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Morning came. And I was hesitant to get out of bed. The room had cooled over the course of the night with the warmth of my own body and that of the lovely little mare at my side the only thing keeping me comfortable. There she was. Beautiful little Marble Pie holding me in her sleep. My thoughts went back to the previous night. Our feelings for each other bloomed quickly. And under any under circumstances, I would have been feeling very unsure of myself. It is dangerous to throw caution to the wind regarding matters of the heart.

But not with Marble. She was too pure. Too sincere and loving. Ours was a love that we did not need to worry ourselves over. It was real and meant to be. And her face... Even in slumber, she looked happy. Very happy. And so I waited in the near silence of my beloved's bedroom. Pure white was beyond the window. The sun was bright that day as the snowy landscape beyond shone blindingly. Our future was looking as bright as that freezing winter morning.

She was just so soft. I cuddled up to my lover to keep as warm and comfortable as possible while trying to not wake her. But as I held her, I was reminded of how soft her body was. Whatever earth pony muscle Marble had was hidden under her silken coat and soft outer layer. She was not as ruggedly built as her sisters. She was an artist and her build showed it. So soft... So tender. A body not built for labor, but instead for the finer things in life. The arts. For love. For family. The words she whispered to me... Oh how I was longing for the day I could bless her with foals of her own.

That was when I became somewhat alarmed. I was thinking so far ahead already when I knew that is always risky. But I could not help it. I am a father. A father who wants to raise children with my beloveds. And dear little Marble... She was all but begging that I give her my children the previous night. For us to have a family together. I know for certain motherhood is in her future. And with her whispering her hopes to have a family with her knight in shining armor...

https://youtu.be/IWBwRu7bwn0?si=gtJYMws1ju8WR5wa

I loved her. I was so glad that I came with Pinkie Pie to her old family home and found that wonderful little maiden who had been waiting so patiently for my return. I wanted to scoop Marble up in my arms and carry her home with me. To be her knight in shining armor and whisk her away to a better life. She would excel in Ponyville. Maybe even come out of her shell a little more with every passing day. She would have so much in common with Fluttershy. Maybe even become the closest of friends with her. Like a sister from another mother neither knew they had.

I had so much hope for her future. Marble had found the man she truly needed. And I was honored to be that man. I pulled my beloved close and held her beautiful and soft body against me. Waiting for her to finally stir. And when she did, I whispered into her ear. "Good morning, my love."

"Mm... Is that you...? My knight in shining armor?" I heard that timid little voice mumble dozily. As if she was unsure if she was still dreaming or not. It was the first time for her. To awaken in the arms of her beloved.

"Your one and only, dear. I'm here." I whispered back before placing a kiss upon Marble's ear. One that got a sleepy giggle out of her. I pulled my head back to let our eyes meet. Those eyes of a beautiful amethyst hue gazed at me with half open lids. She was smiling, but looked like she could go right back to sleep at any time. I asked softly, "Did you sleep well?"

"Slept...so well... Wasn't sure if everything last night was a dream... But...it was real... I love you. Love you...so much, James. I'm your lady now, right?" Marble mumbled while just coherent enough to process her situation and her most recent memories. Good lord, she was so beautiful... So fragile and precious. I needed to protect her. To keep her safe and let her know she was loved.

I pulled my newest beloved into my embrace as we stayed warm under her thick winter bedspread. My lips whispered directly into her ear, "Yes. You are my lady. My mare. My love. And I'll always be your knight. Your man. Your...husband, when the time is right."

"James... Oh my goodness... You'll marry me? Really? You'll let me be your wife?" Marble asked with eyes becoming wide awake. She was blushing so brightly while still unable to help hiding one eye behind her mane.

I smiled at my tender little lover. And with a raise of my hand, I displayed my wedding ring. I know that Fluttershy was my first. The matriarch of our family and the mare I was officially wed to. It is set in stone with the public records. But while I could not walk down the aisle with anyone else, that would not stop us from welcoming more wonderful brides into my arms. All the love and devotion, but with less protocol. And so I whispered to Marble with that simple gold ring on my finger, "I'm already wearing this ring for more than one mare. Now I wear it for you. The only question now is...when will be the right time for you to wear something on your wrist for me?"

I had to restrain myself from laughing. That blush filled Marble's entire face. I did not know it was even possible for a blush to shine completely through a mare's coat like that. So bright and red with a crooked grimace on her lips, Marble squinted her eyes shut and squealed through clenched jaws and sealed lips. Squealing and giggling madly as she could barely process the question I had asked. Seeing her squirm, I pulled her into my arms and nuzzled her head. "Oh my god, you silly thing... Easy now... Shhh... It's OK, dear. And...we really shouldn't be dreaming so big so quickly. Fluttershy and I... We were almost as hasty when we first found love. We...eventually had to stop and ask ourselves if we went too far too fast. But we got lucky. Things turned out great in the end. But you... Let's not go too fast, all right? Let's take our time... Let things build and see where things go. No talk of rings. No discussion of having foals or getting married. Today's only the first day of us being more than just friends, right?"

"Mm... Mmhm... Oh my, I'm just...not used to being in love with a man who...loves me too. A man who...really knows how love works." Marble mumbled as she relaxed in my arms. That furious blush faded from her face in due time. Only for her to finally notice something on my exposed biceps that even I have a tendency to forget about. "Is that... Oh my goodness, you do have a cutie mark? Doves...with talons clasped... Heads bowed and touching...with the shape of a heart between them... No wonder you're so wise about love. It's...what you're all about deep down, aren't you?"

That was a flattering observation. With how little thought I spare for my own cutie mark, I was at a loss of how to even answer that for a moment. It is not like I am a sage regarding the art of romance. But I had to say something as I pondered carefully. "I mean it's not like I figured out how the heart works overnight. It's something I...had to figure out over time. Experience is what made me figure out how it all works. I've loved and lost before coming to this world. I know the blind faith that comes from falling in love for the first time. And the devastation of when that first love fails... I was just so lucky to have found love that is meant to last in this world. I found Fluttershy. Then Rarity... And more and more... And I'm just so glad I have what it takes to love so many so evenly. And then...I found you. And I know you won't be the last, Marble."

My little lover bowed her head and rested her brow against my chest. Her eyes closed, her breaths long and deep. "Mmmm... And I believe you. I... I know it'll all work out in the end. Everything you've told me? It really doesn't feel fake. It's all coming from the heart. Even if you don't have every last thing figured out, you're still trying. For them. I want to meet them someday. So I can hear from your brides what it's like loving a man who has enough love to share with them all equally. A man who won't let them down."

"Only time will tell... And while I do have doubts now and then, I'm still confident everything will work out in the end. We all are. But right now... You think it's time we get up? I'd rather not have Limestone come knocking and kill the mood." I finally said while still being reluctant to get out of bed. While there was not much to do around the place in the dead of winter and the thought of spending hours in bed with my beloved Marble was so tempting, it would be better for us to not spend the whole day in one room.

Marble pouted a bit. It was her first morning being the mare of a man who loves her. But she then displayed a crooked smile as she said, "All right... I think I need a morning shower anyway after last night. I don't know what you did, but...I was so wet in the end..."

"Ooh... Good point. Yeah, you go wash up first. I'll know when you're done." I said with a nervous chuckle. Even if we did not...touch each other, I still brought Marble to her first orgasm entirely with the sensitivity of her cutie marks. I especially noticed a lingering pungent scent contained under the covers. That feminine equine scent was one I am very familiar with.

The two of us shared a quick kiss of parting before Marble went trotting out the door. And then I was alone. But not for long. I heard a knock at the door just after I started to hear the flowing of water through the pipes inside the house. And I had a good idea of who it was since the knocking was not aggressive at all. I sat up in bed as the door creaked open to reveal the most vibrant of the four Pie sisters. "Morning, Pinkie. You here for another status report?"

"Yep. Kinda have to ask, you know? I'm the only one who knows...what happened the last time my baby sister fell in love." Pinkie Pie replied with her usual bouncy attitude being replaced by a much more subdued emotion. She locked the door behind her before hopping up onto the bed and took a seat. While smiling hopefully, Pinkie Pie was a lot quieter than usual. "So then... Everything OK with you two last night? Did you make my little sister happy?"

I hid nothing from my newest lover's twin sister. She needed to know. "Yeah... We were very happy. Almost...magical. Your little sister is one of the most sincere and loving mares I know. I just...want to keep her happy. To keep her safe. It still makes my blood boil knowing what that one guy did to her. I don't want to control and use her. I want her to be happy and live her best life."

Pinkie Pie was beaming at me with a wide yet soft and quiet smile. I knew I did not let her down. "Sounds like everything I was hoping for. I mean I did all I could to get across to her two nights ago that you're not like most men. I'm just... I'm glad we really gave you a chance to show her what's really in your heart. But wow... First Maud and now Marble... I wonder how many nephews and nieces you'll be giving Auntie Pinkie Pie at this rate."

"Pinkie, come on! That's too soon!" I groaned as Pinkie Pie burst into giggling. I am still trying to wrap my head around the fact that she and I will functionally be in-laws at this rate. And I could see that Pinkie Pie was reveling at that fact. I suppose we really are closer friends than most would assume. We could not be more unlike each other, and yet... I suppose there is a very good reason why she is one of my six most important friends. And at the rate things were going, we would be family too in due time.

Even a mare as silly as Pinkie Pie understood the gravity of having children. She foalsits a couple of toddlers on a regular basis after all. She waved a hoof at me playfully and said, "Yeah, yeah, I know! Really shouldn't rush into that stuff. Just be careful with Marble especially. She's always had big dreams of raising a family with a nobleman in her wildest fantasies. She might be a little...too eager to have kids, even if she would be good at it."

"Thank goodness for that 10% success rate... I suppose compatibility issues isn't always a bad thing." I mumbled to myself while I rolled my eyes. But thinking back to the previous night... My heart longed for such a future. I could still remember how eagerly Marble whispered her desire to bear my children. She was built for motherhood. Our little ones would be as beautiful as their mother. And yet...

I shook my head to get that thought out of my head. It was far too soon. And her parents would need to know about us first. If I got their youngest daughter pregnant without explanation... My skin crawled. Pinkie's family were very old fashioned. Even if I had not met them quite yet to see how archaic their customs are in person. But I dreaded the thought of how they would react to their most maidenly daughter getting pregnant out of wedlock. Things would get ugly for sure. We had to wait. We needed to be patient and let things build slowly. "Good things come to those who wait..."

Pinkie Pie then crawled forward and wrapped her arms around me for a much firmer hug than usual. Being back home must have been bringing out all that Pie family muscle. Not that she ever hides it much on the regular to begin with. I still remember when she hip bumped me into the wall that one time. And all on accident. "I'm gonna say it again. I always knew you and Marble would be a great couple. I just know there's good things on the horizon for you two!"

"I really hope so. After what you said she went through, Marble deserves to live like a princess. I hope she'll have a place in Ponyville eventually." I replied while cuddling Pinkie Pie right back. Even though things were only just beginning between us, I had high hopes for Marble's future with me in Ponyville.

"Mmhm. And she finally found her knight in shining armor. And he's a real knight too! She's always gonna love that about you." Pinkie Pie giggled as she started to release me from her embrace. She then looked at me with a smile and said, "Anyway, I just wanted to check in with you after...you know. Limestone's probably starting on breakfast right now, so I'm gonna go pitch in and add a little Pinkie Pie goodness! See you at the dinner table!"

"Sounds yummy. I'll see you there." I replied with Pinkie Pie trotting out of the room. I decided to forego my usual morning shower for once since the bathroom was occupied and went ahead and got dressed. With both Limestone and Pinkie at the helm in the kitchen, I was curious of what they would cook up together. Although Pinkie Pie has always had more experience with an oven than a stove.

It was not just the sound and smell of something frying in a skillet that reached my ears. I could also smell something on the air when I came downstairs. The scent of something sweet being baked. Did Pinkie Pie decide to bake a cake for breakfast? Not ideal, but no one would complain. I peaked in the kitchen to find one side of the counter having been covered with patches of flour. Pinkie had just whipped something up fro scratch. And I could tell she was manning the oven since that dry white powder was all over her front hooves and with some on her face. She wasted no time in getting herself washed off at the kitchen sink while Limestone stirred the contents of her skillet. But why was there just one skillet when I could smell multiple aromas on the air?

https://youtu.be/d6yNmHknhtM?si=ftzW\_-RPDPetFBKg

I decided to wait things out and put some music on with the phonograph in the living room. I also added a log to the fireplace to keep the flames burning bright. I eventually heard the sound of hooves coming down the stairs and saw none other than Maud Pie descending. She looked at me between the stairwell's railing and smiled right away. I smiled back and walked over to reach through the railing to hold her hoof. "Good morning, love. Sleep well?"

"Yes. But it wasn't the same without you. But now that you're here... I'm feeling a lot better." Maud said with he smile fading only to ignite again. Even if her smile was a very small one.

It was an unfortunate reality of the practice of polygamy. For as much as I love them all, it is not possible for me to be there with them all the time. But we would make it work. And I hoped Maud would understand that. "I can't be there in bed with you every night. I doubt there's a bed model out there big enough to hold us all... Heh. But I'll make time for you. I have to. Because I love you."

"I promise I'll never get jealous. I missed you last night, but I know Marble needed you that time. I'm ready to really try for your family. If they can figure out how to make their nights work when you can't be there, I will too." Maud said softly through her usual deadpan tone. She reached out with her muzzle reaching past the railing with a subtle invitation to a kiss. Which I answered in kind as we closed our eyes for a brief moment. Just a little smooch to start our day. Maud then gazed lovingly at me and whispered, "I love you. Time for our second day as more than just friends."

"Here's hoping there will never be an end to it." I whispered back to my beloved as my fingers caressed her jaw. Maud responded beautiful as she lifted her head with eyes closed and a subtle smile on her lips. Enjoying my caress in the way a human woman never could. Only to hear the sound of more hooves descending the stairs. A turn of my head revealed Marble Pie coming downstairs to join us after a soothing hot shower. "Morning, dear. How was it?"

"I...needed it. Hot showers are always better in winter." Marble squeaked as she beheld her older sister and I sharing a moment of intimacy. She hid behind her mane like she always does. Almost as if she thought she was intruding. "I'm...happy for you two. Thank you for being so good to Maud, James. I... I thought she would never find a husband. That she would never be...loved."

"Maud is a wonderful person. She just can't be examined from the usual angle. You just need to look at her in a different way to see what's really under that stony surface." I replied while Maud started to visibly blush. She and I shared another kiss before I turned my gaze back to Marble. "And you're just as wonderful, dear. I'm honored that we have a future together."

Marble let out a delighted squeak while completely hiding her blushing face behind her long mane. Although she did soon barely peek around it with one eye before saying, "After breakfast... Can Maud and I... Can we just...cuddle with you? In front of the fireplace?"

"I can think of no better thing to do after a morning meal on a frigid winter morning. Please do." I replied while Maud and Marble shared a knowing smile with each other. We then decided to head into the dining room now that it sounded like things were being set up in there. And there was quite the blend of aromas in the air. What had Pinkie and Limestone cooked up in there?

We got our answer with we stepped around the corner. I immediately identified Pinkie's contribution to the meal. A batch of freshly baked blueberry muffins were set in a basket lined with a kitchen towel. There was fresh fruit too. But what really caught my eye was the cast iron skillet in the middle of the table. It appeared to contain an egg dish of some sort filled with various veggies and cheese. I pointed to the dish and asked, "Whoa, what'd you cook up there?"

"That? I...uh... I kinda just...experimented. I thought it might be a good idea to take all the usual breakfast fixings and just cook them all together. I was trying to make omelets, but...I think it turned into something else." Limestone explained while I started to see what was in it. I could see hash browns, but also tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach, and I think even some cauliflower. While certainly unrefined in appearance, it looked incredibly tasty.

That egg concoction even looked familiar to me the more I examined it. And I was quite impressed. "That's definitely no omelet... But I think it leans closer to being a frittata. I really need to cook those more often."

Limestone looked nothing short of surprised that her presumed mistake in the kitchen turned out to be a real type of recipe. I suppose she really does have a talent in the kitchen. "There's a name for that thing? I just dumped an entire carton of eggs into the skillet just to see what happens. I was almost worried that I screwed up. But if that's a real dish... Dig in! I've got a good feeling about it!"

And we sure did. We had to serve the frittata like a pie or quiche, cutting triangular slices out of it. And the blueberry muffins were definitely on par with the ones served at Sugarcube Corner. But we were all especially impressed with that frittata. All that breakfast goodness in just one item. The Pie sisters even brought out a variety of sauces and condiments for us to experiment with. As for me, I stuck with simple ketchup for mine. I was not feeling daring enough to try anything like horseradish or Worcestershire sauce at the time.

With how filling breakfast was, I was sure we would not even have to bother with lunch that day. High calorie intake with low activity on a winter day with us basically being snowed in meant we would not be working up an appetite again for a good while. Although I had not forgotten about my promise to cook dinner again that evening.

While Pinkie and Limestone handled the dishes afterward, I did as I promised and rested in front of the fireplace with my two newest lovers. Marble even put on a new vinyl record to set to play some soft classical music to set the mood. Maud even found a throw rug to set out to make the floor a little more comfortable than usual. And for a while, there were no words. Just me and them being more than just friends.

https://youtu.be/Jl2ifDaETIw?si=qEY4IIW4aK\_avK25

One mare was hard as stone. The other was soft as the finest sand. And I loved them both. I held them while they held me. And every few minutes, we would share a kiss. But someone had to break the silence eventually. So I did. "Are you two OK with this? Two sisters with the same man?"

Maud whispered back to me, "I think it's really convenient. It just means Marble and I will still be close as family. Just in a new way."

"Mmhm... I'm OK with this." Marble sighed as she leaned into my embrace. I just did not want them to feel uncomfortable in any way. It was a new situation for me as well. Finding love with two women who were not just friends, but also sisters. And not in the same way as Celestia and Nightmare Moon. But all we could do is carry on and see how things would develop. It was far too soon to say about anything.

After a while, I thought I felt a presence. Like we were being watched. And with a turn of my head, I saw her. Limestone Pie was watching from the kitchen's doorway. And I could tell by her widening eyes that she really was not planning on any of us noticing her there. I then asked, "What's up?"

Limestone's response was...completely irrelevant. As if she completely misheard me. She took a step back and averted her eyes as she said, "Jealous?! I'm not jealous! Who said anything about being jealous?!"

All three of us turned around to look back at Limestone in sheer confusion over where that statement came from. Jealous? Why would I have asked? Which I did not. Even Pinkie Pie suddenly stuck her head through the kitchen doorway...on a very long neck. No one dared make any observations about that. Pinkie Pie was just being Pinkie Pie. Although Maud then said, "That's an oddly specific thing to bring up."

"Uh huh! What was that about? Nopony said you're jealous of anything, Limey! Or is there something you're not telling us?" Pinkie Pie asked while still rubbernecking her way into the room. And that smug smirk... I am still not sure if she really thought Limestone was implying something with her response or Pinkie was just trying to mess with her for laughs.

Limestone just stood there with the weirdest look on her face. Stiff as stone, but with very intense eyes. Without a word, she stiffly trotted to the front door and left the house. We all watched the door for a moment, expecting her to come back in after maybe ten seconds. But Limestone did not return. Se was probably going for a stroll around the farm to cool off. Even if the weather outside was bitterly cold.

Pinkie Pie just rolled her eyes only for her body to suddenly get drawn in to her head with the sound of a whip crack ringing out. And no one questioned it. I then asked, "Jealous, huh? What? Is Limestone looking for a man herself?"

"Yeah. She is. When Mom and Dad retire, she's hoping to have a husband to help her run the farm. And I'm expecting them to give her full ownership of the farm in...less than ten years. They're older than you might expect." Maud explained without ceremony. While I still had not met their parents, I had just happened to see framed photos of them around the house. They did look older than I expected. Igneous Rock especially looked noticeably aged for a stallion. And I have seen some of the fathers of my closest friends. Ponies generally age quite well, yet the patriarch of the Pie family was not so lucky with how well his looks have aged by comparison. He was even heavily balding from one photo I saw. Which would explain why he is always wearing a hat in every other photo. Given that the Pie sisters are in their early to mid 20s, I suspect their parents waited until their 30s to start having kids.

"Yeah, I've seen photos of them around the house. Your dad especially is showing his age. It's not just the old fashioned look they have that's giving them that vibe. But I'm taking it Limestone isn't exactly popular with the stallions in town?" I replied before starting to venture into what could prompt the saltiest Pie sister into spouting off anything about being jealous without prodding. Suspiciously specific denial.

Pinkie Pie approached us while letting out a slightly bitter chuckle. "Eheheh... Nope. You've seen how she's like. I guess you can say the folks in Rockville are kind of... They're sorta into traditional gender roles. And Limestone's just about the most unladylike lady in town!"

Marble got a giggle out of her sister's enthusiasm and spoke up softly beside me. "She's not a bad mare. She can even be sweet and gentle when she wants. But...it's just all part of her job."

"I guess being the head foreman of a rock farm isn't exactly easy on your senses. She gives off the impression it's a very demanding job." I replied as I pondered everything I knew about Limestone. Her sour personality. How she has her mane and tail cropped very short compared to how long and voluminous her sisters' hair is. Was she always so grumpy? Or did it just come from years of having her patience whittled down by a very demanding profession?

Pinkie came over and took a seat with us in front of the fireplace. We had found a conversation topic to dig into and we wanted to be comfortable during our chat. "It's not the job itself. Running a rock farm's a lot like running a quarry. But those guys have lots and lots of workers running the place! But here... There's just a few of them. And even on a smaller scale like a rock farm, working with rocks is still hard work. If we had a few other ponies working here, it would go a lot smoother. But... I guess you can say it's tradition to not go looking to hire outside help unless you're desperate or somepony comes along and volunteers. And not a lot of ponies looking for work wanna earn bits mining on a rock farm."

I took a moment to consider things from such a perspective. In most circumstances, there are only four ponies present on the Pie family rock farm. Limestone, Marble, and their parents. And Marble is not cut out for the rigorous role of a rock farmer. She probably only handles lighter tasks. And while I am sure their parents are every bit as sturdy as Limestone herself, their more advanced age has likely slowed them down a bit. Limestone herself probably gets saddled with the biggest workload out of the rock farm's four employees. No wonder she is so grouchy. And I could only think of one thing to say. "All work and no play makes the lime very sour..."

I was not trying to be funny, but I got a snicker out of Pinkie and Marble with that statement. Only for Pinkie to then add, "Yep! Very sour! So yeah... Don't hold it against Limestone if she's so grumpy. It's not like she enjoys being salty."

"It's fine. I know she's not malicious. And she's had some sweetness come out here and there. Limes good have a tartness to them that's more than just sour." I replied while cuddling lovingly with Maud and Marble. Pinkie Pie then leaned in to add to the snuggle pile.

Maud then said softly, "I just want you to know Limestone does like you. You've made a great first impression on her. And I think you keep pleasantly surprising her every day. She's been happy to have you here."

A very sincere statement from Maud that needed to be said. If it came from her, I believed her. I tilted my head to rest it against hers and said, "I'm glad to hear that. I didn't want to make any enemies out here. I just hope she finds the right kind of stallion someday... And I really hope she doesn't marry just for the sake of business. A loveless marriage isn't worth having."

No one there made any presumptions about what kind of man Limestone would find. But her future husband, if she would ever find one, would need to be one who was not tethered by expectations for traditional gender roles. No wonder Limestone was so impressed when I cooked dinner for us all the previous night. And I would have the opportunity to dazzle her again that night when I...

I tensed up at that thought. And my thoughts went back to the previous evening. The things Limestone said. Her various reactions to my skill in the kitchen. I had to wonder... Did Limestone suspiciously bring up jealousy because she was jealous of two of her sisters having found love? Or was it because she was jealous of them having found love.....with me?

Wanting to distract myself from those thoughts, I tried to change the subject to something we were all looking forward to. "Hey, Pinkie... You ready to make another grocery run into town? We still need ingredients if I'm gonna cook you girls dinner tonight like I offered."

The three Pie sisters instantly turned their gazes to me with vaguely excited looks in their eyes. Except for Pinkie Pie. She looked exceptionally excited. "Oh right! Sure, we can get that outta the way right now while there's nothing else happening."

https://youtu.be/Ut8lQbV\_C9M?si=6OFO802R\_jviUCDQ

I went to the kitchen to check what ingredients we still had in stock. I did say I would be cooking up a pasta dish using a white cream sauce that time. We still had enough mushrooms for it and the other half of that head of garlic, but did not have enough veggies for anything else. I started jotting down a list of everything we needed and passed it to Pinkie Pie. "Here you go. Think you can round this all up?"

My excited friend held the note atop her upturned hoof and read back everything that was on it to make sure I was not missing anything. "Sure! Lemme just check first. Two pounds of...linguine? What's that?"

"It's spaghetti, but flatter. Although if they don't have it, spaghetti will do. I just didn't want to use the same kind of pasta two nights in a row." I replied promptly. I was not surprised Pinkie's knowledge of pasta was a little limited. Even I was guilty at one point in my life. I remember a time where the only pasta types I knew the names of were spaghetti, mostaccioli, and macaroni.

Pinkie Pie grinned excitedly as she learned a little something new about food. I was surprised she had such passion for any cooking outside of desserts and sweets. "Ooooh! So it's spaghetti, but fancy! I gotcha! Now for everything else... Fresh spinach... One large head of broccoli... Two jars of alfredo sauce... One small lemon... One head of garlic... One bottle of cheap dry white wine... And one bottle of...Riesling?"

"It's another sweet white wine. Not as sweet as moscato, but pretty close. Just don't want us to be drinking the same thing two nights in a row, right?" I explained while Marble and Maud gave me some more inquisitive looks. And I could see why. I cracked a smirk at the three sisters and said, "Wine has always been a big deal with my family back on Earth, so I picked up some things over time. I know these things."

"Good cooking and wine runs in your family? Wow, you learn something new every day! Anyway, got it! I'll be right back!" Pinkie Pie said while placing the grocery list in one of her saddlebags. She went trotting towards the front door with a spring in her step. "See you all in a bit!"

"No rush this time, OK? Dinner time isn't for another several hours. Enjoy yourself out there." I replied while Pinkie Pie waved goodbye to us. But while she was heading out, Limestone Pie was coming in. They passed each other with the door not closing until they were on opposite sides.

Limestone looked back over her shoulder with a look of confusion before looking at the rest of us. "Where's Pinkie going at this hour?"

"She's doing a grocery run. Nothing's happening right now, so I gave her a list of everything we'll need for dinner tonight." I explained while I went over to the house's phonograph to put another record on. Just so there was something to break the near silence of the farm house. The quieter it was, the more noticeable the house's rather bleak interior design was.

We were all careful to not bring up anything to Limestone regarding what we had discussed amongst ourselves after she stepped out of the house. I was not there to press her on her personal issues. I was her guest and I was in no position to risk aggravating the one person who could have me kicked out of the house with nowhere to go for the next day. So the four of us just did our own thing for the next hour or so. Marble and Maud, for as much as they loved me and I loved them, still needed time to themselves. I think Marble went up to her room to read a book while Maud was checking some of her study notes. As for Limestone... I did not ask and I did not search the house for her.

As for me, I spent some time in the kitchen to at least make some preparations for dinner. We were stocked on butter and that bottle of olive oil still had plenty left in it. Once I felt confident in what we had, I went around the house to start taking some photos with my DSi. Just for the sake of souvenirs in a way. I even went outside to take a few landscape photos. Once that was done, I began to take a stroll around the rock farm to just savor the silence and the beauty of winter at its finest.

https://youtu.be/OsjxjjL24OM?si=x9XBi6W3U78ivyg3

Snow was falling. A cloud cover had rolled in with the bright sunshine being dimmed. It felt more like a proper winter day with the many flakes falling around me. It was just so quiet... Peaceful. And yet, there was a subtle somberness about it. And it resonated well with my heart. A sad beauty. If the onset of autumn feels like the world is dying, then winter is the aftermath of the funeral.

I felt so melancholy, but in a good way. And it was part of why spring is my favorite season. The somber beauty of that white death coating the land only for it to melt away and reveal that lush green and many hues of fresh blossoms budding. Perhaps the world was not truly dead. Just undergoing the next step in a cycle of rebirth. But it certainly carried a type of mourning about it. Spring brings with it new birth. Then summer with the world living its life to the fullest. Then autumn as the world begins to die. And with winter's frigid lifeless white, the world dies as we all mourn until spring comes again.

My strolling took me before Holder's Boulder once again. Although I did mind my distance. I did not want to trigger Limestone's keen awareness of anything near her family's sacred heirloom. As it stood there, blanketed by a cap of white atop its gray form, I was left pondering its constant presence. Was it more than an heirloom? Did that great boulder also serve as a tombstone? A grave marker? My eyes lowered to gaze upon the snowy ground before me. Was Holder Cobblestone himself sleeping eternally in the cold rocky ground below?

It was getting to be too much. I did not want to start feeling depressed on what was essentially a short vacation. So I turned and began to walk back towards the house. But doing so had me face the direction of where the farm's fence opened up to lead out to the road over yonder. And there I saw it. A vibrant pink against the white and grays of the landscape ahead. Pinkie Pie was trotting her way home after being away for at least an hour. A faint excitement bloomed in my heart as I hastened my own pace and waved her down. "Hey, Pinkie! Found everything on the list?"

"Sure did! And I took my time like you said! I visited the coffee shop and had myself a pumpkin spice latte while just reading the newspaper for a while. Then I went to the music store to browse some of their records for any new releases from my favorite polka bands. And then I did my shopping and came on home! No shortcuts this time!" Pinkie Pie called out as she drew close. Seeing her vibrant pink form add a splash of color to the wintry whites and grays around me filled me with a subtle joy I did not even know is a thing. Being removed from the more varied colors of Ponyville defying winter's white grasp was really effecting me by that point. Pinkie Pie even noticed something was a bit off and asked, "Whatcha doing out here by yourself? Captain Grumpy having an episode and you had to get away from the noise?"

I did not even want to know why Pinkie would make that assumption. Especially after the last two days were spent with Limestone coming to terms with everything about me and my budding relationships with her sisters. But I was honest in my response. "Nah. Everyone's having some alone time right now. And I decided to just take a stroll. And...I think the atmosphere's really getting to me right now. I almost never got to see winter at its purest in places like this. It's...not like the festive attitude that places like Ponyville have at this time of year."

"Huh? What do... Hang on. Hmmm..." Pinkie Pie started to say before she stopped and scanned our surroundings. While the gentle glows of the holiday lights around the rock farm added a quiet bit of charm, everything beyond the perimeter of the place was nothing but open wilderness. The snow was falling at a gentle rate with the countless snowflakes absorbing sound. The air was almost hauntingly quiet. Dead and empty. Pinkie Pie finally came to a realization as she spoke uncharacteristically somberly, "Wow... Now that you mention it... Yeah. I've gotten so used to Ponyville's way of things during the holidays that I forgot how...depressing it can feel being out here. I mean don't get me wrong! Just look at it! All that snow is so pretty! But it's... It's a sad kinda pretty, isn't it? In town, it's the best time of year. But out here..."

It was a good time to acknowledge an unfortunate fact about winter. Something that we all tend to forget during the holiday season as we embrace the traditions of giving and appreciating the best things in life. "Winter is the harshest time of year in nature... It's the only time of year where the climate will literally kill you if you're not prepared. And if something isn't hibernating to ride out the season, they are struggling to keep themselves fed and nourished. Crops won't grow. Vegetation isn't around to feed you... Winter isn't a time of wonderment out here in the wild. It's the bleakest time of year where survival is a challenge."

"That's...really depressing to say, James. Wow... I guess we should be really grateful we live in a society that's found ways to make winter not so bad, huh?" Pinkie Pie replied while I noticed her mane and tail partially...deflate for just a few seconds. She gazed out at the frigid and lifeless landscape for a moment longer as we basked in the silence of the snowfall around us. Pinkie Pie then looked up at me and said, "I need a hug. You need a hug too?"

"Yeah. A hug right now sounds nice." I replied before dropping to one knee. And the hug that followed... It felt so reassuring to be in my peppy friend's strong embrace. Her warmth reached through my jacket. For once, I was incredibly grateful to have Pinkie Pie with me.

We were done dealing with that winter cold by then. Pinkie Pie and I hurried indoors and got everything she purchased to the kitchen. And we had everything that was placed on the list. With dinnertime still being hours away, I placed the bottle of Riesling wine in the refrigerator since there was no harm in having it cool slower. And if left out in that bitter cold for too long, the bottle might freeze and shatter the bottle. Alcoholic drinks in general are more resistant to freezing, but those with less alcohol can still freeze far more easily.

I sat down in front of the fireplace to get myself warmed up. Although Pinkie Pie was nowhere to be seen. What was she up to? In maybe fifteen minutes, I heard many hooves coming down the stairs. Pinkie Pie had rounded up all her sisters for something. I looked over my shoulder and asked, "What's up?"

Pinkie Pie was all too happy to explain. "We're gonna make snowponies! You wanna join us?"

How basic. Of all the possible winter pastimes, making snowmen was something I had not done in ages. Definitely something one does not do by themselves. I quickly sat up and said, "Sure!"

https://youtu.be/lzROIaEItjQ?si=sdnTowCWZqz7MNfs

I bundled up as much as I could and followed the equally bundled up Pie sisters outside. And they all got to work right away like they were old pros in the art. Rolling snow piles into specific shapes. But what surprised me was that Marble handled the part of smoothing out the snow into specific shapes. I knew she is good at sculpting, but doing the same for snow? The way she masterfully slid her hooves over the snow... I bet she would be great at making clay sculptures as well.

Before long, there was a vaguely equine form standing before us. And the sisters went the extra mile to complete the look. They brought out chunks of coal to dot a smile and eyes and even wrapped its neck and topped its head with a scarf and hat. I even inserted a short broom into the rear to serve as a tail. I tend to see such snow sculptures in Ponyville public park around this time of year and it certainly looked the part. The sisters looked pretty proud of themselves before Limestone turned to me and said, "That's one down. What're we making next?"

That was when I had an idea. For all the snow sculptures I tend to see during winter, there was one I had never seen. And there was a good reason for that. "How about we build a snowman?"

The looks all four of the sisters were giving me... Of course they had no idea what I was talking about. Marble squeaked out a confused response. "Um... How?"

"It's actually really simple. Help me out here and I'll tell you." I explained as we all got to work. We first rolled a very large and firmly compacted snowball to serve as the base. Then a slightly smaller snowball that we hoisted onto the top of the first to serve as a torso. And then a smaller one still to serve as the head.

The four Pie sisters were very puzzled over the figure we were constructing looking nothing like a man. At least their snowpony sculpture looked like an equine. Limestone grumbled a bit while giving the three tier snowball stack a cockeyed glance. "I'm not seeing the man in this snowman..."

"Give it a little bit. It's not supposed to be on-model. It's meant to be...charming." I replied as I started to apply chunks of coal to the top snowball to dot out a wide smile and then a pair of eyes. But something was missing. Until I had an idea. I ran back inside and fetch the cork of that bottle of moscato wine we drank out of the trash bin. I came back out and pushed it into the snowman's face below the eyes and above the mouth to have it serve as a nose. We then scrounged up a pair of old sticks from the snow and stuck them into the sides of the middle snowball to serve as crude arms. We then took a step back to appraise the results as I said, "And there you have it. A classic snowman."

My four companions were left speechless for a good moment. And I was left worried. Were they just that unimpressed? Maud was the first to speak with her voice carrying its usual monotone. "It is actually kind of...charming. Something about the simplicity, I think..."

"Huh... Yeah. It kind of is. Maybe it's that goofy smile and the stick arms looking like its waving at us or wants to give us a hug." Limestone added while Marble added a quiet 'Mmhm' in agreement.

Finally, Pinkie Pie gave the results of our efforts a big smile while she said, "I'm gonna name this snowman Parson Brown!"

"Why? You two married?" I asked while left wondering if Pinkie Pie would recognize where I was trying to take the topic. Her three sisters looked up at me with some confusion. Although Maud's only means of conveying her puzzlement was a raised eyebrow.

Sure enough, Pinkie Pie was in on the inside joke I was going for. She giggled and said, "No, man! But you can do the job when you're in town!"

"Hey, you got the joke." I snickered while Pinkie and I shared a fist bump. But her sisters did not get the joke. Not that it matter. I then took a good look at our new snowman and said, "So there you have it. A classic snowman. Although if you want we could style him up even more."

"You know what? That's not a bad idea. Let's go grab some more hats and scarves!" Limestone replied while she and her sisters went trotting back to the house with me. We raided the closets for more clothing. Even some clothing that was not really appropriate for the season.

We really started having some fun with our snowman. Dressing him up in scarves and swapping out hats. I even took photos with my DSi as if we were running a photo shoot. The Pie sisters were really getting into it and even posed by the snowman for some of the photos. Pinkie Pie even found some sunglasses somewhere and would balance them perfectly on the snowman's cork nose.

I decided to wrap up the photo shoot in a most fitting manner. After removing whatever we had put on it, I placed a few more pieces of coal vertically on the middle section to resemble the buttons on a jacket and then wrapped a bright red scarf around the snowman's neck area. I then set a black top hat atop its head. With something that fancy, I have to assume it belonged to their father and was worn only for formal occasions. But with the air being so cold and dry, no harm would come to it. I took a step back to appraise the final results and nodded with a smirk. "Looking dapper there, Mr. Brown."

The snowman did nothing more than smile back at me. But if he was alive, he would probably have appreciated the final results. Maud then spoke up while beginning to step around our creation. "It's charmingly simple, but that simplicity means you can customize it very easily. I like it."

"That's the beauty of the snowman. And now Mr. Brown will be keeping an eye on your yard for the rest of winter." I added with a smirk. I doubt even Mr. and Mrs. Pie would object to having a new snow sculpture out in the yard for the rest of the season.

But by then, we decided we were sick of the cold and went back inside for a serving of hot chocolate. While I did relax in front of the fireplace, I was not alone for long. Maud and Marble soon cuddled up to me with mugs of that steamy beverage while Pinkie Pie even draped us in a big blanket to really trap in all that heat while placing out a bunch of pillows for us to relax on. I looked at my two lovers' fun sister and spoke with a smirk, "Playing cupid, Pinkie?"

"Nah! Cupid's arrows found their mark already. I'm just being your wingmare! My sisters found a really good man and I'm just being supportive!" Pinkie Pie giggled joyously. Her sisters smiled gratefully at her while she lied down near us and slurped away at her hot chocolate. With a straw made from a hollow candy cane. I should try that sometime.

Someone was missing though. And I had a strong hunch of where she was. I looked over my shoulder and spotted Limestone watching us from just around the corner of the kitchen. Alone in a room with the lights turned off. In contrast to the four of us being bathed in the glow of the burning fireplace. It was all just...so sad.

https://youtu.be/iy61M4lP-j4?si=qvXZkjIXmkOfIGNJ

I wanted to say something, but I just could not find the words. Thankfully, someone else stepped up to the situation. Maud happened to look back too and spoke up when she spotted her sister. "What's wrong, Limestone?"

"I said I'm not jealous, all right?!" Limestone barked before looking away and taking a long swing of her mug with such a hilariously dry look in her eyes. It would have been funny had I not known how lonely she really was. She really was completely inept at hiding her turmoil from all but the daftest people.

Pinkie Pie set her mug down and rolled her eyes at her biggest sister's suspiciously specific denial in response to a question no one asked. And she was completely done with it. "OK, Captain Grumpy. Get over here! If you're not jealous, then I'm Princess Celestia! And you don't want ME going alicorn, do you?"

"Uh...what?" I mumbled as all four of us gave Pinkie Pie the weirdest stares. Was that supposed to be some kind of threat? And where did that statement even come from? Has Pinkie Pie been an alicorn of royal caliber before when no one was watching? Sounds...scary.

Limestone let out a long groan before she relented and sat herself down by the fireplace as well. And no one said anything for a moment to let ourselves enjoy our beverages. There was a subtle tension in the air. No music to break the silence. The air outside the house was dreadfully silent. The only sound reaching our ears was the crackling of burning logs in the fireplace. It was all a matter of who would have the courage to speak first. And sure enough, it was Pinkie Pie. And she spoke with such a smug smirk on her lips while looking right at Limestone. "So... You jelly?"

For as mad as she looked, Limestone had a way of making the funniest faces when she was annoyed. Her striking eye color only accentuated her anger. But by then, it was hard to feel intimidated by her. "I said I'm not jealous!"

"No one brought up jealousy before you did this morning." I replied while I set aside my empty mug. All I could do was hope the conversation would not ruin the rest of our day together. We were walking a razor's edge.

Limestone was backed into a corner. She had been called out and could not provide a response. She averted her gaze while pouting with puffed cheeks. Marble cuddled up with me firmly, as if anticipating a heated argument. I put my arm around her to try and make her feel safe. It was Maud who spoke next. "You're jealous. We can see that now. But what are you jealous of?"

The biggest sister of the Pie sisters scowled even harder as she tried to avoid looking at us. It was then that I felt it was a good time to reveal what I knew about her. "I understand you're hoping to find a husband someday. And that you haven't been having much luck with the stallions in town."

She let out such a harsh sigh at that revelation. Limestone looked at me and said, "You heard, huh? I guess I can't be mad about that. I didn't really tell anypony to keep that a secret. But yeah... Surprised to know such a grouch is looking for love?"

"To be honest... No. I'm not surprised at all that you want a man in your life to hold you and make you feel loved." I replied gently while Limestone's eyes widened slightly at my words. I was not trying to be particularly profound, but I could not help myself at the time. I have always been a romantic at heart and do not ever try to hide it.

"Man... Why do you have to make it sound so beautiful like that? Yeah... That does sound a lot nicer than I would've put it." Limestone grumbled with her harsh gaze softening a little. But now she just looked sad. As if she was longing for what her sisters had that she did not.

Pinkie Pie took the reigns of the conversation as she asked, "Then what're you jealous of? Maud? Marble? Jealous that they found their special somepony... Special someone? Or..."

The silliest of the Pie sisters crawled a little closer to her biggest sister. And she began to smirk as that cheekiness started to ooze out. "Or...are you jealous because of WHO they fell in love with?"

Limestone flinched with teeth bared. The tension in the air spiked. And I internally pleaded that Limestone would not snap. Pinkie Pie even recoiled a bit and returned to her previous spot in front of the fireplace. After a moment with Limestone quivering in what I assumed was fury, she finally bowed her head before looking at me. "Do you... Do you have any idea how rare it is to find a man like you around here?! And I'm not talking about you...being the kind of man who can love so many mares at once like that. I mean...everything! You cook! You write! You care! You do what you do and don't ask for anything in return! That's... That's what a wife does!"

"I'm a husband, Limestone. I do what I must for my family in the same way my wife does. I can cook, so I do. And I even find gratification in it. I mean I got nothing against traditional gender roles, but I would never want them to be enforced. A man can cook. And a woman can be the breadwinner of the household. And they can share and exchange those tasks if needed. Am I wrong?" I explained without hesitation. Everything in my mind was telling me to be cautious. I would only speak when spoken to. Limestone was at an impasse and we needed to choose our words carefully.

She looked like she was on the verge of tears. And for once, Limestone could find no words to say. She held her face in her hooves, letting out a harsh sigh. She just could not find a counter to what I had just described. Was the culture of Rockville and the surrounding area really just that old fashioned? Right when I was wondering if I should take a chance and speak up, Maud beat me to it. "Limestone. Do you wish James would be your husband someday?"

Limestone let out a growl as she finally spoke through tears. Her gruff voice quivered as those intensely colored eyes looked our way. "What does it matter? What kinda man would want a mare like me?! Who would even like me?"

I did not hesitate. She needed to hear the simple truth. "But I do like you. Quite a bit, really."

Limestone's intense gaze softened with a look of shock. She looked at me with eyes still glistening with tears while all eyes fell on me. And so I spoke again. "Yeah... I do. I've had a few days to process everything and...yes. I do like you. I've found the past few days to be an enjoyable experience and I've grown to like you in the process."

"You like me...? No fooling? Even after...all the grouchiness I've shown, you...do?" Limestone asked with a hushed voice of disbelief. Was she in denial? Did she really convince herself no man would ever want her? The poor thing...

I was left unsure how to further convince Limestone at the moment. So I came up with an idea. First was Maud. Then Marble. And now it was Limestone's turn to have a sleepover guest. "Limestone... Would you like me to stay with you tonight in your room? So we can talk?"

A new tension filled the air. And Pinkie Pie's wide eyes told me everything. There was a joyous hope in them. Maybe night with such a man was exactly what Limestone needed. No stallion had ever spent an evening alone with her in her own territory. And after a moment of silent contemplation, Limestone sighed with a response escaping her lips. "I... You... Yeah. Yeah, sure... Sounds...nice."

"Then I'll be there. Until then, can we just enjoy our day? No talking about this stuff? So we can just keep our minds of any troubles? It is the holidays after all." I replied while just wanting to keep any tension to a minimum. It was our last full day together and I did not want to have it contain too many sour notes.

Limestone let out a harsh sigh and rolled her eyes. All while looking more than just a little embarrassed. "Yeah... Let's do that. We're supposed to be having a good time while you and Pinkie are here. How about I get started on lunch?"

"I'm not all that hungry. I think breakfast filled me up really well. Maybe something light?" Maud replied while the rest of us voiced our minimal appetites. The frittata was something else. And dinner was also very filling the previous night. It would also be wise to not fill up too much at lunch when I was going to be cooking an equally substantial dish that night.

"You too? I was gonna make soup again, but... Yeah, I'm not that hungry either. Wait here, I'll go whip up something light." Limestone said before she went trotting into the kitchen. Not even ten minutes went by before she called out to us. "Come and get it while it's soft!"

What did she whip up so quickly anyway? All I heard back there was the refrigerator door opening a few times and the clinking of glass. But we found the answer waiting for us on a platter. Five peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. On wheat. And with a glass of cold milk on the side. That crooked smirk on Limestone's face said it all. The classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich is more of a light snack than a proper meal. But they would tide us over until dinner.

I do not know what brand Limestone used, but I found our sandwiches to be quite satisfying. I really do not eat those kinds of sandwiches often enough. Although once lunch was over and done with, we were left pondering what to do with our time. None of us were in the mood for another snowball fight. And while cozy, there was only so much winter's wonders could do to hide how lacking the entire household felt. I dreaded being stuck there during warmer seasons...

We all came to the same conclusion. With full bellies on a quiet and uneventful winter day, we decided it was time for a nap. The Pie sisters retreated upstairs to their bedrooms. I expected us to nap for no more than two hours. As for me, I draped myself out on the couch in the living room with the crackling of the fireplace providing some soothing background ambience. Although as I set my head down on the pillow and closed my eyes, something else caused my senses to snap to being alert. Another sound had joined that crackling. The tapping of hooves coming down the stairs.

I opened one eye and glanced around without moving my head. And there she was. Marble Pie shyly approaching me. She soon noticed that I could see her and asked, "May I...join you? I...want to be with my knight right now."

https://youtu.be/l2NQyIGvPaU?si=-FAP46TdjnoZVdBf

"Of course, dear. Come." I whispered back to my newest beloved as I helped her up and let her lie upon me. She tilted her head sideways to rest her ear upon my chest. My deep breaths let her rise and fall gently while the timid little mare looked so relaxed. "Enjoying yourself?"

"You're wonderful... The sound of your lungs... The beating of your heart... I love it all." My beautiful beloved whispered to me with her eye peeking out past her mane. She was just so lovely... There was no shame in falling in love with such a darling lady so quickly. My hands slowly slid over her back as she sighed at my touch. Further back and over the curves of her impressively rounded flanks. So full and soft... As if already blessed by motherhood. Although I was very careful to avoid caressing her cutie marks. It was a time of relaxation and not intimacy. Although Marble clearly would not have minded had I decided to give her pleasure. "You can hold me anyway you want... Caress me wherever you want... I'm yours now. My wonderful knight..."

"And I am yours, my dear lady." I whispered back to my beloved before our lips met for the first of many little kisses. My fingers and palms continued to caress Marble's foalbearing hips. So full for a mare of her size... The love I held for her in my heart ignited as my fantasies danced in my head. How I wanted to bless her with children. Those beautiful words she whispered to me the previous night... We would have little ones of our own in the future. Probably many as well. Motherhood would suit that wonderful little lady. And I would cherish every filly and colt we would be blessed with. The father in me demanded that I make her a mother. And I knew she wanted it too.

It was difficult to keep my mind off of that beautiful future we would surely be promised. We should not dive too quickly into such a relationship. Fluttershy and I were almost as hasty with ours and we nearly paid the price for it. My heart demanded that I claim Marble as my own in every way. And I know she wanted the same. But my mind demanded that I resist. We were in love. Truly. And yet, we still would be wise to wait. Never on the first date. Nor on the second.

But hat did not stop us from loving each other. Instead of obsessing over our future, I focused on the moment at hand. So many little kisses upon her lips. And to try and avoid letting my lust get the better of me, I slid my hands further up my beloved's soft and gentle body. Along her back and sides before sliding over her shoulders and neck. Marble whispered softly to me, "I can't believe these hands held a sword... So tender... A warrior poet, you said?"

I have grown to adore that title. Even when spoken by those other than Ember. I whispered back to my beloved while my hands continued to knead her beautiful body like clay. "I suppose I am. These hands hold a sword as well as they can hold a quill. They've even held a flute at one time. And a brush. Although I sadly was not that adept in those fields... As least I excel in the art of text."

"Mmm... I can't wait to read some of your work. Even if they're all journals. I'm sure your story in Equestria is worth telling. And I hope...I'll become a part of it." Marble cooed as my fingers dug into her. My masseuse instincts were coming out as I began to perform a modest massage on the lovely mare atop me.

Marble absolutely would find a place in my writings. As I am sure anyone reading this right now can see. And I smirked at her as I said, "You will. I promise to document this day once I get back home. And...I'll be writing many more when we see each other again. And more...when we're finally together for good."

She giggled shyly while instinctively hiding her face behind her mane. Marble could not help herself. Although she still asked softly, "Do you...write about your children?"

"I have. Not every day has moments that stand out enough to put to paper. But when they do, I never miss it. And...I'm sure I'll be doing the same for many of my future children too." I whispered back to her with only the sound of the crackling fireplace interrupting my voice. I could only imagine how many children will be born into my family. Or what they will look like. Except...for that beautiful dragon boy I dreamed of that one time. God, I miss him so much... Will Ember and I really be blessed with a son so precious someday?

Marble cooed at my touch. And at my words. She then whispered with such love in her eyes, "Then...please. When it happens... Please write about our little ones. So we can look back on some of their best moments."

"Oh Marble... I will. Every last one of them." I whispered as our lips met again for another wonderful lasting kiss. She was just so pure... So young too. The youngest out of all her sisters. Even if only by a matter of minutes next to Pinkie Pie. She needed to be cherished and nurtured. And I was honored that she had asked me to be the man who would be with her as she blossomed from a maiden into a true woman in the coming years. And just...the sincerity of her words... The promise of having a family... To raise our little ones with the rest of them... I gazed into her eyes as my heart bled into my voice. "Is it wrong...that I want you to bear my children?"

Marble responded with a need blush on her face. And a look of need and longing in her eyes as her hooves rested on my shoulders. "Is it wrong that I want to carry them for you...? To...bring them into this world?"

We kissed. Deeply. Tongues dancing as our eyes closed to let all of our other senses take the reigns. We were so in love... So ready to face our future together. Marble's purest love... It made everything feel so easy. So natural... As if we could throw all caution to the wind and let things fall into place. To be mother and father to some of the loveliest little foals our minds could dream of... It was just so tempting. If her mother wanted grandchildren, then we would definitely give her some. No, we would give her many. Maybe even a dozen. A tiny herd of darling foals their grandmother would fawn over for the rest of her days.

The fantasies in my mind were so beautiful... But also just too good to be true. Even in a veritable paradise like Equestria. Even Marble and I would be blessed with so many precious little lives in the coming future, we would be risking so much to just charge into it blindly. Patience. We needed patience. It is easy to love. And it is easy to create new little lives to love and raise. But it takes more to raise a child than just love. And as we gazed into each other's eyes, panting with flushed faces and a trail of our shared saliva connecting our tongues, I whispered to my beloved. "Easy there, dear... In due time. But...it's just so hard to not let yourself dream..."

"Mmhm... I know... I want it...but I know I shouldn't have it yet... Mom and Dad... They would be furious if I...ended up with child so suddenly without a plan..." Marble whispered to me with her eyes displaying a look of guilt. Or maybe just disappointment. And she was right. Just because many parents want grandchildren eventually does not mean they want their sons and daughters to start having children recklessly. She then spoke with a sigh as that smile started to return to her face. "But I'll wait. For you. I'll wait for the day you finally take me to where I truly belong... I can't wait to finally be a part of your family... I'm sorry I ever doubted you. You...really know what you're doing."

"I will. Someday. Don't know when, but we'll figure something out. I'll give you...what he didn't. I'll give you the life you deserve." I whispered back to my dear lover as my hand cupped her cheek. My heart was full of hope. I did not have a plan at the time, but everything will fall into place when the time comes. I am at least confident about that much.

With one final reassuring kiss, Marble and I finally decided it was time to settle in for a nap. She even helped me get a quilt draped over us both with my little lover resting her head just under my chin. Her weight was comforting. And with only the sound of the fireplace gracing our ears with a wordless lullaby, we drifted off to sleep.

I am not entirely certain if what I am writing down is what actually happened. I hurried tried to jot down a note to preserve what bits and pieces of that memory I could before it could fade from my mind after waking. But what I dreamed of...

It was a beautiful day. In an entire courtyard filled with granite statues masterfully sculpted. And all around me were many foals of varying ages. Some looked like they had just enrolled in kindergarten. Others looked like they were on the verge of starting high school. But all of those fillies and colts had something in common. Their coats and manes were varying shades of gray and brown. Like a moving gravel pile. And in my arms was the youngest of them all. A beautiful little filly no older than Gladesong. And she was the spitting image of her mother.

She was there. The beautiful mother of all those wonderful happy foals. Surveying her most recent creation with a hammer and chisel set aside... Marble Pie stood with a classy black beret atop her head. She looked at me and smiled. And I smiled back at her. While all our children played and marveled at the many stone creations of their talented mother, she and I embraced with our newest little one tucked between us. I remember no words that I could understand, but everything I heard was filled with love and happiness. We wee in love. We had a family. And all of our children were happy. What more could we have wanted?

The last thing I remember was the weight of my beloved pressing against me for an embrace with the weight of our child pressed between us. Only for that sense of weight to shift as I awoke. Marble was stirring atop me and groggily opened her eyes before greeting me with a sleepy smile. "Mm... Good morning... Or...good afternoon? What time is it?"

I was so disappointed over having been woken up so soon. I wanted to go right back to sleep while my dream was still fresh in my mind and return to my wife and children. But I had to let it go. That dream would come true eventually anyway. I noticed an antique clock set over the fireplace. Just a little past 4 pm. And the sun was already setting beyond the windows. "The time is...late enough."

Marble let out a drowsy giggle as she and I sat up. I was clinging desperately to my newest memories of that dream. Holding onto what I could so I could write down a reminder of what happened for later. Marble seemed to notice I was visibly distracted and asked softly, "Did you dream well?"

A long sigh hissed from my nostrils. She had no idea how good I had it in there. I smiled just slightly and said, "I dreamed that I was a daddy. To your children."

That look on her face. Marble just recoiled with a very flustered and blushing look of shock in her eyes. She turned away while giggling and stammering incoherently before she could asked briefly, "How...many...?"

That was a good question. And I gave it some thought before I spoke. "Hm... I dunno. I wasn't exactly lucid enough to keep count. But I know it was in the double digits."

Marble's blush only deepened as she stared at me with wide eyes. Only for her one visible eye to look off to the side as she whispered shyly to me. "I...hope I give you that many someday..."

"Oh Marble... One day at a time, dear." I said with a sigh before pulling her into my arms for an embrace. Just to hold onto that memory a little longer. "They were all beautiful... And happy. Our children will be amazing."

"I'll...love them all..." Marble squeaked with her face buried into my chest while my fingers dragged through her mane. I held her while she held me. A mother and father who had yet to be blessed with our first child.

Although there was one thing wrong with what she said. And I gently corrected her. "We both will, dear. We'll love them like nobody's business."

She let out the softest little squeal while burying her face into my chest. Perhaps it was too soon to dream so big, but Marble had been denied such love for too long. And she was healing. While the promise of us starting a family was still a destination too far off to be setting our sights on yet, I am a man who wishes to see it through and not leave her behind. I love her. And I will not leave her.

The subtle tapping of hooves somewhere upstairs caught our attention. It sounded like Marble's sisters were all starting to wake up and return for the rest of the day. And the house was starting to dim with only the warm glow of a winter sunset shining through the western windows. I said softly, "Guess it's about time for dinner. Shall I get started?"

"Mmhm... I can't wait to see what you cook up tonight." Marble said with a gleam of quiet excitement in her eyes. It was best I get started right away, so I made my way to the kitchen. It was my last night with the Pie sisters, so I wanted our last dinner together to be just as delectable as the previous night.

https://youtu.be/K8iL8vsKaB4?si=rhrMREFhB-Hxy1ZE

I had all the ingredients I needed to put together a pasta with white sauce. A classic alfredo dish. But right when I filled that big cook pot with water and sprinkled a tablespoon of salt into it, I turned around and found all four of the Pie sisters standing in a row as they watched from the doorway. With the exception of Maud, they had looks of hungry yet happy anticipation on their faces. I waved a hand as I said, "I only just got started, all right? Go entertain yourselves for a while."

"Hee! Sorry, we're really starving for more good pasta! How about we all go have another snowball fight to pass the time? And work up an appetite?" Pinkie Pie replied while her sisters seemed to be in agreement. They all started to leave the kitchen while Pinkie even put on a vinyl record in the living room to at least try to keep me entertained while I cooked.

Although I was not alone for long. I first went about peeling the rest of the garlic cloves we still had. And once I had set them aside for dicing, someone stuck her head around the corner of the doorway. Maud had come back and asked, "I just remembered. You want me to take care of the garlic again?"

I almost declined Maud's offer. At least until I remembered how she prepared the garlic cloves the previous night. I cracked a smirk at the memory and said, "Sure. Do your thing."

And so she did. Maud came over to the counter and pulled out a large flat slab of stone. And with a loud bang, she slammed it onto the cutting board to reduce the garlic cloves to a very fragrant paste. She then tucked the smashing slab back under the counter and cast me the slightest smirk. "All done. Need anything else?"

"Nope. I can take it from here. Go have fun and I'll call you in when it's ready." I replied while impressed and amused by Maud's methods. Subtle as a train wreck, but very effective. I wish I could prepare my ingredients so easily. Once Maud was out of the kitchen, I got to work on sautéing the veggies in a sauce pan in a blend of olive oil, butter, and garlic. The holy trinity that is perfect for blending into a cream sauce. Plus a helping of dry white wine and a sprinkling of salt and finely ground black pepper and basil. And the aroma rising from the steaming blend of green and white... I knew that smell was escaping through the vent over the stove and spreading out over the farm. It would only arouse the Pie sisters' hunger all the more. "Man, there's nothing like the smell of garlic and mushrooms... I need to cook this stuff more often."

The water in the cook pot was ice cold with how winter was chilling the pipes and the source of the water flowing through them. It would take a while for it to get boiling. Which gave me more time to focus on the fixings. A short while went by before Limestone poked her head around the corner of the doorway. With a fresh snowball still halfway flattened onto her head. I almost laughed before I spoke. "Who's winning?"

"No idea. But Pinkie got me good a minute ago. We're taking a break for a second so I can take some notes." Limestone explained before coming over with a notepad resting upon her upturned hoof. And she had a pencil ready. "So... What're you doing this time? I don't think the fixings smelled this good last time."

"That's because I added butter to the ingredients while cooking instead of adding it to the sauce. Olive oil, butter, and garlic are a perfect blend for a base when preparing ingredients for a white sauce. And I added that dry white wine too before adding the sauce. I really don't think there's anything to add that you didn't learn last night." I explained while remembering just how much advice Limestone jotted down while I was cooking our previous pasta dish. Different sauce required a different approach, but not by that much."

"Hm... Add butter to cooking ingredients instead of sauce... Got it." Limestone muttered before putting aside her notepad and rushing back outside to resume the four sister's winter war. And thing resumed without a hitch. Although I had to grab a long spoon to get out as much of the sauce from the two jars as possible. While I excel at making homemade tomato sauce for pasta, making homemade cream sauce is something I never quite figured out how to do. Although I suppose tomato sauce is much less fattening than a dairy based sauce, so maybe that it a good thing?

The sauce blended with its fixings was thick, so I had to really work to get it tossed evenly in those two pounds of pasta. Cooking for five meant there was a lot to go around. And right when I started tossing the pasta, I heard the four Pie sisters come in. And it was clear how things went. Pinkie, Maud, and Limestone were caked in snow, but Marble was entirely spotless. Her Marble Sense did not fail her. But they instantly stopped and inhaled deeply through their nostrils as they we assailed by that delectable aroma spreading throughout the house. Even Maud's eyes went a bit wide at the greeting in her nose. Pinkie Pie squealed in hungry joy, "Yuuuuum! Is dinner ready?!"

"Yep! Would you girls mind setting the table? I'm just putting on the finishing touches here." I replied while I went back to tossing the pasta in that pot. The four sisters hurriedly gathered up the dishes and drinkware somewhere over in the dining room. Although I noticed Marble go trotting past the kitchen doorway with an ice bucket hanging from her jaws only to come back less than a minute later with it full of snow. Why bother with ice when finely ground ice is everywhere just outside?

I soon entered the dining room while lugging that big pot of pasta with me while Pinkie Pie fetched the bottle of Riesling from the refrigerator. She had no problem stuffing it into the bucket of snow on the table where it would be kept extra cold. The four sisters watched with salivating mouths as I loaded up all our plates with heaping servings of pasta slathered in a white sauce with broccoli, spinach, and mushrooms dotting them while also adding a layer of grated parmesan cheese to it. Almost like a layer of edible snow. And much like the previous night, Limestone Pie would be the one to get the first taste. And she almost looked nervous as she twirled linguine on her fork. "Hoo boy... Looks good. Smells good. But what about..."

She took a bite. And we all watched in silence. When she finally swallowed, I thought Limestone was about to cry. "Oh my gosh... Just... Man, I love a guy who can really cook."

"Do you now?" I asked with a smirk while almost everyone at the table burst into snickering and giggling. Maud even raised an eyebrow while casting the slightest smile at Limestone. Who was recoiling in horror at the implications of what she had just said.

"No no no no no not like that! I meant... I mean it's just... I'm gonna shut up now... But it's good. Hats off to the chef." Limestone stammered before bowing her head and grumbling. All while her gray face turned an impressive maroon hue for a moment.

We all stopped laughing and started eating. Between the hearty and rich pasta and the sweet Riesling wine, dinner was delightful. And the pasta hit much differently from that tomato sauce primavera from the previous night. Heavy and filling, it was even more ideal for a cold and dreary winter day surrounded by snowfields. We were lucky we all had a light lunch. We would be walking away from the dinner table feeling too full to bother with dessert.

Everyone was happy, yet tired after dinner. The moon was already hanging above the land by the time we had gathered at the dinner table. But it was still too soon for bedtime. Wanting to avoid getting too relaxed and risking passing out on the couch, I donned myself in my winter coat and went outside for a walk around the premises. And I insisted that I go alone. Just to relax and be with my thoughts. I think the Pie sisters ate even more than I did and had even less energy after all that.

Stepping outside... I was greeted by the beauty of winter under the glow of the moon. The vast blanket of white for as far as the eye could see made the night look much brighter than natural. All that white reflecting any and all light... If we were in the middle of summer, I would probably be barely able to see a thing. But nothing could hide in a night with all that white around them.

https://youtu.be/ekuBBDArEkk?si=LcGM0TOFz9pFzHh4

The glow of the holiday lights set up around the farm and on the farmhouse only added to the ivory ambience brought on by the snow around me. It was a shame that there was no snow coming down. With my hands in my pockets, I began to walk laps around the farmhouse. Just to think. And to savor that soothing solitude. For as much as I cherish everyone who has come into my life in the past couple of years, whether they be friends or lovers, I do enjoy moments of solitude to just think.

I walked wherever the snow covering the ground was light. Although I did take a walk through much deeper layers of snow just to remind myself of how taxing it is to do so. It is very easy to forget how much snow slows one down and how fast it can tire someone out. I wonder if ponies have an easier time than I do. At least it made for good exercise after a filling meal.

I walked lap after lap around the rock farm. And I would pass Holder's Boulder every time while keeping a generous distance from it. It was so quiet. But not the enchanting quiet that comes from seeing countless snowflakes drifting through the air all around me. Now that the air was clear, sound would travel much more effectively. The silence around me... It was more of an ominous silence. A kind of quiet that emphasized how dead the world felt in the throes of winter. With no snow falling, the air was still. The earth was silent. And it felt like something could creep up on me. Being out there on the edge of the frontier... Not a good place for the paranoid.

I found myself paying much closer attention to my senses. I minded my shadow to see if any other shadows would come into view that was not mine. I scanned the horizon. I was calm, but alert. But while I did not here anything coming, I rounded the corner of the farm house again and came to a stop. My eyes narrowed. Something was out in the middle of the yard that had not been there before. A single tall flower. "Weird... This isn't Ponyville. Flowers shouldn't be able to grow in this kind of... Wait."

It dawned on me. That flower was absolutely not there earlier. It had only just grown in. And it was not just any flower. It was a bellflower. And it was calling to me. I rushed over to the flower and dropped to my knees. It had only just grown in. And it was done so through the power of a kirin's nature magic. One name came to mind. "Rain? Is that you?"

There was no other explanation. I knew that a kirin can listen to the entire world through the foliage that covers the land. And while no grass was present on the rock farm, there was surely plenty buried in the snow just beyond the fence. And that was close enough for them to listen in. I gently cupped the bellflower's drooping blossom as if I was cradling a mare's face in my hands. It had to be her. Even through I could not hear her through the bellflower like any other kirin can, I was sure my beloved Rain Shine was on the other end of the line. Just hoping I would see her reaching out to me the only way she could.

I was at a loss for words. What could I even say? I did not even have a present to give my beloved for the holidays. What does one even give a mare who lives as one with nature anyway? The needs of a kirin are few. But she had my love. And even when so far apart, I hoped it would be enough. "Rain... Hello, my love. I hope things are comfortable for you and the girls out there... They said you kirin allow nature to do its thing uninterrupted out there, right? The trees are bare now... Bleak, right? I... I wish I could hear you... I miss you, dear."

The bellflower responded to my words. A single leaf sprouted from its stem in a matter of seconds. It was a small detail, but it told me that Rain Shine heard every word I said. Relived, I gently slid my fingers along the underside of the bellflower as if I was caressing my lover's face. "It won't be much longer before we meet again, right? You'll be there for the Hearth's Warming Eve play in Canterlot, right? I really hope I don't screw up... My friends are reprising their roles, but I have no idea what I'm doing. But then... Is the Lunar New Year really that near? We only have a month or so left, right? We'll be together again...in the land of your people. I... I honestly can't wait. It must be a beautiful land with..."

I paused. The bellflower in my hands was beginning to wilt. The wilting process appeared to reverse for a few seconds only for it to begin to wilt rapidly. And I understood why. Flowers cannot endure freezing temperatures. Even the magic of a kirin could not have it survive the elements for long from so far away. I knew our time was short, so I tried to be quick. "We don't have long, do we? Then...I'll let you get back to things over there. But thank you for reaching out to me for a moment. I miss you... And I love you, Rain Shine. Take care. Stay warm. And tell the girls hello for me. Happy Holidays. And...I'll see you soon."

The bellflower withered away in my hands before my eyes. Slain by winter's icy grip. And for a moment... I felt tempted to cry. To see that beautiful thing literally shrivel and perish in my very hands just... It stirred something in me. And I did have to wipe a tear from each eye. It was just so poignant... But I knew my beloved was alive and well out there in the Grove of Silence. There was no need to weep. We would be together again. Probably even sooner than we knew.

I decided I had enough of that bitter silent cold and went back inside the dimly lit farm house. Nose running and hands almost numb from holding Rain Shine's messenger flower for minutes, I rushed to the fireplace as soon as I had put away my winter attire. But even that was not enough. Hot water was what I really needed.

Everyone in the house had turned in for the night by then, allowing me to take a hot shower uninterrupted. But I knew I was being expected afterwards. And I was feeling a little apprehensive. Limestone was...an odd mare. Unpredictable. Was I making a mistake by leaving myself alone with her that night?

My thoughts were filled with many fantasies of how things would turn out. None of them pleasant. I was all but certain I would be told to leave after a few minutes. But I knew Limestone was troubled. And jealous. And I was admittedly concerned. With a towel around my waist with only a pair of boxers underneath, I knocked on the one door in the halls I had not walked through yet. And a familiar voice spoke from the other side. "So then... We're doing this?"

"Yeah, I'm here. But if you're having second thoughts, we could just..." I replied as my words trailed off. I was anticipating something bad. Like walking into a doctor's office while having reason to expect the appointment would reveal an uncomfortable truth by the end.

But Limestone would not let me suggest that we change course. She spoke up hastily, "No, no, you get in here. I'm just...surprised you didn't change your mind."

The door opened from the inside and I stepped in. I turned immediately to direct my attention to the eldest Pie sister as she closed and locked the door behind her. And when she turned to face me, her eyes widened. And I knew where her eyes were looking. "Oh man... You're a nice guy who cooks and writes novels...and you still have the scars to show you're a real knight. You really can't judge someone by what you see on the surface, can you?"

"I could say the same thing about you." I replied while making no attempt to explain the scar on my waist. She did not need to know it was there well before I was even knighted. Nor that I could not recall what even caused it. But now that we were together and alone, we could focus on why I was there. "So then... Bed?"

"Yeah. Bed. Dinner really filled me up good anyway..." Limestone replied before she walked past me. As for the decor of her room... It reeked of professionalism. Like a bedroom combined with an office. A desk was in the corner with documents scattered on it. Not much in the way of decoration was present. All work...and no play. And as Limestone hopped up onto her bed, she still managed to look at me with a bit of a forced scowl. "Just...don't get any ideas, all right? Sure, you're in my room now. But...don't go thinking that means I like you or anything..."

It was at that point that I was done humoring Limestone's prickly facade. I rolled my eyes and said, "You can drop the tsundere stereotype now."

"What does that even mean anyway?! Pinkie Pie's the only one who ever said it, now you're doing it?!" Limestone groaned with renewed frustration. Did Pinkie Pie really never get around to explaining that term to Limestone? It is admittedly niche. And not a term I would expect anyone in Equestria to know. And I was not going to question Pinkie Pie on where she found out about it.

But Limestone had the right to know what that term meant. And so I explained. "It's basically slang that means... Uh... Rough on the outside, but sweet and gentle on the inside. Does that sound like you?"

Limestone scowled at me in annoyance before crossing her arms. She looked away and spoke with a quiet growl, "You have no idea what I'm like on the inside... Pretty sure nopony does. Not even my sisters..."

https://youtu.be/7fVkMK7r3tQ?si=z4N-SP8\_OAKVTaFp

"Then...would you mind telling me?" I replied before taking a seat by her on the bed with only a simple lamp on a nightstand illuminating the room. We were in a relaxing position. But I still had to close the distance carefully. If I were to reach out to Limestone, she would likely push me away. I had to play by her terms. "Back to what we were talking about earlier... Why would you bring up jealousy so often without prompting?"

The craggy mare before me could not look me in the eye while she kept her arms crossed. It was as if she was setting up a wall to keep at least something between us. "I guess I said it...because I am. Yeah. You know that...I haven't gotten lucky in finding a stallion for myself. Yeah, it's crazy that a freak like me could ever have the mind to go on a date, right? But...Marble... And especially Maud. I didn't think they'd ever find a man. Let alone...a man like you. And now look at them. Happy like I've never seen them... Happy...like I've never been."

There was an aura of tragedy in those words. And in her increasingly somber tone. Limestone's annoyed inflections quickly made way for a tone of bitter longing. I almost reached out to Limestone and had to mentally restrain myself from doing so. I asked carefully, "Are you...ever happy?"

Limestone's arms finally lowered with her hooves resting on the bedspread under us. Her eyes softened. Her head bowed. And she spoke the truth. "No... I'm not happy. Haven't been happy in... Man, I don't even know. I mean yeah, I've been having a good time now and then this holiday season. Especially with Pinkie and you being here. But..."

I started to suspect there was more to Limestone's dour situation than just being stuck as a single mare. My eyes scanned our surroundings. Her room... It appeared to double as an office. She was basically the head foreman of the rock farm. If her own bedroom doubled as a place tied to her job... "You're...not happy out here, are you?"

"Let me guess... Since my cutie mark shows a rock and this is a rock farm, I must be pretty content where I am since I'm so good at rock farming. Right?" Limestone asked bitterly while I nodded in confirmation. And her response was about what I expected. She bowed her head and sighed, "I thought so too for a good while. I was young. And being the firstborn made me the first heir, you know? The one who would inherit the family business. I mean there's some pride to be had in being the next in line to run a family business, right? And yeah, I'm good at running this rock farm. But...I learned over time that...it's not what I want."

I then asked with barely more than a whisper. "Then...what do you want?"

Limestone somberly looked down at her side. Specifically at her right flank. And there it was. Alongside that pale chunk of rock was a slice of lime. A cutie mark that carried a double meaning. One that Limestone provided. "It's not the farming part that I have a problem with. Just...what I'm farming. I don't want to farm rocks. I want...to farm fruit. Citrus fruits. If I had my way, I'd be running an orchard loaded with nothing but citrus fruits. Limes, lemons, oranges, even grapefruits. I can almost smell that crisp scent of the rinds..."

She looked happy as her eyes closed. Almost sniffing at the air for that unique scent only the fresh rinds of many kinds of citrus fruits give off. And I could already picture it in my head. There is plenty of open fields beyond the much of Ponyville. I could see her setting up an orchard at the edge of town like a citrus flavored mirror to Sweet Apple Acres. Maybe even become business partners and friends with the Apple family. Which does remind me that the Apple family has direct familial connections to an Orange family in the Manehatten area...

But there was still the elephant in the room. Limestone Pie did not own the rock farm around us. Not yet. She was just next in line to inherit it. And even if she did... "I... I'm guessing you can't just walk away from this job?"

Limestone let out a harsh sigh while hesitating to speak. She chose her words carefully before she provided a response. "I guess I could. But...I don't know if I could do that to Ma and Pa... It's not just about not wanting to disappoint them. This... This kind of rock farm is a dying breed. They just don't run rock farms like this anymore. More and more are being sold off. The Pie family rock farm might be one of the last of its kind. And...I don't know how to feel about that."

Even in just three days, I could see exactly why the Pie family's style of rock farm life was gradually dying out. It was not a fulfilling way to live, being in such an old fashioned way. I was growing more and more sick of how bland the farm house's aesthetics were. The only thing that made it bearable was winter's cold emphasizing the coziness of the interior. I could not understand the appeal of such a lifestyle, even if maintained for the sake of tradition. Even if it was coming for completely justified reasons, the eventual extinction of those old fashioned rock farms would still be a tragedy that should be mourned. I let out a sigh while turning away. "It's a shame... Not everything stands the test of time. Some changes are needed while others are not..."

My heart jumped into my throat as those words resonated with me. Stirring something in my memories. And I was nearly brought to tears. Limestone noticed the sudden display of distress on my face and asked, "What's wrong? You OK there?"

"I'm sorry... It's just... I've had an epiphany. You... You and the situation surrounding you... It's so similar to..." I muttered as my heart ached. Everything Limestone had described to me... Inheriting family traditions that she was disillusioned with. Having no easy way out. And being faced with the prospect of a very necessary change for the better... It was uncanny.

Limestone relaxed and leaned towards me while I could not look at her. She asked with a concerned frown, "What's wrong? What's similar? Do I remind you of someone?"

"You remind me of a woman I am madly in love with. Someone who...did not get off to the best start with me when we first met." I replied while I found myself longing for her. For my precious blue rose. Even now as I write this... I need to pause. Need to take a moment to gather myself.

All right... Just needed to cry for a moment. Now where was I?

My words roused a powerful curiosity in Limestone. She carefully scanned me with curios eyes before she said, "'Tell me. Who is she? And what happened between you two? I'll listen."

Those last two words nearly broke me. To listen. I inhaled sharply to steady my nerves as I said, "She... She is the Dragon Lord. Ember. I encountered her for the first time not too long after I first stumbled upon this rock farm. She had inherited the title from her father after his death five years earlier. And she...was not happy. The previous Dragon Lords were always the size of mountains. And Ember is...small. Not even my height. And her subjects would not take her seriously. Her life was one of constant frustration. Until I came along. Because I was the first man who...listened to her."

Limestone watched me with wide eyes. And eyes filled with a powerful interest. "Go on... I wanna know everything."

I paused to remember our first day together. And the bitterness of our first parting. "I...told her things she wasn't ready to hear. Told her that her people had no culture. No future... Just constantly stuck in the Stone Ages out of sheer primal arrogance. And she...coldly demanded that I just leave. So I did... But a short while later, after the rest of the Equestrian militia caught up to me and the war effort was in full swing... She tracked me down. Just to sit down and talk with me. And it was there that she told me...I was right. Things needed to change for her people. And she was ready to try."

The look on Limestone's face... She looked deeply uncomfortable. But not so much that she wanted to run away. She sat there and allowed me to continue. "She could've gone home right there. But when she found out about the war at hand, she insisted on following me into battle. And she did. We...served together. She was the one person who was there for me more than anyone else. She was there for me in my darkest moments... She would hold me while I held her. She vowed to be my shield. She claimed...she was ready to die for me..."

My composure was on the verge of breaking. Tears were building at my eyes as my voice wavered. Until I finally had to bury my face in my hands and just...weep. Because my beautiful blue rose was not there when I needed her. Even if just for a moment. "I told her she gave me courage... And she said I gave her hope... We... Oh god, Ember..."

The tears flowed free. I could not remember the last time I longed for Ember so hard. That wonderful dragon queen... And as I wept for my fiercest beloved, I felt something powerful embrace me from behind. Very strong equine arms wrapped around me. And I felt Limestone rest her head against the back of my neck as she spoke softer than I had ever heard. "I'm sorry... Sorry for ever thinking you could look at your women and see them as just a trophy. These tears... They don't lie. You're not hiding what's in your heart and I can see that. If you miss her so bad that you can't help crying, then just how much do you love the rest of the women in your life?"

"I'm sorry... I really am. I didn't come into this room just to start bawling like this..." I sniffled while trying to dry my tears. I did not expect Limestone to be so accepting of me letting my emotions out like that. But it was still comforting to be held like that. I wiped away my tears until they finally ceased before saying, "None of my relationships with my beloveds is identical... They are all unique in their own way. And Ember... Oh my god, she is just...wonderful. Ours is a love that bloomed on the battlefield. And from what I've heard, those tend to get fiery."

"Heh... Battlefield romances are something else, huh? I bet she's crazy about you. Probably cries herself to sleep every night you're not there..." Limestone said with a smug tone before it started to fade to a more somber one. Almost as if she suddenly had a moment of self-awareness before she finished speaking.

Limestone finally released me from her embrace. And when I turned to face her, I found that she too had fresh tears leaving trails down her cheeks. I asked softly, "Do you cry yourself to sleep at night when you're alone?"

She hesitated. And with her eyes looking away at nothing in particular, Limestone whispered, "Sometimes."

I said nothing. I felt it would be impolite to prod further. But Limestone then looked at my face and cracked a crooked smile while her eyes looked the calmest they had been in a while. "Heh... You really aren't like most men. You cook. You write. And...you know how to let yourself cry. Did the Dragon Lord ever think you were a weakling when you cried around her?"

"No... Ember was...supportive. And protective. She never belittled me when I was vulnerable... Maybe because I taught her that it's OK to show weakness. Because...it doesn't cause your strength to disappear. She...would let herself rest when in my arms. And I...even taught her that it's OK for a dragon to be...beautiful." I replied as I spoke in longing. But no tears came that time. Those were happy memories.

Limestone then started to smirk at me. But in a playful way instead of that unsettled and almost malicious way I have seen her do. "Beautiful, huh? How pretty is she then?"

There was no stopping me at that point. I inhaled deeply while rubbing my eyes with my palms. "Oh my god, she's... Ember is just gorgeous. Those scarlet eyes set into that face of blue. Those wings and... She's the most beautiful her kind has to offer... Although I have met her mom, so I do see where she gets her beauty from."

Something completely unexpected happened right there. Limestone suddenly burst into hysterical laughter and almost fell over. And I suddenly realized that I had segued into complimenting Ember's mother instead of her. I scolded myself in utter embarrassment, wondering how annoyed Ember would be if she was there to hear that statement. Although she soon caught her composure and said, "Oh man... And you're funny at the right times too... Yeah, I can see why this Ember girl is crazy about you. You two are a great couple from the sound of it..."

I still could not bring myself to speak. Man, what an awkward moment it would have been if Blaze and Torch were present to hear that too. Although my annoyance with myself was pushed aside when I saw Limestone starting to look troubled once more. And she spoke with her eyes wandering, "And...I see why I reminded you of her. Everything you said... It...hits pretty close to home for me..."

"And Ember... She found a way out. Things are improving. Good changes are happening. She's happy now." I said softly while finally finding the courage to reach out to Limestone. I rested a hand over her hoof much like how she held me in her arms a moment ago.

Limestone did not recoil at my touch. She glanced down at my hand out of the corners of her eyes before directing her gaze at me. She then said with a hushed tone, "You said she told you that you give her hope... You think...you'll do the same for me?"

I asked the question that the entire conversation had been building up to. "Do you...want us to have a future together?"

The craggy mare before me almost pulled her hoof away from my hand. But she did not. Her face a mess of clashing emotions, she squinted her eyes shut and spoke through clenched teeth. "I... I... I do...but am I good enough for you? Would the rest of your family accept me? I know I'm not pretty... I know I'm a grouch..."

"You won't be forever. I don't know how, but...I have hope we'll figure something out. Figure out a way to get you outta here. And eventually...maybe even get you that citrus orchard you want. But...will you have me if I will have you?" I replied carefully while searching my heart. There were so many similarities and differences between Limestone and my beloved Ember. I was already seeing the beauty in Limestone's heart. She had let glimmers of the inner her come out over the course of several minutes. I wanted to give her a chance. The seeds hand been planted in my heart. And I wanted to see if they would sprout.

Limestone was clearly trying to not cry as she gazed at me. Her voice quivered as her eyes darted around in her head. "You really think so? You think we... Oh man... Ember was right... You really do give her hope. Because...I really am hoping we... I can almost see it happening if we...stay together... But...would you really have a rough girl like me?"

Inspiration struck as I cast Limestone a slightly playful smirk. "To be fair, Ember definitely started out as a diamond in the rough. But for you... I'd say you're more like a...crystal in the crags."

She cracked. Limestone grinned awkwardly while letting out a long snicker. "You and that novelist's heart... Fine... If you really think there's something beautiful buried inside me that you can dig out... Then...sure... Let's...see where things go..."

"Limestone... Come here. You deserve to know what it's like to be held by a man...who wants to love you." I said softly before Limestone all but threw herself into my arms. And then her tears flowed again. But she did not care. We held each other and just savored the silence around us. It was just me and her. Nothing else.

We soon tucked ourselves in her bed with the lights out. It was almost too dark to see. But I could see Limestone's eyes looking at me from just inches away while our heads rested on the pillows. But I could not see her lips. "You feeling happy for once?"

The exhausted mare beside me sighed softly before she spoke with a whisper. "I...think so... Just feeling really hopeful right now. You're a good man, James. A...very good man. And...I'm really hoping you're the man I need... Just...don't say you love me yet. Not until morning. I want to wait until I wake up with a clear head and see you in bed with me for the first time before I know for sure if this is real..."

"Agreed. We'll wait until morning comes. And...I'll have my answer ready by then too." I whispered back to her as we cuddled up with each other. Her body was so firm, yet warm. I felt safe in Limestone's grasp. And soon, we began to slumber.

The next day would be a day of new beginnings. And also a day of farewells. But was I ready to leave a piece of my heart behind? I would not know until hours later.