The Sweetest Music

Afterword

***

"Hey, Bonnie!"

The cream-coloured mare rose from the couch with a lazy yawn as Lyra burst into the flat, her new grey hat covered with snow, her scarft dripping wet. She frowned disapprovingly at such disregard towards clothing, but, with a sigh, reminded herself that it was Lyra. Her Lyra. Her mare had changed throughout the years they had lived here, in Los Pegasus. She had become more cheerful. Happier. Her very speech had changed, just as her attitude; and Bon-Bon could feel that she herself had changed too: had been changed by the city. Over the years, she couldn't help but notice the changes in it, the changes that, eventually, brought about the abolishment of the anti-gay laws and introduced same-sex marriage.

But the legal changes weren't that important, Bon-Bon had come to realise. It was the change in ponies, the changes in their attitude and behaviour, that mattered. And such change had occurred - no, it had happened, gradually, systematically. Though, there were still a lot of haters around. Oh well, haters gonna hate. Bon-Bon shrugged mentally. Now, at least the law was on their side. But, then again... The law didn't matter that much. They had been officially married for a mere day, and it still seemed that it hadn't been such a gloriously memorable occasion. In fact, it was just a legal approvement of the relationship they had already been in for years. Not counting all those journalists who wanted to take a picture of the first same-sex couple to get married in Equestria and "totally getting to make out in the registry office", Bon-Bon remembered her mare's yesterday words with a smile. They had officially got married. But, in fact, they had been married for years. It wasn't the law and the mores that decided such things as love affairs. The common definition was not necessarily the correct definition. The papers weren't a sign of their marriage. Love was. And, as the mares had concluded, on that day of Lyra's proposal, all those years ago, the papers didn't really matter. Love mattered.

"I have news~" Lyra cooed as she undressed, leaning in to peck her mare on the cheek. Once again, she found herself utterly lost in her wife's magnificent, mesmerising eyes. Her wife. They had been married for a day, but the excitement was no greater than the excitement Lyra got every single day, just by being with her mare. We've been married for years, to think about it. Official papers don't make it different. "We're finally getting neighbours today!"

"Really?" Bon-Bon asked in surprise. They had lived alone on the floor for so long that the very notion of the neighbouring flat getting occupied seemed ridiculous to her. Well, it would be nice to meet some new ponies. Maybe even make friends.

Echoing her thoughts, Lyra exclaimed, "Now, wouldn't it be nice to meet them? Hey, maybe we can become friends, whaddya think?" Lyra paused for a second, her brain making a brief analysis of her phrasing. She didn't notice it most of the time, but it seemed that the city of Los Pegasus, Coltifornia, had changed her very speech patterns, her very speech - and, maybe; partly - her outlook on life. In a positive - or, at least, mostly positive - way, though.

"That would be wonderful." Bon-Bon smiled. "Who might they be, though? I thought Alexandro's been holding that flat for somepony special?"

"They are special, if the rumours at the label are to be believed." Lyra lowered her voice, mostly out of habit. "Octavia Philarmonica, the very daughter of Alexandro Philarmonico, and her... friend." Lyra chuckled. "Doubt the friend part, though." The mint mare rubbed her chin. "Unless 'friend' stand for 'the mare I rut on a daily basis'."

Bon-Bon groaned, having a desire to launch a pillow at her wife. "Lyra, don't you think they may be, you know, straight?"

Lyra waved her hoof in the air. "Nah. It never entered my mind." The minty mare dropped her smile for a moment. "But, I think we should greet them: they'll be here in a few hours. Also see if they're tolerant towards us. I don't think they need to be shown around their own flat, though." Lyra chuckled. "If rumours are to be believed - and they're usually true - Octavia has been in Los Pegasus already. Alexandro took her here when she was a foal; and all the flats in his houses are the same. But, showing them around the city would be a good idea - if they aren't haters, of course. Maybe even showing them to my studio: I hear they're both musicians."

Bon-Bon nodded, a frown appearing on her face as the realisation hit her. "Lyra, honey... You do realise we will have to tell them... about the studio. You know, the deal? All that..." The confectioner didn't want to think about it. She so didn't want to think about it.

Lyra shrugged. "Eventually." Eventually.

"You know, if you do anything stupid while we're meeting our new neighbours, I'll hit you," Bon-Bon said with a smile, eager to change the subject.

Lyra laughed. "Oh, I have no doubt." She shifted closer to her mare, putting on a sultry expression. "In fact, it has grown on me~" Bon-Bon blushed, leaning in for a kiss. "Saaay..." Lyra kissed her mare tenderly. "We still have a few hours till our neigbours arrive... What would you say about a little sexy time, mmhm?"

Bon-Bon looked directly into her mare's eyes. "I would love that." She cradled her mare in an embrace. "Come on." The confectioner smiled, remembering their first night together, all those years ago. She whispered lovingly, while Lyra mouthed the same, remembering the same event, "I want to make love to you."

And they did just that.

~THE END~