//------------------------------//
// Goddess Darn It, Bon Bon 
// Story: Appledashery 
// by Just Essay 
//------------------------------//

	"Oye..."  Caramel rested his head in his hooves.

Vinyl raised an eyebrow.  "Too many shots?"

"Oye..."  He replied.

Lyra sipped at the last of her vodka.  "Mmmm..."  She swallowed, allowed the drink to settle, and slurred:  "I think a certain princess has reached her limit."

"Funny..."  Bon Bon squinted.  "Caramel downs more than that back home in Ponyville."

"Maybe it's all of the excitement," Rainbow Dash murmured.

"Hey there, booty-ful!"  Lyra leaned towards Caramel, smirking.  "Is everything hunkey-dorey in your mix-and-stirry?"

"Mmmmf... Las Pegasus drinks... are f-funky..."  Caramel murmured.

Rainbow shrugged.  "Desert precipitation ain't like Ponyville rain."

"I think I need to visit the little colt's room," Caramel stammered.

"Don't you mean the little fillies' room?" Lyra suggested.

"The little something's room," Caramel grunted.  "Something with linoleum bowls to match my current orifices."

"Heheh..."  Lyra smirked.  "I like your gumption!  Hop along, gal pal."  She jumped off her stool and lent Caramel a hoof.  "We'll find some place waterproof.  That is a promise."

"Urp... th-thank you..."  Caramel hobbled after her.  "Erm... my dresses—"

"We have an eye on them," Vinyl said.  "Maybe even six."

"Uhm... you got er, Lyra?" Vinyl stammered.  "Or do you need some help with—?"

"Hey!  Lemme stroke the gland of karma on my own for once, B-squared!"

The earth pony fidgeted.  "You sure?"

"No.  I hear the harps are pretty lame in heaven.  But we'll be good.  You gals just sit tight and try not to make love to each other."  Lyra patted Caramel's back as she led him to the far end of the establishment.  "Trot this way, girl.  Yes... like the Aeroatsmith song..."

"Heeheee... the boat is rocking..."

"... ... ...'kay."

"Hmmmmf..."  Vinyl smirked rotating her own glass.  "I knew we'd all get smashed at some point or another.  Never figured Caramel would be the first."

"You're joking, right?" Rainbow remarked.

"Girl's pretty reserved," Vinyl said.  "I guess this vacation is inspiring her to let loose."

"Friggin' Tartarus, Vinyl," Rainbow remarked.  "I wish we could all 'let loose' like Caramel.  We might live longer."

"Heh.  True that."

In the meantime, Bon Bon stared off across the establishment.  Her ears folded above her head while her face hung long.  A pair of warm eyes reflected a mint-green shape until it was no longer visible.

Rainbow Dash gazed at her.  After a breath, she cleared her throat and muttered:  "Caramel's not the only mare who can let loose."

"Hmmm?" Bon Bon remarked, staring across the bar.

Rainbow leaned in.  "Just one conversation, Bon Bon.  That's all it'll take."

Bon Bon blinked.  "What do you mean?"

"I'm from a better position to smack her upside the head," Vinyl spoke into her glass.  "Want me to, Rainbow?"

"Huh?"  Bon Bon made a wincing expression.

"You and Lyra are always going to remain friends if you never do anything," Rainbow muttered.  "Now, if that's what you want, then it's cool."

"Of course I want us to remain friends!"  Bon Bon gulped, fidgeting with her forelimbs.  "Just... nice... kind..."  A warm smile lit her muzzle.  "...funny, intelligent, adorable, sexy friends."

"Nnnnghh..."  Rainbow facehoofed.

"I don't get what you see in her, personally," Vinyl said.

"What she said," Rainbow pointed.

Bon Bon spun to blink at Vinyl.  "Well of course you don't see it!"

"Hey.  I still have a brain."

"Beneath Lyra's admirably forward exterior, she's very creative, inspiring, and... soft.  So, so very soft and she just doesn't know it," Bon Bon cooed.  "Probably because she's never had a pony whom she's trusted enough to open herself up and share that very precious part of herself."

"Seems like a leap of faith to me."

"No, you don't get it, Vinyl.  We've had talks... long, long talks and... and I feel so flattered to have had her share so much with me and... and..."  Bon Bon winced even harder.  "Oh Celestia..."

"What?"  Rainbow blinked.  "What is it?"

"I... I think..."  Bon Bon shivered, as if monumental weights of horror were dragging down the furthest edges of her muzzle.  "I... think..."  A heavy gulp.  "...I-I might be in love."

Vinyl nearly fell out of her stool.

Rainbow took a deep breath, smiling crookedly.  "Do tell..."