Author's Notes:

To my dedicated fans! I give you a nice little chapter of life and death!

LOL, Just kidding. But in all seriousness this is just a filler chapter to give an idea, since somebody doesn't like dream sequences, cough cough...

I decided to write a chapter dedicated to explaining what's going on with Maud, Trixie, and Solarflare.

Extreme filler chapter but it'll give you an idea to what's going on later!

Remember read, rate, love, and tolerate!

Far off to the west of Canerlot lay a small town called Rockyshores. It was a quaint little town. Very quiet and the folks there, the majority who are rock farmers, go on about their daily lives without a care in the world. That is, until they received two new residents.

The resident geologist Maud Pie while on a survey looking for a ancient temple in the deserts to the east found two unicorn mares who were badly injured. One was crimson red with a jet black mane and eyes of fire wearing full body armor her cutie mark was a depiction of the sun with a fiery ring around it. When they found her she was with another mare of azure blue and a mane as white as snow. Her eyes were a light magenta color, her cutie mark was a wand with a star tip and a magical swirl around it.

On the verge of death they were taken in by the geologist and tended to almost daily for a month until they were well enough to move. It was long a tedious. For both mares were prideful and hated being bedridden. That being said once they got their freedom back they were up and about the town. They couldn't remember who they were, so while waiting for their memories to return they set off to find work in town. They worked closely together not sure if them being together was significant or not, but they decided not to risk losing each other.

They got work at the local rock farm run by a elderly earth pony stallion named Igneous Rock and his wife Cloudy Quartz. Together they not only become well known to the earth pony community but they also had a habit of stirring up trouble.

And today was no exception.

Trixie was hard at work in the south field using a pick to break several larger rocks into smaller more manageable portions. Beside her was Solarflare was hard at work lifting the broken portions into wheelbarrows that were taken by other ponies to a store house. Over the course of the last month they managed to recover bits of their memory, their names in particular which brought them both some relief.

Though they were unsure of what their relationship was that lead them to the desert together Trixie and Solarflare had become inseparable friends in the month they worked together. Along side them was their new friend Maud Pie. A blank mare of sorts as they put it. She was grey with a plain violet mane and an expression best described as a blank slate. It was rare to see her give any form of facial expressions but when she did everyone listened and looked at her.

Together the three mares formed a strong bond of friendship and had become like a small family unit of sorts. They each saw each other as sisters in arms in the rock terrain and often would hit the local taverns at night.

While work Trixie was griping and groaning about the extensive heat. Placing the pick in the ground she took a moment to catch her breath. Panting heavily she leaned on the pick for support, her body covered in a layer of sweat. Unlike most ponies however she had a condition that made it hard for her body to sweat causing her to overheat easily. After the first few days Igneous decided to have somepony watch her constantly as to not overexert herself, today was really hot so he made sure Solarflare was close by at all times.

Seeing her friend Solarflare walked over and help Trixie back to the main work building to hide her in the shade.

"Thanks, Flare, you're the best to Trixie." the blue mare thanked her friend.

"Don't worry about it Trixie." the flame pony said patting her shoulder. "We know it's not your fault."

Trixie pouted at this. Her she was a full grown mare being treated like a child.

"I hate this." she whined.

"Hey I told you nopony blames you!" Flare told her trying to raise her spirits. "Let me tell you something. In the time I've known you you are without a doubt the most, arrogant, obnoxious, ball of hot air out in this field. And considering this heat that's saying a lot."

The larger mare laughed but coughed hard as Trixie elbowed her in the gut. Without her armor it was surprisingly easy to get her down. She had a very soft and sensitive tummy come to find out, and Trixie has abused that weakness ever since. The two shared a laugh when Maud walked over to them.

"What are you two doing?" she asked plainly.

"Trixie was over heating," Solarlfare explained. "I brought her over to rest and keep an eye on her."

Before Maud could say anything a loud bell rang signaling the end of the days work. She sighed giving them a small smile.

"I guess it's, OK then." she said lending a hoof to help them up.

"Time to get home." she said leading the two unicorns down the field heading for a small house at the edge of the farm fields.

The walk wasn't long but the heat made it seem longer than it really was to Trixie, who was complaining the whole way home. Maud cracked a smile as she listened to the blue mare complain. Eventually Solarflare picked her up and placed the blue mare on her back and carried her making Maud frown.

When they reached the house Trixie was dumped unceremoniously to the floor. With a loud thud, she landed on her back glraing up at the red mare who was grinning down at her. Maud chuckled in her mind, but made no physical reaction, instead reached out and helped Trixie up.

"Thanks Maud," she said gratefully to her friend. "At least somepony knows how to treat her friend!"

She yelled down the hall to the red mare. What followed was a loud grunt as a large pillow flew across the hall and hit Trixie square in the face with a soft phomp. Trixie growled running down the hall with he pillow in her mouth while Maud simple watched as she chased a giggling Solarflare across the house with the pillow. Maud watched with her blank expression as her two younger sisters walked up beside her wearing saddlebags filled with papers and books.

All three watched the exchange for a minute laughing at how Trixie always came close but never got Solarflare with the pillow only making her more angry as they went about the house. Eventually Trixie cornered the larger mare and hit her with the pillow relentlessly until a stern voice caught their attention.

"What in samhill's going on here?!"

Everyone stopped dead in their tracks as Igneous Rock strut into the living room where Trixie and Soalrflare stood at attention. He walked up to Trixie with a stern glare. It took a second for her to realize it, but she was still holding the pillow in her mouth. Dropping it with a deep embarrassing blush she used her magic to fluff the pillow placing it back on an open section of the couch. He grumbled turning to face the couch and adjusted the pillow as he spoke not facing the mares.

"You know the rules young ladies. There is to be no rough housing, or any horse play in this house. If you do you go the evening without supper. I thought I was clear?" he asked with a grunt.

The two unicorns lowered their heads in shame while Maud and her sisters watched.

"We're sorry, sir." the unicorns said keeping their heads lowered.

The old stallion sighed adjusting his hat facing them with an irritated expression. He took a moment to evaluate them. He was sure they meant it, but the rules existed for a reason and he couldn't play favorites. Maud's friends or not.

"Very well. In that case you'll go with no supper tonight. Now off with you two I need to clean the house before Quartz gets home."

After being shooed off the unicorns gathered with the earth pony sisters who were happy to see them. Marble and Limestone giggled at the two mares who looked like kids who got scolded by a parent.

"Ha! You two got soooo busted!" Marble giggled making the mares frown.

"Yeah, like tots, sis!" Limestone chuckled gripping her sides.

"Har, har, you two wouldn't be laughing if you were the ones being scolded by your father." the red unicorn grumbled, making Trixie nod in agreement.

The two younger earth ponies waved their hooves dismissively.

"We know better." Limestone said.

"Yeah like tots. We never like get in trouble anymore." Marble cringed slightly as if touched by a dark force. "Mother is much worse."

This time everypony agreed. Maud even gave a slight nod. "Mother was always very strict. But she loves us just like pa, does." the grey mare said.

While it was true that Cloudy Quartz was very strict, unlike her husband, she never let a pony starve over night, especially the workers. Trixie and Solarflare walked out of the house and into their living quarters with the three sisters close behind. The two younger ponies stopped at the main entry way and watched as the three older ponies left.

"Hey sis," Limestone called out. "Where are you going?"

"A restaurant in town. Tell mom and dad we'll be back but not where we went please." she replied in her monotonous voice.

Marble then called out loudly, "But, sis, isn't that tots not the point of the no supper punishment?"

The three mares didn't respond. They walked on in silence heading towards the small town of Rockyshores. The Pie family farm was on the outskirts of the town along with several other rock farms all centered around the small town. The town was smaller than Ponyville but was still a very lively place.

The three mares were greeted by the residents with cheerful smiles and the occasional look by a stallion. Trixie being her old self gave a playful swing of her hips every time a stallion turned head towards them. Solarflare rolled her eyes every time and Maud, though she didn't voice it, she was upset at how Trixie was playing on the stallions.

Beside that they enjoyed their stroll through the town until they reached their destination. It was a small building near the opposite edge of town where they entered. It was a small white building with a single door for an entry way. Above them was a sign that read "StoneSoup Club".

From outside the three mares sniffed deeply inhaling the delectable scents of food within. Hunger drove them inside and they found it was rather packed. Ponies were everywhere leaving only a few table unattended. Waiters and waitress ponies flew around the scene with expert precision and severed their customers flawlessly and without delay. At the main entry was a sign that said 'self seating'.

Quickly finding a table they situated themselves where Trixie was between both Maud and Solarflare. A waiter pony came up offering his services, "Welcome back Maud!" he greeted the grey mare. "Decided to grace our establishment today?"

"Indeed. My friends and I are starving so we'll have the usual." she said to the earth pony stallion.

Quickly jotting down a note he swirled around with a big grin. "Right, three orders of Rock Stone Soup Specials coming right up!"

Trixie giggled at the upbeat stallion as he retreated away into the kitchen leaving them alone. Once done with her chuckle spree Trixie began to listen in on the conversations around her. Her ears like little radar dishes moving on occasion to hone in on the sounds of any conversation that might pertain to her past. The red unicorn mare did the same.

While waiting Maud observed them closely. She could tell they were desperate to find out anything about their past lives. Every time they went out it was always the same. They would listen closely to any words said around them, looking for clues about their past. Not long ago during one of their first visits was when Trixie heard mention of a name that sparked her memory. That name was Spitfire.

Formerly known as Captain of the Wonderbolts she had apparently taken a turn for the worst in recent weeks after the changeling invasion. Most of that conversation was speculation, but many believed her resignation had something to do with and old love interest coming back in her life.

This is what sparked her memory. She didn't know why Spitfire meant so much to her, and quite frankly nopony here did. This was an all earth pony town in complete isolation except for the occasional traveler or merchant trader. Shortly after Trixie mentioned something that sparked in Solarflares mind.

She spoke about a dream she had the next day after learning her own name about a mare named Blaze who was trying to kill her in her dream. This is how they learned their names. Ever since they have always listened to what was said around them hoping to hear something about their past that would bring their memories back.

Her thoughts were interrupted when the waiter came back with their food. He placed three bowls out one for each mare, and set a series of drinks on a tray down in the center of the table.

"Enjoy ladies." he said retreating to the table beside them.

Each took their bowl and ate in silence. The unicorns still listening as they slowly ate taking in the surrounding. Maud felt bad for them and wished there was something she could do to help them. In the end all she could do was hope and support them when she could and she knew from their words and actions that they appreciated her friendship for that.

But deep down she had a nagging feeling in her heart. A tightness she felt whenever she was around the two mares. Some called it a sickness, but to her it was an undeniable part of herself. A part of herself she rarely showed.

Her loving side.