Twilight yawned as she closed her computer and slumped in her chair. “One of these days, I will find a way to make this less stressful. College cannot be this hard.”
Spike only smirked up at her. “Guess that’s what you get for getting accepted into all of the ones you applied to. Didn’t the princess help you at all?”
Twilight shook her head. “Not for this. Equestria’s school system isn’t the same as this world. And I’m nowhere closer to making a final choice.”
“Guess you can’t ask your friends either?”
“No. They have their own college things to worry about. I don’t want to add to it,” Twilight sighed, scratching behind Spike’s ears.
A knock at the door jolted them both. “Twilight, dear. Are you in there?” An older woman’s voice asked.
Twilight rolled her eyes. “Yes, mom. I didn’t miss dinner again did I?”
Velvet chuckled. “No, dear. But you have a visitor. He says you two met at Spectrum a few weeks back.”
Twilight blinked, sharing a confused look with Spike. The only people she remembered at the club were her friends, Pearl, and… “Alright. I’ll see him.”
Velvet opened the door, smiling as she looked inside, before letting in a young boy Twilight recognized. “You two play nice now, you here?” Velvet giggled before closing the door behind her.
“Yes ma’am,” Kohaku said as he took another bite of a muffin. “Thank you for the muffin, it’s really good.” Standing there he smiled up at Twilight, dressed in a loose set of jeans, a sweater with Twilight’s school logo on it tied around his waist, and a short-sleeved shirt with a fox on it. Reaching up he brushed the ears on either side of his backward baseball cap. His three tails lay limp behind him.
Twilight rolled her eyes. “Do you ever take those off? I can’t remember a time you haven’t worn them. Even though they do fit you.”
Finishing his muffin, he just looked up and quirked his eyebrow “Hmm?”
Twilight just closed her eyes, putting two fingers on the bridge of her nose, and just sighed. “Never mind.” Completely missing the quick smile on his face. “I never did get a chance to say thank you for what your mother did at Spectrum. And you won’t need to worry about us telling anyone that Starsong is your mother. I doubt anyone would believe us anyway.”
Shrugging his shoulders, Kohaku leaned up against the wall. “Don’t worry about it. It’s not like it’s a huge secret. And it’s no problem. I heard it was your birthday and that Pearl is friends with Twi, and you two are together. I thought I would do something nice and ask if mom would perform. Oh yeah, speaking of which.” Reaching into his back pocket he produced a cd and flipped it toward Twilight. “Mom thought you’d want a copy of the songs she sang that night. They aren't even in stores yet and it’s autographed.”
Twilight just barely managed to not take the cd in her magic but was able to grab it with her hands. “Thank you, Kohaku. And I have no idea of what you’re talking about. I’m not with anyone.”
With a chuckle, he shook his head. “Oh please. I knew the moment I caught the scent off both of you. You two are certainly dating, or at least hot for each other.” watching Twilight he smiled at the look on her face as well as the dog next to her. “Uh… is he friendly?” Kohaku muttered nervously.
Twilight nodded. “Only if you don’t do anything to me. I don’t know why he’s acting like this though. Spike only acts like this if there's a fox around."
Spike, for his part, had an odd look on his face, sniffing the air. He could smell something. But that wasn’t possible. Was it?
Twilight shook her head. “And I don’t know where you got that idea. We are just good friends. Nothing more. She’s basically my twin. That seems a bit out there, don’t you think?”
“Eh, who am I to judge?” Walking through the room he caught sight of her laptop and opened it a bit. “Working on big sis’s paper I see. It better be good. She’s really harsh when it comes to this stuff.”
Twilight’s eyes widened in surprise. “Your sister is Professor Kazumi?”
He nodded “Yeah, she’s the eldest of us five. I’m the youngest. And keep in mind. She doesn’t even go easy on me on school papers. She expects near perfection from everyone.” Closing the laptop, he sat down in the chair.
Twilight gulped. She didn’t like the sounds of that. “Just my luck that I get a professor like that. I always put one hundred percent effort into everything I do. No matter what it might be.”
Kohaku nodded. He believed every word of that. Looking around again, his eyes fell on a necklace with a pearl insert, resting on a mannequin off to the side. “I see the Pearl from Mount Aris has given you something.”
Twilight’s jaw dropped. “How do you know that name?!” She asked before she could stop herself, throwing her hands over her mouth in horror as she realized what she had just said outloud.
Kohaku just smiled wider. “So you have been to Equestria. And seeing as you are still fine, Equus has not frozen over yet I assume?”
Twilight’s mind came to a crashing halt. How? “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Kohaku. Where are those names from? Some kind of game?”
He just shook his head. “I think you can drop the act, Twilight. Mother and father nearly died getting to this world because of that place. Or have you not seen the ruins in the waters around the island?”
Twilight frowned as the room suddenly felt much smaller. Something was very wrong with all of this. “What are you really, Kohaku? You know things you shouldn’t. That no one but my friends should know.”
He just smirked. “Let’s just say you won’t find my kind in any history book. And you can drop the magic. I mean you no harm.”
Twilight blinked, cutting off her flow in surprise. “How do I know that?”
His smirk only grew. “Do you think we would be talking like this if I wanted to do anything to you? Not only would Pearl kill me. But that is rude to do to one’s host. I was raised better than that.”
Twilight relaxed slightly. She could hear the sincerity in his words. “Then there was literal magic in the air at Spectrum. Twily wasn’t going crazy.”
Kohaku chuckled. “Oh yes. Mother always weaves her magic into her shows. Nobody believes it’s magic. Just special effects.”
Twilight nodded. That made sense. “Does Pearl know about all of this?”
He nodded. “She’s known for years about me and my family. She was scared half to death when she found out what I was, but we managed to calm her down. It helped when her parents came to explain everything.”
Twilight thought about that for a moment. That would explain why Pearl seemed so jumpy about certain things.
“As for the events around Canterlot High? Have you ever wondered why no one has asked about it?” Kohaku smirked.
Twilight shrugged. “No one’s going to believe magic is involved. I know Crystal Prep tried to do something after the Friendship Games. But it never seemed to go anywhere thankfully.”
He nodded. “Oh, that Baka Cinch tried to make it into something. She has powerful friends at all levels. How else would she get to the top as she had? Father, though, is never one to be bribed or intimidated. He cares too much about education for the young to be otherwise.”
Twilight smiled. She had met the man several times. He always had a calm air about him, but underneath it all, there always seemed to be hidden strength and resolve. “Yet, I don’t think that is the only reason, is it?”
Kohaku shook his head. “Equus was my father and mother’s home once, long ago. They still hold an attachment to it. They do not want to see what has been done to this world, done to it as well. They see great things for you and your friends, and the princess who stole your heart.”
Twilight blushed at that, while Spike could only smirk. “And you?” He asked.
Kohaku shrugged. “I have no attachment to that world. Nor do my sisters. As old as they are, and knowing all that they do, it is still a foreign realm to them. None of us has seen it physically. Only in memory. I plan to keep it that way if it is all the same to you.”
Twilight giggled. “I don’t think we could stop any of you if you tried, though. But why tell me all of this?”
He just smiled. “Because I saw something in you and your friends that night at the club. There is something special between you. Between you and Princess Twilight that goes beyond love. Pearl thinks I’m losing it. But I believe it. You have friends that go beyond just your immediate circle. We cannot be overt, but we are with you as well.”
Twilight smiled. For some reason, that alone gave her a massive boost of confidence. “Thank you. I just hope we won’t need too much help for anything magic-related.” She smiled sheepishly, looking at her laptop. “Um. I don’t suppose you can also help me with what Professor Kazumi gave me?”
Kohaku chuckled. “No can do. Onee-chan would have my hide if I tried to help you. She is terrifying when she is mad, and I fear her more than anything.”
Twilight gulped. That didn’t sound good. Darn it. It had been worth a shot.
Kohaku’s smile softened, however. “But despite all of that, and the high standards sis holds everyone to. She does genuinely care. It takes a lot to get through to it. But she has a heart of gold underneath her tough exterior.” He chuckled. “Just don’t tell her I said that.”
Twilight giggled. “Your secret is safe with me.”
Chuckling Kohaku sat atop her bed. “Well since you got to secrets. I know your puppy there has been sensing something off. You asked me why I wear these things.” Reaching up with his tail, Kohaku removed his hat and flung it at Twi. “They aren't really fake. I’d show you my true form but I’d rather not have you screaming. Not saying you would but if Pearl is anything to go on. I’m not going to take that chance.”
Twilight blinked as she saw that the ears were twitching slightly and his three tails were moving. “I’ll take your word on that.”
“Well, all I really came to do is give you and miss princess that CD. Also, to invite you and your friends to a pool party this weekend at our house.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously. We have an Olympic-sized pool, spacious yard with a full dance floor, and DJ booth. And we have it catered. Plus, mom kinda wants to meet your beloved princess. She just didn’t say why. But I'm guessing it has a lot to do with her world. Just. Don’t say anything to her about us knowing. Mom will explain everything.”
Twilight nodded. “I’ll ask. But I can’t promise she can make it. Especially since this just came up now.”
Shrugging, Kohaku stood up and walked to the door. “Well mom said she’d be here, and she’s usually right about these things. It's scary. I’ll leave you back to your work.” Grabbing the door handle he turned his head around. “Oh yes. You may want to stick with the school my sis teaches at. She sees a lot of potential in you.” Walking out he replaced his hat and left.
Twilight was silent for a moment, not sure what to make of that last bit. She didn’t even know Professor Kazumi at all. Why would she see something in her?
Twilight understood just how much of a pain Kohaku was. He was a puzzle she just couldn’t solve. Sitting at her desk she heard a knock on her door. “Come in.”
“Oh, Twilight dear, I forgot to give this to you. It came in the mail today.” Velvet handed her daughter a storm grey envelope with a lightning bolt seal.
Shaking a bit at the envelope she slowly opened it and pulled out the notecard inside.
Room 679. Canterlot Com. College, Saturday, 9 am sharp.
Impress me.
Signed
Professor Kazumi Everfree.
“Looks like an invite to something.” Velvet smiled “hmm, Professor Kazumi. Isn’t she the teacher that came to your school a few weeks ago to give everyone that assignment?”
Twilight nodded weakly. “She is. And she is also Kohaku’s sister. The boy that just left.”
“Well Saturday morning, that’s in two days. You might want to get things ready.” Velvet leaned in and kissed the top of her daughter's head.
Twilight only nodded meekly, wondering what she had gotten herself into. That pool party sounded pretty good right about now.
Author's Note
Just a little something I thought up out of the blue. Plus it ties up a loose end from Girls Night Out. Felt it needed to be addressed at some point. Why not now? And in this world, Kohaku's family surname is Everfree, but everyone just uses Forest. Minor detail. But there it is.
