Lyra returned home with a smile. It had been a hard day's work, but well-spent, she thought. "Hey, Bonnie! I'm home!" She set her things off to the side and trotted eagerly to find her marefriend. "How are things?" But there was no answer, just a note laying on Bon Bon's bed.
She approached the note curiously, plucking it up with her magic and looking it over.
My sweet harp,
I know you've been working hard lately, and I wanted to be here today of all days, but my past's caught up with me. Believe me when I say I'd be at your side if it was even a remote option, but when Celestia's Secret Service calls, you have to answer. Please forgive me.
For Princess and Country,
Agent Sweetie Drops
Lyra sank to her haunches and let the letter flutter to the ground. She felt anger swell up in her, at Bon Bon, then the princess, then the world entire. She mashed a hoof against the ground. "Why today?! I had everything planned! I..." She sank to the floor, sniffling. "Please be safe..." That wasn't the way she planned to spend their anniversary night.
There was a soft tapping at the door and Lyra perked an ear at it before gathering herself up. She approached the door with a bit of a frown. "Who is it?!"
Whoever it was heard the irritation in her voice, and a male voice spoke cautiously. "Oh, uh... if it's a bad time..."
Lyra recognized the voice and sighed gently. "No, come in..."
Shattered Stone opened the door with a cautious smile. "Hello Ly-- Oh what's wrong?"
Lyra rubbed at her face with a fetlock, trying to scrub away the tears. "I'm fine, really. What brings you by this way?"
Shattered ruffled his wings as he stepped inside and nudged the door shut behind himself. "I... was going to invite you two to a little show tonight? Is Bon Bon available?"
Lyra trembled, a few fresh tears escaping her despite her best of efforts. "N-no, she's not here right now. Maybe later... What show?"
Shattered pointed with a wing upwards. "There's going to be a huge meteor shower and I thought it'd be nice to share it with friends, and no, uh, pony, has been as much a friend to me as you have, and you can't invite a friend without their lover. That's just rude, right?"
Lyra blushed a little. "Right... But she's not... here right now. Work called her away."
Shattered looked confused. "How does candy making call you away, Lyra?"
Lyra snorted softly, shuffling in place and trying to think of better reasons. "She's, uh, cooking competitively, yeah."
Shattered stepped up to Lyra, making her shrink a bit before he grabbed her and pulled her tight. "You don't have to lie to me, Lyra. Ponies are pretty bad at lying."
Lyra wanted to refute it, or to shove Shattered away, but instead she melted into that warm embrace and let her tears loose into his fur. He was a perfect gentlecolt, just holding and patting her without trying anything untowards. When the tears slowed, Lyra gently squirmed away and sat down. "I'm sorry for lying, but it's... kind of a secret. I can't say where she is. I don't even... really know. She got called away, and it is business, I swear."
Shattered nodded. "I believe you. So, want to go?"
Lyra blinked at him, then considered what else she'd do that evening. "I... think I'll take you up on that offer. Is your marefriend going to be there?"
Shattered smiled. "She's setting out a nice little picnic for us to watch it by. Want a ride?" He turned away from her and lowered, offering his back.
Lyra snorted softly as she approached him. "That's awful forward of you."
Shattered went stiff. "I-it is? I thought it was just a nice thing to do, since I can fly fast and all."
Lyra chuckled with obvious amusement. "Have you given rides to anyone but your marefriend?"
"N-no, but that's just because, oh wait, I gave Darrell a few rides before? Is that bad?"
Lyra poked Shattered in the side. "You just told anypony that saw you that you two are very close. Maybe just very good friends, or maybe something more."
Shattered went dark, shuffling in place. "We could walk instead?"
Lyra pulled a chocolate from her bag on the floor and floated it to Shattered's snout, where it vanished quickly. "Relax. You made a few ponies giggle, that's about the worst of it. Let's walk, together." His discomfort somehow made her feel a bit better, and she left the building with him, locking it shut behind herself and setting off at a trot to see the spectacle in the sky. Far better than pining alone in the dark.
Shattered spoke quietly to his marefriend when they arrived. Lyra suspected he was talking about her, and it was proven true when both went out of their way to make her comfortable and welcome. Lyra briefly considered fighting it, but it felt nice to be doted on, and she instead put her effort into being a courteous guest and appreciative friend. Ultimately they crashed on either side of her, and she was surrounded by warmth as the sky became a dazzling show of streaking lights and the night was alive with good ponies and better friends.
She'd have her perfect anniversary date whenever her sweet Bon Bon came home.