Marble sat at the edge of the bed. Her hind-hooves hung down to the floor, resting in front of an empty, bright pink sleeping bag. Is that Pinkie's? She questioned. Why didn't she just sleep with me? I-I could've moved over.
Marble wiped her messy mane to her right side. She yawned before sliding off the bed, catching herself on her three uninjured hooves.
My hoof! Her right fore-hoof throbbed with every moment. She gave her hoof a moment to calm before she trotted passed the sleeping bag, towards the door.
I'll have to work with this. Mother's going to kill me if I don't get out there soon. Marble pushed the door open. She was now in a foreign building, with blue walls, and three other doors in the hall. Right... Pinkie's home. She sighed, the events of the past two days returning to her quickly. The morning sunlight beamed through the window at the end of the hallway, nearly blinding her as she stepped out into the hall. She glanced around the right side of the hall, seeing the staircase at the end of the hall.
There- Marble turned and trotted down the hall, before she looked down at the stairs. I can get down this. I've bothered Pinkie enough with my hoof.
She wrapped her left fore-hoof around the left railing, using it as a support as she made her way down the winding staircase. Mr. Cake sat at the middle of the kitchen counter, leaning over a freshly baked cake as he squeezed a white, plastic bag, with some white frosting coming a tube at the bottom of the bag. The aroma of freshly baked muffins and other sweets filled the shop as Marble stepped down onto the solid floor.
Maybe Pinkie's just at the front of the store? Marble straightened her mane as best she could with her immobile right shoulder and trotted towards the kitchen.
Mr. Cake sat the bag to the side and straightened his neck, smiling at his work. The formerly blank cake in front of him was now had a layer of white frosting over the top of it. He looked up, seeing Marble staring at him.
"Oh- I'm sorry Marble. Pinkie's out right now, but she sat a plate out for you from breakfast."
Marble nodded. "T-thank you."
"You're welcome, sweetie. It's right over there--" He pointed to the kitchen table to his left, to a small, paper plate with a white napkin folded over it. "Just come find me or Cup if you need anything." Marble blushed before nodding. She trotted to the kitchen table and leaned down, using her teeth to lift the plate. She took a moment to balance to plate in her teeth before slowing trotting out of the kitchen, being careful not to drop the plate or spill any of it's contents.
Just back up the stairs now... Marble wrapped her left fore-hoof around the rail as she shuffled up the winding staircase, going slowly. She eventually reached the second floor, before hastily trotting to Pinkie's room, shutting the door behind her. Her mouth watered as she lifted the napkin, revealing the eggs with diced fruits to the side. She quickly took a bite from some of the fruit, tasting some apples, bananas, and a few blueberries.
I forgot I hadn't ate since I left. Thank Celestia Pinkie made this for me. Marble took another bite. I'll have to look for her after I finish this. She inhaled another bite of fruit, nearly starving.
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Pinkie Pie huffed as she galloped through town square. Her saddlebags were filled to the brim with brown bags, filled with eggs, milk, sugar, flour, and icing for the Sugarcube Corner. She waved Lyra and Bon Bon as she passed by them, trotting in the direction opposite to them.
Good thing Mr. and Mrs. Cake sent me out when they did. Now we have plenty of supplies for baking! She nodded with a smile, mentally patting herself on the back. I've got some time before the shop opens. I could stop by Rarity's place and see if she could do anything to help with Marble's hoof. At least the pain.
Pinkie slowed her pace, trotting passed the Sugarcube Corner and towards Rarity's shop and residence, the Carousel Boutique. She knocked on the front door. The door opened a few moments later.
"Ah, good morning Pinkie." Rarity said with a smile. "Come in, come in! My morning tea just started to boil." She stood to the side of the doorway, allowing Pinkie to step through. Rarity shut the door behind Pinkie, trotting into her kitchen. The kitchen had a wooden counter with a marble top built into the wall, with four cabinets above her, with another four at her fore-hooves. The white tiled floor below had black lines leading from each side of the room, circling and curving in the middle to form a small flower.
"Would you care for some tea? Perhaps something to eat? I still have left-overs from breakfast." Rarity's horn brightened with her light blue, magical aura. The overhead cabinet opened, pulling out two plates, one for Pinkie, and the other for Rarity.
"No thanks, Rarity. I just wanted to stop by and ask you if you could do something for me."
"Of course, darling. Ask away." Rarity sat the plates atop each other, out of their way.
"Did Applejack tell you about what happened yesterday? With my sis, Marble?"
"Yes, darling. So unfortunate. Please, if you need any help with her, just ask." Rarity asked, Pinkie nodded.
"Well, about that..." Pinkie giggled. "You read my mind. I was going to ask you if you could help her with some of the pain she's been having. She dislocated her right fore-hoof getting here. We already took her to the hospital and put it in a sling, but they didn't give us anything for pain. So, since you and Fluttershy's been seeing Lotus Blossom and Aloe every week, I thought you maybe help her?"
"Why, of course I can darling. I'll do what I can. It's the least I can do for her."
"Thank you." She said with a smile. "I'll bring her over here this afternoon, after we get off of work."
"That's fine darling. I'm available when you are."
"Good. Thanks again. I hate to rush, but I'm going to be late for work." Pinkie turned, trotting towards the front door.
"Don't let me delay you. Have a good day!" Rarity trotted out from behind the counter, opening the door for Pinkie. Pinkie nodded.
"Ta-ta!" She called, waving before shutting the door to her shop. Pinkie trotted up the street, and turned in to the Sugarcube Corner."
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Marble sighed as she sat the freshly cleaned plate to her side, her hunger thoroughly sated. She scooted off the bed. Gummy sat at the door, plopped down in front of the doorway. She trotted to the doorway, stepping over Gummy and opening the door to the hall outside. As she stepped out, she and somepony bumped snouts, causing her to step back and hitting her right fore-hoof against the door frame, a seething wave of pain through her hoof.
"Oh-- I'm sorry dear. Are you all right?" Mrs. Cake stood in front of her, rubbing her snout for a moment before planting her left fore-hoof back onto the ground. Marble nodded, biting her tongue to keep her pain hidden.
"Okay. I just came up here to check in on you and take your plate from breakfast."
Marble stepped out of the doorway, making sure to step over Gummy. Mrs. Cake stepped in and leaned down, holding Marble's plate in her teeth.
"Pinkie'll be back soon. She had to get us some baking supplies." Mrs. Cake noted, her words slightly muffled by the plate. She trotted passed Marble, stepping out.
"Do you need anything before I go back down to the shop?"
Marble shook her head.
"All right. Just let me or Carrot know, dear." Mrs. Cake turned and used her left hind-hoof to shut the door.
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Okay... Pinkamena inhaled a deep breath as she approached the Pie Rock Farm. Keep your cool, Pinkamena. I don't even have to see them. Just go to Limestone and get out.
Pinkamena pulled down the hooded cloak. She ran her hooves over her mane, curling her mane to look like Pinkie's.
Can't wait until I get back to Cloudsdale. Nopony recognizes me up there, thank goodness. Don't have to act like another pony to go out up there. Pinkamena sighed. Thank you Princess Celestia... She glanced back to her wings with a smile, affirming that the cloak covered them. The cloak ran from the back of her neck to her hind-hooves.
Wings covered-- check. Messy mane, puffed up like Pinkie's, check. All right. Everything's ready. Pinkamena stepped across the road, towards the Pie Rock Farm. LImestone Pie was knelt down in the fields, searching for rocks, while Maud Pie was on the sifter, pulling it a few yards away from Limestone. She trotted up to Limestone, stopping in front of her. Limestone glanced up, noticing her older sister standing over her.
"Hey Pinkie." She stood. "How's Marble?"
"Huh-- how did you know she was with me?"
"Father said she hurt herself late last night, and got you to come over to take her to the hospital in Ponyville. Is she all right?"
That liar! Pinkamena balled her hooves, crushing the dirt beneath her, before releasing. Not worth it... not worth it...
"She's fine. I took her to the hospital. She'll need to stay with me for a while."
"Ugh... we've got enough work around her as is. She had to hurt herself this when we're overloaded, and now of all times?!"
"Limestone!" Pinkamena scolded. Limestone stared at her, shooting her daggers. Pinkamena glanced away, sighing. "It's not like she wanted to get hurt."
"I know..." She sighed, frustrated. "Just-- horseapples, we've got a lot of work. And you can't come because you're looking after her."
"Yeah. Sorry." Pinkamena glanced up, seeing Maud coming closer. Horseapples. Gotta wrap this up.
"Has anything strange been going on around here?"
"No, nothing, aside from when Marble hurt herself. Why?"
"Never mind. Just wanted to make sure everything was okay." Maud came ever closer, only a few feet away from them. "Sorry to rush, but I've got some work back at the Sugarcube Corner." Pinkamena turned, taking a step away from her.
"It's fine. Tell Marble to hurry the hay up and get better."
"Will do. Stay safe." She trotted away, passed the gate and down the path.
=================
Pinkie Pie stepped into the Sugarcube Corner, stepping passed the line of ponies extending from the front desk. Mr. Cake spreading yellow frosting over a vanilla cake whilst she trotted into the kitchen. Mrs. Cake met her as Pinkie trotted into the kitchen. She and Pinkie swiftly unloaded her saddlebags, filled with bags of sugar and flour, with two cartons of eggs.
"Okay, here's everything we'll need for the next few days. Where do you need me, Mrs. Cake?" Pinkie turned to face her employer. She shook her head.
"We can tie things over down here. You can go up to the loft and spend sometime with Marble or foalsit Pumpkin and Pound."
"Are you sure? It's pretty busy out there."
"Of course dearie. Carrot and I can tie it over."
"Okay. Thanks Mrs. Cake!" Pinkie turned. She trotted up the stairs into her loft and trotted down the hall, pushing her bedroom door open.
Marble was sat on the edge of her bed, staring at her right fore-hoof. Gummy was under her, sleeping on Pinkie's pink sleeping bag.
"Hey Marble."
Marble glanced up to her, grinning when she saw her, before turning back to her right fore-hoof.
"How's your hoof doing? Feeling any better?"
"Mmhm. Better."
"Good. We'll go to Rarity's shop later this afternoon, after the bakery closes. I'll have to go to foalsit in a few minutes." Pinkie trotted up to her, sitting down beside her. Marble nodded in acknowledgement.
"Did you get the plate I sat out for you?"
Marble nodded.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. Figured you'd be hungry." She glanced up to Pinkie, smiling.
"D... did you sleep there?" Marble pointed to the sleeping bag below them. She nodded.
"I thought you'd need to bed more than I did. Besides, Gummy and I played games while you were asleep." Pinkie tried in a futile attempt to keep her sister from feeling guilty. Marble's ears fell to her head.
"You didn't have to."
"It's all right. It felt fine." Pinkie glanced to the door. "Sorry, but I need to go stay with the twins for now. I'll see you later, after work." She stood, trotting to the door and pushing it open, taking a step out into the hall.
"Wait--"
Pinkie turned back to Marble. Her face was a deep shade of red.
"U-um..." Marble averted her gaze back to the floor. "I-I was wondering if y-you could st-stay in here with me f-for a while. Y-you can bring th-the twins i-in her if you w-want."
Pinkie grinned. "Of course, Marble."
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