The sun rose over the rock farm, marking the dawn of a new day. Limestone Pie rose out of her sleep, ready for yet another day of work. Everything was as it usually was—the dull, gray room slowly illuminating with sunlight, Zephyr still sound asleep by her side, Marble singing from downstairs…
 
Wait, singing?!
 
Limestone jumped out of bed and trotted downstairs. Marble never sang! Nopony did, really, except for Pinkie and her family. She had to see what the big deal was with Marble. Just as Limestone stepped off the final step, there was a knock at the door.
 
“Maud? You’re up early!” Limestone remarked as she opened the door. Maud usually slept later than this!
 
“I woke up early. Who’s singing?” Maud asked, barely cocking an eyebrow.
 
“Marble. I dunno why,” Limestone shrugged. “I’m making rock soup if you want breakfast.”
 
Maud obliged, following her sister into the kitchen. “Did you have another migraine last night?” she inquired, noticing the bottle of pills on the counter.
 
“No, why?” Limestone turned and put the pills back in the cabinet. “Must’ve left ‘em out or something. Good thing nopony took ‘em, these things are strong!”
 
Limestone got to making breakfast in the usual old Pie family way, Maud by her side helping out. The room soon filled with the scent of rock soup, a scent that only a rock farmer could appreciate. She was about to dump the unwanted leftovers in the trash when suddenly…
 
“What’s this?” Limestone picked a loosely crumpled piece of paper out of the trash can. Upon opening it, her expression turned to shock. “Maud, you might want to see this…”
 
Maud looked over Limestone’s shoulder, eyes widening with surprise at every word she read. “Marble…”
 
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“What is the MEANING OF THIS?” Limestone slammed the crumpled paper down at Marble’s hooves, interrupting her soft humming. She was fuming, but Marble could swear there was a hint of fear in her eyes.
 
“I…um…” Marble could only squeak and hide behind her mane, clutching a mysterious bundle to her chest. She peered up at her sisters, both with an expression of worry she had never seen before.
 
“Marble…is this really how you’ve been feeling?” Maud asked after a long pause.
 
“M…mmhm…” Marble’s face grew hot with shame.
 
“WHY didn’t you just tell us??” Limestone slammed her hoof on the ground and began pacing. “We could’ve helped you! Instead you just…MOPED around over that dumb stallion and let yourself wither away!”
 
Maud tried to calm her raging sister. “Limestone, calm down. You’re scaring her.”
 
“Do you have ANY idea what would happen to us if we lost you? What would happen to ME??” Marble was pulled into a tight hug as her sister let out what sounded like a choked sob. “D-don’t do that! Ever!!”
 
Maud put a hoof on Marble’s shoulder and looked her in the eye. “Marble. We love you. Don’t let anypony make you think you’re not good enough, because it’s not true. We’re not good at expressing our feelings but we need and value you.” She, too, pulled her into a hug.
 
“I…I’m so sorry…” Marble blinked back tears. “I-It’s my fault, I…I shouldn’t have gone so far…I should’ve-”
 
“It is NOT your fault!” Limestone silenced her. “It’s all us! We were too obsessed with our own stupid lives to even THINK about you! You should hate us!”
 
“Limestone’s right,” Maud added. “We weren’t considerate of your feelings. We should have noticed something was wrong…then we could have helped you and prevented this.”
 
Marble looked down at the bundle in her arms before looking back up at her distraught sisters. “I-I won’t do that again, I promise. I learned my lesson and, well…” she turned the bundle to reveal a tiny newborn foal. “I-I’d like you to meet Beryl.”
 
Limestone and Maud stared at the baby in disbelief. “When did you get a BABY?”
 
Marble looked down at Beryl with pride. “I-I found him last night on our doorstep. There was nopony around…so I took him in. There was even a note! He needs somepony to take care of him.”
 
“Well you can have him!” Limestone could only laugh and hug her sister. “If he makes you happy, he’s yours! If anypony tries to take him they’ll have to answer to ME! Nopony messes with my sister!” She puffed out her chest.
 
“Pinkie knows of an adoption agency in Ponyville. We can ask her about it and get some papers,” Maud remarked. “You need him as much as he needs you.”
 
Marble smiled as she was enveloped in another embrace from her sisters. She looked down at her baby and sighed. “He’s my saving grace…”  
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Sequel to and