Like she had done many times before, Maudelina Daisy Pie was taking her time on the train to Canterlot to groom Boulder. The old man refused to accept he wasn’t a little pebble and was always getting into scrapes. But out of the corner of her eye, Maud could see her daughter Moonstone, staring glumly out the window. It wasn’t like her.

“Pebble for your thoughts, Moonstone?”

Moonstone was startled from her thoughts. “N-nothing! I’m not thinking of anything.“

Maud gave her a look, clearly not buying it.

“H…how did you know?”

“Your eyes are as glassy as obsidian, just like Trixie’s when she’s concerned about something.” Maud said matter-of-factly. “You don’t have to tell me anything, but it might help.”

Moonstone sighed, giving in. “I’m just…not sure where I belong. I don’t really fit in anywhere…I’m not like those rich, pretty mares in Canterlot. And I was never interested in studying rocks like you and the rest of the family. Maybe there’s something wrong with me…” She looked down at her hooves. “Sorry. I don’t expect you to understand.”

Maud let out a single dry “ha,” but to those who knew her, she might as well be busting a gut.

“Huh? Why is that funny?” Moonstone asked, clearly confused.

Maud lifted up Boulder, checking for new cracks. “I may fit in fine on your grandparents’ farm, because family loves you no matter what. But most ponies are chatty, colorful and love more than rocks. Throughout most of my life, I was the weirdo in the corner of school playing in the dirt, looking for rocks. Nopony would give me the time of day…”

“I…I had no idea, Mother.”

“I’m not easy to talk to if you don’t know me.”

“How did you do it?” Moonstone asked. “You say you’re not easy to talk to, but you’re married, and you’re the top professor of the geology department at Canterlot University. They love you! Yet all I get is weird looks when I walk around town.”

“I learned a little trick from Boulder,” Maud held up her beloved pet. “What is he feeling right now?”

“I…don’t know.” Moonstone cocked an eyebrow. “I could never read him that well.”

Maud tossed him up in the air and caught him. “Look any different?”

“No. I really don’t know where you’re going with this…”

“Boulder hates heights, just like me.” Maud stroked her rock gently. “But from looking at him, you’d never tell. Boulder never lets things bother him and he never lets anypony know either. Whatever comes his way, he just goes with the flow and doesn’t let it affect him.”

“I think I get it,” Moonstone smiled. But it was clear she was still a bit confused.

“Ponies can be nasty and the world can be mean, but you’ve just got to concentrate on you. Do what feels right, focus on what you love, and never let what others say get to you. If they aren’t going to bother to like you for you, it’s really not worth the energy.” A small smile graced Maud’s lips. “I’m lucky to have such a likeminded family and understanding friends, but it was bolt from the blue to meet your mother. Trixie didn’t see a dull rock hauling pony, she could see the gems inside the geode and didn’t care how I was.”

Moonstone gazed out the window, contemplating what her Mother had just said. Maybe that was the solution…maybe she did need to forget about what they thought of her and just focus on herself. And maybe…just maybe, a certain pony would find the gems inside her geode one day.

Maud placed a hoof on her daughter’s shoulder. “Did that help at all?”

“Yes,” Moonstone smiled, genuinely this time. “It helped a lot. Thank you, Mother.”

Maud stroked her shoulder gently. She smiled, ever so slightly, then turned back to Boulder. The poor little guy needed some extra love to feel better after being tossed about.