When Bon Bon unlocks Lyra's musical potential, she also opens feelings for her that neither pony really knew existed.
A few months after being accepted into the Unicorn Academy, Lyra begins to struggle with her magical studies. Feeling like she's not cut out for the Academy, Lyra's ready to give up. Lucky for her, Bon Bon's not about to let her quit. Bon Bon does everything she can to help her best friend, and together they slowly discover something that wasn't there before. But it isn't as easy as either of them hoped it would be.
A gentle breeze danced through Bon Bon’s pink and blue mane as she trotted down a quiet Ponyville street. I haven’t talked to Lyra in a while, Bon Bon thought to herself as she continued on her way. She wasn’t kidding when she said she was going to focus on the Academy. Bon Bon looked up as she arrived at a door with a harp emblem set on it. She knocked on the door, and stood watching the birds fly by until the door opened.
“Oh, hello Bonnie. How are you?” asked Lutea, a sprightly mint green mare with a big smile. Bon Bon returned the smile before answering.
“I’m great, Mrs. Heartstrings. Is Lyra around?” Lutea brought a hoof up to her chin.
“She told me she wanted to get some fresh air. I think it’s because of how hard she’s been working at the Unicorn Academy.” Bon Bon nodded and turned around.
“Well, I’m gonna go see if I can find her. Later, Mrs. Heartstrings.”
“Bye, dear.” she called out before she closed the door.
Okay, whenever Lyra goes to ‘get fresh air’ she’s always under that willow near the edge of the Everfree Forest, Bon Bon contemplated. She turned in the direction of the Everfree Forest and took off at a light gallop.
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Sure enough, as soon as the willow came to view, so did the mint green unicorn near the base of it. Bon Bon slowed to a trot to continue toward her friend. She saw Lyra curled up with a harp near her hooves.
“Hey Lyra, what’s up?” Bon Bon asked with a cheery grin. Lyra looked at her with a weak smile and tear stained cheeks. “What’s the matter, Ly?” she asked much more softly.
“I’m just not cut out for it, Bon.” Lyra sighed painfully. Bon Bon took a seat near her friend and draped a hoof over her shoulder like she always did. Lyra buried her head into Bon Bon’s cream coat and sobbed lightly.
“Not cut out for what?”
“I’m not cut out for the Unicorn Academy. I-I thought I could handle it, but I was wrong. I’m not a talented unicorn.” cried Lyra, her voice muffled but clear. Bon Bon gently stroked a hoof through her white and green mane letting her cry to her heart’s content.
“What makes you think you aren’t cut out for the Unicorn Academy? You were practically bouncing with excitement when you got your acceptance letter.”
“That was before I actually entered. It’s so hard to learn magic. I try and try, but no matter how hard I do try, I can’t get it. I’m probably just stupid. I’m such a lame excuse for a unicorn.” Bon Bon put a hoof under Lyra’s chin and brought her eyes up to her stern gaze.
“That’s not true, Lyra. You’re not stupid. Don’t you ever say that.”
“Then why can’t I learn my magic?”
“Maybe you just aren’t doing it right, let me help you.” Lyra pushed away slightly.
“What would you know about magic? You’re just an Earth Pony.” she spat, jabbing at Bon Bon’s chest with some pent up frustration. Bon Bon withdrew her hoof and held it close to her chest, visibly hurt by what Lyra had just said. Lyra looked down at her own hoof before letting out a strained cry. “I’m sorry, Bon. I didn’t mean it.”
“But you’re right. I’m an Earth Pony. I may not know a lot about magic, but I do know a lot about helping friends. You aren’t my only unicorn friend, you know.” Bon Bon huffed indignantly.
“Oh yeah? Well, name one.” Lyra demanded with her face buried in her own hooves.
“Twinkleshine.”
“I-I meant three.”
“Colgate, Sea Swirl, and Noteworthy.” Lyra looked up at Bon Bon seeing the caring face she always gave her. “Just let me help you, Ly.”
“How in Equestria are you gonna help me?” Bon Bon shifted to where she was sitting in front of Lyra with the harp in her hooves.
“Let’s talk about it.” She pried Lyra’s head away from her hooves. “What exactly are you trying to do?”
“My teacher says that musical magic is something that just comes out of you. You don’t study notes like a regular musician. You feel the music in you. But I just can’t find the music.”
“Okay, good that’s a start. When you look for your… ‘music,’ what do you do?” Lyra sat quietly in thought before answering.
“I try think of the music I’m looking for, but that doesn’t work.”
“How about trying a different approach. Twinkle and Sea Swirl always tell me that they get their best magic from thinking happy thoughts. Why don’t you think of that instead of searching for the music?” Lyra chuckled dryly.
“That sounds dumb.” Bon Bon smirked at Lyra’s opposition.
“Give it a try, at least. Think. Look deep down. What makes you happy?” Again Lyra sat quietly.
“I guess when I think of hap—” Bon Bon stopped Lyra with a hoof. Lyra gave her a confused look, but she just shook her head and raised the harp. Lyra took the harp in her magic, understanding what Bon Bon meant. Don’t speak, play my happiness.
The both closed their eyes as Lyra began a to pluck at the harp strings with her magic. At first, the notes were hesitant and more than a little unorganized, but soon the music carried through beautifully. Each note that Lyra played sailed by Bon Bon like a sweet summer breeze. It wasn’t just music that came out of the notes that Lyra played. It was her emotions. Lyra’s happiness came to life and marched out of her music. The notes picked up in pace and changed from a summer breeze to a free flowing river of emotion. Bon Bon didn’t know music could be this… perfect.
Bon Bon was lost to the music, listening to the unadulterated beauty that was Lyra’s feelings hidden deep within her heart and soul. And Lyra was focusing on her thoughts. She was the happiest when she was with Bon Bon. Her cream colored friend had always been there for her when she needed her, even when she didn’t. She felt as if Bon Bon understood her like no one else could. It wasn’t just a sisterly connection she felt with Bon Bon. It was something more. Unbeknownst to both, they started leaning forward as the music picked up even more speed. Contact came unexpectedly as their lips came together. Bon Bon went completely rigid, but Lyra melted into the simple kiss. The music took off like a brilliant display of fireworks, and Bon Bon began to understand.
The feelings she felt through the notes that poured out of Lyra’s soul were those of love. Love for her. And when she realized that she fell into the kiss just as Lyra did. The music finally died down and they opened their eyes, parting from their kiss. Their faces both sported a crimson tint as they sat quietly enjoying the moment. Lyra had a goofy grin plastered on her face and she brought Bon Bon into a tight embrace. Bon Bon took advantage of the situation and planted a quick, but passionate kiss on the mint unicorn’s lips, making her own face burn even brighter with the blush that already stained her cream coat.
“Thanks, Bonnie.” Lyra sighed happily. They both stood up and made their way to back to Ponyville as the sun dipped below the horizon.
Sunlight streamed into a small bedroom, bathing a cream colored pony in the sun’s rays. Bon Bon shifted slightly to try to escape the offending light, but she jerked up instantly. The memory of her eventful afternoon was still in her mind.
She brought a hoof up to her lips as her heart started to race with the thought of a certain mint green unicorn. She hopped off of her bed making her way to the bathroom to get ready for the day, but one question kept buzzing in the back of her mind. Am I in love?
After brushing her teeth and her mane, she walked downstairs and into the kitchen that was currently bustling with movement.
“Hi Daddy,” Bon Bon called to her father, Flapjack. The cream-coated, blue-maned stallion was wearing an apron to keep his coat from getting messy as he made breakfast. Bon Bon looked embarrassingly at the apron. ‘Kiss the Cook’ was written in big letters on it.
“Hey Sweetie, want some breakfast? I’m making pancakes.”
“Sure.” she replied happily, moving to sit at the kitchen table, but Flapjack cleared his throat loudly. “What?” she asked, thoroughly confused by the look he was giving her.
“Read the apron. For strangers, it’s a suggestion. But for family, it’s mandatory.” Bon Bon groaned, but she knew her father was adamant about his rules, no matter how silly they were. “So… how’s my favorite daughter doing this morning?” he asked with a big smile as Bon Bon gave him a quick peck on the cheek.
“Dad, I’m your only daughter.” she retorted playfully.
“Which means you’re also the worst.” he countered with a smirk. Bon Bon just rolled her eyes and took a seat. Flapjack set a plate with a few pancakes in front of her, then nuzzled the top of her head. They sat in silence for a moment, enjoying the delicious taste of the morning delicacies before Bon Bon cleared her throat.
“Dad? What… what’s love?” Flapjack raised his eyebrows and choked slightly on the food in his mouth. Washing down what he could with coffee, he looked up slyly at Bon Bon.
“Why do you ask, Bonnie?” Bon Bon shifted nervously in her seat. She tried to look calm, but the noticeable blush on her face betrayed her. “Does my little Sweetie Drops have a crush?” Flapjack chuckled, as Bon Bon’s face went from a light pink to a deep red.
“Forget it, Dad.” Bon Bon mumbled as she slid the plate of unfinished pancakes forward and walked out of the kitchen.
“Wait, Bonnie. I was only teasing,” called Flapjack as he slipped out of the kitchen to follow his daughter. She sat down on the couch in the living room, gazing out the window as he trotted in and took a seat by her side. “Let’s talk about it… where do you want to start?” he asked slowly draping a hoof over Bon Bon’s shoulder in an all-too-familiar fashion. Bon Bon sat quietly.
“What is love?” she repeated looking into Flapjack’s eyes. He brought his free hoof up to his chin.
“Hmm… what is love? Well Sweetie, love is kinda hard to explain. Love… is what you feel for another pony.” Bon Bon opened her mouth to complain about the obvious answer, but he continued. “Love isn’t necessarily this pony running non-stop through your mind. It means that you’re happy to see them no matter what. If they’re happy, sad, or angry, or if you are, but it won’t matter to either of you because you know what you feel for each other. Love is feeling safe around that pony. You could be having the worst time of your life, but even in that worst time, that pony will always be there to make it better for both of you.”
“Is it really that simple?” Bon Bon asked curiously, but Flapjack just chuckled.
“Don’t get me wrong, Bon. I never said love was simple. You should know that love is probably the hardest thing you have to deal with in your whole life. There’s always gonna be complications. It could be something as small as a misunderstanding, or something as big as others that don’t want you to be together. But that’s how you know it’s really love. No matter what troubles come your way, you stand tall, supporting and being supported by the pony you love.”
“Do you still love Mom?” she whispered quietly. Flapjack froze for a moment before tighten his grip on Bon Bon’s shoulder.
“I still do. Just because she isn’t around anymore doesn’t mean I don’t love her any less. I know that she’s in a better place, and that she probably loves and misses me just as much as I do her.” A silence filled the room. It wasn’t the awkward kind of silence, but the sad kind. Both ponies could feel it. Flapjack stealthily wiped at his eyes, and turned to Bon Bon. “I don’t want to be so forward, but... who’s the lucky little colt?” Bon Bon’s blush returned with a vengeance and Flapjack gave a hearty chuckle.
“I… I don’t want to talk about it,” she muttered and shied away from Flapjack’s hoof.
“I’m not here to judge you on your decisions. Just to help you make them and support the decisions you do choose to make. You know you can tell me anything.”
“No. No I can’t, Dad.” she groaned.
“Why not?”
“Because it’s not a colt!” she blurted out loudly, realizing her mistake almost instantly. She felt her eyes widen exponentially and her face burn with a fire of embarrassment as her dad stared at her with his mouth agape.
“Y-you… I…” he stammered. Bon Bon feared what would come out of his mouth, so she took off towards the stairs and into her room before he could let it out. Flapjack really wanted to go after her, but he needed to gather his wits before he talked to his daughter about this. He made his way to the kitchen, the decision made to clean up the kitchen as well as his thoughts and promptly talk to his daughter afterwards.
-----
Bon Bon laid in bed with her face buried in a pillow. There was a light knock on the door before it creaked open.
“Go away!” she screamed, muffled by the pillow.
“Look Bonnie, I wanted to apologize.” Flapjack said, sitting on the edge of her bed. He gently placed a hoof on her back, but Bon Bon tensed up at the contact.
“You don’t have to apologize. It’s my fault for being weird.”
“Bonnie, get your head off of the pillow so we can talk.” he asked softly, but she shook her head, keeping it buried in the pillow. “C’mon, Bon Bon.” he pleaded more firmly, hoping not to have to raise his voice. “Bon Bon.” he stated, irritated by Bon Bon’s foalish behavior. “Sweetie Drops, look at me.” he demanded in the stern, commanding voice he hated using. The mere sound of it made Bon Bon flinch and dislodge her head from the pillow because she only heard that voice when he was dead serious. And since he used Sweetie Drops instead of Bon Bon or Bonnie, she knew it was the real deal.
Bon Bon never liked the name Sweetie Drops, but it was the name her mother always wanted her to have. Since she passed away shortly after Bon Bon’s birth, Flapjack gave her the name Sweetie Drops, but he still called her Bon Bon because it’s the name he wanted for her.
“Now,” Flapjack sat with opened hooves and Bon Bon obliged, wrapping herself in her father’s inviting embrace. “I never said there was anything wrong with liking another filly.” he stated, feeling what he guessed were Bon Bon’s watery eyes dripping tears into his coat.
“B-but you were so… so—”
“I never said I wasn’t surprised, but I’m not angry in any sense dear. Like I said, I’m not here to judge you. I’m just here to help you make your decisions. And if it’s your decisions that you like a filly, then I’m gonna support you. Just as long as you know this filly and she loves you just as much as you do her, I’m happy.” Bon Bon looked up at her dad with a teary smile, which he surprisingly wore as well. “And I know that your mother would be happy too.”
“Thanks, Daddy.” Bon Bon sighed, nuzzling Flapjack’s chest as he kissed the top of her head.
