> Radiant Night
>  by Not
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Radiant's Dawn
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

This might be a bit long. It also might be a bit sad. We'll take you back a couple years, and we'll start by talking to dad.

Thunder softly crackled. "But dad, I really want to meet him. He's the only one of our relatives that I don't know! Cliff and Jumper met him three years ago, so why can't I?" Radiant pleaded.
"The answer is no Radiant." Her father would not be so easily persuaded. "He's a drunkard and a fool."
That was the one word she feared. The one thing she hoped against hope she wouldn't hear him say. The reason she covered up her cutie mark. "Why? Just because he owns a bar? Because his true talent wasn't music? 'Cause he's not like the rest of the family?"
"That and he didn't even tell anypony before running off and starting an inn in the middle of Faust knows where!"
This was the part she'd dreaded, but she knew it had to be done. If he couldn't accept his own brother how could he accept her? "Daddy. Do you know my nick name?"
He was confused. "No darling, I'm afraid I don't, but what that has to do with meeting your uncle I ha-"
Radiant cut him off. She threw off the dress she had on and revealed her flank. "I'm the Whiskey Rose." Tears were flowing as she ran past him and out the door. He shouted something angry out after her, but she couldn't hear whatever he said. She didn't care. There were only three relatives that would let her stay the night. The only three that had accepted her after seeing her cutie mark.
Auntie Vista was the only one who really stayed in contact with her uncle, and her kids Cliff and Jumper had met with him a few times. They were a good two hours run away, but she couldn't think of anywhere else to go. They were the only ones who might understand.
It wasn’t a very heavy rain that fell that night. In fact Radiant didn’t even get all that wet. The heat of her anger and the exercise helped dry her off as she ran. Normally she’d have stopped by the candy store or the general store on her way out of town, but she didn’t want to talk to anypony right now. She just ran. It didn’t matter that she was half blind from tears, she knew exactly where to go.
Two hours without stopping with only three turns, and she was there. If she weren’t fueled by such strong emotions she would have been exhausted. She knocked on the door and waited for it to open.
“Coming” came the lyrical voice from inside. Vista opened the door and spotted Radiant there. “Oh my little dear, what are you doing out in the rain?” If auntie Vista hadn’t been the one who convinced Radiant to tell her dad in the first place she would have been a bit more surprised. “I take it that he didn’t take it well? He’s always had a head thick as a wall and been more stubborn than a well fed camel.” She led her niece to the den to sit down with some tea that she’d just prepared before Radiant had showed up.
If she weren’t so angry Radiant would have laughed. “I don’t know what he thought about my mark other than he was angry about it. All I wanted to do was MEET uncle J! He just insisted on him being a drunk fool, and said no! I spent three hours trying to convince him! No pony but you Cliff, and Jumper will even really talk about him.” She calmed down a bit. “I just can’t believe that he’s that awful. All he did is open a bar, right?”
Her aunt was always kind, but blunt. She’d rather die for the truth than tell a lie. Radiant knew she’d get a straightforward answer. “No. That’s just the small part of it. No pony else likes to talk about the other reason that they don’t like ‘im.” She poured some tea into a cup for Radiant, Vista already had one for herself. “He opened a bar just after running out on an engagement and lying about his dream. Since he was a unicorn he’d used an illusion to hide his real cutie mark. No one knew ‘cause he was so late in getting his mark that no one questioned it being a mark for gardening. It’s not a big change to make a tap into a faucet after all.”
“Why didn’t dad just say that?” Radiant never understood her father.
“Radiant...” Vista sighed, “you didn’t know he ran out on ‘is fiance, so I bet you don’t know what her name was.” She leaned in close and whispered it in Radiant’s ear.
The color drained from Radiant’s face. Her pupils shrank, and she just sat there for a moment before swallowing and stammering out her response. “W-wait... S-so if he hadn’t r-run out, instead of b-being my uncle h-he’d be... my dad? He ran out on my mother?” She got a little angry. “Was she not good enough for him? My mom just wasn’t pretty enough? She-”
Her aunt cut her off. “Now don’t jump to conclusions like that dear. It was always your father who loved her. It was only by custom that J was going to marry her. She always abhorred him. Your mother was kind, polite, pretty, and judgemental as an eighty year old nun. Do you know what she hated most in a colt?”
It was that strange kind of rhetorical question where they want a specific response. “What?”
“Drinking. Your father never drank, your mother never even used wine in cooking. Custom still stood though, the younger colt couldn’t marry until the older one did, and the mare that is going to enter the family is the automatic fiance.” She placed a hoof on Radiant’s shoulder. “Your mother actually thanked him for running away. If he hadn’t then she’d have been forced into marrying a colt that she didn’t love.”
Radiant drank a bit of her tea while listening. She exhaled deeply before responding. “So basically he didn’t want to hurt anyone, so he ran away from a wedding? I... I guess that makes sense.”
Vista laughed. “Well not when you put it like that. He loved your father. They were brothers. He had two options, hurt him once right there by turning down that filly, or hurt him every day for the rest of his life by marrying her.” She smiled that caring smile she always had. “Your uncle didn’t care about tradition, custom, or any of that. He just cared about his family. Your father however...” She sighed. “He cared a bit too much about honoring customs. In your uncle’s eyes and in mine he did the right thing, but everyone else cares so much about custom that they can’t even honor a noble deed.
She set her tea cup down. “Your mother actually forgave him right away, and thanked him for leaving, but she never forgave him for drinking. Your father on the other hand... he didn’t always hate drinking either. He thought for sure that it was the drinking that drove your uncle to break custom.” She shook her head. “Dense as lead.”
Radiant was almost crying. “He’s always been such an idiot. He thought that I wanted to marry the first colt I ever dated. I mean COME ON. Why would I want to marry anypony at all when I was 12? I don’t even think it counted as real dating.” She’d finally calmed down enough that she was thinking straight. “Wait. Where’s Cliff and Jumper?”
“Asleep dear. Didn’t you notice the time?” She pointed to the clock above the fireplace. It was almost 11.  At that exact moment, or perhaps a half moment afterward Radiant realized how tired she was and how much her hooves ached. “Do you normally stay awake this late?”
Vista looked at her without ever changing that caring smile. “Only when I’m expecting somepony dear. Now I don’t suppose you remembered enough to bring a toothbrush, or something to cover your wings tomorrow morning.”
“Well I didn’t exactly plan this visit, sorry.”
“It’s okay Radiant. You know your auntie is always prepared.” She got back onto her hooves and started leading Radiant toward the guest room. “Do you prefer red, purple, or black dear?”
“For what?”
“For the dress I’m going to lend you. I assume you don’t care the color of your tooth brush.” Vista would have had more emotion in her speech if she weren’t half asleep at the time.
“Purple. It attracts less attention.” And it reminds me of him. She had once seen her uncle in a picture. His eyes were a deep purple, and she’d liked him right away. “Auntie... what’s he like?”
“Now come on Ray. Sleep and we’ll all talk about him in the morning.” Vista opened the door, and after seeing Radiant to her bed for the night she turned out the light on the way out.
Radiant’s mind tried its best to keep her awake with worries, and wondering about her uncle, but it was no match for 2 hours of running, and the tumult of tiring emotions she’d gone through.
Radiant awoke the next morning to the 3 hour up sun shining directly into her eyes. She hadn’t slept that well in a long time. Of course for the last month it was because she was too worried about telling her father about her cutie mark and asking about her uncle.
The smell of hash browns and pancakes wafted out from the kitchen. Cliff was cooking, as always, while Jumper and Vista were sitting at the table playing cards. Radiant trotted in and joined her cousin and aunt at the table. “Hey cousin. So how much did you hear last night?”
Jumper was even doing her best to look surprised when Radiant asked. “Oh poo. How do you always know when I’m listening in?”
Radiant laughed and tapped her cousin on the nose. “Because you’re a light sleeper, and you ALWAYS listen in.” She had planned this speech a while ago. “Like when you were five and you tried hiding under the picnic table to listen to me and your brother talking, or when you were seven and you thought standing around the corner would make it so that your mom and I wouldn’t notice you, or when you were eleven and you pretended to sleep in the corner so that you could listen in on me and my old boyfriend!” A smirk crept onto her face for this last one. “Or what about my favorite. When you tried to listen in on me a month ago when I showed your mom my cutie mark!” Radiant mussed Jumper’s hair “You’re my nosey little cousin, and I love you for it.”
Jumper’s face was just about as red as it could get. “So... uh... you knew about all that? I guess I’m not as sneaky as I thought.”
Vista set down her cards. “You also don’t have a very good card face. I win again.” She cleared off the table and got out the dishes.
Cliff had just finished the last pancake. He flipped it onto a the stack and finally turned around. “Oh hey Radiant, when did you get here?”
“I still don’t get how you do that. Whenever you cook you really tune everything out don’t you?” Radiant shook her head. “I got HERE late last night. I got to this seat about two minutes ago.” No one could explain that about Cliff. He was normally the most unfocused colt out there, but whenever he started cooking you had to smack him upside the head to get him to notice you.
Breakfast was filled with fun conversation, and a bit of planning. This time Radiant took the train back home. She wasn’t sure why, but her aunt insisted on coming with her. Her aunt looked worried, but Radiant had no idea why. About two blocks away from Radiant’s house Vista changed directions, she said that she was getting something and would meet her back home.
Radiant rounded the corner and immediately knew something was wrong. There were boxes piled up next to the porch. Each had her name on it. Just her first name. Whenever they labeled things for travel they put both names on everything. She ran to the porch and right before she set hoof on the steps her father came out the door with the last box. He threw it next to the others and looked at her with fury in his eyes.
She had no idea how to feel. “Dad... what’s going on?”
“I AM NOT YOUR FATHER. If YOU were my daughter you would have NEVER gotten THAT mark! YOU HAVE BETRAYED ME AND THE MEMORY OF MY WIFE!! From this day you are no longer my daughter, AND no longer a member of the Starr family!” His look showed nothing but contempt for her, no trace of her father was left. “Take your things and never return.” He turned and slammed the door in her face.
“But... dad...” She couldn’t help it. She just sat there and cried. It could have been minutes or it could have been hours, but some time later her aunt came by with three colts and a cart.
“Oh dear. I was right. I’m so sorry Radiant...” She set one hoof on Radiant’s shoulder.
Radiant jumped and wrapped both hooves around her aunt, tears pouring with renewed vigor. It was a few moments before she could manage any words, and when she could her voice was weak. “How... how could he do this... I’m... I’m his daughter. His only daughter.” She continued between sobs. “He didn’t even look... real.” She cried for a few moments longer before she settled down. Her aunt consoled her as best she could. “I guess if he can’t forgive his own brother,” *sniff* “how can I expect him to forgive me?”
“You can’t expect him to forgive you when there’s nothing to forgive dear. You've done nothing wrong.” Vista helped her niece into the cart. “You’re almost old enough to live on your own now, and I know that I have no idea how this must feel.” She sighed. “There’s only one colt that might, and so that’s where you’re going. It’s time to meet uncle J.”
The colts had already loaded the boxes into the back of the cart while the two were talking. After Vista gave them directions they went on their way.
Radiant didn’t even notice that they started moving. Everything was a haze. She simply stared down at the road as it went by under her. She had no idea how much time had passed and she noticed nothing until they came to a stop. They were in front of a large wooden two story building. The sign above the doors said The Cozy Inn. She followed her aunt to the doors and when they walked in they were greeted warmly.
“Oh Vista! How good to see you! And who is this? She’s not Jumper.” Jay was always warm and kind. He looked at Radiant then smiled. “You’re not...” He looked from Radiant to her aunt, and when Vista nodded he ran over to his niece. “Oh Radiant! I’ve wanted to meet you for so many years!” He was already hugging her, but when he noticed that she wasn’t hugging him he set her down. “What’s wrong little one? Hugs are supposed to be happy things.”
She had no idea how to react. She had wanted to meet her uncle for so long, but not under these circumstances. Radiant had wanted to walk next to her father and reunite brothers, not meet him just because it was the only place for her to go. She began crying and wrapped her forelegs around her uncle’s neck. “How do you do it uncle. How can I deal with no longer being a part of my own family?” She sobbed into his mane.
‘So this is why she’s here.’ thought Jay Night. “Oh Radiant.” He wrapped one foreleg around her. “You might not be a Starr, but I would be honored if you’d stay here, and still be part of the Night.”
. .
Even back then Radiant knew almost immediately that it was more than just a hotel that her uncle owned. Jay kept her out of THAT part of the business by having her work at the bar.
. .
Thus the story ends for now. Her course might be unclear, but now she has some direction. We have the beginnings of what leads up to now. Not everything in life is happy, but all of it is what makes you you.
> Growing Into the Night
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Radiant had grown very close to her uncle in the 4 years since she'd met him. It was actually he that had talked her into what she was about to do. They stood there on the front porch with her bags packed and ready. "You're really sure that this is the best thing to do?"

"Radiant," He smiled at her with the same smile he'd always had. "of course I'm not sure. The only one that can know what's best for you is YOU. Though if you want to learn more of the drinking trade you'll have to travel, or become an apprentice to some other brew-master. All I know how to make is lager, and I can't mix drinks to save my life." Jay laughed a bit remembering the last time he'd tried to invent a mixed drink. "Besides, you might actually make a friend or two if you spend some time away."

Her doubts faded quickly as he spoke. How did he always know the exact words to make her feel better? He was certainly right about that last bit though. Not many mares really want to be friends with a mare who lives in a brothel, no matter how reputable an establishment it really was, and only ONE type of colt wanted to. She hugged her uncle. "I'll miss you uncle Jay."

"And I'll miss you. Now go or you'll miss your train, and we'll have to put off missing each other for another two days!" He laughed.

Radiant looked at the clock. "Oh, crap! You're right." she threw both bags onto her back and began trotting away. "I'll write every week!"

"I'll read every week!"

She chuckled as she continued on her way to the train station. If there was one thing she wouldn't miss it was THAT. He made way to many awful jokes. He was great at his job, and he made some of the best beer she'd ever tasted, but Jay was most certainly not a comedian.

She soon arrived at the station. She purchased her ticked, payed her bits and was on her way to Scoltland. The plan was Scoltland, then through the land of Ire, and then end her trip in Prance before taking the boat back home. She still had a rather lengthy boat ride after the train took her to the coast, but it would be just days before she could visit the drinking capitals of the world!

Radiant stepped aboard the train with a smile upon her face. There were already many other passengers from the previous stops aboard, so it would be impossible to find an empty car, and being alone with just one other passenger can get awkward... Would it be better to sit with a family, older ponies, or ponies around her own age? How could she decide?
Or did she even have to decide? Chance seemed like the best option. Why decide when you didn't have to? ...The first two cars are why.

She knocked on the door and poked her head in. As soon as she did she was greeted by- "Can't we have a moments peace?!? We're in the middle of something here!!!" an arguing couple. The second car wasn't so violent, and they let her sit, but... sitting next to a couple making out and across from two more couples that are doing the same isn't exactly a good time. She'd try one more car before giving up.

She knocked on the door before poking her head in. There were two mares that were about her age, and a colt that was several years younger. "Excuse me, but can I sit with you? I don't think they'd want me riding in the dining car all the way to the coast."

"Well you're legs are going go get tired out there!" Radiant was amazed. The car had two mares, about her age, and a colt that seemed a few years younger. The amazing part was that they were normal, willing to talk to her, and headed almost as far as she was. SCORE!

Radiant walked in and sat down. "Thank you. I'm Radiant." She smiled at each one of them in turn.

The first mare was sitting next to Radiant. "I'm Rose." She stated with a smile.

"I'm Daisy." She was sitting opposite Rose with the colt's head on her lap.

The colt was laying there with his eyes closed. "I'm hungry, can we go eat?" he turned to face Radiant. "The name's Clover."

Daisy turned her head to look at Clover. "We ate an hour ago. How can you still be hungry?"

"How can you not be hungry? We only had a salad! There weren't even croutons!"

Daisy effectively applied her hoof to her face. "Your salad alone had two heads of lettuce, four tomatoes, six full carrots, and half a bottle of dressing. That is not just a salad" She turned her head to Radiant. "I'm sorry for my little brother."

"Be sorry for my stomach!"

She pushed his head off of her lap and moved to a more natural sitting position. "Sit up or find a new pillow."

Radiant just had to ask it. "Why were you sitting like that?"

Daisy shrugged. "I saw a mare in Ponyville sitting like that and I thought it looked cool." She then had to ask her own question about something strange. "Why're you wearing that dress? Going on a hot date later?"

Radiant felt a little playful. "Why? Are you looking for one?" She smirked. "I always wear something." She slid the top of the dress down enough to expose her right wing, and extended it to it's full length, which was half of what it should have been. "It's not something that you really advertise, you know?"

Rose was surprised and embarassed. "Oh I am so sorry!" She managed.

"Don't be. It was a good question, and It doesn't bother me any more. At least I can still walk on clouds." She slid the dress back over her wing.

For the next few hours they talked openly about where they were going and what they were doing. Daisy, Rose, and Clover were visiting relatives in the first big city any of them had been to, and they were all looking forward to it. Daisy and Rose had several shopping areas, and two botanical gardens that they wanted to visit, and Clover had a few areas where he wanted to test his luck. Unlike most of his family Clover didn't get his cutie mark from gardening. He got his from the friendly poker games that they played every Saturday night. Well... they were friendly until he won every single one of them for 6 weeks straight. The conversation was about those three for a while, but then Clover expertly shifted it back to Radiant while simultaneously dodging the hoof his sister aimed for his head.

"So... what's a fine mare like you doing going to the coast all alone?" That's when he dodged the hoof. Then he puffed out his chest as much as he could. "Do you need any protection?"

Radiant laughed. "Well tough colt, unless you want to protect me for the next four years, I think I'll do without. Besides, when I get off the train I'm only spending one night in a hotel before I'm getting on a ship headed to Scoltland."

That's when Rose chided in. "There are so many great wildflowers there! I just want to run through a big field of them." After a moment she returned from her fantasy. "So, you'll be spending four years in Scoltland?"

"Actually," Radiant informed, "I'll be spending a little over a year in Scoltland before heading to the land of Ire, and after a little over a year there I'll be heading to Prance."

Daisy looked slightly jealous. "Aw, you get to travel around for 4 years? Are you staying with relatives?"

Radiant smiled as she knew she was about to blow their minds. "I probably won't see anypony that I know at all for the next few years, actually."

Clover being more clever than his sisters gave him credit spoke up at this time. "Wait. You're going to be learning how to make alcohol, right?" His sisters looked at him oddly, and Radiant was pleasantly surprised. "What? She's visiting the three alcohol capitals, and staying alone in an area where she doesn't know anypony. In addition," he turned to Radiant. "though I mean no insult, you don't really look like the kind of pony that has enough bits to rent a hotel room for 4 years, or the kind that is that into camping, so you'd probably be apprenticing under somepony while you stay.” The three mares fall silent, Rose and Daisy looked at each other, amazed. It was about at this point that a smile spread across Clover's face. "Also I saw your cutie mark. A frothy mug usually doesn't mean soda." He fall back laughing to scornful looks from his sisters, but when Radiant started laughing too even they giggled a little. They all joked and talked for a while longer.

They would have continued talking if they hadn't realized that it was now rather late, and the dining car would stop making proper meals in under an hour. Rose and Daisy left first to get a table. Clover, of course, was the last to get up. Radiant stood in the doorway, turned to him and smiled. "About the alcohol joke from earlier?"

"Yeah?" Clover wondered.

"I'm glad somepony was checking out my flank." With that she trotted down toward the dining car.

Clover simply stood there slack-jawed for a stunned second, then picked up the pace and followed her. "Hey wait up!"

He was cute, if not much else, but still a bit young for Radiant's taste.

They soon caught up to Rose and Lilly and sat down for some food. They hadn't been lying earlier about how much that colt could eat! She thought she was eating a lot when she ordered the sandwich platter with three sandwiches on it. A standard daisy sandwich, a spicy cinnamon and rhubarb sandwich (which was a bit odd, but still good), and some sandwich she couldn't identify. They were all standard sized sandwiches.

Somehow Clover managed to finish a large salad, a bowl and a cup of soup, 2lbs of spicy stir fry, half of each of his sisters' plates that they couldn't finish, and a third of a cake for dessert. The three mares stared in awe as he finished the last bite of chocolatey goodness. Radiant was the first to speak up.

“How... how is it even possible to eat that much in one sitting?”

Clover smiled. “Practice.” He would not elaborate.

She shook her head. “No seriously. I thought I was a big eater, but that doesn't seem ponily possible to actually fit inside your body.”

His smile remained. “Practice.” He still would not elaborate.

She gave up on asking him and turned to Lilly and Rose. “Can either of you shed some light on this?”

They both shrugged. “Practice.” they said simultaneously.

Radiant decided to leave it at that for now.

They all paid for themselves, and went back to their car. They sat down in the same spots as before. Clover was lying down... just like before. Radiant then realized one inherent issue with their current situation. She would be on the train for not just hours, but DAYS, and she hadn't seen any beds aboard the train yet. Granted she had only gone through about a third of the train, but that was beside the point.

She decided to ask about it. “So, where do we sleep? I'm fine sleeping sitting up, but I usually prefer to lie down.”

Rose was the one to respond. “Well, there are sleeper cars, but they're really expensive. You can spend the night here with us if you want.”

Clover made some comment under his breath followed quickly by his nearest sister slamming her hoof into his shoulder. Radiant strained to hear what he said next, but it sounded like “Worth it.”

Radiant offered to sleep on the floor, and let Rose take the bench for herself, but Clover being the chivalrous colt that he was wouldn't have it! So his sisters agreed to share one bench and allow Radiant the other. Then they pushed Clover onto the floor, and were lying down taking up the bench before he could get back up. Radiant winked at the girls as she put on a sexy face and offered to share her bench with Clover.

Daisy and Rose looked at each other and giggled as Clover blushed and turned away. Radiant sighed, smiling. “Well at least sit here until we do decide to go to sleep.”

They all joked and talked for a few more hours. A few of the jokes were admittedly at Clover's expense. Some time after the sun went down they all settled in to sleep. Clover rolled lazily onto the floor, and the mares lay on their respective benches. Maybe if she got him to work up the courage, Clover would have a bench to share the next night.
> Growing Apart, Growing Together.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

She got up earlier than everypony else. She always got up early. Breakfast was just starting to be served. It was easy enough to get out of the car without waking anypony. Radiant made her way toward the dining car.

The sun would be rising in a few minutes, so she found a nice seat to watch. It didn't take long for a waiter to take her order. Hash browns, 3 plate sized pancakes, and a citrus salad, with cranberry juice to drink. Celestia's disc was just peaking over the horizon as her food arrived. At almost that same moment Clover sat down opposite her.

"What got you up so early, Radiant?"

She shrugged. "It's just my regular schedule. How about you?"

He struggled to hide a blush. "You were missing."

'Well he's cute. I'll admit that.' Radiant mused. "Care to watch the sunrise with me?"

They gazed out the window as the light rose. Radiant taking a bite of her food every now and again. He really seemed to like her, and only one thought went through her head. 'How can I let him down easy?' He was getting off and visiting family, then going back south toward home. She was going farther north, and not coming back for a few years. She couldn't lead him on for that long. Besides, would he even want to be with someone who lived in some place like she did? Did he really want to date a bartender who lived in a brothel? Even if he did, as an adult all employees are on call, and there's no way he would go for that. Even with all this... she would tell him tomorrow. At least they could have one day together, right?

His order arrived at that time.

Radiant was surprised. "When did you order?"

"Just before coming to sit with you. I'm glad half of it's done."

"Half?" They had already set four plate sized pancakes, two salads, a daisy sandwich, and three cups of orange juice in front of him. How could he be getting more?!?

He was snickering at the look on her face. "I was joking. This is all of it. For a second you thought it was possible though, right?"

She laughed. "You jerk! Yeah, I might have thought it was possible." Radiant had a little plan to get back at him though. "I have a question for you."

"Yeah?"

She smiled, but didn't look directly at him as she asked. "Why did you sleep on the floor last night?"

He shrugged. "Because you had one bench, and my sisters had the other."

She raised an eyebrow and looked at him. "When did I say that you couldn't join me?"

He stopped mid bite, and his mouth hung open. "Uh... um. I mean."

Radiant was hysterical. "There, now we're even."

Clover smiled. "I'm the jerk?" He let out a laugh and continued eating.

They talked a while longer until he was done. Then they walked back to the car together. They opened the door to Rose, and Lily waking up.

Lily smiled still half asleep. "You two get up early for a date?"

"We did eat breakfast together, but I didn't really plan on it. Did you, stud?"

Clover looked away and up to the right. "Maybe."

Radiant giggled. "You only have a few more hours before they stop serving breakfast. Better hurry!"

Rose spoke this time. "Only a few hours? How ever will we make it!"

"You never know. Clover could have eaten it all by now."

Rose rolled her eyes. "It wouldn't be the first time."

"Hey! I didn't know it was for everypony!" Clover defended himself.

Rose put a hoof on his shoulder. "It was a buffet. All you can eat wasn't a challenge."

Radiant raised an eyebrow and took a seat. "You ate an entire all you can eat buffet yourself? That's quite the feat. Now how in the world do you manage to stay thin?"

Clover puffed out his chest. "Pure skill."

"And the working for a taxi service pulling ponies all around town eight hours a day doesn't hurt either." Rose cut in. "Come on Lily. Let's leave the lovers alone, and get some food."

Radiant smirked. "You give him too much credit. We haven't gone that far yet."

Lily spoke up. "Yet?"

"Well he's kind and not hard on the eyes. Give him some time. He has a chance." She gestured to the door. "Shoo, get food. If you don't eat soon after you wake up it'll mess with your metabolism!" She ushered the two mares out the door. Then she sat down, and turned to face Clover. "What?"

He was giving her an odd look. "I really have a chance?"

"Yeah. Why wouldn't you?"

He sat down on the other side of the bench she was on. He blushed and couldn't quite make eye contact with her. "Well, you're just so fun, and pretty, and I was sure that you'd already have a coltfriend."

She scooted closer to him. "I don't really meet many colts worth talking to in my line of work."

He looked at her surprised. "Why's that?"

It was her turn to blush and look away. "I work at a bar in my uncle's inn, and the patrons aren't the kind that you'd... really want to get in a relationship with."

He nodded. "Businessponies, and families, right?"

"Not so much families..." Just tell him. It's not that big of a deal. If anything's gonna happen he'll have to know eventually. Right? "It's... um." She let out a breath. "Promise you won't judge me too harshly?"

Clover was confused. "Sure. I promise."

She was staring at the floor. "My uncle owns a brothel."

He shifted and almost hurt himself in confusion. "What?"

"A cathouse, a whorehouse, a building full of prostitutes!" She snapped at him. Then when she saw his face she calmed down. "Sorry. I just... I get judged whenever I go into town. I hate it. I just work at the bar. I don't have any place else to stay."

He used a hoof to turn her face so that he could look into her eyes. "It's okay."

She shook her head. "Huh?"

He smiled at her. "I said it's fine. I don't care what your job is. You're kind, fun, pretty, and are probably fun to drink with. I know mares that do charity work, and get money from working at a daycare. They're sisters. One is boring, and the other one just makes snide comments all the time." He kissed her hoof. "Your job doesn't tell me anything. I like you."

Her eyes started tearing up a bit as she pulled him into a better kiss. "Didn't take as long as I thought." They talked and sat together until his sisters came back. One thought was going through her head. This made tomorrow so much harder.
> Forever for Now
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Not a lot happened until they were nearing Rose, Lily, and Clover's stop. Radiant pulled Clover aside into the hallway. "I never told you about the inn did I?"
"What do you mean?"
"The Cozy Inn is a brothel."
"What." He was dumfounded.
"A cathouse, a whore house, a bordello, whatever you want to call it!" She calmed herself down a bit. "I wasn't old enough to work rooms, but I will be when I get back. I just wanted you to know. Meet somepony who's better for you. Don't wait years for a brothel girl." Her head hung low by the last sentence.
He lifted her chin to see into her eyes. "What if I want to wait?"
"Huh?"
"You're fun, and nice, and beautiful! Who cares about the rest?"
Radiant smiled. "Can you really wait six years just to say hi again though?"
"I can try."
"Let me rephrase myself. Are you going to wait six years for a mare you met two days ago? You've got plenty to offer, and there are plenty of fun, nice, beautiful mares out there if you look for them. Let's both find good mares, okay?"
"Okay." He smiled at her for a moment before realizing something. "Wait, what?"
"Hey, I like both teams in the game. I just chose you over your sisters because frankly... they're kinda boring. Don't get me wrong, they're nice and all, but you're more fun, and I need that in a pony."
He felt an odd mixture of happiness from the compliment and sadness that he had to leave. "Can you promise me one thing"
Now it was her turn to be confused. "Sure, what?"
His eyebrows were still sad, but he smiled as he said it. "Promise you'll remember me in six years when I stop by."
He was cheesy, and she loved it, but she'd still only known him two days. "I don't think I'll forget anyone as fun and weird as you've been." She pulled out a small notebook from her pack, wrote down the address, and tore the page out for him. "Try to show up a little late so I can be settled in first."
He took the paper, and hid it amongst his belongings. "Fashionably of course."
The train let out a puff of steam. Radiant looked off to the side and saw his sisters waving for him to hurry. She sighed. "Hurry off to your family. We're going to see each other again."
"See you later inebriator!" He chuckled as he ran off to his sisters. 
She smiled to herself. "I don't have a rhyme for that." He was too far off to hear her over the sounds of the train regardless. Radiant watched as they made it off just in time, then returned slowly to her now empty train car.
> For A Runaway
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The rest of the train ride was rather uneventful. A few meals and some sleep later, and she was there. Now all she had to do was find her escort and start her training. She had no idea if K* would be there in person, or if he would send someone, but either way they weren't there yet, so she dragged her bags to the café nearby. She got hit on twice, and finished a laté before he showed up.
"K!" She jumped up and ran (with her bags) to hug him. "I haven't seen you in so long!"
Scooping her up in a hug he laughed. "It's only been five years, lass."
Radiant rolled her eyes. "It might not be long for you, but that's a quarter of my life."
He smiled and set her down. "Aye, I guess it is lass. Would ye like to walk a while before ya sit in a cart for another hour or so?"
"As long as I can put my bags away first."
"O' course." He led the way to where his cart was parked. His code of chivalry wouldn't allow him to let her carry her own bags while he was strong and able, so he put them away for her.
"It's going to take a while to get used to that."
"To what?"
She smiled and grabbed his hoof playfully. "Having a stallion be nice to me without hitting on me or being my uncle."
He laughed knowing how strange he must look walking like that with a mare less than half his age. "A job is a job. You'll be treated as a lady around me."
"I like that."
They made their way to the marketplace. It wasn't far, but they had plenty to do before leaving.
K grabbed a few things and payed a few dronners as they walked. "Is there anything you or Ling might need?"
Radiant shook her head confused. "Ling?"
"Didn't you get my last letter?"
She smiled and rolled her eyes. "No. I have a phone you know."
"I don't trust 'em." He admitted. "Well, ya have a roommate for a few weeks. Ling won't bother none. Doesn't speak English even." He was a bit strange.
"French?" She asked hopefully.
"Better than most." He smiled. "You might have a hard time getting her to talk,  though. She's a quiet one."
"I'd rather have a friend than a stranger rooming with me for a few weeks. Even a quiet one."
"Back to business!" Ge grabbed a few potatoes. "What first? Poteen or whiskey?"
"What in the hay is poteen?"
He smiled big. "You're in for a treat, lass. It's good fun."
It took the better half of an hour to finish his explanation. What pots are best for the traditional form, and what to use for a more modern version. After that they made their way back to K's cart, and back to his house. It took all of two minutes for Radiant to fall asleep during the ride. She awoke to hushed tones in French.
First was a female voice. "²{Do I really have to share a room? What if she sees me showering?}"
K laughed. "{Yes. You have to share. It's the only room with extra beds. As for the showering, you haven't anything she hasn't seen before.}"
There was a rather displeased look on her face. "{She's just so... tall.}"
Radiant decided this was a good time to join the conversation. "{I won't watch you shower if you don't want me to little Ling.}"
Ling let out a little squeak before running away. After a few seconds the sound of a slamming door came from upstairs.
Radiant smiled. "She's adorable! Can I keep her?"
K laughed warmly. "That's up to her. For now let's move your bags inside. Even if your room's locked for now."
"Sounds good to me." Her stomach grumbled. "Then maybe some dinner?"
K smiled knowingly. "Aye, lass. That's the plan. You settle yourself, an' I'll start the cookin'."
Radiant did just that. She went to the main room after nodding. She found a good chair with good light, and a good book. She brought the book from home of course. After about 20 minutes she decided to check on Ling. She went upstairs and found the room easily enough. It was the only locked door on the second floor. There was complete silence from the inside. "{Are you okay in there, Ling?}" She got no response other than a light rustling sound.
She sat with her back against the door. "{Sorry if I came on a bit strong earlier. I'm used to talking to a... tougher crowd.}" She hoped the expression translated properly. "{Can we at least be friends for dinner? It's almost done.}"
The door opened just a crack. "{Is... is it hard?}" A small voice spoke out.
Radiant was glad she got a response, but still confused. "{Is what hard?}"
"{Dealing with all those...}" The door opened enough to show her face. "{drunks.}"
Radiant let out a laugh. "{The hard part was keeping them on the other side of the counter.}"
"{What?}"
"{Didn't K ever tell you that the bar I worked in was part of my uncle's brothel?}"
The door closed slightly and Ling's face turned three shades redder. "{No...}"
"{It's fine. I only worked the bar I was under age after all.}"
The door opened almost all the way, but Ling was still half hiding behind it. "{C-come in.}"
She made her way inside the room. The two beds only had about a meter between them and two meters from the foot to the wall. There was a decent amount of closet space, though. She decided to make Ling blush one more time before dinner. "{We can talk more about brothels after dinner. For now let's go eat.}"
It had the desired effect. Ling was stunned for a moment, then followed Radiant out, scarlet faced. Then she surprised Radiant. "{S-sure.}"
Radiant stopped for a moment, stunned, and Ling giggled as she passed her on the way down the stairs. The smell hit them long before they hit the kitchen. Radiant didn't know what to expect, but it wasn't this.
K heard them coming. "{Two minutes for the red bean paste to be done. Sit at the table for a while.}" He had prepared enough food that there would definitely be leftovers. It was more of a Japanese meal than a Chinese one, but that was lost on Radiant, and it was what Ling preferred.
Ling perked up. "Anmitsu?"
K smiled. "Anmitzu. {One of your favorite meals, and your favorite dessert. Though I don't remember if they go together. Yakisoba, bubble tea, lots of raisu, and ninjin-arame kinpira with Anmitsu for dessert.}"
Radiant was lost. "{Never heard of that kind of tea, I think you said rice, and... what?}" (((The Japanese words remain untranslated as they are not French. This is only translated to the level that Radiant understands it.)))
K just smiled. "You'll enjoy it. Don't worry."
Now Ling was lost. "{Stop it! You know I don't speak English!}"
K started laughing. "{Well I speak all three, so I win. Let's eat! Itadakimasu!}"
Ling rolled her eyes and started eating. She enjoyed every last bit. The noodles, the tea, the rice, the carrot and seaweed kinpira (a way of preparing vegetables), and of course the agar jelly served over red (azuki) bean paste. She spoke mostly with K during the meal in Chinese. She didn't get to speak it much here, but at meals they had gotten into the habit. Radiant was lost, but she was also more interested on focusing on strange new foods that she had never eaten before. Basically everything on the table other than rice was new to her. She had eaten rice before.
After a fun half an hour for Ling, a happy half an hour for K, and a strange half an hour for Radiant K kicked the girls out of the room so that he could do the dishes. It was getting pretty late, so they decided to go up to their room for the night to talk a bit, and read a bit. Ling was more interested in the reading part for most of the night, so they read their own books until it was time to get ready for sleep.
They brushed their teeth, then Ling let Radiant shower first while she waited in the bedroom. After about fifteen minutes Radiant came out with a towel around her mane, and a bath robe around the rest of her. "{It's all yours.}"
"{Thank you.}" Ling had a shy smile as she passed Radiant.
Before the door could close Radiant added, "{I meant what I said before by the way.}"
"{Before?}"
"{When I first got here. I'll look if you want me to.}"
The door swung shut so that Ling could hide her face as it got BRIGHT red. "Wǒ bù fǎnduì ba...(我不反对吧...)" said a small voice from the other side.
Radiant didn't understand Chinese at all, she just laughed, and changed into pajamas to sleep in. Ling came out a few minutes later, and got into her bed across from Radiant. She wasn't good at English, but she had learned a few words so she managed to say one thing before she went to sleep. "Tomorrow... look." Then she hid under her blankets near the wall.
Radiant had a big smile spread across her face. She knew that she would make a quick friend.