S4 E18 Everypony! For Whom The Sweetie Belle Tolls is up next!

.....

Maliu blinked sleep out of his eyes, struggling to wake up as him and his friends headed over to Sugarcube Corner around 5:30 in the morning.

He heard Applejack give a little sigh. "Has anybody heard from Pinkie Pie since yesterday?"

The others shook their heads, Rainbow Dash stretching. "I don't see what's so important we had to meet here this early. Celestia hasn't even raised the sun yet!" She exclaimed, gesturing to a rooster. Malibu noted the rooster snoring softly, making him chuckle sleepily.

"Maybe it's something important," Malbiu pointed out. Twilight nods in his direction while knocking on the door. "I hope everything's ok."

After knocking there was a crashing noise, making Malibu jump into the air a little before showing Pinkie Pie in the doorway. "Thank goodness you're all here! There's no time to lose!"

She next yanks all 6 of them all inside, Malibu crying out and finding himself falling onto a pile of what looked like... rock candy?

"Careful!" Pinkie Pie warned as Twilight almost stepped on some of it. "What is all this?"

Malibu nods, shaking the crushed rock candy off of him. "Yeah, what did you want us over for?"

Pinkie Pie kept stirring some more rock candy in a bowl. "My sister Maud's gonna be here soon, and I need your help taste-testing my rock candy recipes!"

Applejack cringed up. "Uh, we're happy to help you Pinkie Pie, but this seems like an awful lot of candy."

Malibu nods in agreement, not having seen this much of it in his life but was curious about what Pinkie's sister would be like since she had grown up on a rock farm. "Yeah, even for you."

Pinkie gives a sheepish smile. "I might have gone a teensy bit overboard. But let's get to munching!"

....

An hour later on, Malibu's stomach felt really bloated and sore, his hooves holding it while hearing his other friends were all groaning from so much rock candy.

Pinkie Pie came over with more new flavors. "Everypony ready for more?"

Rainbow Dash grimaced. "Ugh, my teeth hurt."

Malibu nods, his face feeling tired. "Yeah, my stomach feels like it is pregnant." He croaked.

Fluttershy moans as well, Applejack nodded. "I think we've had plenty. And shouldn't you be on your way to pick up Maud from the train station?"

Pinkie Pie's face was worried though. "Oh, but you've only tried half of the flavors, and we have to choose the perfect ones before she gets here so I have time to make more!" She began to get into an eating frenzy, Malibu's ears flattening from the sight of that, as he went up to her with a smile.

"Easy there Pink. I'm sure Maud would love the rock candy." He tried to assure.

Twilight nods in agreement. "Yeah, and I'm sure you've made enough. She's only staying for the week."

The pink party pony giggles. "Aw, it's not just for Maud, silly. I'm making candy for all of us!"

Hearing that made the others especially Malibu groan, knowing he needed to be on an off candy diet for a while.

Pinkie Pie pulled out a journal displaying pictures of herself and Maud. "It's part of a very important super duper special tradition that only the closest and bestest of friends can share! It all started when Maud and I were fillies on the rock farm. She taught me the Pie family rock candy recipe! It has a secret ingredient: It's rocks! And she showed me how to string the pieces to make them into a necklace! And once we were done, we trade! Maud and I been trading necklaces back and forth since I moved to Ponyville. They're a sign that we'll always be best friends!" She explains.

Malibu smiled from that story, Applejack also smiling too. "Aw, what a great tradition."

Rainbow though looked confused. "Hold on, the secret ingredient is rocks?!" 

The teal alicorn's belly grumbled from that line, wincing, regretting eating the candy now if it had actual rocks in it. "Yeah, but these are a special kind of rock that Maud discovered!"

Fluttershy's ears perked. "Oh, what kind of rock are they?"

Pinkie Pie giggled. "Can't tell ya that, silly! It's a secret!" She whispered, making Malibu tilt his head. "Now that Maud is heading out to get her rocktorate in rock science, this may be our last chance to trade them for a really long time. I can't wait for you all to meet her, I just know that my best Ponyville friends and best sister friend are gonna become bestest friends!"

She suddenly grabs Rarity whose eyes round. "She expresses herself through fashion just like Rarity, and she's really smart and loves reading just like Twilight!"

Pinkie grabs the rest of them, Malibu yelping again from the force. "And she's honest, and loves forest things, and is good at games... oh she's awesome!"

Malibu however was wondering if Maud was also good at what he liked to do, which was mostly flying and once in a while reading.

"She sounds amazing, but won't you she start worrying if you aren't at the train station when she gets here?" Rarity croaks while being squished.

Pinkie closes her eyes. "She sure will. Ah! I gotta get out of here!" The party planner zipped away in a cloud of smoke, Malibu falling to the ground, right on his bloated belly which made him grunt in pain, wanting to drink a lot of water now to balance out his sugar intake.

....

While Pinkie Pie picked up Maud, Malibu, Twilight and the others had set up a meeting picnic even with their pets.

Shadow squeaked while flying around Winona who barked playfully at him. "I sure hope Maud has an appetite." Fluttershy says while laying out the food.

"Never met a pony or critter who didn't love Granny Smith's apple spiced muffins!" Applejack says while pushing Angel Bunny away. 

Malibu picked one up with his magic, eating it whole. "Yeah, they're pretty irresistible." He says with a grin, his stomach feeling better after the rock candy fiasco.

Rarity groans, showing up wearing a ridiculous looking hat, which had a lot of little diamond crystals on it that kept falling off. "Oh, it's no use! I simply cannot find anything suitable to wear!" She complains, sitting down.

Rainbow Dash gives a shrug. "I doubt she'll notice what anypony's wearing, so what's the big deal?"

The white unicorn huffs. "The big deal, is that it will be very difficult to show Maud what a strong fashion presence we have here in Ponyville if the most fashion-forward pony here can't keep her hat from falling apart!"

Malibu rolls his eyes. "Seriously, Rar, you have magic, you can keep your gems from falling off your hat at least." He said, making her glare back at him.

Twilight's face was worried looking. "I think we're all a little nervous about Maud's visit. She's Pinkie Pie's sister, and it's obvious Pinkie really wants us to hit it off. Being able to make those rock candy necklaces together is really important to her. I'm sure everything will be fine—."

Malibu at that moment heard the voice of Pinkie Pie from up the pathway. "We're heeeere!" She bounced over to her friends. He raised his brow. "Where is Maud?"

Pinkie had an excited look. "She's coming!"

The Mane 7 watched the path, wondering where Maud was at all. Rainbow was really confused. "Are you sure?"

"She's not quite as fast as me. I asked Gummy to stay with her in case she got lost!" Pinkie Pie explained, Malibu wondering how a gator with no teeth could help Maud find her way to the picnic.

It was silent for a while, Malibu feeling really awkward until he heard footsteps. Squinting, he spotted the new mare showing up, Gummy holding onto her tail with his mouth.

"Is she even moving?" Rainbow Dash whispered to Malibu who shrugged.

"We're over here, Maud!!" Pinkie shrilled, Maud walking on over to them.

She halted in front of the gang, then leaned down to sniff a rock. "Hm. Sedimentary." Maud reveals in a drone like tone.

Malibu blinked. "Uh, huh?"

Maud lifted up the rock. "This is a sedimentary rock."

Twilight also blinked before grinning awkwardly. "That's... really fascinating, isn't it?" She asked the others who all nodded, pretending to be fascinated. For Malibu, Maud Pie was quite a piece of work. Her coat colors were much duller than Pinkie, and she wore a strange shirt. Her face was the most dead panned one that Malibu had ever seen in his life. "We're just so glad you could come for a visit before your big trip. Pinkie Pie has told us so much about you."

She gestures to everypony else. "I'm Twilight, and this is Malibu, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity."

Fluttershy gives a smile. "We're ever so glad to meet you."

Applejack nods while Malibu does his best to smile and wave. "We're just gonna have the best time!"

All Maud did however was just stand there and blink softly, staring expressionless. Rarity clears her throat. "Pinkie Pie tells me you share my love for fashion."

Maud nods. "I'm really into expressing myself through my wardrobe."

The white unicorn points to Maud's shirt. "A-and what is that delightful frock you're wearing now saying?"

Maud raised her brow. "It doesn't talk, it's a dress."

Malibu cringed up as Rarity gave a nervous sounding laugh, backing away. "Oh, yes, of course, I, I just meant the frock is, just... uh..."

After that Maud turned her head to Malibu. "You're the gargoyle." She says in her continued deadpan voice. Malibu flushed from her comment. "Guess Pinkie told you where I'm really from, huh?"

She nods. "Yes, and that you were part of the Manhattan Labyrinth Clan and a clone of a gargoyle that looked like you but red."

Malibu flushed even further. "That pretty much sums it up, yeah." He says, swishing his tail nervously. He still wasn't so sure what to think of her.

To distract him from the awkwardness Winona suddenly barked, Shadow flying around Maud's head who watched the bat in her deadpanned expression.

Applejack rubbed the back of her neck. "Uh, so this here's WInona. That's Owlowiscious, Tank, Opal, Angel, and Shadow. Pinkie Pie told us you have a pet too."

Maud nods. "He's in my pocket."

Fluttershy gives an excited gasp that Malibu expected from her. "Oh, you have a pocket pet? Like a tiny mouse? Or a baby bird? Or a trained butterfly?" She squeeed, Malibu noticing Angel's jealous look.

Maud pulled out her pet which was... a rock. Malibu blinked, staring down at it. "It's a rock. His name's Boulder." She introduced. Fluttershy's smile faded away from the sight of a rock being a pet.

Pinkie kept up her smile the whole time. "This is going to be the best, most awesome, funnest week ever! I can't wait for us all to become bestest friends!" She exclaimed, the others laughing nervously, not so sure it really will go well.

....

During their lunch with Maud, Malibu was munching on an apple while Applejack offered Maud a muffin. "Maud? Would you like to try one of Granny Smith's famous apple spiced muffins?"

Maud sniffed the muffins but wound up biting into one of the crystals from Rarity's hat that fell into the basket, making Malibu flinch up from the crunch sound, hoping Maud didn't break any of her teeth.

She soon finishes crunching down on the crystal. "It's crunchy."

Pinkie smiles, taking a bite of the real muffins. "Maud's right! They are crunchy!" She squealed, chewing happily. "Yum!"

It caused Malibu to shrug that off, eating his own muffin afterward, while Rainbow Dash flew over to her. "So, uh, Pinkie Pie tells us you like games."

Maud looked up at the rainbow Pegasus. "Boulder and I sometimes play a game called 'Camouflage'. It's kind of like hide and seek but way more intense." She explains in her usual tone.

Malibu raised his brow, looking to the others, wondering how intense camouflage could be. "Er, cool?" He asked, scratching his head.

They soon began to play the game, hiding Boulder while Malibu looked under a few rocks with his magic along with Twilight, the rest of the Mane 7 doing their best to find the rock. They had been searching for 20 minutes and nothing.

Twilight looked toward the others. "Any luck?" 

Fluttershy lifts up a rock. "I truly wish I'd spent more time with Boulder, because I'm having a very hard time remembering what he looks like."

Applejack kicked another aside. "It's like looking for a pebble in a haystack."

Rarity sighs, more crystals falling off her hat. "More like in a pile of pebbles." 

Malibu gave her an annoyed glare. "Well, you really don't have to make it any harder with that hat of yours." He said with gritted teeth, trying to keep his cool.

She ignored him while groaning. "I give up! This is impossible!"

Twilight shook her head. "It'll hurt Maud's feelings if we all stop playing. Besides, look how much fun Pinkie Pie's having."

Malibu turned to see Pinkie Pie going a bit obsessed in finding Boulder. "Is this him? Is this him? Is this him?" He shook his head silently. "Just a little longer, ok?" Twilight offered, making the others moan.

"Alright, fine..." Applejack muttered.

Malibu's ears perked when hearing Maud. "I found him."

Pinkie Pie hopped up and down. "Oh! Where was he?"

Maud pulled the boulder out. "He was hiding in my pocket."

The teal alicorn's eye brow twitched, his jaw dropped. All this searching, and Maud somehow tricked them? Rainbow was just as pissed, throwing several rocks into the air. "Oh, come on!!"

Applejack had looked back to see the pets looking pretty tired, Malibu seeing his bat hanging upside down now, yawning sleepily. He knew he shouldn't keep him awake so much during the day. "I don't mean to interrupt, but we really should get these little critters home. It's getting awfully late, and they've had a very busy day." Fluttershy said, smiling in her shy manner.

Shadow had flown onto Malibu's back, snuggling into his mane making him smile. Pinkie Pie nods. "Of course! Maud and I had better get going too. I want her to taste the rock candy we're gonna use for our best friends necklaces! Oh yeah!" She hopped off while Maud followed.

It left the rest of the Mane 7 feeling really uneasy about the newcomer, Malibu's face not so cheerful now. He really wasn't so sure what to make of her now. Applejack took off her hat. "She sure is... different from what I expected."

The others nodded, Rainbow Dash still rather mad. "We spent all day digging in the dirt, and he was in her pocket the whole time?!"

Fluttershy found herself smiling. "On the other side, Boulder seems really sweet."

Malibu's eye twitched more again at that phrase. "Fluttershy... he's... a rock!" He tried to spell out.

Twilight did her best to calm everypony down. "Come on guys. I'm sure Maud was just nervous about meeting all of us."

Applejack nods. "Maybe she was just acting a little 'off' because she was shy or somethin'."

Hearing that made Malibu feel guilty now, recalling how nervous he was when meeting Twilight's old friends and that it took him a while to warm up to them. "Suppose it can be intimidating to meet all 7 of us at once."

Twilight agreed with him. "Yes, and if we spend some time with her in one-on-one to try and get to know her better, I'm sure we'll be making those best friend rock candy necklaces in no time!" She said in an uplifting manner, causing the others to nod in agreement, hoping this would go well.

....

Malibu had decided to invite Maud to visit him and his mom Celestia in Canterlot who had given her a nice room. He grins at her while showing Maud around his old home.

"So, uh, what do you think?" He asked, making Maud blink, looking at her without her usual emotion.

"Luxurious." Maud responds in her deadpanned way, putting Boulder onto the bed.

Soon there was a musical tone as Philomena the Phoenix flew into the room, landing on Malibu's back, making him smile. "This is Philomena, my mom's pet Phoenix. Say hi, Philomena."

The Phoenix gave out her squawk in a musical way, Maud watching her, blinking once again, placing Boulder in front of her. "Play nice Boulder."

Malibu's ears fell from that, wondering how Philomena could play with a rock, Philomena tilting her head, squawking lightly before suddenly rubbing her head along Boulder, surprising Malibu. 

Maybe she isn't as bad as I thought... Malibu thought to himself.

....

After their quick stay in Canterlot, they both went back to the Golden Oaks library to visit with Twilight where she pulled out some books. "Maud's a total bookworm! She loves poetry!" Pinkie shouts while sliding along on the ladder, Malibu knowing he had to see now to believe.

"I've got lots of poetry. Do you read anything by Quilland Ink? Or Flourish Prose?"

Maud stares at her. "I prefer to read my own poetry."

Malibu's eyes widened from her reveal, sitting down with Twilight, interested now. "Oh, I'd love to hear some of it!" Twilight said.

Maud sat down too, clearing her throat. 

"Rock

You are a rock

Gray

You are gray

Like a rock

Which you are

Rock."

Twilight blinked, as did Malibu. That was the oddest poem he had ever heard. "I've written thousands." Maud murmured.

Pinkie Pie slid by on the ladder again. "She's so prolific!"

"The next one's about rocks. They're all about rocks." Maud announced next, Malibu smiling in a cringed way, knowing they were gonna be there for a while. 

"Rocks; these are my rocks. 

Sediments: make me sedimental.

Smooth and round, asleep in the ground

Shades of brown and gray..."

.....

Next it was Applejack's turn to hang out with Maud as they all made apple cider with Malibu's help who was stirring it in the pot.

"You about done peelin' them apples, Maud?" Applejack asked with her smile, coming over. Malibu looked over.

"I think this one is done." Maud said, revealing the smushed apple done by one of her rocks.

AJ winced, her eyes rounded. "Oh, uh, yep. That's a very interestin' method you got there!" She said with a nervous laugh.

Maud lifted up another rock, Malibu's ears pinning back, waiting for the crash noise. "Should I peel another?"

Applejack shook her head. "No! I mean, nah. I'm sure there's plenty of apples in it already."

Pinkie Pie's face was her usual excitement. "Can we taste it now?!" She asked, smelling.

The orange earth pony poured three mugs, Malibu taking a big drink from his since he felt like he needed one. Pinkie downed all hers. "Wow! That was the best apple cider I ever had!"

Malibu looked to Maud. "And how is yours?"

Maud took a small sip. "It tastes like apples."

Pinkie smiles even bigger. "Told you she was super honest, just like you!" She said with happy tears.

Applejack laughed nervously. "We're practically twins, heh." Malibu smirks a little bit from that saying, but wondered if Maud really was attempting to be friends at all.

....

Now it was time to hang with Rainbow Dash. Malibu had thrown his rock in a game she came up with which landed a few inches away from the pond. Rainbow threw hers a few more feet away.

"Yeah! I'm still the best!" Said Dash, nudging Malibu who flushed, but nudged her playfully back. "Now let's see you beat that—whoa!"

To Rainbow's shock; Maud had somehow thrown a huge rock far beyond the pond towards the horizon, making the rock explode in a cloud of dust after landing, knocking Malibu and Rainbow Dash out of the sky and into the water.

Malibu spluttered when breaking the surface of the water, Pinkie Pie climbing up onto a log. "That was AMAZING!!"

Rainbow stared in awe. "Whoa, how'd you do that?"

Maud rolled her eyes. "I threw it."

Hearing it in such a simple way almost made Malibu chuckle while Rainbow Dash smiled. "I guess you won this one Maud."

However, Maud said something Rainbow didn't think she would ever say. "I'm not really into... winning."

That made Rainbow Dash look mortified, Malibu putting a comforting hoof on her shoulder.

.....

The Mane 7 soon met back at Sugarcube Corner. Malibu saw how disappointed Rarity and Fluttershy were too since their time with Maud had been just as not so great like the others.

Pinkie Pie came out the door, smiling at their arrival. "Great, you're all here! Maud is out looking for rocks, so this is the perfect time for us to set up everything we'll need to make our best friend rock candy necklaces!"

The girls and Malibu all made awkward faces, looking down in disappointment. "What's wrong?" Pinkie Pie asked.

Malibu flinched. "It's... well..."

Twilight spoke then. "Well, I'm not sure it's the best time to make best friend rock candy necklaces.

"Why not?" Pinkie asked, her face worried.

Rarity rubbed her mane. "Well, darling, you see..."

Fluttershy smiles in a painful manner. "You're ever so thoughtful to share your special bonding ritual with us. But, uh..."

Pinkie smiled again. "But what?"

Malibu watched Applejack be the one to speak up, being the element of Honesty and all. "The truth is, we've all been tryin' real hard to get closer to Maud, but well... maybe some ponies just don't click the way others do."

It caused the others to nod in agreement. "We just wouldn't feel right makin' something that means we're best friends if, well, we aren't." Applejack concluded.

Pinkie's mane deflated slightly, her eyes looking sad but trying to be happy. "Oh. Ok. If anypony needs me, I'll be in here trying to figure out what to do with 200 pounds of rock candy..." She slowly backs inside, closing the door, leaving the others to look down in disappointment.

....

Back in the library, the friends were rather guilty, Malibu pacing back and forth, wondering what to do now.

"I feel awful! Just awful!" Rarity moans.

Fluttershy twirled her tail. "Maybe we should have just pretended to be friends with Maud."

Malibu shook his head. "No, I wouldn't want to do that with anybody. And besides, Pinkie or Maud would know right away." He pointed out.

Rainbow shrugs. "Maybe, but who really knows? Maud is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an igneous."

Rarity smiles. "Don't you mean, 'inside an enigma'?"

Dash shook her head. "Nope. I mean igneous. It's a kind of rock. Ask me how I know that!"

The door knocked, Malibu glancing over to see Pinkie Pie suddenly all happy again like almost nothing happened. "I've come up with just the thing to bring everypony closer together!"

Malibu had a bad feeling about what she had in mind while following her out. In a field, he was right when staring in disbelief at the sight of what looked like some kind of obstacle course.

"I call it: Pinkie-Rainbow-Rari-Mali-Twi-Apple-Flutter-Maud Fun Time!" Pinkie squeeed. 

The rest of the Mane 7 and Maud all had no words to say, just staring open mouthed minus Maud. "Huh?" Rainbow Dash asked.

Pinkie hopped about the course. "It combines everypony's interests into one giant activity that we all enjoy together and that will totally bring all of my bestest friends together as bestestest friends!" She points to some outfits. "You'll need these."

Malibu just blinked. "Like what my mare friend said; huh?"

"Probably better for me to show you." She puts on a snorkel outfit, starting to go through it. "Applesauce tunnel for Applejack..." She slides through a plastic tunnel with applesauce all over it, falling into a pile of fabric. "Pretty shiny stuff for Rarity."

Pinkie rushed out of the pile and towards a pile of books. "Reading material for Twilight!" She runs right into the books, Malibu noting Twilight's gasp of horror at how they were being treated.

"Magic floating for Malibu!" Pinkie shrills, hovering in what looked like a bubble with magic hovering charms inside. She then sits at a table next. "Critter time for Fluttershy!"

Hairy the bear roars in disappointment when winning the game of cards, Malibu still staring, hoping nothing will go wrong. Pinkie soon went into a kind of air vent with cupcakes hovering in there. "Cupcakes for yours truly!" She chomps on one then jumps onto a tight wire. "And it's a race for Rainbow Dash!"

Twilight points upward. "Pinkie Pie, what is that?!"

Malibu looked in her direction, seeing a huge rock pile with a larger rock on top, gulping a little from the sight. "A rock slide of course! For Maud!"

Pinkie began jumping up the rocks, Malibu seeing Maud looking in her way, the expressionless look on her face as usual but he thought he saw a look of worry in her eyes. "First you climb, then you slide!" The party pony began jumping upward.

Applejack groans. "I have a bad feelin' about this..." she says, Malibu agreeing, readying himself if he had to save her.

Pinkie Pie kept giggling while jumping on the pile of rocks until suddenly her hoof got caught in a couple. She turned around, gasping and trying to pull herself free, causing the rock pile to rumble, the biggest one tumbling downward.

Rarity gave a light shriek, Malibu's eyes glowing red suddenly from the sight. "Oh, goodness!"

Pinkie grunted more, tapping the rocks in attempting to get loose, Applejack pointing. "Watch out!"

That got her attention, looking up at the sight of the large boulder. "Huh? AAAH! HEEELLLP!" She screamed.

Before Malbu could take action, his moves were halted by Maud who rushed forward, putting on one of the outfits, running through the course, and jumping into the air, starting to hammer the large rock about to crush Pinkie Pie into pieces.

Just watching that amazed the former gargoyle clone, especially Rainbow Dash too as Maud soon got Pinkie Pie down to safety. They all breathed a sigh of relief.

Maud looked at Pinkie in concern and disappointment. "Pinkie Pie, what were you thinking?!"

Pinkie glances down, face guilty. "I guess I wasn't."

It made Maud sigh. "I know how important it is for you that your friends become my friends. But I just don't; think that it's going to happen. I think it would be best if I just go back to the rock farm and spend the rest of the week there." She glanced at the others. It was nice to meet you all. Makes me happy knowing that Pinkie Pie has such good friends."

Soon, Maud walks off to go and pack, Pinkie's eyes filling with tears, Malibu feeling really bad for her. "But... we never even got to make our rock candy necklaces..." That was when she got an idea. "Wait, Maud! I'll come with you!" Pinkie began racing after her.

Twilight had a saddened look on her face. "I can't believe Maud cut her trip short."

Rarity nods. "I can't believe we nearly lost Pinkie Pie to that ridiculous obstacle course."

Malibu grins lightly. "That was great of Maud to get Pinkie out of there so fast."

Rainbow Dash. "Did you see how fast she moved?"

"And the way she smashe that huge rock into dust? How in Equestria did she do that?!" Rarity asked too.

Fluttershy had the answer. "Pinkie Pie was in trouble! Maud would move mountains for her if she had to."

Malibu gave Rainbow Dash a kiss. "I would do the same for you Dash, if you were in trouble like that." Rainbow Dash flushes, accepting his kiss. "Thanks."

Twilight had an epiphany. "That's it! I think I finally realized what we all have in common with Maud! Something that just might be worthy of a very important super duper special tradition that only the closest and bestest of friends can share!"

It caused them all to grin at that, knowing they had to make their necklaces soon before Maud was gone for good.

....

Pinkie had meanwhile traveled back with Maud to the rock farm. When they got off the train, to their surprise; Twilight and the others were already at the station.

"What are you doing here?" Pinkie asked in confusion.

Twilight smiles with her necklace. "Pinkie Pie, we're so sorry we hurt your feelings by not bonding with Maud right away. And Maud, we're so sorry that you felt the only way to spare Pinkie Pie's feelings was to leave Ponyville early."

Malibu and the others all nodded. He made his necklace in the shape of his cross cutie mark. Applejack grins. "We've seen how much you care about Pinkie Pie, first hoof."

Twilight continued her bit. "Pinkie Pie's happiness means as much to us as it does to you, and we're so sorry ew couldn't see it sooner. The thing that makes us click and creates a special bond between us is how much we all love Pinkie Pie!"

Malibu watched Pinkie flush pinker than usual. "Aw, shucks!"

He had his own say. "I think that's a pretty great thing to have in common. What do you think, Maud?"

Maud blinked once. "Sure."

All of them minus Maud stared a little. "What's wrong?" Pinkie asked.

Rarity laughs nervously. "Sorry, darling. I think we all just thought she'd be a bit more excited about this."

Pinkie however grinned big. "Are you kidding me?! I've never seen her more excited in my entire life!" She begins jumping around in her hyperactive manner.

Maud watched her sister before turning to the others. "I don't know if you've noticed, but I don't show my enthusiasm for things quite in the same way my sister does."

Malibu and the girls all nod. "Yep, we've noticed." Malibu said with a chuckle.

"And we're totally cool with it." Rainbow Dash proclaims as Pinkie Pie tossed some confetti into the air.

Soon the train was about to head home to Ponyville. They all gathered around to trade necklaces. "Maud, we'd like to give you something to take on your trip, so that you remember all your friends from Ponyville."

The Mane 7 soon handed out all their rock candy necklaces, Maud accepting them all. "Thank you."

Pinkie handed hers last, Maud giving Pinkie hers in return. "Try not to eat all the candy before you leave!" She said, eating her necklace.

To Malibu and Twilight's surprise, they saw Maud pull out a box, putting the candy necklace inside. "Are those all the necklaces Pinkie Pie sent you?" Malibu asked in disbelief.

Maud nods, closing it. "Mm-hm."

"You haven't eaten any of them?" Twilight asked.

Maud blinked again. "I really don't like candy." That was when she gave a super rare tiny smile which caused some warmth in Malibu's heart. "But I do love Pinkie Pie."

They turned to watch Pinkie swallow her candy whole, then wink at the readers.

....

Was fun writing Maud, soon the next dream realm lesson for Malibu will come up!