Maud
Maud kicked the rock forward to her sister Pinkie who eagerly passed it back to her sister. She loved playing with Boulder and Pinkie it was the most fun she had had in a long time since her work at the quarry kept her so busy. Ponies needed precious metals and Maud was the pony to go to when you needed a geological survey and an expert excavator. No pony could keep up with with Maud's speed, strength and dexterity. It was almost as if she wasn't a pony at all. No pony had seen a mare plow through rock so easily with her bear hooves. A lot of her co-workers were unicorns who used their demolition magic to blow apart the rock, but Maud set a standard for herself and that was to out work every pony there though it was never a challenge or competition she enjoyed working hard.
One part of work she did not particularly care for was Cobalt. An overly frisky stallion who took a liking to Maud when he couldn't woo her to his ego's delight when they first met. Instead he was greeted coldly and plainly after he introduced himself as Cobalt the IV. Maud just kept her same monotone stance with a friendly 'hey' and preceded to ignore him from then on. But being the pompous little foal he loved to act like he couldn't stand not gaining the praise and admiration he so desired just because his family had owned the quarry for many generations.
But this was not what Maud wanted to focus on right now. For now she was with Pinkie and that was all that mattered. She loved Pinkie's over enthusiastic attitude and strange appetite for sweets. She couldn't stand the confections herself, but if it made Pinkie smile she would grin and bear it if it meant trying one of her cupcakes or pies. She smiled to herself as Pinkie balanced Boulder on her nose. Pinkie giggled loudly bouncing the pebble up and down before tossing it back to Maud.
She loved being on vacation. It was a welcome change from the quarry. Ponyville was just the town she would have wanted to visit. Quiet, pleasant, and with her best friend, Pinkie Pie. She caught Boulder in her pocket watching Pinkie hop up and down in glee for making a perfect shot. Oh how she wished she could have the same excited look as Pinkie, but alas, it was just not for Maud to enjoy. She was a quiet pony who didn't cause trouble if it didn't need to be caused.
"I missed you so much Maud!" Her sister exclaimed hugging her tightly.
Maud returned the hug embracing her pink cotton-candy maned sibling, "I missed you too Pinkie. Are you sure you don't mind just hanging with me and not your friends?" She asked
"Oh they'll be fine, they know you're in town and I want to spend time with my bestest friend sister I could ever have." Pinkie said squeezing Maud even tighter. Maud could feel the air being pushed out of her.
"Thanks Pinkie." She managed to say in a short breath before Pinkie finally let go of her grip. For a party pony she still had impressive strength. She always loved hearing Pinkie say she was her friend. Maybe it was because Maud didn't have any, but it didn't bother her. As long as she had Pinkie it didn't matter to her. It was one of the few moments in life that brought a smile to her otherwise somber face.
Maud's stomach grumbled in hunger signaling her sister that it was time to make lunch. She dreamed of what Pinkie Pie would make her. Something sweet most likely with lots of peppers as Maud would prefer. She thought about saying something to Pinkie about her confections and laying off the sugar but it seemed to be a bad idea to her if she were to criticize her sister for what she loved to do.
"You're tummy's rumbling." Pinkie Pie said shooting up in a pink flash of light standing against Maud in an otherwise uncomfortable situation if it were not siblings.
"Yeah, I guess I am, mind making me a salad? Extra fruit please." She asked her sister.
"You mean you want me to cook for you? FOR REAL!" She said excitedly. Pinkie Pie never got to cook for Maud before. Usually it was her parents who cooked and on vacation Maud took them out for meals at a local restaurant when they were fillies.
"Yeah," she said questioning her next words, "just, keep the sugar on the low down please, I'm not that much of a fan." She said hoping Pinkie wouldn't be too disappointed.
Pinkie nodded in response, "okie-dokie Maud!" She exclaimed blitzing into Sugarcube Corner. Her new home and job with Mr. and Mrs. Cake was a dream come true. Maud Couldn't have been happier for her knowing she did what she loved to do; throwing parties and baking delicious treats was what Pinkie Pie was an expert at. She still remembered her first party together back at the rock farm when she finally got her cutie mark.
Pinkie returned with a large bowl filled with lettuce, tomatoes, pineapples, apples, grapes, and all sorts of fruits Maud liked. Pinkie knew her so well. Almost too well knowing exactly what dressing she would want. A raspberry vinaigrette with a dash of Rainbow Dash's own hot sauce she created called 'Fire Wing'. A crazy concoction of peppers, rainbows and vinegar that sent her mouth ablaze with fire and flavor.
She smiled widely as her sister placed the dish in front of her followed by Pinkie consuming her own lunch consisting of sugary treats she scarfed down. Maud gingerly ate her salad enjoying the sweet citrus flavors of the fruits and the spiciness of the sauce. She didn't mind the natural sweetness from the fruits, but the overwhelming amount of sugar Pinkie placed in her baked good made Maud sick to her stomach. They both finished their meals with Pinkie blitzing in and out of sight returning the dishes to the bakery and making quick haste to wash them and put them away.
Pinkie could hear her sister outside. Talking to somepony but she didn't know who. She had never heard this voice before. Which meant she had a new friend to make as soon as she was done cleaning. However, that might not be the case as she listened more closely hearing the acidity drip from her sister's voice. Maud didn't usually get angry, but when she did Pinkie Pie was the only one who could calm her down.
Cobalt trotted over to Maud looking primped and groomed as if he were ready for a date. He approached the mare slicking back his mane and grinning a pearly white smile trying once again to gain the favoritism of this earth pony who showed him not even the slightest bit of interest. Which just drove him even more crazy about her.
"Hey Maud, I thought I might find you here. So, you ready for our date?" He asked seductively, holding out a bundle of yellow pansies awaiting Maud to take them with praise him with admiration for this thoughtfulness.
"Leave." She said flatly.
"Now that's no way to treat your future husband now is it?" He replied coyly.
"Leave Cobalt. Now." She said once more looking stern in her words.
"Damn you're cold Maud. We haven't even gone back to my place yet." He said winking at her.
"Leave now or I'll make you." She said narrowing her eyes. Her tone stayed for the most the part, monotoned and unemotional, but not to Pinkie. She could feel it now. The anger growing inside Maud was about to explode. He wanted to test her and he was about to find why he should have. Maud took a step forward preparing to lunge at Colbalt.
"Hey Maud!" Shouted her sister coming out of the bakery hopefully soon enough to defuse the situation.
For now, Maud stood down unwilling to make a scene in front of her sister. She turned around seeing her sister and bright and chipper as ever, "hey Pinkie." She said flatly.
A sick plan churned and stewed in Cobalt's mind. He had the perfect idea to make Maud go on a date with him. Well, either way he would get a date. No mare could resist his charm. At least this is what he thought.
"So you must be Maud's sister?" He said cocking an eyebrow and bowing to the mare before him.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Pinkie Pie." He said charmingly.
Pink rushed up shaking his hoof up and down sending the vibrations through his entire body, "hi! What's your name? You know mine, but I don't know yours." She said smiling widely.
Cobalt cleared his through and spoke in a dignified tone, "I am Cobalt the IV. Heir to the-" he was cut off short.
"Cobalt. Leave. Now." Maud said with venom dripping from her words.
Pinkie had no idea why Maud disliked Cobalt so much. He seemed like a nice pony. He wasn't causing them any problems for the most part.
"Oh Maud, don't be so mean." Pinkie said aloud, "do you work with my sister?" She asked the stallion.
"Why yes I do. She's told me a lot about you." Cobalt said.
"No I haven't." Maud said flatly, "I never even told you I had a sister."
Cobalt cringed and gritted his teeth. Dammit Maud quit being so difficult. He thought to himself. He refocused preparing his next words hopefully getting her sister's attention away from Maud and focused on him instead.
"Wow, Maud, you sure are a cold one. Way to put me on the spot in front of your sister. Well, since you won't accept my offer I'll ask somepony else." He said. Maud was slightly alleviated to hear this knowing he would not make further advances on her. But her hopes were soon dashed away as he spoke his next words that send pure rage through her body. Not jealousy. Just rage knowing that Cobalt would stoop so low to gain her attention.
"Pinkie," he started, "would you like to go on a date with me?" Smiling a superficial look of grace and elegance as he tried to woo Pinkie Pie now.
"Uhmm..." Pinkie said tapping her hoof to her chin.
"No." Maud said catching Cobalt off guard.
"Oh Maud you had your chance, but I'm willing to reconsider if you'd like to accompany me instead." He said.
"No." Maud said again, "Pinkie will not go on a date with you and neither will I. Now, leave." She said bracing the ground and preparing to charge the stallion.
"I don't think you have the right to speak for your sister Maud. She's a grown pony she can make her own decisions." Cobalt said vapidly getting back at Maud's lack of sexual attention she showed him.
"I'm sorry Cobalt, but I can't. I'm hanging out with Maud while she's in town. Maybe when her vacation is over we could go to The Apple Tap and have a drink." Pinkie said optimistically.
"What! You're just going to turn me down too! Fuck both of you mares are fucking idiot-" A hoof collided with his snout sending his body careening through the air and rolling as it hit the dirt covered ground. Maud stood ramrod still as she held her foreleg out slowly retracting it back to the ground. She casually walked up to Cobalt looking down at the pony she had just assaulted. She watched as he wiped the blood from his snout standing up and shaking off the dirt from his coat.
"You bitch!" He exclaimed. Subsequently he now found himself choking and gasping for air as Maud held him up against the wall of a nearby shop. Her eyes narrowed as she held him their putting more and more pressure against his neck ready to end the pony's life if she had to.
"Maud!" Cried Pinkie rushing over to her, "stop Maud! Please!"
That voice! Maud thought to herself. She retracted to her original stance standing down from the assault on Cobalt.
Cobalt continued to choke and gasp for air. As Pinkie ran up hugging Maud in a tight kinship embrace. She felt a strange feeling come over her. One of peace and calmness she wasn't used to. It was different, but she liked it. Her heart stopped racing and her pupils dilated back to a relax nature.
Maud looked down at her opponent who still tried to suck in air shooting her glares of anger and fear in a mixture of regret for messing with Maud's sister. Maud lowered her head down to inches in front of Cobalt's. Her words formed slowly and deliberately, "stay away from my sister if you want to live."
Cobalt rose to his hooves and bolted away from Maud and Pinkie shouting nonsense of how she would regret striking him. Ponies now stared at her in all direction. They were all focused on Maud. She could feel their eerie gazes piercing through her flesh with invisible knives as she bit her lip looking worried. They spoke in hushed voices hoping Maud wouldn't hear them but she could. She could hear the voices all around her as if they were parasprites swarming her in all directions. Did you just see that? Maud is crazy. 'Bout as cold as Maud if you could believe it huh? What did he do to deserve that? I wonder if he's okay. Maud's insane. Maud's insane! Maud IS INSANE!
She could see Pinkie talking to her but she couldn't hear the words coming from her mouth. Her heart was thumping faster and faster. Her pupils grew small to pinpricks. She began breathing heavily. And at that moment. She ran. She ran as fast as she could from everypony even her sister. She ran till her hooves could no longer propel her body. And when she could no longer run she began to cry.
She lied down staring up at the sky as the tears streamed from the sides of her face pattering the grass making it damp to the touch. Pinkie must hate me now. She thought to herself. I almost lost control again. I could have killed him and then.. She didn't want to think about it after that instead choosing to let the tears roll down her face as she quietly whimpered to herself.
This wasn't the first time Maud had hurt somepony. The first time was back when she and Pinkie still lived on the Rock farm with their parents. A couple of bullies from school decided to use Pinkie as a new punching bag. Kicking and pulling her hair and making the little filly cry. And that's what sent her over the edge the first time. The filly's tears that streamed from her face. The look of despair and anguish that pulled Maud's heartstrings too far. And she snapped. With her incredible strength she broke the legs of the aggressors in half and without so much as a hint of hesitation. She still remembered what her sister said that day. Please. Stop Maud.
Maud awoke from her grassy bed. The sun was about to go down over the horizon. She contemplated going back to town to see Pinkie Pie. No doubt she was worried sick about her sister. She had been gone for several hours now and she didn't want her sister to be up all night looking for her. In which, she definitely wouldn't as she heard a familiar voice from afar. The same voice she ran from earlier. Pinkie Pie's.
"Maud!" She cried out running towards her sister full speed colliding with her without the slightest indication of stopping or at least slowing down. She hugged her sister tightly unwilling to let her go out of her embrace. Tears welled in Pinkie's eyes as they streamed down her face and onto Maud's plain grey dress. The two ponies lied their together in one another's tight grip for what seemed like an eternity before either spoke.
"I'm sorry Pinkie." Maud said petting her sister's mane.
Pinkie looked up at her sister cracking a smile, "Maud please don't leave me like that again." She took a shaky breath, "I... I thought I lost you. I looked for you for hours and... and." She started to cry again. Maud embraced her in a motherly grip cooing the young mare as she stroked Pinkie's cotton-candy like mane.
"I just... I couldn't let Cobalt get away with insulting you in front of me." Maud said to her sister. The two sisters now lied down in the grass stair up at the moon as it raised by the assistance of Luna into the black night sky dotted by the millions of stars they could see in all directions light years away from them.
"Maud, you don't need to hurt somepony just because they hurt me. I can take an insult or two." Pinkie said with chuckle.
That's not all he would do. Maud thought to herself. Cobalt's already gotten away with beating one mare. He won't get away with hurting my sister.
"O-okay Pinkie." Maud said, "just- stay away from Cobalt please?" She asked her sister.
"Can do!" She said excitedly.
Pinkie wondered to herself what Cobalt did to upset her sister so much she would want him gone as soon as he came by to visit, but didn't have the courage to question Maud not wanting to pry at something she was sure Maud would tell her in time.
"Wanna go back to Sugarcube Corner now?" Maid asked standing up and yawning deeply, "I'm getting tired."
Pinkie Pie hopped up to her hooves pointing in the direction of her home, "this way Maud!" She said cheerfully hopping the whole way back home.
The next day was another splendid day for the two sisters. The two earth ponies met in the kitchen with Maud looking visibly tired as if she didn't get enough sleep. She rubbed her eyes and yawned staring at a plate of pancakes, cantaloupe, and a glass of freshly squeezed onion juice, her favorite. Her pink, bubbly sister hummed to herself flipping the last flap-jack as she took a seat next to Maud covering her pancakes in syrup while Maud preferred hers plain.
"Thanks Pinkie." Maud said casually only allowing her sister to hear the slightest fluctuation of happiness in her voice.
Pinkie nodded stuffing her face with the syrup covered pancakes. Maud devoured the cantaloupe first. She was surprised by it's sweetness that was unlike the any fruit she tried before. In fact, she noticed the fruits and vegetables here in Ponyville had noticeably more flavor and texture that those of Canterlot or Manehattan. It was a strange that one part of Equestria had better produce than the others but she didn't mind. It was a welcome change from the blandness she was used to at Quarry's kitchen.
The two ponies finished their breakfast. Maud and Pinkie were both visibly heavier now. Not that they were fat in the first place. They two had outstanding workouts they did every day, but with a full belly came a slightly extended stomach. Though neither felt bloated or ready to explode. Pinkie's portions were just perfect for Maud.
"So, what do you want to do today Maud?" Pinkie asked looking as enthusiastic as usual.
She looked up into the air then back down at Pinkie, "I don't know."
"How about we go into town and walk around? We're bound to find something to do there!" She said hopping around her sister.
Maud smiled, "okay Pinkie, let's go."
The town bustled with ponies in all direction both buying and selling goods and services. Pinkie's attention drifted from stall to stall in a pink flash admiring all the shiny trinkets and toys the shopkeepers had for sale. She stopped at one stall in particularly noticing two necklaces that she adored and couldn't let anypony else have.
"Maud!" She cried out getting her sister's attention.
Maud approached the stall casually smiling at the shopkeeper and then over to her sister.
"Yeah Pinkie?" She asked noticing the paired necklace Pinkie's attention was fixated on.
"That necklace is so awesome!" She said pointing it out.
Truly there was nothing spectacular about it other than it came in a pair. It was small and silvery in the shape of a heart with three letters appearing all together as the pieces were put together. 'BFF' it displayed. Maud wondered what the significance of these letters meant and why Pinkie loved it so much.
"'BFF'?" Maud asked, "what's that mean?" She looked at her sister.
Her sister's mouth dropped in disbelief that Maud didn't know that all too common acronym. She knew her sister didn't get out a lot, but surely she had to have heard of this term at least once in her life.
"It means Best Friend Forever!" Pinkie exclaimed.
Maud smiled a little wider. Just for a split second enough for Pinkie to notice before she spoke to the shop keeper.
"I want the one my sister is point at." She said flatly placing several Bits on the counter. The unicorn levitated the necklaces out of their display and in front of the two mares. Pinkie snatched them up quicker than lightning throwing her own around her neck and then putting Maud's around her own and leaning against her sister as she put them together in glee smiling at the small trinket.
"Thank you so much Maud!" Cried Pinkie Pie throwing her arms around Maud for a tight hug in public.
A trio of shadows loomed over the two mares as they adored their new necklaces walking down the pebble dirt road. Neither Maud or Pinkie could tell that they were being followed until it was too late and they were out of earshot of other ponies and secluded now as a figure from behind an Oak tree appeared in front of them. Maud stopped in her tracks holding her foreleg out to stop Pinkie.
"What do you want, Cobalt?" Maud asked bluntly.
Before he could respond to her Maud found herself pinned to the ground along with her sister as three hulking stallions pinned them to the earth. He smiled and chuckled to himself as he walked up to Maud kicking a bit of dirt in her face. The smug stallion took his time staring at the rage-fueled earth pony Maud and her equally terrified sister who kept trying her best to escape from under the stallion's weight.
"What do I want Maud?" He started, "I want a lot of things. And for a long time I wanted you."
"Not gonna' happen." Maud said in return.
"Oh I know, and since you won't go easily I'll take something just as good. I'll take your sister." He said sadistically.
"Leave her alone Cobalt." Maud said vapidly.
"I don't think you're in any position to be barking order now are you?" He said growing grim and striking Maud on top of the head with his hoof.
The sadist walked over to Pinkie kneeling down to her as she looked up off the ground, "Pinkie," he said, "since your sister over there doesn't want to share my bed with me maybe you would like to?"
Pinkie thought about it for a second before speak, "nope, sorry, not interested." She said smiling up at Cobalt, "you know it's really not nice to tackle ponies like this. If somepony were to see this they'd think you were mugging us or trying to ponynap us."
Cobalt grew angry kicking Pinkie in the head and pushing her face into the dirt. He hated hearing those words, 'not interested'. It was if somepony kicked his pet the way he was acting towards the mares. He could see the hate boiling inside Maud as he striked her sister once again. Blood now dripped from Pinkie's nose smearing into the dirt as Cobalt ground her face into the earth.
"You can make this stop anytime you want Pinkie. Just say you'll sleep with me and I'll let your sister go." He said looking down at Pinkie, "or," he started looking over at Maud, "I could just take both of you and have my way with you mares and then my friends here can have some fun."
"Cobalt!" Maud now screamed his name struggling to stand up only to be punched in the side by the massive stallion on top of her.
"Shut up Maud!" He shouted striking Pinkie again, "or your sister might not make it out of this alive."
Those words struck deep at Maud. She could see tears pooling into mud around Pinkie as she whispered to her sister Maud, help me. Her adrenaline began to pump through her veins. The stallions that once pinned her to the ground were now visibly stuggling to keep the single mare down. Cobalt grimaced as she struggled against her aggressors.
"Just give up Maud, you're not getting away this time." He said
She managed to stand on her hooves now bucking off the two powerful stallions into the dirt around her. She blitz in a flash of grey colliding her front forelegs into the side of the stallion holding Pinkie down sending his limp and lifeless body tumbling to the side smashing through a fence.
She glared at Cobalt who backed up ready to flee but before he could he was tackled to the ground staring up at the sight of Maud pounding her foreleg into his face as the other kept his neck pinned to the ground. He tried to move his body unsuccessfully as the assault continued. He soon could no longer feel the pain or see through his blackened eyes. He felt his broken and chipped teeth begin to choke him as he convulsed on the dirt coughing up the mixture of blood and teeth. His consciousness soon turned to black leaving his rag doll body for whatever fate Maud decided was appropriate.
"Maud! Stop! Please!" Pinkie cried but to no avail. Her sister's onslaught continued bashing Cobalt's head into the ground.
She knew what she had to do. It was the only way to save Maud. She tackled her with all her force in one headbutt knocking her off the stallion. Maud had finally come-to seeing a frightened and bloodied Pinkie Pie standing over her ready to cry. Maud looked over at Cobalt who was still unconscious and bleeding from his face all over his coat.
"I-I.. Pinkie." Was all Maud could must as Pinkie embraced her in the longest hug they had ever shared together.
"I couldn't let you kill him. I couldn't lose you again Maud. Never again." Pinkie cried into Maud's neck.
Maud smiled a bit and patted Pinkie's hair now disheveled and full of dirt and twigs, "thank you Pinkie."
Maud looked up into the pale blue sky above them, this is definitely a day I will remember. She said to herself.