Pearl moaned loudly as she pushed her face deeper into her thick fuzzy pillow. She couldn’t remember when her pillow was so plush, or warm before. But she didn't mind. It was a welcome change for once. Pulling herself up more she rubbed her head back and forth against the pillow as she heard the door to her room open up.
“Pearl dear, time to wake up,” Cirrus gleefully called out as she entered and opened up the drapes covering the windows.
With another loud groan, she covered her eyes with her leg as light from the sun hit her closed eyes. “Mmm, five more minutes mom,” she grumbled out.
“If you like. But after that, we are going to talk about this.”
“About what?” Pearl asked, lifting her head up she looked at her mom. Who was looking at her daughter with a slightly disapproving look?
“About that.” Cirrus pointed to Pearl’s bed.
Confused, Pearl looked down and meeped loudly.
In front of her, laying on his back, half drooling on her pillow, was Kohaku. She was about to yell out when the night before quickly flashed in her mind refreshing her memories.
“Uhh… I can explain.”
“I would certainly hope so, young lady.”
“I... it’s not what it looks like. Really,” Pearl stammered out as she shook Kohaku vigorously. “Wake up, you useless pile of fur.”
“Mmmmm another hour mommy,” Kohaku groaned as he rolled over onto his side only to be pushed off Pearl's bed. After slamming into the floor he shifted before sitting up and looked around. He saw Pearl and her mother looking at him. “Good morning.”
“Good morning Kohaku. Might I ask, what were you doing in bed with my daughter?”
“Eh, what can I say, I’m irresistible to fillies,” Kohaku said with a smirk. One that was swiftly rewarded by Pearl slamming her right hoof into his belly.
Doubling over Kohaku rested his head down on the ground and gasped. Raising his right paw and with lack of breath said. “Worth it!”
“Mom, nothing happened. I’m serious, he just came over and we talked and we…” Cirrus put her hoof on her daughter’s shoulder.
“I believe you, but I suggest whatever business you two have together you finish quickly.” Cirrus walked over to the door and looked over her shoulder. “Before your father happens to find the boy here.”
“Yes, mother,” Pearl nodded as her mother left. Spinning around she glared at Kohaku. “I would have thought you would have left after I fell asleep.” she huffed and stormed over to her wardrobe.
“Well I would have, but some filly happened to have passed out on top of me.” He smirked as Pearl undressed.
“Oh... right.” Pulling out a few pieces of clothing she looked over her shoulder. “I’m sorry. And do you mind looking away?”
“I didn’t mind,” Kohaku smirked. “And why? It’s not like I haven't seen it before.” Seeing her eyes narrow Kohaku spun around. “Fine. Have it your way.”
“Thanks. And, thank you again for staying last night. It meant a lot, means a lot to me.” Pearl, clutching a shirt in her hooves, sat down and bowed her head. “I’m scared, Kohaku.”
Sighing, Pearl just sat there before she felt a familiar warmth pressed up against her back. And a tail brushing across her wet eyes.
“I know.”
“What if I don’t make it out of that place?”
“You will.”
“But wha…”
“You will. I’ll make sure of it.” Kohaku’s voice cut through the fear gathering in the room.
Pearl spun Kohaku around and pushed him down. Looking down into his eyes she sniffed. “How. How could you possibly keep me safe in that dark desolate place?”
Reaching up the young fox lightly brushed his paw against her floof and then booped her nose. “Did you really think I only came here last night to offer my company?” lifting up his other paw, he held a small crystal sphere that glimmered with a flickering emerald light.
Pearl looked at the crystal and gasped. Taking it in her hooves she looked at it. “What is it?”
“It’s a Foxfire crystal. Inside is a small sphere of my own foxfire.” Kohaku watched as her eyes glittered from the light the sphere was emanating. “You can use it for attack, defense, or to bring light to even the darkest of places natural light won’t touch.”
“And you're just giving this to me?”
“Well duh. Of course, I am. I want my best friend to come back after all.”
“How does it work?”
“Easy enough. You just press one hoof to the crystal. And the other outward. You form in your mind what you want the fire to do. And say the following ‘Kaihō shite shitagau’ which roughly means means ‘Release and obey’”
“And it will do what I want?”
“Yup, whatever you hold true in your mind, the flame will do. But be very careful, magic like this has a cost. You're not like me, foxfire isn’t meant for ponies. It will burn at your magical resources far faster and much harder. Kinda like flying a twenty-four-hour marathon.”
“Anything else I should know?” Pearl bit down on her lower lip showing her worry.
“Yes, there are only three charges in that pendant. And after you use it, it takes a full day to recharge. So use them sparingly.”
“Only three? Why couldn’t you give me more?” Pearl smirked down at her friend.
“Because I only have three tails.”
“Well, I guess it’ll do. Thanks.” Pearl leaned down and kissed her friend's forehead. “You better get going. I have to shower and change and I bet you're late for chores.”
“Eh not really, I have the next few days off. But I should give you the time you need.” Kohaku rolled out from under his friend and smiled at her leaped to the window ledge.
“Wait. Your shirt.” Pearl called out snagging his shirt from her bedpost.
Looking over his shoulder, Kohaku shook his head. “Keep it.”
Pearl stood there and watched as her friend leaped out of the window. Shaking her head, she turned and made her way to the shower, holding the Foxfire crystal close.
***
As the train pulled into Ponyville station, Twilight and Pearl found themselves wishing they could stay like this forever. All their friends had come to see them off. Even some students from the School of Friendship had come to see them off.
"Are you sure I can't come with you, Twilight? What if you need me? I can totally help!" Spike grumbled as he hugged the alicorn tight.
Twilight happily returned the hug. "I am sorry, Spike. But I am pushing my luck as it is. I won't risk anyone else in case this goes horribly wrong."
"Eh. Depends on who the Queen sent to get you," Smolder shrugged. "You might even get them on a good day too."
Twilight rolled her eyes. She eyed the students with a critical look. "Don't think just because I'm gone that you can slack off on your studies. I'm expecting to hear nothing but good things from Starlight when we get back. Am I understood?"
The Young Six nodded, even if Gallus didn't look all that happy at the idea. "So what could Tiamat send to me Professor Twilight and Pearl?" Silverstream asked. "She doesn't sound very nice. No offense, Smolder."
Smolder rolled her eyes. "Beats me. Only the Dragon Lord has anything like a way to talk to her. Last I heard, Lord Ember hasn't used it."
"What about Princess Celestia and Princess Luna?" Rainbow asked. "Sounds like something they'd be useful for."
Twilight shook her head sadly. "Once Pearl and I cross the Ghost Fence, we will be beyond anyone's help. They couldn't get to us fast enough. And once we reach the Scar of the Destroyer, we'll be at the mercy of whoever or whatever Tiamat sent to pick us up. Plus whatever we face along the way. The Blight's been more active than usual lately."
Everyone shared a concerned look, as the conductor called out for final boarding. Pinkie couldn't take it any longer and pulled the entire group into one massive group hug, much to Gallus' and Smolder's annoyance. "We'll have a HUGE party when you get back! Pinkie Promise!" She said happily, doing her best to hide her own worry.
Twilight and Pearl giggled, as the group split up and the two grabbed their things before climbing aboard the nearest car. "I could use a party or five," Pearl said, earning a giggle from the group before the two travelers vanished inside.
***
Inside, Twilight was quick to store away their luggage, as Pearl grabbed the window seat, eager for the last view of home before the long trip ahead. Twilight rolled her eyes as she took the seat next to the young Pegasus. Looking out the window, as the train began to pull away, the two waved goodbye to their friends, their own fears and worries put away for now.
Just before the station pulled out of view, Twilight caught sight of a certain unicorn in the shadows. He bowed his head briefly, before vanishing into the darkness once more. Twilight smiled a bit. As much of a pain in her backside as he was, she would happily have taken Book Knight along for this.
Pearl didn't seem to notice it, though, and leaned back in her seat with a sigh. "Hopefully you have something good to read. I couldn't think of anything good for a long trip."
Twilight giggled, igniting her horn and pulling out a bunch of manga from her saddlebags. "I did actually. Kohaku recommended this one actually. And seeing as how close you two are now, I think it would be good for you."
Pearl took the stack in her hooves, rolling her eyes as she saw what it was. "Well, I would be lying if I said I wasn't kinda sorta interested in Naruto after what happened in Nightmare Night. It was that or My Hero Academia."
Twilight nodded. "I have that too. You can thank Kirouac for it. I know you've been reading Gundam Thunderbolt for a while now. But Sunset said Volume 16 isn't out until August."
Pearl rolled her eyes. "Go figure. Makes us wait. I hate it when they do that."
Twilight giggled as she pulled out her own book. "I understand the feeling, Pearl. But that just makes it so much better when you finally get to read the next part. Even if I don't understand why you like it so much."
Pearl rolled her eyes as she opened the first page. "You just don't get a good action story, Twilight. And it's better to read about this kind of war instead of living through it."
Twilight conceded that point. It was a recurring argument between the two of them. Neither one of them was willing to back down from it either, so they just left it at that, as the two of them passed into silence. As the train left Ponyville and the world they knew behind.
***
Pearl admitted that she had never thought that the southern portion of Equestria could be beautiful. But she had grown up in the city, so all of this wide-open space was new to her.
The journey south was uneventful. Twilight got plenty of looks. But she had long since grown used to them, even if they still made her feel uncomfortable in a way.
Day turned to night, and night into day, as they arrived in Appleloosa. Most other ponies on the train got off at the desert town. Very few even wanted to look to the south, and Pearl couldn't blame them as she waited for Twilight to come back from grabbing them something to eat in town before they set off once more. She couldn't help but look to the south herself though, and it made her breath hitch.
On the horizon sat what looked like nothing more than a gigantic eye. One that throbbed and pulsated with a sickly, gangrenous, hue. Every color that was known to mortal kind, and a billion more that should never have existed, swirled in the eye's depths. Pearl's eyes burned just looking at it, and she quickly looked away, fighting back throwing up all over the floor.
The Occulus Tenebris. The Eye of Terror was known across the world and feared by most beings, for it was unnatural in a way that made the Everfree Forest look tame and normal by comparison. But it was what lay underneath the Eye that most feared above even the Eye itself.
Pearl fought to keep her breakfast where it belonged. After a moment, she felt a hoof rubbing her back in a comforting manner. It seemed to work, and Pearl leaned into the feeling with a sigh.
"I told you not to look at it, Pearl," Twilight admonished gently.
Pearl smiled weakly. "I couldn't help it. Never thought I'd see it, and. Well..."
Twilight smiled gently. "I know. But it is dangerous to look at it. You are lucky you looked away when you did. And it will only get worse as we get closer."
Pearl nodded, as the train began to move once more. Looking around, there was nopony else in the car with them. "Are we all alone?"
Twilight nodded. "We're the only passengers left. The conductor isn't very happy about going any further. But being a princess has its perks. Even though I hate having to use them like this."
Pearl nodded. "Could be worse. He could have said no. And then what? You drive us there yourself? No thanks. I'd rather walk."
Twilight looked hurt for a moment at the suggestion before the two of them broke into helpless giggles at the idea.
***
How long had it been since they had left Appleloosa? Twilight didn't know anymore, and that fact scared her to no end. Time had lost all meaning the further south they had gone. It could have been a day, a week. Or even a month.
Pearl had long since given up even trying to fake confidence and stayed as close to her mentor as she could. Twilight didn't mind and held her close as well. Neither of them looked out the windows, the light of the sun and moon replaced with the unlight of the Eye, the faint rumble of thunder, and the occasional streaks of lightning in colors that didn't exist in any reality.
Finally, though, the train began to slow down and eventually stopped. Pearl and Twilight had never been happier to arrive at a destination, and Pearl was quick to make a beeline for the nearest door as soon as it opened. Twilight rolled her eyes as she grabbed their things before following her student outside.
Outside, it was almost like twilight with how much light there was. But it could be any time for all Pearl knew. A small contingent of Royal Guard was there to meet them. Twilight was shocked at their appearance. While they all wore the same Solar Guard armor and helmets and represented all three Tribes, it was their eyes that shocked the pair.
They were hollow. Empty, and soulless, broken by whatever horrors they had seen beyond the Ghost Fence or fought to keep contained within the Blight. Twilight remembered first meeting the ponies in Our Town. Their vacant stares were almost the same. But Starlight's village had had more life behind its eyes than these ponies.
Behind them stood Castle Black. Carved from black stone, it seemed like something King Sombra himself would have made, for there was an undeniable fortress-like appearance to it that not even Pearl could miss.
Beyond that, stood the Ghost Fence itself. A low line of hills that looked like massive gums that had their teeth removed. Only one entrance existed into the Blight beyond, though neither Pearl nor Twilight could see it.
A Pegasus stepped forward and saluted, bringing the visitors back to the present. "Your highness, young one. I am Captain Steel Wing, commander of the garrison here. Princess Luna told us you were coming. Your rooms are ready whenever you are."
Pearl slumped to the ground. "Finally. I've had enough of trains, thank you very much."
Twilight and the captain chuckled, and even the others guards managed to smile a little. "Lead on, captain. We're your guests while we are here," Twilight added.
Steel Wing nodded, and at a curt command, the others guards fell into line alongside Twilight and Pearl. "Welcome then, ladies. To Castle Black."