Behind Blue Eyes

by Typographical Error

Chapter 5

Pearl just stared at me after I said that. I wasn’t sure what thoughts were running around inside that beautiful head of hers, or if she even understood what I had meant. She just blinked once, and then smiled at me. But then she closed her mouth and that same look of concentration appeared on her face. I knew she was trying to say something, but I wasn’t sure what it was going to be. After a few brief moments of silence, she opened her mouth again.

“Where are we going?” she said, her voice as soft as her fur. I trotted in a circle a few times, a debate raging in my mind. I couldn’t take her back to the hospital, I just couldn’t. But I really didn’t have any other place I could take her. I could take her to my house. But that would probably be the first place they would look when they found out she was gone. But I didn’t have any other choice. Finally, I stopped and looked back to her.

“I am going to take you home. To my home.” As I said this, I flapped my wings and floated over to her. She watched me fly through the air, turning her head as I passed behind her. I wrapped my forelegs around her chest again, just like I had before. I lifted her into the air, making sure I would be able to hold her for a few minutes. She looked up at me as I lifted her into the air.

“Home?” she asked me.

“Oh, right. You don’t know what a home is.” I said, feeling another pang of pity. “Home is somewhere where you are safe. Where you are with people who love you and care for you.” I never thought I would have to explain that to somepony.

“Home is...with you.” she said. I smiled down at her, looking into her stunning eyes.

“Yes. Home is with me.” I agreed. The park flew by underneath us, still cloaked in nighttime darkness. I looked behind me, seeing the first rays of sunlight hit the mountains, staining them bright yellow and orange. I could see the streets pass by underneath me, until I saw my house appear from all the rest. I dropped down, letting Pearl land first before I floated down next to her.

I opened the door, letting her go in first. She stuck her head in, looking around her a few moments. She looked over her shoulder at me, then stepped through. She rubbed her hoof along the carpet, like she had never felt something like that before. She probably hadn’t, I reminded myself. She twirled in a circle, just like she had the night before, taking in the entrance, and whatever she could see of the other rooms. Her eyes took in the photos I had on the walls, the potted plant I had next to the window. She turned to face me with a closed lip smile.

“Home?” she asked. I nodded, walking forward and embracing her.

“Home.” I said into her mane. At that moment, I heard her stomach growl. I broke the hug and smiled at her. She just looked down and cocked her head, a nervous expression on her face. I laughed and placed my hoof in hers. “You’re hungry.” I said, leading her into the kitchen. I pulled a muffin out of the tin and handed it to her. She just stared at it for a few moment, then looked up at me, her eyes asking the question she couldn’t. I laughed, pulling another muffin out.

“You eat it.” I said, taking a bite out of it. “It’s food.” She looked back down at it, slowly raising it to her lips. She took a small bite out of it, her eyes lighting up almost immediately. She bit down again, taking a huge bite out of the muffin. I watched as in three bites, the entire muffin was gone. She turned her eyes back to me, looking expectantly at the tin can. I smiled, brushing a few crumbs from off her lips.

“You are going to need more than that.” I said, pulling out some bread and wildflowers. I led her over to the table by the window, motioning for her to sit down. She did, but her eyes didn’t leave me as I worked. I placed the flowers on the bread, sprinkling some oats on the very top. Rain had always said I was good at cooking, but I never saw it. I could just make sandwiches. When I was done I poured some oat crisps into a bowl and cut the sandwich in half. I carried the plate over to the table, placing the bowl down next to Pearl and the plate in the middle of the table.

She reached over and took a half of the sandwich, bringing it to her lips just as she had with the muffin. She didn’t act the same as with the muffin as when she tasted the sandwich. Less of a feeding frenzy and more like thoughtful precision. She would take a bite, her eyes closed, chewing slowly. Then she would open her eyes and look at the sandwich, as if deciding on where to bite next. About halfway through, I pushed the bowl closer her. She looked at it, cocking her head. She pulled a crisp out and bit down, and I could see a smile spread on her lips as she chewed.

“Do you like it?” I asked, already knowing the answer. I think I was asking her just so I could hear her voice.

“Like it.” she agreed, taking another crisp for herself. She looked at my sandwich half, and then at hers. She pointed at mine, and then at hers, which was almost gone.

“Do you want another?” I asked. She nodded enthusiastically. I stood up and walked back to the counter, pulling out the bread and flowers again. When I turned around again, I was greeted with two empty plates and a half empty bowl. I looked at Pearl, who was just staring at me with wide eyes. I laughed and placed the plate down in front of her.

“Take all you want. But you might want to slow down.” I teased. “I don’t have that much food here.” She looked down at the plate, then picked up both halves. She looked at them one at a time, and then held one out to me. I took it, quickly taking a bite. She may have been hungry, but I wanted to eat before all the food was gone. I looked her over as she ate. For such a small mare, she could definitely hold her food. I finished quickly, walking back over to the counter. I pulled out a couple glasses and poured some apple juice into them. I carried them over one at a time, then sat back down. She finished her food, then looked at the glass of amber liquid in front of her. I showed her how to hold it in between her hooves, and she took a sip. Immediately, her eyes grew wide. I watched as the entire glass was gone in ten seconds flat. I just stared at her. What had they given her as food at the hospital if even apple juice was new to her? I quickly refilled the glass. This time, she drank slower, taking time to enjoy the taste.

When she was finished, she placed her hooves on her stomach, which I could see was slightly distended. That was probably the first time she had been properly fed in years. Maybe even her whole life. I stood up, smiling at her. I took her hoof and led her away from the table, towards the stairs. I showed her how to climb them, as she had obviously never seen any before. Slowly, she climbed up, tripping occasionally. But, finally, we reached the top. She looked around, twirling a she had done before.

She walked over to one of the doors, nudging it open with her nose. She poked her head inside, then quickly backed up, looking frightened. She looked back and forth between me and the room. Confused, I walked inside the room. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary. It was just the bathroom. Nothing in there but.....White. The thought dawned on me as I looked around at the white tiles. Poor Pearl. She probably thought I was putting her back into her room. I held the door open further, showing her inside.

“There is nothing to be afraid of.” I said soothingly as she walked inside, her ears pressed against her head. “This isn’t the room. I am not going to leave you here.” Pearl gave me a strange look, then walked over to the shower. She touched the clouded glass doors with her hoof, then slid it open. She looked inside, cocking her head a few times. Then she turned and looked at me, pointing at the shower. I wondered when the last time she had been given a proper bath in a proper shower was.

“It’s a shower, Pearl.” I said. I reached in and turned the knob, letting the water fall down. She skittered away at first, but then she walked back. She stuck out a hoof into the water, pulling it back when she felt how cold it was. I turned the warm water on then backed away, letting her feel it for the first time. She stuck her hoof back in, smiling now that the water was warm. She pushed more of her leg in. But then she stopped and turned to look at me. I nodded to her.

“You can go in. It’s not going to hurt you.” I said. She nodded, turning back to the water. I could see her take a deep breath, then she walked in. I watched as the water turned her normally frizzy pink mane into a curtain of rose. She smiled as it poured over her, pulling away any bad emotions from the past few days. She closed her eyes and sat down, pointing her face into the steam of water. I smiled and backed out of the room. I was going to close the door, but I thought better of it. She wouldn’t like it if I did. So I left it open, and I walked into my room.

I looked around. Everything was how I had left it the day before. But something was nagging at me, and I soon found myself pulling a suitcase out of my closet. I really wasn’t sure why I was doing it, but I felt like I should have it ready. Just in case something happened. I placed it on my bed and opened it, looking inside. I almost laughed when I saw was inside. One of my old scarves, a light blue one with dark blue tassels on the end. I had worn this when I was a young colt. I had gotten it at the same fair that picture in my living room. I let my mind wander back to those days, when Rain and I were still together. I was so lost in my thoughts I forgot about Pearl for a few minutes.

I was still looking through the suitcase when I felt something wet against my side. I let out a small yell and backed away a few steps, startled. Pearl was standing there, soaking wet, looking as happy as I had ever seen her. A small puddle was forming on the floor under her.

“Oh, pearl!” I scolded. But she didn’t seem to care. She just smiled at me. “Oh, come here.” I said, grabbing her hoof and pulling her back to the bathroom. I slipped on the tile when I walked in, landing on my back. The entire floor was wet. Pearl just stood over me, still smiling. I just smiled back and stood up. I grabbed a towel off the rack and proceeded to dry her down. Her head popped out of the towel at one point, and she kissed me on the mouth. I laughed and continued to dry her. When I was finished, I left the towel hanging around her neck. Her mane was extra fizzy now, jutting out at weird angles. I would have to brush it for her. The cloth still tied around her ankle was soaking wet, but I didn’t try to take if off and dry it. I knew she wouldn’t like that.

“Pearl, we don’t do that, alright? Stay in here after a shower.” She just nodded enthusiastically, then looked down at the towel. I walked over and turned the water off, then turned back to her. As I looked at her, I had a sudden idea.

“Stay here.” I said, as I dashed out of the room. I grabbed the scarf off my bed and trotted back into the bathroom. I showed the scarf to pearl, and she just cocked her head, looking back and forth between me and it. I took the towel off her neck and wrapped the scarf around her, just like I used to do to rain. I stepped back, looking at her. The scarf perfectly matched her eyes, accenting her mane beautifully. She looked down at it, playing with the tassels on the end.

“Do you like it?” I asked. She walked forward and kissed me, so I took that as a yes. I pressed myself against her, her fur still slightly damp against my chest. Once again I could feel her heart beat with mine, like a metronome. I ran my hoof through her mane, the wet hair sticking to my hoof slightly. I could have stayed like the forever, but she broke the kiss, her ears perked up. I listened closely, and I heard it. Somepony was knocking on my door.

Panic flowed through me. I looked around, but I knew there was no way I could leave the house without being seen. I turned back to Pearl, who could tell I was agitated.

“I want you to stay here, alright? Stay in here no matter what.” She nodded, sitting on the floor in front of me. I quickly kissed her on the cheek, then grabbed my bathrobe off the hook on the door as I galloped down the stairs. I had to think of an alibi quick. And I think I knew the one. I jumped the last couple stairs and landed in front of the door. I quickly put the robe on, making myself look as tired as possible. Then I took a deep breath and opened the door.

Silver was standing there, looking down at me. He wore saddlebags on his back, and his uniform as well. For a moment, he had a frown plastered on his face, but then a smile appeared.

“Hey, Newbie! I was wondering where you were today. Gosh, you look terrible.” he said, putting some feeling into the words. I nodded, coughing for extra effect.

“Yeah, I think I caught the flu or something. I would have gone up and tell you, but I didn’t think I could do it.”

“Hey, no sweat!” he said, smiling still. “Anyway, I covered for your shift. Or, well, I would have, if she had been there.” The smile fell off his face as she finished his sentence. I just stared at him, trying to play dumb.

“What do you mean?” I asked, coughing again.

“I mean, she wasn’t there, in her cell!” he said, malice entering his voice. “So, that was problem enough. That was about the worst thing that can happen, a patient escaping.” Every sentence he finished, he took another step forward. Soon, he was in past my door.

“But then, I found this.” he said, reaching back and opening his bag. He pulled something out, something that looked familiar.

“My journal!” I gasped. Anger flowed through me. “How did you get that!”

“It doesn't matter how, the point is I have it.”

“You broke into my locker!” I accused, completely dropping the sick act.

“I would hardly call it breaking in if you know the combination. You shouldn’t have said it was your birthday.” I opened my mouth to respond, but then closed it. It’s true, I had said it was my birthday.

“I had been suspicious of you for a while. You were acting really strange. So I opened the locker, and found this staring at me.” he said, looking into my eyes. “I didn’t know what to think at first, reading through the first couple of entries. But then I got to the last ones. And everything changed.” I could see his expression soften, returning almost to normal.

“Do you really love her?” he asked. I nodded.

“Completely. I wouldn’t trade anything for her.”

“And I can see she feels the same for you.” he said.

“How do you..?”

“Because she is standing right there.” I turned as fast as possible. Pearl was standing at the top of the stairs, the scarf still around her next. She was giving us a frightened look, her eyes flashing back and forth.

“Pearl!” I hissed. “I told you to stay in the bathroom.” She shook her head, rushing down the stairs and standing next to me. Silver turned his head slightly, looking her her flank. At her Cutie Mark.

“When...when did she get that?”

“She got it last night, when I took her outside for the first time in years.” I said, a steel edge in my voice. “See what you ponies have been depriving her of?”

“I..I had no idea.” He looked up at her. “I am so sorry...Umm..”

“Pearl.” she answered. It was the first time I had heard her name spoken by herself. It sounded like the jewel itself when she said it. Silver looked taken aback.

“She can talk now?”

I nodded. “All it took was a little help. She is an extremely fast learner.”

“And you love her?” I nodded. “Does she feel the same way?” As an answer, Pearl latched on to me, pressing her lips against mine. After a few seconds, she broke apart.

“I love him.” she answered. Silver just looked between the two of us. The look in his eyes made it seem like his entire world had turned upside down.

“I...I wasn’t expecting this..” he said, sitting down on his haunches. “You know they are going to be looking for you two, right?” he said after a few moments.

“I know. I have been thinking about where to take her.”

“You are probably going to have to leave the state. Maybe even a few states over.”

I know. I might need a couple days to find the right--” Silver was shaking his head.

“You aren’t going to have the time. As soon as they find out, they are going to come looking for you. You might have a day, two at the most.”

“So, what you do recommend?” I asked. Silver shrugged, looking around for a moment. Suddenly, he gasped. He reached back into his bag and pulled out two small slips of paper. He handed them to me. I saw “Equestria Airlines” printed in bold font.

“Use these.” he said. “You need them more than I do.” I shook my head, pushing the tickets back towards him.

“I can’t! You already payed for them and everything!” Silver grabbed my hoof with his, placing the tickets in it.

“You need them more than I do. More than I probably ever will. Go there, start a new life. I can just tell my marefriend that something came up at the hospital and we can’t go this time.”

“Are you sure?”

He nodded. “Very sure. She needs you, and I can tell you need her. You look like a completely different stallion from when I first saw you. This has helped you.” I closed my hoof around the tickets, putting them in the pocket of my robe.

“I can’t thank you enough. Really, thank you.” Silver shook his head, smiling.

“Hey, it’s no problem, Sky!” he said, shaking my hoof. “Just make sure you write when you get settled. I can probably throw them off your trail if I say you were not home. But I can only get you an extra day, at the most. So you have to move fast.”

“I understand.” I said. I walked forward and embraced him. “Thank you so much for this.”

“No problem. It’s the least I could do.” he said. I released him, and Pearl walked forward. She leaned forward and placed a small kiss on his cheek. “I’m so sorry, for what we have done to you.” he said.

“You don’t...have to be.” she said. Silver smiled, handed my my journal, then turned around.

“See ya, kid! Have fun on the west. And don’t forget to write!” he said over his shoulder, then galloped off, leaving us to do nothing but stare after him. I really wasn’t sure what to do. I had just cut the only tie I had left to this city. I turned to Pearl, who was watching me intently.

“We are going to have to leave. Tonight if possible. I just have to know. Do you really want to leave this place forever? Because we cannot come back.” She didn’t even pause before she replied.

“No. Leave.” she said. I smiled, standing up and trotting upstairs. I guess I was right. I did need the suitcase after all. I dumped the rest of the contents out on my bed. Clothes from when I was a foal. Bits and pieces from my life that I couldn’t remember. After I was done, I grabbed my scarf, a bright red one, from inside my closet. I also grabbed a couple other winter clothes, doubting I would need them much in Los Pegasus. I threw them into the suitcase, then trotted out into the hall. Pearl was watching me with wide eyes. I turned towards the door next to mine, and I took a deep breath.

I hadn’t opened her door since she died. Even the door handle was covered in dust. I placed my hoof on it, feeling the dry, powdery feeling of the dust rubbing off onto my hoof. I turned the handle, and I opened the door.

It was just like she had left it that day. Even her sheets, the same color as the clouds outside, was turned down, like she had just gotten out of it. I looked around the room I had not seen in six years. The window was open, and the drapes waved in the breeze. The sun was shining through, playing off the dust in the air. It landed on the white sheets on her bed and played out in all directions, filling the room with light. I slowly walked inside, puffs of dust rising with each step I took.

A Wonderbolts posted was still hanging on the wall above her bed, although it was faded to the point of being monochrome. At the foot of her bed was a trunk. A wooden trunk she liked to keep the things she liked best in. Toys from her childhood, pictures, books. She didn’t like anypony to go in there, but she always allowed me to. I knelt down and opened it, dust rising from where my hooves touched it. I pried it open, the wood sticking to itself after so many years of being closed. Inside, covered with a layer of dust, was all her most precious items.

I began to pull things out at random, looking and remembering. The first book she ever read by herself. Pictures she drew as a filly. Various other items that would only have meaning for her. But I was surprised she kept most of them. She never was the nostalgic type. I reached further in, until my hoof bumped against something wooden. It wasn’t the bottom of the trunk. It felt like a box. I grabbed a hold of it and pulled it out.

It was a cedar box, about a foot long and and three inches deep. It had a small lock on the front. I put it next to my ear and shook it. Inside, something rattled. I looked around the room, and I could see nowhere she might hide a key. But then I had a sudden idea. I flipped the box over, and smiled. Taped to the bottom was the key. I pulled it off. it was so like Rain to have the key there. Hidden in plain sight. I put the key into the lock and turned. The lid popped up, and I slowly opened it up.

Inside, the case was lined in purple silk. It was obviously meant to be a jewelry box, but Rain had found another purpose for it. A small picture was inside. Just that and nothing else. I was about to put it back, when I got a second look at the picture. It was me and Rain at the park. She was on the swing, and I was on the ground, pushing her. It was taken at just the right time. She was hanging in the air, almost at the apex of the arc. Her eyes were open and alive, a broad smile on her lips. It was one of those times where you could tell the voices weren’t bothering her. It was just her up there, nothing else. I pulled the picture out, remembering that time at the park. It was the first time I had gotten her on the swings. Her wings were spread out behind her, making it look like she was almost ready to fly away.

I felt indents on the back of the picture, and I flipped it over. There were words written on the back in Rain’s loopy hoofwriting.

Dearest Brother,

I know it will be you reading this. Only you knew me well enough to find this box. I don’t know if you will find it soon, or years from now. But I know you will find it.

By now...well, you know how the cliche goes. I am dead. Don’t feel sorry for me. Please don’t. There is no reason to. This is exactly what I wanted. I wanted freedom. I wanted peace. And I wanted quiet. And after all these years, that is exactly what I got.

My one wish, is that you don’t remember me for this. I want you to remember me for all the time we spent together. All the times we played at the park. All the times you held me when I was sad. All the times you tried to make the voices go away. All the times you protected me at school. You were my guiding angel through all of my rough life. I want you to remember those times. Not this.

But that isn’t why I wrote this. I wrote this for one reason only. To tell you something I could say to your face. To those bright yellow eyes of yours. One simple thing. I just wanted to say, before I go. Goodbye.

Goodbye, my friend. Goodbye, my pal. Goodbye, my brother.

Goodbye.

Your Dearest Sister, Rain

I just stared down at the note, emotions running rampant. I didn’t know when I started to cry, but before I knew it, tears were falling from my eyes. I felt myself sit down, although I never told myself to. I can’t believe I had never found this. She had wanted me to find this!

“Rain...oh Rain. I’m so sorry..” I moaned. I should have known she was feeling like this! I should have seen it.... “I SHOULD HAVE SEEN IT!” I felt myself yell, even though I hadn’t told my mouth to open. Sobs ripped from my chest as I clutched the note against me. My back was against the wall to her room, but I could barely feel it. I couldn’t feel anything but the pain roaring through me.

I was so oblivious that I didn’t hear Pearl walk into the room. She walked over to me, sitting down on the floor next to me. She wrapped her forelegs around me, pulling me against her chest. I felt myself curl up against her, tears still falling from my eyes. I felt her lips against my forehead for the briefest moment. And then they were gone. But she still held me, laying her head on mine, riding out the tears with me. I don’t know how long I laid there, but eventually, the tears began to slow, until all that was left were dry sobs. I uncurled myself, looking up into her eyes. She just stared down at me, her face as blank as the wall behind us. I swallowed multiple times before I opened my mouth, and even then, my voice was weak and broken.

“Thank you.” She nodded, pulling me into a tight embrace. I could feel her chest wet with me tears, and I felt even worse. That was the one thing Rain had not wanted. She wanted me to be happy for her, and I was doing the complete opposite. I broke the hug with Pearl and stood up, my legs shaky. Pearl stood back, watching me closely. I was wondering what she was thinking, but then again, I didn’t really want to know. I placed the picture on the top of the bedspread, then looked around the rest of the room, I had almost forgotten what I had come in here for.

“Pearl...could you...umm..” I stuttered. “Could you get the suitcase from my room. The black thing on my bed.” She nodded and walked out of the room. I quickly walked over to Rain’s closet and opened the door. I pulled clothes out without looking, throwing them onto her bed. Pearl came back, pulling the suitcase in behind her. I quickly stuffed some of Rain’s winter clothes inside, along with my clothes. Then I zipped it up and put it down next to the bed.

“Do you think you can take this downstairs?” I asked. “I just want to look around for a moment.” Pearl nodded, grabbing the handle and walking out of the room. I stood there for a moment, looking around at the empty room. Then I walked over to the bed and picked up the photo. I stared down at it, trying to decide what to do. It only took a minute.

I picked the small wooden box up and placed the photo inside it. I closed the lid, hearing the metallic click and the lock closed. Then I placed the box back where I found it, and closed the trunk. I took one last look around the room, then I walked out and shut the door behind me.

Pearl was sitting at the table in the kitchen, and she smiled at me when I walked in. I just nodded, walking into the living room. There was one thing I really wanted to take with me. I walked over to the wall and took the picture off the wall. The one with Rain and I at the fair. She wanted me to remember good times we had. I would need this. I walked back into the kitchen and slipped it into the small pocket on the front of the suitcase. Then I pulled the tickets out of my pocket and looked at them.

“Equestrian Airlines.” I said under my breath. “Two way...Los Pegasus...International Airport..” Everything seemed to be in order. I looked down the ticket at the departure time. It wasn’t until tomorrow morning. That meant we would have to stay here overnight. I looked at Pearl, and she looked back at me. I could see complete trust there. And I knew it would turn out alright.

I made dinner that night. Nothing special, just some rolls and oat grain made into a bread. She seemed to like it, wolfing down half the bread before I even had a piece. I could see her eyes getting heavy even as we sat there. But she didn’t want to sleep after we finished eating. No, she wanted to go look at the stars. I obliged, of course. She looked so happy, looking up at those pinpricks of light, the moon making her fur glow. Finally, she was finished, and I took her back into the house and walked her up the stairs. She didn’t want to stay in Rain’s room, alone, and I really didn’t want that either. So she curled up under the covers next to me, holding me in a tight embrace.

“I want you to know I will do everything I can to protect you.” I said quietly into the dark. I heard her sigh, pulling me closer to her. I could feel her fur against me, her warmth mixing with mine. I could feel her heart beat with mine, her chest rise and fall with mine. I felt as close to her as I ever had. More than any other pony, and I wanted to be even closer. And so did she. So, after, as our breathing slowed and we lay in each others embrace, it came as no surprise that the first thing she said was, “I love you.” All I could say was, “I love you, too.” as there was nothing left to say. Soon she fell asleep, and I was not long after.

The next morning, the light poured in through my window, falling over my pillow. I opened my eyes to a world of pink. Pearl had pressed herself against me, her head just under my chin and her back against my chest. I let out a small sigh, wrapping my forelegs around her. I could feel her shift, my movements waking her up. She flipped over, her muzzle almost touching mine. She pressed her lips against mine for a brief moment, and then broke away.

“Good morning.” I said quietly.

“Morning.” she said back to me in a calm, serene voice. I could have just laid there forever, under the covers with her, but I knew I couldn’t. We had to leave soon. But that didn’t stop me from enjoying her presence for a few minutes longer. I pulled her tighter against me, feeling her heartbeat again. It was slow and calm, but it did flutter whenever I moved my hoof up and down her back. She stroked my wings, pulling each feather apart from the other and straightening them out. One feather fell away from the rest, as they sometimes do, and she held it in front of her face, looking at the intricate veins, and the fluffy afterfeather near the bottom. I had a sudden idea. I gently took it from her grasp, placing it behind her ear. It stood out against her white fur so perfectly. She giggled a little, reaching up and feeling the soft down against her skin. I didn’t think she could have looked any more beautiful if she tried. I pulled her close and kissed her one more time, letting my emotions into that kiss. She wrapped her forelegs around my neck, pulling me in closer. I could feel the feather tickling my ear, but I didn’t mind. Finally, I was the one to break the kiss.

“Come on, Pearl.” I said, pulling the sheets off. “We have to get going.” She jumped out after me, trotting down the stairs with me. The tickets were still on the suitcase where I had left them, and I picked them up and checked the time. We had just a few hours to spare, which was fine by me. I made some haphazard sandwiches, then did a doubletake to make sure we had everything we were going to need. Suddenly, a thought ran through my head, and I rushed outside.

The mailponies were flying by overhead like they always did, heading towards the office downtown. I saw Lunar in the mass and called him down.

“What’s up?” he asked, landing in front of me. I really wasn’t sure how I was going to say this.

“I am leaving Baltimare.” I said simply. I explained to him how I was going to Los Pegasus, and probably wouldn’t be back for a long time, if ever. He seemed hurt, but he took it well.

“So what do you want me to do?” he asked.

“Well, you know how you have been wanting to get out of that tiny apartment you have? Well, now’s your chance.” A smile slowly spread on his face.

“You have to be..no. You have to be kidding! Your house?! Really?!” I nodded.

“She’s all yours after you get off for work. I just have one condition.”

“Name it.” he said enthusiastically.

“I will be back for all my stuff one day. So, please, don’t throw anything out. Just put it up in Rain’s room.”

“Deal.” he said, shaking my hoof. “I can’t...I can’t thank you enough.”

“There is no need to. Key’s under the mat. And Lunar, goodbye.”

“See ya, man. I hope you like Los Pegasus!” With that, he jumped back into the air and flew off, his smile visible from almost a mile away. I trotted back into the house, Pearl watching me through the window. She walked out to see me when I reached the door.

“Are you ready to go?” I asked her. She nodded. I smiled, walking back into the kitchen for the last time. I looked through the doorway into the living room, looking at all the pictures on the wall. I would be back for those. One day. I grabbed the suitcase off the table and trotted back out to Pearl. I locked the door before it closed. And when it shut, the deadbolt snapped into place with a metallic click. It sounded so final. But I knew that wasn’t right. This was just the beginning.

I was lucky the airport wasn’t too far from my house. I didn’t think I could carry both Pearl and the suitcase. We finally reached the airport, and I had to stop and look around. Masses of ponies walked around, leaving or entering buildings, pushing past one another on their way. A plane passed over us as we stood there. Long, low, completely made of wood. A team of ten massive pegasi stallions pulled it into the air, their harnesses and wings the only thing making a sound. I turned to Pearl, but she was just looking up at the plane, wonder in her eyes. I put my hoof in hers and gently pulled her along, heading for the right building.

Everything after that was a blur of colors and faces. But everything seemed to slow down when we sat down in our seats. Pearl looked uneasy, looking around at all the other ponies. I could tell she didn’t like to be in here, but we had to do it. She finally relaxed, just in time for the takeoff. I felt the plane start to roll down the strip, until, finally, we lifted into the air. This part Pearl didn’t seem to mind, which confused me slightly. But I didn’t complain.

The flight lasted about five hours, which was enough time for both of us to get sufficiently bored. But, finally, I felt the plane start to drop, and I perked up. I looked out the window, smiling when I saw it. The ocean, deep blue and rough, spreading away further than I could see. As the the plane turned, I could see the runway and the airport. The airport was a small building compared the the runways. And it just ended at the water, like the rest had fallen away into the sea. The plane turned again, and I got my first view of Los Pegasus.

Chaos, that’s all I could describe it as. Chaos. Criss-crossing roads, streets, railroad lines. Overpasses rose from the land like breaching whales, then fall back to the ground like nothing had ever happened. Then the planes turned, and I lost my view. But one thing was for sure. We had made it.

I walked out onto the sidewalk in front of the airport, Pearl at my side. Carriages and wagons rolled past, picking up and dropping off more ponies. I tried to think back to when I had seen this many bodies, but I couldn’t think of a time. But I didn’t focus on that. I focused on what lay in front of me.

Sitting almost completely center in the Los Pegasus basin, passed miles and miles of suburban homes, parks, streets and yards, stood downtown Los Pegasus. Cloaked in smog, the skyscrapers looked like something you would have heard about in fairy tales. It looked like somepony had dropped giant spikes into the ground, and just forgot to pick them up. Mountains rose up in the distance, almost obscured by the smog and clouds. It seemed so out of the ordinary, but at the same time, fitting in the chaos of the city. Pearl seemed slightly frightened, but at the same time, brave. My feather, still behind her ear, moved with the wind, and I caught it as it almost flew away. I placed it back behind her ear, tucking some of her pink mane over it.

“Home?” she said quietly. I nodded, looking out over the unfamiliar city.

“Home.”

It’s been four years since I first set eyes on Pearl. Four years to the day. And I couldn’t have asked for better years. It had been perfect here. Just perfect.

I still write to Silver. He told me about how they are reforming the hospital. Making the patient’s lives better. he says it was all because of me, and what I did. But I like to think I just showed them the way. He also wrote saying he was thinking about moving out to LP, and he might be doing it in the next couple months. I hope he does. I would like to see him again.

I did go back for all of mine and Rain’s belongings. Lunar was happy to see me again after four years. He seemed to be getting along just fine. he did exactly as I asked. He put everything I owned in her room, and he said he never went back in after he moved everything. I was grateful for that.

Pearl has matured. If you were to speak to her today, you would think nothing of it. She can speak perfectly, and she is even holding down a job working in one of the local nature preserves. She loves it that, and I can see why. There is one thing I haven’t told her though. I didn’t tell her about her past, before the hospital. She just seemed so happy without knowing, and I didn’t want to ruin that. But if she does ask me, I will tell her. I will not lie to her.

We got married earlier this year. It wasn’t a very large wedding, just a few friends in a small ballroom. But, given the colors of our coats, we wanted to switch it up. Pearl wore black, and I wore white. She looked so beautiful in her dress, and she looked so happy. She didn’t have anyone to give her away, but she didn’t need anyone. She could do it by herself. I knew we were both thinking the same thing as we said our vows. Neither of us thought this day would happen before we met each other.

She still wears the cloth around her ankle, but she does take if off every couple days and washes it. She also keeps the feather tucked behind her ear. Always. She even wore it during our wedding, which made me happy beyond belief.

Pearl has said she wants to have foals, and I have to say, I agree with her. Our house just seems too empty, and so does our lives. We have discussed it, and we came to an agreement. If we have a daughter, we both want to name her the same thing.

We want to name her Rain.