Two Nights in Paradise

The beach’s promenade stretched out along the coast and was a short walk from the hotel. They could watch the waves lap the sand to their right, while stores and attractions stood to their left. Rarity watched neither. The book she pulled from her purse a minute ago had her undivided attention.

“They’ve been open for 30 minutes,” she mumbled, thumbing over the handwritten notes on the page. “Doubt they’d be crowded around this time of day... Okay!” She slipped the book back into her bag, then turned back to Hondo. “Are you ready, dad?”

“Mhm.” Unlike her, his attention was on the tide coming and going. His hands hid in his pockets, but Rarity knew what he was doing. That ring hadn’t left his side once in months. This vacation wouldn’t be the exception, despite her wishes. Still, she had to make it work. Rarity grabbed her father’s arm and tugged him forward. She’d drag him out of that stupor if she had to.

“Great! That café I mentioned earlier is nearby. A good breakfast will help start the day right.”

The place, cutely named Sea Breeze Sweets, came into view after a short, uneventful stroll. Several tables sat out front, covered under umbrellas that flapped in the wind. And, as Rarity predicted, there were few people inside once they entered. The barista flashed them a wide smile, then adjusted his uniform’s cap over his eyes.

“Morning!” he chimed, chipper as a squirrel. “What can I get you?”

“I’ll have a medium oat milk latte, with three pumps of vanilla,” Rarity prattled. Something familiar and energizing, not to mention tasty. “Oh, and a basket of your madeleines, please.”

“Ah, a fan favorite,” said the barista, tapping away at the kiosk behind his desk. “And you, sir?”

“Normal coffee. Medium. Two creams and sugars, please.”

“And a classic for the gentleman,” he hummed. “Will that be all?” Rarity glanced at Hondo to confirm, managing to catch him as he slipped his card out of his wallet.

“I’ll cover it,” said Rarity, reaching for her purse. But Hondo pressed his card on the counter before Rarity had the chance to.

“It’s fine,” he murmured. After looking between the two for some sort of confirmation, the barista took Hondo’s card and swiped it. “You planned this whole thing out. The least I can do is pay.”

“Here’s your card back, sir.” The barista’s quick work cut any objections Rarity had short. She settled for a low grumble instead. “Choose a seat and I’ll be right over with your order.”

“Thanks.” He took back his card and popped open his wallet again. This time, another card fell out and onto the counter between the three. His room key. “Hmm... I need a new wallet.”

“I can squeeze that in somewhere along the way,” she said, making a mental note to jot down in her book later. Hondo didn’t respond.

They found their seats near one of the shop windows overlooking the promenade. The few people who passed them by seemed to be enjoying an early morning stroll. Something Rarity also planned to be doing shortly. But first, she turned her attention to the book, retrieving a pen from her bag as she did so.

“New wallet,” she murmured. Afterward, she placed her pen on the table and smiled. “One more stop on the agenda, then.”

“Mhm...” Again, his eyes wandered to the sea. Again, his hands hid in his pockets. Rarity bit down on her lip, thinking of her next course of action.

“Oh! Hey, Dad.” His ear twitched, and he turned back to the table. There, he found Rarity’s hands reaching out, palm up. “Let me see your hands.” It took a little persuasion but Hondo reached up, placing his hand on his daughters. “Both hands, darling.” A little while longer, he obliged. She clamped down on them with her thumbs, then circled his palms gently. “Hmm. A bit rough. We could stop at the spa as well? They have an amazing masseuse there if my research is correct.”

Hondo once again said nothing. But at least his focus stuck on her, and her small massage. With her small, delicate fingers, she couldn’t cover the entire surface of his palm. Still, she kept at it.

“That book...” Rarity looked up as Hondo broke the silence. “What did you write down?” A smile formed on her face as she looked down at it.

“These are suggestions,” she answered. “I did my research on this place. I found a few things you’d enjoy, and wrote them down.” She chuckled, giving him a little squeeze. “And now I’m adding more. Little by little, as you open up to me.” Surprise flashed across his face but was replaced by guilt soon after.

“I’m... Sorry.” He looked down, narrowed his eyes, and pursed his lips. “I’m making you go through all this... All because I can’t deal with one little rejection like a man—”

“No, no,” said Rarity. She gave him a strong squeeze, but his mood had already plummeted. Worry washed over Rarity’s face, but she quickly brushed it away. Showing it would only serve to put him down. Instead, she rubbed his palms again and showed him a gentle smile. “None of this is your fault. It’s normal. It’s natural to feel like this. Okay?”

“Hmm...” It was clear that her words went in one ear and out the other by his expression. But Rarity was glad they were in there at all. She took a deep breath, then continued rubbing his palm.

“Do you remember Drywood?” She caught the twitch of his ear as he looked up again.

“Yeah...” he mumbled. The corner of his eyebrows turned down. “That was that... Pretty-boy wannabe, right? The one that tried to break your heart?” he grumbled. His choice of description made her smile. “I wish I didn’t… What about him?”

“When he left me that day... You didn’t have to track him down and expose him for covering up his baldness.” Rarity was sure he remembered tearing the stupid, pompous wig off of Drywood in the town square. The blinding shine was unforgettable. “But you did. All to make me feel better.”

“I’m your father,” he murmured. “That’s my job.”

“Then I’m making it my job to do the same,” she said. “If I didn’t have you there, my heart would still be aching. So I’ll make sure you don’t have to feel the same way I did.”

The buzzing of small conversation around them filled the silence they left behind. Rarity met Hondo’s eyes and almost drowned in their vulnerability. Desperation hid behind his gaze as if he needed Rarity’s words to be true. Then, a shift. He broke eye contact and hit her with something she never expected.

“Okay.” It wasn’t much, but Rarity swore she could see the beginning of a smirk on his face. Her heart soared and she gave his hands a heavy squeeze. But it didn’t last long. “Your hands... Are very soft, Rarity.”

“Years of good care will do that,” she said proudly. “So, is that a yes on the spa?”

“Here’s your order.” Once again, their conversation came short thanks to the barista. He placed their drinks in front of them, then lowered a sizable basket of the madeleine sponge cakes. Their shell design matched the aesthetic of the place perfectly. But before her stomach could get the better of her, the barista placed two new items by their sides as well. “And a little bit of vanilla gelato on the house. It goes great with the cakes.”

“Oh? What a nice showing of generosity.” The man smiled but shook his head.

“Think nothing of it,” he explained. “Most people order it with the gelato anyway. And besides, I thought I’d do something special for such a happy couple.” The barista’s words came with a heavy pause around the table. What she thought was a mishearing was confirmed by Hondo soon after.

“Couple…?” he asked. Their eyes met again, confirming their mutual confusion. “Um… well, we—”

“We’re grateful for your kindness.” The quick wit from her years of business experience gave her the edge in speed over her father’s correction. Their eyes met again, but only Hondo displayed his confusion. “I’ll be sure to give this place my highest recommendation.”

“Appreciate it, ma’am.” The barista adjusted his cap a final time before heading back to his post behind the counter. Rarity watched him until he was comfortably out of earshot, then turned back to her father.

“A bit of free dessert couldn’t hurt, right?” she asked, lifting the spoon out from the gelato and into her mouth. It had the perfect amount of sweetness and went down like buttery silk. Then, she noticed the complex expression on her father’s face. “Did that bother you?”

“N-No, um...” The sentence trailed off. Only after he took a sip of his coffee did he think to continue it. “It’s been... A long while since someone saw that in me.” Rarity hummed, then reached out for her father again.

“You may not see it, but you are still fabulous,” said Rarity, giving him a quick once over. Years of exercise did him well, giving him a large, healthy body. A few laugh lines had formed over the years, but he was otherwise wrinkle-free. And Rarity knew men half his age with half the hair on his head. Drywood came to mind. She chuckled, then grabbed up a sponge cake. “At your age, with a body like that... Mom was quite foolish to let you go. I-If you don’t mind me saying, that is.”

“I see.” Another sip of his coffee led to another heavy silence. But this time, Rarity could tell that his face was lighter. At the very least, he kept his hands from his pockets. “Rarity?”

“Yes?” she chimed. He hummed, then plucked a madeleine from its spot, eating it whole.

“About... That spa trip?” He took a deep breath and savored the buttery flavor of the cake. “I think I’d like that.” She smiled, then scooped up the book and her pen.

“Another stop on the agenda!”

Hondo Flanks did not come to this trip with much hope.

Months had passed since that fateful day. The day he came home from work just a bit too early. The day he heard just a bit too much. The day he decided to investigate a sound coming from his bedroom door.

That day played over and over in his head. What else could he have done? What else should he have said? Questions he knew had no real answer or meaning. None of it was coming back, no matter how long he held this ring.

But he still held onto it. A worn silver band he placed on Cookie’s finger some twenty years ago. The same one she left on the counter the day after he last saw her. Sometimes, if he held it up to the light, he could see it shine like the first day he bought it. But those memories carried a tremendous weight. He lowered it before long each time.

“Dad?” His ear twitched, and he came back to his senses. The buzz of the afternoon crowds returned in full force. “Are you alright?”

“Yes... I’m fine.” He turned to the right, where Rarity joined him at his side. The look on her face said she didn’t believe him. Fair, considering his condition. “Um... Did you say something?”

“No...” She looked down, giving away the real source of her worries. When his mind drifted, his hands would find the dull surface of the ring, as if it called to him. It brought back the memories. For better or worse.

“Sorry.” He pulled his hand from his pocket and then took a deep breath. “Where to next?” Rarity’s expression instantly brightened. Her smile was one of the only things good enough to keep him on track.

“It’s a secret, remember?” she answered. “We’re almost there, so...” Hondo nodded, then tried his best to keep his head straight.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

A short distance later, it came into view. A huge building placed right along a bend in the promenade’s path. The Royal Bay Fanatic’s Proshop. A two-story one-stop shop for all the sports memorabilia a fan could wrap their head around. The front displays were chock full of jerseys, sneakers, helmets, and everything else.

“Hot dang… This place has gotta be twice as… no, three times as big as the one back home.”

“After my thorough research, I’m quite confident that this is the ultimate sports fan experience.” She reached up and patted him on the back. “Want to head inside?” The look on his face answered the question for her. With a pleasant hum, she stepped forward, leading them into the shop.

A blast of fresh air carried the smell of new equipment mixed with a natural pine scent. The store had four sections: basketball, baseball, soccer, and football. The latter was Hondo’s sport of choice. He kept several bits of memorabilia around the house, but nothing like this. He realized that his jaw must have hit the floor since Rarity was lit up like a Christmas tree.

“This is all certainly something.” There was no destination in mind when he began walking. Shirts, mugs, cards, bobbleheads... There wasn’t anything missing.

“So, what do you think?” asked Rarity. “Anything catching your eye?”

“It’s... A lot to take in,” he admitted. Finally, they reached the football section near the back end of the store. It was a half circle of merchandise against the walls and in the aisles. Rows of teams he remembered cheering on in his childhood. He’d be lying if he said he felt nothing seeing them all together like this.

One jersey caught his eye, near the left edge of the section. As he approached it, he was more certain. A beige body with green accents. He ran the back of his hand against the large, white numbers on the front. 04. “This was Bobby Bronco’s number back in ‘83. Ran 79 yards to take the lead against the Bridle Bucks.”

“It’s a nice design,” commented Rarity. “A very down-to-earth color scheme.” Hondo hummed his agreement.

“That’s the Hayseed’s colors,” he replied. “Used to be Ponyville’s team before they got drafted into the league. Changed their name after that.”

“Ponyville used to have a football team?” Hondo nodded again, then turned his attention to the side. Posters of several different players hung there. Hondo searched for a quick moment before poking his finger at one.

“That’s Bobby. Well, that’s what he looked like when I was your age.” He hummed, then looked over the rest of the posters. “Surprisingly they even stock the Hayseed’s stuff. They’re pretty hard to come by.”

“Interesting...” Hondo pulled his hand away and looked down. There, Rarity was just as bright as ever. “Hm? Something wrong?”

“You don’t have to try to keep up with me,” he said, averting his eyes. “I know this isn’t your kinda thing.”

“Oh, that?” asked Rarity with a chuckle. “True, this isn’t my area of expertise...” She put her hand on his arm, then smiled again. “But this is the most we’ve talked in months. That’s enough for me, for now.”

“I... Sorry.” Rarity rubbed his arm, smile never faltering.

“Don’t be. I’m not offended.” She let him go, then turned her attention to the merchandise. “You said these were rare, right? They’d make perfect souvenirs, then!” Rarity brushed her hair aside before bending down to look through the mess of posters. “What do you say? This poster, maybe a shirt as well?”

“That would be... U-uh...”

The rest of his sentence came to a grinding halt in his throat. A few feet away, a shiny glint locked behind a pane of glass caught his eye. Rarity got back up a few moments later, then followed his locked gaze.

“Are those rings?” she asked. “Quite the fancy design. I don’t suppose you see one you’d…” Rarity’s words stopped just like he did. But for her, it was after looking at Hondo’s expression. “D-Dad? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” he lied. Rarity would see through something like that immediately. He had to come up with something else, fast. But nothing came. Drawing blanks and with pressure mounting, he reached for his pocket.

But he never got there. Instead, his palm pressed into something soft. It locked with his fingers and gave him a tight squeeze. It was Rarity. He peeled himself away from the rings just in time to feel Rarity press her forehead into his chest. It wasn’t until her other hand wrapped around his back that he realized it was a hug.

Hondo wasn’t sure how long she held him. The buzz of the store faded into a small whisper far away. Instead, Rarity filled his senses. The softness of her hands, the sweet scent coming off of her hair. The gentle heartbeat he felt against his stomach. She had him snared in her completely.

But something was off. Instead of calming down, he could feel himself heating up. He began to notice Rarity’s finer features. The sweat rolled down her body. The faint heat from her breaths. The fullness of her chest pressed into him. Suddenly, these feelings overcame the others. And with that came something he hadn’t felt in months.

“Have you calmed down?” she whispered. He blinked and his surroundings came back to him. His breath was shaky, but he needed to get air back in his lungs. He raised his free hand and pat her on the back.

“Y-Yes, I’m fine.” Another shaky deep breath. Rarity squeezed his hand.

“Are you sure?” she asked, pulling away enough to meet his eyes. “You’d tell me, right?”

“Of course... Yes.” After studying his gaze for a bit, she stepped back and gave him space. But his hand was still in hers.

“What happened?” Her eyes flicked to the ring display. To her, it was an innocuous row of fancy-looking rings with a team’s symbol on the front. But all they did was remind him of what was.

“I’ll... I’ll tell you another time,” he murmured. Rarity looked ready to protest, but he gave her hand a small squeeze. The look in his eyes managed to make her yield.

“Promise?” she asked, lips pursed and brow furrowed. Watching her brought that feeling around again. If Rarity noticed, she didn’t make it obvious. He took another deep breath, then nodded.

“Promise.” There was another pause before Rarity let his hand go. He glanced at his palm, then rubbed his thumb across it. It already felt colder than before.

“That’s good, then.” In her hand, she adjusted what she picked up before. Then, she turned to the register. “Let’s go pay for these, okay?”

“Mhm...” Rarity made her way there, but Hondo’s feet were stuck in place. He closed his eyes and then took a deep breath.

A fast heartbeat. A fire built up in his stomach. A powerful urge brewing beneath the surface of his pants. This was arousal. Potent enough to stir something that hadn’t been roused in months. Just thinking about it made the feeling return, thumping beneath his shorts.

He opened his eyes and made his way to Rarity’s side. As he approached, she met his eye and smiled. There it was again, just as unmistakable as before. He quickly looked away. He must have crossed some lines in his head while vulnerable. Seen Rarity as her mother, or something equally as ridiculous. Then, it would be odd, but nothing to worry about.

He had to believe that. The alternative… was too much to think about.

“How about… no, no. A bit too crowded for my tastes.”

“The spot doesn’t need to be perfect. As long as we can see the water, we’ll be fine.”

As the sun began to set and light up the sky with beautiful light, the pair found themselves on the boardwalk. A six-mile-long stretch of sandy wood next to the sea. An attraction that brought many to watch the waves lap against the posts and the sun dip into the sea. It was also a great spot to fish if the season permitted. So Rarity wasn’t surprised to see many others with the same equipment they lugged around. Not surprised, but definitely annoyed.

“We wouldn’t have to settle like this had I been a bit quicker in scheduling that boat,” grumbled Rarity. She reached into her bag and pulled out the notebook. As she flipped, she recalled crossing out several of the contents she had written down. The spa and aquarium visits were among them. At the bottom of the final used page was a boat tour on the water. “We could have been on the water with no distractions to worry about!”

“No use crying over spilled milk, right?” asked Hondo. “Look on the bright side. Those brownies we had before coming here were good.”

“That is true...” If she closed her eyes, she could still remember her first, delicious bite. An experience she’d keep with her forever. “Though I should be careful. I can already feel my figure suffering for my desires.”

“Hmm...” hummed Hondo. His head tilted away from her until he was looking out towards the sea. “I think you look good.”

“Right...” Rarity pursed her lips.

Something odd had happened. She couldn’t be sure when, but there was a definite shift in her father’s demeanor. He was more talkative, which was a plus, but also more timid. She couldn’t remember the last time he looked her in the eye when she spoke. It was always off to the side, or down at his toes. It was no secret that it worried her, but she tried to keep focused on the good. After a small sigh, her smile returned.

They continued walking for the better part of 10 minutes, chatting every now and then. Rarity noticed the people thinning out and found a decent spot soon after. Hondo dropped the tackle box on the ground between them, then leaned his rod against the railing. Rarity did the same.

“A little late, but...” Hondo leaned down and popped open the tackle box. Inside was a small portion of bait, a few flashy lures, and some hooks. He grabbed two of the latter out and came back up. “Do you know how to set up a rod?”

“I’m afraid not,” she admitted with a chuckle. “Is it complicated?”

“N-No...” There it was again. That nervous tremble in his voice. Rarity thought little of it as he grabbed his pole by the neck and brought it down to his eye level. “It’ll be quick. Take this.” Hondo opened his palm, handing her the other hook. She pinched it from his hands and held it carefully. “It’s like tying a knot. Might be easy for you.”

Hondo showed her how to fasten the hook to the line, then moved on to baiting the hook and attaching the lure. Hondo’s voice was soft, and he was patient with her mistakes. Finally, after a bit more setup, Rarity’s rod was ready for the water.

“Not bad for a first try, no?” she laughed. “So, what’s next?”

“Next is the fishing part,” he answered. He pointed to a small red button at the top of the pole’s handle. “Press that. It’ll loosen the line and let you throw it.”

“Okay...” There was a small click following his instructions. Looking for confirmation, she got it in the form of a small nod. Back at the pole, she raised her hands above her head. “Like this?”

“More like...” Hondo began to reach for her elbow but flinched, stopping in his tracks. He pulled away, opting to point from afar instead. “B-Bend your arms a little more. To throw it further, I mean...”

“Mhm...” She followed his instructions, then flicked her wrists forward. There wasn’t much power behind her toss, but the hook sailed through the air and landed some dozen feet away. “Oh! That was good, right?”

“Yup,” said Hondo. The smile forming on his face told her he was truthful. She hummed in delight, then leaned into the railing, watching the waves. “I’ll do mine, now.”

Rarity turned her attention to the hook bobbing in the water. As she knew it, this was the majority of fishing. A moment of calm in a hectic day. The sun spilled into the sea, rippling along the water’s surface. When she closed her eyes, she could feel the experience in other ways. The water beneath them lapped against the old bones of the boardwalk. A gentle breeze carrying the scent of the sea filled her lungs with each deep breath. It wasn’t her ideal way to relax, but she could definitely see the merit.

“Ack!” The yelp pulled her back down to Earth. She opened her eyes and turned to her side, where Hondo held one hand in the other. She gasped and her eyes widened once she noticed the blood dripping down his thumb.

“W-What happened?” asked Rarity. Hondo glanced up at her, then brushed his thumb against his shirt. He pulled it back, and the blood was wiped away.

“Nicked my finger on the hook. Nothing crazy.” Rarity reached to her side, into her bag. A few seconds later, she returned with a box of bandaids.

“Here, let me see it.” Without waiting for a response, she cast her pole aside and reached for his hand. Hondo flinched, but let her grab his hand. “You really ought to be more careful.”

“Yeah…” She pulled a bandage from the box and began dressing the wound. She could feel his nervous twitches while she held him. She fit the bandage around his thumb, then smiled at her work.

“That should do it,” she said with confidence. Her thumb brushed over the bandage for good measure before she looked up at him again. “Maybe we should... Dad?”

“H-Huh?” he stammered. His pale cheeks flushed red, almost up to the ears, and sweat rolled down his face. He could only meet her gaze for a second before flickering somewhere else. “What’s wrong?’

“I should be asking you,” she whispered. She squeezed his hand, careful not to stress his wound. “You’re as red as a beet. Not to mention how strange you’ve been acting since earlier.” Hondo’s eyes widened, and then he looked away.

“Ah, t-that...” he murmured. “There’s nothing wrong, just, um... Thinking.” There was more to it than that. Rarity could tell by his expression. So she smiled, trying to put him at ease.

“I’ll listen if you want to talk,” assured Rarity. “Any time.” Hondo’s ear twitched, and he pursed his lips. His eyes focused on his injured hand. He took a deep breath, then another, before finally meeting Rarity’s eyes again.

“Those rings... Do you remember them?” Rarity nodded and he continued. “Your mother... Back when we were going steady in college, she came to one of my games. A championship match between another team. We won by a hair, but I felt more alive than even at that moment.” Then, out of the blue, he laughed. Rarity blinked, unsure if she was seeing it right. “I was so overcome with emotion that when I met her after the game, I... I went and proposed right there, in front of the whole team, with what I had.”

“One of those rings...” Rarity murmured. Hondo confirmed it with a nod.

“My lucky Hayseed’s Championship ring replica. Cost all my allowance right out of high school. I damn near couldn’t afford books when my dad shipped me off.” He sighed, then shook his head. “I just... Seeing those things again led me down memory road. One led to the next until... Well you can probably guess.” Rarity bit her lip and shook her head.

“Sorry...” she said. “I must have brought back bad memories.” Again, Hondo laughed. It was a warm gesture, which was even more surprising.

“Don’t apologize. You couldn’t have known.” His thumb brushed over hers, and he tilted his head to the side. “Y’know, Rarity… you’re a lot like your mother sometimes.” He hummed, then clarified. “I mean that in a good way. Before she... Before everything happened... She was thoughtful and kind. Not to mention more beautiful than I ever deserved.”

It was basic flattery. A compliment Rarity had received countless times in her life. But as Hondo laid himself bare for her to see, it felt more genuine than anything else. So genuine that she couldn’t help but get a little red herself.

“She used to do this too,” he said, tapping her hand with his thumb. “Hold my hand and comfort me when stress got the better of me. What you did in the shop earlier... Reminded me of that, I guess.” Then he slipped free of her hands, bent down, and picked up the hook he dropped. “I’ve been... Avoiding you because of that. Touching you or looking too long. So... That’s why.”

Rarity kept silent and watched Hondo fix up his pole. He was much faster than she was and managed to cast out on the water in a flash. Once he did, he leaned forward like she did, admiring the scenery. Her heartbeat was fast, but she still slipped close to him, until her shoulder touched his.

“I’m no replacement for Mom,” she murmured. “But if it would comfort you to touch me... I wouldn’t mind.” Hondo glanced over, eyebrow raised and mouth open. He blinked a few times, then turned back to the ocean.

“G-Got it.” he stuttered. The sun had finally dipped all the way down, leaving the ocean dark. Now, the features of their faces were harder to make out.

Rarity was silently thankful for this, though. For her, whose face was surely beaming red, it couldn’t have come at a better time.