//------------------------------// // Confrontation and Journey // Story: What Might Have Been // by Mystic Sunrise //------------------------------// “You sure about this, Twilight?” Spike asked as Twilight and Pearl readied themselves to enter the Everfree. “Why now of all times?” Twilight only shrugged. “I don’t know, Spike. And we’ll be fine. We’ve been into the Everfree before. Why should now be any different?” Luster Dawn, who had come down from Canterlot unannounced, eyed the forest dubiously. “But it’s always been you or your friends, princess. Now you’re taking Miss. Rose with you.” Pearl smiled. She rather liked that title. But she could see that the unicorn was fidgeting, and she hoped it wasn’t what she thought it might be about. “Come on, Luster. Out with it. You didn’t come all the way down to Ponyville just to see us off, did you?” Luster bit her lip. She had not in fact, even though she was on her lunch break. “I was just hoping that, maybe, you could ask if I could go with you the next time you go to the Dragon Lands?” Pearl growled. And there it was. “And I’ve told you before. Give me a good reason why I should. Something that says you’re not just using me as a damn springboard for your own ends!” Twilight blinked, as Luster retreated with a gulp. She eyed the two with worry. “What are you two talking about?” Pearl blinked, as she eyed Luster with surprise. “You haven’t told her?” “Told me what, Pearl Rose, Luster Dawn?” Twilight asked, in a tone that said an explanation was not up for debate. Starlight sighed. “This isn’t the first time Luster’s asked Pearl this question.” Luster nodded. “Think of all I could learn if I went with Miss. Rose on one of her trips. Very few even get to go to the Dragon Lands.” Pearl nodded. “Yeah, and I still don’t know why I get everything I do when I go. I never asked for it. Ember just seemed to give it to me.” Twilight nodded. Even she had been shocked when Pearl was given as much as she had that first time. “It is not that simple, my faithful student.” Pearl rolled her eyes. “I can’t just take anyone, Luster. Ask Lotus, Red, and Cloud. They’ve wanted to go so many times, but they’ve always been denied. And they’re my best friends.” Luster snorted, something that set alarm bells ringing in Twilight’s head. “You don’t need friends going with you. You need someone who actually appreciates what you see and learns there. Someone like me.” Something snapped inside Pearl and her eyes narrowed. So that’s how it was? “Then I do have something to say. Never ask me that again! You don’t deserve me even asking about it! You never cared about me at all. All I am is just somepony to step all over to get what you want.” She sniffed. “I tried to be friends with you, Luster. I truly did. Now I see that I wasted my time.” Luster whimpered as Pearl took her head in a hoof and leaned in. “Talk about me all you want. But nopony talks about my friends like that,” she hissed. “You just destroyed your chances.” Luster frowned. “But-” Pearl pushed away and, setting her saddlebags onto her back, headed for the path into the Everfree, as everyone watched in horror. “Don’t bother. I’m wasting time as it is here. Keep lying to me, and just see what happens when you insult my friends, and think you deserve anything from me." Twilight watched all this in mute shock before she finally found her voice. “I am disappointed in you, Luster Dawn. I thought I taught you better than that.” Luster recoiled. “Friendship is nothing but a waste of time. Why bother when friendships only fade with time?” Her mouth moved as if on its own, but the thoughts were her own. Twilight frowned. “I had hoped your mother had been wrong about your feelings, Luster. But I see that Cozy was right. As usual.” Starlight’s ears wilted. “Should I start the paperwork at the School of Friendship?” She asked, having a feeling of what was coming. Twilight nodded, as Luster scratched her head in confusion. “Yes.” She looked at Luster in sorrow, who seemed to guess what was happening. How had it come to this? “I am transferring you from the School of Magic to the School of Friendship, Luster. I see now that you have failed in the most important magic of all: the magic of friendship. Your grades and scores are the best in your class. But you will never advance like this.” Luster gasped, even as everyone nodded. “You can’t do that! Can you?” Twilight nodded sadly. “In fact, I can, Luster. Your teachers have said how you avoid even trying to make friends. Even with those who genuinely try to be friends with you.” Luster’s head fell, as her tears came at last. This was not how this was meant to go. She’d had this planned for weeks, and now her dreams lay shattered and broken. Where had she gone wrong? “Does this mean I’m no longer your student, Princess Twilight?” Twilight’s heart fell, hearing the heartbreak in the question. “I don’t know, Luster. But prove me wrong. Prove to me that you can learn friendship.” She smirked. “And I will know if you’re faking it. I’ve gotten rather good at it over the years.” Luster gulped. She knew that this was something that was not up for debate. “And Miss. Rose?” Twilight watched where Pearl had vanished, and shook her head. “I don’t know, Luster. You’ve hurt Pearl more than you know. You had a friend waiting for you. Now… I just don’t know.” Luster sniffed. “Why does she care so much? All I’ve ever been to her is nothing but rude. Miss Rose was right. All I ever wanted was to go to the Dragon Lands. So I thought…” Twilight nodded sadly. “Pearl will never ask now. Unless something drastic changes, I am not sure Pearl will ever change her mind about this. She will not help someone who is only using her for their own selfish reasons, as she sees it." Spike nodded. “Her friends have asked a million times if they can go with her. They’ve always been politely declined.” Luster tapped her chin. She had met the three mares in question. All of them seemed nice. “But why? It doesn’t make any sense.” Spike shrugged. “No idea. It came from Lady Tsunami herself too. No one knows why she has such an interest in Pearl.” Twilight nodded as she added her saddlebags. “I will have your things sent down from Canterlot, Luster. You can have any room in the castle. I’m sure Starlight can give you a few books.” Starlight nodded. Twilight’s library had several books that were nowhere else in Equestria. Luster herself was at least glad she had a room, as they watched Twilight vanish into the forest. Pearl had not gone very far when Twilight caught up to her. Her eyes were red from crying, and the sight made Twilight’s heart fall. She leaned into Twilight’s embrace with a sniff. “Why?” Pearl sniffed. “I’ve tried so hard to be Luster’s friend. Us students of you need to stick together. Starlight never treated me any differently. So why?” Twilight shook her head. “I don’t know, Pearl. Luster has a good heart, I know she does. She just needs to find it.” Pearl snorted as she looked ahead into the deep forest. She found that hard to believe. “So, um. I have no idea where I’m going,” she giggled sheepishly. Twilight giggled. “Very few do. The path seems to change every time I walk it. And it becomes more dangerous the deeper we go. You leave the path at your own peril.” Pearl groaned. Just her luck. “How do we even know when we get there? You’re not exactly talkative every time you come back.” Twilight chuckled. “We will know it. Fear will be our guide, and we must steel our hearts. It will become more dangerous and darker the further we go in. Shadows will play on our fears. Never feel safe, for we are going the wrong way otherwise. Deny every instinct to run, for the Everfree will eat us alive if we do.” Pearl snorted as they began to walk. “Bit much don’t ya think?” Twilight shrugged. “Perhaps. I asked Starswirl once, and he gave no answer. I have the feeling there is a purpose to it. Very few ever find the Everfree’s heart. Even those who love it.” Pearl looked behind them. Ponvlle had vanished from sight. Now all she saw were trees going on forever. Ahead, the path went on, with no break in sight. “Maybe we’ll get lucky?” Twilight rolled her eyes, as she held Pearl close. She doubted it would be that easy. Pearl grumbled as she and Twilight stumbled past the bramble patch and onto a well traveled stone pathway. Bits of sticks and leaves adored the Pegasus’s mane as dried mud cracked on her underbelly, her whispered curse words reaching Twilight’s ears. “It’s not that bad Pearl.” Twilight sighed as she flipped her wing a little, trying to dislodge a branch, the pair having been chased by a dark shadow for several hours.  “Says you. You’re not the one who got chased into a muddy brook.” Pearl cursed a few more times, sighing.  “I told you,  you had nothing to fear. Even I knew it wasn’t real.” Twilight shook her head and placed a hoof against the bright red Torii gate.  “It seemed real enough to me.” Sitting down Pearl yanked a small twig from her wing and spit it out on the ground. “Please tell me this is it?” Pearl groaned as she looked about the colorful village. Walking about she spotted various pony sized foxes, large deer, and even a few eastern dragons. She would have been jumping had if not for the lousy journey she just experienced. “Yes Pearl. We’re here. This…” “Lady Twilight!” a firm voice called out. Standing back Twilight saw a stag the size of Celestia walk up to her. His large multi pointed antlers shimmering.  “Chancelor Thorin.” Twilight made a soft bow. Pearl blinked and quickly followed.  “I’m glad you came through alright. My lord and lady await you. Please follow me.” With a swift nod the stag turned on his hooves and walked toward the massive temple. “He sounds like your brother. All business.” Pearl smirked. “Yes, but he does his job well.”  On entering the temple the two mares looked about at the decor. Pearl’s eyes widened as she never knew such riches existed before, not even in Canterlot. Following in silent awe, they all stopped at a large double door. Guarded by a single red vixen with two tails in a simple maid outfit.  “No further Chancellor. Twilight is to enter alone… my lady wishes to speak to her alone,” the maid held her paw against the stag’s chest. Throin gulped and nodded before stepping aside.  “But…” Pearl stepped forward holding out the scroll announcing that she was to show up. At a snap of the vixen’s paw fingers it went up in flames causing Pearl to jump back. “You will be awarded an audience in due time, young one,” the maid stepped forward and looked down at the young mare. “But for now, Twilight is to enter alone.” her voice so soft and stern, Pearl stepped meekly backwards. “You may wait for her in the gardens. This way.” the vixen pointed to a leaf lined doorway off to the side, down a long dark hallway. “You best listen little lady. This one answers to Lady Rose and Lord Everfree alone.” Thorin chuckled as he turned and left.  Pearl silently watched as Twilight followed the vixen into the darkened hall before the door closed swiftly behind them. In no time at all she was alone in the hallway. Looking down the dark corridor, she sighed and slowly walked through the doorway and into the most beautiful garden she had ever seen.  Lush green grass spread across an enclosed area twice as large as Twilight’s throne room. Off to one side was a small pond with swan’s larger than her. Flowers of every type littered the grass. A bamboo pathway lead from the door to the center in a circle. In that circle was the largest tree she had ever seen in her life. It was oddly shaped. Leaves only coming at the end of well pruned branches. At its base sat a fox no larger than Twilight. Dressed in a simple brown shirt and a straw hat that hid half of his face. A large bushy tail bound by silk straps lay behind him. A small coughing fit came over Pearl, causing the fox to turn his head her way. “Hmmm. Never seen you about here before,” the fox’s voice was young, but was also as tired as an old man’s. “Come to admire the gardens?” “No.. I was told to wait here.” Pearl scoffed as she kicked a small stone at her hooves. The stone was expertly snatched from the air by the fox’s paw. “Nice catch.” “Nice kick,” he said with a chuckle. “Well if you’re going to wait, no better place than right here by the bonsai tree.” “Is that what this is called?” Pearl looked up at the massive tree.  “It is. It’s Lord Everfree’s prized tree. He’s been growing it for over twenty thousand years now.” the fox smiled as he pruned a few small branch growths along a larger branch. “It was gifted to him by his mate, Lady Rose.” Pearl silently gasped. The concept of growing a tree for such a long time baffled her mind. “Wha…” “Hehehe. I never get tired of that reaction. Lady Twilight nearly fainted dead away when I told her that,” the tod smiled down at Pearl. “Sense you’re still on your hooves, you must be made of stronger stuff.” Shaking her head rapidly Pearl sat down. “Sorry. My head’s spinning. This is too much.” She looked down as a small cup of tea was placed in front of her. Blinking, she looked up. “Who are you?”  “Just the gardener. I like to make sure our lord’s garden is well cared for,” he chuckled. “What’s he like? I’m supposed to be meeting him and Lady Rose soon.”  “Lord Everfree?” a light chuckle escaped his lips which made Pearl quick an eyebrow. “He’s one of a kind. That’s all I can say.” “I just hope I don’t say anything that will get me killed.” Pearl took the small cup and siped on it. Color flushed her cheeks at the flavor. “He wouldn’t kill me if I did anything wrong would he?” “Dunno. He’s a fox, like most of us. I’ve been told he has a quick temper. The last pony who upset him… less said about that the better.” The gardener leaned back and rested up against the large bonsai tree. “You don’t go about harming plants and trees do you?” “NO,” Pearl half flinched from the idea of it.  “Oh then you have nothing to worry about.” Stretching a bit he got up. Pearl couldn’t help but notice the shimmer of light amber from the folds of his shirt. “I’ll leave you here. I have a few other places to be.” “Work of a gardener never ends huh?”  “OH it’s not that. My mate just loves to gripe about me cleaning up after ‘playing in the dirt’ as she puts it,” the gardener chuckled through a grin, a chuckle which also made Pearl laugh. “Hope your meeting goes well.” Waving a paw, the gardener left the garden. Pearl sighed as she laid there under the shade of the bonsai, a soft cool breeze caressed her feathers as she watched as a few cranes came up and examined her for a moment before nuzzling up close. Is everything here so damn huge? These birds are almost twice as big as me! Her thoughts raged. Not long after, she saw the maid walk in and bow. “Lady Pearl, you are expected. Please follow me.” With a nod Pearl got up and followed. She hated to leave the beauty of the garden but it was now time to jump into the fire, so to speak.  “Did you enjoy your time in the gardens my dear?” the maid asked with a smile. “Yeah. Even had a slightly calming chat with the gardener tending to it.” “Gardener? We don’t employ a gardener.” The maid pushed open the large jade doors to the central room. “The only one who tends that place is Lord Everfree himself.” Pearl blinked as she stepped in. “Huh?” looking up, seated on an ivory pillow was the largest dragoness she had ever seen.  Her body coiled behind her, taking up more than half the podium. And next to her, dressed in a simple black Kimono. No longer sporting the straw hat, His nine tails fanned out behind him. Was the fox she saw in the Garden.  “Welcome Pearl. To the Heart of Everfree.” Forestsong’s words rang through the room with soft authority.