Shadows of the Past is a continuation of my previous web Comic "Without Magic", in which Twilight was tasked with finding out out "what makes her special as a pony" outside of magic. You do not need to have read Without Magic in order to enjoy Shadows of the past, though some scenes will make more sense if you have.
If you're wondering about the Lyra and BonBon scene, it's because sooooo many shows\comics\games are adding in token minority\gay characters who sever no real purpose in the wider narrative, but are being included so that the writers can say that their products are "diverse". It's a really irritating trend. Like how so many shows from the 1990s would have a black character who speaks like how a white person thinks somebody from the hood speaks.
Trigger Warning
Please see my disclaimer before reading\commenting, and be aware that this comic contains some darker or more political content that might be not be appropriate for Snowflakes\Millennial, people who are easily triggered, or those who cannot deal with ideas that conflict with their own.