As the World Mirror powered up, Princess Twilight's frown grew. This was not what she had expected for today. Why would Sci Twi say they needed to talk, and now of all times? It sounded urgent whatever it was. But why couldn't they have done it over their Private Journal?
A moment later, her twin came stumbling out of the portal. Twilight was glad to see that she had been able to stick the landing on this side at least. Now if only they could work on the other side, as she walked over. "What is wrong? You said it was important."
Twi nodded, deciding that their usual greeting could wait. "It is. We have a problem, and I am not sure how much longer we can keep her from doing something."
Now Twilight was really concerned. "What do you mean? Who? Is someone else corrupted by magic? I thought the last of it had been taken care of with the Memory Stone."
Twi shook her head. "No, thankfully. But I would almost take rogue magic over this." She sighed. "It is Pearl."
Twilight's brows rose in surprise. "What about her? Rainbow's only said good things about all they have done together. We did find her counterpart. Well, Rarity did actually. But I will let Rainbow tell her that. And I trust her enough to not blab about what happened at the party. If she can keep Kiyoko and her family's secret to herself for as long as she has, I think Equestria and magic are fine. I don't know her very well, but she does not seem that bad."
Twi nodded, smiling sheepishly. "That is true. But-"
Before she could say more, however, the portal shimmered once more, before out stepped a young Pegasus, wobbling on her back legs for a moment, before falling down to all four. Once her eyes stopped spinning, she looked around and rolled her eyes. "Of course, it is in a library. Where else would it be?"
Twilight frowned in annoyance. The Pegasus's fiery red mane and brash temper said all she needed to know who this was as she stood to her full height. "Miss. Rose. Might I ask? What are you doing here?!"
Pearl, though, was unfazed, as she smirked. "What? You never said I could not come and visit. And after everything Rainbow's said about Equestria, figured now was as good a time as any. So here I am."
Twilight's eyes twitched. Damn it. She never had said anything about that, had she? "Okay. But how? You do not go to Canterlot High. I would think this would raise a lot of red flags with Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna."
Pearl nodded, her ears falling at something. "My family name carries a lot of weight in Canterlot, princess. Second only to the Everfree family in fact. Hell. Our name is on the founder list of the school. I hate throwing it around like this. But I could not take it anymore."
Twilight's ears fell in sympathy, as she shared a look with Twi. One look in the young girl's eyes told the princess all she needed to know. Pearl knew how much trouble she was in, that this had been a bad idea probably, but she had not been able to help it. She sighed. "You are right, Pearl. I never said you could not visit. But I would appreciate some warning next time."
Pearl nodded, as Twi put a wing around her. "How much trouble am I in, Princess Twilight? Are you going to throw me back through? Ban me from ever coming back?"
Twilight shook her head. "By all rights, I should, and bar you from ever coming back." She put on her best smile as Pearl sniffed and her head fell. "But I will not. It is not fair to you or anyone else."
That helped Pearl's mood as she smiled slightly. "So, I'm not gonna cause an inter-dimensional incident, am I? Kohaku kept saying I would. But what does he know? He tries not to even think about this place."
Twilight giggled. "Hardly. Nopony in Ponyville knows you except my friends and me. Your family does not live here, so you will not meet yourself."
Pearl's ears perked up. "You found, well. Me?"
Twilight nodded as she nuzzled Twi. "Rarity met them in fact. By accident, it must be said. Your mother is the branch manager of the First Equestria National Bank in Baltimare, and your father owns one of the largest shipping lines in Equestria. You are privately tutored from what I understand."
Pearl chuckled. "That's mom and dad. Glad to see some things never change, no matter what world it might be." She pawed the ground. "Look. I am sorry about this. But mom and dad are gone for the week, and I had nothing else to do. I can go back if I have to."
Twilight shook her head, kissing Twi on the lips as her love made a hasty exit, suddenly remembering what time it was. "No, you do not have to go back. Not yet at least. Rainbow is away with the Wonderbolts this week, so I am sorry to say you will not be able to see her. Unless you know how to fly."
Pearl rolled her eyes. "I could use a break from her, actually, And I thought Kohaku was full of energy and had a big head. They're tied basically. I all but had to glue her down at Sebring."
Twilight giggled. "Twelve hours is a long time, and even more so for Rainbow Dash. She did say she liked the race, though I do not understand it myself. She has commented on your hobbies, though, and I admit that I am interested in, what did she call it?" She tapped her chin. "Warhammer? I think it was?"
Pearl brightened at this. "You mean my Sons of Mallus, Astral Templars, and Blades of Dawn Stormcast Eternals armies for Age of Sigmar? Kinda surprised she sat through all of the lectures I gave for Games-Workshop's stuff." She looked around the library but saw nothing she recognized. "Do ponies even have stuff like that around here?"
Twilight nodded as she led them to a nearby table. "We have tabletop wargaming if that is what you mean. Hooves are not the best for model making, though they are getting better at adapting things to work with non-magic using ponies. Spike can tell you how useful claws are for assembly and painting."
Pearl snorted. "Not as good as hands I bet, and a whole lot of patience. Mom and dad can tell you what I'm like when I am building or painting a new unit or character. Especially if it is for an army I play. I have literally kicked people out of my room in some cases. Kohaku usually helps with that."
Twilight smiled. It was always good to hear someone talk about what they loved, even if she did not understand it all herself. Even if she did not approve of Pearl's use of violence. "It does sound interesting. If what Rainbow has told me is true at least. She does not get it though, but she is trying."
Pear smiled widely, a devious glint in her eyes, and Twilight suddenly wondered if maybe she should have kept her big mouth shut. "Oh, princess. You have no idea."
By the time Pearl returned home several hours later, Twilight's mind was spinning from all she had been told. She had never thought Pearl could lecture so well or so patiently. Oh, how wrong she had been on both accounts. She was rather proud of the youngster for it all.
While the in-game universe sounded far too dark to her in many ways, it was the extensive range of models that had caught her attention. So many different things and ways to paint them. Maybe even play games with them if one so wanted to. And Twilight would be lying if she said she wasn't curious to know more.
The thought would not leave Twilight alone for a long time after that.