//------------------------------// // A past of fight, and sleepless night... // Story: Living with the harmony // by Wafflegodman //------------------------------// CHAPTER 2 It goes to show, like in stories of old, that you never really know the pony beside you. The walk had been quite... almost disturbingly so. It took longer then normal to get back to my home, partly because of the weight I was supporting, but mostly because It was frigid out, and I had lost nearly all the feeling in my legs. Once we got to the massive oak doors that were the main entrance to Heartstring manor, I let Bon Bon stand by herself. I opened the doors, which took some time due to the fact that I was shaking like a filly on the first day of school, and peaked about the entrance, igniting the magical lighting system that was installed in the building. I invited Bon Bon in with a silent flick of my hoof, and proceeded onward. As I passed the coat rack, I used my magic to throw my scarf lamely onto it, and looked back at Bon Bon to see if she had any clothing on. At that moment, I saw her for the first time in the light that night. She looked... different. It was as if she was just a husk of her former self. I wouldn't say I felt sad at that moment, nor would I say I felt pity. All I really felt was guilt. I had treated this mare terribly. Every moment she tried to interact with me, save for several minutes ago, I just responded with fiend politeness, or with negligent responses. Perhaps I should have treated her better... but I am letting her stay here for a couple days. That makes up for it, right? No, of course not... anypony would let her stay in their home for a couple days. Perhaps I can give her a permanent home? Yeah, I could show her the sympathy I never got! I could become a better pony then all those others in Manehatten! "Lyra... are you okay?" I heard Bon Bon ask. Her voice was dry, and lacked any sort of volume beyond that needed to reach my ears. "Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" I asked confusedly. I was suppose to be the one asking if Bon Bon was okay. "You were just staring at me." She informed. "Oh! Yeah, I was... thinking about... home. Um... how long would you like to stay?" I asked. "I... ah... I might need only a couple days to find a new place." She said. Each word she spoke came out roughly, as if it physically hurt her to speak. "I should get a check from my insurance company, and...." She was going to continue to speak until she had driven herself back into tears, so I cut her off with a raise of my hoof. "I'll get you a key, you can make this your permanent residence." I gave her a warm look. "I know how hard it is without a home, and what its like to be on your own. It's not fun, so... what do ya say?" I asked. I could visibly see her eyes start to tear up, and her lips slowly change from a frown to a small smile. It was faint, but she almost looked happy. Soon tears started flowing down her face, and she embraced me in a hug. I don't like hugs, but I can make an exception in this case. Bon Bon needed a friend, and though I was a long shot from what was optimal, at least I was willing. "Hey... um..." I heard Bon Bon say through my coat. "Yeah?" I asked "I... I want to thank you." She said. "No problem." I responded. "Also... um..." She started to ask a question. For some reason I became extremely focused on her words. "Where will I sleep?" She asked. That was a good question, although this place has about ten gust rooms, my room was the only one with a bed. Complications... there are always complications. In response, I led Bon Bon to my room, making sure to indicate which hallways led where, the purpose of certain rooms, and I informed about the history of some of the portraits of important Members of the Heartstring family... like great uncle Daniels, who helped create the drink now known as Applejack Daniels. As we arrived at my room, the first thing I did was kindled the fire in the fireplace. It wasn't nearly as cool as it was outside, but it was still extremely uncomfortable in doors. "You can take my bed for now." I said, rising from the task of starting the fire. "But where will you sleep?" Bon Bon asked, her voice wasn't as rough as it was a few minutes prior, but she still looked worse for wear. I walked over to the door, letting awkward silence envelope the room, but not fully overtake the atmosphere of the area. I looked over my shoulder at Bon Bon with half laden eyes, and gave my answer. "I don't sleep." And, Before Bon Bon could question what I had said, I made my way out of the room, and said, almost in a whisper "I go comatose." With a small giggle at the joke I made, and an eager pace, I made my way to the observatory. I climbed the twisting stairs with haste, and took in a deep breath once I arrived at my destination. I admired the comically large telescope, pointed skyward, that stood to the far right of the room. The room was a giant dome, and was nothing but glass panes held together with steel. The floor was a dark, solid, oak. I had a large couch that was shaped like a semicircle in the center of the room. It sat atop a white, and fluffy rug... I really loved that rug. Off to the left of the 'viewing deck', as that is what I've taken to calling the observatory, was the object of my desire... a bar. A full sized bar, fully stocked, had found its way onto the viewing deck after countless years of sitting in the basement. I had moved up to the viewing deck because I was tired of trying to find the door that led to the basement, and because I never seem to get a hangover on the viewing deck. Anyway, the reason I so desperately needed a drink was because, besides of my minor addiction to alcohol, visions of my past were starting to over take my mind... and my past wasn't exactly pleasant. So, I drank, and I drank, and I drank, and when I wanted to stop drinking... I drank some more! I woke up looking directly at the sun which was at its apex on its journey across the sky. I coughed a bit, and, like always when I get wasted on the viewing deck, I was completely hangover free. I sat up, and cracked my neck. "So, you really do get drunk every night." I heard Bon Bon say in a 'I don't really give a shit, but that's good to know' manner. I was slightly surprised, but I got over it quickly. I turned around, and looked at Bon Bon. She looked better... a lot better actually, probably due to the fact that she now has a mansion for a home. Its funny really, a few days ago, and this event right here would've been the stuff of nightmares to me, but now I don't mind... in fact... i kinda welcome it. "Why?" I heard her ask. "Why what?" I returned, not sure what she was asking. "Why do you purposefully drink yourself into a coma?" she asked. "It helps me forget." I volleyed back. Shit, I didn't mean to say that... my mouth is still ahead of my brain. "Forget what." Bon Bon asked. Her tone changed from the much preferred 'I don't give a flying fuck what the hell you are really doing, but I'm gonna pretend I do' to a 'Oh shit! Somethings wrong, and I gotta help!' tone "Nothing. Forget about it." I said with a wave of the hoof. "No. You can tell me, I'm your friend... remember." She said. I don't regret calling her my friend, but I sure feel something similar to it. "I don't want to burden you." I said, walking over to the bar. "But, I want to be burdened. Please, tell me." She begged. I shot back a glass of some form of alcohol... I didn't check the bottle, and didn't really bother to savor the taste. "Fine, just don't... I don't know... just don't look at me differently after I tell you, Okay?" I asked. she simply nodded her head in response. "I didn't even know my name was Lyra Heartstrings until a couple months ago." I said. "What?" Bon Bon asked with a tone of surprise. "I didn't know my name was Lyra Heartstrings... I was just Lyra." I walked over to the couch, and sat in my seemingly trademark position. "I was born in Trottingham. Apparently, my mother died during child birth." I heard small whimper of some sort come from Bon Bon. "After a few months after my birth, and her death, my dad moved to Canterlot... but he left me on the train." "That isn't that bad..." Bon Bon said. "He didn't even try, and look for me!" I said with the faintest amount of hostility evident in my voice. "I was left on that Celestia forsaken train, and it made it all the way to Manehatten before someone found me. They took me to an orphanage, and dropped me off at the doorstep. I was raised there tell I was six, then I ran away for Celestia knows why. I got myself into a hell of a lot of trouble... I actually served two years in Manehatten city correctional facility..." I said. Bon Bon looked at me blankly "What's a correctional facility... some kind of hospital?" asked. "Its a prison." I answered. Before Bon Bon could freak out, I continued. "Anyway, after those two years, a filly I met in the orphanage found me, and dragged me out of the hell of a life I created for myself. She got me into raves, and clubs. It wasn't bad for a while, but I found myself back in my old life after a time. I was homeless until I inherited this mansion." I stated looking at Bon Bon with empathy evident in my eyes. "That is probably one of the reasons I'm letting you live here... I guess." I said. "Anyway, my life has been shit up to this point, and along the way I developed a dislike for other ponies, and would really rather forget it. Booze is a means to an end." I finished my little speech. Bon Bon looked at me for much longer then was comfortable, before getting up, and walking over to the bar. She reached over the counter, and grabbed a bottle of Applejack Daniels. She made her way back to me. She sat right next to me, in the same style as me, and held up the bottle. "This drink isn't a very good solution if you ask me." She opened it, and took a long gulp. She held up the bottle again. "But it ain't a bad one either... the question is this solution." she said, shaking the bottle. "Or this solution." She said, gesturing her free hoof toward herself. "So." She said, throwing the bottle behind her somewhere. "I think the solution is obvious... don't you?" She asked with a smile. I sighed. "It seems like it will be the only one you'll let me take." "Damn straight. Now, how about you take me to a club... I've never really been to one before." She said, cheering me up. My life is probably gonna be a worse wreck then before by the end of this...