Side Effects

One Week Later

Luster, at the height of the dune, looked back at the village. He could barely see the residents from here, just vague silhouettes in the distance. He had despised his journey to the village. The way the sand irritably lodged itself in the frog of his hoof, or how the goggles and cloak chafed as he trekked through the sands with his escort – not to mention the sandstorms. However, as he looked upon the village from a distance one last time, he was already certain that he was going to hate leaving even more than he hated arriving. He wore a sad, wistful frown, unsure of when he would look upon the exotic township again. “Goodbye Jirachuu.”

“For now,” a voice sounded beside him, before said voice attacked him from the side, muzzle against his neck. “What’s got into you?”

Luster chuckled, reciprocating the nuzzle. “Nothing. I always get this way when I leave somewhere.”

Malaa smirked. “You get attached easily? You’ll always have the memories, at least.”

“True,” Luster concurred with the zebra, each past town, village, and city occupying a room in the house that was his heart. “But this time, I got the best memento a stallion could ask for.”

Malaa chuckled, nuzzling against the unicorn’s chin before speaking again, “You’re a charmer.”

“And you’re charming. How can I help myself?” he smiled, reciprocating the nuzzle with a quick peck on the striped stallion's forehead.

Luster wore a smile that was similarly worn by the zebra, who broke contact with the unicorn so that the two could look each other deeply in the eyes. The pause barely lasted before they met lips. Among the sands overlooking the village, the pair shared a deep and passionate kiss. Their tongues affectionately wrestled, swapping spittle, this moment of genuine care absent of the lust forced upon them by the potion. The moment seemed to last forever, which Luster was all too happy to bask in until a gruff voice tore them both out of it.

“You two, c’mon, got to get ahead of the sands,” the cloaked feline gestured the two to follow, his face obscured by his hood.

Luster reluctantly broke their kiss, his hoof grazing the zebra’s cheek. He and Malaa spared one last look for Jirachu. “Are you sure you want to leave? It could be a long time before we’re in this part of the world again.”

"I don't think my master appreciated how we used a month's worth of aphrodisiac in a week but..." Malaa moved against the unicorn’s hoof, enjoying his tender touch. “This place is always waiting for me. It expects me. I can’t say the same for other places in the world.”

Luster piqued a brow. “And you want to take them by surprise?”

Malaa met the unicorn’s smirk with a glint in his eyes. “Yes, I imagine we could... together.”

Luster chuckled, his chest full of warmth. “Then together it is...”

With that final remark, the two strode together across the sands, following their guide, pursuing opportunity and adventure as one.