//------------------------------// // Love Will Tear Us Apart Again (Bon Bon's POV) // Story: Changes // by Talon and Thorn //------------------------------// Love will tear us apart   Bon Bon stared at the sleeping form of her lover and wished that today was yesterday again. She bit back a sigh, she considered herself a sensible mare, as grounded as her tribe’s name suggested but she wished by the soon-to-rise moon that things could go differently. She chided herself, she was being selfish, Lyra had worked hard to earn her place at Luna’s school, for all the opportunities it represented, for the life away from her and Ponyville it opened to her. But it just seemed so unfair! Why should she lose the best part of her life like this, what about her?   This time she did sigh out loud, gently blowing into her marefriend’s mane. She didn’t understand why Lyra had dyed that stupid black stripe into it, she’d said it made her look cool, but Bon Bon thought it made her look like a skunk. Lyra scrunched up her muzzle against the gentle breeze and tightened her grip slightly. A beautiful angelic skunk, stupid sexy skunk! Lyra had really tried her best to make today special for them, she’d talked of a balloon ride, of expensive meals and other wonders. Bon Bon grinned, as usual Lyra’s poor timekeeping had spoiled most of them, her marefriend just didn’t understand that she didn’t care for things like that, just the two of them spending time together was enough for her, and in that way today was perfect. Still she wouldn’t change her spontaneous forgetful sweetie for anything.   The two of them had snuck up to Bon Bon's room, Lyra, as romantic as ever, promising to 'rock her world'. But once they had started, both of them had been content just to cuddle. She was glad if things had gone any further than that it would have seemed so final, knowing that this was the moment their relationship ended. Bon Bon knew as much already, that this was their last time together. She’d have to wake her lover up eventually and tell her things were over, Lyra would argue of course, say that even though their bodies were miles away that their hearts would be forever intertwined. She was such a romantic, but Bon Bon had to be the sensible one, as much as it hurt, to be the one to tell her that a relationship needed two ponies who saw each other frequently, that Lyra... that Lyra would find someone better in Canterlot, that their childish romance would be over, they’d both grow up and move on. Well Lyra would, Bon Bon didn’t know if she’d ever manage it. Better that it be done now and properly, rather than just drifting apart over the following months.   She looked again at her true love’s sleeping face, yes once she woke up she’d have to tell her. At least she’d have a few more hours with her.   Lyra’s eye’s started to twitch. She was waking up! No! No! This was too soon! She had more time! Bon Bon shut her own eyes and tried to relax her body against her rising panic, maybe if she pretended to sleep then Lyra would go back to sleep and she’d have more time before the inevitable.   “Bonnie,” whispered Lyra softly. “Wake up.” She poked Bon Bon gently with a hoof. Bon Bon struggled to keep her face blank, she was very ticklish, as Lyra knew. “Bonnie!” she called again a little louder.   Bon Bon tried to fake a snore. I’m asleep, she thought, this isn’t happening.     “Bonny are you faking?” said Lyra suspiciously. Great she’d dropped so many hints for what she wanted for her birthday and Lyra had got her another mixing bowl, but now she turned into Sherclops Holmes.  “You are awake aren’t you? How long have you been awake?”   Busted, though Bon Bon as she finally opened eyes. “Um, I didn’t fall asleep, well not for long anyway. I, well... I don’t want you to go.” She admitted, she had to stay strong, she had to do this.   “Oh, Bonnie,” said Lyra nuzzling Bon Bon. “You know it’s not for long, a few years and I’ll be back again.”   “I know, and I know this is best for you, Luna’s school of magic is the best school in all of Equestria and I know how much it can do for you and how hard you had to work to get in and I know it’s not that far.” But it felt like the other side of Equestria.   “I can visit every weekend,” said Lyra brightly.   Bon Bon felt her heart both lift and sink at once, she wonderful impractical, Lyra would say that, but she’d looked into the costs involved, even a season ticket would still be far beyond what her marefriend could spare. “No, Lyra, you can’t, it might not be that far, but you can’t afford the train every week.”   “But I can write, and I’ll be back for the holidays, it’ll almost be like I wasn’t away,” a little pleading crept into Lyra’s voice, maybe she was starting to realise where the conversation was going.   “Oh, Honey. I know you’ll try, but... well long distance relationships can be hard, and you’ll be in a big city with so many new friends and maybe it’ll be better if we... if we... well stop being together, while you’re away.” Hold it together, she thought, be strong for Lyra!   A look of panic flashed over Lyra’s face. “Bonnie, you’re not breaking up with me are you?! No! I’ll stay here, I promise you, just stay with me! Please!”   Oh no, no! She couldn’t let Lyra do that, she wanted it so much but Lyra deserved so much more than she could give. “Lyra, I don’t want to break up but I don’t want to hold you back either. We’ve been together such a long time, but don’t you think you can do better than me?” They'd had a good run she supposed, she was surprised that Lyra hadn’t found someone better already, it was a tribute to her marefrieds loyalty that she had stuck with her. “There will be so many important ponies at the magic school and while you’re there you’ll... You’ll meet a big city mare in Canterlot and... and you’ll forget all about your little small town Bon Bon.” She couldn’t keep a catch from her voice and a tear from her eye.   “No! No, Bon Bon, I love you! There’ll never be another pony for me, ever! Not even if Princess Luna offered herself up to me. I’d say nope, I’m Bonnie’s girl!” She put on a devilish grin. “Although a threesome might not be out of the question.”   Even now Lyra could make her laugh, in all her romanticness. “Now I know you’re being silly!”   “No I’m not, you’re the only pony for me... ever! Now stop being silly. You could come with me! Your sweets are the best, I’m sure they’d love them up in Canterlot!”   “Lyra, I could hardly afford a shop out here,” Should she tell Lyra about that? No she’d probably offer to stay to help, “Let alone in Canterlot, and I’ve got no real qualifications, they wouldn’t take me on at any of the big shops up there.”   “Then you could live with me!”   “You’re staying in the school dorms, we know you couldn’t afford your own place.”   “We could get married! They have rooms for married couples at the school. Let’s get married!” she announced.   “Lyra!” Bon Bon’s heart leapt in her breast, “Did you seriously just propose to me?” She gasped.   “Yes! No! Maybe!” cried the unicorn. “I don’t know.”   Bon Bon felt herself melt, she couldn’t do this, she couldn’t break up with this wonderful, stupid, spontaneous mare. “Did you get me a bracelet or anything?”   “Well no, this was sort of a spur of the moment thing,” she admitted, “But what do you say?”   For a moment she wanted to scream, yes! But she had to be the sensible one and point out the flaws in Lyra’s plan. “Oh Honey, we can’t, you’re going to go away and I don’t want to hold you back. But thanks for the gesture,” she managed a smile, “Tell you what, ask me again once you’ve graduated, and we’ll see.”   “Ok,” agreed Lyra. “But no more of this silly breaking up thing, we belong together, for ever.”   “Well long distance relationships don’t work for most ponies...”   “We aren't most ponies,” interrupted Lyra, “We’re us, Lyra and Bon Bon, together forever. I love you,” she leaned forwards and kissed her lover deeply, there was something in that kiss that made all of Bon Bon’s sensibleness, her down to earthiness just sprout wings and fly out the window, it made her really believe they might work.   “Well, ok, I just don’t want to be a burden on you.”   “Burden! I’d never have gotten this far without you! Who made sure I studied for my entrance exam?”   “Mostly Mrs Sharpener,” said Bon Bon with a grin.   “Well yes but I preferred your method of encouragement much more than hers,” said Lyra her horn glowing. Bon Bon felt her lover’s magic work it’s well, magic, on her body, inside and out, she couldn’t keep her mouth shut and she groaned. Lyra could always do that to her with only the slightest touch of her hoof or glow of her horn.   “Have... haven’t you got to go?” said Bon Bon regretfully as soon as she regained control of her mouth.   “Yeah, I suppose so,” said Lyra unwrapping herself from Bon Bon and throwing aside the sheets.   “I’ll see you off tomorrow,” said Bon Bon shivering slightly, the room felt so cold now she wasn’t in contact with her fiery lover.   “Thanks, but you don’t need to get up early for that.”   “I want to, plus I have some other plans for tomorrow,” now that temporary madness meant they were still together the importance of tomorrow started to creep up on her, she had so much to prepare.   “Oooh! Anything exciting?” asked Lyra hunting around for her saddlebags.   “Quite boring, but also scary,” admitted Bon Bon.   “Bonnie! Don’t be a tease.”   Bon Bon couldn’t help but grin at the unicorn’s childishness but she couldn’t help but kiss her lover. “Sorry, my lips are sealed but I’ll tell you about it in my first letter.”   “I’ll write to you as soon as I get to the school,” promised Lyra.   The two of them trotted through the house towards the front door. Bon Bon’s dad was just closing up, it was later than she thought.   “Evening Mr Bon Bon,” said Lyra, she’s always referred to Bon Bon’s parents as Mr and Mrs Bon Bon ever since they’d been foals, it was sort of endearing for her to think of them as extensions of her marefriend rather than as separate ponies.   “Evening Lyra,” said Curry his eyes flickering towards his daughter, “Good luck with the magic school, I’m sure you’ll do well.”   “Thanks,” said Lyra before she turned back to Bon Bon, “Well I guess this is goodbye then.”   “I said I’d see you tomorrow,” whispered Bon Bon, it was supposed to be goodbye, but she had been a fool to think she was ever the one that could end this relationship, Lyra just wouldn’t let her.   “I know, but this seems so final,” said Lyra passionately kissing Bon Bon on the lips. Bon Bon leaned forwards into the kiss, never wanting it to end, she raised a hoof and began to draw it over Lyra’s cutie mark. They were interrupted by her father giving a cough. Her parents were ok with public displays of affection, but there were limits.   “I love you!” said Lyra as she turned to go.   “I love you too!” said Bon Bon trying to blink back tears as she watched Lyra disappear into the distance.   “I take it you didn’t break up then,” said her father gently from behind her.   “I tried, I really did,” she said closing the door and turning. “But she kissed me and I thought, I really thought, could this work out? I know how crazy it is but could it? Can we stay together even if I only see her a few times a year?”   With a sigh Curry put an leg around his daughter. “Now you might find this hard to believe but I have some experience at being the sensible one in a relationship.” Bon Bon tried to stifle a giggle. “And it’s often not that much fun, most of the time you’re the stuck in the mud pointing out the problems, but there are some times when you really have to let yourself be swept off your hooves and just go with it!”   “How do you know if this is one of those times?”   “I have no idea,” he sighed, “Only you can answer that, I’ve taken some risks in the past, marrying your mother, having you, helping develop pony sized Venus fly traps, most of them worked out quite well, not so much that last one I suppose,” he grinned.   “She... she makes me believe that we can still be together even though we’re so far apart, that she won’t find somepony else.”   “How about you, won’t you find somepony else?”   “Never!” she said fiercely, “They’re never be anypony but Lyra for me!”   “I think you might have answered your question then, don’t you?”   Bon Bon looked up and frowned. “I think you’re right. No, I know you’re right! Thanks.”   “It’s what I’m here for, sweetie. Now help me close up and I’ll make you a snack. You mother wants to try out her Asparagus / Chocolate hybrid for dinner so I doubt any of us will be eating much then.”