The party went on well into the night. Not wanting to be rude, Granite stayed for much longer than he was comfortable with. He stopped drinking when he knew that he was buzzed, switching to ginger ale instead. Through the night, he found himself being dragged to the dance floor by a multitude of different mares. He wouldn't have minded if it didn't seem like they were... aggressive to each other as they did.

Finally being released by his current dance partner, he began walking to the side when he saw a heap of fur laying in the corner of the room. Confused, he moved over to ascertain what the multicolored mound consisted of. When he got closer, he couldn't help but smile. Laying on the floor was Jewel. Laying in front of her, causing their bodies to form a capital 'T', was a yellow earth filly. Beside Jewel was a white unicorn filly and an orange pegasus filly. The two fillies were staggered so each could set a head on Jewel's back while Jewel herself used the yellow filly's back. Jewel's scarf was used by said yellow filly as a pillow.

As gently as he could, he used his magic to rearrange the fillies so that Jewel was free but allowed the three other fillies to use each other as pillows. Wrapping the scarf back around Jewel's neck, he set her on his back. Happy that she was secure, he worked his way back through the party to the table that the six mares he originally spoke to were still seated. They all looked a bit sweatier than when the night started, indicating that they had at least partaken in the activities. When Granite got to the table, he smiled apologetically at the girls.

"It seems that Jewel is beat. Can you tell me where the nearest inn is?" he asked as he slipped on his bags and scarf. He took Jewel's bags and draped them over his neck before taking a thin blanket from said bag and draping over the sleeping filly.

"Did you say you trying to find an inn?" asked a voice as he drew the blanket over Jewel. Turning his head, he found a pale yellow pony with a two-tone red and pink mane standing to his right. He noticed the soft blush on her cheeks when he looked at her but chose not to comment on it. Just like he chose not to comment on how entrancing her stem-green eyes were.

"Yeah. You're Roseluck right?" a nod and a brighter blush gave him his answer.

"I-I can show you where it is. It's close to my house, afterall."

"You don't mind leaving the party?" he asked, not feeling right for dragging somepony away from a party that still appeared to be in full swing.

She shook her head, "I was gonna head back anyway. I need to work tomorrow."

"Well, alright. Let's go then," he said before looking at the six at the table. He gave them a nod, "Girls."

"Can I expect you at the Boutique tomorrow?" Rarity asked.

Earlier tonight, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie had given him detailed directions to their houses so that the siblings could get to work. Granite nodded, "Of course. And Fluttershy, you can expect Jewel at your cottage early in the morning."

"O-oh, I'm sure she'd be much to tired after tonight to do much-"

Granite held up a hoof to stop the mare, "She'll be there and, trust me, she'll be as energetic as ever."

"O-okay."

"Right, well," he turned to Roseluck, who was shuffling from hoof to hoof, "let's head out then."

She just nodded as the two moved to the door of the library. Granite was glad to see that she had grabbed a red and pink scarf from a coat rack and wrapped it around her neck. Even with their scarves, the two shivered as they stepped outside into the cold night air.

"She's lucky," Roseluck commented, motioning to Jewel with her head, "All warm and cozy."

Granite looked at his back and smiled as he saw just a heap of blanket with a turquoise muzzle sticking out, "Yep, she's a little gem."

Hearing a snort, he looked at the mare to see her with a hoof to her mouth and a large smile on her face, "I'm sorry, that was just..."

"Cheesy?" he finished with his own smile.

"Mhmm," she replied with a nod. The two walked on in silence for a little bit, sneaking glances at each other when they thought the other wasn't looking.

"Soooo," Granite began, looking back at the pale yellow mare, "Where do you work?"

"Oh, I have a stall in the Ponyvile market. I, umm," she rubbed the back of her neck as they walked, "I sell flowers."

"Why are you so bashful about it?"

"Because I'm sure it's nowhere near as exciting as what you did in Fillydelphia."

Granite couldn't help it. He laughed for a good couple minutes. He calmed down when he saw the confused look in her face. Wiping a tear from his eye, before it could freeze, he said, "I was a construction worker. Trust me, not as exciting as one might think. And now," he shook his head with a smile, "I agreed to help out Rarity in her shop."

Now it was Rose's turn to laugh mirthfully. "Y-y-you? W-working at d-dress shop?"

Granite just smiled and shook his head again, "Laugh it up."

"I-I'm sorry," she took a deep breath to calm herself. She gave one more small giggle, "I'm sorry. I just can't see you going anywhere near a dress shop."

"Yeah?"

"Mhmm."

"Then what would I do if I met some lovely mare that I wanted to get a gift for?" he asked with a smirk. It became a full smile when he saw the blush creep into her cheeks.

"Then..." she looked up and looked around in surprise, "Well, looks like we're here, actually. This is where I live. The inn is the next street down and to the left. You'll be able to see the sign."

"Oh. Well, thank you for showing me the way," he said with a smile and a bow, "I hope we can get together again."

Blushing, the mare started backing to her house, "Yeah, me too."

Turning around, she darted into the house, leaving Granite with a smile on his face.

"You like her, huh?" came a teasing voice from his back, causing the smile to falter and a blush to appear.

"She is a nice mare," he stated as he turned and continued toward the inn.

"So does that mean I should start calling her sister?"

Granite looked back, his face feeling like it was on fire. The filly on his back had the widest triumphant grin he had ever seen. Grumbling, he faced forward and continued to the inn, ignoring the giggling filly on his back. All he wanted was sleep so that he can get to work tomorrow. And, maybe he could sneak in a visit with Roseluck before the day was out.

---------

As the first of the light's rays touched his face, he cracked an eye open with a smile. Looking down at the ball of fur nuzzled against his chest, he found himself wishing that he didn't have to wake her. However, not only did he have a job to get to but now she had one as well. He frowned a little at the thought. Getting a job was the  first step and growing up and Granite really didn't want to see his sister grow into a mare. Sighing, he pushed the thoughts of the far future aside as he nudged the filly with a hoof.

"Time to wake up Quiose," he said, using his nickname for her. The filly mumbled something unintelligible before grasping Granite's hoof in a vice hold. She then nuzzled into his leg. Giving it a couple seconds, Granite watched as she slowly opened her eyes. Looking at his leg, she followed it up to his face and gave a sleepy smile.

"Time to wake up. Fluttershy is expecting you," he paused as he looked at the window curtains in thought, "And I guess we need to see the local teacher to get her enrolled for school."

"Bleh, do I have to?" she asked as she released his leg and dragged herself to the edge of the bed.

He nodded as he swung himself to a sitting position, "Yes, you do. Can't have you being ignorant to the world."

"But school's boring!" she complained. She her best pouting face as she sat at the edge of the bed.

"Not gonna work," he stated simply as he climbed off the bed and began to make it, "Now go take a shower and get heading on over to Miss Fluttershy's place. I'll have the directions for ya when ya get out."

"Okay," she replied as she hopped off the bed and trotted into the bathroom. A couple seconds later, Granite heard the shower turn on. As he was tucking in the comforter, he heard a scream come from the bathroom. Leaving a gray blur behind him, Granite charged into the bathroom. In front of him, Jewel was shivering next to the still-running shower, dripping water.

"C-c-c-cold," she stuttered. Granite facehoofed.

"Did you turn it on hot?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes! I'm not s-s-stupid!" she yelled. Granite just chuckled as he took a towel in his magic and wrapped it around her. With her currently not freezing, Granite approached the shower. Reaching out a hoof, he tested the water. It was cold enough that he was surprised it wasn't ice. Looking at the knob, he saw that it was indeed turned to 'Hot'. On a hunch, he took the knob and moved it to where the shower was barely on. After waiting a minute or two, he tested the water again. He drew his hoof back quickly as it touched boiling water.

"That's retarded," he mumbled.

"What?" Jewel asked from where she sat in the corner. Granite looked over at her to see her curled up in the towel.

"Whoever built this place put the knob on backwards. For hot water, just barely turn it on," he said as he got up to walk out, "And test the water next time."

She just stuck her tongue out at him as he left, closing the door behind him. With the crisis over, he went back to finish making up the bed. When he was done, it looked like nopony had slept in the bed for years aside for the lack of dust. Smiling at his work, he made sure to quickly jot the directions down on the inn-provided paper. As he finished, Jewel came walking out of the bathroom, still drying her mane.

"Here's the directions to Miss Fluttershy's. When you get done, just ask her for directions to Miss Rarity's, okay?" he asked.

"Okay," she replied cheerfully as she tossed her towel aside. Granite caught it and laid it neatly in one of the corners of the bathroom.

"Don't forget your scarf, either," he added as he walked into the bathroom and closed the door. Turning on the shower so that it got warm, he grabbed a towel and set it atop the toilet back. After emptying his bowels, he stepped into the shower and let the water wash over his coat. Sighing in content. He pushed his head against the wall underneath the shower head and set his mind adrift. His thoughts centered around his new job and the duties he may have to perform. As well, he thought of how life would be for them here.

It wasn't long before his thoughts drifted to a certain pale yellow mare with a red and pink mane. It was inevitable, he knew. He was drawn to the mare like a moth to an open-flame. He had the same problem as the moth too; How to touch the flame without getting burnt. A sigh escaped his lips as he thought of how to go about it. If only there was a manual on this stuff.

--------

Granite had gotten done with the shower about a minute later. After drying off, he had grabbed his scarf and pocket watch and was out the door. Trotting down the road, he floated out his pocket watch and clicked it open. Eight-Twenty, he read. Nodding to himself, he replaced the pocket watch into the folds of his scarf as he navigated the town.

As he walked through, many of the town's residents greeted him. Granite made sure to reply with a nod. It wasn't long until he was in front of his destination. A sign outside the carnival ride looking building proclaimed that it was the 'Carousel Boutique'. Guess that explains the design, he decided with a smirk. That same smirk remained on his muzzle until he walked through the door.

What greeted him was utter chaos. Cloth and paper lay everywhere. Needles were stuck in everything but the pin cushion. A couple of marequins were stood around a stool like they were awaiting a sacrifice.

In the middle of it all was the white unicorn that was his current employer. Her magic was being used to hold onto items ranging from cloth to needles to scissors; each floating around the room in a manner seeming random to Granite but must seem organized to her.

"Oh, sweet Luna," he whispered as he took it all in. Hearing him, the unicorn turned her gaze to him, allowing him to see the small glasses she had on.

"Oh, hello," she said with a smile, "why don't you start with organizing some of this mess, yeah?"

Straight to business than, he thought, the smirk coming back, "Yes ma'am."