Popped

Part III - An Eye For An Eye

Look! I can see it!" Marble Pie skipped along. "Look, look! We're here!"

Limestone Pie trudged along next to her sister, every so often stopping to rub the crusts out of the corners of her amber eyes. She yawned before turning her head to look at Marble. "I get it, Sis." She said with a groan. "You've already pointed out every possible landmark on this trip."

"I know, but everything here is just so pretty! I mean, you saw that big windmill, right? And the little stone bridge? I wish Maud were here to see this!"

Limestone did her best to tune out her sister as she continued following her mother and father through the gravel streets of Ponyville. She loved Marble as much as a sister could, but she absolutely couldn't stand her once she got excited. While one half of the Pie sisters, Pinkamena and Marble, were full-on extroverts, Limestone and Maud much preferred to keep to themselves. She always thought it was interesting how they all complimented each other.

Before long, the four ponies stood in front of Sugarcube Corner. Before approaching the bakery, Cloudy Quartz turned around to face her daughters. "Now girls, I want you to be on your best behavior while we're visiting Pinkamena." She glanced briefly at Marble, and her eyes widened immediately as soon as she noticed her unkempt mane.

"Marble Pie!" she cried, her tone stern and unyielding. "You're about to visit your older sister and you look like you just crawled out of bed!" Without hesitating for an instant, she retrieved an old, worn-out hairbrush from her saddlebag.

Marble yelped as Cloudy Quartz combed her tangled hair. "Ugh, I'm not a foal, mother!" she protested, puffing her cheeks out. "You don't have to- Ow!" She winced in pain as the brush got stuck on a particularly tangled bunch of hair. "It's not like Pinkamena will care, anyway! Have you seen her mane in the last ten years? It's at least three times as worse!"

Cloudy Quartz simply ignored her daughter's protests, humming to herself as she ran the bristles through her daughter's long, dark grey mane. "Oh, hush, Marble. I'm nearly finished." She gave one final stroke of the brush and stepped away, leaving Marble's hair straight, tidy, and presentable. Limestone, who had been watching the whole ordeal, couldn't help but giggle when she saw Marble's face flushing red.

"Oh, shut up." Marble growled under her breath, but not before checking to see if her mother was still within earshot. She stuck her tongue out at her sister and turned away to join her parents as they approached the front door of Sugarcube Corner.

A small silver bell above the door jingled when the Pie family entered the bakery. Cupcake, busy with a customer, looked up and flashed a welcoming smile from behind the counter, but quickly turned her attention back to the customer she was helping. "Your total is five bits, dear." she said in her usual maternal tone after placing a large box on the counter. The customer happily laid the specified amount of bits on the counter and picked up the box between his teeth. Cupcake waved as he turned to leave. "Have wonderful day!"

The customer looked over his shoulder and returned the favor. "To you as well!" He said as the door closed behind him.

With the customer out the door, Cupcake turned back to the four ponies waiting on the other side of the room. "Sorry about the wait! Welcome to Sugarcube Corner! What can I get for you all today?"

Marble Pie, who had moments earlier been busy admiring the various fresh pastries that lined the walls, excitedly trotted up to the counter with a look of awe in her violet eyes. "Wow! I've never seen so many sweets in one place before!"

Cupcake returned Marble's enthusiasm with a hearty laugh. "Well aren't you just the cutest young mare!" She said.

Marble's face flushed a deep red. She looked behind herself at Limestone, who was holding in yet another fit of laughter.