Chapter 16 - PonyVille Diaries - Third of Many
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1. Returned Rainbow
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It was already late afternoon when the convension finished. Instead of staying further, Henry immediately went back to the station and took the train to PonyVille.
He would have stayed for a few days, but after the news about what happened in Cloudsdale reached Fillydelphia, he felt the urge of either going to Cloudsdale, or head back home to check on a certain filly.
The train arrived in the peaceful town of PonyVille two hours before noon.
He went to the library, where Sunset and Aurora told him about what they saw when they went to Cloudsdale.
And after learning where to locate a certain rainbow-maned pegasus filly is, he flew towards the cottage outside the feared Everfree Forest.
Winter made the cottage look so deserted. The usual animals weren't around, except for the number of chickens around the chicken coop.
Henry quietly landed in front of the cottage's door, and knocked a few times before he heard gentle hoofsteps from inside.
The door opened slightly, enough for the yellow pegasus filly to see who it was.
"Oh," she then opened the door wide, "hello Sir Henry."
Henry smiled and patted her head.
"Please, stop calling me 'sir'."
"Oh, um... I'm sorry..."
She took a few steps to the side to give way for the green pony as she hid her face behind her long pink mane.
Sometimes, seeing her so shy is irritating, but for the filly's sake, he decided to shove the feeling away.
"No...need to apologize..."
Fluttershy faintly turned her eyes on him.
"If you want, you can call me 'uncle'... Sounds okay?"
It somehow did the trick, for unknown reason.
Fluttershy rose her head back with a small smile as she nodded.
"Anyway," now that's settled, "I'm worried about Rainbow Dash..."
And as he predicted, the filly dropped her smile to a frown as she looked away.
"Is...she here right now?"
Fluttershy slowly shook her head.
"No... You just missed her, actually..."
She then brought her gaze back at the alicorn.
Henry sadly sighed.
"I see... Do you know where she is?"
"I don't think she wants to see anypony at the moment..."
"Oh, uh, okay..."
'It must have been hard for her to go through that kind of experience...'
"Well, if she comes back here, tell her I came to check up on her, 'kay?"
He said with a small smile.
Fluttershy reflected the smile back.
"Of course, no problem Uncle Henry..."
Henry frowned.
Somehow, it made him feel even older than being addressed as sir...
"Uh... Just call me uncle...without my name..."
He awkwardly said, receiving a curious nod from the filly.
---
Henry was seated on one of the chairs and tables outside Sugarcube Corner, as he quietly read a newspaper and ate some Daisy Bread.
The newspaper's headline is about a mad scientist who extracts colors for rainbows in Cloudsdale, and a big photo of a black pegasus pony and his basement laboratory is printed.
Earlier, he asked the Cakes if they saw Rainbow Dash, but neither of them saw the filly since yesterday.
They also informed him that Pinkie Pie went out to go and look for her. The party pony must be trying to cheer her up.
If a pony needs cheering, then Pinkie's the right pony for the job, and it made him feel reassured that the pink earth pony will do her job well when she finds Rainbow Dash.
As he turned to the next page of the newspaper, he saw a bright pink color on the corner of his eye.
He lifted his head up and saw the pink earth filly, slowly walking towards Sugarcube Corner.
The green pony's smile turned up-side-down as he noticed the filly's sad face.
The pink filly, after seeing the green pony, quickly threw her sad face away and immediately replaced it with a smile as she ran and stopped on the table.
She was talking and talking and talking about how happy she was to see him again, how happy she was to see him safe, how happy she was to see him eating one of the baked goods of Sugarcube Corner, and any other reasons, sense or without, that made her happy.
Henry couldn't find an opening to interrupt, so he decided to paste a smile as he waited for the energetic pink pony to stop, but he instead brought a hoof over her mouth when she was about to plan to give the alicorn another welcome back party.
"Pinkie, no parties. Not today, okay?"
Henry asked, with a serious look on his face.
And after receiving a nod from the earth filly, he brought his hoof back and wiped it on the table cloth.
"Anyway...um...have you seen Rainbow Dash?"
And, once again, as predicted, the filly frowned, and slowly nodded her head.
"Yeah, I've seen her..."
She then looked at the gloomy clouds.
"But I couldn't reach her..."
Couldn't reach her... Then she's probably above that gloomy blanket of clouds.
The pink pony closed her eyes and sighed.
"I just wanted to help..."
Henry patted her shoulder.
"Of course you do. That's what friends are for..."
She then opened her eyes, her face painting an angry expression as she stared at him.
"But some friend she is! She won't even go down here so I could help! What kind of a friend is that?"
Henry only smiled.
"I'm sure she just...doesn't want to trouble you."
"Trouble me?"
She then turned to the heavens.
"Is she crazy!? What kind of a stupid reason is that!?"
She stomped a hoof on the table, making Henry's last Daisy Bread on the table jump and headed for its doom on the snowy ground, but luckily, Henry managed to grab it with his hoof.
"Oh, she's lucky she's a pegasus pony!"
She continued as Henry brought the bread back on the table with an annoyed look.
Henry took a breath and sighed to calm himself.
"Take it easy, Pinkie..."
"She has no idea how much trouble I went through yesterday to think of some ways to try and cheer her up!"
The pink filly ranted, shouting her lungs out at the clouds, and went on...
"And she chose to stay up in those clouds so I could not even reach her! Doesn't she know that I'm not a pegasus!? How can I even reach her up there if I don't have any wings or any other things that could...reach...the..."
Henry gulped as he stared at the filly's angry face, slowly turning into a maniac-like smile.
"...sky..."
She then, with scary eyes, turned to the frightened green alicorn.
"Henry..."
"Y-yes, Pinkie...?"
She leaned closer, slowly.
"You wouldn't happen to have a book about aeronautics, riiight?"
'Yes...or no...?'
Henry swallowed a lump of uncertain fear.
---
After spotting a little gap in the clouds, Henry flew through it to get above the sea of clouds.
He has been soaring above the gloomy clouds for a while now. At first, he was feeling a bit scared to fly over the clouds, for he has never done that before.
Unlike the other changeling races, the brown-eyed changelings perfer to walk than fly.
But feeling the fresh cool wind running towards him really felt amazing, though it was a bit difficult to breathe, but still.
Though it felt amazing, he didn't forget the reason why he was flying up there, but unfortunately, after spending minutes of gliding, he couldn't spot the rainbow-maned filly.
Finally giving up, he dove through the gloomy clouds to get back to the ground, which was a pretty bad idea. The clouds were too cold for him, almost feeling like he was being frozen, but to his relief, it only lasted for a few seconds as he dove through the clouds.
He shook off the shivering cold before regaining his flight, and he then glided towards Sweet Apple Acres. Maybe Big Macintosh or AppleJack saw Rainbow Dash.
---
Henry was about to land in front of the red barn of the Apple Family, when he spotted a very white puff of cloud hanging above the leafless apple trees in the orchard, but what really caught his attention was a rainbow-colored tail hanging on the corner of the small cloud.
He flapped his wings to regain flight and slowly hovered himself towards the cloud, where he soon saw Rainbow Dash on the said cloud.
At first, he feared that she may still be crying, or maybe just sobbing. Or she wishes to be alone, not to be bothered, or gets annoyed when anypony approaches. She may as well be shivering from fear that still hung around her mind and heart.
All those thoughts were banished after seeing a peaceful snoring cyan pegasus filly, sleeping with no care in the world.
He could not help but smile at the peaceful scene.
Rainbow Dash was lying on her belly, her rainbow tail hung over the edge of the cloud, and as well as her forehooves, and she's letting out a slightly loud set of snores.
Not wishing to disturb the peace, he turned around, and was about to fly away when he heard the filly began coughing, rising her to wakefulness.
Henry turned as the filly rose into a sitting position, and yawned as she rubbed one of her eyes.
"You okay, Rainbow Dash?"
The green pony asked, slightly concerned.
"Huh?"
The filly turned her head to the flying pony.
"Oh, hey Henr---" she let out a very long yawn.
Afterwards, she licked her lips, and opened and closed her mouth.
"What's up?"
'Wow... She recovered quickly?'
"If you're here to ask if I'm okay, then..."
She began stretching her wings, flapping a few times, and cracked her neck.
She then went back to sitting, and waved a hoof.
"...then you've got nothing to worry about."
She said with a confident smile.
"Uh... You sure?"
"Yep."
She replied as she jumped in place, turning her body round, and making her land on her back. She puts a forehoof behind her head, and a hind hoof above her tilted knee.
"Positive. Nopony can bring The Dash down."
She rubbed her other free forehoof on her chest as the green alicorn rolled his eyes.
"Anyway..." Henry began, "everypony else is worried about you."
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes.
"What's the big deal? I said I'm fine, really!"
"Yes, I can see that..."
Henry replied flatly.
"But your other friends aren't convinced..."
Rainbow let out a frustrated sigh.
"So, what do you want me to do? Tell them that I'm okay?"
"Eeyup."
Henry replied with a smile, receiving an annoyed frown from the filly.
"Pfft... Fine."
Rainbow Dash sat up.
"I suppose I do need to let them know..."
Henry nodded in agreement.
Rainbow Dash then let herself fall back on her cloud.
"But, maybe after I take another nap."
"Rainbow..."
Henry frowned.
"Okay, okay... Sheesh..."
The filly rose up in annoyance, and flew towards the red barn, since it was the closest.
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2. Heart's Desire
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Despite the cold winter weather, a lone and sad blue seapony sat on the snowy shore, staring blankly at the gloomy horizon as she held a white traveller's hat on her embrace.
Even though her father was on her side, her mother, each of everyday, is trying to reason with her to stop seeing and loving the changeling.
She knows what changelings are, but she is certain that Henry is not feeding her love of him. But if that were to happen, then...no. That's impossible.
She felt his love true, and she knows this.
Ever since her mother learned who her heart beats to, both her parents started arguing each of everyday.
Even during some of her Sundays with Henry, her mother would even dare swim this far just to collect her, and Henry, a good soul he was, couldn't argue with the seapony's mother.
She was beginning to worry about their relationship if this keeps up. She wondered if this continues, eventually, his love for her will fade away?
She never got the courage to ask the green pony about this. She had a lot of opportunity to ask him that question, but courage was absent, every time she tries to gather some of them.
She let out a frustrated sigh as her ears picked up faint padelling sounds echoing from afar. She scanned the horizon, and soon, she saw, from a distance, a bamboo raft, where a pony of some sort was pedalling towards the shore.
Terrified, she quickly jumped back to the water, not even in the slightest care if the pony on the raft noticed the splash of water on the shore.
She wondered who it was as she swam back to her cave, but as she got near the entrance of the cave, her curiousity began to run wild in her mind, the same as what it did to her when she first laid her eyes on Henry on that summer day.
She turned and quietly swam towards the raft, paying in mind to keep herself close to the sea floor, which was a bit of a disappointed after she got under the raft, for she couldn't see who was on the raft.
Curious, she ignored the possible risks, and quietly swam a few hooves behind the raft, poking her head above the water, enough for her to see a black and white striped pony.
The pony was humming a tune as she continued pedalling with a flattened bamboo stick. On the raft, aside from the pony, were wooden masks, pots and jars of different sizes, a wooden box, a very big cauldron, ropes, a basket with slightly-rotten fruits, and a rolled blanket.
The sea pony slowly and quietly tailed the raft, though she was a bit annoyed of how slow it was moving.
"Don't be afraid of me, my dear," the pony suddenly said, leaving the seapony curious to who she was suddenly talking to.
"I know you are afraid, but you have nothing to fear."
She turned over her shoulder with a warm smile, while the seapony was frozen in shock for a moment before she sunk back under the sea.
The pony closed her eyes as she shrugged, and she then focused her attention towards the shore as she continued to hum.
'She...she saw me!'
Pearl yelled inside her head as she allowed gravity to gently pull her down to the sea floor.
'B-but...she didn't look scary...I think...'
She then felt the soft sandy sea floor on her back. She slowly tilted her head to stare at the raft, which was still far away from the shore.
She floated herself up, and put the hat on top of her head. She tied the strings below her chin and slowly swam after the raft, but as she got close, she stopped as her curiousity and eagerness to help was then overwhelmed by fear.
'But she said I shouldn't be afraid of her...'
She thought as she looked at the slow raft pulling away.
'What would Henry do...?'
She doesn't even know why she's troubling herself with her.
But...
She remembered...
If she gave in to her fear during that one day, then she would have never be able to know Henry.
On the raft, the black and white striped mare was humming smilingly, containing her excitement to reach her destination.
Ever since she learned about herbal medicine, she wanted to share her skills in different parts of the world to help and cure others.
It was a long and difficult journey, but her heart told her where she must be, and her heart she follows, for it has never been wrong to her.
Her peaceful hum was interrupted by a quiet emerging sound from the water.
She smiled as she turned her head over her shoulder.
"Ah, my friend, it's good to see you,"
Pearl blinked.
"I apologize if I scared you. The shore is where I must be, could you lend a hoof to a pony like me?"
"Uh..."
'She's...weird...'
Pearl slowly swam closer to the raft, and brought her hooves on the edge, and began to pull towards the shore.
The pony on the raft smiled and returned her gaze to the shore as she continued to pedal.
"I thank you deeply, dear mare, and I will reward your effort, to be fair."
Pearl couldn't help but smile awkwardly at the way the pony talks.
"You must be wandering of what I am. I am a zebra from a far-away land. My people have practiced herbal medicine. This new land I came to continue my training. There are still many things to learn. Excited am I to reach my destination."
"O...kay...?"
"Ah, your voice is lovely like the sea. They sound like music bringing peace and harmony."
Pearl pulled a hoof back and scratched her nape. She then returned her hoof to push the raft, still wearing an awkward expression.
She was no longer sure if she should be happy or be worried to have made a new friend. A weird one...
"I hope you don't mind my dear, but what is your name? I would love to hear."
The zebra pony asked, still locked her gaze on the shore, which already became close.
"Pearl..."
She answered with a hint of doubt.
"Hm, a lovely name for a pony such as thee, to hold a beautiful name from the sea."
That part, Pearl failed to understand.
Soon, they have finally reached the shore. The zebra pony helped the seapony push the raft towards the snow-covered sand so it wouldn't drift back to the ocean.
After, Pearl swam a safe distance away from the pony.
The zebra however, simply smiled as she climbed on the raft.
"I thank you, mare of the sea. Allow me to reward you, a gift from me."
As the zebra opened a large pot and began looking inside, Pearl's curiousity got the better of her, and she began slowly swimming near her.
The zebra, after spotting what she was looking for, smiled as she reached a hoof inside the pot. She then pulled out a purple heart-shaped flower. She then showed it to the seapony, who was on the edge of the raft.
"This plant that I give you, is rare from my homeland."
She gave the plant to Pearl, who nervously grabbed it with both her hooves.
"If your heart is true, then your wish is its command."
"W-what is this?"
Pearl asked as she examined the flower plant.
"Heart's Desire is its name. Granting one's wish is its aim. If your wish is what your heart wants for you, then that plant will make it come true."
Pearl's eyes grew wide. Could such a flower hold great power?
If she makes a wish of what her heart desires, then would it possibly be granted and for her to acquire?
"One wish, that flower will grant, so think carefully before you chant."
The zebra continued as she began unloading her things and putting them on the snow-covered shore.
One wish... One wish...
One wish would be enough for her to be with Henry...forever.
Just one...simple wish.
But...what would she wish for?
She tore her gaze away from the flower, and settled staring at the gloomy sky.
One wish... What would she wish for...?
Would she wish for her mother to approve their love for each other?
Would she wish Henry to be turned into a sea pony, just like her?
...turn...into...a...pony...
A hopeful smile grew in her face as she slowly returned her gaze on the flower.
"Have you decided my dear? If you have, your wish, I would need to hear."
The sea pony slowly turned her gaze on the zebra, who was smiling at her.
"I...haven't gotten your name..."
The zebra was surprised.
"I forgot to tell you my name, and for that, I'm sorry for I am to blame. Excited I was to reach my destination, and for me to create a friend in this location. My friends and family call me Zecora. It is a common name among the zebras."
Pearl, despite feeling weird for Zecora's way of talking, smiled warmly at her as she slightly hugged the flower that was given to her.
"T-thank you, Zecora."
The zebra nodded.
"It is I who should be thanking you, and now I will help make your wish come true."
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3. The Blue Mare
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The sun was already setting in the horizon. A magical and wonderful scene that Henry often spends time to watch, but unfortunately, the thick and gloomy clouds had other plans in mind.
He sighed as he closed the window on the second floor of the library, and went back to cleaning and arranging the books in the library with Aurora's help, so all they will need to do tomorrow was to open the library.
Rainbow Dash has already apologized to her friends, except for Rarity and some other ponies she felt that their not her friends, and now she's seated on a couch beside Pinkie Pie, who was busy reading a book about aeronautics.
Earlier, she spent twenty minutes looking for the pink earth filly around town, until she decided to try the library, the very bottom of her list to go look for the party pony.
Now, she has spent another twenty minutes trying to get the pink pony's attention so she could apologize, but unfortunately, the pink pony was either ignoring her, or she's gone to her own world.
Either way, she needs to get her attention if she wants to get out of the library. Henry and Aurora won't let her leave until Pinkie Pie hears her apology.
It wasn't even her fault that she was foalnapped!
So why is she the one to apologize, anyway?
She tried reasoning with Henry, but all she got was a serious look and a wave of his head.
Desperate, she flew above the pink filly, grabbed the book, and flung it to somewhere.
That somehow did the trick, as the pink earth pony's serious concentration evaporated as she blinked.
"Listen Pinkie Pie..."
Rainbow began as she heard the book landed on something hard, and followed by a hurtful yelp from a certain green pony on the second floor.
Henry looked over the railings of the second floor, seeing Rainbow Dash's apologetic-sheepish grin and Pinkie Pie's soft giggles.
"Anyway..."
Rainbow slowly said as both fillies returned their attention at each other.
"S-sorry if I made you worry 'bout me..."
She turned her gaze away as she scratched her nape.
The pink pony simply smiled.
"No problemo, Rainbow Dashio~!"
She sang as the book levitated back to her hooves.
Rainbow replied with a small smile, and then flapped her wings faster to get herself on the second floor's level.
"Can I go now?"
She said, and just noticed a red bruise on the nose of an angry-looking green alicorn.
"Eheheh...whoops?"
The green alicorn sighed as he closed his eyes.
"Just be careful next time."
Rainbow Dash took that as her cue, and immediately bolted out of the front door.
---
A blue earth pony, with a very long black mane and tail and wearing a white traveller's hat, waved a hoof on the entrance of the very feared Everfree Forest.
And after the zebra pony was no longer in sight, she slowly brought her hoof back on the ground, took a deep breath, exhaled in excitement, turned around, took a few steps, and her sight became dark as a sudden realization struck her mind: she has no clue where she's going.
Fear suddenly run wild in her mind as she turned around, trying to find some source of light, and as if the heavens answered her internal prayer, she spotted a faint rainbow trail in the sky, approaching the cottage a few meters from her location.
She was still afraid, but the cottage is her only light source for the time being. She won't accomplish anything if she'll just stay on where she is right now.
She took a few breaths to ease herself before gathering the nerve to begin a slow trot towards the cottage.
For an ordinary pony, it would have only taken them merely less than fifteen minutes, but after almost half an hour, she finally reached the door of the cottage.
Houses of earth ponies weren't really that any different from the houses from where she came from, at some point, at least. The noticable comparison she had taken note of were the walls for the house's shape, windows to see the other side, mailbox for...mail, and a door for exit and entry, though there was no doorbell anywhere.
She decided to use an alternative: one of which were practiced in her neighborhood if doorbells weren't present.
"Hello!?"
She yelled.
"Anypony home?"
The door quickly swung open inward, revealing an annoyed flying cyan pegasus pony.
"Well duh. Can't you see the smoke coming out from the chimney and the lights from the windows?"
'Chimney?'
The mare blinked.
"Rainbow Dash!"
Yelled a soft voice from inside the house.
"That's no way to treat a visitor..."
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes once again before flying back inside, and after a short while, a yellow pegasus filly with a pink mane and tail came to the door.
"Oh, hello."
The blue mare smiled warmly.
"Hi."
And then there was silence.
Normally, owners of the house would welcome her inside, the blue mare thought.
Normally, strangers would say why they came, the yellow filly thought.
After a while of nothing, the filly finally broke the silence.
"So uh..."
She hid behind her mane.
"...can I help you?"
'Things must be different here on land, I guess...'
"Oh, uh... Well, I was wondering if...you know a pony named Henry?"
The yellow filly slightly removed her face from her mane.
"Um...yes."
The blue mare smiled. Finally, she wouldn't need to go far.
"Where is he?"
She asked excitingly, making the yellow filly hide her face again behind her mane as she let out a surprised gasp.
"Is he here right now?"
She exclaimed as she turned her head left and right, trying to spot the one she was looking for.
She was about to walk inside when the cyan pegasus filly flew to the door, blocking her way.
"Who are you and what do you want!?"
The blue mare, surprised, took a step back.
'Oh my, where are my manners!?'
"I-I'm sorry..."
She shook her head, and composed herself.
"My name's Pearl. Ocean Pearl. And I am looking for a pony named Henry Hoof."
The yellow filly finally recovered as she slowly slid her face out of her mane.
The cyan pegasus didn't seem quite convinced.
"Yeah... How do we know you're not a spy or anything...?"
Pearl blinked.
"A spy?"
The cyan pegasus became furious as she pointed a hoof at her.
"Aha! So you ARE a spy!"
She was about to fly towards town to call for help, but realized that if she do that...
She quickly landed and shielded the yellow pegasus filly.
"Fluttershy, quick! Hide! I'll take care of her! She's probably one of those foulnappers again!"
Both Pearl and Fluttershy blinked.
"B-but Rainbow Dash..."
She managed to talk.
"She doesn't look like a bad pony..."
"Looks can fool, 'Shy."
The rainbow maned pegasus said as she pushed the yellow pegasus filly back as she took a few steps back.
"And...I thought they were after...you..."
Rainbow Dash lost her angry face as the realization struck her.
"Oh yeah..."
She whispered quietly.
Pearl shook her head.
"Look, I'm not going to uh...foalnap you...whatever that means..."
She then flashed them a small smile.
"...I just wanted to see Henry."
"Who are you to him, anyway?"
Rainbow Dash asked as she flew a few hooves above the yellow filly's height.
She crossed her forehooves on her chest as she waited for an answer.
Pearl suddenly found interest on the base of the doorframe as a small blush rose from her cheeks.
"W-well... I'm his..."
"Wait, no!"
Rainbow pointed a hoof at her as she closed her eyes.
"Don't tell me all of that mushy-business."
She then flew outside and landed a few hooves away from the door.
She then pointed a hoof towards a small town from the distance.
Pearl followed the direction of the filly's hoof, and saw a small settlement in the distance, with a large tree poking out of the edge of the settlement.
"Henry's down there, probably in the library."
Rainbow then turned to face the smiling mare, ignoring the glittering eyes.
"I didn't know Henry's all into this stupid mushy stuff..."
She said quietly to herself as she flew back inside the cottage.
Fluttershy then came out.
"Um... I can walk you there, that is...if you want."
Pearl tore her gaze away and shifted it to the filly, who was shyly hiding her face behind her mane as she rubbed a hoof on the snowy ground.
"I think I'll be fine."
She smiled.
"Thank you."
After receiving a smile from the filly, she began to trot towards town.
'Walking is really...weird... It's tiresome...'
She shook her head to dismiss the thought.
Right now, she needs to concentrate on the path towards the town, unknown to her that the two fillies in the cottage were still staring at her.
"I don't trust her."
Rainbow Dash said as she locked her gaze on the blue mare.
Fluttershy decided not to comment.
The cyan pegasus then flapped her wings.
"I'm gonna keep an eye on her, just to be sure."
"I don't think you have to worry, Rainbow..."
Fluttershy said, but she was ignored as the cyan pegasus quietly took to the skies.
"Oh well..."
She smiled as she went back to the cottage.
'I hope she can handle the mushiness.'
She giggled.
---
Rainbow Dash carefully took a small puff of cloud from the sky, and used it to hide herself as she followed the blue mare who was happily trotting towards PonyVille.
She then lied down on the cloud on her belly, hung her head on the edge, and grabbed the sides on the cloud with her hooves as she flapped her wings to quietly watch the mare undetected.
So far, the mare is unaware that the cyan pegasus filly is following her.
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4. Pearl's Visit
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At first, the mare was nervous after spotting a number of ponies walking around town as she got there, but after receiving a number of smiles from them, and not minding her, her fear began to fade, and was simply replaced with amazement and wonder, as she happily walked through town, her head turning left and right, enjoying the buildings and the other things she has never seen before.
She reached PonyVille's market place, where a number of ponies were already starting to close their stalls. She just watched the busy ponies doing their tasks, having no idea what they were doing.
Although she kept wearing a neutral smile on her face, as she watched to satisfy her curiousity.
Wait...
She needs to go and look for Henry.
How could she forgot about that!?
She quickly started walking towards the nearest pony: a red earth pony stallion with a lime-green colored apple as a cutie mark.
The stallion was busy putting a few barrels of apples onto a wooden wagon from his stall when the blue mare who was approaching stopped a few hooves from him.
"Howdy miss," Big Macintosh greeted with a nod, "care tah buy som' apples?"
"Hello."
Pearl greeted back as she waved a hoof at him.
Whatever she said next was completely lost as the stallion started to see things.
The blue mare before him was shining, peaceful birds singing in the background, as her black sparkling eyes slowly blinked a few times as she gave him a very sexy smile he has never seen before.
Suddenly, a loud drum was pounding in the background, hurting his chest in every beat, as his lungs filed a complaint for shortage supply of air, but the message couldn't reach the brain from the traffic of hearts filling his eyes.
A screw went loose, dropping his jaw as wrenches fixed a smile on his face.
And he coughed.
'Finally' his lungs sighed in relief.
"Oh my goodness!"
Pearl paniced as she rushed to him, rubbing his back.
"A-are you okay?"
He hung his head real low as he gave his lungs the air it needed. His cheeks were really heating up, even his red natural coat couldn't hide the crimson-red blush that was plastered on them. And what was worse, his brain couldn't perform the simplest task of saying something. And worst, her hooves are running from his mane to his back, sending the shivers through his spine, and down to his hooves, were immobility became an understatement.
In short, he was frozen.
Up above, the cyan pegasus filly felt disgusted as she rolled her eyes, that even a tough stallion such as Big Macintosh could also have that stupid mushiness.
Other ponies started wondering what was going on, and a few started helping Big Macintosh.
Finally, the red stallion finally got back to reality, and quickly shook his head to recover further.
"You okay, Mac?"
Asked an orange earth stallion, one of Big Macintosh's friends and business rival.
Pearl has brought her hoof back on the ground, still looking worried for whatever happened to the red stallion.
"Y-yeah... Just tired, Ah suppose..."
Big Macintosh replied, and he followed it with a nervous chuckle, and coughed a few times soon after.
He took the courage to land a gaze on the lovely blue mare, and though his heart started acting crazy once again, it at least was more managable now.
"S-sorry fer worryin' yah, miss."
He tried his best to flash the tiniest smile.
"Are you sure?"
Pearl asked while other ponies started going back to their task they temporarily left unattended.
After receiving a fast nod from the stallion, she tried to smile, though still worried.
"Well, okay. Um... I was just wondering if you know where Henry is?"
'Oh...'
Big Macintosh frowned, but he quickly banished the expression, and replaced it with a calm-yet-forced smile.
He then lifted a hoof, and pointed at a huge tree towering above the sea of rooftops.
"See that tree over there?"
Pearl turned to where he was pointing at, and nodded.
"That there's the library."
He then brought his hoof back on the ground.
"I dunno where Henry lives, but that's where he works. So it's best tah try there first, if Ah were you."
Pearl turned to him, and gave him a warm smile as she nodded her thanks.
And with that, she quickly turned to the right direction, and began to trot to her destination.
Big Macintosh took a huge amount of air, and let out a deep, nervous and sad sigh.
He then felt a hoof on his shoulder.
"Aw, cheer up, Mac."
Said his friend.
"One day, you'll find a gal you could love."
The red stallion replied with an appreciative smile.
---
It was beginning to get dark, but the town was lit up by street lights, shedding good amounts of light for ponies to walk around town. A number of the ponies outside waved a hoof at her, some simply smiled.
She simply replied with a smile as she continued walking towards the giant tree a few more meters away.
Her heart was already starting to pound hard. Either excitement or nervousness, she didn't care, for what matters most is that she can finally see Henry again.
Their weekly meeting has become sore ever since the green alicorn was running out of ideas of how to impress her mother.
She noticed the door of the library opened, and a white unicorn filly came out, with a book levitated behind her, and the filly began walking on the opposite direction where Pearl was taking.
Eventually, the two's paths collided, and instead of the usual smile or wave of a hoof Pearl received from other ponies, the filly stopped her as she examined her with a sharp eye.
"Um..."
Pearl could only say after the sight of a measuring tape came out from the filly's saddlebag, and the filly started taking the blue mare's measurement.
Finally, as the measuring tape went back inside the saddlebag, the filly's serious expression was suddenly replaced by an excited squeel, which confused her further.
And finally, she spoke, with stars swirling in her eyes.
"Oh, you are so so so beautiful! Just the perfect mare for my new design!"
"Eh..."
The white unicorn filly clapped her hooves in excitement.
"Oh my! You simply must let me design you this wonderful fashion idea I have for spring!"
Pearl took a step back, as she was starting to freak out from the filly.
"Uh..."
The filly however, composed herself as she levitated the blue mare with ease.
"No time to waste darling!"
"W-wait, what?"
Pearl said as she was being pulled away from the library.
"No, please! Let me down!"
But the filly's ears were filled by her own excited murmurs to herself, making the cyan pegasus above almost feel sorry for the blue mare.
"Aw well."
Rainbow Dash said as she started flying away, still carrying the cloud with her.
"Rarity will take care of her."
She chuckled.
Too excited, Aurora didn't even notice that she took the second Daring Do book without checking it out when she went back home earlier.
Instead of flying, she decided to walk back towards the library. After all, the cold snowy ground really felt good, even though the evening wind was already chilly.
Her happy trot was put into a halt after she saw Rarity, walking in a fast-pace, probably excited about another one of her fashion projects yet again, but the filly was not the reason why she stopped, but the blue struggling mare that was levitated by the filly...with ease.
The blue mare was crying for help, but nopony seems to be willing to lend a helping hoof, and they have no idea why would they even help.
As the filly and the mare passed the orange pegasus by, Aurora couldn't quite be sure why the blue mare looked awkwardly familiar, until her gaze saw a glimpse of her cutie mark.
"P-P-Pearl!?"
---
Henry was using his magic to mop the floor of the first floor of the library. He was supposed to close the library an hour ago, but lately, he's been spending his time inside to continue writing the third Daring Do book.
He turned to look at the pink earth filly, who was busy reading a book, and writing some calculations and drawings on pieces of paper on the table.
She really looked serious, and it scared him.
"Henry!"
A loud voice from outside jerked the two ponies inside: Henry, losing his focus on the mop, and Pinkie, falling off of her chair.
The library's door swung open, and Aurora quickly ran inside, leaving a trail of snow behind.
The pink earth pony giggled that she fell on the floor, and Henry gave the pegasus an annoyed look as she got in front of him.
"What?"
Aurora asked after noticing the angry glare the green alicorn was giving.
Henry turned his gaze on the floor behind her, and Aurora turned around, and found the reason why the alicorn was angry.
She slowly turned around with a sheepish apologetic smile.
"Oops?"
She then shook her head.
"Floor later! You, Carousel Boutique, now!"
Henry's angry stare turned into a more confused stare.
"What?"
"Rarity foalnapped Pearl!"
'Well, not really, but hey, adding a little bit of fun won't hurt anypony...right?'
"She---what?"
Henry shook his head.
"Is this a prank?"
Aurora shook her head.
"But how could Pearl get here?"
Aurora shook her head once again.
"I don't know, but I DO know what I saw. Blue, long black mane, pearl cutie mark?"
Henry would love to see Pearl if it were true, but he also knew it was impossible.
She's a seapony. How could she get here in PonyVille, anyway?
"Ooh! Ooh! A new pony's in town?!"
The pink pony hopped around excitingly.
"Pinkie!"
Henry shouted.
"Wait, no!"
But it was too late. In a split of a second, Pinkie wiped her things away and went out of the library.
"Ugh..."
Henry brought a hoof on his forehead.
He then turned to the pegasus.
"You know the book she took, right?"
The pegasus nodded.
"Could I ask you to check that book out?"
Another nod from the pegasus.
"Good. Now..." he said, doubtful, "...I better go and check on Rarity...or Pearl, if she's there..."
---
Rarity was disappointed that a very important fabric for her project is already out. But, as a fashionista, she couldn't just bring the bad news to her customers now, would she? Of course not!
Fixing the blue mare in front of a large mirror, the white filly excitingly pulled a huge number of her wonderful designs.
In a magic of a second, Pearl found herself staring at her reflection, where she was wearing a wonderful gown of yellow, edges sparkling like diamonds, and paired with a very beautiful yellow hat, where she admitted to herself, that she looked wonderful. White stripes ran down on the spine of the dress.
Pearl smiled with shining eyes, while the white filly brought a hoof on her chin, examining the blue mare.
She closed her eyes as she shook her head.
"Too yellow..."
In a magic of a second, Pearl found herself wearing a light blue dress, where the tips were curled out-side-up, with laces of red on the back, and paired with an arched-shape blue hat.
Pearl could only blink, staring at herself. She prefer the yellow one.
The white filly brought a hoof on her chin, examining the blue mare.
She closed her eyes as she shook her head.
"Too blue...and you're already blue..."
In a magic of a second, Pearl found herself wearing a red gown, with a cut on one of the sides to reveal one of her hind legs. Black laces were stiched on the corners of the gown, and silver-white linings dancing from the bottom to the top of the dress.
Pearl was not sure if blue and red could be a good combination.
And the fashionista agrees.
"Too red..."
Well, she at least agreed a bit...
In a magic of a second, Pearl found herself wearing a green gown, with brown linings running down on the dress, and orange laces on the back, forming a cute little bow, almost unnoticable. And it was paired with a green hat.
"Ack!"
The white filly cried, not even giving the blue mare a chance to think about her own opinion about the dress.
"Green is definitely an awful color!"
She gritted her teeth.
"I'd say... I'm hurt."
Said a very familiar voice in the room.
Both mares gasped, and the white filly quickly spun around and saw the green alicorn, comfortably seated on a white chair, and eating popcorn.
"Oh, no no no!"
Henry smiled as he waved a hoof at them.
"Don't stop on my account."
Pearl, after convincing herself that she wasn't dreaming or something, smiled.
"H-Henry?"
The green alicorn waved a hoof.
"Hi Pearl."
----------
5. Winter Wrap-Up
----------
Henry finally has a reason to go back to his house after working in the library.
Pearl's first few days in PonyVille was full of curiousity. She had a lot of questions, and Henry tried his best to answer each one of them, with Sunset and Aurora's help.
Now, they're living together, after Pearl assured him that she let her parents know of her whereabouts.
"Are you sure they know?"
Henry asked while they were helping each other in cleaning the house.
"Mm-hmm."
The blue mare replied as she nodded, while wiping the windows with a wash cloth.
"How? You said that this Zecora-pony turned you into an earth pony before the thought of informing your parents came into mind."
Typical Henry, Pearl thought.
Always trying to see the sense of things before convincing himself.
"Oh, I asked a friend."
"Oh."
But then it struck him.
"A...friend?"
"Yep."
She smiled, trying her best to hold a giggle.
"A really good friend of mine."
Henry was beginning to feel angry, but tried to set it aside. Not jumping into conclusions, he thought.
"Who is this friend?"
"Ah, oh? He's a good friend. Reliable, fast, and patient."
She replied calmly.
"So...this friend's a 'he'...?"
He failed to control his voice a bit.
Pearl noticed the tone of his voice, and decided to let it go now, before it gets worse.
She turned to him, and gave him a lovely smile, contrasting the green pony's angry frown.
"He's a turtle, silly!"
Now, weeks after, the sky became clear, though the gloomy clouds were still hanging around.
The early morning sun was starting to rise, and ponies were all gathered in front of Town Hall, where each of every pony were wearing three different colors of clothes.
"Ladies and gentlecolts!"
Said the stallion that stood on a raised flatform, holding a microphone.
"First and foremost, me and Vice Mayor Mare would like to thank you all for coming here early."
Henry and Pearl both were wearing green-colored clothes, and were standing side-by-side, listening to Mayor Colt. A few ponies in front of them were Daybreak and Snow Flake, and both were wearing tan-colored clothes, and Aurora, who was beside the yellow unicorn, was wearing a blue-colored clothe, as well as her mother, Sunset, who was standing beside her.
"You know the drill ponies! Everypony here should do their part to wrap up winter, so we can finally welcome spring!"
The crowd cheered, especially a particular yellow pegasus filly, who was wearing a tan-colored cloth, hovering above the sea of ponies, and beside her was the rainbow-maned cyan pegasus filly, who simply smiled at her best friend.
"For those who are new in PonyVille, we ponies here in this little town don't use magic to change the seasons. It has been our tradition since the first earth ponies began PonyVille."
Happy chatters and whispers echoed around.
Pearl turned to Henry with a confused look.
"Wouldn't that take us a while to finish?"
Henry smiled as he opened a wing, and wrapped it around the blue mare's back.
"It might be, but it's fun, nonetheless...though...I sure will miss winter."
Pearl flashed a small smile.
"Well, okay then. So long as I'm with you."
She nuzzled the green pony's neck.
"Okay everypony, you all ready?!"
"Yeah!"
Mayor Colt smiled.
"Sorry... I think I suddenly became deaf. What was that?"
"WE'RE READY!"
Shouted the crowd.
"Well, what are you all standing around there for?"
He laughed as he used his magic to wear a green-colored clothe.
"Let's get this show on the road!"
And the crowd cheered.
---
"Three months of winter coldness,
a chilly holiday~"
A group of ponies began to sing as they started removing the snow on the houses' roofs.
"We've kept all our hooves warm at home,
time off from work to play~"
Ponies sang as they started shoveling the snow on the streets.
"But the food we've stored is running out,
and we can't grow in this cold~"
Ponies who were carrying the wagons for the shovelled snow sang.
"But spring is coming and
it brings new stories yet be told~"
Cheerilee sang as she helped in shoveling the snow around the school.
"The time has come to welcome spring
And all things warm and green~"
The pegasi ponies sang as they started clearing the skies.
"But it's also time to say goodbye
It's winter we must clean~"
Ponies clearing the snow on tree tops sang.
"How can I help? I'm new, you see
What does everypony do?
How do I fit in without some knowledge?
I haven't got a clue!"
Daybreak, Aurora and Pearl sang as they turned around, looking at the busy ponies.
"Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up!
Let's finish our holiday cheer~"
The mayor and vice mayor sang, as they helped around.
"Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up!
'Cause tomorrow spring is here~"
Big Macintosh sang as he helped clearing the snow on their farm.
"'Cause tomorrow spring is here~"
The ponies sang together.
"Bringing home the southern birds
A Pegasus' job begins~
And clearing all the gloomy skies
To let the sunshine in~
We move the clouds
And we melt the white snow~"
Rainbow Dash sang as she showed Aurora how to clear clouds with a powerful kick.
"When the sun comes up
Its warmth and beauty will glow~!"
Pinkie Pie and Rarity sang as they gracefully slid on the ice of the lake.
And everypony then took a deep breath.
"Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up!
Let's finish our holiday cheer~
Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up!
'Cause tomorrow spring is here~
Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up!
'Cause tomorrow spring is here~
'Cause tomorrow spring is here~!"
"Little critters hibernate
Under the snow and ice~
We wake up all their sleepy heads
So quietly and nice~"
Fluttershy sang as she helps her animal friends wake up for spring.
"We help them gather up their food
Fix their homes below~
We welcome back the southern birds
So their families can grow~!"
"Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up!
Let's finish our holiday cheer~
Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up!
'Cause tomorrow spring is here~
Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up!
'Cause tomorrow spring is here~
'Cause tomorrow spring is here~!"
"No easy task to clear the ground
Plant our tiny seeds~"
AppleJack sang as she buries a seed on the ground.
"With proper care and sunshine
Everyone it feeds~
Apples, carrots, celery stalks
Colorful flowers too~
We must work so very hard
It's just so much to do~!"
"Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up!
Let's finish our holiday cheer~"
Pearl smiled as Henry helped her carry the shovel full of snow.
"Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up!
'Cause tomorrow spring is here~"
Daybreak and Snow Flake helped Fluttershy with waking the animals.
"Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up!
'Cause tomorrow spring is here~
'Cause tomorrow spring is here~!"
The sunlight has finally managed to get through a few holes on the gloomy clouds, and started melting the ice on the lake.
"Now that I know what they all do
I now know my place~"
Aurora sang as she cleared a gloomy cloud.
"And help with all of my heart
Tough task ahead I face~"
Pearl sang as she stood beside her alicorn, and helped him pull the wagon.
"How will I do without my magic
Help the Earth pony way~
I wanna belong so I must
Do my best today,
Do my best today!"
Daybreak sang as he walked away from the daydreaming snakes crawling after him.
"Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up!
Let's finish our holiday cheer~"
Fluttershy helped the snakes calm down.
"Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up!
'Cause tomorrow spring is here~"
Pinkie Pie and Rairty stood clear of the breaking ice.
"Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up!"
The gloomy clouds have finally been cleared
"'Cause tomorrow spring is here~"
The birds started arriving.
"'Cause tomorrow spring is here~"
The snow on the ground were now almost cleared.
"'Cause tomorrow spring is here~!"