Tails of Innocence

by CommanderX5

Chapter 5 - Fox Among Fillies

“... and to this day, my sister lies sealed in the moon and will not return until what I assume is the one thousandth year of her banishment,” Celestia finished. She glanced at the nearby clock and found that she had been talking for nearly three hours. There were times a tear or two shed upon thinking of that horrible night when her sister turned into Nightmare Moon. Thankfully, her apprentice was there to wipe them away with her tails which sort of made Celestia giggle upon feeling the ticklish fur. 

Gazing down at Kyuubi, Celestia saw that her student was deep in thought while her tails flickered back and forth. Princess, are you sure your sister’s jealousy is what caused Luna to turn into Nightmare Moon? It sounds like a very powerful corruption.

“Alicorn magic is very potent, Kyuubi, but sadly it is also unpredictable,” Celestia answered, sighing. “When my sister and I became alicorns, we had to spend many years controlling our emotions. Such discipline is needed to prevent harm to ourselves and others. Sadly, I fear Luna’s mental and emotional state were in flux due to my subject’s fear of her. A fear I didn’t realize until it was too late.” With shame, she looked down, remembering her own failings. Truth be told, she adored the attention she was getting and felt her sister was overreacting regarding her fears of being left behind. If I’d had more humility back then could I have prevented this?

Her thoughts were interrupted by Kyuubi’s cheek nuzzling her side to which Celestia responded with one of her own. 

I’m sorry you had to go through that Princess, Kyuubi whispered. Is there anything that can be done for Princess Luna?

“My hope was that the Elements of Harmony would answer to me again or choose new bearers to unite and free my sister from her darkness,” Celestia explained before deciding to drop her deepest desire. “That is until I met you.”

Me? Wait! You mean my ability to purify? Kyuubi asked, her eyes widened in realization. Is this... is this really the main reason you wanted me to be your apprentice? To save you sister?

“I…” Celestia paused, looking to the size in shame for a moment. “I would be lying if I said it was not my main motivation.” She looked Kyuubi in the eyes with a firm stare. “But make no mistake. After years of tutoring and taking care of you, I wouldn’t regret taking you as my student, even if you were incapable of helping my sister. Your unique magic is worth nurturing and I can see a great future ahead of you.” 

Celestia quickly confirmed, booping her apprentice on the nose. “You have been not only a great student, but a good friend. One that I’ve come to trust and love over the years. But yes, one of the biggest hopes I have is that you can help my sister return to her normal self.”

Celestia then bowed her head. “If, however, you feel that I’ve lied to you or mislead you, I apologize. My dear sweet Luna means everything to me.” She looked at her student with a pleading stare, holding forehoof on her armored chest. ”I know that it is selfish of me, but will you continue studying under my tutelage? Will you help me save my sister from corruption?”

Y-yes, I mean no, I mean… Kyuubi bit her bottom lip, shaking her head in confusion. I’m not upset at all, and of course I want to help you save your sister. It is the least I can do for what you did for me. It would be an honor. She opened her mouth, poking her own teeth. But at the same time it is unsafe for you and your subjects to be near me. I’m a predator after all, no matter if I like it or not.

Celestia stroked her student’s forepaw with a hoof, giving her a motherly glance. “If you think about it, everyone can be dangerous. I myself possess magic that could cause a lot of harm if I let it loose. I trust myself enough to know that I won’t harm anypony, and you should trust yourself as well.” She looked to the side, now feeling a growing guilt weighing on her heart. “Now that I think about it, the one who will be in greatest danger is you. Nightmare Moon is powerful and may hurt you if she sees you as a threat.” She grit her teeth, only now comprehending the risk her student would need to face.

Kyuubi puffed out her chest. The Priests taught me that we must give our lives to save others from not only the dangers of the world but from ourselves as well. This is because God granted us the power to do so. God gave me the power to purify the darkness in this world. Maybe he gave it to me so I can save your sister?

A warm burst of energy erupted from Celestia’s heart as she smiled at her beaming apprentice. She could see the care and truth in her eyes. The sun princess felt something that had been growing only shortly but now it was in full force: Hope. Hope that her sister could be redeemed and returned to her. Hope that they could rule together once more. And that hope all lay within this tiny... tall fox she, deep inside, cared for more than most apprentices she’d had previously. She didn’t know if this God really did give Kyuubi such a power, she was still struggling to believe such a thing, but regardless she was grateful.

“Thank you, Kyuubi. Know this, that you will always be a friend to me no matter what happens,” Celestia vowed, smiling. “There are just a few things I must make clear to you. One, when it is time to face Nightmare Moon, you must promise me you will not do anything to risk your life too much. I experienced pain of loss once, I would not endure it again.”

“I promise.” Kyuubi nodded. 

“Second, you must never tell anyone about my plans for Nightmare Moon,” Celestia said, clearly. “As far as the world knows, my sister died a thousand years ago while sealing Nightmare Moon away at the cost of her life. Only a select few know the truth, and I wish to keep it that way.”

Why? Kyuubi asked, tilting her head.

“Because I fear what others would think of her should we be successful at saving her. It would be hard enough teaching Luna how to adapt to a world that has changed in a thousand years, it would be even harder if nearly everypony feared and distrusted her. She has suffered enough, I wish for her to be loved again and not feared like before.”

I guess so, though it may be difficult explaining how she raised up from her grave. Kyuubi asked, Anything else?

“Yes,” Celestia said, with a wide smile. “How would you like to go to school?”

Wait, what!? Kyuubi flinched, falling unceremoniously from the bed onto the floor as her four tails now lay flat on the carpet.

... please forgive us as we forgive those who wrong us. Bring us salvation and protect us from evil, Kyuubi spoke telepathically to herself, kneeling next to the bed hosting the sleeping alicorn. While she had offered the princess multiple times to teach her how to pray, suggesting for them to pray together, the old ruler was sceptical of that idea, deciding not to bother sacrificing precious minutes in her busy schedule. Though a few doctors and the local veterinarian proved open-minded to that idea, and her faith had started catching the attention of the medical community. Acceptance of faith and learning about it had to be volountiery after all, and she didn’t mind taking small steps.

Please share your blessings with those who save lives and support them in the most critical moments. Help them find a path to your truth and bestow your protection and guidance upon Equestria. She sighed, adding silently a little prayer, And… and if it’s in your will, help me fit in among young ponies and learn by their side. Please, don’t let my size and feeding instincts ruin my efforts, don’t let it disappoint the trust that they put in me… She gulped, holding her trembling paws together in a pleading gesture as her muzzle almost touched the floor. Pretty please…

Despite her age, Kyuubi knew she was still a kid by her own race’s standards, especially as its last survivor. Most children would play and interact with each other, but she rarely had that pleasure. A few times, the guards brought their children to work and Kyuubi would play with them in games like tag, hide and seek, stick fetch and soccer, though they saw her and treated her as a big puppy. She didn’t have any true friends her age, which is one of the reasons why Princess Celestia wanted her to go to school. 

Not only to help her learn more magic, but to learn about friendship as well. Not that she minded learning magic, and friendship was a virtue in itself, but in the end she was still a wolf among sheep, cute adorable little sheep she certainly didn’t want to bite. 

To make matters worse, she was far taller than everyone else, only a few centimeters away from surpassing her mighty mentor in terms of size, and she was supposed to study among youths? If she didn’t stand out enough, her being a different species was added into the mix, making her a center of attention, discussion and even jokes.

Taking yet another deep calming breath, Kyuubi wiped the sweat from her forehead, her second tail surrounded by magical aura as she levitated the pen against a piece of paper. After the test of her raw power and showcases of her magic, it was now time for the written exam, after which it would be decided which wing of the school she would join in.

First wing was for basics, one filled with fillies and colts aged between ten and twelve. She certainly wasn’t planning to go there.

The second wing was for the advanced course of magic, as well as history, mathematics and other useful subjects. Gifted students between thirteen and fifteen were most common there.

Next wing was for high tier magic and the advanced version of other subjects. As much as she hoped to get there, it didn’t seem her knowledge and magical abilities were enough. It was a school for the elite after all, and its high standards reflected that.

The final wing was only for the highest level unicorns, where graduates reached a very high position in pony society. White being among ponies between nineteen and twenty two would make her feel at ease, she would easily be outclassed at every step.

“Time’s up. Please put down your pen.”

Kyuubi sighed, lowering her pen on the desk before trying to stand up. She blushed, only now noticing how her rear legs were stuck under the desk, taking a few seconds to pull them away as there wasn’t even enough space in the chair for her to sit on.

She stepped to the side, nervously observing the examiners while holding her forepaws firmly between her rear legs, her tails cramped slightly between numerous tables. Not that she didn’t have a remedy for such embarrassing circumstances as her mentor learned an interesting spell in the past year, one which would shrink her to the size of a filly. 

However, if her raw power was considered average by the school's standards while size-wise being as big as Celestia herself, how outclassed she would be if she made herself smaller and younger? No matter what, she was either going to be much bigger than her classmates, or become an insignificant fly among the gifted elite?

She wouldn’t get her results until the next day so she was free to hang around the school until Princess Celestia returned. This was done so that students could get to know each other before they were assigned classes, but Kyuubi felt like a sore thumb. Most of the fillies and colts were looking at her with curious yet cautious eyes, some were even looking at her like she was some kind of pet or vermin that shouldn’t be here. Obviously, they were from the more ‘upper class’ families that Princess Celestia often complained about. 

Not fitting in, Kyuubi decided to leave and find the library to read, curious what this place had to offer while in need of distraction. 

“-xcuse me…”

She looked up her desk and flitched. A wide set of eyes was staring at her with her mouth slightly opened. It was a filly unicorn with a yellow fluffy mane that had a pink ribbon on top while her coat was pink like a rose. Her cutie mark, from what the kitsune could tell, was a glowing rose top. The filly somehow climbed up the desk silently without getting her attention.

“Hi!” the filly said with a smile. “Are you really a fox?”

Well, yes… in a sense? Kyuubi answered nervously before the filly gasped and looked around. Obviously, she was confused by the fact that she was hearing a voice in her head. It’s just me. The fox. I’m speaking to you telepathically.

“Really! Oh my gosh! That's so cool! You must be super powerful to do such a thing! I’ve never heard of anypony doing that before! But then again, you’re not a pony, you’re a fox! So, I guess that means it’s everyfox or everyfoxy, which do you like better? And oh my gosh you have so many tails!” Before she knew it the young filly had zipped over and climbed her middle tail, jumping from one tail to another while admiring them, much to Kyuubi’s embarrassment. 

Um, excuse me?

“Wow, they are so fluffy,” the mysterious filly said, nuzzling the tips and giggling. “Oh, I bet it's cool having such a cute set of tails.”

It kinda just feels normal. And you have a tail too, Kyuubi pointed out to the filly’s yellow tail. 

“Yeah, but it’s just bland. Not like yours. It’s so enchanting and cute!” the filly cheerfully said before blushing. “Oh, sorry for not giving my name. I’m Rosey Sparky. What’s your name?”

I’m Kyuubi, she replied, giving a warm smile and holding her paw out to shake.

“Aww, you’re just like a cute little doggie... not that I think you’re a dog, nor little! I mean, dogs can’t talk and you obviously can so you’re smart and all, but... um...” Rosey blushed even more and rubbed the back of her head with her hoof.

“You really need to learn to stop speaking without thinking, Rosey,” replied a colt’s voice as the two turned around. A black coated colt with a silver mane covering one half of his face walked over, his silver shooting star cutie mark shining on his rump. “Don’t mind her. She’s a good pony, but kind of a jabber jaw.”

“Hey! That’s not how you talk about your friend,” Rosey said, pouting with her cheeks puffing. Kyuubi couldn’t help but giggle by how cute and childish the filly looked now. Soon enough, Rosey giggled and stuck her tongue out too. “I guess I was talking a bit too fast to think.”

The colt shook his head before nodding to the large fox. “Nightbright is my name. I heard rumors that Princess Celestia had a fox as a personal student, but I didn’t think they were true until I saw you.”

“Wow, you're the princess’ personal student atop all that!?” Rosey asked with awe as Kyuubi nodded. “But, why are you with us at this school? You must already be very smart and powerful.”

I guess my mentor wanted me to make friends my own age... or at least as close to my age as I can get, Kyuubi answered, shrugging her shoulders. 

“How old are you? twelve?” Rosey asked, tilting her head. “You look more like a few hundreds to me considering how big and fluffy you are, but then again, no foxes I ever saw or read about grows that big. ”

Kyuubi smiled sheepishly. I’m twenty, Kyuubi answered, which made both ponies stare at her with wide eyes. What?

“Woah, you’re like… not much older than the rest of us, yet sooo much bigger...” Rosey said, jaw wide open. “Like, don’t foxes only live for a few years? Shouldn’t you be dead at this point? Wait, are you a ghost?! Is this why you have all those powers?” 

“I think the fact that you touched her tails and she’s been able to physically interact in this world is proof she is alive, Rosey,” Nightbright said, rolling his eyes. His friend then opened her mouth, but he stopped her. “And don’t you dare say zombie fox.”

“I was gonna say spiritual fox. Sounds so much cooler.”

Well, I’m a Kitsune actually, but I don’t mind being called a fox. As for my age and size, I’m just long lived. I don’t even know how old and how big I can become, or if I can even die from old age,  Kyuubi answered, using telepathy on both ponies at the same time.

“Can’t your parents tell you?” Nightbright asked.

I don’t have any. I’m the last of my kind,” Kyuubi answered before seeing the shocked and horrified faces of her fellow students. “What’s wrong?

“That’s... that’s so sad...” Rosey sniffed as a few tears started forming in her eyes. She quickly climbed her foreleg and held onto Kyuubi’s chest, gently nuzzling it, her cheek sinking into the white fur. “Oh, I’m so sorry, Kyuubi.”

“Me too, I didn’t mean to make you feel upset,” Nightbright replied, lowering his head in shame.

Oh, it’s okay. I was raised by the priests back home and Princess Celestia’s been a good mentor towards me. So, I think it all worked out, Kyuubi answered, giving a smile. Truth be told, she did wonder once in a while what it would have been like to be raised by an actual father or mother, but her time with her guardians from both nations was meaningful in its own way. They were her family in a sense, giving her affection and parental care.

“Who are you guys talking too?” asked another unicorn walking forward with her eyebrows raised. “You two have been talking to each other and this... fox for so long. We’re all kinda wondering what you are doing?”

“Oh, Kyuubi can talk to ponies telepathically!” Rosey answered. 

“Come on, a fox can’t do that, even if she is a bit... weird,” the unicorn scoffed.

Well, I’m not a normal fox, Kyuubi admitted as she focused her attention on the now scared unicorn who backed away upon hearing Kyuubi’s thoughts in her head. It’s kind of hard doing multiple minds at once.

The unicorn didn’t answer. Instead, she just backed up and turned away to return to her own group who were staring at Kyuubi with wide eyes, and a bit of fear. 

This made the kitsune whimper as she noticed others doing the same. Her new friends must have sensed her distress as Rosey and Nightbright went to her side and led her to the exit of the library, gently pulling her large forepaw with help of telekinesis. 

“Well, I’m famished, why don’t we head to the cafeteria and you can tell us about this home you came from,” Rosey said.

“Yeah, and what’s a priest?” Nightbright asked, curious.

Kyuubi smiled as she began to explain her story, with some missing details per Celestia’s request. In fact, she hid most of the gruesome details, not wanting to scare the fillies who weren’t intimidated by her towering size and foxy appearance.