Disclaimer: Reading "A Journey Beyond Sanity" beforehand would be helpful in providing a better idea of Stardust's character. Enjoy!


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"This is dull..."

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"This is tedious...!"

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"This is purely exasperating!"

CLANK.

"The Great and Powerful Trixie deserves better!"

Rolling my eyes over the blue unicorn's incessant whining for about the umpteenth day, I continued with work. I honestly don't know what's worse; Trixie's constant nagging about 'deserving better' since Twilight humiliated her in Ponyville, or the breaking apart these rocks twenty-four seven ever since my arrival here. But then again, I've grown more accustomed to this labour life when the Pie family found me at the bottom of their rock mine.

Battered, alone and confused, they took me in, Pinkie Pie's relatives, upon understanding my plight. True I refrained from mentioning I was from another world entirely and instead explained my ignorance as amnesia. For how... Apathetic they were, they gave me a home regardless and let me eat alongside them... Before putting me straight to work the next day.

Coincidentally, and to my horror, the same day Trixie arrived too.

Ignoring the mare's insufferable moaning, I focused with the pick axe in my mouth, carefully breaking up the tiny boulder enough. A rock farm, who knew that was a legit thing in Equestria? It makes no sense, but what can ya do? I'm just more relieved how... Opposite the sisters here was in regards to the long absent Pinkie Pie in the personality department.

Maud Pie, hilariously flat and blunt.

Limestone Pie, aggressive and presumptuous.

And Marble Pie... Now there's something I never expected-

"Hm?" Oh, speak of the angel! A gentle prodding to my side prompted me to glance over towards the adorably shy grey mare, a long dark and light gray mane covering over one of her delicate pink eyes. Marble, pleased to have gotten my attention, placed down the glass of water obviously intended for yours truly. Setting the pick axe down, I smiled lightly in relief, taking a swig. Refreshing. "Ah, thank you Marble. My guardian angel as always."

The response was a cute pink hue, the Earth Pony shyly gazing away with a tiny smile. It was always fun to do that, mostly because it satisfied me how flattered she gets from my words. "Mm-hm..." The classic response... The only response really, I've never heard the mare form a coherent sentence.

She'd give Fluttershy a run for her bits.

The first mare to have actually discovered me, Marble was sympathetic enough to drag the unconscious golden Earth Pony with her from the mines back to the family house, caring for me the most during the majority of my time here. Limestone and Maud were moreso focused on their work to babysit some older stallion with memory loss, but Marble, for all her shyness and hesitation, took responsibility in nursing me back to help and keeping a close eye on me. And I've always been grateful for it.

Just wish I could express all that gratitude without potentially scaring her off...

But all this time, I interacted with the Earth Pony long enough to gauge her feelings and thoughts through expressions and body postures. That was helpful in knowing that something wasn't right with the oblivious Earth Pony this very moment. "Is something wrong love?"

She hesitated, looking away intently from my inquisitive gaze... And gave a reluctant nod. "Mm-hm..." The sadness resonating from that hum struck a worried cord in me.

"Did Limestone say something again?"

Silence.

"Your parents?"

More silence.

"Trixie?"

"Huh? What?" But we ignored the nearby unicorn's confused reply, before continuing back to grumbling like a dissatisfied old hag with her work.

"...Did I do something?"

A small reaction, barely noticeable. Pink eyes shied away further. And I was beginning to see what was wrong. Just needed the confirmation.

"...Is it about me leaving?"

A flinch, affirming that suspicion. Ah.

Yes, yesterday night, Igneous Rock, the father of the Pie family, after expressing gratitude and praising my efforts for the farm and being good company for her youngest daughter, recommended for me to depart alongside the hired Trixie sometime soon in order to search for the answers I sought for. Of course this was discussed at the table, and Maud expressed indifference from the conversation, Limestone looked annoyed as ever.

But Marble... That look of pure sadness last night never escaped my notice. I could always spot the difference between depression and shyness from her. A beautiful pink eye stared deeply at her plate of food the whole time, prompting me to reply to Igneous's proposal with a brief "I'll consider it, thank you."

"Marble... You know I haven't said yes yet, correct?"

"Mm-hm..."

That expression remained. "...But you think I'll leave anyway."

Marble bit her lower lip, staring at the ground now in sorrow. "Mm-hm..."

"...And why would I do that, if it's only going to bring my friend sadness?" The visible eye glanced my way, and I grinned jokingly. "After everything you've done for me, you think I'm going to just leave you here... Without asking you to come with me?" The reaction was priceless, and completely adorable. For once, Marble looked simply stunned. "True, I want nothing more than to seek answers for my predicament, but I don't want to not see my shy, beautiful angel for a very long time. But if you don't want to leave, I'll just stay here with- Mmph?!"

It was my time to be stunned then, for once, Marble took the initiative. The suddenly gleeful Earth Pony took courage and smashed her muzzle against me, releasing a set of fireworks in my stomach which long-awaited to go off. Immediately pulling back after a good five seconds, Marble's face was redder than ever... And I was grinning like a proper idiot alongside her brightened smile.

"About time..." Trixie snorted from the side.

"I'll take that as a yes then, love?" I asked teasingly, and Marble's smile widened further, nodding with an expression similar to her older much energetic sister's.

"Mm-hm!"


AN: If you have any recommendations for next month's pairing, let me know. Hope you enjoyed, and look forward to next time my friends!