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// Chapter 34 - Maud 
// Story: Equestrian Celestial Forge 
// by TheDriderPony 
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Dear Pinkie Pie,

I have received your letter as well as the attached package. It makes me very happy to hear you're doing so well for yourself in Ponyville even if I'm not familiar with thirty-two ponies whose parties and celebrations you detailed hosting. 

Thank you for the gift you included. I did not think there was a rock out there that I’d be unable to identify, but if anypony could find such a thing, it would be you. None of my textbooks mention ‘originite’ and I can’t find any mineral that has the same properties under a different name. Even my professors are stumped.

Professor Sandstone in particular is very interested and has offered extra credit if I (that is, you) can find him additional samples. Most of the tests he wants to perform require scratching, cracking, or crushing, all of which I have refused since the only piece I have was a gift.

I’m also looking forward to studying the crystal room you wrote about when I come to visit. Unfortunately though, my trip might end up delayed for one reason or another. 

While your efforts seem as firm as diabase, my own day-to-day life seems to be as unpredictably fragile as unknowingly slaked limestone.

(That was a joke.)

(No one would ever mistake slaked limestone for unslaked.)

(I’ve been trying to use more jokes like you suggested. Was that one good?)

Lately I’ve had terrible luck. There’s been no one big catastrophe, but there have been many small incidents day after day.

My quill pens break. Professors have lost my assignments. The key to my dormitory has snapped off in the lock three times in the past month. A study on artificial magma in the pyroclastics lab went out of control and smothered the room in basalt (the room was unrecoverable, but the phenocrysts it created were remarkable). I had to repay the cost of several library books and throw away my third-favorite frock due to damage sustained from an unexpected bolt of lightning (Boulder was fine. He was holding my seat in the dining hall at the time).

It hasn’t all been bad, though. My classes have otherwise been going fine and there was a micro-meteor shower right above the campus last week. I wish I could have acquired some to study, but they all burned up in orbit (despite Goosecreekite’s insistence that one broke his window. I would have noticed if it had, since his dorm room is next to mine).

In short, while I look forward to seeing you, I expect something will happen to delay my arrival. Possibly the train will crash and I’ll have to walk the rest of the way. Or the train will be attacked by bandits whose leader I will have to charm with my feminine wiles in order to ensure safe passage.

(That was another joke.)

(I would subdue them too quickly for that to be necessary.)

I will update you if and when plans change, but my visit should still be manageable some time later this month.

Your sister,
Maud