"Look, I can't help you."

"Aw, please Felicity, I"

"No. I'm serious, Moony."

“…”

"It's not that I don't want to help. But I can't —not the way you're asking, at least."

"But, why?"

"Why…? Okay, so just for one, I'm not a psychologist. Or a therapist. Or psychiatrist, or anything. I'm I'm still just a third year-student, Moony!"

"But"

"Oh, and second. Even if I was licensed, do you have any idea how unethical it would be for me to try and give professional advice here? You're asking me to diagnose a person I haven't even met once! I can't tell you what's going on or what they should and shouldn't do just based on a description you're giving me. If I reach a wrong conclusion or give bad advice because you don't know what you need to tell me —because you're not a therapist either- do you know how much damage that could cause?"

"…"

"And that's not even covering the fact that I wouldn't be telling you anything about their theoretical diagnosis or treatment plan, even if they are your friend!"

"…Yeah, I get it."

"I just— Look, I know you want to help your friend. And just from what you've told me, I don't think seeking help is a bad idea for them. Though, buck it, I don't think seeking help is ever a bad thing, but you know what I mean. But you're not a therapist, love."

"So there's nothing I can do to help?"

"Did I say that? Moony, I just don't think you should try to make any 'treatment plans' for them, any more than you should try to give them medical treatment if they broke a leg."

"Then what can I do?

Moony heard the smile in her cousin's voice as they responded.

"You already are doing', love. You're being their friend. A bit of an overstepping friend, maybe, but a caring one. Just… support them. Make sure they know you're there for them, and that you're someone they can come to if they need help."

Moony stood in silence. A few days ago, she would have told Felicity that of course Felix knew he could come to her if he needed help. But now….

Unaware of her hesitation, Felicity continued.

"This isn't advice as a professional or anything, just as a fellow pony. Loneliness is hard. We're a herd species, and we need family and friends to lean on. Just being a good friend can go a long way sometimes."

"But he's leaving," Moony choked out, surprised at her own voice for how teary it sounded. She hadn't realised she was getting so emotional. She took a deep breath. "He's leaving soon, and I can't go with. And he- he doesn't have other people to… I mean, he has a family but he doesn't- he says he can't talk with them about this, and he's leaving so I can't be there for him."

Felicity was mostly quiet, just letting out a soft hum. They seemed to think of how to answer her, so Moony tried to be patient even as her back leg twitched in rapid taps on the floor. She glanced over her shoulder as she waited, to make sure no one was listening. It was very late, but these were students; you never knew when someone was up. The payphone she was on was placed on one wall, with the second one directly behind her. On her left, and the other phone's right, corridors stretched out into the building. They were dark, as the lamps were kept unlit by default, but she couldn't hear anyone at least. The same held true for the stairs on the other side of the corridor entrances from her; dark, yet quiet. It used to be eerie, to be alone like this in a building full of people hidden behind doors, but she'd grown used to it this last year.

Felicity sighed, a loud staticky noise as they breathed into the receiver. "Moony… all you can do is your best, right? I know it's cliché to say, but it's for a reason it's repeated so often. Find ways you can still be there for him -phone calls, mail, visits, see if you can help him find other support - but if that isn't enough, then it's not on you."

Moonstone turned to the right, where the window to the outside only showed the facade of the building across the road. "Should… should I go back home with him?"

"…is that what you really want?"

"I want to help him."

"Okay. …Okay, I can't tell you what you should or shouldn't do, or what's right for you. But promise me two things?"

Moony shrugged, before remembering they couldn't see her. "Depends on what they are.”

"Fair enough. First then-" Their voice dipped, and she could imagine the gentle look on their face they got whenever they gave someone edvice. "Don't hurry things, okay? From what you said, there's no reason you can't wait and think things over more —he's leaving now, but you can always follow later, right?"

"I suppose…"

"I just… you have time Moony, to think things through before you make huge decisions. And to be sure of why you want to do what you choose.”

It was nighttime, and she should have been asleep hours ago. Moony decided that she didn’t have the energy to try to figure out her own feelings right now. "What was the second thing you wanted?”

Felicity sighed. “Okay. Just think about it, please?”

Moony was silent.

Felicity apparently took the hint. “Right, the second thing then.” Their voice softened. “Talk to him. Moony, you’re asking me what you can do for him, trying to decide if you should go with him, but have you talked with him about what he feels would help him?”

With a deep breath, Moony shifted her weight where she stood. Her face heated up as her ears slicked back. “I wanted to… take the lead this time,” she finally admitted. “He did all the big things first and was the one who made us…” She squeezed her eyes shut. “Stop pretending and actually communicate. And I’m doing that again. Aren’t I.”

It wasn’t actually a question, and Felicity seemed to realise it, remaining silent.

“I just wanted to be the one who helped him first.” Moony finished, whispering. “But that’s not how this works, is it?”

“Afraid not, love.” Felicity said, not unkindly. “Most creatures don’t like people trying to help them without being asked about said help first.”

“I knooow…” Moony groaned and pressed her forehead against the telephone’s wooden case. “I know that, I do. I just…”

“It’s easy to forget when someone you love is hurting, I know. I’ve…” They sighed. “I’ve made the same mistake, don’t beat yourself up.”

“…”

“…Moony?”

“…Yeah, I’m- I’ll go talk to him. Thanks.”

“Wait,” Felicity said, stopping Moony mid-movement, as she was reaching up to click the telephone off. “That’s it?”

“..what?”

“Did you just call me at—” A pause. “After midnight sometime, just to ask for advice and then hang up? No ‘How are you?’ or ‘How’s the family?’ or even an ‘How’s the weather up there?’”

Moony smiled despite herself. “Felicity, it’s the frozen north in winter; I’m guessing ‘cold’.”

“Pfff,” they blew a raspberry into the receiver. “It’s the thought that’s the point!”

“Oh, alright then. How’s the weather?”

“It’s cold! I might have to start to wear clothes, Moony. Clothes!”

“Horrifying.”

“Do you have any idea what they do to the grain of your fur? So annoying.”

Moony chuckled, then sighed. “But yeah, sorry. I didn’t think before calling so late.”

“It’s fine. I know how it is; once I stayed up almost two days for finals. My day-rhythm was pretty shot for a while after.” Their voice softened again. “Though it was good you called, because I’ve been meaning to ask you one thing.”

“Yeah?”

“Not sure you know, but Diletto and I usually try to travel when I’m on break, and we’re going to be in Manehattan for a few days next week. I was going to ask if you’d be there or going home?”

“Oh, um. I’ll be here?” She didn’t mean it as a question, but was a bit thrown by the change of topic.

“Perfect!” Moony could hear the smile in their voice. “Any chance you could spare some time to show us around? It’s more fun to go to less touristy places, and you might know of some..?”

“Y-yeah, I can do that. I know some great restaurants and stuff at least.”

“Wonderful, I’ll tell Diletto —so we’ll see you then, yeah?”

“Right. I’ll… see you both then.”

Felicity didn’t say anything for a second, then… “One last thing. I, uh…”

Moony wasn’t used to hearing them sound so hesitant.

“One piece of advice? About your situation. Is that… sometimes,” they said carefully, with pauses between every other word, as if they were thinking hard about how to phrase things. “When we think we don’t have people who care for us… you said your friend only has you to speak to —but sometimes, that’s not because they don’t exist, but… because they didn't realise that they needed to show it more.”

“…Alright, ” Moony answered, a bit confused. “I’ll… tell him that?”

“Right.” Felicity sighed. “Okay, you do that. But tomorrow, maybe? Go get some sleep tonight.”

Moony grimaced. She may or may not have taken another salt-lick before this call, the magical energy still coursing through her veins. “I’ll try.” She settled on.

“Goodnight.”

“‘Night.”

And with a click, the line went dead.

Moony went back to her apartment.

——-

They did talk. It was slow, awkward and halting, but they did at least try to talk.

Unfortunately, they didn’t get very far. For one, Felix’ decision to play fast and loose with his meal plan caught up with him, and left him sick for a few days. During which he spent most of his time in the bathroom or groaning on his mattress with a hot bottle clutched to his stomach. Moony didn’t think that was the right time to have deep discussions.

And when that was over, their talks tended to devolve into apologies and just talking in circles.

The main issue was though, that neither of them had any idea of what they should do. It was hard to find solutions, when all they could see were problems.

Then they got even less productive when a letter appeared in a puff of green flame and smoke.

Somehow, Spike had gotten wind of Felicity and Diletto’s upcoming visit, and wanted in. But, he couldn’t come on a weekday, so he’d taken the initiative to talk with them and reschedule their visit from the middle of the week to the weekend.

This weekend that is, not the next one.

And suddenly, Felix and her had a visit two days away to prepare for. They didn’t have time for deep discussions when they had to deep clean the apartment and prepare food and—

Moony was aware that they were both stalling, but couldn’t manage to do anything about it.

—-

Once the day finally came, Felicity and Diletto were the first to arrive. They came bearing gifts, and made appropriate pleasantries while they all waited for Spike. Moony caught Felicity looking at Felix now and again, and winced. Yep, they’d definitely figured out who she was talking about that night; so much for trying to keep things anonymous.

But they didn’t say anything, so Moony just mentally berated herself until a knock on the door signified that -hopefully at least- Spike had arrived.

That was when the day started going sideways.

Outside of the door was Spike, yes. But also…

“Gallus? Why are you here?” Felix echoed her thoughts out loud upon seeing the people outside.

Gallus didn’t have time to answer, before a third figure appeared. Bending down to see through the door-frame, Silverclaw waved a paw at them.

“Moony!” Spike said, and jumped in to hug her, stalling any further questions. “It’s been way waaay too long!”

“Oh.” Moony’s brain was still rebooting, but instinct made her hug back. “Sorry, I’ve been… busy.”

Spike wagged a finger at her. “Too busy for your BBBFF? Priorities, learn them!”

He seemed cheerful, but Moony got the feeling he was more emotional than he let on. The fact that he let go quickly and moved in to greet Diletto and Felicity solidified that.

No time to dwell on it though, as a claw ruffled her mane as soon as Spike let go.

“‘Sup kits!” Gallus crowed, and messed up Felix’ mane as well. “Twilight didn’t want Spike to go by herself, and as soon as I heard who he was visiting, I decided to tag along.”

“I’m even less of a kit now than I ever was!” Moony protested, laughing.

“I call ‘em as I see ‘em,” he stretched up, looking down on them. “And what I see are two kits, one who hasn’t visited his favourite uncle in forever! What, I have to go all the way to Manehattan just to see my nephew?”

The words were harsh, but a smile played in his eyes and at the corners of his beak.

“Sorry, Uncle Gallus,” Felix said, glancing down. “I, uh, kinda lost track of how long it’s been.”

“Meh, it’s fine, kit.” Gallus grabbed his shoulders, giving him a half-hug. “I should’a visited more too. Let’s just try to see each other more in the future, eh?”

Felix nodded, as Gallus let go and strutted into the apartment behind them.

That left Silverclaw, who bent down, down thorugh the door and followed them inside too.

“It’s been a while,” she gestured and nodded at them. “But it’s nice to see you again.”

“Yeah!” Moony leaned against her side. “I guess we kinda lost touch when you didn’t have to babysit me anymore, huh?”

Silverclaw chuckled, and placed a paw on Moony’s back briefly, before leaning up so she could gesture again. “You still need a babysitter. Lucky you, it’s your brother I’m here to babysit right now.”

“I can see you!” Spike yelled from behind them. They ignored him.

“When I heard he was visiting you, I offered to come with,” Silverclaw continued. “We should meet up more often.”

“We should,” Moony agreed, remembering how the guard had played with her and never gotten annoyed despite how annoying Moony realised she’d been in hindsight. “But I’m not sure when’s the next time I’ll be in Ponyville…”

“There’s always letters,” Silverclaw gestured with a shrug. “I’ll write.” And with that, she fully went inside to join the others. Moony closed the door.

Okay, so she thought she’d have three guests, now she had five. Did she have enough food? Was the corner shop open on holidays…?

A knock on the door broke her thoughts and made her brain stall. She hadn’t invited anyone else, had she?

She hesitantly approached it again. If her room hadn’t been full of people seeing her, she might have opted for literal sneaking on the tips of her hooves to avoid the person on the other side from hearing her. She would at least have liked to have the option of pretending no one was home. But as is, everyone was both looking and being loud, so she just sighed and trudged up to open it.

A familiar pegasus fixed a single eye on her and smiled widely. “Hello ‘lil princess! I’m told Mr. Felix is here? I’ve a letter for him!”

Felix, who’d been equally listening in as everyone else, slid up to the door to see who was outside. “Ms. Doo?” His eyes bugged out. “You’re in— please don’t tell me you came all the way here to give me my mail!”

Usually a silly question, but Ms. Doo was both very dedicated to doing a good job and tended to be overzealous enough that Moony could see her hopping on a train just to make sure a letter got delivered.

Luckily, she just laughed and shook her head. “Nope! But I was visitin’ Dinky and she’s just half an hour by wing from here, so when I was asked to deliver this I thought I might as well see the big city!”

She seemed happy enough, so Moony hoped Felix didn’t feel too bad about her taking time off from her visit to give him mail.

Ms. Doo held out an envelope for Felix to grab, continuing to talk as he ripped it open. “Besides, I’ve missed my favourite customer! You used to send letters all the time, but then you just—” She blinked. “Oh, duh. You didn’t need to send letters to the ‘lil princess when you were visitin' her.”

She then -before Moony had time to register what was happening- waltzed past them into the apartment. “Very nice place!” she complimented as she strolled in. “Cozy with fun posters!”

Moony shared a bemused look with Felix, who just shook his head and opened the letter. His eyes scanned it briefly, before frowning in confusion. Wordlessly, he held it out for Moony to read.

You said I could visit at any time I wanted, so I’ll be there in five seconds!

“Wha—?” Moony started. Then she was tackled in a hug.

The first thing she saw when she’d regained her composure was green and blue curls pressed up against her face. “Disco?” She managed to grind out through her squeezed ribs. The cheerful “Yes!” confirmed her suspicions enough that she relaxed and let herself be crushed. When it came to Disco, it was just easier to ride it out.

After one final squeeze, he let go —only to pounce on Felix instead, lifting him clean off the floor in his enthusiasm.

“Disco, why are you here?” Moony asked once she’d caught her breath again. “I mean, not that you’re not welcome, but I thought you were in…?”

“My party senses were tingling!”

Moony blinked. “You don’t have—”

Disco put Felix down, and bounced towards the others in the room.

“-party sen oh, never mind.”

“Actually, I’m pretty sure he does.” Yet another voice said from the door. It was still open, and a brown zony peeked in. Kinyume didn’t enter, just gave them her usual unimpressed stare; the only thing betraying her calm demeanour was her ears flicking around to catch the muffled sounds of the city around them. “Sorry about him just barging in.”

Moony gave her a tired smile. Yes, Kinyume might as well be here too, why not.

“It’s fine, I know how he is.” Moony sighed, glancing over her shoulder. Disco was trying to hug Gallus to death as Spike just laughed. Judging from his leaning on the counter while holding his ribs, he’d already been subject to the affection. “And he’s right that I did tell him he’s always welcome, so I really only have myself to blame.”

“Yeah, uh, sorry if this is rude?” Felix broke in, and Moony turned back towards the doorway. Felix had stepped forwards, his head cocked as he gave Kinyume a confused look. “I can see him being here, but why are you in Manehattan? You never leave Thunder alone for so long…”

Kinyume shrugged. “Your mom’s watching him. And Disco told me that I wanted to come, and I know by now that he’s most often right regarding that.” Much to Moony’s surprise, she gave one of her rare smiles -well rare to anyone who wasn’t Disco or a bird enthusiast- and nodded at Felix. “Besides, he said you’d be here. It’s been a long time since you visited last, and I thought it was probably my turn.” She glanced away. ”…To be honest, I missed our talks.”

She then clamped her mouth shut after that, seeming surprised at her own admission. But she didn’t flinch, just jutted her chin out and semi-glared at them, as if to dare them to comment on her admission. Felix didn’t, as he seemed equally stunned; though in his case, he didn’t bother trying to hide it. So Moony jumped in again. “Oh, well, you’re also always welcome! Just…” She turned to the crowd in her small apartment. “…In the future, I think I’m gonna ask people to call ahead first.”

Kinyume nodded, and quickly stepped past them, making a beeline for the door to the bathroom.

Felix and Moony shared a look.

“…Wanna bet even more people will be coming? Or do you think they were the last.” She asked.

Only, it wasn’t Felix who answered, but a strangers’ voice right outside the door. “I wouldn’t take the bet if I were you.”

Moony threw her hooves up and stomped out to see who else had decided to come along.

A pegasus stallion stood in the hallway, looking a bit bemused. “Though, I’ll be honest; I’m not entirely sure why I'm here either,” he said. Moony looked him over, trying to place him. Middle aged and green, with blonde mane and sideburns. His cutie mark was a question mark, where the dot was a clock and the line seemed to be a… ladder? He did look vaguely familiar, but Moony wasn’t sure where she’d seen him before.

Felix obviously did though, as she could hear his claws scramble against the floor when he saw who stood outside the door. “Tracker!” he exclaimed, happily. “What are you doing here!?”

Tracker -Oh, right, wasn’t that the one who..?- lit up as well when Felix approached. “Felix! Goodness, at least I know someone here now!” He shook his mane. “And honestly, I don’t know why I’m here. My partner and I were seeing my in-laws, I go to get groceries, meet Disco of all people on the street, and uh…” He shrugged. “Suddenly, here I am.”

Felix laughed, and almost seemed to bounce in place. Eyes glittering, ears perked and a grin that split his face —ugh, she had to invite the stallion in if he made Felix that happy to see.

“Well,” she sighed. “It seems like I’m having a party whether I want to or not, so you might as well come in too.”

Tracker glanced into the apartment, did a double take at the amount of people in there, and opened his mouth. Felix hopped towards the door and turned back to beam at them; Tracker closed his mouth again, sighed as well, and followed Felix inside with a “Just for a few minutes then.”

Once they had crammed themselves inside too, Moony grabbed the door. She looked down the empty corridor. “Anyone else who wants to join?”

The door next to hers opened and Traffic peeked out. “You got booze?”

“…No.”

“Oh.” He thought for a second. “No thanks, then.” And closed it.

With a snort, Moony followed suit.

—-

Somewhere, somehow, they managed to scrounge up snacks to share, several board games they played at the same time and the back of one of Moony’s less cherished posters got turned into a stick figure pony they tried to give a tail to. Disco procured a gramophone from somewhere along with several records of various artists and styles; dancing was pretty much out of the question, so they pretty much just swayed or tapped hooves and paws to the soft tunes as they mingled.

Despite saying he could only stay for a short while, Time Tracker remained and got dragged into a lively conversation with Felix and Disco about something. He never quite lost his confused expression.

Meanwhile, Moony found herself in a nostalgia and embarrassment session with Spike, Gallus and Silverclaw, as they reminisced about various situations she’s wound up in during her childhood. Luckily it eventually ended, with Gallus walking over to join in on Felix’ conversation, while Silverclaw approached Muffins -as she’d asked them to call her an hour in (Moony… wasn’t sure if it was her actual name or just a nickname)- who was doing something in the kitchen nook.

Spike remained, and… quietly asked her if he could come visit more often. He’d missed her, he admitted while wringing his claws, looking so much like a teenager that Moony was momentarily stunned. All her life, he’d been her older brother, but… dragons age so slowly and— she was an adult now. Stars, she was an adult, and he was still a— She’d thought he’d known he could come by. But he didn’t, did he? Because… he still needed permission to do things. Moony felt a pang of shame as she assured him that he was welcome any time he wanted. Hang on, she could even have an extra key done, that way he could come in anytime even if she was in class…

The conversation must have been a bit embarrassing for him, because he thanked her quietly and quickly excused himself to join another conversation after that.

Moony didn’t have time to dwell on it, as Diletto and Felicity joined her as Spike left, each carrying a glass of the lemonade they’d gotten from somewhere. Felicity looked a bit worried after the dragon, but after sharing a look with their twin, Diletto followed him while Felicity remained with Moony. They gave her an imploring look.

“You okay?”

She nodded, but sighed. “Yeah, just… realised something.” She shook her head, not wanting to get into it right now. “How’re you enjoying the party?”

“Bit cramped I’ll admit, but still better than some galas and such I’ve had to attend.” They shot her a side-eyed look. “Unlike some royals, I actually have to be there, you know.”

She gave them a cheeky grin back. “Sucks to be you then.”

They just grunted and took a swig from their drink. “I’ve been meaning to ask you something while I was here,” they abruptly said, suddenly serious. “But then this entire thing happened. So I’ll just keep it short with the little privacy we have now—”

They turned to look at her, eyes soft. “I’m sorry we haven’t been very close before.”

Not expecting that, Moony didn’t say anything.

“I mean, when we were kids you were always sent to play with ‘Rora, but I… regret that I didn’t try more when we got older.”

Moony found her voice. “That’s… not all on you you know.” She swallowed. “I mean, takes two to talk, yeah?”

They shrugged. “Yeah, but I’m older and should know better. Diletto too, if they weren’t with Spike right now, they’d be saying the same thing.”

“You’re, what, three years older?” Moony gave a fake smile. “Not sure how much three years gives in wisdom.”

“I mean, when you’re a teen—” They cut themselves off, shaking their mane. “Anyway. We’d like to make up for that lost time. If you want to, that is.”

Moony gave them a shaky smile. “I— yeah, I’d like that.” She glanced around the room. “Just… not sure how we can if I’m here all year and you’re in the Crystal Empire…”

They bumped their hips against hers. “We can figure stuff out. We can visit sometime, or you can come to us during break. I mean, when you’re not going back home, that is.” (Moony wanted to snort, but paused. She… could go there, couldn’t she?) “And aside from that, there’s always letters and telephone calls.”

“So long as you hoof the phone bill for half of them,” she managed to joke. “I won’t tell you how much that late night call ended up costing…”

They smiled brightly at her. “It’s a deal, love.”

After trading a few more jokes and jabs they wandered off towards Diletto again, leaving Moony to herself.

She climbed up and sat in the corner of the bed. She needed a breather.

——

Felix was getting a bit overwhelmed. Luckily Disco had just bounced off, speaking with Gallus and Time Tracker about…

Okay, Felix wasn’t entirely sure he understood how it worked, but apparently there was some way for him to get much cheaper train tickets via some program Disco knew about. He hadn’t really followed the rules and everything else Disco was babbling about, but Tracker had seemed to know what they were talking about. Gallus also seemed to grasp it, and the three of them had left to ‘iron out the details’. Of whatever it was.

“He can be a bit much,” Kinyume had stayed behind. “But he means well. And don’t worry; once he’s gotten it out of his system, he’ll be much better at explaining whatever that was.”

“So you didn’t understand it either?” Felix asked, relieved.

“Not a clue,” she sipped from some kind of drink. Where had she gotten that from?

No time to wonder, as Muffins pronked up. “They are in the oven!” She didn’t say what ‘they’ were, but Felix had a hunch they may be muffins.

“Now we just gotta wait,” she finished, and plopped down to sit on the floor. “…What are you talking about?”

“Disco is complicated.” Kinyume said, which was really the only explanation needed.

Muffins nodded seriously. “Yeah. He comes by a lot to send letters to people, and I always get confused by the end.” She smiled. “But he’s still nice! He usually comes by when noone else is there, so he stays and talks.” She then nodded to Felix. “Like you did! I mean, you’ve been doing it less and less…” She gave him a worried look. “Even before you left for here I mean.”

Kinyume pursed her lips. “Yeah, you visited me less and less too.”

Felix wasn’t sure what to say. His ears slicked back and he could feel his claws catch on the rug and he flexed them. “I…”

“Not that you had to visit,” Kinyume hurried to continue. “I’m not mad or anything, I just… missed it, you know” She looked away at the last statement.

“I kinda thought I was bothering you.” Felix finally admitted quietly, looking at his claws. “But I guess not, huh?”

Kinyume gave him a slightly confused look. “Bothering? Do you have any idea how few people I manage to go out and meet when more than half of my free time is spent looking after a giant murder bird, and the other half to studies? I never manage to get into town unless it’s to buy groceries.” She looked away again. “It was… nice to have someone come out to me to visit.”

Muffins nodded. “Yeah, and I see a lot of people, but it’s not really ‘visits’, you know? They just hoof me a package or letter, I tell them their total and they give me bits and leave.” She gave him a smile. “So it’s really nice when people like you stop and chat with me!”

Felix felt his face heat up, as he looked away. Behind him, he could feel his tail lashing in wide sweeps.

“I’m sorry I stopped.”

Kinyume shook her head quickly. “No, I’m sorry. You visited me a lot, but I realised I never really returned the favour. Until now, that is.”

“But I—”

Muffins stomped a hoof. “The Doc told me we can’t change the past, and he's the smartest pony I know, so you stop that. You both wished you’d visited more? Do that in the future.”

Kinyume and Felix shared a look, but nodded. “Yeah, let’s.” Kinyume settled on instead. “When you’re in ponyville, just tell one of the crows or ravens and I’ll know I can visit you.”

Felix grinned at her. “And maybe you can tell me what days in the week you’re in Canterlot, so I know when I can visit you.”

“And you can both come by the post office when you’re walking to each other and I’ll give you muffins to share.” Muffin finished, with a decisive nod. That was that. They talked for a little while longer, before Muffins went off to check on the -presumably muffins- in the oven, and Kinyume went to see what Disco was doing.

Felix, feeling a bit tired of having to interact with people, decided to take a breather. The bed was high, up away from the bustle, so he went over to it. With a jump and a flap of his wings he landed—

—right in front of Moony, who’d apparently had the same idea.

“Oh,” he whispered, as she jerked back at his sudden appearance. “Sorry, I just wanted to get away for a little bit.”

“Me too,” she murmured back, after calming down. “…Wanna be alone together?”

He smiled, and settled down next to her.

Below them, Muffin pulled something out from the oven and placed it on the counter. Everyone else gathered around for…

“Huh,” Felix said to himself. He’d been wrong; they were cookies, not muffins. Goes to show him. He watched in silence as everyone grabbed one —and as everyone except the unicorns dropped theirs from the heat.

“Felicity said I could visit the Crystal Empire whenever I wanted,” Moony suddenly broke the quiet between them. “D’you… wanna come with me sometime? I mean, we’d have to take different trains but we could meet there…”

“Oh!” Felix turned towards her, but she didn’t look at him. “Yeah, that could be fun.”

Silence again.

This time Felix broke it. “To be honest…” He was actually surprised at himself for talking about this now. “…I kinda wish I could just stay here.”

Moony stilled. “…why can’t you?”

He kept his eyes on the group below them. “…I don’t understand.”

“Why can’t you stay?”

He licked his lips. “I thought… you only have one room.”

“It’s worked so far. We can switch who gets the bed.”

“I can’t pay rent”

“It’s school housing, part of the tuition.”

“I still need to see my doctor.”

“You’ve been talking about wanting to switch doctor anyway.”

His heart beat faster. Then sank. “I promised Kinyume and Muffins that I’d visit more often. And… I want to. Visit them, I mean. And I… I already miss my parents. I don’t want to leave them so completely yet.”

“Oh,” Moony sagged with the rush of air in the sigh. “I understand.”

Silence again, this time with an uncomfortable undertone in it. Felix fidgeted, unsure about what he should say.

Beofre he had the chance, Moony took a deep breath and shook herself off. “Then you’ll have to promise me one thing.”

“What?”

She turned to look at him, a slightly strained, watery smile on her face. “When I visit Ponyville over my next break, that you’ll make me get on the train back.”

He took a shaky breath, and managed a smile back. “Only if you make me come with you back here for another visit then.”

“…Only if you come with me to the therapist’s office and wait outside during my first session then. And for the booking of the appointment.”

“Only if you do the same for me”

She shifted to lean against him. “I can do that.”

“And I can visit more often; Disco’s doing something to let me buy cheap train tickets.” He remembered suddenly. “So I can come by more often and stay some time here and some time home.”

She smiled at him again, relief in her eyes. “I’m still going to visit home more.”

“I know; you just told me to make you, so I will.” He bumped their shoulders together playfully.

“So…” He grew serious again. “If I promise I won't let you fall…”

“And I promise I’ll help you stand.” She continued, slowly, once it was clear he wasn't sure how to complete the thought.

Felix smiled at her, and looked down at the people below. “And we both promise to remember everyone else we do have to lean on when we need help.”

He felt her press her lips to his cheek.

“Then we can do this.” She murmured against his fur.

“Together.”