There was nothing quite as awful as feeling nervous. After nearly two decades of her life of being swallowed by that feeling, Marble knew it well. If there was nothing else to be said about her, she was very obviously an expert on the subject.
The way your legs would weaken to the point of buckling under your own way. The awful churning in your stomach that was stuck in a constant state of just about to throw up. The creeping tingle that slithered up your back just so it could whisper paranoia in your ear.
It was even worse when you were anticipating something, like a doctor’s appointment, an important test, or, say, telling your parents you were going to reject generations worth of tradition and ignore your own soulmate.
But really, who would do something as crazy as that?
Marble swallowed. She would, or, was going to at least. And that really didn’t help her confidence too much.
She sat at the kitchen table, forehead sitting on the kitchen table, as she struggled to think of something to say to her parents.
Sunlight leaked in through , trying to come to terms with what needed to be done. She had to tell her parents: today.
Grinding her teeth at the thought, a million other options suddenly leaped into Marble’s head. Most were about running. Some focused on hiding. A few particularly daring ones involved running and hiding.
Groaning in the back of her throat, Marble turned her head and let her cheek press against the cool top of the table. Her gray mane spilled out before her, a limp curtain ready to be raised to her defense when needed.
This isn’t fair… Marble thought. If Minuette were here…
But she wasn’t. No matter how many times Marble had to rip that band-aid off, it never sank in. Minuette wasn’t here to be with her; she was on her own.
If Minuette had been here, this would be easy. Well… easier. When Minuette was by her side, Marble could think about the things she wanted. But with her parents, Marble could only consider what they wanted.
Not helping was the fact that Marble had managed to kick the problem down the road by arriving home at midnight last night. There was no point in waking her parents up just to be yelled at after all. That could wait until morning.
Except, morning had come. And gone.
It was practically noon now. Her parents would be coming in from the field any moment. All Marble could do was just sit at the table, trying to convince herself that she would tell them when they walked in.
At the very least, she had to try. She’d promised Minuette, and even more importantly she had promised herself.
Her head slowly began to rise off the table. She had promised to do this. There was no sense in worrying about it before she even said anything to them after all. Really… just how badly was she expecting this to go?
SLAM!
The front door flew open, connecting with the wall and sending a shake through the Pie household.
“Eep!” Marble flinched hard enough to force her chair to hop back. Her (appropriately named) nervous system went firing on all cylinders, the fear that her parents were back kicking her body into a frenzied state.
Only to calm down when she saw Limestone walking in.
Her sister’s hooves dragged against the old wood floor, bleary eyes betraying her exhaustion, even before she could unleash a powerful yawn.
She carried on like that all the way to the kitchen before either one managed to speak.
“Good morning,” they chorused, one tiredly grumpy and the other nervously whispering.
Limestone blinked slowly as she eased herself into the chair across her sister.
Marble fidgeted to herself for a moment. “Are Ma and Pa…”
“Still working,” Limestone said. “They’re giving me a break since I keep passing out.”
“Oh… I’m sorry I made you stay out so late,” Marble apologized, slinking behind her mane. Even as talking became easier, her fear of a Limestone outburst had hardly diminished.
But Limestone just waved her hoof dismissively, either too tired or to aware of Marble’s situation to get mad. “Forget it. Just be glad I let you sleep in today.”
“Yeah… thanks.” It wasn’t often one got to sleep past sunrise on the farm, and it had been nice to procrastinate her talk with her parents.
Speaking of procrastinating…
“Did you have a chance to… you know. With the Pairing Stone?” She asked, with a pre-emptive flinch.
Limestone let her head fall back as she groaned. “Celestia, please don’t bring that up right now. I’m too tired to deal with that, okay?”
“Sorry,” Marble murmured. “I just… I wanted to know what you were going to do if Lemon was actually your…” She let the final words hang, the shadow of their presence now looming over the conversation.
Special somepony.
Limestone slowly brought her head up, eyelids no less droopy than before. “I’ve been trying not to think about that, honestly.”
“But if she is?” The words slipped out so casually; Marble would never have pressed the issue like this before. Certainly not when the pony she was pressing was Limestone.
Narrowed eyes glared her down. Marble gulped, a frightened apology on her lips. She bit it back, holding her ground for once. This was one answer she really need to know. Lemon deserved an answer, at the very least, and Marble was going to force one out of her sister if she had too.
But she also really hoped she wouldn’t have to.
Their makeshift staredown lasted only a few second, Limestone mercilessly relenting as she turned away with a heavy sigh. “Look… whatever the Pairing Stone says is what I’ll do.”
Marble’s eye twitched. She shouldn’t have expected much better, she knew that much. But still, here she was, ready to deny fate for a chance to be with Minuette. Maybe it was a bit much to ask, but… Marble had been hoping she wouldn’t have to be the only pony in the family to do so.
“So, if she isn’t your special somepony… then that’s it?” Marble pieces together.
“Look, Marble.” Limestone turned back to her. “I didn’t get what you got, okay? I don’t feel butterflies in my stomach when I see her, I don’t think about her all the time, I didn’t even know I was on a date with her for half of last night.” A sigh. She turned away again. “And when I did… everything was weird and stupid. And I didn’t like it.”
Marble’s head lowered. That was her sister all right. Limestone wasn’t just going to develop mutual feelings for Lemon. Especially not overnight.
It was just the thought of Lemon, so hopeful that things would turn out well, that really made Marble sad.
“But I also didn’t hate it… I guess,” came Limestone’s unexpected continuation.
Marble’s head darted up. “Really?”
Limestone groaned, her regret for saying anything now clear as day. “Just drop it. I told you, I’m going to see what the Pairing Stone has to say.”
“Then do it today,” Marble said.
Limestone blinked, as confused as Marble was by the sudden force behind those words.
“Uh… right now… please,” she followed up. Limestone would put off seeing the Pairing Stone as long as Marble had if given the chance. But that wouldn’t be good for her or Lemon to just sit on the issue.
Limestone just stared for a moment. And then… a smile? It was almost as if some semblance of pride had wormed its way onto her sister’s face.
“Twist my foreleg why don’tcha,” she grumbled, rising from her chair.
“You’ll do it?” Marble was stunned to see her words had had any impact at all.
“Yeah… I did promise and all.” Limestone looked ready to turn, before a thought flashed across her face and she looked back to her little sister. “Hey Marble?”
“Yes?” Her body stiffened, anticipating retaliation.
Limestone’s smile had faded by now, replaced with a frown disguised as a neutral face. “Say things work out with Minuette. Are you going to, like… leave the farm or something? To be with her?”
Marble blinked, the idea just now crossing her mind. Where’s this coming from?
She paused just a moment, giving the idea some thought. Would she live with Minuette? In Canterlot? The idea made her shudder almost as much as it made her heart flutter. Leaving the serenity of the rock farm for the hustle and bustle of an honest-to-Celestia city made her bones scream with refusal.
“I… don’t know,” she admitted. “Maybe if Ma and Pa still let me live here then I…”
“They will,” Limestone cut her off with a grin. “They wouldn’t kick you out just for being the rebel of the family.”
That really made Marble pause. Her, a rebel? That was as far-fetched as… well, basically anything else that had happened in the past week.
“I don’t want to leave Nickerlite,” the rebel admitted. “If Minuette and I make it that far… we’ll talk.”
Limestone nodded; that answer seemed good enough for now. “...Guess I better get going then.”
“You better,” Marble smiled. She’d come with her sister to ensure she actually did go to the Pairing Stone… but she had her own mountain to climb right now.
Limestone finally started walking, heading to the front door. Reaching the door, she found she didn’t even have to turn the knob; their father opened it from the other side.
Marble felt her stomach drop at the sight of him.
“Pa,” Limestone said, nodding a hello. He offered a gruff grunt as a reply.
Limestone stepped aside, letting him pass. Everypony knew what he was here for. Marble may have managed to dodge him this morning, but now everything was about to come to a head.
Igneous Pie stepped inside, and started walking toward the kitchen, where Marble was. Her sister mouthed her a brief ‘good luck’, before she was out the door.
It creaked closed, giving a wooden thunk to signify that father and daughter were all alone.
“Marble,” Igneous nodded to her.
“Pa…” Marble said, proud of herself for fighting back a cracked voice.
“Thou returned home rather late last night,” Igneous noted, tone even, but not enough to disguise hints of disappointment.
“I’m sorry.” Marble wanted to throw up. “It was… we let the time get away from us.”
“I see.” His brow furrowed. Small talk was over. “Hast thou accepted the path the Pairing Stone has put you on?”
Marble swallowed, throat dry. “I-I-I-I…”
No, not now. Her muscles seized. I can’t be stuttering now! Not for this!
This was too important to let her nerves get the better of her. This was for Minuette!
And me, Marble thought. It’s also for me, most of all.
“I love Minuette!” She shouted.
…
…
…
In her whole life, Marble had never once raised her voice to her father.
Igneous was aware of this most of all. His scrunched brows leapt up his forehead, more shocked now then he had been in years. But being the stallion he was, it didn’t take long for Igneous to collect himself.
Clearing his throat, he had just one question. “Is it so?”
Marble defiantly glared back at him. For some reason, he didn’t seem so tall anymore. “It is. I love her, Pa. She means so much to me that I… I don’t think I could put it into words. I feel whole when I’m with her. I don’t feel scared when I’m with her… And I don’t care what the Pairing Stone has to say about it. To me, Minuette is my special somepony.”
“I see…” Igneous closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. It wasn’t a terribly long one, but the seconds ticked by like centuries for Marble.
“I can not say,” Igneous looked at her, his eyes more gentle than firm. “That I approve of your decision, daughter.”
She was hit like a sack of rocks, but it was a sack of rocks she’d been expecting. “I know.”
“Thou shall not reconsider?”
“Never,” Marble snapped, unwavering.
He nodded, that answer must’ve been expected. “You’ve grown, Marble.”
That hit her like a sack of rocks she hadn’t been expecting. “What?”
“For how this shall go, I haven’t a clue,” Igneous admitted. “I’ve never known a pony to deny the Pairing Stone’s choice before. Art thou prepared for whatever may come of this path you’ve chosen?”
“...No,” Marble admitted. She wasn’t prepared for anything. “But I feel like I can be.”
Igneous tightened his lips. That must’ve been good enough. “Very well. It is, after all, your decision.”
And that hit her like a million sacks full of rocks. It was… okay? After all the stomaching worry, it was really okay?
Tears of joy blinked into existence on Marble’s face. “Really?”
Igneous just nodded.
Marble didn’t know what to say. There was nothing more to say, really. She just leapt forward, and hugged her father tightly. After a brief moment, he wrapped a foreleg around her.
“Thou shouldn’t celebrate too soon,” he told her. “I fear your mother shan’t be so easily convinced.”
Marble laughed. She actually laughed. “I know,” she said, drawing back. “But I’ll make her understand.”
Telling her mother didn’t even sound like a challenge anymore. Even if she said no, what difference would it make? Nothing could stop Marble from being with Minuette now. She just knew it, deep down. Fate, or tradition, or whatever it wasn’t strong enough to stop her anymore.
After everything, it was finally, finally over.