Chapter 4: Rock Solid Friendship
Today was a very special day. For today was Maud's graduation day at the University she was attending. The entire Pie family was there for her to see her graduate. For the moment, the head dean, Rusty Tenure, was giving his commemoration speech while the "Pomp and Circumstance March no. 1 in D", also known as the Graduation march song, was played in the background.
"So in closing, earning a rocktorate in rock studies from the Equestrian Institute of Rockology is no easy feat," Rusty Tenure continued, "I'm proud of each and every one of you." He looked back and then forgot that Maud, wearing traditional graduation garb, was the only one graduating, "Uh...each of...No, just you, actually."
In the audience, Igneous and Cloudy just watched with blunt looking faces, Marble had a soft smile on her face, and Limestone just had her cranky glare. Pinkie sat next to Limestone with a huge smile on her face.
"Go, Maud! Woo-hoo!" Pinkie shouted as she waved some flags and then had a giant number one finger glove on her fore-hoof, "Number one! Number one!" Pinkie had also startled Marble while annoying Limestone.
"Fillies and gentlecolts," said Rusty Tenure, not at all phased by the ruckus, but then saw Boulder sitting in his own chair next to Pinkie, "and is that magnesium-rich basalt?" Maud gestured for Rusty Tenure to continue.
"It is my honor to present our vale-rock-torian, Maud Pie," said Rusty Tenure, "Excuse me. Doctor Pie."
Marble and Limestone looked at each other and gave Maud some warm smiles. But the moment was spoiled when Pinkie got between them and started ranting again.
"Whoo! Doctor Pie! Doctor Pie!" Pinkie shouted as she hugged her two sisters and a pop whistle went off, ""Rock-tor" Pie?"
Marble felt uncomfortable from all the ranting and Limestone rolled her eyes.
Meanwhile, Cloudy had an emotional smile on her face as she wiped her eyes of some spare tears. Despite his deadpan look, he gave his wife a gentle pat on the back, which Cloudy gave him a smile filled with gratitude. It was then Maud walked up to the podium. The microphone provided some feedback, making everypony cringe and cover her ears.
"I'm Maud," said the grayish-blue pony in her usual deadpan tone.
"Yeah, you are!" Pinkie shouted, "Brilliant speech! Encore! Encore!"
Both Cloudy and Marble winced in embarrassment at Pinkie's behavior. Limestone shot Pinkie a death glare. Igneous...looked like he was fighting for dear life not to explode at his outspoken daughter.
"There's more, Pinkie," said Maud as she began her speech again, "I'm Maud," She then flipped index card, "...Pie. Thank you."
Igneous has set up a camera and snapped Maud's picture as she received her diploma, which was made out of rock.
"You are so welcome!" Pinkie cheered once more at Maud, not noticing her own father glaring at her, "Brilliant speech! Encore! Encore! Encore!" She then smiled as she gave Boulder a high-hoof.
*Main theme*
As Maud and Pinkie were riding the train back to Ponyville...
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" Pinkie squealed loudly.
Everypony painfully covered their ears. Pinkie had started squealing loudly as she ran and cart-wheeled about the passenger car. She then side-somersaulted back to the seating area where she and Maud were sitting.
"You're moving to Ponyville!" said Pinkie excitedly, "We'll live together and get bunk beds and I'll make us fuzzy slippers that say "Best Sister Friends forever", although I probably can't fit all those words on a slipper, so maybe just "BSFF", but we don't have to decide right now because we'll be together all the time since when it comes to Ponyville, the doctor is in!"
Pinkie couldn't help but wiggled her hinds legs as she emphasized the slippers and then put a fore-leg around Maud to pull the pony closer to her. Maud waited until Pinkie stopped talking before pulling away.
"Slow down, Pinkie Pie," said Maud.
"Yoooooouuuuu'rrrrrrrreeeeeeee mmmmmmmmmoooooooovvvvvvvviiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnngggggggg ttttttttoooooooo Poooooooonnnnnnnnyyyyyyyyvvvvvvvviiiiiiiilllllllleeeeeeee..." Pinkie said in slow motion.
"I'm not definitely moving to Ponyville," said Maud.
"Of course you are, silly," said Pinkie, "you said..." Pinkie then shifted her face and mane to make herself look like a pink clone of Maud, "There's nothing left to study back home on the rock farm, so I might move to Ponyville."
Pinkie then put a fore-hoof to her mouth and breathed into it to make her mane and face inflate back to normal.
"I'm also considering Ghastly Gorge," said Maud. Pinkie then laughed.
"Classic Maud sense of humor!" said Pinkie, nudging her sister's side, "You should do stand-up!"
"I do," said Maud, "But that wasn't a joke."
Pinkie gasped.
"Ghastly Gorge?" said Pinkie in shock, "That terrible, awful, no-fun, all-alone canyon in the middle of nowhere?"
"There or Ponyville," Maud replied.
"But Ponyville is so "eee-hee-hee-hee-hee!" and Ghastly Gorge is so "Blegh"!" Pinkie protested.
"It's a rock-based decision," said Maud.
"But what about BSFFs?" said Pinkie, raising her hind legs and wiggles them about.
"That's why I'm giving Ponyville a chance," said Maud.
"Phew!" said Pinkie as she sat up, "So all I have to do is prove Ponyville has better rocks than Ghastly Gorge? Challenge accepted. We'll drop your stuff off at my place, and then hold onto your world, 'cause...it's about...to...get...rocked!"
Pinkie glared at Maud with gritted teeth.
"Okay," Maud replied in her usual manner.
(Scene changes)
Once they were in Ponyville, Maud left her bags as Sugarcube Corner and the two ponies headed towards Ponyville's personal gem cave. Each of them were wearing a hard hat for safety as they walked about the area. Inside the cave were gems of all various colors, shapes, and sizes.
"Ghastly Gorge may have rocks, but our gem cave rocks!" said Pinkie.
Maud then looked around at the various gems. It was then some harp glissando was heard. Maud looks back to see Pinkie playing the harp.
"Huh? Huh?" Pinkie said to Maud, who remained with her deadpan expression and said nothing, "Oh, and Look! You'll never know who you'll see!" Pinkie pointed in the distance. Nearby was Rarity and Spike gathering some gems. Rarity turned around once she heard them.
"Maud, darling!" said Rarity, "It's lovely to see you again! Oh! Congratulations on your rocktorate. What are you doing now?"
"Talking to you," Maud replied bluntly. Rarity blinked.
"Oh,y-Right," Rarity replied with a laugh and then cleared her throat, "Well, if your trained eye happens to see a chartreuse gem, I'm desperate to find one."
Maud simply walked over just a couple yards away to a particular spot in the cave.
"I found one," said Maud as she held a yellowish-green gem in her fore-hoof.
"Oh, you're an absolute darling!" said Rarity happily as she took the gem and put it into the basket, "This will surely make my gown stand out as Countess Coloratura's album release party. Do you know how rare this is?"
"Just another day in Ponyville," Pinkie told Maud.
"That's actually a really common gem," Maud pointed out.
"Huh?" said Pinkie, Rarity, and Spike at once in shock.
Maud then kicked a nearby rock, which cracked open to reveal literally hundreds of the same gems. Rarity, Pinkie, and Spike were stunned.
"There are all really common gems." Maud said.
"They are?" Pinkie replied.
Poor Rarity looked so devastated that she was literally on the verge of tears. Spike did his best to comfort the marshmallow mare.
"Uh, I mean, heh, come on!" Pinkie stuttered nervously, "Of course they are! That's why I didn't bring here to impress you! I wanted to make sure you had a chance to, heh, say "hello' to your old pal, Spike!" Pinkie then brought the little dragon over to her.
"Hello, Spike," said Maud in her usual demeanor. Spike just waved back sheepishly until Pinkie tossed him away.
"Way to go, Maud!" said Pinkie, "Cross that off the to-do list! Y'know what I'm saying? Now, let's get movin' cause I'm about to show you something that'll make you yell "All Right!"."
"All right," Maud replied.
"See? Ha-ha!" said Pinkie as they finally started to leave. Behind them, Rarity was tossing out all the gems from her basket and was still feeling very upset.
(Scene changes)
Once they were out of the gem cave, Pinkie put a blindfold around Maud's eyes and pushed her somewhere else.
Pinkie then removed the blindfold to Maud could see… Chase and Twilight's castle.
"Ta-da!" Pinkie exclaimed as she stood in Maud's eye view, "It's a castle...made of rocks! Whaaaat?! Did I just blow your mind? I think I just blew your mind!"
"A lot of structures are made from rocks, Pinkie," said Maud, "They're a very stable building material."
"But this place grew out of nowhere after a magical key-build gem followed by a rainbow and buried itself in the ground!" Pinkie explained, "I mean, have you ever seen rocks like this?"
"Yes," said Maud.
"No, you haven't!" Pinkie protested.
"We literally saw hundred of them in the gem cave," Maud pointed out.
By now Pinkie was starting to panic.
"But...but...Oh, look at those rocks," said Pinkie as she rushed into a bush and came out covered in prickly pods of some sort. She also held some of them, painfully, in her fore-legs.
"Those are sting-bush seed pods," Maud remarked. Pinkie winced.
"So they are," said Pinkie as she shook them off. "But, uh, look at that rock!" She then rushed up to what looked like a familiar shelled reptile, "It's even got four smaller rocks around it like legs!"
"That's a tortoise," said Maud.
It was then Tank poked his head out of his shell and smiled. Pinkie blinked as she felt her temper slip.
"Who's side are you on, Tank?!" Pinkie yelled angrily and then began to panic, "Oh, wait a minute! What's that?! It's a rock shaped like Lyra Heartstrings!"
Pinkie then rushed over to Lyra and Bon Bon, who were just taking a walk together. Pinkie picked Lyra up and set her down before Maud, who had a deadpan expression on her face.
"Total rock!" Pinkie shouted as Lyra had a face of puzzlement.
She looked to ask Pinkie what was going on when Pinkie gave her a stern face and a loud growl. Lyra winced and just stood rigid fearfully, afraid to move. Luckily Bon Bon came along, pushed Lyra away and gave Pinkie the stink eye.
Pinkie sighed.
"I guess you won't be moving to Ponyville after all," said Pinkie sadly, "Those rocks at Ghastly Gorge don't know how lucky they are to have you."
While Maud's face remained the same, her eyes showed alot of sympathy for her younger sister as she helped Pinkie stand up, which also got her body re-inflated.
"Actually, rocks aren't the only reason I'm considering Ponyville." said Maud.
"You said it's a rock-based decision." Pinkie replied back curiously.
"I'm obviously passionate about exotic rocks," said Maud, "but I've always studied them...alone."
Pinkie was stunned.
"I could handle some less exciting rocks if it meant I'd have somepony to talk to besides Boulder." Maud said as she held up her pet rock to prove her point.
Pinkie then gasped.
"Are you saying you want...a friend?!" Pinkie asked hopefully.
"I wouldn't mind one," Maud admitted, but her eyes turned away from Pinkie.
Pinkie than gasped again, but this time more excitedly.
"Maudileena Daisy Pie, this'll be easy!" said Pinkie as she pulled out a clipboard out of her mane, "What're you looking for in a friend? Gimme six qualities assigning each one a numerical importance rating between one and seven. Seven being essential and one being "eh"... BURP!"
Pinkie then belched out a pencil from her mouth to get ready for some note taking.
"It isn't hard to meet somepony I like," said Maud, "It's finding somepony who gets me."
"I get you!" Pinkie protested.
"You're my sister," Maud answered, "It's different."
"Maud, you are the best! You never know when the lightning of friendship will strike." Pinkie said with a smile. "Somepony could come barreling through that door at this very moment and become your best friend!"
Maud and Pinkie waited at the castle doors for somepony to come out. Pinkie smiled excitedly while Maud just had a blank look on her face. But after a few seconds, nothing happened.
Pinkie sighed.
"Y'know, I really thought somepony was gonna come barreling through that-" said Pinkie.
It was then Starlight came out of the doors of the castle. She was apparently reading and walking at the same time.
BUMP!
Starlight ended up smacking right into Maud, knocking them both down as Starlight dropped the book she was reading and the others she was carrying in her magic. Pinkie winced at the sight.
"Uh," said Maud as she lay on the ground.
"Oh, my fault!" said Starlight as she used her magic to pick up her books and put them into her saddle bags, "Totally my fault! Are you okay? I should've been watching where I was going, and-"
Starlight then blinked as she saw Maud stand up.
"You look really familiar," said Starlight as she rubbed her chin and looked at Maud. "Have we met before?"
"Yes, " Maud replied.
"I knew it!" said Starlight.
"Whaaaaat?!" said Pinkie in shock.
"No, no, don't tell me," said Starlight, trying to guess when that happened. Pinkie then slowly rose into view, squealing with excitement and anticipation, "Um..." Starlight pondered but didn't say anything more for a few seconds as Pinkie looked like she was gonna explode.
"Yeah, See, I was really hoping you'd tell me when I pretended to remember," Starlight finally admitted. Pinkie then wrapped a fore-hoof around Maud and Starlight.
"How is this possible?" said Pinkie and screamed with glee, making Starlight wince.
"I traveled Equestria for my rocktorate dissertation," Maud explained.
Flashback
Some years ago, Maud was doing some excavating for some rock samples when a familiar looking unicorn appeared with her fake equal sign cutie mark and her bangs cut even. She looked around nervously to see if anypony was listening or watching her before speaking to Maud.
"Psst!" said Starlight, "Do you know a lot about rocks?"
"Yes," said Maud, not looking at the lilac unicorn, but rather another rock sample in her fore-hoof.
"Have you ever come across some kind of super-powerful stone that can store the cutie mark magic of...I don't know...an entire village?" Starlight asked, trying to look intimidating and threatening, but Maud didn't really seem worried, fearful, or cared if the unicorn was threatening information out of her or not.
"Yep," Maud replied and pointed Starlight in the direction of where to go, "In the big cave."
Starlight blinked, looked in the direction Maud pointed, smirked deviously, and then ran back to the area where her village was still being constructed at the time.
End Flashback
Back at the present, Starlight looked rather uneasy, Pinkie were in shock. Maud...had her usual deadpan expression on her face. Pinkie then burst into laughter.
"Hey, I got an idea," said Pinkie, "Let's not tell anypony that part where you maybe, for sure, accidentally helped Starlight enslave a town!"
Pinkie then laughed again as Starlight looked very uncomfortable. Then Pinkie got into Maud's face and gave her a death glare.
"Tell nopony!" Pinkie warned sternly.
"It's not like she's enslaved anypony lately," said Maud. Pinkie just blinked.
Starlight just chuckled weakly in reply.
"Well, great seeing you again," said Starlight, "I gotta run a few essentials."
Starlight then sighed as she walked away with her head lowered.
Pinkie then got an idea.
"Offer to help," Pinkie said discreetly from the side of her mouth to Maud.
"What?" Maud asked.
"Offer to help!" Pinkie said louder. Starlight then turned around.
"You wanna help?" Starlight asked.
"Do I?" Maud asked.
"Of course you do! Go!" Pinkie told her.
"Okay," said Maud as Pinkie shoved Maud forward.
Starlight smiled in appreciation before the two ponies walked off. Pinkie smiled excitedly and felt better as she watched them head to the market area.
"They're totally gonna be best friends and then Maud will choose Ponyville," Pinkie squealed with glee and clapped her fore-hooves together, "and we'll get to wear BSFF slippers!"
Pinkie then lifted her hind hooves into the air and wiggled them excitedly. Pinkie then remembered that she was in the air and landed on her back with a thud.
(Scene changes)
It wasn't long before at the marketplace, Starlight and Maud were engaged in a conversation together.
"Rocks take on different properties when interacting with magic." Maud explained. "With the right stone, you could rule all of Equestria if you wanted to."
Starlight blinked.
"You're messing with me," said Starlight.
"Am I?" Maud asked as some grim music was heard.
Starlight glared at first as Maud just gave them her usual expression. To Maud surprise, though she didn't show it, Starlight began to laugh.
"So other than rocks," Starlight said with a sigh, "what else are you into?"
"Minerals. Plate Tectonics," Maud replied, "Oh, and stand-up comedy, of course."
Starlight then grew rather uncomfortable as she looked about nervously.
"I like...kites," Starlight told Maud with a nervous smile on her face.
Maud just looked at her as Starlight felt more and more insecure.
"Kites are cool," said Maud. Starlight then sighed with relief as they walked off.
It was then Pinkie appeared from a barrel that was filled with asparagus and looked at the two ponies worriedly. Since she hadn't heard the conversation, she really could tell how things were going.
(Scene changes)
Once, Starlight and Maud were out in a large open field, Starlight let a 3D rectangular shaped kite rise into the sky. Maud just watched the kites fly with interest.
"The trick with an S.L.K. is not to make the spars too heavy," Starlight explained to Maud, "But if they're too light, you've got no ballast and then good luck tacking against the A.O.I!"
There was a brief silence as Starlight smiled sheepishly.
"I really like kites," said Starlight sheepishly.
Starlight then bit her lower lip nervously.
"They're starting to grow on me," said Maud. Starlight relaxed and smiled.
"Pizza delivery!" Pinkie shouted as she was showing wearing a pizza slice costume with carry saddle bags and then looked at the two ponies, "Oh! Maud, Starlight. Right? You're here too? Whoa-ho-ho! What a coincidence! 'Cause I was just, y'know, delivering this pizza to, um..." Pinkie then pulled out a pizza and looked around. To her luck, Muffins appeared and Pinkie pointed at her, "You!"
Pinkie threw the pizza box at her head. Muffins was stunned for a moment before she realized what had been chucked at her and ran to go retrieve it.
Starlight glared at Pinkie while Maud had her usual expression on her face.
"If Chase was here right now, Pinkie, he would really scorn you badly." Starlight muttered to herself.
"So how's it going?" Pinkie replied.
"Uh, just hanging out-" Starlight tried to add but Pinkie cut her off.
"Hey!" said Pinkie, "You could use this time to bond and talk about feelings! For example, do you feel like you're becoming friends?"
Pinkie then smiled at them anxiously.
"Um...I feel...like I don't want to talk about feelings?" Starlight replied.
"Great! I'll go next," said Pinkie. "I feel like I love that you two are becoming best friends! I mean, your friendship could be the friendship that makes Maud move to Ponyville!"
Starlight and Maud just shared looks with each other before Maud gestured for them to quietly sneak away as Pinkie was still talking.
"No pressure, Starlight," said Pinkie and then noticed that she was alone, "Um, hello? Where'd you two go?"
"Sorry about my sister," said Maud to Starlight, "There's no half-excited with her."
"Oh, I know," said Starlight, "But she always calms down..." Then added bluntly, "Eventually."
(Scene changes)
Later, the two ponies were back in the gem cave, each of them wearing a safety helmet as they walked down the cavern.
"Why do you find rocks so fascinating?" Starlight asked Maud.
"Each one has a different story to tell," Maud explained and then showed Starlight her pet rock, "Like Boulder here. This tells me he's over two thousand years old." Maud then looked at Boulder, "You don't look a day over six hundred."
She tucked Boulder in her dress collar.
"Wow," said Starlight, "You can tell that from a line?"
"I didn't get a rocktorate because I can shred a guitar like nopony else," said Maud.
Starlight laughed. Starlight then looked at a blue gem that showed her reflection on it. Maud then appeared behind Starlight in the reflection.
"Another reason I like rocks - they don't exclude you if your...different from other ponies," said Maud, but there was bit of sadness in her usual tone as she looked away.
"They're beautiful and strong, but they don't judge you or make you feel less in any way. I think I'm starting to like rocks, too." Starlight said as she started to walk around some more.
Maud then smiled.
Then Starlight just tapped a large rocks.
"It's hollow?" Starlight said in surprise.
"It's granite," said Maud, "Hollow granite is highly unusual."
Starlight used her magic to make the rock crumble, revealing a bright light.
The two mares walked toward the light. Inside was a very beautiful underground cavern. It has a small little waterfall that ended in a rather calm but tranquil pool. Some patches of grass about the area and the walls were filled with various crystals and gems that made the area light up naturally. Not to mention there were some rather large underground mushrooms.
"Wow!" said Starlight in amazement as she turned to Maud. "Have you ever seen anything like this?"
"No," said Maud, "And that's unusual. For me."
The two admired the area...for about three more seconds before a certain meddling pink pony showed up in her usual random way.
"There you are!" Pinkie exclaimed as she hugged the two of them, "I thought you went your separate ways, but you can't imagine how happy I am to find you both together and to witness one of your first as friends!"
It was then Pinkie quickly set up a backdrop, some shoot-through umbrellas, and then set up a camera. Before anypony could reply, Pinkie took the picture as a very, very bright flash shot at the three ponies. Maud and Starlight just stared as they felt the pupils of their eyes shrunk from the bright light before the lilac unicorn put a forehoof around her eyes to recover. Maud just blinked her eyes and was able to hide the fact her eyes were hurting and was slightly dizzy. Pinkie just rushed up.
"First time discovering an underground cavern!" Pinkie said excitedly and squealed with glee, "I can't wait 'til your old and eating pistachios together and telling your grand-foals about this!"
Starlight gave Pinkie a funny look. Maud kept her usual expression.
Pinkie turned around and began to panic.
"Oh, no!" said Pinkie out loud to herself, "They're not bonding!"
Pinkie began to rub the side of her head to think. Then something clicked in head and gave a loud DING.
"I got an idea," said Pinkie as she smashed through the backdrop and knocked over the shoot-through umbrellas. She then backed up backwards and intentionally bumped a rock sticking out of the ground.
"Whooaa!" Pinkie said in a very slow and exaggerated tone, "I'm tripping on a rock at this very moment! And now I'm falling down!"
Pinkie conveniently wobbled over to a nearby plunger and pushed it down to detonate some explosives off screen, which caused a cave in.
"Oh, no!" said Pinkie, "My accidental clumsiness has trapped us here! Where you'll be forced to bond until we're rescued."
"Oh, we won't have to wait for that," said Starlight. "There's gotta be a spell that-"
Starlight then stopped talking when Maud pulled out Boulder.
"Get us out of here, boy," said Maud as she tossed her pet rock upward.
Boulder hit a certain spot in the ceiling, which caused it to crack and open up, revealing a way out. Maud and Starlight climbed out to safety.
"Boulder, that was awesome!" said Starlight.
"No," said Maud, "That was sandstone."
They looked down to see Pinkie still at the bottom of the cavern, looking worried since her efforts weren't working. At least from her point of view.
"More sand than stone apparently," Starlight remarked as she and Maud started walking away from the hole.
Pinkie then reappeared with Starlight and Maud.
"I'm thinking you wear these around your neck at all times so I don't lose you again, you sillies! That way, I can track your progress as friends!" Pinkie fibbed quickly and put some cow bells around their necks.
Both Starlight and Maud just walked away without another word. Pinkie easily caught up with them.
"Ooh!" Pinkie continued, "And tomorrow, we can have a friendship brunch! What's your favorite kind of omelet cupcake?!" She then added in a hushed tone to Maud, "Mine's jalapeno velvet!"
Maud just gave a deadpan groan in reply.
"Yeah, um, I-I don't know if I can make it," said Starlight, trying politely decline.
"You'll change your minds when you smell the yummy food!" said Pinkie, "Come on!" Pinkie then bounced away toward the left. Starlight then used her magic to make their bells fall off.
"Oops," said Starlight in a not-so-apologetic tone and walked off toward the right.
Maud just watched Starlight walked away and smiled again.
(Scene changes)
Later that night, Maud and Pinkie were in the latter's bedroom. Each of them were wearing a onesie pajama set. Maud's was green while Pinkie's was indigo with pink polka dots. Pinkie had tied her mane up into a poofy mini bun. Maud was just looking at herself in the mirror as she added some curlers to her mane and tail. She was also trying to figure out when she talk to Pinkie about what happened that day.
"Tomorrow's brunch is going to be the scrumptiest, brunchiest, munchiest brunch ever!" said Pinkie excitedly as she sat on the bed with some paper in front of her.
"Yeah, about that," said Maud.
"The problem is, while you two were alone," said Pinkie as she looked at her papers. I couldn't get data points on your friendship probabilities! Were you making Starlight smile? How was Starlight's smile-to-frown ratio? Anything over five-to-one is great! Oh, and how many times did you smile like this?"
Pinkie squeed as she smiled and her face was seen in the mirror Maud was looking in.
"Zero times," Maud answered. Though anypony reading this story knows Maud did smile at least three times, just not the way Pinkie does. Pinkie just frowned.
"Oh, Maud, don't be so hard on yourself!" said Pinkie, "You've got the best friendship maker in Ponyville on the case!"
I'll be by your side the whole time!" Maud then opened the bed sheets to climb in when a familiar cow bell was put around her neck.
"Speaking of which, your bell fells off, silly," Pinkie added.
"Pinkie Pie," said Maud firmly, "I appreciate what you're trying to do, but-"
"Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut?" Pinkie asked excitedly as she got into Maud's face and pushed her down. Maud just sighed in defeat.
"Never mind," said Maud.
"Don't worry, Maud," said Pinkie as she climbed her side of the bed and pulled the bed sheets up, "When you see this brunch, you'll realize everything's gonna be okay! And then, I have amazing bonding activities planned for the next seventeen days! You and Starlight will be besties in no time!" Maud tried to speak, but Pinkie cut her off by giving her a sisterly kiss on the fore-head, "Goodnight!" Pinkie then clapped twice to make the lights turn off and instantly went right to sleep.
"Cupcake omelet..." Pinkie said in her sleep. Maud just sat in her bed quietly and found that she couldn't sleep.
(Scene changes)
At the castle, a familiar bluish-grey fore-hoof rapped on the front door.
Chase answered the door a few seconds later, yawning as he did so.
"Maud?" Chase asked sleepily as he saw the now dressed mare standing outside the front door. "What are you doing here? Aren't you with Pinkie Pie?"
"We need to talk," Maud replied.
"It can't wait til..." Chase then cut off when he saw something happen to Maud.
Something so extremely rare that not even the show has ever shown the earth pony ever do it. While Maud's face had her usual deadpan expression, a pair of tears streamed down her eyes. Chase knew this was a serious manner and quickly, but gently, guided her inside so they could talk.
(Scene changes)
Next morning, the sunlight had barely shinned over Pinkie's bed when her eyes shot open and she smiled excitedly.
"Friendship brunch!" Pinkie announced excitedly as she sat up from the bed and pushed the covers off.
She turned to wake up Maud when she noticed that her older sister wasn't there. There just a note attached to the cow bell. Pinkie quickly read the note.
Pinkie Pie
Thank you for trying so hard to help me make friends. But my decision has to be rock based. And Ghastly Gorge has such great rocks, I won't even have time for friends. It's better this way.
Sorry it didn't work out.
Maud
Pinkie was biting her lower lip, feeling devastated as she read the later. She had barely finished reading it when she quickly undressed out of her onesie, untied her hair bun, and ran out of Sugarcube Corner as fast as she could.
"Maud! Wait!" Pinkie cried out as she rushed to the train station. But Pinkie was too late as a train heading in the direction to Ghastly Gorge pulled out of the station.
"Maud!" Pinkie cried out and tried to chase the train, but she couldn't catch up to it as the train disappeared from view. Pinkie felt like she was gonna cry...
"Maud..." Pinkie croaked sadly.
(Scene changes)
Back at the castle, Starlight was just sleeping and snoring softly in her bed. Pinkie wasted no time getting into the unicorn's room and standing on her bed.
"Starlight, wake up!" Pinkie shouted.
"KITES!" Starlight yelped as she woke up with a start and scooted away from Pinkie so quickly that she fell out of bed. Starlight quickly recovered and saw who it was.
"Huh? Oh," said Starlight as she climbed back into her bed, "If this is about brunch, I-I, uh...You know what? Jalapeno red velvet omelettes sound gross. I-I just can't." Starlight then tried to go back to sleep, but Pinkie was going to leave just yet.
"Maud left in the middle of the night!" Pinkie told the lilac unicorn.
"Oh," said Starlight, looking very sad and disappointed, "I guess Ghastly Gorge really does have the best rocks." Pinkie just sniffled as she sat on the floor at the front of Starlight's bed.
"Why couldn't you two just be friends?" Pinkie sobbed.
"Pinkie Pie, I like Maud," said Starlight as she leaned over to the pink pony.
"You do?" said Pinkie.
"Yeah," Starlight replied, "She's weird!"
"HEY!" Pinkie snapped angrily, taking offense to Starlight's remark and making the lilac unicorn fall back down on her bed.
"No, in a good way!" Starlight explained, "She sees the world in a totally different way than anypony I've ever met. She accepts me for who I am. She taught me that a rock is never just a rock, and she could make anything funny. We never had to say it, but we got each other."
"You really were becoming friends?" Pinkie asked hopefully.
"I think so," said Starlight, "But you kinda sorta...got in the way." Pinkie gasped deeply and then looked rather hurt. Starlight then gasped herself.
"You're right, too harsh," said Starlight, "Let's go with...You ruined everything all the time…"
Pinkie just looked even more upset and let out a loud whimper as she stared at the floor.
"Mmmmh, that's worse," said Starlight, "What I'm trying to say is-"
"I have to go!" said Pinkie, feeling her composure crumbling fast, as she ran out of the room and slammed the door closed.
"Ta-da...Friendship lesson...learned?" Starlight remarked, sighed to herself, lay back down on her pillow, and used her bed sheets to cover herself completely with them.
(Scene changes)
At Ghastly Gorge, Maud had set up a tent and was now at a nearby cliff trying to collect some rock samples. She sadly put the same on the top of another pile of other rocks. She couldn't help but feel very lonely.
I should've told Pinkie the truth Maud thought But it would've hurt her feelings. Maybe friendship just isn't for me.
Maud felt her eyes water again, but quickly wiped them away.
"Sigh," said Maud sadly. She then winced as the wind picked up and the sample she had just collected fell off her pile and bounced away. Maud wasted no time chasing after the rock until it came to a stop by some rock that had green stripes on it.
"Emerald jasper?" said Maud, "This must be my lucky day."
Maud was so busy admiring the rock that she didn't see that a quarray eel had appeared and was about to swallow her whole for lunch.
(Scene changes)
Around that time, a train pulled into the station closed to the Gorge, Chase, Sunray, Trini, Antonio, Jade, and Pinkie were left standing on the platform wearing some hard hats for safety.
Of course, Pinkie told the Elite Ninja of what happened when she was encouraging Maud to make friends, but she got in the way when she didn't want her older sister to make friends with Starlight.
Needless to say, Chase was very cross with Pinkie and he knew that he was going to give her a straight talk about her hyper energy.
"This is it." Pinkie said, determined to get Maud back.
"I still can't believe you forced Maud to make friends in Ponyville because of your hyperactiveness." Sunray said with a glare as Pinkie became indignant.
"You don't have to rub it in." Pinkie said bluntly.
"Alright. Come on, guys." Chase said with a determined look on his face. "Let's get Maud out of there."
Pinkie nodded with a determined smile on her face as Chase's family nodded firmly in agreement with their leader.
(Scene changes)
Some crows then flew past the foreground as the six ponies were now deep into the gorge. They soon found a tent pitched up and nopony beside it.
"Is that Maud's tent?" Trini asked curiously.
"It looks like it." Jade confirmed with suspicion.
"Yeah, but I don't see Maud anywhere." Sunray said while looking around.
Antonio looked around with a concerned look.
"Maybe the Quinkan have made a comeback and grabbed her!" Antonio said with a scared look, making Pinkie shriek in horror.
"No I don't think so." Chase said as he used his medallion to concentrate with his magic before he stopped. "I don't sense any Quinkan energy around this gorge."
Pinkie then saw some hoof prints nearby, she leaned down to sniff them and sampled a good chuck of the dirt. Sunray made a face when Pinkie sampled the dirt.
"Maud tracks!" said Pinkie and started sniffing the tracks like a bloodhound before running off.
"Pinkie, wait up!" said Chase as he and his family followed the pink pony.
(Scene changes)
It was then Pinkie found the tracks ended before a pool of saliva. Chase and his family winced.
"Oh, I've got a bad feeling about this, guys." said Antonio.
"You and me both." Jade said with worry.
Pinkie then looked and the Elite Ninja simultaneously gasped. There before them was a quarray eel glaring at them when its mouth opened up...and Maud was inside.
"Hello, Pinkie Pie, Chase, Sunray, Trini, Jade, and Antonio." said Maud as she held her green stripped rock in her fore-hoof, "I found some emerald jasper."
It was then the quarray eel snapped his jaw shut.
"EEEEEEEEK!" Pinkie shrieked.
"AAH!" Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, and Antonio shouted together before Pinkie zoomed away.
Pinkie found a cart jack and used it to pry open the quarray eel's mouth. Then Mario pulled Maud out of harm's way.
"Are you okay, Maud?!" Pinkie asked worriedly, "That eel almost ate you!"
"What eel?" Maud asked. It was then the quarry eel managed to send the car jack in his jaw flying out of its mouth, snapping his jaw shut loudly.
"YIPE!" Pinkie and Antonio yelped, even Maud jumped in surprise as the quarray eel roared at them angrily.
As it roared, a huge glob of green saliva drenched the seven ponies.
"Ugh! Gross!" Jade cringed as she looked at herself, "I'm gonna have to shower for a week after this!"
"Act like Rarity later!" Pinkie cried out, "Let's get out of here!"
Just then, the quarry eel tried to take a bite out of the seven ponies, but they got out of the way just in time. They were running to quickly that all the green saliva came off as well.
"You didn't need to come," Maud told Pinkie and the Elite Ninja as they continued to run for their lives, "I'm having a great time on my own."
Jade snorted as they dodged another quarray eel attack.
"Maud, even your usual deadpan tone isn't hiding the fact that you're lying," Jade pointed out as she along with her family just dodged an quarry eel from taking a bite out of him.
"I'm not lying," said Maud, "I even made a new friend."
"Is it a rock?" Pinkie, Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, and Antonio asked together.
"Yes," Maud replied.
It was then the seven ponies turned a corner when a quarray eel lunged at them.
"AAAAH!" Pinkie screamed as the attack sent them over the edge of the path, losing her safety hat.
Chase and his family screamed as they missed the platform completely and fell into the pit off-screen.
"GUYS! NO!" Pinkie cried out since she landed several feet below on a rock platform below.
Pinkie then saw that Maud was hanging over the edge of the platform, holding on with her fore-hooves.
"Maud!" Pinkie cried out as Maud held onto the edge of the platform for dear life.
"I don't belong in Ponyville," Maud told Pinkie, "It only proved I'm better off all by myself. Like I always have."
Maud looked sadly away.
"Don't say that!" Pinkie called out, "It was all my fault! I-EEEEK!" Pinkie shrieked as a quarry eel flew over head but luckily it didn't go after them, "I thought I knew everything about making friends, but I didn't even know my own sister! I forced you to do things my way, but my way isn't your way!"
Maud just stared at her sister before looking to the side.
"This way," Maud replied.
"Exactly!" said Pinkie in agreement.
"No. This way," said Maud as she let go of the edge of the platform.
Only to land on all four hooves not even four feet below her where the Elite Ninja was waiting for them. Pinkie was surprised and then jumped down to follow Maud.
(Scene changes)
"Are you alright?" Maud asked Chase and his family as they headed back to her campsite.
"Yeah, but I'm just feeling a bit sore from landing on my back," said Chase, "Thanks for asking."
"No problem," said Maud.
While Pinkie was glad Chase and his family were alright, she was still worried about what she was gonna say once they reached the campsite.
"Maud, I thought you couldn't make a friend without my help," Pinkie told Maud, "but it turned out you couldn't make a friend with my help. I underestimated you, and I'm sorry."
Pinkie lowered her head sadly. Maud lifted it up with a fore-hoof.
"I know you did it out of love," said Maud.
"I also did it because I was selfish," said Pinkie sadly, looking at Chase nervously as Chase just gave her an approving nod.
"You really want us to live together and wear fuzzy slippers?" Maud asked. Pinkie sniffled.
"I missed you," said Pinkie, "You're the only pony in the family I thought could put up with me and my excitement. The idea of having you live in Ponyville was something I always wanted, but it clearly isn't something you wanted. After all, your decision on where to live is rocked based."
"I told you I was looking for friends," said Maud, "Too bad it didn't work out."
"Only because you gave up too easily," Chase replied.
Maud actually flinched before returning to her usual demeanor.
"I already said that I..."
"You didn't give Ponyville a fair chance," said Chase firmly and cutting the grayish-blue pony off, "You let common rocks and the fact Pinkie overwhelmed you make your decision for you. You and Starlight were getting along just fine."
"And then I ruined it," said Pinkie sadly, "Tell me, Maud. Was the fact I got in the way the reason you gave up on friendship?"
Maud looked away and said nothing. Jade could tell the grayish-blue pony didn't want to answer.
"Maud, we can't tell you where to live," said Jade, "But whether you're good at expressing yourself or not isn't a good excuse to run away from a problem."
Since Maud's head was facing away from Jade, she couldn't tell that Maud was actually losing her deadpan demeanor and was squeezing her eyes shut and gritting her teeth.
"Well I'll never be as open and expressive as my sister and she's the most popular pony in Ponyville!" Maud snapped as tears fell from her eyes, shocking Pinkie while it was Chase, Jade, Trini, Antonio, and Sunray's turn to have a deadpan expression on their faces, "If that's what it takes to make friends, then there's no hope for me so I might as well forget it!"
Pinkie was speechless as Maud panted a bit before she turned around and wiped her eyes.
"I can't believe I just did that," Maud remarked, quickly going back to usual her demeanor with her back against Pinkie, Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, and Antonio.
"Why?" Pinkie replied, "Yes, I'm upset I made you feel that way, but the only pony I'm angry with is myself. It's not your fault I couldn't see that you obviously didn't need my help making friends. I just hate it that I act so clueless sometimes. I really want to know what I'm doing and I ended up looking and acting completely stupid."
"That's why I didn't speak up," said Maud as she finally turned around and walked up to Pinkie, "I didn't want to see you beating yourself up over this. Every time you do, my heart feels like a diamond being struck in the wrong place. You're too hard on yourself, Pinkie. You're not perfect. Just because you make mistakes and get over excited doesn't mean you don't know how to help other ponies."
"Really?" Pinkie replied.
"Yes," said Maud, "I just wished I could express myself more. Then I wouldn't be so different that pony wouldn't want to be my friend."
"Maud," said Trini, "if a pony can't accept you for who you are. Then who needs 'em! Real friends will always accept you for who you are and they'll accept you the moment you reach out to them. That's how it was when Pinkie became my friend and the rest of my Ponyville friends. You don't need to be expressive to be Starlight's friend. She told me she accepted you the moment you decided to spend time with her and she saw you becoming her friend. Why? Because you were just being yourself."
"Trini's right," said Pinkie, "It's like a said before, you'll never know when the lightning bolt of friendship will strike. You just gotta let it happen. And...I should probably take my own advice and not try to push it either. Heh...sorry."
Pinkie gave Maud an embarassed smile.
"And just because you get overexcited doesn't mean I don't like spending time with you," said Maud, "I just value having time to myself."
"Yeah, I get it," said Pinkie, "you're not the only pony...and donkey...to tell me that." Mario patted Pinkie's shoulder sympathetically.
"And if I want time with just me and my new friends," said Maud, "it doesn't mean I don't want you around anymore. After all, you're my best sister friend forever."
That last sentence made Pinkie's composure crumble and she broke down crying loudly.
"Oh, Maud!" Pinkie bawled and hugged Maud, "I love you than all Equestria!"
"And you melt my heart more easily than sodium-rich plagiodase fledspar," Maud replied as she hugged Pinkie back.
"I don't know what that means," Pinkie croaked as she pulled away, "but please-please-please give Ponyville another chance! But more importantly, give me another chance...to leave you alone." Pinkie just sat on her hind knees with a sad look on her face.
"I don't want to be pushy," said Chase as he walked up and stood beside Pinkie, "But I think it would be worth your time if you tried again at friendship. You have what it takes."
Maud just said nothing for a moment and then turned back toward her campsite.
"What do you think, Boulder?" Maud asked her pet rock. Boulder was just near a tree stump, wearing a orange knit cap on his head.
Maud didn't need to wait long before her decision had been made.
(Scene changes)
A couple of days later, Starlight was just flying her rectangular box kite when suddenly a hexagon shaped kite and diamond shaped kite appeared in the sky as well. Starlight turned to see that the hexagon kite belonged to Maud.
"You're back!" said Starlight happily.
"Mm-hmm," said Maud.
"For good?" Starlight asked hopefully.
"Mm-hmm," Maud replied with a nod, "This doesn't mean we need to start talking about feelings, does it?"
"Heh. No way," said Starlight.
"Good," said a familiar little filly, "New friends should find things in common first, then slowly open up to feelings later when they're good and ready."
"Nyx?" said Starlight in surprise.
She knew Twilight and Nyx had returned late last night from their trip, but she didn't know where the filly had gone off to that morning.
"Hey, Starlight!" said Nyx as she waved from behind the grayish-blue pony.
"I ran into her while I was walking around town," said Maud, "She gets me." Nyx giggled.
"Maud might be dry and blunt, but she's really cool." said Nyx.
Starlight smiled.
"Yeah, Maud is pretty accepting of us reformed ponies," Starlight remarked.
"It's not like either of you are doing evil things now," said Maud.
Starlight and Nyx laughed. A small smirk appeared on Maud's face but quickly disappeared a half-second later.
"Maybe after this we could decorate my new place," Maud suggested.
"Sweet!" said Nyx.
"Totally!" said Starlight, "Where is it?"
"Well, it's not in Ponyville," said Maud, "More like Ponyville-adjacent."
"What do you mean, Maud?" Nyx asked, feeling slightly confused.
"You'll see, Nyx," said Maud, "It's rad."
Nyx smiled.
Later, Starlight and Nyx looked in awe as they saw that Maud had converted the hidden cavern she and Starlight had discovered into her very own bachelorette pad.
A pink and purple canopy had been set up for Maud's shelter as well as some other pieces of furniture were set up underneath it. Some of which were made out of rock. She was also wearing some fuzzy white and pink slippers on her hooves.
"It's perfect," said Starlight.
"You got that right," said Nyx, "Who needs a multi-million bit mansion when you have a pad as cool as this!"
It was then Pinkie appeared and hugged both Starlight and Maud.
"Yes!" said Pinkie excitedly, "My sister's totally staying in Ponyville! I mean Ponyville-adjacent!" She then laughed happily.
"Pinkie..." Nyx warned, since Chase and the rest of her family had filled her in about what had happened between the seven ponies when she was gone. Pinkie then stopped laughing and looked to see Starlight and Maud giving her blunt looks.
"Sorry, sorry, I'm leaving!" said Pinkie and then noticed the filly, "Wait, why is Nyx here?"
"I invited her," said Maud, "She's my friend." Pinkie blinked, but inwardly felt a little jealous. Nyx glared.
"Oh, okay," said Pinkie, "I'll just go then. I'm not even here." She then looked at Maud's hooves, "Aah, you're wearing the slippers! Okay, now I'm really leaving. Buh-bye!" Pinkie then ran off to the left. There was a moment of silence before Pinkie came back.
"Heh-heh...Wrong way," said Pinkie as she zipped away and disappeared. Starlight, Maud, and Nyx just exchanged looks and said nothing.
"She'll calm down...eventually," said Nyx.
"We know," said Maud and Starlight together in the same deadpan tone. Starlight then giggled as Maud cracked a small smile.
Maud had to admit, no rock could compare to the two ponies she had as her new friends...
...except for Boulder of course.
Author's note: Hey guys,
Sorry for the long wait. Had to spend some Thanksgiving time with my family. I wish you guys a happy Thanksgiving as well. Hope you all like the fourth chapter.
Peace out!