It felt like forever since Pearl had been to the mountains near Whinnypeg. This was home, her real home, and the cabin and greenhouse were a sight sweeter than any she’d ever seen.
“This is it,” Pearl told her friends. Her heart resonated with her desire to see her adoptive family again. “Home sweet home, eh?”
“It’s beautiful!” Fluttershy said, enjoying the view from their high up vantage point. “I wish I could live in a place like this.”
“It sure is pretty,” Starlight agreed.
“We can gawk at the scenery later,” Applejack said. “We’re here for a reunion!”
Pearl nodded. No need to ask twice. "Of course. I've waited so long."
“This is your moment, Pearl,” Twilight said. “We’ll wait out here.”
Pearl knocked, then pushed open the door and stepped inside. “Mom? Dad? I’m home!”
The sound of galloping hooves echoed through the cabin and then Gold Nugget was there, hugging her. “Pearl! My treasure, I knew you’d come back home!”
“It’s good to see you, Dad, I’ve-”
“Em!” Gold interrupted. “Em, come quick, she’s home!”
Emerald appeared a few moments later and joined the hug, wearing a gardening apron covered in dirt. “Pearl! Our Pearl…”
It was as warm and tender hug as Pearl could remember. Tears of joy rolled down her cheeks as she allowed herself to savor the moment. After a long search and a hard-fought battle, she knew she was back where she belonged.
“I missed you so much.” Pearl sniffed.
"We missed you, too, Treasure," Gold whispered.
“Did you find your parents?” Emerald asked.
Pearl pushed the two away so she could look at them. “I sure did. They’re standing right in front of me.”
Emerald wiped her eyes. “Oh, Pearl, you’re too sweet. I meant your birth parents.”
“Yeah, I met them,” Pearl said. “But as far as I’m concerned, you two are my real parents. I’m so happy to be back home. Happier than I’ve ever been.”
"We guessed that from your smile," Gold said with a chuckle. "Did you fall in love, eh?"
"Not yet, but now I could. Oh, I could!" Pearl danced around the room, Gold and Emerald elated at the sight.
"Whoa, hold on there!" Emerald said. "Now, I love seeing you so happy but what's this all about, eh? And... your cutie mark! It's gone! What in the world happened to you?"
Pearl stopped to catch her breath. "Okay... okay I'm calming down. Stand there while I -- no, you'd better sit down -- oh, just listen!"
For the next five minutes, Pearl blurted out the whole thing, bouncing the whole time. Once they grasped the enormity of the news, Gold and Emerald joined in the celebration, dancing around the room with her
"Are you," Emerald started, "oh let me catch my breath -- are you sure your magic is normal now?
"Oh yes! Watch..."
They flinched as Pearl levitated Gold's pickaxe, leaning against the wall, then let it down easy next to him. The stress left their faces and Gold gestured toward the door
"These friends of yours from Ponyville, they're here now?" Gold asked.
"Oh gosh, I forgot all about them!"
“Well why didn’t you say something?” Grinning even wider, Gold opened the door and beckoned them inside. “Sorry to keep you waiting. Come on in, all of you!”
“Of course!” Emerald said. “Any friend of Pearl’s is welcome here! I want to hear the whole story, all of it. In fact, I think I’ll bake us all an apple pie.”
“Now you’re talkin’!” Applejack said. “Mind if I lend a hoof?”
“You bake?” Emerald asked.
“Only all the time.” Applejack tipped her hat. “Name’s Applejack. Pearl tells me you’re quite the baker yourself. I can believe that if she gets her skills from you.”