//------------------------------//
// First Love 
// Story: What It Once Was 
// by Skeletalbrony 
//------------------------------//

I used to be happy.

There was once a time, long ago, where I had the mare of my dreams in my arms.  We would sit together in silence enjoying each others presence, doing nothing but listening to music.  We would create beautiful art together.  We would laugh, we would play, and most of all we would smile.  Oh how beautiful her smile was.  What I would do to make that candy maned mare smile.

But that was a long time ago.

That was when I could see images of weddings, a home together, a wonderful family with smiling and giggling foals.

A wonderful life.

But then she left me.

One day my Bonbon left me.
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I was different. 

I was always the weird filly in school that everyone avoided.  Sure I had a few friends, and they were great friends at that, but I always felt left out.  Unwanted.  I've seen other couples among the hallways, tails entwined as they walked.  Sure I knew most of them were just those silly skin deep relationships, the ones where the main reason they're together in the first place is either out of physical attraction, sex, or status.  There wasn't much else deeper.  Yet there were still those few couples that walked around the halls where you could tell they're in love.

I wanted that.

But who wants the nerdy little filly in the corner strumming her lyre?  The one too shy to talk to any filly she found attractive? 

No one.

Of course I could never work up the nerve anyway.  So I dug my head into my studies.  Mostly music and art.  I spent more time in the arts wing of the school then I did anywhere else.  My emotions and imagination could run free.  I could create fantastical worlds on the paper that could barely be imagined.  I could create music that moved the soul of everypony who listened.  But no one listened.

Though all that changed when I met Bonbon.

I was walking home through the streets of Ponyville one day.  School just let out and me and my friend Blossomforth were having one of our usual conversations on anything recent.  Blossomforth was hovering beside me on those amazing pegasus devices commonly referred to as wings. She was flailing her hooves around madly, as if a sudden game of charades would suddenly make her story more interesting.  I just nodded my head and listened quietly, pretending to be enthralled by the exploits of some random group of ponies I have never herd of.
But then she walked up.

And by Celestia she was beautiful.

This shining vision of the Goddess herself walks up to us and joins the conversation.  Her coat was a rich cream, and her curly, bouncy mane was a split blue and pink, curling together ever so beautifully.  And her eyes, oh Celestia her eyes, they were the color of the ocean itself.  I felt as if I could go swimming in that sea for the rest of my life and the outside world would never touch me.  I could see that loving twinkle in her eye that just made everything brighter.  Blossom introduced her to me as Bonbon.

Bonbon.

I wouldn't forget that name as long as I lived.
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Bonbon and I became quick friends.

I quickly learned so much about her.  She was a talented candy maker, though that much was given by the three wrapped candies sitting on her flank, not that I was staring.  But I also learned that she loved the arts.  For the first time I had someone to share art with.  I was overjoyed to say the least.  She was into many of the same hobbies that I was into, as well as sharing many of the same views and ideals.  She was perfect.  Our walks home together became a common occurrence. We would spend the entire walk home sharing jokes and making each other laugh, me being the goofball that I always have been.  WE even started taking the long way home just so we wouldn't have to stop our conversation so soon.  I was falling for her, and hard at that.  

Eventually my parents picked up on my feelings.  I would always bring home stories and jokes that Bonbon has shared with me and tell them to my parents. They eventually started questioning me on her, quickly picking up on my growing feelings. I told them that nothing probably would happen.  

Then one day she gave me a note.  I didn't think much of it at first.  That is, until I read it.

She asked me out.

She asked me, of all ponies, to go out with her.  

I nearly died.

Of course I said yes.

In my joy, my lyre got a great work out that night.
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I had a fillyfriend.

My very first filly friend, and she is the most wonderful mare I could ask for.
We went through all those typical early steps to any high school relationship.  Introduce the parents.  Meet the siblings.  Announcing it to your friends.  All the boring stuff.  But I was more then happy to go through it.

The relationship between me and Bonbon started out a bit awkward, although that was probably my fault.  I was new to the whole relationship ordeal, as it was my first.  She was a bit shy about it to though, although not to the extent that I was.  It took a week for a hug alone.  I greatly enjoyed those hugs though.  They always made me feel safe, warm.  They were hugs I never wanted to end.  After a few more weeks we managed to work it up to walking with our tails intertwined.  I almost passed out from how red my face turned when Bonbon wrapped her tail around mine for the first time.  But we didn't kiss.  I was to nervous to ever make a move.

Luckily I didn't need to.

One day we were up in my room.  Bonbon came over just to hang out and talk, like most of our “dates” were.  My parents were luckily very approving of our relationship and were trusting enough of me to allow us into my room alone.  As we were talking something felt different.  There was a tension in the air that I just couldn't explain.  I was feeling giddy and nervous all at once, and I couldn't describe it.  My mother called us to say that Bons had to leave in 5 minutes.  So we went to share a quick goodbye hug.  I went to release her but she just pulled me closer.  My heart started to race.  It was beating faster then Pinkie Pie could eat cupcakes.  I could feel that tension getting stronger, but I just wasn't picking up on the hint.  We stood there on our hind legs for a good few minutes.  I was honestly confused about what was going on.  Then, I felt her move her muzzle slowly to my ear.  It twitched as her warm breath blew across it.

“Kiss me”

You didn't have to ask me twice.

I moved my muzzle across those few magical inches towards my prize.  Time seemed to slow down.

Then there it was.

Bonbons lips were against mine.

It was a sensation I can hardly explain.  There was so much warmth passing between that small connection.  It was an unbelievable sensation.  It was a gentle kiss, but it said so much.  If a picture is worth a thousand words, that kiss was worth books upon books, novels upon novels.  Our lips parted and our foreheads met as we stared into each others eyes.  I found myself once again swimming in those same pools that I did when we first met.  Friendship is magic my flank, this was real wizardry.

I went in for a second.

After my mother yelling at us for a few minutes, we finally parted as Bonbon left for home.

I will never forget that day.
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From then on, we spent our days in puppy love, for lack of a better term.  We shared small discreet kisses in the hallway or wherever we were at at first.  Soon those little kisses evolved into make-out sessions behind our parents backs. The flirting started along with the complements and the teasing each other.  We even got to to the point where we would hesitantly say “I love you” to one another.  I wasn't sure at first, but I grew to realize that I truly meant it.  I loved Bonbon.  And to this day I still do. I was happy,  happier then I have ever been.  I wanted it to last for ever. But sadly it didn't.

We hit a road bump.

A BIG road bump.

A road bump by the name of Cloud Kicker.