Author's Note

WARNING

Sexual references, minor details of starting sexual acts

This may or may not need more editing, as I may have missed some things.

Chapter 9: A Taste of Romance

POV Firestar

Wolfhound had been in business for two-and-a-half years, now. We'd worked with Shining Armor's squad, a few Tier 3 Operatives, and even a few other exceptional squadrons amongst Equestria's various military divisions.

Over time, we'd both gained and lost new people. We'd also sustained some injuries, but they'd been healed. How serious?

Let's just say that, if unicorn/alicorn doctors didn't have both the magical prowess and knowledge to basically clone a new arm or leg, a few of us would have less than the normal amount of limbs.

As I'm thinking about that, I look down and flex my right hand. I'd gained a special dislike for hostile shotgunners. Especially when they aim for the hands.

You can't actually tell the difference. The doctor's scan the disembodied limb's genetic code and genetic memory, and within an hour you have a good-as-new body part. Muscle memory is retained, as well. Don't ask me how, though. I'm no doctor.

Anyways, we'd gotten a total of 15 new recruits. Unfortunately, only seven of which were still alive.

Wolfhound's original members (Me, Allen, Jackson, Leon, Jackie, Amber, Sarah, and Crystal Ranger) called themselves the Original Wolves. We were the first of the group. One thing that commonly separated us from the rest of Wolfhound was our skill. Somehow, all of the Original Wolves all had extraordinary skill. Not all of the new recruits did, but we didn't refuse willing recruits just because they didn't have Operative-level skill in combat.

Unfortunately, skill was a big factor in staying alive. So was luck. We had a lot, but most everyone else didn't.

Of the seven members still alive, I actually only knew two of them; I'm not actually an outgoing guy. Despite my personality, I am actually an introvert. I'm not that shy if a stallion, but I'm not much of a people pony, either. More than a few people, and I'm not a really social person. I prefer a small group, or no one at all.

Anyways, I knew Tom and Soft Trickle.

Tom was another ex-Crimson Justice member, but from higher up. He'd actually known what he was doing, and had been like everyone else; he didn't care. But one day he'd had a revelation, and decided to join us. He'd gone alone, not trusting anyone but himself. Tom had actually walked up to the base out of the blue, one day, and requested a spot.

Soft Trickle had actually been my responsibility. She'd been one of those vigilantes in the big cities that goes right after the big gangs. The real dangerous ones. Ones who'd commit unspeakably brutal acts without hesitation, and walk away without batting an eye. Not thinking twice. We'd pretty much followed Soft's tracks into the gang headquarters until we found her cell. She'd been overwhelmed halfway through, only a few hours ago.

None of us waned to ponder why a dominantly-male criminal gang had kept a female invader alive.

We freed her, and she helped us collapse the gang's entire leadership. I'd noticed her exceptional skill, and her will to do whatever she could to make the world better, and invited her in.

We were surprisingly a lot alike. Introverts, intellectuals, good memories, naturally fit, etc.. She was a more soft-spoken person than I was, but she was also a bit kinder. I'd found myself taking a liking to her.

A large liking. I was honestly considering asking her out. I'd only known her for half a year, but she was one of those types of people that, whence you got to know her personally, she was actually a pretty open book.

Tom, however, was almost our exact opposite. He wasn't a very smart guy, nor did he want to be. What he did have going for him, though, was brute force, skill, and highly-tuned senses.

Sharp hearing, Eagle Eye eyesight, unbelievable hand-eye coordination, he had it all.

Unfortunately, he was dim as a brick and dumb as a rock. The true stereotype of brawns, not brains.

I'm not 100% sure he even went to school past first grade.

Okay, okay, I'm exaggerating. Sue me. I don't really like the guy. Antagonistic, braggart, self-centered, and all around your stereotypical jerk.

The only reason Allen even tolerates the guy is because he's extremely skilled, physically. He beat Jackie in a sparring match in seconds, could hear Leon sneaking up behind him from six feet away, beat Allen in a virtual-magical sniper duel using an assault rifle with an ACOG scope, and he won a race against both Leon and Amber.

Still, despite his personality, we tolerated him. But that doesn't mean we like the guy. Not by a long shot.

Yeah, he's all business on an op, but off? He's all no business.

Oh, the irony. It's all in my head, and I still have to stop myself from getting too carried away.

Doesn't help my urge to sock the a**hole in the jaw. I'm just glad... well, I'll save that for later.

One night, Jackson came with surprising news.

He brought up Soft Trickle, and I found myself rambling about her. I had a huge crush on her.

"Firestar!" He said loudly, almost yelling.

That finally got me to shut up and give him my attention.

"Firestar, I'm trying to say, she's not human! She's a changeling."

That stopped me in my tracks. "What...seriously?"

"Changeling emotions are both harder to sense and discern, and have a different... 'feel' to them. Trust me, I checked."

I looked away, thinking. "Do you... do you think she knows?" I didn't need to clarify.

He smirked. "I guarantee you she knows exactly how you feel about her, lovebird."

"...So... should I ask her?"

"You don't care that she's...? Huh. Anyways, if you want, then definitely. At the least, she'll probably try this once. She'll know it's genuine. Hard for a changeling to resist at least a trial run, with that."

"So, it's pretty much guaranteed she'll say yes?"

"Just about."

I smiled. He and I both knew I'd never be able to ask, otherwise. Heck, the only other time I hadn't been single was back in eighth grade. And that was after I'd had a major crush on the filly since fifth, and knew she liked me back in sixth. Even when I knew she'd say yes, it took me two whole years.

I knew Jackson could feel my gratitude, but I wanted to show it. I came up to him and gave him a heartfelt, grateful hug.

What can I say? Whence you get you know me, I'm a real friendly guy.

"Thank you, Jackson." I said sincerely.

"No problem, man. No problem." He pushed me off of him, but still held me by the shoulders. He looked me in the eyes for a second, and as he pushed out the door of our barracks, he said "Now go get yourself the mare of your dreams!"

After a minute or so of looking around, I found her sitting at the side of her bed in her own barracks. I came up to her. Unfortunately, even though I knew she'd almost definitely say yes, I was still extremely nervous.

"Um..." I said. Great start, idiot. "So... I know we haven't known each other long, but... I was wondering if... If you would like to... to-"

I was interrupted as she suddenly smiled, got up, wrapped her arms around me, and pressed her lips against mine.

I melted into her. I subconsciously registered returning the embrace, but I didn't care. I was too absorbed into the kiss.

After at least ten full seconds of lip-locking, she pulled back. "Definitely."

I smiled stupidly, still not completely back from the kiss. "Awesome..." I trailed off.

She giggled, and shut my mouth, which had been hanging open.

I shook my head to clear the cobwebs, and grinned again. "Great! Um..." I desperately searched my mind for a good spot. "I heard there was a special at the Apple Palace, back in town. You... wanna grab a bite to eat?"

"If you'll say it's a date."

"It's a date."

"Then that sounds perfect."

We headed to town, holding hands. We passed by Jackson, and he just smiled at us.

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We reached the Apple Palace. Sure enough, there was a special on dinners and desserts. I ordered, she ordered, and I paid.

We spent the next hour or so talking about just about anything that came to mind. Our similarities, our differences, our families, our friends, funny moments we'd had, and a bunch of other things.

At one point, I cracked her up with a story of an old friend's cluelessness. A filly had had a crush on him for a couple months, and it'd been obvious to everyone but him. Unfortunately, the guy was also dim as a brick in a shadow.

He'd said that she'd invited him over to her house for supper, and that her parents had actually given him permission to stay the night. Now, keep In mind that this is twelfth grade. Adult things happened.

Anyways, he'd said that they'd have a lot of fun.

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"Sure you will." I replied. "Among a few... other things."

"What?" He'd said. "What are you talking about? We'll play a few games, talk, and go to sleep."

"I think you'll play a certain special game, too, before you go to sleep."

"...What?"

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"He had no idea what I meant!" I said.

By now, tears of mirth were streaming down Soft's face, as she'd been laughing her lungs out even before I'd gotten to him being confused.

"He had no clue what I meant! The dumb brick-for-brains had no idea!"

Soft almost fell to the floor. We were a lot alike, in that respect. We sometimes found jokes to be funnier than they actually were.

"The best part is that he didn't understand what I meant even after that night!"

"Seriously?"

"Seriously! He got laid, and when I asked him how the special gift at the sleepover was, he just looked at me and said 'Huh?'"

In between gasps for breath, Soft got out "So he did get laid?"

"Yeah. In fact, I think they're still together. And he's still dumb as a rock! Oh, you gotta love him, though. He's a special kind of idiot. You just can't fake that level of stupidity!"

"I don't doubt it! If I was him, I'd have gotten the hint even before I'd told you about it."

Things went on like that for a few more minutes as we traded stories, and tried to keep each other from falling onto the floor.

As we were in the tunnels walking back, I decided to tell her my opinion.

"So," I said, "you know what Jackson is, right?"

"Jackson? Wait, what he is? What do you mean?"

I sighed, wishing the mood could stay romantic, rather than tense and serious. "Soft, I know you're a changeling."

She froze.

"And I don't care. Jackson himself told me what he was over a year ago. A few hours ago he told me that you're one, too. I don't hold it against you, because there's nothing wrong with it. I know you probably don't return my affections, but I'm glad you at least gave me a glimpse of happiness. So, even if this it to be the end, thank you, Soft Trickle."

She stood there for a couple seconds, absorbing what I'd said. Slowly, a tear formed in her eye as she smiled. "You... You really mean it? You do." She whispered, her voice clearly showing disbelief.

"I judge people by their own merits, not by what they look like, or come from." She leaned in, and we shared another kiss. This one was out of gratitude and happiness.

Before it could get passionate, I pulled away slowly. I smiled at her.

She smiled back. "So, if Jackson's gone over the differences, did he tell you anything about... you know... interspecies relationships?"

"Well, he said it was especially hard for changelings to truly fall in love."

She laughed. "And?"

I blushed. "Um-Well, he... he said that changelings aren't easily... impregnated."

A laugh. "True. Usually, both sides usually have to want it. Even then, it's rare for it to happen after less than two or three tries."

"So... what-what was the point of this?"

She smiled sultrily, and trailed a hand down my shoulder to my elbow. "Well, I'm not in heat, anyways.... We could play a special game in bed, if you want."

My cheeks were burning. "Uh-Um, yeah. I mean, if you want to..."

She giggled. Celestia, that's cute.

"Firestar, I wouldn't offer if I didn't want to in the first place." She wrapped her arms around my neck, and suddenly, her changeling form was standing in front of me. "So, what do you say? "

"Um... I-Sure. Seriously?" I was extremely embarrassed, and both my blushing and my stammering showed it clearly.

"What do you think?" She kissed me passionately. I found myself on the floor of the tunnel for a good full minute.

We walked back. Soft had gone back to her human form. we grabbed our respective beds. For some reason, the beds in the barracks weren't actually attached to the walls, nor to each other. It was relatively easy to move our beds somewhere both soundproof and private. We made sure, they were close enough together to not have a gap between them, then we tied them together tightly, underneath the mattresses.

She reverted back to her true form, and walked up to me sultrily. We kissed for a while, not stopping even as we fell into the beds. Our hormones had gone wild. The kissing lasted several minutes. Then, we got undressed.

I've been told I was a looker, but I didn't believe it. With Soft, though, there was no denying that she was.

Soft then cast a spell on me. When I asked her what it was, she replied "Reproductive System Rewire Spell. Now, your reproductive system is making your 'special liquid' exponentially faster, temporarily. The effect only lasts a few minutes, but the supply stays. Let's just say that we can do more than one round, now." She smiled seductively.

She told me to get on the bed, and I did. Her naked form climbed onto me, and she lowered herself.

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I can honestly say that it was a truly awesome experience. I don't think we even fell asleep for another two hours, at the least. I'll just say that, because of my not caring that she wasn't even human, she must have made it extremely enjoyable. And all the more special.

I woke up the next morning with her in my arms, and vice versa. It was nice. When she woke up, we kissed some more. But eventually, we had to get up and meet the day.

That's not to say we didn't mess with each other. At one point, I grabbed her pants before she could put them on.

She had to chase me around the room before I tossed them back to her. It was amusing to see her halt the second her face was full of denim.