//------------------------------// // 9. Bon Bon // Story: X Steps Through The Portal // by Tennis Match Fan //------------------------------// And then Charming Heart turned to stare at her, and he saw how beautiful she looked in the setting sun. "Why don't you stay for the night?" He suggested kindly, knowing she has nowhere else to go. Bon Bon devoured the words of her romance novel hungrily. "Bon Bon?" Bon Bon paid no attention to Lyra's pestering. Midnight, though she wanted to very much, was inclined to decline; she had never been so far from home. "Bon Bon!" Bon Bon ignored Lyra. "You'll be right back home in the morning," Charming Heart promised, holding his hand out. Midnight blushed. "Bon Bon!" "What is it, Lyra?" Bon Bon finally put down her book and looked up in annoyance. "I am trying to finish Night on The Beach!" "Yeah yeah, I know," Lyra responded, leaning in close, a big smile on her face. "I just thought you'd like to go outside and read!" "I'm fine right here, Lyra," Bon Bon answered, indicating the desk she was sitting at. "At least I was, until you interrupted me." "I'm sorry about that," Lyra apologized, not sounding sorry at all. "But it's so nice out, I thought you'd want to go outside and read your book!" "I understand that," Bon Bon answered. "But I do not. So go away and let me read!" As she buried her nose into her book again, Bon Bon failed to see the look of mischief that had formed on Lyra's face. "Catch me if you can!" In a moment, Lyra had snatched the book away from Bon Bon's hands, and she was tauntingly waving it above Bon Bon's head. "Hey! Give that back!" Bon Bon cried indignantly. "Never!" Lyra cackled and sprinted out of the room. Bon Bon groaned as she got up and ran after Lyra. Lyra was already halfway down the hall when Bon Bon slid out of the room. "Catch me if you can!" Lyra taunted again, pointing to the book in her hand. Bon Bon gritted her teeth. Lyra could be so annoying sometimes! She ran down the hall after her best friends. Lyra grinned and continued running. She's headed outside, Bon Bon realized as she rounded the corner. Bon Bon increased her speed, running across the floor with long strides. When Lyra glanced behind her, surprise flashed across her face. Evidently, she had not expected Bon Bon to catch up that quickly. Bon Bon couldn't help smirking at her friend. The front door of the school was still approaching rapidly, though. "Ha ha!" Lyra cried, putting on an extra burst of speed and rushing through the door, nearly knocking over a passing student in the process. "Sorry!" Lyra called over her shoulder. Bon Bon recognized her as Sweet Leaf from her days as an Eco-Kid. "Sorry!" Bon Bon said to Sweet Leaf as she rushed past. "Have a nice chase, guys!" Sweet Leaf called to them, not fazed by the pair at all. Lyra slowed her pace when she neared the horse statue. Bon Bon was surprised and yet unsurprised when Lyra plopped down right in front of the statue and looked straight at Bon Bon, a triumphant look on her face. "Sit down, Bonnie," Lyra invited her. "Right in front of this po-pedestal." "Don't do that again, Lyra," Bon Bon responded, snatching the book out of Lyra's hand and sitting down. "While I'm here, I might as well read my story." "Yup," Lyra responded causally. As Bon Bon began to read again, Lyra placed a hand on Bon Bon's shoulder. "Lyra, please don't-" Bon Bon began to reproach her, but Lyra suddenly shoved her into the statue! "What the- Lyra! Heeeeeeeelp!" Bon Bon, instead of cracking her skull against the marble, was falling through the statue! "See ya on the other side!" Lyra yelled at her. Bon Bon spiraled away. She wasn't sure what was happening. Colors blurred around her. Bon Bon could barely move. And in spite of her impending doom, Bon Bon only felt annoyance. "Lyraaaaa!" She screamed in rage as she swirled. Suddenly, Bon Bon was thrown up against a wall- and apparently, she was on the other side of the portal now. Bon Bon shut her eyes. "Ugh," she groaned. Bon Bon wanted to lie there forever. She didn't have the strength to move. A soft whooshing sound caught her interest, but she still kept her eyes closed. "Wow, Bonnie," Lyra remarked. "You really need to work on your landing." "W-what did you do that for?" Bon Bon croaked. Lyra giggled. "Because you didn't believe me! I told you they were real, Bon Bon! Although you're just a regular pony. No wings or horn. Ha ha on you for not believing!" "Lyra, what are you babbling about?" Bon Bon snapped. She blinked her eyes open. If Bon Bon hadn't been lying on the floor at that very moment, she would have fainted. Lyra was standing in front of her. But it wasn't Lyra, it couldn't be Lyra- because Lyra wasn't a mint green unicorn. "Wait, what?" Bon Bon asked weakly. "Ponies?" "Uh huh!" Lyra nodded excitedly. "See, look at yourself! The walls have your reflection! Check it out!" Bon Bon cautiously rolled over, unsure if she should be worried. A pair of blue eyes stared back at her from a tan face- a pony face. Bon Bob's gaze traveled down to her hands- which were not hands anymore, they were hooves. Bon Bon screamed. "LYRA, I AM A PONY!" She shrieked, staring at the crystal mirror in horror. "Okay, since you can't see me from that angle, first, I cringed at your scream. And then, I rolled my eyes. Now, I'm like, 'Serves you right, not believing me all these years!'" "Lyra, can we just go back now?" Bon Bon pleaded, rolling over to face her friend. "I'm really sorry I didn't believe you. I'm your best friend; I should've. But I don't want to be a pony so can we please go back to Canterlot High? Please?" Lyra tapped a hoof to her chin in mock thought. "You know, we can go back," she agreed, and, after a pause, added, "after you go down the stairs and back without any support!" Bon Bob's eyes grew wide. "No!" She exclaimed. "Please, Lyra. Help me up!" Lyra narrowed her eyes and smirked. She offered Bon Bon a hoof. Bon Bon grabbed onto it and pulled herself up. Lyra gestured to the staircase on the other side of the room. "Fine," Bon Bon grumbled. Her legs wobbled as she took a step forward. "I'm not sure if I can do this!" She whimpered. "Sure you can!" Lyra encouraged her. Bon Bon smiled. She took several more quick steps. This time, she didn't wobble as much. "I think I'm doing it!" Bon Bon noticed. Step by step, Bon Bon slowly managed to get to the bottom of the stairs. Lyra beamed at her. "You did so well, Bonnie, I'll give you a break!" "Yes!" Bon Bon cheered. "I'm going to try to use my magic to lift your up inside!" Lyra announced. "Is that dangerous?" Bon Bon asked. "Heck if I know!" Lyra shrugged and concentrated on Bon Bon. Bon Bon felt increasingly uncomfortable as she was surrounded by a golden glow. "Hey, that tickles!" She protested. "Sorry!" Lyra apologized. She let go of her magical grip on Bon Bon. "I think I'll just walk. You're terrible at magic," Bon Bon pointed out. Lyra rubbed her leg in embarrassment. "Hey! Is someone there?" Bon Bon and Lyra froze as they heard a voice. A very familiar voice. "Uh, no?" Lyra responded to Pony Bon Bon. Bon Bon facehoofed. "Lyra?" Pony Bon Bon's voice drifted closer. "What are you doing here? I'm supposed to be the only one touring the castle!" "Go through the portal!" Lyra hissed at Bon Bon. They both turned to face the portal. When Pony Bon Bon reached the top of the stairs, she saw light green tail and a pink and blue curly tail disappear through a mirror. Pony Bon Bon blinked. "I will never go outside again," Bon Bon whispered when they emerged back at Canterlot High. "I kinda thought it was fun," Lyra told her, smiling. Bon Bon frowned at her. "Never again."