//------------------------------//
// Epilogue 
// Story: Tails of Innocence 
// by CommanderX5 
//------------------------------//


Tails of Innocence



-



Epilogue











3 Years before Nightmare Moon’s Return










A long dining table stood in the middle of the spacious room, hosting two alicorns as Celestia and Cadence sat on their cushions. Two teacups, one cake with two slices atop smaller silvery plates lay before them, alongside more healthy vegetable soups.

With Cadence foalsitting Celestia’s students, her Royal Highness felt more relaxed with her schedules. Though she still allowed herself time with her students while keeping monotony and boredom at bay.

After taking a graceful sip of her cup, selecting the hot liquid, she asked, “Are you getting more comfortable around Kyuubi? What do you think of her? Isn’t she just precious?” A warm smile was present on her lips.

“Precious doesn’t do her justice,” Cadence said, using a napkin to wipe soup-leftovers from her muzzle. “For a self-proclaimed magical-pony-eating-predator, she’s very peaceful and calm. She often seems afraid of herself and thinks she needs to keep herself in check. But really, she’s just a big sweetheart.”

Celestia’s ears drooped as her facial expression shifted to less happy. She sighed. Even after five years, Kyuubi still hadn’t forgiven herself.

“The odd thing is that she’s more open with Lily. She acts as if she’s being Lily’s adoptive mother, which is quite heartwarming. It reminds me of how you took me in after the banishment of the Crystal Empire.”

So I am not the only one to notice. Celestia nodded. “And how does she get along with Twilight?” Celestia asked, quickly changing the topic rather than recollecting her past failure. “You once said that Twilight is fascinated by kitsune’s magic. Has it developed into friendship yet?”

Cadence shook her head. “Unfortunately, Kyuubi keeps distancing herself, most likely afraid of hurting her as she did with Sunset. Once the fascination died down, they were acting more like fellow students rather than friends.”

“So Twilight is still alien to the concept of friendship. You know why that’s indeed most unfortunate.”

“I wouldn’t say alien, exactly. Aside from Spike, she seems more open to other ponies and is no longer as obsessed about studying and books, just not open enough for true friendship.” Cadence picked up her soup bowl with her wings, drinking and eating half of it in record time. She licked her lips and wiped her muzzle with a serviette, sighing in satisfaction.

Cadence continued, “In my personal opinion, I think Lily has a better chance of gaining Twilight’s friendship. They seem to have developed a healthy rivalry and often train together. While Lily had a big advantage at the start, being older and more experienced, Twilight is now getting the upper hoof due to her being incredibly gifted. She knew less but learned faster than any guard I’ve ever seen.”

“Healthy rivalry indeed,” Celestia said, reminding herself of Sunset’s competitiveness towards Kyuubi, hoping things would turn out better this time around. “Though I would prefer if they competed in learning and mastering spells and overall knowledge, not wrestling with levitation versus hooves.” She glanced at her forelegs, wondering if her earth pony magic would be a match for Lily’s if she put in the efforts.

“Oh come on, Auntie Celly, Twilight can now lift around twenty-five tons of weight with her magic and is still improving, and Lily can lift ten tons… fifteen with self-cast boosts. She even said that Kyuubi could ride her.”

Celestia and Cadence laughed, thinking about the two-ton fox balanced on a single paw atop the walking filly, and then how this large kitsune had ended up behind the smaller gifted ponies.

Still, Kyuubi had five tails at the moment, and in the story of her past, she mentioned a gigantic kitsune with nine tails. Only time seemed to limit Kyuubi’s true potential.

Celestia looked at the window, thinking back to the mark of her sister on the moon. Deep inside, she hoped Kyuubi would grow powerful enough to save Luna. Or, at the very least, assist Twilight in recovering the Element of Magic. The seal was but a few years from breaking after all, and all she could do is have faith in her students.

Faith. For some reason, it made her think of Kyuubi. If there indeed existed a force, a deity that granted the kitsune power, maybe it could aid her in this critical moment? Whatever was the case, she could only blindly hope.

“Auntie.”

“Y-yes?” Celestia asked, awoken from her thoughts.

Cadence blushed, tapping her forehooves against each other. “I... I got an opportunity to get to know Twilight’s brother on many occasions, and I am starting to like him. Not just like, but like love-type of like.”

Celestia blinked. Cadence had many admirers over the centuries, sometimes returning their feelings with more than a century of grieving in between and sometimes a few offspring that went away to live their own lives. With a very long life-span, getting close to a fellow pony proved somewhat painful. Was she ready for another relationship after her last love turned out to be a changeling?

“Are you truly feeling ready to open your heart again?” she asked, giving the smaller alicorn a firm but soft glance.

Cadence smiled back softly as she placed a forehoof on her chest and nodded. “After foalsitting Twilight for so many years, I got very close to her family. My heart opened to them on its own. I know where it will lead in the end, but I’m not somepony who can share my entire life with just one love and lay in a grave by their side. All I can do is treasure my memories and honor the memories of those who have passed away, and I feel that closing my heart would be a mistake.”

“If this is what your heart is telling you, then go right ahead. Shining Armor knows that you are an alicorn, so there’s no need for you to hide in a disguise of another pony race.”

“Yes, but this would mean that my secret would come out,” Cadence pointed out, her face showing a sign of panic.

“Maybe it’s about time I announce to my Equestrian subjects that I am not the only alicorn in this kingdom. If my students succeed, there will be three,” Celestia said with a reassuring smile as she stood up from her seat and placed a comforting wing on the smaller alicorn.

“Or things may go wrong. Equestria was a stable nation for centuries, and in the following years, many changes will take place. What if the outcome is far from what we expect?”

“Then we can only try to adapt and make the best of it. Whatever happens, we must be strong and have a strong resolve,” Celestia said, maintaining her smile as she looked Cadence in the eyes. “We will help each other, and I have two wonderful students to rely on. We’ll get through this.” She smirked. "Besides, I believe it was you who told me that we can't change the past, but we can shape the future. Have you not?"

Cadence nodded, her expression once again calm. “Will you tell Twilight about Nightmare Moon?” she asked, causing a big shift in the princess’s facial expression. 

Celestia gave a troubled sigh. “You know why I can’t.” She looked at the ceiling, trying to hide her uncertainty and guilt. She had already told Kyuubi about Luna and the oncoming danger, and she had asked her not to let Twilight know. While Kyuubi needed to know what to expect so she could use her magic for the confrontation, it was different for the unicorn.

To unlock the Element of Magic, Twilight needed to form true friendships. She couldn't force it out of necessity. Keeping her unicorn student in the dark was more than necessary, though it wouldn't hurt to observe her from a distance, ready to join in just in case things went wrong.

"I am sorry. I think I broke the mood with this question. I know, how about I tell you a silly story Kyuubi told me."

Celestia lowered her head and nodded. "Please, do share."

Cadence smiled. "It is a story about someone called the 'Sage of the Everfree.' After hearing the cry of a lost child, this sage aided the child, keeping it safe."

The taller alicorn nodded as she raised her teacup, taking a slow sip. With all this intense discussion, her tea and her food got a little cold.

"On the way towards the exit, they heard a cry for help. The sage rushed to save him and found a young pony merchant trapped by a manticore," Cadence paused, taking a bite of an apple, crunching it for a moment.

"Let me guess," Celestia said. "This sage defeated the manticore and saved the merchant, and then escorted them safely out of the Everfree."

Cadence gulped and shook her head. "Not really. And this is the weird part. This sage offered its arm in exchange for the pony's life."

Celestia did a spit take with her tea with some cake leftovers, her eyes became wide open as the pupils inside her eyes shrank in size. Her brain struggled to comprehend what she’d just heard.

"When I asked Kyuubi why this sage didn't just scare this manticore away, she just told me that it would leave the predator hungry and that he would just hunt someone else instead." Cadence raised a forehoof to her mouth, giggling, failing to notice Celestia’s trembling. "Therefore, this sage saved the ponies, filled manticore's belly, and then grew its foreleg back, giving everyone a happy ending." She chuckled again, once more failing to notice Celestia's quivering lips. "I must say, your student has a very wild imagination."

The aura of golden magic around the teacup vanished as it crashed against the floor, staining the marble floor. No more than a few seconds later, Celestia fainted, her head slamming into the cake before her.

Cadence blinked in confusion. “Did I say something wrong?”









“I can’t believe you grew so much!” Rosey shouted, jumping up and down in attempts to boop the kitsune’s muzzle. She stood up on her rear hooves and held her forehooves as if welcoming a hug. “I mean, just look at all that fluff!”

Kyuubi just gave a fond roll of her eyes. We have been over this. I swear you say it every time we meet. She stood at the entrance into the observatory, the final part of her tour. Her male friend was a night-pony at heart, so it made her happy for him. Working at the observatory had to be a dream come true.

What was much more surprising was finding out what Rosey had gotten for herself.  

Her female friend wore bronze armor, real armor, not just the decorative set used by the Royal Guard. Leg protectors and enhanced steel performing more than a decorative role. Despite looking heavy, Rosey ran and jumped in it with little difficulty, not slowed down in the least.

The female unicorn stood on her rear legs and placed held forelegs on her sides. "I see you can't take your eyes away from my mighty armor. By all means, admire it all you want." She rolled on a single rear hoof, exposing her rear and then her back as if she was a model. "Do I look cool, do I look cute, or do I look good?"

Not just good. You look great! So much cooler! Kyuubi said, clapping her forepaws in applause. And to be honest, you were always super cute. She caps that off with a wink.

Rosey rolled on a single hoof again, directing her attention to the unicorn stallion. "See Nightbright. You should learn from Kyuubi how you compliment a lady."

"Oh, please. Everypony is cute to her," the stallion retorted. "I think she called ponies cute more often than they called her fluffy."

The kitsune rubbed the back of her neck, blushing. You're not wrong. She winked again. But calling another super cute is a privilege I reserve only for my favorites, and Rosey is top tier super cute for sure.

"You convinced me," Nightbright deadpanned. "I will take notes from now on."

Kyuubi looked down again at her female friend, who still maintained a balance on her two legs. She lowered herself to get a better view, and added enthusiastically, Looks aside, you're the first member of Equestria's Special Forces. Your armor reflects your new status as a Knight Templar, and I'm beyond proud. She closed in, pushing Rosey with the tip of her nose, causing her to lose balance and land on her four. Your enthusiasm and endless stamina have finally paid off.

Rosey turned around and booped Kyuubi's nose with her armored hoof. "It is all thanks to you. Ever since Lily broke through the castle's defenses to save you, and thanks to your negotiating skills, the princess approved of creating special forces."

She backflipped, using self-levitation to slow down her descent. "Being in the Royal Guard was just too boring! Becoming a Knight Templar is a different story. And once Lily becomes our commander, not even a large rampaging dragon will be frightening."

The kitsune patted her nose with a paw, having experienced her friend's strength and the durability of her armor first-hoof. She looked to the side, glancing at her silent friend. Nightbright wore a violet robe filled with a star-constellation while glasses rested on his muzzle. His smile was much wider than what she remembered seeing in the past. She was interrupted when her muzzle was hugged firmly by Rosey, feeling the cold metal sink into her fur.

"I'm so glad you're back. Please don't leave us ever again, Kyuubi." The armored mare closed her eyes in bliss as she rubbed the fur with her cheek.

The kitsune would gladly have nuzzled her back. But alas, her muzzle was now trapped, held firmly by her enthusiastic friend. Instead, she just closed her eyes as well and smiled warmly, getting lost in the moment.

"I second that." Second pair of hooves wrapped around both Rosey and the side of Kyuubi's head. "I may be opposite to Rosey at showing emotions, but even I took your disappearance hard. It is good to have you back again."

Make that three. A whimper left Kyuubi's mouth. Her ears dropped, her smile fell. I missed you both so much! Even if I separated myself for your safety, it still hurt. She sighed as much as Rosey's grip allowed her. I'm sorry for leaving without saying good-bye.

"You better be! You would be a poor friend if you weren’t," Rosey complained.

"Rosey..." Nightbright tried to interrupt but was ignored. 

"If you run away again, we'll go with you. We'll talk some sense into you and bring you back," Rosey said, her voice breaking down as she resisted the urge to cry. She soldiered on, tightening her hug.

Don't worry, Rosey, I'm done running. I know how much you all trust and care for me. I decided to accept that. Kyuubi placed her big right paw on Rosey's armored back. I will be as helpful as I can and try to never become a threat. Despite trying to keep her emotions in check, a few little tears fell down her closed eyes. And if I fail, I will accept the consequences. Just no complaining on my behalf or anything if that happens, all right? If you trust me so much, you have to take both the good and the bad. If I eat somepony, I deserve to be judged and punished. No exceptions, no excuses.

"You just spent over twenty years in the most hostile place in Equestria to keep yourself from doing just that. Give yourself a break," Nightbright said, only to be pressed into Kyuubi's fur by her left paw. "We got your back, and you got ours. If you get into trouble, we'll be there for you, remember that." The trio kept sharing a happy embrace for a long time before breaking away as Rosey and Kyuubi wiped tears from their faces.

"So, hey, how about another ride? For old time's sake," Rosey said, bending herself as if preparing herself for climbing. 

"Now, now, my strong sweetie. One time a day is enough," Nightbright said as he pulled back Rosey's hooves. He lowered his head politely. "I apologize."

Don't. After helping raise Lily, Rosey's enthusiasm is no longer as overwhelming. I always enjoy being with my best friends.

Rosey used her magic to free herself from Nightbright's, then pulled the stallion close. He yelped as she pressed his muzzle against hers, then delivered a quick kiss in the cheek and nuzzled his blushing cheek. "You need to loosen up more, honey. You're too stiff."

Kyuubi giggled. I see you wish for some time alone. Please, enjoy yourselves.

Rosey wrapped her forehoof around Nightbright's neck, pressing his cheek against her neck-armor. "Oh, we will. Next time we'll tell you about the adventures we had during our honeymoon. There's so much to tell." Nightbright’s expression hinted that there were some things that he didn’t want to be told.

Kyuubi closed her eyes, focusing magic into her tails as she summoned a portal. She waved farewells at her old friends and then walked inside, stepping onto the familiar carpet of the renovated ruins of the Royal Castle. Stars shone brightly from above as part of the roof was still missing, while the throne room proved spacious enough for her sizable body.

Sure, she had a room set up for her inside the Royal Castle, and Celestia's bedchamber was always open to her, but reducing her age over and over became very tiring. She was already big and was still growing, something she had gotten used to. And she didn't want to make a mess just from being at her full size. An accidental flap of her tails was enough to push aside tables and even shelves filled with books.

She let out a small whimper at the idea of eventually becoming too big to fit inside the castle at all, or ANY building. She thought she was a fortress now, and she’d eventually become an actual one if her growth were anything like Ninetails’ own. But that was hopefully decades or even centuries off.

On the positive side, that will probably make a lot of ponies who enjoyed her fur very, very happy, and she liked seeing little ponies happy. And who knew, maybe one day she would grow a tail that would make casting age-spells a breeze. As a long-lived kitsune, she had all the time in the world.

Or did she?

She approached the window, glancing at the castle on the mountain. It was a proud new home for Lily and her family, as well as the studious Twilight Sparkle, her two oldest friends, little Spike, Philomena, and her kind-hearted mentor. She was slowly warming up to Shining Armor, and she was coming to like her mentor’s niece, Princess Cadence, too. Deep in her heart, it was a place she was becoming more and more determined to keep safe.

Kyuubi smiled, feeling the cold wind rub against her fur. There was this feeling of freedom she missed from time to time, making her come back into the Everfree Forest and visit Zecora. And she was more than happy to return to Canterlot and reunite with her friends.

The kitsune didn't need to choose between freedom and friends. She had both.

She looked up at the raised moon, a prison that was on the verge of collapsing as she could sense the seal reaching its limit. The time for the encounter was drawing near. Was she worried? Not in the least. She had finally finished a spell that would save Luna for sure.

Feeling the growing responsibility she was soon going to face, she dropped to her knees, bowing flat on the carpet while keeping her forepaws together. She was going to pray to God to aid her when the time was right.

The moment she closed her eyes and prayed telepathically, a sudden feeling of weakness overcame her, causing her to sink into the land of dreams.









Kyuubi woke up, wordlessly screeching in panic as sweat covered her entire body, her breathing heavy and eyes wide. The dream, no, the nightmare was something she didn’t expect. But it wasn’t a nightmare but a vision.

Are you willing to face cold and loneliness? Do you wish to endure years of struggle and hardship for the sake of another? She recalled messages from her dream, one after another. She saw herself cast a prepared spell before a tall armored dark mare, an alicorn towering in this very throne room.

What followed were repetitive questions and warnings, each one asking her if she was willing to suffer, to make sacrifices? How much was she willing to give up for the sake of another?

She took a moment to calm down, trying her best to recall the nightmare, but whatever taste of hardship and suffering she experienced in it was now a blank slate. One thing she remembered clearly. It was her casting the same spell that she has been working on in past years. The one that was supposed to save Luna from her corruption.

But what frightened her to the very bone?

How much am I willing to suffer for the sake of another? she thought, wondering about all the questions that she had somehow perfectly memorized. Everything now made sense. It was a message from God. He was telling her that the spell she worked on will indeed save Luna, but it will come at a price. She will need to experience long-lasting hardship in exchange for Luna’s freedom.

Kyuubi gulped as her ears drooped. She curled herself, moving two of her tails under her head as she nervously stroked the third one with her paws. After all the time she spent with Celestia. Decades filled with affection, care, teachings. She was determined to save her sister, so if that was the price, she was willing to pay it.

However, there was more than one way to save Luna.

If there’s no other way, I’ll help the corrupted suffering soul, even if I’ll need to face great hardship in return. But I think it will be best to keep this spell as plan B.

She slowly closed her eyes, trying to fall asleep, hoping that the nightmare wouldn’t repeat itself.

I was so eager to save Luna, but now I feel doubt and fear. When the time comes, when I will confront Nightmare Moon, will I falter? She grit her teeth. Now was no time for doubt. Too many counted on her.

Eventually, she found her resolve again, concentrating on a portal back to Canterlot. She walked through, thoughts of Princess Luna and Nightmare Moon moving to the back of her mind. As she approached the dining hall, not wanting to make the princess wait, she met her at the entrance.

Why was Celestia looking at her with narrowed eyes? And why were there cake leftovers decorating her face? Kyuubi knew Celestia liked her cake, but that seemed a bit much.

"My dearest Kyuubi." Celestia spoke, her eye twitching, "I heard this rather... odd story about how you fed wild animals in the Everfree with your limbs."

She nodded. I did it to save somepony, what about it?

Cadence, who was still sitting at the dining table, immediately straightened up and looked at her with a face of pure shook. Her face instantly turned green.

The taller alicorn raised an eyebrow. "What about it? What about it!?" She took a deep calming breath. "Why in the name of... all that is good, did you think such a thing was acceptable?!"

Kyuubi sat and tapped her paws together. It left the predators filled, so that's less prey they needed to hunt and eat. And I experienced merely several seconds of intense pain before I healed my arm. It was a small price to pay.

"A small price!? You call severing your limb a small price?" Celestia stood on her rear hooves and spread her wings for balance as she pointed at her. "You see absolutely nothing wrong about it!?"

The kitsune tilted her head to the side in confusion. Unlike other creatures that would experience pain for minutes, hours, or even months, she just needed to do so for several seconds. Not to mention, it was a fitting way of atoning for what she did to Sunset. She brightly smiled at her dear mentor. I see nothing wrong with my actions, my Little Princess.

Cadence fell to the side of her cushion, fainting, her spread wings now resting on the floor.

The taller alicorn seemed to shimmer with intense heat as she glared back with fury and anguish in her eyes. A few tears started forming in her purple gaze. 





The princess struggled to comprehend her student’s logic. Her emotions had been roiling inside her since she heard that awful tale, but now she learned what her beloved Kyuubi had done to herself directly from her mouth. How could her student see nothing wrong with it? And to top it all off, cheerfully calling her by that nickname as if they were discussing a sort of charity. A darker part of her mind realized to Kyuubi it was indeed a simple charity. It made Celestia nearly senseless with heartache. Why had no one told her of this sooner?! Why had she not heard!?

As kitsune’s mentor and caretaker from the youngest age, it was up to her to guide her mind in the right direction. She knew that Kyuubi was different from ponies so her mindset would be different as well, but not to such a degree. Blaming Kyuubi for being clueless or blaming herself for her lack of insight wasn’t going to accomplish anything. She learned long ago not to fall into that trap. What needed to be done was a long open-hearted discussion and a lecture her student will never forget.





Kyuubi fidgets in place, wondering why her words upset her mentor, whose face scrunched up as she shut her eyes. Even more worrying, Celestia’s head began turning a dangerous red shade, the large kitsune could almost hear a proverbial tea kettle going off. She felt the need to apologize, to salvage the situation and make amends even as her mind still struggled to figure out why she was apologizing. 

Celestia took a deep breath and let out a long exhale before staring hard into Kyuubi’s eyes, the kitsune’s discomfort only growing as silence took hold of the hallway. 

She yipped upon being enveloped in a great golden aura, her entire mass raised above the floor.

Celestia took off from the dining hall entrance with Kyuubi in her grasp. "Kyuubi, we need to have a long, long talk."