CHAPTER 7 Music?

As the days passed, Anon found himself settling into a routine with Twilight by his side. Their relationship blossomed with each passing moment, filling his days with joy and laughter. It was hard to believe that it had only been a month since they had started dating, for it felt like a lifetime ago when he had first admitted his feelings for her.

Life in the town had taken on a new rhythm, with Anon's reputation as the town's helper growing stronger by the day. His willingness to lend a helping hand had caught the attention of Princess Celestia herself, who had inquired about him multiple times through Twilight. However, Twilight had remained true to her promise to Anon, keeping the details of their past shared experiences hidden from the princess.

For Anon, it was a relief to know that Twilight respected his wishes and kept their personal history private. He had confided in her in a way that he had never done with anyone else before, and her loyalty and trust meant the world to him.

Twilight couldn't contain the happiness that bubbled up inside her every time she thought about her relationship with Anon. From the moment he had arrived in Ponyville, he had been a familiar face, a friend, and now, so much more. Their journey from friendship to love had been a whirlwind, but she wouldn't change a single moment of it.

With Anon by her side, Twilight felt like she could conquer anything that life threw at her. His unwavering support and understanding had become her rock, grounding her in times of uncertainty and lifting her spirits when she needed it most.

And as for her friends, they had embraced Anon with open arms, welcoming him into their circle with warmth and affection. They had seen the spark between Twilight and Anon long before the two had even realized it themselves, and they delighted in teasing them mercilessly about their budding romance.

But beneath the playful banter and good-natured ribbing, Twilight knew that her friends had her back, just as she had theirs. They were a tight-knit group, bound together by friendship, loyalty, and love, and she wouldn't trade them for anything in the world.

As the days counted down to Reed's wedding, Anon found himself swept up in a whirlwind of excitement and anticipation. The prospect of standing by his best friend's side on such a momentous occasion filled him with a mix of joy and nervousness.

Reed's choice to ask Anon to be his best man was a gesture that spoke volumes about their friendship. Anon felt deeply honored by the request, knowing that it symbolized the depth of their bond and the trust they shared.

In the midst of wedding preparations, Anon had the chance to spend more time with Vapor Trails, Reed's soon-to-be wife. Their interactions were filled with warmth and laughter, and Anon found himself growing fond of her with each passing day. It was clear to him why Reed had fallen for her – she was not only beautiful, but also kind-hearted and genuine.

Today, Anon had a plan, a simple one at that. His diligent saving of bits from working had finally amassed enough money to purchase something he had been eyeing for a while. It was something he had longed for, something that would bring him immense joy.

Rainbow Dash had mentioned a certain unicorn who ran a guitar shop in Ponyville, a fact that Anon had been unaware of until now. He hadn't had much time to explore the town while working, but today, he made it a priority to seek out this shop. As he approached the brightly colored building, he couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement coursing through him. Today was the day he would finally fulfill his dream of owning a guitar.

"Garage Lights? What an interesting name for a shop," Anon mused to himself as he rubbed his chin. Despite his curiosity about the name, he stepped inside and was immediately greeted by rows of guitars lining the walls. To his surprise, they bore a striking resemblance to the guitars he was familiar with from his own world.

As he took in the sight, a teal unicorn with a brown mane and tail trotted up to him, wearing a pair of glasses perched on his nose. "Ah, hello there!" the unicorn greeted, his smile warm and welcoming as he looked up at his new customer. "Hey," Anon greeted, extending his hand to the unicorn. The stallion, named Picks, smiled and shook the human's hand warmly. "Names Picks, welcome to my shop. You must be the town's worker," Picks remarked, acknowledging Anon's reputation with a smile.

"Sure am. Names Anonymous, but you can call me Anon," Anon replied, returning the smile before his gaze wandered to the instruments displayed around the shop. "I'd like to buy a guitar," he stated, prompting Picks to grin up at him in response.

"Wonderful! Come, follow me and tell me what kind you seek," Picks invited, leading Anon deeper into the store. As they walked, Anon couldn't help but be impressed by the vast array of guitars on display. "Holy moly, this guy has a lot," Anon thought to himself, marveling at the variety.

"So, what's the special one for you?" Picks inquired, bringing Anon out of his daydreaming. Anon glanced around at the selection, his eyes lingering on some of the higher-end guitars before settling on ones within his price range. After a moment of consideration, he grinned and pointed out a few options that caught his eye.

"Lead guitars are my kind of thing," Anon declared as he approached one of the guitars that caught his eye. Picks nodded in understanding, smiling at the human's appreciation for the instrument. "I see you like the looks of that one," Picks remarked, his keen eye noticing Anon's interest.

"Yeah, the curves and colors, the shapes tell it all to me," Anon replied, reminiscing about his days in band class back on Earth. Picks raised a curious brow at the human's response. "Huh, so you know how to play?" he inquired, lightly touching the strings of the guitar. Anon hesitated for a moment before admitting, "I have played, a long time ago. I've just been saving up to buy one," he explained, turning to face the stallion. "What about you? You play music?" Anon inquired, genuinely curious about Picks' musical talents.

Picks chuckled loudly, leaning on his counter. "Heh, I wouldn't have a shop if I didn't," he joked, eliciting a laugh from Anon. "So, what do you play?" Anon pressed further, eager to learn more about Picks' musical background.

With a sly grin, Picks trotted to his counter and pulled out his guitar case. With a flourish, he revealed his instrument – a beautiful bass guitar that shimmered in the light. Anon's jaw dropped in awe as he admired the intricate space coating adorning the instrument. His eyes then caught sight of a small text at the bottom of the guitar, written in elegant cursive. Picks x Granite
"Just got this one last year from my marefriend," Picks explained, his tone filled with pride as he wiped a hoof over the writing on the guitar. He smiled lightly, clearly fond of the instrument. Anon grinned in response, impressed by Picks' dedication to his craft. As Picks lifted a hoof and played a few notes, Anon watched in admiration.

Picks then glanced over at Anon, a smirk playing on his lips. "You know, you're the first customer who has such huge respect for music," he commented, his tone appreciative. Anon chuckled lightly, feeling a bit bashful under Picks' observation. "Heh, well... I grew up with music, learned a thing or two along the way," Anon replied modestly.

Picks shook his head and laughed lightly at Anon's response. "Well now, you heard me play. How about we find you the perfect guitar and settle a riff battle?" he proposed, his eyes gleaming with excitement. Anon couldn't help but feel intrigued by the idea. A riff battle? He hadn't expected ponies to have such things here, but he was certainly up for the challenge. Besides, he remembered a few songs from his world that he could pull off. "Deal," Anon agreed with a grin, ready to embrace the musical challenge ahead.

"Okay, okay, you've convinced me, Anon," Picks laughed as he returned one of the guitars to its display spot. The riff battle turned out to be more of a practice match for the human, with Picks going easy on him since he was playing unfamiliar songs. Anon was surprised at himself for remembering so many old songs from decades ago... God, he felt old.

"Thanks for the, uh, 'riff battle,' Picks," Anon said, feeling a sense of camaraderie with the stallion. Picks barked out laughing in response, slapping his hooves together and removing his glasses to wipe away tears of amusement. "Heh... Anon, you're cool! Oh! Right, maybe you can help!" Picks exclaimed, pointing a hoof at the human, his excitement palpable.

"You heard the mayor's announcement, right?" Picks asked eagerly, his excitement evident in his voice. Anon rubbed his chin, trying to recall what his boss might have planned. He knew Hearts and Hooves Day was coming soon, which was typically a good time for sales, but he wasn't sure beyond that. "What is it?" he inquired.

Picks clapped his hooves together and replaced his glasses, a gleam in his eye. "The mayor is hosting a music competition here in Ponyville! The winning band gets a prize of 10,000 bits!" Picks exclaimed, his enthusiasm contagious. Anon was taken aback by the hefty prize money, letting out a low whistle at the significant sum. "That's... surprising," Anon blurted out, momentarily caught off guard by the unexpected news. But he quickly refocused, realizing the opportunity this presented. "So, you want help with that?" he asked, intrigued by the idea.

Picks' eyes sparkled with excitement at Anon's willingness to consider joining. "You bet! Me, my marefriend, and a few friends of mine are in, but we need one more," Picks explained, pointing a hoof at Anon with determination shining in his eyes. He even adjusted his glasses, allowing the light to glint off them dramatically.

"We need a leader of the band!" Picks exclaimed, his grin widening. Anon chuckled at the stallion's enthusiasm; they were both nerds in their own right. "Sure! I'll be glad to join. When is this happening? And when can we start practicing?" Anon inquired, eager to get started.

Picks cheered and his horn glowed as he picked up Anon, pulling him into a tight hug. "Thank you, thank you!" he repeated rapidly. Once he was released, Anon glanced at the guitars, then back at the one he had been playing earlier, a newfound excitement building within him.

It was a simple green and white color all over, and it felt just right in his hands. Anon lifted it up, swiping a string and hearing the beauty hum a simple note. Picks smiled at that, trotting next to Anon. "She's a good one. Had her here for a while. It's odd, too. She showed up here in a different brand than the other ones," Picks remarked, rubbing his chin beard. Anon turned it over, eyeing the brand name "WintersColts" labeled on there. She was lost in this store, just like him. Anon flipped it back, gripping it tighter with a grin. "You're not lost anymore!" he thought, lifting a hand up and playing a simple riff.

"she's got some solid craftsmanship," Anon remarked, admiring the guitar's build. He then turned his attention back to Picks. "So, how much are you asking for her?" he inquired, eager to know the price.

Picks grinned at Anon's interest. "Let's see here," he said, hurrying over to his counter and retrieving the price tag. Picks grinned mischievously as he revealed the price tag. "For the WintersColts... it's about... ah yes, 530 bits," he announced before tapping the counter lightly. "But for a slight discount for making a friend and band member... 450," he added with a chuckle, his eyes twinkling behind his glasses. Anon hesitated, momentarily taken aback by the unexpected offer. "You don't need to do that," he protested, feeling both touched and surprised by the gesture.

"I did. No take backs," Picks laughed, clearly enjoying Anon's reaction. Anon groaned in mock protest before finally relenting and sighing in defeat, handing his bits over to the stallion. "T-Thank you, Picks, for helping me. And for the guitar too," Anon said gratefully, offering a fist bump. Picks returned the gesture with a smile, leaning back on the counter. "Don’t mention it, Anon. I’m just glad to have a cool human friend," he replied warmly before the two shared a laugh and bid each other farewell. With his newly acquired guitar cased up and strapped to his back, Anon stepped out into the town. After a three-hour journey, he had made a new friend and joined a band, ready for whatever adventures lay ahead.

Anon's footsteps echo softly in the library as he scans the room, his eyes searching for any sign of Twilight. The familiar scent of old books fills his nostrils, but there's no trace of her downstairs. He hears a faint rustling sound from upstairs, drawing his attention.

Curiosity piqued, Anon ascends the staircase cautiously, his steps quiet on the wooden steps. The sound grows clearer as he reaches the top, and he follows it to Twilight's closed bedroom door. He pauses for a moment, uncertain, before tentatively knocking.

"Twilight? You up there?" he calls out, hoping for a response. Anon's thoughts wander briefly, considering the whereabouts of Spike, but he doesn't dwell on it for long. As he nears the top of the stairs, his anticipation grows, wondering why Twilight seems to be secluded in her room. He raps gently on the door, expecting her to respond, but there's only silence.

With a mixture of concern and curiosity, Anon tries the door handle, finding it locked. It's an unexpected barrier, leaving him puzzled and wondering why Twilight would lock her bedroom door in the middle of the day. Anon's concern deepens as he hears Twilight's distress on the other side of the door. Her use of the affectionate nickname "Spark" only adds to his worry. He tries the door again, hoping to gain entry and offer her comfort, but it remains stubbornly locked.

"Spark, please, open the door. What's wrong? Let me in," he pleads, his voice filled with genuine concern for her well-being. Anon's mind races with all manner of possibilities, each more alarming than the last. He's determined to find out what's troubling her and offer whatever support she needs. There was a brief pause before Twilight's voice came from the other side of the door, choked with emotion. "I—I… I miss you, Anon!" she sobbed softly, the sound of her collapsing onto the ground reaching his ears. "I don’t— I don’t want you to see me like this, Nonny… I don’t want to ruin our relationship."

Anon's brows furrowed with concern. 'What on ea— Equestria is she talking about?' he wondered, his mind racing to understand what could be troubling her so deeply. Taking a deep breath, he cleared his throat, trying to maintain a reassuring tone. Anon's voice was filled with sincerity as he reassured her, "You won’t ruin anything, Spark. I said it once and I'll say it again, you don’t ever have to hide from me, Twilight. I love you to my heart and will always be with you." He placed a hand on his chest, emphasizing the depth of his feelings.

Twilight's sobs quieted down, and she slowly got up, leaving the door still locked. Though Anon couldn't see her, he hoped his words had reached her heart, offering her the comfort she needed. "Promise you won’t be mad? I— I hope you're ready for this," Twilight said, her voice wavering with uncertainty.

"Always for you, my love. Now please open the door and let me in?" Anon asked gently, setting his guitar aside and standing tall before the door. He smiled, feeling a sense of relief when he heard the door click. He reached for the handle and slowly opened the door, his eyes widened in astonishment at the sight before him.

His mare, Twilight, sat on her bed, which looked slightly disheveled from her constant movement. Sweat covered the sheets, and a faint musky scent lingered in the air, causing a blush to creep onto Anon's cheeks as he took in the scene. Twilight was positioned on the bed, her hind legs raised slightly, and her flanks lifted in the air. Anon's eyes widened as he realized what was happening.

"H—hello, Anon," Twilight greeted, her voice slightly breathless.

Author's Note

Yeah… I’ll let you guys guess on what the next chapter is…