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Destiny City Ice Palace was one of Anandi's favorite places to be in the winter months. She could be bundled up to the brim in fluff and fur and could don her skates and work some muscles for a few hours and none of it seemed like work. It was always so much fun to feel the cold wind in her hair, like on the home star of Polaris.

Maybe that's why she enjoyed ice skating so much?

Either way, Anandi couldn't help but do a loop or two on the ice rink while waiting for Miss Candice. They had met earlier, as powered individuals fighting a terrible youma, and they had agreed to meet here as civilians for the first time. Would she like the ice rink? They had snow cones and hot food and good music! What wasn't to like? Anandi giggled and did another twirl. She attributed some of her ability on the ice to her past on Polaris but part of her wanted to think it was all her own doing.

Anandi was busy with her third lap around the rink when she heard her name. There weren't too many people in the rink at this time of day, which is exactly why she picked this time of day. Ah, that nice blonde lady must be Miss Tian! With a merry melody in her head and happiness in her heart, Anandi slowed to a stop next to the spot where Candice stood out. "I'm right heeeeeere~" she sang during her approach. "I am sorry, I just got so excited that I had to get some skates and see how everything was out here. They just smoothed out the ice so it's very nice! I brought extra money to rent some skates and grab lunch too!"

She was so excited that she nearly forgot to ask something. "Oh Miss Candice... have you been skating before?" There was a small child and his mother were in a designated spot in the center of the rink marked with a wide red line. He was very small, maybe four year old and was struggling with his mother holding his hands and skating in front of him to assist. He seemed quite happy.

"It's very cold at first but once you start moving, you heat up very quickly! That's why professionals wear little clothing. You need to be able to sweat if you're doing all the tricks. I cannot do tricks, not like jumping, but I can go backwards!" Anandi giggled. She wasn't wearing anything fancy for their outing - just a powder blue thin sweater and khakis. "I rented a locker if you want to put your purse and things in it!"

Anandi shook her head vehemently. "Oh no no, you should try at least once! I will teach you if you're willing to try! It doesn't hurt that bad. It's just like falling off a bike and onto the ground, I suppose. There isn't anything to be afraid of. Nobody is going to assault you with a blade like fencing~" Not that Anandi knew much about fencing. All she knew was that people wore masks and poked at each other with what looked like swords. And they were very graceful.

Perhaps the two could be intertwined?

"Shall we get you some skates? Would you be willing to do a slow lap with me? I will teach you~ We will go slowly so you won't get overwhelmed. Is that okay?" The Indian girl was quite enthused about this. She'd never been able to teach someone something like this before, and idly wondered if her princess would be proud of her. She thought Miss Candice (and therefore, Miss Tian!) would make an excellent Shepherd. She had the right attitude and all the heart in the world!

Anandi's head shook and her hands fluttered to gently pat Candice's wallet away. "No no no, I took care of that, okay? We just go to the counter and get your skates and we'll be on our way~" She giggled. She wasn't often able to buy a few nice things or a fun activity or two with friends. Mama was quite proud that Anandi was making more friends now that she was older.

Candice's concerns were well placed and Anandi nodded in return. "Do not worry! I'll pull on you to make sure you don't slip but I can't imagine you'd fall very hard. I mean, certainly not hard enough to break anything! We're not doing jumps or any of that." While Anandi had never suffered a broken bone herself while skating, she assumed such things were possible if one fell hard enough and from a high enough distance.

Which was icky.

Stepping up off the ice and onto the flooring where her blonde companion stood, Anandi gently took up her hand to lead her to the stall where skates were handed out. "Yes indeed, Miss Candice! Ice skates are pretty much your same shoe size and they lace up like sneakers, see?" Anandi lifted a leg to show her companion, a delightful smile on her face. "And when we are done trying this, I would like to try fencing if you wouldn't mind teaching me?"

"Oh I would be very excited to try fencing! I think it could help me very much in... well... you know." Anandi winked at her friend and smiled. Candice would know what she was talking about. Even though Anandi wasn't a fighter, being able to defend herself was very important to her survival. She wanted to grow and become stronger to protect others and she wanted to see Candice grow in the same way.

Anandi reached down for the blonde's hands to lead her to the rink. "Are you ready, Miss Candice? We will take it very slow and we'll go in the middle, right there! That's the practice area."

Looking over her shoulder, Anandi held out her hands to Candice to use as a crutch for balance. Walking in ice skates was a very new experience to her most likely! They slowly inched to the edge of the rink and Anandi stepped down onto the ice. Oftentimes she felt more at home on the ice than anywhere else. Anandi hoped she could share that love with Candice. "Nice and slow and don't feel rushed! People will get out of our way~"

"You will do fine, Miss Candice! Think of it like roller skating and I am here! So do not worry, okay?"

The people around them saw that Candice was a beginner and gave them a wide berth - such was the courtesy of ice skaters. Anandi giggled and continued her slow backwards skate towards the practice area in the middle of the rink. "Slow and steady! It's more like sliding than it is walking. You use your inner calves and ankles to push you and the skates do the rest!"

She remembered when her mother first taught her. She would say the same American phrase - it was like riding a bike. Once you learn, you never forget. Now Anandi had never ridden a bike before but she understood the principle. There had been a period of three years when she didn't skate and when she put them back on and stepped on the ice, it was like she never stopped. Muscle memory or some such thing.

"You are doing fine, Miss Candice! I will not let you fall!"

Anandi giggled happily. "See! You are doing very well!" Seeing Candice trying her best made the Indian girl more determined to do her best as well! As they made their way about the center ring, people around them gave them a wide berth for practicing. "It is more like sliding than walking. Mama used to compare it to buttering toast but that is silly! She would say, your skates are the knife with the butter and the ice is the toast, and you sway back and forth..." Anandi explained, imitating her mother's much harsher Indian accent.

In the middle of the explanation, Candice suddenly started swaying and falling backwards. With a squeak, Anandi locked her knees together and pulled hard on the other girl's wrists. In the end, Candice barely made it still standing, her bottom hovering close to the ice. "Whew!" wheezed her companion with a lighthearted smile. "It is okay! That does not count as a fall! Now we must practice more with the gliding! Push outward with your ankles, Miss Candice! That will give you forward momentum~"

A couple yanks and the blonde was back on her feet, good as new!

The Indian girl smiled and before she could answer, her stomach growled. She giggled, blushing. "I would love some lunch! And I'm sure you wouldn't mind a break. Let's get you back on solid ground for some tasty food, miss Candice!" Then Anandi took the lead, guiding Candice gently back to the edge of the rink where she could step up and find a seat to take her ice skates off.

The food stand nearby was selling all sorts of standard rink fare - burgers and fries, hot dogs, pizza. The all-American favorites. Anandi smiled and licked her lips just from the smell alone. "I do love burgers very much!" she explained, sitting down next to Candice. She didn't untie her skates - Anandi felt as much as home in them as she did in any other shoes. "What would you like to get, Miss Candice? You've been doing a great job out there so far! Do you like it? Is it fun?"

Anandi smiled at her. "...thank you for coming out to meet me, Miss Candice. I really appreciate it. Mama was so happy to find out I was meeting a friend here!"