As soon as the airship was tied up and the gangplank secured, I bound down it. I smiled as I breathed deeply and took in the sea air.

Heading into town, I had a bounce to my step as I headed to my mom's bookstore. I smiled and waved to a few ponies who called out greetings as I walked past.

I did get a few whistles from some construction workers as I walked past a new high rise being built.

"Sorry boys! I already have a stallion!" I called out as I walked by, causing in them to groan in disappointment.

I laughed as I walked on, my sundress flowing around me. Talisman was right. I did feel like a whole new mare now that I wasn't hiding as Soarin'.

Thinking of my stallion, I smiled and blushed a bit. His personality was something to behold, and I loved it about him.

He was a warrior through and through. A consummate professional when he was fighting, but at the same time he was a kind and gentle soul despite his capability to wage violence.

The care and concern that he showed, as well as his respect to the fallen Royal Guards was amazing. He didn't have to stick around Las Pegasus and he most certainly didn't have to visit River and I in the hospital, almost daily in fact.

I actually looked forward to his visits while I was healing. Not only did they make the time go faster, but they helped to ease the pain of being abandoned to my fate by the team.

Shaking off the dark thoughts that arose, I walked into my mom's little store, the bell over the door chiming.

"Mom! You here?" I called out.

"Soarin'?" I heard her call out as she exited the office.

When she saw me, her eyes widened and she began tearing up.

"Emerald! Oh my beautiful girl is back home." She said as she hurried to give me a hug.

I hugged her tightly as tears welled up in my eyes.

"I'm home Mom." I said.

We separated and she looked me over.

"Now don't you look a treat. What brought this on?" She asked.

"Well, I met someone. He accepted me for who I am. He is an amazing man." I said a smile on my face.

"Oh, and who is the stallion that has captured your heart?" She asked.

"His name is Talisman Stryke and he is just amazing. He has his flaws, his temper is like a glacier, slow but devastating if it turned against you, but he is the most caring person I have ever met." I replied as we moved to the office to sit down.

"So how did you two meet?" Mom asked me.

"He rescued me actually." I said. "Spitfire, Fleetfoot and I were in Las Pegasus for a show when the Sheriff asked us to check out an area for them that they suspected to be the stronghold of the Don." I explained, causing her to gasp. "It was just supposed to be a fly by, get some pictures and come back. But when we got there, we came under spellfire. One of the unicorns got a lucky hit and I went down. I hit the ground hard and injured my wing." I said before growling. "Spitfire and Fleetfoot didn't even try to get me. Just moved on to the next town. A couple of days later, I'm chained up in the central chamber of this cave system and Princess Cadance and one of her guards, a mare named River Blossom, get dragged in. River was in bad shape. She had taken a crossbow bolt to the leg and she wound up losing the leg. Then while Cadance was talking to the Don, trying to get the three of us out, he showed up." I said smiling as I recalled that night. "He killed six of the Don's men in a few seconds and then marched out from his cover and started down this massive dragon and told him he that was leaving with all of us." I said, looking at my mom, her hand clasped over her mouth.

"What happened?" She asked.

"The Don laughed at him. Then Talisman lifted his hand and launched a piece of tungsten at him so fast that it came out of the back of his skull." I said. "He took me down, made sure that I could stand, and then went to River, who he hit with a healing spell before he unchained her. He had Cadance help me walk out and he carried River to the transport that Cadance and her detail had arrived in. He loaded River in first, then after helping me into the cab, he collected the bodies of the stallions that were on Cadance's detail that had been killed. Once their bodies were secure, he drove us to the hospital and made sure that all of us were treated and that the bodies were taken to be prepared for transport back to their families. He even stuck around while I was healing." I said.

"Amazing. How long were you in the hospital?" She asked, causing me to wince.

"About a month." I said sheepishly.

"And why did I hear nothing about it? Surely Spitfire could have sent a letter at least." She said.

"Spitfire didn't even know I was in the hospital. When I went to headquarters to resign, she was shocked to see me. After I left, Talisman, Shining Armor, the Captain of the Guard, and Princess Celestia herself went into the office and the next thing anyone knew, the Wonderbolts were being stood down to be rebuilt from the ground up." I replied.

"Why was Talisman there?" Mom asked.

I smiled. "Princess Luna and Princess Celestia had restarted the Equestrian Rangers. He was made the leader of the new corps." I said. "That is why he isn't here with me. He is busy recruiting and training, and then he still has to get our house set up in Ponyville. He did extend an invitation for you to come and visit." I explained. "Oh and he got you this as an apology for not being able to meet you." I said reaching into my bag and pulling out Talisman's gift before handing it to my mom.

Mom pulled the wrapping paper off the gift to reveal a jewelry box from a very nice store in Canterlot we had visited. Mom opened the box and gasped.

I moved to look in the box and saw a simple silver chain with a silver pendant in the shape of a book with a crystal quill overlaying it. There was also a note in the box.

"Diamond Blossom,

I apologize for not being able to meet you face to face, but my duties prevent it at this time. I did however want to give you a token of my appreciation for bringing such a wonderful and beautiful mare into this world. Emerald explained that you owned a bookstore and would occasionally dabble in writing. I saw this and felt it fitting for you.

Talisman Stryke"

I had tears in my eyes at the thoughtfulness of the gift. Somehow, without me even telling him, he had gotten a gift that was nearly the same design as my mother's cutie mark.

"How did he know?" Mom asked me.

"I have no idea. I never even mentioned your cutie mark." I said.

Mom smiled as she put the necklace on.

"So what does this stallion look like?" She asked me.

Smiling, I pulled out a photo we had taken last week when we went on a double date with Shining Armor and Cadance.

Handing her the photo, I pointed to Talisman, standing next to me with his arm around my waist and his black stetson pushed up to show his face.

"I have never seen anyone like him." She said.

I smiled sadly. "You won't either. He is the only one of his kind on this world. He was sent here when his was destroyed." I explained. "He has been here for almost a year. He has made peace with not being able to return to his home."

"That poor stallion." Mom said as she wiped her eyes. "So tell me how you two started dating." She said with a smile.

I smiled back and told her about our first official date.

The rest of my trip, my mom and I caught up and spent the evenings out on the town. Talisman was kind enough to give me a large amount of bits and told me to go have some fun with my mom. I tried to protest, but he was insistent that my mom got to make memories with her daughter.

Mom smiled when I told her that, and told me that I had better hang onto him.

Finally the day I had to leave arrived.

"Make sure you write to let me know you got there safe." Mom said hugging me tightly.

"I will. I left you enough money to ship the rest of my things to Ponyville once I get the address." I said.

"I'll send it as soon as I can sweetheart. Do you have the gift I gave you for Talisman?" She asked.

I patted my bag. "Made sure I had it this morning." I said.

"Good. Make sure to tell him thank you and that when I get a chance, I will come out and visit. I want to meet the reason my daughter came home with a smile." She said, making me laugh.

"I will Mom. I love you." I said giving her a final hug before we parted.

"I love too Emerald. I always have and I always will." She said as she let me go.

I smiled and headed onto the train.

Finding an empty compartment, I entered and sat down. Looking out the window, I smiled and waved to my mom as the train started to move.

I settled back in my seat and smiled. Talisman was right, I needed this trip. I felt lighter than I had in a long time. On the first night my mom and I had taken all the enchanted clothes that made up my Soarin' persona and burned them. The act was symbolic mostly. But looking at the bracelet that Talisman had bought me, with the rising phoenix dangling from it, it also symbolized my new start.

Soon I would be in Ponyville and truly starting my new life with the man that I loved.