//------------------------------// // Growing Up // Story: Growing Up // by ThatOneWriter //------------------------------// The door shut behind Sweetie Belle with a click. Since the dance, Scootaloo’s intentions had been clear. Every “accidental” bump and touch announced I want you. Sweetie Belle had thought that she was ready. The entire night had been building to this moment, and now here it was. The inevitable conclusion. Scootaloo sat herself down on the couch, the motion slow and deliberate. She patted the cushion next to her, and Sweetie Belle sat next to her. Her wing twitched, and she fidgeted. “So.” “So,” Sweetie Belle murmured. Her eyes darted away. She couldn’t look Scootaloo in the eyes. That would mean accepting that, yes, this was happening. Her stomach turned a thousand different ways, fluttering with butterflies then sinking with the weight of a stone. Nausea added itself to the list of worries on her mind. The old couch squeaked, breaking her from her thoughts. Scootaloo scooted toward her. “My parents will be gone all night,” she whispered, breathing softly in Sweetie Belle’s ear. Sweetie Belle nodded, her eyes still on the floor. Something warm and moist landed on her cheek, pulling away with a slight plop. Startled, she looked up to see Scootaloo’s lips still puckered. Her faced heated up. Scootaloo pulled in again, this time kissing her full on the lips. Her tongue crept over Sweetie Belle’s lips, slowly licking over and around them, then making a sudden dart into Sweetie Belle’s mouth. The tongue invaded, pushing up against her own. They wrestled, fighting, grappling for dominance. A hoof pressed itself over Sweetie Belle’s cutie mark— Sweetie Belle pushed herself away from Scootaloo. Her marefriend looked up at her, eyebrows raised and head tilted. “S—sorry,” she said, bolting to the bathroom before Scootaloo could object. Shaking hooves locked the door. She slumped, pressing back against the door. Her mind raced faster than ever. What are we doing? We’re not ready for this. She stood and looked at herself in the mirror. Though her reflection stood almost as tall as her sister, she felt like she did in her blank flank days—inept, inferior, and unsure. Her reflection bit her lip. Or are we? She turned on the faucet and splashed water on her face a few times before letting the sink fill up. I mean, Scootaloo seemed pretty sure we were. And everypony else lost their virginity a long time ago—even Twist! That wasn’t quite right; Apple Bloom was still a virgin, as were a few others. But everypony had been in such a frenzy after Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon announced that they had done it. And all the holdouts are probably going to lose their V-cards tonight. Looking down, she saw the water nearing the top of the sink. Her hoof immediately shot out to turn off the faucet. She sighed. But is that what I want? To lose it just because everypony else says I should? I mean, do I want to be like Silver Spoon? After her breakup with Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon had confided in her that she’d only had sex with Diamond after being threatened with a breakup. It was terrible sex anyway, she had said. Neither of them had known what they were doing, and it ended after Diamond had climaxed. Sweetie Belle had no idea how much of that was true and how much was Silver mudslinging at her ex, but it still weighed on her mind. Then again, it could be wonderful, she thought, dipping her hooves in the water. She slowly ran her wet hooves over her face. Babs certainly seemed to enjoy it, often bragging about her exploits, at least until Apple Bloom had less-than-politely insisted that she stop. It was worth noting, however, that Babs was straight. Is sex just better with stallions? And again, how much of it was a lie? Sweetie Belle did not know. I guess I’ll never know till I try. Her hooves felt steadier now as she grabbed a towel. Idly, she wondered what sex with Scootaloo would be like. If there was a time to find out, now would be the time. She nodded at the mirror, and her reflection smiled back. Yeah! We’re both old enough now. We can do this! Taking a deep breath, she unlocked the door and walked back to the living room. Scootaloo still sat on the couch, hunched over. Her head rested on her hoof, and she stared blankly at the wall. When Sweetie Belle walked up, she shook her head and looked up. Sweetie Belle flashed a smile, and she automatically flashed one back. “Sorry,” Sweetie Belle said, taking her place again on the couch. “I was just…” She sighed. “This is a big deal.” Her smile returned. “But I think I’m ready now.” “About that…” Scootaloo shifted on the couch again. She laughed, making Sweetie Belle raise an eyebrow. “What’s so funny?” Scootaloo shook her head, still laughing. “We’re so dumb. What are we doing?” Running her hoof through her mane, she shook her head again. “We’re just kids pretending to be adults, aren’t we?” She looked Sweetie Belle in the eyes. “I mean, this whole contrived race to lose our virginity… it’s cutie marks all over again. Finding our talents, getting in our first relationships, leaving school, losing our virginity… it’s all a race to grow up.” Scootaloo bit her lip. “I don’t want this to just be another notch in our belt. I—” Her voice cracked. “I want this to matter.” Sweetie Belle nodded. “So what do you want to do then?” A faint smile curled the corner of Scootaloo’s mouth. “I don’t really care, just as long as it’s with you.” Sweetie Belle pecked her on the cheek, and Scootaloo’s wing wrapped around her. A comfortable silence pervaded the air as they cuddled contently in each other’s embrace. Eventually Sweetie Belle laughed, causing Scootaloo to turn to her. “You want to know something funny?” She snuggled closer against her marefriend. “While you were having this deep, philosophical inner dialogue, I was in there trying to psych myself up for this.” Her voice lowered. “I would have done it.” She sighed. “I’m so unsure of… everything right now, but I would have done it. For you.” Nuzzling her marefriend, Scootaloo whispered, “Can I get a rain check?” Sweetie Belle giggled and kissed her. “Yes, you can.” They cuddled together for hours, until Scootaloo fell asleep in Sweetie Belle’s arms. As she lay there, her marefriend’s snoring filling the room, she decided that their choice, right or wrong, would be one she’d never regret.