//------------------------------// // A new pony in town. // Story: Kitzumi the fox pony. Book one. [Edited] // by KittyrinnAiko //------------------------------// Ponyville, about an hour past noon. Fluttershy is making her way towards the town’s primary school accompanied by Kitzumi and a tall Unicorn mare who looks suspiciously like Princess Luna. Luna has her hoodie on, hood pulled over her head to shade her eyes, and there is a coffee cup hovering in front of her. Kitzumi has placed herself between her elders and has sunglasses on that had been provided by spike. The type with the material on either side to block the sun from coming in from the sides. “You know I was going to have it out with you this morning,” Luna said to Kitzumi. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking. I never should have done what I did.” “Well, it’s done. What’s done can’t be undone. - What about that little spell you used on Twilight?” “It’s a very personal sort of connection, and requires complete trust,” Kitzumi explained. “Mmmm, um, Mother is always overdoing it. That’s how I figured out that little spell.” “So you can do some magic then, is it fox magic?” Fluttershy asked. “I don’t know, maybe?” “And you used that on Twilight?” Fluttershy asked. “Just to get her off the floor,” Kitzumi explained. “Poor Twilight had pushed herself to the limit. - Again” Luna offered. “Though in this case, I can understand her pushing herself like that.” “Sorry,” Kitzumi said quietly. “What’s done is done. Having to live with the consequences will be more punishment than any of us deserve.” “Oh my, that sounds really dire.” Fluttershy offered. “It’s going to be a while before she gets to go home.” Luna offered. “Ya, that’s going to be kinda rough.” Fluttershy offered and gave Kitzumi a soft pat with her wing. “Hey, don’t be getting all emotional on me, I might lose it.” Kitzumi offered only to look up and see Pinkie Pie right in front of her. “Oh, who is this? Are you feeling down? You’re new to town. I know, how about a party, do you want a party? I bet you’d like a party!” Kitzumi pressed to Luna’s side and hid her head under Luna’s wing. Owing to the camouflage spell Princess Luna was using to hide her wings it had the effect of making her head appear to vanish. “Pinkie! Pinkie, you’re scaring her.” Fluttershy protested at Pinkie’s sudden onslaught of exuberance. “Her - her - her head! It’s gone!” “Pinkie!” Fluttershy all but shouted. “Um, Kitsu, that looks really bad. Why don’t you come out.” Luna said looking around at Kitzumi. Kitzumi pulled her head out from under Luna’s wing. “Hello, Miss Pinkamina.” Kitzumi offered in a rather reserved manner. Pinkie just simply overwhelmed her. “Why so formal?” Pinkie asked. Pinkie leaned in. “Why – so – serious?” Pinkie tilted her head. “Miss Pie, please. We are on our way...” Luna began but stopped abruptly when Pinkie turned and looked her in the eyes getting right in her face to do it. “Nightmare moon!!” Pinkie shouted and dashed away. “But I’m not,” Luna said softly. “Forgive her.” Fluttershy offered. “I don’t think she has a clue how insensitive she’s being.” “She’s just so overwhelming,” Kitzumi said. “School?” “Come on then,” Luna said with a gentle loving tone realizing that she and Kitzumi must have had a very close relationship. The three continued on to the school where they met with Miss Cheerilee the school teacher. “So she’s just going to attend in the afternoon?” Cheerilee asked. “Kitzu’s nocturnal. Has to do with who some of her relatives are.” Fluttershy offered. “She’s the daughter of a close friend.” Luna offered. “She’ll be staying with Twilight Sparkle for the time being.” “Princess Twilight didn’t come with you?” “No, dear Twilie has been burning her candles at both ends again.” Luna offered. “I wanted to get set up as soon as I could,” Kitzumi informed her. “Mm – er, Miss Twilight will be homeschooling me in the evenings.” “Mmm-kay.” Miss Cheerilee said, just a little puzzled by the situation. Add to that, she was almost certain this was Princess Luna under that hoodie. “Cheerilee, she’s a fox pony,” Fluttershy whispered. “If there are any medical emergencies I’m to be notified along with Twilight.” “This is most unusual. Fox family did you say?” Miss Cheerilee asked. Kitzumi lowered her sunglasses. “Oh my?” “Without the sunglasses, I’m as blind as a bat pony in the daylight,” Kitzumi explained. “I see. - Well, it’s a little unusual, but I don’t see it being a problem. - Well then, we’re just about to start class. She’ll be in good hooves.” “Go on then. You’ll be fine.” Luna prompted. “By Moona,” Kitzumi said giving Luna a hug, turned, gave Fluttershy a hug, called her Aunt Shy, and went in with Miss Cheerilee. She introduced herself to the class as Kitzu Nightfoal. 🏠🏠🏫🏘🏡 At the Apple Farm later that afternoon. “Hey Cheerilee, if you’re looking for Big Mac, he’s out in the back forty,” Applejack called. Applejack was busy sweeping the barn. “Or is this about Apple Bloom?” “What, can’t I just hang out with my potential new sister in law?” Cheerilee teased. “Yer dates going that well, are they?” Applejack asked with a smile. “I won’t say no if he’ll ask me. - Say, what do you know about fox ponies?” “Fox ponies? We’ve got a couple who buy apples off us. Live out in the Everfree forest. Look just like regular earth ponies for the most part, save they have eyes just like a bat pony’s eyes. - And fangs. Why?” “We have a new student.” “Oh don’t tell me you have some weird concern about having a fox type in your class?” Applejack said stopping what she was doing, and sounding just a little annoyed. “I know they got weird eyes and all, but they’re really quite friendly.” “Not that kind of weird, no. - Honestly, you know me better than that. - Rarity, and her mother going on an extended vacation while Rarity was still in high school, and bringing home a baby sister weird. - The filly’s name is Kitzu Nightfoal, it was Fluttershy, and Princess Luna who brought her to the school only Princess Luna was using a disguise, and she’ll be staying with Princess Twilight. To top it off she called Fluttershy Auntie Shy, and Princess Luna is Moona.” “Maybe it’s a cultural thing? I know the local fox ponies go to Fluttershy for their medical needs. - Did she really call Princess Luna, Moona? And she puts up with it?” “They seemed rather close. - The story is Kitzu came out to see Princess Twilight without permission, and circumstances have prevented her from going home right away.” “Kind of makes it sound like she could be Luna’s foal. - Not that it’s any of our business. - Must still be some bad blood between her and Princess Celestia if Princess Luna had a foal, and went to all the trouble to hide her. - Probably best ta just let it go.” “Well, I just hope there isn’t any gossip aimed at Princess Twilight.” “Well, you’ll just have to set them straight if they do, and tell em who her parents are.” “Princess Luna and Fluttershy didn’t say. Just that she was the daughter of friends, and that Princess Luna, Princess Twilight, and Fluttershy seem to be her guardians. I kind of got the impression I wasn’t to ask too many questions.” “So what color is this filly, what kind of markings?” “Mostly white with black legs, the top of her snout is black, a black mane with purple-red and white streaks, a tail that starts out purple, red, and white, the purple tapers off, then the red, and towards the end of the tail the white switches to black.” “Sounds a bit like Prince Reynard. Save the purple and red. He was a rather nice fella, only met him once, and mighty easy on the eyes if you know what I mean?” “And here I thought you only had eyes for Rarity.” Cheerilee teased. “Is it that obvious?” “Afraid so. - Come on, the two of you go everywhere together. I mean except when she’s out of town doing some fashion thing. - I wouldn't be a bit surprised if the two of you were to beat Mack and me to the altar.” “Are you kidding? We don’t really spend that much time together, and as for all that marriage stuff, I can’t even bring myself to talk to her about Sweetie Belle. The whole town suspects and the last thing I’d want to do is leave her behind if she really is Rarity's daughter. - All I was saying is that fox ponies have a tendency towards being mighty good-looking. - What’s this Kitzu like?” “Cute as a button, and her wings are about as useless.” “Wings?!” Applejack said momentarily startled. “Who ‘m I kidding, of course, she’d have wings. Prince Reynard has wings, Princess Luna has wings, granted she and Twilight are Alicorns, but if she’s in any way related to Fluttershy or Prince Reynard it’s only natural she’d have wings.” “Fox ponies don’t have wings?” “Not normally so far as I know. - Can't say as I've ever met one who did. Fox pegasus are as rare as hens' teeth. - Unicorns and earth ponies mostly. - And magic. They have a very special kind of magic that isn’t exclusive to any one type.” 🐺⛩🐺 Canterlot that evening. “I...” Celestia began but stopped not sure what she wanted to say. Celestia and Luna are sitting down for dinner at a modestly sized table, a long oblong table long enough for no less than two dozen ponies, with Celestia at the head. Modestly sized for the palace in Canterlot. “You’ve moved closer.” Her tone cautious, and hopeful. When Luna had first returned she’d sat at the opposite end of the table, and every so often she would ask to be seated a little closer. Despite their reconciliation, they still had their issues. “Was your talk with Twilight Sparkle a good one? - You were out all day.” “Yes, it was. I wound up sleeping there most of the morning. Met a rather charming young filly there as well.” “Did you?” “I think I’d like to take her on as a student. - I know you’ve wanted me to take a more active role in the school. Any chance a slot can be opened up next quarter?” “She’s that impressive? - I mean the school is reserved for gifted unicorns.” “To be honest, I’ve no idea what her skill level is.” “Then why take her on as your student?” “Well, the primary reason is that she’s not afraid of me.” Luna’s statement was met by a long awkward silence. “On another note, I happened to talk with Starlight Glimmer this afternoon. - She mentioned that there are among the Pegasus the occasional foal born with a unicorn button horn that never grows. They’re called button heads.” “I wasn’t aware of that.” “By any chance, would you know if Cadence was born with a button?” “Afraid I can’t really answer that.” “No, you only took her in after she became an Alicorn.” “Well, I didn’t even know she existed before then.” Celestia protested. “What exactly are you getting at?” “I wasn’t suggesting anything, dear sister. - Evidence would suggest that dear Cadence was driven from her home. Abandoned. And before you say anything, let me continue.” Luna took a breath. “Miss Glimmer informed me that such ponies are notoriously weak fliers. She says she has encountered on occasion Pegasus foals that have been banished from their homes. She didn’t elaborate. - I paid Lord Dash a visit in Cloudsdale to see if he might be able to enlighten me as to the truth.” “He denied it?” “He confirmed it.” “What?” “Apparently a small percentage, less than one-tenth of a percent of the overall pegasus population, by his guesstimates, are born button heads. He also said they only occur in families of mixed heritage. The more prominent the family, the more likely they are to either ship the foal off to be cared for by earth ponies, or abandon them completely.” “Abandon them?! That’s outrageous!” Celestia was shocked and outraged. “I can just imagine what your reaction was, what with how strong your maternal instincts are.” There was a moment between the two where not a word could be said. “For a thousand years I wanted to kill you,” Luna said in a nearly inaudible whisper. “In the end, all I wanted was to be reconciled with you.” “There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t regret what happened.” “Can I ask you something more about Cadence?” “You might just as well.” “Did you know, or at least suspect who her parents are when you told her to call you Aunt? - I mean, why not just adopt her outright, and let her call you mother?” “I wanted to adopt her as my own. She didn’t really have anyone. - I was advised not to.” Her tone steady. “I wouldn't be a bit surprised if your advisers know who her parents are. - She may even be related to us, through one of your foals.” “I find the idea that one of my own would abandon their own foal just because she can’t fly most distasteful. I’ve got a mind to find out though.” Celestia betrayed a hint of anger in her voice. “You want to know the kicker?” “Kicker?” Celestia asked astonished there could be more. “When I was still at Twilight’s we came up with a very interesting theory.” “That would be?” “That every last one of them, the button heads, have within themselves the potential to become an Alicorn.” “Wait, how would that work?” “Well, the idea is that to become an Alicorn, one must already be an Alicorn.” “Twilight was a unicorn.” “And she used a transformation spell you gave her. - A very dangerous gamble considering she started with the same spell as Sombra. - I’ve seen Twilight’s transformation spell, and I’ve seen the spell Sombra used. Twilight got it right while he got it horribly wrong. - She's lucky her blind casting of Starswirl's original spell only resulted in her friends' destinies being switched." “Are you sure it was the same spell?” Celestia was shocked. “I’m positive. - Now either Sombra was truly evil down to his core, and I simply can’t bring myself to believe that, or he was lacking some vital quality. Though it is possible the spell simply switched his destiny from a good pony to an evil monster. - Regarding the buttons, the idea is that all they need is a boost of magical energy.” “But isn’t that the sort of thing Sombra was saying? All you need is a boost of magical energy?” “Sombra was from a noble line of Unicorns. A line that has all but died off so badly tarnished their reputation had become. He did not possess any ancestry from Pegasus, or Earth ponies. - Our ancestry links us to all three, as does Twilight’s.” “So you’re saying that...” “In order for the transformation spell to work properly, the caster must have ancestry from all three primary pony tribes. - And for a button to become an Alicorn they must be exposed to a large amount of magic to create that spark that causes the horn to grow. If the theory is correct, it could explain Flurry.” “You’ve put a lot of thought into this,” Celestia said stunned. “I have at that. - Granted it’s going to take a lot of research to know for sure. - I just wish the wise old ponies who raised us could have told us more about what we are, and what makes us Alicorns. What did they know that was forgotten? How did they know we would be special? - Ponies who may well be like us, are being cast aside, and for all I know, all they need is a close relative who can use magic.” “If only I had known, I might not have tried to take your son by force.” Celestia offered, dropping her head down till her nose nearly touched the table. “The castle wouldn't have collapsed, and I wouldn't have resorted to the elements of harmony when you lost yourself to rage. - When I’d time to reflect I couldn't bring you back because the elements had rejected me. - Had that spell backfired on Twilight, my failure would truly have been complete.” “But it’s not. You’ve made some horrible mistakes, even so, I’m willing to forgive you, little by little. And you need to forgive yourself as well. - Just one thing...” “That is?” Celestia asked looking up. “Twilight doesn’t need to know she had the same spell as Sombra. I doubt she’d take it well.” “Agreed.” Celestia offered, looking back up. “That filly obsesses worse than you did at that age. She kind of reminds me of you too. - Something is wrong, I can tell." "There was an incident in Ponyville today."