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.”