//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 - Lifting the rose colored veil // Story: Pearl's Beloved Forestsong // by Valtyrian //------------------------------// Pearl huffed as she laid there on the large cloud bed in Scootaloo’s large room. Pearl had to admit being the daughter of a princess had perks. For two days now she had been a guest at the castle as Fluttershy’s cabin was completely empty. Kohaku was nowhere to be found. On a table in the living room, she found a small note and a saddlebag. The note stated that he had gone hunting and would return in a few days. Looking at the saddlebag, she found it was one of hers. Inside was several day’s worth of clothing. Like he said, Kohaku got her clothes. Since her parents were abroad on business she went to Twilight and took up the offer to stay there till Kohaku had returned. For two days she agonized about her feelings. She loved her friend deeply. Had so for years, but when had those feelings become romantic? Even wondering when his stupid pranks went from annoying to funny and charming. She had even taken part in many of the pranks, coming up with many of her own. She even enjoyed laughing with him when somepony fell for them. “Hey Pearl.” Scootaloo chimed as the orange pegasus entered her room. “You still wrestling with your feelings?” “I love him.” Pearl muttered as she didn’t notice her friend enter the room. “I love him and he’s not around for me to tell him so.” Grabbing a pillow, Pearl tossed it across the room and sat up with a cross look. Scootaloo smirked as she watched one of her pillows fly halfway across the room. “Is that a yes?” “No, I’m certain now. I love him.” Pearl sat up and hugged another of the fluffy pillows. “Great,” Scootaloo laughed out. “I’m glad to hear it. Say why don’t you come downstairs. Bloom and Belle are here. There’s something we want to show you. “What is it?” Pearl sighed and placed the pillow back where it belonged. “Nope, not telling. You’ll just have to find out when we get there.” Pearl smirked at her friend and followed along. Meeting Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle at the castle entrance. She embraced them both with playful laughter. Not long after she found herself following behind the trio. Perking her ears up she watched them talking amongst themselves. “She’s not ready for this Belle.” Apple Bloom sighed out. “Remember how you reacted to seeing that part of him.” “Well if she is going to start a romantic relationship with him, she needs to know that part of him” Sweetie Belle signed out while looking over her shoulder as the trio moved through the rough path of the Everfree Forest. “It’s not like it did you any good.” Scootaloo sighed out. “Besides I think this is something he should tell her about.” “He won’t and you know it.” “Okay girls, what’s up.” Pearl stopped and sat down. “I’m not going any further until you tell me what’s going on.” The trio looked at each other and nodded together. “We’re taking you to a little hideout near a clearing. Lots of animals roam it and you might even see Kohaku as he hunts.” Sweetie Belle smiled. “Okay then. Lead on.” Pearl smiled at her friends. Looking at their eyes she saw the same nervous look when they mentioned Kohaku hunting. Kohaku comfortably lounged in a bed of wildflowers. For two days now he had been hunting his prey. His muscles were sore, his paws ached, his body was exhausted from lack of sleep. And he never felt more alive. He had chosen well. His prey was smart, and quite elusive. Sipping on a homemade smoothie, Kohaku watched the clouds in the sky as they floated past. “How are you holding up?” Kohaku sighed out as he rubbed his shoulder with a sore paw. “Not bad,” an unseen voice replied from the bushes. “I have enough strength for one final run. Beyond that…” the voice went silent as a sigh caught Kohaku’s ears. “My mate thought I was crazy when I told her about this arrangement.” “Really?” Kohaku rolled over onto his belly, and stared at the thick bushes. “Yeah, but after I explained everything to her. She agreed that this was best. Now she can remember me as I truly am, and not the pathetic creature I was going to be.” Kohaku heard his friend shift as a pair of brown eyes looked back at him. “Speaking of mates, how is that sweet filly you keep mentioning every night.” “She isn’t my mate.” Kohaku folded his front legs and rested his head down. “Not that I wouldn’t be thrilled if she was. She’s smart, beautiful and is a raging spitfire who calls me out on everything I do. How could I not fall in love with her? But she just went through a painful break up. I want to ask her out, to make her feel loved. Show her that there’s somecreature who loves her deeply. But I feel as if I would be taking advantage of the situation.” “So? When my mate was left by her then lover, I swooped in and made my move.” The unseen voice chuckled. “Find a date spot that means something for you both and take her there. For me and mine it was this lovely little foraging spot she goes too. We spent hours there talking and before the night was over. I had my mate.” “Hmmm” Was all Kohaku managed to get out before taking a long deep breath. “I’ll think on that.” “You do that, and above all. Tell her how you feel. You may strike out, or you may win the carrot patch. But either way at least you will let her know how YOU feel.” “I’ll do that.” Getting up Kohaku stretched a bit. “You ready?” “Yeah. One final run. Let's make it a good one.” The voice said as he sat up. A pair of long ears poking out of the bushes. “Five minute head start?” “I’ll make it ten. As long as you give me a good fight.” “OH I will. Like you told me when we started this two days ago. I’m not going to make this easy on you.” the Jackrabbit laughed. Seeing Kohaku nod he dashed out into the thicket at top speed. Kohaku watched his prey run out. Leaning against a tree he slowly counted in his head. As he counted, thoughts of Pearl entered his mind, Bringing a smile to his face. As the counter reached six hundred. All thoughts but one left his mind. His eyes became hard as the smile vanished from his lips just before he dashed out after his target. Pearl and her friends laid out comfortably on the wooden platform overlooking the small clearing. Pearl admitted this was a beautiful area, so much so that she almost forgot she was in the Everfree Forest. Small animals skittered about, fish leaped out of the water to catch bugs flying overhead. And the calm of the place relaxed her already tense nerves. She made her decision, she was going to tell Kohaku just how she felt. Yes she was putting her heart on the line, but she was certain that he would reciprocate those feelings. As Pearl watched over the valley from that tree post, a large jack rabbit dashed from under the bushes The Jackrabbit had to be at least a hoof taller then she was. It’s long ears swept back down it’s head. She watched as he panted heavily looking around furiously. His powerful legs bounding him to the center of the valley in only a few hops. “That has to be the largest and most beautiful Jackrabbit anypony has ever seen!” Pearl exclaimed. To which the CMC’s all nodded in agreement, aweing at such a majestic creature. Pearl soon felt the air in the area grow thicker as a blackened creature pushed its way out of the thicket. It was slightly smaller than the jackrabbit, but she could see how strong it was by how well the beast carried itself. Thick layers of mud and grime covered its entire body, making it impossible to see what exactly this thing was. But she knew in a heartbeat that it was hunting the jackrabbit. Pearl watched as the Jackrabbit looked both ways and then behind him. He was blocked at every corner. The dark creature stalked slowly, its sharp teeth glinting in the light as it growled ferociously. A sharp bark got the Jackrabbit to cower slightly as the dark hunter came closer and closer. Pearl wanted to look away but something in her heart told her not too. The large jackrabbit backed away slowly as it’s predator moved in closer, step by step. Just as the large lapine slipped onto it’s rump. The blackened beast leaped forward. It’s dark eyes sparkling with the lust for the kill. Just as the beast was over the rabbit, it was met with a powerful upward kick to it’s nose and jaw. Sending it flying backward. With a flip in the air the predator landed on all fours and before the beat of a heart. Dashed forward swiping at the prey with claws unsheathed. A quick spinning kick from the lapine sent it’s hunter speeding toward and slamming into the very tree Pearl was in. She felt the sudden vibrations on the platform. Keeping her eyes open she watched as the Lapine and unknown wolf-like creature dash toward each other. Their front paws met in a show of force so great all other animals left the valley. Pearl didn’t know how long she had been watching this. But she felt as if time had suddenly lost all meaning. All there was at this moment was a brutal fight between life and death. With the winner not yet decided. Pearl watched the two continue to fight paw to paw. The predator leaping in with a spin kick only to be met by a large lapine paw across his nose with an audible crack. The force of the kick sent the predator backwards into a shallow river. She gasped as the thick mud slipped down revealing Kohaku. Blood streaming down from his nose. Pearl shivered as she watched the two circle each other. Their eyes shimmering with a desire she never realized. This wasn’t a simple hunt. This was a fight to the death. In the jackrabbits eyes was a desire to live. But in Kohaku’s eyes she saw something she could never think was in him. The desire to kill. Pearl turned to her three friends, her face livid with anger. “This is what you wanted me to see…” she whispered through her teeth. The three CMC’s all nodded. Pearl turned her look back to the fight below. On the ground the jackrabbit was slammed hard against the trunk of a large tree. Kohaku was moving in closer. His eyes sparkling with lustful desire. Pearl watched as he stood there looking down at his prey. The lapine bowed its head slowly. Her heart was beating wildly. It looked as if Kohaku was going to let his prey go. But her spine went cold as Kohaku lunged forward and sank is teeth deep into the jackrabbits neck. With a swift jerk, he snapped the lapines spine, killing it instantly. As her fox lifted his head up, she watched as he licked the blood from his lips. A look on his muzzle that reminded her of sexual release. Tears streamed from her eyes as she stood up and flew away as hard as she could. Kohaku groaned loudly. Falling onto his belly he looked up at the jackrabbit. Bowing his head he heard something from above. Turning his head, Kohaku watched as a familiar trio took a zip line into the trees. “Oh wonderful. Just what I need.”