The center of the park on a Sunday in Ponyland was one of the liveliest places in the port town. The stereotypical description of children laughing, birds chirping, and flowers blooming was apt in describing the place around the midday, but in the afternoon, it was usually elderly ponies and couples. There was a beautiful sunset from there, after all.

In either case it was a happy place. No matter the time, there was evidence of that.

...Of course, some ponies missed the memo and cried at the park's center on Sundays.

'H-how could this happen to me?'

Bon Bon sat alone on the park bench, her face in her hooves, some soft crying noises coming from her. She was usually sensitive, but it was rare that she sat around in public weeping about her problems. That took a special case.

How could one of her friends, the closest ponies to her, think of her as 'dumb'? Why would Bright Eyes call her that?

Maybe because it was...it was...true?

The thought stung at Bright Eyes even harder, causing even more tears to fall.

"Bon Bon?"

The yellow filly jumped at the sound of her name. She looked around and saw Lancer standing a few feet away from her. "Are you okay?"

"U-uh… I'm… I'm okay…"

Lancer sat down next to her, "You don't sound like it."

"Um… I-I'm fine."

Lancer put his hoof on hers, "No, you're not. What's wrong?"

Bon Bon wiped her face, and sighed. "Um… Bright...Bright Eyes called me… She called me dumb…"

Lancer wished he was surprised, but he could believe it, sort of. He was sure she said SOMETHING like that, but Bon Bon might've misconstrued it. It happened. "I'm sorry, Bon Bon. I know she can be pretty mean sometimes."

Bon Bon wiped her eyes, "Yeah, and-and she's supposed to be my friend! Wh-why would she do that?"

Lancer sat down next to Bon Bon. "I don't know, Bon Bon. But…" Lancer put a foreleg on the back of the bench, "The thing is, you can't let it get you you. She's just one pony, if she really meant that, and a bunch of other ponies are impressed by you."

"Like who? What do I do that impresses ponies?"

"Well, your cooking is amazing. You're so good at it."

"But when Patch recorded me on camera, I messed everything up and made a fool of myself."

"Yeah, but you don't have to do that. I bet you'll be a world famous chef someday."

Bon Bon paused for a bit, then, "Ya think so?"

"I know so! We all have things were good at, Bon Bon. You have bunches of stuff."

Bon Bon's yellow cheeks started burning bright red, "Uh...thanks…"

Lancer realized what he'd done, and blushed, himself. "Uh, no problem."

Both ponies felt an uncomfortable silence wash over them.

"Um, Bon Bon, I have to get going. My parents are home and, uh, they might start worrying."

"Yeah, uh, my parents might start worrying, too…" Bon Bon started to leave, but, "Lancer?"

"Yeah?"

Bon Bon paused for a minute, and then, in the blink of an eye, she gave Lancer a quick kiss on the cheek, before she dashed off. "Thank you!"

When Lancer finally comprehended what happened, he instinctually replied, "Yeah, sure!" But Bon Bon was long gone.