Limestone shrugged and picked up Pinkie’s book. She glanced at the next two sections. One was on the date itself, the other was on kissing. Kissing?! What the fuck was her sister doing with those friends of hers?! Did she honestly expect her to do something like that? She doubted Spitfire would even consent.
The mare must have Marble’s telepathy because she appeared in the doorway while Limestone quickly shut the book. She was coated in sweat. It made her glisten and her muscles stood out in appealing ways. Limestone couldn’t help but stare and be impressed. Then shook her head and refocused. How would she even bring up kissing for training?
Spitfire flopped in her seat across the table. She was still breathing heavily from whatever it was she’d done. “Ok,” she huffed, “here goes.”
The mare stared at Limestone with a soft gaze. It was determined but uncertain. There was a slight quiver in her voice as she spoke. Nerves or exhaustion, Limestone couldn’t decide. Spitfire tentatively reached a hoof out but withdrew it again.
“Look,” the pegasus finally said, “we haven’t known each other for a long time, but there is a connection. Life is too short to ignore it. It might hurt us both in the end but if it doesn’t it could be the best thing to ever happen to us. I know I would kick myself if I passed up a chance like that. But it would take us both to really make it work. What do you say? Do you want to give it a shot?”
Limestone’s mouth dropped. Then closed.Then she leaned back in her seat in thought. The Captain leaned in face full of focus. She owed it an answer. She looked down at that ground. “I guess when you put it that way, I’d be stupid to say ‘no’. I mean you’re not that bad looking actually, and we could work through our conflicts, I guess. I could compromise more.”
“What?” Spitfire said with pure confusion. “What kind of critique is that?!”
“That was for training?!”
“Of course it was! We’re practicing! Practicing. And what do you mean not that bad looking?”
Limestone turned more red than she ever had in her life. She had been tricked. There was no way to back out. But her anger flooded her brain. “I mean you’re not uglier than a tatzlwurm!”
“Your standard is a tatzlwurm?!” Spitfire just shook her head.
“What?! No! Let’s just move on.” Then she remembered what the next lessons would bring. This obnoxious pegasus didn’t deserve a kiss from her. She deserved to kiss her ass. But then that brought up even worse sounding implications. She collapsed in a confused, frustrated heap.
“Uhhh, right,” Spitfire said but Limestone swore there was a hint of amusement in that comment. “So, the book says the next thing is to picture where you would take your date... that’s a tough one. Movies? Dinner?”
“Yeah, that’s a great way to get to know somepony,” snarked the deflated pile of red.
“It’s to build a bond.”
“Or put me to sleep. You need something exciting to happen! Something, you know, something kick-ass. If you can kick another pony’s flank in the process, then it’s much better.”
Spitfire placed her hoof to her forehead. A large sigh escaped her. “A fight is not a date. You shouldn’t be trying to hurt other ponies anyway. But… you might be right about the ‘standard’ options. I could take them to the Wonderbolt headquarters, but it’s embarrassing to go on a date in front of your squad. Picnic? Hiking? Rock climbing?”
“Hoof boxing? Karate match? Arcade?”
“Arcade? What are you, twelve?” the captain sneered, and tried to think.
Limestone finally lifted her head. Why would the pegasus be so hell bent on something she would want? If Spitfire wanted to take her date to some lame hiking trip, let her. The farm pony would rather go to a…
“Metal concert!” The mares cried in unison. They gasped at each other.
“You like metal?” cried Limestone. How could a wimpy pegasus love the music of the rock gods themselves? Was she tougher than the farm pony had thought? Time to find out. “Which bands?”
“Iron Mare Den, Rwar, Ram Sty,” Spitfire rattled off.
“How about Wɥeat, or Maretailica?”
“They’re good but my favorite is Pontera.”
“No way! I love Pontera!” Limestone shouted, climbing out of her chair. “I have all their albums! I haven’t seen them in concert yet.”
“I’ve seen them three times,” the Captain said, hopping out of her chair. “My ears rang for three days each time. Made it hard to do dives and spirals like that. If you want, I could hook you up with tickets.”
“You’re kidding! That would kick ass! You have to come. I want to see that soft flank of yours in the pit.” A wicked grin spread across the sadistic pony’s face.
“Umm, you know, it’s hard to tell if this is a friendly thing or if you really want to hurt me.”
“I’m just making sure you’re tough enough.”
“Tough enough for what?”
“To be my—” Limestone stopped. What was she testing Spitfire for? A friend? A special somepony? Was she actually considering it? “—friend,” she said definitively. She was just thinking friend, wasn’t she?
“Alright, Hot Stuff, but wait until my wing heals, ok?”
Limestone nodded and made her way to her phonograph and record collection. Her movements were fast and erratic; she hoped Spitfire wouldn’t notice. Limestone quickly found her favorite Pontera album and slid the well-loved vinyl from its sleeve. She placed the record on, and was rewarded with jarring guitar and double kicking bass drum. The singer screamed like a demon.
“Ahh, this is a good album,” Spitfire stated as she appeared next to her by the record stack. The pegasus beamed with the unfiltered pride of a true metal connoisseur as she admired Limestone’s collection—it was about time there was a pony cultured enough to appreciate it. Limestone was pleased to note a few eyebrow raises as the pegasus leafed through the tattered sleeves. The yellow hoof suddenly stopped when it came to a dark purple spine. It moved with unnatural speed and pulled the album out. Limestone’s face fell
“Raspontina?” read the much-too-knowledgeable Captain. “This is goth, isn’t it? Did somepony go through a goth phase?”
“That must be Maud’s,” whined Limestone, though the tell tale glow on her face told otherwise. She watched in horror as the pegasus opened the sleeve, and bit her lower lip. Spitfire’s face ballooned out and her eyes started to water.
“What?!” spat the glowering Limestone.
“Just Maud, huh? What about this picture, Hot Stuff?” Spitfire pulled a picture that should have been burned along with that record. It clearly showed Limestone and Maud in the goth clothing they used to wear in highschool. She cringed as she remembered the hours they spent each morning putting on their makeup. She could still feel the tightness of the fishnet stockings she used to wear.
“You look kind of hot,” admitted the cheeky pegasus, in between snickers. “You still have those socks?”
“Shut up!”
“Heh. Now ‘Hot Stuff’ has a whole new meaning!”
“Shut up!” Limestone shouted as she stormed out of the living room. She roughly pushed a chair over.
“Relax, Limestone,” Spitfire called from the other room. “I’m not going to tell any pony. I am your… friend, after all.”
Limestone stared at the infernal book on the dining room table. She knew what was next. But Spitfire’s smug face was something to punch, not kiss—it laughed at her. It mocked her with its soft features and cute smile.
“Hey, we all did dumb things in highschool,” Spitfire reasoned. “I’m sure we’re doing dumb things now. Just have to let it go.”
The earth pony grumbled and crossed her forehooves. Like it was that easy. If she could do that she would have done it.
“So let’s take a look at what’s next,” Spitfire said and reached for the guide. She stuffed something behind her wing.
“I already did,” sighed Limestone. “It’s kissing.”
“Kissing?!”
“Yup,” she responded flatly. Let’s see how this annoying pony deals with this! A sadistic smile crossed her face as she realized how much Spitfire would squirm. She looked at her “friend” and was surprised to see a small smile on the other pony’s face, too. It passed so quickly that she wondered if she imagined it.
“That’s… a bit much, isn’t it? To do with a friend,” the pegasus wondered out loud. “Is that what Pinkie did with her friends?”
Limestone shrugged. But this was another challenge that she wasn’t going to back away from. Feelings be damned. This was war. She was still sore from falling for the asking-out ploy.
“And you’re ok with—“ Spitfire’s question froze on her lips. “You’re looking forward to this, aren’t you?”
“What?! What makes you say that?”
“You’re grinning from ear to ear. I didn’t know you wanted to kiss me that badly.”
Limestone’s face dropped. She didn’t think of it that way, and the Wonderbolt seemed much more comfortable than she hoped. Excited even. Was she looking forward to it?
“Well,” the grinning pegasus said. “I guess I am more your type than I thought. But I wouldn’t kiss on the first date.“
“Who says we’re dating?”
“A smiling pony who wants me to kiss her. And don’t think I forgot how you answered when I practiced asking you out.” Spitfire’s eyes burned with a fire that was different than before. Limestone started to feel color in her face. The pegasus was getting closer. Limestone slowly backed up. Her face filled with fear.
No, she was Limestone Pie! Nothing could defeat her: not a storm, a pegasus, or a ridiculous book, and certainly not a stupid kiss. If Spitfire wanted a kiss, then she was going to give one that the Wonderbolt captain would never forget.
She took a step forward and defiantly met Spitfire’s burning gaze. The Wonderbolt didn’t back down, but instead took another step towards her. It was the longest few seconds of Limestone’s life, but finally, they were only inches from each other. Each was silently daring the other to back down.
Their muzzles moved towards one another. Their eyes searched for any hint that the other was chickening out. Neither did.
Limestone opened her mouth and Spitfire mirrored her. Sweat began to form on her brow. The pegasus wasn’t stopping. This was really going to happen. Why was she so excited about it? It was that stupid pegasus. Limestone could feel her body flooding with adrenaline.
Their lips met, and Limestone felt that fire move from Spitfire’s eyes through her entire body.It was strong and powerful. Limestone felt a shift in her. A need she never knew she had was being fulfilled—she was finally getting something she’d never admitted she wanted.
She felt again. She could feel her own excitement. And she felt Spitfire’s want, but it was mixed with uncertainty. She blocked out both sensations and focused on her normal defense: making ponies feel uncomfortable.
Limestone opened her eyes. She saw the bright yellow eyelids of her kissing partner. It was time to push. She turned her head and slowly opened her mouth.
Spitfire’s eyes popped open, then narrowed in annoyance. She knew exactly what the farm pony was doing, and met her challenge.
Limestone felt a tongue slide into her mouth, and she nearly shut it in surprise; but the mare would not be defeated. She stretched her tongue into the Wonderbolt’s mouth and matched the other tongue’s movements.
A tongue battle began as they wrapped and slithered around each other. It was a sensation that Limestone couldn’t get enough of. Her spine spasmed in pleasure. Her mind whirled with possibilities. It made her uncomfortable—she wasn’t used to fighting urges like these. Her hoof moved itself to wrap around the back of Spitfire’s neck but was stopped as her companion broke the connection.
“Okay. I-I think that’s enough practice for now,” gasped the pegasus. Their muzzles were still inches apart. Their breaths still mingled and danced with each other. “We don’t want to take this too far… do we?”
Limestone looked at her. Spitfire’s face was flushed, and her breathing was heavy. She looked up at Limestone through half-closed eyes. The captain’s muscles twitched and her tail swished back and forth. This was not good; they were just training. Right? Just training.
The ponies drifted slowly away from each other. What was Pinkie thinking, writing that crap? This wasn’t being friendly, this was pushing a boundary that Limestone hadn’t explored yet. She sat down at the table and panted a bit.
“Well… I think we finished that section,” Spitfire huffed. “I’m afraid to see what’s next.”
Her unbroken wing reached across the table and swept the book towards her. She opened it and skimmed through the pages they already read. She stopped at the kissing section.
“Kissing is definitely a part of dating,” Spitfire read. “But you shouldn’t… practice this… with a friend.” The pegasus trailed off and glared at Limestone. “So it was a ploy?”
“No! I just read the title!”
Spitfire placed her hoof to her forehead and blushed. “Well, this is a disaster. I don’t know what we can do about it now.”
“It’s by Pinkie,” Limestone reminded her. “She would have thought of something.”
A glance from the distraught captain told Limestone something was bothering the pegasus. She could feel it. Her “sense” was creeping back. Limestone could feel others pain like she used to. She had to stop it somehow. Maybe if she helped this mare.
“What’s wrong?” Limestone found herself saying.
“Mmm? Oh, um, nothing. It’s just… worrisome,” the Captain sighed. “This felt right. I thought that if we figured out this dating thing, the storm would at least slow down, but it’s still raging out there.”
Limestone glanced out the window. Holder’s Boulder was glowing brightly enough to be clearly visible through the layers of sand. She stared at her “old friend” in confusion and embarrassment. What was it trying to do? Was all this really because of her?
“Is there anything else we could think of besides this?” the earth pony asked. “Are you sure it’s about dating?”
Spitfire nodded. “It feels right. I can’t explain it but it feels like we have to resolve this.”
“How? Do we need to finish the book or something?”
“It’s a start, unless you have any other ideas?” The pegasus’s face was serious. She raised an eyebrow and waited. Limestone could feel her expecting something. Hoping for something.
“We should continue,” Limestone finally said. What was Spitfire hoping for? What did she want from the farm mare?
Spitfire sighed and continued reading. “Obviously it’s too late for the warning. Congratulations on your first kiss, Limestone. I know you guys are pretty tired of these lessons, so there is only one more: snuggling. This one is fine between friends. You have to get used to another pony leaning on you. both physically and emotionally. It’s really important as the relationship continues.”
“I thought this was about dating, not a full relationship,” sighed the farm mare.
“You backing out? Calling it quits?”
“Never!”
Spitfire nodded. She took a deep breath and got up. “Maybe this will work. Now, where’s the best place to cuddle? I want to feel the full experience.”
“Marble and Vinyl cuddle, like, everywhere,” moaned Limestone. Multiple images of finding them snuggling all over the house filled her mind. She tried to filter out things like the bed or anyplace else that sounded more suggestive rather than relaxing. “I think the couch is probably the most comfortable and… less likely to lead to awkward thoughts.”
“Right! To the couch!” the pegasus said and rushed to the couch that Limestone had woken up from. Limestone followed and felt a strange sense of giddiness. She’d finally get to see if snuggling was as comfortable as those two made it seem.
Spitfire sat on the couch and opened her forehooves. She casually draped a hoof along the back of the couch. Her face changed to a strange “come-hither” expression. She patted the spot on the couch in front of her. “Ready?”
“Don’t you think I should be behind you?”
“Starting that again? Fine! We’ll take turns. I’m already sitting, so I’ll go first,” the captain said defiantly. She patted the couch again. Limestone smiled and flopped on the couch into Spitfire’s chest.
“Oof!” the startled pegasus cried. It wasn’t a great start. Spitfire glared at the back of her training partner’s head, then sighed and placed her forehooves around the bulkier pony.
Limestone leaned into the soft mare. She caught a minty waft of some sort of muscle relaxant patch. Soon, those thoughts returned. She tried to get that kiss out of her head, but it felt like it was hanging there between the two of them.
Limestone had to get things back under her control. She leaned her head into the captain’s floofy yellow chest and gave an exaggerated sigh. She could almost feel the red glow from her companion. A sneer grew on her lips.
“Mmm,” she purred and rubbed her head further onto the mare’s chest. “So comfy.”
The smirk grew wider, but to her surprise, the forehooves just shifted to a more comfortable position. They tightened, holding her firmly but still gently. Her companion was either calling her bluff, or was actually enjoying it. She wouldn’t be outdone. She shifted closer and felt her haunches slide right into Spitfire’s lap. The mare behind her placed a chin on Limestone’s neck. Their faces were touching. Snuggling really was just as warm and soft as it looked.
Limestone found herself melting into the other pony’s hooves, snared by her own trap. It was so comfortable, so fulfilling. She felt warm. Wanted. It was something she had desperately sought without ever knowing it. She looked up at Spitfire’s face. The mare had her eyes closed and looked like Vinyl did when Marble curled up under her.
Limestone could feel the urge to kiss Spitfire again rise. What was wrong with her? It was just a kiss. Sure, she’d kind of enjoyed it, but it was no reason to lose her head and act all lovey-dovey. She had to stop this.
“Umm, I think it’s my turn,” the farm pony said with an extra gruffness to her voice.
“Hmmm? What? Oh yeah,” the pegasus said and lifted her head. Limestone felt the gentle weight shift off her, and the warmth with it. A yearning began immediately in her heart. It was the strangest feeling she’d ever had, but she felt better knowing the warmth would return in a few moments. That thought excited and unnerved her at the same time.
She got off the pegasus’ seat and shifted to the other side of the couch. She tried not to look too eager to open her forehooves, but her heart had started to beat faster. A hunger sought to be sated.
Spitfire got up and sat down in Limestone’s lap. There was no pretense or hesitation, she just sat her warm flanks into the awaiting seat. The farm pony would have been annoyed if she hadn’t been so eager for it.
The pegasus’s body was larger than Limestone had thought, but not so big that it was crushing her. In fact, it was almost the perfect size. She wrapped her forehooves around that body and was immediately hit with that feeling again.
Limestone felt a small part of her heart open. This was what she was looking for: this feeling. Inclusion. She tried to lay her head on Spitfire neck but found that stupid orange mane in her snout.
A snort from the cuddlee alerted Limestone that Spitfire felt the problem. The Captain shifted and suddenly things went in a whole different direction. She turned and wrapped her hooves around Limestone’s back, pressing her barrel chest into the farm pony’s. Her head pressed into the earth pony’s shoulder. It was much closer.
The intimacy was staggering. Limestone felt her face flush and her body burn. It wasn’t the kind of heat she was used to, the burning need to beat something. This fire made her feel giddy and lightheaded. She closed her eyes and rested her head on Spitfire’s shoulder. She could feel each breath the pegasus took. The breath tickled her ear on each exhale.
“This is nice,” sighed Spitfire. “I’ll have to remember to let my mane down when we do this again… uh, with other ponies, that is.”
“Nah, don’t change it,” assured Limestone, her face flushing again. “Don’t change anything about you for anypony. Especially not for love.”
“So, how long are we planning to train on this?”
“Umm, I suddenly feel the need to do more pushups. A lot more pushups,” the flustered mare said. Her body felt way too hot.
“Me too!”
The mares quickly got off the couch. “We need some music to reset the mood,” suggested Limestone, turning away from her snuggle buddy. She still felt hot. Her breathing was too fast. She needed something to bring her back to earth. “Pontera?”
“Pontera.”
The two began their sets to the music. Each push-up was exhilarating. All that cuddling stuff fell to the back of the farm pony’s mind. Each set brought renewed vigor. She glanced at her companion. The pegasus was rhythmically matching her speed. The tension, and a cold feeling hit her with a vengeance.
She had to stop thinking like this. More work, more push-ups. The physical exertion was the only thing that mattered. It cleansed the mind and sharpened the focus.
An hour later both of them were stretching and panting. It took all the awkwardness out of them. “That was just what I needed,” Limestone huffed. “I got to do this more. Do you need a workout buddy?”
“Sure, if you can keep up.”
“Oh you’re on. So the book said that was the last thing, what do we do now? It looks like the storm hasn’t stopped.”
“Well, we could look at the rest of that book, it had quite a few more pages,” Spitfire suggested, still acting odd and uncomfortable. It almost seemed like something was bugging her.
“Ok, that’s it!” Limestone cried. “What’s wrong? Tell me!”
“What do you mean?” the captain asked.
The gift was back on, and Limestone was too annoyed to turn it off. “You have something bothering you, I can feel it.”
“What kind of thing?”
“I don’t know, that’s why I asked. I can only feel emotions, not read thoughts!” The frustrated mare explained.
“Your Limey sense, huh?” Spitfire guessed. “So that’s your gift.”
“Yes! If you really want to know, I can feel everything another pony feels just by looking at them. I don’t know their thoughts, or why they feel it, but I can feel their emotions and I hate it. I willed myself to stop a long time ago. I don’t know why it’s back now.”
“That’s pretty amazing,” admitted Spitfire. “But I’m not sure what you could use it for.”
“Nothing! It wasn’t good for anything! It just made me feel all the time. It hurt. And I couldn’t stop anypony else from hurting, all I could do was hurt with them.” Limestone could feel the old fear and pain welled up so fast that she didn’t have time to catch it.
Spitfire moved the hoof from her shoulder to a true hug. It wasn’t like one of Pinkie’s overexcited, crushing hugs—this hug was soft, gentle, and supportive.
“I’m fine, I’m fine!” Limestone protested. “I can stop the gift. I just shut it all out.”
“Are you sure you want to?”
“Of course!” Limestone answered. “It’s killing me that I can feel you wanting to tell me something, and being too afraid to.” Panic filled her body—Limestone knew the panic wasn’t hers, but she had no control over it.
“You’re right… I do have something on my mind, but I don’t think you’re ready to hear it yet,” admitted Spitfire.
“Are you babying me? I’m a grown mare! Spill it.”
“Ok ok, I will! I just… need to think about how to word it, and right now my mind is kind of fried. So I’m going to hit the showers and head to bed. I’ll tell you about it in the morning.” The pegasus took off up the stairs in a flash.
“Ok,” Limestone muttered in confusion.
She had to get her powers back under control. She paced back and forth, worried that some strange thing was looming over them that wasn’t the storm. She couldn’t put her hoof on it. She didn’t even know why she cared so much. It was just a stupid pegasus wasn’t it?
No. Limestone could bullshit a lot of ponies, but not herself. She knew that this pony was special. This pony put up with all her crap. She hoped they could stay friends… no, that wasn’t right at all! She wanted them to become more than friends. She wanted Spitfire as her special somepony. She knew it, and she couldn’t go back on it now.
Limestone tried to put that feeling behind her and get some sleep, but she couldn’t seem to shut her eyes. She just laid on her lumpy couch and stared at the ceiling. Spitfire was going to wait until tomorrow to tell her what was wrong, and that was causing her brain to spasm. She wanted to know now.