Once upon a time, in the magical land of Equestria, there were two regal sisters who ruled together and created Harmony for all the land.
However, when Nightmare Moon rose, the perfect little paradise crumbled, and not just for the ponies.
Hidden deep within the forests of Equestria were creatures rarely seen by ponykind and often considered to be legends.
These creatures were described as having a pointed snout, triangular ears, a long, bushy tail and a long body with short limbs. Most texts said they were usually slightly shorter than the average mare in height, and that they were mostly carnivorous. These texts also said they were unable to use magic.
These creatures were called foxes.
During the war between Day and Night, foxes were used by Nightmare Moon in her army, along with Thestrals. These foxes had been corrupted by Nightmare Moon's magic, turning them into mindless, feral beasts. They killed many and brought fear into the hearts of those who survived.
After Nightmare Moon's defeat, the corrupted foxes in her army were killed, and the ponies, in fear and anger, began hunting and killing foxes everywhere to make sure they would never kill a pony ever again...
***
Rain fell down with force and intensity, soaking everything and any unfortunate soul unlucky enough to find themselves without a shelter. The air was heavy with humidity, and the scent of humid soil and decaying flora only made it worst. The only sound that could be heard was the one of the falling rain. Everything was still and peaceful, and one might forget they were in the dreaded Everfree Forest.
Suddenly, the peace and stillness were broken by the rythmic thudding of hooves on the soaked ground and the occasional splash. Five identical stallions clad in golden armour were the ones responsible for making the sounds as they searched for something.
They galloped for a while before stopping at the foot of an enormous willow tree. One nnof the stallions looked intently around while the others waited under the willow, partially protected from the rain.
“I believe we are close to the den,” the stallion looking around said. “I just need to find some tracks...”
The four waiting stallions drew their weapons upon hearing the tracker. They fidgeted in place, eager for their colleague to find the den.
In the distance, a low rumbling announced the incoming thunderstorm.
After several minutes of searching, the tracker came back to his colleagues, a triumphant smirk replacing the usual stoic expression of the Royal Guards.
“Found it.”
The tracker led the other Guards around the tree. There, nestled amongst the roots of the tree, was a single opening big enough to let a creature about the size of a mare in without any problem.
The stallions looked to their leader who nodded. They slowly crept closer to the opening when a sudden barking made them stop.
Out of the den came a bluish-black fox. He was crouched low, ear folded backwards and teeth bared in a defensive stance.
Several high-pitched whines came from behind him as a fiery red vixen came into view. On her back were four kits, three of which hax fiery red fur and the fourth one had silver-white fur.
Before any of the Guards could react, he male leapt towards them. The vixen turned away from the fight and began to walk away, but she hesitated.
Taking the opportunity, one of the Guards, a unicorn, used his magic to grab the vixen and her kits. He slowly approached the helpless creatures, sword ready to strike, while the other Guards took care of the male.
The unicorn Guard smirked as he brought his sword on two of the fiery red kits, killing them. He got ready to kill the others when a rock hit him on the head from behind.
The Guard turned around to glare at his colleagues. The male fox was almost dead, and the other Guards were all looking at the dying fox. None of them seemed to be guilty of throwing a rock at him.
Confused, the unicorn Guard shrugged and turned around back to where the vixen and her kits were supposed to be, only to see two dead kits.
The rain gained in intensity, reducing visibility to almost zero, and thunder rumbled loudly in the sky as the vixen ran away with her remaining kits.
***
Nineteen years later...
It was a sunny day in Ponyville. Ponies went about their businesses happily. In the sky, a cyan blur with a rainbow contrail flew around, destroying the occasional cloud here and there.
Inside of Golden Oaks Library, Spike was dusting the shelves and books. Again.
‘I can't believe how quickly these books gather dust...’ Spike mused as he cleaned the top of a shelf. ‘Although, it does make sense since barely anypony ever borrows books.’
As Spike's feather duster moved back and forth in a regular, continuous rhythm, an all too familiar yell caused him to jerk his claw back towards him, earning himself a face full of dust.
“SPIKE!”
As Twilight made her way down the stairs, Spike sneezed powerfully, causing the ladder he took to topple over. He landed painfully on his back with a crash.
“There you are, Spike,” Twilight said, oblivious to the drake's predicament. “Do you know where my copy of 'Foxes And Fakes, Second Edition' is? I can't seem to find it.”
Spike grunted, getting out from under the ladder while Twilight looked around for her book.
“Didn't you take it upstairs? I think I saw you reading it when I went to bed last night.”
Twilight shook her head. “It's not upstairs. I already looked.”
Spike put a claw to his chin and a feather duster to his head as he thought.
“Found it!” Twilight exclaimed happily.
“Where was it?” Spike asked.
Twilight looked sheepish. “It was on the table. In plain sight.”
Spike's claw met his face with a slap. “Really?”
Twilight nodded. “Yeah... But now that I have it, I can finally finish my essay on foxes.”
As Twilight made her way back to the stairs, Spike's stomach gurgled, then the owner of said stomach burped a scroll bearing the royal seal into existence. Twilight swiftly caught it with her magic. She opened it and levitated it to her so she could read it.
As Twilight's eyes danced across the parchment, her expression slowly became one of barely contained excitement. Spike looked at his caretaker, amusement etched on his face.
“What does it say?”
“Huh?” Twilight looked up from the scroll, confused.
“What does the scroll say?” Spike inquired again.
Realisation lit Twilight's face. “Oh.” She fidgeted nervously. “Well, the Royal Guard caught a fox in Canterlot, and the princess wanted to know if I wanted to ask it a few questions.” Twilight's eyes had a peculiar glint in them, one Spike knew quite well.
Spike went to get a quill and a parchment. He came back a few minutes later, ready to transcibe Twilight's words.
***
Meanwhile, in the dungeon of Canterlot Castle, Cinder, a nineteen-year-old fox with fiery red fur, lay on the cold, hard stone floor of a cell.
She sighed. Her little escapade in Canterlot had not gone according to Cinder's plans.
‘At least I'm still alive...’ she thought.
Cinder wrapped her tail around herself, her mind lingering on what happened earlier.
As soon as she had set paw in Canterlot, several Royal Guards had surrounded her. She had tried to escape, but a guard had managed to blind side her. She had lost consciousness, and the rest was history.
She had woken up a few minutes earlier, and she was ready to face her fate.
The sound of hooves on stone caused Cinder's ears to swivel towards the sound. She lifted her head and looked at the newcomers.
Two of them were, in appearance, grey pegasi. They wore the usual golden armour of the Royal Guard. ‘Guards...’ Cinder thought, and then paid them no more attention.
The third newcomer, however, caused Cinder to get up.
“Greetings, fox. It has been quite a while since I last saw one of your kind.”
“Greetings to you as well, Night Princess,” Cinder replied. “It is a great honour for my humble self to meet you.”
“Enough, fiend!” one of the guard said.
Luna raised a wing to silence the guard. “ENOUGH!” she said in a voice not so far from the Royal Canterlot Voice. “I came here to talk to the fox.”
“Sorry, Your Highness,” the guard said.
Luna sighed as she looked back at Cinder. “Excuse my escort. They were raised hating foxes.”
Cinder chuckled darkly. “And I was raised fearing ponies.”
“I was lead to believe that,” Luna replied. “Now, onto the matter at hoof. Why were you in Canterlot?” Luna's voice was gentle, something most ponies would find odd during an interrogation.
Cinder's expression went from dark to bright. “That's easy. I wanted to explore this magnificent city and learn more about the ponies.”
“Why?” Luna asked.
Cinder tilted her head in confusion, her grey eyes almost sparkling. “What do you mean?” she asked innocently.
There was a loud "clank!" as the guard on Luna's left intentionally hit his head against the wall. Luna chuckled at the guard's antics. She then returned her attention to Cinder.
“What I meant, young Cinder, is why do you want to learn more about the ponies?” Luna clarified.
“Oh,” Cinder said, then she shrugged. “I'm curious, is all.”
***
The sun was slowly approaching the horizon as Twilight Sparkle made her way from the train station to the castle.
The train ride had allowed her to make several lists of questions she wished, and wanted, to ask the fox. It had taken the whole train ride just to compose them, and Twilight was thus doublechecking them as she walked.
‘I'd have prefered to at least triple check them,’ Twilight complained internally.
Something then collided with Twilight, snapping her out of her thoughts. After making sure her question lists were safe, she looked around.
‘That's odd...’ Twilight thought. ‘I'm sure I left the train station a few minutes ago... Then why am I at the castle already?’
The guard Twilight walked into smirked at the unicorn. “Miss Sparkle, it's been a while.”
Twilight smiled sheepishly. “Yeah,” she chuckled awkwardly. “Anyway, I'm here to see the fox that was captured.” She showed the guard the letter she had received.
After a thorough examination of the letter, the guard stoically looked at Twilight. “I'm sorry, ma'am, but we need to verify your claim before we let you pass.”
Twilight looked at the guard, shock written all over her face. “Bu-but... I-I'm Princess Celestia's personal student!”
But before the guard could even reply, a new guard came. “I'll take care of her now, gentlecolts.”
Twilight beamed at he newcomer while he took his helmet off.
“Shiny!” Twilight said as she hugged her brother.
“Who else would it be?” Shining Armor replied as he hugged his sister back. Seperating from her, he added, “So you're here for the fox?”
“Yeah,” Twilight said. “I can't wait to learn more about them!”
“Well then,” Shining said as he turned around and began walking towards the castle, “let's get going.”
***
Cinder looked around her in childish awe. After her talk with Luna, the latter got her moved from the dungeon to her personal study. The study was a vast room. There was an old oak desk with several parchments scattered across its surface in one corner of the room, away from the door; a fireplace occupied the wall opposite the desk, but no fire warmed its hearth; and several bookshelves filled with many books stood tall against the wall with the door to the study. Finally, in the center of the room within a circular depression about a foot deep were countless pillows and cushions, all either dark blue, midnight blue or black, the same colours present everywhere in the room.
Luna stood beside the door, watching with amusement as Cinder darted from place to place. She was about to ask the eager vixen to sit down on a cushion when somepony knocked on the door.
“You may enter,” Luna said to those outside.
The door opened on Twilight and her brother, with the former looking extremely nervous.
“Twilight Sparkle,” Luna said. “Come in.”
With a gulp, Twilight slowly walked in the study. Shining saluted and left.
Twilight stopped in front of Luna and bowed. “Princess.”
“You may rise, Twilight Sparkle,” Luna said.
Twilight rose. She looked around and her eyes met Cinder's.
“Twilight Sparkle, meet Cinder, a rather... interesting fox,” Luna said.
Twilight looked at Luna, confused. “What do you mean by 'interesting' ?”
A shiver ran down Twilight's spine. She slowly turned her head, coming muzzle to muzzle with Cinder. Said fox had a sparkle in her eyes.
“GAH!” Twilight shouted, startled at the intrusion in her personal space.
Cinder was unfazed by the shout. “You're a unicorn, right?”
“Yes?” Twilight said, unsure where the fox was going.
“Can you teach me magic?” Cinder asked eagerly.
“Foxes don't have the ability... to...” Twilight trailed off, caught off guard by what was happening before her eyes.
Floating beside Cinder was a book Twilight was familiar with, one she had read several times when she began her studies under Celestia's tutelage. Squinting a little, Twilight saw the tell-tale sparkles of a magical field around the book. Similar sparkles also surrounded Cinder's tail.
“How...” Twilight was at a loss for words.
“Simple,” Luna said, Twilight's head snapping towards her for the explanation. “Cinder here is what was once called a 'Silvertail'. Ironically, the most potent magic-wielding foxes are from the Silvertail clan, which is, apparently, the clan Cinder belongs to.”
Twilight was even more shocked than before. Her mind was having a hard time processing the information it had received. ‘Magic-wielding foxes... That's physically impossible! Still...’ Twilight bit her lower lip, unsure of what to do. At last, after several long, awkward minutes of silence, Luna chose what to do for Twilight.
“She will teach you the intricacies of magic,” Luna told Cinder, then added, “Will you, Twilight?”
Twilight gulped yet again, then nodded, fully aware she had no choice in the matter.
“Good,” Luna said. “On the morrow, you shall take Cinder to Ponyville with you to teach her about magic. For now, though, I recommend you go rest.” Luna turned to the door. “I have duties to attend to. Farewell.”
***
The moon was high in the sky, its full body casting silver rays of light on the city of Canterlot. The shadows were long and dark, perfect hideouts for lurking creatures.
There was movement within one of the shadows before a silver-white blur bolted to another shadow. There was nothing else for a few minutes before it bolted again. This kept up for a while until the creature reached a park.
The creature slowly stepped out of the shadows and into the moonlight, revealing a male fox with silver-white fur and deep blue eyes. The moonlight made the fur sparkle like polished metal, a small breeze ruffling it and causing more sparkling. He looked up to the full moon and uttered a single and simple question.
“Where are you Cinder?”