Even now, several months after the excitement of the Canterlot Wedding, Pearl still found herself having to watch where she breathed. It was becoming increasingly annoying. “Sorry,” she smiled sheepishly, as a stray gout of flame almost set fire to Applejack’s stand. Again. “You would think I would be able to work this damn thing by now.”
Applejack only smiled. “Ain’t your fault, sugarcube. Twilight almost melted this stand yesterday with that darn acid of hers. I know you girls don’t mean it.”
Pearl sighed. “But I have had this for months now. I should know how to keep my fire where it belongs.”
Applejack’s smile grew. “Crystal Empire might say otherwise. Way you and the others got rid of King Sombra like that? They basically worship you, girls, as gods. The only ones mad are Celestia and Luna.”
Pearl rolled her eyes. She would never get used to that. Oh sure, Tiamat had been the one to end Sombra’s miserable existence for good. But all of their friends had helped.
Applejack only shook her head. “Don’t take it too hard, Pearl. Ponies love ya, no matter what form ya might be in. Better than fearing ya, don’t ya think?”
The filly sighed. “I guess. But it is still weird. Some days, I have an overwhelming urge to just flatten this town for all the crazy things going on. Canterlot is not much better. No offense.”
“Some are still trying to weaponize you?” Applejack asked with a frown.
Pearl nodded. “Yeah. Some idiots actually think they could control us. I have had to stop Pumpkin from just eating the whole lot of them. Even if they totally deserve it.”
That got a snort out of the farmer. “Well, don’t you worry none, sugarcube. Ya’ve got friends here. Real friends who care about you. Who needs those snobs anyway?”
Pearl giggled as she dropped some bits and took several apples. “Thanks, Applejack. Just wish I knew what to do before I burn something or somepony. Or worse."
Applejack tapped her chin. “There might be someone who could help. Don’t rightly know his real name. Ponies just call him Forestsong. Him and his family come into town every now and then. Real nice folks. Bit odd but I guess that comes from living in the Everfree as they do.”
Pearl blinked in surprise. “They live in the Everfree? What kind of crazy ponies are they? Zecora is already nuts for living there like she does.”
Applejack could only shrug. “Who knows? But he seemed real interested in you last time I saw him. No idea why he would be. Unless you two have met before?”
Pearl shook her head. “I do not know anypony with that name. So, I would not know why he would want to meet me. What does he look like?”
“You’ll know him when you meet him,” Applejack smirked, and that was all the Pegasus could get out of her.
Pearl was used to the odd looks she was getting by now. With the news of how she and Tiamat were connected, ponies were bound to talk. The same went for all of the girls. Oddly, only Twilight seemed to have physically changed after her Orb had merged with her. The others only had small changes in comparison, depending on who you asked.
Pearl constantly radiated heat, something that only got worse when she was mad. Pumpkin was a walking ice cube even at the best of times, and downright dangerous when she was mad. River smelled constantly of chlorine, and Lavender had lightning dancing along her wings. Not that any of them really cared what others thought of it. And ponies had quickly found that if you picked on one of them. Then all five of the girls were out for your blood.
Pearl herself had become the hero of Ponyville School when she had very publicly told off Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon about their treatment of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, and that not even their parents would keep them safe if they tried anything.
Pearl shook her head at the thought. “I mean really. That school is full of wimps. Twilight is a better teacher than Cheerilee could ever be.”
“Oh yes. She always has had the look about her.”
Pearl stopped as a new voice intruded on her thoughts. Looking around though, there was nopony around her.
“Up here.”
Pearl blinked, looking up. And was shocked at what she was looking at. He looked almost like a pony and dragon hybrid, forest green with amber markings. He hung off a lamppost by his hind legs, grinning widely at something.
“Who and what the hay are you supposed to be?” Pearl asked, trying to make sense of it all.
He only grinned wider. “What? Have you never seen a kirin before?”
Pearl only shook her head in disbelief. “Should I have?”
Swinging up the Kirin boy flipped and landed on all fours. Standing only a horn higher than Pearl he leaned in and looked into her eyes. “Depends on how well-traveled you are. I’m guessing not so much.”
“What!?” Pearl huffed, breathing a bout of flame into the Kirin boy’s face. Gasping, she leaned back. “OH my, I am so sorry.” Pearl panicked. “Help, somepony hel…” a hoof against her mouth silenced her screaming.
Looking over she saw as the smoke cleared, the boy’s bark-colored mane was smoldering, but otherwise, he was fine.
Coughing out a puff of smoke he chuckled. “Ya know. Usually, ponies don’t breathe fire. You certainly are an interesting one Pearl.” He chuckled and lightly blew a puff of emerald flame back at her which harmlessly washed over her face. Walking around her, the kirin boy looked her up and down curiously. A hoof lightly lifted one of her wings for a moment and then dropped it.
“Was one of your ancestors a red dragon by any chance?”
Pearl shrugged. “I don’t know. The only thing I know is that I started doing this right after I stopped being Tiamat during the wedding.” She shot him a glare as he started to poke at her flank. “And will you please stop doing that? Unless you wanna to see how flame-resistant you really are. How did you even survive that?”
Chuckling he sat down and stretched a bit like a feline. “Quick thinking and a bit of fire of my own.” He grinned and blew his own bout of emerald flame yet again. “And my kind do have a natural resistance to extreme temperatures.”
Pearl was tempted to bring Pumpkin into this and see how much extreme he could take but bit down on the thought. She really needed to work on her temper it seemed. “How do you know me? We have never met before. I would remember someone like you.”
Shrugging a bit, he walked over to a large tree and laid out on his belly. “I’ve seen you around town, you’re very interesting. A new girl in town that isn’t your standard cut and paste pony, I wanted to meet ya. A few inquiries and I learned your name rather easily. Pinkie was quite helpful in that regard. There isn’t a pony she doesn't know about or knows personally. Big sis keeps on me to find friends my own age but these ponies around here are so utterly boring.” Dropping his head to the ground he smiled and purred as his legs stretched out.
Pearl watched as his long tail slowly started to twist about like a twist tie undoing itself and flip about. Showing it was three tails rather than one large one. “Oh, please tell me you are not this Forestsong Applejack told me about?” She let out a groan as he nodded softly.
“Pleasure to meet you, Pearl.”
“Well, she did say I would know you when I saw you, and she was right.” Pearl groaned. She almost called out for the others, just to have somepony to stand with her for this. But held back. If she could not do this herself, what kind of pony was she? She didn’t deserve to be a part of anything. Let alone a goddess. “So why me in particular? I am not the only new pony in town.”
“True that you're not the only one. There are quite a few new ponies around. Which is nice, seeing this little hamlet grow.” Forestsong closed his eyes, the tips of his tails twitching like a cat’s. “But like I said, you're not the standard cut and paste pony. You stand out. How many fillies do you know can turn into dragons? Or have the skill to master a Dragon Orb.” He opened one eye and half grinned.
Forestsong watched as she had a look like she had just been hit with a runaway apple cart. “Yes, I know what Dragon Orbs are. My ‘tousan is very thorough with my education.”
“‘Tousan… that means father, doesn’t it?” Pearl blinked a bit.
“Very good, not many would know that. My interest in you rises by the moment.”
“Well father deals with eastern reps all the time. I guess I just picked up a word or two.” Pearl sighed and blinked. “So, we have established I am not normal. There has to be more of a reason to be interested in me, right?”
“Yeah, you seem to need a friend or so. It can’t be easy when you're radiating volcanic heat.” Forestsong purred. “Or absentmindedly blowing fire into other’s faces.”
Pearl wanted to argue that, but she could not. He was right of course. “I am not doing it on purpose. Except to a few ponies who totally have it coming.”
“Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon?” Forestsong asked with a knowing smile, one Pearl returned.
“The same. And Diamond’s mother while I am at it. Ponyville would be better off without that mare around. Hell, so would all of Equestria for that matter.”
“That seems overkill, don’t you think?” Forestsong asked.
Pearl snorted. “Have you met the mare? Worst parent of the year. Maybe ever. And as Twilight told Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, who is going to stop me, or any of us?”
He frowned. “That sounds far too much like one step away from despotism, or worse.”
Pearl nodded, her ears falling at the warning in his voice. “I know. Gods, I am trying to be better than that. We all are. But it is so hard some days. Someponies already want us locked away, or removed entirely. Even here in Ponyville.”
“Well, that’s foolish. You shouldn’t stop being who you are. Any of you.” Forestsong stretched out before a loud bark of command came from a large storm gray kirin mare down the street. Looking over his shoulder the kirin boy smiled. “Hai Oneechan!” Sighing Forestsong turned around and smiled at Pearl. “Sorry I have to go.”
“Already?” Pearl smirked.
“Yeah, we don’t come to Ponyville often, not many pony’s look too kindly on us. What with how ‘different’ we look.” Turning around he galloped away a few feet before turning back. “Ya know, we come out here every other weekend. Gathering supplies and such that we can’t get from the forest. I can meet you here if you like. We can hang out. I’m sure you need a friend who isn’t flammable.”
Pearl looked down the street at the towering presence that the adult Kirin mare was emanating. She was certainly not one to cross. Turning back to Forestsong she smiled. “I guess.”
“Great! See you then.” Forestsong galloped off. Pearl watched as he affectionately nuzzled the kirin mare as the two trotted off together.
With a smile, Pearl turned around and before she could take two steps fell flat on her face in the mud. “What the…” Spitting out bits of mud and dirt she looked down to find that her right hind leg was wrapped in a thick vine that was the same color as Forestsong’s coat. “That little…” Her fowl word was silenced by the sound of intense flames burning the vine away as she looked at the forest.
After a moment, though, she smirked. “You know what? This could be the start of something cool. As annoying as he is.”
Author's Note
Just a silly idea I had. So here we are. I regret nothing. And yes, I did that with the Crystal Empire and Season 3's premiere. With Spike gone, someone had to take his place. Why not Tiamat? It also helped that everypony in the empire saw the girls merge into her and that they didn't start snacking on everything in sight. Cover art comes from 28 Pranks Later.
