//------------------------------// // Reunions // Story: A tale of three sisters // by Widow Peak //------------------------------// “-Ponies always get confused when I tell that that I grew up in a rock farm. They say ‘But Pinkie, there are rocks everywhere! Why would you grow rocks? And how do you even grow rocks?’. Well, actually we don’t grow rocks, we just grow gems. You see, there are some places where the magic of the earth comes from the core to the surface. It’s a very, very powerful magic, but very different from pony magic, or any other kind! It’s like savage and dangerous and stuff! It’s the same magic that made the Old Worm so big and angry and dangerous! Anyways, those places are called Blooms, which is a funny name because nothing really blooms there. Gems are not flowers; it’s a very silly name.” “Miss…” “-but I kinda like it, it makes me feel like we grow flowers, which are very pretty. Well, gems are also pretty but flowers are different pretty I guess. So, that earth magic does something very cool to the ground. It-it-it” Pinkie struggled to find the right words. “It like, makes gems appear from thin ground. Thin ground? Can you say that? I’ve heard ‘thin air’, but I’m not sure-” “Miss?” “So the gems sloooowly grow, and we collect them and sell them. Dad said that the slower part is waiting for the seed to grow, which is the tiny gem from which the big gem grows. So we had to plant very little pieces of gems, the deeper the better, because that’s where the earth magic is stronger. Now that I think about it, gems do bloom! I wonder who was the first to think of that name, it must have been a really clever pony-” “Miss!” “Yes?” The pink mare finally looked at the young stallion seated in front of her. He had a closed book on his hooves and his expression was a mixture of confusion, annoyance and surprise. “Look, miss. All that you’re saying is very interesting.” he said, waving a hoof at her. “B-but I don’t know you, and I didn’t ask you anything about rocks or farms. I just said the weather was nice! That’s…that’s all.” “Oh!” Pinkie smiled to him. “Oh, well. I wasn’t talking to you, it was an exposition.” “An…an exposition?” “Yep. Anyways, the weather is very nice, yes. I am friends with the weather manager of my town, and they are working a lot to get it right.” she said, waving a hoof to the landscape. The stallion blinked, confused but pleased by the sudden change of topic, and shook his head. “Yes, weather managing is a very complicate job. I do not think they get the credit they deserve.” he said, pushing his glasses up on his nuzzle. “I know, right? And when everything is not perfect, bam! Ponies start complaining. Rainy days are the worst, she says.” Pinkie let out a giggle. “Every time they have to make it rain, what they get a flood of complains.” Pinkie continued chatting with the stallion for the rest of the trip. It was exactly what she needed; something to keep her mind busy and not think of what may or may not happen. The conversation came to a sudden end when the conductor announced the next stop. Her stop. Pinkie said goodbye to the male pony and walked to the closest door. The train reached the platform, stopped with a deafening whirr and an attendant opened the door. Pinkie stepped down and took a deep breath. The station was bursting with activity. Small groups of ponies unloaded the cargo from the freight carts and substituted it with different boxes, barrels and packages. A few passengers went down from the train, and a bigger number stepped inside it. The air was full of noises, shouts, voices and smelled like steam, dust and sweat. Pinkie was not used to it, and just for a moment she felt lost. She looked around and managed to find her cart among the crowd. After a short walk and several pushes, she put on the yoke and pulled the cart out of the station. The town itself started several meters away from the station. A weathered wooden read ‘Welcome to Gravelpit’, greeting any visitors of the humble town. That was a new addition, Pinkie did not remember it from the last time. And everything else seemed…different. On the years the mare had stayed in Ponyville, her birth town had grown very little. However, in her memories her village was a rather gray and brown place, much like the train that had taken her to there. Now, however, it seemed a little bit more colorful. There were more ponies walking on the street, enjoying the cloudy but pleasant weather. Here and there some foals played tag and laughed, which brought a nostalgic smile to Pinkie. She missed her sisters. Pinkie walked aimlessly through the streets for a while, enjoying the memories that they brought back. While she had lived mostly at the rock farm, Gravelpit and its surroundings were not unknown to the pink pony. Her thoughts were interrupted when somepony called her by her name. “Pinkie? Is that you?” The pony turned her head and grinned. “Agatha!” she galloped to the elder mare and gently hugged her. “You haven’t changed at all!”she said, looking at the other pony from head to hooves. Agatha was a very old unicorn with light blue coat and multihued blue mane, which Pinkie found amazing when she was a foal. Atop of her muzzle sat a pair of glasses and she wore an agate necklace. Her CutieMark was a golden scale. Agatha let out a laugh and eyed Pinkie critically. “I haven’t, but I think you have.” she said. Her voice was polite and carried a certain feeling of knowledge. She smiled and ruffled even more Pinkie’s mane. “It’s been ages since I saw you. Look at yourself, you’ve become such a nice lady! What brings you to old Gravelpit, dear? Visiting your parents, I assume?” “Yep!” Pinkie nodded a few times. Agatha was the town’s gem appraiser, and so she was a good friend of her parents. She was also her Granny’s best friend before she passed away. “I haven’t seen them in ages, and I’ve missed them and my sisters, and you too! How are you doing?” “Oh, the usual.” she replied, smiling and waving a hoof. “Same business, same ponies, maybe a few more ailments; nothing too important.” “Have you seen my sisters arrive?” asked Pinki, hopefully. Agatha tapped her chin for a moment. “I don’t think so, dear. Marble and Limestone, was it? I never remember their names; I always called them by their nicknames.” “Yeah.” Pinkie smiled. She was the one who came up with those nicknames for her sisters and herself. They had used them so often than most of ponies on the village though they were actually named like that. “If you see them, could tell them that I’m here already? They are supposed to arrive today” Agatha nodded. “Sure, dear. Now tell me, how long are you staying here?” “I’m here for a whole month.” replied Pinkie. “Ah, very good. Make sure to visit me some day, dear. I would love to chat with you over a cup tea.” she made a gesture to the general direction of the rock farm. “Now go. I’m sure you’re impatient to see your parents again.” “I will Agatha, I promise.” Pinkie traced a cross over her crest and pulled the blue pony into another hug. “I’m happy to see you again.” She backed and started pulling the cart down a different street, straight to the farm. “Bye, Pinkie!” Agatha waved a hoof, smile on face. When the pink mare disappeared around a corner, the elder pony let out a happy sight. Such a short encounter with Pinkie had already brightened her day, and possibly her week. She would be looking forward to see her again. *** As Pinkie walked down the path to the rock farm of their parents, she gazed at the sigh. The farm was located almost two kilometers away from the town, in the middle of an empty plain of rocks and gravel. But for Pinkie’s knowing eye, that bare land had a hundred stories to tell. She recognized the stone formations where she used to play tag with her sisters, the pillar of granite that she tried – and failed – to climb so many times when she was a foal, and that was barely taller than her now; and one particular spot where she faceplanted while running away from Inkie. In the center of the plain sat a humble house made of wood. It was about the same size as Applejack’s, but the unpainted walls and dark hue of the wood gave it a much somber look. Still, seeing the house where she grew made Pinkie’s heart speed and a grin spread on her face. She forced her pace, her worry completely overcastted by pure excitement and joy. After a few minutes of trotting, the pony reached the house and gave it a good look. It had barely changed in all those years. Pinkie unleashed the cart and climbed the few steps in front of the door. She took a deep breath, gave a shake to her mane and knocked. After a pause, the door opened to a small creak and a gray head poked out. “Yes? What can I- Pinkamena!” Cloudy Quartz swung the door open and hugged her daughter. “Oh, I’m so glad you’re here.” she whispered, a small smile on her lips. Pinkie returned the hug and smiled. “I wasn’t going miss this chance, mom.” she said, crossing the threshold and looking around. Once again, everything was still the same. She let out a happy sigh. “It’s nice to be back.” “Cloudy? Who is it?” asked a low male voice from the kitchen. Igneous Rock poked his head and grinned broadly. It was an expression Pinkie had seen a hooful of times. A very small hooful. “Pinkamena!” The old stallion trotted to her and gave the pink pony a hug. Pinkie felt stunned for a second, unused to that kind of displays of affection from her father, but returned the hug nonetheless. Pinkie backed and looked at their parents with attention. Cloudy Quartz had a few white strands of hair on her mane, while Igneous Rock’s coat was slightly more grayish in hue. But once again, it seemed that time had stood still in the rock farm. Pinkie felt a rush of warm on her heart. Everything was just like in her memories. With a little of luck, her sisters wouldn’t have changed too much either. Igneous cleared his throat, catching Cloudy’s attention. They exchanged a look and nodded. “Pinkamena…Pinkie.” said Cloudy with a small smile. “There’s a surprise for you in your old room.” she pointed to the stairs. “We think you may want to see it now.” Pinkie blinked, completely caught off guard. Then a broad grin spread on her face. “A surprise? Oh, I love surprises!” chanted Pinkie, bouncing up the steps in threes. The room she had shared with her sisters took most of the second floor, and it was also used as a storage room. To anypony else, that may sound like an awful place to sleep, but truth to be told, the three sisters used to play in that room for hours, building cardboard fortresses or simply hiding from the others. The pink mare opened the door and peeked inside. The room was in darkness, but even in the dim light, Pinkie managed to see a lump on the closest bed. Her bed. Grinning, she took some cautious steps and noticed something very odd. The lump was very irregular in shape and was under the covers. That was clearly not a present. Confused, she crawled closer, her eyes slowly getting used to the low illumination. And then she saw it. A head resting on the pillow, and a silky mane sprawled on the mattress. Pinkie suppressed and excided squeak and creeped closer, like a cat on the hunt for a bird. She reached the bed and sat on her back legs, slowly rising her forelegs, a maniac grin plastered on her face. She took a very deep breath and released a deafening shout as she dropped all her weight on the bed. “MARBLE ‘INKIE’ PIE! WAKE UP!” The impact sent the other pony bouncing to the other side of the bed, landing on the floor with a loud ‘thudd’. “W-what? How many times have I told you to not do that, V-” She stopped in mid-sentence when she saw her sister. For several second she just stared at her, jaw open. Pinkie giggled and hopped onto the bed. “What? It’s like you’ve seen a ghost!” Inkie shook her head and grinned. “Is it really you?” “Of course!” replied Pinkie, tackling her sister onto a bear hug and making them both fall to the floor again as she nuzzled her neck. “I’m so happy to see you’re here!” “P-pinkie.” choked out Inkie. “A-air, please.” The mare released her sister and let her sit straight. Despite having just suffered a full pounce, she was smiling. “Me too.” she said, giving her a gentle hug and a nuzzle. “I didn’t expect to see you until tomorrow.” She backed and stretched her back, causing a small ‘pop’. “Ow…you’ve gained a bit of weight.” she said casually. “WHAT?!” shrieked Pinkie, a exaggeratedly hurt expression on her face. “Oh!” Inkie blushed and covered her snout with a hoof. “Me and my big mouth. I’m sorry Pinkie, I didn’t meant to-” “Well, I may have just a teeny-bitty more of weight, but you…” She made a pause to study critically her sister, trying to find an imperfection to return the – accidental - sting. Clean and smooth dark grey coat. Long, silky mane. Nicely-shaped body. “…I give up, you’re perfect.” she said, pouting. Inkie let out a laugh, but shook her head and spoke again. “Sorry Pinkie, I-” The other mare held up a hoof to silence her. “Ah-ah! I have gained some weight. Living in a bakery tends to do you that.” she said, shrugging and sitting on the bed. After a moment, Inkie did the same. “And I know you didn’t mean to insult me, I kinda…jumped on you so it was easy to notice. So it’s fine.” The gray mare looked at her for a second and smiled. “Thank you Pinkie.” She reached onto the bedside table and grabbed a pink bowtie. “I arrived to the farm very early in the morning.” she explained as she put the lace around her neck. “I took the night train from Canterlot, so Father and Mother decided to let me sleep until you and Blinkie arrived. She’s not here, is she?” she added, suddenly worried. “No, she’s not.” Inkie let out a relief sigh at that. “So, what’s up, Inkie?” “Octavia.” whispered the other sister. Pinkie blinked. “The what now?” “Octavia.” The gray mare looked at her sister and smiled sheepishly. “After getting my CutieMark I decided to change my name, I think I mentioned it in the letter I send you talking about the news.” She fidgeted with her hooves. “But I never managed to take a decision until a couple of years ago.” She made a pause, and smiled. “Do you like it?” “Yes!” replied Pinkie, nodding and making her mane bounce up and down. “It sounds very…refined!” Octavia smiled, but then sighed and looked down. “I can’t believe I have neglected you for so long.” she whispered, covering her face with her hooves. “It’s like for years I have not cared for you at all…And I’m sorry…I’ve really missed you all, but…” She let out a dry laugh. “I suppose I never took the time to prove it.” Pinkie put a hoof on her sister’s shoulder. The gray mare raised her head and looked her in the eyes. “I won’t say you didn’t, that would be lying.” said Pinkie softly. “But I am sure you had a reason…and besides, you’re here to fix that aren’t you?” Despite herself, Octavia managed to smile. She leaned in and nuzzled her sister. “You’re right, Pinkie. Thank you.” “Don’t mention.” giggled the other mare, returning the gesture. The two sisters stayed like that for a few minutes. Octavia’s regret for ignoring her family was still there, but now she was completely determined to make up for it. When she arrived to the farm that very morning, her parents had welcomed her with glee and joy. After a short chat, they had understood how tired she was and let her sleep for the rest of the morning. And Octavia was extremely thankful for that. It had proven that, despite all the time separated, that was still her family. However, there was one last sting in her heart, something that she was not yet ready to tell. Pinkie, on the other hoof, could not be happier. So far, everything had gone as nice and smooth as silk. In just the half an hour she had been in the house, she already knew all her fears and worries were just silly. Both sisters jumped when a knock on the door interrupted their thoughts. For a brief second, the two ponies exchanged a glance and smiled. “Blinkie!” they shouted at the same time, hopping from the bed and rushing downstairs, Pinkie barely touching the steps and Octavia forgetting her well-practiced good manners.