Marble Pie stared at the blank piece of paper in front of her, in her mouth a pencil stood still between her teeth. She was frozen, trapped by the terror of the whiteness that was an open canvas of possibilities, a canvas too wide and too intimidating for her to tackle. Marble stood there afraid of the words she wanted to write, as she was the day before, and the day before that, and last week, all the way back to a month and a half ago when she met him, that red stallion of the apple family, Big Macintosh.
Marble blushed as her thoughts run wild as she remembered him, so big, so strong, a true gentlecolt with a smile that could melt basalt and a rough skin with a tender touch that would polish the most difficult of stones into a soft surface that could make a mare shiver of delight. Just the thought of it made her smile, thought the smile disappeared as soon as she remembered the words of her mother telling her that a proper mare should not let herself be enthralled by stallions of dreams or an ice-cold stone of reality would break her heart forever.
Still, Marble was desperate to reach that stallion. Even though they had spent so little time together she felt they had so much in common it was incredible. And even though they did not get to know each other very well her sister Pinkie was kind enough to bombard her with all the facts about Big Macintosh: How he was as strong as Maude, as hard worker as her father, aways looking for those he loved like her sisters and as kind as he was big. Marble was so impressed she knew she had to try and reach him, but every time she tried those thoughts came back to her.
What stopped Marble from writing was the intimidating task of reaching a stallion that, in her own eyes, was the most wanted bachelor in all Equestria. She was sure that mares lined up just to see him plow the fields and just by winking he could get any mare by her side. How she, Marble Pie, compete when she couldn’t even measure to any of Pinkie’s mare friends? There is that beautiful white mare who was a famous designer, or that yellow mare with that divine pink mane who could control the animals, or the blue one who had personality to spare and is a member of Equestria’s top flight academy; not to mention there is that Alicorn Princess who probably could get Big Macintosh whenever she wanted. All mares who had gone on adventures, seen the world, dared to fight for what they wanted. Compared to those mares Marble Pie saw herself as just a rock farm hayseed, she had barely seen the world outside of her farm and the nearby towns besides the journeys to see family or go to the rock fairs, she had no especial talent that made her shine, was barely able to face other ponies without wanting to run away, and not to mention that she was as plain as talc.
Marble couldn’t even compare herself with her sisters. Maude was so strong and cool, Pinkie was so pretty and always able to make you smile, and Limestone was a tough girl who could get anything she wanted by using her hooves. Compared to them Marble felt like a small shy girl who always was underneath someone else’s shadow. In her worst moments Marble even felt that she was a burden to her parents. she was so timid and inexperience she always had her parents looking over her and commenting and correcting her every move, at her age! She felt like she was a little girl trying to reach the stars with a stick.
When the bad thoughts finally went away Marble noticed once again that she was crying, soft tears rolling over the quiet white surface. She tried to wipe the tears off but she couldn’t, they were too many, they always were too many. Marble turned and went for the bathroom and stared at the mirror to meet her red eyes. Her conflicting feelings were so strong she always cried like that, like her world was about to break down.
Marble washed her face and returned to the desk, her thoughts wandering if she should waist more time on the letter or simply call it quits, this time for good.
“You should not let your insecurities get the best from you” said a monotone voice Marble could recognize anywhere. Maud was standing besides the desk, besides the letter soaked in tears.
Marble did not know what to say but as usual her sister filled for her.
“I know you have been feeling very sad ever since the Apples left, that you have wanted to write a letter for Applejack’s brother but your own insecurities have stopped you from doing so. Don’t try to negate it, I noticed how you two stared at each other, the two extra stamps you bought when getting stamps to reply Pinkie’s weekly letter and the subtle accumulation of salt on the desk” pointed Maud.
Marble lowered her head in shame, as always Maud’s deduction powers saw through her soul.
Maud approached her sister and placed a hoof on her shoulder. “Marble, you cannot keep going this way. You must stop doubting yourself or you will crush your heart like a sedimentary rock crashing molten and reshaped silicon and you will be the only one to blame” said Maud as she stared into Marble’s eyes, Marble, as usual, looked away. Maud continued her talk “Maud, you may not be able to see it, but you have a kind and tender heart. You must not let your fears get the best of you or you will regret it the rest of your life. If that stallion is worth something he will reply your letter if not reciprocating your feelings at least giving you a gentle way out of them.”
Marble looked to her hoofs, her sister’s words were all so true and all the more intimidating.
Marble felt her sister’s hoof take her chin and make her meet her eyes. There Marble saw Maud’s smile, that soft and small smile that always made her feel so safe.
“I think this may help you gain confidence to write to that stallion” said Maud as she gave Marble a letter addressed to her. Marble was surprised as this was not the weekly letter from Pinky, instead of a pink envelope that smelled like cake she held a yellow envelope that smelled like apples. On the envelope she read ‘For Marble Pie’ and the return address was for ‘Sweet Apple Acres’.
Marble looked into Maud’s eyes with a mix of hope and worry. Maud simply said “Better read it.”
Nervously Marble opened the letter with extreme care so she would not damage its precious content. Marble shut her eyes so nervous as she extracted the letter and unfolded it, then, after she gave a deep breath, gazed at what was written for her.
‘Dear Miss Marble Pie:
Hello, I am Big Macintosh, the stallion you met when our Families gathered for The Hearth’s Warming Festivities. I apologize beforehoof about the bluntness of the letter since I seem not to be better with my written word than my spoken word.
As I write this letter I have to confess that ever since we got to know each other I have been unable to make my thoughts about you cease. Every time I plow you are in my mind, when I buck I think about you, when repairing I remember your smile. I admit you openly that I have fallen for your charm Miss Marble Pie, your beauty has my thoughts trapped and I write in hopes that one way or another they will be let free, either by reciprocity or kind rejection as I well understand that due to our brief meeting this may be a young stallion infatuation with a beautiful mare.
I hope to know about your thoughts Miss Pie, I do not mind the answer as long as it is an honest one. I don’t mind if we spend our time as friends or simply do not speak ever again, I will always wish you the best.
If by any chance you wish to meet again I’d like you to come visit Sweet Apple Acres, maybe have a meal at Ponyville’s cafe and let me show you the beautiful crops that my family has grown for three generations, if you don’t mind of course.
Hoping to hear from you soon and wishing you the very best,
Big Macintosh.’
Marble blushed and her eyes filled with tears of joy, she was so happy to read those words. Maud offered her sister a handkerchief to dry her tears.
“It seems you got the push you needed to write back” pointed Maud with her soft smile. “On that same note I have a feeling this letter may help you as well.”
Maud handled Marble another letter, this belonging to her sister Pinkie. It was hard to say the letter came from someone else since the envelope was of a bright pink color and covered in confetti. When she opened the letter Marble was greeted by a cornucopia of color and glitter so bright it was almost seizure inducing and as usual it was covered in Pinkie’s drawings, though this time it was far shorter than the three page long letter Pinkie usually wrote.
‘Hi Little Incredible Sister of mine! I write you a different letter this time! My Pinkie-sense has tingled and is telling me that you must come to Ponyville right now! Don’t worry about asking mom and dad! I already sent them a letter asking them for you to come and they said yes! Or at least that’s what my Pinkie-sense told me! So hurry up! I already told all my friends you are coming so wrap everything up in the farm and get over here!
With a lot of love and frosting, your older supersister Pinkie!’
Marble was surprised by the letter, she could not believe its content. Her thoughts quickly began to pile on what to do, what to say, she began to get so nervous. She wanted the letter to arrive before she did, but that meant to write it now! And then she had to choose what to pack, What to carry? Then came the idea of meeting Big Macintosh. What would she say to him? What if she ruined everything by saying or doing something stupid!?
Marble’s thoughts were stopped my the gentle hoof of Maud.
“Marble” began her deadpan sister. “Don’t let panic get the best of you. You are smart and strong enough to deal with this. Go one step at a time. First write the letter, a simple positive reply should be enough. Once you finish we will go to town, buy extra stamps for the express mail to Ponyville and then come back to make your bags. Okay?”
Marble nodded, thankful that Maud was there for her.
“Now I am going to finish smashing the rocks and then we will get to town and send the letter, okay?”
“Mmhm” replied Marble with a soft smile.
“Good, see you in an hour” said Maud as she left the room.
With newfound confidence Marble got ready to write her reply.
‘Dear Big Macintosh…’
