Iron and Blood: We Dear Sisters

“Ma!” Pinkie whined as her mother rubbed her cheeks with a handkerchief.

“Pinkie, stay still. You need to look presentable for the Lord.” Her mother smiled with a hum. “He likes clean little fillies.” Pinkie frowned as she gave in to her mother’s needs. “There…” Cloudy Quartz looked over her work. “See, that wasn’t so bad.” She gave her daughter a soft smile.

Free from her mother’s grasp, Pinkie quickly wormed her way to the end of the pew where Marble was waiting. Standing next to her twin, Pinkie fixed her bonnet as they made their way up the altar to the choir chairs behind the pastor’s podium. Taking their seats, the twins waited patiently for the other children of the Frist New Light Church’s ‘Children’s Choir’ to take their places.

While she waited, Pinkie looked at the church’s architecture.

For one, the church’s design was simple. A church finding itself in Ashmore had to keep it simple. No extravagant woodworking or unnecessary detail for a rough n’ humble town. The walls of the church were painted off-white. The floor was made of birch wood planks. Stained glass windows depicting tales and parables from the Earth Pony’s bible sat between six plaster-coated pillars that held up the oak roof above.

Pinkie grew bored of the church’s décor and turned her attention to its congregation. It was small. Only a mere sixtyish called this church home. Understandable when the town had ten other churches competing for followers.

Pinkie’s legs swung mindlessly as she looked for her father in the crowd of stallions and colts who sat to her left. Seeing her father sitting in the third row near the center aisle, she waved at him, giving him her biggest smile. Her father noticed her and returned her gesture with a nod of his head. She giggled to herself as she looked for her mother and older sisters. Seeing them sitting in the fifth row of pews, she gave them her biggest smile. Her mother only nodded. Maud gave a slight nod while Limestone gave a little wave.

The choir maiden stepped onto the altar and settled down the children. Giving them a wink and a nod, she commanded them to stand before the church. They obeyed, many eagerly putting their hands behind their backs. The children smiled at the congregation as the choir maiden opened her book. “A’ One, A’ two, A’ three.”

“Oh, heaven of glory, oh, Lord of kings,

Who made heavens and earth,

And every creature, small and large,

And all the trees and all little, itty, bitty, crawly things.

Oh, heaven may,

Oh, heaven may,

Will we be blessed be?

Oh, heaven of glory, oh, Lord of lords,

Who made us from the dust,

He who gave us mortal breath,

And bestowed us this mortal realm.

Oh, heaven may

Oh, heaven may,

Will we be blessed be?

Oh, heaven of glory, oh, Lord of all,

For we may live once again,

Oh, heaven may,

Oh, heaven may,

We are the blessed be.”

The children bowed as they finished their song. Their families stood for a few seconds and praised their performance. Ushering the children off the altar, the choir maiden smiled as she gave a bow before taking her seat as well.

The twins sat between Limestone and Maud as they got back to their seats. Seeing a bible in the pew’s cubby in front of her, Marble grabbed it and placed it in her lap. “Wanna share?” She asked Pinkie. Pinkie nodded as she grabbed one corner of the book. Being too lazy to grab a bible herself, Limestone peeked over their shoulders at their book.

The pastor slowly made his way onto the altar. He smiled as he looked at his congregation. “Hello, my fellow believers!” He shouted with a laugh as he sat down his bible. “Cold weather we’re having this morning.”

“Nothing like fresh snow to get you going in the morning!” The pianist called out.

“Yes indeed. Let’s hope the sun can warm up our little town, take some of the chill off our bones.” The pastor smiled as he opened his book. “Today, I want to talk about faith and why it's important to have in these times we find ourselves in.” He leaned on his podium. “You know our great republic finds itself in a war. For two years now, the fighting has been going on. The trenches are barely changing. Some think that we will lose this fight.”

“Never!” An elderly stallion shouted.

“And we won’t as long as we have faith!” The pastor cheered. His congregation nodded their heads. “And encouragement. The devil wants us to live in worry, but as our bible tells us in the sixteenth book of Casper….”

Maud watched her pastor with her usual dull gaze, but her mind, however, soaked up everything he was saying. She followed along as he read out the passages. He read about how a lack of faith can rip apart families. How it drives a person to fall into despair. ‘?’ Feeling like someone was staring at her, Maud turned around and saw a seventeen year old stallion. He was staring at her, giving her a goofy smile. It was her boyfriend. She returned the smile and quickly turned around to hide the blush on her face.

Pinkie and Marble bit down on their tongues, trying to hold in their laughter. Limestone just laid back and gave her older sister a sly smile. Their mother kept her composure as she watched the pastor.

The pie sisters stood by the punch bowl, sipping their cups as they watched the ponies of their congregation moseyed about within the interior space of the church’s barn. Pinkie hummed a tune to herself as she rocked back n’ forth on her hooves. She held the cup to her lips as she kept her gaze on her parents as they talked to the pastor and his wife. She wondered what they could be talking about. Probably dull adult stuff. Growing bored, Pinkie turned her attention to a group of adults standing by the fireplace in the center of the barn.

Seeing a colt staring at her, Limestone turned around, using her bonnet to hide her face from his gaze. She poured herself another glass of punch and quickly drank the tangy liquid. It was her little escape from the prying eyes. Taking a gasp of air, she poured herself another drink. “You think you’re drinking too much?”

Limestone looked up at Maud. “No. Can never have too much punch.”

Maud rolled her eyes. “Save some for the rest of the congregation.” She teased. Limestone grumbled as she turned around. She leaned against her elder sister. “You, okay?” Limestone nodded. “Are you sure?”

Limestone sighed as she stood up. “There’s a colt looking at me….” She looked at the colt.

Looking at where her sister was looking, Maud saw him. The colt was around fourteen years old. He wore a white polo shirt and black dress pants that contrasted with his light blueish-grey fur. Noticing her gaze, his fiery green eyes looked elsewhere. “I think he likes you?”

Limestone blushed. “I forget his name!”

“His name is Glacier. I think his Pa works with our Pa in the coal mines?” Maud pondered to herself. She heard Limestone mummer to herself. Maud let a smile adore her lips at Limestone’s expenses.

Marble stared at her older sisters with a raised brow. Shaking her head, she continued her daydreaming as she stared at the lights overhead.

Feeling a tap on her shoulders, Pinkie turned her head to the left and saw a colt a year older than her. His curly salt and pepper-colored mane hugged his face. His bright green eyes stood out from his white fur. “Hello, Ash.” She smiled.

Marble silently watched Pinkie and Ash. Seeing the colt’s flushed cheeks, she gave them a smile as she rocked back n’ forth on her hooves.

Ash returned the smile. “Hey, Pinkie.” His ears folded back. “Um, do you want to play some baseball with some of the other kids out back?” He rubbed the back of his right hand.

Pinkie’s smile grew as she grabbed his hand. “Sure!” She dragged him out of the barn, much to his shock.

Maud and Limestone watched Pinkie exit the barn with the colt. “Where are they going?” Limestone asked.

“You didn’t hear what they were talking about?” Marble looked at her sister with a raised brow.

“No?” Limestone glared at Maud. “I was distracted….”

“Oh…” Marble smirked at her sister. “She’s playing baseball with Ash….”

“WHAT!” Limestone grabbed Marble’s hand. “They’re playing without us!” Marble let out a little squeak as she’s dragged by her sister out of the barn.

Blinking her eyes several times, comprehending what just happened, a smile finally worked its way onto Maud’s face. Laughing at her sisters, she finished her cup and set the glass in the wash bucket before wandering through the barn. “Where is he?” She mumbled as she scanned the faces in the crowds. ‘?’ Hands went over her eyes.

“Guess who?” A raspy masculine voice asked.

Maud hummed as she pondered its question. “Let me guess… Obsidian?” She stated dully.

Obsidian let out a moan. “How do you always know?” He uncovered her eyes.

Maud turned around and faced the young stallion. “Because you have a unique voice.” She gave him her best sly expression. Granted, one that’s not that good.

“Well, I guess I do….” He gave her an equally terrible one in return. She couldn’t help but laugh at his facial expression. “Wow, it's hard to get a laugh out of you. I’ve must’ve done something, right?”

Maud stopped laughing and rolled her eyes. “Oh, stop it!” She playfully bumped his hips with hers.

Obsidian blushed as he looked around, making sure no one saw. “Maud!” He placed his hands on her shoulders. “You know that’s uncouth behavior!” He whispered as he led her out of the barn.

She giggled. “But you’re funny when you’re all flustered.” Cloudy Quartz noticed her daughter and her boyfriend leaving the barn. Waving at them, she gave her a knowing smirk. Maud returned the wave, her cheeks blushing. “So… Where are we going?”

Obsidian let out a hum as they exited through the barn’s opened doors. “I thought we could go for a little stroll around the church's property, maybe walk through the pine trees.”

“And do what?”

“Just talk.”

Maud let out a pleased sigh as she took his hand. Leaving the barn, Maud heard the distinctive crack of a bat and ball. She looked over at the game of baseball being played. Seeing her sister Pinkie was up to bat, she let out a slight hum as she pulled Obsidian along and joined a group of ponies watching the game.

Pinkie pulled up the sleeves of her jacket as she looked out at the field of other fillies and colts. She smirked as she playfully swung her bat. A teenage colt on the pitcher mound chewed his gum mockingly as he wound up his shot. Pinkie returned his mocking and stuck out her tongue. The colt ground his teeth and threw the ball with all his might.

Pinkie swung her bat hard… A loud crack rang out, her swing sending the ball in a flat trajectory that caused it to start skipping madly across the ground. Panicked, she took off running to first base, her hooves kicking up mud as she ran.

An opposing player watched the ball skipping towards him and held out his mitten. The ball struck a pebble poking out of the ground without warning, sending it flying at his face. It hit solid, knocking his head back. However, another player managed to catch the ball and threw it to the first basemen.

The filly at first base raised her arms in the air to catch the flying ball. Pinkie gritted her teeth and dove for the base. A stallion watching the kids' game called it safe. Pinkie let out a cheer as she stood up, jumping up n’ down on the base.

Maud clapped for her sister and let out a cheer of her own. “So,” Still clapping, she turned her attention to Obsidian. “What do you want to talk about?”

He smiled. “I have something I need to ask you….” He took her hand. “Come, let's go.”

“Why can’t you ask me now?”

“Well,” He looked around the church’s property as they walked. “This is not the right location….”

Maud felt her cheeks blush. ‘What are you up to?’

After a few minutes of walking through the tiny grove of pine trees, Obsidian led Maud up to a small pond made up of runoff from the mountains. Looking across the pond, he let out a sigh and sat her down on a large boulder. “So?”

“So?” Maud questioned. “What are you up to?”

Obsidian blushed as he fidgeted with his hands. “Well, I wanted to ask you something?”

“What do you need?”

“I um…” He put his hand in his pants pocket. “I know we’ve been dating for the past three years….” He used his other hand to extend her ring finger on her right hand. “And I know you’ve been patient with me….” He pulled out an amber ring.

Maud felt her chest get heavy. Her throat tightened up. Her dull expression slowly broke as she watched him put the ring on her finger.

Obsidian smirked at her wide-eyed expression. “I wanted to ask you sooner, but I just been a little nervous about it….” She felt butterflies in her stomach as the ring slid down her finger. “I wanted to know if you would marry me….” His words were cut off as Maud pulled him into a kiss. “I take that as a yes?” He asked, stunned by her kiss.

“YES!” Maud’s dull, calm, and collected demeanor faded. “Of course!” She let out a giggle. “Oh, you took your time!” She playfully scolded.

“What?!” He playfully blocked her hits. “I was nervous!” He laughed, rubbing his shoulder as he watched her admire the ring.

“You made this?” She asked. He nodded. “Oh…” She felt tears forming around her eyes. “I love you!” She hugged him.

“I love you too.” He returned the hug.

Maud let out a sigh as she rubbed her face in his chest. “I’m just glad it's official….” She ended the hug. “My sisters constantly asked me when you’ll propose!”

He laughed. “I hope I didn’t cause too much trouble?”

Maud smiled as her mood returned to her usual self. “No.” She studied the ring once more. “Did you ask my Pa for my hand in marriage?”

“Uh…” Obsidian’s face went pale.

Maud’s flat expression turned into a questioning frown. “Obsidian? Did you?”

Obsidian chuckled uncomfortably, “Uh… No… I wanted it to be a surprise for the both of you….” She smacked him across the cheek. “Ow…”

Seeing Limestone catch a flyball, Igneous clapped for her play. Smiling at her mannerisms, he let out a sigh and leaned against the barn’s doorframe. Seeing two figures exiting from the thicket of pine trees, he turned his attention to them and saw that it was Maud and Obsidian. He watched them as they approached the barn. He narrowed his eyes, checking to see if anything was out of the ordinary with his daughter’s attire. Seeing an amber ring on her finger, he smirked as a sense of pride took hold.

“Hello Pa,” Maud called out, noticing his attention was on her.

“Hello, sweetheart…” Igneous looked at Obsidian. “Hello, Obsidian.”

“Hello, sir…” Obsidian nodded his head. “I, uh, have something to ask you….”

“You do? Don’t you colt?” Igneous looked at the ring. Maud instinctively played with it as she put her hand to her chest. “I see you’ve already asked my daughter’s hand in marriage….” He raised his brow. “Without asking.” He took his daughter’s hand and studied the craftsmanship of the ring. “You made this?” A smile came to his lips.

“I sure did, sir.” Obsidian smiled.

Ingenious rubbed Maud’s hand before letting it go. “Do you still work for your Pa? Or did you get a new job?” He gave him a stern stare.

“I still work at the jewelry shop with my Pa.”

Ingenious could no longer hold his expression. He laughed as he pulled the young stallion into a hug. “Welcome to the family, son.”

“Uh?” Obsidian’s face flushed with red. “Thanks?” He clearly wasn’t ready for this sort of reaction. Maud couldn’t help but join in the laughter.

“Hell, son, even if I wanted to say no, I wouldn’t.” He leaned in. “I couldn’t see my little filly cry.” He whispered, but just loud enough for Maud to hear. He got his reaction as she rolled her eyes and turned her attention elsewhere to hide her embarrassment. “Well, you two just don’t stand there. Make the announcement to your Ma.” He patted Maud on the back.

“Thank you, Pa.” She hugged her father before dragging Obsidian into the barn.

“Did Obsidian finally ask Maud to marry him?” Limestone asked, walking up to her father.

Igneous looked down at her and his twin daughters standing beside him. “Yes, sweetheart, he did.” He watched as Maud and Obsidian walked up to his wife.

Entering the barn, Maud and Obsidian saw their mothers and Obsidian’s little sister, Ruby, talking to a couple of mares by the firepit. “Perfect!” Maud whispered to herself as she neared the mares. Obsidian tried his best to keep up with her stride. Standing behind her mother, Maud tapped her shoulders. “Ma?”

Turning around, Cloudy Quartz saw her daughter and her boyfriend. “Hello sweetie, I see that you’ve brought your colt-friend with you…. What’s with your goofy smile? You hardly ever smile like that?”

“The same goes for you, son?” Rose Sapphire, Obsidian’s mother, commented, giving her son a skeptical glare. Understanding their goofy looks, Ruby bit her lower lips as she giggled.

Maud giggled like a little school girl as she held out her hand, showing off her amber ring. “Obsidian proposed!”

Both their mothers stared wide-eyed at the amber ring. “Finally, you two took forever!” A mare who they were speaking with complained out loud.

Feeling an overwhelming sense of joy, Cloudy Quartz hugged her daughter. “Oh, Sweetie! I’m so happy for you!”

Rose Sapphire ran her hand through her son’s mane. “Congratulation’s son.”

“This calls for a premarital dance!” Cloudy Quartz shouted as she took her daughter and future son-in-law by the hand. “Attention! Everyone!” She stood in the center of the barn. The earth ponies within the barn looked over at her and the young couple. Seeing that she had their attention, she placed Maud’s hand over Obsidian’s “I have wonderful news, my daughter and Rose Sapphire’s son are officially getting married!”

The ponies cheered and clapped for the newly engaged couple. Maud’s and Obsidian's cheeks reddened as they found themselves at the center of attention. The pastor and his wife walked up to the couple and placed their hands on their heads. “By the grace of God, I pray to our creator to bless thee and to have the holy spirit guide you in all of your days….” The pastor smiled. “May God bless you with a happy marriage.”

Maud blushed and gave the pastor a slight nod. Maud tried to hide her embarrassment as the pastor walked away to join the crowd. “What’s wrong?’ Obsidian whispered.

She looked at him. “You know I don’t like being the center of attention!”

He gave her a cocky smile. “But you’re adorable when you’re all embarrassed.” He laughed. “It’s a rarity, but when it happens….” He whispered a whistle.

Maud grumbled. “Oh, you’re going to regret that!” She huffed with a whisper.

Feeling the festivities kicking in, several mares and stallions went over to a cupboard and pulled out instruments. Finding a spot in the corner to play, they began playing a traditional earth pony folk song.

The congregation began clapping to the music as a mare removed Maud’s bonnet and placed a short white vail on her head. The semi-transparent fabric fell over her face, slightly obscuring her vision. A stallion walked up to Obsidian and placed a crown of olive branches on his head. Obsidian ran his hand over the crown, feeling the waxed preserved leaves and olives. Lastly, a mare walked over and placed a round marble stone on the ground by their hooves and gave them a bow.

They breathed out slowly as their nervousness left them. Maud and Obsidian held hands as they began skipping around the stone. Though they never danced this dance, they had seen it done before by other couples from their church who had married.

Remembering what they could, they performed the moves with relative ease. They tapped each other hooves and let go, twirling twice before touching the stone with their hooves again. Holding hands again, they got close, their bodies becoming intimate with one another.

Their family members and the congregation began clapping their hands and stomping their hooves to the beat of the music.

“I just want to thank you again for inviting us to your home.” Onyx, Obsidian’s father said, holding up a glass of cider.

“No need to thank me.” Igneous laughed. “You’re family, after all.” He drank some of his cider.

“I can’t wait to plan the wedding!” Limestone giggled, giving Maud a hug. “Oh, I can play some of the music!” She squeezed her eldest tighter.

“Yes, that sounds like a good idea.” Rose Sapphire hummed as she clasped her hands together, placing her hands over her lips. She looked over at her son and future daughter-in-law. “So,” She gave them a sly smirk. “When do you plan on giving your mother a grandchild?”

Obsidian spat out his cider. Maud, who was eating a piece of toast, dropped her snack as she looked wide-eyed at her mother-in-law.

“What?” Rose Sapphire teased. “I’m sure Cloudy Quartz would agree with me. We would like a grandchild sooner than later.”

Pinkie stood up from the floor and raised her hands in the air overhearing the conversation. “I’M GOING TO BE AN AUNTIE!” She shouted with a smile from ear to ear. Ruby and Marble stood up as well, cheering with Pinkie.

Maud’s cheeks turned a rich red as she buried her face in her hands. Obsidian still found he was still choking on his cider. He wiped his eyes as he let out a nervous laugh.

Cloudy Quartz walked into the dining room from the kitchen with a strawberry chocolate cake in her hands. “Since we’re talking about grandchildren, have you thought of any names?” She laughed.

“MA!” Maud whined as she glared at her mother. “We haven’t even married yet!” Her calm and collected demeanor was holily abandoned as she went on the defensive. “We still need to plan and go through with the wedding! Then the honeymoon! Then we need to find a house! And a…!”

Cloudy Quartz put a hand to her lips. “Calm, sweetie.” She ran her hand through her mane. “I’m just teasing.”

“Is that like her to get so worked up?” Onyx asked as he sat in one of the sofas by the fireplace.

Igneous looked at his daughter. “No… I guess she’s getting the jitters.”

“Well, let's just take this step by step then….” Rose Sapphire hummed. “Do you have a place in mind to host it?”

Maud ran her hands through her mane. “I have one place in mind.” She took a slice of cake handed to her by her mother. “I was thinking the wedding can be held and Salt Rock Plateau.”

“That’s a lovely place. Not too far from Ashmore, just a twenty-minute drive.” Rose Sapphire commented.

“I like the scenery,” Obsidian stated as he leaned on Maud’s shoulder. “It's going to be a great place.” She blushed and leaned into him.

“Well, I say let’s get planning!” Onyx pulled out a calendar book from his shirt’s pocket.

“You never leave your home without that thing, do you?” Igneous asked.

Onyx pointed his pencil at the stallion. “When you run a jewelry shop, you got to make sure all your ducks are in a row.”

“Um, why do you have ducks? And why do they need to be in a row?” Pinkie asked as she tilted her head to the side. The families laughed at her question, causing her to hide her face in embarrassment.

The soft drumming of the evening rain brought calm to Maud. She always enjoyed the rain. Their smell. How they cooled the air. She let out a breath and watched the cloud of condensation dissipate into the cold night air.

“Well…”

“Well, what?” Maud asked as she looked at her fiancé.

Obsidian placed his hands on the porch’s railing. “Just thinking of how our lives are going to change in the coming days.” He looked at her and gave her a warm smile.

Maud laid against him and buried her head in his chest. “Yeah… it’s going to get some time getting used to.” She breathed in his smell. “But I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

He laughed. “So am I.” He kissed her on the head.