[Saturday Afternoon]

[Cyan’s POV]

We strolled around Manehattan for what felt like hours. We looked at the cheapest apartments, hotel rooms, and rentals, but they all ended up being too expensive to pay for staying the first month, which I’m sure we won’t be staying for that long. We ended up getting hungry later, and decided to go to a nearby two story pub that accepted minors like me. The place wasn’t really busy; there were only a few patrons in other tables stopping by for lunch like we were. This may have been one of those places that gets busy overnight, probably because many customers are getting some good drinks before they have some fun out in the town.

Lumina and I were in a table that was next to the bar, and we sighed in hopelessness and exhaustion. Our bags were lying against the chairs we sat in while we looked through the menus to see what we could eat.

“The hay burger and fries sound good,” I said. “Adding cheese to it doesn’t cost much either.”

“Think I’m gonna go for a salad myself,” Lumina commented before she sighed once more. “Seriously, finding a place to stay is harder than I thought.”

“I know. I’m curious to how Mom and Dad were to find such a convenient location back in Canterlot. Not to mention how Roxxie’s mom was able to make her home into a place of business.”

“We may just have to reserve a cheap hotel room tonight, and see if we can look around some more tomorrow. But I’m not sure how much our money will last until after Nil gets here, and what happens afterward,” we look down at the table with our ears folded, not confident that things would go well for us.

“Excuse me miss,” said a husky sounding, brown, earth stallion standing beside us. He was burly, but not the muscular kind of big as he had a bit of a gut under the white button up shirt he was wearing with his sleeves rolled up. He also wore black slacks, and he had some scruffy facial hair going around his muzzle that was a mixture of blonde and white like his short mane and tail. “Ah couldn’t help but overhear tha’ ya two are looking for a place ta stay,” he commented with his Manehattan accent.

“Yeah,” I answered. “Not only that, but jobs as well. We only have so much money on us to get us by.”

“Ah see…” The stallion replied. “…Perhaps ah could be of assistance ta ya two.”

“How?” Lumina asked with a raised eyebrow, skeptical that an opportunity like this came around so conveniently.

“Ahm da owner of dis pub, and home as ah sleep upstairs,” he explained while pointing a thumb at the ceiling above us.

That explains the second story then.

“In da back, ah have rooms open for paying guests, and employees willing to work for their stay,” he continued while he pointed in said direction.

“Y-you’re not saying…” I started in disbelief as I couldn’t believe where I thought this was going.

“Ah just so ‘appen ta have one room open for an employee. Mah last waitress decided ta quit just recently, and ah haven’t gotten anyone askin’ me for a job here yet. If you’re willing ta work here in the late night shifts, ya can use da room ah have here,” the stallion finished.

“A-are you sure it’s okay?” Lumina asked. “I may be old enough to work out front, but he’s only fourteen,” she noted while gesturing a hand at me.

“Ah’ll find something for him ta do. He may just work as a buscolt or be on da register,” the stallion predicted.

“I-I’ll do whatever it takes,” I bumbled. “We won’t be in town for very long, I’d say about a week and a half, but I’ll be sure to put whatever I have into helping your business,” I assured.

The stallion chuckled heartily in response. “Ah like your style kid. Ah think we can work somthin’ out. Whadda you say? Do we have a deal?” He asked while he took a hand out for a shake, which Lumina was the first to grab firmly.

“You’ve got a deal,” Lumina confided before she let go, and I had my shake.

“Thank you very much sir. I won’t let you down,” I promised.

“Please, call me Barley. There are a few things ah should tell ya however,” he informed.

“What’s that?” Lumina asked.

“Ah only have da one room, and it has one queen sized bed. There’s also me finding your uniforms ta work here. Are ya okay with these?” Barley asked. I looked at Lumina who did the same with me, probably asking in silence if I could handle this. I nodded with determined eyes to which Lumina smiled.

“I don’t think we’ll have any problems with those Barley, and we can start tonight if you want,” Lumina assured.

“Fantastic. Why don’t ah show ya ta your room ta settle your things, and ah’ll treat ya guys ta some lunch. Mah treat.”

“Oh no, you don’t have to do that,” I interjected while shaking my hands out front.

“It’s no problem,” he insisted. “It’s kind of mah way of saying welcome to da team, even if it’s for a short time.”

“Well we’ll gladly accept your offer, and we appreciate greatly for you doing this for us,” Lumina thanked with a smile.

“Mah pleasure. You already know who ah am. May ah ask what your names are?” Barley asked the two of us.

“Lumina Lustre,” she said.

“Cyan Shadow,” I added.

“Nice ta meet ‘cha both. Now grab your things and follow me ta the back,” he asked before we gladly complied.

Barley led us to a room that was the second to the last in the hall way. When we looked inside, the place was… less than decent. There were pieces of the wall missing; the bed looked somewhat soft enough to sleep in; there was a window with only the wall of the building next to this one for the view; the bathroom on the side was somewhat dirty; and there was an unusual large space with four indentations shaped in a rectangle on the side.

“Was there a couch in here?” I asked.

“There was,” Barley answered. “But da last waitress dat lived here… Kind of tore it ta shreds with her ex-coltfriend when they were still together.”

I can’t even begin to comprehend what the Tartarus they even did to the poor couch, and I’m afraid to come up with a few guesses.

“Ah cleaned up the sheets on da bed just taday, but if ya two love birds do anything, there’s a Laundromat a few blocks down ta clean them up,” Barley informed with a chuckle.

Wait… Love birds? Does he think Lumina and I…? What was he even insinuating?!

“W-what made you think Cyan and I?” Lumina interjected with a blush.

“Ya two seem ta be quite close, and this is not da first time ah saw such a unique relationship. In fact, the couple next door down are actually brother and sister,” Barley commented while pointing to the wall opposite of the bathroom. “They can get pretty loud though, so ya might want ta grab some ear plugs.”

…I think my mind just broke.

“T-There’s nothing like that going on between us!” Lumina objected. “We aren’t even siblings! And we’re only five years apart! And how can you let something like… that,” she gestured to next door. “Slide by so swimmingly?!”

“When ya work in a bar, ya see and hear some crazy ponies stopping by now and den Lumina,” Barley stated. “Dat reminds me, if there’s anyone that gets rude wit’ ya, don’t be afraid ta let me know so I’ll buck them out. I’d rather have my employers work in a comfortable place than some sleazy establishment,” he finished while cracking his knuckles.

“C-can do.” Lumina stuttered.

“Welp! I’ll let ya guys settle for a little bit. Da place gets busy around six, so when you’re done, I’ll treat ya some lunch, and show you around before the place gets busy. Oh, and welcome ta Manehattan,” he welcomed before he nodded to us, and left the room.

Lumina and I stood there speechless while I was still trying to comprehend what Barley meant about the couple next door being brother and sister. A moment later Lumina stood and crouched in front of me to where her violet eyes were leveled to mine with looks of concern, and her hands on my shoulders.

“Cyan? Are you alright?” She asked. I just stood there dumbfounded. “I know this seems overwhelming to you right now, I’m kind of scared myself too, even with the training I went through back in the academy to help me defend myself. But remember that we aren’t going to stay very long. As soon as Nil comes around and we discuss our next course of action, we’ll be well on our way. Until then, I know this is a lot for me to ask, but I need you to be strong okay? I’m here for you when you need it, but we need to look out for each other if we’re gonna get through this. Can you do that for me Cyan?” Lumina asked while her eyes looked like they were quivering, as if I could see the fear like she mentioned before, but it was now shown on her face.

I didn’t really think about what I was gonna do after I left Canterlot. It was all in the heat of the moment, and I just did what seem to be the best course of action at the time. One day since I left, and I’m already in a new and unfamiliar city with a new place and job that could involve dealing with some of the more rambunctious ponies and crowds. Some ponies may even be dangerous if I don’t watch what I say, especially when they’re drunk. But now here I am, with Lumina, probably one of the most beautiful and strongest mares I know, standing in front of me, asking me to try to be strong for us even when she looked to be as scared about this new change as I am… I remember the look Lumina had on her face. It was the same when Roxxie and Teala were in fear and concern about not only getting their cutie marks, but not knowing where they stand in their lives. I had to say something back then to help the three of us get psyched for what will happen ahead of us, and right now, Lumina needs me to do the same and follow up on it.

I closed my eyes, and thought about the first thing that came to mind in situations like this.

There will be times you’ll be in between a rock and a hard place Cyan. You may feel like the world is out to get you, and you may even have little to nothing on hand to protect yourself from whatever oncoming attacks it will bring during that time. But remember this Cyan, as long as you’re still standing on your hooves, there’s always a chance to fight back and do what you can for yourself and your loved ones. Make the most with what you have in that moment Cyan, and live long enough to see what else is ahead of you. There may be some things that will surprise you, and how you go about it will be up to you and you alone.

…When my dad said that, I tried to put that into practice as much as I could. He may see me as some kind of threat now, but I know he meant what he said back then. If that has gotten me up to this point, I might as well keep going with it.

I took a deep breath, and tried to sigh out my fears, concerns, and doubt before I opened my eyes, and gazed back at Lumina who was still waiting for an answer. “I’ll do whatever it takes Lumina. For you, and for the both of us,” I declared with a somber expression in my eyes, portraying how serious I was, and how much I meant it.

Lumina then smiled a little, and gave me a tight embrace, to which I gladly returned with a sigh of relief. She then pulled back and gave me a long kiss on my cheek before she looked at me once more. “Thank you Cyan. That’s all I need to hear,” she assured with a smile before she stood up. “How about we introduce ourselves to some of our new coworkers before we grab lunch?”

“Sounds good,” I nodded. “I just hope the siblings Barley mentioned aren’t too crazy if their relationship wasn’t enough.”

“I think they should be fine if Barley hasn’t kicked them out yet. Come on, we got some new coworkers to get acquainted with,” she finished with an arm on my shoulder. I nodded in response before we left the room with our gear lying next to the bed.

I didn’t say anything since this morning, but this was the second time Lumina kissed me today, and on a place closer to my mouth than the last. I wonder if that’s her way of showing affection to her friends? I doubt she has some kind of crush on me. She’s too good and downright sexy to see me as some kind of coltfriend to her. Still… She seems to have quite a bit of faith in me, especially with what we just went through… I want to gain her trust, but I know I’ve lied and hid something important that could affect how she’d see me back then. I may not like the backlash, or whatever negative response she could make when I tell her, but she needs to know the truth about me if we’re gonna be together like this for a while. It’s the least I could do for all the kindness and care she has given me from last night up to now… I just hope things don’t change too much between us after that, or if I could still be friends with her at all. I’ll confess tomorrow morning over breakfast. Things are gonna get too stressful for the both of us tonight to even bring it up now.

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