch again.’’

‘’Don’t worry Lyra, you can have some of mine.’’

‘’Really? You really mean it?’’

‘’Yeah! My mom always packs too much for me anyway.’’

‘’Thanks.’’ Lyra said as Bonbon handed her a sandwich.

Back in the present

Now that Lyra had cleared her head, and heard Dash’s advice, she stood up and continued to walk a little around town. but after a short while she decided to head home.

Early afternoon Around 1:00pm

After a short walk she was back at home. She continued to her bedroom and placed Bonbon’s necklace on the drawer, another tear to escaping her eye. Lyra headed into the kitchen to make herself something to eat, as she had not eaten since she heard the terrible news. However, even her sorrow could no longer conceal her hunger, but just as she reached the kitchen there was a knock on the door.She slowly opened the door to find Derpy Hooves, the town mailmare.

She had been visiting Lyra once a day for the past week after Bonbon hadn’t returned, asking if she was home. Every time Lyra had told her that Bonbon was not yet home, after which Derpy would leave, but today Derpy just looked at her with her odd look, her right eye focused on Lyra and left eye looking at something else. Derpy was holding a rather large package, which confused Lyra a little.

‘’This package was addressed to Ms. Bonbon. But in light of the circumstances I guess this package goes to you.’’

Lyra took the package from Derpy, almost dropping it as it was quite heavy. 

‘’Just sign here’’ Derpy said as she handed over a form.’’

Lyra, still a little confused, responded, “Umm, okay.”

‘’Thank you. I... umm... I heard what happened at the office this morning. I’m very sorry for your loss.’’ Derpy said, before taking off flying and heading towards the next house.

Lyra took the package and head back into the house and closed the door. She did not know whether to open the package or not, the pain of losing Bonbon leaving her afraid of dredging up painful memories. However, curiosity got the best of her and she proceeded to open the package. What Lyra found inside shocked her. It was her lyre, fully repaired, with a receipt from an instrument  repair shop in Canterlot. Lyra picked up the lyre and also noticed something new to it. Inscribed in the lyre was a simple message: Bonbon <3 Lyra.

Lyra’s eyes started filling with tears again, only now not from sadness but from joy. Lyra forgot her hunger and proceeded to play a tune on her newly returned lyre. As she was playing, Lyra felt more at peace than she had felt for the whole of last week. After playing for a while, Lyra remembered her hunger, and gently placed the lyre on the couch, finally feeling like she wanted to eat for the first time since yesterday.  

Later that night around 9:00pm

Lyra had spent all evening playing her lyre and remembering the good times she had with Bonbon. She had found it hard to sleep the last week and it was starting to take its toll on her. Lyra took her lyre and put it on the drawer next to Bonbon’s necklace, and got into her bed. Even if her lyre had brought back some happiness, with some help from trying to follow Dash’s advice not to think about what had happened, saddness slowly crept back into her mind. Lyra started to feel depressed again, asking why it had to be Bonbon. But before Lyra could think about any more about it, she fell asleep.


* * * * * * *


Lyra found herself walking on that all too familiar dark street. But this time it seemed different. Instead of it being quiet she heard somepony crying. As she walked the street Lyra noticed that all the silhouettes of ponies were crying. After walking some Lyra found Bonbon and walked up to her, and they walked together. That is, until Pinkie Pie arrived with her blood red eyes and wicked smile. Bonbon opened her mouth to say that word all too familiar. “Goodbye.”

Bonbon again started running away with Pinkie, but instead of chasing them Lyra just stood still and said, “Goodbye, Bonbon, and thank you.”

As Lyra finished her last goodbye, Pinkie vanished like a bursting balloon, leaving Bonbon to run alone. Bonbon turns her head to give Lyra a sad smile.

Lyra let out one last whisper, “I’m gonna miss you.”


End of part two