Pearl groaned as she kicked a stone. Four hours in the most boring class of all time had her itching for some action. Her tail wildly flipped about as she was ready to jump out of her own skin.
“Problem?” Twilight smiled at her friend.
“Ugh. Could there be a more boring subject in the world than pony history? Pearl looked at her friend.
“Are you kidding me?” Twilight blinked rearing back slightly with her eyes wide. “Pony history is very exciting. Then there’s chemistry, mathematics, mag…” Twilight ducked hard as a saddle bag flew past her head. Not that it was anywhere close to hitting her.
“Could you be any more of a nerd Twily?” Pearl sighed as she slumped down and looked at the gates of the school courtyard. A sly smile slowly came across her face.
“Oh no, Pearly. Miss Sunflower won’t take kindly if you go truant. Again.” Twilight sighed. Her friend had played truant so many times it started to annoy her. “I can’t keep lying. I hate it.”
“Oh come on, I haven't done it that many times. It’s been what? Four times?” Pearl grinned.
“Five.” Twilight half-puffed her face up.
“Well might as well make it an even six.” Pearl got up and walked to the low hedge and placed a hoof against it. “I heard about this amazing lake in the nearby glade.” Her grin got larger as she leaned into Twily. “How about you come with me and we can get the girls together and have a leisurely swim day. Much better than staying in a stuffy ol classroom.”
“The glade?” Twilight started to shake. “You mean where the Rose River flows through that little bit of woodland next to the palace? Oh no. You know for our own safety, Ponies are forbidden to go there. You heard what Amber told us about it.”
“Psh. It can’t be that bad.” Leaping up she landed on the top of the hedge and held a hoof down to Twilight. “You coming or not?”
“Oh no, I’m NOT going, and I'm not going to lie for you this time either.” Twilight quickly turned her head to the side.
“Well, okay. While you're in class, I'll be having a swimming and diving adventure.” Turning around she leaped off and flew off to the east.
Twilight bit on her lower lip. She cared a lot about her friend and wished she was more responsible. With a sniff, she turned and went to inform the teacher for her friend’s own safety.
Pearl stepped carefully along the stones of the Rose River. The overhead canopy provided the perfect mix of sun and shade. Making the river glitter like precious gemstones. As she continued walking the river started to get larger and larger. To even call this a forest was pushing it she felt.
Supposedly, there had once been a forest here. A massive one, and this was all that was left of it. Nopony knew for sure what had happened to it, or why it was forbidden to come here.
Stopping in her stack she came up to a wall of thick branches and stiff leaves.
Pearl wasn’t one to be stopped, especially not for a silly wall of branches. Leaping up she hooked her front hooves against the largest branch and pulled herself up. Her wings pushed her up as she climbed. She could fly, but where would be the challenge? For the first time since moving to this small hick town, she felt alive. But couldn’t shake the feeling that something was watching her from the shadows.
Reaching the top, Pearl stood tall and gasped. The glade in front of her was more beautiful than anything she had ever seen in her young life. A field of amber flowers littered farther than she could see. Along her left was a massive cliff face, running down the cliff was a waterfall so loud it sounded and felt like thunder as it struck the crystal clear waters of the lake before her.
Maybe there was a forest here once, she thought. This is way too nice to be out in the open like this.
Gasping loudly she leaped out and ran to the lake, stopping as she reached the edge. Looking down she saw the water was so clear she could actually see the bottom. Fish that she had never seen before circled what looked to be a large pillar with a crescent moon. “OH, this was so worth it.” Stripping from her school uniform, Pearl dove into the cold water. A fresh relief from the heat of the day.
Pearl dove down as far deep as she could. Reaching the massive pillar she saw that the moon was carved out of white marble and the pillar was a dark blue. Swimming along, using her wings to help propel her faster. Pearl reached the bottom and was rewarded with the entrance to an underwater cave. Breaking from the water she gasped for air and coughed a little.
“Wow, who knew it was so deep? Well, I’m here now. I might as well explore it.” Pearl shrugged. And smiled wide. Thinking of everything Twilight was missing out. As she delved deeper into the cave she came across what looked to be old stone ruins. Her hoof brushing along the smooth stone, she saw a blue brick etched with the symbol of the moon on it. The same as on the pillar. Pushing it the wall off to the side shifted and moved aside. The smell of dust and mold hit her like the winds of a storm.
Rubbing her eyes she walked into the large open cavern and gasped. This was no cave system. It was the ruined hallway of what looked to be a palace. For hours Pearl explored, coming across an armory, where she took to trying on a few helmets and a one suit of armor. All of which ether decorated with the symbol of the moon or sun. She was sure she had seen these symbols recently. But couldn’t place it. Just took a mental note to ask Twilight about it later.
Amongst the other rooms, she found a massive intact library. Not her favorite but she grinned knowing Twilight would just kick herself at missing out on all these lost books. Moving from room to room she finally came across what looked to be a massive throne room. One throne, was in shatters while the other was faded. Walking up Pearl brushed her wing along the faded throne.
“That same moon symbol. What is this place some kind of temple or palace?” Looking around she saw that like much of the rest of the place. It was in a state of ruin, only far worse. Like the ruins of an old battlefield. Turning to the other throne, Pearl saw it was shattered in half. The part on the ground held the symbol of the sun. touching the wood, she saw it had a dark reddish stain on it. Bitting her lips Pearl backed away until she tripped and fell backwards. A large equine skull, with one horn and one antler, landed directly on her lap.
In her head, she could hear maniacal laughter and the sound of a pony screaming in pain.
Pearl’s eyes widened as she screamed as loud as she could. Pushed the skull away and ran as far and as fast as she could after a few moments she felt the cool rush of the night air hit her face and stopped. She didn’t know where she was now. Looking about she found herself atop a small cliff surrounded by trees and a circular bed in the center. With the moon shimmering down on it.
Looking over the cliff, Pearl sighed. She was almost directly in view of the lake she dove into hours ago. Whatever the mountain was. It encompassed a hidden castle. And a half forest grew over it. Sitting down on the bed. Pearl looked up at the night sky. The cool breeze brushed away the frightening memory she just experienced. She was so grateful the bed was there, she didn’t even question why it seemed new and hardly touched by the elements. Closing her eyes she began to rest. Trying to put what she saw in the castle out of her mind.
After what felt like hours, Pearl heard the rustling in the trees. Sitting up she looked around. The light of the moon was bright. Brighter than she had ever remembered seeing it. The whole glade seemed lit in pure silver. The colors seemed more real. The leaves of the trees shimmered with evening dampness as a shadow moved through them.
“W… whose there?” Pearl shivered. Reaching back she took a stick in her wing and brandished it like a spear. “I warn you. I’m armed… you have NO idea who you’re messing with!”
The shadow in the trees, if it heard her, was wholly unimpressed as it leaped out and landed in front of her. The shade of the trees covered its form in dark shadows. However, Pearl could still see its general shape. It looked like a pony who was no larger than she was. But its body seemed thinner and lengthy. Instead of a thick tail, it was long and whip-like. With a large tuft of stary hair growing on it till it almost touched the ground, but curved like a vine. Instead of hooves, it had four massive claws. Claws that griped and pawed at the ground as if irritated by something. Which was reflected by the amber-colored eyes staring at her.
Pearl gulped as she saw the thick spins down its back. And the scaled plates that covered its neck down to its underbelly. A thick mane of hair covered its shoulders like a boa as its mane swished upward and out in a two-toned shade of blue and white. It might have well been all the excitement but the young Filly swore she saw stars moving back and forth in the dark blue stripes of the creature’s mane.
“Scales… long tail. And… oh my.” Pearl blinked seeing the slitted eyes the color of pure amber and reflecting the light of the moon inside of them. And knew only a handful of creatures had them. And one was the creature type that came foremost to her mind. A Dragon. Only this looked as if someone had crossbred a dragon and pony together. She would have guessed it was a dragon altogether had it not been for the cutie mark on its hip. A pale crescent moon with a large tree growing out of it, cradled by the moon.
Sucking in a long deep breath, Pearl slipped herself from the bed and slowly walked backward till her hind hoof touched the edge of the cliff.
“Um… I.. I’m sorry I invaded your area. I’ll just be going now..” Pearl watched as the dragon pony mix just tilted its head in confusion. And before it could open its mouth Pearl had pushed off from the ground and took flight in the night sky.
As she flew, Pearl knew in hindsight she should have just listened to Twilight. And she shouldn’t have asked her friend to lie like that.
“Gahh oh well I’ll make it up to her tomorrow.” Landing on the porch of her family home. She felt the weight of the night push down on her. She had skipped school and asked a friend to lie. Got chased halfway across a castle at the sight of a skull. She wasn’t sure why it had made her so scared but was glad to get away from it. And the sounds that she imagined came from it. On top of all that almost got mauled by some mutant dragon pony thing.
Letting out a sigh she smiled. “At least the worst is over,” Pearl said to herself as she reached for the door which opened by itself.
Sitting there upright with her front legs crossed over her chest. Was her mother Cirrus. Pearl shrank at the sight of those fearsome eyes boring down into her.
“Hi.. mom.”
“I just had a very interesting conversation with your Teacher young lady. And two castle guards who informed me about a young girl matching your description. Entering the forbidden area.” Before Pearl could open her mouth, her mother raised a hoof. “Take a seat at the table.” was all her mother said to make every drop of Pearl’s young blood go cold as she walked inside and closed the door.