Ponyville is a village not known for it's nightlife. It is however, known for a few other things, such as it's vicinity to the Everfree forest, the three young fillies that are notorious for half the towns problems, and the six heroic mares that cause the other half. But the small town does have a night life. Well, it has a tavern that is busy every night. The Salt Block. The local tavern was a popular hang for ponies to drown their problems in cider, lemonade and root beer.
Tonight, Applejack was making the last delivery of her day. Two dozen apples. Applejack made this delivery every two weeks and could always count on seeing some familiar faces.
Usually, she would see Rainbow Dash trying desperately to quench her mighty cider thirst with the lower quality stuff. She would see Berry Punch with a half empty bottle of fine grape juice. And finally, Rarity would be unwinding with a small glass of sparkling water with a squeeze of lime.
Applejack slowly trotted through the crowd and entered the kitchen through the door behind the bar. Applejack set her apples on the kitchen counter and called for the taverns proprietor. "Lemon Shandy? Ah got yer apples." From behind another doorway, Lemon Sandy walked out and smiled when she saw Applejack.
Lemon Shandy was a short, pudgy mare with a bright yellow coat, lime green mane and tail, and sparkling blue eyes. Her cutie mark was a sliced lemon with a blue straw sticking out of it. "Thanks AJ. Let me just go get your payment. Just put the apples in the refrigerator."
After Applejack put the apples away, Lemon trotted up to her with a small bag of bits and Applejacks favorite drink. Fruit punch. Grinning, Applejack placed her payment in her saddlebags and took her drink. "Thanks Lemon. Ya always know just how ta treat yer deliverymares."
Lemon smiled. "You're welcome AJ. Have a nice night." Applejack tipped her hat and walked back out the door into the tavern, drink in hoof.
After exiting the kitchen, Applejack was about to walk to her usual spot in the tavern when something caught her eye. Or rather some pony. Sitting on a bar stool, with the top half of her body laying on the bar and surrounded by four empty glasses sat Applejack's old fillyhood friend and someone she never thought she would see here.
Bon Bon.
It had been years since Applejack had last spoke to Bon Bon, but even though it had been so long, Applejack immediately knew something was wrong. For one, Bon Bon wasn't much of a drinker. She always brought a bottle of water when Pinkie Pie was throwing a party. Secondly, Bon Bons shoulders were shaking. And lastly, her marefriend, Lyra, was nowhere to be seen.
Something was obviously very wrong.
Applejack walked up to the hunched over mare and placed a hoof on her shoulder. "Bonnie? You alright?" Applejack asked softly. Immediately to the touch, Bon Bon's head shot up. The cream colored mare stiffened when her eye's fell on Applejack and as quickly as she sat up, she turned away. In that short time, Applejack was able to get a good look at her face.
Bon Bon had been crying.
Her eyes were puffy and there were tear stains running down her face. The two sat in silence for a few moments before Bon Bon spoke. "What do you want, Applejack?" Bon Bon's voice was quiet and broken.
Applejack sighed as she sat on the stool next to Bon Bon. "Look, Bonnie? Ah know we haven't spoken much since...y'know, but ah know when a pony is upset. You know ah told ya you could come ta me whenever you had a problem." Bon Bon shifted, but kept her back to Applejack. "Please Bon Bon? Ah'm sorry we drifted apart. Ah never meant fer that ta happen."
A moment passed before Bon Bon sighed and she turned to face Applejack. Her eyes were glassy as new tears started to form. "Lyra...she...she broke up with me." Applejack let out a small gasp and placed a hoof on Bon Bon's shoulder. "Ahm so sorry sugarcube."
Bon Bon gently pushed off Applejack's hoof and sighed again. "It's not your fault. I should have seen it coming."
Applejack swished her drink around in her cup. "Do ya wanna talk about it?" Bon Bon looked into Applejack's eyes for a moment before looking to the bartender and motioning for another root beer.
"She started acting...well, different after she came back from some human convention in Canterlot." She paused to take a swig from her drink.
"That was almost six weeks ago. At first it didn't bother me. I just thought that she was thinking about some new human theory's she heard there. Anyway, she started writing letters and always tried to get the mail before I did." Bon Bon wiped some moisture from her eyes.
"One day, I got curious about her letters, so I asked her about it. She got all defensive and said it wasn't any of my business. That's when I realized that something was going on." She sniffled before taking another few gulps from her drink.
"Then today, a strange mare came to the house with a bouquet of flowers." Bon Bon covered her eyes with the hooves as she let out a quiet sob. "L-Lyra...she'd been seeing that, that HUSSY behind my back...f-for six weeks! A-and I was too stupid to see i-it!"
By now, Bon Bon was sobbing uncontrollably. Applejack wrapped her forelegs around the crying mare and brought her into a strong hug. Bon Bon let herself fall in as she wrapped her forelegs around Applejack's barrel and cried into her chest.
"Shhh Bonnie. You ain't stupid." Applejack comforted her as she rubbed her back and began gently rocking her back and fourth. "Sometimes ponies ain't who they seem ta be." Bon Bon buried her face further into Applejacks chest continuing to cry for several more minutes. After a short time, her sobs turned into quiet hiccups.
Applejack released Bon Bon and placed her hooves on her shoulders. "You okay sugarcube?" Applejack asked, a small gentle smile on her lips. Bon Bon sniffled and rubbed her eyes with her hoof.
"Y-yeah. Thanks Applejack. I really needed that." Bon Bon replied, letting a faint whisper of a smile cross her lips.
Applejack's smile vanished when she noticed Bon Bon's new predicament. "Do you have a place to stay sugarcube?"
Bon Bon looked down to the bottom of her stool. A few stuffed saddlebags leaned against it. "I was just going to rent a motel room until I could find a new place. I hoping I can-"
"Absolutely not." Bon Bon was interrupted by Applejack. "No friend of mine is gonna be stayin' in some motel room after what you've gone through." Bon Bon turned to Applejack with a quizzical look on her face. "You can stay with mah family in the guest bedroom."
Bon Bon's eyes widened as she listened to what Applejack was saying. "A-are you sure? I can't just take up your guest room! Won't it be weird?!"
Applejack waved her hoof and looked Bon Bon straight in the eyes. "It'll only be weird if ya make a big deal out of it. You're one of mah oldest friends Bonnie. Ah ain't gonna turn mah back on you."
Bon Bon said nothing for a few moments, looking Applejack over to make sure she was being serious. Finally, Bon Bon relented. "A-alright Applejack. I'll stay with you until I can afford a new place." Suddenly, the entire days stress washed off her, and a new wave of fatigue took her. Bon Bon yawned widely and tried to rub the sleep from her eyes.
"Ah guess that's our cue ta leave." Applejack chuckled, leaving a few bits on the bar. Bon Bon slid off her stool and slipped on her saddlebags. After tightening them, the two set out the door to Sweet Apple Acres. Unfortunately for Bon Bon, the farm was clear on the other side of town, and the sweet making mare was exhausted. Fortunately for Bon Bon, Applejack was there to help.
The cream colored mare stumbled several times on the way there. Finally, when they were crossing through town square, Bon Bon decided she had enough and took a seat on the edge of the fountain. "Bonnie? You okay?" Bon Bon raised both her hooves to her face to rub the sleep out of her eyes as she nodded. "Do...ya need me to carry you?" Bon Bon said nothing, as she stared off into space. Again, she nodded.
Applejack chuckled, shaking her head as she walked towards the tired mare. "Upsy daisy." Applejack gently slung Bon Bon over her back. Bon Bon wrapped her forelegs tightly around Applejack's neck as she rested her head between the apple mares shoulders. "Heh. Comfy?"
"Uh-huh." Bon Bon replied quietly.
By the time Applejack reached the outskirts of town, she could hear the rhythmic breathing of Bon Bon's sleeping form. A wave of nostalgia rushed over Applejack as she remembered when they were fillies. When they would play too long, Applejack would frequently carry a sleeping Bon Bon back to her parents. Applejack let a smile creep across her face.
It was late by the time Applejack made it to the farmhouse. Unsurprisingly, the kitchen light was still on. 'Bic Mac must be waitin' fer me ta come home.' Applejack pushed open the door and walked through the entryway. Sure enough, there was Big Macintosh, nursing an apple cider.
"Evnin' Mac." Applejack whispered. The large red stallion looked at Bon Bon's sleeping form draped over his sisters back. He gave her a confused look. "She just went through a bad break-up. She's gonna be stayin' with us until she can afford a new place." Big Mac shrugged, but said nothing.
Applejack walked up the stairs as quietly as she could, wincing every time she came across and unexpected creak. Finally, Applejack came to the guest bedroom. As quietly as she could with the sleeping mare still on her back, Applejack folded back the blanket and slid Bon Bon into the bed. The whole time, she remained asleep.
Gently, Applejack tucked Bon Bon into the bed and smoothed out the comforter. Applejack took a moment to look at her sleeping friend, taking in how peaceful she looked. After a few moments, Applejack leaned forward, brushed away Bon Bon's bangs, and planted a gentle kiss on her forehead. "G'nite Bonnie." she whispered.