//------------------------------// // Confessions // Story: Double Twilight Love // by Mystic Sunrise //------------------------------// Pearl watched as Flurry swatted at Kohaku's tails with a squee as the young fox sat comfortably on a bail of straw all while enjoying a fruit smoothie and a good book. Nopony in Ponyville's market paid it much mind, seemingly having grown used to the strange sight. "Hard to believe he's so good with kids. And here I was panicking and thinking we would never see her again. Just another month in Ponyville I guess." Cadance nodded as she watched her daughter. She was still worried, but with less concern than she might have. "Flurry doesn't seem to mind, and Kohaku seems to enjoy her presence. So I'm willing to take Midnight's word that everything will be fine." Pearl rolled her eyes. "For someone who's barely in Ponyville. she and Princess Twilight spend a lot of time together. I mean? I like her, but still," she shrugged. Cadance smirked knowingly. "There is a reason for that, but Twilight will have to tell you herself." She chuckled as Pearl's tail twitched. "Now. I don't think you called me here just for us to have a lovely lunch together. I know the pain of one of Twilight's sorting moods, and I'm enjoying the afternoon. But I don’t think things are so simple, and you have a look on your face that’s telling me there’s more to this than you want to say aloud." Pearl's breath hitched. Damn it all. Why did she have to be so transparent? "Is this an alicorn thing, or do I need to work on my poker face?" Cadance giggled. "A bit of both actually. Empathic sensing is one of my abilities as the Princess of Love. But, you'll also never be a good poker player at this rate." She smirked as Pearl blushed. "So. Does Twilight know?" Pearl grumbled. "Know what?" Cadance rolled her eyes. "You know, about how you feel about her? You don't need to say anything. I've seen how you look at her." Pearl's eyes twitched. Double damn it. This was not turning out to be one of her better ideas. But the genuine look of compassion and love in Cadance's eyes helped put her at ease. "No. But it doesn't matter now. She already has somepony in her heart." Cadance's heart fell as she heard the heartbreak in the filly's voice. "Does it change how you really feel about her? You know Twilight wouldn't hurt you like this on purpose." Pearl. "No. And I know she isn't doing it on purpose. It's not even our age difference. I knew that going into this." She sighed as she took a sip of her drink. "Maybe it is just a fillyhood crush, and I'll grow out of it. But I can't help it. Is that so bad?" Cadance shook her head as she took the filly's hooves in her own. "No, it isn't. Being honest with yourself is good as well. I remember my first crush." She rolled her eyes. "And no. It wasn't Shining Armor." Pearl giggled. "So what am I supposed to do? This is driving me crazy, and I don't even know who this other pony is. All I know is that the princess has it bad for her, even I can see that. She must be worth it too." Cadance bit her lip. She had spoken with both Twilight and Twi about this very same subject. It was something she had never expected to have to help with, but here she was. "She does. I haven't seen love this strong before. But I also know that Twilight cares deeply about you, Pearl. Never think otherwise." Pearl nodded. "I know. Do I just wait till I'm old enough then? I know what they do to ponies caught like that with fillies and colts." She snorted. "I can think of a few ponies who deserve that punishment, but still. That was my plan anyway. Spending time with the princess is making it hard though." Cadance bit her lip. "I can only offer suggestions, Pearl. I can't make ponies fall in love. Even if it was a power that I had, I refuse to sink to that level. All I can say. Is to follow your heart. You have a good heart. Anypony can tell you that. Love is also a strange thing. Things could change between now and then." Pearl smiled. Cliché or not, it was better than nothing at all. It wasn't like she didn't have plenty of time to not make a complete fool of herself. And who knew? Maybe her crush would fade with time, especially if she ever met Princess Twilight's special somepony. She could try and hope anyway. Something told her that it wouldn't be that easy though. From across the street, Kohaku listened in on the conversation between the two, while also keeping an eye on Flurry Heart. Despite their differences, this Pearl and his best friend were basically one and the same in most ways. If he squinted, he could even fool himself into thinking that was his Pearl. And if there was one thing any version of Pearl Rose had in spades, it was her inability to hide how she really felt about something. Something he had learned the hard way more than once. Knowing what Equestria did to ponies caught in a compromising position with a minor, he could understand why she was hesitant. That Twilight felt the same way made this more fun. His Perception Filter around Twi was still in place, mostly for Pearl's benefit since it was quite a shock if she didn't know better. That Twi too felt the same way towards his Pearl was just the icing on the cake. Maybe it was time to drop it. It would be good for a laugh at least. Now he just needed a perfect chance to enact it. “I hate having to hide like this,” Twi grumbled, as she and the princess sat together in the main library. Twilight sighed. “Do you want Pearl to cause a panic? Be thankful that the filter is still on. I still do not know how I will explain all of this to her.” Twi shot her a look. “And what about how she feels about you? I’m willing for a three-way when she’s old enough. After all, there are more than a few ponies who are polygamists. Gods, I remember my first crush and how I messed it up by waiting too long.” Twilight nodded. “Unless something drastic happens, I am willing to wait as well. Things may change between now and then.” She smirked. “I’ve seen how you look at the human Pearl. So I know you’re not just saying that.” Twi blushed. “So what? Not like you’re any better Twily. Good thing Cadance seemed to have some idea of what Pearl was thinking earlier when they left.” Twilight nodded, laying a wing on her fellow alicorn. “Flurry seems to really like Kohaku. Why is beyond me, but I think it is good for her to get out with more non-ponies.” Twi sighed. “And the vision we saw?” Twilight shrugged. “What of it? It didn’t show what lead to all of us on Mount Aris. Visions are not a precise science. Especially one so many millennia old. I try not to think about it. It may not even happen.” Twi rolled her eyes as she lay into the princess. She somehow doubted it would be that simple. It never was it seemed, as Twilight kissed the top of her head. Neither of them noticed the slight shimmering around Twi’s body for a moment, before disappearing. Pearl huffed as she finally got the floral trio to settle down. Across the way she saw both Kohaku and Flurry laughing it up as still more than a few roses were dancing about, pulling on the tails of one of the mares. Stomping over she glared at Kohaku taking a long deep breath. But was swiftly stopped by a tail around her mussel. Looking at the fox she saw a sly smirk. “No let me guess, you're going to lecture me about that.” Kohaku leaned in as Pearl went wide-eyed. As if he had read her mind. “I swear the two of you could be twins.” His voice was a low whisper but still caught in Pearl’s ear. “Look, I’m only having a bit of harmless fun. And it wasn’t all my Idea” turning his head he looked at Flurry who giggled louder. Shaking her head Pearl sat down “Still. Ponies aren’t used to such pranks.” “Oh please, I’ve seen the kind of stuff Rainbow Dash pulls. She and I have all kinds of fun when she visits.” Kohaku chuckled at the memories. “So I know just how tough ponies are.” “Well,” Pearl smirked and looked behind her, the three mares slowly getting their stand back together. “It was rather funny.”  “So did you finally work things out with Cadence?” Kohaku smiled setting Flurry on his lap. His font legs held her close as the filly shadow boxed his tails over and over again. “How?” “My ears do more than just frame my face ya know.” Kohaku chuckled. “Well, you shouldn’t have been listening anyway.” Pearl huffed and looked away.  “Look. I know what you're going through. Probably more than anypony could.” “How could you possibly know what I’m going through?” Pearl growled as she slammed her hoof into the ground. “I’m in love with a princess older than I am. Who’s in love with someone else.” “Well, maybe not everything. But I am in a very similar situation. Only thing is, I’m in love with a princess who’s a lot younger than me. And whose heart is wrapped around a stuffed animal.” Kohaku looked down and lightly caressed Flurry’s mane. Scrunching her face, Pearl leaned back. “Oh please tell me no.. are you…” “In love with Flurry, yes. A pedophile, no.” Kohaku leaned back and rested on his front legs as he stared up at the sky. “For more than a few years now, since I hit a certain age. I was having dreams about a certain crystal princess. It wasn’t until I came here, that I realized who that Princess was.” “Okay. so what are you going to do about it?” Pearl had to giggle at Flurry as she punched Kohaku’s tail harder. “And does Cadence know?" “I can wait. Years, decades, centuries. It matters little to me and little Flurry here. You see she and I have one thing in common, we are both nearly immortal. Our age makes very little difference.” Looking back he smiled. “And I’m sure Cadence has caught on but has learned enough about me to not worry about it.” “Okay, so how does that settle MY problem?” “Unlike me, you don’t have the luxury of eternity. But you as young as you are, still possess the value of time. Will a few years change anything between you and her? And even if not. You’ll have those years to grow and develop into a wonderful mare that Twilight would be proud to call her own.” Pearl opened her mouth only to shut it quickly. “Has anyone told you you're a walking headache?” “My best friend, she tells me that on a daily basis.” Kohaku chuckled. “Still doesn’t mean I’m wrong. And as for ‘Midnight’? Why not talk to her? See how she feels.” “I barely know the mare. And I never know when she’ll be around.” “OH, she’s at the castle now. If you hurry, you might even find something rather… intriguing.” Kohaku gave Pearl a sly grin as he snapped his fingers. “Thanks… I think.” Pearl sighed as she got up and galloped off to the castle. Lifting Flurry up Kohaku laid back on the ground and held the filly close. “Oh, how I would LOVE to see Pearl’s reaction to this a second time.” he chuckled with Flurry. Twilight blinked awake as a knocking came at the door of the library. Looking up, she watched as Pearl all but pranced into the room. “Sorry about being back late, princess, but I had to save the Flower Trio from Kohaku. That boy loves pranks way too much.” She stopped dead in her tracks, though, as she finally caught sight of just who the princess was snuggled up against. Aside from her glasses and her mane done up differently, she was identical to Twilight, even down to having the same cutie mark. “... Why am I seeing double? Did one of King Thorax’s changelings come for a visit?” Twi blinked in surprise. “Wait. You can see me? Like, what I really look like?” Pearl nodded. “If you mean seeing two versions of Princess Twilight getting real comfortable with each other? Yeah. Crystal clear too. Did I miss something here?” Twilight concentrated a moment before it clicked. “The Perception Filter. It’s gone.” Pearl frowned. She understood enough about unicorn magic to know what the princess meant. “A Perception Filter? Why would there be one?” Twilight sighed as she stood, beckoning both to follow her to the Side Library. This was sooner than she had hoped, but there was no point in hiding this now. “Come with me, Pearl. I think it’s time you learned the truth.” Pearl could only look at Twilight’s twin, who only smiled, before deciding to see what this was all about. “... And that is where we stand at the moment,” Twi finished, doing her best to try and keep it all simple. Pearl’s head spun from everything she had just learned. In her heart, she knew it was true, as crazy as it sounded. One question, though, would not leave her alone. “Isn’t that self-cest?” Twi giggled as she kissed Twilight. “Maybe. But love can be strange like that. At one time, I wouldn’t have believed it myself. Now it’s normal for all of us.” Pearl rolled her eyes. So that was why Ponyville seemed so used to Midnight and her coming and going as she did. And Twi was definitely cute. Twilight, though, smiled. “Now. You can’t visit the Human World just yet, Pearl. Your parents would tan my hide if I did before they learn of this as well. I can see you want to.” Pearl nodded. She would be lying if she didn’t want to a little. Of course, it wouldn’t be that easy. It never was it seemed. Twilight’s smile grew. “And is there anything you want to tell me, my Faithful Student? I’ve noticed you seem to be hiding something these past few months.” Pearl blinked, genuinely confused. “I don’t know what you mean, Twilight.” Twilight fought back an eye roll. Why were her students always so stubborn? “Pearl, please. I will not judge you for whatever it might be. I might be your teacher, but I am also your friend.” Pearl’s breath hitched. There was only one thing she knew the princess could be talking about. Looking into her eyes, she could see the genuine love and concern in them, and it finally broke down her barriers as she sighed. “I love you, Twilight. I don’t mean in the way most ponies do. Everybody loves you. I mean in the way I want to be your special somepony. Damn the age difference! I don’t care.” Twilight’s ears fell. And there it was. “Why didn’t you say something sooner, Pearl?” Pearl snorted as she gestured at Twi. “Because I saw you already had a special somepony when I first moved here. I can’t even be mad now, knowing the truth.” She sniffed. “I thought it might go away, but it hasn’t. It’s only gotten more so. It’s why I talked to Princess Cadance. She told me to follow my heart.” She giggled. “This was not what I expected though.” Everyone giggled. “And what about me?” Twi asked, genuinely curious. Pearl shook her head. “Well. You are cute. I didn’t think glasses could look so good on somepony. Guess I was wrong.” Twi giggled, as Twilight rolled her eyes. And now came the hard part, a part she had been dreading for months now. “Pearl. It can’t work between us.” Pearl’s head fell, letting her tears fall now. Damn it all! Maybe Spike had some ice cream she could drown her sorrows and a broken heart in. Or maybe Rarity had some. Twilight’s heart broke, seeing her student so broken and vulnerable. She felt Twi nudge her, giving her a pointed look in the process. She put her hoof over the filly’s. “Let me finish, Pearl. It can’t work between us. Not as we are now. Our age difference is too great.” Pearl nodded, not feeling any better knowing that. Twilight, though, only smiled softly. “But I am willing to wait. Time is not a concern for me.” Pearl’s heart lifted slightly as she looked up at the alicorn. “Then…?” Twilight nodded. “Until you are old enough, it can never be anything more than a teacher-student relationship between us. If you still truly feel as you do now, then I am willing to give us a try. I will never stop being your friend, however. None of this will change that.” Pearl couldn’t believe what she was hearing, as she looked at Twi. “What about you? I won’t rip you two apart. It’s partly why I didn’t say anything until now.” Twi nodded. “If you’re willing, I can’t see why we all can’t be together.” She took all of their hooves in her own and smiled gently. “No. I know I want us all to be together.” Twilight nodded as she squeezed their hooves. “But this has to be your choice, Pearl. We will not force you into this. It would not be right. As I said, I will never think less of you because of this.” Pearl thought about it for a moment, before smirking. “Well. Don’t be surprised if I say something stupid between now and then. You're stuck with me for the long run.” Everypony giggled. “Noted, my Faithful Student,” Twilight snarked. “Do I have to put up with Kohaku though? I don’t care if he was right about all this, I’m not gonna be someone I’m not,” Pearl grumbled. “I hope he can at least tell us apart.” Twilight rolled her eyes. “Only if you want to. He does genuinely care. And I’m sure he can tell you two apart. I doubt he’ll ever treat you any differently than he does his Pearl. As he never treated me any different than he treats Twi.” Pearl snorted. “Maybe. But does he have to be such a headache about it? Why Flurry likes him, I’ll never know.” “Pearl, I’ve dealt with Kohaku longer than either of you,” Twi sighed as she sat and nudged Pearl. “And he’s never been anything less than a headache. But a friend I’m glad to have. I just wish his big sister would lighten up on me… if I have to take any more tests like the last one.” Twi shuddered openly at the thought, making Twilight laugh. “That bad?” Twilight nudged Twi lightly. “It’s why I was so late. After the first question, I forgot half of what I studied. And two other students curled up under their tables in the fetal position. And this was only the midterm test.” Pearl took a step back. “Do I want to know how scary this creature is?” Twilight rolled her eyes and chuckled. “Don’t worry. She’s sweet enough. I think she’s just an overly harsh teacher.” “Please tell me you won’t put me through that,” Pearl smirked as Twi finally stopped hyperventilating from the memory of earlier that day.  “No, Twilight here isn’t that kind of teacher. I think you need to be trained in torture for a hundred years to reach Kazumi’s level.” All three mares looked at each other for a moment before breaking out in laughter.