Twilight smiled as she sipped on her drink from the balcony of the cafe. Pearl, meanwhile, was going gaga over the various treats on the dessert cart. The princess could almost have done a spit take from the familiar voice she heard from below.
“I can’t believe you got us tickets. I have been trying for weeks,” Luna said strolling to a booth with her companion. “I thought I was going to have to write Twilight to get these. How didst thow manage it?”
Twilight lowered herself as she saw it was the retired princess. And next to her sat a familiar-looking unicorn. Forest green with an amber horn and a long, bouncy, bark-colored mane. Twilight was certain that was Luna’s Paladin judging by the broach which bore Luna’s insignia. Twilight’s eyes widened when she heard the Paladin speak. The voice was not unfamiliar but not the one she remembered Luna’s Paladin using last she saw her...
But that was also impossible. She was dead. Twilight had seen her enter the Everfree Forest herself, no matter how hard she had tried to get her to stay.
“Well, I know how big of a fan you are of her music. So all l did was to help to guide most of the Canterlot promoters through the Everfree on their way here.” Luna’s Paladin smiled softly at her. Placing her hoof over hers. “They were so grateful they just gave me the tickets.”
“So thow used thy position as the forest guardian to sneakily get royal box tickets?” Luna smirked raising her eyebrow. “Kohaku, how couldst thow do that?”
“Quite easily. And do I have to bring up that little incident about a princess who used her royal name to get first access to the latest gaming console a month before it was in stores?” Forestsong chuckled seeing Luna blush and shift a little. Giving a playful look away.
“I hast no Idea what thow is speaking of. I would never use thy royal name for such a trivial matter.” Luna closed her eyes looking away with her nose up before a light proding to her side with her Paladin’s hoof caused her to look back into his eyes and smile. The two of them shared a laugh. “Okay, I give up. I guess we are both guilty of that.”
Running her hoof down the Paladin’s broach she looked up into her Paladin’s amber eyes. “Does thow mind if I ask why you are wearing that? It is not needed any longer.”
“Well, I am still your Paladin. And have been since I was a wide-eyed adolescent and you a love-struck filly. It does seem only right I ware it still.”
“Except I am no longer a princess of Equestria. And at the moment, I know how frustrating it is for thow to pass for a mare.”
“Would you prefer I use my true form?” Kohaku gave a sly grin leaning in.
“Let us not. The world is not yet ready for thy true self Kohaku. I only wish we did not have to hide what we are.” Her response was only a soft and deep kiss. One Twilight was certain they had shared many times before by the way Luna caressed the side of her Palladin’s cheek.
“Hey princess what are you looking at?” Pearl taped Twilight on the shoulders. Making her nearly leap ten hooves in the air.
Pearl rolled her eyes as her princess came back to earth. You’d think she’d seen a ghost with that reaction as she saw Luna and her Paladin, and nearly did a spit take herself.
That was impossible. Amber Orchid had been dead for centuries, and only she had ever been allowed to wear that symbol. Anyone else caught using it was severely punished. Fillies and colts got off easy, however, for Pearl couldn't count the number of ponies she had seen wearing some version of it. Usually on Nightmare Night, and more than once, Luna herself had commended the pony in question on their work.
Amber saw and smirked looking up having, heard the commotion, as she bowed her head to Twilight. “Princess.”
Twilight finally found her voice. “How? And why did Luna use that name? Only one creature I know has it, and last time I checked, he was a boy.”
Amber only smiled wider. “Come now, princess. I thought you knew enough of my kind to know better.” Amber’s voice had changed and deepened. “Or have you forgotten about Starswirl’s little journal?”
Twilight’s eyes widened. While it had only been a few times in her life, she knew that voice anywhere. “Kohaku?”
“Let us have an easier chat,” Luna smirked and with a flash teleported herself and her Paladin up to the balcony and into the same booth as Twilight and Pearl. “I trust this is better than calling down to us and bringing everyone’s attention with it?”
Pearl’s head was spinning as she groaned irritably before pointing a hoof at the two. “Will somepony tell me what the hell is going on?! Why am I seeing dead ponies now.”
Twilight nodded. “That is what I want to know.”
“Well, reports about my death have been greatly exaggerated.” Amber said politely taking a sip from her tea now back to using her pony voice, “I mean it’s a lot better than letting everyone know I simply went back home and wept for a hundred years after the loss of my Princess.” Luna sighed bowing her head. Fully remembering the incident. “In truth, I have not used this form or name since then. But Twilight has met me on various occasions. In my true form.”
“But seeing as this is Pipp’s biggest concert to date coming up. And Luna was dead set on going. Well, I could not let her go alone now could I? I’d be one lousy Paladin and mate otherwise.”
Twilight allowed herself to relax. She still had so many questions about all of this. But she would not ruin Pipp’s big day with this. She was supposed to be relaxing. So she would. But she would get to the bottom of this.
Even if it meant pulling princess rank on Luna. Something she had never wanted to do, though more than once, the thought had crossed her mind when dealing with Celestia's penchant for still being secretive and not telling her everything she needed to know.
Luna looked at her Paladin who only nodded. Reaching out, the former Princess took Twilight’s hooves in hers. “Fear not Princess. I shall tell thee all you wish to know. Just not here.”