“... and I want the visit to Ponyville to be scheduled for this weekend.” Twilight told her royal assistant as they walked toward the throne room. “I want to make sure the reconstruction is going as planned. And why we haven't heard from the crews all week. Every other town and village that was invaded has been sending daily reports. So why not them?”
“I’m not sure princess,” Tidy Scrolls sighed as she jotted down the princess’s words. “It’s almost as if they dropped off the face of Equestria. But I’ll make sure everything is ready for your visit.” Looking up she smiled. “I heard your friends are also going to be joining you?”
“Yes, they wanted to go earlier but since so much has changed in these last few centuries I want to be there with them to help ease the transition.” Rubbing her bridge with a hoof the princess sighed. “Well get started on that and check back with me in the afternoon.”
“Yes Princess.” Tidy Scrolls bowed and walked away as Pearl came running up.
“Pearl, This is a pleasant surprise. I’m so sorry your scheduled classes have not resumed, but so much is needed for the rebuilding.” Twilight smiled down at her student.
“It’s no problem. I’ve just tried to keep myself busy. That Sunny Starscout girl is one cool pony. She’s been teaching me to rollerblade.”
“And how’s that going for you?” Twilight chuckled, lifting Pearl’s mane and noticed a few new bruises.
“Not bad. It took two days, but it’s finally taking me longer to fall down.” Pearl sighed and leaned up against a wall, her dragon scale jacket half crumpling. “I’m kinda worried for her though. Her old friend Sprout, the one that was leading the invasion with his mom. Well apparently he’s gone missing.”
“What?” Twilight’s eyes widened as she reared back a bit. “I thought he was under strict twenty four hour watch by the guards. How can he just up and vanish.”
Pearl shrugged and looked at the palace guards, each one having a mechanical centurion next to them. Pearl had to give it to that Sunset Shimmer. She knew her way around magical constructs. “I don’t know, and nor do Sunny and her friends. They did tell me that a few days ago he started to talk again. He would sit facing away from the statues and it seemed as if he was talking to his mother. Then two days ago, he just up and disappeared in the middle of the night.”
“Great, this is all I need right now. A half mad pony on the loose who’s mother nearly brought about the ruination of our civilization. What other headaches can the universe throw at me?” Twilight sighed as she pushed past her throne doors. Pearl just shrugged while following behind her.
Twilight and Pearl both stopped dead as they looked at the throne. A half dozen magazines were tossed about the base. The two guards who were stationed there looked up and gasped. With blushes on their faces, they quickly tossed aside what they were looking at and stood straight.
Twilight and Pearl barely noticed the guards as sitting on the throne was a nine tailed fox no larger than Pearl. His back pressed against one leg rest while his legs hung loose over the other. In one paw was an open copy of Playcolt. The other paw holding an open soda bottle.
“Seriously guys? You stallions like looking at these things?” Forestsong sighed as he flipped through the pages, pulling open the center folds he whistled. “Well I have to admit this one does have a nicely shaped flank, great curves. Oof, and look at that floof.” Looking over at Twilight he smiled. “I still don’t get it, but I do know what I like.”
Twilight’s eyes twitched as she watched him. Her wing swiftly covered Pearl’s eyes out of reflex, barely noticing that Pearl just rolled her eyes and walked around the wing and looked at Forestsong. “Forest… Kohaku. While I don’t mind you visiting. And while I’ll tolerate you sitting on my throne. I would ask you NOT read dirty magazines in my throne room.”
Smirking, he folded the pages back up and tossed the magazine on top of the pile. “Then why did you have them in the secret compartment under the cushion?”
Twilight felt all of her blood rush to her face as she stiffened. Twilight half eyed the windows in a half baked plan to escape.
Her two guards snickered as they got to work gathering up the paperbacks as Kohaku leaped off the throne and walked towards the pair.
Pearl looked up at her mentor and almost broke out laughing. “I always had my suspicions about that.” Shaking her head she walked up to her new friend. “Hey there. Is there anything you’re after or did you show up just to break our princess?”
Kohaku chuckled as he eyed Pearl a smile crossing his lips. “Well I did just show up to give you two something. An easier way to visit my home without having to resort to Discord.”
With a quick cough Twilight regained her composure. “I appreciate that. I know Pearl here has been wanting to visit. And I’d rather she not find herself in the same predicament I was in.”
“Oh fat chance of that happening. I told him in no uncertain terms, if he ever popped anything in my bedchambers again while me and my mate are… occupied. I’d not only shove his head back up where I did, but do it antler first. Needless to say he got the point.” Kohaku grinned as both mares giggled. Reaching into the inside pocket of his kimono he pulled out two very old silver necklaces. Both fashioned in the shape of Pearl and Twilight’s cutie marks.
Both Twilight and Pearl took them in their hooves and shivered as they felt the power emanating from them.
Pearl trembled as she stared at hers. A sense of deep seeded familiarity came over her. She didn’t know why but she felt as if she had held this pendent before. Slipping it over her neck, Pearl closed her eyes and bit down on her lower lip.
Twilight looked down at her student. She stepped forward one hoof, starting to say something but fell silent with one look from Kohaku.
“Just touch your hooves to the mark, and think of my home.” Holding up his paw he silenced their questions. “Yes I know you’ve never seen it from the outside, doesn't matter. The magic will bring you to the living quarters.”
“Thank you.” Pearl grinned as she felt like jumping up and down with glee. She loved how it looked against her small floof. For a moment she looked up and saw the quick flash of pain across Kohaku’s face. But it vanished so quickly she questioned if she had seen it at all. Running out she wrapped her front legs around Kohaku’s neck which he responded with an affectionate wrap of his front leg around her midsection.
Twilight sighed as she saw the look of affection that came over Kohaku’s face. His eyes closed with a smile almost ear to ear. “Pearl, why don’t you head on out for now. I’m sure you could use more time learning to rollerblade.
“That eager to get rid of me already? I just got here.” Pearl smirked as she looked over her shoulder at Twilight.
“No, it’s just I want a word with Kohaku alone.”
Shrugging Pearl just sighed. “Alright, later Forestsong. I’ll see you at my next class Twilight, assuming it’s actually in session.” Pearl shook her head as she walked out.
“I know you haven’t told her.” Kohaku’s face went serious as he moved up and sat next to Twilight who just shook her head.
“I’m on edge if I should tell her or not.” Twilight sighed deeply as she looked at her pendent. It was old. Far older than it looked. Her hoof tingled with how much magic was within this simple piece of silver. She doubted her entire body could have compared with it.
“I would appreciate it if you didn’t tell her.” Kohaku looked out the window at his forest. The tips of the trees swayed back and forth ever so slowly. Already he saw a flock of birds flying about and pictured a familiar red headed mare soaring high. “She’ll find out herself, she always does.”
“But wouldn’t it ease the transition if I tell her?”
“Perhaps, but you’ll never be able to answer all her questions.” Kohaku looked Twilight in the eyes. His own amber spheres shimmered.
“I know this is just the latest in a reincarnation cycle that has gone on for a while now…”
“Almost thirty thousand years.”
Twilight saw the pained look in his face and staggered backward and fell up against the wall, her eyes wide. “I n.. Never… never thought..”
“And that’s not including the time she was alive, while never once accepting an immortal life she did have an extended lifespan. Living long enough to make most ponies jealous, even by today’s standards.” Kohaku reached out with his tails and pulled Twilight back up onto her hooves. “Sorry, my mate always told me I have no tact. Come to think of it Pearl always reminded me of that a lot too. Small wonder why the two were destined to be soul sisters.”
“What!?” Twilight felt her mind overheat. Had it not been for Kohaku’s tails she might have fainted away.
“Oo, sorry about that… just thinking out loud. Any chance of you forgetting that?” Kohaku chuckled as Twilight’s head shook side to side. “Fair enough. I’ll explain that when I have more time.”
“You're immortal, what is time to you or me for that matter?” Twilight smirked as she heard him chuckle.
“Yes, but I promised my son I'd visit and spend the afternoon with him.”
“Your son?”
Kohaku quirked an eyebrow and smirked back at her. “Thirty three thousand years of marriage, did you not think I would have fathered children?”
“I…” Her voice was silenced by his raised paw.
“Forget it. I’ve had countless children, sons and daughters both. But this one lives closest to the Everfree.”
“How is that possible? You'd think a fox would stick out like a sore hoof.” Twilight stood up and walked over to her throne and shook her head.
“You never knew I existed until that little ‘war’, if that little spat could even be called that. And that’s to say nothing of my mate.” Kohaku scratched behind his neck for a moment with his hind leg. Emanating a loud purr. “If you must know, he lives life as a pony in this little hamlet town not too far from here.
“Ponyville!” Twilight spun her head around with an audible pop.
“Yeah that’s it. Now if you excuse me. I don’t want to be late.” Kohaku got up and walked toward the doors.
“Wait a moment. You by chance haven't heard anything about a pony named Sprout who was last seen near your forest have you?”
“Sprout… average sized stallion, Red coat. Blond mane. Has been crying for his mommy for the past week?” Kohaku looked over his shoulder.
“That’s him.”
“Haven't seen him.” Twilight reached out with a hoof but stood there silently. The tone in his voice told her that he would divulge nothing more. And that their audience together was at an end.
Sprout groaned as he followed behind his mother. His hooves hurt, having walked all night long and through the morning. The midday sun shimmering down through the canopy almost half blinded him.
Since entering the forest she hadn’t talked much appart from encouraging her son to keep moving forward. Sprout looked forward at his mom and sighed. How had things gone so wrong, it was supposed to be so easy. They were winning when that creature showed up. Looking up, Sprout found himself alone in the woods. Standing before a huge waterfall.
“Mommy?” Sprout whispered as he looked around. His mother remained silent. The sounds of leaves crunching and twigs breaking sent shivers down his spine. His mane started to stand up along the back of his neck.
“Oh Sprout, I’m so sorry. I know I told you earlier but I was wrong. I hope you can forgive me one day.” Phyllis Cloverleaf closed her eyes and bowed her head.
A sudden snap of a twig forced Sprout to turn around. Looking back a loud gasp escaped his lips. His mother had vanished. Trembling Sprout looked about. “Mommy?” a quivering voice escaped his lips as something soft touched his shoulder.
“Shhh. you’re going to be okay Sprout, mommy’s here to heal you.” Phyllis’s voice whispered lovingly in her son’s ear.
Sprout turned around and looked into the deep cerulean blue eyes of a twelve hoof high fox. Nine tails swirling around the young pony. Sprout’s eyes closed as he fell limp.
The fox’s nine tails wrapped tenderly around the young pony. Pulling him close before walking through the waterfall. Two nearby bunnies twitched their noses before hopping away.
From the shadows a ten hoof high dragoness smiled and nodded before leaping up and flying off toward the heart of Everfree.