//------------------------------// // Dinner Date Pt. 2 // Story: The Regular // by Milo_Chalks //------------------------------// “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.