“Guess you’re not here for a cuppa, huh?” Anon said.

Rainy crossed the threshold and kicked the door shut behind her.

Anon crawled backward, but the strain in his back fought him every inch.

“Two dozen moons,” Rainy said. She closed the distance between them faster than Anon could create it. “I worked for two dozen moons, drilling, training, requisitioning. And you and that… that witch! You reduced it to cinders in a night.”

Anon swallowed. “To be fair, the reducing to cinders was me. Starlight wouldn’t hurt a mosquito if it were having a buffet on her eyeball.”

“Tell that to the fifty guards she left unconscious!”

Anon bumped against the nightstand. He was out of backing-up space.

“See? Unconscious. That’s much better than dead!”

“Shut up, Monster!” Rainy stomped her hoof, rattling the lantern. “You’ve taken everything from me. I won't let you do the same to this city” She stood over Anon now, eyes like the pits of hell.

“Not true! You still have your good health.” Anon looked at the bandage around her head. “Er, mostly… Wait, monster?”

Rainy lifted her hoof above him. Anon winced. Seemed she was picking up where they left off. But at least back pain wouldn’t be his biggest concern. He waited for the crack of his bones or the splatter of his brains, but neither came.

He looked to Rainy. She was swaying, eyes glazed, then fell to her side against the bed.

Anon sat still for a moment, confused. This seemed somehow familiar, too. Rainy’s wings slackened and a bottle rolled from beneath one, to his feet.

He picked it up and read the label. “An anti-inflammatory?” He looked at the bandage around her head again and sighed.

Anon stood, then plopped down on Starlight’s bed. “Well, this will do me more good than it will you.” He uncorked the bottle and took a swig. It tasted of strawberries. He felt his body numb and he laid back, looking at the ceiling.

“Anon!” The door burst open and Starlight sprinted in, horn alight.

Anon turned his head to her and waved. “Yo.”

“We’ve been followed! Rainy Days is—” Starlight looked at the unconscious Pegasus on the ground. “Um… Nevermind.” Her horn dimmed and she walked over to Rainy, then prodded her with a hoof. “Did you do this?”

Anon sat up and shook his head. “Looks like she has a concussion. It’s pretty impressive she got this far, honestly.”

Starlight looked at the bottle in his hand. “What’s that?”

Anon looked at it too. “Pain reliever. And a strong one. She dropped it when she passed out. Don’t know why she’s taking it though. It’ll mess with clotting.”

Starlight raised a brow.

“What?” Anon said. “I’m allowed to know some things, aren’t I?”

“I’m just surprised is all.” Starlight looked at Rainy. “So what should we do with her?”

Anon stood, put down the bottle, and tucked his arm beneath Rainy’s head. “Help me get her onto the bed.”

“What? You want to keep her here?”

Anon shrugged. “Wouldn’t feel right putting her on the street. Best thing for a concussion is rest.”

Starlight looked skeptical, but she levitated Rainy’s other end and helped Anon lay her on his bed.

“By the way,” Anon said as he propped Rainy’s head on the pillow, “how was your meeting with your alchemist friend?”

Starlight pulled back her ears. “Not great. I have a feeling I’m not going to win her over by talking about how much I’ve changed.”

Anon nodded. “Friendship speeches aren’t your thing anyway. They seem kinda forced.” He saw Starlight wince and hastened to clarify. “Hey, they’re not mine either. That’s Twilight’s deal. You’re more pragmatic.”

“I suppose… But I don’t know how I’m going to fix this.”

“What’s she mad about?”

“It’s a long story.”

Anon’s stomach rumbled. “Eh, tell me on the way to dinner. Haven’t eaten since this morning.”

Starlight looked at him. “Are you sure? How’s your back feeling?”

Anon twisted right, then left, then he shrugged. “Still stiff, but I can’t feel anything. Like literally, anything.” He pinched himself. It felt like his arm was sleeping, ten thousand miles away. “What the hell kind of drugs do you ponies make?”

“If that’s one of Ms. Chloride’s concoctions, I’m not surprised. She never did less than 150% of what was required.”

Anon pulled a bag of bits from his tote and walked to the door. “As long as it doesn’t mess up my taste buds.”

“Wait, are we just going to leave her alone in our room?”

Anon turned his head to Rainy. What a nice ass.

“Sure, it’s probably fine.”

“But she might take something, or come after us again.”

“I’m not worried about it.” Anon opened the door. “She wants revenge or whatever. If she takes anything, we’ll see her again. If she tries to hurt us, you’ll turn her into a bug.”

Starlight took a step forward, then hesitated. She gave Rainy a sidelong look, then followed Anon out the door.

--

“Seems like a nice shop, anyway,” Anon said, looking at Potions, Poultices, and Tonics from across the road. He and Starlight took a detour on their way to dinner. It wasn’t the most remarkable storefront ever, definitely no Quills and Sofas, but it got the job done. Not that Anon knew much about alchemy anyway. He guessed an alchemy shop was basically a pharmacy, but the few times he’d been in one he’d seen potions that did way more than any pill factory on Earth could promise.

Anon folded his arms behind his head. “I dunno, I’d forgive you instantly if it were me.”

“Even after stealing half your stock to experiment with a mind control potion and then letting the authorities trace the empty vials to your shop when it failed?” Starlight covered her face with a hoof, ears back.

“Yep.”

“Be serious,” she snapped.

He was being serious. Those cute eyes and that nervous laugh would melt him like an ice cube in a hot tub. It would be different were she ugly, of course. Lucky for her that was not the case. Not that Anon would say any of this out loud. Even he had his tact, what little there may have been.

Anon shrugged and looked at Starlight. Her head was lowered and her lips were curled into an adorable, though heartbreaking, frown.

“Hey. Dinner’s on me.” Anon said.

“What? No, I… I can pay for myself.”

Anon shook his head. “It’s cool. A lot’s happened recently.” He put his hand on Starlight’s head and scritched her mane. He could tell by the way her expression turned to putty that it was working. It always worked on mares. “Let’s take it easy, just for tonight? Friendship problems can wait until the morning.” And besides, the more distance he put between himself and his past, the better.

Starlight nodded absently. She seemed to gain a moment’s clarity, at least enough to say, “This isn’t a date or anything, though.”

“Obviously.” Anon removed his hand from her head. He noticed a hint of pout when his fingers left her mane. He smirked. “If it were a date, you’d be paying.”

Starlight looked for a moment as though she were going to protest, but all she managed was a huff. He knew that she knew it was true. Ponies and their weird social norms.

“Where do you want to go for this not-date, then?” Starlight asked.

“That’s weird. You made it sound weird. It doesn’t matter, you pick. Just pick someplace with food I can eat?”

Starlight nodded. “I know just the place.”

--

Starlight knew her spots. She’d picked a restaurant on the bay. It required a taxi cart, but the travel expense was justified. The menu included a variety of fish, fresh from the Celestial sea. It was a popular tourist spot for gryphons, most of whom arrived in Horseshoe Bay on boats from Griffonstone.

Anon stole peeks at Starlight above his menu. The setting sun glittered on the bay, but it was just jealous its gross incandescence was a petty imitation of Starlight.

“I think I’ll have the hay burger, fries, and a shake.”

“That’s right, eat well and keep that ass swole,” Anon whispered.

“What?”

“I, uh, said I think my menu has a hole. See?” He forced his finger into the bottom of his menu until it punched through.

“I assume you’re done with that, sir?” Anon heard a disgruntled voice behind him. He turned to the waiter, whose unamused gaze was trained on the now punctured menu.

“Yeah, heh. I’ll just have the grilled salmon.” Anon handed the waiter the menu.

Once Starlight had ordered, they sat in comfortable silence and looked at the sea.

“Are you going to tell me who you’re here to see?” Starlight said.

Anon’s insides churned a little. “It’s a… Just an ex, is all.”

“I figured that much. I’ll need more information than that.”

“I uh… I don’t really want to talk about it.”

“Okay.”

Anon looked at Starlight, surprised. “Okay?”

“Yeah. I’m sure you have your reasons for not telling me. We can talk about it when you’re ready.”

“… You’re amazing.”

“Huh?” Starlight tilted her head.

“Uh, never mind. What a sunset, huh?” Anon turned back toward the sea.

“Yeah, it is.”

Anon sensed she wasn’t looking at the water.

Their food arrived not long after. The salmon was tender and flaky, coated with a buttery white sauce, and the accompanying asparagus almost made Anon rethink his position on vegetables. Almost.

When they finished, they decided to take a stroll on the boardwalk. About ten minutes into their walk, Starlight excused herself, so Anon waited by the railing. He was going to find a place to sit when a flutter caught his ear.

“Oh no,” Anon said.

He turned around. Rainy Days was standing atop a kiosk, breathing heavily and staring him down like a hungry predator.

“I’ve finally got you alone. Now we finish this!”

Anon sighed.

Rainy flapped her wings and burst forward. She yelled her fury and pulled a hoof back so she was like a dart, Anon her target.

Anon ducked.

Rainy shot over his head and hit the water with a giant splash.

“What was that?” Starlight trotted up to him, two ice cream cones levitating beside her.

“I don’t know, some weird bird. Is one of those for me?”

Starlight nodded. “I didn’t know what flavor you like, so I got you a chocolate and vanilla swirl.”

“I like them both, thanks.” Anon took his ice cream and licked it. It was delicious, much better than the store-bought stuff on earth. Probably hand-cranked… or hoof-cranked. Starlight had some kind of berry blend. When she licked it, a little was left on the tip of her snout. Anon brushed it off with his finger tip and took a taste.

“Mmm,” he hummed as he sucked his finger tip.

“Hey, that was mine,” Starlight said, looking mock-angry.

“Not anymore.” He stuck his tongue out at her. They laughed and continued their stroll down the pier.

They walked until the sun was low. Their ice cream was gone by then and they were contemplating returning to their hotel when Starlight gasped. She’d spotted something that changed everything.

“Kites!” Starlight yelled. Anon followed her line of sight and saw several ponies at the end of a pier flying kites above the water. “They’re so nice! But those ponies are flying them all wrong. Their stability is terrible. They’re too choked up on the tether. How did they get such nice kites when they treat them so badly?”

Anon looked around and saw a filly run out of a shop carrying a folded kite. “Probably got them from there,” he said and pointed.

Starlight looked to the shop. “Kite rentals?” She squeed and bounced on her hooves. “We have to rent a couple before we leave! Come on!” She sprinted into the shop. Anon followed, smiling.

“I’ll let you handle the renting, I wouldn’t know what to get. I’ll wait out here.” He leaned against the shop’s wall as she went in. Anon felt something strange in that moment. He hadn’t realized it until he saw how excited Starlight was. Or maybe it had just been so long since he’d last felt it that it was almost unrecognizable. He knew what it was now though; he was happy.

He heard a nearby growl. “Now you’re mine!”

“Ugh, can’t get five seconds…” Anon said.

Rainy stood twenty yards down the boardwalk, her mane and tail still dripping, bandage gone. Maybe washed away. Anon turned toward her, but she was already full sprint in his direction. She leaped.

Wham

She smacked into the shop door when Starlight opened it.

“What was that?” Starlight looked around. She was carrying two delta kites with her horn.

“Uh. Just the door stopper. Guess you opened it too fast, don’t worry about it. Come on.” Anon took one of the kites and walked with Starlight to the pier.

Starlight flew her kite like a master, which Anon guessed she was. He’d always considered kite flying simple, nothing more to it than fabric in the wind, but with Starlight it was an art form. Even apparently simple things are many-sided, he learned. Or maybe it was just the way she saw the world infecting him. Either way, it was the most fun he’d ever had with wind fabric.

They flew until the sun had truly set. And after Starlight returned their rental kites, the relaxed on a bench under the rising moon. Starlight lounged prone with her forehooves in Anon’s lap while he ran his fingers through her mane. They chatted about the different kinds of kites she’d flown since she was a filly, and the temperament each kite had. Well, Starlight did most of the talking, but for once Anon was content to sit and listen.

“And then there’s the roller. It’s one of the strongest kinds, good for high wind situations and—”

“Enough!” They both looked to the voice’s source, but Anon already knew who it was. Rainy Days blew air from her nose and glared at them.

“She’s awake?” Starlight said, sitting up.

Anon sighed and stood. “I’ll handle this.” He went to the center of the boardwalk and faced her.

“Are you sure? You know how strong she is,” Starlight said.

Anon nodded.

“I’ve had enough of these games,” Rainy said. “I was going to deal with you when your sorceress wasn’t around, but I’m not waiting anymore. You’re going down, and then I’ll end her, too.”

Anon clinched his fist. “You’ve been harassing me all day. What’s your deal?”

“My deal? You’re my deal. Both of you are.” Rainy snorted. “I’ve never been so humiliated in my life as when I let you two get away. But now I’m going to fix that mistake!”

“No.”

“What?” Rainy’s scowl deepened.

“I mean why are you doing this to yourself. You’re injured, you moron, and this isn’t making things better.”

“My injury is no concern of yours, monster!”

“Fine, maybe it isn’t. But it should be your concern.”

Anon raised his fist and pointed at her. “Today was a good day. I don’t get a lot of those. But if you’re going to keep ruining our not-date, I’ll deal with you right here.”

“You’re right, that does sound weird,” Starlight said. “And she’s been doing this all day? Where was I for that?”

“She attacked me when we were separated a few times. But this is it.” He lowered himself slightly. “If you want to fight, fine. I’ll just have to use my ultimate technique.”

Rainy laughed. “You mean the one where you crawl away pathetically while I beat you to a pulp?”

“Oh, there won’t be any crawling this time. Brace yourself. You won’t be able to do anything.”

They stared each other down for what felt like half a minute. Rainy widened her stance and spread her wings. Anon was a statue, his eyes didn’t leave his pegasus opponent.

Then they charged. Eyes locked, nostrils flared. Both went full force, but instead of meeting her in the middle, Anon bounced to the side and traveled slightly past Rainy, just out of her reach. Both pivoted and turned, but Anon’s arm outstripped Rainy’s attack range. He lunged his fist forward, and extended his finger, right into her snout.

“Boop.”

Rainy froze. Her nose scrunched and her face turned red, mouth open. Her eyes rolled up and she fell onto her side.

Anon blew on his finger and pretended to pocket it like a pistol.

“What did you do to her?” Starlight trotted to them and waved her hoof in Rainy’s face.

“The one weakness shared by all ponies.” Anon smirked. “The snoot boop.”

Starlight looked dumbfounded. “I can’t believe that worked…”

“Yeah, well maybe you won’t doubt me next time.” Anon knelt down beside Rainy and hoisted her onto his back. As he adjusted her support, he noticed how springy her butt was. Nice.

“What are you doing with her?”

“Bringing her back to the hotel with us.”

“Again?” Starlight yelled.

“I don’t think she’s a bad pony. She’s just lost, like me.”

“I hope you know what you’re doing.”

“What did I just say about doubting me?” Anon smiled at her.

Starlight sighed. They walked together toward the street and caught a cab back to their inn.

Maybe Starlight was right and it was a bad idea to not just toss Rainy into the water. But that was a problem for tomorrow. Today was theirs.