Chapters It was another ordinary day on the rock farm, Igneous was helping Maude and Marble break up rocks, while Limestone and Cloudy hauled them. They did the same thing everyday, nothing different. But today, something was going to show up unexpected in their schedule. They turned to find a red and yellow quadruped baby dragon running towards them, eyes all big and watering, and screaming,
"Don't let him get me! Don't let him get me!"
He hid behind Maude's legs as the thing in question, a rock golem, came up fast. Limestone ran headfirst towards the golem, cracking it to bits as her head made contact. She turned back to the baby dragon. She could literally see the stars sparkling in his eyes as he stared on in adoration.
"Oh thank you, thank you, thank you!", he cried, embracing tightly around Limestone's neck, leaving her unable to breathe.
She shoved him off, stars spinning around his head as he hit the ground, shouting, "Get off! Okay, I saved your life, now go back to your family!"
"I...don't have a family...", he sighed.
"Oh no...", Limestone groaned, she knew exactly what was going to happen next with Marble around.
"Let's keep him! Can we Ma? Pa?", Marble exclaimed, just as Limestone predicted.
"Well...", Igneous thought, before his stern glare turned into a smile, "Of course we can. This little fella needs a home! And we're going to give it to him!"
"Oh, I'm so glad you said yes! I just couldn't stand the thought of the dear out here alone...", Cloudy smiled, nuzzling the baby dragon.
Maude smiled slowly and said, "He's so adorable. I like him. Welcome home, little brother."
"Oh come on now! He's not that cute!", Limestone said grumpily, a small puff of black smoke popping off the top of her head.
The baby dragon turned towards her and made the most adorable puppy face ever, his bottom lip out, and the biggest, most adorable anime eyes ever, watering.
Limestone couldn't take it, "Okay! Fine! He can stay! But keep him away from me!"
"What's your name, young one?", Igneous asked.
"Name? I...don't have one.", he sighed.
"Oooohh! Can I name him?", Marble asked excitedly.
"You'll have to ask him, dearie.", Cloudy smiled.
"It's okay! Give me a name!", the baby dragon exclaimed.
"Okay...umm...Stalagmite?", Marble began.
"Hmmm...no."
"Stalactite?"
"No."
Marble put her hoof on her chin, "Iron? Copper? Aluminum? Brass? Gold?"
"No, no, no, no, and no."
Marble beamed excitedly, "Oh! How about Sandstone?"
The baby dragon thought for a moment before smiling, "Sandstone...I like it! My name is Sandstone!"
"Okay then, Sandstone...", Maude smiled, bending over to let him on her back, "I'll give you a ride home. We're having Rock Soup."
"Wow! You guys eat rocks! You guys are the best! Thank you for adopting me, Mr. Uhh...", Sandstone grinned, hugging Maude's neck, before sitting up to look at Igneous.
"I'm Igneous Pie.", the old stallion smiled, introducing him to everyone else, "But you call me Pa. That's Ma, your sisters Maude, Marble, and Limestone, and your sister Pinkie lives in Ponyville."
"Wow! I never had a family before, or a name! The other dragons always called me 'Hey You!' , or 'You'. I love you guys soooo much!", Sandstone babbled on till they got home. He started hugging everyone, making them smile.
But as he approached Limestone, she glared and frowned, storming in the house, "Don't get mushy with me, dragon."
Marble walked up to him and nuzzled him saying, "Don't worry, Sandstone. She'll warm up to you eventually."
"Okay. Thanks for giving me a name, big sister.", Sandstone grinned, hugging her neck.
"You're welcome, little brother. Let's get going, the Rock Soup will be getting cold!", she smiled, kissing his forehead.
"Yeah! Rock Soup!"
The Pie Family had a more enjoyable dinner than before, with Sandstone around, Cloudy simply loved giving him a bath, washing his scales and between his horns, it reminded her of when his sisters were his age.
Igneous enjoyed reading him a bedtime story, tucking him in and kissing his forehead after Cloudy kissed her little angel. Marble was sharing her bed with him at the moment, tomorrow, Igneous would take Sandstone to Ponyville and pick him out a bed. Everyone but Limestone kissed him goodnight. Even Maude kissed him good night. Sandstone was happy.
Very happy.
Takes a Little Fright to Gain a Little Love
The next morning, as Sandstone came down for breakfast with Marble, he met Maud and Limestone at the stairs.
"Good morning, Sandstone. I hope you slept well last night.", Maud smiled, putting her hoof around Sandstone.
"I sure did, Maud. Thanks for asking!", he smiled back, hugging her neck, Marble decided to join in, and hugged Sandstone.
"If you three are done being mushy in the stairway, I'd like to get down to breakfast!", Limestone growled.
"Sorry, Limestone...", Sandstone whimpered.
So after Limestone went down, the others followed. Igneous and Cloudy were at the table, with a pot of oremeal and some biscuits.
"Good morning, Pa! Good morning, Ma!", he smiled, hugging them before he sat down and started eating.
"Good morning, dear. Eat up, Pa's going to take you to Ponyville and pick you out a bed!", Cloudy smiled, kissing his forehead.
"Just for me?", Sandstone asked.
"Yes, just for you, son.", Igneous beamed, "And we'll be visiting your sister, Pinkie, while we're in town."
"Wow, Pinkie sounds really...pink.", Sandstone thought.
"You better believe it!", Igneous smiled.
After they finished breakfast, the girls and Cloudy stayed home and read, while Igneous and Sandstone took a train to Ponyville.
When they got there, Sandstone asked,
"Where are we going first?"
"We're going to visit your sister, Pinkie Pie. So she can meet you.", Igneous smiled, as they walked to Sugarcube Corner.
When they got inside, Pinkie was eating cupcakes with her friends, that was before she saw her pa. The next moment, she was all over him saying,
"Hi, Pa! What are you doing here in Ponyville?"
"We came to introduce you to a new member of our family, he just joined us yesterday. This is your brother, Sandstone. Sandstone, this is your sister, Pinkie.", he replied, showing her the baby dragon.
"Well aren't you a little cutie! It's nice to meet you, little brother!", she smiled, hopping around Sandstone and inspected him.
"It's nice to meet you too, Pinkie.", he grinned.
Rarity stared at Sandstone before sighing, "Oh, Pinkie! Cutie simply won't do..."
She grabbed him and squeezed him tightly, exclaiming, "He's simply adorable! Hang on a second, darling. I think I have a little something that would look perfect on you."
She dug through her bag, until she pulled out a sparkly bow tie and put it on him, "There! Perfect! It's all yours!"
"Wow! Thanks Miss...uh...""
"Rarity. My name is Rarity. And your very welcome, Sandstone.", she smiled.
"Rarity...that's a pretty name. Just like you are!", he grinned.
"Oh! You sure know how to flatter a mare...but thank you anyway. It was very nice meeting you! I hope I see you again soon!"
Luckily for Spike, Rarity was busy waving goodbye to Sandstone along with Pinkie, so that she didn't see smoke fume from his nose, while Rainbow laughed at him.
They got to the furniture store, and Igneous let Sandstone try out all the beds. However, he had tried all the beds in the store, and didn't like a one.
Instead he asked, "Do you have any beds made of...I don't know...bedrock?"
The store keeper laughed, "I'm afraid not, sonny. Most ponies like soft beds."
Igneous had an idea: As they walked out he smiled, "We have plenty of bedrock at the farm. We can make you your own custom bed."
"Wow! Really? Thanks, Pa!"
So after they got back, they spent about 2 hours carving Sandstone a bed, which was a bit smaller than Marble's bed. When he laid on it and rolled over on it, Cloudy asked, "Are you sure you're okay with that?"
"Ma! It's perfect! Thank you , Pa!", he grinned, launching himself at Igneous.
"You're welcome, son.", Igneous smiled, hugging Sandstone.
Maud came into the room and asked, "Me, Marble, and Limestone are going to the quarry, do you want to come?"
"Can I go, Pa?", Sandstone asked excitedly.
"Only if it's alright with your ma.", he replied.
"Oh...okay. But don't hurt yourself, okay?", Cloudy sighed.
"Okay, Ma! Thanks!", Sandstone smiled, skipping after Maud.
When they got to the quarry, Maud showed him how to crush rocks with his feet, and Marble showed him how to kick rocks and break them.
"Hey, Limestone...", he shyly asked, walking up to her.
"What do you want, dragon?", she asked back, glaring at him.
"Can you show me how to smash rocks with my head, like you?", Sandstone answered with a question.
"You mean like this?", she asked, smashing her down on a nearby rock, shattering it to pieces.
"Wow! You're awesome!", he exclaimed.
This made Limestone blush, but not enough for anyone else to see, "Yeah, of course I am!"
"Let me try...", Sandstone smiled a smile of willpower, as he ran towards a rock wall.
"No! Sandstone! Don't! That's Orthoclase Feldspar! One of the hardest...", Marble screamed, but it was too late. Sandstone had already made contact with the wall, as a sickening crack was heard.
"Sandstone! Are you okay?", Maud exclaimed, as they ran over to him, he was still standing with his face to the wall. He had broken off a chunk of the wall.
He turned around, his face not having been hurt, "Yeah, I'm fine, why?"
Limestone sighed in relief, then she did something she never did before: She screamed.
Sandstone's right horn fell to the ground from his head. There was no blood, but that didn't help the situation much. If she thought this was bad, she wasn't prepared for what happened next. Then, without warning, Sandstone's other horn was split vertically down the middle.
"Well at least..."
Too late, half of it fell off.
All three of them screamed, Igneous and Cloudy came running.
"Children, what happe...Good Granite! Sandstone!", Cloudy exclaimed, when she saw his horns.
On his head, the right horn was nothing but a stub, and the left horn was vertically halved.
"What happened, son?", Igneous asked, examining his head.
"It's my fault, Pa. I just wanted to make Limestone like me...", Sandstone sighed.
"Sandstone...", Limestone said for the first time since he showed up, "I'm sorry for treating you like I did since you've been here. But now I know that I'm proud to have you for a brother."
"Really?"
"Really. I love you, Sandstone.", Limestone smiled, hugging him.
"I love you too, Limestone.", he replied, hugging her back as she kissed his forehead.
Limestone went with Igneous to take Sandstone to Ponyville Hospital, while Cloudy, Marble, and Maud put his horns on a plaque that read, "Sandstone's First Broken Horns: Age 10"
"Ma, why are we putting these up on the wall?", Marble asked.
"Because dragon horns are like ponies teeth, they fall out, and grow back. And these horns were too adorable to let go to waste.", Cloudy smiled.
At the hospital, Pinkie had to hold Sandstone's paw while they sawed off the rest of his left horn. Rarity went ballistic when she heard what happened to her "Little Sandy". She quickly ran and got a sparkly top hat to go with his bow tie. Somewhere in the background, Spike was getting jealous. Really jealous. When they got home, it was time for bed. Everyone kissed him good night.
Even Limestone, in fact, she slept in his bed with him that night.
"Good night, Sandstone.", she smiled, "You're the best little brother ever."
"And your one of the best big sisters ever.", Sandstone replied, "Good night, Limestone."
And all was at peace.
A Perfect Birthday and Some Wall Breaking
3 weeks later, Sandstone's horns grew back. But that didn't keep Limestone from being a constant vigilante. She grew from being ferociously rejective to ferociously protective. Anyone who so much as looked at her little brother, got a glare, if anyone made fun of him, she kicked them.
Today was Sandstone's birthday, and Limestone wanted it to be perfect, so Igneous took him out to the quarry, while they got ready.
"Hey! Be careful with those balloons, Pinkie! I don't want them popping!", Limestone shouted at Pinkie, who was bouncing around with the balloons.
"Aww! Don't worry, Limestone! These balloons will be just fine! And the cake as well...even though I ate it...", Pinkie smiled sheepishly.
"You WHAT?! That was for Sandstone! Now what are we going to do?", Limestone cried.
"Don't worry, I have a cake in the oven. It's Sandstone's favorite: Jellystone Pound Cake.", Cloudy smiled, calming Limestone down. (I don't own Yogi Bear! Jellystone in this story is simply a kind of rock!)
"Thanks, Ma! You're a lifesaver!", Limestone sighed in relief.
"Hey, Limestone?", Marble asked, "Do you want red streamers or blue streamers?"
"Hmm...go ahead and do both. Maud, are you done with the piñata?", she replied, before looking to Maud.
"I sure am.", Maud answered, pushing a boulder about as big as her into the living room.
"You made sure it had gems inside, right? Cause there's no point in a piñata if nothing edible comes out of it.", she questioned.
"Oh yes. This has about 2 bushels of rubies alone, about 3 bushels of sapphires, and 6 bushels of emeralds.", Maud smiled, putting her ear up to the boulder to make sure.
"Oh, Limestone. I've never seen you this stressed out before. Are you okay?", Cloudy asked, putting a hoof on her shoulder.
"I'm fine, I just want Sandstone to have the best birthday ever. I even made him this carving. Do you think he'll like it?", Limestone replied, showing her a little stone figure of her and Sandstone hugging.
"I spent 2 weeks carving out all the details. All the way down to his little swirls on his horns and tail tip."
"Oh, Limestone! It's beautiful! You even got that cute little pattern he has on his scales! I think he'll love it!", Cloudy exclaimed.
"I'm here! I hope I'm not too late!", Rarity exclaimed, walking in with a hat box.
"No, you're just in time, Rarity! You can help me with these streamers!", Marble smiled.
"Excellent! I brought Sandstone a sun hat that will look simply ADORABLE on him!", Rarity said, helping Marble after she showed them her present and put it on the present table.
It was finally done when Igneous and Sandstone came home.
"Surprise!", they all shouted.
"You remembered!", Sandstone beamed.
"Well, after you told us after when we first adopted you, but hey! We would never forget afterwards! Because you're my little brother. Now are you ready to open presents?", Limestone smiled, hugging him.
"I sure am!", Sandstone exclaimed excitedly.
The first thing he got, was a leather satchel from Igneous.
"Now you can carry any special rocks you find home without any trouble!", Igneous smiled.
"Thanks, Pa!", he said.
"Here, I know your horns get cold at night, so I made these for you.", Cloudy grinned, handing him a pair of wool horn warmers.
Sandstone tried them on, they fit on snug and warm, "Wow! Thanks a lot, Ma!", he grinned.
"And for really hot days, I made you this special sun hat, just for you!", Rarity smiled, handing him the hat box, she watched him try it on and cooed, "Oh! He's so ADORABLE!"
"Thank you, Miss Rarity!", Sandstone beamed.
"Here, I painted you this picture. I know it's not really big. But I knew you'd like it. I saw one the other day, and painted a picture of it.", Marble smiled, handing him a canvas with a beautiful picture of a gray and white speckled butterfly sitting on a rock.
"A Marbled Butterfly! Wow! Thanks, Marble!"
"Here you go, Sandstone. I know you like pictures, so I got this picture of the five of us, and put it in this frame I made.", Maud grinned, handing him a granite picture frame with a picture of him, herself, Marble, Limestone, and Pinkie.
"Oh, Wow! Thank you, Maud!", Sandstone exclaimed, hugging Maud around the neck.
"Here you go, Sandy Wandy. I made these special shoes for you. Believe me when I say it hurts getting rocks between your toes!", Pinkie smiled, giving him four steel toed shoes.
"Yeah, thanks Pinkie!"
Finally, it was Limestone's turn.
I know this isn't much, but I made it myself. Just because I love you. And I wanted you to have the best birthday ever. But I failed miserably on the present.", Limestone sighed, handing him the carving.
Sandstone looked at it very closely before shouting, "I love it! Thank you, Limestone!"
"So you're not disappointed?", she asked as he started hugging her.
"No. You made this the best birthday ever! I love you, Limestone."
"I love you too, Sandstone."
"Thank you, thank you all for being my family. I love you all.", Sandstone said with a tear in his eye.
"Happy Birthday, Sandstone. We love you too."
"And then we all ate cake!", Pinkie beamed, looking at the ceiling.
(Pinkie, what did I tell you about breaking the 4th wall? It scares people. Please refrain from it unless it's absolutely necessary.)
"Sorry, DaiAtlas2016! I was just going to tell everyone what happened next, since you weren't going to!", Pinkie replied.
(I was getting there! Just give me a chance, okay?!)
"Prove it!", Pinkie yelled at the ceiling.
"Pinkie, who are you talking to?", Sandstone asked.
"Just my friend, DaiAtlas2016!", Pinkie smiled.
"Oh, okay then.", Sandstone accepted, "Hey mister! You want some cake?"
(No thanks, I'm good. Here, I have a little something for you. Happy Birthday, Sandstone.)
A fake mustache appeared next to Sandstone.
"Wow! Thanks, DaiAtlas2016!", Sandstone smiled.
(Anytime, Sandstone. NOW, Pinkie. If you WOULD shut up for a minute, I'll say it!)
AND THEY ALL HAD CAKE. EXCEPT PINKIE.
"Hey! You change that right now!", Pinkie shouted.
(Only if you promise not to call me a Sillyhead!)
"Okay, fine. I Pinkie Promise! Just please! Let me have cake!"
(Okay then...)
AND THEY ALL HAD CAKE. EVEN PINKIE.
"Now we're talking!", Pinkie smiled as she ate her cake.
Fa-Doodle-Doo Doo-Doodle-Doo
The next week, Igneous, Cloudy, Maude, Marble and Limestone had to go on a trip to deliver some stone slabs to Manehatten, so they were dropping off Sandstone off at Pinkie's.
"Pa.....Ma.....can't I come?", Sandstone whimpered, when they told him the plan.
"Now, Sandstone. We told you we'll be very busy, and won't be able to watch you. Pinkie is going to keep an eye on you while we're gone. We'll be back tomorrow, okay?", Cloudy smiled, hugging him tightly.
Limestone came over and put her hoof around him, kissing his forehead, "Hey.....don't worry! As soon as we get back, we'll go to the quarry and play, okay? We'll be back."
As soon as they left, Pinkie smiled, "Hey! Don't be sad, Sandy Wandy! We're going to have a party! I'll invite all my friends over!"
"Well, I guess that'll be fun....", Sandstone sighed.
A half hour later, Pinkie's friends were talking and eating cupcakes with Pinkie and Sandstone.
"Oh! Sandy!! It's so nice to see you again!! I hope you liked that sun hat I gave you!!", Rarity beamed, as Fluttershy cradled Sandstone in her arms.
"Oh yes, Rarity! It keeps my horns nice and cool when it gets too hot. Not to mention, if my horns get too hot, they might melt!!!", Sandstone replied, nuzzling Fluttershy.
Twilight laughed, "I don't think your horns will melt, but they might get sunburnt. Right, Spike?"
"Yeah, whatever....", Spike mumbled, in a corner, away from everyone else.
Twilight frowned, "Spike come with me, I need to check something in the park...."
Spike got up and followed her.
As soon as they were outside, she turned to Spike and asked, "What is wrong with you? Are you jealous? Because Sandstone is getting more attention than you?"
"What makes you think that?", he asked.
"I know jealousy when I see it. But you should be thinking about how lucky you are...because you had me as family from the start. Sandstone is just now becoming part of a family. He's never had a family before. No one to love him, no one for him to look up to, he's been by himself for a few years. So when we go back, be a good sport, okay?", Twilight sighed, smiling at the end.
Spike thought this over for a second, and began to feel sorry for the little dragon, "Okay.....I guess I let jealousy get the best of me. I'm sorry, Twilight."
"It's okay, it happens to all of us. Let's go back.", she smiled.
Back inside, Applejack was scratching behind Sandstone's ears.
"Well, aren't you a little cutie......and to think you were out in the badlands all by yourself. It's a good thing Pinkie's family took you in when they did.", she grinned.
"Yeah....it was lonely out there...but at least I have a family now!!", Sandstone sighed, before smiling.
Pinkie grabbed him and squeezed him, beaming, "That's right, Sandy Wandy! You're a Pie now!!"
"And loving it!!", he grinned.
Rainbow patted his head, "Well, I guess you are kinda cool!"
Twilight and Spike came back, Twilight was carrying a saxophone.
"Hey Sandstone! I found this in my closet this morning, and I can't play it, neither can anyone else in the castle, and I figured I'd let you have it. Here.", she smiled, handing him the saxophone.
"Wow! Thanks, Twilight!", he beamed, taking the saxophone and began playing it.
He played it so wonderfully, something along the lines of "Fa-Doodle-Doo Doo-Doodle-Doo".
Everyone stared at him, mouths gaping open.
"That was beautiful. How'd you learn to play like that?", Fluttershy asked in awe.
Sandstone smiled, "I didn't, it just came naturally."
Rarity grinned, "Well, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you would have a cutie mark by now."
"You really think so?", he asked.
"I know so.", she beamed, giving him a Eskimo kiss.
Pinkie smiled, "Hey everybody! Let's go to the park!"
And off they went!
When they got to the park, Pinkie smiled, "What do you think, Sandy? "
"It's so green and luscious.....it's kinda disturbing.....there's no rocks anywhere!!!", Sandstone exclaimed, looking around at the park, before getting out the saxophone and grinning.
And he played the saxophone, so soothing, so mellow, that everyone in the park stopped to listen. Most had droopy eyelids and a relaxed smile on their faces.
When he finished, Spike exclaimed, "Wow! That was awesome, Sandstone! What do you call that song?"
Sandstone smiled, "I call it 'Forever in Love'. And, now, I go by my stage name: Sandy P." (I don't own Kenny G and his songs!)
"Wow! That was amazing, little guy! Can you do more?", Lyra asked, walking up to the little dragon.
"I sure can! This next one is called 'The Moment'. Look out, World! Here comes Sandy P!", he beamed, starting up again on the saxophone.
A few minutes later, everyone in Ponyville was in the park listening to Sandstone walk around and play at a party Pinkie put together for no reason.
Applejack was telling Big Mac all about it, "It's amazing! It's like he's there! But you have to believe in him, otherwise you can't see him! Oh my gosh! Look it's him! Do you hear him?!?"
Big Mac smiled and said, "Eeyup!"
Twilight grinned, "Wow, maybe I should learn to play an instrument...."
Afterwards, it was getting dark, and Sandstone was getting sleepy, everyone went home.
Pinkie took Sandstone up to her room, and put him in bed, kissing his forehead and smiling, "Aww....you're so cute when you're sleepy.....good night, Sandy."
"Good night, Pinkie.....", he yawned, shutting his eyes.
He woke up all of the sudden, in a bed, in the middle of a desert. He was scared, and started screaming.
"Pinkie!!! Pa!!! Ma!!!", he cried, getting up and started walking west, "Marble!!! Maude!!! Limestone!!!"
"Sandstone!!!", cried a voice from the bottom of the dune.
Sandstone recognized that voice, "Limestone!!!", he exclaimed, running towards the bottom.
He found Pa, Ma, Maude, Marble, and Limestone in a pit of quicksand. Pa and Ma sank below the surface.
"Ma!! Pa!!", he screamed.
"Sandstone. Stay back!", Maude exclaimed, before she sank in.
He again screamed, "Maude!!!"
"Help us, Sandstone!", Marble cried, drowning in the quicksand.
"Marble!!!"
Limestone looked at him and shouted, "Don't just stand there!! Do something!!"
"I'm sorry!! I....I...I don't know what to do!!", he whimpered.
Just before she sank below, she growled, "Sandstone.....I hate...."
She was gone. They were all gone. Tears welled up in his eyes as he plopped down onto the ground and cried.
A soft hoof was placed on his shoulder, and a voice asked, "Are you okay, young one?"
He turned to find Princess Luna looking at him in concern.
"Who are you?", he said, sniffling.
"I am Princess Luna. Guardian of those who dream. Are you okay?", she replied.
"My family...they're gone!!! And Limestone.....she hates me!!", he cried, hugging her leg.
Luna hugged him back, "No......it's just a really bad dream."
"Really?", he asked.
"Really...", she smiled, "You'll wake up soon....just remember, as long as I'm in charge of the dream realm, nothing can hurt you."
He sniffed, "Thank you, Luna."
He woke up with a start. He heard voices downstairs, he went downstairs, and saw his family.
"Ma!!! Pa!!! Maude!!! Marble!!! Limestone!!!", he cried, charging them with a hug, tears in his eyes.
"Sandstone!! Hey....are you okay? Is something wrong?", Limestone asked, kissing his forehead.
"Well....I had a nightmare....", he replied.
Limestone asked, cradling him in her arms, "Do you want to talk about it?"
"Well....you guys were sinking in quicksand....and you said you hated me.", he sobbed, burying his face in her fur.
"Ohhh.....Sandstone.....you know I would never say that....I love you. And don't ever forget that! Okay?", she sighed, kissing him.
"Okay. I love you, Limestone."
"I love you too, Sandstone. Let's go home.", she smiled.
And they went home.