* * * Thurs 3/21 Morning * * *
A knock at my door interrupts my late morning reading. Initially, I’m surprised; with the snow storm outside, I wouldn’t see any reason to come to my house, especially after not going out over the last few days. My very next thought, then, is that Twilight or Lyra is probably worried about me, as I haven’t seen either of them since I arrived.
I felt it necessary though, as my exhaustion and headaches persisted well into the next day, leaving me barely able to cast any magic or even physically unpack any furniture. While I was able to get my clothes unpacked, everything else was still in boxes until this morning when my horn finally started to feel back to normal again, and I was able to finally able to place my furniture.
While my talent in architecture does have some very nice perks when it comes to magic, it also leaves me with some weaknesses. If a pony asked me to lift up ten pencils and draw a circle with each of them, I’d probably be able to pick up five pencils and barely draw squiggly lines, let alone something resembling a shape. But if you ask me to life up a girder the size of several stallions? It requires just a touch more effort to me than regular levitation. It’s an ability most ponies envy in me, being able to lift huge, singular objects, but I’ve always found not being able to lift many smaller things much more of a hindrance in everyday life. It takes a lot of concentration for me to both lift up a book and keep it level, as well as raise a glass of tea to my mouth to take sips.
Another knock brings me back to reality, as well as a voice to match. “Cornerstone? Are you home?”
It’s Rarity. Without a second thought, I rush to open the door.
A gust of cold air sweeps into my home, and among the white and whirling snow, Rarity herself blends in nearly perfectly, save for her vivid, purple mane, which is curled and styled perfectly despite the inclement weather. She’s only wearing a pink striped scarf, but I figure Ponyville ponies are more used to the cold than I am. “Sorry if I’m worrying you,” I say as I step back and motion her inside, closing the door behind her.
“Twilight said that she hadn’t seen you in a few days,” Rarity says as she hangs up her scarf, “and she had no idea why. Did you not bother to tell her about that fainting spell you had at my boutique?”
“I didn’t want to make her feel worse,” I explain. When Rarity tilts her head, I add, “When she met me at the train station, there was a magical accident, and she caused some kind of strange discharge in my horn. It knocked me several feet and left me unable to do magic.”
“Oh. I suppose that could be the cause of what happened….” She glances around, probably looking for somewhere to rest her hooves; it’s only a ten minute walk from the boutique to here, but I imagine that it’s rough in the snow. I motion to her left, towards my living room. It’s a simple room, furnished only with one blue striped couch, a coffee table, and several other well cushioned chairs strewn about the place, all facing towards the coffee table. It’s a rather bland arrangement, but I only use this room for reading, so I am not very concerned with it.
Once she is seated comfortably, she lets out a sigh. “Twilight has been a little out of sorts as of late. But, I suppose she isn’t the only one….”
“What do you mean?”
She shakes her head. “Nevermind me. Just thinking out loud.”
“Right.” I start making my way to the kitchen, and turn just as I’m under the entryway. “Would you like something to drink then? I just made some tea.”
“Tea would be wonderful.”
I nod as I head into the kitchen, and return with two cups. Thankfully, she levitates one out of my grip as soon as I enter the living room. She takes a small sip, and places it down on the coffee table between us. “That’s the only problem you’ve had?”
I tilt my head at her sudden question. “Is something wrong?”
“Are you sleeping all right?”
Now my eyebrow raises. “Should I not be?”
She shakes her head. “No, nothing like that. I’m just glad you aren’t having any nightmares.”
“Nightmares?” I echo.
“You haven’t heard?” I shake my head. “Why, they’ve been plaguing Ponyville for a few weeks now. I would think such a localized problem might make some news out of town.”
“Nightmares? For a few weeks?”
She nods. “It’s a terrible affliction. These ponies get no good sleep, and as such are constantly on edge. Some of them are so out of sorts that they can’t work. The strange part is that they all report the same nightmare: they see demons patrolling a destroyed Ponyville; everything is in ruins, and it’s too dark to see, despite the full moon. They don’t even remember what makes them so scared. They usually wake up screaming. They always seem to wake up at the same time as well: around midnight.”
“You seem to know… a lot about this.” I fidget as I ask, feeling as though my question is too personal.
Something in Rarity changes, her becomes still, her mouth barely moving as she talks. Her voice isn’t louder than a whisper. She looks away from me as well, hiding her face. “My younger sister has been having these since the very beginning. She has woke me up several times in the middle of the night, but the worst part is what it has done to her: she’s scared of the dark and always lashing out because she’s too tired to think straight.” She turns back to me and shakes her head. “We have no idea what’s causing it, so we can’t stop it. I just hope something changes soon.”
“Are the police investigating it, or—”
“Twilight is. When she isn’t concerned with the murders, these nightmares are her top priority. Thankfully, she isn’t afflicted with them, making her much more efficient. But she has no information at all. No leads. All she has… is a rumor.”
“Rumor?”
Rarity chuckles. “It’s a rather silly rumor. They say that around midnight, time stops for everypony but yourself, for one hour. The world turns a dark blue, and darkness covers everything, even if it’s a full moon. And they say that during this ‘dark hour,’ you can see doors. Magical doors, that lead to a world made up of your dreams.” Rarity chuckles again after she finishes her explanation. “Quite a silly tale, isn’t it? Many ponies stay up well past midnight, and nopony has reported such an occurrence.”
I manage to smile with her, amused by such a tale. “How did that idea start? It seems like something easy to disprove.”
“Well, I left out a part about how you have to do something to become affected by this hour of stopped time. Sadly, that’s where the rumor loses its power, as I’ve heard at least five different methods of succumbing to it, none of which make any sense. Some say you simply must look up at a full moon, on a cloudless night, while others talk about reading or listening to the radio at a certain time. It’s all very silly.”
“Have you tried any of them?”
Rarity scoffs, shooting forward in her chair. “What do you take me for, a buffoon? Just because I live in Ponyville, doesn’t mean I would believe in such a preposterous urban legend!”
“I-I’m sorry,” I mutter. I gulp and continue, “I didn’t mean to offend you Rarity.”
She sighs and leans back in her chair, glancing downward. “No, no, I shouldn’t have gotten mad at such an innocent question. The fact remains that I’ve been too busy lately to want to stay up that late anyway, so it isn’t relevant.” She takes a last sip of her tea, setting down the empty cup. “I suppose I should be going now, after that outburst. Twilight just wanted me to check up on you, and you’re clearly fine. I’m sorry to have disturbed you.”
“It’s no trouble at all. But, uh, did Twilight say if she was going to do anything… odd?” I ask, curious about her previous claim to aid the police.
Rarity shakes her head. “No… not that I’m aware, at least.”
“All right… if you see her again, tell her I’ll try and see her tomorrow.”
Rarity nods. “I’ll see to it that she knows.” She gets up from her seat, heading to the door. “Farewell, Cornerstone.”
“Bye.”
And with that, I’m alone once more, the only evidence of her presence some snowy hoof prints on my doormat, and her empty cup and saucer. As I’m picking up her dishes, my mind becomes more and more concerned with Ponyville. A murder, an epidemic of nightmares… why would all these things happen here? Why would they strike such a small city of such little importance?
An image of Twilight rises up out of the depths of my head, and I shove those thoughts right back down. Twilight isn’t the cause, or the reason. She is just a coincidence; what purpose does killing in the same city as a princess serve? If anything, that would be a greater risk.
I sigh. I cannot think of any reason that I would know more about this case than anypony else, especially the police. I place the dishes in the sink and return to my book, eager to finish it before I make my trek tomorrow through the town.
* * * 3/22 Fri Morning * * *
I take a seat inside of the Ponyville Library’s main room, admiring everything in sight. The natural wooden walls make the library itself calming, the light color of the tree’s interior warm and inviting. My seat, a tree stump used in this impromptu arrangement of a dining table, feels better than any chair in my home. Twilight’s lucky to live in such a wonderful place.
With Twilight off in the kitchen, I’m left alone in the main hall… except for her assistant that she hasn’t introduced to me yet. I turn my gaze toward the green and purple baby dragon, and faintly smile. He, however, has a skeptical look on his face.
“Hey,” I say.
He walks up to me, his sideways eyes giving me suspicious looks. “And just who are you supposed to be?”
“My name’s Cornerstone.” I hold out a hoof.
“Spike,” he says. Despite being within reach of my hoof, he seems content with not shaking it. “Are you Twilight’s new friend, or something?”
“We’ve only talked once before,” I explain, “and I’m here at Twilight’s request, so we can—”
“Sure you are,” Spike interrupts, jumping on the table, pointing one of his claws straight into my nose, “First she’s inviting you over, then you start bringing her flowers, and then you start asking her out, right?”
I blink, then immediately start to blush. “I-I’m not, uhm, attempting to, uh, do that. I’m just the new architect in Ponyville, and Twilight asked me over so we could—”
“Right,” Spike says as he waves my explanations off, “That’s what each one of them says. That they’re here totally just to help out, that’s all. That they’re not here to—”
“SPIKE!”
Both of us turn to see Twilight enter the room. She’s fidgeting occasionally, and her levitation isn’t any better, as the tray she’s holding up is shaking. She shoots a glare to Spike and says, “Out.”
“Twilight, I just—”
“Go see if Applejack or Fluttershy need your help today. They were too busy to visit, so they must need some help.”
Spike gulps. “A-am I in trouble?”
Twilight shoots him another glare. “We can talk about this tomorrow, Spike.”
Spike sighs and nods, heading for the door. After a moment though, he glances up in realization and gains a certain spring in his step.
When Twilight sees his change in mood, she calls out, “And don’t you even dare think of going to see Rarity. That would hardly be a punishment, and I’ll know tomorrow if you saw her.”
Spike pauses, falls into his slump again, and exits the building silently. I turn back to Twilight, who has just arrived at the table. She sets down our tea and gives a sigh, her face a combination of a frown and something of exasperation.
“I’m… really sorry about Spike,” Twilight mutters as she takes a seat, “I know you wouldn’t be that kind of guy, but… I can’t entirely blame him. Not with how everything’s been going.”
“Have you been having a boy problem?” I ask.
I realize that I was probably too forward, as she immediately blushes. “I-I, uhm… y-yeah, kind of. It’s not something I thought I’d ever have to deal with, and I guess I’ve been going about it pretty badly.” She takes a sip from her tea. “Did I tell you what happens when I visit Canterlot?”
“That they always bow?”
She chuckles. “Well, that too. But there’s more to it than that. They seem to understand that I’m royalty now, so they seem to keep their distance more. They respect the power and position I’m in. Ponyville… doesn’t keep their distance. Stallions seem to think that if they can romance me, that they’ll be a prince or something.” She sighs. “I don’t own a kingdom, and I don’t want one. I’m not a princess like Celestia or Luna… I’m just me.” She looks back to me, and then starts laughing awkwardly. “Sorry, you don’t want to hear me blab on and on about my own problems. After all, I’m probably one of the only ponies in all of Equestria that’ll ever become a princess through hard work….” Her gaze falls to the table as she stares at her cup.
I gulp, not at all sure how to continue the conversation. Having never actually known a princess, I simply don’t understand enough about her position to give her console. “It’s not your fault you aren’t… uh, I mean… it’s like you said. You’re one of the only ponies who has ever earned your position. Did you really think you’d be perfect right from the start?”
Twilight flinches. I shrink back, sure I’ve said something wrong. After a moment, she glances to me. “Let’s just go see where the construction will take place.”
I nod and follow her lead as she heads to the door, silently chiding myself for clearly being an idiot, and probably insulting her on the spot, just when she was at her lowest.
She stops, and I look up at her to see her smiling brightly as she holds open the door for me. She’s a princess, holding open the door for some stallion from Canterlot that she barely knows. Something about the situation makes me sick as I pass on through into Ponyville.
* * * 3/24 Tues Afternoon * * *
The midday sun stands high in the sky as I trot through Ponyville’s main square. Though there’s still snow on the ground, Ponyville has been keeping the weather more sunny than not, as to thin away some of the snow for Winter Wrap Up. I find the warmth far more comfortable than the cold from the previous week.
The weekend was mostly uneventful. Once Twilight and I arrived at the construction site—which is just a field—she seemed normal again, and we discussed the plans for the year. The project is far more ambitious than I initially thought, and the reason they need me is simple: they want to add more houses to what is being done, and they don’t want them to be the same style as everything else in Ponyville. “The Mayor has been vocal about how dated the houses look in Ponyville, and wants to give them a more modern feel,” Twilight explained that same day we left to initially see the site. Having only spoken to Twilight about the development, I’m not exactly sure what this entails, but it hardly matters; work starts the day after the 27th, the day of Winter Wrap up, which is just soon enough that, while it’s just around the corner, I feel like I’m on a vacation.
So far though, that’s all the move has felt like. While I haven’t been here longer than a week, I feel infinitely more relaxed than I ever did at my home in Canterlot. From throwing out greetings to random ponies passing by and having them returned, to going to small open-air markets to do my shopping, everything is a fresh change from my old home.
And best of all, I’m not expected to climb some stupid social ladder for the sake of it.
A brushing of a tail across the side of my body stops me in place, throwing me off of my train of thought with a suplex. I turn slowly towards where I felt the somewhat sensual breach of personal space to see a tan mare, with a blue and pink mane. Her teal eyes give me an interested look as sizes me up. I gulp.
She laughs at my reaction. “Sorry, I just thought that’d be the best way to get your attention. I didn’t realize it was you until I was already past you.”
I nod. “Uhm, that’s all right… but do I know you?”
“Oh, silly me, that’s right. We haven’t even met yet. My name’s Bon Bon, and I’m Lyra’s roommate.” She holds out a hoof.
Everything falls into place as I reach out and shake it. “Ah, you must have been that mare at the train station that met her. I’m Cornerstone.”
“Nice to finally meet the stallion of Lyra’s dreams.”
My eyes widen as I feel a blush emerge onto my cheeks. “U-uhm, wh-what do you mean?”
She chuckles softly. “Just that you’re all she talks about. Hardly seems like a real crush, but I enjoy poking fun at her for it. I don’t know what you said on that train, but you made a fast friend in her.”
“Oh. Good. Uh, I’m glad that she doesn’t have a crush on me. I wouldn’t think it such a possibility after… one conversation.” A hollow laughter forces itself from my mouth. I barely had the courage to even suggest such a thing.
“Well, no… it’s definitely possible. You are pretty handsome,” she says as she trots up to me. “You know, maybe you and I should… spend some time together, after I get back. If you don’t mind, that is.”
I gulp. “Get back?”
“I’m heading out on a trip to Appleloosa for a few weeks. My sister is getting married there, and I need a little vacation. But right now, I’m just saying goodbyes to some friends before I catch a red-eye train out. Speaking of which,” she glanced up to the clock tower at the center of town, “it’s almost time for me to meet somepony. So I’ll be seeing you.” She turns around and starts trotting away, though it seems the way she’s walking, she is… I blush as I realize that she’s intentionally drawing my eyes to her rump. As if on cue, she turns to look at me and winks before resuming her steady pace.
I shake my head and the blood from my cheeks and turn around to see some pink pony with a curly, poofy mane, staring straight into my soul. We both jump back with a gasp, though she zooms off as soon as she lets it out. I stare out in the direction that she galloped off, though I can’t tell where she’s going. I sigh. “What is with the strange mares bumping into me today,” I ask myself aloud. My thoughts, confused by Bon Bon and already forgetting the pink mare, I resume my comfortable trot towards my favorite diner in Ponyville, a place I plan to visit as often as my budget will allow.
* * * 3/24 Sun Evening * * *
I let out a mighty yawn as I turn the corner down my street. The day turned out better than I could have hoped—I met Twilight and Rarity at the diner, and we spent a few hours chatting away. They seemed perfectly fine, which lifted an unknown burden from my shoulders. It’s an odd feeling, coming to the realization that you are worried about something somepony did before they were your friend, but only after they become your friend.
A smile emerges onto my face at the thought. Yeah, I’m making friends here. What is that, two friends in the span of one week? And I guess Lyra as well, though I haven’t seen her since the train ride… but that doesn’t matter. If Bon Bon is to be believed, she’ll be excited to see me no matter the circumstances. I guess I’ll just find out where she lives tomorrow, and see if I can pay her a visit.
I turn down my front walk. With the sun quickly fading beyond the ivory mountains in the distance, the sky turns quickly into its shades of violet and orange that always mark the descending sun. That’s another thing Ponyville has over Canterlot; while I’ll admit that Canterlot has a beauty when you see the evening sky from amidst the towers, Ponyville gives an incomparably open sky, making it the clearest view of the sunset I’ve ever seen.
I open my front door and step into my darkened living room. Did I close the blinds before I left? I’m not entirely sure, but I don’t pay it any thought. I flip on my light switch.
My ears are blasted by a cheer or “SURPRISE!” coming from every direction as ponies jump out from behind every wall or piece of furniture. I look up and find banners, confetti, and balloons all around; there’s even a table of food set up in the middle of the kitchen, which I can just see as I look down the hallway in front of me.
The ponies, though. I don’t recognize any of them from my cursory glances around me. After a few more cheers and gleeful yells, they calm down a bit, and begin talking or playing various party games that are set up around the place. I set out to find somepony I recognize so I can ask why the heck there are a bunch of strangers in my house having a party.
After a few minutes, all I have done is shake the hooves of a few ponies that took the time to welcome me to Ponyville personally. Without a familiar face in sight, I’m about to give up and start asking everypony to leave, when a pony throws herself in my path. I recognize her instantly as the pink mare that gasped at me and ran off without saying a word.
“Hey there! My name’s Pinkie Pie! I hope you’re enjoying your party!”
Her words are filled with an infectious energy and the volume of four ponies talking. It grates against my ears. “Hello Pinkie Pie, my name’s—”
“Cornerstone!” she interrupts. “It was on your mailbox.”
“I guess it would be,” I grumble to myself. “Are you hosting this party?”
“Yup! I always throw a party for ponies as soon as they arrive in Ponyville!”
“I’ve been here for almost a week.”
Pinkie gasps. “Ohmygosh how could I have missed you for a whole week?! I’m sorry Cornerstone, I won’t let it happen again!”
“Happen again?” I echo. “This is my ‘Welcome to Ponyville’ party, isn’t it? Can’t I only have one of those?”
“Yes, but” —Pinkie held up a hoof and pointed at it with her other hoof, as if counting phantom, non-existant fingers— “we’re also going to have the one-week-iversary party, the two-week-iversary party, the monthiversary party—”
“I think I’m beginning to understand, Pinkie Pie. But did you have to hold it in my home?”
“How else would we have the surprise?” She throws her forelegs up in mock defense. “If we had it anywhere else, we wouldn’t know when—or if—you’d be there! It wouldn’t be a surprise party if you didn’t show up for the surprise, would it?”
“I suppose it wouldn’t be, but I’m afraid I won’t be able to attend all your parties—” I stop when I notice her suddenly giving me sad, puppy dog eyes. “Look, Pinkie Pie. This party looks really fun. I’ve been here for… about ten minutes, and I wasn’t immediately so angry that you broke into my house and set up a party in my honor.” She beams at my statement. “But I’m the new architect for Ponyville, and I’m going to be very busy once Winter Wrap Up finishes up—”
“OoooooOOOooooh, I get it. You’re here to help build that new neighborhood right?!” She asks. “You’re here because… Mortar died.” She looks down, and her hair turns from upright and curly to fallen and flat, the mare before me making a total transformation in a split second. “I miss him… I’ve known some ponies die of old age in Ponyville but… never like this. This is… I don’t know… I just want it to undo itself.”
In the middle of this party of countless peppy ponies, this bubbly pink pony before me has lost it. Her body trembles, her lips quiver, and her sniffles are more audible to me than the music playing from all around me. She doesn’t look as if she’ll cry, but her demeanor has clearly changed from full of cheer to devoid of hope.
I gulp, a more and more common reaction as I find my friends in these strange situations. “Pinkie Pie… I didn’t mean to remind you of him. I’m sorry.”
“Hehe, I know you didn’t,” she says, barely audible over the music and murmur of the croud. “I just… I’m sorry for getting sad at your party, Cornerstone.”
Before I can respond, two ponies come up to her from behind me. I immediately recognize them as Twilight Sparkle and Rarity, both of them looking to Pinkie Pie full of worry. Rarity throws a hoof over her shoulder. “Are you all right, dear?”
Pinkie nods. Twilight looks to me with arched eyebrows and says, “What did you say to make her so upset?”
“I-I was just telling her that I was the architect.” I rub the back of my neck with a hoof, the stares of these two mares making me uncomfortable. “Then she was reminded of Mortar’s passing. That’s all.”
“Oh. As long as you weren’t trying to hurt her feelings, then I guess it’s fine,” Twilight says, nodding to herself.
“He didn’t mean to get all saddy waddy girls, honest,” Pinkie explains. “I was just telling him about this party, and—”
“Hush now, dear,” Rarity says as she turns Pinkie around, “How about we go play a good game of pin the tail on the pony?”
Her hair immediately shoots upwards like a rocket, resuming its curled nature. “Ohmygosh I totally forgot did we really set up a pin the tail on the pony? That’s my favorite party game and….” Their conversation fades as Rarity leads Pinkie Pie off towards a different room.
Twilight looks to me and sighs. “I’m glad you were just talking. It’s… not really common to see her like that.”
I nod. “She seemed like a bundle of energy until I brought up that I was an architect. I’m sorry I ruined the mood.”
Twilight glances around then says, “You didn’t mean it, and I don’t think many ponies noticed. Everything’s fine. Just enjoy yourself, and when everypony’s done, my friends and I will help clean up. You don’t have to worry about a thing. It’s something Pinkie Pie usually does, and I’ve never seen her skip the cleaning.”
“Thanks. That’s real kind of you guys.”
She smiles and heads off to see how Pinkie Pie is doing. I glance at the clock and find my eyes drooping despite not quite being late in the evening. I decide I’ll go talk with a few partiers before I head off to bed.
* * * 3/26 Tues Evening * * *
The day before Winter Wrap Up, I find myself unusually nervous. It isn’t something that happens often, but every year of my life I’ve wrapped up winter with magic, so I’m not especially excited to find out how to do it otherwise. In fact, my careless worrying has left me without the materials I need to draw up blueprints or to sketch out house designs. My lack of diligence leads me into Ponyville today so that I can buy everything I need.
Despite the earlier afternoon sun’s warmth, the evening’s cool breeze blows across Ponyville, a reminder that winter is still here. Though two to three inches of snow remain still, they should be easily cleaned up tomorrow. Most walkways are devoid of the white powder—now much more of a slosh—and the trotting is easier now than when I first arrived.
Saddlebag on my back, and directions to Barnyard Bargains in my mind, I set off for my supplies. Except, half a minute out the door, I run into Lyra. I’m just turning the corner when I realize that she’s in front of me, and completely unaware of my presence.
“Hey!”
She turns her head and her expression turns from one of perplexity to excitement. She whips herself around and charges into me, her forelegs wrapping around me in a powerful hug. “Cornerstone! I haven’t seen you in forever!”
“I-Its only been a week, Lyra,” I say as I gently push her away to give me some breathing room.
“Well, a week since we met for the first time. But, I guess I’m just bored, being home alone and all. Where you headed?”
“Well, I was on my way to Barnyard Bargains to—”
“Wow-so-was-I! Let’s get going!” She grabs onto my hoof and starts galloping full speed ahead, taking me along for the ride, my own legs barely keeping up with her.
“Wait a second!” I yell, pulling my own hoof back. “I’m going there to get supplies so I can start work. I’m not out here for fun.”
“So you’re gonna work all night?” she asks, raising an eyebrow. “It’s just past six; the night is still young!”
I give her a blank look, which she returns with a roll of the eyes. “Oh come on, I know you don’t start any actual work until after Winter Wrap Up. Today’s your last day of vacation, and you want to spend it shopping for… what, school supplies?”
I sigh. “Fine. Just let me buy my things and then we can hang out.”
“Sweet!” She begins an excited trot by my side as we head towards Barnyard Bargains, the grin on her face locked in place.
As we cross through Ponyville, we make small talk of our lives. She’s insatiably curious about my job, but I’m sad to tell her it isn’t very exciting; sketching up an outward appearance of the home, then the actual blueprints for building, which comes down to lots of math and working alone at home. Once that’s done, I take an odd position that most architects don’t ever bother with: I help with the construction of the building itself, using my unique magic abilities to do the lifting cranes can do, only much faster. We should be able to finish in one year, but complications can always arise and make it take longer, which is why I have my home that I do. In case anything goes wrong, I’ll be able to stay even longer than planned. I plan on moving here permanently anyway, so it was the best arrangement.
When we leave Barnyard Bargains, my saddlebags full of the supplies I’ll be needing for work at home, I suddenly remember that she’s roommates with that strange mare I saw the day of my party. “Uhm, Lyra….”
“Yes, Cornerstone?”
“I saw a… mare, about a week ago. You know Bon Bon, right?”
“Ooooh, you saw Bon Bon as she left?” She asks, leaning forward with interest. Before I can answer, she moves back to a regular distance again and says, “how did she… act, around you?”
I gulp. Apparently this is all she needs to see. “She had her eyes on you, didn’t she?” I nod, and she laughs. “I’m not gonna lie, you’re pretty handsome, but I think you have me to blame for that. I was talking you up non-stop.”
“Y-yeah, she said as much.”
She chuckles. “She probably said I had a crush on you or something, but I just get excited whenever I make new friends!”
“Don’t make many friends?”
“Yeah, not really. I mean, I’m friends with Bon Bon, Derpy, Carrot Top, Rainbow Dash… and Mortar.”
I instinctually splay my ears, already more than used to hearing ponies get emotional over the mention of his name. The event at the train—seeing Lyra cry into Bon Bon’s shoulder as I was leaving—is still fresh in my mind to this day, though it is especially resurfaced in our conversation.
But she continues smiling as she says, “When we were done talking on the train… well, that was just the first time I had talked about him since he died. So I kinda lost it, is all. It isn’t your fault or anything.” She pauses and sits down to look off into the distance. Her silence reels me in, and I find myself sitting next to her.
Her voice is quiet and contemplative. “Did… Bon Bon say anything to you the day she left?”
I immediately blush. “A-about what?”
“Wow. Did she really get you that worked up?”
“I don’t feel like elaborating.”
“Ah. I suppose I should ask what she was doing when you saw her.”
“She said she was going to meet somepony. She was looking at the clock, so it looked like it was at a specific time.”
“So you probably didn’t see her go to the station. In fact, I’m pretty sure I know who she was seeing then, but that doesn’t matter.” She sighs. “I’m a little worried.”
“Why?”
“She hasn’t written me yet.”
“It’s only been a few days, and if she’s helping her sister with the wedding, I’m sure she’s busy.”
“But what if it’s something else?!” Lyra asks, a tremble seeping into her voice. She takes a deep breath. “She promised that she would write me back as soon as she could. The postal system is fast, but I’ve never been to Appleloosa, so maybe it’s slower or not set up or something….”
I raise my eyebrow. “So you’re worried. What are you worried about?”
“I… I don’t want you to think I’m crazy.”
Her statement is lost to me. “I won’t think you’re crazy. Just tell me what’s got you so worked up.”
“F-fine.” She glances away, her voice quiet. “I’m not sure many ponies noticed, but about seven or so days before Mortar… was murdered, he went missing.”
“Missing?”
“Yeah, like, completely gone. His house was still locked up, with evidence that he had been inside of it, and no struggle, but he was definitely gone. This hasn’t been publicized much, but he was definitely kidnapped before he was murdered.”
“Do you think Bon Bon has been kidnapped?”
I immediately regret my question when she throws up her forelegs defensively. “No, I don’t know that! I don’t have any proof or anything! I just… I’m worried. We like to talk by letter, and she just hasn’t yet, and that’s why I’m worried.” She laughs despite herself, the sound both forced and hollow. “I’m sure it’s nothing. Appleloosa is pretty far south, so maybe the letter just hasn’t arrived yet. Yeah, that’s gotta be it.”
“I’m sure that the letter is already on its way, Lyra.” I turn my head back to the path we were taking, and notice a café within a few minutes trot. “Do you wanna grab a bite, or maybe a coffee?” I ask, motioning down the path.
“S-sure. Maybe that’ll help.”
She’s quiet the rest of the trot, only responding to my questions and hardly drumming up any conversation on her own. I try to bring up other topics of conversation, but her mind and attention seem focused elsewhere, no doubt worried about Bon Bon.
The worst part is that I have no idea what to say. Do I give her empty comfort, assuring her the letter will arrive the next day? Do I tell her to stop worrying over something like a late letter? Do I say that there is no reason to think that the murderer would strike again, and that the chances of them kidnapping her friend are incredibly small?
At the café, I get an iced coffee, while she gets a café breve. Once we sit down, she dispels the silence. “I’m, aha, sorry to get so serious back there.”
She’s grinning again, which brings a smile to my own face. “Don’t worry about it; it’s natural to worry about friends.”
“Bon Bon is far too tough to get kidnapped anyway. I’ve seen what she can do to a stallion who is a little too pushy; she’s actually quite strong, despite her job.”
“What does she do?”
“She runs a candy store. It usually sells chocolates and other small candies. It’s just across the street from Sugar Cube Corner, actually….”
* * * 3/26 Tues Night * * *
It’s almost ten by the time I turn down my street. The sky is pitch black aside from the twinkling of stars and the moon. I realize my path is illuminated completely by the full moon high above, the solid white orb looking more beautiful than I ever remembered seeing it in Canterlot. It’s certainly brighter in the years since Princess Luna’s return, its pure shine is unequalled now more than ever now that I don’t have to catch glimpses of it among the tall towers and buildings of Canterlot.
As I turn down my front walk, I reflect on the day happily. Lyra, despite her momentary worries about her roommate and friend, seemed to quell themselves of her own effort, and by our parting, she was as peppy as when we first met today. Lyra even admitted that part of her worry was due to a nightmare she had the previous night, and just that closure itself seemed to lighten her up.
Once inside my door, I lazily throw my saddlebag to my living room couch. I don’t have the luxury of worrying about work right now, given that Winter Wrap Up starts tomorrow, but that requires that I get up at the exceptionally early time of six in the morning. As it is right now… I need to shower, get some water to drink… oh, who cares?
I head straight up to my room and plop down onto my bed, letting sleep take me in mere moments.
* * * 3/27 Wed Early Morning * * *
A shrill scream throws me out of my slumber, and I fall out of my bed out of sheer surprise. I scramble to stand up and rush down the stairs and out my door.
The sun has only just started to rise. It doesn’t rise this early in March, does it? Wait, where did the scream come from? I run down to the corner and find a small crowd of ponies. A few ponies are crying, a mare fainted; I’m going to guess she gave out the scream that woke me.
I glance to the crowd and see several heads looking up already. I follow their gazes to the roof of a home, and I see it. There’s a mare, lying still as stone, her body splayed out over the top of the chimney.
That’s when I notice even more: tan fur, blue and pink mane and tail… and her cutie mark. Even at this distance, she is unmistakable.
Bon Bon.