Notes:
'I am on a stroll now! I hope to continue with this pace with uploads for my stories in general.'
Well, I definitely ate those words lol. I'm very sorry for no updates to this story for over a month. I left no update for this story for longer than I liked to of have. However, the reward for the wait is 12.75k words of shy goofy cuteness! It gets really cute and goofy, I've been working really hard on this chapter. I hope you all enjoy this chapter :)
(12:10 PM, Friday)
Adorabella had finished work 10 minutes ago. She still has her work uniform on, and has her black backpack with her. She is already at Sugarcube Corner waiting. The doors open, and Pinkie Pie walks out. She has a massive pink rucksack on her back.
"You forgot your cashews yesterday," Pinkie Pie lightly chuckled. Adorabella deep down didn't want them as they're from Velvet Ice... but then again they are cashews... salted cashews... delicious salted cashews...
"I left them on the bed upstairs," Pinkie Pie added.
"I- I hope you and the others have fun camping," Adorabella smiled as she wishes well for Pinkie Pie and the others.
"Thank you, and I hope you and Marble have a good girly weekend," Pinkie Pie smiled.
"Speaking of- there she is!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed with joy as she points her left forehoof ahead, and Adorabella looks in that direction. There is Marble, also with Limestone, coming from the direction of the Ponyville train station. They are walking over to Pinkie Pie and Adorabella. Marble also has a grey and purple backpack on her back.
"H- hello, Adorabella..." Marble feebly greeted, walking up to Adorabella.
"H- hey..." Adorabella also feebly greeted.
"Well, I guess it's just me harvesting at those rocks for the rest of today... all by myself... yippee," Limestone moaned.
"I hope you understand that you're gonna be doing a lot of my share of work when you come back to make up your time off," Limestone frowned while grinning, looking at Marble.
"Mhm," Marble giggled in response to Limestone. Limestone is deep down happy to see Marble has a relatable friend, which gives her motivation to go branching out, especially to a busy town like Ponyville. Limestone sees it as a step in the right direction for Marble.
"S- s- sorry f- for taking her away from the farm..." Adorabella stuttered as she backs away from Limestone.
"Nah it's fine Adorabella, a little time by myself is alright, I guess. At least Marble had just found courage to venture beyond the farm, thanks to you," Limestone reassured, nodding with approval to Adorabella.
"Mhm," Marble nodded, weakly smiling, to Limestone and Adorabella. Marble quickly trots to Limestone and briefly hugs her bye.
"Well, Marble, enjoy yourself. And Adorabella, look after her. I best be off before I miss the train. Bye," Limestone said as she starts walking off, in the direction to the Ponyville train station. She is certain that Marble will be fine.
"Oh I got to meet the others down at the train station soon- before I go can I ask something?" Pinkie Pie requested.
"Mhm," Marble nodded.
"I forgot to refresh my egg supply. You two don't mind going out to buy some eggs for me?" Pinkie Pie requested while softly smiles. Adorabella and Marble look at each other with terrified expressions. But they quickly look back at Pinkie Pie with forced smiles.
"Mmm mmm..." Marble slowly nodded.
"Well you two have a great time! Bye!" Pinkie Pie cheerily screeched aloud as she bounces off at speed, so she doesn't miss the train.
"W- w- well... it's just us..." Adorabella softly spoke.
"Mhm," Marble nodded. Both mares walk inside. Marble, knowing the place, locks the doors. Now both ponies are shut from society. They have each other, they both understand each other, and they both agree the outside is scary.
"D- do we h- have t- to go out and... g- get th- the eggs... ?" Adorabella trembled. She can manage talking to ponies once she gets to know them, that she can just about barely do... with help. But going to a market and speaking to a completely random pony, terrifies Adorabella.
"Mhm..." Marble sighed while quadruple checking that the doors are locked.
Marble rocks her head forward, indicating to the stairs behind the counter. Adorabella follows Marble upstairs.
(Top floor)
Adorabella and Marble have gone up 2 floors. They are in Pinkie Pie's bedroom. This will be their room though for 2 days. The bed is in the middle of the room, on top of the circular purple rug. On the bed is the hard-straw basket Adorabella left behind yesterday. To the left of the bed is a wardrobe, which is up against the wall. To the right of the wardrobe is a table with a CD record player. Adorabella and Marble are on the other side, the right side of the bed.
Adorabella starts taking off her work uniform off and neatly folding it and putting it on the bed as well as her backpack. Meanwhile, Marble takes off her rucksack and places it on the bed.
"So... so..." Adorabella stammered slightly.
"Hmm..." Marble hummed.
"D- do you play chess?" Marble randomly asked. Adorabella nods, and Marble smiles.
"W- we can play a game... sure..." Adorabella nodded. From Marble's smile, Adorabella knew the grey earth pony wants to play a game of chess.
"I- I brought my own set from the farm," Marble stated. Adorabella nods. Marble sets up the board in front of the end of the bed, on the floor. Marble's chessboard and pieces are made out of rock, 32 squares being made of andesite and the other 32 squares being made of granite. Marble also got out a stone box, which has the pieces.
"Pa taught me how t- to play," Marble added as she opens the box and puts the pieces on the correct squares. The 'white' pieces are made of andesite, and the 'black' pieces are made of granite. Adorabella and Marble sat opposite each other.
"H- how do you d- decide wh- who goes first?" Adorabella asked. Ponies have different ways if deciding who plays white.
"My family hoof wrestles to decide... even when playing chess, we're working... I often play black as a result," Marble replied, sniggering lightly.
"W- w- well... y- you may as well go first," Adorabella chuckled.
"Y- you're not strong either?" Marble asked. Of course Marble is still stronger than the average earth pony mare. Marble is overall pretty strong herself. But compared to everypony in her family, she isn't too strong.
"N- n- no... I- I'm not strong... even fillies are stronger than me," Adorabella sighed. Although much stronger than Adorabella, Marble can understand how Adorabella feels when everypony around her is stronger.
"V- very random but uh... d- do you ever feel dread... when you're waiting in a shopping line... w- w- wi- wi- with ponies in f- front- in front and behind you?" Marble asked as she slowly and carefully rotates the chess board so she doesn't knock the pieces off.
"I never been shopping..." Adorabella admitted. Marble raises an eyebrow.
"Y- you've never been out shopping... a- anywhere?" Marble raised her uncovered eyebrow.
"I- I've always stayed at my house wh- while either one of my parents went shopping... because I had time by myself... I used to feel safe when alone... they were abusive... then when home and school became too much... I hid from society at twelve in the Everfree Forest... in a shack... and even now, after almost a month of venturing out... I've never been shopping," Adorabella shared.
"I uh... hmm..." Marble doesn't know what to say and or how to respond. She tries to process what was shared, struggling to let it sink in.
Marble has fully rotated the board. Marble is playing white, and Adorabella is playing black.
"Yeah I can g- go to Sugarcube Corner... but I get to see Pinkie... a- a- and Ralph... a- and even then, Ralph goes in and buys what I want for me. I r- really trust Pinkie... but other ponies go inside the shop too- it gets too crowded and I don't know who they are or what they will do and I can't fly out because we're inside- I'm just frustrated I can't do something simple like going into a freaking shop..." Adorabella sighed, frustrated at herself. She then feels something gently touch her right shoulder.
"C- c- can I share something... something that I found myself th- that helps me w- with shopping?" Marble asked. Adorabella weakly nods.
"I... I bring two purses, one with bits and the other empty. When I'm ready to go to the shopkeeper... I wait for the queue to die down. W- while I wait, I check the price labels of my items, and put the needed bits in the empty purse. Then I go up to the counter... dump the bits and I quickly make my way out," Marble shared.
"L- Let's n- not worry a- about it n- now... and l- let's play chess..." Adorabella meakly suggested. She'd much prefer to start and have a fun game.
"Mhm," Marble nodded, also wanting to start the game. Marble starts of with pushing her e-file pawn to e4. Adorabella responds with pushing her c-file pawn to c5.
Marble then develops her light-squared bishop, with Bc4. Adorabella develops a knight, with Nc6.
Marble then develops one of her knights as well, with Nc3. Adorabella moves her e-file pawn to e6.
Marble develops her other knight, with Nf3.
"So, y- your father taught you h- how to play..." Adorabella double checked in case she misheard as she also develops her other knight, with Nf6.
"Mhm," Marble nodded as she moves her d-file pawn to d3.
"Wh- who t- taught you?" Marble asked.
"I- I learned o- on my own when I- I was a filly... I played b- by myself... because I never had anypony to play it with... but then I found out Rainbow knew h- how to play... I also played against Scootaloo once- Scootaloo is a bit better than Rainbow I'd say... Rainbow sometimes play too aggressive," Adorabella shared.
"I... I thought my social anxiety was bad... I at least had somepony t- to play with," Marble meakly responded, not sure how to take in hearing Adorabella played used to only be able to play chess by herself. Marble feels conflicted with herself, because Adorabella went through a lot more than she did. Marble thinks to herself about what Adorabella shared. Marble now feels she doesn't truly have a good reason to feel so shy and so reserved. She feels ashamed with herself.
Adorabella can read Marble's uneasiness, that she felt ashamed. She puts her left forehoof on Marble's right shoulder. Marble reads the hoof as reassurance, reassurance that she had a good reason to feel so shy and so reserved, no matter what. Marble leans her head right and hugs Adorabella's left forehoof. Adorabella interprets it as a 'thank you'. They let go, and they begin talking... except they aren't saying anything. Adorabella and Marble noticed they appear to be able to telepathically communicate.
The 2 mares then get back to their game of chess. They both begin to focus really hard on trying to batter each other on the board.
Adorabella then pushes her d-file pawn to d5, attacking the centre, threatening to take Marble's light-square bishop that's on c4. Marble's eyes widen at the aggressive play made by Adorabella.
Marble uses her pawn on e4 and takes Adorabella's d5 pawn, exd5. Marble had spilled first blood. Adorabella quickly takes vengeance, and uses her pawn on e6 and retakes Marble's pawn that's d5 pawn, exd5. Adorabella and Marble are now missing a pawn. The e file has no pawns, exposing both kings.
Marble moves her queen, Qe2. Marble has put Adorabella's king in check. Adorabella blocks the check by moving her bishop, with Be6.
Marble moves her light-squared bishop, Bb5. She pins Adorabella's knight on c6 to her king. Adorabella is unconcerned about that, and pushes for the centre, by moving her pawn down to d4, attacking Marble's knight on c3.
Marble moves the attacked knight, Ne4. Adorabella moves her unpinned knight to d7, Nd7. Adorabella unpins her other knight on c6.
Marble moves her dark-squared bishop, Bd2. Adorabella pushes her a-file pawn to a6, attacking Marble's light-squared bishop on b5.
Marble moves her light-squared bishop, Ba4. Adorabella pushes her b-file pawn to b5, again attacking Marble's light-squared bishop.
Marble again moves her light-sqaured bishop, Bb3. Adorabella moves her queen, Qe7.
Marble uses her light-squared bishop to take Adorabella's light-squared bishop, Bxe6. Adorabella uses her f pawn to take Marble's light-squared bishop, fxe6.
Marble moves her dark-squared bishop, with Bg5. Adorabella moves her queen, Qf7.
Marble repositions her queen, Qd2. Adorabella moves her h-file pawn to h6, attacking Marble's dark-squared bishop on g5.
Marble moves her dark-squared bishop, Bf4. Adorabella moves her e-file pawn to e5, again attacking Marble's dark-squared bishop.
Marble again repositions her bishop, with Bg3. Adorabella then brings out her dark-squared bishop, with Be7.
Marble then castles king-side, O-O. Adorabella then castles king-side as well, O-O.
Marble moves her rook that's on f1 to c1, Rfc1. Adorabella moves her rock on a8 to Rae8.
Marble tries to break up the centre by pushing her c-file pawn to c3, attacking Adorabella's pawn that's on d4. Adorabella is unfazed, and pushes her c-file pawn to c4, attacking Marble's pawn on d3.
Marble uses her c3 pawn and takes Adorabella's d4 pawn, cxd4. Adorabella uses her d4 pawn and takes Marble's pawn on d4, exd4.
Marble uses her pawn on d3 to take Adorabella's pawn on c4, dxc4. Adorabella uses her pawn on b5 to take Marble's pawn on c4, bxc4.
Marble uses her knight on f3 to take the pawn on d4, Nxd4. Adorabella doesn't attack Marble's knight on d4. Adorabella instead moves her knight on c6 to e5, Nce5. Marble is now up a pawn.
Marble uses her dark-squared bishop and takes Adorabella's knight on e5, Bxe5. Adorabella uses her knight on d7 and takes Marble's bishop, Nxe5. Adorabella can see she has a stronger position on the board than Marble. Adorabella carefully thinks on what to do next, how she can attack Marble's position.
Meanwhile, Marble moves her d4 knight to f3, Nf3. Adorabella, seeing her knight on e5 is being threatened, moves it to d3, Nd3. Adorabella is now threatening to take Marble's rook on c1.
Marble moves her rook on c1 to d1, Rd1. Adorabella moves her dark-squared bishop to Bb4, threatening to take Marble's queen.
Marble repositions her queen to e2, Qe2. Adorabella pushes her a-file pawn to a5, using it to support her bishop in addition with her bishop.
Marble moves her a-file pawn to a3, attacking Adorabella's dark-squared bishop. Adorabella moves her dark-squared bishop from b4 back to e7, Be7.
Marble moves her b-file pawn to b3. Adorabella moves her dark-squared bishop to c5, Bc5. Marble was about to take the bishop with her knight on e4, but she very quickly remembered she can't, or Adorabella's rook will take the queen.
Marble decides to use her pawn on b3 to take Adorabella's pawn on c4, bxc4. Adorabella carefully calculates her next move, because she believed Marble had made a mistake, and Adorabella realized Marble did make a mistake. Adorabella uses her rook on e8 and takes Marble's knight on e4, Rxe4.
"Damn it..." Marble muttered while grinning.
Marble uses her queen that's on e2 and takes Adorabella's rook on e4, Qxe4. Adorabella immediately moves her knight on d3 and takes Marble's pawn on f2, Nxf2. Adorabella is forking Marble's queen and rook.
Marble moves her queen out of the way to e1, Qe1. Adorabella then uees her knight on f2 and takes Marble's rook on d1, Nxd1. Adorabella's bishop has a discovered check on Marble's king.
Marble moves her king to h1, Kh1. Marble gasps, realizing her blunder.
Adorabella briefly looks at Marble, then back to the board. Adorabella moves her knight on d1 to f2, Nf2. Adorabella puts Marble's king in check again. Adorabella had noticed Marble's blunder as well.
"Oh no- oh no!" Marble chuckled as she moves her king back to g1, Kg1. Adorabella moves her knight on f2 to d3, Nd3. Adorabella's knight is attacking Marble's queen. Adorabella's bishop also again has a discovered check on Marble's king. Marble gently flips her king on it's side, resigning the game.
"Well played," Marble smiled, congratulating Adorabella for winning the game. It was a tight back and fourth game until Marble made that blunder.
"Well played," Adorabella also smiled. The 2 mares now want to just chill. Marble packs away the chessboard and chess pieces.
"Wh- what music do you like?" Marble asked. Adorabella shrugs, she doesn't have a music preference.
"Now... where is the- ah, there you are!" Marble gets up and walks to her rucksack that's on the bed, digs through it and pulls out a stone disk case, placing it on the bed beside her rucksack. She opens it and takes out a disk with her left forehoof.
"I- I don't usually get to play his music... Limestone hates his music. Wh- when I- I wanna listen to it... I listen to it when Limestone's not there," Marble stated as she places the disk into the CD record player.
"Wh- who's music?" Adorabella asked.
"F- Feather Bangs..." Marble replied, hiding her face behind her mane will grinning.
"Do you like him?" Adorabella asked. She then gasps slightly, she didn't mean to ask such a question, it just slipped out.
"N- no! Not like that! I like his music b- but... not like that..." Marble chuckled while blushing, hiding her cheeks with her mane. Adorabella can't help but chuckle too.
"Wh- who do you like?" Adorabella asked giggled while hiding behind her own mane.
"Uh... I... I like... strong ponies... I... I feel safe around them..." Marble answered.
"It's not Ralph is it?" Adorabella questioned, having the lightest of frowns.
"No, my crush isn't Ralph. Why? Is he your crush? Y- you mentioned him more than once to me..." Marble grinned while leaning her head forward. Adorabella broken down into a fit of laughter while blushing more bright red than a strawberry.
"M- m- mah mayh be he he..." Adorabella blushes bright red while hiding her cheeks behind her mane. Marble is manically chuckling as well and playfully shoves Adorabella.
"H- hey!" Adorabella laughed, playfully pushing Marble back, but the earth pony barely budged. Both of them got up and start playfully shoving each other, with Marble winning by a long shot.
Then suddenly, Adorabella freaks flaps her wings and flies up, now being out of reach.
"Oh I'm so sorry- I thought we were both having fun!" Marble gasped, now feeling guilty.
"It was fun... but... you were pushing me harder and harder," Adorabella explained in a calmer manner, gently hovering back down, landing on the floor with all 4 hooves.
"I- I'm so sorry... I got too excited. I never had a friend like you that... that I could relate to so well. I... I was having... fun," Marble stammered, still feeling guilty.
"Marble, it's okay... I understand," Adorabella reassured. Adorabella knows if Marble really wanted to, she would've hurt her badly.
"So... is Ralph... uh... y'know... y- your crush?" Marble asked, biting her lip while grinning.
"Y- y- y- yes..." Adorabella stuttered, her laughter now dying down.
"I... I w- would've preferred telling R- Rainbow first... she is the reason I have friends. I feel like... I feel like not c- coming to her first is- is betraying her..." Adorabella explained, her tone falling flat.
"Y- you aren't... betraying somepony for just finding somepony else to talk to," Marble shared.
"It- it isn- isn't betrayal?" Adorabella responded, confused.
"Mmm mmm," Marble shook her head.
"I... it- it's too early anyway... I always feel uneasy around stallions because of Rock and Catch, as- as well as my father. But Ralph... there's something in him that makes me feel... safe... I- I... I feel s- so safe around him. B- but... without Rainbow... I wouldn't of met Ralph... or my other friends... s- so does that mean I'd be abandoning R- Rainbow's? I- I... I lo- lo- lo- love Ralph... I l- love him. But I love Rainbow too... she is like a s- sister... both of them make me feel safe..." Adorabella shared, releasing a faint sigh.
Adorabella holds Rainbow Dash so dear to her. She doesn't call Rainbow Dash a sister for no reason. She wouldn't of been able to find courage to push outside her comfort zone if it wasn't for Rainbow Dash. She wouldn't have the friends she has now without Rainbow Dash. She wouldn't have this new happy life if it wasn't for Rainbow Dash. She would still be living in the Everfree Forest in fear if it wasn't for Rainbow Dash. She wouldn't of been saved from whatever Rock and Catch were about to do if it wasn't for Rainbow Dash.
But Adorabella has started to have feelings for Ralph. She enjoys chatting with him on the Mondays Thursday, they meet on after work, and Sundays on the weekend. Ralph often buys the snacks for them to share with her. Ralph suggested some ways of coping in stressful environments which work to a degree, and while they may not alwats work, it does help at least a lite bit. Ralph understands her boundaries and problems. Ralph respects her space when she needs it. Ralph also got in the way and prepared to defend her from Velvet Ice. Ralph also escorted her back to the Cloudominium when she freaked out yesterday. She feels safe and secure around Ralph.
"W- well..." Marble thought of how to answer this one. She quickly figures out how to answer.
"I... I love B- Brae... like how I love my family... I love them equally... but it's a... different kind of love, if you understand what I mean," Marble tried to explain. Adorabella shook her head, confused. Marble saw that Adorabella didn't quite understand.
"Wh- what I'm trying to say... is y- you can love Ralph and Rainbow equally... just in different dynamics of love. You can love Ralph as a special somepony, and you can love Rainbow as a sister... I hope this makes more sense," Marble clarified clearer.
"O- oh ok- okay..." Adorabella somewhat understands now.
"Mhm," Marble nodded.
"A- also... wh- who is Brae?" Adorabella asked.
"Oh uh... uh..." Marble stammered while trying to hide her blushing face.
"You like him don't you?" Adorabella returned the grin Marble gave her.
"Ah ha ha ha..." Marble nervously laughed.
"Just somepony I know that's a cousin to AJ and is from Appleloosa," Marble quickly said while grabbing her mane to hide everything but her left eye.
"At- at least y- you didn't meet him at a family reunion..." Adorabella sniggered.
"Hm hm hm hmm hmmmmm..." Marble sniggered as well.
"H- how did you meet?" Adorabella asked.
Marble is going to share with Adorabella. The white pegasus shared something so personal, it's only fair Marble shares who her crush is too.
"Limestone needed to deliver a cart of rocks to Appleloosa, and... and she needed me to help. So we went to Appleloosa and... we were greeted by Braeburn... he was so over the top, I clung to Limestone the whole time... I was a bit intimidated. But then we were shown around the town after dropping off the rocks- Limestone just wanted to get back to the farm- anyway uh... b- but... but... I... I liked it at Appleloosa." Marble pauses, then continues.
"Appleloosa... is different to Rockville- don't get me wrong... I love Rockville, it's quiet... but, Appleloosa is... I don't know how to explain it- it- it's just different... something... new... something new. It- it isn't so busy, either," Marble shared, stanmering a bit. She hasn't finished, and continues talking.
"Mhm," Adorabella nodded, showing that she is still listening.
"I- When- I... whenever I got the chance... I snuck out of the rock farm during work breaks. A- Appleloosa isn't a far walk... so I can go there and back without anypony noticing- anyway... when I came back... Brae... he was happy to know I liked Appleloosa, and while he was still as over the top when introducing me back to Appleloosa... I wasn't as startled as I knew what to expect... and then I visited more often... we then became friends... then we hung out... then we went out for meals together which I suppose were dates... and that's everything... summed up shortly," Marble finished explaining. Adorabella nods.
"It's been a few months... and- and now I- I like him... but I am afraid to tell him... and I've been afraid to tell my family, because... it would mean I have to go to the Pairing Stone..." Marble added, then deflates her lungs with a sigh. But it also felt good, that she can be so open with a friend as relatable to as Adorabella.
"Doesn't... doesn't the stone... j- just recommend who?" Adorabella inquired. She remembers something about a 'Pairing Stone' in the old book she had, the same book that contains details and information about the shards she gave up.
"Yeah... but the Pairing Stone is a big thing in my family..." Marble murmured. She is scared that the Pairing Stone would not recommend Braeburn, and that her family would not approve when they eventually find out.
"Wh- who else knows... knows about y- your thing f- for him?" Adorabella asked.
"AJ knows... she's helped me so much," Marble replied.
"As in... Applejack... or uh, another AJ?" Adorabella asked.
"A- Applejack... sh- she said f- for me to take my time... but I'm afraid that I'll l- lose my chance again..." Marble shared. She's afraid of losing her chance with Braeburn like she lost her chance with Big Mac.
While Adorabella didn't know what it was exactly like to see a crush fall for somepony else, she had a pretty good idea on what it must be like. Adorabella has absolutely no romantic experience, but yet she can still picture what a heartbreak must be like. Adorabella would be completely devastated if Ralph fell for somepony else.
"Wh- who knows about y- your interest in Ralph?" Marble asked. Adorabella flinches slightly, she was lost in her thoughts.
"J- just you so far... b- but I... I plan on sharing this w- with Rainbow soon..." Adorabella replied.
An hour passes by, both ponies aren't sure what to talk about or what problems they have to share. They sit there, in complete silence. They began to speak 'Quietese'. But after an hour...
"Oh no..." Adorabella gasped.
"W- what is it?" Marble asked, flinching slightly. Adorabella has made Marble worried.
"W- w- we still got t- to go and get eggs..." Adorabella trembled.
"Oh... that..." Marble trembled with Adorabella. Both of them are scared to even go downstairs, as if somepony was down there. Let alone leaving Sugarcube Corner at all.
"We can get eggs tomorrow... right?"
"I just want to get it out of the way... because if we leave it... we will never do it," Adorabella thought. If they're going to get the eggs, they must do go and do it now.
"Th- then we can come back here... and stay here..." Adorabella added.
"Mhm..." Marble didn't want to leave Sugarcube Corner as much as Adorabella didn't want to either. But getting it out of the way would be nice.
"W- well... wh- what's the worst that can happen, ah ha... ha...?"
(Outside)
Adorabella and Marble, who has her rucksack on her back, are outside Sugarcube Corner. Marble, with her own keys to the door, locked it. Adorabella and Marble stick close to one another. They felt safe inside, but now they're outside.
"Th- there's a- a stall just ov- over there..." Marble trembled as she shakily points her left forehoof ahead in the distance. There is a white-coloured stall set up, on the other side of the path, opposite Sugarcube Corner. It is an egg stall.
The only problem is that the path is teaming with ponies walking on it in each direction. Ponyville is usually very busy, not not as busy as it is today.
Having to avoid bumping into the crowds of ponies walking by on the fairly slim path may be a very very minor inconvenience to most ponies. However, for Adorabella and Marble, it is a massive massive obstacle, set out across a very wide lake. Both of them take a few steps back, to avoid weird looks.
"I- I can't see h- how much the eggs are..." Adorabella very quietly murmured. The ponies walking along the path are in the way.
That is when Adorabella remembers what Ralph said... other ponies just want to get on with their lives. Adorabella has been able to use that tip before, which has been helpful, especially when getting to, during and from work. Adorabella has never been out in public, not without help at least from... 'socially stronger' ponies.
Adorabella really likes Marble, but Marble is like her... both are terrible with coping in public. They haven't got anypony that is... 'socially strong' to help them...
What Adorabella and Marble do gave though, is each other.
Both of them understood each other, both struggle to make new friends without help due to their extreme social anxiety. But both of them had a different social weakness. Adorabella struggles more with speaking to anypony unless she absolutely trusts them, even small talk is a big task to undergo for her. Marble is a bit better than Adorabella is at small talk, but Marble can quickly fall apart within a big busy area.
Adorabella and Marble shake hooves, with a somewhat determined look in their eyes. They will try to provide a bridge for each other. They will try their best to provide a bridge to help the other get across the pit, the pit being their weakness.
Adorabella flaps her wings and goes up. She can now see the price of the eggs at the stall over the crowds of ponies. She then quickly lowers herself back down, and folds her wings back up. A few hundred milliseconds was all she needed. Beneath the shelf is a sign that says '2 egg = 4 bits' and '10 eggs = 15 bits'.
"Y- you sure you saw th- the price?" Marble asked. Adorabella was only off the ground for a few hundred milliseconds at most.
"Y- yes," Adorabella nodded, and shared with Marble the prices. Adorabella's memory let's her remember something she has only seen even for a split second. Now, on to trying to complete the difficult part. Getting across 'the lake', which is the path.
Adorabella can't go to the stall and pay, because she would be either stutter uncontrollably badly or completely break down when trying to ask for the desired amount of eggs.
If Marble was a pegasus, things would be a whole lot easier as she would be able to just fly over the crowd of busy ponies to get to the egg stall. But unfortunately she's not a pegasus, she's an earth pony. So, she can't get across the path without going through it, and going through it would completely overwhelm her.
Adorabella would carry Marble over the busy crowd of ponies. But A, Adorabella can't lift even some light objects, let alone lifting a mare, and forget lifting an earth pony. B, even if Adorabella could lift Marble, judging by Marble's personality, she would probably be freaking out and screaming if she was picked up.
Adorabella takes a step into 'the lake' which is the path, not letting herself hyperventilate about the crowd. The random ponies are getting on with their lives, and the chances of those ponies wanting to do something to her, is negligible.
Adorabella has Marble, they are both going to try and 'swim' across the 'lake', being 'lifeboats' for one another. Adorabella looks besides her and Marble is...
...and sees Marble isn't there. Marble is too intimidated by the crowd of the ponies walking across the path. Adorabella found herself stranded... it got so busy that she is struggling to make out Marble from the crowd. Adorabella tries to put herself together, she tries so hard to not hyperventilate, but she is seperated from Marble. Adorabella is stranded in the crowds of ponies becomes, and it becomes too much. It feels like she's alone. Adorabella feels vulnerable... she felt herself shrink... back to a filly... memories of the past flashing before her...
Adorabella shrieks as she flaps her wings and uncontrollably launches herself back. Marble catches Adorabella before she fell back to the ground. Both of them retreat away from the path. To make it worse, they recieved some looks from a few ponies.
Marble hastily gets to the keys in her rucksack, and unlocks the door, and she as well as Adorabella quickly retreats back indoors. Marble slams the door shut and locks it with the keys, putting them back in the rucksack after. Adorabella and Marble are now back within the safety of Sugarcube Corner. But that isn't enough. Adorabella and Marble sit down with their backs pressed against the door, as if somepony, or a team of ponies, were trying to break in.
Marble feels responsible for Adorabella having what looked like a flashback. She should've walked into the crowd with her, but because she didn't, Adorabella freaked out.
Adorabella feels like she has let everypony down. Everypony she's met went out of their way for her, but yet she still struggling with leaving her shell.
Adorabella and Marble looks at each other's eyes, both of them seeing each other's feeling of defeat in them. Adorabella looks at Marble, and nods, blinking slowly. Marble interprets the nod as an 'it's okay' kind of nod. Adorabella understands, and Marble understands, that the other was overwhelmed.
What made Adorabella click with Marble as friends so quickly, is that they're equally as shy. They can understand each other without even needing to say a word. They can trust each other with keeping the other's crushes on the low. Both of them don't always feel strong, but with each other's backs, being able to relate so well, it gives them some weird sense of power, but it's a powerful kind of weird power, weird as in, unable to be explained.
Adorabella and Marble look at each other's eyes.
"Mhm."
"Mhm."
They mumbled to one another in determined unison. They can use that powerful feeling they get from each other to get past the crowd of ponies. They can do it, they are determined to get the eggs.
"We c- can listen to the music disk after we g- get eggs," Adorabella stated.
"Mhm." Marble almost forgot about the Feather Bangs music disk. Luckily Adorabella reminded her.
"A- are th- the bits r- ready in the other purse?" Adorabella double checked.
"Oh- mmm mmm," Marble shook her head.
"H- how much d- did they cost?" Marble asked. She couldn't remember the price of the eggs.
"Two eggs... four bits. Ten eggs... fifteen bits," Adorabella reminded. Marble is amazed at Adorabella ability to remember things. It may not seem impressive at first glance, but Adorabella merely glanced at the egg prices for a mere split second, and yet still remembered the egg prices. That is the impressive part.
Marble thinks a batch of 30 eggs should do, so she gets out from her rucksack both of her purses, one with the bits and the other and the other being empty. She puts 45 bits into her empty purse. She puts the other purse back inside her rucksack. Adorabella helps out, and gestures that she'll hold onto the second purse for Marble.
"Th- that's a big purse," Adorabella stated, then gently takes the purse, holding it with her mouth.
"Mhm," Marble nodded.
"We m- may as well leave the door unlocked... because... we're just g- gonna get t- t- t- to the path and back real quick, r- r- right?" Adorabella looks at the task at hoof with the least doubt she could manage.
"I- I- I g- guess..." Marble shrugged, also trying to not be doubtful.
Adorabella and Marble gets themselves together. They can't just let a simple, unalive path defeat them. The path is not a pony. Ponies can be scary, but a path can't be scary.
Marble opens the door, and Adorabella follows out and shuts the door. The path is still bustling with ponies. But Adorabella and Marble must get across the path, no matter what. With determined frowns, Adorabella and Marble march onto the path, ignoring everypony else.
Adorabella and Marble are only focusing on 2 things, focusing on one another and focusing on making sure to not bump into anypony. No matter what, they have each other. No matter what, they don't stop their march through the path.
But literally mere secondd later, Adorabella and Marble are already on the other side of the path. They look at their hooves, and at Sugarcube Corner... then at their hooves... and at Sugarcube corner... then at their hooves... and at Sugarcube corner... then at their hooves... and at Sugarcube corner... and so on. Adorabella and Marble are both equally as shocked at how easy it was to get across the path. Adorabella and Marble smile as they raise their left forehoof, and the other raise their right forehoof, about to high hoof. They're about to high hoof, but Adorabella flinches and pulls back.
"G- g- gentle... p- please..." Adorabella anticipated that Marble would've probably high hoofed hard.
"Mhm," Marble nodded. Adorabella and Marble gently high hoof. They are smiling to each another. Both of them had done it. They got across the path.
"Hello? How many?"
Both Adorabella's and Marble's smile disappears immediately as they flinched. The voice came from the egg stall... which the 2 are in front of. The pony at the stand is a light sandy coloured earth pony stallion, and his cutie mark are 3 eggs in a nest.
Adorabella shakily drops the purse from her mouth, she slowly steps back, and hides behind Marble, who picks the purse up. Marble braces for a social situation. Adorabella had already done a lot to help her get across the path. Marble must do this part and help Adorabella. Like they agreed, Marble will be the one that will buy the eggs.
Marble empties her purse of 45 bits onto the shelf. The stallion gets out a basket with 10 eggs in it, then drags the 45 bits into a bucket.
"Good day."
Adorabella and Marble look at each other. They've just been robbed. But neither of them had the courage to confront the stallion at the stall, it'd create a scene... and bring attention. As they began to turn around in upmost embarassment with the single basket they did get, unplanned backup arrives. Adorabella and Marble turn around and sighs with relief at who arrived.
"If you don't give them the other two basket of eggs, Boulder will crush all your eggs." The unplanned backup is Maud, holding a small rock in her left forehoof, her pet Boulder. Maud just happened to be in the right place at the right time.
The stallion glares into Maud's eyes. Her deadpan facial expression makes the stallion uneasy. He can't tell if she is being serious or not.
The stallion very quickly gives Maud 2 baskets with 10 eggs in both of them. The stallion very quickly starts packing up his stall.
"You've got to be careful with stalls. The pony behind them can try to do what he just did. He most likely had no license to sell," Said Maud.
"Th- th- thanks..." Marble hugs Maud, then let's go. Adorabella, Marble and Maud carry a basket each. With Maud, Adorabella and Marble are able to make it back across the path in less than 10 seconds, without any fear. They are even more baffled at how easy it trully was to get across a very busy path of ponies.
Adorabella is surprised how she hasn't dropped her basket yet. But then again, the eggs are a lot lighter in weight than she expected. Marble opens Sugarcube Corner's door and starts brining the baskets one by one.
"Have you got that book still? The one you said you used to have that's about rocks?" Maud asked Adorabella. Maud's voice went ever so slightly higher pitch. Beneath the mostly blank face, she is really eager to look at this book.
Adorabella shakes her head.
"It- it's... in an abandoned shack... a- and... I d- don't feel comfortable g- going back there because of the past- I'm sorry..." Adorabella stuttered. She wanted to retrieve it for Maud. But Adorabella also didn't want to go back to the shack, because she doesn't want to feel alone.
"It's okay," Maud responded. Marble has finished bringing in the eggs, and comes over to stand with Adorabella and Maud.
"I- I- I c- can wr- write a- a list of a- all the rocks?" Adorabella proposed for Maud. Adorabella can remember all the contents of the book.
"You can memorize the whole book?" Maud asked, her eyes briefly opening fully, before her usual deadpan face returns.
"Mhm," Adorabella nodded.
"Mhm," Marble also nodded, stating to Maud that Adorabella probably could memorize a whole book.
"I can tell you two are getting along very well," Said Maud. She can tell by the mhming alone..
"Mhm," Adorabella nodded.
"Mhm," Marble also nodded.
"Be careful next time when you buy from stalls. Now I must go. Goodbye Marble. Goodbye Adorabella," Maud said as she turns around and begins walking off. Adorabella and Marble waves to Maud, then walks back into the safety of Sugarcube Corner.
(Bedroom)
Once Adorabella and Marble got back to the bedroom, they both collapsed onto the floor next to one another, Marble being next to Adorabella on the right. Going outside was exhausting, trying to get past a crowd was even more exhausting. But being almost robbed, that felt humiliating for both of them. They both were very lucky that Maud happened to be there to stand up for them.
"W- wait... the CD... th- the CD is still in the record player," Adorabella stated as she sits ul. She remembers Marble putting a CD in the record player.
"H- how do you keep on remembering s- small things?" Marble asked, genuinely impressed by Adorabella's ability to remember things. Marble also goes to sit up.
"It- it's my special talent... and I'm good with whereabouts... which is also part of my special talent... I can work out my whereabouts by memory, as well as working out my north east south and west," Adorabella answered.
"Does it not drive you insane... remembering everything?" Marble wondered.
"Rainbow asked me the same thing," Adorabella chuckled. Marble sniggers at that.
"But does it?" Marble asked.
"Depends... really. It definitely used to... because my past memories weren't good. But now I have happy memories to think about if I'm having a bad day," Adorabella lightly smiled.
"Wh- what about your talent?" Adorabella asked.
"W- well, I like marbles- cutie marks aren't always about a talent... it can reflect a pony's self... or their proclivity," Marble replied.
"I- I know... I just wasn't sure," Adorabella nodded.
"Also uh... c- can I r- r- request something of you?"Adorabella requested.
"Mhm," Marble nodded.
"I- I- I... I have had second thoughts... I want to retrieve th- the book I had... th- the one Maud was talking about... but it's in the Everfree Forest... without Maud we were gonna be robbed and... and I wanna thank her... w- would you mind c- coming to the forest with me? I- I'd understand if you don't want t- to come... but... I'm scared to go back there alone..." Adorabella requested. She wants to retrieve the book to give it to Maud. But Adorabella didn't want to go back to the Everfree Forest alone, it would be too difficult, because she wanted putting the shards back there being the last time she returned to the shack. She felt safer if a trustworthy pony comes with her, and to her, Marble is trustworthy.
"I'll go with you" Marble replied, patting Adorabella on the back.
"Ow," Adorabella winced, her wings jolting.
"Sorry," Marble quickly apologized, gently rubbing Adorabella's back.
"Oh, uh... the CD... you left it in the player," Adorabella reminded Marble.
"Oh yeah- I can't be bothered to play it anyways... going out there to the stall took the energy out of me," Marble groaned as she extends out her forehooves and bends down to stretch her back, but can't be bothered to get up, and lays on her stomach, extending out her rear hooves. Adorabella does the same, and lays on the floor by Marble.
"D- do you think you'll uh... ask Braeburn out, anytime soon?" Adorabella asked.
"Maybe, but I have to check the Pairing Stone first," Marble replied.
"If the stone doesn't show Braeburn... I won't say anything," Adorabella responded.
"Thanks," Marble smiled.
"Do you think you'll ask Ralph out soon?" Marble asked back.
"It's... too early... I've only known him for three... almost four weeks..." Adorabella replied.
"I don't even know how to ask him out... I already like him as a friend..." Adorabella sighed.
"I have a hard time trusting ponies in general and especially stallions... but- but Ralph is different- he respects me a lot, has helped me and... and I feel safe around him... I'm scared just by asking him out will ruin our friendship..." Adorabella murmured. She is afraid of asking Ralph out whether he said yes or no. It isn't the potential rejection she is afraid of most, it's destroying the friendship she has with him is what scares her the most.
"I'm also scared he'll fall for somepony else... and he'll stop meeting up with me... he makes me feel safe..." Adorabella murmured.
"H- how often do you see him?" Marble asked.
"Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays," Adorabella replied.
"Th- that's good... I don't know what I can really advise... but uh... I wish you luck, and I hope it works out... that's all I can really say," Said Marble.
"D- do you have paper? In your uh... rucksack?" Adorabella asked.
"Mhm... why?" Marble asked.
"I want to uh... I want to draw something for Ralph... I remember him saying when we first met... that he likes to draw... I want to draw something ready for when I meet him again on Sunday," Adorabella explained.
"Oh uh, okay... yeah, I do have some paper..." Marble nodded.
"Now... now thinking about it... I got to do some writing," Marble added.
"Hmm?" Adorabella raised an eyebrow.
"Oh uh... it's some application work for something," Marble explained.
"Imma just chill here for bit..." Adorabella yawned.
"Me too..." Marble also yawned.
Then, the room falls into silence. Adorabella and Marble return to speaking 'Quietese' as they lay on the floor next to each other, staring off into space. Going out to get some eggs that was just across a busy path, and being almost robbed, completely drained the shy mares.
Several hours go by, but it didn't seem like hours, but more like, a single hour. Adorabella and Marble enjoy the complete silence, it's relaxing and soothing. They have bonded together rather quickly, they understand each other. They're inside Sugarcube Corner, and nothing can bother them.
Suddenly, it turns to night. When they notice, they flinch, and chuckle to one another.
"We kinda dozed off didn't we?" Adorabella lightly chuckled.
"Mhm hm hm hm..." Marble also lightly chuckled.
"Y- you don't mind if we... sleep together... do you?" Marble asked. Adorabella shook her head.
"I was just asking as... as we still only just met. From what you told me about your foalhood, I... I wasn't sure if you wanted me to sleep with you," Said Marble.
"B- but I trust you... and... and I appreciate you asking," Adorabella lightly smiled.
"C- can we listen to the CD?" Marble requested. Adorabella nods. While Adorabella walks up to the bed and climbs onto it, Marble trots to the CD record player and turns it on, then trots to the bed and leaps onto it. Adorabella flinches as Marble lands very close to her. Had Marble landed on Adorabella, it would've hurt the pegasus a lot.
"Oops," Marble blushed a little bit. She sits next to Adorabella on her right, and she leans on her. Adorabella, unable to support Marble's weight, falls over onto her side of the bed, the left. Both of them laugh as theg got up. Marble being an earth pony rock farmer, and Adorabella being a lighter-than-average pegasus mare, Marble weighs a lot more than Adorabella.
"When I said I was weak... I am very weak," Adorabella lightly giggled.
"Mhm..." Marble slowly nodded. She doesn't want to accidentally say the wrong thing and offend Adorabella. So Marble responds with just a quiet 'mhm'.
The CD disk starts playing pop music, with some rock in it. Then a stallion's voice is heard, which makes Adorabella flinch a little bit, even though she knew it's just the CD. It is Feather Bangs singing.
"What do you think about the music?" Marble asked.
"I... don't know..." Adorabella mumbled. She never really listened to music. Even before she fled from home, she never really listened to music.
"But you don't mind it?" Marble checked.
"It's okay," Adorabella nodded. Marble smiles and gently hugs Adorabella. Marble now understands Adorabella isn't strong, so she is gentle when hugging her.
Marble gets out 2 sheets of paper and 2 pencils of her rucksack. Adorabella tries drawing a flower, while Marble is writing for her application work. They both continue doing what they're doing while listening to a Feather Bangs track.
Adorabella and Marble also starts sharing the cashews that are still in the basket on the bed. Marble needed to help Adorabella open the packets, so she does. About 15 minutes go by, they finish the cashews in every now-empty packet.
Marble also finishes writing what she needs to write, so she packs her bits back into her rucksack. Marble gets off the bed and turns off the CD record player and removes the disk and puts it back in its case in the rucksack. Marble also cleans up the rubbish, and puts the whole basket with the emepy cashew packets in a tall pink bin that's below on the floor on Adorabella's side of the bed. Once Marble finishes sorting everything, she joins Adorabella back on the bed. Adorabella looks disappointed at her artwork.
"Wow that flower looks good!" Marble enthusiastically stated, trying to lift Adorabella's mood up.
"But it looks terrible..." Adorabella sighed.
"I'm sure this Ralph pony will appreciate it though... from what you told me, he sounds like a kind stallion," Marble reassured. Adorabella lightly smiles at the reassurance making Marble smile too.
"Do you mind uh... if you look after this drawing for me?" Adorabella asked.
"Mmm mmm," Marble shook her head. She didn't mind. Marble takes Adorabella's drawing and neatly puts it in the rucksack. Adorabella carefully places her backpack and her mailmare uniform carefully on the floor on her side, the left side. Marble carefully places her rucksack on the floor her side, the right side. Both mares get under the blankets to get warm.
"Do you want to snuggle up?" Marble asked.
"M- maybe t- tomorrow... we only just met and... and we're already sharing a bed..." Adorabella lightly chuckled, Marble lightly chuckling too. But the grey earth pony respects the white pegasus' answer. Both of them then starts to fall sleep.
(2 hours later, an hour past midnight)
Marble is dreaming about Braeburn. There is no detailed background. The background is just a blank white. It is just her and Braeburn. Nothing to bother her or him, bith of them are smiling.
"B- Braeburn..." Marble blushed.
"I... I lo-"
Marble instantly jolts as she wakes up upon hearing a scream. Her heart pounds like mad, bop bom bop bom bop bom bop bom. She instantly looks left, and sees Adorabella shaking. Adorabella had just woke from a nightmare.
"Are you okay- are you okay!?" Marble exclaimed, raising her right foreleg up, ready to give a hug. Adorabella shuffles over and hugs Marble back. Marble drapes her mane over Adorabella's head, to make her feel safe. Adorabella starts falling asleep again. Marble stays awake while hugging Adorabella, making sure she is comfortable. Marble rests her jaw on Adorabella's head. Marble then slowly falls back to sleep again.
(4 hours later)
Adorabella wakes up and tries moving. But Marble, who us still asleep, has hold of her tight. Adorabella didn't want to wake Marble up from her sleep again, so she lays with her forehooves around her, and she felt safe. Another hour later, Marble slowly wakes up, yawning as she did. She slowly lets go of Adorabella and gets up, lifting the blanket off her.
"Morning..." Adorabella yawned.
"Hi," Marble mumbled, wiping her slightly bloodshot eyes while yawning.
"Are you... are you okay?" Marble checked. Adorabella nods. But Marble can tell by the nod that Adorabella is not feeling okay.
"Are you okay?" Marble again asked. She gently puts her left hoof on Adorabella's right shoulder. Marble knows Adorabella is feeling something.
"I- I feel bad... for w- waking you up in th- th- the night..." Adorabella sighed.
"No no- it's okay," Marble lightly smiled, reassuring she didn't mind being woken up in the night.
"I used to feel safe being alone... but it's the opposite now... I'm scared to be alone again... I had a nightmare of being alone again and then..." Adorabella whimpered. Marble reaches out with her forehooves, and Adorabella again draws closer to her, not reaching for a hug, but just leaning on her. Adorabella didn't want to finish what happened next, but all Marble knew is that Adorabella needs comfort. Marble hugs Adorabella and gets her jaw on her head. It felt a tiny bit weird for Marble, because usually, she was the one in need of a good hug. But right now, it is her giving a hug to the pony in need.
"Are you okay?" Marble softly asked. Adorabella nods.
"We're still going to the Everfree Forest... right?" Marble double checked. Adorabella nods.
"We should get there before ponies clog the path again..." Adorabella lightly chuckled.
"Mhm... yeah," Marble also lightly chuckled.
"Breakfast can wait," Said Adorabella. Yesterday was unusually very busy. She wants to go to the Everfree Forest and back as it could get busy again like yesterday.
"Mhm," Marble nodded.
(Fasting forward the chapter)
Adorabella and Marble got out of bed and headed downstairs, all the way down to the bottom a few minutes later after properly waking up. They walk out the door, and shut it behind them. Marble locks the door with her own keys. Then the 2 mares walk off. As it's still early in the morning, barely anypony is out walking outside along the paths, and anypony that is, Adorabella and Marble absolutely avoided them. They continue walking, walking to the Everfree Forest.
(End of fasting forward the chapter)
Adorabella and Marble are just approaching the entry into the Everfree Forest. Marble notices Adorabella's legs are shaking.
"A- are you okay?" Marble asked, who is a bit concerned. She knew Adorabella didn't feel comfortable going back to the forest alone. Marble hopes it's just Adorabella being hesitant in going back into the forest, and nothing more.
"Yeah, I- my legs aren't strong, I r- really struggle w- with walking really long distances," Adorabella explained as she flaps her wings and lifts herself a metre off of the ground.
"Oh- that's no problem," Marble nodded.
Adorabella and Marble now venture into the Everfree Forest. For a few minutes, they move forward. Adorabella is looking frantically left and right, looking for any sign of timberwolves. Meanwhile, Marble remains calm, knowing Adorabella is looking out for dangers.
"Just continue in the direction you're going, I'll be close behind you," Said Adorabella.
"Mhm," Marble nodded.
For ages, Adorabella hovered while Marble walked. Adorabella knows the forest inside out, she has lived in the forest for a decade, add on that she can remember things with precise detail and figure out her whereabouts. She used her knowledge to avoid signs of timberwolves, such as random twigs and leaves laying around, or any howling, 2 of the easiest signs to notice. The path starts getting more eroded, and more and more buried under grass that grew through it. Adorabella tries pushing down the tall grass so Marble can see what's ahead.
Ahead, is a small messy dirty moat, which is connected to a nearby river to the right. The brown structure is a square-shaped rotti g wooden shack made of logs and bark, spoiled and rotten. The shack has a door one side and a window on all the 3 other sides.
"Wait here... I'll go and get the book that's in there," Said Adorabella, still hovering, flying over the moat. She gently lands in front of the door and pushes it open, then walks inside.
Meanwhile, Marble starts to cry is little bit. Marble likes quietness, but she doesn't like this kind of quietness. This kind of isolated quietness doesn't make her feel safe, it makes her feel on edge and uneasy and fearful, especially since knowing about Adorabella's foalhood. Marble imagines herself in Adorabella's hooves, and she can only feel the dread and fear Adorabella must've felt. Marble as a filly had ponies she could fall back on, her sisters, her parents. Adorabella as a filly had nopony to fall back on, except herself.
Adorabella then comes back out, flapping her wings. In the grip of her forehooves is a very dusty plain white book. She uses her mane to sweep the dust off.
"Is that the book?" Marble asked, wiping her eyes. Adorabella, who is nodding, drops the book on the ground and lands in front of Marble.
"Are you okay?" Adorabella asked, having a sad expression on her face.
"I feel so awful for you..." Marble wept, looking at Adorabella with her watery eyes. Adorabella gently hugs her. It reassuring to Marble, that Adorabella is okay. It makes Marble feel a bit better, knowing Adorabella is doing a lot better than back then.
"So... where would Maud be right now?" Adorabella asked.
"At the gemstone cave, I imagine... she goes there often, Pinkie tells me," Marble guessed.
"Oh, I... I know about the cave... I've heard of the cave," Said Adorabella, who picks back up the book with both forehooves.
With the book, Adorabella and Marble begins leaving the area. Adorabella slowly flies behind following Marble, and continues keeping on the lookout for dangerous wildlife. Adorabella and Marble are now away from the shack. Adorabella hopes that this would be the final time she would ever have to go back to the shack.
(Hours later)
In the gemstone cave...
Maud is wearing a shady pale gold mining helmet that has a flaslight attached to it. She is exploring the enormous area of the cave that used to be hidden behind hollow granite, which was discovered not too long ago, being only about a year ago, thanks to Starlight. This part of the cave is lush and has a flowing river, and a waterfall on each side, supplying the flowing river.
"Mudbriar wants me to meet up with him at lunch time," Maud remembered. It is getting close to lunch time. She turns around and starts walking back to the main gemstone tunnel. As she is about to re-enter the main part of the cave, she unexpectedly bumps into Adorabella and Marble. Adorabella is still flapping her wings, hovering, holding a white book.
"Both of you should be wearing hard hats down here," Said Maud.
"Adorabella wants to give something to you," Said Marble, who is lightly smiling.
"Oh?" Maud responded.
Adorabella hovers forward, and with her left forehoof, passes the book to Maud, who now holds the book in her left forehoof and nuzzles the book to flick the pages.
"I... I went back to the f- forest... it- it's the book y- you were on about... after you saved me and Marble from being robbed... we r- really I- owed you one," Adorabella explained.
"Y- you're v- very h- happy, r- right?" Adorabella stuttered, but still has a beaming smile on her face. A very faint smile appears on Maud's face.
"Yes. Yes I am very happy," Maud nodded.
"I- I'm j- just trying t- to understand h- how y- y- you're feeling... I'm s- sorry I c- cant r- r- read you t- too well," Adorabella stuttered in an apologetic tone.
"It's okay. But I appreciate you trying to understand me," Maud responded. She liked and appreciated that Adorabella tried to understand her.
"Are you two getting along well?" Maud asked.
"Mhm," Marble nodded, smiling.
"Mhm," Adorabella also nodded, also smiling.
"I am pleased to know you two are getting along well," Maud nodded.
"A- again... th- thank you f- for yesterday..." Adorabella stuttered.
"That's okay," Maud responded.
"Are you leaving the cave now?" Marble asked.
"Yes," Maud nodded.
(Fasting forward the chapter)
Adorabella, Maud and Marble begin walking out of the gemstone cave. After leaving the cave, Adorabella and Marble splits off from Maud, as she's going to see Mudbriar. Adorabella and Marble make their way all the way back to Sugarcube Corner. Adorabella hovers close to Marble who is walking. Luckily for them, there is nopony else on the path. They don't have to worry about accidentally bumping into ponies... although, Adorabella does keep a look out for potential stalkers, it's self-ingrained into her to do this. Even though there's nopony else around, it makes her feel safer to check, it's better to be safe than sorry.
Once back at Sugarcube Corner, inside, and the door locked, Adorabella and Marble look for something to eat. In the kitchen, they find cereal in the cupboard. They also find edible rocks, reserved for the Pie family when they come and visit. Adorabella eats cereal while Marble eats a couple of edible rocks. Marble eats an extra 2 rocks to make up for not having breakfast earlier, while Adorabella is okay with just the cereal. After having something to eat, they go back upstairs, to the top, to Pinkie Pie's bedroom.
From there, they nap on opposite ends of the bed.
Adorabella and Marble woke up from their nap. They have been napping for a few hours. It is now late in the afternoon. They just chill on opposite ends of the bed, comforted by each other's presence, while listening to Marble's CD collection she had brought with her. There was music made by other ponies, not all the music in the CDs were made by Feather Bangs. Adorabella still didn't have a music preference, but she also didn't mind listening to the music.
Adorabella and Marble speak had also been communicating telepathically. Adorabella and Marble can understand each other so well, they can communicate whole feelings and thoughts just through their eyes.
When it's night time again, they snuggle up to one another, and fall asleep. It didn't feel awkward snuggling up to each other like it was a little bit yesterday. They may of only met on the Monday, but they've already become very close best friends.
(End of fasting forward the chapter)
Morning...
Adorabella and Marble are awake, sitting next to each other in bed, Adorabella on the left and Marble on the right. They are feeling slightly down as it's their last day of the sleepover. They didn't do too much, but they helped each other confront each other's fears. They enjoyed each other's time.
"D- do y- you think you'll t- tell your family?" Adorabella asked.
"About what?" Marble raised an eyebrow.
"Ab- about... Braeburn?" Adorabella clarified.
"I- I... don't want to, but I have to... I've told you because I trust you... but I feel guilty trusting somepony outside my family and not trusting my family at the same time..." Marble sighed.
"What is family like?" Adorabella asked. She never had a good family.
"Well... sometimes they do your head in, but you still love them," Marble replied. Adorabella looks away, and nods.
"I just wondered what caring parents are like..." Adorabella sighed. Marble gently puts her left forehoof on Adorabella's back.
"I understand..." Marble softly whispered, rubbing Adorabella's back.
"Oh, can I take the flower drawing I drew out your rucksack?" Adorabella requested.
"Mhm," Marble nodded. She pulls the rucksack up onto her bed and opens it. She takes out the drawing and gives it to Adorabella, who puts it in front of her, on the bed.
"I hope Ralph likes your drawing," Said Marble.
"Me too," Adorabella nodded.
They both then hear very loud thumping knocking on the front door.
Outside Sugarcube Corner's front door...
Outside, Limestone is knocking on the door, loudly. She is knocking so hard the door rattles and shakes on its hinges. The door feels like it's about to come off. A few minutes later, the door opens, and Marble leaps over and hugs Limestone, then lets go, standing between Limestone and Adorabella. Marble has a very massive beaming smile on her face.
"I take it you enioyed yourself?" Limestone lightly smiled.
"Mhm!" Marble's smile grew wider. Limestone then looks at Adorabella.
"She wasn't too much trouble was she?" Limestone slightly sniggered. Adorabella shook her head, smiling as much as Marble.
"Oh boy... you two are already this close- you know, I'm not complaining. I'm happy you two got a fellow shy pony to fall onto the shoulders of," Said Limestone.
"Mhm." Both Adorabella and Marble nodded.
"Can she come round regularly to the farm?" Marble asked with a begging smile towards Limestone.
"I suppose the weekends are free... we don't do a lot on weekends to begin with," Limestone shrugged. Adorabella and Marble are jumping up and down with excitement.
"Okay okay calm down both of you!" Limestone raised her voice. Adorabella and Marble stops. Adorabella slowly steps backwards, then steps forward, and closes the door behind her.
"W- w- well... I can visit th- the farm on Saturdays... but not Sundays," Adorabella shyly stated, blushing a little bit.
"Oh, you have a crush on somepony you see on Sundays do you?" Limestone teased Adorabella while grinning. Adorabella blushes more and hides her face behind her mane.
"Thought so," Limestone chuckled a bit.
"I have something to tell you too..." Marble mumbled, who is also blushing, looking at Limestone.
"Oh I knew you had a thing for Braeburn for a while. You don't exactly hide his letters from me too well," Limestone chuckled. Marble gasps as she stepped back, blushing in slight embarrassment.
Adorabella grits her teeth, not knowing how to say her input. She just lets the 2 earth ponies talk about it.
"You're worried about the Pairing Stone aren't you?" Limestone assumed.
"Mhm..." Marble slowly nodded.
"Well... you don't have to follow the tradition. Look at Maud and Mudbriar, they didn't consult the Pairing Stone and they're happy as they are," Limestone reassured.
"B- but will Ma and Pa be mad if I d- deny the Pairing Stone?" Marble inquired, still fearful of the opinion of the mother and father, Cloudy Quartz and Igneous Rock.
"No of course not- sure they'll be a bit disappointed you'll also not follow the tradition... I'm not gonna lie about that. But they'll be happy as long as you're happy," Limestone replied, smiling, reassuring Marble, who is feeling a bit better.
"Oh, Adorabella, take these before I forget," Limestone said as she throws a set of pink keys to Adorabella. She catches them with her left forehoof. It hurt a little bit catching them, but not too much.
"Pinkie dropped these on Friday," Limestone stated, faceplanting with her left forehoof and shakes her head.
"Sh- she s- seemed v- very excited ab- about the t- trip," Said Adorabella.
"Yeah... so excited she dropped her keys for where she lives," Limestone rolled her eyes.
"Luckily I spotted them. That's why I came to pick Marble up earlier than I planned to, so I can give you the keys before I forget to bring them," Limestone explained.
"Marble, we got to go now. The next train to Rockville leaves in five minutes," Limestone stated. She then looks at Adorabella.
"And Adorabella, you're more than welcome to come to our farm and hang around," Said Limestone.
"A- a- and ev- ever- every time I- I visit... I st- stay away f- from Holder's Boulder," Adorabella responded, smiling.
"Well, it's good that you remember about that. It's gonna be very hard for me and you to ever have problems," Limestone smiled. She can't lie to herself, she is a little bit fond of Adorabella, who is nodding and meakly smiling back, hoping that remains the case.
"Her cutie mark is about retaining memories very well. She can also work out her whereabouts, just by memory alone," Marble stated.
"I- I can also figure o- out m- my north east south and west b- my looking at the sky, wh- which also helps," Adorabella added, slightly correcting Marble with her last bit.
"Impressive," Limestone nodded. She usually finds it hard to be impressed.
"See you on Saturday, yeah?" Limestone inquired. Adorabella nods. Adorabella looks at Marble, who lightly smiles in response.
"Me and Marble can't be standing around any longer or we'll miss the train. I'll see you around," Said Limestone.
"Bye Adorabella," Said Marble, smiling, giving Adorabella a brief hug before letting go. Adorabella smiles back to Marble and Limestone. After the earth ponies start walking away, Adorabella opens Sugarcube Corner's door, and walks inside, and closes it. Using Pinkie Pie's keys, she locks the door.
(A few minutes later)
At Ponyville train station...
Marble and Limestone are exhausted from trotting to the train station. They're sitting on a blue-coloured wooden bench together. Marble looks down, away from everypony else that is around on the platform. Meanwhile, Limestone glares at passing ponies, being protective of her shy younger sister.
"Marble? Where's your rucksack?" Limestone questioned while frowning.
"Oh buck- I left it at Sugarcube Corner!" Marble gasped. Limestone rolls her eyes and takes a deep breath and sighs.
"Marrrrrbleeeeee..." Limestone groaned while slapping her forehead and shaking it.
"Ahhh- agh!" Adorabella came crashing down, with Marble's rucksack. Luckily, she isn't too hurt and hadn't broke any bones, because she lands herself on the rucksack. Adorabella had absolutely no clue how she was able to lift and carry the rucksack.
"You sure do have good memory," Limestone snorted. She gets off the wooden bench and helps Adorabella up, then grabs the rucksack and passes it to Marble.
"Thank you," Said Limestone.
Adorabella flaps her wings and hovers, her shoulders, forelegs anf forehooves being far too drained to support her weight. For the average pony, the rucksack isn't too heavy, but for Adorabella, it is heavy. Her shoulders, forelegs and forehooves are aching from holding the rucksack so tight while flying from Sugarcube Corner to the train station.
"H- h- how did you get here so quick? On the Monday Pinkie said you were quick... but I didn't think she meant you were... that quick," Marble asked, curious, as well as wanting to know more about her new friend.
"Oh... I'm just really fast at flying," Adorabella replied, blushing a little bit. She is no not any where near as bothered as she used to be when somepony brings up her speed.
They then hear the train whistle as the train approaches in the distance from the right. Adorabella flinches, but no where nearly as bad as last time when she got a train with some of the mane 6 when they went to Fillydelphia. But the whistle still made her feel like she was going to have a heart attack.
The steam train approaches the station's platform, the train puffing out steam, screeching along the tracks as it slows down, applying the brakes. The doors on the carts open, and flocks of ponies leave. Marble gets off the bench with her rucksack.
"You better still have that rucksack when we get back to Rockville. You're lucky Adorabella remembered for you, and was quick enough to fly here," Limestone frowned at Marble, who grits her teeth with a nervous smile.
"Well, if we don't see you any earlier Adorabella, we'll see you on Saturday as you said," Limestone said as she grabs and holds her's and Marble's train tickets with her mouth and walks with Marble to the nearest train carriage. Limestone gives the conductor both tickets as she walks on board with Marble. Adorabella waits around, she wants to see them go first, she felt it was polite to.
A few minutes later, the train begins to slowly take off. As the train began to go forward, the window of the carriage Marble and Limestone went inside, opens. It is Marble, who is sticking out her head and her left forehoof, waving to Adorabella, who lifts her left forehoof and waves back. Adorabella alsp notices through the window Limestone is also waving to her. All 3 of them are smiling as they wave. As the train disappeared in the distance, Adorabella looks down to the ground with some sadness, but quickly remembers she gets to see Ralph today. She is filled with great joy and excitement, she can't wait to tell her about the weekend. She wants to get back to Sugarcube Corner very quickly to meet up with him. She is not only looking forward to seeing him, she has a lot to talk about. This makes her even more excited.
Adorabella starts flying up really fast, flying vertically up. When nearing the clouds, Adorabella begins to fly more horizontally, and focuses on her inner self, and starts accelerating dramatically. Different shades of pink starts pulsing from the front of Adorabella's forehooves which go down the sides of her. Sparks also start appearing at the side of her. Then, a loud boom is created as she increases dramatically in speed. Behind her she creates a ring-shaped burst that has multiple shades and different types of pink and starts leaving a trail of different shades of pink behind her.
Notes:
Had to end the chapter with an Adoraboom :3
Please let me know what you all think of this chapter. Do you like Adorabella and Marble being very close friends? (I felt Marble deserved a friend, and Adorabella was perfect. Also, Marble is my favourite character, so yeah :3). Let me know in the comments.
Also, do you all prefer a long wait and have massive chapters, or a shorter wait and have smaller chapters? Let me know in the comments.
All comments will be appreciated :)