//------------------------------// // II // Story: Bedrock // by RazedRainbow //------------------------------// II I closed the book. Waited. Recited. “Quartz, muscovite mica, potassium feldspar, biotite mica, amphibole, pyroxene, olivine.” “Olivine, huh?” piped a voice from the kitchen. “She sounds cute.” “Olivine is an ultramafic rock, Pinkamena,” I said, running through the list in my head. “And, in some deposits yes, she is.” I opened the textbook and glanced at the chart. All correct save one skipped. Plagioclase. Easy to remember, but all over the place melting-wise. “You should introduce me sometime. I bet her and Boulder get along perfect.” Pinkamena was at the door. Pink strands curled out from under the brim of her chef’s hat and her blinding grin still took a blink to get used to. She had a tray balanced on her back. “They all get along with Boulder.” I patted my best friend resting on the table beside me. He was always so good when I needed to study. Never budged. My gaze returned to the book. I had been too cocky about the reaction series. Plagioclase’s secrets needed to be read again. Mid-definition the book slid off my desk and onto my bed, replaced by Pinkamena’s tray. “I was studying, Pinkame—” A frown cut me off. “Pinkie.” The name she insisted we call her still had not stuck, but I was getting better. “Studying on your birthday? Please, Maud, you’ll have moh than enough time for that later.” She giggled. Rock jokes. At least she was trying. “Hardness was last unit.” Talc first, corundum last. Hopefully it would not be a trick question on the final. “We are focusing on melting this week.” Pinkie’s smile did not waver. “Well, then I have something you’re just gonna melt over.” She pulled back the foil to reveal a gray cake. “Doesn’t it rock?” “Hmm… pearly luster.” I took a sniff. “Vanilla, blackberries and… feldspar?” The sweeter smells bury the scent well but it had that dusty drop-off. Definitely feldspar. Calcium rich. Above pyroxene. “I think that’s how you say it.” Pinkie tapped her chin, smile never wavering. “I just saw it in the cabinet and the name just screamed ‘you.’” “I didn’t hear anything.” Pinkie bust into chortles, throwing a hoof over my withers. My old chair swayed and threatened to topple. I reached out to Boulder for support. “You are too funny, Maud. You have to try open mic night next time you’re in Ponyville.” “Hm. There are some sedimentary clusters near the community center I am interested in collecting samples from.” She laughed again. “I’ll take that as a ‘yes.’” Her eyes were closed and lost in mirth. I reached for my textbook but a hoof slapped it away. “Nuh-uh. You can study after your cake. You only turn seventeen once.” Somehow, in the blink of an eye, she had a slice on a plate plopped before me, complete with candle. I had stopped trying to figure how she did it years ago. “I was going for something rocky, and I knew you have field study on the North Luna Ocean this summer, so I was gonna make it coral-y but—” “Coral is not rock.” Not even close. “I know.” Pinkie sighed. Her curls drooped a little. Her hat somehow managed to sag too. “You say that so much nicer than Limey.” Like flipping a switch she perked up again. “Soooooo, I remembered that trip to Canterlot a few years back where you had those rock buns you liked so much, so I asked a few questions annnnnnd ta-da! Supersized!” Pinkie’s lung capacity never ceased to amaze. I closed my eyes, pictured the row houses, the gray sandstone walls and, of course, The Rolling Stone Bakery. “Those were good buns.” She snorted a giggle at that. Walked right into it. I took the fork that had seemingly appeared out of thin air and bit into Pinkie’s work. “So…” She leaned forward. I could feel the hairs of her muzzle touching mine. “Did I do it justice?” I chewed. Swallowed. Stared. Her eyes were kyanites. “It’s up to spar.” She blinked. “Spar,” I repeated. “Feldspar.” She blinked again. Then it hit her like a wave and she let out a wailing laugh and pulled me into a bearhug. I could feel my ribs snapping. “You’re the bestest most kindest most awesomestst sister ever, Maud.” I could not breathe. My bones were on the verge of dust as she hugged tighter. I smiled.