Disclaimer: This is a fanfiction, I don't own My Little Pony or it's character. This story is not based on the thoughts or intentions of the show's creators. This story was written and set before season 5 and 6 aired. The birth order of the Pie siblings is not that of the show.

The air in the room was still. It had a seasoned smell that had become the staple of granny's room. The dirt of the farm mixed with the fragrance of lilies, granny's favorite flowers, and perfume. The old mare's bedroom window had just welcomed in the first beams of Celestia's sun. A soft glow was cast across the small room to land on Granny Pie's nose, beckoning her waking. It enticed a quick sneeze, yet the old mare just settled back into her blankets refusing to rise. Her granddaughter wasn't as reluctant.

Maud, with a purple mane in much need of a brushing, lazily opened one eye to watch a few dust particles float around in the new light. A quick shadow raced across the floor as a small bird fluttered past the window, the sounds of morning were beginning to seep. The young filly yawned and sat up in bed. Maud kicked the sheets away from her form and gazed around the space. A few books here and there, her rock collection spilling out of its box next to granny's wood chest, and the familiar floorboard that stuck up next to the door all greeted Maud with their usual silent charm.

Maud looked to the sleeping mare next to her. Her messy, gray mane didn't hide the smile lines on the elder's face. Though Maud couldn't remember ever seeing her grandmother smiling, the proof remained all the same.

Maud made an expression she knew didn't express how happy she was to be sharing a room with her grandmother. It was nice to be with Granny Pie. When the twins were born, Maud was worried she may have to start sharing a room with all her siblings, but that wasn't to be. Granny was possibly the greatest roommate she could have asked for.

Maud yawned again.

Morning chores weren't going to wait. As gently as she could, Maud slid from the bed, hoping not to wake the tired mare, and made her way out of the room. The house was still silent as rays of sunshine crept into the older farmhouse. Boards moaned lightly as Maud followed the hall down to her siblings' room. The door was slightly ajar, as usual.

Somepony was afraid of the dark. Maud lightly shook her head in disapproval.

In the modest bedroom was one full-sized bed with three very rambunctious siblings. Pinkamena was the oldest of them and wasn't one of the twins. She was pink, but more than anything energetic; though never when it counted. Pinkamena, though scolded by Maud time and time again, was afraid of the dark. Even now that she had two roommates in the twins, Pinkamena still complained of scary shadows and creepy noises. All of which was ridiculous for a filly her age to worry about, at least to Maud. Mom had said it was normal for a foal Pinkamena's age and that she would grow out of it, but Maud didn't remember ever feeling that way when she had to sleep alone.

Back when Maud shared a room with her sister, Pinkamena had woken her up crying about some shadow or other that had spooked her. Maud never voiced it to the grown-up, but she was very happy she no longer had to share a room with the pink annoyance.

When the twins Limestone and Marble were born, mom and dad had explained to both Maud and Pinkamena that things in the house would have to change. And they certainly had. Pinkamena was littler at the time, and mom thought it best to put all the younger fillies together and move Maud into the bedroom with granny.

All three sisters were scattered on top of their bed. Limestone had a leg dangling over the side while Marble had balled herself up on top of just one pillow. Both twins had a darker colored coat and they nearly blended in with the navy blanket tossed about. Pinkamena's coat was jarring next to all the duller colors.

No longer caring if she were too loud, Maud made her way to the curtains and pulled them back. The room brightened further causing the twins to squirm a bit. Pinkamena didn't move. She lay sprawled out on her back in the middle of the bed.

"Time to wake up." Maud felt her voice pass over her younger siblings without any impact. She knew she wasn't very loud, and it was always a chore getting her younger sisters to heed her in the morning. Maud tried again.

"Wake up," She had put a little more pressure behind her words and it did make Limestone open one eye. "Today is rotation day." Maud told the moving filly.

"I don't wanna," Limestone groaned holding out the vowels of her words.

As if woken by the sheer fact that her twin was up, Marble began to open her eyes as well.

"No, just a few more minutes."

Maud came closer to the bed and placed a hoof on Limestone's head. She pressed down gently, not enough to hurt the filly, but just enough to get the desired response from her.

"You crushing me!" Limestone shrieked loudly, a trademark Maud came to know her for.

The shriek caused Marble to shoot up in bed.

"Help! Help!" Limestone was still acting like she was dying.

Maud moved her hoof away as both twins sat in bed glaring at her.

"Why'd you always," Limestone started.

"Gotta do that?" Marble finished.

Maud breathed a sigh and ignored the question.

"Go downstairs, I'll be down to make breakfast soon." Maud instructed paying little mind to the continued complaints of her youngest sisters.

As they stomped out, stumbling often on their tired legs, Maud turned back to the amused smirk on Pinkamena's face.

"Get up." Maud instructed flatly.

"I'm not done." Pinkamena's smirk was gone as a look of concentration washed over her face.

"There is no time," Maud saw that her sister was partially on the blanket. "We have to get up now and help dad." Maud took the blanket in her teeth and began pulling.

Slowly, tug by tug, Maud was able to pull the pink foal from her resting position. Pinkamena sat up and tried to hold an angry expression, but her new location on the bed was an unexpected one. Pinkamena slipped off the edge of the bed and landed rump first on the floor.

"Are you okay?" Maud asked turning to indicate that Pinkamena should follow her downstairs.

"No," Pinkamena huffed. "I hadn't finished my dream and I was at the bestest part."

"Best," Maud corrected heading for the door. "I'm going to make pancakes."

Maud couldn't see it over her shoulder, but she knew Pinkamena's eyes had grown wide. The pink foal had a great love for sweets and pancakes were among her favorite morning meals. It was the least Maud could do after dropping her sister on the floor; that had not been her intent. Hopefully, Pinkamena would forgive her with the promise of pancakes or at least be too distracted to remember to tell dad later.

Pinkamena sprang up to follow behind her big sister. She gave her mane a quick shake feeling a bit of the night time frizzes scrunching up each hair. The pink foal came alongside her sister and matched her pace, glancing over from time to time to make sure she was matching every step.

Maud snorted lightly as the two came to the stairs.

"Do you know what I was dreaming about?" Pinkamena hopped down each stair Maud took waiting for an enthusiastic 'yes' to exit her sister's lips. Maud didn't answer the wide eyes staring at her. It was pointless to agree or disagree, Pinkamena would eventually start to ramble on whether she responded positively or not. The pink filly took in a vain breath of air to begin explaining just as they entered the kitchen. She didn't get a chance to start.

"I wanna eat muffins!" Limestone yelled as soon as she noticed the eldest sister. Both twins had managed to climb up to the table and were seated with both front hooves covering the stone tabletop.

"Muffins, muffins, muffins!" Marble chanted softly in Pinkamena's direction.

Maud wanted to grit her teeth knowing what was about to happen.

"No!" Pinkamena growled. "We are having the pancakes! Maud said it and I want the pancakes!"

"Aww, I hate pamcakes," Limestone rushed to Maud's front legs and grabbed a hold of both. "Don't make pamcakes!"

"Make muffins with boo-berries," Marble voice almost sounded like a hiccup overtop Pinkamena's whining in the background.

"You promised me!" Pinkamena was suddenly as loud as Limestone.

Maud grimaced at the added volume.

"I said I was going to make pancakes," Maud tried to speak over the two loudest siblings. Pinkamena was able to somehow hear and responded by clapping her front hooves together; over and over and over again.

"I. Want. Muffins!" Limestone refused to be ignored.

"Muffins!" Marble joined her twin, though with less enthusiasm.

Maud pulled her hooves away from Limestone and back away from the noise a bit. The peace of the morning had quickly given way to a whole cacophony of cries and complaints. Each sister doing her best to out scream the next over something as simple as breakfast. At least until Marble suddenly decided to start singing the Ponyville anthem. They didn't even live in Ponyville.

Maud hadn't realized just how much she had backed up until she bumped into another pony just outside the kitchen archway.

"Granny?" She asked finally looking back to see who was there.

"What are your sisters screamin' about now?" The older mare asked peeking into the war zone, tired eyes blinking a few times before responding. "Let me handle this one, Maud." The elder stepping into the kitchen straightening up to gain the youngsters' attention.

Maud waited just a moment longer outside the door until the noise stopped. Maud took a breath to calm her own nerves before coming in behind her grandmother. The older mare was just standing there, but by starring the little terrors down Granny was able to force all the sisters to sit quietly at the table. The hard stare continued only a moment more before Granny gesture with her head for Maud to come stand beside her.

"Y'all three ought to know better," Granny stomped a hoof causing all three sisters to gulp. "Giving your big sister so much grief. Who raised you like that? I know I haven't let y'all act like that. Say you're sorry."

Each younger sister dropped her head. Granny wasn't satisfied and stomped another hoof.

"Now or all of y'all will be gettin' a pop on the behind."

"Sorry." Each filly did her best to sound as sincere as she was scared.

"Good," Granny snorted before turning back to Maud. "So, big sister, what's for breakfast?"

"I'm making pancakes." Maud watched the twins make pouty faces, but she knew they wouldn't challenge her again with Granny Pie so near. Maud set to work getting out the mixing bowl and flour.

"Did you girls wash those faces?" Granny asked the younger siblings.

"We didn't has times," Limestone frowned climbing down from her chair.

"'Cause we camed right to the table." Marble followed her twin to their grandmother.

"Pinkie?" Granny raised an eyebrow at the pink filly still seated at the table. Pinkamena smirked at the nickname her grandmother gave her.

"I'm all clean!" Pinkamena's eyes strayed a bit as she spoke.

"Good little filly," Granny nudged the twins with her muzzle. "Let's get you two all washed up and ready for the day. I'll be back for that mane, Pinkie, you too, Maud." Granny straightened up and clicked her hooves together standing at attention. The twins followed her example, Limestone running to stand directly behind her grandmother and Marble behind her. "And away we go!" The three began shuffling their hooves as they mimicked a train all the way to the bathroom.

Maud was thankful for Granny's help, but also a little disappointed in herself for not being able to handle breakfast on her own. As big sister it was her job to make sure the little sisters were washed, fed, and ready for the day. It was her top priority and first farm responsibility, and since that day she'd failed at it. It wasn't fair that Granny Pie would have to deal with the sisters at her age, but most mornings were like this. The sisters would fight or complain and Granny Pie would have to come and fix everything. It was even more annoying since all the wasted time meant that Maud would have less time to help her dad in the fields. She really did love helping with the rocks.

And speaking of wasted time,

"You haven't washed up yet." Maud didn't stop her work to address Pinkamena's lie; there wasn't enough time for that.

"I had a bath last night, remember?" Pinkamena could be heard making her way over to her sister. "And I wanted to help you. What can I do?"

Maud worked on silently. She didn't need nor want her little sister's help. What she wanted was to get outside as soon as possible. The only way to do that was to get the sisters ready as soon as possible.

As Maud poured the flour into a mixing bowl, Pinkamena took it upon herself to rush around the kitchen gathering salt, sugar, some butter, and baking powder. Maud felt a tinge of agitation rise in herself at Pinkamena's 'helpfulness,' but the filly was too fast to stop sometimes.

"I can do this myself," Maud spoke calmly trying to get to the measuring cups before her younger sister; a futile effort. "You need to wash up for the day."

Pinkamena, in one jump, grabbed the measuring cup from the dish drying rack and raced it over to Maud's mixing bowl. She then hopped over to the drawers by the sink and gathered all the measuring spoons in her teeth. They were tossed on the countertop as well.

"Pinkamena," Maud tried sounding a bit more stern like Granny Pie could, but it didn't slow the little annoyance. "I'm making breakfast, I want you to go do what Granny told you."

"I've almost got everything for you, sis!" Pinkamena seemed to fly to the fridge kicking open the door with her back hoof.

"Mom's told you not to do that," Maud didn't know why she even bothered.

Pinkamena managed to get two eggs stacked on her nose and a carton of milk on her back. Though many of her younger sister's antics failed to elicit a response from Maud, this precarious balancing act was unnerving to watch. It was even more so upsetting in light of a new and often troubling habit the younger sister had developed.

"You need to carry one at a time." Maud felt unable to stop her sister in fear the items might fall.

"I's got it."

The little annoyance did well walking slowly through the kitchen. Part of Maud knew her younger sister was just trying to show off. It bothered her to watch. Maud wanted to do this herself. She wanted to finish making breakfast quickly and without little detours like this circus act. It would be better if Pinkamena would wash her face and have her frizzy mane combed by Granny. This was not productive.

Finally fed up with the charade, Maud took a few steps toward her sister to try and collect the eggs. Maud stopped her approach however when her younger sister suddenly stopped. Pinkamena's eyes seemed to shrink and it was all too apparent Pinkamena's bad habit was about to start.

"Maud," her voice was shaking. "I'm having the twitches again!" Pinkamena's back seemed to shudder. "Itchy, itchy, itchy!"

Unable to handle whatever it was that was bothering her, Pinkamena started shaking. The milk and the two eggs flew up into the air. Maud didn't know how to catch everything but managed to grab one of the eggs in her hooves.

"Good catch," Pinkamena breathed a sigh as she rolled onto her back to scratch it across the floor.

Maud's eyes followed the milk. It splashed from the open carton coating everything nearby in milk. The table, floor and cupboards were all soaked and would doubtlessly take a long time to clean.

Maud took another step toward her sister, opening her mouth to say something when the second egg found its landing spot on top of her head. The yoke leaked down the side of Maud's face before dropping to the floor beside her. Maud closed her left eye to prevent any yoke from getting in it.

"Opps," Pinkamena softly muttered as she rolled back on her belly, lowering herself as much as possible. "I'm super sorry, Maud."

This was going to take even more time, not to mention that was the last of the milk.

Maud's expression never changed, but her heavy sigh let Pinkamena know that her sister was very unhappy.

"I, I can clean it up," Pinkamena was quick on her feet rushing to the sink.

She grabbed a wet rag in her teeth and rushed back to the mess. Maud didn't have a chance to stop her sister before the little annoyance was racing around the kitchen smearing eggs and milk all over the floor. Maud stood eyeing the fiasco with anxious eyes. She wasn't going to make it to the fields that morning.

Once again it was up to Granny Pie to save the day. Maud just sat and watched Pinkamena beg her grandmother for mercy before receiving a spanking for not following directions. Maud went back to figuring out breakfast and settled on making toast. It was quick and easy and would hopefully save enough time to clean up and get outside.

The twins ate without complaint as Pinkamena swallowed back tears with bread. Maud joined her sisters as Granny Pie glanced around the kitchen with a sigh.

"Okay, my little ponies," Granny turned to face her grandchildren with a small sigh. "I ain't gonna lie to ya, today is gonna be a busy one. Inky, Blinky!"

The twins sat up at attention when their grandmother called them by their nicknames.

"You're gonna work with papa rotatin' them rocks from the south field to the east one."

The twins threw a hoof up in salute to agree. They scarfed the last of their toast, bumped into each other trying to climb down on the same sides of their chairs, and trotted to the door pushing each other with a forelimb trying to be the first out the door. Maud only watched the two long enough to make sure they were out of the house.

"Pinkie," Granny Pie had long forgotten the incident that morning, but Pinkamena still flinched at the calling of her name. "Why don't you go help your twin sisters. Don't get underhoof."

"Yes, ma'am." Pinkamena didn't finish breakfast. She slid from her chair like a drop of maple syrup. Both Maud and Granny watched the filly go before the older mare spoke up. "That sister of your's is somethin' else."

Maud never understood exactly what Granny meant by that. What was the something else? She'd never question her Granny's wisdom though.

"Was it them twitches?" Granny pulled Maud from her thoughts.

The oldest sister nodded slowly returning her gaze to breakfast.

Granny Pie sighed again, but this sigh sounded different from her usual "Pinkie's made another mess" sigh. Maud couldn't quite place what it meant, but it had meant something. Granny was a hard mare to understand sometimes.

"Let's get this cleaned up so you can help your mama crush those rocks for the new road. If we work together we'll get this done twice as fast."

That was the best news she'd heard all morning.

"Thank you." Maud spoke taking a quick moment to stack all the breakfast dishes on the table for easy cleaning.

The two worked on in silence. The milk and eggs took longer to clean than Maud would have guessed, but finally, the work was done. Maud waited for her grandmother to okay her leaving and with a nod Maud was finally on her way to the front door. Her victory was short lived however when the door opened on its own before Maud got there.

It was her mother, coming home too early. Maud noted the pained expression on her mother's face and immediately went to her side.

"Are you okay?" Maud asked nudging her mother's foreleg.

"It's m' back again," the mare groaned nearly limping into the living room. "Maud can you get the hot water bottle for me?"

Maud rushed to do as she was told, a tinge of guilt trying to surface. Maud knew it wasn't her fault, but she hadn't been there to help her mom. It was another unavoidable Pinkamena moment that had done that.

Sigh.

Maud located the hot water bottle hanging in the bathroom. Mom had been complaining more often of a bad back and had moved the bottle downstairs just a few days before. Maud knew it would take a few minutes to heat some water in the kettle, but she figured she should try to get that started before her mom went to do it.

Maud was able to get everything set in the kitchen. Granny had appeared to go help her mom, so Maud continued to ready the hot water bottle.

The young filly carefully carried her accomplishment to the living room. Maud didn't want her lips to accidentally touch the bottle, so she opted not to announce her coming. Standing just outside the adults' sight, Maud could hear part of her elders' conversation.

The tones were harsher than she remembered them being upon her leaving. Had she not known better she might have guessed the two mares were fighting. Maud bit harder on the bottle as the angry sounds increased upon her entering the room.

Mom was no longer seated on the sofa, she was standing firm in front of Granny with a dissatisfied scowl on her face.

"And have them waste their lives like you did!" Mom stomped her hoof. "We almost lost everything! I have no intention of raising my girls-"

Mom stopped when she saw Maud standing in the doorway. Maud watched the shared concern pass between each adult until they finally gain grips with the situation.

"Oh Maud, thank you." Maud's mother nodded in appreciation and signaled for the filly to bring the bottle over. Maud felt as if her hooves were glued to the floor.

"You okay, big sis?" Granny asked taking a step toward the still frozen Maud.

"She's just fine, mother," mom spoke taking a seat again on the furniture. "Just bring it here, Maud."

The filly lifted a hoof, one at a time. Maud lifted the bottle to her mother and watched as she positioned it on her lower back.

"That feels much better," mom sighed. "It's alright Maud. Granny and I are just discussing some, opinions we have."

"C'mon big sister," Granny came alongside Maud. "Let's get that mane of yours under control and see if we can't get ya outside."

Maud was pleased with that bit of news. It would be nice to finally get outside and out of the mounting tension of being indoors.

Unlike her sisters, especially Pinkamena's, Maud's mane was a snap to comb through, possibly a reason why Granny was going to let her leave before without combing it. She was ready in no time. Granny finished her work but held Maud still with a hoof. She looked at Maud in the bathroom mirror as if examining her for hidden rare earth minerals. The inspection was taking longer than Maud would have liked, but she didn't wish to rush her grandmother.

The elder mare kept her gaze on the filly for only a moment more before looking to her own reflection.

"Granny?" Maud questioned noticing the shift.

"Hmm?"

"Are you mad at mom?"

The elder sighed and ushered Maud out of the bathroom.

"Maybe, a little,"

Maud glanced up in confusion.

"It's okay to be mad, Maud. But it don't mean I don't love your mom. We just don't see things the same sometimes."

"Why are you mad at her?"

The older mare looked to the ceiling for a second before answering.

"I guess I'm really just mad at m'self. Thing is," she paused for a moment. "Well, the thing is it ain't somethin' you should be worryin' about."

"I won't worry."

It was then Maud saw her grandmother do something she hadn't seen her do in a very long time. She smiled. Maud wanted to reciprocate that, but her mouth didn't seem to know how.

"You'll be alright, big sister." Granny nuzzled her head. "Now you go out and enjoy them rocks. I know you do." Maud nodded in response. "Keep up the hard work and I'm sure you'll even get your cutie mark today."

That would be an added bonus, but that wasn't a requirement for a good day. It was finally time to get out. Finally time for the rocks! That was reward enough. Maud tried not to run through the house, but she felt her hooves moving faster than their usual pace. Sadly, she never made it out the front door.

"Just a second, Maud!" Mom's voice stopped the filly in her tracks. "I'm gonna need you to help me make lunch today."

She didn't want to admit it, but now Maud felt mad at mom too.

"Granny shouldn't be on her hooves all day," mom balanced the bottle on her back as she came to Maud. "Go get some greens from the garden and we'll get this started."

"Can't we wait a little longer before making . . ?"

"Do as your told, Maud." Mom wasn't mad, she was unmoving.

Maud sighed but set a course for the garden. She gathered the vegetables, made a side trip to collect dirty laundry, helped get Granny back up to bed, made the lunch salad, and helped mom set the table. It had turned out to be the worst morning ever.

"I'm going to call everyone in for lunch, we'll do the clothes after we eat." Mom had a plan for everything it seemed.

Maud lowered her head as she went to the table. She'd just have to wait for her turn to go out. It all seemed unfair. She had been obedient all morning and her reward was more indoor chores.

Mom went to the front door and rang the lunch bell. Maud watched her mom re-enter the kitchen and begin placing napkins at each seat. It all seemed to move slowly. Mom might as well have walked backward. Maud sighed aloud deciding to keep her focus on the greens in front of her.

When the others arrived Maud looked up. Her dad and the twins had come in. Dad had a harder look than normal on his face. He seemed in a bad mood, though Maud had never known his face to ever reflect having any other mood. Still, he seemed very unhappy as he roughly took a seat at the table.

The twins also looked a bit upset. Maud waited for the complaints to start.

"Where's Pinkamena?" Mom was the first to speak. She glared at the missing filly's seat before looking to her husband.

"Still working," dad answered sternly. "We can start without her."

The three fillies placed their hooves together and bowed their heads for a prayer, but no such grace came. Soon their eyes were opened again bouncing from one parent to the other.

"We are not going to start eating until everypony is seated." Mom began to move toward the door.

"That girl has been slackin' all morning," dad's words stopped mom in her tracks. "I've had to get on to her twice for just sitting there, poking the rocks. I told her not to bother coming in for lunch if she didn't finish moving her pile."

"Oh, nonsense," mom made her way to the door again. "The filly's got to eat."

"Then she can pull her weight!" Dad stomped a hoof under the table.

The force of the stomp felt like it shook the whole house. Maud was sure the whole farm boomed with the sound of her father's anger. In fact, it sounded like several items in the house were still shifting a bit.

Mom stopped her trek to the door and took her place at the table. The moment of silence put everypony on edge though dad's words seemed just as unsettling when he finally did speak.

"Go ahead and eat."

The five ate.

(A/N) Thank you for reading my first posted mlp story. I love constructive criticism and reviews. I know I'm taking some liberties in this story. I haven't read any mlp books or comics so I'm sorry if I'm messing up anything canon. I'm hoping to focus on Maud and Pinkie with this story, and how their relationship as sisters grew. I just love them! The story is more told from Maud's perspective and that is why I'm leaving out the names of the parents; they're mom and dad as far as she's concerned. I do hope you enjoyed! If you're reading in live time, my update rate is about every 2-4 months, sorry but my personal computer died recently so I have to borrow a computer to get writing done. Thanks!