mylittlejamjar | First Licorice [Visual, postdated to after the event]

First Licorice [Visual, postdated to after the event]

Hello, everypony. Some of you may not recognize me from around town, which is fair... I only just got one of these scrolls. My name is Bon Bon, and yes, that means I'm the one who runs the candy shop downtown. Either way, I've got a few announcements to make, now that the nasty business with the eclipses is over.

Firstly: Since it's only a month until Nightmare Night, I'm accepting suggestions for varieties of candy to make for the big day-before sale. Last year's celebrations being cut short by the actual Nightmare Moon I entirely blame on my stocking of way too much black licorice, so I want to know if you all can help make the holiday not a catastrophic failure this year.

Secondly: thanks to that eclipse, I actually do have a bit of a surplus here, so until the end of the month, all taffy is 75% off. Something to chew on for a while. [The mare chuckles, quietly, at her own joke.]

Finally: Until further notice, Zetta and all of those who collaborated with him are blacklisted from the Sugar Shack. I understand that it was apparently some super-secret plan to lure out the evil mastermind keeping all of the offworlders here, but you caused Lyra and Fluttershy to work themselves into exhaustion, made one of my employees sick, and turned the other into a bear! [Yes, Zetta, she's blaming you for that too even if it happened after the fact. And was technically Teddie's fault.] If you want me to lift the ban, then I'm expecting a pretty big apology. Yes, your majesties, that includes you two, too. I'm a businessmare, not a politician, and you hurt my bottom line, so I have to take action.

Thank you all for your time.

---
[Private to Dame Trixie]

Trixie? I wanted to thank you for pulling Fluttershy and Lyra out of that mess. There was only so much I could do at the time, and... yeah. Thanks.

That said, maybe it'd be best if you don't talk to Lyra about the version of her you know just yet. She's getting capital-i Ideas, and she needs time to rest before she starts getting more and ending up right back where she was.

---
[Private to Kyouko and Teddie]

Kyouko, Theodore.

Just so you know, I'm still gonna need you guys to come in tomorrow. I know it's a really stressful time, but if there's one thing I've learned in life it's that you've got to roll with what life throws at you. If nothing else, a day at the shop might be a good way to help Kyouko learn how to... [she hesitates, before glancing aside and coughing into a hoof.]...bear it, maybe.

---
[Private to Lyra and OU!Shy]

You two are on strict bed rest orders for the next week. Doctor Bon's orders.

If you two so much as think of sneaking out on me or not getting the rest you need, you're on poison joke harvesting duty for a month. And I'll figure out a way for you to have to do it without your unicorn magic, too.

I'm serious. Equestria is okay now, get some sleep.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh, we know as much as that. Lyra stays here. We just came to deliver a personal message to her, that's all.

I'll deliver it. She better be asleep right now, and I'd prefer you not wake her.

Is someone downstairs? [Lyra's upstairs after all.]

[Fluttercruel smiles. It's at least a little bit vicious.]

Oi, Lyra, you're awake! We came to see you!

[There's a faint eyelid twitch as she hears Lyra's voice upstairs. There is a REASON she said she'd better be asleep. And with that, she does, in fact, step aside to let Fluttercruel at Lyra. You better believe she's keeping close, though.]

[Fluttercruel doesn't mind the watching. Bonbon could get a decent lesson out of what she's about to do. She just wordlessly walks upstairs to Lyra's room. Only once he's in, she speaks, slowly making her way over to Lyra.]

So... Lyra. Are you doing well?

Well, I've been better. I'm tired but mending. [Something is nagging her at the back of her head. Something she forgot.] Did you come to visit just to see us?

Good to hear that. Yes, you certainly are the mare of the bucking hour, aren't you.

[Her head tilts a little as she reaches Lyra. That sure is a sweet smile, isn't it?]

We came to tell you...

[And just like that, the smile drops into a sudden anger.]

Reaper Challenge...

[She then punches Lyra's nose. Hard. She hopes it breaks.]

Failed.

Edited 2014-09-21 03:54 (UTC)

[OW! Was that stars? She saw stars. And her nose was broken, it was bleeding as she held a tissue to it.

Very calmly, she straightened her nose out with a crack and winced. And then intoned nasally,] I deserved that.

[That was it. That was the straw that broke the camel's back. She doesn't even hear Lyra's statement before she leaps at Fluttercruel, seeking to repay that punch tenfold.]

HOW DARE YOU?!

Edited (oops html) 2014-09-21 04:01 (UTC)

[Unfortunately, for Bonbon, Fluttercruel has been trained in self-defense. Even more, she's been further trained for sword-dodging by Dame Rarity. Combine those two? Well, it seems Bonbon just attacked nothing.]

Hey, Cruel Kindness is Cruel Kindness. Both of us told her not to bucking fight, and she bucking fought. I'm honestly surprised you didn't do the same.

EXCUSE you! There was nothing kind about that! You probably just broke her nose!

Kicking a pony when they're already down isn't cruel kindness, it's just cruel!

[On the plus side she's not attacking Cruelly after that initial outburst. She is screaming and on the verge of tears, however.]

Bon Bon, wait! Wait, just wait! It really is my fault.

[And Lyra was forcing the pair apart, her chest shining. She had dragged herself out of bed for this as her nose mended visibly.]

Just stop. Just stop fighting, both of you. There's already too much mistrust and anger everywhere, and this was my fault! I promised to stay out of it and I failed that test. It was my fault, and my punishment.

[The energy from Lyra's heart pulsed once and she gripped her chest.] Please, I deserved it. Don't fight for me, Bonnie, you know that whatever happened I brought it upon myself. And Fluttercruel, I'm so sorry. I lost control when I saw those children being attacked I couldn't stand by and do nothing. So for what it's worth, I'll do whatever you two say from now on."

[Fluttercruel snorts a little, casting her gaze over to Lyra.]

...Couldn't? Nah. Didn't want to. Reaper Challenges just aren't enough. We want you to Pinkie Promise to listen to us when it matters. And then another promise not to bucking overwork yourself.

She could have waited until you healed to bust open your nose, if you really deserved it.

[...seriously, Bon Bon?]

One Pinkie Promise will do, I think. But that'll have to wait until there's...

[Bon Bon looks around nervously. Please don't summon Pinkie Pie into her house.]

[...Fluttercruel can't resist.]

Pinkie Diane, Pinkie Diane, Pinkie Diane.

[Saying her name three times works, right?]

... all right, if that what it takes. I'm so tired, and I just want to rest. Too much is at stake and I can't even deal right now.

[And Lyra goes through the motions.] Breaking this promise will probably lose me all of my friends.

FOREVER!

[And Pinkie slowly lowered back into the sock drawer.]

Okay. We're happy now.

[A few seconds go by before she turns to Bonbon.]

...Hey, whatcha got for sale? Anything really bitter?

[...Damn it all, now she's going to have to wash those socks all over again.

It was worth it if it means Lyra actually listens, though.]

Only my resentment for a mare who thinks it's okay to storm into someone's house to break their best friend's nose.

[No, she's not going to let you live that down, miss Reaper Challenge.]

Anything bitter would have to be a custom order right now, I think... closest I've got is a stash of chocolate coffee beans from last time I visited Canterlot.

[Cruelly doesn't make any iundication that she heard that resentment comment.]

Great. We'll take two packs of those.

...They come in packs, right?

...Hey, we'll have to show you to this really good coffee place. They make the most bitter coffee here.

I'll pass. I'm more of a mocha mare.

[Bon Bon turns to glance at Lyra, worry obvious on her face.]

I'll be right back, Lyra... okay?

Go ahead. I'm just going to rest up here. [And she flips back on her bed.]

[With a simple nod of her head, Bon Bon beckons Fluttercruel to come downstairs with her. It'll be a simple transaction, but one she needs to make.]

First Licorice [Visual, postdated to after the event]

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