> The Regular
>  by Milo_Chalks
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Take Away
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ristretto stood behind the barista machine, watching the delicate liquid gently flow from the nozzles as he made yet another coffee. He tried to think of something clever to say as he watched the jug of milk slowly whirlpooling as it textured to the desired temperature. He turned away a little more as the silky-smooth full cream moved its way around the jug, trying to escape the onslaught of steam whirring into the slowly-heating vessel. As soon as it was hot to the touch, Ristretto counted to three and turned the handle until the steam billowing from the nozzle subsided. He removed the jug of silky-textured milk and wiped the nozzle. Ristretto pulled the cup from the machine and expertly poured the milk into the takeaway cup, laying a heart on top of the finished product. Few ponies could achieve such beauty and Ristretto placed the freshly-poured cup on the table with a flourish. He smiled at the orange stallion on the other side of the counter, patiently waiting for his coffee... 


“Here is your latte, Sunburst! Hope you enjoy it.”


“I always do. Thanks for the coffee!” 


A blush spread across Ristretto’s face. He hated compliments, they made him feel so awkward, especially coming from sweet, amazing, gentle…. 


He shook himself awake as the next order was placed onto the magnetic strip. 


Ristretto watched as, just like every other day, Sunburst took a seat by the window. Ristretto knew he liked to watch all of the ponies walking by as they went about their business. Sunburst slowly sipped  his coffee and, just like clockwork, began ripping off the label. He would then drain the dregs, put the label in the coffee cup and take his leave. Ristretto knew he would soon return to the Castle to resume his duties as the Royal Crystaller. He gave Sunburst a friendly smile as he left the shop, wishing that just once, he could find the right words to say. Sunburst gave him a warm smile in return, his thoughts already on the next task in his day.There were three orders waiting for Ristretto’s attention but at that moment, all he could do was gaze after the orange stallion as he made his way back to the Crystal Castle. 






It was a bright new day and Sunburst pushed open the door to the coffee shop, which gave a cheerful little tinkle as the bell hit the glass door. Vanilla Latte gave her signature wide smile from behind the register as Sunburst approached the counter. 


“Sunburst! Can I get you your regular?” she asked, bright and happy as always. 


“Thanks, Vanilla!” Sunburst smiled back, passing her on his way to where Ristretto was preparing his coffee. 


“Hi, Ristretto! Nice scarf-- it looks good on you,” Sunburst exclaimed warmly. 


Visiting the coffee shop always cheered Sunburst up. He knew everyone, and just walking in gave him a sense of warmth during the cold days of winter. 


"Thanks, Sunburst,” Ristretto blushed a deep shade of red,glancing down at  the scarf around his neck. He moved behind the barista machine to hide the colour in his cheeks as he focused on making the coffee.


“It is a really chilly at this time of year so it’s good to have something to help a pony warm up a bit,” Ristretto continued, babbling nervously over the sound of the coffee machine.

Sunburst leaned over the counter to watch his drink being poured,putting him far too close to Ristretto for comfort.  Ristretto panicked, pausing to point out the window.


“Oh, Sunburst-- what is that mare doing?” he gasped


Sunburst glanced in the direction Ristretto was indicating just in time to see a mare trotting past the coffee shop. She didn’t have any immediate indication of anything peculiar, simply admiring the occasional winter sunshine as it peeked through the clouds. He didn’t see anything particularly out of the ordinary as she moved past the view of the window. He glanced at Ristretto curiously, eyebrow raised.


“Nevermind, she, uh, stopped doing it,” Ristretto said, giving his puzzled friend a nervous smile. He placed the filled takeaway cup on the counter, his smile becoming more genuine as Sunburst picked up the cup.


“Thanks, I really appreciate it!.” 


Sunburst raised his cup in salute as he moved across to his regular spot. The routine never changed and, as always, he sipped his drink, looked out the window and started ripping at the label. But this day, the routine decided to take a day off. For under the label, a small piece of parchment slipped out.


Examining it with interest, Sunburst noted that it was
folded over, neatly tucked where he couldn’t help but notice it. Sunburst scanned the shop to see if anypony was watching. When he was satisfied nopony was looking, he unfolded the paper to reveal a hoof written note. To his surprise, his name was etched beautifully on the top, much larger than the cursive script beneath. With confusion and a little anticipation, he read the note. 




Dear Sunburst,
If only I knew how to place this in words, yet you are something too wonderful to ever give justice on paper. For nearly a year now, you have frequented this cafe, and every minute you are here you put a smile on my face. I was proud to call you my friend after all this time, but in my heart, I know there is something more. Sunburst, would you  accompany me one night to dinner? 


Your’s truly, Ristretto




Sunburst looked confused, not seeming to process the letter. It began to dawn on him what he was reading, the gears in his head trying to comprehend it. Sunburst eyes grew nearly twice in size as he knocked his cup off the table, barely even noticing let alone caring. He dropped the letter on the table and stumbled out the shop, putting his weight on the glass doors he made a hasty retreat to the palace. 


Unbeknownst to Sunburst or anypony else in the cafe, a little grey stallion stood silently crying behind the polish silver trim barista machine. 





The brilliant morning rays of sunshine came through the windows of the sweet little cafe. The glass on all sides meant it didn’t matter what time of day it was, there was always a sunny glow on the place. Yet despite the warm and sweet atmosphere of the chirpy little cafe, it’s head barista was no such reflection of the visual appearance on the bright, snow filled day. A cloud darker than Ristretto’s grey mane hung over his head as he went about setting up the cafe and unlocking the doors. Part of him hoped for a particular orange stallion to meander through the doors and the other part of him hoped that he would keep on walking. 


The shift came and went, devoid of sunburst and any of the usual cheer ristretto spread among the regulars. Five hours agonisingly ticked by and by 12pm the sad barista started trudging his way home, a weak attempt at a smile hardly reaching his lips as he said goodbye to his concerned colleagues. 


As he turned the corner away from the sight of passersby he collapsed next to the cafe in the snow, his heart giving out. Propping himself up in the snow and leaning his back against the wall of the cafe out of sight, the tears started to come slowly down his cheek as he realised that not only did he ruin his chances with Sunburst, but lost a friend in the process. 


The minutes meshed, but eventually ristretto couldn’t take the cold any longer, he picked himself up and trudged his way home, his grim day not brightening to the fact that he didn’t need to work the next day. His thoughts were dead ahead, taking him to his home, where a warm shower and another sad afternoon and early night lay in his wake. 


Unbeknownst to the little barista pony slowly making his trek away from the coffee shop, an orange stallion had just exited the very place, a disheartened expression spread across the ponies face and a flower by his side. He looked back at the barista shop one last time before slowly trotting to the bend leading back to his home. He made his way around the corner and briefly takes in his surroundings, just another lonely, dark, winters road that lay ahead for him to traverse into the cold snow of the late afternoon. 

> Burnt Coffees
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunburst made his slow trudge to work at the Crystal Palace. His mind was swimming as he tried to think of how to talk to Ristretto.Come on Sunburst; he had the guts to ask you out, now you are playing chicken, you gotta tell him what you think!  He thought to himself, for some reason not managing to ease his nerves. 

He had never been one to think about getting into a relationship. He had been shocked, almost scared at the thought of a relationship, especially with a stallion. A slow day at work and a restless sleep had allowed plenty of time to think about it. Maybe it was worth giving him a chance….

Thwump!

A cold and unforgiving signpost had decided to pull Sunburst from his thoughts. The several ponies on the cold snowy turned their heads as the orange stallion’s cheeks went hot enough to melt the snow he was standing on. Quickening his pace he made his way to the coffee shop hoping upon all hope that his particular barista friend was doing what he did best. 

Like every other day, the tinkle of the bell chimed its bright little tune, blissfully unaware of its surroundings as the nervous orange stallion pushed open the large glass doors. Sunburst made his way over to the counter. The barista was still shrouded by the giant coffee machine as Sunburst made his way to the front. Vanilla Latte as cheerful as ever placed down Sunburst’s usual like every other day. However, when he looked across to see the sweet gray stallion behind the machine, the image was replaced by a Ginger Mare steadily making another customer's order. 

Sunburst had never felt his heart sink so quickly down to his stomach. He absently placed an obscene amount of bits on the counter as he made his way to the barista machine. 

“Hi, umm, sorry to bother you miss, but I was just wondering if you knew where the stallion that does the morning shifts is?” Sunburst asked in his polite manner of speaking. The barista put on a warm customer service smile and readily replied.

“Ristretto? He asked to start swapping shifts with me. Something about being busy in the mornings. I couldn’t tell you where he is sorry, when I see him I will say that uh..” she trailed.

“Sunburst,” Sunburst politely replied.

“I’ll say Sunburst was looking for you!” she cheerfully finished. 

“Thanks, I will let you get back to work.” Sunburst nervously replied before taking the coffee that the mare had made him. He gave a defeated smile and sat down in his usual place. However, he was in no mood to carry traditions, he had a couple of sips from his drink but took off for a day of work filled with thoughts about Ristretto. 





“Hey, Ristretto! Thanks for coming in a bit early.”

“No problem Chai, thanks for taking over my morning shifts, did anything of interest happen on the morning shift?” Ristretto replied as he placed his apron on, ready to take over the lunch shift from Chai.

“Well the boss came in and finally got rid of those stupid Pumpkin Spice Lattes, they cause nothing but problems and attract the weirdest of crowds, all those ridiculous ponies with hairstyles straight out of sci-fi movies.” They both laughed as they recall some of their clientele that would purchase the pumpkin spice during this time of year. “Oh and I nearly forgot, somepony came in, his name.. Starburst or something, orange stallion, he was looking for you.” She finished, waiting for a reply. Ristretto instantly went a little stiffer at the mispronounced yet clear name. 

“Uhh, okay thanks, Chai,” Ristretto said through a strained voice.

“Is everything okay Ristretto? You look pale.” Chai replied concern evident.

“No I am fine thanks, everything is fine! I will see ya later, have a good afternoon off.” Ristretto replied nervously getting set up at the barista station as Chai made her way to the door at her friend’s reassurance. 

“Okay Ristretto, I will talk later!” Chai called out as the tinkle of the bell signaled her leaving. Ristretto got into his rhythm of work, managing to block out all of the thoughts he was having. It was working, for around five minutes until once again he started thinking about Sunburst and his strange appearance in the coffee shop this morning. 

Why would he come in? To tell me that was too far? That he didn’t want to see me? Or maybe he would have just ignored me... Yeah, come in, get his coffee and just leave. Make it clear that he didn’t want to go on a date without hurting me too much. He is kind and sweet; he wouldn’t try to hurt me. He is so friendly and cute and…. 

“Ristretto! For goodness sake WAKE UP!” Vanilla shouted as the coffee he was pouring started overflowing with long since burnt liquid. A blush spread across the gray barista pony as he quickly drained the cup, tossed it into the bin and began making the customers dirty chai latte again. “Keep yourself together Ristretto, this isn’t like you, relax!” Vanilla Latte said with a concerned tone in her voice. 

“Sorry, I will be all right, thanks, Vanilla,” Ristretto muttered before finishing the coffee and placing it on the counter for the impatient customer tapping her foot. 

Ristretto continued the work day, until 5 pm, closing time. Vanilla and Ristretto quickly packed up and got out by 5:30. They lived down the same street but never really walked home together as the barista pony always finished before Vanilla. They started their trek through the cold winter ice towards their homes. 

“Hey Ristretto, what’s up with you and Sunburst? I mean, if I didn’t know any better, I would say you took that lunch shift to avoid something, based on the way you have been acting, I would say that you are avoiding him. You were good friends, even if you only hung out with him occasionally outside of work.”

Ristretto took in what she was saying, looking ahead at the twilight sunset fading in the snow capped hills surrounding the beautiful glistening crystal streets of the empire. It wouldn’t be long before the snow melted, bringing back the warm rays of spring, already the dark days of winter were fading giving the beautiful city life again. Some colts were building a snowman by the park while some fillies walked around idly chatting away. It was an excellent time to be walking home. Ristretto could get used to walking home on days like this, however, at this time something else was occupying a fair chunk of his day. 

“Yeah well, you’d be right in saying that I have been avoiding him. I may have asked him on a date and he freaked out. He probably hates me now, and I am scared about what is gonna happen. I didn’t mean to scare him off, I bucked up badly this time and may have lost a friend in the process.” Ristretto somberly said to his friend and colleague. Vanilla pondered this for a moment. 

“Ristretto, you don’t know if that is the case, he could have just been overwhelmed. Who knows, he could be eager just to talk about it, maybe you’ll get that date that you asked him to. Just relax and talk to him, be natural, because there is no point being anypony rather than yourself.” Vanilla replied as she began to cross the street to her house. “I will talk to you tomorrow morning for your morning shift okay? Seeya later!”

“Seeya later Vanilla! And thanks for the advice.” He called out to her as she crossed the road. Ristretto sighed as he reached his house, the snow chilling his hooves he was eager to get inside and light the fire and settle in for an early night. For the next day, it was about time he went and faced this directly. 





He is totally avoiding me! He hasn’t done a morning shift in three days. Did I hurt him when I ran off? Oh sweet Celestia, I would’ve hated to have hurt him. Oh, this is horrible! I have to explain everything.  

Sunburst quickened his pace to the coffee shop as he was getting anxious to see Ristretto. It had been four days since the love letter, and he hadn’t seen a trace of his friend. He made his way around the corner and looked through the window to see a familiar gray stallion standing at the barista machine. Sunburst made his way through the door and straight to the front where he placed the bits for his usual on the counter, waved a hello to Vanilla before walking straight over to an oblivious Ristretto. 

“Hey Ristretto” Sunburst gulped, uncertainty filling his voice.

Ristretto looked over, smiled briefly then went back to working on the coffee, about two seconds passed before the silver pony looked back, his face going from a smile to completely shocked in the matter of a quarter of a second. Dropping the milk on the liquid rack his cheeks flushed red as he stammered a bit before finally working up the courage to speak. 

“H-Hi Sunburst, I uh-” He cut off not knowing what to say to his friend. “Sorry…” He trembled. 

“No no, you have nothing to apologize about. I’m flattered that you think like that about me and maybe I shouldn’t have reacted the way I did. Look, the truth is, I don’t know where I trot in this whole thing. I just don’t know if I am into stallions, mares or even both. But I don’t wanna stop being your friend. Who knows? Maybe something might come of it. What I am trying to say is I am kinda wondering if you’d wanted to do something together one day, you know, just as friends. What do ya say?” Sunburst explained, relieved that he had finally gotten it all off of his chest.

“O-ok, yeah, I would like that, thanks, Sunburst I guess we should hang out one day,” Ristretto replied. 

Sunburst made his way around the counter and hugged Ristretto, embracing him in a friendly hug before smiling at his friend.

“Thanks, Ristretto.” He beamed, and with a smile on both ponies faces, the usual morning routine began again, making a bright winter’s morning all that much brighter.



> Demitasse
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“THAT IS SO ADORABLE!”

“S-Starlight! Keep it down would you! The walls of this house aren’t exactly sound resistant.” Sunburst cried as the ringing in his ears from Starlight Glimmer’s outburst subsided.

“Sorry Sunburst but you have to admit, you getting a love letter from a cute barista stallion, that is so sweet! I didn’t even know you trotted that way!” Starlight continued, vaguely listening to Sunburst telling her to be quiet. The flustered orange stallion went a tinge of red in his orange cheeks. He took a sip from his coffee cup to hide the blush before continuing.

“I don’t even know if I do, I still don’t understand this whole thing or where I stand. I told Ristretto we could hang out as friends and well... I don’t know! This whole thing is just confusing for me.” Sunburst nervously replied to his friend as he adjusted his position on the couch.

“Sunburst, how have you never realised who you are? Have you never been with someone in all this time? How old are you again?”  Starlight Glimmer asked in rapid succession throwing  Sunburst off as he still tried to find the perfect position in his lumpy furniture. 

Once he figured out what to say, Sunburst began to answer. “I never really thought about this stuff Starlight! I was too saturated in my theory to worry about that stuff. That and well, I never really thought somepony would, you know? Be interested in somepony like me.” Sunburst confessed, shuffling his feet as he sat next to his friend on the couch. “Oh I don’t know how to do this, I don’t know what to think, I have never really thought about stallions, I have never really thought about mares either, but when thinking about Ristretto, I don’t know. He is my friend, oh I am so confused on what to do!” He moped as Starlight Glimmer quickly lifted both of their coffee cups with her magic to stop spillage as Sunburst latched onto her like a sick puppy.

“It’s okay Sunburst” Starlight replied hugging him back as the cups slowly sunk onto the coffee table. “Just stop overthinking it, hang out with him like you said. If you feel something more, well that is fantastic. Even if you realise you don’t want that kind of a relationship with him, you can just be friends, he will understand, from what I know he seems like he cares about you.” Starlight explained reassuringly.

“Yeah, I suppose you’re right Glimmer. It helps to have a friend like you in these situations.” Sunburst sighed picking up his coffee cup again returning to his somewhat comfortable position on the lumpy couch.

Starlight's eyes lit up at the word friend as she spun around to face Sunburst. “Yes! Another friendship lesson complete Oh Twilight will be so impressed and-” She cut off as Sunburst gave her a hard look. “And always good to help a friend in need” Starlight finished before chuckling awkwardly, a nervous smile spreading across her face.

The two friends put their cups in the kitchen, gathered their scarves and skates as they got ready to head out to the frozen lake in the park to kick off Starlight’s bi-monthly visit. 

“Oh, and Sunburst, I have a crucial question for you.” The mare quickly added as they stepped out of the house into the cold late morning, seriousness spreading over her face.

“Yeah? What is it?” Sunburst replied

“If you do fall for this stallion, can I totally be your wing-mare?”





“Retto! Retto! Look what I made at school today!” Shouted Hazell Quill as his older brother walked into the house. The little colt ran to his brother and hugged him tightly, a piece of paper clutched in his hoof as Ristretto dropped the shopping bags he had been holding and hugged Hazel back.

“Hello to you too Hazell, now let’s see what you have here.” Hazell Quill let go of Ristretto and stuck his hoof out to show his brother the piece of paper he had been holding. Ristretto picked up the paper and began to read the short story his little brother had written. 

“Wow, this is good Hazell! There is no doubt why you got your cutie mark in writing. We gotta put this one on the fridge!” Ristretto responded as he finished reading his brother’s story. He walked over to the refrigerator and stuck it on using a magnet. Giving the short story one last look he turned back and picked up his shopping, walking into the kitchen he began unpacking his bags leaving the things he was using for the night's dinner on the bench.

“Stir-Fry tonight, go do your chores, and dinner will be ready when you finish alright? Now, what are your duties tonight commander Quill?” Ristretto said as he started gathering the ingredients for his stir fry using a military-like voice.

Hazell Quill swiftly stood to attention raising his hoof in a salute. “To exterminate all mess in my room and relocate the bins Sir yes sir!” He shouted as he marched off with less than military precision. Ristretto chuckled to himself as his little brother stumbled up the stairs engrossed in their game of army men. 





With the stir-fry cooked, and the chores completed. Both ponies sat on the small table and began to eat their dinners. 

“Thanks, Retto, this is so yum!” Hazell exclaimed through a full mouth managing to send some of his food back to the bowl which it came from. 

Ristretto halfway through his mouthful swallowed and began to speak. “No problem Hazell, once you’re finished we can clean up and head up to bed.” He replied scooping another mouthful of noodle and vegetable onto his fork.

The little stallion was disheartened by the early bedtime but knew better than to argue with Ristretto on this issue. “Hey Retto, can I ask you something?” Hazell asked. 

“Sure thing, what’s on your mind?” Ristretto replied as he finished off his bowl and began to get up to start on the dishes. Hazell Quill shuffled in his seat deciding whether or not to ask the question before making up his mind, curiosity winning the battle. 

“So you are a grown stallion, my big brother and all.”

“Yeah?” Ristretto replied, not quite sure where this was going as the water began to flow from the tap as he grabbed the detergent ready to squirt into the filling sink. 

“Well umm, why is it then that you have never, you know, found a marefriend before?” Hazel finished as he looked at his brother with an expectant answer. Ristretto’s pupils shrunk as he squeezed the detergent bottle hard enough to send a blob shooting into the window behind the sink, the blob slowly sliding down the dark window. Ristretto shut off the water, quickly cleaning the detergent off the window and managing to get it in the water on his second attempt. He put the bottle down and looked ahead, thinking about his answer carefully before treading into the delicate topic. 


“Well, you see, some stallions are a little different, not in a bad way, though, so they are special, they don’t get a marefriend, look, I will tell you more about it when you are a little older okay?” Ristretto grabbed the empty bowl of stir-fry off of the yellow coloured colt and placed it in the sink. Disappointed by the answer Hazell grabbed a tea towel off of the oven handle and began wiping the dishes as his older brother put them on the drying rack.

“Aww come on Retto, I wanna know! Why are these ponies different?” The colt complained as he placed the freshly wiped bowls in the crockery draw. 

“That is enough Hazell, I said to you I will explain it more when you are a little older; It will be hard for you to understand right now okay?” Ristretto replied sternly, wanting to kill the topic as the utensils and fry pan dropped into the sink. The little colt didn’t want to take no for an answer and as soon as the forks and spoons came onto the rack he continued.

“I will understand! I promise I wanna know!” He begged.

“Drop it, Hazel, I am not going to tell you until you are a bit older, stop being foalish you silly little pony,” Ristretto replied sternly looking down at his little brother with a hard stare, the guilt for pushing his brother was evident on the little colts face. Ristretto gave him a hug to show he wasn’t mad before quickly finishing off the last of the dishes as Hazel pushed in the chairs to the dining room. “Alright, brush your teeth, and we can read another bedtime story tonight alright?” Ristretto called out to his brother. 

“Alright, don’t be too long” Hazell called out as he made a dash for the bathroom. Ristretto finished cleaning up the kitchen and turned off the lights, an uneasy look on his face as he begun to realise that sooner or later, he would have to explain himself to his little brother.

> Have Here
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ristretto sat nervously outside the cafe, the smell of pastries reaching his muzzle and watering his mouth as he waited for his friend to arrive. The barista pony was on edge, he had arrived twenty minutes early and was nervously looking at the wall clock inside the cafe every few minutes. 

Where is he? It has only been ten minutes?! It feels like an hour. If I have to wait another ten minutes…  Just calm down, you are freaking out over nothi-

His train of thought cut off as he saw his orange friend meander around the corner and calmly trot up to the table. 

“G’morning Sunburst” Ristretto called out as Sunburst sat opposite him. The Crystaller returned a puzzled expression before replying to the greeting. 

“It is half past one right now but Good morning to you as well” Sunburst answered before chuckling as Ristretto’s cheeks went pink. The grey stallion quickly lifted up the menu to hide his face and pretended to read it. By this point had borderline memorised it out of anxiousness. 

“I am thinking maybe just a tea and some chickpea lasagna” Ristretto muffled behind his menu while placing it on the table. 

“Hm, I think I might do the same with the tea and then maybe a risotto. I must say I do find it funny that my favourite barista is a tea drinker.” He chuckled.  “We should go order.” Sunburst and Ristretto grabbed their menus and walked to the counter. They placed their order and took their number back to the table.

“Yeah I mean I love coffee but making it every day, plus drinking the stuff at work, but if I drank it here too, I might as well be bouncing to Luna’s moon and back.” The two shared a laugh as they waited for their food. Little did either pony know that a mischievous Starlight Glimmer was hiding in a nearby shrub, the perfect distance to hear the entire conversation between the friends out to lunch. 

“So Ristretto, despite knowing you for little over a year, I don’t know anything about you really, so let’s start off with the basics, where do you live? And do you live with anyone?”

Ristretto answered casually. “Well it is just my little brother and me, we live in a house down Cherry St, we inherited it.” He replied.

“Oh, I didn’t realise you had a brother, so where does he work? Or is it more of a University thing.” Sunburst asked curiously.

“Oh well, umm, no he is only a little colt, he goes to school still; he is thirteen right now. Our parents passed a couple of years ago, so I have been raising him. The barista replied sadly at the mention of his parents. He loved them a lot, and it was very hard to see them go. 

“Oh Ristretto, I am sorry, I didn’t mean-”

“It’s alright, it was a while ago, and I love my brother,” Ristretto cut Sunburst off.

“Ok, so I guess you get payments to look after him?” 

“Yeah, it isn’t a lot really, food mainly, but there is just enough leftover to do something special every once and awhile. I am lucky I inherited the house, so rent isn’t a problem.” 

“I will have to meet him one day, wow, that is amazing Ristretto, raising your brother like that.” Sunburst beamed. 

“He is a good colt, he does his homework, cleans his room, hangs out with other little ones his age, and I love him to pieces, it is rewarding seeing him grow.” Ristretto smiled as he thought about his little brother. It wasn’t easy, but sometimes really made it worth it. 

“Alright, the Risotto?” The waitress mare called as she made her way to the table with the tea and food in her magic. Sunburst put his hoof up, and she placed the meal on his side of the table. She then put the two teas down on each side and finished with  Ristretto’s lasagne. Neither pony eaten breakfast and as a result went through their food quite quickly.

“Oh dammit Sunburst, slow down, you are gonna put him off” whispered Starlight whispered as she looked on in mild disgust at her friends eating habits. Sunburst caught the whispering and took a break from his meal. He looked around curiously before spotting a pink and purple tinge to the shrub standing near the cafe. He glared at the spot indicating that her presence was known. He mouthed the words ‘go away’ before returning to his conversation with Ristretto. Little to his knowledge the meddling pink mare teleported nearby and continued to listen to the cover of a rather large tree opposite the cafe. 

“What about you Sunburst? I mean like where do you live and stuff.” He asked Sunburst nervously as he finished his last mouthful. 

“Oh well yeah I mean I live alone, just a little house down Canter Cresent. It is nothing special really, just a little dusty and book filled. You will have to come down one day, I have a little coffee machine for when my favourite barista isn’t working, we can have coffee and cake one day!” Sunburst replied. 

“I’d like that!” Ristretto beamed at the offer.





The conversation went on for a lot longer than anticipated, both engrossed in each other's conversation. Sunburst had attended magical school but was never practically adept, so he became a shut-in until an old friend -along with a few new ones- helped him find his way as the royal Crystaller. Ristretto told Sunburst of his parents and how he dropped out of school a bit earlier because nothing was keeping him interested and he knew what he wanted to do. He spoke of his parents passing and adopting Hazell Quill.

The conversation went for a long time until Ristretto looked at the time. “Oh my gosh Hazell will be home soon, sorry Sunburst I really must head off.” He cried halfway through a story about Hazell’s birthday last year. 

“It’s alright, I kinda want to meet him, he sounds like a great colt; I would love to meet him.”

“No! You can’t, oh my gosh I am sorry Sunburst. I just need to talk to him first. Just about all this.” Ristretto hastily replied.

“Uhh, you’re telling me he doesn’t know about you yet? About you being…  Gay?”

The barista pony sagged his head and shook his head in response, pensive spreading across his face.

“I just don’t know how to explain it to him, and how he will react. He has some friends that I think are spreading nasty rumours about sexuality.” Ristretto nervously said as he put the right bits on the table and pushed in his chair. Ristretto sighed as he went to walk beside Sunburst. “Uno, I reckon it is about time, it isn’t going to get any easier. I just need to explain it all to him.”

Sunburst gave the smaller pony a smile as they turned around the corner. “Good luck Ristretto, based on the way you talked about him I am sure everything will be okay. He will understand.” Sunburst beamed at his friend as the made their way to the road that divided their route, they both stopped at the curve as they finished their conversation. 

“Yeah you’re right Sunburst. Thanks for everything. Giving me a chance, talking to me, this afternoon. I have had a wonderful time.” Ristretto smiled. 

“Agreed, we should do this again, I had a great time. I will see ya later Ristretto!” Sunburst called out as Ristretto started walking down his street, Sunburst was two streets back and had further to walk.

“Seeya Sunburst!” The barista replied before making his way home, all but at ease with the following conversation to take place. 





“Hey, Retto! I am home from school.” Hazell called out as he closed the door behind him and went to take his school bag to his room before catching a glimpse of the lounge room and seeing a white barista pony looking slightly nervous. “Retto? What’s going on?” The colt said, worry filling his voice. 

“Hey Hazell, nothing really, I just, I wanted to have a chat, come here.” Ristretto fluffed the couch cushion aside him indicating for Hazell Quill to take his seat.

“Uhh sure I guess.” the colt replied before sitting next to his brother giving him a hug as he sat down. “What’s up?” He asked.

“So. Hazell, you know how there are some ponies. Stallions and mares, who like the same sex, stallions liking stallions and mares liking mares.” Ristretto asked through caution.

“Yuk, colt-cuddlers and filly-foolers, yeah, Moonbeam at school told me about them, they are so gross, it’s alright, though, I will look out for them,” Hazell answered. 

Ristretto’s courage shrank, and his heart fell as his worst fears were unfolding right in front of him. He gave a shaky reply determined to make his brother see the error in his thoughts. ”Well no, that isn’t right Hazell. Moonbeam is wrong, and that is horrible to call someone gross. There is nothing wrong with being gay, they don’t harm colts or fillies, that is a silly myth.” He said through iron resolve.

“You are siding with them? Are you one yourself?” Hazell replied bitterly. 

A nervous string of stammers came from Ristrettos mouth as realisation dawned on Hazell.

“Oh, sweet Luna you are one!” The colt cried as he went to get up quickly. 

“Wait Hazell! Let me explain! Come back!” The barista grabbed his brother trying to stop him from running off, but the colt slipped passed him and made a break for the door. 

“Get away from me! You’re not my brother!” Hazell shrieked as he opened the door and ran into the cold winter night.
> Iced Coffee
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Haaaaazell! Hazel come back! Hazel!” Ristretto called out as the twilight sun began to set. It was getting dark, and the barista pony knew he had to find his brother soon or it would be too late. He couldn’t do this alone; he needed help.

“Sunburst!” He cried before dashing in the direction of where Sunburst said his house was. He knocked on every door that resembled Sunburst’s description; ponies would answer, and Ristretto would apologise and quickly move on. Halfway through the street and finally he was greeted by his orange companion. 

Although shocked to be receiving a door knock in the evening a smile spread across his face as Sunburst realised who was at the door. “Ristretto! How are-” Sunburst paused as he saw the panicked face of his friend accompanied with a desperate look busting to tell the orange stallion what was wrong. “Is everything okay?” Worry was quickly filling his face. 

“I told him, I told Hazel Quill, and now he has run off! He just ran away I don’t know where he could have gone we need to find him.” Ristretto cried, tears streaming down his face as the cold night bit through his coat. He was visibly shaking from shock and cold trying to maintain his composure. Sunburst’s mind kicked into action. “Oh Ristretto I am going to get a coat, and we will search together, wait right there,”  Sunburst replied as he ran back inside. He grabbed two coats, two scarfs and a sleepy Starlight Glimmer who was sitting by the fire.

“Starlight, this is my friend Ristretto. Ristretto, Starlight is going to help us search, now put this on.” Sunburst threw a shivering Ristretto one of the scarves and jackets. The barista gave his thanks and hugged his friend before slipping on the oversized coat and scarf. Sunburst and Starlight quickly followed suit and they headed out. 

Starlight was the first to speak as they exited the street. “Alright, we should split up now; one of us will go to the school and the nearby playground, another will check the library and the other searches in the streets near Ristretto’s house.” She planned. 

“Alright, Ristretto, you know the area around your house the most, you should check there. I walk passed the school every morning, so it makes sense for me to go there. And Starlight you should go and check near the library.” Sunburst replied. The three ponies parted their separate ways agreeing to meet in an hour at Ristretto’s house if they didn’t find anything. 
We are going to get you, Hazel, please be okay. The silver barista thought and hoped as he made his way through the freezing night to his neighbourhood. 





Hazel was in a panic. He ran out onto the streets and kept running. Passed the crystal houses and long into the empty darkened streets. His hooves started hurting; his chest was pounding, but he didn’t want to stop, didn’t want to let his brother catch him. The thoughts of what his brother had said fuelled his pace through the streets and dark alleys all through the city. Driven by tears in his eyes and the hate in his heart he didn’t dare slow down until he was sure he was alone.

Unbeknownst to himself he was unconsciously travelling a route he had walked a thousand times before. Eventually, he lay panting at the foot of his middle school. At least I won’t be cold for a while. He thought. 

After a short search, he found a small alley adjacent to the school where he could plot out the details of his hasty escape. Alright, Moonbeam’s mum, Mrs J is nice; maybe I can stay with her, just live on their couch or something. I can go to school with Moonbeam. He was planning his escape down to the little details. Thoughts kept invading his mind as the little colt closed his eyes and did everything to make them go away. 

What about play fighting with Retto? Or going to the park on the weekends? What about when he would look after me when I am sick or eating ice cream at the shop? 

Hazel Quill was now lying down in the alley, tears slowly puncturing through his resolve as his mind gave him no choice but to endure all the good times he had with his best brother. He kept trying to force the thoughts that lead him to run away. Ristretto is not normal, he attacks colts and goes against nature; he’s wrong and gross. The tainted thoughts only made the tears flow easier, and soon Hazel’s chest was hurting, his eyes stung and his throat, hoarse as he sat there in his despair working out what to do next.

“What’s the matter kid, why you in a dark alley with nopony to protect you, sobbin' ya eyes out.” Came a gruff, smoke-tainted voice. Hazel looked up to see a figure moving up to him. The night was bright, and the owner of the voice quickly revealed itself as a  shabby, coat stained stallion whose colour had long since lost to age and the street. 

Fear pricked Hazel’s spine as he got up and slowly backpedalled keeping his eyes locked on the alleys occupant. “Sorry… I… uh... I didn’t know… uh anypony lived here,” He replied keeping his body low as he looked between the stallion and the exit. “I’ll just go now.” 

“Kid ya just got ‘ere, why leave so early? We were just gettin' ta know each other. Don’t ya know it’s rude to leave a host, without thankin’ him for his kind hospitality?” The stallion spoke as he slowly advanced, closing ground between him and the colt. Fear gripped Hazel’s insides as he continued to creep backwards, not daring to take his eyes away from the advancing alley occupant. 

“Hazel! Haaazell!” The little colt could faintly hear someone calling his name; he couldn’t make out the owner of the voice but at this point anywhere was better than this alley. The little colt turned and as soon as he did so he ran from the pony as fast as his sore hooves would take him. He sighed a relief as the walls disappeared and the open street invited him. 

“Hazel!” He heard the call much louder this time. Hazel Quill was starving, freezing and in no position to continue surviving on his own. He headed in the direction of the voice. He made his way through the empty streets, following the calling of his name. His hooves were weak, barely managing an even pace as the bone-chilling temperatures and all the running caught up to him. Eventually, he spotted an orange stallion, the owner of the voice calling out to him. Hazel picked up his pace trying to reach the voice as quick as possible. 

“Hey!” He croaked trying to get the attention of the stallion. “I’m here!” He cried. 

Sunburst heard a faint voice behind him. The stallion turned around quickly to spot a little colt standing in the middle of a street light lining the road and filling the moonlit night with an orange glow. ”Hazel Quill? Is that you?” He cautiously asked as he spotted the colt. 

“Yeah, it-it’s me” Hazel replied shakily.

“Hazel Quill! Thank Celestia you are safe. I am a friend of your brother; we were all so scared for you!”

Slightly shaken but relieved to be in safe hooves Hazel withdrew at the mention of his brother pleading eyes locking onto Sunburst’s eyes. “Please don’t take me back to my brother, I don’t wanna see him, please don’t make me.” Hazel cried. Sunburst sighed and placed down the colt; he indicated for Hazel to follow him. Sunburst walked over to the side of the building they were next to on the street. He hoofed through the snow to remove a patch before sitting down on the ground. The young colt followed suit. 

“Hazel, I don’t know where you got this whole thing against two stallions or two mares loving each other, but you have to realise that it’s not right to think like that. What do you say is so bad about being gay anyway?” Sunburst spoke carefully scootching slightly to get in a better position. 

“Well, they attack and do things to colts! You can’t say that is a good thing.” He replied.

“I don’t know who is giving you that idea, but it is very wrong, gay ponies are just like everypony else, they don’t hurt or attack colts, they don’t hurt or attack anypony. Your brother wouldn’t do a thing to hurt you, he is an amazing brother to you, looking after you all this time. I assure you he would never hurt a soul.” Sunburst paused letting his words sink in before once again puncturing the silence. “He really cares about you, you know. He came to my house in tears because he was scared of losing you.” Sunburst finished.

A long pause followed as the little colt gathered his thoughts and tried to make sense of this. 

“Really?” he asked quietly. 

“Really. He was so worried about you… he loves you, Hazel.” Sunburst soothed.

Emotion overwhelmed the little colt and soon salty tears were rushing down his cheek as he realised how much his brother cared about him and how much he had scared everypony by running off like that. Sunburst hugged the little colt as they sat on the quiet streets of the night. 





“Hazel Quill! Ristretto cried as he saw Sunburst and his younger brother walk through the door, their coats shivering and feet trudging. Both Ristretto and Starlight rushed forward with blankets, Starlight giving hers to Sunburst where they made their way to the lounge room where a fire was warmly crackling awaiting the freezing ponies to warm up.

Ristretto wrapped his hooves around his now blanketed brother where he tightly hugged him, tears rushing down both ponies faces as they embraced. “I’m so sorry Retto, I don’t hate you, I love you. You’re not a freak, and I am sorry.” The little colt sobbed in his brother's hooves. 

“It’s okay Hazel, I forgive you, but please, don’t ever run off like that again. I love you too, and it would break my heart to see you get hurt.” The barista replied hugging him tighter before setting him down and letting him get warm by the fire. 

Starlight and Ristretto made some hot chocolates for everypony. They walked out to the fire Ristretto put two of the mugs on the table, Starlight following suit as they all sat down. “Sunburst told me all about this… stuff and I understand it a lot more. Retto, as long as he isn’t a bad pony, then I won’t care who your special somepony is I promise.” Hazel concluded holding onto his blanket, sitting on the couch next to his brother.

Ristretto smiled at his little brother giving him one last hug. “I think it has been a late night for everypony, Hazel why don’t you go and start getting ready for bed?” 

“But Retto I wanna stay up, until everypony goes home, I’m not tired I swear” The defiant colt complained.

“Hazel, it has been a big night and I think that it is best if we all got some rest. Sunburst and Starlight will be leaving soon anyway, I really think that you should head up to bed.” Ristretto replied encouraging Hazel to get ready for bed.

The little colt thought for a second, contemplating his options. Finally he leaned in and whispered in his brother’s ears “Can you still come in and say goodnight? It’s scary if you don’t.” He softly asked.

“Just like always,” Ristretto whispered back giving him a hug before sending him off to bed. Hazel slowly trudged his way up the stairs smiling to his brother before disappearing to get ready for bed.

Ristretto made his way back to Sunburst and Starlight, he hugged each pony then smiled to them. “Thanks so much both of you, I have no idea how to repay you, you have both been so amazing and who knows what would have happened if you didn’t help.” he beamed as the two ponies smiled back.

“Think nothing of it Ristretto. We are just glad your brother is safe in your hooves. I admire you looking after him. He is a great kid when I walked home with him, he was just a little misguided” Sunburst replied.

The three ponies bid their goodbyes and took their mugs to the kitchen before heading out the door. Ristretto stood at the doorway as the two looked back before waving. Starlight walked to the end of the yard and waited by the letterbox as Sunburst hesitated halfway down the yard. He quickly went up to Ristretto standing by the doorway.

“I really did have fun today, we should head out again one day, I am really starting to like you Ristretto.” Sunburst smiled before quickly pecking the stallion on the cheek and waving as he walked back to Starlight. Heat filled the barista’s cheeks as he placed a hoof over where Sunburst had set his lips, warmth flowing through the touch the smile only got larger as he closed the door and did a small dance in the hallway. The smile didn’t leave his face as he washed the mugs on the counter and headed up to Hazel’s room. 

Ristretto slowly opened the door to Hazel’s room to see the colt lying half on, half off the bed as he lay asleep with his bottom on the floor and his front hooves as well as his head lying on the bed. Ristretto smiled to himself as he carefully picked up his little brother. He gently placed him in bed properly and pulled the thick doona cover over the sleeping pony kissing him on the forehead as he did so before gently stroking his mane.

“G’night Hazel” He whispered before quietly walking out the room and closing the door.

A single eye opened in the darkness of the little colt’s room as he smiled and snuggled into his bedding. “G’night Retto.” He whispered back.
> Milk Hearts
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“...and because your both stallions what would your foals call you? Could you have foals? This whole thing is still super weird still. How did you find out? Wait, I don’t wanna know that-” 

“Hazel! Hazel! Slow down, I am really happy that you’re taking an interest in this, but please, one question at a time.” Ristretto sighed and looked at the coffee; despite the time he was only half-finished, a by-product of the onslaught of questions he had just faced. He threw his head back and drained the remainder of the liquid before putting his brother’s mind at rest. “They would call us dad and pap. Yes, there is adoption. I found out through just the feeling that I was attracted to stallions, it is less self exploration than you think, you weirdo.” Ristretto smirked and nudged his little brother who was taking a much more cautious approach to his hot chocolate. 

“I have more questions, you know.” The little colt replied through a mouthful of warm liquid.

“And I have work to go to in ten minutes. I’m sorry Hazel.” Ristretto replied looking at the clock. “Moonbeam’s mum will be over to take you to their place for the night, don’t go listening to any of his wild ideas now. I will pick you up tomorrow.” He grabbed his apron and bits from the couch he had left them on and rushed back over to his little brother to give him a big hug in his seat and a tickle under his forelegs. Hazel giggled and retracted from his bowl of cereal and covered the area under his legs with his hoof. 

“Retto! Stop!”  He shrieked as Ristretto made a pounce for his belly. The little colt rolled off his chair as the onslaught of tickles made him laugh harder, his belly being the main target. Ristretto continued the onslaught of tickles making his brother squirm beneath him as the colt struggled to break loose of the attack. Finally Ristretto looked up at the clock. He relented the attack and hugged his out-of-breath brother. 

“Alright, be good for Mrs Bell. I’ll seeya tonight.” He finished before walking towards the door.

“Bye Retto!” He called out as the stallion gave a wave and closed the door behind him. 

With a skip in his step and a song on his lips the stallion made his way to the coffee shop. More than ever excited for his favorite usual to meander through the doors later that morning. The snow was beginning to melt as spring began to take its grasp on the days. It would be winter wrap up soon, but until then the white stallion had to deal with damp hooves as the solid white snow turned to grey slush. Yet even the damp couldn’t dampen his mood as the coffee shop slowly came into sight. 





Meanwhile, Sunburst was having the time of his life completely unsure of his orientation and by extension his future, his aspirations, his lifestyle and most of all, his friend. For almost half an hour he had been staring at the mirror asking over and over again.

“Who am I?” The orange stallion asked for the third time, once again not receiving an answer from the pony inside the mirror. He almost didn’t recognise who he was anymore. 

For your entire life, you have knew what you were aiming for; a mare, maybe some foals, a nice house a little closer to the castle, happiness. Happiness. What is happiness? Is that really what I want? Is it what I need? Who am I? What am I?

“What am I?” Sunburst whispered into the mirror.

“A very confused pony, and a late one if you keep staring at that mirror.” Came a familiar voice from behind Sunburst. The stallion jumped as the intruder made her presence known. 

“Starlight! Bucking hell! There goes my breakfast.” Came a wheasy reply as Sunburst’s wits came slowly back.  

Starlight walked into the bathroom and stared at the mirror with Sunburst as the two looked at each other's reflections. Thinking carefully about her reply the mare finally broke the silence. 

“Does it matter what you are? Do you need to label it?” She replied curtly and continuing to act casually.

“Well, yeah, how else am I supposed to know who I am? What I like?” Sunburst replied honestly.

The pink mare was expecting this answer. 

“Sunburst, tell me honestly, do you need a label to say that you like somepony? Gay, Straight, hyper-present-uber-pyrobear-whatever-sexual. They don’t mean anything. They are words. When you look at Ristretto, do you see somepony you could, in time, love?” Starlight bluntly asked.

“I don’t know. Maybe? I guess yeah, so that makes me gay?” Sunburst answered much to the groaning reply he received from the mare. “What?!” He asked.

“Sunburst! Forget what it makes you, the fact stands that you are willing to give Ristretto a chance. You like him! Nothing else matters. Make decisions with your heart, not with a category you have put yourself in. Now, I will ask again, do you need a label to say that you love a particular pony? Do you see a pony in that mirror that could love Ristretto?” Starlight finished by holding Sunburst’s head in the direction of the mirror, forcing him to look at his reflection. 

Brief hesitation washed over him before finally looking at himself in the mirror. Before he had been looking at different minute details of himself, looking only at one place at a time. Now he stepped back and looked at his entire upper body, the bigger picture finally setting in. Starlight still holding her hooves against his temples he replied with confidence and meaning.

“Yes, yes I do. I see a pony who can love Ristretto. Labels won’t change that.” He answered firmly.  

“Are you going to give him a chance?”

“Yes I will!” Sunburst shouted into the mirror.

“Are you going to be the best you can be?” 

“Yes I will!” 

“Are you going to ask him out on a date today?” 

“Yes I wi- Woah! Woah! Woah!” He turned around quickly pulling Starlight’s hooves from his face before looking at her, annoyance written on his face. His resolve quickly faded to a bashful look, heat rising to his cheeks. “I don’t think now is the ti-” Starlight gave him a hard stare as she put a hoof on his mouth.

“What are you waiting for you oversized scaredy colt! He likes you in case you hadn’t noticed. Sunburst, you are going to go that coffee shop today and ask him out! No more tiny little coffee outings; it’s dinner or nothing. Understand.” She firmly ordered, letting her hoof slip from his mouth. A look -like a colt who had just been scolded by his mother- quickly spread across Sunburst’s face. 

“Fine, jeez, alright, Starlight, I will, I will.” Sunburst said as an annoyed look replacing his shameful one. He buttoned up his cloak and started heading for the door.

Starlight gave a content smile as Sunburst made his way to the front door, the mare in tow. “Goodluck Sunburst! Be confident, you’ve got this!” She shouted as the stallion reached the door and opened it..

“Thanks, Starlight, I’ll see you later.” He replied before closing the door, leaving Starlight in the house.

“Go get him.” She smiled to nopony in particular before sneaking out the house to once again spy on her friend’s visit to the coffee shop.





Sunburst walked into the little coffee shop. Ristretto instantly began to make his usual, the careful liquid quickly being prepared as the orange stallion went through his daily routine, paying for the coffee and watching as his friend finished preparing his coffee. 

“Umm, hey Ristretto, oh thanks.” He started as the barista placed the coffee onto the bench in the awaiting magic aura of it’s owner. 

“So um, oh sorry.” The two ponies blurted simultaneously. Awkward muteness set among the two, much to the amusement of Vanilla Latte, who tried not to laugh at the scene. 

“You go first.” Sunburst urged, pushing through the moment and giving himself a chance to sip his coffee.

“So, uh... yeah. No, umm... so, Hazell is kind of at a friend’s house tonight and uh, well... yeah.” Ristretto took a deep breath trying to gather his thoughts and find the courage he needed to finish.

“That’s cool.” Sunburst added making Vanilla facehoof at the sorry attempt at a conversation. 

“He’s out tonight, so I was... uhh, I was just wondering if you, uh…. kinda, wanted to do something... tonight?” Ristretto finally finished his question, in that moment wanting to be as small as possible when he felt the heat on his cheeks. 

A million scenarios of this question had played out in Ristretto’s mind earlier that morning however, his friend bursting into laughter on the floor of the coffee shop certainly wasn’t one of them. Yet to barista’s amazement there lie Sunburst in tears on the floor as the laughter flowed out his mouth. A puzzled look spread on Ristretto’s face as he looked over at Vanilla for an answer. She just shrugged while Sunburst composed himself and stood up. 

“Oh, haha.” Finally the breathless stallion managed to continue, “Sorry Ristretto. It’s just that I was actually going to ask the exact same thing, but I just expected you to be too busy with Hazel. I’d be honoured if you came out to dinner with me tonight. I finish work at around five, so how about we meet at your place at sixish? I’d offer my place but I have a meddling mare and I’d rather not let her get involved”

A smile of relief spread over the barista’s face as the answer he was looking for was given to him. “Yes, absolutely! Six is perfect!” He replied giddily. In his excitement, Sunburst didn’t realise his coffee cup teetering on the edge of the bench which he had placed it amidst his laughing fit. The coffee cup flew off the bench, some managing to splash on his stomach before the rest was on the floor. 

The hot liquid burnt at his skin, in shock Ristretto grabbed cold water in a takeaway cup and some napkins as his friend danced about trying to cool the liquid on his stomach. Ristretto dunked the napkins in the cold water ran around the counter and gently placed them on the stallion’s stomach. Instant relief flooded over Sunburst’s body. He sighed as the cold water was placed on the point of contact. Ristretto continued to dab cold water enjoying it a little too much as he continued to do it after coffee had cooled. 

“Oh uh there, sorry, forgot about the coffee.” He replied as Sunburst blushed at the contact. 

“No it’s fine that was my fault.” He said apologetically as Vanilla got a mop.

“I’ll make you a new one Sunburst” Ristretto added getting behind the barista machine. 

“Thanks Ristretto, you really are a nice pony.” Sunburst finished as the barista made a new coffee and chatted away to his friend. 





Starlight Glimmer  pumped her hoof from her hiding spot outside the cafe underneath one of the wallside windows. “Yesyesyes!” She replied ending her spell that allowed her to listen to the conversation. She pondered for a second before slowly using her magic to tip Sunburst’s coffee over the edge of the bench sending a spray of coffee over him, Ristretto quickly acted with the napkins. She watched him dab the napkins for far longer than normal. She smirked as the blush spread across both ponies faces. 

“That’s my Sunburst.” She replied before sneaking off home.
> Dinner Date Pt. 1
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“What the buck are you wearing?”  Vanilla yelled through her magazine as she sat on the lounge watching her preposterously over-dressed friend wearing a nervous smile along with a waistcoat, tie and overcoat. 

Ristretto heaved a defeated sigh and took off his onslaught of upper clothing throwing it into a clump on the lounge next to Vanilla. Vanilla gave it a disinterested look as Ristretto slumped next to her. “You’re right, that was terrible.” He huffed.

“You’re only going out to a little Istallion place, you’re not visiting Celestia. Now just relax, you don't need anything more than a scarf.” She insisted as she grabbed Ristretto’s hooves and forced him to his bedroom shoving the pile of tangled formalwear in his face. Pushing him into his room she sat back on the couch, a smirk resting on her face at her friend’s nervousness. Ristretto finally came back out of his room, shuffling along the floor he nervously stood in front of his friend again. He wore a beautiful ocean-blue woollen scarf. 

Vanilla’s eyes widened at how perfectly it suited his white coat, Ristretto noticed, his cheeks warming up and glowing through his white coat at the attention he was receiving. “Ristretto… That scarf suits you absolutely perfectly, you look gorgeous... and did you shampoo your coat? It looks so silky and smooth.” Ristretto pushed up the scarf to hide his cheeks. 

“Thanks, Vanilla, it’s not too much, is it? I just shampooed it a little,” He asked with a little more confidence.

“Not at all! A dirty coat is a huge turn-off.” She replied beaming at him. She stood up and hugged Ristretto, feeling his soft fur and subconsciously thinking about how adorable it was. “Alright, I have to go now, just be calm, stay relaxed, be yourself and have a fantastic time and this will go perfectly."

The two hugged briefly before parting, Vanilla heading to the door and leaving Ristretto in the quiet house while he waited for his date, twenty minutes before the date was planned. Ristretto looked up at the clock he had in the lounge room, sitting on his sofa he switched his attention from the clock to the door.

Five minutes…

Ten minutes…

The minutes kept coming, the slowest he had every imagined them to be. Finally at exactly five fifty-seven, there was a knock on the door, quicker than lightning Ristretto leaped up and ran to the door to answer to his date.





“TOUCH MY BEARD AND THERE WILL BE NOTHING LEFT OF YOU!” Sunburst shrieked as he galloped around the table staying on opposite ends of Starlight Glimmer and a menacing razor she held in her hoof. 

“Comeon Sunburst! The stupid thing needs to go, please!” Starlight whined as she banged the razor onto the table in defeat. Sunburst huffed and crossed his hooves clearly in no rush to get up and comply.

“When are you going to back to Ponyville again?” He asked sarcastically moving around the table as Starlight made one last attempt to catch him to little success. 

“Fine, keep the beard, but please lose your work cape and just put on a scarf or something.” She sighed filled with defeat. Sunburst gave her a cheeky smile before starting to go up the stairs. “And clean yourself up! Use the shampoo on your coat! Just make sure not to use the mane stuff or you’ll get all fluffy. 

Starlight waited on the sofa as Sunburst got cleaned up and ready. Finally, after fifteen minutes, Sunburst shuffled down the hallway and stepped in front of Starlight, an expectant look on his face as he waited for his friend’s opinion. He had nothing on, his beard straight and trimmed as well as a brushed and shampooed mane. 

“You’re not wearing anything! You are going to a nice Istallion restaurant, at the very least put on a scarf and a coat or something!” She cried as an annoyed look came over Sunburst, he sighed before fetching a grey coat and emerald green scarf from his bedroom. He huffed as he once again stood in front of Starlight.

“Alright Starlight, at this point I really don’t care. This will be fine. Now, I gotta go or I will be late.” He started firmly as he grabbed his bit pouch and made his way to the door. “If you follow me again -and don’t pretend you didn’t at the coffee shop- I will dump your butt on the next train back to Ponyville.”

“Don’t worry about it Sunburst, I know you’ll do fine, just be interesting, be attentive and you’ll do fine. Good luck! You have totally got this.” She replied while pushing him out the door. “Now go! Like you said, you’ll be late, seeya later Sunburst!” She gave him a hug and shut the door on his face. 

“Starlight! Wait!” He shouted at the door. Too late, Sunburst could hear the scuttling away from the door. With a sigh and a slight spring in his step he made his way through the nearly melted snow towards Ristretto’s house. “Be interesting, be attentive, have fun, I can do that.” He spoke to himself.






“Hi Sunburst, you uh, you look…” Ristretto stumbled as he opened the door revealing Sunburst standing on the porch. 

“Good?” Sunburst finished for him before hugging the nervous stallion. “You do too, now we have half an hour before our reservation, wanna just take a walk?” Sunburst asked stepping aside to allow Ristretto to step out the door. Ristretto in turn locked the door and gave his date a smile.

“Sounds great!” He replied as the two walked off the porch. Sunburst walked alongside the white pony closer than usual. A smile instantly spread over Ristretto’s face as he turned his face away to hide his grin as the two walked on.
Finally Sunburst broke the silence. “Winter wrap-up will start soon, I’ll probably just be on the planning team, what do they usually get ponies like you to do?” He asked as they trudged through the sleet.

“Well usually the coffee shop reduces its prices heaps and makes one bit coffees for everypony that is contributing to the wrap-up, I think you can only buy two coffees though, we get a bunch of ponies on that day because of how busy it is, and while we barely break-even, it is worth it for the smiles on everypony’s faces.”  Ristretto answers. 

The two walked in silence for awhile, the only sound coming from the busy streets further into the heart of the city. The sound of the city approaching as the two got closer to their destination in the central streets. Finally the barista broke the silence between them. “Hey, Sunburst?” he asked.

“Yes?” Sunburst replied, encouraging Ristretto to continue.

“Are you nervous about tonight?” Ristretto finished. Sunburst’s face fell for a second, pensive showing through his features.as he thought about the question. 

“Not really to be honest, if we let nerves get the better of us it takes away from having a fun time. You’re a really nice pony to be around Ristretto... and I want to give you a great time; so please, don’t feel nervous around me, there is nothing to be scared or nervous about.” Sunburst replied.

Ristretto walked in silence thinking about what was said. “I never really thought about it like that, you have a really beautiful way of thinking about things Sunburst.” 

The two stallions looked away from each other, both smiling to themselves as they kept walking. Sunburst leaned in and started walking closer than what is considered a normal distance to walk next to somepony. Practically touching they walked onto the Istallion joint on the main strip.

Walking in they were greeted by the maître d' and seated by the  left of the restaurant. The restaurant had a bright setup for the darkened late winter nights filling the restaurant with a warm glow. The whole restaurant glowed Istallion from the rich furniture and intricate finishings on all the table linings. Even the chair padding had that higher class charm while still toned down enough to not seem to ostentatious. 

Everything was a very light coloured polished wood from the ceiling accents, to the chairs, to the bartop and cellars. 

“Alright, we can share a pizza, or get our own meals, what would you prefer?” asked Sunburst after skimming the menu filled with assorted traditional Istallion meals. 

Ristretto’s eyes lit up at the pizza flavours listed on the oversized menu he had picked up. “Pizza? I haven’t had it in years! I would love a pizza, can we get one of the more simpler ones? They have less ingredients but they are much nicer than the ones filled with vegetables.” He placed the menu back on the table and tried to look over at Sunburst to no avail with the large menu in the way. 

“Alrighty! How about margarita?” Sunburst asked placing his menu down to see his date leaning over the table trying to look over the the large sheet now on the table, he smiled and pecked him on the snout making Ristretto pull back his cheeks reddening at the affection in public. 

“I was hoping you would say margarita, and some garlic bread!” Ristretto exclaimed getting excited. 

“Well duh, you can’t go to an Istallion place and not get garlic bread.” Sunburst smiled  at the excitement building from the barista. He is so full of life, fun and exciting. I can’t believe he was crushing on me, maybe I am falling for him. Waking up to that smile in the morning…

“Sunburst? Uhh Sunburst? We are ready to order…” 

“Huh? Oh yeah, uhh where is the waiter?” Sunbrust asked waking up from his daydream. The orange stallion looked around to his left and went to turn to his right before yelping and jumping out of his seat as the waiter surprised him from his right. In reality the waiter had arrived halfway through Sunburst daydream. 

“Sorry about that sir. Are you alright?” The waiter asked as Sunburst now standing up clutching his chest as he recovered from the scare.

“No sorry that was my fault,” Sunburst replied while the waiter picked up his chair and allowed Sunburst to order now. 

“Uhh yeah we are ready to order now, can we get a medium margarita and some garlic bread?” He ordered, “Oh and some table water too please.” He quickly added.

Ristretto chuckled at the scene playing out as the waiter recited the order and left. “Sunburst are you alright? You seemed at bit out of it just then.” Ristretto asked. 

“Yeah I just got a bit lost in thought,” The orange stallion replied smiling as he turned back to his date. 

“What were you thinking about?” The barista dug further.”

“Oh well umm, just about… well, about you... and me” Sunburst awkwardly confessed scratching the back of his head. 

Ristretto thought about this for a second both stallions not really talking much, after a couple of seconds Ristretto decided to continue the conversation. “So I never really heard much about your childhood, so what was it like?” Ristretto asked. 

Caught slightly off guard, Sunburst stammered for a bit before answering. “Oh well umm, it was pretty decent. My parents were loving, they are getting close to retirement now, but yeah I went to school in Canterlot. I only really had one friend though, it was actually Starlight Glimmer -that mare that helped us look for Hazell when he went missing, yeah she was my... one friend. But we kinda got split up when I moved to Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns, I wasn’t all that great at the school and Starlight and I grew apart.” Sunburst looked a bit down at this but lightened up as he continued his story. 

“Once I… left magic school I didn’t do much, but years later Starlight and I met again and she helped me become the Royal Crystaller here, it’s been a couple of years since then, but we got in contact again when she came here after Flurry was born; now she’s Twilight Sparkle’s student! When she has time she will come down here and spend a week or so with me. I was an only colt so life was... kinda lonely when Starlight wasn’t around, I got by though, so how about you? What was your childhood like?” Sunburst cocked his head and gently smiled.

Ristretto smiled as he thought about the question. “Well, I was an only colt for most of my childhood. I had one or two friends but we kinda lost touch when I finished school. Mum and Dad were the best parents, always trying to make sure I was happy.” Ristretto got a bit teary at the thought of his parents but continued to smile. 

“I was so lucky to have them. When I got my cutie mark they bought me a small barista machine to practice on, it wasn’t cheap either, it was like a professional machine. It was the happiest day of my childhood, really. Then about two years before I graduated they had Hazell Quill and I had a little brother. He was the cutest little foal. After I graduated I decided that I wanted to change things up and decided to start travelling. The great thing about being a barista is you can get work anywhere. Las Pegasus, Fillydelphia, I even got a job at Canterlot, I travelled all over Equestria, but then Dad got sick and I came home. Hazell was still too young to fully understand what was going on. I knew we didn’t have much time left, so that’s when I decided to come out to them. I think they were kinda happy I wouldn’t getting involved with mares.” Ristretto took a moment to pause and chuckle as the tears started to come. Sunburst quickly lept up and came over to Ristretto to give him a hug.

“You are are such a strong pony to talk about this Ristretto. I can’t imagine how hard it must have been to lose your parents so young.” Sunburst squeezed him a little before sitting back down in his chair. The barista sniffled a little before continuing.

“Thanks Sunburst, I have never really talked about it before. Well… after Dad passed it wasn’t long before Mum was... in an accident. I was given Hazell as next of kin, the first couple of months were hard. I can’t imagine how it must have been for him. Every night he cried himself to sleep asking for Mum to come home. He was only nine at the time. He slept with me every night for months. He managed to get control of himself, I was so proud of him. He is by far the strongest little colt I have ever come across, really. Since then we’ve lived here, with me at the coffee shop and him at school. He’s going to be an amazing stallion when he grows up.” Ristretto finally finished. This time it was Sunburst’s turn to get a little teary. 

“That is an amazing story. How much you have both been through. From the looks of it you are both strong stallions. Hey do you know where our food is?” Sunburst looked around, he caught the attention of his waiter who quickly snapped into gear as soon as Sunburst made eye contact, he raced through the restaurant with the food in his aura placing it on the table. 

“Sorry sir, your food has been ready for a few minutes. I didn’t want to interrupt, it seemed like you two needed a few moments.” The waiter explained bashfully.

“Oh, yeah, heh, thanks.” Sunburst finished. The waiter walked off and the two stallions ate their dinner. The conversation carried through dinner right until the settled the bill and walked out the restaurant. 

“That was an amazing time Sunburst, thanks, for everything.” Ristretto hugged Sunburst and smiled. 

“What do you mean? Stay a little longer! I have somewhere I want to take you.” Sunburst exclaimed nervously trying to get Ristretto to stay. 

“Oh, okay, sure! Lead on, My Sun.” Ristretto smiled.

Sunburst stopped hugging Ristretto, “‘My Sun’?”

Ristretto shrugged, “I like it,” and started walking away from the restaurant. 

Sunburst thought for a moment then nodded, “I like it too.”

“Great! Let’s go.”

Ristretto began to walk towards the road, then realized that he didn’t know where they were going. He stopped and let Sunburst take the lead. With a smile on his face he  followed his date away from the main strip and into the quiet streets of the Crystal Empire.
> Dinner Date Pt. 2
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Sunburst? Sunburst! Where in Equestria are we going?” Ristretto huffed as the two galloped towards the edge of the city just east of the Crystal Empire’s farmland. Finally they reached city limits were, rolling hills that reached into the snowy mountains laying scattered about the landscape. Sunburst looked at the confused Ristretto with a smile. “So… wh” -he gasped for air- “at now?” Ristretto asked. 

A mischievous grin spread across Sunburst’s face and he reached out his hoof and lightly placed it on top of the white stallion’s head, held it there for a moment, then quickly removed it. He stood there for a brief moment before getting ready for a quick getaway into the hillside. “You’re it!” He shrieked as he made a dash uphill.

Ristretto chased after Sunburst in hot pursuit to the peak of the hill. The hill levelled out to provide the perfect place for wildflowers to grow. A few trees lay scattered around the field overlooking the city, but the land remained untouched by both the snowy north that surrounded it and the Crystal Empire below. Ristretto caught up to the orange stallion quickly and tagged him.

“Gotchya back!” He shouted before changing direction and running away quickly. Sunburst chased after the earth pony. Sunburst used his magic to yank on Ristretto’s tail, he gently crashed in the field of flowers and came up to him and tagged his back and kept running. “Hey! No magic!” He called out to Sunburst before laughing and running after him again. 

The two chased each other through the field for what seemed like hours. Finally as Celestia’s sun was halfway below the horizon Sunburst tackled the barista pony, trapping both of them, they giggled as they wrestled on the ground, happiness swelled in Ristretto’s chest. Both ponies were grinning from ear to ear as Sunburst laid half-on and half-off of Ristretto. Sunburst struggled to get up trying to untangle his limbs from Ristretto’s until finally he got up and turned around. The orange stallion sat there, his back facing away from Ristretto and towards the city. The barista sat up aswell and shuffled forwards to Sunburst, he looked across to see a nothing but awe on Sunburst’s face.

“It really is beautiful isn’t it.”  Sunburst whispered as if all the air had been taken from his lungs. Ristretto looked ahead, a brilliant orange glow fell over the city in the heat of the night before winter-wrap up. The Crystal Castle was lit up in hundreds of different shades of reds and oranges, splashing the brilliant colour throughout the city, each house also shone its own bright colours creating a beautiful glow in the evening sun. Ristretto leaned his head against Sunburst’s. 

“Unno, I never thought that doing all this stuff quite felt like this. It’s romantic and beautiful, but... most of all, I feel young again.” Ristretto admitted.

Sunburst intrigued began to push further. “How so?” He asked feeling the warmth of the pony by his side making his spine tingle and warmth to fill his side. 

“Well, sure I feel more playful, but.. I feel safe. I don’t know, it’s stupid.” Ristretto sighed looking away. 

Sunburst pulled Ristretto in for a hug resurring him. “Go on, it isn’t stupid.” He replied. 

“I feel like I do back when mum and dad were still alive, like there is someone there for me, like I don’t have to be strong anymore. I always felt like having this dream come true would be amazing, but nothing like this... hey Sunburst?” 

Sunburst was content with listening and only gave a soft, “Hmm?” in response. 

“Why’d you give me a chance?”

Sunburst thought about this for a while before finally giving his answer. “In all honesty, I don’t really know... I used to overthink things, but I guess it just kind of felt... right to give you a chance. You know, before all this I didn’t even really think about liking stallions like that untill I got the note, and well, I kind of did overthink it a little when I realised what I was doing. I guess I just realised that, it doesn’t matter what I am…” He trailed off  and paused before continuing. “When I think about it, I am pretty shocked that anyone would ever have a crush on me.” 

Ristretto sat there for a while, thinking about what was said. “You were just so friendly and bubbly when you came into the shop. It was infectious. It is infectious. You’re so full of life and it just made me so happy seeing you in the shop. You made me want to be a better, happier pony, it was like every time you came into the shop my heart would go in my chest and I couldn’t help smile as the entire shop just lit up with a warmer atmosphere and now I’m just rambling, aren’t I?” 

Sunburst pulled out of the resting hug as the sun finished hiding behind the horizon giving the day’s final red tinges to the sky. He looked into Ristretto eyes and smiled. “Good, I don’t want to be the only one to overthink things.” and with that he slowly leant in and placed his lips on Ristretto’s own, It felt soft and warm, comforting in a sense. Most ponies talk about first kisses being an explosion, but Sunburst’s felt it more of a gradual rising in his chest, warmth creeping up on him. Ristretto did not back away and instead sat shocked, closing his eyes he melted into the kiss hoping the moment would never end. They held like that until Sunburst finally pulled away. 

He sat there wide eyed looking at Ristretto, Ristretto looking back at him giving him a slightly confused look. Sunburst finally opened his mouth to speak, trying to conjure the words. “I have kissed mares before, but that… It was, it felt amazing. It felt… right. That was amazing Ristretto.”  

Ristretto blushed at the compliment before going in and hugging Sunburst. Sunburst hugged back, feeling wet droplets on his back, hearing faint crying coming from Ristretto. “Hey Ristretto, is everything okay?” He asked concern racing through him. 

“I’m sorry, I’m fine, it just, this is just something I never thought I could find, I could get. You are amazing Sunburst. I’ve never really kissed someone seriously before… and, well I feel like I want to go back to me as a colt, scared and confused and just tell him that everything will be okay. That he will meet somepony amazing.” Ristretto choked out sniffling a little. Sunburst rubbed his back and squeezed him in the hug a bit tighter. 

“You are an amazing stallion yourself Ristretto, and I am honoured to get this close to you. You can tell we’re both pretty inexperienced when it comes to all this… stuff.” He chuckled trying not to choke up himself. “It is starting to get dark, do you want me to walk you home?” Sunburst asked. 

Ristretto broke the hug and smiled through slightly blurry eyes giving a nod as the two made their way back to Ristretto’s place. On the walk home the two walked practically on top of each other, both looking up at the constellations that were beginning to appear in the night sky. 

The walk ended too soon and the couple found themselves at the door to Ristretto’s house. “Come in inside, at least have a cup of hot chocolate before you go” Ristretto smiled. Sunburst thought for approximately half a second before giving his thanks and following the barista inside. Sunburst sat at the dining table smiling as his date went on about the imported chocolate he hid from Hazel for special occasions, like this. 

Neither one noticed a blue aura lock all the windows and doors in the house. 

The two drank the chocolate (Sunburst surprisingly quickly given the heat of the chocolate) before saying their goodnights and hugs. Sunburst went to the door and tried to open it with his magic. To both stallion’s surprise the door would not budge. Ristretto tried the windows, but they couldn’t be opened either. 

Sunburst looked across at the window locks, he noticed a slight blue glow to them. “STARLIGHT!” He yelled out in frustration. He was locked in with no way of leaving unless he wanted to break his date’s window. He shook his head and gave Ristretto the highly likely cause for the magically locked doors. 

“Well it looks like we might just have to let her win tonight.” Ristretto sighed before heading up to his room. Sunburst looked across at the couch.

“Sorry Ristretto, I had no hoof in this honest.” He tried to explain. 

“It’s okay Sunburst, from meeting Starlight this does kind of seem like something she would do.” 

“You have no idea,” Sunburst replied rolling his eyes at his friend’s mischief. Ristretto’s cheeks suddenly flushed halfway up the stairs, he slowly made his way down and walked over to Sunburst looking at everything but his date. 

“Hey Sunburst, I umm.. Well i just thought maybe we could…” He trailed off. “Y’know what, don’t worry about it, it’s dumb, I don’t wanna push this.” He sighed bashfully before heading upstairs to get blankets for the couch. 

“Yes.” Sunburst replied after only a little bit of thought.

Ristretto stopped dead on the top stair before looking across at the orange stallion. “Really?” he asked wide eyed. 

“Well we can lie down here and watch a movie or something, do you have a mattress or something we can put on the ground?” Sunburst asked. Ristretto’s eyes shot out of his skull, stayed in position for a millisecond before dashing off to go get the spare mattress and some bedding.

The two made up the mattress and watched movies together until they started to fall asleep halfway through a cheesy romcom. Ristretto lightly breathed in and out as Sunburst turned off the television and got closer to the barista in front of him, he snuggled into the sleeping stallion and listened to the gentle breathing from his date. 

Blushing at how adorable Ristretto was being, Sunburst wrapped his hooves around him and began to follow his date into the realm of sleep. Soon Sunburst was asleep breathing lightly into the barista’s neck. Ristretto, still keeping his eyes closed smiled harder than he ever had before in his life as he felt Sunburst wrap his hooves around him. 


> Breakfast Coffee
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunburst’s eyes gently fluttered open, the orange stallion took in a huge lungful of air. He was just about to move his legs before he realised that he was in a tangle of limbs with his date the previous night. Instead of gently untangling himself he snuggled up closer, closed his eyes and took in Ristretto’s scent. Yep, I can get used to this. He thought to himself through a flutter in his chest and cheshire grin quickly spreading over his face. 

Of course this only lasted until he heard the door open and the click of a camera. Sunburst’s eyes cracked open like a whip as he looked across to the doorway he was facing. Behind Ristretto’s hair, he saw his very-much-in-trouble friend giggling as she witnessed the mattress containing two ponies smushed together in tight embrace. Sunburst raised his head, a death stare filling every fibre on his face as he mouthed the words ‘Imma kill you’ before slowly sinking his head back down and opening the door with his magic in hope the mare will take the hint.

Starlight gave a small smirk before quietly exiting through the door she was so kindly shown making a hoof gesture representing sex as the last of her went through the door earning a mighty scowl from the half awake mattress occupant. The door quietly clicked shut and Sunburst let out a breath of relief before slowly slipping back into his more than comfortable position. 

Sunburst lay snuggled up to Ristretto for what seemed like a century. Warmth flooded through his chest as he felt the soft body next to him. It felt so right to him, he felt a new found happiness that nothing could take away. Sunburst thought about life with Ristretto, what could come of their relationship, memories they could share. Eventually he felt a stirring from the extremely comfortable co-occupant of the mattress. The pony turned almost all the way over before his muzzle bumped into Sunburst's. "Oops. Sorry, misjudged the distance a little bit," he whispered as he snuggled into Sunburst's body. A moment later he realized what he was doing and moved his head back so he could shake his head. Once he was conscious he ducked his head away to hide the stupid grin on his face.

Once he had recovered he turned back to Sunburst, “Oh sorry hehe, forgot you were there.” Ristretto whispered still shaking sleep from his mind. Similar to Sunburst, Ristretto turned over to avoid the gaze of his date before growing a stupid smile at the situation at hoof. 

Sunburst started to get out of bed, immediately regretting leaving the warmth of the sheets. He made his way to the kitchen where he started sifting through the pantries looking for something to start both pony’s days.

“Where do you keep the oats? I’m gonna make some porridge.” He asked the still waking up Ristretto. 

“Mmm in the bed, next to me, come back here if you want it.” Ristretto replied through groans as he sat up in bed and began to make the huge step towards waking up, of leaving the bed.

“Are you always this bed reliant?” Sunburst asked, having finally managing to track down some oats in the pantry, at the back of the last cupboard he looked in.

“Only on days I don’t have to work… and days when I have cute stallions cuddling up next to me.” He added earning a blush from Sunburst as the orange stallion began scrounging through the fridge for milk. 

“Now, the secret is to add the maple syrup when the porridge is cooking to avoid getting sweet bits and bland bits, it gives the whole thing sweetness except for just lumps.” Sunburst started to talk in an overly dramatic ‘cooking show host’ voice as he began to throw together porridge. Ristretto came over and started brewing coffee for both of them as the other cut up a banana to join the cooking porridge.

“And what about the brown sugar sprinkled over the top? You can’t possibly forget that now can you!” Ristretto added giggling as he sat down placing the two cups of coffee on opposite ends of the table.

Sunburst quickly finished off cooking the dishes and gracefully placed the two bowls of food onto the table using his magic. The two wasted no time in digging into their porridge and coffee making short work of it. 

The two of them made short work of the dishes, over more conversation about cooking and the previous evening. After the dishes were done, Sunburst and Ristretto packed up the mattress and tidied the living area.

“Alright, I gotta go pick up Hazell now, he’ll probably be sick to the death of Moonbeam by now.” The two chuckled together as they made their way to the front yard and began to say their goodbyes.

"I had an amazing time Ristretto... you know a few weeks ago I would never have even thought of doing something like this... but, you've shown me that taking that chance was probably the best thing I could have done... so, thank you," Sunburst blushed and looked down, then after a moment he looked up, blush still clearly visible, "We should do this again sometime." Sunburst looked away and his face somehow became even more red.

“I’d love to, Hazel is usually off to somepony’s place every weekend or so, the social butterfly,” Ristretto replied. The two gave their goodbyes and went separate directions, Ristretto to pick up Hazel and Sunburst to home. 





“Starlight! I’m home! I hope you have a death wish cause I’m about to grant it!” Sunburst called out to the meddling mare as he walked through the front door. Just as he took a step through the door he was immediately grasped by a magical blue aura that he was all too familiar with at this point.

“Unno Starlight… I really hate you” The orange stallion grumbled hanging upside down in his friend’s aura. Starlight came out from behind the couch, a casual smile rested on her face like she wasn’t dangling her best friend upside down.

“Now, before you go all psycho and tell me how you hate me for trapping you in Ristretto’s house, tell me, Sunburst, did you start out wanting to sleep over at Ristreto's, but then dismissed the idea?" She asked the struggling stallion face-to-upsidedown face. He continued struggling for a moment, then stopped and stared off into the distance.

"Yes..." he said meekly

"Sorry, what was that?"

"Yes. I wanted to stay over at his place."

Starlight smirked, "I thought so, and did you hate being in the same bed as a nice warm stallion snuggled up all cute through the cold, last night of winter?" Starlight continued to push.

And angry glare began to trace over the stallions features as his patience was quickly wearing he turned away from Starlight, wanting to do anything but play this game, "No," he replied flatly.

“And would have you slept in that really cute stallion’s bed on the first date, had it not been for me?”

... 

“No.” 

“Thanks Starlight” She teased flipping her friend the right way up and placing his hooves on the floor.

“Don’t push your luck," before offering her a hug that quickly turned into him giving her a noogie, “Now, we better go out and start winter wrap-up, besides, I hear that a really cute barista is making one bit coffees for volunteers,” Sunburst smirked. 

“Man, you are really coming out of that shell of yours. I am liking it!” Starlight exclaimed as she shut the door behind her. 





“Hey Ristretto! I was meaning to tell you something!” Vanilla Latte called out. Ristretto had dropped Hazel home and gone straight to work to help out with Winter Wrap-Up. Like every year he was behind the coffee machine making the coffee. Vanilla was helping out on the weather team while Chai was behind the counter of the shop. Vanilla had just received her coffee when galloped back to tell Ristretto her news.

“You’ll probably wanna make it quick Vanilla, it isn’t exactly slow today.” Ristretto replied shoving a coffee cup under the machine as the next one was being freshly poured. 

“Uhh sure,” she stammered before continuing. “So as you know I am on the committee that gives kids in difficult situations scholarships to help study in prestigious schools.” 

Ristretto gave her an eyebrow obviously curious as to where this was going as he started to texture the smooth milk.

“Well, you see, we just got an enormous grant to send two colts with a gift in writing to a prestigious writers school in Canterlot, and.. Well, if you give me some of Hazel’s best work, I can try to put in a good word for him.” 

Ristretto’s heart beat a thousand times a minute and at the last part, he dropped the milk jug sending milk and steam all through the back end. Ristretto cursed and quickly cleaned up the mess before dashing around the counter and throwing Vanilla into a tight hug. 

“Vanilla I can’t believe you, thank you so much!” He exclaimed tears rushing down his cheeks. Vanilla gave him a pat on the back.

“Hey it’s alright you lug, he hasn’t won it yet, but I’ll do my best to get his name in the good books.” She continued letting the small barista cry on her shoulder. “Now your orders are stacking up and ponies are waiting... and don't forget to bring me some of Hazel's work..”


Ristretto sniffled a little and quickly got behind the counter to finish the drinks. Going at extra pace to quickly get the waiting orders piling up out the way he called out to Vanilla just before she left. “Thanks Vanilla, consider it done.”





Half an hour later and Sunburst had walked through the doors, Ristretto was already getting Sunburst’s large takeaway dirty chai ready as he stepped up to counter, a bit 

ready in his aura. “What a surprise seeing you here.” he commented jokingly to the barista behind the machine. 

“Yes, fancy seeing a barista in a coffee shop.” Ristretto nicked cheekily not looking up but smiling at the exchange. He placed a lid on the coffee and placed it on the bench. “I just keep running into you don’t I.” He teased. 

“Hey uhh, look. I really enjoyed my time last night, I wanna do it again, when do you think you’ll be free next?” Sunburst asked taking a sip from his coffee.

Ristretto put his hoof to his chin and thought for a second. “Well I don’t usually tend to let him sleep over at places during the school week, but I guess I could hire a babysitter on wednesday. Yeah, so wednesday I guess.” The barista concluded.

“Till then,” Sunburst raised his coffee cup.

“Seeya Sunburst.” Ristretto smiled

> A first for everything
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It had been a month since their first date, and every week they spent more and more time together. Nothing huge had happened throughout. The relationship hadn’t gone far at all. According to the laws of dating, the two weren’t even technically official. However, there was one particular subject that both stallions wanted to address but were both far too embarrassed to talk about. 

Many ponies have different ways of dealing with cold hooves and awkward conversations to happen. However, Sunburst's methods for dealing with such a sensitive matter wasn’t quite the most conventional method. 

“I know what you want… in fact, I want what you want… We both want it, so how do I tell Ristretto that I know what we want and that he wants what we both want as well? Do I even know that Ristretto wants what I want? What if his wants want nothing to do with my wants?” Sunburst sighed. He was sitting in the shower, staring at a particular section of his body that didn’t come out often. Yet there it lay, pestering the perplexed pony with imagery of the barista he had been dating in more than lude circumstances. Was it normal to talk to such appendages? At this point Sunburst didn’t have many ponies he could go to with such a problem, so he resorted to what he considered the next best thing.

Letting the warm water hit his fur he had been sitting like that having a fairly one-sided conversation with his body for way too long to be considered a sane circumstance. For whatever the reason Sunburst found logical thought and reasoning best came to him in the shower, some of his best ideas had come from the blast of steamy liquid. However, this had most certainly been a first for him. 

“I… I’m going, to be perfectly honest, I have no idea how to do this… being an introvert does that I… guess? I am going to have to go to someone about this, hmm, Starlight? Mail takes too long.” Sunburst took a long sigh until it struck him. “I know!” He triumphantly exclaimed to his non-responsive appendage.

“I will talk to the most qualified pony in all of Equestria! She has a foal, so she has to know about this stuff, she is my employer! I am going to get advice from the princess of love… Princess Cadence! Uhh… Umm… good… talk?” He awkwardly finished. Hopping out of the shower Sunburst dried off and placed his signature cloak on. 

After spending less than an appropriate time getting ready, he started on his way to where he would usually be working for a very ulterior motive. The whole time he tried to think desperately how in Equestria he was going to ask his friend/employer how to talk about his sex life… Or lack thereof.

…

“Sunburst! Come on in. I haven’t had a surprise visit from you, since you and that Ristretto stallion all cute, to what do I owe the company?” Cadence smiled as her close friend made his nervous entry. Sunburst’s cheeks had in fact gone a shade of crimson knowing the fact that he was well and truly going to discuss very sensitive matters with a princess. 

“Sunburst? Is everything alright? You look like you just got dunked into a tank filled with strawberry jam, what’s the matter.” Cadence asked using her magic to pull up a chair near her desk. The office was somewhat large, mostly filled with pictures of either Cadence and Shining, or with the addition of Flurry Heart. Her chairs were soft and luxurious, the room brightly light, truly fitting for the very princess of love. 

“Well… it’s a little sensitive. It’s actually about Ristretto and me.” He admitted, sinking deeply into the chair, to the point where he was more chair than pony. 

Cadence gasped at the prospect of a potential issue. “What could it be! You don’t know how to ask him out. Or it could be he is a snorer. OR! It could be that he is leaving the Crystal Empire forever and you are doomed to separate!” Cadence cried out getting more and more dramatic every time a thought popped into her head. 

“Cadence! Cadence! It’s not anything like that… well, it’s. Kinda awkward, umm, is that door locked?” Sunburst asked looking behind him.

Cadence’s head rested on her hooves on the table as she locked the door with her magic not taking her eyes off her troubled friend. “Spill the beans.” She urged.
“Well, it’s about… well... “ He took a breath and sorted his thoughts. “Ristretto and I haven’t gotten… well active, in that way.” He said awkwardly clopping his hooves together idly like a colt trying to admit his secret crush. “And I want to, but I don’t know how to talk to him about it,” Sunburst admitted.

Cadence deadpanned. “Dude… just get to the point.” She replied flatly, being about as blunt as a wrecking ball hitting a building made of lego blocks. “Just... okay, don’t do exactly what you did there. Don’t beat around the bush. It’s the only way you are going to be able to have a civil conversation with him.” Cadence elaborated.

“Ohhhkay?” Sunburst replied. “Can you give me an example?” Sunburst asked.’

“Okay, so let’s do a scenario, you’ll be Ristretto, and I’m you.” Cadence smiled.’

“Okay, I am Ristretto. Got it.” 

Cadence started the scenario, “So Ristretto, we have been going out for a while now, maybe we should talk about the more sexual aspects of our relationship. I do have a close connection to you, and I feel like we can talk about this stuff.” 

“Uhhh okay?” Sunburst replied nervously, clearly not knowing what to say. 

Cadence quickly got the all important question after the shaky response. “Well, let’s be to the point here, Ristretto.” At this moment Shining unlocked his wife’s door in a frantic matter. Flurry Heart was crying about her broken toy, and he needed the name of the toy shop they had gotten the toy from. “Would you like to have a sexual relationship with me?”

Shining’s jaw hit the floor with such vigour it threatened to go through it. “Am I interrupting something here!” Shining shrieked, his voice breaking on near every vowel he spoke.

“Shining dear, I was just telling our friend Sunburst how to talk to his coltfriend Ristretto. What’s the matter?” She asked giving him eyes saying she would explain in more depth later. 

Taking a couple of seconds to recover from the initial shock, Shining finally regained the ability to remember why he had barged in. “Well… Ummm, okay, well Flurry broke her toy.” Shining showed his wife the toy, or rather the two halves of what previously was a toy in his aura before putting it away. “Do you know where we got this? I need to get her a new one before she cries the kingdom to the train stop.” Shining finished. 

“We got that at the market remember? From that crazy mare who insists she makes all the toys herself but when you look at the tag it says ‘made in Manehattan’. She sells them all the time. You could probably still catch her if you’re quick.” Cadence once again using her eyes to say ‘we can talk later but I am busy’. 

“Right. Thanks bye!” Shining quickly finished before hurrying to the markets to stop the torrent of tears streaming from his daughter. Slamming the door Cadence quickly locked the door and resumed as if nothing happened. 

“Look, Sunburst, just be straight to the point, don’t make it awkward or beat around the bush, tell it like it is. If you’re comfortable, he will be. But remember Sunburst…” She paused. 

“...Yeah?” Sunburst replied after a sufficiently awkward amount of time had passed.

“Use protection, plenty of lube. No teeth or sharp objects. Remember to wash out extraaaaaaaaaa carefully and oh do not eat any gassy foods. Finally, remember to give him the ride of his life!” Cadence winked. 

If sunburst looked like he had been dipped in strawberry jam before, it looked like he had been marinated in it this time. “OkaythanksCadencegottagobye!” Sunburst shrieked exiting the office quicker than Cadence could say orgasm.

...

Ristretto and Sunburst were on the couch eating dinner together. Ristretto’s hooves dangling and his body resting against Sunburst’s.

“I gotta say Retto. You’re curry is a culinary masterpiece.” Sunburst smiled taking another forkful off the deliciously hot curry. Hazel and his friend sleeping over had taken the first bowls. Later Ristretto added a lot more heat to it and served the couple’s own. 

Ristretto giggled a little and finished his mouthful, “The secret is knowing which ingredients to let age overnight so that you can develop all the flavours.”

Sunburst smiled and finished his mouthful. “An old family secret?” 

“I found it out of a magazine at the doctor's office.” Ristretto chuckled. 
Sunburst suddenly started choking on something. Ristretto ran around the table and started slapping his date on the back to try to remove the offending object, Sunburst's eyes were watering by the time the thick chunk of “food” was removed from his oesophagus. Ristretto picked up the little object and resisted the urge to laugh.

“Sunburst… you’re not supposed to eat star anise. It is for flavouring.”

“Seriously? Why was it in the curry then!” Sunburst retorted.

“For the flavour! You just leave them in the bowl.” 

“Okay, good to know that you put choking hazards in your foods. Next time you come over, I’ll whack an army man in your soup for ‘texture’”. 

Ristretto giggled and rolled his eyes. “Gunpowder flavoured... yum.” Ristretto replied earning a chuckle from Sunburst.

Silence ensued. It was a comfortable one, only broken by the sounds of cutlery clanking on bowls. 

“Hey, Ristretto?” Sunburst broke the silence. 

“Yeah?”

“I’m going to be blunt here. When would you feel comfortable being… sexually active with me?” Sunburst asked. 

Ristretto thought about this, letting his fork sink into the curry. “Can I answer that question with a question Sunburst?”

“Yeah?”

“Sunburst, will you be my… my coltfriend? Make it official?” Ristretto blushed looking away from Sunburst. 

Silence… This one was a tad more heavy. Finally, Sunburst broke it again. “I thought we already were, to be honest.” Sunburst smiled.

Ristretto put his bowl of curry down and took Sunburst hoof. He lead Sunburst up to his room and shut the door. As soon as the two stallions were in the room together, Ristretto kissed the stallion square on the lips. Opening his mouth slightly, Ristretto allowed Sunburst to kiss deeply, their tounges meeting and dancing in the middle. Eventually, an eternity passed, and Sunburst broke away.  

“Hehe, you taste like curry.” Sunburst smiled wrapping his hooves around Ristretto and falling onto the bed with the smaller stallion in his arms.

Ristretto looked into his eyes. “It’s better than gunpowder flavour.” He giggled. 

The two stallions began their wild, adventurous night together. It was almost perfect. It would have been totally perfect… had Hazell Quill not arrived home early from his sleepover. 
> Realisations
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“What the hell Retto! I wanna puke, then puke again!” Hazel finally broke the silence since both brothers woke up. Ristretto gave Hazel his breakfast and this had been the first time they spoke since the awkward interruption the previous night. Sunburst could hear them from Ristretto’s bedroom, but didn’t dare come down to join until Hazel had left. 

“Let’s not talk about… that, what happened happened and that’s that,” Ristretto quickly tried to close the subject.

“You were so loud!” 

“LALALALALALALALA!” Ristretto yelled, covering his ears. 

The air was tense again. Hazel once again decided to try to defuse the situation, “Okay okay I am done, just one question.” 

Ristretto sighed and looked up from his breakfast to his brother, “Go on then.” 

“What the hay is a power bottom?” Hazel asked.

Ristretto dropped his fork on his plate, sucked in air through his teeth, stood up and started ushering Hazel out the room. “Right, time to go to school!”

“Retto! It’s eight in the morning! I don’t have to leave for half an hour.” 

Ristretto ushered him to the door, grabbed his bag and put it on the colt. “Doesn’t matter, go play with your friends, walk slow, go by the cafe or something, here’s ten bits.” Ristretto dove into his bag, pulled out ten bits and put it in Ristretto’s bag. “Go buy something nice, don’t repeat that phrase to your friends!” Ristretto nudged Hazel out the door and shut the door. 

Hazel blinked. Blinked again and looked back at the door. He then looked into his bag, “Cool, ten bits.”

A sigh of relief filled the air as Hazel left. He slid his back down the door until he was sitting on the floor, his back against the door. It was the slam that convinced Sunburst that Hazel was out of the house. Walking down the stairs he gave Ristretto a smile. Ristretto looked back annoyed. 

“And where were you in my time of need?” Ristretto glared at him. 

“Ignoring your time of need in order to not die of embarrassment from your brother walking in on us last night,” Sunburst smirked, sitting next Ristretto at the door. He wrapped his hoof around his coltfriend who in turn rested his head on Sunburst’s shoulder. “Unno… there are six seats in the kitchen, a bed, two couches and an armchair you have to sit on in this whole house, and you plan to have your sigh of relief on the floor.”

“I’ve been waiting to say this. Morning, My Sun,” Ristretto changed the topic. 

Sunburst smiled and gave him a kiss. “I couldn’t think of a better title.” 

Ristretto smiled back and got up. “Alright, I have some breakfast for you. Oh, and I still have some time before I start my afternoon shift. You don’t reckon we could, pick up where Hazel interrupted us last night?” Ristretto asked.

“Your wish is my command,” Sunburst giggled. 

…

Ristretto walked through the familiar doors of the coffee shop with Sunburst by his side. Quickly signing in, Ristretto made Sunburst his regular before bidding him goodbye. Ristretto leaned on the coffee machine with a sigh as Sunburst left.

“I guess that is code for Sunburst and I are doing good,” Vanilla chuckled.

“We decided to go steady last night,” Ristretto said with a smile, turning to Vanilla. “And how are you, Vanilla?” he asked.

“Good, look, I am super happy for you and Sunburst, that is really cool! You deserve something like that. But I am gonna have to tell you something Ristretto and, well, I think you are going to need sit down.” Vanilla lead Ristretto into the back kitchen where the sweets were made for the displays. Ristretto took a seat and Vanilla checked to make sure there were no customers.

“It’s about Hazel… you remember that incentive that he applied for that would win him entry into the most prestigious Canterlot writers’ college? Well… see the thing is Ristretto…” her downtrodden gaze quickly turned into an elated grin, “he got in!”

Ristretto slowly got up and held onto Vanilla’s hooves. “No,” he stammered, “,-n-no way! I- I can’t believe it. Tell m-me you’re not kidding, please V-vanilla… be honest” he stammered, barely able to stand. 

“Ristretto I’m not kidding! He got in! What’s more the boss was talking about needing a manager in the coffee shop he’s opening in Canterlot!” Vanilla got more excited. Ristretto was simply ready to collapse.

Tears stung his eyes as his hooves started shaking, he could hardly maintain his composure. Ristretto outstretched out his hooves and Vanilla gave him an enormous hug, “This is the best day of my life Vanilla. Thank you. Thank you so much for everything, I’ll never forget you.” The two embraced tightly. “We’ve been through so much. To see Hazel get something like this…” 

“He deserved it, Ristretto, he did, and you did as well. Now come on, we have a shift to finish, then a two weeks notice to fill out,” Vanilla smiled, helping the barista to his hooves and offering a napkin from the storage cupboard. 

“I’ll visit you Vanilla, you-” Ristretto blew into the tissue with a mighty SNORT “- can’t get rid of me that easily.” 

“I know,” she smiled. “Alright, here comes a customer, let’s do this.” 

…

“What hurts the most?” Ristretto asked a bed-ridden Hazel Quill fresh from the school’s sick bay. He had left work early to pick up Hazel and take him home.

“My belly! It hurts. So. Much!” He cried squirming in bed making it exceedingly difficult for Ristretto to take his temperature and hold a gently hoof over His stomach.

“Your belly? I’m going to get a bucket and the thermometer, i’ll be right back.” Ristretto got up off the bed.

Hazel groaned again as Ristretto left the room. One bucket later and he was sitting on the bed once again.

“Hey Hazel, what did you do with those ten bits I gave you this morning?” Ristretto asked once Hazel had stopped dry heaving into the bucket, 

“I bought a doughnut on the way to class this morning, the rest of the bits is in my bag,” he groaned. 

“Jeez Hazel, I think you have full-blown food poisoning. I guess you won’t be chowing down on street doughnuts anytime soon,” Ristretto replied as Hazel groaned again at the mention of food.

“Okay, okay, you’re gonna have to stop squirming so I can take your temperature.” Ristretto said kindly, but firmly. Hazel eventually managed to calm down enough to allow Ristretto to stick the thermometer between his leg and belly.

Hazel groaned again noisily. “I hate the thermometer,” he grumbled.

“Do you know where Mum shoved the thermometer when I was your age? Me sticking it in your underline is bad, I bet you’d love the backside treatment,” Ristretto pulled the thermometer out and read it. “Yikes. Alright that is definitely food poisoning you are gonna be feeling pretty terrible for a couple of days.”

Another loud groan from Hazel as Ristretto gave him the news.  

“Alright, you need sleep, keep that bucket nearby, I’ll just be downstairs if you need something.” Ristretto got up and stood at the doorway. “Oh, and tell me when you’re awake.” He smiled. 

“Ristretto?” Hazel croaked. 

“Yeah Hazel?”

“I’m awake.” 

“It helps if you keep your eyes closed,” Ristretto chuckled as he shut the door. 

…

‘SPLURDGE’ 

Another tidal wave of sick emptied Hazel’s stomach and into the bucket. Ristretto could do little but rub his back and hope upon hope that every drop landed in the bucket.

“That damned school. They didn’t even let you leave until you threw up in the toilets.” Ristretto filled a glass with some chilled water from the pitcher. 

Hazel was sitting in bed, having just told Ristretto about the fact that the school were reluctant to let him go home. “It’s okay Retto, I don’t mind that much,” he mumbled, hanging his head over the bucket. It was an hour lost deep in the middle of the night. Hazel had just woken from his ‘nap’ to a stomach once again performing cartwheels.

“No it’s not, but you know what? It doesn’t matter anymore I’ve got something really big to tell you Hazel, you’ve been through so much, so many changes in your life. There is going to be one more change, but it’s a good one, I promise and even if it is a big change, we will always be together, no matter what.” Ristretto stroked Hazel’s mane and smiled at the confused look on the restless colt. 

“Hazel, do you remember when you gave me that short story you worked really hard on? And I gave it Vanilla?” 

Hazel nodded slowly unsure of where this was going. 

“Well, that got taken to a board of very important ponies, and they liked it. In fact, they loved it. Hazel they want to send us to Canterlot so you can go to a very special writers’ school for gifted colts like yourself. Hazel we are going to move to Canterlot! I am going to be a manager at a cafe, we’re going to love it there. You’re gonna go to a fancy school, get a proper writer’s education!”

“We are moving?” Hazel asked.

Ristretto looked around, a smile of disbelief spread across his face. He quickly huffed and began to speak, “Well.. huh yeah? I mean. Hazel! We are moving! Canterlot, a better place. You will love it, we will love it.”

“But Retto… what, what are you gonna do about Sunburst?” Ristretto’s eyes had never shrunk so quick in his life.

…



Sunburst,

What a stupid way to start this thing huh? I honestly don’t know how to start this letter. It is something I never thought I would have to write. Something that just doesn’t make sense to write. It is the things we love most that can be the hardest to write about. 

Firstly, I just want to say that I love you, and nothing will change that. You are the most amazing pony I have laid eyes on and to give me a chance, you are something special. You have made the last months be some of the best in my entire life, for me, a pony who has travelled to the far reaches of Equestria, nothing beat looking into your eyes. It kind of makes what I am about to say next the hardest thing of my life. 

Hazel got a scholarship, not just any scholarship. It is a scholarship to attend the most prestigious literature school in Canterlot. He will be surrounded by famous authors and be learning to write some of the best content Equestria has ever seen. Everything I wanted for him, but see, it means that I am going to have to be in Canterlot for him. So plain and simple. Goodbye.

I thought this over and well, I can’t think around it. I am not going to put you through long distance, and most certainly don’t you to follow me, you have friends, a career, a life. I am not going to take that away from you. I love you Sunburst, and keeping you away from me is the best way I can do that. 

I hope you can understand why I have done this, don’t worry about me, I will still get benefits for caring over Hazel and I have even been offered a management position at a cafe in Canterlot. I am moving forward, I only hope to come close to meeting somepony like you. 

Goodbye Sunburst, my Coltfriend.

-Ristretto 



Sunburst dropped the tear stained piece of parchment and flung open his door praying that the pony responsible for slipping the note through his letter hatch  was still in sight. His voice caught in his throat as a dry choked cry came out.

“Ristretto?” 

The quiet empty streets of the night never called back.
> Coffee to go
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Stamp! Slap! Pssshhhh… Stamp! Slap! Pssshhhh… Stamp! Slap! Pssshhhh…
 
Sigh
 
Stamp! Slap! Pssshhhh… Stamp! Slap! Pssshhhh...
 
Knock knock knock!
 
“Hello, come in!” called Cadence from her office desk, throwing the papers she was stamping into the desk with joyous gusto. “Please… come in. I’m dying here…” she added quietly, burying her face in her hooves. The second she spotted the orange and white foreleg step through the door she knew exactly who was arriving.
 
“Sunburst! Good morning. How is our favourite Crystaller?” she exclaimed as he trudged through the door. 
 
“Heya Cadence, uhh, yeah… good…” he trailed off, clearly not reflecting his half hearted statement. 
 
“Regardless of your wellness, we’re going to talk because I am ready to use my forehead as the official stamp if I have to do any more of this evil, grease infested, city-orientation and development paperwork.”
 
“What does that even mean?” Sunburst asked, slightly thrown off course.
 
“I don’t even know! Honestly, I just read it and stamp it if it goes through the legal pipeline. Oh, I need a coffee.”
 
“Sleeping problems?” Sunburst asked.
 
“Well, it seems as if our darling Flurry Heart is a high achiever,” she said in a very as-a-matter-of-fact tone. “It seems as if she has started her terrible two’s at one-and-a-half…” Cadence sighed. “Shining has the morning shift with her in his office, you don’t suppose you could maybe kinda sorta start her one hour session an hour early? So I can get this stupid paperwork done? And then… sorta kinda make that one hour session turn into a two?” She grinned weakly.
 
“So… like every Monday morning,” Sunburst sighed back.
 
“Well, it sounds like someone has received as much sleep as I have… that being twenty minutes and twenty one coffees. Speaking of which you are going to have to invite that coltfriend of yours over to the castle to teach the castle barista how to do a latte properly,” Cadence grinned.
 
Yet at the mention of Ristretto, Sunburst slumped harder, his eyes getting slightly puffy, it didn’t take long for the Princess of Love to see a stallion in distress.
 
“Sunburst? Oh gosh, it’s about him, isn’t it, whatever it is, I know that look from a mile away,” She used her magic to quickly scrape a chair over to the front of the desk. “Sunburst, I want you to tell me everything alright?” 
 
He quickly shook his head. “No, no, honestly,” he sniffled, “it’s fine, I’ll, I’ll be fine,” he looked up from his staring contest from the floor, “it’s nothing, it’s stupid.” He looked away to hide the tear drop sliding down his face. Quickly using her magic, Cadence gently tilted his head back towards her seeing the fresh trail of a tear.
 
“Sunburst, listen to me, whatever is happening to you, it clearly isn’t stupid and it most certainly isn’t nothing. Yet sadly, while I sit in this chair, I am your employer and Equestrian employment law grants you the right to your privacy,” she got up and walked around the desk to give him a warm hug, letting him bury his face in her chest, “but as a friend, I deserve to know, regardless of how stupid it is.”
 
Taking in a deep breath, Sunburst whimpered a bit before beginning to talk, “His little brother got a scholarship for a p-prestigious school in Canterlot and-” a sob lurched forward in his chest choking his words, “I..I’m sorry.” Taking a deep breath he carried on, “Ristretto got a promotion there too and… I-I should be happy for him, but…” 
 
“He has to leave you, doesn’t he?” Cadence winced.
 
His head firmly tucked into Cadence’s chest, he tried to speak without having any tears escape his shut eyes. 
 
“I...I...I didn’t want it to end like this…” he whispered. 
 
“What’s stopping you?” Cadence whispered back.
 
Sunburst looked up at the princess, his head tilt in confusion at her question. “I...I don’t understand?”
 
“Sit down Sunburst, I want to tell you a story.” Cadence broke her hug with a small squeeze and returned to her side of the desk. 
 
“Sunburst… look, while the situation looks unique, to say the least, would it surprise you to hear that the exact same thing happened to me?”
 
Sunburst thought about this for a moment, still not catching on. “Well, yeah, it would actually. Have you really?”
 
“Well yes, Sunburst. I didn’t always live here in the Crystal Empire. When I was Celestia’s student I fell in love with the most amazing, sweetest colt I had ever met, Shining. We were in love and before we knew it… well, after a rocky start, with the help of Twilight, we got married.” Cadence smiled. “But not long after, the Crystal Empire returned, plagued by King returned also we were immediately assigned to protecting the kingdom… and well, you can guess what happened after that.”
 
Sunburst nodded. Cadence’s stare gained emptiness, her smile fading as she looked back to Sunburst. 
 
“While we may have defeated King Sombra, the empire needed a ruler. As you can imagine Princess Celestia came to us first, while our coronation was celebrated as us throwing ourselves at the throne and accepting such an honourable title, the truth… the truth is that Shining and I initially declined the offer.” 
 
“What? B-b-but why? Ruling over a nation,” Sunburst asked, stunned at the revelation. 
 
“A kingdom far away from our friends, from Shining’s guard and away from my mentor. A kingdom far away from our families, the ones we always hoped we would live amongst. We always had this fantasy of raising our future foal around our parents and other family. Not to mention the fact that Shining’s sister lives in a town even further away than Canterlot. He loves Twilight to death and, at the time, it just seemed unthinkable to move such a distance away.
 
“But the main reason we moved away, I was a princess of Canterlot; if my duties were not going to be carried out in the Crystal Empire, I would have to relocate to the palace. Not to mention that Shining, as a captain of the guard, might have long periods where he would be away. It was very hard to choose. I had to move away from friends and family and the city, but here, Shining and I get to love each other, and no duties remove me from always being there for him. But the main reason we moved away… I was a princess of Canterlot; my duties were final. So, we moved here, where we could be together.” Cadence smiled and looked out the window. 
 
“It seems to me you have a decision to make. I’m not going to be able to give you an an answer, this is one you need to make, but just know that I think I might be able to find a researcher in the field of historical magical culture and artifacts in the Canterlot research centre, if the occasion calls for it.” 
 
“But… s-seriously? But what about Flurry Heart?” Sunburst’s jaw lay agape at the offer.
 
“My dear Flurry will be in perfectly capable hooves. Although not as skilled as yours, we will find her somepony who will teach her and help her magic grow.” Cadence smiled a little bit, looking up at the door. “Speaking of it should be my turn with her in an hour or so. She may drive me absolutely up the wall, but I love her to death.” 
 
“Well.. it seems as if I have a lot of thinking to do. Thank you once again princess, this means so much to me, all of this.” Sunburst smiled back. “You want me in by twelve for Flurry’s session?” 
 
“Twelve thirty?” Cadence guiltily smiled, looking down at the empty cot next to the desk. “I think her and I might need a bit of quality time together.” 
 
“Excellent, I’ll see you then, Princess!” Sunburst replied, beginning to leave the office.
 
“Okay. Oh, and Sunburst, I wanted to say something.” Sunburst turned around, taking his hoof off the doorknob. “I just wanted to tell you that if you do decide to move to Canterlot, just know I will literally teleport you into my office if you don’t visit me… that and I hope you become a dad one day.” 
 
Sunburst tilted his head in confusion. “Why? I’m not much of the fatherly type,” Sunburst replied adamantly.
 
“Sunburst, seriously? You are amazing around Flurry, and take it from the princess of freaking love Sunburst, take it from the mother of the child you foalsit and teach. I can feel the love you have for kids, for Ristretto too. Stallion or no, you have an instinct some mothers would envy.” 
 
Sunburst stood there for a moment, thinking about this. “I, I actually have a bit of a personal question to ask… may I?”
 
“Of course, Sunburst! Nothing is ever too personal around me.” Cadence smiled.
 
“How did you even ask Shining to have a foal with him? It seems like such a crazy question to put into words,” Sunburst asked.
 
“Like any other wife really; we were in bed, cuddling and it just sort of came out. I just,” at this moment Shining burst into the room in a frantic state, the sound of a filly bawling her eyes out from in the hall, “said, ‘I love you so much, do you think it’s time we had a foal?’.”
 
The second after what she had said, fire filled Cadence’s eyes. “CAN’T YOU SEE I AM BUSY, SHINING!” she shouted, sending Shining reeling backwards. 
 
“You can have Flurry now!” Shining quickly replied pulling the pram into the room with a smile wider than the cheshire cat.
 
“I’m just gonna make my way out.” Sunburst smiled and rushed out the room. 
 
Cadence looked relieved as she levitated Flurry into her calming hooves. “Thank Celestia, Shining, I swear we need attached offices, I nearly got detachment sickness.”
 
Shining looked around nervously, before closing the door slowly. “Listen, honey, can we talk about those conversations you are having with Sunburst?” 
 
…
 
Gentle hoofsteps tapped lightly on the wet cobblestones of a rainy Canterlot evening. The methodic, even steps only just audible over the light pitter-patter of a late night shower. Owning such steps was the only pony in the quiet street. Ristretto walked slowly through upper-class district of Canterlot on his way to his small house near the city’s outer edge, barely a short walk from one of the most beautiful views this side of Equestria. 
 
It didn’t take long for Ristretto to make it to his house, the sunken stallion’s lip quivered slightly as he reached the front porch. The lights were on inside waiting for his return even though Hazel had long since gone to bed, after his day getting settled in. 
 
Ristretto walked on, trotting through the small puddles through the cracks in the soaked road. Everything about Canterlot was vibrant, even the rainy days. He kept walking until the end of the road was in sight. With the end of the road came the edge of Canterlot, the lights of Ponyville lay below across a dark, barely visible landscape. Giving a long sigh Ristretto put his hooves over the railing, paying little attention to his saturated coat. Looking outwards he saw the lights of the train heading away from Canterlot towards Ponyville, after that it would go east to Fillydelphia, the last run of the night. 
 
Looking past Ponyville, there was a vast, empty countryside, dotted with forests, and black rivers, but mostly fields, oceans really, extending to the horizon and beyond. On the other side of the mountain, far over the horizon, he knew the Crystal Empire was at sleep, including a certain orange unicorn., Sighing again, he looked on, holding back the tear that were starting to well up in his eyes.
 
“Why is this so much harder than I thought?” he asked himself as he rested his head on the railing and looking down in defeat. A shiver ran up his back as the wet cold finally found it’s way through his coat. Suddenly the rain started to fall a bit harder, Ristretto could certainly feel it at this stage. 
 
“Hey, you there,” Ristretto heard a voice coming from nearby, looking around he noticed a small bistro bar on the corner of the street’s end. Within the limits of the small venue’s patio was a burly shop keeper looking right at him. Ristretto looked around, pointing his hoof to himself, confused. “Yeah! You! Didn’t you get the forecast? It’s gonna start hailing soon! You should get under shelter quick!” the shopkeeper shouted.
 
Coming to his senses, Ristretto looked up and noticed the rain getting very heavy. Rushing forward he made his way under the patio, earning a much closer view of the shopkeep. The stallion was stocky, making his white shop uniform almost comically tight around his build. Looking into his shop it was a very clean, neat bistro, yet nearly all of the confectionaries, hot and cold, were doughnuts. 
 
“The name’s Doughnut Joe, but most just call me Joe.” Joe looked out and back at his cafe. “It’s getting mighty harsh out there, you might want to stay here until that weather there dies down.” 
 
Looking out Ristretto had managed to get under just in time before the hail started to pour, shaking off his coat he began to shiver. 
 
“Cold? I got some towels in the back, come on in.” Joe walked into the shop, holding the door open for Ristretto.
 
Hesitating Ristretto looked back at Joe. “I have a colt at home, I-I really should head back”
 
“Not to put it bluntly or anything, but you wouldn’t do any good to your colt knocked out from a buckball-sized hailstone on your run back home,” Joe replied, opening the door a bit wider. Looking along the dark street Ristretto hesitated once again. Letting down his head in defeat, he made his way into the coffee shop.
 
“Thanks, Joe. My name’s Ristretto, by the way.” Ristretto gave a weak smile and made his way inside. Looking down Ristretto froze. His wet coat was quickly soaking the floor, sending him diving for the welcome mat. “Sorry! Oh gosh, do you have a towel or something?” 
 
Putting his hoof up Joe quickly silenced the panicking stallion. “It’s fine, you ain’t the first and won’t be the last pony to walk into this place wet. I’ll just go get some towels.” 
 
Standing awkwardly on the mat Ristretto realised how cold he actually was. As he took in the shop he stood, shivering. It was a pretty stock standard confectionary store and cafe. Polished black and white tiled floor, booths and seating arranged around the place and a clean front counter, littered with things ready for the purchase. It was quite a nice place, yet Ristretto was the only pony about, aside from Joe. 
 
“Here ya’ go.” Joe floated a towel to Ristretto, letting him dry himself off as he dried the floor using a rag. “Alright, now why don’t ya’ sit down at the front here and have a cup o’ somethin’ hot.” Joe grabbed the towels in his aura and sent them back to where he had come from. Heading around the counter he fired up the barista machine he had there. 
 
“Could I grab a long black and maybe one of those savoury doughnuts you have over there?” Ristretto gestured towards the doughnut warmer. 
 
Doughnut Joe raised an eyebrow. “Long black, huh, based on that and your cutie mark I’d say you’re a stallion of the coffee industry,” Joe replied, getting to work on the long black. “By the way those doughnuts over there are rosemary, garlic and thyme stuffed with mozzarella and some secret herbs and spices on the outside. A little creation of mine.” 
 
Putting his hooves out and slumping on the counter Ristretto looked on half heartedly. “Sounds perfect.” 
 
Joe plonked a fresh made long black on the table, Ristretto perked up a bit, looking down into the elegant dark liquid. Giving it a sniff and a sip, Ristretto looked on at the Joe now getting his doughnut. “You really know your stuff don’t you.” Ristretto looked back down at the coffee impressed. 
 
“I learnt from a barista travelling through Canterlot. Took one sip of my coffee and taught me how to do it the right way. Speaking of travelling, I can tell by that accent and the fact I haven’t seen you ‘round here before that you’re fresh to Canterlot yourself,” Joe replied, beginning to wipe some glassware behind the counter.
 
“You’re good, Joe. I’m from the Crystal Empire, I’ve just moved up here for a promotion.” Ristretto took a bite from the doughnut, looking down in surprise at the taste.  
 
“That’s good, if it’s a promotion. At least you know you’re doing what you do the best it can be done. So tell me, Ristretto, what compels a pony to walk around like a sad sack at one in the morning on a Sunday night, in the middle of a hailstorm?” Joe asked, returning to his glassware. 
 
“Just thinking, I guess, I mean, at first moving to Canterlot seemed like a dream come true, it should be; this place is amazing and so is my job, but… I left somepony behind and things got complicated, I guess.” Ristretto looked down and took another swig of his coffee. 
 
“Wow, that sounds… rough. If I am picking up what you’re putting down, correctly, it sounds real rough.” 
 
“It was fun, but it ended so quickly. I don’t think I will ever be able to completely forget that pony.” Ristretto finished off his coffee, much to the amazement of Joe. 
 
“Well, it may seem hard at first, but they’ll be plenty of mares around Canterlot that will go for a stallion in a uniform,” Joe added.
 
Ristretto nodded looking down at the half eaten doughnut. “His name was Sunburst.” 
 
Doughnut Joe raised an eyebrow for a second before understanding. “Ah, apologies for making presumptions, sadly I am not too experienced in the Canterlot community of stallions that take particular liking to stallions, I hope you find that special somepony though.” 
 
Ristretto looked up with a faint smile. “Thanks Joe, I thought I did, but I guess it just wasn’t meant to be, huh?”
 
“Well, if that stallion really did feel the same, you might be seeing him sooner than you probably think.” Joe finished the glassware and took away the cup and plate from Ristretto. 
 
“Unno, I really hope you are right on the inside.” Ristretto smiled to Joe, and plopped five bits on the table.
 
“Uhh, the meal was four.” Joe walked over to the counter and pushed a bit back at Ristretto.
 
“And the talk was one, thanks for listening.” Ristretto smiled and pushed the bit back into the pile. 
 
“I do appreciate it, mister Ristretto. I hope everything goes well for you, it looks to be clearing a bit out there. Just one thing though…” 
 
Ristretto looked back at Joe before heading out the shop. “Yeah?”
 
“I have a feeling it won’t be hard for you to find somepony, but just know that I have a feeling you will see this Sunburst character sooner than you think.” 
 
“Thanks Joe! Have a good night, you’ll be seeing me again in any case.”
 
“Seeya Ristretto.”
> Advice
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It took approximately two days, one look in the mirror, one slow walk around the block and one call into Princess Cadence’s office to send Sunburst on the train to Canterlot. 
 
‘It’s just to get my bearings, know what I am getting into… I’m not making a decision just yet, oh, if only… this is a lot harder than I thought.’
 
“Mister?” Sunburst jumped in his train seat, the droplets of dew on the window suddenly seemed less interesting as he looked down to see a small filly standing next to his booth with a little chocolate bar in her hooves.
 
“Uhhh hi, what… can I do for you?” Sunburst smiled, trying to de-awkward the situation he was finding himself in. 
 
“Well… Mommy and Daddy got concerned because you were staring out the window for hours on end looking sadder than a…” she paused for a moment thinking of the quote her parents had used, “Sadder than a sack of rotten apples.” Sunburst immediately looked around in embarrassment for the solace of a parent nearby. Little did he notice the couple behind him slowly sinking down in their seat. 
 
“They got worried, so I got you this chocolate bar to make you feel better.” She held out the chocolate bar. It was a cheap one from the confectionary stand nearby, but nonetheless an honourable gesture coming from such a small filly.
 
Sunburst immediately turned on his tutor attitude after managing to find his bearings. “Why, thank you! You are such a sweet filly, what is your name little one?” 
 
“Ruby Heart!” she exclaimed with gusto. 
 
Sunburst through on a fake gasp and a big smile. “Funny because I know a Flurry Heart and she is just about your age too! Just as nice and sweet too.” The little filly smiled, her cheeks growing rosy at the compliment. She popped the chocolate on the seat and began to step away from the booth. 
 
“Thanks mister, here is the chocolate.” Sunburst smiled, watching the filly go back to the seat behind him. Moving his head around to say goodbye to the filly in the booth behind him, he was greeted to the face of a mare looking right at him. 
 
“Gah!” both exclaimed, the mare falling back into her seat. 


“Sorry! Sorry! I didn’t mean to snoop, I was just so impressed at how you handled our filly. Someponies just have a knack for those things you know,and it looks like you have it.” The mare smiled holding out a hoof. “My name is Sapphire Heart and this is my husband Granite Heart.” 
 
Sunburst shook and smiled back. “Nice to meet you all, the name is Sunburst.” 
 
“Nice to meet you too! So what takes you to Canterlot, Sunburst?” Sapphire asked.
 
Sunburst’s smile broke for a moment as he remembered exactly why he was heading there. “Oh, uhh just to, unno, see somepony special,” he choked out the last word, trying to make it sound casual… as awkwardly possible. 
 
“Oh! Oh! I see, yeah. Oh excellent! Is it your first time?” She asked.
 
“It is, yes,” Sunburst replied, moving into a more conversation worthy position on the train.
 
“Well, if you are after something truly special, I suggest you go to the Canterlot gardens, it’s the perfect time of year for it.” She winked.
 
Taken a bit aback, Sunburst smiled and nodded. “Sounds like a fantastic idea! I hope you all have a fantastic time in Canterlot!” Sunburst waved and turned around before quickly flipping back around with the chocolate. “And thanks again for the chocolate Ruby Heart.” A more saddened, pensive look than ever reached across his face at the thought of the decision yet to come. 
 
Arriving at the station in the evening, Sunburst decided to quickly drop off his luggage at the hotel he was staying at.
 
It didn’t take Sunburst long to find himself walking along the chirpy streets of a Canterlot under twilight. The city was lively to say the least; ponies sitting in restaurants or out for a bit of late night shopping littered the streets, chattering away in the warm night. Streets filled with brightness and loud music from the restaurants and clubs all about the place. Out of any night to be out and about, tonight seemed to be that night. 
 
The noise and general population quickly sent Sunburst wandering towards the quieter, richer parts of Canterlot, and by extension, the Royal Castle. Restaurants were spread few and far between in this part of the city. Yet, among a small lane with a few shops sprinkled about, Sunburst begun to pick up on a strange noise. 
 
At first, he couldn’t quite make it out what it was, but the longer he listened, the more he realized what he was listening to. It was the ghostly strings of a violin. His curiosity piqued, Sunburst silently went to investigate where the music was coming from. It took about a minute or two, but down one of the more quiet, tucked away streets, he found under a low archway, a violinist that was sitting right underneath a streetlamp. 
 
Sunburst couldn’t tell who it was, because the pony had a wide brim hat that hid most of his face, and a cloak that draped over his form. He sat in front of an open, violin coffin case that, while it looked quite battered, had a modest amount of bits in already. The unicorn quietly approached, taking note of the musician's playing. The humming of the strings echoed off the walls of the arch, the haunting melody of trills and dramatic long notes. 
 
Taking out a bit from his cloak, Sunburst tossed the coin into the violin case and proceeded to walk away. However, the violinist looked up and immediately stopped playing.
 
“I might be wrong,” he said, “but I do believe that it’s considered a custom that one should bow to Royalty, Sunburst the Crystaller.” 
 
Sunburst’s snout turned ghostly white. “Awabababababawhat now?” he stammered, wanting nothing more than to run down the street and never return, yet, he had a slight inkling of who this might be. He slowly turned around to face the violinist. 
 
“To be fair,” the pony stood up, setting the violin gently in its case, “while I have seen you before, I do think that this is the first time we’ve really been properly introduced.” He went over and taking Sunburt’s hoof, he shook it as the hat glowed a golden, copper color. The wizard’s eyes went wide at who he saw. There before him was a face that he had seen a few times in the Crystal Empire. A… royal face. His mane was black except for the four individual streaks of gray. His coat was of amber color, Eyes that of copper. And when he lit his horn to temporarily lift his cloak to reveal not only his cutie mark of an “F” hole one would see on string instruments, but a pair of a wings! In a heartbeat, he knew who this pony was! “Hello, my name is Harmonic, and your’s?”
 
“Uhhhh Sun...thing… Sunburst! Sunburst! Your excellent liege… master… lordship…” Sunburst took a large gulp, the shock not doing much for his nerves. “Sorry, I’m a little out of… sorts.” He blushed and quickly bowed, looking away from the prince he was sure he had just insulted.
 
He heard a chuckle, “Ah, that never gets old.” The Prince smiled. “You can stand now. It’s fine, though I do say that it is rather surprising to see you here.” The unicorn did as he was told. He looked up at the violinist’s face in which he saw it contort into confusion. “Come to think of it… how come we haven’t heard that you were coming? Do you have someplace to sleep tonight?”
 
“Yes… your Prince, I mean my Prince!” Sighing and taking a moment to catch his breath Sunburst stood up and took a moment before trying again. “I do, but… with all due respects, how in Celestia did you know of me?” Sunburst asked.
 
Harmonic rolled his eyes, “Just because I had been adopted by Celestia a couple of years ago, doesn't mean that I was born yesterday. Cousin Cadance has written letters to us telling what’s going on in the Empire. So she has told us about you and your accomplishments since you started taking care of Flurry. Plus, I have been invited to visit the Empire a few times. And while I have seen you every now and then, I wasn’t able to get close enough to say hello.” He smiled, “Until now, of course.”
 
“Huh… w-well… what are you doing out here for?”
 
“You know how Celestia has her cake and Luna has her electronic games?” Sunburst nodded. “It’s the same with my violin. I’m out here to unwind, just to clear out my thoughts while I play. And before you ask, yes, there are Lunar Guards that are looking over me in the shadows so you don’t need to worry about security.”
 
“Oh… well, it was nice to meet you, Prince Harmonic.” Sunburst walked on like he hadn’t just cut off a conversation with royalty. Sunburst nearly got to the end of the street without realising that Harmonic was still looking at him. Replaying the conversation in his head Sunburst finally realised he had just completely cut off a conversation with the Prince. Rushing back with a blush the colour of tomato sauce filling his face. “Did you have anything else to say, sorry, I was a little distracted.”
 
“Well, you still haven’t answered my question,” the Violinist pointed out. Tilting his head, he added, “It’s just that I find funny that neither you nor Cadance had told us that you were coming to Canterlot. I mean, we would have provided you with a room at the palace. So how come you just came unannounced?”
 
Chuckling nervously Sunburst went on, “It was a bit of a spur of the moment kind of thing…” 
 
The Prince raised an eyebrow, “You’re a strange one, aren’t you? Because, unless you’re a gypsy, nopony just goes someplace without giving a notice of some kind.”
 
“I guess, I mean… sorry? Sorry… I would have, but I guess it was all really rushed. I just needed to work things…” - a pause of the ages -  “.... Don’t worry about it, just needed to do some thinking.”
 
“Okay, what’s going on really?” Harmonic asked, completely unconvinced. “I may have just met you and all, but I highly doubt that somepony would have come all this way from the Crystal Empire just to think to think things over.” He folded his forelegs. “Sunburst the Crystaller, what is going on?”
 
“Nothing, it’s… a whole lotta nothing.” Sunburst looked down, kicking the pavements. 
 
The Prince facedhoof, “Would you please stop trying lying to me? This is clearly isn’t nothing. This behavior isn’t nothing. Whatever is going on, is something.” 
 
‘Subtle, ain’t ya’ Sunburst thought to himself before looking back up to the Prince. “It’s just a stupid decision I have to make, nothing worthy of a Prince, that is for sure. I’m gonna just be on way now Prince Harmonic, thanks for the chat though.”
 
Just as the orange stallion was about to walk out on the Prince for the third time, the Violinist spoke up saying, “I’m going to take a shot in the dark and ask if this has something to do with somepony that you really, really like?”
 
Sunburst stopped dead in his tracks for a moment, his head dropped down and his ears folded inwards. “What gave it away?”
 
“That look you had… Believe it or not, I am quite acquainted with these sorts of things myself.” Harmonic walked over to him and put a hoof on his back. “Still, I’m only guessing, but I suppose that I might have… as they say… ‘hit the nail over the head’ on it? Have I?” Sunburst didn’t respond. “Look… I don’t exactly know how much I’ll be of help, considering my consort…”
 
“Consort?” the unicorn raised an eyebrow, “What even is that? You’d be amazed how slow stuff travels in the Crystal Empire...” 
 
Harmonic laughed, “You know, that’s exactly what Prince Shining said to me when we first met. But anyway,” he chuckled, cheeks taking on a touch of pink.”Basicly, by Equestria’s definition, a ‘Royal Consort’ is an official special somepony for those who are… well, royalty. Mine is, what some would consider rare and... unusual…” he trailed off, his cheeks turning a deeper shade of red.
 
“Unusual? I-I mean, I know that feeling.” Sunburst replied, beginning to blush, “Wanna just say it at the same time?” 
 
Both stallions nodded their head in sink three times before blurting out their response, “My partner is a stallion!” both stallion declared in unison. There was an awkward pause as Harmonic rubbed the back of his neck while Sunburst pawed at the ground.
 
“So…” the Prince was the first to break the tension. “How long have you been with him?”
 
“Well… We’ve known each other for over a year, but only got… close about two months. You?” He replied.
 
“Last week has been our third year anniversary.” He sighed happily, “The most joyful years that I’ve ever had to be honest.” The Violinist then chuckled. “You know… out of all I’ve heard from you, I didn’t know that you had a coltfriend. It’s actually… refreshing.”
 
“Huh, well... You too I guess.” Sunburst began meandering away from the conversation again. 
 
“So I can safely assume that you’re in Canterlot because… he is here for some reason?”
 
“Pfft hahaha no… yes...” Sunburst huffed, shuffling back to the Prince. “If I tell you what’s wrong will you stop pestering me about it?”
 
“Please forgive me, I’m doing this because you’re a hero of Equestria that is in need help, and you’re one of few stallions that I personally know that are anything like me. But to answer your question... Yep! Now I don’t know how good my advice would be, mind you, but I’ll do the best I can from what experience I have.”
 
Sighing Sunburst slid down the wall, sitting on the cobblestones and began. Sunburst told Prince Harmonic everything, getting together, the dates, Hazel’s scholarship and Ristretto moving away. Finishing his story, the orange stallion looked out of their little corner of Canterlot and sighed. “I just never would have thought that I would become this attached when he left, it’s been one of the hardest things in the world seeing him leave. The decision whether to stay or go has been harder than ever.”
 
Harmonic hummed, for a good solid minute, he meditated in thought until his eyes spied on his violin. Picking it up with his aura, he gingerly handed it over to Sunburst to hold it. “Do you know what you’re holding?” the orange stallion gave a puzzled look. “Look inside it, I think you would be surprised.”
 
Sunburst being the lesser of the culture of musical instrument gave it a solid attempt, after looking down there for a moment he came back up. “Uhhhh wood varnish?” He asked. 
 
The Prince chuckled, “No. If you looked into the other soundhole, you’ll find that you are holding a masterpiece. One that was made by my father, Cresendo Trotivari. Among all the violins that were ever made by him, that one is the absolute best out of all of them. In other words, it is the most perfectly made violin on the planet. I was told a few years ago that if what you’re holding were to go to auction, that instrument would have the worth of buying three countries, a hooful of islands… and with some leftover to buy an ice cream.”
 
Sunburst chuckled at the last part, yet, looking down he did notice his stomach grumbling at the thought of food.
 
“Anyway,” Harmonic continued, “as much as you’re holding a fortune in your hooves, that violin will never, ever be sold. And neither will I ever stray away from my Color Spectrum. Do you know why?”
 
“No idea.” Sunburst deadpanned.
 
“Let me tell you something that my mother had told me long ago,” he said as he took the violin back in his hooves. “You have to understand one thing: where I come from, in a town called Cremona, ponies don’t worship alicorns like Equestria does. In fact…” Harmonic paused for a moment, giving a rather sad look. “In the sort of country where I was born, I was thought as something as a demon. A freak of nature. Simply because I was the only one that had a horn and a pair of wings. The only happy memories I had of that place, were from my parents. Well, one day I came home after the foals there head beaten me, again, that mother had found me crying. She did her best to comfort me, (bless her soul).
 
“She was like that, she was only happy whenever she was trying to cheer me up. I asked her one day why she does that. And to this day, I never forgotten what she told me.” The prince closed his eyes and repeated, “‘Happiness, is the most valuable thing in the world. Because it is as rare as gold, ponies would do anything to get it themselves. You would know when you found true joy is when once you found it, it’ll never leave you. Once you find your own way to be happy, you would walk across the stars, swim across oceans, and drill through mountains to be with it. The reason why it’s so valuable: is that a single day of happiness is worth a lifetime of misery.’”
 
He then opened his eyes and looked at Sunburst, “That’s why I play my violin. Not because of who made it, but because for a long time, the music it produced has given me comfort, happiness even, especially on my darkest of days. And I found it again in my consort. I would gladly surrender my crown, luxuries that came with it, and even my safety to make sure that Color is happy. Why, he has improve my life so much beyond description that I wish I could marry him right now… except I can't.”
 
“But… why not?” Sunburst asked.
 
“According to Equestrian Law, you have to be a minimum of twenty-one to get married. And I’ll be turning twenty in June. So… I’ll have to wait,” Harmonic sighed with a smile, “But Sunburst, for him, I’ll wait forever if I have to.”
 
“Well I guess you’ll won’t have to wait that long. But thanks, Harmonic sir. It was an honour talking to you and really. I… I have a heck of a decision to make but I think it will be easier to make now.”
 
The Prince blinked, “You really think so? I mean, Color is much wiser then I am.”
 
“It was great advice! I hope everything goes well with you and your… cohort? Consort! That’s right. I am starving though, it really was nice meeting you though!” 
 
“Likewise. Say! Two more things: If you are hungry, I know a really good cafe that’s not too far from here. The Copper Pot Cafe, they make my favorite hot chocolate over there as well as some good sandwiches.” While Sunburst thanked him, he asked what the other thing was, “I’m going to have a recital very soon. If you want, you’re more than welcome to come. I’ve been practicing a Moztrot piece in F major, with a slow andante that has a smooth medley, plus, I’ll be playing with an orchestra for the first time.” The prince offered with a broad grin. 
 
Grinning out of nervousness Sunburst nodded his head. “Unno, I’d love to but uhh, there is this thing.. At the place… and it is important I go there.” Sunburst smiled harder, much to the skepticism of the prince. Suddenly Sunburst jumped up, “The Gardens!” He blurted out with a blush. “I was going to visit them while this rare flower bloomed and I am hehe, quite the botanist.” 
 
“Uh-huh,” Harmonic chuckled. “That’s okay, I get it. You have other places to go that need your attention. But still, the invitation is still open to you, just so you know. Have a good night, Sunburst the Crystaller.”
 
Sunburst chuckled back, “You too, Prince Harmonic.” He waved and made his way from the little street and towards the busier section of Canterlot. “I think it is about time I gave Ristretto a visit.” Sunburst mumbled to himself.
> Family Size
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ristretto sipped his cup of coffee, clutching the large cup for warmth as the chill bit into his coat. His attention focused on looking at nothing and everything at the same time. He sat on the bench next to the window, the perfect view of the streets of downtown Canterlot. The small house designed for three hadn’t had proper heating installed, and Ristretto had just finished scheduling an installation. In the meantime, he was getting by with the warmth of his jumper and the gentle heat radiating from his drink.

Hazell was at school, he didn’t need to work until tomorrow, the house was clean, the yard was neat, and the shopping was done. All there was to do was sit, and think. He sat there and reflected on a stallion he couldn’t quite remove from his mind in his quiet thoughts no matter how hard he tried.

He slowly blew at the wisps of steam emanating slowly from the black coffee as he sat dreary eyed looking upon the ponies down below. As he let the warm tendrils once again return to it’s slow rise from the cup, he noticed a couple holding each other close slowly begin their journey across his window from the street. Dreary eyed he felt a pang in his chest and quickly looked away from the window.

[i[knock… knock

Ristretto’s thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the front door. He hadn’t got overly close enough to his work colleagues enough to warrant a visit. The mail pony arrived Wednesday. There was no rubbish collection until next week, he didn’t expect anyone to visit. Unless…

Ristretto’s heart raced, his throat dried, his stomach flipped as he approached the door tentatively.

Could it…


no... that’s silly. He shook his head, but couldn’t remove the slight inkling from his head.

He slowly put his hoof on the handle and began turning the door handle. The door opened wider and wider. He called almost picture that orange coloured stallion, standing at the doorway. Yet all the door revealed was an empty porch.

Ristretto’s heart sank, emotion he couldn’t quite give a name to attacking his chest as he stared out. Empty, minus the small takeaway cup lying at the front of the door.

Damn litterbugs… Ristretto thought as he picked up the cup to place in the bin inside.

Shutting the door, Ristretto moved back into the kitchen, yet just as he drew eyes with the bin, something hit the floor behind him. He spun around slowly. Something had fallen out of the cup. Yet, Ristretto could have sworn it was empty when he picked it up from the porch… which was odd, the small vessel was clean, like nopony had drunk from it.

He picked up the paper that had fallen from… the cup…? It had to be from the cup.

Unfolding the piece of paper, Ristretto dropped the cup on the floor, his body feeling weak as he read the name on the bottom. It was under the label! He thought as he began from the top.



Dear Ristretto,

I thought I would return the favour. When you did the same thing to me that day, I didn’t know what to think. In fact, I think my entire motto for when I was with you was “I don’t know what to think.” Me not knowing what to think? It was crazy, to not know what exactly to do, my entire life had been spent thinking. But as it went on, I started to not anymore, I couldn’t imagine a time or pony that got me to stop, but you did it. And when you left me, once again; I didn’t know what to think. So I quit doing that, and I started feeling. That lead me here.  If it is not too late, I want to see you again, Ristretto. The Crystal Empire was so big and crowded before I met you, and now you have left, it’s emptier than ever. Tonight at twilight, I will be at the cafe at the end of the street, I hope I see you there.

Yours Truly,
Sunburst.







Ristretto walked along the twilight infused street, one tentative hoof step at a time. He felt a million emotions rushing through his chest making it ache as he got closer to the corner café. He could feel the cool breeze rustle the fur on his back. As soon as the doughnut shop came into sight, he instantly felt his heart drop into his stomach. Nerves broke through him, and he stopped in the street, looking, either way, to see if anypony was looking his way. He resumed his pace even slower than before. Every step sent a pulse of nerves through his body as he approached.

He crept up to the well-lit shop, looking through the window both hoping and fearing the presence of brilliant orange fur somewhere inside.

After scanning through the window, his heart once again took another jumping session inside his stomach as he spotted Sunburst’s familiar shape, nervously clutching a coffee of his own. Ristretto didn’t know what to do. He didn’t want to make it awkward and go for a hug, but he also didn’t want to awkwardly just stand there and wait for something to happen.

Maybe go up and order? No, I’ll break down if I feel his eyes on me nervously waiting for me to turn around. I could tap him on the shoulder and wait for him to stand up, or I cou- HE’S TURNING THIS WAY! Ristretto froze in place, petrified as Sunburst locked his eyes on the barista.

Sunburst slowly turned around in his seat, Ristretto’s legs felt wobbly as he shrunk away from the glass giving a tiny wave. Sunburst returned the gesture. Ristretto felt tears trying to escape his eyes. Quickly wiping his eyes with his hoof, he opened the door to the café, stepping inside.

Inside he could now see Doughnut Joe slipping into the back as he returned his attention to the gut-wrenching emotions going through his body. Ristretto could not keep his eyes off the pony he hadn’t seen since he moved to Canterlot.

Neither knew what to say.

Both stood there awkwardly as Sunburst nervously started ripping at his coffee label. Ristretto gave a little chuckle.

“Y-you st… still, do that?” he asked, breaking the tension.

“Huh, I guess I do…” Sunburst trailed off, “I don’t think about it though.”

Ristretto took a hesitant seat, awkwardly sitting on the end of his tail as he sat down yet not daring to lift up to remove it.

“H-Hi…” Ristretto said quietly, Sunburst straining to hear the words.

“Hi,” Sunburst smiled, letting it quickly drop from his face as he looked into his half-finished coffee, “I suppose you didn’t expect to see me.”

Ristretto’s sad eyes returned to his face. “No, I g… guess n-not.”

The two sat in silence for a long time, trying desperately to try to break the awkward silence. Finally, Sunburst spoke up, feeling a rush of nerves as he did so, “How is Hazel doing?”

Ristretto could feel his chest tightening and his intestine created knots. Sitting there in dumb silence as he asked himself how to speak. After a small eternity, he finally managed to build up the courage to respond to the question.

“Yeah, he is d-doin, doing well. H-He loves it,” Ristretto stuttered, putting on a genuine smile as he talked to Sunburst. “What ab… about Flurry Heart?” he asked in return.

Sunburst let out a weary smile. “She is doing alright, a bit too alright. She keeps going the way she is, and I’ll be out of the job.” He smiled. Sunburst looked down at his coffee, just managing to rip the last of the glue from the label, leaving the takeaway coffee cup bare.

As if Ristretto had read his thoughts, the barista finally worked up the courage to keep going with the conversation, “That’s amazing. Y-you’re an amaz… amazing t-teacher Sunburst. But…y-you didn’t come here to make small talk, did you...” Ristretto replied, looking down in fear of what was to come.

“Well, no. I guess I should explain why I am sitting in the middle of a coffee shop halfway across Equestria.” Sunburst had not felt nervous about meeting Ristretto until it happened, the moment he had been dreading since he had made his decision. He could feel every possible ailment hit him at once as he began to open his mouth. Closing again and regaining control over his breath he paused and let his mind mull over what he wanted to say. He had prepared it, yet as soon as he had seen Ristretto walk through the doors, his entire speech flew right out of his head.

Silence filled the room again. Sunburst continued to rip at the label subconsciously as he thought about what to say. The soft paper was slowly falling into pieces in his magic. It made him feel easier as if he had a form of control in his actions.

Sunburst returned Ristretto’s solemn expression. “right…” he trailed off, finally, after one gulp he managed to continue, “I don’t…” He took a breath, thinking about his every word, “I, came here because...” he paused. Looking deep into Ristretto’s eyes as what he finally wanted to say came him. “I came here because I did a whole lot of thinking. I thought about work. I thought about my home.” Sunburst scratched the back of his head.

“Y-your home is in the Crystal Empire. I.. I don’t wa-want to take that away from you,” Ristretto looked down, his cheeks getting warm. He began to slide his hooves away from the table when he felt something warm stop them. He looked back at the table to see Sunburst’s hooves over his, looking up Sunburst had a hard look. His brilliant green eyes were shining directly into his own.

“Where I live, and my home are two different things. Ever since that night we went out, my home has been right here,” Sunburst reached across the table and gently put his hoof over Ristretto’s heart. The barista looked down at the gesture, his mind slowly processing what Sunburst had just said.

Ristretto slowly stood up and came around the table, his mind blank at what he had just heard; all he wanted to do was hold Sunburst once again. The Crystaller got up and threw Ristretto into a deep hug. The smaller pony smushed his hooves against Sunburst’s chest as Sunburst wrapped around him.

“What about your job?” Ristretto asked, trying to come up with anyway things would be different. He loved Sunburst, but the last thing he wanted was for him to sacrifice himself in order for them to be together.

“it’s just a job. Cadence offered me a new one in Canterlot if I choose to leave,” Sunburst replied, squeezing tighter as his mind was focused on nothing else other than the little body he was holding tightly.

“And Starlight?” Ristretto shifted uncomfortably, feeling the hard seat bite into his back.

“Canterlot is closer to Ponyville than the Crystal Empire. It will be even easier to see her.”

Ristretto stood there mulling over every angle. “What about your house?”

“More like my hobble. I’d be happy to get out of there if it means being close to you. We can live nice and close, and maybe one day…”

Both broke the hug, Ristretto looking up at Sunburst in shock. “You really think this will work?” he asked shakily.

Sunburst sighed holding onto Ristretto’s hooves with his own, “I don’t know, but we don’t have to think about that. I’ve never felt what I feel with you right now Ristretto… and I want us to have a chance.”

Ristretto held on tight at the reassuring words being softly spoken into his ears as he flattened them. “Sunburst… I- I’m scared.”

Sunburst stepped back, tilting his head in confusion and looking into Ristretto’s wide weary eyes, “of what?”

“Us… it not working, what other ponies will think. Just stupid things you don’t usually think about.” Ristretto rubbed his leg with his other hoof and looked down at the ground a solemn, pensive look travelling over his face.

A pregnant pause came in between them, nothing but the quiet hum of the refrigerator and Doughnut Joe cleaning something around the corner.

Sunburst thought for a moment before reaching over to Ristretto, slowly putting his hoof under the other pony’s chin, slowly rising it from the ground, their eyes once again meeting, “me too.”

Ristretto frowned and slowly wrapped Sunburst’s hoof on his chin in his own, “What do you mean?” He asked.

“Well, I am scared of those things as well, but we shouldn’t let that stop us.”

After more silence Ristretto pulled away from their embrace, slowly breaking away from their entwined hooves. Sitting back down and sighing, wrapping his hooves around himself. Eventually, he looked up at Sunburst, now sitting down himself.

“Do you have any reservations about all this?” Ristretto asked.

Sunburst took another long moment to answer, “Well… I did at first. But like I said in that letter, I stopped thinking, and I started feeling. Sitting here with you… I-I don’t have a single damned one.” Sunburst gave him a small smile as he pushed his coffee across the table. “It’s getting late. I better head back to my hotel soo-”

Sunburst was cut off by Ristretto flattening his ears and looking down. “Retto? Is everything alright?” he asked tentatively.

“I was just maybe hoping you might wanna stay over at my house tonight for tea… Hazel would need picking up from his friend’s house now, so maybe I could go and you can wait, we can surprise him…” Ristretto trailed off looking up into the taller stallion’s eyes pleadingly.

Sunburst chuckled, smiling widely. “How can I say no to that face.”

The stallions got up from their seat, leaving a healthy tip on the table as they made their way out towards the twilight soaked streets.

“Hazel is gonna f-flip when he sees you by the way,” Ristretto replied after some time in silence.

This caught Sunburst quite off guard, he looked back at Ristretto with interest as they walked along, the cold of the night seeped in under his cloak.

“Really? Why?” he asked as he clutched the cloak tighter to his body in an attempt to keep out the cold.

Ristretto shivered slightly as he saw his companion wrap the cloak tighter to his body. “He really missed you, you turned into a second brother towards the end there.” A sad smile crept over Ristretto’s face, “He kept asking if we could visit you or something.” The smile faded quickly, “This was before I knew… that…”

A silence fell over the walk for a long moment. Finally, Sunburst finished, “You knew that I would come back?”

“Y-yeah…”





“Sun...burst?” Hazel Quill peeped around the corner into the living room, staring intently at the visitor sitting on the couch.

Sunburst quickly looked over to the beady set of eyes peering around the corner. Quickly getting up he made his way towards the colt hiding in the hallway with his big brother by his side.

“Hazel, you’re so big now.” Sunburst leaned down to give Hazel a small hug, when Hazel dove into a tight embrace that caught the stallion by surprise. Sunburst looked up at Ristretto giving him a big smile as the colt squeezed his insides.

“I missed you so much Sunburst!” Hazel tried his best to hug Sunburst as tight as possible, sending a shock through Sunburst’s body, opening his eyes in shock Sunburst managed to pry himself from the bear hug, smiling down at the colt.

“It’s been months Hazel! How’s your new school?” Sunburst asked, walking into the kitchen, Hazel close behind. Just as Hazel passed the older stallion, the Crystaller looked back and gave Ristretto a wink.

At the wink, Ristretto silently snuck towards the door, opened it and slid away. He held his breath as he slowly shut the door, leaving Sunburst and Hazel in the kitchen, the colt oblivious.

“So Ristretto, how is your school going anyway?” Sunburst asked, getting the jug of lemonade he had prepared earlier from the fridge and pouring two of the three glasses on the bench.

“It’s so cool! It’s a whole school that is for writers! There are ponies of all ages and there are other like, general topics and stuff. But I get to do so much writing and stuff.” Hazel jumped into one of the dining chairs and put his hooves on the table, a big smile plastered on his face.

“That’s fantastic Hazel! Made any new friends?” Sunburst set a lemonade next to Hazel on the table. He set the other one next to his own spot and ruffled the colt’s hair as he made his way to his own spot.

“That’s what I was scared of, but it turns out another colt started at the same time as me. I was just hanging out with him just then…” Hazel took a sip of his lemonade, putting it down as a frown spread across his face. “Hey, why haven’t I seen you in so long? I missed you so much,” he asked, looking intently at Sunburst for the answer.

“Well, it got hard for your brother leaving the Crystal Empire. It was hard for me too, I guess, but I actually wanted to talk to you about that.” Sunburst finished, taking a gulp from his glass, shuddering as the overly sugary drink hit his taste buds. ‘Lemonade tasted a lot better as a colt’ he thought, holding back a grimace.

“Me? Why me?” Hazel asked.

“Well you see, you mean a lot to your brother. You know that right?” Sunburst said, leaning forward in his chair.

“Uh huh,” Hazel slowly shook his head with a confused look on his face.

“Well, your brother and I have been talking. A lot of talking, and well… I am thinking about moving here, to be close to you guys.”

Hazel put down his drink and looked back at Sunburst, “Wait… really?”

“Yeah well, before anything happens. I wanted to ask you, because you should have a say. I wanted to ask you that if I do move here, you’d be happy to have me,” Sunburst finished, picking up his drink and forcing down another sip.

“Wait… you’re asking me if you can live here.”

Sunburst nodded and finished his sip. “I am asking if you would have me part of your lives here in Canterlot.”

Hazel sat there for a second, holding onto his lemonade. After a nervous pause he set the glass down, got off his chair and hugged Sunburst tightly. “Our family was pretty small anyway,” the little colt replied.

Sunburst sat there in shock, Hazel’s maturity never ceasing to amaze him. A big smile crept over his face as he returned the hug.

The two sat at the table for half an hour talking about school and Hazel’s life in Canterlot until finally there was a knock at the door. Hazel got up and answered, nearly jumping in surprise at who it was and what they were holding.

“Retto? Where have you been?”

Ristretto turned carefully, revealing two pizza boxes on his back, “Getting dinner!” He exclaimed, a big smile over his face.

“Really? Oh my gosh! Pizza!” Hazel beamed, opening the door wider for Ristretto to enter.

As soon as Sunburst saw Ristretto enter the kitchen he smiled and used his magic to place the pizzas on the table. The barista thanked him and scootched past to get the plates from the kitchen. “How’d it go?” he whispered into Sunburst’s ear as he moved past.

“Better than even I could even hope,” Sunburst quietly whispered back, giving Ristretto a wink.





Sunburst took a single look at the one-pony bed lying in the corner of Ristretto’s room and shook his head as the other stallion slowly pulled on pajamas. Clothing only worn when the blanket wasn’t quite enough to keep away the cold.

“I can tell you right now that isn’t going to work.” Sunburst shrugged, looking over at Ristretto, near tripping over his pants.

“Yeah well you caught me on short notice.” Ristretto manage to huff out as he fell onto the floor. Sunburst used his magic to finish sliding the bottoms on the upside down stallion and held out his hoof for Ristretto.

The topsy turvy stallion could feel his cheeks warm up as he went onto his side and reached up to let Sunburst help him up. “Thanks,” Ristretto blushed harder as they kept holding hoofs after he had been returned to right way up.

“I do have one idea…” Sunburst trailed off, a mischievous smile crept over his face.

One mattress, a sleeping bag and half a ton of bedding later and both were laying on floor in the lounge room, keeping as close as possible, keeping the cold tendrils of the night out of their makeshift spread. Sunburst shifted around, hugging Ristretto tighter, feeling the warm pajamas he was wearing brush against his own fur, the soft fabric feeling like bliss pressed against him.

“So… Hazel really wants me to be apart of your family?” Sunburst whispered, resting his chin on top of Ristretto’s mane, smelling a mix of his own aroma and shampoo.

“He really does Sunburst. He really loves you.”

They both laid there in peaceful silence, nothing but the crickets outside disturbing their quiet embrace. After minutes went by, Sunburst yawned, tickling Ristretto’s mane making him squirm and giggle in the ex-Crystaller’s hooves.

Sunburst smiled feeling Ristretto’s body move around in his embrace. “And… what about, Hazel’s amazing big brother?” he asked, using his magic to tighten the blanket around them.

“Well, I heard that he missed Sunburst to death. The… the one thing that stallion ever regretted about moving away was leaving him behind.”

If it were possible, Sunburst would have found a way to tighten their hug as both began to truly feel fatigue begin to hit their heavy eyes. Yet, right until the point where he heard Ristretto finally began to drift into sleep, he thought. Thought deep and hard, how he never wanted this moment to end. Yet, eventually he realised it didn’t matter. Whether this moment came or went, there are going to be many more just like it in his future. A smile crept over him again as he thought about them, all the moments they would share. Yet, the thinking didn’t burden him. For no matter how much thinking he did, it couldn’t take away the feeling he had felt ever since he received that letter.

“Love you Ristretto,” he whispered, drifting off to sleep himself.

Little did he know the stallion held tight in his embrace had been far from sleep, the goofiest grin reaching his eyes as he felt Sunburst’s body sag around him.

“Love you too, Sunburst,” Ristretto whispered back.