A Castle Crasher Meets A Princess In Distress - Starlight’s Perspective - Canterlot Castle

It was only a matter of time before Starlight reached the castle. She wasn’t super excited about traversing the fabled city, mostly because she needed a map to go to certain places. Thankfully, the castle was pretty obvious to see from anywhere. Its tall towers reached high in the sky while they shined in the limelight. The only problems she had to face were navigating the sea of ponies she’d run into…

…and getting past the guards.

The first would only frustrate her slightly. She had only bumped into one pony—a world record by some standards. It’s… the other one, that she was worried about.

Starlight snorted as she walked through the castle gates. A guard pony had already permitted her to enter, now she just needed to get past the guard positioned right in front of Twilight’s throne room. And that, that was harder than entering the castle itself. It wasn’t because the guard was rude or anything. They were probably nice, she didn’t know. It was… well…

See, there was a line. A rather large one. Multicolored in appearance, with differing species mingling with each other. It made Starlight slow herself down, eying each creature further down. Maybe she should have wasted all her magic reserves to just teleport up to here, but that would have been nearly a death sentence, she was not Twilight herself. So, she cautiously trotted her way up to the last pony in line. A full dress bore their form from head to toe, which bothered Starlight greatly, as it was hot and she was not a fan of melting. The fact that this pony had one on…

Starlight sighed. There wasn’t a need for small talk. Inconveniencing someone else strictly on the basis of asking, ‘How cold are you?’ wasn’t something Starlight wanted to do. She didn’t want to risk the pony turning and asking her to, ‘Put your question where the sun doesn’t shine’ and then her having to find that place.

She could wait. She’s waited so long already, what more harm could this line bring?

So she waited…

One Hour Later

Starlight was trying to convince the stallion behind her that the line was a figment of their imagination. That it totally moved a few times without them knowing! Totally.

The stallion whinnied in response.

“I’m telling you, it’s true!”

“Yeah… say, are you Starlight Glimmer?”

“Uhh… yeah? Didn’t I tell you that already?”

The stallion flicked its tail out and smirked. “Just making sure you remembered.”

Her eyes widened. “Oh. Sorry, I must have been talking your muzzle off and—”

He waved her off. “No, no. It’s good to know that somepony else other than my marefriend isn’t afraid to show who they are.”

“Oh? She didn’t come with you?”

His black mane was tucked behind his ear. And… did he just wink at her? “She… had to tend to another one of my herdmates. Hay fever and all that.”

Starlight blinked. Maybe she did imagine it. “Oh. Well, I hope she feels better soon.”

“I hope so too,” the stallion replied, that same ear twitching as he continued, “Well, looks like the line moved up ahead.”

She turned around and wow, it moved up twice actually! “Good. Started to wonder if I was going to be stuck here for another two hours!”

The stallion groaned while Starlight’s eyes widened.

“I… just jinxed it, didn’t I?”

Two Hours Later

She jinxed it.

…

Starlight wished she went to the bathroom on the train.

Thirty Minutes, Twenty Five Seconds, and Thirty One Milliseconds Later

Starlight was now looking at the door that led into Twilight’s throne room.

The guard stationed on her right was eying her down like a piece of candy. Kind of strange, noticing this now after she confessed to Anon and he reciprocated her. Has she ever noticed stallions do this to her?

She blinked like a strobe light at the thought. Maybe… maybe she was missing the signs all along?

…

“Ma’am, it is your turn to go in.”

Starlight shook her head rapidly, the guard’s rather feminine voice opting her to tilt her head. “Really?”

“Yeah—wait didn’t you hear me before?”

“N-No… hehe…”

The guard deadpanned.

Starlight tried not dying right then and there, sheepishly smiling while continuing her nervous laughter.

“Go on," the guard said, rolling her eyes.

She beckoned Starlight forth with a hoof, while the stallion behind Starlight, which she glanced at, gave her a vicious glare. Ponies these days! She cleared her throat and muttered a ‘Thank you’ under her breath as she processed through the double doors that had creeeaaakked open just enough for her to waddle in. She walked further in, only to stop momentarily when she heard those same doors close shut like she just entered a dungeon. Inside was one other guard, stoic as ever, next to an empty throne where Starlight thought Twilight would be sitting in.

Starlight approached, cautiously, eying each tapestry and decoration like they were going to jump out at her. Most of it was purple cloth trimmed in gold, while the rest was just… there. She didn’t really care to say much else on the subject, she just walked further in, before setting her flanks down on the red carpet.

Then, out of nowhere, Twilight fizzled into existence, her violet magic surrounding her form.

She growled, shaking whatever was on her back (it looked like… sawdust?) before beginning to look over at Starlight. “I hope the next pony doesn’t need to make an emergency visit to a sawmill. And—oh, Starlight?”

“Hey, Twi’,” Starlight managed before grunting. See, Twilight had hopped off her little perch to embrace Starlight, unfortunately the excitement she had must’ve miscalculated, causing Starlight to hold the brunt of an alicorn who was probably traumatized by her ‘visit to the sawmill’. Starlight obliged, sharing a brief nuzzle with her, before parting ways with a smile on her muzzle.

Twilight had one too, grinning as she asked, “So, what brings you here?”

At first, Twilight waited, still grinning, still having her wings out like they were open in anticipation, and as Starlight stayed silent, her gaze changed, one of concern, and her wings folding back to her sides.

And then, she frowned.

“Oh… I see.”

Starlight took a deep breath. “You know why I’m here, Twilight.”

Twilight took a deep breath and turned to her guard. She flicked out a wing toward them. “Sergeant Comet Chaser, can you leave us alone for a bit?”

“Yes, your highness.”

The guard saluted Twilight, before he turned and walked towards the throne room’s doors. Starlight turned and watched him for a few moments, trotting and surveying his surroundings like any experienced guard would do, just to make sure no evil doer was not in some crevice or behind some curtain. He even peered around one just to be sure, but shrugged and stood in front of the door.

Then, he turned around and stayed there.

Not leaving…

Twilight cleared her throat. “Sergeant?”

“Yes, your highness?” His voice echoed down the room.

She pointed a hoof toward the doors. “When I meant alone, I meant, like, you being outside the room.”

Starlight could hear a panicked grunt from the guard, his eyes widening as he half-saluted, half-bowed toward Twilight. Then, with a bit of a scramble, he exited the room through those bulky double doors. They closed gently behind him with a resounding thud.

Starlight sheepishly smiled at Twilight.

“I… I’m surprised he didn’t get it the first time.”

Twilight waved a hoof at her dismissively, letting out a chortle. “I’m not. He’s… particularly worried about me as of late, making sure I’m always with him or another guard that he trusts. That’s what I get for…”

Her voice trailed off, leaving Starlight to tilt her head. “For…?”

“For… well, what you wanted to talk about.”

“Right…” Starlight muttered. She let out a nervous laugh, before sucking in a very sharp breath. “Look, I’m not here to make a scene. It’s… more about setting things straight.”

Now it was Twilight’s turn to tilt her head, her ears flopping to the left. “You… want to set things straight?”

“About Anon.”

Starlight saw Twilight’s eyes lose a bit of their sheen. “I see…”

Something about her voice, how low it was, how weak it appeared, it’s like Starlight just sucked all the air out of the room when she said Anon’s name. It bothered her, partially, to see Twilight so distraught. It was of her own volition, though, this state that she was in. Starlight hadn’t noticed it before, but the purple in Twilight’s wings looked a bit discolored, a few white hairs showing through the purple sea. Stress-induced? Prolonged, maybe, but as she scoured over Twilight further, the white hairs grew aplenty.

She blinked. “So?”

Twilight hung her head while her wings unfurled slightly, only to sag too. “So…”

Starlight groaned. “Where do you want to start?”

“More like, where do I not want to start,” Twilight said, sitting on her flanks. She stayed close to Starlight, although she turned away partially, leaving Starlight to wonder as she observed Twilight’s every movement. A twitch there on her right ear, a lifted right forehoof there…

“I… I guess you want to know the full story. Don’t you?”

Starlight nodded. “I do.”

Twilight hummed to herself, before casting a glance back at Starlight. “And you’re not going to—”

“Twilight. I won’t do anything like that. That’s not what a friend would do,” Starlight interjected, glaring at Twilight. She stomped her forehoof on the marble floor. “I am not going to make you think in that way. Not even once.”

“Then why do I feel like that anyway?” Twilight snapped back, her wings standing at attention. “I know it’s my fault! But I don’t want to feel so wrong about this…”

“So wrong?”

She growled. “I’ve been staying up in my bed, for the most part. Only recently did I start getting some sleep, but that was only because I asked Spike to see if Celestia could recommend me somepony with the ability to medicate me to sleep.”

Starlight’s eyes widened. “Why would you need that? Don’t books usually knock you out?”

Twilight weakly chuckled. “I wish I could do that. Instead, all I get to do is attend meetings, listen to nobles' requests, interact with guards who stress more about me than their own herds, and, most importantly, work for the ponies who need me here. That last one is the only thing that drives me nowadays, Starlight. And during all of that, I just hope that I somehow manage a midday nap without any interruptions.”

“I know a pony who can help you maximize your midday naps.”

An eye roll earned Starlight a follow-up, “Of course you do. So do I. She’d tell me to just fly on a cloud while the guards weren’t looking. Unfortunately (and fortunately), my guards are tentative and would notice. Also I’m not having them be inconvenienced by my needs.” She snorted. “What you don’t know is, well—” She grit her teeth before she walked down the carpet past Starlight. “I’m just going to say this, so don’t interrupt me, okay?”

“Okay, Twi’. Just… don’t overdo it.”

Twilight smiled weakly. “Thank you.” She cleared her throat and began to pace. “I’ve been submerged in my work lately. Mostly because now I'm here, in the castle, alone, serving the ponies as their Princess, a ruler of the kingdom of Equestria. And since I've been doing this, it made me realize something. Something important, Starlight.

“It made me…” She paused to lick her lips. “It made me see a future where all I had was me. Nothing else but me and those who I live to serve. Can you picture that, Starlight?”

She looked expectantly at Starlight, beckoning a hoof as if to interrupt just for a moment. Starlight shook her head. “I could hardly imagine...”

Twilight walked straight up to Starlight and smiled, her bottom lip twitching. “You probably remember your time in that town you and I met at. I'm sorry I have to bring it up, but... it's like that, but multiply it by two hundred thousand. That's how many ponies I have to serve. And that pressure of having every single ponies’ lives in your hooves, being their beacon in a world so indifferent to them… that pressure is real. And it hurts. It reminds me that friendship is fleeting. It must be a constant in order to stay grounded, otherwise ponies will grow distant. That’s why I value you just as I value everypony that has ever crossed paths with me. Compassionately, yet careful not to overstep. Calculated, but running with the leaves just to feel free with those that I care about.”

Starlight tilted her head. “Why?”

“Why? Because,” Twilight began, only to bring herself close to Starlight. “I don’t want anypony to feel burdened by me. In one way or another. And I did that. I did that with Anon. I miscalculated. I led him on. I burdened him with my actions. I made him grow distant as a result of them.”

…

Those words. Those were Anon’s words, just reappropriated. Was she…?

“I just had to be his burden. I… couldn’t want what he wanted. That love... it wasn’t mine to hold.” That bottom lip of hers continued to shake, and a few tears, anchored by her eyelids, began to race down her cheeks. “I-I… I couldn’t. My duty calls, even if it hurts.”

“You’re allowed to love another pony in that way, Twilight!” Starlight shouted, bringing her close. “Love’s just another extension of friendship and—”

“In a way, yes…” Twilight’s muzzle scrunched up and she sighed. “But not for me.” She walked away for a moment, choosing to climb back up on her perch, on her throne, and sit haplessly there, choosing not to look at Starlight. “Not for me yet.”

Starlight’s eyes widened as she froze there, gobsmacked. “Y-Yet?”

“Yes. He’s not the one for me. What I said to him was true. He’s not a stallion, he’s a human. I don’t want to strip that from him if us having a foal ever came into question. Our biology, our makeup of who we are, they don’t match and they never will. Even if Zecora had something we could use, even if there was a spell out there, I wouldn’t want to risk it to hurt him. He doesn't deserve that treatment, and I realize it now more than ever.

“I also don’t want him to love me if I cannot commit that love to him too. I’d rather have him fall out of love with me than try to love him only to break his heart. His heart deserves someone who loves him back, someone who isn’t in my position.” She looked back down at Starlight, more tears now racing down her cheeks. “G-Good thing… he belongs to you, Starlight.”

It was Starlight’s turn to blush. “I-I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

A laugh, followed by a cheeky grin, those two made Starlight even more embarrassed. “No mare—sniff—who isn’t in a herd would come this far to prove a point for a stallion.”

“M-Maybe their friendship is that strong, T-Twi’!” Starlight stammered out.

She could feel the heat rush to her cheeks, and her hairs were on end again. Something that Twilight noticed and made her way back down to comfort Starlight, wrapping a wing around her. “I don’t doubt it. You’ve grown together, faster than I had with my friends. It’s… amazing to feel that extension. It’s like you're emanating it each time you talk.”

Starlight grumbled something under her breath, choosing to accept the embrace for now, leaning slightly into Twilight’s side.

Twilight giggled. “I now know how Cadance feels when she can sense love. Friendship this strong is overwhelming, and…” She sniffed a bit. “It smells like cotton candy. Did you happen to trip into Pinkie Pie along your way here?”

Starlight laughed. “N-No! I… I was over at Anon’s place. I wasn’t thinking, I didn’t shower and—”

A high-pitched whistle made Starlight stop.

“Wow, you went that far with him?”

Her cheeks were burning now. On fire. Where was the fire extinguisher when a mare needed it!? “No, we just cuddled on his couch.”

“Y-Yeah, I don’t buy that,” Twilight said, shaking her head. “I’m—wow. You really love him, don’t you?”

The word love never crossed Starlight’s mind, but the word like did. And with Twilight now saying this new-ish word, it just felt right, weirdly enough. With how Starlight addressed him in her note to him before she left, she couldn’t stop blushing at the idea of being his mare. It…

“I do. I really do.”

Twilight smiled. “Glad somepony does. Even though I said Anon did have his flaws, his positive characteristics do shine through.”

“I wish you could tell him that.”

She clamped her mouth immediately after she said those words, but Twilight didn’t seem too bothered, her smile only receding to a blank, deadpan stare. However, her wing slowly folding back to her side did tell Starlight a little bit. “I… I guess that is why you were also here.”

“Twilight, I want you to talk to Anon about this too. He needs to hear this from you. Not from me.”

Twilight nodded curtly, before she cast her gaze elsewhere. “You’re right, but… I know he hates me. I know he does not want to have me in his life.”

“How do you know it’s a permanent thing, Twi’?”

“He said it himself!” Twilight shouted as she snapped her gaze back to Starlight, slamming her forehoof click-clacked against the floor. She grit her teeth and growled. “It was my fault I went too far! Apologizing to him will only leave him with just an inkling of—”

Starlight groaned and threw her forehooves in the air. “Isn’t that enough?”

“What?”

She lowered her forehooves and scooted even closer to Twilight. “Isn’t that enough? Just an inkling, to let that friendship start again?”

Twilight hung her head. “It could be.”

“Then why are you—”

“I’m afraid. I don’t know why. It’s obvious. I should’ve talked to Anon sooner, but I couldn’t…” She closed her eyes tightly and let out a whine. “I’m sorry, Starlight. I’m so sorry.”

“Let it out, Twilight,” Starlight murmured. “You shouldn’t be suffering alone.”

“I-I don’t…” Twilight stammered, before she buried herself in the crook of Starlight’s neck.

The two stayed there, close. Starlight patted Twilight on her back and petted her mane, while Twilight wailed, her tears matting Starlight’s shoulder. Starlight could only imagine if Twilight was doing this every night, and it bothered her that she didn’t hear it. Maybe… Maybe Twilight had a noise cancelation spell cast at the time? Maybe, but that wouldn’t explain how Spike heard her. Was there a possibility that she had let it down once in a while? Maybe she forgot to cast it and that’s why Spike knew? Plus, Starlight knew she herself was a deep sleeper. She could have slept through that, regrettably so.

Whatever the reason, Starlight was thankful to be awake for her dear friend. She was here, in the moment, in the now, hugging Twilight to let those worries slip away.

It didn’t take too long for Twilight to sure herself up. She backed up, leaving the comforts of Starlight’s hug to shiver all alone on her throne. She sat there, adjusting her crown, while making sure her slippers didn’t slip away. Starlight mentally laughed, seeing as her friend was currently trying not to stick her tongue out. That one slipper was putting up a fight for some reason. Luckily, the fight was short-lived and Twilight puffed her chest out happily knowing her slipper was now secure.

She smiled and froze when Starlight came into view.

“Uhh… you didn’t see?”

Starlight grinned. “I saw it. It’s okay, we all struggle with those things.”

“Pfft!” Twilight blurted out. “I need to not struggle as much. I have an image to maintain.”

“Your secret is safe with me, Twi’.” She replied, putting a hoof over her chest.

“Thank you.”

The two giggled with each other, and Starlight even giggle-snorted, which made them giggle even harder. By the time they calmed down, Starlight’s mane was a mess, and Twilight’s crown needed a few adjustments again. With a bit of magic, the possibilities and speed were on their side.

“You know, Starlight?”

“Hmm?”

“I’m glad you came up here to talk to me about this.”

Starlight smiled. “Good. Because you’re not going to flake out on me, are you?”

Twilight ‘No Flake’ Sparkle sheepishly hid behind her wing. “Pencil me for three moons from now.”

“Sure, I’ll make sure to let Anon know. You want to meet before sundown or?”

“Whatever works best for you two. I don’t want to—”

“Burden us, I know. Don’t worry, Twi’. You’re not a burden.”

“I doubt that,” Twilight said lamely as she hung her head.

Starlight wasn’t having that. She walked up and hugged her friend again.

Twilight sighed and nuzzled her before parting ways.

“Oh, and Starlight?”

“Hmm?”

“Thank you for being such a good friend. I’m… glad to see you progress further than I could have ever done.”

“Pshh, don’t sell yourself short, Twilight.”

“I’ll try not to!”

Starlight smirked, waved her friend goodbye, and turned to leave the room.

Maybe things will finally be alright.

Gambling, Pizza, And Cleaning Supplies - Anon’s House - Anon’s Perspective

The smell of some leftover pizza filled the air. It emanated from a left open box with two slices of cheese deliciousness still sitting there, left uneaten. Meanwhile, beside it, laid a stack of cards, neatly kept without a card jutting out, while another former stack splayed out, scattered. The ten of clubs glared at Anon, a card that he knew well. By that stack lay some leftover Discordian Coins, an alternative to the Equestrian bit that Discord made up for their games of Poker they had tonight. It was a boys night, after all.

Since Starlight was out, he had gone around Ponyville scrounging up his friends for a night of fun. He hadn’t heard from them since everything went down with Twilight, so he was itching to get some quality time with the boys in. They were curious about how he was doing, and he was more than happy to talk to them about it, now that he was feeling better. He didn’t blame them for not checking in on him, they had their own lives to handle, but that didn’t stop them from blaming themselves, even if it meant having to cave into Anon’s demand for some good old fashion Poker. Discord, being himself, said that he wasn’t going to lose any bits on this, so he decided to make his own coin on the spot and use it for the game itself. Spike and Big Mac agreed, since there was no harm in playing at that point, and Anon agreed, thanking Discord for creating the gambling version of Monopoly. Safe to say, they played several rounds of Poker that all culminated in Anon losing the equivalent of ten thousand bits.

Yeah, he wasn’t salty. Not even remotely.

…

Why had Spike pushed All-In with Ace-Ten? What was his goal? To make him pop off his chair and swear in every single language known to mankind? It must have been, as Spike’s toothy grin at the time cemented his peeved state.

He also had raised Anon on the turn.

…

Anon punched the table with his balled up fist. He winced, gritting his teeth. Did he learn anything after doing that? No, he was wanting to punch the table again, but he was afraid he’d break it and then have to ask Starlight to magic it back together, if she could even do that.

Speaking of… Anon hoped Starlight was okay. That note, while full of love, did worry him with her conquest for Twilight. He had already moved on from her… mostly. He still felt something for Twilight, he just knew it wasn’t love. His heart was for someone else. Someone named Starlight, surprisingly.

He smiled as he moved the box of leftover pizza off the table. He’ll be back upstairs here soon, he needed to get this pizza in his ice box first to avoid it smelling like death. With a quick burst of energy, Anon ran down the stairs and into the kitchen, grinning ear to ear. He set the pizza box aside, placing it on the counter while he searched for some foil to wrap these pieces in. Fumbling with one of the drawers, he found his tin foil, ripped some off, and wrapped that pizza tight. He threw the two pieces into one of his many ice boxes he had (refrigerators weren’t common, so he had to settle with ice boxes), and then threw the cardboard box away into his conveniently placed trash can.

Wiping his hands clean of that unnatural disaster, he turned around and—

“Anon?!”

Anon’s eyes widened. Starlight was back?

He turned back around and walked up to his front door. “Starlight?”

He could hear her happily neigh behind it. Yeah, that was her. His mare. “Of course. Who else would be knocking on your door at this hour?”

Anon tapped his chin. “Hmm, let’s see… you… you… and maybe Mayor Mare if she really wanted to swing by—”

“You goof! Open the door! I have something to tell you!”

“Oh?” Anon raised a brow, not that she could see that. He opened the door anyway and leaned out to see her, smiling up at him. “I mean, I’m opening the door anyway to see you, but what do you—mmph?”

He had leaned down a little bit closer to Starlight, which gave her ample time to rear on her hindlegs and ensnare his lips momentarily. They kissed softly, Anon holding the door open with one hand while placing his other on her back. Meanwhile, she hobbled her way in, making Anon fall back into his house. The two laid in a heap on the floor, still connected somehow in their dance.

Starlight disconnected their kiss first, licking her lips with a satisfying smack. She peered down at him with a half-lidded gaze.

He blinked. “Was that what you wanted to tell me?”

She smiled and flared her horn. The magic clicked the door shut and locked it just the same. “No, but I really wanted to kiss you when I got back. Sorry, didn’t mean to—eep!”

Anon cupped her right cheek and smiled. “I’m not complaining when a cutie like you does that to me.” Starlight looked stunned, her muzzle slightly ajar, which made Anon tilt his head and continue, “Starlight?”

“Uhh, sorry. Anon, do you know what that word means?”

“Cutie?”

“Yes, and cute. That one too.”

He shrugged. “Yeah. It’s you.”

He could see her blush in the evening light. “I-I… Anon!”

“What?”

She groaned. “That word means a bit more than what you think it means!”

“Oh? What? Am I telling you to marry me when I say it?”

“N-No! It’s… not as much as that. It’s more like…” Her muzzle scrunched up like a crumpled up ball of paper. “More like saying you favor a mare over any other.”

Anon shrugged. “Well, it’s true. You are my mare, right? That’s what you said in your note to me—hey!”

She slugged Anon’s shoulder, making him grunt. “Just because I said it doesn’t mean you need to say it again!”

He laughed and got propped himself up with his elbows. “Alright, alright. I getcha. I won’t say it again.”

“Good, now—”

“—I’ll only call you cute when we’re here. Can’t resist the temptation.”

She groaned and rolled her eyes. “Fine…” She nuzzled his side. “So, what were you doing before I knocked on your door?”

Anon grunted as he began to stand up, pushing himself up off the ground with one of his hands. “Cleaning the house a bit.”

“Cleaning?”

“Yeah, I had a day off today too, so I invited some of the guys to hang out and eat some pizza with me and—why are you looking at me like I just insulted your family tree?”

Anon watched as Starlight went through many different emotions all at once. Her ears flopped and twitched like they were radio-ing into a morning talk show, while her brows were furrowed, her lips returned to a blank stare, minus her upper lip which was moving all on its own, and her tail which was clearly wagging like no tomorrow. What was going on with her?

“Starlight?”

She shook her head rather rapidly and cleared her throat. “Uhh, are you saying I didn’t need to go up there by myself?”

He nodded. “Yeah, probably. If you had asked, I could’ve gone with you if you stuck around and—”

She frowned. “I’m sorry! I should’ve asked you! Then we wouldn’t have had to sch—”

Anon booped her snoot.

Her eyes crossed and she probably saw her god somewhere in there.

Anon smiled. “Knew there was a reset button on you somewhere.”

She growled at him before hopping off him. Then, she stuck her tongue out. “Let’s talk in the living room and—”

“Sure. Just need to finish up my cleaning—”

Anon blinked. Starlight suddenly disappeared. Where did she…

Then, she reappeared in a backdrop in a myriad of colors. Was that her teleporting—and then he saw some bags. Trash bags, to be exact. Anon pointed at the bags.

“Did you—”

“Just finish cleaning for you? Yes, yes I did. I stacked all your playing cards nicely on your really large table. I cleaned up the plates and cups and set them in your kitchen, and these bags are full of what I believe are Discord's made-up coins. Oh, and some of the used napkins too.”

She tossed the bags at Anon, and he grabbed all of them except one, which nearly made him meet the ground again. “Uhhh, thanks?”

“No problem!” She cheerfully chirped. “Happy to help.”

Anon felt his heart pulse. He subsequently walked past her, choosing to open the lock to toss his trash out in the can outside his lot. He handled one by one carefully, making sure to squeeze each one in there, and with all of them in, he wiped his hands clean and walked back into his house, only to see Starlight wagging her tail again, smiling at him.

“So, you want to cuddle on the couch?”

Anon smiled. “Yeah, just let me wash my hands real quick.”

He quickly ran into the kitchen, turned on the faucet, and washed his hands. He made sure to use a crap ton of soap, just in case there was some dirt in his nails or something. Once he dried those puppies off, he walked into the living room to see Starlight sitting on the couch. She patted the other side of it and smiled.

Anon didn’t need to be told twice. He flopped onto his side of the couch, which made Starlight crawl up to him and snuggle right into his form, her muzzle just tucked under his chin. He wrapped his arm around her barrel and sighed.

Yeah, he needed this after a long day of gambling (and subsequently losing) fake money.

Starlight hummed happily, purring into his ear. “So… are you ready?”

“For what you’re going to tell me?”

She nodded.

“Sure.”

“Great!” She clopped her forehooves together. “Twilight and I were finally able to talk.”

“Good. If you went all the way up there and weren’t able to talk to her, I’d assume Canterlot would be burning right now.”

Starlight rolled her eyes. “Anon, I wouldn’t burn down Canterlot.”

“Surprising,” Anon muttered, looking away from her. He still had that goofy candle on his stand by the window. “Probably should light that candle soon, it’s getting dark out and—”

Starlight sparked the candle to life. He looked back over to her. “What? You said soon.”

He nodded. “I did say that." Anon shook his head in disbelief before clearing his throat. "So you were able to talk to Twilight. What did you two talk about?”

“Well, we’re going to meet with her in a few days at the Castle of Friendship…”

“Specifically?”

“Friday.”

Anon cursed under his breath. “That’s the day Mayor Mare wanted to meet with me.”

“Don’t worry, Anon. She’s cool with us meeting her after we’re both done with work.”

He shuffled against her and sighed. “Good. I’d hate to burden Mayor Mare with a lot of work.”

Starlight frowned. “Yeah… heh…”

That was a weird reaction. Her laugh sounded so fragile. “Would you want me to take a day off?”

“N-No. You’re fine. You just… reminded me of something Twilight said.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, something about not wanting to be a burden to others.”

He nuzzled her cheek. “Hey, just because she stole my line doesn’t mean you need to be upset about it.”

“I’m not upset about that! I’m upset that she felt the same way about being a burden and—”

Anon’s face fell short. “I know, I know.”

Starlight pulled back a bit and searched his face with her eyes that shined in the candlelight. “Are you okay with this?”

Anon… didn’t know. He was okay with it, but now that it’s happening, something churned in his stomach.

“I… guess?” He scratched the back of his head. “I don’t know what to really feel. I’ve already felt like I’ve moved on from her. I have you, I have Spike, Big Mac, Discord, and the rest of Twilight’s friends. Granted, it would be nice if Twilight hadn’t said what she said, but she laid with her words and stuck to them. She never came by to check on me, she just… stayed away. I don’t need someone like her back in my life if she doesn't want to apologize.”

Starlight frowned. “But she does want to apologize and—”

“She wants to do that now, Starlight?”

“Yeah…”

Anon let out a pained groan as he moved his arm up Starlight’s neck. “Better late than never but I don’t know. I don’t want her to feel pressured to apologize to me. It won’t feel… genuine.”

“Anon,” Starlight said, nuzzling into his neck. She pulled back up and smiled. “She’s not. Trust me.”

For some reason, Anon doubted that.

Author's Note

Comet Chaser cameo. Thanks for giving me permission to use your OC, Sarge!

As stated in my blog, song for this chapter:

Edits completed on January 3rd, 2025.