//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 // Story: All the Time // by Shrinky Frod //------------------------------// Limestone was in her bed, feeling sick, her head spinning and aching, her tongue bleeding slightly, her gut unsteady. Her eyes darted around, trying to figure out how she’d gotten into bed, just as Marble wrapped her up in a tight hug, tears on her muzzle. Maud stepped into the room, carrying a tray with a mug of mulled cider and the sweet rolls Pinkie had saved for Limestone. “You- did you hit me?” Limestone asked, rubbing her aching jaw. Maud sat down the tray and looked at her evenly. “Are you still unconscious?” She asked, with just the slightest hint of an edge to her voice. “You hyperventilated. You’ve only been out for a couple minutes. You’re lucky; nopony else was in the house to hear everything.” “You should have hit me,” Limestone groaned, laying back in her bed. Maud held the mug in front of her face, not moving it until she sat up and took it from her hoof. “Possibly. But it wouldn’t have helped anything.” “Maud… Sis, I’m sorry, I didn’t me-” The words died on Limestone’s lip as Maud shot her a sharp glance. Lie to me, and I will hit you, it said. “I didn’t mean all of what I said,” Limestone corrected herself, sipping the cider. “Like the stuff about you being a selfish, ungrateful whorse? I didn’t mean that, I’m just… Celestia, I’m such a mess,” she trailed off to a whisper, finally drinking some more cider, the warm liquid soothing her raspy throat. “You are,” Maud agreed. “You aren’t entirely wrong though. I am selfish.” “Maud, you have a right to your own life!” Limestone protested. “You -mmph!” Maud silenced her by shoving a sweet roll into her mouth, earning a glare and resentful chewing in response. “I didn’t say it was a bad thing, Limestone. How long have you been sleep working?” Limestone swallowed hard, and not just because she could have stood to chew the roll a bit longer. “At least since you left for school… could be longer. Not every night or anything, just... usually around the end of the month.” “When the bills are due,” Maud guessed. “Apple Bloom told me what you said about fading out,” Maud explained, sitting up on the side of the bed. “It’s the whole reason I came back to talk to you in the first place. You’re working yourself to death, Limestone.” “Mhm,” Marble nodded quietly, finally letting go of Limestone and standing up next to the bed. Thank Celestia that Pinkie isn’t here to hear this, Limestone thought to herself. I’d never hear the end of it. “Work’s gotta be done, Maud,” she pointed out tiredly. “And we can only afford help once in a while. They don’t even know how to do it right most of the time. You’ve got a life of your own, so does Pinkie, Mom and Dad are slowing down, and Marble can’t really handle the stuff that has to be done with other ponies. I’m what’s left.” “Did it ever occur to you that if you told us how bad things were, we would have come back to help out? We knew the farm wasn’t rich, but I never knew it was a threat, and Pinkie….” “Pinkie always believed the lines about games and old family traditions,” Limestone sighed. “That’s why we always did it, though. None of you were supposed to be worried about it. We couldn’t get away with it, but you three didn’t need to be worried.” “We’re grown up now, Limestone. Just ask Mudbriar,” the corner’s of Maud’s mouth twitched up momentarily. “Mmm… okay, I’ll give you and Marble credit for that,” Limestone conceded with the faintest of smirks. “If Pinkie ever grows up, I probably will keel over.” “Then stop trying to make it happen before she gets the chance.” Maud leaned over, and hugged Limestone stiffly. “I’ll talk to Father about staying out here to work the farm for the rest of the winter. It’s my turn to let you be selfish for a little while.” “Maud, come on, you’re talking about just upending your life so I can take a few weeks off. It’s….” “It’s my life, Limestone. And since I don’t work on the farm unless I’m staying here, you’re not my boss. You can’t tell me not to.” Maud kissed her older sister on the forehead gently. “For once in your life, Limestone, let somepony be nice to you.” “...If you or Mudbriar screws up the ley lines, I’m making you fix them by hoof.” “Wouldn’t do it any other way.” Maud stood up and nodded her head towards the door. “Let’s go see what’s keeping everypony.” “Yeah, Pinkie should have stumbled over the picture by now,” Limestone agreed, swallowing the rest of her cider and snagging the second extra roll to eat on the way down. She paused at the bathroom to  look in the mirror. You look like somepony just died. She took a moment to wash her face, getting rid of the snot and tear trails that had been left in her fur, straightening up her mane, generally trying her best to hide the breakdown that had just happened. When she looked again, she was back to being Limestone Pie, the family grump with a frown permanently etched into her face. Some days, it disturbed her how easily she could make that transformation. Especially after a big one, like this. Maud was right, and she knew it. She did need a vacation. She just wasn't sure how she was supposed to get away from herself.