[Saturday Evening]

[Cyan’s POV]

The five of us talked and got to know each other over lunch and cheesecake (which was an awesome cheesecake by the way). Lumina and I told them about how we met and got to where we were today, leaving out our magic and my relations with my parents. RB and Orange were shocked at how young I was when I ran away, and gave me a few hugs while Barley gave me a pat on the back. The engaged commented on how cute of a couple Lumina and I looked together. We blushed and assured that we weren’t together like that, but they rolled their eyes in response. After lunch, Barley showed Lumina and I the ropes around his pub; introduced us to some other workers whom lived in other places in the city; and how some machines like dispensers behind the bar, dishwashers, and the register worked while RB and Orange got to finding our new uniforms.

I ended up wearing a short sleeved, button up shirt with black slacks, and an apron over the ensemble, which meant I would be working as a buscolt. Lumina’s uniform however… Was more stood out to say the least. She had the same white button up shirt, only a bigger size in the right areas, yet, her breasts seem to be pushing the shirt to the side a little even with the bra holding them together under it, a button or two looked ready to pop out from the tension. She had a black skirt that was smooth, but free enough for her to move around that reached her knees, yet still showed off her firm assets. She only wore a smaller apron around her hips with a pouch to hold note pads, pens, whatever servers need to take orders for the customers. RB and Orange were wearing similar uniforms for their respective sexes, and the former nudged me smirking, as if asking how hot the mares looked, while I just gazed to the side trying to ignore it.

Work time came around, and it went from a couple ponies slowly coming in to keep the place busy, to getting the whole pub packed with patrons. I gathered used mugs, glasses, and dishes from the tables to the kitchen to clean, but not before I quickly wiped down the tables to make them sanitary enough for the next group. Lumina, Orange, and a few other waitresses sat the groups to their tables, took their orders while sporting their customer service smiles, and brought the food and drinks over when they were ready. Some of the stallions in the pub looked at Lumina and Orange with hungry stares, the former more so than others, and that didn’t ride up well with me. There were a few that even offered to take Lumina out when she was done with her shift, and even though she tried to decline respectfully, they were still persistent. I had to let Barley know, who he and RB were working behind the bar concocting drinks, what was going on with Lumina to which he went to the persistent stallions and gave them a stern talking to. He warned them to not do it again or he’d kick them out.

Barley gave me and Lumina a little break after that, and the two of us went outside in the back to get some air. “Ugh. Business is just crazy here,” Lumina commented. “It’s a wonder how RB and Orange handled this for so long.”

“Are you feeling okay after what happened earlier?” I asked with a look of concern. Lumina smiled and rubbed my mane out of place.

“I’m fine Cyan, and I appreciate you stepping up like that. I was afraid I was gonna get violent with them if they kept going,” she sighed before she continued. “It’s times like this that even though I’m not teasing that doesn’t lead to anywhere, they still think I’m asking for it.”

I guess someone as beautiful and sexy like Lumina can still have troubles involving their looks now and then. As much I don’t want to bring this up now considering her condition, I need to get it out there.

“Hey Lumina?” I asked.

“Yeah?”

“There’s something I need to talk to you about in private. Do you think we can discuss it over breakfast tomorrow?” I requested. Lumina stood there in thought for a moment, and nodded.

“Sure, that’s fine. Probably better that way once we’re well rested and more relaxed,” Lumina answered, and I nodded in agreement with the last comment. “Alright, I think we’ve stood out here long enough. Let’s get inside and help RB and Orange out huh?” She asked while she stretched her aches out before the next round inside.

“Of course,” I answered. Before we went back inside, I turned to her once more. “And Lumina?”

“Yes?” She asked before I hugged her tightly with eyes closed, to which shocked her a little.

“Thank you for doing all of this. From last night up to now. I really appreciate what you’ve done for me, and I can’t thank you enough,” I thanked with great gratitude. Lumina relaxed, wrapped her arms around me and returned the hug while she pecked my head.

“You’re welcome Cyan, and I’m glad to be of help,” Lumina answered. In that embrace, I tried to put everything I had then to not cry that could show the fear, sadness, and guilt that was inside of me, afraid of what will come once I confess to her about my real identity, and my relations to my parents tomorrow.

I really hope I don’t end up losing her tomorrow… Even if I was able to get by on my own, I don’t know what I’d do without her now.

After we broke the embrace, with pain welling up in my chest, we went inside and got back to work. Business the next few hours was the same as earlier, only with less persistent stallions getting onto Lumina and the other waitresses, as Barley had kept a good eye on them if they ever made a move. Lumina still sported her customer service smile while waiting her customers, and I was cleaning everything with a lot going on in my mind, trying to figure out how I’d break the news to her tomorrow.

When things started to slow down to where the pub was near empty, it was already way past late in the evening. “Well that should be it for tonight everyone,” Barley announced. “Thank ya all for your hard work, and ah hope all of you will return home safely,” The workers who lived outside of the pub nodded before they packed their things and left while Barley closed the shop. He then turned to me and Lumina with a smile on his face. “Cyan, Lumina, excellent work on your first night tonight. I’ll be sure to count the tips and wages soon so you two will get your pay.”

“Please, take your time,” I advised. “You’ve already done enough just letting us stay here temporarily,” Barley just chuckled heartily.

“You’re a good kid Cyan,” he said while he patted me hard on the back. “Don’t worry about me though, ahm stronger than ya think.”

“Still, we appreciate your kindness to us,” Lumina added.

“It’s a pleasure. Now you two get cleaned and relax. Ah’ll see ya in da mornin’,” Barley finished before he nodded our way, and went upstairs where his living space was.

“We should get ready for bed too,” Orange added with RB hugging her from behind. “We’ll let you two get some shut eye tonight. Wouldn’t want you getting tired in the morning after your first night from our… activities,” Orange finished with her and RB blushing a little. My eye twitched at the thought like earlier when we talked to them.

I’m glad that they’re happy together, but this is something I’ll have to get used to. It's a good thing I know a sound-proof spell that keeps noises from getting in, AND out.

“Have a good night you guys, and thanks,” Lumina bid before the couple nodded and went to their rooms. She then turned to me with an arm around my shoulder. “So, ya wanna take a shower together, or go one at a time?” She asked with that same snide grin she makes when she gets in those territories.

Still not used to it, I blushed and gazed to the ground in front of me. “Er, um… I uh…” I mumbled before Lumina laughed a little and patted me on the back.

“Just pulling your leg there Cy. Lighten up a little,” Lumina remarked with a smirk. Still blushing, I looked back at her and just nodded shyly before she led the way to our room.

I took a shower and brushed my teeth first. My time was quick so Lumina could take hers while the water was still running hot. Lumina, like most mares, would take the most time in the shower before bed. I was in a plain t-shirt with boxers, and I was unrolling the sleeping bag I had on me. She’s already done so much for me, I thought it’d be best if I just slept on the open space of the floor. I took one of the pillows from the bed for my head, and snuggled up in my sleeping bag. I got comfortable and closed my eyes before something shook my side.

“What ‘cha doing down here?” A feminine voice asked. I opened my eyes, and saw Lumina squatting to the side of me. She looked different, in a better way, with her violet mane damp and down when she wasn’t sporting a pony tail. She had the t-shirt she wore last night, hugging her sides, and her tits barely shown under the fabric. She was also wearing a pair of pale purple colored boxer briefs that looked like they fit comfortably, but still accented the lower half of her body well.

I lied there in awe at how amazing she looked in her nightwear before I sat up and answered. “I thought you might want the bed, so I just set my sleeping bag down here while you were in the shower.”

“…You sleeping on the floor?” Lumina asked in a tone that sounded like she couldn’t believe what she heard.

“Yep,” I replied matter-of-factly.

“Not happenin’,” Lumina proclaimed. Her horn glowed violet, the aura coated me and the pillow before I was lifted off the sleeping bag. She sat me onto the bed with the pillow sitting against the head rest before I said anything. “You’re sleeping with me on the bed, no questions asked,” she concluded.

I sat there wide-eyed as I couldn’t believe what I heard. “A-are you sure? I mean I don’t mind being on the-"

“If I wasn’t sure, I wouldn’t have dropped you on the bed now would I?” She interrupted while holding my lips with a smile.

“But why though?” I asked still in disbelief.

“Did you really expect me to let you sleep on the floor of whatever happened in this room before we got here?” She asked with a hand on her chest. “Why Cyan, I thought you knew me better than that,” she remarked in a sarcastic, almost in a playful tone, while placing the back of hand on her forehead under her horn in a dramatic fashion. “Besides, it’s been a long day, and I could use some good company close by.”

I sat there still before I looked down at the bed still uncertain. “I-I guess if you’re okay with it,” I said. “Thanks.”

“No problem,” she replied before she hopped on the bed, making it bounce and squeak a little before she got under the covers. I slowly did the same while Lumina used her magic to flick the lights from the bathroom and bedroom off. Leaving the two of us lay in the same bed, with nothing but the dim moonlight shining through the window above us, while I was looking up with great heat on my face thinking about where I was. I didn’t see what Lumina was doing, but I heard her shuffling on the bed a little. “You know you’ve surprised me quite a bit today,” she said, breaking the silence.

“What do you mean?” I asked while still looking up.

“How you described me back at the camp this morning; you introducing me to Shadina; how you looked so determined to hold your own when we got this place; and what you said to Orange and RB? You’re definitely one heck of a unicorn, and that bully of yours has lack of taste for saying otherwise,” Lumina finished.

“You really think so?” I questioned with my face cooling down a bit.

“I know so,” Lumina answered. “Your friends were lucky to have a friend like you, as much as I am right now. It’s a wonder how you haven’t got in a relationship yet.”

“Well it’s like I said earlier, I’ve still got quite to learn about love, and I was just realizing how I felt with Roxxie and Teala when I talked to you last night.”

“What would you do if you saw one or both of them again?” Lumina asked.

“… I’m not sure,” I answered with uncertainty. “I mean I just wrote how I felt in the letters I left them, and I have no idea how they’d respond to them. But… I think whatever happens up to that point and afterwards, I’ll always love the friendship the three of us had together, and wish for that to continue if possible.”

“…Would you still be friends with me if that happened?” Lumina asked which left me bulging my eyes open at the question. I quickly turned my side facing Lumina, and with my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I could see her amazing violet eyes shining under the moonlight, gazing at me waiting for an answer.

“Of course we’d still be friends,” I assured. “Heck, I’d want to introduce you to them so that the four of us would have fun and great times together… If that’s okay with you,” I finished sheepishly.

“I’d like that,” she answered with a smile. She then unexpectedly wrapped her arms around me and pulled me close to her, where my body was pressed against hers, and she interlocked her legs around mine. I was speechless and my head was spinning at this new gesture I was experiencing, one that was unlike others she displayed before. My head was pressed against her big, soft breasts, only the t-shirt she wore in the way of me touching her bare fur. I heard her heartbeat that was beating at a fast pace earlier, but soon slowed down to a more soothing, relaxed beat. I instinctively wrapped my arms around her waist returning the gesture, watching my hands so they wouldn’t touch anywhere they shouldn’t. “Are you comfy?” She asked as we lied there in each other’s arms.

“Y-yeah… Very,” I responded still dumbfounded.

“Good,” she finished with a perky tone in her voice. A moment later, she started giggling that made her whole body shook against me.

“What’s so funny?” I asked.

“Your little friend is poking me. It kind of tickles,” she commented. I didn’t realize until then once I turned my attention to what was below me as I blushed hard in the darkness for how embarrassing that was.

“S-sorry…” I apologized with shame in my tone, which only made Lumina giggled some more.

“It’s okay Cyan, I don’t mind. I’m actually quite flattered,” she assured before she pecked me on the head once more before she sighed with content in the position we’re in. “Goodnight Cyan,” she bid happily.

“Goodnight Lumina,” I bid back before I felt her body steadily rising and falling against me, syncing with her breathing as she slept. I sighed as well before I snuggled up closer to her, and closed my eyes with a small smile.

This was definitely something I haven’t seen from Lumina yet. It’s amazing how okay she is with us being like this. Does she really see me as that good of a friend to go this far? I just hope what I’ll talk to her about tomorrow won’t change anything much between us, but I’m certain it will one way or another. For now… I just want to savor this moment… As long as I can as if this was my last…

Next Chapter: Side Chapter 7: The Rights to Love (Edited) Estimated time remaining: 5 Hours, 6 Minutes