This chapter was not planned. Just needed something to unwind with that was simple and relaxing.

As always, please do consider supporting my Patreon or my Ko-Fi account.

Boredom got the better of me. Days have been going by and there really has not been anything to do besides continue this march to the east. I have been spending a lot of time in the command chamber whenever it is being pulled along with the rest of the militia. And while there has not been much to see or talk about, I feel compelled to write something to pass the time. Anything really. By this point, I am almost looking forward to the next clash with the emperor's forces just for the sake of knowing we are making progress. Almost.

Those comic books Spike sent me have been a godsend. I have taken the time to reacquaint myself with the entire story of Project H up to this point. And it is a surreal feeling to read through issues that I personally experienced after triggering that spell on the inside of the back cover that draws you into that world to experience the plot for yourself while assuming the role of the character one aligns with the most. Even the Power Pony issues sometimes lean into the Project H continuity, though Hunter's roles in those issues when he does show up tend to be minor support roles more often than not. The same works in reverse for the Project H series. Although I am making sure I get completely caught up before I check out the newest issue. Maybe it is a good thing I never got around to reading it yet.

Smolder is my nearly constant companion when I am resting indoors. Although we have occasionally gotten some other visitors at times. Gilda sometimes pops in to rest her hands and paws. Rarity especially is not fond of the rigors of the road and ducks in here relatively often to tidy herself up, especially shortly after she gets caught in the rain. Although one of my most recent visits was a little less anticipated.

It was just after lunchtime and I had retired to my chambers while Smolder stayed behind downstairs to brew some tea or maybe some coffee. But minutes later while I took a moment to arrange my recently laundered clothes in my dresser, I heard a knock at the door. I had not bothered to lock it at the time, so I was puzzled over why Smolder would feel the need to knock unless she had been locked out. But when I opened the door, my eyes opened wider than they probably should have. "Maud?"

"May I come in?" She asked with her usual stoic tone. I had barely caught any sight of her recently and had all but forgotten about her custom suit of heavy stone armor. I even noticed what a heavy tread she carried as I stepped back and allowed her to step into my room. Maud Pie reached back with her armored hoof and pushed the door closed behind her. Her nearly blank gaze was cast around my room before she asked, "Nice place you have. It looks like they're taking good care of you."

"I do appreciate the accommodations. I hope things are at least comfy out there in your tents." I replied while wondering just how well someone like Maud Pie would take to such humble housing. She started to remove her stone armor, but I was quick to offer to help just so the pieces would not hit the floor too hard. Only for me to realize just how heavy each chunk was. "Whoa, hey! I'll never figure out how you can run around in this stuff like it's made of paper!"

"I guess having a special connection to rocks just runs in the family. You saw my family's home, right?" Maud replied as we got every last piece of her stone barding down to the floor. She then stepped out of her stone boots as I realized that Maud was not wearing her usual favorite frock under it. Not that it would have been practical in the first place, but I had gotten so used to seeing her in it that I was initially filled with surprise. Maud even noticed my stare and crossed her legs in a display of unease. Her eyes glanced elsewhere as she asked, "Would it be OK if you didn't stare?"

"You're not used to being without something to wear, huh?" I replied while understanding that Maud is much more insecure about being bare around others. I went into the bathroom and fetched my largest towel before coming out and draping it over her. "Is that better?"

"Yeah... Thanks. You're sweet." Maud muttered dully yet sincerely as I noticed just the slightest smile upon her lips. Now draped in a towel like a robe, Maud climbed onto my bed and relaxed upon it with her seemingly tired eyes upon me. "I don't see you out there very often when we're marching. Are you all right?"

"I guess I just keep ducking in here because I feel bored on top of feeling like I'm kind of getting in the way... Besides that, I'm perfectly fine." I replied as I sat on the stool by my typewriter. "What about you? Are things OK out there?"

"I pass the time by observing every little rock we come across. If we weren't so far from civilization, I'd like to do some field research out here." Maud said with a dreamy look in her very relaxed eyes. I think I saw the gleam of inspiration in those eyes as she added, "Lots of untouched wilderness out here. And that mountain range we passed a while ago really caught my eye. I wish I had time to go over there and look around."

"Yeah, I don't think you should... I heard bad things about that place. Might even be cursed." I retorted while knowing that she was referring to the Devil's Mountain. We can barely see it out west anymore. I do not know what exactly one might find there, but I would hate for Maud to plan an expedition for it only to never be heard from again. But upon being reminded of her studies in earth science and her penchant for being out in the field, I had a realization. "Wait, you like studying out in the field, right? I guess you would know all about roughing it in a tent then."

"Mmhm. I'm used to camping out. I would even say that the tent Pinkie Pie and I are sharing is bigger than what I'm used to." Maud explained while shifting around a bit on my bed to get comfortable. She then said a little more softly, "I'm glad I could find some time to come by and say hello. I missed you."

"I didn't know how much I missed you until I saw you. It's great to have you here, Maud." I replied while still recalling the time she spent in Ponyville that one time. We really got along quite well. And so quickly too. "Do you think you'll be coming back to Ponyville to visit sometime soon?"

"Eventually. I still need to scope things out just in case I go through with moving there." Maud said while just looking the tiniest bit nervous about the revelation.

My eyes reflexively opened wider, my eyebrows perking up. "Wait, really? In Ponyvi... Oh, right. You did mention something like that before.”

"I'm not entirely sure yet, but it's up there on my list of choices. I'm trying to figure out where to live after I graduate and Ponyville...looks really ideal for me in terms of the surrounding environment and just who lives there." Maud explained while her eyes wandered in an almost giddy fashion. Or maybe it just seemed giddy to me.

"I'm sure Pinkie Pie would be happy to have you living in the neighborhood. Favorite sister, right?" I asked while knowing that those two, while polar opposites to the most extreme, are very near and dear to each other.

"Mmhm. And it would be great to see you now and then too." Maud added while showing a more noticeable smile. "Ponyville is kind of quiet. And colorful. A lot more colorful than where I come from. I liked it. "

The lack of color from her home immediately brought to mind that dreary and bare rock farm I had stumbled upon on my way out to the Empty Plains. It was definitely depressing to look at. "Yeah, I saw. I'd hate to live there for the rest of my days."

"It's not just the rock farm. A little down the road is Rockville and the whole place is mostly made of housing carved out of rocks. I guess it's just a prime location for high quality rock excavation." Maud explained as I realized just how little I had explored that area while soaring east. And entire town with buildings carved right out of rock formations? Sounded like something out of the stone ages.

"I guess when you have an abundance of one resource, you use it for as much as you can get out of it... Might be worth it just to visit the place once." I muttered in contemplation. Although I could not imagine visiting such a place more than once.

"While I do have a passion for rocks, even I think it gets old there after a while. I like getting out and seeing more varied environments." Maud explained as I raised an eyebrow at that claim. Even someone like her has limits on how much dreary dry rocky terrain she can tolerate for so long?

A short while later, Maud got up to use the restroom for a minute. Bu barely five seconds after locking the bathroom door behind her, the door leading out to the stairs opened before Smolder stuck her head in. "How's your guest?"

"She's doing fine. In the bathroom right now." I replied while only the muffled sound of the whirring ceiling fan could be heard through the door.

Smolder glanced at the door before back to me. She smiled slightly while she said, "I think I'm getting the hang of reading her a bit better. You're right, it's all about the eyes with her. If you look closely, you can tell what she's feeling."

I stroked my fingers along the purple fibrous crest on Smolder's head as I was pleased to hear she was learning how to understand our stoic friend better. "Atta girl. Maud's the quiet type, but she still feels as much as we do."

"Yeah, but she doesn't do a good job of showing it." Smolder muttered with a chuckle, her head tilting in my direction. Although she then asked, "I'm just gonna say it. I don't think something's right with her. I get quiet types, but she's...something else. If it's that hard to read her mood, don't you think there's something wrong?"

While I do know how to read Maud with what subtle cues she gives me, I could not fault Smolder's suspicions. It is not normal to be quite that subdued at all times. Maud's constant deadpan display is not normal, I will not deny that. And while I have seen her laugh quietly just a few times, I get the impression those moments are very rare. Not like she does not want to laugh or smile. But because she...cannot. Or at the very least it is more difficult to express herself than most others.

I thought on this for a while as I hoped the sound of the ceiling fan in the bathroom kept Maud from hearing us through the door. Softening my voice further as a precaution, I looked down at Smolder and said, "When you put it like that... I suppose we can't rule out the possibility that Maud may have some sort of neurological condition that inhibits her ability to express emotion. If she does, I doubt she's been diagnosed. Pinkie Pie would've surely mentioned it to me by now if she knew."

Smolder raised an eyebrow in an intrigued fashion while her eyes glanced over at the door. "You have any idea what might be up with her?"

"Well... If you ask... I can't help but feel like these symptoms do bring...something to mind. Something familiar... Like it's at the back of my mind and I just can't put my finger on it... Maybe it'll come to me later, but I'm drawing a blank right now." I replied as I tried my hardest to brainstorm and try to remember what Maud's behavior could be a symptom for. Like it was just out of reach. But I then whispered, "Let's not jump to conclusions though. I don't want anyone to make Maud think there's something wrong with her, all right? She's a good person and that's what matters."

"Right. Got it. I was just wondering." Smolder retorted before we both looked at the door to the bathroom. The sound of a flushing toilet was heard followed by running water in the sink. Smolder glanced up at me and said, "I better leave you two alone. I'm gonna go scavenge for some fruit and berries and be right back, all right?"

"If they'll let you, all right then. You take care out there." I replied before Smolder departed my room and closed the door behind her. A moment later, Maud stepped out of my bathroom with her front hooves visibly wet. "Everything OK in there."

"Mmhm. And..." Maud said before pausing to let out a long yawn. Her stoic gaze looked more than just bored. She looked genuinely sleepy. "I don't know why, but being inside some place that's rolling along this slowly on wheels puts me in the mood for a nap."

"In that case... Huh?" I started to say before hearing the telltale of hooves clipping and clopping up the stairs right outside my door. Very hard to miss. I was filled with a sort of anticipation as I wondered who was about to pop through the door. And in hindsight, I should not have been surprised. The door opened quickly before a familiar pink mare poked her head in. "Huh? Pinkie?"

"Hey there! I heard Maud ducked in here, so I thought I'd pop in to say hello too." She said with her usual pep while pushing the door closed behind her. Although she then took a quick look at Maud and asked, "Huh? Why you out of your armor, Maud? Too heavy?"

"No, I just didn't feel comfortable wearing it indoors when I only want to relax. Although I wish I could've brought my frock with me... And..." Maud started to say before she looked back over at me. "I was going to ask if I could take a nap here. If that's all right with you..."

"To be honest, I feel like I could use one too. Seems like a good day for it." I replied while liking the idea of cuddling with her in bed. Although I then looked at Pinkie Pie while she looked back in a manner that seemed to hint she was hoping I would ask her too. "Um... You wanna stay for a nap too?"

"I thought you'd never ask!" Pinkie Pie retorted before she started slipping off her armor piece by piece. That and the blast suit she was wearing under it. I still have to wonder where she got the idea to combine them. While I went to fetch the quilt I was keeping in my dresser, Pinkie and Maud bounded up onto my bed and waited for me. There was just enough room for the three of us to fit on it without one of us rolling off of the side. I crawled past Maud to rest between them and unfurled the quilt before pulling it over us. Under the covers, I felt the two sisters reach over and pull me into a gentle hug. "Comfy, James?"

"Mmhm. Just don't wiggle too much." I replied while I rested my head on the pillow. I inhaled deeply as I took in the noticeably sweet scent that working in Sugarcube Corner for so long had caused Pinkie Pie's mane to absorb the scent of a bakery and the subtle earthy scents that had been absorbed into Maud's coat. Two sisters who could not be more unlike each other, yet were like two peas in a pod. I soon felt Maud's embrace tighten as I even felt a leg drape itself over my own. "You all right, Maud?"

"Mmhm. It's just nice seeing you again." She said softly as I felt her powerful unbreakable grip cling to me the best she could. While her eyes usually look a little too dull most of the time, I could tell that she was genuinely sleepy at that moment.

When I turned my head to look at Pinkie, I could see that her eyes were not quite as tired. I think she knew it too since she then asked, "Wanna talk for a little bit first?"

It sounded like a good idea to tire us out a bit before trying to get some sleep. And so I asked, "Sure... Um... Looking at you two now... How many sisters do you have again?"

"You already met Marble out at our family's rock farm, right? There's also Limestone and she's next in line to inherit the place when our parents retire. But that's it. Just four Pie sisters." Pinkie explained as I thought back to my brief visit on that farm.

"Limestone, huh? I met Marble, but not her... Although...I think I did see her. And she seemed kind of scary, now that I think about it." I replied as I thought back to that little fright I got when I approached a large egg-like stone somewhere around there. I had to teleport to the far edge of the field to hide in the woods in order to avoid detection. Whoever that mare was, her body language was very irritated and her tail and mane being trimmed so short made her look very aggressive. The complete opposite of precious little Marble Pie.

"That does sound like her. Limestone takes her job around the place very seriously. Our parents run the farm, but she's the foreman. She would probably have not been very nice if she found you trespassing." Maud explained quietly as I felt her hoof rub back and forth on my chest with only minute movements. "Marble really sounds like she likes you though. I don't know what you did when you stopped by, but she said you were very patient with her. I think she wants to see you again sometime."

I felt a smile creep across my face. With my memories going back to that moment, I could not help but feel happy as I remembered that lovely little lady. So very beautiful, yet so very demure and tender. So much like Fluttershy, now that I think about it. If they were to ever meet, I am sure they would be very good friends. "Yeah, Marble was very sweet... Very beautiful too. I felt lucky to find someone so nice out there."

Pinkie Pie's eyes suddenly lit up as if struck with inspiration. "Ooh! I just had a brainstorm! Maud, you'll be going home for Hearths Warming Eve, right?"

"Yeah, I'll be there. Why?" Her sister asked without much of a look of surprise in her tired eyes.

"Weeeeelllll..... Why don't you come on by for a couple of days when the holidays come around, James? I know Marble would love to see you again. And we could introduce you to Limestone! Don't worry, I promise she won't be mean to you." Pinkie Pie said as she wiggled closer to me with such a look of excitement in her eyes. "It'll be just you and the four Pies. Sounds nice?"

"I guess it would be interesting to check things out there during a snowy winter... Sure, I'd be up for another visit. I have no idea what it's even like in that house on the farm." I replied without much thought. In hindsight, it was kind of a shame I could not stay longer and under better circumstances. Marble Pie had such a pleasant aura about herself. I really wanted to see her again.

"It'll be great to have you there, James. I'm looking forward to it. Boulder and I will try and make sure you're comfortable." Maud said softly while I noticed a soft smile on her lips. I knew I was certainly looking forward to spending time with the sisters. Although I still had no idea what to expect from Limestone Pie.

"Nice! I'll get in touch with my folks once we get back home so we can start planning! Marble's gonna be so excited to hear you're coming back!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, albeit a little more quietly than she would be doing if not relaxing in bed. She then winked at me as she added, "I just know you and Marble will be such great friends. Did you know she does arrrrtttt?"

"She... Wait, she does? Marble's an artist?" I asked with a renewed interest in Pinkie's sister.

Maud provided a response. "She sculpts in her spare time. Little stone carvings. And she's pretty good at it."

I found myself smiling at this revelation. "Well, as one artist to another, I think I'm going to want to see her studio when I get there."

It was around this time that the two sisters let out a yawn together. I think they were finally reaching their limits. Pinkie then said softly, "Right, I think I'm ready to start catching some Zs... Let's talk later, all right?"

"Uh huh. You too sleep well." I replied before we wiggled into some more comfortable positions under the quilt. I closed my eyes, but I did not get to wait long before I heard something being whispered into my ear.

"Rocks. These are my rocks. Sediments...make me sedimental. Smooth and round, asleep in the ground, shades of brown and gray." I recognized that little poem anywhere. With a tired yet tender tone, Maud whispered poem after poem to me for a live recital. And it was working. I have always found her poetry to be very relaxing to listen to. And I showed that I appreciated this gesture with a smile. With the two sisters holding me in an embrace from both sides, I steadily fell asleep in their secure embrace.

Maybe a few hours passed before I finally began to awaken. I all too reluctantly opened my eyes before I found myself gazing at the ceiling. When I looked to my right, I could see the horizon rolling ever so slowly to the left. We were still on the move. And the subtle sensation of the command center rolling along on its wheels only made me more tempted to go back to sleep.

I lazily turned my head to gaze at the two slumbering sisters while I could still feel them holding onto me under the quilt. Their quiet snoring differed in pitch ever just slightly, but they looked equally at peace. Wondering if I should probably get up, I started to stir in order to get some leverage to push myself up. But when I tried to wiggle out of their grasp, Maud and Pinkie responded by tightening their powerful grips on me even further. They pulled themselves even closer with their noses all but touching my cheeks. They were just too strong... It is easy to forget just how powerful earth ponies are despite their small size. And Maud just might be the strongest of them all.

I glanced left and right at the two mares beside me. I could not even turn my head without my jaw or nose bumping their snouts. But I did very safe in their embrace. Perhaps too safe. I found myself tempted to fall back to sleep and eventually did so. I may have been out for another hour before I awoke to the feeling of the two sisters stirring beside me. When I willed myself to open my eyes, I noticed out of the corners the two sleepy sisters staring at me with very groggy eyes. I suppose they were not quite entirely awake either. I then muttered, "Hey... Sleep well?"

"Mmhm..." Pinkie Pie mumbled before blinking a few times to clear her eyes. I saw some of her usual pep return to her face before she pushed her head forward just a little to plant a kiss on my cheek. "You make a really good cuddle buddy in bed, you know that?"

I snickered at this sweet show of affection and said, "So do you. It felt nice to be held like this. Even if...I can't really move right now."

"You can't?" Maud asked quietly before she lifted the quilt to see exactly what was going on under it. Indeed, they had their legs locked over me like a vice with both of their hind legs locked around my legs. What was cute was that their body positions were perfectly symmetrical with each other. I noticed the faintest hint of a blush form in Maud's cheeks even though her face looked just as disinterested as she usually appeared. Her eyes glanced elsewhere as she said, "Sorry... Didn't mean to restrain you."

"It's fine. It honestly helped me sleep better." I replied while still locked in their embrace. "Although...um...would it be all right if you let go now? Or at least one of you?"

"Sure! I think I need to freshen up in the bathroom anyway. Be right back." Pinkie Pie replied before pushing back and hopping up. She hopped off the bed with a single bound before trotting into the bathroom. I soon heard the sink running, probably just so she can splash some water on her face.

Now alone with Maud, I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye. After seeing her just stare at me for a moment, she brought her snout to my cheek and touched me gently with it. "I slept very well. You're good company in bed."

"You too, Maud." I whispered while wanting to keep things quiet. I thought she was going to let go, but she instead adjusted herself to properly hold me in an embrace. I lightly patted her wrist while I said, "I missed you too."

"Thanks... I really enjoyed my time in Ponyville. Out of everyone there I met, I was the most happy to have met you." She said with a noticeable softness in her tone. She looked at me with those stoic yet lovely light blue eyes, even if I did not see much of a smile at the time. She then said softly, "I feel like out of everypony there, you were the only one who really got me. I still have your rock candy necklace set up in my room back home."

"Huh... Yeah, you did invite me to make some on the first day... I even still have yours back home somewhere... Just couldn't eat it. Already had too much of that stuff that day." I retorted while still remembering how Pinkie Pie overdid it on the rock candy production for Maud's visit. And then finding out that Maud does not even like the stuff.

Maud rolled her eyes when I brought that up. I even noticed a smirk on her lips. "I hope you were a good sport with her. I think she always makes so much for its own sake more for herself than me."

I snorted in amusement at that memory. Although her words only then registered with me. "Wait... I mean I think I do understand you, but... You mean I understand you better than Pinkie Pie? I thought..."

"She does understand me. About 90% of the time." Maud replied as that subtle smile faded. "She tries. And she does a good job of it most of the time. But now and then, she sees and thinks what she wants to believe more than what I'm actually trying to get across. But I'm OK with it since she really does try."

"That's kind of sad to say... And she's your favorite sister too, right?" I muttered while being mindful of Pinkie Pie's presence in the bathroom. The door was still open a bit, so the only thing drowning us out was the bathroom sink running. This was not something to say lightly around her. "Does she know?"

"No. I've never told her. I like seeing her happy. And it's not like she gets it wrong very often to begin with." Maud replied quietly before closing her eyes and resting her brow against mine. I felt it would be best to say nothing for the moment, though she then whispered, "Can you keep a secret?"

"Uh huh?" I mumbled as she opened her eyes again.

"I've decided." Maud said with a certain tone of finality in her voice. "When I graduate, I'm moving to Ponyville."

"Huh? Really? Why so sure?" I asked while surprised to see her come to a decision so quickly.

"The terrain around the place would be beneficial to my studies. And...because..." She muttered before snuggling up to me even more than she was already. Maud looked me in the eye and muttered, "Because that's where you are."

I merely stared at her. Because...Ponyville is where I live? "Maud... I... What?"

"Because you make me happy." She said while strangely showing no hint of a smile. "You understand me. And that's more than I can say about most people in my life. I'll be happy to have Pinkie Pie in my daily life too, but...I'll be happy having you in my life when you're the one who understands me most."

That was a bold thing to say. Much bolder than what I would expect out of someone as subdued as Maud. But I was not in objection to the notion. I put my arm around her for a hug as I whispered, "All right... If that's what you're sure of, I'll be happy to have you there. Just let me know when and where in town once you've got everything planned out, all right?"

"Don't worry. You and Pinkie will be the first to know." She said softly while only then starting to release her grip on me. It was only then that Pinkie Pie trotted out of the bathroom and started suiting up in her armor. Maud then asked while lazily climbing down from my bed, "We heading out?"

"Uh huh! Might help wake us up if we getting out there and start marching. The girls are probably wondering where we are right now anyway." Pinkie said with her face visibly soaked. She had no trouble getting all here gear back on and soon made her way to the door. "I'm going on ahead. See you soon!"

Now alone with Maud, I watched as she started to slide her stone armor back onto herself. While I knew she was more than strong enough to handle it, she was still taking things slowly to avoid having something that heavy slip and potentially smash a hole in my floor. But as I looked at all that stone on her, a name came to mind. Even though I did feel silly for bringing it up. "Now that I think about it... Where's Boulder?"

"I didn't think it would be a good idea to bring him along, so I left him in my room back on the rock farm." Maud explained once she only had her helmet left to place upon her head. She then brought up a very good point. "If I dropped him out here, I would probably never see him again. Just too risky."

"Yeah, probably would... Trying to find a needle in a haystack is one thing, but searching for a pebble in miles upon miles of open wilderness? That's just not gonna happen." I retorted while quickly being reminded of how vast the Empty Plains are. While I know Boulder is most likely just a lifeless pebble, the thought of losing anything out here is daunting. It would be a nightmare trying to retrace one's steps. Perhaps that other pebble Maud had earlier was basically a teddy bear to her that was supposed to replace Boulder for the time being. Once Maud placed her helmet upon her head, I said, "You're always welcome to come by to visit if you have time."

"I think I will. It was really nice getting to spend time with you again, James." She spoke with a subtle smile on her lips. Maud then began to step towards the door with her heavy tread while she said, "I better go catch up. Stay safe."

Nothing else of interest really happened following that visit from the two Pie sisters. It was nice of them to stop by and break up the monotony, even if not a lot happened. But knowing that Maud Pie will be moving into Ponyville sometime down the road was a pleasant discovery to make. I am certainly looking forward to it.

Now that the camp has been set up again for the evening and there is nothing else to really mention, I am going to head out to stretch my legs. Maybe even track down my friends in one of the mess halls for some socializing with dinner tonight. And I really need to get around to reading that new issue of Project H soon while things are still quiet. I am sure it will be worth the read. Anyway, that is enough for today. Time to get some fresh air.