[Sunday Evening]

[Lumina’s POV]

I had a fun time telling Cyan all the fillies I’ve been with over lunch today. Though he was flustered from the topic, he looked like he was trying to not make a big deal out of it and make it like casual conversation while he listened. I didn’t think Cyan’s home life back in Canterlot would be so uptight from the sound of it, especially with how he doesn’t want to get me mad at him. Ugh, that’d probably be as bad as, or perhaps worse than having the old hag bossing me around 24/7. This kid had to maintain high expectations to not only his family, but his school judging by how they test unicorns and other races from what he told me. The testing back in my school in Trottingham wasn’t NEARLY as hard as far as I can understand. Well at least he won’t have to worry about that for a while, that’s DEFINITELY one of the perks of him running away from home. Despite that, he just looks like he takes everything so seriously, I can’t help but feel sorry for how tense he is. At least that kiss was a good start to loosening him up a little. Besides my teases, I’ll have to think of some other ways for him to try to relax and enjoy things a little.

After we had finished lunch, we went back to Barley’s pub, and just hung out while reading the books we checked out from the library before we got started on our shifts. Speaking of books, I should REALLY buy a copy of the Poni Sutra before we leave Manehattan. I only knew a few of what they had in there, and damn did some of those look interesting to try. The visuals with the descriptions helped out understanding how they work as well. When we got started on our shifts, business was about as fast as it was yesterday. There were more guys coming in than there were yesterday, but the girls still filled at least half of the pub. Of course, there were times some guys I’ve waited tried to ask me out, but I respectfully declined. Annoying as some are, at least I got some great tips.

Sometime in our shift, Barley let Cyan and I go on a break after RB and Orange came back from theirs. We went to the back like yesterday, and just took a moment to unwind. “Still hectic, but I think I’m getting the hang of it,” Cyan said.

“I’ve been meaning to ask, but you seem pretty fast when you were running around the pub,” I pointed out. “Were you in a track team back in school or something?”

“Nah, I just try to put everything I could in P.E.,” he replied. “I guess I was just good at running out of everything else. Sure, I could just go there and just do the exercises, but then I wouldn’t get anything out of it in the end. Plus, when you have someone like Roxxie as your warm-up partner, she REALLY makes you put in the effort in the stretches and activities. I’m not sure if she got that while training to be a professional fighter, but she definitely makes the class more fun and interesting to take part in.”

“A professional fighter huh?” I asked. “Does she have you doing sparring matches with her?”

“From time to time after school, but I always lose though. She said I was getting better with those while she taught me some punches and kicks, plus some self-defense,” he said as he demonstrated such moves. “But in the end, even though I put effort into it, she’s more into that kind of thing than I am.”

“You don’t feel bad that you got beaten by a girl?”

“…Sometimes, but my dad said one time that different ponies have different strengths. He even mentioned one time while he was at the academy there was a mare that gets so rough with other cadets, even HE went down a few times before those two were at a standstill.”

… Okay, that sounds like the old hag right there knowing she and Marine were in the same squad back then. Sheesh, I guess things just NEVER change.

“Anyway, Roxxie may have her fighting, but I have my running since I always beat her at that.”

“Huh, I like the way you think. If I were to chase you out of that forest clearing that night, do you think you might outrun me?”

Cyan looked up in thought to think about the concept. “Mmm… Probably not. From what I heard how the academy trains cadets, they run them to the ground, which means they would build a lot of endurance. I’m not sure if I could outrun you in speed since I haven’t seen how fast you can sprint yet, but I’m sure that once I start losing breath, you’d still have plenty of energy to catch up to me and pin me down. Even if I picked up something to use as a weapon to gain some advantage, you still have the Magic and Light guns to give you the higher edge since long range attacks is better than mid. At least that’s as far as I can guess.”

… Crap, what did his dad even TEACH him? I only asked if he could outrun me, not some combat simulation. With thinking like that, he may as well be a tactition!

“Erm… Never mind I asked,” I said. “Let’s get back to work and finish things off quickly. I’m starting to get some strain on my shoulders.”

“Okay. OH! I almost forgot, RB and Orange may be making noise tonight since they gave us that freebie last night. I know the sound-proofing spell to keep things quiet for us, so we won’t have to worry about that,” Cyan pointed out.

“Uh, cool. I do too,” I replied. “Alright, let’s head back in.”

“Right behind ya,” he replied as he followed me back inside.

A few hours later, we finished another night of work with success as all the staff but RB, Orange, RB, Cyan, and me left the pub. After Barley locked the place down, he and the engaged bid us good night before Cyan and I went to our rooms to settle for the night. Cyan cast the sound-proof spell as soon as we shut the door behind us, and he took a quick shower first before I took mine. The shower was nice, but even afterwards I still felt stiff in the neck and shoulders as I left the bathroom in a t-shirt and pink-panties.

“Fuck, my shoulders are just killing me tonight,” I complained as I tried to pop and flex those areas to loosen them up a little.

Cyan was reading his spell book before he looked up and blushed what was between my legs before he shook himself out of it. “That bad huh?” He asked. “Have they acted like that for a while?”

“Not really, but I think carrying all the drinks and food the last few nights is starting to wear me out, and some of those places are hard for me to reach.”

Cyan looked up in thought for a moment, then looked down at his book before his ears perked up. “I think I might have an idea. Give me a moment,” he requested. Making sure the door was locked so no one would interrupt, he squat to the edge of the bed, and put his Shadow Magic to work. With intense concentration, he made some uniquely shaped attachments to the bed. The first was an arch-like shaped padding with a U-shaped indent on the top, and two long pads below it that were parallel to the ground, facing horizontally while next to each other. After creating the black objects, Cyan released his magic to finish it off, and wiped his brow from the sweat that formed. “Okay, I think I’ve done it,” he said.

I stood there in amazed at what he created before I walked around the attachments to scan it. “…Did you just make our bed into a massage table?” I asked.

“Indeed I did,” he replied. “I’ve learned some massage techniques from watching Mom doing it with her patients sometimes, while Dad and I sometimes get it when we get tense. From getting both experiences, I think I can help reach some of those hard to reach places if you’d let me.”

“Ooo~, I think I’d like that,” I said before I got on the bed, and laid on my stomach. I fit my muzzle through the underside of the arch until I rest my forehead while my horn sat in the indentation on top before I rest my arms on the rests below it.

“How does it feel? Should I adjust it a little?” Cyan asked.

“It’s perfect,” I replied with a sigh of content. “I’m ready whenever you are.”

“Alright,” he said before he rubbed his hands together and started massaging deep into my shoulder tissues under the shirt I was wearing.

“Oooh yeah, that’s the stuff,” I cooed as I felt my body just melt onto the bed under me.

“Sheesh you DEFINITELY needed this. I can feel the knots under your back just BEGGING to be loosened,” he pointed out as he worked into those spots. “I think I’ll have to up the ante here.”

Soon I started to feel something tingly, yet soothing at the same time rubbing my shoulders while…

Wait, were there four hands working back there?

“Notice anything different?” He asked as continued the strange, yet comforting treatment.

“Y-yeah,” I replied. “I think I can feel the points on my lower back are your hands, but my shoulders were worked by something different, but better than the hands before. Like they’re seeping under my skin while it works out the kinks from underneath. Almost like…”

“Magic?” Cyan answered for me. “It most certainly is. I found this in one of the higher level lists of spells in that book I was reading. I’m certain this was the same one Mom used for her physical therapy with her patients sometimes, and I’m certainly glad this is starting to work out for my first time.”

My eyes widened at that remark. “W-wait, did you say that was one of the higher level spells?” I asked. “I thought you said couldn’t get any higher than the force field one?”

“Well it turns out that when I found out I was able to use Shadow Magic, my unicorn magic capabilities have increased as well,” he explained. “So that means I can try to find some other spells I can try and see if those work for me.”

“That’s wonderful! I’m glad that happened to you,” I praised. “And sweet Celestia this is just heavenly~,” I cooed.

“I’m glad you like it,” Cyan replied. “And I think I know another kind of therapy that could help loosen you up.”

“Really? What’s that?” I asked before the massage treatment stopped and the magic on my shoulders disappeared.

“It’s a little something I like to call… Payback,” he sneered.

… Wait what?

Suddenly something was pinning my hooves to the bed while a large weight was sitting on my lower back to keep me from getting up.

W-what’s going on? What’s he doing?! Oh Goddess what the fuck did I just get myself into?!

“Uh C-Cyan? Are you feeling alright? Do we need to talk something out?” I asked in a nervous tone.

“Oh I’m MORE than alright Lumina,” he replied. “Especially with what I’m about to do next that will be your demise, and TALKING will not get you out of this one,” he then made an evil laughter that brought shivers to my spine despite how cheesy that sounded.

Oh Goddess what is he gonna do?! Has he been holding out on me the whole time?! Crap, I THOUGHT he was too smart for a middle-schooler. I swear I’m gonna…

I trailed off until I felt something gently brushing against the insides of my hooves until…

“BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!” I cackled from the tickling I was feeling in my hooves.

“THIS is for making me scream you being a sex goddess back at the campsite!” Cyan exclaimed as he ferociously tickled my hooves.

“STOP STOP-GAHAHA! PLEHEEHEEHEESE!” I pleaded. I wanted to bring my arms up to stop myself laughing, but my wrists were being held down by his magic, which I assumed was what he was doing with my hooves.

“Oh no, I’m gonna take my sweet time with this, plus twofold!” He exclaimed before I felt a turning sensation on top of me while I was laughing, but now my sides were getting tickled with my hooves. Magic seemed to be at the work here as I was getting double the tickle torture from before that got me laughing harder than before.

Oh Goddess this isn’t good! I can’t control myself if I’m laughing THIS hard! If this keep up I’m going too…

“CYAN! HAHAHAHA! STOP! PLEASE! HAHAHAHA hawngk!” With that laugh, Cyan immediately stopped the tickle torture that got me to wheeze for breath while my face heated up in embarrassment. A moment later, Cyan got off my back, and released the magic hold on me before I got up, and turned away from him while looking down in silence.

“…Lumina,” he said. “…Did you just… Snort like a pig back there?”

“Yes…” I replied with a high pitched, broken voice as tears started welling up.

“Why are you crying?”

“Because it’s awful!” I exclaimed. “I’ve tried SO hard to keep this laugh down because I’d get made fun of for it back in elementary school. They’d call me Piggy Lumina for it, and I HATE THIS LAUGH FOR IT! You HAD to make me go that far, DIDN’T YOU?! ARE YOU HAPPY NOW?!” I yelled before I covered my face to cover my shame as I cried.

“…Lumina, I’m sorry,” Cyan apologized as he sat next to me, which I just turned away from him in scorn. “I didn’t mean to hurt you like that. Yes, foals at that age can be cruel, and I don’t blame you for feeling that way. Roxxie got made fun of for her Manehattan accent for a bit until Teala and I stepped in to defend her back in that time. I wouldn’t push the torture this far if I knew you had that laugh you didn’t want to get out, and I’m really sorry that I did. Can you forgive me?” I just sat there silent not making any responses for a moment before I heard a frustrated sigh from him. “Would it make you feel better if I told you something embarrassing about me?” He asked.

“…Maybe,” I replied with spite.

“Okay…” Cyan said before he took a moment to take a breath. “So back in elementary school, Teala didn’t have a lot of ponies to play with. Her parents were busy with their jobs, the butler and maid service staff were also occupied, and Roxxie wasn’t into the kind of thing Teala wanted to do. She looked really sad and lonely, and I just couldn’t let her be like that if there was something I could do. So I offered to be her playmate, and she immediately pulled me back to her mansion in her room where we’d play her favorite game.”

“…What was the game?” I asked with curiosity.

He sighed once more as he seemed like he was preparing for the worst. “Teala and I were playing… Tea Parties…”

Silence filled the room for a moment before failing my poor attempt to hold in my guffaws of laughter. The snorts came back more natural this time as this was too funny to even hold back. “Tea Parties?! REALLY?!” I exclaimed while trying to keep myself from crying. “I don’t suppose she had you playing with other stuffed animals too? Did you have one to bring along as well?” Cyan didn’t answer, and I can only guess that was a yes. “Oh Goddess you did! Okay okay, I gotta know, what was its name? You HAVE to tell me, or I won’t forgive you for the tickle torture.”

He let out a defeated sigh before he answered. “…Bearbert.” I immediately laughed as hard as I did before as I fell back and rolled to my side while I held my gut. “Alright alright, let it all out,” he said while rolling his eyes.

“Oh Goddess that is freakin’ adorable!” I exclaimed as I calmed down and wiped my tears that were welling up from the laughing fit. “So how did playing it with her go?”

“It wasn’t as bad as some of the other colts made it out to be as far as I had heard,” he answered. “It was… Different at first, but it gets more tolerable to do the next couple of times afterward, especially with my toy since he was the first friend I had and played with before I met Teala and Roxxie. Sometimes she would have me brush her mane and tail while we chatted afterwards, which was strangely more comfortable and soothing to do than the tea parties. She talked most of the time, but I didn’t had very much to add into it, so I didn’t really mind. I think I started to become a good listener after that.”

“Well despite how hilarious that sounded, it was still nice of you to put up with for Teala,” I said as I hugged him from behind and nuzzled his cheek. “Thanks for that, and I forgive you for making me snort like a pig.”

“Just please don’t tell anyone about this,” Cyan requested. “It was bad enough resorting to such measures after feeling guilty for what I did.”

“Alright, I promise,” I responded before I pulled back from the hug and yawned. “Well I think we had enough excitement for one night. Shall we get some sleep then?”

“Sure,” he replied as he used his Shadow Magic to make the massage attachments disappear. “Honestly though, despite what happened back in elementary school for you, that laugh just doesn’t seem that big of a deal to worry about really. I think it’s kind of cute.”

I stopped midway from unfolding the sheets after that remark before my face heated up. “Y-you think my laugh is… Cute?” I asked hesitantly.

“Yeah,” Cyan said as he got under the covers while looking up. “It’s one of what I like to call ‘imperfect quirks’ that makes me like you more. Like how cute Teala gets when she scrunches her nose after I poke it, or how adorably girly Roxxie sneezes despite her tough, tomcoltish nature. I like those imperfections because when I think of the opposite, I think of all those stick up the ass nobles back in Canterlot who try to BE that way, and look down at others BECAUSE they think they’re so perfect. Not only does it make them boring, but just plain rude and annoying.

“I hate the idea of perfection because it’s something I was expected to live up to throughout most of my lifetime. I mean I want to be a great pony to my friends and others around me, sure, but I’m not like some kind of superhero who can do everything. Plus, once you DO achieve perfection, there’s nowhere else for you to go. Like you stop at an unbreakable wall, and that folds around you to stay at one place. After that, it just gets stressful to maintain that ‘perfection,’ and you’d just break down from it. Roxxie doesn’t have much to worry about in that department, but she still gets looked down and made fun of for her imperfections, and resorts to being that rough to hold her ground which I wish she didn’t have to do. Teala I get concerned with because she LIVES in that part of the city where everyone expects her to be that kind of pony, her parents most of all. I can’t even BEGIN to imagine how stressed she is because of that,” Cyan’s voice cracked after that as he started welling up tears. “Goddessdammit, now I’m worried about them while I miss them both.”

I couldn’t help but pull him into a hug and help him ease that sadness while we were under the covers. “Oh Cyan, I had no idea you felt you needed to go so far for everyone. But have Roxxie and Teala been there for you?”

“They have,” he cried as he tightened the embrace and sobbed in my shoulders. “I felt the happiest and least lonesome just spending time and having fun with them. Like everything around us didn’t matter when we were together because we could BE ourselves with each other. I was lucky and thankful for having them as my friends, and I want to do what I could to make them happy like I was. Now… I can’t do that anymore, and I’m alone…” He continued crying in my shoulder while I rubbed his back in comfort.

“You’re not alone Cyan,” I corrected in a whisper. “I’m here for you now, and I always will, okay? If we can prove your magic isn’t a threat like your parents implied, I’m sure you’ll see your friends again soon, and you can tell them what you told me.”

“I miss them Lumina,” he sobbed.

“I know sweetie, I know,” I cooed comfortingly. Cyan calmed down a couple minutes later to where he cried himself to sleep. With a kiss to his head, I flicked the lights in the room with my magic before I closed my eyes while he was still in my arms.

This poor kid… I can’t even imagine how I’d turn out if I was in his position. Despite how bad things turned out for me and my peers, at least I had my family to be there to help and support me. Cyan’s parents on the other hand just pushed him so far, he must have thought that kind of parenting was normal until now. He only had his friends to be happy with, and he had to give it all up when he left Canterlot… Maybe loosening him up will be harder than I thought if I kept using my way of approaching it. I’ll have to do it in a way he’s comfortable with, and then we can work from there. Until then, even if he has no family left, I’ll be his new one if it comes down to it, and I’ll keep him out of harm’s way the best I can. Next Chapter: Side Chapter 11: Suspicions on Nil Thunder Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 56 Minutes