Starlight felt a niggling anxiety about Anon watching her. It was a tinge of guilt and a desire for approbation. It wed with the electricity charging through her body when she pressed her clitoris, an emotional cocktail that earned its name, lust.

She watched his eyes through a haze, as though she were far away, an engaged observer. But she needed more. Her pussy pulsed. It was a dull ache, like hunger. She withdrew her hoof and looked at it. It glistened like a dew-covered petal.

“Starlight, what… Why are you…” Anon stammered in that ridiculous, dumbstruck way.

Starlight stretched her hoof toward him and beckoned. For all his differences, he was such a stallion. So confident when talking, but too timid to claim her when invited. She knew this was what he wanted, what he’d wanted since they’d first met. He just needed to seize his chance. She wanted him to seize this chance.

She did want it, didn’t she? It felt as though she was searching for her desires in a sea of imposters. She snapped to attention when Anon sat on her bed. He looked apprehensive, but the bulge in his pants betrayed his feelings. Starlight sat up and leaned into him. She pressed her lips to his ear and thwapped her tail on the bed. She felt his body shiver. His reaction tickled her urge to feel the tensing muscles of a lover against her body.

But something wasn’t right. She had to fight the heat clouding her mind; she had to remember something important. She… Oh, Celestia, his fingers. Anon’s fingers were traveling up her back. They were so soft, so strong. Each digit was an adrenaline shot. Her tail thwapped again, and she melted into him as his fingers reached her neck and mane.

Starlight felt him pull away from her. Why? She wanted to feel him. She felt his free hand against her cheek and looked into his eyes. There was something so unsure about them, so confused, but then they steeled. He leaned in and the breath was sucked from her chest. His lips met her horn, a gentle caress. She closed her eyes and felt a surge, hornsparks tickled her nose and face. What if he licked it? That would send her over the edge. She wanted it more than anything at that moment.

But wait, why? Why did she want that? It wasn’t right… right? She felt his hand travel down her back and cup her butt. The sensation was familiar, it meant… What did it mean? She couldn’t think past the touch of his lips, past the damp spot growing beneath her.

Anon’s slowly ended his kiss and Starlight cracked her lids. She felt his touch linger on her horn. His grip tightened. She yelped, as he lifted her and placed her on her back. Her forelegs curled against her chest and her hindlegs were splayed in the air. She whined at him, she longed to be against him again.

Anon hovered over her and looked in her eyes, the same curious look playing across his features. “Something’s up. Why are you all over me all of the sudden?”

Starlight opened her mouth, then closed it. She knew what to say, then lost it. She scooted back, but the movement agitated her arousal again. It was so hard to concentrate. This was wrong, all wrong. “I… I don’t know,” she managed to say. She channeled magic through her horn. It felt weak, like a leaf on an ocean current. Her loins burned for attention. “I think I’ve been drugged.” But she couldn’t remember where, how.

She saw something on Anon’s face she didn’t expect: fury. He cupped his hand and put it to her forehead. “You’re so hot. Whose ass is missing my foot?”

Starlight heard his words, but they didn’t register. She gripped his arm between her hooves and licked his fingers, then whined when he pulled them from her grasp.

Anon rose from the bed. Where was he going? Why wouldn’t he rut her? She heard the tap run in the bathroom, then he returned with a cup. He sat beside her, lifted her head, and put it to her lips. “Drink.”

She understood now, he was a stallion that liked to be dominant. How kinky. But no, wait… that wasn’t it.

Anon took the cup when she finished, then reached into his bag and pulled out a bottle. She recognized it, it was the pain reliever he’d gotten from Rainy Days. Anon opened it and put it to her lips. He smiled at her. “Usually I don’t advocate self-medicating, or mixing substances, but I need you normal. Just a sip though.”

Starlight nodded and took a swig. It hit fast as a bottle of high proof cider. She felt her body numb, like every nerve was pinched. She felt like she wanted to breed, but had no organ up to the task, a strange blend of sensations.

“How do you feel?”

Starlight nodded. “Better, I think.” She rolled onto her side. “Or worse. Actually, I don’t feel anything.”

“Mission accomplished, then.” Anon closed the bottle and set it on the night stand. “You didn’t take anything when you went to see your alchemist friend, did you?”

“I…” Starlight tried to remember. That’s right, she went to see Ms. Chloride. What did she do there? She shook her head, dim impressions flashing like out of sequence movie stills. “I don’t remember.”

Anon brushed his fingers through her mane. Embarrassment flashed through her and she clamped her ears against her head. Dampness lingered on the comforter beneath her.

“I’m sorry. I really made a mess of things, didn’t I?”

Anon grinned, “I like messy. Let’s keep going when you’re not on some extra strength date rape drug.”

Starlight laughed despite herself. “I’d restrain my optimism if I were you. This was your opportunity, but you missed it.”

“Eh, well. I’m not going to lose to some pumped up Viagra. Uh, that’s this sex pill back on… Nevermind.”

That’s right, he had wanted this all along. He’d made it clear since they started their trip. But when she was vulnerable, he didn’t take advantage of her. Starlight felt a different kind of heat in her chest, foreign to the hormones otherwise swirling within her. She wouldn’t forget this.

“So, you okay?” Anon put his hand to her head again.

Starlight nodded, “As okay as I can be in an artificially induced estrus.” She sat up on her haunches and shifted. Numb or not, she still felt… wet.

“I want to go by this alchemist’s shop and see exactly what happened, and whether or not someone needs their eye painted black.”

“No!” Starlight blurted, but she wasn’t sure why. Somewhere in the back of her head she heard an injunction, a quiet whisper. Tonight, she had to wait until tonight. “Let’s go tonight, not now.”

“Uh, alright. If you say so.” Anon took the pain medication and stuffed it in his bag. “Did you want to do anything until then? Or can you do anything until then?”

Starlight ran a mental probe. She felt okay besides drawing a blank on the morning and her every other thought being about the rhythmic pump of his dick inside of her. Stop it, brain. She looked at him and nodded. “I could eat.”

“Eat?” Panic flashed across Anon’s face. “Oh, shit. I almost forgot.” He clasped his hands together. “I need you to do me a huge favor. Well, two. First, don’t kill me when I ask, and second the favor itself.”

Starlight tilted her head. “What is it?”

Anon took a breath. “You know how I met with my ex today, right?”

“Uh huh.” Starlight wanted him to get to the point. What was he going to ask, that they engage in a threesome? Because that would be amazing. No, wait, stop it, brain.

“So, yeah. I sorta, kinda, might have told her that you were my marefriend and now she wants us to go to on a double date this evening.” Anon lowered his head as though he expected her to hammer him across it.

Starlight sat silent for a moment. “Your marefriend?” The words sounded just as strange coming from her lips, like a sentence from her favorite book, only in old ponish. She found the idea so strange, so outlandish. So why did it inflame that heat in her chest? Whatever drug was in her system must have been affecting more than she realized.

“I know, it was a bad idea. It just came out, I don’t even know why I lied.” Anon scratched his cheek. “I’ll just go back to her and tell her we’re not dating. Ugh, but she’ll be so smug. Maybe I’ll just say you died and—”

“Let’s do it,” Starlight said. The words surprised her as much as they seemed to surprise him.

“… Say what?”

Starlight smiled at him. “Sure, I’ll play along. No kissing though.” Unless he really wanted to… Damnit, enough, brain! “And you’re giving me the bits upfront to pay.”

Anon sat looking shocked for a moment, then took her hoof in his hands and bowed his forehead against it. “Oh my God, I can’t believe this. Thanks so much, fam. Deal, whatever you want.”

Starlight bit her lip as he held her hoof. He could kiss it if he wanted to, she wouldn’t object. Her tail thwapped again against the bed. Wait, was that the drug talking? She still felt so numb though. It had to be. She’d have to remember to bring that pain medication with her.

Anon released her hoof and stood. He looked cheerful. “Guess I should wash up then, then I’ll go find a flower for your mane. What should be our color?”

Starlight felt her ear flick. “Your mare’s eye color is traditional, but this doesn’t sound formal enough for that.” She lifted her butt and frowned. Her coat down there was matted and still damp. “Actually, let me wash up first. I feel like used tissue.”

“Oh. Probably a good idea.” Anon scratched behind his head. “I’ll grab some flowers just in case. purrsian blues, right? I think I saw a flower shop with some while I was out.”

Starlight felt that warmth grow. He’d paid that close attention? Most ponies she’d dated before just assumed her eyes were purple and got violets. Not that they were dating. This was just a show; a performance so Anon could save face. Those drugs were driving her crazy, clearly. “Yeah… That’s right.”

“Bet. Be back later,” Anon said with a quick wave, then headed out the door.

Starlight was alone. She hopped off the bed and walked into the bathroom. She looked at herself in the mirror; her hair looked like it’d been rubbed against several large balloons. She flicked her tail and turned on the sink. At least she had time to fix it, she didn’t want to embarrass Anon. A mare had to look good for her stallion. Not that he was her stallion. They were just pretending. Damn drug.

It was just the drug, right?

Starlight dropped her head against the sink. She was in huge trouble.