//------------------------------//
// Limestone: Working it Out 
// Story: Chosen Love 
// by Just A Random Pegasus 
//------------------------------//

Lightning closed the door to his house as he looked over to Limestone, a smile on his face.

"I had no idea a pony could memorize that many poems. And about rocks, for Celestia's sake!"

Limestone nodded. "Yeah. Maud loves writing rock poems." She flopped lazily on the couch. "And, on a completely different note, I am now tired."

Lightning snorted. "What do you mean you're tired? I'm the one who had to fly us to and from the rock farm!"

Limestone now sat up on the couch. "And I'm the one who had to run into the crystal mines to get some crystals for you!"

Lightning smiled as he took a few crystals out of his saddlebag. "Well... true." He set them on the coffee table before looking up the stairs. "Well... are you ready for bed?"

Limestone nodded. "Yep. I feel all worn out." 

The two made their way up the stairs as Limestone felt a heavy burden on her chest. She knew she had to get a certain issue resolved. If they were going to go any further with their relationship, this issue must be fixed.

When the two reached Lightning's room and closed the door, Lightning pulled back the covers and motioned for Limestone to get in the bed. Limestone glanced around nervously and sighed.

"Lightning, before bed, we seriously need to talk about something."

Lightning raised an eyebrow. "What 'something' are you referring to?"

Limestone eyed him for a few seconds before responding. "Work. How am I going to work? Where am I going to work?"

Lightning looked at her in confusion. "I just told your parents about this, Limestone. We can search for a mining company or something here, and if there are none, I can move into the rock farm with you. It's not a big deal." He ruffled his feathers as he looked towards the bed, and then back to Limestone. "Put it at the back of your mind. For now-"

Limestone gave a small glare. "Lightning, I'm not putting this at the back of my mind! We seriously need to talk about this and come up with a solid solution!" 

Lightning raised an eyebrow. "I just told you."

Limestone rolled her eyes. "No! I won't take that for an answer! I've been out of work for over a month. We need to find something here!"

"Limestone, if you love work that much, then we can go back to the rock farm. I think I have my mind made up about that now."

Limestone aggressively shook her head. "No! I'm not forcing you to live in the rock farm!"

"I just said I want to! You're not forcing me!"

Limestone turned her head away. "Still. I can't take you away from everything you've ever known. I won't be willing to let you live there."

"Why not?"

Limestone looked back at him. "Well, for one, where would you work? My needs are fulfilled, but what about you?"

Lightning thought for a second. "Well... you said Ponyville's close! I could be a weather pony there!" He replied as Limestone shook her head.

"I said Ponyville was close, but not that close! You would still need to fly a good distance!"

"Well... love comes with sacrifices. And that's a sacrifice I'm willing to-"

"Lightning, I know you're truly not happy with that decision! You would be miserable! You would rather stay here in Vanhoover where your friends are! And I can't blame you!"

Lightning grew a look of uncertainty. "I don't have a preference!"

Limestone looked at the ground. "Oh well!" She paused before speaking in a slightly softer voice. "If you insist on moving to the rock farm, then... we-we can't... we can't go any further in our relationship."

A look of shock crossed Lightning's face. "What?! What do you mean by that?! I love you! Are you seriously going to throw away what we have like that?!"

A glare now settled in Limestone's eyes. "I'm not ending it! I'm just saying that we might have to if we can't find work for me here!" 

Lightning now had a glare much like Limestone, but even that couldn't hide the sadness in his eyes. "But... Limestone.... we're meant to be together! Don't tell me you lied about the Choosing Stone?!" 

Limestone glared even more daggers into him. "I never lied about that! That thing is real!"

Lightning turned his head away. "Then aren't we supposed to work through everything? Aren't we supposed to not give up on everything we have?"

Limestone looked down to the ground as her ears folded back. "Uh... I-I know. I don't want to. But..."

Lightning wouldn't look at Limestone. "I'm sorry, but I need some alone time. The guest room is clean."

Limestone felt her heart break. There was no way she could fix this right now. "Um... o-okay..." Limestone responded, her voice a bit squeaky. She turned and walked out of the door.

Once she was in the guest room, she let silence hang over her. After a few seconds, she completely burst into tears. She flopped on the bed, feeling no shame in letting them fall. 

After a few minutes of sobbing, Limestone lifted her head up. She looked around the room to find a large stack of newspapers in the corner. She wiped her eyes as she stepped off the bed.

She picked up the first newspaper on the top and looked at it. Maybe I can find a job in one of these...







Limestone woke up to the song of birds calling the next morning. She smiled and stretched, feeling pleased with herself. She jumped off the bed, took about a minute to brush her mane, and then walked out of the guest room. She had a feeling Lightning would still be in his room.

She knocked on the door. Silence. She knocked again. This time, after getting no response, she just walked into the room. She saw Lightning standing up from the bed, now looking at her. 

"What?"

Limestone smiled as she opened the newspaper she had carried with her out of the guest room. It showed a section that was circled. Lightning looked at it before smiling as well. 

"You found something?!"

Limestone nodded. "Yep! Vanhoover Mining Company!"

Lightning stepped closer and kissed her, wrapping his wings around her back. He then pulled away. "Oh, thank Celestia. I was afraid we were going to have to end our relationship."

Limestone nodded. "I was afraid of that as well. I never should have doubted us for a second."

Lightning smiled. "Agreeable. Say, when are you going to interview for your job?"

Limestone stepped away from him, a determined smile on her face. "Right now, of course! Come on!"







Limestone found herself staring at a large building. A mine was next to it, and it looked like many ponies were carrying rocks and tools in and out. Limestone looked over to Lightning. 

"I think this is the place!"

Lightning nodded. "I'm sure it is. I'm surprised I've never known this place existed, since I've lived here my whole life."

"Well... it is sort of tucked away." Limestone then walked towards the doors and pulled one open. She and Lightning stepped inside to find the front desk. A stallion glanced up from his papers to look at them, and then smiled. It looked like his desk had a lot of rocks and minerals. 

"Welcome to the Vanhoover Mining Company, how may I help you?"

Limestone stepped up to the counter. "I would like to have an interview to work here, please."

The stallion's ear flicked as he smiled. "Of course! Tell me your name, and I'll call the boss over. He's not busy today."

"Cool! My name's Limestone Pie."

The stallion nodded as he wrote her name. "Alright. I'll go get him," he replied as he left the counter and went to a back room.

Lightning smiled down at Limestone. "It's going well so far."

Limestone nodded and smiled brightly. "Yep!" 

The stallion soon walked back out and gave Limestone a friendly smile. "He's ready for you. Follow me," he said as Limestone waved to Lightning, walking with the stallion. 

The two opened another door that was in the back room, revealing a hallway. There were doors adorning the sides of the walls, which Limestone expected were rooms where the management did paperwork and such. They walked to the end of the hallway, where a door stood. It said Mr. Mineral on a small plate. The stallion opened the door to show another stallion sitting on a comfy-looking chair. He had a brown coat and a light gray mane. He also had a pair of glasses on. He looked up and smiled at them.

"Greetings! You must be Limestone Pie!" He said as Limestone nodded.

"The one and only!"

The stallion gestured. "Come on, take a seat across from me."

Limestone smiled as she sat on the chair which was vertical from him. After a second, Limestone heard the door close, and turned around. She saw that the stallion who had led her over had left. 

The stallion smiled at her once again. "Hello there, Limestone Pie. My name is Mr. Stone Mineral. You may just call me Mr. Mineral if you please." He then held out his hoof for Limestone to shake. Limestone accepted the gesture.

"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Mineral." 

Mr. Mineral smiled. "It's nice to meet you as well." He took out a piece of paper from his desk drawers, as well as a pen. Limestone guessed he was going to evaluate her.

"Okay. Now, let's start with the interview." He looked at Limestone and then back at the paper. "Alright. First question: have you ever had any experience with mining or working with minerals?"

Limestone nodded without hesitation. "I do! Before moving here, I lived with my family on a rock farm. So, I've been mining and breaking rocks my whole life."

Mr. Mineral smiled at this, liking what he was hearing. "Alright. Sounds good! Second question: would you be fine with going deep into unexplored parts of the mine?"

Limestone nodded again. "Of course! I've explored mines ever since I was younger. There's a crystal mine on my rock farm."

Mr. Mineral smiled again. "Okay. Now, let's veer from the work aspect. What, do you personally think, are your best qualities?"

Limestone took a moment to think. "Well... I think my best qualities are... honesty, loyalty, passion, and confidence." 

Mr. Mineral tilted his glasses down, looking at her. "When you say you're passionate, what exactly are you passionate about?"

"Well... I'm passionate about my job, and whatever I feel is the right decision."

Mineral nodded and wrote a few things down. "Alright. next question: what's one of your favorite things to do in your pastime?" 

"Oh, I enjoy rock farming and mining. When I'm not on the rock farm, though, I spend time with my friends or colt-friend."

Mineral looked back up to her again. "Okay. Now... tell me a little about yourself."

Limestone nodded. "Well... I am twenty two years old. I have three sisters who are all younger than me. They also all grew up on the family rock farm. Recently, I decided to move to Vanhoover, and I had to find someplace to work. I heard about your mining company, and decided to interview for a job." 

Mineral nodded, taking in all of this information. After writing a few more things down, he smiled at her. "Well... are you ready to hear your results?"

Limestone nodded. "Yes please."

Mineral turned and opened a drawer. He then pulled out an orange suit with a few blue markings. He then turned and put it in front of Limestone.

"You're hired, Limestone."

Limestone looked at him with wide eyes. "Really?"

Mineral nodded. "Of course! I would be foolish to not hire you! You have a lot of experience with mining, which is a skill set very little ponies possess. So, welcome to the team!"

Limestone then smiled brightly and stood up from the chair. "Thanks!"

Mineral nodded. "No problem! Now, when you get home, try on that suit. If it doesn't fit, tell me." He paused for a moment. "And I'll see you in the morning, nine o' clock sharp!"

Limestone nodded. "Alright! Sounds good! See you then!" 







"Ugh... I look so... weird!"

Lightning looked at her, smiling. "Well, I can't disagree with that, considering I've never seen you in a suit before."

Limestone stuck her tongue out at him before turning back around. "Shut up."