//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: Illusion // by XerX //------------------------------// //------------------------------// // Chapter 2// Story: Illusion // by XerX//------------------------------// ——————————————————— //////———————————————////// //////———————————————////// ——————————————————— "Hey Bon-Bon! Whatcha doing?" The cyan unicorn named Lyra asked her roommate. Bon-Bon looks up from her book and turns towards Lyra. "I'm reading, can't you see that?" She says. Lyra groans and dramatically falls onto a nearby couch. "Ugh! Why don't you do anything fun? It's always reading or cooking and stuff. How come you never do anything fun anymore?" The unicorn pouts. The cream coloured earth pony sighs, putting her book down. "Fine, Lyra. What do you call 'fun'?" "Well, we could do one thing..." Lyra says, moving over to Bon-Bon and smiling seductively. Bon-Bon immediately nudges her back, turning her head away looking flustered. "Lyra, you know I'm not into mares!" She says. Lyra pouts in front of her. "You never know until you try!" She states. Bon-Bon shakes her head. "It doesn't work like that Lyra." "Well, what about that one time when you kissed me and were..." "I was drunk, Lyra!" "Bon-Bon, come on!" Lyra whines. Bon-Bon remains still, her forelegs crossed and looking at her friend annoyed. "Lyra, how many times do I have to say it." Lyra frowned heavily and turned her back to Bon-Bon. Then she turned her head, sticking her tongue out at her. "You're no fun!" The unicorn says. Bon-Bon sighs and goes back to her book. Lyra fiddles around with her hooves, then she jumps onto the arm of Bon-Bon's chair, holding her while caressing her mane. "Why don't we go out then, Bonsie?" She asks. 'Bonsie' groans. "You know I don't like that name, Lyra!" Lyra giggles at her friends anger. "Where do you want to go then?" Bon-Bon asks in an annoyed tone. Lyra's face lit up. "Let's go and see some science-y stuff at the new laboratory that was built in town!" Bon-Bon only groaned. ------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------ Bon-Bon's expression changed drastically as soon as they had arrived, from bored and annoyed to completely interested. Lyra skipped over to the doors and went to push on it, only to find the doors locked. Bon-Bon's expression returned to annoyed. "Lyra, are you even sure we are allowed in there?" She asked. Lyra pointed to a nearby window. "Give me a boost up there and I'll open the doors!" She exclaimed. "But Lyra, the doors are locked--" "Please?" Lyra said rather dramatically. Bon-Bon rolled her eyes and gave up trying to convince her friend to leave. She trotted over to the window and got into a sturdy position. "Hurry up then..." Lyra quickly climbed onto Bon-Bon's back and hoisted herself onto the ledge of the window. She used her magic to undo the latch from inside and let herself inside. The room she climbed into was a lounge, fitted with tables and chairs and a mini fridge. Eyeing the fridge, Lyra opened it, only to find beakers of liquids she couldn't identify. She shrugged and closed the fridge. Lyra proceeded to go and open the front door for Bon-Bon. It was a simple task, the halls were empty and the stairwell was just down the hallway. She arrived at the doors and opened them, to be greeted by a familiar face. "Took you long enough." Bon-Bon huffed. Lyra just rolled her eyes and giggled. They both retreated back into the building, examining the hallway. "Now what, Lyra? This place feels eerie. Are you sure it's been around for a while?" "I never seen it before, so..." Both stared into the inky darkness of a hallway, the lights either off or not working. Lyra searched the wall for a lightswitch, but found none in her view. Bon-Bon did the same on the opposing wall, only to end with the same result. Bon-Bon shuddered. "I-I think we should go now Lyra. This place looks...boring anyways..." She gulped loudly. "Aww come on Bonsie, where is your sense of adventure?" Lyra mused. Bon-Bon didn't feel like commenting on the name use again, but only took a step backwards. "Lyra, I don't want to be here." She said shakily. Lyra frowned, and approached her friend. "Bon-Bon, there's nothing to be afraid of. I'll be right here the entire time. I'll even light the way." "...Promise you won't leave my side...?" Lyra smiled. "I promise." ------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------ Lyra smiled as she proceeded to use her magic to illuminate the dark hallways, and moved forward. Bon-Bon followed right behind. The hallway was very barren, no decorations, windows or doors. The two adventurers reached the end of the hall, which continued down a set of stairs. Bon-Bon gulped again and Lyra's smile grew wider. "Let's see what's down here, Bon-Bon!" Lyra exclaimed, immediately heading down. Bon-Bon didn't notice until the light of her friends horn grew dim and she quickly followed after her. At the bottom of the stairs was a large iron door, which looked old and rusted. Lyra examined it closely while Bon-Bon repeatedly looked behind her. "Got it!" The cyan unicorn squealed. Bon-Bon turned and was about to question what she got before she heard the creaking of the metal hinges. The room behind the door was completely pitch-black. Not a single ray of light existed in the room. Lyra proceeded into the room, but stopped and squeaked in surprise when her magic light went out. "Lyra! W-What happened? Are you okay?!" The cream earth pony yelled, blinded from the inky darkness. "I-I'm fine, Bon-Bon!" The unicorn responded. "This room must have an anti-magic field surrounding it." Bon-Bon didn't like that sound of that. "Maybe we shouldn't be in here then..." She said. "Maybe your ri--" Lyra was cut off from a crackling sound beside her. She froze with fear and shuddered. She looked around the room, never moving herself from her spot when she saw two yellow orbs gleaming in a corner. The orbs then blinked and a static charge pulsed around them, illuminating the shape of a pony. Lyra never took her eyes off the pony, and Bon-Bon stood at the door, also frozen in fear. The orbs grew closer to Lyra, and before she knew it, the pony was right in front of her. The pony stared and huffed loudly at Lyra. She took a cautious step backwards then as fast as she could, scrambled towards the door. She bumped into Bon-Bon, who yelped and squinted her eyes, to find Lyra trying to push the door closed. "W-Wait..." Lyra continued to push on the door, Bon-Bon now helping her. "Wait...!" Both mares stopped and peered around the half closed door. The pony approached them, but was stopped by what sound like chains. The pony tripped and fell with a audible thud followed by an "oof". "I-I will not harm you..." It spoke. Lyra, now intrigued by the pony, and not as afraid, stepped out from behind the door and illuminated the area she was in outside the room. The pony slightly came into view, still on the ground looking up at them. Bon-Bon, still behind the door softly spoke. "Who are you...?" The pony struggled to sit up, but after a few attempts it succeeded. It looked down wearily. "I do not remember..." It said. Bon-Bon moved to stand beside Lyra, but Lyra moved towards the pony, her light fading again. She searched the ground for something, succeeding in finding the chains attached to the pony. She proceeded to tug at them as hard as she could, but to no avail, the chains remained bolted. Lyra stomped her hooves in frustration. "Lyra, what are you doing?" Bon-Bon asked. "I'm trying to free this pony, Bon-Bon." Lyra huffed. She tried again, pulling at the rusted chains. This time, one link cracked and snapped, freeing the pony from it's bindings. The pony immediately sped forward and up the stairs as fast as it can. Lyra sat there, grinning ear to ear. Bon-Bon on the other hand, was against the wall, heart pounding from almost being run over. Lyra returned to the stairwell and faced Bon-Bon, illuminating her horn again. "Lyra, why did you free it? Don't you think it would be chained up in there for a reason?" Bon-Bon yelled. Lyra shook her head, still smiling. The earth mare groaned. Lyra then proceeded up the stairs, Bon-Bon right behind her.