Some days were good. On those days Marble would get up as the roosters started to sing. She would brush her teeth, fix her hair, have breakfast and work the day away. In the afternoon she would help Ma with deliveries to town, while Limestone helped Pa with fixing up whatever needed fixing up. And something always needed fixing up.

Some days were bad. On those days Marble would wake up cranky. She would brush her teeth and fix her hair, but something wouldn't feel right. Breakfast would taste bland. The hours during work would just sludge on and Ma would be in a foul mood during deliveries, while Pa would most likely drop his toolbox down the well.

Today felt like a bad day.

Marble opened her eyes, still bloodshot from the lack of sleep, to the sound of cursing and yelling. She pulled herself off her bed and slimed down the stairs.

On the porch, red with anger, stood Limestone Pie, hitting the beams of the house and cursing whatever government body got on her nerves today.

“Marble! We are in deep Barney now!" Limestone turned to her sister, waving a piece of paper. “Some fat FUCKING pencil pusher, up on his throne of paper and self-loathing, all of a sudden decided to pass on new laws regarding health and safety regulation for all surface mining operation. I swear to Celestia, if that nerd ever crosses my path, he would rue the day…"

Marble let her sister go on her little tangent. It wasn't the first time. And it most certainly wouldn't be her last. She got the whole thing from Pa. He always had a bit of anti-government edge to him. And it was more likely than not that whatever she was mad about, wasn't as all-encompassing as it would seem and was more of a suggestion to be approved by local government.

“Mhm…" Marble murmured.

“It's like they just want us to kneel over and just…go with it! Well, not me! Limestone Pie does not enjoy the taste of jackboots!"

“Mhm…" Marble rolled her eyes.

“There's a town meeting scheduled for tonight! I am going to give an empowered speech, against large government meddling in the affairs of us working folk!" Limestone scratched her chin deep in thought. “MARBLE!"

Marble Pie jumped, startled.

“Ma and Pa are gone for another month. It's up to us to save the farm and to help people see how our rights are being oppressed!" she said with a fire burning in her eyes and a passion booming out through her voice, all of which were lost on Marble. “You are my sister and I know that together we can fix this. I will be preparing my speech today. I am going to need you to work on the farm, while I'm busy. I have complete and total faith in you! We share the same blood, so we share the same strength and vigor."

“Mhm…" Marble huffed out, dispassionately.

“We will get through this. They can't tread on us!"

#

The day was tough. It would have been bearable if Limestone didn't interrupt her sister's task by asking her to hear her new draft or by always butting in, reminding her to be careful.

“If we want to fight the idea that this isn't a work-safe environment, we can't have any accidents. Understand?"

There hadn't been an accident on the farm for the past five years and Marble believed herself to be more than capable. She loved her sister, but it was extremely easy for Limestone to get on her nerves.

On top of all the frustration during work, Limestone's speech drafts were an unwelcome distraction.

“Marble! How does this sound? “The freedom to choose, how, where and for who you sweat is a freedom given by nature, not by society? For if one does not enjoy their work, nor environment, one is free to leave.“ Makes sense, right? Hey! Be careful with that pickaxe! Don't gauge your eye out! We can't have that! Especially not now…"

The things a pony does for their family.

What could Marble actually do, really? The farm was Limestone's passion. And it engulfed her entire life. She was most likely to inherit the farm, considering that Marble had plans to get married to a strong, caring and, preferably, silent pony and leave the farm to lead a happy, idyllic life, content with being a housemare.

The first part of the day went relatively normal. The rock harvest was good that year, so there was plenty of work to be done.

Marble was carrying her last load of the day, when she noticed that the roof of the barn had a hole in it. With an exhausted sigh, she went off into the shack for Pa's toolbox.

She grabbed the tool box, as well as the ladder, a lantern and a few planks of wood.

She grumbled, walking to the barn, constantly losing her balance from all the equipment. The tool box was pretty loose inside, causing the tools to swing back and forth with each step. The ladder needed a bit of fixing, as it constantly shook. The lantern was the only thing that didn't cause her any trouble.

She lit the lantern inside the barn, barely illuminating the area and she held it in her tail. She set up the ladder, which rocked back and forward as she climbed it. She kept dropping the nails from her mouth, making the entire process of hammering the planks excruciatingly slow. She went up and down, constantly gathering nails, the heat of the lantern making her sweat even more so.

But, after about an hour of work, that would have been done in about fifteen minutes if Limestone was on duty, she was finished.

Exhausted, she went outside and finally took a much deserved break. She flopped her butt on the ground and stared off into the horizon.

All this trouble, just so her sister could write a letter.

A sibling's love could only go so far.

She was not going to repeat this day ever again.

Each has her own chores to follow. And there's a reason for that. If you take that away, it would be complete and utter anarchy.

Nopony would know what to do, or how to do it, or when to do it. Birds would swim, dogs would fly. Cats would stop being a pestilence upon the world.

Lately Marble had thoughts of becoming more independent and standing up for herself. Well. Next time something like this happened, she just might have something to say about it. Maybe.

If it wasn't bad enough, she was sure she almost used up all the oil that was left in the lantern. Now she had to refill it. Although, she didn't quite remember where she had left that darn thing.

It had taken her a moment, breaking herself out of her almost trance-like state of mind during her inner explorations, to realize that she was sitting on her lantern. She hadn't noticed the uncomfortable shape earlier due to her exhaustion, but now she noticed the flames from the lantern deciding to gently lick her posterior.

As the fire caught on to her tail, she jumped up, kicking the lantern, only to break it onto herself, causing her entire butt to be engulfed in the flames.

There wasn't any time to loose. With her mind blank, she functioned only on instincts. And her instincts told her to run. She ran. She ran as fast as she could towards the farm well.

Without a second thought, she jumped in. And she fell. And she continued to fall. She fell for what felt like an eternity. And she slammed against the bottom of the well, with only a small puddle there to relieve her of her plight.

The water was like manna from heaven on her posterior. She basked in the coolness of the well for a little while, until her whole body realized that she had just plunged herself into a well, a few meters deep.

It had been Limestone's job to fill the well that day.

Marble grumbled and began climbing.

It didn't have to be such a tough day.

Marble walked around, stretching her bruised body, only know realizing how bad her butt hurts. Maybe she should sneak back inside and find a way to cool herself off. Naturally, without Limestone noticing her troubled behind. It wouldn't be in their best interest if it turns out this farm really was a health and safety hazard. Marble should proceed with caution and sneakiness.

“Hey! Marble! Get in here! I'm done with my speech! I'll fix you up some grub while I read it to you!"

Well, never mind.

With a careful walk, she headed back to the house, making sure that her sister couldn't see her red behind.

“Were you screaming a few minutes ago?" Limestone asked her sister as she got ready to recite her speech.

Marble shook her head.

“Huh…weird…I could have sworn I heard something. Anyway. Take a seat."

Marble looked at the chair. Then back to Limestone.

“It's a long speech, Marble. Besides. I'm striving for authenticity. Everyone else will be sitting at the meeting. I just want to be ready. Oh, wait. I forgot the grub. This is for you being a good sister."

At the sound of those words Marble's heart fluttered. She knew she had to do this. For Limestone. She clenched her teeth and sat down on the chair. And she immediately regretted it. Now, all she wanted to do is scream.

“I hope you've brought your appetite." Limestone said and she turned on the stove.

Marble, reflexively grabbed her posterior. Which in itself was a mistake, causing her to jump a bit in her chair from the pain.

Limestone eyed her sister.

“Do you…need to go to the bathroom?"

“Mhm!" Marble mumbled out quickly and dashed through the house, leaving behind a very confused Limestone.

In the bathroom she opened the window and she simply screamed. She screamed as if she had never screamed before. It wasn't simply from the pain, although that had a hand in the entire scheme. It was a cathartic scream as a result of the long, tedious day.

“What in Tarnation was that!" Limestone screamed from the kitchen.

Marble heard her sister run outside. Probably trying to find the culprit.

“I swear, if there's anypony out there you best stand and deliver!"

Marble took this as the best opportunity she could have been given. She ran to her room, grabbing a pair of pants she hardly ever used. Then she raced down into the kitchen and stuffed them full of ice from the freezer. Finally, she put them on, a wave of comfort engulfing her butt and spreading throughout her body. She took her seat and was ready for whatever Limestone had planned.

“I think I might be going insane…" Limestone said as she walked back into the kitchen.

She threw a few pieces of hay bacon into the frying pan and turned to her sister. Out of nowhere she produced a giant stack of papers.

“It's a bit longer than I originally planned." Limestone said sheepishly. “Anyway. Here it goes. “The Night watch manifesto: a practical guide to freedom, equality and the true spirit of pony society. Chapter one - There are no necessary evils. Is a pony not entitled to the sweat of their brow?"

This might take a while. Marble secretly hoped that her ice cubes wouldn't all melt before this was over.