//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 // Story: Tears for the Pearl // by The Lord Thunder //------------------------------// Once Pearl ate breakfast the next morning, she got the directions to Sweet Apple Acres. The sound of running water on the farmland caught her attention first, comforting and familiar. She stepped into the shallow river, the water caressing her hooves like a cool, gentle massage. “What are you doing out here, ma’am?” came a tiny voice from the riverbank. Pearl glanced to her side. She hadn’t heard the young unicorn approach. A moment later Pearl’s gaze was lost, scanning the length of the river, contemplating just how far it ran. “I just came out here to clear my head. I like natural places like this.” She looked back to her young companion. “Hey, didn’t I see you yesterday? Do you live here?” “Oh, I’m not an Apple, ma’am. I’m Sweetie Belle, Rarity’s sister. Are you the pony from up north, the one everypony’s talking about?” “Guilty as charged. Pearl Blush is the name.” “Nice to meet you, Miss Pearl,” Sweetie Belle said. “I came here to find Apple Bloom, since Scootaloo is off hanging with Rainbow Dash and my sister is working as usual. I’m so bored...” For a moment, Pearl turned her ears to the soft melody of flowing water. It reminded her of home. “I love that sound,” she mused, almost to herself. “It’s so soothing.” Sweetie Belle shrugged and dipped a lazy forehoof in the water. “I guess.” Pearl giggled. “It’s kind of funny. You’d think I’d be terrified of water, especially rivers, considering where Dad found me. But I love them – I can’t help but wonder, if the water could talk, what would it tell us?” The little filly stood there silently raising an eyebrow. Pearl giggled again. “I guess I’m just thinking out loud, eh? It’s a beautiful world we live in. You just have to take the time to notice and appreciate it.” Sweetie Belle stood up and stepped into the current. Her gaze followed Pearl’s, down the length of the river as far as her eyes could see. “You’re right, it is pretty.” “This river is probably thousands of years old, and it’ll still be flowing long after we’re gone. Compared to that, our lives are so short. We’re only here for a moment, so enjoy it! If you’re patient, beautiful things will come your way. That’s what my dad always says.” Pearl struck the water with her hoof, tossing a shiny, iridescent rock onto the bank. “You see? You just have to keep your eyes open.” “What’s that?” Sweetie Belle asked, marveling at the way the rock’s multicolored facets glittered in the sunlight. “It’s a rainbow stone.” “Wow! It’s so pretty!” “You like it?” Pearl asked as she stepped onto the bank. Sweetie Belle smiled up at Pearl as she followed. “I love it!” “Then it’s yours. Take it home with you.” Sweetie Belle regarded the stone for a moment longer, then looked back up at Pearl. “Are you sure? I mean, you’re the one who found it.” Pearl held up a hoof. “That’s okay. I’ve got a couple more just like it back home.” Sweetie Belle beamed. “Wow, I can’t wait to show Rarity! Thanks, Pearl!” She gave Pearl a quick hug around the legs, then pointed toward the barn. “Oh, there’s Apple Bloom. I’ve got to show her this!” Pearl followed Sweetie Belle toward the large farmhouse, and the nearby barn. She moved faster when Sweetie called out to Apple Bloom, whose head hung in what appeared to be a great deal of grief. “Apple Bloom!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed. “What’s the matter, kiddo?” Pearl asked. Apple Bloom groaned, holding her belly. “I ate some three-week-old apple tarts. Feels like Applejack just kicked me right in the stomach. I’m all alone – Applejack and Big Mac went into town for supplies.” “Miss Pearl, what can we do?” Sweetie Belle asked. Pearl looked about quickly then spotted a growth of plants near the fence and smiled. “No problem. Apple Bloom, this may not be what you had in mind, but —” “I’ll do anything!” Apple Bloom moaned. Pearl walked over and stroked a plant that grew in clusters of toothed oval leaves accented by white flowers. “Here we are. We’ll just need some of this catnip.” Apple Bloom took a step back. “Okay, I know I said ‘anything’, but I’m not sure I wanna eat catnip.” “It’s not to eat so much as drink. I’m going to make a tea out of its flowers and leaves.” “Catnip tea?” Sweetie Belle raised an eyebrow, tilting her head as Pearl plucked a number of leaves and flowers off the stem of the plant. “Sure!” Pearl walked past a sleeping old green mare in her rocking chair on the porch, pushed the farmhouse door open and allowed Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle to step in first. “Trust me, my mom used to do this for me all the time when I was filly. It works well because catnip’s a mint. Did you kids know that?” “No, I always thought it was just some weed that makes cats act funny.” Sweetie grinned. “I love to see what it does to Opal Essence!” Pearl let out a small chuckle. “If you ask my mom, no plant is ever ‘just a weed.’” “How does she know so much?” Apple Bloom asked as Pearl set a kettle of water on the wood stove. “She’s a botanist.” “What’s that?” “A botanist is a pony who studies plants,” Pearl explained. “Ah, the very thing.” She took an old mortar and pestle down from a nearby shelf and cleaned it. “My mom taught me a lot about them.” “Must be nice, knowing all that,” Apple Bloom said. “Is she still around?” “She is.” Thinking of Emerald brought Pearl a pang of homesickness. “I miss her. And Dad.” Apple Bloom hung her head. “Yeah. I miss my folks, too." She cringed, holding her belly. "Oh, it hurts…” Pearl mixed the flowers and leaves in the mortar, crushing them with the pestle to release their natural goodness. Once the kettle whistled, she dumped the mortar’s contents into the hot water, set it aside, then knelt down and put a comforting hoof on the back of Apple Bloom’s neck. “Hey, buck up, kiddo. Wherever they are, I’m sure they’re proud of you. And they wouldn’t want you to be sad.” “I know.” Apple Bloom heaved a sigh and sniffed. “It’s just hard sometimes.” “Don’t worry about it. Let’s take care of that stomach ache, eh? Kettle should be ready by now. Do you have any apple juice? We’ll add just a bit to balance out the flavor.” Apple Bloom pointed to a metal pitcher on the kitchen counter. Pearl poured a little into the cup, stirred for a few seconds and handed it to the filly. “Ok, should be ready now. Drink up!” Apple Bloom held the mug between her hooves and sipped. Her eyes widened in surprise. “Not bad!” “It’s very good for you,” Pearl said. “Wanna know what else is really good for you? Raw garlic.” Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle’s faces contorted in an odd mix of disgust and amusement as they gave the same reaction. “Ewwww!” “Serious.” “I think I’ll just stick with the catnip.” Apple Bloom continued to sip on her tea. Pearl thought back to her childhood when she had a particularly nasty cold and Emerald made her eat a bowl of soup with three whole cloves of garlic chopped in. It burned like a chili pepper and took days to get the pungent taste out of her mouth. “Yeah, most ponies would find it to be a bit overwhelming. It packs quite a punch.” “That’s an understatement.” Apple Bloom rolled her eyes. “I’d choke and die!” She gulped down the rest of the tea and set her empty cup on the counter. “How do you feel now?” Pearl asked. Apple Bloom paused to consider the question after a tiny belch. A slight smile crossed her face. “I actually feel a little better. I’m gonna find some more catnip so I’ll know where to get it next time. Come on, Sweetie Belle!” Pearl smiled as she followed the fillies outside, silently watching them track down more plants until Applejack walked up to the yard with a full saddlebag draped across her back. “I’m mighty sorry about that, Pearl,” Applejack said. “I was gonna have you help me make an apple pie, but I had to run and get some supplies from town.” “That’s okay,” Pearl said. “I was just getting to know your little sister and her friend while you were gone.” Applejack watched Apple Bloom wander about the field, picking sprigs of catnip. “What’s she doin’ pullin’ weeds out there?” Pearl smiled. “Learning how special the world around her is.” “Beg pardon?” Applejack asked, raising an eyebrow. “I’ll explain later. I’m eager to get started on that pie!” “That’s the Sweet Apple Acres spirit! We’ll make an honorary Apple out of you yet.” Applejack grinned and patted Pearl on the back, then led her inside the house. “I was so sure we had enough supplies, but Pinkie asks to borrow some flour to make a batch of cupcakes and she makes enough for an entire bake sale.” “Wait, doesn’t she live in a bakery? How could she not have enough flour?” Applejack chuckled. “Sugarcube, this is Pinkie Pie we’re talking about. I gave up tryin’ to figure that pony out years ago.” Fondly remembering her time at the amusement park with Pinkie, Pearl shared Applejack’s laughter. “Yeah, she’s different, alright.” Applejack spread a sheet of parchment paper across the table. “‘Different’ doesn’t begin to describe Pinkie Pie. But she is one of my dearest friends. Oh, could you toss me the flour?” Pearl nodded, then grabbed the sack of flour from Applejack’s saddlebag and set it on the table. “Thanks. Mind workin’ the apples while I make the dough? They’re in that basket over there.” “Sure, no problem.” Pearl put a firm, shiny red apple on the counter, grabbed a nearby knife and went to work peeling it and slicing the fruit into appropriately sized pieces just the way her mom had shown her years ago. The knife bit into the apple with a firm crunch. “Wow, these are beautiful apples, Applejack. They’re very healthy. You’re taking really good care of them.” “Thanks. We do try our best here at Sweet Apple Acres. Just make sure you cut ‘em into thick enough slices; we like ‘em plump and juicy, but don’t make ‘em too big or they’ll take away from the flavor of the crust. Oh, and-” It had only been a few seconds, but by the time Applejack looked over her shoulder, Pearl had already cut the apple into well-portioned slices. “Wait, how’d you do that?” “Huh?” Pearl glanced at Applejack, then looked back at her work. “Are these okay?” Applejack turned around to get a closer look at the cut up apple. Pearl had removed the core in a perfect cylinder and already taken out the seeds, wasting none of the edible parts. Applejack smiled and let out an impressed chuckle. “Well I’ll be. If I didn’t know better I’d think you were born a member of the Apple Family! Where’d you learn to cut ‘em like that?” “My mom taught me. We used to bake pies all the time together. She’s a botanist, so she knows a lot about plants and used that knowledge in her baking, including how to cut them just right.” “Mighty impressive, Pearl. Ya’ll just keep up what you’re doin’. Six more of ‘em should be enough.”