A knock came from the door to Limestone's room. Limestone looked away from the window she was gazing out of to turn to the door. Who could it be? Lightning? The thought of opening the door and seeing him standing there just made her heart go crazy. As she neared the door, she found herself blushing harder. She stopped and hit herself. Why was she feeling this way just approaching a door? Love can be really stupid at times.
She finally got to the door and opened it. Instead of seeing a big, muscular golden Pegasus on the other side of the door like she expected, there was a small, non-muscular Pegasus stallion holding a clipboard in his hooves. He had a uniform on with a badge that said "Employee". He flashed Limestone a smile.
"Limestone Pie, am I correct?" He asked as Limestone nodded.
"You are correct," she responded as he flipped through the papers on the clipboard. "Why? Do you have something to tell me?"
The stallion looked back up at her from his clipboard. "Well, you said that you would pay after staying here for three days. You didn't come by the counter to pay yesterday," he replied as Limestone's eyes widened.
"Oh! I'm sorry! That slipped my mind!" She said as she took the bits out of her bag and gave it to the stallion. The Pegasus smiled before getting a more serious look.
"Are you staying here tonight?" He asked. Limestone nodded.
"Yep." A wave of discomfort suddenly washed over her. What if she didn't have enough bits? Would that mean that she would have to leave? Or... would she have to...
She shook the thoughts out of her mind as she turned back to the stallion in the doorway. "Uh, actually, let me check," she responded as she rummaged through her bag. She threw the many necessities on the floor in search for money. After a few minutes of rummaging, a wave of horror washed over her. She didn't have enough money to stay another night. Her face flushed as she looked back up to the stallion.
"I'm sorry, but... I'm going to have to check out soon. I don't have enough to stay another night."
The stallion looked at his clipboard and got a pencil out. "I see. Do you want to check out now?"
Limestone wasted no effort in shaking her head. "Nope. I'll drop by when I'm ready to check out."
The stallion nodded before turning. "Alright. I'll see you later, I guess."
"Thank you." Limestone responded before shutting the door. After standing in silence for a second, she walked over to the bed and flopped onto it. She buried her head in her fore-hooves, letting her mind race.
What should she do next? Maybe she could stay with Sapphire or Speed Blast. Well, she didn't want to be a burden to them. She would feel bad to ask them if she could stay. And, she would have to explain why she wants to stay here so badly. But what else is there to do? She would disappoint her family if she came back home empty-hooved.
Limestone grunted before shifting so she was staring at the ceiling, which was decorated in firework-like patterns. "What did mom and dad do when they met? How come they never had to worry about overstaying their bits?" She asked as she thought back to what her father had told her a long time ago.
"As soon as I saw your mother, she asked me if I had anywhere to stay. I said no. Without hesitation, she invited me in with her."
Limestone sat and thought for a moment before felt stupid. Lightning had asked her when they first met if she came here often, and she asked for him to show her to a hotel! He probably could have offered her to stay with him if she didn't bring up hotels!
Limestone thought about this as a flush started to grow on her face. Could she ask to maybe stay with Lightning? That way, things can work out like they did with her parents.
No, that wouldn't be smart. But she can't keep holding out like this. Maybe she could... confess? The thought of that made her stomach plummet. What if he didn't share the same feelings for her? It is quite possible that the Choosing Stone messed up. The idea of that caused her to feel sick. This time spent... this love she was feeling... could have all gone to waste. She groaned as she put her front hooves on her head.
What was she to do? She had to tell Lightning she felt for him. There was no way he would do it if he feels the same. At least, not for a little while. He might just think that the feeling is just a small hunch and nothing more, if he even has a feeling for her to begin with. Limestone let out a heavy sigh.
She had to tell him her feelings. She just had to. There was nothing else to do. The amount of love she was already feeling feels like an overload. Taking more one-sided love would be... well... tiring and painful. She had to let her love out. Whether that be loving him to the core, or getting over him because he doesn't share the same feelings. That thought made Limestone's heart plummet again. She stood up from the bed and walked to the window. She put her hooves on it while watching a mare and stallion walk along the street, lock their hooves and look into each other's eyes. Limestone smiled brightly while seeing this. Maybe that could be her and Lightning if everything worked out.
Her facial expression turned to one of determination. She had to do this. She had to confess to him. There was no other way to get out this stored feeling. And it has been only three days since she fell in love. She couldn't imagine how much more love she could feel for a pony. He must be the right one for her. She deducted that since she was already falling for him this deeply, that the Stone must have had some magic that caused this to happen to her. But, whatever. She loved him. And he had a right to know!
She jumped to the other side of the room, now feeling a bit more alive. The amount of confidence that flowed through her was causing her to feel almost on top of the world. She took in some air and smiled brighter.
She was Limestone Pie, proud owner of a rock farm. There was no way anything could bring her toughness down.
Limestone knocked on the blue door to Sapphire's house, feeling her legs starting to tremble. It was opened to show both Sapphire and Speed Blast with bright smiles on their faces.
"Limestone!" Sapphire greeted. Her look softened as she glanced at Limestone. "Limestone? Are you alright?"
Limestone's face turned a bright red. "I... uh... really need help with something."
Speed and Sapphire glanced at each other with concern in their eyes before looking back to Limestone.
"Alright! We'll be here to help you!" Speed responded as she used her wing to push Limestone inside. After the door was shut and the mares were seated on the chairs, Sapphire spoke up.
"What's up?" She asked as Limestone took a deep breath in.
"I'm... going to confess," Limestone responded, hiding her deeply flushed face in her hooves. The two's eyes widened.
"Do you mean... like... telling somepony a secret?" Speed asked.
Limestone looked away from her. "Well, yeah..."
Speed thought for a moment before her mouth hung open. "Limestone! Could you mean... telling somepony you like them?!" She asked with a bright smile on her face before bouncing up to Limestone, who tried to hide a sheepish grin.
"You got it right."
The two gasped as Speed got right next to Limestone, a huge grin plastered on her face.
"Oh my gosh, who is it? Tell me, tell me, tell me!" Speed replied, bouncing on her hooves. Limestone nervously looked around the room before speaking up in a very shy whisper.
"Lightning Drift.
Speed raised an eyebrow. "Didn't quite catch that. And I'm right next to you!"
Limestone took her face out of her hooves. "Lightning Drift! I'm madly in love with Lightning, okay?! There!" Limestone burst as the flush on her face drifted to the tips of her ears.
Speed and Sapphire stared at Limestone for a few seconds before getting bright smiles.
"Wow. I seriously had no idea there was actually love between you two. I was just joking the other day when talking to Lightning," Sapphire admitted as Speed nodded.
Limestone grew a sheepish smile on her face before her ears fell flat. "I wouldn't say there's something between us. I think it might be one-sided."
The mares sat in silence before Sapphire spoke up. "I honestly doubt it, Limestone."
Limestone tilted her head. "Really?"
Sapphire nodded. "Yep. When I saw him look at you, there was dilation in his pupils. That's a sign of love. Oh, and not to mention how close he was with you yesterday when you were walking back to your hotel."
Limestone raised an eyebrow, a nervous grin still present on her face. "You-you weren't even with us yesterday!"
Sapphire put her hooves on the table by her seat. "Limestone, I have windows. Speed and I were watching you two walk away from here, hoping you would be okay."
Limestone looked out the window and nodded with understanding. She then let out a sigh as the flush started to drain from her face.
"Okay. I just... need you two's help. I mean, even though you think it's two sided, I still have my doubts. I need some confidence boosting," Limestone said as Sapphire put a hoof on her shoulder.
"Hey, you can count on us. We'll help."
Limestone smiled at the blue Pegasus standing in front of her. "Thanks."
"Don't mention it! Come on, let's talk," Sapphire responded as she trotted over to a chair, taking a seat.
Limestone's ears drooped as the three mares sat in silence. Speed spoke up.
"Question. Why are you so intent on telling him now? You just met him. Do you already think he's the one for you?" She asked. Limestone eyed her before sighing.
"Uh... I guess I could tell you this," Limestone started, pausing for a second. "Well... I guess you can say that... I was kind of... showed that he was the right one for me. By the Choosing Stone."
Speed raised an eyebrow. "What's the Choosing Stone?" She asked as Sapphire beamed.
"I know what that is! A student in my class was talking about it, since it was his research topic." The two glanced over at her as she continued. "The Choosing Stone is a stone that shows you your soulmate."
"Oooooh!" Speed remarked before looking back at Limestone. "Wait, so if you know for sure Lightning's your soulmate, why are you so scared?"
Limestone looked down to the ground. Why was she so scared? That was one question she could never answer. "I-I don't know. I sometimes think that the Stone might have messed up, and that I got the wrong pony. I can't help but doubt he shares the same feelings. It's too good to be true."
Silence hung over the room once again. Sapphire stretched her wings a bit before speaking.
"Limestone, we can't tell you for sure whether he likes you back or not, but we can definitely say that we will be here for you to help. Anything you need."
Limestone smiled. "Thanks. It means a lot. It truly does."
Speed suddenly gasped as a smile overtook her face. "Wait... if this goes well... does that mean you're staying in Vanhoover?!" She questioned, her eyes looking over to Limestone with hope. Limestone nodded.
"Yep! If it goes well, I'll be staying here."
Speed Blast jumped up from the chair and started flying around. "Woo-hoo! Another friend to hang out with almost every day!" She remarked as she darted around the living room. She soon flew back to her seat and sat down again. Limestone giggled before raising an eyebrow.
"Wow. You're a lot different from when I first met you two days ago," Limestone remarked as Speed happily nodded.
"I'm shy when I first meet somepony. I'm more fun once they get to know me."
Sapphire nodded her head. "I completely forget how you were the time I first met you. I can't remember a time you were ever shy around me."
Speed looked back to her friend. "And I never will be shy around you!" She replied before turning around to Limestone. "Alright! Let's get down to business! We need to make sure we got it perfect, so you can stay in Vanhoover with us and your stallion!"