//------------------------------// // Epilogue // Story: Family // by Wheller //------------------------------// Epilogue “Lyra?” Lyra’s eyes slowly opened, light blinded her and it took her a few moments to adjust, Bon Bon was leaning over her, smiling brightly at the bedridden mare. “Bon Bon?” Lyra asked groggily. “Lyra!” Bon Bon called out, throwing her forelegs around the mare in a tight embrace. “Lyra! I was so scared that I was going to lose you!” “Hey!” Lyra said groggily, “you’re never going to lose me! We’re going to be best friends... forever!” Lyra looked around the room, noting Doctor Nightly and Bon Bon were the only ponies in the room. “Where’s Syra?” Bon Bon frowned. “You were dying, and the only way to save you was to put you two back together, which we did.” “Oh...” Lyra said, rubbing her eyes gently, trying to shrug off the sleepiness. “That’s too bad, I wish I could have said goodbye.” “Do you... remember? Her?” Bon Bon asked. “You mean do I remember being her?” Lyra asked with a shrug, she wracked her brain for anything that could be a memory of Syra’s. She found nothing and shook her head in the negative. “That isn’t surprising, the reintegration would have been a traumatic psychological event, I think it’s safe to say that Syra is gone forever,” Doctor Nightly said simply. Bon Bon turned to him, silently asking for a moment alone with her friend, he understood and nodded, leaving the room and shutting the door behind him. Bon Bon collapsed into tears on Lyra’s chest. “Oh Celestia! Lyra I was so scared, I was afraid that I’d never see you again! I... I love you Lyra! I can’t imagine living without you!” “You... you do?” Lyra asked in surprise. “Yes! I’ve loved you since we first met; there you were, sitting there on that park bench in the rain. Looking all pathetic, and when I came over to you, you just seemed to brighten up,” Bon Bon said, she brought her head up from its resting place, tears of happiness streaming down her muzzle, she smiled warmly at her friend. “And I knew, right there an then, I love you, Lyra.” Lyra smiled at the mare, and wiped the tears away from her face. “I love you too, Bon Bon, and I never want to be without you.” Lyra rose her head up, their lips met and they shared their first glorious kiss. Lyra and Bon Bon knew from this day forth that they shared between them a bond. A bond that could never be broken, no matter what was thrown at them; they could stand up and face it, as long as they had each other. A bond, that would last an eternity. ... Bells rang overhead, scores of sailor ponies and kangaroos darted around the deck of the ship as it pulled into dock. Vinyl Scratch lied back on a deck chair, the warm glow of the sun washing over her entire body. “Swan City! All passengers for Swan City, South Island report to the boarding ramps!” “It’s time to go Vinyl,” Princess Luna said. “Aw mum! Five more minutes?” Vinyl asked playfully. Luna was not amused. “Up!” Luna said. The princess was in disguise, wearing a light coat and a sunhat to hide her true identity, sunglasses covered her eyes, she looked as if she was just another Equestrian tourist, trying to escape the cold weather of the coming winter in Equestria for the warm summer of South Island. “Fine!” Vinyl said as she rose to her hooves, playfully complaining about having to get up, she had been extremely comfortable after all. There was a significant crowd forming at the loading ramps, ponies trying to get every which way they needed to be. An earth pony that looked to be in a hurry accidentally bumped into Luna. “Oh! I’m very sorry,” the grey coated, orange maned pony said apologetically. “Oh! It’s quite all right,” Luna said, and with that the pony continued on his way. “Did you see that pony that just bumped into me?” She asked of Vinyl. “Nope!” Vinyl said, giving the night princess a wide grin. Luna looked grimaced at what she had just said, she hadn’t been thinking. “I’m sorry, that was insensitive.” “Lulu, let me tell you something very important about me, I’m not easy to offend. I know what you meant, and I know you didn’t mean any harm by it! You’re fine!” Vinyl said smiling brightly at the night princess. “I promise.” Luna smiled back at the mare, and upon remembering that she couldn’t see, she added a small thank you. “I know that pony that just bumped into me.” “Really? Who is he? He sounded cute!” Vinyl said with a grin. “Montana Ulan,” Luna said simply. “Really now?” Vinyl said, her grin faded and was replaced with an air of seriousness. “What’s he doing here, in Swan City?” “I don’t know...” Luna said, looking back to the boarding ramp. “But I think we should make it a priority to find out.”