Canterlot
Two young lovers strolled through the streets of Canterlot. To all the world, they appeared as friends, happy to walk in each others company through the well-kept roads. The posh ponies they passed paid no heed to the two lower-class strangers. The occasional mare or stallion would recognize the two element bearers and greet them, but they were otherwise left alone.
The bold mare paused her stride. "So Flutters, where do you want to go? It's on me!" Rainbow Dash waved her left forehoof to indicate the various venues up ahead.
"What? But, Rainbow! It's... these places are all out of our price ranges! I'll pay for us..." The shy mare was shocked that her mare wanted to go to such a high and lofty eatery.
"Don't worry girl! It's my shout. I'm the big shot and if anypony is going to play gentlecolt, it's me." The cyan mare wore a charismatic grin, there was no way she was about to allow her fillyfriend to play the role of the colt in their relationship, especially in public.
"But... you don't need to pay for a meal to be one, Dash... and besides I don't want a gentlecolt... I want my Rainbow." The buttery mare giggled softly.
Fluttershy's gaze came to rest upon the furthest building. It appeared to be a restaurant more akin to the ones in Ponyville than a large well endowed city like Canterlot. The finely crafted outer stone wall was embellished by a sign, 'The Pink Pegasus.' This was a simple hoof carved sign in the shape of a pegasus mare in flight.
"How about that one Rainbow?" Fluttershy pointed toward her choice.
A delighted grin lit the cyan mare's face. "Sweet! See... it wasn't that hard." She nudged her companion and took off toward her goal.
Fluttershy smiled sweetly at her lover. She allowed herself to admire the curves of that cyan flank, the swish, swish of the colourful tail as Rainbow Dash ambled up to their destination, happy to lead the way. A light blush covered her muzzle as the mare of her dreams met her gaze. A smirk covered Rainbow's muzzle and she poked out her tongue, happy to tease. Fluttershy blushed more. She had been caught.
The shy mare trotted to Rainbow Dash's side, suddenly eager to exit the streets of Canterlot.
"I was tempted to give you a wiggle there Flutters..."
That was not what Fluttershy wished to be met with. Her muzzle heated up a little more.
"Rainbow... stop." The buttery pegasus pouted, she felt oh-so-ready to find a table and get on with their good meal. "We are in public."
"What? We've been discreet so far. See... no pony is even looking."
The still flushed mare glanced behind her at the ponies on the road behind them. None paid the two 'friends' any heed. "See... we're just two friends having fun in the big city."
"That's good," the shy mare mumbled. "Just... please don't be too cheeky, I don't want anything bad to happen."
Fluttershy took a final glance around at the others on the street. The passing ponies were still too busy with their lives to notice strangers. With a deep breath for courage, the shy pegasus took the lead and headed inside. The interior of the restaurant was filled with floral arrangements on the pink and white walls. Above the bar in the middle there hung a stylized pink pegasus with a frazzled mane made of wood. Fluttershy spotted a table in the far corner off to the right and made a beeline for it. The obedient silence and clopping of hooves told her that her partner had heard her. The U shaped booth had walls decorated with an array of flowers on either side of the U. The table in the middle was big enough to fit a group of five ponies with ease. Fluttershy slid right into the middle of the U seat and did her best to relax.
The bold blue mare sat herself down beside her shy one and they shared a comfortable silence. Dash glanced around and did her best to look awesome and cool in the hope that they could get served faster. She was hungry after mucking about in the sky and was confident that they could get served quickly. The cyan pegasus waved a hoof at a light pink pegasus attendant who was flittering between tables tending to guests and congratulated herself for her own efforts when the mare noticed them.
"Rainbow Dash..." Fluttershy nudged her lover, "we can wait. If she's busy serving other ponies, let them go first."
"Nonsense. There's gotta be other staff here to serve those other ponies," Dash settled back happily as she awaited the arrival of their attendant.
The young light pink pegasus, with a single white blossom stuck into her braided snow-white and blue mane approached.
"Hello, fillies! Welcome to the Pink Pegasus. What can I get you two cuties for lunch?" A light grin crept across her face as pulled out a notepad, ready to take their order. "Can I get you two a drink to start off?"
"Um... I'll have water, please..." The shy pegasus trailed off, smiling appreciatively.
"Cider for me!" added Rainbow Dash with a confident grin.
The hostess giggled, nodding as she scrawled it down on her notepad, "Sounds good, coming right up. You two get comfy, but... not too comfy. I'll be back soon." She winked at the pair before she trotted off to retrieve their order.
"There, you see? Easy." Dash lay back against the soft U shaped couch.
Fluttershy followed suit, allowing herself to sink toward her lover as the contours brought the pair of lovebirds together in bliss. They allowed the chatter of the busy restaurant to wash over them. Rainbow Dash allowed herself to relax, her eyes closing and her breaths slowing.
Before the lazy pegasus could drift off, the light clopping of hooves alerted her and she opened her eyes. The light pink hostess had returned with their drinks on a tray. She set them on the table and gave them their glasses. A careful glance was given to Fluttershy.
"And what would you like for your main?" The pink pegasus asked.
"Um... well..." Fluttershy looked at the menu. "I-I don't know. I don't want to spend too much... but it all looks yummy."
"Fluttershy, don't worry about how many bits it all costs. I've got it covered." A light blue hoof encouraginly caressed the yellow forehoof for a moment.
"But Rainbow..."
"Never mind that, what do you want?"
"Um... I want... the vegetable goulash."
"Awesome. I'll have..." Dash quickly eyed the menu, "the Lost pegasus waffles please... yea those sound good." Rainbow promptly added. She bumped a hoof against her fillyfriend's shoulder with a grin upon her muzzle.
Fluttershy smiled appreciatively and settled back again.
"Are you two cuties together? Or just very good friends?" A giggle escaped the pink pegasus who stood at the edge of the table, notepad still in one hoof.
Rainbow Dash shot upright in surprise. "No. She's my best friend, that's all."
Fluttershy slipped and found herself awkwardly pinned between the strong blue back of her fillyfriend and the couch. A small 'eep' escaped her and she fought to sit back upright.
"Well... maybe." Dash glanced guiltily down at the pretty yellow pegasus as she assisted her.
"We... we are. I-if that's okay with you," Fluttershy added, almost inaudibly.
"It's fine, don't you worry. Just good to know I'm not the only mare in this city who is like yourselves." The pink mare's voice was almost a whisper at this point and she glanced around to make sure nopony else had heard.
"Oh... Well, what is it with everypony here then? If it's so bad, why not just move out?" Dash asked, a hint of annoyance entering her voice.
"I can't. You see, I kinda own this place and it's... nice." The pink pegasus trailed off, still a little nervous.
"W-well, what's your name...? I-if you don't mind me asking," Fluttershy piped up.
"Me... Oh, I'm just a nopony. Working my own place, nice and quiet... Name's Snowflake if you must know though. Anyway... I'm off." With a swish of her snowy blue tail, Snowflake turned and trotted off toward the kitchen.
In the absence of any reason to talk, two young lovers settled down to wait patiently as the sounds of kitchenware and ponies busy with their meals filled the air.
After several moments of peaceful silence, Dash slipped a hoof up and around her fillyfriend's shoulders. She made sure to rest her hoof on the headboard of the U seat so as to make it appear to others that she was simply reclining. She smirked as Fluttershy inched closer and extended a yellow wing just enough to tickle the light blue side.
Dash grabbed her cider and took a good swing. The sweet mixture washed through her, refreshing and delicious. She finished her mug all too soon and set it down with a small clank. Her eyes wandered the slack wings of her beautiful fillyfriend and she couldn't help but give in.
"Hey, wanna kiss?"
"I thought you said we were to be discreet?" Fluttershy shot her fillyfriend a look.
"No pony's looking at our little booth and we are in a restaurant owned by a fillyfooler."
"You really like to push the boundaries, don't you Dash?"
"Makes it more fun," the speedster grinned back.
The buttery mare allowed herself to relax and slide a bit closer to her love.
With a careful look around the few filled tables, Dash decided no pony was looking and went in for a quick kiss.
A big, sweet grin overcame the shy pony's face as she remembered the first time they had kissed, so long ago in their fillyhood. She brought Rainbow Dash closer and whispered, "you have always been the best kisser I've ever known."
"Fluttershy... I'm the only pony you have ever locked lips with! I made sure of that... a long time ago..." The cheeky mare grinned back, mischief written all across her cocky muzzle.
Fluttershy gazed into the wonderful eyes of her companion, a question forming on her lips, mirrored on her face. "Y-you made sure? B-but the only time I ever tried to kiss somepony else was that time I tried to date a colt."
"He was awesome to prank," giggled the culprit of the long-ago incident. "put him off my filly really good."
"...That was you?" Fluttershy's jaw dropped.
"Well duh. I couldn't just let my best friend kiss some idiot who clearly didn't like you for who you were." Rainbow Dash playfully nudged her stunned companion.
"O-Oh..." Fluttershy flushed and her wings quivered slightly. "Well, I did think whoever did that was a bit of a jerk, but um..."
The speedster grinned at her fillyfriend, "you calling me a jerk there, Fluttershy?"
"No. Um... maybe? ...If it's okay with you?" A few moments of silence passed as the pair mulled over the past. Fluttershy fought a mental battle with herself for a few moments as another memory surfaced from later in their fillyhood. "Well, I-um... have a confession to make, too..."
"And what might that be?"
"Do you remember that one filly, Blazing Comet, who was trying to ask you out? Well, um... when I overheard her saying that... I-I... went and told her, you and I were dating so she would leave you alone," Fluttershy confessed, turning pink.
"Oh, yea... she was kinda cool," the cyan pegasus giggled softly. "Wait... you did what?" Dash gazed at her fillyfriend, surprised.
"Yes. I- oh, I was so jealous! She was much better-looking and so interesting and fast and daring like you... I was being selfish and trying to keep her away from you! ...I'm sorry..." Fluttershy looked down at her hooves in shame. "I did it because I was so jealous... even though she was a very nice pony and I knew she would treat you right."
"It's okay. I heard she wound up happy with her old friend Moon Dancer from Canterlot." Dash mused, offering a nuzzle for support.
"But- but you could have missed out! And I had no right to do that since I was too chicken to tell you how I felt! I had no ownership over you! I lied about our relationship and then I was terrified you would find out and- and- and... I tried to ask you- i-if you might go out with me... but I was too scared..." Fluttershy a nearly inaudible sob escaped the buttery pegasus.
"Come on, Flutters. I'm so happy you did that! She was maybe too much like me anyway. I need somepony like you to hold me down from time to time." The cheeky prankster giggled at the double meaning of her last part. "Like that time you politely asked to hold me down in front of our friends. That still makes me giggle."
Looking up, Fluttershy wiped her eyes and flushed scarlet, "I... I wasn't meaning it like that. Not when you were um... not you an-and Discord was running around like that... and our friends were so close by."
Rainbow Dash shrugged, "would have been quite an experience to wake up to though. Hey, maybe you should try that sometime."
Fluttershy 'eeped' and hid behind her mane. After a few moments she decided to change the topic, "you really mean it? A-about Blazing Comet?"
The speedster shot her mare a dry look.
"Oh, why am I asking... I don't think you'd be with me if you didn't feel that way..." Fluttershy trailed off, her voice nearly a whisper.
"Well duh. Besides, you're the only pony I've ever had some seriously naughty thoughts about." The light blue pegasus chucked. She ruffled her companions feathers with her own wing and sent jolts through both their bodies. "I know you know what I mean."
"I suppose..." The creamy yellow pegasus giggled a bit, a faint blush appeared on her muzzle. "Um, just- how did you manage that prank, Rainbow?"
"That's for me to know. I am the master of pranks after all." Dash boasted. "You were my friend and special to me. It just took a while for me to see that 'special' meant this..." Rainbow Dash trailed off, motioning between them.
A few comfortable moments passed with both ponies going for a walk down memory lane.
The sound of hoofsteps caused them both to glance up at the incoming pony. "Sorry this took so long you two," Snowflake slipped their selected dishes from her back onto the table with her wings.
"O-Oh, no problem. We hope nopony felt rushed... after all, Rainbow Dash here was a little bit... pushy." Fluttershy mumbled, twiddling her hooves nervously.
The server laughed softly. "Oh no. Don't you worry about that. Enjoy."
"Thanks! That's real swell Snowflake!" Dash grinned, eyeing her plate with a hungry tummy to call her onwards.
"Sweet as you two. I'll be just over there if you need anything else. Or you can holler! Just don't make a mess." Snowflake winked and walked off again.
"Wow... She's really quite a nice mare, isn't she?" Fluttershy confided to her partner, softly, as if being afraid of getting caught talking about the waitress.
"Are you kidding? She probably the most normal pony in this entire Snobville!" Dash laughed, ruffling the timid pegasus's mane. "Now come on! Let's eat!" She immediately went to work on devouring her meal. Slower than usual, but still with her usual vigour.
Fluttershy joined in the giggle. "Okay Rainbow."
The meal was delicious and disappeared all too quickly for the speedster to feel like she could fully enjoy its delights.
As soon as the pair had finished, Snowflake reappeared. "Thank you, girls. I'll take it from here."
"Sweet!" Rainbow leapt up, ready to leave.
"Thank you, Snowflake." Fluttershy reached for her money bag, intending to pay at least part of the bill, only to be stopped by a blue hoof.
"I told you Fluttershy. It's my shout. So, let the gentlemare pay."
"Oh come on..." Fluttershy pouted. "Okay."
"That's my filly," grinned the happy polychromatic pegasus.
Dash turned to the smiling serving pony and held out the bits, "here you go miss."
"Wonderful, you two," The snowy pink pegasus accepted the bits. "Now, you two have fun out there."
"We will, thanks," Dash called as she walked off, ready to continue their awesome day together.
"T-thank you," Fluttershy quietly murmured as she followed her lover out.
Wonderbolt HQ, Cloudsdale
Spitfire, Soarin and Fleetfoot entered Spitfire's simple office. The rather tired looking lead Wonderbolt was quick to take her seat with a long drawn out sigh. Her loyal stallion took his place at her side rather than on the other side of the table. She shot him a look but he smirked back as he laid a wing over her shoulder. He knew exactly what he was doing. Cheeky stallion.
The arctic blue mare from across the desk smiled at the couple. "Awww, aren't you both the cutest pair of bosses a mare could ask for!"
"Can it Fleet, this is a serious meeting."
"I know. But this is also lunchtime," the grinning mare relaxed a bit. "It's still nice to see you two at last openly sporting the couple look. Does this mean you might, at last, consider having a foal?"
"If things ever calm down, maybe I will. Or maybe I'll be too busy dealing with a war and smart remarks from ponies like you."
"Then poor Soarin will never get to be a dad," Fleetfoot shot the stallion a sad face.
"Including Rainbow Dash, how many new Wonderbolts are we auditioning over the next week?" Spitfire asked as she completely ignored her fellow Wonderbolt's cheek.
"Fifteen I think," Fleetfoot answered. "I might grab High Winds and go visit Las Pegasus. See if we can round up any more speedy rookies."
Spitfire nodded, "good idea. Losing Bright Skies to raiders from Kludgetown was a blow we really could have done without and filling his place on the first responder list will not be easy."
"Let me repeat myself boss... there was nothing we could do," Fleetfoot responded, her expression soured and she scuffed a hoof against the cloud floor.
"It's the second casualty this year and we aren't even at war," Spitfire fired back. "I say that's not good enough."
"Well, considering how dangerous some parts of Equestria have become, I would say that's actually not as bad as you keep making it out to be!" Fleetfoot replied with an attempted smile, trying to lighten the mood.
The lead Wonderbolt huffed and settled back. Soarin cuddled up a bit, his wing tightened its hold on his wife's shoulder and she allowed herself to be pulled in closer.
"Celestia has asked me to increase our numbers in the outer regions, especially closer to Griffonstone. She doesn't trust them as far as she can throw them and neither do I."
"To be fair, Celestia could probably throw a griffon quite far with her magic," quipped Fleetfoot.
"You know what I mean," Spitfire replied dryly.
"So, that's a not very far then?"
Spitfire graced her cheeky friend with a dry look, "uh, huh."
"Then we really do need a lot more 'bolts," Fleetfoot replied. "My lot are spread out thin as it is."
"Who do you think we should send out there?" Spitfire asked as she shuffled a few papers.
"I think we could send second unit. They could use some experience on the front line," Soarin replied.
"What about third?" Fleetfoot injected. "I flew with them yesterday and they seem ready for a bigger slice of the action."
Spitfire shook her head, "no can do. I want them to fly out to Las Pegasus for their next rotation."
"Send two then." Fleetfoot thought for a moment, "oh and hows the budget to build that outpost five minutes out of Filly Delphia?"
"Approved this morning." Spitfire dug around on her desk for a few moments, "here's the paperwork to approve it. We should have a team of pegasi starting construction of the cloudstuff barracks within the next few days."
"Sweet," Fleetfoot nabbed the paper and folded it then tucked it safely in her small saddlebags. "I'll pass this onto Blazing Comet. I'm sure she will love to get a move on and see some action out there."
Soarin snuck a quick kiss onto his mare's cheek. Fleetfoot grinned at the cute display.
"Is somepony feeling left out?" Spitfire asked without turning to face her husband.
"Who me?" Soarin grinned innocently.
"No. Some other big lug trying to suck my face off."
"Ouch," Fleetfoot giggled softly.
"I'm just wondering if you've finished with the admin stuff," the light blue stallion snuck another kiss in.
Spitfire turned and gave her snuggly companion a big kiss. "There. Now calm your nuts, we're nearly done here."
"Then your all mine," Soarin whispered.
"I think I heard that," Fleetfoot playfully called out across the desk.
"Oh yeah?" Spitfire turned to her longtime friend. After a few moments, she nestled in close to her husband to whisper in his ear. "After this crazy long week, I could really use a good buck."
Soarin grinned madly.
"Geeze you two!" Fleetfoot cried out, "I would say get a room, but now I don't think I need to encourage you."
"Somepony asked for it," Spitfire shot back. "I'll see you at this afternoons weapons training."
"Alright, have fun with your lunch break you two."
As the ice blue mare exited the room, Spitfire turned to her husband. "Give me ten minutes for the paperwork, then I expect you to be ready for action."
"What if I give you five minutes and a massage?" Soarin offered as he shuffled over a bit to sit behind his lover.
Spitfire ripped into her paperwork with speedy precision, "better start that massage you promised."
The light blue stallion grinned as he set to work on his wife's shoulders.
"That's better..." Spitfire sighed, "right. Cuddles in five," she murmured as she continued with the paperwork.
"Cuddles? I thought you meant we could have-"
"No sex at work. You know what happened to my office last time." Spitfire was quick to cut her husband off.
The stallion's efforts faltered yet a knowing grin shot across his face. "But you said-"
"I know what I said. Fleetfoot had it coming. We can have all the sex you want right after our Friday night drinks tonight. Okay?"
"Alright boss," Soarin rolled his eyes as he set to work massaging his missus once more.
"Hey, I'm your wife."
"Isn't that the same thing?"
"You bet your arse it is, especially at work," Spitfire smirked at her stallion.
Ponyville, Bon Bon's candies
With the sun beating down mercilessly upon her back, Lyra arrived at the sweets shop she called home; Bon Bon's candies. With a deep breath, she readied herself for anything.
Despite the closed sign, the bright green unicorn pushed the door open with ease and carefully made her way inside. The cozy shop was dark, the shelves, normally filled with all manner of treats was empty. Lyra heard shuffling upstairs and felt nervous bubbles filter though her system. She took a deep breath and once again reminded herself that it was fine. Bon Bon probably just forgotten something and had to rush home, that's all.
Against her better judgment, Lyra found her hooves moving slowly and carefully as they carried her quietly behind the counter then through the door to the part of the dwelling that was their home. As she carefully closed the door, the mint green mare thought she heard two ponies talking upstairs.
Bon Bon had company?
The surprised unicorn quickly ascended the stairs and came before the couples bedroom door. Rather than open it, she pressed her ear against the wood. Who was that pony her darling was talking to?
"-but I'm telling you, it was a Pinkie sense warning and she said something bad was going to happen close to Canterlot. I worry that it could be the bugbear we captured or another large menace." The mare's voice was slightly muted thanks to the door in the way, but it was certainly Lyra's love in there.
Bugbear? Lyra scrunched up her muzzle in confusion, what bugbear? What was her marefriend talking about?
"That mission never happened." The gruff voice that addressed the earth pony inside the bedroom gave Lyra extra cause for concern.
A stallion?
What was a stallion doing talking to her Bonny in their bedroom?
"Look, I'm telling you, as one of your best agents, please don't ignore this. If the recent problems with the griffons head toward war then we really don't need more dangerous creatures roaming about out there."
Lyra shot the door a look, what was Bon Bon talking about? War? More dangerous creatures? Agent?
Just as the green listener was about to bust in and see who her mare was talking to and what exactly was going on, she heard the strange stallion speak once more:
"You're right. I'll have a talk with my superiors. Please come to Canterlot at once and meet with the head of our new organization. Either way, this is on you, agent Sweetie Drops."
"That name died when we were closed down," snapped Bon Bon.
"That clearly didn't stop you contacting me today because some pony's body jingled."
The candy maker growled in annoyance, "for the third time, Pinkie sense isn't made up, even though no pony can understand it. This is-"
The stallion cut the candy-maker off, "then you will meet us in Canterlot in our old room in three hours."
"Me? But... what am I to tell everypony here?"
"I don't care what you tell everypony, I'm sure Celestia will want to see you too. It may even be asked of you to head the team sent to find this menacing creature."
A moments silence reigned down hard upon Lyra as an ever increasing barrage of questions shot through her head. What was her marefriend talking about? Who was this strange stallion? What organization? And who in Equestria was Sweetie Drops?!
"Alright," Bon Bon finally spoke up. "I'll see you in three hours, I'll just have tell my marefriend I have had something important come up in Canterlot. Then I'll be right over."
"Confirmed. Over and out."
"Yes sir. Over and our." Bon Bon sighed loudly, a pop and fizzle followed then everything went quiet.
Lyra slumped against the door in shock. What was going on? Just- just...
What?
All of a sudden the door opened and the leaning unicorn fell side first into her marefriend. The confectioner yelped in surprise and fell back. The two mares fell onto the bedroom floor and lay there in a heap of surprised pony.
"What are you-?"
"Lyra?" Bon Bon gaped, "w-what are you doing here?"
Lyra shifted her muzzle to better gaze at her lover below, her mind a wild mix of confusion while her limbs refused to work properly. "I came to check on my precious candy-maker, then I hear something strange that makes my head hurt. Bonny, what's going on? What's this about a secret agent? And who's this Sweetie Drops?"
The creme mare on the bottom sweatdropped. "Uh... how much did you hear?"
"Enough to make me wonder who it is that I lay with each night. Was our whole relationship a lie?"
"I'm sorry, Lyra. I couldn't tell you for your own protection." Bon Bon reached up and slowly ran a hoof through her precious unicorn's white and cyan two-toned mane.
Lyra shook her lover's hoof off then placed a hoof on the floor to better support herself as she continued to gaze into the panicked eyes of her Bonny, "w-wh... But the lunches... the long talks... the benches we sat on... None of that real? Have I been making love to a stranger, Bon Bon? Or should I call you Sweetie Drops?" A teardrop fell upon the earth pony on the bottom who flinched at the sudden waterworks.
"Lyra, you're my very best friend. You're even the best marefriend and lover a girl like me could ask for. I'm still me. I used to be Sweetie Drops until-" a hesitant pause rent the air. A few moments later the creme earth pony slowly continued, "-until the bugbear we captured escaped Tartarus. Princess Celestia demanded complete deniability. They shuttered the whole operation and gave all of us new names. I'm Bon Bon, okay?"
"Well, what about that stallion I heard? Have you been seeing somepony behind my back? Am I not good enough for you?"
Bon Bon recoiled as though stung, "eeeww, no! You're the first pony I ever dated. I don't think I could even see a stallion like that. Especially after meeting you!"
The mare on top slowly shrank back as she sat up. "I- I don't know what to think now..."
Bon Bon lay on the hard wooden floor for a few moments, gazing up into her lover's eyes. Pain and betrayal radiated from the golden orbs that normally were such a source of wonder and joy. A pit formed in her stomach as she dreaded the damage she had just inflicted on their relationship. Maybe it would have been better to just ignore the warning from Pinkie and continue to live blissfully with her Lyra.
But no. Pinkie sense was not to be ignored unless you wanted something really bad to happen. In fact, something bad had probably already happened. Now it was up to her to respond quickly before whatever it was got worse. With a slight shake to her voice, Bon Bon, at last, managed to respond, "then I guess you heard that I'm summoned to Canterlot."
"Yes."
At the stony look on her lover's face, Bon Bon sighed. "This is probably a bad idea, but please... come with me. I- I'll explain everything on the way there."
The mint unicorn eyed her lover cautiously. "You mean it?"
"Yes." As Lyra was about to respond Bon Bon continued, "but. But I'm still the same pony okay? I'm Bon Bon."
Lyra nodded slowly, her expression guarded. Hurt and anger swirled behind a curtain of uncertainty.
Bon Bon slowly continued, "I want you to promise me that you will not speak about this to anypony else. My past with the agency is so top secret that as far as anypony is concerned, those four years of my life never happened. Okay?"
"Four years?"
"Yes."
"But I thought we knew everything about each other!" A hint of more tears threatened to escape from the unicorn as her anger at being deceived by her loved one escaped. "I-I thought I knew you! You were my amazing candy mare! What about making Bon Bons as a filly? What about you growing up, always moving around thanks to your dad's job?"
"It happened." Bon Bon was quick to confirm. "The story of how I got my cutie mark is as true now as it was when I first told it to you, okay?"
"And when you came to Ponyville and told me you had worked as a travelling confectioner all across Equestria?"
The creme mare sighed, she really had to get moving if she was to make the next train. "That's a long story, I'll tell you on the train. Okay?"
The mint green unicorn nodded slowly, still uncertain. Her lip trembled as a few tears escaped.
Bon Bon slowly extracted herself from the floor and stood. The ex-secret agent tentatively held out her forehooves. The musician propelled herself into the warm loving hold of her special somepony, almost knocking them both over once more. There Lyra cried quietly for a few moments as she nuzzled up close and held on for dear life. The candy-maker simply held her most precious pony and allowed the emotions to escape, torn between her shaky heart and the need to get moving.
As the tender moment faded, Lyra withdrew and rubbed a forehoof across her eyes to try and dry them. The mint green unicorn went in for a quick kiss but paused as she realized what she was about to do. Should she really kiss Sweetie Drops? She still felt like her Bonny... With a shuddering sigh, the unicorn pulled back. No kiss.
"Lead on. Please tell me the truth- the whole truth this time about your past."
"Four years, the rest is all true," Bon Bon nodded slowly, the pit in her tummy filled with foreboding and guilt. Now, what was she going to tell her superiors? Were they even her superiors still? Did her marefriend even trust her anymore?
Ugh... this had turned into one big mess and she wasn't even out of Ponyville!
Bon Bon slowly led the way downstairs, Lyra grabbed her lyre from the couch as they passed through the lounge and out the door to the front. This was going to be a long ride.
Forest of Canterlot mountain, North-east of Canterlot.
Blood stained the earth of the otherwise picturesque forest floor near where two griffons stood. Down the mountain, several miles away lay Canterlot in all its glory, half hidden by all the trees. In the little clearing where the two griffons stood, splotches of blood led to a thick patch of bushes that had been well tramped. A white griffon with more than a little blood on her beak and body stood proudly over her work.
"So, are we gonna see some action or what?" Mistwing eyed her target as she patted the spot the zebra was hidden.
The tawny brown griffon turned his attention from his companion as he spotted movement on the road a good distance from where they stood in the bush.
"Hey, what are you looking at. I'm here featherbrain."
"I see movement..." Volibeak stated calmly as he settled down to avoid drawing attention to himself.
Mistwing gave her flank a wiggle, "yea, I'm moving, doofus."
"Not you, them." The tawny brown griffon pointed out of the forest at the road from Canterlot.
"Oooh... You know what I'm thinking?" The white female fluffed her red accents and licked her beak as her gaze flittered between the pair of ponies and her to-be mate.
Two pegasi wandered down the road side by side, blissfully unaware of the watchful eyes that tracked them.
Volibeak grinned. "Remember our Chief's words?"
"Which ones?" Mistwing asked as she moseyed up close to her chosen mate and jabbed him in the ribs for fun.
"What he said about the bearers of harmony. One yellow pegasus with a pink mane and a blue pegasus with a rainbow mane. I think we've found Gilda's old friend."
"Let's kill them," Mistwing replied eagerly as she prepared to rush out of cover and attack.
"Cool down, let them get closer..." Volibeak grinned. "If they get close enough then and only then we take them!"
"Why wait so long, they are far enough from the city."
Volibeak shot his companion a hard look. "No. We must not let any pony from Canterlot see. Who knows what would happen if we start the war earlier than our master has planned."
Mistwing thought for a moment, "what if I strip you down then watch the show? I can make you look like a ...rogue griffon or something. They apparently have been causing problems. Then you don't get us all in trouble if you accidentally get spotted by a guard." Sharp eyes drifted up and down the unit leader's form as she eyed him hungrily.
"A backup plan in case we do get caught?"
"What if I want to see my handsome mate kill two pegasi without wearing any protection?"
Volibeak smirked back as he began to shed armour as carefully and quietly as possible, "help me out of this."
"With pleasure..."
Smokey Mountain
Dappled light shone through the trees creating pretty patches on the path that Trixie walked slowly along. Her harness pushed lightly against her barrel as her home moved along the slight downhill stretch of bushland. To her right was the steep downhill slope of the mountain that fell off into the bushlands below. In the distance one could see Smoky village. The performer knew that beyond that village lay the city of Vanhoover in all its glory. Trixie turned to gaze to the left to eye the forest that lined the road. It grew dense quickly as the slope slowly increased.
In front of the azure unicorn lay the path as it sloped gently down the mountain before it wound off toward the village in the distance. With a contented sigh, her gaze returned to the forest on her left. Wait. Something moved in the foliage far off. Something with a hint of brown was it?
"The great and powerful Trixie is not being followed," she reminded herself. "After all, we saw no pony following us when we discovered the long lost amulet."
Her thoughts fell to the unusual amulet she had found. It felt so full of raw power, so willing to give her all she could ever ask... Trixie had been a bit too scared to put it on quite yet. However, she was sure it would help her beat Twilight and prove that she was the greatest. She was the great and powerful Trixie after all.
All of a sudden a strange sensation washed over the unicorn. She was being watched. Somehow, some creature had found her, high on the mountain. With a shudder, she silently wished it was something peaceful. It had better not be a wild beast, watching her with hungry eyes. Or- or a stallion who wanted to have his way with a lone mare. Trixie bristled. Whatever it was, if they tried anything, they would discover they had another thing coming. She was not as defenceless as she appeared. For she was the great and powerful-
An explosion threw her thoughts into disarray. Her harness shoved roughly against her as the shockwave followed and threw the young mare against the road.
"Ow, what in the-" She was cut off as something jumped on her and slammed her roughly back onto the cobblestones. A claw raked against her back and she cried out in pain.
The performer frantically powered up her horn and shoved her attacker off. She hastily undid the straps of her broken harness only to take a step back in shock.
Before her stood a dark brown tawny griffon. It was clothed in leather, protectively covering most of its body whilst leaving plenty of room for its wings, head and legs to move freely.
Before she could process anything else, a pair of brown wings unfurled and propelled the griffon right back into her face. It pounced on her, she panicked and poured a great deal of magic into her horn. The magical blast sent the griffon tumbling into the nearest bush on the foresty side of the road. The door to her home burst open as a dark grey griffon headbutted its way through then squawked angrily at her.
She shot a blot of magic at the intruder, he narrowly dodged it and the bolt burned a hole the wooden caravan. The griffon pulled something out of a pocket on his small bag and threw what looked like a little black rock at the unicorn. Despite her attempt to dodge, it honed in and stuck to her horn.
Trixie retaliated with another blast of magic only for her horn to splutter, spark and send out a blast of magic so small the griffon simply stood there while his fur ruffled in the breeze. The unicorn's limbs suddenly felt dead with terror, the stage performer stumbled back a step toward the steep mountainside. "What have you done!?"
The griffon in her doorway turned to face the inside of her cart and yelled; "keep looking, we know its in there somewhere!"
Whoever was inside yelled back, "you were the one who went and blew a hole in the side to get in, now everything is everywhere! Kill the mare, I'll keep looking!"
The dark grey griffon smiled keenly at the lone pony. Trixie felt a surge of adrenaline rush through her system as a fresh wave of panic filled her system. She was so totally gonna die!
Why, oh why would something like this happen to her? She was the great and powerful Trixie! She was suposed to be adored, looked up to by loving fans. Not... this!
The griffon she had repulsed strode toward her across the road and shook his head groggily. "I'm sorry, but no survivors are allowed."
The grey griffon in the doorway stepped out of her home, "run. Please. It will make this more fun."
With one quick, fearful look back at her poor home, Trixie leapt off the road and made a break for it. She rushed down the mountainside, her hooves slipped as the terrain became steeper. She heard the rustle of wings as her pursuers glided after her. Twin shadows passed overhead as she leapt over a rock and almost smacked into a tree. With unsteady hooves, she forced herself to keep running, faster and faster down the slope. Trixie broke into a less dense spot. One of the griffons took the opportunity and swooped down toward her. She saw the shadow grow, but due to her speed, could do nothing to avert the collision. Time slowed down as sharp claws raked across her back. Pain blasted her system and she barely was able to force her hooves to hit the ground and not fail under her. Searing hot pain radiated from her back as she continued to sprint helter-skelter downhill in a mad dash. She felt another attack might be incoming and did her best to power up a shield. Claws scratched along the dome that stuttered under the control of the panicked unicorn. Her magic once again failed and the weak bubble broke. The black stuff on her horn burned with an intensity that made her eyes water. Desperate to still the spinning sensation that followed, she forced herself to keep looking ahead as she stormed onwards. There had to be cover somewhere, anywhere!
The griffon circled off somewhere overhead. Trixie tried to slow her descent as she thundered into a thick grove and slammed mercilessly into a tree. She fell to the ground, groaning softly. Stars spun across her vision while her whole world burned with brutal, searing pain.
This wasn't right!
She was not supposed to endure pain!
She was Trixie!
The great and powerful Trixie!
Laughter broke her internal tirade. Her head snapped up to face the grey griffon as he alighted at the edge of the grove. As his companion touched down beside him, he strode into the grove. His posture was that of utter assurance. He knew he had her. This was it, it was the end.
"Thank you for finding the alicorn amulet. Our master will reward us greatly for your success, please, die knowing you have done us a great service."
The mage struggled to rise, to escape, but realized one of her forelegs was wrong. Something was broken.
Trixie charged up her horn, tried to attack, to do anything! But between the pain, the black stuff on her horn and the fear, all she managed was a small blast that singed the griffon's leather armour. Trixie flailed desperately as the griffon leapt at her, talons outstretched, ready to end her life.
Author's Note:
What do you think?
As I was making my first round of changes to the story (both unpublished and previously published chapters) I actually removed the scene up front here in the eatery between Fluttershy and Dash as I wasn't sure it added much.
It made it back in as I polished things up and built up the new content. I did so because I felt like the cute Flutterdash was lacking and I wanted a bit more to balance Trixie's scene out. I am going for a mix of cute romance and grim fighting after all.
Hope the balance comes across well.