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// 45 - Welcome Home 
// Story: It's OK to Be a Pony 
// by David Silver 
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Lyra awoke to a familiar but missed warmth. Sweetie Drops was hugging her. Her mane and tail looked frizzy and unkempt, but she didn't look like she was hurt besides being a mess.

Carefully, Lyra slipped out from under Bon Bon and kissed her cheek, chest filling with a delight at having her marefriend back at home. She wanted to ask her how everything was, and to grill her about her adventures, but that wasn't what Bon Bon needed right then. She stepped from the bedroom as quietly as she could, and got to making a breakfast fit for two.

While she worked, she considered her schedule for the day. Her only appointment was a checkup with Lucy, who was the least likely of her friends to begrudge her taking the day off. She nodded to herself, confirming her plans. Soon she was trotting back to the bedroom with a platter full of buttered toast, eggs, and orange juice ready to be devoured.

She set the platter down on the end table and reached for Bon Bon, softly shaking her. "Wake up, hon. You need to get some food in you."

Bon Bon made an unhappy noise before she slowly sat up and yawned widely, showing off her teeth in a fierce display that made Lyra giggle. "What's so funny?"

Lyra gestured at the platter. "Oh, nothing. But you don't move a muscle. I'm pampering you like you deserve today." With a glow of her horn, she soon had food lifting into the air. Bon Bon made a token show of resistance before she tasted the toast and eggs and began to devour it as quickly as Lyra offered it up. For a few minutes the two enjoyed breakfast together with no words between them.

Lyra offered a glass of orange juice, then took one herself and they washed the meal down, both satiated and content looking. "Now it's time for brushings!"

Bon Bon smiled even as she made a warding motion. "You don't have to do that."

Lyra leaned in and kissed Bon Bon on the nose. "Don't have to, but going to, my brave little defender of Equestria." Lyra waited for Bon Bon to lay down on her belly, then began working her mane with a comb, attacking the knots and tangles that had developed while she was away. Unicorn magic was a bit cheating when it came to grooming, and she was able to work at the distressed mane without tugging at sensitive roots. "They don't give you a lot of time to yourself, I see."

Bon Bon let out a soft sigh of content, enjoying the attention and care of Lyra. "Not while you're fighting some crazy beast. I can't go into details, you know how it is, but it was crazy..."

Lyra tilted her head a bit. "Why not call the girls to help? I bet Princess Twilight and her friends could beat up any random monster into next week if you asked nicely."

Bon Bon gave a soft snort, looking as if she just tasted something unpleasant. "The girls only get mobilized when the attack happens in front of them, or Big C gives the direct say so. No say so, then it's up to ponies like me to take care of it."

Lyra felt confident that Bon Bon's mane was taken care of, lustrous and curly as it should be. She turned her attention to that tail, which looked even worse. "Mind if I wash this first?"

"Huh? Sure, go ahead." Bon Bon turned and watched as Lyra filled a bucket with her magic and pulled it in from the bathroom to rest beside the bed. 

Lyra dipped the tail into the water and got to washing it thoroughly with magic and hooves. "You wouldn't believe what happened while you were gone." Bon Bon made a soft curious noise, and Lyra continued. "We have a diamond dog for a neighbor."

Bon Bon sat up sharply. "What?! How? They're dangerous!"

Lyra frowned at Bon Bon and gently bopped her on the nose. "Don't be mean. He's not a danger to anypony. He likes your chocolates."

Bon Bon blinked at that. "He does? Aren't dogs, like, allergic to chocolates or something?"

Lyra shrugged softly. "People spread the craziest rumors. He sure seems to approve of them."

Bon Bon shrugged a little. "I'm no doctor. I guess if a diamond dog wants to be a customer and follow the rules, I shouldn't be a spoilsport about it."

Lyra lifted the tail free of the water and got to combing and brushing the wet fur, working out the burs and tangles diligently. "You have such pretty fur, It's such a shame when it's not looking its best."

Bon Bon smiled at Lyra. "Good thing I have a certain unicorn to take care of that, eh?"

They shared a soft nuzzling before Lyra gestured at the tail. "Much better!" She drew out a new brush. "Now time for the rest of you." Lyra began to run the brush in a soft caress across Bon Bon. By the time she was done, Bon Bon had slipped gently back into slumber. Lyra smiled at her and quietly slipped from the room to go find Lucy.

Being a school day, it wasn't hard to locate her. She sat in the front row as Cheerilee gave a lecture on something. Lyra crept up to listen in at first. She was discussing basic elemental principles. Very important for young unicorns, less so for others, but a fascinating topic, at least if somepony asked Lyra. She waved at Cheerilee and waited for acknowledgement before slipping into the classroom.

Trying not to embarrass Lucy, she just spoke to Cheerilee quietly. "When you get a chance, just tell Lucy that she gets today off from me. I'll be back in my office tomorrow if she wants to reschedule, and I hope she has a great day."

Lyra was then off, rushing back home. She was delighted to have her Bonnie back.