> Friends Tll the End
>  by Mystic Sunrise
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> First Day In a New Town
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pearl groaned as she flopped onto her bed. "Oh, I hate moving days. At least I got everything unpacked. Dad would never let me hear the end of it if I didn't."

Her mother chuckled from the doorway. "That he would not, Pearl. But he has been the lead shore man for many years now for a reason. He did not get there just on his good looks alone."

Pearl gagged, before sighing. "Any idea when he's joining us? It still doesn't feel right to split us all up like this."

Cirrus shook her head sadly. "I don't know, honey. This assignment with Hippogriffia is taking far longer than we thought it would."

Pearl rolled her eyes. "I didn't think Queen Novo was that stubborn. She didn't seem that bad the last time I was there. Needed to lighten up a bit, but I guess being a new mom does that to everyone."

Cirrus giggled as she ruffled Pearl's mane, much to her daughter's annoyance. "And we are proud of it, honey. You'll understand it when you become a mother yourself."

Pearl gagged. "Gah! As if! I'm way too young to be thinking about mushy stuff like that. And I don't even know anypony in Ponyville. At least in Baltimare, Amber was good-looking. You know. For a girl. Here? I gotta start all over again."

Cirrus nodded. Pearl and her gang of friends were as tightly bound as they came, each looking out for the other. An attack on one was an attack on all of them.

Pearl shook her head as she looked out her window, which offered an excellent view of Ponyville, and the Imperial Palace beyond. You couldn't go anywhere in Ponyville and not see it in fact. The noonday sun glinted off the gold of the Lion's Gate, and if she squinted, Pearl could just see the Eternity Gate.

For some strange reason, Pearl felt drawn to it all, as if she belonged there, standing side by side with the empress as one of her Exarchs. Which was stupid of course. You couldn't just join them as far as everyone was concerned. Hell, no one even knew how the Five had been chosen at all.

Empress Cosmos was notoriously tight-lipped about this subject in particular. But the feeling would not leave Pearl alone all the same. 

Cirrus shook her head after a moment. "Why don't you get out and enjoy the fresh air, Pearl? Staying inside all day will do you no good, and who knows? You might make a new friend while you're at it?"

Pearl snorted as she stood and stretched. "Yeah right, Mom. It can't be that easy. Not with my luck. But I do need to get out. School starts in a few days, and then I'll never have enough time to do anything."

Cirrus rolled her eyes as Pearl zoomed out the open window. Oh, why couldn't Pearl have ever taken her lessons on being a lady seriously?





With no idea of where anything was in Ponyville, Pearl just let the wind take her where it wished. Off in the distance, she could see the lights of the mining settlement on Mount Canterhorn. A place she was glad she didn't live if the stories were true.

Finally plopping herself down on a cloud, Pearl sighed as she overlooked the city below. From here, she could see all the way to the horizon. There was Sweet Apple Acres, Sugarcube Corner, Golden Oaks Library, and off in the distance, smoke rose from the train station as a train pulled in.

Pearl giggled. "Okay. Ponyville definitely looks better than Baltimare does at least. Still can't beat the view of Eternitie's Crossing though. And ponies can choke on it if they don't like it."

She giggled, remembering all the times she had told one pony or another the same exact thing. Sure, it had gotten her into more trouble than she cared to remember, but Pearl had never cared what others thought of her opinions. Let the weak-minded care. Her? Who needed others to tell her how awesome she was?

Pearl knew it, and so did her best friends. Friends that felt as if they were on the moon now, she sniffed, as she lay her head on the cloud. Oh, why did they have to move? She wasn't ready to leave that life behind. Her friends...

"Nobody ever asked me how I felt about it," Pearl sniffed as her eyes fell on the Rose River. For a second, she swore she saw a dragon's face in the water, watching her before it vanished. She chalked it up to her imagination though as tried to dry her tears.

How long she lay on the cloud, Pearl didn't know as she closed her eyes for only a moment. She just needed a break is all. She was not sleeping. Especially on a cloud of all things.

The sounds of arguing woke her with a snort as Pearl rubbed her eyes irritably. "Can't a pony get five minutes of peace and quiet?" She grumbled as she looked down to see what all the fuss was about.

Below, a group of fillies and colts surrounded a lone unicorn filly. It was too far away to hear what was being said, but from the way they were all gesturing, it was not a pleasant conversation it seemed, and that got Pearl's blood boiling, as she took flight downwards.

As she came closer, Pearl began to pick out what was going on. "I don't get what the empress sees in you, runt.  You're nothing," one colt sneered, as he pushed the lavender unicorn filly into the mud, earning laughs and jeers from his cronies.

The filly tried to stand but was immediately pushed back down again by another filly. "Please," she begged, "I don't understand. What did I do wrong?"

"Exist," another one of the group said. "You act all high and mighty just because your brother is in the Royal Guard, and your foalsitter is Crown Princess of the Crystal Empire. Time to knock you down a notch."

Pearl ground her teeth. Oh, that was it! She had no idea of what was going on, or who the unicorn filly was, but nopony got bullied while she was around. "Hey, assholes!"

The leader turned around in confusion, just as Pearl's hoof connected with his most private parts. He crumpled to the ground like wet paper as Pearl stood over the unicorn filly, who looked on in awe. "Didn't your parents ever teach you not to pick on others? Or do you gutter slime not even know your parents?"

The group growled. "Buzz off, feather brain. This is none of your business," one filly said.

Pearl snorted. "Really. That's the best you've got? At least try to insult me next time. Maybe this wasn't my business. But it is now. So buzz off, or the next pony loses any chance of ever having kids. Got it?"

Before anypony could respond, however, another voice broke in. "And just what is going on here?"

Everyone froze solid as Amber Blister landed amongst the group. The Exarch eyed everyone but seemed to hold the bullies in special contempt. "I go out for a flight to clear my head, and this is what I get? A group of ponies picking on someone smaller than them?"

"She started it," one tried to argue, pointing an accusing hoof at Pearl.

Amber snorted. "Oh, it's not like he didn't have it coming." She smirked at the confused looks she was getting. "Oh, yes. I saw everything that happened. You should've hit him harder," she winked at Pearl, who blushed, while the filly next to her giggled.

This seemed to take the wind out of the bullies' sails as they exchanged glances as Amber towered over them. "Now. I suggest you lot go home and think about what you've done. Cosmos will hear about this. Don't make this worse for yourselves."

That was all the group needed to hear as they scrammed. one being sure to grab the leader who was still whimpering on the ground. Amber nodded proudly as they vanished from sight. "Just what I needed today," she grumbled. "You'd think they know better."

Pearl watched them go with a snort. "Guess somethings never change no matter what town or city it is."

Amber nodded. "No. That was a nice punch though. Ivy would've been jealous for sure."

Pearl tried not to let what she was doing overwhelm her. Who would have thought she would ever be talking to an Exarch? And her favorite as well? Amber was everything Pearl wanted to be. Tough, and took crap from nopony.

As the older Pegasus took off, Pearl finally looked over at the filly she had saved. Aside from being covered in mud, she didn't look any worse for wear. "You okay?" She asked, holding the filly up as she coughed.

The unicorn nodded. "Yes, and thank you. You shouldn't have done that though. You don't know me."

Pearl snorted. "Like hell, I shouldn't have done something. Nopony gets bullied when I'm around. I don't care if we don't know each other. Some of my best friends were ponies I helped get away from bullies." She extended a hoof and smiled. "I'm Pearl Rose by the way."

The unicorn smiled as well, before taking the hoof. "Twilight. Twilight Sparkle."
> A New Friend
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"That's the third time we've had to save Twilight this month," Amber grumbled as she sipped her coffee with her fellow Exarchs and Cosmos in the Coffee Room. "Don't ponies get it yet? It's not a good idea."

Diamond rolled her eyes. "Apparently not. And in Ponyville of all places. Her brother is cute though. So maybe it's just that." She gave Cosmos a pointed look. "I still don't understand why you're so interested in her."

Cosmos chuckled. "I have my reasons, Diamond. But ponies will learn one way or another to leave Miss Sparkle alone. The hard way if need be."

Ivy rolled her eyes. "Didn't you say somepony beat you to it, though, Amber?"

The Pegasus nodded. "Yeah. A Pegasus filly about the same age as Twilight. Aimed for that colt's most painful spot too," she giggled, as did the other Exarchs.

Cosmos' breath, though, hitched. Could it be? "Flaming red mane and pearl white coat?"

Amber blinked, as did the others. "Um. Yeah. How did you know that? I never described her."

Cosmos smiled, memories of a long-dead universe far from here returning, and the bond she had shared with five ponies—two in particular. The bond those two had shared with each other. 

Ocean Breeze soon caught on and smirked. "You know them."

Cosmos nodded. "Yes. Quite well in fact, though not in this universe. A bond I will never share with them ever again, and everything we did together."

The girls all shared confused looks. Even after over a thousand years, there were still things about Cosmos they didn't understand, even as her Exarchs. Was this another thing on that already long list?

Cosmos stood and opened the door. "Raven?" She called to her secretary, who jumped to her hooves in surprise. "I need you to prepare a new decree."

Raven Inkwell blinked in surprise. "Of course, your majesty. But what shall it say? There is nothing scheduled for the foreseeable future."

Cosmos nodded. "This just came up, and it will not wait." She frowned, as the room darkened. "As for what it shall say? Anyone who threatens or harms Twilight Andromeda Sparkle and Pearl Alabaster Rose will answer to me. Any attack on them or their families will be considered an attack on the crown."

Raven gulped. In all of her years serving the crown, she had only ever seen the Empress this furious once before. A memory she pushed away as best she could. "Wait. Rose? As in the heir to the Storm family? That Pearl Rose?"

Cosmos nodded. "Indeed. And I'm sure you know the Sparkle family. I hear you're a fan of Twilight Velvet's novels," she giggled.

Raven blushed, even though there was no condemnation in the empress's voice. She finally composed herself. "Yes, well. This will take several hours to formally write up, before we need your signature, your majesty. I believe the Storm family just moved to Ponyville, did they not?"

Cosmos nodded. "They did, and I will not have them think twice about doing so. Baltimare is dangerous enough. Let us not add Ponyville to that list as well."

Raven nodded, as she turned to leave and begin the process, as Cosmos closed the door, a broad smile on her face, which left her Exarchs even more confused.





"I am so sorry about this," Cirrus sighed, as Velvet handed her a cup of tea, while Pearl and Twilight fidgeted beside them. "This isn't the first time my daughter's done something like this."

Pearl nodded, punching one hoof into the other. "Those bozos had it coming, Mom. Some of my best friends were ponies I saved from bullying."

Cirrus groaned while Velvet and Twilight giggled. "It's no harm done, dear," Velvet sighed. "This isn't the first time Twilight has been bullied either. I don't understand why though."

Twilight nodded sadly, while Pearl lay a wing around her. "I know some of them from school. Miss Sunflower has tried to stop them before, but they never listen."

Pearl winced. "Don't you have any friends?"

Twilight nodded. "Cadance and my brother. But she's visiting her family in the Crystal Empire, and he's stuck in Royal Guard training." She sighed. "Moondancer and the girls got called to the palace for some reason. I think I was meant to go with them too, but they cornered me before I could."

Pearl's heart dropped right out of her, as did her mother's. That wasn't right at all. "Then it's a good thing you've got me now," she smiled.

Twilight blinked. She rather liked being held by Pearl like this. Strange. "But why? We just met, and you don't know me at all."

Pearl snorted. "So? Some of my best friends I didn't know before I helped them. Now? I can't think of my life without them." She sighed. "And to be honest? I'm lonely. I don't know anypony in town."

Velvet's heart sank, as she and Cirrus shared a worried look. "Then you're in luck, dear. Twilight's one of the friendliest ponies on Ponyville," she chuckled. rustling her daughter's mane, much to her annoyance. 

Twilight thought about it for a moment. It couldn't hurt to try at least. "Do you like to read?"

Pearl shrugged. "Depends. Do you have anything on dragons? Baltimare didn't have a damn thing on them. Or maybe fantasy."

Twilight nodded. "Several actually. I go to the Summer Sun Celebration every year. In fact," she whispered, leaning in, while Pearl did the same. "I've the Empress Dragon in her component parts."

Pearl gasped. "No way. How? I'd kill to see her in all her awesomeness."

Twilight blinked. "Really?"

Pearl nodded. "Not literally. But it's been my dream for as long as I can remember to be the world's foremost Dragon Scholar. I've been trying to get Mom and Dad to go to the celebration for years now, just so I can see them raise the summer sun."

Twilight smiled widely. "Well then. I can say for a fact that it is indeed as awesome as ponies say it is. Empress Cosmos appears to be doing most of the magic herself. But her Exarchs could also be doing something themselves. It's hard to tell."

Pearl squeed, while Cirrus rolled her eyes with a smile. "Oh, you have got to tell me more, Twilight! I can't take it much longer."

Twilight giggled before hopping from her chair and heading upstairs to her room, motioning Pearl to follow. "Well then, Pearl. Follow me. Do you have any books you no longer want? I've got plenty."

"Depends on what you got, Twilight," Pearl giggled, as the pair vanished from sight, their excited voices fading in a moment.

Cirrus and Velvet shared a knowing smile. "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship," Velvet giggled, as she sipped her drink.

"As do I," Cirrus giggled as well, glad for both fillies.
> Ruins In the Water (Rewrite)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pearl groaned as she kicked a stone. Four hours in the most boring class of all time had her itching for some action. Her tail wildly flipped about as she was ready to jump out of her own skin.

“Problem?” Twilight smiled at her friend.

“Ugh. Could there be a more boring subject in the world than pony history? Pearl looked at her friend.

“Are you kidding me?” Twilight blinked rearing back slightly with her eyes wide. “Pony history is very exciting. Then there’s chemistry, mathematics, mag…” Twilight ducked hard as a saddle bag flew past her head. Not that it was anywhere close to hitting her.

“Could you be any more of a nerd Twily?” Pearl sighed as she slumped down and looked at the gates of the school courtyard. A sly smile slowly came across her face.

“Oh no, Pearly. Miss Sunflower won’t take kindly if you go truant. Again.” Twilight sighed. Her friend had played truant so many times it started to annoy her. “I can’t keep lying. I hate it.”

“Oh come on, I haven't done it that many times. It’s been what? Four times?” Pearl grinned.

“Five.” Twilight half-puffed her face up.

“Well might as well make it an even six.” Pearl got up and walked to the low hedge and placed a hoof against it. “I heard about this amazing lake in the nearby glade.” Her grin got larger as she leaned into Twily. “How about you come with me and we can get the girls together and have a leisurely swim day. Much better than staying in a stuffy ol classroom.”

“The glade?” Twilight started to shake. “You mean where the Rose River flows through that little bit of woodland next to the palace? Oh no. You know for our own safety, Ponies are forbidden to go there. You heard what Amber told us about it.”

“Psh. It can’t be that bad.” Leaping up she landed on the top of the hedge and held a hoof down to Twilight. “You coming or not?”

“Oh no, I’m NOT going, and I'm not going to lie for you this time either.” Twilight quickly turned her head to the side.

“Well, okay. While you're in class, I'll be having a swimming and diving adventure.” Turning around she leaped off and flew off to the east.

Twilight bit on her lower lip. She cared a lot about her friend and wished she was more responsible. With a sniff, she turned and went to inform the teacher for her friend’s own safety.





Pearl stepped carefully along the stones of the Rose River. The overhead canopy provided the perfect mix of sun and shade. Making the river glitter like precious gemstones. As she continued walking the river started to get larger and larger. To even call this a forest was pushing it she felt.

Supposedly, there had once been a forest here. A massive one, and this was all that was left of it. Nopony knew for sure what had happened to it, or why it was forbidden to come here.

Stopping in her stack she came up to a wall of thick branches and stiff leaves.

Pearl wasn’t one to be stopped, especially not for a silly wall of branches. Leaping up she hooked her front hooves against the largest branch and pulled herself up. Her wings pushed her up as she climbed. She could fly, but where would be the challenge? For the first time since moving to this small hick town, she felt alive. But couldn’t shake the feeling that something was watching her from the shadows.

Reaching the top, Pearl stood tall and gasped. The glade in front of her was more beautiful than anything she had ever seen in her young life. A field of amber flowers littered farther than she could see. Along her left was a massive cliff face, running down the cliff was a waterfall so loud it sounded and felt like thunder as it struck the crystal clear waters of the lake before her.

Maybe there was a forest here once, she thought. This is way too nice to be out in the open like this.

Gasping loudly she leaped out and ran to the lake, stopping as she reached the edge. Looking down she saw the water was so clear she could actually see the bottom. Fish that she had never seen before circled what looked to be a large pillar with a crescent moon. “OH, this was so worth it.” Stripping from her school uniform, Pearl dove into the cold water. A fresh relief from the heat of the day.

Pearl dove down as far deep as she could. Reaching the massive pillar she saw that the moon was carved out of white marble and the pillar was a dark blue. Swimming along, using her wings to help propel her faster. Pearl reached the bottom and was rewarded with the entrance to an underwater cave. Breaking from the water she gasped for air and coughed a little. 

“Wow, who knew it was so deep? Well, I’m here now. I might as well explore it.” Pearl shrugged. And smiled wide. Thinking of everything Twilight was missing out. As she delved deeper into the cave she came across what looked to be old stone ruins. Her hoof brushing along the smooth stone, she saw a blue brick etched with the symbol of the moon on it. The same as on the pillar. Pushing it the wall off to the side shifted and moved aside. The smell of dust and mold hit her like the winds of a storm. 

Rubbing her eyes she walked into the large open cavern and gasped. This was no cave system. It was the ruined hallway of what looked to be a palace. For hours Pearl explored, coming across an armory, where she took to trying on a few helmets and a one suit of armor. All of which ether decorated with the symbol of the moon or sun. She was sure she had seen these symbols recently. But couldn’t place it. Just took a mental note to ask Twilight about it later.  

Amongst the other rooms, she found a massive intact library. Not her favorite but she grinned knowing Twilight would just kick herself at missing out on all these lost books. Moving from room to room she finally came across what looked to be a massive throne room. One throne, was in shatters while the other was faded. Walking up Pearl brushed her wing along the faded throne. 

“That same moon symbol. What is this place some kind of temple or palace?” Looking around she saw that like much of the rest of the place. It was in a state of ruin, only far worse. Like the ruins of an old battlefield. Turning to the other throne, Pearl saw it was shattered in half. The part on the ground held the symbol of the sun. touching the wood, she saw it had a dark reddish stain on it. Bitting her lips Pearl backed away until she tripped and fell backwards. A large equine skull, with one horn and one antler, landed directly on her lap.

In her head, she could hear maniacal laughter and the sound of a pony screaming in pain.

Pearl’s eyes widened as she screamed as loud as she could. Pushed the skull away and ran as far and as fast as she could after a few moments she felt the cool rush of the night air hit her face and stopped. She didn’t know where she was now. Looking about she found herself atop a small cliff surrounded by trees and a circular bed in the center. With the moon shimmering down on it.

Looking over the cliff, Pearl sighed. She was almost directly in view of the lake she dove into hours ago. Whatever the mountain was. It encompassed a hidden castle. And a half forest grew over it. Sitting down on the bed. Pearl looked up at the night sky. The cool breeze brushed away the frightening memory she just experienced. She was so grateful the bed was there, she didn’t even question why it seemed new and hardly touched by the elements. Closing her eyes she began to rest. Trying to put what she saw in the castle out of her mind.

After what felt like hours, Pearl heard the rustling in the trees. Sitting up she looked around. The light of the moon was bright. Brighter than she had ever remembered seeing it. The whole glade seemed lit in pure silver. The colors seemed more real. The leaves of the trees shimmered with evening dampness as a shadow moved through them. 

“W… whose there?” Pearl shivered. Reaching back she took a stick in her wing and brandished it like a spear. “I warn you. I’m armed… you have NO idea who you’re messing with!”

The shadow in the trees, if it heard her, was wholly unimpressed as it leaped out and landed in front of her. The shade of the trees covered its form in dark shadows. However, Pearl could still see its general shape. It looked like a pony who was no larger than she was. But its body seemed thinner and lengthy. Instead of a thick tail, it was long and whip-like. With a large tuft of stary hair growing on it till it almost touched the ground, but curved like a vine. Instead of hooves, it had four massive claws. Claws that griped and pawed at the ground as if irritated by something. Which was reflected by the amber-colored eyes staring at her. 

Pearl gulped as she saw the thick spins down its back. And the scaled plates that covered its neck down to its underbelly. A thick mane of hair covered its shoulders like a boa as its mane swished upward and out in a two-toned shade of blue and white. It might have well been all the excitement but the young Filly swore she saw stars moving back and forth in the dark blue stripes of the creature’s mane. 

“Scales… long tail. And… oh my.” Pearl blinked seeing the slitted eyes the color of pure amber and reflecting the light of the moon inside of them. And knew only a handful of creatures had them. And one was the creature type that came foremost to her mind. A Dragon. Only this looked as if someone had crossbred a dragon and pony together. She would have guessed it was a dragon altogether had it not been for the cutie mark on its hip. A pale crescent moon with a large tree growing out of it, cradled by the moon.

Sucking in a long deep breath, Pearl slipped herself from the bed and slowly walked backward till her hind hoof touched the edge of the cliff.

“Um… I.. I’m sorry I invaded your area.  I’ll just be going now..” Pearl watched as the dragon pony mix just tilted its head in confusion. And before it could open its mouth Pearl had pushed off from the ground and took flight in the night sky.

As she flew, Pearl knew in hindsight she should have just listened to Twilight. And she shouldn’t have asked her friend to lie like that. 

“Gahh oh well I’ll make it up to her tomorrow.” Landing on the porch of her family home. She felt the weight of the night push down on her. She had skipped school and asked a friend to lie. Got chased halfway across a castle at the sight of a skull. She wasn’t sure why it had made her so scared but was glad to get away from it. And the sounds that she imagined came from it. On top of all that almost got mauled by some mutant dragon pony thing. 

Letting out a sigh she smiled. “At least the worst is over,” Pearl said to herself as she reached for the door which opened by itself.

Sitting there upright with her front legs crossed over her chest. Was her mother Cirrus. Pearl shrank at the sight of those fearsome eyes boring down into her.

“Hi.. mom.”

“I just had a very interesting conversation with your Teacher young lady. And two castle guards who informed me about a young girl matching your description. Entering the forbidden area.” Before Pearl could open her mouth, her mother raised a hoof. “Take a seat at the table.” was all her mother said to make every drop of Pearl’s young blood go cold as she walked inside and closed the door.
> Oh Great, Now I'm Going Insane (Rewrite)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pearl grumbled to herself as she heard the soft steps a ways behind her. Turning around the young pegasus looked about. Nothing there. For the last few weeks, she had the feeling something was following her. Whenever she looked into the shadows of a tree or a thick set of bushes there were the same amber eyes she saw that night. 

Groaning louder, Pearl turned around and continued on. If she missed her study with Twilight and got home late. She would be in even more trouble than she already was. 

As punishment for her little excursion, Pearl was grounded until her father came home. Whenever that was. And she was to take daily study lessons from the top filly in their class. She was just thankful it was Twilight. As if it would have been anypony else. 

The sound of a twig snapping caused Pearl to turn around quickly. And there it was. Up in the tree. Those bright amber eyes looked at her curiously. Just like they did that night. 

Sucking in her breath, Pearl stomped toward the tree and puffed her face up. “Will you STOP BUCKING FOLLOWING ME!”  Closing her eyes she took a long deep breath. “I don't know if you’re trying to harm me or not but I can’t handle this, you constantly following me around like some kind of lost puppy. So either kill me or go home!” Pearl pointed toward the forested area, only to catch the eye of a fuchsia mare walking with her daughter, a cloud-white filly with dark dark purple mane. 

“Mommy? Why is that girl yelling at the tree?” the filly asked leaning into her mom. Pearl recognized the girl from her class and groaned. Rarity Belle. This filly was known for spreading stuff like this around the class. She loved gossip as much as gemstones. 

“Oh never mind dear. Just keep walking.” the mare chuckled a little escorting her daughter away.

Pearl felt her eye twitch rapidly as she looked down at the bush. “Oh Great, now I’m insane. Or at least others think I am.” Stomping her hooves down she turned and gave the tree a strong bucking. “Thanks a lot.”

Pearl left flew away quickly not noticing that the young dragon had just slammed headfirst into the ground with a loud thud. 







Pearl landed just outside of the schoolyard where Twilight was sitting. Beside her was a small basket and several piles of books.

“You're late.” Twilight shook her head.

“Ya sorry, I got… held up.” Pearl flopped down on her rump next to her friend as Twilight floated a sandwich and an apple down atop a plate before opening a textbook.

“Let me guess your imaginary ‘dragon’ again?” Twilight took a bite of her lunch. She had heard this story several times. And didn’t believe one word. It’s impossible for a dragon to be made of plants. She even had two whole books on the subject. 

“I swear Twily, he’s real. And has been a huge pain in my flank. Thanks to him Ponies now think I’m the crazy girl who yells at random pieces of shrubbery and the odd tree.” She looked down at her books. The pages inside were starting to look like gibberish with all that she was being asked to absorb. It was ten minutes before she looked back up, only to see a large hedge bush inching its way past a tree. A long dark blue tail swishing out the back. “Oh great…”

Twilight moved up and stood next to her friend, rubbing her eyes. “Are you seeing this too?” She couldn’t believe it. A plant was actually walking towards them. She watched as it bumbled into a tree head first before awkwardly moving within a few feet of the fillies. 

With a gentle shake, the dragon shook off the bush he had been wearing and sat down, looking at the two fillies with a wide sharp smile and bright amber eyes hidden in what looked to be an overgrown azure mane.

Pearl smirked looking at Twilight. “Still think I’m crazy?” Turning back to the dragon she was about to yell at him again before sighing and just slumped down. “Why bother… he doesn’t understand a word I say.”

“This is… he is… This is impossible!” Twilight quickly circled the dragon. He was only a few hooves taller than they were. She poked at his side which only made the dragon shift a little. “Okay okay… Front legs have claws, back have hooves. And he has a cutie mark! Dragons can’t get cutie marks. No wings. But spikes. Lots of spikes.”

 Twilight moved about and sat next to Pearl. The dragon suddenly started to spin around and around only to bit and chew on his outer coat near his rump. Making both fillies blink repeatedly 

“Well you wanted proof, here he is.” Pearl sighed kicking at her apple which rolled down and bumped the dragon’s paw. 

The two fillies watched as he just looked down at the apple for a moment then back up to the girls. The pair could hear his stomach rumbling. “He doesn’t eat ponies does he?” Twilight whimpered. 

“I honestly have no idea. I sure hope not?” Watching the drake's eyes move from the apple to her she just sighed deeper and waved her paw, offering it to him. 

The dragon smiled and leaned down taking the apple and munched on it noisily. After swallowing he playfully bounded up and down around the girls before dashing off to the nearby river.

“Huh, if that’s all it took to get rid of him, I would have fed him an apple weeks ago when he started trailing me.” Pearl chuckled along with Twilight before they caught sight of the dragon dart its head down into the river and pulling up a fish as large as they were.

“Oh wow. I thought dragons just ate gemstones.” Pearl marveled along with Twilight. Never having heard of a dragon eating anything else. They then saw as the drake half skipped his way back and sat down in front of Pearl. 

The fish in his jaws lightly flopped, and with a swift snap, it went still and dropped it at Pearl’s hooves. With one brush of his large paws, the dragon had cleaned the fish. 

“Okay, what am I supposed to do with this?” Pearl huffed poking at the fish with her hoof.

“Oh…” Twilight’s eyes went wide and half giggled.

“What?” Pearl’s annoyance started to grow.

“Well, you shared your lunch with him. I think he is sharing his with you.” Twilight looked at the fish.

Pearl watched as the dragon looked at the fish and then at Pearl. Then back to the fish and back up again. The wide smile slowly started to disappear. “OH no. I am NOT eating a fish.”

“Don’t Pegasai eat fish?”

“Not all the time. And certainly not raw, fresh from the river.” Pearl grumbled.

The dragon leaned back a little and just kept his gaze at the fish then back up to Pearl

“Pearl. Just take a bite. I think your insulting him.” Twilight nervously laughed.

Pearl looked at the fish, already she could feel her stomach twist. She looked at the dragon. He did seem innocent enough. Biting down on her lip she lowered her head. Her teeth gripped the wet flesh and tore a piece off. With her first chew, she slapped her hooves over her mouth. The urge to throw up was strong but she just held it in her mouth. Hoping he’ll just go away at this. She watched as the dragon just smiled and made a swallowing noise.

‘I hate you…’ her mind shouted before swallowing loudly. A shiver escaped her whole body as Pearl flopped to the ground. She took her cup in her teeth and swung her head back, downing her soda to wash the taste of raw fish from her mouth. She was about to kick the fish away when she saw the dragon half bounce up and down before pulling the fish over to himself and start to eat it. With the two girls watching him.

“You are eating the next fish, Twily,” Pearl gagged. “Even if I have to force-feed it to you myself.”

Twilight giggled as she patted her friend on the back. “In your dreams, Pearly. And here I thought you wanted to know all there was to know about dragons.”

Pearl snorted. “I do. But I didn’t want a hooves and mouth on demonstration! I wonder if it’s just his kind, or do all dragons can eat meat? Also, where are his parents? You would think a pony-dragon hybrid would be big news. He seems to be a bit young to be alone. ”

Twilight could only shrug. Dragons were not exactly common in Ponyville, no matter that Equestria and Dragon Lord Torch got on rather well from what she knew.

There was, supposedly, a dragon egg that was kept in one of the schools. Nopony knew for sure. Twilight had never seen one, and neither had Pearl.

Her Entrance Exam for the School for Gifted Unicorns was coming up. While she loved Miss. Sunflower, Twilight knew she could do so much more at the larger school.

Moondancer had already moved up to the bigger school, and Twilight missed her old friend. While she loved Pearl, trying to talk magic with her was an exercise in frustration.

It would be nice to be able to talk all about magic with another filly, and the both of them being able to understand what was being said.

“Girls! Study time is almost over. Time.. oh.” Miss Sunflower called out as all the other fillies who stayed for special lesions had already left for home. “And whom do we have here?” the earth pony teacher walked up and smiled at the dragon.

Twilight and Pearl cringed a little trying to come up with an answer as the dragon just smiled up at the mare. “He’s a friend.” Pearl sighed out. “I met him weeks ago during my… ‘adventure’.”

Sunflower frowned, she remembered that day vividly and just shook her head. “Poor dear. You look positively neglected.” she lifted a bunch of leaves out of the young drake's overgrown mane and looked into the dragon’s eyes.

The dragon smiled and just let out a low purr and brushed up against the teacher like a cat would. Unsure why this mare looked so different from the other two girls beside him. But she radiated an aura of motherly care which relaxed him.

“Well. you girls head-on on home. Twilight, thank you again for taking the time to tutor our young delinquent here.” Miss Sunflower smiled and quirked her eye at Pearl who just looked away. Turning back, the teacher just looked at the drake who just cocked his head. “I’m going to have to write to Miss Amber about this.”

“Yes, Ma’am.” Twilight smiled. She enjoyed being her teacher’s assistant. Something that brought a groan to Pearl’s lips.
> New Family (Rewrite)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pearl grumbled with the pencil in her mouth. Writing down her answers to her homework. Her eyes glanced off to the side at Twilight whose pencil effortlessly danced across the page, wrapped in unicorn magic, then rolled her eyes as the weight against her side shifted. Next to her was the dragon who had yet to leave her alone. But no there he was, resting up against her flank munching on a large piece of bark he had taken from a tree.

School had been over for hours now. Twilight was assisting Pearl with her homework like always. As much as Pearl hated homework, she savored time like this because she knew what awaited her back home. Another night without her favorite foods or snacks and silence in her room. No music at all. All her favorite records, games, and toys having been confiscated by her mother.

She had to admit he wasn’t bad-looking now that he wasn’t chasing her all around town. He was, exotic. That was the only word she could say. He was probably the first hybrid dragon pony around. Having looked through the libraries she found no records of any other hybrid ever being born or hatched.

“I don’t understand it. Why does he like hanging out with me so much?” Pearl sighed spitting out her pencil.

“I don’t know, but like you, I’m learning book loads of information about him. So far we now know he loves fish, bark, and fruit, and has a distaste for gemstones.” Twilight smiled. “I should probably tell you, yesterday I overheard Miss Sunflower say she was going to inform Exarch Amber about him."

“Why did she do that? What if she kills him?” Pearl bit her lip. Her raised voice caught her dragon friend’s attention. Now looking at her with a confused look. His bark stuck in his mouth bobbing up and down as he chewed. Pearl giggled nervously and leaned into Twilight. “Dragons aren’t really allowed in these parts.”

Twilight lightly pushed Pearl back and shrugged. “Yeah, but you know it was the right thing to do. What if he has a family that’s looking for him? Do we really want dragons running amok? ”

Pearl sighed and nodded looking at her friend who had now gone back to giving full attention to his bark snack. She loved learning more about dragons. The subject sparked something in her that fueled her desire for learning. “I guess your right. I’m just worried.”

“Oh, and this from the filly who not more than a few hours ago was complaining about him?” Twilight teasingly poked Pearl with her hoof.

“Yeah well…” Pearl blinked and looked off to the side at the young drake who had started to prod her sides and pointed down toward the river with a smile.

Pearl and Twilight just shared a look as Pearl waved her hoof. “Yeah yeah go ahead.” which she guessed he understood as he just strolled away into the distance.

“I still don’t think he can understand us.” Twilight smiled as she watched the drake disappear down the hillside.

“Not verbally at least, thankfully this it gives me a break from his annoying habits.” Pearl crossed her forelegs and sighed.

“Let me guess he’s still trying to share his lunches with you.” Twilight giggled remembering the fish fiasco a few days ago.

“The fruit I don’t mind. But he’s been offering me pieces of bark he pulled from a tree now.” Pearl narrowed her eyes as Twilight almost burst out laughing. “Laugh it up. Do you know how horrible that stuff tastes?”

“And why would you be eating tree bark my little Pony.” another voice rang out. Smiling, Amber looked down at the two fillies who quickly bowed. “Oh enough of that my dear girls. So Twilight I just finished talking to your teacher. She stated that there was a dragon about here? I find that difficult to believe as we keep excellent eyes on the Dragon lands.”

“Well, we, or I should say Pearl found this particular dragon in the old forest just outside of Ponyville.” Twilight smiled.

“You mean the remanence of the old Everfree? That’s a very long distance away from the Dragon lands, young ones. No dragon has ever been there.” Amber quirked an eyebrow.

“Honestly I found him there. He’s been pestering me to no end for the last few weeks.” Pearl bowed her head, a bit of movement from off to the side caught her attention so she glanced. “And speak of the devil here he comes now… oh gods he has another fish.” Pearl shivered.

Rolling her eyes Amber glanced over, to humor the young fillies, there was certainly a wingless dragon now strolling up to the group. A fish hanging limp between his teeth. She quirked her eyebrows as she noticed not only claws but a set of hooves and a pony-like appearance. 

“This is the drake Miss Sunflower talked about?” Amber walked up and circled the boy who, while still holding his fish. Followed Amber's movements. “He’s certainly a unique one to be sure. There hasn’t been a hybrid dragon for over a thousand years.”

“You mean there’ve been others?” Pearl’s head perked up as both she and Twilight shared looks. 

“OH yes. Not many, as few dragons could tolerate mating outside their kind. And even fewer mares or stallions could give or produce offspring from such a union.” Amber watched as the drake set the fish down in front of Pearl who grimaced a sight that made the exarch giggle a little. 

“How come we’ve never heard of them before?” Pearl asked looking at the drake who now seemed to have lost interest in all of them, and was now silently stalking a butterfly.

“Other dragons don’t care much for mixed blood almost their own kind. Sadly, they are hunted and killed. Many never live past twenty to thirty years after the Dragon Lords discover them.” Both girls looked over at the dark blue drake who looked up. A butterfly wing sticking out of his mouth.

The Exarch watched as the dragon looked over his shoulders and set his amber eyes directly up at Amber. 

Amber looked into those eyes and in the span of a heartbeat, her own eyes went wide, and felt her blood run cold. “By the makers!!!!” Leaping back Amber gulped and shivered. “Th... it can’t be… It’s impossible!”

Both Twilight and Pearl looked at each other before looking back up at Amber.

“What’s going on, what’s impossible?” Twilight scratched her head with a hoof.

“Does this have anything to do with him being a dragon hybrid?” Pearl bit on her lip a little. Slightly worried for her new friend who amply nosed the fish closer to Pearl.

“Girls, you don’t understand. He’s impossible.” Amber quickly caught her composure and stood up straight. “No, this is not about him. It’s about… no it can’t be her. Not after all this time. She’s gone, but those eyes. There can be no doubt.”

Pearl tilted her head. “Um, Miss Amber your not making any sense.”

Amber looked at the two girls and quickly regained her composure. “I’m sorry girls. It seems I got a sudden glimpse into the past is all. His eyes remind me of a mare I knew so long ago.”

“Could this mare be his mother?” Pearl stood up excitedly. While the idea of any kind of romance made her cringe. The thought that ponies and dragons could in some ways be related excited her.

“I don’t know. She never had children as far as I knew. And I was still a young mare back then and I wasn’t the most attentive of her students.” Amber blushed remembering her old mentor.

“The only one I know of who might know anything is the Empress. And even she might not have all the answers.” Amber blinked as the young drake walked up to her. He stood there silently with a few barks and growls and one or two huffs. Amber looked at him for a moment and sighed. “And what's worse I can’t take him with me to the palace. Dragons are forbidden unless invited by the Empress herself. So unless she asks for him personally my own hooves are tied.” 

Looking at the girls she smiled. “Miss Sunflower said he’s been staying here at the school house. Which is no good for a dragon so young.”

“How old is he?” Pearl scratched her head as she looked at the drake. Who looked back at Pearl. 

“If I had to guess,” Amber leaned in and taped the fridges on the side of his head. Which made the drake giggle. “He’s a year or two younger than you two fillies. Far too young to be out on his own. I’ll have to find a suitable family to place him with until I hear back from…” Amber blinked as the young drake finally stomped his front claws and barked loudly. Then proceed to make many low growls and grunting noises.

“What’s going on?” Pearl asked moving away slowly. “He’s looking rather annoyed.”

 “Apparently he just asked if I’m the reason you are ignoring your lunch that he spent so much time getting it for you.”

If the world had opened up and swallowed her, Pearl could not have been more surprised. “He talks?”

“And you can understand him?” Twilight smiled wide.

“Yes to a degree I can, one moment.” Amber leaned in and started speaking in what seemed like low barks and growls. The dragon returned in the same apparent language.

After several minutes Amber fell over laughing aloud. “OH this is too cute, I don’t believe it” the Exarch's laugh half echoed down the hillside.

“What!” Both fillies called out.

“He doesn't know that you two girls are ponies. Well, he doesn’t know Pearl is a pony. He thinks she’s a dragon like him. He has no clue what you are Twilight. or Earth ponies ether.” Amber giggled “And what’s more, he just told me he’s taken it upon himself to care for his nestmate who can’t fend for herself.”

Pearl’s eyes twitched. “I wish I was a dragon,” she muttered under her breath. “And what the hay is a nestmate? None of my books ever mentioned something like that.”

“In simple terms, he thinks you’re his sister. It’s the closest equivalent we ponies have,” Amber shrugged. “He found you in his nest, so it is not too surprising.”

Pearl sighed. “Great. Just great. I’ve always wanted a sibling, but not like this.”

“Hmm really? Well, I’m glad to hear you say that. Because you just answered my question as to which family I’m placing him with.” Amber took a deep breath and turned serious as Pearl wished she had just kept her big mouth shut.

“Your mouth is going to get you into trouble one day young lady.” Pearl’s mother Cirrus always told the young filly each time she ran her mouth off. It was one of the many habits she inherited from her father. 

 “I’ll have a talk with your parents to see if they won’t mind being temporary foster parents for little Kohaku here. At least until I hear back from Cosmos about what to do with him. Which could take some time.”

“Kohaku?” Pearl blinked.

“That’s what he said his name is.”

Pearl made a mental note to remember that. If she remembered her Far Eastern correctly, his name meant ‘Amber’. “Great. Not like my life can’t get any weirder. Now I’m the foster sister for a dragon. Sure. Why not?”

Amber giggled before taking off once more. Leading the girls off to Pearl's house, with the young drake in toe, holding the fish between his jaws once again.







Cosmos sat there silently as Amber finished her report. She didn’t know what to make of it. It had been over a thousand years since she heard that name. So lost in her thoughts she barely heard the commotion that old name brought back.

Princess Luna.

 “I thought she died,” Diamond called out at Amber. “We all did, alongside her sister that dark day.”

“I’m finding this as difficult to believe as you are Diamond,” Amber called back. “But I swear to you. He had Princess Luna’s eyes. A different color yes but they were hers. Of that, I cannot be mistaken. How often did we all fall under her strict gaze during our lessons?”

“But she never had children. Nether her or Celestia.” Ocean Breeze folded her front legs in front of her chest. “We would have known if they had. The Princesses cared about us so much they would have wanted us to share in that joy.”

“Could we have been mistaken? They were both prone to keep secrets, even from us.” Ivy voiced out. “And they were both taken from us so quickly. We knew they called us to what would have been their home that day. Perhaps this was the announcement they had wished to share with us.”

“Well, we’ll never know, will we? Not after what HE did” Moon Petal closed her eyes. All the memories came back bringing a tear to her eyes. Looking up she saw Cosmos had one leg across her chest and her left hoof covering her face.  “Is everything okay Cosmos?”

“Yes, Moon Petal. Just memories of the past is all and this talk of secrets has been buzzing in my skull. I knew this day would come.”

“What day?” the five exarchs asked in unison.

“I have to be truthful with you now. And reveal something I have not told anyone for a thousand years.” Cosmos looked at her Exarchs sadly. “Princess Luna did NOT die on that dark day. She lived, she fled the scene before the battle had ended.” Cosmos sighed. 

“Impossible.” Diamond stomped her hoof. “Luna would NEVER abandon her sister like a coward.”

“Your right, she wouldn’t. Unless Celestia ordered her to do so.” Cosmos felt everything fall onto her shoulders. She felt the weight of her old mentor’s decisions and a promise she was forced to keep.

“For what reason would Celestia order her sister to leave? Together they may have well defeated Chaos without your intervention.” 

“Yes, they could have taken him. Eventually, and only if they had not held back. But it would cost their lives. And though it pained Luna to run. She had a reason to keep on living that out-weighed her sister.” Cosmos lifted her eyes and looked at her five exarchs. “At that time, Princess Luna was pregnant.”

Had any other pony been in the room, they could have heard a pin drop from the moon itself for the bombshell that had just been leveled on the five of them. 

“It was almost a year to the day after I had ascended to Empress when Luna finally came back. She was weary and tired. She had little strength in her. The loss of her sister took much from her, and her difficult childbirth took the rest.” Placing both hooves together in front of her mouth, Cosmos continued. 

“Inside a swaddle of clothing, stuck inside of her saddle bag, was an egg of Asian design. No larger than a small melon, yet glistened like diamonds and with Luna’s own coloring and mark on it.” Cosmos smiled at the memory as it came flooding from her. 

“Why didn’t you tell us about this?” Amber asked sitting up, her face narrowed. Feeling slightly betrayed.

“We could have helped her.” Moon Petal called out. 

“What happened to the egg? Does it relate to this dragon Amber found?” Diamond voiced through heavy breathing.

“We must bring this child here at once.”

“The child is the princess’s legacy. We must protect it at all costs.”

A single wing raised silenced the room. Her exarchs returned to their seats.

“Luna begged me not to tell anyone. She was afraid for the life of her child. Though Chaos was gone. She knew others would be after her. And what better way than to strike where she is MOST vulnerable? Her offspring.” Shaking her head, Cosmos sighed. “I knew what would come of this secret and I promised to keep it, even from all of you. My closest friends and council. Together she and I placed the egg in the old ruins inside of what remained of the Everfree Forest. In a part of the palace Luna herself finished. Which was to be his nest.”

“Thus I made that area forbidden to all. Even as the old forest died, I protected that one area and continue to do so today.” Cosmos bowed her head slowly. 

“What happened to Luna after that Empress,” Lilly asked leaning back.

“With my help, Luna shed her corporeal form and took residency in the Dream World.”

“Is she still there? What if she decides to come back?” Diamond leaned into her chair.

Cosmos closed her eyes, reaching out into the very fabric of Equis itself, in a way earth ponies could only dream of. There she looked into the night and found the dream doors. 

Thunder erupted in the throne room. Lights flickered and went out. Through the skylight, the moon shed its glow on the floor showing an Image of Luna who just eyed the six girls, shook her head, and walked away. Returning to her duties.

“That answers that. She has no desire to return. Not even for her son.” Cosmos smiled. 

“Did she have to be so dramatic?” Ocean Breeze huffed.

“Oh lighten up. We could use a little drama from time to time around here. Luna always was one for dramatics anyway," Cosmos giggled.

“What about the Dragon Lands? What if they hear about this?” Diamond looked out the window. Toward the areas past the sea, the dragons build their homes.

“As he was born of these lands, and is the child of a pony princess. He is an Equestrian. And thus belongs here. We’ll also send a message to the dragon lord, just so there’s no mistaking our intent.” Cosmos turned to the side. “Amber I’ll leave that in your capable hooves. You also mentioned you have placed him with a family?”

Nodding Amber smiled. “Yes. he seems attached to young Pearl. So I have placed him with her family. Cirrus said she would be pleased to take the boy in as a foster child. Until we can find him a permanent home.”

“Well, I say we should just let him live there then. No need to uproot him more than is necessary. As he is part pony, he can be covered under pony laws of adoption. If Torch doesn't like it or decides to get physical, then I will happily remind him of why none have ever lived through a fight with me." Cosmos leaned back. Putting this issue to bed. “Now. Diamond, your report on the upcoming trials for the school of gifted ponies? You mentioned you have chosen a filly for the test with the egg we have here.”

“Yes Empress. A young filly of extraordinary potential.” Diamond and the others quickly went back to their council attitudes. “Her name is Twilight Sparkle.” 
> Sonic Rainboom
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twilight stood there in the center of the room. Behind her was your typical blackboard. Various equations and formulas for magic were written on it in chalk. Off to the side were high-rise seats that curved around the room from one end of the chalkboard to the other. Rows of stairs separated the seats into three sections. And in each seat was a shadowy form of an authority figure. 

In front of her was a stool just barely taller than her and on it was a cushion. And on top of that was a purple egg with dark purple spots all about it. And directly behind the egg was the only unicorn exarch, Diamond. 

“Simple enough, you pass or fail. Hatch the egg,” she spoke in her stern voice. 

Twilight gulped and approached the egg. Her whole academic future rides on this one feat. Taking a deep breath Twilight reached for her magic. Calling on everything she learned in her short life. Only nothing happened. It wasn’t there. Her magic was gone.

Twilight felt herself starting to panic. Her breathing increased as the Exarch started to tap her hoof. 

“Well. we’re waiting, Twilight. Hatch the egg,” she spoke louder. Her voice almost boomed in Twilight’s ears. 

Twilight bit on her lower lips and tried again. Lowering her horn to the egg, reached deep inside of herself only to find nothing was there. She looked up at the exarch who was now shaking her head. 

“Pitty. I had such high hopes for you little girl.”

“No wait, please... I can do it.” Twilight felt herself shrink as the room itself seemed to grow.

“Oh please. Look at yourself. You can’t even bring a sparkle to your horn. It seems you fail not only this test but as a unicorn altogether.” The whole room erupted into laughter. Off to the side, Twilight saw her parents and big brother just shaking their heads in disappointment. Beside them, Pearl just sighed and looked away. 

Twilight looked back at the Exarch. High in the shadows of the room a large pony started to move in closer. Her mane waved with stars moving within them. 

“You Fail Twilight.”

“Fail, Fail, fail…” the words repeated by every pony in the room. Echoing in her ears making her feel even smaller. Forcing her to cringe up into a ball. Raising her hooves to try and fend off the ponies coming closer. In the corner of her eye, she saw. The mare with the flowing mane started to move closer. 

“Hey Twilight.” a voice came from beside her. Twilight looked up and into the amber eyes of her best friend’s baby brother. “Gahh this is so boring. Come play with me. I found this really sweet area I know you’ll love.” Twilight blinked as the mare on the stairs stopped and stepped back. Almost in complete shock as Twilight was. 

“Kohaku?” Twilight muttered as he nodded slowly. 

“Yeah. I’m bored.” Kohaku muttered again as he kicked the stool at the exarch without seeing. The egg hit Diamond in the face and cracked open. Yoke slowly dribbled down her face and neck which made Twilight momentarily laugh before realizing who it was. She saw the wavy-maned mare giggle before leaving.

“Kohaku!! You just... She’s an exarch. You can’t…” Twilight looked at Kohaku and then back at the exarch who seemed to have vanished along with everypony else in the room. Shaking her head she looked back at Pearl’s little brother. “How? Wha… what’s going on? And why are you speaking better ponish than our teachers?”

Kohaku smirked and just shrugged. “Oh, I know. Let’s go out this way. I found a place where the clouds are made of cupcakes. And there’s this really interesting pink bouncy filly there too. She looked kinda lonely so I said I would bring some friends with me. I can’t find Pearl, but then i heard you and thought you’d want to come.” Reaching behind him he pulled out a blueberry cupcake for Twilight. “I even brought some of the cupcakes, here try one. They're really yummy.”

Twilight stood there muttering in gasps and huhs as Kohaku pushed her towards an open window.

“Twilight…” a voice to the side started to call to her.

“Twilight…” the voice started to get louder as she turned to look. Kohaku seemingly just holding the cupcake out for her.

“Twilight!” Pearl shouted as she shook her friend. Twilight gasped and sat up. She shook her head and looked around. “OH thank the empress. You were moaning and crying out for several minutes. You looked like you were having a nightmare.”

Twilight looked around. She was in her family’s yard. A book open under her hooves. Looking about she saw Kohaku off in the distance, sleeping peacefully under a tree nearby in her family garden. A few birds rested atop his head as he rubbed his nose and muttered something about cupcakes.

Pearl lay a wing around her friend. “The test again?”

Twilight nodded. “I haven't stopped thinking about it since I got the letter from Exarch Diamond two nights ago.”

Pearl sighed. “You’re overthinking this, methinks. If they flunked every unicorn who didn’t pass the test, don’t ya think they would have changed it by now? Doubt the dragon lord just hands over the eggs.”

Twilight shot her a look. “It’s easy for you to say that, Pearl. You’re not the one who has to do it! This test will determine my whole future! You’re set for life.”

Pearl groaned and rolled her eyes. “As if. I’ve already told Dad I don’t want his job. And mom’s job is just too stressful. And that’s just my observation of it.”

Twilight nodded. “That is still more than anything I have. I’ve been reading some of Sunset Shimmer’s work, and I think I know what I need to do.”

Pearl rolled her eyes. “You mean vanish from the face of Equestria? If even her family doesn’t know where she is… I don’t wanna be the one to tell your parents, Twily.” Looking over at her new little brother, Pearl tossed an apple at his head. “Hey, bird brain. What do you have to say on this?”

Twilight and Pearl watched as he lifted his head, and blinked before yawning at both girls. Looked down at the apple and went to eat it. Pearl just turned at Twilight and smirked. “He agrees. You’re stressing too much about it.”

Twilight blinked. “Oh, is that what he said?” Sighing softly she closed her book and rested against her friend. “How is life with your new brother?”

“Annoying. He has a bigger room than I do!” Pearl gruffed and laid down on her belly her wing around Twilight and cuddled close. “He took over Mom’s greenhouse. And she went all out and turned it into a full room just for him.” 

Twilight smirked as she didn’t fail to notice the growl in her voice. “I guess we both have problems huh?” Looking off to the side she looked up at Pearl after a moment. “Do you really think I’m overthinking this?”

Pearl nodded. “I know so. But I’m also glad I won’t ever have to do one myself. Annoying as school is, I do like Miss Sunflower. Even Miss Cheerilee is pretty cool. Both so much more relaxed and fun than my old teachers.”

Twilight blinked. “Who?”

“Oh, she’s a tutor that’s been coming over to the house every day.”

“Oh, please tell me you haven't dropped off that far.” Twilight groaned. 

“What? NO not me. Him” Twilight watched as Pearl just waved her wing over at her brother. “I did kinda ask her a few questions on your problem the other day.”

“What did she say?” Twilight sat up and looked down at Pearl.

“You really want to know?” Pearl smirked up as Twilight nodded. “Here’s step one.” 

Pearl got up, picked up Twilight’s textbook with her mouth, and walked over to the edge of the yard. Flipping the book upward she turned and bucked it away and into the tall grass. “Close the books already and relax.” Pearl grinned as Twilight just stood there grasping her chest with a hoof, her eyes wide as if Pearl had just committed a murder. “Your test isn’t until this weekend. A full four days away. And Cheerilee said you can’t pass a test if you're overstressed for it.” 

Looking at her brother under the tree, Pearl rolled her eyes. “Which explains why he gets better marks than I do. They’re almost at your level.”

Twilight’s eyes twitched. That was not possible. She was top of their class, and while none of the other fillies and colts were dumb, none of them were close to her.

Moondancer had always been her biggest competition, even though the two of them were great friends. But her fellow unicorn had joined the School for Gifted Ponies the year before. “You two will be the death of me,” she grumbled.

Pearl nodded proudly. “And don’t you forget it. Your brother and Princess Cadance are slacking off. Might as well be us.”

Twilight sighed. “Pearl. You know how much Cadance hates when ponies use her title like that.”

Pearl rolled her eyes. Did she know it alright. It was probably the only thing that annoyed the pink alicorn, and while she could sometimes be more strict than seemed necessary, Pearl genuinely loved her foalsitter. Much more fun than her old ones.

Twilight, though, frowned. “You are coming to the test, right?”

Pearl’s ears wilted. And there it was. The question she’d been dreading. “If mom doesn’t change her mind, I hope so. Though I don’t know why you’d need me, Twily.”

Twilight smirked, poking the Pegasus. “Moral support, Rosey. Don’t your parents have a meeting in the palace?”

Pearl snorted. “Yeah. No idea what it is about though. So I’m already going in that direction. I think they’re meeting with Exarch Moon Petal.”

This only made Twilight smirk harder, making Pearl groan. Somedays, she wondered how and why the two of them put up with each other.







Twilight had never been so nervous in her entire life. So far, everything had gone rather well for her entrance exam. She had aced all of the tests the proctors had given her. But now came the part she had dreaded.

The dragon egg sat on a cart in front of her. Purple with green spots scattered around it, it didn’t look like much. But to pass the final test, she had to hatch it. Fail to do so, and her life was ruined.

Crystal Clear glared down at the young unicorn with an unsympathetic look. “Well, Miss Sparkle?”

Twilight giggled nervously, while Arpeggio coughed and Top Marks yawned. 

Only Exarch Diamond said nothing, but she shot a pointed glare at the other examiners. While a certain amount of disinterest was expected, they were toeing a fine line at the moment.

With no other option, Twilight began to throw every spell she knew at the egg. Even just to make it move. She groaned as she poured more and more of her magic into trying to hatch that damn egg, and still nothing.

How long this went on for, nopony knew. “We don’t have all day,” Crystal Clear said at one point, before wilting under the renewed glare from Diamond.

Finally Twilight all but jumped into the air, throwing literally all she had into one final blast of magic, only for nothing to change about the egg as she crashed to the ground.

Standing up, Twilight bowed her head in defeat, with nothing left to give. “I’m sorry I wasted your time,” she sniffed, as the examiners scribbled down their final thoughts.

Diamond’s heart broke seeing and hearing the broken heart and dreams of the unicorn filly. To the side, her parents watched with heavy hearts, unable to do anything. 

It was all Diamond needed to hear, as she stood up. But before she could do anything, the sky outside exploded in a rainbow of colors.







Pearl was beginning to wonder why she’d bothered to come to this darn thing. Just sitting here with Twilight’s parents was driving her insane. She needed some action.

Watching her best friend trying her hardest to hatch the egg, and nothing happening, broke Pearl’s heart. She wanted to run over and crack the damn thing herself, but that would only make things worse.

Finally, Twilight stood up from her final attempt. “I’m sorry I wasted your time,” she sniffed. It was all Pearl could take. Damn the rules to Tartarus. Her friend needed her.

Before she could take more than two steps, however, the sky outside exploded in a rainbow of colors. But that was impossible, Pearl thought. The Sonic Rainboom was just a myth.

“Aah!” Twilight yelped, as her magic exploded outwards, sending bolts everywhere. Two hit her surprised parents, turning Velvet and Night Light into potted plants. Several more wrapped around the proctors and threw them around like rag dolls.

One beam, though, hit the dragon egg, causing it to crack open and hatch, revealing a wyrmling the same colors as the egg itself, who only yawned, before being suddenly grown to a full adult size.

Exarch Diamond rushed to try and curb Twilight’s magic surge. The filly was in more danger than anypony could realize. Twilight had somehow tapped into the Prime Magic itself. A power only the empress had ever been able to control. If she wasn’t able to be brought to her senses, Twilight could cause untold damage or worse. Through no fault of her own.

For a moment, Pearl relaxed slightly. If anyone could help Twily, it was Diamond. Who better than one of the empress’ Exarchs? But as she watched in horror, a bolt of magic slammed into the unicorn, sending her flying into a nearby wall.

Something broke in Pearl at that moment. Damn whatever happened to her. Twilight needed her help and now. Unnoticed, a red glow erupted around her body as she leaped forward.

Dodging magic beams faster than anypony could see, Pearl flew over to Twilight and placed a hoof on her shoulder. “Twilight! You have to stop!” she shouted, but Twilight only turned to look at her.

Pearl gritted her teeth. Whatever the hell was happening to her, it was draining her energy at an alarming rate. She couldn’t keep this up much longer. “Twily, please. Come back to me. I can’t lose you,” Pearl sniffed. “Don’t do this to your family. If not for me, then do it for them.”

To the surprise of everyone, that seemed to finally get through to the unicorn as her eyes returned to normal. As her magic began to die down, the dragon returned to being a hatchling, Twilight’s parents returned to normal, Velvet shaking off the lingering feeling of being a plant.

At the same time, the glow around Pearl’s body vanished, leaving her to fall to the ground with a thump. “Ow,” she grumbled. “Did somepony get the name of the battleship that ran me over? I’ll turn it into scrap!”

Twilight shook her head. Everything hurt too much at the moment. “Pearl. What did you do? You were glowing. Why were you glowing? Magic surges have to run themselves out.”

Pearl shook her head with a groan. “Hell if I know. All I know was that you needed help, and nopony else could get to you.”

“It is called Trans Am,” Diamond said, as she walked over, a look of surprise on her face. “You unconsciously released a flood of pure magic into every cell of your body, making yourself invincible in every way, as well as twenty times faster than normal. Very few ponies have ever done so, and even less have lived through the experience.”

Twilight bowed her head in shame, even as Pearl lay a wing over her friend. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…”

Diamond shook her head and smiled. “It’s alright, Twilight. I know you did not mean to. You have more than succeeded in passing the test. You’ve made it pointless.”

Twilight blinked. “What do you mean?”

Diamond sighed. “Hatching the egg was never the point of the test. Only to gauge your reaction to the failure to do so. Not even Sunset Shimmer did this much, no matter how hard she tried.”

Twilight managed a weak smile at that. It made her feel a little better.

Diamond shook her head. “You have a very special gift. I don't think I've ever come across a unicorn with your raw abilities. But you need to learn to tame these abilities through focused study.”

“Huh?!” Twilight replied, her brain seemingly unable to process what she was being told.

Diamond smiled. “Twilight Sparkle, I'd like to make you my own personal protégé here at the school.”

“Huh?!” Twilight added, now even more confused than before.

Diamond waited a moment. “Well?”

Twilight looked over at her family and Pearl, who were all nodding excitedly. It was all she needed to hear as she leaped into the air. “Yes!”

Diamond giggled, before seeing something new on the filly’s hindquarters. “One other thing, Twilight.”

Twilight’s excitement fled as her eyes widened in worry. “More?” she asked, falling back to the ground. Diamond only pointed to her flank. Twilight grinned widely as saw the starburst surrounded by five smaller white stars. “My cutie mark! Yesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyes…”