Sunset Shimmer and Starlight Glimmer slowly walk through Ponyville's market. Midday, it's bustling; and the two are out with a purpose.

Trixie's Birthday is coming up, and Starlight wants to make sure she gets her Marefriend a proper gift. The Two had been dating shortly after they'd made up, following the fight over being friends to spite Twilight. It wasn't the most conventional relationship, but they found comfort in having each-others backs.

Sunset finishes browsing one of the stalls with a few different food items, returning to walk with Starlight; who throws her a raised eyebrow.

Sunset looks at her, before realizing she's still walking on two hooves. She chuckles, quickly dropping back to four before she gets any more judgmental stares. A bad habit that had formed from spending so much time on Earth; it didn't help it felt natural to do whenever they hung out with Anon.

Speaking of, Anon was currently keeping Trixie distracted so they could shop. Something about a new routine involving a Box, a Saw, and a Campfire.

His sacrifice will be remembered.

"Why do you do that, anyway?" Starlight asks Sunset, nodding at her back hooves.
"Are you really just that used to it? I didn't think with Pony physiology that it would be comfortable."

"It's a habit, I guess. I'm so used to walking on two legs, I just default to it. Used to trip me up at first, but I got used to it." Sunset responds. Honestly, it was pretty comfortable for her to walk like that; but she always got weird looks about it, so she usually just did it in the Castle, if anything. Still, a slip here or there. Anon didn't mind it, though. Sometimes, they'd enter a room walking like the other; Sunset on two hooves, Anon walking on all fours. Always threw the occupants for a good loop.

Their gaze flits over a few more of the stalls, trying to figure a good gift idea for their favorite discount magician. Jewelry? Eh. Food? Eh. Trixie was a... surprisingly hard Pony to shop for. Anything magical would probably just go abused until it broke. Clothes were a pointless endeavor, she only wore the Hat and Cape, if she ever wanted to wear anything at all.

Yes, that included to their fancy Canterlot date at that nice restaurant. Starlight face-hoofs remembering it. She'd even got a nice dress for herself. It sat in her closet now, collecting dust.

"Did Anon recommend anything?" Starlight asks, hoping for an inspiration to work off of.

Sunset snorts.
"Two things. The first was... oh, right. A shirt that says "My Bitch Got Autism"." She informs bluntly, getting an eye-roll from Starlight.

"I still don't know what you see in him. What did he even get you for your birthday?" Starlight follows up, judgingly; only to be surprised as she watches the small smile creep onto Sunset's face.

"Well, first he faked me out with a Blue Hoofball cap that said "Please Be Patient, I have Autism". Then, after I made him eat it, he showed me his actual gift. He got a uh..." Sunset tsks, trying to explain it. Starlight had been to Earth once or twice with her, so it shouldn't be that hard. Though no other Pony seemed to enjoy Earth as much as she did.
"You know those little Chargers, for Phones?"

"Uh... the little blocks with the cord sticking out, you put them in the wall?" Starlight guesses. She pauses to look at a stall selling a few flowers, the orange Mare sat behind it smiling at her. Flowers? For Trixie?

"Yeah -- into the Outlets. I love music; it's abundant on Earth, and super easy to listen to all the time. But here, they don't have places to charge my Phone, where I keep all my music on. So Anon got Twilight to help him concoct some... Psuedo-Charger, using some Magic Gems, a conductive metal, and friction? I forget the details, but he basically got me an outlet I could charge my Phone in, but for here." Sunset explains.

Starlight does remember seeing Sunset walk around with those... 'Pod' things in her ears. Music on the go? Hm. Trixie liked music. That could be an idea.
"...Did he really? That seems... uncharacteristically sweet." Starlight mutters. She steps away from the flower stall, not finding much she's into.

"He's a big softy buried under a mound of bullish assholism; and we're pretty good at putting up with each-other, which for some Ponies..." Sunset trails off.

"Is a tall order, believe me, I know. Trixie and I... I do love her, but I know I'm probably one of like... three Ponies this side of Equestria that can put up being in a room alone with her." Starlight grimaces. Trixie exuded a lot of personality, all at once. It made for... a pretty terrible first impression. But through effort, they got to know the real each-other; and Starlight loved what was underneath, hurdles and all.

"...And is one of those Ponies Anon?" Sunset teases, bumping flanks with Starlight.

Starlight purses her lips. Anon did agree to help with their plan pretty willingly. She might still be a little too... judgmental.
"You're right. Sorry. Don't mean to insult your... Coltfriend? In front of you." She trails off, unsure.

"Oh, we're not, uh... official, or anything. Save it for when I'm not around, right?" Sunset giggles, getting a sigh out of Starlight.

"You know what I mean." Starlight grumbles.

"Course I do. You know Anon doesn't care about that kind of thing. He might fuck with everyone he knows, but I know he'd have their backs in the same heartbeat." Sunset chimes, getting an odd glance from Starlight.

"What's with Anon and you liking that 'Fuck' word so much?" Starlight questions. She hears them sling slang all the time, and it usually just confused everyone around them.

"Oh, I've tried explaining it, but I just can't. You have to see it in action; it's an Earth-Culture thing. Fuck has become an intrinsic part of their language." Sunset politely informs.

They're getting close to the end of the market, and no good gift idea has made itself clear.

"Oh, I just realized -- I interrupted you. Sorry Sunset." Starlight sighs.

"Huh?" Sunset raises an eyebrow.

"I had asked what Anon recommended. You said two things, but I cut you off after the first." Starlight reminds.

Sunset laughs. "You're fine. His other gift idea was, and I quote; "Blue Bitch likes spells and shit, get that bitch some new spells for her routines.", if I recall." Sunset mimics Anon as best she can, waggling her head and particular, blunt charm.

"...Is that a little too on the nose?" Starlight mumbles, worried about the obviousness of the gift.

Sunset shrugs.
"Anon explained it like... be thankful you're dating someone who makes what they like easily known? Sure, Trixie is all about magic. Doesn't mean getting her something Magic-Related is lazy. Not everyone is buried in deep, complicated or hidden desires."

"Makes it sound like he's saying you're hard to shop for." Starlight teases.

Sunset grins. "I like to keep him on his toes."

"What'd you get him for his birthday?" Starlight prompts, trying to remember what Toes were.

"Oh -- I wanted to do the fake-out back to him, but he liked my joke gift more than my actual gift. I got him a shirt that said "Don't Bully Me, I'll Cum" -- he wore it so much, Twilight burned it because she was tired of having to explain Human Humor to concerned Ponies." Sunset snort-laughs. "I'm not allowed to bring back clothes with words on them, anymore."

Starlight raises an eyebrow, lip curling.
"...Yeah, you two were made for each other. Fuck it, let's hit the magic shop."

Trixie and Anon sit on Anon's couch; his room in the Castle looked like less like a large bedroom, and more like someone transplanted the entirety of a small single-bedroom home inside of a single room.

While he didn't have cable, or any other live service, he did have Sunset to bring him stuff. She'd gotten him a TV for his birthday (Rest in Peace DBM,IC shirt), a DVD player, and an entire box of someone's old movies. Quite the old-school selection. They've got one playing right now. Despite being very popular, people tend to forget it exists.

Trixie leans forward, eyes-wide, fully invested; she's practically dangling off the couch.

Anon is sprawled back, arms crossed, legs kicked up on the coffee table.

The Big Blue people with the sex ponytails on the screen blow up one of the Humans ships, crashing out of the sky. Trixie throws her hooves in the air.
"YES! Another Victory for the BLUE!" She shouts, relating to fellow blue-colored creatures.

Anon grumbles, a stout believer in Humanity First.

Author's Note