"Hurry up, Beetle!" Shouted a young pony as he ran through a forest, hopping along rocks and boulders as he made his way up a small mound. His fur was light blue and he wore a light green hoodie, his appearance makes him look very feminine which gave him more than his fair share of teasing. Beetle, who was indeed a female, was a bit more unique in her appearance. Her fur was bright and shiny yellow, her hooves were white as if she had been running through snow, eyes the brightest shade of green, and her mane had a bug-like pattern of bright and dark red. "If you slowed down---I wouldn't need to hurry up!" Spoke Beetle as she attempted to hop along the same boulders the blue pony had. When she jumped to the last one she had slipped and would've went stumbling down, luckily though the blue pony had caught her just in time. "Thanks Speedy.." She spoke as he pulls her up on the mound. "Don't mention it, snowy hooves hehe." Speedy joked as he and Beetle rolled down the over side. They must've went like fifty miles and it wasn't until they crossed a rapid river, which Beetle nearly fell in as the rope Speedy had used to jump over had given way, before Beetle had asked where they were going for the tenth time. She was close friends with Speedy, having met two years prior and hanged together every day when possible, but for the first time he simply refuses to answer. "Just a bit further Beetle, trust me you'll love it!" Is what he would say every time she asked, she wasn't as adventurous as Speedy so her legs weren't used to all the advanced jumping as he calls it. In the letters he sends her when they were apart he always mentioned how he would find new places out in the forests near Ponyville, or how his caretaker Twilight was doing. He usually goes on about adventuring but occasionally mentions Spike, who was like a brother to him, or his friends the Cutie Mark Crusaders. In his last letter about them he mentioned how Twilight and her friends went to a empire of crystals, ever since then Twilight had been studying more than ever. Beetle had other friends too but being part of a merchant family that travels, she was always on the move. Her family at times stays at one location for two maybe three days at most, maybe a week if they visited their home town for the Holidays. She remembered when she first met Speedy, it was during her first visit to Canterlot at Hearth’s Warming Eve. Speedy grew up there but was moved to Ponyville about three months prior, he was attending the usual play about Equestria's founding which that year Twilight and her friends were playing as the founders. They met right there in the front row, she was bored about halfway through while Speedy was enjoying every moment, she took a long sigh at the part where Pinkie Pie fell off a cliff and he asked her what was wrong with her saying it was the most boring play ever. She remembered very clearly his face when she had said it, he looked almost insulted but randomly let out a silent laugh, but it wasn't until actual Hearth’s Warming that they became friends. She hadn't noticed while at the play, but Speedy was still a blank flank. She found it odd and whether funny that a teen aged pony still had no Cutie Mark, oh it almost lead to a big fight it did when she laughed about it. However after his attempt at fighting back which led to a roll down a hill and crashing into a big snowpony, they laughed so hard they couldn't have had hard feelings even if they tried. Finally after what felt hours Speedy came to a stop, told Beetle to close her eyes and led her through what felt like fluffy pillows, which she assumed were just bushes. "OK, you can open your eyes." He whispers in her ear. Once open her eyes were met with the most beautiful scenery she had ever saw, Speedy had led her to a large green field with flowers as far as the eye could see, with trees around it like a cycler wall. Her eyes were so wide Speedy thought the white in them were completely gone, for nearly a full minute she was frozen in awe before suddenly going to the nearest flower and inspecting it. "Aw wow!" She smiles seeing a small insect climbing the stem, Speedy's heart immediately sank. "That's what you’re in wow at? A bug climbing a flower?" He asked kneeling down by her, looking unimpressed by it. "This isn't just some bug!" She snapped a little not taking her eyes off it, "This is a rare Red Beetle! Oh I heard if you find one in your home, you'll get hundred days of good luck!" she explained while slowly watching it, making slight clicks and noises with her mouth which Speedy knew was her bug speaking voice. "Well, maybe it'll follow you home?" Speedy asked, not seeing what was so special other than it matches her mane. "Oh no that would be bad lu-what's that? Yeah? O-Oh yeah...Speedy, you're stepping on his brother." Speedy looked under his hooves and saw a much bigger black beetle under it, causing him to jump backwards onto some flowers. "Oh no you fell on some spiders!!!" Jumping up again he panickedly shakes and rubs his self off, nearly ripping his hoodie off as spiders were his biggest fear. Turning to make sure his tail was spider free he rammed face first into a tree, causing Fruitbats who were asleep to spit seeds into his face as he fell. Beetle watched this and while concerned and worried, ended up laughing her tail off. "W-What's so--*he pauses to spit a few seeds out of his mouth*--funny Beetle?" "That--was--hilarious!!!" "Glad it was for some pony.." He sighs walking back to her, but stopped every now and again to ask if he was about to step on something. Simply sitting down he sighs again and Beetle stopped her laughter, seeing Speedy was upset she laid next to him and nuzzled her nose against him. He didn’t respond, she thought about how to get him to talk and smirked at something that always works. She nuzzles her nose against his neck like she was trying to be lovey, then grabbed him into a hug while treating his neck as if it was a baby’s belly. “H-Hey stop it! Sto-IT TICKLES!!!” He blurted out laughing, cursing that she knew his neck was a big ticklish spot. She kept tickling him until he was laughing so hard he fell over, with her falling over with him. They laughed and laughed for what felt an eternally, looking at each other as the laughter died down. For a few moments they were silent, then Beetle gave Speedy’s nose a slight peck with him saying “Eeeewwww you know I don’t like my nose being kissed!” but he just laughed along with her, not wanting to feel angry right now as he felt really happy. Instead he simply smiles at Beetle, thinking she looked pretty cute with her mane all messy in her face. “So----anyways------about why I brought you here..” He speaks feeling as if it would remain silent forever if he hadn’t. “To show me these flowers? Their----eh, alright.” She smiles licking his nose again, mainly to just tease him plus she loved his reaction to it. “No...I wanted to ask you something----and show you this.” Speedy motioned Beetle to lay next to him, and then he gave the most soft whistle she had ever heard. All at once life had sprung to action, from the flowers flew butterflies, mostly red but there were more colors mixed in. From the trees came Fruitbats and all sorts of birds, there were even a few bugs and insects flying as well. Beetle’s eyes once again went wide in awe as the critters all flew in different directions and patterns, yet were all in harmony too. The sky was beautifully engulfed in the critters flying and the sunlight casting wonderful shadows over them, when he saw her face Speedy smiled. “Remember when I told you in my last letter? Fluttershy showed me a beautiful place and I couldn’t wait to show yo---” “Hm? Oh yeah yeah, that was ni-Fluttershy?” Beetle wasn’t listening to a word Speedy was saying until he mentioned Fluttershy. “By how much you mention her, I swear you loved her.” “W-What--I do not love Fluttersh---” “Or was it Applebloom? She is younger than you though, wonder how Applejack wo--” “BEETLE! Seriously? Seriously you're doing this here?” Speedy hung his mouth open, then sat up which seemingly disturbed the critters’ flight pattern. “Aw come on, you know I was only jok--” “I thought this would be something you would like, the perfect to ask yo---” He was interrupted as Beetle pulled him back down, hugging him to make sure he wouldn’t get up again. “I’m sorry OK?” These words seemed to have worked in making him stop struggling, but still gave her his grumpy stare. “Your right, shouldn’t joke around in a place like this.” “Well...because you apologized.” Speedy hugged her back, he really didn’t like staying mad with her. Watching the critters flying around she asks “So, ask me what Speedster?” which made Speedy think back to what he was saying before. He thought for only a brief moment or two, until what he was saying came back into his mind. He blushed as all of a suddenly he lost the courage to ask it, and it didn’t help that Beetle has placed a small bug on his nose which resulted in him screaming. “I wanted to ask, you see I for a while now really l-liked you and with Hearts And Hooves Day tomorrow----” He gulped, Beetle was just smiling and he wasn’t sure if she was following him. “----Would you go out with me?” This, it appears, didn’t give the reaction he was exactly hoping for. Upon hearing him Beetle had lost her smile and stared blankly at him, then she leaned up which again disturbed the critters flying around. “Y-You don’t got too…” Speedy added quickly, not wanting to cause friction with his best friend. “I was just h-hoping---I liked you for a while and wanted to ask for for a whi--” “You mean like a marefriend?” Beetle asked, Speedy simply nodded. Beetle remained silent and Speedy was starting to wished he hadn’t asked her to go out with him, he knew Beetle was always a little touchy about romance stuff. She really didn’t like it, maybe that was because she grew up alone in the forests until one day she was found by her step parents. Speedy likewise was abandoned but grew up on the streets of Canterlot until Celestia found him at age five, he knew what it was like but felt Beetle had it worse. “Look,” Speedy started, hoping he can undo the damage he likely did. “you can just say no. This is really great scenery isn’t it? Look, there are even a few ick--I mean cute bugs flying around us.” Beetle still wasn’t responding and it was worrying him, “You never liked my talent did you? Bugs and all.” she finally spoke making it feel as if a giant wall had finally crumbled. She was right though, Speedy was never fond of bugs but felt that didn’t really matter. He felt like friends with differences can still make anything work, they just had to know how. Speedy tried to go on bug hunting with her a couple of times, tried to learn her bug language and even helped in taking care of them. However he couldn’t help but freak out whenever one would touch or fall onto him, and he simply refuses to be anywhere near spiders. “I never hated your talent.” Speedy spoke walking next to Beetle. “It’s just I can’t understand it, but I do support your talent. Like you support me not having one.” “Speedy,” Beetle turned and stared at him, seeing all the emotion in his face made saying this harder than it needed to be. “I’m sorry, but I can’t date somepony who can’t stand bugs.” Speedy’s heart had sunk deeper than any ship had ever sunk before, his head fell and he wanted to alone. “I told you I support your talent!” He says looking back up at her, not wanting her to misunderstand or get the wrong ideas. “I went on those bug hunts for Celestia’s sake, I did everything bug related you wan---” “But you simply don’t like bugs, do you?” Speedy not wanting to lie fell silent, and nodded his head as he wasn’t a good enough lair to make something up. “As much as I’m grateful for you trying, I simply just can’t force you to do bug related activities with me.” “So…” Speedy’s head fell yet again. “you're saying no because I don’t like bugs?” “I’m saying no because---” She leans in and kisses his nose, laughing so hard by his reaction which just never got old. “---You already tried your hardest, but you just simply can’t stand them.” “I see..and there’s nothing I can do?” Asked Speedy, understanding her yet at the same thing couldn’t wrap his head around what she means. “Not unless you manage to catch the biggest bug on record.” She joked before embracing him into a tight hug. “I like you Speedy, but let’s just stay as friends, K?” Speedy didn’t say anything other than “Alright..hey what’s that?” and when Beetle had turned to look, Speedy gave her neck the same ticking attack she had given him mere moments before. For the rest of the day they laid there in that spot, watching the critters until they finally returned into hiding. After they were gone Speedy and Beetle talked about different subjects, mostly about school and their plans for the following weeks. At around about two or three hours they decided to head home and with the rope breaking earlier, they had to take a longer path across the river. They walked together and talked on until arriving at Beetle’s home, well more like a home that belonged to a friend of her father but they call it home all the time. “See you at school tomorrow Speedster, don’t let Cheerilee catch you wondering the hall during classes again!” “I had a hall pass Beetle, it didn’t hurt my record!” On his way home Speedy couldn’t help but wonder on what Beetle had said, wasn’t there some way to show her that even though he dislikes bugs that they could still date? Perhaps he shouldn’t push it, she said no and he’ll have to respect that. Maybe in the future she’ll change her mind but for right now, he thought it’d be best to just go about their days as normal. However tomorrow being Hearts And Hooves would mean it’ll be hard to hide his feelings, every year he sees couples together everywhere he goes and it just depresses him. He wondered how Beetle would act as he never saw her during Hearts And Hooves Day, and it was this thought that made it click in his head. He wasn’t going to be alone this year, and even though they won’t be a couple they’ll likely still hang together. They have classes tomorrow, Cheerilee generously allowed Beetle to attend classes whenever she’s in town, Speedy having helped her get Big Mac’s notice once he decided to cast in her favor for this. Speedy was getting excited about finally having a mare to spend the Holiday with, but then he suddenly realizes something. What if it messes up their friendship? She knows now that he really likes her, so would she take something he does tomorrow as an attempt to change her mind? What if everypony thought they were on a date and it spreads around and Beetle comes to the conclusion that he had started a rumor? What if somepony their age that was basically a teenage Diamond Tiara sees them together tomorrow? What if----SLAP---”Get ahold of yourself Speedy...no need to get all crazy.” Speedy was starting to get very annoyed at himself, despite slapping himself his mind kept getting mixed up ideas. He was starting to feel like he shouldn’t even attend school tomorrow and would whether fake being sick than risk Beetle getting the wrong ideas by gossip and rumors, it took a long time before they convinced everypony that weren’t going out and couldn’t progress how difficult it would be to reconvince them now. He was starting to feel sick trying to settle and calm down his thoughts, stopping he leans against a wall and remembering the breathing trick Cadance had taught Twilight who in turn taught him, he slowly began relaxing himself. “Calm thoughts----relax your muscles----just breath----” As he repeated these words his front hoof would out stretch with every exhale and fold in with every inhale. After about a full minute he leans his head against the wall and felt it was made of glass, turning over he saw a big display window with veriest items on sale. He wasn’t at all interested in them so he went to leave, but glued his face to the window as something had just caught his eye. Everything that was plaguing his thoughts were suddenly erased and were replaced by different images of Beetle’s reaction if she saw the item Speedy was eyeing. He just couldn’t resist it, after making sure he had enough bits he went inside the store and came back out two minutes later with a box hanging from his teeth. “Just because we aren’t dating, doesn’t mean we still can’t give each other gifts.” He thought as he made his way home, hoping Twilight wouldn’t lecture him for how late he’s been out. It was around one fifty eight the next day, school was about to enter it’s last period for the day and Speedy as usual was preparing to head for class. He had a perfect record for never missing school or a single class but today he was cutting it a bit short, he would usually already be in his seat but he was so nervous he lost track of time as he was going through his locker. He wanted to give Beetle the gift he got at the start of the day but he stupidly forgot it, it didn’t help that Beetle was studying bugs in the library when she wasn’t reading the books in classes. As he was taking out the last book he needed for the upcoming class his locker was slammed shut and somepony turned his face away from it, “Why aren’t you in class Mr.Speedy?” Spoke Beetle, mimicking Cheerilee's voice. “Class hadn’t started yet, plus your one to talk you spent most of the day in the library!” After saying this Beetle laughed, she reached under her hoodie collar and took out a hall pass to which Speedy gave a sigh to. “I have permission and you don’t~” She teased him, clearly enjoying the tables which had turned in her favor for once. “Well, we still got about five minutes.” Speedy spoke rolling his eyes. “Well, we better get going then shouldn’t we?” Beetle walked passed and turned to walk backwards, wondering why Speedy wasn’t moving. Instead he was already digging through his backpack, she had started walking back to him when he pulled out a box. Moving it from his mouth to his hooves and then handing it to her, she blinked looking from him to the box. “I um...got you somethi--n-not to persuade you or anything, just a gift among friends.” He spoke as she took the box. It wasn’t really wrapped well as Speedy thought it would be too much, none the less he added a bright red bow on top. Beetle wasn’t sure what to say so she just opened it, wondering what in Equestria he had gotten her. Was it another Wonderbolt card? A Wolf picture even though he knew she disliked them? Or maybe it was yet another cake shaped like her favorite bug, but what she saw made her mouth drop a little. At first she thought it was a gigantic Lady Bug, but quickly saw it was a cap that just resembled a Lady Bug. “Do you like it?” Speedy asked when Beetle picked the cap up. “When I saw it I just thought it screamed you. It costed about---” “I love it!!!” Beetle shouted in joy as she immediately placed it on her head, taking out a small mirror from her pocket to see how it looked. Speedy couldn’t help but smile at seeing how happy she was with his gift, it always gave him a warm feeling giving to others. “Oh but I don’t have anything for you..” Beetle spoke after about twenty seconds of staring at her new cap. Speedy had expected this, they never gave each other gifts outside their birthdays or Hearth’s Warming Eve so he wasn’t at all surprised. “It’s fine, I’m just happy you like it.” He said with a big smile. Beetle felt bad she didn’t have anything to give Speedy in return, she really loved the cap and tried thinking of something to give him before the day was out. The thought is this just you trying to get me to say yes to go out Speedy had feared she would say didn’t even crossed her mind, she was too concern on how to show her thanks, and then it hit her. That same heated feeling she been having since about two months ago and every time it started she felt weird, it would plague her all day too if she couldn’t get rid of it which the only remedy she found was----well---touching herself in private. She found out touching herself just made the heated feeling more intense but also made her feel loads better, she wondered if Speedy ever felt that way? She thought and thought until she made up her mind, she walked straight up and kissed his cheek making him turn bright red. He was about to ask why she did that but before he could she planted a kiss on his lips, making his mind lose all prospect of anything else. The kiss felt very wet and when their lips parted Speedy stared blankly at her. “W-W-Wha…?” He could hardly speak his heart was beating so fast, his first real kiss came from his best friend out of the complete blue, and he wasn’t sure why she did it. “If that was your way of a joke---” “I just wanted to say thanks, for the cap.” She smiles, but that kiss gave her such a odd feeling and she had to ask him if he felt the same. “Say Speedy, did that kiss felt strange to you?” Speedy blinked, “Strange how?” he asked wondering if she meant the increasing speed of his heart rate. “You know---” She leans in closer as not to be overheard, despite being in a completely empty hallway. “have you ever felt odd certain times a week, your body feeling hot?” Speedy immediately knew what she meant, he had indeed felt something similar to what she’s asking about. He thought it was just a guy thing as the hot feeling was usually in something he had to stroke before it would calm down. In fact it was starting to feel heated right now, that kiss Beetle gave made something surge through him and he wasn’t quite sure how to describe it. “Sometimes I guess? I thought it was only a guy thi---” Once again Beetle kissed him unable to control herself. She had pressed him against the lockers and passionately kissed him, part of Speedy thought he should stop this, after all they were just friends. Yet a part of him really wanted this to continue so he returned the kiss. Embracing each other in a hug they held one another tightly, giving the wettest kiss they could give, when suddenly, Beetle broke away. Speedy blushed feeling embarrassed as she looked down and knew exactly why, his member had started to grow. This was the first time he felt hot during school, was it her kissing him that made him so hot or was it something else? He was afraid seeing such a gross part of his body that she would be disgusted and break the friendship off, “Why is it black?” she asked making him tilt his head. “That’s it?” He asked feeling as though she was seeing a totally different thing other than his cock, which being black he thought it was normal and instead of asking wait have you seen these things before? he said “It’s gross looking and all you can say is it’s black?” “It’s not gross.” Replied Beetle as she leans down inspecting it, she never saw a pony’s cock before but was curiously why it wasn’t blue like Speedy’s fur. That heated feeling inside her was building as she looks at Speedy’s slowly hardening cock, without realizing what she was doing she leans and plants a kiss on the very tip. As a spark surged through Speedy he gasped never feeling anything like it. “W-Why did you kissed it..?” He asked as he legs were shaking slightly. “Hm not sure, guess just cuz I wanted too. Wonder how it tastes…” Before Speedy could stop her Beetle kissed the tip again just before taking it in her mouth. Speedy bit his lip as he watched Beetle taking more and more of his cock inside her mouth, and by how her tongue was moving around it he assumed she liked how it tasted. “B-Beetle...gah…!” Speedy could hardly talk by the surges of pleasure going through him. Hooves gripping the lockers behind him for support, all he could do was watch Beetle sucking him off. Occasionally looking up at him, she was enjoying this for some reason she couldn’t figure out. She just felt the hot feeling inside her growing with each bob of her head and she could tell Speedy was getting harder, before long it wasn’t even soft anymore but as hard as a rock. She moved her head further down letting Speedy’s cock enter her throat, but it was too much so she immediately took it out of her mouth gasping for air. Speedy at feeling his cock so deep felt so much surges going through him if she had left it in a moment longer he would’ve blown, but seeing her gasping he started to worry she was choking so he patted her back to help. “S-Sorry..!” He said feeling so awkward. “Wasn’t---your---fault---” She gasped for a few moments looking back up at Speedy. “That was….I’m not sure.” “Not sure?” Speedy thought, he to wasn’t sure what had just happen. As he was thinking Beetle had a sudden idea as she felt something drip from under her, she blushes as the overly noticeable heat coming from inside her pussy was hitting her. Usually when it bothers her she would just rub it, but it never felt like this before. She wondered how she could solve this problem and remembering Speedy’s cock, got just the perfect idea. When Speedy motioned to get back on all fours she hopped forward off the ground, holding her hooves around him and he had to place his around her to support her weight. “Beetle what are you do--w-whoa…” Speedy felt something warm and extremely wet touching his member. Beetle let out a slight moan feeling their privates touch, while resting her head against his chest she moved her hips back and forth. As her pussy rubbed along his member both ponies were letting out small gasps and moans, it was now that the sudden idea of being seen entered Speedy’s mind and he quickly panned the hallways, to his relief nopony was in sight. “Beetle…” Speedy whispered, trying to keep his moans and gasp down. “Somepony might see us! We should s-stop and---” “Let them watch…” Beetle whispered back not caring if Celestia herself saw them. As she was moving her hips in a faster pace the weight both were holding slipped and she gave a big gasped as the tip of Speedy’s member entered her, both became frozen as ice and stared at each other. Their eyes looking into the other’s, leaning in they kisses each other as Beetle tried to slide him in more. After a few seconds of trying Speedy used his hooves that were already gripping her hips pushed down to help her as his cock was begging to enter her pussy as much as it wanted him too. It felt like there was a wall or something inside her preventing him to go in any further, Beetle grunted as she wanted more so without warning she leaned herself up and slammed her hips down as hard as she could. Whatever wall was there suddenly gave way and she let out the biggest gasp her lungs had ever mustered, lucky for both of them nopony seemed to have heard it. Neither of them could muster a word so instead they just spoke through facial expressions, Beetle’s pussy felt so warm Speedy’s whole body was starting to sweat. Likewise Beetle was starting to sweat too as she helps him slide it in deeper until she was resting on his crotch. “It’s so deep…” “Just let me know if it gets uncomfortable.” Both had said those through facial expression, Speedy held onto Beetle’s firm yet soft hips as both of them thrusted their hips together. Both of them moaned with their tongues hanging out of their mouths, the pleasure surging through both of them was so intense they didn’t bother to keep silent. Their moans were filling the hall they were in which luckily for them was empty of classroom doors, if there was a class on this hall they had no doubt they would be caught, although neither of them really minded. The thought of being caught any moment just turned them on even more, feeling Speedy’s tip thrust so deep inside her and her walls flexing around him, both were feeling their limits getting closer but neither wanted to stop. Kissing each other one more time Beetle rested and grinded her crotch right against Speedy’s, it felt just incredible. They couldn’t had hold out longer if they tried, Speedy’s legs shook as he thrusted upward unintentionally making sure he was as deep as possible. He was the first to cum followed only a split second later by Beetle, as his cocks pumped cum filling her pussy up they had let out their biggest moans yet. They stared blankly in the other’s face, Beetle had never felt so alive before and Speedy had never felt so good in his life. Despite him not liking nose kisses he couldn’t help but kiss her’s, as their cum began leaking and dripping from his balls to the floor they were finally able to speak words, Speedy was the first to say something. “I love you Beetle…” Nothing before had never had the complete opposite reaction, instead of returning the comment Beetle’s eyes went wide, “You what..?” she asked as if she misheard him. “I love you, yesterday I told you I di--” “Oh no...oh no!” Beetle spoke as she released herself from the embrace, falling to the floor and running off before Speedy could help her. “Beetle? Wait what did I do!?” He called after her but she was out of sight before he even finished saying her name, for a good minute he stared at where she disappeared and it wasn’t until the bell rang that he was brought back to reality. Speedy didn’t see Beetle for the next three hours, after school ended he went from place to place looking for her but she was nowhere to be seen. The first place he checked was their hang out over by the lake, there was a small tree house there built for foals who couldn’t swim but it hadn’t been used in quite a few years. He was worried a lot by how she ran off and was thinking they made a mistake in what they did. He wasn’t sure what overcame him, he just lost focus on what was right or wrong and his body took control for a moment. He couldn’t imagine how Beetle must’ve felt when he said I love you to her, what was he thinking? She said no to going out and he went and said that after what they just did? He wasn’t thinking straight at the time but now that his thoughts are clear he knew exactly what happened, how he could have forgotten the most awkward talk he ever had with Twilight? If she ever found out and he was sure she will, due to her being proud of his perfect attendance record and he had to tell her it was over, he’ll never be allowed to see Beetle let alone another mare again. Finally after searching nearly the entire area he found her in the last place he thought to look, the place he had showed her the following day before. Laying among a bed of flowers watching the beautiful scene of critters flying around, with veriest bugs as well. He slowly walked over being careful not to disturb anything and laid next to her, he was sure she noticed him but for a while neither of them spoke, they just watched the flying critters with the sun casting their shadows over them. It felt awkward laying next to Beetle and his mind was a complete blank, keeping his eyes focused on the critters he was hoping she would be the first to talk. As the shadows casted by the sun moved and the critters kept flying in different cycles he lost track of time, he wasn’t sure how long they been lying there and was sure any longer and the silence would kill him. Tearing his eyes away from the beautiful scene above and turning them on Beetle, who was kept her eyes fixed above, he gulped and finally spoke. “Say, um, Beetle? I’m sorry about---before, but---” “It wasn’t your fault.” Beetle interrupted him, she was still looking straight up but every now and again she would flex her bottom hoof as if listening to her fave song. “But I---” “I started it, it’s my fault not yours.” “But I could’ve stopped you, I didn’t because---I don’t know, I just lost my senses..” “Yeah, well, what else is new?” The both of them laughed and for a brief moment, everything felt perfectly fine like it was the day before. However reality set in all to fast and Beetle had to come right out with it, finally turning towards him she spoke. “Look Speedy, I just can’t be your Special Somepony.” Speedy wasn’t at all surprised by this, in fact he was expecting her to end the friendship any moment. His heart felt weak just the same though, and now, the once beautiful scene above them looked very sad. “I….figured, and I’ll understand if you never want to see me again.” Beetled titled her head and stared at Speedy as if really taken aback, then poked him in the head like she was slipping him awake. “Never want to see you ag--you dork!!!” “Ow!? What---” “I can’t believe you think I would just break our friendship off!” Beetle’s shouting had disturbed the critters and with a sigh she spoke in her bug voice to calm them down. “But the way you ran off---“ Speedy started but was silenced as she took another but bigger sigh. “I can’t be your Special Somepony because….I’m not sure if I love you.” It felt like those last few words were solid rocks hitting his chest, a small beetle had landed on his knee and Beetle was surprised he didn’t even notice. “You don’t---” “Back, is what I meant. You see I never dated anypony before, I’m not sure how it’s suppose to feel when you love somepony and when you said those words….I panicked.” “I made you panicked? Great, add another thing to my list of epic failures.” Speedy took a sigh himself and saw the beetle on his knee, but he didn’t feel like freaking out so he just waved a hoof and it flew off. “It wasn’t a fail Speedy.” Beetle laughs poking his nose. “If it is then it’s a fail with me, I just felt so hot while sucking you and...and---aw curse me!” The critters once again were disturbed but Beetle didn’t try to calm them, instead she started to cry. “I wasn’t thinking straight either! I just wanted it but didn’t think about the consequences! I’m not sure if it was the biggest mistake of my life or---” Unable to watch his friend cry like this Speedy pulled her into a hug and as she cried on his shoulder he spoke. “It’s OK...don’t worry about it, and don’t you dare blame yourself. I’m older and---” “Your only older by one month!” “Look, it isn’t your fault Beetle. Me and Twilight had a talk and---” “YOU TALKED TO TWILIGHT ABOUT US HAVING SE---” “Wha---NO! I meant the talk about sex, a few months back…” “Oh...sorry, guess I really can’t think straight right now..” Holding her close Speedy started to rub her back and they held their heads close, Speedy just couldn’t stand to see others cry let alone being part of why they were crying. He felt so terrible a part of him just wanted to run away but another part told him to stay, hearing Beetle’s sobbing he tried to think of what to say knowing he had to be careful or risk her crying more, and thinking on what Twilight would likely say he took the chance. “It was our hormones Beetle, at our age their suppose to be at their worse. What we did was just a one time thing, I feel the same way you do about it and you don’t need to worry. As long as we’re friends, well that’s more important than anything our hormones might make us do.” This seemed to had cheered Beetle up just a tad but she still wasn’t sure what to do, having cried enough on Speedy’s shoulder she took a step or two back, rubbed her eyes free of any remaining tears and for the first time since being found, she looked quite like her normal self. “My parents are leaving tomorrow, traveling merchants ya know. Well, I think it’ll be good to spend some time apart.” “You do? Let me guess, to think on how you feel and in order to do that---” “We need to spend time apart, we can still send letters so don’t worry.” Speedy gave a simple nod, this wasn’t going as bad as he had feared but was still crestfallen. “If you do ever find somepony you love while out there, well you're free to do whatever you feel is right.” Beetle was taken aback again, tilting her head she was going to ask “What do you mean? Wouldn’t that really hurt you or something?” but Speedy interrupted her about halfway through. “Don’t worry about me, just worry about yourself for right now.” The two didn’t exchange much about what happen much after that and as the day went on they acted as if nothing had happen. For like a hour they talked about where Beetle and her parents were likely to go next, and on the way back Speedy had fallen into the river as a spider had stow away in his hoodie. Twilight found out about Speedy’s record ending by word of mouth and it took Beetle lying to keep Speedy from trouble. “Thanks..” Speedy whispered when Twilight wasn’t listening. “Don’t mention it Speedster.” Having some time left before Beetle was due home they went to Sugarcube Corner, which was decorated for the Holiday yet was so late there were only a few couples there, and spent some time listening to Pinkie Pie’s day of babysitting the Cake’s twins. After eating a large bug shaped cake Beetle had ordered they went on their way home, but not without seeing how the CMC were doing as they had heard about the little potion they had made. The next day was hard as usual as both hated goodbyes, they spent about one hour together in their hangout before she had to leave though. Beetle at one point tried to return the cap Speedy gave her, her excuse was so he would have something from her, but Speedy told her to keep it for basically the same reason. The time to leave as usual came just as they were having the most fun and they had to get going, like always Speedy carried what little luggage she had as they walked to the train station. “Well..” Started Beetle who was scratching her head. “Yeah…” Followed by Speedy who was scratching his head as well. “See you whenever we’re around?” “As long as Celestia still raises the sun.” Both chuckled and exchanged a warm hug, as Beetle stepped on the train and she waved to him as it went off about three minutes later, he waved back wishing her a very fun trip. As the train disappears over the horizon Speedy took a sigh saying “Hope you’ll find the right pony someday.” but felt happy that he and Beetle grew a little and remained friends, that to him meant more than having sex with her. Likewise as the platform disappears and Beetle laid back in her seat, with her parents next to her, she took of the cap Speedy gave her and smiled before placing it back over her head. Adjusting it to where it was on backwards she couldn’t wait to see Speedy again, whenever that would be but she knew no matter what, that when they come back to Ponyville that whatever she needs to figure would be solved.