The clock on the wall was only medium-sized and rather unassuming, but the closer it got to five o'clock, the more eyes it drew. Soon every pony in the room was either glancing or staring at it, unable to escape from its gravitational pull. Time itself seemed to be affected, slowing more and more with each tick of the second hand, approaching the twelve asymptotically, until...
"Time to go!" one of the other interns said quietly. Everypony began filing out in what seemed a rather anticlimactic end to the work day. As Rain Song walked past her uncle's cubicle, she heard her name being called.
"Where do you think you're going, young filly?" he asked.
Song pushed her way through the crowd to his cubicle.
"It's five o'clock."
"Mm-hmm. And did you get here right at three o'clock, like you were supposed to?"
"Well..." Song's ears drooped. "No, but I don't mind making a little less today-"
"That's not what it's about. You were an hour late, so you can stay here an hour to make up the work that you missed." His face softened a little. "It's alright, I have some extra work to do too, so I'll be here."
Yeah, being a jerk, Song thought.
"The thing is," she protested, "I was going to meet someone-"
"And you think going out with your friends is more important than your job?" Ink Spot turned around to face her fully as his voice changed to lecture mode. "You're at a very irresponsible age right now, when everything is paid for with loans and you don't have anything difficult to worry about. But that's all going to end, one way or another. This job is your future. It's what keeps you from a life of miserable poverty."
When he saw Rain Song's expression, he fumed. "What, do you think it's easy for an earth pony here? Do you think we aren't going to get passed over for the next unicorn or pegasus in line? Then you'd better wake up, missy. In Canterlot, things are a little better, but if you go to any other town in Equestria, you'll see that the earth ponies are the farmers, or the miners, or the ditch-diggers."
Song looked down at her hooves. All this because she wanted to leave work at the normal time?
"... so if you don't want to lose this opportunity- probably your only opportunity to succeed- I suggest you get your hindquarters back to your desk."
"Yes, sir," Song mumbled, plodding back over to the interns' desk. Was it really true that earth ponies had little chance for success outside of Canterlot? It didn't sound quite right to her, but at the same time, she couldn't think of any examples to disprove it.
Song read, added, and checked the next few papers in the now eerily silent office. The pile of papers, now about half its original size, didn't seem to shrink quite as quickly now that she was the only pony working on it. Finally the minute hand on that mesmerizing clock swung around to the eleven, and Song couldn't take it anymore. There was no way Sunlight would still be waiting for her, of course, but she had to get out of that office. It was suffocating her.
Carefully, she crept past her uncle's cubicle, then raced out to the lobby. Even that was mostly bare, since the reception pony had left for the night. But one pony was there, snoozing in a chair with a magazine on his lap. A rather familiar red pony.
"S-Sunlight?" Song asked incredulously. The pegasus' head snapped up.
"Hmm? What? I was just trying to figure out which of these magazines was the most boring," he said, instantly awake. Song supressed a giggle as he fumbled with the one on his lap, replacing it on the side table.
"I can't believe you waited for me," she said. "I was an hour late!"
"An hour? Was I really asleep for that long?" he shook his head, then smiled. "Well, sorry, but that's too long. I'll have to head home by myself."
"What?"
"Just kidding!" he grinned. "How are your legs? Will you be able to walk home?"
"Well, I can tell you it's still raining," she said, glancing at the windows to confirm her suspicion. It was darker now, but the rain was still falling. "...but other than that, I should be fine to walk."
"Oh," he looked mildly disappointed. "Do you want a ride anyway?"
Song thought about it. Their last ride had been terrifying; just thinking about the way they had careened through the sky made her shiver. And yet, it had been enjoyable, in a way.
"Um... yes?" she asked shyly. Sunlight used his teeth to grab the umbrella leaning against his chair, then backed up to her.
"Hmp mn!" he invited. Song gingerly stepped up onto his back.
Suddenly, hoof steps were heard from around the corner.
"Oh no, we have to get out of here!" she whispered urgently. "Hurry!"
Sunlight glanced at her, then dashed out the door as quickly as he could manage. He ran around the corner from the windows before opening his umbrella and holding it over the two of them.
"Wmmt wm tmm-" he started, before Song took the umbrella from his mouth. She held it with her front hooves, so he could walk and both ponies could talk.
"Thanks. What was that?"
"That was my uncle! He's so strict. I don't know what would have happened if he'd seen me riding on another pony's back!" Song giggled.
"Oh, no! I've saved you from a horrible fate. That was really close!" Sun whispered conspiratorily.
"If ponies were made to ride on," Song did a fairly bad imitation of Ink Spot's lecturing voice, "they would have broad, comfortable backs with soft fur."
"So, what's your address, so I'm not wandering around aimlessly?"
"But wandering aimlessly is fun!" Song protested, then told it to him. She was a little surprised when he turned down the next street, simply walking instead of taking to the skies like before.
"Oh- I thought we were going to fly." She couldn't hide the disappointment in her voice.
"Are you kidding? After this afternoon, my wings are so sore, I couldn't fly a foot," Sunlight glanced back. "Um, not that you're heavy or anything. I'm just not used to having passengers."
"Oh, of course," Song nestled in, hiding her face against the pegasus' back. What a stupid question!
They walked on in silence, listening to the rain and Sunlight's hooffalls. His back was warm, and rocked gently from side to side, lulling Song into a sleepy state.
"Would you like to see where I work?" he suggested after a few minutes.
"Sure," she replied lazily.
"It's on the other side of town, so I'll show you tomorrow after work. If you want to keep hanging out with me, that is."
"Oh, I do," she breathed.
The next thing she knew, Sun had stopped walking, and they were standing in front of her apartment building. Her eyes were unexpectedly hard to open.
"Is this it?" he was asking.
"Oh! Did I fall asleep?"
Sunlight chuckled. "You were faster asleep than I've ever seen a pony."
Song slid off of his back, her cheeks burning. Sun wrote something down on a slip of paper while she held the umbrella over their heads.
"Here's the address where I work." He handed her the paper. "I guess my back must be pretty comfortable for a small pony."
"Mm not small," Song mumbled, blushing even more.
"Oh- well, that's good, since it's your turn to carry me next time," he grinned. Song stared up at him in shock and despair.
"I'm just kidding!" he laughed, leaning in to take his umbrella. Their noses touched accidentally... or was it an accident?
"Smm ym tmrmmow!" he said around the umbrella, and headed down the street. Song stared after him, wide-eyed, her face burning the deepest shade of red it had ever been. Did... did he just nuzzle me? she thought. She tried to silence her ridiculous thoughts and calm her thumping heart. He couldn't have. We just met today, and he was getting his umbrella. But the thought kept her warm despite the cold rain.