New Friends Between Realities

Chapters

Furballs and Redheads
Ping Pong Rematch
Final Match
The Bartender

Furballs and Redheads

Lumena sighed as Pinkie handed her a drink. “Thank you, Pinkie. I needed this.”

Pinkie nodded in understanding. “Long day?”

Lumena nodded. “Indeed. After several universes, you would think it would hurt less to let them go. I ask so much of my Exarchs, and yet they don’t say a thing. So why?”

Pinkie’s smile dropped. “Because you care about them, Lumena. Cadence was right. Spending time as a mortal is making you less of a grump.”

Lumena snorted as she took a drink. “Perhaps. At least she does not rub in the fact that she was right. For which I am very grateful.”

Pinkie giggled. “Sounds like you need a new friend then, Lumy. What about that dragon you seem to like?”

Lumena blinked. “Shenlong? It is not as simple as a hop, skip, and a jump over to his multiverse for me. No more than it is for him to mine.”

Pinkie only smiled wider. “You never know. Maybe someone can be the bridge for that.”

Before she could ask what the party pony meant, Pinkie bounced off to greet some new arrivals, leaving Lumena alone with her thoughts, and wondering just what Pinkie meant by all of that.

“Are you okay?” A new voice asked, startling Lumena out of her thoughts. Looking around, she came face to face with a leaf-green kitsune with amber markings. Nine tails swished about as nine emerald flames circled each tail. He seemed rather nonplussed to be this close to her.

She nodded. “You are one of Shenlong’s children. Though I don’t remember seeing an ascended kitsune here before.”

The kitsune chuckled and produced an oak chair and flopped himself into it. “First time actually. And Yes I am one of his. Shenlong told me all about this place and I thought I’d come to see for myself what he likes about it.” the kitsune waved at Pinkie who produced a fruit drink before he even asked. With a blink, he smirked. “I have to say, he was right about the service. Names Kohaku.”

Lumena smiled despite herself. “Lumena. Though I have more names than I care to remember. And the service is the best in the omniverse if I do say so myself. Once you get used to seeing beings you may not have seen before.”

“You’ve never seen a kitsune before?” Kohaku asked in surprise.

Lumena shook her head. “Only in the myths of the far east in many worlds. Your kind does not exist beyond the realm of fantasy. I have never seen a reason to change that.”

“Well that isn’t fair,” Kohaku smiled. “Ponies can be so dull after a while, after so long they all start to look the same. Also, they are so much fun to screw around with of course.”

Lumena bit back a retort. No vaporizing allowed, she reminded herself. “And I suppose you’re nothing but a barrel of fun?”

“Well, I try. But, it’s not easy to find someone with a similar sense of humor.” Sipping on his drink he leaned back. “But I do have to say Discord is always good for a laugh. And thanks for not vaporizing me. I doubt Pinkie there would enjoy cleaning up afterward. Not to mention I doubt Shenlong would take too kindly to it. He put a LOT of work into me.” Kohaku lifted his paw silencing Lumena’s retort. “No I can’t read your mind, but I have seen that look many times before. Don’t get me wrong, I do like ponies. And I’ve never harmed one.”

“Well, you do share one of his most annoying traits. I still can’t figure out how he knows what I’m thinking just from a look.” Lumena thought for a moment as something he said stuck with her. “I know somepony who would be right up your alley. Though I doubt she exists where ever it is you’ve come from. But I will never hear the end of it if I give him the idea. All he’s ever given me are headaches.”

Blinking Kohaku looked at Lumena before smirking. “Really? Well, he did tell me about this all-powerful goddess who seemed to think it was a good idea to give a short-lived species the ‘keys to a nuclear reactor'. His words not mine. Although, what a nuclear reactor is I have NO idea. He said she was a pain in his tail half the time. But still a good friend. Was that you he’s talking about?” Quirking an eyebrow the fox circled his paw finger around the edge of his drink glass.

Lumena grumbled into her drink. Correction, he’d inherited two things from Shenlong. Now she could add being a pain in her backside to the list. “Oooh, that does it. I don’t care if I hear it. Pearl is going to give you all the humor you want, and then some. I’m going to enjoy it too. If I have to go over his head on this, I will. She needs a new punching bag anyway.”

“So, who is this Pearl?” Kohaku chuckled as Lumena pointed at the door as it opened and a snow-white alicorn stepped into the bar. He guessed she was trying to work out just why or how she was in this place by her giving questionable looks to every creature that walked by OH wow… where have you been the last hundred thousand years? Shaking his head rapidly the fox smirked back at Lumena. “I take it this is the… angel. That you were talking about? If so. Your right, we don’t have anycreature like her back home.” Kohaku sighed longingly as he stared at Pearl. He questioned the multicolored scales that lined her wings and horn but found it only enhanced who she was.

“Okay, what the buck is going on… I walk into my bedroom and I’m in a BAR!!!” Pearl huffed deeply.

Lumena chuckled. “That’s her. Why don’t you go say hi.”

Kohaku smiled as he leaped off his chair and strolled up to Pearl as Lumena smiled. “Hey there. How about I show you around, you seem a bit lost.”

Pearl blinked as she looked at the creature in front of her. Narrowing her eyes she sighed. “Really? That’s your best line… buck off.” Rearing back, Pearl landed a solid strike into the fox’s chest sending him rolling head over paw back into the bar.

Lumena smiled as she saw Kohaku was upside down, half gasping for breath. “What do you think?”

“I think I’m in love.” Kohaku chuckled once his breath returned.

Lumena rolled her eyes as Pinkie bounced over to Pearl with a smile. “Say. You must be new here,” she giggled. “But there’s one rule above the others around here.”

Pearl blinked in shock. “Pinkie Pie?! How the buck did you get here? How the hell did I get here? And why are you an Alicorn?!”

Pinkie nodded. “That’s me, and it’s a very long story! Both of them! I’ll be happy to tell you the whole thing. Just remember one thing young filly.”

Pearl gulped, just now noticing the looks she was getting. “And what’s that?”

Pinkie turned deadly serious as she gestured around the room. “No attacking other patrons while you’re at the In-Between Inn. We are a peaceful establishment and I mean to keep it that way. Understand?” Pinkie slowly narrowed her eyebrows and leaned into Pearl who only nodded her head rapidly. In an instant Pinkie’s bright and cheerful face returned. “Great. Enjoy your stay. Have a seat at the bar and I’ll get your favorite drink.” turning on her hooves she bounced back to her station.

Pearl could only nod numbly as she flopped down onto a stool with a sigh, avoiding the not-so-friendly looks she was still getting from other patrons. “Twilight is gonna have a lot of explaining to do. Nopony said anything about this when I became an alicorn.”

Blinking Kohaku sat up slightly rubbing his chest. “You know Twilight-sama?” Sitting back into his chair, Kohaku picked up his drink. “Solid hit by the way. Haven't been struck that hard since my big sister Kazumi.”

Pearl shot him a look. “Oh no. I am not talking with a mythological fox right now. Kitsunes aren’t real. I’ve read the myths. I just had too much to drink. Yeah, that’s it.”

“Wish it was that simple. I’m as real as it gets milady. I’m just not from around here. Hell till I showed up here I never knew five-headed dragons existed.” one of his tails pointed to the Tiamat with five pony heads atop her five heads sitting and laughing in the corner. “I’m sure she can tell you.” Kohaku pointed to Lumena who was seated behind Pearl.

Pearl blinked and turned around and started to shiver openly as her eyes widened. “C… C.. Cosmos. I’m not drunk, am I? I’m dead!” Pearl gripped her head with both hooves as Kohaku looked up at Lumena who just shrugged.

“She likes to overreact doesn’t she?” Kohaku sighed finishing his drink.

Lumena nodded as she walked over and placed a hoof on the alicorn’s back. “You are not dead, Pearl. You come from a universe where I use that name then?”

Pearl nodded. “You’ve ruled Equestria for as long as anypony can remember. The same look and everything. You were the one to help me find my destiny,” she pointed to the five-headed dragon cutie mark on her flank. “You officiated at me and Twilight’s wedding. And I still don’t know why you did all of that for us. We're nothing compared to you and your Exarchs."

“Oh yes. I have a vague memory of that. So many universes and timelines it’s hard to keep track. So I pulled you from that one.”

“Hmmph. And you call me senile,” a child’s voice came from behind Lumena. Turning she saw a young grey colt on his hind legs, dressed in a white kimono and arms crossed.

Lumena almost got whiplash as she saw how fast Kohaku fell to the ground, bowing before the colt. “I should have known you show up sooner or later Shenlong.”

A deep chuckle emanates from the colt's throat. “No need to bow my child.” His voice was much older than his age as Kohaku returned to his seat nodding.

Pearl opened her mouth but felt a soft paw on her shoulder. Turning she looked at the fox she had belted. “You play Ping Pong?” he said as she shook her head. “Common I’ll teach you. It's not smart to get between two gods.” Bowing again. “My lord.” Gripping Pearl’s tail Kohaku effortlessly pulled Pearl from the bar as she tried to work out just what was happening.

“So tell me. What do you think of him?” Shenlong took a seat next to his old friend.

Lumena watched the two go. “He’s your child through and through. Good at getting under my skin, and far too smug for his own good. Someone needs to knock it out of him. And I have just the pony in mind.”

Nodding Shenlong produced a pair of square wooden sake cups and filled one till it overfilled onto the plate and slid it next to Lumena. Then did the same for his own. “I thought you might. It’s why I sent him here.” His eye glanced over at the two ‘children’. Pearl growled as she swung and missed at yet another ball that bounced off the table. “And as you haven't vaporized him. I can assume you actually like the boy?”

Lumena only grumbled into her sake. Like hell, she would ever admit that. Especially to him of all gods. She would never live it down.

“That’s the highest praise I’ve ever seen you give.” Shenlong chuckled at her grumbling.

“Why me?” Lumena sighed as she sipped her drink.

“Because of all these young gods, I like you most. You speak your mind. You don’t sugarcoat things. If you don’t like something you voice it.” Shenlong smiled. “And you treat your creations with a great deal of respect. Most young ones like you give up so easily. But you don’t. I like that. And it seems he likes her.” Looking over at Kohaku and Pearl, Shenlong smiled. “He’s been alone for so long. Eternity is a bleak prospect for an immortal spirit.”

Lumena smiled, locking onto the scent of Pearl’s home universe. “He better be careful then. Pearl has a family to go home to. Her universe is still young in the grand scheme of things. Many more ages before its sands run out."

“Worry not. He’s no homewrecker. No doubt he’s already caught the scent of her wife. Besides his universe has yet to come into existence. He’s a mere shadow of who he will become.” Taking out a small green sphere, Shenlong set it in front of Lumena. “He could use a friend. Someone who is strong enough to temper his more wild nature.” Watching, Shenlong saw Pearl finally catch on and start to bat back the small white ball as fiercely as Kohaku was. The pair were now in a near-death match of a ping-pong game. “And I think her worlds might benefit from what he can offer.”

Lumena nodded. “They will. In time. If for no other reason than so I can watch her beat him up. My worlds have existed for so long without his kind with no problems that could not be solved by mortals. And for those that couldn’t, I step in myself and give them the leadership they need. Pearl comes from one such, though it is a downgrade from what we had in another. Her and her ‘sisters’.”

Shenlong nodded as he sat there sipping on his drink. Already he could hear Lumena growling a little as she produced a small white sphere.

“She’s stubborn, a bit dim. And at times. Too rough for her own good. She needs someone who can temper that out of her. Twilight does a good job, but I think someone like him might do the job a little bit better. Not that she’ll ever admit it,” the goddess sighed. She watched as Shenlong took the sphere and put it in the folds of his kimono before getting up to leave. “You will take good care of her won’t you?”

“As good as you will him,” his voice faded as he walked out the door.

Looking down she found that there were already several coins in place of their drinks. Grumbling she smirked. “Every single time.”

Lumena picked up the small sphere as both Pearl and Kohaku faded from the bar. Their paddles dropped to the ground. But they would be back, Lumena felt. Pearl just needed to learn how to maintain herself at the inn, and Kohaku’s universe had just been born. They would find their way back. She just knew it.

“Aw. But it was just getting good,” Pinkie sighed.

Lumena chuckled. “Don’t worry, Pinkie. They will return. Pearl will learn to maintain herself here with time. Her universe has many more ages to come before their sands run out. And Kohaku has his entire life in front of him. His universe has just been born,” she added, seeing the mare’s confusion. “Next time, they might even bring family with them. I'm sure Shenlong will help him remember all of this."

Pinkie smiled widely. “Then I’ll be sure to keep their game ready for them!” She quickly cordoned off the area, keeping it as it was now for just Pearl and Kohaku.

Looking at the sphere Lumena smiled. Seeing inside it was a small sleeping fox with three tails. “Not that I’ll ever admit this to you. Or him. But I enjoyed our talk and your company. We’ll have to do it again when you're older. Welcome to the fold little one.”

Author's Note

So where do I even start with this one? This is the prequel story of so many of my other stories. Namely, those where Kohaku and kitsunes exist. But not all of my stories have them in them, so it's not a prequel to every single one.

Pearl's universe is one, sadly, I will not be doing a story for. Safe to say, it is very different from the Friendship Is Magic we know. There will be a second chapter at some point. Pearl and Kohaku still need to finish their game. And this time. They will not come alone. That I promise.

Ping Pong Rematch

“Think he’ll show?” Pearl grumbled into her drink, giggling as Twilight tried to stop her head from spinning as she looked around the In-Between Inn and the patrons.

Pinkie could only shrug with a knowing smile. “Who knows? Your game is ready whenever you two are though! I made sure to leave it as you left it.”

Pearl rolled her eyes with a groan and nodded. “I am not losing to an oversized fuzzball.”

That seemed to bring Twilight back to her senses as she lay a wing around her wife’s shoulders, as Pinkie got drinks for Summer and Winter. “Oh, I don’t know, Rosie. The way you were talking that day, it sounded like you two were having fun. And Cosmos did help you learn to return more often.”

Pearl held her annoyance for a few more seconds, before relaxing and smiling. “Yeah. Once I got over how weird all of this is, I was having fun. I even felt bad for bucking Kohaku as I did.”

Pinkie giggled. “Normal reaction for every first-time visitor! And why you weren’t in trouble for breaking the no-violence rule. Plus that was a really bad pickup line!”

Summer gasped in horror. “Someone tried to pick you up, momma?!”

Pearl nodded, earning an eye roll from Twilight. “Yeah. Kohaku was lucky I didn’t hit him harder for it either.”

“Not that it would have mattered. Kitsunes can take far worse,” a new voice chuckled, as Lumena materialized behind the group, wearing the same face Pearl remembered as well.

Twilight, Summer, and Winter though, not knowing what Pearl did, all gasped in horror and immediately bowed. “E. Empress…” Winter squeaked. “We didn’t know you were coming.”

Lumena rolled her eyes, while Pearl tried to relax, but was still tense as well. “Nay, little one. I am not who you think I am. Not entirely. I’m sure she’s told you?”

Twilight wracked her brain, trying to remember all she had read and been told, before moaning and rubbing her head. “Oooh. Now I remember why the multiverse gives me a headache.”

Lumena smiled. “You will get used to it, I feel. Spending time here will help.”

Twilight wasn’t so sure of that as she looked around the room. She recognized humans, ponies, and maybe alternate hippogryphs. She wasn’t sure. The five-headed dragon with the pony heads on each of the dragon heads was throwing her for a loop though. Only the Empress Dragon had that form.

Turning back to her wife, Twilight smiled only for all of her mane to stick out and almost did a full-on spit take. Walking down the stairs was an identical version of her wife with a small pink fox on her back.

“Pinkie you outdid yourself. I love the room, thank you so much!” Pearl shouted and hugged the innkeeper which was returned.

“Hey no problem, you three are some of my best customers. Did little Autumn like it?” Pinkie smiled

“She did. Although I think having the roller coaster was just a bit too much.” Pearl smirked before turning and noticing Twilight having a minor attack. “OH hey, Twilight. You didn’t tell me you were going to be here? I thought you were spending time at the Crystal Empire?”

Twilight’s brain seemed to have short-circuited, however, for all she could do was gasp like a fish out of water.

Lumena rubbed her temples with a groan. “Oh, he didn’t.”

Pearl hummed as she walked up to Lumena and after leaning in close she smirked. “You must be this Lumena I’ve always heard about. Funny. You don’t seem to be as uptight as everyone here says you are.”

Lumena frowned. No vaporizing allowed, she had to remind herself, Least of all to one of my own. No matter that she comes from Shenlong. She forced herself to smile. “I try to leave that behind when I come here, miss Rose. Or do you use your husband’s?”

At the word husband. Pearl’s own mane shot out and started to look much like her wife. Her mind reeled to comprehend what was going on. Husband?!

“Well, I usually use Rose. but my official married name is Pearl Alabaster Everfree-Rose.” Pearl smirked as she pulled her child around and held the little vixen in front of her. “Of course, I tried to get him to use MY name exclusively... But marriage does require compromise.”

“Mama,” little Autumn tugged on her mom’s kimono top. “That pony looks just like you,” her little paw pointing directly at Pearl. Who sat there with almost an identical look to Twilight.

“Autumn, you know it’s rude to point.” Pearl smiled, patting her daughter’s head, and looked up at her doppelganger. “I’m so sorry about that. She’s five. So her manners aren’t the best just yet.”

Twilight’s Pearl shook her head with a groan. “Now I know I’m drunk and dead. Even if I wasn’t, there’s no way in hell would I be caught dead doing that with a boy!”

Twilight nodded. “She literally put the last stallion who tried in the hospital. And he was lucky I feel to get away with what he did.”

Smiling the double of Pearl giggled. “Wow. You must have had a lot more restraint than I did. I put a lot of colts and stallions in the hospital that way. And many of them missing certain, body parts.” Setting her daughter down, the young fox stalked her way over to Summer and Winter, giving the pair a few sniffs. “They do make wonderful high pitch singers now.”

Twilight’s Pearl snorted, smirking. “Darn it. Didn’t even think of that. Would have saved me a lot of trouble if I had.”

Twilight sighed. “Great. Now there’s two of them.”

“Certainly been a fantasy of mine,” a voice came from beside Twilight as the two pearls continued to chat.

Turning to the side she saw a large eleven-hoof-high fox with nine tails swishing behind him. “I take it your Pearl’s Twilight? Neat. Glad you could make it.”

“Kohaku?” Twilight blinked. Arching her head back just to see his face. “That is you right?”

“Oh, sweetie. Your back.” Pearl leaped out and wrapped her front legs around his neck. Which was rewarded with his front legs around her barrel. The pair touching foreheads.

“Sorry, I’m late love. I wanted to make sure the forest was taken care of. Thankfully AJ has things under control.” Kohaku chuckled.

“He better, let's hope the boy doesn’t end up flooding the river again. I’d rather NOT have to deal with a town of irate ponies complaining that their homes are flooded, for the second time in a year.”

“Well, you were the one who wanted to become reagent princess.”

Pearled grumbled and just leaned into her husband. “Why didn’t you talk me out of it?”

“I tried, ten times,” Kohaku lightly chuckled.

Leaning back Pearl slammed her hoof into his midsection. “Try harder next time,” she huffed and went to sit next to her counterpart. With a wave of her hoof, she turned Pinkie around and back to the bar.

Twilight rubbed her forehead. “I see some things will never change, no matter the universe. I assume you live in Ponyville? Or close by? Though I wonder how there could be a forest nearby.”

Her Pearl nodded, wracking her brain to try and remember what she’d read in the oldest section of the Palace Archives. “There hasn’t been a forest anywhere near Ponyville for over six thousand years, and the Rose River flows through Ponyville Palace. Always has as far as I know. I’m friends with the resident eastern dragoness who lives in it.”

Lumena nodded, unsure of how Kohaku might react. “Remember, you do not exist in their timeline. Quite a few destroyed the Everfree entirely, for it was too dangerous.”

Both Pearls blinked together as they looked at Kohaku. Who just sat there, his head down and eyes closed. Sipping on his tea. The trio of children now playfully tugged on several of his chairs. But the kitsune did not react, outside of giving them playful shoves with his free tails. Setting his drink down he looked up and offered a smile. “Such a shame. The Everfree was always a view of nature at its finest. At least that’s how I’ve always viewed it. I’m sorry you Ponies won’t get to see just how marvelous a place it can be. But. it was not my forest. I can’t pretend that it was. Nor is it my place to judge your universe Lady Lumena.”

Lumena’s mane suddenly stuck out in several places and leaned in to whisper to his Pearl. “I don’t remember him being this… well this. What have you done?”

Smiling she gave the goddess a little wink. “Tamed the beast in all areas but one. And it’s the one area I refuse to do so.” Her eyes shifted over to her daughter and then back. “Wasn’t easy. Plus I think he’s a lot older since the last time he was here. He did say he was a lot younger when he visited you last.”

Lumena’s mane sprung out in several more places. “Shenlong did it on purpose. He always does. I met him before your universe was even born.”

Twilight’s Pearl shook her head. “Oh, brother. Can he at least still play Ping Pong? Not that I don’t mind wiping the floor with him.”

“Good luck, it’s the one game he loves to play.” Kohaku’s Pearl smiled as Kohaku took out a green paddle with amber pads. The face of the paddle was quite worn but still solid and smiled at the pair. “Hope you can beat him. Even Shenlong has problems keeping up with him.”

“Oh please tell me your joking?” Lumena’s eyes widened as Pearl shook her head.

“His mother trained him.”

Lumena rolled her eyes and mouthed ‘of course she did’. Turning back to Twilight’s Pearl the goddess smirked. “Don’t hold back. Use all your magic and then some. You’ll need it.”

Pearl snorted as she took up her paddle. “Please. How tough could he be? I was winning last time. The damn timer ran out.”

Kohaku just smiled as he took his place. “Keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel better.”

Twilight sighed in resignation but was smiling all the same. “Now he’s said it. Pearl hates losing and has told off an Exarch more than once when she loses to them at something. I think Ivy actually likes it.”

Lumena sighed. “She’s never faced someone like him though. If he gives Shenlong this much trouble, then…”

Twilight could only wonder what she meant as the two started back up. “Then he doesn’t know Pearl very well.”

Pearl zoned out the two. Before she could even blink, she found the ball sailing past her. “Lucky shot.” She grabbed the ball. “Try to keep up,” and served herself.

Unfortunately, Kohaku was much faster than she had thought, and never gave the ball a chance to touch anything before returning service. Pearl could just barely get her paddle up in time to stop losing another point and send it back, again to be denied a scoring chance.

His smile never left his face. “Not so lucky I take it? Please do try and make this fun.”

Pearl’s eyes twitched. “Oh, that does it, you pest. You’re going down, even if it kills me!”

Twilight groaned and tried to make herself comfortable. “This could be a while.”

How long had this been going on? Twilight didn’t know, as she returned to the common room after setting Sumer and Winter down for a nap, to see that nothing had changed.

Pearl and Kohaku were now serving so fast that she could barely keep up with them. Occasionally, one of them would score a point, but at this point, no one knew when it would end, or if it ever would.

“How long have they been at this?” She asked as she sat down next to Lumena.

The goddess shook her head. “Five hundred years now. One of them has to win eventually.”

Twilight’s jaw dropped. “Five hundred what?! That’s impossible. It feels like it’s been only a few hours.”

Lumena nodded. “For you, it has. But time does not function as you know it here. When she was here last, Pearl was here for several days in fact, though for her it had only been several hours.”

Twilight tried to process all of that. It seemed impossible that much time had passed. Neither of the girls had aged at all since they had arrived, and she didn’t feel any older.

Looking over at Kohaku’s Pearl, she could see that she was as bored as she was with all of this. Again, Twilight wondered just how they had become a family. He certainly had an exotic charm to him and she could see how fillies and mares would swoon over him. But Pearl?

Shaking her head, Twilight looked around the bar. With nothing else to do, she had mingled with the crowd. Many came from rather exotic worlds. None of which the Celestial Orrery connected to as far as she knew, and she had enjoyed hearing their stories.

Tiamat, as the dragon had named herself, was the most interesting. Not an Empress Dragon herself, her dragon and pony heads had literally known no other life other than the one they shared. Ten different personalities all of them sharing one body. Even the dragon and their pony head often butted heads on what they wanted to do. No matter that they shared everything. It was even worse between different heads. But even then, Tiamat’s core personality was there in each of her heads. Dragon and pony united together since the day they had hatched, and gods help anyone foolish enough to try and set one sister against another.

What boggled Twilight’s mind was that she was one of them, her counterpart sharing all with Tiamat’s green head. The two were far more venomous than even she, at her absolute worst, could ever hope to be. They found her to be the strange one and asked more than once why she had chosen to be something so boring as a pony.

Looking back as her Pearl let out a cry of triumph as she scored another point, Twilight giggled. While her wife was all serious on the outside, Twilight had known Pearl since they were fillies and saw the truth.

Pearl was enjoying every second of this. More than that. She was having fun. Twilight could only enjoy watching Pearl having so much fun. Ping Pong was not her thing. “How much longer will they keep this up?”

Lumena could only shrug. “Neither one is giving up. But Kohaku is winning. That it has lasted this long is something of a miracle. His mother is too good of a teacher.”

The Trio of lookers smiled as Twilight’s Pearl trick shot the ball off of her paddle. Making her opponent turn one way as the ball zoomed behind his head. Pearl shouted a yell of victory, tossing her paddle in the air, only to see Kohaku’s paddle flip up behind his back. Catch the ball and bounce it back. All Pearl could do was fumble to catch her paddle only for the ball to bounce on her side and then off the table.

“Point, set, match.” Kohaku smiled. Setting down his paddle he stretched. “Good game though. You almost had me with that last shot. But you forgot the first rule of the game.” His eyes looked directly into hers as Pearl slumped down to the ground.

“Never celebrate until you actually win…” she groaned. “I deserved that.” She managed a smile after a moment. “But I can’t even be mad. I was having too much fun. Maybe I can get your mom to teach me.”

“Good luck with that,” Kohaku’s Pearl smiled as she walked up beside her husband. Kissing his cheek. Then turned to her counterpart. “She won’t even teach me. And I’ve been asking for centuries.”

Twilight’s Pearl snorted. “Is being stubborn a family trait, or is it just you two?”

Kohaku opened his mouth only for his Pearl to shove her hoof into it. “It’s one of the three things he inherited from his father. Eidetic memory and being beyond stubborn.” Pearl chuckled.

“And the third?” Twilight’s Pearl quirked an eyebrow.

Walking forward, Kohaku’s Pearl placed a hoof on her counterpart’s shoulder. “For the sake of your sanity. I’m not going to say.” Her eyes locked onto Twilight who went wide-eyed and then blushed. “So put it from your mind.”

Pearl wanted to argue that, but one look at her wife said it was better she never knew. “Fine. Next time, I’m not making that same mistake.”

Nodding Kohaku just chuckled and sat up at the table. “Said the girl who made the same mistake three times in a row now,” he chuckled ignoring the fact that his wife and Twilight’s Pearl both stuck their tongue out at him. “I’m going to go check in on the kids.” Getting up he walked out of the room and up the stairs. Twilight and her Pearl watched as his Pearl just watched him leave.

Kohaku’s Pearl turned around and leaned back holding a drink in hooves. She looked up to see the pair staring at her. “You’re wondering how I could be with him?”

Twilight and her Pearl both blushed and looked a bit uncomfortable.

“Yes I know that’s what you both wanted to ask since you saw me.” Kohaku’s Pearl sighed running her hoof around the edge of her glass. “Some days I wonder myself. I certainly never saw myself hooking up with any creature before. And definitely NOT him.”

“So? Why?” Twilight’s Pearl leaned in, biting down her lower lip. An old habit she noticed her counterpart shared.

“I honestly don’t know. I never thought, from the day I first met him as that mute little unicorn colt who was constantly picked on by fillies and colts much larger than him.” Her hooves cracked the mug in her grip at the memory. Pearl hated anyone who picked on those smaller than them. She saw the look in her counterpart's eyes and knew it was the same with her. “But over the years he just grew on me. Like an old worn-out coat, you just can’t throw out because it’s so comfortable.”

“We had been friends for years. He watched me date one mare after another. And never once complained. I knew how he felt. I wasn’t that blind. But it wasn’t until one of my girlfriends set me up that I came to my senses. Even after so long I still don’t know what happened to her. But whatever it is. I know what Kohaku did, he did it because he loved me. And wanted nothing more than to keep me safe. After that. I thought to start dating him. Just to see where it went. Three thousand years and four kids later. We’re still together.”

Twilight’s Pearl blinked. “That sounds more complicated than what we had. Me and Twily have known each other since we were kids.” She poked her wife who blushed. “I saved this goofball from bullies more times than I care to count. The less said about what happened to some, the better. Cosmos still won’t say what happened to their families one night. I never dated anyone until I started dating Twilight.” She tapped her horn. “Only after I ascended did I propose. I didn’t want to leave her alone for eternity. Five thousand years and two kids later, I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Twilight nodded, gesturing to Lumena. “I’m still not sure why Cosmos officiated our wedding. We’d barely even interacted with her court, let alone her before then. I don't regret it of course. Very few couples ever get the same honor.”

Lumena smiled. “I have my reasons. Though I will never say them.”

Twilight’s Pearl groaned. “And she says that a lot too. Even after helping me find my destiny as… I’m not even sure what to call her. I’m not the Empress Dragon.”

“The what?” Kohaku’s Pearl asked.

Lumena shook her head. “Something only myself, one of my avatars, and my Exarchs will ever understand.”

Twilight pinched her nose. “And believe me, I’ve tried to understand them. It’s hopeless I feel.”

Lumena chuckled. “Indeed. The four of you may stay as long as you wish. You both know how to return home. You do not need me to direct you there.”

Before anypony could ask what she meant by that, the goddess faded from sight, leaving only enough bits to pay for her drinks. “Is she always like that?” Kohaku’s Pearl asked with a snort.

“Yes,” both Twilight and her counterpart replied together with a groan.

Author's Note

Told ya I'd do another chapter. And here we are. I'm not even down that Pearl lost to Kohaku either. Neither of them cheated, and I'd like to think even his mother would congratulate Pearl for being able to play as long as she did.

Here are a few more tidbits on her and Twilight's universe. For my own sanity more than anything else. In this universe, Discord first appeared before Equestria was founded. Knowing what they would become, he killed Celestia and Luna before they could ever become princesses, or use the Elements of Harmony.

This act is what triggered Cosmos and her Exarchs to ascend. Safe to say, Discord didn't survive their first encounter. Enough ponies, and all of the Founders, saw the battle to make a choice. Starswirl himself asked Cosmos to rule over them. She's ruled as Equestria's empress ever since. Sombra and Tirek never had a chance to do what they did in Canon.

I also do plan to show that Tiamat's story at some point in the future. Just felt too good to leave it as it is.

Final Match

Lumena hummed as she sat there on her chair, sipping on her favorite drink as she watched the pair volley back and forth. She had long ago lost track of how many matches the pair had shared over the last five hundred thousand years. But she did know that Pearl had yet to win a single match with Kohaku. The fox always sneaking out a win at the last second.

Pearl looked the same. Eternal youth seemed to agree with the Dragon Princess. But Kohaku had touches of gray along his fur. His once emerald tone was slowly turning to silver. Not many would see, but age lines had started to show along his face.

She watched as Pearl served after cursing words even she didn’t know. Kohaku effortlessly reflected the shot as he always had. But something caught her eye. Beads of sweat on his fur. He was actually struggling to keep up. She watched as Pearl served back with a powerful swing. Lumena smirked and shook her head but she watched Kohaku swing, and what she saw made her eyes widen. His paddle missed the ball as it bounced on his side of the table and onto the floor.

“I did it,” Pearl whispered softly at first but soon her voice echoed through the common room. “I did it!! I won. YES. After five hundred thousand years I finally beat your nine-tailed ass.” Jumping up and down, Pearl felt like she was sixteen again.

“Congratulations Pearl.” Kohaku sighed and moved to a seat. “I need to sit down.”

“Winded huh? I guess I finally got good enough to give you a run for your money.” Pearl smirked as she playfully poked at Kohaku.

“I guess you have.” Kohaku closed his eyes and then turned to look out the window. “How's Twilight been doing?”

“Oh, she’s fine. She was so stressed about her work we needed this vacation. She’s probably still asleep.” Pearl sat opposite of her long-time friend. “How's sis? I haven't seen her come down in a while.”

Kohaku’s face betrayed nothing of emotion. He just looked out the window at the scenery. “She’s okay. Just waiting.”

“If you say so.” Pearl huffed. She enjoyed talking to her counterpart. So much so that they felt like sisters to each other. Even together they had fun teasing Kohaku. “So? When can I expect a rematch?” Pearl grinned. “I can’t wait to beat your tails again.”

“No rematch… this was our last bout.”

Pearl felt dumbfounded. This didn’t make any sense to her. “Our last match? What you lose once and you no longer want to play?” Kohaku just turned and looked at Pearl. His mouth opened but Pearl quickly silenced him. “Dammit you oversize rug, I never thought you would be such a sore loser. Well if you don’t want to play anymore FINE!” Pearl pushed the table into him before storming off.

Kohaku sat there in the now empty room. Everyone had long ago left to bed. Only himself, Lumena, and Pinkie were there. And Pinkie was finishing up her nightly work.

“I never thought you would be the one to not want a rematch. What with how many times she wanted one.” Lumena shook her head and sat down where Pearl was seated. “But, I understand why you don’t.”

“I guess I couldn’t keep it from you. Not even if I tried huh?” Kohaku held his half-full cup of tea. With a huff, it heated back up.

“I am a goddess after all.” Leaning back the goddess stretched her wings out a bit. “It’s not easy to hide anything from me. I even know the truth about your Pearl. I just said nothing to hurt her.” Lumena looked at the stairs leading upstairs where Pearl had run off. “I have to say, it was quite the illusion.”

“Hehe, yeah. But no substitution.”

“I know it hasn’t been easy for you these last five thousand years. Small wonder you made an illusion just to keep up appearances. You really miss her huh?”

“She was my mate. We had twelve children together. Thousands of years of happy times, and even some dark ones.” Kohaku sighed and sipped his tea. “So honestly what tipped you off?”

“You're aging. You look more like you should be Pearl’s grandfather than her lifelong friend. And that match. She didn’t just get better, did she? You’ve gotten slower. You didn’t just miss that last volley, you couldn’t see it could you?”

“Worse, I saw double. I just struck the wrong one. She won fair and square. So I have no regrets.” Leaning back, Kohaku closed his eyes.

“How long do you have?” The goddess frowned.

“Not long, it ends tonight,” he looked at the goddess.

“Well. Despite it all. I’m actually going to miss you. And you are saving the trouble of vaporizing you.”

Kohaku laughed aloud. “Be honest with yourself. You never would have done it.”

With a chuckle, Lumena just shook her head. “I guess we’ll never know.” Looking back at the staircase. “So what are you going to tell her?”

“Nothing. And don’t tell her. She’ll know soon enough. Just let her know I’ve left my room unlocked.”

“Don’t you mean you’re going to leave it unlocked?” the goddess raised an eyebrow.

“I meant what I said.” Looking down at his tea the elderly fox sighed. “Farewell old friend.” And in the span of a blink, Kohaku’s body faded as the cup fell to the ground and shattered.

All Lumena could do was stare at the now-empty chair. For the first time in all the time she knew him, he had finally pulled the wool over her eyes. With a chuckle, she sighed. “Well played you sneaky fox.” Looking up she got Pinkie’s attention. “Please let Pearl know Kohaku’s room is unlocked and he’s waiting for her.”

“Okie. You take care.” Pinkie sighed as she looked at the broken glass and spilled tea. A small tear in her eye at the loss of two of her most interesting patrons.

“I mean, what kind of sore loser doesn’t even want a rematch when he loses for the first time?!” Pearl huffed, shooting daggers downstairs. “That’s not like him at all! Look at me. I wanted one as soon as I could!"

Twilight didn’t say anything, having long ago known to let her wife rant and rave all she needed before she said anything. But something had seemed off since they had arrived about Kohaku. She just couldn’t say what it was.

Pearl finally calmed down for a moment and saw the look in Twilight’s eyes. “What is it? Come on. You’ve seen me angrier than this.”

Twilight shook her head. “That’s not it, Pearl. Something doesn’t feel right at all. Don’t tell me you didn’t see it. He was different. Off. I can’t explain why, but I felt there was something missing.”

Pearl snorted. “Yeah, sure, Twily. And what do we know about kitsunes exactly? All we have is him and Autumn. Not a lot to go on if you ask me.”

“Then why don’t you go ask him?” Pinkie asked, as came to the door. “His room’s unlocked, and he did say he was waiting for you.”

Pearl nodded as she zoomed out the door. “You know what? I will. Just to get this off my chest. And it’s been so long since I saw sis last.”

Twilight’s eyes widened as Pearl disappeared. That’s what was missing. Every time they had come to the inn recently, Kohaku’s Pearl had been nowhere to be seen when they arrived and only appeared infrequently. She looked over at Pinkie and the solemn look on the innkeeper’s face told Twilight everything. Her own ears flattened and lowered her head in sorrow. “Oh Pearl…”

Pearl raised her hoof to Kohaku’s door. Prepared to knock. Even she knew better than to just waltz in. after knocking she stood there for what seemed an eternity. Knocking again she waited for a reply only to be met with silence. Finally pushing on the door it opened freely Greeted only by the dark moonlight lit moon. As she walked in the door slowly closed behind her. Not uncommon as all the rooms in Pinkie’s inn had that very feature.

Looking about she smiled at all the familiar sights. The multitude of bookshelves lined with scrolls and tomes unknown to any pony. On the other side were various trinkets and a special kitbashed Gunpla model Pearl had given to her sister. As her hoofs hit the edge of the large circle bed the dragon alicorn stopped dead.

There in the center was a comforting sight. Her ‘twin’ sister sleeping peacefully in the arms of her beloved fox. For the first time, she noticed how old he looked. Far older than what he was only a few hours ago. His green fur was now pure silver as his amber markings were a light shade of dim gold. A light wispy beard flowed down from his chin.

Shaking her head with a smile, Pearl walked atop the bed and lightly shook her sis’s shoulder. “Hey sis. Wake up. I need your help in getting answers out of this sore looser of a fox.” Giggling, she just stood there looking down. But her smile slowly vanished. Reaching down she shook her sister’s shoulder with her hoof even harder. “Hey wake up.”

Turning her head she punched Kohaku in the shoulder. “Hey wake up. I have something to say!” Pearl watched as neither moved an inch. As she stood there she blinked as something caught her ear. The sound of her own breathing. Or rather the lack of breathing outside of her own. She knew herself enough to know that she had a problem, even though she doubts it entirely, of snoring. The Pearls had to listen for hours as both Kohaku and her wife Twilight laughed and teased them about all the times their snoring kept them awake.

Bitting down on her lower lip she reached down and poked her sister's nose. And quickly moved it back. Her heartbeat increased steadily as she shook her head. It wasn’t the lack of snoring, but the lack of breathing that raised all her alarms.

“Kohaku… wake up… Pearl… she… she’s….” Shaking her friend as hard as she could she noticed that he was as limp as his mate. “No… no. Oh, gods please no.” Walking backward Pearl tripped on a tangle in the blankets and fell flat on her back. The sound of a crystal shattering on the ground echoed in her ears. Looking up she saw a young and rather spry Kohaku looking down at her. But what she found odd was that she could see through his head.

“Hello, Pearl.”

Pearl sniffed. “How? Ghosts aren’t real, and now I’m looking at one. If this is someone’s sick idea of a joke, I an not laughing. Pinkie’s gonna have to ban me when I’m done with them!”

Kohaku smiled. “I bet by now you're arguing and yelling at me. Typical. But that’s you. I can assure you that this is no joke. By the time you see this, you’ll have finally beaten me in our game, and discovered the reason why it was our last match.”

Pearl blinked, wiping away her tears.

“No doubt you also figured out the truth about my Pearl. Yeah sorry about not telling you that. I could never bring myself to say the words. They were always too painful.” The image of Kohaku smiled and looked at the pair on the bed. “Being around you made me miss her less. I guess I could imagine, even for a moment. That she was with me once more.”

Turning Toward Pearl, Kohaku smiled and sighed. “I enjoyed our time together Pearl. You were the first friend I ever had in this life.”

“How…” Pearl wiped her eyes and looked at the bodies of her friends. “I mean you. You were both so full of life?”

“I’m surprised you never noticed that she miraculously recovered from her illness five thousand years ago? That’s when I decided to do something. I couldn’t live without her. So, I gave up my immortality. Even in this place, my age slowly caught up to me. Tonight was my last night, I’m sorry Pearl. For my deception and fabricating the truth. I can only pray that you forgive me one day.” Kohaku shook his head slowly and sighed. “But I'm with my beloved again in the spirit world. You finally beat me. And I had one last chance to say goodbye to the mare I loved.”

Pearl couldn’t move, tears flowed down her face openly.

“I have a few requests of you. If you would take them. First. Treasure all the time you have with Twilight. Because the immortality we share is no guarantee that you will live forever. And the void that is left when she is gone is incalculable. So take nothing for granted.” Turning toward Pearl, Kohaku’s image smiled. “Second. Behind you is a potted plant. Grown from the first tree and flower in the Everfree Forest of my world. Take it to yours and plant it someplace nice. I’ve poured a bit of our souls into them. Perhaps one day your ponies will have grown enough to treasure what nature can bring them.”

Pearl looked back at the unfamiliar tree and single wild rose that shared a large jade flower pot.

“And lastly.” Pearl turned and almost fell over. Standing there was the older more mature Kohaku she had seen last. “Don’t worry about us, we will rest here forever as we are now. So live a fantastic life, Pearl. You deserve it.” And in the span of a blink. The image of Kohaku had vanished from existence.

Pearl smiled a little, sniffing as she took the flower pot. “I will, you oversized rug.”

“We both will,” Twilight added as she joined her and laid a wing around her wife, wiping away her own tears. “Ponies can kiss my flank if they don’t like it.”

Pearl nodded as they left the room, making sure to leave it as Pearl had found it. “What now?”

Pinkie smiled sadly as she looked inside. “I’ll seal their room off forever. Their final resting place. In the arms of the one they loved. Only their family and you girls can enter now.”

Twilight’s ears fell. “What about their family?”

“They already know and have said their goodbyes long ago,” Lumena said as she joined them. “This was for you two.”

Pearl nodded. Typical, as she looked at the plants she held. “I know the perfect spot for these. Cosmos can kiss my flank if she doesn’t like it. I want to see what nature truly is with my own eyes, and not just what we have now.”

Lumena smiled. “As it should be. Perhaps one day, you will see the Everfree as it should have been. Not just a distant memory in a dusty scroll in an archive.”

Pearl smiled, as she and Twilight returned to their own room, as Pinkie closed the door to Kohaku and his Pearl’s, the magic sealing it outside of time locking into place as it closed. She was looking forward to it.

Pearl smiled as she sat under the large tree. It had been nearly a thousand years since she had first planted it. Looking out she saw all the trees that had grown outward. Not far, but still, it was nice to see how healthy the new forest was coming along.

Sipping on her tea she felt something bump into her. Blinking the princess looked down and saw a foal-sized green female fox with three tails, blazing red hair, and amber eyes. With pure white markings. The fox lightly pawed at Pearl’s side while looking at the drink.

“Where did you come from?” Pearl blinked as she sat the tea down. She watched as the fox sniffed it and took a few drinks before curling up next to Pearl and started to purr. Blinking again she smiled and shook her head. “Of course. Who else would have sent you?” Reaching down Pearl stroked the little vixen’s back as she leaned against the tree. Feeling as if her favorite punching bag and sister were beside her once more.

Author's Note

A couple of notes here. Kohaku's Pearl never did recover from her illness. They retired to the inn 10,000 years ago. Pearl rarely left that room after that, and she died in his arms. Twilight and her Pearl visited them, hence how they knew about her illness and why she didn't come down more often.

Knowing she would kill him if he committed ritual suicide, Kohaku gave up his immortality. Something all kitsunes can do. Time just had to catch up to him. Hence why he's showing all his 500,000 years. Everything patrons saw in the common room was an illusion of him and Pearl once she died.

Yes. That is a Ninth Doctor reference with Pearl and Kohaku's image. He knew to a certain extent what her reaction would be when she discovered the truth, so he created the crystal with that message, knowing Pearl would find it.

On a lighter note. That custom kitbashed Gunpla was a 4,000-year anniversary gift from Twilight's Pearl to Kohaku's. And the little vixen at the end, while super intelligent, isn't magical, and is just a normal fox. A final gift from Pearl and Kohaku to her sister and his first friend.

The Bartender

Cosmos sat on her throne, watching her exarchs return to their duties in their respective locations around Equestria. Lifting a hoof she rubbed the bridge of her nose before letting out a long sigh. She loved seeing all of her friends and long-time companions, but these meetings, especially recently, had been causing her no end of headaches. The reborn Everfree Forest was picking up the most annoying habits of the original forest, and the ponies of Equestria were not happy. Queen Skystar was even more stubborn than her mother had been at her age, there was talk of yet another Sombra cult in the Crystal Kingdom, and the list kept growing.

Cosmos could not even hope for Twilight or Pearl to drop in unexpectedly anymore. The two and their daughters had been on one of the first ships to colonize Equis’ solar system. Pearl did occasionally return to tend to the Everfree, for she and the forest were connected in some way, and gods help you if you hurt Pearl’s baby. Dream Tree did an admirable job when Pearl was away. But the Everfree and Pearl were connected in a way that Luna’s son was not.

And that voice in her head was growing louder and louder.

With a groan, she closed her eyes and leaned back. Expecting the warmth of the plush cushion only to find herself pressed against cool carved wood. Her eyes swiftly opened and found she was now seated on a cushioned bar stool, just large enough for a pony. Looking around confusion entered her mind as what was once her throne room, was now a very busy bar. Filled with various ponies.

Not unusual, but what was, was the fact that every pony was a variation of Pearl and Twilight. Some sitting together, some sitting apart. One Twilight looked to be a large hydra with five heads snuggled up against an equally large five-headed dragon. Each of Twilight’s heads was resting against one of Pearl’s, whose own head was atop the red dragon’s forehead.

“What the hell…” she muttered quietly.

“Not really. That dimension is a good way south. Well, southeast.” A soothing melodic voice entered her ears, along with the tink of something hitting crystal glass. Turning around her eyes widened. “And it’s not the kind of place to get a refreshing drink..” the voice chuckled.

Behind the bar was a near ten hoof high fox. The markings along its body glowed a light amber gold. Nine tails flipping pouring various bottles. He looked to be dressed in a dark green Shinto robe decorated with leaves that swayed back and forth along the fabric. “Galaxy Starbreeze,” he said squeezing a lime into the glass. “With a lime nebula accent.” placing a small umbrella in the drink he placed it before Cosmos.

Looking at the drink she saw it was as black as night, swirling with various galaxies and nebulas all moving with the liquid. Looking up the empress gazed into those amber eyes. “Who…” her voice cut off by him raising a paw.

“Give it a moment. Your memories should return shortly. The drawback of a mortal body.”

Cosmos looked around. Her eyebrow quirked up a bit and turned to the drink. Lifting it she sniffed it and took a soft sip. The flavor exploded on her tongue. She could have died right there and felt complete by how wonderful this drink was. Her eyes then shot open and looked down.

“Kohaku! What the hell? When, where… what?” Cosmos shifted a bit and looked around.

“That just leaves out Who and Why.” Kohaku chuckled which earned him a sideways eye shot from the mortal goddess. “Sorry. Couldn’t resist.”

“Where is Pinkie? And what happened to the inn?” Staring into Kohaku’s eyes, the goddess watched as a ghostly Pearl floated up.

“Haku dear. Tables seven and twenty-two need their drinks yet.” Pearl giggled, floating there holding the silver tray between her front hooves. Her wings comfortably rested on either side of her.

Kohaku swiftly placed the drinks on her tray and kissed her softly. “There you go, love.” Pearl nodded and floated off, before he turned back to the goddess. “All these eternities and she just keeps getting more beautiful. And I guess not all your memories are back if you forgot about Pinkie.”

Cosmos smirked and leaned back as Kohaku went on making more drinks. “She retired a few eon’s back. Since then Pearl and I took over ownership.”

“Didn’t you two die?” Cosmos swirled her drink for a moment as he nodded.

“Yeah, but it was ever so dull. And Pinkie didn’t want to leave this place to just anyone so I chose to become a minor Shinto god. Raised my wife as a ghost and we’ve been working here ever since.” Setting his bar tools down, Kohaku leaned into the bar and looked at Cosmos.

“But this isn’t about me. I didn’t pull you here to recount MY life. I pulled you here because you looked like you were ready to explode at the seams. And you might need an ear who might understand. And as talented as your exarchs are, they are just mortals.”

Cosmos bit back a truly annoyed retort at that. “You are lucky they didn’t hear you say that. The last individual who called them mortal? They are still cleaning off his remains from the throne room.”

She paused a moment as she remembered something. “You know seeing you two again. Brings back some fond memories. And as fun as it would be to bring the four of you back together, I do not think it will happen.”

“You mean Twi and Sis? Why not?” Pearl asked as she joined the two. “I’d love to see them again. It’s been forever. Literally.” She giggled. “They’re not dead are they?”

Cosmos smiled. “No. They are very much alive and well. But after Kohaku’s death, and learning you had been dead for five thousand years by that point, they stopped coming here entirely. They are still able to of course. But the grief is still quite strong even now.”

Kohaku nodded and folded his arms, leaning back into his tails. “Just as well. I gave up playing Ping Pong a long time ago. So there’s little reason Pearl would have to visit even if she knew we were still around.” Smiling he lifted his head a bit. “But they have been doing well. I check in on them occasionally. They never see me of course. But they’ve been doing well. And Pearl seems to be one hell of a forest guardian.”

Cosmos nodded. “Oh yes. I doubt Pearl knew what she was getting into when she replanted the Everfree. But gods help you if you mess with it. Her brother also does a good job when she isn’t around, and he can be even worse if possible when angry.”

Both Kohaku and Pearl nodded together. “Well, Night dragons are known for their ferocity. And miss Night Mare herself and that’s one potent mix.” Pearl smirked.

Cosmos smiled sadly. “One his mother would be proud of if she stopped being so stubborn and visited more.”

Pearl giggled. “Oh, she visits him plenty. You’d know that if you pass through the dream world once and a while.”

Cosmos shook her head. “I swore off on doing so in Luna’s honor. She had lost too much already. Let the dream world be hers, and whatever bits Dream Tree inherited from her. I just wish he would stop keeping the damn moon up past ten in the morning, well after I raise the sun. How he wrenched its control from me I’ll never know. He inherited the ability to irritate me to no end from you I swear. Which should be impossible, for my Kohaku existed before we ever met!”

Shaking his head the fox smiled. “That wasn’t me. My name certainly. But not me.” Closing his eyes, Kohaku folded his arms as Pearl rested her head on his shoulder. “But I may have slipped a few things to the boy over the years. Just little whispers here and there.”

“I helped on occasion. Just to keep you on your hooves.” Pearl giggled.

Cosmos groaned. This explained so much. How he got so good at getting under her skin when he wanted to, and his ability to drive his sister even madder than usual when he felt like it. “Pinkie was a lot less annoying when she ran the inn. Even on her most Pinkie Pie days,” she grumbled. “Please tell me this hasn’t become exclusive to only Twilight, Pearl, and me?”

Shaking his head side to side, Kohaku just chuckled louder. “No. But it’s the anniversary of every Twilight and Pearl’s marriage. So during the week, we cater to just them for an exclusive honeymoon. Things will be back to normal in a few days.” Kohaku shifted and turned to fix up a few bottles as he watched the last Twilight and Pearl head up to their rooms, waving as they passed by.

Cosmos smirked as she closed her eyes. Their anniversary was this week, wasn’t it? No matter what else may be different, the date was always in the same time frame in every universe. She should know. She had presided over the ceremony herself. “Well then. I think you can find room for another pair.”

Pearl chuckled as she wiped down the bar. “We have an infinite number of rooms available. What you saw tonight wasn’t even a fraction of the number of Pearls and Twilights we have housed here this week.”

Cosmos only smiled wider as her horn began to glow. “Indeed. But these two haven’t been here in a long time, and it is not fair to leave them out.

“We haven't. Their room is just as they left it. Freshly cleaned and with their favorite chocolates on the pillows.” Kohaku looked over his shoulder at Cosmos with a smirk.

Cosmos nodded, as another pair of Twilight Sparkle and Pearl Rose appeared in the room, their eyes spinning from the unplanned teleport. “Twilight. I thought we agreed to never use that spell again?” The new Pearl grumbled, rubbing her forehead.

Twilight shook her head. “Don’t take that tone with me, Pearl Alabaster Rose. I didn’t do anything!”

Cosmos chuckled, getting the pair’s attention. “That would be me, you two.”

Both Pearl and Twilight blinked as a ghostly Pearl swept between them, removing their saddlebags and cloaks before moving in front of them. “Wonderful to see you both again. We have to catch up sis.” Pearl smiled before floating over to a wardrobe and slipped the bags and clocks into it before returning to her sweeping. “Don’t worry, they’ll be returned when you leave. And happy Anniversary.”

Pearl found herself unable to speak, or even think clearly. “Please tell me I’m not dead? I can’t be seeing the ghost of my sister. Here of all places. Pinkie cannot be that crazy!”

“Come on, you know Pinkie. Of course, she can be that crazy.” A familiar voice caught the new Pearl’s ears making her shiver and slowly turn around. Standing there behind the bar was the last being in the universe she thought to see. “But in this case, it’s not her that did this.”

“Okay, it’s official. I’m dead and in hell.”

“No such luck Pearl. It’s me. And her.” Kohaku smiled as he produced two drinks both this particular Pearl and Twilight loved to drink. “I won’t bore you with the details but we’re the new proprietors of this establishment. She’s a living ghost and I’m a minor god now.”

Pearl’s eyes twitched, a feeling only one being in the omniverse had ever been able to provoke in her returned with a vengeance. “Good. Now I can send you right back, you pain! I never got a chance to get you back for that stunt in our last ping-pong match!”

Twilight sighed as she held her wife back. Not this again. “Pearl. You won that match. Do you really want to ruin it by doing something dumb now?”

“Besides I don’t play anymore. Much like my stint in acting, it was a passing phase in my life.” Kohaku just shook his head at his oldest friend’s antics. “I’m a bartender now.”

Pearl’s annoyance abated a bit at that. Everything about this screamed at her that this was real and not a sick joke. “Of course you are. Only Pinkie would give the inn to you.”

“Well not just me, but to my mate as well. She wasn’t that stupid.” Kohaku chuckled at himself. “Pearl runs the front of the place. She’s the one everyone deals with on a day-to-day basis. And I run the bar and all the cosmic details and listen to just about every complaint and woe every customer has.” Pearl blinked as she saw Kohaku’s eye twitch at the mere thought of dealing with it. “And for the last week, I’ve had to listen to about a hundred thousand versions of you complaining about Twilight and her neurotic desire to plan every single moment of the honeymoon down to the last second.” His claws lightly scraped along the cosmic marble table, forming new nebulas as he did so.

Pearl smirked, for she could somehow feel every version of herself in the inn at the moment, and probably spoke for all of them. “You’re welcome.”

Twilight harumphed and crossed her hooves. She was not that bad. Was she? She too could feel every version of herself in the inn at the moment. Strange. This had never happened before, even when there had been several different versions of herself present.

The ghostly Pearl, as if reading Twilight’s mind, just slid up next to her sister’s Twilight and produced a thick stack of sheets she had confiscated. Every one identical in nearly every way and showed it to Twilight. Who’s eyes widened. It was the same list she wrote a week before their anniversary. Then patted the purple mare’s shoulder before moving up to her mate who was now downing his second bottle of sake.

Twilight’s Pearl had one last thing to ask before she could be satisfied this wasn’t a joke. “If this is you, for your five thousandth anniversary, I gave you…” a soft ghost hoof touched Pearl’s lips

“It was a special one-of-a-kind kit-bashed Gunpla model that you yourself created.” the Ghost Pearl smiled. “And it was for our four thousandth anniversary.”

Pearl smiled widely, finally able to not hold back. “Okay. Four thousandth. Hopefully, you haven’t lost it. I know how absent-minded I am. Any version of me.”

“Honestly Pearl. It’s in the same place it always has been. Our bedchambers.” Kohaku shook his head slowly folding up his bartender’s apron. “She makes sure not a spec of dust covers it daily. Not that it would with the spells I put in place.”

The Ghost Pearl just huffed and crossed her front legs. “I’m just being cautious. It’s precious to me.”

Twilight rolled her eyes. Some things never changed it seemed. And if she was being honest, she really needed the break. Being the Princess of Friendship for just Equestria and then the whole of Equis had been taxing enough. But now she was serving as Princess of Friendship for a small but burgeoning galactic power. So much so that Summer and Winter had been insisting that she bestow her title on the two of them, and to take on a new title befitting her increased role.

But that could wait for now, as Pearl seemed to read her mind and pulled her close. Right now? She just wanted to relax for a few years.

Author's Note

Okay. Now the story is finished. Unplanned as this chapter was, it felt too good to leave alone. So here it is :pinkiehappy: .