Born To Be Mild.

( Before the trip. )

All three mares decided to sleep outside, under the pale light of the moon and twinkling of the stars. Much like when they were fillies, they would go out in the middle of the field to have their Sleepovers . During the serene grace of the night they would share their dreams, fears and hopes for the future.

But perhaps best of all, before the night would end. All four sisters would simply gaze up to the clear night sky, get lost within its pale blue glory and just watch the world go by. Anything bad or troubles they had would just melt away.

For a little while, the world didn't seem so hard anymore.

Though Pinkie was not present, the girls made the most of the time they had together. Maud kept everything interesting by explaining to her sisters the difference between a Geode and a Agate. Limestone did her best to keep her snarky remarks to a minimum while Marble sat silent with a smile just enjoying the company of her family.

After hours of talking and sharing of memories, the girls found themselves in the embrace of silence. The farm was bathed in darkness, save for a dim light coming from the house across from them. The wind caressed each of their coats, not enough to give a chill but to keep the soul calm.

Not a word was spoken, only the sound of nature around them could be heard. The moon high above almost seemed to inch closer and closer to the mares below, filling the sky like a flawless pearl, sharing its beauty with all in the world.

Limestone gazed up to the moon in deep thought, lying on her back, mane cascaded around her. Pale green eyes never blinking, breathing calm and slow. Her face was froze not in a look of happiness but one that was solemn.

The soft breathing of Marble could be heard from her side, she was fast asleep  a smile across her muzzle. Dreams of what was to come filling her mind. Maud lying on the opposite side of Limestone turned her head to check on her sister.

Limestone just huffed aloud, Maud's eyes burning into her soul like a fiery ember. Twisting her head to the side she came muzzle to muzzle with her sister, blue hues questioned what was on her mind. Pale green ones simply gazing away back to the sky in a hasty motion.

Maud bit her lower lip, inching her hoof closer to Limestone's. Gently placing it atop her own, caressing up and down in silence, hoping she would know all would be alright.

Limestone watched the moon unsure what to do, she allowed the tender touch of her sister to calm her mind. Maud had always been there for her when she needed guidance.

Or at least she had been.

Ever since she left the farm to pursue her career, the farm has had another chunk torn away from it. The workload got harder, the sun shined less and less while the nights grew longer.

Limestone felt tears roll down her cheek slowly, dark grey clouds above began to form. Slowly gathering  in front of the moon, the pale light fading from her life once more. Only leaving darkness behind.

Limestone pulled her hoof away from Maud, she "had" always been there to guide her.

Once upon a time.

( The Present. )

"I had my good friend make this dress just for you!!-you could say it's a "Rarity". " Pinkie giggled aloud at her own little joke, Maud shrugged a bit as Limestone just looked confused with no idea who that was.

Marble sighed softly hidden behind a pink curtain, leading to the upstairs bathroom in Pinkie's room, switching into the so called gift from her sister. Pinkie wanted her to wear it before they went off to host the party, she said she'd be just adorable in it.

"You know if you needed any help, you could have just asked me.-No need to drag the kid into this Pink." Limestone broke the silence among the mares as Pinkie gave a slight eye roll.

"No offense Lime but....I mean I thought you wanted to relax, so I just went and picked Marble." Pinkie trailed off for a second only to rush out another choice of words.

"Is that really what you wanted to say?" Limestone huffed softly, her chest pushing out to try and intimidate her sister.

"Unlike you Lime. I think I know how to speak my mind." Pinkie flaunted a hoof to her sister while Limestone gave a sharp glare in her direction.

"What the bucking hell! - You always talk down to me Pink and I'm freaking tired of it!!" The grey mare snapped in a loud booming voice, Pinkie stepping back a bit from the sudden noise.

"Girls! Settle down please."Maud shook her head slightly, stepping in between her two sisters who were flashing pouts towards each other.

"No! I want Ms.Thing here!! To share with me, what she really wanted to say!!!" Limestone pushed up against Maud roughly, every piece of her body telling her to pounce on her sister.

"Lime..." Maud spoke in a stern voice, glaring towards the mare in hopes of calming her down.

"Hmph! To be honest as a Applejack! - I think you are brutish, cold and just plain miserable to be around!! - I chose Marble because she can actually act like a pony and not some stone golem!" Pinkie pressed up against the other side of Maud, speaking every word swiftly and icy in tone.

Limestone gritted her teeth in anger, heart racing wildly in her chest as her hooves strained to fight off the weakness building in her knees. The room stayed silent for what seemed like a lifetime, every mare daring not to move in fear something bad might happen.

Yet it never did. Limestone just swallowed the growing lump in her throat and nodded in silence, turning away from all her sisters, walking towards the stairs. Soon vanishing from sight, Maud giving the pink mare a disappointed gaze.

"Don't give me that look Maud, she started it!" Pinkie folded her ears back as she tried to explain herself.

"Doesn't mean you have to finish it." Maud spoke in a calm tone of voice, Pinkie sighing aloud and lowering her head in shame.

The curtain hiding the silent mare gently slid out of the way, Marble walking into view blushing a bright pink across her cheeks. Hugging her slender frame was a pink nightmare, the bodice was frilled beyond compare and the skirt puffed out wildly much like cotton candy.

To make it worse the whole garment was terribly tight. The petite mare was almost certain this wicked creation was squeezing the life out of her.Violet hues darted to Maud quickly, praying to Celestia that she could get her out of this thing.

"Awwww! You look just adorable!" Pinkie squealed aloud, wrapping hooves tightly around her little sister.

"Mmmmm." Marble huffed, allowing her voice to trail a bit.

"You know I supervised each detail of the dress myself!- Rarity had something else kind of boring in mind." The pink mare nudged her sister in the side softly, bouncing over to her vanity quickly, grabbing a large make-up case.

"Hmmm!!" Marble felt her eyes widen in fear, Pinkie was set on transforming her into a living pony doll, all that was missing were pigtails.

"And I have these cute ribbons for pigtails!!!" Pinkie swung around, bright pink silken ribbons wrapped around her hooves a wicked glint in her eyes.

"Oh dear Luna!! - Everypony is going to think I'm some kind of overgrown filly in this spectacle!" Marble whimpered under her breath softly,  mind racing.

"Trip yourself down the stairs!- No fake a stomach ache!! - Or just maybe tell her the truth and break her heart while you are at it!! " The silent mare swallowed a nervous lump in her throat, unsure on how to handle this moment.

The pink mare crept ever closer until Maud broke the tension building within the room. Her calm tone of voice directed at Pinkie who suddenly placed down the case and ribbons, a look of sorrow upon her face.

"You need to find Limestone and apologize. I'll finish up here with Marble, we'll meet you at the party later." Maud flashed a hidden wink towards the frightened pony in the nightmare dress.

"But I wanted to give Marble a Super Pinkie Makeover!" Pinkie pled with her older sister, who in return simply gave her a calm but stern gaze.

"I know...." Pinkie pouted folding ears back, her mane deflating a bit as she began to trot downstairs, vanishing from view.

"Limestone?" Marble spoke in a soft whisper.

"Nothing serious. Those two Granite hearted ponies just need to run through a Rock Tumbler a few times." Maud sighed gently, walking over to her little sister in silence.

"Mmhmm." Marble nodded along watching as her sister opened up a suitcase of her own, placed near the side of Pinkie's bed.

"Well are you going to the party in that? Or do you want to change into something a bit more...simple." Maud smirked as Marble quickly rushed over to her side, eyes gazing down to the many mature styled clothes her sister had brought.

Classy but free spirited.

"Ummm." Marble whimpered as Maud gave her little sister a kiss on the cheek.

"I'll handle Pinkie. Just pick something nice, I have a feeling Big Mac might like the third option from the bottom." Maud giggled, exiting to give her blushing sister some privacy.

Marble felt her heart flutter with excitement. Violet hues gazing down to the clothes before her, now was her time to prove she was more than just the little sister.

She was a grown mare.