//------------------------------// // Chapter 9: Morning Pleasantries // Story: The King of Swing // by The Sonic Mage //------------------------------// Radiant Hope awoke in a cold sweat, shivering with fear. Her eyes darted about, trying to remember where she was. Her panic subsided as she realized that she was at Night Light’s house, sleeping on his sofa.  Radiant sighed, shaking her head. Her nightmares had always left her in a shaken state, but on the return trip to the Empire they only seemed to get worse. Little by little, day by day, eating away at her. ‘Stupid, sleep depriving, night terrors,’ Radiant cursed, ‘What time is it anyway?’  It was only when she looked down at the floor that saw, to her horrified amazement, that she had woken up before Celestia. ‘Oh, Sweet Faust, it is beyond too early for this.’ Radiant looked over to the cozy armchair Luna was resting in with some annoyance.  ‘You’d think Luna could help the pony sleeping across the room from her.’ Radiant contemplated going back to sleep but decided against it. She figured it wouldn’t be long until the sun rose, with Celestia following close behind. So she slowly got up from her spot on the couch and quietly made her way over to the kitchen area to set up some tea for the morning. She found the kettle in one of the cabinets and filled it with water from the sink. She moved to set it to boil, only to find that she had no idea where to do that. “Would you like me to show you how to use the stove?” Radiant almost jumped and dropped the kettle she was carrying.  “Oh, Night Light, it’s just you,” Radiant breathed with relief, “Goodness, you scared me.” “And you wouldn’t be up at this hour if you weren’t.” Night Light commented. “Well, I…guess I didn’t have the most restful sleep,” Radiant admitted, “Being back here brings back memories…and not all of them good ones.” “I hear that,” Night Light took the kettle in his magic and set it down on the stovetop he had mentioned earlier. He then turned a knob on the large metal box and with a click, a few small flames came up under the kettle. Light eventually noticed Radiant looking on in amazement.  “A lot has changed since you upped and left.” “I can see that.” “Good,” Light said, as he pulled a box of tea and a bag of coffee grinds from the cabinet above the sink, “You can start compiling a list of questions you’d to ask.” “So that I can have them answered, correct?” “Correct.” Light motioned over to a chair in the corner of the small open kitchen that was close to Radiant, as he took a seat in one that was opposite to it. The two unicorns sat down waiting for the kettle to whistle.  “Do you usually get up this early?” Radiant asked. “No,” Light confessed, “Not so early that Celestia herself is still asleep.” The two couldn’t help but chuckle at the reality of that comment. “Goodness, you’ve definitely changed,” Radiant said, as her amusement died down “Really now?” “You weren’t this sociable back in the day.”  Radiant’s face couldn’t help but fall a little. Those four words: “Back in the day,” made her sound old. Heck, they made her feel old. Yet here she was. A unicorn mare in her mid to late 20’s talking to a pony who, judging from the newspapers, should at least be in his 50’s, but appeared to only be in his late 20’s or early 30’s.  Radiant looked to Night Light. “The ponies you’re going to take us to see today,” she said, “They’ll answer all my questions?” “Better than I can.” Night Light admitted. It was at that moment that the kettle began to slowly build up its whistle. Both of the Princesses began to stir, wincing and turning in their blankets. “Once we’ve all had breakfast, I can take ya to the ponies we need to meet.” Night Light said, placing 4 mugs on the counter.  Luna and Celestia groaned as they couldn’t help but wake up at the sound of the kettle. “I’m kind of scared what the answers will be.” Radiant admitted. “Odds are you’re not going to like them,” Night Light said, “But, that’s the truth for ya: It’s unpleasant.” Night Light looked over to the waking princesses, then over to the kettle.  “Speaking of unpleasant.” Light turned off the heat, silencing the kettle. The Royal Sisters slowly rose to their hooves. They looked over to Night Light with dry eyes. “Morning,” Light greeted simply, “Bathroom is that way. Tea or coffee?” “Tea, two shots of honey.” Celestia groaned. “Coffee, black.” Luna grumbled. After coaxing Luna to get off the armchair she had been happily sleeping on, having breakfast, and having the Princesses and Radiant dawn their disguises, the four ponies went out into the streets, Night Light leading the way. “They don’t usually congregate in the morning,” Night Light said, “But considering the questions you all probably want to ask, it’s best to head over a little early.”  As they went through the daylight streets, Radiant watched as ponies went about their morning business.  Ponies happily went up and down the streets, picking up coffee at shops that hadn’t existed before she left, dropping off their goals at whatever school they were enrolled in, before going to work wherever it was they were employed. All the while, the sounds of music being played could be heard from every open window of every house. It all seemed remarkably mundane. Too mundane, considering the state the Empire was in when she left. It felt like she was in some kind of hypnotic dream.  So hypnotic in fact, that she didn’t immediately notice the duck sounding horn being honked behind her. “Hey, I’m trying to drive here!” The shout made Radiant scramble to the sidewalk, just in time to see a closed black carriage, pulled by nopony, drive by. Light rushed over to help Radiant to her hooves. “Crazy drivers. You alright?” “T-That carriage, it-” “Didn’t have any pony pulling it. Yes. Welcome to the future.” There was something off about the entire situation. And if she was right, they were on their way to get answers. “Um, Light?” “Yes, Radiant?”  “If I may, who exactly are going to see?” There was a pause as Night Light gave a sigh. “We’re going to see some storytellers.”