> A Siren Rose
>  by Mystic Sunrise
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> News
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pearl paced back and forth slowly along the second level of the newly refurbished Golden Oaks. Downstairs she could hear her newly wedded wife rustling through the books below. Pearl’s eyes glanced over at the open scroll on the bed. She had read it so many times it had already been committed to memory.

===
To Pearl Rose from Tiamat, Mother of Dragons.

Your presence is requested. I have heard of what has happened to you, and I may be able to help. Princess Twilight has spoken highly of you and of your love for dragons. I admit that I am curious to meet you in person.

An escort shall meet you by the waters of the Rose River the night before the next full moon. There is much I wish to discuss with you that will forever change your life aside from your recent changes. Expect an extended stay.
===

Everypony was shocked when the letter appeared through Spike's flames two days ago. For those two days, she had been in a constant state of panic. Why was the Mother Of all Dragon Kind calling on her? Some unknown Pegasus daughter of an intercontinental ship foreman and a banker. 

“Pearl, come down, I have something to show you.” Twilight's voice rang out clear as a bell from the library floor. 

Rolling her eyes Pearl guessed it was some tedious bit of information on the mating habits of rocks crabs or crystal flies. Her princess was always researching something peculiar like that. 

The gem fused into her chest glowed, earning a glare from the Pegasus. "Listen you stupid thing. I don't care what you want. Twilight is my wife, and I love her more than anything. If you don't like it? Go find somepony else to corrupt."

That seemed to shut the jewel up. At least for now, as Pearl made her way downstairs. Pearl knew that her anger only made her Soul Gem more powerful, but she couldn't help it. Ever since she put it on, her anger had become hotter and hotter. “Okay Twilight, what now?” Pearl smiled as Twilight lifted her head up. A bit of ink smeared along the alicorn’s cheek. 

“I found it. The path to the Old Dragon Lands. Your mentioning of the Rose River the other night got my brain twitching.” Twilight shifted through her scrolls and pulled out a map.

“Glad I got some part of you doing that.” Pearl huffed in a whisper. She had expected a lot more at night now that Twilight had finished up with her latest paper. “So what did you find? I'm sure whatever it is, it'll be an easy uneventful flight.”

“That is the problem. Flying is out of the question.” 

“Come again?” Pearl quirked an eyebrow.

“Flying is not possible. The river lies on the other side of the Everfree Forest. And it is forbidden to fly over it.” Twilight watched as her beloved blinked in confusion, as her gem glowed. The sight of the accursed thing made her heart clench. To the day she died, she could never forgive herself for bringing the Dazzlings' gems to Equestria as she had, and for what they had done to her beautiful Pearl.

“Oh come on, we’ve seen ponies fly over the forest before.” Pearl sat back in a chair and crossed her front legs in front of her chest.

“That was only on the fringes of the forest, kind of a mystical gray area. But once you get into the main forest. Pony magic does not work. Not even Alicorn magic works in the Everfree.”

“But how is that even possible?” Pearl rubbed her head in confusion.

Twilight sighed as she moved to the window behind a large desk and a throne. Yes her castle library was remade after the battle with Tirek, even thanks to the power of the Tree of Harmony it had grown three times as large and looked like a castle with a tree growing around it. But she loved it as her library has grown exponentially.

“This is something only myself and the other princesses know. Even I was shocked when I learned of it. But the Everfree is grown over an Abyssal Portal. Possibly Tragar itself."

Pearl's heart clenched in horror. Every filly and colt knew that name, though most thought it was nothing more than a myth. "The final battle of the God War. Nopony knows where it was. Hell, most don't even think the Shining Ones and Wicked Ones even existed."

Twilight nodded. "But we know these portals exist, and what comes from them no sane mind could conceive of. Not even Discord, and I flat out asked him about it. And it is this power that drowns out all other magics but its own. That is why flying over the forest is forbidden.”

With a shrug and a chuckle, Pearl leaned back. “Okay so flying is out. And I'm not crazy enough to go through the forest. So we’ll just plan a trip around it.” But her smile quickly vanished when she saw Twilight’s face and her shaking head.

“To go around and get where you want to go, would take a month. And that is by flying. That is how vast the Everfree Forest really is. Your only option is to go through the forest.”

“But... ponies who go in rarely, if ever, come back out. And even if they do, they are never the same again.” Pearl groaned. "And if this really is Tragar, then I'm risking literally everything going in there." 

Twilight nodded. “Going through the forest will get you there in two days. But you are right, and that is what I am afraid of."

Pearl nodded sadly as she poked her gem. "I risk permanently losing myself. It's hard enough already to bring myself back from feeding on the hate and anger in the Human World." She cast a pleading look at the princess. "And the worst part? I love the feeling it gives me. The ecstasy and joy. And it's getting harder and harder to fight it. One of these days, I won't fight it at all, and then what will you do?"

Twilight moved over and nuzzled her head under Pearl's as it dropped. "I know, Rosie. But I refuse to think it will ever come to that. We will find a way to get it off of you. This I swear. And don’t worry, I will be going with you. Maybe Tiamat really does know a way to help you.”

Smirking, Pearl leaned back and ran a hoof along Twilight’s floof, channeling all of her powers into this. “Maybe. Right now I want to take my mind off of it all.”

With a slight shiver, Twilight looked at her wife. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

With a grin Pearl slipped from the chair and walked away, shaking her hips back and forth slowly. With a look over her shoulder, Pearl gave her own rump a swift slap with her tail and winked at Twilight whose wings puffed out instantly. "Come and find out, Twily. Let me show you how a siren shows her love. Make me sing," she said in a two-fold voice.

Twilight grinned goofily, before speeding off after her wife, Pearl adding more sway to her hips with each step, before running her tail along Twilight's snout, earning a roaring blush from the alicorn.





Twilight and Pearl stood at the archway of trees that lead into the deepest part of the Everfree Forest. The area where no ponies have stepped foot and come back or come back in one piece.

“This place looks more frightening than I thought it would.” Pearl shuddered. Like all ponies, she had heard tales about this forest. Some even more graphic since moving to Ponyville. But it was something else to be standing at its gates, so to speak.

“On that, I agree.” Twilight shivered noticeably. Her friends all thought the pair were crazy for doing this and insisted on coming with them, but Twilight assured them that they would be okay. “Well let's not stand here like a pair of frightened fillies.”

“Yeah,” Pearl groaned a bit as she walked beside Twilight into the dense forest.

The pair walked side by side for what seemed like hours. The canopy overhead blocked out much of the sun, but she was surprised at how bright everything was. Half expecting monsters to leap out of every corner, she found that the scariest thing they came across was a large gray wolf as large as they were and its family crossing the path. A pathway that despite not being used, was well maintained.

“I’m surprised,” Twilight cheerfully stretched as the pair stopped at the banks of a river. “Having lived beside the Everfree for as long as I have now, I never would have expected it to be like this.”

“Yeah, I mean the trees can be a bit creepy. But it doesn’t feel unpleasant.” Leaning down Pearl took a long drink of water before she sat back and felt a cold shiver down her spine. “Twilight, is it just me, or are things just a bit too quiet?”

Looking around, Twilight blinked. She saw that the path they had been on was no longer there. Standing up she took a few steps forward and saw that they were nearly surrounded on all sides by thick dark trees so tightly pressed together they formed a solid wall. “This is not good.”

Pearl felt it as well. They were not welcome here. Not at all. Something malign, dark, evil, was all around them. They could feel it. This was not natural. Pearl felt her gem begin to glow, as if responding to something, and felt her anger rise for no reason. "I say we keep going. I don't like this," she growled, fighting to keep her anger in check.

Twilight caught the hint of anger in Pearl's voice. This. All of this. It was wrong. Wrong in a way that she could not explain. "A very wise idea, Pearl," she said, as the path opened before them once more. Her earth pony magic was going insane from this, and Twilight had to force her lunch down where it belonged.

Pearl wasn’t sure if it was her anger clouding her thoughts, or the quick straight path they took. But not long before sunset, the pair reached a raging white rapid river. Looking across Pearl could just barely make out the shapes of trees on the other bank. "Is this it?"

Twilight looked around. "This is it. I believe we are to meet this guide on the other side of the river. But I don't see how we can cross it."

Pearl gave her a look. "Can't you make us a raft or something? I still can't fly, remember?"

Twilight looked back the way they had come. To her horror, the path had vanished once more. And as she watched, shadows slithered beneath the trees, unnatural and yet seductive at the same time. "My magic won't work here. And I don't know what else we could use to make one."

“Oh great. You get up all this way. And now we're stuck at the banks of a nearly impossible to pass river. Well, thanks a lot for nothing!” Pearl growled and stomped her front hooves into the ground, her anger rising by the second, but could care less as she shouted profanities galore as she stomped up and down the riverbank, her gem glowing brighter and brighter by the second.

“I sure hope you don’t kiss your wife with that mouth.” A soft melodic voice said from behind Pearl. 

Turning around she found herself face to face with a huge serpentine creature, her face was almost wolf-like while twin antlers sprouted up from behind her ears. A thin coat of white fur covered thick aqua green scales. Pearl recognized her immediately as an eastern dragon; she felt her excitement mingle with her rage. Leaving her feeling a bit bewildered at the whole thing.

Twilight blinked in surprise. She hadn't been there a second before. "Are you a spirit?"

The dragoness nodded as she looked at her. "That I am. I’m the soul of the Rose River. Even the branch part that runs through the length of this forest that you followed all the way here.” The spirit dragon pointed to the split leading into the forest. “That part isn’t known much as part of my river, but it is. It’s a shame your kind also forgot that.”

Pearl rolled her eyes. "We seem to be doing that a lot recently. Just look at Princess Luna or the Crystal Empire. So are you our guide to the Dragon Queen?"

The dragoness nodded as she looked at the gem in Pearl's chest. "I am at that. I’ll be with you for the rest of your journey. And I'll even help bring you home along my river since part of it does pass a few pony villages, and one with a train station.”

“Good. I’d rather not deal with this damn forest again.” Pearl glared at the forest, a feeling Twilight shared as she wrapped a wing around her.

Their guide glared at it as well. "I told Tiamat that this was a poor place for us to meet. The Abyss has been more active lately, and the forest is showing it. But this is the only way to the Ancient Dragon Lands from Equestria."

“Maybe, I just want to put as much distance between me and this as possible right now,” Pearl sighed.

“That would be quite the trick.” the dragoness whispered out of earshot. “Well, let's get you to your meeting. I’m sure you're still hyped for it.”

“OH yeah. So? Do you have a name I can call you?”

“My own name isn’t used by any but my kind. But you can call me Summer.” Summer grinned as Pearl and Twilight climbed onto climbed up onto her back. A rather novel experience for the both of them as Pearl held Twilight close. 

“Well, let's go, Summer. Off to the Dragon Queen.”  Pearl pointed her hoof to the other side of the bank.

“Aye Aye captain!” Summer laughed and began to swim across the wide river with Pearl laughing along with her, earning an eye roll from Twilight.

 
> Journies
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Come now, Pearl. You must have many questions by now?" Summer teased, leading the pair across a seemingly bottomless chasm. Twilight tried not to look down, but once or twice she did, and she could just see distant flickers of flame far below and the distant sounds of industry.

Pearl nodded, trying not to gulp as she looked down from the log bridge they were crossing. "A million and one actually. Hell. I never thought I'd see an eastern dragon in Equestria. How did I miss this?"

Summer giggled. "My kind has always preferred seclusion to spending time with mortals. I do spend much of my time listening to a certain Pegasus who lives by the edge of the forest. Her singing is quite beautiful."

Twilight smiled at this. "Fluttershy has always had a beautiful singing voice. I just wish she would use it more." She gave the dragoness a worried look. "You do not mind that I am coming as well?"

Summer shrugged. "The queen thought that you might do so, and said that you could come as well. She knows how much you love each other. And she is also curious as to how you got that gem."

Twilight winced, for she could hear the anger in her voice, but why did it sound like more than just normal disgust? She pushed the thought aside. "I took them from a trio of sirens called the Dazzlings. I was able to unite all of the pieces after coming back."

Summer growled, and Twilight and Pearl were shocked at the look of fury on her face. "Unnatural creatures. Born from the Father of Lies and his manipulations. I thought their kind died long ago."

Pearl looked down once more as they came to the other side. She could see the hellish glow and the infernal clangor of foundries and forges she could not see. A part of her wanted to join them, but she quashed the idea as soon as it formed. "How do you know that name? I thought it was all just a myth."

Summer shook her head. "My kind remembers the God War, and the Age of Light before it. We remember when Domivar threw down the Wicked Ones and their forces. Valendor was able to curtail the Everfree's growth, but it is only a matter of time before it grows once more."

Twilight's ears fell in horror. "Then this is Tragar. We are between Deiw and Zarak, aren't we?"

Summer nodded sadly. "Yes. And they are expanding once more. A new city has recently been founded. Slazek-Don has gone into overdrive. Klugetown is almost empty of slaves, and the surrounding countries do not have enough to fill their ranks of slaves."

Pearl and Twilight shared worried looks. All of this could only mean one thing, and Celestia and Luna needed to know as soon as possible. 

Summer saw their concern and sighed. "I have always found Celestia and Luna to be quite brave to have put down their castle where they did. It took them many years to learn the truth, but they have always fought the good fight." She smiled at Twilight. "I see they have taught you and Princess Cadance well."

Twilight blushed while Pearl rolled her eyes, before poking her Soul Gem. "So, what can Tiamat do for me anyway? If this stupid thing is Abyssal, then I don't know what she can do for me. I really hope I'm wrong though."

Summer looked at it once more, and once again, Pearl thought that there was more to her look than just normal worry. "I am not sure. She did not tell me and seeing as to why she sent me in particular, I had hoped she would."

Pearl gave her a look. "Why did she send you though? I get your river runs right next to Ponyville, but I seriously doubt that's the only reason. And seeing how hard it is for me to not do something, this had better be worth it."

Twilight giggled as she wrapped a wing around her wife. "Oh, I do not know, Rosie. Your singing is much better than it used to be at least."

Pearl just stuck her tongue out at the alicorn, while Summer giggled helplessly. "There is a reason I was chosen in particular. Not just for how close I live to both of you. But that will come in time." She smirked. "Plus, I just love to tease ponies. So, you will just have to wait for now, Pearl Rose."

Pearl groaned in annoyance, while Twilight and Summer both giggled.





The further the trio went from the Rose River, the less and less the influence of the Abyss they could feel. Pearl's anger still burned hot, but now she could control it, at least for the moment.

Summer did not allow them to stop at any point, carrying the two ponies on her back when they began to show signs of falling asleep. "We are still too close to the Heart of the Everfree. It is too dangerous, for there are things there that even I avoid," she said once, as they crossed a clearing.

Pearl looked around them. She could feel the evil and malignancy even from here. "You do all of this by yourself? Isn't there someone else that can help?"

Summer shook her head. "I am alone. Ponies help when they can, even though they do not know they are. Sometimes I wonder if there was meant to be another here as well. But for some reason, it never happened."

At that moment, a family of foxes crossed their path. To the surprise of Twilight and Pearl, they were far larger than the ones they knew around Ponyville. One, the youngest with a forest green coat and amber markings, gave the trio a curious look before his mother moved him along, and they vanished into the brush.

"They grow them big around here," Pearl whistled.

Summer nodded. "Oh yes. They're friendly once you get to know them, however. The youngest seems to like me for some reason. Everfree Foxes are all this size once you get deep enough into the forest."

Twilight made a note to tell Fluttershy about this. Whether her friend would ever get to see one was another matter of course, as she yawned. "How much further? I've lost all track of time in here."

Summer paused for a moment. "A few more hours, if we are lucky. These paths change all of the time. It could be several more hours, or it could be much longer. Two days is what ponies say it is. But that is only a best guess. Many do not even make it this far. Forces of the Abyss are a constant threat."

Pearl yawned. before being caught by Twilight. "Well, I hope it's not too much further. I'm getting bored out of my mind here. I'm almost something happens to liven this up a little."

Summer lifted Pearl up onto her back with a chuckle. "Well then, little Pearl. Rest now. I will wake you when we arrive."

Pearl went to argue, but her drowsiness was too much, and she soon curled up asleep on the dragon's back with a contented sigh.

Twilight cooed at the adorable sight, sharing a smirk with Summer before they moved on once more.

After a few moments, however, Summer gave the alicorn a worried look. "She cannot do this much longer."

Twilight's ears drooped, sighing sadly as she looked up at her wife. "I know. Pearl is the strongest pony I know. She stood up for me so much when we were fillies. Even against unicorns that were way ahead of me at the School of Gifted Unicorns. Even when I brushed her off for so long."

Summer smiled. "But she is fighting a battle against something that is using her greatest strengths against her. I can see it in her eyes. Pearl is loving it more and more. Sirens always start this way. A pony corrupted by a Soul Gem. They fight it at first, but they soon learn to love the feeling it gives them. Once they assume their siren form for the first time, there is no going back. To remove the gem at this moment is to kill them."

Twilight's head fell, as her tears finally fell. "I was afraid of that. Even if Tiamat can do something for my Rosie, I will never forgive myself for doing this to her.  I would gladly trade myself and let the damn thing take me instead. Or I would gladly join her in damnation. I can't lose her." She sniffed. "I just can't. We were supposed to be happy together for all time. Start a family."

Summer felt her sorrow rise at hearing the desperation and heartbreak in the alicorn's voice, and it broke her heart. She could only hope that her queen knew what she was doing. Not just for Pearl's sake, but for Twilight's and the family they wanted to start.
> Unexpected Guest
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twilight nuzzled warmly up against Pearl’s body as Summer flew them onward. She was on the verge of falling asleep when a clash of thunder erupted through the skyline. Twilight shot herself up as summer too lifted her head. 

“What was that?” Twilight looked about the sky. No clouds in sight. 

“I’m not sure. The season has been rather calm lately. We aren't due for a wild storm for at least another few weeks now.” Summer looked around with Twilight. Halting and hovering in mid-air over a darkened grove, when two more thunderclaps erupted in the sky without the flash of lightning. “It seems to have come from the north. If you have no objections to a detour I’d like to see what’s going on.”

“We won’t be in danger, will we? Pearl has enough on her chest right now. Literally.” Twilight grumbled as Summer shook her head. 

“No, she should be okay. We’ll keep our distance, I simply want to see what is going on and if it poses a threat. If it does, the Queen has to be informed. With our luck, it’s just a rogue…” 

Summer’s voice was swiftly cut off when a black mass zoomed past her shoulder. Forcing the dragoness to swerve sharply. Looking on, she saw the shape halt, unleashing stone-shattering claps of thunder when four hooves slammed against a cloud that swiftly formed behind the unknown mass of dark blue.

“Mmm, what’s all the racket? Can’t a girl get a little shut-eye?” Pearl moaned as she tried to push herself up but found she was pinned to Summer’s back by Twilight’s form. She would have enjoyed it more had it not been for the confusion of being suddenly awoken. 

Twilight blinked and felt her eye twitch. She knew the form that cloud was taking. She watched the sleek athletic form take shape, lean pre-teen muscles flexed as the colt stood tall on the appearing storm cloud. His rainbow-tinted mane and tail swished, the colors of blue, indigo, and violet almost blending into the night sky. The spirals along his lightning-shaped horn shimmered with a bright white light as Twilight watched him smirk that mirrored his sister's.

“Is that all you got?” The colt yelled out as he slammed his hoof down on the cloud again. Thunder crashed along the sky as a winged demon flew like an arrow from hell at him.

“That’s a Gargoyle!” Pearl shouted as she watched the boy leap up, the demon’s claws missing him by a feather’s breath. 

Leaping up and up, wall jumping off of clouds to ascend higher. The storm gray colt dove down at terminal velocity and slammed both front hooves into the Gargoyle’s chest. Lightning from his horn crashed downward, shattering the beast as he leaped forward. Leaving pieces of the beast falling to the ground below. 

Breathing heavily He stood there atop another made stormcloud before standing up straight and looking up with a smile. 

“Twilight?” Pearl groaned with annoyance as her wife just nodded. 

“Yes Pearl, I see him.” Twilight groaned as she knew another long conversation was due to her friend Rainbow about the Pegasus’s troublesome younger brother.

“Auntie Twilight, Auntie Pearl!!” The colt excitedly waved his front hoof before starting to gallop up the sky, storm clouds forming under his hooves with each step as light from under his midnight blue scales shimmered.

“Hello, Sky. Getting into trouble again I see.” Twilight huffed as she shook her head at the colt. 

“Hey, it’s not my fault those things came up after me.” Sky huffed as he plopped down on his rump on the cloud as it just drifted slightly, his breathing heavy and half labored. “Do you think I could come aboard? I’ve been running for almost a day now. And I'm exhausted.” 

“OH, the great Sky is finally admitting he has a limit?” Pearl smirked. The boy was almost as stubborn as his sister when it came to bolstering. 

“N..no! I could go on if I wanted. But Rainbow said it’s good to take a break now and then.” Sky huffed and crossed his front limbs. Earning a laugh from Twilight.

“Come on up Little Dashie. It’s not a crime to feel tired. Even Pearl here has trouble admitting she needs to rest. I think it’s a Pegasus thing.” 

Pearl huffed and playfully hit Twilight with her wing. “Speak for yourself, Princess. Even you can’t tear yourself away from a project to eat, let alone sleep. Need I bring up what happened last month when half the town through you turned into a zombie because you went out dead tired in search of a plant. It took me a day to convince Pinkie you weren’t about to start the zombie apocalypse.” 

Both Pearl and Sky laughed at the blush that came over Twilight’s face. Looking over at Summer, Twilight nodded her head. “You don’t mind do you?” 

Summer smiled as she looked at the young boy and shook her head. “Oh not at all. He’s welcome to come with us if he wants. Coming all this way by himself was quite brave, if not a bit foolish.”

“Yeah, speaking of that. Why are you here Sky? And how did you get this far over the Everfree Forest. Pegasi and Unicorn magic don’t work around these parts which is why we are on Summer’s back.” Twilight scratched behind her head with her hoof.

“Dun know. I just ran here. Not like it was all that difficult. I did feel kind of heavy halfway here. And aside from that, whatever it was. My trip was kinda uneventful.” Sky chuckled as he settled himself on Summer’s back. Oblivious to how she watched his every movement.

“That’s elder dragon magic for you…” Summer whispered in a hushed tone to herself. Which caught Pearl’s ear causing her to turn around.

“As for why I'm here.” Sky reached into his black saddlebag and pulled out a scroll with a royal stamp on it. “Spike said to get this reply from Celestia to you as soon as possible. And since no Pegasi could fly over the Everfree, I had to bring it.”

Nodding softly, Twilight knew Sky’s habit of galloping over the Everfree Forest. Going places no Pegasus dared to go. She had been scolding him about it since he was five. She knew it to be highly reckless as much now at eleven. While proud of her student, she knew Rainbow encouraged her brother to be daring, regardless of how irresponsible it was. 

“Everypony else said it was too dangerous, Auntie Fluttershy most of all. But sis had faith in me. Told me there was nothing in that forest I couldn’t handle on my own and I should flex my wings… so to speak.” Sky grinned as he turned and looked at Pearl. Quirking an eyebrow he reached out with his hoof. “Wow, that’s new. What is it? A new necklace or something?”

Pearl slapped his hoof away and grumbled. “Something like that.” Sky irritated her. She liked the boy. Friendly, outgoing, kind, and even shared love with her hobbies. But he was forever popping up whenever she wanted to be by herself. And he always knew how to push her buttons. She smiled tenderly at the boy, humored him, only to go to her bedroom later that evening and pound on a pillow or her old childhood stuffed fox for hours. 

Why she had a stuffed fox, Pearl still didn't know. But he had been her constant companion since she was a filly, and no matter how much she pounded on him, she always took good care of him and he had managed to survive for longer than her parents had thought possible. And she made sure Fluttershy did not know about it. Oh no. She liked the Pegasus too much.

Except for Discord. More than once Pearl had threatened to shove his head someplace unpleasant. Antler first. He had only laughed before bouncing off. Stupid Chaos spirit.

Sky only shrugged and made himself comfortable. "Keep your secrets then. Where are we going anyway? Seems like a lot of trouble to go through the Everfree like this."

Twilight sighed as she opened Princess Celestia's letter. "We are going to see Tiamat. She has requested to see Pearl specifically. I'm here mostly to make sure my wife doesn't do something stupid."

Pearl stuck her tongue out at the alicorn, while Sky scratched his head. "Why would the Dragon Queen want to see such a mouthy Pegasus? I know you love dragons. But this seems a bit much."

Pearl groaned. "That's what I want to know. I've always wanted to meet her. But why now? And why is she asking for me? She doesn't know me at all."

Twilight nodded, wrapping a wing around the Pegasus, reading the letter as she did. "As for why we had to go through the Everfree? It is the quickest way to the Old Dragon Lands. That thing you fought was a Gargoyle."

Sky's eyes widened. "An Abyssal? Here in the Everfree? There isn't a portal around here. They can't go too far from one."

Pearl and Twilight shared a concerned look, a look the colt did not miss. "Alright. What are you two not telling me?" He grumbled.

Twilight pinched her snout. "I am sorry, Sky. But this is information restricted to the princesses only." She held up a hoof as Sky went to argue. "I know you can keep a secret, Sky. But this directly from Princess Celestia herself, and signed by all of us. I didn't know about this until recently myself."

Sky looked at Pearl with a raised brow. "Do you know what she's talking about?"

Pearl nodded. "Yeah, I know. Comes in handy when I'm also a princess as well." She smirked at Sky's confused look. "What? When I married Twilight, I became royalty as well. Sure, I'm not an alicorn. But I still have the title. Same with Shining Armor when he married Cadance."

Sky seemed to think about that for a moment before he smiled widely before Pearl poked him with an annoyed look. "Don't even think about it, Sky. Celestia and Luna are way outside of your age range, and Cadance is taken."

Sky chuckled. "Can't blame a guy for trying."

Twilight giggled as Pearl yawned, as did Sky. "Get some rest you two. I'm not sure how much further we have to go."

Pearl was more than happy to fall asleep once more in her wife's hooves, while Sky made himself as comfortable as possible.





Pearl awoke once more to Twilight gently pushing her. She yawned as she gave the alicorn a look. "What is it? I was having a rather nice dream."

Twilight nodded, as she pointed downwards. "We're almost there I think. We entered the Ancient Dragon Lands an hour ago."

Pearl blinked as she looked down, as Sky awoke behind her. Below was a vision straight out of hell. Volcanoes erupted in all directions, with thin streams of lava flowing in the ash plains between them. No life could be seen in any direction. Ahead was what looked like a range of mountains.

Sky shook his head as he looked down. "Only a dragon could love a place like this."

Summer chuckled. "Oh yes. It's why most of our kind scattered in the aftermath of the God War. Only the most ancient dragons still live here. Ahead lies the Gate of the Everburning Flame. Beyond lies the Queen's Sanctum." She turned and gave Sky a pointed look. "I suggest you watch yourself from here on."

Sky blinked. "What did I do?"

Summer shook her head. "You were not a part of this from the beginning. Therefore you are an intruder. I suggest you remember you have no protection here."

Twilight shook her head with a frown. "He has mine."

The dragoness shook her head. "It does not matter, Princess Twilight. Ponies have no authority here. If he does nothing to break the trust the queen has in you, then he will be fine."

Pearl was taken aback by how deadly the dragon sounded, unusual for how calm and fun she had usually been. She shared a look with Twilight, who could only sigh. "I understand," the princess bowed her head.

Sky could see that they were all deadly serious. Unlike his big sister, he knew when not to push his luck, so he held his thoughts for now, as the mountains came into view.

For a time, the group flew on in silence. Twilight and Pearl were glad to be able to feel their magic once more. Pearl could feel her Soul Gem was not happy to be here, and it made her smile. Maybe it meant there was hope for her yet.

Finally, they could see a massive gate set into the side of a massive mountain. As Summer came to land before it, they could make out the writing of some kind on the lintel. 

Sky scratched his head as the trio jumped down from Summer's back. "Does somepony know what it says? I hate language."

Pearl rolled her eyes. "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here. It's in the Iokaric script, the ancient language of the dragons." She blinked. "Wait. How did I know that? I can't read that langauage."

Twilight blinked in surprise as well. How could Pearl know that? It took years to understand the Old Tongues of Equus. Even she had trouble with it. She didn't miss the secret smile Summer had for a moment and wondered what it meant.

Summer chuckled at the look Twilight gave her, before turning back to the gate. Tracing her claw in a very specific way, she spoke words that even Pearl could not understand, but held a sense of power that even Sky could feel. A moment later, the outline of a smaller door, just large and wide enough for a small dragon to enter, appeared in the gateway, where there was none before.

Everypony blinked in surprise as Summer turned back to them with a grin. "Come now. We must not keep the queen waiting. She hates when guests do that."

With that, she entered the doorway, followed swiftly by Sky. Twilight put a wing around her wife. "Are you ready?"

Pearl gulped but put on a brave face nonetheless. "As I'll ever be."

Twilight giggled, before leading the Pegasus through the door herself. A moment later, the door closed silently behind them, leaving no trace it had ever been there to begin with.
> Meetings and Rebirth
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twilight and Pearl had long since given up trying to figure out where they were in this vast labyrinth. Endless tunnel after countless echoing chambers seemed to go on forever. The dust the kicked up was inches thick, and only occasionally did a side passage open up. Twilight took note of the runes above each door. Each was one she had never seen before and could only guess what they did.

Summer seemed to know where she was going at least. At no point did she stop or appear to be lost. But she appeared to be taking her sweet time getting the group where they needed to go.

"Are we there yet?" Sky asked for the twentieth time as they entered another large chamber, this one filled to the brim with every kind of treasure known to ponykind, and many more that Twilight could not make out an origin for.

Pearl growled as her Soul Gem glowed once more. "Sky. If you don't shut up, then I swear to Celestia that I'm going to shove your head someplace unpleasant! Horn first!"

Pearl's shouts echoed off the roof far above, making Twilight's ears ring as she wrapped a wing around her wife, who shot her a scathing glare in return. At the other end of the chamber, something vast moved in the shadows.

Summer shook her head sadly. "Fortunately then for the both of you, we are here."

Twilight sighed audibly, while Pearl only growled, her anger rising as the dragoness led them to the far end of the chamber. To try and keep her rage in check, Pearl tried to figure out how much she could buy with all of the wealth around her. Forget just buying all of Equus. She could buy the entire solar system, and still have plenty left over afterward.

But such thoughts were soon forgotten as she, Twilight, and Sky lay eyes upon the master of all they surveyed. Only Twilight had met Tiamat before, and that had been a brief interaction after her coronation. But now, she felt something more when she and Pearl looked up at the Dragon Queen.

Tiamat's red scales stood out next to all of the gold around them, her tail ending in a scorpion's stinger. But the trio's eyes were inexorably drawn to her five heads. Black, Blue, Green, Red, and White. All five turned to look down at them with something like disinterest in their eyes.

Pearl gulped, and even Sky looked less sure of himself. For as long as she could remember, Pearl had always wanted to meet the Chromatic Dragon. Even before she had met Twilight, she had loved and been fascinated with dragons. Even as she had helped her mother and become rather proficient in the banking industry, that had never gone away. Her dream to be Equus's foremost Dragon Scholar was still there.

But now, as Tiamat came down to look the group in the eyes, Pearl could only squeak out a "meep of fright at the sight before her. Her gem glowed even brighter at the sight, something not lost on Tiamat as she sighed.

"It is true then. You do bare one of those accursed things," her White head said.

Pearl growled in defiance. "What about it, you oversized gecko?" She seethed, before slamming her hooves over her mouth, horrified at what she had just said and to who. 

Sky threw his hooves up in annoyance. "Will someone please tell me what the hay is going on around here? I know Pearl has a big mouth on her. But this is way more than usual even for her."

Twilight's ears fell as she shook her head. "Pearl is becoming a siren. I am sure Rainbow has told you what those are. That gem fused into her chest came from a trio I helped defeat sometime ago now. Pearl thought putting it on was a good idea. You see the result."

Sky's eyes widened in shock. His big sis had told them all she knew about them. It was not much, but it was enough to know they fed on hatred and discord.

Tiamat nodded. "Her transformation is almost total now. You will never make it to the borders of the Dragon Lands before she turns on you and feeds on you as her first meal. Once that happens, there is no turning back for you, Pearl Rose," her Black head said.

Pearl sniffed. "Then what can I do? I hate this! But I love it at the same time." She leaned against Twilight, who wrapped a wing around her wife. "We were going to start a family. I was going to grow old with the mare I loved. I don't care if Twilight outlives me."

Twilight nodded, as Pearl's tears came at last, and Twilight could only nuzzle the Pegasus as she cast a pleading look to the goddess. "Please. There has to be something we can do. Can we remove the gem? I can't lose Pearl. I just can't."

Summer and Sky shared a heartbroken look, while Tiamat shook her heads. "It is too far along now. To remove the Soul Gem would kill you. But there is another way. A way that will not only save you. But give you both the life together you deserve," the Blue head said.

Pearl shot her a look. "Like what? Why do you care so much? I'm nothing to you. I love dragons. Always have, and meeting you is a dream come true for me. But still."

Twilight nodded. "I do not know of anything we can do. Short of making Pearl an alicorn. But only another alicorn can do that, or a Higher Power. And I do not know how to do it myself. Princess Celestia has never told me how she did it."

Tiamat's Green head snorted. "The sun-wrench does not know as much as she thinks she does if she taught you that, Princess Twilight. While those are true, anyone can become an alicorn given the right push. And do not lie to me and say the thought hasn't crossed your mind as well?"

Twilight smiled sheepishly, while Sky heaved off to the side. "I think I'd rather listen to Aunt Pinkie's babbling all day than have to deal with that."

Pearl just stuck her tongue out at him, earning a giggle from Summer. "Well. I would be lying if I said I hadn't thought about being an alicorn before. But Celestia and Luna won't do it, and Cadance and Twiggles over here don't know how to. So it doesn't matter in the end. I'm stuck like this," she sniffed.

Tiamat smiled to herself as she reached out a claw. "Then I will do it. No one should suffer the hell you are going through. This will end your torment, and give you the life you deserve," the Red head said.

Before anypony could react, or Twilight to argue, Tiamat's claw touched Pearl's forehead. Immediately, Pearl felt an insane amount of power and magic flow into her, almost overwhelming her, but she was able to hold onto herself, closing her eyes as her body began to glow.

Twilight and Sky shielded their eyes, as Pearl glowed brighter and brighter. She could feel the sheer amount of magic that was pouring into her wife. She knew well what that felt like, and how much it hurt. She could only hope now that Pearl would be able to withstand it all. 

After a moment, the glow around the Pegasus faded, and she fell to the ground with a thump, rubbing her snout as she did. "Ow. Did somepony get the number of the chariot that ran me over? I'm gonna beat the snot out of that driver. With interest."

Twilight ran over and helped Pearl to her hooves before her mouth dropped in shock. "You have more important things to worry about, Rosie. Look."

Pearl frowned as she looked up at where Twilight was pointing and felt her mouth drop in shock. A horn. She had a horn. But it was not the same as Twilights. It was scaled, alternating between red, blue, green, black, and white at the tip. Reaching up tenderly, she poked it. It was solid. Not only that, but she could feel the insane amount of magic that now coursed through her veins. Looking down, she saw her Soul Gem was still in place. But now, she felt nothing from it. Her hate and anger were gone. She still felt the gem, but now it seemed to be nothing more than that.

Tiamat smiled, conjuring an ornate crown in her claws before placing it on Pearl's head. The crown's five heads all seemed to curl protectively around Pearl as it settled into place. "By the power invested in me by the Mother of All Life in the Silent Years, I crown you Pearl Rose, Dragon Princess of Equus and inheritor of the Dragon Soul. Use it well."

Twilight looked into her wife's eyes. "Pearl? Do you know who I am? Who any of us are?"

Pearl took a moment, before smiling widely before kissing her fellow alicorn. "Of course, I know who you are, silly. You're the pony I've loved ever since we first met as fillies. The mare I want to spend all of eternity with. The one I want to start a family with."

Twilight's eyes shimmered as she happily returned the kiss.

Sky rolled his eyes with an annoyed sigh, but he was smiling all the same. "Great. Now I'll never hear the end of it. One alicorn is bad enough. Now there's two of them."

Summer giggled as she glided over. "Oh, don't be such a sour puss," she purred.

Pearl shot her a look. "Why do you care so much about me?" She pointed at Tiamat as well. "Why do you both care so much for me? I barely know either of you."

Tiamat's White head shot the dragoness a scathing look. "You have not told her yet?"

Summer glared right back. "It was not the right time. It is not like you have ever cared about my kind anyway. Why should you start now?"

Pearl and Twilight shared a confused look. "What are you two talking about?" Pearl grumbled.

Summer sighed, no longer able to keep it to herself. "Tell me, Princess Twilight. Have you ever heard of Twin Souls?"

Twilight's frown grew. "Yes. But what does that have to do with?" She paused as Summer's look finally registered. "No. That can't be. They are too rare."

Pearl poked her fellow alicorn with a wing, glad of the sudden height increase. "What are you babbling about now, Twily? Come on. Don't leave me out of the loop."

Twilight's ears fell as she smiled sheepishly before whispering something in Pearl's ears. Pearl's eyes bulged in shock at what she heard.

"She's my what?!"
> Surprise!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twilight rubbed her ears irritably. Pearl had definitely mastered the Royal Canterlot Voice it seemed. Just perfect. "Summer is your twin sister. A Twin Soul is exactly what it sounds like. Two beings share a soul. Your soul is the twin of Summer's."

Sky scrunched his nose. "But they're not both dragons."

Twilight nodded. "They do not need to be the same species for this to happen. And it is extremely rare as it is."

Pearl snorted. "Is that why I've never heard of it before? Cause I don't remember ever hearing about it in school. And I thought they taught us everything considering we lived in Canterlot."

Twilight shook her head. "Only perhaps twenty percent of the world's population throughout history has ever been a Twin Soul. You can go your entire life without ever meeting one."

Pearl looked up at the dragoness, who only smiled. "So now I have a dragon as a twin sister. Sure. Why not? Not like my life can get any weirder. Is that why I'm so comfortable around you? Why it feels like I've been here before?"

Summer nodded. "I could not have said it better myself. That is indeed the case. I felt you the moment you first moved to Ponyville. But I never had a chance to meet you before now, little sister,"

Pearl's cheeks puffed in indignation. "Hey. Who are you calling little?!"

Twilight and Sky both broke out into roars of laughter, and even Tiamat could not keep a straight face. "This is why I sent Tsunami to bring you here. It was only right. No matter what I feel about her kind," the Black head growled.

Summer shot her a scathing glare, while Twilight frowned. "I thought all dragons were your children? Why treat her any differently?"

The queen snorted in annoyance. "All dragons and dragonkin are indeed my children. But only those under Dragon Lord Torch are what dragons are meant to be. Not weaklings who hide away from the rest of the world," the Green head replied.

Twilight's frown grew. She did not like the sound of this at all.

Tiamat saw the look in the alicorn's eyes and leaned in closer, her glare growing by the second. "Save your pitiful prattling, Princess Twilight. It will do you no good here. Celestia and Luna have both tried to "fix this" many times and failed. What makes you think you can do better?" The Blue head growled.

Twilight bit her lips but did as she was told. This was not the time it seemed, and she did not want to push her luck.

Tiamat turned her gaze toward Sky, and her eyes narrowed. "And you. I had wondered what became of your egg. That it survived at all is something of a miracle. Another lost to ponykind. How pitiful," the Red head growled.

Sky was confused. What did she mean by that? "What of it. Tall, dark, and ugly? I know I'm not a normal pony. But what do you know of that?"

Twilight face hooved, while Tiamat was taken aback by this response. "Just like your mother. She too never learned to keep her mouth closed. It cost her everything in the end. Your "family" never told you?"

Twilight's ears dropped in horror as she interposed herself between the two. "Your majesty, please. Is this really the time?"

The White head turned her glare on the alicorn. "You do not know what he is?"

Twilight shook her head. "Nopony knows what Sky is. Not even Rainbow and her family, and they were the ones who raised him. Fluttershy seems to know something. But they refuse to tell any of us."

The Chromatic Dragon snorted. "Then this... Fluttershy is smarter than you give her credit for."

Sky and Pearl shared a confused look. What were they talking about? He had always known he was different, not like other ponies. But he had always waved it as a banner of pride. That he wasn't some cookie-cutter pony like everyone else. Was there more to it? More that his family was not telling him?

Pearl wondered the same thing. As much as he was a massive pain in her butt, she had always wondered about the colt. But no matter how much she pestered Rainbow or Fluttershy, neither of whom said anything about his past, past a certain point. And maybe it was her newly acquired alicorn magic, but Pearl could feel something hidden inside Sky. Something that not even he seemed to know about.

Tiamat studied the group for a moment more, before snorting in derision. "So be it. But this will not remain hidden forever. One day, it will come out." She smiled at Pearl. "But that will wait for now. You must have many questions, little one."

Pearl smiled widely. "A billion and one actually. I don't even know where to start."

Twilight giggled as she wrapped a wing around her. "I must agree. Like where will we stay? It is a long way back to Equestria. Even longer now since we will not return the way we came. I will not risk it. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna must know what the Everfree Forest is above."

Pearl gulped. She'd almost forgotten about that. Tiamat seemed to know as well for she nodded. "Rooms have been prepared for all of you." She smirked in a knowing way. "The two of you share a room and a bed. And I have left several things that will come in handy when you decide to have children, for I can smell how much both of you want it," the Green head wiggled her eyebrows, earning roaring blushes from the two alicorns.

Sky gagged, earning a chuckle from Summer. "Guess I'll sleep on the couch then. Not the first time," he mumbled.

Tiamat's Blue head gave him a look. "You too have your own room, across from your friends. I suggest that if you value your life, you do not leave it. Any of you. It is too dangerous, even when two of you are under my protection. And one of you does not."

Sky gulped, while Pearl and Twilight briefly wondered what could be so bad as to threaten a couple of alicorns. But decided it wasn't worth asking about, as Summer lead them away for the night.
> Safe At Last
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sky kept his head down for most of the walk to the so-called dormitories. His senses were driving him crazy, the smell of sulfur making his head hurt. But what caused his headaches to burst in his head was what the Dragon Mother said about him. Was his family keeping secrets about him? And if so why would they hide it.

Shaking his head quickly he smirked. No, sis never held anything from me. That ol lizard probably just couldn’t take seeing a pony as awesome as I am. 

“Here, rooms,” the lanky blue dragon grumbled as he pointed to a set of stone doors before striding away quickly, but not before almost knocking Sky to the floor with his shoulder.

“Hey watch it grumpy!” Sky shouted as he stood up.

The small blue swiftly turned and breathed out a bolt of lightning striking the young colt in the chest.

“SKY!!” Twilight and Pearl shouted as they watched him roll backward into a wall. All while Summer just stood there with a smirk.

Sliding down on all fours Pearl helped Sky up to his hooves. “Sky are you okay?”

Shaking his head a few times he felt the electricity shoot through his body as all the lightning moved up to his horn in little arcs. “That’ll clear the sinuses,” he chuckled.

“Lightning won’t bother him. His element is air after all.” Summer chuckled and touched Pearl’s shoulder. “Come on. I know a better place to rest than here.” The dragoness walked onward down the halls. “Unless you three like the smell of sulfur? Because I sure as hell don’t.” 

Twilight, Pearl, and Sky looked at each other for a moment and shrugged before galloping after her.







Twilight Pearl and Sky all stood there with their mouths agape. After a half-hour journey to the outer edges of the Dragon Queen’s domain, the four came across a massive ocean-side garden perched on the edge of a massive cliff. It wasn’t until Summer had invited them in that they were truly surprised. 

From the outside, the house appeared to be a cave built on the side of a cliff, but on the inside was a lavish far eastern home, several stories high.

“Welcome to my home away from home. I stay here whenever I am forced to come to these lands.” Summer sighed contently as she flopped herself down on a large sofa in such a way that made Twilight laugh hysterically.

“And what’s so funny?” Pearl smirked. 

“Now I see the resemblance. She flops herself down just like you do.” Twilight chuckled which earned a snicker from Sky as well. “I have to say. Your home is not like what I would have expected from a dragon.”

“Well, my kind like comfort and serenity. Unlike our unruly brethren. They think that such comforts make you weak.”

“Say what’s this?” Pearl pointed up at a large scroll hanging from a wall. “It looks like Draconic but I can’t read it.”

“I would be surprised if you could sis, that's old Eastern Draconic. Hardly even spoken anymore.” Summer almost purred as she laid her head back on her massive chair. “Well, at least in these lands.

Sky moved up and looked at the scroll as Pearl moved away. “Forget it kiddo, if I can’t read it there’s not a chance in Tartarus you can.”

“Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power.” Taking a step back he looked at it again and turned around. “Sounds cool and all but what does it really mean?”

Quirking his eyebrow he saw both Twilight and Pearl looking at him oddly. With a mixture of shock and confusion. His focus too much on them, Sky didn’t even notice the knowing smile on Tsunami’s lips.

Pearl shook her head. This was too much for her, on top of everything else. Speaking of which, she looked up at her new horn. "So how the hell are we going to explain this?" She asked, tapping it. "There's no way I can hide this. And I'll be damned if I tried."

Twilight's ears fell. "I'm not sure. This was not part of any plan I am sure. Princess Celestia has never said anything about more alicorns."

Summer snorted. "Her ability to see the future is not as good as she makes it out to be, Princess Twilight. Need I remind you that her blind trust in Discord nearly led to disaster? On top of many more times that you do not know about."

Twilight frowned, while Pearl gave the dragoness a look. "So what. You're saying Celestia can't see the future?"

Summer shook her head. "No. She can. But to a very limited degree, and she cannot see the true future. Only what might come to pass. She is no Seer. Being in close proximity to the Abyss only confounds it further."

Twilight's eyes widened in shock as Sky's brows rose. "What do you mean? No one knows where the Abyss actually is. We just got unlucky with that Gargoyle over the Everfree."

Summer frowned as she looked at Twilight and Pearl, who was silently begging her to say no more. But she only smiled. "How little you know, young one. Have you ever wondered why the Everfree is so dangerous? Why none who have ever sought the Heart have ever returned? It is far more than the wildlife."

Sky shrugged. "It's a big forest. I always thought Aunt Applejack and her family were crazy for living so close to it. You're saying there's more to it? The only way a Lesser Abyssal can go far is if a portal is close by, or..." He paused as Summer bowed her head. "No way."

Summer nodded, as Twilight bowed her head in defeat. "The Everfree Forest sits directly above the Abyss. It is in fact Valendor's final gift to the world before he fell to Winter. Domivar started it, but Valendor crafted the forest to contain the Wicked Ones and their servants."

Sky looked to Twilight, hoping she could prove her wrong, but the alicorn shook her head sadly, confirming that what Summer said was true. He sank down in confusion. "Can I just stay here from now on, then? Ponyville is flat-out insane for living on the edge as it does. Even I'm not crazy enough to try my luck."

Pearl placed a wing around him with a small smile. "How do you think I feel? I just barely stayed with Twilight when we found out. It's why we're taking a long way home. I don't care if it takes longer."

Twilight nodded. "We only found out about this right before we met you, Sky. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna must know of this. They only think there is a portal in the Everfree. That's what that letter was about. To watch out for Abyssals. They do not know how bad it really is."

Summer nodded gravely. "A wise choice. I was not keen to go through the forest myself, but even I cannot fight an order from my queen for long." She smirked. "On the bright side, taking the long way home will give you two plenty of time to read what she has given you."

Pearl's smile would have made Pinkie proud as she wrapped a wing around Twilight. "Well. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't interested. I know alicorns can have kids. Look at Cadance. She's pregnant. But two mares can't. Honestly, I was afraid only adoption was what we would have to do."

Twilight nodded. "Indeed. Not that I ever minded adoption of course. But this feels more real. Assuming whatever Tiamat gave us works of course." She sighed irritably. "This is going to cause an uproar in Canterlot. Our marriage was already causing an uproar among some of the more conservative families."

Pearl snorted. "Backwards idiots who can't get with the times. Two mares getting married, one of them a princess? You'd think it was the literal end of the universe according to some."

Sky rolled his eyes. "Ponyville at least doesn't give a flip. Or at least the ones who matter."

Summer shook her head sadly. "Honestly. Someponies cannot stop living in the past. You both come from good families. You've known each other since you were fillies. What does it matter if some do not like it?"

Twilight nodded. "It doesn't, and Princess Celestia and Princess Luna have made it abundantly clear that they fully stand behind us and that anything more than just loud grumbling will be treated as crimes against the Royal Family." She shook her head, tenderly caressing Pearl's horn, earning a moan from her fellow alicorn. "But this? This is something else. I'm not sure what will happen now. I didn't even believe it was possible."

Summer only chuckled. "Worries for another day, princess. For now? Relax, and enjoy something very few before you ever have. You will be here a while."

That, Twilight thought with a contented sigh as Pearl led her away, was something she could get behind.
> Answers at last and A Surprise
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pearl grumbled as she staggered toward the massive living area of her ‘sister’s’ home. Her night had been a moment of bliss, her and Twilight experimenting with her new alicorn body. She despised having to leave the bed she was in. A pox on whatever it was that woke her. Stopping at the threshold to the large living area. Looking over the scent of freshly smoked salmon made her mouth water. Turning her head she saw Summer gleefully humming as she set several large wooden planks, each one with a foal-sized salmon on each. 

Sitting off to the side was her Twilight sipping quietly on her morning coffee and staring at her young student. Pearl smiled as she looked over and watched with a raised eyebrow as Sky was smirking as he poked at the entrance of a conch shell in front of him. Still too tired she didn’t hear what Summer had said but Sky shrugged and leaned in and started to bite at the shell. What raised her eyebrows and snap her back to her senses was the fact that the boy’s teeth crushed the shell as easily as she’s seen Spike crush a gemstone.

“Oh wow. It’s so spicy yet sweet and salty at the same time.” Sky excitedly called out as he took another large bite out of the shell. 

“Be sure to eat it all. It’s good for your digestion. And the snail inside is quite the delicacy very tender yet meaty all the same.” Summer giggled as she looked up. “OH hey, sis. Come, breakfast is all ready. We have plank smoked salmon for you and me, along with some steamed vegetable dumplings and a miso soup.” 

“Uh yeah, thanks.” Pearl groaned and took a seat next to her wife. She continued to watch Sky as he made quick work of the large shell. Ever since he showed up on this trip, she wondered more about him. He’s not a normal pony, everyone in Ponyville knew that. She usually brushed aside his oddities but was finding it difficult now. He could read a draconic script that eluded her. And now he was devouring a snail’s shell-like it was sugar glass. It took Twilight’s wing around her shoulders that brought the Dragon Princess back from her thoughts.

“My wife isn’t the liveliest creature in the morning.” Twilight chuckled which caused Pearl to huff.

“Ain't that the truth, and just what was that thing that shrieked outside the window and sent me flying up into the ceiling?”

Summer lifted her head and looked at her younger sister. “Oh, that? That’s a cliff wyvern. They like to caw at the morning sun. Some make some lovely music”

“Well get it tuned, that one sounded like hooves on a chalkboard.” Everyone at the table laughed in agreement.

“I’ll look into it.” Turning Summer looked at Twilight. “You said last night that there was something you wanted to ask me about.”

“Yes, there is.” Twilight’s eyes steadied on her student, causing Summer and Pearl to do the same. 

“I see…” Summer smiled and closed her eyes for a moment. “Say Sky. How about you go have some fun outside. The beach below is simply amazing, it holds the heat from the morning sun remarkably well. And the soft sand is perfect for keeping one’s scales fresh.”

“Really? You sure it’s okay? You heard what the multi-headed rainbow lizard said.” Sky chuckled.

“I’m sure. As long as you keep this cliff face in sight. And don’t go beyond the border rocks. You’ll be fine. Plus it’ll give us adults time to talk without a child around.”

Sky smirked and shrugged his shoulders. “Okay. I’ll be back later.”

“Have fun, my student.” Twilight nodded to the boy.

“Don’t get into any trouble,” Pearl shouted as Sky shut the door behind him.

Summer sighed deeply as she shook her head. “I assume he’s what you wanted to talk about.”

“Yes. And thank you for getting him out of the way. I’d rather not discuss this in front of him. After all, it’s not our place to throw his view of what he is out the window.” Twilight leaned back and looked out the window. “You know more about him than you let on. Don’t you?” Summer simply nodded slowly. 

“You figured it out I take it?” Twilight nodded as Pearl raised an eyebrow.

“Figured out what?” Pearl looked between them.

“It wasn’t difficult. What Tiamat said about him, his egg. How he was another lost to ponykind. What could she have meant about it unless she knew about him? Then she mentioned his mother. Now unless she knows Windy Whistles personally which I doubt, she wasn’t talking about a pony. Was she.”

“No, she wasn’t. And it’s small wonder the Dragon ‘Mother’ knew little about what happened to his egg. Not even she can pierce my waters with her sight. I was quite careful in hiding it for so long. At least until I found his new nest mother. Who has raised him quite well it seems.” Summer leaned back as Pearl just looked on confused.

“Well, Windy is a wonderful pony. I can see why you chose her.” Twilight smiled looking at the dragoness.

“Oh, I didn’t choose her. I chose miss Dash. it was her spunk and drive that mirrored his ‘birth’ mother. And I was right. He hatched for her, just like your young drake hatched for you. Yes, the two of you treat your hatchlings like little siblings. But that doesn’t change the biological fact that she is his parent while you are Spike’s.”

“Yes well... She and I were quite young and..”

Summer held up her claw and shook her head. “It’s alright. You don’t have to explain. The love the two of you share for them is undeniable. And that’s all that matters.”

“Will someone tell me what you two are talking about?” Pearl huffed not being able to take it anymore.

“Pearl. Think about it for a moment. Surely you came to the same conclusion I have.” Twilight looked into her wife’s eyes as she rested a hoof on Pearl’s shoulders. 

“You have all the senses of a dragon now Pearl, surely you felt it by now.” Summer smiled crossing her front legs across her chest.

“You mean…” Pearl felt her world just get a little more complicated.

“Yes. Sky is a dragon.” Twilight finished for Pearl.

“A Kirin actually. A branch species originating from us Eastern Dragons. There are several branch species but the Kirin’s are the oldest, earning them the title of Elder Dragon.” Summer smiled at their reaction. “The Dragon Mother does acknowledge them. And in her own way does care, but even they won’t ever be as beloved as her western brood.”

“That's just…” Pearl huffed and puffed trying to calm herself.

“Unfair? Yes, it is. Some did manage to get a respectful acknowledgment. Sky’s egg mother for instance. She constantly challenged the Dragon Mother for the treatment of our kind. While enraged on the outside, Tiamat brimmed with pride on the inside. All of us felt it. Except for her western children which couldn’t see past their own predigested snouts. All they saw was a mouthy second-rate dragoness who didn’t know her place.”

Summer narrowed her eyes and leaned back, swallowing down a large gulp of her tea. “I don’t know how many came after her. She was wounded and dying when she reached me and never said. But I do know that she took at least seven of those dragons with her, each one laid low by a ‘second class’ dragon. And left to become food for the trees in my forest.” 

Pearl’s heart dropped right out of her. As much as Sky was a massive pain in her flank, that wasn’t fair. She couldn’t imagine what that would be like. Sure, she and her mom butted heads and argued over a lot, but Pearl couldn’t imagine her life without her.

Twilight felt the same. As much as her mom’s daredevil stunts drove her up a wall (causing more than one fight between mother and daughter over the years), she would never trade her mother for anything.

Friends may come and go, or change. But family was forever.

“OH, but don’t let that get you down. After all, Windy is more his mother than the one who laid his egg. Rainbow too in her own right. So he’s not missing out on motherly love. I’m sure when the time comes he can be proud of who his birth mother was and what she did for him.” Summer sipped on her tea pleasantly. “By the way. How did you two enjoy the little gifts I left for you?”

Both Twilight and Pearl choked on their drinks before looking up at the dragoness.

Coughing hard Twilight shook her head. “That was you? I thought it was from Tiamat?”

“HA! You wouldn’t want any gift like that from her. Neither of you would survive it. What I provided is something we easterners came up with millennia ago. Many of us like mating outside of our own species. Deer. Ponies. Griffons. Even Seaponies on occasion. Kinda hard to bridge that gap when children are desired. So we came up with some interesting and safe options.”

Pearl’s head spun. “So, what? How do we know they even worked? Or do we just wait for the obvious signs?”

Summer sighed deeply and tut-tutted her sister. “Half the fun is working for it. After all, it's no fun if such things were guaranteed. And if that howl I heard was any indication. You two certainly enjoyed trying.” a sly grin crossed the dragoness’s face.

“So is that what it was I heard last night?” 

Twilight and Pearl’s faces turned apple red as they turned around and looked at Sky who was sitting at the door. 

The young boy held up a spiked shelled reptile with a short tail, clawed feet, and sharp beak in his hooves he smiled. “I caught a turtle! Can I keep it?”

Pearl’s eyes widened in shock. “That’s not a turtle. Well. It is. But not a normal one.”

Twilight gave her wife a confused look. “Then what is it? Fluttershy understands animals much better than I do. But even I know what a turtle looks like.”

Pearl shook her head. “It’s a dragon turtle. Basically what it looks like when a dragon and a turtle get it on with each other. They’re super rare. Not even dad’s seen one, and he’s lived on the sea his whole life.”

Sky’s smile grew. “Sweet. Can I still keep it?”

Pearl facehooved. “Don’t look at me. And unless you have a HUGE saltwater pond or lake for him, I’m not sure where he can stay. I think this one’s a baby. They get much bigger than this. If the stories are true.”

Summer nodded. “Oh, they are true. But I have to correct you on a few things, little sister. These dragons are amongst the oldest species. Predating the Dragon Mother. This one, in particular, is indeed an infant. He will not gain sentience for several centuries. Until then, he will be more or less a normal sea turtle. Assuming he lives that long. But if it does, young Sky will have a loyal friend for life.”

Twilight scratched her chin. “Well. I could make a saltwater body of water for him to live in close to or under Rainbows Cloudominium. Despite what the mayor wants to think, Ponyville and the surrounding area are my domain. I just do not exercise that power. I would need to enlarge it from time to time. But I don’t see why not.”

“So both him and Rainbow live in a cloud house? Interesting. You could create a massive cloud terrarium. If she allows it of course.” Summer smiled watching Sky playfully boop the turtle on the nose and pull back as it snapped, each time earning a giggle out of the boy.

“That does sound better. Okay, Sky, you can keep your turtle. As long as Rainbow approves. And lets me create the terrarium.”

“Woohoo!” Sky grinned wide and held the turtle out in front of him. “You hear that Chompie, your gonna live with me in the sky. Let's get you something to eat that’s tastier than my hoof.” Levitating the dragon turtle, the young boy dashed away into the kitchen.

Pearl rolled her eyes. “Hope you have a plan for when he gets big. Because he is going to be huge as he grows up.”

Twilight smirked and poked her fellow alicorn with a wing. “Well. it’s a good thing I have the Dragon Princess herself to help me now, don’t I? I’m sure Sky will be more than happy to have you help him with Chompie.”

“Well, it would give me the opportunity to study a dragon that's only been the subject of rumor.” Pearl grinned like Twilight during a long experiment. Earning a laugh from the Princess.

“Still reaching for that Dragon Scholar title aren't ya? Even after becoming a princess.” Twilight rested her head next to Pearl.

“You're a princess, a high-ranking one too. Has that slowed your studies and experiments?” Pearl kissed Twilight lightly on the nose. Then booped her with a hoof. 

“You two are adorable. Feel free to do as you wish. I’m going to educate our young boy just what Dragon Turtles eat.” Summer nodded to both mares as she left the room to help Sky who was hoof feeding Chompie various pieces of fish.
> Call Home
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

After a moment, Pearl had a thought. "We should probably call everypony and tell them we're alright. I know Princess Celestia gave you something so you could."

Twilight blinked. She had forgotten about that. "A good idea. I don't know how long we've been gone. They must be worried sick. And I know Sunset and my friends will be glad to hear they no longer need to worry about you."

Pearl smirked, poking her gem. "Hey. I always made sure to avoid them and Canterlot High when I was like that. The city has enough problems even without magic being involved. Other me just had to point me in the right direction. Sue me if I decided to go to the Sweet Shop once I was back to normal."

Twilight's ears fell. This had been something they'd avoided talking about for some time now. "And what does she think of you, and all of this? She has to know if you stayed with her as much as you have."

Pearl smiled. "She was fine with it actually. Her family seemed to know all about magic and Equestria. I'm not sure how, but they do. Hiding me from other you was a chore. That girl is a persistent pain when she wants to be. I still want to go back though. So much Equestria doesn't have."

Twilight giggled, kissing her wife's nose. "Trust me, I know that feeling. I know you've talked about some of the hobbies over there. And I thought I could lecture. One of these days, we'll make it a weekend trip or something. I know the Friendship Games are coming up."

Pearl rolled her eyes. Leave it to the Princess of Friendship to want to go over for something like that. But for the moment, they had other things to worry about.





Several minutes later, the pair watched as the broach projected a light upwards, forming into a mirror of sorts that showed the Throne Room of Canterlot Castle, and a very surprised Princess Celestia at the intrusion.

After a moment, the princess smiled, relieved at last. "Twilight, Pearl. You do not know how beyond happy I am to see you both are alright. We have been so worried."

The pair shared a confused look. "What do you mean, princess? We can't have been gone for that long?" Twilight asked.

Celestia shook her head. "Twilight. The two of you have been gone for six months. I assume that Sky is with you as well, seeing as he has not returned? Rainbow is worried sick about him."

Pearl sighed coming into view. "Yeah, he's with us. Had to fight off a Gargoyle first though. He's off with our host at the moment."

Celestia sighed. "I was afraid of this. Luna was adamant you should not go through the Everfree, but there was no other way to get where you needed to. I am glad-" She paused as she finally saw what was on Pearl's forehead. "Pearl. May I ask why you are wearing a horn? It suits you, but this seems strange. Even for you."

Pearl smirked. "It's not a fake horn though." To prove her point, she lifted Twilight's now empty cup, her horn swirling in a rainbow of red, blue, green, black, and white. "Could I do that if it was?"

Celestia's jaw dropped. That had been real. Even from this distance, she had been able to feel a faint twinge of magic. "Then it's finally happened. The Dragon Soul has come home to the one always meant to bear it. I never fully believed the stories Tiamat told of it. Perhaps I was wrong."

Twilight wondered what her mentor meant by this, but it could wait for now. "If we've been gone for so long, what have we missed?"

Celestia shook her head, smiling a little. "Much. Quite a bit that involves you, Twilight. Both here, and with your friends at Canterlot High." She held up a hoof at Twilight's incoming question. "You have not missed the birth of your niece, Twilight. Cadance is not due for some time yet."

Twilight breathed a sigh of relief but still had many questions. "What is going on in the Human World? Sunset wouldn't contact me unless it was something major. The Journal only has so many pages."

Celestia could only shrug. "I am not sure. Spike only said it was an emergency of some kind. It seems to have passed whatever it might have been." Her smile slipped, and she sighed. "And there is a unicorn waiting for you in Ponyville, Twilight. Starlight Glimmer I believe her name is."

Twilight was stunned by this. "Starlight? What is she doing in Ponyville? We haven't seen her since we helped her town."

Pearl nodded, her gem glowing at her growing anger. "Yeah. And I Pinkie Promised that I would rip her head off if she even thought of trying something after that mess in Our Town."

Celestia nodded sadly. "Our Town has been destroyed. From what we understand, Starlight did in fact go back after you ran her out. There was a Nightstalker incursion detected about the same time in that location. How she survived I am not sure. But whatever happened, it has broken her. So much so that she cannot sleep by herself, and is jumping at shadows. Fluttershy is doing her best to help her."

Twilight's heart dropped right out of her, and even Pearl's ears fell in horror. They both knew the horrors of a Nightstalker incursion. Very few ever lived through one, and even then, they carried scars that went beyond anything that might be physical.

Celestia wished she had better news for the pair, but it was not right to withhold this from them. Even her sister Luna was shocked at what she had seen in the unicorn's dreams, and they had seen much in their long lives. "You said you fought a Gargoyle? In the Everfree I take it?"

Pearl shook her head, nodding. "Sky fought one, but yeah."

Twilight nodded as well. "Normally, I would have questioned how that was possible. But now I know the truth. There are no portals in the Everfree Forest."

Celestia's brows came together. "Then how? I was always under the assumption that there was. Or multiple ones. Tsunami Rose never gave any indication there was anything but."

Twilight filed that away for later. So they did know each other. Interesting. "It is much worse than just an Abyssal Portal, Princess Celestia. Or even multiple ones. The Everfree Forest sits directly above the Abyss itself. From what I understand, Valandor created the forest to contain the Abyss. Ponyville is in Tragar itself, though I do not know why we have not seen worse than we have."

Celestia's fur paled, an impressive feat seeing as how white her coat already was. "Are you sure of this, Twilight? Do you realize what this means if you are correct?"

"It is beyond doubt, Princess Celestia," Summer said as she joined the pair. "My entire life has been spent keeping the worst of the Wicked Ones' forces at bay. I was always impressed that anypony would live in the Everfree as you and your sister did for a time."

Celestia frowned, bowing her head slightly as she saw the dead serious look in the dragon's eyes. "Summer. Why didn't you tell us? We should have known. We could have done something."

Summer shook her head. "Equestria was too young and still too new. Your tribes had only just stopped being at each other's throats for every stupid reason under the sun. This would have torn you apart. It will still tear you apart if this gets out. For now, the Everfree keeps the power of the Abyss at bay."

Celestia's expression darkened. None of this felt right to her. But there seemed little she could do for the moment as she looked again at Pearl's horn. "This will raise the ire of some in Canterlot. Some are still demanding I strip you of your title, Twilight, for marrying a Pegasus."

Twilight frowned. "I have said it before, princess, and I will say it again. I do not care what they think. They have no power over any of us. This is just them thinking they do. Again."

Celestia giggled. "I understand that, Twilight. Both of you know that you have Luna and I's full support. As does Ponyville and the Crystal Empire. That is all that matters in the end."

Pearl puffed out her chest at that. "So does this make me a princess or something? Tiamat called me the Dragon Princess, but I have no idea what that means."

Celestia could only shrug. "By right, you became a princess when you married Princess Twilight, Pearl. As Shining Armor became a prince when he married Cadance. Beyond that, I do not know."

At that moment, a scribe came to her side and whispered something in the alicorn's ears, earning an annoyed sigh from the mare. "I am sorry you two. Court is about to begin, and I cannot delay this it seems." She smiled. "I will be sure to tell all of your friends about this. We may speak again soon."

Pearl and Twilight giggled as the connection cut off. They could use some good right about now.
> What Might Have Been
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tsunami smiled at the young dragon colt sitting at the table, watching his new pet do circles in its new fishbowl orb, floating a foot off the table. She lightly caressed Sky’s mane as he slipped another small fish to the dragon turtle.

“Sky dear, I have an errand to run. Be a good boy and watch after those two in there.”

“Okay,” was all he said as Tsunami slipped out the back. As swift as a waterfall, she dove into her river and within seconds stepped out of a large black lake in the heart of the Everfree Forest. 

On reaching the oldest tree, situated over a large stone portal she started to touch nine carved symbols below a red velvet rope. 

“Rin, Pyo, Toh, Sha, Kai, Jin, Retsu, Zai, Zen.” Each symbol glowed as she touched them. On opening, a large shadowy landscape came into view. Sitting there she steeled herself. Hordes of demons stood on the other side. Each one leaping forward only to be swept away by an unseen force. A watery shadow filled the entrance of the portal and sat there like an immovable statue. 

A tender smile crossed her lips as she watched the portal’s guardian. His canine form, just as large as she was, made her heart throb. What color the guardian might have been was stained black by the blood of demons. Shimmering flashes of green emanate throughout his body making the entire area around him far spookier than he intended. Despite his intentions, the chaotic coloring did its job. All the demon’s backed away. Tsunami smiled, the color flowing inside of him didn’t matter. The only color she cared about was the amber eyes that looked at her.

So what if he was simply a construct of the living forest she guarded, she loved him as she did the forest.

You should not have come. They are growing restless. The voice spoke in her mind. Like it always had since the day she was born to guard this place. But I'm glad you did my love. What news?

“The Dragon Soul has been delivered. Now held by the hooves of my sister.”

I see. At least now it’s safe. But what of the princesses? I know they have been questioning. The voice sighed as Tsunami nodded.

“They know now what lies here. But not everything.” Turning around she planted herself on a set of stones and shook her head. “They will though. In time all will be revealed. It’s just as he said the day the forest was grown.” Looking over her shoulder she saw the shadow nod slowly. Another larger demon leaped forward only to be slashed hard across the neck, its head and body disintegrating instantly. “Nice shot.”

It’s what I do. The voice chuckled. 

“And you do it well.” Turning back around she looked the shadow in the eyes and smirked. “You know a Gargoyle snuck past you earlier. I’m surprised that happened. Did the ever-watchful guardian miss one?” 

The shadow in the portal grinned. She could see the white of his teeth and the flames of his laughter. A young one, and not much of one at that. And I have to let one through occasionally. Else ponies might grow complacent.

“They are young, but they are learning. Soon this won’t be necessary.”

Do you honestly believe they’ll be ready for when I finally fail? Even now I start to tire. The shadow looked away. 

“I don’t know. It will take time but the new Dragon Princess will grow into her role. And might well be a suitable replacement.” Tsunami stepped forward and placed her claw on the portal’s watery entrance. She almost laughed as she watched the shadow grow panicked.

Stop that.  You know what will happen if…

“I know. I just wish I could touch you. Just once.” Tsunami closed her eyes and sighed. 

You are a Celestial, I am Yokai. We do not mix my love. We must be content with this. The shadow looked over his shoulder and growled louder. Go my love. Close the portal. One of the lords has shown up again. Duty calls.

Nodding softly, Tsunami placed a paper seal on the tree, next to the others. “Until next time my darling.” She watched as the shadow turned away and walked toward the greater demon lord. The demonic plantlife flared at his command as he strode toward his foe. As she watched, Tsunami pictured what might have been had the universe seen fit to grant such creatures existence.

As she sat alone, her favorite little fox came out of the bushes, its mother sitting there silently. Picking up the fox she looked into its bright amber eyes and smiled. “Perhaps in another world.” Holding the fox close she just leaned back and watched the sun drift lazily in the sky, as the small fox snuggled in close.
> Moving Forward
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Not to ruin the moment. But Sunset and the girls need to know about all of this," Twilight said, finishing her coffee, and hoping there would be more.

Pearl blinked. "Why? I mean, I like them. But we've barely talked every time I've gone to the Human World. It's mostly been other me and her family. Which was weird enough that very first time, let me tell you."

Twilight nodded. A feeling she had as well if she ever met her counterpart. "Yes. But they deserve to know the truth when we return to Equestria." She sighed. "You didn't see them, but I told them to keep an eye on you when you were deep in your siren urges. Thankfully, it never became a problem it seems."

The new alicorn rolled her eyes. So that's why Pinkie had eyed her like a hawk every time they met at Sugarcube Corner, even though she was still her usual friendly and bubbly self and never treated her any differently. "Point. Probably glad to be rid of me. Even if both of me and Fluttershy bonded over Gunpla and Warhammer."

Twilight rolled her eyes. "Oh, yes. That game. I don't see what you do in it, Rosie. It's too dark for me."

Pearl's frowned as Twilight glared at her. "Yeah, and? It's a damn game, Twilight. Stop acting like it's real. You know how much Spike loves the Liber Astartes I gave him. Him and Big Mac can't seem to put it down between their O&O sessions." She giggled. "Last I looked? He seemed pretty deep into doing a Salamanders' Legion force. And I know how you've looked at the Ultramarines."

Twilight pouted for a moment, before smiling. "Point and I haven't seen Spike this excited since Shining got him hooked on O&O. I know it's not real, but I can't help it. And I've seen how you painted your models, Rosie. I'm rather jealous if I am being honest. Part of me wants to try it. If only once." 

Pearl squeed. Now she was talking. "Great. And it gives me the chance to try something new. I'm kinda getting bored with 40k now. Sis just got her Age of Darkness box last time I was there.  Just need to save up the bits, and I've already got a Horus Heresy army idea in mind."

Twilight blinked. That was news to her. She, of course, knew Pearl and her human counterpart treated and viewed each other like sisters, and that the Human World's Cirrus and Stratos treated her Pearl as if she was their own daughter. "Putting that aside for the moment. How do you feel, Pearl?"

Pearl sighed as she poked her gem. "I feel great actually. Now that I don't need to worry about this, I have more free time. And you're going with me. You haven't seen the girls since the Battle of the Bands."

Twilight sighed. That was true, and she kicked herself for it. It was time to change that. "And how does your gem feel?"

Pearl shook her head. "I can still feel this damn thing. I don't think I'll ever be rid of it. Now at least it isn't a constant pain. My urges are gone. For good hopefully. Remind me to murder the Dazzlings if I ever see them again."

Twilight groaned. Not this again. "Pearl. You can't take your own mistake out on them. I told you not to touch it. Of course, you didn't listen to me." She smirked as she poked it. "It does look good on you though."

Pearl pouted. "Fine. Can I take it out on Starlight then? That mare needs to be beaten around the head after the stupid stuff we endured in Our Town. Even though I know I could have spellbound her with my singing. You know I could have, Twily."

Twilight frowned. "No, Pearl. Especially now. You know what a Nightstalker incursion can do. I would almost take an Orc attack or, Shining Ones forbid, an Abyssal Dwarf attack." She touched Pearl's gem, which glowed slightly at the touch. "And I know you could have. But you risked losing yourself completely if you did. We could not take the risk. Starlight's views or otherwise."

Pearl snorted. "So? You heard the nonsense she was spewing. How stupid do you have to be to believe any of that? That's not how the world works. Hell. Even back during the Time of Ice, ponies knew better than that. Probably the only thing the tribes agreed on. Even the Dwarfs agreed there was something to it. And you know how impossible it is to get them to agree to anything good about the rest of the Noble Races."

Twilight's ears fell. They'd had this argument before, and nothing had changed it seemed. "Be that as it may. Starlight came to us. I trust Fluttershy to look after her. I don't care how you feel about her, Pearl, but she is under our protection for however long she needs it. And that is my final word on the matter."

Pearl's ears fell. She knew that when Twily was in this mood, not even she could change her mind as she crossed her legs with a snort. "Fine. But that doesn't mean I have to like it."

Twilight smiled as she stole a quick kiss, earning a blush from her wife. "That's all that I can ask, Rosie. But let's not think about it too much for now. Look around us. We're in a place very few have ever been before. Don't tell me you're not curious as well. Tiamat seems to like you. Though I can't see why Use it."

Pearl smirked as she leaned into the kiss. Now she was talking.