Marble Pie nudged one of the rocks in the cart with her hoof. It rolled away from her and bumped into a larger rock.
"What are you doing, Marble?" Her sister Limestone Pie asked. Marble looked up.
"I don't know," she responded. "I guess I was just passing the time."
"Don't scrape any of the rocks," said their older sister, Maud Pie, from the front of the wagon, where she sat with their parents, Igneous Rock and Cloudy Quartz. She spoke in her usual monotone.
"I won't, Maud," Marble responded. She left the Rock and stuck her head a little ways off the side. Her straight mane fell back in the breeze.
"You are so strange, Marble." Limestone shook her head. "That's something Pinkie would do." Marble smiled. She was often considered the most energetic one, besides Pinkie. But she wasn't too much like her triplet. She was still down-to-earth, whereas Pinkie always had her head in the clouds.
"Alright, we're here," Igneous grunted, halting the cart. "Limestone, Marble, unload some of those rocks."
"Yes, sir," Marble responded, placing her hoof upon her forehead like ponies in the army did.
"Alright," Limestone agreed, blinking. Marble took a rock and brought it over to her mother.
"That can go right here," Cloudy told her, pointing at a spot on a table. Marble gently set it down where Cloudy had instructed.
~
After they had finished unloading the rocks, Igneous told Marble and Limestone they could go see Pinkie.
"Maud, your mother, and I have things under control," he promised.
"You three are triplets," Maud added in her monotone. "You should have some alone time."
"Thanks, guys!" Marble exclaimed. "We'll see you later, alright?" Cloudy Quartz nodded in response.
"Has just the thought of seeing Pinkie made you a bit more hyper?" Limestone asked as they walked towards Pinkie's house. Marble frowned.
"Not really. Besides, what's wrong with being hyper and happy?
"Nothing. You just seem a bit more hyper than usual today," Limestone answered.
"I'll take your word for it- Ooof!" Marble suddenly rammed into somepony. She backed up, rubbing her head.
"I'm sorry," she apologized quickly. "I was talking and I didn't see you the there!" Marble finished talking and stared at the pony she had just collided with. She wore a black and white dress with pink highlights, a short white mane, and magenta sunglasses.
"That's Photo Finish!" Limestone whispered. "Pinkie told us about her!" Marble only nodded.
"It iz alright!" Photo Finish spoke. She suddenly leaned in towards Marble. "Who are you?" She asked intently.
"I'm Marble Pie," Marble responded. "You might now my sister Pinkie Pie, and this is my other sister Limestone-"
"You are to come with me!" Photo Finish barked in her accent. She looked over Marble. "Ze hair is so beautiful and straight! You are perfect!"
"Wait, what?" Marble asked, confused.
"You are going to be ze latest and greatest model!" Photo Finish proclaimed. "Now, we go!"
"Hold on!" Limestone grabbed Marble's hoof and blew her pale grey bangs up. "You can't just take her away like that!" Photo Finish stared at her.
"Yes," she decided. "I must first consult ze parents!" Photo Finish started trotting away. Marble and Limestone had no choice but to her.
"So, Pinkie Pie said you had an entourage. Where are they?" Marble asked. Photo Finish harrumphed.
"Zey are on lunch break," she replied. "Now, vere are your parents?"
"They're over there," Marble told her, pointing to where Igneous and Cloudy were selling rocks. Photo Finish nodded.
"Ah!" Marble watched Photo Finish trot up to to her parents.
"They'll never agree to this," Limestone declared confidently. "You belong on the Rock Farm with us!"
"I don't know," Marble began slowly, "I mean, it would be cool to model." Limestone stared at her in shock.
"Don't tell me you want to do this!' She exclaimed. "And leave your family!"
"Pinkie left!" Marble argued. "And I'm not saying it would be permanent-"
"Marble Pie, dear, could you come over here?" Cloudy Quartz called. Marble obediently cantered over to her parents.
"Marble, would you like to try modeling?" She asked. "Miss Photo Finish here says you'd do quite well."
"Would it be alright?" Marble asked. Cloudy nodded.
"Then, yes," Marble decided. "Not that I don't love the Rock Farm, and you all, but it would be interesting, you know?" Cloudy nodded, as did Igneous.
"Now then- we go!" Photo Finish proclaimed.
"Bye Maud!" Marble exclaimed as she left with Photo Finish. Maud smiled softly.
"Have a nice time," she replied in monotone.
"Bye, Limestone. I'll see you around. Don't forget to tell Pinkie what's happened!"
"I won't," Limestone promised. Her voice sounded cold. Marble hugged Limestone before Photo Finish pulled her away.
"We go!" She barked impatiently. Marble turned and followed Photo Finish. She grinned. This would rock!
~
"Eyeshadow!" Photo Finish declared. Marble tried not to scrunched her nose as Photo Finish's minions rushed all over her. She was super excited for her first fashion show! But backstage, she had a lot of makeup to put on.
"Blush, Photo Finish?" A brown mare in a green jumpsuit questioned her employer. Photo Finish shook her head.
"No, it would ruin the darkness of her complexion!"
"My coat isn't that dark!" Marble interjected. Photo Finish clapped her hooves.
"Alright! She is done! Bring in ze dresses!" Photo Finish exclaimed. A bubblegum pink mare rolled in a rack of dresses. Marble noticed they were mostly lavender or grey.
"But on zis one first!" Photo Finish directed Marble, showing her a layered lavender skirt attached to a white saddle. Marble put it on, while the brown earth pony set down some pretty lavender slippers.
"These are gorgeous!" Marble gasped when she saw them. "And I don't know a lot about fashion!" The brown pony smiled.
"You are going to know lots about it by the time this week is through," she assured Marble.
"Hush!" Photo Finish snapped. "We are on in five!" She pronounced "five" as "fife".
A blue pony approached Marble. In three seconds, Marble's mane was up in a sophisticated yet messy bun. The pony nodded, satisfied with her work.
Note to self, Marble thought, learn the names of Photo Finish's helpers. Then her thoughts drifted to the upcoming show. She knew Pinkie Pie and her friends would be there, but Maud, Limestone and her parents couldn't be bothered with fashion- yet. Besides, Marble knew that the rocks were due for a very important turning around this time. Maybe next time they would come.
"Cue!" Photo Finish whispered, disappearing out to the crowd. Marble looked around as music began to play.
Marble stepped out and onto the catwalk. Cameras flashed everywhere.
"GO MARBLE!" Marble grinned when she heard Pinkie's excited cheer from the crowd.
"I haven't had this much excitement since Pinkie Pie's cutie mark party!" she told herself as she walked forward, striking poses as she went. Marble heard the approval of the audience through their excited clapping.
After she walked back, several ponies quickly dressed her in a new outfit, and Marble was once again out on the catwalk.
"Her grey coat is simply amazing!" She heard somepony say.
"That dress would look perfect on you!" Another pony told her friend. "You look just like Marble Pie!" Marble beamed at the praise.
I wish Limestone could see me now! Marble thought before she flipped her mane.
~
"Marble! You're so amazing!" Pinkie exclaimed after the show. "But why didn't Limestone come? Or Maud?" Marble shrugged.
"She and Maud and Mom and Dad have to turn the rocks. You know that."
"I don't pay attention to rock schedules anymore," Pinkie explained. "Wanna go visit them?" Before Marble could respond, Photo Finish rushed up to them.
"Marble Pie! You have ze magicks! Ze crowds love you! We go to your next shoot now!"
"How about next Thursday?" Marble suggested before she left. Pinkie giggled.
"Sounds great, Marble! See you there!" She exclaimed. Marble waved before she followed Photo Finish out of the vicinity.
"This is so exciting!" Marble exclaimed. Photo Finish nodded.
"I know, dear. Now hurry! We must get ze pictures!"
~
On Thursday, Marble walked all the way to the Rock Farm. She was still wearing her eyeshadow, but otherwise looked plain as, well, a rock.
"Not that that's a bad thing," Marble told herself, after thinking up the Rock analogy. "But it's a fact. Rocks are plain."
She knew the route by heart, of course, and it wasn't long before she arrived at her Rock Farm.
"Marble! You're back!" Limestone called, rushing up to her. The two sister hugged.
"Of course I'm back!" Marble replied happily. "You didn't think you'd never see me again, did you?" Limestone pulled away and blinked at her. Marble knew what that meant. That's exactly what I thought.
"Triplet hug!" Pinkie appeared out of nowhere and squeezed between the two of them.
"Hi Pinkie!" Marble exclaimed. Pinkie giggled.
"You're getting as smiley and social as me, Marble!" She observed.
"That's exactly what I said," Limestone added. "Come on, Mom, Dad, and Maud want to know about your career. I do, too."
"You'll all hear it," Marble promised as they headed inside.
"Marble Pie! It's nice to see you home," Cloudy said when she came in. Marble gave her a small hug.
"It's nice to see you too, Mom. And you too, Dad," she added, turning to Igneous. Igneous chewed on his straw.
"Pinkamena, I mean Pinkie, was telling us about how nice you looked," he told her. Marble smiled.
"It was fun, Dad. I mean, being here at the farm is fun, but modeling is a different kind of fun."
"Did you see any rocks?" Maud asked, coming down from upstairs. Marble tilted her head.
"I asked Photo Finish for a rock-themed dress, but she said we would have to wait and see," she replied. Maud nodded.
"Pinkie was about to show us some pictures," she commented.
"Oh yeah!" Pinkie exclaimed. "I forgot!" She pulled several pictures from out of her mane and passed them around.
"You look very nice, Marble," Cloudy noted.
"Yeah," Limestone agreed.
"Marble, can I ask you something?" Maud spoke up. Everypony looked over at her.
"Yes?" Marble asked. Maud showed her picture.
"Where did you get this frock?" She asked in her monotone. Marble stared at the picture. In it, her hair was down and she was wearing a greyish blue frock with a belt in the middle. Her nonchalant expression reminded Marble almost of Maud.
"I'll check with Photo Finish. Why? Do you want one?"
"It would be nice to work in," Maud explained.
"You're really excited about this, aren't you?" Marble asked. Maud nodded.
"This is such a great family reunion!" Pinkie exclaimed, blowing a kazoo. Everypony nodded in agreement.
"I think I'm going to change my schedule!" Marble suddenly announced. Everypony looked at her.
"What do you mean?" Limestone asked.
"I think I'll work part time on the Rock Farm and part time as a model for Photo Finish. Does that sound good?" Marble asked.
"It is a very excellent idea," Igneous told her.
"That idea rocks!" Pinkie exclaimed. Everypony laughed. Except Maud, of course. Maud just smiled.
"You guys have to come to my next fashion show, though," Marble added.
"Sounds good to me!" Limestone agreed.
"I will be there," Maud said in her monotone. Marble smiled.
"You guys are the best family ever!" She exclaimed.
A camera suddenly flashed. Photo Finish was standing there.
"Sorry to interrupt," she said in her accent, "but Marble must not be late for ze next photo shoot!"
"Photo Finish, I was just telling my family that I'm only going to be working part time as a model," Marble told her. To her surprise, Photo Finish didn't get upset.
"Zat is perfectly fine, as long as you continue to model. Now, we go!" She suddenly paused. "Vould your family like to come and watch?" Marble looked behind her. Four of them nodded, but her pink sister shouted, "OF COURSE!"
"Zen now we go!" Photo Finish proclaimed.
"Oh, by the way, do you have an extra frock like the one I was wearing on Tuesday?" Marble asked as they left. "My older sister wants one."
"But of course!" Photo Finish exclaimed. "I have just had ze genius! You pose with sisters! We must extra hurry now!" Marble smiled.
"Did you hear that?" She asked Maud, Limestone, and Pinkie. "You guys are going to be famous, too!" Pinkie laughed.
"This is going to be great!" She exclaimed.
"Yeah, it is," Marble agreed.
Author's Note
Outgoing Pinkie Pie > Marble Pie > Limestone Pie > Maud Pie Introverted
Headcanon Scale.
I got the idea for this story when I saw there were no stories containing both Marble/Limestone and Photo Finish, so I decided to change that. :P
And this was fun! I liked writing it!
