My love,

I don't know what I did to get on the wrong side of Princess Luna, but it must've been pretty horrible.

Ponyville has been ashes for weeks now and still I've been told to remain here. I always thought it was foolish that I was made Governor of Ponyville since the village is nowhere near big enough to need a provincial Governor. When the razing of the town was ordered, I was sure that I was soon to be given some kind of promotion or reassignment.

Well, if it's coming it had better hurry up.

Ponyville Town Hall is the only building still standing and that's only because I use it as an office. I tend to spend my days staring out at the empty land that will soon host more moon-fruit trees to distract me from the nightmare Sweet Apple Acres has become.

Applejack. That idiot. With her gone the farm is completely in control of some low ranking nimrod Thestral who calls himself Bladewing. Say what you want about the farm using political prisoners as a workforce, but at least Applejack made their lives comfortable. Not so with Bladewing. Do you know how many injury reports I get a day? Notices of untimely death?

Almost always followed by requests for more workers.

That psychopath had better curb his appetite for bloodshed. Canterlot's going to get curious pretty soon.

I miss you terribly, and know that you are always with me in my dreams. I hasten the day that we can be together again.

Forever,

Lyra

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My dearest,

I'm sorry this letter has taken so long to get to you. Things are not going great here in Manehatten. The details of Twilight's execution have gotten out somehow, despite Canterlot's best attempts, and the New Dawn is getting bolder and bolder by the day. My chief of police insists he has things under control, but I don't trust that gelding as far as I can throw him.

The Grey Mare keeps me truly up to date with what's going on in my city. Apparently, New Dawn sympathisers have seized the Lower East Side and Red Hoof. The area leaders are either paid off or too terrified to inform me of these attacks themselves. It sickens me to see such worms placed in such positions, even if what little power they wield is completely laughable in the grand scheme of things.

Soon I will turn the Grey Mare and the rest of my enforcers loose. Then we will see who truly holds power in this city.

Oh, Lyra; sometimes I miss how things used to be. I often find myself thinking wistfully of our days lounging in Ponyville Park. Once this bitter business is finished and this paltry rebellion crushed once and for all, I know we can have those good times back. Central Park is lovely, especially with the new trees finally starting to bloom.

I look up at the moon and I miss you.

Write me soon,

Bon Bon

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My sweet Bonnie,

My worst fears have come to fruition.

Bladewing's bloodthirst has attracted attention from Canterlot. Jade Ring himself is on his way here to examine conditions at the farm. Somehow I know that Bladewing's sins will fall to me.

My secretary has given me the idea of throwing that psychopathic Thestral under the proverbial bus. If I exposed his crimes to her Majesty's own Chief Reporter, it would look favorably on me.

It might even grease the wheels of that promotion I've been after.

Bonnie, I miss you so much. I know how this conflict is affecting you. I see how cold your words are and how those thoughts consume you. I will do everything in my power to see you soon.

Perhaps even permanently.

Still yours,

Lyra

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Beloved,

It cut me to the bone when I read of what happened. Thank Luna that you and Master Ring were unharmed in that explosion. I am sorry to hear about your staff. I'm sure they were loyal members of the Republic.

I understand that the Princess has arranged for the hasty re-assigning of the Thestrals assigned to Sweet Apple Acres. It's probably for the best, but some small part of me wonders if there's some other reason. I know it seems obvious that City Hall was destroyed by the New Dawn, but one wonders where they got enough explosives. And then I remember your bad dealings with one Bladewing, a creature I'm sure would not take kindly to being thrown under anything, let alone a bus.

I'm sending this letter via my Grey Mare. I'm more than certain she will get to the bottom of things.

Write me soon,

Bon Bon

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My wonderful Bon Bon,

I just received the letter from Canterlot. Whatever Jade told the Princess did the trick; I've been promoted! Apparently Governor Starburst was found rather forcefully removed from her position and Fillydelphia is in need of new leadership. It isn't Manehatten, but at least I'll be closer to you.

I'm keeping this short so I can be on my way all the quicker. I wonder; since Fillydelphia lays directly between us, could you find some time to come and see me? I ache for you, my love, but there are also things we must discuss.

Like the circumstances surrounding my promotion.

Always,

Lyra

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Lyra,

Of course I will welcome you to Fillydelphia, but I must beg this of you; do not ask questions that have answers you will not like. Choose to see Starburst's end as befitting somepony of her gluttonous and perverted nature. Her end does nothing but benefit us, so surely it must be a blessing.

Speaking of blessings, the Grey Mare is due back sometime today. I'd pay attention to the papers if I were you. I imagine you'll be seeing some good news from the Macintosh Hills.

See you soon,

Bon Bon

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Bon,

...Did you have something to do with this? Do you realize what danger you might have put us in?

I'm scared, Bon Bon. Scared of this world. Scared of what we've become.

I miss you. I miss Ponyville.

I miss the sun.

Lyra

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Lyra,

We have something to discuss.

Welcome to Fillydelphia.

See you soon,

Bon Bon

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Archivist's Note: It would appear from these letters that it was the Thestral's assassination attempt that pushed Lyra Heartstrings against the New Lunar Republic. We know from secret correspondences that the Lady Bon Bon was one of the founding members of the New Dawn. Under her code-name 'Sweetie Drops,' Bon Bon had been a member of Princess Celestia's Special Ponies Elected Against Revenge (or S.P.E.A.R.) for years before the takeover. Those members not immediately sniffed out by Luna's secret police escaped into their aliases and found their way to different positions of power in the Republic.

The identity of Bon Bon's 'Grey Mare' has never been fully confirmed. Eyewitness accounts describe a statuesque mare with piercing eyes and a detached, almost bored, manner of speech. These eye-witness accounts are hard to come by, as the Grey Mare was a cold-blooded and remorseless killer who rarely left anypony alive to witness her terrible deeds.

But even monsters can be heroes.

Working together, Lyra and Bon Bon made Manehatten and Fillydelphia havens for members of the New Dawn as their numbers grew. When their activities were finally noticed, just days before the war, it was Princess Luna herself who led the charge against them with more than half of the Republic's military at her back.

The ponies who died at the legendary Last Stand at Red Hoof, Lyra, Bon Bon, and the Grey Mare among them, would inspire generations of ponies to come with their acts of bravery and self sacrifice.

When New Ponyville dedicated it's new park last year, a special memorial was erected; it depicts Lyra and Bon Bon in their happier times, relaxing together on a park bench. Inscribed on the memorial are the words to a song that, according to legend, the pair sang to each other just before Red Hoof fell;

Author's Notes:

We at the Archives hope that you are enjoying your tour through the War of Solar Resurgence. We have received numerous complaints from patrons that not enough attention is given in this exhibit to the Battle of Red Hoof. Rest assured that the staff is well aware of the battle's importance and is considering a number of possible projects, from a separate exhibit to a special exhibition like this one. If you wish to add your voice, please leave a note below. Thank you.

-Silver Ring,
Curator of Special Exhibits.