//------------------------------// // Chapter 15 // Story: Tears for the Pearl // by The Lord Thunder //------------------------------// Pearl found herself surrounded by darkness and a low, thin fog. She spun around, trying to make sense of the situation. “What is this? Where am I?” she asked out loud. “No. There is no longer a reason to fear,” came a familiar, almost ethereal voice. “It is over.” Pearl snapped back around but there was nopony there. “Over? What do you mean? Who’s there?!” “The creature that once resided within you is gone. It cannot harm anypony anymore.” “I don’t understand,” Pearl called out. “What’s going on?” Pearl shielded her eyes against a brilliant flash of light and found herself face-to-face with the source of the voice. It was her own. Or maybe she was imagining it and looking at her reflection? Pearl raised a hoof to test, but the pony in front of her didn’t mimic. How strange. Aside from that, it was like looking into a mirror. “Who are – I mean, you’re me. How?” The other Pearl smiled. “How does it feel to get a good look at yourself, now that you’re free?” “Free?” Pearl thought on the word in silence for a while. How good it sounded. To be free from that which had kept her shackled for so long. Free to be an ordinary pony. Free to sleep or use magic without being afraid. “It feels pretty good.” Her copy raised an eyebrow, silently judging that answer. “Does it?” “Yes.” Pearl nodded. “But I know I’ll always have the past.” “As will I. But we both must look forward, not backward.” “But you are me. At least, you sure look like me.” Pearl hesitated, still trying to wrap her mind around what she was seeing. “This is so weird. What’s going on?” There was another brilliant flash and Princess Luna stood where Pearl’s copy once was. It all made sense in a moment. “Wait. This is a dream?” Pearl asked. Luna nodded. “Indeed, and I am pleased to see it. I wish I could say I was pleasantly surprised, but it is hardly so. How does it feel to dream freely, Pearl Blush?” Tears welling up in her eyes, Pearl hugged Luna. “I’m so glad to see you, princess! It feels wonderful. I feel at peace, like the weight of Equestria has been lifted from me. Thank you so much for all your help.” “It is my duty, as Princess of the Night. And my pleasure.” Pearl stepped back and rubbed her chin. “Wait, you said you’re not surprised to see me dreaming this?” Luna laughed then smiled. “Hardly! Do you know why? Because you’re friends with seven very special ponies who have yet to disappoint me. No matter what obstacle is put before them, they always find a way. I knew they would pull through for you.” “So why are you here?” Pearl asked. “Given my part to free you from your nightmare, I just had to see this outcome for myself. Allow me to be the first to congratulate you. You’re a strong pony to have fought the Seed as long as you have. Many would have gone mad with despair and guilt under the same circumstance. Now awake. Your friends and family are worried.” A blurry world welcomed Pearl when she woke. She rubbed the tiredness out of her eyes, finding the room she was in unfamiliar. Ponies were talking, but she couldn’t tell who. Pearl sat up and saw she’d been lying down on a couch. “Eh? What happened? Where am I?” she asked. A familiar pink face popped into view. “Pearl! You’re awake!” Pinkie Pie wrapped Pearl in a spine-crushing hug and shouted, “She’s awake, everypony!” “Oh, thank goodness,” came Fluttershy’s soft voice. After Pinkie let her go, Pearl looked around and saw that her friends were all there, as well as Ivory and Astral. “Good. That means you’re going to be okay,” Twilight said. “Did the Seed —” Pearl paused to yawn and hoped what she saw in her dream was true. “Did you get rid of it?” Starlight nodded. “We’re pretty sure we did. Your cutie mark disappeared after the Seed exploded, but a test wouldn’t hurt, just to be safe.” Pearl put her hooves to the floor and stretched her legs. “Okay, but first where are we?” “You’re still at our house, my child,” Astral said. “That must really have taken it out of you.” Ivory walked up to hug Pearl. “I’m so sorry, Lilac. You’ve been through so much because of our negligence. How you must have suffered.” Ivory squeezed her tighter. “Apologies won’t erase any of it, but we need you to know that we are so, so sorry.” Pearl felt her emotions flash from bewilderment to acceptance and finally a sense of happiness to have closed the book on her lifelong troubles. She returned the hug, rubbing her mother’s back. “It’s okay, Mom.” “Mom,” Ivory whispered, still hugging her daughter. “That sounds nice. Nopony’s called me that in years.” A second pair of forelegs joined the hug. Pearl just barely saw Astral’s face from the corner of her eye. “Our filly’s been alive all this time and we didn’t even know. We must be the worst parents in Equestria.” Though her attention had been fully absorbed in the scene, Twilight managed to gather her thoughts and beckon the others to join her outside so Pearl and her parents could have the moment to themselves. “Good job, everypony,” Twilight said once their conversation was out of earshot from the reunited family. “I knew we could do it!” Rainbow Dash said. “We always come out on top.” “Darn tootin’!” Applejack agreed. Rarity looked towards the house with a smile. “I am so glad we were able to help rid her of that horrible creature.” “Me, too,” Starlight said, “but I feel for her. If she’s anything like me, this will haunt her for some time.” “Then it’s a good thing she’s got friends like us to support her through it,” Twilight said. In a minute, Pearl came outside, along with her parents. She aimed toward a nearby large rock and fired an energy bolt, which fizzled out before it even reached the boulder. A couple more tries and the onlookers cheered. “It’s over! It really is over!” Pearl shouted, dancing around happily. "And that strange cutie mark, it's gone! I can finally start over! Maybe even get a REAL cutie mark! Astral came over to her once the emotions ran their course. “You’re more than welcome to stay with us, Lilac. It may take time for you to make a life here, but —” Pearl hugged her father. “I appreciate the offer, eh? But I have a life back in Whinnypeg. I promise you both, though, I will visit and write to you regularly. I want you to be a part of what happens to me from here on.” “We will be, dear,” Ivory said. “And we’ll visit you too. That’s a strange thought. We haven’t left this homestead in years. Where will you be?” Thinking of home brought a smile to Pearl’s face. “Home. In the mountains near Whinnypeg." Pearl gasped and turned away. “I need to go home. I’ve waited so long… I need to tell my adoptive parents about this!” "Are you really leaving so soon?" Ivory asked. Pearl sighed, turned around and embraced both of them one more time. "I'm sorry, but yes. I-I miss them so much, and they must miss me. I'll write, I promise!" Twilight beamed through the scene, feeling that familiar warm sense of pride in helping yet another pony overcome her problems. And make some new friends to boot!