//------------------------------//
// Prologue: Thinking Pinkie 
// Story: Rocky Road Trip 
// by Metool Bard 
//------------------------------//


Prologue:
Thinking Pinkie


"Next train to Ponyville!  All aboard~!"

Maud Pie stood at the edge of the platform as the Friendship Express pulled out of the station.  For a moment, she looked down at the five rock candy necklaces that adorned her neck.  They were all gifts from Pinkie Pie's best friends; mementos representing the time she spent with them in Ponyville.  A ghost of a smirk crossed her face.

Looks like I'm gonna need a bigger box, she thought, turning her attention back to the train.  Her expression remained static as she watched the train cars disappear over the horizon one by one.

"Goodbye, Maud~!" an all-too-familiar voice echoed from the train. "Don't forget to write~!  I know I won't~!"

Maud didn't respond in any noticeable way to Pinkie's farewell.  She simply stood at the edge of the platform and stared into space.

I'm really gonna miss her, she mused. It's a good thing she has so many wonderful friends to look after her.  I know she'll be okay.

Just as the train completely vanished from view, she heard a familiar voice call out to her.

"So, they seemed like a nice bunch."

Without even looking, Maud knew who it was.  Slowly, she turned around.

"They certainly are," she said plainly. "Hello, Marble.  Hello, Limestone."

Sure enough, she was correct.  Standing on the platform with her were none other than her other two sisters, Marble and Limestone Pie.  Limestone sighed.

"Rats.  I really thought I got the drop on you this time," she muttered.

"You did," said Maud, her monotone voice not even breaking an octave. "I honestly didn't expect you two to be here."

"Oh, we just arrived," said Marble, rubbing the back of her head. "I'm sorry if we surprised you."

"You, were surprised, right?" asked Limestone. "It's sometimes hard to tell with you."

Maud shrugged. "Maybe a little," she said.

"Wait, then how did you know it was us?"

"I recognized your voice."

Limestone opened her mouth to reply, but let out a sigh instead.

"I probably should've seen that answer coming," she said, clearing her throat. "Anyway, enough about that.  Tell us about your trip, Maud.  Marble and I want to hear all about it."

"I can already see that you've made some new friends there," said Marble, eyeing Maud's rock candy necklaces. "Tell me, do Pinkamena's letters do her friends justice?"

Maud arched an eyebrow. "Why didn't you two find that out yourselves?  They arrived at the rock farm before Pinkie and I did."

"Yeah, we noticed.  That teleportation spell was hard to miss," said Limestone. "Anyway, I wanted to go meet them, but I was busy working the South Field with Dad, and you know how he gets about unscheduled breaks.  I think Marble here managed to finish her chores before they arrived, so I don't know what her excuse is."

Marble blushed and rubbed the back of her foreleg. "W-well, I managed to gather that they were waiting for you and Pinkamena, and I didn't want to interrupt anything or cause any problems, so..."

"Wait, scratch that.  I know what Marble's excuse is now," interrupted Limestone, giving her sister a cocky smirk. "You were shy, weren't you?"

"N-no!  I mean, not exactly," said Marble sheepishly, her face getting redder. "I-I just didn't know what to say."

"You could've started with: 'Hi, my name is Marble Pie, and I'm Pinkie's younger sister,'" said Limestone.

Marble sighed. "It's not that easy for me, Limestone.  You know that," she said. "I mean, you read Pinkamena's letters, didn't you?  Her friends are just so amazing, and I'm so, well, not."

"Marble, you shouldn't think like that," chided Limestone. "What about those lullabies you sing for the rocks of the North Field?  And the amazing stories you tell to the rocks of the East Field?  And let's not forget about your famous pet rock shelter.  Anypony would love to know a sweetheart like you."

Marble shook her head. "I'm not so sure, Limestone.  If I told them about all that, they'd probably just think I'm weird."

"News flash, Marble: Everypony is weird," said Limestone. "And that goes for Pinkie's friends, too.  They're weird; I'm weird; you're weird.  Weirdness is a pony universal, and nopony should be afraid of it.  That's a Pie family rule, in case you forgot."

"Well, I dunno," said Marble, twiddling her hooves. "Maybe we just wouldn't click."

"Okay, now you're just being silly," said Limestone, placing a foreleg around Marble. "I know it's hard, Marble, but you should really consider emerging from that shell of yours from time to time.  Be spontaneous!  Show ponies your wild side!"

Marble raised an eyebrow. "What wild side?  I work on a rock farm."

"Hey, that doesn't stop me," said Limestone with a chuckle.

"Actually, I can understand Marble's concern," said Maud. "The same thing almost happened to me."

Marble and Limestone looked up at Maud. "What do you mean?" they asked.

"Pinkie really wanted us to bond so that they could take part in our rock candy necklace tradition," Maud explained. "However, we didn't really seem to understand each other.  They were nice ponies, and I knew they were trying hard to become my friends.  But things weren't working out.  It was only after Pinkie tried this ridiculous gambit and almost got herself seriously hurt that we all found something that connected us."

Marble gasped. "Oh my goodness!  Pinkamena almost hurt herself trying to get you guys to bond?!  How did she do that?!"

"You, don't want to know," said Maud. "Don't worry, she's okay.  In the end, the connection we all share is our love for Pinkie Pie, and that's something I can truly appreciate."

"See, Mar-Mar?  You could've gotten along with them, no problem!" said Limestone. "Heck, I'm surprised you didn't at least try talking to that Applejack pony."

Maud tilted her head. "What's so special about Applejack?" she asked.

Limestone blinked. "You mean you don't know?  Didn't she tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"That Pinkie's practically her cousin."

Maud stared at Limestone for a moment. "I still don't follow.  And how do you know that?"

"It was in a letter you missed while you were filling out your application for your rocktorate," said Marble. "Pinkamena said that according to the genealogical record, she's Applejack's fourth cousin twice removed from a fifth cousin.  At least she thinks; it's not quite clear.  We asked Father about it, but all we found in the Pie family record was this odd smudge."

"Well, whatever the case may be, Pinkie said that didn't matter, because Applejack considers her to be family anyway," added Limestone. "I don't know why she didn't tell you.  If she did, maybe it would've made it easier for you to bond with her."

Maud's expression didn't change. "Hmm.  So the Pie family could be related to the Apple family," she said simply. "That's interesting."

Limestone clicked her tongue and drew in a sharp breath through her teeth. "Oooookay then.  I take that back.  It apparently wouldn't have changed a darn thing," she said. "Sheesh, remind me never to play you in poker."

Maud raised an eyebrow. "We've never played poker, Limestone."

"And there's a very good reason for that," Limestone retorted.

Marble let out a sigh and shook her head before turning back to Maud. "Well, I'm glad you enjoyed meeting Pinkamena's friends," she said.

"Yes, Pinkie really made it a time to remember.  Even if she did go overboard," said Maud.

"Typical Pinkie," said Limestone with a snicker. "Hey, speaking of which, you're spending the rest of your week with us on the rock farm, right?"

"Yes," said Maud.

"So, that means you have plenty of time to tie up some loose ends before you go."

Maud gave Limestone a quizzical look. "Loose ends?" she parroted.

"Oh, don't act like you don't know," said Limestone coyly. "You do realize that there's one member of the Pie family who won't be able to see you off on your big day, doncha?"

It didn't take long for Maud to connect the dots. "Are you talking about Nana Pinkie?"

Limestone deadpanned. "No, I'm talking about our sister Pinkie who just left.  Yes, I'm talking about Nana Pinkie!  Who else would I mean?"

"There, is no one else you could've meant," said Maud with a shrug.

Limestone groaned and slapped her forehead. "You really take all the fun out of being snarky, Stick-in-the-Maud," she grumbled.

"Um, what Limestone is trying to say is that maybe we should go see her before you leave," said Marble. "I'm sure it would make her very happy."

"Mmm.  I see," said Maud, knitting her brow. "Did you talk to Ma and Pa about it?"

"Not, quite yet," said Limestone sheepishly. "We didn't really have the time.  Things are always busy on the rock farm, after all."

"Plus, we wanted to hear your opinion first," said Marble. "So, what do you say, Maud?  Are you up for a trip to Nana Pinkie's house?"

There was a brief pause.

"Of course," said Maud with her usual enthusiasm.

Marble and Limestone looked at each other and smiled before turning back to Maud.

"That's all we needed to hear," said Limestone. "C'mon, let's go home.  Supper's probably just about ready.  We can tell Mom and Dad about our plans then."

"Okay," said Maud.  With that, the three sisters started for home.

"Ooh, this is so exciting~!" said Marble gleefully. "It'll be just like old times."

"Yeah, I hear ya, Marble," said Limestone. "Man, I'm really looking forward to seeing Nana Pinkie again."

Maud simply nodded, not saying a word.  But deep down, she shared her sisters' sentiments.

One last visit to Nana Pinkie's house before I leave, she pondered. This week is really shaping up to be something special.