Bon-Bon: Lyra, did you notice Fluttershy and Rarity acting strange today?

Lyra: No, but Twilight and Applejack seemed… off somehow. Like, distant maybe?

Bon-Bon: I wonder if its some kind of Harmony crisis.

Lyra: Maybe they’re just stressed. Or, ha! Maybe its Changelings!

Bon-Bon: Hahaha! Yeah, that’ll be the day!

[Pause]

Bon-Bon: Maybe I should contact-?

Lyra: Yeah… Yeah you do that.

Lyra: That griffin was incredible! I bet if she was pitching too they’d have had to enact mercy rules!

Bon-Bon: She was something else, alright! I’m glad Golden Harvest invited us.

Lyra: I’m glad she invited you to join her Buckball team! Raindrops and I might be trash, but you really do deserve that spot.

Bon-Bon: I’m not sure how often I’ll be needed, but I’ll stay in practice for sure. [Pause] And I’m proud of you, Lyra.

Lyra: Me?

Bon-Bon: That score you made against GH’s team. I didn’t want it to come off the wrong way; like I wouldn’t have been proud if you hadn’t caught any goals. But that you worked so hard and improved so much. You tried Lyra. I’m so proud of you for trying.

Lyra: I only give up on something if I feel it’s a waste. But since it was to help you, I knew it wasn’t.

Bon-Bon: Aww! Lyra, that’s so- Wait a minute. You gave up on cooking.

Lyra: Ah… Uh….

Bon-Bon: Cooking is not a waste, Lyra!
Lyra: Gee, is the sun setting already? I still have a few errands I need to run!
Bon-Bon: Cooking is an art form! A discipline! It’s an essential life skill!
Lyra: I’ll catch you later, Bon-Bon! Don’t wait up!
Bon-Bon: Lyra! LYRA! I CAN RUN FASTER THAN YOU!

Lyra: Are you alright, Bon-Bon? What’s wrong?

Bon-Bon: Minuette is stuck in Canterlot, some issue with the trains. Vinyl can’t leave Manehatten. And while we have Raindrops here to fill in for Blossomforth after she sprained her wing- we have no unicorn!

Golden Harvest: Oh no! I’m so sorry, Bon-Bon! Should we reschedule again?

Bon-Bon: No… I’ve already held your team up. I don’t want to make you three have to keep pushing matches back because of me.

Golden Harvest: What if we let you borrow a player?

Bon-Bon: It wouldn’t be the same… Besides, we practiced plays and maneuvers-
Golden Harvest: I understand, Bon-Bon.

Lyra: [Sigh] I’ll do it.

Bon-Bon: I appreciate that, Lyra, but-
Lyra: I know the game, I know the team’s strategies. I know I’m terrible and I know there’s no way we’ll win. But I also know you love playing this game. And the only reason I ever agreed to play is because I saw how excited you were. I wanted to help you do what you love. Now, would you rather try as hard as you can and still lose or lose by default?

Bon-Bon: You know what, GH? We’ll at least give your team some real practice before you take this show on the road!

Golden Harvest: I’ll let the girls know, but we won’t go easy on you!

Bon-Bon: You’d better not! [Pause] Thanks, Lyra.

Lyra: Of course. Ready to lose, Raindrops?
Raindrops: Heehee! Wouldn’t be the first time, won’t be the last!

Bon-Bon: That was good practice! I feel great!
Lyra: Uh huh…

Bon-Bon: I feel prepared for my first game tomorrow!
Lyra: Good for you…

Bon-Bon: Speaking of which… you’re… off the team.

Lyra: … Fine…

Bon-Bon: I mean, you never wanted to play anyway, right?

Lyra: Not want to play sports? Me? Whatever gave you that idea? I love getting hit in the face with a dodgeball, tripping over a basket and falling in the mud every fifteen minutes. Nevermind all the sighing and shaking heads everypony else-
Bon-Bon: Alright, I get it. Sorry I even asked you to play.

Lyra: … So, who is replacing me?

Bon-Bon: Minuette.
Lyra: Minuette? She barely had time to practice. What happened to Pon3?

Bon-Bon: Her schedule is just too unstable. One minute she’s fine and the next she’s booked for a week. She’s fine as a reserve, but we can’t depend on her.

Lyra: So you, Blossomforth, and Minuette vs. Golden Harvest, Amethyst Star, and…?
Bon-Bon: Muffins, unfortunately. Turns out she’s a natural when she’s not hamstringed as an earth pony. Bad call on my part for letting her go.

Lyra: Well good luck to you. I’m gonna go pass out on the floor, because I’m too dirty to climb into bed.

Bon-Bon: Lyra! Blossomforth is all over you! Move!

Lyra: [Panting] Blossomforth… Can SEE DEEZ NUTS!

Blossomforth: Ugh! Rude!
Bon-Bon: Blossomforth can’t see anything if she’s standing on them. Come on! It doesn’t matter how much I have the ball if you give me nothing to work with!

Raindrops: I think you’re doing great, Lyra!

Lyra: … Thanks, Raindrops.

Octavia: Good evening, Vinyl. You look well-rested, which I would consider to be odd given we stand upon a sports field. I take it practice is a little one-sided?

Lyra: H-hey Octavia!

Octavia: Good evening, Lyra. Bonnie.
Bon-Bon: Octavia.

Octavia: Now Vinyl, you’ll recall that patron in Manehattan that canceled on you? … Well, they uncanceled. I came to see you as a formality, thinking you’d be too exhausted to perform. However-

Bon-Bon: It’s alright, Vinyl, you go ahead. I don’t think you’ll be getting much practice like this anyway. You and Raindrops can go too, Muffins. And thanks for filling in for our earth pony today!

Muffins: Sure! Happy to help! Although I’m not really sure I did anything…?

Bon-Bon: We’ll keep practicing, if you’re up to it Blossomforth.

Blossomforth: You bet!

Raindrops: I’ll just stick around and cheer everypony on then! Hehe, I don’t really have anything else to do.

Bon-Bon: Alright, Lyra. Get up.

Lyra: … Like I haven’t got embarrassed enough today…

Lyra: That as pretty fun! And Snails was amazing! He looked like a professional out there!

Bon-Bon: He certainly did. I had no idea he was so gifted.

Lyra: I wonder if that game will become more popular.

Bon-Bon: Maybe. Buckball looks like a fun game, but…

Lyra: But what?

Bon-Bon: Why were the unicorns just standing there? It made it far too easy for the pegasus to block. Appleloosa’s pegasus was terrible. The only reason she blocked as many shots as she did was through physical presence. That’s not very athletic.

Lyra: It was probably in the rules. A moving goalpost is already pretty intense.

Bon-Bon: I wonder if I couldn’t change a few rules to make it better…

Lyra: Why does that sound sinister?

Lyra: Bon-Bon! Bonnie!

Bon-Bon: What? What’s wrong?

Lyra: Nothing! Have you heard about this Buckball thing?

Bon-Bon: Oh. Yeah.

Lyra: So you’re not interested?

Bon-Bon: It sounded alright, but I only heard about it in passing.

Lyra: The match is taking place in Appleloosa. They’re shuttling fans over for free!

Bon-Bon: Free? Well alright Buckball! Let’s go Team Ponyville!

Lyra: Yeah! Daycation! Woo!

Bon-Bon: I have made a terrible mistake…

Lyra: Haha! Wow! Is that off-season cider?! Non-alcoholic, I assume.

Bon-Bon: Well, of course. What do you take me for?

Lyra: Clearly “a hypocrite” would be asking too much. How about, “a pony“?

Bon-Bon: Why in Equestria did I hire Twist? I’ve never had an employee before! What do I do if she messes up?! I could never discipline her, let alone fire her! She’s just a filly, and she’s my friend! I taught her for a year! She looked up to me! It would crush her!

Lyra: Did she do anything wrong today?
Bon-Bon: Yes! Well, no. I don’t know!

Lyra: … Should I as-?
Bon-Bon: I returned to the shop to show Twist how to close and went into the back. I noticed a container of cinnamon misplaced. I asked Twist about it and she said her hooves were full carrying the cinnamon rock candy she made.

Lyra: … This is over something stupid, isn’t it?
Bon-Bon: She’s not supposed to be cooking without me!
Lyra: Alright alright! Did you tell her that?

Bon-Bon: I was about to… But she said she was replacing the supply that got bought out, just like I’d do it. And I tasted it, and it was just like I make it. So… So I don’t know!

Lyra: Not used to trusting somepony else, are you?

Bon-Bon: As long as I do it I know it’s done right.

Lyra: This will be a great learning experience for you then! Or the straw that breaks the pony’s back. One of the two, I’m sure.

Bon-Bon: So, that’s the offer… What do you think?

Twist: I think that’th a pretty big deal…

Bon-Bon: Yes… But…?

Twist: Ah-ah! Butt’th are for thitting, Mth. Bon-Bon. And I’d be happy to acthept!

Bon-Bon: You are?! That’s great! I mean, for you. I mean, thank you!

Twist: Of courthe! How could I thay no?

Bon-Bon: Now you understand this is serious business. You can’t just leave for no reason or not show up-
Twist: Of courthe, Mth. Bon-Bon.

Bon-Bon: I’m going to be scheduling things with your presence in mind-
Twist: Of courthe, Mth. Bon-Bon.

Bon-Bon: If you get sick or- heavens forbid- hurt, you may have to come in anyway until I can relieve you. U-unless it’s serious-!
Twist: Of courthe, Mth. Bon-Bon.

Bon-Bon: And we’re still going to have to figure out something once school starts back up-
Twist: Oh Mth. Bon-Bon! Of courthe!

Bon-Bon: Fantastic! Can you start tomorrow?

Twist: I had planned to thtop by anyway! I’ll be here with bellth on!

Bon-Bon: Oh Twist, you’re the best! … But don’t let it go to your head.

Twist: Yeth, Mth. Bon-Bon.

No! It’s okay. I mean, I wouldn’t get sad if I didn’t still care for him. I don’t want to forget about him… and I don’t want ponies to act like he didn’t happen.

It didn’t work out. I know we both tried, but we grew apart. There was no big fight and we didn’t split up on unfavorable terms. I mean, we hardly ever fought at all. There were a few times, and I won’t pretend they were small or insignificant. But we got through those.

We both thought it was meant to be, but… it just couldn’t stand up to time…

Life caught up to the both of us and… we were just so busy… Sometimes we didn’t talk for days or weeks. Then I turned around and… a whole year had passed…

[Sniff] … Part of me wishes we could have got married. But part of me is glad we didn’t. Not glad… terrified that if we had, this still would have happened. And things between us would have ended much worse. At least this way I can always love him and look back fondly on the time we shared.

… I’ve never mentioned this before… but shortly after we broke up, they changed the laws on interspecies marriage… Krastos and I… We could have… it just wasn’t meant to be…

Sweetie Belle! It’s… It’s you! I mean, not you but you you! Oh my gosh, it’s been so long since you even recognized me!

Me? I’m fine! We’re fine! Everythings… I mean it’s been years. A lot has changed. Do you know Twist? One of the fillies you go to school with? Bon-Bon has been training her in candy making for over a year now. I think she plans to offer her a summer job after this school year ends. If somepony else could watch the store for her, that’d give her more time to herself! Which would be pretty convenient since she and I have been traveling here and there lately.

Bon-Bon and I have… got ourselves involved in a sort-of project. I probably won’t go back to teaching once this year is over. Not that my working in a high school ever really effected you.

But how are you doing, Sweetie? I mean, I see you and your friends around town sometimes. Do you have your…? I mean, it caused quite a stir in the academic world when you three got them. But of course it’s okay if you don’t! It’s not a big deal or anything. It’s just… I’ve seen you helping others with their cutie marks. I just want to congratulate you personally if you… you know… have yours.

It’s so good to hear from you, Sweetie Belle. I don’t know how all this multi-dimensional stuff works, but it’s just good to know that you’re still out there somewhere.

Lyra: So… Uh. Did you ever hear anything back about that… um…

Bon-Bon: Hear back about what, Lyra?

Lyra: You know… That government grant?

Bon-Bon: Lyra, why would I hear back about something that doesn’t exist?

Lyra: Ah… Wh-? You…?

Bon-Bon: You know what really bothers me about that, Lyra? It’s not that you lied. I’m honored that you’d devote so much of your income toward my business. You knew I would never ask that of you, but you went out of your way to help me financially. That touches me, Lyra. It’s not even that you tried to keep the truth from me for so long. I mean, it’s not like it mattered. I found out the very next day. But let me ask you something, Lyra. Do you think I’m stupid?

Lyra: No! I was-

Bon-Bon: Did you think I would just take what was given to me at face-value? That I wouldn’t research this grant extensively? This is my business we’re talking about. For lack of a better phrase, this is my life. I wasn’t about to risk some loophole ruining everything. I would have read every clause- talked to lawyers, financial advisers. Maybe I wouldn’t have been able to get an audience with Princess Celestia, but you can bet your flank I would have tried! If anything I’m a little disappointed you didn’t put more effort in to cover your tracks. You’re a very lazy liar.

Lyra: So… You’re not mad?

Bon-Bon: Why would I be? You’ve given me something that few ponies ever have. Trust. That’s not something I take lightly. I feel like we’re really in this together, Lyra. I hope you understand how valuable that is to me.

Bon-Bon: Rebecca. I know you only want the best for me, but who I spend my days with is not your decision to make. And if you respect me for the things I’ve done, then you have to respect Lyra for the things she was forced to struggle through. That’s why I like spending time with her. Secret organizations, life-threatening situations, cloak-and-dagger; it may not have been my first choice, but it was still my choice. Lyra didn’t have that choice.

Bon-Bon: Besides, you think I want to be spoon-fed ambrosia from a silver bowl? I moved out here so I could be a normal mare. I like Lyra because she doesn’t treat me special. She never did. I didn’t do what I did for wealth or stature, I did it because it was the right thing. And we don’t do the right thing expecting something in return. We do it-
Ribbon: Because it’s right…

Bon-Bon: You’re my sister and I still love you, Rebecca. But this is it. If you do something like this again I can’t have you in my life anymore. I know when Mom gave up on me it put a lot of pressure on you, but you’re the one that choose to accept that pressure. And you’ve more than risen to her expectations! It’s ridiculous that I can trust you with my secret identity but not my everyday life.
Ribbon: But what about when she leaves? What about when you’re left here all alone?
Lyra: Why does everypony keep thinking I’m going somewhere?
Bon-Bon: We don’t live expecting the worst. We just enjoy what we have while we have it. It’s all we can do.
Ribbon: I’m… I’m sorry, Samantha! I’m sorry, Lyra!
Bon-Bon: I choose to believe you. Please don’t make that a mistake… And don’t call me Samantha.

Ribbon: I don’t… I mean I never…
Lyra: If you don’t know, I can tell you. It’s because I’m an orphan. Because I’m poor. I have no past and I might as well have no future.
Ribbon: That is not-!
Lyra: I don’t belong in your life unless I’m one of those poor ponies begging for your help: “They have to find me innocent, right?! I was never there! I don’t even know them!“ You can’t stand that you have no power over me!
Ribbon: Bonnie shouldn’t have to-!
Lyra: You act like it’s about her, but it’s all about you, isn’t it?! I’m not what you want! I’m just a street urchin, or a drifter, or some Romarei slur I know better than to repeat under such context!
Ribbon: Romarei?
Lyra: And if it’s not that then it’s just me! You despise everything I am! Nothing would please you more than to have me locked up or banished for the rest of my days! Anything to get me out of the way! You’d rather Bon-Bon spend time with anypony else in Equestria! Anypony but me!

Ribbon: YOU DON’T DESERVE HER! You’re a filthy, foul-mouthed, wretched creature!  And the very arrogance! You think it’s you? You think you’re anything special?! Ha! I’d have a line- A LINE- running out that door and around this little shack seven-times over on rich ponies alone! The Bohun family matched wits with the princesses and, even in defeat, still came out on top! We’re practically nobility! Ponies would kill to marry into our family! And if that were all… If you knew what she’s done for us all…
Bon-Bon: She knows, Rebecca.
Ribbon: She… does? Even the name?
Bon-Bon: Even the name.
Ribbon: And still? And still you swear in her presence!? Treat her like a commoner?! Equestria- the princesses- neigh, the entire world owes itself to Samantha, and that was before she joined the agency! Risked her life everyday! Saved thousands of lives a hundred times over! My sister deserves the hoof of a prince! Or a princess. Royalty and any rate! That’s why I only ever brought her the best! Dignitaries! CEOs! Diplomats! The Captain of the Wonderbolts-!

Lyra: Wait! Wait a minute! Spitfire? Spitfire was interested in Bon-Bon? You had a chance with Spitfire and turned it down?
Bon-Bon: She’s really not that great-
Lyra: Who else? Name names.
Ribbon: I- Uh… Emerald Beacon?
Lyra: Keep going.
Ribbon: Professor Hayton? Filthy Rich before he got back together with his wife, though even I’ll admit that was a poor judgement call on my part. Then Marigold Riverside, Spitfire, Fleur Dis Lee-
Lyra: The famous model?! She donates, like, thousands of bits a year!
Bon-Bon: And she’ll continue to do so with or without me- I think we’re losing focus here.