My Little Pony: The Life and Times of Forestsong

= 30,000 thousand years later =

Sunlight filtered through the magical windows on the wall of the richly decorated tatami room. Till now only the soft gentle light of the moon had echoed through the darkness where the young kitsune slept. The room had been unchanged since the day it had been sealed. A lone kitsune rolled about in his bed before a sudden jolt caused him to scream and push himself up out of the bed. He looked around in a deep panic.

“Kazumi, sisters!!” he shouted as he looked around the dark room. His breathing was heavy and quick as he felt himself panicked from the nightmare that had woken him up. Sitting down on his bed he looked around, panting. As the sleep slowly left him he became aware of his surroundings. He could still feel his sisters around his body, the heavy warmth of their tails, even though they weren’t there anymore.

“Oh.. that’s right.. they’re not here.”

Getting off the bed, he walked through the wall divider of his sleeping chamber into the main room, only to be greeted by the blazing flare of the sunlight coming out of the magical windows. Squinting his eyes, he let them adjust slowly. After a few moments, he opened them again and saw his room, taking another few steps until he heard the sound of music in front of him. He looked up to see his sister standing there, looking down with a soft, sad smile.

“Hello, little brother,” Stormsong said as she sat down.

Kohaku, so glad to see her, dashed forward and slipped right through her, crashing into a pile of pillows on the other side.

“That was rather pointless, little brother. I’m only a magically recorded illusion,” she said, turning around and sitting back down. She looked at her brother, who was now upside down and looking rather foolish.

Getting up on all fours he sat down and looked at his sister, or rather, the magical illusion that she had left behind.

“I know you’re confused, and probably a little scared. It’s understandable,” the illusion of his sister said calmly. “By the time you're seeing this version of me, I have been dead for a very long time. I don’t know how long because I don’t know how long you’ve slept,” the kitsune female said with a small tear rolling down her cheek.

“I’m sure you remember our last conversation at dinner that night. If everything has gone okay, our goal has been achieved and you and this world are safe from the shadows that have plagued it for so long. But that also means you’re now the last member of our family alive,” she continued as she reached out, and although she had no true substance, her paw touched his cheek. “You won’t be alone, Starswirl promised me that he would keep you safe and be your teacher in this new world. And I gave him the tools to do so, if he’s clever enough to use them.”

Kohaku looked at his illusory sister and nodded.

“Please, if you wish us to rest peacefully, do us a favor. Don’t be sad,” Stormsong said as three more illusions came up from behind and sat close to the young kitsune male. Each one placed their paw on his body, resting softly on his shoulders. He could feel the warmth and love that all four females put into their touch.

“Live your life,” the illusion of Mitsuko continued, kneeling down beside her brother.

“Be happy,” Kaede whispered as her tails wrapped around him

“Make friends, and find love,” Riko finished and rubbed her nose up against his.

After that all four girls moved together sat in front of the sealed door, finishing in unison. “And above all else, remember” — smiles came across each of their muzzles — “we love you!” With that, the illusion broke. All four sisters vanished as the door unlocked and unsealed itself. The stone just behind the door parted, revealing a pathway to the waterfall as water-filtered light flooded into the room.

And just like that, he was alone again, only now with hope for the future. Starswirl would be here for him, and be his teacher like his father had been to the pony. Turning around he looked about and saw that his bookshelves were fuller than before, and noted that each of his sisters had added to his collection with their own journals, and more particularly, their fathers. All that knowledge was now his. But it would take centuries to learn, and understand it all. Shrugging, he turned on his paws and moved up to the waterfall and walked outside of it. He blinked fiercely as the sun hit his face for the first time in what seemed like a very long night.

The breeze brushed his fur. Something was off, though, looking around he noticed that the landscape was different. Before there had been a forest all up to the lake; now it was a clear, and open field. Closing his eyes, he shook his head back and forth before opening them again. The landscape had changed. Further proof that what his sister had told him was true, a lot of time had passed. But how much?

Turning his head, he heard the sound of ponies coming up and looked out the other side of the waterfall.

He saw six ponies coming up the clear path that lead up to a large open area. Two were pegasi and one looked to have been dipped in a rainbow, two were unicorns, both dressed up rather fancily, and two were earth ponies, and the two earth ponies were wearing what looked to be identical hats and pulling a cart filled with camping equipment. Blinking, he was rather confused as last he knew, the three tribes weren’t all that friendly to each other. But these six were all traveling and although he couldn’t make out what they were saying, they were laughing together and having a good time while doing it.

Taking another look at the camping cart he realized that his family’s land had turned into a camping destination. How many other changes had been made? Was his old home still there? Looking up, he stepped out of the waterfall, his body shimmering as he cast an illusion that made him blend into the background. The young kitsune started up the old path leading to the Temple of Five Elements, his home.

** Winsome Falls Campsite, Nighttime **

“…and the creature slowly stalked over to the young filly, it’s eyes blazing bright,” Rainbow Dash described in the light of the campfire. Everyone slowly huddled together. “Walking backward the young filly tripped over a rock and fell flat on her back. The creature moved in over her. Its fangs dripped with saliva. She wanted to scream in terror, but couldn’t. And the moment the clouds moved away from the moon, the creature pounced and devoured her whole. When everypony finally arrived, nothing remained. But to this day, if you go walking out alone at night, you can hear a little filly screaming, and the laugh of the unknown creature looking for its next meal! Muahahaha!”

When she finished her story, Rainbow Dash laughed aloud along with Applejack and Rarity, while the three younger fillies huddled together. “So what did you think? Scary enough?”

“Ah say Rainbow, that’s the best one yet,” Applejack said, tipping her hat. “How do you come up with all these stories?”

“Indeed, darling, that even gave me the shivers.” Rarity shivered noticeably, but more from the cool night air then the story.

“Natural storytelling talent,” Rainbow said as she sat down next to Scootaloo. “Besides, what else can I say? I love scary stories. I didn’t scare you too bad, did I, squirt?”

Scootaloo looked up and shook her head. “Not really. It’s spooky, but I’ve gotten used to your stories now,” she said as she gave Rainbow a friendly hit to the shoulder which made Rainbow laugh as Scootaloo was looking over her shoulder nervously.

“I... I’m not scared either,” Apple Bloom said, holding on to both Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle.

“Well, it certainly scared me,” Sweetie Belle said, moving away from her friends and pushing herself into her sister’s side. Rarity smiled and wrapped a foreleg around her young shoulders.

“Well, you don’t need to worry Sweetie, you know these woods are perfectly safe. No unknown creatures around here,” Rarity said soothingly, caressing Sweetie Belle’s hair.

“That’s right. As often as we all come here, we surely would have seen something before now,” Applejack continued as she put both forelegs around Apple Bloom’s shoulders and hugged her for a moment before letting go. She gave the young filly a playful swat on her rump. “Now, you three go get ready for bed. It’s getting late.”

“Indeed, you three need your rest!” Rarity smiled as she nudged Sweetie Belle toward their oversized dual floor tent.

“You three just want us out of the way to gossip about your special someponies!” Apple Bloom teased as she came up beside Sweetie Belle, who was blushing now as all three cutie mark crusaders giggled, but kept walking. Her friends soon walked up beside her and all three entered the large tent.

“Yeah, why don’t we get to do that with you? We have coltfriends now too,” Scootaloo said, standing next to Sweetie Belle. “Well, all but you, Sweetie Belle. Sorry. ”

“It’s okay. I just want to find one who’s not just interested in my body,” Sweetie Belle said softly. While still a young mare having just become a teenager, she was amazingly beautiful and young teenage colts just flocked to her.

“Don’t worry, Sweetie Belle, you will. Now hurry on, you three. It is late,” Rarity said, hugging her sister again. After that, the three girls moved on, talking together as they headed to the tents.

As the three girls moved toward their individual tents, each one different and suited toward their sisters’ own tastes, they heard the older ponies talking and moved to huddle nearby in the shadow of Rarity and Sweetie Bell’s two story tent.

“So, Applejack, how are things between you and Silverlay?” Rarity said, moving in closer.

“Doing well, loved that new outfit you made for her. She wore it that night for me,” Applejack said with a smile. “Ah didn’t get a wink of sleep, thanks.”

“Well, you’re welcome, darling. I have to say, I blushed for hours when she requested it,” Rarity said with a light blush. “It’s the first time I've made something like that, and it did give me an idea for a lingerie fashion line for couples.

“Speaking of couples, Rainbow, how are you and Twilight doing, hmm?” Applejack said with a sly smile.

The question caught Rainbow Dash so off guard that she practically spit out half the drink she had been sipping and nearly choked on the other half. “Wha—” coughing “—what? What do you mean?” Her face was as red as a cherry tomato.

“Now, don’t give us that, you two have been spending some private time together,” Rarity said, leaning in. “More than usual, too. And especially at night.”

“Yeah, and Silverlay said that her sister now has this sparkle in her eyes and a jump in her step.” Applejack grinned as she moved in close. “The only time we see her like that is when she gets a new book. And she hasn’t gotten one recently. So dish, girl.”

As the three adult ponies got closer, the Cutie Mark Crusaders couldn’t hear anymore. At least not without getting closer and revealing that they had been eavesdropping.

“Aww! We can’t hear anything now,” Scootaloo muttered as she turned to her friends. “Well, I'm heading to bed.” The young pegasus moved onto the cloud tent that she and Rainbow Dash had made after arriving. “Talk to you girls in the morning.”

“Yeah. I'm getting tired myself. Sleep well, Sweetie Belle,” Apple Bloom said, yawning as she walked to her and Applejack’s tent.

“Night, girls.” Sweetie Belle waved to her friends and then walked into the two story tent that she and Rarity shared. After a leisurely time brushing her teeth and putting on a nightgown that matched her sister’s she crawled into her air mattress. Hours passed, but she couldn’t get to sleep. She was still awake after Rarity came in and moved to the dressing room.

The young unicorn, after failing to fall asleep got up and walked to the window of their tent. Rarity came in from their dressing room area in a plush robe.

“Sweetie Belle, you should be asleep, darling.” Rarity said as she moved next to her younger sister. “We all have a wonderful day planned and you should be well rested.”

“I can’t sleep, Rarity, I’m still wound up from that story Rainbow Dash gave us,” Sweetie Belle said. While that was true, she had other things going through her head. She was nearly twelve years old now, and her friends all had coltfriends while she didn’t. At least none that she felt wanted her for, well, her.

“Oh darling, you know Rainbow. All those stories are made up,” Rarity said, soothing her sister and lightly stroking those curls of hers with a hoof. “But I think you have other things on your mind. Are you upset about not having a coltfriend yet?” she said and looked out the window with the young filly who just nodded.

“You shouldn’t be worried about not having that special coltfriend yet.” Pulling her sister into a soft hug, Rarity continued to stroke her hair. “You’re still young, I can see how other young colts look at you. I know it can be flattering. I still get those same looks,” she continued as she sat firmly back and looked down into Sweetie Belle’s eyes as the young pony looked up. “But young colts who just want you for that aren't worth your time or your heart, just remember that.” With a kiss to her forehead she walked off to her queen sized air mattress. “I’m heading to bed now. Be sure to get some sleep, darling. Sweet dreams.”

Sweetie Belle sighed to herself and just looked out the window again. She had a lot in her mind and needed some way to clear it. Tossing off her nightgown she walked over and picked up a towel and headed out the door of their tent toward the lake. The cool night air brushing over her body. She needed to cool her thoughts and what better way than nighttime dip in the shallows of the lake nearby?

Walking toward the lake, she stopped at the edge and suddenly froze when she heard something she didn’t expect, a very loud splash near the waterfall. Sharply looking up, she felt her heart skip a few beats. There was a set of ripples and a splash wave now coming toward her. Something had just dove into the water. But that couldn’t be, it was only the six of them at this campsite, just like every other year. Her eyes suddenly went wide as she saw a dark shadow in the light of the moon come up toward the surface of the water and slowly swim to shore and walk up out of the water.

It was a creature she had never seen before. It was roughly the same size as she was. Its dark fur was highlighted by light amber colored swirls that shimmered in the moonlight. But what drew her attention most were those bright amber eyes, now looking directly at her. She saw its mouth open. It might have said something, but she couldn’t make it out as the soft light glinted off of those sharp fangs she saw. This was the scary story Rainbow Dash had told brought to life. Her eyes went wide with the sudden realization that she might die if she didn’t get away.

A cold sweat hit her body as her breathing increased. She kept her eyes on those amber eyes while slowly backing away. She saw that the creature was also moving closer and closer, its mouth moving; but her heart was pounding so loudly she couldn't make out anything. She was scared, more scared then she had ever been in her life. She opened her mouth to scream, but nothing came out except a squeak. She was so scared she couldn’t even form words. Turning, she ran away as fast as she could. Only making it a few feet before a shadow swiftly moved beside her. The creature was in front of her yet again. Turning to the side she ran toward the water as fast as she could. Her eyes half-closed as clouds moved over the moon, shadowing the whole area. And then there it was again, a shadowy flash beside her and it was in front of her.

Without pausing she turned a third time and ran as hard as she could toward the campsite. And yet a third time, the creature was directly in her path and moving in closer and closer. So close she could hear its heavy breathing. Walking backwards trying to keep her distance, her back hooves caught the crumpled towel that had dropped near the shore of the waterfall lake, flipping her flat on her back.

Like a flash the creature pounced and landed almost on top of her. Its fur was still glistening from the water of the lake and as the clouds cleared from the moon. She closed her eyes and raised her front legs and hooves close to her neck to protect it. If this was to be her last moment, she could hopefully strike back.

As the creature moved closer, she felt it walk over her body and stop. Its front legs were directly on either side of her chest. She felt its breathing on her neck as it sniffed her, as it lowered its head. Keeping her eyes tightly closed she waited for the moment when she could strike, only to be caught off guard by something rather unexpected. She heard him speak. His voice was musical and certainly wasn't malicious or dangerous. Opening her eyes she saw those the amber eyes looking down at her. It was then she heard him speak again. Whatever it was he was saying, she only caught one word at the end.

“Kohaku.”

** Moments earlier **

Kohaku had spent several hours up where his temple home once had been. He was heartbroken. Nothing was left, not even the paving stones. He had noticed a few area markers, but those had been worn down by time. Just how long had he been asleep? He felt his emotions boiling inside of him, he wanted to scream, to cry but couldn’t. Why couldn’t he? What was wrong with him? And where was his big brother? Shaking his head, he stood on the peak until the moon had come out. He felt the chill in the air. It felt like it was the last days of summer, and autumn was soon to come.

He had been born in the start of spring, and adored the changing of the seasons, from winter to spring and summer to fall. It was a balance of nature that always made him feel comfortable and secure. But after seeing his home now lost in time, he no longer felt that security. A deep sigh escaped his lips as he started back down the mountain. The moon had risen high, and it was nearly midnight now as he reached the waterfall where his room had been translocated so long ago. At least he had that, his room and all his possessions. But he would instantly trade them all to be held in his sisters' paws and tails again for just one moment.

Looking out, he saw the moonlight shining over what had once been his family’s land, now turned into a campground for ponies. Blinking, he saw a light shadowy shape walk towards the water. Leaning forward he saw it was a pony, probably out for a nighttime swim. He put his front paws on the rocks just by the top of the waterfall and looked out. The pony was light gray in color with lavender hair, and from the small point parting it, it was a unicorn. A female unicorn, judging by the soft curves. Leaning in, he felt the rock that his paws were on slip. He looked down as just one little phrase came into his head.

Oh fuck... he thought as he felt himself slip from the edge. His young eleven year old mind, seeing the fun possibility, then followed swiftly with CANNONBALL!!! He tucked himself into a tight ball, falling swiftly to the lake below, ending in a quick, loud, heavy splash.

Dog-paddling up to the surface and toward the edge, he popped his head out of the water and as he reached the shallows, started to walk slowly toward the shore. His body dripped water as the moisture made his sleek fur cling to him, making the amber leaf swirls over his body all the more pronounced. Looking up, he saw the pony he had seen from the waterfall top. She was now less then a few feet away, her eyes wide with shock.

“Oh sorry about that, I thought I’d have some fun on the way down, did you see that splash? Was it awesome or what?” Forestsong said as he gave her a grin. It was then that he saw her start to back away, her eyes staying steady with his.

“Okay I guess it might not have been my best but I’m sure it’s still noteworthy right?” The young kitsune said, still grinning as he walked forward. He was trying to be as friendly as he could be. He knew how skittish ponies were.

Blinking, the pony girl turn and suddenly run in the opposite way. Had he said something wrong? Then it dawned on him that he hadn't even properly introduced himself. His sisters would have cuffed him upside his head for being so impolite. Dashing forward, he kept his body tight as he used the grass to help propel himself and then slid into her path.

“Look, I'm sorry, I should have introduced myself. I’m..” he started to say before the pony girl turned and ran away yet again. Why is she doing this? Is she playing a game of chase? If so, I can certainly get into it, he thought as he dashed after her yet again he quickly over took the pony and shot in front of her. His breathing became heavier as he was still a little winded from his dive into the lake water. He barely had time to get words out this time as she turned and ran toward the campsite.

Like a flash, he ran out and overtook her yet again. Few ponies her size could hope to keep up with this kitsune on his own home turf. Standing there in front of her, he smiled wide and started to walk toward her. “Ya know, as fun as this is I am getting a bit winded. I’m..” he started before he saw her move backwards. “Look out!” he yelled as the pony girl back into the crumpled towel behind her and roll and land flat on her back.

Leaping forward with concern as her head hit the ground, he landed almost on top of her. “Hey, you okay? You should watch where you're going,” he said as he just stood there over her, looking down into those emerald eyes. “I’m Kohaku, what’s your name?”

Waiting for a reply, he noticed her legs positioned up close to her body. She was scared. She wasn’t playing with him, she was trying to get away from him. Why, though? He wasn’t going to hurt her. No kitsune would hurt a pony. Speaking softly, he gave her his best smile, then repeated his greeting.

“My name is Kohaku.”