Despite her grumpy, grouchy, bossy exterior, Limestone Pie truly did care about other ponies. Sure, maybe she was a little bit jealous that Pinkie, Maud, and yes even Marble had all left the rock farm before her. But that was okay, Limestone enjoyed running the family farm, making sure everything was as it should be. She wouldn't have taken on the responsibility if she didn't think she could handle it. Besides, she still had that mine of hers to run on the side.
Right now, however, the eldest Pie sister wasn't worrying herself about the mine, or the rock farm, or about any of the things she might usually fuss over. All of that was taking a backseat to a particular holiday that was always of great importance to Limestone: Hearth's Warming. Even when not having the family farm serve as the place to host family members, there was always the matter of having to consider gifts.
And currently, a gift for one particular pony was giving Limestone reason to fuss and worry. She was pacing back and forth in the bedroom she had once shared with her sisters, but was now her room alone as a result of them having all left the rock farm. Hearth's Warming wasn't for another week or so, and most of the gifts Limestone wanted for everypony had already been acquired. That just left the pony who was always the hardest to figure out as far Limestone was concerned, her cheerful sister Pinkie Pie.
"Every year, no matter how hard I try, I can never get her a gift that she truly enjoys or truly likes," Limestone thought to herself. "This year has to be different. I need to get her something that'll truly show how much I love her. She can say she'll be happy with anything I get her, but I also know she's a terrible liar on those sort of things. So what to get her? What's the gift to get for a pony like Pinkie? Think, Limestone, think!"
The earth pony mare with a coat the same bluish-gray shade after which she'd been named was interrupted in her pacing and contemplating by a knock on the bedroom door. From the other side of the door, a soft, whispery voice called out. "Limestone, is everything okay in there?" When the voice didn't receive a reply or any sort of acknowledgement, the pony to whom it belonged entered the room.
Limestone turned around, facing herself almost snout to snout with her youngest sister, Marble Pie. It took her a moment to remember that Marble had already written to say she would be coming home from college to spend the holiday with her family. Limestone tried her best to put on a smile and look completely unconcerned. Marble of all ponies had a tendency to see things other ponies might try to hide (likely because she still didn't tend to speak much except when in the presence of her family). "Why would anything be wrong, Marble? I'm just busy thinking... that's all. You know: It's almost Hearth's Warming. Got so much to think about."
Marble blew her bangs out of her face, locking eyes with her eldest sister. "I know what you're thinking of. You don't have to hide it from me," She said with what looked like the faintest hint of a smile. "You still haven't gotten a gift for Pinkie yet, have you?"
Limestone had to resist the urge to growl, instead opting to grit her teeth and bite her lip. "...Er... uh... no, why would you think that?" She said in the most unconvincing tone of voice possible (she had an unfortunate tendency to crack under pressure). "But uh... it is good that you came by when you did, Marble. I was... er..." She paused, trying to think of how to frame what she was about to say without giving away the game. "Well... I was thinking of maybe just taking a quick trip to Ponyville. You know... just to see Maud. She's the one hosting Hearth's Warming this year, and I just want to make sure I'm not getting in the way of her and her boyfriend if I bring the whole family over," She then gave a nervous laugh. "Between you and me, Mudbriar still kind of gives me the creeps. I don't know why, he just does."
Marble blinked slowly, continuing to eye Limestone with what seemed like suspicion. Yet it seemed she didn't opt to press her sister further, instead settling for a simple "Mmhmm."
The eldest Pie sister breathed a small sigh of relief, convinced that Marble had bought her "excuse". "So uh... maybe you could come with me. 'Cause I was thinking maybe we could stop by Sugarcube Corner and just check in with Pinkie to make sure she's not gonna be called away on something last minute. Seems like there's always something going on with her nowadays. But hey, she's a big hero now, the kind that's saved Equestria multiple times. If something's calling her away, it has to be important, right? Right?!"
Marble still said nothing. Instead, she just flashed a smile and nodded while saying "Mmhmm." once again.
"S-so... I guess you're going with me, then?" Limestone guessed as she trotted towards Marble and wrapped a hoof around her. "I'm sure Mom and Dad won't mind. Family's always important. Besides, we both know you couldn't run the farm by yourself for even half a day. If somepony has to do it, it has to be me."
"Whatever you say, Limestone," Marble said as she blinked slowly yet again. "I've already picked out my present for Pinkie. But I'll be more than happy to help you with yours. And I'm sure Maud will be the same way if you ask her."
Limestone pretended not to have heard what her sister had said. "Great! Let's go! The sooner we leave, the sooner we can come back!" And that was that, the two Pie sisters were off to board the next train to Ponyville. And with any luck, the problem plaguing this particular Pie sister would promptly present her with the perfect solution to her puzzling predicament.
One of the advantages of having two of your three younger sisters live in or near a town like Ponyville was that it was easy to travel there on a moment's notice. It wasn't a destination like Manehattan, Las Pegasus, or even Canterlot. Even if it was a known fact that Ponyville was the residence of the most popular princess in all of Equestria, most ponies still seemed to pay it no mind at this time of year.
Once the train pulled into the small station on the outskirts of Ponyville, Limestone wasted no time in departing it with Marble accompanying her. From there, it was just a hop, skip, and a jump to reach Maud's place in Ponyville adjacent: That nice little grotto underground. The perfect place for a pony like Maud to live where she could split her time between her profession as a geologist and her special somepony often waiting for her to come home.
To the surprise of both Limestone and Marble, Maud herself was waiting for them when they reached the grotto entrance. "Hello," She greeted in that usual monotone of hers. "I was not expecting to see you two here for at least a few more days."
"Yeah, well, Pinkie's not the only pony who gets to surprise you, Maud," Marble said with a chuckle. "So... surprise."
Limestone, meanwhile, saw fit to ask a question that refused to leave her alone until she got an answer for it. "Uh... where's Mudbriar? Isn't he usually here with you, Maud? Did something happen with you two? Did you get into an argument or something? Is he visiting his own family?"
Maud shook her head from side to side. "Don't be silly, Limestone. He's just out shopping for Hearth's Warming. Probably even getting something for me if I know him as well as I do." She seemed to faintly smile as she spoke those words. Mudbriar seemed to be one of those few ponies who could understand her and get her to break out of that usually withdrawn, almost emotionless state of hers.
The eldest Pie sister breathed a small sigh of relief. "Oh, that's good," And she quickly changed the subject so as to avoid having to dwell on Mudbriar's absence or why it mattered to her. "S-so anyway, Maud... uh... how's... everything with you? Anything new?"
"No, nothing new," Maud replied and immediately asked Limestone. "You came here to ask me for help with Pinkie Pie's present, didn't you? You still haven't picked something out for her."
"How did..." Limestone began but then quickly stopped herself. She wasn't about to fall for that old trick. "I mean... no, I wasn't going to ask that at all. Really." Her tone of voice betrayed her intentions, however (she really needed to work on that. Or at least get better at telling convincing lies).
Marble just glared at her oldest sister, clearly not amused in the slightest by her attempts to skirt around the issue so clearly troubling her. Yet she spoke not a word outwardly to convey or express her intentions.
Maud Pie locked eyes with Limestone, almost as if she were interrogating her sister. "You know you don't have to get her something big or dramatic, right? She'll like just about anything you get her. She's not that hard to get a gift for. All that matters is that you get her something that makes her happy."
Limestone Pie let out a long, drawn out sigh. Then she groaned and kicked the dirt, conveying more than words her frustration. "That's what you and Marble say, and what Pinkie always says. But I can tell you're all just trying to make me feel better. I know whatever I get is never good enough. And this year, I want it to be different. I want my gift to mean something. I want it to be something that lets Pinkie know I get her, that I do love her even if I don't always show it."
"Why would you ever think she doesn't know that or that other ponies might not think that?" Marble pondered aloud. "We all know siblings can be... complicated. But we still love each other."
All the eldest Pie sister could do was lament aloud. "Yeah, but what's so wrong with wanting to show it and prove it? Every year, it feels like my gift for Pinkie Pie is always something with the barest of effort," She hung her head and frowned. "It's no secret that Pinkie and I go beyond complicated when it comes to our bond. It feels like, even if we're pretending otherwise, we're drifting apart. We're basically polar opposites: I don't get her the way you do, Maud, or even the way you do, Marble. You two are really good listeners, I'm not."
"Limestone!" Marble exclaimed with an audible gasp!
Limestone continued. "So this may be my last chance for Celestia knows how long to get it right! Whether it's been her birthday or Hearth's Warming, I've never been able to find the kind of gift that'll truly make her smile. This year, more so than any other year, I want to get that kind of gift. And I just can't figure out what that gift should be. So that's why, much as it pains me to say it..." She swallowed hard and struggled not to whimper. "Please, you've got to help me! I don't know who else to turn to!"
There was a long (and uncomfortable if you asked Limestone) silence that followed. Neither Maud or Marble seemed to say a word or even know what to say. Limestone knew it would be silly of her to expect them to mock or make fun of her for such a confession. Yet she still felt as if they were holding back the urge to do so given their state of silence.
So it was of great relief to the eldest Pie sister when both of her younger sisters currently with her finally decided to do something to show their sympathy towards her. They trotted up to her and hugged her tightly, smiling as they did so. Normally, Limestone would've resented such outward showings of affection. But this time, she didn't mind.
"Limestone, you're over thinking it. You know Pinkie just as well as the rest of us," Marble pointed out. "You were just as sad as we were when she left for Ponyville all those years ago. And you're just as proud as the rest of us at the pony she's become since then."
Maud added. "But if you really needed our help so badly, it's okay. It's not a bad thing to admit you need help. You don't need to hide those kinds of things from us. That's what family is for."
"Yeah yeah, I know," Limestone admitted while trying not to scoff. "But seriously, can you please help me? Give me some ideas. What can I get Pinkie that'll show that I truly get her? It's gotta be something that's one of a kind, that's as unique as she is. So what is it?"
Marble Pie paused, putting a hoof to her chin while deep in thought. And it seemed that Maud was joining her, their silence all but reverberating throughout the grotto. There was only the sound of rushing water to really break up the silence.
The eldest Pie sister wanted to speak up, to say something. But she couldn't bring herself to do so even though the silence was killing her.
At last, Marble broke the spell of silence and said. "Well, you know how Pinkie works at Sugarcube Corner, right?"
Limestone had to resist the urge to roll her almost gold colored eyes in response. "Duh, of course I know that. What's that got to do with anything?"
Maud seemed to grin ever so faintly as she explained. "Think about it, Limestone. What's something she's always wanted to do since she started working for the Cakes, but has never been able to do?"
"What are you talking abou..." The earth pony mare with a bluish-gray coat began, only for the realization to dawn on her ever so slowly. "-Wait, that's it! Marble, Maud, you two are geniuses! And don't you dare say otherwise. It was staring me right in the face. I can't believe I didn't think of it sooner!" A smile slowly spread across her face, before she blushed. "I just hope I can track down what I need in time."
Only a few days later, the day of Hearth's Warming dawned. And for the Pie sisters, that meant that they had to follow the time honored tradition in their family of hunting for their presents. Even if it wasn't on the rock farm, there was no reason for that tradition to be altered or abolished.
Fortunately, Maud's dwelling was nowhere near as big as the Pie family rock farm, so hunting for presents didn't take all day or anywhere close to it. There was no danger of the search being called off without anypony having found any presents at all. And once all the presents were found, the Pie siblings, their parents, and the chosen honorary family they had invited all took turns opening up their gifts one by one.
It was only once Pinkie Pie took hold of a very particularly wrapped present that Limestone broke the spell of silence and said. "Wait, Pinkie!"
"Wait for what?" Pinkie pondered as she began to rip off the wrapping paper in the blink of an eye, getting scraps and shreds of it all over the place. In a matter of seconds, she had exposed that which Limestone had apparently not wanted her to open just yet. But now it was exposed, there was no need to wait. And what she saw made her gasp as her heart skipped a beat!
Now held firmly within the pink party pony's hooves was a very old, very worn, and very dusty cook book in colors of red, white, and pink that had clearly seen better days. It seemed like a miracle that the pages held within it hadn't fallen out already, or that the whole darn thing hadn't crumpled to dust. Heck, Pinkie had to squint her blue eyes just to make out the words written on it in fading ink.
Yet it was when Pinkie read those words that her eyes began to well up with tears, happy tears at that. "This is... Granny Pie's cook book!" She quickly skipped through the pages, going back and forth and examining them carefully. "It's got all her best recipes."
"Surprise!" Limestone shouted in the best tone of voice she could muster up with which to imitate her energetic sister's usual way of greeting. It was clear how corny it was, yet she didn't seem to care in the slightest.
"This is just... just..." Pinkie trailed off, unable to think of the words she wanted to say.
Limestone forced the biggest smile she could muster up, even when doing so made her cheeks hurt. "Well I... I wanted to get you something extra special, Pinkie. Something that shows that I get you, and that I do care about you, even if it may seem like I don't."
Pinkie Pie carefully set the old cook book down, then leapt over and threw her hooves around her eldest sister! "Oh Limestone, you didn't need to do this! I already know what you really think of me! And I love you too! We're family, family can never hate each other! Still, it means a lot to me that you'd do something like this for me. I can't imagine how hard it must've been to track it down. I thought it was lost long ago."
"So did I," Limestone admitted. "But luckily, Granny Pie knew where to find it. You really are just like her, Pinkie. You're just as strange as she is. And that's just what I like about you."
Everypony else present spoke not a word. The scene between the two sisters was something so touching that no amount of words could do it justice.
Author's Note
I figured it would be nice to close out the year with something between Limestone and Pinkie. I don't feel like there's been a lot of fanfics or fan material exploring what kind of sisterly bond they might have. All the focus seems to go to Pinkie and Maud, or Pinkie and Marble.
