Running from the base to the summit of Mount Glen were two gondola lines for those wishing to ascend and descend the over-eager hill without the need for wings. The mountain stretched far into the heavens and held the seat of griffin power. Truly only those worthy were allowed to ascend and stand before the king of the griffins.

But one pony sat in the gondola descending who had not been allowed up in the first place. Her amber eyes explored the dull metal that covered the bottom of the vehicle. Her mint green body moved only when the wind decided it was time for the gondola to swing. Windows dominated the walls around her but the view was the last thing she seemed to care about.

Across from her, a cream colored pony only had eyes for her. “Lyra,” she called quietly across the small room. Amber eyes rose slowly and quickly tried to turn away. “Lyra,” the cream pony called again, just as quiet.

“…what?” came the overdue reply.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, her tone almost casual, gentle in its use.

The mint pony shuffled in her seat, “I’m fighting for Equestria, to free us from-”

“That’s what you told them to get you here,” said the other pony, her cyan eyes never blinking. “Why are you here?”

“Why are you here?!” Lyra shot back. Bon Bon didn’t flinch. Shakes came over the unicorn as she said, “I’m here for you…”

“You don’t have to-”

“Yes I do!” Tears welled up, the shakes became stronger. “Yes I do…this is what I am…”

The cream pony raised a hoof to point, “Then, why is your cutie mark a lyre?”

That stunned the other pony a moment. “Because…that’s what I loved before. Music. Peace. But that isn’t what was needed…” Lyra shut her eyes tightly, “Just go away! I don’t want you to see!”

“But you do. You always did,” Bon Bon said softly, “When you would wake up in the middle of the night, eyes wild. You wanted me to feel what you felt, to empathize with you, but I couldn’t.”

Lyra shook her head, “No, no, no…please, just go away…you’re not real…”

“I can’t. You won’t let me go.”

A soft beeping suddenly came through over the ceiling speaker, followed by a robotic voice, “Now approaching the halfway point.”

“…it’s time,” the unicorn said as she stood.

“You don’t have to do this.”

“Then what should I do? Just let him live his life while you lie in the ground?”

“This isn’t the way-”

“You won’t stop me, Bon Bon,” Lyra cut her off as she walked towards her. Bon Bon sat silently as the unicorn called up her lyre. With a hoof she opened the window.

Another gondola was ascending on the opposite rail. Inside were a group of large griffins. The largest sat in front, eyes forward. His garb proclaimed him royalty.

“I’ll see you soon,” Lyra spoke softly, lining up her lyre with the approaching gondola.

“Is this for me, or for you?”

“…for both of us.”

A single note echoed across the mountain side. The explosion following drew more eyes then did the note.