Kohaku leaned his back against a large oak tree. His head rested against the cool bark as the warmth of the midday sun filtered through the canopy above. His tail bringing up a bamboo travel cup up, he took a long sip before a few giggles escaped his lips. Two young martens were busy chasing his two free tails. On top of his head, a red-breasted robin had perched itself between his ears, intent on using his dark oak hair as a new nest, pulling on various strands of hair.
“Hey, careful up there,” Kohaku muttered to the bird. “That stuff is permanently affixed to my head, ya know.”
Looking up, he opened his eyes and smiled. The robin gazed back down at him and chirped a few song notes. It wasn’t long before a sneezing fit started to shake him up, startling the bird on his head who started chirp louder.
“Thanks, and no, I don’t mind you up there. Just don’t pull out my hair,” Kohaku answered with a smile. A light tugging at his paw then caught his attention. Turning his head, he noticed his favorite yellow marten sitting there with a smile on her face.
“Oh, hey there, Miss Marigold,” Kohaku said pleasantly. “How’s your day going? Just out for a walk or are you here to check up on your boys?”
He listened in as the female marten gestured and voiced her day to Kohaku. The two smaller martens moved closer and nuzzled up against his sides. The tails they had been chasing earlier were brought up to petting them affectionately. After a few moments he felt their paws brushing against his own. Looking down, he smiled as they were both looking eagerly at the paw holding his lunch. Kohaku gave a light chuckle as he striped off a few bits of the fish jerky and handed them off to the two kits.
It wasn’t until the mother marten made a trotting gesture and let out a pony-like whinny that Kohaku’s head shot up. Almost fast enough to dislodge the robin who was pecking at his ear affectionately.
“I’m sorry, can you say that again?” Marigold repeated her statements about the pony and pointed to the north east. Turning his head, Kohaku looked in that direction. “And how often do you see this pony?”
He didn’t catch the response as a shrill scream and howling caught his attention. Marigold quickly snatched up her two kits and held them close as both her and Kohaku stared in the direction the sounds echoed from.
Without saying a word, Kohaku grabbed his rucksack and slung it into a nearby bush. After tossing down a packet of jerky and cup of fresh seeds for his animal friends, the young fox dashed off into the thicket.
Flying through the bushes his thoughts drifted towards what he was doing. He knew what that howling was, what had made it and what it meant. With the news that a pony was seen in that area, along with the high-pitched scream, he came to only one conclusion.
A pack of timberwolves had found their prey and were moving in for the kill.
*****
“Sweetie Belle!” Rarity called out as she walked through a heavily shaded section of the Everfree Forest. Stopping only for a moment to brush off her well-tailored vest, shorts and an explorer’s hat, which were now covered with leaves and bits of wood. “Sweetie Belle, where are you!”
Rarity sighed deeply as she kicked at the ground. Her normally well-cared-for hooves and coat were caked with several layers of dust and mud. She normally wouldn’t have let herself be caught dead looking like she was now, but after what had happened almost two months ago, she no longer cared.
Tripping over a rock in the road, she fell to the forest floor and cursed out loud. Limping her way over to a nearby stump, Rarity sat down and looked at her now chipped hoof.
“Blast it all!” Rarity exclaimed with a huff. Putting her hoof back down, she hung her head low, shaking it ever so slightly side to side, tears pouring down her cheeks. “What am I doing? Maybe everypony is right, I should just accept it. My Sweetie Belle is gone.”
She sat there whimpering to herself with her eyes closed. It wasn’t until the stump she was seated on started to move that she looked up. She gazed into a pair of glowing pale green eyes. Her own widening at the fierce thorn teeth as the timberwolf’s mouth opened with a loud growl.
Rarity trembled, her breathing increasing rapidly. As the wolf growled even louder, the mare let out a shriek that echoed in the trees. As quickly as she could, Rarity leaped off the leg of the timberwolf. Landing on all fours, Rarity bucked a few nearby rocks toward the massive wolf’s face before dashing into the trees. Looking over her shoulder, Rarity smirked as the wolf stumbled backwards for a moment.
Running along between the trees, Rarity heard the heavy thump of her pursuer’s paws behind her. Her breathing grew heavier and more labored. As she entered a small glade, she tripped over a large root and rolled on the ground. Her vest tore as she slid in the dirt. Sitting up with a hoof to her forehead, she heard the timberwolf getting closer. Crawling backwards, she gasped as her back pushed up against a fallen tree. The timberwolf who was chasing her soon came into view, with two more emerging from the shadows.
Her breathing hard and ragged, she watched as the trio of wolves came closer, snarling louder as the lead wolf let out a howl that pierced her ears.
At least I’ll be with my precious little sister now, Rarity thought as she sniffled loudly.
Just as the lead timberwolf lunged for Rarity’s throat, a pillar of emerald flame erupted between the wolf and its prey, to the surprize of both the mare and her attackers. The flame was then followed by a three-tailed canine that leaped out from behind a set of nearby bushes and landed in front of all three timberwolves.
Rarity watched as this small creature faced off against the trio, each one easily four times larger than him.
“Back off!” Kohaku barked as loudly as he could. Lowering his weight slightly, the young fox assumed a crouching attack position, ready to leap out at a moments notice. His three tails fanned out as flames circled around them. His four paws firmly pushed into the dirt as his razor sharp claws extended. While growling he beared his fangs toward the larger wooden canines. His gaze shifted from left to right. Sizing up his opponents, he gave a slight smirk as his eyes narrowed a little. Leaping forward the trio stepped back, inching away from the smokeless emerald flame that swirled around his four legs and three tails. Looking over his shoulder, he caught sight of the mare, half-cowering behind his wall of foxfire.
Turning back to the three timberwolves, he let out a soft sigh. What am I getting myself into now? I’ve already expended way more magic than I care too. It’s a good thing these moss-brains aren't too smart. I hope this foolish mare appreciates what I’m about to do for her. Oh, this is really going to hurt. Taking a deep breath, he extinguished all his foxfire and leaped toward the timberwolves.
Rarity watched as her young rescuer glanced over his shoulder at her. She caught a glimpse of his bright liquid amber eyes for only a second before his attention turned back to the wolves. Her breath slowed a little, but her heart pounded inside her chest. She watched as the flames in front of her flickered out just before the small three-tailed canine leap toward the timberwolves.
In a matter of moments she saw her hope of rescue vanish. She watched as her young rescuer was swatted away by the the timberwolf’s large paw. His small body flew backwards past her right side and into the bushes. A loud whimper escaped her lips before she watched him leap out of the bushes on the left side of her and toward the wolves. Only to be caught by the throat by the lead wolf who swung the fox hard snapping his neck. The two other wolves quickly rushed in and sank their teeth into his young body.
Rarity felt sick to her stomach as she watched as the fox was literally torn apart in front of her. She was about to let out a horrified scream when she felt a long fluffy tail wrap around her mouth as two more grasped her waist and pulled her into the bushes.
Blinking, she felt a hot breath by her ear. Turning her head, she looked into a set of the liquid amber eyes head on.
“Keep quiet and follow me,” he said in a whisper, removing his tails from her body, and swiftly moved through the trees.
Her confusion growing by the second, Rarity didn’t hesitate and followed him.
Can this day get any stranger? Rarity thought, her eyes watching her rescuer carefully. His movements were slow, almost to the point of struggling to keep moving. Moving closer, she caught the sound of his breathing, rough and strained. Is he injured? Oh dear, I hope not. He was so brave back there, and he doesn’t even know me.
“I thought you were being torn apart, how is it nothing happened to you?” she asked, her voice a soft whisper.
“A simple illusion,” he said with a quiet voice, more from exhaustion than from the need to be quiet. And he did little to hide his irritation for the mare he just saved. “Those moss brains aren't too smart to realise it wasn’t me they were tearing apart.”
“So what were they tearing apart?” Rarity looked over her shoulder.
“You don’t wanna know,” was all he said with a tone that made Rarity realise that some creature in the woods did lose its life for her.
***
The minutes passed as she was lead by the three-tailed canine through the dark woods. She could still hear the timberwolves behind her, but those sounds soon became more and more distant.
After what seemed to be ages, the two entered a large clearing with a dirt path. Rarity noted that three small critters dashed up to her rescuer. Once halfway into the clearing, she watched as he just collapsed and rolled onto his back with a heavy groan. Rarity moved forward see what was wrong, only to be stopped by the largest of the three martens, who stood on her hind legs and barked at her repeatedly.
“Marigold, relax,” the fox said as he weakly pawed at the female marten’s tail. “It’s not her fault”
Rarity watched as Marigold moved over to Kohaku. Standing in front of the young male, the marten put one paw on her hip. With a stern look, she started to wave a finger up and down at him like a mom scolding her child. The mare couldn’t help but let out a quick giggle.
“Alright, I get it. It was stupid,” he said and rolled over onto his back. His breathing grew more labored, his chest heaving up and down. He started to groan loudly as if every movement was agony for him. Lifting his head a little, he looked directly at Rarity. “You. In that bush over there. A rucksack. Inside, several bamboo segments with corks in the top. Please, bring one over to me.”
“Please don’t call me ‘you’, I have a name, it’s...” Rarity started, but was quickly silenced by his paw lifting up.
“Drink first… Name later,” he said, his voice sounding as strained as his breathing.
Well, I never. Treating me like I’m some servant, Rarity thought as she lightly narrowed her eyes. He could at least be a little more tactful in his request. I am a lady, afterall. Then again. if not for him I’d be in the belly of a timberwolf right now. Despite her reservations with her rescuer’s attitude, she trotted over to the bush and found the denim rucksack and easily located the bamboo segments. Her eyes took in how well-organized the sack was. Well, at least he’s not completely hopeless. Looks like he is certainly prepared for anything.
Moving over to the young male, she brought the bamboo segment near his paws, which swiftly grabbed it. Despite using her magic, she leaped back as if fearing losing of a limb.
Rarity watched as he pulled the cork out with his teeth, spit it to the side and then started to guzzle the drink rather loudly. After a minute of drinking she watched as he just flopped his forelegs onto the ground. His breathing became smoother and far stronger as he took a long deep breath and let it out slowly.
“Oh, much better,” he said as he rolled up backwards and into a full standing position. Arching his back like a cat, he reached his tail out and grabbed the rucksack. Pulling out a large segment of dried food, he started to strip it a bit. “Thank you,” he said with a pleasant stronger voice as he slumped himself down at a nearby tree.
Rarity blinked as a red-bellied robin flew down off a nearby branch and landed on his head. She almost laughed aloud as she watched the robin start to nibble at his hair.
“I’m sorry for interrupting you earlier, but I was near collapse. I’m Kohaku,” Kohaku said with his mouth half full of food. “Please, have a seat. We’re safe here. Those timberwolves won’t come this way. They’ll be too busy taking their dinner, which you were almost part of, back to their den. So you were saying what your name is. And what are you doing in my forest?”
Rarity couldn’t help but look over her shoulders, she couldn’t hear the timberwolves any longer. Turning her attention back to Kohaku, she took a seat on a patch of grass. “Well, I certainly didn’t care for being interrupted, young man, but I suppose I can overlook it this time. You did save my life. You may call me Rarity. I know it’s rather foolish of me, but I’m looking for my little sister Sweetie Belle. She vanished almost two months ago in these woods.”
Rarity smiled, mostly to herself. It wasn’t as if this fox knew who she was, but she did feel the need to announce her name the way she would to anyone who did. She looked at his wide eyes and mouth agape. Whatever food had been in his paws was now on the ground, being fought over by the two smaller martens. She had come across that expression so many times. It was then she realized he did know who she was.
Oh ,sweet Tsukuyomi, this is Sweetie-chan’s big sister! Kohaku thought to himself as he looked Rarity over from top to bottom. It’s funny though, annoying as she is, she doesn’t seem like an overbearing pain in the flank. Not that I doubt Sweetie-chan, of course.
How? How could this small wild-looking boy know me, Rarity thought as she leaned in a bit. And why is he eyeing me, Not that I blame him, he probably rarely meets a mare as beautiful as myself. “Are... are you okay, Kohaku?”
“Hmm?” he asked as he looked up into Rarity’s eyes. “Oh yeah. I’m recovering quickly enough. One of these drinks and a bit of protein, and I’ll be just fine.” Pulling out another piece of fish jerky, he ripped a good chunk off of it and started chewing. After swallowing he leaned back as the mother marten ran up his foreleg and rested herself across his shoulders, staring fiercely at Rarity.
“I don’t think she likes me,” Rarity said as she sat opposite of Kohaku.
“Oh, don’t mind her,” the fox said with a chuckle. “She thinks of herself as the mother hen of the forest. But, let's not talk about Marigold here. Let's talk about you. You're looking for your sister who’s been missing for two months now. Give or take a week or so,” his voice trailed off into a barely audible whisper as Rarity nodded.
“You’ve been in my forest for how long now?”
“Since dawn,” Rarity answered calmly.
“And you almost became lunch for a pack of timberwolves in that time.” Kohaku smirked a little. “What makes you think she didn’t suffer the same fate? Ponies aren't suited for this forest. They most certainly can’t stay here long without becoming a meal for something.”
“Well everypony certainly believes she did. Especially after the search party found my… the blouse she was wearing that day. Torn apart and bloodied in a timberwolf den.” Rarity bowed her head down as tears formed at the sides of her eyes. Looking up, her eyes were tear-stained as she sniffled loudly. “But I know she’s alive. I can feel it. I have to find her. I'll never forgive myself otherwise.”
Finishing another bite of jerky, Kohaku handed the rest off to Marigold who eagerly started to eat it. Getting up, he stretched out again till he heard a few pops from his back and let out a deep sigh. “Well, I can’t argue with faith like that. And I wouldn’t even begin to try.” Getting up on all fours, he used his tails to sling the rucksack onto his back. “Well, you're free to go looking if you want. I’m certainly not going to stop you. Just please be careful.”
Blinking, Rarity stood up and watched Kohaku. “Well, thank you, I most certainly will be.” Turning around, she started walking in the opposite direction toward a path leading further southeast. Looking over her shoulders, she noticed that he had completely vanished from sight.
I wonder if I’ll see him again. I’ll have to thank him somehow for saving me earlier, Rarity thought and turned around. She hadn’t taken two steps when she came eye to eye with Kohaku’s amber orbs. Letting out a small yelp, the mare fell onto her back.
“Just so you know, there are worse things than timberwolves out there.” Rarity heard him say as he leaped off a tree stump and onto the ground, only to vanish from sight. Even though she couldn’t see him, she heard him loud and clear. Rarity watched as he shimmered in and out as he stalked around her like a predator after its prey.
“It is going to get dark soon. As the sun sets lower and lower,” Kohaku said softly, his paws barely making any sound on the ground. “That’s when the really nasty creatures come out to hunt. Things that you can’t even imagine. Things you can’t even see. Hunters that are so quiet, that the rustling of leaves in the wind is like a parade band compared to the sound they make. And just when you least expect it…”
Rarity’s chest heaved up and down as his voice trailed off. She no longer saw or heard a sound he made. Looking around, she pushed herself up slightly, only to be forcefully slammed back into the dust by a pair of bark-colored paws.
“...they pounce!” he grinded out, his sharp fangs glistening in the sunlight. “Going straight for your throat. If you’re lucky, very very lucky, you’ll be dead before they start to feast on your body.” Leaping off of her chest, Kohaku let out a deep purr. “You of course do have another option. You can come with me. I can safely lead you to my friend who can lead you out of the forest. I mean, if your sister is alive like you claim, you being dead won’t help her much, now will it? But like I said, you’re free to do as you like.”
Rarity’s heart felt as if it was about to leap out of her throat, her breathing hard and heavy as she lay there on her back. Looking at Kohaku who was glancing back at her over his shoulder with a smile, Rarity nodded softly.
“W… well you, do make a good point,” she said, pushing herself up on shaky legs. She was surprised at how quickly he moved toward her to assist her up on all fours. Rarity watched him with almost intense fascination. What just happened here? Just who is this boy, and why do I feel like I’ve been tricked somehow? she thought to herself, nodding at Kohaku.
“I think I’ll follow you,” Rarity said as her breathing became easier “You are right, my sister does need me alive.”
“Great, here, put this on,” Kohaku said as he flung a woolen cloak at Rarity.
Rarity caught the cloak with her magic. She looked over the faded worn and slightly tattered cloak. A heavy scent of musk came off of it. She scrunched her muzzle in disgust. “Ugh.. such a musky old thing. You really expect me to wear this?”
“I know it’s old and a bit musky. It belonged to my big brother.”
“What was he, a warthog?” Groaning, she bit down on her lower lip, instantly regretting what she said. Opening her mouth to apologize, she was interrupted by Kohaku.
“No, he was a unicorn. A powerful one at that.” Kohaku’s voice held a slight edge of hurt to it. “It's one of the few things of his that I have left.”
“I.. I’m sorry. I...” Rarity stammered out
“Forget it,” Kohaku said, waving his paw, dismissing what she was about to say. “The point is, that cloak will hide your scent from any predator we might pass. I’m not up to using any further magic today. I’ve used more than I should have saving you. This trip is hard enough without the added fatigue from magical overuse.” Letting out a soft sigh, he turned his back and started walking north. Stopping after a few steps, he turned around and looked at Rarity. “Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound rude, it’s just…”
“I get it,” Rarity interrupted and moved up closer to the young boy. She put her hoof on his shoulder. “I insulted your brother, that was very unladylike of me, and I’m truly sorry.” Rarity looked at the cloak he had given her a little closer. While dulled, she saw that it was dark blue with stars swirled about the tail end of it. Small silken spots all along the edge were indicators that something was once hung on them. Swallowing her pride, she put the cloak on and flipped the hood over her head. “Let’s go.”
Nodding softly, Kohaku moved ahead as he led Rarity north. Facing away from Rarity, Kohaku smirked to himself. At least now she won’t head to the southeast, toward my home and Sweetie-chan. Not that she’d be able to find them. But I can’t take that chance, at least until I’m sure how Sweetie-chan feels about it. I mean, if Rarity did kick Sweetie-chan out, why is she looking so hard for her, Doesn't make sense. Oh well, if Sweetie-chan doesn’t want to be near her sister, then I’ll just do my best to keep them apart. Not that it’ll be hard now.
Rarity watched Kohaku from behind, the robin that was sitting on his head began to chirp which soon lead the boy into singing. This is going to be a very long day, she thought to herself.
***
It was late afternoon when Zecora opened the door to her home. A long drawn-out sigh escaped her lips as she hung her cloak on the nearby hat stand. Following her in were three other ponies, two pegasi, one with a bunny on her head, and an alicorn. Each one looked as worn and tired as the zebra was.
“Why did we come back here,” Rainbow Dash asked in irritation. “She’s still out there. We have to find her.”
“Dashie, I agree with you,” Twilight said, moving in, and gave her wife a soft nuzzle. “But like Zecora said, it’s dangerous when the sun starts to set. And we’ve been looking for hours and have yet to come across any sign of Rarity.”
“It’s true, Miss Dash. With such danger about, you should not be so rash,” Zecora stated with a stern face. “Now you three sit and talk. I’ll get all something warm to drink.” With a deep sigh she walked into her kitchen.
“I’m not afraid of any danger,” Dash said confidently as she moved toward the door which was still blocked by Fluttershy. “You coming with me, Shy? Your animals will be a great help.”
“Oh... oh no,” Fluttershy said in her small voice. The bunny on her head grumbled and flopped onto his belly atop Fluttershy’s mane. “I’m not going to put animals in any more danger today.”
“Well then move. I’m going to keep looking for her,” Dash said, moving in to push past her shy friend. She had stopped only when Fluttershy put both her front hooves atop Dash’s chest.
“No please,” Fluttershy started as her wings helped block the closed door. “I don’t want to lose another friend.” She looked into Rainbow’s eyes with small tears. “It was hard enough losing little Sweetie Belle. And we don’t know if Rarity is still in the forest. She… she might have gone home already.”
“Or Applejack, Silverlay, and Pinkie might have found her while searching the other side of the forest,” Twilight stated, putting her hoof on Dash’s shoulder.
“I just…” Rainbow started and closed her eyes, turning her head away from Fluttershy’s teary face. “I can’t stand to think of her out there in the forest.”
“None of us do, Rainbow,” Fluttershy said calmly.
“Agreed,” Twilight said, pulling her wife into a hug and softly caressing her mane with the side of her hoof. “Let's go home. Check with the others and at the boutique first. If she’s still in the forest, we’ll go back in every day. I promise.”
Rainbow Dash sniffled a little as she wrapped her forelegs around her wife’s neck and hugged her tight. Letting out a soft sigh, she practically collapsed, falling to her knees.
“See, even your body is telling you it’s time to stop looking,” Twilight said with a smile.
“You’re right everypony. I’m sorry,” Rainbow Dash said as she slumped on the floor.
Zecora walked into the room not long after with a tray in her teeth. Setting it down on a table, she walked over to the trio, smiling wide.
“I’m glad to hear you’ve all made amends, your drinks are there so please help yourself, my dear friends.” Sitting down, she took her own cup of tea and closed her eyes. Before she could even take a sip, Zecora and everypony looked at the door when a heavy knocking came through it.
“Oh, Miss Zecora!” said a young voice.
“What was that?” Twilight asked, looking at the door. “It sounds a lot like Zebric. Only a little bit archaic.”
“You are quite right, my dear Twilight. It is very old version of the language spoken in my homeland,” Zecora said as she stood up and started toward the door, only to stop with a shocked expression. “Oh my, I had completely forgotten.”
“Forgotten what?” Rainbow asked as she looked at her confused friend.
“That with all searching we have done in this dark nature shrine, I forgot that I was expecting a visit from a beloved friend of mine.” Zecora sighed out and looked at the door.
“Please come in, Kohaku,” Zecora replied in the same Zebric.
The three ponies each gasped as the door opened. All of them expecting another zebra. What they got instead was a small canine creature with three tails.
“Thanks, Miss Zecora,” Kohaku said with a smile, dropping his rucksack by Zecora’s hat stand, and stretched out a bit. “I’m so sorry I'm late. I got a bit distracted on my journey.”
“That’s quite alright, my friend. I only just returned home myself not too long ago, so I’m not actually ready for you this week,” Zecora replied as she reached down and hugged him close. “I’m also very glad you are still practicing your Zebric. But if you don’t mind, for my friends’ benefit, let's speak in Ponish.”
“Oh great, now I get to hear you rhyme. It’s not as if I hear that all the time,” Kohaku said, switching to ponish, with a noticeable annoyance in his voice. Which got a giggle from Rainbow Dash and Zecora. Turning his head toward the three ponies, he blinked. “Wow, not often I see ponies in my forest this close to nightfall.”
Rainbow blinked and turned to Twilight, “What does this kid mean by ‘his forest’? And what is he?” but barely got a response out of the alicorn. Dash saw those wide sparkling eyes and knew what it meant. Only two things get my wife this excited, me in stockings and something new to study.
Twilight had never in her life seen a creature like him, only rumors and the off writing in very old scripts and books. Her excitement was rising. How she would love to spend a few minutes alone with him to study him. She was lucky Dash was up against her, or she would have leaped from her seat and pounced on him with a clipboard and a magical quill.
“I... I think he’s a fox. A multi-tailed fox… Oh wow,” Twilight said to her wife and friend, as her breathing quickened with excitement. “Were did I leave my notebook and quill set?” the alicorn said, searching frantically through her saddlebags.
Laughing aloud, Zecora ruffled Kohaku’s hair with her hoof. “Now, Kohaku, you know I don’t rhyme all the time.” Their laughter echoed in the room. “And as for why these ponies are in the forest, we’ve been looking for someone close to us.”
“Well, speaking of finding ponies... Do you think you can help lead a rather foolish mare that I met today out of the forest? She almost became a timberwolf’s lunch today,” Kohaku asked while motioning toward a shadowed cloaked figure that walked into the hut. Her head was down, but it was still easy to see those long purple locks flowing out.
What ever Zecora had said was drowned out as three mares suddenly rushed the door yelling at once. “Rarity!”
Kohaku barely had time to move out of the way as he soon found himself trampled under two mares. Blinking, he was about to say something when he looked up and his eyes went wide. Gulping, he quickly closed them tight and remained perfectly still. All the while everypony was talking at once.
“What happened to you? Are... are you okay”
“Where have you been? We’ve been looking everywhere!”
“Do you realize how badly you scared all of us?”
“Girls, please,” Rarity said softly, lightly shrinking away. “I... I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you all.” The mare flipped her head up, letting the hood of the cloak fall back. Her eyes already teared up. “I just… I had to find her.”
“Rarity…” Twilight began, but was soon interrupted by Zecora.
“My friends, please I ask that you all step away from the young pup. And let my dear friend Kohaku up,” she said, moving toward the four of them, her hoof reaching out to the young boy.
“Oh!” all four exclaimed in unison as they looked down and noticed they were all standing over the fox.
“Now that you’ve given us the surprise of the day, I need to ask, are you okay?” the zebra held out a hoof to her young friend.
“Thanks, Miss Zecora,” Kohaku said as he took her hoof and pulled himself from under Rainbow Dash. “I’m just fine. I’ve been trampled over by mares before. Of course, it’s mostly fillies from the village. Of course I also never had one straddled over my face before, thankfully I closed my eyes, so I was in no danger of passing out.”
“Um, not to pry, but why did you need to close your eyes?” said a soft timid voice who moved in closer.
“Ask the mare who decided to go commando,” Kohaku answered with a grin.
Fluttershy blinked as she looked over at her friends. Twilight then took a deep breath and turned toward her wife.
“Rainbow!” she shouted as Twilight looked at her wife.
“Hey, you weren’t complaining about it this morning,” Rainbow Dash said with a soft smirk.
Twilight sighed deeply and nudged Rainbow a bit, whispering into her ear. “We’ll talk about this later.” Smiling, she heard Rainbow grumble a bit. They both knew what that talk would entail. The alicorn walked over to Kohaku and knelt down “I’m so sorry for my wife.”
“That’s okay, ma’am,” Kohaku said, sitting down on the ground, and straightened his vest. “It’s not like I haven't seen such things before. Only it has a far different effect on me now than when I was younger.”
“Right. Well, if you excuse us, my friends and I have some things to talk about with Rarity,” Twilight said, backing up a bit.
“Sure, I’ll just be over here with Zecora,” Kohaku said with a smile. Watching the three mares ‘talk’ to their friend. Which obviously included lots of yelling.
“Are you okay, Kohaku?” Zecora asked, sitting next to the young fox.
“Yeah, I’m okay. I just had to use more magic than I honestly wanted to.” Rubbing his shoulders with two of his tails, Kohaku yawned a bit. “I’ll be glad to get home and into my warm bed.”
“Well, I’m sorry you won’t be staying longer, but neither of us were prepared for today’s events. Come over here, and I'll get what I can ready for you.” Zecora touched his shoulder before leading him to her potion cabinet.
“Great. I have the plants you wanted, some got a li’l crushed, but they should still be good,” Kohaku replied as he grabbed his rucksack and followed his friend.
Rarity sat there on one of Zecora’s chairs as her three friends stood around her. The heavy cloak was still wrapped around her shoulders. Over the last few hours she actually had gotten used to it. Apart from the slight musky scent, the cloak was very well made. Letting out a sigh, she looked up into Twilight's eyes.
“So let me have it,” Rarity said plainly. “Tell me how stupid I am. How I’m holding out for false hope, how I could have died today. Believe me, I know that one all too well now.”
“I’m not going to lecture you, Rarity.” Twilight sighed and looked deeply into Rarity’s eyes. “What would be the point? As much as we all would like her to be alive, we have to face the cold hard facts. We all searched this forest for over a month and the only thing we found was your blouse. Covered in her blood, in a timberwolf den. Sweetie Belle is dead! No amount of searching will change that, as much as we all would want it.”
“Rarity, we all understand. We…” Rainbow Dash started, but was swiftly silenced by the deadly look she received from Rarity.
“You understand! You don’t understand anything, Rainbow!” Rarity shouted, tears falling from her eyes. “She was my little sister. Tell me you know what it feels like to know your sister is dead. That you’ll never see her again! That the last words you ever spoke to her were in anger!” Rarity’s chest was heaving up and down as she cried harder. A pair of yellow wings folded themselves around the fashionista.
“Rarity…” Twilight began, but like with Rainbow was silenced by Rarity who continued to rant.
“Or how about you? What if it was your brother, or Spike!” Rarity sank into Fluttershy’s embrace. She was thankful that at least one of her friends wasn’t saying the things the others were. She was also completely unaware of a pair of amber eyes looking directly at her. “None of you understand. Nopony understands how I feel. I would do... Give anything to have her back again!”
If Rarity was going to say anything else, she never got the chance as Zecora’s voice caught everyone’s attention.
“Kohaku!”
The four mares suddenly looked over at Zecora, who was now holding the young boy who was coughing and trembling wildly. One paw clutching hard at his chest as he tried valiantly to push himself away from his zebra friend who refused to leave his side. His eyes, that were once bright and attentive, were now lost. Looking about as if he had no idea where he was.
“No… no... where,” Kohaku muttered repeatedly as he kicked himself away from Zecora. Looking about, he glanced at every shadow as tears fell from his eyes seeing things that only existed for him. “Oneechan….” was the final word he muttered before he coughed harder, blood spurting out of his mouth. His body swayed side to side before passing out on the ground.
All four mares looked on in total confusion while Zecora just sighed and shook her head.